Ander Crenshaw

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I don't necessarily oppose the amendment. In fact, I think it's a good amendment. But I just want to mention a couple of things. I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for bringing the amendment before us. We are trying to save money. Actually, I think a questionnaire was sent out to ask the Members if they want to receive a Congressional Record. Some people responded. Some people didn't respond. But I think like the last amendment that he offered, we are just trying to reduce some of the paperwork. And if people don't want to receive a copy, then they don't have to receive a copy. That might help save a little bit of money. I think on balance, it may create some problems, but I think it's probably a good amendment. And I would be willing to say we accept that amendment. So with that, I think Mr. Honda might want to say a word, so I'm going to yield to him for such time as he may consume.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I'm just trying to understand. I know you've got the two light bulbs there. Now, the one on the right, that's the one that's got mercury in it.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Now, the one on your left, and that's made in America?

Mr. CRENSHAW. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CRENSHAW. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CRENSHAW. I just want to say that I think that's a good amendment. And I think some of the people that are concerned about the reduction in the MRA, then they won't have to worry about the extra $1,000 that they were going to spend leasing a car because they won't be able to do that anymore under your amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. So we have no objection, and accept the amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield myself such time as I may consume. What are we going to do about three-color mailers? How about two- color mailers? I appreciate what the gentleman is trying to do, and we have rules and regulations in this House, but I don't think we ought to micromanage these MRA accounts. We've talked a lot about them, about the fact that we have reduced them by 6.4 percent, and people have said, gee, I might have to lay off somebody; or now we learn that, since you can lease a car, they might have to give up the lease on their car. Some people say, I love to send out mail, and whether they send out mail on their letterhead--actually, that might cost more than a postcard. I guess under this amendment you couldn't send out a postcard--it's a little bit cheaper--because it wasn't printed on special stationery. So I really don't think we ought to get in the business of saying what we can send out and what we can't send out. As long as the Members comply with the rules of this House, if they want to spend more money on a more attractive piece of mail that people might very well read, then they ought to be free to do that. If they want to print it on official stationery in blue or black or whatever color ink they want to use, they ought to be able to do that. Some people think if you put a picture or a chart, people might pay more attention. And if you look at the rules of this House, we've got rules and regulations of how big the charts can be, how big the pictures can be, how big the letters in your name can be. Because I think the point is that we want to communicate with our constituents. If we want to mail them a newsletter, I think we ought to be able to do that, and it ought to be in a way that they would like to read it. So I don't think we ought to get into the business of telling the Members exactly what they can do and when they can do it and what color it is. I think the rules of this House provide adequate protection, and so I have to oppose my good friend's amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I'm going to yield some time to Mr. Honda, but I just can't help but realize that you can't mail any mass mailings, whether they're black and white, whether they're four color, eight color, ten color. So I appreciate what the gentleman is trying to do, but he's not going to stop people from sending out newsletters. They can send them out in black and white even if his amendment passed. Once again, this doesn't save any money. I just think, clearly, Members have these MRAs. They can utilize the money to communicate the best way they can as long as they comply with the rules. And the rules say you can't send out a mass mailer 90 days before an election, whether it's black and white, one color, two colors, four colors, eight colors. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, this is similar to the last amendment. Members have an MRA. They can spend the money as long as it is under the rules of the House. They can hire staff. They can travel back and forth to their districts, and they can send out letters. And now that we have the Internet, you can use the Internet to communicate with your constituents. We shouldn't prohibit communication from a Member to a constituent. Certainly no one believes that you ought to be able to use taxpayer dollars to buy political advertising, but I think the rules allow a Member to notify constituents of a town meeting coming up. He can send out a postcard or a four-color flier. He can send out a letter on his letterhead. If a Member wants to announce that they are seeking applications for appointments to military academies, they can notify people by mail or on the Internet. So I think we have adequate rules and regulations that make sure that we are not abusing the taxpayers' dollars. And remember, these are dollars that are provided to the Members; and so when you micromanage how they spend it, it doesn't save any money. It just adds a layer of us telling Members how they can do things. And that is not our business. Again, I urge we defeat this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, in closing, it was pointed out that technologies have advanced, and I think the House has stayed current. In 2009, the rules were modified to make sure that these franking rules, these rules that govern communication, apply to the Internet as well. So we have adequate safeguards in place. We don't need to be micromanaging that. We let the rules of the House prevail. I urge a ``no'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a truly gifted educator from Northeast Florida, Jackie Cornelius, who has been named Florida's Secondary School Principal of the Year. With tireless dedication, Jackie guides young students and their teachers to achieve their best as principal of the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. You can accomplish anything if you truly believe in it--that is Jackie's philosophy, and she sticks to it. With this award, her special brand of leadership will be shared across the country as she competes for national honors. It's really no surprise that Jackie has taken state-wide honors. Now, it's time for the rest of the Nation to have the opportunity to learn from this truly inspiring woman. Congratulations and best wishes.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a hero of World War II, Private First Class Harold Kenner, United States Army. After 67 years, PFC Kenner is finally home and will be buried July 29 at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. It has been a long journey for this West Scranton, PA, native, but his story illustrates the military's commitment to bring its troops home--no matter how long it takes. You see, PFC Kenner, a member of the Army's 401st Glider Infantry Regiment, G Company, was listed as missing in action on September 30, 1944, during Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. The Allies used 933 gliders to bring its troops and supplies to the battlefield. The fight would last 72 days as the Allies tried to keep the corridor open in the Zon-Veghel area of Holland. The fighting was extremely heavy and so were the casualties. PFC Kenner died on that battlefield, but his body was not recovered. PFC Kenner was buried in the Kiekberg Woods near Groesbeek, Netherlands, unbeknownst to the Army. His family was notified of his death, but they did not know what happened to him or his body. In 1987, remains were found at that gravesite, and recently, thanks to DNA samples those remains were positively identified as PFC Harold Kenner. Now, this brave American soldier will return to his homeland and rest among other heroes at Arlington. Harold Kenner was only 20 years old when he died, but he was a member of the Greatest Generation. Posthumously, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European- African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars and Bronze Arrowhead Device, World War II Victory Medal, Glider Badge, Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II, French Croix de Guerre, Belgium Gourragere and Netherlands Orange Lanyard. PFC Kenner died in the largest airborne operation in the war up to that point as the Allies attempted to seize a succession of bridges over the main rivers of the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, allowing them to outflank the Siegfried Line and advance into Northern Germany. The movie, A Bridge Too Far, told the story of this failed mission. According to military records, members of Kenner's 401st and the 325th Glider Infantry regiments were dropped into an area around Grave and the Waal River in Nijmegen on September 23, 1944. They were dropped behind enemies lines and over the next week, PFC Kenner and his fellow soldiers were repeatedly attacked by the Germans. The wet, dense woods made it difficult for the men to navigate, and the weather resulted in rusted, jammed guns. On the morning of September 30, the woods were lit up with a relentless barrage of artillery fire on both sides. Company commanders were ordered to move onward and continue the attack, despite the fact that their wounded were left in German positions. Heavily armed, the enemy held positions on both flanks. As the day wore on, G Company's communication lines broke down amid the chaos, leaving soldiers separated from their platoons and scattered throughout the dense woods. When the day finally ended, G Company had sustained heavy casualties, and five men were missing in action (MIA), including PFC Kenner. A year later, on October 1, 1945, the War Department, despite never recovering a body, issued a finding of death for PFC Kenner. In the years that followed, the Kenners accepted that Harold was gone, but he was never out of their hearts. The Army never gave up looking for the missing members of G Company in the Kiekberg Wood. Finally, in 1987, a second burial site was uncovered in the wooded area, two miles south of Groesbeck and seven miles southeast of Nijmegen. A Dutch search-and-recovery team turned the American soldier's remains over to the United States Army Memorial Affairs group in Europe. From there, PFC Kenner--not yet identified-- went to Hawaii to the Central Identification Laboratory. It was believed that the skeleton was, indeed, one of the missing five G Company soldiers; specifically 1st Lt. Joseph F. Myers. CIA determined it was a male who was 17 to 23 years of age, between 64 and 70 inches tall and had a fracture on the left forearm at or near the time of death. They also determined it was not Lt. Myers. The remains were returned to the Netherlands in 2001. Five years later, the CIA decided to try to examine the remains against DNA supplied by family members of the other four missing G Company members. Using the DNA and dental records, it was concluded that the remains were PFC Harold Kenner. Harold's mother and father, Henry and Pearl Kenner, and his two siblings, Henry and Ruth, are deceased. But 50 members of his family will attend his funeral and finally bring this true American hero home. His journey is a vivid reminder of the heroism and sacrifices of our troops and our military families, whether they serve today or yesteryear. Welcome home, PFC Harold Kenner, and may you now rest in peace.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to two Florida Division of Forestry firefighters who perished in the line of duty on June 20 while fighting the Blue Ribbon Wildfire in Hamilton County, Florida. On Monday, June 20, Josh Burch, 31, of Lake City, Florida, and Brett Fulton, 52, of White Springs, Florida, paid the ultimate price for our safety, giving up their lives for our protection. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones as we remember the invaluable work that they and their fellow firefighters perform each and every day. The Blue Ribbon fire has burned across hundreds of thousands of acres in Northeast Florida and taken the lives of two courageous and dedicated firefighters and family men. Let us honor Josh and Brett and never forget their sacrifice to Florida and the nation.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Let the record reflect that's a small trophy that you just held up. But I certainly want to congratulate the Democratic team. It was a great day to make some friends among the serving Members. It was great to see some of the former Members come back and visit with them. As has been pointed out, the real winners were the wounded warriors and the organizations that work every day to help them rebuild their lives. I want to again congratulate the Democratic team members and thank everybody for their involvement. It was a wonderful day.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Centennial Celebration of the Town of Callahan in Nassau County, Florida, which received its Charter on May 23, 1911. It is my privilege to represent the warm, friendly people in this small municipality. Although it is only 1.3 square miles in size, Callahan stands at the crossroads of major transportation links to Jacksonville and Georgia. For the surrounding rural, isolated farms, Callahan is town. As with much of Northeast Florida, the railroad brought development and people to what had been wild, wet timber lands and home to the Timucuan Indians. Callahan was no exception. More than 150 years ago, David Yulee, owner of the Florida Railroad Company and Florida's first U.S. Senator, hired a seasoned railroad man named Daniel Callahan to prepare the land for the laying of railroad tracks across the middle of Nassau County. Many of Florida's pioneer family members worked on the rail for 23 cents a day. At that time, the economy mostly centered on the logging business although herds of cattle, horses and hogs roamed the still unfenced countryside as farmers and ranchers worked hard under the Florida sun. During construction, a railroad station was built where the tracks cross Kings Road, now called U.S. 1. A post office soon followed. The Sharon Baptist Church was already there surrounded by farms. The railroad turned the sleepy settlement into a bustling rail camp, and a town was born. Years after Daniel Callahan had moved on to build other railroads, the people officially named the town in his honor. Today, the historic train depot is home to the Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce and the West Nassau Historical Society. For the past several years it has hosted the Railroad Days Festival, where hundreds of folks come to enjoy small-town activities like parades, clowns, American flags, face painting, and ax throwing contests, and of course, model train displays in the lovingly restored old wood building. Also on site is a restored rail segment and caboose, a favorite of the children. Although a significant retail district grew nearby the depot and a block of beautiful brick stores replete with balconies remains, Callahan's town center has moved slightly north from the railroad track to the intersection of A1A, Lem Turner Highway, and U.S. 1. Here several red brick government buildings, along with small shops--some national franchises but many local longtime businesses, continue to serve the folks surrounding the Town. Two restaurants have large local followings--The Pig and the Chicken House. If you want good barbeque and a cold glass of sweet tea, you can't find a better place than in Callahan. Almost everyone in Callahan attends church, and church activities are the backbone of most weekly social events. But Callahan also boasts annual events, like the Blueberry Festival, the Northeast Florida Fair, the Rodeo, and the Christmas Parade that draw hundreds of visitors. As we celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of this charming rural community in West Nassau County, I congratulate my good friend, Mayor Shirley Graham, the Town Council, and all who have made this occasion special. But I especially laud the townspeople and those who live just outside the town limits on their neighborliness, their can-do spirit, and small-town warmth. When I think of what makes up the heart and soul of America, I need look no farther than Callahan, Florida.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, let me just remind my colleagues that when we vote ``yes'' on this resolution, we will be able to say that we have led by example. We were told that we should take the budget-cutting knife and look at every agency and make them do more with less, to be more efficient, and we thought we should lead by example. And the best way to lead by example is to take that budget-cutting knife and turn it on ourselves. And that is exactly what we did. Over one-half of the cuts that were made by the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, which I chair, were made to this House itself. We cut the office account of every Member of this House by 5 percent. We cut the budget of all the leadership offices by 5 percent. We cut the budget of all the committees by 5 percent, except the Appropriations Committee, which we cut by 9 percent. So we have led by example. We have taken that budget-cutting knife and we've directed it at ourselves. Now, some people will say we cut too much. Some people will say we didn't cut enough. But, frankly, when this is all over, people are not going to remember the numbers. But what they will long remember is this is the day that we changed the direction of this country. This is the day we turned the ship of state in the right direction. They'll remember that this is the day that we stopped this culture of spending and we started a culture of savings. They'll remember that, the day that we stopped spending our future and we started saving our future. There's a lot of work to be done. But let's clean up this mess. Let's move ahead, and let's get ourselves on the path to permanent prosperity.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this continuing resolution, for two reasons. Number one, it keeps us on the path to put the brakes on this runaway spending that has gone around this place too long. It continues us to get to the place where we start a culture of savings instead of this culture of spending. The second reason to vote for this, of course, is to make sure that we don't shut down the government, to give us a little more time to try to have a final negotiation on the spending levels for next year. Somebody asked the question, is this the best way to fund the government? Of course it is not. There is no way. It would have been a whole lot better if last year under the Democratic leadership in this House we had a budget before this House that would pass. But that didn't happen. It would have been better last year during the session if the Democratic leadership had gone through regular order. We would have passed the appropriations bill, and then the government would be funded for 2011. But they didn't do that. It would have been a whole lot better after this House got together and made some tough choices, set some priorities, made difficult decisions, and passed a spending bill that cut $100 billion out of this year's spending and sent it down to the Senate. It would have been better if they would have taken that up and passed it, or at least done something. But they didn't do that. So here we are. We find ourselves with another CR, 3 more weeks. But let me tell you, these are difficult times, and in difficult times leaders have to lead. We have got to sit down together and establish the priorities we have for spending. We have to make tough choices. That is what every American family does, that is what every American business does. If we are going to get this economy moving again, we need to settle this once and for all. So I just hope that we will pass this continuing resolution and that this will indeed be the last time we do this; that in 3 weeks we sit down, have that other body sit down and negotiate with us. It takes two to tango, as they say. We sent the whole ball of wax down there and they didn't like it, so now we are sending them a little at a time. But we are honoring that pledge to cut $100 billion. When you cut $2 billion every week, that all adds up to $100 billion. So this is $6 billion more we are cutting on top of the $4 billion we cut. But, again, that is no way to settle the year. Let's settle it once and for all. Let's pass this, move ahead, and get this thing done.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, Captain George Mason Walker, 82, of Fort McCoy, Florida died Saturday, January 22, 2011. A native of Jacksonville, he lived most of his life in Putnam and Marion Counties. George M. Walker served his country in both the U.S. Navy during World War II and the U.S. Merchant Marines during peacetime and the Vietnam War. He also served for 15 years as a ship pilot in the Panama Canal. Captain Walker was a member of First Baptist Church of Orange Springs, Florida. Before his health became frail, he twice weekly could be found walking the Right to Life Abortion Line in Ocala, Florida. Captain Walker was a Mason, a Shriner and a member of the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots Association. I commend Captain George M. Walker for his patriotism to his country, devoted service to his church, impressive career history, and life of love and caring concern for his family and fellow man.