Ander Crenshaw

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, last weekend I had the honor of recognizing Normandy veterans, who reside in Florida's Fourth Congressional District, with the special Jubilee of Liberty medal during a ceremony at Naval Station Mayport. The Saturday, November 10, 2001 ceremony I hosted carried special significance since it was Veterans Day weekend and also in light of the fact that we have another set of brave American service members fighting the war on terrorism across the globe. Mankind has waged many types of war--wars fought for land, wars fought for superiority, wars fought for riches, wars fought for independence. Most wars only impact the opposing forces and are often not remembered long in history. Some wars, however, are of such magnitude that they change the course of history. These wars are usually fought between good and evil. The heroes, who fought World War II, fought such a war. Without victory for the Allies, the world, as we know it, would be a much different place. There is no doubt that the Normandy Invasion was a turning point in World War II. The Normandy veterans from the Fourth Congressional District were there, but, perhaps, at the time they did not know they were changing the course of history. These heroes were busy fighting, watching their brothers perish and surviving to fight another day. And like the title of the Stephen Ambrose book, they were ``Citizen Soldiers''. Professional soldiers designed the battle plan but it was implemented by thousands of citizen soldiers. The Battle of Normandy was the ultimate in on-the-job training. It was a simple plan: attack and push the Germans back. The how was left up to those soldiers in battle. I am sure that each Normandy veteran has a story that speaks volumes about bravery, ingenuity and drama. It was in honor of these veterans that I was pleased to launch the Jubilee of Liberty Program this past summer. Since that time, approximately ninety veterans of the 1944 Normandy Invasion have been identified to receive this medal and we had the privilege of having seventy--nine of these brave men with us for our ceremony. The medal we presented honors that courageous effort. The Normandy medal was originally minted at the direction of the Regional Council of Normandy and the Governor of Normandy, was first presented to D-Day veterans who returned to France for the 50th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to commend the following men for their service to our country during the Battle of Normandy: Joseph J. Accardi, Edgar G. Aid, Harold V. Aiken, Frank E. Alexander, Henry A. Baughn, Joseph H. Beekers , Ellsworth G. Beer, Richard M. Behan, John W. Bier, Edward T. Binns, Jr., Carl Bishop, Louie M. Blocker, Michael A. Bondanza, George G. Borcherding, Ian R. Bourdo, Forrest V. Brewer, Harry J. Buffone, Santo N. Cascia, Paul W. Caudill, Nicholas M. Celona, Ashley D. Clemmons, Robert K. Clifton, James M. Cooper, Jr., Milton A. Cunningham, Willie B. Douglass, Raymond Q. Ellis, John J. Field, James H. Gaff, Chester F. Galbraith, Edward C. Gandy, Eugene Gaskins, Patrick F. Gavin, Howard F. Gottwals, Edward V. Grant, Frank A. Griffen, Jr., Herbert E. Griffin, Gilbert J. Grout, Jack R. Guest, Jack Hall, Karlob A. Hanson, Charles H. Hardman, Leslie F. Hart, Darrell D. Hilliker, Lloyd R. Hoffman, Raymond D. Hoffman, Forrest W. Howell, Henry H. Hull, Robert L. Jennings, Chester E. Johns, John W. Johnson, LeGrand K. Johnson, Martin L. Johnson, John J. Kelly, Raymond J. Kotchkowski, Charles B. Lane, Warden S. Lee, Esse E. Lewis, L.V. Lewis, Wilmer E. Mann, Harold E. McFee, John Milko, William H. Miller, Hubert C. Mott, John W. Nichols, Morton H. Parks, Annest Partozes, John C. Posluszny, William B. Pou, Sr., Ralph L. Powers, Richard B. Rayl, Henry T. Richardson, Robert L. Richardson, Teaford R. Roebuck, Chapman S. Root, Harold Routzong, Gilmer D. Sadler, Angus S. Schmelz, Donald J. Schneider, Lawrence E. Sellers, Eli Seplowitz, Robert W. Sheffield, Joseph A. Shelley, Svend T. Simonsen, Raymond L. Simpson, Donald G. Smith, John I. Smith, Wilbert H. Snively, Frank D. Snyder, Phil Spivack, Ellwood P. Stake, Earl N. Steinmetz, William H. Stewart, John R. Stokes, Sr., James H. Trott, Thomas H. Ursry, Theodore H. Voll, Charles L. Webster, Thomas F. Wilson, Harold W. Wright, Linville F. Young.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the men and women of the United States Marine Corps in celebration of the Corps' 226th birthday. As our Nation reacts to the terrorist attacks of September 11, our armed forces have been asked to fight the first war of the 21st Century, a war like no other America has had to endure. Marine Corps personnel are not adverse to new types of war, making up America's unique capability of an amphibious fighting force from the sea. United States Marines are symbols to the world of American honor, strength and character. Their lineage tells a story of the most difficult wars and conflicts the United States has ever fought. I am honored to represent active duty, reserve, retired and former Marines in the 4th Congressional District of Florida. Their contribution to the local communities and overall mission of the armed forces enables the citizens of this great nation to reap the benefits of freedom. The active duty Marines in my district perform the vital mission of supporting forward deployed Marine Corps personnel with sustainable wartime supplies out of Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, FL. These Marines are tasked with coordinating and executing a supply chain of warfighting tools required to perform their combat amphibious mission. On November 10, the Marine Corps will celebrate the birth of an organization with a heroic legacy of protecting the values that built this great Nation. As we celebrate this birthday let us also remember those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. To all Marines, I say Happy Birthday and offer the words of Admiral Nimitz regarding the make up of a United States Marine, ``Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.''

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, in April, I introduced a resolution to encourage communities nationwide to observe an annual American Youth Day. In June the U.S. House of Representatives passed that legislation by unanimous vote. American Youth Day seeks to promote local and national activities that fulfill the five promises of America's Promise--the Alliance for Youth, which was founded by Secretary of State Colin Powell. America's Promise calls for a concerted effort from every segment of society to address the most notorious difficulties facing the youth of America. The five promises to America's youth include (1) fostering ongoing relationships with caring adults; (2) providing safe places with structured activities during non-school hours; (3) building a healthy start and future; (4) teaching marketable skills through effective education; and (5) providing opportunities to give back through community service. This past Saturday, the Fourth Congressional District hosted its own version of American Youth Day as part of St. Augustine's Ancient City Kids' Day in St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine's Ancient City Kids' Day brought together children's service agencies and businesses in celebration of the St. Johns County's commitment to the well-being of its children. Our nation's oldest city showed its youngest citizens how special they are. I was proud to join over 50 organizations that provided information for parents and fun and games for the children. Ronald McDonald was there to make us laugh. Lisa Mack emceed entertainment provided by Pak's Karate Club and the Saints Cheerleading Squad. The Puppet Man put on shows, the Junior Women's Club helped children make hats, and the Communities in Schools program held a basketball tournament and read stories to youngsters. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, the Fire Department and EMS all had equipment displays for the more than 3,500 visitors to view and admire. Other groups, like EPIC Community Services and Project Northland, had marble painting, baseball tosses and an obstacle course. It was a carnival atmosphere founded on family fun. St. Johns Ancient City Kids' Day is exactly the type of event that we need across America to highlight our children and the groups and individuals who give of their time and money to guide them. I salute our nation's oldest city on their unselfish commitment to our youth and challenge all the great cities in America to establish their own youth day celebrations.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, by now we are all aware of the events that took place on September 11th and the many actions that took place before the tragedy. One circumstance that I found troubling was many of the terrorists at the controls of the commercial airliners used in the attacks received training in our own flight training schools. The United States attracts men and women from throughout the world looking to acquire the skills needed to pilot an aircraft. There are several factors that make the United States an ideal place to receive flight training: it is inexpensive to rent aircraft, fuel is reasonably priced, landing fees are nonexistent, and it is quick and easy to be accepted for flight training. We have now witnessed firsthand the destruction that can be wrought when the skills acquired in our flight training schools are used for evil purposes. Currently, The Federal Aviation Administration does not require a background check of any type for individuals seeking civilian instruction to fly an airplane or helicopter in our nations' skies. In order to close this loophole, I have introduced the Safe Skies Act of 2001, which will require background checks of all those seeking civilian instruction to fly airplanes or helicopters. It is my hope that we can stop international and domestic terrorist groups from using innocent and necessary skills for purposes other than innocence and necessity. Mr. Speaker, I realize not all terrorist organizations are those that infiltrate our borders from the outside, but also threaten us domestically. For that reason, we must ensure that the best information from the FBI and CIA is used to comb all civilian aviation applicants' history for criminal activity, espionage, or links to terrorist organizations. The skies over this great land belong to its hard-working, law- abiding citizens. Let's help ensure that it stays in their hands.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. As I walked up the steps of the Capitol this morning alone, I was overcome by an eerie sense of silence, silence that said to me, it is finally hitting home what happened yesterday, because yesterday I was struck with disbelief as I watched the horrible pictures on television. Yet, today my stomach churns with a sudden sickening feeling of sorrow and sadness for the people who lost loved ones. Yesterday it was a feeling of horror as I watched those pictures of mass destruction. Yet today my eyes have been burned with tears as I watched real men and women talk about real sons and daughters who are lost in yesterday's tragedy; from disbelief to sadness, now to anger and revenge, and I am sure that all Americans share these feelings with me. Yet we must now focus our feelings on a new sense of resolve, a resolve that says that we will no longer tolerate such actions; that the United States of America, the greatest country on the face of the Earth, will not be intimidated by terrorists, no matter how horrendous their acts. Yesterday, terrorism struck, and it struck as it always does, without warning, without reason. It struck by those who have no heart and have no conscience, have no soul, cold-blooded murderers. Yesterday, the terrorists succeeded. They succeeded in shaking the foundations of two great symbols of America. But make no mistake, history will record those terrorists failed miserably in shaking the very foundations of this great country. I urge adoption of this resolution.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, recently my family had the honor of participating in the renaming ceremony for the USNS Gunnery Sergeant Fred W. Stockham at Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, Florida. The event was held to rename the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) ship Stockham after Medal of Honor recipient and World War I hero, Fred. W. Stockham. The USNS Stockham will be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force of ships operated by the United States Military Sealift Command. These ships carry additional airfield matting, fleet hospital equipment, construction battalion equipment and other supplies needed to supplement the requirements of a forward-deployed military force. The ships that make up the Maritime Prepositioning Force of the Military Sealift Command play a vital role in our nation's national defense. Our military relies on its capability to be a sustainable force and project its power throughout the world. Maritime Prepositioning Force ships perform this mission by offering our military the equipment needed to be a fast deploying, mobile and sustainable force. The July 6th renaming event for the newest of our Maritime Prepositioning Force ships offered my family the chance to incorporate the personal background of the ship's new namesake with that of our own life experiences. My wife, Mrs. Kitty Crenshaw, was given the honor of being the Stockham's official sponsor. She performed the ceremonial breaking of the champagne bottle over the ship's railing and was given the opportunity to offer her personal thoughts of motherly pride for the men and women that would man the Stockham. Mr. Speaker, I submit the speech given by Mrs. Kitty Crenshaw at the renaming ceremony for the USNS Fred W. Stockham into today's Record. This speech is an example of the pride our nation holds for our military personnel and the pride a mother feels not only for her own children, but also those in her heart. Thank you Mr. Speaker for the time today to discuss the USNS Fred W. Stockham renaming event and the vital role the men and women of the Military Sealift Command play in the capabilities of our military force. I was thrilled when I was asked to be the sponsor of this ship. It seemed like an exciting and wonderful thing to experience. As I read about Sgt. Stockham and the traditions of this time-honored ceremony, I became increasingly humbled and grateful for this rarest of honors. As a mother, I felt especially honored and even singled out for this particular ship named for this particular soldier. Sgt. Stockham was an orphan. He had no family and he never married. A friend was notified of this death. His body was placed in an unmarked grave that was lost for 60 years. Only the men of his company knew of his heroism until 21 years later because his Medal of Honor citation was lost in the chaos following the war. Having known the indescribable joy and privilege of being an adoptive mother, I immediately adopted this great soldier of the Great War into my heart and memory forever. On June 13, 1918, the Germans savagely bombarded Belleau Wood with deadly mustard gas and high explosives for six long hours. Sgt. Stockham courageously led the evacuation of wounded and gassed marines. When he saw a young 17-year-old private cut down by shrapnel and his gas mask torn away, Sgt. Stockham without hesitation pulled off his own mask and put it on the young private and carried him to safety. He returned again and again to carry the wounded out. He finally collapsed from the effects of the deadly gas. He suffered an agonizing death a week later. He was 37. Sgt. Stockham's heroism seems to me to be of a higher order. When he took off his mask, he was not just putting himself in harm's way or even risking death, he was knowingly condemning himself to a horrible death to save the life of his friend. 2000 years ago Jesus of Nazareth said that the greatest thing in the world is love and that there is no greater love than that a man would lay down his life for another. I am profoundly honored and it is with mother-like pride that I offer the gift of the memory of this great man to you and the mariners of the USNS Gunnery Sergeant Fred W. Stockham.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 36, which would give the Congress the power to prevent the desecration of our Nation's flag. The American flag is a national treasure and our Nation's ultimate symbol of freedom. The American flag represents all that unites us as one nation under God. It is a constant reminder of the ideals we share--patriotism, loyalty, love of country. Because of its significance, we should seek to provide the flag some measure of protection. The measure we are considering today includes a simple phrase: ``Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.'' This clear and concise statement will return to the American people a right and responsibility which the Supreme Court took away a little more than a decade ago. It will empower Congress to restore legal protection for the flag that existed under Federal law and the laws of 48 States prior to the Court's ruling. Millions of Americans have fought and died in defense of the United States and the flag which represents our Nation. Allowing persons the legal protection to desecrate the flag dishonors our Nation's veterans who served defending our way of life. Many of the nearly 150,000 veterans which live in the five counties which make up my district have expressed their strong support for this measure. I support this resolution for many reasons, including the fact that I want to make sure that we honor the sacrifice of veterans. I want our young people to know that with liberty comes civic responsibility. I want to restore a sense of pride in our Nation and its rich history. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I have some exciting news to share with my colleagues, and I think in a spirit of bipartisanship, we can all agree that this is, in fact, good news, because today the youngest Member of the House of Representatives, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) and his wife Melissa became the proud parents of a baby girl. Mr. Speaker, today Abigail Anna Putnam was born. She weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces. She is 21\1/2\ inches long, and they are still looking for the first sighting of that fire-engine red hair that the gentleman carries around with him here. Just as a word of history, I want my colleagues to know, first of all, that the mother and the daughter are doing well. The gentleman from Florida is a little shaky, but I think he is going to make it. Abigail is the sixth generation Putnam to be born in Polk County, Florida, and her great grandfather, who is 92 years old, is so excited that he said he is probably more excited about the gentleman from Florida becoming a father than he was when the gentleman got elected to Congress. I know that all my colleagues want to join with me in wishing the gentleman from Florida and his wife Melissa and their new baby Abigail a wonderful life together.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 166, which honors the men and women, community organizations and businesses, and the government entities that provided relief and assistance to the people of Texas in the wake of tropical storm Allison. It is truly times like these, when Mother Nature strikes suddenly and strongly, that communities must come together to help people whose homes and businesses are damaged or destroyed and who might have suffered loss of life within their families. It is a true testament to the spirit of community to see neighbor selflessly helping neighbor in these circumstances, and I commend the men and women who lent of their time, energy, money, resources, and friendship to make the flooding in Houston and its suburbs less painful for their neighbors. While the damage was not nearly so severe, I would be remiss if I did not mention the community spirit of Floridians who helped to reduce the pain and suffering that tropical storm Allison brought to the people of Florida. For instance, local fire and rescue workers attempted to save swimmers who regrettably drowned off of Florida Panhandle beaches in the storm-tossed waters of the Gulf. They also worked to save men and women caught off guard by the flooding in Tallahassee and elsewhere in North Florida. Also, electric company and utility employees worked to keep power, water, and information flowing into people's homes and businesses as North Florida was pelted with heavy rain, 40-55 mile-per- hour winds, and 15-foot waves. It is in their honor, as well, that I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, last week, the House Budget Committee held an informative hearing on the economic and budgetary effects of our nation's energy policy. Energy has always been a necessary ingredient-- either directly or indirectly--to all our goods and services. Particularly as our economy becomes more and more dependent on technology, energy is increasingly the crucial ingredient. As if to punctuate this point, the Energy Information Administration at the Department of Energy has concluded through its research that falling energy prices can enhance economic growth by about 0.3 percentage points over a 2-year period. Furthermore, stable energy prices that are not fluctuating widely may enhance growth by as much as 0.7 percentage points over 2 years. Only a few tenths of a percent can make a world of difference, particularly for small businesses, small investors, and working families. The President began speaking about the need to develop a national energy policy that addresses both long-term and short-term problems and solutions long before the energy crisis in California became apparent. The plan of action that he has presented to the nation through his National Energy Policy Development Group is responsible, sound, and comprehensive. It includes suggested solutions to our lack of domestic energy supply and our dependence on foreign sources, as well as recommendations for the development of energy supplies for the 21st Century. Furthermore, for the most part, the President has made a serious effort to take into account local concerns and interests where they intersect with the nation's interest in an energy policy that crosses geographic boundaries. I do, however, hope to have the opportunity to work with the President and his administration to find a compromise to the proposals to develop oil and gas exploration in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico that is consistent with the wishes of Floridians. Florida is renowned for its pristine and beautiful beaches and oceans. Our economy relies upon that reputation remaining intact and vibrant. In fact, 40 million tourists traveled to Florida in 1999, spending $46 billion in Florida's hotels, shops, restaurants, and attractions. It is because of our commitment to the environmental and economic health of our state that Floridians have consistently opposed oil and gas development less than 100 miles off the shores of Florida. This is a position that has had the support of Republicans and Democrats alike. There is currently under consideration within the Administration proposals to explore within this safe harbor that Florida has requested. While I am pleased by the healthy and productive ongoing debate on this matter, I remain opposed to drilling within this safe harbor. I have been encouraged by the seeming willingness of the Bush Administration to work with the State of Florida to seek further moratoriums in the Straits of Florida region by the famous Florida Keys. And, I am very hopeful that the Administration will work with the State to consider restricting lease sales in the Eastern Gulf so that oil and gas exploration can be pursued for the nation while respecting the concerns of Florida.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer for House consideration H. Res. 124. This simple proposal encourages communities all across the Nation to set aside 1 day each year to honor organizations and individuals that take the time to help young people, especially those who are vulnerable to negative influences and at risk of falling through the cracks, help these young people fulfill their dreams. For all its wealth and prosperity, in recent years America has been suffering from what I call problems of the soul, where courts and Congress do not have any jurisdiction. So many of our neighbors have lost their moral compass and need help finding their way again when it comes to moral values. This is most true when it comes to our young people. Nowadays, children are exposed to serious drug and alcohol use, violence, gang influences, and sexual activity at younger and younger ages. Popular culture through music, videos, television and the movies often exposes young people to images and ideas that would have been unthinkable for their age group only a few years ago. There no longer seems to be a period in young people's lives when kids can just be kids. Mr. Speaker, it make no difference what their race, their gender, their ethnicity. These negative images and influences make no distinction and no prejudices; all young people are fair game. So it is incumbent on each and every one of us to offer our time and energy and love to children to provide positive role models and influences to young people to give them guidance and hope. American Youth Day would honor those who have already made this commitment and encourages others to do the same. In particular, the resolution focuses on an organization that has captured the imagination and sparked the enthusiasm of millions of Americans with its little red wagon symbol that I am wearing on my lapel. It is called America's Promise, the Alliance for Youth. America's Promise was founded by Secretary of State Colin Powell as an outgrowth of the President's Summit for America's Future in 1997. Then General Colin Powell answered the call of his Nation, as he has done before in uniform, and founded an organization that would partner with businesses, government, and nonprofit organizations to make and fulfill five promises for all of America's youth. And since then, more than 550 communities and State partners have joined with America's Promise to act on this commitment. In addition, nearly 500 national organizations representing diverse interests, purposes, and locations have partnered with America's Promise. America's Promise, the Alliance for Youth, is building and strengthening the character and competence of youth by mobilizing the Nation to fulfill five simple promises. Each of us has organizations and individuals in our communities that exemplify the commitment to these promises. In my district in northeast Florida, there are hundreds of groups that expend their time and energy for this good cause, fulfilling these promises to America's young people. I would like to name just a few outstanding examples of how they live up to each of these promises. The first promise is providing young people ongoing relationships with caring adults. Since opening its center in Flagler and Volusia Counties, the Pace Center for Girls has served over 300 girls, helping them to recognize their own self-worth. The second promise is providing safe places with structured activities for young people during non-school hours. This year the Jacksonville Children's Commission will provide over 3,000 children with scholarships to attend the summer camps of their choice. The third promise, giving young people a healthy start and future. At the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, young people can see pediatricians and pediatric nurses, many from the University of Florida Pediatric Residency Program, and get the special care they need. The fourth promise, helping young people gain marketable skills through effective education. A group called PowerUP tries to connect people to the Internet and give them access to technology and technology-related education and opportunity to explore computers that ordinarily would not have a chance to do that. And the fifth promise, providing opportunities to give back through community service. There is an Optimist Club in northeast Florida that sponsors youth antidrug campaigns and public speaking contests with special emphasis on fostering responsible citizenship and activity within the community. ongoing relationship with caring adults It is no longer purely anecdotal that just having a caring and involved adult in his or her life can make a real difference for the future of a young person. Youth with mentors are 46% less likely to start using drugs; 27% less likely to start using alcohol; 33% less likely to hit others; and 52% less likely to skip school. Flagler and Volusia Counties: Pace Center for Girls, Inc.--Young girls sometimes face added negative pressures from society which severely impact their self-esteem. Unfortunately, just as with young boys, the lack of a feeling of value to those they look up to is often just the beginning of their troubles. In particular, it can lead to promiscuous sexual activity, which in turn can end in pregnancy or disease, changing the path of that girl's future forever. Since opening its center in Flagler and Volusia Counties in July 1996, the Pace Center has served over 300 girls, helping them to recognize their own self-worth. The Pace Center's volunteers and trained staff show them through example and friendship how to ``celebrate a life defined by responsibility, serenity, and grace.'' In fact, one of my staff in addition to raising her own two sons, gives her time and love to the girls at the Pace Center. safe places with structured activities during non-school hours The most influential time in a young person's life occurs every day between the hours of 3 and 8 PM. It is then, when parents are often at work, that children are most vulnerable to the influences of popular culture and peer pressure. If we can just give them a safe place to be during those hours with positive influences and productive activities, such as tutoring, arts and crafts, or sports, we can teach them behaviors and attitudes that they will carry with them for years to come. Duval and Nassau Counties: Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida.--There are more than 2,850 Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide. They provide young people of all ages with an environment flooded with positive influences, strong adult role models, and constructive activities. In Northeast Florida, these clubs work with their local school boards to put a particular emphasis on learning. In fact, many of the tutors and mentors who participate in their programs as volunteers are teachers by profession. Their success has been phenomenal. Most of the 8th Grade students who participate in the programs in Nassau County have seen such vast improvements in their testing scores, that their school's state-conferred grade rose from a C to an A. And, since learning does not always mean sitting down and reading from a book or solving a math problem, at the Boys and Girls Club in Nassau County, which was only established a year ago, the volunteers and supporters are working with the County to establish a 10-acre park for the young people they serve. Duval County: Jacksonville Children's Commission.--The Commission primarily serves as an umbrella organization helping groups all around the Jacksonville area provide services to young people. But one program that they have undertaken themselves has proven enormously popular and successful is their Summer Camperships Program. This year, the Commission will provide over 3,000 children with scholarships to attend the summer camps of their choice. The children must earn this scholarship by getting good grades, but the lure of summer camp can be a powerful incentive to work hard. The Summertime offers just that many more hours for getting into mischief. The Summer Camperships gives children who would otherwise have no other options than hanging around on the street corner the chance to participate in structured and fun activities. a healthy start and future Young people who lead healthy and active lives are better prepared to learn in school and better prepared to begin down the road to a productive adult life. Duval County: I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless.--There is perhaps no group of young people facing an uphill battle than those who are homeless, and homelessness has been noted to be a direct predictor of specific childhood illnesses. In fact, homeless children are found to be in fair or poor health twice as often as other children, suffer 50% more ear infections, and are hospitalized twice as much. At the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, young people can see pediatricians and pediatric nurses--many from the University of Florida Pediatric Residency Program--and get the special care that they need. The staff there help the parents to gain access to Medicaid and SCHIP and other government programs for which their children qualify but they don't even know about. They also provide back to school physicals so homeless children can meet school requirements for entry. Furthermore, the Center teaches young people about the importance of proper nutrition and exercise, which can lead to long-term behavioral changes and healthier, longer lives. Flagler and Volusia Counties: Pace Center for Girls.--In addition to teaching girls to love themselves and have hope for their futures, the Pace Center shows girls the value in living a healthy and drug-free life with its outdoor adventure program. This program helps young girls to incorporate exercise into their daily lives. The Pace Center also has a pregnancy prevention program, as well as an intervention program to help young girls who are already pregnant or parenting. The Pace Center takes an holistic approach to their intervention program, involving the fathers of the girls' babies as well to ensure the best possible outcome for the young parents and their child. marketable skills through effective education Education--whether it is to purely academic or also vocational training--really is the key to a brighter future. But, that's not always the message that young people are getting. This is particularly true for young people who come form disadvantaged backgrounds or families that are trapped in a cycle of illiteracy and stunted education or schools that fail to provide them with a safe and effective learning environment. These young people even more than their peers need to be reminded that it's not where you come from, but where you want to go; that they can achieve most any goal they set so long as they put their minds and souls into it; and that there are people in their neighborhoods who want to help them succeed. Duval County: Communities in Schools.--The Communities in Schools program serves young people in nearly 300 communities in 28 states across the country. In Jacksonville, Florida, the effort includes mentoring children in several public middle schools and vocational programs. The volunteers who make this program so successful operate under the motto: ``Help young people learn, stay in school, and prepare for life.'' Duval County: PowerUP.--It cannot be denied that skills and experience in information technology and other high-tech resources are needed to compete in the job market. But, those resources are expensive, and parents who lack financial wherewithal to provide their children with access to them need help. Those children lack access to a bright new world of possibilities. PowerUP is dedicated to bridging the digital divide by giving children who would otherwise lack access to technology and technology-related education the opportunity to explore computers, the Internet, and new technologies. The State of Florida-- which was recently named fifth in the nation in the number of high-tech jobs created in 2000 by the American Electronics Association, was PowerUP's first public partnership. Earlier this year, Governor Jeb Bush announced 24 sites where PowerUP programs will be available to young people between the ages of 6 and 18 in our inner cities. One of those sites which will soon be up and running is in Jacksonville, which is in the midst of a severe shortage of just this kind of skilled labor. opportunities to give back through community service It can be as simple as providing a positive role model. By showing young people how good it makes us feel to lend them a guiding hand, those young people may turn around and seek that same feeling by helping others around them. But sometimes, it is an orchestrated effort to instill in young people a positive vision for their communities and a desire to really make a difference. Nassau County: Fernandina Beach Optimist Club.--The Optimist Club considers itself a ``friend to youth.'' Its members raise money to provide children with a wide variety of important programs to improve young attitudes and minds, such as scholarships and team sports. But, they also sponsor youth anti-drug campaigns and public speaking contests with a special emphasis on fostering responsible citizenship and activity within the community. Mr. Speaker, many of us recognize the little red wagon that Colin Powell chose as the symbol for America's Promise as a reminder of a more innocent time when children were given a chance to be children. Giving every child a little red wagon might make them happy for a day or two, but giving them the moral equivalent of that little red wagon, a caring adult, a nurturing environment, and hope for a brighter future can make them happy for a lifetime. In closing, I would like to read from a letter I recently received from Governor Marc Racicot, the new Chairman of the Board for America's Promise. He said, ``I was grateful to learn of your support of America's Promise and the work we are doing. As you know, our goal is to make youth the number one national priority, and House Resolution 124 will help accomplish that. I also appreciate you shaping the bill around the framework of the five promises in America's Promise. We truly believe this will work.'' Finally, Mr. Speaker, just let me thank my colleagues for their strong support. I encourage each of us to make a commitment to honor the groups and individuals in their communities that have made a commitment to young people by celebrating American Youth Day in their districts. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the letter from Governor Racicot I just referred to. America's Promise, Alexandria, VA, June 8, 2001. Hon. Ander Crenshaw, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Crenshaw: Thank you for your kind letter welcoming me to America's Promise. I am delighted and honored to lead an organization doing such important work for young people. I was grateful to learn of your support of America's Promise and the work we are doing. As you know, our goal here is to make youth the number one national priority, and H. Res. 124 will help accomplish that. I also appreciate you shaping the bill around the framework of the Five Promises and America's Promise. We truly believe, and research proves, that this is the right solution. Your bill will help us share our message with millions and we are thankful for the opportunity. Thank you for your dedication to youth and for your leadership in Congress on this important national priority. I very much look forward to working with you on legislation to build the character and competence of our nation's young people. With best wishes, Sincerely, Marc Raciot, Chairman.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this legislation, I am proud to stand here and urge its passage, because I think it improves one of the most popular and important benefits that the military offers today, the GI Bill. When it started after World War II, as you know, it really changed the way we look at higher education in America, because it took the college education opportunity and experience and changed it from kind of an elite opportunity for a privileged few to something that everybody could enjoy. All Americans could enjoy that. It became the fulfillment of the American dream, and became something that we could look forward to. It became a way that a grateful Nation could say thank you and pay back those patriots that marched into harm's way to change this world. But it got expensive to provide education, and it was hard to keep up. Yet this legislation does just that. We have heard it increases those benefits by 70 percent, and that is important, but it also should be emphasized that every dollar we spend is a good investment, because every time we spend a dollar helping some young man or woman get an education, it returns back into our economy. It is estimated in a two- year degree, that a dollar spend comes back seventeen-fold. In a four- year degree, it comes back fourteen-fold. I encourage everyone to support the passage of this. I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) for introducing this legislation and for his leadership. I pledge my commitment to make it even better. I urge everyone to pass this legislation. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this truly landmark legislation, I rise in strong support of the 21st Century Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act. This legislation will vastly improve one of the most popular and important benefits our military provides--the All Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program, or the Montgomery GI Bill. This important program serves two main purposes: (1) It is a key recruitment and retention tool for our military, and (2) It helps servicemembers transition into civilian life and apply the skills they learned in uniform in the larger society. The program has a broad and overwhelmingly positive impact on society. Servicemembers with college degrees or additional skills and training--as with any individuals who attain higher degrees--are more likely to be able to support themselves and their families through steady employment, and less likely to require government assistance. Furthermore, according to a study done for the VA by the Klemm Analysis Group last year, servicemembers who gain college education or additional skills and training using the Montgomery GI Bill contribute more to our economy than servicemembers who do not take advantage of this program. They are able to get higher paying jobs, buy more goods and services, and invest at higher levels. In fact, the Klemm study indicates that for every dollar the government spends on the Montgomery GI Bill for servicemembers who use these benefits to get a four-year degree, as much as $14 is returned to the economy. For servicemembers who use the benefits to get a two-year degree, as much as $17 is returned to the economy. Regrettably, too few servicemembers take advantage of this benefit because it has failed to keep pace with the skyrocketing costs of higher education. The current benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill cover just 63% of the average cost of a baccalaureate degree for a commuter student at a state college with no other expenses. And, it is rare that the servicemember taking advantage of his GI Bill benefits has no other expenses. In fact, more than two-thirds of all veterans are married at separation from the military, and many have children. The 21st Century Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act provides the most significant increase--an increase of nearly 70% from the current benefit of $650 per month to the fully implemented benefit of $1,100 per month in 2004--in this program's 16-year history. According to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities during testimony before the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits earlier this month, this $1,100 benefit ``would cover the full tuition charges at many four year public institutions, and even at a substantial number of private colleges.'' There is little doubt that the original GI Bill benefits, which paid the full costs for a higher education, were tremendously successful both as a recruitment and retention tool, and as a bridge from military to civilian life. That program helped veterans returning home from World War II transition smoothly into civilian life, and our nation was all the better for it. It is estimated that every dollar invested in the GI Bill brought between $5 and $12.50 back into the economy in the form of higher wage-paying jobs and increased purchases of goods and services. These patriots bore the weight of the building of a new America. They first saved the nation from tyranny and then helped the nation to rise to the responsibilities of world leadership with the help of the GI Bill. H.R. 1291 does not restore the Montgomery GI Bill to the high standards of its predecessor. It would be enormously difficult to keep up the pace of increases in the costs of higher education. In the past twenty years, the average tuition and fees at 4-year private colleges rose by 352%. During that same period, the costs at 4- and 2-year public colleges rose by 336%. But, while H.R. 1291 may not be all that we want it to be, it does make significant progress. It will enable many more servicemembers to take advantage of this great tool for advancing their hopes and improving their prospects for the future. There are other bills that would make bigger leaps in shorter time. But the fact of the matter is that it is the bill before us that is fully funded in the budget resolution passed by this house. It is not a responsible course of government to make promises that cannot be kept. Over time, given the commitment of our Veterans' Affairs Chairman Chris Smith and others on the committee and in this body, we may very well get a benefit comparable to the promise of the original GI Bill. But, in the meantime, as Carl Sagan once said, ``It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.'' Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Chris Smith for introducing this legislation, and pledge my commitment to continuing to work with him for further improvements in these important education benefits. I encourage my colleagues to make that pledge with me. With that, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in full support of H.R. 1699, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2001. This authorization will increase the Coast Guard's funding by $845 million over last year's appropriation, an amount that is vital to correct persistent funding shortfalls over the past years. The bill also provides $338 million to implement the Coast Guard's Integrated Deepwater System, a program that will enable the Coast Guard to replace and modernize its fleet of offshore assets. As a member of the Coast Guard Caucus and Representative of a coastal district, I see firsthand the vital role played by our Coast Guard in protecting our natural resources, providing for our national defense and ensuring the mobility, security, and safety of our maritime community. A key provision of this bill will increase the Coast Guard's personnel endstrengths, a requirement to continue the Coast Guard's ability to protect our borders from drug smugglers. In Fiscal Year 2000, the Coast Guard set a maritime seizure record of more than 60 metric tons of cocaine. Drug smugglers have become increasingly sophisticated through the use of small, extremely fast boats that are difficult to detect by the larger, slower moving fleet of Coast Guard vessels. Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral James M. Loy recently stated that, ``We know that we are sustaining our operations only through the heroic efforts of our people, but faced with tired and aging platforms, depleted inventories, stretched logistics and support systems, even our heroes are getting tired.'' This bill will give our Coast Guard personnel the tools, benefits and capabilities to provide a vital and multipurpose entity to the defense of our national interests and resources. I ask my colleagues to fully support this bill and support the heroes of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to address this important measure to reform and improve our public education system. As an original cosponsor of H.R. 1, I, like many of my colleagues, was disappointed at some of the changes that the bill underwent during committee consideration. For instance, I believe that the school choice provisions that the President outlined in his education reform package represented a reasonable compromise. He provided a graduated series of steps that bolstered a failing school's efforts to improve without jeopardizing the students who attend that school awaiting improvement. His three-year program recognized that every year a child is in school is a precious opportunity to instill knowledge in her mind and a love of learning in her soul. I intend to support amendments that will be offered on the floor to restore these school choice provisions to the bill, and I am hopeful that these efforts will succeed. But, in the event that a majority of my colleagues do not share my belief in empowering parents through school choice, I am likely to still support this legislation. Mr. Chairman, we cannot allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. There are many innovative and important proposals included in H.R. 1. It consolidates federal programs, cutting their number by half. It gives local school districts flexibility to transfer up to 50% of federal funding between programs--that is 10 times more flexibility than they are now afforded. It helps all parents--rich and poor alike-- to get their children the after-school, tutoring, or remedial assistance they need if they are in low-performing schools. While it may not include everything I would like, it represents a positive step forward. I commend Chairman Boehner and the Republicans and Democrats of the House Education and Workforce Committee for their hard work in crafting a compromise that keeps the dialogue open and keeps education reform moving forward.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of the Hope for Children Act, I rise in strong support of its passage and urge all my colleagues to vote for this important family-building bill. Just last Sunday, children young and old took time from their daily routine to remember their mothers on Mothers' Day. These are the women who have nurtured their children, giving them life, hope, happiness, and love. In just a few weeks, we will similarly honor our fathers on Fathers' Day, remembering the men in our lives who have taught us so much about life's ups and downs, ins and outs. But for thousands of children, there is no one to honor on these special days and nothing to celebrate. For one reason or another, they are without parents or families. Thankfully, there are thousands of men and women who want to open up their homes to these children and make them a part of their families. Adoption makes this possible. In 1992, the last year for which total adoption statistics are available, 127,441 children were adopted in the United States. Nearly 7,000 of those children were adopted in my home state of Florida, which has the fourth largest number of adoptions in the country. Some of these children were adopted by relatives, others by total strangers. Some of them came from overseas, others from across the street. All are loved and wanted. It made no difference to the children or the parents that they don't look the same; it only mattered that they needed one another. Regrettably, many of these important unions are kept from ever occurring because the costs of adopting can be more than a family can bear. The adoption processes can cost between $8,000 and $30,000. The adoption tax credit helps to ease this financial burden and remove this obstacle. But, without our action here today, that tax credit will expire. Mr. Speaker, the Hope for Children Act permanently extends and raises that tax credit to $10,000. Furthermore, it raises the employer adoption assistance exclusion to $10,000. By enacting this legislation into law this year, families can take advantage of this tax credit when filling out their 2002 tax returns. This bill is just plain good policy, Mr. Speaker. We should do all we can to encourage adoption and to make families stronger. I ask all of my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this budget resolution, and there are an awful lot of good reasons why we ought to all support it. Again, it lets the taxpayers keep more of what they earn; and it begins to pay down the national debt, a great legacy to leave to our children and our grandchildren. It sets aside Social Security and Medicare to make sure that they are in a lockbox, that they are off the table. They are going to be there for not only our senior citizens, but for their kids and their grandkids. But maybe most important about what this budget resolution does is it recognizes that we need to make America strong again. The only way to keep America safe is to keep America strong, and that is not the case today. We have watched the last 8 years while our military has been hollowed out, overdeployed and underfunded; and this budget recognizes that and puts more money into the military. It puts it in a place where we need it. Because there are so many young men and women in our military today who have really kind of lost their sense of direction. Their morale is lower than it has ever been. This budget puts additional money to give pay increases to our young men and women in uniform. It says that we are going to provide additional benefits in terms of health care for those young men and women in uniform, and it says that because so many of our young men and women live in substandard housing, we are going to make the housing better for them to give them a sense of respect and honor. Mr. Speaker, this is not a safe world in which we live today. The Cold War is over; but we still have nuclear proliferation, we have non- State terrorist groups, we have criminal elements with worldwide tentacles, and we need to recognize that. So if there is just only one reason, and again, there is an awful lot of reasons to vote for this budget, but just the reason alone to make America strong again is reason enough. I urge adoption of this budget.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Wildland Fire Management Act, which would make a small technical correction that would free up resources for fighting wildfires. When you drive from the northern end of my district in Florida to the southern end, you pass through an area that still bears the scars of wildfires from only a few years ago. Those fires devastated families, businesses, and farms. And, while we can rebuild our facilities and buy new belongings, there's a toll exacted on the people whose lives are disrupted that can never be quantified or reimbursed. Right now there are wildfires raging nearby in Florida, and there is a serious drought across the state. The concern my constituents feel is palpable. And, it is precisely because we in Florida's Fourth District understand the destruction that wildfires can cause that I support the swift passage of this legislation, which merely makes a technical correction necessary to keep the fire management tools for which Congress has already appropriated funding from drying up. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 581.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support not only the rule, but ultimately to support this budget. I do this on behalf of the thousands of taxpayers that live in my district. In Florida, where I live, yesterday we celebrated what we call Tax Freedom Day; that is the day that people can stop working just to pay their taxes and begin to start working to actually do some things they want to do. In other words, in Florida, and it is different in other States, but in Florida, in January and February and in March and in April and part of May, people, the average taxpayer, has been working just to make enough money to pay his or her taxes. So yesterday was Tax Freedom Day. Today in Florida, people can begin to work to do the things they need to do, like buy new clothes for the kids, maybe buy a new washing machine, maybe pay college tuition for their son or daughter, pay that mortgage down a little bit and pay off some of those credit card bills. And so I think it is very fitting on this day, as we begin in Florida to be able to work for ourselves, that we pass this budget resolution which is going to let all Americans keep more of what they earn. Everybody that pays taxes is going to see their tax burden lessened, and that is awfully important. But it does other things as well, because some people say we ought to pay down the national debt. This budget does that. In fact, it pays down virtually all the redeemable debt that we can pay down over the next 10 years, over $2 trillion. It funds education, which is important. It begins to rebuild our military, which has been hollowed out over these last 8 years. We are going to begin to make America strong again. And, most important, we are going to make sure that Social Security and Medicare are there. They are lockboxed. They are set aside. We are not going to touch those dollars. It is a great budget, Mr. Speaker, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, starting today, the average hard-working Floridian starts to work for himself and his family. Today is Florida's Tax Freedom Day. On average, for the last 128 days, Floridians have been working to earn the money they need to pay their federal, state, and local taxes. In other parts of the country, where state and local taxes are higher, Tax Freedom Day still hasn't come. Mr. Speaker, last week we hit the American average--May 3 was National Tax Freedom Day. That means it takes 123 days for the average American to earn enough to pay their tax bills. Curiously, it only takes 106 days for them to earn enough to pay for their food, shelter, and clothing combined, proof of the fact that Americans pay more in taxes than for these necessities. In 1992, National Tax Freedom Day was nearly a whole month earlier--April 18. The hard-working, American taxpayers deserve a break! Given the significance of the day, it is perhaps fitting that we are considering the budget conference report. That package includes $1.35 trillion in tax relief for all American taxpayers. With this tax relief, they can begin to earn for themselves a little sooner, and to plan for their priorities and their needs a little earlier. In fact, current forecasts--under the assumption that there are no changes in the tax laws--have National Tax Freedom Day in 2011 falling on May 10. But, if the Bush tax relief package were passed, that date would be pulled back to May 5. In Washington terms, where we throw around numbers in the millions, billions, and trillions everyday, five days may not seem like much. But, to the family living paycheck to paycheck or trying to set aside a little bit in personal savings for the future, it means a lot. It is in their honor, Mr. Speaker, that I am pleased to support efforts to let them keep more of their hard-earned money in their own homes, and to support the $1.35 trillion in tax relief in our Fiscal Year 2002 budget.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I was proud to lend my strong support to critical tax relief legislation, the Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act. The American personal savings rate is negative for the first time in over 65 years. More than half of all workers have no idea how much money they and their families will need to live comfortably in retirement. Regrettably, many believe that Social Security is enough. But, it is not, and it was never meant to be. When Social Security was established, in the 1930s, it was meant to be one of three legs in a stool representing responsible retirement savings. A second leg was employer-provided pensions and the final leg was personal savings. In 2000, the average monthly Social Security benefit was $804. Social Security pays the average retiree only about 40% of pre-retirement earnings. Experts estimate that you need 70-90% of your pre-retirement earnings to maintain your standard of living-- with lower-income workers represented at the high end of that range. Clearly, we need to do more to prepare for our futures. IRAs, 401(k)s, and other tax-favored retirement plans are one way to do so. But, it's been more than 20 years since we increased the cap on how much money individuals can contribute to these accounts. We should do all we can to encourage people to take full advantage of this saving mechanism. H.R. 10 will gradually increase the annual IRA contribution limits to $5,000, increase the annual limit on salary contributions to 401(k) plans, and provide catch-up provisions so that those over 50--who will retire shortly--could begin to take these steps even sooner. Furthermore, H.R. 10 modernizes and simplifies pension laws so that small businesses can provide pension coverage for their employees. Currently, only one in five offers such a benefit, leaving many employees and their families without even an opportunity to save in this way. It's not every day that Congress conducts debate on such a commonsense measure. The broad bipartisan support this bill received in this body and amongst interested organizations is a testament to that fact. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to vote in favor of this bill and to help workers all across the nation prepare reponsiby for their retirement.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, the Rotary Club of Ormond Beach celebrated their 50th anniversary. The Rotary Club of Ormond Beach, comprised of business and professional leaders who practice ethnical standards in relationships in the community, is a dedicated and respected member of the large international humanitarian service organization. The members of the Rotary Club of Ormond Beach dedicate their time, skills, expertise and other resources to help improve the lives of others in developing countries by supporting the Rotary Foundation, helping to bring families together through its participation in the Children's Grief Center, and providing the youth of our community with six academic scholarships annually through the Darcy Akers Scholarship fund. It is an asset to Ormond Beach to have a group of men and women who consistently promote truth, fairness, and try to improve relations among citizens in the community. The Rotary Club of Ormond Beach provides friendship and fellowship to its members and visiting Rotarians and are some of the most active local citizens motivating and influencing community leaders through their efforts. The Rotarians of Ormond Beach are true citizens of the World and exemplify the motto ``Service Above Self.'' Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Rotary club of Ormond Beach on its 50th Anniversary and commend each of its members for their tireless commitment to their local community.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, this week I had the honor of participating in the Annual Volunteer Service Recognition Program held at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. The event was held to thank and acknowledge departments and residents commands at NAS Jacksonville for the volunteer work their personnel gave to the local community this past year. The NAS Jacksonville community service program falls under the larger Navy Community Service Program. The NCS program was developed by the Chief of Staff of the Navy in 1992 to expand the role of Navy military and civilian personnel by encouraging community service projects and partnerships that strengthen the academic and personal growth of local youth. During calendar year 2000, military and civilian personnel of NAS Jacksonville contributed 434,457 hours of volunteer service to the Jacksonville community. As recently as last year, the House Armed Services Committee discussed a certain disconnect that has developed between American society and the United States military. The NCS program was designed to break down those barriers and enable military and civilian military personnel to interact with their local communities in constructive ways. The Jacksonville community is a wonderful example of a strong partnership between the United States armed forces and their neighbors. The military and civilian personnel at NAS Jacksonville wholeheartedly embraced the opportunity to build a sense of community between themselves and the Jacksonville community. Today, our youth are exposed to many aspects of life that have potentially negative repercussions on their social decisions. Military and civilian personnel from NAS Jacksonville have become role models to local youth through teaching, coaching, and offering advice. Local families can feel more confident about the decisions their children are making, NAS Jacksonville personnel are given the opportunity to discuss how they contribute to the national security of the United States and society is strengthened by the strong community bonds developed. Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to commend the volunteers of the Navy Community Service Program and thank the military and civilian personnel at NAS Jacksonville for their tireless commitment to their local community.