Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise today in support of House Resolution 483, a bill supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day. Every day more and more brave Americans join the ranks of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and they deserve every ounce of praise we can possibly provide. I would like to thank my colleague, the Honorable John Kline from Minnesota, for introducing this important resolution. I would also like to thank Chairman Towns and my colleagues on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for bringing this bill to the floor. Just before the turn of the 20th century, the United States was called upon to defend the hemisphere in the Spanish-American War. American troops fought valiantly and emerged victorious in this, our first modern foreign conflict. On September 20, 1899, the American Veterans of Foreign Service was established to guarantee that troops receive the benefits to which they were entitled. The following decades demanded millions of young Americans, men and women, heed their Nation's call for service. War against fascism and tyranny in Europe, first in 1917, and again in 1941, proved that American soldiers are the greatest protectors of freedom in the world. When they returned home, the troops were greeted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The organization was and continues to be a vital advocate for veterans' well-being. It helped establish, among other things, the GI Bill, which provided college education for all veterans and fueled the greatest economic boom our Nation had ever seen. In 2008, the VFW was instrumental in passing a 21st century GI Bill to continue to provide educational assistance to servicemen and -women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its auxiliaries represent 2.2 million veterans. With 8,100 locations worldwide, help is never far away from those who deserve it most. The Veterans of Foreign Wars' mission is to ``Honor the dead by helping the living.'' For 110 years they have done just that. For this, I send my personal gratitude. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the invaluable work of the VFW and support House Resolution 483. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 483) supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of Coach Jodie Bailey by supporting H.R. 3072. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Minnesota for her support of this and wanted to also add that Coach Jodie Bailey was a true scholar, a graduate of Coe College in Iowa who studied at Springfield College in Massachusetts, which was also the school of Dr. Naismith, who created basketball. And there's one thing he always stressed to his players, that academics will take you much further than basketball, so he always pushed them to excel in the classroom as well as on the basketball court. I reserve my time.

Mr. CLAY. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present for consideration H.R. 3072, a bill to name the post office located at 9810 Halls Ferry Road in St. Louis, Missouri, after a true Missouri legend, Coach Jodie Bailey. H.R. 3072, which I introduced on June 26, 2009, was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on July 10, 2009. The St. Louis community lost one of its true giants with the passing of Coach Bailey at the age of 94. He was an icon in the public high school league for five decades. During his career, he coached at Vashon, O'Fallon Tech, and Northwest High Schools in St. Louis. Coach Bailey accumulated an outstanding total of 828 victories and only 198 losses in a great career that spanned 42 years. He coached many great sports stars, including the late Elston Howard of the New York Yankees and the great Boston Celtic player Jo Jo White. His accomplishments led him to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. Coach Bailey put an emphasis on teaching fundamentals in the game of basketball. Coach Bailey was also treasured for making personal investments in each of his students' lives, which they remember until this day. Mr. Speaker, on a personal note, Jodie Bailey happened to be my YMCA camp counselor and taught me how to swim. The camp was called Camp Rivercliff, located in Bourbon, Missouri, and, at a very young age, required me to swim across the Meramec River. And you can bet I learned how to swim at a young age in order to survive that river. And I will always remember Coach Bailey for that and what he gave to that community. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Coach Jodie Bailey by agreeing to pass H.R. 3072. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3072) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9810 Halls Ferry Road in St. Louis, Missouri, as the ``Coach Jodie Bailey Post Office Building''.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge support for House Resolution 373. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I will continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, as we endeavor to end the war in Iraq, and to prevent any further military action in that region, I want to call attention to a resolution adopted by the European parliament on April 24, 2009. This resolution addresses Camp Ashraf which is located in Iraq about 50 miles from the Iranian border. Approximately 3,000 Iranian exiles are now residing at the Camp; these individuals have not been involved in the war and signed agreements with the U.S.-led Multi- National Force regarding their status in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Unfortunately, Iraqi officials have allowed the Iranian clerical regime to pressure those residing at Camp Ashraf and human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have expressed concern for their safety and well being. The European Parliament resolution urges the Iraqi government to uphold the human rights of those living at Camp Ashraf. I share this sentiment and urge my colleagues to review the full text of the resolution enacted by the European Parliament. Humanitarian Situation of Camp Ashraf Residents European Parliament resolution pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure on the humanitarian situation of Camp Ashraf residents The European Parliament, having regard to the Geneva Conventions and notably Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the legal status of Protected Persons, having regard to the Geneva Convention of 1951 relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Additional Protocol, having regard to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between the US and Iraqi Governments in November 2008, having regard to its resolutions of 12 July 2007 and of 4 September 2008 including references to Camp Ashraf residents having legal status as Protected Persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention, having regard to Rule 115 of its Rules of Procedure, A. whereas Camp Ashraf in Northern Iraq was established during the 1980s for members of the Iranian opposition group People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), 8. whereas in 2003 US forces in Iraq disarmed Camp Ashraf's residents and provided them with protection, having been designated `protected persons' under the Geneva Conventions, C. whereas the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a letter dated 15 October 2008 urged the Iraqi Government to protect Ashraf residents from forcible deportation, expulsion or repatriation in violation of the non-refoulement principle, and to refrain from any action that would endanger their life or security, D. whereas after the US/Iraqi Status of Forces Agreement Camp Ashraf has been returned to the control of Iraqi security forces as of 1 January 2009, E. whereas according to recent statements reportedly made by the Iraqi National Security Advisor the authorities intend gradually to make the continued presence of the Camp Ashraf residents `intolerable' and whereas he reportedly also referred to their expulsion/extradition and/or their forcible displacement inside Iraq, 1. Urges the Iraqi Prime Minister to ensure that no action is taken by the Iraqi authorities which violates the human rights of the Camp Ashraf residents and to clarify the government's intentions towards them; calls on the Iraqi authorities to protect the lives, and the physical and moral integrity of the Camp Ashraf residents and to treat them in accordance with the obligations under the Geneva Conventions, notably not to forcibly displace, deport, expel or repatriate them in violation of the principle of non-refoulement; 2. Respecting the individual wishes of anyone living in Camp Ashraf as regards to their future; considers that those living in Camp Ashraf and other Iranian nationals who currently reside in Iraq having left Iran for political reasons could be at risk of serious human rights violations if they were to be returned involuntarily to Iran, and insists that no person should be returned, either directly or via a third country, to a situation where they would be at risk of torture or other serious human rights abuses; 3. Calls on the Iraqi government to end its blockade of the camp and respect the legal status of the Camp Ashraf residents as `protected persons' under the Geneva Conventions, and to refrain from any action that would endanger their life or security, namely full access to food, water, medical care and supplies, fuel, family members and international humanitarian organizations; 4. Calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States together with the Iraqi and US Governments and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee for the Red Cross to work towards finding a satisfactory long-term legal status for Camp Ashraf residents; 5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member states, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee for the Red Cross, the Government of the United States and the Governments and Parliaments of Iraq.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jodie Bailey a Missouri coaching and community legend. Mr. Bailey had a positive influence in the sport of basketball, in the lives of the young men he coached and his community. My first encounter with Mr. Bailey was 45 years ago at the age of 7 years old. He was Head Camp Counselor for Camp Rivercliff of the YMCA, where I attend summer camp. He had a positive impact on my life at an impressionable age and helped make me the man I am today. Mr. Bailey set unprecedented records and won championships over the span of 42 seasons at three different area St. Louis Public High schools. He had an outstanding record of 824 wins with only 198 losses. He coached many great sports stars, including the late Elston Howard of the New York Yankees and the Boston Celtics Jo Jo White. His accomplishments led him to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. He put an emphasis on teaching fundamentals in the game of basketball. He always worked to get young people to be the best they could be. In addition, Mr. Bailey was a teacher who took time to make personal investments in each of his student's lives, which they remember until this day. Mr. Bailey always sought to impart knowledge into the people that came into his life. He was a tenacious but mild-mannered coach; always ready to give constructive and encouraging words of advice. His success as a coach spanned four decades including the turbulent 1950's and 60's that included segregation and the Civil Rights movement. He continued coaching through the 1980's. Mr. Bailey was a role model on and off of the court teaching integrity and self-respect to his players. He was a respected community leader and viewed as a ``Godly'' man. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Bailey, a man of humility and passion who's influence surpassed his coaching success. He made a difference in all the lives he touched. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Jodie Bailey, coaching and life legend.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1323) to require the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations regarding the use of information control designations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Issa, for his remarks. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize one of our newest members on the committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Driehaus) for 5 minutes. And, by the way, this is his inaugural bill on the floor, so I want to congratulate him too.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 1323, the Reducing Information Control Designations Act. This bill is being considered with an amendment to address some concerns that have been raised with the provision in the bill requiring incentives for individuals who successfully challenge the information control designation. This amendment strikes the language requiring incentives but continues to require a process through which individuals can challenge the information control designation. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1323 promotes transparency and government efficiency by promoting a common language within government. Therefore, I urge swift passage of the bill.

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

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1216) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1100 Town and Country Commons in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building''.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. Again, I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Akin, for introducing such a thoughtful measure. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of renaming the Town and Country Commons Post Office in Chesterfield, Missouri, after Lance Corporal Matthew Pathenos by passing H.R. 1216. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 4 minutes to my good friend from the State of Washington (Mr. Inslee).

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 211) supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's History Month.