Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, as a sponsor of H.R. 1236, the bill would make permanent the breast cancer research stamp, which first went on sale on July 29, 1998. After several discussions with the Postal Service, I offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1236 during the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia markup on September 18, 2007. The amendment retained the Postal Service's flexibility by reauthorizing the breast cancer stamp for an additional 4 years and strengthens the bill's reporting requirements. The new reporting requirements would assess the breast cancer stamp's effectiveness and appropriateness and the cost to the Postal Service for administering the program to find a cure for breast cancer.

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

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1236) to make permanent the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a special postage stamp to support breast cancer research, as amended.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, at this time we have no additional speakers. I urge my colleagues also to support the 40th anniversary of the Mass Movement for Soviet Jewish Freedom and the 20th anniversary of the Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jewry by unanimously adopting this resolution.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 778) honoring the first responders and supporting the victims of the Southern California wildfires.

Mr. CLAY

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

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. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday this Congress sent the President bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program. This bill will provide 10 million low-income children with health care coverage, including 4 million uninsured children who are currently eligible for the program but not yet covered. Unfortunately, President Bush just vetoed this bipartisan legislation. The President's opposition to this bill puts him squarely in the minority. The legislation has received overwhelming support from a wide variety of groups such as the AMA. A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows that 72 percent of Americans support the reauthorization of the CHIP program. Mr. Speaker, I am heartened that 45 of my Republican colleagues in this body joined Democrats in passing this critical legislation. However, if the President wants to veto it, I hope other House Republicans will stand with America's children instead of with the President and vote to strengthen the CHIP program.

Mr. CLAY

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

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, like my colleague from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland), I urge my colleagues to vote favorably for H.R. 3325, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3325) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 235 Mountain Road in Suffield, Connecticut, as the ``Corporal Stephen R. Bixler Post Office''.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 3325 which names a postal facility in Suffield, Connecticut, after CPL Stephen R. Bixler. H.R. 3325, which was introduced by Representative Joe Courtney on August 2, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on September 20, 2007, by voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire Connecticut congressional delegation. Madam Speaker, Marine CPL Stephen R. Bixler was killed on May 4, 2006, while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. LTC James M. Bright, the battalion's commander, said, ``Corporal Bixler was a vibrant, active man. He died fearlessly leading and willingly sacrificing his own safety for those around him.'' Corporal Bixler was a devoted soldier with strength of character and self-assurance. He served his country with honor and distinction. Madam Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) for introducing this legislation and urge swift passage of the bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

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

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2276) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 North Main Street in Vassar, Michigan, as the ``Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson Post Office Building''.

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

Mr. CLAY

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

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3233) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Highway 49 South in Piney Woods, Mississippi, as the ``Laurence C. and Grace M. Jones Post Office Building''.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 3233, which names a postal facility in Piney Woods, Mississippi, after Laurence C. and Grace M. Jones. H.R. 3233, which was introduced by Representative Charles Pickering on July 31, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on September 20 of 2007 by voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire Mississippi congressional delegation. Madam Speaker, Dr. Laurence Clifton Jones was born on November 21, 1882, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He attended the University of Iowa and graduated in 1907. Due to racial oppression and widespread poverty among African Americans, he decided to establish a school in Piney Woods, Mississippi, to educate young people. He started the Piney Woods School with just $2 and three students. Dr. Jones married Ms. Grace M. Allen in 1912. She became a pivotal helpmate to her husband by performing fund-raising activities for the Piney Woods School. Mrs. Jones was an educator and taught courses in domestic science. Laurence and Grace Jones were dedicated educators who left a legacy in keeping with their principles, ``educating the head, hearts and hands'' of young people. The school they built continues to this day on a 60-acre campus among a 2,000-acre wooded site with an enrollment of 275 students. Piney Woods School is the largest of four remaining historically black boarding high schools in the United States. It is a college preparatory high school with grades 9-12, where many students graduate and go on to college. I commend my colleague, Representative Charles ``Chip'' Pickering, for introducing this legislation and urge the swift passage of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3382) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 North William Street in Goldsboro, North Carolina, as the ``Philip A. Baddour, Sr. Post Office''.

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

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 3382, which names a postal facility in Goldsboro, North Carolina, after Philip A. Baddour, Sr. H.R. 3382 was introduced by Representative G.K. Butterfield on March 1, 2007, and was reported from the Oversight Committee on September 20, 2007, by a voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire North Carolina congressional delegation. Mr. Baddour was born on March 16, 1915. He was a business and civic leader in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He was a merchant for over 30 years and served on the city council from 1979 until 1995. During his tenure on the council, he also served as mayor pro tempore. Upon his retirement as a city councilman, Mr. Baddour was honored with a key to the City of Goldsboro and a resolution from the North Carolina League of Municipalities for his years of public service. Former Governor Jim Hunt honored him as a recipient of the Long Leaf Pine. Mr. Baddour died on April 6, 2002. Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Butterfield, for introducing this legislation, and I urge the swift passage of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass H.R. 3382, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).