Russ Carnahan

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1669) congratulating the National Air Transportation Association for celebrating its 70th anniversary, as amended.

Mr. CARNAHAN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 1669.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and his service on the Aviation Subcommittee. I appreciate working with him, and for him bringing this to the floor. I have no further requests for time, I would just encourage the body to adopt this resolution, and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARNAHAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1669, as amended, which congratulates the National Air Transportation Association for celebrating its 70th anniversary. As this resolution recognizes, NATA played an indispensable role in the development of general aviation in the United States. Since its founding in 1940, at a time when general aviation in the U.S. was at a crossroads, NATA has grown to represent more than 2,000 companies that own, operate, or service aircraft and provide services to general aviation pilots and aircraft owners. NATA serves as these companies' advocate before Federal policymakers and lawmakers. The general aviation industry supports thousands of American jobs and is an essential contributor to the U.S. economy. Since its founding, the National Air Transportation Association has played a major role in advocating for a vibrant and healthy general aviation industry. H. Res. 1669 recognizes NATA's historical contributions to general aviation and congratulates them for its 70th anniversary. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARNAHAN. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to just add my voice to these remarks this evening about our friend and colleague, Ike Skelton of Missouri. He first came to this Congress in 1976 with my predecessor, Congressman Dick Gephardt. That was the first year I voted, 1976. I was a senior in high school that year. And to watch him grow in leadership to become what I believe is really a national treasure--his voice advocating for American troops and their families, his leadership on national readiness for current conflicts and future conflicts that we may face--has really been unparalleled. We respect his leadership and what he has done for the strength of this country. In Missouri, he has been a leader. He has been the dean of our delegation. I had the honor to work with him. I also had the honor to travel with him to visit our troops in Kosovo and elsewhere. And we've seen what he's done to transform two vital military facilities in Missouri-- Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood--to become what they are today. He's not only a student of history, but he has been a great teacher and a great mentor. He's been a family friend. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with him, to call him ``colleague,'' but also to see his example for public service. He has been a model for what public service is all about. I know that he has several chapters left to write for what he does to give back to this country and our great State, and we look forward to seeing those for years and years to come. Best wishes to you, my friend.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of American manufacturing. The Make It In America agenda creates jobs in America, reversing the flow of jobs overseas, and rebuilding the manufacturing base in America, providing good jobs for hardworking Americans. Back home in St. Louis, I had the chance to visit with Lunar Tool, a small business in my district. They shared with me their concerns about the future of manufacturing and that with the right incentives and a level playing field, they can compete with anyone, anywhere. That is what we were sent here to do, to help rebuild our economy, including American manufacturing. I have and will remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to give small business and manufacturing the resources they need to rebuild this economy and put Americans back to work. According to the Alliance for American Manufacturing, every manufacturing job supports four additional jobs in other industries. Now is not the time to stall. We must tap American innovation, that spirit that helped make this country great, to get Americans back to work and make things in America.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary St. Louis family dedicated to community service and who embodies the spirit of volunteerism. The Kalishman family is receiving this year's Netzach Award from the St. Louis Chapter of the American Jewish Committee. The Kalishman legacy of community service began with Nancy and late husband Jerry, and continues today through their children. Nancy has a long record of service but continues to show her dedication and compassion by reading to underserved children as part of the Ready Readers Program. Formerly a teacher, she is a past and lifetime member of the board of the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, past president of the Temple Israel Sisterhood, and has served on the boards of many other community organizations. Daughter, Susan Goldberg, follows in her mother's footsteps by currently serving as board president for Ready Readers and as vice- chair of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation. She is also a board member of the Scholarship Foundation and the Magic House. Closer to home Susan serves as troop leader for both her daughter's Brownie troops and as president-elect of their school's parents' association. John Kalishman serves as vice president of finance/treasurer of the Jewish Federation. He previously served six years as chair of the investment committee for the St. Louis Jewish Community Foundation in which he was responsible for managing its endowments. Jim Kalishman and his family just moved back to the St. Louis area five years ago and did not wait to get involved with the community. He is now vice president of the board of Congregation Shaare Emeth and was selected to participate in an emerging leader program. He also led the launch of the successful campaign to pass Proposition 0 for the Ladue Schools. The Kalishman family has shown unwavering dedication to the Jewish and St. Louis communities in the past, and there is no doubt that they will continue to serve and provide as examples of how volunteerism is alive and well in this country. Please join me in congratulating the Kalishmans in their much deserved honor in receiving this year's Netzach Award.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ann Manry Rynearson, recently retired Sr. Vice President for Culture and Community at the International Institute. Ann has spent the bulk of her career building bridges across the increasingly diverse cultures of St. Louis. Most notably, Ann co- founded both the International Folkfest, which was held annually from 1992 to 2004, and the Festival of Nations, which is now in its 11th year. Ann has focused on the arts in building those cross-cultural bridges. Even though she spent three years directing the Festival of Nations, she is actually best known as the Arts Director of both International Folkfest and Festival of Nations. Her goal has always been to present the very best art forms of each culture. She has worked to seek out or develop artists and performers who represent their own cultural heritages. Over the years, Ann has spent countless hours attending arts events around our region. By doing so, she was able to identify new and emerging ethnic talent to invite to the Institute's festivals. Ann's contributions to the ethnic arts and to cultural preservation have extended beyond the Institute's annual and truly spectacular festivals. She has organized mini-festivals around town, art exhibits, and built an extensive database of artists to share with other organizations seeking talent for their programs. She is beloved by so many in our ethnic communities who have been her colleagues, partners, and even her students when she taught English classes at the Institute in her early career. Therefore, it is with great pleasure today that I formally recognize Ann's achievements in front of an audience that is benefiting from her dedication to the mission of sharing the very best of our community's ethnic arts. Ann has established relationships with ethnic artists and their communities that will ensure the festival's continued success and that will continue to build and reinforce bridges of cross-cultural understanding in our community for many years to come.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Joseph Barbaglia, a successful businessman, person of faith and selfless community volunteer. Joe and his business partner Guy Bopp are owners of Southwest Hill Auto Parts Inc. They are celebrating their 25th year in business at the same location in the famous ``Hill'' neighborhood in the City of St. Louis. Joe's business is one of the most successful and reputable auto parts firms in the St. Louis region, and Joe is a member of business organizations that are dedicated to providing quality service and products to the general public; groups such as the Better Business Bureau, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, the Hill Business Association and the Professional Business Men. Additionally, he is also on the Board of Directors of Eagle Bank. Joe Barbaglia is a faithful leader in his church serving on various committees for the good of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. Joe has been instrumental in the success of such church as La Festa at St. Ambrose Church, St. Ambrose Golf Tournament, and the Alumni Breakfast at St. Ambrose. Joe will help out anyone in need. Joe and Southwest Auto Parts are the main sponsors for Car Show/Soap Box Derby held at Shaw School every year in June and the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association fishing tournament. As a community leader Joe has held provided critical support for numerous community events such as the Fireworks Display at Sublette Park, Bike Race on the Hill, and Party in the Park at Berra Park, the Southwest High School Alumni, and Second District Police Association. Joe has been named the Hill Neighborhood's ``Citizen of Year'' and is the president of the Hill 2000 Neighborhood Association, demonstrating the community's confidence in Joe Barbaglia's ability as a leader who gets things done. He is married to his wife Thersea and has a loving daughter Nina. Joe Barbaglia is a shining example of what it means to be an exemplary citizen for one's community, state and nation.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Mary Ann Schiller with the Affirm School District. She began working in the Affton School District as a high school senior in 1950 as an assistant to the superintendent's secretary. She attended Miss Hickey's Secretarial School in the evening while working as secretary to the principal at Reavis School during the day. In 1960 she moved to the administration center to serve the assistant superintendent of elementary education. In 1970, Mrs. Schiller became the secretary to the superintendent (later administrative assistant) as well as secretary to the Board of Education, positions she held for 40 years. She has been the indispensable ``right hand'' to eight superintendents and a patient mentor to nearly 70 Board of Education members. On June 15, 2010, the Affton School District's Board of Education unanimously voted to dedicate and rename the Affton School District Administration Center in her honor. On October 2, 2010 the administration center will be renamed the Mary Ann Schiller Administration Center. Other honors for Mary Ann include: the recipient of the Service and Outstanding Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Award for 1996-97; named Affton Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1999; and one of ten distinguished alumni inducted into the Affton Hall of Fame in 2005. Mary Ann was also named by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a Pioneer in Education--an honor never before bestowed upon a classified school district employee. Mary Ann Schiller retired on June 30, 2010 after 60 years of service to the Affton School District. I honor Mary Ann today for her outstanding public service; performing one of the most important tasks necessary for a successful and healthy nation: educating the young and preparing them to be productive and responsible citizens.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4714, the National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act. At its heart, the reauthorization of the NTSB is about safety. Every year, the NTSB investigates thousands of accidents over all modes of transportation--investigations that are critical to determining why accidents happen, so steps can be taken to prevent them in the future. One of the main ways the Board is able to complete so many investigations is by the use of the party process, where outside groups with specific technical expertise are brought in to assist in the course of the investigation. Clearly, the party process is of critical importance to NTSB investigations. However, reports have indicated during the course of these investigations it has become common place for official party representatives to provide information about the ongoing investigation to other members of their organization who have not signed the certification of party representative. Meanwhile, the families of loved ones killed or injured in an accident do not have access to the information until it is placed in a public docket--often many months after the accident. The idea that anyone could receive information about the possible cause of an accident in advance of victims or family members is not acceptable. What is even more appalling is the idea that this information could be handed over to entities or companies who might have a vested interest in the outcome of the investigation. I am very pleased that this legislation includes a provision that prohibits a party representative to an NTSB investigation from violating the code of silence either orally or in writing during the course of an investigation. This language will simply level the playing field for the family members of those killed or injured in an accident being investigated by the Board. It strengthens what is in fact already Board policy by putting the prohibition in statute and there by strengthens the party process. This would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of the NTSB, as well as Chairman Oberstar and Subcommittee Chair Costello, who worked with me to make sure this important language was included. And I must extend a special thanks to the families of Colgan Flight 3407. Their support for this provision is particularly meaningful to me. As many of my colleagues know, this is a very personal issue to me. I know first-hand what it is like to wait for the conclusion on an NTSB investigation to learn more about the cause of the accident, knowing others many have access to the information about the investigation prior to you. I came out of that experience convinced that more needed to be done to make sure no one gets information before families do. Today, it is my hope that we are one step closer to codifying that common-sense principle into law.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Democrats' Make it in America initiative. In my home State of Missouri, we make things. Manufacturing has always been a source of enormous pride and good-paying jobs for Missourians, particularly in the part of the State surrounding St. Louis that I represent. It's no secret that American manufacturing has had some hard times, but with Make it in America, we are reinvigorating that spirit of making things of American entrepreneurship. We are working to promote American jobs and put an end to policies that ship our jobs overseas. That is why we need to close tax loopholes that allow for outsourcing of U.S. jobs. We can use that savings to fund hometown tax credits to help small businesses expand American manufacturing. We are already strengthening the rules, ensuring the U.S. and its contractors buy American when building our transportation, energy and communications infrastructure. We must keep going and fulfill the Make it in America agenda to ensure a new prosperity by promoting the competitiveness and innovation of the American people.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, on Sunday, July 11, 2010 the world paused to solemnly commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. This unconscionable act of cruelty and disregard for human life--Europe's worst massacre since World War II--has left a deep scar upon humanity. An estimated 8,000 Muslim men and teenage boys were brutally slaughtered and approximately 30,000 refugees were forced from their homes. United Nations peacekeepers protecting the Srebrenica ``safe zone'' were outmanned and outgunned with little ability to stop the atrocities. This, unfortunately, highlights the collective failure of nations to take sufficient, decisive, and timely action to prevent this horrific mass murder and ethnic cleansing. We must never forget the important lessons learned from this terrible chapter of Bosnian history, in particular that hatred must never be allowed to take root. I represent one of the largest populations of Bosnians and Bosnian- Americans. Approximately 35,000 Bosnian-Americans reside in the St. Louis, Missouri, region, and of these, upwards of 5,000 are survivors of the Srebrenica massacre. This is an issue for which I feel strongly, as I have seen how profoundly it has affected individuals, families, and the community. Last year, I met with several of these Missourians while attending the 14th anniversary remembrance ceremony in Srebrenica. I witnessed the mass burial of the remains of over 500 victims recovered from the mass gravesites. It is important for us to remember those who were lost, and honor their memory as we move forward. Fifteen years later there are still mass grave sites that remain undiscovered, families that have yet to be reunited, and remains of loved ones that have yet to be positively identified. The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) has been doing remarkable forensic work in Bosnia, and training and employing local Bosnians, to help identify remains. Most of the families of survivors in my district have contributed DNA samples in the effort to help identify their missing family members. While they still face serious difficulties, to date they have positively identified two-thirds of the missing persons in Bosnia. Fortunately, there have been significant efforts, overall, at apprehending war criminals and ensuring that they face justice. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has indicted a total of twenty-one individuals for crimes committed in Srebrenica, including seven senior officials who were convicted in June 2010, and former President Radovan Karadzic who is currently on trial. It is imperative that war criminals be found and brought to justice. I strongly urge the United States, along with the international community, to continue its commitment to help find and bring to justice Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, who is still at large, for his central role in orchestrating the atrocities of the genocide. These trials are critical to the social healing and reconciliation process that must take place in order to advance to goal of a lasting peace, prosperity, rule of law, and an effective unity government in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And it is critical to provide some closure to the families of the victims of the Srebrenica Genocide, so that their personal healing can also take place. Additionally, in March, 2010, the Serbian Parliamentary official of Bosnia issued a formal apology for the 1995 massacre of Bosnian Muslim men and boys. This narrow majority vote cannot replace the losses suffered by the Bosnian people as a result of the genocide, but this signal of acknowledgement by the Serbian community was a necessary and hopefully meaningful step forward. Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken great strides toward becoming a more stable nation and an international partner, yet increased stability in the region and stronger national institutions are still key priorities moving forward. The United States can best honor the innocent lives lost by taking a moment of pause, today, to reflect upon the Srebrenica Genocide and recommit ourselves to the defense of human rights and freedoms wherever they are imperiled. We in Congress must also persist in ensuring that justice is served and freedom and democracy endure through our continued show of support for Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect to its constitutional reform, improvement of democratic institutions, strengthening of the rule of law, and increased political and economic stability. Let us commemorate the tragedy of Srebrenica by delivering on the promise of peace.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, the House passed H.R. 4899, the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. Included in this bill is a rider containing federal law exemptions for an Army Corp of Engineers and Transportation project in Dallas, Texas. As co-chairman of the House Historic Preservation Caucus and member of this Chamber, I want to express my opposition to exemptions like these that circumvent the established legislative process, committees of jurisdiction, and longstanding administrative processes. Section 405 in Chapter 4 of H.R. 4899 would exempt the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Trinity River Flood Control project in Dallas, Texas, from the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. Sec. 470 et seq., and ``any highway project'' in the ``vicinity'' of the Dallas Floodway from Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Sec. 303 and 23 U.S.C. Sec. 138, setting an alarming precedent and undermining our country's national preservation program. The NHPA establishes preservation as a national policy and directs the Federal government to provide leadership in preserving, restoring, and maintaining historic and cultural sites significant in American history, architecture, archeology, or engineering. To comply with the Act, Federal agencies having direct or indirect jurisdiction over a proposed Federal or federally assisted undertaking must evaluate the effect of the undertaking on any district, site, building, structure, or object that is included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. 16 U.S.C. Sec. 470f (also known as ``Section 106''). In the case of the Trinity River Flood Control Project, the Corps is currently complying with Section 106 of the NHPA by determining whether or not the Dallas Floodway is eligible for inclusion in the National Register. A 55-page research paper produced last November by the Corps cited the levees' historic importance to the development of modern Dallas and noted that the levees are considered a manmade landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is also planning to build a toll road, and one of the potential routes would run between the two levees. A determination of National Register eligibility could ultimately affect the route by requiring FHWA and local officials to seek feasible and prudent alternatives that would avoid and minimize harm to the historic levee system--this review is commonly referred to as Section 4(f). There is also a need to restore the levees' integrity and comply with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's new flood risk maps for Dallas. There are hundreds, if not thousands of projects similar to this underway around the country. Those projects are all following federal laws and utilize administrative options to resolve any issues under the NHPA and Section 4(f). There was no evidence that a broad, blanket exemption from NHPA and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act warranted Congressional intervention to circumvent longstanding, successful administrative procedures already in place that balance practical needs with the protection of historic resources. This exemption was inappropriate, unnecessary, and unprecedented. There was no evidence that administrative tools would not have been unable to resolve any issues pertaining to the levees on the Trinity River. Congress should have ensured that the available administrative mechanisms had been fully employed before including this broad and unnecessary exemption that would endanger historic resources intrinsic to the development of a major American city and set a dangerous precedent. The whole purpose of the Section 106 of the NHPA and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act is to ensure that federal resources are not used to harm historic properties without the consideration of adverse effects and alternatives. A National Register listing or eligibility does not prevent private property owners from harming or even destroying their own historic properties, as long as no federal funding or federal permits are involved. But where taxpayer dollars are awarded, or federal regulatory authority is invoked, those public benefits must be conditioned on compliance with our federal laws that require historic preservation and other policies to be included in the process of planning specific projects. This does not mean that projects cannot proceed where a historic property is involved; it simply means that the impacts of the projects on that property must be considered and if necessary, mitigated. In 1966 Congress created Section 106 of the NHPA and Section 4(f) of the DOT Act as tools to balance historic preservation concerns with the needs of federal undertakings. These reviews ensure that federal agencies identify any potential conflicts between their undertakings and historic preservation and resolve any conflicts in the public interest. The process has worked efficiently and effectively for nearly fifty years. The NHPA and Section 4(f) exemption language contained in H.R. 4899 is an affront to the Act's visionary framers. America's industrial and engineering infrastructure, and associated historic properties are essential to the nation's identity--its culture, history, and economy, past, present and future. In the absence of the protections afforded by Section 106 of the NHPA and Transportation's Section 4(f), those corridors have no meaningful procedural guarantees for preservation consideration, ensuring pieces of American history will be lost forever.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, in the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake, and its aftershocks, that struck Haiti in January, 2010, there has been a horrifying rise of sexual violence against displaced women there. I rise in condemnation of this unconscionable crime and fundamental violation of human rights. And, I call upon my colleagues in Congress, the administration, the international community, and all Americans to speak out against this abuse and act swiftly to end it. It is widely documented that sexual violence often increases in emergencies and post-crisis situations, due to mass displacements of people, lack of safe, secure shelter and other scarce resources, and the breakdown of rule of law. In Haiti, according to reports from the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, major media outlets and many others, violence against women in the aftermath of the earthquake has risen dramatically. In particular, the displaced women in camps have been the main targets of sexual violence. These women have lost their homes, loved ones, contact with friends and family, and have nowhere else to go but to makeshift shelters often consisting of little more than a plastic tarp. These camps offer little privacy, order, or protection from any kind of danger. The conditions in the camps are so deplorable that they actually increase the chances of women and girls experiencing sexual violence. For example, men and women share the same latrines, which remain unlit after dark, effectively turning a basic necessity into a predatory opportunity and increasing the chances that a woman using those facilities will be raped. Access to food, clean water, health service and other critical necessities is also limited or nonexistent in these camps. This forces women to take on great personal risk and brave unsafe conditions simply to acquire essential requirements for survival, for themselves and their dependants. The breakdown of law enforcement has only exacerbated this intensifying problem. There is insufficient policing in and around the most volatile areas. Women have no recourse to report violence, seek protection from abuse, and ensure their cases are brought to justice. Often they are too afraid to speak because their attackers live in the same camp and the women fear retribution. They have nowhere to seek refuge. Furthermore, as many individuals are still unaccounted for, women and girls who are sexually assaulted are too often faceless, nameless victims. Any surviving family may not know their loved ones are out there, let alone in dire need of protection from rape. We must make the safety and protection of women and girls in Haiti a top priority during the ongoing recovery efforts. It is critical that we in Congress, along with the UN, human rights groups and non- governmental organizations take a strong stand against this sexual violence and do all we can to protect women in Haiti during this difficult time of national crisis. We must not allow sexual violence against women in Haiti to continue. Freedom from violence and intimidation is essential to empowering women and improving societies all over the world. It is a fundamental human right. I strongly urge for a greater police presence as well as more peacekeeping forces on the ground to enhance and ensure security for vulnerable women and girls. Additionally, I strongly support efforts to help strengthen the capacity of local women's organizations. These local organizations help women acquire access to crucial medical and mental health services after an attack. Strengthening medical and counseling services while building a stronger and more effective security force that patrols the camps are critical first steps to curb the rampant rise of sexual violence and address its devastating consequences for women already suffering from the trauma of the earthquakes that devastated their country just six months ago. Madam Speaker, in the aftermath of the earthquake we saw a worldwide outpouring of support and goodwill that was truly inspirational and demonstrated the best of what is within all of us. We also heard a lot of talk about ensuring accountability, sustainability, and a commitment to revive Haiti at all levels, above and beyond pre-earthquake conditions. Now we are seeing an ugly rise of violence against the most vulnerable. We in Congress, along with our international partners, must stand up now to take bold action on ensuring that women and girls in Haiti are no longer targets of that violence. We need to make sure that women's rights in Haiti are protected in every capacity during and after reconstruction. We have committed ourselves and our resources to helping to rebuild Haiti. We cannot deliver on that promise if women's security is at risk. Full participation and empowerment of women in rebuilding and development processes are key components for success in Haiti, and this depends on ensuring their safety now.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, on June 15, 2010, the British Government published the conclusions of Lord Saville's comprehensive report on the tragic events in Northern Ireland of January 30th, 1972, otherwise known as ``Bloody Sunday.'' After 38 years this full and sober account of the events of that day at last made unmistakably clear that 14 innocent civilians lost their lives in one of the worst episodes of a dark era in the history of Northern Ireland. Nothing can erase the pain endured by the families and loved one of those who were killed in the unjustifiable Bloody Sunday shootings. However, the admissions of the Saville Inquiry have helped advance the healing process of those affected and the country as a whole. It also serves as a reminder of how far the peace process in Northern Ireland has come; how many brave steps have been taken on both sides; and how firm the commitment to peace and reconciliation has proven itself for more than a decade now, since the 1998 signing of the historic Good Friday Agreements. The Saville Inquiry was commissioned in 1998 and opened in 2000 in response to outcries from the families of the victims of Bloody Sunday. This Inquiry was specifically tasked to resolve unanswered accusations left after a previous inconclusive tribunal immediately following the shootings, as well as the establishment of a definitive account of events. For ten years the Saville tribunal heard testimony from witnesses in order to fully ascertain the truth of what happened that terrible day in 1972. The findings of the Saville Inquiry state unambiguously that the conduct of British Army soldiers on January 30, 1972, was ``both unjustified and unjustifiable.'' It concludes that certain British soldiers ``reacted by losing self- control . . . forgetting or ignoring their instructions and training.'' Without provocation, the soldiers fired the first shots at unarmed civilians. Many of those civilians had been marching in protest to a policy of internment without trial introduced in response to rising sectarian and paramilitary violence particularly against British soldiers, during the height of the period known as ``The Troubles.'' It is clear that the recent history of Northern Ireland is a painful one with deep divisions and violent sectarian clashes in which thousands of people on all sides lost their lives, lost loved ones, and suffered terrible injustice as a result of the escalation of tensions and force. Over 3,500 people from every community lost their lives in the violence in Northern Ireland. However, the history of Northern Ireland is also a shining example of the resilience and determination of the will to live in peace, and how people with the strength to cross the divide can indeed build a better future together. Northern Ireland can and should be very proud of the remarkable peace and cross-community cooperation it has accomplished. While there are many more unanswered questions lingering in Northern Ireland, and many unacknowledged tragedies across each community, no step to resolve these is trivial. The publication of the Saville Inquiry is an important component of the ongoing reconciliation process in Northern Ireland. I commend Lord Saville and the members of his tribunal for their determination to bring the truth to light. I also commend former British Prime Minister Tony Blair for his leadership in helping to begin this critical process, and current Prime Minister David Cameron for taking up that torch in offering his heartfelt apology on behalf of the British Government for the events of Bloody Sunday. His Statement to the House of Commons on June 15, 2010, was deeply moving. This Inquiry at last lays to rest one of the most tragic events in the history of Northern Ireland. And I hope it will help bring closure to the affected families and further the healing process in Northern Ireland. There is still more work to be done, and I stand ready, with my colleagues, to lend assistance to our friends in the British Government, and the people of Northern Ireland, to ensure that peace and reconciliation continue to progress in Northern Ireland.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, instead of working together like President Reagan and Speaker O'Neill did in the early eighties to extend the solvency of Social Security, this week the Republican leader announced his plan to raise the Social Security retirement age and decrease benefits for older Americans to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on the backs of seniors? You've got to be kidding me. This is the same Republican Party when, in the majority under President Bush, refused to pay for the two wars, and gave tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, doubling our national debt, and laying the groundwork for the worst financial crisis in a generation. And some Republicans are still trying to privatize Social Security. Do I need to remind people that personal retirement funds have been wiped out under failed Republican economics? The other side refuses to work together to create additional jobs and to help those who have lost their jobs. Despite Republican foot dragging and nay-saying, this year we're on track to create more jobs than were created during the entire 8 years under President Bush. Missourians simply cannot afford more failed economic policies.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jeff Theerman, the Executive Director of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, on his election as the new President of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). For over twenty-five years, Mr. Theerman has served St. Louis through his work at the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. During his tenure with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, he has demonstrated that he is an accomplished leader and committed environmental steward continuously working to improve the public health of the St. Louis region. In October of 2003, Mr. Theerman became the Executive Director, ably accepting the accountability of the organization's operations. Since joining others in the founding of the NACWA forty years ago, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District has benefitted from its active engagement with the organization. A member of the NACWA's Board of Directors since 2004, Mr. Theerman has served as the organization's Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President. I find it fitting that his election as President coincides with the 40th anniversary of the NACWA's advocacy on behalf of the Nation's clean water agencies and the environment we all value so much. It is my sincere pleasure to congratulate Mr. Theerman on becoming the President of NACWA. I am certain his dedication to his work will bring continued progress to proactively and effectively addressing the complex 21st century water quality challenges we face in St. Louis and the Nation. There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Theerman is the ideal leader for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, NACWA.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and acknowledge Abigail Fronick and Natasha Sanford, two young people from the Third Congressional District who are truly a credit to both the State of Missouri and the nation as a whole. Abigail and Natasha have been selected to receive the Congressional Award for their outstanding efforts in community service and personal development. Each devoted over four hundred hours of voluntary public service to St. Louis Irish Arts, where they taught and performed traditional Irish dance for the benefit of people of all ages. As is required for the Congressional Award, each of these young women also completed an expedition of personal discovery, traveling to Ireland to become immersed in a different culture and study Irish music. Natasha and Abigail have both demonstrated a passion for self- discovery through the examination of traditional Irish culture, and extended that passion to the education and betterment of others within their community. Young people such as these show a promising future for the United States, and I am proud and honored to have such individuals in the Third Congressional District of the great state of Missouri. I find it fitting that we should recognize their achievements here today, and I look forward to how they will continue to apply themselves in the future.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1407) supporting the goals and ideals of High- Performance Building Week.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1407, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1407, supporting the goals and ideals of High-Performance Building Week. In 2008, my colleague Representative Judy Biggert and I came together to form the bipartisan High-Performance Buildings Caucus. We both recognized that any conversation about our energy future and the creation of clean-energy jobs must involve our built environment. Investing in building energy-efficiency measures is the most immediate and effective way to reduce carbon pollution, lower energy demand, create good clean-energy jobs, and save American families and businesses money. The built environment has a larger impact on the overall environment than many think. Each year, our homes, offices, schools, and other buildings account for about 40 percent of our total energy consumption. They consume 70 percent of all electricity from the grid, 60 percent of all raw materials, and 12 percent of all potable water in the United States alone. Through more efficient building practices and new technologies, we are beginning to address these problems in our built environment, but there is still much more to do. I am a strong advocate of increasing the number of high-performance building technologies and construction throughout the U.S. A high- performance building is one that incorporates an entire-systems approach to building which includes energy and water efficiencies, lifecycle cost analysis, and other environmental attributes into designs that are accessible, secure, resilient, and in many cases, historically preserved. High-performance buildings are more important in these difficult economic times because of their reduced energy cost, higher building values, and lower overall operating and maintenance costs. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit with many companies and manufacturers that work in this field. The majority of all building products are American-made and manufactured. This is key because here in the U.S., building construction is responsible for 15 percent of GDP per year. And according to the U.S. Green Building Council, greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs. The retrofitting of existing buildings or the design and construction of new high-performance buildings will have enormous impacts on the growth of our economy and securing our energy independence. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1388, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. CARNAHAN

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and acknowledge Sandra Jakovljevic. Sandra has been a valued district staff member of mine for the past 3 years, specializing in outreach to the Bosnian community and providing excellent customer service to my constituents. The Bosnian community is a significant part of my district. More than 30,000 have decided to make the St. Louis area their new home, and Sandra has been an excellent liaison to my Bosnian-American constituents. Sandra has assisted many with questions about immigration processes and procedures, and has been able to help them make St. Louis and America feel more like home. I have received many accolades from citizens all across my district who received critical assistance outstanding service from Sandra. From visa issues to emergency passport problems, Sandra went the extra mile to help resolve their problem in the most professional and timely manner possible. Many times, she came to the office very early or stayed very late to make calls across different international time zones to help bring resolution to problems, something my constituents have come to truly appreciate. I admire Sandra for the many challenges she has overcome in her lifetime. My staff and I have learned much from Sandra, and I hope she has learned from her experience with my office as well. May Sandra enjoy success and peace with her new husband-to-be Bernard, and we wish her well as she begins this new chapter in her life. I, along with all of my staff, will miss her very much.