Joe Courtney

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. In December 2007, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) Board announced a $1.18 million grant to the Lee Company's Westbrook production facility for the development of a solar photovoltaic system. On Friday, June 27, 2008 the Lee Company will celebrate the returns on these investments: Connecticut's largest solar photovoltaic system at a manufacturing facility. I rise today to recognize this monumental achievement and commend the Lee Company and the CCEF's leadership with facilitating a greener Connecticut for current and future generations. In 1948, the Lee Company was founded by Leighton Lee II in eastern Connecticut. Over the past six decades, the Lee Company has transformed the original Connecticut regional offices into a national presence. Today, the company remains one of the foremost developers and manufacturers of fluid control components for aerospace systems. The CCEF was established by Connecticut's General Assembly in 2000. Since inception, the CCEF, administered by Connecticut Innovations, has invested millions of dollars in renewable energy projects throughout Connecticut, focusing on solar, biomass, wind, hydro, and wave power. In my district alone, the Fund has provided nearly $14 million in incentive grants for 207 alternative energy projects. Current operating renewable energy projects are estimated to generate 5 million kWh and eliminate over 4.1 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over the course of each year. As important as the state's help was in this project, it was the vision and determination of the Lee Company that really made the project's exciting transformation of its energy system possible. The CCEF's incentive grant to the Lee Company, which covered half the cost of the 308-kilowatt photovoltaic system at the Westbrook production facility, is one of the largest in the state of Connecticut. Once operating, the photovoltaic system will provide 19 percent of the energy used at the facility. When the system is not in use, energy production credits will be deducted from the company's electric bill. In addition to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, these investments will generate new economic growth and opportunity. The Lee Company employs more than 100 individuals at the Westbrook production facility and more than 800 people throughout the state. These investments will allow for the continued growth of the company and expanded employment opportunities throughout Connecticut. Madam Speaker, our Nation is at a critical turning point. For the strength of our economy and health of our environment, investments in clean, renewable energy are needed now more than ever. I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing these renewable energy achievements and supporting similar initiatives in their districts.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, today, nearly 150 members of the 1109th Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot of the Connecticut National Guard are preparing for the unit's second deployment abroad to Iraq. Although my duties in Washington prevent me from joining the send-off ceremony today in Groton, I want the members of the 1109th AVCRAD, and their families, to know that all of Connecticut is proud of them and look forward to their safe return. Connecticut's AVCRAD plays a critical role in supporting our military. The unit provides maintenance and logistics for aircraft and equipment help to 14 across the Northeast states and supports Connecticut's fleet of Black Hawk helicopters. Last year, I had the chance to visit their facility and see their operations up close. I walked away from that experience deeply impressed with the professionalism, skill and dedication they have for their mission. Overseas deployment is not new to the AVCRAD. Yet, as we know all too well, any military deployment is hard not only on our men and women in uniform, but also on their families and loved ones waiting at home for them to return. In my visit last year, I was briefed by the unit's leadership about the scope and impact that this deployment will have not only on the unit as a whole, but also on the families of those preparing to deploy. As I did then, today I continue to offer my unconditional support and assistance to them and their families throughout the length of this deployment. I am proud to represent the 1109th AVCRAD in Congress. I join Connecticut's Adjutant General, Major General Thaddeus Martin, the unit's commanding officer, Colonel Tom Boland, and the people of southeastern Connecticut in wishing the 1109th AVCARD good luck and eagerly awaiting their safe return.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, last week it was revealed that the Air Force made a serious mistake in comparing the costs of tanker aircraft proposals offered by Northrop Grumman/Airbus and Boeing. When the Air Force awarded this $40 billion contract to Northrop Grumman/Airbus, it repeatedly said that the cost of the two planes was one of their top selection criteria. However this latest revelation, supported by both companies, undercuts the Air Force's assertion that they picked the most cost-effective aircraft and casts doubt on whether the two planes were evaluated fairly on the other criteria. Take, for example, fuel usage. The Airbus tanker uses 24 percent more fuel than Boeing, about 400 gallons more per hour, and over 2 billion gallons of fuel each year. Yet the Air Force continues to claim that the Airbus tanker is the best value over the long term. At a time of soaring fuel costs that calls into question whether the most cost-effective choice was made for our taxpayers and our airmen for a plane with a lifespan of 40 years, the selection of tanker aircraft will have far-reaching implications for our Nation's industrial base and our security. The Air Force must get it right and rebid this critical decision.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Marie Herbst on retirement after more than thirty-seven years of service to the citizens of East Windsor Connecticut as a State Senator, Mayor, Town Councilwoman, teacher, mother, wife, and role model. Marie has been inspiring and leading people from the East Windsor/ Vernon area of Connecticut for her entire lifetime. Beginning as one of the most dedicated citizens of Vernon, she stood as an activist for her town's needs in the area of education. This commitment to the Vernon area was not limited to simple activism, as Marie saw the need to serve her constituents locally to ensure that her neighbors' voices were heard. She was elected to the Board of Education, Town Council, and as Mayor of Vernon, and for over eight years as a State Senator representing her friends and neighbors in Hartford. She demonstrated further dedication to her fellow citizens after she left the Connecticut General Assembly to resume her position on the Town Council. In many ways, her return to local government was similar to former President John Quincy Adams decision to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives after leaving the White House. As important as her loyalty to the citizens of East Windsor and Vernon were as a public servant, deeper than any other commitment was her passion for education. Offering her skills and dedication outside of her sizable family, Marie served honorably for over 37 years as an educator attesting to her selflessness and passion for the well-being of East Windsor, Connecticut's schoolchildren, both present and future. Countless students over that time have been inspired by Marie's passion and skill as a teacher and gone on to succeed in adult life. Marie was active to the last moment, even taking time to offer words of enduring wisdom to the recent graduates of East Windsor High School as the school's graduation speaker. I ask that you please join with me in congratulating and commemorating the dedication and career of Mrs. Marie Herbst, a truly concerned, selfless citizen of eastern Connecticut.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 300th anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Killingly, Connecticut. Over the course of 2008, Killingly's residents have and will continue to celebrate 300 years of history. Killingly's ability to adapt and to transform with modem advancements have been evident since early settlement. Although the original settlement was rooted in agriculture production, like other colonial towns, modem amenities such as taverns, blacksmith shops, grist and saw mills were prevalent. By the end of the 18th century, William Danielson developed a successful iron works and William Cundall created one of Connecticut's earliest woolen works. With these modem amenities and connection with the New England railroad network, Killingly soon grew to an industrial hub. Over the past 300 years, Killingly has been the setting for momentous events as well as home and birthplace to many notable figures in American history. In 1750, Israel Proctor deeded his land to his servants, laying a progressive foundation for successive abolitionist, Henry Hammond, and an Underground Railroad network. In addition, Mary Dixon Kies, the first woman in the U.S. to receive a patent, and Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co., were both born and raised in Killingly. Madam Speaker, for 300 years Killingly and its residents have adapted, endured, and thrived in light of significant pressures from changing local, national and international dynamics. On Saturday, May 31, 2008, I had the pleasure of participating in a tercentennial parade. The outpouring of support and warm wishes from Killingly citizens was truly telling of the strength and unity of this community. On this tercentennial, I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents with honoring and celebrating this 300th anniversary.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, the humanities have shaped nearly every aspect of our modern civilization, from our political and legal systems to architecture. Today, the proliferation of humanity fields remains as important as ever and the Connecticut Humanities Council has strived to preserve academic and cultural ideals in our community. This year, the Council celebrates its 35th anniversary. For 35 years, the Connecticut Humanities Council has enriched our community academically and culturally and has provided greater insights into our Connecticut, and more broadly, American roots and values. Through ideology and practice, the Connecticut Humanities Council has also exemplified a public access objective. Since inception, the Council has derived public and private funds to support relevant and accessible humanities programs throughout our community, focusing on history and literature disciplines. Programs sponsored by the Connecticut Humanities Council extend beyond the confines of museums, libraries, or any other academic institution. Programs like the family reading program, Motherread/ Fatherread, typify the extensions of broader values and life lessons in a meaningful and impactful setting. The Motherread/Fatherread program not only engages a lifelong love of reading and learning, but brings families closer together by encouraging parents to read with their children. Madam Speaker, on this 35th anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing the countless individuals and organizations that have brought the goals of the Council to fruition, by preserving our past and supporting the highest aspirations for our future.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Just to follow up on the chairman's remarks, it sounds like crocodile tears to hear people talking about underfunding IDEA and title I when last December we had a chance to override the President's veto of the education spending bill, which would have put a serious commitment by this Chamber towards those programs which, indeed, have been underfunded for far too long, but unfortunately, too many Members on the other side of the aisle upheld the President's veto and broke, again, the promises to local communities to pay for Federal mandates. We have a national challenge facing this country, a national energy challenge, national education challenge, and that's what this national bill is focusing on. In Connecticut, the Eastern Connecticut State University Institute for Sustainable Energy did an inventory of school buildings a couple of years ago. They found that 90 percent of the buildings were constructed before 1978, completely energy inefficient. If we could get to an Energy Star rating of 50, which is a very modest rating, we would save 40 percent, not 20 percent, but 40 percent energy costs, which is precious dollars for local communities that are distressed and don't have a property tax base to pay for that kind of investment. This program is focused with a title I formula to needy school districts. We're not just taking dollars and throwing them up in the air across the United States of America. We are helping the communities that need the help and can't afford to invest in green technology. We have districts in my part of Connecticut, Quaker Hill Elementary School, that are making that type of investment, but we need to help the districts that can't afford to do it. That's why, with a title I-based formula, this legislation will accomplish that task. I urge the Chamber's full support.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, June 3, 2008, I was necessarily absent from House business as I celebrated the high school graduation of my son in Connecticut. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 367, H. Con Res 138, Supporting National Men's Health Week; voted ``yea'' on rollcall 368 H. Res 923, Recognizing the State of Minnesota's 150th Anniversary; and voted ``yea'' on rollcall 369, H. Res 1114, Supporting the goals and ideals of the Arbor Day Foundation and National Arbor Day. My vote would not have changed the outcome of any rollcall.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 300th anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Hebron, Connecticut. Throughout 2008, the town and its residents have and will continue to celebrate 300 years of rich history. From its original settlement, agriculture production has supported the growth of the town as well as agriculture development and growth of neighboring communities. From colonial labors to modern agricultural machinery, cultivation of the land has remained an important economic and communal component of the town of Hebron. Hebron's agricultural history, reflecting on the distinct New England seasons, will be highlighted in the yearlong third centennial celebration. This past March, residents enjoyed Maple Fest, which focused on a favorite New England winter harvest and culinary tradition. Families in Hebron and across the New England community joined in the festivities, which featured regional treats from local sugar houses. The sweet products of the maple trees were enjoyed in traditional to untraditional forms, from maple syrup to maple cotton candy. In the coming September, Hebron Harvest Fair will highlight the products of the New England fall harvest. Three hundred years after incorporation, from its colonial origins through its modem evolution, Hebron represents the very best of a Connecticut and more broadly, small-town America. I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in honoring and celebrating Hebron's third centennial and welcome many more to come.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor Elwood A.D. ``Woody'' Lechausse of Enfield, Connecticut, who passed away over the weekend at the West Haven VA Medical Center. For nearly 35 years, Connecticut veterans could rely on Woody to be their staunchest advocate in the state house and here in Congress. A veteran himself, Woody served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1965, during which he served as a Sergeant in Izmir, Turkey, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st Airborne Division, and Quin Huon, South Vietnam with the 178th Signal (Spt) 39th Signal Battalion. He returned home to Connecticut and, fueled with his desire to improve the lives of all those who have served our nation, began a long and storied career as a rigorous and unyielding voice for improving our nation's treatment of our veterans. As a member of several veterans service organizations, such as the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 82nd Airborne Division Association and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 120, Woody served in countless leadership roles on both the state and national levels. Although a fighter on behalf of all those who wore our nation's uniform, Woody was especially dedicated to addressing the difficulties faced by our disabled veterans and those who returned home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health challenges from their combat experience. Woody served on numerous government agencies, boards and taskforces that helped make tangible improvements in the health care, support and commemoration of all our veterans. And for his work, he was continually honored at all levels, most recently by being permanently inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame in 2007. I was honored to meet with Woody on numerous occasions both in Washington and Connecticut, and work with him closely on efforts to improve the quality of life for veterans in Connecticut and across the Nation. He was a trusted advisor to the members and staff of Connecticut's congressional delegation, and could always be relied on to help inform us of the needs of our veterans and help ``get the word out'' through his dialogue with veterans organizations and updates to his diverse and wide-ranging email list. Madam Speaker, all of us in Connecticut have lost a friend, a mentor and an unmatched voice on behalf of our veterans. I ask all my colleagues to join me in expressing our sincere condolence to Woody's wife Kathryn, his sons James and Ralph, and all his friends and families during this difficult time. And, I urge all my colleagues to honor Woody's service to our nation and lifetime of advocacy on behalf of our Nation's veterans.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Girl Scouts of the towns of Vernon and Rockville, Connecticut. After years of hard work and dedication, young leaders from Troop 10141 and Troop 10735 have achieved the honor of the Bronze and Silver Girl Scout Awards.These young women have not only identified and investigated issues in their own communities, but they have taken the time to create, develop, and implement projects that address these areas of concern. These young women have selflessly given their time, knowledge and resources to their communities, and their work is truly deserving of this wonderful recognition. These young women are truly the emerging community leaders of tomorrow. Andrea Notman, a Bronze Award recipient, orchestrated a winter clothing drive, while another recipient of the Bronze Award, Larissa Flynn, distributed paper grocery bags that were decorated in honor of Earth Day. Amy Eitelman and Jackie Ose, both Bronze Award recipients, collected recyclable materials and used the proceeds to purchase a willow tree to be planted in their community. Kathleen Hills, a Silver Award recipient, organized and ran a town wide Girl Scout fair while Emily Piro, another Silver Award recipient, helped to organize and manage a camping weekend for local Brownie Girl Scouts. Jillian Eitelman, another Silver Award recipient, created the ``Green Angel Fund'' in memory of Diane Lloyd, a former troop leader. The fund offers support to leaders who wish to further their scouting knowledge. An additional Silver Award winner, Sarah Nolan, created a presentation about the history of Girl Scouting and delivered the presentation at several area meetings. Amiee Roberge, another Silver Award recipient, created care boxes of toiletries and toys and donated them to the residents at a local battered women and children's center. Alexandrea Banks, another Silver Award winner, helped to transform an old music room into a computer lab at the Saint Bernard School in Connecticut. Alexandrea also coordinated the creation of a preschool from a former house at this same school. Cheyenne Sweeney, Shannon Lipe, Mary Leigh Enders, and Elizabeth Courtney, recipients of the Silver Award, researched, created, and distributed 1,200 brochures regarding breast cancer awareness. They also made and distributed 1,200 key rings with informational cards describing the sizes of tumors. Each of these diverse projects helped to address a specific need that these young women discovered within their own communities. These awards are a tribute to their hard work and perseverance, and I am honored to recognize them today. The Girl Scouts and leaders of Troops 10141 and 10735 deserve the highest accolades for all of their enthusiasm and commitment to enriching the lives of those in their surrounding communities. Their display of social consciousness, personal conviction, and strong leadership is a tribute to the Girl Scout mission and the ideals that the organization encourages and promotes. It is a privilege to stand here today and applaud all of their hard work. I ask all my colleagues to join with me and the people of Connecticut in congratulating them for this honor.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, on May 13, 2008, communities in Connecticut and around our Nation collectively clad in yellow, celebrated LiveSTRONG Day. LiveSTRONG Day is a day of national reflection, where cancer survivors and disease awareness are recognized in an effort to raise funds to support cancer research and education. Over a decade ago, one of the world's greatest athletes, Lance Armstrong, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Although his prognosis was grim, he overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to become a cancer survivor. With his disease in remission, he founded the LiveSTRONG Foundation, which has since connected communities around the Nation with the collective goal of promoting cancer research and education. The LiveSTRONG Day codifies the priorities of the foundation through national grassroots efforts. In eastern Connecticut, LiveSTRONG Day was celebrated in a number of forms, from yellow fashions to a pickup game of hockey. Several years ago, my good friend and cancer survivor Nancy Brouillet gave me a LiveSTRONG wristband, which I am proud to wear and show my support for these efforts and broader efforts around the Nation. Through these simple acts, the eastern Connecticut community offered support to the cancer survivors in our community as well as raised awareness of the disease in our region. Madam Speaker, cancer remains one of the widest sweeping diseases in the U.S. and around the world. Although much has been accomplished with disease research and treatment, our Nation must continue to invest and support comprehensive efforts to find a cure for the millions that continue to suffer from this disease. The LiveSTRONG Foundation and the priorities of the annual LiveSTRONG Day have served and will continue to serve an invaluable role with achieving these necessary objectives and I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing these contributions.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Hunter defense authorization bill, whose primary mission under the leadership of Chairman Skelton is to restore military readiness to America's Armed Forces. As has been stated earlier this evening, the bill focuses on investing in short-term readiness, with increased commitment and investment to reset the ground troops of this country as well as the National Guard. But as Mr. Hunter indicated in his opening remarks, it also looks over the horizon to deal with military readiness issues that are not being addressed and have been neglected for far too long. One of those is the size of the American Navy. When the Bush administration took office in 2002, the size of America's Navy was 315 ships and submarines. It has declined to 276, and, shockingly, that number is going to in fact accelerate, because we are basically living off a legacy fleet that was built during the Reagan area. Last year, I was proud to be part of an effort that turned around this decline. We invested $588 million in advance procurement to the Virginia class submarine program, the most successful shipbuilding program according to both the Navy and outside experts, and this year we continue that effort with Mr. Hunter's leadership on a motion at the committee to add to the Seapower Subcommittee's $300 million advance procurement. His motion, the Hunter-Courtney amendment, added $422 million, and we are now moving the Navy's shipbuilding schedule to two submarines a year starting in 2010 with this legislation. The industrial base is ready for this challenge. We know that from again the testimony from both Virginia and Connecticut. My district is the home of the Electric Boat, which is, again, one of the most successful shipbuilders in the country in terms of the Virginia class program. The last submarine, the USS New Hampshire, was delivered with 1 million fewer man-hours in terms of production compared to the prior submarine that they built. This investment which this legislation represents will allow this country to again be ready for long-term challenges. The world is changing, there are new maritime forces that are growing in different parts of the world, and I strongly urge support and passage of the Hunter defense authorization bill.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Strategic Petroleum Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act and I am pleased to be a cosponsor of H.R. 6022. As I travel around eastern Connecticut, I am confronted with families, business owners, truckers, farmers and fishermen who are struggling to maintain their lives and livelihoods. Rising oil and gasoline prices are choking our economy. Food and consumer goods are rising as fuel prices rise, bringing additional pain to many people across our country. In my hometown of Vernon, CT, the price of a gallon of gasoline hit $3.99. I am now hearing that some older gasoline pumps throughout the country are not even programmed to go above $3.99. The bill before us today is simple, straightforward and effective. Instead of continuing to add 70,000 barrels of oil per day to fill an already stocked Strategic Petroleum Reserve, SPR, H.R. 6022 would instead, put that oil on the market to ease supply and price. And we should absolutely not increase the fill rate to 76,000 barrels per day like what the Administration has planned for later this summer. Petroleum economists expect that gasoline prices could decline by as much as 24 cents if we stopped filling the SPR now. The SPR is 97 percent full with over 700 million barrels of oil; in March 2003, when we went to war in Iraq, the SPR stood at 599 million barrels. Diverting oil from the SPR is something that the President has done in the past. When he directed the Secretary to stop filling the SPR during the summer of 2006, he did so by saying, ``every little bit helps.'' At that time he further stipulated that the SPR was at a level that could weather any supply disruption during that summer. In 2006, the SPR stood at approximately 688 million barrels, less that what is there today. I have written to President Bush several times asking him to divert oil from the SPR, but as yet, he has refused to heed my and my colleague's requests. Our constituents need relief from rising oil prices and diverting oil from the SPR will achieve that goal. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6022.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, what a difference 6 weeks makes. On March 14, under Mr. Miller's leadership, the Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on the question of student loan availability. And at that time, Secretary Spellings from the Department of Education came in and said that the administration was merely ``monitoring the situation,'' and expressed some diffidence and confusion about whether or not in fact the Federal Government really had a role to play in terms of being lender of last resort. During the last 6 weeks, what we have seen is the collapse of Bear Stearns, we have seen lenders withdrawing from the student loan market, and a clear signal that the subprime mortgage crisis is in fact extending to the student loan market. In Connecticut, the Connecticut Commissioner of Higher Education Mike Meotti and the Director of Financial Aid at University of Connecticut, who I met with, confirmed the fact that they were seeing some withdrawal from the market and a need to step up their activity in terms of giving students more help as they enter a very challenging year, again, because of what is happening in the financial markets. This legislation, which now the administration has come around in support of, will in fact strengthen the Direct Student Loan program and will confirm that the Federal Government will in fact be a lender of last resort so that it will make sure that, in August and September, students and families will not be running into difficulty and will in fact be able to go to college in the fall. The Federal Government acted swiftly to help Bear Stearns, an investment bank which frankly morally and ethically didn't deserve the help. Millions of students, however, do. And this legislation, which will clearly confirm that the Federal Government has a role to play going into the summer months as students reach out to get financial assistance, that in fact the doors of colleges and universities will remain open. I applaud Mr. Miller for his leadership going back to last March 14 and ensuring that passage of this bill will occur on a bipartisan basis.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, last night, gas prices in New London, Connecticut reached $3.77 a gallon. When George Bush took office, they were $1.52 a gallon. Those prices are 72 cents higher than last year in New London County, 42 cents higher than just last month. Commercial fishermen on Long Island Sound have seen their fuel costs double, truck drivers have seen their diesel prices more than double in the last year. Dozens of Members of Congress have written to President Bush asking him, with one stroke of the pen, to change the delivery schedule for the Strategic Petroleum Oil Reserve, which is a tried and true practice that he himself exercised in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina which brought down the price of gas by 40 cents at a time when the price per barrel was $75. Today, at $120 per barrel, it is time for President Bush to listen to the people of this country, Members of Congress, who are asking him to exercise his power to bring down the price of gas. And our Congress, the Democratic-led Congress, is going to keep the pressure on the President until he listens to the people of this country and avoids smothering our attempts to bring this country out of recession with the economic stimulus package.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Clare M. Albom a consummate leader in physical education, safety, senior and women's issues in eastern Connecticut. On April 26, 2008, Clare passed away. Clare was born in Ellington, Connecticut, on June 17, 1919. She attended Rockville High School and subsequently earned a B.A. in health, physical education and recreation from Arnold College in New Haven. After graduation, Clare moved to Pasadena, California, and assumed a position with the Aerojet Engineering Corporation, drafting blue prints for jet engines. After 2 years in Pasadena, Clare and her husband, Milton, returned to Rockville to raise a family. Following the birth of her three children and the untimely death of her beloved husband, she began teaching with her alma mater, Rockville High School. For 15 years, she remained dedicated to girls' physical education at Rockville High School, teaching sports curriculum and forming the Girls' Athletic Activities Club (GAAC). The GAAC, which was a huge success, offered girls in the community an unprecedented opportunity to explore interests in individual and team sports. In 1971, the GAAC received national accolades, when the program was recognized as the most outstanding in the U.S. Over the course of her career, Clare worked with the Connecticut State Department of Education, evaluating the quality of physical education programs across the State and conducting teacher workshops. Highlights included serving as a master bowling clinician for the Lifetime Sports Education Project and conducting bowling workshops for special education teachers withthe acclaimed Kennedy Institute. Her work in physical education has also been solidified in physical education textbooks and national manuals. In addition to her work in the physical education community, Clare was a passionate advocate for children's safety. Between 1970 and 1979, she served as the supervisor of Health, Elementary and Girls' Physical Education in the Vernon school system. In 1974, she developed a safety education program which was recognized at the State level by the Connecticut Safety Commission. In 1978, she produced a film on bus safety, ``Alert and Alive,'' which also received State recognition by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and national recognition at the National Highway Transportation Convention in Washington, D.C. After retiring, Clare was asked by the Vernon mayor, Marie Herbst, to head up the Vernon Senior Center, which at the time was a very small program. Clare transformed the center into one of the most successful municipal senior centers in Connecticut. The center sponsored group trips in the U.S. and abroad, started ``The Golden Steppers'' dance program, a golf league, a bridge club, holiday events--the list goes on. Even more importantly, the center became an advocate in Vernon, the State capital, and Washington, DC, to create innovative assistance for seniors--ConnPACE, circuit breaks property tax relief and improvements to Social Security and Medicare. As a State Representative for the town of Vernon I had the privilege to know and work with Clare for the last 22 years. She was a tireless advocate for the center, but even more importantly, for her progressive, compassionate vision of the Vernon community. Madam Speaker, Clare lived an extraordinary life. Her advocacy and leadership roles in often overlooked issues, including girls' physical education, children's safety and opportunities for senior citizens, improved the lives of our friends and neighbors in Connecticut and across the Nation, and would change the status quo for future generations. I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing her life and legacy and offering condolences to her family.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to salute Chairman Rahall and Subcommittee Chairman Grijalva for the hard work that both of these individuals did to bring this legislation to the floor today. It took persistent leadership to, again, get 61 measures all here, ready for vote and final passage and transmittal to the White House. Included in this bill, section 344, is the language which was included in H.R. 986 legislation, which we debated and passed last July, the designation of the Eightmile River in Connecticut, Wild and Scenic designation. This is an effort that has taken 10 years in the State of Connecticut. It's a river that is 8 miles long, extends from East Haddam through Salem, into Lyme, and then to Hamburg Cove on Long Island Sound. It is one of the most pristine treasures in a highly densely populated part of the country, one of the original colonies, where we respect property rights dearly in the State of Connecticut. Over that 10-year period, a balanced process was followed, which brought consensus among all the communities, bipartisan support, the Republican Governor of Connecticut, the entire delegation from Connecticut, and particularly Senator Dodd, who led the fight in the Senate for passage. And the communities who have worked so hard to preserve this extraordinary body of water are, again, anxious and excited to see final passage, which will take the Eightmile River and make it part of the family of rivers that have received the Wild and Scenic designation over the 40 years of that act's existence in this country, 160 rivers. Again, I want to salute the Resources Committee for the hard work that they did to make sure that the Eightmile River plan will now become a reality.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, today our Nation joins with countries from around the world to celebrate Earth Day. Today, communities large and small, collectively come together to recognize past progress and develop new strategies to improve future environmental health. On this day of global environmental reflection, I rise to recognize two outstanding schools in my district, Woodstock and Brooklyn Middle Schools, which have worked to make eastern Connecticut a cleaner and more environmentally conscious community. Between March 20 and April 10, 2008, Woodstock and Brooklyn Middle Schools embarked on a project, the ``Bad Bag Competition'', which explored the prevalence of plastic bag use in our country as well as its environmental implications. Plastic bags are everywhere, from grocery to department stores, and every year Americans consume an average of 100 billion. In order to produce our annual demand for plastic bags, 12 million barrels of oil are used. Reducing national demand for plastic bags has clear environmental benefits. Throughout the ``Bad Bag Competition'', students from Woodstock and Brooklyn Middle Schools collected and recycled used plastic bags and educated our neighbors on the importance of using reusable bags. At the end of the competition, when all the bags were counted, Woodstock and Brooklyn Middle Schools collected 43,836 and 66,100 bags respectively. The petroleum that was used to produce these bags, which collectively totaled 109,936, could have fueled a vehicle for 7,853 miles. Mr. Speaker, these students have exemplified the spirit of Earth Day. These students not only modified their own choices to be more environmentally responsible, but encouraged our neighbors to do the same. The impact of this project on our eastern Connecticut community has been great, and the multiplier effects are even greater. I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing these students' achievements and to choose reusable bags instead of the proverbial ``paper or plastic.''

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary contributions of George Gerard and his auto mechanic team at Madison Auto Body Shop in Madison, Connecticut. Over the past 5 months, the Madison Auto Body Shop donated time, talent and resources to refurbishing a historic 9/11 Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle, EVR, #1054. On September 11, 2001, the Red Cross' ERV #1054 was one of the first vehicles on the recovery scene. Following a six-month service period of laborious cleanup duties, the vehicle fell into disrepair and was retired to the American Red Cross of South Central Connecticut in New Haven. In the fall of 2007, the New Haven Register ran an article, outlining the New Haven Red Cross chapter's hope for restoring ERV #1054, to use for local disaster response. George and the Madison Auto Body Shop team responded to the article, volunteering countless hours and resources, to refurbish the historic ERV #1054. Today with new, polished parts, everything down to the smallest screw, the ERV #1054 stands in pristine condition. The Madison Auto Body team that worked on the ERV #1054's reconstruction was led by George Gerard and included Amanda Wigham, Jeff Tuthill, Ryan Dudley, Carlos Reva, Robert Rich, Ernie Bozza, Juan Roque, Augie Cozaeatal, and Fernando Sambreo. Madam Speaker, on September 11, 2001, our world changed. We witnessed the worst of mankind, incited by destructive hatred. The destruction of the day, however, was eclipsed by the continuity of our Nation led by all American communities, large and small, from all demographics, from coast to coast. Today, our Nation remains stronger than ever, and efforts like those of the Madison Auto Body Shop remind us of this. I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing their contributions.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Chairman, I want to commend Chairman Miller for getting out ahead of the student lending issue before it becomes a full-fledged crisis. In March, the Education and Labor Committee heard testimony from the Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, and we urged her to take steps then to ensure student lending contingency plans were in place in the event of further troubles. Frankly, I was disappointed to learn that she and her team were only ``monitoring the situation.'' It is imperative that students have uninterrupted access to student loans in the event that the mortgage crisis and credit crunch further ripple through the economy. Just yesterday, Citibank's student lending division announced it was going to stop lending at many higher education institutions, though they wouldn't name which ones. This is troubling news since Citibank is the second largest originator of federal student loans. I met with the Connecticut Commissioner of Higher Education and the Director of Financial Aid at the University of Connecticut last month and let me tell you--they are taking this issue seriously. Financial Aid offices across the state are communicating to students and families to finalize their education financing now. I have also personally taken part in getting the word out to my constituents as well. Thankfully, Connecticut students also have backup from the state's own loan agency, the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, with $31 million to lend. Right now, we don't know how deep the effects will be, but it is prudent that students and their parents are given some relief now. This bill will steer borrowers away from costlier private loans and give parents more time to pay off PLUS loans. And it is crucial that Secretary Spellings has the authority now to advance federal funds if necessary. The federal government rushed in to bail out Bear Stearns. It is only right that we make sure that the federal government is ready to assist millions of students and families if the need arises.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, last week, I had the honor of participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the United States Navy Memorial to mark the 108th anniversary of the submarine force. The ceremony, held in front of the memorial's ``Lone Soldier,'' was a moving tribute to the proud heritage of our submarine force and the dedicated submariners who have silently protected our Nation for more than 100 years. And, over the last weekend, I was proud to attend Naval Submarine Base New London's annual submarine birthday ball. For over a century, sailors have embarked on dangerous service in a place where human life was never meant to exist in order to silently protect our Nation. There is an irony to the fact that while our Nation owes much of its security over the past century to the submarine force, most Americans will never truly know all that the ``silent service'' has done to protect us. 2008 is an especially important year in the history of the submarine force, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the USS Nautilus' (SSN-571) journey across the North Pole in 1958, an unprecedented achievement by our sailors at a critical time for our Nation. The men aboard her on her historic journey set the pace for all those who followed in their footsteps. Much has changed about our submarine force and the role of our submariners since the USS Holland (SS-1) first set sail in 1900. In World War I and World War II, our submarines were not much more than surface ships that could submerge for a short period before surfacing. Yet, in very dangerous conditions and with high casualty rates, submariners sank an estimated 6 million tons of enemy merchant ships and sank nearly one-third of the Japanese Navy's warships. The cost of their efforts were high: 52 submarines and over 3,600 men, at a rate of nearly one in four, were lost in the war. But their sacrifice helped bring us to victory and proved the submarine's role in the defense of our Nation. In the Cold War, submariners played a key role as a critical strategic deterrent in our protracted struggle with the Soviet Union. Silently patrolling in waters across the world, our attack and ballistic missile submarine crews helped to secure an uneasy peace by ensuring that we were ready to respond at any moment. There were no victory medals when it was over, no parades for the countless young men who served on these critical yet silent front lines, but there is no doubt our Nation is forever indebted to them and the era they helped us overcome. And, as the Cold War ended and new challenges emerged, the modern attack submarine fleet, consisting of the Los Angeles- and Virginia- class, emerged as our Nation's front line defense Today, our submariners are no less critical than the eras preceding us. We use submarines extensively around the globe, using their stealth to covertly gather intelligence briefed at the highest levels of our government. They are adapting and growing to meeting the security challenges of the 21st century, and every day they remind us that submarines are, and will remain, at the core of our Nation's defense. From the Holland, to the Nautilus, and to the newest boats in the fleet, the USS North Carolina (SSN-777) and USS New Hampshire (SSN- 778), the capabilities and technologies on board may have changed dramatically, but one thing has always stayed the same: The strength of any submarine has always come down to those who command and serve aboard her. In my travels over the past year, I have met countless commanding officers and sailors--many of them young men doing some of the most important work on behalf of our security--who selflessly dedicate their lives in dangerous service. Our sailors serve in the harshest of conditions around the globe, on long tours away from their families literally stacked on top of their crewmates, often cut off from the rest of the world. They make up the smallest portion of our Navy and their achievements are most often secret. But, there is no doubt that each and every one of them loves what they do on behalf of the security of our Nation. Every submariner today serves upon the foundation built by those that came before them. At the core of their service over the past century has been a legacy is one of devotion, bravery and innovation. Without a doubt, today's submarine force is living up to that legacy and building one of their own for those who come after them to follow. This is an exciting time for the submarine force. It is a time of great possibility and of new challenges. But, after spending time with sailors in the mess hall of a submarine submerged below the ice to building relationships with officers at the top of the chain of command, I am confident that our submariners will continue the proud legacy built by those who came before them. I ask all my colleagues to join with me in extending our deep appreciation to those who have, and continue to, silently serve our Nation, their families, and to all our Armed Forces serving today around the globe.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove Madeleine Bordallo, Ron Klein and John Barrow from H.R. 2833, the Preexisting Condition Exclusion Patient Protection Act of 2007.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congresswoman Woolsey for her leadership by managing this resolution this afternoon and for Congresswoman Foxx's strong support that she just articulated very powerfully. As Congresswomen Woolsey and Foxx stated, the statistics that the resolution lays forth clearly show the grave seriousness of this problem of child abuse all across America. In addition, though, just to the horrible trauma to the victims of child abuse, which by itself would be reason to fight this problem, society pays a huge price due to the high incidence of alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, and criminal behavior that has been clearly shown to occur in the later lives of too many children who were abused and neglected. Recent statistics, for example, show that 14 percent of all men in prison in the United States were abused as children and 36 percent of women in prison were abused as children. And it is easy sometimes to get very discouraged about the numbers that just seem to suggest a problem that is growing almost out of control. In Connecticut, the State where I come from, for example, in between 1990 and 2003, the incidence of reported child abuse actually doubled. But I would suggest that perhaps we should look at those numbers in a different fashion, because what is also happening out there is that as a country, we are prepared, as never before in the past, to confront this issue. Mandated reporting laws now require that doctors, mental health providers and professionals in all arrays of professions that deal with families and children are now required by law to report incidents of abuse which in the past would have been swept under the rug. And that is one of the reasons why the number of cases are going up. In addition, I think we should also be encouraged by a smarter and more effective approach that is being developed to fight child abuse, the multidisciplinary teams that are pulling together police, social workers, prosecutors, health care providers, nurse practitioners and doctors who are now systematically working together to make sure, number one, that complaints are dealt with accurately, but also that victims are diagnosed, treated and interviewed in an organized fashion so that there is more effective prosecution of cases. If it seems as though I may be a little bit passionate about this issue, it is because my wife, Audrey, has been a pediatric nurse practitioner for 18 years in Connecticut, has worked at Saint Francis Hospital at Hartford and Windham Hospital as part of the multidisciplinary team, again, that is employing the best techniques possible to make sure that complaints are handled intelligently, swiftly and also in a comprehensive fashion so that prosecutions are not lost or neglected due to the fact that we don't have systems in place to make sure that the cases are handled in an effective manner. This resolution, I think, adds to both of those positive trends by putting the spotlight on this issue to make sure that we, as a country, are prepared to confront the issue, to talk about it openly, to talk about the numbers that are out there and the terrible consequences that we face as a society when we don't deal with the issue. So hopefully this year, like prior years, as Congresswoman Foxx indicated, April will act as a month where awareness will continue to grow, that we are going to continue to, as a society, deal with this issue honestly and frankly so that, A, we will protect our children who are our most valuable national treasure, and, B, that we will have systems that are prepared to effectively prosecute and punish perpetrators, and finally, that we are going to treat and care for people who have been abused in such a terrible fashion, because it helps not only them, but it helps American society. So again, I applaud Congresswoman Woolsey for bringing this measure out on the floor this afternoon and I urge unanimous passage when it comes up for a vote later this evening.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in the well today to talk about an event that occurred last weekend on Saturday in Tolland, Connecticut, which is a suburban town about 20 miles east of Hartford. The Connecticut State Dental Society held an open free clinic under a program called Mission of Mercy, which is a group of dentists around the country that organize operatories and equipment to go into communities and basically open the doors and say anybody who needs dental care, come and we will take care of you. The advertising for this event in Connecticut was modest. There were some TV public service announcements, there were some small notices in the press. The Dental Society had organized about 180 dentists, a number of hygienists and staff to be with the group that morning. Much to their amazement, people started lining up for this event at 6 o'clock the prior evening, Friday evening, and by 4 o'clock in the morning, when the dentists actually arrived to start setting up the operation, there were already 350 people waiting in line to get their care. By 5 o'clock in the morning, the crowd had grown to the point where the Connecticut State Police had to come out and actually turn people away. At about 5:30 in the morning, the heavens opened up. There was thunder, lightning, and it rained, it was pouring rain, hard rain on the crowd, and none would leave, because they were terrified of losing their place in line and being deprived of the opportunity to get an extraction, to get a filling, to get their teeth cleaned, because they were so desperate to get dental care. Looking at the pictures in the press the following day of people literally huddled in the rain waiting to try and get an opportunity to get their teeth taken care of, it really made you wonder what country are we living in. Tolland, Connecticut, where this is being held, is suburban Connecticut. This is not a distressed area. This is not an urban area with large pockets of chronic poverty. It is a suburban area with working families and working individuals who definitely earn a paycheck and provide a standard of living that would be described as middle class for themselves and their families. But when I joined the dental clinic later in the day around 1 o'clock in the afternoon, 800 people were at that point lined up to be served. They had turned away hundreds of others. People were waiting in the stands of a gymnasium, waiting for an opportunity to get their teeth taken care of. Now, why am I talking about this on the floor of the United States Congress? The reason is because there is legislation that has been sitting on the President's desk, the SCHIP bill, the children's health insurance extension, over which there has been a lot of fighting and debating going on in this Chamber over the last few months or so. One of the overlooked parts of that legislation is that in addition to standardizing a 300 percent poverty threshold so that working families would have an opportunity to have their children covered by health insurance, it would also strengthen the dental coverage under the SCHIP program. If you talk to any dentist or any healthcare provider in this country, they will tell you that under the existing SCHIP program, the dental coverage is inadequate. That is why in those stands in that high school gymnasium there were families with children who have never had their teeth cleaned, who needed in some instances to have their teeth extracted because of the fact that they have no other type of decent coverage for their dental care. Unfortunately, President Bush has twice vetoed this legislation, legislation that has been endorsed by the March of Dimes, by the Catholic Hospital Association, by the American Medical Association, by the Pharmaceutical Association of America, a broad consensus of stakeholders in the healthcare system that have come together and said if there is one area of dispute that we ought to agree on as Americans, it is that children should have their health insurance covered. In particular, we should make that sure that oral and dental healthcare is done in a fashion to make sure they are going to have a lifetime of decent dental care. Because if you talk to anyone who is in pediatrics, they will tell you that dental care, dentistry care, is essential to making sure that a young person will grow and thrive. Well, what we saw in Connecticut on Saturday is I think a perfect example of how broken the system is. What is frustrating to me, and I think so many others, is that we have an opportunity with a piece of legislation to make a real difference in the lives of young children in America, to make sure that they will not be stuck in the pouring rain and in thunder and lightning, so they can get access to what I think almost any reasonable person would describe as basic, fundamental, decent healthcare. Madam Speaker, I have a copy of the Hartford Courant coverage of this extraordinary event that took place in Connecticut from the Sunday Hartford Courant edition which I am going to ask to be made part of the Record. I would just like to read the final passage of the article, which described a 67-year-old Stafford Springs woman, which is, again, a suburb of Connecticut. ``As she walked back to her parking lot with no umbrella, soaking wet from the rain, struggling to catch her breath from the walk, the woman said she had come to get her tooth pulled, but already knew she would never get in. Like the others, she can't afford dental insurance.'' When she was asked what she was going to do, she said, ``Just going to pray, I guess.'' She should be able to ask for more than that. She should ask for real action by this Congress to pass healthcare legislation so that Americans will get the care they need. Madam Speaker, I include the article for the Record. [From Courant.com, April 13, 2008] Many Turned Away From Free Dental Care Clinic (By Colin Poitras) The line of taillights glowing in the pre-dawn darkness snaked back nearly a mile from the old Tolland High School on Saturday. Closer to the school, people were walking along the side of the road, a steady stream of dark silhouettes rising out of the morning mist like refugees in a war zone. There were elderly couples clutching their canes, hunched- over veterans, single mothers with young children in tow. A woman on crutches limping along. It was 5 a.m., and they came by the hundreds, a throng of pilgrims with a common goal--free dental care. Some heard about it on the radio, others saw it on TV or read about it in the newspaper. Connecticut's Mission of Mercy, the first ever single, large-scale free dental clinic to be offered in the state. ``This shows we have a broken system and have to find some way to correct it,'' said Dr. Bob Schreibman, a Glastonbury pediatric dentist and one of the Connecticut mission's organizers. ``This is not a solution. This is a stop-gap measure to address people's immediate needs. This points out there is a huge need even in this, the richest state in the country.'' Inside the school, more than 190 volunteer dentists were waiting along with 800 volunteers. Free fillings, check-ups, extractions. No questions asked. The high school's cafeteria and gym were outfitted like a field hospital, with 60 dental chairs shipped in from the Midwest, portable X-ray machines and boxes upon boxes of latex gloves and sterilized dental tools. The crush of patients was so large that by 7 a.m., people were being turned away. When Carol Dingledey, executive director of the Connecticut State Dental Association, arrived to set up at 4 a.m., there were already 350 people outside the door. Some came the night before and camped out. Others drove hours in the dark hoping to be seen. ``It just goes to show you how many people don't have dental insurance,'' said Mary, a 70-year-old woman, standing in a line of about 100 people outside the school at 5:30 a.m. Leaning on her cane, Mary, who didn't want to give her last name, said she spent her entire life working and raising nine children and grandchildren. Now on limited income, she can't afford dental insurance, never mind pay fees out of her pocket. She hasn't been to a dentist in eight years. Her teeth hurt. She needs a filling, and a cap had come off. ``I've never been on welfare; I've never had to struggle to get by,'' Mary said. ``But here it is. This is the bottom of the line. I'm just trying to get by.'' About a half-mile away in the parking lot of the new Tolland High School, where organizers had set up a shuttle parking area, Rhonda Slattery, 54, sat in her motorized wheelchair waiting for her husband, Joe. They had just finished the hourlong ride from Barkhamsted and weren't sure the school bus shuttling people to the make-shift clinic was handicapped accessible. ``I'm just amazed at the number of people here at this hour of the morning,'' said Rhonda Slattery, whose limited Social Security disability income makes it difficult for her to afford dental care. As she spoke, the sky opened up and it started to rain. Hard. Inside the school at 7 a.m., what could be the largest waiting room in Connecticut was packed to its 700- seat capacity. The auditorium was full of people: more retirees, working people, college kids, entire families. Some huddled under blankets. Others sat quietly, waiting for their number to be called, many of their faces swollen or creased in pain. In the triage area just outside the auditorium, dentists peered into people's mouths with portable flashlights. Nurses and dental assistants hustled about--checking blood pressures, taking X-rays, injecting Novocain. In the gymnasium, down the hall the high-pitched whine of dental drills floated above the crowd as dozens of dentists treated patients. Those awaiting care sat in the bleachers, then moved to metal folding chairs before reaching the dental chairs. A squad of stand-by dentists stood off to the side, scrubbed and ready, waiting to replace their peers when their hands cramped and they needed a break. The two-day clinic opened at 5 and the work would not stop until 5 p.m. Today it continues from 5 a.m. to noon. Sitting among the throng were Susan and Brian Boyce of Eastford, both 41, who came to the clinic with their seven children--from age 12 down to 11 months. (The baby was just along for the ride.) Brian is an executive director at the Porter and Chester Institute. Susan is a registered nurse who stays home with the kids. But they don't have dental insurance and with annual dental check-ups costing more than $1,000 a year, paying for even routine dental care is difficult, they said. ``The dentists don't take payment plans, they want the money up front, and that's a big chunk of money when you try to go every year,'' Susan said. Shortly after 7 a.m. the clinic was maxed out. Organizers began turning people away at the door. The backlog was so deep that it would take the rest of the day just to treat those already there. Later in the morning, the clinic reopened briefly, and another 100 or so patients were let in. It abruptly closed again by 10 a.m. For some, the clinic is a blessing, a reprieve from their aches and pain. But for those who didn't get inside, the struggle continues. Many in the pre-dawn dark turned back upon seeing the long line. ``It's pretty bad,'' said one 67-year-old Stafford Springs woman, as she walked back to the parking lot with no umbrella, soaking wet from the rain. Struggling to catch her breath from the walk, the woman said she had come to get her tooth pulled at 5 a.m. but already knew she'd never get in. Like the others, she can't afford dental insurance. As she climbed into her car, the woman was asked what she was going to do. Water dripped off her hair as she wearily shook her head. ``Just going to pray, I guess.''