Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 4674, legislation naming the postal facility in Olathe, Kansas, after Governor John Anderson, Jr. This measure was sponsored by my colleague, Representative Dennis Moore, on January 31, 2006, and unanimously reported by our committee on March 9, 2006. The bill has the support and cosponsorship of the entire Kansas delegation. Born and educated in Kansas, John Anderson became involved in local politics by winning an election for county attorney for Johnson County. He served three terms and then ran successfully for a seat in the Kansas Senate. John served as a State senator until his appointment as a attorney general, a position he held until he decided to run for Governor of Kansas. In 1960 John was elected Governor of Kansas and served until 1964. His tenure was marked by a number of achievements, including the restructuring of the State's public school system, expansion of vocational-technical schools, and advancements in highway construction. After serving as Governor, Mr. Anderson went back to practicing law. He remained involved in public service and is currently retired in Olathe, Kansas. And so, Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity actually to see this post office, and Olathe, Kansas, is a beautiful small town, and I would urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4101, legislation naming the postal facility in Patchogue, New York, after LT Michael P. Murphy. This measure was sponsored by Representative Timothy Bishop of New York on October 20, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on November 16, 2005. The bill, of course, has the support and cosponsorship of the entire New York delegation. Michael Murphy of Patchogue, New York, was a 29-year-old lieutenant serving with a four-man SEAL reconnaissance team that called for help when his SEAL team was ambushed by Taliban fighters in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on June 28, 2005. His remains were found during a combat search and rescue operation on July 4, 2005. Lieutenant Murphy was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One, Pearl Harbor, I Hawaii. Michael Murphy was a graduate of Patchogue-Medford High School in New York and Penn State university. He chose to defer law school until he had completed his tour of duty. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the ultimate sacrifice of this war hero by dedicating the Patchogue Post Office in his honor. I urge swift passage of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Yes, there was a tremendous amount of demonstrating on yesterday, and people concerned about immigration were marching. But then also there were those of us marching who were concerned about genocide in the region of Darfur: Genocide that should never be allowed in a civilized society; genocide that this country and other nations throughout the world have stood idly by while hundreds of thousands of individuals are being killed, murdered, raped. It is the shame of the century. Our Nation can do better, and the world can do better. We must stop the genocide in Darfur.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 5107, legislation naming the postal facility in Pensacola, Florida, after Earl D. Hutto. This measure, sponsored by Mr. Jeff Miller of Florida, has been cosponsored by the entire Florida delegation. Earl Hutto was born in Alabama on May 12, 1926. He attended Dale County public schools and graduated from Troy State University. He did graduate work in broadcasting and served in World War II in the United States Navy. Prior to serving in the Florida legislature, Earl Hutto worked as a sports director and president of radio stations. He was elected to the Florida legislature in 1972 and reelected in 1974 and 1976. In 1979, Earl Hutto was elected to represent the First Congressional District of Florida in the U.S. Congress where he served until 1995 when he did not seek reelection. Since then, former Representative Hutto has retired and remains active in his Pensacola community. It is my understanding that Representative Hutto will be celebrating his 80th birthday on May 12. I am sure my colleagues join me in wishing him a great day and many years to come. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the political legacy of Earl Hutto and urge the swift passage of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird), the author of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Drug Policy and the former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have left?

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Salazar).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I will use the rest of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, let me commend all those who have spoken on this issue, and I commend Mr. Baird for bringing it before us. Drug use and abuse is one of the major problems facing our country today, not in any one part of the country but all over America. I happen to live in a county where there are 800,000 drug users, where there are 300,000 who admit to using drugs on a regular basis. I admit it is a large county. It is the second largest county in the Nation. But even with it being the second largest county in the Nation, 800,000 people, that is an awful lot. Much of the crime that exists in our country is associated with drug use and abuse. We have to make sure that we provide the resources for prevention. We also have to make sure that we provide the resources for treatment. I am an advocate for something called treatment on demand where we try and make sure when people who are addicted are ready for treatment, resources are available for them. I commend the gentleman from Washington for introducing this legislation, and I urge its passage.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4646, legislation naming a postal facility in Reseda, California after Coach Wooden. This measure which was introduced by Representative Sherman on December 18, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on March 30, 2006, enjoys the support and co-sponsorship of the entire California delegation. John Wooden, a native of Indiana, actually began his love of the game by playing basketball at Martinsville High School in Martinsville, Indiana. He was an All-State selection in high school and an All- American guard at Purdue University. After graduating from Purdue, he became a high school teacher and coach, gaining a record of 218 to 42 as a high school coach. After serving in World War II, John Wooden took a coaching position at Indiana State University prior to becoming the head coach at the University of California at Los Angeles. Well, we have heard all the things that he did in California, but those of us who were not from California were actual admirers of John Wooden through the whole period of watching him direct his teams, knowing that in all likelihood they were going to win, that it was virtually impossible to defeat them. So I can understand the kind of feeling that Representative Sherman and all of the people of that great area where he lived and spent the last days of his life, and still is there, and he is, indeed, an icon. So I join with you, Mr. Sherman, in urging passage of this resolution, and I commend you for bringing it before us and putting it before the House. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), the author of this resolution.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 370 expressing the sense of Congress that Saudi Arabia should fully live up to its World Trade Organization commitments and end all aspects of any boycott on Israel. I take this position because I believe that as we continue to move towards resolution of problems and towards peaceful resolution of difficulty, we have to begin someplace. I am often reminded of something that John Kennedy supposedly said, and that is that peace is not found only in treaties, covenants and charters, but in the hearts of men, and I imagine if he was around today he would say men and women. I think that resolution of this boycott would move positively in the direction of peace in the Middle East, and so I strongly support this resolution.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4688, legislation naming a postal facility in Badin, North Carolina after the late John Thompson Garrison. This measure, which was introduced by Representative Robin Hayes on February 1, 2006 and unanimously reported by our committee on March 9, 2006, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire North Carolina delegation. Tom Garrison was born and raised in Badin. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II and returned to his hometown to settle into the insurance and real estate business. Active in his church, community and numerous local civic organizations, Tom served as mayor of Badin from 1990 until his death last year at the age of 80. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to recognize Mayor Tom Garrison and honor his memory in this manner. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, just to close, I strongly rise in support of this postal facility naming for Mr. Frances Pancho Medrano, who was an outstanding community activist. I think it is the kind of people that he was who really make America and have made America what it ought to be, and so I strongly support this resolution.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume to the author of this resolution, the Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson from Texas. (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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