Tom Davis

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to bill (H.R. 2066) to amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Federal Acquisition Service, to replace the General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund with an Acquisition Services Fund, and for other purposes.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, 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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2066, the General Services Administration Modernization Act, which was introduced by Armed Services Committee Chairman Hunter and myself last year. This legislation passed the House last May and was recently passed by the Senate with a handful of modifications which we are here today to accept in order to send the legislation to the President's desk for signature. This important legislation would authorize a much-needed reorganization and streamlining of the General Services Administration, the Federal agency that is charged with leveraging the Federal Government's buying power to purchase commercial goods and services in a manner that maximizes taxpayer dollars. Each year, GSA buys products and services from the private sector worth well over $30 billion and resells them to Federal agencies through two different services. The Federal Technology Service, or FTS, uses the Information Technology Fund purchase information technology; and the Federal Supply Service, the FSS, uses the General Supply Fund to purchase commercial goods and services. This bifurcated system may have made sense when the IT fund was created two decades ago when information technology was in its infancy. Today, however, laptop computers, cell phones and e-mail are as ubiquitous as desks and phones. The business case, for separate systems to handle IT goods and services, no longer exists. In fact, the bifurcated system has become a barrier to coordinated acquisition of management services and the technology needed to support a total solution. H.R. 2066 would amend GSA's organic stature by enacting structural reform to GSA's current organization in order to consolidate the Federal Supply Service and the Federal Technology Service into a single entity operating out of a unified fund, providing Federal agencies with a one-stop shop to acquire all of their commercial goods and services. This change in statute would provide GSA with the structure it needs to bring it in line with the current commercial marketplace. The environment in which the Federal Government purchases goods and services has changed dramatically in recent years. H.R. 2066 would remove the old structures that inhibit efficient Federal purchases and solutions that are a mix of products, services and technology. The Federal marketplace should reflect the best of the commercial marketplace, both in the products and service we buy and the way that we buy them. I would urge my colleagues to accept these amendments and support H.R. 2066. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Let me thank my colleague from Maryland for his assistance on this and so many other things that the committee works on. I would urge all members to support the passage of H.R. 2066. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3508) to authorize improvements in the operation of the government of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, 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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3508, the District of Columbia Omnibus Authorization Act. H.R. 3508 was introduced in July by Delegate Norton and myself and was passed by the House on suspension last December. This is the second Congress in a row that we have moved an omnibus authorization bill for the District. The purpose of this legislation is to provide a process by which Congress works with the District to consider annually or biannually any changes that need to be made to Federal laws governing the District of Columbia. H.R. 3508 contains many provisions that will help the District manage its operations more effectively. The most significant of these provisions is the permanent authorization of the District of Columbia's Chief Financial Officer. The District's CFO was created by Congress in 1987, but has been provided 1-year extensions through appropriations bills since 2001 when the District of Columbia's Control Board expired. H.R. 3508 would amend the D.C. Home Rule to provide for a permanent Chief Financial Officer for the District, one that is fully accountable both to the District and to the Congress regarding all financial matters in the Nation's Capital. H.R. 3508 would also, among other things, allow the District's courts to operate outside of the District in the event of emergencies and provide the Mayor limited budgetary flexibilities under certain circumstances. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3508. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Again, let me thank my colleague from Maryland, who has continued to work with us on these regional issues. I join with him in joining our colleagues to support H.R. 3508. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I submit for printing in the Congressional Record a letter from Mrs. Hecker, Major Hecker's mother, talking about her thoughts and her son's activities in Iraq. November 18, 2005. Hon. John Murtha, Johnstown, PA. Dear Representative Murtha: I am the wife of a retired Army officer who served this great country of ours for twenty- eight years, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. I am also the mother of two sons, both of whom chose to serve in our Armed Forces. Our older son is a Major in the 4th Infantry Division and will be departing for a year's tour of duty in Iraq in just a little over a week. Our younger son is a 1LT in the Marine Corps currently stationed in Okinawa as a C-130 pilot. He could be detailed to Iraq as well. I respect your service to country, as well as your right to speak your mind about the situation in Iraq. But I, too, have a right to an opinion and to make my voice known. Although I rarely if ever write a political letter, your recent statements have moved me to do so! I believe your comments about Iraq have harmed our chances for success, and will only serve to embolden the terrorists and encourage them to continue with their violence, hoping that it will hasten our retreat. Not only that, I believe it would be immoral to abandon the fledgling Iraqi government before they are ready to provide for their own security. I have faith in our military leaders and believe that they are taking the necessary steps to train the Iraqi forces, and provide for our eventual withdrawal. I also have faith in our executive branch that they are taking the necessary steps to help the new Iraqi government get a democratic style government in place * * * and to give them at least a chance of success. Although mistakes were made in the execution of the war and its aftermath, the goal itself is worthy. And in spite of all the negativity that we are constantly bombarded with, I believe that there have been some remarkable successes! Although my son would surely prefer to stay home with his wife and four young children, he is both a soldier and a scholar. He understands that we are in a vital long-term struggle against a dangerous ideology, and he is willing to make the necessary sacrifices to defeat it. It is a difficult struggle that will require patience and fortitude, both on and off the battlefield. If we lose our will here at home, it makes the task for our soldiers all the more difficult. I believe your comments were irresponsible and are contributing to the loss of national will. If they were made to obtain political advantages, I would find that abhorrent and unworthy of a former Marine. Please know that our soldiers are heroes, not victims. They are making great sacrifices on our behalf. They need to be supported and appreciated until their mission is over. I suggest you reconsider your comments and the effect they have on our soldiers and their families. Sincerely, Nancy Hecker.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, 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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6102) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 Lawyers Road, NW in Vienna, Virginia, as the ``Captain Christopher Petty Post Office Building,'' as amended.

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

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

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 471) congratulating the Professional Golfers' Association of America on its 90th anniversary and commending the members of the Professional Golfers' Association of America and the PGA Foundation for the charitable contributions they provide to the United States.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for introducing this resolution. I think I also ought to note that PGA President Tim Finchem has done wonders for this organization in terms of bringing this back into the inner city, bringing golf to those with disabilities and communicating with us here on Capitol Hill about the kinds of things they are doing. I would urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5224) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 350 Uinta Drive in Green River, Wyoming, as the ``Curt Gowdy Post Office Building''.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, 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 the bill under consideration.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5224 would designate the Post Office building in Green River, Wyoming, as the Curt Gowdy Post Office Building. Nicknamed ``The Cowboy,'' sports fans across the country in the 1960s and 1970s turned to hear Gowdy's commentary on baseball, football, and college basketball games. He was the number one announcer at NBC Sports during the pre-cable television era; and he was known for his objective, laid- back style. In fact, one of his most career-defining moments came almost 46 years ago today, when he called the Ted Williams' final at- bat in the major leagues. I urge all Members to join me in honoring the life and contributions of Curt Gowdy by supporting the passage of H.R. 5224. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for his eloquent remarks. Curt Gowdy will always be a part of my sports memories as a youth. I think this is a fitting tribute, and I urge my colleagues to adopt it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 745) supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.