Tom Davis

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The acts performed at Auschwitz 60 years ago represent the darkest chapter of human history. I am often struck by the stark contrast the concentration camps provide juxtaposed with the enlightenment, scientific advancement and progress made by mankind in the 20th century. They serve as a chilling reminder of the evil man is capable of, especially toward those perceived to be different or apart. Kosovo, Rwanda and the Sudan unfortunately highlight the fact that genocide is an issue that still troubles our world. It is therefore all the more important to remember Auschwitz and reaffirm our global commitment to forever end such wicked practices. I was very pleased to hear on Monday, January 24, 2005, that the United Nations General Assembly convened in a special session to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the death camps. This was the first time the UN General Assembly has ever met to commemorate the Holocaust, and the first time that the General Assembly convened a special session at Israel's request. Madam Speaker, in closing I would like to commend the sponsors and leadership for bringing this important resolution to the floor and I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph Hills, Virginia's 2005 Teacher of the Year. Mr. Hills, a social studies teacher at Lake Braddock Secondary School, was named Virginia's 2005 Teacher of the Year and will represent Virginia in the National Teacher of the Year program. He was also awarded Fairfax County Public Schools 2004 Teacher of the Year. Mr. Hills received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts degree in Education from the College of St. Thomas, Minnesota. He began his career with Fairfax County Public Schools in 1960 as a history teacher at Fairfax High School. He then moved to Marshall High School and later to Langley High School, where he worked as a teacher and social studies department chair. In 1973, Mr. Hills came to Lake Braddock Secondary School where he still serves. He is a member of numerous education associations including the National Council of Social Studies, the Virginia Council of Social Studies, and is active in various Parent Teacher Associations. Mr. Hills has received the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award, as well as outstanding teacher awards from the University of Chicago and Smith College. Colleagues describe Mr. Hills as ``the embodiment of a dedicated teacher who is energized by his students and at the same time energizes those in his classroom.'' Former students praise Mr. Hills for making history come alive by telling stories and inspiring them to become teachers or earn graduate degrees in history. He is known for his use of the Socratic Method, spurring students to ``think deeply and differently.'' Our students are our number one resource. Mr. Hills has dedicated his life to ensuring that they are given the opportunity to achieve success. Over the past 44 years, he has made a lasting impact on thousands of students. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Joseph Hills and congratulating him on this distinguished achievement.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' attention to an urgent issue that we must address in the opening months of the next Congress. Early next spring, the Postal Service will file for a rate increase, to be implemented in 2006. Unless Congress acts, that rate increase will be one of the largest in history--at least 15 percent, or 6 cents on a First Class stamp. That will cripple an industry already in trouble, and reverberate through our entire economy. It would be irresponsible and reckless for us to sit back and do nothing. The Postal Service is the center of a $900 billion industry, employing 9 million Americans in such diverse fields as manufacturing, advertising, publishing, and finance. This industry comprises 8.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The cost of doing nothing will be steep, for the Postal Service, for the 9 million Americans whose jobs rely on the mail, and for every American who sends a birthday card, pays a bill, or orders something from a catalog or online. Reforming the Postal Service is a crucial responsibility. The Postal Service operates under a rigid, 30-year-old legal structure that does not take into account the technological advances of the past decades. It is saddled with nearly $70 billion in retiree health costs, worker's comp claims and pension payments. Each year, the labor and infrastructure costs facing the Postal Service rise, while the volume of mail continues to fall. This is a ``death spiral'' that can only be reversed by Congressional action. Let me make clear what will happen if we fail to act. A failure to act is the equivalent of a back-door tax on every sector of the American economy. A small business that now spends $5,000 a year on postage would be hit with a nearly $1,000 rate increase. And an industry like financial services would get slammed with an increase of over $600 million in postage costs annually. Even though we're trying to postpone Internet taxation, a failure to act would raise the cost of online purchases, because consumers will pay more for shipping and handling. Overall, the American public and American businesses will waste over $20 billion in unnecessary payments to the Postal Service over the next decade. This does not have to happen. We have the framework for responsible, comprehensive Postal Reform in the form of legislation that has been approved unanimously by my committee, the Government Reform Committee, and by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. This legislation will force the Postal Service to act more like a business, while also resolving two issues related to the Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act of 2003. This act placed an unusual burden on the Postal Service, making it the only major agency in the government responsible for funding the military portion of its employee retiree benefits. The Act also required the Postal Service to place into escrow any money saved through the legislation-- and I believe we should free this money, to allow the Service to make some cost-reducing and productivity-enhancing capital improvements. I have worked with the Government Reform Committee's ranking minority member, Henry Waxman, as well as Representatives John McHugh and Danny Davis to craft legislation that will allow the Postal Service and the industry that relies on it to survive well into this century. I urge my colleagues to come back next year ready to pass meaningful Postal Reform. There are critics who will say the bill costs too much. I say the cost of not acting is what we really cannot afford.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my colleagues for their kind words and their efforts in working together on this legislation, and I would urge all Members to support the Senate amendments to H.R. 4012. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 4012) to amend the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 to reauthorize for 5 additional years the public school and private school tuition assistance programs established under the Act.

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 H.R. 4012.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4012, legislation to authorize the District of Columbia College Access Act for 2 additional years. The College Access Program has been a key component of the District's revitalization efforts in recent years. It is critical that Congress continue to support its partnership with the District of Columbia in providing access to higher education resources and opportunities. Congress established the D.C. College Access Program in 1999 for two primary reasons. First, the program addressed the fact that the District of Columbia does not have a State university system like most States do for its high school graduates. The program essentially leveled the playing field for high school graduates in the Nation's Capital by enabling them to attend colleges and universities around the country at instate tuition rates. This is State universities around the country. The program's second purpose was to deter tax-paying families in the District from moving to surrounding States in order to take advantage of instate higher education options available to residents in other States that were not available to District residents at the time that would deprive the District of very much needed stability in tax revenue should they leave the jurisdiction. I cannot tell you how many mothers and fathers have approached me to say thank you. We were going to have to leave the District of Columbia so our kid could go to college, but thanks to this program we can stay; or young people from the district that come up to me and say thank you for this act. I am now able to afford to go to a good college. At a Committee on Government Reform hearing on this program last March, it is clear that the program has been more than an anecdotal success over the past 5 years. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams testified that since creation of the program, the number of high school graduates in the District continuing on to college has increased 28 percent. The national average over the same period was an increase of approximately 5 percent. The impact of the College Access Program is undeniable. According to a survey of high school graduates in the District, the vast majority of students who have received assistance through the program have indicated that the existence of the grants made a difference in their decision to attend college and was a key factor in deciding which college to attend. H.R. 4012 represents a shot at a better education and, in turn, a better life for hundreds of D.C. students. The House passed a 5-year authorization for the program in July, but after discussions with the other body, we have agreed to limit the reauthorization to 2 years while we in Congress continue to work with the city to refine the scope and the mission of the program. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4012 and to continue to support a level playing field for high school graduates in the District. I also want to acknowledge my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for her help in starting this bill and working through this legislation today as we reauthorize it, and my colleague, the gentleman from Alexandria, Virginia (Mr. Moran), who has also been very helpful and instrumental in getting this legislation originally established and reauthorizing it today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of S. 2657, the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act. The Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan, FEHBP, is one of the Federal Government's most important tools as we seek to recruit and retain the best Federal workforce that this country has to offer. It covers over 8.6 million individuals, including 2.2 million Federal and postal employees, 1.9 million Federal annuitants, and 4.5 million dependents; and offers the widest selection of health plans in the country, enabling enrollees to compare the costs, benefits, and features of different plans. However, this program will not remain a model for excellence in employer- provided health care coverage unless we continue to explore avenues to enhance the care and the choices provided. Through the FEHBP, the Federal Government fulfills its responsibilities as an employer to contribute to health and well-being by providing comprehensive high-quality, affordable health care for its employees, while also providing an example and a model for improving the performance of the U.S. health care system as a whole. While a fine example for comprehensive care, the FEHBP currently offers minimal dental and vision benefits. Over 15 years ago, the Office of Personnel Management stopped allowing plans to add new dental and vision packages or to enhance packages they already had in place. As a result, the FEHBP has not kept pace in these areas, as an overwhelming majority of private sector plans provide dental and vision benefits. In addition, there has been a groundswell among Federal employees and annuitants through numerous surveys and focus groups on this issue. More than any benefit, they want better coverage for dental and vision care. This will change with the passage of this important legislation. The bill before us now will establish a voluntary, supplemental program under which Federal employees and annuitants may purchase dental and vision insurance as part of the FEHBP. This important legislation follows the design of the current long-term care insurance program whose premiums are wholly employee-funded, but allows the Federal Government to leverage its purchasing power to lower the cost of care in these areas. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the efforts of my distinguished counterpart in the other body, the Senator from Maine, Ms. Collins. Senator Collins was instrumental in the drafting of this legislation. I commend her for her dedication on issues important to our Nation's civil service. I look forward to continuing to work with her on these important issues in the 109th Congress. I also thank my ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), and the ranking member of the subcommittee, my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2657) to amend part III of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of programs under which supplemental dental and vision benefits are made available to Federal employees, retirees, and their dependents, to expand the contracting authority of the Office of Personnel Management, and for other purposes.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill, S. 2657. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jennifer Hammer of Northern Virginia, a friend and neighbor who passed away after succumbing to a three-year battle with Ovarian Cancer in November 2004. Mrs. Hammer's courage and resilience should serve as an inspiration to us all. Despite her health, she remained an active member in her community. She volunteered at her children's schools and participated in the 350-mile AIDS bicycle ride from North Carolina to the National Mall. Mrs. Hammer worked hard to train, but was most concerned about the criteria to raise $1,700 in order to participate. In the end, she raised over $4,000 and finished the four-day ride with energy to spare. On Election Day, Mrs. Hammer voted on the way to what would be her final surgery. She was so weak that the voting officials had to bring a voting machine to the car for her. She thanked them and then left for the hospital. Mrs. Hammer touched many lives and is survived by her beloved husband Tom and children Adam and Samantha. Over Thanksgiving weekend, when many friends were out of town for the holiday, almost 600 people came to a memorial service to celebrate her life. Mrs. Hammer showed us how to enjoy life in the good times and be positive and full of abundant grace in the worst of times. She was at peace in the end because of her faith in God and because she knew that she lived fully while on earth. Jennifer made a huge impact on many and was loved by all. Our lives were better for having known her, and we will continue to draw inspiration from her strength and compassion. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to pay tribute to the life and work Mrs. Hammer, and express my deepest condolences to all who knew and loved her.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose a series of legislative provisions that were included in the Transportation and Treasury section of the Omnibus Appropriations Act without consulting or even notifying the committee of jurisdiction, the Committee on Government Reform. We strenuously oppose section 522 requiring that each Federal agency have a privacy officer to carry out duties relating to the privacy and protection of personally identifiable information. These Federal information security functions are an intrinsic part of existing Federal information policy. They are the responsibility of the agency chief information officer in the agencies. Therefore, privacy officers are unnecessary. They are duplicative, and it is confusing. Further, section 522 attempts to address information security concerns that are already addressed in the Federal Information Security Management Act, the Clinger-Cohen Act, the Electronic Government Act, and the Paperwork Reduction Act. These laws are currently implemented by Federal agencies. Section 522 merely creates a layer of bureaucracy that contradicts existing Federal information policy currently executed by the CIOs. The Committee on Government Reform and Federal agencies have worked hard to ensure the Federal Government has coherent information security policies and guidelines in place. Section 522 reverses the progress the Federal Government has made to modernize itself in order to function more efficiently and cost-effectively in a digital age. In addition, this section is a fine example of legislating on appropriation bills. But worse, there was no attempt to even discuss this provision with our committee, the committee with jurisdiction over Federal information policy. For years we have performed an aggressive legislative and oversight agenda. We have introduced a bill now to repeal this section, but the disregard for the committee of jurisdiction in this section of the omnibus did not stop there. In July, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform raised and the Chair sustained 12 points of order against legislative provisions in the Transportation and Treasury Appropriations Act. Nine of these were rewritten in the omnibus, in violation of House rules, without consulting our committee, and despite our requests that these provisions not be reinserted including: 1. An amendment that runs contrary to the reauthorization of the Drug Control Policy Act passed by the House last year; and 2. Several legislative provisions that will add unneeded red tape and expense to the Federal procurement process. What does it say about our institutional integrity, our rules, ours state of affairs, when points of order are sustained and subsequently ignored. My concerns have been overshadowed by a certain tax provision that also appeared in the Omnibus. But they are symptoms of the same disease. It is the willingness of appropriators and their staff to legislate on appropriations bills without consulting the committees of jurisdiction that caused the mess over the ill-considered tax provision and this trend is the basis of my concern as well. The authorizing committees are Congress's experts on the law, and the appropriations process should not be used as an end-run around their consideration. I recognize that politics and process will sometimes require that legislation be included in appropriations; and, I have always been willing to work with appropriators to include suitable legislation in their bills. Looking forward to next Congress, it is my hope that this episode will inspire a greater willingness on the part of the appropriators and their staffs to consult and cooperate with the authorizers before legislating on appropriations acts. Finally, I ask for the appropriators support in repealing the badly considered Chief Privacy Officer provision that was surreptitiously included in the Omnibus at the 11th hour.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great delight to announce the FY2005 omnibus appropriations package that is scheduled to be approved by Congress today includes the text of legislation I authored, H.R. 2792, that reauthorizes refugee eligibility for children of Vietnamese re-education camp survivors. The Communist government of Vietnam, by its actions in imprisoning Catholic priests, Buddhist monks, and ordinary citizens whose only crime is to speak out for freedom and democracy, is saying loudly and clearly and consistently to the United States: We want your investment dollars, and we are willing to learn from your economic system; but your values of religious and political freedom are not welcome. We need to do more to respond to this message of oppression with our own message of freedom. Human rights need to be central to our foreign policy toward Vietnam. One small step we can take is to save as many as possible of the people who are still being persecuted by the Communist authorities because of their wartime associations with the United States or simply because they share our values. Until April 1, 1995, former Vietnamese prisoners of war who were accepted for resettlement by the United States as refugees could bring their sons and daughters, even those above the age of 21, so long as they had never married and were members of the refugee parent's household. On April 1, 1995, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) changed its interpretation of the law, to exclude children who were over 21, even if they were unmarried and living with their parents. This change in policy forced a brutal choice on ex-political prisoners: either decline the opportunity to find freedom in the United States, or abandon their children in a country that has persecuted them. For South Vietnamese combat veterans and others who had suffered with their children long terms in re-education camps because of their wartime associations with the United States, this imposed a particularly harsh burden. These children had already been without their fathers while they were in re-education camps, in some cases for 10 or 15 years. Then the refugees were given a choice between living forever under a Communist dictatorship or leaving their children behind when they immigrated to the United States. These children are marked as members of a ``counterrevolutionary family'' and denied educational and employment opportunities by the government of Vietnam. They would certainly go on suffering in Vietnam because of their family's participation in the war. Recognizing these realities, Congress on three occasions has adopted the ``McCain amendment,'' which changed the INS interpretation of the law, so that refugees who are survivors of re-education camps can once again be accompanied by the unmarried sons and daughters. The latest extension of the McCain amendment expired on September 20, 2001. Hence, I introduced and Congress passed H.R. 1840 in the 107th Congress to reauthorize the McCain amendment through September 30, 2003. The original language did not apply to children who were mistakenly rejected before April 1, 1995, for reasons other than age. Even if new evidence surfaced that showed someone rejected before 1995 was actually the child of a refugee, families had no recourse to challenge the decision. The original language also excluded refugee sons and daughters who were denied access to an INS interview by corrupt and/or vindictive Communist officials who often serve as gatekeepers for the U.S. refugee program. My bill fixed these problems. In addition, the legislation permitted unmarried children over the age of 21 to immigrate to the United States even if the surviving parent is currently living in the United States. Mr. Speaker, today I stand here before you as this important provision has once again expired. Fortunately, with the help of Senator John McCain (R-AZ), the text of H.R. 2792, which extends this provision until September 30, 2005, was added to the FY2005 omnibus appropriations package that we are set to approve today. H.R. 2792 is a fair and equitable bill that provides family reunification and allows us to keep our promise to the people who fought alongside U.S. troops during the Vietnam war. Their courage and valor must never be forgotten. I want to thank Senator McCain for his leadership and his staff for their assistance in passing the H.R. 2792 language. Furthermore, I would like to thank the co sponsors of my bill Representatives Zoe Lofgren, Chris Smith, Jim Moran, and Loretta Sanchez who have given this issue their steadfast support.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 3184, the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Act. My name was added in error.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker I rise today to honor John D. Ringle and T. Maxine Ringle for their contributions to Fairfax County, Virginia. In the mid-1960's and 1970's, much of the Fairfax Station and Clifton areas of the Occoquan Watershed were zoned by Fairfax County for one- acre residential lots. During this time, there was little local public consciousness of the benefits of maintaining the rural nature of the land in order to protect the quality of the drinking water supply from the Occoquan Reservoir. John and Maxine Ringle owned a substantial portion of the land in Fairfax Station and Clifton and were free to direct the division of that land into one-acre lots. Developing this land would have led to extensive construction, a network of new roads, deforesting the wooded area, and irrevocably destroying the rural nature of this area of Fairfax County. The Ringles recognized the unique nature of this extensive undeveloped area and envisioned it as a limited-development area where its natural beauty could be preserved. Owners could enjoy the amenities of a rural life while living only a few minutes from the urban offerings of Fairfax County, Virginia and the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. John and Maxine had the foresight to protect this rural area by creating eleven separate developments with five-acre lots and establish binding covenants to preserve this lot size. In 1982, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, downzoned 41,000 acres in the Fairfax Station and Clifton areas to legally establish a natural protective buffer area in the watershed of the Occoquan Reservoir, currently the source of water for over a million Northern Virginia residents. Without the vision and actions of John and Maxine Ringle in the preceding decades, Fairfax County would not have been able to enact this downzoning which continues to protect and preserve the Occoquan Watershed and Reservoir for Northern Virginia residents. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed July 26, 2004, as John D. Ringle and T. Maxine Ringle Day. This honor truly is well deserved. Mr. Speaker, the Ringle's visionary and environmentally sound approach to the development of the Occoquan Watershed enabled Fairfax County to ultimately preserve the Occoquan Watershed and Reservoir for the benefit of all residents. I ask that my colleagues join me in commending John and Maxine Ringle.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4324) to amend title 5, United States Code, to eliminate the provisions limiting certain election opportunities available to individuals participating in the Thrift Savings Plan, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 4324, a bill that eliminates the open season for employee contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan. This legislation was reported from the Committee on Government Reform by a voice vote on July 31, and I am pleased to see it considered by the whole House today. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know, the TSP offers Federal employees the same retirement savings opportunities that private companies afford their employees under traditional 401(k) plans. The TSP is the largest defined contribution retirement plan in the world, with nearly three and a half million participants and over $143 billion in assets. This legislation will allow TSP participants to make or modify their salary contributions at any time. Currently, Federal employees and members of the uniformed services who participate in the TSP are only provided two biannual periods to begin, adjust or end their contributions. This bill will give much-needed flexibility to participants of the Federal Government's retirement plan. Every day, Federal employees across the Nation and around the globe perform critical duties to keep this Nation running smoothly. Away from work, they experience all of life's events, births and deaths in the family, new homes, new jobs, salary adjustments and so on. With enactment of H.R. 4324, TSP participants can adopt their retirement savings to meet their changing circumstances. Next year, I intend to offer additional legislation that will abolish the TSP open seasons entirely, but today, during the second open season after beginning Federal service, participants can earn matching funds up to 5 percent of their salary from their employing agencies. I believe allowing participants to secure these matching funds immediately is an important and deserved incentive for Federal employees to save. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which administers the TSP, supports that change, and the Board supports H.R. 4324 as well. The Committee on Government Reform, the committee of jurisdiction for Federal employee issues, was limited by budget constraints this Congress from moving a bill that would totally eliminate open seasons. Nevertheless, I am pleased to see H.R. 4324 advancing today. I want to recognize the efforts of my distinguished counterpart in the other body, the gentlewoman from Maine, chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee. She has worked very closely with me on today's bill to ensure that Federal employees will have the same retirement savings flexibilities enjoyed by many in the private sector. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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 H.R. 4324.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the City of Fairfax, Virginia. Two centuries ago, the Town of Providence, a small community built around the Fairfax County Courthouse, was chartered by an act of the General Assembly. This steadily growing center of business and government was renamed Fairfax in 1874. During the Civil War, Providence was home to Company D, 17th Virginia Infantry, the ``Fairfax Rifles'' who fought in a skirmish on the courthouse lawn, and witnessed Confederate President Jefferson Davis meeting with his generals at the Willcoxon Tavern. In 1892, the Town of Fairfax was incorporated. At the beginning of World War II, the Town of Fairfax had a volunteer fire department, central water and sewer systems, a town library and a high school. In 1961, Fairfax was incorporated as an independent city. Since its humble beginnings as the Town of Providence, the City of Fairfax has blossomed. It is now a vibrant city that has played an important role in Virginia's history. The City of Fairfax is the home of world-class educational facilities, thriving businesses, and is a diverse and prosperous community. It is one of the economic and intellectual epicenters of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2005, the City of Fairfax will host a year-long celebration with special events to honor this bicentennial anniversary. This milestone appropriately coincides with the Old Town Fairfax redevelopment project, which began this past July. The improvements made during this project will transform Fairfax into a city for the 21st century and beyond. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to commend and congratulate the citizens of the City of Fairfax on the occasion of their bicentennial anniversary. I call upon my colleagues to join me in celebrating the history of this great city, and in wishing for its continued prosperity.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Neighborhood Watch Program of Fairfax County, Virginia. In the 25 years since its inception, the Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch Program has achieved great success, with over 900 community programs established since its inception. As former Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, I can personally attest to the program's accomplishment. The Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch boasts countless volunteers who have selflessly committed themselves to informing local police of suspicious activities. While it is financially and logistically impossible to place a police officer on every street corner, the neighborhood watch has provided Fairfax County with an effective alternative. Neighborhood watch volunteers have become the eyes and ears of local police, deterring crime and saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Those who take the time to cast a watchful eye on their surroundings ensure a safer, friendlier place to live. Through committed neighborhood watches, these participants have proven that community involvement can make a difference. Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch participants have bridged culture and language gaps in the name of collective security. By recognizing shared community values, Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch has facilitated improved understanding and relations between individuals from a variety of backgrounds. One of the greatest assets of neighborhood watch is its ability to bring neighbors together. One of the most active branches of the Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch is the Camelot Neighborhood Watch Program, which is the oldest continuously active neighborhood watch in the United States. This highly accomplished program serves as an impressive model for other organizations across the county and nation. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank the Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch Program for 25 years of dedicated service to its community. Programs like neighborhood watch are vital in our efforts to combat crime. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding the Fairfax County Neighborhood Watch's past accomplishments and in wishing the program continued success in the many years to come.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5295. Earlier this year, the House passed H.R. 3751, legislation authored by Representative Jo Ann Davis, instructing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to conduct a study to determine how best to include dental vision and hearing benefits in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the FEHBP. The bill now before us takes an important step forward in this effort to establish a voluntary program under which federal employees and annuitants may purchase dental and vision insurance as part of the FEHBP. It was expertly crafted by the Senator from Maine, Ms. Collins, and follows the design of the current Long-Term Care Insurance Program. In addition, this legislation also includes an important provision from H.R. 3751. This provision, offered by Ranking Member of the Civil Service Subcommittee, Mr. Davis, retains the direction to OPM to conduct a study on how best to provide hearing benefits in the FEHBP. The FEHBP is one of the Federal Government's most important tools as we seek to recruit and retain the best federal workforce that this country has to offer. It covers over 8.6 million individuals, including 2.2 million federal and postal employees, 1.9 million federal annuitants, and 4.5 million dependents; and offers the widest selection of health plans in the country, enabling enrollees to compare the costs, benefits, and features of different plans. However, this program will not remain a model for excellence in employer-provided healthcare coverage unless we continue to explore avenues to enhance the care and choice provided. Minimal dental and vision benefits are available in the FEHBP because over 15 years ago, OPM stopped allowing plans to add new dental and vision packages or to increase packages they already had in place. The fact is that the FEHBP has not kept pace in these areas, as an overwhelming majority of private-sector plans provide dental and vision coverage. In addition, there has been a groundswell among federal employees and annuitants through numerous surveys and focus groups on this issue--more than any other benefit, they want better coverage for dental and vision care. That will change with the passage of this important legislation. I commend the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Murphy, for his dedication on issues important to our Nation's civil servants. I look forward to working with him and all members as we provide comprehensive, high-quality, affordable healthcare through the FEHBP, and serve as a model for improving the performance of the U.S. health system as a whole.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.