Tom Davis

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2, the Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003. Although there is general consensus among many economic forecasters that our economy is poised to grow at a faster pace than it has over the last year, action is necessary in order to hasten the recovery. While GDP has continued to increase, the modest increases we have been witnessing are not sufficient to stabilize employment. Consumer confidence and spending have improved, however business and investor confidence have not followed suit. The legislation before us today will stimulate growth and investment, and expedite our economic recovery. First, this legislation will increase purchasing power for all Americans through an acceleration of the 2001 tax cuts for individuals. Accelerating tax relief from the marriage penalty, increasing the child tax credit, expansion of the 10 percent tax bracket and providing working families with relief from the AMT will help to give our economy an immediate stimulus. Secondly, this package creates business and investment incentives to spur business growth, ultimately leading to job creation. Increases in depreciation allowances for business and an increased allowance for expensing capital purchases for small business will promote capital investment, putting more money back into the economy and creating more jobs. These provisions will work to counteract the general climate of caution in the business sector that has resulted in layoffs, a reluctance to invest in new capacities, and aggressive actions to maintain low levels of inventories. Finally, the bill reduces the tax rate on dividends and capital gains to spur investment and business growth. Today, we are faced with the simple fact that the overall economy cannot improve until the stock market recovers. Additionally, today, eighty-four million Americans, over 50 percent of our population, are invested in the stock market, and investment plays an increasingly important role in our individual financial security. With much of this investment in 401(k)s, IRAs and pension plans, it is vital to many Americans that we do all we can to increase the growth of the stock market. Additionally, capital gains tax reductions have historically resulted in freeing stranded capital locked in mature investments as well as increasing capital for new investment. The reduction of the tax rate on dividends and capital gains to 5 percent and 15 percent will increase the purchasing power of individuals, stimulate investment and capital formation in business, and increase job creation through business growth. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, in support of an immediate stimulus and infusion of confidence in our economy, in support of creating jobs, and in support of long-term economic stability and growth for the future.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Centennial Committee of Korean Immigration as they celebrate 100 years of Korean immigration to the United States. A century ago, 102 Koreans immigrated to Hawaii as sugar plantation workers, the leaders of a new wave of Korean immigration to the U.S. Today, the Korean-American community has grown to 2 million, making it the fifth largest Asian community in the U.S. Korean-Americans have overcome many challenges along the way; however, the success the Korean-American community currently enjoys is largely due to the perseverance and hard work of those first immigrants to Hawaii 100 years ago. The United States has benefited greatly from the participation of the Korean-American community in business, medicine, the arts and many other fields. Moreover, the Korean-American community has flourished here. The 11th District of Virginia exemplifies this symbiotic relationship, with a large and vibrant Korean-American community making lasting contributions to Northern Virginia. As the Representative of a district that has greatly benefited from the participation of its Korean-American citizens, I was an original co-sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 297, which recognizes the contributions of Korean-Americans during the past 100 years in business, science, the arts and other fields. This resolution passed in the House of Representatives by a 417-0 vote on September 23, 2002. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I applaud the leadership of the Centennial Committee of Korean Immigration in commemorating the achievements and contributions of Korean-Americans in the United States. Efforts like theirs are what make our representative democracy work: they have helped not only to educate the American public about the values and accomplishments of the Korean-American community, but also to secure a more effective representation of those communities throughout the United States.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary group of men and women in Northern Virginia. This year, members of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 364 in Woodbridge, Virginia have received several awards and honors and several members are serving as officers at District and Department level. These accomplished individuals are valued contributors to the Northern Virginia community, and I commend them for their efforts. As the 2002-2003 16th District President, Barbara A. Stevenson presided over 11 Units in the Northern Zone, Department of Virginia. Kara Byrd served as the Commander of Post 364 and was honored twice for her hard work this year. She was the recipient of the Department of Virginia Member of the Year Award for 2001-2002. She also earned the Kathleen Seefeldt Community Service Award from the Dale City Civic Association. Devon Cabot served as Honorary Junior Vice President, Southern Division for 2002-2003. Laura Carruthers served as Department of Virginia Junior Secretary for 2002-2003. Unit 364 Junior President Meaghan Cabot received the Department of Virginia Junior Member of the Year Award for 2001-2002. Receiving the American Legion Auxiliary National Award for the most outstanding Unit Community Service Program in the Southern Division for 2001-2002 was Cathy Carruthers, also the Department of Virginia National Security Chairman for 2002-2003. Another multiple award winner, Marcia Wheatley, served as Department of Virginia Legislative Chairman for 2002-2003. She was chosen for the American Legion Auxiliary National Award for the most outstanding Unit Legislative Program in the Southern Division for 2001-2002 and also received the Catherine Spellane Citizen of the Year Award presented by the Dale City Civic Association. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women who serve the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 364. Their constant efforts on behalf of the community, state, and nation deserve our highest praise. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating this group of extraordinary citizens.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 213, which expresses the sense of the House that public service employees should be commended for their dedication and service to the Nation during Public Service Recognition Week. There was a time when we were taught that ``public service is a public trust.'' That is true, but it is something more as well. In the aftermath of September 11, it is clear that public service is the bedrock of our Republic. Public sector employees, who have always been vital to the efficient, effective running of the government, now find themselves at the heart of our war on terrorism. It is the job they do that not only improves our quality of life, but also keeps us safe from those who would do us harm. It is fitting that we set aside a week to recognize the indispensable contributions of those in public service. They have chosen public service despite the fact that the private sector could often have offered a more lucrative career. That said, there is no reason we should take their selflessness for granted. They still deserve our best efforts to enhance pay and benefits, provide improved and innovative training opportunities, and to re-examine the cultural barriers that unfortunately persist in government that make life less than ideal for public sector workers. In short, we must show those already in public service that we appreciate the job they do for us. We must also show those contemplating a career in public service that there are many advantages and opportunities to doing so. Mr. Speaker, only one in six college-educated Americans expresses significant interest in working for the Federal Government. At the same time, half of the Federal workforce will be eligible to retire within the next 5 years. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us in Congress to reinvigorate a culture of public service across the country. We can do so taking the steps I have described above. As Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, I have been working hard to craft initiatives that will allow us to retain those employees we already have, while attracting the best and brightest of our young people to the public sector. I am confident we will be successful. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank those in public service for their dedication and commitment to our great Nation. I also want to reaffirm my commitment to giving them the best professional opportunities and working environment possible.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor Ms. Erin Beaulieu upon her selection as one of two recipients of the Virginia 2003 Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Erin, a Red Cross member and eighth-grader at Whitman Middle School in Alexandria, Virginia, started a Red Cross student chapter at her school and encouraged her fellow students to become involved! The chapter now boasts more than 30 members dedicated to helping the American Red Cross respond. For her efforts, she was selected from more than 24,000 nominees to receive a Spirit of Community Award. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, created by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, constitute America's largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer service. The award was created with the intent to impress upon all youth volunteers that their contributions are critically important and highly valued, and to inspire other young people to follow their example. Erin should be extremely proud to have been singled out from such a large group of dedicated volunteers. I heartily applaud Erin for her initiative in seeking to make her community a better place to live, and for the positive impact she has had on the lives of others. She has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere admiration and respect. Her actions show that young Americans can--and do--play important roles in our communities, and that America's community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future. I call upon my colleagues to join me in applauding Erin for all that she has done.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Chief Edward L. Stinnette upon his retirement as Fire Chief of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department after 30 years of distinguished and dedicated service to the Department. Chief Stinnette first joined the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in January 1973 as a firefighter. From 1973 through 1985, he gained a great deal of operational experience within the Department as a company officer. He also did tours as a shift commander, recruit school coordinator, and station coordinator. Chief Stinnette was promoted to Lead Battalion Chief in 1985, and 2 years later was named Deputy Fire Chief. Starting in March of 1992, Chief Stinnette became responsible for the daily operations of the department as Assistant Chief of Operations. He also served as the leader of the Virginia Task Force One when it was deployed to Oklahoma City, following the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building. Initially appointed as Active Fire Chief December 7, 1998, he was appointed to Fire Chief on April 19, 1999. As Fire Chief, he has been responsible for over 1,400 uniformed and civilian employees, hundreds of volunteers, and a budget of $112 million. Chief Stinnette is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the State Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia. His strong leadership skills and devotion to serving the community will be missed. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish the very best to Edward Stinnette as he is recognized for his years of service to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. During his 30 years of service, he certainly has earned his recognition, and I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in applauding his tenure.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor Mr. David Chubb upon the conclusion of his career in education as an Elementary School Principal. Throughout his career in education, David has demonstrated a strong aptitude for and commitment to the field of school administration. The conclusion of the 2002-2003 school year sees David retiring from his position as the Camelot Elementary School Principal after working as an educator in Fairfax County for more than twenty years. Always held in high regard by his colleagues, he has served as Principal at Fairhill Elementary School and Camelot Elementary School. In addition, David served as Assistant Principal at Newington Forest Elementary School and Bailey's Elementary School. Of course, he first logged many an hour in the classroom. In fact, he almost broke the two-decade mark as a teacher, spending 18 years at the front of the class. In his 15 years as Assistant Principal and Principal, David developed into a consummate administrator. His relationship with his staff is excellent, fostered by an open-door policy and consistent fair treatment. He is also known for his skill in finances, which will certainly be missed by the Fairfax Association of Elementary School Principals. Above all, David commits himself to the school with all of his energy. As his staff warmly noted, ``the school is like his home.'' At Camelot, he knows the names of every single student--all 500 of them! He personally greets the buses as they arrive at school every morning and says goodbye to them at night, thereby achieving a remarkable rapport with the students. David pitches in with any project in need of help, even the smallest jobs that are someone else's responsibility: he's been known to help the custodians with cleaning or painting. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues at Camelot Elementary and warmly remembered by all who were lucky enough to encounter him. Mr. Speaker, in closing, it gives me great pleasure to extend my warmest congratulations to David Chubb for his continuing commitment to making a difference in children's lives through education. From his very first students, to the staff who speak so warmly of their supervisor, everyone touched by David Chubb's energy and commitment recalls him fondly and has benefited from his help. Fairfax County is grateful for his service and can only hope that our education system will continue to attract teachers and principals of his caliber. I call upon all my colleagues to join me in applauding David Chubb's remarkable career.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. James A. Wilding, an outstanding citizen of Northern Virginia who has served his community and country for almost half a century. Mr. Wilding will retire from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority this month after 43 years of service. Revered as a leader in both the public and private sectors, Jim will leave behind a legacy of dedication and excellence beyond compare. Jim graduated from the Catholic University of America as a Civil Engineer in 1959. He then joined the Federal Aviation Administration, where his key role in the transformation of the Washington region began. Jim was one of the original planners of the Washington Dulles International Airport. En route to his position as Chief Engineer, Jim advanced through the ranks of the FAA, working in many different engineering capacities on both Washington Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. By 1979, Jim had successfully mastered the positions of Chief Engineer, Deputy Director, and finally Director of the FAA's Metropolitan Washington Airports. Upon the 1987 transfer of the region's airports to the new Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Jim began his tenure as that organization's President. He continued to implement his vision of a globally connected Washington area, easily accessible by world-class air facilities. Of course, this vision was far removed from reality; the region's current economic prosperity may obscure the collective memory of the wholly government-centered Metropolitan area of 50 years ago. Mr. Wilding's involvement in the region's air service played a large role in changing that. He oversaw a capital development program of more than 3 billion dollars at the two federally owned airports in the region and led the modernization of Reagan National Airport. Dulles also underwent major growth in the 1990's. Under Jim's leadership, passenger activity at the two airports has almost doubled to 31 million passengers in 2002. Widely acknowledged as an expert in the aviation industry, Jim has won numerous awards, including the highest award in the Transportation Department: the Secretary of Transportation's Gold Medal. He has served namely as Chairman of the Airports Council International--North America, as President of the Aero Club of Washington, and has served on the Board of Directors of the regional organization, and on the Board of its worldwide parent based in Geneva, Switzerland. Currently, he serves on the Policy Review Committee of the American Association of Airport Executives. The United Way Campaign of Arlington County, Virginia is only one of the many regional groups indebted to Jim for his support and active participation. Jim is a member of the Economic Development Commission of Arlington County and has served on the Board of Directors as well as the Executive Committee of the Arlington County Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Eno Transportation Foundation, and currently serves on the Board of the Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation, on both the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Dulles Area Transportation Association, and has served on the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board. The people of Northern Virginia join these organizations in their debt of gratitude to Jim Wilding, and extend him heartfelt thanks for his continuing role in advancing the prosperity of the Washington region. Mr. Chairman, the life and service of this Virginian serve as a shining example to all who wish to improve the well-being of their community through dynamic public and private activity.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor Ms. Elizabeth Ann Krabill upon her selection as the 2003 United States Cherry Blossom Queen. Elizabeth, a sophomore Economics major at Cornell University, was selected as the U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen on April 4, 2003. The tradition of crowning a national Cherry Blossom Queen is a long one, started by the National Conference of State Societies in 1948. Elizabeth joins her 53 predecessors in representing America as a Goodwill Ambassador. In fact, she will depart for a goodwill visit to Japan on May 1, 2003--less than a month after her coronation. In Japan, Elizabeth will participate in a series of celebrations and conferences over two weeks. Before her ascent to the national crown, Elizabeth was chosen as Virginia's 2003 Cherry Blossom Princess. Elizabeth finds herself in familiar company: Elizabeth's mother, aunt and sister all preceded her as Cherry Blossom Princesses at one time. Elizabeth grew up in McLean, Virginia and graduated from National Cathedral School. She excelled at competitive swimming in high school and was twice chosen as captain of her swim team. She has spent two summers sharing her swimming talents with children as a swimming lesson instructor at Beauvoir Summer Camp. At Cornell, Elizabeth is active in her sorority, Alpha Phi, as the Vice President of Marketing. Virginia is proud to send one of her native daughters into the international arena to represent the United States. A well-rounded and gifted individual, Elizabeth Krabill will represent her country with dignity and poise, and I applaud her initiative in seeking this great honor.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time, and I ask for adoption of the amendment.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I did not want the merits of the amendment to be lost.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I share my friend's regret that his amendment was not made in order. I testified for it at the Committee on Rules. But somewhere in that speech I think was endorsement of the pending amendment; am I correct?

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, on March 20, the Committee on Government Reform reported out the Federal Government Energy Management Improvement Act, establishing energy efficiency standards and policies for Federal buildings and the Federal fleet of automobiles. The committee, which has primary jurisdiction over Federal procurement policy, Federal property management, including the management of buildings and vehicles and the Federal civil service, marked up this legislation dealing with these issues with the intention that it would be made a part of the comprehensive energy bill. This amendment being offered by me and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), my ranking member on the Committee on Government Reform, improves the comprehensive energy bill by harmonizing the provisions regarding Federal energy efficiency in H.R. 6 with the provisions reported out by the committee. First of all, our amendment would add a study of the energy conservation implications of the widespread adoption of telecommuting by Federal employees in the United States as a way for the Federal Government to be a leader in energy conservation. The second thing that our amendment would do is direct the General Services Administration, in cooperation with the Department of Energy, to consider the merits of establishing performance measures to guide the reduction of petroleum consumption by the Federal fleet. Congress' role should be to decide where the Federal Government should be in terms of energy consumption in any given year. Then we should give Federal managers as much flexibility as possible to achieve these expectations. Unfortunately, Congress is too often in the business of dictating how agency managers should accomplish certain performance goals and how they should manage these operations. It is time for Congress to move away from micromanaging the executive branch, and this amendment is an attempt to do just that. I urge adoption of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

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

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as I stated before, I agree in principle with the concept behind the gentleman's amendment. This bill, which adopts the administration's approach on the treatment of military funding, would make the postal service the only agency responsible for the military costs of the CSRS retirees. I do not think it is right. I do not think it is fair to postal rate payers. Unlike other agencies in government, this is an enterprise fund that is paid for by the rate payers who should not have to bear this burden. I think it puts strains on the post office that should not be there. The postal service's mandate is to charge rate payers for its operating and overhead expenses and to break even over time. While the postal service does pay for military benefits for its FERS employees, it has never been required to for its CSRS employees, and neither is any other agency in government. However, the administration is categorically opposed to any treatment of military funding other than the FERS model that they propose. The bill's principle sponsor, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), is going to speak on this more fully in just a moment. But with so much at stake in this legislation, I think we have to move forward on what we can agree on and follow the administration's approach at this time. We will carefully consider the results of the studies that we have mandated in this bill. But still, I want to thank my colleague from California (Mr. Waxman) for highlighting this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh).

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

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests at this time. I would urge adoption of this measure.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Janklow), former Governor.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Macomb County, Michigan (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam), a member on the Committee on Government Reform.