Tom Davis

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true friend of Northern Virginia, Dr. Ralph W. Shrader, who will receive the Northern Virginia Community Foundation's 2001 Community Leadership Award tomorrow, October 12, 2001, at the Foundation's Gala. As many of my colleagues know, Dr. Shrader is chairman and chief executive officer of Booz-Allen and Hamilton, one of the world's largest and oldest management and technology consulting firms, based in McLean, Virginia. Dr. Shrader also serves as president of the firm's Worldwide Technology Business division. His expertise in the area of global communications is unparalleled. I cannot imagine a more deserving recipient of this award. Dr. Shrader's commitment to community service has spanned many years and focused on dozens of projects and programs. Just as importantly, he has set an admirable tone for Booz-Allen's employees, encouraging all personnel to donate their time to worthwhile causes. Dr. Shrader leads by example. He is currently chairman of The Neediest Kids, a non-profit organization that donates clothing and school supplies to at-risk children, so that they, too, can reach their full potential in school. But the list of his philanthropic undertakings does not end there: he is a former chairman of the American Cancer Society's Capital Baron's Ball, and works with many other charitable organizations that make our communities better places to live, work and raise families. Group like The National Business and Disability Council and The Women's Center have sought him out to deliver keynote addresses at their conferences. Booz-Allen employees are quick to point out that Dr. Shrader makes their needs and aspirations a top priority. He formed a Women's Advisory Board at the firm, has supported employee forums on important issues, and received a commendation from the company's Workforce Diversity Council. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to congratulate Dr. Shrader on receiving this award. It strikes me that the theme of this weekend's Foundation Gala, ``Transforming Our Community'', could not be more appropriate. Dr. Shrader has, indeed, transformed his community for the better, proving that one man can make a difference in the lives of many. He is that rare individual who cares more about doing good than getting credit. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Shrader on this prestigious honor.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to pay tribute to one of America's great role models, both on and off the field. For those of us in the Metropolitan Washington area still yearning for a team of our own, the Baltimore Orioles are our home team, and Cal Ripken the long time leader of the pack. On June 18, at age 41, Cal Ripken announced he was leaving the game he loved after 21 seasons to spend more time with his family and devote more energy to his youth baseball endeavors in his home town of Aberdeen, Maryland. ``It's inevitable that you can't play forever,'' he said. ``I've maximized my window of opportunity as well as anyone. Baseball has given me a lot of joy and happiness and satisfaction. I'm proud of what I've been able to do.'' Cal's place in baseball history would have been secure even without The Streak of 2,632 straight games. He came to the Baltimore Orioles as a rookie on August 10, 1981, 14 days shy of his 21st birthday. He won the American League's Rookie of the Year award in 1982 and its Most Valuable Player award in 1983 and again in 1991; set the American League record for assists by a short stop for single season in 1984; became only the second player in major league history to be named the league's Most Valuable Player, Major League Player of the Year, All- Star Game MVP, and winner of a Gold Glove in the same season in 1991; led AL Shortstops in assists for 7 straight seasons, setting the new league record in 1993; became the Orioles all-time leader with 819 extra base hits in 1996; hit his 400th home run in 1999, and recorded his 3,000th hit in 2000. Cal's history of community involvement mirrors the type of dedication and commitment he's famous for on the field. Cal actively supports his community in a variety of ways, including the establishment of The Kelly and Cal Ripken, Jr. Foundation, which supports community adult and family literacy in the greater Baltimore area. Additionally, the Cal Ripken, Jr./Lou Gehrig ALS Research Fund at Johns Hopkins was established in September 1995 in commemoration of Cal's record-breaking feat. Cal Ripken came to be identified strongly with the city in which he played, his work ethic reflecting Baltimore's working class pride. He grew up outside Baltimore and played his entire professional career in the Orioles' organization. That, unfortunately, is all-too-rare an occurrence today. In closing Mr. Speaker, three words sum up Cal Ripken Jr. as both player and citizen--excellence, dependability and consistency.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1749, which would designate the United States Postal Service located at 685 Turnberry Road in Newport News, Virginia as the ``Herbert H. Bateman Post Office Building.'' I would also like to thank my colleague, Representative Jo Ann Davis, Herb's successor in America's First District, for her leadership in introducing this legislation. My friend and former colleague Herb Bateman was a true gentleman and a great patriot. I will never forget his kind and valuable tutelage when I first came to Congress, nor will I forget how he demonstrated to all of us the importance of caring more about doing good than getting credit. On a political and ideological level, there was much to learn from Herb: His fiscal conservation and commitment to restraining big government and protecting taxpayers' interest. His unwavering support of a strong military and of the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our nation. His dedication to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, and so much more. Herb Bateman took great pride in serving the people of America's First District for 18 years. In doing so, he was an asset not only to the people of the Northern Neck and the Eastern Shore of Virginia, but to the nation as a whole. It is fitting, therefore, that we take steps to honor and memorialize Herb, so that his service to America will never be forgotten.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a community in Fairfax County, Holmes Run Acres, on its 50th Anniversary. This neighborhood has been providing families with the best Falls Church, Virginia has to offer for many years and is well-positioned to continue to do so in the future. Holmes Run Acres was designed with unique contemporary architecture to save trees and blend into the Virginia countryside. When the neighborhood was in its early stages, Fairfax County was a rural area. In 1951, the county was impacted by the post-World War II development. The residents of Holmes Run Acres decided this was time to form a Civic Association, and a year later they published ``The Holmes Runner,'' a community newsletter. Today, they still rely on their Civic Association meetings and publications, but, in keeping with technology trends, they have their information posted on the World Wide Web. These factors promote unifying, community-wide communications network. Holmes Run Acres built the first community swimming pool in Fairfax County. Volunteers from the neighborhood worked with the Fairfax County Park Authority to turn an old dump site into the first neighborhood park in the County. The Civic Association encourages its residents to initiate and participate in activities that bring the community together, such as house and garden tours, art shows, classes and family gatherings. The residents of Holmes Run Acres are always available to lend a hand with many community activities, including those events that are county- wide. During the 1960s their well-established Civic Association helped create an association for a newly formed neighboring community. During the holidays, Holmes Run's children run a gift drive for needy children outside of their immediate area. The recent publication of the third installment of ``Holmes Run Acres: The Story of a Community'' proves that this community is going strong year after year. The publication provides background on the community's history and residents, as well as local history and plans for future improvements. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank Holmes Run Acres for all it has provided to the community. They will be celebrating on Saturday, October 6, 2001, and they will also have another event in the spring. I hope that all of my colleagues will join me in congratulating them on 50 years of service and wishing them the best in the years to come.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend for yielding time to me. I commend him for his leadership as chairman of this subcommittee, and their staff for the excellent work they have done in reviewing the D.C. budget this year and in bringing this bill to the floor in a timely manner. Mr. Chairman, with the assistance of the Control Board, the Citizen Council, and the mayor, the District of Columbia has made tremendous progress in overcoming the spending and management crisis that drove it to the verge of bankruptcy in 1995. After four consecutive balanced budgets, Congress restored the mayor's management authority over nine major departments. Now the city is well on its way to a full recovery. This budget not only maintains the momentum of the management stability and reform, it will also allow the city to implement much needed social service reforms. Legislation recently passed the House that will implement structural and management reforms in the D.C. Family Court so it can better serve the needs of the city's most vulnerable children. It addresses the recruitment and retention of Family Court judges, mandates longer judicial terms of service in the Family Court, and imposes the critically important one family-one judge requirement on the Family Court. As an original cosponsor of that legislation, I am pleased that the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia in the Committee on Appropriations, under the leadership of the gentleman from Michigan (Chairman Knollenberg), has ensured that more than $23 million will be provided for these critical reforms. The bill also provides $17 million to maintain the D.C. tuition assistance program. Since its inception, this program has grown in popularity among D.C. students and participating colleges and universities. This funding is imperative to ensure that D.C. students have more educational choices, and have the same opportunities for higher education that those students in the rest of the country have. The bill provides $5 million to help the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency promote and facilitate adoptions of D.C. children in the city's foster care system. Sixteen million dollars is provided for security planning that is vital to the city, particularly in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Overall, Mr. Chairman, this is a budget that keeps the Nation's Capitol moving forward and addresses some of its most pressing needs. Once again, I applaud the chairman for his leadership, commend the subcommittee for its bipartisan cooperation. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me this time. And I rise in strong support of H.R. 2657, the District of Columbia Family Court Act of 2001, which will create structural and management reforms so the Family Court can better serve the needs of the city's vulnerable children. The bill addresses the recruitment and retention of family court judges and mandates longer judicial terms of service in the Family Court to ensure continuity in the handling of cases. Additionally, it imposes the critically important ``one family, one judge'' requirement for the Family Court. After the tragic death of 23-month-old Brianna Blackmond in January of 2000, the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia held two hearings to review the status of the Child and Family Services Administration and to determine how we could prevent further tragedies. It was clear from those hearings that reforming CFSA alone would be insufficient. The court plays an integral role in the D.C.'s child welfare system and has to be overhauled as well. Anyone who has been following The Washington Post's coverage of the District's most vulnerable residents understands this is very complex and challenging, and will require a comprehensive response. It is imperative that the Family Court judges have the knowledge, the training, and the administrative processes in place so that the best interests of the children in the City's child welfare system can be served. This bill puts the court on the right track. It provides strategic management tools the court needs to accomplish key reform objectives. Decisions the Family Court judges make often have a lasting impact on children's lives. We do not want judges to feel burdened by service in the Family Court. This assignment should never be a form of punishment. That is why this bill encourages volunteerism and appoints the Family Court judges who have committed themselves to the practice of family law. To ensure greater continuity, judges need to serve on the Family Court longer than the 1 year they have typically served now. Therefore, the term of service on the Family Court for new judicial appointees for D.C. Superior Court is 5 years. Additionally, the ``one family, one judge'' requirement will allow Family Court judges to handle cases from intake through final disposition. They will then have a full history of the child's family dynamics to help them make better informed decisions regarding the safety and the welfare of the child. H.R. 2657 mandates the immediate return of all family law cases to the Family Court. The court must eliminate the backlog and manage cases within the time frame established by the adoption of the Safe Families Act. To facilitate case management, the bill directs the court to integrate its computer system so that judges, magistrate judges, and nonjudicial personnel will have access to all pending cases related to a child and his or her family. The bill requires the D.C. government to integrate the computer systems with those of the Superior Court to improve communication in the sharing of information about families served by the court. In addition to the training requirement for judges, it is important that they are well informed about critical social services available to the children and the families they serve. By requiring a social services liaison and representatives from D.C. agencies to be on site, our bill gives judges the tools to help children and families access much-needed programs and services. I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for their leadership and dedication on this issue. H.R. 2657 mandates critical and long overdue reforms to the current family division of the D.C. Superior Court, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Michigan for his leadership on this issue. Just in the last few days, in my district in Northern Virginia, anti- Arabic graffiti was written at a local high school. We have had an Islamic bookstore that has been vandalized. The vast majority of American Muslims and Arabs are as appalled at these acts of terrorism as the rest of us. Many of these Muslim and Arab Americans and Sikhs came to escape this type of terrorism in their own countries, and it has come here now. But they have come here, as most of our forbears, for the freedom and the opportunity offered in America. We cannot afford to let the terrorists divide our country between Muslim and Arab and Jews and Christians. We do not want to repeat the mistakes of World War II where we singled out Japanese Americans for discrimination. We need to show that Americans stand together: Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and others in support of our President and against any type of discrimination. Against any group, discrimination cannot and should not be tolerated. This resolution affirms our role as leaders in recognizing that no group should be singled out for discrimination simply because they share a common heritage or religious background similar to the terrorists. I ask that we pass this resolution. Again, I commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior) for his leadership.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S.J. Res. 23. With the passage of this joint resolution, Congress stands united with the President and the brave men and women in uniform ready to wage war on global terrorism. Although S.J. Res. 23 is not a formal declaration of war, the resolution gives the President full authority to use force against these terrorists and is similar to the use of force resolution authorizing military operations during the Persian Gulf conflict in 1991. Of course, a key to making this work is the continued willingness of the executive to continue to consult with legislators. I am confident the President will do just that. Make no mistake, failure to act in unison at home and abroad will be interpreted by our enemies as weakness and an invitation to commit further atrocities. We have to put aside our differences, quiet our rhetoric and act decisively now. Mr. Speaker, today I read Leonard Pitts' column in the Miami Herald. Addressing his words to the faceless cowards responsible for Tuesday's attacks he wrote: ``It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just started. But you're about to learn.'' I urge all my colleagues to support S.J. Res. 23.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, yesterday America's innocence was shattered by unseen enemies. Cowards, terrorists, struck at the heart of our society, killing mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, indiscriminately in hopes of political gain. We stand united in our resolve that their acts of terrorism will not deter us. I want to offer my prayers to families who are still waiting to hear from loved ones who might have been at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon, or those families who have already lost loved ones in yesterday's tragic events. Words cannot express my gratitude to the countless police officers, firefighters, volunteers, blood donors, and health care providers who rushed to the crash scenes yesterday, putting their own lives in harm's way to come to the aid of their fellow Americans. Yesterday's television images will remain with us forever, not only because of the sheer terror they conveyed, but also because of the uniquely American spirit that was evident: our grit, our resolve, our unparalleled ability to rally together in the face of tragedy. I am proud of the members of the Fairfax County Urban Rescue Team who were among the first to tackle the difficult debris at the Pentagon. In addition, I want to thank all those who continue to help their fellow Americans by providing comfort and prayer to those injured and their families. Mr. Speaker, we stand together to ensure that the perpetrators and enablers of these cowardly acts are held accountable and pay the highest price for their actions.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of this resolution. The event of yesterday, of course, will leave a lasting impact in our community in Northern Virginia. Our friends, our neighbors, have all been affected, as I think has the whole country. But yesterday's act was an act of war, but the enemy was not necessarily a particular country or a nation, but a network of terrorists harbored and enabled in some cases by other nations who are lurking in the shadows, afraid of identifying themselves, even in some cases denying their deeds while praising these acts. The perpetrators of these vicious acts and their abettors are not wholly identified as yet, but their act of war was not only against the United States, but against all freedom-loving people throughout the globe. Any failure on our part to act decisively against these mass murderers will only encourage more such acts against other peoples and other nations. Our country has put aside the partisan squabbling, and we stand united behind our President to give him the resources he needs to seek out and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts. We thank our allies and other leaders across the world for their expressions of support and sympathy; and working together, we can rid this planet of the terrorist menace that knows no boundaries, obeys no rules, respects no life. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is only a start, but it demonstrates our determination as a Nation to stand shoulder to shoulder united as one people, to bring justice to these attackers and normalization to our lives. My deepest sympathy to the families of these victims and those awaiting word on loved ones who cannot be accounted for. My appreciation to the rescue workers, the police, firefighters and medical personnel and volunteers who have risked their lives to help their brothers and sisters. These Americans and countless volunteers have again demonstrated the American spirit at this time of crisis. To those military and Federal employees who were targets of the suicide bombers, they once again, as in Oklahoma City, have paid the supreme price for anger directed at our political system. They are heroes who will forever be remembered for the sacrifice they made for freedom. History will never forget their heroic sacrifice.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1766 sponsored by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) would rename the Post Office at 4270 John Marr Drive in Annandale, Viginia, to honor Stan Parris, a distinguished and dedicated Republican representative from Northern Virginia. Stan's career in public service began as a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors representing the Mason district. He later served the people of Virginia as Secretary of the Commonwealth and Director of the Commonwealth of Virginia's Washington Liaison Office. Stan went on to represent the Eighth Congressional District of Virginia from 1973 to 1975, and more recently from 1981 to 1991. While in Congress he was a member of the Committee on Banking, the Committee on the Interior and Insular Affairs, and the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. As the ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia, Stan was a vocal critic of D.C. Government policies in the 1980s and recognized the early signs of the City's financial and organizational mismanagement, which eventually escalated to crisis level by the mid-1990s. Additionally, he was among the first congressional Members calling for the closure of Lorton Prison, a process that finally began as part of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1977. Stan was ahead of his time. While serving in Congress, Stan successfully pursued measures to alleviate traffic congestion in Northern Virginia. A strong advocate for the residents of Virginia's Eighth Congressional District, he worked tirelessly on behalf of Federal employees and military retirees to help them obtain better salaries and benefits. After leaving Congress, Stan was appointed by the President to serve as the administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and since 1996 he has worked with the law firm of Dickstein, Shapiro, Moore and Oshinsky, LLP. He now resides in Hudgins, Virginia. I urge all my colleagues to join in supporting this legislation honoring Stan Parris. 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 on H.R. 1766.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 788 would require the General Services Administration to convey to the City of Kewaunee, Wisconsin at no cost a parcel of property containing an Army Reserve Center located in northwest Kewaunee. The property consists of two buildings with approximately 17,000 square feet of space constructed on 4.4 acres of land. The property is excess to the needs of the Army and surplus to the needs of the Federal Government. It has been vacant since 1996. Currently, the City of Kewaunee's municipal services are located at different sites around the city. Kewaunee city hall, police department, ambulance service and community center/senior center have outgrown their present facilities. They require room to expand. The City of Kewaunee intends to consolidate these services at the vacant Army Reserve center. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. 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 Wisconsin (Mr. Green), the bill sponsor, a strong fighter for the citizens of Kewaunee, Wisconsin.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

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 on the bill under consideration.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I also note that Mr. Harris is a former president, as I understand it, of the Bren Mar Park Civic Association, which was in the Mason District which I once represented. Again, let me say to Herb Harris, thank you for Metro, thank you for the Mount Vernon Hospital, thank you for your years of service as well. We look forward to the dedication. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance my time.

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

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, that is appropriate. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf).

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

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just have a question for the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran): Does this post office stay in the Eighth Congressional District under the new boundaries that the Virginia General Assembly has promulgated?

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to stand before you today to speak on behalf of H.R. 1761, designing the United States Post Office located at 8588 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia, as the Herb Harris Post Office Building. Herb Harris, again, came from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors where he cut his teeth politically. He had a very distinguished career there. He was elected in 1975 to the 94th Congress and two succeeding Congresses representing what was then Virginia's Eighth Congressional District. He was the first freshman Congressman in 25 years to serve as chairman of the House District of Columbia Subcommittee on the Environment Bicentennial Celebration and International Community as well. Prior to being elected to Congress, Herb served as vice chairman of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Transit Authority from 1970 to 1974 as a member of the County Board of Supervisors from Fairfax at that point representing the Mount Vernon District. He had been vice chairman of the County Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County as well, was a very distinguished leader there both in Fairfax and regionally. He was the instrumental figure in securing the needed funding for construction of Metro. We think of Stark-Harris funds and the legislation that came out of that landmark legislation. The Metro system as it exists today would not be there but for Herb Harris. He was a leader in getting money for that area and allocating it, bringing the region together to address the problems with building this mighty system. After leaving Congress in January 1981, Herb resumed the practice of law with the firm of Harris Ellsworth & Levin in Washington, D.C. He still resides in Mount Vernon, Virginia, today. Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to thank Herb for his service to Fairfax County, the Washington metropolitan region, and to this country. I would urge adoption of this bill. 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 bill (H.R. 1761) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8588 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia, as the ``Herb E. Harris Post Office Building'', as amended.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

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

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 2133) to establish a commission for the purpose of encouraging and providing for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that will help alleviate a problem that has plagued the senior weather forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. One of the most important missions NOAA undertakes is the accurate forecasting of weather phenomenon. Every highly specialized weather forecaster is responsible for everything from making landfall predictions of hurricanes along the Eastern Seaboard, to gauging wind conditions above fires and ensuring the safety of those trying to put them out. These forecasters, all of whom as GS-14 (or lower), nonmanagerial employees, often work weekends and late into the evening trying to give the most accurate information possible. Unfortunately, many of the senior forecasters are under paid for the overtime they routinely put in. This bill seeks to alleviate that problem by standardizing the overtime pay system and giving the Secretary of Commerce the flexibility to pay those forecasters who's duties, ``are critical to the immediate daily operation of the forecast and warning responsibilities of the National Weather Service and directly affect public and aviation safety.'' It is time that we started recognizing the important role that these forecasters play in terms of public safety and the health of our economy. By working weekends and nights, a forecaster may successfully predict the path of a storm and provide critical time needed to evacuate people and protect local businesses. I urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation and to contact my office if they should have any additional questions.