Michael Doyle

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Chairman, would the chairman yield for a question?

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Chairman, when you have a talent deficit, you have to work harder. Mr. Chairman, just a question. Under the bill, if a local government had an ordinance that said you couldn't open a street during rush hour in a major artery, and the cable or phone company saw that as not reasonable and decided not to comply with that ordinance, where would the appeal process be? Currently, under law now, that appeal process takes place in local courts. Would the bill require local governments to now go to the FCC for any dispute resolution on rights of ways?

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Chairman, I do not oppose the amendment, but I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. DOYLE. If the chairman will continue to yield. So, Mr. Chairman, you are saying under the COPE bill, that any disputes with regards to rights-of-way do not have to go to the FCC for resolution?

Mr. DOYLE. So if the gentleman will continue to yield.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a Western Pennsylvania native and pioneer in the field of Physical Medicine, Dr. Frank Lyon Rommel, who passed away on I April 28, 2006, at the Moravian Manor in Lititz, PA. Dr. Rommel, a Board Certified specialist in Physical Medicine was the founder of the Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Department at the McKeesport Hospital, and is credited with rehabilitating hundreds of injured veterans at the V.A. Harmarville Rehabilitation Center in suburban Pittsburgh as well as countless patients in hospitals throughout Western Pennsylvania between 1961 and 1988. He was born in Glassport, PA on May 5, 1925, was a graduate of Glassport High School, St. Vincent College and the Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago. He served overseas during World 'War II as a cryptographer in the Army Air Corps. Dr. Rommel was married for 51 years to Barbara Bonde Rommel who survives him along with five children, their spouses, 10 grandchildren, two sisters, and is the uncle of our colleague, Congressman Bill Shuster. Internment will be at the Shuster Family Cemetery near Everett, PA.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues in the House that June 3 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Children's Transplant Center at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Children's Transplant Center was the first pediatric transplant center in the entire Nation when it was established in 1981. For 25 years, the unprecedented efforts of the surgeons and staff at the Center have continually raised the bar for pediatric transplant surgery and recovery, both nationally and around the globe. Twenty-five years after the establishment of the Children's Transplant Center under the guidance of transplant pioneer Thomas E. Starzl, MD, PhD, the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh today is widely recognized as a leader in developing strategies to manage organ rejection. From the first and most successful series of small intestine transplants to its breakthrough work in pediatric multi-organ transplants, Children's has repeatedly achieved major advances in the operating room and laboratory. I commend the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for its commitment to taking on the most challenging and difficult cases--which, by the way, has not prevented its dedicated and hard-working doctors and staff from achieving survival rates that repeatedly exceed national and international averages. I am so very proud to say that these people are the caregivers for my young constituents and for desperately sick children from around the world. I want to extend my warmest congratulations to the Children's Transplant Center, the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and all of the surgeons and staff that are part of the Center and wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous artistic ability of a young man from my Congressional District, George A. Blake of Woodland Hills High School. George is the winner in the 2006 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania's High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' George's piece, a self portrait, is an impressive portrait in acrylic paint of a young man's face. George's artwork was selected from a number of outstanding entries to this year's competition. I am certain that his family is proud of his artistic talents as well as this accomplishment. It gives me great pride and pleasure that George's painting will be representing the 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the national exhibit of high school students' artwork that will be set up in the United States Capitol in the coming weeks. The winners of the Congressional Art Competitions held in each Congressional District will be displayed in that exhibit. I encourage my colleagues as well as any visitor to Capitol Hill to view George's artwork, along with all of the other winning artwork that will be on display throughout the next year. It is truly amazing to walk through this corridor and see the interpretation of life through the eyes of these young artists from all across our country. I would also like to recognize all the other participants in this year's 14th Congressional District High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' I would like to thank these impressive young artists for allowing us to share and celebrate their talents, imagination, and creativity. The efforts of these students in expressing themselves in a powerful and positive manner are no less than spectacular. I hope that all of these individuals continue to utilize their artistic talents, and I wish them all the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the McKeesport Tigers on their 2005 PIAA Class AAAA state football championship. The Tigers' 49-10 victory over the Bethlehem Liberty Hurricanes was one of the most outstanding performances ever in a state title game. I want my colleagues to know just how proud I am of their talent, hard work, and determination. They are an outstanding example of the many admirable qualities possessed by the people of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District. McKeesport's second-ever state title capped off one of the greatest and most memorable postseason runs in Western Pennsylvania sports history. Their victory was indeed a team effort under the superb direction of coach George Smith, but there were several individuals who rose to the challenge and pulled through in the crunch. Quarterback Dan Kopolovich ran for three touchdowns and passed for a fourth. His teammate, running back Warren Waite, was able to gain over 100 yards and added yet another score. On the Tigers' defensive team, Travis McBride earned great distinction by returning an interception for a score. These athletes' outstanding performances, ably supported by those of their teammates, resulted in one of the largest margins of victory in the state title game's history. I applaud the Tigers for their impressive display of teamwork and perseverance. They have truly demonstrated the quintessential characteristics of Western Pennsylvanians in their run to the championship. I want to extend my warmest congratulations to the Tigers, Coach Smith, and the entire McKeesport School District and wish them all the best of luck in the future and hope for much continued success.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the wrongly named Gasoline for America's Security Act. It would be more appropriate to call this the Don't Hold Your Breath Act, as this bill will not do what my colleagues on the other side claim. While it is clear to all of us that our Nation does not have the refinery capacity that we need, it is equally clear that the bill before us will not increase this shortfall. The idea that simply eliminating environmental standards and removing judicial control will solve this problem is absolutely wrong. Over the past 30 years, there has been only one application filed to build a new refinery. I will say that again: only one application has been filed. We are not talking about permit after permit being thrown out. We are not talking about an industry trying time after time to site a facility and being denied. What we are talking about is the fact that the gasoline industry makes the vast majority of their profits at the refinery level, and there is zero economic incentive for them to increase their capacity. As long as the refineries are operating at near 100 percent, their profit margins are through the roof. This bill ignores this obvious fact and instead focuses on eliminating environmental protections, which is nothing more than a scapegoat measure that will not do anything to address the basic problem. So what does this bill actually do? It strips virtually all of the environmental protections of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act when they come into conflict with the siting of a refinery. The bill removes all cases challenging refinery siting from local State courts and forces communities to come to Washington, D.C. in order to challenge the selection of their hometown for a new refinery. And, further, if the local communities lose in court, they have to pay all of the industry's legal bills. This bill also will limit the Federal Trade Commission's ability to impose penalties when presented with evidence of price gouging, effectively incentivizing industry to take advantage of disasters like Katrina. For these reasons, I ask my colleagues to reject this bill. Democrats have a substitute that will address critical shortages during disasters without gutting our environmental laws, and it deserves our support.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our dear friend and colleague, John P. Murtha as he and his wife Joyce celebrate the 50th anniversary of their marriage. I would like to submit the following statement of Father William George to honor this occasion: Dinner Blessing by Father William George, S.J. at the 50th Anniversary Dinner for Congressman and Mrs. John P. Murtha Blessed are you, God of all Creation. We are created in your image and likeness and share the gifts you have bestowed on us, especially your gift of divine Love. Source of all Love and Kindness, we thank you for the love we share this evening of Jack and Joyce Murtha's mature and wonderful love as we celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. St. Paul speaks of how without love, we gain nothing; that Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, is not inflated; it is not rude; it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Cor.) The faith that Joyce and Jack have in each other is witnessed to by their 50 years of marriage, but also how hard they work to support each other and their generosity to others. Their hopefulness is revealed in their patience and continued generosity even when criticized and challenged. Their love is a witness to the divine spirit within all of us and we thank you for them. Their gift of self to each other reveals the richness of the union of husband and wife in the sacrament of marriage. We ask you to continue to bless their love with your grace. Jack and Joyce have united in a strong and productive way in service to their country. As one nation under God, we appreciate their dedication and love of country. If every member of Congress had such a supportive spouse, the laws of our land would be more in accord with your will, bringing peace through justice. Please, dear Lord, continue to bless them with vigor, insight and courage. We ask your care for our young men and women in uniform all throughout the world who are in harm's way. Inspire them and make them shining witnesses to justice wherever they serve. Please bless our celebration of Jack and Joyce's 50th. Bless this food we are about to receive from your bounty, as we have faith in you, our God, who lives forever and ever, Amen.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous artistic ability of a young woman from my Congressional District, Lindsay Kilroy of Woodland Hills High School. Lindsay is the winner in the 2005 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania's High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' Lindsay's piece, entitled, ``Self Portrait Reflection,'' is an impressive portrait in acrylic paint of a young woman's face. Lindsay's artwork was selected from a number of outstanding entries to this year's competition. I am certain that her family is proud of her artistic talents as well as this accomplishment. It gives me great pride and pleasure that Lindsay's painting will be representing the 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the national exhibit of high school students' artwork that will be set up in the United States Capitol in the coming weeks. The winners of the Congressional Art Competitions held in each Congressional District will be displayed in that exhibit. I encourage my colleagues as well as any visitor to Capitol Hill to view Lindsay's artwork, along with all of the other winning artwork that will be on display throughout the next year. It is truly amazing to walk through this corridor and see the interpretation of life through the eyes of these young artists from all across our country. I would also like to recognize all the other participants in this year's 14th Congressional District High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' I would like to thank these impressive young artists for allowing us to share and celebrate their talents, imagination, and creativity. The efforts of these students in expressing themselves in a powerful and positive manner are no less than spectacular. I hope that all of these individuals continue to utilize their artistic talents, and I wish them all the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Chairman, I would respectfully add my voice to those opposing this amendment. While clearly we all want to reduce our imports of foreign oil, I have not been convinced that raising CAFE standards would actually accomplish this. As I understand it, our imports' share of oil consumption was 35 percent in 1974. Since then, our new car fuel economy has roughly doubled, but our auto import share has risen nonetheless to about 50 percent. For this reason, I am not convinced that the amendment, if adopted, with achieve one of its primary goals. Additionally, our national economy is struggling, to say the least. In my home State of Pennsylvania, which is not normally thought of as a State closely tied to the automotive industry, a total of 220,800 jobs are dependent on the industry; 39,700 of these people are directly employed by it, and when you add in other spin-off employment, we are talking about over 220,000 jobs in Pennsylvania alone. Mr. Chairman, in these difficult economic times, I simply do not think it is prudent to put those jobs and this vital industry in jeopardy when it is not clear the benefits potentially derived would merit doing so. With the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) I urge defeat of the amendment.

Mr. DOYLE

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

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic efforts of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Michigan to develop the first vaccine against polio. Before I do that, though, I do want to thank my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy), for introducing this resolution and for managing the time on his side, as well as to thank our chairman, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), for their support in this effort. A devastating polio epidemic struck the United States in the early 1950s, causing thousands of cases of lingering paralysis and death. By 1952 the epidemic had affected nearly 58,000 people, mainly children and young adults. Many of those affected were combined to mechanical ventilators known as iron lungs, while others were crippled and needed crutches to get around. Dr. Jonas Salk, Dr. Julius Youngner, and a team of dedicated researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine worked diligently for years to find a vaccine against this terrible disease, despite the belief by many of their colleagues that vaccination would never prevent polio. Nevertheless, thousands of Pittsburgh schoolchildren offered up their arms to be injected with the experimental vaccine providing enough evidence of its effectiveness to launch a large-scale trial of 1.8 million children. On April 12, 1955, at a convocation held at the University of Michigan, Dr. Thomas Francis, Jonas Salk's former mentor, announced that the massive field trial of the Salk vaccine, which he had overseen, had been successful. The announcement that the vaccine was safe, effective and potent cleared the way for widespread use of the vaccine and made Dr. Salk one of the Nation's most revered figures. Subsequent inoculations of children and young adults virtually eradicated polio from the United States by 1962. In light of this momentous achievement it is appropriate that the House recognize the many individuals who were involved in the effort, including those who generously agreed to participate in the clinical trials that validated the efficacy of this vaccine. The importance of the pioneering work of Dr. Jonas Salk and his team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh cannot be overstated. Their work saved countless lives and had a monumental impact on the quality of life around the globe. Consequently, I want to take the opportunity of this anniversary to recognize the University of Pittsburgh for its vital contribution to eliminating this devastating threat to public health; and I want to commend Dr. Youngner, now professor emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh, for his hard work and dedication those many years ago. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to honor a great American ally and an inspiration to people striving for freedom throughout the whole world--Greece. Today the House observes the 184th anniversary of Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire. This anniversary not only represents a triumph for the nation of Greece but a triumph for all Western democratic nations. The ancient city-states of Greece created many of the fundamental elements that have shaped our modern culture such as logic, mathematics, the empirical method of scientific discovery, politics, and the philosophical ideals that were embraced by our Founding Fathers, especially the motion of democracy and self-governance. In a perplexing world where terrorism and war confront our nation, it is comforting to know that we can count on the nation of Greece for support. Greece remains one of our staunchest allies. Greece was one of the first nations to express solidarity for the United States after 9/ 11 and since then has been in the forefront of the War on Terror. I join Greek Americans in my district of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and throughout the world in celebrating a proud nation with a rich long heritage in inspiring and influencing men and women around the world. I am proud to stand here today to recognize and honor Greece on this the 184th Anniversary of its independence.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and Pittsburgher, Mr. Earl V. Jones, Sr. Mr. Jones is a constituent of mine and the founder of the worldwide Peace on Earth Campaign. The Peace on Earth Campaign is centered on community leaders and the many volunteers in the community who do their part day in and day out. Local firefighters, police and paramedics have co-sponsored Mr. Jones' project which is showcased by a flag designed by Mr. Jones himself. The flag and symbol for the world peace campaign is a dove and globe in red, black, brown, yellow, and white to acknowledge the ongoing struggle for world peace. In a post-9/11 world where terrorism and war surround us, Mr. Jones' Peace on Earth Campaign is a symbol for all nations to strive towards. The Peace on Earth campaign has been recognized and endorsed by President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton and Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Mr. Jones organizes numerous events to promote community involvement in the Peace on Earth Campaign. One of the many events Mr. Jones' organization promotes is a highly successful student essay program in our public schools. Each essay is designed to bring awareness of the theme of peace on Earth to the youth of the world. With his efforts to promote the noble goal of peace on Earth, Mr. Jones truly epitomizes the American values of peace, community, and brotherhood. I commend Mr. Jones on his countless hours of volunteer work spent as the ambassador and organizer for the Peace on Earth Campaign.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this rule. Two weeks ago, heavy rains from hurricane Ivan inundated my district in southwestern Pennsylvania, and many communities across Pennsylvania experienced disastrous flooding and mudslides. This was no typical storm, Mr. Speaker. It has been estimated this was a 100-year rain, perhaps a 500-year rain, one that we will never see again in western Pennsylvania. And the damage inflicted went far beyond the federally determined floodplain. It devastated homes and businesses that were not expected to buy flood insurance. Several of the worst hit communities were, Etna, Millvale, Sharpsburg, Carnegie and small communities along the Allegheny River. As soon as the flooding subsided, I toured the communities affected by the flooding and met with the owners of many small businesses that had been damaged. Jane Moran got walloped by Ivan twice. Her 7-Eleven store in Etna was severely damaged, and her home nearby was damaged so badly it has been condemned. Her husband and three sons all had to move into a one- bedroom apartment with her daughter and boyfriend and, until recently, were wearing borrowed clothes. In Millvale, 8 feet of water from Girty's Run flooded many of that municipality's businesses; 190 of the 230 businesses in Millvale suffered damage. The flood waters caused $400,000 in damage to Jerry Kitman's furniture store. His wife Judy's business, Lasting Memories floral shop, was also completely destroyed. Ed and Arleen Carr, the owners of Yetters Candy Store, a family business that had been in operation 75 years, saw all of their equipment and supplies completely destroyed. Grant Street Diner and Catering, a family-owned business, was completely destroyed, and 5,000 pounds of food were ruined. Mr. Speaker, I say this to you because these people are the embodiment of the American Dream. They worked hard and invested every penny in their businesses and they need help now. President Bush was in my district on September 23, and he told these people, we understand the Federal Government has an obligation to help, and we will. Well, Mr. Speaker, we need your help, and what we do not need are loans. That is all that are available to these businesses right now. These mom-and-pop shops are already loaned up to their eyeballs, and they do not need another loan. What they need is a grant. Last night, we went to the Committee on Rules and asked for a one- time grant of up to $250,000 for these small businesses in these areas that were not in Federal flood zones and, through no fault of their own, find their businesses gone. If we do not give these businesses grants, they are not coming back, and the communities they sit in are not coming back. What do we tell these folks? Do we tell them we have $20 billion to rebuild schools and businesses and infrastructure in Iraq, but when it comes to American taxpayers they have to take loans? Mr. Speaker, we can do better than that. We have supported all disaster relief for Florida, for our friends on the west coast that have fires and earthquakes. People in Pennsylvania need some help. Mom-and-pop businesses are the backbone of this country, and they are asking for our help tonight. I ask that we defeat this rule so that we can go back to the drawing board and put an amendment in there that will allow grants to small businesses so that we can restore these people's businesses and the American dream. I ask all my colleagues to support defeating this rule.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join in this special order commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Penn State University. As a proud alumnus of Penn State University, I can attest to the quality of education offered by this outstanding institution of higher learning. Beginning like so many other state universities as a school to provide an education in farming and agricultural science to the citizens of Pennsylvania--which, by the way, is still one of its important missions--the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania in Centre County, Pennsylvania, grew rapidly and has educated thousands of Americans over the last 150 years. Today, The Pennsylvania State University boasts 20 branch campuses across the commonwealth and offers a full range of undergraduate majors and graduate degrees, as well as a college of medicine and a highly respected law school. In fact, many of Penn State's grad schools are considered among the nation's top ten in their fields. It has an enrollment of over 80,000 students each year, and it is considered one of the premier research universities in the nation. I might add that it also has one hell of a football team, which has been led to many victories over the years by its legendary coach, Joe Paterno. I look back fondly on my years in State College as some of the best years of my life. I received a world-class education at Penn State between 1971 and 1975, and I also had a pretty darned good time on campus. Consequently, I am proud to mark this milestone in the life of my alma mater by participating in this special order commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of this remarkable institution of higher learning. I can't wait to see what Penn State and its alumni achieve in the next 150 years.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous artistic ability of a young man from my Congressional District, Tyron Morrison of Woodland Hills High School. Tyron is the winner in the 2004 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania's High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' Tyron's piece, entitled, ``T.L.,'' is an impressive portrait in acrylic paint of a young man's face, with a strong use of highlight and shadow. Tyron's artwork was selected from a number of outstanding entries to this year's competition. I am certain that his family is proud of her artistic talents as well as this accomplishment. It gives me great pride and pleasure that Tyron's painting will be representing the 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the national exhibit of high school students' artwork that will be set up in the United States Capitol in the coming weeks. The winners of the Congressional Art Competitions held in each Congressional District will be displayed in that exhibit. I encourage my colleagues as well as any visitor to Capitol Hill to view Tyron's artwork, along with all of the other winning artwork that will be on display throughout the next year. It is truly amazing to walk through this corridor and see the interpretation of life through the eyes of these young artists from all across our country. I would also like to recognize all the other participants in this year's 14th Congressional District High School Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' I would like to thank these vibrant young artists for allowing us to share and celebrate their talents, imagination, and creativity. The efforts of these students in expressing themselves in a powerful and positive manner are no less than spectacular. I hope that all of these individuals continue to utilize their artistic talents, and I wish them all the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Greece, one of America's greatest allies and sources of inspiration, on the 183rd anniversary of its independence from the Ottoman Empire. Greek Independence Day marks the return of independence to the birthplace of democracy. The Ancient Greeks profoundly shaped western culture. Many of the fundamental elements of our modern culture can be traced back to them--logic, mathematics, the empirical method of scientific discovery, and of course many of the political and philosophical ideals embraced by our Founding Fathers, especially that of self-governance--originated with the ancient Greeks. Today, Greece is one of our staunchest allies. It was one of the first countries to express solidarity with the United States after 9/ 11, and it has contributed significantly to the global war against terrorism through its military and humanitarian missions. Greek-Americans in my district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and throughout the United States can celebrate this day with pride as they continue their rich tradition of philanthropy, civic duty, and education. Indeed, Greek-Americans have contributed greatly to the American way of life. Their commitment to family, community, and this nation are an inspiration to us all. I hope that my colleagues and the American people will join me today in honoring Greek Independence Day and the continued democratic friendship that exists between our nations.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to let my House colleagues know about a notable milestone. WQED Multimedia in Pittsburgh is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. Debuting on April 1, 1954, WQED was the nation's first community- owned television station. At the time, leaders in the Pittsburgh community saw a need for an educational TV station in addition to the already present commercial ones. As station founder Leland Hazard stated, ``On this station you will find a children's hour designed to determine whether it is necessary for someone to get killed to entertain young folks.'' And that is exactly what the station has done. Beginning with Fred Rogers' ``Children's Hour,'' the station has continued to produce wholesome, thoughtful, and nonviolent shows that entertain and educate both young and old. Which is one of the reasons that, today, WQED Multimedia is one of the most valued Pittsburgh institutions, providing educational, cultural, and informational programming for both local and national audiences. As the programs WQED produces show, education has always been a priority for the organization. Everyone is familiar, of course, with ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood,'' the award-winning children's program, but not everyone knows that WQED has also produced a lot of other high- quality children's educational programs over the years, including ``Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'' and ``Once Upon a Classic''. In addition, WQED has produced a nationally broadcast science quarterly program entitled ``The Infinite Voyage'' and a number of National Geographic Specials. WQED Multimedia is also very involved in cultural promotion and preservation. WQED's radio station broadcasts various types of classical music locally, and it promotes Pittsburgh music nationally and internationally through broadcasts of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the River City Brass Band, America's only full time professional brass band. Many of WQED TV 13's programs also seek to promote American culture. In fact, other public broadcasting stations throughout the country have copied the station's program ``Things that Aren't there Anymore''--and several of Rick Sebak's programs celebrating American's favorite pastimes, such as ``Great Old Amusement Parks'' and ``A Hot Dog Program,'' have aired nationally. These programs and many others clearly demonstrate WQED's commitment to telling America's Stories with the American Classics, All-American Documentaries, an American Soundtrack and America's Home Cooking series. Informing viewers about the world and community is another important goal for WQED Multimedia. One outlet it uses to do this is Pittsburgh Magazine, which informs readers about the interesting people and places in and around the city. Additionally, WQED Multimedia provides an Educational Resource Center for teachers and has a community outreach program that combines the power of the media with community involvement to help inform Pittsburghers of important issues affecting them. The more than 250 awards that WQED Multimedia has won over the years, including 60 Emmy's and 12 Peabody's, bear witness to the consistently high quality of programs the organization is producing. Today, over 1,000,000 Pittsburgh households depend upon WQED. It is now the parent company of WQED TV Channel 13, WQED radio Channel 89.3 FM, WQEJ radio Channel 89.7 FM in Johnstown, PITTSBURGH magazine, local and national television and radio productions, www.wged.org, and the WQED Education Resource Center. Pittsburgh is justifiably proud of WQED Multimedia. Its broadcast, print, and Internet productions educate and entertain millions of Americans across the country. I want to congratulate WQED Multimedia on its 50th anniversary. I hope that WQED's high-quality contributions to our community--and this Nation--will continue for many years to come.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I just spoke with the Governor's office earlier this evening. I was aware of this letter that was sent out to four Republicans. Governor Rendell does not endorse this program. He does not support this program. And I just want that to be reflected in the Record.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 280. This bill would establish a National Historic Site in southwestern Pennsylvania to preserve parts of the former U.S. Steel Homestead Works and educate the public about its importance. The Homestead Works played an important role in America's economic and industrial history. It was one of the largest and most productive steel mills in the world 100 years ago. Assessing the historical significance of the Homestead Works, New York Times writer William Serrin observed: Its products helped the nation move west, shaped its skyline, bridged and dammed its waters, helped make it a world naval power, and helped it enter the Space Age. When the mill began, the nation's population was 51.5 million, the Industrial Revolution was in its infancy, and America was innocent and isolated; when the mill went down, the nation's population was 250 million, the Industrial Revolution--based on steel--had changed America and the rest of the world irrevocably, and America was the world's dominant nation in every imaginable way. The Homestead Works and other steel mills nearby made the United States the economic and military superpower it is today. As a result, Pittsburgh is known for its steel industry around the world. I want to make sure this nation and the world always remember the sacrifices made by the workers who labored in the mills to give Pittsburgh this distinction. The history of the Homestead Works is much bigger than that of Pittsburgh or even southwestern Pennsylvania--it reflects national trends in industrial development, scientific innovation and technological advancement, our labor and social history, our country's diverse ethnic heritage, and the work ethic that characterizes this nation. The story of Homestead, its industrial and labor history, continues to attract worldwide interest. The most well-known incident in Homestead's history is the Battle of Homestead, where in 1982 steel workers repulsed a force of Pinkerton detectives sent in to break their strike. More than a hundred years later, the Battle of Homestead still stands as one of the most compelling stories in the long history of the labor movement in the United States. The Homestead Works' Carrie Furnaces 6 and 7 are also sites of national historical significance. They are rare examples of early production techniques and turn-of-the-century technological advances. These relics are the only remaining pre-World War II era blast furnaces left in the Pittsburgh area, and they represent some of the most important technological accomplishments of the American steel industry. I believe that our nation has an obligation to preserve these unique historical assets. For nearly a decade I have been working with the Steel Industry Heritage Corporation to preserve the Battle of Homestead site, Carrie Furnaces 6 and 7, and the history of those who toiled there. The Steel Industry Heritage Corporation has been successful in convincing the property owner, the community, and the National Park Service to support this initiative. The National Park Service recognizes the historical significance of these sites and recently recommended that they be preserved, in a National Historic Site, for future generations. The legislation before us today would create a new National Historic Site that would include Carrie Furnaces 6 and 7, the Hot Metal Bridge, the Battle of Homestead site, and other historic parts of the Borough of Homestead. Mr. Speaker, approval of this legislation today will bring us one step closer to the certainty that the remarkable history of the Homestead Works will be remembered for generations to come. I want to thank the Park Service for its work on this initiative, and I want to commend Augie Carlino, President and CEO of the Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, for working with me for many years to move this initiative forward. Finally, I want to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall of the Resources Committee for working to bring this bill to the House Floor today. I urge my colleagues to support this very worthwhile legislation.

Mr. DOYLE

Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2655, legislation reauthorizing the Walsh Visa program. This program provides U.S. work visas to young people from economically disadvantaged communities in Northern Ireland. The City of Pittsburgh, which I have the honor of representing, is one of the hub cities for the Walsh Visa program. Consequently, I have had the opportunity to see first-hand the impressive accomplishments of this important program. Nearly 250 young men and women, Protestant and Catholic, have participated in the Walsh Visa Program in Pittsburgh since the city was selected as a hub city for this initiative. This program promotes tolerance in Northern Ireland by bringing unemployed Protestant and Catholic youth from economically disadvantaged areas to work and live together in a vibrant multicultural community. These young people learn first-hand about the benefits of tolerance and diversity as they develop useful job skills and important work habits. The Walsh Visa program literally transforms the lives of many of its participants, ending their dependence on government hand-outs and returning them to their communities as valuable economic assets--as well as advocates of tolerance and peaceful coexistence in their deeply divided communities. Their new work skills reinforce their status and influence in their communities, and that gives their message of tolerance and peaceful co-existence added weight. And that brings me to the bigger picture. The Walsh Visa programs doesn't just benefit a few thousand individuals. It also benefits the hundreds of thousands of people in their communities in Northern Ireland. When these young people go home, they take back much-needed job skills, and they serve as important role models for the other young people in their community--not just in terms of promoting religious tolerance, but also in terms of encouraging participation in the workforce in communities where unemployment has historically been depressingly high and many young people have developed an unhealthy dependency on government welfare programs. After completing the Walsh Visa Program, one of the Pittsburgh hub participants stated that, having lived and worked in America, she would never consider being without a job again back in Belfast. The Walsh Visa Program is administered in Pittsburgh by the Ireland Institute, a non-profit organization which has a mission to promote mutual understanding between the Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland and job creation throughout all of Ireland. More than 100 local companies have signed on in support of this program, and thousands of dollars in in-kind contributions have been received from the community. If, as I believe, widespread public support indicates the merit of a government program, then private support for the Walsh Visa Program in Pittsburgh represents a ringing endorsement of this international initiative. Mr. Speaker, the Walsh Visa Program is helping the people of Northern Ireland move beyond the sectarian strife that has divided them for far too long. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2655 and reauthorizing this important program.