Jimmy Duncan

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true great American family. The Gettelfinger family has been one of the leading families of Knoxville, TN, for many years. The senior generation of this great American family now consists of Andrew, Earl, and Herman Gettelfinger and their wives Frances, Marianne, and Nancy. We have heard and read much about the Greatest Generation of Americans, deservedly referring to World War II and Korean veterans and those who have raised the so-called Baby Boom Generation. The senior Gettelfinger family generation has put their children and grandchildren in a position to generate over $500 million for our State and local economies. They and their families have been leaders in the petroleum industry, food and beverage industry, and commercial and residential development. The Gettelfinger family, through all of its business and economic development, has created many lucrative jobs and has helped untold numbers lead more comfortable and convenient lives. The Gettelfinger family has also taken a leading role, and has generously donated to numerous charities, including the Helen Ross McNabb Center, Empty Stocking Fund, United Way, Catholic Charities, and many others. The three Gettelfinger families whom I am honoring have raised 18 children, who are successful in their own right, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Andrew and Frances Gettelfinger, Earl and Marianne Gettelfinger, and Herman and Nancy Gettelfinger are being honored by their families and friends in Knoxville on December 16. 2007. I would like to join in paying tribute to those wonderful people. This Nation is a much better place today because of the Gettelfinger family and the senior generation that is being honored at this time. Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to join me as I salute the Gettelfinger family of Knoxville, TN.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bookwalter United Methodist Church of Knoxville, Tennessee. On November 4, many people from East Tennessee will join together to recognize Bookwalter United Methodist Church as they celebrate 125 years of ministry. Bookwalter United Methodist Church has an exciting history that started back in 1881 when Dr. Lewis Bookwalter moved his family to Knoxville, Tennessee. Dr. Bookwalter contacted another minister by the name of Louis Bookwalter and a man by the name of John Worth. Together they learned that many people had a great interest in establishing a church in the area. In 1882, Reverend Scott Moore held a revival in a school house, in which Reverend Bookwalter assisted. As a result of this revival, Bookwalter United Methodist Church came to be. Since then, Bookwalter United Methodist Church has continued to grow as believers commit themselves to spreading the word of God. As a result of Louis Bookwalter's call to minister a group of believers, thousands have come to know the thriving community of believers that is Bookwalter United Methodist Church. Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to join me as I salute Bookwalter United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Teneessee, and wish them another 125 years of successful ministry.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), a member of the committee.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I will simply close for our side by saying these were fires and evacuations of historic proportions. They were handled in absolutely the best way possible, and I commend everyone involved in responding to these disasters and urge passage of this resolution. I think it is something that all of our colleagues can enthusiastically support. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Imperial Beach, California, my friend, Mr. Bilbray.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of this resolution honoring and recognizing the heroic efforts of the firefighters and other first responders to the fires in Southern California. Mr. Speaker, I think we should take a moment to ponder what happens when a situation like this occurs. A disaster occurs and people appear, seemingly out of nowhere, to offer every type of help and assistance. They are organized and disciplined and effective and precise. They are heroic and swift and knowledgeable and kind. But who are they? Who are these men and women who drive toward the disaster when the rest of us drive away? Who leaves behind his home and family for perhaps weeks on end and goes to help others? Who sets up the shelters and the medical aid stations? Who helps seniors and the infirm evacuate? Who rushes to save Los Angeles and Ventura and Orange and Riverside and Santa Barbara and San Bernardino and San Diego? In the case of California, about 2,500 citizen soldiers, we call them National Guardsmen, have raced to the rescue. So have countless numbers of firefighters, law enforcement, and medical personnel. We owe these people and their families a debt of gratitude. We couldn't do what they do. Thank God they can. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier). (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), who represents some of the City of San Diego and much of San Diego County.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I urge passage of this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, I want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), for his remarks and his work on this legislation. I rise today to urge passage of H.R. 1236, to extend the authority of the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp to support breast cancer research. Those of us in Congress received a tragic reminder of the need for continued research into this disease with the passing of our beloved colleague, Jo Ann Davis; and we thank the majority, in particular Mr. Clay, for taking the opportunity to honor her memory. Nearly 180,000 people, mostly, but not all, women, will learn that they have invasive breast cancer this year alone. About 40,000 people will die from this disease. Women who are white and over the age of 40 are more likely to suffer from breast cancer, but its victims run the gamut of age, race and socioeconomic background. We have made some progress in recent years thanks to early detection and increased awareness and availability of mammograms. But in the past 3 years, both mammograms and incidence of breast cancer have decreased. This doesn't mean things are getting better. It means ominously and unfortunately that fewer cases are being detected. As I am sure Jo Ann Davis would tell us if she were still with us here today, early detection, early treatment, constant vigilance and public awareness are key to putting this disease in its place. For example, incidence rates of both invasive and in-situ breast cancer rise and fall with the percentage of women who receive mammograms. After two decades of progress, both the use of mammograms and the rates of detection have begun to slip in recent years. As early detection increased, so did survival rates; but they will fall, too, if we can't improve public awareness of the importance of early detection. That's where the measure that is before us comes in. This bill would reauthorize the Postal Service to issue the 55-cent stamp for first class mail, with 14 cents of each stamp going to breast cancer research and awareness programs for an additional 4 years. Since the program began in 1998, the Postal Service has sold more than 785 million of these stamps and raised $54.6 million for breast cancer research. This disease preys on women such as Jo Ann Davis and on so many others, women on whom others have come to depend. They are mothers, grandmothers, business owners, teachers, researchers, even Members of this great body. We need these women and the invaluable contributions they make to our life and society. We need this measure to help save their lives. I have had the privilege of attending every single Race for the Cure for the past 11 years, every single one that has been held in my hometown of Knoxville. This is a very worthwhile cause that I am sure all of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle can support very enthusiastically. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN

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

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Michael Schragg grew up on his family's farm in Ceresco, Michigan. In 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Germany for 3 years. After this period, he returned to Michigan and began his career in the postal service in 1970. Within 5 years he was promoted to postmaster for the Olivet office, and in 1979 became the postmaster for Marshall, Michigan. During his tenure, the Marshall office was named the All-American Post Office. Beyond the postal service, Mr. Schragg has always been active in his community. He is a past president of the Marshall Rotary Club and continues to serve on the Marshall Historical Society. However, his most noteworthy accomplishment is the creation of the Marshall Postal Museum. The Marshall Postal Museum is the second largest in the U.S., behind the Smithsonian Postal Museum here in Washington, D.C. The museum is now one of the cornerstones of the immensely popular Marshall historical home tour. In fact, in 2003, the New York Times called the postal museum the town's piece de resistance. The article went on to say, ``If you think you have no interest in postal history, a tour conducted by the ebullient Mr. Schragg will change your mind.'' Beyond the New York Times, Mr. Schragg and his museum have also been featured in Michigan magazine. Mr. Schragg even drove a vintage 1931 Model A mail delivery truck in the 2001 inauguration parade. Considering his devotion to preserving the past and his work to develop the future of the Postal Service, it is fitting that we name the building where he toiled for so long in his honor. This is especially true since the Marshall Postal Museum is housed in the basement of the same Marshall Post Office. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers on this side, so I will simply urge support for this resolution and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my fellow Members of Congress in recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Mass Movement for Soviet Jewish Freedom and the 20th Anniversary of the Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jewry on the Mall in Washington, D.C. As with many other peoples of faith, Jews suffered under the oppressive yoke of communism in the Soviet Union. Their struggles inspired American Jews to establish the American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry and the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry in 1964 in order to campaign on behalf of their fellow Soviet brethren. After the Six-Day War in 1967, the Soviets intensified the persecution of the Jewish community through state-controlled media and by reducing Jewish autonomy. Soon a mass exodus, a mass emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union began. These developments helped to galvanize the advocacy movement within the U.S. Over the following years, this mass advocacy movement helped spur the U.S. Government to achieve much. Perhaps most notably, in 1975 President Ford signed into law the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to the Trade Act of 1974. This amendment prohibited the extension of trade benefits to countries that limited immigration and otherwise infringed human rights. It was drafted specifically with the plight of Soviet Jews in mind. Later, President Reagan signed a law drawing attention to the hardships imposed on the Jewish community of the Soviet Union. In 1987, an estimated 250,000 people demonstrated on the Mall before a Reagan-Gorbachev summit. This rally increased the issue's national visibility. Partly due to these efforts, the Soviet Union finally opened the doors of emigration to its Jewish population in 1989. Two years later, the Soviet Government codified the right of every Soviet citizen to emigrate, prompting massive flows of Jews to Israel and to the United States. This serves as an example of the great American tradition of citizen involvement for the greater good. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to join my fellow Members of Congress in recognizing Dennis Collins and his extraordinary contributions to Bayonne, New Jersey. Fortunately for Bayonne, Mr. Collins missed his trip on the Titanic to visit family members back in Ireland. If it were not for this fortunate coincidence, the rest of Mr. Collins's biography most likely would not be possible. Mr. Collins was born and raised in Bayonne, where he attended St. Vincent De Paul Grammar School and the Holy Family Academy. As a young man, he served in World War II, including time in the China-Burma-India theater of operations. Upon his return, he went to work for Tidewater Oil Company, General Motors, Edward F. Clark Real Estate and Insurance Agency, and Bayonne Water and Sewer Utility. Ultimately, it was his interest in the community that led Mr. Collins to seek political office. In 1962, Mr. Collins was elected to his first of three terms on the municipal council, two of which he served as council president. In 1974, he was elected to serve as mayor of the City of Bayonne. His popularity in the community was so immense that he served for the next 16 years. He currently holds the record for Bayonne as the first individual to serve seven consecutive 4-year terms in elective office and four consecutive 4-year terms as mayor. Mr. Collins retired in 1990 as mayor, but he continues to be an active and committed leader to the citizens of Bayonne. Mr. Collins's reputation as a public servant was forged by his compassion and interest in helping his fellow citizens. His legacy and service to others is a wonderful example to his children, grandchildren and to the citizens of Bayonne and beyond. With gratitude for his devotion and service to the Bayonne community, it is particularly fitting that we name the United States Postal Service building located at 570 Broadway in his honor. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I simply rise to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) for introducing this very appropriate and fitting legislation, and I urge its support by all of our colleagues. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, we all want to do what we should to fight terrorism, but the Federal Government has to do many other things, too. The Wall Street Journal editorial said: ``We would like to suggest a new post-September 11 rule for Congress. Any bill with the words ``security'' in it should get double the public scrutiny and maybe four times the normal wait, lest all kinds of bad legislation become law under the phony guise of fighting terrorism.'' More significantly, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff testified in front of a congressional committee: ``We should not let an overexaggerated threat of terrorism drive us crazy, into bankruptcy, trying to defend against every conceivable threat.'' He went on to say: ``We do have limits, and we do have choices to make. We don't want to break the very systems we're trying to protect. We don't want to destroy our way of life trying to save it. We don't want to undercut our economy trying to protect our economy, and we don't want to destroy our civil liberties and our freedoms in order to make ourselves safer.''

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I will just simply close for our side by saying that I think this is a resolution that all of our Members can support. And it is very appropriate to commemorate this 35th anniversary of, as the gentleman from Illinois just said, one of the most important environmental pieces of legislation that this Nation has ever seen. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, Chairman Oberstar was kind enough to mention my 6 years as chairman of the Water Resources Environment Subcommittee. I tried to have an active subcommittee with many hearings because I thought that that work was among the most important that the Congress could deal with, and that's why I'm here tonight, because I don't believe there is any topic, or very few topics, anyway, more important than clean water. And certainly the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) was one of the most active members of that subcommittee. Another member, though, who has also been very active on these issues is the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), and I yield him such time as he may consume.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to manage the time on this important resolution for the minority to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Clean water is critical to the Nation and our standard of living. The Clean Water Act has resulted in significant water quality improvement in the last 35 years. However, we still have work to do before all of our lakes and streams meet State water quality standards. H. Res. 725 encourages the American people to recognize and celebrate the water quality improvements we have achieved and recommit ourselves to the goals of the Clean Water Act. No committee in the Congress has done more to work towards the clean water goals that all of us want to achieve than the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which was called, as Chairman Oberstar has mentioned, the Public Works and Transportation Committee for many years before the new name. And no one man who has ever served in this Congress has done more than has Chairman James Oberstar in working to achieve clean water in this country, first as a staff member and then staff director for 11 years for the committee and then for the last 33 years representing his district and, indeed, the entire Nation in working to clean the waters of this Nation. And we have made great progress over that time. The leading liberal magazine, the New Republic, said in an editorial a short time ago that to listen to some people ``is to learn that the environment is in bad shape today and, with the smallest push, could be in disastrous shape tomorrow . . . Fortunately, this alarm is a false one. All forms of pollution in the United States,'' the New Republic said, ``air, water, and toxic materials have been declining for decades.'' In 1972 only 30 to 40 percent of our waters were estimated to have met water quality standards. Today, monitoring data indicate that 60 to 70 percent of our waters meet these goals and twice as many Americans are served by advanced or secondary wastewater treatment. Twenty-five years ago, we were losing almost 400,000 acres of wetlands annually; yet the latest data collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicate that we are close to achieving a net gain in wetlands nationwide. Our Nation's health, quality of life, and economic well-being rely on adequate wastewater treatment. Industries that rely on clean water, like farmers, fishermen, and manufacturers, contribute over $300 billion a year to our gross domestic product. To provide clean water, our Nation already has invested over $250 billion in wastewater infrastructure. But this infrastructure is now aging and our population is continuing to grow, increasing the burden on our existing infrastructure. If communities do not repair, replace, and upgrade their infrastructure, we could lose the environmental, health, and economic benefits of this investment. And no matter how much progress has been made in the past, you can always do better. People always need to improve, although we need to do this in a way that doesn't overregulate, but that brings about progress in a commonsense, practical manner and one that doesn't impede progress. Various organizations have quantified wastewater infrastructure needs. The Congressional Budget Office, EPA, and the Water Infrastructure Network have estimated that it could take between $300 billion and $400 billion to address our Nation's clean water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years to keep our drinking water and waterways clean and safe. This is twice the current level of investment by all levels of government. These needs have been well documented in our committee and subcommittee hearings. We can reduce the overall cost of wastewater infrastructure with good asset management, innovative technologies, water conservation and reuse, and regional approaches to water pollution problems. But these things alone will not close the large funding gap that now exists between wastewater infrastructure needs and current levels of spending. Increased investment must still take place. That leads to the question where is the money going to come from. There is no single answer to that question. Municipal wastewater services are a State and local responsibility, but there is clearly a strong Federal interest in keeping our waters clean. With all due respect to President Eisenhower, who I think was a great President and who, especially, was certainly right in warning about the dangers of the excesses of the military industrial complex, I believe there is a legitimate Federal interest in clean water in this country. The people in Tennessee drink the water and use the wastewater systems of people in other States, and the people of other States fish and swim and drink the water in Tennessee. So there is a legitimate Federal interest, I believe. But what we need is an effective partnership between all levels, Federal, State, and local. That means all partners need to contribute. If we do not start investing in our wastewater system now, it is going to cost our Nation many billions more in the future if we delay. In any event, the Federal Government, while its role is important, is not going to be able to solve this problem alone. The Democratic Governor of Montana told us at a committee hearing earlier this year that his State did not want the ``long arm of the Federal Government'' imposing regulations that would threaten the livelihoods of ranchers, farmers, and miners. He asked that the Federal Government be a ``partner and collaborator'' with the States in a joint effort to protect water resources. Clarity and reasonableness and common sense are needed in the regulatory program. It is unknown exactly what are the maximum limits of Federal authority under the Clean Water Act. Neither Congress nor the courts have defined them explicitly. This uncertainty is a matter for much speculation and probably much future litigation. What we may ultimately need is legislation that clearly and reasonably delineates the Federal role and the State role and the local role in regulating activities affecting the Nation's waters. While the historical perspective of the Clean Water Act is interesting and informative, we must decide under today's circumstances what is appropriate Federal regulation of the Nation's waters. We should celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act by providing the tools and resources needed to achieve the goals of that act. We need to reform the Clean Water Act State Revolving Loan Fund program to make it more efficient, effective, and flexible to improve the management of infrastructure assets, fund those activities that will best improve water quality, address the needs of small and disadvantaged communities, and encourage private financing of treatment works to help bring private resources to bear on the overwhelming needs of the Nation's water infrastructure. It is also time to fashion new water quality management tools so we can continue the job of achieving clean water. These new tools could include utilizing more in the way of performance-based standards than rigid Federal mandates; harnessing market forces within the public and private sectors to safeguard and improve the environment more effectively; protect individual and private property rights; and adequately considering the costs and benefits of government actions so we can set priorities. It is appropriate today that we celebrate this anniversary of the Clean Water Act, but we must be prudent as we go forward. We all want the same thing, clean water. I encourage all Members to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Gillespie Avenue Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Gillespie Avenue Baptist Church was established on August 4, 1907. The church's first meeting was held in a tent at the site where the church is today. Reverend F.M. Doewell was the first pastor called in September, 1907. He was one of only 15 pastors called to serve over this first 100 years. On July 1, 1910, the membership began worship services in the basement of the new meeting house with Dr. M.D. Jeffries, President of Carson Newman College, preaching the first sermon in the new building. On May 7, 1916, the church auditorium was completed and dedicated and a piano was approved and purchased later that same year for the church. On January 7, 1917, the church voted to borrow money to pay the pastor's salary. The finance report at that time showed a balance of $.16. Eight years later, the enrollment was 426 with an average attendance of 263 and the average Sunday offering was $65.89. On October 12, 1938, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rose donated a pipe organ to the church in honor of their parents. The original church building was destroyed by fire on January 22, 1961. Services were held in the new sanctuary on September 2, 1962, where they remain today. I am proud to have such an outstanding Christian institution in my district. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Gillespie Avenue Baptist Church on its 100th anniversary and may God bless this congregation in the years to come.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a piece of history in the Second District of Tennessee. For the past 50 years, as people flew into my district, they weren't just landing in Knoxville but also touching down at a historic Tennessee Air National Guard Base. Military planes taking off from that runway have been a part of some of the noblest causes of modern times, from the Berlin Air Lift to Operation Enduring Freedom. It's a history of service that exemplifies the spirit that gave Tennessee the nickname of the Volunteer State, and once again the Knoxville community is at the forefront of that service. The base is now celebrating 50 years of operations, and it is currently the proud home of the 134th Refueling Wing, as well as the 228th Combat Communications Squadron, the 119th Command and Control Squadron, the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, the Academy of Innovative Ministries, and the 572nd Air Force Band. It's not just the longevity of the base that is so remarkable, but also the quality of the men and women who serve there. The 134th has been consistently ranked nationally for its superb performance. I would like to congratulate the nearly 2,000 full-time military and civilian personnel at the base and the many thousands more who pass through the facility each year for training. Their professionalism makes us proud. Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to join me as I salute the 50th anniversary of the Air National Guard Base at McGhee Tyson Airport in Blount County, Tennessee. I know the facility and the men and women who operate it will play an important part in protecting our Nation for decades to come.