Jimmy Duncan

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3439, authored by the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge). This bill would designate the Post Office in Smithfield, North Carolina, as the ``Ava Gardner Post Office Building.'' All Members of the North Carolina delegation have cosponsored this legislation. The life of Ava Gardner is a true rags-to-riches story that started on a tobacco farm in the rural south. Born and raised in Johnston County, North Carolina, Ava Gardner had planned on becoming a secretary in her adult life. However, at the age of 18, a scout from MGM Studios offered her a 7-year contract from seeing a photo of her in the window of her brother-in-law's New York photograph shop. Having no acting an experience at all, Ava had to settle for scripts containing little better than one-line bits. In 1946, she landed her first starring role in the B-grade movie, Whistle Stop. Later that year, on loan from MGM, Universal Studios cast her in her breakout hit, The Killers. Her career as a leading lady then took off in such films as Magambo opposite Clark Gable, The Barefoot Contessa and Night of the Iguana, all between the years of 1953 and 1964. Ava Gardner, the earthy girl from North Carolina, had beaten the odds to become one of Hollywood's most famous icons. Today, anyone can view the personal effects and career artifacts of Ava's extraordinary life at the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, North Carolina. The museum enables both young and old to experience the history of classic cinema. I urge all Members to join me in saluting her dedication and perseverance towards her unlikely but spectacularly successful career. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3439) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 North 3rd Street in Smithfield, North Carolina, as the ``Ava Gardner Post Office''.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I would just like to thank my colleague from Illinois for his help on all of these resolutions. He is always such a gentleman, so dignified. I have sometimes said that east Tennessee, where I am from, is the only part the whole country where the people speak with absolutely no accent whatsoever, but I do have to admit that the gentleman from Illinois has a beautiful voice, and it is always a pleasure to work with him. Madam Speaker, with that, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3439.

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

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3439.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 59 introduced by the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick). This resolution would recognize the dedication of African-American basketball players who played on the barnstorming teams of the early 1920s through the 1950s. The motivation of these teams to organize despite being excluded from playing in the white-only structured teams and leagues was truly a story of perseverance and honor. The history is very similar to the Negro baseball leagues which have received such honor and distinction in recent years. One of the first basketball dynasties, the New York Renaissance, was founded in 1923. The team's namesake came from their home court, the Harlem Renaissance Ballroom, in which they played 27 seasons. The Renaissance organized games each day of the week and twice on Sundays. Because the racial climate of the 1930s was often harsh and unforgiving, while away from their home court, the Rens were often refused food and board. Other barnstorming teams included the Harlem Globetrotters, the New York Enforcers and the Philadelphia Tribunes. Not only did these players bring organized basketball to all those who may not have had the opportunity to play, but they also helped influence the way basketball is played today. The fast pace of the game and the short, concise passing techniques originated with the talented players that dominated the barnstorming teams. More importantly, on April 25, 1950, the first African-American player was drafted into the National Basketball Association. By demanding respect on the basketball court, these brave players did their part to facilitate racial integration in all aspects of American life. They were an inspiration to many. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution, and I congratulate the gentlewoman from Michigan on her efforts. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of H. Con. Res. 59. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 59.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 59) recognizing the contributions of African-American basketball teams and players for their achievements, dedication, and contributions to the sport of basketball and to the Nation.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, I urge all Members to support the adoption of H. Res. 276, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 276) supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 276.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 276, offered by the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts), would increase awareness about a horrible disease, pancreatic cancer. This year, over 31,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Because of the lack of early detection methods, 99 percent of those diagnosed will lose their lives, the highest mortality rate of any form of cancer. By the time the symptoms present themselves, it is almost always too late for a positive prognosis. Diagnosed patients have an average life expectancy of only 3 to 6 months. Although pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cancer, many Americans are not aware of the devastating statistics associated with the disease. Currently, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, known as Pan CAN, is the only national advocacy organization available for pancreatic cancer patients as well as their families and friends. This outstanding organization exists to create awareness, patient support, professional education and advocacy for pancreatic cancer funding. Pan CAN regards each November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. With the adoption of House Resolution 276, Congress would be further increasing awareness of pancreatic cancer. As a Nation, we desperately need to improve detection and treatment approaches and avenues. This is a cancer that has touched many people, including the only brother of one of my brothers-in-law, a young boy who passed away at the age of 13 with this very devastating disease. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of H. Res. 15, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. House Resolution 15 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that it support the goals and ideals of a National Campus Safety Awareness Month. Each fall, thousands of freshmen begin their college careers without taking the adequate precautions to protect themselves from real-world threats to their safety. Students often do not think about dangers like theft, date rape, assault, or even other more serious invasions of privacy and more serious crimes. According to the nonprofit organization Security on Campus, between one-fifth and one-quarter of female students become the victims of an attempted rape during their college careers. Often it is by someone they know. In addition, each year more than 600,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking; and 1,400 students die from alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. Some may remember the story of Jeanne Ann Clery. On April 5, 1986, Jeanne was tortured, raped and murdered at her dormitory room at Lehigh University. Her killer was a Lehigh student whom Jeanne had never met. He was also an abuser of drugs and alcohol. Her killer was able to enter her room because three doors which should have been locked were propped open. Shortly after her death, it was revealed that America's colleges and universities reported only 4 percent of crime statistics. Because of this, Congress passed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which requires colleges and universities to fully report the number of crimes that occur on their campuses each year so that parents and students can know what the safety situation is and the crime situation is on particular college campuses. Before that act was passed, many colleges and universities tried to cover up what was a truly serious situation, and almost every college that has had a serious problem has attempted to do more and better in this area in enforcing the laws on campuses since that act was passed. The statistics reported since then have been very unsettling, however. As proof, a total of 86 homicides, 7,648 sex offenses, 9,649 aggravated assaults, and 3,590 arsons were reported on campuses from 2000 to 2002. These incidents occur on campuses of all sizes all over the country. In August of 1988, Tommy Baer, a student at the University of Tennessee's Knoxville campus in my district, was fatally stabbed in the doorway of his fraternity house. His death was senseless. The person who stabbed Tommy was belligerently drunk and had been harassing people inside the house for most of the night. Even as we speak, most people have heard about the tragic case of Taylor Behl, who may be the latest young person living on a campus victimized by someone. This resolution's support of September as National Campus Safety Awareness month will help make incoming college freshmen aware that these types of dangers are out there. Adoption of this resolution also provides an opportunity for colleges to inform students about existing campus crime trends, campus security policies, crime prevention techniques, fire safety and alcohol and other drug education, prevention, and treatment programs. Madam Speaker, by adopting H. Res. 15, the House of Representatives could send the message that it takes the issue of campus crime very seriously and supports greater student awareness. I would like to thank the Student Government Association of the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay and the nonprofit organization Security on Campus, especially, for their efforts on behalf of this legislation. Finally, Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green) for his support and assistance with H. Res. 15. I urge its adoption. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 15) supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness Month, as amended.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 15, as amended.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act, H.R. 3824. I want to first of all commend the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) for what is very commonsense, bipartisan legislation; and I want to thank the chairman and his staff for all the long hours and the hard work they have put into this bill. The latest figures I have show that my home State of Tennessee has one of the highest numbers of listings on the endangered species list. As my colleagues can imagine, this is a very big issue in my State. I think everyone has read and heard horror stories about ridiculous rulings that have come out over the years, very unfair rulings, under the Endangered Species Act. The burden of compliance under present law is, by far, the hardest for the smallest of our landowners. It is a simple fact that the existing law hits the hardest on the small- and medium-size farmers and ranchers and landowners, and these are the people least able to fight it. The wealthiest people and the biggest corporations always seem to be able to get their way. They have enough money, and compliance with the law is either a simple nuisance or just a small cost of doing business. I think, and the fact is, that the way the present law is, it drives out a lot of the competition for the big guys by getting rid of some of the little guys. I think that anyone who approaches this legislation with a truly open mind would call this a very moderate bill. In fact, in almost any other country in the world, H.R. 3824 would be held as great environmental legislation. The United States has made greater progress in regard to environmental protection than any other country in the world in the last 30 years. Yet there are some extremist groups that simply cannot seem to admit we have made this progress. Right now, these groups are telling their members how terrible this legislation is. However, if we look at their mailings, they always tell their members how bad things are, and I think it is probably more related to fund-raising and money than it is to actual concern about endangered species. If people want to both protect endangered species and not force small farmers or small landowners off their land and force them to sell to big developers or big government, then this is balanced legislation that will accomplish these goals.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, the simple, easy answer to any problem or solution is almost always wrong. Today the simplistic, politically correct explanation for hurricanes Katrina and Rita is global warming. Yet simple, easy science is almost always wrong. CNN reported a couple of days ago that the biggest, worst decade for hurricanes was the 1940s, long before there was any thought or theory or even mention of global warming. In addition, Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, said in news stories and television reports that hurricanes are cyclical in nature. He said it was wrong to invoke our alleged global warming without valid science or any hard science to back it up. Mr. Mayfield also noted the terrible hurricanes of the 1940s and the hurricane cycles. The overly simple political science of global warming is just not accurate here, and people should not use the tragedy of these hurricanes to advance or promote political theories.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, the whole Nation has been saddened by the terrible and tragic events of Hurricane Katrina. Because of our great concern about this, I would like to read a portion of a story the Los Angeles Times ran just 12 days ago on September 9. The Los Angeles Times said: ``In the wake of Hurricane Betsy 40 years ago, Congress approved a massive hurricane barrier to protect New Orleans from storm surges that could inundate the city. ``But the project, signed into law by President Johnson, was derailed in 1977 by an environmental lawsuit. Now the question is: Could that barrier have protected New Orleans from the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina? ``If we had built the barriers, New Orleans would not be flooded,' said Joseph Towers, the retired chief counsel for the Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans district. ``Tower's view is endorsed by a former key Senator, along with academic experts, who say a hurricane barrier is the only way to control the powerful storm surges that enter Lake Pontchartrain and threaten the city.'' Still quoting the Los Angeles story: ``The project was stopped in its tracks when an environmental lawsuit won a Federal injunction on the grounds that the Army's environmental impact statement was flawed. By the mid-1980s, the Corps of Engineers abandoned the project.'' The story goes on, but I will just say this: that project, which was stopped by environmental lawsuits, really led or allowed the damage, the horrible events that happened in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Environmental extremism, Mr. Speaker, has caused almost every highway, aviation, and water project in this country to take three or four times longer than it should and cost about three or four times more than it should. This hurts the poor and the lower income and the working people of this country most of all. Perhaps wealthy environmentalists do not realize how much they hurt people by driving up costs and destroying jobs; but hurt they do. Some projects they are able to stop altogether. This barrier protection for New Orleans is just one of many examples, but certainly the worst. However, some people say the city was at fault in its response to this tragedy. Some say it was the State. Some say it was the Federal response that was too slow. Actually, there were mistakes made at all levels, but most people at all levels responded more quickly and with more money than any other country in the world would have been able to do when faced with a similar natural disaster. We should be proud of how the American people have responded. I doubt there is a fire or police or sheriff's department of any size in this country that has not sent people to the affected area. Private contributions and volunteer help worth billions has been provided. Congress has voted to send $62 billion there. Fortunately, the death toll, while still terrible, was not even close to the predicted 10,000, probably with apparently a few hundred. What should we do now? The best way we can help is for the other body, the Senate, to follow the leadership of this House and pass the Water Resources Development Act. This bill was passed several weeks before our August recess by a vote of 406 to 14 here in the House. We passed it in the House by a similar margin in 2003, but it bogged down in the Senate. This bill provides roughly $2 billion for hurricane and flood protection and environmental restoration for the Louisiana coastal region and the gulf coast. No bill before the Congress will do more to protect those areas in the future than this worthy bill. The Senate should not let this bill be bogged down again. It should follow the lead of the House and pass this very important bill just as soon as possible. No bill does more to provide protection against these tragedies, not only in Louisiana and Mississippi but in other at-risk areas, than does the Water Resources Development Act. I hope everyone will work together to pass this very important legislation just as soon as possible.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, on September 15, John D. Lee, the President of the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley, will be honored for 35 years of service. He is only the second President in the organization's 60-year history. John went to work for the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley as a Facility Director on September 16, 1970. He was later promoted to Assistant Executive Director and then to President and CEO. The Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley has experienced amazing growth under his leadership. When John became President 26 years ago, it was operating only two Boys Clubs. Since then, he has led the organization through a merger with the Girls Club in 1990 and has overseen an expansion that now provides care and supervises activities for 7,845 members annually in 19 Club facilities in five East Tennessee counties (Knox, Blount, Scott, Loudon, and Fentress). The Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley employees a staff of 275 people and provides over 460,000 hot meals annually. John's excellent leadership and service has not gone unnoticed either. In 1985, he received the Robert M. Sykes Award for Professional Excellence. In 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice presented him with the Directors Community Leadership Award. The parent organization of the Boys & Girls Club is also very appreciative of John's work. On May 23, 2000, he received the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Service to Youth Award and Service Bar for 30 years of service to the Boys & Girls Club Movement, and in 2002, he received the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Professional Service Award for Service to the National Movement. John was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and is a graduate of Samford University. He has been a fine husband to his wife, Phyllis, and a great father to his three children, Amanda, Maria and Phillip. The Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley is a leader in youth development and has touched the lives of countless young people throughout John's tenure. I have come to know John Lee well over the years, and I can assure you that he is a fine human being who has made East Tennessee a much better place to live. Mr. Speaker, this great Nation owes a debt of gratitude to John D. Lee for his outstanding service as President of the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to LTC Larnell Exum, Deputy Chief, Army House Liaison Division, Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, who retired September 1. Lieutenant Colonel Exum's illustrious career as an infantry officer embodies all of the Army's values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage and spans 20 years, during which he has distinguished himself as a soldier, leader, and friend of the United States House of Representatives. Lieutenant Colonel Exum demonstrated his outstanding tactical and operational expertise in numerous command and staff positions overseas and in the continental United States. Continually serving in positions of ever-increasing responsibility, the highlights of his career include serving as a Company Commander with the 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, at both Fort Campbell, KY, and in combat in Kuwait and Iraq during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and then as Aide-de- Camp to the Undersecretary of the Army. As the Deputy Chief of the Legislative Liaison in the House Liaison Division, his last assignment in the United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel Exum demonstrated the outstanding dedication and leadership skills that have characterized his distinguished career. In particular, he excelled at building relationships with Members of Congress and their staffs. He escorted over 45 worldwide fact-finding missions for congressional delegations, traveling with over 135 Members to 25 countries. These ventures served to educate Members on subjects as diverse as the global war on terror, Army transformation, magnetic levitation trains, and future transportation technologies. I traveled with Lieutenant Colonel Exum on several times and was thoroughly impressed with him on each occasion. He is one of the finest people I have worked with during my 17 years in Congress. From 1986 to 1989, Lieutenant Colonel Exum distinguished himself as one of the top company grade leaders in Alpha Company, 1/22 Infantry Battalion, Fort Drum, NY, serving as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Mortar Platoon Leader in a light infantry battalion. He then was assigned to Alpha Company, 2/187 Infantry Battalion, both at home station and in combat operations in Kuwait and Iraq for Desert Shield and Desert Storm, when he was decorated for valor in combat. Due to his fabulous reputation as one of the bright young officers in the Army, Lieutenant Colonel Exum was selected as the Aide-de-Camp/ Military Assistant for the Under Secretary of the Army. He performed magnificently in this position and was subsequently given the rarest of opportunities, a second company level command, which he maintained for all Army soldiers assigned to the Military District of Washington with duty at Fort Meade, MD. In 1995, Lieutenant Colonel Exum was assigned with the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army and served there until 1996. During his year of seryice, he was the Protocol Staff Officer. His actions had a direct, positive impact on the public persona of the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army by coordinating events for the ``Big Four'' senior Army leadership with foreign dignitaries, senior U.S. Government officials, and senior military leaders. He then transitioned from active duty to become an active Guard Reserve National Guard officer. His contributions to the National Guard while serving as the Security Clearance Adjudications Officer and Reserve Incentive Program Manager from 1996 to 2001 were without measure and positively impacted the lives of individual soldiers and the readiness and training of the Guard Bureau as a whole. After serving as the Chief of the Inquiries Branch in the National Guard Bureau Legislative Office, he was then hand-picked to represent the National Guard Bureau and the Army as the first National Guard officer to serve in the House Liaison Division of the Secretary of the Army's Legislative Liaison office for many years. Lieutenant Colonel Exum is a natural at building and maintaining credible relationships with Members of Congress and their staffs, which was invaluable as the Army faced many challenges associated with its budget and real world combat operations in the Global War on Terror. Members knew they could count on Lieutenant Colonel Exum for his sage counsel, professional advice, and unwavering integrity. Lieutenant Colonel Exum's faithful service, leadership, loyalty, and dedication to duty uphold the highest traditions of military service, and he has repeatedly stood for the defense of this Nation, her citizens, and their freedom. His devotion to the defense of liberty epitomizes the words soldier, patriot, and American. Lieutenant Colonel Exum is a role model for his two children, Tyler and Taylor, and is a devoted husband to his wife, Tina. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend my gratitude and that of the entire Nation to Lieutenant Colonel Exum for his service to the United States and his hard work in defense of freedom.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have often said that veterans have been called on to give more for their country than most of us ever will. Paul Lankford, a survivor of the Bataan Death March and a resident of Maryville, Tennessee, is living proof of that. Mr. Lankford was captured by the Japanese military on the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, and was freed by Russian soldiers in July 1945. In those three years and three months in captivity, he survived horrific conditions. At Bataan, Lankford was forced to march 65 miles in five days in unbearable heat, walk on human flesh, and bury his comrades. After the march, he was forced into slave labor. When Lankford joined the Army Air Corps in 1941, his weight listed at 150 pounds. After being freed in 1945, he weighed 60 pounds. After taking six months to recover from this terrible ordeal, Lankford continued his service to the Air Force, retiring in 1968 as chief master sergeant. A building at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base is named in his honor. Mr. Speaker, this Country owes a debt of gratitude to Paul Lankford. He is a fine man, and our Nation is a better place because of his service. I would like to call to the attention of my colleagues and other readers of the Record the following article from the July 17 edition of the Knoxville News Sentinel. [From the Knoxville News Sentinel, July 17, 2005] March of Death, Life (By Fred Brown) Paul Lankford slipped back through his memory, as if turning pages, recalling a scene, and then explaining details of what he saw. It was like a movie reeling off in front of him, frame by frame. A war movie. A war movie of hell. Six decades ago in July 1945, Lankford was a prisoner of war, having been held by the Japanese military for three years and three months. He had been captured along with the rest of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's army April 9, 1942, on the Bataan Peninsula. He was 23 years old the day of his capture and 26 upon release. In July 1945, Lankford still had one more month to go before being liberated by a wild Russian army. With the arrival of the Russians, who went on a rampage, Lankford and other POWS were transformed from slave to master. The allied soldiers who had been POWS were now guarding their former masters. The situation was surreal in the extreme. In fact, Russian soldiers instructed former American POWs, including Lankford, to pick out a guard they particularly disliked, and the Russians would politely shoot him for the Americans. Lankford's ordeal began the day MacArthur deserted the Philippines, leaving the bruised, battered and beaten army to survive the best way they could. He sent a message from the safety of his headquarters in Australia that the army was to fight to the end. The end came April 9, 1942, after three months of aerial and artillery bombardment, starvation and disease. Lankford and the soldiers were out of ammo and food, with no choice but to surrender. With the surrender of the Philippines, Lankford and his 27th Bomb Group were corralled. There were perhaps 1,200 defenders on Bataan, but including all soldiers, allies and Filipinos, the number was around 70,000. Of that number, maybe 8,000 would survive the next three years. Of the 1,200 of Lankford's group on Bataan, an estimated 200 are alive today. There are few, if any, monuments to the soldiers and sailors of Bataan--those Battling Bastards of Bataan, as they were known. Lankford was born near Gadsden, Ala., and joined the U.S. Army in 1939. He then made the transfer to the U.S. Air Force when it was formed in 1948. Now 86, he lives in Maryville, having retired in 1968 as chief master sergeant. He became the first commandant of the Professional Military Education Center at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base until his final retirement in 1981. But in 1945, he was one of the few who survived the Bataan Death March. ``I had one canteen of water for 10 days,'' Lankford began his story. ``There was one rice ball, about the size of my fist,'' he said, making a ball with his hand. Lankford was, he said, among the lucky. He was marched 65 miles from one end of the peninsula to the other. He eventually was moved from the Philippines to Korea and then wound up in Mukden, Manchuria. When he left Korea for Manchuria in December 1942, it was 30 below zero. He had little warm clothing for the trip. ``The Japanese needed slave labor,'' said Lankford. ``I worked on farms, in steel mills, tool and dye plants, tanning plants, foundries.'' The day his personal march into hell began, Lankford made a promise to himself: ``I said I would never give up, I would survive,'' he said. ``I would take whatever they threw at me.'' That was a fairly easy deduction for a fellow who was already down to eating horse, iguana and mule meat to survive. ``When you get hungry,'' says Lankford, ``you will eat anything.'' The soldiers who had survived Japanese bombardment were already listless from four months of half rations, then no food at all. They suffered from malaria and dysentery. Lankford had a severe case of malaria and malnutrition with sores around his mouth, nose and eyes. ``Our fighting men were zombies,'' he said. He marched from the south in Mariveles, at the very tip of Bataan Peninsula in the South China Sea, north to San Fernando and then to Camp O'Donnell, a former Philippine Army training camp. Along the way, historians believe some 10,000 Filipino soldiers died at the hands of Japanese guards. About one of every six on the march would die from brutality, murder, dehydration, beatings, starvation or other atrocities. Of the 70,000 who began the march, some figures cite that 54,000 reached O'Donnell. Lankford was bayoneted in the right shoulder because he was not moving fast enough or had infuriated his Japanese guard. He never knew why he had been bayoneted. He just was. Lankford marched 65 miles in five days in the broiling sun. The only time the prisoners were allowed to rest--standing, not sitting--was at a change of Japanese guards. They were allowed no food, no water. If they dropped to the ground, they were shot. If they fell behind, they were shot. If they cried out in agony, they were shot--or worse. ``If they heard a soldier screaming, they would cut his head off,'' said Lankford. ``The first day, we lost maybe 50. The second day, we lost 200. The third day, we lost another 300,'' said Lankford. ``Shortly after we started the march, a truck would come through, and if you didn't get out of the way, it would just run over you. There were bodies all over the road. ``At times, you walked on human flesh. It was like walking on jelly,'' said Lankford. ``We marched day and night. What I tried to do was to stay as far to the right side of the road as I could. Trucks filled with Japanese soldiers would come by, and they would bayonet you or hit you with bamboo rods,'' he said. ``It never crossed my mind that I would die, but you never knew what was going to happen to you.'' Like being stuffed into narrow French-made boxcars on a narrow-gauge railroad. The boxcars were big enough for maybe 50 men. Hundreds were jammed inside. The steel cars had no windows, no ventilation. There was no air, and it was pitch dark. Lankford said they were fast using up what oxygen there was in the railcar. ``Some of the men who were claustrophobic went stark raving mad,'' said Lankford. ``Others died standing up.'' When the cars were unloaded at one of the designated stops before arriving at Camp O'Donnell, the dead fell out. He was at Camp O'Donnell until he was moved to Manila in November 1942. While at O'Donnell, he was placed on burial detail, bringing bodies to graves that were dug by POWs from sunup to sundown. He had to transport his best friend to a grave. ``He had just given up and passed away,'' said Lankford, as if talking about a wisp of air that passes by and is gone. During the O'Donnell ordeal, if an escape was attempted, the guards would take prisoners out and execute them, Lankford said, as an example to the others. After working at other camps, Lankford was eventually put aboard a ship. He and 1,500 other prisoners were forced down into the ship's hold, which had been used to transport horses and cattle. Filthy straw, with scattered piles of manure and the strong stench of urine, was everywhere, he says. ``We were suffering from dysentery, and some men went mad.'' Men began dying immediately. They were fed a thin gruel of fish-head soup and a handful of rice twice a day. They were sailing from Manila to Korea. U.S. naval vessels and submarines were hunting Japanese ships. The POW ships were unmarked and were attacked by the American vessels of war with impunity, never knowing that U.S. POWs were aboard. Thousands of American POWs died an ignominious death below decks in horse manure, human waste, vomit and stacks of the already dead. It took his ship one month to go from Manila to Pusan, Korea. When the ship arrived, Lankford was among the 175 men in the worst condition. He was taken to a racing track being used for a hospital. The remainder of the men he had traveled with were sent to Mukden, Manchuria. ``Each morning I would wake up, and there would be dead men on my left and right,'' he said. The day he arrived in Mukden, he was given a big bowl of stew. Being from Alabama, he loved beef stew. ``This was dog meat. It tasted mighty good,'' said Lankford. ``You didn't see many stray dogs around there.'' When he arrived in the Army Air Corps back in 1941, he had weighed about 150 pounds. In Manchuria at liberation, he weighed 60 pounds. The Russians arrived, he said, and things became rather chaotic. ``I'll never forget it. These Russians were front-line troops. They were plenty rough. The Russians would make raids every night. ``It was like the Fourth of July every night. Everybody was shooting at everybody else.'' Lankford was set free of his Japanese ordeal Aug. 20, 1945. The Russians put the POWs aboard a train and sent them back toward American lines. He arrived in Port Arthur, Manchuria, and ran into an old navy chief who asked him what he'd like to eat. ``I told him I wanted some ice cream,'' said Lankford. ``But I couldn't eat it. The chief said he'd just put it up for me with my name on it. I could have all the ice cream I wanted.'' Eventually he was returned to Manila, put aboard a Danish ship and sent home. ``We were heading home,'' said Lankford. ``We were so happy.'' In the state of Washington, he boarded a hospital train. There he was given slippers and pajamas for the first time in four years. ``We crossed the big, ol' U.S.A.,'' he said, his face beaming with pride. He was able to meet his family in Atlanta and spent about an hour with them before leaving for Augusta, Ga. Unlike most, Lankford had been able to let his family know by 1944 that he was a POW. They just didn't know where he was or under what conditions he had survived. ``I was lucky. Most of the POW families never knew their soldiers were alive until they got back to America.'' He took six months to recover in an Augusta hospital. After a short time at home, Lankford decided to make the Air Force a career. Today, a building at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base is named for Lankford. It houses all of his medals, and he plans to be buried there. The tombstone is already up. But he is at peace now. ``For the first four or five years after I came home, I hated the Japanese,'' he said. ``Then I got to thinking about it. Why should I hate them? It didn't have anything to do with the war.'' He and his wife, Edna, of 59 years, returned to Japan in 2001. ``It was no problem, really,'' he said. ``I feel very fortunate that I got to speak to the Japanese people again.'' But that hasn't stopped the nightmares. He still sees the brutal guards and their nicknames in his dreams. ``The Bull,'' was one, he said. ``We knew who to stay away from.'' Some nights in the early months after his return, said Edna, her husband would scream out and grab her by the throat. And then Paul Lankford would wake up. He was back home and not in Manchuria, dodging the Bull.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alaska for yielding me this time; and I want, first of all, to thank him for the Herculean job he has done on this legislation. My dad told me years ago, and I do not remember what it was about, but he said everything looks easy from a distance. Well, I can tell you, this legislation did not look easy from a distance or from close up. The chairman of our full committee, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), and our subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), and his ranking member, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), had to work with 535 Members of the House and Senate. Each time we would come within a hair of finishing this bill, some glitch would develop and some problem; and I can tell you that I cannot express strongly enough my admiration and respect for Chairman Young and Chairman Petri and ranking members Oberstar and DeFazio for the work they have done. One national magazine, Mr. Speaker, estimated we lose $67 billion a year due to congestion costs and people being stuck in traffic. As one other Member just said a moment ago, this job will save thousands of lives over these next 5 years. We have spent several hundreds of billions of dollars each year in other countries, Mr. Speaker, through every department and agency of the Federal Government, but this is an American bill. This is a bill to do things for the people of this country and to put our own people first. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this. This is a 6-year bill with 5 years left. It sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but when you divide it by six, it really does not cover the infrastructure needs of this Nation. I can tell you that I especially appreciate what is in this bill for my constituents in east Tennessee. This bill is progress for America. It is one of the finest products that has come out of this Congress in a long, long time; and it was a privilege for me to be a small part of it.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a fellow Tennesseean and our Navy's first admiral, David Glasgow Farragut. Farragut was born in Campbell's Station, Tennessee, near the city of Knoxville. One of the largest, fastest-growing and most beautiful communities in my district is named in his honor. Raised in a Navy family, Farragut sailed on the Essex as a young boy during the War of 1812, took command of his first ship when he was only 12 years old, and later grew to prominence as a Union hero during the Civil War. He was the first to prove naval forces could seize control of an entire city when he led the Union Navy to the capture of New Orleans in 1862. And his command, ``Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead'' during his victory at Mobile Bay has become legendary. As a result of Farragut's tremendous service, Congress established the ranks of rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral. Amazingly, he was the first person to hold each of these titles. Tomorrow in Bath, Maine, the Navy will christen its newest guided missile destroyer as the USS Farragut. This recognition of Farragut's contribution to our naval tradition is a fitting tribute to one of our Nation's greatest military heroes. Mr. Speaker, I consider it a privilege to recognize Admiral Farragut on the House floor today. He was a true Tennessee hero and one of our greatest Americans.