Lincoln Davis

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, born in Putnam County and raised in Cumberland County, Lt. General William E. Odom rose to great prominence in the U.S. military intelligence community and was a widely known expert on matters relating to the Soviet Union. A natural born leader, Odom graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1954. Over the next twenty years Gen. Odom earned a Masters Degree and Ph.D. from Columbia University, was stationed in East Germany for a lengthy period of time, taught at West Point, and served at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. In 1977, he was appointed as the military assistant to President Carter's National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski. General Odom served in that position till 1981. Shortly after leaving the White House and for a little more than 3 years, Odom held the position of Assistant Chief of Staff for Army Intelligence. By 1985 General Odom was named the 11th Director of the National Security Agency, our nation's largest intelligence agency. Retiring in 1988 from the Army and the National Security Agency, General Odom embarked in a career in academia. Over the next twenty years he taught at Yale University and Georgetown University and was a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute. General Odom is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame at the United States Army Intelligence Center in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. On behalf of Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District and a grateful nation, we thank General Odom for his service in defense of our country.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, it's a pleasure today to come on the floor and talk about ways that this Congress and those of us who serve here can help those who are unfortunate to have lost a job. I have watched the opposition on the other side attempt for the last couple of years to make illegal immigration their issue. I have watched with dismay as they continue to bring to this floor and blame Democrats in this Congress for the cost of gasoline at $4 a gallon. Back home we have a saying: that dog ain't gonna hunt in this Congress. In fact, when you look at what they attempted to do on immigration, their Presidential candidate introduced an amnesty bill, and now their attempts on the floor are to block this Congress from even introducing legislation or passing legislation that would have been an energy package that would even attempt, that would attempt, to tell oil companies you have to pay your fair share of taxes. So what they're now trying to do is block legislation that gives amnesty to big oil companies. Again, that's not going to work. And now they come to the floor saying pay-as-you-go principles are not being followed with this bill that's been introduced, and I hope it passes today. So as we look at this legislation, let's talk about pay-as-you-go. I used to be an employer. Today in Tennessee, if you employ someone, you pay between .15 percent, less than 1 percent, up to 10 percent as an employer of what each employee earns. They're paying as they go. At Forbus General Store, my friend Joe pays every paycheck every week so much percentage of what his employees earned into a Federal trust fund. He's paying as he goes. And when someone has to be laid off because jobs are not available, the economy turned sour, those individuals apply for and receive unemployment benefits. We're paying as we go constantly. We have close to $40 billion in the trust fund. Currently, this bill today scored with the CBO saves roughly $10 billion cost over 10 years. This Congress has attempted to address the issues of oil prices and unemployment.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. It seems to me that as we listen to the other side, they're constantly trying to find some way that would be a head shot on issues for an election campaign. I tell you who's getting a head shot right now, folks who work at furniture factories in Tennessee and North Carolina, folks who work at auto industries. Their jobs are being lost. That's a head shot to them.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to advise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The oldest and largest branch of the U.S. Army, the U.S. Army infantry, was established on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress ordered the formation of 10 companies of riflemen. The riflemen comprised the first armed force of a new Nation, a Nation destined to become the greatest democracy the world has ever known. Since that time, the infantry has gone where other forces could not go and accomplished missions others could not attempt. The story of the Queen of Battle has been written by individual infantrymen who have done their duty with pride, courage and honor. Their suffering and sacrifices won our freedom, preserved that freedom for over two centuries and will guarantee it in the future. Some were called heroes, some were not, but they were all members of a band of brothers who fought for their country in the cause of freedom. For more than two centuries the United States infantry has fought alongside other armed forces to protect their freedom. Their missions have sent them around the world and literally brought them face-to-face with the enemy. From the Siege of Boston of 1775 to San Juan Hill, to the Battle of New Orleans, to the Argonne Forest, where Sergeant York distinguished himself, to the beaches of Normandy, they hunted the enemy in the Shau Valley, parachuted into Panama, and currently subdue our enemies on cold mountainside and hot desert sands in both Iraq and Afghanistan. When policymakers finished talking, when debate has ceased, when negotiations have failed and orders are given, it becomes the mission of the United States infantry to execute our national policy. Their courage, pride and sense of beauty to country and each other stood tall above any fear they faced. But the battle for our freedom has been costly. As many as 80 percent of all the servicemen and women who have died serving their country were part of the infantry. To honor the infantry's decorated history, the National Infantry Foundation, in coordination with the United States Army, have broken ground on a new world-class museum honoring them. Located on a 200-acre site of Fort Benning, Georgia, the National Infantry Museum will serve as a tribute to the infantry's legacy of valor and sacrifice. This museum will honor these soldiers for their selfless service to our country, while also preserving for all time the artifacts so poignantly telling their stories. It will tell the story of our ground soldiers, from the colonial period to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lessons of the past will be retold to help lead us in the future. Our children must learn and know that there are values and beliefs worth living for and worth dying for, that the freedom and liberty we enjoy today has come at a high price, and that the American values of patriotism, duty, courage and leadership are the hallmarks of the infantry and must be preserved. With 290 cosponsors, this bipartisan legislation honors the legacy of the United States infantry with the minting of the infantry coin. Money raised from the sale of the coins will go towards maintaining the National Infantry Museum. I applaud the efforts of the National Infantry Foundation, its rich history deserves to be kept alive for all who follow. These heroes are perhaps too humble to tell their own story, so we will have to do it for them. I thank the gentleman from Georgia for authoring this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) such time as he may consume.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I encourage passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3229) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the legacy of the United States Army Infantry and the establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, as amended.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following correspondence: House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, May 22, 2008. Hon. Barney Frank, Chairman, Financial Services Committee, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Frank: I am writing regarding H.R. 3229, the ``National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin Act.'' As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains jurisdiction over bills that raise revenue. H.R. 3229 contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the bill, and thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. However, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding commemorative coin bills and in order to expedite this bill for Floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action. This is being done with the understanding that it does not in any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of Conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 3229, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the record. Sincerely, Charles B. Rangel, Chairman.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, over 250 years ago, Benjamin Franklin created the Union Fire Company, the first volunteer fire fighting company in America. Today, volunteers make up over 70% of United States firefighters, with 820,000 Americans dedicating their free time to protecting their neighbors, homes and communities from fire and other calamities. More than 21,000 of the roughly 30,000 fire departments in the country are entirely comprised of volunteer service members ready and willing to respond to over a million fires every year. Our volunteer fire fighters spend their time and resources to train, prepare and equip themselves so they are ready to face whatever challenge might threaten our homes or safety. Moreover, firefighters are summoned to address a wide variety of emergencies in our country every year, from emergency medical care to natural disasters, water rescue to threats from hazardous materials and more. The volunteer firefighters of today are working hard to carry on a tradition of commitment to each other that outlasts America itself. As long as fires threaten the well-being of our neighbors and loved ones, the volunteer firefighters of America will continue to answer the call in our defense. For all they do, they deserve our thanks and respect. I rise with my colleagues today to applaud their service and that of paid full-time and part-time firefighters to our country and their noble regard for the protection of us all.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, watching over the air and sea while providing exemplary support for our land based services, the United States Navy has a service record that history has looked favorably upon from the Revolutionary War through the Battle of Midway to their present day services around the globe. One alumni of this cherished brotherhood, Admiral Frank Kelso II, a man who dedicated his life to service of his country, was recently bestowed with the 2008 Distinguished Graduate Award during the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association's annual ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland. With a Naval career as long as it is distinguished, Admiral Kelso, born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, steadily rose through the ranks following his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1956. Serving various tours on Balao, Skipjack, Permit, and LaFayette class submarines and attending the Navy's Submarine School, Admiral Kelso was promoted to Commanding Officer of the Naval Nuclear Power School, USS Finback and USS Bluefish. In subsequent tours, the Admiral served as Executive Assistant to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command and the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. He was then assigned to reestablish and command Submarine Squadron Seven. In 1980 he was selected as Rear Admiral, where his Pentagon assignments included Director, Strategic Submarine Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and Director, Office of Program Appraisal, Office of the Secretary of the Navy. By 1985 Admiral Kelso was commanding the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and NATO Naval Striking Force and Support Forces Southern Europe. During this time the Admiral led successful operations against Libya. Earning his fourth star, Kelso was promoted to Admiral in 1986, shortly before assuming the duties of Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Admiral Kelso later became NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic and Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command. Admiral Kelso's naval career reached its high point when he was named the 24th Chief of Naval Operations in 1990, making him the first Tennessean to hold that position. He served as CNO for nearly four years. Beyond serving in a high ranking military position in the U.S. government and the numerous medals he has earned, Admiral Kelso has remained humble and grounded--saying his greatest accomplishments are his children and grandchildren. As a father of three and grandfather to five, I can say family is the driving force in life and is to be cherished as described by the Admiral. We are proud to have Admiral and Mrs. Kelso as native residents of the 4th District and wish them the best.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, it was nearly 100 years ago that the so-called ``Central Powers'' of Europe opposed the free world in what would become the first of two World Wars. In the midst of our fight against Germany and her Allies at the beginning of the 20th century, one of Fentress County, Tennessee's most famous sons earned a Medal of Honor, and his place in history. Sergeant Alvin C. York exemplifies perhaps the most common understanding of what a hero embodies: an individual who answered the call of duty and risked themselves for the betterment of others. However, it is the lesser known heroes that I rise today to commend. Stacy Prater of Pikeville, Tennessee, probably did not have thoughts of heroism in mind as he traveled home from work a few weeks ago. But, when he noticed that the car in front of him was on fire, Stacy stepped in to help the driver and her three children get to safety. With the driver and two children safely out of the vehicle, Stacy rushed into the fire to rescue a third child from a safety seat completely surrounded by flames. Using only a pair of scissors, Stacy released and pulled the child safely out of the vehicle. Through Stacy's efforts, all three children and their mother survived the unexpected incident. History will probably not remember Stacy, or countless others like him, as it remembers Alvin York. Stacy acted this month not for the glory of heroism, but for what it means to the survivors of that fire. I am proud today to commend Stacy's selfless service, and to commemorate a hometown hero who deserves our continued thanks and appreciation.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome to Washington and to the U.S. Congress a close friend of the United States, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq. On the occasion of this important visit, I am also pleased that Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina has joined me to serve as co- chair and co-founder of the Kurdish-American Caucus. America has no better friend in Iraq than Prime Minister Barzani and the country's Kurdish population. The Kurds have been among America's best allies in the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime and in supporting the transition to a democratic Iraq. Kurdish forces fight and die alongside U.S. troops in support of our mission in Iraq and are unambiguously grateful for America's many sacrifices in Iraq. They welcome a continued military presence in the Kurdistan Region as part of any redeployment of U.S. forces in the future, and offer their sincere friendship in the peace process. The Kurds are a model of stability and moderation in Iraq and have set themselves apart from the bloody sectarianism and factionalism that bedevils the political establishment in Baghdad today. For those of my colleagues who have not visited the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, I would urge you to do so. My visit to Erbil earlier this year was an extraordinary lesson in how democracy can flourish in the Middle East. It is economically vibrant, peaceful and secure, and pro- American. The Kurdistan Regional Government has seized the opportunity of liberation from Saddam Hussein to establish a government that is both a model for Iraq and a gateway to the rest of the country. This is not to say that there are no challenges ahead. However, with the inspired leadership of Prime Minister Barzani and his colleagues in the region, and his excellent representative in Washington, I am confident of a bright future. I invite my colleagues to join me in the Kurdish- American Caucus and to visit the Kurdistan Region of Iraq so they, too, can see how the ideals of a free and peaceful people can succeed even in war-torn nations of the Middle East.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, on Monday, May 5th, 2008, I was absent for legislative business to attend a Department of Defense event in my district.- Had I been present, on H. Res. 952 to establish a National Teacher's Day, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, this month, our nation's Capitol will lose a good friend in Dale Wen-chieh Jieh, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO). Dale will be leaving Washington for his new post as Director- General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City, Kansas. Dale has served as Director of the Political Division since July 15, 2005, as well as Director of the Congressional Liaison Division since July 1, 2006. During the last three years in Washington, D.C., Dale has made many friends in the administration and on Capitol Hill. He is well known for his scholarly demeanor, warm personality and quick grasp of the issues. He is truly a diplomat's diplomat. Born in Taiwan, Dale was destined for academic excellence. He attended the National Cheng-chi University in Taiwan and the Graduate Institute of International Relations in Geneva, earning his Master of Arts in International Relations at the Free University of Brussels, Belgium. In addition to Mandarin Chinese, Dale is fluent in English and French. Dale joined Taiwan's government service in the 1980's. He was a Specialist for the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (1986- 1987); Assistant to the Vice Foreign Minister (1987-1989); Third Secretary, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago; Second Secretary, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand (June 1993- August 1995); Second Secretary on home assignment, Department of African affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Section Chief, Department of International Organizations, MOFA (June 1997-November 1998); Director, European Union Affairs, Taipei Representative Office in Belgium (November 1998-July 2002); Principal Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (July 2002-April 2003); Deputy Director General, Department of International Organizations, MOFA (2003); Director, Political Division, TECRO (2005) and currently serves as Director of the Congressional Liaison Division, TECRO, a post Dale has lead with honor and distinction since 2006. Though he will be missed in the halls of Congress, I trust Dale will continue to be an effective representative of the Taiwan government in his new post in Kansas City. I am confident Dale will continue to strengthen the relations between Taiwan and the United States in his new post, a task as important as ever as America continues to trade and do business with our friends and neighbors around the world. We will forever call upon the dedicated service of people like Dale to foster better, stronger and more valuable relationships between the United States and its allies. So today, Madam Speaker, I rise to commend and congratulate my friend Dale Wen-chieh Jieh for his service to his country and also to the United States of America. I will always treasure my friendship with Dale and wish him, his charming wife and two beautiful daughters the best of luck as they journey west to their new home in Kansas City.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Chairman, I have listened to the debate on the floor, and I am somewhat puzzled. I have listened to the Republicans accuse Democrats of increasing gasoline prices. It reminds me of the fellow who said it would be like Roho the Rooster going to dinner with Colonel Sanders to imply that we are the ones that have caused this situation to occur this way. I am looking at places like Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East, who are being protected by our young men and women, our brave men and women in the Middle East, in the Middle Eastern war that we have with Iraq. And I watched them build these huge mansions and ski slopes, going out in the ocean and building whatever you would like to have, I guess. Are they selling sand? I wonder if our President when he went over there realized that the most folks he was going to be protecting were the oil tycoons who are over there in the Middle East. I wonder why Saudi Arabia is not spending more money to held rebuild Iraq. I wonder why United Arab Emirates and Dubai are building these palatial estates for their folks to have ski slopes in the desert. I wonder why they aren't helping Iraq rebuild. We are there protecting them. And why isn't Kuwait, who is producing all of the oil, is not helping America, at least helping to defuse the situation in the Middle East? Why is this President not calling on Saudi Arabia to increase their production so at least we can put maybe a glut of oil on the market that will be threatening and intimidating to the stock markets that choose to drive the price of oil the way that it is. There is no reason it should be inflated the way it is. Why is this administration not doing something about this? Don't blame Democrats who came on this floor 16 months ago. How in the world can you in all honesty try to imply that it is the Democrats' fault that we are paying $3-plus a gallon for gas today. Look at the circumstances and the situations. Have the Democrats, who in the last few months have tried to say let's find some way to resolve the issue in Iraq, are we the ones who said we ought to stay forever over there, and to disrupt the oil markets, to make people throughout the world, including those in places like India and in China, who are using an increased amount of oil that we can't control in this country, but we can at least control our foreign policy that we have established. So let's think about what we are being told here. The poorest countries in the world are paying $100-some for oil, just like we are in this country, considered to be one of the richest nations of the world. India and China are paying the same price that we are paying in this country. I guess the Democrats forced the price up also in China and India. Maybe I'm missing something, but let's be honest in this debate and let's be honest with the American public and let's stop blaming folks for what is happening. The turmoil and instability in the Middle East has brought about most of the situation that we have, and the economic growth, that may recede dramatically, may also drop it down. That might please you if that happens. But I can tell you this much, the folks that I represent in my district came to the open meetings, and their concern was gasoline prices just like you're saying about your district. They are also worried about health care costs and whether or not they will be able to survive. Small business folks are literally losing their business because they cannot afford to keep up the cost both of fuel and of health care costs. We have a lot of problems we need to address, but blaming someone and saying the last 16 months we have brought to this Nation the high gasoline prices, Democrat leaders have, to me stretches the truth a little bit to where that rubber band breaks.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the issue of surveillance in our country, and the efforts of this Congress to reform our laws in a way that protects both our national security and our individual freedoms. Over the past several months, competing legislation from the House and Senate has repeatedly come to a vote in an effort to reform existing FISA laws. I have great respect for the men and women working to see this come to light, but am dismayed at the unwillingness of some on both sides of the aisle to seek consensus on this important issue. For me and my constituents, the issue is clear: that a terrorist threat exists, and we cannot deny our intelligence community a necessary tool in the fight against this global threat. To see this done, we must work quickly to reach an agreement within the House and Senate that can become law. The Senate has already passed such a bill, and I again urge my colleagues in the House to consider that legislation. I would like to add that these negotiations reached some of their most heated moments just as the Congress's district work period was upon us. Away from Washington's heated political rhetoric, I spent two weeks with my constituents as I traveled the 10,000 square miles in my district holding town hall meetings. It is revealing to me that folks back home wanted to talk with me about health care and energy costs, but on rare occasion did anyone come forward to discuss FISA. I can only take away from this that they expect us to pass a bill that protects their safety and their civil liberties with expediency so we can return to the business of addressing their most immediate concerns. There are those who have said that an agreement is on the horizon, and I commend our leadership in their efforts to make this happen. I look forward to casting my vote for legislation that provides the intelligence community with an effective means to conduct surveillance on the enemies of this nation. Moreover, in this time of uncertainty at home and unrest overseas, we cannot confuse our friends with our enemies by failing to protect those who aided the government in seeking out terrorist threats after September 11th. The final version of this bill must contain legal protection for the industries that faithfully answered their country's call for help in a time of need. I have great hope that common sense, and the needs of our safety and security will prevail in this effort, and I look forward to seeing us pass a bill in the near future.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to commend and congratulate the life's work of Master Distiller Jimmy Bedford, the craftsman behind the smooth and distinct Jack Daniels whiskey that flows out of Lynchburg, Tennessee, every year. For years, Jimmy studied his trade under the tutelage of one-time Master Distiller Frank Bobo. When Frank retired, Jimmy took the reigns of the milling, yeasting, fermentation, distillation, and charcoal mellowing of the long lived Jack Daniels recipe. For 20 years, Jimmy has safeguarded this Tennessee tradition in Lynchburg's quiet hollow as the sixth Master Distiller in Jack Daniels history. Throughout Jimmy's tenure at the distillery, Jack Daniels has seen its yearly sales rise from under one million to nearly ten million cases in just forty years, with shipments going out to 135 countries around the world every year; but, no matter where people are drinking their whiskey, whether overseas, along the coasts or right in the heart of Tennessee, they know now, as they have for twenty years, that every bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey comes to them with Jimmy Bedford's approval. This year, Jimmy will retire to his farm just two miles up the road from the distillery he served for so long. While it is sad to see him go, we can trust that Jimmy will leave this icon of Tennessee and American culture in the hands of an able and dedicated successor. Jimmy retires this month with our blessing, but it is my sincere hope that before he steps down we might impress upon him our gratitude for his stalwart preservation of this lasting Tennessee tradition.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, this January, Bill Boss of Tullahoma, Tennessee, received the Tennessee Titans 2007 Community Quarterback Award, and I rise today to congratulate his service to our community, our state, and our country. Nearly thirty years ago, Bill completed his service to our armed forces and retired as an officer of the United States Air Force. For Bill, his time as one of America's finest was only the beginning of a life dedicated to his community and the betterment of those around him. After retiring from the Air Force, Bill began a career as a research engineer for the University of Tennessee Space Institute. It was there that Bill met with friends and colleagues to discuss how they could use their scientific expertise to give young students in Coffee County, Tennessee, and across the state an opportunity to discover the sciences for themselves. Only seven years later, Boss's diligence proved successful and helped open the Tullahoma Hands-On Science Center. Today, 10,000 eager young learners visit the Hands-On Science Center every year as it continues to provide a forum that engages and enthralls the scientists of tomorrow. I commend Bill for his efforts, and proudly stand to congratulate him today for an award well earned in service to Coffee County students and all those aspiring scholars across the State of Tennessee.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, this year, 25,000 individuals from the automobile industry converged to honor the nominees for Time Magazine's ``Dealer of the Year'' Award. Today, I'm proud to congratulate Stan McNabb of Tullahoma, Tennessee, on his nomination for the 2008 Time Magazine Dealer of the Year. This prestigious honor is a tribute to his exceptional performance as an auto dealer and his steadfast commitment to community service, and I rise today to recognize Stan's dedication to his trade and to the people of Coffee County. Robert Weaver, President of the Tennessee Automotive Association, nominated Stan to represent Tennessee as one of the 51 dealers who will compete as finalists for ``Dealer of the Year,'' an award that required a demonstration of successful auto-dealing as well as an ongoing dedication to community service. Stan, who earned his degree from Middle Tennessee State University, sold cars as a young man at a Chevrolet dealership and quickly discovered that his passion for automobiles could develop into a career. Stan bought his first dealership in 1980, and now owns three businesses in middle Tennessee. In addition, Stan has used his success in business to contribute to the State. As a board member of ``Partners for Healing,'' an organization meant to provide help and support to the working uninsured in Coffee County, Tennessee, Stan exemplifies a charitable spirit that is a model for business owners across the State. It is a privilege to congratulate Stan McNabb on his nomination for this award, and to recognize him for his success and service.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, a great friend of farmers in my district and across the Volunteer State retired from thirty years of dedicated service to the Farm Bureau this year. Carl Lawrence served the Giles County Farm Bureau with distinction in service to the hard working farmers of Tennessee, and I proudly rise today to commend him for a lifetime of work for our agriculture community. After serving his country as a combat soldier in Vietnam, Carl returned to the state he honorably defended overseas and joined the Farm Bureau in Rutledge, Tennessee. There, he earned a reputation for dedicated management and quickly earned a promotion for his hard work and diligence. Carl's efforts helped swell the ranks at Giles County Farm Bureau, from 1,600 to nearly 5,000 members, and did a great deal to ensure that the local Farm Bureau did everything it could to aid farmers throughout the county. For all he has done, I am proud to join the Farm Bureau of Giles County in wishing Carl Lawrence a happy retirement and recognize him for a career well spent in service to the farmers of Tennessee.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. I thank the gentleman from Memphis, and deeply appreciate your management today of this resolution that we are discussing here on the U.S. House floor. The tornados and storms and winds that recently tore across the South wrought upon each of our States the tragedy of loss of lives and families being separated. By now all of us have seen the images of fallen trees and toppled homes and, one by one, Tennesseans and other Southerners affected by this disaster have begun the seemingly impossible task of piecing their lives together, clearing wreckage, mourning the lost, and recovering whatever the storm failed to claim. Our planet, for all its blessings, chooses indiscriminately at times to affront our shores, plains, valleys and farmlands with terrible acts. I'm proud to say, though, as we face the worst of the forces we cannot control, we continue to see the best of the humanitarian spirit that is very much within our power to command. In this time of need, volunteer associations from the United Way to the Red Cross helped bring aid and comfort to the affected. Within days of the tornados' passing, the Red Cross alone helped provide shelter, comfort and over 44,000 meals with the help of nearly 1,600 Red Cross staff and volunteers in Tennessee alone. Our local sheriff's departments and volunteer fire departments, neighbors, friends, those from the farm next door or the neighbor next door that may not have lost their home gathered together to offer a shoulder of condolence, hope for the future, and concern and compassion for those affected. It was not long ago that the people of New Orleans endured the worst of what can happen when we fail to act. And in the wake of the storms in Tennessee and the South, we have shown that we will never commit the sin of inaction again. This week and last, we have shown there is no tornado so powerful, no storm so terrible that the winds of compassion cannot restore and repair any damage brought upon us. We rise today to honor the losses of those affected, to grieve for those who were so callously and abruptly taken from us that night, and we placed a renewal of our great country and our States in the wake of this storm.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, on November 25th, 1946, at 7:00 p.m., Robert McKay, Jr. put WKRM on the air from the Bethell Hotel in Columbia, Tennessee for the very first time. Over sixty years later, Robert continues to provide quality broadcasting to the people of Columbia. Robert's service to Columbia, to Tennessee and to our country goes beyond his work at WKRM. A veteran of World War II, Robert served our military in the Philippines from 1942 until the War's end. When he returned, Robert took it upon himself to found the area's first local radio station with its own News Director. Since its founding, WKRM has continually provided Maury County with outstanding news coverage, bringing the news to Columbia and its surrounding areas and, beginning in 1947, covering the annual Mule Day celebration live from the front porch of WKRM's station. From their inaugural broadcast at the Bethell Hotel, Robert's tenacity has made WKRM the success that it is today. Even a devastating fire in 1950 that destroyed all but the station's antenna only kept WKRM off the air for thirteen days before Robert was again bringing news to Columbia. Robert's firm resolve has grown WKRM into two stations that he continues to operate today. At eighty-seven year's old, Robert is still working hard for Tennessee, and I join my colleagues today in commending him for his work, his life and his service.

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of this bill and the effort by this Congress to bring accountability to the war in Iraq. This war is in desperate need of a new direction. For nearly 5 years, our brave men and women have valiantly toed the line for this administration, and I'm proud to say that they have had great successes in their mission. We have seen a terrible dictator overthrown, tried and put to death, and in his place the people of Iraq carried out free and open elections. For all of this, we owe our soldiers and their families a debt of thanks. But today's debate is not about the purpose of this war. We are here to make a decision on how best to bring accountability to this engagement. Today's legislation will keep soldiers on the ground to oversee diplomatic missions, protect U.S. citizens, equip and train Iraqis to stand on their own and continue to engage in targeted attacks on terrorists as we seek them out. This is a responsible strategy that worked for Eisenhower in South Korea when troops remained to oversee the DMZ after major operations had ended, and it can work for America today in Iraq. However, I have long felt that it is time to remove our men and women from the kill zones of Iraq. Our soldiers are trained to do the job of the United States military, not the job of police-on-the-beat for the nation of Iraq. We need to redeploy our troops so they can continue to carry out the work of defending America from terrorist threats around the globe. It is time for the Iraqis to occupy their own country with their own military and police force. This bill begins the redeployment of our combat troops, while continuing to fund initiatives for our men and women that protect them from IEDs, traumatic brain injury and more. But the days of a blank check from this Congress must come to an end. The American people deserve a new direction in Iraq, and this legislation is an important step. I would like to add that I bristle when I hear the other side talk of ``cut and run'' Democrats. The legacy of the Democratic Party is one of great wartime leaders. Andrew Jackson may have done the cutting at the Battle of New Orleans, but it was Colonel Packingham who did the running. It was President Wilson who convinced the American people to take on the oppressors in the First World War. It was President Roosevelt who said ``we have nothing to fear but fear itself'' before leading the charge into the battlefields of Asia and Nazi Germany. And it was President Truman who ended that war by dropping a nuclear weapon. I am a member of a Democratic Party that has never cut and run, but has been responsible with our men and women in regard to their safety and families, as well as our national security. We need a change in Iraq and a change in course. This must happen.