Lincoln Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, do we have opposition on the point of order? On the point of order, may I continue with my motion to recommit?

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the gentleman to reconsider his point of order on my offering of this amendment. My amendment increases the funds in the bill to the Senate-passed level of $318 billion, and I believe that the House should be allowed to vote on this amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) to offer this motion to recommit. The amendment increases highway and transit investment by $37.8 billion, a level of funding equal to the Senate/House-passed TEA 21 reauthorization bill, includes the Senate-passed Highway Trust Fund financing mechanisms, which includes no tax increases, and fully offsets these investments by cracking down on abusive corporate tax shelters, such as those enjoyed by Enron, and prevents American corporations from avoiding paying U.S. taxes by moving to a foreign country, and by extending customs user fees. The amendment is paid for by drawing down from the highway trust fund and eliminating subsidies such as ethanol. We should continue to promote the use of ethanol, but we should keep the highway trust fund for truly highway-related activities. A recent national survey found that transportation construction contractors hire employees within 3 weeks of obtaining a contract. Employees begin receiving paychecks within 2 weeks of hiring. In addition, this infrastructure investment will increase business productivity by reducing the costs of producing goods in virtually every industrial sector of our economy, which results in increased demand for labor, capital and raw materials and generally leads to lower product prices and increased sales. Mr. Speaker, this investment will help create jobs for almost 3 million Americans who have lost their jobs in the last 3 years and will specifically help the more than 1 million unemployed construction workers. The number of unemployed private sector construction workers in 2003 averaged 810,000. The unemployment rate for these workers averaged 9.3 percent. We can invest in a future that our children and grandchildren will benefit from rather than continue to create debt for the future for our children. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. No.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I concede the point of order.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. One of the differences in this bill is that it changes the part where we would report back promptly changes in this bill.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. No, there are other changes and they have been cleared by the Parliamentarian.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, as a graduate from my hometown school, I traveled on an interstate called Interstate 40. It was about one-third finished. My grandchildren travel that today. With this bill, with this increase with this motion to recommit and the suggestion of increasing it to $318 billion, all of our children and grandchildren to come will have an infrastructure that will be the seed that is needed for economic growth and investment for the future. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, as the current Member of Congress representing Jack Daniel's and its employees, it is my honor to pay tribute to this Tennessee treasure. Since 1863, in the spirit of George Washington, the father of the American distillery industry, the Jack Daniel's distillery, has produced the most popular Tennessee whiskey. Jack Daniel's has produced and responsibly brought a part of Tennessee heritage to millions of adult consumers in 135 countries around the world. Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey is the United States' number one exported distilled spirit. Jack Daniel's, located in Moore County in the 4th Congressional District of Tennessee, has a long tradition of bringing friends and neighbors together. Furthermore, it has been a major source for employment and tourism revenue in Moore County and Lynchburg, Tennessee. I would like to express the U.S. House of Representatives' heartfelt congratulations on the 100th anniversary of Jack Daniel's 1904 World's Fair Gold Medal.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to make a few presentations about TEA LU. Living in a rural area, it is obvious to me that as we see infrastructure and dollars that are being spent on roads, it is the fertilizer that drives economic development for many of the areas, especially rural areas throughout this country. I applaud this House in their effort to pass legislation that will provide funding for infrastructure that will eventually provide economic development for this Nation. There are many who look at this bill and say, look at the jobs that will be created as we start building infrastructure. Well, it is more than just the jobs that will be provided as we build the infrastructure. It will be the jobs 50 years from now that my grandchildren or my unborn great grandchildren will have an opportunity for a job as well. Because, as I have observed, the interstate systems in Tennessee and throughout this Nation, as we build a system that provides transportation from coast to coast and border to border, we have seen economic development unsurpassed by any other country as a result of those dollars spent. Now, as we look at this particular bill, certainly $275 billion sounds like a lot of money for 6 years. Unfortunately, I believe, and I think most of the folks that I represent believe, that that is too short, that it does not go fair enough. As a result of that, I, along with three other Members of the House, introduced an amendment that would enhance the dollars to at least the amount that the Senate approved, being $318 billion. Some folks say, well, we can spend the money some other place. But there are no sections of our economy that produces the jobs at the same rate for the same dollars spent as infrastructure and development on our road systems and infrastructure of this country. As a result of that, I think that enhancing the dollars, increasing the amount, is a wise thing for those of us in Congress to do. Because, Mr. Speaker, as we build infrastructure we provide the tools that will drive the economic engines of the future generations for now or decades from now. What we are doing, unfortunately, what we are doing today is not passing on an engine or the fertilizer for economic development; and, unfortunately, what my grandchildren will be receiving is huge debts, a $500 billion deficit in trade and a $500 billion deficit in our budget. At least this way, this Congress can do something for generations down the road, instead of taking away from them.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 93, HR. 3905-- Community Recognition Act of 2003, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Clarkrange High School Lady Buffaloes' for winning this year's Tennessee Class A basketball championship. This is the Lady Buffaloes seventh state title. In winning their seventh title they knocked off the defending state champions. When people talk about this team you hear words like grit, determination, and cohesion. All three are part of the formula that makes a winner. Clarkrange residents can be proud of the accomplishments of the Lady Buffaloes, who last made it to the state championship in 1995. The following are the members of the 2003-2004 state champion Lady Buffaloes: Coach Lamar Rogers, Jordan Ramsey, Miranda Cravens, Jaclyn Upchurch, Kari Jones, Michelle Snow, Amanda Beaty, Lindsay Parris, Diane Beaty, Kayla Crabtree, Ashley Jones, Jessica Green, Amy Miller, Brianna Pinson, and Nakeisha Cottle. As is the case in most team sports, cheerleaders are at the forefront of pumping passion and spirit into the crowd. Those assisting the Lady Buffaloes were: Coach Tinker LaRue, Heather Smith, Cassie Hoover, Nekedra Terry, Lauren Moody, Traci Ipock, Alicea Barnett, and Shelly Pack. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Lady Buffaloes and would like to express that the United States House of Representatives recognizes their accomplishment.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I request the honor of distinguishing Sergeant First Class Gregory Hicks. I pay tribute to this exceptional soldier, husband, and father, who tragically died near Fajullah, Iraq on board a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. Sergeant Hicks was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas. A recipient of the Purple Heart and Army Achievement Medal, among others, Sergeant Hicks had distinguished himself as a man of honor and integrity. Campbell County and the Fourth Congressional District of Tennessee lost a great individual. It was with great personal joy when I heard the small community of Duff, Tennessee, where Sergeant Hicks was raised, rallied around the family in their time of need. Accordingly, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to his wife, Melinda, his children, Chris and Jennifer, his mother and father, Clayton and Flora, and his siblings, Sandra, Stephen and Minnie on their tremendous loss. We honor his memory here today so that they will know that we all share their loss. Sergeant Hicks was a man devoted to his family, his country, and his community. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to pay tribute to the life and memory of First Sergeant Gregory Hicks. Never withholding their services in the face of war, Tennessee's citizens have always been celebrated for their wartime valor. Sergeant Hicks fought to keep his family and country safe and for that we are forever indebted. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Sergeant Hicks. It is with much respect that as a member of Congress I may honor his service.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute and honor Turk Baz. I have known Turk for many years, and he is a testament to the service, dedication, and diligence to his listeners on the local radio by providing daily weather updates. Turk, a veteran radio broadcaster and owner of WDEB FM/AM, has been a fixture in Fentress County, Tennessee, for many years. He was recently honored by the National Weather Service for his more than 20 years of service by presenting him with its John Campanius Holm Award. The annual award goes to 25 individuals among the agency's 11,000 plus volunteer weather observers: The award has been given since 1959. One of his greatest qualities is his modesty. During the acceptance ceremony, he said he was accepting the award on behalf of his radio station's staff and the many volunteers who are part of the Fentress County Emergency Service Organization. Fentress Countians are blessed to have someone like Turk looking out for them.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, teaching is one of the noblest professions I can think of. I rise today to honor one of those teachers. Her name is Chana Lymon. Chana is the Director for Sylvan Career Starters in Columbia, Tennessee. She recently received the Educator Excellence Award from Sylvan Education Solutions. This award is presented to individuals who meet and exceed all of the standards of Excellence and Program Management. Award winners have developed well trained motivated teams and ensure that all service activities meet Sylvan standards. The Career Center serves youth ages 18-21 who have dropped out of school or have not been able to complete traditional high school due to a barrier such as teen-parenting, truancy, delinquency, debilitating illness, or an academic deficiency. The centers help students prepare for the GED and State TCAP or Gateway tests. They also offer employability and work assistance as well as computer literacy training. It has become evident through their work that Ms. Lymon and her staff strongly believe in promoting the importance of self-worth. Self-esteem is the most important factor that will go hand in hand with success. I congratulate Ms. Lymon and her staff for promoting education as the key to a better future.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the 4th Congressional District's finest citizens. On Saturday, November 29, 2003, Wayne T. Palmer, of Sparta, Tennessee, passed away at his home. Wayne Palmer was not a master of business or of politics. Mr. Palmer was a man of meager means but overwhelmingly generous spirit. He was a man who cut a giant figure in his community through the devotion of his time and energy to the causes he loved. Wayne Palmer served as a volunteer leader in the Boy Scouts of America for more than 35 years. During that long tenure, he served variously as Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster of Troop 175 in Sparta, as the camping chairman of both the Upper Cumberland and Black Fox Districts, and as a leader of the camping committee of the Middle Tennessee Council. Significantly, these are just a few of the roles he fulfilled during his many years of service to Scouting. Mr. Palmer was honored for his guidance to young men and leadership in scouting repeatedly. He was awarded the Long Rifle Award for his leadership in both the districts he served. Mr. Palmer was honored with the Silver Beaver Award--the highest honor accorded adult leaders by the Middle Tennessee Council--for his service to the council. In addition, he was a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow-- Scouting's Honor Society--and was repeatedly honored for his service to the Wa-HiNasa Lodge, including receipt of the Founders' Award and Josh Sain Memorial Award. Mr. Speaker, if we're lucky, we encounter few people in life who have the kind of positive influence over the lives and maturation of young men that Wayne Palmer had. He was a man utterly devoid of self-interest and focused almost entirely on the education and improvement of the lives of those boys and young men who had the tremendous good fortune to be guided by his wisdom--be they Boy Scouts (his first and lifelong love), Little League baseball players or otherwise. It is rare--very rare indeed--to find a person who acts altruistically, who places the interests of others consistently ahead of his own, and who is truly selfless. Wayne Palmer was just such a person, and the lives of many Tennesseans are far richer for having known him. Wayne Palmer was a great teacher and a great man. The lessons he taught were lessons for life. Of that, I have no doubt. Wayne Palmer taught as much or more by example, as he did through more common instruction. Mr. Palmer walked the talk. He never asked anyone to do anything he was not himself willing to do. He was, in the eyes of so many, the very embodiment of that pole star of principles, the Scout Oath and Law. Mr. Speaker, Wayne Palmer was for many Tennesseans the Great Scoutmaster of legend and myth. White County and the Fourth Congressional District of Tennessee lost one of those rare bright lights on November 29 when Wayne T. Palmer passed from this mortal coil. Accordingly, I rise today to express my deepest sympathy to his wife, Jan, and his son, Garrett, on their tremendous loss. We honor his memory here today so that they will know that we all share their loss. Wayne T. Palmer was a great Tennessean, a man devoted to his family and to the education of young people, and an exemplary American citizen. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege as a Member of the People's House to honor his lifetime of service to others.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, 2003, one of our largest trading partners, the Republic of China on Taiwan, will be celebrating the 92nd anniversary of its National Day. I wish to join my colleagues in the U.S. Congress in sending best wishes to the 22 million residents of this lovely island. I also commend President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu as they continue to lead Taiwan to greater economic prosperity at home and greater participation in international activities abroad. Just like our 4th of July, October 10th marks the beginning of a fantastic story of economic, social and political success that has culminated in Taiwan becoming a vibrant democracy in the Pacific Region. These are exciting times in the history of relations between the United States and Taiwan. Mr. Speaker, on this 92nd occasion of the Republic of China's National Day, it is important to remember that Taiwan has a strong relationship with the United States, and we hope this relationship will continue to flourish and grow in the years to come.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Mr. Chaser Choate, who recently passed away following an extended illness. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and community. Mr. Choate, born January 18, 1931, was the first of nine children of Edison and Eva Choate. Following high school graduation and after one quarter at Tennessee Tech, Mr. Choate was called to duty for service in the Korean war. In his third year of service, he was diagnosed with cancer and was forced to retire from the military. After having 85 percent of his stomach removed, due to the cancer, Mr. Choate returned to Tennessee Tech where he graduated with a degree in business. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree he embarked for Florida. While in Florida and after a brief stint as an insurance adjuster, he found his calling as an educator. He returned to Tennessee and obtained a master's degree. He took a position with York Institute, his old high school, as a guidance counselor. Mr. Choate spent the rest of his career at York serving as a teacher of general business, economics, and English. While at York, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Community Education Program. He helped establish the Adult Education Program and served as administrator of the GED Program. Mr. Choate was active in the Fentress County Literacy Council, Fentress County Foster Care Review Board, Fentress County Retired Teachers Association, Jamestown Rotary Club, and was a dedicated member of the Jamestown United Methodist Church. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Choate today. His dedication and selflessness to his community are examples to all who wish to lead.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct conferees.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, sometimes we ask ourselves, why would I introduce this motion to instruct the conference committee? Seventeen other times this motion has been here on the floor. And you think, really, would it make a difference? Maybe it will not. But there are a lot of people who live in my district that hope that this one will be successful. A few months ago, I voted for the $80 billion bill that included families in my district that have children that really would hope that they too would get the same treatment as those who make 10 or $15,000 more than them, that make above the $26,000 level that basically were allowed the tax credit of $400 each. So you wonder if it has been here 17 times, what is going to be magic about the 18th time? If it takes a thousand times, it is important to people who live in the district I represent. Recent surveys by different groups analyzed different congressional districts. The one that I represent in rural Tennessee is the fourth most rural district in America, which means when you take the folks who live inside an incorporated area and those outside, of the 435, mine is the fourth most rural district in America. I traveled that district through the August recess. I attended 92 different meetings. A lot of the folks that I met with, a lot of folks who came to open meetings that I set aside for constituents to come and visit with their Congressman, this was one of the issues that really was of great concern to them. But when you talk about being rural, then you look at the folks who work in the district that I represent. We have the third largest base of blue collar workers of any congressional district in America working in the fourth district, somewhat over 40 percent. Generally, you would assume blue collar would be the auto industry or some other industry that would pay higher wages. Yes, we have that in the district as well, but most of the ones I am talking about are individuals who fall in the criteria of the 10 to $26,000 bracket. They are the lower-wage income earners. They are the ones who get laid off first. They are the ones generally that their employer are not able to provide a health care policy for them. Many of those had high hopes as they saw us go through this process. There were times that I would be back in the district and they would say, why don't Democrats support a tax cut? What's the problem? Then when I explained to them what happened, they are saying, you left us out. You left us out of at least that opportunity to share in a tax cut that went to other folks. Some folks will say, you don't get a tax cut. This is a tax credit for people who work every day, every day, that earns a check, that owns a home, has an automobile, pays almost 40 cents a gallon on gasoline when they drive to work. I have a nephew who works at a factory in Crossville, Tennessee, in the district that I represent. He married my niece. They have two little boys. This past weekend, those two little boys along with my niece, my brother, his other daughter and the nephew that works at that factory helped hauling tobacco all weekend. Those two little boys are saying, Uncle Lincoln, it's good to see you. But I talked to Marty Brown about his earnings. He earned above the $26,000 last year because he worked overtime. He checked at his factory on the 180 folks who work on that assembly line where he does, 40 of those were extremely disappointed that they were not included in the $400 tax credit, the child tax credit that he received. On the particular assembly line where he works, there were only two that received it, his supervisor and him. He got the $800 for his two children. But there were folks who worked with him that did not receive anything. They do not understand. They are hurt. They are disappointed. They are concerned. The question that I ask is why would I introduce this legislation to instruct the conferees in the House to meet with the Senate to resolve this issue? As a Democrat who voted for the initial $80 billion child tax credit, I am here appealing to the other side not to leave out those individuals that we included in the $80 billion tax cost over the 10-year program. Let us at least work with the Senate for this year to make it possible, at least through 2004, to make it possible. That is what the Senate bill does. That is what the initial bill did, was only made it through 2004. The $350 billion tax cut that was given that had the inclusion of those who would get a child tax credit only goes through 2004. It does not go through 2010 as the tax cut did in 2001. Let us include, as the President asked us to and as the Senate has passed, a child tax credit for those individuals I am talking about, the 40 of that 180 who work in that one factory in my district, that are disappointed not only in just Lincoln Davis but on the other side as well that they were excluded from the fairness that I think this Chamber has about it and I think this Chamber will and I hope this Chamber will correct it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek). His mother served here in this Chamber for many years, and we are fortunate to have a young man like him that is here today that will be speaking on the child tax credit.