David Davis

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 371 to recognize National Physical Education and Sports Week, which took place this year from May 1 to May 7, 2007. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: ``The first wealth is health.'' Today, these words could not hold more significance. In an increasingly technologically advanced society dominated by the Internet, cell phones, BlackBerrys, and, yes, electronic video game controls, the evidence is growing and is more convincing than ever. People of all ages who are generally inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming active at a moderate intensity on a regular basis. Regular physical activity substantially reduces the risk of a number of preventable diseases such as coronary heart disease, the Nation's leading cause of death; and decreases the risk of stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It also helps to control weight, contributes to healthy bones, muscles and joints, reduces falls among elderly adults and is associated with fewer hospitalizations. Moreover, physical activity does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial. People of all ages benefit from participating in regular moderate- intensity physical activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking five or more times a week. These are facts we should impress upon our children to ensure they lead health-conscious lives. Yet according to the Surgeon General's ``Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity,'' only half of adolescents participate in regular physical activity, and one- fourth report no physical activity at all. In addition, we find that more than a third of young people in grades 9-12 do not regularly engage in physical activity. Additionally, daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42 percent in 1991 to only 33 percent in 2005. Physical activity offers a broad range of benefits, including the prevention of obesity, improves self-confidence and the overall sense of well-being. Physical education programs within school settings can set the stage for how children view physical fitness, activity levels, and future health. Physical education programs also include general health and safety information, as well as providing opportunities for students to learn how to cooperate with one another in a team setting. Equally important is the fact that physical education programs can teach students that physical activity can be fun. With a broad range of games and activities, children are exposed to forms of exercise that incorporate teamwork, strategy, skill-building exercises, and other curricula such as math. Indeed, physical education plays an important role in the development of an individual, just as a classroom education does. I join my colleague, Mr. Altmire, in calling for the communities to work with schools, along with key community stakeholders to craft and implement a local wellness plan as required in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 376, which will recognize annually a National Classified School Employee of the Year and the valuable contributions of classified school employees. I would like to thank my colleague from California (Ms. Woolsey) for her leadership on this issue and for introducing the resolution we are considering today. Like many schools across the country and in my district, the education of our Nation's children is a team effort. Often, when education is discussed, we think of teachers and administrators. However, classified school employees, school bus drivers, food service workers, clerical and administrative staff, para-educators, and facilities and maintenance workers protect and nurture children as well. Classified school employees are usually the first of the school staff workers the children see when they start their day and the last ones they see when they go home. They are the caretakers of our schools and community colleges. School bus drivers carry the most precious cargo, our children. Parents want the peace of mind that comes from entrusting the person behind the wheel in their children's school bus. Getting kids to and from schools safely and on schedule makes bus drivers, mechanics, and other transportation personnel an integral part of our schools and of our communities. Classified employees in the office, clerical and administrative staff, maintain attendance records, answer the phones, and interact with parents and school officials. School nurses help children with scrapes and cuts, assist with medications, and help keep accurate records of immunizations and students' medical history. All of these school employees are vital to the success of our schools. Without skilled facilities and maintenance workers, our children would not have safe and comfortable places to learn. A lot of work is required to maintain a school community and keep it running smoothly. Custodians keep the schools clean. Groundskeepers keep the grounds safe for sports and other recreational activities. And facilities workers foresee and troubleshoot problems in school buildings. These classified workers provide a valuable service to our schools. Many times the meal students receive at school is the best or only meal they get each day. Food service workers play a significant role in the educational process by providing nutritious meals for children. Research shows that good nutrition enables a student to meet their educational and physical potential. Para-educators, librarians and other instructional assistants, support and enhance the work of teachers in all components of the educational process. The increased use of para-professional staff in education across the United States has been well documented, as has the change in their role from largely clerical to instructional duties. These professionals play a key role in ensuring student achievement. Together, with certified school employees, teachers, and administrators, classified school employees work hard to provide productive, safe and stable environments for our children that are conducive to learning. Classified school employees strive for excellence in all areas relative to the educational community. For that, I ask that we annually recognize a National Classified School Employee of the Year and honor the invaluable contributions of all classified school employees for their tireless commitment to the academic success, safety and well-being of America's children, and I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 376.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, here we are again. Another week has gone by, and we are still discussing the Iraq emergency supplemental. The Democrats were successful in forwarding a strategy of cut and run, knowing the entire time their strategy would be vetoed by the President. It is an ill-conceived idea to state you support the troops on the one hand while on the other hand you push forward with legislation that you know has no chance of gaining the President's support. I believe the Democrat leadership owes the American people an explanation of why they would do this. Time is up and the Democrats need to come back to the realization that our troops don't deserve to be caught in the political mess between the radical left and the rest of the Democrat Party. It is time for a clean supplemental to come to the floor so that we can send the President a bill that supports our troops without handcuffing our generals and withdrawing our troops before this critical mission is complete.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Resolution 320, congratulating the University of Tennessee women's basketball team for winning the 2007 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship. The Lady Vols are an institution statewide with an unmatched record of success. With their 59-46 victory over Rutgers on April 3, the Lady Vols won their unprecedented seventh NCAA national championship. A quick review of the program's records in the past quarter of a century shows features unmatched in women's basketball history. They have seven national titles, 12 championship game appearances, 17 Final Four appearances, 25 sweet 16 appearances. Tennessee is the only team that has appeared at all 26 NCAA women's basketball tournaments, and their Hall of Fame coach, Pat Summitt, has been a leader in this program for 33 years. And a record of 947 wins and 180 losses gives her more wins than any coach, men or women, in the history of college basketball. She has been a leader in advancing women's athletics to more of a prominent role, and her winning record is even more impressive when you become aware of the fact that every Lady Vol who has completed her eligibility at Tennessee has received her degree or is in the process of completing her degree. Her players and staff have always displayed the highest levels of sportsmanship and have been tremendous ambassadors for our university. The national and statewide following enjoyed by the Lady Vols include numerous fans throughout the First Congressional District of Tennessee. Therefore, I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this worthy resolution honoring the coaches and players of the Lady Vols.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. Congressman Price, you do such a great job. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your willingness to spread the truth. I welcome the opportunity to speak to Americans on tax day. I know some of us, as we draw near to midnight here, a lot of people still working on those forms, trying to get them down to the post office. It reminds me of what Ronald Reagan said back in the early 1980s. Ronald Reagan said, ``We don't have a trillion dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough. We have a trillion dollar debt because we spend too much.'' That seems like commonsense to me, and I think the people that are listening to us tonight understand that. They understand they have to sit around the kitchen table and decide how much money is coming in and how much money goes out. Small business owners have to do the same thing. They sit around sometimes at a little break room table and decide, am I going to hire that next person or am I going to have to lay somebody off? Am I going to be able to afford another machine to be more productive so I can grow the business and be good for the economy? We understand that as Americans. Today, tax day, families across America are feeling the cost of the Federal Government. I know we feel it. I know the American people are feeling it. It is one of the reasons I decided to run for Congress. I did own a small business, and I have actually owned a couple. I grew up in a small community in a little county called Unicoi County in East Tennessee, up in the mountains near North Carolina. And I worked my way through college. I actually worked two jobs, went to school full time, and was fortunate enough from that to start some businesses. And I sold one of those businesses. And one of the reasons I decided to run for Congress was because the government took too much of my money. And I really looked at it as being my money because I earned it. My wife and I started the business. We took the risk. We put our home up. If that business hadn't succeeded, the bank could have come and taken our home. And when I sold the business, I should have been able to keep the proceeds and take care of my two children. It shouldn't have gone to the government. And I decided that I needed to get involved. According to the Congressional Research Service, President Bush's program of comprehensive tax relief was well timed to respond to a weak economy. Do you remember back in the early 2000s we had just been hit by terrorist extremists, and we had natural disasters. So those tax relief packages that he put in place have actually worked. Tax relief enacted in 2001 granted immediate tax rebates, reduced marginal tax rates, and lowered the marriage tax penalty. The tax relief of 2003 accelerated much of the 2001 growth which would ultimately strengthen our economy. We are residing and living in a strong economy. The Republican tax cut relief has seen nearly 4 straight years, 21 straight quarters, of economic growth, while adding 7.5 million new jobs. Seven point five million new jobs, that excites me. And we were able to do that because people are allowed to keep their money at home. You see, government really doesn't create jobs. Government takes money. But if you leave that money back in local communities, that money is put to work and it does good things. The Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the tax cuts of 2003 have helped boost the Federal revenues by 68 percent. Commonsense again. If you allow people to keep their tax dollars at home, the economy grows. And this should be understood by both sides of the aisle. This actually works for Democrats and Republicans. It worked for President Kennedy, it worked for President Reagan, and it has worked for President Bush. This is bipartisan. We all ought to understand that keeping taxes low, keeping spending low, the economy will grow and the coffers of government will grow. I think that is a good thing. We should all work to make the successful tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent. If they are not made permanent, which I am convinced that this new ``hold on to your wallet Congress'' has in mind, we are going to have a problem in our economy. For example, 84 million women will see their taxes increased by $1,970. Now, we all say here for the low and middle income, but if you are a woman, with this new tax increase of $400 billion, your average tax is going to go up $1,970. We are going to see 48 million married couples' taxes increased by $2,726. It seems inherently unfair to me. Forty-two million families will see their taxes go up by $2,084. And I thought we were here for the low and middle income. These are the people that are paying taxes. Twenty-six million small business owners will see a devastating tax increase of $3,637. The small business owner that runs the little store down the street or creates five jobs on the corner, who probably employs some of your friends in your local community, they are going to see their taxes go up over $3,600. And where are they going to get that $3,600 to send up to Washington? They are going to get it from you, the American people. They are going to either increase the cost of goods and we are going to see inflation, or they are going to decide they can't hire that last employee or maybe they have to let that last employee go. Five million low-income individuals and couples will no longer be exempt from Federal income taxes. This is going to hurt the very people that we say we are trying to help. Again, we should work in a bipartisan manner, Republicans and Democrats, to make sure that the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 are made permanent. I am very concerned if we don't do that, that we are going to see our economic growth go into a slide, and we are going to have a problem that we are going to have to deal with. Just two weeks ago, Washington Democrats passed a fiscal blueprint that raises taxes on Americans in one fell swoop. As part of this ill- gotten budget, taxpayers in Tennessee, my home State, will not be allowed to deduct their sales tax from their Federal income tax, which is only fair because we don't have an income tax. It makes us equal with all the other States. Taxes on small businesses in east Tennessee will go up. The child tax credit will decrease from $1,000 to $500. The marriage penalty is coming back. Residents of the First District of Tennessee's average expense in taxes is going up over $2,000. The definition of a small business will decrease from $400,000 to $200,000. Dividends will no longer be taxed at the personal gains rate, thereby increasing double taxation of dividends by as much as 62 percent. People all across America voted for change, but they are not getting the change they voted for. We have a choice between bigger economy or bigger government, and the majority party has made it their choice to have a bigger government. And if anyone tells you that Americans aren't paying their fair share for a civilized society, they must remember that Americans pay more in their taxes than they do for housing, clothing and heating combined. And also remember that Americans this year will have to work until the last week of April in order to pay their taxes. That is over 114 days just to cover their tax bills. So on tax day, today, when we feel it the most, everyone needs to remember, we need to hold the line on spending, reduce earmarks, and pass line item veto, and crack down on worthless pork barrel spending and be good stewards of the taxpayers' money. And again I remind you, Ronald Reagan said, ``We don't have a trillion dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion dollar debt because we spend too much.'' And with that, I yield back.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 266. This resolution would recognize the important work of our Nation's social workers and support the goals and ideals of Professional Social Worker Month and World Social Worker Day. Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people's lives and play a valuable role in the Nation's health care system. Social workers help people function the best way they can in their environment, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems. Social workers often see clients who face life-threatening disease or social problems such as inadequate housing, unemployment, a serious illness, a disability, or substance abuse. Social workers also assist families that have serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving a child or spousal abuse. For example, child, family and school social workers provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and academic functioning of children. They assist single parents, arrange adoption, or help find foster homes for neglected, abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address problems such as teenage misbehavior and truancy and advise teachers on how they can cope with problem students. Social workers also specialize in services for senior citizens, running support groups for family caregivers or for the adult children of aging parents, advising elderly people or family members about choices in areas such as housing, transportation, and long-term care and coordination and monitoring of these services. Through employee assistance programs, they may help workers cope with job-related pressures or with personal problems that affect the quality of their work. Medical and public health social workers provide persons, families, and vulnerable populations with psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute and terminal illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer. They also assess and treat individuals with mental illness or substance abuse, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. They also may help plan for supportive services to ease patients' return into the community. In my State of Tennessee, we have a long tradition of recognizing the vital role of social workers. In 2005, the Tennessee legislature, of which I was honored to serve as a member for many years, passed important legislation which required social workers to have received a B.S. or master's degree in social work from an accredited school, received a doctorate or Ph.D. in social work, or have a specialized certificate or license from the State. As a society, we have come to trust that the people using a certain title have completed specific training to prepare them for their work in assisting the public. Thanks to this legislation, Tennessee now ensures that positions requiring the skills and training of professional social workers are filled with fully qualified professionals. In addition, the East Tennessee State University Department of Social Work has a long and proud history of preparing the majority of social workers in the region that I represent. In addition to providing high- quality education to future social workers, the Department hosts a Social Work Career Day where students, community agencies and practitioners come together and share educational experience and information on a career in social work. Students and faculty are also involved in a number of community based interdisciplinary learning and service activities. According to the United States Department of Labor, the need for additional social workers is expected to increase faster than the average of all other occupations through the year 2014 due to the rapidly growing elderly population which is expected to create greater demand for health and social careers. The growth in social work is expected to occur most rapidly in home health care services, assisted living and senior living communities and the school setting. In addition, there is expected to be a significant need for those social workers specializing in substance abuse. Nearly 50 percent of the United States population, age 15 to 54, report having at least one psychiatric disorder. Both severe and persistent mental disorders, including addictions, have profound consequences for individuals, their families and society, affecting their ability to learn, to grow into healthy adults and to nurture children, to work and secure housing and to engage in other routines of living. Recognizing the prevalence of mental disorders and the cost they exact on our society, social workers provide more than 40 percent of all mental health services available to Americans, making them an integral part of our Nation's health care delivery system. So we stand here to recognize the importance of our Nation's social workers and support the Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day. We also stand to encourage more young adults to seek out educational and professional opportunities as social workers where they can play a positive impact on changing people's lives. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in highlighting the contributions of social workers and to support House Resolution 266. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true friend of the First District of Tennessee, Mark Keesecker, who passed away Saturday, March 17. Mark Keesecker lived a life that was filled with entrepreneurship, enthusiasm, and compassion. Mark was a member of First Baptist Church in Erwin and attended Christ Fellowship in Kingsport. After graduating from East Tennessee State University, Mark made remarkable achievements in real estate sales, and was an example of professionalism for all of his colleagues. Mark attained some of the highest awards in the Nation for his work in real estate, which included the Century 21 Corporate Centurion Award that is earned by only 5 percent of agents in the Century 21 system. Throughout all of his success, he was a humble and gracious gentleman. Mark was known for giving supplies to local schools and giving money to various charities. He left a positive impression on those that he encountered. Mark was a very close personal friend of mine and his unexpected passing is a great loss to the First District. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me this evening in offering our sympathies to the family and friends of Mark Keesecker. He was an illustration of determination, purpose, and kindness. His friendship and dedication is greatly appreciated, and he will be deeply missed.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and life of Jack Smith, a friend of the First Congressional District of Tennessee, who passed away March 15, 2007. Jack Smith lived a life of service, entrepreneurship, and was known by all for his compassion to all those around him. He was married to Jewell ``Judy'' Garland for 56 years, who preceded him in death in 2003. They had one son, two daughters, and six grand children. Jack graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1942, with a degree in electrical engineering. He served this great nation for seven years of active duty in the U.S. Navy. In 1954, Jack Smith started his first ``Piggly Wiggly'' grocery store, which would grow into a modern-day grocery store empire of 95 ``Food City'' stores throughout Southwest Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. He served as Chief Executive Officer until passing the torch to his son, Steven C. Smith, in 2001. He received numerous community involvement awards through his prestigious career. Jack Smith received: 1996 Grocer of the Year, Junior Achievement Tri-Cities TN/VA Business Hall of Fame Laureate in 1999 and ``The 2002 Clarence G. Adamy ``Great America'' Award. The ``Food City'' Stores engage in community enhancing programs like ``Apples for the Students'', which provides much needed resources to schools throughout across the First District and beyond. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me this evening in offering our sympathies to the family and friends of Jack Smith. He was a dedicated family man, a true friend of the First District, and entrepreneur. His service is greatly treasured, and he will be deeply missed.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Thank you, Congressman Price, for giving me an opportunity to join you today. And, Mr. Kline, thank you for your leadership in the Congress and in the military. I appreciate it so very much. Congressman Price, as you well know, none of us want to be in war; I certainly don't want to be in a war. But the fact is, we are in a war on terror. As a matter of fact, I think back right after September 11, 2001, the first casualty in Afghanistan was Sergeant Davis from my district. A distant family member, the first casualty in the war on terror after we decided that we were going to join the battle. As you well know, that battle didn't start on September 11. This is not a war just limited to Iraq. This war has been going on a long time. It is a global war on terror. This war has been going on for a long time, and it was started by radical Islamic extremists. This war didn't start on September 11. It has been going on for a long time. Many of you can remember the Iranian hostage crisis. In 1979, 52 Americans were held for 444 days until we had a President that finally came to office and said we are going to have a backbone and we are going to take on the terrorists, and those 52 Americans were set free. Then we had the bombing of the Beirut barracks in 1983 where 241 Americans were killed. Then we had the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. So you are starting to see a trend here. This war really didn't start on September 11, and it is really not a war that is limited to Iraq. Then we step forward in time to the year 2000, the bombing of the USS Cole. Seventeen sailors were killed. Finally, September 11, 2001, almost 3,000 Americans were killed. How soon we forget. I certainly haven't forgotten. I am sure that the family members of those 3,000 haven't forgotten, and I hope the American people and the Congress and the majority in the Congress never forget those 3,000 people that were killed. We are going to be fighting this battle somewhere. We are in a war with a people that hate us; terrorists that hate us. They hate our freedoms; and, quite frankly, I think they hate our religion. The extremists engaged us in battle. We owe it to our fellow citizens to see that we have nothing less than total victory. We can and we must win this war on terror. We simply cannot allow this Congress to move forward with a slow-bleed strategy. We must not cut off funding for our troops. I spent several hours last week at Walter Reed Medical Center, and I had the opportunity to see men and women in uniform. Many of them had lost limbs. Many of them had internal injuries. We owe them nothing less than total victory. We asked them to go protect us. I can't imagine a Congress and a government of the United States not standing behind them to make sure that they also have victory. America cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past by withdrawing from a direct confrontation of the radical Islamic extremists. They will stop at nothing to destroy America. They have proved that. You know, I can remember when people said they have fought over there, they have been fighting over there for thousands of years, why are we over there? The reason we are over there is because they came over here. They brought the war to us, and they have been bringing the war to us for well over 30 years. This is not something we can turn our backs on. I have spoken to the men and women in uniform as they have returned, and I can tell you to a person, every one of them said we are doing the right things. We need to stay there. We need to finish this job. Can you imagine being a soldier over there and knowing that the Congress has the potential to pass a law that we could pull out in 18 months. Can you imagine being a soldier over there at 17 months, 3 weeks, 4 days, and you are on patrol and knowing you can lose your life or your limb, but in 3 days you are going to be pulled out and we are going to lose the war anyway. I can't imagine being a soldier that is being asked to do that. We need to have soldiers that understand that we are going to be there for them because they are there for us. The consequences of failure in Iraq would be tragic for America and for the entire world. If we retreat, the enemy will follow. Our decisions now regarding how we handle this global war on terror will affect future generations. We have the duty to pursue nothing less than victory. The good news is the surge is working. It is already taking place. For instance, Brian Williams, anchor of NBC News, hardly a news group that typically sides with Republicans, recently reported a dramatic change in Ramadi. The city is now safer, according to Mr. Williams. It is already working. How can we be talking about cutting and running and failing on this critical issue? We need to stop campaigning on the floor of the House, and we need to get about allowing the generals to be the military leaders. As you pointed out just moments ago, there is one Commander in Chief, not 535. Congress should not micromanage this war, and we need to let our military leaders do just that, lead. That is what they are called to do. General Petraeus just weeks ago received unanimous approval in the Senate, and a week later you have Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen saying we don't want to listen to what he says. Actually what he is telling us to do is send in the troops. It is almost like the cavalry. If you can remember growing up, the trumpet would sound, the bugle would alert, and you would bring in the troops to win the battle. We need to do that same thing. What we have been doing over the last few years has actually worked again. The United States has been able to prevent further terrorist attacks on our homeland since 2001. We did it by taking the fight to them. They have proven they are going to fight us somewhere, it is either over there or over here. I would much rather keep them busy over there if they want to continue the fight. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle may have the votes to defund the war, bring the troops home, and not use the word ``retreat.'' But if we leave before the job is finished, we have retreated. It is simple. We either win this war or we lose this war. The good people of the First District of Tennessee and I support the efforts of our troops and we support winning this global war on terror. We can do no less.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I was not present to cast my votes on rollcall votes 133, 134, and 135 earlier today, March 9, 2007. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the Baker Amendment--rollcall 133, ``aye'' on the Motion to Recommit--rollcall 134, and ``nay'' on Final Passage of H.R. 720--rollcall 135.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and life of Ted Testerman, a resident of the First Congressional District of Tennessee, who passed away March 5, 2007. Theodore W. ``Ted'' Testerman lived a life of entrepreneurship, service, and was known by all for his fairness to all those around him, even his business competitors. He was married to Emma Greene for 55 years. They had two sons Hugh and William, and five grandchildren. Ted was very dedicated to his family, a quality that is sought after in today's world. He served the great State of Tennessee as a member of the Sullivan County Election Commission since 1974. He was also a past president of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, former member of the Bristol Jaycees, and the Kiwanis Club of Bristol. He was truly a pillar of Bristol. Theodore W. ``Ted'' Testerman started working in a men's clothing store as a salesman and by 1964 he owned the business, Blakely- Mitchell, which became the epicenter for community discussion in Bristol. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me this evening in offering our sympathies to the family and friends of Theodore W. ``Ted'' Testerman. He was a dedicated family man, a foundation to the Bristol community, and entrepreneur. His service is greatly appreciated, and he will be deeply missed.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 884. I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member for bringing this important piece of legislation. The development and implementation of technology to combat terrorism is critical. The United States and our allies in the war on terror share a common interest in furthering research and development of homeland security-related technology. As such, this legislation directs the Department of Homeland Security's research and development arm, the Science and Technology Division, to coordinate international cooperative programs with our allies in the war on terror to advance this important homeland security research. This legislation implements a 9/11 Commission recommendation that the United States should engage other Nations in developing a comprehensive coalition strategy against Islamic extremists. H.R. 884 establishes the Science and Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office within the Science and Technology Division to promote cooperation between entities of the United States and its allies to engage in cooperative endeavors focused on the research, development and commercialization of high-priority technologies directed at countering acts of terrorism and other high consequence events to address the homeland security needs of Federal, State and local governments. This bill enables the Science and Technology Division within DHS to coordinate with our allies. By encouraging joint research studies, the sharing of scientific and technological information, the training and exchange of scientists and engineers, as well as the joint use of laboratory equipment and facilities, H.R. 884 further directs DHS to collaborate with their strongest allies that include Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Singapore in the development of homeland security technologies. This legislation is modeled after a partnership created by Congress in 1977 between the United States and Israel. That was called the Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, also known as the BIRD Foundation. In 29 years, the BIRD Foundation has invested $225 million in 690 cooperative research and development projects mutually beneficial to the United States and to Israel. H.R. 884 will facilitate collaboration with countries which have extensive experience in combating terrorism and will enable us to benefit and tailor their technology solutions to address our needs. Israel is a country that has developed successful models to mitigate security threats. Most notably, Israel has pioneered efforts and behavioral pattern recognition, also known as BPR. The United States has begun adopting BPR at airports and is now training police and security officers to detect people who are behaving in a suspicious manner. It is for these reasons that I support H.R. 884, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and life of Bruce Montgomery, a resident of the First Congressional District of Tennessee, who passed away February 9, 2007 after an extended battle with illness. Sheriff Bruce Montgomery lived a life of service in law enforcement and his local church. He was a member and Chairman of the Deacons at First Baptist Church in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Bruce was very active in his church. He was interested building the church and taking care of people in need. Sheriff Montgomery took office in Sevier County in 1994 and continued to serve in this capacity until his passing. Bruce served with distinction and the efficiency that is a model to all law enforcement in our nation. He was caring, but firm in all of his dealings. He also served his country as a United States Marshal for 23 years, as Marshal for the Eastern District of the state of Tennessee and as Deputy United States Marshal. Bruce Montgomery displayed excellence as a law enforcement officer, as a compassionate leader in his church, and most of all a caring husband, father, grandfather and a friend. He was known for treating encounters with presidents and paupers with the same genuine smile and indisputable compassion. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me this evening in offering our sympathes to the family and friends of Bruce Montgomery. He was a dedicated family man, a foundation in his church, and a superior law enforcement officer. His service is greatly appreciated, and he will be deeply missed.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the resolution but in support of our troops. According to former Congressman, Senator, and Secretary of State Daniel Webster, ``God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it.'' That was true in the mid 1800s and it is still true today. I represent the First District of Tennessee. Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State because of our heavy involvement in the Mexican War and the willingness of our men and women down through history to volunteer for service to our country. Right now, there are brave men and women in our armed services who are sacrificing for our freedom. The people of the First District of Tennessee and I are indeed indebted for their service and we thank these brave soldiers and we pray for them and their families. There are some who would want to limit their discussion to Iraq, while in fact we are involved in a global war on terror. We must be committed to win this war on terror that was started by radical Islamic extremists. This war did not start on September 11. We have been in a war for many years. Many of you will recall the Iranian hostage crisis, 1979, 52 Americans held hostage, 444 days. As we move forward in history, the Beirut bombings, 1983. Two hundred forty-one of our brave marine soldiers were killed. Then we had the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. Then we had the USS Cole in 2000. Seventeen Americans killed. Then finally, September 11, 2001, 3,000 Americans killed. This war didn't start on September 11 and this war is not with Iraq. This is a war with radical Islam. We are involved to win a battle with terrorists who hate us, who hate our freedoms and who quite frankly hate our religion. The extremists have engaged us in battle. We owe it to our fellow citizens to see that we have nothing less than total victory. Congress should not micromanage this war. We have one Commander in Chief. It is fine to disagree and to point out mistakes, but this resolution is a step to weaken the morale of our troops and it will embolden our enemies. We cannot allow this to become another Vietnam situation, a situation where politicians tried to manage the war. My emotions run high as I remember that era. My first cousin, Fred Gouge, was laid to rest just 1 week ago. Fred was wounded in that war in Vietnam, a war that was micromanaged by politicians. Because of that conflict, he spent the better part of the last 40 years in a wheelchair. He received a Purple Heart for his service. He was a war hero, just like the men and women of our military are right now. We cannot afford to ignore the advice of General Petraeus, who was recently unanimously approved by the Senate, and the advice of his commanders. I would ask, Madam Speaker, what message does a nonbinding resolution really send? This resolution says that this Congress will support our troops who have defended our freedoms, or who are currently serving in harm's way, but that is little comfort for those brave men and women who would be called upon to protect us and our families in the future. This nonbinding resolution is only playing politics with our brave soldiers, their lives and our future as a nation. To suggest that we can support the troops but not be in the battle to win is ridiculous and shortsighted. I can remember as a child watching many different western television shows. Growing up, I don't know of many my age that didn't want to be the cowboy in the Wild West. After seeing many of these stories, you realize that when the hero is in trouble, they sound the alarm, or blow the trumpet, and in races the cavalry to join their brothers in arms to win the fight. Madam Speaker, the trumpet has been sounded. It is time for the cavalry to join our brothers and sisters in arms to gain victory in this global war on terror. As the trumpet has been sounded, we have politicians in Washington who want to sit on their hands and not send in the troops. Looking at the latest news, as additional forces are moving in, radical Islamic leaders like al-Sadr are fleeing for their strongholds. It has been reported that he has left Iraq for his own protection. The additional troops are already having a positive impact on the region. We have the ability to win this war on terrorism, and we must win this war to protect America today and for our future generations. Madam Speaker, that is why I will join many of my colleagues in voting ``no'' on this resolution.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Thank you for your leadership and bringing this important debate. And thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to rise. One of my favorite people in Washington all through history was President Ronald Reagan. Most of us know that the anniversary of his birth was just this week; 96 years ago President Reagan was born. And he once said, we don't have a $1 trillion debt because we haven't taxed enough. We have a $1 trillion debt because we spend too much. And I think that is important for this Congress to understand. I think that is a commonsense approach that the people of America can understand. It is about spending. It is not about taxing. We overspend, we don't overtax. I think that is very important. As a matter of fact, if we continue on the pace that we have today, our revenues are outpacing us, and we continue to do that, we have our revenues outpace our spending over the next 5 years, President Bush's budget will be balanced by the year 2012, and we can do that without raising taxes. Now, to me, that is an exciting prospect to be able to balance the budget without raising taxes. And we do that at the same time maintaining the successful pro-business economic policies that we put in place. I think that is very important. And it is not just Republicans saying that. It is the Congressional Budget Office. It has actually given us data to support the data that we have in front of us. Just last week, the CBO supported the fact that tax cuts of 2003 helped boost the Federal revenues by 68 percent. Cut taxes, bring in more revenue, allow people across America and from the First District of Tennessee to keep more money in their pockets. As they do that, they spend it back in their districts. It circulates through the economy. It helps the Federal Government. You do it by keeping taxes low, not overtaxing. And we need to do that at the same time we keep fiscal restraint in place. Our economy has actually grown through 21 straight quarters. That is a good thing. We don't want to go back on that. We want to make sure that we stand strong, keep our tax cuts in place, keep our economy humming along and see that we could go from 21 straight quarters to 22 to 23 to 24. In the period between 2004 and 2006, Federal tax revenues rose by the largest margin in 40 years. You do it by keeping taxes low, not by raising them. Another exciting fact about our economy, the deficit has been cut in half 2 years ahead of schedule. And we did it by keeping taxes low. I think that is what the people of northeast Tennessee, good commonsense, hardworking people, want to have happen. Keep our taxes low. Let us keep the money in our district. Let us provide for our families. And as we do that, the economy will grow. As the economy grows, we take care of the Federal Government. I think we need to look at government much like we look at a family sitting around a family table back in east Tennessee. People do have tight budgets. Unlike the Federal Government, though, people back in east Tennessee have to make tough decisions. When they have a tough budget, they can't say, well, I will just go out and raise my taxes and have somebody send me some more money so I can spend more. What they do in east Tennessee and across America is they have to make decisions about, well, I can't spend as much as I used to. And if we continue to do the right things, they will have that money back home. The President, once again, in his budget is calling for making the 2001 and the 2003 tax relief provisions permanent. The administration projects total revenue growth to grow 5.4 percent per year if we keep those tax cuts in place. Tax cuts are critical to maintaining our present healthy economy. We simply have a choice. We have a choice of a bigger economy or bigger government. That is the choice we have. And I certainly hope that my colleagues here on the House floor will understand how important it is to allow people back home to keep more of their money and keep government small and allow families to take care of themselves. To reach the goal of a balanced budget, we need to hold the line on spending. We need to reduce earmarks. And I think we need to pass line item vetoes to crack down on worthless pork barrel spending. I don't think the Congress has done a good enough job on that. I know there was a bill passed just last week and said there was no earmarks. Well, reading through the data, I am from east Tennessee, and I didn't realize we had a rainforest in Iowa. That is interesting for me to know. I didn't study that back in school in east Tennessee. Maybe someone else can explain that to me when they get up to speak. But that is an earmark that was in the resolution that passed last week. We are being disingenuous with the American people. And the American people are smart. They will catch on to what is going on. They will not be fooled. Another thing that I heard before I came over, I was sitting in my office, and I heard the other side speaking. And they talked about the Medicare cuts and what we are doing to health care. The reality is, under President Bush's budget, Medicare will grow 5.6 percent. Now, back in east Tennessee, that is not a cut. That is a growth of 5.6 percent in Medicare. So please, do not be fooled. Do not be fooled. There is not a rainforest in Iowa, and Medicare is not being cut. I think if people continue to use common sense, they will support the Congress. They want the Congress to do the right thing. It goes right back to what Ronald Reagan said. We don't have a $1 trillion debt because we haven't taxed enough. We have a $1 trillion debt because we spend too much. And I ask my colleagues to make sure we don't spend too much in this Congress. Thank you for allowing me to take part.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Thank you, Ms. Foxx. I appreciate your leadership and your friendship just across the mountain in North Carolina from Tennessee. And thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to speak today. It is an interesting time in America; things are going well in the economy. It is going well because Americans are working hard. I grew up in an era of politics looking back at Ronald Reagan, who was a great President. And as we all know, his birthday is today. If you go back 96 years ago was the date of his birth. And one of his quotes was, We don't have a trillion dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough, we have a trillion dollar debt because we spend too much. And I think that is a good starting point as we look towards our economy and how we run this Congress and how we work for the people across America. Revenues are coming in at a record pace. If we continue the pace that we are at now, we will actually be able to balance our budget by the year 2012 without raising taxes; and I think that is exactly what the American people would like to see. I think they want us to hold the line on spending, I think they want a pro-growth economy, and they want a good, sound financial policy. If you look at the Congressional Budget Office, the CBO, which is nonpartisan, it confirmed just last week that tax cuts of 2003 have helped boost our Federal revenues by 68 percent. That is good news. There are other signals that keeping taxes low, coupled with fiscal restraint and economic growth, help move us forward and help us balance our budget; and we can do that and take care of that deficit that we have. If you look at some other statistics that are vitally important, our economy has grown for 21 straight quarters. That is rather impressive. And in the period between 2004 and 2006, Federal tax revenues rose the largest margin in nearly 40 years, not because we had raised taxes, but because we had lowered taxes. In addition to that, the deficit has been cut in half 2 years early, or ahead of schedule. That is good news for Americans. I think that is the type of leadership that America is looking for. If you look at the way you balance a budget, like a small business does back in east Tennessee, or a family sitting around the kitchen table, and they have a small budget, their budget is tight, they are trying to decide what they need to do, they have to decide, do you cut what you spend or do you bring in additional revenue. And most people understand, as they sit around their kitchen table, you have to hold the line on spending; you can't spend more than you make, unlike government. I am excited about a good starting point that we see from the President in his budget. It calls for making the 2001-2003 tax relief provisions permanent. I think that is exactly what the American people want. And if we do that, the administration projects total revenue to grow an average of 5.4 percent per year. The way we maintain this healthy economy that we have today is keep tax cuts permanent; that is what the American people want us to do. We really have a simple choice, Mr. Speaker: we have the choice between a bigger economy or bigger government. And I really believe that if we look forward, what the American people want is us to hold the line on spending, hold the line on increasing the taxes and allow the economy to work the way it has worked in the past and the way it is working today. We also need to work very hard to make sure that we hold the line not only on spending, but we need to take a good strong look in a bipartisan way at reducing earmarks. I think we need to pass the line item veto. And if we do that, it will allow the President to have better control of how tax dollars are spent. I would also like to see a biennial budget process where we can actually sit back and let this House and this Congress take a breathing period from every other year and to find out if what we are doing works. And back in Tennessee, as State legislature, I was a State representative for 8 years, we had a balanced budget amendment in our constitution. We couldn't spend more than we brought in. And I signed on as a cosponsor to House Joint Resolution 1, which calls for a balanced budget amendment right here at the Federal level. I think that is exactly what the American people are looking for. And, again, going back to what Ronald Reagan had to say, just to reiterate, President Reagan said: ``We don't have a trillion dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough, we have a trillion dollar debt because we spend too much.'' And if we can remember that in this body and over in the Senate and we pass a good balanced budget that would take care of the deficit without raising taxes, I think the American people would be very pleased.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ronald Phillips, a resident of the First Congressional District of Tennessee, who has recently accumulated over 3 million accident-free miles during his career as a truck driver. In June 2004, Ronald was the first driver to receive the 2 Million Mile Safe Driving Award at Con-way. His other accomplishments include: 25,000 Safe Driver & Worker Hours Distinguished Driver Recipient; Member Con-way Freight's Elite President's Club; Quarterly Leaders Award from Con-way; National Finalist for Ray O'Brien Award in 2003, 2004, and 2005; Tennessee Truck Driving Championships--2nd place in straight truck class in 2006; Highway Watch Member; Certified Driver Trainer and Mentor; Con-way Defensive Driver Trainer; National Eagle Scout Association Member; Regional Values Task Force Member for Con-way; Member Trucker Buddy International. Ronald Phillips is an AWANA leader at his church and has participated in several mission trips and charitable work. Ronald Phillips resides in Gray, Tennessee with his wife of 23 years, JoAnn. They are the proud parents of one daughter, Regina (21) who is graduating from King College this year. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my fellow members to join me in honoring Ronald Phillips, a testament to hard-work, determination and the values that have made this Nation so great.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State because we have consistently been willing to go and to serve. There are approximately 70,000 veterans in the First District of Tennessee. My district is also the home of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, a 500-bed teaching medical facility located in northeast Tennessee. Veterans possess special qualities and skills such as a strong work ethic, training, discipline, and dedication to make the ideal candidates for employment. Our dedicated men and women have sacrificed so much for us. Now it is our turn to support them. I would like to encourage President Bush to issue a proclamation calling upon employers, veterans service organizations, and Federal and State and local government agencies to lend their support for an increase in employment for the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Roger Carter, a resident of the First Congressional District of Tennessee, who has recently been elected one of 7 National Directors for the Ruritan Club. Roger Carter led the ticket in votes by garnering 503 of 666 ballots issued at the 76th Annual Ruritan National Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky. Roger Carter is a member of the Ottway Ruritan Club where he has served as President, Vice President, Board of Directors and all Service Committees. The awards he has received: Club Ruritan of the Year, Outstanding President's Award, National President's Golden Key Award, and National President's VIP Award. He also has received the Tom Downing Fellow the highest award that a member can receive. Roger Carter has served as President and Vice President of the Greene County Council of Ruritans. Roger Carter is a resident of Afton, Tennessee, where he and Kimberly, his wife reside. Roger Carter is a Transportation Technician 1 Roadway Inspector for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Roger also is a member of: Greeneville Optimist Club, United Volunteer Fire Department, Greeneville Moose Lodge #692, Greene County Agriculture Advisory Committee and Union Freewill Baptist Church. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my fellow members to join me in honoring Roger Carter, a true servant of community, whose commitment and unwavering determination continue to make a lasting impact all throughout East Tennessee.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Barry Brickey, a resident of the First Congressional District of Tennessee, who has received the 2006 Tennessee Public Fire Educator of the Year award. Barry Brickey is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee. He graduated from Sullivan North High School and entered into the Tennessee Air National Guard where he served this great nation and was honorably discharged. He has been the voice of the Kingsport Mets, Co-host of a popular children's radio program entitled, ``The WHCB 91.5 FM Kids Show'' and now serves in his current capacity as Fire Education Officer for the Kingsport Fire Department. Barry Brickey is a devoted husband and father. He is married to Rebecca and together they have two children, Nathaniel age 3 and Hannah age 1. Barry Brickey teaches children of all ages fire safety precautions. He is dedicated to the success of safety in the City of Kingsport and surrounding areas. Last year alone, he oversaw the distribution of 10,000 smoke detectors and educated over 6,000 students about fire safety. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me this evening in honoring Barry Brickey for his service, commitment, and determination. It is true that our children are our future. Because of the hard work of people like Barry Brickey, our future continues to be bright.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and here we are in our third week of 100 hours, and that is not east Tennessee math. I represent the beautiful area of northeast Tennessee and the 1st Congressional District and am very honored to do so. One thing I recall when we went through the elections last year, being a freshman legislator here in Washington, I remember the talk about we need change, and I think the American people actually voted for change, Mr. Speaker. But I am not so sure the American people are going to be happy with the change that is taking place here on the Hill. One of the things that has happened as we have moved forward in this first 100 hours, one of the very first things that we did under the new Democrat majority is, we took a vote to not require recorded votes in the Rules Committee. Now, remember, back in the elections during the talk of change, this was going to be the most open Congress that had ever been known on Capitol Hill. Well, when you go into a committee and you take a vote and that vote is not open and recorded for the people back home, you are not opening up sunshine, you are actually pulling the blinds down on government. I don't think that is exactly what the American people wanted to do. I don't think that is the change the American people wanted. I was known as a Tennessee legislator that actually worked to open up government in Tennessee. When I went there, I found out in Nashville, Tennessee, that they were doing the very same thing. They were going into committees and subcommittees and people were taking votes, and you could go to the speaker of the house and say, Mr. Speaker, I am with you; don't worry about that, I will vote with you on that issue. And then you could go back home and say, don't worry about me, I am with you on that issue, and you would be telling two completely different stories. Well, after 8 years of working in Tennessee, we finally changed that. And so I was looking forward to coming to Washington where we were going to have the most open Congress that had ever been known on Capitol Hill. Well, here I come, and the first week of the 100 hours, 3 weeks ago, I find one of the first things the majority party did was to actually stop recording votes. That is not the change the American people wanted, Mr. Speaker. On another issue, Mr. Speaker, when the Republicans had the majority, if they wanted to raise taxes, if there was a need to balance the budget with taxes, it took a super majority to raise those taxes. It took three-fifths of the Members of this august body to raise those taxes. Well, the American people voted for change. Not sure they got the change they wanted, though, because one of the very first things that took place here on Capitol Hill was, they lowered that super majority to raise your taxes down to a simple majority. So now taxes can be raised without one Republican vote. I don't think they would have done that if that was not something they are looking at as a possibility in the future. I am not sure that is the change the American people voted for. I think they ought to be concerned. I think it can lead to bigger government, and it is going to lead to a bigger bureaucracy. We are seeing that in some of the votes. Not sure that is the change the American people voted for. One of the votes we voted for the second week of the 100 hours was to threaten life. What a tragedy when you don't protect the life of the unborn. We were talking about stem cells. And I am a big supporter of actually using adult stem cells. There is new research that has come out that says you can use amniotic fluid. And if you look at the science, the science tells you that there are about 72 diseases that have been treated with adult stem cells. There is zero diseases that have been treated with the embryonic. And that debate was not really about can you do it or can't you do it. It has already been legal. And I can tell you, being a businessperson, if there had been a lot of scientific possibilities for that there would be some business somewhere that would have invested capital, risked that capital because there is a potential for success in the future. Well, under the Democrat control, under the majority control, unfortunately, they decided to pass the piece of legislation to allow embryos to be destroyed; in other words, allow life to be destroyed. I am not sure that is the change the American people wanted, Mr. Speaker. Then, again, in the second week of the first 100 hours, a bill actually passed here on the floor to allow our national security to be controlled by the United Nations. Now, living in the mountains of East Tennessee, I don't know many east Tennesseeans that would want the U.N. to be in charge of our security. We are a sovereign Nation, and I honestly believe Americans across the Nation are just like most east Tennesseeans, we don't feel like we have to go ask the U.N. if we can protect ourselves. I can't think of anything that is more important than a government that is willing to protect its citizens. That is our number one responsibility is the security of our citizens. So putting us under the auspices of the U.N. is, I don't think, the change the American people wanted. Then there is going to be a bill coming up tomorrow on energy taxes, and there is a lot of talk about big oil and what are we going to do with this issue. And we are giving special interest. Well, the reality is the special interest that I want to protect is the person that turns on his light switch back in east Tennessee tonight, or has to turn their heat on because it has gotten colder outside, or the family back in east Tennessee that is having to stop and fill up their automobile with gas tonight. That is the special interest that I want to protect. And raising taxes during this 100 hours is not the change that the American people wanted, Mr. Speaker. That is not what I hear from east Tennessee, and that is not what I hear from Americans. Big government simply isn't the answer all the time. Oftentimes, I find, as I talk to the good commonsense folks back in east Tennessee, is sometimes the government is the problem. And bigger government leads to bigger bureaucracy. I think the way we solve these problems is not look to big government, but look back to our families, back across America. Families can make good decisions for their children and for their grandchildren. Then look to the States. States have a good handle on what is going on back across the United States and look to local governments. Look to businesses. Big government's not always the answer. I don't think that is a change that the American people wanted, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bobby Hicks, a resident of the First Congressional District of Tennessee, who passed away January 7, 2006 after an extended illness. Bobby Hicks lived his entire life in the beautiful hills of East Tennessee and spent his adult life in a career of entrepreneurship and public service for the area he called home. A graduate of Sulphur Springs High School, Bobby worked on the farm at an early age, learning to appreciate the value of hard work. He served in the Army Reserve and worked for the Tennessee Eastman Company until choosing to begin his own business, the Hicks Construction Company, in 1970. His career in construction was distinguished, where he served on the Johnson City Area Home Builders Association. He was president of the association in 1983 and 1984. He also served as president of the Home Builders Association of Tennessee in 1990. On two separate occasions, he was named Builder of the Year, winning the prestigious honor in 1988 and 1994. In 2002, he was inducted into the Building Industry of Tennessee Hall of Fame and continued to be actively involved in business into his final days. Bobby also served our area with distinction, serving 12 years as a county commissioner for Washington County. He was a member of the Washington County/Johnson City Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Board serving the same region. From 1994 to 1998, Bobby was elected to serve the constituents of the Sixth House District of Tennessee as their State representative. He was a relentless advocate of promoting the interests of Upper East Tennessee during his time in the legislature, and I was privileged to be his successor to that seat. Bobby's service to the community has been noted and appreciated. The library in Gray, TN, and the local Emergency Medical Service buildings have been named in his honor. In addition, one of the major State highways in our area, Highway 75, has been named as the Bobby Hicks Highway by the Tennessee General Assembly, as a result of his tireless efforts to gain the approval for necessary upgrades to this well- traveled road. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me this evening in offering our sympathies to the family and friends of Bobby Hicks. He was a good businessman, a fine public servant, and a decent and kind person. His service is greatly appreciated, and he will be deeply missed.