Joe Donnelly

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, today I wish to extend my congratulations to the Triton High School Boys Basketball Team. The Triton Trojans succeeded in placing 2nd in the IHSAA 1-A State Tournament on March 28, 2009 at Conseco Field House in Indianapolis. After playing their way into the finals, they suffered a 55-66 loss to Jac-Cen-Del. The Trojans worked tirelessly throughout the regular season in order to advance to the IHSAA 1-A State Tournament. They played with focus, determination and grit in the tournament and their tremendous effort closed out an impressive 24-3 season. The Triton team is led by Senior William Keel, who is the only returning starter from their championship season, and Seniors Joel Meister, Dustin Kreft, Cody Carpenter and Zachery Moriarty. Juniors include Curtis Nordmann, Benjamin Montalban, Camron Garey, Taran Holderman, and Kreig Voreis. Sophomore members on the team are Austin Davis, Griffyn Carpenter, Jordan Everett, Jordan Koontz, and Blake Lemler. Also, I acknowledge the wonderful support the team had throughout their spectacular 2009 season. Head Coach Jason Groves and Assistant Coaches Landon Hawkins, Dave Carpenter and Matt Landis guided the Trojans to victory. I would also like to thank Principal Michael Chobanov, Athletic Director Mason McIntyre and above all, the fans in the community, many of whom traveled to Indianapolis for the game and gathered to welcome the team home after their victory. I offer my congratulations to the members of the boys' basketball team of Triton High School, the coaching staff, the school administration, and the surrounding community for their accomplishments this season on the road to their 2nd place finish in the IHSSA 1-A State Tournament.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, today I rise to extend my congratulations to the Rochester High School Boys Basketball Team. The Zebras succeeded in placing second in the IHSAA 3-A State Tournament on March 28, 2009 at Conseco Field House in Indianapolis. After making it to the championship game, they suffered a narrow 79-81 double-overtime loss against the Princeton Tigers. Returning only two starters from the previous year, the Rochester Zebras enjoyed an incredible season, showing a strong work ethic in their practices and throughout the regular season in order to advance to the IHSAA 3-A State Tournament. The Zebras played brilliantly during the tournament and despite their close loss in the final game, their great effort capped off an impressive 23-4 season. The Rochester team has 13 members including seniors Bruce Grimm, Jr., Brody Schoen, Austin Lowe and Jason Smith; Juniors Garrett Winegar, Marc Bowers and Colt Meadows; and Sophomores Nate Basham, Evan Hoff, Collin Harris, Cameron Screeton, Cahner Thompson and Chris Messersmith. The Zebras are led by senior Bruce Grimm, Jr., who averaged an impressive 25.2 points per game and had 40 points in the championship game. During the championship game, the Rochester Zebras completed 15 three-point shots, setting a new IHSAA record. I also want to acknowledge the wonderful support the team had from Head Coach Rob Malchow and Assistant Coaches Rex Reinholt, Sean Kelly, Dewayne Stiles, Mike Malchow and Mike Barnett. They helped guide the Zebras to victory. I would also like to thank Principal Dan Ronk, Assistant Principal Jana Vance, Athletic Director Mark Miller and above all, the fans in the community, many of whom traveled to Indianapolis for the game and gathered to welcome the team home upon their return. I offer my hardy congratulations to the members of the boys' basketball team of Rochester High School, the coaching staff, the school administration, and the community for their accomplishments this season on the road to their second place finish in the IHSAA 3-A State Basketball Tournament.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, today I wish to extend my congratulations to the South Bend Washington High School Lady Panthers, 2009 State Runners-Up in the 4A girls basketball division. During their remarkable season, the Lady Panthers won 26 games on their way to finishing second in national rankings by ESPN. In a state championship game that will be remembered as one of the best in Indiana high school basketball history, South Bend Washington lost 71-69 to Ben Davis High School of Indianapolis, the nationally top-ranked squad, on a last second shot. Through their determination, effort, and outstanding achievements, the Lady Panthers can be proud of all that they have done for girls basketball in the state of Indiana. The South Bend Washington team consisted of 12 young ladies, including: Seniors Skylar Diggins, Alandrea Pfeifer-Nailon, Karis Phillips, Rakeesha Lane, Takoia Larry, Jasmine Watson, and Jazmine Watson; Junior Avante Newsome-Gunn; Sophomores Porscha Hill and Terran Scott; and Freshmen Brytney Bennett and Shareita Patton. Head Coach Maurice Scott was assisted by Don Coddens. In addition to the Washington High School student body, alumni, and parents, officials such as Mayor Steve Lueke, School Superintendent James Kapsa, Washington Principal George McCullough, Jr., and Athletic Director Marilyn Coddens lent support and encouragement throughout the season. After averaging 29 points per game, South Bend Washington senior guard Skylar Diggins was named the 2009 Gatorade and Naismith National High School Player of the Year, and was also the winner of the 2009 Indiana Miss Basketball award. The city of South Bend and the surrounding area rallied behind the Lady Panthers. For the fourth consecutive year, thousands of fans traveled to Indianapolis, where they made the State Championship game feel like a home contest. Again, I offer my hearty congratulations to the members of the South Bend Washington High School girls basketball team on their Semi-State title, their extraordinary effort in the State Championship game, and for all of their accomplishments this season.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County in celebration of its 100th anniversary. The founding fathers of the Chamber of Commerce realized that as a business community their collective actions would have a much greater impact than those actions taken individually. In order to make their community stronger, both locally and nationally, they would need the business community engaged in all areas of commerce. Today, the Chamber is immersed in all areas of business, education, and legislative affairs, and it continues to deeply involve itself in the community at large. This is critical to Saint Joseph County residents today, since cities across the land are facing profound issues such as unemployment, budget cuts, and an increase in school drop-out rates. As a response to these challenges, the Chambers of Commerce across the country have taken on far more active roles within their communities. While still involved in the important networking events that encourage collaboration between the current and future generations of business professionals, the Chamber's role has become far more participatory in the critical issues facing our community. To this effect, the Chamber is partnering with the South Bend Community School Corporation and government officials, as well as with business and community leaders, to lead the school system in a new, dynamic direction. Two years ago, The Chamber formed the Business Growth Initiative, which proactively addresses and resolves key issues that will help businesses grow and expand in the city of South Bend. Also, the chamber recognized the need to retain and attract young professionals in our community. The Young Professionals Network (YPN) was created to help address key issues for young professionals living in and relocating to the area. Many programs have been initiated and conducted with the Chamber taking the lead role, such as the Manufacturing Summit, which addressed the issue of education and the development of a workforce that is technologically advanced; Green Community initiatives, an entrepreneurial forum; and the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau. Whether it is an issue of advanced business, community, or education, the Chamber is prepared to make a difference now and for the next 100 years. They continue to advance their community and help its citizens make a difference by allowing their voices to be heard. Consequently, I salute the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County on its 100th anniversary and wish them continued success.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to take note of an honor received last month by former Member of Congress, John Brademas, who served for 22 years in the House of Representatives from the then Third District of Indiana. He was awarded, by the University of Barcelona, the honorary degree of doctor of laws, his 54th honorary degree. A Democrat, John Brademas was, during the Administrations of six Presidents of the United States, an active member of the House Committee on Education and Labor where he authored or co-authored legislation to support schools, colleges and universities; support for libraries and museums; and programs for children, the elderly and the disabled. In his last four years in Congress, John Brademas was Majority Whip of the House of Representatives. Defeated in his campaign for reelection in 1980, John Brademas was shortly thereafter invited to become president of New York University, the largest private, or independent, university in the United States. John Brademas led the transformation of New York University from a regional--New York, New Jersey, Connecticut--commuter institution into a national and international residential research university. John Brademas graduated from Harvard University, with a B.A., with high honors, in 1949; then went on to Oxford University, England, as a Rhodes Scholar, for three years, 1951-1953. At Oxford he earned a Ph.D. with a dissertation on the anarcho-syndicalist movement in Spain from the mid-1920s through the first year of the Spanish Civil War, 1936. The anarchist movement in Spain was centered in Catalonia and, therefore, the research brought him to Barcelona on a number of occasions. His study was published in Spanish, in Barcelona, in 1974 by Ariel under the title, ``Anarcosindicalismo y revolucion en Espana, 1930-37,'' in a translation by Dr. Joaquin Romero Maura. In presenting the degree, Professor Mercedes Vilanova spoke of John Brademas' service in the U.S. House of Representatives and of his legislative record there as well as of his leadership at New York University, now, she said, ``one of the premier universities in the world, a rival of Ivy League universities like Harvard or Yale''. She added that John Brademas had been named ``one of the four most important persons in American higher education''. Presiding at the ceremony was the Rector of the University, Dr. Didac Ramirez i Sarrio. Said John Brademas, ``To receive an honorary degree from one of the outstanding universities of Europe, indeed, the world, is profoundly gratifying. I am especially appreciative of this honor because of my interest throughout most of my life in Spain and, in particular, Catalonia. Madam Speaker, I am sure that John Brademas' former colleagues and his many friends will be most pleased at this latest honor he has received. I ask consent to insert at this point in the Record the text of John Brademas' remarks on receiving the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Barcelona on December 1, 2008. His statement follows: Rector Ramirez, Professor Vilanova, members of the faculty and students of the University of Barcelona, and friends, to receive a grado honoris causa from one of the outstanding universities of Europe, indeed, the world, is, of course, profoundly gratifying. This honor comes from a country, Spain, and a region, Catalonia, to which I have devoted considerable scholarly attention and so is particularly meaningful for me. You have been told, in the generous words of Professor Vilanova, about my life--my education, my career as a Member of the Congress of the United States and as President of New York University--and of my activities in a variety of organizations dedicated to the arts and the humanities. But, of course, I am especially appreciative of this honor because of my interest throughout most of my life in Spain and, in particular, Catalonia. I had the good fortune, as you have been told, of studying at two of the greatest universities in the world, Harvard and Oxford. While in grade school, I read a fascinating book about Mayan civilization. I started learning Spanish, then as a high school senior hitchhiked to Mexico and, as a Harvard undergraduate, spent a summer with other college men working in Aztec Indian villages in rural Mexico. I wrote my senior honors thesis at Harvard on the Sinarquista movement, a far right-wing peasant movement important in Mexico in the late 1930s and early '40s.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. The manager's amendment included language urging the Secretary to establish a support facility to support the availability of small business loans, including dealer floor plan financing. On December 23, the Fed announced that the TALF program would include new car dealer floor plan loans. Is it the chairman's view that the Fed should generally consider expanding the TALF program to support other kinds of floor plan financing?

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I rise for purposes of engaging in a colloquy with the chairman, Mr. Frank. Mr. Chairman, title IV of the bill regarding consumer loans urges the Secretary to establish or support facilities to support the availability of consumer loans for autos and other vehicles. Is it the chairman's intent that consumer loans for recreational vehicles could qualify under such a facility?

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in honoring the contributions of mentors as we celebrate National Mentoring Month. I want to recognize mentoring programs across America that are dedicated to encouraging all aspects of student development. I believe mentoring is an essential tool in cultivating a child's emotional and behavior development, and I strongly support these programs. I would also like to congratulate an exemplary program in my district that is celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Joy Elementary School in Michigan City, Indiana. This program is a school-based mentoring program, partnering Michigan City area schools with the Michigan City business community. It is with great pleasure that I stand before the House and the American people today and commend the work of mentors and programs like Safe Harbor. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote for the resolution honoring mentors.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Darwin Wiekamp, a hard-working businessman and lifelong community philanthropist. Mr. Wiekamp died at his home in Mishawaka, Indiana on the morning of November 13, 2008 at the age of 94. In 1936, 22-year old Wiekamp married his wife of 72 years, Dorothy. His business career as an area banker began a few years later in 1945, when he and a friend founded the Owners Discount Corporation in Elkhart, Indiana with a vision to serve customers who were ignored by other banks. Their corporation specialized in small loans for cars and new businesses. For the next several years, Wiekamp implemented aggressive lending programs to his less fortunate community members, and in 1966 Owners Discount purchased West End State Bank of Mishawaka. Wiekamp's bank continued to grow enormously, changing names several times, until it finally became National City Bank. By the time Wiekamp retired, his initial $64,000 capital had turned into a financial corporation that today is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. His ceaseless hard work, willingness to take risks, and dedication to serving his community are qualities that every businessman should strive to emulate. As a philanthropist in our community, Wiekamp led campaigns to raise money for public television, St. Joseph Hospital, and the South Bend Center for the Homeless. His financial generosity also helped support healthcare and the arts in the form of the Schwartz-Weikamp Clinic in Mishawaka and an auditorium at the Center for History. With the help of nine other community businessmen, Wiekamp also organized and founded Mishawaka Futures Industrial Park, which today is home to twenty small businesses and hundreds of jobs. Friends and fellow businessmen remember Wiekamp as ``enormously generous in the community,'' ``a great guy with a good sense of humor,'' and a ``tough competitor and good golfer.'' But what Wiekamp will be most remembered for is his commitment to educational causes and community development. He and Dorothy helped fund Wiekamp Hall at Indiana University South Bend, the primary classroom building on campus, housing five computer labs, a language lab, sixteen classrooms, faculty and administrative offices, and a 150-seat lecture hall. They also helped finance the IUSB art gallery and more than thirty scholarships for students at the school. Their most recent contribution totaled $1.3 million toward the Wiekamp Athletic Facility at Bethel College. Throughout his life, Wiekamp received many distinguished awards to recognize his accomplishments. These included the Individual Philanthropist Award from the Michiana Chapter of Associations of Fundraising and the Herman B. Wells Visionary Award from Indiana University and the Indiana University Foundation, both of which honor people for their professional accomplishments and service to humanity. He and his wife also received Indiana University South Bend's Chancellor's Medal in 2005. Wiekamp served on the boards of the Century Center Foundation, Center for the Homeless, Project Future, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, the Mishawaka Division of the Salvation Army, St. Mary's College, and the IUSB advisory. He also served as president of the South Bend-Mishawaka Area Chamber of Commerce. So, today I rise to pay tribute to Dar Wiekamp for his innumerable contributions to our community's development. His and Dorothy's generosity is admirable and they will serve as models of lives well- lived.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of distinguished Indiana State Senator Marvin Riegsecker. Senator Riegsecker, age 71, succumbed to his long battle with cancer on Tuesday, September 30, 2008. Senator Riegsecker's career in the Indiana State Senate began in 1988, and he became renowned and respected for his bipartisan approach to pressing issues in our great State of Indiana. He championed the causes of those who suffer, such as providing services to those with mental retardation and developmental disabilities and protecting seniors and other consumers from counterfeit prescription drugs. These efforts justly brought him national recognition from legislative and public health associations. He also played an integral role in the promotion of higher education, helping to include a $16 million allocation in the biennial state budget for a new Ivy Tech Community College campus in Elkhart. Senator Riegsecker chaired the Senate Committee on Commerce, Public Policy and Interstate Cooperation and was ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environmental Affairs. He also served as a member of the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services. Senator Riegsecker's illustrious service was commemorated by many awards including the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Indiana Optometric Association's Outstanding Service in the Public Interest Award, and the Henry Cade Memorial Award. Prior to his career in the state legislature, Senator Riegsecker earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado's School of Pharmacy and became a pillar in the pharmaceutical profession. He began his public service career in Indiana as Elkhart County Coroner from 1977 to 1984 and was elected County Commissioner from 1985 to 1988. Senator Riegsecker's legacy as a public servant will be defined by his passionate advocacy and his legislative integrity. He will be dearly missed by his family, his constituents, and by Hoosiers across the State. It is with great pride and honor that I rise today to honor a great man, Indiana State Senator Marvin Riegsecker.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of S. 3023, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act, as amended. This legislation represents months of work by my colleagues on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. DONNELLY. I want to thank the ranking member of the committee, my friend from my home State of Indiana. Our districts actually touch up upon each other, and I'll try to be brief and not use too much of his time. One key provision in this bill, as amended, would ensure that severely injured veterans released from active duty are able to receive disability benefits immediately for injuries that can be promptly rated while they wait to be assigned a rating for other injuries that are not immediately ratable. The bill before us would codify temporary ratings for severely injured veterans who have paid a high price on behalf of our country. The passage of this legislation will make temporary ratings a right of our wounded warriors, instead of just an option to be employed by the Veterans Administration. I want to take a moment to thank my good friend, the chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, Mr. Hall, for his work on this legislation. I want to thank Chairman Filner and I want to thank Ranking Member Buyer for their assistance and leadership on this issue as well. We have much work to do to continue to improve the way our disability claims process works for injured veterans. However, S. 3203 represents real change that will directly translate to improved service for those Americans who have fought and sacrificed on behalf of our Nation. I urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill. I want to thank again the ranking member for his graciousness.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Elkhart, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The Second District of Indiana is proud to have cities like Elkhart with its Hoosier values and entrepreneurial spirit. From RVs to musical instruments, Elkhart manufactures goods that reach across the country. This entrepreneurial spirit started early and helped Elkhart become the strong city it is today, a city of 52,000 residents that has been named as one of the nation's most livable. Founded in 1831 by Dr. Havilah Beardsley, the city was incorporated in 1858. It grew quickly and created the first hydroelectric dam on the St. Joseph River; a dam still in use today. Elkhart was also the second city in the world to use an electric streetcar system. However, today Elkhart is probably best known for being the largest producer of recreational vehicles, earning it the nickname ``RV Capital of the World.'' Elkhart has a rich cultural life as well. The Elkhart Jazz Festival is considered one of America's premiere jazz festivals. Several museums and theaters also contribute to the Elkhart community. And Elkhart is planning ahead in order to maintain its vibrancy. It is building a wi- fi system that will be accessible to people along River Way. I am proud today to pay tribute to the City of Elkhart, Indiana and its residents for 150 years of impressive history and wish them an equally prosperous future.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the City of Mishawaka, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary. The Second District of Indiana is proud to have cities like Mishawaka that exemplify Hoosier values and emphasize the importance of community. Built along the St. Joseph River and named after Princess Mishawaka, daughter of Shawnee Chief Elkhart, Mishawaka has been an evolving city reflecting the needs of the world while maintaining its own culture. Founded in 1831 and incorporated in 1833, Mishawaka grew from a mining town to the ``Peppermint Capital'' to a thriving city which is now home to the only Hummer H1 and H2 assembly plants in the United States. Mishawaka is also home to the Grape Road Commercial Corridor, the second largest retail market in the State of Indiana. Mishawaka's picturesque downtown area is undergoing a revitalization with the addition of retail, restaurants and homes that maintain the small town character that defines the city. Mishawaka has a rich cultural life as well. It is home to the Nation's largest and oldest wiffleball tournament, the World Wiffleball Championship. Mishawaka also believes in the value of neighbors and neighborhoods, demonstrated in neighborhoods intentionally built to maintain a ``hometown'' feel as well as a total of 27 community parks. One park contains a Japanese style garden created in honor of Mishawaka's sister city, Shiojiri, Japan. I am proud to rise today to congratulate Mishawaka, Indiana and its 47,000 residents on 175 years of rich history and wish them a bright future.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Christ Child Society of South Bend, an all-volunteer organization that has served the community for over 60 years. In 1947, a group of women gathered in the home of founder Puddy Crowley to make baby clothes for a few needy families. Since then, the Christ Child Society has grown to a membership of over 500 and a client list of over 4,000 at-risk children and is one of the largest and most active of the 41 chapters in the United States. The South Bend chapter is an affiliate of the National Christ Child Society, founded in 1887 by Mary Virginia Merrick in Washington, DC. An invalid, Miss Merrick turned her attention from her disability to helping the poor children of Washington. For her selfless work she received the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame and the Papal Cross, among other honors, and has been declared a ``Servant of God,'' the first step toward canonization. Following the model of Miss Merrick, the South Bend Chapter gives infants, born to needy mothers who are often just children themselves, a bountiful layette containing items such as blankets, clothing and baby items. Children, ages one through twelve, are referred by local agencies, churches, or schools to receive new winter clothing. Each child receives a wardrobe which includes a winter coat, hat, mittens, underwear, socks and shoes, and two outfits. The Christ Child Society expanded its services to include a project that provides backpacks containing necessities and comfort items for children removed from homes due to abuse and neglect. Volunteers from the Christ Child Society are tutors and mentors and act as classroom helpers at one of the neediest schools in South Bend. The increased need for clothing and the expansion of services led the Christ Child Society to move to its new location, a former school which has been filled to capacity with children's clothing. The dedication of the new clothing center marks a new chapter in the history of this vital and compassionate organization. The Christ Child motto is ``Challenging poverty, one child at a time.'' The dedicated members work tirelessly at purchasing, sorting, and distributing clothes and fundraising while demonstrating genuine love and concern for the children they serve. The self-esteem and joy brought to the children is one step out of the cycle of poverty. So, today, on behalf of the citizens of Indiana's Second District, I honor the members of the Christ Child Society of South Bend and extend my hope for a better life to the children they serve.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. I want to thank the chairman for his work, and I want to thank Chairman Hall as well. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5892 helps seriously disabled veterans receive immediate disability benefits for an injury where combat connectedness and severity is not in question. These veterans should receive their disability benefits as soon as possible to add to other benefits and payments that they may be getting. When a disabled servicemember comes home to a family and to bills, every little bit helps. The VA has the authority to provide immediate temporary benefits to a severely injured servicemember until a claim is processed. However, we are concerned that they do not use this authority as often as possible. We want to make the VA's application of this authority mandatory. Under this bill, if you qualify for temporary benefits, you automatically will get these benefits instead of waiting for the VA to act. Mr. Speaker, America's veterans have fought and have sacrificed for our Nation, and we owe them our greatest efforts to enable them to receive their disability benefits in a timely fashion. My colleague Mr. Hare mentioned about the 800,000 claim backlog. He and I and all Members of this body want to see that go to zero. We will continue that work, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation today.

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1010) recognizing the importance of manufactured housing in the United States.

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation.

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Today, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1010, a resolution honoring the importance of manufactured housing to our country. As we celebrate homeownership during the month of June, we also honor the third week of this month as Manufactured Housing Month, recognizing that manufactured homes offer hardworking American families the option to purchase quality homes at an affordable price. This $8 billion a year industry provides jobs for people not only in the Second District of Indiana, but throughout our country. More than 18 million people live in over 10.5 million homes. I have seen firsthand in my district how these homes have continued a tradition of quality and safe construction over the years. They present a high- quality, affordable housing option for all families. Mr. Speaker, manufactured housing has come a long way over the years, and often people cannot tell the difference between a modular home and a site-built home. Manufactured homes have a factory production process which provides technological advantages, value, and customization options for consumers seeking quality housing and sustainable homeownership. Additionally, manufactured homes are built to a national standard under the HUD Code, which governs the construction, the engineering, the quality, safety, and systems performance. The HUD Code supports innovation, consumer safety, efficiency, and quality while preserving manufactured housing's affordability and its customization. We have all witnessed the ongoing turmoil in the housing market, and I believe it is essential that we look to affordable manufactured housing as a viable solution to this problem. Creating affordable homeownership is one of the fundamental building blocks of our society, and it plays a fundamental role in achieving the American Dream. It helps to provide families with economic security and build strong communities. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution today and pass House Resolution 1010. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may need to the cochair of the Manufactured Housing Caucus, Mr. Etheridge of North Carolina.

Mr. DONNELLY. I want to thank my good friend, Mr. Souder, from the district right next to me. We work together on so many issues. I also thank Mrs. Capito. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. DONNELLY

Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Sergeant Joseph Ford, originally of Knox, Indiana. Sergeant Ford was a proud member of Bravo Troop First Battalion 152nd Cavalry 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Indiana Army National Guard. He died on May 10 when his vehicle rolled over during a training exercise near Al Asad, Iraq. While his death leaves us all mourning a life cut short, I also wish to celebrate the life of this tremendous young man. For most of that life, Sergeant Ford was simply known as Joey. When Peggy Shidaker, his high school French teacher, learned of his death, she said ``He enjoyed life and we enjoyed having him,'' and she noted how he had been a student who made her laugh. Maybe he made her laugh because he genuinely enjoyed school and learning and made frequent trips back to Knox High School to visit his old teachers after he graduated. This love of learning showed up throughout his life; one of the first things Lieutenant Josh Chastain noticed about Joey after he joined the National Guard was his interest in world and military history. Lieutenant Chastain noted, ``He was a really intelligent kid. He knew a lot.'' This passion and interest in history, both ancient and modern, led Joey to varied interests: he loved to fence, and he aided a school production of The Three Musketeers by choreographing the fight sequences. It also led him to leave Knox following high school to attend the University of Southern Indiana and major in history. But Joey's passion in history reflected a passion for his country. This passion--this patriotism--kindled in him the desire to serve his country. And Joey did not only want to serve, he wanted to serve in the infantry, joining a National Guard unit based in New Albany rather than one more conveniently located in Evansville, where he was in USI's ROTC program. He was so dedicated that when he looked at military service following high school, he realized he had to do a lot of work to meet the fitness requirements; he did not hesitate to put in that effort, and he ended up losing seventy pounds to fulfill his dream of serving. He became a proud member of the Indiana Army National Guard. Peggy Shidaker remembered him once again returning to Knox High School following his enlistment, ``He was so proud that he came back to tell me he was going into the National Guard, and we were really proud of him and happy for him. He found his passion in serving his country.'' The passion to serve his country did not stop at the water's edge: Lieutenant Chastain noted that Ford wanted to be the gunner on an armored vehicle rather than the driver and said of Joey, ``He exemplified what a dedicated soldier is.'' This dedication is honored in his posthumous promotion from Specialist to Sergeant and the awarding of a Bronze Star. Great as his love of country was, he loved his family even more, in particular his parents, Dalarie and Sam, and his wife Karen. Married just last June, Joey had met the love of his life during his time at the University of Southern Indiana. His friend and fellow Guardsman, Keith Auspland, noted that his conversations with Joey during training and in Iraq generally ended not with concerns about the mission but rather with concern for his family. Ausland wrote in his tribute to Joey that ``Joe was a new husband and loved his wife dearly.'' Having deployed to Iraq in March, Joey had his goal of returning to Indiana in June to celebrate his anniversary with his wife. When his mother Dalarie was asked the one thing she would want her son remembered for she said, ``He was just so kind to everybody. At the memorial service, it was amazing just to see all the unique people who loved Joey. He never wrote off anyone and was friends with everybody: all shapes, sizes, and walks of life. He was a gentle soul.'' Today I honor and remember this gentle soul, this man who loved his wife and family, and followed his love of his country to service in a foreign land. Yet at the same time, I acknowledge our grief. He will be missed. May God bless Joey, his family, his fellow soldiers, and his country as we celebrate his life, and share in this collective sorrow.