Vernon Ehlers

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the First Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. On Sunday, April 19, 2009, a commemorative worship service and celebration will memorialize this extraordinary milestone, and it is a privilege to recognize and honor Reverend Christopher Wolf and the congregation of this remarkable church for the model of Christian service and the beacon of hope they have offered to the Grandville community over the past 150 years. From the first service on April 13, 1859 up until today, First Reformed has faithfully served The Lord, the residents of Grandville, and the world through its ministries, involvement in the community, and missionary outreach. The commemoration of First Reformed's sesquicentennial anniversary during the April 19 service is the highlight of a year-long celebration of spiritual, historic and community events. This remarkable anniversary reminds all of us that wonderful things do happen when we seek to serve and glorify God. Reflecting on the journey experienced by the congregants of First Reformed over the last 150 years, it is appropriate to reaffirm and strengthen our own faith, acknowledge the blessings bestowed upon us, and recognize the call to reach out to others and share God's love. I am proud to represent the people who call First Reformed their church home, and am grateful to this congregation for their Christ-like example. I am honored to extend my best wishes on this sesquicentennial occasion, and look forward to their service and ministry to the people of Grandville for many more years.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers on this side. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1824, the Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act. This bill would authorize funding for Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization that provides mentors and friends for individuals with intellectual disabilities in order to increase their social relationships and other aspects of community life. I appreciate Mr. Tonko's comments about bullying. I have introduced a bill dealing with bullying. And I got a letter--not from one of my constituents, but some other constituents--outlining a terrible situation where a young man was bullied so severely he decided he couldn't take it anymore and committed suicide at a very young age. That is the sort of tragedy we have to stop, and Best Buddies is a very important way in which that can be stopped. Best Buddies was founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver as the first national, social, and recreational program for people with intellectual disabilities. Since that time, this has grown from one chapter to more than 1,400 middle school, high school and college campuses all around the country. It also operates programs on six continents around the world, with additional country programs under development. Best Buddies offers six programs to students with special needs. Best Buddies Citizens pairs adults with intellectual disabilities with their nondisabled working peers. Best Buddies Jobs is a supported employment program targeting high-paying white collar jobs for people with intellectual disabilities. Best Buddies High Schools pairs special education students in one-on-one friendships with high school volunteers. Best Buddies Middle Schools pairs students with middle school volunteers. And Best Buddies Colleges pairs students with intellectual disabilities with college student volunteers. And the sixth program, e-Buddies, is a cutting-edge online friendship program. According to independent researchers, an estimated 7 million individuals--2 percent of the population of the United States--have intellectual disabilities which impair their adaptive skills. These skills, such as communication, self-care, home living, social skills, functional academics, community participation, and employment are daily living skills needed to live and work in the local community as productive citizens. The three major known causes of intellectual disabilities are Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and Fragile X. With early intervention, effective education, and appropriate support into adulthood, many individuals with intellectual disabilities are able to lead independent lives in their communities. Best Buddies assists in this effort by building personal relationships between Buddies and individuals with intellectual disabilities. The organization currently operates programs in 20 States, including a Best Buddies College program at Grand Valley State University, which is in my congressional district, as well as five other universities in Michigan. However, there is a great need to ensure that there are programs operating in all 50 States. This new authorization would assist the organization in getting dedicated funding through the U.S. Department of Education in support of its expansion to all 50 States. I want to thank my good friend, Mr. Blunt, for his strong support for initiatives that assist students with intellectual disabilities and for introducing this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), for as much time as he wishes.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 247, which expresses support for designating March 22, 2009, as National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day. I am surprised by the number of individuals who do not understand what rehabilitation counselors do, and they might be well advised to read the Doonesbury comic strip where, for the past 6 months or more, there's been an ongoing discussion on how to rehabilitate veterans, and describes the work of rehabilitation counselors. Nearly one in five Americans lives with some type of long-lasting condition or disability that requires extensive rehabilitation. Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the personal, social and vocational effects of disabilities. They counsel individuals with disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents or other causes. They evaluate the strength and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling and arrange for medical care, vocational training and job placement. All of these are invaluable to those who need the help. Rehabilitation counselors interview people with disabilities and their families, evaluate school and medical reports and confer with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and employers to determine the capabilities and skills of the individual. They develop rehabilitation programs by conferring with clients, which also includes training to help clients develop job skills. Rehabilitation counselors also work toward increasing the client's capacity to live independently. These professionals work with individuals, professional organizations and advocacy groups to address the social barriers that create obstacles for people with disabilities. They are instrumental in building bridges between the often-isolated world of people with disabilities and their families, communities, and school and work environments. They empower individuals to make informed choices so that they can become productive members of society. Rehabilitation counselors are employed in private practice, by community health organizations and hospitals, and in State and Federal Government positions. There are approximately 141,000 rehabilitation counselors in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number is expected to grow rapidly as medical advances help people survive serious injury or illness, including veterans returning from both the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars. Rehabilitation counselors provide a great service to the millions of Americans with disabilities. They encourage people with disabilities to participate as active citizens within their communities. These highly trained professionals help many disabled Americans cope with their life-altering situations, and today we recognize them for their hard work and dedication. I ask for my colleagues' support of this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Congressman Grijalva, who is the principal majority party cosponsor of this resolution. He has a deep interest in libraries as well. I also wanted to say that I am a great fan of libraries for a number of reasons. First of all, I have served on a city library board, on a county library board, on the board of the State Library of Michigan, and also, through my service on the House Administration Committee, I have been on the committee governing the Library of Congress. But the main reason is that, when I was a young child, I was quite ill and could not attend school. This gave me a lot of spare time, and I read between six and eight books a week. I was totally dependent on the library for those books, so twice a week I would trudge down to the library--which was only open 2 days a week--and haul out a pile of books which I could read. So I fully appreciate the importance of libraries. There is another factor as well. My daughter, Marla, is Assistant Director of the Grand Rapids Public Library in my hometown and keeps me fully informed about library affairs. And so I say all this in preface as to why I introduced the resolution and why it is so important that we recognize libraries. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the States. This is done every year in April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our Nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. In the mid 1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less time on books and more on radio, television, and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, a nonprofit citizens' organization called the National Book Committee formed in 1954. The committee's goals were ambitious and ranged from encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time, to improving incomes and health and developing a strong and happy family life. In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With cooperation from various organizations, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme, ``Wake Up and Read!'' This year's theme, ``Worlds Connect at Your Library,'' highlights how libraries are narrowing the digital divide by providing no-fee public computer and Internet access to meet the growing needs for access to digital and online information, including e-government, continuing education and employment opportunities. I can vouch for the big changes in libraries. Last year, I visited my daughter's library--perhaps, I should say the Grand Rapids Public Library--and I was just amazed at the number of computers available to the public, and every single computer was in use. I would say there were at least a dozen there, and people working heartily on them. This has become even more important with the unemployment situation because many workers don't have their own computer and they have to go to the library to polish up their resume, look online for jobs, and so forth. So the library's usefulness has continued to grow over the years. Libraries truly play a vital role in supporting the quality of life in their communities. They help us discover a world of knowledge, both in person and online, and are a key player in the national discourse on intellectual freedom and the equity of access. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, library use was up to 1.3 billion visits last year nationwide among all types of library users, continuing a long-term trend of increased library usage. By recognizing National Library Week, we show our appreciation to libraries, librarians, library workers, and supporters across America. I also should mention that we should at this point recognize and mention the support that Andrew Carnegie gave to libraries initially. When he began giving away his fortune, much of it went to libraries across the country, and you will find Carnegie libraries throughout our Nation, including in my hometown. I am honored to support this resolution. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the great contributions of libraries and librarians. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act. For many years, organizations in my congressional district have run excellent service programs. For example, approximately 26 AmeriCorps members serve low-income people with health care needs through the Cherry Street Health Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I applaud the efforts of all of the organizations and participants that have served the needs of West Michigan and our nation. Recently, I met with a group of seniors who were very motivated to help their community with energy efficiency projects. They gave me the idea to expand the focus of the Senior Corps programs. I am very pleased that the Education and Labor Committee accepted my amendment to clarify that activities for older adults who participate in the National Senior Volunteer Programs may include conducting energy audits, insulating homes, and conducting other activities to promote energy efficiency. The number of participants in the Senior Corps programs will be increasing as the almost 79 million members of the ``Baby Boomer'' generation retire and look for other activities to fill their days. Many of these individuals have unique skill sets that could be put to use in helping our country become more energy efficient. Also, in the modern home, insulation and other energy efficiency techniques have become very sophisticated. This program will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about these new methods. These participants can also pass their knowledge on to the younger generations through the relationships developed with youth, including disadvantaged youth, through the Senior Corps programs. The concept of energy efficiency provides multidisciplinary learning opportunities in math, science, and language arts--subjects that America's Baby Boomers and seniors can assist students with by using hands-on, real-world projects. I urge all Members to support this important legislation to reauthorize our national service programs, and I encourage people of all ages to seek ways to serve our communities.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. As previously stated, this legislation is an accumulation of five bills that individually overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives in the 110th Congress but which were held up or significantly altered in the Senate. I echo the comments made by Chairman Oberstar at the Transportation and Infrastructure markup, that, by bundling these bills together, we can make it even easier for the Senate to act quickly. The provisions in this bill will go far toward helping restore and protect the Great Lakes, the largest fresh water source on the planet. I have spent a considerable amount of time on this issue over the years. I want to deeply thank Chairman Oberstar for his dedication to this and his willingness to combine these bills in a very meaningful fashion. I also thank Mr. Boozman for his good work on it, and Ranking Member Mica for his help as well. Of particular interest to me is the reauthorization of the Great Lakes Legacy Act. The Great Lakes are plagued by toxic contaminants from years of industrial pollution that have settled in the sediment of tributaries to the lakes. These legacy pollutants degrade the health of both humans and wildlife and, if they are not cleaned up, they will remain toxic for generations to come. We have known about these toxic materials for years. We lived in the vain hope that they might just stay in the sediments at the river bottom and not move into the lakes. But we now know that they are moving into the lakes. And that is the reason I authored the Legacy Act several years ago. I have to say that the highest compliment I have received on that bill, and I have received it numerous times, is that this is the most effective, best Federal cleanup bill that was ever passed. Maybe we can now use this as a successful model to go back and clean up all the rest of the toxic dumps using the same approach we used here. That is why I introduced the Great Lakes Legacy Act in the 107th Congress. With bipartisan support, Congress passed, and the President signed, the Legacy Act in 2002. Since then, the Legacy Act has been heralded, as I said, as the best and most effective Federal environmental cleanup program. The interesting aspect of it, which was gratifying in some ways but disappointing in others, is that while the President of the United States every year requested the full authorization in his budget request, the Congress did not appropriate the money that the President had suggested. And I hope, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member, that we can both work on this and make sure the appropriators are willing to appropriate the full ammount that the President requests. We would be far ahead in cleaning up the toxic sediments. Last year, Chairman Oberstar and I introduced the Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act, which increased the authorization from $50 million per year to $150 million per year for 5 years. According to the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, if fully appropriated, this amount can potentially clean up all of the toxic sediments in the Great Lakes watershed in 10 years. That would be a major accomplishment at relatively low cost, and will stop the problem for all time. Although the House last year passed this bill by a resounding 371-20 vote, the Senate was unable to overcome the objection of a single Senator who did not want to increase this authorization. A compromise was reached to reauthorize the program at its prior funding level, but to only reauthorize the program for 2 years. During floor debate last year, Chairman Oberstar vowed to address this issue in the 111th Congress, and I am grateful that he has honored that promise in one of the first committee water bills to be taken up by the House in this Congress. I also thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for their support, as well as Ranking Member Boozman. Their dedication to the Great Lakes issues have been most appreciated throughout the entire Midwest. The Great Lakes are the greatest treasure of pure water in the United States, and I am convinced that in the future water is going to be worth more than oil to the industrial machinery of our Nation. I believe you will see a resurgence of manufacturing and population around the Great Lakes, simply because of the availability of abundant clean water. I am hopeful the Senate will be able to pass this bill soon so that we can speed our efforts to clean up and protect the Great Lakes. I urge all Members to support this important legislation. Once again, I thank all those who worked so hard on these bills so that they could reach this state. We hope to see them signed into law very soon. Thank you, again, for the time.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, due to illness, I unfortunately was unable to be present and to vote on legislation considered by the House on March 3, 4, 5, and 6, 2009. On rollcall numbers 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 106, 108, and 109, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''. On rollcall numbers 97, 105, and 107, had I been present, I would have voted ``no''. On rollcall number 104, had I been present, I would have voted ``no''. Though the Helping Families Save Act of 2009 (H.R. 1106) included some good provisions, the bill also included troubling bankruptcy provisions. On the amendments considered, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcalls 101 and 102 and ``no'' on rollcall 100. Also, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions (rollcall 103). I regret that I did not have the opportunity to vote on these important measures.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account: Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Saint Mary's Health Care Address of Requesting Entity: 200 Jefferson Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Description of Request: Provide $143,000 for an electronic medical records initiative for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Physicians will have real-time access to electronic records before, during, and after the ICU stay. The result will be increased patient safety and reduced errors. The technology improves care by supporting real-time access to cross-disciplinary patient results and evidenced-based information for clinical decisions. Funding will support labor, hardware and software costs.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 91, to honor the life and service of William Spoelhof, president emeritus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am honored to represent Calvin College and am very thankful for its excellent education efforts. I am also proud to say that I attended Calvin College, and served as a professor of Physics at Calvin College. Dr. William Spoelhof was born in 1909 in Paterson, New Jersey, and passed away on December 3, 2008, at the age of 98. William Spoelhof graduated from Calvin College in 1931, and began teaching social studies at the middle school level. In 1937, he received his Masters of Arts degree, and began his doctoral studies at the University of Michigan. During World War II, Dr. Spoelhof enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served our country in the Office of Strategic Services. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the Navy for this service. Also, for his contributions in liaison with the Dutch Resistance Movement, Dr. Spoelhof was honored by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands with the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords and a laurel wreath. Following the war, in 1946, he completed his doctoral work, and returned to Calvin College to teach history and political science. After becoming president of Calvin College, Dr. Spoelhof oversaw the process of moving Calvin College from its original Franklin Street campus, located in urban Grand Rapids, to its current campus in southeast Grand Rapids. Dr. Spoelhof carefully balanced Calvin College's vision for excellent academics with its relationship with the Christian Reformed Church, as he effectively steered the college through occasional church conflicts and the tumultuous, nationwide student protests of the 1960s. In 1976, after 25 years of service as an administrator, Dr. Spoelhof became the longest-serving president in Calvin College's history to date and announced his retirement. After his formal retirement, he was named president emeritus and maintained an office and steady presence at the College, offering continued support and goodwill whenever needed. William Spoelhof was married to Miss Angeline Nydam in 1935, and they had three children, Robert Spoelhof, Elsa Scherphorn, and Peter Spoelhof. Ange, as Dr. Spoelhof lovingly called his wife, passed away in 1994, after almost 60 years of marriage. Dr. Spoelhof was a Christian role model and mentor to many faculty members, staff and students, as he provided wisdom and counsel to thousands during his more than six decades of service to Calvin College. On a personal note, Dr. Spoelhof recruited me from the University of California at Berkley to teach Physics at Calvin College. I am deeply grateful for his guidance and for leading me to teach at a wonderful, Christian liberal arts college. Dr. Spoelhof lived a life of gratitude, and desired to bring God glory in all he did. On December 3, 2008, the Calvin College community lost a visionary leader and wise friend. He is to be honored and recognized for his outstanding devotion and service as a member of the military, a Calvin College professor and president and friend. It is with sincere admiration to him, and gratitude to God, that I pay my respects to Dr. Spoelhof on a life well lived, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service-- SRG. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Address of Requesting Entity: 102 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. Description of Request: Provide $266,000 for Sustainable Agriculture: Expanding and Refining the Ecosystem Base (Sustainable Agriculture). The funding will be used for research to assist farmers on sustainable agriculture practices to help farmers manage their crops for excellent yields, while reducing fertilizer and pesticide use and stemming nutrient losses to ground and surface water. Approximately, $385,000 is for salaries of 11 researchers; $15,000 is for travel expenses; $10,000 is for farmer stipends; $25,000 is for materials and supplies; and $65,000 is for communication and outreach. Michigan State University expects to leverage at least $150,000 in state, local, and private funds. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service-- SRG. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Address of Requesting Entity: 102 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. Description of Request: Provide $346,000 for Phytophthora Capsici research. The funding will be used for researching this fungal-like pathogen that lives in the soil and causes plants to rot. This funding will go towards salaries of researchers, laboratory and field equipment, travel expenses, and publication or results. This program receives other federal/state/local/industry funding. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service-- SRG. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Address of Requesting Entity: 102 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. Description of Request: Provide $346,000 for Controlling Fire Blight Disease of Apple Trees. The funding will be used for research to develop blight-resistant varieties and new, environmentally responsible control strategies to combat this disease. Approximately, $148,000 is for the salaries of laboratory and field research personnel and $36,000 is for materials and supplies. Michigan State University (MSU) has obtained funding from the Michigan Apple Committee and industry sources and will continue to fund the fire blight research at MSU at a level of $52,500 in FY09. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service-- SRG. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Address of Requesting Entity: 102 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. Description of Request: Provide $147,000 for Improving the Sustainable Production of Specialty Crops (Improved Fruit Practices). The funding will be used for research to assist growers in producing high quality fruit, dry beans, and sugar beets with environmentally sound, safe, and effective pest control methods and management approaches. Approximately, $131,440 is for salaries and expenses and the remainder is for lab maintenance and equipment. In addition to the federal funds provided by this grant, this research is supported by personnel, equipment, and facilities funded by the Michigan agricultural Experiment Station and Michigan State University Extension. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Natural Resources Conservation--Conservation Operations. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Great Lakes Commission. Address of Requesting Entity: 2805 S. Industrial Hwy, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-6791. Description of Request: Provide $404,000 for the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control. This funding will protect and improve Great Lakes water quality by controlling erosion and sedimentation; limiting the input of associated nutrients and toxic contaminants; and minimizing off-site sources of damage to harbors, streams, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational facilities and the Basin's system of public works. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Office of Justice Programs--Juvenile Justice. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Our Community's Children. Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Description of Request: Provide $500,000 for extending the length of summer after-school programming and expand after-school programs that serve high school youth. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Corps of Engineers--Investigations. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division. Address of Requesting Entity: 550 Main Street, Room 10032, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202. Description of Request: Provide $1,195,000 for the Great Lakes Remedial Action Plans to help states and local communities plan and implement contaminated sediment remediation projects in Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Corps of Engineers--Construction. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division. Address of Requesting Entity: 550 Main Street, Room 10032, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202. Description of Request: Provide funding for the Electric Dispersal Barrier on the Chicago Ship & Sanitary Canal. This barrier is intended to keep aquatic invasive species from entering into the Great Lakes from the canal. This request received two line items: $5,750,000 for the first dispersal harrier and $500,000 for the second harrier. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Corps of Engineers--Construction. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division. Address of Requesting Entity: 550 Main Street, Room 10032, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202. Description of Request: Provide $2,157,000 for the Great Lakes Fishery & Ecosystem Restoration program. The Great Lakes sustain a nationally and internationally significant fishery that has been degraded by habitat losses, contamination, and invasive species. Under this program, the Corps will coordinate with other federal, state, and local agencies and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to plan, implement, and evaluate projects supporting the restoration of the fishery, ecosystem, and beneficial uses of the Great Lakes. This program is an important component of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Dept of Energy--Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Grand Rapids. Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Monroe Ave., NW., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Description of Request: Provide $142,725 for installation of a green roof. The roof will be installed on the City Building and demonstrate to a wide audience the energy savings and best practices for maintenance. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. Address of Requesting Entity: 100 Michigan St., NE., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Description of Request: Provide $190,000 for the Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic and Pediatric Infusion Center. Approximately 80 percent of the funds will he used for purchasing equipment and 20 percent for technology information services. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Metro Health. Address of Requesting Entity: 5900 Byron Center Ave., SW., Wyoming, MI 49519. Description of Request: Provide $95,000 for an electronic medical records initiative. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. Address of Requesting Entity: 300 68th Street SE; PO BOX 165, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. Description of Request: Provide $285,000 for an electronic medical records initiative. Approximately, 33 percent of the funding will be used to purchase servers and a storage device for data system; 33 percent will be used to purchase software; and 33 percent will be used for redundant data lines. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Environmental Protection Agency--STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Monroe Avenue NW., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. Description of Request: Provide $500,000 for the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, East Side Combined Sewer Overflow Separation Improvements. The City of Grand Rapids has invested $200 million to separate combined sewers over the last decade. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Buses and Bus Facilities. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Belding, Dial-a-Ride. Address of Requesting Entity: 100 Depot Street, Belding, MI 48809. Description of Request: Provide $99,560 for the City of Belding's Dial-a-Ride. This funding will help the Dial-a-Ride acquire a new heating and cooling system for the Pere Marquette Depot, where their dispatch center is located. It will also help fund exterior lights and a fire suppression system at their garage. There is a 20 percent local share from the Michigan Department of Transportation. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Buses and Bus Facilities. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Ionia, Dial-a-Ride. Address of Requesting Entity: 251 East Adams Street, Ionia, Michigan, 48846. Description of Request: Provide $216,000 for the City of Ionia's Dial-a-Ride. This funding will help the Dial-a-Ride replace two vehicles at a cost of $128,000, in addition to enhancing the Technology and Interconnectivity between the Dial-a-Ride facility and Ionia City Government offices by utilizing fiber optic technology. The remainder of the funding will go towards this technology improvement. There is a 20 percent local share from the Michigan Department of Transportation. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Transportation--Capital Investment Grants. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Rapid. Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Ellsworth Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503 Description of Request: Provide $600,000 for The Rapid's South Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project. Funding will be used for the preliminary design, engineering and environmental work for the development of the BRT project. There is a 20 percent state/local match. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Transportation--Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Program. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan Department of Transportation. Address of Requesting Entity: Grand Region Office, 1420 Front Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49504. Description of Request: Provide $3,800,000 for the construction of a rail spur, switch, and station for relocating the Amtrak rail line and station into the Rapid Central Station, the main public transportation hub in Grand Rapids. This project has a 10 percent local/state match. Bill Number: H.R. 1105. Account: Economic Development Initiatives. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Kent County Convention Arena Authority. Address of Requesting Entity: 303 Monroe Avenue, NW., Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503. Description of Request: Provide $142,500 for the planning, design and construction of an outdoor amphitheater and support facilities at Millennium Park.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 140 to honor Congressman John D. Dingell for holding the record as the longest serving Member of the House of Representatives. John D. Dingell's exemplary record of public service and dedication to serving the American people began at the age of 18. During World War II, he served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and received orders to take part in the first wave of a planned invasion of Japan. Fortunately, the war ended, probably saving the life of Mr. Dingell. After finishing his military service, Congressman Dingell attended Georgetown University where he studied Chemistry, and later continued his studies at Georgetown Law School. Mr. Dingell returned to Michigan to work successively as a National Park Ranger, a prosecuting attorney for Wayne County, and he also ran his own private law office. In 1955, John D. Dingell took office in the U.S. House of Representatives after winning a special election to replace his father. Congressman Dingell was elected to his 28th term this past November, and has served as Dean of the House since the 104th Congress. As a scientist, I recognize that John D. Dingell's background in Chemistry and his experience as a National Park Ranger helped him understand science and environmental policy. In fact, Congressman Dingell has authored or been instrumental in the passage of some of our nation's most important environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Mr. Dingell's more than 53-year length of service has given him considerable wisdom and a deep understanding of Congressional procedures. He has earned the titles ``Dean of the House'' and ``Dean of the Michigan Delegation''. He is a model public servant, and we all benefit from his wisdom and good counsel. New Members of Congress and our youth should seek his advice. On a personal note, I am deeply grateful for Congressman Dingell's helpful guidance when I joined the U.S. House of Representatives after winning a special election. Also, I sincerely appreciate his willingness to work with me on environmental policy issues. I truly value Mr. Dingell's friendship and certainly wish him many more years of successful work in the U.S. Congress. Congressman has tirelessly advocated on behalf of his constituents and the people of Michigan. He deserves to be honored for his lifelong commitment to public service, and his dedication to the U.S. Congress should be celebrated. Please join me honoring John D. Dingell by supporting this important resolution.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I suspect most of you are surprised to see me rise to join in the accolades for Miami University, because most of you know that I come from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I taught at Calvin College, and before that was at the University of California at Berkeley where I got my doctorate and taught for 6 years. But yet I have a history in Ohio as a well. I spent my high school years living in Willard, Ohio, and I recall hearing numerous references to Miami University. I was urged to consider attending Miami University because it was such an outstanding school, and that has been engraved on my mind. As I got into higher education and became a professor myself, I began to appreciate even more the quality of Miami University as well as the quality of their faculty and their curriculum. So I am pleased to join everyone here in giving accolades to Miami University. Surviving for 200 years as a university of that stature, with strong emphasis on academic studies and background, is not an easy task for a university, and very few American universities have achieved that other than those along the east coast. So I am very pleased to congratulate Miami on their 200th anniversary, and wish them very well for the next 100 or 200 years as well. If every university in this Nation were as dedicated to academic learning as Miami University, this would be an even more wonderful Nation than it is. I am pleased to support this resolution.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Mr. Stearns from Florida control the time on this resolution.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. It is a great honor to speak about Martin Luther King. I don't have a prepared statement because I was not aware this resolution was coming up, but over the years I have just been tremendously impressed by him, by his talent, by his ability, and particularly the way in which he handled himself and his movement. And I use the term ``his movement'' advisedly, because he became the leader of it, the right man, at the right time. I am always amazed at how the Lord seems to provide the right leader at the right time for good causes such as this. Monday morning, I went to the annual breakfast in Grand Rapids, Michigan where we honor Martin Luther King. The room was filled with people honoring him and just joyous about his contributions to our Nation and its future. That evening, close to 3,000 people joined in another celebration. You may think this is a little surprising in the frozen North, which was not heavily involved in the Civil Rights program, but we feel very strongly about it in our community. We have an excellent community in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In particular, Mr. Walter Brame, who heads the Urban League in our area, has been a strong leader for years in providing equal opportunity for minorities in the workplace, in schools and other places. Martin Luther King started something wonderful, which ended up being even more wonderful, and for that I am grateful to him. I am also grateful to God for sending us the right man at the right time to resolve a major national crisis.

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. It is with great pleasure that I rise today in support of House Resolution 39 offered by a good friend of mine, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski). This resolution increases our awareness of Catholic education while honoring the contributions of America's Catholic schools. I am also very pleased to be a cosponsor of this resolution. I have a long background with education and religious schools. My father was a pastor, and our denomination has supported Christian day schools for a considerable length of time and shares the approach and the ideas of the Catholic schools. Our schools were very effective in educating students. Emphasis was on academics, but also on how that applied to the world today and what responsibility we as students, and later adults, had to use our religious beliefs in the benefit of our fellow human beings and our Nation. Catholic schools have followed in this tradition. I am pleased that January 25 through January 31, 2009, has been designated Catholic Schools Week, an annual tradition in its 35th year, and jointly sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association, as well as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. With this resolution, we recognize the vital role Catholic elementary and secondary schools play in providing an education with high standards of quality and excellence to the nearly 2.3 million students enrolled in Catholic schools across the country. One thing I have always admired when I visit Catholic schools and speak to their students is the tremendous discipline in the classroom. And I wish all of our schools in this Nation had this discipline and that attention on learning. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic schools have a graduation rate of over 98 percent, and about 97 percent of Catholic high school graduates go on to post-secondary training at 4-year colleges, community colleges or technical schools. This success can also be attributed to the importance Catholic educators place on character and morals. By making the development of moral and social values an integral part of the curriculum, Catholic schools are ensuring that their students are not only good academicians, but also good citizens. The theme for Catholic Schools Week this year is ``Catholic Schools Celebrate Service.'' This theme highlights the mission of Catholic schools to provide a faith-based education that supports the whole child academically and spiritually and impresses upon them the importance of civic engagement. Catholicism has a long and rich tradition of direct service to those in need. Catholic schools incorporate service projects into the curriculum, teaching students the value of helping others as an expression of faith and good citizenship. Catholic schools demonstrated an enormous amount of character and compassion in their response to the devastating hurricanes that hit the gulf coast nearly 4 years ago. In the wake of this national disaster, more than 300,000 students were displaced from their homes, schools and communities. Catholic schools opened their doors and hearts and welcomed these students into their classrooms. They provided these children with the opportunity to continue their studies without stopping to consider how to cover the cost of that education. Instead, the Catholic schools knew their first priority was to educate these children and worry about the financing later on. I appreciate the great work being done by Catholic schools, their administrators and teachers as well as their parents and volunteers. Catholic schools carry out their servant mission by building the academic achievement, character and values of their students. Again, I commend the gentleman from Illinois for introducing this resolution and urge my colleagues to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I thank you for your competent and professional manner in presiding today, and I yield myself the balance of my time in wrapping this discussion up. I am very pleased to participate in this discussion today because I believe that Catholic schools and religious schools play an extremely important part in our American educational system. I often deplore the fact that the Catholic schools and other religious schools, Christian and otherwise, do not get a fair shake in this Nation as compared to many other nations. I know when I lived in Europe for a year you could designate on your income tax how much you wanted to be delegated to schools of your choice, and they could be private schools, public schools, religious schools, what have you. That struck me as an eminently fair system. I don't expect we will ever have that in this country, but I do regret, given the excellent work that the Catholic schools do, and that other Christian and religious schools do in educating students who are troubled, that we do not call upon these schools more often to help educate more of the children of this Nation. I recall years ago when I joined some others in helping to raise money for scholarships for children who were troubled in their public schools, and who had great difficulties with their fellow students, and were getting into fights. We raised scholarship money so they could attend the Christian schools. Then a remarkable transformation occurred. Many of them became far better students and graduated and went on to good careers. I am convinced we can multiply this effort many times over, and I hope that the people of this country continue to contribute to these schools. I was sorry to hear Mr. Lipinski say that the school that his wife attended is closing. That is a story that we are hearing far too often across this land. We are losing something very important when we have schools this good, with the superb records that we heard outlined by several speakers here, that they are closing while at the same time the students who would go there are going to other schools which are not serving them as well. So I just want to do a little editorializing here because I do think that the Catholic schools, and many other schools in this country, do so much for our Nation, and yet do not receive the recognition and certainly do not receive any financial support from either Federal or State governments. I think it is our loss if they close and are no longer able to help the students that they do help so well.

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

Mr. EHLERS

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 56 offered by the Representative from California, Ms. Linda Sanchez, and I am very pleased to join her as the lead Republican cosponsor of this important resolution. National School Counseling Week is celebrated annually the first full week of February to help focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors. School counselors are employed in school districts in public and private schools of all levels across America to help students reach their full potential. They are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests and talents as these traits relate to academic success and career awareness and development. School counselors serve as a vital resource for parents by helping them focus on ways to further the educational, personal and social growth of their children. They work with teachers and other educators to help students explore their potential and set realistic goals for themselves. They often seek to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and complement comprehensive school counseling programs that help students become productive members of society. These comprehensive developmental school counseling programs are considered an integral part of the educational process which enables all students to achieve. National School Counseling Week highlights the impact that counselors can have in helping students achieve academic success and plan for a career. It is particularly important that school counselors encourage students to pursue challenging academic courses to prepare them for college majors and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This year's theme, ``School Counselors: Making a Difference,'' truly sums up the results of the efforts they put forth daily to ensure that no child is left behind. I have a personal interest in this aspect of counseling. As many here know, I have spent a good deal of my time trying to improve elementary and secondary school math and science education because that is going to be crucial for the jobs of the future. And if the students do not take math and science, they are not likely to get good and meaningful jobs in the future. School counselors can make a huge difference by making students aware of the need for those subjects in their future workplace, but, secondly, to assure them that, regardless of the reputation of these courses as being tough, the students can make it through and they can improve their learning. I wish to close by expressing my sincere gratitude to all school counselors, not only from my State of Michigan, but from across this great Nation. Again, I thank the Representative from California, Ms. Sanchez, for her work bringing this resolution forth today. And I also want to thank Chairman George Miller's and senior Republican Buck McKeon's staff, especially Chad Miller, for their input and assistance in bringing this resolution to the floor in a timely manner. I urge my colleagues to support school counselors and this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me conclude by giving a personal example of why counseling is so important, even though I was not counseled by a school counselor, but my example illustrates the importance. When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea what I was going to do with my life and my career. I didn't even intend to go to college; fortunately, my father persuaded me to do that. But I had no idea what I wanted to do. That summer I was driving a truck. I ended up sitting in a diner next to another person. We began speaking, and he told me that he was a mechanical engineer at Ford Motor Company. He talked to me about what he did, and it sounded really interesting and it sounded like fun. So when I got to college, I went through the registration line and at one point someone said, what is your major? I said, I don't know, I have no idea. They said, well, you have to declare a major. I said, well, I'm not sure. So they said, well, you have to pick something. I said, okay, I'm going to be a mechanical engineer. And I found it amazing that based on a 10-minute conversation with a total stranger I decided what the rest of my life was going to be like. That illustrates the important impact that a school counselor--or for that matter a teacher--can have in advising students on what to do with their lives. As it so happens, after one year as a mechanical engineering student, my physics professor persuaded me to be a physicist instead, but nevertheless, the point is still made: Counseling is crucial, and counseling must be done and must be done well and professionally if we're going to provide a good service for the students of this Nation. And because of that, I am pleased to be a principal cosponsor of this resolution, and I urge its adoption. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.