Jo Ann Emerson

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments and contributions of David Brewer to the city of Charleston, Missouri, in the Eighth Congressional District. Mr. Brewer is retiring from his position as city manager, a post which he has held for the last 10 years. I have personally known David for 25 years as a farmer, levee board president, a banker and then as city manager of Charleston. He has excelled in every endeavor, and I am proud to call him my friend. As the longest-serving Charleston city manager on record, Mr. Brewer has been instrumental in attracting new business opportunities for southern Missouri and to the city of Charleston. By using Tax Increment Financing and Enhanced Enterprise Zone programs to their greatest benefit, Mr. Brewer has drastically helped to enhance the business climate in our rural part of the state. His involvement was essential to making essential city improvements, especially the new city water plant and the new wastewater lagoon, important parts of Charleston's water infrastructure. However, I cannot sum up Dave Brewer's importance to the city and the region simply by enumerating his many accomplishments. Doing so would not adequately describe Mr. Brewer's dedication to his job and to the people he serves. Whether it was his open door policy at work or his commitment to solving problems in a fair and equitable way, Mr. Brewer took his service seriously. With a concentration on the future, Mr. Brewer volunteered his time to a number of boards and community groups. Always, Mr. Brewer thinks about how good planning and full use of the resources available to a small community can be best used to the benefit of all our citizens, present and future. Mr. Brewer's retirement will leave a tremendous challenge for the city of Charleston to replace his expertise, his skill, and devotion to his work. Fortunately for us all, Dave Brewer has left us with an excellent head start for our future. I wish him the best of luck in his retirement and thank him for his generous years of service to our communities, our State, and our Nation.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, it literally breaks my heart to be here today. Young Americans from my district have gone to Iraq and we have lost some of our best, brightest soldiers. One of the finest men I ever met, who I had the privilege of appointing to West Point, lost his life in Iraq just last September. I feel responsible in part. We all are, in part. Very little has been asked of most Americans in this war, but too much has been asked of a very few. If anything comes from this debate, Mr. Speaker, I hope it is a consensus for our responsibilities in this conflict. This House is about different points of view, speech and debate, in an institution that belongs to the people. Our Nation is protected by the bravest of the brave, who leave their homes and families to stand guard on foreign shores. Some of them are the first in their families to wear the uniform of our country. Others have done so for generations. These young men and women hold dear connections to every town in America. We are wrapping the fallen in our flag. They deserve the best planning, the clearest execution, the utmost care in their deployments, and heroes' welcomes when they return. But it is not enough to give them parades. It is not enough to give amputees the best VA care. Nor is it enough to bury them well. We cannot allow their service to be undermined. Congress and the administration have been locked in a struggle to show the proper support very nearly from the beginning of this war. Personnel armor, communications equipment, vehicle kits, the things these Americans need, not for comfort but to preserve their lives amid danger, have in some cases been supplied by soldiers' families and others because the Department of Defense, which received $500 billion last year, has run out. Supply-chain issues abound. Training has been incomplete or insufficient for the new demands on our troops. I still cannot discern a clear articulation of the mission of these men and women in the field. I loathe revisiting these failures, but responsible representation demands we do so. Every American knows that America cannot do the work of Iraq's natural allies. We cannot supplant Iraq's neighbors who depend on the nation's viability for their own stability. We can be many things in Iraq, but we cannot be all things to Iraq. We can make good on our commitment to American troops serving in Iraq, and here is how: We can offer them the support of a robust American Diplomatic Corps to do jobs our soldiers should not have to do and to avoid conflicts and enemies they should not have to engage. We can secure funds for Iraq that guarantee our soldiers have the gear and training they need to stay safe, and that means more than writing the taxpayers' check. That means diligent, scrutinizing oversight of how our money is spent. We can assure that the deployment of American troops is deliberate in every way. We can offset the engagement of American troops far from home with the engagement of Iraqi troops in their own cities and towns. We can speed this transition by immediately securing Iraq's borders, by providing aggressive training to Iraqi units and by lending our expertise to building Iraqi institutions in addition to building the Iraqi army. We can do these things, and we must. We can do much more than debate a nonbinding resolution, one that allows politics to creep into the question of support for our troops at a time when our support must be complete and it must be unquestioned. The liberation of Iraq means more than words and more than weapons. Liberation needs diplomacy, libraries, schools and economic stability, steady work and clean water, safe streets, as well as safe passage. The measures of this progress must be widely known and the planners of this war must be completely accountable. Every day we do not define the terms of progress, we lay a grave transgression at the feet of the mothers of the fallen, of the brothers of the killed, of the soldiers who were just far enough away from the IED that, when it exploded, they lost their limbs but not their lives. Mr. Speaker, I cannot lend my support to this resolution. It sets too poor a precedent in this Congress when our standards for action must be high. Words cannot replace deeds in support of our American troops.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Iron County, MO. I congratulate Iron County and all of its residents as they celebrate this milestone. On this occasion, I am reminded of Iron County's rich Civil War history and its economic and recreational contributions to our State and Nation. Iron County is the home of Fort Davidson State Historic Site, which commemorates the Civil War battle at Fort Davidson where an outmanned Union army delayed a Confederate invasion of nearby St. Louis. The delay allowed the Union to successfully defend St. Louis and ultimately achieve victory in the war. Additionally, Iron County is well known for its natural beauty and abundance of resources. Settled beautifully along the oldest mountain range on our continent, the Ozark Highland, Iron County has helped supply our Nation with lead and electricity for decades. Iron County is the home of strong family values that form the foundation of our communities. I thank those whose daily works of neighborliness and good citizenship make Iron County a wonderful place in which to live and work. My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with the residents of Iron County whom I have come to know well and deeply respect. Again, congratulations to Iron County, MO, on 150 years of wonderful history.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, later this year, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, will open a new United States Federal Courthouse. Over the past many months, I have watched this structure rise, due to the diligent efforts of hundreds of skilled men and women working tirelessly to give justice a new home in our region. I am certainly thankful for their beautiful accomplishment, in the form of our new Courthouse. At the same time, we should reflect on the people who dedicated their lives to the construction of a strong, vibrant and enduring rule of law in our region and our Nation. Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. perfectly embodies our respect for the law and love for our communities. His practice of law for more than 80 years, from 1916 to 1996, is the stuff of legends. At the age of his death, the 104-year-old resident of Cape Girardeau was still going in to his office twice a week. He was the Nation's oldest practicing attorney. The litany of legal accomplishments of Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. cloud our memory of the man. He helped construct the Missouri Probate Code and begin the Missouri Highway Patrol. He was sent to India to help shape the new legal code in that fledgling democracy. He advocated for the reach of the federal judiciary to extend outside American urban centers and into the rural parts of our great Nation. Yet he was more than an attorney--Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. was also devoted to his family, his faith, and his community. He taught Sunday School. He worked to help Cape Girardeau expand its commerce of goods as well as ideas. He devoted countless hours of his time to the Boy Scouts of America. We remember him as a good citizen as well as a good lawyer. It is safe to say that, of the many hours of Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr.'s life, none of them were wasted. As we devote one hour of the United States House of Representatives to remember him, we are ensuring that Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr.'s legacy and example endure in the community he loved, on a building that carries on the work to which he was dedicated: the American promises of liberty and law, fundamental principles of fairness, and a system of jurisprudence for all Americans that is the envy of the world.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I welcome this debate today as we discuss an idea with merit to apply the savings of bulk negotiation to the prescription drugs taxpayers purchase through the Medicare program. This debate rests on a single question: Where would we be if the taxpayer dollar was used to buy ammunition for our soldiers one bullet at a time? What would happen if the Department of Transportation purchased concrete mix one bag at a time? Would we instruct the IRS to purchase paper one sheet at a time? Why then do we bar the Secretary of Health and Human Services from acting on the taxpayers' behalf and, instead, expect Medicare to buy drugs one plan at a time, one pill at a time? This bill corrects that inequity, and I look forward to our debates today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished colleague of ours from Farmville, North Carolina (Mr. Jones).

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I simply want to respond to an issue that was raised by our colleague from Georgia with regard to the impact on community pharmacists. I would submit for the Record this letter, statement by the Association of Community Pharmacists in support of H.R. 4 saying H.R. 4 does no harm to community pharmacists. We cannot find any provision in H.R. 4 that would either improve or diminish the situation that they are currently faced with regard to the pharmacy benefit managers who are negotiating with them as well as well as taking profit from the pharmacies. This is what is happening because of Medicare part D today. The Association of Community Pharmacists Statement on H.R. 4 and Response to Assertions That H.R. 4 Is Harmful to Community Pharmacists H.R. 4 does no harm to community pharmacists. The real harm done to community pharmacists occurred when Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the original Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) in 2003. Direct negotiation as contained in H.R. 4 will not directly impact pharmacies because pharmacies are currently being reimbursed at a loss regardless. If this legislation succeeds in bring drug prices down, it will only reduce the top line sales figure--but will have no effect on the gross margin of pharmacies or the ability of pharmacies to continue to operate. The MMA allowed for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to mandate ridiculously low dispending fees with no minimum to protect pharmacies. ACP cannot find any provision in H.R. 4 that would either improve or diminish this situation. The real problem in Medicare Part D is that PBM profits have increased at the expense and detriment of beneficiaries and community pharmacies. Beneficiaries and community pharmacies will not have any true relief until Congress stops the PBMs from taking a vast and disproportionate share of the money out of the system.

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to my friend and neighbor from Kansas (Mr. Moore).

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, at this time I am privileged to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds to respond. Number one, I would like to submit for the Record the list of the 12 different anti-cholesterol drugs on the VA formulary that exist today. And second, I would quote from the Institute of Medicine Committee, part of the National Academy of Sciences. They concluded that the ``VA national formulary is not overly restrictive. In some respects it is more; but in many respects, it is less restrictive than other public or private formularies.'' I also will submit that for the Record.

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds. I would simply say that it is important for my colleagues to know that the same pharmacy benefit managers whom we have entrusted to negotiate the price of our own seniors' drugs are now being investigated in over 25 States for questionable business practices. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, 80 million baby boomers are getting ready to retire, and yesterday the General Accountability Office's comptroller David Walker said, ``If there is one thing that is going to bankrupt America, it is health care.'' Adding that the Medicare prescription drug benefit alone has added $8 trillion, $8 trillion in government obligations, more than all of Social Security over the past 6 years. I would like to remind my friends that this is government obligation because Medicare is a government-run program. It is not a private- sector program. But H.R. 4, Mr. Speaker, won't create price controls, it will not limit choice, and it will not force pharmacies out of business, which is why the National Community Pharmacists Association endorses H.R. 4. It could add more competition, more opportunity to lower drug costs for our seniors, keeping them out of the doughnut hole just a little while longer. Let us not solely entrust the negotiations of drug prices, Mr. Speaker, to the very companies who profit from the sales of these drugs. The American public has entrusted us with their hardearned tax dollars. Let us show them that we honor that trust and use every tool possible to lower the costs of the Medicare prescription drug program. Each of us was elected, Mr. Speaker, to represent our constituents, not big PhRMA, not the pharmacy benefit managers who prey on our community pharmacists. Support H.R. 4 and bring more competition to this position.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago I talked about the process and the people that convinced me to vote for H.R. 810. I discussed what the idea of pro-life means to me. I remembered my late husband, Bill Emerson, to this body and talked about the victims of cancer and paralysis and muscular dystrophy and dementia in my district and throughout the Nation. We talked about something upon which we can all agree: human life is precious. It is a sad reality, though, that human embryos are discarded in this country every day. They are certified as waste and disposed of in the earliest stages of their prenatal lives. Defeating this legislation will not change that fact. Embryos that can't live outside the mother's womb will be discarded regardless of what we do today. Where we have the opportunity to make a difference is to take the pleuripotent stem cells which hold great promise for medical research and the afflictions I mentioned earlier and use them to help other precious lives survive, to defeat diseases for which we know no cures and to give a fulfilling, meaningful existence to millions. Like all medical breakthroughs, it will take a lot of hard work and a little luck. But I can't stand in this House today and say to a little boy I know with muscular dystrophy named James, to a young man suffering from paralysis in Campbell, Missouri named Cody, to my daughter's friend, Will, I will not say to them, never. I will not stand in the way of their progress. I will not help them extinguish their dreams for themselves and others with their same afflictions. I will not let any of our short lives be shortened unnecessarily so. This bill is not about hope. This bill is about the pursuit of cures for diseases that afflict us, diseases that take our loved ones and destroy families and freeze us in single moments of time in which we become helpless. This bill is about fighting back and not letting any part of human life, no matter how small, be wasted. No one I have met who has urged the support of this issue to me would mind going to the grave untreated by the benefits of embryonic stem cell research as long as we are trying, as long as we never say never to them. No one I have ever met who has urged the support of this issue to me, Mr. Speaker, would mind going to the grave untreated by the benefits of embryonic stem cell research as long as we are trying, as long as we never say never to them.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Allison Stangeby--the recipient of the 2006 Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Award. Because of Allison's efforts, thousands of our nation's less fortunate have been provided with food aid. Allison used her workplace as a tool to reach out to the hungry. She works for the New York Giants as the Director of Community Relations. Under Allison's leadership, the New York Giants became the first sports franchise to arrange to have its stadium-generated leftover concession food made available to feed the hungry through Sports Wrap. Sports Wrap is a new venture that evolved from Rock and Wrap It Up!, a volunteer hunger relief charity started in 1990. Additionally, Allison has helped launch similar programs with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, New York Jets and New Jersey Nets. By setting an example, Allison has empowered others to reach out to those in need. This is the mark of a great volunteer. This is the vision my late husband Bill Emerson had for domestic food aid programs when he worked to pass the Good Samaritan Food Act protecting these donations from liability. Bill's hopes for hunger relief in America were very high when he worked to make such programs possible in 1990. He would be very proud of Allison for her contributions to hunger relief. Allison is a major reason why this hunger relief charity continues to gain notoriety and grow. As long as there are men, women and children who need the helping hand of other Americans, people like Allison have proven they will be there with a helping hand to offer. Thank you for your kind service to our Nation, Allison. Congratulations on earning the 2006 Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Award. Best of luck to you as you continue your noble work.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the chairman and ranking member for all of the help they have given us in ensuring that the new veterans clinic in Farmington, Missouri can be named after the person who has advocated most vocally for it, and that is my good friend Bob Silvey. You mentioned, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Silvey's service as part of the 82nd Airborne and going to the shores of France, actually parachuting in the night before the invasion of Normandy. But Bob has always been an incredible leader in the community of Farmington. As a matter of fact, when Bob asks you to do something, you would never want to say ``no,'' number one. And number two, you always want to make sure that it gets done as quickly as possible because he will not allow you to say ``no'' and he will not allow anything not to happen. So when we originally built our smaller veterans facility in Farmington, Missouri, Bob knew the second day that we moved in that it wasn't going to be adequate enough. So he went about looking in the community for a larger space to put it on, one now that is actually adjacent to our VFW post, and it all began like that. But I have to say that this is an important and incredible tribute to Bob Silvey, but it is also a commitment to all of our servicemen and servicewomen in Missouri and around the country. Like Bob, so many of them continue to be active members of their community, and they are working tirelessly, as Bob did, to improve the quality of veterans health care in Southern Missouri. I was really excited in March of this year to break ground on the facility and then in August for us to move into it, and it is a state- of-the-art facility, and really it is only a larger facility but it is there in large part because Bob Silvey was relentless in pursuit of this. Bob has been an active member of the VFW Post 5896 of Farmington, Missouri. He served as commander four times. He twice served as commander of the VFW Post in Ironton, a town south of Farmington, a couple of times. And I was very, very proud, and I know Bob was too, that the members of the VFW Post 5896 and the American Legion Post 416 in Farmington unanimously passed resolutions in support of naming the new Farmington veterans clinic after Bob Silvey. In addition, I might want to add that members of our Missouri statehouse and the State senate wrote letters of support in naming this clinic after Bob; so this is an important tribute to him. And certainly this legislation that you all have enabled us to put on the floor today would allow the residents of Farmington, Missouri to honor one of their greatest World War II veterans and ensure that the name on the new clinic reflects the service of a great contributor to our American freedom and the quality of our veterans' lives here at home. Bob, I know that you are watching this on C-SPAN right now, and I hope that you know how well loved you are. I hope that you know what a leader you have been, and your commitment and your dedication to this country has been next to none. And this is a very real and fitting tribute to all that you have done to ensure that America remains the greatest country on the face of the earth. So, Mr. Speaker, I thank very much Chairman Brown and Ranking Member Filner for this opportunity. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the important role science plays in our society. Today, October 3, has been proclaimed ``Science Day'' by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt along with various mayors throughout southern Missouri. ``Science Day'' is important because American innovation depends upon a strong foundation in the sciences. Statistics indicate the United States is falling behind other nations in science education. Japan, China, and South Korea produce more engineering graduates than the United States. Twenty years ago, the United States, Japan, and China each graduated a similar number of engineers. South Korea at the time graduated roughly half as many engineering graduates. By the year 2000, China increased engineering graduates by 161 percent, Japan effected a 42 percent increase and South Korea increased graduates by more than 140 percent. Meanwhile, the number of U.S. engineering graduates declined 20 percent. If this trend continues, by 2010 more than 90 percent of all scientists and engineers in the world will live in Asia. Science and technology-related employers continue searching overseas to find qualified engineers and scientists because our Nation is simply not producing enough graduates in the engineering and science disciplines. ``Science Day'' aims to bring attention to this problem and encourage action among parents, teachers and community members. Science not only offers economic and advancement opportunity, it is also fun and exciting. Inside and outside the classroom, science offers an awe-inspiring window into the origins, workings and future of our physical world. By engaging students in this intriguing subject, parents and teachers foster exploration and enable them to reach their academic potential. I commend this effort to raise awareness of the importance of science educators. I want to thank the staff at KFVS News for their efforts in promoting the recognition of ``Science Day.'' By partnering with educators and community leaders, KFVS News has organized events and competitions designed to challenge students and emphasize the importance of science. On ``Science Day,'' I join Missouri's community leaders in challenging our Nation's parents, guardians, grandparents, and other family members to do a simple science experiment with their children, to honor science teachers in their community and to recognize scientific contributions and their important roles in the future of our country.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to join with the gentleman from Massachusetts, my good friend, in introducing this bill to reauthorize the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. I first want to thank the gentleman for doing such a tremendous job in leading the charge on this particular program today and for spearheading efforts to increase discretionary funding for the Program year after year. This is a very important program for all of the children in the world who do not have access to nutritional meals. This legislation, quite frankly, is a win-win for the American people, and it is a win-win for children all over the world who desperately need food assistance and who need an education. We all know, so very well, that our country is currently engaged in daily battles with individuals who want to harm Americans. However, we are also engaged in the daily battle for the hearts and minds of the ``man on the street'' in under-developed countries. It is in this battle that the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program holds great potential. Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that we should know well: 120 million children worldwide are not enrolled in school. This fact is attributable in large part to hunger and lack of access to a nutritious meal. We share a common desire to try to help as many people as we can all over the world. The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program provides these needed meals using American commodities, but it can do more. The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education currently feeds millions while increasing school enrollment, particularly for girls. The legislation we introduce today would provide a more reliable source of funding, allowing USDA to reliably implement the program in countries for multiple years. Making multiple-year commitments is important. During a school feeding program's first year, average enrollment increases by 28 percent for girls and 22 percent for boys. In schools with feeding programs operating for more than one year, attendance for boys and girls increased to 93 percent. I cannot think of anything more important for us to do as a nation. Senator McGovern stated it best when he said we had a moral responsibility as a country with rich and valuable natural resources and an abundant, safe food supply to help people who cannot help themselves. Increased funding for the program, which is included in this bill, would not only allow our partner organizations to reach more students, but would also allow the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program to expand and to begin providing resources for organizations which provide assistance to mothers with children under the age of 5 years. America needs friends, not just in the capital cities around the world, but on the streets in the poorest areas of the countries. This is one program that lets the world's poor observe our values first hand. Mr. Speaker, it is also important to note that food aid provided through the McGovern-Dole program also spurs economic activity in the United States. The domestic beneficiaries of U.S. food aid exports include our agricultural producers and suppliers, our processors, our millers, edible oil refiners, packaging, manufacturing, rail and motor transportation lines; I could go on and on and on. Most every State in the Nation benefits from food aid exports. I would be particularly remiss if I did not acknowledge the vision of former Senators George McGovern and Senator Bob Dole who really led the charge early in this fight against hunger, many years ago when they were both serving in the Senate. This issue is also a very important issue for me, because my late husband Bill was so very instrumental in bringing the issue of hunger, both domestic and international, into the Congress where he worked so closely with his friend, the late Congressman Mickey Leland. I think that we must do everything possible to help the world's hungry children. When my late husband Bill came back from a trip to the Sudan, when he came back from various trips to Ethiopia and other countries, it was a very, very sad experience. He would hold dying children in his arms, children who were 12 years old and 13 years old, who were about the size of a 3-year-old or 4-year- old, who did not weigh anything, who had no opportunity to go to school. Mr. Speaker, in closing, the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program reflects the humanitarian values Americans share, it reflects the value Americans place on an education--regardless of sex or race, the program utilizes American resources, benefiting the American economy and it makes us safer. The McGovern-Dole Program deserves not only to be reauthorized but expanded.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Peter Myers, Missouri State Representative for the 160th legislative district. Rep. Myers is retiring from the Missouri General Assembly after eight years of distinguished service. Rep. Myers was born on January 4, 1931 in Racine, Wisconsin. Upon graduation from William Horlick High School in Racine, Wisconsin, he earned a Bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1953. Rep. Myers proudly served his country from 1953-1955 as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Ordinance Corp. Rep. Myers then moved to Southeast Missouri in 1955, to own and operate a farm on the outskirts of Sikeston, MO. From 1955-1982, Rep. Myers worked the land and spent countless days in the fields cultivating crops. During this time, Rep. Myers gained a reputation as being an extremely knowledgable and skilled farmer. In the early eighties, Rep. Myers ventured into public service by accepting positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Although Rep. Myers had been involved in many civic organizations and recognized as a leader in Missouri Agriculture, he was able to bring his expertise to a national level. He served in several capacities throughout USDA, and eventually rose to the level of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture during the Reagan Administration. After Rep. Myers' service to USDA, he remained a strong voice for the American farmer. In 1998, Rep. Myers decided to further serve Missourians in the General Assembly. He won a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives, representing the 160th District. Rep. Myers eventually rose to become the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Missourians have been fortunate to have such a devoted and well-versed member of the General Assembly. In addition to Rep. Myers' legislative duties, he advises Adopt a Farm Family of America, Inc., which is a Christian organization that provides support to rural citizens. Rep. Myers has committed his life to bettering the lives not just of farmers or his constituents, but of all Missourians. As Rep. Myers completes his final term in the Missouri General Assembly, he can rest assured his actions in Jefferson City are well- respected by all Missouri farmers. His wife Mary and five children deserve to be commended as well, for they have supported Rep. Myers through the years. I once again congratulate Rep. Myers on his devoted service to the citizens of Missouri's 160th District. While Rep. Myers' time in office is winding down, I am certain he will remain a prominent figure in Missouri public life.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lanie Black for his years of public service to citizens of Southeast Missouri. Rep. Black has represented the 161st district in the Missouri House of Representatives since 1998, and he will retire at the end of the 2d Session of the 93rd General Assembly. While in the Missouri House of Representatives, Lanie Black has been an active member of the Economic Development Committee and chaired the Transportation Committee. He has been a tireless advocate for his constituents, ensuring that their views are represented in the Missouri General Assembly. Lanie has been a life-long resident of Charleston, Missouri. He is a 1965 graduate of Charleston High School. He then went on to Vanderbilt University to earn a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. After graduating from Vanderbilt, Rep. Black served as a diver for the U.S. Navy. In addition to serving in the Missouri House of Representatives, Lanie Black has been an active member of his community. Rep. Black operates a poultry farm near Charleston, Missouri. He is a member of the local Kiwanis Club and the Missouri Farm Bureau. Lanie has continued to help the Boy Scouts of America as a scoutmaster. In 1993, Lanie Black was honored as the Charleston Man of the Year for his outstanding community involvement. There are few individuals in public service who are as dedicated to our communities and country as Lanie Black. He has always put the views and interests of his constituents before his own political interest. Rep. Black was able to use his great knowledge of agriculture and rural affairs to better represent the needs and concerns of the citizens of Southeast Missouri. His strong faith and firm values guided him to public service, and he will exit that stage with dignity and class. Mr. Speaker, I once again ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Rep. Lanie Black. Missouri is a better place because of his leadership, and we wish Rep. Black the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and contributions of Kathie Simpkins from East Prairie, Missouri, who passed away on July 16, 2006. Kathie was a standout individual, a dedicated public servant, and a true friend. As the City Administrator for East Prairie, Kathie brought innovative ideas and unbridled enthusiasm to her job. Kathie's sense of community is strong and deep-rooted, which has made her a successful individual in East Prairie. She was even recognized as East Prairie Woman of the Year in 2005. Kathie demonstrated the kind of pragmatic, problem-solving ability that is rare anywhere in the Nation and a real blessing to us in Southern Missouri. As City Administrator, Kathie was responsible for securing and administering more than $12 million in state and federal grants. Spending her life living in her hometown, Kathie was Southern Missouri through-and-through. She was a 1973 graduate of East Prairie High School and a 1978 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, where she majored in business administration and marketing management. Kathie was a fixture at professional and other local organizations' meetings. She was always in search of another way to serve her neighbor. Kathie Simpkins' family and friends have lost a dear part of their life, but the entire region has lost a tremendous advocate for Southern Missouri. It will take the hard work of many individuals to fill the void Kathie has left in our community. We are fortunate to have known Kathie and been inspired by her. She leaves a legacy of good management and great investment in the people of East Prairie. I feel very fortunate to have known Kathie, and I want to ensure that she is remembered for her wealth of good works. She is a true model of civic pride and community service. Kathie Simpkins has made an immeasurable contribution to our district, our state, and our Nation. Thank you, Kathie, and God bless you.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Riverview Bible Baptist Christian School Boys Basketball Team of Forsyth, MO, On March 18, 2006, the team won the National Championship of the National Association of Christian Athletes 2006 Boys Division V, an outstanding accomplishment. Using the work ethic and good sportsmanship which are our core values in Southern Missouri, the young men of this team cooperated to accomplish an incredible goal. Their perseverance embodies a striking lesson for our Nation as an example of what can be done when all of the members of a team work as one. In an age where sports offers so many examples of selfish play and self-promotion, the Riverview Bible Baptist Christian School Boys Basketball Team shows what is right with sports in America. These young men and their coaches also serve as an example of how teamwork can result in remarkable success. The concept of team is perfectly illustrated by these young men. I want to applaud the Riverview Bible Baptist Christian School Boys Basketball Team, their coaches and their many supporters on an outstanding season, ending in a great victory. I also want to recognize them for providing a meaningful lesson in the value of teamwork and thank them for representing the Eighth Congressional District so well through their play in the tournament.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this commonsense amendment to protect the ability of religious groups to continue their ministries in Cuba. I am aware that opponents of this amendment will claim it is misguided and could result in tying the hands of expanded religious travel to Cuba. But experience tells a different story. Nothing in our experience of working with the administration on Cuba policy leads to a conclusion that a liberalization of our Cuba travel policy is likely. In fact, experience tells a different story, a story of increased regulations, increased hurdles and increased difficulties in all forms of travel and trade with one of our closest neighbors. It is a tribute to the work being accomplished by religious groups that the religious travel license has received so much support. However, we, the supporters of the right to conduct nonpolitical religious work, must remain vigilant in protecting the ability of those workers to travel to where they are called. This amendment will accomplish that goal. Some may call it prospective. Some may call it misguided. Experience would call it necessary.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Marlys Smith, a teacher at Matthews Elementary School in Sikeston, Missouri. Marlys is retiring after 31 years of service in Missouri's Public Schools. Marlys was born on November 18th, 1952, on the Marine Base at Quantico, Virginia, to Monda and Jim Davis. The oldest of six children, she spent her early years in Mississippi County, Missouri, and graduated from East Prairie High School. She went on to receive her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Southeast Missouri State University in 1975. Later, she obtained her Masters Degree from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. As a young girl of 10, Marlys contracted a disabling bone disease that caused her to be hospitalized for nearly three months. Because of the radical surgery she needed, she lost the ability to use her right hip, until extensive corrective surgery in the last year. Rather than allow this physical impairment to hinder her in any way, she turned her energy from outdoor activities to music. The young girl from Mississippi County who became a teacher and taught everything from high school special education to first, third and sixth grades also had time to develop her voice. She sang with ``Young Americans in Concert'' in New York at Carnegie Hall, in Europe, and also for President Nixon in the White House in the summer of 1971. And then in 1993, my late husband, Congressman Bill Emerson, invited this beautiful, young lady to sing ``Amazing Grace'' to 4000 participants at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC. She again shared her voice in a rendition of ``Amazing Grace'' in 1996 at Bill's funeral in Missouri and in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. Marlys Smith, the school teacher, has been a Girl Scout Leader, Sunday School teacher and a mentor to thousands of girls and boys in Southern Missouri and a friend to all who have known her. And I count myself as one of those friends. Marlys and her husband, Lloyd, who is my Chief of Staff, are family. We have shared many wonderful and tearful times over the last 25 years. Although Marlys has been a leader in her field and a dedicated volunteer in a host of groups, her most special role has been that of a wife to Lloyd and mother to their three children, Trista, Sam and Tiffany. A working mom who, because of her husband's travels, was many times the only one at home to go to scouts, ball games and church events or to help with homework. She never complained and always has a smile on her face. Indeed the young girl who nearly died at age 10 turned into a beautiful woman who has shown a zest for life and shared her love with all those who have known her. I congratulate Marlys on her retirement and wish her the best in all of her future endeavors. From the Emerson Family to Marlys Smith, we say thank you, and we pray you continue to spread your wonderful gifts for years and years to come.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. How much time do we have remaining on our side?

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).