Brad Ellsworth

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations to the Super Bowl champions, the Indianapolis Colts. The NFL season came to a triumphant close Sunday night in Miami. But I am most proud that the Colts began their history run to this Super Bowl in Indiana's Eighth District last August on the training fields of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. On Sunday, Coach Dungy, along with Lovie Smith of the Bears, became the first African American head coaches to walk the sidelines on the Super Bowl. As the clock expired and the scoreboard read 29 for the Colts and 17 for the Bears, a rain- and Gatorade-soaked Dungy made NFL history again by becoming the first African American to win the Lombardi Trophy. After a sloppy start in a rainy Miami that included a kickoff returned for a touchdown and an interception by the Bears, the Colts found themselves in an early hole. But the Dungy-led team refused to give up and charged back to take a 16-14 halftime lead, with Reggie Wayne and Dominic Rhodes providing touchdowns. The Colts dominated the second half of the game on both sides of the ball, surrendering only three points while bolstering their lead. Cornerback Kelvin Hayden, who was playing in place of injured starter Nick Harper, put the game nearly out of reach in the fourth quarter when he intercepted Rex Grossman's pass and returned it for 56 yards for a touchdown. Safety Bob Sanders, who forced a fumble earlier in the game, clinched it on the ensuing drive with an interception of his own, and Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, the NFL's all-time leader in career Super Bowl field goals, contributed the remainder of the team's scoring. I am proud to congratulate the Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning. With his performance, Manning silenced all of the critics who throughout his career claimed that he could not win the big game. They do not get any bigger than this. Manning threw for 247 yards and a touchdown, while leading his team to victory. Manning was aided in the backfield by the two-pronged running attack of Rhodes and rookie Joe Addai, who combined to rush for 190 yards. The Colts excelled on the field at the Super Bowl, but what makes it truly a pleasure to cheer for is the dignity and class the team displayed throughout the season. I believe that this starts at the top with Coach Dungy. Karen Crouse of the New York Times summed up the Colts' coach best when she wrote, and I quote, ``Dungy has the most victories of any NFL coach since 1999 with a record of 90-38. But the bottom line is not what defines him. His life has been about opening people's eyes so they may see talent and not skin color; spirituality and not celebrity; integrity and not self-interest. He has helped a lot of people see more clearly,'' and I could not agree more. Go Colts.

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Michael Leo Phillips, a man who spent the past 37 years serving the students of Indiana State University, ISU, in Terre Haute. Mr. Phillips passed away on January 18, 2007 at the age of 60. After graduating from ISU in 1969, Mr. Phillips remained in Terre Haute to work in the university's financial aid office, of which he would later become director. In 1995 Phillips became the student ombudsman at his alma mater, a role which allowed him to personally interact with and assist students. Beyond all of his hard work at ISU, Mr. Phillips was actively involved in the Terre Haute community. He served as trustee and treasurer for the Spruce Street AME Church. His community involvement included serving as president of the Young Men's Civic Club; membership in the NAACP, I-Club, and 100 Concerned African American Men; and volunteering with the Vigo County Youth Football League, and Bambino youth baseball. He served on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and as a trustee of the Stewart Lawn Cemetery Association. He was an adviser to many student organizations at ISU and a mentor to students at Sarah Scott Middle School. In college Phillips played both basketball and baseball. He was on the 1967-68 Sycamores basketball team, which reached the NCAA Tournament championship game and was inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. Michael Phillips will be greatly missed by his wife Rita, four children, and his many friends and family in Terre Haute and beyond. Mr. Phillips will be remembered as a dedicated advocate for students, a community leader, an accomplished student-athlete, and a loving family man.

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this is an argument that has been going on for a long time, when I was a young boy, since the 1970s, talking about reducing our dependence on foreign oil. I rise today in strong support of this bill for cutting big oil subsidies and investing in our homegrown energy sources. I have to think of an analogy that this is much like when I was trying to teach my daughter how to ride a bicycle. Had training wheels on a small Stingray. She road like that, and I ran behind her with my hand on the back of the seat. Then at the point she was ready, I let her go. She could ride, and she rode well. I think these companies and these big oil companies are ready to ride on their own. Mr. Speaker, I think it is time we get serious about kicking our dependence on foreign oil, relying on homegrown sources like we grow in Indiana, corn and soybeans. We know how to do it, we know how to grow it. With the technology incentives, we can turn that into the energy we need.

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5, the College Student Relief Act. The strength of our economy relies on a highly-educated workforce. That's why Congress can and must do more to help families afford college. Cutting the interest rate on student loans is a good place to start in reducing the financial burden students and their families face. Each year the high costs of college education will prevent many American students from pursuing a college education. The savings created by reducing the interest rate of student loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent will provide an opportunity for more of those students to afford a higher education. According to analysis provided by U.S. PIRG, there are over 94,000 students in the State of Indiana who are currently receiving subsidized loans. Upon graduation from a 4-year institution, these Hoosier students are saddled with an average Stafford loan debt of $12,967. Enactment of this bill will bring an average savings of $2,140 to $4,140 over the life of the student's loan. The financial burden of today's college graduates continues to worsen as college tuition escalates at a steady clip. This weekend I heard this very sentiment from students at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville and Indiana State University in Terra Haute. Passage of H.R. 5 will help ease this burden and give college graduates a break as they begin their career. Enacting H.R. 5 is only a start. Congress must press ahead by finding sensible ways to make college education both affordable and assessable to students from low- and middle-income families. Our strength as a nation depends on fostering a highly-educated workforce. It is also important to note that the College Student Relief Act adheres to the pay-as-you-go budgeting rule that Congress adopted earlier this month. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5, the College Student Relief Act, shows Congress can make a significant difference in the lives of average Americans without raising taxes or adding to the staggering national deficit. I am proud to support this bill and I look forward to keeping the focus on making a college education accessible and affordable for Hoosier families.

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Bobby L. Gold, a man who dedicated his life's work to the concerns of poor, elderly and minority residents of Evansville, Indiana. Mr. Gold passed away on Thursday, January 4 at the age 61. He began his advocacy in the 1960s, fighting for civil rights and against poverty in Evansville. His work in public service included the Community Action Program of Evansville and the AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program. During his life, Mr. Gold sought to improve opportunities for the children of Evansville, especially those from low income backgrounds. While serving as a youth counselor for the Community Action Program of Evansville, he worked for the creation of a school breakfast program. He also recruited high school and college students to tutor local elementary school students in math and reading. In his last years of his life, Mr. Gold devoted his time to the Evansville Housing Authority. His activism for public housing was enhanced by passion and understanding that being a resident of that system provided. He pushed for a zero tolerance policy for illegal drugs on the property of the housing authority to promote safety and security for residents. Even as his health deteriorated near the end of his life, Mr. Gold remained interested and involved in the work of the Housing Authority. For his hard work, Mr. Gold was bestowed with the Indiana State Human Rights Award in 1999, and in September 2005 Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel presented him with a Celebration of Diversity Award. Throughout his life, Mr. Gold was a strong voice for those in the Evansville community who needed it most. The people of Evansville have lost a dear friend and outspoken advocate. Bobby Gold will be missed, but his spirit of public service will live on. I'm proud to call him my friend.

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time. I thought I was going to get to follow a fellow Hoosier, Mr. Pence, until we changed the rules. But as a proud member of the Blue Dog Coalition, I am proud to stand today to voice my support for restoring the pay-as-you-go budgeting. Inclusion of the PAYGO provision in the new House rules will undoubtedly force us to make tough decisions, but quite frankly we have no choice. The total National debt is an astounding $9 trillion, and tough decisions need to be made by Congress. By restoring PAYGO budgeting, we will take a positive step toward reducing and easing the Federal deficit. Hoosier families in my district make tough decisions every day about how to balance their budget, and it should be no different from the Congress of the United States. Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation to be fiscally disciplined in implementing pay-as-you-go budgeting, and this is a great place to start.