Brad Ellsworth

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I would like to thank the bill's sponsors, Congressman Chandler, Chairman Miller and the members of the Education and Labor Committee for their hard work to help provide students with modern facilities that will help them succeed. My amendment seeks to clarify that nothing in the underlying bill shall be construed to prohibit a local educational agency from using sustainable, domestic hardwood lumber for public school modernization, renovation, repairs or construction. Our Nation's hardwood lumber producers are careful stewards of a valuable resource, and their efforts make domestic hardwood lumber abundant and sustainable. These producers are small family landowners and business, and their small size has made it difficult to be certified by green building programs. Because of this, domestic hardwood lumber is not currently listed as a preferred material by programs such as LEED or Green Globes, although hardwood producers are working to correct the situation. H.R. 2187 wisely offers educational agencies with some flexibility in choosing a green building certification program. And as these programs adopt new provisions and account for new advances in environmentally friendly building, my amendment clarifies for local education officials that domestic hardwood lumber is not prohibited for use in this construction. It is my hope that green building certification programs will soon recognize the environmental value of sustainable use of domestic hardwood lumber. In the meantime, I urge my colleagues to make sure this resource remains available to our school facilities. Again, I'd like to thank Congressman Chandler, Chairman Miller and of all my colleagues for their hard work on this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for giving me this time. We hear a lot about waste, fraud and abuse in Federal Government, and this bill that I support, H.R. 2101, answers just that. I think it is critically important legislation to reform the Pentagon's major weapons acquisitions systems. By now we have all heard the alarming reports from the GAO, the statistics that show that 96 of the Department of Defense's major weapons systems experienced $296 billion in cost growth and an average of 22 months' delay in delivering these weapons to our warfighters. At a time when so much has been asked of the American taxpayer, we can do better, and we must do better. Runaway cost growth for many of these major weapons systems threatens other vital defense priorities at a time when our men and women in uniform are involved in active combat both in Iraq and Afghanistan. Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McHugh and my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee recognize the Pentagon's acquisition process is on an unsustainable path. The most important element to this legislation, in my view, is the strict oversight and accountability applied to the early development stage of major weapons acquisitions. This legislation requires the Department of Defense to track cost growth and schedule changes that happen prior to milestone B, the point in the process when the systems and development start. This is critical because 75 percent of the systems costs are locked in as systems emerge from the development stage. Madam Speaker, H.R. 2101 represents a strong bipartisan approach to reforming major weapons systems acquisition. But it is only a start. As a member of the Armed Services Committee's Defense Acquisition Panel, I will continue to work with Chairman Rob Andrews and Ranking Member Mike Conaway to review where action is needed to ensure greater return on our investment.

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. So you mean to say, Congressman, that rating agencies would say that this is a AAA product, when in fact there were a lot of problems with the product. Is that right?

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Princeton Community High School Boys Basketball Team for winning its first 3A State Championship. The victory capped a perfect 29-0 season for the Tigers and earned them their first state title in school history. The Tigers defeated the Rochester Zebras by a score of 81-79 in a thrilling double overtime victory at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. I was able to attend the game and it was one of the best I've seen, with 16 lead changes and a last second pair of free throws to put Princeton over the top. As Tigers' coach Tom Weeks said, ``That's what Indiana high school basketball is about. It doesn't get any better than what we saw tonight.'' These young men are shining examples of the idea that success in life comes to those who are willing to set goals and work hard to achieve them. They are an inspiration to me and everyone in the Princeton, Indiana, community who have followed them throughout the years. Go Tigers!

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Evansville Memorial High School boys and girls soccer teams on their recent historic achievement. On Saturday, November 1, 2008 the teams became the first to win both the boys and girls Indiana soccer championships in the same year. With their impressive 23-0-2 record, the boys' team--led by Coach Bill Vieth, Jr.--defended their state title by defeating the Zionsville Eagles 3-2, while Angie Lensing coached the girls' team to its second state championship, defeating Fort Wayne Snider 2-0, ending their season with a 22-2 record. The extraordinary dedication and teamwork shown by these young athletes is something they can be proud of long after they have left Memorial High School. The teams and coaching staff have demonstrated outstanding talent and an unwavering commitment to achieving their goals. They are an inspiration to me and everyone in the Evansville, Indiana community who have followed them throughout the years. Go Tigers!

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 358) commending the members of the Nevada Army National Guard and Air National Guard for their service to the State of Nevada and the United States, as amended.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I consume. I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 358 which commends the members of the Nevada Reserve components for their service to the State of Nevada and the United States of America. More than 1,600 brave members of Nevada's Army and Army Air National Guard have been deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom since May of 2003. In addition, more than 1,500 Nevada residents have been mobilized as members of the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve. The courageous servicemen and women of Nevada come closest to embodying the motto of their great State, ``All for our country.'' These heroes risk their lives and make tremendous personal sacrifices to protect our Nation and our freedom. Many have served extended tours of duty in active combat zones or provided invaluable support to our forces abroad. Beyond their military role, these men and women assume a myriad of responsibilities on behalf of our communities. From fighting wildfires to civic support, from drug enforcement, to search and rescue, it is their dedication and professionalism which we honor today. Take the members of 1st Battalion, 221st Cavalry, operating out of Las Vegas, who added a distinguished new chapter to their unit's rich history--dating back to the early days of the Nevada Territory--with their service in Iraq from May 2006 to July 2007. Or consider the invaluable support of the men and women of the 321st Signal Company, based in Reno, who operated and maintained crucial digital communications equipment during their deployment to Kuwait and Iraq from December of 2003 to March of 2005. We honor them. Consider the 777th Engineer Company, deployed to Kuwait from May of 2003 to 2004, and the 1864th Transportation Company, deployed to Kuwait from July 2004 to November 2005. We pay tribute to D Company, 113th Aviation, who brought their experience of desert conditions in the Sierra Nevada to their trials in Afghanistan from January of 2005 to June of 2006, and to Detachment 45, Operational Support Airlift, deployed to Kuwait from February to October 2005. We thank the members of the 593rd Transportation Company out of Stead, Nevada, who braved IEDs and ambushes in Iraq from July 2006 to October 2007. They were joined in Iraq by the men and women of the 140th Military Police Detachment, based in Henderson, Nevada, who deployed from February to April, 2008. Much needed support was provided by the 152nd Airlift Wing and 152nd Intelligence Squadron, deployed to Iraq from September of 2005 to 2006, and again from February 2007 to March 2008. And, finally, the members of the 232nd Operations Squadron, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, who are currently deployed as part of ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. These brave men and women have answered the call of their country, their State, and their community with honor, bravery, and great skill. Their sacrifices, through extended and repeated deployments far from families and loved ones, deserve our highest respect and our deepest gratitude. I therefore trust you shall join me in support of this resolution, a small token of our heartfelt thanks. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my good friend and colleague, a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, who I know is very proud of Nevada's Reserve components, the gentlelady from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time and am prepared to my close after my colleague has yielded back. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I would also yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 415) honoring Edward Day Cohota, Joseph L. Pierce, and other veterans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who fought in the United States Civil War, as amended.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of House Resolution 415, which honors Edward Day Cohota, Joseph L. Pierce, and other veterans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who fought in the United States Civil War. Despite generations of exclusion and discrimination, Asian Pacific Americans have served in our American forces with loyalty and dedication since the time of our Civil War. Unfortunately, many of their stories too often do not receive the attention, recognition, or credit they fittingly deserve. The stories of Mr. Cohota, Mr. Pierce, and other veterans of Asian Pacific Islander descent who fought in our Civil War are a few of such stories. Edward Day Cohota, the best-documented Asian veteran of the Civil War, was found as a small child stowed away in a merchant ship bound for Massachusetts from the port of Shanghai, China, in 1854. The captain of the ship, Sergeant S. Day, discovered the half-starved child two days from port and adopted him as his own. Named after the merchant ship, Cohota, Edward Day Cohota spent the next several days sailing with Sergeant Day and Mrs. Day until Sergeant Day and his family retired to Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1857. When the Civil War broke out, Cohota joined the 23rd Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and fought bravely in the Battle of Drury's Bluff near Richmond and at the Battle of Cold Harbor. Mr. Cohota went on to proudly serve in the United States Army for 30 years. In 1935, he died in Hot Springs, South Dakota, still a foreigner in the only homeland he had ever really known, as he had been denied American citizenship after the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Joseph Pierce is another Asian Pacific Islander who served in uniform during the American Civil War. At age 21, Pierce enlisted in the 14th Connecticut Infantry in August 1862. Connecticut ship captain Amos Peck found Pierce adrift in the South China Seas and brought him home where he was raised with the rest of the Peck family and the family's children. The 14th Connecticut Infantry unit participated in the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, and he also fought with them at the Battle at Chancellorsville in May 1863. The 14th was also at the Battle of Gettysburg where they helped repel Pickett's Charge that fateful day. Since the Civil War through today's current conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, Asian and Pacific Islanders continue to honorably and bravely serve our Nation in uniform. We in Congress recognize and express our sincerest appreciation for the courageous and loyal contributions made by soldiers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent during the Civil War. We honor their distinguished and dedicated service in preserving and maintaining the Union and are proud of the rich diversity of our heritage. I thank my colleague from California (Mr. Honda) for bringing forward this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague, the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1248) recognizing the service of the USS Farenholt and her men who served our Nation with valor and bravery in the South Pacific during World War II, as amended.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 1248, which honors the crew of the USS Farenholt for their brave service in the South Pacific during the Second World War. I would like to thank my colleague from Colorado, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, who introduced this resolution with me. A 1,620-ton Benson-class destroyer, the USS Farenholt, affectionately known as ``the Fightin' F,'' was launched from Staten Island, New York, on November 19, 1941. The Farenholt sailed for the Pacific in July of 1942, participating in the invasion of Guadalcanal as the flagship for Destroyer Squadron 12 and escort for the carrier USS Wasp. On September 15, 1942, when the Wasp was surprised and sunk by two Japanese submarines, the Farenholt rescued 143 of the survivors. The Farenholt's greatest test came the following month in the Battle of Cape Esperance, when the ship helped intercept a Japanese force of cruisers and destroyers attempting to bombard Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. The Farenholt performed admirably, sinking an enemy destroyer despite taking heavy casualties from three direct hits from enemy fire. The brave crew managed to keep their ship afloat by shifting topside weight to the starboard, thereby lifting the shell holes out of the water. Thanks to the dedication and ingenuity of her crew, the Farenholt lived to fight another day. In fact, she spent the next 2 years crisscrossing the South Pacific, providing cover for landings, escorting convoys, and rescuing downed pilots. Her crew once again proved their courage on the night of February 17, 1944, when they launched a daring dash through the St. George Canal in the Solomon Islands to attack the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul. They managed to sink two enemy merchant ships in the process, and General Douglas MacArthur wrote that the raids on Rabaul were ``splendid in every way and were conceived and accomplished in the best Farragut manner.'' The sailors of the USS Farenholt were awarded two Navy Crosses, two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, eight Letters of Commendation, and 46 Purple Hearts for their service and sacrifice to our country. Madam Speaker, I would like to acknowledge a constituent of mine, Gene Fithian of Newburgh, Indiana. Last year, I met with Gene in my office in Evansville, and he shared stories about the Farenholt and his shipmates. Gene put my staff in touch with other men who served aboard the Farenholt, and this resolution would not have been possible without their valuable input. Thank you, Mr. Fithian. It is with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation that we honor the men of the Farenholt and their loving spouses, widows, and children. They are part of our ``Greatest Generation,'' and I encourage all my colleagues to join me in honoring their sacrifices. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentlelady from Virginia. At this time, I have no further requests for time, and I'm prepared to close after my colleague has yielded back. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ELLSWORTH

Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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