Harold Ford

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor WDIA radio station in Memphis. The station is celebrating nearly sixty years of broadcasting with a new compact disc anthology featuring the rhythm and blues, soul and hip-hop classics that have made Memphis famous. From its beginnings in 1948, as the first radio station in the United States featuring programming by African-Americans for an African- American audience, WDIA has introduced America to such world wide legends as B.B. King who recorded his first single at WDIA, Rufus Thomas and Isaac Hayes. In its first years on the air, WDIA experienced great success and was the most popular station in the city. In 1954, WDIA expanded its signal to broadcast from South-West Missouri through the Mississippi River Delta to the Gulf Coast. This expansion brought its blues, gospel, and soul to ten percent of the United States' African-American population. With its enormous success, WDIA has remained focused on improving the Memphis community and has earned the title of ``the Goodwill Station.'' Throughout its distinguished history, WDIA has aided the community by announcing job openings, connecting individuals with agencies to help them resolve problems, establishing over 100 Little League teams for black children, and sponsoring charitable events to raise funds for community initiatives. Almost sixty years since its launch, WDIA continues as a driving force in radio. From Bobby O'Jay and the Fun Morning Team, to the Bev Johnson Show to the Davis Brothers in the afternoon, to Ford Nelson and Mark Stansbury's Gospel Sunday, WDIA is not only the ``Mother Station'' for African-Americans, it is stands as a symbol of entertainment, entrepreneurship and philanthropy for our region and the entire nation. Mr. Speaker, it is in recognition of and appreciation for WDIA's nearly six-decade-long history and its continued presence in the Memphis community that I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to WDIA AM 1070, the Goodwill Station.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the National Asphalt Pavement Association. NAPA was established on May 17, 1955. For half a century, NAPA has worked tirelessly in representing its members and advancing new asphalt technologies to make our roads and highways last longer and safer for the motoring public. Since 1955 and over the next fifty years NAPA has pioneered groundbreaking research through its National Asphalt Pavement Research and Education Foundation that has revolutionized the manufacturing of asphalt. NAPA and its members have also invested in America's future by helping to finance the education of future professionals in the construction industry. Through its research and education foundation, NAPA has awarded nearly 800 students with scholarships to support their undergraduate and postgraduate education. NAPA members also sponsored the Smithsonian Institution's new transportation exhibition, America on the Move with a generous donation of $1 million. This permanent exhibition at the National Museum of American History is designed to show how America's roads and highways transformed the nation from the 1890's to present day. An interesting sidebar to the exhibition is the story of the genuine asphalt pavement used in one of the displays. The pavement was fabricated off-site by a NAPA member, Superior Paving Corp., Virginia, and allowed to weather before installation in the exhibit. I also went to extend congratulations to the employees of Lehman- Roberts Company from Memphis, Tennessee. Lehman-Roberts Company was a founding member of NAPA and its current President, Richard C. Moore, Jr., is also NAPA's 2005 Chairman of the Board. Lehman-Roberts Company has deep roots in Tennessee. The company was established in 1939 and currently employs sixty people. NAPA and its members should be very proud of its accomplishments over the last fifty years. Our road system which NAPA's members helped to build is the foundation from which our economy could not thrive without. Fifty years after the creation of the Interstate Highway System we can now say, ``Mission accomplished.'' The Interstate Highway system has been built. However more work needs to be done. We need to rehabilitate and reconstruct the pavements, many of which have exceeded their original design life. We also see ever-increasing congestion and mix of passenger vehicles with trucks on our roadway system that has led to serious safety issues and unnecessary loss of life. Fifty years after the advent of the Interstate Highway System, it is time for us to plan a freight and highway policy that will create a new vision for the future. I know NAPA and its members will rise to this challenge and are committed to securing our nation's future for the next fifty years.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the remaining time. I thank the chairman for his support and ask all of my colleagues in both parties to be supportive of it. Just to point out one last thing, I appreciate the chairman pointing out that this authorizes the program, and forgive me for not making that point clear, as well as the fact that the EPA will administer this program. Finally, as my colleagues know, the budget measure that President Bush proposed would grant about $7 billion, a little over $7 billion, in tax breaks; and a good 70 percent of that would go towards energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy. I believe that this amendment advances that goal, not only for the President but, more importantly, for the country. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FORD. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of this amendment, which is very simple. We increase funding for research and development of hybrid vehicles. Namely, the amendment would create a $3 billion program over the next 10 years to provide incentives for car manufacturers to dramatically increase their production of hybrid and advanced diesel vehicles, and for consumers as well, Mr. Chairman, to purchase those vehicles at a discount and get them on the road as quickly as possible. I would turn my attention, and I will be glad to yield at any time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) if he has a question. I would point my colleagues' attention to two things. H.R. 6 makes every effort to address our dependence on foreign oil. However, 93 percent of the tax credits of the bill go to producers of traditional sources of energy, oil, gas and otherwise, compared to only about 6 percent for renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency. This small amount that would go towards the development of hybrid vehicles would allow us to do two or three things right away, Mr. Chairman: first, to increase our fuel standards without addressing some of the more controversial ways that came up on the floor yesterday involving CAFE standards and increases there. It is known that a midsized hybrid SUV gets 31 percent better gas mileage than its conventional counterpart. And the ``greener'' hybrids, Mr. Chairman, can increase fuel efficiency by 85 percent. A hybrid Honda Insight is rated at 61 miles per gallon in the city and 70 miles per gallon on the highway. A comparable traditional Honda Civic gets just 32 miles per gallon in the city and 37 miles per gallon on the highway. I need not explain to those in my home district of Memphis who are paying an average of $2.15 cents a gallon that we need better fuel efficiency, not only for our pocketbooks and our wallets but also for our air and our environment. In addition, if indeed we were to travel this route and provide these incentives, Mr. Chairman, not only would we enjoy a net savings at the pump, but we would also enjoy a net increase in jobs estimated, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, by some 182,000 new jobs in the service, finance, insurance, manufacturing, and retail industries. The second point I would make before yielding is that there have been questions raised by those in the automotive industry regarding how would we define a company that manufactures or assembles vehicles, or a domestic manufacturer. I would be more than willing to work with those in conference, but my intent is clear. Any company that manufactures or assembles vehicles in the United States would be covered under this amendment, meaning those at the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, and those at the Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, would be covered and protected. Last, Mr. Chairman, this bill also seeks to promote research and development of advanced diesel engines, which would help companies to develop the next generation of cleaner, more energy-efficient trucks. This means that companies like Peterbilt and even Averitt Express in my home State of Tennessee would benefit from the program as well. Finally, the program would also assist companies like the largest employer in my district and State, FedEx. For those of my colleagues who do not know, they are a little package delivery company in Memphis, which plans to introduce 75 new hybrid diesel-electric trucks into service nationwide in the next 12 months. These trucks are being built by a consortium of companies, including the Eaton Corporation and Freightliner. In closing, Mr. Chairman, this is a good solid amendment. It is one that has no partisan stripes, only an effort to help clean up the environment, find ways to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and create good old American jobs here in this country. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FORD. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay well deserved tribute to one of the great religious leaders of our time, Pastor Adrian Rogers of Tennessee. In the words of Billy Graham, ``We need for ministers of the Gospel to defend the Bible as the infallible Word of God . . . I believe in my heart that Adrian Rogers is such a man. I know him personally. I have walked with him and prayed with him . . . I know God's hand is upon Adrian Rogers as he proclaims the Bread of Life from his church and through radio and television . . . I praise God for his ministry.'' These comments echo the sentiment of millions who've been touched and inspired by the life-changing ministry of Pastor Rogers. The high regard in which he is held translated to his three elections as President of the Southern Baptist Convention--the world's largest Protestant denomination with 16 million members. With a passion and gift for applying the gospel message to everyday life, he has also shared the ``good news'' as a noted author with scores of books and instructional material to his credit; as a featured speaker at a number of historic conferences and international crusades; and as the founder and broadcaster with Love Worth Finding ministries which is played on over 14,000 broadcast and cable television outlets, on nearly 2000 radio stations and in more than 150 countries worldwide. With all that he has given to people across the nation and the world, Adrian Rogers has etched a special place in Tennessee and Mid-South history as the pastor of the renowned Bellevue Baptist Church. Founded in 1903 in a small chapel on the ``outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee,'' Bellevue Baptist Church was in 1972 already a significant pillar in the religious community with a membership of approximately 9,000 persons. In this year, however, the entrance of Pastor Rogers and his wife, Joyce, served as a milestone in Bellevue's history. From this new beginning, the congregation grew from 9,000 to 29,000 members and expanded to a campus and multifaceted ministries that now stand as a model for houses of worship worldwide. Through the growth and success, Pastor Rogers gives all credit to God saying that ``Bellevue is what she is because of the love of Jesus. . . . Jesus is the glue that holds Bellevue together.'' These words are particularly significant as Adrian Rogers makes his transition from active Pastor to Pastor Emeritus of this great ministry. For his humility and his worthy example of all that faith should represent, I would ask that my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives would join with me in honoring a servant of God and a friend to humanity--Pastor Adrian Rogers.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for the time. It has to be tough. I am a good friend of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) and a friend of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam). It has got to be tough for them and the chairman. Back when they were on the committee a few years ago when this President first started in office, we had surpluses, and it was easy to go before the committee and debate how we would spend money we actually have or actually had and projected we would have. But today we are out of it, so much out of it that we have to come to the floor and almost pretend that we are doing something that we are not. As much as I respect the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker), and I know he has left the floor, he should call his own Governor, Governor Barbour, and ask him his feelings about the Medicare increases he bragged about here on the floor. My Governor Bredesen in Tennessee was faced with an enormous shortfall, as most Governors are. I might add that the Governors were here not long ago, Democrats and Republican, and expressed their outright opposition to President Bush's budget as it related to Medicaid and even this budget as it relates to it. The thing that is clear today, Mr. Speaker, is that our priorities are just very different than theirs. They accuse us of wanting to spend more. Yet the two most previous speakers bragged about how much spending they have done over the last several years. I would, too, if I was actually cutting budgets. The VFW Hall that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) said I should be proud to go into and explain what we have done over the last few years, it is funny. They were here passing out ribbons and arm bands, urging us to do more because this budget here actually cuts the budget for the Veterans Affairs Department by $740 million when we consider keeping up with inflation. We ask those returning from Iraq to pay higher copayments for their drugs, and we even ask them to pay a $250 dollar entry fee. All of these numbers we use here could be confusing to people back home, but here is the short of it. We are going to do less for those who need it most, and we are going to do more for those who need the least in this budget. I would be embarrassed if I had to vote for this budget. Thankfully I do not, and frankly I do not even know if I am going to vote for all the things we are going to present on our side, for one reason. It is not balanced. Ours is more balanced than my colleagues, and as much as my colleagues may want to pretend that they are doing something for education when they talk about the increases, ask any State education commissioner how far off we are with our numbers for the No Child Left Behind Act, how far we are off for the poor children in this country. If my colleagues are proud of making those kind of cuts, go for it; vote for that budget. The last point I would make is on Medicaid and Medicare. We want to say to poor people in this country that we are taking care of them and doing all that we can. Yet we will not say to drug companies in the country that we want them to negotiate directly with Medicare so we can ensure we get the best price for seniors, for the disabled and for the poor working people across this country. Vote no if my colleagues care about America and care about our future.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Madam Speaker, I thank you, and I thank my colleagues and Speaker Hastert and the Chaplain. It is my honor to belatedly introduce to my colleagues the great pastor from the City of Memphis, Mary Moore, the pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church who led us so wonderfully and graciously this morning. Pastor Moore has distinguished herself as one of the outstanding voices of the mid-South region, a community traditionally recognized for the vibrancy of its spiritual roots. And through her ministerial duties and through her insight, Pastor Moore has emerged from the shadows of the legendary Reverend C.L. Franklin, the late great pastor of New Salem and the father of another great voice in this country, Aretha Franklin, to also take her place in Memphis history. As a woman and a force in ministry, Pastor Moore has overcome obstacles in further advancing New Salem's role as a pillar in our city's religious community. Her tireless ability to share the sacred scriptures in a way that is applicable to our everyday lives makes her an invaluable resource for Memphis and our larger community. I have known Pastor Moore for many years. She has been a friend and a supporter. And she proves time and time again to be a trail blazer whose resolve to effect positive change in our community is second to none. It is an honor for me to have her today as our guest chaplain, and I know I speak on behalf of all of my colleagues, thank you, Pastor Moore, for being with us this morning.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Command Sergeant Major Marvin L. Hill of Memphis Tennessee, and the dedication and courage with which he has served our Nation. A warrior and exemplary combat veteran, Command Sergeant Major Hill will be moving onto the 1st Army, under Lieutenant General Russel Honore, overseeing training and mobilization readiness for Army National Guard Units within its area of responsibility. Command Sergeant Major Hill's distinguished career is particularly noteworthy for his contributions to the legacy of the 101st Airborne Division, ``Screaming Eagles,'' the post he is departing. Command Sergeant Major Hill joined the Army on January 18, 1978. After completing Basic Combat Training at Ford Leonard Wood, Missouri and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Benning, Georgia, he became an Infantryman in May 1978. Most recently, he served a rotation in Operation Iraqi Freedom, as Division Command Sergeant Major for the 101st Airborne. Command Sergeant Major Hill has held a myriad of assignments which include: 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis Washington; 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry, 193rd Infantry Brigade, Fort Kobbe, Panama; two tours with 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment and one with 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; 4th Training Brigade and United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Drill Sergeant School, Fort Knox, Kentucky; United States Corps of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, Republic of Korea; Staff and Faculty, United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas; Headquarters 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment and Headquarters 2nd Brigade, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Command Sergeant Major Hill has occupied a multitude of positions: Rifleman to Command Sergeant Major in infantry units, Scout Platoon Sergeant, Battalion Operations Sergeant, Tactical Noncommissioned Officer (USMA), Drill Sergeant, Drill Sergeant Instructor, and as a Faculty Advisor at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy in Fort Bliss, Texas. He also served as Task Force CSM for TF 1-502 Infantry, Multinational Force and Observers, Sinai, Egypt. Command Sergeant Major Hill's military and civilian education is comprised of the Primary Noncommissioned Officers Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, First Sergeant Course, Drill Sergeant School, Air Assault School, Rappel Master Course, Master Fitness Trainers Course, and Sniper School. He is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 48. Command Sergeant Major Hill also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York. In recognition of his honorable service, Command Sergeant Major Hill has received numerous awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (four Oak Leaf Clusters), the Noncommissioned Officers Development Ribbon (Fourth Award), the Good Conduct Medal (Seventh Award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (Second Award), the NATO Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal and the Multinational Force and Observers Medal (Second Award). In addition, he holds the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge. Command Sergeant Major Hill is married to the former Sharon Patton. They have one son, Curtis, and one grandson, Camron. Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to honor Command Sergeant Major Marvin L. Hill for his distinguished service to our nation. He has demonstrated a laudable degree of leadership, courage, and hard work.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Eddie N. Williams, admired journalist, researcher, and civil servant who is retiring as President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Mr. Williams has led the Center for 32 years in its mission to improve the socioeconomic status of African Americans and other minorities, through research, policy analysis, and political engagement. In every sense, Mr. Williams' life and career are emblematic of how one courageous and hard working American can overcome challenges, take advantage of opportunities and make people's lives better. Mr. Williams was born in Memphis, Tennessee where he was reared mostly by his mother, after the death of his jazz and blues musician father. Growing up, Mr. Williams was a stellar student and writer at Manassas High School in Memphis. From there, he went on to earn a degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana in 1956. He later pursued graduate studies at Howard and Atlanta Universities. Pursuing a career in segregated America, Mr. Williams encountered barriers because of his race that prevented him from pursuing a journalism career in Illinois Illinois' loss was our gain because Mr. Williams returned to Memphis, where he began his career as managing director of the Memphis Star- Times, a local African-American newspaper. After working as a congressional fellow for U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey and as a Foreign Service Reserve officer in the Kennedy administration, Mr. Williams returned to Illinois as vice president of public affairs and executive director of the University Center for Policy Study at the University of Chicago. Unwilling to rest on his laurels, Mr. Williams resigned from his prestigious positions to take on the helm of a new, little-known think tank. The Joint Center's original purpose was to support and train African-American elected officials nationwide and measure their growth subsequent to the Voting Rights Act. Under Mr. Williams' direction, the Center expanded its focus to examine and document public policy issues affecting African Americans. Mr. Williams' determination to maintain a nonpartisan approach to the Center's problem-solving activities serves as an example to us all. Mr. Williams leaves a legacy of innovation and courage in his efforts to address issues such as education, voting rights reform and the spread of HIV/AIDS in the United States. Mr. Williams has received numerous accolades and awards for his civic contributions, including the prestigious MacArthur Foundation ``Genius'' Award. Most recently, the Joint Center, under Mr. Williams leadership has studied and explained the rise of a new generation of the African-American elected officials into the mainstream of public life. He continuously reminds us not to be shy in our goal of reaching new heights on behalf of all Americans while staying connected to, in his words, ``the useful values of the past.'' His life and career demonstrate to all Americans that we stand on the shoulders of a generation that fought and stood and often sat down to create a more perfect union. For his unselfish contributions and commitment to our Nation, Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in commending Mr. Eddie Williams for his many years of dedicated service to the American people.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Timothy Huebner of Memphis as he is named 2004 Tennessee Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. A hands-on historian with varied experiences and an abiding devotion to his profession, Professor Huebner has rendered distinguished service as a book review editor for the American Journal of Legal History, an advisory board member for Tennessee's history online discussion list, and as a Co-editor for Studies in the Legal History of the South Series; however, Huebner's tenure as a Professor of History at Rhodes College (a position he has held since 1995) is his defining position. With an intellectual curiosity fed by research and a passion for helping students make complex issues clear, Professor Huebner has worked to find a balance between teaching and research. During his tenure at Rhodes College, Mr. Huebner has found that balance by devoting time to helping students write substantive research papers, supervising honors research papers, and more recently, serving as Founder and Director of the Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies. The Rhodes Institute is an innovative, interdisciplinary summer program that engages top undergraduates in research in the Memphis and Mississippi Delta region. The Rhodes Institute brings a select group of students and faculty together for eight weeks: two weeks in a faculty-designed seminar on regional studies; five weeks engaged in independent research, interspersed with weekly individual and group meetings; one final week presenting their work. Under the supervision of a faculty mentor, each student produces an 8,000-10,000 word research paper that is published and distributed to the local community. This Institute and Professor Huebner's efforts have put Rhodes College on the map as a research institution and connected students to the Memphis community. Huebner's selection as Tennessee Professor of the Year further highlights a career of service to his students, Rhodes College, and the Memphis community. Professor Huebner's more noteworthy accomplishments include his initiation into Omicron Delta Kappa in 2004, the recognition of the Rhodes Institute's website by the Council of Independent Colleges in 2003, his initiation into Phi Beta Kappa in 1988, his publication of eight articles and book chapters in scholarly publications, his fifty-five essays in encyclopedias and reference volumes, his twenty-five book reviews, and ten scholarly paper presentations at invited academic lectures. For the good work he has had in the lives of countless youth, Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you join me in honoring my friend and a friend to higher education, Mr. Timothy Huebner.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Center for National Policy (CNP) for facilitating a dialogue between members of the Arab and Muslim diplomatic communities and legislators on the Hill. On September 8th of this year, the Center for National Policy hosted a discussion between the Honorable Jim Turner and members of the Arab and Muslim diplomatic communities as a way of re-framing the debate on the War on Terrorism. I applaud the CNP for their continued efforts to properly inform both the American public and their elected officials on the complex issues facing policymakers. I would like to commend Representative Turner and my former colleague Tim Roemer for their participation in this invaluable discussion and for their active interest in fostering a better relationship with minority communities both domestically and abroad. To Win the War on Terror A Discussion With The Honorable Jim Turner And Members of the Arab and Muslim Diplomatic Communities--Moderated by Tim Roemer About the Event This event is part of a series of discussions being organized by the Center for National Policy to help reframe the debate on the War on Terrorism. CNP seeks to deepen both the public's and elected officials' understanding of the complex issues involved in the growth and spread of radical Islam, and to increase awareness of initiatives that promise to advance moderation and constructive reform. To accomplish these goals, CNP organizes small group discussions that bring together prominent policy experts, elected officials, and public opinion specialists to explore new strategies to address both immediate and long-term threats. CNP drafts summaries of these conversations and makes them available to lawmakers on Capitol Hill and policymakers in the Executive Branch, as well as academics, journalists, and the public at large. About CNP The Center for National Policy (CNP) is a non-profit, non- partisan public policy organization located in Washington, DC. Founded in 1981, the Center's mission is to engage national leaders with new policy options and innovative programs designed to advance progressive ideas in the interest of all Americans. The goal of the Center is to promote the transfer of ideas and information from experts to public officials, and therefore better serve American citizens and the public interest. Working with a small core staff, CNP brings together policymakers and experts from a range of organizations, including other think tanks, business, labor and academia, to encourage new thinking, promote public awareness and catalyze action. The Center uses public opinion research, as well as substantive and political analysis, to frame options and make recommendations. The Center's programs include active media outreach and extensive use of the web as well as more traditional methods of dissemination. In October 2003, Timothy J. Roemer was named President of CNP. Formerly a seven-term member of Congress from Indiana, he most recently has served as a member of the bipartisan 9/ 11 Commission. His predecessors as president include Madeleine K. Albright, prior to her service as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; the late Kirk O'Donnell, who was chief counsel to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Thomas P. `Tip' O'Neill, and Maureen S. Steinbruner, currently serving as CNP Vice President and Senior Policy Advisor. Introduction It has been clear for some time that winning the war on terror is not only a military and security challenge. With numerous al Qaeda leaders captured or killed, the threat is now more diffuse but just as deadly. Increasingly the question is, are we taking more terrorists out of the picture than are being created every day in the streets and madrassas all over the Arab and Muslim worlds? The United States needs a strategy for winning the war that both deals with today's terrorists but also, most importantly, works to deter and suppress the growth and power of tomorrow's. U.S. Representative Jim Turner, Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, put forward a series of initiatives to accomplish this, in his report, ``Winning the War on Terror.'' At the invitation of the Center for National Policy, he joined three ambassadors to the U.S. from Muslim nations, and representatives from two other Middle Eastern embassies and the European Commission, for a discussion of his initiatives and related issues. After an introduction by Congressman Turner framing the questions, CNP President Tim Roemer moderated a discussion. The session was off the record, except for the comments cited here. Supporting voices of moderation in the Middle East Representative Turner stressed the fact that in fighting the war on terrorism the United States needs to look beyond targeting active terrorists and securing the homeland, to supporting voices of moderation in the Middle East as well as those advocating positive change. His report addresses the question of how to prevent the rise of future terrorists though a number of important initiatives. These include: Building bridges to the Arab and Muslim world, which must involve not only diplomacy programs but also fully engaging in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Improving education for Arab children; Stimulating economic development; Stabilizing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; and Promoting political reform in the Middle East and moving toward greater democracy. Representative Turner pointed out, however, that if these types of initiatives are to be successful, it will require a tremendous political effort both at home and abroad. He noted that ten of the 9-11 Commission's 41 recommendations are geared toward preventing the rise of future terrorists--but these have received little public attention. Meanwhile, polling indicates that the U.S. image abroad--not only in the Middle East, but across the globe--has declined dramatically in the past two. years. It is essential that Americans understand why this is so, and what needs to be done to change it. The war on terror, Turner affirmed, is not a war on Islam. But the United States needs to find ways to communicate its intentions much more effectively. Finally, the United States must engage in a partnership with its allies in the Middle East and in Europe if any of the ideas he and others have put on the table are to be effective. A Battle of ideas Participants generally agreed with the spirit of Representative Turner's remarks, and that fighting the war on terror must involve a battle to win the minds of those in the Arab and Muslim worlds. In the short-term, we must confront the immediate, day-to-day threats from those who participate in acts of terrorism, rooting out known terrorist groups and their leadership, and preventing wherever possible the emergence of new groups of activists. This is primarily a security issue, which involves the U.S. engaging with security and intelligence services internationally. As one participant observed, it is important to understand that ``threats don't stop at anyone's borders.'' But the United States must also have the patience to confront what participants see as a significant generational challenge within the Islamic world. Fully eliminating the terrorist threat is a task that will take perhaps ten or twenty years. If the United States is to be effective over the long-term, it must have some patience, and focus on accurately defining terrorism--and identifying exactly who the enemy is--in the minds of both Americans and Middle Easterners. Participants pointed out that the number of people in the Middle East--and Muslims specifically--who actively support terrorism is in actuality very small--perhaps only a few thousand. But as recent polling shows, the numbers who are angry at the United States is much greater. The false assumption on the part of Americans that these two groups are one and the same needs to change if the U.S. image abroad is to change. The 9-11 report, for example, made it very clear that the problem of terrorism is not about faith, yet this issue has not been reflected in the current debate in the U.S. about the Commission report. It is important to distinguish between those who support terrorism and those who are angry at America because the solutions to dealing with both problems are very different. As one participant observed, it is the people in the middle--in the Middle East as well as in the United States-- who need to have their minds changed about the nature of the war on terrorism. The war on terror is not only America's problem. If the U.S. wants to find support for partnership with the Arab and Muslim world, it will have to begin by showing the benefits of such a partnership to the people in the middle-center on both sides of the relationship. More forceful policy initiatives and efforts on the part of the U.S. will make an immediate impression. Participants agreed that a commitment by the United States to seriously engage with the Israeli-Arab conflict is absolutely necessary. An ambassador said that the shift of public opinion against the U.S. in Turkey is attributable to two factors: What is happening in Iraq; and what is not happening in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Another Ambassador said, ``You have to seriously address the problem in Israeli- Palestinian conflict--not necessarily solve it.'' In addition, actions to support economic development in the Middle East, such as providing economic assistance and scholarships, supporting WTO accession, and other steps to enhance job opportunities could show tangible benefits and demonstrate an American commitment to a broader, positive Middle East agenda. This should be the core of the argument to convince the U.S. Congress and American people that such proposals are part of the solution and that military action is not the only tool to use against the terrorist threat. Homegrown reform Participants echoed Representative Turner's argument that it is essential that the U.S. support moderate forces in the Arab world, to ensure that they prevail over extremists. As another participant pointed out, some of the extremists' arguments on important issues such as women's rights are very weak, and they have no agenda of their own. Tim Roemer noted the recent op-ed by President Musharraf of Pakistan calling for ``enlightened moderation'' makes exactly this case. Responding to Turner's ideas for promoting political, economic, and educational reform in the Middle East, participants agreed that any of these proposals would be beneficial. But they urged that the U.S. not try to lump together the whole region but recognize that different approaches are needed for different countries. Participants emphasized the importance of homegrown reform. ``It's very hard to address the problem [of terrorism] by lumping together the entire region and imposing reforms on them.'' It was also noted, for example, that a U.S.-Jordanian partnership to increase exports from Jordan to the U.S. has been highly successful, doubling household income in poorer areas of the country and creating over 22,000 job opportunities mostly in poverty areas, 85 percent of which have been for women. It was pointed out, however, that such a program would not necessarily be right elsewhere. Regionally- generated initiatives, perhaps assisted by foreign aid, may meet with more success than unilateral efforts created thousands of miles away. Several participants stressed that the U.S. must avoid the appearance of imposing its own reforms on other countries. They pointed out that media audiences in the Middle East closely watch the American political process. The recent Democratic and Republic National Conventions received far more airtime from television stations in the Middle East than in the United States. The point was made that extremists are watching, and they will certainly exploit the perception that ``the Americans are telling us what to do'' to oppose reform initiatives. It was noted that the particularly sensitive issue of educational reform in Saudi Arabia, for example, was unable to find support in the Kingdom once the U.S. Congress vociferously supported it. ``Secular'' education in particular was characterized as a `non-starter': the very word ``secular'' can be a form of insult in the Kingdom. Similarly, the word ``democracy,'' per se, has some negative connotations in the Middle East--though this is not the case for many of its specific attributes, such as transparency, civic participation, free elections, and so on. One diplomat said, ``This is a conflict within Islam. We must support reason and try to assure that this wins--not terrorism.'' ``America has become an excuse for our problems,'' as one participant noted. But this is a cultural reality that the U.S. must understand if it wants its reform efforts to be effective. The European perspective It was noted that European nations have been engaged with the Middle East for almost 50 years. More recently, the European Union has been working with the United States specifically on the problem of extremism in the Arab and Muslim world, both through direct E.U.-U.S. dialogue and on the G8 track. The European Union endorses the general argument that solutions must come from within the region, but with attention to regional differences. It is the EU point of view that there can be no ``one size fits all'' solution. It was suggested that Representative Turner's proposals largely fit into the European interpretation, with its emphasis on building bridges, fostering educational improvements and cultural exchange, but the point was made that regional cooperation is also necessary. Where the U.S. is still focused only on bilateral trade agreements in the Middle East, for example, the E.U. is trying to negotiate regional trade agreements. The E.U. also sees accession to the World Trade Organization by nations in the Middle East as important, and as in itself a way to promote reform. On the whole, the European Union view is that it has been listened to by its U.S. counterparts, but there is still some frustration that long-time European efforts and investments of human and financial capital in the Middle East have not been recognized. Although fresh ideas are appreciated, it is important to the E.U. that no initiatives are introduced into the region that will either distract from or complicate those programs already in place. Instead, new initiatives need to be streamlined and coordinated with existing projects. The Israeli-Arab peace process, for example, was described as at the heart of these efforts. Speaking from a European perspective, it was observed that the U.S. should recognize that it has the power to put issues on the table--but a fine balance needs to be maintained between acting with haste and acting too slowly. ``Like a bowl of soup,'' one participant observed, ``if you eat it too fast, it burns you; if you let it go cold, it's tasteless.'' How and where to begin? Some participants noted the need for the U.S. to be sensitive to the fact that countries have their own timetables for reform. Americans too often look for quick-fix solutions to problems, and think only in short-term, two-year cycles, whereas reformers in the Middle East are willing to work for generational change. Yet it was also noted that external prodding can sometimes be important and even vital for bringing much needed reform. Turkey, for example, has had to accelerate the process of reform in order to meet European Union requirements. One participant remarked, ``Cultural and religious sensitivities should not be an excuse for not doing what needs to be done.'' But where exactly should the longer-term battle against extremism begin? Participants presented differing views. Education was acknowledged to be clearly a key factor in winning the battle of ideas, and school systems may therefore be the most sensible point to start any initiative that aims to prevent the rise of future terrorists. One diplomat said, ``You must support the voices of moderation and reason . . . they must prevail. When you introduce the sensitive issue of education reform, it must be seen as a national homegrown plan and not U.S.-inspired.'' But this is a long-term effort which will have results only over the longer term. The need for judicial reform was also cited as important to promoting confidence in the rule of law. Most participants advised putting economic reform slightly ahead of political reform in the Middle East. The point was made that political reform can be achieved in part by motivating people to use the political options that they already have. Creating job opportunities, however, and providing people with immediate and tangible benefits, can foster participation by providing hope that reform is a better way to move forward than revenge. As one Senior Middle East diplomat put it, ``Economic reform must come first because we need to give people hope that this way is the better way.'' Separately, several participants said that it is essential for the U.S. to achieve progress in key policy areas, such as stabilizing Iraq and seriously engaging in the Israeli-Arab conflict, to improve its image abroad and communicate its message effectively. Summary The participants in the discussion fundamentally agreed that there is a need for more effective long-term strategies to counteract the challenge of extremist ideologies in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Some caution was expressed about new U.S. initiatives, especially if unilateral. Congressman Turner's multilateral and tailored approach was applauded as a place to begin dialogue over these issues. One Middle East Ambassador summarized the situation in the following way: ``We all realize we have a problem. We all realize we want to solve it. We are on the same side.'' Several participants called for additional discussions such as this one, to address these and other initiatives, as well as some key existing problems. It was agreed that such discussions are vitally needed to broaden understanding, improve communication and facilitate concrete programs of cooperation among the U.S., the EU, and various Middle Eastern countries.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the more than 70,000 Americans and their many family members who are currently affected by Spina Bifida. October is National Spina Bifida Awareness Month and I hope our colleagues will join this effort to raise awareness about this disease and recognize those Americans, including many of my constituents. Spina Bifida is the Nation's most common, permanently disabling birth defect occurring when a neural tube defect prevents the central nervous system from closing properly during the early stages of pregnancy. Each year more than 4,000 pregnancies are affected, and of these, 1,500 babies are born with the disease. I was honored to be a part of the 16th Annual Roast for Spina Bifida on September 26th. During that dinner, Senator Lindsey Graham, Redskins owner Dan Snyder, and I roasted former CNN Anchor Bernard Shaw. I am pleased to report that even under fire, a now retired Shaw was as cool, calm, and collected as he had been during his time on CNN. He was truly a fantastic sport. The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA), an organization that has helped people with Spina Bifida and their families for over 30 years, work tirelessly to prevent and reduce suffering from this devastating birth defect. There are approximately 60 chapters serving over 125 communities nationwide and I would like to acknowledge and thank SBAA and the Spina Bifida Association of Tennessee for all that they have done for the families in my state affected by this birth defect. I would especially like to thank Scott Price of Nashville, a Spina Bifida Association Foundation Board member for his great work. In closing, I would like to thank the Spina Bifida Association of America for allowing me to be a part of their roast and wish them the best of luck in their endeavors throughout the year. I urge my colleagues here in the House to support the important efforts of the SBAA and to remember those affected by Spina Bifida, particularly during this month.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. This is a sad day for this body, and a sad day for the country in many ways, I think. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) and others have touched on it. I have not spoken on the floor in a long time on very much, but I heard the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) talk about tax increases. What we are afraid to say today is that we are actually raising taxes on people who earn less than $11,000 a year. As hard as it is to believe that Republicans, who tout themselves as tax-cutters over and over and over and over again to the point that they would even call some of us to accept a round of tax cuts, fully aware that they will increase the budget deficit by $150 billion; they could not find it in their hearts to find $4.3 billion over 5 years to 9.2 million of the poorest children in this country whose parents, I might add, work every day. They do not sit around waiting on a check, I say to my colleagues; they work just like you and I do, and all they ask is for the same ability to avoid a tax increase. So I would say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) and his friends, you are raising taxes as you would accuse us of doing, on people who earn $11,000 a year or less. But I say to my Democratic colleagues, we should not be so saddened by this, because you will remember that the President has had a change of opinion on a variety of issues. When Enron and WorldCom collapsed, the President initially opposed any changes to ensure that the big corporate cheaters who robbed pension-holders and shareholders and workers of their savings, he initially said no to reform. And then he flip-flopped; he said yes. When the Homeland Security Department was offered as an idea, Mr. Speaker, the President initially opposed that, and then he flip-flopped in favor of the right thing to do and decided to support it. When the 9/11 Commission idea was offered by many Members, including Tim Roemer, as an idea to help America atone and reconcile, he said, no way, and then he flip-flopped and said we should create one. When the 9/11 Commission made recommendations about how to change the intelligence structure in this country, the President said no way will we have a central director of intelligence or one with budgetary authority, and thank God, he flip-flopped. So I say to my friend, and I would ask my friend, and he is a friend of the President, give us one more flip-flop. There is still an opportunity to not raise taxes on people earning $11,000 a year or less, Mr. Speaker, 9.2 million children, $4.3 billion over 5 years. If all of us just decide to give up one project in our districts from all the pork we pass in this Congress, we can probably accommodate it. Mr. Speaker, one more flip-flop is all we ask for: $4.3 billion over 5 years. You have my support, and I promise you I will not call you a flip-flopper on this one if you will just do it for the kids.

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed the answer of the gentleman, and I just want to engage him in a brief colloquy. That was an answer to a question I did not ask. I simply asked the question, why are we raising taxes on families earning $11,000 a year or less? When given the opportunity to cut taxes for them in the form of a child tax credit beginning in 2005, you chose and your side chose not to extend the tax cuts to them, $4.3 billion over 5 years. I am using only your language. In essence, you are raising taxes on people who earn $11,000 a year or less. Now, if the gentleman would answer that question, I am probably going to vote for the bill. I just do not know why we cannot add an additional $4.3 billion. What is $4.3 billion amongst friends when you are spending all that you are spending for everybody else? The poorest families in the country, 9.2 million children, it is $4.3 billion over 5 years. My understanding, I was not there, but every press report says that the Republican leadership in the House did not support the Republican chairman of the finance committee in the Senate. All of this is big talk to the people at home. What it means is we are raising taxes on people who earn $11,000. So if you are watching, if you can afford a TV or you know somebody that earns $11,000 a year, they are raising taxes on you this afternoon. I would yield to my friend, I would ask him why are you raising taxes on people who earn $11,000 a year or less in this country? I would not want to answer it either. So I say to my friend, I hope in light of the litany of things I mentioned with my friend, the President, we need one more flip-flop. One more flip-flop can save monies for families earning $11,000 a year or less. I am blessed. I am not in that category. Those of you who support things we have supported in the Congress and friends we have outside of it, we are not in that category. But for those who are, we are raising taxes this evening in this Congress on behalf of people who earn $11,000 a year or less who work day in and day out. I would not want to defend it either. And the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) is my friend. I do not blame him. I would not want to defend it either.

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FORD. Folks who are enjoying part of this tax credit today, in 2005 will see that tax cut decrease or eliminated all together. Which, if I understand the definition of a tax increase, that indeed is a tax increase on people earning $11,000 a year or less. So can we at least agree that this is a tax increase on people who earn $11,000 a year, on people who work and earn $11,000 a year or less in this country? I might add, I invite the gentleman to my district, and anyone else who may choose to come, and we can hold a town hall meeting, and I will amass, unfortunately, a decent-sized group who are affected negatively by this. I yield back to my colleague for an answer. I used his time, so I thank him for the time.

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I just want to know if it is a tax increase.

Mr. FORD. I apologize to the gentleman.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge John David Reynolds, III of Memphis, Tennessee, in his dedication to service in his community. On Wednesday, June 16th, I joined John at the America's Promise to our Youth Inaugural Gala in Washington. Founded in 1997 after the President's Summit for America's Future, America's Promise helps bring together communities to improve children's lives by making five promises. The five promises are: (1) ongoing relationships with caring adults--parents, mentors, tutors or coaches; (2) safe places with structured activities; (3) a healthy start and future; (4) marketable skills through an effective education; and (5) opportunities to serve through community service. Given John's commitment to his peers and to community service, we owe it to him to fulfill these promises. To that end, I was pleased to join with America's Promise in making a down payment on those promises by presenting him at the gala a scholarship for post-secondary education. He stands among his peers as a leader within their eyes and inspires them to reach within themselves to accomplish their goals. Therefore, it is appropriate to recognize his accomplishments before this body of Congress and this Nation. John is a graduate of Kingsbury High School, where he took on many leadership roles. He was elected to student office in: FCCLA, President; BPA, Vice President; and DECA, President for the 2003-2004 school term. As an active member of all three chapters, he attended Peace Jam at Rhodes College in the Spring of 2004 and met with Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberto Menchu Tum. During his time at Peace Jam, his FCCLA Chapter presented their own peace plans with over 20 other schools. In BPA, John taught elementary school students computer basics and data entry skills, helping them prepare for junior high school. As a secondary project, he also helped the Memphis Food Bank with food drives and sorting food. In DECA this John was part of an effort to collect 10,000 Pennies for Penguins in a drive for Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. The organization conducted a fashion show where they collected $700 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. John also participated in the creation of the ``Johnville Project.'' This project was used to teach middle school students the importance of budgeting money, self-worth, and achieving goals. I would also like to commend John for his accomplishments in numerous FCCLA, BPA, and DECA competitions. John placed second at FCCLA Regional and State BPA, and went to Nationals in DECA. He used each point as a stepping stone to improve upon his project, which took an entire eight months of diligent effort. In addition, he focused on creating a fitness center dedicated to improving the mental and physical health of teens. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend John David Reynolds for his tireless efforts to enrich the lives of the people in his community. Through his ability to confront challenges, and challenge others, he has become a leader among his peers. I commend him for his achievements and ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to him in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns) and to all my colleagues who played a role in recognizing this important art form. I join with all of my colleagues in expressing my condolences and appreciation for the enormous contributions over the years that Mr. Charles made to American music. As many of the Members know, and as has been touched on already this morning by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) and many others, the contribution that blues music had on Ray Charles and to American music as a whole cannot be understated. Ray Charles was one of the first artists to combine the blues genre with gospel and country and jazz to perform and really evolve into a genre known as soul music, which has become a staple of the Memphis music scene, which the core and the heart of my congressional district in Tennessee. Ray Charles was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1982, another foundation located in Memphis. The blues is one of America's greatest and original musical treasures. As the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) has noted, it is a music form that evolved out of African American work songs, field hollers, and spirituals and early string band sounds more than a century ago. As a matter of fact, the blues is the very foundation of so much of what came out of the 20th Century, including rhythm and blues; rock and roll; my generation's favorite, hip hop; and even neoclassical. Blues music is the most celebrated form of indigenous American music, with hundreds of festivals held and thousands of new or reissued blues albums released each year in the United States and around the world. Most musical historians agree that popular blues music as we know it today originated somewhere in the Mississippi River delta, a blend of African American spirituals and folk and country music that had moved west from the Appalachian mountains. On a lonely platform in Tutwiler, Mississippi in 1903, W.C. Handy, widely regarded as the ``Father of the Blues,'' first heard the music that he would imitate in a recording studio in Memphis that would become the first release of blues music for distribution throughout the Nation. From these initial recordings, a new form of music would move to the forefront of American pop culture, a form of music that reflected the American experience, a story of hardship, determination, and ultimately freedom. Promulgated and developed by such icons as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James, Koko Taylor, and the great B.B. King, blues music remains a living documentary of American history. From the migration from a rural, agricultural society to an urban industrialized nation, to the collective struggle during the Great Depression, to the improvement in race relations, to the development of pop culture, blues music reflects the experience, emotions and lessons of our history. I want to acknowledge and thank the Blues Foundation again, which helps keep the blues alive and its heritage alive by promoting music educational initiatives, supporting new and existing artists, and recognizing achievements in blues music with the yearly W.C. Handy Awards, which this year celebrated their 25th anniversary, as well as the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards presented each year to nonperformers who have made contributions to the maintenance and expansion of the blues world. Among the most important initiatives, the Blues Foundation, in partnership with Seattle's Experience Music Project, is the Blues in the Schools program, which helps K through 12 educators integrate the blues into practical classroom learning, something we in this Congress should support more of. Through unique and exciting programs like Blues in the Schools, today's teachers are finding new ways to involve students and get them interested in learning. I believe that such efforts should be commended, encouraged and replicated; and I thank my colleagues again for bringing this resolution to the floor today. The blues is as honest a musical form as it is uplifting. The blues is life, with all its ups and downs intact. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, so that organizations like the Blues Foundation and the Experience Music Project may receive the recognition they deserve for working not only to promote blues music but to use it as a tool to inspire and teach new generations about America's unique and vibrant history.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, President Reagan led the nation with resolve and courage. He showed these same qualities in his battle against Alzheimer's disease. President Reagan will be remembered for many things--a great communicator, devoted husband and an unflinching patriot. But I will remember him most for reminding America that when we are at our best, very little can deter or defeat us. God bless you Mr. President and thank you for your service to our country.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay well deserved recognition to Elder Edward Stanton, Sr. of Memphis, Tennessee. An ordained minister with the Memphis-based Church of God in Christ, Elder Stanton has earned a special place in the heart of his community for his service to others. Having served our country faithfully in both World War II and the Korean War, Elder Stanton carried this superior level of dedication into his 25 year tenure with the U.S. Postal Service and into his role as Assistant Pastor of Temple Church of God in Christ. His commitment is further observed in his longstanding devotion to his wife of over 50 years, Helen, as well as his entire family. Elder Stanton's faith in action has been a guiding force for people across the Memphis community. In addition to his volunteer efforts as a District Chief Probation Officer with Memphis's Juvenile Court system, Elder Stanton has earned a special place in the hearts of many for his work to help the homeless and destitute citizens of his community. For a number of years, he owned and operated a boarding house that took in homeless individuals and others who lacked housing options. In an act of Christian love, Elder Stanton helped to manage the finances of many of these individuals and provided all of the residents with an array of amenities and free-of-charge services in an effort to help these individuals reach a better quality of life. For these services, the Memphis City Council has appropriately named the street on which this facility was located in honor of this noble man. However, even with the street renaming, one of the most fitting and profound credits to the legacy of service he continues to bequeath is that Elder Stanton's family has followed in his sizeable footsteps by positively impacting the civic, political, non-profit, educational, business, and religious communities in Memphis. For his over 40 years of service to his denomination and his example of leadership for his family and city, I would ask my colleagues in the U. S. House of Representatives to join with me in honoring Elder Edward Stanton, Sr.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Staff Sgt. Morgan DeShawn Kennon of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, who was laid to rest in Memphis, Tennessee on November 14. Morgan Kennon and the 101st Airborne were called to duty in defense of this nation. They answered that call with courage and honor. Staff Sgt. Kennon was killed while protecting his fellow soldiers from an ambush in the Northern Iraqi city of Mosul. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his bravery. In honor of Staff Sgt. Morgan Kennon and the brave members of the 101st Airborne, I would like to submit for the Record letters Staff. Sgt. Kennon wrote to his sister Nicole Crawford in Memphis, as well as two articles from the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Amidst the ``devastation of war,'' the clarity with which Staff. Sgt. Kennon expresses himself makes all of us proud. These letters help us better understand the trials endured by our soldiers and the courage they demonstrate each day. I would urge my colleagues to read Staff. Sgt. Kennon's letters and join me in paying tribute to this exceptional young man and all of the heroes of the 101st Airborne Division. [From the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Nov. 14, 2003] Letters to a Sister From the war in Iraq, Staff Sgt. Morgan DeShawn Kennon of Memphis sent letters home to his sister Nicole Crawford. He often spoke of Crawford's 12-year-old daughter, Kayla, and his mother, Paulette Crawford-Webb. April 12, 2003 ``I am in Baghdad now. I don't know where I may be when you read this but I will probably still be here. It's been very different here, Niki. The reason for the war, or the ulterior motives that the government may have, regardless of all of those things, the one true thing I can say is that these people were very oppressed and impoverished under the rule of Saddam. ``The welcome we've received in the cities and especially when we got here was unbelievable and overwhelming. The people here have even been giving us information about the enemy and the bad guys. Right now, we are occupying a school, that is where we are operating from. ``We have been staying in abandoned buildings and schools since we came into Iraq. This particular one is in the ghetto of Iraq; something like the projects. But the friendly neighborhood closeness makes it peaceful, there are some bad guys that live near (here) that the people told us about, but we've been sniffing them out and they've been scattering. ``I have seen a whole lot more and more each day. Every since the city collapsed there has been a lot of looting. On our way to Baghdad we saw kids, women covered up, men, everybody toting furniture, rolling tires, dragging refrigerators across the street. And the children, they are the most friendly and beautiful of all. ``It's still not too safe for comfort but fortunately the Good Lord has been with us so far. I have kicked in a lot of doors, been shot at by snipers. I haven't killed anyone but we've captured a lot of people and seized a whole lot of weapons and stuff. I have seen firsthand the devastation of war and I realize that in war, someone always suffers, in this case, a lot of people. But I will say that this whole campaign has been very surgical and precise in not killing a lot of people (innocent). I will just be happy to get back home, safe and soon. I have been hearing rumors that we may be coming back soon and being relieved by another unit but when I get details, I'll let you know. . . . ``Just keep your head up and be thankful everyday that all of us are waking up and loving each other. I saw a man shot over here and it really let me know how quick and unsuspecting our days can come to an end. So keep going 90 miles per hour with your life and know that your brother loves you, respects you and is proud and honored to have you as a sister. . . . ``How is everybody? Tell all of your friends that I said `hi' and testify to the church that I am very thankful for their prayers. The presence of the Lord is undeniable and obvious.'' April 20, 2003 ``How is my favorite sister? Fine I hope. . . . I am so happy to hear and feel the effort that you are putting into your life. I'm proud of you and hope you can continue to take good care because you know that no matter how much hardship or struggle I feel or go through, I'm fine as long as I know that you and mom and Kayla are OK. ``By the time you get this I will be in Northern Iraq near the Turkey border. . . . And once again thank you for taking care of my bills. I told you in the last letter that I might be coming home soon. Well, don't count on that; no one seems to know anything. I'll keep you updated.'' April 26, 2003 ``I'm still up north but we've relocated. We now operate and live in a post office. Can you believe that? It's not that bad though. There's electricity and running water here, which is a huge improvement over some of the places we've had to live in. . . . I can speak a little Arabic now (smiley face). The people here are not as dangerous and the threat level is not as high as it was in Baghdad and the other previous cities but we still have to stay on our toes even though the war is ``officially'' over there are still a lot of rebel forces and fanatics and loyalists of Saddam and the party regime. . . . ``So how's the family? I still pray for everybody every single day. I don't know when I will be back but I've heard everything from June to September. . . . ``When I know that you all are comfortable and OK, I can deal with being uncomfortable. Y'all's convenience means a whole lot to me. Well, enough about that. I realize that God will continue to operate and provide for us (in his sometimes ``weird'' way) as he has been so I won't worry about it. He will make sure the ball continues to roll for us as long as we keep Him first and continue to recognize and acknowledge Him. . . . The next time I write you I'll probably be living in a shoe store or a Mega-Market or something. But know that I'm OK and I am very grateful for God's grace and mercy. Keep taking care of yourself and I can't wait to see you again. Don't forget your vitamins!'' July 13, 2003 ``Everything is still the same here. A couple of my friends broke down on the interstate here and they were attacked by hand grenades that were thrown at them from a passer-by. One of them got hurt pretty bad, he went through surgery but he is OK. He almost lost all usage of his arm; the other guys are also stable. ``The irony is that I had just left where they were and had talked with them. Other than that, everything is still the same. You don't have to worry about me. I am always alert and watchful, especially when I'm out in the streets here. ``By the time you get this (hopefully) we should start preparations to leave here. I really can't wait to get back. I want to see my ``3 ladies'' really bad: you, Mama and Kayla are more than enough inspiration to get back soon and safe.'' July 25, 2003 ``Things are all right with me over here; of course I could think of a million and one other things I could be doing other than being in Iraq but since I'm here, I'm dealing with it every day. I think I'm growing up a little bit. . . . I think I value life more now, so I'm content with small simple things and most of all my enjoyment and peace of mind comes from y'all being all right and safe. I think that means more to me than anything over here.'' Sept. 13, 2003 ``My dear sister, you have done so much for yourself and your daughter. Many people face adversity in their lifetime but very few of these people are able to keep climbing the high hills the way you have. . . . Love you Nik and thank you so much for giving me more wisdom than you ever know, helping me develop into a man. . . . P.S. Load up on Vitamin C and tell Mama to drink Concord grape juice. It lowers blood pressure by 40 percent.'' [From the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Nov. 14, 2003] ``He Was Not Afraid'': Beloved Soldier Felt a Purpose (By Shirley Downing) In his letters home, Army Staff Sgt. Morgan DeShawn Kennon wrote about living in a war zone: Camping in old buildings. Dodging snipers' bullets. Meeting friendly, beautiful children. Kennon landed in Iraq in April with the 101st Airborne and a job to do. The Americans gained control of the country and then, for months, Kennon heard rumors that his Charlie Company might soon be headed back to the states. Last Tuesday, Kennon surprised his family with the news that he would return to Memphis Nov. 19--not for good, but for a two-week furlough timed to celebrate his mother's 47th birthday. Three days later Kennon, 23, was dead, fatally wounded while guarding a bank in Mosul. The Army said he'd died immediately of blunt force trauma to the head, while trying to protect the safety of his fellow soldiers. Kennon's family is devastated at the loss of a son, a brother, uncle and brave soldier. He was a Christian who reminded his sister to pray--and to take her vitamins. Funeral services will be at 11:30 this morning at N. J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, with burial in the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at 4000 Forest Hill--Irene. Kennon has been recommended for a Bronze Star, but to family and friends, he's always been a hero. ``I have never met anyone who disliked him,'' said his 26- year-old sister, Nicole Crawford, whom he called Niki or Nik. ``He was funny and smart. He was just wise beyond his age, he really was.'' Paulette Crawford-Webb, a pharmacy technician at University of Tennessee Bowld Hospital, said her son ``was not afraid of dying for his country.'' ``He said the people of Iraq needed help. Conditions over there were deplorable and he didn't think it was a lost cause.'' Kennon graduated from Central High School in 1997. ``He made great grades but he got an N in conduct,'' Crawford said. ``He wasn't involved with gangs or criminal activity; he was the class clown. He liked to make people laugh and that kept him in trouble a lot.'' After school, Kennon worked at Taco Bell, where he quickly rose to management. ``He was just really smart and excelled in everything he did,'' Crawford said. ``It might take somebody else five years but he just did it in a year or two.'' He loved the Tennessee Titans and movies and wrestling, said girlfriend Corporal Ghana Jackson, 23. She met Kennon when both were stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. ``He was awesome,'' she said. ``He got along with everybody and he had no kind of enemies.'' Kennon joined the Army at 17 and left for basic training at 18. After four years at Fort Hood, he re-upped and was assigned to the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Ky. The family last saw Kennon in February before he went overseas. Baltimore Sun reporter Scott Calvert came to know Kennon well in the opening days of the war. Kennon, he said, was the nuclear, chemical and biological expert for the Third Battalion's Charlie Company. His first sergeant said Kennon often worked overtime, and weekends, to make sure everyone was prepared for war. ``His job was to make sure everybody in the company, 130 soldiers, had the proper chemical masks and suits,'' said Calvert, who was embedded with Kennon's unit for seven weeks last spring. ``His job was to make sure everybody was ready with protective gear.'' Calvert first met Kennon at Fort Campbell the day the troops shipped out. ``It was chaotic,'' Calvert said. People were milling about, gathering equipment, saying goodbye. In the midst of the crowd, Kennon approached Calvert. Did he have all his equipment? Did he need help? ``It was a pretty nice gesture on his part,'' Calvert said. Calvert said Kennon was a solid ``stand-up guy'' who always wore a bright smile. The company was in Kuwait for a month, then it was on to Iraq. Kennon called home sometimes once or twice a week. He asked about his beloved black Dodge Intrepid, which he let his sister drive with the promise she would not smoke up its pristine interior with her cigarettes. His letters came regularly, handwritten on lined paper. Once he teasingly asked his sister to write more often about what was going on in his hometown. ``Where is the scoop? The gossip? The news? The sports news? Where is it? You slippin' girl.'' He wrote about family and a man's obligations to care for his loved ones. ``There is nothing more impressive and respectful to me than a man that takes care of his family.'' He wrote about happiness and God. ``I pray about that (happiness) too, but we gotta take one thing at a time and just be thankful that things have been good for us. . .'' There were other letters, and phone calls. The last was Tuesday, Nov. 4, when Kennon said he'd be home in a few days. He was eager to see family. Things in Iraq were getting ``a lot worse,'' Crawford quoted her brother as saying. The family had sent him a ``care package'' filled with canned fruit, but he hadn't received it yet. Then came the final mission. At about 7 a.m. on Nov. 7, Kennon led a convoy of vehicles to an observation post. Kennon was killed during an ambush as he was trying to protect his fellow officers, Kennon's supervisor said in a letter recommending the Bronze Star. Crawford said she never fully understood why her brother was in Iraq, but she accepts that he ``went because he was doing something he loved. He loved being in the military.'' Paulette Crawford-Webb said her son did not worry about his personal safety. ``He said his only sadness would have been if something happened to him, what would become of me, his sister and his niece?'' Crawford said her brother truly was an exceptional person. ``He was a God-fearing young man. He was not afraid to die.'' (By Shirley Downing) [From the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Nov. 15, 2003] Host of mourners bears Sgt. Kennon home Army Staff Sgt. Morgan D. Kennon of Memphis was given a hero's farewell Friday morning, a week after he was killed in Iraq. ``Death reminds us of the sovereignty of God, and the frailty of man,'' Rev. Arthur Snow, pastor of Greater New Shiloh Baptist Church, said to more than 500 mourners attending services at N. J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home. Kennon's Bronze Star and Purple Heart were displayed next to his flag-draped coffin. Large sprays of red and white flowers surrounded the casket and the dais where dignitaries sat. After the morning services, the funeral procession traveled past honor guards of firefighters and schoolchildren with signs as it made its way from South Memphis to the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in southeast Shelby County. Military honor guards gave folded flags to Kennon's mother and father. A 21-gun salute for the soldier, the first Memphian killed in the Iraqi war, broke the chilly fall air. Kennon, who was 23, joined the Army at 17 and left for basic training at 18. After four years at Fort Hood, Texas, he rejoined and was assigned to the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Ky. The family last saw Kennon in February before he went overseas. He was fatally wounded during an attack on an Army convoy guarding a bank in Mosul. The Army said he died immediately of blunt force trauma to the head, while trying to protect fellow soldiers. Kennon has been described as a smart, friendly man who loved the Army, his family and God. He often wrote letters home telling relatives not to worry, he was not afraid. U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. said he was moved by Kennon's letters, portions of which were printed Friday in The Commercial Appeal. ``In the midst of all that was going on over there, the clarity with which he expressed himself makes all of us proud,'' Ford said, as he addressed Kennon's tearful family in the front pews at the funeral home. A top Army officer from Virginia and members of the 101st Airborne attended services. ``We are here to be with the family, to respect and honor this great soldier,'' Maj. Gen. Russell L. Honore of Norfolk, Va., said before services began. ``He served proudly and with distinction for our nation.'' Honore said he represented the Secretary of the Army and the Chiefs of Staff. Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton thanked Kennon's family on behalf of the citizens of the county. ``We share your loss,'' he said. Several of Kennon's friends spoke about his loyalty, honesty and his love for family and the military. Snow's eulogy was so passionate the minister had to sit down for part of its delivery. Kennon was ``a good man who could have at the age of 23 been on the streets doing nothing, but he chose to do something positive and constructive with his life. It is unfortunate that he was cut down at an early age,'' he said. Snow offered comfort for Kennon's mother, Paulette Crawford-Webb, his father, Morgan Kennon, and other relatives and friends. ``In spite of all that has transpired, God is still good,'' Snow said. ``You need to know and understand today that Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal.'' He said Kennon knew the risks of a military career, ``but he trusted God.'' Kennon was a soldier in the U.S. Army and a soldier in the army of the Lord who did not fear death, Snow said. ``He was prepared externally and he was prepared internally. He wasn't afraid of what could happen to him because he knew that with Jesus, he would be all right.''

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, regrettably, I was not present for rollcall vote Nos. 569-573 because of a previously scheduled commitment to serve as co-chair and co-host of the National Civil Rights Museum's annual Freedom Awards Banquet in my district in Memphis. The Freedom Awards Banquet was specifically scheduled to occur weeks after the target adjournment date. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote Nos. 569, 571, 572, 573 and ``nay'' on rollcall vote 570.