Jeff Fortenberry

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for his poignant remarks about motherhood. We appreciate that. And, Mr. Speaker, I also have the pleasure of rising today to call attention to this time-honored celebration of Mother's Day. This past Sunday, I, along with millions of Americans, paused to uplift the women who have shaped our lives and our country because, as the House of Representatives declared in 1914, the service rendered to the United States by the American mother is the greatest source of the country's strength and inspiration. Mothers have been celebrated throughout history in many languages, religions, and cultures. Few traditions have withstood the test of time as the social celebration of motherhood. From its earliest roots in Egyptian society to our modern American holiday, the commemoration of mothers is timeless. On May 10, we celebrated the 101st anniversary of the first observance of the modern American Mother's Day when a woman from Grafton, West Virginia, named Anna M. Jarvis, held an observance in her mother's honor at St. Andrew's Methodist Church. Afterward, when the junior Senator from Nebraska, Elmer Burkett, rose before Congress in 1908 to propose the establishment of Mother's Day at the request of Ms. Jarvis and the Young Men's Christian Association, he, interestingly, was originally met with opposition due to sensitivities concerning the role of women in society and the role of the Federal Government in honoring them. It took until 1914, but Congress eventually passed a resolution declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. President Woodrow Wilson then issued a proclamation directing the flying of the flag as a ``public expression of the love and reverence for the mothers of our country.'' Mr. Speaker, we now honor all mothers for their immeasurable contribution to the very core of our society. Mothers sustain and strengthen our Nation through their leadership in the family and community. And despite the dynamics of modern society, the ability of mothers to meet the challenge of raising their families with love, understanding and compassion remains constant. As we commemorate mothers for the integral role they play in shaping the course of our Nation's past, present and future, we also revere and emphasize the importance of the role of the family and the home as the true and ever- present foundation of our country. Mr. Speaker, some may question why Congress is considering this matter at all, but I would like to say that each day here we tirelessly debate the challenges and nuances of modernity becoming mired in such a dizzying array of interventions that it is easy to lose sight of our ever-enduring core values. We don't often take the time to reflect on the essential philosophical foundations that have guided this Nation through many turbulent times, so I think it is refreshing that we now take time to pause and consider a resolution such as this that is timeless. So I encourage my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to join in support of this resolution today honoring the 101st celebration of the modern Mother's Day. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 11th anniversary of National Military Appreciation Month, which was first passed as Senate Resolution 33, designating May 1999 the first National Military Appreciation Month. Although it is important that we recognize our servicemembers every year, it is during times of conflict when one can truly put their sacrifices into greater perspective. These outstanding men and women sacrifice much so that we may continue to reap the many benefits of freedom in our land. While we enjoy the comfort of our homes and families, these brave soldiers are stationed far from home across our country and throughout the entire world. Those who serve are our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins and closest friends. These are the individuals who comprise our Nation's Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, and we salute them and pledge to them our gratitude. While expressing our gratitude to the military, it is also important to recognize the thousands of families who often endure hardship and loneliness while their loved ones are serving our country. They must relocate, often putting additional strain on the family. On this day, we must also remember and show appreciation for those who served our country in the past and have played a critical role in making America the great country that it is today. Mr. Speaker, we live in the greatest Nation in the world, and we owe much of our success to the men and women in uniform who answered the ultimate call of duty to serve and protect our Nation's citizens. Although this concurrent resolution serves to honor and support the goals and objectives of National Military Appreciation Month during the month of May, I hope our soldiers realize that their service is appreciated each and every day of the entire year. I ask all Members, therefore, to join me in unwavering support of our military by supporting House Concurrent Resolution 84. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Some 54 million children and 7 million adults, Madam Speaker, spend a large part of their day in our 120,000 public and private schools. These hardworking teachers and students deserve a healthy school environment. We share a great responsibility in shaping the future for our children, and it is critical that it is done in a clean and safe environment. When these elements are in place, everyone's performance improves, test scores rise, and attendance levels increase. Our Nation's children, parents and educators deserve to know that their schools provide the safest and healthiest environment possible. A National Healthy Schools Day will help promote school environments that are conducive to learning and protect student health. In order to express support for the goals and ideals of National Healthy Schools Day, I also urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 370. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, from Tuesday, May 5 through Thursday, May 7, 2009, I was provided a leave of absence from the House of Representatives due to the hospitalization of my daughter, and thus I missed rollcall votes Nos. 231-242. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on Nos. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 239, 240, 241, and 242, and ``nay'' on Nos. 237 and 238.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

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

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, on Thursday, April 23, 2009, I was unavoidably detained and thus I missed rollcall votes Nos. 201 and 202. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on both votes.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) for the time and for recognizing our valuable partnership in this fine august body. Mr. Speaker, today I also rise, as the Vietnamese community in my district gathers for their regular meeting, to express my support for a national Vietnamese Refugees Day. Throughout the past years, I have listened with great interest and admiration to the poignant stories of hardship and triumph that many members of the Vietnamese community have shared with me. I am deeply moved by their dedication to the principles of liberty that have distinguished our American experience. This is expressed in the difficult decisions to leave their beloved homeland of Vietnam and to embrace our Nation's founding principles, principles that those of us who have never experienced life under oppression and communism invariably run the risk of taking for granted. Even today, Vietnamese American refugees gather across this Nation to raise awareness of concerns affecting their loved ones back in Vietnam. Lincoln's Vietnamese American community has been particularly concerned with religious freedom and Vietnam's two-child policy. And I have tried to make it a priority to urge the Government of Vietnam to uphold its stated commitments to religious freedom. I deeply value the active civic engagement of the Vietnamese American community in Nebraska with regards to these and other important human rights issues. It is my privilege to serve the Vietnamese American community. And I want to thank Congressman Cao, who, as he mentioned, at 8 years old, 34 years ago today, fled his homeland of Vietnam on a United States of America C-130 transport plane, for bringing this important resolution forward and allowing us to reflect on the profound commitment of the Vietnamese refugee population to the well-being of our Nation.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, on Monday, April 27, 2009, I was unavoidably detained and thus I missed rollcall votes Nos. 207, 208, and 209. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three votes.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. I thank the gentleman from Florida for the time. Madam Chair, the American people deserve order in the fiscal house of government. America deserves a responsible, fair, creative, and smart Federal Government that protects our most vulnerable, strengthens opportunity, and protects our country. Our constituents deserve for us to say together ``yes'' to fiscal stability, ``yes'' to a balanced budget, ``yes'' to small business and entrepreneurs, and ``yes'' to creating opportunities to help families get ahead in life. But they also need us to say ``no,'' no to the concept that there is free money, free money for the government to give, to spend, and to bail out with. The only thing free here is that the government is acting free from restraint and free from responsibility. Let's put today's debate into context. Six months ago, Congress passed a bailout for Wall Street, forcing America to buy bad corporate assets. Weeks ago, an omnibus holdover budget bill increased spending by 10 percent. Then a stimulus bill added another $800 billion. Not to mention that between the Federal Reserve, the Department of the Treasury, and the FDIC there is another $10 trillion of taxpayer dollars on the line right now. Now, today another budget adds another layer of spending. It is a dizzying array of interventions that is reshaping the nature of the relationship between this government and our people. The result: Massive Federal debt, $2 trillion this year alone, larger than the entire Federal budget was before the year 2000. This debt is a tax passed on to our children, or it is a sale of the Nation's assets overseas. We owe China $1 trillion. Or potentially it creates inflationary pressures. That is a particularly regressive form of taxation for the poorest and most vulnerable among us. Madam Chair, we all know what we must do. And we know it will be hard. There is no denying that. We must prioritize. We must choose. We must be creative. We must be like a family that has to tighten its belt and steady itself during a rough period, but also look forward toward a more excellent way.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield my time to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise).

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan), the author of this resolution, and yield him as much time as he may consume.

Mr. FORTENBERRY. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 223, ``Honoring the Life, Achievements and Contributions of Paul Harvey.'' Born in 1918 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Paul Harvey's fascination with radio started at a very young age when he would pick up radio stations on his homemade cigar box crystal set. As a teenager, he worked, sweeping the floors at the station KVOO until the station manager decided to give him a job. The rest, as they say, is radio history. Mr. Harvey moved from Tulsa to accept a position working at KXOK in St. Louis. While working in St. Louis, Mr. Harvey met his beloved wife of 68 years, who later became the producer of his show. From St. Louis, the Harveys moved to Chicago, where his daily program for ABC Radio, Paul Harvey News and Comment, became the highest rated radio program in the region. Building on his audiences in Chicago, his show was soon broadcast throughout the entire country. In 1976, Harvey started a second daily radio show, The Rest of the Story, telling anecdotes about famous people or historic incidents, always with a little twist at the end. Mr. Harvey's upbeat, positive demeanor and the ability to weave together the stories of life in America made him a national treasure. His uncanny ability to find a story, then to give it his own folksy style, delivered in his unique cadence, was remarkably popular. Mr. Harvey never lost sight of the significance of everyday life and of the stories of ordinary people in America. With well over a half century of broadcasting experience, Mr. Harvey's show reached an estimated 24 million listeners daily. Receiving countless honors over the years for his broadcasts, he received the highest acknowledgment of his career when, in 2005, Mr. Harvey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. Sadly, after more than 70 years on the air, Mr. Harvey passed away in February at the age of 90. The loss of Paul Harvey is the loss of a symbol of a simpler era in America. Even with the passage of time, his broadcast stories were as timely at the end of his life as they were back in Tulsa, where his career started. As Mr. Harvey would say at the end of each story, at the end of each show, ``And now you know the rest of the story.'' Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and would yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FORTENBERRY. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to come before this House today to express support for a resolution I recently introduced to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. In a world where force and hatred often overcome understanding and reconciliation, where individuals can too easily allow conflict and strife to mute the call of conscience to peace and concord, this treaty stands as an enduring reminder that no conflict can be pervasive enough, no animosity strong enough to triumph over the will of men who turn to one another in a gesture of goodwill and humility to make a decision for peace. For peace is a choice. Sometimes hard, sometimes costly, and when we look at the recent history of the Middle East, we see layer upon layer of suffering and grievance. Innocent lives needlessly destroyed through relentless and unforgiving cycles of seemingly uncontrollable anger and retribution. We can choose to believe that these forces are so powerful that no political solution can be brought to bear. Perhaps that is right. Perhaps there is no political solution. Perhaps we are seeking a political solution when only a solution of the human heart can suffice, a solution that recognizes that each person in this world longs for the same things and that the bond of our common humanity is stronger than the hatred that seeks to divide neighbor from neighbor, Muslim from Jew, or Arab from Israeli. A solution that recognizes that peace can only be found in treating others with dignity and respect, and that regardless of the circumstances, this is always possible unless one chooses otherwise. The choice for true peace does not demand appeasement of tyranny, false sentimentality or warmth that cannot easily be summoned. It is, at its most practical, a commonsense choice for self-preservation, and at its most noble, a choice to build up rather than to tear down, a choice by leaders to bind wounds and heal the past. Mr. Speaker, as a young man in 1979, I entered the Sinai Peninsula across from the Suez Canal, and in the vastness of the beige sand and desert, I came upon a twisted heap of metal and concrete--a scene all too familiar now throughout the Middle East--and upon that heap of concrete were scrawled in words in both English and Arabic, ``Here was the war--here is the peace.'' The atmosphere at that time and at that place was one of jubilation and deep abiding respect for the role that the United States played in brokering a compromise for peace. Because Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Anwar Sadat, the President of Egypt, at great personal risk to each, chose peace on March 26, 1979. They opened channels of communication that endure to this day and continue to point towards hope in a war-weary region. Despite the painful legacy of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Suez Crisis of 1956, the Six-Day War of 1967, the War of Attrition along the Suez Canal, and the Arab-Israeli War of 1973, these leaders stood together to make peace possible. In the poignant words of Prime Minister Begin, ``No more wars, no more bloodshed. Peace unto you. Shalom, salaam, forever. The peace treaty provided for the mutual diplomatic recognition of Egypt and Israel and ended the state of war between the two nations dating back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Mr. Speaker, this was no easy choice. It was a costly choice. The choice these leaders took, to stand together ``with the boldness of heroes who dedicate themselves to a sublime aim . . . to erect a huge edifice of peace . . . an edifice that . . . serves as a beacon for generations to come,'' led to the expulsion of Egypt from the Arab League and to the assassination of President Sadat himself. Yet to this day, the treaty beckons us to ``challenge presuppositions about the intransigence and inevitability in the Middle East.'' Perhaps the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty of 1979 is an example that can be replicated and modeled throughout the region. Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, we will see twisted piles of rubble and concrete from more recent conflicts marked with the poignant words, ``Here was the war, here is the peace.'' I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise here today, Mr. Speaker, in support of House Resolution 152, which expresses the sense of the House that the United States remains committed to the NATO Alliance. For over half a century, NATO has played a vital role in preserving transatlantic peace and security and in safeguarding freedom and democracy. NATO has contributed to the security of the United States and continues to serve as an important component of our broader national security framework. Although the Cold War is over, the Alliance has and must continue to transform itself to better address new challenges confronting NATO member nations. The job of the Alliance is not over as the security of NATO member states continues to be threatened by those who seek to spread destruction, oppression and instability. Addressing these challenges will not be easy, and much needs to be done to strengthen the strategic capabilities of the Alliance. The upcoming summit in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, in April serves as an opportunity not only to reaffirm NATO's fundamental purpose but also to articulate a concrete vision for the Alliance in the 21st century. I would like to thank our distinguished colleague, Congressman Tanner, for introducing this important resolution. I would also like to express particular support for the language in the resolution that states that NATO must ensure equitable sharing of contributions to NATO operations by its members, encourages the Alliance to begin considering a new strategic concept that would take into account the challenging security environment, and calls on NATO to recognize and help address the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and by terrorism. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on member requests, I am submitting the following information regarding-an-earmark I received as part of H.R. 1105, the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Bill: Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Bill Number: H.R. 1105, FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Account: Economic Development Initiatives Project Name: CEDARS Children's Crisis Center Amount: $142,500 Name and Address of Requesting Entity: CEDARS Youth Services, Inc., located at 620 North 48th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68504. Description: The funding will be used for construction of a new Children's Crisis Center for abused, homeless, and runaway youth in Southeast Nebraska. CEDARS Youth Services plans to build a children's crisis center to provide short-term emergency shelter, immediate professional assessment of each child's needs, intense family-centered therapeutic services, and an environment that inspires a rapid return to stable and enduring family living. The 18,000 square foot facility will not only provide immediate safety and protection for vulnerable children and youth across the Midwest, but also a comfortable family- friendly setting for them to begin reunification or to meet prospective foster parents in a safe, professional supervised setting. While primarily helping persons from the Midwest area, the Center has recently served youth from the states of Tennessee, Georgia, California, Michigan, Texas and others. CEDARS is the only emergency shelter provider for children and youth in Southeast Nebraska, and this children's crisis center will expand the current service capacity by as many as 12 children each day. This is a 50% increase.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, again, the gentleman from Iowa was kind enough to allow me to borrow some of his time. And I appreciate, again, his passion and his focus on the essential issues of the day. But I'd like to continue, just briefly, the discussion that we were engaging in at the moment regarding the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom's address before a joint session of Congress today. And let me add, Mr. Speaker, that Prime Minister Brown rightly warned us earlier of the dangers of protectionism. But in no way is it protectionist, I should add, to want to consolidate our economic recovery efforts on Main Street. More than any bailout crafted by Washington or Wall Street, it is a return to our hard-fought American ideals of responsibility, discipline, entrepreneurship and stewardship that will actually help Americans build a more just and secure future for ourselves, as well as for the world's poor. Mr. Speaker, the United Kingdom has been a stalwart friend of ours throughout our modern history. And after two centuries of partnership, it can be said that we have no greater ally. In no way do I seek in these comments to undermine that. Our two nations will be forever grateful for our aid to one another during times of both war as well as peace. The United Kingdom is our greatest ally in preserving our long- standing commitment to the inalienable human rights, especially for vulnerable populations. I deeply value the Prime Minister's words that when the strong help the weak, it makes us all stronger. And this certainly rings true with regard to the pursuit of international policies that recognize the inherent dignity and rights of the human person, which are essential to preserve liberty and justice in the world. However, Mr. Speaker, let me make this clear: we should give long pause before becoming more intertwined in an internationalist, industrial financial model for the future. Let us continue our strong relationships of commerce with the United Kingdom and all other nations, but let us not find our financial wellbeing entangled in complex, poorly understood, exotic, international economic alliances. Instead, let us embrace a new philosophy of recovery and renewal based on the time-honored principles and notions of individual responsibility, entrepreneurship and community. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, today, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, spoke strongly and eloquently before this body of our Nation's specialness of our shared history, traditions, as well as our values. He also spoke of the past, present and future challenges confronting our partnered nations. I respect this long, historic relationship that Prime Minister Brown laid out. There were many principles of his speech with which I deeply agree, such as the defense of human rights worldwide, nuclear security, a sustainable energy future, and human rights in addition to the fact that he also proposed a broad, vast, new array of new ideas that can help bring about a new day and mantle of leadership in this essential area of need for our world's poor. However, he also proposed a ``global new deal,'' a new deal that is not clearly defined but that is pointed toward a vast, new, international arrangement. With regard to the current financial difficulties in our developing global economy, it is indisputable that our economic challenges affect the rest of the world. America has a long history of meaningful trade with other nations, especially with our partner Great Britain, but America also has an entangled relationship pertaining to our national debt. We have borrowed from the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and from numerous countries in the Middle East to finance our burgeoning debt and to accommodate our deficit spending. Much of this has been discreet and out of the public eye, but the implications of foreign ownership of Federal debt instruments are greatly significant. Approximately half of the total public debt is in foreign ownership. At some point, Mr. Speaker, global investors may grow weary and may decide not to take the risk of buying our debt. We would consequently be faced with the choice to stop borrowing to finance our deficit spending or to raise interest rates in order to attract investors. If any of these countries chose to quickly sell their U.S. holdings, a tumultuous devaluation of the dollar could quickly ensue. As Prime Minister Brown said, we are all seeing how certain ``financial instruments have spread contagion throughout the world.'' This is certainly true, and I appreciate the Prime Minister's calls for further transparency and accountability. However, I challenge his presupposition that a greater global consolidation of financial systems is in our national or in the international community's best interest. Financial consolidation, extreme volatility and speculation in world markets, reckless use of exotic financial instruments, liberalized credit have certainly contributed to the current collapse. The global scale of the credit crisis and confidence should give us pause to consider that our profound economic connectedness may actually cause more problems instead of prosperity. The increasing concentration of wealth assets into fewer and fewer financial institutions will increase our financial vulnerability. One of our greatest concerns right now is how to stabilize banks and financial entities that are deemed ``too big to fail.'' Well, Mr. Speaker, I believe we need a paradigm shift, a new paradigm. We should be asking: Are these financial systems too big to succeed? Now is the time to reconsider an essential component of Western philosophy--the great potential of the individual in solidarity with one's community. I believe that America, the United Kingdom and the other strong financial powers in Europe should take this time to empower individuals and communities to provide for themselves through a network of strong local and regional economies. As the Prime Minister added, America is a nation of extraordinary capacity, and to spur growth, I believe it is imperative that our government's efforts be targeted toward helping small business entrepreneurs whose successes will be the bellwether of economic progress. Recent data from the Commerce Department shows that small businesses have generated 60 to 80 percent of new jobs over the past decade. By enacting good commonsense initiatives to benefit entrepreneurial growth, we may create local jobs and new opportunities to stem the tide of economic difficulties in our communities, our State and nationwide. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is local financiers and local businesses who best know the needs of their communities and who are, in the very essence, more transparent and accountable. This is the motto we should return to, and it is the proper motto for us to help lead in building sustainable local economic connectedness for the world's developing nations. I thank the gentleman for the time.

Mr. FORTENBERRY. I thank the gentleman from Iowa, and I always appreciate your passion and your willingness to engage in the most profound issues facing our country. I didn't mean to interrupt. If you were concluding, I was hoping you would yield time to me for about 6 or 7 minutes on another topic that I'd appreciate your listening to.