Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 1229, recognizing the achievements of America's high school valedictorians of the graduating class of 2008, promoting the importance of encouraging intellectual growth, and rewarding academic excellence of all American high school students. Valedictorians are the highest academically ranked students in their high school's graduating class. These students have demonstrated consistency in their intellectual inquiry, academic discipline, and utilization of teacher mentoring throughout their high school careers. They serve as peer role models to fellow high school students by succeeding academically and contributing to a culture of excellence in their schools. Valedictorians are charged with the duty of giving a graduation speech that reflects upon the intellectual development and community involvement of the graduating class and inspires all graduating students to further their academic studies and social engagement. These students enjoy the support of family members, teachers, school administrators and community members who have nurtured their intellectual growth and rewarded their academic achievements. This class of seniors will become America's future civic, business and political leaders, maintaining our Nation's global leadership position and strengthening its economic competitiveness. Today I want to especially honor and recognize the valedictorians and graduating seniors of the class of 2008. They have all worked very hard to accomplish the goals they reached on high school graduation day. I know this is not the first outstanding accomplishment for many of these young people, and I am equally certain it will not be the last. I encourage all valedictorians and all graduating seniors to further their intellectual inquiry and academic studies in universities and post-secondary educational institutions across the Nation. To all graduating seniors, I want to say congratulations on your many accomplishments, and enjoy your summer. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, as we reflect on the valedictorians of the class of 2008, I think it's important that we think about what the Democrats are doing now in the House of Representatives that are going to affect their future. I think that we have to reflect on the fact that the Democrat majority's ``just say no'' energy policy certainly darkens America's energy future: No production of American energy resources, which increases reliance on unstable foreign sources such as Venezuela, Iran and Saudi Arabia. No new oil refineries built, which increases gas prices and reliance on imported fuel. No new transmission lines, which hinders renewable electricity getting to consumers and reduces reliability. No new coal power plants, which increases electricity prices and stifles the economy. No new advanced zero-emission nuclear plants, which blocks one of the cleanest, most reliable energy sources available. No new zero-emission hydroelectric plants, which blocks reliable clean energy. No liquefied natural gas terminals, which increases prices and ships jobs overseas. Democrats' prohibition on producing American energy resources have made the U.S. more reliant on imported oil and natural gas. Democrats' roadblocks on the utilization of energy from our North American neighbors have made the U.S. more reliant on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC. Democrats' unfavorable tax rules have sent energy investment and production abroad. Democrats' unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy have made it nearly impossible to move forward on new clean power generation. Democrats' 1970s-era energy policies have cancelled dozens of power plants, reducing electricity supplies and increasing electricity costs to consumers. Democrats' refusal to provide incentives for individuals and businesses has made it difficult to invest in efficient technologies. But Republicans have solutions that will fix this problem. We then can look at meeting our energy needs with American-made energy in the future. The comprehensive House Republican plan will fund research and development of technologies and innovations which advance the use of renewable and domestically available energy sources, increase energy efficiency, and ease the environmental impacts of energy use. We will increase the production of American-made energy in an environmentally safe way. We support actions that reduce America's dependence on energy from unstable foreign governments and dictatorships by increasing domestic production of oil and natural gas in an environmentally safe way. And we promote unconventional fuels such as coal-to-liquid technology by recovering our vast oil shale reserves and increasing access for environmentally responsible development of conventional and unconventional domestic oil and natural gas production. We want to provide coal-to-liquids financing and tax incentives. We want to advance the commercialization of the Nation's 2 trillion barrel shale oil resource, 80 percent of which occurs on government-owned land in the West. This is enough to supply all of America's needs for over two centuries. We are promoting new, clean and reliable power generation. We encourage more production of environmentally safe energy to increase the use of our vast domestic supply, reduce emissions, and keep coal- dependent communities strong. We want to expand emissions-free nuclear power, including long-term nuclear waste storage solutions and recycling spent fuel by providing production and investment tax credits for all new base-load electricity products such as advanced nuclear power and clean coal, and allowing immediate expensing for new renewable or zero-emission power. We want to cut red tape and increase the supply of American-made fuel and energy by expediting permitting for enhanced oil recovery projects, including CO2 delivery and injection, as well as permitting for new refining capacity. We want to improve environmental review and permitting to encourage the deployment of technologies which increase the efficiency of existing power plants. And we want to end ill-advised policies that have led to the proliferation of unique gasoline and diesel fuel formations known as ``boutique fuels'' which have fragmented our motor fuels distribution system, choked off supply, and exacerbated the already painful Pelosi Premium. We are encouraging greater energy efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives. We support technologies to help increase energy efficiency in all sectors of the American economy, including removing bureaucratic regulatory barriers that prevent businesses from upgrading their facilities with newer, more efficient energy technologies. We want to make home energy efficiency upgrades tax deductible, provide incentives for homebuilders and homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient, offer investment expensing for industrial and commercial building efficiency upgrades, extend the residential and business solar and fuel cell investment tax credits, with enhancements to the residential solar credit ($2,000 per \1/2\ kilowatt installed), extend the fiber-optic distributed sunlight investment tax credit, and increase energy efficiency of government-owned facilities. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1242, honoring the life, musical accomplishments and contributions of Louis Jordan on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Louis Thomas Jordan, vocalist, bandleader and saxophonist, ruled the charts, stage, screen and airwaves of the 1940s and profoundly influenced the creators of R&B, rock and roll, and post-World War II blues. Jordan was born July 8, 1908 in Brinkley, Arkansas. His father, James Aaron Jordan, led the Brinkley Brass Band. His mother died when he was young. Jordan studied music under his father and showed promise in horn playing, especially clarinet and saxophone. Due to World War I, there were vacancies in his father's band, so Jordan filled in. Soon he was good enough to join his father in a professional traveling show touring Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri instead of doing farm work when school closed. Jordan briefly attended Little Rock's Arkansas Baptist College in the 1920s and performed with Jimmy Pryor's Imperial Serenaders. He played saxophone and clarinet with them, as well as Bob Alexander's Harmony Kings. In the 1930s, based in Philadelphia, Jordan found work in the Charlie Gaines Band playing clarinet, and soprano and alto sax, in addition to doing vocals, which he recorded and toured with Louis Armstrong. During this time, Jordan also learned baritone sax, and he joined nationally popular drummer Chuck Webb's Savoy Ballroom Band featuring Ella Fitzgerald. Jordan created his own band, which was called Tympany Five, regardless of number of pieces. The small size of Tympany Five made it innovative structurally and musically in the Big Band era. Among the first to join electric guitar and bass with horns, Jordan set the framework for decades of future R&B and rock combos. Endless rehearsals, matching suits, dance moves, and routines built around songs made the band Jordan's singular brand of sophisticated, yet down- home, jump blues and vocals made it a success. In the 1940s, Jordan released dozens of hit songs, including the swinging ``Saturday Night Fish Fry,'' one of the earlier and most powerful contenders for the title of ``First Rock and Roll Record,'' ``Blue Light Boogie,'' the comic classic ``Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens,'' ``Buzz Me,'' ``Ain't That Just Like a Woman,'' ``Caldonia,'' and the million-dollar seller, ``Choo Choo Ch'Boogie.'' Jordan died in Los Angeles, California, in 1975. A host of prominent musicians claimed his influence, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry. His songs have appeared in commercials, TV, and movies and have been recorded by dozens of popular artists. Louis Jordan leaves a musical legacy that influences popular music as we know it today. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker I rise today in support of House Resolution 1050, recognizing Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as being home to the earliest known reference to the word ``baseball'' in the United States. The question of the origins of baseball has been the subject of debate and controversy for more than a century. Baseball, as well as the other modern bat, ball, and running games, were developed from earlier folk games. Previous beliefs held that baseball was invented in 1839 by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York. This belief provided the rationale for baseball centennial celebrations in 1939, including the opening of a National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Still, few historians and even the hall's vice president believed that Cooperstown was indeed the birthplace of the game, most preferring to believe that ``baseball wasn't really born anywhere.'' In 2004, however, historian John Thorn discovered a reference to a 1791 bylaw prohibiting anyone from playing ``baseball'' within 80 yards of the new meetinghouse in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The so-called ``Broken Window Bylaw'' soon became the earliest known reference to baseball in North America and allowed Pittsfield to lay claim to the honor. Baseball is unique among American sports in several ways. This uniqueness is a large part of its longstanding appeal and strong association with the American psyche. Some philosophers describe baseball as a national religion. This popularity has resulted in baseball's being regarded as more than just a major sport. Since the 19th century, it has been popularly referred to as the ``national pastime,'' and Major League Baseball has been given a unique monopoly status by the Supreme Court of the United States. Baseball is fundamentally a team sport. Even a team blessed enough to have two or three Hall of Fame-caliber players cannot count on success. Yet it places individual players under great pressure and scrutiny. Many Americans believe that baseball is the ultimate combination of skill, timing, athleticism, and strategy. The pitcher must make good pitches or risk losing the game. The hitter has a mere fraction of a second to decide whether to swing. The field players, as the last line of defense, make the lone decision to try to catch it or play it on the bounce, to throw out the runner at first base or to try to make the play at home. Baseball has truly provided countless Americans fond memories of their youth over the years, and I am honored to stand here today recognizing Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as being home to the earliest known reference to the word ``baseball'' in the United States. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. The rising cost of gas and energy prices throughout this country threatens many aspects of our lives, and the ability to attend baseball games this summer is one of those. The notion that Washington is broken is exemplified in the Democratic majority's refusal to address soaring energy prices. Two years ago, then-Minority Leader Pelosi promised the American people a ``commonsense plan'' to lower gasoline prices, but Democrats have not only failed to offer any meaningful solutions, they've put forward policies that will have precisely the opposite effect. As a result of their inaction, oil, gasoline, and electricity prices are as high as they have ever been. Once a nightmare scenario, $4 plus gasoline has become a harsh reality on Speaker Pelosi's watch, and now Americans are paying nearly $1.50 more per gallon at the pump than when the Speaker took office. This Pelosi Premium is hitting working families hard, at a time when they are confronting high costs of living, a slowing economy, and a housing crunch. This has to change. Republicans are committed to a comprehensive energy reform policy that will boost supplies of all forms of energy right here at home to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, protect us against blackmail by foreign dictators, create American jobs, and grow our economy, all those things as basic to us as our of love of baseball. This includes increasing the supply of American-made energy, improving energy efficiency, and encouraging investment in groundbreaking research in advanced alternative and renewable energy technologies. With 21st century technologies and the strictest environmental standards in the world, America must produce more of our own energy right here at home and protect our environment at the same time. That is the change America deserves. To help ease the pain of the Pelosi Premium, House Republican leaders have also embraced short-term legislation that would suspend the 18.4 cents per gallon Federal gas tax this summer and establish a corresponding freeze on all taxpayer-funded earmarks to ensure the Highway Trust Fund will not be impacted. Savings from the earmarks freeze also would be applied towards reducing the Federal deficit. A House Republican majority will work to deliver the change America deserves on gas prices with meaningful solutions that make our Nation more energy independent. Here's how we will do it. We will increase the production of American-made energy in an environmentally safe way. This includes the exploration of next generation oil, natural gas and coal, and the production of advanced alternative fuels like cellulosic and clean coal-to-liquids, all while protecting our natural resources for future generations. We will promote new, clean, and reliable power generation like advanced nuclear and next generation coal, while promoting clean power from renewable energy such as wind and hydroelectric power. Nuclear energy has proven itself as a safe, carbon-free, and environmentally friendly alternative, with France relying on it for 80 percent of its electricity needs, compared to just 19 percent in America. We will cut red tape and increase the supply of American-made fuel and energy. Limiting the construction of new oil refineries and bureaucratic regulations mandating the use of exotic fuels have decreased supply and increased the Pelosi Premium. We will encourage greater energy efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives to America who make their home, car, and business more energy efficient. We can do much to make it more feasible for families to attend baseball games this summer and participate in other normal summer activities by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and creating more American-generated energy, and I call on my colleagues to bring up the bills that will allow us to do that. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 372, supporting the goals and ideals of Black Music Month and to honor the outstanding contributions that African American singers and musicians have made to the United States. From the days of slavery and discrimination, through the progress of the Civil Rights movement, to today, black music has told the story of the African American experience. In addition to giving voice to black struggles, faith, and joys, African American music has helped also to bring people together. During Black Music Month, we celebrate this integral part of music history by highlighting the enduring legacy of African American musicians, singers, and composers. In the early days, black music was used to share stories, spread ideas, preserve history, and establish community. These spirituals eventually evolved into a genre that remains vibrant and very meaningful today, gospel music. This great musical tradition developed under the leadership of people like Thomas Dorsey, who was known as the Father of Gospel Music. In the early 20th century, the progression of jazz took place all over the country, from the deep south of New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta, to northern cities such as Chicago and New York. Jazz captured the interest of 20th century America, making household names of great African American artists like Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, and Miles Davis. The unparalleled brilliance of these and other great jazz musicians had an extraordinary effect upon the American musical tradition, while bringing great pleasure to millions of fans. Later, rhythm and blues emerged, synthesizing elements from gospel, blues, and jazz; and from these styles came the birth of rock and roll. A fabulous array of artists helped to pioneer this modern musical transformation, including Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. African American music continues to influence the American music scene today with styles such as rap and hip-hop. As we celebrate the many creative and inspiring African American artists whose efforts have enhanced our Nation, we recognize their enduring legacy and look to a future of continued musical achievement. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1051, congratulating James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, for 100 years of service and leadership to the United States. If one word could describe James Madison University, unquestionably that word would be ``bold.'' For 100 years, the institution that began as ``the little school that could'' has charged through the century like a bullet train. The campus began with two buildings, now called Jackson Hall and Maury Hall, that sat on farmland at the outer edge of Harrisonburg. Constant growth and expansion have been a hallmark for the campus ever since. Today, JMU extends over 650 acres of rolling Shenandoah Valley hills and includes more than 100 buildings. Founded in 1908 with unmatched enthusiasm that, after a century, has not diminished, today James Madison University's mission reaffirms the university's long-time commitment to meeting the needs of its students. In its earliest years, JMU's academic offerings included only what would now be called technical training or junior college courses. Today, the university offers more than 100 degree programs on the bachelors, masters, educational specialist and doctor levels. As the university crosses into the new century, the rest of the world is beginning to take notice. Through the individual achievements and service that put the power of knowledge to work embodying President James Madison's belief that a self-governing people ``must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives,'' JMU is developing, through education, leaders who are well-prepared to help shape the future of the Nation. I am honored to stand before the House today and recognize this fine university. I congratulate the university's president, Linwood Rose, the board of visitors, the students, alumni, and James Madison University for reaching this milestone, and wish the university continued success. I ask my colleagues to support the resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, unfortunately, as I was listening to the Delegate speak, I realized that the failed energy policies of the Democratic majority are going to be hurting these very groups of folks, because people can't afford to fly there for vacation; the prices of tickets have gone up so much that it is going to hurt significantly the tourism industry. Also, I think as we study the history of the contributors from the territories of the United States, we need to call attention to people to the history of the actions of the Democrats and Republicans in relation to American-made oil and gas, which is a history of support and opposition. When it comes to taking meaningful steps to provide affordable energy to the American people, Congress has the ability and responsibility to act. Unfortunately, a clear pattern has emerged over the years as one party consistently has fought to increase access to home-grown energy reserves while the other has consistently voted to expand America's dependence on foreign unstable energy instead. We have compiled the facts by the issues. ANWR exploration: House Republicans, 91 percent supported; House Democrats, 86 percent opposed. Coal-to-liquid: House Republicans, 97 percent supported; House Democrats, 78 percent opposed. Oil shale exploration: House Republicans, 90 percent supported; House Democrats, 86 opposed. Outer Continental Shelf exploration: House Republicans, 81 percent supported; House Democrats, 83 percent opposed. Refinery increased capacity: House Republicans, 97 percent supported; House Democrats, 96 percent opposed. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I want to thank my colleague from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) for the great leadership he's providing on this issue today and other days here in the Congress. I think it's extremely important to explain to the American people what is not happening in the Congress, even though they are asking us to do things. Now, I am very much a person of action. I believe in getting as much done as we possibly can. The old saying is, as long as the Congress is not in session, the American people are safe. And we often accomplish a lot of negative things here, but on this issue, that is what we have done is accomplish a lot of negative things. We need to be accomplishing positive things. I think my colleague well-characterized what's been going on as a charade. When I was in the General Assembly in North Carolina, I often gave an award called the Emperor's New Clothes Award because I gave it to bills that didn't do anything but that nobody was willing to say wasn't doing anything. And I think what the Democratically-controlled Congress--and that's what we have to keep saying because many Americans blame both Democrats and Republicans for not doing something--but they have to understand that it is the Democratically-controlled Congress that's creating the problem here. What they've done has been a charade. It deserves the Emperor's New Clothes Award, and I hope most people have read that little book and understand the issue that I'm talking about. Let me say that these are very recent polls that have been done. Sixty-seven percent of the American people believe drilling should be allowed in offshore wells off the coast of California, Florida and other States. Sixty-two percent believe that the price of gas has gotten so high that we need to begin drilling for oil in an environmentally safe way. And 57 percent support allowing drilling in U.S. coastal and wilderness areas now off limits. And let me contrast the opinion of the American public with what the Democrats have done over the years. In the last 12 or 14 years, there have been many bills put in, one on drilling in ANWR, and 91 percent of Republicans supported that; 86 percent of Democrats opposed it. Turning coal-to-liquid, which is a good way to be using coal, 97 percent of Republicans supported it; 78 percent of House Democrats opposed it. Oil shale exploration, 90 percent of House Republicans supported it; 86 percent of Democrats opposed it. The Outer Continental Shelf, 125 miles off the coast of the country, you're not going to see the wells. You're not going to see the effect, and we can do it without polluting the ocean or polluting our environment in any way. Eighty-one percent of House Republicans supported; 83 percent of House Democrats opposed it. Increasing refinery capacity, my colleague has done a very fine job of explaining why that's important to increasing supply. Ninety-seven percent of House Republicans supported it; 96 percent of House Democrats opposed it. So over the last 12 or 14 years, on the bills that have come up on these issues, on average 91 percent of House Republicans have voted to increase the production of American-made oil and gas, while 86 percent of House Democrats have historically voted against it. We need to increase the supply. I believe that part of the problem is because the Democrats are so out of touch with what's happening in America. Many of them have been in Washington 50 years or more. They don't go home on weekends. They don't associate with average Americans. They've never worked in a business. They have no idea how all the businesses in America are being affected. My family runs a nursery and landscaping business. To put a vehicle out on the road, especially one that uses diesel fuel, is costing two- and-a-half times what it cost a year ago, 18 months ago, when the Democrats took over. All we've gotten from the Democrats are empty promises, and as I said, they deserve the Emperor's New Clothes Award because it doesn't work. Their latest Emperor's New Clothes Award claim has to do with use-it- or-lose-it, which is already the law of the land. They're blaming the oil companies. They are so good at blaming everybody else and deflecting attention from themselves when they're the ones to blame. They want to blame the oil companies. They want to say the oil companies are making a huge profit. It's not popular to defend oil companies, but right now, the oil companies' profit is about 7.5 cents on the dollar. The average profit of most businesses in this country, the Standard and Poor's businesses, those listed on the stock exchange, is about 8.5 percent. I heard the other day Microsoft is about 21 percent. But I don't see the Democrats going after them. Generally, they hate business and industry because they think they're the evil people in this country, but thank goodness we have had the oil companies providing the oil and gasoline that we've needed over the years. So they want to do something called use-it-or-lose-it. Well, you know, folks, the oil companies already have a clause in their contracts. They either drill for oil within 10 years or they lose the lease. Guess who changed the lease time from 5 years to 10 years. The Democrats, back in 1992. Do you ever hear them admit that? No, they don't admit it, but that's what happened. We already are regulating the oil business tremendously. They are not the problem. It's the Democrats who are the problem. And we can't say that often enough on this floor because not enough Americans are listening. Half the people in the country think Republicans are still in charge. We're not in charge. We're the good guys. We're the ones wanting to produce more American-made products for you to use. We didn't say we had a plan to bring down the price of gasoline, but we do, and our plan will work. We're still waiting for Democrats to bring their plan. They haven't brought it. We'd love to see it. But as my colleagues said, it's a charade. I like that term, and I want to say it deserves the Emperor's New Clothes Award because, folks, it ain't there. So I thank my colleague for sharing some time with me today and for bringing this Special Order to the floor today and helping people understand before the weekend, as you go out there and you are filling up your tanks, you can hold responsible the Democratically-controlled Congress, the do-nothing-to-produce-more-energy Congress for the problems that you're having.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, this is not a failed economy. We are not in a recession. What a shame that Democrats want to talk down the economy. Under a Democratic President, 6 percent unemployment was considered full employment. Unemployment now is 5.5 percent, not indicative of a failed economy. What is a problem are high gas prices brought to us by a failed Democratically controlled Congress, failed Democratically controlled Congress, a do-nothing-to-reduce-gas-prices Democratically controlled Congress. Americans want us to do something to reduce gas prices, but Democrats continue to stonewall because they think they can blame President Bush and help themselves. What a shame. We can bring down prices by producing American energy products. Let's do it now.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice to those urging change in the face of escalating gas prices. With the start of the summer season, the far-reaching effects of ever increasing gas prices is becoming more and more apparent. It will result in a decrease in income for those in the travel industry, and that will lead to an increase in prices for dependent goods. As a result, the national economy will experience lower spending and higher prices. We are not now in a terrible economic situation, as some of our colleagues have said, but the high gas prices can lead to that. Yet in the face of this self-perpetuating cycle, Democrats are not fighting for change here. We need to move our energy production technologies into the 21st century and build more coal, hydroelectric, and nuclear plants. We have ways to increase our domestic oil and gas production, as well as renewable and domestically available energy sources. At the same time, we must support the commercialization of our shale oil resources which hold enough oil to meet America's needs for more than two centuries. Congress cannot afford to stand as an idle spectator as gas prices continue to erode the foundation of our economy. I urge Members to support Republican efforts to actively seek solutions to our current situation. American families deserve results and it is our responsibility to see that they get them.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the critical community service being performed by the Rotary Club of Clemmons, North Carolina. The Clemmons Rotary Club launched a unique initiative this year to boost awareness of organ and tissue donor programs in North Carolina. They have spruced up the sides of about a dozen semi-truck trailers with huge public service ads, calling attention to the constant need for organ donors in North Carolina. Each truck highlights organ donor programs in North Carolina and directs potential donors to visit www.DonateLifeNC.org. Currently, about 3,000 people in North Carolina are awaiting life- saving organ transplants. The Clemmons Rotary's Billboards on Wheels program is going to improve the lives of these people in need of an organ transplant in North Carolina. In fact, this brilliant marketing idea is beginning to garner some national attention from other rotary clubs that would like to replicate this program in States other than North Carolina. The trend-setting people of the rotary club are model citizens who are working to make our world a healthier and more livable place. I hope that their good deeds inspire others to take up this great outreach idea and to help match donors with those in need. Mr. Speaker, today, I also want to call special attention to the innovation and hard work of the students involved in West Wilkes High School's electric vehicle program. Under the guidance and direction of Advisor Chris Tolbert, students in the West Wilkes electric vehicle program have completely rebuilt two vehicles--a Ford pickup and a Mazda Miata--into fully functional electric cars. This award-winning electric vehicle program is exactly the sort of program we need to help teach young people the skills and technology of the future. I applaud Mr. Tolbert and the students at West Wilkes for their forward-thinking mindset. These students have custom-built electric cars, cars without gas engines, from the ground up. This is a herculean accomplishment with more than 3,000 hours of hard work going into the design and building of the Mazda Miata alone. Fortunately, their hard work is paying dividends. Not only are they investing in a cleaner environment and in an economy that is less dependent on gas and oil, but they have brought home many awards and have captured national attention for their electric car innovations. Just last month, they won multiple awards at the SMARTT Challenge competition in Raleigh. The SMARTT electric vehicle challenge, which draws hundreds of students from across the southeast, stands for Students Making Advancements in Renewable Transportation Technology. The students and teachers at West Wilkes High School are on the cutting edge of hands-on instruction and learning, and I congratulate them for maintaining one of the best high school electric vehicle programs in the Nation. I hope they'll keep up the good work. This leads me into my next comments, Mr. Speaker. The Democrats are inventing false arguments again. ``Use it or lose it'' is already the law. For Federal onshore competitive oil and gas leases, an oil company must have a producing well by 10 years. This comes from section 17(e) of the Mineral Leasing Act, (source: 30 U.S.C. 226(e)). Prior to 1992, the lease term was 5 years. The Energy Policy Act of 1992, under a Democrat House, modified it to 10 years. For Federal offshore oil and gas leases, an oil company must produce energy between 5 and 10 years. This is from the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. So House Democrats do not even know what is existing law. What Democrats would have you believe is that a lease is a license to produce oil and gas. It is not. A lease is only the start of a process involving several steps the government requires an oil company to take before it may get permission to drill. Democrats are effectively arguing that we should pull leases away from oil companies before they even receive permission to drill. That's like saying we should flunk a first grader on his first day of school because he has not yet taken his final exam. Most of the drilling on Federal leases has been for natural gas. Natural gas production was up, way up last year, and so was demand. In fact, the industry is producing more gas under these leases, but they cannot keep up with demand because Democrats and their radical environmental allies will not allow the leasing of new areas. Ninety-seven percent of Federal offshore areas are not leased. Ninety-four percent of Federal onshore areas are not leased. Again, I say, Mr. Speaker, the Democrats are inventing false arguments to keep us from increasing our supply of energy in this country.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Utah for yielding me time, and I want to congratulate and commend my colleague from Tennessee (Mr. Davis) for his work on this resolution. I want to say that this Capitol Building in which we are working today and which people are visiting every day is one of the most wonderful symbols of our country. The American bald eagle is another symbol of our country, An intangible symbol of our country has always been our independence and our innovative nature and our freedom. The people all around the world know this country for what we stand for: freedom, and the rights of individuals, and the ability to solve problems, and to create ways to solve those problems. But right now our way of life is being threatened because of the price of gasoline in this country, and there are many who believe that there are liberals in this country who think that the United States should be taken down a peg or two, that we shouldn't be allowed to be the great Nation that we are; and that one way of doing that is by crippling the United States through the inability to be independent with gas and oil. But I want to say that that's not the direction that Republicans want to be going. Republicans want us to have the supply that we need for gasoline so that we can bring down the price of gasoline. We know that Democrats have blocked our ability for that. I spoke about that a few minutes ago, and I'm not going to repeat that; but I heard my colleague on the other side of the aisle talking about the argument that there are many, many leases out there that oil companies are not utilizing. That's another tactic of the Democrats: blame the oil companies, blame George Bush, blame everybody else for the problems that we have. Don't take the responsibility yourself. But again, unfortunately, we have the facts to back up what we know is true, which is Democrats have voted against our increasing supplies. They're also wrong on the issue of leases. They talk about ``use it or lose it.'' They want to introduce a bill that has no basis. They're inventing false arguments again. ``Use it or lose it'' is already the law. For Federal onshore competitive oil and gas leases, an oil company must have a producing well by 10 years. This comes from section 17(e) of the Mineral Leasing Act. Prior to 1992, the lease term was 5 years. The Energy Policy Act of 1992, under a Democratically controlled House, modified it to 10 years. So it's the Democrats who changed the leasing terms. For Federal offshore oil and gas leases, an oil company must produce energy between 5 to 10 years. It's in the government's discretion. This is from the Outer Continental Shelf Land Act. So Democrats, House Democrats, do not even know what is the existing law now. What Democrats would have you believe is that a lease is a license to produce oil and gas. It is not. A lease is only the start of a process involving several steps the government requires an oil company to take before it may even receive permission to drill. Democrats are effectively arguing that we should pull leases away from oil companies before they receive permission to drill. This is like saying we should flunk a first grader on his first day of school because he has not yet taken his final exam. Most of the drilling on Federal leases has been for natural gas, and natural gas production was up, way up last year, and so was demand. In fact, the industry is producing more gas under these leases, but they cannot keep up with the demand because Democrats and their radical environmental allies will not allow the leasing of new areas and 97 percent of Federal offshore areas are not leased; 94 percent of Federal onshore areas are not leased. We can solve our energy problems in this country, and we do have them, but they've been brought on by the Democrats who say, We can't drill our way out of this. No, but we can do many things, including drilling. That will be a part of what we can do, and we can be energy independent. But again, many of them don't want us to be. They don't want us to have a Nation that soars into greatness like the bald eagle that we are honoring in this resolution or continue the great reputation that we have had over the years for being the greatest Nation on earth. They would like to take us down a peg or two. I know Republicans and most Americans don't agree with them.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I want to thank my colleague from Utah for yielding. I agree with my colleague from Utah that we ought to be dealing with things that are important to the American people, and it seems to me that this bill is not something that is high on the agenda of most Americans. What is high on the agenda of most Americans is the cost of gas and oil in this country. The Democratic leadership simply is refusing to deal with it and deal with it in a realistic manner. I think it's very important that we point out the history of our having dealt with these issues over the years and what Republicans have tried to do. Let me talk about the issues of supply and demand. We have tried and tried to increase the supply of fuel oil and gasoline in this country for many years. Let me tell you how we have voted on this issue: On ANWR exploration, House Republicans, 91 percent of us, have supported that. Eighty-six percent of House Democrats have opposed it. Consistently Democrats have voted against creating more supply by drilling in ANWR, a place about the size of a postage stamp on a football field as the size of ANWR is to the State of Alaska. How about coal-to-liquid. There are many ways that we can help our energy situation in this country. The Democrats say we can't drill our way out of it. Well, there are lots of ways that we could get the resources we need. We have supported the issue of turning coal into liquid fuel for a long, long time. Ninety-seven percent of Republicans have supported it. Seventy-eight percent of Democrats have opposed it. How about exploring oil shale. Ninety percent of Republicans have supported that issue. Eighty-six percent of Democrats have opposed it. It is no wonder that we are having problems with supply of energy resources in this country when we have had almost all Democrats opposing it over the years. How about drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. Eighty-one percent of House Republicans have supported it. Eighty-three percent of House Democrats have opposed it. How about increasing refinery capacity in this country, which is an issue in terms of providing the supply we need. Ninety-seven percent of House Republicans have supported increasing refinery capacity. Ninety- six percent of House Democrats have opposed it. Just so people know, we have validated these statistics by going back and counting the actual votes on these issues over the years. So here is the summary: Ninety-one percent on average of House Republicans have historically voted to increase the production of American-made oil and gas. We do have the capability in this country to become energy independent. But 86 percent of House Democrats have historically voted against increasing the production of American-made oil and gas. They obviously want us to remain dependent on foreign oil. It is something I simply cannot understand. They seem to want the American people to suffer. They and their radical environmentalist friends don't want us to do anything to increase the supply of oil and gas. Republicans do want to increase the supply of oil and gas, and the facts prove it out.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a pillar of the Ashe County, North Carolina, community, WKSK radio and its owner Jan Caddell. Most of the Fifth District of North Carolina is a rural landscape, and beautiful, mountainous Ashe County is no exception. As people who live in rural America well know, local radio stations are often the lifeblood of vital community life. WKSK radio is just such a radio station, and recent audience measurement results illustrate just that. According to these results, WKSK has the most loyal local audience in its home county of any station in North Carolina. Next year, WKSK will celebrate the 50-year mark of service to the people of Ashe County. The fact that nearly 55 percent of listeners in Ashe tune their radios to WKSK, seven times more than the next closest station, is a true testament to the emphasis that WKSK places on serving Ashe County. WKSK radio is a real community fixture, and I wish the station 50 more years of sterling service to the High Country.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I seek time to speak in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I want to congratulate people on both sides of the aisle who have worked out a way to have Amtrak work. My family and I travel on Amtrak every chance we get, and I believe that we need an efficient, strong, train system in the United States. I want to especially commend Ranking Member Mica and subcommittee Ranking Member Shuster for their work in pushing for private-sector initiatives. As a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, it's also been my pleasure to work with Ranking Member Davis on a variety of issues. I appreciate his passion for this issue, but I have to say that this amendment is eerily similar to a bill that came before that committee, H.R. 401, the National Capital Transportation Amendments Act, which summed up the largest earmark in history and would direct $1.5 billion in new Federal spending towards the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, or WMATA. When that bill came before the committee, I raised a number of concerns, including the fact that it was not referred to or considered by the Transportation Committee. When I raised these concerns, I was concerned that the OGR committee had appropriate jurisdiction to consider the issue, which begs the question why it is now appropriate to consider this amendment on a Transportation Committee bill. The fact that it's here now, it seems, proves to me, that H.R. 401 should not have been in Oversight but in Transportation. However, there are a variety of other concerns I have with this proposition. It's true that WMATA has been plagued by reports of mismanagement that compromise the fiscal integrity of the system. Management is beholding to employee unions that have run amok with overtime pay and retirement benefits, warping the system's fiscal priorities. Providing another Federal line item for WMATA is the last thing we needed to spur reform of this mismanaged system. Mr. Chairman, I would like to submit for the Record three pieces I believe articulate many of my concerns in this respect. [From the Examiner, Apr. 13, 2007] Bloated Payroll Behind Metro's Budgetary Woes Washington.--Now we know why the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority alsways seems to be out of money. Examiner reporter Joe Rogalsky examined Metro payroll records (available online at www.examiner.com/wecan) and found that the transit agency paid out a staggering $70 million in overtime last year. More than half of the top 200 hourly employees who racked up the most overtime in 2006 took home six-figure paychecks that equaled or exceeded the already generous salaries of Metro's top managers. There's something wrong when a bus driver makes more than an assistant general manager, or a Metro police officer is paid more than the director of emergency management. This is especially true when Metro managers themselves are more than amply compensated. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, average per-capita income in the Washington region in 2005 was $49,530--the fourth-highest in the U.S. But the total pay for Many metro employees is three times that amount. General Manager John Catoe Jr. says he won't ask for a fare increase this year. Instead, he plans to cut spending and eliminate 100 positions in an attempt to make up a $116 million budget shortfall. But if Metro is really stretched so thin that it had to spend an extra $70 million in overtime to keep the trains and buses running, Catoe should be hiring people, not downsizing. The answer to this apparent contradiction is that Metro's bloated payroll has long been padded by politically sensitive management with no interest in keeping down costs for passengers or relieving the taxpayers who have been bailing them out for decades. Metro's latest bailout scheme is the controversial $1.5 billion federal earmark that if adopted will also mean higher taxes for District, Virginia and Maryland residents. The scandal here is not just overtime abuses, however. Metro pensions are based on the three-highest earning years, so a unionized bus operator with an annual base salary of $50,000 and lots of overtime during those ``High Three'' years can easily end up with $80,000 in annual pension benefits. This is substantially more generous than even the old federal Civil Service Retirement System. Sooner or later, Metro will have to address its growing unfunded pension liability. Major management reforms are probably impossible under the present union contract and political leadership, which means that higher taxes, more fare increases, deferred maintenance and diminished service are likely unavoidable. Catoe is paid $360,000--more than any area elected official--and his perks include a company car, so it will be tough for him to demand austerity from the union without practicing it himself. And Metro Board members--political creatures who should be looking out for taxpayers but don't--need to learn some new pitches instead of always begging for more tax dollars. Metro employees deserve good working conditions and competitive salaries, but they shouldn't be allowed to take the rest of us to the cleaners.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of using American-produced energy. A new survey of 1,000 Americans nationwide conducted by American Solutions reveals that 81 percent of Americans support using American- produced energy, including the oil and coal already here, to combat the rising cost of energy and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. It also shows that 69 percent of Americans support using domestic energy sources, including the oil located off our coast and in Alaska. With gasoline prices averaging $4 a gallon nationwide, now is the time to increase American-produced energy. Clear majorities of Americans of every political and ideological stripe advocate that the U.S. tap into its voluminous energy resources. Despite the commonsense logic of increasing production of American- produced energy and the strong support of the American people for tapping into those resources, 86 percent of House Democrats have historically voted against increasing the production of American-made oil and gas. It is time for our friends across the aisle to join with us, the 90 percent of House Republicans who have always voted to increase energy, to join with us to do this.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the drill- nothing Congress. I wish I had thought of that phrase, but it's the headline in Investor's Business Daily, Monday, June 9. The average price for regular gas at $4 a gallon over the weekend. Gas prices have risen 75 percent since Nancy Pelosi took over. Where is the energy independence Democrats promised 2 years ago? That's the subheadline. Now I am going to quote from the article. In November, 2006, House Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi issued a press release touting the Democrats ``common-sense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices.'' She accused the oil companies of price gouging. The price of gasoline, when the Democrats took control of Congress, was around $2.25 per gallon. The average price of regular gas crept over the $4 per gallon barrier over the weekend, as measured by AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. This represents a more than 75 percent increase in the retail price of a gallon of gasoline on Pelosi's watch. Call it the Pelosi premium we are all now paying. Madam Speaker, I submit for the Record the rest of the June 9, 2008, article of Investor's Business Daily. A Gallup poll released in May showed that 57% of the American people wanted the U.S. to drill in coastal and wilderness areas. The percentage of Americans who bought Pelosi's line about price gouging fell from 34% in May 2007 to 20% in May 2008. It could be a winning issue for the Republicans and John McCain. More than 15 billion barrels of oil have been sent down the Alaskan pipeline from Prudhoe Bay, some 60 miles to the west of ANWR, over the past three decades, much more than the six months' supply expected in the beginning by those who predicted a similar environmental disaster there. The local caribou and other critters have thrived. Yet, Pelosi and the Democrats want to keep ANWR's estimated 10.6 billion barrels of oil off the market and out of our gas tanks. Buried in a Department of Interior Appropriations bill passed in December 2007 was an amendment proposed by Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., passed by a 219-215 vote in June, that prevented the establishment of regulations for leasing lands to drill for oil shale. The Western U.S. is estimated to have reserves of a trillion barrels (yes, that's the real number) trapped in porous shale rock, an amount three times the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia. On May 15, 2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee in a 15-14 party line vote rejected an amendment by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., to allow oil shale drilling and overturn the Udall moratorium. The U.S. Congress has voted consistently to keep 85% of America's offshore oil and gas off-limits, while China and Cuba drill 60 miles from Key West, Fla. The U.S. Minerals Management Service says that the restricted areas contain 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. There are 3,200 oil rigs off the coast of Louisiana. During Katrina, not a single drop was spilled. More than 7 billion barrels have been pumped from these wells over the past quarter-century, yet only one thousandth of one percent has been spilled. A study by Louisiana's Sea Grant college shows that there's 50 times more marine life around oil platforms that act as artificial reefs than in the surrounding mud bottoms. Some 85% of Louisiana fishing trips involve fishing around these offshore rigs. The Flower Garden coral reefs lie off the Louisiana-Texas border. They are surrounded by oil platforms that have been pumping for 50 years. According to federal biologist G.P. Schmahl, ``The Flower Gardens are much healthier, more pristine than anything in the Florida Keys. It was a surprise to me. And I think it's a surprise to most people.'' We would suggest that John McCain revisit his reservations about ANWR and run against the drill-nothing Congress. Energy development and the environment are not mutually exclusive. In fact, we would suggest that the first joint town hall meeting with Barack Obama proposed by McCain be held on one of those offshore Louisiana rigs.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, one of my constituents Brian Emerick, paid me a visit last year to relate the story of his fight against ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. He left me with these words, ``Future generations must not face this disease with no known cause or cure. For the Emerick family, the challenge to strike out Lou Gehrig's disease comes with the highest imaginable significance--to honor the lives of past generations who died of the disease like my father, to improve the well-being of individuals currently living with the disease like myself, and to protect the health of future generations, like my children.'' On Easter Sunday of this year, Brian finished his courageous battle with ALS with the same dignity with which he lived his entire life. It is his life that we are here to honor and his commitment to finding a cure for this disease that we are here to remember and pursue. Brian's story represents great hope that helps move us toward action to defeat ALS. Brian's life was not and can not be defined solely by his courageous fight against ALS, because he lived a full life that touched many before and after his diagnoses. Brian worked his way through school and college and later flew helicopters in the U.S. Army. He then went on to become a respected worker and leader at Rock-Tenn Paper Corporation. Brian had a well-known work ethic and never missed a day of work because of sickness. He continued working after his diagnosis and even when he visited the ALS clinic at Baptist Hospital he would tell doctors, ``I really don't get sick, I'm actually as healthy as anyone could be if it weren't for this disease that keeps slowing me down.'' The man who was a loving husband was also an amazing father. The man who was a tireless worker was also loved and honored in his work, his community and his church. And finally, that man who did all of those wonderful things, was also the man who fought ALS with courage for the past 3 years. Brian, who never liked to take so much as a Tylenol, eventually took 27 pills a day and participated in five different clinical drug studies to help fight that deadly disease. Brian, who tried never to ask people for help unless he absolutely needed it, raised more than $25,000 in the last 2 years on ALS walks with his family and friends. Brian, who had never before been in a congressional meeting, tirelessly walked the halls of Congress to advocate on behalf of those suffering with this deadly disease. Brian ended his remarkable life journey and began a final journey when he finished his battle with ALS on Easter Sunday of this year. But Brian would have reminded us today that the battle to defeat ALS is still ongoing. Brian's life story reminds us what it means to live each day with love and in pursuit of ideals that truly matter. We honor Brian's life by facing the challenge to defeat ALS, with honesty and commitment to action that improves the lives of others.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Chairman, as a member of the Education and Labor Committee I would like to address an issue of concern with H.R. 3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. Specifically, I bring to my colleagues' attention the fact that one of our Nation's most sustainable, renewable, and environmentally positive industries may be unfairly disadvantaged in the legislation that came before the House, June 4, 2008. The U.S. hardwood industry, which is prevalent in my own North Carolina district, but also extends 13,959 total facilities throughout the country, may not be adequately recognized by any of the requirements we are putting into law for our Nation's schools. It would be a travesty to have our prized native hardwoods effectively removed from new building projects only to be substituted with materials from foreign sources or less suitable alternative materials, often at higher costs. The United States Government is required under Federal law to undertake a nationwide inventory of forest resources. The most recent inventory published in 2007 by the U.S. Forest Service and referred to as the ``RPA Assessment,'' shows that hardwood growth has consistently exceeded harvest for the last 50 years. Between 1953 and 2007, the volume of U.S. hardwood growing stock has more than doubled. This solid growth in America's hardwood resource, coupled with the forest laws in the United States, provide strong evidence of good governance and efficient forest regulations. Specifically, I would ask that any green building standard required by H.R. 3021 give adequate consideration to a number of criteria: First, forest certification requirements included in green building standards still have very low participation amongst U.S. hardwood family forest owners. The vast majority of American hardwoods are grown in the eastern United States, where around 73 percent of hardwood forest land is privately owned by families whose ownership stretches back several generations. There are approximately 4 million private forest owners in the U.S. with an average parcel of land 50 acres in size which may be harvested only a few times in any generation of owners. When considering green building legislation, I would ask that the record reflect that we recognize the environmental credentials of American hardwoods in addition to any specific green building standards. Second, a typical American hardwood mill buys timber from approximately 1,800 forest owners in a single year. Those set of forest owners can differ completely from year to year. The certification requirements that are referenced in H.R. 3021 do not adequately address the challenges hardwood manufacturers face when working with thousands of owners to in effect ``prove'' the origin of the wood. It is understandable that finding certified hardwood is difficult at best. Any green building legislation should not discriminate against this proven renewable and viable resource in the United States on the basis of certification challenges. Lastly, any geographical limitations should be broad enough to allow U.S. products manufactured in one vicinity to be used in another part of the country. I am proud of the many Fifth District constituents who make products such as flooring and wood trim for projects throughout the world. Eastern or Midwestern manufacturers should not be prohibited from supplying their West Coast markets, nor vice versa, due to arbitrary geographical limitations put in place by green building requirements. Hardwoods are a natural product and cannot suddenly be produced in the proximity of the target market. It is my understanding that efforts are underway to assure that hardwoods are given full consideration in green building standards. As we consider mandating these requirements I urge that full consideration be given to these needed adjustments and that no new school construction project be forced to ignore one of our vital, beautiful, environmentally beneficial, and native material such as hardwoods.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. I want to thank my distinguished colleagues for the comments they have made. I agree with them, and I will not repeat the points that they have made in their comments to you. I often like to look back at what our Founders of this country said about different issues and remind us of the things they brought, because our founders were remarkable people and we are a truly blessed country that they came together at the time that they did. I want to give you a quote from John Adams who was writing about the importance of civic education in 1787. He encapsulated the idea behind the page program in a very simple but profound sentence on the importance of learning about freedom. He said, ``Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.'' Now, I know you all don't consider yourselves children, but I am sure if John Adams had been here, he would say, ``Young people should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.'' The experience of being a page has given you the opportunity to be instructed in the principles of freedom with firsthand experience in the halls of the world's greatest democracy. And that is what the page program is all about. That is one of the reasons I am so honored to serve on the Page Board. Having the fantastic opportunity to interact with you is another reason that I am so honored to serve on the Page Board. You are an excellent group of young people who, in completing this year's program, are embarking on a lifetime of building on your experiences, learning and working in the Nation's Capital. You have performed extremely important functions for us; but I think one of the most important functions that you perform is simply being here and reminding us every day of the people we are serving, and reminding us that the actions we take are going to affect people like you, young people like you who are growing up in this country. I do want to mention that I have had the privilege this semester of having a page here, Max Robertson, who is from the Fifth District of North Carolina. And the only reason I call attention to Max is because I think he is a great example of all of you. You are all model citizens, I think, of our country. You are all civic achievers, like Max. I know that many of you will not want to serve in elective office, but I think all of you will want to be citizens and voters after this experience. I hope that many of you will want to serve in the military, as I know Max has expressed an interest in doing, because that is one of the most sacrificial ways you can serve this country. All of you, your lives and character are examples of the high caliber of students who serve as House pages. It really has been a delight for me to get to know all of you, to answer questions, to share my opinion with you, and to hear your concerns and your issues about things, because we certainly need to get the feedback that we get from you, too. I want to congratulate all of you on successfully completing this program, and I want to wish you all the best in all your future endeavors. And I hope that you will not forget your experience here, and that you will stay in touch with us and let us know other successes that you are having and ways that the page program has impacted your life, particularly in positive ways. I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Kildee, for his leadership on the Page Board and Mr. Bishop and all the other folks who are serving on the Page Board for their wisdom and insights, and the opportunity to serve and lend my few talents to that endeavor.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, recently communities in North Carolina's Fifth District were hit hard by severe weather in the form of tornadoes. No one was badly injured in the town of Clemmons, North Carolina, when a twister left a trail of destruction leaving several families homeless but thankfully alive. But one young man, Chris Ellis, who is a senior at West Forsyth High School, proved his selflessness and heroism when he rushed to the rescue of his neighbors on Frye Bridge Road in Clemmons. Risking his own safety, Chris ran to the aid of Amber Parker and her two children who were trapped in the wreckage of their collapsed house. His demonstration of uncommon courage in the face of the awesome power of a tornado is nothing short of inspiring. Madam Speaker, I hope the example of Chris Ellis is an inspiration to his entire community as they cope with the loss of homes and memories during this difficult time. In times of suffering, it is always encouraging to know there are selfless souls like Chris ready to lend a hand even at their own personal risk.