Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of this bill designating the Cashwell Drive postal facility in Goldsboro, North Carolina, as the John Henry Wooten, Sr. Post Office Building. As an educator, public servant, and devoted member of the community, Mr. Wooten selflessly dedicated his life to those around him. A veteran of World War II, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from North Carolina A&T State University. Throughout his distinguished career as an educator, he served as a science teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent. He was also active in his alma mater, serving as a trustee and as the national president of the alumni association. He was one of two North Carolina educators chosen by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve on the White House Commission for Education. Beyond his responsibilities as an educator, Mr. Wooten, in 1986, became the first African American chairman of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, a position he ultimately held for 12 years. His community lost a tremendous citizen when Mr. Wooten passed away in January. His dedication to family, church and community will never be forgotten. And I urge our colleagues to pass this bill in honor of a deserving human being. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Georgia (Mr. Deal).

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my fellow Members of Congress in lamenting the senseless murder of 50-year-old Alexandria, Louisiana, letter carrier, John Marty Thiels, on Thursday, October 4, 2007. Mr. Thiels was a 30-year veteran of the Alexandria post office. For over 20 years of that time, he faithfully carried mail on the same route in downtown Alexandria and became well known in the community. On the fateful day of Mr. Thiels' death, a local deranged man went on a shooting spree, eventually taking the lives of five people, including Mr. Thiels, before police were able to take control of the situation. When Mr. Thiels' life was taken, he was simply going about his daily routine of delivering mail to a local law office in Alexandria, Louisiana. This terrible event goes to demonstrate that public servants are not immune from harm. On the contrary, many of them brave unforeseen dangers every single day, including innocent letter carriers such as Mr. Thiels. The death of Mr. Thiels was a senseless and heartbreaking tragedy for both his family and the community that he served so well for over three decades. Mr. Thiels' family and his community deserve our deepest sympathy and condolences for their loss. The naming of this post office is a fitting tribute to Mr. Thiels and his dedicated service to the postal service. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

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

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today to urge passage of this bill designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 59 Colby Corner in East Hampstead, New Hampshire, as the Captain Jonathan D. Grassbaugh Post Office. Described by his family as ``the epitome of an officer and a gentleman,'' Captain Jonathan Grassbaugh was a truly remarkable young man. Born into a military family, Captain Grassbaugh moved to New Hampshire at the age of 3. After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy, he attended Johns Hopkins University where he earned his degree in computer science. During his time at Hopkins, Jonathan rose quickly through the ranks of his Army ROTC class, selected as the cadet battalion commander his senior year. Jonathan's dedication and sense of honor served as a driving force behind the JHU Ranger Challenge team winning brigade competitions 2 years in a row and the battalion being rated third in the nation among 270 ROTC units. In the words of one of his professors, ``In my 9 years of teaching ROTC, Jonathan Grassbaugh was by far one of the most energetic and conscientious young men that I have ever had the honor to teach.'' In 2005 during his first tour in Iraq, Captain Grassbaugh served as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Michael Ferriter, a top adviser to the U.S. military commander in Iraq. Speaking at Jonathan's funeral, Ferriter commented on the young man he grew to know so well: ``He made me a better leader and a better man. He was simply as good as it gets. He was the best; a warrior, friend, comrade, loving husband, and caring son.'' In June of 2006, Jonathan married his college sweetheart, Jenna, just a few days after her graduation from Hopkins. A few weeks later he was deployed to Iraq as a member of the 73rd Cavalry, 5th Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. On April 7, 2007, the 25-year-old Grassbaugh was killed by an IED while conducting a combat logistic patrol in Zaganiyah, Iraq. A loving husband, dedicated son, and accomplished soldier, Captain Grassbaugh was and will remain a shining example of America's best. Though we will never have the privilege of knowing the limits of his seemingly endless potential, the memory of his spirit, honor, and dedication should live on as an example to others. In the words of the Reverend Frederick Pennett at his funeral, ``He laid down his life for us and for his country. There is no greater love than this. Jonathan's story and his memory will go on forever.'' I urge that we help preserve the memory of Captain Jonathan Grassbaugh with passage of this bill, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this fitting tribute. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, while there has been considerable congressional attention to tragic events which took place in Somalia, Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia, Darfur, and elsewhere, very little light has shined on what happened in 1992, less than 20 years ago in the Caucasus. Everything changed for the small, little known Azerbaijani town of Khojaly between February 25-26, 1992. Sixteen years later, for the people of Azerbaijan and the region, the word ``Khojaly'' stirs up memories of pain and sorrow. In the middle of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Armenian troops supported by a Russian infantry regiment razed Khojaly, brutally murdering 613 people, annihilating families, disabling some 1,000 civilians, capturing 1,275 persons and leaving 150 people unaccounted for. This year, as in previous years, those residents of Khojaly, who survived the massacre, are appealing to hold Armenia responsible for this crime. ``We appeal to the international community with pain and hope,'' says a statement by survivors of Khojaly. Many human rights groups and media outlets at the time sought to draw attention to the events and solicit international condemnation. Human Rights Watch called the tragedy at the time ``the largest massacre to date in the conflict.'' The extent of the cruelty of this massacre against women, children and the elderly was unfathomable. Memorial, a Russian human rights group, reported that ``scores of the corpses bore traces of profanation. Doctors on a hospital train in Agdam noted no less than four corpses that had been scalped and one that had been beheaded . . . . and one case of live scalping:'' According to the British newspaper The Independent (February 29, 1992), ``Elif Kaban, a Reuters correspondent in Aghdam, reported that after a massacre, Azeris were burying scores of people who died when Armenians overran the town of Khojaly, the second-biggest Azeri settlement in the area. `The world is turning its back on what's happening here. We are dying and you are just watching,' one mourner shouted at a group of journalists.'' Nearly one month later, TIME magazine (March 16, 1992) wrote ``While the details are argued, this much is plain: something grim and unconscionable happened in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly two weeks ago. So far, some 200 dead Azerbaijanis, many of them mutilated, have been transported out of the town tucked inside the Armenian-dominated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh for burial in neighboring Azerbaijan. The total number of deaths--the Azerbaijanis claim 1,324 civilians have been slaughtered, most of them women and children--is unknown.'' On November 29, 1993, Newsweek quoted a senior U.S. Government official describing the aftermath of Armenia's occupation, ``What we see now is a systematic destruction of every village in their way. It's vandalism.'' Even in far-away Australia, The Age (March 6, 1992) wrote ``The exact number of victims is still unclear, but there can be little doubt that Azeri civilians were massacred by the Armenian Army in the snowy mountains of Nagorno Karabakh last week.'' Every year religious leaders of Azerbaijan's Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities issue appeals on the eve of the commemoration of the massacre of Khojaly. They urge the international community to condemn the February 26, 1992 bloodshed, facilitate liberation of the occupied territories and repatriation of the displaced communities. Despite the efforts by many, regrettably, the international community's response has not been adequate. That is why I urge Congress to join all Azerbaijanis in commemorating the tragedy. The world should know about and remember Khojaly.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, it has been more than a week since the House left town without voting on critical intelligence legislation. This bipartisan legislation would have permanently fixed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FISA, and enabled our intelligence community to monitor effectively foreign terrorists in electronic communications. A 6-month fix to FISA, the Protect America Act, expired on February 17. It had allowed our intelligence agencies to monitor foreign terrorists' electronic communications on foreign soil without time- consuming court orders. But the House refused to take up the bill that passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support by a vote of 68-29. More than 20 Democrats voted in favor of this legislation to make the Protect America Act permanent. By refusing to consider this legislation, the House is embarking on an act of reckless irresponsibility. America cannot afford to hit pause on our surveillance of foreign terrorists. Now that the Protect America Act has expired, our intelligence community faces cumbersome bureaucratic hurdles to monitoring the communication of suspected foreign terrorists. This paper-pushing approach takes precious time, which could mean the difference in thwarting the terrorists' plans or even protecting the lives of our troops. We must pass this bill now. The votes are there. Not acting endangers our Nation's security and puts barriers in the way of fighting radical terrorists. This bill has broad bipartisan support, and refusing to allow it to come up for a vote amounts to putting the so-called civil liberties of terrorists before the safety of all Americans.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise and recognize the efforts of the Nation's more than 57,000 perianesthesia nurses. This week is PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week, a week that is dedicated each year to celebrating the important work that perianesthesia nurses do. America's perianesthesia nurses practice in all phases of preanesthesia and postanesthesia care, ambulatory surgery, pain management, and special procedure areas. The theme of this year's awareness week is ``Advocacy.'' The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses has designated advocacy as this year's theme in recognition of how the depth and breadth of perianesthesia nursing meets the varied health care needs of the American population in a broad range of nursing environments. The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, which represents the perianesthesia nurses of this country, strives to advance nursing practice through education, research, and standards. The important work of perianesthesia nurses is best exemplified by their commitment to quality health care and the safety of patients in both hospital and ambulatory surgery settings. Our Nation's demand for perianesthesia nurses will increase in the coming years as the American population ages, as we make new advances in medicine that prolong life, and as we continue to witness the meteoric expansion of home health care services. Perianesthesia nurses play a vital role in the operation and success of our Nation's health care system. I ask my colleagues and my fellow Americans to join me in honoring the perianesthesia nurses who care so unselfishly and professionally for us all. The work they do happens every day all year round, and I hope they receive our appreciation on more than just this special week in their honor.

Ms. FOXX

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

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 273, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Mr. Speaker, while the music industry has changed and continues to change over the years, its importance to the lives of Americans has not. Songs provide inspiration, evoke fond memories, and even comfort us during times of need. In addition to entertaining us, we should also be mindful of the music industry's role in our Nation's economy, accounting for some $11.5 billion annually. Moreover, this sector of our economy provides jobs to thousands of singers, songwriters, musicians, producers and other recording professionals. In 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences was formed to honor the most talented music makers by creating the world's most prestigious music award, known as the Grammy Award. This unique award is not based on sales, popularity or consumer taste but is given as a peer award by artists for artists. The award also continues to be the only peer-presented award to honor the achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry. The Recording Academy's responsibility for the Grammys is only the tip of the iceberg. The academy has also expanded its scope beyond recognizing the best in music to include groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. In time, the Grammy Foundation was created to recognize the significant contributions music has made to American culture and its impact on all of our citizens in the past, present and future. Another aspect of the academy's outreach is MusiCares. Through the efforts of this program, a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies for many struggling artists in the Nation's music community are covered. MusiCares also provides educational programs that are found throughout the country that focus on the preservation of our musical heritage. Through its 12 chapters across the United States, the Recording Academy impacts the music community at large by working diligently to protect the music creators through strong intellectual property rights, addressing the legality of downloading and purchase of music on the Internet, as well as music preservation and music education. I urge my colleagues to support this concurrent resolution congratulating the Recording Academy during its 50th Grammy celebration, and recognizing its important contribution to the success and vitality of music makers.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H. Res. 867, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H. Res. 867 which congratulates the Houston Dynamo for winning its second straight Major League Soccer championship. Early in the season, the Dynamo team members weren't so much worried about defending their title as merely maintaining respectability. They brought a 2-4-1 record into Washington's RFK stadium, less than two miles from where we stand right now, on May 26. Though they lost by the score of 2-1 that night, to a man, they agreed that was the game when things turned around. The Dynamo did not lose again until July 10, a period that covered 12 games. After that, they went six more games without a loss. By then, they were back where they belonged, atop the MLS standings. The key for this team, from all accounts, was its defense. The Dynamo scored 43 goals in 30 games. Not outstanding for a league champion, but it allowed just 23 goals as opponents wore defenders from all three lines of the Dynamo attack like a cheap suit for most of the season. Brian Ching, Stuart Holden, Eddie Robinson, Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis, and Patrick Ianni formed the backbone of those three lines. Pat Onstead, who help the team set a league record for best goal-against average, 0.73 per game, provided other-worldly goalkeeping. The season was not without its drama. After recovering from the slow start, the Dynamo again flirted with elimination when it lost to FC Dallas, 1-0, in its first playoff game and trailed 1-0 and faced elimination in its second. But the Dynamo then buried Dallas in a four- goals-in-30-minutes barrage and never looked back. It beat New England in the finals 3-0. Does this sound familiar? The Dynamo showed what can happen when the team recognizes its weaknesses and buys into a plan to fix them. Congratulations to Coach Dominic Kinnear and his players for showing what can happen when we pull together and rise above. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Thank you, Congressman Garrett. I appreciate the leadership that you give to the Constitution Caucus, along with our colleague, Mr. Bishop. I thank you for letting me participate. I think about the Constitution every day and I think about it many, many times during the day. I think that what we are doing through the Constitution Caucus is an extremely important thing, that we come here and talk about it and bring attention to it to the American people, because I think that because we live in basically a peaceful time, I know we are at war with Islamic terrorists and we have to be dealing with that every day, but basically we go about our work on a day-to-day basis, we go to school, go to work, doing the day-to-day things that we do in this country without thinking too much about what is happening worldwide. But we need to be aware of the fact that it is because we have such a wonderful document as the Constitution that we are able to do that. We are a Nation of laws, and our laws are rooted in the Constitution itself. I want to say again that I don't really need much of a reminder of that, but during the Christmas recess that we had I had the opportunity to take my 11-year-old grandson and 8\1/2\-year-old granddaughter and daughter to Philadelphia for 3 days. My grandson is studying United States history, and I thought what a great opportunity for him to be able to go to Philadelphia and see where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed, where the Constitution was signed, and reflect a little bit on those documents and on this country and particularly the beginning of the country. I want to commend the trip to anybody in the United States to Philadelphia. There is a new Constitution Center there that I had not seen before. They have marvelous displays, marvelous examples of the Constitution and what it means to us on a day-to-day basis in this country. The amendments to the Constitution are spelled out, and the rulings of the Supreme Court relative to many different issues are there. So it is a great opportunity to go. But it reminds us again, I think, of the really radical notion that this country was in the 1700s and still is in many ways. Our Constitution is really a short and very, very elegant document. I know tonight that we have been talking somewhat about the Bill of Rights and what that meant to the Constitution and was the Bill of Rights needed. I know that even when the Constitution was being debated in the 1700s that there was a great deal of debate about it. But I think that one of the tasks that we should always focus on, and we do most of the time, is focus on particularly the ninth and 10th amendments, those two amendments in the Bill of Rights. I also know that coming from the State of North Carolina, that it is probably unlikely that the State of North Carolina would have ever ratified the Constitution had it not been for the Bill of Rights, and I think there were other delegates to the Constitutional Convention who felt the same way. But those of us again who have such a particular fondness for our Constitution and for highlighting it and continually bringing it to the attention of the American people, that most of the time we want to highlight the ninth and 10th amendments. Again, taking my grandchildren to Philadelphia and talking with people there and talking with them about it, you try to get people to understand the radical notion that we, the first three words of the Constitution, ``We the People,'' how radical that idea was then, how radical in many ways it is now when you look at what is happening all over the world in terms of violence and upheaval in other governments, and to realize how little of that we have had in this country because we are so grounded in the words, ``We the People.'' I want to say a little about the ninth and 10th amendments and then make some comments about my concern particularly about the 10th amendment and what has happened over the last 200 or so years in this country. The ninth amendment, of course, is the enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Again, the emphasis always is on the rights that belong to the people, those inalienable rights that are spelled out. And then of course the 10th amendment, the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively or to the people. Always the emphasis comes back to the people and to the powers that are given to the States. One of the things that troubles me the most and that I highlight whenever I talk to school groups or even other people about the Constitution and about our work here is that we have gotten too far away from the 10th amendment in our exercise of power here at the Federal level. We have taken onto ourselves at the Federal level many, many more powers than I think the Founders anticipated that we would take on. We have no business, for example, being involved in education. There is nowhere in the Constitution the mention of education, and that is not a responsibility of the Federal Government. We have taken on the issue of health care and so many more things that I think we should not be involved in. If we would contain our activities and responsibilities to those things that the Founders said we should be dealing with, I think we might be able to find governing a lot more manageable here at the Federal level. I think we have lost much of the sense of accountability for Federal spending because we are not able to put the time into it that we need in terms of oversight because we are so involved in things that we have no business being involved in. We must be very grateful for the ninth and 10th amendments, I think, because they are bulwarks against unchecked expansion, many people would say, and are really the ideological foundation of the other eight amendments. But again, we lose site of that because we go out there and get involved in all kinds of good ideas and good intentions, but they are simply violating what the Constitution says we should be about. And of course we take that oath to uphold the Constitution, but we tweak things in an effort to make better things happen. But again, I want us to constantly be reminding the American public of what they should be demanding from us. They should be demanding of the Federal Government that we not get involved in those things that are left to the States and left to the people because that takes us away from looking after particularly the defense of this Nation which again allows us to do those things on a day-to-day basis that we do without very much thinking about it. I hope that as we bring this to the attention of the public, that they will be more demanding of us in terms of these issues. There are very hearty souls out there in the country who do that on a regular basis. I know that they do it to me on a regular basis, and I am sure they do it to some of my colleagues. But I think what we need is those frequent revolutions that Jefferson talked about, that that would be good for our country. I think we saw that happen last year a little bit when the Senate was debating what they called a comprehensive immigration bill. The people of this country clearly did not want that. They spoke and they spoke with a loud voice. What I hope we will see at times when the Congress is dealing with issues that are not covered in the Constitution, that people will more often rise up and say, We don't want you to do those things. Pay attention to what we are saying. Those are our responsibilities or they are the responsibilities of the States. So I want to thank you again for having this Special Order tonight and giving us the opportunity to bring to the attention of the public the issues that we are concerned about relative to the Constitution and say that I will turn it back to my colleague from Utah who is the cochair for this Special Order.

Ms. FOXX. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey. The comments Mr. Bishop made a little bit ago reminded me, when we were talking about the second amendment, that if you look again at the Bill of Rights, and you realize that every one of those issues, almost, was in reaction to what had happened during the war for independence, and just prior to the war for independence, with the actions on the part of England toward the United States. And I think that it is very important that we remember, again, the context in which those amendments were written, because the abuses of a national or Federal Government were very, very clear in the minds of the people of this country at the time that they worked on the Declaration of Independence, and they outlined their grievances there. And then, as they looked at the amendments to the Constitution, they did not want soldiers billeted in their homes. They did want the right to assembly. They did want the right to freedom of speech. All of those things needed to be spelled out because of the abuses of power of the Federal Government. Now, we have not seen that very much in our 200-plus-year history since the Constitution was adopted. But it's very important that we put it into the historical context that it was in at the time, and understand, again, that under the rule of the British Government, they didn't have those rights and those rights could be very easily abused. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to add that to the comments that I had made earlier.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, as the global war on terror continues, it is more important than ever that our Nation secures strategic partners in fighting the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism. The nation of Turkey is just such an ally. It has proven to be a committed ally in the fight for freedom and democracy. Turkey has worked side by side with the United States to make strides in our struggle against the forces of terror. Turkey is also a nation that is in the midst of a tremendous political and economic transformation. Its economy has seen almost unprecedented economic growth in recent years, and is a shining example of the power of the market to spur investment, raise living standards and promote stability. During Turkish President Abdullah Gul's visit to Washington this month, I had the privilege to meet with him and hear his speech to the American Turkish Council about the economic and democratic promise his nation holds. He told the story of Turkey's remarkable growth and reforms over the past few years. Turkey's successes are a story of the power of freedom, democracy and economic growth. Turkey is an important ally that will play a strategic role in the future peace and prosperity of a volatile region. It is more important than ever that we hear the voices of Turkish leaders and understand their visions for Turkey's future. Speech Delivered by H.E. Abdullah Gul, President of the Republic of Turkey, on January 9, 2008 Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure for me to address such a distinguished audience. At the outset, I would like to thank American-Turkish Council for providing me with such an opportunity. I would also like to thank the Council and its members for their invaluable contributions for advancing the economic and commercial ties between Turkey and the United States. I expect ATC to continue its efforts in this regard. Turkey and the United States have been enjoying a robust partnership of a strategic nature. This solidarity is important not only for our two nations. It is also important for preserving peace, security and stability in a wide geography. Yesterday, in the White House, President Bush and I have confirmed our commitment to consolidate this valuable relationship. Ladies and gentlemen, since the end of the Cold War, Turkish-American relations have been undergoing a transformation in line with changing global dynamics. Within this context, it is crucial that our trade and economic relations should be elevated to the level of our political and military ties. Although our trade volume increased from $6.3 billion to $11 billion in 2006, these figures are still far from reflecting the potential of our two countries. Already numerous business relations exist between our two nations. But there is a vast and still growing opportunity for so many more. As members of the business and investment community, your contributions to this goal will be invaluable. Today, I will briefly dwell on Turkey's European Union bid, recent economic transformation, the near-term outlook for the Turkish economy and Turkey's main focus areas for the coming years. I would like to start with Turkey's relations with the European Union. Turkey's accession process is critically important for us. We are fully committed to doing all that takes to become an EU member because we believe the steps required are in themselves beneficial to Turkey. Turkey's reform efforts are poised to regain momentum. The Program for Alignment with the European Acquis'' envisages the completion of our harmonization process by 2013. We appreciate the continued strong support of the U.S. Administrations for our E.U. bid. Thanks to economic and political reforms of the past few years, the Turkish economy has experienced its fastest sustained growth in more than 80 years. Despite the recent slowdown, the medium outlook for growth remains strong. Turkey is already the 6th largest economy in Europe and 17th in the world. Our GDP was about half a trillion U.S. Dollars in 2007. The target is to make Turkey the world's 11th largest economy by the year 2023. Foreign direct investments have averaged to a mere one billion US dollars per year during the 1980-2002 period. This figure has jumped to 10 billion in 2005, 20 billion in 2006, and around 20 billion US dollars last year. The United States ranks fourth among the countries that invest in Turkey. In 2006, American companies invested approximately five billion Dollars in Turkey. An increase in this figure in the coming years will allow American companies to make use of Turkey's potential. The boom in FDI inflows is no accident. It reflects the improvement in Turkey's business climate and its growth potential. In World Bank's ``Doing Business Survey'', Turkey has jumped from 91st to 57th place. Turkey's main focus areas over the coming years will be: (1) implementing the social security reform and introducing a universal health insurance scheme, (2) streamlining and liberalizing the energy sector, while ensuring supply security, (3) accelerating privatization with key companies on the agenda, (4) enhancing the labor market and mitigating the financial and non-financial costs on registered employment, (5) fighting effectively against the informality, (6) improving the intermediation role of the financial sector. I believe, undertaking these reforms will pave the way for a more competitive and more efficient business environment in Turkey. I would also like to remind you that the economic and political reform process in Turkey have gone hand in hand. I am confident that they will proceed hand in hand. Ladies and gentlemen, a few years ago, we only had a road map. Today, we have results. Turkey has made significant progress in achieving economic and financial stability over the past few years. We are committed to preserving the gains and building on the success. Turkey is a land of opportunities and we are open for business. I firmly believe that Turkey provides ample opportunities to reach out to Eurasia and the Middle East. Both Turkish and American private sector entities should consider joint investment and business opportunities that they can successfully embark upon in different regions. Turkey's close historic, cultural and social ties with the Balkans, South Caucasus and the Central Asia could provide comparative advantages to these joint ventures. Cooperation on energy will bring a new strategic dimension to our bilateral relations. Such cooperation will also help in further deepening of Turkish-American relations. To the extent American companies invest in technology in Turkey, their contributions for peace and stability in the region will grow. Turkey has a flourishing economy. As Turkish economy grows, the opportunities it presents grow as well. I trust that businessmen such as yourselves will seize these opportunities, thereby enabling our economic and trade relations to develop further and for our bilateral ties to become even closer. Thank you.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a faithful pastor who served a growing and vibrant church for 32 years. Rev. Roger Baker, who is retiring from ministry at Calvary Baptist Church in King, North Carolina, has given his life to ministry in the church and the surrounding community. When my friend Rev. Baker first began pastoring at Calvary Baptist 32 years ago, it was a congregation of about 75. Today, the church has grown to nearly 900 under his astute leadership and pastoral care. During Rev. Baker's tenure, the church started a local Christian school, Calvary Christian School; and he also founded a seminary to educate the next generation of church leadership. As president of Calvary Baptist Bible College, Rev. Baker has helped to equip many for the role of pastoral teaching and care. He will continue to serve as a teaching professor at the seminary after his retirement. Men like Rev. Baker do not often come along. His faithful witness in the community and sterling Christian testimony have touched countless lives as he strives to spread the good news. This man is not only a great pastor; he is a faithful Christian. I congratulate Rev. Baker on his 32 years of service and wish him the very best in his kingdom work during retirement. The people of Calvary Baptist have been fortunate to call him their own.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, how much longer do American taxpayers have to wait for Congress to pass a sensible and fair fix to the alternative minimum tax? This highly punitive tax, originally intended to catch only the worst of tax scofflaws, will hit 23 million middle-class taxpayers next year if Congress doesn't act now. Unfortunately, the majority's delay tactics have already caused a cascade effect that will delay the tax refunds of 50 million Americans. If Congress keeps stalling, things will go from bad to worse. The Senate already rejected a poorly conceived plan that temporarily patches the AMT, but on the condition of enacting a permanent tax hike. Only in Washington does it make sense to make a temporary 1-year tax patch and counter it with a permanent tax hike. Let's stop the charade and pass an AMT fix that protects millions of middle-class Americans from a huge tax increase. If Congress delays any longer, those 23 million taxpayers will be saddled with an unexpected and severe $2,000 tax increase. The Senate sent us a clean AMT bill nearly 2 weeks ago. Before we go home, we need to do the right thing and pass it. American taxpayers deserve no less.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Wake Forest University's national soccer championship win this past weekend. On December 16, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's soccer team defeated Ohio State 2-1 in the NCAA's College Cup championship game. The Deacons scored both of their goals in the second half to come back from a 0-1 deficit to seal the deal for a 2-1 win before a capacity crowd in Cary, North Carolina. The Deacons had 22 wins this year, and their national championship win is a fitting capstone to a long road to victory for Wake Forest soccer. In the championship game against Ohio State, junior forward Marcus Tracy scored the Deacons' first goal to tie the game with 24 minutes left. It was Tracy's third goal of the College Cup, and helped to earn him the honor of being named the most outstanding offensive player of the College Cup. On the defensive side, goalkeeper Brian Edwards earned the College Cup's outstanding defensive play award. With the game tied 1-1, Zack Schilawski, a sophomore striker, scored the winning goal on a pass from Tracy with 12 minutes on the clock. This goal propelled Wake Forest to a national championship and snapped Ohio State's 15-game unbeaten streak. I salute the fine soccer players and coaches at Wake Forest led by Coach Jay Vidovich for winning the University's first national soccer championship. Their inspiring performance is worthy of the most hearty congratulations.

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight a true hero of the American home front. While our brave men and women of the armed services are stationed abroad, it is more important than ever that average Americans take steps to remind our military personnel that they are not forgotten. Jackie Williams of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a home-front hero. Ms. Williams, who owns a candy store called Sweeties, has taken her skills as a connoisseur of sweets and used them to brighten the days of our deployed men and women. To date, she has organized local community organizations, businesses and families to send more than 300 care packages to our troops. These packages, which she has dubbed ``Goodies Ready to Eat,'' or GREs, have been encouraging our men and women in uniform around the world since this past July. The work and care of Ms. Williams and those like her is a priceless contribution to our troops' morale as they are stationed around the world and away from their families. I applaud her for her commitment to showing our troops that we are thinking of them and look forward to their quick and safe return home. Wake Forest Men's Soccer National Championship

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today in support of H.R. 3454 which our distinguished ranking member on the Agriculture Committee (Mr. Goodlatte) has cosponsored with Congressman Boucher. H.R. 3454 requires the U.S. Forest Service to convey, without consideration, 8 acres of the George Washington National Forest in Alleghany County, Virginia, to the Central Advent Christian Church. The conveyance includes a 6-acre cemetery and 2 additional acres between the cemetery and Interstate 64. While typically the Forest Service would sell this property under existing authority, they did not receive any bids when they attempted to sell it. Clearly, the Forest Service should not be in the business of owning a cemetery, particularly that has been managed by the community church since 1941 under a special use permit. The church has tried to acquire the property, but for financial and other reasons has been unsuccessful. The cemetery also creates some management problems for the agency, since there is a fair amount of maintenance associated with it. This conveyance makes sense for the Federal Government and for the community church. It will allow the Forest Service to focus on the land Congress intended the agency to manage. I urge adoption of this bipartisan legislation.

Ms. FOXX. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the third consecutive national football championship won by Appalachian State University this weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The ASU Mountaineers soundly defeated the University of Delaware 49-21 in the football championship subdivision's championship game on Friday before a record- breaking crowd at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. In taking the 2007 FCS championship crown, ASU becomes the first football team in history to win three consecutive national championships. Friday's win was the crown jewel of an eight-game winning streak that propelled the Mountaineers to their historic ``three-peat.'' 2007 was a historic year for football at Appalachian State. The Mountaineers began the year by defeating Michigan in an epic battle that proved to football fans around the country that this team is for real. So it is fitting that a season that began on such a historic note should end with an even greater achievement and place Appalachian State squarely in the record books. This year, ASU went 13-2, defeated one of the most highly ranked teams in football and secured a record three straight national championships. ASU has proven that this is a team not only of skilled athletes led by a dedicated coaching staff, but that this is a team with heart and incredible drive. Friday's game showed how much the Mountaineers are committed to playing the game with excellence every time they take the field. The Mountaineers, led by Coach Jerry Moore, notched their third consecutive championship with stellar play on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. They started the game by scoring on three possessions in a row. This put them out to an early 21-0 lead that set the tone for the rest of the game. Quarterback Armanti Edwards, who suffered shoulder injuries earlier in the season, led the team by throwing three touchdowns, running for 89 yards on 18 carries and completing 9 of 15 passes for 198 yards. Running the ball was Kevin Richardson, the Mountaineer running back, who rushed for 118 yards against Delaware in the championship game and padded the Appalachian State lead with two touchdowns. All told, the Mountaineers racked up 358 rushing yards in their 28-point margin of victory. On the defensive side, senior defensive back Corey Lynch wrapped up an illustrious tenure at Appalachian by finishing the game with four pass breakups, making his college career total 52. This gives Lynch the NCAA Division I record for pass defense. What makes this team all the more remarkable for their three straight national championships is how they coalesced around a combination of talent and grit that the sports establishment either ignored or overlooked while the football program at Appalachian just continued to get better and better. There is a taste of America in the Mountaineers' football triumphs. They are a team of hardworking players who know what it means to walk the walk, but who know best what it means to earn the title of champion. This team of scholar-athletes, under the leadership of Coach Moore, has shown America that we don't need famous names or star power to win championships. What counts most are hard work and perseverance. I salute all the players, coaching staff, and the extended ASU family for a third straight national championship. This has been a great year for Mountaineer football, and I expect that next year we will see more of the same.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I would like to echo the sentiments of my colleague and express support for H.R. 1374, which authorizes the sale of 114 acres in the Apalachicola National Forest in Florida, the proceeds of which can be used only to purchase private inholdings from willing sellers. H.R. 1374 passed the Agriculture Committee last week by a voice vote. The land proposed for sale is a small tract that is extremely difficult for the U.S. Forest Service to manage, given its proximity to the City of Tallahassee and the surrounding development. Properties such as this, which contribute little to meeting the Forest Service mission, unfortunately diverts scarce resources from other lands that need management. In addition to relieving the Forest Service of the management problems this tract creates, the bill will also help the agency reduce the number of private inholdings within the forest if the private owners are interested in selling. Inholdings are a common problem throughout many national forests in the East and create significant access and management issues for the landowners and the agency. I urge adoption of this bipartisan legislation, and reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Food Lion, a North Carolina business success story, for 50 years of doing business the right way. Food Lion, founded in Salisbury, North Carolina, in 1957, today boasts a chain of 1,300 supermarkets spread throughout the Southeast and mid-Atlantic States. Food Lion's 73,000 employees serve more than 10 million customers every week and embody the ethic that great service in local communities is a formula for a successful and profitable business. This company has shown a true commitment to its employees by offering employees a working environment that focuses not just on good wages, but also integrates working conditions and profit-sharing arrangements that are some of the best in the retail business. And Food Lion's business model doesn't stop at the bottom line or with treating employees right. Food Lion gives back every year to many community organizations and charitable causes, including the Children's Miracle Network, America's Second Harvest Food Banks, Easter Seals, the United Way, the American Red Cross, and local schools. Food Lion represents the type of company that helps make North Carolina and America great. I applaud their 50 years of service to hundreds of communities and wish them many more years of success.