Bart Gordon

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the members of the Southeast Community Fire Department for their selfless dedication and bravery in protecting our families, day and night. The Southeast Community Fire Department is made up of 41 volunteers, including 9 board members, and serves over 10,000 people. The department responds to fires, motor vehicle crashes, medical calls, and other service calls. In 2005, the Southeast Community Fire Department responded to nearly 450 calls. Without volunteer fire halls, like Southeast, many places in the Sixth District would lack effective fire protection. In the State of Tennessee, over 70 percent of fire service is provided by volunteers. Among these volunteers, almost 75 percent work other daily jobs. Ensuring our families' safety is not without risk. Sadly, an average of two firefighters die each year in Tennessee in the line of duty. In 2005, the Tennessee Fire Services and Code Academy dedicated a memorial on their main campus in Bell Buckle to honor those Tennessee firefighters who have died in the line of duty. For their willingness to serve, the following members of the Southeast Community Fire Department deserve recognition: Chief Mickey Summers, Asst. Chief Henry Thayer, Capt. Terry Turner, Engineer William Summers, Rodney Pryor, Raymond Summers, Billy Templeton, Randy Thaxton, Sam Clark, Aaron Bruce, David Kellogg, Charlie Johnson, Ken Weidner, Tommy Dale, Rich Goddard, Sonny Briggance, Luke McKnight, Brandon Clark, Rick Donley, Darrell Templeton, Chasey McKnight, Johnny Smith, James Civils, Lee Daniels, Steven Johnson, Patrick Foster, Aaron Kinser, Jamie Blair, John Reeser, Micheal Webb, and Kyle Withers.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the members of the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department for their selfless dedication and bravery in protecting our families, day and night. The Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1958. The department members logged over 1,600 training hours in 2006, and the department responded to 148 calls for fire and rescue services and assistance on emergency medical situations. The department has 23 members. Without volunteer fire halls, like Westmoreland, many places in the Sixth District would lack effective fire protection. In the State of Tennessee, over 70 percent of fire service is provided by volunteers. Among these volunteers, almost 75 percent work other daily jobs. Ensuring our families' safety is not without risk. Sadly, an average of two firefighters die each year in Tennessee in the line of duty. In 2005, the Tennessee Fire Services and Code Academy dedicated a memorial on their main campus in Bell Buckle to honor those Tennessee firefighters who have died in the line of duty. For their willingness to serve, the following members of the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department deserve recognition: Chief Mark Jenkins, Asst. Chief Tim Shelton, Scott Vantrease, Rick Myers, Phil Crook, Kevin Bandy, Todd Camp, Jon Pullen, Christina Pullen, Tim Reagan, Brad Penick, Eric Harrison, Jason Graves, Larry Gross, Tommy Kirby, Brandon Gross, Sean Milam, Brandon Carter, Jermey Akins, Brent Simons, Greg Carr, Megan Harrison, Devin Branham, and Troy Moss.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the members of the Smith County Volunteer Fire Department for their selfless dedication and bravery in protecting our families, day and night. The Smith County Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1986. Volunteers contracted a building, and the community bought a surplus Tennessee Air National Guard Dodge power wagon with a 250-gallon fiberglass tank. The department has nine active members. Without volunteer fire halls, like Smith County, many places in the Sixth District would lack effective fire protection. In the State of Tennessee, over 70 percent of fire service is provided by volunteers. Among these volunteers, almost 75 percent work other daily jobs. Ensuring our families' safety is not without risk. Sadly, an average of two firefighters die each year in Tennessee in the line of duty. In 2005, the Tennessee Fire Services and Code Academy dedicated a memorial on their main campus in Bell Buckle to honor those Tennessee firefighters who have died in the line of duty. For their willingness to serve, the following members of the Smith County Volunteer Fire Department deserve recognition: Chief Ronnie Jackson, Asst. Chief John Robinson, Gerald Bush, George Eisenbach, Josh Collins, Mike Posey, Jake Watts, Eddie Barnes, and Josh Tisdale.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the members of the West Side Volunteer Fire Department for their selfless dedication and bravery in protecting our families, day and night. The West Side Volunteer Fire Department was established on April 1, 1994. A State grant provided 12 sets of bunker gear and pagers. West Side Volunteer Fire Department responds to incidents including structure fires, trash or brush fires, vehicle fires, accidents with injuries, and EMS First Responder calls. Without volunteer fire halls, like West Side, many places in the Sixth District would lack effective fire protection. In the State of Tennessee, over 70 percent of fire service is provided by volunteers. Among these volunteers, almost 75 percent work other daily jobs. Ensuring our families' safety is not without risk. Sadly, an average of two firefighters die each year in Tennessee in the line of duty. In 2005, the Tennessee Fire Services and Code Academy dedicated a memorial on their main campus in Bell Buckle to honor those Tennessee firefighters who have died in the line of duty. For their willingness to serve, the following members of the West Side Volunteer Fire Department deserve recognition: Chief John Naylor, Assistant Chief Paul Simon, Captain Jack Barton, Matt Studd, Scott Tresler, Jeremy Genter, Jeremy Vassar, Jeff Smith, Dale Fulghum, Donnie Simon, Ashley Powell, and Nicholas Barton.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the members of the South Carthage Volunteer Fire Department for their selfless dedication and bravery in protecting our families, day and night. The South Carthage Fire Department has operated from the same fire station, located on Main St., next to City Hall, since it was founded in 1963. The department has serviced the community for 44 years. Without volunteer fire halls, like South Carthage, many places in the Sixth District would lack effective fire protection. In the state of Tennessee, over 70 percent of fire service is provided by volunteers. Among these volunteers, almost 75 percent work other daily jobs. Ensuring our families' safety is not without risk. Sadly, an average of two firefighters die each year in Tennessee in the line of duty. In 2005, the Tennessee Fire Services and Code Academy dedicated a memorial on their main campus in Bell Buckle to honor those Tennessee firefighters who have died in the line of duty. For their willingness to serve, the following members of the South Carthage Volunteer Fire Department deserve recognition: Chief Ed Lankford, Asst. Chief Tony Hembree, Captain A Team Blythe Myers, Bobby Hewitt, Richard Ellenburg, Scottie Grisham, David McCall, Captain B Team Grover Ellenburg Jr., John Antle, Todd Currie, Tracy Fields, Chris Dennis, Alicia Fields, Derrick Brooks, David Brown, Brian Owensby, Aaron Sterling, Ricky Slack, Safety and Training Officer Terry Wood, Kennie Bryant, and James Way. Reserve Fire Department Members: Steven Myers, Chris Fields, Jonas Bullington, and Johnny Richardson.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bob Baldridge on his retirement from the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. Bob joined TSSAA 40 years ago and was given the task of developing the classification system used in high school sports in Tennessee. During his four decades with TSSAA, he has watched the landscape of high school sports change through developments such as the introduction of the football playoff system and the implementation of Title IX. Bob's job has led him across the State countless times, but the journeys have changed over the years. There are probably few people in the State who share Bob's perspective of how the landscape of Tennessee has changed as interstates were built, towns blossomed, and school systems grew. After 40 years on the road, Bob has been to a lot of games but hasn't had much time to actually watch them. Now, he can enjoy life as a spectator and see games that are played with an honesty and heart unique to high school sports. Bob, I have enjoyed your friendship over the years, and I wish you all the best in your retirement.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and I ask my friend from Washington State if he has no further requests.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 751, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield back my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support, Madam Speaker, of H. Res. 751, a resolution recognizing the importance of chemistry and honoring National Chemistry Week. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) for introducing this important resolution. The importance of chemistry and chemical engineering in our lives cannot be overstated. These disciplines contribute to public health by helping to keep our water clean and our food pure. They contribute to advances in medicine through new biomaterials, drug design and drug delivery techniques. They help make cleaner and more efficient energy technologies possible, and they help keep toxins out of our home and our natural environment through the development of green chemicals and materials. In short, chemistry and chemical engineering contribute in immeasurable ways to the economic strength, security and well-being of our Nation and all of its citizens. This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Chemistry Week. National Chemistry Week was started as an annual event by the American Chemical Society in 1987 to make elementary and secondary school children and the general public more aware of what chemistry is and its importance to our everyday lives. National Chemistry Week activities are carried out by local sections of the American Chemical Society located in all parts of our Nation. They work with local industry, schools and museums to develop hands-on activities, provide demonstrations and develop exhibits. Through these activities, they help stimulate the interest of young people in science and in pursuing careers in science and technology. This Congress recently passed into law the America COMPETES Act. That bill was an important bipartisan effort to keep America competitive in the 21st century by supporting innovative research at universities and in industry, and by ensuring that there is a sufficient pipeline of students pursuing studies and careers in science and technology fields well into the future. The goals of the National Chemistry Week fit well with the goals outlined in the COMPETES Act. The theme of this year's National Chemistry Week is, ``The Many Faces of Chemistry.'' This theme emphasizes the diversity of chemistry careers, from science teacher to laboratory researcher, as well as the diversity of people in chemistry professions. While women and minorities continue to be underrepresented in chemical science fields, they have made important contributions to chemistry. Women received about one-third of all chemistry Ph.D.s in 2003. Hispanics and African Americans combined represent only 7 percent of all chemistry Ph.D.s awarded in 2003, even though they make up more than 25 percent of the entire U.S. population. We will need to make use of all the talent we have to stay competitive in the 21st century, but it isn't just a numbers game. The interaction and collaboration of diverse individuals with differing perspectives enriches the process of discovery and innovation and helps give the U.S. an edge over countries that easily beat us on numbers. Madam Speaker, I congratulate the American Chemical Society for its efforts to establish and sustain National Chemistry Week, and once again, I commend Mr. Reyes and his cosponsors for introducing this resolution and urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the importance of chemistry in our daily lives and the positive impact of National Chemistry Week by voting in favor of H. Res. 751. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 751) supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3776) to provide for a research, development, and demonstration program by the Secretary of Energy to support the ability of the United States to remain globally competitive in energy storage systems for vehicles, stationary applications, and electricity transmission and distribution, as amended.

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

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am pleased that the House will consider today H.R. 3776, the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act. I would like to thank my colleagues on the Science and Technology Committee for their unanimous support in making this a good, bipartisan piece of legislation. In particular, I would like to thank my good friend and ranking member, Mr. Hall, for his interest in this field of research. In crafting H.R. 3776, I adopted several provisions from a bill Mr. Hall introduced earlier this year, and he and his staff have worked hard to make this a good bill. H.R. 3776 authorizes research, development and demonstration activities for energy storage technologies that offer a wide range of economic, environmental and security benefits. Stationary energy storage systems will bring efficiencies to the electric delivery system, will improve grid reliability and security, and can even help to postpone the need for additional, costly electric generation facilities. Energy storage technologies can also help to integrate renewable energy sources into the grid by making electricity from these intermittent resources more stable and reliable. Furthermore, advanced battery systems can revolutionize our transportation sector by allowing for more electric-drive vehicles, thus reducing our reliance on conventional transportation fuels. But unfortunately, we may be fast losing our ability to develop and manufacture these technologies at home. Through the collaborative public-private research, development and demonstration programs authorized in H.R. 3776, we can ensure that the United States establishes a robust domestic manufacturing base for these technologies. To truly transform the way we manage our energy use, we must do more than make incremental improvements to current technologies. Our economic and environmental security lies in our ability to deploy the next generation energy technologies. Advances in energy storage are vital to diversifying our energy supplies and transforming our transportation sector. Once again, I thank my colleagues on the Science and Technology Committee for working with me on this legislation, and I urge all Members to support the bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3776, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, let me say there's no question that Mr. Hall played a major role in this, and I'm glad that we could have this type of, again, bipartisan unanimous bill. If my friend from Washington State has no other speakers, I have none.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation to a very dedicated and hard working employee of the House Committee on Science and Technology. Her tenure on the Committee may have been brief, but Brandis Griffith deserves a big ``thank you'' for all of her hard work. Brandis served as Deputy Communications Director for the Committee since Democrats assumed the Majority in Congress this January. She ably handled the Committee's website--both content and continued development--and assisted our press office with Member outreach and a wide range of other needs. Working with our Committee was Brandis' first job on Capitol Hill, but her poise and flexibility in the position proved she was a fast learner and an eager participant in any task set before her. She came to the Committee directly from a job with the University of Kansas. There, she spent six months developing her science writing skills as a research writer and media relations specialist in KU's Office of University Relations. Prior to that, Brandis worked in broadcast journalism as a local television reporter. In her nearly five years as a reporter, Brandis worked for both KARK-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas and KFDX-TV in Wichita Falls, Texas. Given our enthusiasm for Brandis' work while with the Committee, it may seem a bit strange that her stay was so brief. However, Brandis was offered an opportunity she simply could not refuse--a return to her roots in television. This week, Brandis began her new job as a special projects producer for WJLA-TV, ABC-7 right here in the metro DC area. There, she is responsible for developing and assisting in special reports on a variety of topics. We wish Brandis all the best in this new and exciting venture. And we thank her for her dedicated service to our Committee.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age, an event that took place on October 4, 1957 with the launch of Sputnik 1. To recognize the importance of that event, I also am introducing a House Concurrent Resolution, and Reps. Mark Udall, Ralph Hall, Tom Feeney, and Nick Lampson are joining me as original cosponsors of that resolution. Madam Speaker, 50 years ago America found itself in the midst of the Cold War, and the launch of Sputnik 1 was seen as yet another challenge in our ongoing and deadly serious rivalry with the Soviet Union. In the aftermath of Sputnik 1, America rose to the challenge that it faced. We invested in our own space program, and we undertook a fundamental reexamination of the Nation's educational system, focusing increased attention on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education--what we now call ``STEM'' education. America prevailed. Moreover, our accomplishments in space exploration opened a new era for humankind. Forever after, human aspirations and activity will extend beyond our home planet. Equally importantly, the exploration of space has evolved from Cold War competition into an endeavor that has been marked by significant international cooperation, with results that have benefited all humanity. For example, our meteorological and environmental satellites have monitored weather and climate, ocean currents, polar ice, fires, and pollution. Communications satellites--or ``comsats''--have linked the people of the world in ways not thought possible five decades ago. Precise positioning provided by navigational satellites has brought dramatic benefits to a wide swath of human activities, and ``GPS'' has become a household word. Our understanding has been irreversibly enhanced by the many scientific satellites and space probes that have enabled significant advances in our knowledge of the universe. In addition, human spaceflight, including the successful Apollo lunar landings, has inspired successive generations of young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. Finally, our national security space systems have helped defend the Nation and have provided us with the means to monitor the actions of potential adversaries. Madam Speaker, today we again find our Nation locked in a competitive struggle. A ``flat'' world, an increasingly technological world, has America competing economically in the global marketplace against well trained and well educated rivals. The competition that accompanied the dawn of the Space Age 50 years ago reinvigorated the Nation's interest in science and technology, leading to an increased investment both in research and in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. These investments contributed to the development of a technologically skilled generation of Americans that has led the world in innovation and accomplishment. The new global competition for preeminence in science and technology and innovation has led to a call for a renewed commitment to research and to STEM education akin to that which followed the dawn of the Space Age. Congress has responded by renewing our national commitment to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education with the recently enacted America COMPETES Act, but we will need to sustain our efforts in this area year after year--there is no ``quick fix''. Madam Speaker, I believe that America has received a significant return on its past investments in the Nation's space program, and we need to continue to maintain our commitment to a strong and productive space program. As a result, I and my fellow cosponsors want to honor this historic anniversary by offering the concurrent resolution that I have introduced today. To that end I would just like to close by quoting a few of the key phrases of that resolution, namely: ``Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, that the Congress-- Honors the fiftieth anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age; Recognizes the value of investing in America's space program; and Declares it to be in America's interest to continue to advance knowledge and improve life on Earth through a sustained national commitment to space exploration in all its forms, led by a new generation of well educated scientists, engineers and explorers.'' Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Katherine Brown for her service to Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District while working in my Washington, D.C., office. When Katie came to Capitol Hill from Gallatin, Tennessee, earlier this year, she quickly proved to be an able researcher, a strong writer and a hard worker. While she has been with the office only a short time, her diligence and persistence have helped me do my job better. But love and law school are now calling her home. Today is her last day in the office as Katie is moving back to Middle Tennessee to be with her fiance, Taylor, while she prepares for law school. My staff and I are sad to see her leave, but we share her excitement for this new chapter in her life. Katie, I thank you for all your help, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this legislation. Our Nation sits at a crossroads--we can follow the path of business-as-usual, or we can transform our energy paradigm by tapping into the Sun, the oceans, the Earth, and America's most abundant and renewable resource--the human spirit of innovation that has given us the standard of living we enjoy today. The Committee on Science and Technology has worked hard to address our energy challenges, and passed twelve bipartisan, consensus-driven energy and environment research bills, seven of which are included in the legislation before us today. My bill, H.R. 364 establishes an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, or ARPA-E, which will focus on developing transformational energy technologies; H.R. 906, The Global Change Research and Data Management Act introduced by Mr. Udall and Mr. Inglis, restructures Federal climate research to provide much needed information for developing response, adaptation, and mitigation strategies for communities and businesses; H.R. 1933, also by Mr. Udall, authorizes large-scale demonstrations of carbon capture and storage technologies, so that we may continue to use our vast resources of coal in a more environmentally benign way; H.R. 2304 by Representative McNerney will expand our existing geothermal energy R&D, in particular to develop Enhanced Geothermal Systems; H.R. 2313 by Representative Hooley will give researchers in the field of Marine Renewable Energy the support they need to move experimental marine energy technologies to commercial viability. H.R. 2773 introduced by Mr. Lampson will set forth new research on biofuels including studies on infrastructure needs and studies to improve the efficiency of biorefineries; And finally, H.R. 2774 by Congresswoman Giffords creates several important solar R&D programs, including programs on energy storage technology for concentrating solar power plants and solar energy workforce training; Each of these pieces which are part of the package before us today will enhance our country's energy security and I commend my colleagues for their leadership and vision. The sheer scale and complexity of our energy challenge means that Congress should begin laying the groundwork today. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, for 5 years now, the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service has conducted a program for summer interns working in congressional offices. This 6-week program is designed to enhance their internship experience by giving them an inside view of how Congress really works. It also provides an opportunity for them to meet with senior staff and other experts to discuss issues ranging from the influence of the media and lobbyists on Congress to Congress's power of the purse. The program is a joint effort of the Stennis Center and a collection of current and former senior congressional staff leaders who are serving as Senior Stennis Fellows. These fellows use their experience and expertise to design the program and to participate in each of the interactive sessions and panel discussions. Interns are selected for this program based on their college record, community service background, and interest in a career in public service. This year, 29 outstanding interns, most of them juniors and seniors in college, who are working for Democrats and Republicans in both personal and committee offices in the House and Senate participated. Mr. President, I congratulate the interns for their participation in this valuable program and I thank the Stennis Center and the Senior Stennis Fellows for providing such a unique experience for these interns and for encouraging them to consider a future career in public service. I ask unanimous consent that a list of 2007 Stennis congressional interns and the offices in which they work be printed in the Record. Yaser Ali of the University of Florida interning in the Office of Senator Bill Nelson Sue Banerjee of Northwestern University interning in the Office of Representative Nick Lampson David Bodner of Virginia Tech University interning in the Office of Representative Howard Berman Andrew Briggs of Knox College interning in the Office of Senator Herb Kohl Jeff Burdette of the University of Maryland interning in the House Veterans' Committee Sarah Coppersmith of Washington University interning in the Office of Representative Harry Mitchell Sarah Cummings of Bucknell University interning in the Office of Representative Phil English Dominic Day of Vanderbilt University interning in the Office of Representative Donna Christensen Marsha Dixon of the University of Florida Law School interning in the House Ways and Means Committee Sean Evins of Rhodes College interning in the Office of Senator Jim DeMint Jason Ferguson of the University of Florida interning with the House Homeland Security Committee Jim Goldenstein of the University of Illinois interning with the Office of Representative John Shimkus Jason Griffith of the University of Colorado interning with the Office of Representative Ed Perlmutter James Holcombe of the University of North Carolina interning in the Office of Senator Elizabeth Dole Lori Ann Holland of Mississippi State University interning in the Office of Senator Thad Cochran Ashley Howell of the University of Southern California interning in the Office of Representative Ken Calvert Jason Knecht of Shippensburg University interning in the Office of Representative Tim Holden Jenna Kubecka of Texas A&M University interning in the Office of Representative Nick Lampson Jaime Lee of the University of Southern California interning in the Office of Representative Howard Berman Ashleigh Leitch of the College of St. Benedict interning in the Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar Kaylan Lytle of the University of Tulsa interning in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Sara Major of George Washington University interning in the Office of Representative David Obey Daniel Mannion of Notre Dame University interning in the Office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Dan Meehan of the State University of New York at Geneseo interning in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Robyn Meyer of the College of St. Benedict interning in the Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar Matt Pollard of the University of Exeter (England) interning in the Senate Budget Committee Jasmine Vasquez of the DePaul University Law School interning in the House Ways and Means Committee Ben Whitehair of the University of Colorado interning in the Office of Representative Diana DeGette Amber Woodward of the University of Pennsylvania interning in the Office of Representative Dennis Moore

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Plunkett for his outstanding service while working in my Washington, D.C., office. After 9 years of assisting me in serving the residents of Middle Tennessee, David is retiring from the Hill and moving on to other endeavors. David's hard work, insight and meticulous work ethic while serving as my legislative director have helped me do my job better. His advice has been immensely helpful to me, and he has been an invaluable source of institutional knowledge for newer members of my staff. While David's responsibilities have grown over the years, he has maintained his down-to-earth demeanor. He has always been willing to mentor new staff members and take a moment to give a thorough explanation to someone looking for greater understanding of a legislative concept. The void David will leave is not only measured by his experience and knowledge, but also by his personality. His dry sense of humor and skill at playing the devil's advocate will be missed, and my staff and I know we will also miss the stories of his summer travel adventures with his wife, Vickie. David, thank you for your hard work over the past 9 years. I wish you all the best in the future.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

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

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to a new but valued member of our committee, Mr. McNerney from California.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank my friend and ranking member for the work that he did in bringing this bill before us today. I also want to thank him on all of the good things that he said about this bill. It sounds like we almost got him. We did have a conference, and when you have a conference, you have to make compromises. This is probably not a perfect bill, but as Dr. Ehlers said earlier, he has never seen that perfect bill. But I will remind everyone that every Senator, Democrat and Republican, signed the conference report, and it was bipartisanly signed in the House. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).