Bart Gordon

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, once again I want to thank the majority and minority members of the Science and Technology Committee for working together on this collaborative good effort. To my friend, my passionate friend from Illinois, let me say, just as he knows that you can't turn an oil tanker around on a dime, the fact of the matter is that we can't overturn the 4 or 8 years previous nearsighted policy on a dime either. But rather than point fingers and trying to be a partisan debate here, we can work together and make some changes. This nanotechnology bill is one more effort in helping to provide American technology for domestic production of energies of all sorts, the energies of the future, the jobs that come with that.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Then I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology Innovation, Mr. Wu, from Oregon State.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and suggest we pass this very good bill.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

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

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5940) to authorize activities for support of nanotechnology research and development, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Carol A. Warren on the occasion of her retirement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and for her many years of outstanding federal service. Carol has been a tremendous help to me as a liaison with the Nashville District. Her knowledge of how local, state and federal government work together has proven to be a valuable asset to the Corps and its many projects. She has served with distinction and the highest degree of professionalism. Through her many contributions to the Corps of Engineers, she has consistently demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership and dedication. In 1990, Carol started her work with the Corps as the Nashville District Commander's Secretary, supporting nine District Engineers, before eventually being promoted to Executive Liaison Officer. While Carol is officially retiring, she will not leave the Corps entirely and has agreed to return part-time to train someone for her position. It has been a real pleasure working with Carol over the years. I congratulate her on a great career and wish her the best in her retirement. Thank you, Carol, for a job well done.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Dr. Lon Nuell, who passed away March 12. Leon Richard Nuell served on the Murfreesboro City School Board for 12 years and taught as an art professor at my alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University, for 37 years. He was up for re-election to the school board this year and received nearly 400 votes posthumously as a testament to his legacy. Lon did many things to improve the quality of education for children in Murfreesboro, including banning the practice of corporal punishment, championing full-time art teachers in each city school and establishing the Murfreesboro City Schools Foundation, an organization that fundraises for local schools. Lon was a founding member of Congregation Micah in Nashville and the Tennessee Holocaust Museum. He facilitated the acquisition of two exhibits to educate the public through art--exhibits the Tennessee Holocaust Museum is now releasing to tour the United States. Lon was the faculty advisor of MTSU's Hillel and helped establish Friends-in- Faith, an interfaith group with members representing almost every religion in Middle Tennessee. Prior to his unexpected passing, several community programs--Read to Succeed, Success by 6 and Project Pass--were establishing a literacy center in a space provided by First Baptist Church on East Main Street in Murfreesboro. It is fitting tribute that they have named the center the Lon Nuell Family Literacy Center. Lon believed in education for everyone and in the strength of collaboration. Lon will be sorely missed by the community, his friends and family; wife, Christie and three sons, but his legacy will live on.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a talented individual who has been a dedicated member of our Committee staff--Alisha D. Prather. Alisha came to the Committee as the communications director for the minority staff at the beginning of the 108th Congress. She filled a newly created position since the minority staff had functioned without a press person for some years. Her degree in Telecommunications from Baylor University and a Master's in Communication Studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette meant Alisha was well prepared for the job. She also came to us with a great deal of work experience on Capitol Hill under her belt. From the start, the challenge Alisha faced on the Committee was taking technical, scientific information and translating it into an interesting and informative message for the American public. She succeeded. With her quick intellect and some long hours, Alisha soon produced an organized press shop, building enormous credibility with our science constituencies, the public and the media. One of her first projects as the new communications director was to shepherd the minority website through a top to bottom redesign. She did an outstanding job. The website received a Congressional Management Foundation Gold Mouse Award in 2006, recognizing the site as one of the best web sites on Capitol Hill. Alisha did it again in 2007 when our Committee website received another Gold Mouse Award and was judged to be the number one committee website in Congress. With our move to the Majority in 2007, Alisha undertook the task of meeting the press needs of a growing staff and an increasingly busy Committee agenda, while assuring that my media needs and the needs of our active Membership were well attended. Prior to her time with us, Alisha worked for 8 years as the communications director for Representative Chris John of Louisiana. For several years, Alisha also served as the communications coordinator for the Blue Dog Coalition. Alisha leaves the Hill after 11\1/2\ years here, and she will be missed. She's heading to Texas which takes her that much closer to her home State of Louisiana. Although a huge fan of Capitol Hill and the Washington, DC area, Alisha has always had an interest in spending some time closer to home. We wish her well as she takes on a new challenge--Director of Communications for the new Galveston National Laboratory projected to open in November of this year. As Alisha says, it's the opportunity to build something from the ground up. We're quick to point out that she did just that with our press operation here at the Committee, and we extend our sincere thanks to her for a job well done.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, my mother grew up way out in the country, way, way out in the country, and when she was a young girl their house burned. The only things they saved were their lives and the clothes on their back. Today, 70 years later, whenever my mother hears a fire engine or sees a fire truck, she tells me that story about how her house burned, almost in a trance. It is a very traumatic experience when a family goes through something like this. That is the reason that our committee worked in a bipartisan way to try to come forth with a very good bill that would help to save lives, save property and help our firefighters do a better job of hopefully shielding some other families from that trauma that my mother went through. It is really unfortunate after all of that work that the gentlewoman would come forth with a mischievous amendment that has had no discussion. We don't know anything about is there a liability problem or not. We don't know whether or not this is going to affect States' own liability or whether this is going to preempt it. The gentlewoman had an opportunity, if this is such an important issue, to both come before the committee and talk to us at the subcommittee level. But there was no discussion. She could have come to the subcommittee markup, where it passed unanimously. But there was no discussion. She could have come to the full committee markup, where again it passed out unanimously, but there was no effort. Or she could have gone to the Rules Committee and asked to have a rule and be allowed to submit the amendment so we could have a discussion, even here at this late date. But there was no effort. Quite frankly, I think this is a game of ``gotcha.'' It is an insult to the Democrats and Republicans on the Science Committee, who worked hard to put this good bill together. It is an insult to the firefighters, who are trying to do their job every day and who need these funds and training. It is an insult to all those individuals and organizations that endorsed this bill, like the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Firefighters, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, the International Association of Arson Investigators, the North American Fire Training Directors, the International Fire Services Training Association, and the Congressional Fire Service Institute. They endorsed this bill because it is a good bill, a bill that will help firefighters do their job. It is very unfortunate that we are trying to play these games at the last moment. Mr. Speaker, I recommend that we vote down this amendment that we know nothing about and that we move forward with this good bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Mitchell for yielding to me, and I want to thank him for the introduction of this important and outstanding piece of legislation. As my friend Dr. Gingrey said, this is a bipartisan piece of legislation coming out of what I hope is thought of as a bipartisan committee. I want to thank him, as well as Mr. Wu, for their work as the subcommittee chairman and ranking member. I want to thank Mr. Hall for his help in getting this bill out as the ranking member of the committee. We have passed more than 30 bills and resolutions out of the Science and Technology Committee, all of which have been bipartisan, and all but one have been unanimous. This is another one of those unanimous bills. I think that happens because we are working together to try to do it the right way. We had a good subcommittee hearing. We had a subcommittee markup, a full committee markup. When you do it that way, you get the type of third-party endorsements that Dr. Gingrey talked about. We have the endorsement of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Firefighters, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National North American Training Directors, the International Fire Service Training Association, and the Congressional Fire Service Institute. That is quite a lineup to demonstrate the support for this good bill. I also want to thank the members of the committee for their work as this bill was crafted. Ms. Richardson was particularly helpful in bringing her experience of firefighting from a coastal area, and made us realize that a curriculum in marine and port firefighting was important. This is a good bill done the right way, and I thank all parties for their participation. Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to place into the Record an exchange of letters between the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Homeland Security. Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, March 28, 2008. Hon. Bart Gordon, Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Gordon: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 4847, the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007. Though H.R. 4847 implicates the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security, I will not seek a sequential referral of this bill because I share your interest in assuring that this legislation is brought to the House floor in an expeditious manner. Agreeing to waive consideration of the bill should not be construed as the Committee on Homeland Security waiving its jurisdiction. Further, the Committee on Homeland Security while forgoing a sequential referral of this bill, reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this or similar legislation. I ask for your commitment to support any request by the Committee on Homeland Security for the appointment of conferees on H.R. 4847 or similar legislation. In addition, I ask that you please include this letter and a copy of your response acknowledging the Committee on Homeland Security's jurisdictional interest in this bill and indicating your support of our agreement in the committee report on H.R. 4847 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of Donald S. Lopez. Don, described as a ``walking encyclopedia'' by his friends and colleagues, was hired by the Smithsonian as assistant director for aeronautics in 1972. He was part of the team, which included Apollo astronaut and then director Michael Collins, that planned the National Air and Space Museum, which opened in 1976 and would become the most visited museum in the world. Don's love of and knowledge of flight began as a boy--seeing Charles Lindbergh parade through the streets of Brooklyn, New York; reading World War I aviation publications; and hitching rides on barnstormers. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942. A year later, Don received his wings. During his 2 years in China, he flew 101 missions and scored five victories to become a World War II ace fighter pilot. He received the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with One Oak Leaf Clusters, Soldier's Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Soldier's Medal, and Chinese Breast Order of Yun Hui. After World War II, he became a test pilot and finished his education, earning a master's degree in aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology. Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman was one of his classmates. In the early 1960s, Don helped establish the aeronautics program at the new U.S. Air Force Academy. He retired from the Air Force in 1964 and worked as a systems engineer on the Apollo-Saturn Launch Vehicle and Skylab Orbital Workshop. Lopez became deputy director of the National Air and Space Museum in 1983 and held various advisory positions through the late 1990s. He was most proud of the Pioneers of Flight gallery, which he filled with ``such great airplanes.'' In his lifetime, he flew more than 32 different types of aircraft. I am especially grateful to Don for choosing my constituents at Corporate Flight Management and Tangent Industries to rebuild and modify a Cessna 150 for an interactive display in the museum's How Things Fly gallery. Don Lopez will he interred at Arlington National Cemetery on April 22, 2008. A memorial fund at the National Air and Space Museum has been named in his honor. Donald S. Lopez--a war hero, test pilot, educator, and preserver, of our Nation's aeronautic achievements--was truly a renaissance man.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Road Runners Club of America. The initial organizational meeting took place on February 22, 1958, in a small hotel room in New York City. Five running clubs emerged from that meeting. Today, the RRCA has more than 700 member clubs, representing 180,000 distance runners nationwide. Included among these are 18 clubs from Tennessee with a total of 5,600 members. The Murfreesboro Pacers and the Murfreesboro Half Marathon are among them. In the late 1950s, jogging for heath and fitness was practically unheard of and there were very few distance racing events in the United States. The Long Distance Log, publication with a circulation of 126 readers, was the chief means of communication with distance runners. In the August 1957 issue of the Long Distance Log an editorial by Olympian Browning Ross proposed developing an organization for American distance runners. The concept was modeled after the Road Runners Club of the UK, which was founded in 1952. He suggested that membership include not only runners, but also officials, race sponsors, coaches and more. Ross envisioned the group would encourage running, meet regularly, raise funds, coordinate schedules, recruit sponsors and promote competition in long-distance races. Response to the concept was positive; meetings were held in December 1957 and shortly thereafter, the Middle Atlantic Road Runners Club was established. And on February 22, 1958, the Road Runners Club of America was born. Meeting at the Paramount Hotel in New York City, Ross and nine others discussed the general direction for the organization and developed the basic operating structure. Ross was named acting provisional president. The first RRCA National Championship races were awarded, and events were held in Chicago, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Interest in the RRCA increased and by April 1958, the New York Road Runners Club, now the New York Road Runners, was established with 29 members. In February 1959, the Michigan Road Runners Club was established in Detroit by Hugh Jascourt and Frank McBride. Several months later, the RRCA held an annual meeting at the Paramount Hotel in New York City. The group elected president Dick Donohue, treasurer Steve Thomas, and co-secretaries Tom Osler and Browning Ross. They served as the first officially elected officers of the RRCA. At the 1960 annual meeting Ted Corbitt was elected president. ``Those were tough days, days of survival [for the RRCA]'', Corbitt wrote. ``Instead of recognizing the good work the RRCA was doing to promote distance running, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) refused to admit the RRCA as a member club and took the position that the RRCA was illegal.'' In those days, the AAU was the ruling body of sport; they advised the RRCA to function solely as a social or fraternal group and not conduct races. The early 1960s saw the development of new running clubs around the country. By the end of the RRCA's third year, its members had hosted over 600 races around the country compared to the previous handful of races. Over the years, the RRCA has been credited with developing course certification programs, establishing the first events for recreational joggers, removing age requirements for racing, encouraging competitive opportunities for women, creating a Hall of Fame for distance runners, and obtaining insurance and IRS tax-exempt status for member clubs. Many important publications have been developed by the RRCA including fact sheets on cold and hot weather running, safety for runners, guidelines for buying a pair of running shoes, tips for helping children start running and many more. By the 1980s, RRCA membership included 400 clubs and elected its first woman president, Henley ``Gibble'' Gabeau. The first edition of the RRCA Children's Running Booklet and the Parent & Teacher's Curriculum authored by Don Kardong, an Olympic marathoner and future RRCA president, and Jim Ferstle were circulated to thousands for clubs, teachers, schools and more. More recently the RRCA has developed a coaching certification program, as well as the Roads Scholar Program to support aspiring international caliber American distance runners. In 1997, the RRCA gave a grant through the new Roads Scholar Program to Deena Drossin (Kastor), a young distance runner who went on to win the bronze medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon. Over the last 50 years, the RRCA has stayed true to its mission. The future of long-distance running and the RRCA's impact on the sport will continue to be written for years to come.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Murfreesboro, Tennessee as a national center for traditional American music. The objective for the national center is to educate, market and preserve traditional American music, including old-time music. A learning center will offer concert and performance venues for individual artists. The Uncle Dave Macon Day Festival has 30 years of experience promoting and developing the traditional music and cultural heritage of Middle Tennessee. Traditional American music includes folk music, blues, gospel, dance music and any kind of acoustic that is learned primarily from oral tradition. With the aid of Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro can offer the community highly qualified graduates to manage and staff the national center for traditional American music.- MTSU College of mass Communication offers young people the chance to become major players in recording industry, journalism, photography, television and radio-all media on which Uncle Dave Macon Day depends.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 971. My home State is known as the Volunteer State, and over the last 8 days, the people of Tennessee have proven why we wear that nickname so proudly. When I visited with my neighbors in Macon, Sumner and Trousdale counties after the storm, the devastation was unimaginable. In many instances homes and businesses weren't just knocked down; they were completely gone. People were hurting. But you could not spend time with them without recognizing how strong the community is. And I saw it again and again last week. In the worst of circumstances, friends, neighbors, complete strangers all banded together to help those who are hurting right now. As many of you watched the news last week you no doubt learned that, while Tennessee took the hardest hit, this was not something exclusive to us. People in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Indiana also put their lives on hold to help their neighbors recover. While we can rebuild our communities, we cannot replace human lives. Today I rise to remember the 13 lives lost in Macon County, the 7 in Sumner, the 2 in Trousdale. I also want to honor the First Responders and the volunteers who have treated the injured and who are working so hard to put our communities back together. It's going to take some time, but we're going to get there. And I want to thank President Bush and Governor Bredesen for acting so quickly to get help to our communities. I thank my colleagues for their support last week and their continued support throughout the recovery process. As the President accurately stated a week ago, at times like these, ``Prayers can help and so can the government.'' In Middle Tennessee and throughout the South, we will continue to need those prayers and need the President's help as we work to rebuild the lives and communities affected by these storms. The national cameras are gone and the debris is being removed, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, my grandfather used to tell me that the most important road in the county was the one in front of your house. And I think we all know that is true in many different ways, particularly in times of tragedy. We have been in this well and we've talked about Katrina and we have talked about a bridge that fell in Minnesota, and we have all had tragedies in our areas in different ways, and I think we all feel sympathetic. But for those folks in Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, once again we feel it very intensely. It is the road in front of our house today. There were 50 lives lost, 32 in Tennessee, 22 of those were in my district. Many folks were displaced. We are not going to have electricity back in many areas for another few days. As I ask for a moment of silence, I also want us to feel the community of our entire House and our entire country. I think we felt that as we have helped in other places. Again, I just remind Members that this happened in our area this time. It can happen in your area next time. But we are all together, and as we commemorate those dead and misplaced in our States, we also want to remember your States, too. I ask for a moment of silence.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Rekha Chandrasekaran for her service to Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District while working in my Washington, DC, office. Rekha hails from Monterey, California--just 2,339 miles away from Monterey, Tennessee, which I have the honor of representing in this esteemed body. Despite the difference in geography, Rekha has been a great help to me and my staff and has helped me to better represent Middle Tennesseans. During her four years in the office, she has proven herself to be a strong writer and a talented systems administrator as she worked to launch a new Web site for the office. She has also taken on the task of coordinating a crew of interns each year and shepherding them throughout the Halls of Congress and around the nation's capital. February 1 is Rekha's last day in the office, as she is leaving to pursue other opportunities on Capitol Hill. My staff and I thank Rekha for her help, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Steve Benefield for his service with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Steve resigned from the Chamber on January 4 after serving a decade as its president. Rutherford County has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, and the Chamber has been growing right along with it. The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce is now the third largest in Tennessee, and Steve has been instrumental in spurring the county's economic development efforts. He was a leader in efforts to bring a conference center to Murfreesboro, worked to acquire a new Chamber building and county visitor center, and furthered development at Smyrna's airport. His efforts have helped to ensure that Rutherford County will continue to be a desirable place to live and raise a family. Steve has been a leader not only in business efforts, but also in the community. He is active in his church and with his sons' baseball teams, where he draws from his experience pitching for the Blue Raiders at our shared alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University. The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce is losing a great asset, but I am happy Steve and his family are staying in Murfreesboro. I wish them all the best.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize one of the top marching bands in the nation: La Vergne High School's Wolverine Marching Band, which represented middle Tennessee on November 17 at the U.S. Scholastic Band Association Grand National Championships. This was the Wolverine Marching Band's first time to compete in the USSBA championships. Only 68 marching bands throughout the Nation were invited to the competition held in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to the LHS band placing eighth overall, the school's drum line placed fifth, and the color guard placed 11th. The theme of La Vergne High School Music is ``where perfection and hard work meet.'' It must be very gratifying to the students, staff, parents, and supporters to see the rewards of countless hours of practice. I congratulate the band on their accomplishments and wish them continued success in the future. I commend the Wolverine Marching Band: Director of Bands Edward Freytag, Assistant Director of Band Chris Crumley, Visual Coordinator Tim White, Color Guard Instructor Megan Taylor and Kirby Cooper, Band Members: Sarah Baron, Melissa Barscz, Brad Beal, Allison Beck, Taylor Bentley, Casey Bidini, Katelyn Blair, Chelsea Boulanger, Joey Brewer, Leonard Brown, Tony Brown, William Bryant, Jacob Burton, Tyler Channell, Jordan Cooley, Porsha Cooper, Rachel Covert, Tyler Covert, James Day, Shanice Derrick, Catherine Drescher, Tara Dryden, Amber Dugger, William Duke Jr., Dylan Duke, Carl Dye, Shelby Erny, Aeron Falknor, Cheyanne Fletcher, Jessica Forbis, Loretta Fougeray, Courtney Frierson, Matthew Fusco, Endre Gereben, Andres Gonzalez, Matt Goodman, Katie Green, Alexandria Hahn, David Hardy, Ross Harvey, Elizabeth Henderson, Jessica Henderson, Brianna Herron, Matt Hickman, Curt Hills, Chassity Hoback, Zach Hodges, Andre Holt, Mary Huckleberry, Brooks Hunter, Wesley Hurless, Greg Jackson, Ethan Jerrell, Felicia Johnson, Elise Jones, Emily Jones, Will Kelley, Jeremiah Lang, John Leaver, Brittany Lee, Ginger Levinson, Kwesi Manuel, Jennifer Maroney, Melvin Mason, Myesha Mason, Tara Mathews, Cici McCormick, Brittney McDuffie, Emily McDuffie, Aaron McGowen, William McGowen, Shelby McIntosh, Michael Meacham, Josh Merbitz, David Miller, Tyler Mingle, Josh Moore, John Morris, Zach Murray, Kayla Nickel, Michael Pagan, Stephanie Parker, Aaron Parris, Ashley Patten, Shelby Perkins, Shamikia Perry, Charlie Prazak, Darrin Pugh, Zach Pugh, Briana Rainey, Josh Raymond, Lacey Reade, Shinead Riddle, Lucas Rigo, Rivera Rico, Brett Runge, Nick Sargent, Shannon Schmitz, Tyler Shapard, Jordan Shurmer, Ashley Sledge, Corey Smathers, Devon Smith, Logan Smith, Sammy Stack, Lauren Stanley, Mary Taylor, Lindsey Tedford, Alison Thatcher, Jesse Thurgood, Curtis Vandever, Latoya Wade, Lanee Waddell, Marissa Waddell, Cory Waters, Lamar White, Tandrea Wilson, and Jacob Wood.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Rocket Band of Blue of Forrest High School in Chapel Hill, TN, for winning the Division I State Championship. The Rocket Band of Blue's field commanders were also state champions, and the band took first place each for soloist baritone, high music, and high visual. The Governor's Cup, the championship trophy they received, is one of many accolades the marching band has earned this year. The Rocket Band of Blue is the Grand Champion of the Montgomery Central Marching Contest, the Trousdale County Marching Band Yellow Jacket Invitational, and the Highland Rim Marching Contest. The band received a superior rating at the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association Marching Festival and third place at the Mid-South Marching Invitational. I am sure it must be very gratifying to the students, staff, parents, and supporters to see the rewards of countless hours of practice. I congratulate the Rocket Band of Blue on their accomplishments and wish them continued success in the future. I commend the 2007 Rocket Band of Blue: Madeline Bell, Kimber Luna, Taylor Blanchett, Crystal Cannon, Rachael Harris, Kim Meachem, Brooke Russell, Caleb Boone, Lauren Fatherly, Tyler Hargrove, Tyler Mierecki, Tyler Williams, Jared Blanchett, Paul Caraglio, Matt Kline, Jana Bunkall, Jed Hall, Brittani Stewart, Bryan Hartley, Travis Ryder, Stacey Ryder, Stacey Byrd, Devin Barnes, Shawna Crafton, Brianna LaFleur, Sam Hartley, Sarah Stemple, Lindsay Gaskill, Jon Fleet, Josh Hall, Gunner Warlick, James Luna, Audra Mobley, Matt Cryer, Zach Brown, Megan Baker, Amber Scott, Katie Freeman, Chelsea Moore, Amber Barnes, Lauren French, Keisha Sherrill, Sara Lubieski, Reilly Rowland, Learyn Miller, Bethany Gamble, Taylor Herron and Jessie Baker.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Katy Dawson for her dedicated service to Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District while working in my Washington, DC, office. Katy joined us in 2005 as a staff assistant and provided a warm welcome to our guests. She grew in that position, moved on to serving as a legislative correspondent and has proven to be quite the workhorse. She has been a diligent worker, and she has provided a tremendous help to me. She views each legislative issue with compassion and always considers what is in the best interest of middle Tennesseans. My staff and I wish Katy well as she moves on to her next challenge. We hope she finds as much success in her next endeavor as her beloved Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots have found on their fields. Katy, thanks for your hard work over the past few years. I wish you all the best.