Mark Green

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize before this House Eric Voight who was recently awarded Hometown Radio's Employee of the Year honors for his extraordinary servIce. Hired straight out of college, Eric Voight had a dream of being in radio programming one day. In just four short years, Voight worked his way up the ladder of success at Hometown Radio, first as a member of the sales team, to sales manager, and now as operations manager. In fact, because of his hard work, Voight is now responsible for the sound of the entire four station cluster operated by Hometown Radio. Those who know Eric Voight appreciate the little things that make him so deserving of the Employee of the Year award. His motivation, proud Wisconsin work ethic and dedication got him where he is today and I'm sure this is just the beginning. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Voight on receiving this outstanding honor, and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was excused from Washington on Thursday, September 28, 2006, to attend a funeral in Wisconsin. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes No. 495, No. 496, No. 497, No. 498, No. 499 and No. 500. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 495, No. 496, No. 497, No. 498, No. 499 and No. 500.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to recognize before this House the courageous men and women of the Wisconsin National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry who recently returned from their deployment overseas. For over a year, the 127th Infantry was based at Camp Navistar on the border of Kuwait and Iraq. The vast majority of their missions were near Camp Cedar, otherwise known as the ``Cedar Run,'' where they served under perilous conditions as escorts for military and civilian convoys in armored trucks. The infantry was also called on to take longer missions into war-torn Baghdad, battling deadly roadside bombs and surprise enemy attacks. These brave men and women put their lives on the line each and every day to fight for democracy and freedom. But their commitment wasn't without heartache. Three courageous members of the 127th Infantry lost their lives carrying the torch of liberty in Iraq and their service will always be remembered. Mr. Speaker, there's no question the 127th Infantry helped nourish the seeds of liberty in Iraq, and their service and sacrifice are to be commended. It is my honor to recognize their brave efforts today, and on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, I say thank you and welcome home. You truly are our heroes.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, September 26, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall vote Nos. 474, 475, 476, 477 and 478. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 474, 475, 476, and 477. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 478.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, September 26, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 479 and 480. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 479 and 480.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Monday, September 25, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes 471, 472, and 473. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 471, 472, and 473.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize before this House TDS Telecommunication Corporation's President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Barr III. For seventeen years, James Barr has been an exemplary leader of a growing Wisconsin business and has served the telecommunications industry with both integrity and distinction. He has played an integral role in the development of TDS Telecom, quintupling annual revenue to more than $900 million and successfully elevating the company to the sixth largest independent telephone company in the country. Not only did Barr build a customer-focused organization that has won many awards for customer care, he touched the lives of numerous employees which helped him create a vibrant organization with 3200 employees serving 1.2 million customers in 29 states. But beyond his hard work and dedication on the job Barr is above all else an upstanding person. Barr has been an excellent leader of several telecommunications boards and service organizations including the United Way of Dane County as well as a caring and supportive husband, father and grandfather. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Barr should be commended for his outstanding contributions to the telecommunications industry as well as the great state of Wisconsin. I congratulate him on his years of service and exemplary citizenship and wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4844, the Federal Election Integrity Act. Mr. Speaker, our democracy can withstand many things and that is what our history shows. But one thing it cannot withstand is doubt over the outcome of elections. We have to know whoever wins, your guy, my guy, conservative, liberal, Republican or Democrat, he or she really won. Won, in fact. It is the only way our leaders have the moral authority they need to take on the great challenges of our times. As others have noted, we have had far too many elections in recent years where serious questions have emerged over irregularities and even fraud. During the last Federal election in 2004 in my home State, Wisconsin, Wisconsin found itself mired with out-of-date voter lists, fake names, invalid addresses, double and triple voting, and ballots cast by convicted felons. Our State's largest newspaper found almost 300 cases of felons voting illegally, at least 100 cases of double voting, and 1,200 votes from invalid addresses. And the list goes on and on and on. Every one of those illegal votes cancels out a vote legally cast, cancels out a vote from a citizen for whom that right is so precious and so fundamental to our Nation's future. A photo ID will not solve all of these problem, not by a long shot. But it is definitely a step in the right direction, a step that I believe most Americans support, a step that I know most Wisconsinites support. That is why last year I introduced comprehensive election reform legislation that would have required a valid photo ID to vote in any Federal election. It is also why I am proud to support this legislation from Chairman Hyde. It is legislation whose time has come. It is a way of ensuring integrity in elections.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, September 19, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 451, 452, and 453. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 451, 452, and 453.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the Marinette Marines from Marinette High School and the Menominee High School Maroons as they prepare for the 100th meeting of their football teams. This celebrated gridiron contest began over a century ago when the teams first met on Thanksgiving Day in 1894. Over one hundred years later, the Marinette and Menominee High School football game is one of the oldest interstate high school football rivalries in the nation. In true Midwestern football spirit, the historic game between Marinette and Menominee is one of the biggest events of the year for locals. While many shops and factories close for the day to enjoy the game, others decorate their storefronts with school colors. Without a doubt, the stands are filled each and every year with screaming fans-- all anxious to show pride in their school and town. Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to recognize this historic football game and pay tribute to the one hundred years of tradition surrounding it. On behalf of the residents of Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, I want to say congratulations, best of luck, and go Marines!

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Wednesday morning, September 13, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 438 and 439. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 438 and 439.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, September 12, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 436 and 437. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 436 and 437.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Thursday, September 7, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 430, 431, 432, 433, 434 and 435. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 430, 433, 434, and 435. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall Nos. 431 and 432.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Wednesday, September 6, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 427, 428, and 429. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 427, 428, and 429.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to recognize the Sister Cities Organization of Crivitz, Wisconsin and Crivitz, Germany, which is celebrating five years of friendship and diplomacy. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the People to People program in 1956 to promote cultural awareness and diplomacy through the actions of ordinary citizens. As the program expanded, Sister Cities International was founded to encourage sister-city partnerships between the U.S. and international communities. Today we celebrate the partnership of two towns who share one name. The northeastern Wisconsin community of Crivitz was founded in 1883 and named after F.J. Bartels's hometown in northeastern Germany. While the two communities are separated by many miles, they share a proud heritage and desire to further connect their citizens not only through a shared name, but with a cross-cultural relationship that continues to grow and expand. It is truly an honor and pleasure to recognize the Sister Cities Organization of Crivitz, WI and Crivitz, Germany, and thank the citizens who continue to promote President Eisenhower's vision of peace through understanding.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Members, I rise in favor of the Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act. In my opinion, very honestly, I think this is the most important child safety legislation in modern times. What makes this bill so powerful is that it gives law enforcement and, more importantly, families, vital tools for keeping our children safer. It expands the sex offender registry. It updates it. It makes it more usable in communities all across this country. This legislation has the Amie Zyla Act, which I wrote with the help of Mark and Amie Zyla. Ten years ago, Amie Zyla was then a young girl in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She was sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old boy. Her assailant was released after he turned 18, but because he committed that offense as a juvenile, law enforcement officials were not allowed to inform the community of his presence. He went on to get a job at a teen center, and he tragically victimized other children. These crimes were absolutely preventable if only law enforcement had the authority and the tools to let people know they a serious sex offender in their midst. Thanks to Amie's courage in telling America her story, we can now protect the public from dangerous criminals like her assailant because they will be included on the registry. This great bill also contains the DNA fingerprinting provisions that I authored. These provisions will close a loophole that have let thousands of convicted sex offenders avoid submitting their DNA simply because they were convicted before we had the laws on the books requiring DNA to be taken upon their arrest and conviction. I want to thank the chairman for his leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. I want to thank Mark and Amie Zyla for telling their story. I want to thank my friend, Marc Klaas, for his dedication to improving our child safety laws. And of course, like so many today, I want to thank John Walsh for never giving up in the pursuit of justice. John, I know that the pain is still there after 25 years. But I also know that you have lifted the lives of so many with your strong, clear voice. Thank you for helping us get to these days. Thank you for giving us the tools that we need to help keep family safer.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Monday, July 24, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 394, 395 and 396. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 394, 395 and 396.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Monday, July 17, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 375, 376 and 377. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 375 and 377. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 376.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, July 11, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 360, 361, 362 and 363. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 360, 361, 362 and 363.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Monday, July 10, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes 358 and 359. Had I been present, I would have voted -``yea'' on rollcall 358 and 359.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Monday, June 19, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes No. 289, No. 290 and No. 291. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 289, No. 290 and No. 291. Rollcall No. 289--H.R. 5540--Sergeant Jacob Dan Dones Post Office Designation Act; rollcall No. 290--H.R. 5504--Larry Winn, Jr. Post Office Building Designation Act; and rollcall No. 291--H. Res. 826-- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Youth Sports Week should be established.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Monday, June 12, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 251, 252, 253, 254 and 255. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 251, 252, 253, 254 and 255.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to submit this statement in commemoration of the official renaming of the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Appleton after an extraordinary man, John H. Bradley. For many years, the Appleton Veterans Clinic has helped administer life-saving medical services to Wisconsin's retired servicemen and women. Now it will bear the name of a man who administered life-saving medical care to his comrades on the battlefield--Pharmacist Mate Second Class John ``Jack'' Bradley. Not only was Jack one of the six men who participated in raising the American flag at Iwo Jima, he also received our country's second highest award for heroism during combat, the Navy Cross, for his extraordinary efforts in aiding a wounded Marine under intense enemy fire. Jack suffered severe shrapnel wounds a few days after his heroic act, and returned home to Antigo, Wisconsin with his wife Betty after his recovery. He avoided any recognition of his participation in the flag raising, and never told his family he had been awarded the Navy Cross. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Betty Bradley and the entire Bradley family for their support throughout the naming process. It is an honor to take part in the dedication of the John H. Bradley Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic; a fitting tribute to such an extraordinary man. On behalf of Wisconsin's 8th district and the United States Congress, we thank Jack Bradley, and hope the veteran's clinic in his name stands as a lasting tribute to his dedicated service and cherished memory.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Monday, May 22, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes No. 177 and No. 178. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 177 and No. 178.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, May 9, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes No. 128, No. 129 and No. 130. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 128, No. 129 and No. 130.