Phil Gingrey

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Floyd Alexander Pinyan, a good and honorable American, Georgian, family man and Marine. He passed away on August 27, 2004. He was my constituent in the 11th District of Georgia. His family has described him as a kind Christian man who raised his children to know the difference between right and wrong. By the family's accounts, it is clear that they were the most important thing in his life. Mrs. Pinyan said she could not have asked for a more wonderful, caring, loving husband than Floyd. She has always admired the respect and love her husband had for others; and if someone asked him for help, he was going to ``move mountains'' to assist them. The day after Pearl Harbor, Mr. Pinyan and his brothers enlisted in the armed services. Initially, Floyd tried to enlist in the Navy, but he was turned down because of problems with his feet. Undeterred, he then went to the Marines; and when he asked the recruiter, What are the Marines, the recruiter replied, Sign here and you'll find out. Mr. Pinyan served honorably with the United States Marines in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, specifically in Guam, Iwo Jima, and China. He also served in Korea and Vietnam and retired after 41 years of distinguished service. Upon retirement, he held the rank of gunnery sergeant. Floyd Pinyan remained active after his retirement from the Marines, working for the city of Atlanta as a business license inspector for some 15 years. Mr. Pinyan is survived by his wife of 53 years, Christine; sons, Charles and Carl; daughter, Sharon; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. His children have continued his honorable service to our country by joining the Army, the Navy and the Marines. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in honoring the life of Floyd Pinyan of Cobb County, Mableton, Georgia, and in sending our thoughts and prayers to his family.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of LARA, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2004. Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues know, during this recent August recess, I spent about 10 days in court defending myself against an alleged medical malpractice suit. I am not sure whether this fits the definition, this particular suit, of a frivolous lawsuit, but after the plaintiff's attorneys presented their evidence, over 8 days, to the jury, the trial judge ruled in favor of me and my two partners in my OB/GYN group on a directed verdict. Her decision was based on the fact that there was no evidence whatsoever presented of proximate causation. I was willing to defend myself in that lawsuit, but a lot of physicians are not. Many times they are faced with what truly are frivolous lawsuits, and they are sometimes encouraged by their malpractice carrier, if it is determined by the carrier that the cost of defending a lawsuit even though it is frivolous is more than what the settlement amount would be, then they are encouraged and oftentimes do settle. It makes the problem that much worse. Obviously, this problem and what this law addresses is not just unique to the medical profession. There are 600,000 small business men and women in this country who are literally being put out of business because of frivolous lawsuits and, yes, further loss of jobs, which the other side wants to talk about so often and we are concerned about as well. It is time to end this nonsense of frivolous lawsuits. As the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania said a few minutes ago, 80 percent of the American public agree with us on this issue. Let us get together, both sides of the aisle, and pass this good, commonsense legislation.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, in the short time that I have been a Member of this Congress, of this body, the House of Representatives, I have come to expect a good measure of partisanship and partisan rhetoric that occurs on the floor of the House, especially during this, a Presidential election year. I have come to expect that, but not to enjoy it. But I want to say, Mr. Speaker, to my colleagues, that the past hour I have sat here in this Chamber and seen a great measure of bipartisanship as our chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), came together to bring us this emergency supplemental appropriation to help the people in Florida who have been devastated by Hurricanes Charlie and Frances with this $2 billion stopgap measure to get money to FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Administration, to help the people of Florida in a bipartisan way, and to have us have this discussion led by the delegation from Florida, both Republicans and Democrats. This is the kind of bipartisanship that the people of this country and the great State of Florida deserve to see more of. In fact, it reminded me that we are coming up pretty soon, this Saturday, in fact, on the third anniversary of a tragic event in this country. Of course, I am speaking of 9/11, when this body again was at its finest moment when they came together and there was not that level of partisanship, and we pulled together for the benefit of all Americans. So, Mr. Speaker, tonight I want to rise and pay tribute to the first responders whose selfless service and hard work keep the citizens of the Nation, but particularly Georgia and my eleventh district, safe and secure each and every day. Just as the moniker suggests, our Nation's first responders are the first to arrive at the scene and usually the last to leave. They are the brave souls risking their lives to prevent catastrophe and healing the wounded and broken when disaster strikes, just as they are doing in Florida today. They are always vigilant and ever ready, and they deserve our heartfelt thanks. Since the tragic events of September 11, we have all learned that terrorists are not just looking at New York City and Washington, D.C. Rather, they have undertaken a vast effort to survey potential targets across this country. Should Metro Atlanta, the capital of the South, suffer an attack, you and I know that the brave first responders from West Georgia's Eleventh Congressional District will be among the many who will answer the call to duty. I also know how much new equipment and technology means to the first responders of the Eleventh Congressional District of Georgia, and we in Congress are working hard to continue to provide it. Mr. Speaker, I recently had the privilege of visiting with the volunteer fire department in Woodland, Georgia, in Talbot County, to inspect their new fire truck; and I left very impressed with their operation. I was also struck by how much of a difference a piece of equipment like a new fire truck can have on a great community like Woodland. So whether it is a fire truck, HAZMAT equipment for biological threats, or a communications network upgrade in northwest Georgia, I remain committed to doing everything I can to ensure that Georgia's first responders receive the necessary funding to ensure the safety and security of our communities in Georgia. We must never take for granted the bravery and commitment of our true first responders. We in Congress must provide them with the tools necessary to conduct their vital service. Mr. Speaker, the eleventh district's first responders are on the front line every day, and they deserve our support and appreciation. I want to take this opportunity tonight to thank each of them as we approach the third anniversary of 9/11 for their work to protect and serve the citizens of Georgia and the Southeast.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Brigadier General William P. Kane, who has faithfully served as the commander of the 94th Air Lift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia for the last six years. The 94th Airlift wing is an Air Force Reserve C-130 unit and has a mission to train and equip combat-ready units to deploy on short notice to defend our nation, which I might add, they did on several occasions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, Dobbins serves as the host organization to other tenant organizations, such as Naval Air Station Atlanta and Lockheed Martin, where they manufacture the F/A-22. With this complex mission, General Kane did an outstanding job and we who reside in Marietta and Northwest Atlanta owe him a great debt of gratitude. In addition to holding a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, General Kane is a highly accomplished C-130 pilot, logging over 6,500 flight hours. In addition, General Kane has faithfully served the Air Reserve during his various commands of one squadron, two groups, and now three wings during his distinguished 32-year career. While General Kane has gone on to take over command of the 302nd Airlift Wing in his hometown of Colorado Springs, Colorado, he will be sorely missed in the 11th District of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in thanking Brigadier General Kane for his outstanding and selfless service.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 397 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal). He has asked me, in his absence, to extend a warm welcome to Reverend Danny Cochran. It is a pleasure to have him join us today as our guest chaplain. Reverend Cochran has served the people of the 10th District of Georgia for nearly 20 years. He is currently the Pastor of Holly Creek Baptist Church in Chatsworth, Georgia. Reverend Cochran received undergraduate degrees from Liberty University and Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Arts and Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry. While he has continually served those in his community through programs such as Big Brothers of America and the ``Economics of Staying in School,'' Reverend Cochran has extended his ministry beyond our country's borders. He has traveled to the Caribbean Islands, to Russia, to Romania and Honduras to bring aid to the people of these countries. It is an honor to have him offer this morning's prayer. Reverend Cochran, we appreciate your service not only to the citizens of the 10th District of Georgia but to all Georgians, including those I represent in the 11th Congressional District. On behalf of my colleagues here in the United States House of Representatives, I thank you for your Ministry to us here today.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Well, I thank the gentleman, my colleague from Georgia and the gentleman from Savannah for yielding a little time and especially since I was actually not scheduled to be part of this colloquy. I know there are a number of other Members here who want to join in the discussion. But I was just back in my office doing a little paperwork and catching up on some things and watching C-SPAN, and as the gentleman from Georgia and the gentleman from Florida began to discuss some facts about the presumptive Democratic nominee, Mr. Kerry, that it is important that the American people know I felt compelled to come down and hopefully not take more than 3 or 4 minutes, because there is something that I want my colleagues in this Chamber to know, and hopefully they will share this with their constituents, the American people. See, there is one thing, only one that I can think of, really, that I share that I have in common with the presumptive Democratic nominee, Mr. Kerry. We both share the same religion. We are both Roman Catholics. And, Mr. Speaker, this is what I want to share with my colleagues. The presumptive Democratic nominee for President, he recently made two very interesting statements. Mr. Kerry, a constant supporter of abortion rights throughout his whole 20-year career in this United States Senate, now says he believes that life actually does begin at the moment of conception. Let me repeat that. He believes that life actually does begin at the moment of conception. Nevertheless, Mr. Kerry continues to insist that he is ideologically pro-choice because of his firm belief in ``separation of church and State.'' Now, I assume Mr. Kerry is referencing the establishment clause of the Constitution, which declares that our government shall establish no State religion and that citizens are free to worship God in the manner of their individual choosing. Indeed, freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Madam Speaker, the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by our Constitution, so it would seem that John Kerry would, by his own words, believe that life begins at conception, would, through his pro-choice stance, be in direct contrast to the most important guarantee of our charter documents. Mr. Kerry goes on to say that his Roman Catholic belief that the moment of conception is the same moment life is created, that should not be imposed on those whose faith through other religions do not share that same belief. He should not impose that other on other religions because they may not share that same belief. Madam Speaker, I wonder, I wonder which particular religion Mr. Kerry is referencing. In my 11th district of Georgia I have attended services at many churches, synagogues, houses of worship of different denominations. All of the religions I have encountered firmly, firmly believe in the sanctity of life which God creates at the moment of conception. Now, Mr. Kerry recently spoke from Pittsburgh just the other day about giving kids a chance at full citizenship by strengthening Early Start and Head Start. Madam Speaker, the best way to guarantee our youth a chance at full citizenship is by guaranteeing their constitutional unalienable right to life. Madam Speaker, I would remind Mr. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee that almost 40 million children since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision have been denied an Early Start or Head Start. Indeed, they were given no start whatsoever. So, Madam Speaker, I would hope those who wish to become the President of our Nation would have the courage to stand up for their belief in life at conception regardless of how recently they may have come to this conclusion. Many Presidential hopefuls try to have their cake and eat it too. We have been hearing a lot of that discussion here tonight, and I agree with it; but you absolutely cannot have it both ways on such an important issue as the sanctity of life. And I thank my colleagues for giving me an opportunity to come down and share that with you and with the other Members of this body on both sides of the aisle. I am going to talk about that more and more. I think we need to make sure that we understand. How in the world could someone be for life and against life, be for the sanctity of life at conception and be pro- choice? It is incongruous. I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) for allowing me to share this evening with my colleagues.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, my colleague on this side of the aisle and my teammate on the Republican congressional baseball team was just in the well, and I think he was speaking against this bill and making an analogy between professional sports teams. I think he mentioned the football team in Arizona and that if we are going to support the manufacturers, we might as well be for supporting professional sports. With all due respect to the gentleman from Arizona, I think the manufacturing sector in this country is a lot more important than any professional sports team. H.R. 3598 supports small and medium-sized manufacturers by reauthorizing and improving the highly successful Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, MEP. This program helps businesses improve manufacturing processes, reduce waste, and train workers on how to use new equipment. MEP receives one-third of its funding from the Federal Government, one-third from the States, and one-third actually from fees charged to participating small businesses, small manufacturers. There are 60 MEP centers and 400 satellite institutions throughout the country. But, Mr. Chairman, let me talk briefly about Georgia. The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership consists of 19 regional offices, four of which are in my district, the 11th District of Georgia, Carrollton, Cartersville, Newman, and Rome, Georgia. It is lead by the Economic Development Institute at my alma mata, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech. The MEP program has a proven track record. It works directly with local manufacturers to help them improve manufacturing processes, train workers, improve business practices, and apply information technology to their companies. Solutions are offered through a combination of direct assistance from center staff and outside experts. The Rome-Floyd Recycling Center, Mr. Chairman, is a perfect example. They were struggling, about to go under. But when the MEP program came and helped them and brought in engineers and showed them how to process that recycling and streamline that operation, they began making money and employing people right in my district. In Georgia, during 2002, MEP assistance helped companies retain or create more than 1,300 jobs, invest more than $33 million, and cut $13 million in unnecessary costs and increase or retain $61 million in sales. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3598 and its authorization of returning funding levels for MEPs back to an effective level will greatly influence the retention and creation of manufacturing jobs throughout Georgia and the Nation. Let us support this good legislation on behalf of the distressed manufacturing sector.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take the time of the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones).

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Columbus High School Blue Devils baseball team in Georgia's 11th Congressional District. Columbus added the 2004 AAAA State baseball crown to its trophy case this year by defeating the Northgate Vikings of Coweta County for the championship. Columbus is no stranger to State championships. This year's title marks the school's eighth. It was the twelfth time the school had played in the finals. In this year's 2-game series final, Columbus outscored the Northgate Vikings 20 to 1. The Newnan Times-Herald stated that the Blue Devils, who finished the season with a 35 and 2 record, are arguably the best team in Georgia, regardless of any classification. Two members of the team have signed on to play with Division I college teams. In two games, Columbus' fielders avoided a single error, while the Blue Devils' pitchers held the Vikings to one run and five hits over two games. At the same time, their offense was at its peak, racking up 23 hits. Although teammates mobbed Ric Bishop after he caught a foul ball to end game 2, that was not the only memorable moment of the playoffs for the first baseman. Earlier in the week, Bishop hit his 13th home run of the season, a school record. The previous record-holder at Columbus High was former Blue Devil Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox. Bishop knocked out another homer in the championship series to finish the year with 14 home runs. The Blue Devils' pitchers also put in notable performances. Iain Sebastian and Brad Rulon quieted the powerful bats of the Northgate Vikings who entered the series hitting 357 as a team. Sebastian shut out the Vikings and Rulon allowed only one run. As Coach Bobby Howard told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, ``Everybody has talked about our hitting, but our common denominator for winning is with our pitching. I would have hated for anybody to try to hit those guys today.'' Sebastian's fastballs zipped at speeds up to 90 miles an hour and Rulon notched nine strikeouts. They contributed to an overwhelming team effort for which the high school and the entire Columbus community can be proud. Congratulations to the Columbus Blue Devils for continuing a tradition of excellence.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, last week was an important one for the United States and the world when Iraq once again became a sovereign nation. I found the transition of power to the Iraqi people to be very appropriate, timely and encouraging. I believe it was very telling when President Bush in his own hand wrote, ``Let freedom reign,'' just moments after receiving the notice of the transfer of power to the new Iraqi Government. As American citizens, we should be proud that the United States has aided the Iraqi people in their effort to live free of Saddam Hussein's terror. Through democracy, Iraq and the world can achieve peace and prosperity. When the Iraqi embassy raised their flag in Washington, D.C., for the first time in recent memory, it was a symbolic gesture for all of those in the free world to say, ``Let freedom reign.''

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Armed Services. I know if the troops who are so bravely defending us, our liberty in Iraq and Afghanistan, if they have any opportunity to read a newspaper or listen to a radio or watch television, I know they know that if there is any greater friend than the chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), it is possibly the Commander in Chief, George W. Bush. I thank the gentleman for giving me an opportunity to say a few words tonight during this important hour. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, the 108th Congress appropriated some $187 billion to Operation Iraqi Freedom. $18.5 billion was to restore the infrastructure of this Middle Eastern country long neglected by their dictator, Saddam Hussein. While Saddam Hussein was incurring huge debts, some say as much as $100 billion to build up his own personal military and to construct numerous palaces, compounds to his own glory and edification, those of us on both sides of the aisle of the committee, we were there and saw these palaces. While at the same time the typical Iraqi citizen, especially the Shiite majority and the Kurds, was not only suffering from a lack of the basic necessities of life, but they were also being killed and tortured with reckless abandonment. Mr. Speaker, I could talk more time than I am allotted about how we are expending this $18.5 billion appropriation to restore the infrastructure, the needs, basic needs such as water and sewer plants, electricity, and schools; but let me use the time that I have got to discuss something that I know a little bit about and that is called health care. I am a physician member of the House of Representatives; and along with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I care deeply about the health care, most basic health care needs of the impoverished Iraqi people. Mr. Speaker, let us do a little before and after comparison on health care expenditures in Iraq. Saddam Hussein's regime provided only $16 million for the ministry of health in 2002. That was less than $1 per person. This is a 23 to 24 million population country. The Iraqi medical system severely lacked medical equipment and capabilities. Doctors' salaries were about $20 a month. Today, Iraq's 2004 budget for health care is $950 million, a $934 million increase over 2002. All 240 hospitals and more than 1,200 health clinics are now open. The minister of health assumed full independent authority on March 28, 2004, and the minister of health is addressing drug shortages by making emergency drug purchases. Health care spending in Iraq has increased 30 times over its prewar levels, and children are receiving crucial vaccinations for the first time. Over 5 million children have been immunized for measles, mumps, and rubella. Every child in our country gets that basic right. It is estimated that 85 percent of Iraqi children now have been immunized. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I was listening to some discussion on this floor of the House earlier and a member on the other side of the aisle spoke about fairness. He used that little cute way of saying the F word, and the F word being fairness, and said it was not fair for us to be spending money on the health of the Iraqi people when it is estimated 40 million Americans do not have health insurance. But, Mr. Speaker, they have health care. They may not have health insurance, but they have basic health care; and I would remind my colleagues on September 11, 2001, 3,000 of our citizens, citizens of other countries, had good jobs with health care and health insurance, but they were killed. They are not with us today. Their families no longer have their presence, and yet they had great health care. So it is hugely important that we provide this infrastructure, this basic health care need to the Iraqi people. It would be unconscionable to free them from the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and leave them in poverty and squalor without having these basic health care needs met, because we would just be creating yet another dictator to take Saddam Hussein's place. I think it is entirely appropriate that we spend this money to restore the infrastructure, including the health care, the basic health care needs, of the Iraqi people. With that I yield back to my chairman.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the LaGrange High School Grangers, Georgia's 2004 AAA high school baseball champions. To win the State championship, LaGrange had to beat one of Georgia's greatest baseball powerhouses, the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes, a program that captured State titles for the past 3 years in a row. I am proud to say that the runner up and defending champion, Cartersville High School, is also in Georgia's 11th congressional district. The Grangers' crown did not come easily. They split a double-header to force a decisive game three. In that final game, LaGrange jumped out to a big lead, going ahead 9 to 2. But the Purple Hurricanes were not done yet. They crawled back, and then notched three runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at 10 to 10. That is when the Grangers proved they had the heart of champions. In the bottom of the sixth, LaGrange knocked in three runs, and senior Josh Edmonson took the mound in the seventh inning to snuff out any more comeback hopes for the Purple Hurricanes. After winning game three of the series, the Grangers finished the year 31-6. I am proud for the team and I am proud for the coaches, Donnie Branch and Jon Powell, who have been together with the team since 1989. Their teams had advanced far in the tournament in previous years, but the ultimate crown had remained elusive until now. As Coach Powell explained his excitement to the LaGrange Daily News, ``You can't put it into words. You dream about it and you work and you work and you work.'' Coach Branch, congratulations on a dream come true and a job well done.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, look at all of these new jobs: 1.4 million since August 2003. Mr. Speaker, this recovery is further proof that cutting taxes and reducing the burden of government on American citizens and businesses stimulates economic growth, as President Reagan understood so well. In fact, there is one very telling statistic. In the last 100 days, there have been over 1 million jobs created. Let me restate that, 1 million jobs in 100 days. This is a true sign of the times, a time of prosperity and opportunity. President Bush was correct in his policy to cut taxes to stimulate economic growth, and now we have substantial job growth. Once again, Mr. Speaker, it is time to make these tax cuts permanent. I know of 1.4 million people and counting who most certainly would agree.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, tonight I want to acknowledge the retirement of Dr. Mel Steely, a history professor and former colleague of then Professor Newt Gingrich. Dr. Steely is ending a 40-year career as a professor at the State University of West Georgia. Born during Roosevelt's America May 9, 1939, Melvin Thomas Steely grew up in Cedartown, Georgia. With an interest in history, Dr. Steely aspired to teach, attaining both a master's and doctorate degree in history from Vanderbilt University. He taught at Lambuth College in Jackson, Tennessee before moving to West Georgia College to teach Modern European History in 1964. Dr. Steely was the kind of a professor who would have no part of grade inflation, and a grade of ``A'' in his classroom was well-earned. Despite how much he may have cherished the student, there was no fast track to success in his courses. Much like life, he believed you have to work and learn in order to achieve success. Although he was a member of many professional organizations, Dr. Steely's contributions as President and lobbyist for the American Association of University Professors earned him both the Sumberg and the State Akin awards. He has worked in political campaigns for both parties. He has served as the faculty adviser to the West Georgia College Republicans for 24 years and continues to this day to serve as Speaker Newt Gingrich's biographer and curator. Along with the many students he influenced over a 40-year teaching career, Dr. Steely's most significant accomplishment and legacy will be as the director of Georgia's Political Heritage Program. In 1985 he started an audio/video collection of famous Georgia political leaders in an effort to preserve our State's political heritage. Moderated by West Georgia history professors, the collection includes rare interviews with former governors, lieutenant governors, United States Senators and Members of the United States House of Representatives. The political heritage archive also collects the political papers of Speaker Newt Gingrich and House interviews with all but two former Georgia governors since World War II. Other significant individuals featured in this collection include Governor Jimmy Carter, Governor Lester Maddox, Governor and current United States Senator Zell Miller, United States Senator Herman Talmadge and Ambassador Andrew Young. Beyond politics and history, Dr. Steely is involved in numerous civic organizations, including the Moose and Elks clubs, the Kiwanis Club, the Boy Scouts, the Methodist Church and Governor Sonny Perdue's Civil War Commission. With his wife, two daughters and five grandchildren, Dr. Steely should have no problem keeping busy outside of his continued involvement with the West Georgia Political Heritage Program. On behalf of the constituents of Georgia's 11th Congressional District, I appreciate Dr. Steely's service to our community and his help in preserving Georgia's history. I wish him well, and may he find many new adventures in his retirement.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I would, first of all, like to thank the chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the committee members who are bringing this hour to us tonight on such an important subject. When we passed this bill in December of 2003, this was a bipartisan bill. This is a bipartisan Medicare plan. There were Members on both sides of the aisle, my colleagues, who usually sit on the right, the Democrats, who usually sit on the left, there were those on the right who opposed who felt that this bill, the $400 billion, or maybe it is $500 billion, was too costly, that we just simply wanted to do it but could not afford it to. And I think some 24 or 25 of my Republican colleagues voted against the bill because they just did not think we could afford it. On the other side of the aisle, the Democrats, some voted for the bill, but those who opposed it opposed it because they did not think we were doing enough, that we were not spending enough. And they kept talking about the doughnut and the hole in the doughnut and emphasizing, Mr. Speaker, that the hole was too big. And now that the bill has passed, we hear all this what I refer to as ``Mediscare'' rhetoric, and one of the first and foremost ``Mediscare'' tactics about that hole in the doughnut. We see it on television ads. So they are saying to seniors do not eat the doughnut. Do not eat the doughnut. Eat the hole. And I can tell people the hole has no taste, it has no calories, it has nothing because there is nothing there. And I think it really is unconscionable, particularly in regards to this interim program, the Medicare discount prescription card program to suggest to seniors or to advise them not to sign up for the prescription card. Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of any reason, not one reason, for a senior to not sign up for their prescription discount card. The benefits are tremendous for those who need it the most. And we have heard my colleagues speak about the $600 credit not just one time but 2 years and that can roll over into the next year. So a senior might have as much as $800 the second year of credit, not to mention the 15 to 20 percent overall discount, not that some discounts may be higher on certain drugs and lower on certain drugs but overall a 15 to 20 percent discount. And I say this, Mr. Speaker, to my seniors when I when I do town hall meetings in the 11th district of Georgia, South Cobb County and 16 counties of West Georgia, and we talk about this, and I say to them take advantage of this discount card. The most it can cost them, the most it can cost them, is $30; but if they are a low-income senior and they are eligible for the $600 credit, if their income is below 135 percent of the federal poverty level, and there is no assets means testing, it is just strictly based on income, and they are eligible for that, then they get the $600 credit, and they pay nothing for their card, and they get that 15 to 20 percent discount on each and every medication on an average that they purchase. I mean it is an opportunity for anyone. Whether they voted against the bill because they thought that it was too expensive and we could not afford it or whether they voted against it because they thought we were not doing enough, I say that it is unconscionable to advise those seniors not to sign up for the prescription drug discount card. There are other things, and I do not want to take up too much of the time that the chairman has been so kind to allot to me tonight, and I know there are other speakers that are coming, but that is just one of these ``Mediscare'' tactics. And the other one, and I will just briefly mention that, is this idea of this Medicare plan, prescription drug plan and Medicare modernization, is nothing but a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry. We have heard that. I know all my colleagues have heard that, and hopefully people listen and will understand as I explain why that is so fallacious. If that were true, if the new Medicare part D prescription drug plan was nothing but a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry, then one could certainly say the same thing about part A and part B, going back to 1965, as the chairman did earlier in his remarks. Part A, of course, one could say was nothing but a giveaway to the hospitals, and one could equally say that part B was nothing but a giveaway to the doctors because after all, they are the ones who provide the services under part A and part B respectively. But talk to any of them, and, believe me, they will say very quickly that it is hard to see Medicare patients and provide that care, and in many instances they are doing it out of the goodness of their heart. The pharmaceutical industry certainly will sell more drugs, but they will sell them cheaper, just like an automobile dealer who sells 100 new cars a month can sell them cheaper than if he just sells 10. And that is what is happening. That is what is going to drive these prices down. Mr. Speaker, I love to come before my colleagues and talk about this bill. We are in the interim phase now, the prescription drug discount card. Again, I can think of no reason why a senior should not sign up for that and take full advantage of it. In a year and a half, there may be some seniors who will have a better plan. Nobody will be forced out of Medicare as we know it, traditional Medicare. It is a choice. But this is a good bipartisan bill, and it is time to stop all the politicking and the rhetoric against it and let the seniors take advantage of something that this President and this Congress have finally delivered on. And I thank the chairman so much for giving me the opportunity to be with him tonight.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I make my way to the floor this evening to congratulate a distinguished citizen from Columbus, Georgia, J. Barnett Woodruff, for being the 2004 recipient of the Cliff O. Livingston award. For those not familiar with its significance, the Cliff O. Livingston Award was created in 1984 to honor individuals who excel above and beyond normal standards of generosity and commitment and advance in the Civilian-Military Council. The honor of this award is to recognize outstanding citizen soldiers. J. Barnett Woodruff was born October 18, 1923, in Columbus, Georgia, where he attended public school prior to his acceptance to Auburn University in 1942. He later joined the Navy and completed officer training at Georgia Tech. He served our country in the Pacific theatre as a minesweeper during World War II and was recalled in 1952 to serve in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. After his service in the Navy, Mr. Woodruff embarked on his career in the business community, where he pursued family interests in radio, television, timber, and real estate. He has served on the board of directors for the First National Bank of Columbus, director of the Columbus branches of the First Union Bank, director of Lummus Industries in Columbus, and director of the Woodruff Foundation. At age 80, Mr. Woodruff is currently president of Woodcrest Enterprises, Incorporated, where he does not miss a beat despite a busy schedule serving the greater Columbus community. Mr. Woodruff has served on the national board of the Boys' and Girls' Clubs, on the board of St. Francis Hospital and its foundation. He is a trustee of Presbyterian College, a Phi Delta Theta Trustee at Auburn University and a member of the Navy League. With such an illustrious record of service, it should be no surprise that the Cliff O. Livingston award is just the most recent of many accolades awarded to J. Barnett Woodruff. It should be noted that he was chosen the Jaycees Young Man of the Year in 1958. Despite his vast interest in the community, Barnett Woodruff still devotes his life to God and country as an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Columbus Naval Museum. On behalf of the constituents of Georgia's 11th Congressional District, I appreciate Mr. Woodruff's service to our community. I congratulate him on this great honor, and I wish him continued years of happiness in his service to family, friends and neighbors.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor tonight congratulating Reverend Patrick Smith Shannon on his retirement from the Ministry after 41 years of service. Reverend Shannon presided over three different churches in the congressional district I represent in western Georgia, including the LaGrange First United Methodist Church in Troup County from 1968 to 1971, the Villa Rica United Methodist Church in Douglas County from 1971 to 1977, and the Smyrna United Methodist Church in Cobb County from 2001 to 2004. Although Reverend Shannon is retiring from an active Ministry, he will never retire in his unwavering service to God. Blessed with a loving wife, Patricia, two children, Tim and Heidi, and four grandsons, Reverend Shannon's journey through life has yielded countless stories and life experiences which he has used to share the wisdom of Christ and the value of faith. He went to Young Harris College, to Georgia State University, and obtained a Masters of Divinity from Emory in 1965. Born in Thomasville, Georgia, and raised in East Point, Reverend Shannon is a true Georgian to the very core. Reverend Shannon is a servant of God, blessed with the gifts of teaching, compassion, and Ministry. He values the unity and fellowship of the traditional community church, where he reaches out to Christians and nonChristians of every age group. I am fortunate to have had the privilege of attending a few of Reverend Shannon's services at the First United Methodist Church in Smyrna, and have always found them to be inspirational. He is a true gift to the city and to the State of Georgia. We will cherish and appreciate him for years to come. On behalf of the constituents of Georgia's Eleventh Congressional District, I appreciate Pat Shannon's service to our spiritual community, and I wish him many new journeys in his retirement.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, during our week of mourning for President Ronald Reagan, I want to take a moment to honor the life and memory of a great Reagan Republican, Jack Vaughan, who died June 11, 1994, at the age of 33. Jack campaigned for Ronald Reagan on both Presidential campaigns, worked for Newt Gingrich out of college, and served three terms in the Georgia General Assembly before falling victim to cancer 10 years ago. Jack was a College Republican who really took Reagan's message of optimism to heart. His love for his country and State propelled him into public service and led him to three unopposed terms in the Georgia State House of Representatives. He was a leader to Cobb County, the State of Georgia, and served as inspiration for young Republicans seeking careers in public service. Since his death in 1994, the Georgia Republican party has named their young Republican of the year award after Jack Vaughan, for the most distinguished individual going above and beyond his or her means to serve party and country. Jack Vaughan was the son of Gretchen and Jack Vaughan; he is survived by his wife Diane Vaughan Rainey and son John Vaughan III. Although Mr. Vaughn is no longer with us, his spirit of hard work and dedication lives on in the hearts and memories of all those who wish to better our country and see the worth and value of the American people and citizens of Georgia.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I am humble to be one of the many Americans from all across our Nation who are paying tribute to President Ronald Reagan this week. Members of Congress, including myself, came to this floor in February to celebrate President Reagan's 93rd birthday, but it is with a sad heart tonight that we come to the floor of the House of Representatives to eulogize one of our greatest Presidents. It was appropriate that Ronald Reagan, a small-town American from Dixon, Illinois, would make a career and a home in California, would represent the very best of American life. As Governor of California, President Reagan became adept at representing the diverse nature of our country and cared deeply for all Americans. As he is laid to rest, Ronald Reagan's legacy for America will carry on eternally in the annals of history. Not since Lincoln and Roosevelt has one man touched the core of what it means to be an American: Through unity and strength, we can achieve peace; and through self- determination, responsibility and character, we can live the American dream. Ronald Reagan restored faith in America during one of our darkest hours of self-doubt. He gave us hope and promise when we needed it most. Reagan's true legacy is the restoration of the dream that is America. Even with his passing, Reagan's sense of hope and strength lives on. As someone who has been inspired by his leadership and courage in the face of the evil empire of the Soviet Union, I deeply thank President Reagan for restoring our Nation's confidence and our hope. God bless you, Ronald Reagan, and may God continue to bless the America whose spirit of eternal optimism you helped renew.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the proud history of Newnan, Georgia, the Coweta County Seat, and the beautiful courthouse that has resided there for a century. Mr. Speaker, on February 12, 1825, a group of Creek Indians led by General William McIntosh signed the Treaty of Indians Springs, in which they ceded their remaining land to Georgia. Subsequently, the Georgia General Assembly divided the land into five parcels, which would later become the counties of Lee, Muscogee, Troup, Coweta, and Carroll. Coweta County was named for a group of Creek Native Americans that lived in and around Coweta, one of the largest and most important towns of the Lower Creek Nation, and to honor General McIntosh, the chief of the Coweta Towns. The official act of naming the county on December 11, 1826, took place in the home of James Caldwell, which then became the very first official courthouse of Coweta County. For two more years, the Coweta County courts would meet in Mr. Caldwell's home until Newnan was designated the county seat and an official log courthouse was constructed in 1828. In 1904, the spectacular building that now stands was built. Mr. Speaker, as you can see, the Coweta County Courthouse has a long and proud history and it has come a long way from its humble beginnings in a log cabin. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in commending the great work of the people who have dedicated so much to keep this courthouse beautiful and its history alive. I am proud to represent the good people of Coweta County in the House of Representatives and I look forward to being with them during this 100-year celebration.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I could not help but notice, as I am sure many of my colleagues who are in the Chamber this evening noticed, the remarks of the gentleman from Washington State just a few minutes ago, talking about what Amnesty International thinks. Well, I want to remind my colleagues that Amnesty International is about as objective as the gentleman from Washington State; and if be anybody feels disgust toward this President, it is because of the harping and carping of people like that who really do not care about this country. They want to believe the Saddam Husseins of the world and not the President and Commander in Chief of this great country. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening primarily to talk about----

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), the chairman of the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, and I appreciate his great work on this legislation, as well as the gentleman from Michigan for this bipartisan bill. I rise today in support of H.R. 4409, the Teacher Enhancement Act. It is a bill I am proud to offer on behalf of our Nation's school teachers. H.R. 4409 will help ensure teacher-training programs produce well- prepared teachers to meet the needs of America's students. The goals of the Teacher Training Enhancement Act are to increase student achievement, academic achievement, improve the quality of the current and future teacher workforce by improving teacher preparation and enhancing professional development activities, hold teacher- preparation programs accountable for preparing highly qualified teachers, and recruit highly qualified individuals from diverse ethnic and occupational backgrounds into the teaching profession. As in current law, H.R. 4409 authorizes three types of competitive grant programs: the State grants, partnership grants, and teacher recruitment grants. The State grant funds must be used to reform teacher-preparation requirements, coordinate with the activities set forth under title II of the No Child Left Behind Act, and ensure that current and future teachers are indeed highly qualified. Programs administered through State grants will focus on effective teacher preparation, placing a renewed emphasis on the skills needed to meet the highly qualified standard. The partnership grants allow effective partners to join together, combining strengths and resources to train highly qualified teachers and to achieve success in the classroom. Eligible partnerships now must include four partners: a high qualified teacher-preparation program at an institution of higher education; second, a college of arts and sciences; third, a high-need local education agency; and, this is new, fourth, a public or a private education organization. These partnerships will require the faculty of the teacher- preparation program to serve with a highly qualified teacher in the classroom, allowing effective in-class experience to ensure that we do have highly qualified teachers who are truly prepared to teach. As we work to hold teacher-preparation programs accountable for preparing teachers, the need to recruit individuals into the teaching profession will only increase. Teacher recruitment grants will help bring high-quality individuals into teaching programs and ultimately put more highly qualified teachers into the classroom. H.R. 4409 recognizes the need to ensure high-need local educational agencies are able to effectively recruit highly qualified teachers and will help answer that need by increasing the number of teachers being trained. This bill also includes a new program which is based on provisions submitted to the Committee on Education and the Workforce by the United Negro College Fund and the Hispanic Education Coalition to authorize a teacher-preparation Center of Excellence at minority-serving institutions. This program will increase teacher recruitment and make institutional improvements to teacher-preparation programs at minority- serving institutions. While current higher education law contains annual reporting and accountability requirements for institutions of higher education, these measures have proven ineffective in determining the true quality of teacher-preparation programs. H.R. 4409 adds an accountability provision to the Higher Education Act that will strengthen these current law provisions and hold teacher-preparation programs accountable for providing accurate and useful information about the quality of their program. The bill is specifically designed to align teacher-preparation programs with the high standards for accountability on the results provided for in No Child Left Behind. The Teacher Training Enhancement Act places a strong focus on the quality of teacher preparation, and a renewed emphasis on the skills needed to meet the ``highly qualified'' definition found in No Child Left Behind. H.R. 4409 recognizes flexibility should exist in the methods used for training highly qualified teachers, and it allows funds to be used for innovative teacher-preparation programs such as charter colleges which can provide an alternative gateway for teachers to become highly qualified. The future competitiveness of our Nation will depend on our ability to strengthen education at all levels. We need to prepare our teachers so that they may fulfill the high standards for students' achievement outlined in the No Child Left Behind Act. I am pleased, Mr. Speaker, to be offering this bill today which takes a step in the right direction to ensure that the teachers of tomorrow have access to the high-quality training they need and deserve. And I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill and stand in support of America's teachers.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. There is no question about that. And it makes me think, too, we are talking about this issue of outsourcing and the weeping and gnashing of teeth over that. But the very same people that are crying about outsourcing are the ones who for my profession will not give us an opportunity for a level playing field in regard to tort reform, will not help us pass meaningful legislation to bring fairness into class action lawsuits or product liability and put all these burdens on our small businesses, men and women who employ most of the people in this country. They create the jobs. But yet it is not just wages that is causing us to lose these jobs. It is a lot of these burdensome rules and regulations that our competitors offshore do not have to abide by. So you are absolutely right. We want people, my patients, I always want them to know. Whenever I completed that cycle, that 2-year cycle of particular education, I would put that little diploma in my office, hang it right there on the wall or in one of the exam rooms so they could look and see where I trained and am I up to date, absolutely essential.