Gabrielle Giffords

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, March is Women's History Month, and I rise today to pay tribute to the women who have served our country with honor and distinction. Women such as Major General Susan Lawrence, the commander of the Army's Netcom and 9th Signal Command at Fort Huachuca. She is a true inspiration to soldiers in Arizona and women everywhere. Women such as Lori Piestewa, a U.S. Army soldier killed during an attack in Iraq in 2003. A member of the Hopi tribe, she was born and raised in Arizona and became the first woman in the U.S. Armed Forces killed in Iraq and the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the United States military. And women such as Air Force Lieutenant Meredith Doran. Working from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, she is an aircraft traffic controller involved in the Haitian earthquake relief effort underway today. Women have voluntarily served in every conflict since the early days of the Revolutionary War, and their significant accomplishments are often overlooked. Every day, women fly jets in combat, engage enemies on the battlefield, and will soon also serve alongside their male counterparts on submarines. This month and all year long, we should recognize and remember the service, sacrifice, and the lives of the women in our United States Armed Forces and everything that they have given to our country.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Tucson Rodeo Parade which on Thursday celebrates its 85th anniversary. The Parade Grand Marshall is James ``Big Jim'' Griffith, beloved storyteller, musician, and folklorist and a Tucson tradition in his own right. Known as ``La Fiesta de los Vaqueros,'' the parade is a time-honored tradition for thousands of residents and visitors. It is a much- anticipated community event that reminds us of our past as a region shaped by the independence, drive, and determination of cowboys and cowgirls. The Tucson Rodeo Parade first was held on Saturday, February 21, 1925. Arizona had been a State for only 13 years, and Tucson was still very much a rough and tumble community on the edge of the American frontier. My hometown and home State were very different places 85 years ago. All of Arizona back then had a population smaller than Tucson is today. The inaugural Rodeo Parade rolled through downtown Tucson the same year the city purchased 1,280 acres on its cactus-studded outskirts for a municipal airport. This swath of desert would, in just a few short years, become the home of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, one of our Nation's premier military installations. Prizes for entrants in the first parade, long before air conditioning or the modern supermarket, included a 750-pound block of ice, 100 pounds of potatoes and a ``Big Cactus'' ham. This colorful and exciting parade continues today as a kickoff for the Tucson Rodeo. The parade is a salute to southern Arizona's rich ranching history and our community's close ties with Mexico. With the nickname of ``La Fiesta de los Vaqueros,'' the rodeo and the parade are a true ``party of the cowboys.'' The Tucson Rodeo Parade keeps alive the spirit of that first parade. It long has been known as ``The Largest Non-Motorized Parade'' in the country and achieves its success through strong community participation and the commitment of the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee. The Tucson Rodeo Parade has become such a cherished event that schoolchildren long have been given the day off so they can attend the festivities. In offices and work places all across Tucson jeans and cowboy boots are acceptable attire on parade day. As a third generation southern Arizonan, I am proud to recognize the Tucson Rodeo Parade on its 85th anniversary and to commend the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee for sustaining this wonderful tradition.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, yesterday I was absent and missed rollcall votes 49 and 50. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 49 and ``aye'' on rollcall 50.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the legacy of a former Member of Congress, Congressman Jim Kolbe. This body honors him with the passage of H.R. 4495, legislation to rename his hometown post office at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona. Congressman Kolbe's record of service began as a page in this historic place of Congress for Senator Barry Goldwater. This experience would have a lasting impact on his appreciation for the virtue of public service, resulting in a long and distinguished career dedicated to cultivating a better Arizona, and in fact, a better Nation. He spent his life in service in the United States Navy, the Arizona State legislature, and in the United States Congress for Arizona's Fifth and Eighth Congressional Districts. As our hometown newspaper, the Arizona Daily Star, noted upon his retirement in December of 2006, ``He earned a reputation as a moderate in a partisan world, a voice working from the center.'' Congressman Kolbe did not work from a predetermined list of party positions. He worked to unite his colleagues in finding solutions to important issues to Arizonans, from increased economic opportunity through trade to environmental conversation. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring this great figure, a man who served our community in Arizona, who served our Nation, Congressman Jim Kolbe, a true statesman and a beloved public figure.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. I rise today to honor United States Army Sergeant Jonathan Shiver, who passed away on January 15, 2010. Born March 4, 1985 to Paul Edward and Jennifer Ann Shiver in Tucson, Jonathan graduated from Buena High School in 2003 and attended Wyoming Technical College, earning his Associates Degree in 2004. Jonathan joined the Army in June 2007--a day he said was the day that changed his life. He was an exemplary Soldier, promoted to Sergeant in 2009 ahead of his peers. His family described him as a caring soul who enjoyed spending time outdoors on fishing trips, listening to country music, playing cards, and spending time with his friends and family. Assigned to the Army's Third Expeditionary Sustainment Command, he deployed to Iraq where he worked as a mechanic, orderly room clerk, and was later selected to be a General's aide. Jonathan earned numerous commendations and accolades during his career. We remember Sergeant Jonathan Shiver and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his family. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss nor can they offer adequate consolation. However, it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that Justin made a difference in the lives of many others and serves as an example of a competent and caring leader and friend that will live on in the hearts and minds of all those he touched. This body and this country owe Jonathan and his family a debt of gratitude and it is vital that we remember him and his service to his country. Sergeant Jonathan Shiver leaves behind his beloved wife Jasmine, his parents Paul and Jennifer of Sierra Vista, his sister Danielle of Phoenix, his grandmothers Brenda Jacobson of Sierra Vista and Marian Shiver of Texas and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron on their recent landmark deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During their recent combat deployment, the 354th distinguished itself as the Air Force's premiere Close Air Support unit by flying more sorties per day, per aircraft, than any other ground-attack unit in the Central Command area. Over the course of their 6-month tour, the unit flew more than 10,000 flight hours and launched more than 2,500 sorties in support of thousands of troops on the ground and all with only half of their full complement of aircraft. The Bulldogs spearheaded the integration of the SADL communications system or Situational Awareness Data Link. They were also the first A- 10 unit to forward deploy to Kandahar Airfield, closer to the action and closer to the enemy. In order to remain airborne, the maintenance team worked around the clock to ensure a utilization rate of 210% of the usual domestic operational rate. For the 354th that meant 400 sorties a month. The dedicated service of the airmen of the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron has undoubtedly saved the lives of countless American, Coalition and Afghan ground forces and under the brutal conditions of an unrelenting Afghan winter. As the first A-10 squadron in theater, the 354th has set the bar very high, but I am confident that their follow-on units will meet that standard. On behalf of the people of Tucson, I am personally very proud to welcome home the 354th to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert W. Gilbert, who is leaving his position as Chief Patrol Agent of the United States Border Patrol Tucson Sector to become the Department of Homeland Security Attache in Mexico. As the representative of one of only ten congressional districts on the U.S.-Mexico border, I have worked closely with Chief Gilbert in the ongoing effort to secure our border. Chief Gilbert has been relentless in his pursuit of this goal, and for that, every American owes him a tremendous debt of gratitude. During his time in Tucson, Chief Gilbert never lost sight of the fact that our border is more than a boundary separating two nations. He knows that our border with Mexico is a conduit for trade through which hundreds of millions of dollars of vital goods and services flow each year. He is also acutely aware of the negative impact on local residents, ranchers and businesses caused by the criminal cartels that smuggle people and drugs across the border and into our communities. Chief Gilbert followed his father into the Border Patrol and has carried out assignments in San Diego, El Paso and on the Canadian border. In March 2007, he was named Chief Patrol Agent of the Tucson Sector, the Nation's largest and most active border region. Chief Gilbert supervises more than 3,200 agents who patrol 262 miles of international border. The agents who work for him account for the highest number of drug seizures and illegal immigrant apprehensions in the Nation. Chief Gilbert has called the Tucson Sector ``ground zero for the Border Patrol.'' When he was asked whether being assigned to such a busy part of the border was a reward or a punishment, Chief Gilbert called his posting ``an honor.'' It has been no less an honor for those of us who have had the opportunity to work with him. Representing the Eighth Congressional District in Southeastern Arizona, I have had the privilege of witnessing first-hand the Border Patrol's important work. It has been a highlight of my time in Congress to meet the men and women of the Tucson Sector of the Border Patrol who serve in one of the most challenging and rugged regions in our country. Under Chief Gilbert's exceptional leadership, great progress has been achieved in making our border more secure. In just the first three months of fiscal year 2010, agents in the Tucson Sector arrested 51,111 people and seized 270,418 pounds of marijuana. In fiscal year 2009, agents in the Tucson Sector seized an all-time national record of more than 1.2 million pounds of marijuana. It is clear on many levels that Chief Gilbert and the men and women under his command are gaining control of the most porous area of our border with Mexico. In addition to implementing effective new strategies to deal with the high volume of drug and human smuggling, Chief Gilbert and his team have been most responsive to my inquiries on behalf of constituents and they have reached out to build positive relationships with local residents, ranchers and business owners. The Chief established regular meetings of community stakeholders which have resulted in stronger partnerships between the Border Patrol and the citizens who live along the border. He has gone to great lengths to establish better understanding and communications with the community including his mule ride along the border with area ranchers to directly inspect the effects that smuggling has had on their land and operations. In a 2009 interview with Linda Valdez, a columnist with the Arizona Republic, Chief Gilbert talked about the enthusiasm he has for his job. ``If you can't get excited about defending the United States of America, you don't have a pulse,'' he said. Each day, the agents supervised by Chief Gilbert confront armed smugglers, harsh desert terrain and weather extremes to keep us safe. Each day, they and Chief Gilbert illustrate what it means to be dedicated to duty and to country. While enormous credit rightfully goes to Chief Gilbert for Border Patrol successes since he arrived on the job, we also recognize the great sacrifices that have been made by his family. His wife Lia and children Matthew and Sophia have been there to support the Chief through his many long days and weekends at work. The strength of his family has played a vital role in sustaining the Chief in his tireless service to the Nation. We thank them for all they have done for him and, through him, for all of us. On behalf of the people of Arizona's Eighth Congressional District, I am proud to give the highest commendation to Chief Robert W. Gilbert for a job very well done. This man is a true patriot, who has served our region and the Nation with selflessness, integrity and honor.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Winifred ``Winn'' Bundy, who has been named a 2009 Arizona Culturekeeper for her commitment and dedication to upholding the traditions, rituals and culture of my State. For thirty-five years, Winn has operated the Singing Wind Bookshop near Benson, Arizona. Time magazine called Singing Wind ``one of the warmest bookshops on Earth'' and a national travel writer said it was ``the most unique book-buying experience of my life.'' Winn did not start out planning to run a book store. In 1956, she earned a degree in history and English from the University of Arizona. That year she and her husband bought the Singing Wind, a working cattle ranch. Winn's love of literature led her to start selling books from the living room of her ranch home. Winn soon developed a reputation for featuring a rich selection of regional authors and topics that draw readers from around the world. Since then, Winn's ranch house has become a must-visit destination for lovers of Southwestern literature who come from far and wide by car and tour bus. Winn now has 150,000 titles in stock on everything from Indian rock art to ghost towns to the Jewish Western experience. Since 1974, Winn has helped hundreds of Southwestern writers get their start. She specializes in small press books that do not appear in big chain stores and connects authors with publishers to get their works in print. Winn also cultivates the love of literature and the humanities through the many community activities she sponsors. From its inception, Singing Wind has offered a bookmobile, school programs, book discussions, author readings and writers' festivals. Earlier this year, Winn received the Juliana Yoder Friend of the Humanities Award from the Arizona Humanities Council. On December 20, 2009 she will be named an Arizona Culturekeeper, an award presented by the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, in conjunction with the Sharlot Hall Museum, the Arizona Historical Society and Marshall Trimble, Arizona's official state historian. I am proud of the work that Winn has done to preserve Arizona's culture and to bring literature to a wide audience. She is truly a deserving recipient of the Culturekeeper Award and I join with the award committee in commending her for all that she has done for the people of Arizona and for readers across the country and around the world.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Arizona Builders' Alliance which is celebrating its fifteenth annual Volunteer Day this week by renovating the Marshall Home for Men in Tucson. More than 150 volunteers from the Southern Arizona Division of the Alliance will participate in the December 5 event. Thanks to the generosity of Alliance members, $125,000 worth of renovations will be donated to the Marshall Home. The Marshall Home for Men was founded in 1931 as a safe haven for men who were struggling to find work during the Depression. A rancher, John Ryland, welcomed the men with food, shelter and companionship as they sought jobs during the tough economic times. The support that the current residents will receive from the Builders' Alliance continues that caring tradition. Today, the Marshall Home is a non-profit, state licensed personal care facility for elderly men with limited means. Fifty-two men--many of whom have earned military commendations such as the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Navy Cross and Purple Heart--live at the Marshall Home. Thanks to the Arizona Builders' Alliance, the Marshall Home will receive new doors, bathroom upgrades, painting, air conditioning and ductwork, new locks, tile replacement, an irrigation system and extensive landscaping work. This is the fifteenth time that the Southern Arizona Division of the Arizona Builders' Alliance has come to the aid of a community service organization. Previous events have contributed more than $1.2 million worth of work. I am proud to join with a grateful community in commending the Arizona Builders' Alliance for their long history of giving. This is a great organization whose members are the backbone of our southern Arizona economy and whose charitable works have made significant contributions to non-profit agencies and the people they serve.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 923 I was unable to arrive in time to cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, today I was absent due to an illness and missed rollcall votes 889, 890 and 891. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 889, ``yea'' on rollcall 890 and ``aye'' on rollcall 891.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. First of all, I would like to thank Chairman Gordon, also Ranking Member Hall, members of the committee, and our staff for helping to move this very important bill forward. Mr. Chairman, the United States has some of the best solar resources of any industrialized country in the world--enough power, in fact, to power the entire country several times over. These resources aren't unique or limited to the American Southwest. It turns out that our friends up north in the State of Alaska have about the same amount of solar resource energy as has the country of Germany. Yet, in 2006, Germany installed about seven times more solar power than we did here in the United States. Major companies in Europe and in China have been very aggressive over the last several years in building up their manufacturing capacities and in competing internationally to meet demand. If our policies and innovation models for solar energy don't change, the United States is simply going to transition from importing foreign oil to importing foreign panels. This country actually invented the first photovoltaic technologies, and we still have some of the smartest, most talented people in the world working to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar cells today; but in order to use our precious research dollars as effectively as possible, these people--these patriots--need a serious road map. That's why I am so pleased to offer this bill today. After many substantive discussions with a wide range of industry and academic leaders, as well as with the Department of Energy, I believe there is a lot that the solar industry can learn from the experience of our national semiconductor industry. Twenty years ago, the United States was in danger of losing its semiconductor industry to Japan. In response, the industry created the technology road map for semiconductors. The focus of this initiative was to develop a road map to guide research and development efforts across the entire industry. By increasing communications between the diverse members of the supply chain, our American semiconductor industry was able to develop standards and to avoid the duplication of research efforts. These organized coordination efforts gave rise to the U.S. semiconductor giants like Intel and AMD, and the U.S. currently continues to lead the world in semiconductor development. Today's solar researchers in the United States find themselves in a very similar situation. To maintain a competitive advantage, they must come together to meet their common, precompetitive goals, whether in simulation activities, in developing new materials, in energy storage, in power, in grid management or even in weather forecasting. This bill would require the Department of Energy to engage diverse stakeholders in the solar community and to work across programs to create a comprehensive plan, a road map, to guide funding for the research needed to make the U.S. the global leader for solar innovation. The road map would be required to identify short-, medium- and long-term goals, and it would make recommendations on how to channel R&D resources to meet these goals. The bill would make the Department of Energy more responsive to our solar industry's needs, and it would encourage the needed collaboration and communication across technologies with well-vetted strategies. I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their contributions that have made this bill a better bill. In fact, about 25 of the 28 changes in our manager's amendment in the Science Committee were suggested or requested by the minority. I also look forward to supporting several good amendments offered by my colleagues today. Another sign of the time and effort put together by so many were the endorsements. Chairman Gordon talked about that. I would like to remind members that the National Association of Manufacturers, the United States Chamber of Commerce, SEIA--the Solar Energy Industries Association--IBM, Intel, BP, and National Semiconductor are all behind this piece of legislation. Mr. Chairman, the United States has an opportunity to be the leading developer and exporter of clean solar technologies in the coming years and decades. This bipartisan bill is designed to advance that goal, and I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to respond to some of the concerns that are addressed in Mr. Broun's amendment. Mr. Broun's amendment would freeze the authorization level for solar R&D at $250 million per year, the same level last authorized for fiscal year 2009 in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. And note that at this funding level, it would almost be completely impossible to carry out the tasks of the robust demonstration program in this bill, in addition to the critical research that is required through the road map committee. But I frankly believe that the best justification for the proposed authorizations in this bill comes from taking a look backward in time at the historical levels of investment in energy R&D in this country. Mr. Chairman, between 1978 and fiscal year 2007, the United States Government spent $30 billion on R&D for nuclear energy alone. We spent another $24 billion on fossil fuel research. During that same time, however, we spent less than $6.5 billion on solar energy. And more than half of that research was performed prior to 1985. Now, maybe some people thing these disparities are appropriate. Maybe they think that solar does not merit the same levels of investment because it is not able to provide as much energy as those technologies. However, looking at the research and where we are with the technology today, that is simply false. Our solar resources are absolutely vast in scale, and they are capable of making a significant contribution to our energy needs. Using technology available today, solar power could meet the electricity demands of the entire United States on a square piece of land 100 by 100 miles, or 10,000 square acres. That is just one-quarter of the land currently covered by artificial lakes behind hydroelectric dams, which provide less than 7 percent of our Nation's electricity. Scott Stephens, an engineer with the Solar Energy Technology Program at the Department of Energy, recently stated publicly that with the right incentives, solar power has the potential to provide 20 percent of America's electricity needs by 2030. That's equal to the amount of power currently provided by nuclear power plants. Yet to date, we have spent just one-tenth the resources developing solar technologies than we have spent in developing nuclear power. In the last 30 years, we have spent four times more money developing coal technology than solar, and burning coal is a technology that was developed 150 years ago. At the end of the term covered by my bill, it would authorize $550 million to solar R&D. At the peak of the energy crisis in the 1970s, we spent $3 billion a year on nuclear power development and $1.8 billion on fossil fuels, using 2007 dollars. Let me be clear. I fully support having strong research programs in other types of energy, whether it's nuclear or coal and a variety of other important energy options. The funding levels in this bill just recognize and help us properly take advantage of the enormous solar resources that we have in the United States.

Ms. GIFFORDS. To properly take advantage of the enormous solar resources we have in the United States, and the potential to accelerate new clean energy for our economy, it is time for our investment to match the scale of opportunity. In fiscal year 2011, the Solar Technology Roadmap would authorize $350 million, which is only about 6 percent of today's energy R&D budget.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista, Arizona, which will play a very active role in the Lights On Afterschool Day on October 22. Lights On Afterschool Day is a national celebration of after-school programs that promotes quality afternoon activities for children and their families. Arizona ranks in the top 10 states for afterschool programs and I commend the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista for its strong participation in this important initiative. The mission of the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The club operates exceptional youth development programs which provide young people with the knowledge, skills, and attributes they need to pursue their dreams and succeed in life. The Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista also offers a full menu of after-school activities. These activities provide safe, challenging and fun learning experiences to help young people develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills. There are more than 28 million children in the United States with parents who work outside the home. Some 14.3 million of those children have no place to go after school. The Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista leads the way by encouraging community involvement in the education and well-being of our youth. That leadership is grounded in the principle that quality after-school programs are a key to helping our children become successful adults. Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant has said ``The 2009 Lights On Afterschool events represent not only diverse people and issues, but also diverse interests--whether those interests run to the sciences, the arts, community service, sports or the environment.'' The Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista is an outstanding example of how children can be engaged in these meaningful activities. On behalf of a grateful community, I thank the Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista for all that it does to engage and educate our children in a safe and caring setting.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army Staff Sergeant Justin T. Gallegos, who was killed in action with seven fellow Soldiers as their remote outpost in mountainous eastern Afghanistan was attacked by insurgents on October 3, 2009. He leaves behind his mother, two sisters, brother and a 5-year-old son. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Justin graduated from Tucson High School before joining the Army in 2002. Staff Sergeant Gallegos was assigned to Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Justin was on his first deployment to Afghanistan, but he had already completed two previous deployments to Iraq, the first a one-year deployment from November 2005 to 2006 and the other a fifteen-month deployment from March 2007 to May 2008. Since entering the Army, Justin had earned a reputation for being a good Soldier. Over his career he earned more than a dozen honors including three Purple Hearts, two Army Commendation Medals and two Army Achievement Medals. He also earned the Bronze Star for his actions that day in defending his combat outpost. On this day, he was deployed to a remote base near the Afghanistan- Pakistan border. As insurgents poured over the hilltop ridge toward his position and the base, Justin and his fellow Soldiers held their ground before the camp was partially overrun and nearly destroyed by rocket and mortar fire. The team held back hundreds of enemy fighters before ultimately succumbing to the overwhelming volume of fire. These men fought bravely and will not be forgotten. We remember Staff Sergeant Gallegos and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his family. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss nor can they offer adequate consolation. However, it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that Justin's legacy reaches beyond the desolate landscape of Afghanistan and into the hearts of a grateful nation. This body and this country owe Justin and his family a debt of gratitude and it is vital that we remember him and his fellow servicemembers who have paid the ultimate price. Justin is a hero both to his country and to his wonderful family. We salute his selfless service, sacrifice and bravery. May he not be forgotten and may his mission continue in the work of this body and the hearts of all Americans.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Copper Queen Community Hospital, which has been providing exceptional healthcare in Bisbee and Southeastern Arizona for 125 years. Copper Queen Community Hospital began serving residents in this historic mining community of Bisbee in the 1880s. Like the community it serves, the hospital has come a long way since those rough and tumble days, when its medical care was offered in a mining cave. The first hospital building was built by the mining companies in 1900--a dozen years before Arizona even became a state. Twenty-six years later, a new hospital was constructed to provide services to the miners and other patients. At that time, Bisbee was a thriving and bustling community, a town that grew prosperous because of copper, gold, silver and other minerals. Today's current hospital building opened in 1961, thanks to the Phelps Dodge Corporation. It was operated by the mining company until 1976, when the hospital and all equipment were donated to the Cochise County Hospital Association. At that time, the Bisbee Hospital Association was established to oversee hospitals operations and to ensure that Southeastern Arizona had access to necessary medical services and high-quality patient care. This new association was open to community members and leaders, beginning a tradition of community involvement that continues to this day. The Copper Queen Community Hospital of 2009 is a 14-bed critical- access, non-profit facility that provides a full range of medical services to residents of Bisbee and Cochise County. In recent years, clinics in outlying areas have extended healthcare to rural communities. The hospital's strong commitment to rural healthcare makes it a worthy recipient of federal assistance. Needed funding allows for the ever expansion of the emergency room, improvement in patient services and help for those in need in Cochise County. For more than a century, Copper Queen Community Hospital has held true to its mission of providing access to primary healthcare in southeastern Cochise. The hospital is one of only four in Arizona to be on the list of the 100 Top Regional Hospitals in the United States. It plays a critical role in the delivery of medical services to the people of Congressional District 8. I am proud to join with a grateful community to commend Copper Queen Community Hospital for its long tradition of quality healthcare and I wish it continued success.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the nationally acclaimed BASIS Charter Schools, which provide outstanding educational services in Tucson, Arizona. American students often lag behind their counterparts in other countries and we know that action must be taken to reverse this trend. BASIS Charter Schools give us a national model that demonstrates how we can effectively address this serious decline in educational performance. Ten years ago, Michael and Olga Block embarked on their mission to create a ``New American'' school. They established the BASIS Charter Schools. The BASIS philosophy understands that math and science are essentially the languages of the 21st century. These forward-thinking founders say that great teachers are responsible for the schools' successes. At BASIS, the teachers hold themselves and their students to high standards and levels of accountability. Students engage in a demanding course of study that gives them the skills needed to compete in the new global economy. BASIS has received many well deserved awards. The high school has been selected in each of the last four years by Newsweek magazine as one of the top 10 high schools in the United States. During the 2008- 2009 academic year, BASIS students received perfect marks on the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) exam. In 2009, BASIS was the only high school in Arizona with 100 percent of its students passing the AIMS exam in every subject tested. Documentary filmmaker Robert A. Compton has produced a film about BASIS Schools entitled 2 Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution. The title chronicles a student's journey in school from eighth grade until high school graduation. The filmmaker lauds BASIS schools saying that they ``demonstrate that American students are capable of competing academically with the best in the world.'' The film will premiere in Tucson on October 1, 2009. I am proud to acknowledge the great achievements of BASIS Charter Schools. The founders, the teachers, the students and their parents are leading the way for the critical improvements we must bring about in our public education system.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Chairman Grijalva, for bringing this bill forward. I rise today in support of H.R. 324, the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Act. This bill would designate the area around the Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona as a national heritage area, from Marana in the north down to Patagonia in the south. By designating this area a national heritage area, the beautiful Santa Cruz Valley region will receive modest Federal support for promoting the area's history, cultural resources, and the indigenous wildlife habitat. This designation will be a valuable tool to promote economic development and tourism in a rural area, in an area that has been hard hit by the downturn in the economy. Just as important, we will be ensuring that visitors to the Santa Cruz Valley area can learn about this unique watershed that exists there and the diverse societies it has supported throughout hundreds of thousands of years, Native American tribes, descendants of Spanish ancestors, American pioneers, and now, members of a very diverse southern Arizona community. Unfortunately, this bill has been the subject of much misinformation. Contrary to what some have said, the Santa Cruz Valley does not jeopardize private property rights. In fact, the bill language explicitly protects property rights. The bill also protects public use of federally managed lands. Having participated in and led dozens of meetings in that area, hearing from constituencies from the business community to the environmental community, folks across a broad spectrum, there is very strong support for this legislation. This is why the bill will move forward in a way that is very positive for the people of southern Arizona. I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 324 to support preserving Arizona's natural heritage. Again, I commend the chairman for bringing the bill forward.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army Specialist Nathan Spangenberg, who died from an illness at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii on September 8, 2009 following his last deployment. He leaves behind his mother, Lois, his brother, Colin, sister, Megan and a niece and nephew. Born in Tucson, Nathan attended Mountain View High School from 2004 to 2006, then transferred to Mountain Rose Academy charter school before joining the Army in 2007. SPC Spangenberg was an infantryman with the 2nd Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry Division headquartered in Hawaii. He and his unit returned there in February after a 15-month tour in Iraq. The Warrior Brigade, as they are known, was responsible for securing an 800 square mile area North of Baghdad that remains one of the most dangerous places for U.S. forces. Appropriately, Nathan was a warrior. He survived his extended tour in Iraq only to be taken from us too soon. We remember SPC Spangenberg and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his mother, brother, sister, niece and nephew. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss nor can they offer adequate consolation. However, it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that Nathan's legacy reaches beyond the desolate landscape of Iraq and the barracks of Hawaii and into the hearts of a grateful nation. This body and this country owe Nathan and his family a debt of gratitude and it is vital that we remember him and his fellow servicemembers who have paid the ultimate price. Nathan is a hero both to his country and to his wonderful family. We salute his selfless service and bravery. May he not be forgotten and may his mission continue in the work of this body and the hearts of all Americans.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address our single most important domestic issue that faces our country, reforming our broken health insurance program. We spend too much, we receive too little, and we are left worrying that the insurance that we have won't be enough. Nationwide, premiums have doubled in the last 9 years, increasing three times faster than real wages. Arizona's Eighth Congressional District is especially burdened. In 2008, we had over 950 personal bankruptcies due to health care problems. We can't perpetuate the status quo. Arizonans need reform that protects us from being denied coverage based on a preexisting condition. We need reform that guarantees care if we lose our job or move. Arizonans need reform that fosters competition and delivers us, the customer, the lowest cost and the best service. Arizonans need reform that puts the power back into the hands of patients and doctors. Mr. Speaker, we can do this, and we must do this. If you like your plan, you should be able to keep it and your costs should go down and not up. There are savings to be had in our current system, and we must focus on squeezing out every drop.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, it is my great honor to pay tribute today to Suzi and Fred Dow, residents of Bisbee, Arizona who have dedicated themselves to educating the public on the rich experiences of our National Forests. Like other pioneers of the west, they possess a thirst for the unexplored, acting as guides to our nation's greatest resource, our National Forests. Together, Suzi and Fred have personally researched and surveyed 2,367 campgrounds in over 153 National Forests. Since 1994, they have traveled over 275,000 miles in their meticulous journey through our nation's wilderness. Today, they are in the midst of exploring the Superior National Forest of Minnesota, the fifth destination of their current five month adventure. Suzi and Fred publish their findings on a Web site, www.forestcamping.com, hosting almost 4,000 photographs that illustrate National Forest sights and campgrounds. The Web site receives over 300,000 hits a day and features an active forum, blog, and monthly newsletter titled, The Wanderings. In addition to their website, Suzi and Fred have published 9 books in an effort to promote national forests and camping opportunities. Through their Web site and books, they share an articulate, detailed narrative of their wanderings as well as practical advice, such as how to cook pasta at high elevations. In 2003, the USDA Forest Service recorded more than 200 million visitors, who contributed over $7.5 billion to the local communities in and around National Forests. Suzi and Fred's efforts indirectly stimulate the economy of these communities, at no cost to the government. The Southwestern author Edward Abbey once said, ``Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.'' Suzi and Fred encourage people to indulge in that necessity, while also developing an understanding of the importance of National Forests to the health and well being of our country. Thank you, Suzi and Fred, for documenting the beauty of our country and sharing your experiences with all of us.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the most important domestic policy issue that faces our country, and that is the reforming of our health care system, this great debate that this country is having right now. Before coming to the United States Congress, I served as a State Legislator, both in the House and in the Senate in the State of Arizona, so I had a chance to hear from people all over, from Tombstone all the way up to Flagstaff about the challenges that they faced with health care. Before I was a State Legislator, I was the CEO of my family's tire business. And running El Campo Tires, I had a chance to make some important decisions for my employees, and that included making sure that they had good health benefits. Unlike many of my competitors, I offered health care upon hire. But year after year I saw double-digit increases when it came to paying for our insurance premium. Now, we weren't a very large company, but I thought it was important to provide those health care benefits. It was probably detrimental to the company, but I thought that was really critical. We see right now in the United States, as a country, that we spend too much for health care per capita. We spend well more than any other country. Yet we have 47 million Americans right now that have no health insurance. We have probably 20 million additional Americans that are underinsured, and millions and millions every day that worry that the insurance that they have won't cover them, that it won't be enough. Nationwide, premiums have doubled in the last 9 years, which have basically increased three times faster than real wages across the United States. I represent Arizona's Eighth Congressional District and it's unique because it's burdened in different ways than other parts of the country. This is a border district, one of 10 border districts. A large amount of the geography is rural, where it's very hard to get physicians or nurses to go out there. Many parts of the district are low income. We also have fewer doctors per capita than other parts of the country. From 2001 to 2006, the out-of-pocket expenses in my district went up by 32 percent; and in 2008, there were 950 health care related personal bankruptcies in my district. So we cannot continue to perpetuate the status quo. The time for health care reform is right now. Arizonans need reform that's going to protect us from being denied coverage based on a pre-existing health condition that they might have. Arizonans need reform that guarantees care, even if we lose our job or if we move or if our spouse loses his or her job. Arizonans need reform that fosters competition, which is critical to our free market system, across the insurance companies and delivers us, the customers, the consumers, the lowest cost and the best service available. Arizonans need reform that puts the power of health care decisions back into the hands of the patient and back into the hands of their physicians. Reform is not an option, and most Americans simply know that. As the health care legislation is being crafted and being discussed right now, we know that it has to be done responsibly. We know we need to pay for it. We can't continue to put today's expenses on to the shoulders of our children and our grandchildren. It is also critical that Americans know that if you like your plan, you can keep your plan. You should be able to make sure that your costs go down and not go up like they're continuing to do. There are savings to be had in our current system. We all know that. So we have to focus on squeezing those costs, every drop. We can do this, and we must do this. So it's really time to make sure, not that we do it fast, but that we do it right because our economy's at stake. Our children, our grandchildren, and America's prosperity are at stake right now with this health reform issue. So thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the time, and for my constituents back home, the importance that they know that we're going to work to make sure we get this health care legislation right.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res 607, a resolution to honor the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. As you know, it was 40 years ago today that the citizens of planet Earth received a message from one of their own beamed all the way back from the surface of the Moon. That message was the historic signal that humanity had at long last set foot on another world. What an amazing accomplishment! Or as Apollo 11 Mission Commander Neil Armstrong said: ``That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.'' At that time, the American people could still remember the impact created by the Soviet Union's successful launch of Sputnik in 1957, which led to the Space Race with the USSR. Our nation indeed took a ``giant leap'' when, 12 years later, two American astronauts successfully landed the Eagle Lunar Module on the Sea of Tranquility, walked upon the lunar surface, and then returned safely to Earth. Not only had this achievement demonstrated America's technological preeminence in the eyes of the world, it also inspired generations of engineers and scientists. Indeed, it can be argued that one of the most lasting benefits of the Apollo program was the flood of innovation and inspiration that it unleashed. It is not an overstatement to say that we remain today the beneficiaries of the restless energy and hard work that culminated in the success of Apollo 11. Thus I think it is incredibly important for us to pause to remember and honor the bravery and success of the crew of Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. In addition, we should also remember and honor all of the countless individuals and organizations who labored long and hard to make Apollo 11 possible. Yet I think that the best way to honor their accomplishment is to make our own commitment to a challenging and robust program of human and robotic exploration of the solar system. It is time for America to take the next steps in space--we cannot simply rest on our laurels, no matter how hard-won. Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to thank Ranking Member Hall for introducing this resolution. I am proud to be an original cosponsor, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, today Congress is considering legislation to honor the Astronauts of Apollo 11 and Mercury Astronaut John Glenn with the Congressional Gold Medal, and as a proud cosponsor, I rise to urge support of this bill to recognize the trailblazing accomplishments of these brave American heroes. Their courage and the success of their missions have become symbols of what we as Americans can accomplish when we come together and put all of our energy and hard work into reaching a goal in which we all believe. The launch of Sputnik in 1957 initiated the Space Race of the 1960s between the United States and the Soviet Union. Just 12 years later, this Space Race culminated with Apollo 11's historic touchdown on the Moon's Sea of Tranquility in July of 1969. Even though NASA and the goal of landing men on the Moon were in some sense directly inspired by Cold War rivalries, the Apollo 11 lunar landings and John Glenn's orbital flight became a means of uniting all of us here on Earth in a collective adventure of humanity. Moreover, the lessons learned and the technology developed for John Glenn's orbital flight and the flight of Apollo 11 to the Moon spawned countless advances which have directly contributed to a better quality of life here on Earth. In the decades since, many important technologies can be traced back to our space program. For even though the goal landing humans on the Moon had been attained, NASA went on to undertake world-leading research and development initiatives in Earth and space science, aeronautics, and human space flight. Yet, ultimately it comes down to people--hard-working, dedicated men and women who made it all possible. That is why I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of legislation to bestow one of the nations highest honors, the Congressional Gold Medal, to Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, and John Glenn. In closing, I want to commend Representative Grayson for introducing this bill, and I urge Members to pass it.