Gabrielle Giffords

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a small but historically significant outpost of the great American pastime: Warren Ballpark in Bisbee, Arizona. Baseball was invented, nurtured, and popularized in our great Nation. We are well aware of how this uniquely American game saw us through two world wars, a Great Depression, and innumerable challenges, both at home and abroad. Baseball is a fixed star; it will always be with us to bolster our spirits in times of need--times such as we face today. It is with this storied past in mind that I recognize Bisbee's Warren Ballpark on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. Warren Ballpark probably is not well-known outside of my district in southeastern Arizona but its place in baseball's history is as sure as a homerun. It is truly a field of dreams. A recent editorial in the Sierra Vista Herald captured the essence of my message today: ``The story of our ballpark is representative of a time when baseball was THE spectator sport and when every community of size and significance had its own minor league team.'' The first game at Warren Ballpark was played between the home team and a team from El Paso, Texas, on June 27th, 1909--three years before Arizona became a state! At the time, Bisbee was a booming mining town with a population close to that of Tucson and Phoenix. The year that first game was played was also the year that one of Arizona's most renowned political figures, Barry Goldwater, was born and the year that the famed Apache warrior, Geronimo, died. In 1909 William Howard Taft assumed the Presidency from Theodore Roosevelt and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Much has happened since the glory days of Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner. Our Nation, my State and the game of baseball have all undergone countless changes. Yet Warren Ballpark remains. It is, therefore, appropriate that this body acknowledge Warren Ballpark as a historical treasure for our Nation and the community of Bisbee. Warren Ballpark, it has been home to minor league teams affiliated with major league teams such as the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Cleveland Indians. The park saw the beginning of many great careers and hosted players who not only entertained America on the field, but protected her off the field as they answered the call of duty in World Wars I and II and the Korean war. Baseball is still played on the old field of Warren Ballpark. The local high school team, the Bisbee Pumas, plays its games there, as does the Bisbee Copper Kings. The games draw enthusiastic supporters from Bisbee and surrounding communities. Mike Anderson, founding member of Friends of Warren Ballpark, stated it well. He said ``this is baseball on an intimate basis--the type of thing that can never take place on a television screen, nor can it be replicated in a cavernous facility where one has to look at a scoreboard video screen to see the expression on a player's face.'' To those who have the good fortune of attending a game at Warren Ballpark, it is history, and life, and community all rolled into one. I commend this local and national treasure for the 100 years of entertainment and enjoyment it has given to the community and for its unique place in the history of our national pastime.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the leaders and members of Fort Huachuca Brownie Troop 2181, from Sierra Vista, Arizona, for their initiative in coordinating and conducting the Fort Huachuca Sun Oven Cook-off. This event will take place on the U.S. Army's Fort Huachuca on Saturday, July 18. On that day, using specially designed solar ovens and only the power of the sun, the 18 members of Troop 2181 will prepare a spaghetti feast and then cakes for auction. In doing so, they will raise funds to purchase solar ovens for needy members of their community while simultaneously educating people about the benefits and capabilities of solar energy. Solar energy is the most abundant and widely available energy source on our planet. It is also clean, safe, and affordable. As the United States and other countries across the globe look for ways to secure a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future, solar technologies have an important role to play. I applaud the members of Troop 2181 for their leadership in demonstrating the benefits of solar energy in their community and for using the proceeds to help those in need. In performing this project, the members of Troop 2181 will learn valuable lessons about the power of public service and the many benefits of solar energy. They will learn about areas where help is needed in their community, and they will learn that they can make a positive difference. I wish to single out a few people who deserve special recognition for their leadership in making this project a reality: Ken Robinson, Command Information Chief for the Fort Huachuca Public Affairs, was influential in paving the way for this project; Valerie McCaffrey, Chair of Baja Arizona Sustainable Agriculture, helped secure the solar ovens at cost; and Kristen Engasser has performed exemplary service as leader of Troop 2181. I applaud all of these community leaders for empowering the young people of Southern Arizona and helping them develop critical leadership skills that will allow them to create a better world.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in remembrance of James F. McNulty, an Arizonan, a patriot, a statesman and a former Member of this body. Mr. McNulty passed away in Tucson on the 30th of June. During his long life of service of 83 years, Jim McNulty was many things. He was a World War II veteran, a proud University of Arizona alumnus, a father of three, a successful attorney, a member of the Catholic Church, a Peace Corps volunteer, and a legislator. In 1982, Jim was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the fifth seat in the district of Arizona, a newly created seat. Though he only served for one single term, he was widely praised for his passionate advocacy for his community and for his constituents. On behalf of the entire Arizona delegation, I would like to request that all Members please stand and observe a moment of silence in memory of our dear friend and former colleague, Jim McNulty.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to encourage all citizens to take a moment during the upcoming Independence Day weekend to reflect on what the United States and the ideals of our Republic mean to them. America's experiment with democracy represents the origins of a new outlook and new system of governance. Our founders dared to challenge history. The principles of personal liberty and collective justice-- exercised daily across our country--were once little more than the lofty goals of our ancestors. Today, we have come a long way. We have struggled and continue to struggle, to achieve the true spirit of freedom for every American and every citizen of humanity. When I reflect on the ideals of our nation and consider the significance of our shining example of freedom to the world, I think not only of our deep-rooted principle of self-determination but the basic liberties set forth by the Declaration of Independence and our Bill of Rights. These two great doctrines lay a foundation for all free nations. But I believe freedom is more than words. Freedom is a society in which all have an equal opportunity to succeed. A free society is one in which citizens are not burdened by a perpetual cycle of poverty that breeds crime, violence and chronic disease. A free society is one in which the people are not crushed into bankruptcy by the weight of growing medical costs that seem without bounds. Citizens of a free society need not choose between buying food and affording care. A free society educates all of its children and provides vast opportunity for betterment beyond the classroom. A free society ought not be bound by the shackles of oppression, be it physical restraints or the restraints imposed by a dependence on foreign assets. A free society puts its stock in innovation, tapping into its own financial and human capital to grow a smarter economy and a safer future that doesn't poison our air, water and land or tie self determination to the foreign resources of another land's oppressor. In our still pioneering young republic, we refuse to cede the initiative to innovate. In our pursuit of freedom we agree to forgo some of our individual interests and intemperance to allow the space for open dialogue, debate and discussion. Our society and all free societies must be open to compromise without bias to age, color or creed. So as I stand here on the eve of our 233rd Independence Day, I am grateful for our founding fathers and their quest for democracy. While I value the vast distances we have traveled since Philadelphia, I remain mindful of the long journey yet to perfection. On this Independence Day, I urge my fellow Arizonans and all Americans to endeavor to renew and revive the spirit of liberty that launched this great nation, and strive to seek a more perfect Union.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Thank you, Ms. Matsui. I rise today in support of this legislation. I was pleased to join with my Southwestern colleagues Dina Titus and Martin Heinrich to offer amendments to this bill, which are now part of the manager's amendment. With strong support from my colleagues and the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, we cracked an amendment which will significantly expand the government's use of electricity from renewable sources, such as solar energy, in a couple of ways. First, it extends the allowable period of time for which Federal agencies may sign public power agreements from 10 years to 20 years. This will allow renewable power providers to offer lower rates, making renewable power much more cost competitive. This is going to promote the installation of renewable power projects on government buildings and military installations across the country. In my district, southern Arizona, both Fort Huachuca and Davis- Monthan Air Force Base are looking at installing solar projects. This time expansion from 10 to 20 years, this provision is going to be a significant benefit to these projects and other projects across the country. Second, the amendment will establish a target of 20 percent renewable electricity for all government agencies by 2020. Similar to the renewable electricity standard for utilities already crafted in this legislation, this provision simply ensures that our Federal Government is doing the same. We are creating a market for renewable power. As an enormous consumer of energy, particularly the Department of Defense, the Federal Government can have a significant positive impact by modifying its procurement process to support emerging technologies in this way. This bill, Madam Speaker, is not a perfect bill, but it's an important piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill and to praise Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon as well as the chairmen and ranking members of the subcommittees on Armed Services and especially the staff for getting this bill right. This week we're having a great debate about energy in our country. Most Americans don't realize that the Department of Defense is responsible for approximately 80 percent of all the energy used by the Federal Government. The final bill that we were able to pass out of committee this week includes groundbreaking language to encourage continued advances on responsible energy. Working with the Department, we included a series of new reporting requirements. We increase the use of electric and hybrid vehicles; we speed up the development of biofuels; and we encourage additional investment and use of geothermal energy. We also made some commonsense decisions regarding our fighter aircraft fleet. As a committee working in a bipartisan manner, we set aside the rhetoric, and we took into account current and future threats to balance the force. We sustained the current operational fleet. We supported additional F-22s requested by our combatant commanders. We maintained robust F-35 funding. And we provided additional flexibility for the Air Force to fill the impending fighter gap with less expensive but quite capable 4.5 Generation fighters. I again congratulate Chairman Skelton, Ranking Member McKeon and the committee staff for their hard work on this legislation. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support it.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. I rise for the purpose of a colloquy with the subcommittee chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am deeply concerned about the reductions from the request recommended for the NASA Constellation program in this appropriations bill. As you know, this bill provides the same level of funding as in the year 2009, and it's almost $600 million less than what the President requested for 2010. As the Chair of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I strongly believe that NASA should be given the funding needed to carry out one of the most important missions, which is exploration. I am very concerned that the levels obtained in this bill will be viewed by the Augustine Human Spaceflight Review Panel as a lack of support for Constellation and for NASA's other human spaceflight programs, programs that have been strongly endorsed, as we've heard by the colloquies here on the floor, on a bipartisan basis in last year's NASA Authorization Act of 2008. So Chairman Mollohan, is it your view that the Augustine panel should not interpret the House's action today as any weakening of congressional support for the Nation's human spaceflight and exploration programs?

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chairman, let me continue, and when you find that--

Ms. GIFFORDS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In addition, do you agree that it's imperative that the President--

Ms. GIFFORDS.--and Congress provide the appropriate resources that we can avoid cost increases and further delays in the initial operating capabilities of our Nation's next generation of human space flight architecture?

Ms. GIFFORDS. And finally, do you agree with me that the Augustine Panel should not be bound by arbitrary OMB budgetary projections as it develops its best advice to the President and Congress on the future conduct of the Nation's Human Space Flight Program?

Ms. GIFFORDS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As we've heard tonight, not only is manned spaceflight strongly bipartisan, but it truly represents the best that our civilization has ever achieved.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the brave men and women of the United States Border Patrol on the occasion of their agency's 85th anniversary. The Border Patrol is the first line of defense for our nation. When it was established in the early part of the last century, its only posts were in Detroit, Michigan, and El Paso, Texas. The first agents were issued a badge and a revolver but they had to provide their own horses and saddles. Fortunately, the federal government paid for the feed. Since its founding in 1924, the Border Patrol has grown and become a modern agency in every way. While some Border Patrol agents still ride horses, they all now use technology that their predecessors could not have imagined. Their tools and strategies have changed over time but their original mission remains the same. Each day they put on their uniforms and go out to protect and defend our borders. Representing the 8th 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 regions in our country. While the Tucson Sector represents only 13 percent of our border with Mexico, it accounts for close to 50 percent of the Border Patrol's apprehensions and drug seizures. Under the exceptional leadership of Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Gilbert, great progress has been achieved in making our border more secure. Chief Gilbert has assembled an outstanding top management team including Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Robert Boatwright and Division Chiefs John Fitzpatrick and Jeanne Ray-Condon. In addition to implementing effective new strategies to deal with the high volume of drug and human smuggling, they have been responsive to my inquiries on behalf of constituents and they have reached out to establish partnerships with local residents, ranchers and business owners. The daily work of the Border Patrol is conducted by a force of hard working agents who carry out their duty with honor and distinction in some of the most rugged territory in the nation. I am proud of the relationship we have established with the Executive Board of the National Border Patrol Council, Local 2544, which represents the agents who work in the Tucson Sector. The agents on the ground are capably represented by Edward Tuffly, Local 2544 President, and the members of his Executive Board, Richard Martinez, Arturo Del Cueto, David Hull and Kurt Kelley. They keep me apprised of the needs and concerns of their members so that I can better fight for the resources that they must have to safely and effectively do their jobs. My 9,000-square mile district includes 114 miles of international border. The Border Patrol's Tucson Sector is ground zero for the trafficking of humans and drugs into our country. Each day, the agents stationed here confront extraordinary risks to keep us safe. They face armed smugglers, harsh desert terrain and weather extremes. Each day, they illustrate what it means to be dedicated to duty and to country. Border Patrol agents serve us with patriotism and commitment and, as a nation, we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. On behalf of the people of Arizona's 8th Congressional District, I extend my deepest appreciation to the men and women of the Tucson Sector of the Border Patrol and to their colleagues who work all across our borders.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, our Nation today is facing many great challenges, but there are three in particular that specifically I think are of great concern to the American people: Achieving energy independence, addressing climate change and stimulating our economy. These are all significant challenges, but they also present great opportunities. As we confront these issues, we have the chance to make our world stronger, safer and more prosperous. One of the best ways to do this is by deploying renewable energy. Renewable energy sources, especially solar, our Nation's most abundant renewable energy source, offers a real solution to these challenges I just mentioned. Our solar resource is vast, it's domestic, and it's free. It is clean, and it generates electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the solar power industry is growing and creating good-paying jobs. For all of these reasons, solar is important to America. This is why I'm concerned about the way that solar power is treated in the energy and climate bill that recently emerged from the Energy and Commerce Committee. I commend Chairmen Waxman and Markey and their committee colleagues for their persistence and skill in moving the legislation forward. However, I have to express my deep concern that this bill does not do nearly enough to promote solar power, one of the best solutions for our Nation's energy and climate challenges. The current Waxman-Markey legislation would establish a Federal renewable electricity standard, or RES, of 20 percent by 2020, and that's a good goal. The State of Arizona is 15 percent by 2025. However, the bill fails to establish an carve-out for any specific type of renewable like solar; and in my view, this constitutes an enormous missed opportunity. The primary reason to establish a RES is to create an assured level of demand for renewable electricity. This assured demand allows renewable technologies to increase production, learn by doing and bring their prices down. This allows them to become cost competitive with traditional energy sources. However, without carve-outs for different resources, the RES will fall short of its own potential. Instead of creating demand for all renewables, it's going to give preference to those that cost the least, and currently that is wind and biomass. Without assured demand, solar will miss out on an opportunity that the RES was designed to create. It will not grow as fast as it otherwise could, and it will not become as cost competitive as quickly as it needs to. Now I have nothing against wind and biomass. But if we develop these resources at the expense of a more diverse portfolio, we will lose our opportunity to stimulate our domestic solar industry that can compete in a global marketplace. I understand the reluctance to pick technology winners and losers. In fact, I agree with that. But I'm not talking about picking a technology. I'm talking about picking a resource, and that is a big difference. It is impossible to imagine a future powered by renewables that does not include a significant amount of solar energy. We may not yet know what that best type of solar technology will ultimately be, but we do know and the rest of the world knows that we want it to come from the sun, and we want it to be solar. Therefore, it's in our national interest to ensure that the U.S. solar industry is the strongest in the world, and we should do so by continuing to promote and innovate. Solar power, yes, is in its infancy today; but we need to make sure that in the future it really drives America. Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Speaker. And as we work towards implementing solar technology in our legislation, I just want to thank my colleagues for spending time to learn about this important resource. To do that, we should establish an effective incentive in the form of a 20 percent solar carve-out within the RES. A couple weeks ago, researchers at the University of Arizona in my hometown of Tucson were awarded a $15 million grant to create an Energy Frontier Research Center. They are working to develop ultrathin solar panels that use dyes to create electricity from sunlight. This project is tremendously exciting, but as we invest in these technologies, we must ensure we are creating a market to use them. In the race to become the global solar leader, the clock is ticking and the competition is fierce. America does not have time to waste with poorly designed policies. This is why I call on my colleagues to support a solar carve-out within the RES. It is a proven mechanism to develop a truly diverse renewable portfolio that includes solar power.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Thank you, Chairman Berman, for your leadership, and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen as well. I want to let you know that it's important that this provision on U.S. export controls that is now going to be entered into the manager's amendment with support is important to the fundamental job that we have as a Member of Congress, which is our U.S. national security. A recent report of the National Academy found that U.S. national security and economic prosperity depends on full engagement in science, technology, and commerce. However, some of the unintended consequences of our current U.S. export control system have contributed to a situation in which the U.S. is now among leaders in science and technology areas but no longer dominates. As Chair of the Science and Technology Committee Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, I'm especially concerned about our leadership in space, especially as more nations seek to increase their space activities. This provision directs the President to take into account the views of the relevant Federal departments and agencies and to provide a report to Congress on the plans of those agencies to streamline U.S. export controls and processes to better serve the United States. We can't afford to undercut our scientific and technological competitiveness. I urge Members to support the legislation.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, sixty-five years ago, our nation's greatest military minds gathered with our European allies deep beneath London to set into motion a plan called Overlord. Unsure if the weather would clear long enough for the operation, planners reluctantly gave the order--advance to Normandy. On the morning of June 6, 1944, forces approached from the sea in silence, under cover of darkness seeking single points on a map. Their names--Omaha and Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold--are forever stained by the fateful events of that day. All told, the Allies mustered nearly 3 million Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. Nearly 160,000 troops came across the English Channel on D-Day with another 2 million in the months after. Those brave many boarded landing craft and aircraft, bound for an uncertain fate against a war-tested opponent that had become the most feared army to cross Europe in two millennia. Tossed by rough seas and unsettled by the distant echo of machine gun fire, young men from every corner of America stepped into the breach, wading through neck-deep water to open a beachfront in France and blaze a trail of liberation to Berlin. American landing forces at Utah beach faced the lightest resistance of the invasion's 50 mile breadth. 197 brave souls lost their lives at Utah, but most of the 23,000--men like Raymond Jackson, a Tucsonan with the 15th Cavalry Recon Squadron--came ashore and linked up with the 101st Airborne in Normandy's first major success. Omaha was less absolute. High bluffs were defended by mortars, machine gunners and pillboxes. The German forces atop the steep, sandy cliffs were highly trained and combat tested. They repelled Allied landing craft and destroyed American tanks as they hit the beach. Commanders considered abandoning Omaha. But our brave Soldiers persisted. Led by signalmen like Norm Hartline from Tucson, more than 50,000 men in all came ashore at Omaha. More than 5,000 wouldn't advance past the surf line. Killed and wounded lay in the wake and behind parapets for hours or days. History tells us that it took until June 9th for American infantry units from Omaha to successfully establish a beach head at Omaha. Today, we once again pull back the curtains of history to honor those American and Allied heroes who stood as the point of liberty's spear. Within boundless volumes on World War II are the eulogies of Bradley and Eisenhower, Patton and Montgomery--leaders of the Allied liberation of Europe. But where we find D-Day's true heroes are not within the dust jackets of history books or news clippings from the day. They haven't lived lives of great fanfare. Our greatest generation arose from America's factories and farms, from our inner cities to our outlying territories. And to these places they returned. On their backs we won a great victory for freedom and liberty, against oppression and hatred. Then on those same backs we built the world's greatest democracy, serving as a beacon of light, a shining city atop a hill. Many of the true heroes of D-Day have forever gone unrecognized because they sought not the special recognition afforded their heroism. To these heroes, it was a patriotic duty--a level of selfless sacrifice that transcends medals and citations. And in small towns and big cities across America, the few remaining true heroes of D-Day continue to live quiet lives. But as these standard bearers for virtue pass on and the torches that marked their trail to liberty are extinguished, we take a proud moment to offer our sincerest gratitude and our indebted praise to those brave warriors who stood between humanity and evil to save mankind from the brink. And we remember in our hearts and prayers those who gave their last full measure of devotion--for freedom.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 308, I arrived on the floor and the vote had closed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, a couple weeks ago our Nation celebrated Memorial Day, a day to give tribute to the men and women who have given their lives for our country. But I think it's important for those of us who serve in the Congress to realize that we, on a regular basis, have to do everything we can to protect and defend those who protect and defend us. Later today I will be introducing the Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act as well as the Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act with Congressman Akin. These bills represent a strong bipartisan commitment to expanding and protecting access to mental health treatment and services for our active duty and retired military. These bills will provide all servicemembers with equal access to readjustment counseling and mental health services at Vet Centers. We will provide dedicated funding for nonprofits supporting military families and create a program for proactive mental health outreach to soldiers. We will also provide a program for Vet Centers aimed at growing the number of mental health trainers as well as providers. These bills will dramatically expand our ability to provide mental health coverage to our warriors who are doing so much for all of us both here at home and abroad. I encourage my colleagues to join me in moving these bills toward swift passage.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reaffirm a sacred principle that has guided and inspired our Armed Forces for more than two centuries. That principle-- ``leave no man behind''--was given new meaning in Southeastern Arizona on May 15 and 16, 2009. On those dates, 58 American soldiers who died while serving their country were reburied in an emotional ceremony. The flag-draped caskets holding the remains of these soldiers were carefully transported from Tucson to their final resting place at the veterans cemetery in Sierra Vista. What made this ceremony so poignant was not the journey from one Arizona city to another. This reburial also was a journey through time. These men who once wore the military uniform of our country died between the 1860s and 1880s. Their remains, as well as the remains of four civilians, were unearthed during an excavation project in downtown Tucson. My hometown has undergone many changes since the late 19th century. Then, Arizona was decades away from becoming a state and our military was nothing like the global fighting force it is today. Yet then and now we adhere to the principle that no soldier who died for his country should be left behind. This principle--like the Constitution these soldiers fought to defend--transcends eras and endures through the ages. The reaffirmation of this principle would not have been possible without the men and women of the Historical Soldiers' Relocation Project who dedicated their time and energy to make sure our soldiers were given an honorable and dignified burial. These patriotic citizens worked tirelessly to organize a ceremony that would reflect the significance of the occasion. No detail was overlooked, from the Victorian style cemetery to the marble headstones made for each of the deceased. The flag covering each casket was the thirty-five star flag-- the flag under which these soldiers once served. The remains of the soldiers were given every honor we should give all who have served our nation in the Armed Forces. The soldiers were placed among the other honored dead of our military after being escorted by more than 200 veterans on motorcycles from Tucson to their new resting place at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery. I was honored to be a part of this escort. All of this would not have been possible without the commitment of the members of the Historical Soldiers' Relocation Project. They are: Joey Strickland, Joe Larson, Bob Strain, Larry McKim, Ingrid Ballie, Tom Dingwall, Earl Devine, Col. Bob White, Dr. Randy Groth, Dan Ferguson, Donald Nelson, Paul Weishaupt, Angela Moncur, Bill Hess, Ty Holland, Mike Rutherford, John Clabourne, Lynn Roehsler, Dave Schultz, Jan Groth, Joe Smith, Phil Vega, Stephen Siemsen, Clarence ``Shorty'' Larson, Timothy J. Quinn, Jim Bellomy, Jacob Loveron, Jeremiah Sprat, Logan Daynes, 1st Sgt. Matthew A. Putnam, LCDR Shannon Willits, SSGT Timothy Diggs, David Schreiner, John Prokop, Roger Anyon, Marlessa Gray M.A. RPA, Dorothy Ohman, Jim De Castro. I commend them for their work on this important project and for ensuring we rightfully honor all those who have put on the uniform to serve our country.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I rise today to honor and recognize our Nation's military and their families. As Memorial Day approaches, we remember the sacrifices of daily military life, but we also remember the legacy of service that blazed the trails of the American West and the avenues of freedom around the world. Last weekend we laid to rest the bodies of 57 Tucson-area Civil War soldiers who were stationed in the Arizona Territory in the 1800s. They served in the Cavalry and the infantry as cooks and as scouts on the frontlines of American expansion. As we led the motorcycle escort to their final resting place near Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista, hundreds of our Nation's veterans and supporters showed through their outpouring of patriotism that the underpinnings of Memorial Day are important every single day. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering all of the servicemembers and their families who have sacrificed for our great Nation both abroad and here at home.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad that during this period of economic downturn we are ensuring that we are doing everything we can to support our small businesses. We need to protect those taxpayers. We need to make sure that the backbone of the country stays intact. I think it's also pertinent that this week we're recognizing National Small Business Week and celebrating the great efforts of American small businesses and everything that they're doing right now to survive this economic downturn. For a second, I'd like to mention a small business in my district, AGM in Tucson, which last week was named by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce the Small Business of the Year for 2009. This is a Tucson- based manufacturer that is a leader in demonstrating intelligent business judgment and showing a true commitment to its employees and to its customers. Arizona is a unique State. We have a lot of entrepreneurs, minority- owned businesses, and women-owned businesses. Altogether, there are about 100,000 small businesses that represent over 95 percent of the States' employers who, like AGM, are making vital contributions to our local economy. Before I got involved with politics, I was the President and CEO of my family's small tire and automotive company. I know exactly how hard it is to compete in this day and age. Small businesses are looking for the tools and resources that they need to operate and grow during this tough economic climate. That is why I'm supporting H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act. This bill will reauthorize and modernize the SBA's entrepreneurial development programs. It's going to foster veterans' business opportunities and spur job creation and economic growth. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation and help foster American competitiveness.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chair, I yield myself 2\1/2\ minutes. First I would like to thank Chairman Miller for his work to bring this important legislation back to the floor of this Congress. I appreciate his willingness to work with me and my cosponsor, Representative Cleaver, on this amendment. Second, I would like to extend a special thank you to my colleague Steve Israel from New York. Representative Israel has done a lot of excellent work on green schools and green education, and he has contributed substantially to the quality of this amendment. I am indebted and grateful to him for his work. Greening our society represents both a tremendous opportunity and an urgent imperative. For the sake of our economy, our national security, the environment, our public health, we must make the transition to greener technologies without delay. The bill before us recognizes the importance of making this transition in our Nation's schools. This legislation will facilitate the adoption of green technologies in the buildings where our children spend their days learning. This will reduce the environmental footprint and improve the learning environment of schools across the Nation. But more than that, green projects represent a significant opportunity to enhance our students' education. The purpose of this amendment is to capitalize on this opportunity. The amendment would encourage schools receiving funds to educate their students about the projects that they have undertaken. This includes both how the projects function as well as the environmental, energy, and sustainability benefits. Adding an educational component to these projects will serve two important goals: First, it will provide an opportunity to teach students about how to use our natural resources in terms of the way it affects the world around us economically, environmentally, and even geopolitically. Second, it will expose students to new technologies and show them how they can solve problems through creativity and innovation. We live in an increasingly technological world; we must take every opportunity to inspire our kids and equip them with the skills that they're going to need for 21st-century problems. I know firsthand from the experience of schools in my own district the value of green technologies and school building and curriculum. Schools like Civano Elementary and Empire High are reaping the benefits of exposing their students to solar power and other green technologies. This amendment would encourage others to follow their lead. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act addresses critical infrastructure needs in our Nation's schools. Let us ensure that it addresses critical educational needs as well. I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment and once again thank Chairman Miller for his leadership on this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.