Ralph Hall

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I honor Chairman Gordon for pointing out that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. We refer to it as NASA. It is a good time to reflect on really how far our Nation has come in a half century, but it is also an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to space flight and innovation. H.R. 6063 authorizes NASA for fiscal year 2009. It is the product of close bipartisan and bicameral consultation and cooperation, and I urge its support. H.R. 6063 is a 1-year authorization. The intent of the bill is to keep NASA on its current path towards completing the International Space Station, transitioning between the Space Shuttle and the next crew vehicle, and maintaining a balanced set of science and aeronautics research programs. It also reaffirms Congress' long-standing commitment to NASA and to its programs. But by being a 1-year bill, H.R. 6063 is designed to give the next President an opportunity to work with the next Congress in order to fashion a long-term strategy that is consistent with the administration's desires, as well as Congress. H.R. 6063 contains a number of important provisions. It authorizes $20.2 billion for NASA for FY 2009, including $1 billion to accelerate development of the new Constellation crew vehicle launch system as a replacement for the space shuttle. This new launch system will provide our country with a modern, more robust and safer manned space flight capability that will enable our astronauts to fly out of low Earth orbit, an ability we haven't had since the retirements of Apollo over 30 years ago. As we are debating the bill today, China has three men in orbit and the scheduled space walk took place earlier today. They are fast accelerating their space capabilities, and if we are to remain the leader in space exploration, we must continue to innovate and accelerate our programs. As most of you are aware, there is currently a substantial gap, as much as 5 years, between retiring the shuttle and bringing the next crew launch system online. During this gap, our Nation will be in the untenable position of relying on Russia to assure a U.S. presence on the international space station. I find this unacceptable. Therefore, I am pleased that this bill authorizes extra funding for the new launch system, thereby taking a step toward closing the gap and reducing our dependence on foreign partners. As this is only a 1-year bill, I look forward to working with the next administration to find further solutions to close the gap and preserve our own human space flight capabilities. The bill also includes a number of provisions to encourage NASA, working with the private sector, to foster development of domestic commercial cargo launch capability primarily designed to take supplies to the Space Station. In addition, H.R. 6063 includes language directing NASA to solicit for commercial crew launch capability. Both of these provisions confirm our commitment to advancing American space capabilities rather than relying on foreign nations. In addition to human space flight, the bill also advances a balanced and robust space science, Earth science and aeronautics program. It embraces a number of recommendations that were put forth by witnesses from government, from industry, and I could name them, who testified at hearings before our committee over the previous 18 months. These are sensible provisions designed to strengthen aeronautics, space science and Earth science research programs, encourage technology risk reduction policies and activities, foster efficient technology transfer from NASA to other Federal agencies and to the private sector, detect and mitigate the threat of near-Earth objects and research and monitor the effect of space weather on satellites. The list is not exhaustive, but I want to mention these few examples to emphasize to all Members the breadth of this bill and how it improves upon many of NASA's activities and programs. Suffice it to say that NASA is one of the most exciting and innovative Federal agencies, and it serves as a huge inspiration to our young people to take a serious interest in math and science education. It also continues to inspire Americans, and it draws the admiration of nations worldwide. On the fiftieth anniversary of NASA, we should all be proud of what our Nation has accomplished in the last half century. We should boldly push forward with the excitement, support and anticipation for what the next 50 years hold. I am convinced that our greatest accomplishment lies in the frontiers ahead. I want to thank Chairman Gordon and his staff. I want to thank my staff, Ed Feddeman and Ken Monroe. They worked closely with Dick Obermann. I also want to acknowledge the work of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and her capable staff. It's a good organization, and I appreciate all of them. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of, H.R. 2638--The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. A. Rivet Joint ISR Networth Integration (0305207F 192 MANNED RECONNAISSANCE SYSTEMS.) The entity to receive funding for this project is L-3 Integrated Systems, located at 10001 Jack Finney Blvd., Greenville, TX 75402. The funding would be used to provide networking upgrades that will enable it to fully collaborate with a variety of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) nodes so that more effective projections of threat environments can be made. B. PrePreg Thickness Variability Reduction Program (0603680F 29 MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.) The entity to receive funding for this project is Cytec Engineered Materials, located at 4300 Jackson Street, Greenville, TX 78402. The funding would be used to reduce the variability of prepreg thickness to +/-1 percent, which is a substantial improvement over even foreign prepreg capabilities. Reducing variation significantly complements and enhances the advancements expected to be made in the areas of tooling and manufacturing. These achievements are crucial for Cytec's military and commercial partners. C. Stryker Common Active Protection System (APS) Radar (0603653A 62 ADVANCED TANK ARMAMENT SYSTEMS (ATAS).) The entity to receive funding for this project is Raytheon Network Centric Systems, located at 2501 West University, McKinney, TX 75070. APS is an externally mounted vehicle protection system that identifies, discriminates and intercepts RPGs, mortars, antitank guided missiles and artillery projectiles after they are launched toward a combat vehicle. The system consists of the Multi-Function Radio Frequency (MFRF) radar, launchers, fire control processors and countermeasures. Please see attached for financial plan of each project. Neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in these projects. Finance Plan Requesting Member: Rep. Ralph M. Hall. Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Air Force, RDT&E, Line 192, PE 0305207F, Manned Reconnaissance Systems. Project Name: Rivet Joint ISR Network Integration. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems. Address of Requesting Entity: 10001 Jack Finney Boulevard, Greenville, TX 75403. Anticipated sources of funding for the duration of the project: Additional funding would be provided by the Air Force to procure this capability after successful demonstration of the developmental prototype, in their future years budget requests. Percent and source of required matching funds: N/A, this program is providing a good or service to the Department of Defense. Justification for use of federal taxpayer dollars: The RIVET JOINT will provide networking upgrades that will enable it to fully collaborate with a variety of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) nodes so that more effective projections of threat environments can ba made. Detailed analysis of RIVET JOINT operations shows that full integration of networked capabilities will result in a 25 percent improvement in critical Threat Analysis Measures of Effectiveness for priority dual-use commercial communication threat environments. The specific threats that will be addressed by this system upgrade are the highest priority threats to ongoing military operations. Detailed finance plan: $750,000 is for Non-Recurring Engineering Design and Development; $750,000 is for Manufacture Design and Production of Networked Speech, Geo-Location, and Reach-back Processing and Data Base Access Applications; and $500,000 is for Labor, Materials, and System Installation and Integration on one Rivet Joint aircraft.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to honor Miss Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, in the Fourth Congressional District of Texas, as the most decorated U.S. gymnast from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Anastasia ``Nastia'' Liukin was born to Anna and Valeri Liukin on October 30, 1989 in Moscow, Russia. When she was two and a half years old, her parents decided to move from Russia to the USA. As the daughter of two gymnasts, it was only natural that Nastia found herself in the gym early on. Since the age of six, she has been coached by her father at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, her family's gymnastics club in Plano, Texas. Through hard work, diligence and dedication to the sport, Nastia has become a Senior International Elite Gymnast, is a four time World Champion, nine time World medalist, four time U.S. National Champion and has won multiple Pacific Rim and American Cup titles. In 2005 she was also named the Gymnast of the Year by the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame and was a nominee in both the World Top 10 Athletes Award and the U.S. Sport's Academy Athlete of the Year Award. As a star member of the 2008 Olympic Team, Nastia became the 2008 Olympic All-Around Gold Medalist and received silver medals for her performances on the balance beam, uneven bars and in the overall team competition, as well as a bronze medal in floor exercise. With nine World Championship medals and five Olympic medals, Nastia joins the ranks of Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Miller as being the American gymnast having won the most World Championship medals, as well as the most medals in a single Olympic Games. Nastia has not limited her successes to only the gym. In January of 2008, she was accepted to Southern Methodist University in Dallas in hopes of pursuing a career in international business or acting. However, after trying to juggle her training and academic commitments, Nastia decided to put college on hold until after the Beijing Summer Olympic Games. Madam Speaker, Americans take pride in Nastia's athletic accomplishments and her commitment to academic enrichment. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring this young golden girl, Miss Nastia Liukin.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6323, the Heavy-Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2008, sponsored by my good friend, Congressman Sensenbrenner. While most of the attention of hybrid vehicles has been focused on passenger cars, large, heavy-duty hybrid trucks have received limited funds for Federal research and development programs. However, because trucks generally use much more fuel per year than passenger cars, the overall potential savings are very significant. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a typical delivery truck using a hydraulic hybrid system could save up to 1,000 gallons of fuel per year. In light of the proposed savings in fuel use and resulting emissions reduction, the Heavy-Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2008 aims to encourage the advancement of the needed technology to bring about these savings. The bill directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for the development of advanced heavy-duty hybrid vehicles. The grants are rewarded in two phases. In phase one, grant recipients are required to build or retrofit one or more advanced heavy-duty hybrid vehicles and to collect required data. In phase two, grant recipients are required to produce and/or retrofit 50 heavy-duty hybrid vehicles, collect required data and report on the results. In addition, the bill directs the secretary to conduct a study of alternative power train designs for use in advanced heavy-duty hybrid vehicles. Further, it directs the secretary to establish a pilot program through DOE's National Laboratories to research and test the effects on the domestic electric power grid of the widespread use of plug-in hybrid vehicles, including heavy-duty plug-in hybrid trucks. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6323 passed out of the Committee on Science and Technology with bipartisan support and with input from both sides of the aisle. I thank Congressman Sensenbrenner for introducing the bill and Chairman Gordon for helping us to advance it. I think it makes good sense, and it certainly deserves passage.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1471, which honors the 50th anniversary of the invention of the integrated circuit by Jack St. Clair Kilby. On September 12, 1958, in a Dallas lab of Texas Instruments, Jack St. Clair Kilby gathered a small group of coworkers to unveil a stunning achievement. Before them sat a thin piece of metal attached to monitoring equipment. When powered on, it became clear that the single piece of metal was doing the work of several simple electronic components, including transistors, capacitors and resistors. Jack had created the first microchip. I go back a long ways with Texas Instruments. I knew very well Erik Johnson, who started Texas Instruments. I have talked with him personally on several occasions about TI and how he bought it. He said he bought it on a Saturday morning, and the next morning, Sunday morning, he was driving out to look at what he had bought and turned on his radio, because he had promised his wife he would be back in time to go to church with her. He turned on his radio, and the announcement was that the Japanese were bombing Pearl Harbor. I said to Erik Johnson, Mr. Johnson, as an engineer, you are wonderful, but as a matter of timing, you are perfect, because that launched the world into war and TI has been a major player in the victory that they achieved some 4 or 5 years later. This breakthrough is a similar breakthrough that they have had time and time again at TI. For much of the 20th century, the electronics industry had relied on vacuum tubes as the basis for its design. By 1958, these bulky and fragile devices were beginning to be widely replaced by transistors made of semiconducting metals, which were tougher, which were smaller, which produced less heat. These features allowed electrical engineers to design much more complicated systems. However, as the number of components increased, engineers were having a harder time reliably connecting everything. Cutting edge devices might require connecting thousands of components to thousands of tiny wires by hand. Jack Kilby solved that problem. Over the summer of 1958, Jack created a way to build all of the wires, transistors and other electrical components into a single piece of metal. In essence, electronics manufacturers could take a solid piece of metal and etch a complete, electronic device into it, no assembly required. This breakthrough, the integrated circuit, revolutionized the world. Jack Kilby's work, as well as fellow integrated circuit pioneers, Geoffrey Drummer and Robert Noyce, heralded the beginning of an encompassing transformation of modern society. Their work paved the way for the modern electronics industry. Electronic devices that once required a small building and teams of engineers working around the clock now fit neatly into pocket. Integrated circuits continue to be a cornerstone of the American economy and an important priority of our research and development institutions. Fifty years after the first demonstration of an integrated circuit, it's fitting that Congress recognizes achievement and the importance of this sector now and in the future. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1471. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise, of course, in support of S. 2606, a bill reauthorizing the United States Fire Administration. It's a companion bill to H.R. 4847, which passed the House in April with unanimous support after moving through the Committee on Science and Technology by regular order. This act authorizes the activities of the United States Fire Administration for fiscal year 2009 through 2012. USFA provides critical support to our Nation's firefighters through training, through research and development and through logistical support. For instance, the USFA provides firefighter training to over 80,000 firefighters per year; it compiles nationwide data on fire control and prevention activities, and it oversees the fire grants programs that have dramatically improved the capabilities and the preparedness of our Nation's fire services. This is an extremely important agency in our committee's jurisdiction. I'd like to thank Mr. Mitchell and Dr. Gingrey, vice chair and ranking member of the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee, for their hard work over the past year on this matter. The United States Fire Administration does a wonderful job of providing support to first responders across the country. The reauthorization of this agency is an important priority for me, and I urge the passage of S. 2606. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. I have no other speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today would designate October 8 as 4-H National Youth Science Day. I, as well as 21 other Members of this body, was a proud member of 4-H and know firsthand the good work that this organization performs. ``Head, heart, hands and health,'' that is what the four Hs stand for. With over 6 million youth participating, it is a much larger organization today than it was when I was a boy, but it has the focus of helping young people reach their full potential. That focus remains the same. As we discuss frequently on this floor, and as the newspapers reflect almost daily, our innovative spirit is the stronghold of the Nation's success. But we must do a better job of energizing our children to be interested in science, engineering and technology if we are to remain the world's leader in innovation. The purpose of the 4-H National Youth Science Day is to do just that. The National Science Experiment is the designated activity for the first annual 4-H National Youth Science Day and will focus on water conservation. Through this special day and through its science, engineering and technology programs, 4-H has a goal of preparing 1 million new young people to excel in science, engineering and technology by 2013. I applaud them for these endeavors, and encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and accomplishments of a man who dedicated his life to service and seizing the day, Glen A. Smith of Rockwall. Smith was born on May 24, 1939, in Normal, Illinois to Myers and Marybelle (Miller) Smith. He married Peggy (Pannell) Smith, and they were fortunate to have five wonderful children, Kimberli Geissler Smith of Fort Worth, Glen Allen Smith, Jr. of Dallas and Katy Chesshir of Sachse, and stepchildren Christina Hoff of Forney and Joel Rhorer of Prairie Home, Missouri. Smith was the owner of Curry Auto Leasing in Dallas for many years until his retirement in September of 2005. In March 2007, he opened Smitty's Roadhouse Bar & Grill in Rockwall, which he owned and operated until his death. Glen enjoyed living life to the fullest, and was a race car driver all of his life, racing in the 24 hours of LeMans in France and receiving the 1986 Formula Atlantic Indy Car Rookie of the Year Award. Glen was also involved with his community and in civic affairs. He was a member of the Rockwall Breakfast Rotary Club and was also a City of Rockwall Planning & Zoning Commissioner. He also believed in sharing his faith and was a member of the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Madam Speaker, we are privileged to have known such a great public servant and genuine individual. Please join me today as we honor the memory and celebrate the life of Glen A. Smith, Sr.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the memory of Byron Bernard, B.B., Boon, of Linden, Texas. Mr. Boon was born January 10, 1919, in Carterville, Texas, to Andrew Camp Boon and Eudora Kerr Boon. B.B. attended East Texas Teachers College with my wife Mary Ellen. He began his career teaching school at Warren Springs. He later became principal at Almira Schools, and from 1940 to 1941 supervised the National Youth Administration in Linden. He joined the Army on Christmas Day in 1941 and entered the Army Air Corps on the 12th of January in 1942. B.B. ferried all types of airplanes throughout the United States and Canada. He flew BT-13s, AT- 6s, B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, P-51s and was involved in the moving of troops and cargo. One of his flying assignments was to keep the route from Alaska to the Hudson Bay open so the Germans could not get a foothold in Newfoundland. Between 1947 and 1949, he was an instructor in the Pilot's Aircraft Instrument Training School at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisiana. On one particular flight to Richmond, Virginia, his plane caught on fire. True to his sense of humor, he announced ``Byron Bernard Boon says bail out boys, she's burning.'' All the crew bailed out, and everyone survived. On February 2, 1949, he was in a midair collision at Barksdale AFB, was critically injured and spent over a year of rehabilitation in Walter Reed Hospital. Captain Boon married Louise Bozeman in the chapel at Walter Reed Hospital on September 24, 1949. Shortly after their marriage he was forced to retire from the Air Force due to injuries sustained in the crash. In October 1950, B.B. returned to Cass County and bought an insurance agency in Linden. He became active in the community, serving various community and church boards. He was a member of the Linden Masonic Lodge #192, a Shriner, a member of the Linden Lions Club, Linden Chamber of Commerce, former mayor of Linden and served on the Linden Municipal Hospital Board of Directors. He was also an avid pilot, owning and flying airplanes until he was 80. He is survived by two daughters and one son-in-law, Sue and Larry Hill and Brenda Deming all of Linden; five grandchildren and spouses, Tanya and Kenneth Recer and Chris and Sonya Hill of Longview, Tammy and Andy Kozsuch of Tyler, Justin and Kim Deming of Pflugerville and Jonathan and Katherine Deming of Mesquite; seven great-grandchildren, Ryan Recer, Seth Kozsuch, Sarah Kozsuch, Kate Kozsuch, Kaden Kozsuch, Emma Hill and Payton Deming; and numerous nieces and nephews. Madam Speaker, please join me in a final salute to Captain Byron Bernard Boone, a man who gave so much to his family, his community and his country.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a great community activist, excellent farmer and friend, Mr. Bob Wayne Thorton of Van Alstyne, Texas. Bob Thorton was a fourth-generation farmer, working land in Grayson and Collin counties for more than 65 years. Though he could do just about anything from carpentry to plumbing, he loved farming the most. The Thortons were leaders in the farming industry, as they were the first to bring in equipment, the first to mechanize their operations and usually the first to help another farmer get past a rough spot with the loan of money and equipment. As a result of his many contributions, Bob was named Collin County's Conservationist Farmer of the Year in 1986. Bob was a community activist most of his life, but unless one had firsthand knowledge of his activities, his achievements would have gone unknown because he was such a humble individual. He was one of the original members of the American Agriculture Movement, a grassroots organization to help farmers become involved with government, politics and the public policy that affects their livelihoods, and served as National Vice President and 3 years as National President. He spent many years lobbying at the state and national levels, during which time he participated in the 1979 ``tractor-cade'' that rolled into Washington, DC, more than 6,000 tractors strong. He was a founding member and president of South Grayson Water Supply, a charter member of the Hurricane Creek Country Club, and served on the Van Alstyne Library Board. Through his political activist endeavors, Bob became friends with several elected representatives, such as former U.S. Sen. John Tower, former Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, and Secretary of Agriculture John Block. Because of Willie Nelson's support of family farmers, Bob and Nelson also became good friends. Bob is survived by daughters Sheryl Priest of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Brenda Baggett of Friendswood and Linda Wood of Van Alstyne, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and sister JoAnn Cavender of Van Alstyne. He was one who believed in family and held his family heritage as a lifetime priority. Madam Speaker, we are privileged to have known such an honest man and humble public servant. Please join me today as we honor his memory and celebrate the life of Mr. Bob Wayne Thorton.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am privileged today to express my deep admiration for former Fannin County Judge Derrell Hall, who provided outstanding leadership for his community for over 23 years as Judge, Commissioner and Probation Officer. Judge Hall's experience and excellence as County Commissioner and Chief of Juvenile Probation led to his appointment as Fannin County Judge in 1997 after a previous Judge's mid-term resignation. Derrell's character and strong sense of responsibility were evident to his community, and he was continually re-elected to lead his county and community. Born in Bonham, Texas, on March 4, 1953, Derrell Hall is a lifelong resident of Fannin County and currently lives as the fourth generation on his family farm that his great-grandfather settled in 1908 in the tiny Mulberry community on the Red River. He and his wife, Judy Patterson Hall, are members of Mulberry Methodist Church, and are parents to five daughters and two sons. Their growing family includes four grandsons and three granddaughters. Derrell worked for a number of years as a farmer and rancher in his home community. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from East Texas State University in 1983, Derrell served as County Commissioner of Precinct One in Fannin County and became certified by the state of Texas as a Juvenile Probation Officer. From 1993 through 1996, he served as Chief of Juvenile Probation until his appointment as Fannin County Judge. Throughout his public life, Derrell always sought to foster a better community for all of the families in Fannin County. He served as Chairman of the Fannin County Juvenile Board and a member of Fannin County's Fair Board, Appraisal District, 4-H and Youth Advisory Board, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Fannin County--a program that recruits, screens, trains and supervises volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children involved in the court system. In addition, he served on the Northeast Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, as President of both the Texoma Council of Governments and the Rural Rail Transportation District, and served 15 years on the administrative board for Cooke-Fannin-Grayson Juvenile Detention Facility and Boot Camp. Derrell Hall is a man who understands that for a small community to thrive, it needs strong leaders who are willing to serve in many diverse capacities. As Derrell pursues new career interests, I join his many friends and supporters who look forward to seeing the new achievements Derrell is sure to accomplish. Madam Speaker, as we adjourn today, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute and expressing our gratitude to this outstanding public servant in Fannin County--Derrell Hall.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to honor A.P. Merritt of Merritt Tool Company in Kilgore, TX, as the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) regional Small Business Person of the Year 2007 Award Recipient. Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes individuals on a State, district, and national level for their performance, commitment, and support of small businesses in the Nation. Merritt, the president of Merritt Tool, was presented the Small Business Person of the Year Award at a special awards ceremony in April of this year for his diversification efforts, success in earning government contracts, business growth and community service. Merritt Tool Company (MTC) is a modern machine shop manufacturing facility, specializing in complex milling, turning, grinding and assembly, serving customers in the aerospace, energy and commercial industries. The company was founded in 1928 and today employs about 100 workers in its machine shop and metal operation in Kilgore. In conjunction with the honor of receiving this prestigious award, Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt proclaimed that the 16th day of May be known as A.P. Merritt Day in Gregg County, Texas, for years to come. Madam Speaker, I am extremely proud of A.P. Merritt's accomplishments, his consistency in business and his continued leadership in the Kilgore community. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring a man who represents the best in entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. A.P. Merritt.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and accomplishments of a man who dedicated his life to the health and well being of others, R.E. ``Earl'' Slaughter of Rockwall. Earl was born December 6, 1925, in Edgewood to John Arthur, Sr., and Flora Anne (Cox) Slaughter. He was a 1943 graduate of Edgewood High School and a 1949 graduate of the University of Texas School of Pharmacy. He served his country honorably in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Earl married Yvonne McMurray on September 14, 1947, in Denton. Their marriage produced five wonderful children, Cathy Slaughter who lives in Rockwall, Betsy Blundell of Rowlett, Richard Slaughter of Rockwall, Scott Slaughter of Austin, and Dean Slaughter who lives in The Colony. For 5 decades Earl operated what was the only pharmacy in Rockwall-- Rockwall Drug. He and his brother E.K. acquired the business about 3 years after it opened on the square in downtown Rockwall. Then, Rockwall was a small rural community and Earl was a lifeline for so many people. In the beginning he opened the pharmacy at 7 a.m. and stayed open until 10 p.m. Many nights he would return after hours to fill emergency prescriptions. Rockwall Pharmacy and Earl Slaughter were at the center of most things that happened in Rockwall. With a storefront so close to the Rockwall County courthouse, its employees and elected officials would gather at the fountain before work, at lunch, and after work to discuss the day's events. Earl was also deeply involved with his community and civic affairs. He was a member of the Texas Pharmacy Association for more than 50 years. He was the past president of the Rockwall Independent School District and the Chamber of Commerce. He was on the City Planning/ Zoning Board, and received the Soroptimist Man of the Year Award in 2003. He was also active in the American Legion and Lions Club. Earl believed in sharing his faith and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Rockwall. Madam Speaker, one of Earl's former employees summed it up best when she said that Earl helped people every way he could. I count it an honor to have been friends with this great public servant and his wonderful family. What our world needs today are a few more Earl Slaughters. Please join me today as we honor his memory and celebrate his life's accomplishments.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank Mr. Matheson and his fine staff, the staffs on both sides of the aisle, for doing a very good job on this bill. Madam Speaker, I rise today, of course, in support of H.R. 2339, the Produced Water Utilization Act of 2008. I introduced H.R. 2339 in May of last year, and it was recently reported out of the Committee of Science and Technology by a voice vote. It comes to the floor today with unanimous, bipartisan support. For those who are not familiar with the term, the Department of the Interior defines produced water as mainly salty water trapped in reservoir rock and brought up along with oil or gas during production. Produced water cannot, in its current form, be used for any purposes, and it is most commonly reinjected into the ground at great expense to small producers across the country. Each barrel of oil produced generates approximately 10 barrels of produced water, and we currently produce over 5 billion gallons of produced water a day in the United States. That is enough water to accommodate 14.3 million homes a day. As we are facing shortages in energy and water, my bill could not be more timely, in my opinion. H.R. 2339 is legislation that has two main purposes: one, increasing domestic energy production by lowering production costs for small producers; two, increasing the amount of water available for agricultural, irrigational, municipal, and industrial uses by making produced water usable. The Produced Water Utilization Act will provide important funding for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of technologies to purify and use produced water. There is a critical interdependency between energy and water. Water is needed to produce energy, and the treatment and distribution of water requires energy, and as our population grows, so will the demands grow on both. According to a report by the Department of Energy on the Interdependency of Energy and Water, ``The lack of integrated energy and water planning and management has already impacted energy production in many basins and regions across the country. For example, in three of the fastest growing regions in the country, the Southeast, Southwest, and the Northwest, new power plants have been opposed because of potential negative impacts on water supplies. Also, recent droughts and emerging limitations of water resources have many States, including Texas, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, scrambling to develop water use priorities for different water use sectors.'' We obviously need to take a serious look at how we can avoid a water/ energy crisis, and my bill certainly helps. Madam Speaker, produced water is currently considered an expensive nuisance by oil and gas producers, but it could be--no, it needs to be--considered a valuable, usable commodity. With the research and development set forth in the Produced Water Utilization Act, we can make it happen. I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. Mr. GINGREY, Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2339-- the Produced Water Utilization Act of 2008--introduced by the Ranking Member of the Science Committee, Mr. Hall of Texas. I want to thank Mr. Hall for constructing this important legislation and for the leadership he has provided to the Committee throughout the 110th Congress. Produced water is comprised of mainly salty water that is trapped in reservoir rock below ground. It comes to the surface when drilling for oil or natural gas and usually contains oil and metals from production. Approximately 10 barrels of produced water are captured for every barrel of oil derived, and that results in a total of 15-20 billion barrels of produced water generated here in the United States on an annual basis. H.R. 2339 directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program for research and development to harvest produced water in an environmentally safe way for irrigation, municipal, and industrial purposes. Once this program is established, we can help address the droughts that are occurring across the country--including in my Northwest Georgia district--simply by providing the public with additional water resources. Madam Speaker, the United States could be generating even more produced water if the Democratic Majority would allow for the environmentally safe drilling of oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Polls show that a majority of Americans would support energy exploration in a small portion of ANWR, which could yield an additional 1.5 million barrels of oil a day. These efforts have unfortunately been foiled by radical environmentalists, content with skyrocketing gas prices. So, Madam Speaker, to be clear: if we open up ANWR for drilling and enact this legislation, not only will we help reduce the price that the American people are paying at the pump, but we will also be better prepared to stave off anticipated drought conditions across the country. H.R. 2339 only reinforces the need for us to drill here and drill now: to save money at the pump and increase the amount of water we have available in the United States. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time.