Ralph Hall

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Eugene S. ``Gene'' Cuny Jr., who passed away on February 13, 2013. Gene was a very dear friend of mine, and he was blessed with an exciting life that allowed him to work a variety of fascinating jobs with interesting people. I know he will be missed by all who knew him. Gene was born in Houston, TX. From an early age, he demonstrated leadership and a strong work ethic. As a youth, Gene achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. After high school, he attended the University of Houston, where he received a bachelor's degree and graduated with Honors. Upon graduation, he received a scholarship to Colorado State University where he studied theater. He married his beautiful wife, Charlotte Walser, and they moved to New York City where Gene performed in the Broadway production of ``The Pirate,'' featuring actress Lynn Fontanne, in 1942. He also worked as the stage manager at Radio City Music Hall, and studied drama at Yale University as a Rockefeller Foundation fellow. He then went on to teach speech and English at New Haven Junior College in Connecticut. Following his education and career in theater, Gene returned to Houston, where he worked for an advertisement agency writing copy for radio commercials and soap operas. Cuny went on to work as a general manager for radio stations in Louisiana, and after moving to Dallas in 1951, worked for KRLD-TV (now KDFW). He held the responsibilities of program director, national sales manager, and director of community affairs before he retired after 35 years. He also produced the Dallas press club's Gridiron Show, a spoof on news events, for many years. In addition to his successful career, Gene was also an active leader in his community. He was a press club board member, leader of the Dallas Advertising League, and president of the downtown Dallas Exchange Club. He was also a 32nd degree Knight Commander of Court of Honour Mason, a Dallas leader of the Scottish Rite, and a Rotarian, volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate for neglected or abused children. Gene also helped deliver Meals on Wheels all the way into his 90's. Gene is also preceded in death by his son Fred, who lost his life when he became deeply involved in international relief work. Fred was the leader of one of the most successful refuge assistance programs in recent decades, working abroad to help literally millions of refugees, whether in Africa, Southeast Asia, Kurdistan, Bosnia, or in Chechnya. Many think Fred was murdered during his effort to support Chechens in their resistance to a Russian attack. His body was never found. Gene is also survived by his wife Charlotte; their sons Chris, Phillip, and Eugene III; as well as eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Gene's verve for life and compassion for others are qualities we should all strive toward. I ask those here today to join me in honoring Eugene S. ``Gene'' Cuny.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Ruby Moore, who passed away on April 10, 2013. Ruby was a wonderful, kind woman, and a very dear friend of mine. I know she will be greatly missed by her family and by all those who knew her. Ruby Thomas was born on February 21, 1920 in Bonham, TX. She was married to Choice Moore on December 27, 1950. Ruby worked for 20 plus years as a dental assistant for the Sam Rayburn Medical Veterans Center, and also served on the Fannin Bank Board, on which her husband was a founding member. For 28 years while Choice served as Fannin County Judge, Ruby served as the first lady of Fannin County. She was also a member of the Texas Society of County Judges Wives, and a member of the Windom Book Club and the First Baptist Church of Windom. I served as County Judge of Rockwall County when Choice served as such in Fannin County. Our wives were friends--both beautiful, kind, and supportive--and as first ladies of our counties they graced the many meetings of the Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association held throughout the 254 counties in Texas. During the time we served, our Congressman, Speaker Sam Rayburn, befriended us and our counties. I have never known a finer judge, and will always remember his mate, the beautiful Ruby Thomas Moore. Ruby is preceded in her death by her husband, her parents, and three brothers and a sister. Her absence will be felt throughout the community, but her service will not be forgotten. As we adjourn today, let us do so in honor of the life of Ruby Moore.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. McCarthy for reintroducing this bill to redesignate NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, which is co-located with Edwards Air Force Base in California, as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center. This bill, H.R. 667, would also rename the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range. Neil Armstrong, everybody will say--and it's so true, he needs absolutely no introduction--people know who Neil Armstrong is. He covered the country. He has given of his time. He's an American hero, and he is one who never took personal credit for his accomplishments. Anytime he was speaking about the success of the Apollo 11 mission, he always gave recognition to the teams of engineers, technicians, and scientists at NASA and the industry. He was quiet, thoughtful, and deliberate, choosing his words carefully, whether testifying before a congressional committee, giving a speech, or sharing a moment with a friend. Last May of this year, I was honored to have Neil, along with General Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan, visit Rockwall, Texas, my hometown in Texas, and address graduating high school seniors from the area's public schools and private schools. Neil spoke to a packed auditorium of seniors and their families and then generously took time for photos with all the graduating classes. This was such a magnanimous gesture on his side and yet typical of his commitment to inspiring other generations of students to pursue fields in science, space, and technology. These Rockwall County students and their families will remember his visit forever, and this was made even more meaningful when Neil passed away just a few months later and when I received a letter from him 3 days after he died. Naming the Dryden Flight Center after Neil is very appropriate. After graduating from college, he joined NASA's predecessor agency, the National Advisory Council on Aeronautics, and soon found himself at NASA's High-Speed Flight Station located at Edwards, which would in time become the Dryden Flight Research Center. They were both great friends. He spent 7 years there flying a variety of new-design and high-performance aircraft, including the seven flights at the control of the X-15. Naming the Western Aeronautical Test Range after Dr. Hugh L. Dryden is also appropriate. Dr. Dryden, as a close friend of Neil's, held the position of Director of the National Advisory Council of Aeronautics from 1947 until it was renamed NASA in 1958, then served as Deputy Director of NASA until his death in 1965. He pioneered research of airfoils near the speed of sound and the problems of airflow and turbulence. He greatly contributed to the designs of wings for aircraft, including the P-51 Mustang and other World War II aircraft. H.R. 667 honors the life and legacy of two great Americans: Neil Armstrong and Dr. Hugh Dryden. With that, I urge Members to support this bill.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. I do rise, as others, today for a great American and a very dear friend, Sam Johnson. It's been said over and over again about Operation Homecoming, but that's one of the great days that I remember. And I'm sure it's in Sam's mind and heart and that he appreciates all of us here getting to say a few words about him. He served, as you know, for 29 years in the United States Air Force flying combat missions in both Korea and Vietnam, captured by enemy forces, going to spend 7 years in captivity as a prisoner of war, including 42 months of solitary confinement. Despite that confinement, Sam never lost his faith in God. He continued to show leadership and courage, helping to teach other prisoners how to survive. Through those 7 years, Sam remained committed to staying strong and helping other fellow soldiers doing the same thing. Finally, on February 12, 1973, he returned to U.S. soil with other fellow American servicemen in what was known as Operation Homecoming. Once home, he was united with his wife, Shirley, who faithfully waited and prayed for Sam's safe return. It's a fact about Sam's fighting for our country. He also suffered for our country. This isn't the prime reason his constituents vote for him, though it would be enough; but Sam is completely aware of the rules of the House of Representatives and one of the Speaker's leading whips. When Sam speaks, we listen. Sam and Shirley suffered the loss of a son the last week of February. I hope they felt the love and grief we shared with them and the family. We know that grief is addressed in the Bible. Love spawns grief, and without love there's little grief. There is much love in the Johnson family for their neighbors and friends. For the approximately 7 years Sam and the others suffered in the Hanoi Hilton, a 4-letter word was always on their mind: home. In closing, let me just say that Sam continues to fight on behalf of our veterans and members of the armed services. After 40 years, he continues to serve the American people with the same strength and resolve that he demonstrated in Vietnam. I'm truly honored to have the opportunity to serve with such an exemplary American and to call him a friend. Sam's commitment to his country, faith, and family are values that every American should live by. I ask all my colleagues, of course, to vote ``aye.'' Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a great American and a dear friend of mine, Sam Johnson, in honor of the 40th Anniversary of ``Operation Homecoming.'' On February 12, 1973, 591 American prisoners of war, including Sam Johnson, returned from Vietnam after being held as prisoners for seven years. Sam is the epitome of a true American hero. His unwavering dedication to freedom and to serving his country exemplifies what it means to be a patriot. Sam served for 29 years in the United States Air Force, flying combat missions in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In 1966, during one of his missions, Sam's plane was shot down over North Vietnam. He was captured by enemy forces and would go on to spend seven years in captivity as a Prisoner of War, including 42 months of solitary confinement. ``After his capture, Sam was sent with 10 other POWs to a special facility where they were kept in solitary confinement from 1967-1969. Self-named the ``Alcatraz Gang,'' they were sent there for their strong resistance against their captors. They were shackled in legcuffs every night and endured continued torture. Sam never lost hope, and remained unbreakable against his torturers. Sam, along with the other members of the ``Alcatraz Gang,'' was moved back to the infamous Hanoi Hilton where he served out the remainder of his time in Vietnam. Despite his confinement, Sam never lost his faith in God. He continued to show leadership and courage, helping to teach other prisoners how to survive. Throughout those seven years, Sam remained committed to staying strong and helping other fellow soldiers to do the same. Finally on February 12, 1973, Sam returned to U.S. soil with other fellow American servicemen in what was known as ``Operation Homecoming.'' Once home, he was reunited with his wife Shirley, who faithfully waited and prayed for Sam's safe return. Sam and I shared Collin County for many years in the U.S. Congress and we would often speak to constituents together. I always dreaded to compare my war service as a fighter pilot with the Navy with Sam's service. His record, every phase, was so much more admirable and dangerous than my several years, that I felt like I had run off to Canada. As a fact, about Sam's fighting for our country, he also suffered for our country. This isn't the prime reason his constituents vote for him, though it would be enough. Sam is completely aware of the rules of the House of Representatives and is one of the Speaker's leading Whips. When Sam speaks, we listen. Sam and Shirley suffered the loss of a son the last week of February, and I hope they felt the love and grief we shared with them and the family. We know that grief is addressed in the Bible. Love spawns grief, and without love, there is little grief. There is much love in the Johnson family, and their neighbors and friends. For the approximately seven years Sam and the others suffered in the Hanoi Hilton, a four-letter word was always on their mind: HOME. My dad was in WWI, and he went overseas with the same soldiers, and returned back to the USA with many of those he fought with. To show how much they loved home and the sight of the Statue of Liberty, as they entered the New York Harbor, one of my dad's friends said to the Statue of Liberty, ``Old lady, if you ever see me again, you are going to have to turn around.'' That's what going home meant to most Veterans of the various wars. Sam continues to fight on behalf of our veterans and members of the Armed Services. After 40 years, he continues to serve the American people with the same strength and resolve that he demonstrated in Vietnam. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve with such an exemplary American, and to call him ``friend.'' Sam's commitment to his country, faith, and family, are values that every American should live by. I ask all my colleagues present today to join me in honoring such an outstanding American hero, Sam Johnson.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6612) to redesignate the Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.

Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members shall have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6612, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to begin by thanking, as I should, the Members for their bipartisan support of the legislation. H.R. 6612 would redesignate the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Dryden Flight Research Center, which is co-located with the Edwards Air Force Base in the Antelope Valley of California, as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center. The bill would also rename the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range. This is very appropriate; they were very dear friends. Neil Armstrong needs no introduction. Actually, this bill was introduced by his congressman, Kevin McCarthy, the congressman where the redesignation will take place. The gentleman from California is the majority whip, but Neil Armstrong absolutely needs no introduction. He's an iconic American hero, and one of the most humble men I've ever met. He was quiet, thoughtful, and deliberate, choosing his words carefully, whether it was testifying before a congressional committee, giving a speech, or sharing a quiet movement with a friend. He did not exaggerate, and always, always gave recognition to the teams of engineers, technicians, and scientists at NASA and in industry when speaking about the success of the Apollo 11 mission. He refused to take personal credit for his accomplishments. Naming the flight center after Neil is very appropriate. After graduating from college, Neil joined NASA's predecessor agency, the National Advisory Council on Aeronautics, and soon found himself at NACA's High Speed Flight Station located at Edwards, which in time would become the Dryden Flight Research Center. He spent 7 years there flying a variety of new design and high-performance aircraft, including seven flights at the controls of the X-15. Neil was a good friend, and is sorely missed by me and by all of the people he touched during his long and active life. He is survived by his wife, Carol; his two sons, Mark and Rick; a stepson and a stepdaughter; 10 grandchildren; and a brother and sister. The bill also names the Western Aeronautical Test Range after Dr. Hugh L. Dryden. He held the position of director of the National Advisory Council on Aeronautics from 1947 until it was renamed NASA in 1958, and was deputy director of NASA until his death in 1965. Dr. Dryden did pioneering research on airfoils near the speed of sound and the problems of airflow and turbulence. His work greatly contributed to the designs of wings for aircraft, including the P-51 Mustang and other World War II aircraft. Before I close, I want to tell something that was rather interesting. President Clinton, I think it was on the 25th anniversary, invited Neil to speak, knowing that he probably wouldn't speak because he had indicated that he would not. But he left an empty chair for him on the stage. And as we got through the ceremony, Neil walked in. And the President, good natured, said, Well, I said you wouldn't speak, but here's the microphone. Neil took the microphone and said, The parrot is the only bird that can fly and speak, and I can do the same. Then he sat down, and it brought the house down. I urge Members to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the very capable majority whip, the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy).

Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Lamar Smith, who, on the 3rd day of January will be the chairman of Science, Space, and Technology for many, many years.

Mr. HALL. No, we do not have additional speakers.

Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, before I close, I'd just like to thank Jay Pierson, who plans to retire at the end of this year, for his many, many years of service to this House. He's been very helpful to me, to my staff, and to other staffs. He'll be sorely missed. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6633, a bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 101 East Pecan Street in Sherman, Texas, as the ``Paul Brown United States Courthouse''. Judge Brown was an outstanding Federal judge who passed away on November 26 after 21 years of distinguished service. Judge Paul Brown was my good friend, a respected judge, and beloved member of the Sherman, Texas community. Judge Brown represented the finest qualities of jurisprudence. Hanging on his wall in the Sherman Federal Courthouse were Socrates' four qualities for a good judge--to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially. Judge Brown embodied all of these qualities, and he dispensed justice accordingly. He was highly regarded, well-respected, and was a role model for many. Paul Brown was the youngest of a family of six raised on a farm near Pottsboro, TX. He graduated from Denison High School and although underage, he was able to get his parents' consent to join the U.S. Navy when World War II broke out. He served on a minesweeper in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters and as a part of the occupation forces in Japan. He was discharged as an Electrician's Mate 2nd Class in June 1946. He returned to his studies and received a law degree in 1950 from the University of Texas before being recalled to active duty in the Korean war. He saw combat aboard a minesweeper which was sunk by mines, and he received an honorable discharge in December 1951. Judge Brown worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Texarkana under U.S. Attorney William Steger--who would become his mentor, good friend, and eventually fellow colleague on the bench. He served as Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1953 to 1959, and then followed in Judge Steger's footsteps as U.S. District Attorney from 1959 to 1961. While in Texarkana, Judge and married Frances Morehead, and the two returned home to Sherman, where he practiced law for a number of years. In 1985 Senator Phil Graham recommended him to President Ronald Reagan for a new judge's position created for the Eastern District of Texas, and he was confirmed that year. He held court in Beaumont, Paris, Sherman, and Texarkana, and as the caseload in Sherman grew, he eventually presided over the Sherman courthouse exclusively. Premiere cases over the years included intellectual property, patent cases, and criminal cases precipitated by the bank and savings and loan failures of the 1980s and 1990s. In recent years he noted the increase in drug cases and expressed his regret that, in spite of all the efforts that have been made to prosecute drug dealers, the Nation is not making much progress in curtailing the use of drugs. No matter what type of cases came before him, Judge Brown always enjoyed the work and ran an efficient and orderly courtroom. His personal work ethic and judicial integrity were remarkable, and his reputation for punctuality is legendary. As we near adjournment of the 112th Congress, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of a great American, outstanding public servant, and respected jurist. This bill has the support of the Federal judges in the Eastern District, and I ask for your support of H.R. 6633, to designate the United States courthouse in Sherman, Texas, the ``Paul Brown United States Courthouse''. The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table. General Leave

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Gene Green and Sheila Jackson Lee, to ask you to join us in a moment of silence honoring our colleague, the Honorable Jack Brooks, former dean, who passed away yesterday evening at the age of 89. Jack Brooks was a fellow Texan and a good friend who served 42 years in Congress. He was a leader dedicated to bettering our country, and he will be sorely and dearly missed by his family, friends, and this Congress.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. I say to the Chair, thank you very much. I appreciate and understand what the rules are, and I thank my folks for being quiet up there when I know they wanted to be heard. God bless this Speaker. God bless you, Lamar Smith. You'll make a good chairman of Science, Space, and Technology.

Mr. HALL. Well, I don't really want to make a speech. I've enjoyed these speeches I've listened to here. A lot of it was true. Good people, great guys and gals that I work with. I'm honored to be a part of it. For the past 32 years, I've been here. I really came up here to stay 4 years, and that's what my wife and I agreed on. I just didn't say which 4 I was talking about. But she was always one to encourage me to run, because I had a son who was a district judge, and I think she felt that me being in Congress helped that son. Mommas always love their little cubs. I think he was really helping me, because he was running on the Republican ticket then and I was running on the Democratic ticket. I soon saw the light, and I came over. But I left good friends over here, and there's good people on both sides of the docket. There's a lot of talk about the parachute. There are things you have to do in politics sometimes. I had a race that started this last time with 78 percent of the votes it looked like. A gentleman from Houston spent $450,000 against me. He didn't know me, didn't know the two people running against me, but spent that amount of money to defeat me for some reason because he thought I was too old to be here. He picked five of us, and the other four didn't take him on. I tried to take him on some, but in taking him on I had to assure my people that I wasn't the old goof that he was saying I was, that I was capable of the work. The only way I could think of doing it--I run a couple of miles every morning, and when I was running, I looked up and there was an airplane up there. I thought, If I could jump up and touch that airplane, they'd think I was agile enough maybe to keep on being their Congressman. If running 2 miles every morning, voting 99-plus percent of the time, if that wasn't enough, I had to do something else. So I decided if I jump 2 miles, maybe that would be it. We got in an airplane. I got this guy, and he really was great. He trained me and showed me how to get in and out. Of course, I had flown probably a couple or 300 hours or 400 hours during the war, and I had made one jump during the war, but it wasn't a forced jump. I knew what it was, and I knew that it was okay. I also knew that it would tell people I had not had a stroke, and that's what they were putting out. I wanted them to know I was able and capable of representing them. They had to know that, and they were entitled to know that, so I decided to jump out of that airplane. We got right over the opening there, and I looked down. I had maybe a couple of hundred people on the ground waiting there. He said, As you jump out, reach with your heel and kick me in the rear. I was glad to do that. Right at the last, I almost decided not to jump, but I was too close and I knew I had to. I might have been pushed a little. I don't even know. I did jump, and he held on to me so tight--there were two of us there. He was holding tight, and that kind of struck me. I turned around and asked him, ``Do you mean it?'' He said, ``What do you mean?'' I said, ``You're holding me so tight. Do you care for me? What's the deal? There's a preacher down there, and the President said men can marry men. Maybe he'll just marry us when we get there.'' He said, ``Shut up. The ground is going to be here in just a few minutes.'' It was a pretty thing to see the Earth coming up to us there and seeing good friends down there that waited in hope for me. Even my undertaker was there. My undertaker meets me every time I go home with a tape measure and tells me he has one in store for me. He also tells me not to worry about flyers; if you don't like them, they'll finally grow on you. It's kind of a smart aleck way to do it, but he's my close friend. He was an intern when I was in the Texas Senate and one of the fine leaders of Rockwall. For the past 32 years, I've had the honor and the privilege of representing the Fourth District of Texas here in Congress, and I think it's just an honor to know that there have been 10,747 men and women elected to serve and that I may be the oldest to ever serve or to ever vote on the floor. There are others that have been here but didn't vote. I think that date comes up sometime around the 21st day of December. My first impression of the House of Representatives when I got here began with Speaker Sam Rayburn, whose district I represent. Speaker Rayburn and my wife were good friends at Mayo College. That's what the college name was before it was East Texas State Teachers College. When I was in the senate, I changed it to East Texas State University. My wife graduated from there, and I had the privilege of handing her her diploma. Those are good things, and that's a great institution over there. Mr. Rayburn, was called by my mother, who had known him back in the earlier days and was at Mayo College with him, to give me some kind of a recommendation to be an officer in the Army or the Navy or the Marine Corps or something. He didn't call her back. He didn't write her a letter back. He came to the breakfast table to tell her, ``Maude, I can't appoint that boy to anything. There's four reasons.'' She said, ``What on Earth can that be?'' He said, ``All four of his grades.'' That was kind of true, because I always thought everything over 70 was wasted. Not a good student. Not a good football player. We lost our car early in the Depression. One guy in the Depression said he'd eaten so many rabbits he was afraid of his own dog. We didn't have that kind of a problem, but we knew what the Depression was. I fear for this country right today in that, if we don't get together and maybe forget that we're more Republican than we are Democrat or more Democrat than we are Republican, our children are going to suffer. We need to make a move and think of them. We owe our children an opportunity, and they owe us the effort. It's just that simple. I think, in this next session, we're going to all have some give, that we're all going to get together and try to work something out. In our leader, we have a good Speaker. He's a guy I admire and respect, a kind Speaker, a guy who means the things that he says. He is a Speaker who cares about us. I don't agree with everything he says, but we need to forget any little pettiness that we have, get behind the leadership here, and try to write some legislation. It's for our children and for our children's children. That's the most important thing I think we can do. I know my time is about up.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. I thank the gentleman--and you are a gentleman. You are my friend and I appreciate you. I just think we need to get together and remember the most important part of all of us is our children and our children's futures. That's why we all get together, and that's the reason for us to change some of the positions we've taken in the past--to try to work something out that the American people expect us to. You're a gentleman to offer me that. Maybe I've used part of that 5 minutes. Thank you very much.

Mr. HALL. My mother always told me to be silent and be thought a fool rather than to open my mouth and remove all doubt. So I don't want to get to talking too much. It's been too good tonight. All these people have said things, and I care for them. I care for this institution. I care for the people on both sides of this aisle. I'm honored to get to be a part of this. Thank you. God bless this country.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I, of course, rise in support of H.R. 6586, to extend the application of certain space launch liability regimes. Everybody is hoping that the House won't be divided, that we're all going to work together. This is a good chance to show them that we are all together on a good bill. Commercial launch in the United States has a very enviable record. Our rockets are highly reliable, and SpaceX, which has flown two Falcon 9 rockets to the international space station and returned two payloads, is the first commercial company to successfully reenter payloads from space. And in the next 2 months, Orbital Sciences Corporation is scheduled to launch its new rocket that is designed to carry cargo to the space station. No matter these successes, our industry faces serious pricing challenges from foreign operators. They are able to offer substantially cheaper launch costs because of industrial policy and less expensive labor costs. They also offer generous indemnification coverage. In a report released earlier this summer, the Government Accountability Office stated: The United States provides less total third-party liability coverage than China, France, or Russia--the primary countries that have conducted commercial space launches in the last 5 years. As Chairman Palazzo mentioned a few minutes ago, commercial launch activity in the United States is expected to pick up in the years to come: first through NASA's reliance on commercial launch companies to ferry cargo and astronauts to and from the international space station, and second, through the introduction of commercial human spaceflight services. The bill before us would extend the indemnification regime for 2 years to December 31, 2014. It's important that we pass this bill to ensure that we do not jeopardize the ability of NASA to get cargo flights to the space station or inhibit our commercial launch operators' ability to compete for future payloads. The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will continue to monitor the activities of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation and the [[Page H6337!]] evolving space launch market to ensure that the current risk-sharing and liability regime, including indemnification, is properly structured. I thank Chairman Palazzo of Mississippi and Ranking Member Costello of Illinois for sponsoring and supporting this bill, and I urge all Members to support it as well.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule and H.R. 3409, the Stop the War on Coal Act. This may sound a little strange to a guy from an oil and gas State, but we have an awful lot of coal. This bill takes a number of simple, commonsense, and long overdue steps to rein in the Obama administration's out-of-control EPA, which is waging all-out war on American energy. Coal is at the heart of that war. Anyone who fails to believe such a war exists should speak to the people of Mount Pleasant, Texas, in my congressional district. EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule threatened 500 jobs at two coal- fired power plants in Mount Pleasant. Fortunately, the courts threw out this rule in August after finding that EPA went well beyond the law in its efforts to regulate coal out of existence. We know EPA will go back to the drawing board. H.R. 3409 adds needed protections for any future proposal and, in doing so, protects jobs not only in my State, but in coal-producing States and coal-using States all around the country. The bill also blocks future efforts to attack coal through other regulations, most notably the EPA's effort to enact economywide restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. These rules are based on shaky science and would raise the cost of energy for all Americans. They should never see the light of day. I want to mention my support for two amendments made in order under this rule. They will be offered by members of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which I chair. These amendments address serious problems with EPA science that the committee highlighted during the 112th Congress; specifically, Congressman Dan Benishek's amendment that requires that an analysis of the cost of regulations explicitly evaluate the potential negative health effects of regulations. Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris' amendment would require that the scientific data EPA uses to justify its regulations is peer reviewed and made publicly available. These amendments reinforce and strengthen the transparency and openness provisions in H.R. 3409. I urge Members to support these amendments, the rule, and the underlying bill as well.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I commend my good friend from Texas, Chairman Smith, for his leadership on the bill today. As a member of the Science Committee since first elected in 1980, I've heard repeatedly of talented foreign students who receive advanced degrees from American universities who would like to stay in the United States and put those degrees to work and are simply not permitted to do so. So they return home to their home country and ended up competing with us. Likewise, I hear from industry, particularly the technology industry, that they have ample jobs to fill, but there are not enough qualified Americans to fill those jobs. If this is true, we want those jobs filled by Americans and are working to improve STEM education in the country. But absent that talent now, and with many of these companies already seeking employees overseas, then it seems to me we should take advantage of the opportunity in front of us and help those foreign students who have received their education in the U.S. remain in the U.S. I have expressed to the chairman that I remain hopeful that qualified Americans should always fill available jobs first, and I understand provisions are in place to ensure this. I further appreciate his willingness to reach a consensus on broadening institution eligibility. We must remember that a large number of well-respected institutions across the country only grant degrees as high as a masters, and qualified graduates from those universities should also be eligible. In closing, I support the bill before us today, with the assurance that the chairman will continue to work with the Science Committee and with me as we move forward.

Mr. HALL

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4158) to confirm full ownership rights for certain United States astronauts to artifacts from the astronauts' space missions.

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4158, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to begin by thanking members of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Republicans and Democrats, for their bipartisan support of this legislation. I especially want to commend my good friends Lamar Smith and Eddie Bernice Johnson for their help and for their early support. H.R. 4158 would confirm full ownership rights to our Nation's first generation of astronauts who flew during the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo era and who received or were allowed to retain artifacts, mementos, and other personal equipment from their missions. H.R. 4158 covers all flights beginning in 1961 through the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, which flew in July of 1975. From the first days of our manned spaceflight program through the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, at the conclusion of a mission NASA managers routinely allowed astronauts to keep mementos of their flights. In some instances, astronauts were also given certain pieces of expendable equipment. The range of items included space suit emblems, expendable space suits, checklists, flight manuals, and disposable flight hardware salvaged from the jettisoned lunar landers. A majority of these items have been in the personal possession of the astronauts for 40 years or more. Over the last decade, NASA has begun to challenge the astronauts' ownership of these mementos. This issue was first brought to my attention late last year. I was surprised to learn that NASA had, on an irregular basis, intervened several times to claim ownership. Early this year, NASA Administrator Bolden met with a small group of astronauts to discuss the agency's artifacts policy. Following the meeting, through NASA's press office, Administrator Bolden issued a statement saying: These are American heroes, fellow astronauts, and personal friends who have acted in good faith, and we have committed to work together to find the right policy. He went on to say: I believe there have been fundamental misunderstandings and unclear policies regarding items from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab programs, and NASA appreciates the position of the astronauts, museums, learning institutions, and others who have these historic artifacts in personal and private collections. This bill seeks to eliminate in any further ambiguity about Apollo- era artifacts that were received by the astronauts. It simply says that astronauts who flew through the end of the Apollo program will be granted full right of ownership of any artifacts received from their missions. If we don't pass this bill, the artifacts and the astronauts face huge financial risks arising from donations, gifts, and sales already completed. These men are heroes. They're great heroes. Sadly, we had to say good-bye to one of these heroes just last week. They took extraordinary risks to establish American preeminence in space and, by doing so, helped our country become a world leader. I think it's a miscarriage of justice that today NASA should seek return of these very same mementos and keepsakes. I reserve the balance of my time. [From NASA News, Jan. 9, 2012] NASA Administrator Meets With Apollo Astronauts; Agency Will Work Cooperatively To Resolve Artifact Ownership Issues (By David Weaver and Bob Jacobs) Washington, DC.--The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden regarding the ownership of early space exploration mementos and artifacts: ``Earlier today, I had a good meeting with former Apollo astronauts Jim Lovell, Gene Cernan, Charlie Duke, Rusty Schweickart and other representatives of former astronauts and agency personnel, where we discussed how to resolve the misunderstandings and ownership questions regarding flight mementos and other artifacts. ``These are American heroes, fellow astronauts, and personal friends who have acted in good faith, and we have committed to work together to find the right policy and legal paths forward to address outstanding ownership questions. ``I believe there have been fundamental misunderstandings and unclear policies regarding items from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs, and NASA appreciates the position of the astronauts, museums, learning institutions and others who have these historic artifacts in personal and private collections. ``We also appreciate their patience and will explore all policy, legislative and other legal means to resolve these questions expeditiously and clarify ownership of these mementos, and ensure that appropriate artifacts are preserved and available for display to the American people.''

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo), the chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee.

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