Tim Holden

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the Congressional Correctional Officers Caucus, I rise today to honor correctional officers and employees of correctional facilities across our country. May 6, 2007 kicked off the National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. Throughout the week, correctional officers will be here in Washington to speak with their elected officials, present awards to officers whose exceptional service merits special recognition, and honor the memory of fallen comrades who had made the ultimate sacrifice while on duty. I am proud to sponsor House Resolution 264, along with my colleagues, the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. LoBiondo, the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Ellsworth, and the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Davis. H. Res. 264 is a bipartisan resolution designed to honor correctional officers and employees by acknowledging and supporting the goals and ideals of National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. The resolution directly honors correctional workers at all levels, local, State and Federal, including psychologists, chaplains, teachers, and kitchen staff. Correctional facilities are a critical component of our public safety and criminal justice systems. We rely on correctional facilities to mend the behavior of certain members of our society. To do that, these facilities must rely on correctional officers and other personnel who are highly trained to work in a challenging and often dangerous environment. Before coming to Congress I had the honor of working alongside these men and women when I served as a probation officer and then Sheriff of Schuylkill County, which houses a Federal and state prison. The respect I gained for these public servants is indescribable and I thank them for the countless ways they benefit our communities. Correctional officers and staff work each day to protect society from the threat of criminal activity. They risk their lives ensuring that we are safe. They maintain order in a dangerous place and ensure the basic needs of one of the most difficult groups in society are addressed. Mr. Speaker, it is not often that we get the opportunity to thank them for the good work they do and I commend my colleagues in the House or Representatives for passing House Resolution 264.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 63. I also rise in strong support of the brave men and women who have served or are serving in Iraq and around the world. I represent thousands of men and women on Active Duty and in the National Guard and in the Reserves. I have visited our wounded and injured troops at both Walter Reed and Landstuhl Regional Center in Germany. My commitment to our brave men and women is unwavering. However, I disagree with deploying more than 20,000 more U.S. combat troops to Iraq. The President has consistently said that the size of the force would be determined by military leaders on the ground. Yet the two previous leading commanders on the ground do not support the addition of more troops. General George Casey, the former commander of the Multinational Force in Iraq and current chief of staff of the Army, advocated transferring security duties to Iraqi soldiers. General Casey said, ``The longer we and the U.S. forces continue to bear the main burden of Iraq's security, it lengthens the time that the Government of Iraq has to make the hard decisions about reconciliation and dealing with the militias.'' He goes on to say, ``And the other thing is that they continue to blame us for all of Iraq's problems, which at face are their problems. It has always been my view that a heavy and sustained American military presence was not going to solve the problems in Iraq in the long run.'' Additionally, General John P. Abizaid, the former commander of U.S. Central Command in the Middle East, has said that he did not believe that adding more American troops right now is the solution to the problem, and also advocated transferring responsibility to the Iraqis. General Abizaid said, ``I met with every divisional commander, General Casey, the Corps Commander, General Dempsey. We all talked together. And I said, in your professional opinion, if we were to bring in more American troops now, does it add considerably to our ability to achieve success in Iraq? And they all said no. And the reason is because we want the Iraqis to do more. It is easy for the Iraqis to rely upon us to do this work. I believe that more American forces prevent the Iraqis from doing more, from taking more responsibility for their own future.'' During the course of the war, I visited Iraq twice, in 2003 and 2005. While I was there, the main goal, other than achieving victory, was developing Iraq's infrastructure. Yet after 4 years and hundreds of billions of dollars, we have not had much success in improving infrastructure and still face serious problems. Oil production is one- half of the prewar level, while conditions of basic services, such as water, power and sewage, are below that. In Baghdad, electricity levels are at an all-time low. And while we have spent billions of dollars on these problems, $9 billion is lost and unaccounted for. That is why I also rise today in support of the Blue Dog resolution which provides cost accountability for Operation Iraqi Freedom. This resolution will directly address the infrastructure and security failures in Iraq. More specifically, the resolution requires the Department of Defense Inspector General and the Special Inspector General for Iraqi Reconstruction to report to Congress every 90 days with: One, a detailed accounting of how military and reconstruction funds in Iraq have been spent; Two, a detailed accounting of the types and terms of contracts awarded on behalf of the United States; Three, a description of efforts to obtain support and assistance from other countries toward the rehabilitation of Iraq; and, finally, Four, an assessment of what additional funding is needed to complete military operations and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, including a plan for the security of Iraq. Mr. Speaker, our troops have done their job and performed with great courage and honor. The solution in Iraq can no longer be resolved militarily. We must win both politically and diplomatically. We must ask Iraq's six neighbors to use influence that is consistent with our own objectives, and we must convince them that stability in the region is in their best interests. In closing, I want to offer my utmost gratitude and appreciation for our troops. Our thoughts are with these brave men and women and also with their families as we pray for them to return safely.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6, a piece of legislation that will move us towards energy independence. We are 65 percent dependent upon foreign energy, and we need to take advantage of our own natural resources. And in reference to the prior debate, that includes coal. The only reason we do not have a coal-to-liquid plant in the United States of America right now has nothing to do with anyone in this Chamber on either side of the aisle, but it has directly to do with the Department of Energy that refuses to follow the letter of the law and enforce a loan guarantee of $100 million. If they would do that, we would have a coal-to-liquid plant right now in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the borough of Gilberton. We need to take advantage of all of our natural resources. And serving as the vice chairman of the Agriculture Committee, I look forward to taking advantage of our agriculture natural resources. The chairman and ranking member last year, when their roles were reversed, traveled around the country having hearings, trying to see what we need to do in the next farm bill. One thing was heard loud and clear, we need to take advantage of our own natural resources. And in the trip to Minnesota at the chairman's district, when we learned how far ahead the State of Minnesota is in ethanol production and cellulosic research, we understood right then what we need to do in writing this farm bill. So I rise in support of this legislation to give us the opportunity to do the research, to find the feedstocks to make us energy independent so we can, once and for all, not depend upon foreign energy and be independent and bring the price down.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Stephen R. Reed of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who was voted America's number one mayor in the World Mayor 2006 online poll by the City Mayor organization. Mayor Reed, the 7-term mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is the only United States mayor to ever break into the top 3 spots in the annual online contest finishing third in the world. From January to May each year, citizens nominate mayors in the contest then choose from a list of fifty finalists from June to October. This year, over 103,000 people voted giving Mayor Reed more than 7,000 votes. Under his leadership, the Pennsylvania state capital has been revitalized with the development of shops, hotels, and restaurants in the downtown area that once stood virtually vacant; the Harrisburg Senators baseball games and other attractions have revived tourism in the city; the Harrisburg University was established; and graduation rates have increases since Mr. Reed took control of the city school district. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to be able to recognize a man who has dedicated his entire life to the City of Harrisburg, helping hundreds of people in my district, including myself. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Stephen R. Reed on his many years of devoted public service and thank him for the many contributions he has made toward the well being of the citizens of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members of the domestic copper industry and to thank them for the tremendous services that they are providing to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as the men and women serving in the United States military at home and overseas.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Tim Friedman for his many years of heartfelt service and wish him best wishes on his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives and the House Democratic Cloakroom. Originally from Lackawanna, NY, outside of Buffalo, Mr. Friedman began his career in the House of Representatives on July 19,1976 under the patronage of the Honorable Dan Rostenkowski of Illinois. He worked as a Doorkeeper from 1976 to 1982 under the Honorable James T. Molloy before transferring to the office of the House Sergeant at Arms in 1982. There he worked as an assistant to the Honorable Jack Russ. In 1985, Tim Friedman was appointed as Assistant Manager of the House Democratic Cloakroom by the Honorable Thomas P. O'Neill, Speaker of the House. Tim married Colleen Early in 2003. He is retiring to Wallace, NC, where he plans to continue his love of golf. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to be able to recognize a man who has dedicated his life to serving the people of the United States. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Tim Friedman on his many years of devoted public service and thank him for the many contributions he has made toward the well being of the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, I am greatly concerned about cuts that have been made to Farm Bill programs through this agriculture appropriations bill. I believe that using mandatory Farm Bill money to pay for an annual spending bill is unacceptable, and it's simply not fair to our farmers. Appropriators and authorizers have long fought over mandatory and discretionary dollars; however, since 2004, we've seen a large increase in the amount of mandatory money used to pay for programs in the appropriations bill. We all worked very hard during the last Farm Bill. We agreed and put together a safety net for all farmers, and dedicated money to conservation, rural development, and other programs, but have since witnessed a significant portion of our annual funding be redirected. With falling farm income because of higher energy and production costs, along with lower farm gate prices, now is the worst time to cut this funding for our agricultural producers. I'm worried about dropping the bottom out from underneath our agricultural producers and rural citizens through cuts to conservation and rural development programs, which have already taken disproportionate reductions in funding. Conservation programs assist our farmers and ranchers in strengthening their environmental stewardship, which is so important for looking after land and water that we will pass on to our future generations. By investing in enhanced environmental protection of land and water, the public benefits from an overall improved quality of life; affordable food, cleaner, safer, and more dependable water supplies; reduced damages caused by floods and other natural disasters; abundant wildlife; scenic landscapes and an enhanced natural resource base. Cutting important conservation programs while we're facing a huge backlog of producers waiting to participate in these programs will hinder these efforts. I am especially concerned about cuts to the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection program. Since 1996, the program, in partnership with state and local governments and nongovernmental organizations, has kept over 440,000 acres of productive farmland in agricultural uses. FRPP is an excellent way of preserving farmland for many years to come, and helps provide a means for maintaining a viable rural economy. Additionally, rural development programs are vital to ensuring that our traditionally-agriculturally based communities do not simply vanish because of farm and job loss. I am concerned about cuts to an important rural development program that assists farmers in adding value to their products. Rural development initiatives help to advance our rural communities, develop new markets, and provide economic growth. Mr. Chairman, I respect the appropriators in the difficult task they have been given in this tight budget climate, but I ask that they respect the funding amounts put forth in the Farm Bill, and not make cuts to mandatory programs.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Rocky Santilli of Leesport Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, for his 2,000+ career wins as a fast-pitch softball manager, and his naming as the 2006 King of Baseballtown. Mr. Santilli started his managerial career in 1959 with the Leesport- based Rising Sun Sunners, and has since amassed over 2,000 victories along with dozens of trophies and honors. With Santilli at the helm, the Sunners captured three Amateur Softball Association (ASA) national titles, a number of gold medals at the Olympic Festival, and a share of the International Softball Federation (ISF) Men's World Fast Pitch Championship. Due to his impressive record with the Sunners, Mr. Santilli was honored with the opportunity to pilot the United States softball team four times at the Pan Am games. The U.S brought home silver medals in all four games, finishing just behind Canada. In 1991, Rocky Santilli was inducted into the ISF Hall of Fame on behalf of his remarkable career. Two years later he was enshrined in the ASA National Hall of Honor and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. In 1998 Mr. Santilli returned to coaching and led the Schuylkill Valley High School girls' softball squad to a 64-67 record over 7 years. In 2004, Rocky Santilli retired as a legend. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of meeting Rocky several years ago through Sheriff John H. Kramer, and it is an honor today to recognize such a talented and accomplished man who has brought pride and inspiration to the people of my district. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Rocky Santilli on his 2006 King of Baseballtown award, recognizing his remarkable career in softball, and thanking him for the many contributions he has made toward the well-being of the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Richard E. Tomko of St. Clair, Pennsylvania for his many years of selfless and heartfelt service to the residents of St. Clair Borough and the many contributions he has made to Schuylkill County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mr. Tomko began his public life as committeeman for the West Precinct in St. Clair at the age of 21. Soon after, in 1970, he became the chairman of the St. Clair Republican Party, a position he holds to this day. At the age of 23, Mr. Tomko was elected to the St. Clair Borough Council and served 8 years, including 5 years as council president. In 1980, Mr. Tomko resigned from the council to become borough secretary until he was appointed to the Police Civil Service Commission where he served for 3 years. In 1985, Richard Tomko was elected mayor of St. Clair. Mayor Tomko was re-elected four times, serving 20 years in the position. A high school government teacher, neighbor, and friend, Mr. Tomko continues to be a vital member of the community, also serving on my Military Academy Recommendation Board. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to be able to recognize a man who has dedicated his entire life to the borough of St. Clair, helping hundreds of people in my district, including myself. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Richard E. Tomko on his many years of devoted public service and thank him for the many contributions he has made toward the well being of the citizens of St. Clair, Schuylkill County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Frank D. Linn, Sr. of Lower Swatara Township, Middletown, Pennsylvania as he celebrates fifty years of selfless and heartfelt service to the children and families of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania as Santa Claus. Mr. Linn has given of his time and effort making thousands of children happy as ``The Jolly Old Man with the Beard'' since 1955. Acting as Santa in a shopping center and at private home parties, he also spreads the spirit of the holidays making visits and toy deliveries to around seventy-five homes at Christmastime. A graduate of Central Dauphin High School, Mr. Linn has been employed with the House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the past forty-three years serving as Specialist in Intergovernmental Affairs to the Speaker of the House for Speaker Matthew J. Ryan and currently Speaker John M. Perzel. He has also devoted his time to the Lower Swatara Lions Club and the Middletown Area Red Cross as well as multiple local athletic teams, boy scouts troops, and fire companies. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to be able to recognize a man who has been committed to bringing joy to the people of my district for fifty years. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Frank D. Linn, Sr. on fifty years of devoted service as our local Santa Claus and thank him for the many contributions he has made toward the well being of the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize that on September 27, 2005, I voted ``yea'' on H.R. 438 (rollcall No. 495), which designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley, California, as the ``Maudelle Shirek Post Office Building.'' Ms. Maudelle Shirek was the former vice-mayor of the City of Berkeley and Member of Berkeley City Council from 1984 to 2004, between the ages of 73 and 93. She was one of California's longest serving elected officials. For 60 years, Ms. Shirek has been campaigning for fair housing and civil rights for all Americans, especially the poor. Ms. Shirek helped found two Berkeley seniors centers. Until her health started slowing her down, Ms. Shirek helped deliver meals to shut-in seniors and did all the grocery shopping for lunches at the New Light Senior Center. In addition, Ms. Shirek received a Special Recognition Award in 1997 from the Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union for 55 years of tireless work in the credit union movement. Before voting on H.R. 438, I was fully aware of the aforementioned efforts and achievements during Ms. Shirek's life. I found them reason to name a Post Office after her. However, after I voted ``yea'' on H.R. 438, I was informed of Ms. Shirek's active support for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a man convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer. Upon learning this, I could not, in good faith, support H.R. 438. Had I known this prior to voting on H.R. 438, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006. I am pleased Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton were agreeable in adding my legislation to create the Combat Medevac Badge in the bill. I would also like to thank Congressman Geoff Davis for his support in offering my legislation as an amendment during mark-up. Two years ago I was approached by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 542 in Central Pennsylvania, who told me great stories of heroism performed by DUSTOFF pilots and crews during the Vietnam War. But despite their heroic acts, the Vietnam Veterans of America continued to struggle to establish a combat badge in honor of these brave pilots and medics. Upon my meeting with the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 542, I introduced legislation to establish the Combat Medevac Badge to recognize these Medevac pilots and crews. Simply stated, my legislation would make any person who served in combat as a pilot or crewmember of a Medevac unit beginning June 25, 1950 eligible for the Combat Medevac Badge. Current law provides for two honor recognitions, the Combat Medical Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge. The basic eligibility standards for both of these awards were crafted during World War II, a time before helicopters entered the field of battle for rescue and medical evacuation purposes. Non-Medevac pilots and co-pilots, who flew aircraft during the Korean War, and every war since then, have long been recognized with a Combat Badge. However, because of an omission in the statute, Medevac crews that operate rescue helicopters have never been eligible for the same recognition. Last week, this omission was corrected during the Defense Authorization mark-up, when Congressman Davis offered an amendment to establish the Combat Medevac Badge, which was passed en bloc. I commend Congressman Davis for taking the lead in committee and bringing this long overdue award one step closer to fruition. Mr. Chairman, I would again like to commend Chairman Hunter, Ranking Member Skelton, and Congressman Davis for their leadership in bringing forth this very good bill and including the establishment of the Combat Medevac Badge. I would also like to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania, Joe Pitts, for all of his assistance and hard work. Lastly, I would like to recognize John Travers and Mike McLaughlin of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 542 for brining this to my attention and for all of their time and dedication to the effort. Medevac pilots and crews have performed heroically during times of military conflict. This long overdue award will acknowledge their service to our country.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the people of the State of Israel on the celebration of the 57th anniversary of its founding. Known in Hebrew as Yom Ha'atzmaut, this special day marks the historic date in 1948 on which the British Mandate over Palestine expired and the State of Israel was proclaimed. Each year, this celebration comes on the heels of Yom Ha'zikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, when the nation expresses its eternal debt and gratitude to the more than 20,000 soldiers who gave their lives to secure the country's independence and defend its continued existence. Israel and the United States have shared a special bond since the founding of the modern Jewish State in 1948. The United States was the first country to recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after it was officially created. Since then, our two countries have developed a rock-solid friendship that does not depend on the parties in power either in Washington or Jerusalem. Over the past half-century, bipartisan support for Israel has been a staple of every Congress regardless of which party is in the majority and which in the minority. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, a region dominated by authoritarian and military regimes. Our two nations share the fundamental principles of freedom and equality. Both were established by immigrants, who sought freedom from oppression. Both stand as symbols of liberty and pluralism in a world still marked by authoritarianism and intolerance. Both have provided safe havens for oppressed people from all parts of the globe and both are rooted in the unshakable tenets of democracy, human dignity, individual rights, and religious freedom. Once again Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations to the people of Israel on this joyous occasion.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, coal is by far the largest domestic source of energy we produce. Here in the United States, we have between 250 and 300 years of a coal supply. That is more than the amount of recoverable oil contained in the entire world. I am proud to represent the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania, which have the largest anthracite coal deposit in North America, arguably the largest deposit in the world. It is a high-Btu, low-sulfur fuel, and is considered the cleanest-burning solid fuel on the commercial market today. But as we can see through rising fuel prices, we are too dependent upon foreign oil. In the United States, we consume about 20.5 million barrels of oil per day. That's about 7.5 billion barrels per year. Half of that is imported. And almost half of American oil consumption is for motor vehicles. One of our priorities should be to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We should be increasing research and development into our fossil fuel program. With continued research of coal, the potential of the United States becoming energy self-sufficient in an environmentally friendly manner is enhanced. For over 15 years, through the clean coal programs of the Department of Energy, the Federal Government has been a solid partner, working jointly with private companies and the states to develop and demonstrate a new generation of environmentally clean technology using coal. One benefit of the clean coal programs takes advantage of a decades' old technology of converting coal and waste coal into clean diesel fuel. In Pennsylvania alone, there is an excess of 200-300 million tons of waste coal that has accumulated over the years. A company in Gilberton, Pennsylvania, in my district, is ready to do convert this waste coal to diesel fuel and electricity on a large scale. The plant has received support from DOE's Clean Coal Power Initiative. Coal research and development provides huge benefits for the nation, and pay for itself many times over through taxes flowing back to the Treasury from expanded economic activity. The clean coal programs are important for several reasons. They: Clean up the environment by burning waste coal; reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and air toxics; develop cleaner, more efficient power systems; sponsor promising technologies that are too risky for private industry to undertake alone; provide a model for future government- industry technology partnerships; and provide tremendous job opportunities in this country, not in the Middle East. In 2002, President Bush said, ``We will promote clean coal technology.'' The President recently outlined four important objectives that need to be included in this energy bill. These objectives are all met by clean coal programs: Encourage the use of technology to improve conservation; encourage more production at home in environmentally sensitive ways; diversify our energy supply by developing alternative sources of energy and create more energy choices; and help us find better, more reliable ways to deliver energy to consumers. We need to take advantage of our own natural resources. I encourage my colleagues to continue to support clean coal programs.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I want to commend and congratulate the chairmen and the ranking members of the committee and subcommittee for their hard work on this legislation for the past 18 months. As many speakers have said previous to me today, Mr. Chairman, we all on this committee wish we could be at our original target of $375 billion, but it is important that we pass this legislation here today, and it is very important that we get to a conference with the other body as quickly as possible. This legislation is important to all of our districts and all of our States. As my friend from Pennsylvania said two speakers previously, Pennsylvania has specific transportation needs. Pennsylvania has more road miles to maintain than our friends in New Jersey, New York and New England combined. In addition to that, the majority of truck traffic travelling in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on our interstate system, particularly on Route 80, is not traffic that begins and ends in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania truly is the Keystone State when it comes to the economy of the northeast and of the Mid-Atlantic States. So this legislation is very important all across the country, but particularly to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. So I want to again commend the chairman and the ranking member for their hard work and look forward to a conference where we have as robust an investment as possible into our highway and transit systems.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John D.W. Reiley and to recognize the many contributions he has made to the city of Pottsville, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the world. He knows no limits in his service and commitment to the people and communities he has touched over the years. John D.W. Reiley was born and raised in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he still resides today. He is a graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School and Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia. After serving with the United States Army in the U.S. and Germany, he was associated with Reiley's Stores, Inc. in Pottsville. In May 1976, he was named Secretary of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and he served in that capacity to the present time. As a lifelong resident of Pottsville, Mr. Reiley has been active in the Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival, serving as its first president. A member of the Pottsville Lions, he is a past President and past District Governor. He is currently Co-Chairman of Pottsville Cruise Night and is a Director of the Union Bank and Trust Company, UBT Realty, and the Schuylkill County Motor Club, the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, and Penn Prime Insurance. In 1969, he was appointed to Pottsville City Council. He was re- elected later that year and again in 1973. He is also a member of Robert R. Wodbury Post #67 American Legion; Ancient Order of Hibernians, JFK Division (#2); Catholic War Veterans Post No. 1051; Knights of Columbus Council No. 431; Schuylkill Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame; and the Yorkville Hose & Fire Company. Mr. Reiley is a past President of the Pottsville Merchants Association and past member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Retailers Association and the Pottsville Library. In March 2000, he was appointed Mayor of Pottsville, completing the term of his son Terence, who lost a five-year battle with leukemia while in office. In November 2001, John was re-elected to a full term. He is married to the former Agnes McGowan, and is the father of Hugh Reiley and the late Terry Reiley.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I congratulate and thank the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Goodlatte) and our subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), for his hard work on this legislation. I would like to take a moment to congratulate and thank the ranking member of the committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), on an outstanding congressional career. As we all know, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) will be leaving us and not serving in the next Congress. But I just want to say to the gentleman that not only is the Committee on Agriculture going to miss his leadership; the entire agriculture community across the country is going to miss his guidance and his input. On a personal note I am truly going to miss his leadership, and I thank him for all of the help that he has given to me personally over the years. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2856, which will fix a problem with technical assistance funding for agriculture conservation programs. Our intent was to allow for farm bill programs to pay for themselves. However, due to different interpretations of the law and congressional rewriting, we are now in a situation in which major programs are paying for others. There is a huge problem with donor programs such as the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Grassland Reserve Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, providing technical assistance funding for the Conservation Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program. These donations continue to inhibit the implementation of these effective programs in the way that Congress intended. We must make sure that implementation reflects intent. It was never our plan to have key conservation programs act as donors for others. We need to correct this problem, and that is exactly what S. 2856 will do. In fiscal year 2003, there were significant contributions being made by EQIP, Farmland Protection, WHIP, and the GRP to the Conservation Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program. EQIP donated $57.6 million, Farmland Protection donated $18 million, WHIP gave $5.6 million, and Grasslands Reserve gave $9.5 million. In my home State of Pennsylvania, these conservation programs are extremely important. In fiscal year 2003, Pennsylvania received $8.4 million to fund 293 contracts throughout the EQIP program. There were actually 1,238 unfunded contracts totaling $35.4 million. In 2004, Pennsylvania received $11.9 million, a significant increase, but not enough to fund all of the contracts that are on hold. The problem is the same for Farmland Protection, which is critical to Pennsylvania. In 2003, Pennsylvania received $4.9 million to protect 6,266 acres. In 2004, the State received less, approximately $4 million for the program. Allowing vital programs such as EQIP and Farm and Ranchland Protection to be donors for other conservation programs only makes the funding backlog worse. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2856 and implement technical assistance funding for agriculture conservation programs the way in which Congress intended.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bob Marquette, the president and CEO of Members 1st Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, PA, on his recent election to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions, NAFCU. Bob has been a vocal supporter of credit union issues at both the state and national levels. Bob's election to the NAFCU board is just one more in a long list of accomplishments that has spanned more than 30 years of service in the credit union movement. Bob serves on the board of directors for both the Credit Union Campaign for Consumer Choice and the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation. Additionally, Bob serves on the Philadelphia Fed's Credit Union Advisory Council. Bob is a tireless advocate of the credit union movement and I am sure he will serve NAFCU, and the entire credit union community, well in his new position on the board of directors. Under Bob's management Members 1st FCU has continued to flourish. Today, Member's 1st has 15 branches serving more than 93,000 Pennsylvanians living and working in the south central region of the State. It is because of the good work of Bob and others like him that the credit union movement enjoys the success it has today. As the President/CEO of Members 1st, Bob has focused on ensuring his members receive helpful, personal service that caters to the needs of individual members and their financial goals. Such service is the hallmark of the credit union movement and Members 1st has exemplified that philosophy under Bob's tenure as president. I wish Bob good luck in his new role as a member of the NAFCU Board of Directors.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Schuylkill Chapter 0413 of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees as it celebrates fifty years of distinguished service to Federal retirees, employees and their families in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Originally chartered as Pottsville Chapter 413 in 1954, the Chapter made recruiting and retention a top priority. By way of free luncheons, speaker series, outdoor summer picnics, catered dinner meetings, and a recruiting booth at the Schuylkill County Fair, membership spread to many towns in the county. Area-wide recruiting success was achieved when the National Association of Retired Federal Employees authorized the Chapter's name change to Schuylkill Chapter 0413, allowing them to serve a greater number of citizens. An association such as Schuylkill Chapter 0413 achieved success through the continued hard work of dedicated members and officers. Since its first meeting, the Chapter has stood as an integral facet of the community, working to meet the needs and concerns of the community in which it serves. As a member of Schuylkill Chapter 0413, I share the profound pride felt by my fellow members as our organization reaches this milestone. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to be able to recognize an organization that has been sustained for fifty years on its commitment to the people of my district and all of central Pennsylvania. I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Schuylkill Chapter 0413 of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees on fifty years of devoted service and thank them for the many contributions they have made toward the well being of the citizens of this great Nation.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Association of American Boyers on the occasion of its 100th year anniversary. In 1905, the Association of American Boyers held its first reunion in Dryville, Pennsylvania. The original attendees of that grand day have now grown to over 4,000 members. During the first reunion a mission statement was adopted which read ``The object of this Association is educational, to hold reunions, and to foster, encourage, and develop the family spirit of the Boyer people.'' A two-day celebration to commemorate 100 years of existence for the ``Association of American Boyers, Inc.'' will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 24-25, 2004, on the grounds of the Central Pennsylvania College. On these dates Boyers from around the United States and various overseas points of destination will gather to celebrate their heritage, history, and family accomplishments. The legacy of the Boyer name can be traced to the fourth and second centuries before Christ. Carrying the name of Boiare early settlers moved into Germany, France and England. Many variations of the Boyer name such as Bayer, Baier, Beyer, Beier, Byer and Bowyer arose in the years to follow. Segments of these first ``Boyers'' came to the United States in the 1600's. Transition of some family members brought a Boyer presence to Pennsylvania in the early 1700's. Approximately forty Boyers had settled in Eastern Pennsylvania by 1775 and many served as soldiers under George Washington. Boyers have since spread throughout all of Pennsylvania, maintain large populations in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, New York, California, and Maryland and are present in some number in all fifty states. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in acknowledging the long standing history of Boyers and their impact since coming to the United States and thank them for the many contributions they have made to the growth of our great nation.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, earlier today I missed several votes so that I could travel back to Pennsylvania to survey damage from a tornado strike yesterday afternoon in my Congressional District. I respectfully request the Record to reflect that, had I been present, I would have voted: ``Yea'' on rollcall vote 377 on agreeing to House Resolution 615; ``Yea'' on rollcall vote 378 on agreeing to House Resolution 713; ``Yea'' on rollcall vote 379 on agreeing to House Concurrent Resolution 462; ``No'' on rollcall vote 380 on agreeing to the Sherman amendment to H.R. 4818; ``No'' on rollcall vote 381 on agreeing to the Lantos amendment to H.R. 4818; ``No'' on rollcall vote 382 on agreeing to the Kennedy (of Minnesota) amendment to H.R. 4818; and ``No'' on rollcall vote 383 on agreeing to the Paul amendment to H.R. 4818.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, I will be brief, and I thank the chairman for accepting the amendment, and I thank him and the ranking member for their significant work in bringing this bill to the floor. As the chairman of the authorizing subcommittee has mentioned, we do have a tremendous problem with technical assistance, and when we passed the farm bill in 2002 it was never our intent, as we talked about that record-setting investment in conservation, to have the funds come from one program to be transferred to another. So I want to thank the chairman for accepting the amendment and thank my chairman for offering the amendment.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Government's vital role in developing a healthy and growing information technology sector. A variety of national and international studies indicate that the broad-based deployment of information technology can have a substantial impact on our nation's economic productivity and growth as well as the educational and social success of our citizens. Accordingly, it is our task to ensure that the Government formulates policies that foster the continued development of the IT sector while also providing for citizens' access to technology and opportunity for economic advancement. Among the most important ways that the Government can assure the robustness of our information technology sector and broad deployment of technology are by continuing to fund IT research and development and by adhering to technology-neutral policies that support market-based innovation, including by enabling firms to capitalize on the intellectual property they add to government-funded technologies. Private firms are generally willing to commercialize publicly funded research only if they can protect the intellectual property they contribute to the development process in a manner that allows them to secure a return on their investment. Thus, for example, it is vital that the government licenses software developed with public research funds under terms that enable private resources to develop such software into commercially viable products. Over the years, U.S. businesses and industry have proven extremely adept at developing successful new products from cutting-edge technologies. Many of the private sector's most successful products and technologies have been developed in no small part due to sound public policy that fosters innovation. This is especially true in the information technology sector. With the support of the Federal Government--both through funding and through technology-neutral policies that promote commercialization--we can ensure that the information technology sector remains robust and continues to innovate for the benefit of our economy and the health and welfare of our citizens.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pennsylvania State University on its 150th year serving the citizens of Pennsylvania and beyond. As the Commonwealth's only land grant institution, Penn State has played a vital role over the years in promoting agricultural and scientific research, workforce development, education, as well as many other initiatives; fulfilling the mission that Congress laid out in The Morrill Act of 1862. Since its founding in 1854, Penn State has proven to be a leading institution of higher learning. The most recent U.S. News and World Report survey of graduate schools ranks a number of programs at Penn State among the nation's top ten, encompassing a wide array of subjects ranging from nuclear engineering to vocational/technical education. Penn State has also continued to be a leader in Pennsylvania's largest industry: Agriculture. The University has a long history of innovations in this field, beginning in 1861 when it was the first American institution to confer baccalaureate degrees in agriculture. Today, Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences continues to lead the way in agricultural research and promotion through such programs as the Penn State Cooperative Extension, a number of international exchange programs, and the Penn State Agricultural Council. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have seen first hand the exceptional work that College of Agricultural Sciences does and the services it provides to Pennsylvania's farmers. Penn State University is also nationally recognized for the exceptional research and patient care provided at the College of Medicine, located in my Congressional District in Hershey, PA. This includes the recent partnership with the National Naval Medical Center to conduct cancer research. This joint venture will lead to important new advances in discovery, early detection, evaluation, treatment and prevention of cancer that will benefit both the military and civilian population. The Penn State College of Medicine has demonstrated great benefits to the local community as well as the state in general. According to a recent study, the College of Medicine has generated nearly $35 million in state tax revenue and created more than 13,500 jobs both directly and indirectly. In a state that has recently experienced a lack of new and competitive jobs, the value of this cannot be overstated. Mr. Speaker, over its 150-year history, the Pennsylvania State University has proven to be an invaluable asset not only to Pennsylvania, but also to the entire nation as well. I'm extremely proud to have three Penn State Campuses located within my Congressional district. I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the Pennsylvania State University as we celebrate its 150th Anniversary.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I would like to congratulate the ranking member and the chairman of the subcommittee for bringing this important legislation to the floor. And I would like to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). First, let me say to my friend from Philadelphia that I understand his desire to have the Delaware River channel dredged for commerce reasons, particularly with the container ships getting larger, but as the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), who has been the leader on this issue for many years, has stated, it needs to be done in an economically sound and environmentally friendly manner. The proposal that is before us is, as the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews) has pointed out over the years, is not economically sound. The return to the taxpayers is not cost efficient. It does not make an awful lot of sense. The proposal also is not environmentally friendly. One of the proposals to take the dredged material out of the Delaware River and truck it or put it on rail and take it 100 miles northwest to my congressional district to the anthracite coal fields and dispose of it there. The Army Corps of Engineers should be sensitive to local concerns, whether that be in New Jersey or Delaware or the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania. And, quite frankly, the boroughs of Tamaqua and the boroughs of Coaldale in Schuylkill County do not want these dredged materials dumped in their backyard. They have been on record with that at their borough council meetings. They have gone to the State legislature. They have gone to the county commissioners. Also, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for this meager investment of $300,000. That, quite frankly, I believe, will stop this project and not allow it to go forward. So I again thank the chairman, I thank the ranking member, and I really want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews) for being the leader in this fight over the years.