Robin Hayes

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: February 14, 2008: rollcall vote 60, I would have voted ``nay''; rollcall vote 61, I would have voted ``yea''; rollcall vote 62, I would have voted ``nay''; rollcall vote 63, I would have voted ``yea''; rollcall vote 64, I would have voted ``yea''; rollcall vote 65, I would have voted ``yea''; rollcall vote 66, I would have voted ``yea''; rollcall vote 67, I would have voted ``yea''; and rollcall vote 68, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Madam Speaker, on February 13, 2008, I was unable to participate in the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows; Rollcall vote 43, I would have voted ``yea.'' Rollcall vote 44, I would have voted ``yea.'' Rollcall vote 45, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. I thank Congressman Keller for yielding. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of the Doggett amendment. I believe this amendment will simplify the application process for students and families seeking financial aid. I feel that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, is overly complicated and a real burden on students and parents who need the most financial assistance. I believe we must take the burden off families and put more of it on the IRS and the Department of Education. Current language in the bill encourages the Secretaries of Education and the Treasury to work together. By adopting this amendment, we are requiring the Federal agencies to work together to use existing IRS data to get positive outcomes. With the implementation of data matching, we can eliminate the cumbersome and confusing FAFSA questions, increase the accuracy of the data used in calculating aid eligibility, and ensure that Federal financial aid dollars are going to the right people for the right reasons. The issue was brought to my attention by University of North Carolina President Erskine Bowles. I worked closely with him on this issue and hope to see the changes that we discuss, which are included in this amendment, be included in the final bill. I thank Mr. Bowles and the UNC system for their commitment to making the FAFSA easier for students and families. Again, if we are going to evaluate this issue, let's do it right. Let's put more of the burden on the government to make the financial aid application process easier for students and families who are applying for assistance. I appreciate Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon for their dedication in improving our education and hope that my colleagues will support the Doggett amendment.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate a friend and hardworking farmer who has received one of the most distinguished awards a farmer can receive in the Nation. Bill Cameron, a Hoke County citizen, won the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farm of the Year for 2007, and I couldn't be more proud of him for this well- deserved accomplishment. Bill Cameron is a native of Hoke County. He coached the high school football team for 11 years and then decided to focus on farming full time and invest his life in the agriculture industry. Bill started his farming operation with 82 acres, and it has grown to almost 900 acres today. He is well diversified with swine, cattle and row crops. His livestock operations include Santa Gertrudis cows, bulls used to raise seed stock, feeder steers and a large breeder gilt grower operation. On the crop side, Cameron grows hundreds of acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, rye and hay. During the Southeastern competition, Cameron was selected among ten state finalists in the Southeastern states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Folks, this is quite an achievement to be selected from such a competitive group of farmers, and I am very happy for Bill. I know that there was a tremendous amount of hard work and sacrifice that went into his operation and making it such an efficient and successful operation. Anyone who knows Hoke County understands that agriculture is at the heart of the community. Bill Cameron has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help create and sustain a strong agriculture community, and as a citizen of North Carolina, I join many in sincerely thanking him. Not only has Bill Cameron built a first class farming operation, but he has worked tirelessly to help increase the quality of life for Hoke County and the 8th District as a whole. Bill is a former Hoke County Commissioner, and his determination to help build and create a better community and a better North Carolina is inspiring. I would also like to acknowledge Bill's family that has been there backing him in his efforts and successes. I am sure Bill's wife, Rhenda, and his two children, Candace and Bill, are as proud as I am of his many accomplishments and his dedication to his profession.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 1120, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. I want to thank Chairman Rangel, Chairman Herger and Chairman McCrery for their great work. Unfortunately, I must rise today in opposition to H.R. 3688, the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. My opposition to this agreement stems from what the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition calls a continuation of a flawed trade policy of trade deficits, offshoring and job losses. Auggie Tantillo, the executive director of AMTAC goes on to state, ``Congress spending the entire year focusing on an unpopular Peru FTA instead of passing a strong anticurrency manipulation bill is an enormous disappointment to U.S. manufacturers desperate for relief from China's predatory trade practices.'' Folks, I could not agree more. I don't see where this particular legislation helps combat the largest threat to our Nation's manufacturing base, China. As many of you know, manufacturing, the textile industry in particular, has taken a massive hit in both loss of jobs in businesses due directly to unfair trade practices by China and their fixed currency. Without a level playing field for our textile workers, businesses, and the manufacturing sector in general, the demise of our manufacturing industry will continue to take place all over the country. I'm a cosponsor and strong supporter of the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, which was sponsored by Congressmen Duncan Hunter and Tim Ryan. This important piece of legislation will level the playing field for American companies by stipulating that countervailing trade cases targeting government subsidies can be brought against nonmarket economies such as China, and it does it in a WTO-compliant manner. Another issue I'm concerned with is the lack of enforcement of our current trade laws, in particular with textile enforcement. Textile enforcement is vital to the future of the U.S. textile industry and its workforce. The U.S. textile and apparel industry is critical to the economic national security of our Nation. The industry contributes almost $120 billion to our Nation's GDP. However, we are putting this industry and its workforce in harm's way if Customs does not continue to utilize all enforcement tools, such as seizures, detentions and special operations to help our Nation's industrial base. Folks, we need to get our priorities right here. We need to focus on preserving American jobs and American businesses. We have lost too many jobs. Too many companies have been hurt because of unfair Chinese trade practices and lack of proper enforcement. It's time to start fighting back.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3920, the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007. Textile workers in my district in North Carolina have been disproportionately affected by trade and have suffered a number of closings. I appreciate what Mr. McCrery is doing. I wish also that these two bills could have been better combined to take care of the advantages of both. As many of you know, I have introduced the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act, H.R. 1729, which seeks to expand the current TAA program to give greater resources to displaced workers. Earlier in the year, I asked Chairman Rangel to include the provisions in my bill in the comprehensive TAA reauthorization bill. I was pleased to see that many of these provisions made it into the legislation. Specifically, this bill expands TAA eligibility to include dislocated workers affected by a shift in production in which workers' jobs are moved to nations that have no preferential trade agreement with the U.S., including, particularly, China and others. It provides a strong increase in the health coverage tax credit. H.R. 3920 increases that credit from 65 to 85 percent. It increases TAA funding authorization from $220 million to $440 million. I was disappointed to see that H.R. 3920 did not include a key provision to provide automatic eligibility for dislocated textile and apparel workers. However, I was pleased to see that it does include a provision that allows for industry-wide certifications. This bill requires the Secretary of Labor to conduct industry-wide certifications when three petitions from firms in the same industry, such as the textile industry, are certified within a 6-month period. This doesn't provide automatic eligibility for dislocated textile workers, but it is a step in the right direction. Since I have been in Congress, I have pledged that our office would do all it could to assist displaced workers from the Eighth District in the State of North Carolina. I am pleased that many provisions of the reform act were included in the bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3920, the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007. The Trade Adjustment Assistance program is a good program. I have worked hard to expand this program and make it better in the past, but we must make additional changes to help our manufacturing workers in this increasingly competitive global marketplace. While it is good that these workers are going to get extended unemployment benefits and insured health care, we all know that an unemployment check is no substitute for a paycheck. But when workers are displaced, we want to give them the skills to successfully re-enter the workforce. As many of you know, I have introduced the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act, H.R. 1729, which seeks to expand the current TAA program to give greater resources to displaced workers. Early in the year, I asked Chairman Rangel to include the provisions in my bill into the comprehensive TAA reauthorization bill. I was pleased to see that many of these provisions made it into this legislation. Specifically, this bill: Expands TAA eligibility to include dislocated workers affected by a shift in productions in which the workers' jobs are moved to nations that have no preferential trade agreement with the U.S., including China and others. Provides a strong increase in the Health Coverage Tax Credit, HCTC. H.R. 3920 increases the tax credit from 65 percent to 85 percent. Increases TAA funding authorization from $220 million to $440 million. I was disappointed to see that H.R. 3920 did not include a key provision to provide automatic eligibility for dislocated textile and apparel workers; however, I was pleased to see that it does include a provision that allows for industry-wide certifications. This bill requires the Secretary of Labor to conduct industry wide certifications when three petitions from firms in the same industry, such as the textile industry, are certified within a 6-month period. This doesn't provide automatic eligibility for dislocated textile workers, but it is a step in the right direction. Mr. Speaker, I have enjoyed working with my good friend and colleague Congressman Mike McIntyre on this bill and North Carolina's Rural Center. The Rural Center is a non-profit that seeks to promote economic development throughout North Carolina's rural areas, and the Center has been a tremendous advocate for helping dislocated workers throughout the state. This bill resembles many of the recommendations that were published in the Rural Center's report, ``Gaining a Foothold--An Action Agenda to Aid North Carolina's Dislocated Workers.'' Since I have been in Congress, I have pledged that our office would do all it could to assist displaced workers from the 8th District and the State of North Carolina. I am extremely pleased that many of the provisions of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act were included in this bill to make it possible for these workers to receive expanded assistance and job training to help them to make a successful change in their career. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues as we debate and develop legislation that seeks to help our Nation's workforce adapt for new careers and opportunities.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate and praise an exceptional individual who has dedicated himself to serving our Nation and the men and women of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Gary Knight is a remarkable person, and I want to acknowledge his accomplishments and efforts as he retires on November 1, 2007 after over 40 years of public service. I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with him closely as Deputy Garrison Commander of Fort Bragg and am honored to call him my friend. A native of New York, New York, who grew up in rural Georgia, Gary Knight was assigned to Garrison Command as the Deputy Garrison Commander in 1998, where he continues to serve today. Gary's personal commitment to supporting our soldiers, Army civilians and families in the Fort Bragg community cannot be underestimated. As Deputy Garrison Commander at Fort Bragg, Gary Knight runs the day-to- day operations of the largest military installation in the world. Through his efforts and exceptional performance in support of the Army's finest warfighters, he has forged the Epicenter of the Universe into a more efficient Army installation, which is playing a central role in the global war against terrorists. Gary Knight is a veteran of the United States Air Force. His many awards include selection as the 1989 Fort Bragg Executive of the Year, the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Superior Civilian Service Award, the Commanders Award for Civilian Service, and the Achievement Medal For Civilian Service. Mr. Knight and his wonderful wife, Diana, an Army veteran and career Civil Servicemember, have four children, Gary, Bobby, Stacey and Melissa, and four grandchildren, Lindsey, Trey, Diana and Madiline. Madam Speaker, I wish Gary Knight the best on his upcoming retirement and thank him for all he has done for our soldiers and this great Nation.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, last April, Charlotte police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton were shot and killed in the line of duty as they responded to a call at an east Charlotte apartment complex. As a result of these tragic murders came the Blue Ribbon Campaign. Many miles of free blue ribbon were distributed throughout the greater Charlotte area. Jeff Katz, a former police officer who hosts the afternoon drive show on WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina, urged listeners to display the blue ribbons on cars and homes as well as on their persons to visibly support law enforcement. On his radio show, Katz asked listeners to donate to a special memorial fund for the families of the slain officers. In a matter of hours, Katz had pledges of $50,000. Those making pledges were directed to make their donations directly to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 9. I want to commend these officers and their families for their sacrifice and thank their brothers and sisters in law enforcement for their commitment to keep the city safe. I also want to thank Jeff Katz and countless citizens for their tremendous efforts in the Blue Ribbon Campaign responding to this tragedy. Out of this tragedy it was encouraging to see the tremendous outpouring of support from the whole community for our law enforcement personnel who risk their lives every day for all of us.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to Vicki Ann Summers, 59, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, who died on Monday, July 23, 2007, at her home. She was born February 19, 1948, in Stanly County to the late Rudy Lamar Summers and Margaret Ewing Lisk Summers. Vicki was a talented newspaper reporter with a long history in journalism who was most recently employed by The News-Journal in Hoke County. Throughout her career, she spent most of her time covering local government, but she also wrote human interest stories, covered the crime beat and was a photographer. She was recognized for her writings by the North Carolina Press Association. Vicki grew up in Fayetteville and attended Pine Forest High School before graduating from the North Carolina School of the Arts, which she attended on a full scholarship. She later attended Miami-Dade Junior College in Florida and East Carolina University. In early 1970, she was a director of public relations for Sheraton Hotels Corporation and the Fountain Bleu Resort in Miami Beach. Around the same time, she worked as a celebrity correspondent for the National Enquirer, as a lifestyle writer for the Miami News, and as a trends writer and garden editor for the Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Before coming to the News-Journal, she worked for the Harnett County News in Lillington and the Erwin Times in Erwin, North Carolina. Vicki was very diligent and really cared about her local community. She took great pride in reporting about the economic development of the county and downtown Raeford streets' redevelopment. A memorial service was held on Monday, July 30, at 7 p.m. at Northwood Temple in Fayetteville. She is survived by her mother, Margaret Ewing Pope, of Fayetteville, three sisters, Carla S. Merritt and Jan Hernandez, both of Fayetteville, and Lydia Aldridge of Raleigh, and one brother, Eric Summers of Linden.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 855 I inadvertently voted ``yes,'' but meant to vote ``no.''

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Title V Abstinence Education program. This program provides the abstinence message to teens, as directed by State law. State law requires that North Carolina schools include in their health education program a message aimed toward prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and ``abstinence until marriage education.'' Schools must stress the importance of parental involvement and abstinence from sex until marriage in disease prevention, as well as teach students refusal skills and strategies to handle peer pressure. Curricula must teach that a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding diseases transmitted by sexual contact. In fiscal year 2006, North Carolina received $1,248,963 in Federal title V funding. North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction receives the title V funds and uses teachers' salaries as in-kind contributions to meet the required Federal match. The Department of Public Instruction keeps 10 percent of the funds for administration; the remaining funds are given to 101 school districts and 14 charter schools throughout the State. In order to be eligible, schools must have at least one class of 7th through 12th graders, and schools must comply with the Federal A-H criteria for abstinence education. Funding is distributed based on the number of grades and students each school has; schools receive $333 per grade and $1.31 per student in grades 7 through 12. Schools are free to use the money at their discretion as long as they do not violate the Federal Government's eight-point definition of ``abstinence education.'' Staff at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction visit school sites on an as-needed basis for general monitoring. The people of North Carolina have made the choice to provide an abstinence message to their teens, and title V funds help them achieve this goal. I urge my colleagues to support reauthorization of title V and to oppose any provisions that could undermine the choice made by parents in North Carolina to support abstinence education.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: July 30, 2007--Rollcall vote 758, I would have voted ``yea;'' Rollcall vote 759, I would have voted ``nay;'' Rollcall vote 760, I would have voted ``nay;'' Rollcall vote 761, I would have voted ``nay;'' Rollcall vote 762, I would have voted ``nay.'' July 31, 2007--Rollcall vote 763, I would have voted ``yea;'' Rollcall vote 764, I would have voted ``yea;'' Rollcall vote 765, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. I thank the gentlelady. Let me just simply say that Congresswoman Foxx and Congressman Coble have done a fine job of outlining the accomplishments, which are absolutely remarkable, of the Appalachian Mountaineers. As a point of personal privilege, since my son-in-law is the wide receivers coach there, I want to add my congratulations, that my son- in-law, daughter and grandchildren are very much part of the Appalachian theme in Boone, which is a tribute to athletics and scholarship. People should gather, do things that we really care about and make a difference in peoples' lives. The seniors on this team never lost a home game the whole time, the 4 years that they were at Appalachian. Again it's about scholarship, it's about participation, it's about sportsmanship and these men and women, because a lot of men and women involved were a true tribute to the type of sportsmanship and scholarship that we all aspire to. My congratulations to the twice champions and soon-to-be three-time champion Appalachian Mountaineers.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the colonel for yielding. I appreciate Congressman Kline for his diligence in bringing this important matter to the floor. You and I have been friends for years. I have been here a little longer, but I say without reservation that probably the main motivation that you and I serve, aside from our specific constituents in our own districts, is our love for the military and our desire to do anything and everything we can to support them at all levels of service. I represent Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Special Operations Command at the epicenter of the universe in Fayetteville, North Carolina. And as I have spent time with these young men and women in all parts of the world, I am continuously astounded, amazed, and incredibly appreciative for what they do every day and every night of the year to keep us free. I say that simply as a little bit of a background to pick up on what Colonel Wilson and Dr. Gingrey have said in tribute to General Peter Pace. For 40 years, Pete Pace has absolutely signified, has identified, has personified, the greatest qualities of the American citizen-soldier- marine that anybody could absolutely personify. He served in virtually every theater for 40 years. He has exemplified Semper Fi. He has been faithful beyond belief to our country. He would still be serving, were it not for political correctness and cheap-shot politics, that has unfortunately become a part of what we do. I think General Pace said it better than anyone. When given the opportunity to resign, he said, ``Why would I leave my men on the battlefield? If you tell me my job is done, then my job is done.'' General Pace, your job has never been done. It will never be over, because the memory of your service will be extremely strong in all of our minds. Colonel, I would like to add a few more remarks. I feel it is highly inappropriate that the Senate majority leader would make disparaging remarks about General Pace and General Petraeus, the commander of our troops in Iraq and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mr. Speaker, General Petraeus and General Pace have had a tough job, and now they should not be fodder for political gain with a group of left-wing liberal activists, or anyone else for that matter. Gentlemen, scholars and warriors, they have devoted their lives to serving our Nation, and have done it well. What is most puzzling is that the Senate majority leader put his endorsement behind General Petraeus and trusted him to carry out our objectives in Iraq when he was confirmed on January 26 of this year. Obviously he felt General Petraeus was more than competent when he voted to confirm him. Mr. Speaker, I don't think anyone is content with the existing situation in Iraq, neither General Petraeus nor General Pace. General Petraeus, the commanding general, has cautioned it is too early to judge the success of Baghdad's security and stability. He informs us that the new security effort is just beginning to reach the full number on the ground, because they still have an additional brigade just coming into Iraq, General Petraeus is now in his third tour of duty in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, the majority leader and others have visited troops serving as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I have been there. I think it is good that lawmakers see the situation firsthand. But there is real arrogance in saying that someone with a commander's-level experience and General Pace's experience is out of touch with the situation in Iraq. As I said, I have visited Iraq many times and recognize General Petraeus as a military commander and as the expert he is on this issue. As he makes determinations regarding the security situation in Iraq, I will ask tough questions. If you are going to declare that he is out of touch or incompetent, then you have already made up your mind. You have already determined the outcome is going to be labeled a failure. Mr. Speaker, what message are we sending our troops when the leadership of the other body has already declared that their effort in this new security strategy is a failure before they have really begun? The 82nd Airborne from Fort Bragg in my home district is currently deployed to Iraq as part of the troop surge. These servicemembers and others are there at the tip of the spear. It is time for everyone to put partisan politics aside and stand together in solid support of our men and women in uniform. General Pace has had an incredible, distinguished career, serving in every capacity, and he deserves much better. His record merits thanks and a second term as chairman. Instead, he becomes another victim of the campaign of personal destruction. General Pace, thank you for Semper Fi. You have always been faithful. Nobody wants their troops to return home sooner or more safely than I do. They should not stay in Iraq one day longer than necessary. While we have soldiers on the ground fighting the war on terror for us over there, we should have no patience for cheap-shot political gamesmanship on this critical national security issue here at home. Colonel Kline, again, thank you. General Pace, thank you, and Lynn, and your family. We are ever grateful for your service.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. HAYES. I want to thank Chairman Edwards and the ranking member, my friend, Mr. Wicker, for allowing me the time. Mr. Chairman, I bring an amendment to the floor today because I feel the Base Realignment and Closure, BRAC, implementation process needs more funding than is being provided. Mr. Chairman, the fiscal year 2007 continuing resolution did not adequately meet the needs of BRAC implementation. Though we came back and put a $3.1 billion allocation for BRAC in the supplemental and we funded the President's fiscal year 2008 request in the bill, I do not believe we are doing all we should do in terms of funding this priority. I realize the President's budget and supplemental request were based on the best estimates at the time, but there is no doubt that these figures were low. The Department of Defense currently estimates it will take $30.8 billion from 2006 to 2011 to complete the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure round. As the chairman and the ranking member pointed out in this bill, the current BRAC estimate is $8 billion higher than that given by DOD only a year ago. I share the concern of the committee that even with this large increase, the projected funding estimate does not fully take into account construction and inflation costs and is lower than what will be actually required. My home district, Fort Bragg, the epicenter of the universe, is facing these miscalculations today. As part of the BRAC 2005 plan for Fort Bragg, it was named the Joint Mobilization Center; however, no funding to house servicemembers going through the process of mobilization was involved. The garrison is currently housing these mainly National Guard and Reserve members in the 82nd Airborne barracks, while the 82nd is deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. When the 82nd returns, Fort Bragg will be forced to house those going through the Joint Mobilization Center in World War II-era barracks which are completely inadequate. As part of the BRAC 2005 recommendations, Pope Air Force Base will be realigned to become part of Fort Bragg. This means that Bragg will take over the airfield at Pope, but there is no money currently programmed for the new control tower or the fire and rescue station that will be necessary to support carrying out this realignment. Fort Bragg and Pope are but one example of this trend. No doubt these kinds of BRAC- related, unplanned expenses for military construction needs are prevalent at installations across the country. The BRAC process was designed to increase the efficiency and increase the effectiveness of combat capability of our forces. Underfunding, even slightly, will affect our Nation's combat capability first. In the midst of this global war on terror, we need to be very careful not to underfund our combat capability, either indirectly or inadvertently. Although I greatly respect and appreciate the chairman and ranking member's funding of the Base Realignment and Closure program, I strongly believe that this crucial national security area needs more focus. We need to search for ways to implement it. To this end, my amendment reprograms $30 million from NATO Security Investment to the Department of Defense. As you know, the NSIP is designed to be our contribution to construction of support facilities at NATO bases. While this is important, NATO is forward deployed, and it does not always provide us with a swift return on our investments in terms of combat capability. In the past, NATO fought primarily from fixed bases in forward areas, but now it will operate from deployed locations. Infrastructure provided in NSIP, while important in previous NATO strategy, is somewhat less now. Conversely, BRAC and global rebasing moves direct American forces from Europe to home stations here in the U.S. Security requirements in Europe are decreasing while security requirements in the U.S., as well as readiness requirements at home stations, are going up as new units are reformed here at home. The money could be better spent in the BRAC program with a focus on improving our quick reaction and Special Operations Forces. It will increase our Nation's combat power, fighting the continued war against terrorists, and it will improve the combat power of NATO. I urge you to vote in favor of my amendment and join me in support of Base Realignment and Closure implementation. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

Mr. HAYES. I thank very much the chairman. People who know Chet Edwards and Robin Hayes clearly understand our love for the military. And I appreciate Ranking Member Wicker's comments. When all is said and done, they have tough decisions to make, but there is no place like home. Home is Fort Bragg, and I hope that the Members will support my amendment. Again, I thank Chairman Edwards and Ranking Member Wicker, and I look forward to working with them however this comes out, because this process is not going to end this morning or tomorrow. And again, I thank you for the time and look forward to working with you. I hope the membership will support my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. I want to thank the distinguished chairman of the committee and distinguished ranking member. I want to particularly commend my friend and colleague, Mike McIntyre, for his tireless effort in outlining in great and accurate detail the essence of the issues being presented here today. I want to thank my friend, Eni, again, for his effort and accurate description of the situation that we find ourselves in. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 65, the Lumbee Recognition Act. Since I have been a Member of Congress, I have worked hard to see that the Lumbee Tribe receives full Federal recognition, and I am very pleased that the House is considering this bill on the floor today. As you know, I am a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 65, which was sponsored by my friend and colleague, Congressman Mike McIntyre. Mike has been a strong and tireless advocate of the Lumbee Tribe for years, and it has been an honor and a pleasure, as always, to work with him on this and other issues as well. I know Senator Dole and Senator Burr are working hard to garner support for the Lumbee Recognition Act in the Senate, and I appreciate their leadership on the issue as well. The Lumbee Indian tribe has an extensive history in North Carolina, ranging back to 1724 on Drowning Creek, which is now referred to as the Lumber River. The Lumbee Tribe has been recognized by the State of North Carolina since 1885. The Lumbee Tribe has over 55,000 members and is the largest tribe in the State of North Carolina and the largest nonrecognized tribe in America. The Eighth District, which I serve, is home to many of the Lumbees who reside in North Carolina, primarily in Hoke, Scotland and Cumberland Counties. These important members of my constituency should be federally recognized so they are able to receive various Bureau of Indian Affairs and other Federal Government services and programs they rightly deserve. The heritage of the Lumbee tribe is as strong today as when first recognized by North Carolina. The tribe has every reason to be proud of the rich and valued cultural contribution they have given to our community. Today, the House is doing what the Federal Government should have done 51 years ago. We should pass this vital piece of legislation and give the Lumbee tribe the distinction of a federally recognized tribe. It's a very important step forward in the process, and I am hopeful that we will see the other body act favorably on this bill in the near future. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in strong support of the Lumbee Recognition Act.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Duncan for the time and wish to add my strong support to H.R. 1773, along with Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Oberstar, Mrs. Boyda, and want to thank the chairmen and ranking members of Transportation and Infrastructure for their leadership on this issue. I was proud to cosponsor Congressman Hunter's legislation, H.R. 1756, and am happy to support the revised H.R. 1773, the bill before us, which incorporates many of the strongest provisions from the Hunter bill. Safety of Americans and American highways must always take precedence over some obscure treaty obligation. As far as I am concerned, the safety of Americans and enforcing American law is far and away the number one priority here. It's commonsense legislation that would prevent Mexican motor carriers from operating in the United States beyond the commercial zones of the United States-Mexico border until the Secretary of Transportation unequivocally certifies several minimum standards: requiring English language proficiency and ensuring U.S. law enforcement personnel have the ability to access databases, verify driving records, identification, criminal history and risk to homeland security the same way the information is used to verify U.S. operators. We do not need 90,000-pound unguided missiles on our highways. Every day, the trucking industry ships more cargo in our Nation than any other mode of transportation. The American professionals behind these rigs and their equipment are subject to constant stringent safety standards. This bill ensures that at the very minimum Mexican truckers are subject to the same standards as our own operators. The safety of our citizens on our roadways must be our top priority, and I urge all Members to support H.R. 1773.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. I thank my friend, Congressman Diaz-Balart, for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule. We've all heard the saying that actions speak louder than words; and, once again, the rhetoric from the other side has turned out to be just that, rhetoric. You've heard all the talk about wanting to do everything we can to protect American jobs and keeping our manufacturing base. The majority actually had a chance to put their money where their mouth is by strengthening our national security and our domestic textile manufacturing base. My amendment was not allowed to come to the floor for debate today. Yes, actions speak louder than words, and the actions from yesterday prove that their talk is cheap because it's not backed up by meaningful action. Current language in the Department of Homeland Security authorization bill regarding domestic production would require a new domestic requirement for uniforms, protective gear, badges and identification cards. While this provision is a good first step, this approach does not reflect a stronger proposal contained in the bill that I put together with the textile industry which is called the Berry Amendment Extension Act. The legislation we put together and the amendment I offered yesterday would ensure that the sensitive uniforms worn by our agents are made in America with American-made components rather than outsourcing to China or Mexico. The problem with the bill in front of us today: The vast majority of the content of these uniforms can be imported from any country in the world, China, Pakistan, Mexico, you name it. Mr. Speaker, that's not what the Members of this House want. On December 15, 2005, we overwhelmingly supported a measure stating that Border Patrol uniforms should be made in the United States. Has anyone changed their mind? I sure haven't. These provisions are an extension of the Berry Amendment, which is a well-established domestic Department of Defense purchasing requirement that has been in practice for 70 years. And the amendment would ensure that we are complying with WTO. Make no mistake about it, I don't put legislation together trying to appease the WTO, but if your legislation is blatantly not compliant, which the existing DH bill appears to be, the end result will be lawsuits and countervailing duties. Put that all together, nothing gets done; and American jobs are lost. You all know I've been a strong advocate for strengthening the Berry Amendment. The Berry Amendment seeks to guarantee the United States has a ready mobilization base of U.S. manufacturers, a critical national security requirement. While the Berry Amendment is 70 years old, Department of Homeland Security is only 5, and this new Department is now home to many functions that are critical to our national security. I am extremely disappointed that my Democrat counterparts failed and missed a great opportunity to expand the successful requirement to include the Department of Homeland Security. It not only protects American jobs but provides the assurance that Department of Homeland Security officials who work on the front lines of national security are the only people wearing these sensitive uniforms. It is outrageous to think that our Border Patrol or airport security uniforms can be made in factories in China or Mexico where any worker could use these uniforms to impersonate U.S. agents. Mr. Speaker, my amendment has strong support from the National Council of Textile Organizations, American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition and the American Apparel and Footwear Association. Again, while the base bill has taken a step to add a new requirement for domestic production, I think we could have done and should have done much better. Let me briefly quote the American Apparel and Footwear Association: The Hayes amendment ``would provide more complete coverage for domestic sources than what is currently intended by H.R. 1684. By requiring that both inputs and manufacture of uniforms originate in the U.S., the Berry Amendment works to support the U.S. supply chain that provides materials for the production of clothing and individual equipment to the military.'' There are many Members, both Democrats and Republicans, who have been very supportive of the Berry Amendment in the past. In fact, I was particularly surprised when a member of the Rules Committee, who has been a co-sponsor of the bill, voted against allowing the amendment to come to the floor today. Folks, the U.S. textile and apparel industry is vital to the economic security and national security of our Nation. If the majority truly cared about preserving this crucial manufacturing sector, an industry that provides good-paying jobs to American citizens, then they would have supported this amendment in the Rules Committee and allowed it to come to the floor for a vote. Mr. Speaker, I ask Members to vote ``no'' on the previous question so we can allow this amendment to come to the floor for a vote. In my opinion, a vote for this rule as it stands is a vote against the U.S. textile industry, its workforce, and a vote against making our country more secure. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this rule.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and pay tribute to the Mount Pleasant High School Wrestling Team for the 2007 North Carolina High School Athletic Association State 1-A/2-A Championship Title win. Mount Pleasant completed an impressive run to the team championship title. The overall team record for the 2006-2007 season was 31-1. The Tigers also hold the 2007 titles of Cabarrus County Champions, Rocky River Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions, and 1-A/2-A Midwest Regional Champions. This season there were nine State qualifiers and eight State place winners on the team, the most in Mount Pleasant's high school history. In the title match, Mount Pleasant recorded 135.5 points to second- place Mayodan Dalton McMichael High School's 82 points. I am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication and scholarship of these young men from North Carolina's Eighth District. Congratulations, Coach Greg Hinson, Coach Randy Kaiser and the Mount Pleasant High School men's wrestling team on your successful season and State championship victory. Go Tigers.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for yielding me this time. I rise today to salute our Nation's special operations forces as a cosponsor honoring the 20th anniversary of United States Special Operations Command. As we continue to fight the global war on terror, special operations forces are making incredible contributions and playing a most essential role in winning this war. They truly are the tip of the spear. As co-chair of the Special Operations Caucus, I am very proud my district is home to Fort Bragg, which is home to Army Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School. But Fort Bragg is only part of the amazing force that comprises Special Operations. Members of the Navy, Air Force and the new Marine Corps Special Operations Commands also play critical roles in addressing the threats we face as a Nation. These quiet professionals are promoting freedom through their service around the world. During my visits with special operators here, at home and overseas, I have consistently been struck by their unwavering dedication, commitment and capability. The role of these special operations forces is only going to grow, and as they grow, it is vitally important that we keep the soft truths closely in mind: Humans are more important than hardware; quality is better than quantity; SOF forces cannot be mass produced; SOF cannot be easily created after emergencies occur. The service and sacrifice of the 53,000 members of the special operations community and that of their families are a major part of what creates and maintains the freedom we all enjoy. I am honored to be able to work on behalf of our special operators. I salute these quiet professionals in the United States Special Operations Command on its 20-year contribution to our national security. I thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry.