Robin Hayes

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to celebrate with my colleagues the American people. We in the majority have worked hard to empower people to create opportunities, to make jobs, to do things that turn America into a place where people can achieve their dreams. That is what is happening. It is also in stark contrast to the U.N., that sits on their collective duffs while people in the Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan need help. So, yes, we do celebrate America today because the majority will stand up and empower the American people to live that American Dream and to be part of making a better, freer, and safer world.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick), for yielding me the time, and I rise in strong support of this rule. It pains me today to think that we are even at this place in our Nation's history when we have to debate the importance of maintaining the bedrock of our country, the American family. As a fairly new grandfather myself, I have watched my children as new parents, and I am reminded that their children are each blessed to have a mother and father. They are uniquely suited, male and female, to invest in their lives. The legislation and the rule before us is not about discrimination or civil rights as some might claim. This is about the bedrock of our society, our community and our future. This is a big deal. Mr. Speaker, we need to rise in strong support across the board, both sides of the aisle, in bipartisan fashion. We support the American family.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I was detained on Thursday, July 15 and Monday, July 19, 2004. Had I been present I would have voted in the following manner: ``Yea'' on roll No. 385, ``nay'' on roll No. 386, ``yea'' on roll No. 387, ``nay'' on roll No. 388, ``nay'' on roll No. 389, ``nay'' on roll No. 390, ``yea'' on roll No. 391, ``yea'' on roll No. 392, and ``yea'' on roll No. 393.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American, Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. O'Neal, Jr. of the United States Air Force. LTC O'Neal was sent to Khobar, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate a maintenance training program of the Royal Saudi Air Force. On May 29, 2004, he had just finished eating breakfast at a coffee shop with a colleague, LTC James Broome III, when a group of terrorists attacked the civilian complex where they dined. Unarmed and in search of safety, LTC O'Neal and LTC Broome headed toward the roof of a nearby building. On the way, the two soldiers came across four civilian contractors who were doing construction on the third floor of the building. LTC O'Neal and LTC Broome informed the workers of the terrorist attack below and safely escorted the civilians to the roof, where the men barricaded the door with a tool box and rocks. Amid the turmoil and gunfire, LTC O'Neal had the presence of mind to use his cell phone to gather information from other Americans he knew were in the complex and relay it to his operations center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The six men remained on the roof, waiting out the attack, for nearly twelve hours with only one water cooler they brought from the third-floor construction site. During that time, the soldiers rationed only one sip of water to each man every hour, in temperatures that reached 120-degrees Fahrenheit. Once the group on the roof was told the terrorist forces had been isolated in another building of the compound, LTC O'Neal led the group down to the ground floor. At the bottom of the stairs, LTC O'Neal was approaching a steel door that opened up to the street when one remaining terrorist fired a machine gun at him, hitting him four times and also injuring LTC Broome. LTC O'Neal was shot in the left arm, right shoulder, right thigh, and in the torso. Crawling into a space under the stairway, LTC O'Neal remained hidden for 1\1/2\ before finally being assisted by a Saudi defense official. American soldiers like LTC O'Neal put themselves in harm's way on a daily basis to prosecute the Global War on Terrorism and to protect the freedoms and ideals that we as a nation cherish. For his bravery and valor, and for the wounds he received in action on May 29, 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. O'Neal, Jr. will be awarded the Purple Heart. It gives me great pride to know that LTC O'Neal will be awarded this meritorious distinction. The Purple Heart is the oldest presently used military decoration in the world, dating back to its first use in the American Revolution. In the summer of 1782, General George Washington was ordered by the Continental Congress to cease granting commissions or advances in rank to soldiers in recognition of outstanding valor and merit. Shortly after, in his General Orders of August 7, 1782, General Washington directed that ``whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or binding.'' He concluded, ``The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all. This order is also to have retrospect to the earliest stages of the war, and to be considered a permanent one.'' Specifically a combat decoration, it gives me great pride to know that LTC O'Neal will receive this high honor, the Purple Heart, on August 4, 2004. LTC O'Neal embodies the spirit of those who serve and fight to keep America the greatest light of freedom the world has ever known. I thank LTC O'Neal for his brave service and selfless sacrifice. He is a patriot and a hero. May God bless LTC O'Neal and his family, and may God bless America.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick Motorsports was started by my good friend Rick Hendrick in 1984 for the purpose of entering a single car into a single stock car race. Over the next twenty years, Hendrick Motorsports grew into the racing empire it is today, supporting four entries in NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series and one entry in the Busch Series every week. Since its inception, Hedrick Motorsports teams have secured five NASCAR Winston Cup now Nextel Cup Championships, three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series titles, and one NASCAR Busch Series crown, totaling more than 100 victories in twenty years of racing. All Hendrick race cars are completely constructed at a 62-acre complex in my home of Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Hendrick Motorsports provides employment to more than 400 Cabarrus County residents. They work not only in the production of racing cars and engines at the main complex but also in the many other daily operation activities of Hendrick Motorsports, such as managing HendrickMotorsports.com, maintaining the 15,000 square-foot Hendrick museum, marketing, public relations, sponsor services, licensing, and merchandising. The success of Hendrick Motorsports on the race track has led to the opening of the Hendrick Automotive Group, which consists of nearly 60 car dealerships across the country. These dealerships contribute both to their local communities, through donations to local charities, and to the Nation as a whole by participating in The Hendrick Marrow Program. Created in 1997, the Hendrick Marrow Program seeks to recruit donors to the National Marrow Donor Program and provides financial assistance to the patients who receive these live-saving transplants. As a direct result of the Hendrick Marrow Program's efforts, more than 60,000 potential volunteer donors have joined the National Marrow Donor Program Registry and more than $500,000 have been used to assist patients with transplant-related costs, such as lodging and post- transplant prescriptions. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to thank Hendrick Motorsports for making Cabarrus County ``The Center of American Motorsports'' and to congratulate them for twenty years of achievement both on and off the track.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, let me add my thoughts to those of my friend from Indiana (Mr. Burton). What a great American Sam Johnson is. We cannot do enough to recognize his service. I appreciate that being included. Just briefly, let me say that on the issue of military housing, I have got a plaque on my wall from the National Military Family Association for working with the families of our military. One of the great joys this year and the year before has been how all of the people in this body, men and women, Republicans and Democrats, have worked together so well with our chairman and the chairman of the full committee to address the issues of housing for our soldiers. So as I have got that plaque on my wall, as I think about Fort Bragg and the epicenter of the universe and all those fine soldiers at Pope Air Force Base and around our country, I am just proud of our chairman and our Congress for working together across every imaginable line to do everything that we can to provide the best possible housing. We have done that. It is under way. I am extremely confident that we will find a way to make sure that that happens. I appreciate that. I appreciate our soldiers.

Mr. HAYES. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. HAYES. Reclaiming my time, I could not agree more. We will find a way. It will be done. I thank our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coasties.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I would simply say hogwash to what the previous speaker said. I am in strong opposition to the Flake amendment. This is an amendment that would block funding from the Agriculture Department to administer a tobacco buyout. The amendment is not fair for our tobacco farmers and quota holders in North Carolina and across America. As we all know, the House recently passed the American Jobs Creation Act, which included a tobacco buyout. The most important factor, in fact, is not a new tax or a tax increase and it is not about smoking. We are simply moving 5 cents of the existing tax per pack to pay for a buyout that is badly owed to growers and quota holders whose quotas have been badly reduced. Mr. Chairman, when I think of a buyout, I think of the folks in the eighth and other districts like Ricky Carter, Junior Wilsa, and Ester Smith, for people who make a living with tobacco and support their families and put their children through college. If my colleagues support this amendment, they will take away my constituents' ability to continue to do this in the future. I ask all of my colleagues to vote against the Flake amendment, because we are getting rid of a government program and saving that money. Vote against the amendment.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank my good friend and chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), who spends every waking hour and then some doing everything he can to make sure our fine men and women in uniform have the support, the equipment, and the backing they need. So we are all owing a debt of gratitude to our chairman and to our good friend, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson). He and I have a lot of common friends in this fight. The gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) represents Ft. Jackson, a fine training facility, Parris Island, Marine Beaufort Air Station. Every time I visit my troops at Ft. Bragg or Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina, I am constantly, continuously and consistently amazed at the attitude, the ability, the commitment, and the performance of these men and women who ask but little in return except the support of this Congress and the American people. I have been to Iraq on a number of occasions. I was with the first group that went in. What our soldiers, sailors, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guardsmen put up with in terms of conditions, the things that they did not have but still came through, and won the fight in a remarkably short period of time with virtually no collateral damage to civilians and to other property is an incredible tribute to the servicemen and women that serve this country. President Bush said something in Istanbul, Turkey just a week ago, and that was, In order to have justice, you had to have democracy. What our men and women in uniform are doing is providing for the Iraqi people and other surrounding nations the opportunity to see, to taste and to experience the democracy that equals freedom and ultimately justice. That is what we want for people all around the world, the privileges that we enjoy and, unfortunately, take for granted. As I have been to Iraq and as I have visited our soldiers in training facilities, the amount of time and energy and effort that they put into making America safe, secure, and ultimately free is something that we can never repay. But I think for us to stand up and to stand tall and talk about the things that they are doing, whether it be in Fallujah, Baghdad, Najaf, Nasiriyah, and Afghanistan, these men and women 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, are out there doing the things that we call on them to do, tirelessly, without any idea of selfishness. I cannot help but remember Daniel Metzdorf. I was in Iraq just a couple of months ago and was there with our good friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) from the other side of the aisle and the minority leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), and they too share our respect for what they saw these men and women doing. As we were headed back we stopped in Germany and visited our hospital at Landstuhl. We saw a number of folks, but the one I particularly remember because he looked like my son, Bob, as I walked in the door was Daniel Metzdorf of the 82nd Airborne. He had lost his leg. His concern was for the rest of his team. As he came back and has recovered, been at Walter Reed, he is a native of Florida but is back at Ft. Bragg now, his biggest concern was that his squad leader was not given sufficient recognition for the heroism that he exhibited in saving other members of his team when they were under attack by the enemy and the terrorists. So as I think of him and the countless other men and women, a couple of whom the gentleman has referred to in those citations, I think we must continue to remind ourselves of how important these sacrifices are. And these are not sacrifices made at the whim of an individual or a Congress or a group of people. If we look at the record, the record is very clear from the past administration, from news media who now seem to have an extremely difficult time getting the facts right, reporting the actual conduct and the progress and wonderful things that our troops are doing for the people in Iraq, but as we look at that it is very clear and consistent, we have no choice. If we were to live up to the responsibilities of being a free and freer Nation, then we had to step in and stop these terrorists abroad before they could come to us. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to bringing a few more of these facts to light as we move on, but without dwelling too long at this time, I would like to turn over to a dear friend, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson). And we have supplied the gentleman with Abe Turner from Ft. Bragg to look after Ft. Jackson. So we are definitely a team and we work well together.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would yield, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) and I were in on the same meeting, and that was a wonderful opportunity. What he and I heard in terms of the appreciation of the Iraqi people, the desire of their people and their government to be free, the incredible gratitude that they feel towards our soldiers. Does the gentleman read anything like that in our national media? Does the gentleman hear that on the news at night? What my colleague and I heard both there and in Iraq, we do not hear it. That is what the people of America need to hear and see, because that is true. That is what is happening in Iraq. That is the contribution. That is how the people who are receiving this help, particularly from men and women in uniform, that is the true response.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, just a couple of quick points. Again, the gentleman referred to the Iraqi businessmen whose hands were cut off. They came here to the Capitol of the United States of America and had a press conference. I did not see anything about that anywhere near the front page, simply to make the point.

Mr. HAYES. The issue of weapons of mass destruction, let me for just a moment quote what the administration said about weapons of mass destruction. The New York Times reported November 14, 1997, in a meeting that the White House was deciding to prepare the country for war. According to the Times, the decision was made to begin a public campaign to do interviews on the Sunday morning television news programs to inform the American people of the dangers of biological warfare and Saddam Hussein. During this time, The Washington Post reported that President Clinton specifically directed Secretary of Defense Cohen to raise the profile of biological and chemical threat. Again, I point out, this was the former administration, not because of partisan politics but because of the unanimous consensus that existed about the weapons of mass destruction. On November 16, Cohen made a widely reported appearance on ABC's ``This Week'' in which he placed a 5-pound bag of sugar on the table and stated that that amount of anthrax would destroy at least half the population in Washington, D.C. Cohen began his November 25 briefing on the ``Pentagon Report'' by showing a picture of a Kurdish mother and child that had been gassed by Saddam's Army. A bit later, standing beside the gruesome image, he described death on a mass scale: one drop of vx nerve agent on your finger will produce death in a matter of just a few moments. Now, the U.N. believes that Saddam may have produced as much as 200 tons of vx; and this would, of course, be theoretically enough to kill every man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth. He then sketched a massive chemical attack on an American city, on and on and on. Steven Hayes has written, by the way, no kin of mine. So I am not promoting my relative's book. Not a relative. I want to make that clear for the record.

Mr. HAYES. That is probably true. The book is very accurate, very concise, and there is also a condensed 7- or 8-page article on where the connection between terrorists around the world was so clearly made and tied into Saddam Hussein, his government, and their effort to promote, to build, and to harbor terrorists. So clear. So if anybody has any doubt in their mind, simply read that article, which is in the Weekly Standard, or read the book. The evidence is clear. It cannot be denied.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, as we sit here and call attention to our incredible allies, I think that we may have forgotten momentarily the Italians, who have been incredibly courageous, along with the Hungarians, the South Koreans, and the list, as the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) pointed out, is 32-plus members. My colleague was talking about these agents, biological weapons, chemicals, but what I mentioned was the previous administration in the 1990s. What has happened in June 24, of 2004? Charles Duelfer, head of the Iraq weapons inspection team, announced his group had uncovered at least 10 more artillery shells filled with banned chemical weapons from the regime of Saddam Hussein. I have not read that prominently in any paper or heard it on the nightly news. Duelfer announced that his team is finding new WMD evidence almost every day, and I quote. ``A roadside bomb, discovered May 15, contained chemicals that when combined formed sarin gas. All such weapons were supposed to have been destroyed. Chemical munitions were probably stored with conventional arms at some of the thousands of weapon depots located throughout Iraq. Military officials have uncovered some 8,700 weapon depots and continue to find new ones, and estimate the weapon depots in Iraq contain between 650,000 and 1 million tons of arms.'' How do you kill 400,000 people and not refer to weapons of mass destruction? It defies common sense.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Hawaii will yield.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to call attention to our friends here, and anyone watching, that my first real experience with the Committee on Armed Services was with the gentleman from Hawaii. We were dealing with an issue in Bosnia which demanded bipartisan attention, and when it comes to supporting the men and women in uniform, the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) is there. He will be there with you. So I thought it was appropriate to call attention to a very fine memory, of many that I have, of the gentleman from Hawaii.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the effort that the chairman has put into that because a strong industrial defense base is the key to our future. With economic security and good jobs in this country, then we are able financially to support our wonderful military. A couple of quick things. President Bush has stood tall for freedom in America and freedom around the world. He said, ``Democracy is the surest way to build a society of justice. If justice is the goal, them democracy is the answer.'' President Bush has stood tall for our troops in Iraq. What do the Iraqis say about what is happening? Well, 68 percent has confidence in the interim Iraqi Government, and 79 percent think the interim government will make things better for the Iraqis.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, President Bush stood up for freedom, as well he should. Just a couple of weeks ago at President Reagan's funeral here in Washington, I had the unique privilege of standing in line waiting to walk by the casket of former President Reagan with Mikhail Gorbachev. They called Reagan a cowboy; but Mikhail Gorbachev, his adversary at that time, was at his funeral saying that that man stood up for freedom, and he won the Cold War, just like President Bush is standing up and winning the war on terrorism and our troops are making that happen.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule that will provide consideration for H.R. 4613, the defense appropriations bill. This legislation focuses on force protection and personnel benefits for the soldiers and airmen in my district at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base. The ability to adequately execute the mission for which they are called and to care for their families are the two issues that are second to none. I believe this legislation makes significant progress in these areas and will enable our men and women in uniform to continue successfully prosecuting the war on terrorism. My trip to Iraq this past March, the second I made, did nothing but reinforce my admiration and pride in our Nation's warfighters. These brave men and women serve with honor and distinction as they have liberated a Nation. Troops from the 8th District of North Carolina have been at the very tip of the spear that ended the dark reign of Saddam Hussein and continue to lead the way in post-conflict resolution in Iraq and Afghan span. This legislation first and foremost takes care of our most vital asset of our military: Our people. It provides every service member with an across the board 3.5 percent pay raise. It also includes $2.3 billion for individual soldier equipment and critical force protection requirements. It also funds and restructures Army brigades which will be rotated into theater. I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight two very important projects at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. H.R. 4613 funds the completion of the Optoelectronics Center, a project which will focus on the development of fiberoptic devices and interconnects necessary for chip-to-chip and board-to-board optical connection needs to achieve the high-speed, low-powered devices. This will enable miniaturization and integration of optical transceivers and sensors. Additionally, H.R. 4613 provides funds for superlattice nanotechnology that will enable a next generation of wide band, high power, and digital systems to become a reality. I appreciate the committee's recognition of the great work and research that UNCC performs and look forward to bringing these technological advances to the battlefield. Currently about 3,500 members of North Carolina's National Guard are deployed in support of operation Iraqi freedom. It is the largest deployment in our State's history. And it is vital that we take every measure to care for their families while they are away. I am happy that this legislation funds efforts designed to help ease some of the hardships of these families. Mr. Speaker, it is a gross injustice and misfortune that it took the tragedy on September 11 to focus the public eye on the needs for a more robust defense budget. I feel the legislation in front of us today will help our troops accomplish their mission, establishing a clear and strong course of support for our troops and continue to successfully prosecute the war on terror. I encourage my colleagues to send a message loud and clear to our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, coasties and terrorists that we will strongly support our troops and give them the resources necessary to perform the mission at hand. I urge strong support of this legislation.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker it is my honor to rise today to congratulate the Central Cabarrus High School Softball team on their victory at the 4A NCHSAA Softball Tournament on June 6th. This is Cabarrus High School's fourth state championship win. The sensational Lady Vikings captured the state championship title in 1993, 2000, 2001 as 3A members and now in 2004 as 4A members. Coached by Monte Sherrill, the team had an astounding season with an overall record of 32-1. The Lady Vikings claimed their title by beating Cape Fear with a final score of 1-0. The team is now ranked 7th nationally by USA Today and the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association. Gina Allen was declared the Most Valuable Player in the tournament due to her outstanding job on the pitcher's mound. Allen tossed a five-hit shutout against Cape Fear to lead the team to the title. The Lady Vikings have reached this level of success by extreme hard work and dedication. Most of the players stay in shape by continuing to play year-round on competitive traveling teams. Cabarrus County has done an excellent job of creating recreational opportunities beyond the high school seasons. Participating in individual and team sports can offer tremendous social advantages while challenging a young person physically and fostering honest competition. There is also evidence that sports can increase a student's self-esteem and academic performance. Sports allow teenagers to take on leadership roles, handle adversity, and improve their time management skills. The Lady Vikings of Cabarrus County have succeeded in pushing themselves to be outstanding athletes and have stood up to the challenges placed in front of them. They have come together as a team and shown their peers that commitment and self-sacrifice can lead to success. I congratulate them and wish them continued success next year. We are all proud of their accomplishments.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the good folks of my hometown of Concord, North Carolina as we have been selected for the 2004 All-America City Award. It has been my distinct honor to represent the people of Concord since I was first elected to represent the 8th Congressional District of North Carolina. This opportunity is especially dear to me because this is my home town and where much of my family still resides. In fact, my family has called Concord home for centuries, and we have had the privilege of watching our community grow. Concord personifies the term, ``Southern Hospitality,'' and is home to some of the most engaging, welcoming, and civically responsible citizens in the state of North Carolina. Through the close relationships I have forged with the citizens of Concord, and the pride I have in this community, it is truly an honor for me to highlight this great city today. Because of Concord's hard work, the rest of America is getting to see the positive spirit of accomplishment that I have been fortunate to witness my entire life. The All-America City Award is a 55-year old program sponsored by the National Civic League that recognizes civic excellence. The Award is given annually to 10 communities that exemplify and display a positive spirit of grassroots involvement and collaborative problem solving in an effort to better their community. Concord exhibits the American spirit of hard work and cooperation as we seek to identify and meet community-wide challenges. Concord is a community where citizens, businesses, volunteers, and government officials work together to address issues that are vitally important to all our citizens. Concord should take pride in the fact that we have been chosen by this national organization for our hard work and achievement. Truly, Concord is a great example for other communities to emulate. To qualify for the All-American City Award, Concord representatives first had to submit a detailed application highlighting the city's three most pressing challenges. They are: addressing the medical needs of the uninsured and underinsured, eliminating substandard housing in the community, and extending the mentoring and civic responsibility of the Boys and Girls Club of Concord. Programs such as the Community Care Plan, Cabarrus Housing Partners, and the Boys and Girls Club of America have been designed and implemented to ensure these afore mentioned areas are addressed. I am proud to represent such a fine community where the citizens come together to solve problems at a local level rather than waiting on someone else to fix things. A wise man once said that there are three types of people in this world: those who watch what happens, those who make things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Rest assured, the people of my home town, Concord, North Carolina are people who make good things happen. It is my honor and privilege to represent these good folks, and I am thrilled that the National Civic League recognized the City of Concord's success by awarding us the All-America City Award.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of Concord, North Carolina as they compete for the 2004 All-America City Award. It has been my distinct honor to represent the people of Concord since I was first elected to represent the 8th Congressional District of North Carolina. This opportunity is especially dear to me because this is my home town and where much of my family still resides. In fact, my family has called Concord home for decades, and we have had the privilege of watching this community grow. Concord personifies the term, ``Southern Hospitality,'' and is home to some of the most engaging, welcoming, and civically responsible citizens in the state of North Carolina. Through the close relationships I have forged with the citizens of Concord, and the pride I have in this community, it is truly an honor for me to highlight this great city today. Because of Concord's hard work, the rest of America is getting to see the positive spirit of accomplishment that I have been fortunate to witness my entire life. The All-America City Award is a 55-year-old program sponsored by the National Civic League that recognizes civic excellence. The Award is given annually to 10 communities that exemplify and display a positive spirit of grassroots involvement and collaborative problem solving in an effort to better their community. The current nominees, including Concord, exhibit the American spirit of hard work and cooperation as they seek to identify and correct community-wide challenges. Concord is a community where citizens, businesses, volunteers, and government officials work together to address issues that are vitally important to their citizens. Concord should take pride in the fact that they are in contention for recognition by this national organization for their hard work. Truly, Concord is a great example for other communities to emulate as other communities seek to overcome the many challenges that face all communities, large or small. To qualify for the All-American City Award, Concord representatives first had to submit a detailed application highlighting the city's three most pressing challenges. They are: addressing the medical needs of the uninsured and underinsured, eliminating substandard housing in the community, and extending the mentoring and civic responsibility of the Boys and Girls Club of Concord. Programs such as the Community Care Plan, Cabarrus Housing Partners, and the Boys and Girls Club of America have been designed and implemented to ensure these aforementioned areas are addressed. I am pleased to represent such a fine community where the citizens come together to solve problems at a local level rather than waiting on someone else to fix things. A wise man once said that there are three types of people in this world: those who watch what happens, those who make things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Rest assured, the people of my home town, Concord, North Carolina are people who make good things happen. It is my honor and privilege to represent these good folks and I am hopeful the National Civic League will recognize the City of Concord's success by awarding them the All-America City Award.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the meritorious service of Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Delaney to our Army and our nation. Lieutenant Colonel Delaney will soon complete 23 years of service and has distinguished himself as an outstanding American Soldier I have worked with LTC Delaney during the past several years during his time in the Army Office of Legislative Liaison and have had the privilege to travel with him. He will retire on August 1, 2004. Most recently, LTC Delaney served as a congressional liaison for the United States Army. This position holds great importance as these individuals are often the ``voice'' of the Army for Congressional Members. I have often asked LTC Delaney for his advice, thoughts, opinions or help matters concerning the US Army, and he has always provided the highest level of professionalism and service to me. Perhaps this assignment was preordained, however, as Lieutenant Colonel Delaney's wife, Susan, and mother-in-law, Shirley, both served on the staffs of several Senators. Over his 23 years of selfless service, Lieutenant Colonel Delaney served in many command and staff positions worldwide. As a junior officer, he stood at the forefront of freedom during the Cold War in Germany and earned his wings as an aviator, qualifying on a variety of rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Lieutenant Colonel Delaney commanded an aviation unit based at Fort Belvoir. Despite the wide dispersion of his unit throughout the combat theater, they were able to successfully accomplish their mission due to his exceptional and inspirational leadership. Lieutenant Colonel Delaney has since served in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility throughout the continental United States. Lieutenant Colonel Delaney's work as a legislative liaison and as the Chief of the Programs Division enabled the Army to provide this Congress the information we need to accomplish our constitutional duties. His efforts have been exceptional and noteworthy in working with Congress during a critical time as the Army undertook Transformation, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and during our current efforts with the Global War on Terrorism. Throughout this critical time Lieutenant Colonel Delaney has fostered a personal relationship between members of Congress and the United States Army. Lieutenant Colonel Delaney represents the epitome of what the Army seeks in a congressional liaison and the country expects from our officers. His dedication to soldiers, commitment to excellence, and performance of duty have been extraordinary throughout his career. As he pursues new endeavors and challenges, I wish LTC Mike Delaney well and ask God to bless him and his family.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank my dear friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), for his leadership tonight in honoring such a wonderful man. President Ronald Reagan was a good man who became a great President. His leadership has inspired me throughout my career in public service, as I am sure Reagan inspired many folks presently serving in the public arena. One of my favorite Ronald Reagan quotes comes from his 1986 State of the Union address, and I quote: ``Government growing beyond our consent had become a lumbering giant, slamming shut the gates of opportunity, threatening to crush the very roots of our freedom. What brought America back? The American people brought us back, with quiet courage and common sense; with undying faith that in this Nation under God the future will be ours, for the future belongs to the free.'' That is one of my favorite Reagan quotes for a number of reasons. First, it addresses one of the main reasons I switched parties. Like President Reagan, I began my career not as a Republican but as a Democrat; and, like Reagan, I switched parties because I felt that ``big government was slamming shut the gates of opportunity, threatening to crush the very roots of our freedom.'' Ronald Reagan's conservative principles, put into successful action, changed our Nation's attitude on the role of government and personal responsibility. Without President Reagan, there would not have been a bipartisan effort to reform welfare and end that vicious cycle of government dependency. The other thing I like about this quote is that it reveals so much about the character of Ronald Reagan: his unbridled optimism, his belief in the American people, and his humbleness. He was too humble to take sole credit for the United States' return to greatness, even though had his measures failed he would have assumed the blame. Instead, he gave the credit to the American people, because he believed in the American people. One of his favorite quotes was: ``There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.'' And he lived that quote on a daily basis. One of the other things I admired about Ronald Reagan was his steadfast determination to stand up to communist aggression. Even though he knew such a determined view may not be popular, he never backed away from his firm belief that communism was wrong. In 1982, speaking before the British Parliament, Reagan said, and I quote: ``It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history. It is the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history, as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle self-expression of the people.'' No truer words have been spoken. I believed it then, and I believe it now. We all saw Reagan's words validated when the Soviet Union fell apart shortly after President Reagan left office. Finally, even when facing a devastating diagnosis, President Reagan still delivered the news with his typical optimism for America and his belief for the American people. On November 5, 1994, he wrote a letter to the American people announcing that he had Alzheimer's disease: ``In closing, let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your President. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that day may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.'' I do believe that the United States does face a bright dawn. And President Reagan and his leadership can take a large part of the credit for that fact. While I am saddened that President Reagan is no longer with us, I rejoice knowing that he has met his maker, and his maker is looking him in the eye and saying, President Reagan, the Gipper, you are a good and faithful servant. He is now in a far better place. He is looking down on the country and the people that he loved. May God bless and protect America and the vision that was Ronald Reagan's for us and our future; that the freedom belong to the free.