Sam Johnson

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Sherry Mullins, an outstanding teacher and community leader from Garland, TX. Ms. Mullins has been named one of eight national finalists for the Richard T. Farrell Teacher of Merit Award in the field of history. This annual award is presented to a teacher who develops and uses creative teaching methods to enhance students' interest in history. In her tenure as a teacher at North Garland High School, Ms. Mullins has consistently helped her students achieve at the highest levels in the National History Day Program. National History Day is a yearlong program in which students explore historical topics related to an annual theme. In preparing her students for the program, Ms. Mullins rose above the call of duty and equipped her students for success. Mr. Speaker, I find it encouraging that there are extraordinary educators in this country like Ms. Mullins who work faithfully shaping the minds of our students. I hope you and our colleagues will join me in recognizing Ms. Mullins for her commitment to educating the potential leaders of tomorrow.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my support for the legislation introduced today by my colleague from Georgia. I am a cosponsor of all four of these bills on the floor today, and I believe they will improve the workplace safety level, the playing field for small business, and ensure that employers and employees are treated fairly. H.R. 742 encourages OSHA to really look at the merits of the case before it brings unnecessary enforcement actions to court against small businesses. Current law already does allow small business owners to recover attorneys' fees if they successfully challenge a citation; but in the real world of OSHA, it simply does not work for small businesses. Case in point: in the last 24 years, small business owners have been able to recover costs from OSHA only 38 times. In 2004, only three employers were awarded attorneys' fees, despite more than 86,000 citations issued by OSHA. H.R. 742 also limits its scope to small businesses with less than 100 employees or less than $7 million in net worth. This assures targeted and meaningful relief to those businesses that are least able to cope with these hefty and ongoing litigation costs. This reform is necessary for the vitality of America's small businesses and the job security of America's workforce. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, I have seen these bills through the committee and the full House in the past, and I look forward to their passing again today. Again, I applaud my colleague from Georgia for his hard work on behalf of American small business owners and their employees.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, when my constituents find out that Congress has been spending Social Security money on programs other than Social Security, they are mad. That is why I am working to put an end to this immoral practice. In the past, Congress has not had the discipline to keep its hand out of the Social Security cookie jar. Our proposal says that future Congresses cannot get their hands on the money in the first place. My commonsense solution is simple: make sure that Congress spends Social Security taxes on Social Security. When workers can save part of their Social Security money in a personal retirement account with their name on it, Congress will have to cut spending from other bloated programs. Our bill, the Growing Real Ownership for Workers Accounts Act, grows accounts and is an achievable first step toward sending the Social Security surplus back where it belongs, in the pockets of hardworking Americans. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this bill today.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year the American Tract Society is celebrating the 180th Anniversary of its founding in 1825. There is no doubt that the American Tract Society has played a pivotal role in advancing Christian family values in this country. Not only does American Tract Society have a widespread and profound impact on the current moral climate of the United States, but its tracts deliver a message of hope worldwide. The American Tract Society was founded to address the need for solid Biblical teaching and evangelism in the wide-open, ever-expanding Western frontier of our country. Too often, frontier families found themselves without any access to a church and without vital Christian fellowship. The Society was born out of this profound need and quickly became the largest publishing house in the United States, publishing around 8 million pieces in 1860. The American Tract Society has continued to grow and evolve based on the changing world around it. While the society holds steadfastly to the timeless and unchanging quality of Christ's Gospel message, they recognize the need to remain relevant in their medium to maximize the impact. And so in this Anniversary year, I congratulate the American Tract Society and challenge them to continue spreading God's message of salvation to a world that desperately needs it.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is a tremendous honor to salute our soldiers of tomorrow--the service academy bound students of the Third District of the Texas. This district of Texas is home to some of the best and the brightest young people. I'm truly confident that they are ready to join the premier military force of the world. It is a privilege to send such fine young people on to our Nation's prestigious service academies. We lift them and their families up in prayer for their future service and sacrifices. I am so very proud of them. God bless them and God bless America. I salute them. The appointees and their hometowns follow. Third Congressional District Service Academy Appointments United States Military Academy--Morgan Peterson--Plano, Texas--Plano Senior High School; Jessica Shurtz--Parker, Texas--Plano East Senior High School; Chris Villarreal-- Allen, Texas--Allen High School. United States Naval Academy--Douglas McDonald--Plano, Texas--Plano East Senior High School; Andrew Treat--Dallas, Texas--Trinity Christian Academy. United States Air Force Academy--Mitchell Himes--Lucas, Texas--Allen High School; Benaiah Lozano--Garland, Texas-- Garland High School; John Schrader--Murphy, Texas--Plano East Senior High School; Mitchell Woods--Lucas, Texas--Allen High School. United States Merchant Marine Academy--Donald Finnie-- Wylie, Texas--Wylie High School.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I love freedom, and I think Americans should have the freedom to fly whenever they want to, wherever they want to and on whatever airline they want to. Right now that is against the law in Dallas because of the Wright amendment. This outdated law restricts flights out of Dallas Love Field to just those States near Texas. It is not the Federal Government's job to dictate to passengers how, when and where they can fly. That is why the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling) and I introduced the Right to Fly Act. George Will noted Ronald Reagan's take on government saying, ``Washington's approach to intervening in industries is if it moves, tax it; if it keeps moving, regulate it; if it stops moving, subsidize it.'' Will continues, ``Regarding airlines, the policy is if they are failing, keep them flying; if they are prospering, burden them.'' Well, the Wright amendment has outlived its usefulness, and it is time to repeal it. I urge my colleagues to free Love Field and to cosponsor the Right to Fly.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, this week we have heard people of all types arguing vehemently either for or against embryonic research. It is hard for lay people to cut through all this scientific mumbo- jumbo, so let me ask a common-sense question: At what point is it not okay for researchers to create life in order to destroy it? Some argue that we should destroy human embryos to try to save an existing life. That is just totally immoral. And it is not the government's place to fund destruction of those embryos with taxpayer money. What makes America the strongest Nation on earth is that we protect those who cannot protect themselves. I commend the President for his promise to veto H.R. 810.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1499) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction to members of the Armed Forces serving in a combat zone for contributions to their individual retirement plans even if the compensation on which such contribution is based is excluded from gross income, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1499.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of backing our troops, of backing them to the hilt, with the Heroes Earned Retirement Opportunities Act, or the HERO Act, H.R. 1499, introduced by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx). As you know, people may contribute to $4,000 a year to the popular individual retirement account, IRA. However, the funds that go into an IRA are supposed to be post-tax money. Well, when you are serving your country in Camp Victory in Iraq or working in Afghanistan, your combat pay is tax-free. That is right, it is tax-free; and it ought to be. The theory behind that is if you are going to volunteer to risk your life, serve your country and protect our great freedom, you should not be taxed. As a result, some military men and women come home serving in harm's way with money that they would like to put into an individual retirement account, but they cannot. It is against the law. That is wrong. The HERO Act changes that outdated and unintended tax law so that our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen can save some of that money for their retirement for their families' golden years. Crazy as it may seem, right now these men and women come home with much more disposable income, yet they are not allowed to save some of it in an IRA; but they can spend it on cars, new clothes, family vacations. Yes, all of those things are nice, especially when you have been in the desert for 9 months and you just want the creature comforts and luxuries of home for you and your family. But those things are temporary. Retirement savings is about making a better future for yourself and your loved ones, and our troops should have the option of saving for retirement if they want to. I say it is high time we change that, and that is what the HERO Act is all about. It is about tax simplification, it is about retirement savings, it is about helping our military who are out there fighting for us. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), the author of the bill.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Hero Act is going to help our combat troops by modifying a tax law that has unintended consequences, given their situation. Most of us know that IRA contributions are limited to $4,000 this year, and the cap on annual contributions will increase to $5,000 in 2008. All of this is temporary legislation, but we would like to have it permanent, as well, I say to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin). According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, this bill would provide $31 million of tax benefits to military families over the next decade. H.R. 1499 provides meaningful assistance to our troops that we can all support as the House considers ways to improve the retirement security for Americans. I work on retirement legislation in my membership on both the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and I look forward to meaningful legislation moving forward from both committees in the near future. However, this legislation needs to move on its own as soon as possible. Our troops are earning combat pay in dangerous situations, and to the extent that they can save some of it for their long-term needs, I think we ought to encourage them to do so. We will pass this bill with no controversy, and I hope our colleagues in the other body follow suit in the near future. It is the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, 34 States currently have parental consent laws when it comes to minors and abortion. Unfortunately, they are too often and too easily ignored simply by going to another State. Today, the House is going to vote to make it a Federal crime to transport a minor across State lines for an abortion. This legislation would not affect State laws, but would prevent minors from being transported to evade a parental consent law in the girl's home State. The average American parent would be outraged if some adult took their child across States lines for an abortion. The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act protects parents and minors from adults who might conspire with or even pressure them to cross into another State for an abortion. This bill is for our kids and for a better America. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last fall I encouraged high school students from the Third Congressional District to join the first-ever Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I guessed that perhaps 10 to 20 students would participate. Nearly 150 young people from public, private and home-schools applied. An outside, independent panel from the community spent hours pouring over the applications with care. Ultimately, the panel hand- selected 39 students to represent their peers as the voice of the future to Congress. At our first meeting, I didn't know what to expect so I just opened up the floor to questions. It sounded like a meeting of award-winning scholars, well-respected leaders, and involved-civic activists. That's because they were. The students boasted impressive credentials: honors society, student leadership, school athletics, community philanthropy, language clubs, and musical backgrounds. Members asked about the future of Social Security, the election in Iraq, and the status of legislation. They voiced their support for our troops and concerns about government spending. I'm guessing that I learned more from the CYAC than they did, and I'm better for it. I'm eager. to improve on the Council next year and hope that the sophomores and juniors will return to contribute. I believe the students enjoyed our time together and feel confident creating the CYAC was the right thing after one person asked if we could meet every week. Clearly these students have things to say about the future of this great country and long to be heard. It is my hope that someday the Congressional Youth Advisory Council will be associated with excellence and one of our highest standards of civic pride for young people in North Texas. I commend the students for volunteering their time on the Congressional Youth Advisory Council and I wish each one continued success in all of their endeavors. Without a doubt, every student will continue to play an important role in our community for decades to come, and that America and North Texas, will continue to benefit from their dedication, smarts, and service. You know, a lot of people hope to make a difference sometime in their lives. To the members of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, you just did. Thank you. I salute you; God Bless You and God Bless America. The names of the students follow. 2005 Congressional Youth Advisory Council sophomores Merinda Brooks, Plano, Jasper High School. Alyssa DeLorenz, Garland, Williams High School. Amanda Lipscomb, McKinney, Dallas Academy. Austin Lutz, Dallas, Trinity Christian Academy. Michael Scott, Dallas, Plumtree Homeschool Academy. Aatman Shah, Dallas, Vines High School. juniors Nathaniel Alcorn, Frisco, Centennial High School. Mindy Bell, McKinney, McKinney Christian Academy. Heather Blizzard, Plano, Centennial High School. Brandon Boyd, Allen, Allen High School. Christina Elizabeth Buss, Plano, Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Elyse Carlisle, Murphy, Plano East Senior High School. Albert Chang, Dallas, Plano West Senior High School. Andrew Clark, Plano, Plano West Senior High School. Joe Dickerson, Frisco, Centennial High School. Allison Goldman, Dallas, Plano West Senior High School. Douglas Hermann, Allen, Allen High School. Jordan Hirsch, Plano, Yavneh Academy of Dallas. Katie Laughlin, Plano, Plano Senior High School. Alison Lyon, Allen, Plano East Senior High School. Natalie Myers, Plano, Plano Senior High School. Jeff Nanney, Plano, Plano East Senior High School. Joe O'Neill, Plano, Plano Senior High School. Adam Rosenfield, Plano, Plano West Senior High School. Kristin Schneider, Richardson, Home School. Heather Webb, Plano, Plano West Senior High School. Katie Willman, Frisco, Centennial High School. Anna Zhang, Plano, Plano West Senior High School. seniors John Coleman, McKinney, McKinney High School. Jenny Davis, Richardson, Canyon Creek Christian Academy. Dana K. Hansen, Plano, Canyon Creek Christian Academy. Jordan Herskowitz, Plano, Plano West Senior High School. Alison Houpt, Rowlett, Naaman Forest High School. Ashley E. Mergen, Frisco, Frisco High School. Mathew Martinez, McKinney, McKinney High School. Parth Shah, Garland, Naaman Forest High School. Christina Shams, Sachse, Sachse High School. Brittany Whitstone, McKinney, McKinney North High School. Elliot Winters, Plano, Frisco High School.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I object, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have the name of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 525.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, the gibberish my colleagues just heard about is the President says everything's on the table. We can reform Social Security. Madam Speaker, this week the United States House will vote to eliminate the unfair death tax. Believe it or not, the government gives you a certificate at birth, a license when you marry and a tax bill when you die. Is that not a shame? Taxing people when they die smacks of all the things that are wrong with the government and Washington. The death tax was created to target people like the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers, with the original intent of paying and winning World War I. This bill hits hardworking Americans. The death tax hurts the mom-and-pop shops on Main Street, and that is just not fair. Sadly, now if a person saved for the future, put some money away, built a business, ran a farm or achieved the American Dream in other ways, the death tax punishes them. That is just wrong, and it is time to end the death tax now.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to bring before this Congress the following outstanding young people who have voluntarily served orphans, public school children, college students, juvenile delinquents, and needy families under the official invitation and authority of government agencies in Russia, Mongolia, Romania, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and China. The excellent character demonstrated by these young people, as well as their commitment to the principles upon which our Nation was founded, have not only attracted the attention of leaders, parents, the media, and students, but it has also brought honor to the United States of America and to the Lord Jesus Christ whom they serve. Adams, Grant (OK); Aguilar, Nikki (CA); Allen, Jessica (TX); Allen, Rebekah (KS); Alspaugh, Alissa (OK); Alspaugh, Julie (OK); Altman, Rachel (OH); Alvarez, Humberto (MEX); Anders, Erin (MI); Atherton, Tiffany (KS); Backus, Pamela (AR); Baggott, Jessica (NY); Bair, Aileen (IL); Bair, Robert (IL); Baker, Rachel (OK); Ballmann, Christie Ruth (TX); Ballmann, Karyn (TX); Bartlow, Jeremy (TX); Bartlow, Joshua (TX). Bavido, Bonnie Jean (OK); Bean, Amy (CA); Beaulieu, Anna (MN); Becker, Jeremy (MS); Becker, Johanna (MS); Behrens, Katherine (MI); Bell, Elaine (TX); Bell, Lauren (TX); Bell, Mike (TX); Bender, Anthony (CA); Bender, Patty M (CA); Bender, Steven (CA); Bohlen, Daniel (MI); Bollinger, Chiree (MO); Bourne, Clifford (PA); Bourne, Daniel (PA); Bourne, William (PA); Boyd, Hannah (TX); Boyd, Rachel (MI). Brook, Nolan (VA); Brown, Kathryn (CA); Brubaker, David (PA); Brubaker, Emily (PA); Brubaker, Jeni (PA); Brubaker, Leon (PA); Brubaker, Luke (PA); Brubaker, Mary (PA); Brubaker, Nathan (PA); Burge, Everett (AR); Burnett, Lydia (CAN); Bushatz, Luke (OH); Busse, Jenece (MO); Canterbury, Debra (FL); Carlisle, Jeshua (MO); Cato, Cheryl (LA); Cato, David (LA); Cato, Timothy (LA); Cavanaugh, Daniel (IL). Cavanaugh, Micah (KY); Chen, Anna (NY); Chen, Faith (NY); Chen, Grace (NY); Chen, Karen (NY); Chen, Stephen (NY); Chen, Timothy (NY); Cheney, Bailey (GA); Cheney, Erin (GA); Cheney, Linda L (GA); Cheney, Ted E (GA); Cheng, Shiopei (MD); Cheng, Shiowei (MD); Childers, Michelle (GA); Childers, Zachary (GA); Christiansen, Chad (MN); Christiansen, Marlys (MN); Christiansen, Norm (MN); Christiansen, Nate (MN). Cook, Bethany (SC); Cook, Joshua (SC); Cook, Kristi (SC); Cooper, Jennifer (TX); Coppersmith, Nathan (MI); Copu, Beny (IL); Copu, Carmen (IL); Copu, Joy (IL); Copu, Paul (IL); Copu, Stefana (IL); Copu, Peter (IL); Copu, Rebecca (IL); Copu, Robert (IL); Copu, Valen (IL); Copu, William (IL). Cox, Daniel (NC); Craig, Micah (TX); Crawford, Amy (SC); Daniel, Susan (GA); Davis, Elizabeth (VA); Davis, Kelsey (VA); DeBoer, Stephen (IL); DeLuca, Lydia (TX); DeLuca, Sarah (TX); DeMasie, Laura (IL); Dick, Argyl (OK); Dick, Janel (OK); Dicus, Melinda (CA); Diedrich, Abigail (MI); Doolittle, Amy (CA). Drescher, Jennifer (AZ); Dudley, Wesley (OH); Dumitru, Roxy (OR); DuMont, Brenda (WA); Eby, Benjamin (CAN); Eddy, Jonathan (FL); Elam, Timothy (TX); Engle, Gracia (IN); Erickson, Janice (MN); Erickson, Jennifer (MN); Estes, Autumn (FL); Fagala, Adam (OK); Fagala, Jessica (OK); Fahrenbruck, Corrie (OK); Fahrenbruck, Kathleen (OK). Fahrenbruck, Kenton (OK); Fahrenbruck, Michelle (OK); Feig, Joel (WI); Feig, Nathaniel (WI); Felber, Britton (IL); Ferguson, Sarah (TX); Fernandez, David (CA); Fisher, Sarah (RI); Fite, Joshua (AR); Florance, James (CA); Ford, Jeremy (CO); Ford, Nathan (CO); Fox, Elizabeth (CA); Fox, Ruth (CA); Francis, Joshua (GA). Freidel, Marie (IL); Furrow, Christina (WA); Garabedian, Krikor (CAN); Garner, Lisa (IL); Garner, Mary (IL); Garske, Emily (FL); Gay, Carissa (OR); Gay, Charles (OR); Gay, Daniel (OR); Gay, Julie (OR); Gay, Patrick (OR); Gilley, Rebekah (NC); Gillson, Kennan (MN); Gillson, Rowan (IL); Glasgow, Anneliese (OH). Glick, Amos Lee (PA); Glick, Elizabeth (PA); Goodwin, Joshua (CT); Gothard, Bill (IL); Greer, Sean (IN); Grindall, Rachel (WA); Gunther, Margaret (MD); Hargrove, Sarah (OH); Hartstrom, Melissa (CA); Havlik, Grace (MN); Hawkins, Anna (WI); Hawkins, Jonathan (OR); Hawkins, Susan (OR); Haynes, Esther (TX); Henderson, Johanna (FL). Hendon, John Caleb (AL); Hesterberg, Beau (TX); Hiebsh, Chase (KS); Hollingshead, Jerin (CA); Hordyk, Jaclyn (CAN); Houser, Galen (CA); Hullinger, Jennifer (IL); Hulsey, Sarah (TX); Hutanu, Aniela (OR); Hutanu, Simona (OR); Hutson, Kristin (MO); Hynes, Jonathan (VA); Isitt, Gabriel (OR); Jacob, Benjamin (VA); Jacobsen, Elizabeth (CA). Jefferies, Megan (MI); Jenkins, Christopher (MO); Jernigan, Ginger (FL); Jessup, Jeremiah (MI); Johnson, Alanna (MI); Johnson, Juliana (PA); Jones, Landon (MO); Jones, Priscilla (VA); Jones, Tara (TN); Jordan, Azzan (NZ); Jordan, Grace (NZ); Jordan, Barry (NZ); Jordan, Lois (NZ); Jorgensen, Andrew (PA); Joyner, Sara (NC). Kaessner, Jennifer (CO); Kallberg, Luke (IL); Kallberg, Naomi (IL); Karram, Rachel (FL); Keller, Daniel (FL); Keller, Joseph (CA); Keller, Kristen (CA); Keller, Priscilla (FL); Kilby, Alison (IL); Kilby, Elisa (IL); Klassen, Jonathan (TX); Klick, Sarah (KS); Klopfenstein, Carissa (IL); Klueber, Stephen (OH); Konen, Lindsey (WI). Ladd, Vern (WI); Lang, Ryan (IL); Larum, Elizabeth (VA); Lavoie, Jeremi (CAN); Lehman, Regina (PA); Leigh, Daniel (MS); Leigh, Sarah Catherine (MS); Lewis, Mai (WI); Liljenberg, Zachary (WA); Llewellyn, Margaret (MD); Long, Elizabeth (TX); Loverde, Derek (NY); Maduzia, James (CA); Mancillas, Gonzalo (MEX); Mancillas, Yolanda (MEX). Marble, Emily (VA); Marble, Harrison (VA); Martens, Brooke (MI); Martin, Joseph (PA); Martin, Rebekah (PA); Matchak, Caleb (CA); Matchak, Jacob (CA); Matchak, Joel (CA); Matchak, Nathan (CA); Matchak, Sarah (CA); Mathison, Jodi (MN); Mattix, George (IL); Mazur, Isaac (ID); McAtee, Jo Ann (OK); McAtee, Lawrence (OK). McCloy, Jenny (TX); McCloy, Mike (TX); McCray, Dr. Kevin (AR); McCray, Elizabeth (AR); McCray, Ellianna (AR); McCray, Emily (AR); McCray, James (AR); McCray, Jason (AR); McCray, Jo (AR); McCray, Melissa (AR); McCray, Mitch (AR); McCray, Virginia (AR); McCurdy, Terry (GA); McDonald, Caleb (TX); McDonald, Jessica (WI). McEndarfer, Benjamin (OK); McGregor, Benjamin (OK); McGregor, Megan (MO); McNab, Mathieu (CO); McOlin, Erin (TX); Means, Laura (MI); Means, Mary Ann (MI); Mecklin, Leslie (TN); Medina, Jonathan (CA); Melvin, Bryce (FL); Mendenhall, Breanna (MN); Meng, Stephen (NC); Messick, Rebekah (TX); Meyer, Jennifer (IL); Michell, Matt (OR). Millard, Hannah (OR); Millard, Sarah (OR); Miller, Amber (TX); Miller, Heidi (IL); Miller, Katie (IL); Miller, Rachel (MT); Moody, Christina (IL); Moore, Claire (PA); Mosher, Dale (IL); Muir, Caitlin (OR); Myrick, Rebekah (AL); Nance, Dana (AR); Navar, Francisco (MEX); Neu, Daniel (KS); Neu, Nicole (WI). Newhook, Trevor (PA); Nisly, Katrina (CAN); Norvell, Clemencia (AR); Norvell, Joseph (AR); Norvell, Robert (AR); Novotny, Amanda (FL); Pallock, Melissa (IL); Pallock, Vanessa (IL); Papp, Josephine (CAN); Payne, Nikolai (IA); Payne, Tara (IA); Pell, Elizabeth (NC); Pell, Katy (NC); Perkins, Catherine (LA); Perkins, Sarah (LA). Pettman, Evelyn (VA); Pettman, Timothy (VA); Pharris, Erik (TX); Pharris, Kenneth (TX); Pharris, Sacha (TX); Pharris, Susana (TX); Pintilie, David (CO); Pittman, Shepherd (FL); Plattner, Tessa (AUS); Pleus, Gene (FL); Pleus, Ruthann (FL); Ploski, Philip (MI); Policastro, Lauren (WI); Polson, Holly (TX); Popescu, Benjamin (OR). Popescu, Timothy (OR); Rayla, Lindsey (IN); Reimer, Beth (CAN); Reimer, Brian (TX); Reimer, Joshua (CAN); Reimer, Kate (CAN); Reimer, Randall (CAN); Reinagel, Silas (CA); Richmond, Kezia (OR); Richmond, Priscilla (OR); Risma, Jordan (CO); Roberts, Nicholas (NM); Robertson, Aaron (AL); Robertson, Adam (AL); Robertson, Alan (AL). Robertson, Amy (AL); Robertson, Andrew (AL); Robertson, Anthony (AL); Robertson, Ashley (AL); Robertson, Autumn (AL); Robertson, Avery (AL); Robertson, Linda (AL); Robertson, Michael (AL); Rogers, Christopher (WA); Roseberry, David (CA); Roseberry, John (CA); Ross, Charles (GA); Ross, Jedidiah (GA); Ross, Mary (GA); Ross, Rebecca (GA). Roth, Philip (IL); Rupp, Phillip Michael (OH); Salazar, Carla (MEX); Sanborn, Diane (FL); Scheiman, Rebekah (WI); Searle, Daniel (CA); Searle, Shawn (CA); Searle, Shawn (CA); Sellin, Dexter (KS); Sellin, Tammy (KS); Senn, Amanda (LA); Shafer, Laura (AR); Shank, Alisha (CA); Shank, Jennifer (CA); Shepherd, Amanda (TN). Shepherd, Courney (TN); Sherrer, Katherine (NC); Sherwin, Todd (CO); Shrock, Leisel (OR); Sias, Marlon David (MN); Silverman, Nathaniel (FL); Smillie, Brian (CO); Smillie, David (CO); Smillie, John (CO); Smith, Amy (ME); Smith, Joshua (CAN); Snyder, Joel (AL); Sondergaard, Ron (CA); Spilker, Kristin (MO); Spillers, Daniel (LA). St. Clair, Elizabeth (LA); Staddon III, Don (WV); Stallings, Grayson (CO); Stedje, Lauree Beth (TX); Steed, Bethany L (CO); Steinbach, Jeff (CA); Stewart, Andrew (OH); Stewart, Lucas (OH); Stewart, Timothy (OH); Storm, Emily (IL); Stutzman, Julie (OH); Sullivan, Andrei (NC); Sullivan, John (NC); Sullivan, Roslyn (NC); Sullivan, Sarah (NC). Sullivan, Tom (NC); Swicegood, Rebekah (AR); Talbott, Claire (NC); Tanner, Justin (TX); Thomas, Whitney (AL); Thompson, Troy (CA); Thompson, William Edward (FL); Thornton, Will (GA); Tillotson, Vanessa (NE); Toader, Adrian (WA); Trimble, Sean (AK); Trutza, Ruth (IL); Tucker, Charlotte (LA); Tucker, David (LA). Tucker, Rebecca (LA); Tucker, Robert (LA); Tucker, Stephen (LA); Tudorica, Crina (RO); Uecke, Laura (IL); Van Ry, Sheralee (WA); Van Til, Hilko (FL); Vanderhorst, Daniel (KS); Vaughan, Rachel (CA); Visser, Ronald (IN); Wagler, Maria (KS); Wagler, Vanya (KS); Wagley, Christine (LA); Wagley, Elizabeth (LA); Wagley, Lisa (LA). Waller, David (WI); Waller, Derrick (WI); Waller, Rachelle (WI); Warfield, Albion (CA); Wassenaar, Katie (TN); Wenstrom, Angela (IL); Wenstrom, Brittany (IL); Wenstrom, Chris (IL); Wenstrom, Heather (IL); Wenstrom, Jim (IL); Wenstrom, Kimberly (IL); Wenstrom, Matthew (IL); Wenstrom, Michelle (IL); Werner, Lauren (OK); Westfal, Stephanie (WY). Weston, Jennifer (CA); Weston, Kevin (CA); White, Tiffany Brook (MS); Whitten, Jon (IN); Whitten, Josiah (IN); Wilkes, Joshua (VA); Williams, Arnah (VA); Williams, Cheri (CA); Williams, Elizabeth (AUS); Williams, Holly (CA); Williams, Jamie (IL); Williams, Richard (AUS); Winkler, Matthew (TX); Winsted, Rachel (GA); Wishart, Christy (CO); Witt, Jessee (MO); Wolfley, Audra (OK); Woodfield, Julia (MD); Yamane, Jamie (WA); Yoder, Byron (TX).

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let us talk about association health plans. Over 60 percent of America's uninsured are small business owners and their families or the employees who work in a small business. Now, if you are one of the many small business owners struggling to provide health insurance for yourself, your family and your employees, I need your help encouraging Congress to pass important legislation that would make health insurance more affordable for small business. My legislation allowing the creation of association health plans would allow small business owners to band together across State lines to purchase health insurance as a group. This week the House Committee on Education and the Workforce will vote on the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005; and on behalf of the 43 million Americans who want, need, and deserve access to affordable health insurance, I encourage the House to pass this soon. Association health plans are the answer. Let us get behind them.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, the highway trust fund has been losing revenue due to fraudulent use of off-road untaxed diesel fuel as taxable on-road diesel. Estimates of the losses to the highway trust fund at $1 billion annually. Congress first addressed this fraud in 1994 by requiring the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to mark untaxed diesel fuel. The IRS began to mark the untaxed diesel fuel with red dye and saw a dramatic improvement of 22.5 percent higher collections of diesel fuel taxes in the first twelve months. Unfortunately, criminals have figured out ways to remove the red dye from the diesel fuel and profit from the tax evasion. The IRS has been exploring exciting new nanotechnologies that can be used in conjunction with the red dye to more effectively combat this fraudulent activity. I am concerned that the IRS has not yet employed these new technologies to improve compliance and increase revenues to the highway trust fund. I am hopeful that before this legislation is sent to the President for his signature that we will be able to find a suitable legislative solution to this problem facing the highway trust fund and all taxpayers.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that remark and I appreciate the gentleman's remarks that just spoke. God bless you. I stand here before you as a former prisoner of war in Vietnam. Despite 7 years in captivity, with 42 months straight in solitary confinement, I am one of the lucky ones because I came home. Some of the men I served with in Vietnam did not, and guys, say, oh, we really had it rough. I tell my colleagues, the guys in that Bataan Death March are the guys who had it rough. Those are the guys that gave their lives for this Nation, and we can never repay them in my view. I firmly believe we need to send a strong, clear signal that we must account for Americans who are prisoners or classified as missing, and while I was in captivity, I made it my duty to memorize the names of my fellow POWs, committing about 374 names to memory just from tapping on a wall, never seeing them. We were trying to memorize them in case anybody got out because every one of us thought we could escape. So we knew the names but we did not have any idea what they looked like. Most of the time we never saw another American except occasionally through a crack in the door, but I knew they were there, and I know some did not come home, especially from Cambodia and Laos. This just is not about Vietnam. It is about the Korean War, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq and World War II. I fought in Korea as well as Vietnam. I am on the U.S.-Russia Commission on POWs and MIAs. We have been looking for them, and we know some of them were taken to the Soviet Union. We are starting to hear about it in the press now. We know some of them are still alive, at least some are from the Korean War, and we know there may be some still alive today from Vietnam. We are still searching for them. So help me, if they are alive and we do not get them out, we have not done our job. I truly appreciate what my colleagues are doing with this resolution. I think it is important that America know that we never leave anyone behind. We are Americans and we take care of our own. I hope today's action is not just lip service but people continue to act, follow through on finding our fellow Americans. We owe it to our men and women in uniform and their families because, after all, we are the land of the free and the home of the brave. God bless our military servicemen and the POWs and MIAs that are still out there. I salute each and every one of you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I salute President Bush's leadership on the need to strengthen Social Security with personal retirement accounts. I am hearing a lot of haranguing on the other side, most of it untrue. This debate begins and ends with our pledge that nothing will change for people 55 and older. This current debate must focus on the future of younger Americans. Social Security was created for a much different America. Created in 1935, current taxes more than covered current opinions. The average working male lived to age 60, when people retired at age 65. When Social Security started, 42 people supported one retiree. Now 3.3 workers support one retiree, and it is on a downward trend too. We have got to do better for our children and our grandchildren. We must strengthen Social Security for our children and for America's future.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005.'' Our Nation's small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and unfortunately, the cost of health care is placing an unbearable burden on many of them. Sixty percent--over 24 million--of uninsured Americans work in small businesses. Some of these people are offered insurance and turn it down because they can't pick up their part of the tab. This bill allows small businesses to band together to form Association Health Plans, AHPs. These AHPs will lower the cost of health care for small businesses and thereby significantly expand access to health coverage for uninsured Americans by, among other things: (1) Increasing small businesses' bargaining power with health care providers, and (2) giving employers freedom from costly state- mandated benefit packages. Basically, the legislation puts small businesses on equal footing with large employers and unions when it comes to buying health care. That's why AHPs will increase the number of insured Americans by up to 8 million people. The cost-saving benefits of AHPs would help the small employers of Main Street access coverage at a more affordable price. AHPs aren't the only solution to the number of uninsured in America, but they certainly take a large step in the right direction. It is the least Congress can do to ensure that the American people will receive better health care at a more reasonable price. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in the next few days I will introduce the boldest Social Security plan, one that will provide people with security, control and choice. There will be absolutely no change for current or near retirees. We need to strengthen Social Security now by allowing younger generations to invest all of the Social Security tax they pay, or 6.2 percent, in a personal retirement account. The employer's share of the tax would stay in the system to fund retiree, near-retiree benefits and transition costs. These accounts would give all involved control of their personal retirement dollars. Congress cannot take this money away. Personal retirement accounts will help people build a nest egg to pass on to their loved ones. This solution is about the future. We need to strengthen Social Security with big personal retirement accounts now.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy that I recognize Kristina Kiik. Kristina was elected and is believed to be the youngest elector in the history of the United States at the Texas State Republican Party Convention last June. Next week will be a busy one for the 21-year-old Republican in Austin. On December 13th, she will cast her vote for President George W. Bush in the State Capitol at the Meeting of the Electoral College. A smart and savvy student at Southern Methodist University, Kristina is an inspiration to young people across America. While attending the Hockaday School in Dallas, the Richardson native beat out countless students across the nation for a coveted position as a Page in the U.S. House of Representatives. Now at SMU, she interned in my District office and continues to make a difference in her community. What an honor to recognize her for her tremendous achievement and I have a feeling this could be the first of many trips for Kristina to Austin. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable American. Kristina, God bless you and God bless America.