Nick Lampson

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I salute Gordon Cooper, Jr. on behalf of the Ninth District of Texas and the Johnson Space Center community. Gordon Cooper leaves in his legacy 225 hours and 15 minutes of human spaceflight; a 1965 endurance record aboard the first mission to spend 191 hours in space; even designation as the first astronaut to sleep in orbit. He is remembered as Air Force colonel, Astronaut, husband, father of four girls, and a man who at 71 years old said, ``I get cranky if I don't fly at least three times a month.'' Gordon Cooper's missions stretched the limits of human circumstance. He brought an aspiring spirit, determination, composure in tough circumstances and proven endurance to meet some of the loftiest challenges of his time. Mr. Speaker, my constituents today carry on the mission begun by our space pioneers. I salute Gordon Cooper and hope his family may take comfort in the living merits of his achievements.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Harris L. ``Shrub'' Kempner of Galveston, Texas. Shrub is the 2004 Person of Vision chosen by Prevent Blindness Texas and will be honored Tuesday, October 12 in Galveston. Shrub is President and Portfolio Manager of Kempner Capital Management and a Trustee of Kempner Trust Association. He has given his time in service for community boards including the American Jewish Committee, UTMB's Development Board, Galveston County Economic Development Alliance, Galveston Economic Development Alliance, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at UT and the City's Finance Committee. Shrub is a graduate of Harvard and Stanford. He is a husband and father of two sons. He is the former director of Balmorhea Rances, the Imperial Sugar Company, the United States National Bank, the Frost Bank and Cullen-Frost Bankers, Inc. Prevent Blindness Texas has chosen to honor someone who has served the Ninth District with distinction and continuing generosity. In announcing his award, Prevent Blindness said: ``We feel Shrub epitomizes a true person of vision. His clear perspective and farsightedness have made a difference in the life of so many. He has truly made a lifelong allegiance to improving and enhancing the quality of life for others and, his devoted friendship and extraordinary dedication deserve recognition.'' Mr. Speaker, I want to echo those sentiments and congratulate Shrub Kempner on adding this honor to so many he has received from community organizations in the Ninth District of Texas.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for yielding me this time. I do rise to support this bill, because I strongly support the sales tax deductibility provision of FSC-ETI that is supported by Texans and in the interest of all Texans. This Congress must stop the Tax Code from penalizing those who live in States without local or State income tax. The sales tax deductibility provision gives taxpayers in these States an option to deduct either their sales tax or income tax from their Federal income tax returns. This is a fair and straightforward way to restore equity to the Tax Code as it applies to some 55 million taxpayers across this country. Sales tax deductibility could keep $1 billion in Texans' pockets and save families roughly $300 a year. That is money that Texans need to provide for their seniors, to plan for our retirements, and to prepare for any unexpected emergencies. This provision has been supported by a bipartisan, bicameral group in Texas, its congressional delegation, and our State legislature, and I urge my colleagues to let this 108th Congress be the session to restore fairness to America's Tax Code by passing this bill and by passing this provision.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the resolution by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics congratulating the winners of the Ansari X Prize on their intrepid voyages to the edge of space. A century ago, as Orville Wright dropped down to the sand at Kitty Hawk after his 12-second flight into history, the impact of aviation on the world was only dimly seen. Yet, today, we take for granted that the other side of the world is only a mere few hours from our front door. Now, we honor the next Orville and Wilbur, Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie, pilots of SpaceShipOne's prize-winning flights. In the space of a week, they have shown us all a new opportunity. If you are not satisfied with reading about space, well, the day is not far off when you can go there yourself. SpaceShipOne did not get very far into space, but then, neither did Alan Shepard on his first Mercury flight. So let us not forget, though, that Alan Shepard later made it to the moon. The resolution before the House also honors Burt Rutan, the pioneering designer at the head of Mojave Aerospace Ventures. Some 40 airplanes share Rutan's distinctive designs, and if one visits the National Air and Space Museum here on the mall, they can see his Voyager, which flew around the world nonstop in 1986. That it was Rutan who broke the barrier of affordable access to space probably does not surprise many in the aviation fraternity, but as Tom Wolfe so memorably put it in The Right Stuff, ``No bucks, no Buck Rogers.'' Without Paul Allen's willingness to commit real money, SpaceShipOne might still be little more than scribbles on a napkin in a filing cabinet. Sometimes we have to look beyond the business case. There is something about a contest that seems to inspire great deeds. We owe a great deal to Dr. Peter Diamandis, president of the Ansari X Prize Foundation. He set the goal that fired the imaginations of those eager to open space to the rest of us. The House is right to include him in our congratulations. So, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the gentleman from California in honoring the achievements of the Ansari X Prize winners and recommend that the House approve this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hispanic citizens from the 9th District of Texas being honored September 25, 2004 for their work in the community. While the dedication of Hispanic leaders is well-known throughout the United States, local citizens, right here in the Southeast Gulf Coast region, are just as important to ensuring equal rights and economic progress for all Texans. Each year, I ask members of the communities in the 9th District to nominate individuals for the Henry B. Gonzalez Latino Leadership Award. This award, named in honor of the late Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, gives special recognition to those who have worked selflessly, often without recognition, and made contributions both in the Hispanic community and the broader community as well. Recipients were chosen because their spirit of giving and sharing spirit makes a substantial contribution to our community and inspires others to do the same. While their efforts may not make the headlines every day, the recipients' service and dedication to our country is nevertheless vital to our entire region. Southeast Texas is not successful in spite of our diversity, but rather successful because of it. Please join me in recognizing and congratulating these leaders for their work an commitment to their communities and to southeast Texas. It is leaders like these men and women that continue to be a source of pride for Texas. The winners of this years Henry B. Gonzalez Latino Leadership Award are: Mrs. Sabrina Vrooman, Mr. Joe Hernandez, Mr. Albert Seguin, Mr. Manuel Escontrias, Mr. Hipolito Acosta, Mr. Carlos Lopez, and Mrs. Maria Barrios de Estrello. Mr. Speaker, the recipients of the Henry B. Gonzalez Award are dedicated and hardworking individuals who have done so much for their neighbors and for this Nation as a whole. Today, I stand to recognize their spirit and to say that I am honored to be their Representative.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Harris County Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia. Aside from her hard work and diligence as an distinguished public servant, she has been an inspiration and a strong leader for the Hispanic communities of Southeast Texas. Prior to her election in 2003, Commissioner Garcia served as Controller for the City of Houston and before that served as the appointed Director and Presiding Judge of the Houston Municipal Court System. She is not only a great Houstonian, but a proven leader and driving force in her community. As an active leader in the Houston community, the Commissioner has served on more than 25 community boards and commissions, including the San Jacinto Girl Scouts, the Houston Hispanic Forum, the American Leadership Forum, the Texas Southern University Foundation and the Institute of Hispanic Culture. She has selflessly given of herself in order to promote strength and leadership in her community. Despite the demanding duties of being Harris County Commissioner, she has given of her time to be chairperson or honorary chairperson of many charity functions. Such functions include the kick-off for ``America Walks for Strong Women'', benefiting the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the ``International Paella Festival and Polo Espanol'' benefiting Casa de Esperanza and The Mercy Foundation. Her honors by the media and other organizations speak volumes about her service. She was named ``Humanitarian of the Year'' by the National Conference of Communities and Justice and has also been honored with the Texas Woman's University Board of Regents Woman of Distinction Award, the Hispanic Scouting Distinguished Citizen Award from the Sam Houston Area Boy Scouts of America, and the Board Award from the San Jacinto Girl Scouts. Commissioner Garcia's accomplishments should be an inspiration to us all. She has done a fine job as Harris County Commissioner and is an invaluable resource for the Hispanic communities of Texas. She is someone who continues to inspire, and I am proud to recognize her on the floor of the House today.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, in seeking to return to the United Nations, the Republic of China on Taiwan will once again ask diplomatic allies to present its case before the United Nations this fall. I am in total sympathy with Taiwan's effort. Taiwan is the only nation not represented in the U.N. Taiwan's exclusion from the U.N. violates the principles and spirit of the U.N. Charter, especially the fundamental principle of universality and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As we all know, the U.N. Charter demands that this global body welcome the participation of all people, including the 23 million people of Taiwan. Those who object to Taiwan's participation in the U.N. argue that U.N. Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, makes the People's Republic of China the legitimate representative of Taiwan. The fact is that the PRC has never exercised jurisdiction over Taiwan. It is absurd to claim that the PRC can speak for a land and people over which it has no control. If the United Nations is founded on the principle of the equality of sovereign nations, it has no reason not to recognize Taiwan's sovereignty as an independent nation. It must and should give Taiwan representation. Moreover, as we live in an era of the ascendancy of democracy and human rights, we must see that Taiwan has been a vibrant democracy with a democratically elected president and legislature. Taiwan's government upholds human rights. Its citizens enjoy freedom of assembly, association and religion. Free nations of the world cannot allow Taiwan, a beacon of democracy, to be subdued by an authoritarian China. Besides being a multiparty democracy, Taiwan is an economic powerhouse, now ranking as the world's 14th largest economy. It has the potential to be a valuable party to ensure peace, security and progress in the Pacific region. Clearly it does not serve anyone's interest to keep Taiwan out of the United Nations. Also, as Asian-Pacific nations are confronted with problems of environmental degradation, greenhouse effects, depletion of marine and other resources, poverty and disease, Taiwan could play a significant role in grappling with some of these concerns if it were allowed to work with the United Nations and its agencies. No such opportunity avails Taiwan today. Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that Taiwan has been poorly treated by the United Nations. Taiwan has been a responsible global citizen for years. It has done a good job, for example, in helping to resettle refugees in Afghanistan, in preventing AIDS in Africa and in dispatching numerous technical and medical teams to developing countries in Latin America and Africa. U.N. should recognize and reward Taiwan's global outreach to needy countries. Maybe the solution is parallel representation for both Taiwan and the People's Republic of China on the pattern of the previous East and West Germanys and the North and South Koreas. Such an arrangement would provide Taiwan and China with a forum for dialogue whereby they may forge closer ties based on mutual understanding and respect, leading to permanent peace in the Taiwan Strait. For all the reasons named above, my colleagues and I urge the United Nations to consider Taiwan's bid to return to the U.N. with thought and wisdom.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, oncology services are critical for Texans. The American Cancer Society expected 83,400 new cancer patients for Texas in 2003. Cancer sufferers need access to care near where they live, and they need stability of care. An accessible, caring oncology clinic is welcome news for people who have heard some very bad news from their diagnosis. Congress gave some very bad news to oncologists in the passage of the Medicare bill this past session. The American Society of Clinical Oncology came out on September 8 with their take on the effects of this bill. Their analysis finds that half of practices expect that they will pay more than they are reimbursed for specific drugs for anemia or lung, colon, or pancreas cancers; that they expect a loss of funds for community-based cancer care in the range of 43 to 54 percent; and that one-fourth of the drugs used for cancer treatment will cost the typical oncology practice more than what is covered by Medicare. I urge my colleagues to press for restoring oncologists' ability to give cancer patients the ability and stability in treatment they need to fight their illnesses. Congress should not deny the drugs necessary to those who need them in this life or death struggle.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to express my sorrow for the passing of a dear personal friend and pillar of the community in southeast Texas and Gulf Coast, Mr. John Walker. John passed away suddenly this past weekend, leaving many of us stunned and saddened at the loss of such a wonderful individual. John was a loving husband and family man, and a friend to many in the Galveston community. John, or ``Johnny'' as those close to him knew him, served as President of Ducks Unlimited's national organization, was on the board of Galveston College, and was a strong supporter of the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He participated with these organizations because he knew the importance of core, fundamental values that aid us all not only locally, but nationally. In addition, John's grandfather was former Congressman Clark W. Thompson, who served proudly in this very chamber, and who was a great friend and mentor of mine as well. I express my deepest condolences and sympathy to John's wife Susan, and the rest of his family and loved ones, and know that he is now at peace with the Lord.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Madam Speaker, as children across the country begin a new school year, some do so with missing classmates. The problem with child abduction goes on. Seven months ago Monday, Carlie Brucia's remains were found after a stranger took her at a gas station. Now the seventh-graders at McIntosh Middle School in Florida are missing their classmate. Three weeks ago, 7-year-old Patricia Miles was found suffocated after going on a bike ride in Arkansas. Children at Turrell Elementary School are also missing a classmate today. Missing children from every walk of life, in many circumstances: stranger abduction, parental abduction, international abduction, all need our attention. Next Friday I will host a child safety forum for southeast Texans, and I call on members of the caucus and on all of my colleagues to hold similar events across the country. We must empower Carlie and Patricia's classmates and all children to know and use safety rules.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 723. It was 35 years ago that humans first walked on the Moon. It was a magnificent achievement and it is fitting that we in the House of Representatives pause to commemorate it today. The landing of Eagle at Tranquility Base was the culmination of a national effort that began in 1961 when a young, energetic President, John F. Kennedy, challenged America to achieve great things in space. America rose to that challenge and barely 8 years after President Kennedy said that we would go to the Moon by the end of the decade, we did. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took those historic first steps on July 20, 1969, while Mike Collins orbited overhead and all the world's population held its collective breath. Clearly Neil, Buzz and Mike had the ``right stuff,'' as did the other Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts and as do the astronauts who are serving in our Nation's space program today. Yet it was not just the heroism and steel nerves of the astronauts that made Apollo a success. It was the efforts of tens of thousands of unsung heroes from government, industry and academia, namely the scientists, engineers, program managers, technicians and others who individually and collectively made it possible for 12 Americans to land on and explore the surface of the Moon between 1969 and 1972. I was teaching physical science in a middle school during that time. The children in my classes, their eyes would light up when we would watch on television and discuss what was going on. The interest that developed from them was unimaginable. I know that it is what inspired so many of those young people to want to become the astronauts of today. Neil Armstrong spoke his first words from the Moon to Mission Control in the Ninth District of Texas, where we have neighbors who worked on the Apollo program and some who participate in the space exploration efforts of today. That is where those kids that I taught went to work. Last July, Glynn and Marilyn Lunney from my district brought their two grandchildren to my office to take a tour of this Capitol. In passing the statue of Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert downstairs, Mrs. Lunney said, ``There's Jack.'' They knew who Jack was because Mr. Lunney had been a flight director on Apollo missions, including Apollo 11. The Lunneys are just a few of the many individuals in Texas' Ninth Congressional District whom I salute today. The Lunneys' son started a company that took one of those spin-offs from the space exploration efforts to create a vagus nerve stimulator which saves the lives of people who are suffering from epilepsy and seizures today. So many wonderful things have come from that program. Just beyond the fences of Johnson Space Center are reminders of the living legacy of NASA's pioneer programs in our community. The names of sports teams, local businesses, and even the streets that we drive display the impact of manned space flight. Today, I salute all southeast Texans involved in manned space flight, including Johnson Space Center's civil service and contractor workforce of over 16,000 in Houston's bay area. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this congressional resolution commemorating a shining achievement that is an inspiration to all they do. Yet I have to confess that I look forward to the day when we will not just be commemorating the past but will also be celebrating new accomplishments in space exploration. The last Americans, indeed the last human beings, to venture out beyond low Earth orbit visited the Moon 32 years ago. It is time for Americans to get back to the Moon. And it is time for Americans to set out on voyages of exploration to all of the interesting places in our solar system. Robotic explorers have already blazed a scientifically productive trail, and they will continue to do so in the years to come, but I have no doubt that humans will, and should, follow. I want America to lead that exploration effort, and I intend to work with the White House and my colleagues in Congress to craft an exploration program that all America will embrace. However, that is work for another day. Today is a day for commemorating the achievement of the Apollo team. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott). (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Houston, Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall).

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend the gentlewoman from Dallas, Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), another active member of the Committee on Science.

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) for sponsoring this bill and for allowing me to join him and all of those who spoke. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) is so very right about the people who made this happen. When we sat here on Earth, I guess I can put it in the context of what is happening today. When I come to this floor of the House of Representatives, it is such a magnificent thrill to me. I cannot imagine the thrill that it must have been to Neil, Buzz and Mike and all those other folks who went up there. When they were standing on the Moon, they took with them the hopes, the dreams, the breath of millions of Americans; not just the thousands who helped them get there, because it took a tremendous team to make it happen, but a little bit of piece of each one of us went up there with them. We thank them for those feelings, we thank them for the magnificent advances to humankind that they gave to us. What a wonderful way to commemorate them. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 723. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to rise to salute my colleague, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), on a quarter century of service to this body and particularly to thank him for the opportunity to bring an issue that was so close to me, international parental abduction, to the attention of our NATO counterparts. I remember meeting the gentleman for the first time on one of our bipartisan retreats just a couple of months after I came into the House of Representatives. We were on that train that we have taken a number of times; and Doug and his wife, Louise, came up to me and my wife, Susan, and carried on a conversation. He suggested that I look into his involvement with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. I was aware of it, but it was at his invitation that I requested to become a member. I have been honored to attend many of the meetings in the last 6 years and speak at the Assembly's European meetings and to serve as a committee vice-chair. My participation would not have been possible without Doug's support. He reached over the magic aisle that runs through the middle of the room and reached out to me with the same kind of encouragement that he gave to every one of the delegates, regardless of party. Like one of my district predecessors, Jack Brooks, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) as chairman of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly displayed a strong belief in the collaborative values that the assembly stands for. He generates that belief among fellow Members of Congress. In 2001, I was very proud to cosponsor legislation that he introduced to enlarge NATO as articulated by our current and past Presidents. Beyond his leadership in our delegation, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) served as both vice president and president of the Parliamentary Assembly representing the United States of America admirably in both rolls. Madam Speaker, I will certainly miss the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and Louise when we had an opportunity of being with them, and the gentleman particularly as a Member of Congress. His efforts here will inspire future Members to reach across the aisle and across national boundaries to fix problems that demand collaborative solutions. I wish him a fond farewell from this Chamber, and I know that our appreciation of his service will continue long after he leaves this body.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, middle-class families are feeling the pinch. They feel it as they try to afford health care, try to keep their jobs, and try to provide a rewarding education for their children. When I am in southeast Texas, I talk to folks every day who tell me they cannot afford tuition for their children, health care for their parents, or even to provide for themselves. These folks are getting the middle-class squeeze at literally every level. They work harder and harder every day, work more and more hours every day, and make less and less. The middle class is paying more in taxes, and the tax breaks that the rich get are not there for the folks who really need it. I hope that my colleagues will use the remainder of our time in session to support these families so that our hardest-working Americans do not get left behind.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize the exceptional athletic achievements of an outstanding individual, personal friend, and fellow Texan. Katy Doyle, a member of the Texas A&M track and field team, led her team with an incredible athletic performance in the 2004 Big 12 Outdoor track and field conference championships. In the javelin competition, Doyle's throw of 54.75m put her team in first place in the event, and shattered a conference record that had stood for five years. Doyle's gold medal performance at the conference championship added to her two previous wins in the same event in 2000 and 2003 conference meets. Mr. Speaker, being a personal friend of both Katy and her family, I can say her on-field performance is a testament to her character off the field. Coming off a seemingly debilitating injury that kept her out of competition in 2001 and 2002, she persevered and ultimately regained her championship form. I am honored to give credit to this talented athlete, deserving individual, and great Texan.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, the annual celebration of African American Emancipation Day, also known as Juneteenth, had its origins in my congressional district. This Juneteenth celebration, a 130 year tradition beginning in Galveston, Texas in 1865, has grown into the nation's oldest and most widely celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery. Today, Juneteenth celebrations are hosted in cities across America and beyond. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month-long celebration marked with music, festivals, and family gatherings. Mr. Speaker, the growing popularity of Juneteenth celebrations signifies a level of growth and dignity in America that has been long overdue. People of all races, religions and backgrounds come together in celebration of Juneteenth to acknowledge a dark period of our nation's history that continues to influence our society, and to try and make a significant change for the better. The festivities in my district include the annual Juneteenth Jubilee Parade and Picnic, as well as the Gospel Explosion in the Park and Gospel by the Sea. In addition to the annual events, the African American Heritage organization will present the exhibit ``The Making of an Underground Railroad: From Slavery to Freedom.'' Let us all take a moment to recognize this important holiday, and to continue moving forward in the spirit of freedom and understanding.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, the Galveston Island Railroad Museum and Terminal is one of Texas's most outstanding historic places, recognizing the importance of the railroads in building our great state. Galveston's success as a major American port was built on railroads, and the Museum celebrates that heritage. In May the Museum gave its distinguished Gold Lantern Award to Mrs. Kris Anne Vogelpohl of Galveston. Mrs. Vogelpohl personifies the mission of the Museum--to build a better community, illuminate the lives of Galvestonians, and teach thousands of visitors about its heritage. Mrs. Vogelpohl is legendary in the gift of her time and energy to many local and national humanitarian organizations, including the Salvation Army and Prevent Blindness Texas. Galveston has grown in greatness in recent years, and we have Mrs. Kris Anne Vogelpohl to thank for her tireless efforts toward making it a very special place.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for allowing me to have a few seconds to talk about my friend Charlie Wilson. We knew him at the beginning of his service in the Texas legislature as Timber Charlie, a tall, lanky, East Texan who, as the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) just said, always spoke as straight and as straightforward as one human being can. What a nice gentleman. Many colorful stories obviously can and have been told about him. The people remembered him and loved him throughout all of East Texas. I remember fondly the days he would come to all of those parades we would have through East Texas. He always had a mule that he saddled up and rode in the parade, wearing brightly colored clothes and those suspenders that were always his trademark. A wonderful, caring, human being. Charlie Wilson probably taught me more about, and I think many of the other of his colleagues and those of the House that followed him, about the job of a Member of Congress providing constituent service. He prided himself on what he did for the people at home. And it was interesting a comment that was made in an article not long ago when he said that when the day was done, says Charlie, the working people knew I was on their side. And the blacks knew I was on their side. It is hard to explain, but there is a tolerance for human frailty that does not exist outside of East Texas. Charlie Wilson loved his folks, still does today, and will continue; and southeast Texas will never, ever forget him. The fact that we are honoring him there with the naming of this veterans' facility is a magnificent tribute to a wonderful gentleman. We wish you well in your retirement, Charlie Wilson. I am glad to support my colleagues in supporting this legislation.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to thank my Colleagues, Congressman Rangel and Congressman Walsh, for organizing all of us to take a moment to honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom worldwide. As we hold this moment of silence, and on the occasion of Memorial Day, let us not lose sight of brave veterans as well. Recently the House had the opportunity to honor these fine Americans through legislation that would have added $1.3 billion to the Veterans Affairs health care budget, and that would have increased funds by $500 million over the next 5 years for the Survivor Benefit Plan, which pays a military survivor 55 percent of their late spouse's retiree benefits, but is reduced to 35 percent at age 62. Both measures were defeated before they ever saw any debate by the full House. That this Congress would even consider the idea of cutting military families' benefits shows a disconcerting emphasis on misguided budget priorities. In previous congressional sessions, I have voted to authorize increases in cost-of-living adjustments for veterans receiving disability compensation and their surviving family members, to expand long-term care services for veterans and allow Veterans Affairs to generate increased revenue to help pay for health care costs, and to increase funding for Veterans Affairs' state extended care facilities construction grant program by $10 million. I firmly believe that additional benefits are critical to the future success, stability, and retention levels for our armed forces. More importantly, this is the right thing to do for Texas, our great Nation, and the hardworking families of our brave troops and veterans. There is absolutely no excuse to duck our responsibilities to the men and women of our armed forces, and it is my sincere hope that my colleagues do not continue to confuse budget priorities when it comes to standing up for these all too important Americans.