Tom Latham

Mr. LATHAM

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize Craig and Shirley Phinney for being named a 2013 Hero of the Heartland by the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa. Each year, the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa recognizes Heroes of the Heartland by selecting everyday Iowans who have done extraordinary things to help their neighbors and communities. The Iowans honored with this prestigious award displayed selflessness in a variety of courageous, charitable and thoughtful acts. The Heroes of the Heartland program not only showcases the heroes among us, but also helps raise crucial funds to ensure that the American Red Cross is prepared and equipped to assist those that need food, shelter, and comfort during emergencies and difficult times. The lives of Craig and Shirley Phinney changed forever one Friday evening in 2009 when Craig, a police officer and military veteran, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. After seeing the struggles and sacrifices of other cancer patients firsthand, the Phinneys started the Cops Against Cancer organization to provide financial assistance to cancer patients and their families that are burdened by the unexpected and overwhelming expenses associated with cancer treatments. Craig and Shirley's organization assists with costs that are not typically covered by insurance, such as lodging and travel expenses for medical appointments, specialized treatments, and various monthly home expenses. Cops Against Cancer has assisted more than 125 families in 41 of Iowa's 99 counties, seven families outside of the state, and even a family as far away as Quebec, Canada. In one particular instance, the organization was able to help absorb the travel costs of a 72-year-old patient who had to travel 80 miles one-way for treatment because her local medical facility had been damaged by a tornado. In addition to their financial assistance, Craig and Shirley also provide the families and medical staffs of patients with their personal phone numbers to be able to assist at any hour of the day or night. The Phinneys' commitment to ``protect and serve'' their community is present in all facets of their lives, and it truly embodies what it means to be a hero. These wonderful Iowans have set a shining example that our state can be proud of. Mr. Speaker, Mr. and Mrs. Phinneys' actions that earned them each the title a ``Hero of the Heartland'' are a testament to the humble, hardworking and helpful people who make up the great state of Iowa. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating Craig and Shirley on a job well done, thanking the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa for their life changing efforts, and wishing all of those involved in the Heroes of the Heartland program continued success for years to come.

Mr. LATHAM

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize Ryan Brown, Dave McCaulley, Ben Wier, Rob Bacon, Doug Bates, and Matt Myers for being named a 2013 Hero of the Heartland by the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa. Each year, the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa recognizes Heroes of the Heartland by selecting everyday Iowans who have done extraordinary things to help their neighbors and communities. The Iowans honored with this prestigious award displayed selflessness in a variety of courageous, charitable and thoughtful acts. The Heroes of the Heartland program not only showcases the heroes among us, but also helps raise crucial funds to ensure that the American Red Cross is prepared and equipped to assist those that need food, shelter, and comfort during emergencies and difficult times. To be named Heroes of the Heartland, these six men responded in an extraordinary fashion to what began as an ordinary game of golf. On July 12, 2012, at the sixth tee box at Indian Creek Country Club, Dennis Kjarland suffered a heart attack. Without hesitation, these six men responded to the life-threatening situation by calling 911 and collectively performing chest compressions and assisted breathing for 15 minutes before first responders arrived. Because of their brave actions and quick thinking, Mr. Kjarland recently had the opportunity to celebrate his 70th birthday. The actions of these six men are truly an example that our state can be proud of. Mr. Speaker, the actions of these men that earned them each the title a ``Hero of the Heartland'' are a testament to the humble, hardworking and helpful people who make up the great state of Iowa. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating these six men on a job well done, thanking the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa for their life changing efforts, and wishing all of those involved in the Heroes of the Heartland program continued success for years to come.

Mr. LATHAM

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 8th grader Marissa Frost of Urbandale Middle School for being named Iowa's state winner in the Doodle 4 Google art competition. The Doodle 4 Google competition is held annually by Google and invites students from across the country to use their artistic talents and creativity to redesign Google's homepage themes, which appear on millions of computers across the globe. The nationwide winner is also awarded a scholarship worth $30,000 and the winner's school will receive a $50,000 technology grant to establish or improve a computer lab or technology program. Marissa titled her doodle `Discover' and portrays her response to the 2013 Doodle 4 Google theme ``My Best Day Ever. . .'' Her artwork is one of only 50 pieces that have been selected from across the country and was selected by a panel of Google employees for its artistic merit, creativity, and communication of the competition's theme. Marissa's doodle is now displayed in an online gallery where she will compete to be named a national finalist. Representing Iowa in this national competition is an extraordinary reflection of Marissa's talents and artistic ability. Mr. Speaker, it is a profound honor to represent future leaders like Marissa from the great state of Iowa in the United States Congress. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating her for this achievement, and I wish Miss Frost the best of luck in the remainder of the competition and with her future studies.

Mr. LATHAM

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Mabel Baker on the coming celebration of her 100th birthday. Mabel will celebrate a century of life on May 30th, 2013. Our world has changed a great deal during the course of Mabel's life. Since her birth, we have revolutionized air travel and walked on the moon. We have invented the television, cellular phones and the internet. We have fought in wars overseas, seen the rise and fall of Soviet communism and witnessed the birth of new democracies. Mabel has lived through eighteen United States Presidents and twenty-two Governors of Iowa. In her lifetime, the population of the United States has more than tripled. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to represent Mabel in the United States Congress and it is my pleasure to wish her a very happy 100th birthday. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating Ms. Baker on reaching this incredible milestone, and wishing her even more health and happiness in the years to come.

Mr. LATHAM

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize Angie Cupp-Hommer for being named a 2013 Hero of the Heartland by the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa. Each year, the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa recognizes Heroes of the Heartland by selecting everyday Iowans who have done extraordinary things to help their neighbors and communities. The Iowans honored with this prestigious award displayed selflessness in a variety of courageous, charitable and thoughtful acts. The Heroes of the Heartland program not only showcases the heroes among us, but also helps raise crucial funds to ensure that the American Red Cross is prepared and equipped to assist those that need food, shelter, and comfort during emergencies and difficult times. Angie Cupp-Hommer of Des Moines is a busy single mother to her four children Taylor, Cameron, Liberty and Carmine. On a typical day in March of last year, Angela came upon the aftermath of a vicious head-on vehicle collision. As she approached one of the vehicles to help, she found a four-year-old boy critically injured. Acting quickly, she climbed inside the wrecked SUV, pulled the child out and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. It's amazing to think of what can cause a person to act with such sudden bravery and selflessness, but Angie said of her actions: ``It's just what you do.'' It is that instinctive willingness to help that makes her a shining example our state can be proud of. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Cupp-Hommer's actions that earned her the title a ``Hero of the Heartland'' are a testament to the humble, hardworking and helpful people who make up the great state of Iowa. I invite my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating Angie on a job well done, thanking the American Red Cross serving Greater Iowa for their life changing efforts, and wishing all of those involved in the Heroes of the Heartland program continued success for years to come.

Mr. LATHAM

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1765) to provide the Secretary of Transportation with the flexibility to transfer certain funds to prevent reduced operations and staffing of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.

Mr. LATHAM. Might I inquire of the gentleman from Arizona, you have 30 seconds left. If you would like to go ahead and close, I will reserve at this time.

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to associate myself with what my good friend and ranking member on the subcommittee, Mr. Pastor, just said. We've got to find a solution, come to an agreement. This is a horrible way to run a government, with sequester. When you take a meat-ax approach to departments, there's no common sense. And that's why we need to get back to regular order around here and actually do appropriations bills. We would avoid these types of potentially catastrophic situations that we find ourselves in. Mr. Speaker, I would just ask everyone to understand that the Senate sent this over last night. It is now an H.R. bill, our bill. The Senate will approve it as soon as we pass it in the House here. It is very important that we do this for the American people, the traveling public, for safety of the system, to make sure that our commerce continues. So I would ask everyone to support this bill. And let's fix the big problem, and that's come to a budget agreement. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Farenthold).

Mr. LATHAM. Does the gentleman have two more speakers? I just have one more. I was going to suggest that you go ahead with your speaker. Now I'll have one, you'll have one, and then we can close.

Mr. LATHAM. Yes. What was the question if I may?

Mr. LATHAM. No.

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Bachmann).

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), the former chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. LATHAM. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. LATHAM. I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).

Mr. LATHAM. I yield the gentleman 30 seconds.

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I would now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson).

Mr. LATHAM. I would now like to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Cotton).

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. It's fascinating that the administration that insisted on the sequestration----

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the consideration of H.R. 1765.

Mr. LATHAM

Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of H.R. 1765, the Clerk strike ``account'' on page 2, line 14, and insert ``accounts.''