Ray LaHood

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank both gentlemen for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1483, legislation to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act to establish six new national heritage areas, including one running through my own congressional district known as the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. Mr. Speaker, I believe the establishment of heritage areas provides us with a unique opportunity to take a closer look at some of the most culturally significant areas of our country. As a former school teacher, I believe very strongly in the need to study the past in order to understand how we got to where we are today. Many of the issues that shaped President Lincoln's legacy are still relevant today, and it's worthwhile to continue to explore these issues. The establishment of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area within this bill would accomplish these goals. The purpose of creating this national heritage area in Illinois is to manage, study and promote Lincoln-related historical sites. Scattered throughout the central Illinois landscape are countless places where Lincoln traveled and lived. As children, we're taught the basic history of our country, including the basic facts of President Lincoln's life and legacy. What the history books usually don't teach are the experiences and events that shaped President Lincoln and made him the man he became. By designating this heritage area, we can tie these many Lincoln sites together in order to create a tapestry that will allow us to better understand the influences that shaped President Lincoln's life. During my time in Congress, I've had the unique honor of representing all 11 counties that originally formed Abraham Lincoln's congressional district when he served one term in this very House. The year 2009 represents the 200th anniversary of President Lincoln's birth, and as the cochair of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which is in charge of celebrating this event, what better way to honor one of the most prominent figures in American history who affected millions of lives than preserving and studying further those places where he lived and worked and that had a profound effect on his later life. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, as it will lead to an opportunity for all in Illinois and all in our country to really have a better understanding of President Lincoln. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1483, legislation to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act to establish six new national heritage areas, including one running through my own district known as the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. I would first like to thank Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Young for bringing this important matter to the Floor today. I would also like to thank Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop for holding hearings on the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in their Subcommittee. Mr. Speaker, I believe the establishment of heritage areas provides us with a unique opportunity to take a closer look at some of the most culturally significant areas of our country. As a former school teacher, I believe very strongly in the need to study the past in order to understand how we got to where we are today. Many of the issues that shaped President Lincoln's legacy are still relevant today, and it is worthwhile to continue to explore these issues. The establishment of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area within H.R. 1483 would accomplish these goals. The purpose of creating this national heritage area in Illinois is to manage, study, and promote Lincoln-related historical sites. Scattered throughout the central Illinois landscape are countless places where Lincoln traveled and lived. As children, we are taught the basic history of our country, including the basic facts of President Lincoln's life and legacy. What the history books usually don't teach are the experiences and events that shaped President Lincoln and made him the man he became. By designating this heritage area, we can tie these many Lincoln sites together in order to create a tapestry that will allow us to better understand the influences that shaped President Lincoln's life. During my time in Congress, I have had the unique honor of representing all 11 counties that originally formed Abraham Lincoln's congressional district when he served one term in the House of Representatives. The year 2009 represents the 200th year since Abraham Lincoln's birth. I am a co-chair, along with Senator Durbin, of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which is in charge of celebrating this event. What better way to honor one of the most prominent figures in American history, who affected millions of lives, than preserving and studying further those places where he lived and worked that had a profound effect on his later life. I urge my colleagues to support the preservation of Abraham Lincoln's legacy by voting in favor of H.R. 1483.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for his kind remarks. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 738, a resolution that strongly condemns the ongoing campaign of violence and assassination directed towards the people of Lebanon and their democratically elected government. We have all seen the horrific news reports of the assassinations and attempted assassinations of anti-Syrian lawmakers in Lebanon. The brave men and women who are struggling to move Lebanon forward have become targets in their own country. Hezbollah and the pro-Syrian factions in Lebanon know they are in the minority, and have begun a desperation campaign to kill as many of their opponents as possible. Members of the parliament have had to go into hiding outside of Lebanon, and lay their lives on the line when they return to conduct government business. Others in Lebanon have embarked on a campaign to delay and obstruct the presidential election process, now delayed since September, late September into October. Rather than face the fact that those who wish for Lebanon to be independent and free will be successful, they choose instead to upend the entire political process rather than see democracy succeed. This was clearly evident in 2004 when the current president of Lebanon had his term extended with the help of Syria and other outside forces, an act that was quickly condemned by the United States and the United Nations. Unfortunately, these forces continue to try to impose their will on Lebanon today. The Cedar Revolution in 2005 led to the withdrawal of Syrian forces that had occupied Lebanon for more than three decades. After the withdrawal, the government of Prime Minister Siniora committed to creating a strong, democratic Lebanon, free of occupation or outside influence. Lebanon is fighting many enemies of freedom, both within and outside the country. As Lebanon prepares for presidential elections, hopefully in a few weeks, I believe it is vital that we reiterate our support for Lebanon and the people of Lebanon. This resolution reaffirms our support of the many United Nations resolutions that condemn Syria and Iran for their continued roles in arming the enemies of a free Lebanon, and expresses our appreciation to the many countries who have contributed funding and personnel to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Our Lebanese friends must know that we stand beside them as they continue to strengthen their government. I want to particularly compliment President Bush, Secretary Rice, and the whole Bush team for the interest they have expressed in Lebanon, for the interest they have shown in this country and their ability to have a democracy and to hold elections. Last week, the son of Rafiq Hariri was in Washington and had an opportunity to meet with many officials of the Congress and of the Bush administration. I know he was gratified by the support he has received from Congress and from the Bush administration. As he returned to Lebanon, I know he went reassured that our country is with Lebanon, that our country is for free elections as soon as possible. I also want to compliment Speaker Pelosi who has personally discussed this issue with me and has a great deal of interest in Lebanon, and recently took the time to travel to Lebanon on a recent trip to the Middle East. Her interest in this country is something that we should all commend. And so I urge the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007. This important legislation authorizes $20 million for both FY 2008 and FY 2009 to provide economic support for Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in Africa. H.R. 2003 provides a framework for support programs designed to impact all aspects of Ethiopian society. The bill would provide financial support to human rights groups to continue their efforts in Ethiopia, as well as expand the Voice of America's Ethiopia program. The legislation would also provide economic development assistance, with a focus on meeting the healthcare needs of the Ethiopian people. The legislation also requires the President to submit a report to the Congress outlining a comprehensive plan to address Ethiopia's many economic, security, and human rights issues. Perhaps most importantly, H.R. 2003 places a number of limitations on our country's dealings with the Ethiopian government, requiring that a number of benchmarks be met before the full support of the United States is realized. The Ethiopian Government must allow the media to operate freely; the judiciary must operate independent of government influence; all political prisoners must be released; internet access cannot be restricted; and human rights and democratization groups must be allowed to operate free of government interference. I believe our country can be a positive and powerful influence to the Ethiopians, and I am thankful that this Congress has turned its attention to a people that struggle to achieve the basic human freedoms that we enjoy. I urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, this is a bill about children and about health care. Now, all of us in this Chamber have the very best health care insurance in the world, bar none. We should be willing to share those kinds of resources with kids in this country. Why should children have to go to an emergency room when they have the flu? Why should children have to go to an emergency room when they have a cold? Why should children have to go to emergency rooms when they are sick? They shouldn't. Not in America. Not where we have the very best health care in the world. My friends, we should give to our children the access to health care that we have, those of us that serve in the House and the Senate. This is a bipartisan compromise. This is an opportunity to take a Republican initiative, share it, move on and give the opportunity to children. I encourage Members to do that, to play on the Republican initiative that was started years ago and to say, we have a bipartisan opportunity to give good health care to children. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, particularly on the Republican side, to vote for this proposal. I thank the chairman for the time. The debate about whether or not to reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program should be easy. This legislation is the product of a bipartisan group that worked to produce a compromise that should be acceptable to all of us. With the shortfall we have seen in several states over the past year, reauthorization of the program at current funding levels is unacceptable. Earlier this year, Illinois faced a $247 million SCHIP shortfall. Many other states were a similar situation before the shortfalls were addressed with new appropriations. By passing this bill today, we may be able to prevent future shortfalls which jeopardize those state programs designed to cover the costs for low income families who can't afford adequate health insurance for their children. Of the estimated six million low-income children who are not eligible for Medicaid, more than 250,000 children were covered by All Kids, Illinois' successful children's insurance program. More than half of those children live in working and middle class families that make too much to qualify for Medicaid but can't afford private insurance. In 2005, more than 25% of all uninsured children in Illinois fell into the $25,000-$35,000 income level range, having nearly doubled from 13% in 2002. At that rate of growth, we must continue to see this program through. With passage of this legislation today, it is estimated that an additional 154,000 Illinois children will be afforded health insurance. An additional 3.8 million children nationwide will be covered. I urge my colleagues to support this vital piece of legislation. It is imperative that we continue to look out for the future health and well-being of this Nation, and that starts with our children today.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 548, a resolution expressing the continued concern that we as a Congress and as a Nation have for the Lebanese people and their government. The Cedar Revolution in 2005 led to the withdrawal of Syrian forces that had occupied Lebanon for more than three decades. After the withdrawal, the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora committed to creating a strong, democratic Lebanon, free of occupation or outside influence. Lebanon is fighting many enemies of freedom, both within and outside the country. We have all seen the horrific news reports of the assassinations and attempted assassinations of anti-Syrian lawmakers in Lebanon, the most recent occurring just last week. The brave men and women who are struggling to move Lebanon forward have become targets in their own country. Hezbollah and other pro-Syrian factions in Lebanon know that they are in the minority, and have begun a desperation campaign to kill as many of their opponents as possible. Members of the Parliament have had to go into hiding outside of Lebanon, and lay their lives on the line when they return to conduct government business. As Lebanon prepares for presidential elections this November, I believe it is vital that we reiterate our support for Lebanon and her people. H. Res. 548 reaffirms our support of the many United Nations resolutions that condemn Syria and Iran for their continued roles in arming the enemies of a free Lebanon, and expresses our appreciation to the many countries that have contributed funding and personnel to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFL). Our Lebanese friends must know that we stand beside them as they continue to strengthen their government and bring to justice those responsible for the killings. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this important resolution.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert a personal explanation at this point with respect to H.R. 811. Although I am listed as a cosponsor of the bill, on further reflection, I do not support the bill and intend to vote against the bill. Were the bill not already on the Union Calendar, I would delete my name from the list of cosponsors.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, this year marks my 30th year in public service. On November 8, 1994, I was honored to be elected to represent the citizens of the 18th District. After working for Congressman Bob Michel and Congressman Tom Railsback for 17 years in the minority party, I never imagined that first election night would cap the day that swept the Republican Party back into the majority on Capitol Hill. Since that first election almost 13 years ago, I have always maintained that this was not a lifetime job. The time has come to honor that commitment. Therefore, today I am announcing that I will not run for re-election in 2008. There is still much to be done in the 110th Congress, and I look forward to that work, but I will retire from public life at the conclusion of this term in January of 2009. I truly believe that public service is a noble profession. The citizens of the 18th District, by electing me as their Representative in the U.S. House, have given me a wonderful opportunity to serve not only them, but all the people of Illinois and of our great country. Being chosen by one's neighbors to represent them in Congress is one of the greatest honors free people can bestow on a fellow citizen. I owe a great debt of gratitude to my supporters for this chance to serve. It is hard to express in words what it means to have the opportunity to represent a district which was once represented by such political giants as Abraham Lincoln, Everett Dirksen, and Bob Michel. Today I cannot help but think of my parents who instilled in me an ethic of hard work and my grandparents, who immigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island and eventually settled in Peoria. They were welcomed with the typical generosity and warmth that characterizes our part of the world. They were good citizens, who worked hard, and raised a great family. That their grandson was able to become a U.S. Representative is proof that ``the American dream'' is not just a slogan but a continuing living reality to those who are willing to make it work. I know that is true, because my fellow citizens helped me live that dream. In the end it is my family to whom I will be forever indebted. During the past 30 years, my family, and particularly my wife Kathy, has carried many burdens and responsibilities alone as I spent time away from them in an effort to live out my political dream and fulfill my obligations as a public servant. They have supported and encouraged me over the past three decades. It is time for me to attempt to repay that debt, and I truly look forward to many wonderful years with my wife, my children, and my grandchildren. God bless the citizens of Illinois who have given me this wonderful opportunity. God bless my family for everything they have endured, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I submit the following article for the Record. Elmwood: City Mourns Loss of Marine Elmwood.--The city continued to grieve the loss of part of its ``family'' Wednesday, mourning the death of Lance Cpl. Ben Desilets, killed in action in Iraq. ``What people don't understand about Elmwood, it's a family. When we lose one person, we all lose,'' said Elmwood High School English teacher Cathy Meyers. Nearly every flag in Elmwood was flying at half-mast to honor Desilets. The 2004 Elmwood High School graduate and another Marine were killed Tuesday in the Anbar province of western Iraq, where Desilets was deployed with 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment. Officials with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, NC., declined to comment on how he died except to say it was during combat operations. A statement from the family stated Desilets, 21, had been behind the wheel of a Humvee when he died in the early morning hours. The other Marine was Cpl Julian M. Woodall, 21, of Tallahassee, Fla. ``He thought he was doing good,'' said his mother, Brenda Desilets. ``I was proud of him. It made him grow up a lot.'' Desilets had been in the Marines since September 2004. He joined, in part, to support his 3-year-old daughter, Kyra. It was Desilets' second tour in Iraq.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lance Cpl. Ben Desilets. Ben was killed in Iraq on Tuesday. He was from Elmwood, Illinois, which is just west of Peoria, Illinois. He was a 2004 graduate of Elmwood High School. In a statement from his family, it was described that Ben was killed behind the wheel of a Humvee when he died in the early morning hours. His mother is quoted as saying in an article in a local paper today, ``He thought he was doing good. I was proud of him. It made him grow up a lot.'' Today, as we honor Ben and all those who have fallen, and we remember our veterans on Memorial Day, we thank them for their service. We thank their families for their service and the great sacrifice that people like Ben and others have made in the name of freedom. God bless Lance Cpl. Ben Desilets and his family.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Teresa Kirkeeng-Kincaid, a remarkable civil servant who dedicated her entire career to making her community, the Illinois River basin, the Upper Mississippi River Region and her Nation a better place. Teresa passed away last week at the young age of 48, after a courageous battle against cancer. Her legacy, however, will continue long into the future. Teresa dedicated her entire professional life to working for the Federal Government. I have long believed that government service is a high and important calling. The hours are often long, the pressures are great, and the monetary compensation is frequently lower than what is available in the private sector. Teresa was one of those individuals who was more concerned with making a difference than making a fortune. Teresa joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a civil engineer with the Rock Island District in 1981, and continued with the Corps for 26 years. In that time, she served in many roles, including Assistant Chief of the Planning, Program and Project Management Division. During her two and a half decades of service, Teresa earned a reputation on the Illinois River basin, the Upper Mississippi Region and across the Nation as a public servant of great dedication and integrity. She played a leadership role in formulating navigation, flood damage, and ecosystem restoration projects throughout the entire Upper Mississippi River basin. She was the ``go to person'' throughout the Corps of Engineers on numerous planning issues. The team she led reestablished the Corps' Planning Associates program to train future planners for the Corps, a legacy that will last for many decades. I had the occasion to meet Teresa several times, and know the very high regard in which she was held by her co-workers, her countless friends, and her loving family. It is my hope they will take solace in the fact that through more than two decades of doing the day-to-day work of democracy, Teresa Kirkeeng-Kincaid truly earned the title of ``hero.''

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice congratulations to The Nature Conservancy of Illinois in honor of its 50th Anniversary, and for the outstanding conservation work it has accomplished in Illinois. Since its establishment in 1957, The Nature Conservancy of Illinois has acquired, restored and preserved nearly 80,000 acres of natural lands at 120 sites throughout the entire State for the benefit of Illinois citizens. The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization, with more than 35,000 members in the State of Illinois and nearly one million members around the world working to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. For the past 50 years The Nature Conservancy in Illinois has been an effective, innovative partner in conservation with local, State, and Federal public land management agencies, other conservation not for profit organizations, corporations, foundations and individual private landowners to create science-based conservation solutions that benefit nature and enhance the well being of people who depend on vital natural resources for their lives and livelihoods. The Nature Conservancy works to improve river life, water quality and restore aquatic ecosystems through projects along the Illinois River including the preserves at Emiquon and Spunky Bottoms, the Cache River in Southern Illinois and the Mackinaw River in central Illinois. By using the best available science, The Nature Conservancy works to conserve our grasslands, prairies, forests at places like Kankakee Sands, Indian Boundary Prairies, Nachusa Grasslands, Chinquapin, and the Illinois Ozarks. The Nature Conservancy is a founding member of Chicago Wilderness, a consortium of more than 200 public and private organizations working together to protect, restore, study and manage the natural ecosystems of the Chicago region, contribute to the conservation of global biodiversity, and enrich local residents' quality of life. In addition, The Nature Conservancy has spearheaded and supported various state policy initiatives that made meaningful contributions to Illinois natural resource management including public funding initiatives, and the Volunteer Stewardship Network to help public and private landowners manage their lands by removing invasive species, collecting native seeds, conducting prescribed burns, reducing pollution and managing precious parcels of land and waterways, and assisting with environmental youth education programs. The Nature Conservancy's Board of Trustees and staff use a non- confrontational and collaborative approach to their work with all sectors of society to achieve meaningful conservation results in Illinois. That is why The Nature Conservancy is a leader in raising awareness of the benefits of nature, conservation and sound environmental practices among Illinois communities, elected officials, and the public at large. I am proud to recognize the contributions The Nature Conservancy has made to significantly improve Illinois landscape and waterways, and congratulate The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Chapter, for its 50 years of conservation work in the State and applaud their efforts across the United States and around the globe to protect and conserve the biodiversity of the Earth.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1591. The bill is a bonanza for numerous factions of the majority party and many special interest groups. You want an increase in the minimum wage? If you pass this bill, it is done. You want agricultural disaster relief that occurred more than 2 years ago? You pass this bill, it gets done. You want billions of dollars for homeland security initiatives without going through the regular process? Pass this bill, and it is done. Let me be clear, I supported an increase in the minimum wage, and I supported it in the appropriations committee last year. I have voted to support relief for our farmers, and I do believe we have to increase our ability to secure airports and our ports, but not through this bill. I do want to say a word of support and thanks to Chairman Murtha and Chairman Obey for highlighting Walter Reed and sending a message that we are not going to close the hospital. We are going to keep it open. We are going to fix it up. We are going to provide the money. That was an important provision in this bill. I have constituents who are leaving Illinois shortly and will soon be back in harm's way. I have never voted against legislation that provided funding for them to safely execute their missions. I trust they recognize what is happening here tonight. They know that we will always work to give them the resources they need, but we will not undercut their efforts by telling our enemies that the United States does not have the fortitude nor the political will to continue our support for the Iraqi people and their government. What is the benefit to giving our enemies a troop withdrawal date that they can circle on their calendar? Why would we give them the aid and comfort of knowing that if they continue their attacks for just 11 more months, the U.S. military will leave Iraq, and it will be under their control? We must pass a clean supplemental that is focused on meeting military needs. We must quit. We must quit being 435 Commanders in Chief and allowing our military leaders on the ground in Iraq to continue to use their skills and expertise to prosecute the war free of political interference. We must acknowledge that the needs of our men and women in uniform are more important than deals made here, campaign sound bites and political grandstanding. We must remember those who sacrificed so much for this war effort and allow their fellow soldiers to continue the mission. We have a job to do here. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bloated, misguided bill and return our focus to where it should have been all along, the needs of our troops. Even with $25 billion in extraneous, non-emergency spending added to sweeten the pot, a big problem remains. You can dress it up all you want, but Members, regardless of party affiliation, know a bad bill when they see it. Leadership may be able to lard up this bill to gain votes, but apparently it hasn't been enough because they still don't have the votes. I am very disappointed, but not surprised, that really surprised, that we are operating here today under a closed rule. I know Members of both parties would like to be able to offer amendments to try to salvage this legislation, but too many arms have been twisted and too many promises have been made to allow any changes now. One amendment passes, and the whole bill unravels. Apparently, one vote, up or down, is all you get when you consider a $125 billion package. Let me be clear. I support an increase in the minimum wage. I support providing relief to farmers when disaster strikes. I support increased funding to improve the airport security process. However, none of these things is worth my supporting a bill that I truly believe will put the lives of our troops in danger. During the Appropriations Committee markup of this bill last week, Chairman Murtha included in his Manager's amendment the text of my amendment that prohibits the use of funds to close the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I am grateful for his assistance about this issue that I consider to be vital to the care of our returning wounded military personnel. But even the inclusion of my own amendment in this bill is not enough to make me hold our troops in combat hostage to political grandstanding. It is unconscionable to me that this House assumes that we can manage the war better than our military leaders. We cannot stand here in the protected environment of the House Chamber and tie the hands of our President and our combatant commanders on the ground in Iraq. We cannot promise our troops the operational money they need to safely do their jobs while announcing their withdrawal date to our enemies. Congress cannot and must not micromanage the war effort. I have constituents who are leaving Illinois shortly and will soon be back in harm's way. I have never voted against any legislation that provided funding for them to safely execute their missions. I trust that they recognize what is happening here today. They know that I will always work to give them the resources they need, but I will not undercut their efforts by telling our enemies that the United States does not have the fortitude or political will to continue our support for the Iraqi people and their new government. What is the benefit to giving our enemies a troop withdrawal date that they can circle on a calendar? Why would we give them the aid and comfort of knowing that if they continue their attacks for just 11 more months, the U.S. military will leave and Iraq will be theirs to control? If enough votes are gained and enough arms are twisted and this legislation reaches the President's desk, he will veto it, with my strong support. Our troops will suffer while the majority continues to try to unite their deeply divided caucus. Our troops will continue their missions as best they can, but how long do you plan on making them wait for the funding they need? We must pass a clean supplemental that focuses on meeting military needs. We must quit trying to be 435 Commanders-in-Chief and allow our military leaders on the ground in Iraq to continue to use their skill and expertise to prosecute the war, free of political interference. We must acknowledge that the needs of our men and women in uniform are more important than backroom deals, campaign sound bites, and political grandstanding. We must remember those who sacrificed so much for this war effort and allow their fellow soldiers to continue their mission. We have a job to do here. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bloated, misguided bill and return our focus to where it should have been all along: the needs of our troops.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I want to say I thank you for admonishing the prior speaker. The words that he used could have been taken down. We don't need people out here on the floor calling the President names. I appreciate what the Speaker said to him, and I hope other Members will listen.

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my constituent and friend James Ghiglieri of Toluca, Illinois. On March 5, 2007, Jim will become chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America, the Nation's largest community bank trade association. Community banks are locally operated financial institutions that empower employees to provide individualized customer service. These financial institutions serve as the backbone to communities across the country. As President of the Alpha Community Bank of Toluca, Jim carries on the Ghiglieri family commitment to community service that was started almost 100 years ago by his father and grandfather. Jim's outstanding dedication to community service is recognized throughout Central Illinois. Jim is highly regarded in his profession and extremely deserving of this honor. The 5,000 members of the Independent Community Bankers of America will be well represented with Jim as their spokesperson. I congratulate Jim on this appointment and thank him for his dedication and service to build financial security in our communities throughout the country.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution. More importantly, I rise today to express my support for our Commander in Chief and the men and women serving in the Armed Forces. It is simply not possible to claim that you support the troops while completely disavowing their mission. Our troops in Iraq put their mission first, above all else, even their own safety. How can we even consider passing a resolution stating that we do not support providing them the manpower that they need to accomplish their mission? How does this support the morale? How does this show them that we have confidence in their abilities? As we all know, this resolution has no real legal authority, it is preemptive, purely political, without taking the difficult step of offering an alternative proposal. At first I thought this debate was simply political theater, 3 days of speeches and sound bites. But now we are learning this resolution is simply the first step. The gentleman from Virginia quoted in The Washington Post yesterday, saying: This is just the bark, this resolution is the bark, the real bite will be in 2 weeks when they trot out a continuing resolution or appropriation bill that will cut off the funds to the troops. I hope you are all relishing the opportunity to support that appropriation to cut off the troops. This is the bark. The next the step is to cut off the funds. I supported the original resolution authorizing force. I have served on the Intelligence Committee for 8 years, and I believe we have done the right thing. I believe our troops have done the right thing. Saddam is gone. He has been tried and executed; 12 million Iraqis, over 70 percent of the people, have voted for their own leadership. The army and the police are being trained. Schools and hospitals are being built and opened. Coalition forces have done the best they can under extraordinary circumstances. Iraqis need to continue to take control of the security. And in every discussion we have had with the Commander in Chief, he has been on the phone talking to the Prime Minister, persuading him that the American people are becoming impatient, that he has to take control of his government, he has to stand up an army, he has to stand up a police force. I believe the Commander in Chief, the President, will hold the Prime Minister's feet to the fire and hold the Iraqi Government accountable so that they can begin to take full control of the responsibilities. I think when that happens we will have achieved a great deal. I will not vote for this resolution that does nothing but show our enemies that the House of Representatives does not support our military. This ignores the more than 3,100 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. We turn our backs on the 3,100 when we pass a resolution like this. And we also turn our backs on those that are doing the hard work in Iraq today. When I have had opportunities to visit those who have served from my district, who have come back, I have not heard one word of complaining, not one word of whining, no wringing of hands, only an opportunity to serve. And so I urge my colleagues to stand up for the troops, stand up for the military, stand up for those who have done the hard work. Stand up for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Vote down this resolution and send the message that we stand with those who stand for freedom and hope and opportunity.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Speaker Pelosi for naming the first African American woman to be Clerk of the House of Representatives. And in doing so, I want to recognize the outstanding service of one Karen Haas. Mr. Speaker, the reason I want to do this is because earlier on in her career, Karen and I both worked for then-Republican leader Bob Michel, and she was one of three or four people that ran the leader's office and did an extraordinary job. She then came to work for Speaker Hastert and had the assignment of trying to find people who could keep this House under control. And because of her extraordinary skill and abilities, Speaker Hastert appointed her Clerk of the House, which is an impossible job because she has to put up with all of us, and she also has to keep the House running. She is an enormously talented woman and has done a great, great job for those of us who serve in the House. Tomorrow is her last day as Clerk of the House, and I thank all of you for giving her a standing ovation for a job well done.

Mr. LaHOOD. Of course I will yield.

Mr. LaHOOD. I thank the majority leader. Good luck, Karen. Thank you for doing a great job.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, as a Lebanese American, I rise here today to recognize the celebration of St. Maron Feast Day on February 11, 2007, by The Parish of Our Lady of Mount Lebanon in Los Angeles. They are planning a grand banquet at the Biltmore Hotel for this occasion and are honoring the 20th anniversary of the priesthood of Father Abdallah Zaidan, their pastor, and John Milad Nisser, who is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. Born in Kseibe, Lebanon, Rev. Zaidan joined the Congregation of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries and earned his Master's degrees at St. John's University in New York. He entered Novitiate in September 1980 and was ordained in July 1986. Father Abdullah E. Zaidan received his Master's in Theology in 1986, his Master's in Philosophy in 1987, and his Master's in Education in 1990. Beginning his service in Lebanon as a Chaplain and teacher, Rev. Zaidan immigrated to the United States in 1988. He became Assistant Rector at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Brooklyn, and in January 1990, became Pastor of St. George Maronite Catholic Church in San Antonio. Beginning in August 1992, Father Zaidan became Regional Superior of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries in the United States and is currently the Rector of Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter Cathedral in Los Angeles, and Protopresbyter for the Southwest and Northwest Regions of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, as well as several other important positions within the church and the community. I join the parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Lebanon to congratulate Rev. Zaidan for his 20 years of wonderful service. Furthermore, I would also like to honor John Milad Nisser who will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award. John Nisser was born in Batroun, a small town north of Beirut, in Lebanon. His father died when he was just 15, so John took it upon himself to provide for his family by taking odd jobs and tutoring the children of wealthy families. By doing so, he was able to provide for the other five children while becoming fluent in French, Arabic, English, and later Spanish. In 1947, John left Lebanon and journeyed first to South America and eventually to California. In California, he turned to the place of his faith for comfort and joined the church of Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon. Here he married Rosalie Barhouse in 1949. Dreaming of owning his own business, he purchased and operated a small market. Still, he wanted to do more. After finally securing the necessary loans, he and Rosalie built and managed several apartment buildings, and later constructed three senior citizen homes. Through all this, he has never stopped giving thanks to God and his country for what life has given him. Due to his generosity, the church of St. Stephens in Batroun has been given new windows, an organ, pews, and a hearse. He has sponsored the building of the St. Vincent DePaul nursing home and set up an Endowment Fund through Our Lady of Mount Lebanon to provide for the poor in Lebanon. Here in the United States, many Lebanese transfer students were offered free rent in his apartments during the duration of their education. Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon has consistently been a recipient of his generosity. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring these two men who have contributed greatly to their communities and touched the lives of many.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that it is in the best interest of the country to play the blame game on how we reached the current appropriations situation. The fact of the matter is that the 109th Congress did not get its work done on time, and we are here today to correct that problem. Before we vote on this bill, I feel compelled to make a couple of observations. First and foremost, I want to thank Mr. Obey and his staff for the hard work that they have put into this bill. Mr. Obey faced an enormous task, and I believe that no matter how hard he tried, it would be impossible to address all of the funding needs. However, I am concerned that despite all the rhetoric that the majority would work with the minority in crafting legislation, this bill was put together in the back room by the House and Senate majority, with little to no input from the minority. In addition, when discussing the nature of the CR, the majority stressed that this bill would not contain any earmarks. Yet, after negotiations were completed between the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, it appears that this bill will continue to fund a limited number of earmarks championed by the Senate. While these earmarks are technical in nature, and the case can be made that they should not be considered earmarks, the fact of the matter is that they are earmarks, and I believe that it is wrong for us to stand up and claim that this bill does not contain earmarks when it does. Given that we are operating under a closed rule, and that it us unlikely that the Senate will remove their earmarks, I am resigned to the fact that it is unlikely that we will have an opportunity to change this legislation. Had we operated under regular order, I believe that a bipartisan Appropriations committee could have crafted a more balanced bill, which I would have been willing to support.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Hare for reintroducing this bill. Last year, when Congressman Evans announced that he was leaving the House because of his very debilitating illness, Parkinson's disease, I introduced a bill, along with the rest of my colleagues from Illinois, to name the post office in Rock Island in honor of Lane. I did that because I met Lane Evans when he was a young, energetic, enthusiastic young man in 1982 running for Congress. At the time, I happened to be working for the sitting Congressman from that district, a fellow by the name of Congressman Tom Railsback. It was Lane's good fortune that Mr. Railsback lost his primary to a very conservative Republican, and that opened the opportunity, as Phil knows, for Lane to win that seat that had been held for a long, long time by Republicans. Since the time that Lane Evans was elected to Congress, he has distinguished himself with really three particular groups of people in the 17th District. He has been a voice for those people, particularly, in the 17th District who might not have had a voice here in Washington; and I speak of senior citizens who he is beloved by. I speak of veterans who he is equally beloved by, and I speak of the hardworking men and women, the blue-collar workers of the 17th District. Those are the people that Lane Evans truly represented in Washington, D.C., in a way that distinguished his career for 24 years here in the House, but, more importantly, back in the western part of Illinois in a way that I think will not be replicated. Lane was probably one of the hardest-working congressmen, but he is someone who never forgot where he came from. He grew up in Rock Island. He was educated, at least his undergraduate degree, in Rock Island; and he continued to travel back and forth to his district every weekend. That is what made him so popular. When people would come to me and talk to me about the idea of running against Lane as a Republican, I have told people the story that I think there are some people in politics that are impossible to beat, and Lane Evans was one of those people. The only way that Lane would ever leave this place would be voluntarily, which he did at the end of the last term. But it was because of his hard work and his dedication to senior citizens, to veterans and to hardworking blue-collar people in the western part of Illinois that made him a politician and a public servant that set the highest standard possible, a standard that all of us can look to in doing our work. So the least we can do today is name the post office in Rock Island in his honor. I am sure there will be many other honors bestowed upon him. I don't know if Lane is watching this from a television in his home in Moline; but if he is, I want him to know this is one Republican in the House that has great admiration and great respect for him because of the work that he did, and because of the way he represented people from western Illinois. We wish him Godspeed. We wish him good health. We want him to know that he is in our thoughts and prayers today as we vote on the bill to honor him, but we will long remember his distinguished service and long continue to pray that he will have the healing hand of God placed on his shoulder.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Dreier for yielding to me. I find it a little puzzling that the author of this legislation has continued to refer to it during his remarks as a ``task force.'' I see no language in the legislation that was authored by the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee that calls for a task force. I think it is also puzzling, too, that that term has been entered into the Record, which can be found nowhere in the legislation. I also think it is peculiar that the gentleman from Florida, who has served with me now for 8 years on the Intelligence Committee, would be willing to create more bureaucracy. The gentleman knows full well we need no more bureaucracy to bog down the intelligence community. We have sat there time after time and listened to people from the intelligence community come to our committee. We need no more bureaucracy. And you know as well as I do, it takes 4 to 5 years for people on the committee to understand the terms and the agencies. And now you are going to create another level that has to educate all of these people to get up to speed? Come on, Mr. Hastings. You know better. And to have this committee or task force, I don't know which, appointed by only the Speaker of the House is unprecedented. It means that our leader has no say in who is appointed to this task force or committee. Unprecedented. You would never stand for that. Mr. Obey and Mr. Hastings, you would be up here screaming bloody murder if we tried to pull that stunt on you. This is not fair. It is not right. Our side should have our say. This is an insult to the gentleman sitting on that side of the Chamber, Mr. Murtha, and the gentleman sitting on that side of the Chamber, Mr. Young, who have overseen as representatives as the once chairman and now chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. You don't have faith in them? You don't think they can look over the intelligence budget? I do not know about you, Mr. Murtha, but I suspect you have some doubts. I know Mr. Young does. This is an insult to both of you and to the Appropriations Committee and to the Defense Subcommittee. Do these gentlemen need oversight? No, they don't. Vote against this lousy bill. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to George Manias, a man who is a legend in my hometown of Peoria, Illinois. Yesterday, George Manias celebrated the 60th anniversary of the opening of his shoeshine business in Peoria. George Manias is the true personification of the American dream. The son of Greek immigrants who spoke no English when he came to Peoria, he was just 16 years old when he opened his business. From that first day in the corner of a downtown barbershop, George has worked tirelessly to make his shop a great success. George has shined the shoes of countless people, from his fellow Peorians to former Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. The walls of his shop are covered with photos and clippings of the more famous of his customers, but each customer is special to George. His pride in his workmanship and his love of people are evident no matter who walks through his door. This week, the Peoria City Council honored George with a resolution commemorating his 60th anniversary, and tonight, there is a big celebration planned for him. I want to add my congratulations to George and his family on reaching this milestone in his career. George Manias is truly the pride of Peoria.