Steven LaTourette

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that half of our time, 10 minutes, be yielded to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and that he be permitted to yield time from that 10 minutes.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against section 151 on page 35, line 25, through page 36, line 5. This provision violates clause 2 of rule XXI. It changes existing law and therefore constitutes legislating on an appropriation bill in violation of House rules.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the phrase ``notwithstanding any other provision of law'' on page 34, line 4. This phrase violates clause 2 of rule XXI. It changes existing law and therefore constitutes legislating on an appropriation bill in violation of House rules.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against page 32, line 25, beginning with ``provided further'' through page 33, line 3. This provision violates clause 2 of rule XXI. It changes existing law and therefore constitutes legislating on an appropriation bill in violation of House rules.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the amendment offered by our colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the ranking member of the Small Business Committee. In my district in northeastern Ohio, locally owned small businesses are the foundation of our communities, from tool and die makers to landscapers to mom and pop corner hardware stores. The Small Business Administration 7(a) program has a proud history of ensuring that these small businesses will continue to have access to affordable financing. As the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) has noted, changes were made to the 7(a) program last year that dramatically altered its funding structure by eliminating the Federal Government's contribution and making the entire program self-sustaining. I have seen the data from my district on the amount of funding provided to small businesses since the program was altered, and I have heard the arguments that the program is actually more stable and that lending has not dropped off. And while I have nothing but respect for not only the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) but also the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Manzullo), I have to ask myself what could have been. If a furniture maker in Middlefield, Ohio, wanted access to capital to expand his facilities but decided against it because the fees on the 7(a) loan would have been too much of a burden for his business, how many more jobs could we have created if we had continued the Federal participation in the 7(a) program? And I listened intently and I have the greatest respect for the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) when he spoke against the last amendment, the last couple of amendments on the Byrne issue when across-the-board amendment cuts are not a good idea. And I agree with that. But I want to congratulate the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) for where we found the offsets. They come from the IT accounts at the Justice Department, the State Department, and the Small Business Administration. It is my understanding, and if I am wrong in this regard I am sure the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) can correct me, that relative to the Justice Department, it comes from a proposal to sell off and replace computer broadband and replace with narrow band, allowing them to sell the broadband, and money will actually be recouped to finance that. Secondly, in the State Department they are charging fees on visas which would also allow those upgrades. And relative to the IT account in the Small Business Administration, the upgrade that needs to take place in the country is the small business community. And I would just indicate that, you know, on this side of the aisle we champion all the time that small businesses in this country are the backbone, the drivers of this economy. The 7(a) program needs Federal participation to not only be as good as it is today but to be better tomorrow.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for his agreement. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, it is my intention to ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment at the conclusion of my remarks. I want to commend Chairman Lewis of the full committee, Chairman Rogers of the subcommittee, and also Chairman Young of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for having dialogues on these particular sections. These sections in H.R. 2360 make appropriations to three State and local grant programs that are not and have never been authorized, specifically, a trucking industry security grant system, an inner city bus security grants and inner city rail, freight rail and transit security grants. In each of these areas, the Department of Transportation has existing and ongoing security programs that are managed at the Federal and State level by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and State safety oversight agencies. The FRA act provides the Federal Railroad Administration with strong authority to promote rail safety in every aspect of rail operations. The FRA has a robust and active inspector workforce that is on the ground every day inspecting the safety and security of America's freight railroads, and the same with the truck safety and the same with the bus safety. I want to commend the appropriations subcommittee for looking at this problem, but I want to point out that, one, there is no authorization from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; two, it is my understanding in the homeland security bill that will be on the floor tomorrow there is no authorization as well. One of the problems that we have seen in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure right here in the District of Columbia, Mr. Chairman, is the city council and the District of Columbia when they have looked at a pot of money or when they have looked at a program that has been passed by homeland security but has not gone back and referenced the Federal Rail Act have said, You know what? No more trains going through the District of Columbia. You are going to have copycat legislation like this all over the United States of America. It is my understanding, and I would invite the distinguished subcommittee chairman to comment if he would want to, that Chairman Lewis and Chairman Young have talked about the fact that we need to make sure that we do not create an overlay of law and regulation that permits these NIMBY things to pop up. Obviously, everybody in this House wants the safest rail system, safest trucking system, and the safest inner-city bus systems in the world. But we cannot do it if we create a fund over here, a fund over there, and a fund over there. I would hope that the chairman perhaps could commit to us to working as this bill goes to conference to see how we can put these into existing programs or work out new programs that achieve what I know the chairman is trying to achieve.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I do agree. And I want to thank the distinguished subcommittee chairman. I know some of the frustration that some of us have felt is that the TSA should be named the Aviation Security Administration rather than the Transportation Security Administration. So I know that what the gentleman and the subcommittee were attempting to do was shared by at least this gentleman and I would assume most of the people in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Our concern, and I think our concern has always been, as we move forward, that we not create two parallel universes, neither of which has sufficient money to get this job done. And the only purpose of this amendment, which I am going to withdraw when I am through yielding to the gentleman, was that we look at existing programs that already exist and if we want to put $150 million dollars in for rail security that it go to the FTA and that we say that it is going to be used only for security and it is not going to be used for other goofy stuff.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, today is National Teacher Day. It is a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives. This day acknowledges the fact that a great teacher can make a world of difference in any child's life. A great teacher may be the bridge between the mediocre and true excellence. Our society owes a debt of gratitude to those teachers who have helped us along the way. In this spirit, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary teacher, David W. Shaner. On February 3, 2005, at the age of 83, Mr. Shaner died near his winter home in the Villages, Florida. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Shaner was a teacher at Riverside High School in Painesville, Ohio. Mr. Shaner was born Sept. 18, 1921, in Cherry Tree, PA. Since his retirement in 1985, Mr. Shaner divided his time between his homes in Erie, PA, Painesville and the Villages, FL. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in the China-Burma- India theatre, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. He was an honors graduate of Lebanon Valley College. As a teacher, Mr. Shaner demanded excellence, and most often received it. He had little patience for laziness or ``can't do'' attitudes. He also had a remarkable zeal for life. He was brilliant, lively, humorous, and loved the arts. Mr. Shaner was very devoted to his family, his friends and his former students. He consistently encouraged his students to reach for greatness in order to realize their potential. As recently as 1998, the community gathered in his honor in The David W. Shaner Auditorium at Riverside High School in Painesville Township. The event, The Living Legacy Concert, included performances by former students who have distinguished themselves in the performing arts. Among them was renowned opera singer, Heidi Skok (Riverside Class of 1985), who encapsulated Mr. Shaner's influence on his students, ``He instilled a sense of discipline that even today I use in my career . . . he always set the bar up higher and made you want to grab that bar, which is what helps you succeed.'' During the last days of his life, he spoke by telephone to many of his former students and colleagues whose lives he continued to touch as both a friend and mentor. His discipline and selfless dedication to his students and his craft were legendary. He said it best himself, ``I dedicated my life to teaching and play-directing and making students live the very best lives they can. One must be proud of oneself. Teachers need to set an example for students.'' Mr. Shaner joined the faculty of Riverside High School in 1951, where he taught English, drama and theater. In his illustrious 34-year career, he produced 54 plays, including ``Annie Get your Gun,'' ``Seventeen,'' ``The Man Who Came to Dinner,'' ``Meet Me in St. Louis,'' ``The Sound of Music,'' ``Camelot,'' ``The Miracle Worker,'' ``Fiddler on the Roof,'' ``The Diary of Anne Frank'' and ``Bye Bye Birdie.'' David W. Shaner is more than worthy of receiving Congressional recognition today on National Teacher Day--a day fitting to honor America's classroom heroes. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this remarkable person, and I ask that all Americans thank a teacher today.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, today I had a flag flown over the United States Capitol in honor of Louis Capet Shepard, the only Medal of Honor winner from Ashtabula County, Ohio, which is in my congressional district. Shepard served in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. Louis C. Shepard was born in Ashtabula on September 2, 1841, and served in the Navy as an ordinary seaman. Shepard was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor during the assault on Fort Fisher in North Carolina. The Medal of Honor is the country's highest award for valor. Each time a Medal of Honor is awarded, the following words are spoken: ``For Conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity in Action at the Risk of Life, Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.'' These words certainly exemplify Shepard's actions during the assault on Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865. According to records, Shepard was honored for advancing gallantly through severe enemy fire while armed only with a revolver and cutlass which made it impossible to return the fire at that range. Shepard succeeded in not only reaching the angle of the fort, but in being one of the few to enter it. When the rest of the men to his rear were forced to retreat due to devastating fire, Shepard was forced to withdraw and seek the shelter of one of the mounds near the stockade. Shepard then succeeded in regaining the safety of his ship. Shepard was just 23 years old at the time. After the fall of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865, the Confederate army evacuated its remaining forts in the Cape Fear area, and Union forces soon overtook Wilmington. Once Wilmington fell, the supply line of the Confederacy was severed, and the war soon ended. It's a tremendous honor for Ashtabula County to be the home of a Medal of Honor winner. Fewer than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since the decoration was created in 1861. There were 1,522 awards for the Civil War, and 307 of the medals were awarded to men in the Navy. Of those, 195 medals went to Ohioans, including Shepard, who died at the age of 77 and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Port Clinton. Mr. Speaker, the flag that was flown over the United States Capitol today will be unveiled on Memorial Day during the dedication ceremony for the new Ashtabula County Veterans Memorial. I applaud VFW Post 3334 in Jefferson for their efforts on behalf of the new memorial, and for choosing to honor the valor of Louis C. Shepard, the only Medal of Honor winner from Ashtabula County.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) for yielding me this time, and, Mr. Speaker, I am a recovering member of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. I just want to tell my story briefly about a complaint that was pending last year. When the complaint was pending, these good government groups indicated that I was unfit to sit in judgment because the majority leader had donated to my campaign over 10 years and I was corrupt. When I voted unanimously with my colleagues to send a couple of letters to the majority leader, I then possessed the wisdom of Solomon. When the Speaker replaced me on the committee with other members this year, I am now up for sainthood in a number of churches across the country. I tell this story because what I think what the Speaker was attempting to get at, during the course of that complaint there were press conferences held by people, rather than letting the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct do its work. And the Speaker saw that one of the rules changes was, you know what, you cannot choose your own lawyer. Well, that is ridiculous, and I do not think any of us would stand for that in any other venue. He also, during consideration of one of the complaints, found that two members, who did not even have any part of what allegedly was going on, received letters from the committee saying, your conduct is in question. He felt that due process was required in that situation, and I agree with him, and I think most people in this body would agree with him. I would hope as we make these changes, and I want to commend Speaker Hastert, because this is a magnanimous gesture on his part, it is tough to recognize and admit that maybe something was not done in an appropriate way and that we take a step back and do it, and Speaker Hastert has had the courage to do that today. But the next step, Mr. Speaker, I will tell you, is going to be that there will be a complaint filed against a Republican or a Democrat and there will be these outside interest groups that say, if it is against the Democrat, the five Democrats on the committee are trying to protect their buddy; or if it is against a Republican, that the five Republicans are attempting to protect their friend and their buddy. I would hope as we make these changes, with the Speaker's blessing, that every Member of this House commit themselves to let the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct do their work, and we never impugn the integrity of the men and women who serve honorably.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 41, a resolution that honors one of America's greatest charities. This year marks the 101st year since the founding of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Over the past century, this organization has been devoted to the well-being and development of our Nation's young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters aims to provide a mentor to every child who wants or needs one. Today, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves over 200,000 children ages 6 to 18, nationwide. Performance statistics prove that children who are mentored by Big Brothers Big Sisters are much less likely than their peers to use illegal drugs or alcohol, to skip school, and are more likely to have strong relationships with their families. Today, the House specifically recognizes the thousands of mentors who have made a difference through Big Brothers Big Sisters during its first century. Mentoring a child requires no special training or experience, just a willingness to spend time with a child during his or her formative years. We salute their compassion. Mr. Speaker, along with my distinguished colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), I commend Big Brothers Big Sisters for its commitment to helping children in need reach their potential, and I urge the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 41. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), one of the lead cosponsors of this legislation.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this post office naming legislation honors a wonderful civic leader. Tony Armstrong had served as mayor of Sparks, Nevada, since being first elected in 1999. Sadly, Mayor Armstrong passed away on January 29 from complications due to a December surgery to remove his spleen. He was 59 years of age. H.R. 1256 will name a post office in his honor in his hometown of Sparks, and I support its passage. Mr. Speaker, with the exception of a 6-year stint in the Nevada Air National Guard during the 1960s, Tony Armstrong had lived in Sparks since the age of 4. In 1989, he was elected to the Sparks City Council, where he served until becoming mayor in 1999. He was a man whose passionate principles shaped his leadership. As his former colleague on the city council, Councilman Mike Carrigan said, ``Mayor Armstrong's priorities were God first, his family second, and the City of Sparks third. Mayor Armstrong is survived by his beloved wife, Debby, and his adult children Richard, Keith and Misti. Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Armstrong family. Mr. Speaker, I know that my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) was very close with Mayor Armstrong. They grew up together and they have served the people of Nevada together. I thank the gentleman for honoring his friend, Tony Armstrong, by dedicating this post office in his honor, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1236. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1236) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 750 4th Street in Sparks, Nevada, as the ``Mayor Tony Armstrong Memorial Post Office''.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) for his reflections of his friend, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for his reflections of his friend, urge passage of the bill; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1524 designates this postal facility in Overland Park, Kansas, as the Ed Eilert Post Office Building. The four members of the Kansas State congressional delegation have all endorsed this legislation, and I join them in support of the bill. After more than a quarter of a century, Ed Eilert stepped down from being a leader in Overland Park government on Monday, April 11. Ed Eilert's public service career began when he was elected to the Overland Park City Council in 1977. In 1981, he was elected to the first of six terms as mayor of Overland Park that spanned 24 years. Overland Park has doubled in population and become Kansas' second largest city under Mayor Eilert's direction. Without question, Ed Eilert is a one-man institution in east central Kansas. This post office on Antioch Road is a natural and deserved commemoration of Mayor Eilert's legacy and distinguished leadership. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Members of the House, I congratulate Mayor Ed Eilert on his tremendous tenure in local government and wish him the very best in retirement. I applaud the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for working toward passage of H.R. 1524. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.