Steven LaTourette

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 166 and H.R. 1018.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1018) to designate the building located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, as the ``James L. Watson United States Court of International Trade Building''.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

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

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

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 96) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as an aside, it is a pleasure to be here this morning again and see the House presided over by a cagey veteran from the Fifth District of Washington. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 96 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the 22nd Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service to be held on May 15, 2003. The service will be held on the West Front of the Capitol grounds and is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and its Auxiliary. The event is open to the public and free of charge, and the sponsor assumes responsibility for all expenses and liabilities related to the event. Additionally, the sponsors of the event must comply with all applicable regulations relating to the use of the Capitol grounds. This memorial service honors 161 peace officers that have given their lives in the line of duty during the year 2002. Officers gave their lives protecting every State in the Union. This service will honor, and I would like to recognize at this time, four peace officers killed in the line of duty in my home State of Ohio during last year. Deputy Sheriff Robert Michael Tanner, of the Muskingum County Sheriff's Department, shot and killed on January 8; Patrolman Eric Bradford Taylor, of the Massillon Police Department, shot and killed on August 9; Officer Mary Lynn Beall, of the Dayton Police Department, shot and killed on August 25; And Park Ranger James Pitney of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, killed on December 17. Each of those officers, Mr. Speaker, was killed while protecting their community. This memorial service is a very important event. I encourage all of our colleagues to attend this service in honor of our fallen heroes. I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the gentleman from Tennessee has ever had the thrill of being present during the running of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I was very fortunate during this last redistricting period to pick up places in Summit County, which is where the city of Akron, Ohio, is located, together with the gentlemen from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) and (Mr. Brown) from your side of the aisle, and we now represent the environs in and around the Akron area. Clearly, Akron, like a lot of the urban centers across America, has been through some tough times. It used to be known as the Rubber Capital of the World. We had Goodyear, Goodrich, and Firestone all located within the environs of Akron, Ohio. But one of the great prides and joys of our northeastern Ohio area is having the honor of having the national finals of the soap box derby occurring in Akron, Ohio. It is something that is widely attended. It is an experience where these youngsters who are 9 to 16 years of age learn not only the thrill of competing against their peers from all over the country, but they also have the opportunity to actually build the vehicles that they will race here in Washington and also in Akron, Ohio; and they learn craftsmanship as well as teamwork and a tremendous sense of accomplishment. So I really appreciate the gentleman coming to the floor today and managing the bill on behalf of the minority, and I hope all of our colleagues will support our legislation. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. The last speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello), served as the ranking member on this subcommittee during the last Congress; and although we are pleased to have the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) as our new ranking member, the service that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello) provided to the subcommittee was greatly appreciated by those of us on our side of the aisle; and we do miss his guidance and leadership on a number of these important resolutions. It is an honor to serve in the Congress with him. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 53) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby, as amended.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 53 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds on June 21, 2003, for the 62nd annual Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. This event is open to the public and free of charge. The sponsor of the event assumes all of the responsibilities and liabilities associated with the event. Additionally, the sponsors must comply with all applicable regulations relating to the use of the Capitol grounds. Children participating in the event range in ages from 9 to 16 and compete in three open divisions depending on their level of experience. The races will occur on Constitution Avenue between Delaware Avenue and Third Street, Northwest. Winners of the event will go on to represent the Washington Metropolitan Area at the national finals to be held in Akron, Ohio, later in the summer, which are held every year. I support the resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our time to indicate I am glad we received that announcement because I had run out of soap box derby things to talk about. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

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

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

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 58 introduced by our distinguished colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) honors the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and its many partners for the Festival of Flight, a celebration of the centennial of Wilbur and Orville Wright's first flight, the first controlled, powered flight in history. Mr. Speaker, on December 17, 1903, a pair of Ohio bicycle shop owners and brothers named Orville and Wilbur Wright realized their lifelong dream of operating an engine-powered flight machine. On that historic day, they had traveled about 120 feet in the air for 12 seconds at the helm of the 1903 Flyer, a vehicle they had constructed after years of labor and research. The Wright brothers were pioneers in the truest sense of the term. Their strong desire to create a flying vehicle was frustrated only by the fact that there was so little aeronautical data that existed at the time on which to base their efforts. But the Wright brothers focused their ambition into building a wind tunnel from which they could generate their own empirical information on how to lift a vehicle into the air. They even designed and constructed their own lightweight gas-powered engine that produced only 12 horsepower, but was a massive innovation at the time. The brothers began large-scale testing of their ideas with the combination kite and glider in 1900. Their ideas tested on this aircraft were further refined into a glider they fashioned in 1901. Using the information generated from their glider along with the wind tunnel data, Orville and Wilbur constructed the Flyer in 1903. The plane featured the two-tiered wing design with two propellers that we have all seen in the photographs. The wings were 40 feet long and were separated 5 feet apart, one on top of the other. The plane weighed right around 700 pounds. Comparatively, a Boeing 747 today has an overall wing span of more than 231 feet and weighs 875,000 pounds at takeoff. Mr. Speaker, this House ought to commemorate the Wright brothers' inspirational story. It is hard to argue against the notion that few events in the 20th century had greater social, cultural, or economic impacts on today's world than Orville and Wilbur Wright's first momentous flight. Therefore, I urge all Members to join Fayetteville, North Carolina, in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight by supporting the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 58. I want to thank and commend the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) for introducing this important measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 58) honoring the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and its many partners for the Festival of Flight, a celebration of the centennial of Wilbur and Orville Wright's first flight, the first controlled, powered flight in history.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1505) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2127 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, as the ``Jim Richardson Post Office''.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the legislation, 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. 1505 has been introduced by our esteemed colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt), and it designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2127 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte, North Carolina as the ``Jim Richardson Post Office Building.'' Mr. Speaker, State Senator Jim Richardson of Charlotte, North Carolina was a venerable public servant who deserves acknowledgment by this House. Mr. Richardson earned one term as a State representative, followed by 4 terms in the Senate of the Tarheel State. His time serving in the North Carolina State legislature followed a distinguished 33-year career with the United States Postal Service. He reached the rank of postmaster in Mount Holly, North Carolina, and was recognized with a Postal Service Certificate of Appreciation for his outstanding career. By all accounts, Jim Richardson was one of the most friendly and most wonderful men one would ever meet. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, I understand that Mr. Richardson was diagnosed with cancer 3 years ago and he is conducting a brave fight. I know I speak for all Members when I say that the thoughts and prayers of this entire House are with Mr. Richardson and his family. Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge all Members to support the adoption of H.R. 1505. I want to thank our colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt), for introducing this meaningful measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill now under consideration.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 145, the bill just passed.