Stephen Lynch

Mr. LYNCH

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

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

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1506) to provide that claims of the United States to certain documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present H.R. 1506 for consideration. This legislation will facilitate the donation of the Grace Tully archive to the National Archives and Records Administration. H.R. 1506 was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Louise Slaughter of New York, on March 12, 2009, and favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee by voice vote on October 29, 2009. In addition, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 1506, Senate bill 692, introduced by Senator Charles Schumer of New York, was passed by the United States Senate on October 14, 2009, by unanimous consent. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Grace Tully served as the personal secretary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt from June of 1941 to April of 1945. In her capacity as personal secretary to the President, Ms. Tully preserved an assortment of personal papers and other historical items related to President Roosevelt that have come to form a historically significant collection. While the private owner of the Grace Tully collection would like to donate the materials to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, the National Archives and Records Administration, which administers the Roosevelt Library, has asserted a claim to a portion of the collection. Notably, the claim asserted by the National Archives impacts whether the private owner may claim a tax deduction for the donation. In order to facilitate the donation of the Grace Tully archive, H.R. 1506 waives the government's claim to the records and will thereby allow the collection to be gifted to the Roosevelt Library. Mr. Speaker, the Grace Tully archive represents an important part of American history. Through the passage of H.R. 1506, we will ensure that this collection will be properly preserved and made publicly available through the Roosevelt Library. I would also like to note that this legislation enjoys the support of the National Archives. As noted by former Acting Archivist Adrienne Thomas in a letter sent to the Oversight Committee last month: ``I write to express my strong support for the ongoing legislative effort to facilitate the donation to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library of the Tully archive through House bill H.R. 1506 and its Senate companion, Senate 692.'' Ms. Thomas went on to say that ``it is very important to the National Archives and Records Administration, and for future historians that might want to study these papers, for the Tully archive to be kept intact and made fully accessible to the American people in a public government archive.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1506. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. LYNCH. On behalf of the sponsor here, Representative Louise Slaughter, I encourage my friends from both sides of the aisle to join us in supporting H.R. 1506.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, the point I was making is that this time, this time right now, has been reserved for this purpose specifically; and this is a regular occasion during the week that we do this. Again, while we have extended a courtesy to Members of the Republican side, from the minority, so that they would know when votes are expected on the floor, and we have put that to a time certain. The reason that we are dealing with ceremonial matters, commemorative matters here, is because Members are not all in the District of Columbia right now; they're not all in Washington. They are traveling here. This is a matter of courtesy, a courtesy extended to the minority Members so that when matters of contest and of dispute might arise, they would be here in full numbers, having the full opportunity to debate those matters.

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

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. But I do want to point out that the reason we are here, dealing with noncontroversial items and commemorative items, in fact, is because the House is not scheduled to take up votes, according to the calendar, until 6:30. So we use this time to take up matters that are noncontroversial, and we postpone votes so that Members can come in during the day. They are flying in during the process. So this is a regularly scheduled event here. This is when we take up matters that are noncontroversial, such as this one, which recognizes the importance of Filipino Americans. This is important to the Filipino American community. It is very, very important and well deserved. I think it is appropriate at a time like this to take the time to recognize their accomplishments and for being an important part of our Nation's history and our culture. I resent the fact that the inference has been made here that somehow we are using valuable time in the House when this particular time has been segmented so as to not interrupt the important business to be taken up later in the week. We are taking this time now, while Members are flying in and we don't have a full quorum, to address these commemorative issues. We will be in for the full week, so we'll have plenty of time to take those other matters up when the House is fully assembled. Again, I have no further speakers, but I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am proud to present H. Res. 780 for consideration. This resolution recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History Month. House Resolution 780 was introduced on September 25, 2009, by my friend and colleague Representative Bob Filner of California. In addition, this resolution was favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009, and it enjoys the support of over 50 Members of Congress. Moreover, the United States Senate passed a companion resolution to this legislation, Senate Resolution 298, by unanimous consent on October 1, 2009. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 780 recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History Month as a unique opportunity to reflect upon the significant advancements of Filipino Americans in our country as well as highlight the countless and diverse contributions of Filipino Americans to our national history and culture. This monthlong celebration of Filipino American History Month was established in 1988 by the Filipino American National Historical Society to coincide with the 225th anniversary of the permanent settlement of Filipinos in the continental United States. Notably, the Filipino American National Historical Society recognizes the year 1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the continental United States in the small fishing village of Saint Malo, located in what is now Saint Bernard Parish in Louisiana. These early settlers were formerly impressed sailors who escaped their oppressive conditions aboard Spanish galleons to establish a Filipino community in present-day Louisiana. The existence of this Filipino settlement was first reported in an 1883 Harper's Weekly article, which is widely believed to be the first article written about Filipino settlers in these United States. Today, according to the most recent United States Census Bureau estimate, the Filipino American population in the United States is nearly 3.1 million, making the Filipino American community the second largest Asian American group in the United States. And while the majority of our Filipino American population is concentrated in the States of California and Hawaii, Filipino contributions in the field of public service, literature, business, science and other areas have deeply enriched the lives of all Americans across our Nation. Whether we recall the approximately 250,000 brave Filipino Americans that served during World War II, or our Filipino Americans deployed in the support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, our brave Filipino American servicemen and -women have continually demonstrated their commitment to safeguarding our Nation at great personal sacrifice. Accordingly, I would like to thank the sponsor of this resolution, my friend and colleague Mr. Filner of California, for his great work as chairman of our Veterans' Affairs Committee and for ensuring that the economic stimulus legislation signed by President Obama earlier this year included a provision which required that our roughly 15,000 living Filipino veterans of World War II receive their full and deserved veterans benefits. The contributions of Filipino Americans to our national history are also evident in various other areas, including government and journalism. Notably, in 1994, Benjamin J. Cayetano became the first Filipino American elected a United States Governor. And in 1997, Filipino American journalists Byron Acohido and Alex Tizon of The Seattle Times were the recipients of Pulitzer Prizes for their outstanding contributions to American journalism. Mr. Tizon, a native of Manila who came to the United States at the age of 4, was honored for a series of investigative articles about the widespread corruption and inequities in the Federally sponsored housing program for Native Americans. Mr. Acohido received his Pulitzer for his reporting on the conditions of the American aerospace industry. Mr. Speaker, these are only a few of the many Filipino Americans whose achievements have greatly contributed to our national history. It is my hope that we can commemorate the contributions of all Filipino Americans through the passage of House Resolution 780 and by recognizing the significance of Filipino American History Month. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting H. Res. 780. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 780) recognizing the celebration of Filipino American History Month in October.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. LYNCH. The gentleman has already exhausted his time to no apparent purpose. It would be an attack on common sense for me to yield to him at this time. With that being said, Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to support Mr. Platts of Pennsylvania in his resolution, my Republican friend.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that the current resolution is offered by my dear friend and colleague who happens to be a Republican; so if I did not extend him the courtesy, Mr. Platts of Pennsylvania, to offer this resolution, I think it would not comport to the level of courtesy that this House requires. I do want to point out that of the last seven resolutions that we have taken up in the House today, five out of the seven were offered by Republican Members: Senate 475 by Senator Burr, House Resolution 773 by Representative Boozman, again 1168 by Representative Boozman. Those are all dealing with veterans' issues. Representative Cao of Veterans' Affairs, House Resolution 828; and H. Res. 398 by Representative Fortenberry, another one of my great Republican friends. So if the gentleman wanted to complain and restrain his own Members from offering what I think are meritorious and deserving resolutions with respect to veterans and to the people of their own districts, that's a courtesy that I fully and fairly recognize and choose to honor, but if the gentleman wants to press with his desire to curtail--

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am proud to present House Resolution 736 for consideration. This resolution pays tribute to the historic Gettysburg Address delivered by President Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1863. House Resolution 736 was introduced on September 10, 2009, by my great friend and colleague, Representative Todd Platts, Republican of the 19th District of Pennsylvania. In addition, this resolution was favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009, and enjoys the support of over 50 Members of Congress. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 736 honors one of the most remarkable and significant political contributions in terms of speeches made by one of our greatest Presidents, the Gettysburg Address delivered by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, November 19, 1863. This resolution is not only fitting but also timely, as earlier this year we celebrated the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of President Lincoln, and on November 19 we will mark the 146th anniversary of Dedication Day and the Gettysburg Address. In his invitation letter to President Lincoln, dated November 2, 1863, Gettysburg attorney David Wills requested that President Lincoln participate in the dedication ceremony by delivering ``a few appropriate remarks,'' as Wills noted that former Senator Edward Everett of Massachusetts was already scheduled to deliver the central oration. Accordingly, the dedication address delivered by President Lincoln more than 4 months following the pivotal battle of Gettysburg is not remembered for its length, but rather for the depth of its content. In less than 3 minutes and in only 10 sentences, President Lincoln eloquently commemorated the lives of those who had fallen on the hallowed battlefield, reaffirmed the founding principles of the then- divided United States of America, and set forth the impetus behind the continuation of the shared struggle to unify the Nation amidst a deadly Civil War. As noted by President Lincoln at the conclusion his historic address: ``It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus so far nobly advanced . . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this Earth.'' The elegance of President Lincoln's brief words was noted by Senator Everett, whose oration at Gettysburg preceded the President's address and lasted approximately 2 hours. In a letter that he sent to President Lincoln following the dedication ceremony, Senator Everett wrote: ``I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in 2 hours as you did in 2 minutes.'' And the profound impact of President Lincoln's address on our national history has been evident for generations. In addition to its prominence on the south wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Gettysburg Address has served as a timeless source of inspiration in our eternal commitment as a Nation to achieve equality among all citizens. Notably, President Lincoln's address was referenced in the equally historic ``I Have a Dream'' speech delivered by the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in August of 1963. Mr. Speaker, in acknowledgement of the lasting impact of President Lincoln's words, the 79th Congress approved House Joint Resolution 35 on August 7, 1946, thereby designating the day of November 19 as Dedication Day. The 79th Congress additionally characterized the Gettysburg Address as ``the outstanding classic of the ages'' and recognized that ``it will touch the hearts of men and inspire faith in our matchless democracy as long as time endures.'' Mr. Speaker, let us pay further tribute to President Lincoln in the year of his bicentennial birthday celebration and in anticipation of the 146th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address through our support of Representative Todd Platts of Pennsylvania's resolution, 736. I would like to thank my colleague Mr. Platts for introducing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 736) honoring President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address on ``Dedication Day'', November 19, 2009.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I will just point out that last week, we actually finally had an official draft of the health care reform bill. My colleagues on the other side have insisted, rightly, that they have 72 hours to review that bill; that it be placed online. I think it is a courtesy to keep controversial issues off the floor today to allow Members to consider that legislation because it is so important. I think if we jammed the schedule today with controversial matters, you might hear the complaint from my colleagues and others that they weren't given a full and fair opportunity to read that health care reform bill. So, you're darned if you do sometimes, and you're darned if you don't. But I certainly do want to join with the lead sponsor and my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina, but especially Paul Hodes from New Hampshire, who is the lead sponsor of this resolution, in congratulating the New Hampshire State Senate. I happen to be a member of the New Hampshire bar, so this is particularly a proud moment for me as well in celebrating their terrific accomplishment through the passage of House Resolution 159. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present House Resolution 159 for consideration. This resolution pays tribute to the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the first statewide legislative body in United States history with a majority of women members. House Resolution 159 was introduced on February 11, 2009, by my friend and fellow New Englander, Representative Paul Hodes of New Hampshire. In addition, this resolution was favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009, and enjoys the support of nearly 60 Members of Congress. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 159 honors the New Hampshire State Senate for the remarkable distinction of becoming the first statewide legislative body to consist of a majority of women members. According to 2008 Census Bureau estimates, women comprise roughly 50.7 percent of the American population, yet despite the extent of their representation in the U.S. population, women remain significantly underrepresented at local, State and Federal Government levels. Notably, out of the 435 Members of the House of Representatives, women hold 77 congressional seats. Moreover, in the United States Senate, women hold 17 of the Senate's 100 seats. In light of these and similar statistics evidencing the underrepresentation of women in government, the advancement of female legislators in the New Hampshire State Senate can be characterized as a defining moment in our Nation's history. Following the State legislature elections of November 2008, the State of New Hampshire began its current legislative session on December 3, 2008, with a historic female majority in the State Senate. Specifically, women legislators currently hold 13 of New Hampshire's 24 State Senate seats. In addition, nine female Senators are currently serving as Chairs in the State Senate, which consists of 14 standing committees. Moreover, the Honorable Sylvia Larsen is currently serving her second consecutive term as State Senate president with the Honorable Terie Norelli also serving her second consecutive term as Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize that this watershed moment in American history would not have been possible without the efforts of previous female leaders in New Hampshire politics, including the Honorable E. Maude Ferguson and the Honorable Vesta Roy. Senator Ferguson, who served in the New Hampshire State House from 1931 to 1933, has the distinction of becoming the first woman elected to the New Hampshire State Senate. Ms. Roy made history as the first woman elected to serve as president of the New Hampshire State Senate as well as the first woman to serve as the Governor of New Hampshire from 1982 to 1983. Mr. Speaker, the remarkable achievements of these women legislators are as inspirational as they are historic, to all those Americans that are committed to the equality of all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or gender. Let us as a body take this opportunity to honor the great State of New Hampshire and its State Senate for this fine achievement by passing House Resolution 159. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 159) honoring the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the 1st statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States, as amended.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, at this point I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Davis). (Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)