Robert Latta

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I think what we ought to have been doing during this whole period of time here is that we should have taken this back onto the road, and we should have had committee hearings across this country so that Americans could have gone to their States and to wherever it would be that the Members would be holding the hearings for the three different committees here in the House which were hearing this piece of legislation. I think that's what we should have been doing because, again, people feel left out. The most dangerous place for me to go, for my wife to send me, is to the grocery store after church.

Mr. LATTA. Well, it's the grocery store.

Mr. LATTA. Absolutely.

Mr. LATTA. Because what happens is that people come up to me, and they want to talk. I go home every weekend, and I don't care if it's at the grocery store or at the gas pump. You know, it could take 45 minutes to an hour sometimes.

Mr. LATTA. If the gentleman will yield, when we are talking about punitives, we are not going to say to people limit the economic damages. It is the noneconomic damages. Because it took us quite a few years in the Ohio legislature to finally get a small portion of that passed, but we saw changes almost within a year in what was happening out there.

Mr. LATTA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Again, that's what happened during the month of August and when we were back home. We were out in our districts, and the people got to see us and talk to us face-to-face, and that's what they really want to do. They want that opportunity to say, I want a piece of my voice to be heard on this. One of the things, I think, that has been missing in this is that I came from the Ohio legislature, and I chaired a couple of committees in the house and the senate. One of the things that, I think, is very important is that we have people come in, be able to testify and be able to face the members.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, during the August work period, I had the privilege of visiting many of the plants and factories in my district. At one plant, a worker approached me and said he didn't understand what we were doing here in Congress. He said he had to have a job that put a roof over his family and food on the table. He is worried about health care, but the first two took priority. People back home get it. They ask very direct questions about health care. How are we going to pay for it? Will it cost more than I pay now? Will I have the same coverage and doctor? Will it cost more jobs? How much more in taxes will I pay? The Congressional Budget Office scores Speaker Pelosi's bill at over $1 trillion. New taxes on small businesses and individuals will run over $729 billion. Being close to the Canadian border, I have been approached by Canadian doctors who are now practicing in Ohio. They can't understand why the Democrats are taking this course. They tell me this same thing: Why do you think we came to the United States?

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I come from northwest Ohio. I know that many of my colleagues from around this House go home every weekend, and it wasn't very long ago I was home and I was speaking with one of our small business owners. He came up to me and said, Bobby, I have a question to ask you. He said, Where are we on this health care? I told him. I said, This is where it looks like we are going. He said, Do you think it is going to pass? I said, I am not really sure right now. But he said, You know what? I am going to tell you something. I have been trying to read these bills to the best of my ability to find out what is in them. I am going to tell you right now, if this bill passes, there is no way I can survive. I am going to have to close up. We are talking about people and their health care, and it is very important. There is not one person in this Chamber that would say we should not be doing something about health care in this country. But we also have people out there trying to put jobs out there so people can work. And when I looked around that business where he was, you start saying, Where are these people going to go after this? We have over 10 percent unemployment in Ohio, and it is getting tougher. The worst is yet to come. Mr. Speaker, the American people want health care reform, but we have to do it responsibly.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I thank my colleague. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 734, which I introduced on September 10, honoring and supporting Constitution Day. I have always been grateful that so many of our country's greatest leaders and statesmen were able to be on Earth at the same time and place to draft the Constitution. Within this document are the fundamental principles of the American system of liberty. Our Constitution has been that beacon upon the hill, that guiding star at night in that shining city that millions of people around the world have long been guided by within their own countries. The Constitution took 4 hard, acrimonious months from May to September 1787 to actually bring it to fruition through their hard labor. Again, the citizens that attended the convention in Philadelphia were some of our greatest leaders and scholars of government and history: Madison, Franklin, Hamilton, Morris, and Washington. Many different ideas were brought to the convention. Were they only empowered to amend the Articles of Confederation? There is great debate about that. Could they go farther and start from scratch? Many a discussion was held in Philadelphia's boarding houses and taverns. These members began debates on creating three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. James Madison, the Father of our Constitution, was one of the first to arrive in Philadelphia, and he brought with him his specifically researched ideas while others had theirs. You know, it turned out to be a very hot summer that year. There was no air conditioning. Secrecy was enforced. The proceedings mandated that all windows and doors be shut. Tempers flared, but through it all they worked because these men knew that they were creating a document that would be there for a Nation and for the ages. The birth of a new Nation was being watched by the powers around the world. As mentioned, 55 delegates attended the Constitution Convention with 39 of them signing the document. What emerged was a document containing 4,400 words. The story goes that when asked what kind of new government was formed, Benjamin Franklin replied, ``A Republic, if you can keep it.'' The Constitution is both the oldest and shortest written constitution of any form of government in the world. Again, personally I marvel at what these individuals did and what they could accomplish in 4 months. Today, citizens should look to guidance from our Forefathers. All Americans should read this great document because, since the Constitution's ratification, it has been the framework for our great Nation. Not only did great men bring forth great ideas, but for 222 years, this great experiment that we call America has been paid for by hundreds of thousands of lives, the lives of our brave military men and women. Let the living always remember to give thanks to our honored dead, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice that the Constitution of the United States remains our guiding light. Too few citizens today have read this important document and understand its importance. It is short, and it should be learned, and it should be studied. The preamble of our document states that ``We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.'' The words ``We the People'' affirm that any power of the Federal Government is given to by the people of this great land, and we in Congress must always remember that.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, section 101 of the bill requires an annual registration for a facility. The term ``facility'' means any factory, warehouse or establishment, including a factory, warehouse or establishment of an importer that manufactures, processes, packs or holds foods. The user fees under this section require registration each year starting in 2010 to be $500 and each subsequent year to be adjusted for inflation. This will affect small businesses and impose tax increases. For companies and individuals that own or operate multiple facilities, a maximum level for total fees per year is set at $175,000. These will have to be passed on to the consumer and will raise the price of food to cover the fees associated under this bill. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill under suspension so that Congress may debate food safety and come to an agreement on how to protect our Nation's farmers and food facilities in order to maintain the United States as having the world's safest, most economically viable food source.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, America and Ohio are hurting. Ohio has an unemployment rate of 11.1 percent. My district, the Fifth District, is the number one manufacturing and number one agricultural district in the State of Ohio. One of my counties, Williams, has an unemployment rate of 11.6 percent. I was up there this past weekend and the people were all asking me the same question: Where are the jobs? Where are the jobs? They want jobs today. The President said this past year that with the stimulus bill, America wouldn't have an unemployment rate of 8 percent. Now it is 9.5 percent. Ohio is 11.1 percent. Since January, America has lost over 3 million jobs. Three million jobs. This last month, the Democrats passed the cap-and-tax bill. It is estimated it is going to cost millions of American jobs. Millions. Now the Democrat House bill that is before us on health care could cost over 5 million jobs. Five million jobs. My folks are scared, and they want to know where the jobs are. Mr. Speaker, we ask for jobs today.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3293, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 3293, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: Department of Health & Human Services; Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Van Wert County Hospital Address of Requesting Entity: 1250 South Washington Street, Van Wert, OH 45891 Description of Request: $840,000 for the Emergency Services Department Expansion project. Funds would be used to expand the emergency services department, and construction of a second floor shell for additional capacity. This project would assist in local job creation during both the construction and post-construction phases of the expansion. Van Wert County Hospital provides essential medical services to residents of Van Wert and surrounding counties, and this emergency department expansion would allow for increased patient capacity. On numerous occasions, people in need of emergency services had to be diverted due to limited space. This capacity constraint will loom larger as the number of patients receiving care in the emergency department is projected to increase sharply from 15,000 at present to 20,000 by 2010. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3228, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 3228, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: Federal Agency Administration; Airport Improvement Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sandusky County Regional Airport Address of Requesting Entity: 101 South Front Street, Fremont, OH 43420 Description of Request: $500,000 for the Sandusky County Regional Airport (S24) Approach Lowering project. The first part of the project is the 405 topographical survey that is required before an GPS/LPV approach can be approved. The second item that the Sandusky County Regional Airport Authority (SCRAA) is proposing is to extend its parallel taxiway approximately 1,700 feet providing the Sandusky County Regional Airport (S24) a full length parallel taxiway. The existing 3,800 feet of taxiway, currently named taxiway ``b'' and ``c'', was constructed in two separate phases. The preliminary purpose to complete the parallel taxiway is to increase the Airport's level of operational safety. The completion of a full-length parallel taxiway at the Airport would eliminate the hazards of ``back-taxiing'' on the runway. A full length parallel taxiway makes it possible for a landing aircraft to exit a runway more quickly, allowing other aircraft waiting to land to get on the ground sooner. A full parallel taxiway would enhance airfield safety and reduce the risk of runway incursions. Additionally, the project will have an impact on the overall County's (and surrounding counties') public safety, as it will allow the Life Flight helicopter, which is based at the airport, the ability to return to its pad once critical missions have taken place. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 3228, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Board of Fulton County Commissioners Address of Requesting Entity: 125 South Fulton Street, Suite 270, Wauseon, OH 43567 Description of Request: $250,000 for the Northeast Fulton County water system project. Northeast Fulton County is a portion of the County that consists of four Townships (Amboy, Fulton, Pike and Royalton), two Villages (Metamora and Lyons) and the Evergreen Local School District. This project, as proposed, consists of installing water mains and facilities to provide for safe drinking water supply to these areas through a connection into an existing regional water system. The route of this water supply system through the four Townships would provide drinking water to 1100 people within both Villages and an estimated population of 1350 people outside both Villages. The Evergreen Local Schools District is one complex for 1400 high, middle and elementary schools students. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, the people of the Fifth Congressional District of the State of Ohio of the United States all want a job. Last year at this time, the Fifth Congressional District, according to the National Manufacturers Association, had the ninth largest number of manufacturing jobs in the country. When the new numbers just came out, we're down to 15. When you look at this map of the State of Ohio, looking at Williams, Fulton, Defiance, Paulding, Crawford, and Huron--those are some of my counties--when I've got counties over 15 percent, folks back home want to know what this Congress is doing. What this Congress passed before we went on the Fourth of July recess was the national energy tax, the largest tax that we're going to see that puts businesses out, that puts people out of work, and that's what we're doing. People want to know what we're going to do for them, not what we're doing to them. And I'm telling you that folks back home, when I go home every weekend, want to know what are we doing. When you look at the State of Indiana right here, right next to us, they're in as big trouble as we are. When the Heritage Foundation came out with their report, of the top 20 congressional districts in the country that had problems under cap- and-tax, Ohio and Indiana ranked right in the top, 16 out of 20. We've got to do something. We've got to act right now.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Section 205 Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Village of Ottawa Address of Requesting Entity: 136 North Oak Street, Ottawa, OH 45875 Description of Request: $217,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for funding regarding the Village of Ottawa Flood Control and Mitigation Reconnaissance and Feasibility Studies. Funding would be used to complete the Section 205 Feasibility Study of flood risk management plans for the Blanchard River at Ottawa, Ohio. The funding would fulfill the Federal share needed to complete the Feasibility Study. In addition, the funds would be used to begin the design and implementation following the Section 205 Feasibility Study of flood risk management plans for the Blanchard River at Village of Ottawa, Ohio. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Section 205 Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Village of Findlay Address of Requesting Entity: 518 Dorney Plaza, Room 310, Findlay, OH 45840 Description of Request: $248,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for funding regarding the Village of Findlay Flood Control and Mitigation Reconnaissance and Feasibility Studies. Funding would be used to complete the Section 205 Feasibility Study of flood risk management plans for the Blanchard River at Findlay, Ohio. The funding would fulfill the Federal share needed to complete the Feasibility Study. In addition, the funds would be used to begin the design and implementation following the Section 205 Feasibility Study of flood risk management plans for the Blanchard River at Findlay, Ohio. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Construction; Ohio Environmental Infrastructure OH Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Village of Polk, Ashland County, Ohio Address of Requesting Entity: 200 East Congress Street, P.O. Box 206, Polk, OH 44866 Description of Request: $400,000 for the design, construction, and operation of a centralized collection and treatment system. The Village is under Ohio EPA Findings and Orders to address a large number of failing household septic systems in the Village. The collection will consist of a combination gravity/pressure sewer system, potentially two (2) lift stations, 50,000 gallons per day (gpd) average daily design flow (ADF) package extended aeration wastewater treatment plant suitable for direct discharge to Katotawa Creek. The existing on-lot systems will be demolished when the replacement system is available. The Village has 357 residents, with 129 homes and businesses. A recent income survey conducted by the Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program confirmed that the Village's Median Household Income has dropped significantly since the last census, and is now only $35,000. An earlier survey conducted in 2007 also showed that the Village qualifies for CDBG funding with a Low-to-Moderate-Income (LMI) percentage over 60%. USDA Rural Development has advised the Village it needs to obtain additional grants in order to be funded by their program. Design engineering is underway. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Construction; Ohio Environmental Infrastructure OH Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Village of Risingsun, Northwestern Water and Sewer District, Wood County, Ohio Address of Requesting Entity: 12560 Middleton Pike, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 Description of Request: $400,000 for extension of a public water main to provide fire protection and drinking water to the residents of Risingsun, Ohio. The Village of Risingsun & US 23 corridor, including Lakota School, relies on private wells for water supply. Recent testing of groundwater indicates petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in several area wells. This project will greatly impact the environment by improving drinking water and fire protection in the Village and surrounding area. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 Account: U.S. Department of Energy; Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Bowling Green State University Address of Requesting Entity: 106 University Hall, Bowling Green, OH 43403 Description of Request: $1,000,000 for the Coastal Ohio Wind Project: Removing Barriers to Great Lakes Offshore Wind Energy Development. Funding would be used to support a workforce for Bowling Green State University to undertake the design parameter data gathering while the University of Toledo undertakes development of the advanced concept offshore Wind Turbine Generators (WTG). The long term goal is to reduce the cost of installation, operation and maintenance of WTG's on Lake Erie, in order to jumpstart offshore development of the Great Lakes and to support the transition from rust-belt to green-belt manufacturing. The project will build on a proven two bladed, teetered hub WTG design. This phase of the project will design a foundation and tower structure capable of surviving the severe wind, wave and ice loading conditions on Lake Erie. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 2647, National Defense Autorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 Account: AirForce; Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Air force (RDAF) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Metals Affordability Initiative (MAI) Address of Requesting Entity: 1138 by-the-Shores Drive, Huron, OH 44839 Description of Request: $10,000,000 for the initiation of 4 new, more immediate high-impact programs, as well as sustaining ongoing programs. These new industry-led programs will be directed at improvement in total systems cost, fuel savings/energy management, ``green'' (environmental impact), sustainment/life extension, and access to space. The mission of MAI is to innovation to maintain leadership in the strategic aerospace metals industrial sector by using technology innovation to maintain global competitiveness while improving performance and increasing affordablity of weapons systems. MAI's main economic impact will be to maintain leadership in the strategic aerospace metals industrial sector by using technology innovation to maintain global competitiveness. This industrial sector continues to be under pressure by foreign manufacturers, and investing in technology will help sustain jobs. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2996, the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta Bill Number: H.R. 2996, Fiscal Year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act Account: EPA; STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Village of Tiro, Ohio Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 31, Tiro, OH 44887 Description of Request: $500,000 for the Village of Tiro Water Distribution System. This project consists of purchasing treated water from the City of Shelby and transporting it to Tiro via 32,500 ft. of water main. 10,700 ft. of water main will be constructed in the Village for distribution of water. A booster pumping station, storage tower, and fire hydrants will be included. The Village of Tiro currently has no municipal water system. Water is collected or hauled into shallow wells or cisterns. The Village has tried for several years to secure a source of water and funding. The current project is the closest this village has come for a safe water supply. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this massive national energy tax. You know, we are all for clean energy. And Republicans have put forth an all-of-the-above strategy, and that's the strategy we need to do in this country. We can't pick winners and losers. I represent a very interesting district in Ohio. Not only do I represent the largest manufacturing district in the State of Ohio, I represent the largest agricultural district. Ohio uses 87 percent of its coal for our generation. What this bill is going to do is kill jobs in Ohio, and we are struggling right now. It's tough. One of the things that a lot of people don't realize out there because we have so few farmers out there that are left, less than 1 percent in Ohio, is that we have so many of our farmers, my relatives included, that not only work a full day on the farm, but they go out and work all night on another job. But we've got to have jobs going both ways parallel with each other. This bill is not going to help these people out there. This bill is going to kill jobs across this country. And when the Secretary of Agriculture was before us not too long ago, I posed this question: Is China going to comply with what we're going to do? And the answer was, Well, maybe not this month, or maybe not next month, but it's going to happen.

Mr. LATTA. We can't put the American farmer behind the proverbial eight ball. We've got to be able to compete against the world, and this bill is going to kill that ability to do that. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I appreciate the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, last night we brought, in my opinion, a very important amendment before the Rules Committee dealing with what I called the Homeland Security Administration run amok with their bureaucrats. And what this would do is, this amendment would prevent the Homeland Security Administration from being able to utilize the dollars under the bill to say that over 36 million Americans that have a certain type of pocketknife, I don't care if it is from a hunter or a fisherman or a farmer or a person that works in a factory or a police officer or a firefighter, and make these illegal. And it is sad that we have to do it this way, that instead of bringing them here to the floor that we have to go through the Rules Committee. But I think that the amendment that we offered last night, along with my colleague from Idaho (Mr. Minnick), that it is an important thing to save jobs in this country. I think he said in his district alone it would be over some 200 hundred jobs. Nationally you are looking at over 4,000 individuals in a time when we are losing jobs in this country; 4,000 jobs could be affected, and ancillary jobs by over 20,000 jobs. So I really stress that this is an important amendment. I appreciate the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009, of which I'm a cosponsor and which was amended into the National Defense Authorization Act. Members of our National Guard and Reserves are eligible for TRICARE health insurance during their service and after the age of 60 but not during the time in between, the time in between when they retire until the age of 60, being referred to as being in the ``gray area. `` Specifically, ``gray area'' retirees are Reserve component retirees under the age of 60 with more than 20 years of faithful and honorable service who have qualified for retirement at age 60. The legislation fills in that gray area to ensure that these men and women have the opportunity to purchase TRICARE Standard health care coverage during that time and provides access to the care they deserve. This legislation is important because currently around 50 percent of those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are Reservists and National Guard. And this option for purchasing TRICARE Standard will serve as an incentive for those Guardsmen and Reservists to continue to serve. I thank the Armed Services Committee, the chairman, and the ranking member for including this important legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chair, last night we were in Rules on, I believe, a very important amendment that Mr. Minnick and I offered. It was really to save jobs; and it was also really to put a hold on what was happening with Homeland Security and also what was going on with the folks at Customs, trying to put forward a regulation, a rule that's going to put Americans out of work. At the same time it's also not only going to put Americans out of work, but we're looking at 35 million Americans that have a certain type of knife. I do not believe that a rule should be done that Congress in 1958 defined what a certain type of knife was. So last night of course we were there, and we shouldn't have been there. We should have been here on an open rule and with an amendment on the floor and not in the Rules Committee because this is important. Again, as I said, this is going to cost jobs, jobs at the Buck Knife Company up in the northwest part of the United States--hundreds of jobs. It's estimated that over 4,000 individuals in this country could be affected just in the knife industry alone. Not only those 4,000 individuals there, but there is about 20,000 other ancillary jobs out there. That's why it's so important we should be talking about this. But unfortunately, again, where we were last night, we weren't doing what we should have been doing. We should have had the amendment here on the floor because I believe it's absolutely important that we make sure the House is headed in the right direction, the way it should be going; and that's through the process that we should be in, the normal process, not the process that we're in today. But I thank the gentleman for yielding because I think that the debate that we're in is very, very vital to this country.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, it is with a great deal of pride that I rise to pay a very special tribute to an exceptional company located in Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. Golden Heritage Foods, a successful honey processing and distribution company, was named the 2009 ``Enterprise of the Year.'' Madam Speaker, there is no question that local businesses serve as one of the key building blocks of our state. Golden Heritage Foods was established in 2002 through the joining of Barkman Honey Company located in Hillsboro, Kansas, and Stoller's Honey in Latty, Ohio. Since that time, the company has grown to become the second leading producer of branded retail honey sales and the top provider of honey in the United States to the food service industry. While the company itself is relatively young, their legacy was well established prior to its founding due to over 40 years of hard work and dedication exhibited by both the Barkman and Stoller families. Not only has Golden Heritage Foods provided quality products since their opening, they have also created over 100 jobs for the citizens of Kansas and Ohio. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to Golden Heritage Foods and its founders, Brent Barkman and Dwight Stoller. Our communities are well served by having dedicated entrepreneurs who assist in the growth and prosperity of our great nation. On behalf of the people of the Fifth District of Ohio, I am proud to recognize this great company on being named Van Wert, Ohio's 2009 ``Enterprise of the Year'' and wish them success in all future endeavors.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta. Bill Number: H.R. 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Account: Commerce; NOAA--Operations, Research and Facilities. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Bowling Green State University. Address of Requesting Entity: 106 University Hall, Bowling Green, OH 43403. Description of Request: $500,000 for monitoring of Lake Erie water quality with remote sensing for Bowling Green State University and Heidelberg College, in partnership with the consortium partners of OhioView and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL). The funding will be used to continue the project of monitoring algal blooms in Lake Erie with LANDSAT TM satellite data. This will allow for real-time, continuous monitoring and assessment of harmful algal blooms and coliform in Lake Erie and its Southern-shore tributaries. This research is authorized by the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Act of 2003. The funds will be used to develop the systems for determining cyanobacteria in Lake Erie and in local water supplies and to continue to collect data for analyzing and further study. This project began in 2006 and provides continuous monitoring from the satellite data of the potentially harmful algal blooms. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert E. Latta. Bill Number: H.R. 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Account: Justice; OJP--Juvenile Justice. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Starr Commonwealth--Van Wert. Address of Requesting Entity: 15145 Lincoln Highway, Van Wert, Ohio 45891. Description of Request: $500,000 for expansion of the Adolescent Delinquency Program (ADP) in Van Wert in order to address specific needs of troubled and at-risk youth. Services include educational/GED programs, life skills, job placement assistance, housing assistance, case management and mentoring. At risk, identified male delinquent youth between the ages of twelve and eighteen are eligible for placement into the Adolescent Delinquent Program. This expansion will assist with the program so it can serve more Ohioans and help them become productive citizens. Starr takes at-risk youth from being costly tax recipients and dependent on the social welfare to future taxpayers and productive, independent members of society. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, it is with a great deal of pride that I rise to pay a very special tribute to an outstanding serviceman in the Fifth District of Ohio. Chief Petty Officer Eric Stanley Howe is retiring from the United States Navy after Twenty years of service. Officer Howe has earned numerous decorations and promotions throughout his years of service to our nation. The dedication and commitment that he has shown throughout his military career has served America well. During his time in the Navy, Officer Howe made deployments to the Mediterranean, Iceland, and Puerto Rico. Two of his deployments have been in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to Chief Petty Officer Eric Stanley Howe. Servicemen like Officer Howe lay the foundation upon which freedom and prosperity can rest. On behalf of the people of the Fifth District of Ohio, I am proud to honor this sailor and his service to our great nation.