Mike McIntyre

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, an unavoidable conflict required that I miss roll call #45, the Alexander Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 3521, the Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011. Had I been present, I would have voted in support of this amendment.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, an unavoidable conflict required that I miss rollcall No. 46, which was final passage of H.R. 3521, the Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011. Had I been present, I would have voted in support of this bill.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Samuel Butler, the President of the Robeson County Firemen's Association, of Maxton, North Carolina, for his commitment to his community and as a dedicated man of public service. Mr. Butler proved himself to be a devoted and effective public servant, a man of great character, and a dedicated public servant. Tragically, he lost his life while protecting others on January 8, 2012. He was also a devoted father, grandfather, and dear friend, who will be dearly missed. In addition to his service to the Evans Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, Mr. Butler was also a proud employee of the Campbell's Soup Company for over 29 years. Driven by the spirit of service and dedication to his community and its people, he was a board member of the Robeson County Fire College and Robeson County Honor Guard, guiding future stewards and first responders to better serve the community. In recognition of his devotion, Mr. Butler was a candidate for the Robeson County Hero Society. Mr. Butler, a volunteer fire fighter for over 20 years, was struck and killed by a vehicle while responding to an accident. He made the ultimate sacrifice to save those in danger. His passing is a significant and tragic loss to his family, his community, and beyond. Mr. Speaker, may we never forget the goodness, humility, service, and character that defined the life of Samuel Butler. May God continue to bless his beloved wife, Brenda, and all of his loved ones, the work he did, and the greatness that he inspired within all who knew him.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Pop Warner Little Scholars program, our Nation's oldest and largest youth football, cheer and dance organization. Currently, more than 400,000 children participate in Pop Warner organizations that span 43 States, Scotland, Germany, Russia, Japan, and Mexico. The NFL Players Association estimates that Pop Warner has been the career starting point for 70 percent of its current athletes. It has a long history of promoting structured athletics and instilling the qualities of sportsmanship, hard work, and leadership in young athletes. It's the only national youth sports organization to require academic proficiency, and it annually awards more than $110,000 in scholarships. It's also a leader in making youth sports safe, including its work on concussion-related injuries and a medical advisory board to remain proactive on player health and safety. This Saturday, December 3, Pop Warner will kick off its Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championship at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. This week-long competition will feature participation from more than 12,000 athletes and will be broadcasted on ESPN3. I want to extend our congratulations, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the U.S. Congress, to this excellent, well-recognized, and well-organized program for young people here in America on behalf of the Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 2, a balanced budget constitutional amendment. With the national debt topping more than $15 trillion, it is critical that we pass this important legislation to improve our Nation's economic health and national security. Mr. Speaker, $48,570, that's the price we're putting on the head of every American, the portion that every man, woman, and child owes today to pay off our Nation's skyrocketing Federal debt. It's often said that our children and future generations will pay for the choices we make today. But the truth is that we're incurring debt at such a rapid pace that we'll begin to pay that price sooner than expected. We'll pay now as well as later. As public debt continues to grow, including borrowing from foreign nations such as China, interest costs alone are soaring into the stratosphere. Our economy, our military strength, and the opportunity for future growth are at risk if this problem is not addressed more quickly. That's why I will stand here today to support H.J. Res. 2, a balanced budget amendment. Since first coming to Washington in 1997, I have cosponsored legislation that would adopt a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. This critical legislation would require the Federal Government to balance its budget like most States are required to do. In fact, 49 of the 50 States have some form of a balanced budget requirement. So this is not something novel or unusual. It's something that makes sense. My home State of North Carolina has one of the most stringent requirements to do so. Let's stand together today for common sense. Let's send a message to the American people that we can keep our fiscal house in order, that we can balance our budget, and we can do the right thing with the American taxpayers' dollars to put our Nation on a path of economic strength and vitality.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. I rise today in support of my amendment to the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011 on which we are working together to consider as part of the en bloc amendments. This important and timely amendment calls on the Committee on the Marine Transportation System to coordinate with local businesses to promote an efficient marine transportation system. As many of us know, the marine transportation system is essential to the American economy. It supports millions of American jobs, facilitates trade, moves people and goods, and provides a safe, secure, cost-effective, and energy-efficient transportation system. It's a win- win-win. Yet, if there are not adequate maintenance resources in place, our MTS will continue to age, and the result will be a worn and decrepit waterfront, badly neglected locks and dams, and harbors with inadequate drafts to accept foreign, deep-draft tonnage. Our local businesses are on the front lines of commerce every day, and they know where the savings and efficiencies are that could be improved. We must work with our local businesses who know business best. If government is going to be involved in improving the business environment, it only makes sense that government talks to the businesses that we're trying to help. In my coastal district of North Carolina, marine transportation and commerce is the lifeblood of the Cape Fear region. In understanding the importance of marine transportation and waterway infrastructure, I sought the input of local business leaders to develop the Seventh Congressional District Coastal Compact to outline key priorities for our area's coastal infrastructure, maritime commerce, and a way in which we can get the public and private sector and government agencies to work together. So this amendment that I have put forth builds on a proven model used to develop our Coastal Compact and one in which we believe that business leaders across this country would like to have a say and involvement and firsthand knowledge to be involved with our marine transportation system. This is an example for us in Congress, an example that we must follow to improve not only our marine transportation system, but also to create jobs and to sustain an environment in which American business can flourish. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment so we can bridge a better partnership with our local businesses to improve the maritime transportation system and put our Nation back on a path of economic vitality.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, as we approach Veterans Day and are ever thankful for the veterans and servicemen and -women who have made our country great, I rise to pay tribute to Sergeant Jason Thigpen of Wilmington, North Carolina, who is here with us today. After his service in Iraq, Jason started the Student Veterans Advocacy Group at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to support student veterans and dependents seeking a college education. Jason, who is a Purple Heart medal recipient, has shared with me and others here on Capitol Hill his concerns that the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act disallows out-of-state students to receive in-state tuition at public universities, thus making it cost- prohibitive for them to attend these public universities, even though they otherwise qualify. I am certain that my colleagues here would agree that our returning veterans who are pursuing an education under the GI Bill should not have to worry about whether it's in-state versus out-of-state tuition. These courageous individuals have been at the forefront defending our freedoms and our values. They should not be denied their opportunity to pursue an education. Let's support our student veterans.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 13, a resolution to reaffirm ``In God We Trust'' as the official motto of the United States of America. Though the motto itself was not officially adopted until 1956, the saying has long been a part of our nation's history and its sentiment has prevailed much longer than that. Since its onset, America the Beautiful has been a Nation of Faith. Now, as our country faces a fatigued economy, high unemployment, and a challenging budget situation, our continued trust in God is critical and must not wane. Like the battle-worn American flag that first inspired Francis Scott Key to write ``In God is our trust!'' during the war of 1812, our faith in God must remain steadfast through the dark times. It is fitting that we consider H. Con. Res. 13 today, because on this day in history 234 years ago, Congress similarly considered a resolution recognizing ``the superintending providence of Almighty God'' in developing our nation. The First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving, issued by the Continental Congress on November 1, 1777, recommended that President George Washington set aside December 18th the following year as a day for ``solemn thanksgiving and praise.'' The resolution further declared that such a day might: ``please [God] graciously to afford his blessings on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings, independence and peace and ``that it may please Him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.'' Mr. Speaker, just as we did 234 years ago today, let us recognize the undeniable hand of God in cultivating our great nation, and give thanks for the mercies he has bestowed on us throughout our history. Let us also reaffirm today, not just the text of our national motto, but that truly ``In God is our trust.''

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Up2Us, a leading youth sports development organization working to address childhood obesity and promote improved academic performance and constructive activities for youth. Up2Us supports a national network of nearly 500 member organizations operating in all 50 States, serving 25 million youth through both traditional and nontraditional sports programs. Sharing best practices, advancing initiatives that extend opportunities to new players, and delivering quality programs in underserved communities, these are but some of the ways where a tremendous need for constructive outlets for our youth are occurring through this organization. Also, the men and women serving as AmeriCorps members with the Up2Us Coach Across America program are helping young people with a passion for sports to go to the low-income communities and reach out to children who may not have someone to be their coach or their mentor. The entire staff of Up2Us and their volunteers are doing a great job. May God continue to bless them in their successful work for years ahead and in demonstrating that we can help our young people in constructive ways with sports and recreation. Indeed, advancing the lives of all of our youth is a team sport.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today to recognize the Dixie Boys baseball team of Brunswick County, North Carolina, for being named National Champions of the 2011 Dixie Boys World Series. This year, the Brunswick County team won every match against the other states without losing a single game. The team went on to win the 2011 Dixie Youth World Series held in Beaufort, South Carolina, earning the title of National Champions on August 3, 2011. This is the fourth time that a North Carolina team has earned this title since 1956. In a true feat of excellence, the team from Brunswick scored 80 runs during its seven games, and failed to score in the double digits in only two of those seven games. As a team, Brunswick County had a strong batting average of .450, with team member Kevon Perkins leading with an astounding .750 average. With an outstanding number of 80 runs, this team truly deserves acclaim for their remarkable accomplishment in the Dixie Boys World Series. This was Brunswick County's third consecutive year as North Carolina's representing team for the Dixie Boys World Series. The Brunswick County Team went undefeated for its seven games of play, and showcased an unwavering mental and physical tenacity throughout the Dixie Boys championship. This is especially true for their victory over the reigning champion of the Dixie Boys championship, the same team which defeated North Carolina in the past championship game of two years ago. As founder of the Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports, and also as both a long-time little league coach and one who grew up playing baseball in, as well as a charter member of a youth baseball organization, I appreciate the dedication, determination, and teamwork that earned these players the esteemed title of National Champions. Mr. Speaker, the members of the Brunswick County baseball team deserve acclaim for their skill as well as for being outstanding ambassadors of Southeastern North Carolina, and the State of North Carolina. Their names are Gray Cheers, Dylan Howard, Shakeem Graham, Chris Graham, Hunter Price, Justin Wittkofsky, Kevon Perkins, Blain Hollis, Randy Mac Clark, Jerry Martin, Shelton Perkins, Garrett Scoggins and Dylan Darguzas. Coaches were Bobby Scoggins, Randy Fennell and Jeffrey Hollis. Mr. Speaker, I wish to honor and acknowledge accomplishments of not only the Brunswick County team, but also the parents, relatives and citizens who were so supportive of their children's efforts throughout this championship season. Of equal mention are the coaches and assistant coaches who were instrumental in guiding the team to becoming champions of the Dixie Boys World Series; without these coaches, victory would not have been possible. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Brunswick County Dixie Boys World Series Championship team and wishing them the very best in all of their future endeavors.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Street Soccer USA, a leader in sports-based youth development for Americans facing homelessness. SSUSA builds trust through sports to help adults and youth overcome homelessness, and is a powerful tool for workforce development, educational advancement, improved health, and crime and violence reduction. This summer, over 200 athletes from 18 U.S. cities competed as part of the Nation's premier sport-for-change event in DC June 10-12. I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating this year's participating teams. They are among a distinguished group of individuals dedicated to improving their lives. Congratulations to the men's and women's teams from Street Soccer Minneapolis, both of whom took home the Leonsis Trophy for first place. Thanks to the hard-working employees and volunteers who made the event such a huge success. May God bless you with many more successful years ahead. Indeed these individuals are demonstrating that ending homelessness and poverty is a team sport!

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. We've seen a lot of hardship these past two years. Not a day passes when I don't get a letter from somebody or meet someone who is out of work, or has lost their home or are without health care. The story Randall told about his father--that's a story that a whole lot of Americans have gone through over these past couple of years. Sometimes I can't help right away. Sometimes what I can do to try to improve the economy or to curb foreclosures or to help deal with the health care system--sometimes it seems so distant and so remote, so profoundly inadequate to the enormity of the need. And it is my faith, then, that Biblical injunction to serve the least of these, that keeps me going and that keeps me from being overwhelmed. It's faith that reminds me that despite being just one very imperfect man, I can still help whoever I can, however I can, wherever I can, for as long as I can, and that somehow God will buttress these efforts. It also helps to know that none of us are alone in answering this call. It's being taken up each and every day by so many of you--back home, your churches, your temples and synagogues, your fellow congregants--so many faith groups across this great country of ours. I came upon a group recently called charity: water, a group that supports clean water projects overseas. This is a project that was started by a former night club promoter named Scott Harrison who grew weary of living only for himself and feeling like he wasn't following Christ as well as he should. And because of Scott's good work, charity: water has helped 1.7 million people get access to clean water. And in the next 10 years, he plans to make clean water accessible to a hundred million more. That's the kind of promoting we need more of, and that's the kind of faith that moves mountains. And there are stories like that scattered across this room, of people who have taken it upon themselves to make a difference. Now, sometimes faith groups can do the work of caring for the least of these on their own; sometimes they need a partner, whether it's in business or government. And that's why my administration has taken a fresh look at the way we organize with faith groups, the way we work with faith groups through our Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. And through that office, we're expanding the way faith groups can partner with our government. We're helping them feed more kids who otherwise would go hungry. We're helping fatherhood groups get dads the support they need to be there for their children. We're working with non-profits to improve the lives of people around the world. And we're doing it in ways that are aligned with our constitutional principles. And in this work, we intend to expand it in the days ahead, rooted in the notions of partnership and justice and the imperatives to help the poor. Of course, there are some needs that require more resources than faith groups have at their disposal. There's only so much a church can do to help all the families in need--all those who need help making a mortgage payment, or avoiding foreclosure, or making sure their child can go to college. There is only so much that a non-profit can do to help a community rebuild in the wake of disaster. There is only so much the private sector will do to help folks who are desperately sick get the care that they need. And that's why I continue to believe that in a caring and in a just society, government must have a role to play; that our values, our love and our charity must find expression, not just in our families, not just in our places of work and our places of worship, but also in our government and in our politics. Over the past two years, the nature of these obligations, the proper role of government has obviously been the subject of enormous controversy. And the debates have been fierce as one side's version of compassion and community may be interpreted by the other side as an oppressive and irresponsible expansion of the state or an unacceptable restriction on individual freedom. That's why a second recurring theme in my prayers is a prayer for humility. God answered this prayer for me early on by having me marry Michelle. Because whether it's reminding me of a chore undone, or questioning the wisdom of watching my third football game in a row on Sunday, she keeps me humble. But in this life of politics when debates have become so bitterly polarized, and changes in the media lead so many of us to listen and reinforce our existing biases, it's useful to go back to Scripture to remind ourselves that none of us has all the answers--none of us, no matter what our political party or our station in life. The full breadth of human knowledge is like a grain of sand in God's hands. There are some mysteries in this world we cannot fully comprehend. As it is written in Job, ``God's voice thunders in marvelous ways. He does great things beyond our understandings.'' The challenge I find then is to balance this uncertainty, this humility with the need to fight for deeply held convictions, to be open to other points of view but firm in our core principles. And I pray for this wisdom every day. I pray that God will show me and all of us the limits of our understanding, and open our ears and our hearts to our brothers and sisters with different points of view; that such reminders of our shared hopes and our shared dreams and our shared limitations as children of God will reveal a way forward that we can travel together. And the last recurrent theme, one that binds all prayers together, is that I might walk closer with God and make that walk my first and most important task. In our own lives it's easy to be consumed by our daily worries and our daily concerns. And it is even easier at a time when everybody is busy, everybody is stressed and everybody--our culture--is obsessed with wealth and power and celebrity. And often it takes a brush with hardship or tragedy to shake us out of that, to remind us of what matters most. We see an aging parent wither under a long illness, or we lose a daughter or a husband in Afghanistan, we watch a gunman open fire at a supermarket--and we remember how fleeting life can be. And we ask ourselves how we have treated others, whether we've told our family and friends how much we love them. And it's in these moments, when we feel most intensely our mortality and our own flaws and the sins of the world, that we most desperately seek to touch the face of God. So my prayer this morning is that we might seek His face not only in those moments, but each and every day; and every day as we go through the hustle and bustle of our lives, whether it's in Washington or Hollywood or anywhere in between, that we might every so often rise above the here and now and kneel before the Eternal; that we might remember, Kaye, the fact that those who wait on the Lord will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not be wary and they will walk and not faint. When I wake in the morning, I wait on the Lord, and I ask Him to give me the strength to do right by our country and its people. And when I go to bed at night I wait on the Lord and ask him to forgive me my sins, and look after my family and the American people, and make me an instrument of His will. I say these prayers hoping they will be answered, and I say these prayers knowing that I must work and must sacrifice and must serve to see them answered. But I also say these prayers knowing that the act of prayer itself is a source of strength. It is a reminder that our time on Earth is not just about us; that when we open ourselves to the possibility that God might have a larger purpose for our lives, there is a chance that somehow, in ways that we may never fully know, God will use us well. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may He bless this country that we love. [Song by Alison Krauss] Congresswoman Kirkpatrick: Thank you so much, Alison. It has been quite a morning. Congressman Miller: We are grateful to all of our head table guests and our distinguished visitors around the world. We all hope you have something powerful to think about and apply to your leadership challenges wherever you may live. Congresswoman Kirkpatrick: Prayer is a powerful thing because we all are connected to a powerful loving God. We are all brought to this place and this moment for a reason and it is our responsibility to figure out what we can do to spread the message of hope and faith we received today. One of the things we perhaps all have noticed is that in the world that God has made almost always where there is tragedy, there is also a release of great love. People across the country and around the world have been focused on the terrible senseless shooting 26 days ago in Tucson. It has made us all ask, why, and examine what we can do to make the world where such things don't happen. Congressman Miller: Most of us have said our prayers for the life and the recovery of all of the victims and especially our colleague Gabby Giffords. This morning we get to pray with her husband Captain Mark Kelly. Captain, we thank you for your own service to our country. As a member of the United States Navy and as an astronaut, we thank you for being here to lead us in our closing prayer. Captain Mark Kelly: Congresswoman Kirkpatrick, Congressman Miller, thank you for inviting me here today. I am not so sure I can thank you for having me follow Jose Enriquez, Randall Wallace and the President of the United States, though. What allowed me to be here today, I think, is Gabby's condition. It continues to improve. Every day she gets a little bit better and the neurosurgeons and neurologists tell me that that is a great sign. The slope of that curve is very important. It is good to be here at an event that has become such an important part of our national dialogue. As you can imagine, the last month has been the hardest time of my life and the hardest time of my family's life. It was on January 8th, just four weeks ago on Saturday, that Gabby's life and my life have forever been changed. And we are not the only ones; the shooting has cost other families dearly. Gabby's community in Tucson, my community in Tucson, the people of Tucson are suffering. Suffering deeply, but suffering together. When something like this happens it's natural to think, how? Why could this happen? Why were six people killed? Why was a nine year old girl, an innocent child, killed who just wanted to meet her Congresswoman? Why was Gabby shot through her head and left barely clinging to life? We can't ever know the answers to these questions. We won't. But, thankfully, miraculously, Gabby survives. I was telling Gabby just the other night, two nights ago that maybe this event, this terrible event, was fate. I hadn't been a big believer in fate until recently. I thought the world just spins and the clock just ticks and things happen for no particular reason. President Lincoln was a big believer in fate. He said ``the Almighty has His own purposes.'' He believed that there was a larger plan. I can only hope and I told Gabby the other night that maybe it is possible that this is just one small part of that same plan. That this event, horrible and tragic, was not merely random, that maybe something good can come from all this. Maybe, it's our responsibility. Maybe it's your responsibility to see that something does. As many of you know, I'm an astronaut. I've been fortunate on three separate occasions in my life to look down at this planet from space. We orbit the earth at about nearly the same distance that Washington is from my home in West Orange, New Jersey--but from space far above that traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, you have an entirely different perspective of life on our planet. It's humbling to see the earth as God created it in the context of God's vast universe. Many of you may also know that my twin brother Scott is also an astronaut. And through this very difficult time, he has been aboard the International Space Station. It's a really tough place to be when your twin brother and your family, and the nation, is going through something that is so difficult. He was asked by several journalists what it's been like to be so far away and unable to return to his family during this time, and I think what he said bears repeating. Scott said, ``What we do here in space is incredibly challenging. Our country faces a lot of challenges and the way we address those challenges is through teamwork. And I'd like to see more teamwork with more people not only in government but everyone in meeting the challenges our country faces. Hopefully if anything good can come from this, it's that we learn to work better together.'' Scott concluded by saying, ``We are better than this. We must do better.'' My brother is right, I know we will do better, and I know that prayer must be part of that effort. One morning when Gabby was still in Tucson at the Tucson University Medical Center, I was outside visiting that memorial that just sprung up on the grass in front of the hospital. It isn't a formal religious site but there is a lot of religious material that people left there on the lawn-- Bibles, angels, prayers. And the people of Arizona have turned that place into a place of prayer, a pilgrimage site. On that particular morning there was no wind, there were candles burning on the lawn, hundreds of them, and it was like stepping into a church, a place with heaven itself as a ceiling. That reminded me that you don't need a church, a temple or a mosque to pray. You don't even need a building or walls or even an altar. You pray where you are. You pray when God is there in your heart and prayer isn't just asking, it's also listening for answers and expressing gratitude, which I've done a lot lately. With that, I'd like to conclude with a prayer that my wife's Rabbi, Rabbi Stephanie Aaron who married us, said over Gabby's hospital bed on the first night when this happened on January 8. Rabbi Aaron said, and this is my prayer: ``In the name of God, our God of Israel, may Michael, God's angel, messenger of compassion, watch over your right side. May Gabriel, God's angel, messenger of strength and courage, be on your left. And before you, guiding your path, Uriel, God's angel of light, and behind you, supporting you, stands Raphael, God's angel of healing. And over your head surrounding you is the presence of the Divine.'' Thank you. God bless you and please, please, please continue to keep Gabby's thoughts and prayers in your heart, it is really helping. Thank you. Congressman Miller: I would ask that you all remain in your places to allow the President and the First Lady to depart. Thank you so much for coming Mr. President and thank you for bringing Mrs. Obama with you today. Congresswoman Kirkpatrick: Jeff, it's been quite a morning, and thank you again for being co-chair with me on this. Thank you and God bless you and now go and make peace.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate National Youth Sports Week and to welcome several exceptional student athletes joining us in the gallery. The Baltimore SquashWise program and their leader, a local lacrosse star, are here to help us celebrate. Moments ago I was joined by Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, former Redskin Ken Harvey, youth sports leaders and coaches to unveil the ``F.A.N.S. for Youth Sports'' legislative agenda to address fitness, access, nutrition, and safety. Student athletes make better grades, get in less trouble, and are less likely to be obese. Sports shape the character of each child who walks onto the field. I'm especially pleased that some of our Nation's top sports programs, including the NFL, the NHL, the PGA, and the U.S. Tennis Association, among others, are supporting this agenda. This agenda represents a renewed commitment to our Nation's youth. Children are the best investment we can make in our future. We should never be too busy to help a child. Let's celebrate together National Youth Sports Week.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Madam Chair, during rollcall vote No. 586 on the Kaptur Amendment on H.R. 2354, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``aye.'' Amendment Offered by Mr. Flake

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition of the Broun amendment to the fiscal year 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would transfer $250,000 from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission to the Budget Reduction Account. At a time of high unemployment and slow growth, the last thing Congress should be doing is killing engines for job creation. Commissions similar to the Southeast Crescent Regional are a proven tool to help bring vital economic development to some of the poorest and most underserved parts of the country. Even before the financial crisis, many regions in the Southeast Crescent were suffering from job loss, generational problems of poverty and low economic development. Many of the counties in the Southeast Crescent, including those in states like Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida suffer from a high rate of poverty, below average income, and chronic unemployment. Since the economic recession, these rates have only gotten worse. The Southeastern Crescent Regional Commission is based on the successful models of the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Authority. The Appalachian Regional Commission in its 50-year history has successfully reduced the number of counties suffering from chronic poverty from 295 to 120--a reduction in high-poverty counties by almost 60 percent. The Southeastern Crescent Regional Commission will help to leverage Federal, state, local and private investments to create jobs and eradicate unemployment. Therefore, I vehemently oppose the Broun amendment.

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. McINTYRE. Madam Chairman, under the Water Resources Development Act, which we know as WRDA, of 1986, Congress authorized most coastal and shoreline protection and beach restoration projects to be periodically nourished according to a cost-sharing agreement between the Federal Government and a local sponsor, usually a municipality, for a period of up to 50 years from the starting date of the initial construction of the project. Several of these projects are rapidly approaching the end of that first 50-year period of Federal participation. Currently, there is no language in place to provide a process for the reauthorization of these projects. In order for the Federal Government to remain a continuing partner to protect the people, the infrastructure, the economy, and the environment of our Nation's coastal communities, Congress must give the Army Corps of Engineers the authority to assess continued Federal participation in expiring beach and coastal projects prior to the end of their original authorizations in order to prevent interruptions to Federal renourishment efforts. This authority would ensure that communities' shorelines will remain safe and economically viable for years to come by letting the Army Corps and the local communities help determine whether or not to continue a shore protection project based on science, on local support, and the standards that the Corps uses for determining whether there should be continued Federal fiscal participation and whether it is warranted. These projects are of national and regional significance. Coastal storm damage reduction projects not only support regional economies and, indeed, the national economy, but they provide critical protection against hurricanes and, as we now are in hurricane season, realize the seriousness of this and other dangerous storms. Federal participation in these projects is determined based on a benefit-cost analysis, meaning that these projects go through a significant study in order to determine that they are merited and that it is in the Federal Government's financial interest to continue to participate in these projects. However, let's be clear that this amendment would not cut Congress out of the loop, because Congress would always have the final say on final approval of reauthorizing these projects. Any approval for a construction phase would still have to be approved by Congress. So it only makes sense to allow these projects to proceed without interruption. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 500 on July 6, 2011, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 499 on July 6, 2011, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 498 on July 6, 2011, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 497 on July 6, 2011, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote number 496 on July 6, 2011, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 495 on July 6, 2011, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. McINTYRE

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, today citizens and communities all across the United States join together to celebrate our nation's 235th birthday. In doing so, we rejoice in the moment, reflect on the past, and recommit ourselves to a brighter future for our wonderful nation. One very special celebration is taking place today in Fayetteville, North Carolina, that deserves the special recognition of the U.S. Congress--the dedication of the North Carolina Veterans Park. Fayetteville, and all of North Carolina, have a long and historic commitment to the men and women who have protected our country's freedoms. From Cherry Point Air Station to Charlotte Air National Guard, from Camp Lejeune to U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, from Fort Bragg and Pope Army Air Field to New River Air Station and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, from the Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point to the Oak Island and Wrightsville Beach Coast Guard Stations, North Carolina has opened its hearts and hands to support those who have made so many sacrifices and opportunities for all of us. Embracing the military and its veterans have earned North Carolina the distinction as the ``most military friendly state'' and home to one of the largest percentages of veterans in America. Ensuring that our veterans' service and sacrifice are never forgotten will be the legacy of the North Carolina Veterans Park. This multi-dimensional park will capture the commitment, courage, and country-first attitude that shines through the veterans of our nation. And in doing so, it will be a legacy that generations and generations can learn how the actions of a few saved so many. I want to share the words of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, who once said, ``With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.'' The North Carolina Veterans Park will be another chapter in our state's and nation's efforts to honor those who have served and lived with great distinction. Mr. Speaker, in closing, the North Carolina Veterans Park storyline states: From the soils of North Carolina, You left your families and homes With purpose to serve your country. You are our veterans. This is your place to reflect on and Share your experiences. To feel pride in your service, Bond with fellow veterans, and heal. Here, may you find your support and inspiration To live your lives today. The people of North Carolina Honor your service and welcome you home.