Buck McKeon

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), the ranking member on the Military Personnel Subcommittee.

Mr. McKEON. I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), the ranking member of the Terrorism Subcommittee.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, as legislators, we meet once again to address the wide range of important national security activities undertaken by the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. We all take our legislative responsibilities very seriously. This is especially true during a time of war. And it's always true of my good friend and colleague, our Armed Services Committee chairman, Ike Skelton. As a result of Chairman Skelton's tireless efforts to put forward this bill, our committee reported out the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 last Wednesday. The vote was unanimous, 59-0. Consistent with the longstanding bipartisan practice of the Armed Services Committee, this bill reflects our committee's continued strong support for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. The defense authorization bill authorizes $567 billion in budget authority for the fiscal year 2011 base budget of the Department of Defense and national security programs of the Department of Energy, and it authorizes $139 billion in funding to support operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the global war on terrorism. This bill does an admirable job in dealing with some of our greatest national security challenges. Addressing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, H.R. 1536 authorizes the fiscal year 2011 overseas contingency operations. With respect to Afghanistan, this bill updates reporting requirements, including asking for the conditions and criteria that will be used to measure progress, instead of allowing the ticking Washington political clock to determine our end state. I am very pleased that the chairman and our colleagues on the committee joined us in ensuring that lifesaving combat enablers such as force protection, medical evacuation, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities are deployed in time to fully support the 30,000 additional troops scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan by this summer. Building on the Acquisition Reform Act this body passed in April, this legislation takes a number of important steps on major weapons programs. We strongly believe that a $110 billion noncompetitive, sole source, 25-year contract should not be permitted. Therefore, we strongly support the inclusion of funding to complete development of the F-136 competitive engine for the Joint Strike Fighter. As a Nation, we owe more than our gratitude to the brave men and women in uniform and their families, past and present, for the sacrifices they make and have made to protect our freedom. We are pleased that this legislation includes a pay raise which is half a percentage point above the President's request. A major disappointment is that once again the committee and House leadership were unable to find the mandatory spending offsets needed to eliminate the widow's tax, a tax that occurs because survivors must forfeit most or all of their Survivor Benefit Plan annuity to receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Nor were we able to provide for concurrent receipt of military disability retired pay and VA disability pay, as proposed by the President. I know that Chairman Skelton has attempted to find the offsets, but so far, despite this House approving trillions in spending that is not offset, this body has been unable or unwilling to find the means to support widows and disabled veterans. One of the areas where there is disagreement between the aisles is detainee policy. We need to keep terrorists off our soil, not fight to get them here. We are disappointed that the bill does not prohibit the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to U.S. soil. Finally, for the last 8 years, we have asked our men and women of the Armed Forces and their families to make repeated sacrifices while serving this Nation. They have unhesitatingly and selflessly responded in a magnificent manner, without hesitation putting mission and Nation ahead of self and family. Now the proponents of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell want to rush a vote to the floor that disrupts the process that was put in place earlier this year to give the troops the opportunity to make their view known on this most important issue. After making the continuous sacrifice of fighting two wars over the course of 8 years, the men and women of our military deserve to be heard. Congress acting first is the equivalent to turning to our men and women in uniform and their families and saying your opinion, your views do not count. Yesterday I spoke to and received letters from all four service chiefs. I will include copies of those letters in the Record. Let me read a couple of excerpts, Mr. Chairman. General Schwartz, the Air Force Chief of Staff, writes, ``I believe it is important, a matter of keeping faith with those currently serving in the Armed Forces, that the Secretary of Defense commissioned review be completed before there is any legislation to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law. Such action sends an important signal to our airmen and families that their opinion matters.'' General Casey, the Army Chief of Staff, writes, ``I believe that repealing the law before the completion of the review will be seen by the men and women of the Army as a reversal of our commitment to hear their views before moving forward.'' Similar views are expressed by Admiral Roughead and General Conway. Mr. Chairman, I planned on addressing this matter in detail when we debate Mr. Murphy's amendment. Unfortunately, the leadership deemed this debate, this issue so critical to the morale and welfare of our military worthy of only 10 minutes of debate. Ten minutes. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell will get as much time for debate today as the manager's amendment. This is an outrage. I'd like to make one last point. If this body were to adopt Mr. Murphy's amendment, then this House would breach the trust of 2.5 million men and women in uniform and their families by saying to them that their voices don't count. We owe our military personnel better. In order to allow this House the time it needs to hear from our military forces through the process that was set up earlier this year, and their families, before we make a decision, I would encourage Members to vote against the Don't Ask, Don't Tell compromise and against final passage if my Democratic colleagues refuse to wait to hear from our troops. As in years past, I believe that this legislation reflects many of the Armed Services Committee's priorities in supporting our Nation's dedicated and courageous servicemembers. I thank Chairman Skelton for putting together an excellent bill and helping us to stay focused on delivering a bill that protects, sustains, and builds our forces. I support H.R. 5136 as passed by the House Armed Services Committee. We never, in the committee, in our markup, we never held a full committee hearing on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We never included it or discussed it in our debate in the Armed Services Committee. I look forward to working with my colleagues to improve H.R. 5136. Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC, April 30, 2010. Hon. Ike Skelton, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing in response to your letter of April 28 requesting my views on the advisability of legislative action to repeal the so-called ``Don't Ask Don't Tell'' statute prior to the completion of the Department of Defense review of this matter. I believe in the strongest possible terms that the Department must, prior to any legislative action, be allowed the opportunity to conduct a thorough, objective, and systematic assessment of the impact of such a policy change; develop an attentive comprehensive implementation plan, and provide the President and the Congress with the results of this effort in order to ensure that this step is taken in the most informed and effective manner. A critical element of this effort is the need to systematically engage our forces, their families, and the broader military community throughout this process. Our military must be afforded the opportunity to inform us of their concerns, insights, and suggestions if we are to carry out this change successfully. Therefore, I strongly oppose any legislation that seeks to change this policy prior to the completion of this vital assessment process. Further, I hope Congress will not do so, as it would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform that in essence their views, concerns, and perspectives do not matter on an issue with such a direct impact and consequence for them and their families. Adm. Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense.

Mr. McKEON. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. McKEON. I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, as I mentioned earlier, I think this is an outstanding bill. I think the chairman has worked very hard. I think the members of the committee--the subcommittee chairman and the ranking members--have all worked very hard, and the staff. It is an excellent product as it stands right now. I think we will have, unfortunately, insufficient time to debate the Murphy amendment about Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I think that it is unfortunate that the Rules Committee did not give us the time that will be necessary to fully debate that, but we will take advantage of the time as we may. I would like to say, as for many of the Members who have spoken today on our side, they do support the bill as it came out of committee. They hope that it will be improved, but if the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Murphy amendment passes, many of them will not be able to support the final passage, which is, indeed, I believe, a tragedy. None of us have ever before, to my knowledge, voted against the defense authorization bill, and we really don't do that lightly. We want to support all of this product, and we hope that we will be able to work this out as the day goes on.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. I would be happy to yield 1 minute to my good friend from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the time for debate on amendment No. 79 offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Patrick J. Murphy) be extended by 60 minutes evenly divided between the proponent and opponent.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, listening to the chairman relate that story made me think of an experience I had last week at home. We had an event that was held by our community, honoring those who served. At that event, I met again the parents of a young man who was killed a few weeks ago, from our home. It was a Filipino family who had a son and two daughters. Their son, Ian Gelig, was killed in Afghanistan, just as I said, a few weeks ago. They came to this gathering from the cemetery, which is where they go on a daily basis to visit their son. We had another family there who had lost their son in Iraq a few years ago, and this family has kind of befriended the parents of other young people who have lost their lives since then. They go to all of the funerals, and they have become strong advocates, reaching out to help the other families. They feel good about what their sons have done. They hate the fact that they have lost their sons, but they feel proud of what they have done and feel like their sons did what they wanted to do. I had the experience today of meeting a young midshipman. He will be graduating Friday from the Naval Academy. He is planning on becoming a SEAL. He has been learning Arabic, and he is looking forward to having an exciting career in the Navy. You know, seeing these young people and seeing the light in their lives and what their plans are makes one think of others, as the chairman talked about--of the young man who graduated from West Point, who lost his life. He had that same light in his life, and I'm sure he felt like what he was doing, the sacrifice he'd made for our country, was worthwhile. It is up to us to remember those sacrifices and, as Mr. Wilson said, to never forget 9/11 and to never forget the service of all of these young people since the birth of our great Nation. I would ask that all of our colleagues support this resolution.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for introducing this resolution honoring those who have served in the Armed Forces and for honoring me to be a cosponsor with him in that legislation. Mr. Speaker, next week is Memorial Day, and I rise today in support of House Resolution 1385 to recognize and honor the courage and sacrifice of the members of the Armed Forces and the veterans of our wars. In the clearly defined wars against tyranny, in the controversial conflicts not appreciated until the guns long fell silent, in the limited actions unknown by anyone not there, the American Armed Forces have time and again answered the call of duty. When our fighting men and women put on their uniforms, they became immune to politics and marched towards the sound of the guns, going wherever their orders sent them. We call them specialist, corporal, airman, and petty officer. They are our own children. These young Americans represent the best in all of us because, while America will always fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, it is their faces that America sends to the aid of the broken, wounded, and starving of the world. In the cold winter of Valley Forge, across the deserts to Tripoli, fighting against their brothers in the Civil War, across the wheat fields of France, on the beaches of Normandy, in the freezing Korean winter, in the jungles of Vietnam, and in the burning sands of Iraq and Afghanistan, what has set our Armed Forces apart is their commitment to a moral war, a just war, an American way of war. Americans make the distinction between our enemies and the innocent bystanders. And once our enemies lay down their arms, our forces provide them food, shelter, and medical aid. And when the fighting stops completely, our forces help to rebuild war-torn nations, turning bitter enemies into great industrialized allies of today. Since 1775, and across the world today, our Armed Forces and veterans symbolize all that is best in us as Americans. The American Armed Forces are just as eager to help feed and clothe the survivors of a natural disaster as they are to destroy tyranny and oppression. People across the globe know that when the Americans come they will fight for what is right, and those who rule by fear will then be afraid. In the most difficult conditions, in the most challenging terrain, against the greatest odds, our Armed Forces have faced impossible odds without counting the cost to themselves. They have followed their orders, and the oath sworn to our Constitution makes the moral foundation of our government possible. Since before the acknowledgement of our Nation's sovereignty and before the first session of this great legislative body, our citizens organized themselves to fight against oppression and to stand up for freedom and liberty. When the drums beat, when the bugles called, the sound of marching feet was the pride of our Nation answering the call. Whether our veterans were drafted or volunteered, made long service careers or served only for a short time, they committed their lives, their youth, and their health to the principles of our great Nation. In no other industry of America today will you find a group of young men and women for whom truth is the only currency, pain is a temporary annoyance, ingenuity is the answer to all challenges, and teamwork is the thread that unites and binds them against all foes. They have done all this without counting the cost to themselves and their families. We, who are a grateful Nation, must remember this. Our freedom is a tangible thing, a perishable thing, and our own last full measure of devotion must be dedicated to ensuring that their sacrifice is never in vain but that a more perfect union will yet rise and inspire the oppressed peoples of the Earth. I urge the House to join me in passing this resolution to honor our Armed Forces. Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. We are willing to concur in the thanks to the staff and to all those who have worked so hard. I encourage our colleagues to vote in support of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, we have no further speakers at this time, and we will continue to reserve.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I'm happy to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman who has served as the ranking member on the panel, ranking member on the subcommittee that had jurisdiction in this area, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway).

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I am happy to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), a member of the committee.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today I rise in support of H.R. 5013, the IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010. The very first thing I would like do is thank my partner across the aisle, Chairman Ike Skelton. Chairman Skelton has shown considerable leadership on this front, as well as the tone he has set for our committee throughout this Congress. I want to commend him and his staff for working so closely with us on this bipartisan bill. Subcommittee Chairman Rob Andrews and Ranking Member Mike Conaway deserve special recognition as well. I salute the HASC Defense Acquisition Reform Panel that they have chaired for all of their hard work. Under the leadership of Congressman Andrews and Congressman Conaway, this panel and its seven members delved into the complex world of defense acquisition. Over the last year, the panel held more than 20 events and supported the drafting and passage of the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act of 2009. Late last month, based upon their detailed study, the panel released its final report containing recommendations for improvements to defense acquisition. On April 14, I was proud to honor their efforts by cosponsoring H.R. 5013, a bill that implements the panel's recommendations. Moreover, last week's unanimous committee vote on the bill speaks loudly to the hard work that this team put into their task. Last year's Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act reformed the organization and processes used by the Department of Defense to manage major weapons programs, which account for approximately 20 percent of the Pentagon's procurement spending. This year Congressmen Andrews and Conaway tackled the other 80 percent. When you consider that over 50 percent of the Pentagon's procurement dollars are for services contracts alone, the legislation we intend to introduce today has the potential to effect major changes at the Department of Defense and save taxpayer dollars. I believe these reforms are just as important as those implemented by last year's acquisition reform legislation. First, because they address the remaining 80 percent of defense acquisition, but more notably because true reform can only be accomplished by the men and women of the acquisition workforce. The bill provides tools to enhance the experience and structure of this workforce. Our legislation will help the Department of Defense design better ways to measure value within the defense acquisition system, create a link between financial management and acquisition, address the acquisition of services, information technology, commodities, and commercial parts, and finally, foster a robust domestic industrial base. While we may not be able to guarantee a precise level of savings associated with this bill, I will tell you why I think it's important to pursue every avenue we can for savings. I personally believe we should be spending more on our national security. But ultimately, we have a responsibility to ensure that we spend the money we do have as wisely as possible. Nobody argues that the Department of Defense faces rising costs associated with military personnel and health care. When you couple this reality with the fact that the DOD's operating costs are migrating from supplemental spending measures into the base budget, the future for the DOD's investment accounts looks bleak. I am concerned that the department's ability to invest in technology options for the future and to procure the equipment needed by our warfighters will be curtailed. Therefore, anything we can do to save money and invest that savings back into our top national security priorities should be viewed as an imperative, not just as a good thing. In closing, I want to give special acknowledgment to the dedicated men and women of the defense acquisition workforce. They hold the key to improving acquisition outcomes and implementing H.R. 5013 without falling victim to bureaucracy. A significant challenge, but one for which that department has our full support. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health bill.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of H.R. 4887, which would try to fix a significant flaw in the Democratic health care reform bill by including the Department of Defense TRICARE program in what is considered minimum essential coverage for the purposes of the individual mandate in the health care bill. Mr. Speaker, while I applaud Chairman Skelton for taking this step, I'm deeply concerned and aware that it does not go far enough to protect TRICARE from the ravages of ObamaCare. The simple truth is that the Senate health care bill still leaves TRICARE, the world-class health care program that takes care of 9.2 million of our men and women in uniform and their families and retirees and their families open to the whim of bureaucrats outside of the Department of Defense who may change the program as they see fit. Is this what we want for the men and women who lay their lives on the line every day to protect this great Nation? Last summer, the White House made two promises to America's Armed Forces and their families: One, that the health reform legislation that's being considered would enable those who are covered by TRICARE to meet the shared responsibility requirement for individuals to have insurance, thereby exempting such members of the armed services and their families from being assessed penalties. This is the explicit promise that the Senate health care bill fails to meet. The chairman's resolution is an attempt to meet that commitment, but what it definitely does is point out the flaws in the Senate health care bill. The second promise the President made is that the Secretary of Defense would continue to maintain sole authority over TRICARE. Chairman Skelton's language today does not address this promise. That is why Mr. Buyer, the ranking member on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I filed and will offer later today language at the Rules Committee that would meet both of these promises. We've been hearing since last summer many promises that this problem would be fixed. Mr. Buyer and I even offered similar amendments to the House version of the bill passed last fall. Our attempts were rebuffed and the military service organizations were given assurances by the Democratic leadership that TRICARE would be protected in a conference report that never came. Now we see this legislation that appeared in the dark of night. We've been told that there's no cost associated with this legislation. We cannot confirm that. History is rife with examples of House legislation that does not survive in the Senate. In other words, there's no guarantee that what the President finally signs will protect Medicare. Mr. Speaker, I was told by a veteran that one of the problems we had in the Vietnam War was pilots became so fixated on the target that they ultimately crashed into the target. That's what I see happening with this health care bill that the Democratic leadership and the President are pushing. They're so fixated on getting something passed that they're making so many mistakes that we're not going to be able to fix them all. I will support my chairman's efforts today, but I will continue to work toward a comprehensive fix.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who has given his life's work over in service to his country. A man who has honorably served the United States, both in uniform and out, in both the public and the private sectors, and who in my mind exemplifies duty and excellence. A man who is now taking a long deferred and well deserved retirement. Madam Speaker, Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr. has come a long way from his days growing up in the Bronx. He served in the Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral. During his career, he served 34 years, seeing action in the Vietnam War as the Commander of Fighter Squadron 161 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea. He later took command of Miramar Naval Air Station, as well as command of the Pacific Fleet Fighter and Airborne Early Warning Wing. During all this time, Admiral Tom Cassidy developed a reputation as a thorough and fully dedicated Naval Officer, that Bronx upbringing never being too far below the surface. He pushed himself to the limit, gaining extensive experience flying a wide variety of American and foreign aircraft. In fact, he developed air-to-air improved fighter tactics that the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force fighter pilots used to dramatically improve the kill ratio over the North Vietnamese Air Force MiGs. He did this by flying the MiG 21 and 17 to exploit their weaknesses. This in turn led to a number of staff jobs from a carrier group to a stint with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. With a reputation as a man with an eye for detail and a no nonsense approach to getting the job done, Admiral Cassidy was made the Chief of Naval Operations', CNO, liaison officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was Director of the Tactical Readiness Division of the CNO's staff. Madam Speaker, a resume like this speaks volumes, and would lead you to believe that Admiral Tom Cassidy had more than done his bit for ``king and country.'' No one could dispute that Tom had served the American people well and that he had earned a place in the esteem of his countrymen. And so after a long and distinguished career, Tom retired from the Navy. However, while Admiral Cassidy may have left the Navy, in a very real sense the Navy never left him. Devotion to duty and hard work. A commitment to excellence and a ``can-do' spirit. Love of family, God and country. Valor in the face of danger and hardship, and most of all, a firm and unswerving loyalty to his men. All these qualities that we so instantly and rightly attribute to the men and women of the Navy, and not just the Navy but all the Armed Forces, were deeply engrained in Admiral Cassidy. It was that Navy spirit that Tom took with him into the private sector, where he accepted a position as CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and where he has become a pioneer in the development of some of the most important and revolutionary weapons in America's arsenal for the war on terrorism. Madam Speaker, Admiral Tom Cassidy made the Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Were it not for Tom, after September 11 the United States would not have had in its armory one of the key weapons with which we began the long hard fight to free Afghanistan, Iraq, the Swat valley and so many other parts of the Middle East and Central and South Asia. At a time when there were grave doubts in the Armed Forces and the Department of Defense about the efficacy and necessity of UAVs like the Predator, Admiral Cassidy took a gamble. Operating by what Aviation Week magazine has rightly referred to as the ``build it and they will come'' strategy--Tom Cassidy pushed the development and building of Predators ahead of orders from the United States Government. Consequently, Madam Speaker, when on that terrible day in September of 2001, Americans came face to face with the unrelenting hatred and resourcefulness of our radical Islamist opponents, we can thank Admiral Tom Cassidy that the United States was able to have at the ready one of the critical weapons systems with which we have been able to bring the war to our enemies and to drive them out of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a weapon that, Madam Speaker, continues to serve us well today. The Predator has gone through no less than three developmental iterations thanks to the hard work of Tom Cassidy. Each new evolution in the Predator has radically improved our ability to strike against the shadowy adversary that we now face. The Predator, Madam Speaker, will soon have attained over a million cumulative flight hours. How many of the enemy has it taken out? How many lives of our service men and women have been saved by the use of the Predator? How many terrorist attacks against the United States and our allies have been averted thanks to the unique surveillance and offensive weapons capabilities of the Predator? How many people have a chance at freedom because the Predator was able to strike against those who preach a savage perversion of a religion? There is probably no real way to count it accurately. Still, we know that lives have been saved and terrorist attacks have been averted and people who were once enslaved are now free because Predator was in America's arsenal. For that, Madam Speaker, this Congress and this country and people the world over owe Admiral Tom Cassidy a debt of gratitude of which they are scarcely aware. That is why I am privileged to be able to say these few words of thanks. So Madam Speaker, Tom Cassidy will retire now. He will end the long days of hard work and get to spend time with the wife and family that he loves, secure in the knowledge that he has done all that could reasonably be asked of one man to protect his country from those who threaten it. Madam Speaker, I am sure that nothing would please Tom Cassidy more than to know that his work has helped our nation face many of the most challenging threats to our security. I am convinced that the strength of character, dedication to duty and love of family and of country that are the hallmarks of Admiral Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr.'s life will long endure. I congratulate him on a job well done that has spanned both careers, the U.S. Navy and his tenure as the head of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. On behalf of the American people I thank him, and I wish him many happy years ahead.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to the majority's attempt to have the Federal Government take over the national health care system. This has been a yearlong debate, and it is clear that the American public does not want this bill. People are justifiably outraged at the contempt the majority has shown to them. Everything my constituents dislike is still in the majority's health care bill: billions in new taxes on small businesses and families, over $1 trillion in new Federal spending, a health care czar to make health care decisions for families, a Federal mandate to buy health insurance, hundreds of billions in Medicare cuts, expanding access to abortion, and sleazy backroom deals. If this is the panacea that the majority claims it is, then why is it that they are refusing to allow a straight up-or-down vote? Do you think you can fool them with procedural gimmicks such as deeming a bill passed without actually voting on it? I don't think so, and I think it is shameful to try.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise with the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), my chairman, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. I join with my colleagues from the Foreign Affairs Committee and my colleagues from the Armed Services Committee in opposition to this resolution. I am very disappointed that the House Democratic leadership would allow this resolution to come to the floor at this time for a vote. One only has to look at the headlines to know that our military forces are making progress in their offensive against the Taliban insurgents in Helmand province, even as they face snipers, mines, improvised explosive devices, and a skeptical Afghan population. The Kucinich resolution does nothing to advance the efforts of our military commanders and troops as they work side by side with their Afghan and coalition partners. Representative Kucinich's resolution, if enacted into law, would mandate the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2010. Why consider this resolution now? Why second-guess the Commander in Chief and his commander so soon after the announcement of a new strategy? Four months ago, the President reminded us why we are in Afghanistan. It was the epicenter of where al Qaeda planned and launched the 9/11 attacks against innocent Americans. The President recommitted the United States to defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban and authorized the deployment of 30,000 additional U.S. forces. A portion of those forces have arrived and others are readying to deploy. Like most Republicans, I support the President's decision to surge in Afghanistan. I believe that with additional forces, combined with giving General McChrystal the time, space and resources he needs, we can win this conflict. We do not have a choice. We must defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban. This means taking all necessary steps to ensure al Qaeda does not have a sanctuary in Afghanistan or Pakistan. At the end of last year, I had hoped that the war debate in this country had ended, and we would give a chance for that strategy to work, we would give a chance for those soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors who have been sent there to carry out their mission, to be successful. I had hoped, as a Nation, we could move toward a place of action; we wouldn't be in a position of second-guessing before we even had a chance to complete that mission. During the debate last year, no one said that it was going to be easy. The current operation in Afghanistan has been successful but has not come without challenges. However, as we stand here today, the Afghan flag is flying in Marjah city center. The Taliban flag has been removed. This lone flag sends a clear message to Afghans that the central government is committed to people there, that we're not going to cut and run. We're going to be with them and help successfully conclude this mission so that they can finally have peace. Some have compared our efforts there to Russians or others in the past and have talked about the defeat of other nations in this country. We're not there to take over this country. We're there to provide them freedom. That's why we're going to be successful. However, this debate is not being conducted in a vacuum. Our troops are listening. Our allies are listening. The Taliban and al Qaeda also are listening. And finally, the Afghan people are listening. This resolution sends the message, ``Pay no attention to the flag over Marjah. America cannot be trusted to uphold its own values and commitments.'' I will be attending a funeral Saturday. Each of us I am sure here have had to perform that duty. It is not one I am looking forward to. I have attended several in the past. But at this point, for me to go to that funeral and tell the Geligs that their son, Sergeant Gelig, lost his life over an effort that we are going to cut and run from is something I cannot do. Mr. Speaker, I want to send a clear message to the Afghan people and government that our coalition partners, our military men and women, this Congress believes in you, we support you, we honor your dedication and your sacrifice. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this resolution.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the retirement of Lew Stults, who graciously served as my District Director for the past 12 years, representing the needs of constituents in the 25th Congressional District of California. A 53-year resident of the Antelope Valley, Lew first began working for me in 1998 and was a direct liaison to residents, schools, businesses, city and county government officials, civic organizations, and the local aerospace industry. Lew was an integral part of my most senior staff, forging relationships and addressing issues that significantly and positively impacted Southern California. He became such a beloved figure that he was oftentimes referred to as the ``Congressman of Palmdale.'' Lew arrived in the Antelope Valley at the age of 10 in 1957, when his family relocated from Portland, Maine. He attended elementary and middle schools in the Lancaster School District and graduated from Antelope Valley High School in 1965. He first attended Antelope Valley College in the fall of 1965, but interrupted his education to join the U.S. Navy in 1966. Lew is a Vietnam veteran who served in an airborne photographic reconnaissance squadron. After his 4-year service in the Navy, Lew returned to the Antelope Valley and again attended Antelope Valley College. He has had a long and distinguished career in sales and marketing, and was elected twice to two 4-year terms on the Board of Trustees for the Lancaster School District. In 1993 Lew became the founding President of the Lancaster Education Foundation, a non-profit corporation raising money for children in the Lancaster School District. He is a long-time member of Lancaster West Rotary Club and is a Past President of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade. It has been my absolute honor to have Lew Stults as a senior advisor and staff member for more than a decade. He is a tremendous man of warm humor, quick wit, and great integrity. I congratulate Lew on his retirement and wish him and his wife of 42 years, Karen Stults, prosperity in all future endeavors.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of Paula T. Nowakowski, who tragically and unexpectedly passed away Saturday, January 9, 2010. As a trusted aide to Republican Leader John Boehner, she was there for each and every Member of the Republican Conference. Before I served as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Education and Workforce Committee, Paula effectively led the staff as Staff Director for nearly six years, helping to enact legislation that were major initiatives of President Bush's administration. Paula held a deep love and respect for the institution of Congress and the people who are elected and chosen to serve our nation. She was extraordinarily talented, loyal, and to-the-point. She will be greatly missed.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize two incredible young men, Kyle Foss and Michael Hawken. Both Kyle and Michael have achieved three prestigious honors: the Eagle Scout Award, the Venturing Silver Medal, and the Venturing Ranger Award. Nationally, less than one in ten thousand Boy Scouts earn all three of these honors, and they are the first young men in the history of California's 25th Congressional District to earn these prestigious honors. The hard work and dedication of Kyle and Michael will pay dividends throughout their lives. The Boy Scouts teach boys and young men the value of hard work, commitment, community service, and morality. Kyle and Michael have been shaped by this outstanding organization and will continue to build on the strength of the program. Kyle and Michael have proven to be young men of great character. They have learned what it means to be responsible citizens and have committed themselves to improving the communities in which they live. In a fast-paced and rapidly changing world, Kyle and Michael have anchored themselves in the most consistent fundamentals of America. I admire their spirit and enthusiasm to go above and beyond their duties in all that they do. I thank these young men for their service to our community, our state, our nation, and congratulate them on their remarkable achievements.