John Murtha

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this is a completely bipartisan bill, as the Chairman mentioned. Staff has worked diligently on working the details. We have worked with all the Members. We spent a lot of time asking Members for their input. We got a lot more input than we could afford, but we have done the best we could do with the amount that we had. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. I object, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I object.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my objection. I will agree to 5 minutes each side.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, the defense part of this bill is the Congress' version of shock and awe. The President the other day complained after only giving this to us 9 days ago, the largest supplemental in history, or in my 30 years; maybe it was larger in World War II, but the largest supplemental I have ever known. We have had hearings, we have discussed it with the agencies, and we did our part in accountability. We want to make sure that these agencies are accountable to us, to the people that are elected to represent the people in this country. It is a bipartisan bill. We sat down and we looked at what was done in 1991, we looked at how we handled things in the past, and we have tried to make sure that the public is protected and that this money is protected and they have accountability. I compliment the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) in the work that he did; the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young); and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). This is an accountable bill, but the defense portion takes care of the troops. That is what it is all about. We take care of the money that was spent already, and we take care of getting the troops back home. We hope they will be there as short a period as they could possibly be. But we have to keep in mind, here we have a bill, $70-some billion in supplemental, which is bigger than almost every other bill that we have passed. In just a little over a week we have it on the floor, and within 2 weeks we will have it passed. So all the grumbling that goes on from some of the folks outside the legislature have to realize that we have a responsibility, and we have accepted that responsibility. We have made darned sure that this bill was something we can be proud of. Obviously, I believe that in the end we are going to have to pass another supplemental, because of just the way things have gone. I am pleased that the troops are doing so well. Unfortunately, we will have casualties in any kind of a war like this. But one thing for sure, we have done everything we could do humanly possible in the legislative process to make sure that they had everything that they could possibly have and could get to the field. I am proud of this. I would hope we would have large, bipartisan support for this supplemental, and it will pass overwhelmingly in as short a time as possible.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, in a shining example of how Americans pull together in times of crisis, the Elks USA has pledged its support of the families of Reservists and National Guard Members who have been called to active duty. The Army of Hope, comprised of volunteers coordinated by the Elks, will assist families with all sorts of needs to ease their stress and financial burdens. This could not be a more welcome and needed gesture of support and I am pleased to place the attached letter from the Elks to the President, of which I received a copy, into the Congressional Record. We should all applaud them for their patriotism. This is a trying time for our military families. Supporting them is one of the most patriotic things we as Americans can do. Elks USA, Richland, WA, February 21, 2003. Hon. George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, The White House, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. President: The families who have a father or mother in the military reserves or National Guard called to active duty during our War on Terrorism and the current Iraq crisis will experience severe economic burdens as well as emotional stress. As National President of the one million men and women who comprise the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, I am writing to express our organization's support of these families. Mr. President, the Elks have mobilized the volunteers as an Army of Hope. We are teachers, lawyers, accountants and health workers. We are carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers and tradesmen of every type. We are the hearts and hands of our communities. We will help with the kids, make minor home repairs and provide other assistance to these families of our service men and women as they attempt to keep hearth and home together during these trying times. I cannot begin to stress to you our Order's willingness and preparedness to lend any further assistance as directed. We are committed to do everything you request of us and for these valiant people and their families. Mr. President, please know the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks is here for our nation. Pledging you the full support of the men and women of the Elks, I remain, Sincerely Yours, Roger R. True, Grand Exalted Ruler (National President).

Mr. MURTHA

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

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis) reminded me that Greg Dahlberg was still here. I thought he was gone. Yesterday we praised him in a closed briefing. Not only did the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and I praise him, but the Secretary of Defense praised him because not only was he Under Secretary, he was Acting Secretary of the Army for a period of time. I was shocked when he came back. This guy went over there, he had an office as big as this room here. He had a bathroom, car, an airplane, and he came back to the cubbyhole where we share a little room 12 by 12 with six other people. Greg Dahlberg is a dedicated staffer. I have never seen a guy so dedicated. This guy is one of the finest people I know. It is completely bipartisan. He tries to get things done. He wants to take care of not only the military, but every other job he has been involved in. We are going to miss the honorable Greg Dahlberg. This is his last day.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, knowing that we are not going to vote before 6:30 regardless of the situation, I thought I would put my suggestion in about Medicare reimbursement. I see the chairman of the committee here, my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas). There is no person that has more concern about the hospitals than him. In my latest campaign, all I heard from my hospitals, in a rural area, We need more reimbursement. I know this is not the right vehicle. I know the vehicle should be the Committee on Ways and Means. I understand that. But these hospitals are bleeding. They are losing money. The biggest employer in every single community that I have is the hospitals and people related to the hospitals. If we do not do something, and I do not have to tell the Members who are here on the floor, if we do not do something, the doctors' reimbursement is going to go down 4.4 percent. This will raise, not a lot, but it will raise the percentage that rural hospitals get equal to the urban hospitals. There can be all kinds of excuses why urban hospitals ought to get better reimbursement, but their problem is, the facts of life, we are having a difficult time in Pennsylvania, in my district in western Pennsylvania. Because of malpractice, we are losing doctors. That has got nothing to do with this bill, but the other thing is reimbursement for small hospitals. I meet periodically, I would say every 6 months, with administrators from hospitals. These instructions do not mean anything. It is like some of the resolutions we pass. They do not mean a damn thing, and all of us know they do not mean anything; but the point is we would send a signal, hopefully, to the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means that we have got to do something about this. A lot of times we passed instructions by unanimous vote and we went into committee and we obviously had no jurisdiction; we did not do anything about it. But here where this is so serious and so many hospitals are suffering, we need to voice our concern about the reimbursement in rural hospitals. I would hope that my good friend, the chairman of the committee, would listen to us and when he comes into his first meeting, one of the first things that he does in the Committee on Ways and Means, and I hope he would join us today in urging that something be done about this. I know, I voted a lot against instructions, because I felt like we did not need to be instructed; but in this particular case, I think it is so important that I would hope that all the Members would join the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) in passing this instruction to the conferees to do something about Medicare.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me today to recognize an extraordinary Pennsylvanian who has dedicated herself to the service of her country for more than half a century. Ms. Lillian Wood, born in East Millsboro, Pennsylvania, graduated from Brownsville High School in 1951. She began working as a civilian clerk-typist for the Marine Corps in February 1952. ``Lil,'' as she is known to generations of Marines, quickly demonstrated a commitment and dedication and was recognized with a rapid series of promotions in several divisions within Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. Based on her superb performance in support of the Personnel, Aviation, G-4, and Reserve Affairs divisions, Lil was selected as the Branch Supervisor for the newly created Special Correspondence Branch of the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department in 1966. Lil was charged with supervision of 28 employees, both military and civilian, and was responsible for providing updates and responses to all Congressional inquiries into Marine Corps affairs. ``The Few and the Proud'' is not just a recruiting slogan, and it applies as much to Marines in combat as to the civilian Marines who make it possible for them to deploy and come home safely. The success of Marines in battle throughout the history of our great nation is due, in no small measure, to the support they receive from civilian Marines and families back home. Lil Wood stands as a shining example to all Marines, civilian Marines, and civil servants throughout the government. Lil and I both began our service to our country in 1952, both in the Marine Corps. Her accomplishments and fifty years of dedication to the Corps and to our country are remarkable and commendable. The Marine Corps is losing a valuable asset, and I offer Lil my best wishes for a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to my long time friend and colleague. Bill Coyne will retire from this institution after serving 11 terms as a Member of this institution. Bill is a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, and so like myself, is a native of the southwestern Pennsylvania district he has so faithfully represented for the past 22 years. The 14th District includes the city of Pittsburgh as well as 33 other surrounding communities in the very heart of this country's steel producing center. From his post as a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, he has been able to develop and promote countless economic policy initiatives to the benefit of the Southwestern region as well as the Nation, including those dealing with Social Security, trade, tax reform, health care, housing and community development, job creation, and job training. In addition to serving as ranking member of the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Bill has served on the Banking Committee, the Budget Committee, the Committee on House Administration, and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. He has consistently used his committee assignments to promote federal policies to the benefit of urban America. During the 103rd Congress, Bill succeeded in making the tax-exempt Industrial Development Bond permanent. IDB's helped to create or retain more than 26,000 manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania alone between 1987 and 1992. He also led the successful House Ways and Means opposition to a proposed $1 per gallon hike in the Federal fuel tax for waterway commerce in 1993, which was of enormous economic benefit for the Three Rivers area he represents. Bill also successfully inserted language in the 1993 reconciliation bill that provided low-income workers with an improved opportunity to receive an Earned Income Tax Credit on a monthly basis, instead of waiting for a single annual payment. In the 104th Congress, Bill Coyne worked with many of his Democratic colleagues to protect Federal funding for programs serving children, seniors, and working families, and to ensure that the burden of Federal taxation was not disproportionately borne by working families. He also worked to provide tax incentives for businesses and municipalities to clean up and redevelop abandoned industrial sites, and he worked to expand protection for workers' rights in international trade agreements. In the 105th Congress, he worked for middle-class tax relief while balancing the Federal budget responsibly. He was a supporter of both the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. He worked successfully to include a provision in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 which allowed businesses to deduct the cost of cleaning up brownfields sites in certain targeted areas. He was also actively involved in developing and enacting legislation to reform the Internal Revenue Service, and much of his Taxpayer Bill of Rights legislation was in that bill. Bill Coyne worked to make organ transplant regulations fairer and worked with me to make the Disproportionate Share Hospital program's formula for hospitals fairer as well. He also worked to provide nearly $800 million in projects for his district in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) including reconstruction of Drake, Library and Overbrook trolley lines, construction of an extension of the MLK Jr. Busway, construction of an industrial access road in Lawrenceville, and construction of transit links between downtown and the North Shore. During the 106th Congress, Bill Coyne continued to work to protect federal programs that serve children, senior citizens, the disabled, and working families; enact a Medicare prescription drug benefit; strengthen U.S. laws that punish unfair foreign trade practices; protect Americans' pensions and other retirement benefits; increase funding for medical research and education; and make the Federal Tax Code simpler and fairer by reforming the capital gains tax and the alternative minimum tax. He also worked successfully to increase public awareness about food stamp eligibility and to expand the brownfields tax provision and push back its expiration date by several years. Bill Coyne is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and Robert Morris College. He served in the United States Army in Korea from 1955 to 1957. He worked as a corporate accountant for 13 years before entering politics in 1970. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1971 to 1972 and on the Pittsburgh City Council from 1973 until 1980. I'm proud to have served alongside Bill Coyne and worked with him for these many years for the benefit of our adjoining districts and Pennsylvania as a whole. Bill's seniority on Ways and Means will be sorely missed by Pennsylvania. His expertise as a legislator will be missed by all Americans who were helped by his good work. His good nature, friendship, and collegiality will I know be missed by his fellow Pennsylvania Members and indeed by all of us here in the House of Representatives. Please join me in wishing him well in his retirement from public service.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a good friend and colleague, Bob Borski, upon the occasion of his retirement from twenty years of distinguished service in the House of Representatives. Congressman Bob Borski (D-PA) was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1982. He is currently serving his tenth term as the Representative from Pennsylvania's Third Congressional District, which encompasses Northeast Philadelphia, the River Wards, Society Hill and portions of Queen Village. Of the three districts that include parts of Philadelphia, the 3rd is the only district completely within city limits. As a teenager in Northeast Philadelphia, Bob was a standout athlete for the Frankford High Pioneers, captaining the basketball and baseball teams. He is a low-profile leader in Congress, but he still gives his all for the community where he grew up, devoting most of his energies to the needs and concerns of the 3rd District. Since he was elected, Bob Borski has fought vigorously to preserve military facilities and defense jobs in his congressional district and throughout the Philadelphia region. In 1993 and 1995, he worked with the city of Philadelphia and community leaders to defeat attempts to close the Aviation Supply Office (ASO) and its tenant activities in Northeast Philadelphia. In the past couple of years, Bob has initiated an effort to reclaim and revitalize the neglected waterfront of the Delaware River. We worked together in a coordinated effort with various regional, federal, state and local stakeholders in order to develop Philadelphia's waterfront for the benefit of both the city and the people. He envisioned an exciting, prosperous, new waterfront for Philadelphia that will reconnect neighborhoods with land developed for many uses. Interconnected recreational pathways as well as plenty of open green space bordering the river are principal parts of his vision. Representative Borski retires as the third ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and as the lead Democrat on the Committee's Highways and Transit Subcommittee. In addition to his leadership position on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Bob served as Regional White for Philadelphia and Ohio. As a senior member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Subcommittee Ranking Member, Bob has been a vocal advocate of an improved national transportation system and a strong federal commitment to public infrastructure and mass transit programs. In Philadelphia, his legislative efforts have resulted in millions of dollars more for SEPTA, I-95, neighborhood roads, and transportation improvements which will greatly benefit the Port of Philadelphia, and as a result, the surrounding area. In the 105th Congress, Bob worked to pass TEA-21, authorizing spending for highway, mass transit and other transportation-related projects across the nation. This bill included $221 million in projects for the City of Philadelphia and led to the expansion of Philadelphia International Airport, I-95 improvements, investment in mass transit, and the construction of the Frankford Transportation Center, a state of the art multimodal terminal complex. With TEA-21, Congressman Borski led the effort to bring construction and manufacturing jobs to the City of Philadelphia with projects that also assisted in the reduction of traffic congestion and air pollution. He has worked consistently to defend public safety, authoring legislation which bans the expanded use of triple trailer trucks as well as legislation which prohibited the dangerous practice of backhauling--transporting foods one way and toxic chemicals on the return trip. In previous years, Borski served as the top Democrat on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, a job that at times pulled him well beyond his customary focus on Philadelphia into issues such as government response to natural disasters and desalination efforts in communities short of fresh water. Bob was instrumental insuring the passage of the landmark Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Bob Borski has been a strong supporter of the environment. As the subcommittee began debate in the 105h Congress on legislation to overhaul the Superfund hazardous waste cleanup program, Borski refused to support legislation that would go easy on polluters or that failed to ensure the protection of human health and the environment. He has pushed for legislation to promote cleanup of ``brownfields''--urban industrial sites where pollution discourages redevelopment. Bob is also a member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, the Congressional Delegation to the NATO Assembly, and the ad-hoc committee on Irish Affairs. In addition to his committee assignments, he represented the concerns and needs of his large senor citizen constituency and serves on the Older Americans Caucus, the Diabetes Caucus, and the Prescription Drug Task Force. Prior to his 1982 election to the U.S. Congress Bob Borski served three terms in the Pennsylvania State House. Before that, he was a floor manager at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. He was born in Philadelphia on October 20, 1948 and is a life-long resident of the city. In 1966, he graduated from Frankford High School where he captained the basketball and baseball teams. He attended the University of Baltimore on an athletic scholarship and, after graduating with a B.A. in 171, served one year as the assistant basketball coach. Congress Borski lives in Northeast Philadelphia with is wife Karen and is the father of four girls and one boy. I am grateful for the many years I've gotten to serve with Bob in the Pennsylvania delegation. His friendship, unfailing congeniality and hard work made it a joy to work with him, contributed immeasurably to the cohesiveness of the delegation and benefited Pennsylvania greatly. He will be remembered as a gentleman and statesman who left a positive mark on this body.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifetime commitment to patriotism and law and order in the United States. On November 1, 2002, Mr. James F. Lindner will retire as a Special Agent with the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service, ending some 21 years of federal law enforcement service. Mr. Lindner began his service to country in 1972 in the United States Army where he was assigned in the Military Police Corps. In 1981, following a brief career as a special investigator with Chase Manhattan Bank, Mr. Lindner was appointed as a Special Agent with the Naval Investigative Service, now known as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He embarked on a career that spanned the globe in locations such as Virginia, London, Bahrain, Puerto Rico, Germany, Rhode Island and Washington, DC. Among his many achievements with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Special Agent Lindner will long be remembered for his contributions to its Counterintelligence (CI) Program. Under his capable leadership, Mr. Lindner negotiated the Department of the Navy CI policy dealing with Force Protection Response Groups, CI Support to Combatant Commands, CI organization within the DoN and other pivotal policy issues facing the United States Marine Corps and Director of Naval Intelligence. While employed as a Special Agent, Mr. Lindner was selected for two significant liaison positions. He shared the wisdom of his experience as Chief, Counterintelligence Activities, European Operations, On-Site Inspection Agency (today consolidated with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Mr. Lindner also held the distinction as a Naval War College appointee where he completed a Masters degree program in National Security and Strategic Studies and earned the prestigious Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Distinguished Essay Award. While assigned to the War College, Mr. Lindner earned Honorable Mention in the B. Franklin Reinauer Defense Economics Competition. Mr. President, in closing I wish to commend James F. Lindner for his many accomplished years of outstanding service to our country, and in particular, to the members of the Armed Services. I wish him continued success in his future endeavors and Godspeed in his retirement.

Mr. MURTHA

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

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we have done the best that we can do with the amount of money that was appropriated to us.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize General Michael J. Williams, United States Marine Corps on the occasion of his retirement from active duty. General Williams has served our great Nation for a total of 42 years. General Williams enlisted in the Navy in 1960, and served as a boatswain. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1967, and subsequently completed Naval Flight Training and was designated a Naval Aviator. General Williams' operational tours include various squadron assignments in the United States, Republic of Vietnam, and Okinawa; Presidential Helicopter Pilot with Marine Helicopter Squadron One; executive officer Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 16; commanding officer of Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301; 2d Marine Aircraft Wing Inspector; executive and commanding officer of Marine Air Group 26, serving as commanding officer during Desert Shield and Desert Storm; assistant Division G-3 for 3d Marine Division and Commanding General of 2d Force Service Support Group and Commander Joint Task Force 160, responsible for providing humanitarian relief for Haitian and Cuban immigrants in Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba. His staff assignments include: company officer and executive assistant to the Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy; Marine Corps Program Development Officer and branch head in Requirements and Programs Division, Headquarters Marine Corps; Vice Director for Operational Plans and lnteroperability, J-7, Joint Staff; Director of the Marine Corps Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command and Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources, Headquarters Marine Corps. General Williams is concluding his illustrious career having served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. In this capacity, he has been the principal advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps on all decisions of major consequence. His extensive and diverse background in operational and joint planning, professional military education and training, and budgetary and programmatic policy issues have been given wide credibility by decision makers in the Department of the Navy, the Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the United States Congress. General Williams has made a lasting contribution to the capabilities of today's Marine Corps and the future shape of tomorrow's Corps. We are grateful for General Williams' dedication, sense of duty, advice and counsel, and exceptional work ethic. The Marine Corps will miss him, but General Williams leaves a large legacy for others to follow and emulate. I wish him and his lovely wife, Barbara, his son, Matthew, and daughter-in-law, Kimberly, all the best as they enter this new chapter of their lives.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. I am willing to withdraw or not ask for a revote after we hear the explanation from the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, let me explain the problem. Last night, as my colleagues are aware, in my district we had a mine incident where we have nine miners trapped. The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) offered an amendment which I was interested in and was concerned about and was not able to talk about because of the work we were doing with the mine rescue effort. Just to report to the Members, the drill bit broke, as many saw on TV, and we are trying to drill another hole. The shafts are big and it is very, very difficult. We have not heard anything for over a day and a half. We have gone as far as 5 days, but the water, we are pumping the water out and hot air in and doing everything we can. There has been marvelous cooperation with the Federal Government, the State government, the local commissioners, and my guy has been out there for 2 straight days. So we are hopeful. But the reason I rise is that the gentleman from Kentucky offered an amendment last night which I am concerned about. I am concerned that it involves posse comitatus. We are allowing the military to get involved in civilian affairs. I worry that even the Germans had the Gestapo picking people up; I worry that the Russians had their special agency picking people up; and I am worried that this amendment would delegate to an unelected official the ability to have police authority. Now, after talking to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), he and I talked about it, and I want him to put on the Record, so that we understand, the concerns that he has, but I first have a couple of people who want to speak.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Chairman, I offer a preferential motion.

Mr. MURTHA. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. MURTHA. I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii.

Mr. MURTHA

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to the gentlewoman from Wyoming for her eloquent statement, as well as the gentleman from American Samoa. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense, and I were both in the Capitol on September 11. We saw the crash on television of the World Trade Center, and we evacuated the Capitol before we marked up our bill. We then went outside and saw the plume of smoke from the Pentagon and heard that there was a plane, of course, coming towards the Capitol, which was the reason we evacuated it. We heard a sonic boom which we thought was an explosion. The next morning, we drove to the site, and the plane had completely incinerated. On the way back I heard the reports of the telephone calls between the passengers and the people at home. Of course, in those reports, there was an immediate idea that these people were going to bring that plane down so the same tragedy would not occur that occurred in New York and at the Pentagon. Imagine this, we have been taught if a plane is hijacked, we sit passively and wait until they land the plane. We do not take any action. That was the way we were supposed to respond. They got the reports from the families, and they realized this was a different situation entirely. Of course, the terrorists miscalculated, thinking that the United States was soft, thinking the United States was all kinds of adjectives that they have used against this great country. They found out that the people on board were not going to give up easily. They made an instantaneous decision. They brought that plane down, missing Johnstown by a few seconds, missing an airport by a few seconds, and missing an elementary school by a few seconds. The people in Shanksville, Somerset County, reacted almost instantaneously. Within 5 or 6 minutes, volunteer firemen were at the site. The next day when I got there at 7 or 8 in the morning, the FBI was there. They had taken charge because it was a criminal investigation, volunteer firemen were there, State police were there, and they had it under control. All that was left was the rubble from the airplane. The tail had completely collapsed into the center and the nose section of the airplane. When I think of the great courage that these people displayed in this action, it makes me realize what the terrorists did not realize, that this was one of the most heroic acts, and it defined the United States at a time in our history, that we are not going to sit back and allow terrorism to destroy this great country. Those folks took action and we are proud of them. Let me say in addition to them, I have talked to the families, and the families at first felt it ought to be a memorial and bury the remains someplace else. But then they realized that 90 percent of the remains are there. I appreciate what the committee has done. As the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) said, normally these things takes years before we determine what needs to be done. This was obvious that it needed some fast action, and the families who have been so good, the fact that they realized that their loved ones were heroes, and they want to say how much they would appreciate this. I told them that we will try to get it done this summer, and we have done it. I appreciate what Members have done because this is an extraordinary action by the Congress to get something like this done so quickly. I represent the area this year, because of reapportionment, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) will represent it next year. Both of us appreciate the action of the committee.

Mr. MURTHA. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, from Pennsylvania to California to Wyoming to American Samoa, this is a piece of legislation that will be remembered long after we are gone, and a monument to some real heroes of this great country, which defines what America is all about.