Dennis Moore

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, from April 28-30, 2007, more than 1,200 students from across the country visited Washington, D.C., to take part in the national finals of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, the most extensive educational program in the country developed to educate young people about the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Administered by the Center for Civic Education, the We the People program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education by act of Congress. I am proud to announce that a class from St. Thomas Aquinas High School of Overland Park, Kansas won the Unit Three: Constitution Shapes Institutions Award at this prestigious national event. Six unit awards were presented to the schools achieving the highest scores, based on the first two days of competition in each of the six units of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution text. These outstanding students, through their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, won their statewide competition and earned the chance to come to our Nation's Capital and compete at the national level. While in Washington, the students participated in a three-day academic competition that simulates a congressional hearing in which they ``testify'' before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles as they evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues. It is important to note that independent studies of the We the People program indicate that alumni of this nationally acclaimed program display a greater political tolerance and commitment to the principles and values of the Constitution and Bill of Rights than do students using traditional textbooks and approaches. With various reports and surveys that reveal the lack of civic knowledge and engagement, I am pleased to support such an outstanding program that continues to produce an enlightened and responsible citizenry. Madam Speaker, the names of these outstanding students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School are: Elizabeth Berra, Andrew Billam, Hannah Cisper, John Clark, Greg Correia, Lindsey Drilling, John Drouhard, Shanna Gast, Whitney Gremillion, Kyle Hauesser, Brigid Halling, Michael Hare, Thomas Hartung, Jordan Herbert, Kaitlyn Hirt, Kelly Jefferson, Ryan Johnson, Andrea Lickteig, Joseph McGroder, Mason Miller, Helen Mubarak, Andrew Peck, Derek Peterson, Erin Peterson, Andrew Robison, Christopher Sevedge, Dylan Slaven, and Melissa Smith. I also wish to commend the teacher of the class, Spencer Clark, who is responsible for preparing these young constitutional experts for the national finals. Also worthy of special recognition is Lynn Stanley, the State coordinator, and Ken Thomas, the district coordinator, who are among those responsible for implementing the We the People program in my State. I congratulate these students on their exceptional achievement at the We the People national finals.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, joined by Representatives Jerry Moran, Thornberry, Boswell, Tiahrt and Boyda, I am today introducing legislation which would make a variety of technical changes to the statute establishing the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. The Eisenhower Memorial Commission was created by the U.S. Congress in 1999 as a bipartian commission for the purpose of considering and formulating plans for the location, design and construction of a permanent memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower to perpetuate his memory and his contributions to the United States. Since being fully appointed in 2001, the Commission considered 26 different sites in the District of Columbia. In 2005, it selected a site between the Department of Education and the National Air and Space Museum, two institutions resulting from and greatly influenced by President Eisenhower's leadership. In 2006, Congress approved the memorial's location within Area I, in compliance with the Commemorative Works Act. The Commission secured full approval for the selected site following extensive review by the National Park Service, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts. Since its inception, the Commission has also taken great care to study and analyze the Eisenhower legacy. It produced a report by leading scholars and experts on Eisenhower that provides a definitive statement on the transcending elements of Eisenhower's enduring legacy. He ranks as one of the preeminent figures in the global history of the 20th century. Dwight Eisenhower spent his entire life in public service. His most well-known contributions include serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in World War II and as 34th President of the United States, but Eisenhower also served as the first commander of NATO and as President of Columbia University. Dramatic changes occurred in America during his lifetime, many of which he participated in and influenced through his extraordinary leadership as President. Although Ike grew up before automobiles existed, he created the Interstate Highway System and took America into space. He created NASA, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Federal Aviation Administration. He added Hawaii and Alaska to the United States and ended the Korean War. President Eisenhower desegregated the District of Columbia and sent federal troops into Little Rock, AR to enforce school integration. He diffused international crises and inaugurated the national security policies that guided the nation for the next three decades, leading to the peaceful end of the Cold War. A career soldier, Eisenhower championed peace, freedom, justice and security, and as President he stressed the interdependence of those goals. He spent a lifetime fulfilling his duty to his country, always remembering to ask what's best for America. Eisenhower's legacy provides hope to all of us--like him, through education and public service, we as a Nation and individually can rise to meet any challenge. The Eisenhower Memorial Commission now needs to move into the design phase. As design begins, the Commission's organization, specifically with regard to contracting and staffing, needs to be updated and revised to enable efficient management and responsible stewardship. This legislation provides for the necessary reorganization. The legislation enables the Commission to retain the services of full, part-time, and volunteer staff as government employees, without the restrictions of the competitive service requirements. It also provides the authority for the Commission's Executive Architect to manage technical and administrative aspects of design and construction. It provides for staff to be released on the completion of the memorial and enables the Commission to work in collaboration with federal agencies. In addition, the legislation will allow the Commission to receive direct appropriations, easing the burden on both the Commission and federal agencies that previously served as conduits for Commission funding. I have also enclosed a detailed justification of the proposed legislation for your review. Very similar legislation, S. 890, has been introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, who serves with me and Senator Ted Stevens on the Executive Committee of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. I am joined today in introducing this measure by Representatives Jerry Moran, Thornberry and Boswell, who serve as members of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, and by our fellow Kansans serving in the U.S. House, Representatives Tiahrt and Boyda.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 179, in support of establishing a National Foster Parents Day. On any given day in the United States, half a million children and youth are in foster care, removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. On average, these young people will wait more than 3\1/2\ years in the foster care system before finding a permanent home--20 percent wait 5 years or more. Foster parents have one of the hardest tasks on earth. Children who spend many years in abusive or neglectful homes are substantially more likely than other kids to face emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges. Foster parents have the daunting task of trying to make the foster child feel at home, gain their trust, provide some sense of stability and normality, and prove that they do care. Foster parents give of themselves unselfishly, opening their homes, families, lives, and loving arms to help protect children who are not safe in their own homes. For some children, foster parents are literally lifesaving. For too many children, what should be a short- term refuge becomes a long-term saga, involving multiple moves from one foster home to another. I have come to appreciate that foster parenting is perhaps one of the most challenging and most important components of the child welfare system. As a foster parent, you respond to the calling to care for children, to take them into your homes, and to transition them into the next phase of their lives--sometimes for weeks, and sometimes for almost the child's entire youth. I describe this response as a calling--not a job, they don't get paid enough to call it a job; and not a choice, because if they had the wherewithal to choose, they certainly would choose not to expose themselves to all of the trials and tribulations of fostering. It is a calling, a response to some inner drive to respond to the difficulties of kids who desperately need them. It is this selflessness which I applaud today, which I believe is deserving of national recognition. For all the time, love, and resources foster parents dedicate to their foster children, I would simply like to say thank you. They truly are a gift to the world. I urge my colleagues to join in support of H. Res. 179, expressing support for the establishment of a National Foster Parents Day.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 289, to raise awareness and encourage prevention of sexual assault in the United States and support the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Violence against women--rape, sexual assault and domestic violence-- affects women worldwide. Violence not only affects women in the home, but in the workplace, school and every arena of life. Having served as Johnson Country District Attorney for 12 years, I know first hand the devastating consequences of domestic and sexual violence, assault, rape and child abuse and incest. Those experiences encouraged me to become a cofounder of SAFEHOME, a local shelter for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and highlighted the importance of public awareness, effective prevention policies and law enforcement working hand in hand to stop these horrific crimes. Sexual assault is an epidemic that knows no boundaries on the basis of age, socioeconomic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background. My home State of Kansas is no exception. In 2005, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported over 1,000 reported incidents of rape. And that number cannot possibly reflect the harsh reality of how many incidents occurred but were not reported. The tragedy of injustice exacerbates the victimization. A person is sexually assaulted in the United States every two-and-a- half minutes; 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have been victims of rape or attempted rape. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is essential to bring attention to this problem, educate the public, and help protect survivors from future victimization and prevent the continuation of the cycle of violence from generation to generation. Protecting and helping survivors, as well as creating an environment where survivors can seek justice, is the key to removing sex offenders from public, so that they do not have the opportunity to assault again. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 289, in support of the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, to support programs to help survivors heal and prevent incidents in the future.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity today to recognize the 100th anniversary of my community of residence, the city of Lenexa, Kansas, one of the leading communities in the Third Congressional District of Kansas. Lenexa officially became a city on May 8, 1907, and the community is coming together for an eight-day celebration from May 5-12 of this year. Lenexa was platted in 1869 by French-born civil engineer, Octave Chanute, who, in addition to designing the original Hannibal Bridge over the Missouri River in Kansas City, also served as a mentor to the Wright Brothers in their quest for flight. Lenexa was named for Na Nex Se, a highly respected, hard-working Shawnee Indian woman, the daughter-in-law of Chief Black Hoof. Thirty-eight years later, on May 8, 1907, Lenexa was incorporated as a City of the Third Class in Kansas. In Lenexa's earliest days, people from various backgrounds and cultures came together to form this great city. With a population of approximately 300, the young city boasted a healthful location, graded schools, three churches, suburban train service, excellent telephone service, and an electric railway station. Today, Lenexa, which has grown to a population of 46,000 residents and enjoys a healthy business base, is considered a city of choice for a variety of high tech and bioscience companies. The city also is looked to as a leader in local government initiatives such as watershed management and public safety. Lenexa, which is known as the City of Festivals for the numerous festivals and events it hosts each year, will hold a week-long community celebration (May 5-12, 2007) to mark the occasion of its 100th anniversary. Madam Speaker, Lenexa cherishes its rich history, heritage and culture, and with this celebration marking the city's 100th anniversary, Lenexa honors its past while looking forward to the future. I join with my neighbors, friends and constituents in Lenexa in honoring this important milestone.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, the Lawrence, Kansas, Community Nursery School [LCNS] was founded in 1948 after a group of mothers attended a conference on preschool play offered by the University of Kansas Extension School and sponsored by the Lawrence League for the Practice of Democracy. They founded the school on three main principles--that the school must be: a parent cooperative; integrated, both racially and religiously; and low-cost. Today LCNS is the second oldest operating parent cooperative preschool in the Nation, and those principles remain at the corner of the school. On April 17, 1948 the school opened with its first class of 10 mothers and 14 children. Financial support for the school came from the Lawrence League for the Practice of Democracy and the Oread Meeting of Friends. The tuition was set at $1.00 per week. In 1951 the Kansas State Board of Health licensed the school, and in July of 1952 the school was incorporated under Kansas State Law as the Lawrence Community Nursery School. The school received its permanent license to operate in 1961. The school was housed in various churches and schools for its first 6 years. After at least eight different locations, in the spring of 1955 the members of the advisory board, the board, and the general membership voted to start a 3-year building fund campaign chaired by Dr. Helen Gilles, a well known local pediatrician, to raise money to buy a permanent home for the nursery school. The campaign was a huge success. With support of local businesses, members of the cooperative, and the community at large, they were able to raise over $2,000 in their building fund by May 1956, more than 2 years ahead of schedule. In March 1956, Dr. Gilles presented the idea of buying the Wesleyan Methodist Church at the comer of 7th and Alabama Streets. In August 1956, they put a down payment on the church. In September 1956, the board voted to paint the school ``barn red with white trim.'' This is how the building remains today, and it has become a permanent fixture in the Old West Lawrence neighborhood and the greater community as a whole. Several months of renovations and sharing the school with the church followed. Although the site was used by the school in the fall of 1956, the church remained. In the summer of 1957 the church moved out, and the Little Red Schoolhouse was the home of the Lawrence Community Nursery School. Madam Speaker, I join with the LCNS community and with all Lawrencians in celebrating the completion of the 50th school year at their permanent home at 645 Alabama Street.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church has been an important presence in the City of Overland Park and Johnson County, Kansas, since 1967. In 1970 the Church, sited on historical grounds that date to the 1871 Breyfogle Farm, the 1913 Mathey Farm, and the 1948 Burgdorfer Farm, purchased the house and barn, vintage 1913, from a previous church congregation. This site will be the location of the Church's 40th anniversary celebration, following its worship service on May 20, 2007. The Church has provided liberal religious services and education for adults and children, has sponsored forums with knowledgeable speakers on public issues, has initiated a pathfinding Coming of Age program for youth in the denomination, and has presented a nationally-recognized World Religion Series. Additionally, the Church has promoted democracy by serving as a voting site in the community and has encouraged members to support many local, national, and international charitable efforts including SafeHome, Johnson County Interfaith Hospitality Network, Habitat for Humanity, Crosslines, American Indian Center, Million Voices for Darfur, UNICEF, and many others. Through the years the Church has been a good neighbor to the surrounding residential area through its maintenance of buildings and grounds, including the front garden which has been recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. The Church also is a member in good standing of the Unitarian Universalist Association [UUA], the international umbrella group of UU congregations and has been certified as a Welcoming Congregation by UUA. Madam Speaker, the members of the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church are celebrating the past and present successes of their church community and are planning for the future of their church community. I am pleased to join with, Johnson County, the City of Overland Park and with men and women of goodwill throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area in recognizing and congratulating the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church upon its 40th anniversary as a vibrant member of the metropolitan area's interfaith communities.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Ken Gibson, who recently announced his retirement, effective June 30th, following nine very successful years as president of Donnelly College of Kansas City, Kansas. Donnelly College is an important part of the Kansas City, Kansas, community, and offers more than just an education to students. As Dr. Gibson reflected in a recent article in the Kansas City Kansan, ``Donnelly College is essentially about hope. If you are not satisfied, you can change it and you can achieve what you are capable of. We have some really good students and I think we give them a great education.'' The recipient of a master's degree from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, Dr. Gibson began his career with Kentucky's Henderson Community College, where he later served as dean of instruction. Prior to returning to Henderson Community College, he was affiliated with John A. Logan College, of Illinois. In 1981, Dr. Gibson moved to Kansas, where he served as Hutchinson Community College's dean of instruction; he later took the same position at Johnson County Community College, located in my congressional district, where he worked until becoming president of Donnelly College in 1998. Under Dr. Gibson's leadership, Donnelly College reversed a significant drop in enrollment and received over $12 million in donations and grants, including awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Among the programs offered by Donnelly, the Henry W. Bloch Scholarship offers full tuition to students and is transferable to Rockhurst University or the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Donnelly also participates in Kansas Bridges to the Future, a transferable scholarship to Kansas State University. Additionally, during Dr. Gibson's tenure, Donnelly College introduced a bachelor's degree program, began development of a licensed practical nurse joint program with Johnson County Community College, and implemented a college extension program at the Lansing Correctional Facility, establishing an opportunity for inmates to earn an associate's degree. As Dr. Gibson noted in the Kansas City Kansan, ``It makes a difference for inmates' lives. Of 66 students (involved with the program), only one has gone back to prison.'' Madam Speaker, Dr. Ken Gibson has been a distinguished educational leader in the Kansas City community, which is a better place due to his enlightened leadership. He has been a trusted advisor to me on matters of education policy and other concerns involving the Third Congressional District of Kansas. I commend him for his successful tenure with Donnelly College and wish him and his family many happy returns upon his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished, courageous Kansan, NASA astronaut Steve Hawley, who will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 5th. Steve Hawley, age 55, flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery during its maiden voyage in 1984 and is a veteran of four other shuttle missions. An accomplished astronomer, he helped deploy two of NASA's four Great Observatories, spacecraft that have shed unprecedented light on the origins and evolution of the universe. He flew aboard Columbia on a mission that landed just 10 days before the January 1986 Challenger accident. He helped deploy the Hubble Space Telescope during a 1990 Discovery mission and then serviced NASA's flagship observatory during a 1997 Discovery flight. His final shuttle mission was a 1999 Columbia flight during which the Chandra X-Ray Observatory was deployed. He now serves as director of NASA's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Directorate at the Johnson Space Center. Bom in Ottawa, Kansas, Dr. Hawley considers Salina, Kansas, to be his home town. He received a B.A. in physics and astronomy (with highest distinction) from the University of Kansas in 1973 and a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Califomia in 1977. His research involved spectrophotometry of gaseous nebulae and emission-like galaxies with particular emphasis on chemical abundance determinations for these objects. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1978. A veteran of five space flights, Dr. Hawley has logged a total of 32 days in space. Closer to home, he has visited with student groups and community organizations in the Third Congressional District of Kansas on six occasions: in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. I look forward to his retum to my congressional district next month, on April 11th. On behalf of the people of Kansas' Third Congressional District, I commend Steve Hawley on his upcoming induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, congratulate him on his five successful space shuttle missions, and thank him for the many hours he has spent making space exploration and space technology come alive for his audiences in my congressional district.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, today with this budget resolution the majority party, the Democratic Party, takes an important step towards restoring fiscal discipline as a priority of our government, something the Blue Dogs in Congress have advocated for years. When the administration took office in 2001, it inherited a projected surplus of $5.6 trillion. Within 2 years, the surplus was gone; and, since 2001, $3 trillion in new debt, to my friends here, $3 trillion in new debt was added to our country's bottom line. Because of the previous majority's lack of fiscal discipline, our gross national debt now stands at over $8.8 trillion. They talk about tax cuts, and they are just not providing accurate information at all. It is not true information. They say that our budget proposes tax increases, which simply is not true. They wrote the tax cuts back in 2001 that were implemented in 2001, and they were to last for 10 years, and they still will be going until 2010. The Democrats are not doing a thing in their budget to raise taxes, not one single thing, to the contrary of what our friends across the aisle are saying. In fact, our friends across the aisle have added $3 trillion of debt to our country, to our children and grandchildren. That is the way you paid for the tax cuts, was by adding $3 trillion of debt.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to note an important event in the Third Congressional District of Kansas. On April 10, 2007, the Volunteer Center of Johnson County in Overland Park, KS, will honor outstanding youth volunteers. Eighty young people have been nominated by school personnel and nonprofit organizations for their dedication and service to the community. Youth volunteerism continues to grow and be a strong force in Johnson County. These 80 youth exemplify the true meaning of volunteerism and giving back to their community, and it is my honor to recognize each student volunteer and his/her school. Alexander Abramovitz, Shawnee Mission North; Molly Allison- Gallimore, Homeschool; Sydney Ayers, Barstow; Ava Azad, Blue Valley; Lisa Barry, Olathe South; Lindsay Beardall, Shawnee Mission South; Alexandria Bieber, Mill Valley; Abbey Blick, Shawnee Mission East; Ashley Boots, Olathe Northwest; Sarah Briggs, Trailridge Middle; Kristina Buchanan, Trailridge Middle School; Kim Burnell, Olathe North; Amy Byarlay, Olathe South; Sarah Campbell, Blue Valley North; Kelsey Charles, Blue Valley West; Jenna Christensen, Shawnee Mission North; Becca Doran, Shawnee Mission West; Katherine Ebling, Blue Valley; and Marissa Erickson, Olathe South. Evan Gage, Blue Valley Northwest; Jennifer Garren, Shawnee Mission West; Kathryn Garrett, Shawnee Mission West; Kevin Garrett, Shawnee Mission West; Michael Garrett, Westridge Middle; Lindsey Gerber, Olathe North; Jean Gianakon, Shawnee Mission North; Allison Golub, Blue Valley West; Kaley Hagemann, Olathe East; Jessica Hebenstreit, Pembroke Hill; Tess Hedrick, Shawnee Mission East; Logan Heley, Antioch Middle School; Lauren Hiatt, Olathe North; Spencer Hill, Shawnee Mission Northwest; Jing Jian, Olathe North; Janelle Johnston, Shawnee Mission West; Michele Kerns, Blue Valley West; Rachel Knapp, Westridge Middle; and Jessica Kruger, Olathe North. Hailey Lapin, Blue Valley Northwest; K. Clemence Lawson, Olathe Northwest; Jake Ludemann, Shawnee Mission North; Sarah Martin, Shawnee Mission West; Magdalena May, Olathe North; Kaela McWherter, Blue Valley North; Courtney Miller, Blue Valley West; Rebecca Miller, Olathe North; Jovana Mirabile, St. Thomas Aquinas; Peri Montgomery, Shawnee Mission West; Megan Moomau, Olathe North; Alyssa Morrison, Mill Valley High School; Stephanie Nemer, Spring Hill High School; Evan Neuman, Trailridge Middle; Alexandra Olsen, Prairie Trail Junior High; Sam Parkinson; Sweta Patel, Olathe North; Meredith Pavicic, St. Teresa's Academy; and Lauren Peterson, Shawnee Mission Northwest. Angela Podoll, Westridge Middle; Courtney Rathke, Olathe North; Kaytlin Renfro, Shawnee Mission East; Bryce Reynolds, Olathe Northwest; Kyle Reynolds, Olathe Northwest; Cassie Rhodes, Spring Hill High School; Kaitlyn Rittgers, Olathe Northwest; Alex Rorie, Mission Valley; Beth Russell, Olathe Northwest; Michael Shoykhet, Olathe North; Devin Smith, Olathe North; Elaina Smith, Prairie Trail Junior High; Haylee Solcum, Trailridge Middle School; Peter Spitsnogle, Shawnee Mission East; Jessica Stack, Olathe Northwest; Alexandria Szalawiga, Olathe South High School; Nicole Tepper, Mill Valley High School; Irene Wang, Olathe North; Danielle Weathers, Mill Valley; Marin Willis, Spring Hill Middle; Jessica Wilson, Spring Hill High School; Alexis Young, Chisholm Trail Junior High; and Jenny Zhong, Blue Valley Northwest.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of House Resolution 106.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay a personal tribute to my good friend and trusted advisor for many years, former State Senator Sherman Jones of Kansas City, Kansas, who died on February 21. For many years, he was a leading member of the Kansas City, Kansas, community, as well as a valued member of my kitchen cabinet and surrogate speaker on my political team. His friends and neighbors mourn his loss and will miss him terribly--none more so than me. Sherman Jones was born on February 10, 1935, in Winton, North Carolina. After high school, he was recruited to play baseball, where he eventually served for three seasons as a pitcher in the major leagues for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. He pitched in the World Series for the Cincinnati Reds in 1961. Jones, whose baseball nickname was ``Roadblock'', appeared in game five of the 1961 Series, against the New York Yankees, pitching two-thirds of an inning. One of eight Reds pitchers in the game, he was the only one who did not allow either a hit or a run. While playing baseball in Topeka, Kansas, Sherman met Amelia Buchanan; they married on December 16, 1956. After he completed his baseball career, they settled in Kansas City, Kansas, to raise their family. He joined the Kansas City police department, where he retired after 22 years of service. He also served as athletic director for Turner House, working with inner city youth. His community involvement led him to politics, where he served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1988 to 1992, followed by service in the Kansas Senate from 1992 to 2000. At the time of his retirement from the Senate, he served as ranking Democratic member of the Committee on Federal and State Affairs, and as a member of the Committees on Confirmations Oversight, Education, Public Health and Welfare, Utilities, and Health Care Reform Legislative Oversight. During his rich, full life, Sherman Jones was involved with many organizations, including: Optimist International, where he served as international vice president; the Wyandotte County Park Board, where he served as member and chairman; the Kansas City, Kansas, Parks Foundation; the Kansas High School Activities Association; United Way; the Kansas Legislative Black Caucus, which he chaired; and the Kansas University Medical Center, where he served as board member. Former Senator Sherman Jones is survived by his wife of 50 years, Amelia, three children, a sister, five brothers, eight grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Madam Speaker, I know that you and the entire House of Representatives join with me in celebrating the life of Senator Sherman Jones and in sharing the loss felt by Ameila Jones, their family and their many friends.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Hilary Lewis, who will be honored for her 30 years of service to Jewish education in the Greater Kansas City area on February 25. The Jewish Educators' Council of CAJE/The Jewish Federation, along with our community, will recognize Hilary's many contributions as a Jewish educator and for her work at CAJE, formally the Central Agency for Jewish Education. Over the years, Hilary has worked with educators, parents and students to provide children at all congregations the best Jewish education possible. She has been instrumental as the principal of the Community High School of Jewish Studies, in providing continuing and relevant educational opportunities for hundreds of teens during their high school years. She has a talent for inspiring these young people to go beyond the acquisition of basic knowledge and she mentors them as they discover their own talents in reaching higher levels of understanding. In addition to her work with children, Hilary has inspired many adults to share their love of Judaism and become religious school teachers. Hilary is the ultimate problem solver and uses her incredible creativity to guide and inspire these teachers while helping them develop the skills needed to educate our youth. Hilary Lewis has and will continue to be one of the premier Jewish educators in the Greater Kansas City area, helping our community grow ``from strength to strength.'' Madam Speaker, I know that all members of the U.S. House of Representatives join with me in paying tribute to this valued educator and leader of the Kansas City community.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of the resolution. I wrote to the President on May 24 of last year and told the President in this letter: Mr. President, I voted for the use of force resolution based upon what later proved to be flawed intelligence about the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I am glad Saddam Hussein is gone. He was a vicious dictator who killed thousands and thousands of innocent people. At that time, in May of last year, there were 2,400 dead Americans as a result of our intervention in Iraq. Now there are more than 3,100 dead Americans, 700 more than just 9 months ago. We have done militarily all we can do in Iraq. We need to ask and tell the Iraqi Government, this new Iraqi Government, to step up to the plate and assume responsibility for the protection of their people and their country, Iraq. We need to give them incentive, powerful incentive to step up to the plate and assume responsibility. Sometimes new governments are like some people. If you tell them you will do something for them, they stand back and let you do it and do it and do it and never, never assume responsibility. We saved the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein, but we can't save the Iraqi people from the Iraqi people if they won't put aside centuries of religious differences and support their new government. I am talking about the Shia and the Sunnis for more than 1,000 years have been fighting. Mr. Speaker, I want to read an e-mail I received from a constituent last week. This is from a young lady who is serving presently in Iraq. ``I am a soldier currently deployed to Iraq. Our company is on the verge of an extension. Although we all are proud to serve our country, we also want to go home. Most of us have been gone from home for over a year. If or when we get extended, we wouldn't have seen our families for almost 2 years. ``With the news of the possible extension, the soldiers' morale went down. The families at home are stressed and that can and will stress a soldier out. Some soldiers had to go home on emergency leave because their families are falling apart. ``We watch the news here all the time and most of the time we can't believe what we hear and see. We see soldiers dying left and right, but what are they dying for? Most of us don't even know what we are over here fighting for anymore. ``I guess I just wanted to tell the side of a soldier because no one else will do it.'' And I say to Mr. President, please listen to Congress. Please listen to the American people, and please listen to these soldiers. Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant and individual of the highest integrity, Larry Welch, who has announced he is retiring after 12 years as director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and a lifetime of public service in law enforcement. A graduate of the University of Kansas, with undergraduate and law degrees, and of the FBI Academy, Larry Welch served as an FBI agent and supervisor from 1961-1986 in Tennessee, Washington, Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas, Missouri and Kansas. From 1986-1989, he served as deputy director of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, where he also served as director from 1989-1994. In 1994, he was named director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation; his longevity in that post is exceeded only by the first director, Lou Richter, who served from 1939- 1956. The KBI has approximately 300 employees, including about 80 agents posted across Kansas. It has four forensic labs, with 53 forensic scientists at the labs in Topeka, Great Bend, Pittsburg and Kansas City. The labs provide technical support to local police agencies in areas including DNA analysis and fingerprint analysis. Larry and Shirley Welch have three grown children and eight grandchildren. During my twelve years as District Attorney of Johnson County, I worked closely with Larry in his capacity as administrator of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. He is a public servant of unquestioned dedication and skill. The people of Kansas have been extraordinarily lucky that he has served them in a series of sensitive, important law enforcement positions in our state. Madam Speaker, I include with this statement a column by the editor of the Lawrence Journal-World, Dolph Simons, Jr., entitled ``Welch has run KBI with integrity and professionalism.'' I couldn't have said it better myself, and I commend the career of Larry Welch to all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives. [From LJWORLD.COM, Jan. 13, 2007] Simons: Welch Has Run KBI With Integrity and Professionalism (By Dolph C. Simons, Jr.) Kansas and the residents of the state are losing the services of an excellent lawman. At the end of May, Larry Welch will step down as director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He has done a superb job as KBI director since assuming the role in 1994 at the invitation of then-Attorney General Bob Stephan. Welch became the KBI's 10th director and served in this position under four Kansas attorneys general, including the recently sworn-in Paul Morrison. Whether Welch's decision to leave at this time has anything to do with the new attorney general is anyone's guess. However, his announcement about plans to retire said nothing to indicate he has any differences with the new leadership in the AG's office. The KBI does not have a high public profile, and it is obvious Welch has directed the agency with the goal of being an excellent arm of the law enforcement business, conducting its affairs and efforts in a professional manner, not trying to capture headlines and public attention. Welch and his associates have been far more interested in capturing those who violate the law rather than tooting their own horns or patting themselves on the back. Welch is a professional and served as a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent before moving into the KBI director's office. He has put together an effective, efficient and lean staff and has gained the respect and high regard of Kansas legislators. He has kept lawmakers informed about KBI activities, and his annual reports detail the work of his agents, scientists and other members of the KBI team. In his latest report, he notes the success of the KBI in identification and seizure of meth labs in 2006. Over the past five years, the number of meth labs seized and put out of operation has dropped from a high of 846 in 2001 to an estimated 155 for 2006. He attributed this success to the support of Kansas legislators and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the legislation that provided funding and manpower to discover, seize and destroy the labs. He points out, however, ``Before we form a circle, hold hands and sing `Kumbaya,' let me hasten to admit that even one meth lab, with all its dangers and attendant dire consequences is too many, and let me also remind you that, as I have been advising you since 1997, the majority of methamphetamine in Kansas, probably more than 80 percent, has always been of foreign origin, mostly Mexican, and not manufactured locally.'' Welch tells the lawmakers the effort to seize and shut down meth labs ``remains one of the most dangerous of all law enforcement activities.'' He added there still will be meth labs to seek out, investigate, seize and prosecute, but with the effectiveness of the current program, KBI agents will be able to spend more time on efforts to reduce the importation, trafficking and interdiction of methamphetamine in Kansas. He noted, ``We will not completely solve our state's methamphetamine problem, of course, until our nation's Southern and Southwest borders are better secured, in my opinion. If that's ever possible.'' Not only has Welch's professionalism added stature and respect to the KBI, but also his personal manner has reflected credit on the organization. The public must have respect for those in the law enforcement business. They don't have to like a local police officer, a member of the sheriffs staff, a local judge, a KBI agent or judges on high state and federal benches, BUT it is essential that citizens respect these men and women. Those in the law business, at whatever level, must perform in a manner that reflects credit on their respective agencies if our system of laws is to work and be effective. Larry Welch certainly has done this in how he supervised and led the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. All law-abiding Kansans are better off and safer today because of the efforts of Welch and his fellow agents. The state will miss Welch, and it is important he be succeeded by an equally committed, effective and professional individual. This is no place for political games to be played; the KBI office should never be used as a means of passing out a payback or IOU for some previous political or monetary favor.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute Johnson County Librarian Mona Carmack, who is retiring later this month, and will be honored on January 25, at the Overland Park Sheraton Hotel. Because of scheduled votes in Congress that evening, I will be unable to attend, but want to recognize her today. It is only fitting that the Library of Congress will contain a tribute to an outstanding librarian of our era. Johnson County is the fastest growing county in Kansas. During her 18 years of exemplary professional service to our citizens, Mona oversaw the expansion of the library system with six new branches, and significant improvements at three others. The library system's holdings increased from nearly 565,000 to 1.5 million during her tenure, and the operating budget increased from $5 million to $21.6 million. Most amazing of all, during that time, the circulation per capita increased from 6.1 to 16.4, and the percentage of the county's population registered as library users increased from 72 percent to 84 percent. Our county libraries are beautiful, airy, modern facilities, packed with excellent resources, and significantly contribute to the outstanding quality of life that Johnson Countians enjoy. Mona and her staff have received numerous national library awards, including being named a Finalist in the Innovations in American Government competition in 1998, and culminating in a National Award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in 2005. Mona was honored by her peers with 2002 awards from the Kansas Library Association and the Mountain Plains Library Association. Like any good librarian, the issue dearest to Mona's heart is literacy. Literacy is emphasized in children's programming, and the Library, in cooperation with the Johnson County Community College, operates an adult literacy program. Mona also serves on metropolitan literacy organizations, such as the Literacy Kansas City Board and the Metropolitan Alliance for Adult Learning. After I took office in 1999, Mona was kind enough to give me a tour and briefing of the library. My office has often used the outstanding facilities of the Johnson County libraries to host community office hours with my constituents. Madam Speaker, we all wish Mona the very best for the next chapter of her life, and hope that she will continue to contribute her leadership and knowledge to our area.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I join with the staff of General Motors' Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas, in celebrating the recent designation of GM's Aura model car as ``North American Car of the Year'' at the recent North American International Auto Show. The Aura is manufactured exclusively at the Fairfax plant, which is located in Kansas's Third Congressional District. The Aura's win was the first time GM had won car of the year since the Corvette won in 1998. And to win the award, it had to beat out the redesigned Toyota Camry, the nation's best-selling car model, which had just won the car of the year honors from Motor Trend, as well as the Honda Fit, the subcompact car recently introduced to the U.S. market. As Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com and one of 49 jurors voting for the award, was quoted as saying by CNN, ``It's an undeniable statement about where Saturn has gotten,'' he said. ``You could say it's long overdue, but they are now producing a competitive vehicle in a very competitive class.'' Madam Speaker, in recognition of this outstanding achievement, I am placing in the Congressional Record recent Kansas City Star coverage of this well-deserved designation, and I know that you and the entire House of Representatives join with me in recognizing the designation of the Aura as ``Car of the Year''. [From the Kansas City Star, Jan. 9, 2007] GM Aura is ``Car of the Year'' (By Randolph Heaster) A group of automotive journalists named the Saturn Aura ``North American Car of the Year'' at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The news that the Saturn Aura won a car of the year award was a boost for the General Motors Corp.'s Fairfax plant, the exclusive maker of the new model. The Aura was named ``North American Car of the Year'' by a group of 49 automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The car was launched last August at the Fairfax plant, which employs nearly 3,000. ``Our employees are known for their commitment to quality and teamwork,'' said Paul Marr, manager of the Fairfax plant. ``This recognition is a win for Fairfax Assembly and our community as we strive to keep jobs in Kansas City.'' Union officials at the Fairfax plant could not be reached Monday. However, Jeff Manning, president of United Auto Workers Local 31, stated frequently during Aura's launch that the employees' goal was for it to receive car-of-the-year honors. The Aura is the second locally made vehicle to receive such a recognition this decade. The F-150 pickup, made at Ford Motor Co.'s Claycomo plant, was named ``Truck of the Year'' by Motor Trend magazine for 2004. The recognition is a shot in the arm for GM, which has been struggling since higher fuel prices slowed sales of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Industry analysts have stated that GM and the other domestic automakers must better compete against Japanese auto companies in the midsize passenger-car market. GM hopes that this week's auto show will create some buzz for the new Chevrolet Malibu, which will be unveiled for the first time. The Fairfax plant, which builds the current Malibu, will begin producing the redesigned 2008 Malibu in October. The Fairfax plant produced 39,699 Auras in 2006. More than 5,800 were sold last month. The auto show also gave GM's new Chevrolet Silverado the award for truck of the year.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act. All of us know that the Medicare prescription drug law expressly prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from negotiating with drug companies on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries, 43 million in this country, for lower prices. Because of this, these beneficiaries in America are a one-person buying group and you have no leverage when you are a one-person buying group. The Veterans Administration has been very successful in working a good benefit for the veterans in this country, 34 million American veterans in this country, and getting a good drug benefit there. While private plans have been successful in negotiating some discounts for seniors under the program, a recent study released by Families USA shows that seniors still pay as much as 10 times more for some of the commonly prescribed drugs under Medicare than veterans do. Secretary Thompson when he left office said, ``I would like to have had the opportunity to negotiate.'' And he said to me in a conversation that if he had had the ability to negotiate like a bill that I filed with the gentlewoman from Missouri, we could drive down prices. As you all know, the Medicare Prescription Drug law expressly prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from negotiating with drug companies on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries for lower prices. Because of this, each of the 43 million Medicare beneficiaries in America is a one-person buying group, giving our seniors no leverage to negotiate for better prices. The Veterans Administration which has had the authority to negotiate prices since 1992, does so for 34 million American veterans, as do large companies on behalf of their employees. Medicare should have the authority to negotiate a group discount for our seniors. While private plans have been successful in negotiating some discounts for seniors under the program, a recent study released by Families USA shows that seniors still pay as much as 10 times more for some of the most commonly prescribed drugs under Medicare than veterans do under their federal drug benefit. When Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced his resignation in December 2004, he spoke out against the provisions in the new Medicare law barring him from negotiating with drug companies for lower consumer prices saying, ``I would like to have had the opportunity to negotiate.'' Secretary Thompson based his support on his previous success in negotiating drugs on behalf of the government. Following the anthrax attacks in 2001, the government negotiated the purchase of 100 million tablets of Cipro, achieving significant savings. Then in 2003, during a flu vaccine shortage, former Secretary Thompson was very successful in negotiating reductions in the price of the FluMist vaccine from $46 per dose to $20 per dose, saving over 55 percent. It has been one of my main priorities in Congress to allow seniors enrolled in Medicare this same ability to utilize their market power to benefit from lower prices. In January of 2004, just weeks after the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan became law, I introduced the Medicare's Equitable Drugs for Seniors Act, the MEDs Act, with my friend Representative Jo Ann Emerson. This legislation, which gained 175 bipartisan cosponsors in the 108th Congress, would have given the Secretary of HHS explicit authority to negotiate lower pharmaceutical drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. In the 109th Congress, we reintroduced this legislation and we were once again able to form a large bipartisan coalition in support of the legislation. Despite our success in forming this coalition, we have been unable to bring this issue to a vote until today. I am very pleased that the leadership has chosen to include this as a priority for the House during the first 100 hours of the new Congress and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4, which, if enacted into law, will help reduce the cost of prescription drugs for all American seniors.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, December 20, 2006, the University of Kansas Hospital became the first hospital in Kansas to attain the coveted MagnetTM designation. The Department of Nursing began working toward this goal in 2002. Since the American Nurses Credentialing Center developed the Magnet Recognition Program' in 1990, approximately 225 facilities-- less than 3 percent of all hospitals--have attained Magnet designation. To join this exclusive group, both the nursing staff and hospital have demonstrated their ability to meet and exceed more than 150 professional standards of excellence. Magnet designation recognizes the quality and importance of our nursing department. It also emphasizes the important role our nurses play in the hospital's success. Magnet hospitals exemplify the very best in patient care and outcomes. Just 3.5 percent of health care organizations are Magnet hospitals. This designation proves the commitment of the University of Kansas Hospital to excellent patient care outcomes. Magnet designation means a hospital outperforms others and is statistically proven to have: higher quality care; better patient outcomes; lower mortality rate; significantly higher levels of patient satisfaction; salaries typically above average; excellent nursing recruitment; higher nursing retention; and greater consumer confidence. Madam Speaker, I am proud to have the opportunity to bring this noteworthy designation to your attention, and to the attention of the House of Representatives as a whole.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity today to bring to the attention of the Members of the House a recent tribute to Harold Stones, of Topeka, KS, that was published in the Topeka Capital- Journal. The longtime former executive director of the Kansas Bankers Association, since retiring from that position in 1997, Harold Stones has served as special projects director for Kansas Senator Pat Roberts. As the Capital-Journal article details, at the age of 75, Harold continues to work diligently in the service of his fellow Kansans, working on economic development issues and serving as a liaison with Kansas military families. I commend Harold Stones to my colleagues and encourage all to take his example to heart! [From the Capital-Journal, Nov. 28, 2006] Still a ``Political Junkie'' (By Jan Biles) Harold Stones retired as executive vice president of the Kansas Bankers Association in 1997 after 30 years of service. But instead of taking it easy, he embarked on a second career--Kansas special projects director for Sen. Pat Roberts. Stones, 75, of Topeka, said he had known Roberts for several years before the senator asked him to join his staff to work in the areas of economic development and military affairs. ``I will do this job as long as he wants me to,'' he said. Stones grew up in a Smith County farming family who taught him the importance of voting and never shied away from politics. ``My great-grandfather was a probate judge. My grandfather was a county treasurer, and my dad was a township committeeman,'' he said. After attending Fort Hays State University for a year, Stones taught in a county school for a year before joining the U.S. Air Force. When his four-year stint was over, he returned to Fort Hays State University, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. He was hired by the university to teach speech and coach the debate team and then became director of alumni affairs and student placement. About a decade later, in 1967, he joined the Kansas Bankers Association. When he celebrated his 25th year there, the association set up a scholarship fund in his name at Fort Hays State University. Each year, four students are awarded scholarships. ``It's a general scholarship for a child of someone who works at a Kansas bank,'' he said. Stones' experience at the bankers association gave him the opportunity to learn more about the ups and downs of the Kansas economy. The 1980s were particularly hard on the state's farming, energy and banking businesses. ``Every time a farmer went (under), an ag bank went with it,'' he said. Stones tapped into that experience when Roberts tapped him for a staff position. He traveled throughout Kansas to meet with local chambers of commerce and economic development groups. He now is advising Roberts on how to build a high- tech job base in the state. When the Iraq war started, Roberts asked Stones to act as the senator's liaison with Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and McConnell Air Force Base. He has attended dozens of deployment and welcome-home ceremonies at the military bases, as well as memorial and funeral services. ``Senator Roberts writes a letter to each family (who has lost a loved one in the war) and I hand deliver the letter and talk to them,'' he said. One of the highlights of his years with the senator was traveling to Bosnia in October 1997 as a volunteer to assist in organizing a multi-ethnic, democratic Bosnia Bankers Association. ``It was a slow process, but 18 to 24 months later Bosnia established a Bosnia bankers group,'' he said. Stones said he exercises on a regular basis at a local fitness center and continues to be a ``political junkie''-- something that would please his office-holding ancestors. Above all, he is optimistic about where the country and state are going. ``The past is gone,'' he said. ``Our best days are yet to come.''

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Buck O'Neil, an internationally renowned, distinguished Kansas Citian, who died on October 6th at the age of 94. John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil was born the grandson of slaves in Carrabelle, Florida, on November 13, 1911. He acquired his love for baseball at a young age from his father, who played for the local team when he wasn't working as a foreman in the celery fields. As a teenager, Buck realized that he wanted to do something more with his life, but times were difficult throughout the country during the Great Depression, and he had received little formal education because the local high school was segregated. When his father told him that, ``There is something better, but you can't get it here, you're gonna have to go someplace else,'' Buck made the decision to try his luck as a baseball player in the semi- professional barnstorming leagues that traveled the entire country. It didn't take him long to attract the attention of the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League, who signed him to his first professional contract in 1937. After a year of playing for the Red Sox, Mr. O'Neil's contract was purchased by the Kansas City Monarchs--the team with which he would spend the rest of his playing career. The Monarchs were the most successful team in the history of the Negro Leagues, winning the most titles and producing the best players. While playing for Kansas City, Mr. O'Neil won batting titles in 1940 and 1946 and led his team to a convincing victory in the 1942 Negro World Series. He batted .353 as the Monarchs swept the Homestead Grays, 4-0. He was also selected to play in three Negro American League All- Star Games, and would likely have accomplished more during his playing career had it not been for World War II; Mr. O'Neil dutifully served his country for 2 years by completing a tour in the United States Navy from 1943-1945. Buck stayed with the Monarchs through the end of the 1955 season, serving both as a player and as the team's manager for the final 8 years of his time in Kansas City, all the while facing the harshness of separation and discrimination in a country that was still segregated. Thanks in part to the significant accomplishments of his Monarchs teammate Jackie Robinson, who broke down racial barriers by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers of Major League Baseball in 1947, Buck too was able to join a rapidly-integrating MLB as a scout for the Chicago Cubs. In 1962, he became the first African American coach in the Majors. During his storied career with the Cubs, Mr. O'Neil was responsible for the development of many great major leaguers, like Joe Carter, and he also signed two future Hall of Fame players--Lou Brock and Ernie Banks. After 33 years with the Cubs, Buck returned home in 1988 to scout for the Kansas City Royals. Despite his myriad accomplishments on the field as a player, manager, and coach, it is Buck O'Neil's accomplishments off the field that demonstrate his love for the game of baseball and his commitment to the essential role that the Negro Leagues played in the integration of both American sport and American society. In 1990, O'Neil was a leader in the effort to create the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. The Museum, located in the historic 18th and Vine district of downtown Kansas City, has excelled for nearly a decade in its mission of educating all Americans about the rich and important history of the Negro Leagues. Buck served as the Board Chairman for the Museum and actively promoted its messages of understanding and triumph over adversity. In addition to his work with the Museum, Mr. O'Neil served as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee from 1981- 2000, working hard to ensure that many of the Negro League players who had been denied entrance into the Major Leagues because of segregation were able to gain a deserved entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. After devoting so many years of his life to promoting the accomplishments of others, many believed that the time for Buck's recognition had finally arrived in the spring of 2006, when he was on a special ballot for entry into the Hall of Fame. Shockingly, the Committee chose not to induct Mr. O'Neil, to the dismay of many--but not Buck. Unaffected by the Hall's decision, he took the high road and offered to speak at the induction ceremony on behalf of those selected, because many of them had passed on. On June 30, 2006, Buck selflessly honored all 17 individuals related to the Negro Leagues who were inducted, giving an inspiring speech and instructing all audience members to hold hands and join him in song. The ovation he received was the loudest and longest of the ceremony. At the time of his death, Buck O'Neil's efforts were focused on the John ``Buck'' O'Neil Education and Research Center. Scheduled for completion in late 2007, the Center will be an expansion of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum devoted to teaching people of all ages many different aspects of the Negro leagues and baseball. The 45,000 square foot facility will house extensive archives and promises to devote much of its space and funding to state-of-the-art technology and programs that will teach many different things to many different people. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to honor the life of Buck O'Neil, because of his accomplishments while playing and managing in the Negro and Major Leagues, because of his work with the Negro League Baseball Museum, because of his devotion to those who shared in his struggle, valuing their legacies more than his own, and most of all, because of his immense contributions to the game of baseball and American society. When acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns made his film Baseball in 1994, he chose Buck O'Neil as the narrator, because no other individual better captures the history and legacy of our American pastime. He was truly the game's ambassador, and his spirit will be sorely missed.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my views on H.R. 6166, the Military Commissions Act. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, the Bush Administration established new procedures for war crime tribunals for terrorist suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The United States Supreme Court ruled 5-3 on June 29, 2006, that President Bush's military order in the detention and treatment of the Guantanamo Bay detainees exceeded his authority. Though the court did not dispute the President's authority to hold the petitioner as an ``enemy combatant for the duration of hostilities,'' it found that military tribunals convened to try detainees did not comply with the Uniform Code of Military Justice of the law of war, as embodied by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. Because of the unique nature of the War on Terror, no current system exists for bringing detainees to trial, many of whom are individuals believed to have committed a serious crime and who may seek to further their cause through the murder of innocent civilians. It is important that the United States establish a judicial process for dealing with illegal enemy combatants and allow for the continued interrogation of detainees while following basic international agreements on humane treatment. H.R. 6166 accomplishes this. This legislation provides a framework through which we can bring enemy combatants to justice through an open military commission system that affords substantial due process. It represents a comprehensive approach to try accused war criminals while recognizing the unique national security situation the United States faces in the War on Terror. The commission system created by H.R. 6166 takes into account the concerns of the Supreme Court, as well as the input of intelligence officers and military lawyers in all branches of the armed services. Prior to casting my vote for H.R. 6166, I voted for the Motion to Recommit, offered by Representative Ike Skelton of Missouri, which would provide expedited judicial review of the statute's constitutionality and require the reauthorization of the legislation in three years. Specifically, the provision would provide for expedited review of a civil action challenging the bill's legality. A three-judge panel in the D.C. District Court would hear the action and the Supreme Court would review a judgment or order of the panel. Additionally, by requiring a reauthorization in 3 years, we give Congress the ability to carefully review how this statute is working in the real world. Unfortunately, the Skelton Motion to Recommit failed by a vote of 195- 228. While H.R. 6166 is certainly not perfect, it is a step in the right direction. It is essential that our government has the necessary intelligence to prevent future terrorist attacks on our Nation and our allies. As this legislation is implemented, it is important that the Legislative and Judicial branches provide vigorous oversight to ensure that no international laws regarding the treatment of detainees are violated in the name of security.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, during the week of September 18, 2006, I was unable to cast recorded votes due to the death of my father and attendance to family matters in Kansas. On September 19, had I cast my vote on rollcall votes 451, 452, and 453, I would have voted ``yes'' on each one. On September 20, had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 454, 455, and 456, I would have voted ``no'' on each one. Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 457, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 458, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 459, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 460, I would have voted ``yes.'' On September 21, had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 461, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 462, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 463, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 464, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 465, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 466, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 467, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 468, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 469, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I cast my vote on rollcall vote 470, I would have voted ``no.''