Dennis Moore

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I commend Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey for crafting this truly historic energy legislation that will help our country make the transition to a new, clean energy economy. I want to also thank Chairman Waxman for including a bill I drafted, H.R. 2246, in the manager's amendment. This bipartisan legislation, which I introduced with my friend from Illinois, Congresswoman Judy Biggert, will establish the Community Building Code Administration Grant, or CBCAG, Program. This competitive grant program will help with local building code enforcement by authorizing $100 million over 5 years, capping awards at $1 million per recipient, and requiring recipients to match a portion of funds received. Much attention has been focused on the huge energy savings that can be achieved by increased energy efficiency in buildings, which consume nearly 40 percent of all energy and 70 percent of the electricity produced in the U.S. But building codes don't make a difference unless they are enforced by local code officials who are properly trained and have sufficient resources to inspect buildings for compliance. It will save taxpayer dollars as well--according to a study conducted by the National Institute of Building Sciences, for every $1 spent on mitigation saves $4 in future disaster assistance. H.R. 2246 is supported by the International Code Council, the Alliance to Save Energy and many other organizations. Again, I'm pleased my legislation has been incorporated into the manager's amendment to the American Clean Energy and Security Act. I support the underlying bill and urge members to vote in favor of passage. But, I also strongly urge Chairman Waxman and Leadership to strengthen the Renewable Electricity Standard (R.E.S.) during the Conference Committee. I commend Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey for crafting this truly historic energy legislation that will help our country make the transition to a new clean energy economy. The strong R.E.S. that we started with has unfortunately been watered down so significantly that it will not even provide an incentive to maintain current levels of renewable deployment. Kansas utilities, like those of so many other states, are on track to cost-effectively meet a state R.E.S. of 10 percent by 2011. A federal goal of 6 percent by 2012 would provide no incentive for new investments in wind development or manufacturing. That means that more jobs will be left on the table and that the U.S. will continue to lag behind the 37 countries around the world that have a binding, long-term commitment to renewable energy development. The global marketplace is watching us. Companies both here and abroad are waiting to see if we enact an R.E.S. that will provide a true commitment to transitioning our economy to cleaner forms of energy. They are making critical decisions on whether and where to build new manufacturing facilities or retool their companies to create new, high- quality jobs. We can decide right now if we are going to build more of the new energy components right here in the United States or continue to import them from overseas. Kansas is thrilled that Siemens chose to build nacelles for wind turbines in Hutchinson, creating 400 jobs in one small town and supply chain opportunities for hundreds of companies in the region. Several recent reports project job growth in the tens of thousands in our industrial heartland if we make a real commitment to renewable energy. A stronger national R.E.S. is the most important policy tool we have to make sure new energy projects utilize American-made components manufactured by American workers. Harnessing renewable energy also builds our rural communities--this ``new crop'' sustains farmers and ranchers and keeps the schools, clinics, roads and services strong in America's small towns. A stronger national R.E.S. would also benefit consumers by holding down energy prices and protecting them against the price spikes of fossil fuels by promoting fuel diversity. In fact, numerous independent studies have shown that the R.E.S. saves consumers money on their energy bills in all regions of the country. In addition, a strong national R.E.S. will ensure that currently available clean technology is deployed quickly to help achieve greater emission reductions in the future at a lower cost. And perhaps most importantly, Americans are demanding bold policies that will push our country in a new direction on energy and ensure a clean, secure energy future for America. In April a national poll found that 75 percent of Third District residents support a R.E.S. of 25 percent by 2025. This support is strong across all counties of my state and throughout all regions of the country. That is why I urge Chairman Waxman and House Leadership to strengthen the R.E.S. as this legislation moves forward.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on March 11, 2009, I inadvertently failed to cast a recorded vote on rollcall vote 121, concerning H. Res. 226, recognizing the plight of the Tibetan people on the 50th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama being forced into exile and calling for a sustained multilateral effort to bring about a durable and peaceful solution to the Tibet issue. Had I cast my vote, I would have voted ``aye.'' On March 31, I inadvertently failed to cast a recorded vote on rollcall vote 166, concerning H. Res. 296, providing for the consideration of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 1388. Had I cast my vote, I would have voted ``aye.'' On May 7, I inadvertently failed to cast a recorded vote on rollcall vote 238, concerning H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-predatory Lending Act. Had I cast my vote, I would have voted ``aye.'' On May 12, I inadvertently failed to cast a recorded vote on rollcall vote 244, concerning H. Res. 413, supporting the goals and ideals of ``IEEE Engineering the Future'' Day on May 13, 2009, and for other purposes. Had I cast my vote, I would have voted ``aye.'' On May 14, I inadvertently failed to cast a recorded vote on rollcall vote 260, concerning H.R. 2187, the amendment to the title of the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. Had I cast my vote, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to pay Karen Browning, who recently stepped down after 41 years of service with the Johnson County, Kansas, Election Office, including 27 years as Assistant Election Commissioner. Dedicated, experienced public servants like Karen Browning are the glue that holds government together at all levels, but they often do not receive the respect and consideration that they deserve. Karen Browning's retirement took from her office 41 years of deep devotion to her community and an intricate knowledge of the rules and history of Johnson County elections--a background that the citizens of Johnson County will find to be irreplaceable. I am pleased to have this opportunity to share with the other members of the House of Representatives a brief profile of Karen Browning which recently was published in the Johnson County Sun. I know that all Johnson Countians join with me in wishing Karen Browning all the best as she embarks upon her much deserved retirement, and we also thank her for her years of dedicated service and work to ensure that Johnson County elections have been conducted in a manner above reproach. Election Official Retires After Serving 40 Years (By Chuck Kurtz) It was a one-issue, one-candidate ``election'' and assistant election commissioner Karen Browning cast the only vote: ``Yes to Proposition Retirement.'' After nearly 41 years with the Johnson County Election Office in Olathe, Browning officially retired May 22; a reception in her honor is planned for 3 to 6 p.m. June 17 at the Election Office, 2101 E. Kansas City Road, Southeast of Bass Pro, where Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh will pay tribute to her service. Also speaking will be County Chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh and Johnson County Election Commissioner Brian Newby. Browning said she always will look back on her career with great fondness. ``My time at the Election Office was an incredible experience, full of hard work, passion for elections and democracy,'' she said. ``It has been a great career that I have always enjoyed, but it's time for a new chapter in my life and to take it easy.'' In the past 40 years Browning has: Worked in more than 200 Johnson County elections, including 11 presidential elections; Served under six of Johnson County's eight election commissioners and 32 county commissioners; and, Watched the county's voter registration increase almost fourfold. She said she welcomed the end to hand-counting thousands of paper ballots when the county switched to touch-screen voting machines. Counting paper ballots is time consuming, she said, and computers bring quicker results and less stress. Browning's passion for the importance of voting was instilled in her as a child. ``My folks always talked about voting and how important it was,'' she said. ``I started when I was young. Voting was already an important part of my life.'' That led to her passion for doing her best as an employee at the election office. Newby said Browning was a walking encyclopedia and office historian. She has complete records on every election since she has been with the county. ``If anyone has a question about a past election, Karen is the person to ask,'' he said. ``She has given so much to our county and to our voters; she provided the best return on tax dollars that could ever be imagined,'' Newby said. ``She leaves with the distinction of being the most effective election office employee ever in Johnson County.'' In Browning's first presidential election Nov. 5, 1968, a total of 88,314 of Johnson County's 100,610 registered voters cast their ballots. In her last presidential election, Nov. 5, 2008, a total of 285,001 of the 364,441 registered voters cast ballots. Her first job at the election office was as a key punch operator since all voter registration cards and reports were typed by hand. ``When we processed registrations, we typed them into the books that went to the polling places,'' she said. ``We typed men on one page and women on another, which I found very interesting.'' Newby said Browning has been instrumental in the evolution of the voter registration process, which she has overseen for many years. In 1978, Browning was named election clerk supervisor followed by election manager in 1979 with primary responsibilities for voter registration and list maintenance. She has served as assistant election commissioner the past 27 years. Browning also has overseen Census and mapping operations, and knows Johnson County geography like the back of her hand, since any ``visible ground feature'' might someday be needed as a precinct boundary. Although the election process has experienced significant changes over the years, Browning said one thing has not changed. The integrity of the ballot, even from a touch- screen voting machine, is still held sacred, and that requires rigorous adherence to the office's confirmation procedures, she said. Browning has mixed feelings about leaving Johnson County public service, but admits she will most miss the people. ``Elections begin and end with people,'' she said. In retirement, Browning plans to spend more time with her family, and continue to volunteer in her many civic and church activities. Her family includes three sons, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. ``We will miss her and wish her well,'' Newby said, ``but we are gratified to know that she will always be a phone call away to advise us if we have a thorny issue. We even offered--threatened, I guess--to continue equipping her with a Blackberry so she could still be in the e-mail loop and give us guidance.'' So far, no response from Browning.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of an issue which affects the educational well-being of each of us, and in particular, our children -- funding for federal library programs, particularly the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program and the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). As you may know, research has shown that students in schools with well-stocked libraries and highly qualified, state-certified school librarians have higher levels of academic achievement than students who do not have the same benefits. Furthermore, many school libraries have become sophisticated 21st century learning environments, offering a full range of print and electronic resources, but today only 60 percent of school libraries have full-time, state-certified school library media specialists on staff. Unfortunately, due to the constraints that school administrators must confront when faced with limited resources, library resource budgets are often utilized to make up for shortfalls in other areas. To remedy this situation, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) authorized funding for libraries through the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program. While the purpose of the program was primarily to encourage reading and improve literacy, it also allocated funding for acquiring up-to-date school library media resources, acquiring and using advanced technology, facilitating Internet links and other resource sharing networks among schools and libraries, providing professional development for school library media specialists, and providing students with access to school libraries during nonschool hours. In recognizing the tremendous benefits of library and research technology, the inclusion of this important provision in NCLB represented a significant step towards the creation of a truly 21st century education system. Unfortunately, like many provisions of NCLB, this initiative has been underfunded. As you may also be aware, state libraries rely greatly on the funds provided through LSTA, which is the only federal program devoted exclusively to libraries, to support statewide initiatives and provide funds to public, school, academic, research, and special libraries through subgrants. The requirement of a state match also helps stimulate additional investment in the program, as approximately three to four state and local dollars are invested for every one federal dollar. I have long been a strong supporter of funding for library programs, particularly the LSTA state program and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program, because of the educational opportunities that these programs help provide and the important role that they play in expanding access to information resources and services for learning in all types of libraries for individuals of all ages. I would respectfully encourage my colleagues in the House to work together in a bipartisan manner to see that, as the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations process moves forward, federal library programs receive the support they need to continue helping state and local library programs maintain a high level of quality and service.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 885, the Improved Financial and Commodity Markets Oversight and Accountability Act. The bill is sponsored by my friend and colleague from Connecticut, Congressman Larson, and I commend his leadership on strengthening oversight and accountability to our government. As I have told him personally, I appreciate the hard work Congressman Larson put into crafting H.R. 885, a bill to reform several Offices of Inspector General in an effort to bring a greater level of independence and transparency to the agencies they oversee. And as the sponsor of the bill knows, I initially raised a few concerns with the bill to make sure we maximize the efforts of these Inspectors General to provide strong and tough oversight. As a former District Attorney, the focus of any investigation should always be quality over quantity. Inspectors General should not focus on meeting some meaningless quota of closed cases. Instead, we want our Inspectors General to uncover waste, fraud and abuse wherever they find it so the agency they supervise and Congress can promptly address those abuses. The House Financial Services Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Barney Frank and of which I chair the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, will soon be considering a comprehensive regulatory reform package to overhaul our financial regulatory system. In that effort, I will be working with Members on both sides of the aisle to identify any additional oversight protections we need to implement to ensure our financial system is transparent and protects consumers, investors and taxpayers. For example, I personally would like to see better coordination between Inspectors General on a regular basis to identify waste, fraud and abuse by creating a ``Financial Inspectors General Council'' where oversight concerns that may have a broader reach can be identified and corrected quickly. I appreciate Congressman Larson listening to me and discussing my concerns. We both agree that we need to move quickly on all fronts to strengthen oversight of our financial system, and it is in that spirit that I support this bill that the House is considering now. I look forward to working closely with Congressman Larson, Republicans and Democrats to take the necessary, additional steps to make certain we have an improved oversight structure in place so we don't have a repeat of a financial crisis of this magnitude.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the amendment I offered with my good friend from Alabama, Representative Spencer Bachus. Like many of my colleagues, I travel home to my district almost every weekend, and am forced to spend a considerable amount of time in airports. I frequently see members of our armed forces at the airport traveling to fulfill assignments, in full military uniform and often loaded down with gear and equipment. The amendments Representative Bachus and I introduced would help ease the burden on these service men and women traveling on official orders. The Bachus/Moore amendment would direct the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a dedicated screening process at airport security checkpoints for military personnel travelling in uniform on official orders. The amendment would also enable family members to accompany the service man or woman through the expedited screening process. While some airports and airlines have expedited screening policies in place for certain types of passengers, there is no group that deserves greater consideration than our brave men and women in uniform. Our servicemen and women, as well as their families, sacrifice so much as a part of their military service. This amendment represents a small, simple gesture of kindness in order to make travel more convenient and efficient for our heroes.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the upcoming 150th anniversary of Wyandotte County, Kansas, which is one of three counties composing the Third Congressional District of Kansas. On June 6th and 7th, the Wyandotte County Historical Museum will commemorate Wyandotte County's 150th anniversary, including activities featuring re-enactors, speakers, dancers and music. In the territorial period of Kansas, previous to 1859, the area that is embraced in Wyandotte County was a part of Leavenworth and Johnson counties. Thus, with the domination of the ``Leavenworth crowd,'' or of the Missourians who came over into Kansas territory, the citizens at the mouth of the Kansas River had little influence over the affairs of government or of politics. The first election in the county, aside from the elections held by the Indians themselves before the organization of the territory, was in June 1857 to select a delegate to the Lecompton constitutional convention. The polls were guarded by soldiers and the votes were deposited in a candle box, which was afterward found buried in a woodpile at Lecompton and became historically infamous. In October of the same year the county came into notice again, politically, due to the stuffing of a ballot box and other frauds, perpetrated at the Delaware crossing, eight miles west of Wyandotte. It is said that many of the names found on the poll list could also be found in a New York City directory, which some enterprising pro-slavery advocate happened to have in his possession at that time. The political history of Wyandotte County, however, began with its organization under an act passed by the legislature of January 1859, the same legislature that authorized the Wyandotte constitutional convention. The act, signed by Governor Medeary on January 29, 1859, cut off one hundred and fifty-three square miles from the southeast corner of Leavenworth County and the north side of Johnson County. The Wyandotte Constitutional Convention was a key event in Kansas history. From this convention, Wyandotte County was created, Kansas became a state that was free from slavery, and women were given some rights in voting and holding property. The county is named after the Wyandot (a.k.a. Wyandott or Wyandotte) Indians. They were called the Huron by the French in Canada, but they called themselves Wendat. They were distantly related to the Iroquis, with whom they sometimes fought. They had hoped to hold off movement by white Americans into their territory and had hoped to make the Ohio River the border between the United States and Canada. One branch of the Wyandot moved to the area that is now the state of Ohio. They generally took the course of assimilation into Anglo-American society. Many of them embraced Christianity under the influence of missionaries. They were transported to the current area of Wyandotte County in 1843, where they set up a community and worked in cooperation with Anglo settlers. The Christian Munsee also influenced early settlement of this area. Wyandotte County, with roughly 160,000 residents, today boasts one of the most vibrant economies in the state of Kansas and an amazing story of resurgence. Comprised of the cities of Bonner Springs, Edwardsville and Kansas City, Kansas, the entire county has embraced a unified vision for the future. This vision has produced a monumental transformation over the last several years with the creation of the Kansas City metro area's premier tourist and retail destination including the Kansas Speedway, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Cabela's, the Legends at Village West, and Schlitterbahn Vacation Village. The explosion of development in the western portion of the City of Kansas City, Kansas, is also paving the way for redevelopment opportunities in the eastern portion of the city. Madam Speaker, I know that all members of this House join with me in celebrating the 150th anniversary of Wyandotte County, Kansas. I am proud to represent it in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my longtime, good friend, Walter Hiersteiner. He was an outstanding community leader in the Kansas City metropolitan area. A resident of Prairie Village, Kansas, Walt died on May 2nd at the age of 90, having lived a rich, full life that made a positive difference in the lives of his many friends and neighbors. Walt was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and attended the University of Iowa and Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the law review. After serving in the Navy in World War II, he moved to Kansas City to practice law and later joined Tension Envelope, where he became vice chairman of the board of directors. Walt's first love was his family, especially his wife, Jean, and his grandchildren, to whom he was unconditionally devoted. Walt was also devoted to his community. He was elected to the City Council of Fairway, Kansas. He served over 40 years on the Menorah Medical Center Board of Directors and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Truman Medical Center and the Truman Medical Center Foundation. He was active in the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Board of Directors of Move-Up, which was formerly the Kansas City Ad Hoc Group Against Crime. He was a founding member of the Main Street Coalition. His passions, after family and golf, were enhancing public school education for the children of Shawnee Mission and the State of Kansas. He was elected to the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education. He was appointed by Governor Robert Docking to serve on the Kansas Board of Regents and became chairman of that board. In addition he was co-chairman of the Committee for Excellence of the Shawnee Mission Schools and served on the Board of Governors of Kansas University Law School and the Kansas Higher Education Loan Program. These activities earned him the Kansas City Spirit Award and the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation Patron Award for service and support of Johnson County Schools. He was named Johnson Countian of the Year. Walt and Jean established the Walter and Jean Hiersteiner Early Childhood Development Center at the Johnson County Community College. Walt is survived by Jean, his wife of 65 years; four children, Dick and Erica Hiersteiner of Boston, Massachusetts, Mary and David Ruedig of Concord, New Hampshire, Joe and Cathy Hiersteiner of Kansas City, and Dottie and Peter Oatman of Boulder, Colorado; nine grandchildren and his brother, Stanley of Des Moines, Iowa; his sister Shirley Feldman of Sleepy Hollow, New York, and several nieces and nephews. Madam Speaker, Walt Hiersteiner was a vitally important community leader and activist in the Third Congressional District of Kansas, as well as my personal friend for many years. I include with this tribute two press articles that detail some of his many accomplishments for our community; a 2002 column in the Kansas City Business Journal by former Kansas City Board of Trade President/CEO Michael Braude, and an article that the Kansas City Star carried upon Walt's death. Both detail the impact that Walt Hiersteiner had upon the Kansas City community, and explain why he will be sorely missed by all of us. [From the Kansas City Business Journal, Sept. 27, 2002] Local Executive Leaves His Mark on Health Care, Education (By Michael Braude) I am not bad at hyperbole--but hyperbole is impossible when it comes to the subject of today's column. ``Role model,'' ``pillar of our community,'' ``business leader with a true social conscience'' all fail to do justice to Walter Hiersteiner. His considerable accomplishments in the business world as a top executive at Tension Envelope Corp. are eclipsed only by his pivotal role in making our community a better place. His imprint on health and education in the heartland is indelible. John W. Bluford, CEO at Truman Medical Centers, said: ``Walter Hiersteiner has been a tremendous asset to Truman Medical Centers for a number of years and in a number of ways. In addition to his financial support, which has provided, among other gifts, scholarships for nurses, he has given moral support and advice to TMC through his formal roles as member of the TMC board of directors and TMC Charitable Foundation. But most of all, Walt has acted as conscience, sage, statesman and mentor. He is our 'go to' man, and when we go to him, he always delivers.'' At all levels of education, Walter has left his positive imprint. Marjorie Kaplan, superintendent of the Shawnee Mission School District, told me recently: ``Walt is a truly fine person with many talents. He has a passion for learning and is an articulate spokesperson for providing a quality education for all children. He understands the connection between public schooling and quality of life. Ever interested and ever active, Walt has never lost his enthusiasm for supporting just causes and improving our community. ``A longtime supporter of our school district, Walt has served on the Shawnee Mission Board of Education and as chairperson and member of numerous committees. With his sharp mind, his ability to analyze situations and solve problems, Walt has been an asset to Shawnee Mission for over 3o years.'' It was on school issues that I first met Walter, and I now have been privileged to call him friend for more than 3o years. Before unification, when I ran for the old Westwood View School Board, it was his sage counsel that enabled me to win the election. Now, more than three decades later, when I want to know what is really going on at any level of education in our area, I call Walt. Walt also calls me. Since I've been writing for The Business Journal, he never hesitates to call when he either agrees or disagrees with my point of view. Frankly, when the latter is the case, I always pause and ask myself: ``Was I wrong?'' This is simply because I have so much respect for his judgment and opinions. Walt's position on issues or candidates is never based on ideology or party affiliation but rather on what he believes is best for the people of Kansas City. That is precisely how it should be. Walter's longtime friend Paul Uhlmann Jr. captured the essence of the man when he said: ``Walter has had a major effect on life in greater Kansas City. His high offices held, in many diverse organizations, are proof of his ability and of his stature. However, his real work is, in my opinion, his ability to give moral leadership to the not-for-profit marketplace world and intellectual force to problem-solving. ``All the above with a soft voice, a mild and pleasant manner, a bow tie, a firm jaw and an unshakeable faith in our country and its ability to solve its, and maybe the world's, problems.'' A lengthy editorial in a recent edition of the Sunday New York Times decried the fact that the national mood of ``wanting to make the world a better place'' that was so pervasive after Sept. 11, 2001, has largely evaporated. Walter personified and daily lived that credo long before 9/11, and he will continue to do so for the rest of his life. It did not take a monumental national tragedy to light the spark of true community service in this extraordinary human being. As John Bluford, Marjorie Kaplan, Paul Uhlmann and I look objectively at Walter Hiersteiner, almost any adjective we use is not hyperbole; it is understatement. We are so fortunate to have him in our community.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. I rise today with my colleagues from Maryland and Ohio, Congressman Frank Kratovil and Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy, in offering this income verification amendment to H.R. 1728. It is well known that the misrepresentation and the unverified nature of a borrower's income was a contributing factor to the mortgage crisis. Some borrowers purposely misstated or altered their incomes on documents in order to qualify for loans they couldn't afford, and some lenders either ignored or encouraged that practice. Columnist Gretchen Morgenson wrote last year: ``While borrowers may have misrepresented their incomes, either on their own or at the urging of their mortgage brokers, lenders had the tools to identify these fibs before making the loans. All they had to do was ask the IRS.'' Our amendment would require lenders to do this by simply verifying the borrower's income documentation with the IRS. They already have a program to do this, the Income Verification Express Service. This program utilizes IRS tax transcripts to verify a borrower's income within 2 business days, often the same day, for less than $5. This simple step will help catch fraudulent behavior before a lender closes on a loan that a borrower may not be able to afford. In his recent report to Congress, the special investigator inspector general for TARP recommended third-party verification of income like this IRS tax transcript program to prevent fraud. Income verification will strengthen the integrity of our mortgage system by ensuring borrowers receive a loan they can repay, lenders underwrite loans that are less likely to default, investors regain their confidence in the securitization process, and in the case of government-supported loans, taxpayers are protected. I urge my colleagues to support our income verification amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to Congressman Frank Kratovil of Maryland.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. I yield the gentleman 30 additional seconds.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy from Ohio.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my constituent, LCDR James Demott, who will be retiring in June 2009, following a distinguished career serving our country in the United States Navy. LCDR James E. Demott, whose home of record is Westwood, KS, is a 1989 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in August 1991 and reported to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 140, Whidbey Island, WA, flying the EA-6B on worldwide missions. In January 1997, after receiving an NFO to pilot transition, he was designated a Naval Aviator. LCDR Demott's flying tours included duty with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron FOUR, Oklahoma City, OK, from 1997-2000 where he was qualified as an E-6A Aircraft Commander and Deputy for Safety and Training. From 2001-2002 he was assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE as an Aircraft Commander. In 2002, he transferred to Training Squadron TWENTY-SEVEN in Corpus Christi, TX, where he served as an Instructor Pilot, flying the T-34C Mentor, training the finest combat aviators in the world. His leadership helped the squadron garner the prestigious Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award in 2004. From 2005-2007, LCDR Demott was assigned overseas to Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Korea HQ Seoul, South Korea, working Future Plans Operations. In 2007, he moved to Corpus Christi, TX, and was assigned to Training Air Wing FOUR as the Aviation Safety Officer. He has logged over 3000 flight hours in various naval aircraft. LCDR Demott's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, 2 Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medals, 4 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various other unit, campaign and personal awards. Madam Speaker, LCDR Demott's service to his country reflects the best of America, and we are grateful and are honored to recognize him and his family for the sacrifices made over his 20 years of naval service.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 357) supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month 2009, and for other purposes.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert any extraneous material thereon.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes. I would first like to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Illinois, for her good work on the issue of financial literacy. I would also like to recognize my colleague, Mr. Hinojosa, as cofounder and cochair of the Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus and to commend him for his work on this issue. Possessing the skills to make informed financial decisions not only helps American families, but it's important for long-term fiscal soundness. From basic financial tools like balancing a checkbook and making a family budget, to more complex themes such as understanding intricate contracts, everybody can benefit from a little education on financial literacy. As we have seen with the recent housing market problems, for example, too many people are unfamiliar with basic economic concepts needed to make responsible investments. With serious questions about the long- term viability of Social Security, it's clear that we do need to do a better job of educating people about the importance of private retirement savings. Most importantly, however, we must ensure that throughout their regular education, our students have access to programs that promote financial literacy so they can form good money management habits before they inadvertently learn bad ones. Studies show that the percentage of undergraduates with credit cards is rising, while their basic understanding of the terms of these cards is on the decline. We must do something to stem this tide. With responsible money management skills, it is easier for Americans to ride out rough economic times and prosper in times of economic richness. As we face the toughest economic challenge in our country since the Great Depression, it's evident that exercising prudent monetary practice is not a luxury, but a necessity, for all Americans. We need to highlight the need for financial education and understanding. H. Res. 357 supports these goals and the goals of Financial Literacy Month. I couldn't be happier to be a cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I would join my colleague from Illinois in inviting Members to attend this Financial Literacy Day. This is very, very important and I appreciate her mentioning that.

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

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Jane Klein, a member of the Lenexa, Kansas, city council, who died on April 5th. As the District Attorney for Johnson County for twelve years and as U.S. Representative for the Third District of Kansas since 1999, I came to know Jane Klein well. A dedicated public servant and community volunteer, she made the city of Lenexa and Johnson County a better place to live for her friends, neighbors and family members. I am placing in the Record an article published in the Kansas City Star that announced her untimely death and reviewed her achievements as a public servant and concerned citizen. The Star obituary also captures her sense of enthusiasm and effervescent personality, which will be sorely missed by all who knew her. I join with the leaders of the Lenexa community in paying tribute to this energetic, active leader, and with her many friends and family in mourning her loss. [From The Kansas City Star, Apr. 7, 2009] Lenexa City Councilwoman Jane Klein Dies at 70 (By Dawn Bormann) When the forecast called for heavy snow, Lenexa City Councilwoman Jane Klein usually had a crock of chili simmering and cinnamon rolls rising for the street crews. On other days she baked cookies for police officers and often dropped goodies off with firefighters, her children said. Klein--hailed as a Lenexa cheerleader by constituents, political insiders and the rank and file--died Sunday. She was 70. Her death came days before Klein was expected to sail through Election Day unopposed. Instead, supporters, family and friends planned a Tuesday night victory party at a Lenexa watering hole. Klein was a mother to five children, grandmother to nine and great-grandmother to two children. The Irish Catholic woman saw to it that her children knew the importance of giving back to the community. It was easy to learn from the stalwart public servant. She was elected to the council in 2001 and 2005 by the residents of Ward 1 for consecutive four-year terms. She had previously served on the council from 1983 to 1995. Klein had lived in Lenexa for more than 40 years and devoted 20 years to public service as a councilwoman. ``We are deeply saddened by the news of Jane's passing,'' Mayor Mike Boehm said. ``Our community has lost a dear friend and long-time leader. Jane's passion for this city and our citizens was extraordinary; she always had the community's interests at heart in all that she did. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jane's family.'' Klein was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer about six weeks ago. So when the council woman sent word that she wouldn't make it to the city's March 17 meeting some might have assumed that she was too sick. Good friends knew better. ``The heck with the cancer--she was not going to miss St. Patrick's Day,'' said fellow City Councilwoman and friend Diane Linver. ``She was 100 percent Irish and boy you knew it.'' During Klein's tenure, the city moved forward on several projects including City Center, ``rain to recreation'' and road projects like the 87th Street. Knowing public safety was of utmost importance in the suburbs, Klein was an unabashed supporter of the fire and police forces. The councilwoman might have been a strong Irish woman, but she would not engage in divisive politics, Linver said. ``She was never a negative force. You would never hear a negative word come out of her mouth about another city council member,'' Linver said. ``She would find a way to give her opinion but still be the kind and gentle and decent person that she was. We should all emulate that.'' Linver suspects her gentle nature and genuine love of the city were among the reasons that few challengers stepped up to run against Klein. ``People respected her and they knew that she cared about her constituents and she knew so many of them,'' Linver said. Klein was active in many clubs all over town. She volunteered again and again to be the VFW Post 7397 Auxiliary president. She stepped up for church committees and was a Kiwanis Club member. Klein instilled a strong sense of public service in her children, too. As youngsters, they helped sell poppies and often accompanied her on trips to the veterans hospital in Leavenworth. At the holidays they knew there was always room for another. Anyone without family or a place to go for the holidays was instructed to show up at the Klein household. ``We always had an orphan clause,'' said Klein's daughter Susan German. Her work in the community did not go unnoticed. In 2006 Klein received the coveted ``spirit of the chamber'' award from the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce. It was an award she held dear. ``Mom loved Lenexa. She loved serving the people of Lenexa,'' her son, Doug Klein said. ``She loved seeing the city grow.'' Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. with rosary at 8 p.m. Monday at Holy Trinity, 9150 Pflumm Road. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Trinity.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to honor Gardner, Kansas, Mayor Carol Lehman who is stepping down this year after serving for 20 years as mayor. Before being elected mayor, Carol served two years on the City Council. During her time as mayor, Gardner has grown and prospered, no doubt in part because of the wise and stable leadership that Carol provided. Through it all, Gardner retains all the charm of a Midwestern small town, with the advantages of being a short drive from Kansas City. I would like to read into the record Mayor Lehman's recent farewell message to her community. In this message, I know you will see the affection and devotion she feels to Gardner, and will understand how much all of us will miss her common sense, humor, and leadership. It doesn't seem possible I'm writing my last Mayor's message--20 years have gone by in a flash. The advancements we've made in the last 20 years are too numerous to mention, but some do stand out as milestones in our story of growth and change. When metro dialing became available in Gardner, we weren't ``out of town'' anymore and homebuilders started making their way down 1-35. When McDonald's came, we surely thought we had arrived when every child in town could have a happy meal--in their own backyard! New subdivisions began popping up and both the City and the School District realized they had many challenges facing them. The excitement of Country Mart locating in Moonlight Plaza, as our first ``big'' grocery store was only surpassed by Price Chopper becoming a Gardner presence. The construction of TradeNet in Gardner was the first new industry we had seen in years. And finally the arrival of Wal-Mart assured more sales tax dollars would be staying in our community! By adding the departments of Community Development, Public Safety, Finance, and Parks & Recreation to our City Administration team, a new era of professionalism was established. Some noteworthy accomplishments include: designating Hillsdale Lake as the City's water supply, building the new water treatment plant and the new wastewater treatment plant, the expansion of City Hall, donating land to Johnson County for our new library, partnering with our veterans to build Veteran's Park, forming the Economic Development Corporation with the help of local businesses, enhancing the Gardner Greenway Corridor and walking paths, creating the Downtown Enhancement District, Christmas in the Park, widening Center Street, working on future plans of the BNSF Intermodal Logistics Park and anticipating in the future revenue it will generate in our city, county and state, Gardner's fabulous Sesquicentennial Celebration, building Plum Creek Public Safety Station #2, annexing nearly 5,600 acres and experiencing the population explosion--from 4,380 in 1989 to approximately 18,000 today! Most recently, the announcement of a 1.1 million square foot warehouse building in Gardner with the promise of 200 jobs is great news for the City and its residents. I can vividly remember an event that occurred on my birthday in June, 2005. The results of our park sales tax question came in with a resounding Yes, passing by 72%! That was a birthday present to remember! Citizens are now enjoying our fabulous Gardner Aquatics Center and beautiful Celebration Park. The passage of that ballot question emphasized to City leaders how important quality of life is to our families and it also told us that Gardner wants to enjoy leisure time closer to home. The influx of new citizens and young families has been exhilarating-- they have continued to bring, to their new ``home town'', high expectations, and an enthusiasm and brightness which will light Gardner for years to come. It has been heartwarming to see the blend of new and long time citizens in our churches, neighborhoods and civic organizations--working together to make Gardner a quality community. In the last 20 years, there have been bumps in the road, but with each challenge we have been fortunate to have the right people in the right places to guide and advise us. With each disappointment we have learned much, pledged to do better the next time and approached the new day with optimism. Gardner has been blessed with a succession of forward thinking City Council Members and Planning Commissioners. For many years now, the City Council has planned for the future, embraced growth and change and kept the mill levy steady, while at the same time earning the city an A2 bond rating. Together, with a visionary staff whose expertise, professionalism and creativity rates among the best, Gardner has handled our explosive growth well and we will be ready for whatever the future brings. I cannot adequately express to you what an honor and a privilege it has been to be your Mayor, and I humbly thank you. Gardner has always been a town of wonderful people; if I am certain of one thing as the torch is passed, I know the future shines brightly for this town and its residents.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Thank you. After years of irresponsible fiscal and economic policies, we're faced with a financial crisis that's affecting the lives of Americans all across our country. This administration in Congress and our Nation inherited from the previous administration a $5.8 trillion national debt which increased that much over the last 8 years. We're now in the worst recession since the Great Depression. But Congress and the administration are working to develop a realistic plan to put our country back on a fiscally responsible path while making targeted investments and health care and energy research that will reduce future costs and lay the foundation for future economic growth. This budget is not perfect, but it does take several steps, in my mind, that are critical for us to return to the sustainable fiscal path. The budget resolution for the first time makes a good-faith effort to provide us with a true accounting of our Nation's fiscal position and accounts for items that have been left out of the budget for years. Second, the budget goes further than the President's budget in cutting the deficit by two-thirds over the next 4 years. These deficits are still too high, and there is no question that difficult choices need to be made. But we're back on a sustainable fiscal recovery. And third, this budget gives us the best opportunity for reinstituting statutory PAYGO. This budget resolution makes sensible investments in several areas that are key to the long-term health of our Nation, including education, renewable energy technologies, and health care reform. I thank Chairman Spratt for his work on this budget resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on April 24th, the Olathe, Kansas, Human Rights Commission will pay tribute to Alvin Sykes, a tireless crusader for civil rights within the Kansas City metropolitan region, who recently persuaded the U.S. Congress to approve, and President Bush to sign, legislation establishing a permanent ``cold case'' unit in the U.S. Department of Justice to review approximately 100 unsolved murders, including the notorious killing of 14 year old Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955. Both as chairman of the Emmett Till Justice Campaign and as a leader of numerous other struggles for human rights and racial justice in the Kansas City area, Alvin Sykes has received much-deserved national attention for his efforts, as is detailed in two articles from USA Today and wolfmanproductions.com, which I am including with this tribute. I join with the Olathe Human Rights Commission in paying tribute to this important leader within the Kansas City community and I know that all members of the U.S. House of Representatives join with me in celebrating this tireless activist for social justice. [From USA Today] Perseverance Pays Off for Civil Rights Activist (By Laura Parker) Washington.--Alvin Sykes holds none of the standard credentials to wield influence in the power corridors of this political city. He is a 51-year-old high school dropout with no steady job. Yet senators listen to him. Prosecutors return his calls. As a self-made civil rights activist, Sykes persuaded the Justice Department to re-investigate the 1955 slaying of 14- year-old Emmett Till, and he deserves a fair share of the credit for the department's recent decision to review as many as 100 old murders in 14 states. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced the investigation as Congress prepares to vote on a bill that would set up a permanent cold case unit in the Justice Department to probe those old crimes. Last year, Sykes, as chairman of the Emmett Till Justice Campaign, persuaded his then-home-state senator, Jim Talent, R-Mo., to introduce the bill. Since then, Sykes and other civil rights leaders have helped sell it. Although Talent lost his seat in last fall's election, the bill--which authorizes $11.5 million to fund the unit--has new sponsors and has gained momentum in both houses and parties. ``He reflects the spirit of the civil rights movement, where ordinary people found a way to make a difference,'' says Brenda Jones, spokeswoman for Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., whose beating during a protest march through Selma, Ala., in 1965 helped propel the Voting Rights Act through Congress. Lewis is sponsoring the House version of the Till bill. Sykes is described by those who know him as tenacious and informed. ``He's a very pragmatic man,'' says Donald Burger, a retired Justice Department mediator who met Sykes in the 1970s during battles to desegregate Kansas City, Mo., schools. U.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee of Mississippi's northern district in Oxford had never heard of Sykes when Sykes asked him in 2004 to reopen the Till case. The case was legendary. Most of the principals were dead or old and in poor health. The statute of limitations on applicable federal laws had expired. Only state charges related to murder or manslaughter remained possible. Sykes arrived in Oxford armed with a legal argument that laid out why the FBI had jurisdiction to proceed with a new federal probe. ``He was extremely informed and very logically presented why it should be looked into,'' Greenlee says. Sykes grew up poor and sickly in Kansas City, the product of a 14-year-old mother and a father he never knew. ``When I first met him, he was in his casket,'' Sykes says of his father. ``I was 27.'' Prone to schoolyard fights, Sykes dropped out of school in the ninth grade. Although he once dreamed of becoming a lawyer, he got most of his education from the public library. To support himself, Sykes found a job managing a local R&B band, Threatening Weather. After campaigning to desegregate Kansas City schools, he helped persuade Missouri legislators to lower the age of jurors from 21 to 18, thus widening the pool of potential jurors. He also persuaded the Justice Department to re-investigate the mysterious death of a black teenager in Kansas City in 1985. Although the report was inconclusive, the federal involvement helped calm local residents, who had been skeptical of the local police investigation, Burger says. He adds: ``That would never have happened if it hadn't been for Alvin.'' Sykes' major achievement involved the 1980 murder of a local jazz musician named Steve Harvey, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat. The man charged with the murder had been acquitted. Sykes thumbed through library law books and found an obscure federal statute that essentially said a person couldn't be deprived of his use of a public facility because of race. Using contacts he had made at the Justice Department during the school desegregation struggle, Sykes contacted Richard Roberts, the attorney in the civil rights division who was looking into the Harvey case. ``He said, `Send me everything you've got,' '' Sykes says. In 1983, Roberts won the conviction of Raymond Bledsoe on federal civil rights violation charges. He is now serving a life sentence. ``He didn't just call once,'' says Roberts, now a federal district judge in Washington, D.C. ``Ordinarily, people who want to know about a case will go to their local U.S. attorney. I was struck by the fact that Sykes did not rest with that. He pressed forward with more research on his own. His questions to me were pointed and showed someone who had done his homework.'' The murder of young Emmett Till, who was killed in Mississippi after whistling at a white woman in a store, galvanized the civil rights movement. Although Till's killers were known--Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam were acquitted a month after Till's death and later confessed in an interview with Look magazine--subsequent investigations centered on whether the men acted alone. Trial testimony suggested that Bryant's then-wife might have been with her husband and brother-in-law when Till was abducted. Sykes pored over library law books and consulted with his Justice Department contacts. They steered him to a 1976 opinion by Antonin Scalia, then an assistant attorney general and now a Supreme Court justice, that gave the federal government jurisdiction to conduct further investigation into President Kennedy's assassination. The same opinion was used to investigate Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder. ``Even if the statute of limitations had run out, it meant that there could be an investigation for Till,'' Sykes says. A Mississippi grand jury last month declined to indict Bryant's ex-wife, Carolyn Bryant Donham. To Sykes, that doesn't mean the end of the Till case. He says he made that promise to Till's mother, Mamie Till Mobley, before she died in 2003. The FBI has compiled 8,000 pages of notes and interviews. Now Sykes wants the Justice Department to publish a report of the investigation. ``I made that pledge to Mrs. Mobley before she died that we would get the truth out,'' he says. [From wolfmanproductions.com] Alvin Sykes: Self-Made Civil Rights Activist Alvin Sykes holds none of the standard credentials to wield influence in the power corridors of Washington, D.C. He is not a lobbyist or an attorney, nor did he graduate from a prestigious college. In fact, he is a high school dropout. Yet senators listen to him. Prosecutors return his calls. As a self-made civil rights activist, Sykes persuaded the Justice Department to re-investigate the 1955 slaying of 14- year-old Emmett Till, and he deserves a fair share of the credit for the department's recent decision to review as many as 100 old murders in 14 states. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced the investigation as Congress prepares to vote on a bill that would set up a permanent cold case unit in the Justice Department to probe those old crimes. Last year, Sykes, as chairman of the Emmett Till Justice Campaign, persuaded his then-home-state senator, Jim Talent, R-Mo., to introduce the bill. Since then, Sykes and other civil rights leaders have helped sell it. Although Talent lost his seat in last fall's election, the bill--which authorizes $11.5 million to fund the unit--has new sponsors and has gained momentum in both houses and parties. ``He reflects the spirit of the civil rights movement, where ordinary people found a way to make a difference,'' says Brenda Jones, spokeswoman for Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., whose beating during a protest march through Selma, Ala., in 1965 helped propel the Voting Rights Act through Congress. Lewis is sponsoring the House version of the Till bill. Sykes is described by those who know him as tenacious and informed. ``He's a very pragmatic man,'' says Donald Burger, a retired Justice Department mediator who met Sykes in the 1970s during battles to desegregate Kansas City, Mo., schools. U.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee of Mississippi's northern district in Oxford had never heard of Sykes when Sykes asked him in 2004 to reopen the Till case. The case was legendary. Most of the principals were dead or old and in poor health. The statute of limitations on applicable federal laws had expired. Only state charges related to murder or manslaughter remained possible. Sykes arrived in Oxford armed with a legal argument that laid out why the FBI had jurisdiction to proceed with a new federal probe. ``He was extremely informed and very logically presented why it should be looked into,'' Greenlee says. Sykes grew up poor and sickly in Kansas City, the product of a 14-year-old mother and a father he never knew. ``When I first met him, he was in his casket,'' Sykes says of his father. ``I was 27.'' Prone to schoolyard fights, Sykes dropped out of school in the ninth grade. Although he once dreamed of becoming a lawyer, he got most of his education from the public library. To support himself, Sykes found a job managing a local R&B band, Threatening Weather. After campaigning to desegregate Kansas City schools, he helped persuade Missouri legislators to lower the age of jurors from 21 to 18, thus widening the pool of potential jurors. He also persuaded the Justice Department to re- investigate the mysterious death of a black teenager in Kansas City in 1985. Although the report was inconclusive, the federal involvement helped calm local residents, who had been skeptical of the local police investigation, Burger says. He adds: ``That would never have happened if it hadn't been for Alvin.'' Sykes' major achievement involved the 1980 murder of a local jazz musician named Steve Harvey, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat. The man charged with the murder had been acquitted. Sykes thumbed through library law books and found an obscure federal statute that essentially said a person couldn't be deprived of his use of a public facility because of race. Using contacts he had made at the Justice Department during the school desegregation struggle, Sykes contacted Richard Roberts, the attorney in the civil rights division who was looking into the Harvey case. ``He said, `Send me everything you've got,' '' Sykes says. In 1983, Roberts won the conviction of Raymond Bledsoe on federal civil rights violation charges. He is now serving a life sentence. ``He didn't just call once,'' says Roberts, now a federal district judge in Washington, D.C. ``Ordinarily, people who want to know about a case will go to their local U.S. attorney. I was struck by the fact that Sykes did not rest with that. He pressed forward with more research on his own. His questions to me were pointed and showed someone who had done his homework.'' The murder of young Emmett Till, who was killed in Mississippi after whistling at a white woman in a store, galvanized the civil rights movement. Although Till's killers were known--Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam were acquitted a month after Till's death and later confessed in an interview with Look magazine--subsequent investigations centered on whether the men acted alone. Trial testimony suggested that Bryant's then-wife might have been with her husband and brother-in-law when Till was abducted. Sykes pored over library law books and consulted with his Justice Department contacts. They steered him to a 1976 opinion by Antonin Scalia, then an assistant attorney general and now a Supreme Court justice, that gave the federal government jurisdiction to conduct further investigation into President Kennedy's assassination. The same opinion was used to investigate Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder. ``Even if the statute of limitations had run out, it meant that there could be an investigation for Till,'' Sykes says. A Mississippi grand jury last month declined to indict Bryant's ex-wife, Carolyn Bryant Donham. To Sykes, that doesn't mean the end of the Till case. He says he made that promise to Till's mother, Mamie Till Mobley, before she died in 2003. The FBI has compiled 8,000 pages of notes and interviews. Now Sykes wants the Justice Department to publish a report of the investigation. ``I made that pledge to Mrs. Mobley before she died that we would get the truth out,'' he says.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for this very important resolution. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's principal objective is to foster mutual understanding among Alliance parliamentarians of the key security challenges facing the transatlantic partnership. This organization provides a critical forum for international dialogue on an array of security, political and economic matters. I am honored to represent the United States as a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a group of bipartisan lawmakers representing all NATO countries who regularly meet to discuss matters of crucial importance, I believe it's crucial and critical to the United States' interests at home and abroad to maintain a solid line of communication with our neighbors in the global community. That's why, Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be part of our country's NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation, and I will continue to do my part to foster greater communications and cooperation. Now more than ever, we must support efforts to build relationships between nations so that we can work together to address the issues that affect our entire world.