Jim Marshall

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I had originally planned to talk about something else altogether, but it's the nature of the debate that causes me to simply say I do view this as a bailout of sorts, but it's not a bailout for the borrowers, it's not a bailout for the lenders. If you understand the bill, you understand that actually the deals that the borrowers get are not particularly good. The deals that the lenders get are not particularly good. This is intended, if it works, as a bailout generally for all those innocent homeowners and taxpayers who have been dragged into this mess in part, because of our failure to regulate previously, in part because of the incompetence, virtually, the pitiful performance the of the rating agencies. As a result, an awful lot of people, and our economy, are being hurt. I view, this personally, as a bailout for the economy, with an incidental effect of avoiding foreclosures in individual cases--and that's nice. It's nice to help people out--but I am not voting for this thing because it's helping individuals out and happens to help a few lenders out. It's not a bailout for those folks. In my view it's a bailout for the entire economy and all of these people that have been dragged into it.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. I would also like to clarify what sort of trial would be involved in this process. Am I correct in my understanding that under the bill being debated, if this judicial process in any way involves classified information, the classified portion of the trial would be conducted by a judge without a jury; the judge would privately inspect, but not reveal, classified information relevant to the case; and that the process would be limited to the in camera ex parte procedures already outlined in FISA?

Mr. MARSHALL. I thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, may I engage the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee for purposes of a colloquy.

Mr. MARSHALL. I would like to clarify some elements of the process to be established under title II of the bill we debate today. Title II of the bill would assist the telecommunications carriers in dealing with the civil lawsuits they currently face by permitting them to use classified information in defense of claims against them. I want to be clear that any review of classified information would only take place in the judge's chambers without the plaintiffs or their representatives present. The bill requires the judge to follow the procedures in section 106(f) of FISA. Am I correct in my understanding that section 106(f) of FISA requires that the review of any classified information must take place in camera and ex parte and that such classified information must remain secret, that it is not to be disclosed to the plaintiffs, their representatives or any others except those authorized to receive such information by virtue of their security clearances?

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to honor Dr. W. Joe Lewis of Tifton, GA, on the occasion of his selection as a recipient of the 2008 Wolf Foundation Prize in Agriculture. This prize is given annually to recognize the achievements of outstanding scientists in six fields and comes with a $100,000 award. Dr. Lewis is being honored by the Wolf Foundation for his key role in discovering mechanisms governing plant-insect and plant-plant interactions. His scientific contributions have greatly assisted the development of an ecologically sound approach to integrated pest management and have helped to advance agricultural sustainability worldwide. Madam Speaker, this award is just one example of Dr. Lewis's scientific contributions. Long recognized as a leader in the field of research entomology, his work has been featured in more than 200 scientific publications and highlighted on a number of broadcast programs. Dr. Lewis is often sought out by others for his knowledge and experience, and has mentored numerous students and scientists who are now making their mark on the world through their own scientific contributions. Although recognized for his achievements, Dr. Lewis began life humbly as a sharecropper's son in Mississippi. His college studies led him into entomology and eventually brought him to Georgia. From 1967 until his retirement in 2006, Dr. Lewis was a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Tifton, Georgia, and also held adjunct faculty positions with both the University of Georgia and the University of Florida. In his time with the USDA, the Secretary of Agriculture promoted him to supergrade rank, and his numerous grant awards included $4.3 million to explore the possibility of training insects as biological detectors. Dr. Lewis has also been active in civic and community affairs. For more than a decade, he has served as the vice mayor of Tifton, GA. Previously, he served as a member of the city council and was involved with his community's downtown development and historic preservation. He also served on the board of elections, planning and zoning, and mental health services. Madam Speaker, I am confident my colleagues will join me in recognizing the scientific and civic achievements of this great Georgian and American.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College as it marks 100 years since its doors first opened for classes. The school, which is known throughout Georgia as ABAC, has grown from a high school with three instructors and 27 students to more than 3,600 students with a reputation as one of the Nation's 10 best community colleges. Located in Tifton, GA, the school is the product of a 1906 Georgia law that established a district agricultural high school in each of Georgia's congressional districts. Mr. H.H. Tift successfully led an effort to secure the school for Tifton, which outbid other area cities. The school--originally named The Second District A&M School--opened its doors on February 20, 1908. Madam Speaker, students received a high school education that let them go on to careers in farming, business and medicine, but as education improved in rural areas, the State saw the need for a men's senior State college in South Georgia. In 1924, the school began the transition from a high school curriculum to a college program as the South Georgia A&M College. This would be the first of several changes to the school's name and purpose. The biggest change came in the midst of the Great Depression in 1933, when the college's focus was narrowed to just agriculture and home economics and it was renamed the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to honor a Georgia signer of the United States Constitution. Madam Speaker, the school's focus has expanded over the years and now includes 57 diverse programs of study, including bachelor of applied science degrees in diversified agriculture and in turfgrass and golf course management. ABAC's programs in turfgrass and golf course management have been cited as some of the best in North America, and the college has also been recognized for its top marks in student-facility interaction and academic challenge. Madam Speaker, I am confident my colleagues will join me in honoring ABAC for its 100 years of service to Georgia's students.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 1151, H.R. 1585, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, In inadvertently failed to record my vote. But for this oversight, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. I thank the gentleman for the time. Madam Speaker, it is a real pleasure today to be here to recognize the achievement of the Warner Robins Little League team in winning the Little League World Series. An awful lot of people in Congress, including myself, watch those games, and it was a joy to do so and sort of relive my childhood, since baseball was my sport when I was a kid. I couldn't play baseball like those kids play baseball, but I still played baseball. It is truly the national pastime, and I would say to the kids that were so successful at this particular venture, and all other kids that play sports, that sports are a very important thing in your lives and you should try and do as well as you can when you're playing a game, be good sports, recognize that you're not always going to win, certainly treat the losers as the Warner Robins team did the Tokyo team, and then carry that same sort of spirit throughout our life, the same kind of drive, the interest in perfection, the commitment to doing your absolute best, and apply that in your school work, in the work that you eventually engage in as your vocation. Don't get fixated on sports. Sports is a great, great thing for kids, and all kids should play sports. Don't be couch potatoes. Don't be just sitting there in front of a computer and playing computer games. Play sports, stay healthy, but then take what you learn on the field and apply it every single day. If you do that, you will wind up being successful in life. Madam Speaker, I would like to basically read the resolution. It congratulates the Warner Robins Little League baseball team from Warner Robins, Georgia, in my district, on winning the 2007 Little League World Series Championship. This occurred on August 26, 2007, when the Warner Robins Little League team defeated the Tokyo Little League team by a score of 3-2 in a very exciting game. Madam Speaker, I want to specifically congratulate the team players: Hunt Smith; Taylor Lay; David Umphreyville, Jr.; Nick Martens; Zane Conlon; Micah Wells; Dalton Carriker; Kendall Scott; Clint Wynn; Payton Purvis; Hunter Jackson; and Keaton Allen; and also the Manager, Mickey Lay; Coach, Mike Smith; Team Mother, Robin Smith; and President, Roman Jones. I want to congratulate also the parents. It is an awfully big commitment for parents to make to see your kids through these kinds of athletic activities. Very, very few kids get to have the experience of winning a championship like this, but all kids are benefited from participating in sports. Madam Speaker, the resolution goes on to resolve that the House of Representatives congratulates the Warner Robins Little League baseball team from Warner Robins, Georgia, on winning the 2007 Little League World Series Championship, and respectfully requests that the Clerk of the House transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the City of Warner Robins and to each player, manager and coach of the Warner Robins Little League baseball team. To the extent that the Clerk needs help doing that, I am happy to offer my assistance.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 552) calling on the Government of the People's Republic of China to remove barriers to United States financial services firms doing business in China.

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

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I would ask to insert into the Record three letters that we have received in support of this legislation. One letter comes from Engage China dated September 4, 2007. Engage China is a consortium which includes these organizations: The American Banker's Association, the American Council of Life Insurers, American Insurance Association, The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, Bankers Association for Finance and Trade, Financial Services Forum, Financial Services Roundtable, Investment Company Institutes, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. The second letter, also dated September 4, comes from The Financial Services Forum; and the third letter, dated August 31, comes from The Investment Company Institute. September 4, 2007. Hon. Barney Frank, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Hon. Spencer Bachus, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Hon. Jim Marshall, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. Hon. Peter Roskam, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Frank, Ranking Member Bachus, Congressman Marshall, and Congressman Roskam: As Chairman of the Engage China coalition, I write to applaud the focus on the critical importance of expanded access to China's financial sector in H. Res. 552. As members of the House Financial Services Committee, your leadership on this crucial issue is greatly appreciated. Engage China is a coalition of eight financial services trade associations united in our view that active engagement with China remains the most constructive means of ensuring that our two nations mutually benefit from our growing economic relationship, and that common challenges are effectively addressed. The coalition is strongly of the view that a more open, competitive, and effective financial sector in China is a prerequisite to successfully addressing issues that have complicated the U.S.-China economic relationship-- particularly currency reform and the trade imbalance. For example, access to sophisticated derivative products and hedging techniques will help Chinese banks, securities firms, and other businesses avoid the risks of a more volatile, market-determined currency. Similarly, financial products and services such as mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, pensions, and retirement savings and insurance products--to which most Chinese currently do not have access--would dramatically reduce the need for excessive savings and facilitate greater consumption. The fastest way for China to develop the modern financial system it needs is to import it--that is, by opening its financial sector to greater participation by foreign financial services firms. By providing the products and services that China's citizens and businesses need to save, invest, insure against risk, raise standards of living, and consume at higher levels, foreign financial institutions (including U.S. providers) would help create what every U.S. manufacturer and services provider wants--a China that is less dependent on exports, more consumption-driven and, therefore, an enormously important and expanding market for American products and services. Thank you for your work on this important issue. We very much appreciate your interest in opening China's financial sector to greater participation by U.S. financial services firms. We look forward to working with the Committee and the rest of the Congress to ensure expanded financial market access in China and other emerging markets. Sincerely, Rob Nichols, President and COO, Financial Services Forum, Chairman, Engage China Coalition.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Chairman, to the remarks made by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam), I would simply add that the Chinese economy at the moment is not very diverse. It's actually fairly fragile. It's quite large, but it's way too dependent upon manufacturing and the consumption of others, not its own consumers, but consumers throughout the world. If there's a downturn elsewhere in the world, it dramatically impacts the Chinese economy. And it is not in the interest of the globe, frankly, to have an economy that's as large as China's and as fragile as China's. So from our own economic perspective, it's good to cause the Chinese market to diversify. In addition, as it stands now in China, there is a very thin middle class. The availability of American financial products can help expand the size of that middle class. And it is middle classes that head governments in good directions, that insist that governments be responsible and responsive to the people, that head governments more toward being democratic governments. So there's another reason that this is a very wise move, not only for the United States, but also for the Chinese Government. I yield such time as he might consume to the chairman of the committee, who does a great job as our chairman, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to Chairman Frank of Massachusetts.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to just take this opportunity to make an observation. This is absolutely the right thing to do. A deal is a deal. It is not a one-way street. We give accommodations; they agree to accommodations in exchange. They have got to live up to the accommodations that they have, in fact, agreed upon. If they don't, we need to take some action. But I do want to not associate myself enthusiastically with one aspect of the arguments in favor of this, and that is that somehow we have got to turn the Chinese into better consumers. No question improving consumption can lead to some of the benefits that we have already discussed. But also adding another billion heavy consumers here and another billion heavy consumers there may not necessarily be in our best interest from a global perspective, and somehow we have got to find a balance here. It is clear there is a large swath of the Chinese populace that could use some of the financial tools that we could make readily available to them and, as a result, wind up moving into the middle class. It is certainly something we should support and encourage. But, frankly, that the Chinese save a lot is not necessarily a terribly bad thing. I think we all agree that Americans don't save enough and too many Americans get into trouble as a result of the fact that they don't save enough. Credit is not so wonderful for all, and somehow there needs to be a balance that is reached in our effort to improve the globe.

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

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today as co-Chair of the Air Force Caucus to honor Lieutenant General Donald J. Wetekam, Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics, for his long and exceptionally distinguished military career. General Wetekam entered the Air Force in June 1973 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. A career logistics officer, Don has commanded three maintenance squadrons, a logistics group and a logistics center. He has served staff tours at both major command and Air Staff levels, and served as Chairman, Army and Air Force Exchange Service Board of Directors. General Wetekam was responsible for leadership, management and integration of Air Force civil engineering, security forces, logistics readiness, supply, transportation, and aircraft and missile maintenance, as well as setting policy and preparing budget estimates that reflect enhancements to productivity, combat readiness and quality of life for Air Force people. Most importantly for the state of Georgia, General Wetekam served as Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB from 2002- 2004. I watched as he created an excellent team atmosphere that led to use of LEAN and the introduction of unprecedented efficiencies at Robins. This model was the precursor to such efficiencies throughout the Air Force, culminating with Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO 21). Finally, Madam Speaker, I should note for the record that, although he has received numerous military awards, Don's Blues Brothers imitation is rumored to be quite special. A mutual friend told me it's the best he's ever seen, particularly the dance routine in ``the very small, black pants.'' But that same friend added that he'd seen the routine twice, which was ``to be honest, one time too many.'' So I'd guess Don's second career won't stray too far from his current day job. No doubt he will maintain his interest in running and NASCAR. He and his wonderful wife Sherrie are community-oriented folks who are involved in various charities. I hope they settle in Middle Georgia where they will always be welcome. If they do, I'll run with Don, maybe catch some NASCAR but certainly skip the Blues Brothers.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure I rise today to honor Eunice Lastinger Mixon for her continuing contributions to the City of Tifton, Tift County and the State of Georgia. Those accomplishments will be celebrated today with the establishment of the Eunice Lastinger Mixon Scholarship at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Mrs. Mixon is affectionately known by her friends and colleagues as ``Miss Eunice'' and has spent her life in service to others. She has been described as a ``joiner'' and her many hours of service in a wide range of organizations justifies that description. In addition to the 30 years ``Miss Eunice'' spent teaching in the Tift County schools and helping her husband, Albert Mixon, run their farm, she also served with the Georgia Civil War Commission, including an appointment as chairman, served on the Board of Directors for the Tift County Library and was one of only a handful of non-attorneys to hold an appointment with the Georgia State Bar Association. Ms. Eunice continues to make innumerable contributions to the community through her service on the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the Georgia Agrirama Foundation Board, the Democratic Party State Committee and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Miss Eunice's presence fills whatever room she enters or whatever group she joins. She cares deeply and passionately for others, particularly the least among us. Few Americans have provided a better example of service to others. Madam Speaker, I am confident my colleagues will join me in recognizing the accomplishments of this great Georgian and great American.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate the job that you and the ranking member and the staff and members of the committee have done in putting this bill together. It is an appropriate balance. Madam Chairman, the bill appropriately balances the needs of all of our branches and all of the different defense needs that we have, both present and future, whether it's in space or land or air or on the water. What I want to particularly mention is that part of the bill that contemplates the kinds of conflicts that we are likely to have in the future and how we need to organize ourselves to better address those conflicts. We have found, with our experience in Afghanistan and Iraq most recently, but historically with our experience in Vietnam, that our conventional force has a very difficult time dealing with the kind of conflicts that we are seeing in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the kind of conflict that we saw in Vietnam. In Vietnam and today, we learned lessons, and those lessons are reflected in some of the things that we have in the committee's report and in the bill itself. We contemplate, for example, that in the Special Operations Command, more emphasis will be placed upon special forces and building partner capacity and developing partnerships globally that can enable us to work effectively with indigenous populations since, frankly, those indigenous populations are the ones that are going to have to be principally responsible for security issues within those countries. We are in a new era here across the globe. Angry individuals have access to information that can enable them to develop very lethal weapons. Robert Wright describes this as the ``growing lethality of hatred.'' It's a new era. It requires a new approach. I think this bill heads in that direction, and I expect over the future years will head even more in that direction. That approach has to involve effective partnerships with security forces worldwide to keep an eye out for the kinds of threats that can be brought home to the United States. I thank the gentleman for his leadership.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Ross, you are wonderful to do these hour-long Blue Dog sessions here to give people an idea what Blue Dogs are all about as far as fiscal responsibility is concerned. I think you and Mr. Pomeroy give me a little too much credit. If you label somebody a Ranger, it reminds me of the joke about the Ranger library down in Eglin Air Force Base having burned down. That was the bad news. The good news was that both books were already colored in. We don't expect our Rangers to be particularly good at math or education subjects, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there has been an awful lot of waste in Iraq. It is not just waste on our side; we excessively rely upon contractors. I think we have moved too far in that direction, and we limit our capacity within our own military forces to provide services that ought to be provided by military folks and could be provided by military folks at a much lesser expense to the taxpayer. Spending less, stretching your dollars means you are going to be more effective at whatever you are doing, and that includes an effort like Iraq. I think we have inappropriately moved too far in the direction of relying upon contractors. That is one thing. The other place where we have seen dramatic waste is on the Iraqi side. The American taxpayers and the American people with their sons and their daughters who are in this war and in harm's way at risk of being killed or being severely harmed expect that the Iraqi people and the Iraqi Government will step up and do its part. We all know that this is something that cannot be won by an American conventional force. We are not simply going to go in and raze whole villages to force people to comply with us and our view of the way things ought to be. The local population has to deal with the security situation in Iraq. We can help and we must help or they will be unsuccessful, but we can't succeed without them. Our Iraq accountability legislation specifically provides that further assistance and support to the Iraqi people should be conditioned upon the Iraqi Government stepping up and meeting its share of the partnership. If the Iraqi people choose to do that, and obviously they have problems among themselves, far greater problems than Democrats and Republicans have here in the United States House of Representatives, and we often have a hard time coming together here in the House of Representatives, so it is not surprising that Sunni and Shiite and Kurds in Iraq are having a similarly difficult time, a more difficult time coming together and reconciling with one another so they can appropriately organize to address the internal security threats that they face. We can't force them to reconcile. We can't force them to build the institutions that they need to spend their oil money effectively and addressing the security threat. We can't force them to address the security threat. So in the partnership here in many ways we can help them, but there are things they must be doing. And as part of the financial accountability picture that Blue Dogs feel so strongly about, we have to add accountability of our partners. The Iraqi people are our partners. The Iraqi Government is our partner, and our partners need to be accountable for their side of the deal here or this is not going to come out well for the Iraqi people, the Middle East, or the United States. I appreciate the opportunity to voice my opinion with regard to that particular issue. I appreciate what the Blue Dogs do as far as debt is concerned and highlighting something our country should be very concerned about. They say that if there is a moral or ethical obligation one generation has to the next generation, it is to leave the world in at least as good a state as that generation found it when we pass it to the next generation. What we ought to be trying to do is make it a better world; and in so many different ways this generation is failing that ethical or moral responsibility to the next generation, and the amount of debt that we are adding to their shoulders is one of those ways. Mr. Ross, I appreciate what you do for the Blue Dogs and for the Congress of the United States.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to address the House on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the creation of SOCOM. And today we not only pat ourselves on the back for having created SOCOM, but at the same time, we honor and recognize all of those military personnel for SOCOM who have done so much for this country over the years. Twenty years seems like a long time, but in the course of history it is not a very long time. And if you think about all of the engagements that we have had in recent years and the challenges that we likely face as a country over the next few decades, SOCOM is going to be around with us for quite some time. And it brings to the table capacities that we vitally need. Our experience in Iraq shows us that we simply cannot compel indigenous societies to do what we wish them to do. We have got to persuade them to work with us to bring peace and security, not only for their countries but throughout the world. And in order to do that, our special forces, part of SOCOM, are extraordinarily effective. We have direct action operators, and then we have indirect action. Direct action is us, in a very sophisticated way, doing what we need to do to affirmatively address with military force, kinetic force, problems that we perceive, and SOCOM is very, very effective at delivering direct action. But there is also the indirect action. The ability of special forces to work with indigenous populations to get them on our side, if that is the right term, and to persuade them to develop their capacity to provide security for themselves, which in turn provides security for us. We all recognize that, in this new era where there is a growing lethality of hatred, where one or two or a small group of individuals located somewhere in the world can obtain things that are very, very deadly, dangerous to the United States and the Western world, and deliver them to us, in an era in which individuals can do this worldwide, we have got to be able to network. We have got to be able to create effective Security Forces among indigenous populations, and special forces brings that kind of capability to the table. So I expect we will grow SOCOM. I expect SOCOM will be in the future a very important part of our Nation's defense. I thank all of the men and women in SOCOM for the great service they have provided and congratulate SOCOM on its 20th anniversary.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, we are debating today a nonbinding resolution to disapprove the Iraqi-American military surge in Baghdad. We do so knowing Congress cannot manage a war, let alone micromanage one. We do so knowing the surge has begun, and we will continue despite our debate and vote. We do so hoping our debate will not discourage those called upon to execute the surge, but we also do so knowing that it might. Mr. Speaker, that is enough for me to oppose the resolution. I will vote ``no'' on the anti-surge resolution, despite the fact that for 3 years now I have consistently contended that we should have fewer troops in Iraq, not more. Clearly, the surge is inconsistent with my general view with how to make our effort in Iraq sustainable and winnable. But the anti-surge resolution is akin to sitting on the sidelines booing in the middle of our own team's play because we don't like the coach's call. I cannot join mid-play naysaying that might discourage even one of those engaged in this current military effort in Baghdad. To those soldiers and marines who are engaged, I would say the following. Don't be discouraged by this debate and vote. It is birthed by the very democracy that you are defending. If you are successful, Iraqis may one day enjoy the same right to debate and vote like we are debating and voting. If they do, they may well look back at you as having birthed that right for them. Nearly 40 years ago, I was a grunt platoon sergeant in Vietnam, a kid who dropped out of college and enlisted specifically to go to Vietnam. And at the very time that I was fighting insurgents in Vietnam, our country was torn by antiwar protests and debate. I didn't worry about that. You should not either. I didn't let it discourage me. You should not let it discourage you. You should simply do your duty and be proud of the fact that you have done it. Do it to the best of your ability. I made tons of mistakes, failed many, many times to do what I should have done. But do what you can to discharge your duty on behalf of the country and let others, the President and the Congress, debate what that duty actually is. There are legitimate differences of opinion in the United States among the leadership concerning the best way forward in Iraq, how to get to the best possible result. Don't worry about that. No doubt you have your own ideas. I certainly did when I was in Vietnam. While in combat in Vietnam, I was convinced that the tactics that we were using needed to be dramatically changed. But, nevertheless, I continued to do the best I could as I was instructed to do. I gave a eulogy for Sergeant Victor Anderson of the Georgia National Guard about 2 years ago, 39 years old, disqualified because of diabetes when the National Guard was called up. He fought his disqualification, he went to Iraq. The week before he died, hit by an IED, he saw some of his men killed. He sent an e-mail back to his family. In that e-mail, he explained this, people ask me why I fight. I do not fight for some ideology. I fight for that man to my left and the one to my right. They are men of their honor. When called, they responded and did their duty. They did not run away. If you believe in nothing else, believe in them. It is that kind of spirit that I hope you have. I hope, in fact, that I can look at you when you come back from Iraq and be as proud of you as I am of so many others who have fought for us in Iraq and elsewhere. I am a good bit older. It has been 40 years since I was in combat. When I look back at combat, I remember the things that I failed. I forget the things that went particularly well. Don't fail, do as well as you can. Don't be discouraged by this debate, and we will continue to have additional debates. There will be laws, et cetera, passed. Just do your duty as best you can.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I didn't know Charlie well; I only met Charlie once before I came to Congress and then had a few occasions to work with him in Congress. I certainly knew his reputation. He was a great advocate for veterans and a great advocate for patients' rights and, on some subjects, willing to buck his leadership in order to advance the cause of patients' rights, and it was something I appreciated a great deal. As Charlie grew sicker, from time to time I would seek him out on the floor and ask him how he was doing. He was always upbeat about it, he was always positive about it. He was never down and sad. He would be very frank about what he was able to do and where he was and what his challenges were, but he was always positive about his circumstances. His circumstance was awful, as everybody knows. He fought this disease for years and gradually grew worse, and we were all worried about him. So one of the things I did just trying to get to know Charlie a little better is I went to his Web site and looked up a little bit about him, and was struck by the description that I found of his military service in Vietnam. And I thought I would like to just read that; and many people who are watching this won't have an opportunity to hear this about Charlie, though everybody knows, I think, that he served in the military. But specifically during his tour in Vietnam, Charlie Norwood participated in experimental military dental practices that became standard procedure for the Armed Forces after the war. He was one of the first participants in the Army outreach program to deliver dentists to forward fire bases in lieu of transferring patients to rear treatment areas. I am not sure if the rest of the dentists and the doctors appreciated that very much; it meant that you were going into harm's way a little bit more than they otherwise would. Norwood also provided some of the first field-based dental treatment of military guard dogs, and assisted in nondental trauma care in Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals, MASH, units. In recognition of his service under combat conditions, he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge and two Bronze Stars. After Vietnam, he was assigned to the Dental Corps at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he served until his discharge in 1969. Norwood was awarded the Association of the Army's Cocklin Award in 1998, and was inducted into the Association's Audie Murphy Society in 1999. He remained a lifelong member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Military Order of the World Wars. Charlie's family should be very proud of Charlie Norwood. As Charlie Norwood was slowly struggling with the disease that took his life, he had to look back on his life and realize that he helped an awful lot of people in a very positive way. We will miss him.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to General Robert E. Lee in celebration of the bicentennial of his birthday. A U.S. war hero, Lee has been lauded by past presidents and historians and as one of our nation's greatest men and greatest generals. His birthday has been celebrated in Georgia as a state holiday since 1889 and the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will be marking the occasion this year with a birthday celebration at the Georgia State Capitol. It is my pleasure to also recognize this event within our nation's Capitol. Robert Edward Lee was born on January 19, 1807, in Virginia to parents who played instrumental in some of our country's early history. Lee also dedicated himself to his country--graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and accepting a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lee's first assignment was in Georgia, where he supervised the construction of Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island. While Lee is probably best remembered as a commanding officer in the Confederate States Army, he also played a key role in defending our country during the Mexican-American War, protecting settlers on the Texas frontier and educating future leaders as superintendent of West Point. Following the Civil War, Lee accepted a position as president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. As president, Lee worked to rebuild the war-ravaged South and stressed the importance of moving forward as a nation of united Americans. Lee also is credited with transforming the college, which has since been renamed Washington and Lee University, into one of the nation's finest institutions of higher education. Lee continued to serve as president of Washington College until his death on October 12, 1870. Years later during the unveiling of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Statue, President Franklin D. Roosevelt would call Lee ``one of our greatest American Christians and one of our greatest American gentlemen.'' Madam Speaker, I am confident my colleagues will join me in recognizing the accomplishments of this great American.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 14 on H.R. 1, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I should have voted ``no.''