Thad McCotter

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, as a husband, as a father, as a former child, I respect very much what we are endeavoring to accomplish today. But we always have to remember that it is not simply enough to do the right thing; we must do the right thing the right way. And again, that is the purpose of this debate. Much of what we hear outside of these walls tends to mute the serious discussion that we have. I know that following this debate there will be those ads or others that will say that Republicans do not like kids. I assure you, Republicans like kids, and not just medium rare with a side of fries. We do care about the future of children. But it is the comprehensive holistic approach to the care of children which we discuss too little in this body. It is my belief that what we should have done, to truly put poor kids first, was that from the first moments of the first 100 hours this should have been the first bill we could have done. Instead, other bills were passed and billions were spent. We have seen appropriation bills come through this Chamber repeatedly where billions are spent, and there was no talk of putting kids first and helping poor kids have health insurance. And now today we reach the point where the only way we can help poor children is to raise taxes on the American people. This is not a prioritization of children and their health care. I am prepared to accept the majority when they say that they have, the second time around is the charm and they have fixed access of illegals to this program. I am prepared to be concerned about poor kids and kids who are in the margins. But I do ask them to reconsider raising taxes, because we do not want to see one day where our children grow up to be the healthiest people in the unemployment line.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise with Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan to honor and acknowledge the distinguished life of Gini Britton, who entered God's eternal paradise far too soon for those of us she leaves behind. A devoted wife, mother, and friend, Gini dedicated her life to her family and her community. She married her husband Dick on September 4, 1976, and the couple bore their first child, Michelle, in 1980. In 1985, their second daughter, Bridget, was born. The family would soon move to Northville Township, Michigan and Gini decided to enter public service. In the early 1990s, she was elected to the Northville Township Board of Trustees. As a member of the board of trustees she developed a legendary reputation for the promotion of effective governance and constituent service. Gini continued her selfless service to her community as a community liaison and assistant to several Members of Congress, including myself and Representative Mike Rogers. Her moral and compassionate character made her not only an exceptional employee, but a great friend and a genuine blessing to the State of Michigan. In 2005, Gini battled breast cancer, and Dick, Michelle and Bridget stood by her side through chemotherapy and at every major consultation or procedure as she fought to defeat the disease. Her unfaltering bravery is an example for all of us. Madam Speaker, on Thursday, October 4, 2007, Gini Britton passed away. For 56 years, Gini enriched the lives of everyone she met; and, by her absence, we are all diminished. I ask my colleagues to join me and Representative Rogers in mourning her passing; extending our deepest sorrow to all she loved and all who loved her; and commemorating her lifetime of bringing joy to those whose lives she touched.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge the extraordinary life of aviation electronics technician Chief Roland R. Pineau, and to mourn his passing upon the 40th anniversary of his death. Born on July 6, 1929, Chief Pineau devoted his life to God, family and our country in the U.S. Navy. In 1946, at the age of 17, Chief Pineau embarked on a 21-year naval career, which included service in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. After more than 20 years of service, Chief Pineau volunteered for a third tour of duty in Vietnam where he was stationed as an aviation technician chief on an E-1B aircraft commonly known as ``Willy Fudd.'' On October 8, 1967, during a combat support flight mission the ``Willy Fudd'' went down 14 miles south of DaNang, South Vietnam on a steep mountain slope. Chief Pineau and 4 other crew members were listed as Prisoners of War/Missing in Action. For his courage and bravery, Chief Pineau was awarded 3 Air Medals, 2 Gold Stars, 2 National Defense Awards, a Korean Service Medal, China Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Navy Commendation Ribbon. And there his story remained, until November 2006, when communist Vietnam announced its recovery of Chief Pineau's remains from the Willy Fudd's crash site. After 40 years, on October 9, 2007, having finally returned home, Chief Pineau was formally laid to rest by his loved ones, who never succumbed to their grief and faithfully fought for this day on his behalf. Chief Pineau is survived by his parents, Robert and Elizabeth Pineau, his brother, Dennis Pineau, and his beloved wife, Jackie Pineau. A beloved and noble man--an American--Chief Pineau will be sorely missed. Madam Speaker, Chief Roland Pineau is remembered as a brave soldier, a loyal friend, and a dedicated husband. Today, as we bid him farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his unwavering patriotism and eternal sacrifice to our community and country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, to resuscitate the 1970s sitcom ``Happy Days,'' Arthur Fonzarelli was aquatically clad in a swimsuit, white T- shirt and leather jacket and filmed performing a harrowing water ski jump over a shark. Though The Fonz pulled it off, the network pulled the plug on ``Happy Days.'' Subsequently, inane attempts to prevent a show's cancellation by scripting an absurd season have been coined ``jumping the shark.'' But what should we call situations where the U.S. Government willfully suspends its disbelief Communist China is a strategic threat and, instead, appeases it? I suggest we call such instances ``dropping the shark.'' Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States must review and block Bain Capital and Communist China's Huawei Technologies' deal with the 3Com Corporation. If approved, Communist China's Huawei Technologies stake in the 3Com Corporation will gravely compromise our free Republic's national security. The 3Com Corporation is a world leader in intrusion prevention technologies designed to prevent secure computer networks from hacker infiltration, and our Department of Defense extensively utilizes them. These technologies were severely tested this June when Communist China hacked into our DOD's computer networks and caused a shutdown. Given this and other instances of Communist China's persistent cyberwarfare against us, approving this sale would be an abject abnegation of CIFUS's duty to protect America's vital defense technologies from enemy acquisition. Few doubt the aims of Communist China's Huawei Technologies, which was set up in 1988 by a People's Liberation Army officer to build military communications networks. The pending deal with Huawei is deemed ``really worrisome'' by a former Pentagon cybersecurity expert, and as reported by Bill Gertz in today's Washington Times, a current Pentagon official confirmed, ``Huawei is up to its eyeballs with the Chinese military''; while another official stated ``we are proposing to sell the PLA a key to our front door. This is a very dangerous trend.'' This is not the first time Communist China's Huawei Technologies has raised legitimate American concerns. In January 2006 Newsweek described Huawei Technologies as ``a little too obsessed with acquiring advanced technology.'' Appearing before the House Armed Services Committee on September 19, 2002, Professor Gary Milhollin, Director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, testified as to the extent of the danger: ``The history of Huawei shows how sensitive American exports can wind up threatening our own Armed Forces. So when we talk about export controls, we are not just talking about money. We are talking about body bags.'' This is not hyperbole. At the start of this decade, Huawei violated U.N. sanctions and illegally provided a fiber-optic network to Iraq. This network linked the Iraqi military's air defense network. Moreover, the CIA-led Iraq Survey Group's final report concluded Huawei illicitly participated in providing transmission switches for Iraq's fiber-optic communications. In August 2001, this Chinese-made fiber-optic network was bombed because it was part of the Iraqi air defense missile sites firing at U.S. and allied aircraft which were enforcing a no-fly zone. And also, for the record, this company found time to help the Taliban too. In other business practices, Huawei appears equally cavalier about the rule of law. In 2003, Cisco Systems formally charged Huawei Technologies with grievous intellectual property violations, including patent infringements. Again, this should be unsurprising, given the strong ties between Huawei Technologies, the Communist Chinese Government and its armed wing, the People's Liberation Army. Not coincidentally, in only two decades, Huawei has expanded to over 100 countries, amassed sales of over $87 million, and significantly contributed to the PLA's arms buildup. Obviously, through this proposed acquisition the comrades at Huawei aim to contribute far more. Mr. Speaker, this deal is not only unacceptable on its face to our free people's sensibilities, it endangers our military and our security. Therefore, if CIFUS approves this sale and its accompanying sensitive defense technologies to Huawei, it will place in Communist China's cyberhacking hands some of the most sensitive technologies employed for our high-tech defense, and it will be tantamount to CIFUS dropping the shark in our fish bowl and pulling the plug on America's happy days. Therefore, I urge CIFUS to do its job and block this deal that threatens our liberty, our security and the bounds of sanity itself.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, had I been present for the vote on H.R. 3580, I would have supported this legislation. Unfortunately, I was meeting with the President of the United States during the time the vote was held.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Frank Beckmann upon the 35th anniversary of his distinguished broadcasting career at WJR, the great voice of the Great Lakes. Since 1972, Frank Beckmann has steadily risen through the station's ranks until today he stands as a beloved, in most quarters, Detroit radio personality. Frank's iconic status was cemented in February of 2003 when the ``Frank Beckmann Show'' debuted. Over the ensuing years, Frank's commitment to providing fair and candid news has earned him a legion of fans and countless awards, which he, no doubt, is at the present time trying to count regardless. Madam Speaker, over the years, Frank has enlightened and entertained radio audiences with his laid back humor, his probing interviews and his male pattern baldness. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Frank Beckmann's loyalty to his listeners, dedication to the truth, and enduring contribution to broadcasting, our community, and our country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Frank Beckmann upon the 35th anniversary of his distinguished broadcasting career at WJR, the ``Great Voice of the Great Lakes.'' Since his broadcasting career commenced on September 11, 1972 as a WJR news reporter at the age of 22, Frank Beckmann steadily rose through the ranks and served as the station's sports director and only play-by-play announcer to cover all four Detroit sports teams at least once. Today, he stands as a beloved--in most quarters--Detroit radio personality. Frank's status was cemented in February of 2003, when the Frank Beckmann Show debuted. Over the ensuing years, Frank's commitment to providing fair and candid news coverage has earned him a legion of fans and countless awards, which he is trying to count regardless. Faithfully carrying on the WJR tradition, the Frank Beckmann Show features on-air interviews, in-depth issue analyses, reliable business reports, and continuous sports coverage. Frank's enduring style and popularity with listeners has earned the attention of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters who awarded the Frank Beckmann Show two ``Best in Class Awards,'' Broadcast Personality/Team of the Year 2006 and Best News Special: 9/11 Anniversary Broadcast From New York City. The Detroit Press Club Foundation also named him the 2007 Michigan Excellence in Journalism winner and he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. With a radio personality fans have come to know and love, Frank Beckmann's extraordinary accomplishments are well deserved. Madam Speaker, over the years, Frank has elated audiences with his laid-back humor, probing interviews, and male pattern baldness. After 35 years of award-winning broadcasts on WJR, Frank truly is the best in his class. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Frank Beckmann's loyalty to his listeners, dedication to truth, and legendary contributions to talk radio, our community and our country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the sponsor of the resolution and the chairman of the committee, the ranking member, and all of my colleagues who are joining me in support of honoring the heroic members of the 303rd Bombardment Group. It has rightly been said that they were the greatest generation; and yet, it is important, through the adoption of resolutions and other instances, where we, as a people, recognize their sacrifice for the very liberty upon which our free Republic is founded, always remember that their service to our Nation did not end with World War II, for they continued in their transition to civilian life where they also helped form the foundation of our Nation. But it is also critical that, too, at this juncture, where again another generation of Americans finds themselves tasked with defending freedom in its maximum hour of danger, that we never forget the example that these citizens, soldiers and airmen set for the rest of us, not just as a matter of history, but as a matter for our progeny that they may ever breathe free.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge and support Taiwan's efforts to gain membership in the United Nations, U.N. Communist China's persistent and pervasive intimidation has spurred the U.N.'s refusal to grant Taiwan membership and meaningful participation in the international organization; thus, notwithstanding Taiwan's democratic government, market economy, inherent sovereignty, and respect of human rights, Taiwan is the only democracy in the world banned from U.N. membership. To rectify this abject inequity, on July 19, 2007, Taiwan's democratically-elected President, Chen Shui-bian, appealed to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to accept the nation's application for U.N. membership. Instead of forwarding the application to the U.N. Security Council, Mr. Ban unilaterally dismissed Taiwan's application; consequently, Mr. Ban cavalierly violated U.N. Security Council Rule 59. In explaining Mr. Ban's violation, the U.N. Secretary General's office alleged the application was rejected because Taiwan is an integral part of communist China. In making this factually unfounded determination, Mr. Ban subverted the authority of the U.N. Security Council and diminished the little credibility the U.N. retains. Further, as the U.N. Secretary General is acting as a dupe for communist China, the U.N. will rightly and ultimately be viewed as a wholly owned subsidiary of communist China. If, in addition to its innumerable instances of corruption and incompetence, the U.N. continues such arbitrary and capricious actions in relation to the sovereign democracy of Taiwan, this international organization will one day mirror the League of Nations--of which, if I may point out, no country remains a member. Madam Speaker, I strongly regret Mr. Ban's unilateral rejection of Taiwan's sovereignty and application to join the U.N. As the United States is the Leader of the Free World we must continue to support Taiwan's efforts to gain membership in the U.N.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Thank you. The gentleman from New Mexico, the good doctor from Texas and other speakers have touched upon a fundamental point. I wish to stress what General Petraeus said in terms of what an American victory would look like and then ask a question of those who would support an immediate withdrawal. In his own letter to the troops, General Petraeus said that what we need is for the Iraqis to become solely responsible for their own security. That means a very small footprint, if at all, of the United States in Iraq militarily. Secondly, it will depend upon the local reconstruction, reconciliation, and security of the average Iraqi which will then drive the national reconciliation. Between those two pillars of local reconciliation and security will come a stable and free Iraq that no longer creates terrorists, but captures them instead. But as we are the children of liberty, as we are a Nation that proudly proclaims it is conceived in liberty, that since every human being has an unalienable, God-given right to breathe free, to have the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness, I ask my fellow Americans who support the immediate withdrawal this: If we betray our fundamental commitment to liberty to the people of Iraq and watch them be slaughtered in the sands, what will we ever be able to offer them again to turn them from the enemy and towards us? If we betray our own profession of the desire to liberate them, to let them share in their God-given rights the same way we have, we will be ideologically disarmed in the war for freedom. I assure you we will rue the day that we betrayed not only them but the inherited legacy that we have received from the greatest generations of Americans who preceded us and allowed us to live in the majestic America that we know today.

Mr. McCOTTER. I thank the gentleman from Iowa. I just want to touch on some points regarding strategic basis of the surge and some of the goals, some of what we've heard today. Your indulgence. Just touch upon some of the general themes that our Nation faces in the war for freedom. Mistakes in the past in Iraq have been rectified under the Petraeus plan. As I have said and many here have said on our side of the aisle, in the early days of the problems of reconstruction, we believed that you could not impose democracy from above in a top-down approach, but you could unleash liberty so that it could rise up, much as the American Revolution did, to take its own shape as the Iraqi people were emancipated from the shackles of Saddam's oppression. What General Petraeus is doing, in conjunction with Ambassador Crocker, is they are going into the towns, they're going into the tribes, they are going into the bedrock of the population of Iraq, and with the surge, providing the security to protect these individuals in these towns from the collective and systematic terror of the enemy, so that average Iraqis can make the local political shift to liberty and away from the insurgency. This is being done not simply through the utilization of military force. In fact, the success on the ground in the local levels and in the provinces and in our cooperation with the tribes is built upon and hastened by this political shift among the population. In any counterinsurgency operation, the critical element is to separate the population from the insurgency. This can be reasoned, if we look back at some of the statements of the grand guerilla warrior, Chairman Mao. When asked about how his guerilla operations and insurgencies against the nationalist Chinese would work, he said, our people will be as the fishes amongst the water of the people. What you have to do is separate the fish from the water. This is why the critical testimony I believe we heard today was that every single Iraqi, everyone in Anbar Province and elsewhere where we are seeing progress is being given the ability to make the free, conscious decision to reach for their liberty. They are not being terrorized because of the valor of our troops and the plan and the reconstruction efforts that are flowing into these areas that show they have a transactional benefit in this transformational change. And this is hastening the local political shift which I believe undergirds our chances for victory in Iraq. This is also what undergirds the good news that we had today, at least the welcome news that, because of the local shift amongst the population and the improved security that is concomitant to it, General Petraeus has proposed a reduction of 4,000 troops by the end of the year and a reduction of 40,000 troops by July. Even if our Nation is so divided that we cannot unite in the cause of victory in Iraq, at least let us unite with the welcome news that 4,000 now and 40,000 of our fellow Americans citizens are going to be returning from harm's way to their loved ones. To have individuals derive this as a token gesture is to accuse General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker of what the accusers themselves are doing, which is to play politics with the lives of our troops. We have seen, despite all evidence, despite what the military's assessment has been, repeated calls for the immediate withdrawal of the United States forces from Iraq. This would be irresponsible not only to our troops in the field but to the people of the region, especially the Iraqis themselves, who would be slaughtered. When one decides to engage in a strategic withdrawal in the face of enemy, military experts generally concur that this is one of the most dangerous maneuvers forces in the field can attempt because your numbers are getting smaller as the enemy is becoming emboldened and encroaching ever closer to you. The wholesale withdrawal on a date certain, which is an arbitrary dictate from politicians in Washington, for those who believe that this is a proper course of action, I ask them to check into how the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan went, and they might reach another decision. Further, to call this a token gesture not only belittles the sacrifices that our troops have made to reduce the security problems in these areas and to help get this local political shift, it also diminishes and belittles in a callous way the true joy these troops' families are going to feel when their loved ones come back. To me that is something that is not a token. That is something that relieves the painful anxiety of every waking minute these families spend wondering if their loved one will come home. I highly doubt that the military mothers in my district or throughout America are ever going to consider any troop coming home from accomplishing their mission as being a token gesture. Be that as it may, it is also critical that we understand, in this period of time, that ours is the latest generation duty bound to defend freedom in its hour of maximum danger. Thus we must ever remember, through this crucible of liberty, our course is tough but our cause is just. The enemy is the sire of tyranny; we are the children of liberty. By heinously invading our Nation on September 11, 2001, and killing 3,000 innocent American souls, the enemy announced we cannot co-exist. In consequence, it is clear a world condensed by an Internet cannot endure half slave and half free. Yes, many times in the life of our free Republic, we have been called upon to face danger and to defeat it, and we have always done this and secured it by advancing a simple elemental truth that has served us well: to ensure our own liberty, we must ensure liberty to the enslaved. Thus in this trying time, it is imperative that we demonstrate that our devotion to liberty transcends their obsession with death. And united amongst ourselves and other free people, with prudence, we can, we must, and we will, for the sake of our children and the generations of Americans yet unnamed, we will win and we will walk our path, and we will widen the cause of human freedom. I thank you for allowing me the chance to address you.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge the distinguished life of John Noxakis, who entered God's eternal paradise far too soon for those of us he leaves behind in this ephemeral veil of tears. A life-long Detroiter proud of his ethnic heritage, John embodied the Greek's love of food and music. He was a gifted culinary artist, whose dishes delighted and sated diners throughout our community; and, in his purest gift, he was an unparalleled percussionist. It was through John's drumming my brother and I met him. We three formed the nucleus of the little acclaimed and over amplified band, ``The Flying Squirrels''; and, cramped together on the ``cover band'' roller coaster, off and on we jammed our way through nearly twenty years of small gigs and smaller paychecks. Through it all, John was the one person in the band whose gentility and sanity kept an often tempestuous combination of musical prima donnas kicking out the jams, instead of killing each other. He was true to this task until his tragic and unexpected death; and it has taken some time--is still taking time, may forever take time--for me to realize I will never see him ascend his set, hear his beat, and know my brother from another mother is right in time with every thought seeping through my strings. Yes, in a world where too many crave at all costs to be ``great,'' John cared enough to be good. He was a loving brother to Michael and Katina; a devoted uncle to Christine, Sophia and Maria; and a true friend to all he encountered. John, may you forever rest in God's infinite love until, one day, the rest of us Flying Squirrels sneak our way into Heaven's basement to disturb your peace for a moment and ``Kick out the Jams.'' Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning John Noxakis' passing; extend our deepest sorrow to all he loved and all who loved him; and commemorate his lifetime of bringing joy to his fellow human beings.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor, acknowledge, and congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Donald and Rosemary Rahaby upon their 50th wedding anniversary. As beloved area leaders, both Donald and Rosemary have dedicated their lives to serving our community. During his distinguished career in the United States Army, Donald met Rosemary while stationed in the Detroit area. Soon after, they were engaged and later married at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan, on July 6, 1957. After leaving the military, Donald served as the executive vice- president of Masco Corporation before ascending to president of Flint & Walling, Incorporated, which are both Michigan-based manufacturing businesses. Today, Donald is the president of American Dryer, Incorporated, another manufacturing company based in Livonia, Michigan. Throughout their marriage, Rosemary has been a devoted wife and homemaker. She serves as parishioner in Our Lady of Victory Church in Northville and graciously volunteers her time at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan. Together, Donald and Rosemary are the loving parents of four children, David, Susan, Linda, and Daniel, and of 12 grandchildren, Danielle, Ashley, Paul, Patrick, Alexander, Michael, Brian, Emily, Meghan, Kaitlyn, Matthew, and Jennifer. Madam Speaker, through their service, guidance, and generosity, Donald and Rosemary have played an important role in their family and community. They have led their children into successful marriages and careers, and helped them become well-respected members of their communities. Today, as we recognize their 50th wedding anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Mr. and Mrs. Donald and Rosemary Rahaby's eternal dedication to each other and selfless service to our community and our country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Chairman, it was interesting that the distinguished chairman of the Ways and Means Committee pointed out since the time Dictator Castro has held sway over the Cuban people, the United States has had Presidents come and go, which seems to point to one ineluctable fact: the United States, as a free people, can make their Presidents come and go, which is an option the Cuban people do not have. As a practical matter, I oppose this amendment for a very simple reason: it would open up trade with a state sponsor of terrorism, and I can find no logical way to differentiate one state sponsor of terrorism from another. It would be akin to simply trying to determine what the make of the car that ran you over was as opposed to the driver. In either event, you are probably likely dead, and the rest of the question is academic. Secondly, we have heard much in this debate about the benefit that we may reap in terms of our corporations and farmers, but let us never forget that the United States must always care more about the cause of human freedom than about mere money.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Chairman, I wish to begin by echoing the sentiments of the gentleman from Texas. The distinguished gentleman from New York has much to be proud about, coming from humble circumstances and a difficult area, to come here to the people's House and serve his constituents. It not only shows the strength of character he has; it shows what the American Dream is all about. I give you your due, sir. Talk about another man who came from humble circumstances, Dennis Vincent Patrick Mullen McCotter, my father. A man whose father was an Irish immigrant to this country, whose mother died when he was young and he and his brother and sister were sent to other families to stay, eventually winding up in the St. Francis Home for Boys. He got a football scholarship, worked his whole life to put his brother and sister through college, in addition to himself. He grew up and became a teacher, became a proud union Democrat. He taught me something about government that I have never forgotten. He said government spends nothing. It is the American taxpayers who pay for everything. I recall a lot of talk last year about Federal spending being out of control. I could hear my father in my head reminding me that you are spending other people's money. The money does not belong to the government. And many people who have forgotten his simple wisdom paid a high price for that. And yet today we find ourselves under the misconception that somehow this is money that belongs to the government as opposed to the people who pay the taxes. This is the only way I believe that we can come to logically reconcile the concept of a 9.9 percent increase in new domestic spending juxtaposed to the rhetoric that we heard so much last fall about trying to get Federal spending under control. It would strike me that my father's advice on this would be: Remember, this is not your money. You are spending other people's money. And if you tell them that you are going to be fiscally responsible with the sweat of their brow, with their hard-earned money, you had better keep that promise. Because if you do not, another thing that my father, who continues to get much wiser as I get much older, taught me, fair is fair. And if the American people believe that the pines that were offered to fiscal sanity last year are not matched by the deeds in these appropriation bills, there will be many Members on the other side of the aisle who will find that they will forfeit a great deal for their lack of loyalty to their commitments.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet Technical Sergeant Christine Specht for placing second in the CAP 2007 National Drug Demand Reduction Poster Contest. Since 1994, the CAP has hosted the Drug Demand Reduction Program to promote and support education, community involvement, social responsibility, and respect for others. This year, the competition was sponsored by the National Headquarters of the CAP at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, and open to distinguished members of the Cadet Program from all fifty states and two territories. Cadet Technical Sergeant Specht entered the contest inspired by the CAP core values of Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence and Respect and by her desire to instill those values in her subordinate cadets. As a staunch opponent of any form of drug abuse, Cadet Technical Sergeant Specht believes we should all do our best to live up to these core values. I could not agree more. Madam Speaker, on March 26, 2007, she was awarded the CAPs second place honors for her extraordinary ability to impart those values through artwork. Today, in honor of her legendary dedication to bettering the citizens of Michigan and of her contributions to the CAP, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Cadet Technical Sergeant Christine Specht for her loyal and selfless service to our community and our country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the unveiling of the dedication of the Victims of Communism Memorial here in Washington D.C. It is a replica statue of Lady Liberty, the Lady Liberty that inspired the Chinese students and their fellow people in Tiananmen Square. It was this period of time in which there was great hope within the Chinese people that their desire to breathe free would finally be realized. Yet that hope, that inalienable right, which we all as human beings share, was crushed beneath the tyrant yoke of the Chinese communist party. Yesterday, at the dedication of that memorial, to not only those students and those Chinese people, yesterday at that dedication, which commemorated all the tens of millions who have died beneath the inhuman atheistic ideology of communism, the President of the United States made his remarks. I wish to say that I have an enormous amount of respect for the President. He has been a steadfast leader, and I believe he is a good man, but I am saddened by the fact that he missed the opportunity, not to simply and nobly and necessarily commemorate the victims of communism and the triumph of liberty in parts of the world over that invidious ideology, but he missed the opportunity to issue a clarion call for the American people and all free peoples in our world to summon the courage to call for the end of communist regimes that still exist in our midst, Communist regimes from North Korea, to Cuba and, obviously, to Communist China. For it is easy for people to believe that we had reached the end of history, to view communism as an ideology that is no longer a threat to our freedoms, our way of life and to the way of life to all people, yet it is. When the Cold War ended, we had won the European theater of the battle between freedom and communism, and, yet, hundreds of millions across the globe remained enslaved. It is too little to say to them, good luck finding your freedom. If, we as a free people, are a beacon of hope to all humanity, we must also accept the responsibility that we bear to do everything within our power to ensure that our fellow people have the opportunity to enjoy their freedom, for they are equally God's children, as are we. So I would suggest to the President of the United States that he recall that the struggle, what John F. Kennedy called the bitter twilight struggle between freedom and communism is not over. It is not time for a victory lap. It is time for a rededication of ourselves as a free people of a Nation conceived in liberty to continue our historic and our moral mission to emancipate all humanity from this insidious ideology. For we are a revolutionary country by birth, and we must remain a revolutionary country in present. If we fail that mission we lose part of ourselves, not only our legacy but the legacy we must leave to our children and to all humanity. In conclusion, I would urge the President of the United States to realize that the victory over communism is not complete and that we as Americans must continue to be champions of human freedom in our world.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Finally, as a member of Generation X, I would like to ask the baby boomers who devised this process to do as you Age of Aquarians often do, let the sun shine in.

Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. I appreciate the opportunity to address the Chair. I will resist the temptation to point out how my Tigers took two out of three from your Mets recently. I, too, am Generation X and was interested in some of the remarks that were put forward on the floor. First, I do not know that the people who wrote the Federalist Papers and came up with the system of limited government would be rolling in their graves at any attempt that we engage in to stop the obfuscation of earmarks within a process that is less than transparent. I would also like to note that it is my preference to refer to the bull in the china shop as the bull in the Communist China shop. And speaking of bull, let us not forget that for 4 days this Chamber dealt with little else than a nonbinding/impotent resolution on Iraq that resulted in absolutely nothing except the people's business being delayed for that period of time. Today, we are here about earmarks and not in general, but in particular the process by which they are inserted into appropriation bills. It seems to me that one of the fundamental problems we have in addressing this is the lack of openness and transparency in the process and that is what this endeavor is about. It would also strike me that in discussing this process, it is odd to hear the new majority using the President of the United States' budget requests as an absolute baseline of fiscal sanity when throughout the course of the last 4 years in which I have served in this body, they have decried this President of the United States as the epitome of fiscal insanity. So a baseline request from the President is just that. It is a request. Now, in many ways we are then bound as an institution to give deference to both the authorizing committees and then the appropriating committees. But we do not delegate carte blanche our individual power which is vested in us by our constituencies to then oversee the work product of both the authorizing committees and the appropriating committees. Today we are engaged in trying to exercise and reaffirm the right of not only ourselves but of Members on the other side of the aisle to be able to exercise that power that has been temporarily vested in them by their constituents to fully and fairly vet these bills and to make sure that the appropriations are what they are claimed to be, and to make sure that they are put to the best, most efficient and effective purpose that they can be on behalf of the American people. Part of the reason this is necessary is not everyone in this Chamber takes the same approach to earmarks as other Members might. Some Members do no earmarks at all. Some Members prefer to do many, many earmarks. And some Members, I cite myself, do earmarks at the request of their local municipalities so we can serve as conduits back to our States. I come from Michigan. It is critical to us that we receive our fair share of Federal spending because we pay more than our fair share of Federal taxes. My State, Michigan, is a donor State. Michigan is currently in a one-state recession, and it is very important that our taxpayers receive their money back. But that is my individual approach. That approach has to be vetted by 434 of my colleagues here, and only an open and transparent process will ensure that if I have made a priority request through a earmark, it is in keeping with the best interest not only of my district but within the best interest of the entire American people. It would seem to me this is a very reasonable approach, it is a very reasonable request, and it is a request that we are pressing today, as we did yesterday, and will continue to do so because it is part of our constitutional obligation we take as Members of this body. Were we to do otherwise, it would be a dangerous precedent to set because in my mind we are tragically on the verge of coming up with a new kind of system which will allow very little transparency and openness and thus injure the ability of not only ourselves but the American people to know how their money is being spent. In the past there was the old joke that in the Congress you had Republicans, Democrats and appropriators. If the process that we in the minority find so offensive is allowed to proceed, you will now have four distinct entities. You will have Republicans, you will have Democrats, you will have appropriators, and you will have super- appropriators. I don't know if the new super-appropriators get to make these decisions in the dead of night, also get to wear a cape and cowl, if they come with a sporty car so they can chase down Federal earmarks, or if they have a cave or a pole to slide down at their leisure as they go off to work to spend other people's money. I think, however, this would be a tragic development and would oppose it.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Detective Sergeant David G. Wurtz of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office upon receiving the 2007 National Missing and Exploited Children's Award for outstanding work in the case concerning Genevieve Nielson. For nearly three decades, Detective Sergeant Wurtz has strived to better our community. Since joining the Oakland County Sheriff's Department in May of 1979, he has served in numerous Units, including the Road Patrol Unit, the Marine Division, the Protective Services Division, the Corrective Services Division, and in the Technical Services Division. In September of 1989, due to his superior investigative ability, Detective Sergeant Wurtz was promoted to Sergeant, and he currently serves in the Special Investigations Unit and as a hostage and crisis negotiator. During his career, Detective Sergeant Wurtz has earned the recognition and admiration of his co-workers and community for his thorough investigations and criminal prosecutions. Recently, he teamed up with the United States Marshalls Service to investigate the kidnapping of Genevieve Nielson, the 21-month old infant who went missing during Mother's Day weekend in 1976. Detective Sergeant Wurtz has headed the case since 1990 and has a large box of files dedicated to Genevieve. Finally, after years of searching, his commitment to justice in the joint investigation led to Genevieve's discovery in Arizona. Madam Speaker, Detective Sergeant Wurtz's uncanny ability to collect critical crime scene evidence, sort through complex information, and coordinate the efforts of dozens of investigators has resulted in the apprehension of Oakland County's most vicious criminals. For his unfaltering dedication to the people of Oakland County and for his leadership in the case of Genevieve Nielson, Detective Sergeant David G. Wurtz has been recognized with the 2007 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Award. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Detective Wurtz for his relentless pursuit of dangerous criminals and legendary service to our community and our country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Ms. Christine ``Chris'' Torres, upon her receipt of the 2007 Suburban Republican Women's Tribute to Women Award. Since 1983, Chris has been actively involved in promoting the conservative principles of the Republican Party in Michigan. She supported Ronald Reagan's historic campaign for the Presidency and, later, became a precinct delegate by walking through Redford neighborhoods with her children and their friends, all the while dropping off literature and obtaining signatures for legislative proposals. In the years since, she also dedicated herself to the Bush- Cheney campaigns of 2000 and 2004, the gubernatorial campaigns of Dick Poshumus and Richard Devos, and the re-election campaigns of Mike Cox for Attorney General and Laura Toy for state Senate. In 2004, she became a member of the Suburban Republican Women's Club where she serves as Chairman of Hospitality and as Chaplain. As the proud wife of Juan Manuel Torres for 30 years and the mother of six outstanding children, Chris is a deserving recipient of the Suburban Republican Women's Club's highest honor, the 2007 Tribute to Women Award. Importantly, Chris has also dedicated her time to the Michigan Right to Life organization by participating in annual benefits dinners in the southeastern district. Madam Speaker, Chris's leadership and courage of convictions are an inspiration to her peers in the Suburban Republican Women's Club and our entire community. Thus, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Christine Torres for her selfless service to our community and our country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge the distinguished career of Laura M. Toy, former Michigan State Senator representing the 6th District of Wayne County. Throughout her career, Senator Toy improved the lives of countless citizens. Born on December 22, 1951, Senator Toy was raised in Livonia, Michigan, where she still resides today. After graduating from Livonia's Bentley High School, where she was president of her graduating class, she earned an Associate of Arts degree from Schoolcraft College, and thereafter a Bachelor of General Studies Degree from the University of Michigan. Senator Toy began serving her community at a young age. A longtime small business owner, as a child she first sold pot holders to the neighbors to purchase clothes for her sister, Carol. She also sold penny candy to neighborhood children out of her garage, and was a member of the local Girl Scouts council. Later in her career, Senator Toy became a 28 year co-owner of Cardwell Florist in Livonia and a 7 year member of the Schoolcraft Community College Board of Trustees. With tireless devotion, she dedicated her time to improving the community as a Livonia City Council member for 8 years, the Livonia City Treasurer for 3 years, and as the 19th District Michigan State Representative for 4 years. Thereafter, on November 7, 2002, Senator Toy was elected to the Michigan State Senate. During her tenure, Senator Toy served as Chair of the Local, Urban and State Affairs, Senior Citizens and Veteran Affairs Committees, and Vice Chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee; and previously as Vice Chair of the Technology and Energy Committee. The sponsor of 22 Public Acts, she championed efforts to enhance Michigan's educational system, strengthen small businesses, and promote the rights of people with disabilities. For her unwavering commitment to excellence, she has earned a number of prestigious awards, including: the Livonia Women of the Year and Outstanding Young Women of America awards, the Livonia Chamber of Commerce Athena Award, the YMCA Honorable Legislator Award, the University of Michigan Alumni Community Service of the Year Award, and the Schoolcraft College Alumnus of the Year Award. The Association of the Retarded Citizen also recognized her efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities in 2000 with the Legislator of the Year award. Senator Toy attributes her inspiration to the loved ones around her, including: her mother, Eileen Toy, who passed away in April of 2006, disabled brother Glen, who also passed away in 1998, sister Carol, brother Bruce, niece Corrin, nephew Christopher, and long-time business partner, Colleen Siembor. In return, her compassion, dedication, and loyalty continues to inspire all who know her. Madam Speaker, during her distinguished career, Senator Toy has bettered the lives of countless Michiganders. As she embarks upon the next chapter of her life, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding her legendary leadership, and in thanking her for her unfaltering service to our community and our country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Brenda J. Lussier, as she retires from a distinguished career at the Novi Public Library in Novi, Michigan. For twenty seven years, Brenda has tirelessly worked to improve our community with enhanced library services. Prior to working at the Novi Public Library, she graduated from the University of Michigan where she earned a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's Degree in Library Science. On September 24, 1979, Brenda began working at Novi Public Library as Head of Reference, and later ascended to Director on April 8, 1985. She is a member of the American Library Association and the Michigan Library Association, and participated in the Michigan Library Association Leadership Academy from 1989 to 1991. Brenda is credited with enhancing the quality of life in Novi by expanding library services in innovative ways. During her tenure, she served on various committees of The Library Network, including the Steering Committee. She also served on various committees of the Michigan Library Association, such as Chairwoman of the Public Library Division and the Management and Administration Division. As a member of the Novi Rotary Club, Brenda compiled the club newsletter for several years and was presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award in 2003 for her distinguished service. She has also received a national award for Intellectual Freedom from the Public Library Association and Novi's People's Choice Award in 2002 as the ``best librarian for her grace, leadership, and commitment to public service under a barrage of demands from the information-hungry in Novi.'' Madam Speaker, Brenda is a compassionate leader and visionary who's passion for excellence and support for a robust library system has positively impacted our Novi Community. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Brenda for twenty seven years of loyalty and dedication to the Novi Public Library, and in applauding her legendary service to our community and our country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Novi Meadows Elementary School, in Novi, Michigan, for earning the distinguished Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School award. Since its establishment, Novi Meadows Elementary School has represented a pillar of educational excellence in our community. Characterized by a rigorous academic curriculum and an effective partnership between parents and teachers, Novi Meadows Elementary School offers students a constructive learning environment, caring friendships, and innovative educational opportunities to prepare them for life's challenges. Thanks to the dedicated teachers and staff, each year Novi Meadows Elementary School students graduate prepared for a promising future. In fact, following an extensive assessment of their academic performance, in February of 2007, the Michigan State Board of Education and the Blue Ribbon committee of educators awarded Novi Meadows Elementary School the distinguished Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School award. Established in 1982, the award recognizes schools demonstrating a strong commitment to educational excellence and significant academic improvement over five years. This year, the selection of Novi Meadows Elementary School demonstrates how dedicated teachers, a stellar learning environment, and an exemplary community benefit students. Madam Speaker, in honor of its recent selection to receive the 2007 Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School award, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Novi Meadows Elementary School's exceptional efforts to educate students, and its diligent service to our community and country.

Mr. McCOTTER

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Daniel Pfannes, Chief of Police at the Westland Police Department, upon his retirement from a distinguished law enforcement career in Westland, Michigan. For nearly five decades, Chief Pfannes dedicated his life to protecting the citizens of Michigan. Upon graduation from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Supervision and Management, Chief Pfannes joined the Westland Police Department as a Police Officer in the Uniform Patrol Division. Over the next 25 years, Chief Pfannes ascended through the Department's ranks, eventually serving as an Evidence Technician, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Special Investigations Lieutenant, SWAT Commander, and Deputy Chief of Police. In 1993, Chief Pfannes graduated from the Police School of Staff and Command at Eastern Michigan University and Northwestern University. One year later, in 1994, he earned a Master's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Detroit. Then, in March of 2003 he was promoted to the Chief of Police of the City of Westland. Today, Chief Pfannes is a leader in the city of Westland and Wayne County. He serves on the Executive Board of the Wayne County Chiefs of Police Association, the Wayne County Regional Police Academy Advisory Board, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Legislative Committee, and the Advisory Board of the Wayne County Representative to the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (C.L.E.M.I.S.). He is also a Juvenile Justice instructor at Schoolcraft College and an assistant adjunct professor at Madonna University in Livonia where he teaches Criminal Justice. For his tireless service to the community, Chief Pfannes has been recognized with the ``Most Influential Instructor Award'' by Schoolcraft Police Academy; and for his heroic efforts in combating crime, the Westland Police Department has honored him with numerous citations and commendations. The Wayne County Executive, Robert Ficano, also recognized Chief Pfannes for his efforts to secure $23 million in federal Urban Area Security Initiative funding for Wayne County and the City of Detroit. Madam Speaker, for 25 years, Chief Daniel Pfannes has unwaveringly protected and defended the citizens of Michigan. His long established legacy of dedication, loyalty, and courage will never be forgotten. As he enters the next phase of his life, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Chief Pfannes upon his retirement and in honoring his years of legendary service to our community and our country.