Marilyn Musgrave

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one the greatest men of jurisprudence in Colorado, Stuart ``Stu'' VanMeveren, who is stepping down from 32 years as District Attorney for the State's Eight Judicial District. I have known Stu for many years. Since we have both been very active in the Republican Party, we have come to know each other quite well. I know we think alike on the issues of our time. We reside in neighboring communities located to the north of Denver. Stu's residence in Fort Collins is within my congressional district. Stu is one of the most capable, effective, popular, and respected elected district attorneys in our State and the Nation. He was first elected district attorney in the Eight Judicial District of Colorado in 1972. Since then he has been re-elected to seven consecutive 4-year terms of office. His eighth term of office concludes on January 11, 2005, because an amendment to the Colorado Constitution has imposed term limits on elected state and local officials. Stu's peers have recognized his abilities and effectiveness by electing him to local, State, and national office. His local bar association of more than 350 attorneys has elected Stu as their president. His fellow elected district attorneys have twice elected him President of the Colorado District Attorneys Council. In 1999 Stu was clearly recognized nationally when he was elected President of the National District Attorneys Association. The National District Attorneys Association is the voice of America's prosecutors and has a membership of more than 8,000 attorneys. Stu has served on the board of directors of that organization, a group of the leading prosecutors from each state in our nation, since 1977. Stu has been elected or appointed to many other local, State, and national committees and organizations. Stu is a very innovative prosecutor. Shortly after he was first elected district attorney in 1972, he formed one of the first full time victim/witness units contained within a prosecutors office. He was also instrumental in forming a very effective youth mentoring program, Larimer County Partners, 25 years ago. More recently, in 1999, he took the initiative in creating the first Juvenile Drug Court in Colorado and one of the first in the Nation. A successful adult Drug Court followed this and, with his help, Colorado State University has the only Campus Drug Court in the country. Stu has the innate ability to make effective modifications, realign priorities, and adjust limited resources as the issues involving his office and the criminal justice system change. Representative Bob Schaffer, my predecessor here in Congress, recently remarked, ``As holder of an elected post, Stu's dedication to the Republican principles of public safety and individual liberty have been effectively communicated and represented in a way that has consistently earned him overwhelming bipartisan support each time his name has appeared on a ballot and he is a tireless public servant whose commitment to justice is exemplary.'' Stu is a man of high character and integrity. He is a modest man with a very high degree of common sense. He is highly respected throughout his community and the state of Colorado. It is for these reasons and many more Stu deserves the very highest praise and deep appreciation not only from me and the residents of Colorado, but also from this esteemed body.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I inform you that my brother passed away this Wednesday morning, November 17. I returned home immediately that morning to be with my family during this time of loss. For this reason, I was unable to be present with my colleagues to take the final votes of the 108th Congress.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Dr. D. James Kennedy and his supporters for their support of the Marriage Protection Amendment. Dr. Kennedy is a well-known Christian television and radio broadcaster whose programs reach some three million people, weekly. Dr. Kennedy is President of Coral Ridge Ministries, a Christian broadcasting organization, founder and president of Evangelism Explosion, a Christian lay-evangelism training program used in every nation, and Senior Minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Kennedy is a respected and articulate advocate of the return to Christian moral standards in public life. Dr. Kennedy's Center for Reclaiming America has collected the names of more than 430,000 petition signers who believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman, and they are opposed to efforts to redefine it. These 430,000 citizens from across the nation have petitioned Congress to pass the Marriage Protection Amendment.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise again today to submit into the Record additional material regarding the debate about whether marriage is in decline in the Netherlands. Some members suggest that the Stanley Kurtz material is not relevant or is not accurate. I submit into the Record the following article written by Mr. Kurtz that addresses his critics on this point. Dutch Debate There's a new development in the story of Europe's marriage meltdown. Recently, a group of five scholars in the Netherlands issued a letter addressed to ``parliaments of the world debating the issue of same-sex marriage.'' The Netherlands was the first country to adopt full-fledged same-sex marriage, and this letter is the first serious indication of Dutch concern about the consequences of that decision. So it's worth quoting the letter at some length. After citing a raft of statistics documenting the decline of Dutch marriage, here is some of what these scholars had to say: . . .there is as yet no definitive scientific evidence to suggest the long campaign for the legalization of same-sex marriage contributed to these harmful trends. However, there are good reasons to believe the decline in Dutch marriage may be connected to the successful public campaign for the opening of marriage to same-sex couples in the Netherlands. After all, supporters of same-sex marriage argued forcefully in favor of the (legal and social) separation of marriage from parenting. In parliament, advocates and opponents alike agreed that same-sex marriage would pave the way to greater acceptance of alternative forms of cohabitation. In our judgment, it is difficult to imagine that a lengthy, highly visible, and ultimately successful campaign to persuade Dutch citizens that marriage is not connected to parenthood and that marriage and cohabitation are equally valid `lifestyle choices' has not had serious social consequences . . . There are undoubtedly other factors that have contributed to the decline of the institution of marriage in our country. Further scientific research is needed to establish the relative importance of all these factors. At the same time, we wish to note that enough evidence of marital decline already exists to raise serious concerns about the wisdom of the efforts to deconstruct marriage in its traditional form.'' You can read an interview with two of the letter's signers here, and a front-page news story about the letter in the Dutch paper, Reformatorisch Dagblad, here.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Chairman, as we think of our friends in Florida, we saw them boarding up their windows in preparation for the tropical storm that would hit and be devastating. However, in many parts of rural Colorado, the businesses on Main Street are boarding up their windows because our ag producers are having such a horrific time with the prolonged drought. The gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) are in the same region, and we know the devastation that this prolonged drought has shown. We have not had reporters in rural Colorado, standing there and showing the disaster, because it has been over a long period of time, getting worse every year. So we desperately need this relief at this time for our farmers and for our individuals that raise cattle, that have even had to sell off their breeding stock because the pastures have not had any grass on them now for years. So at this difficult time we make difficult choices, and I rise in support of the efforts of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of this legislative session and I near the end of my freshman term, I am amazed by the power this body has when it wants to act quickly. The speed at which recent emergency funding for hurricane victims passed just goes to show what can be accomplished in Congress and how quickly. Serving my rural district in Colorado, I come to the floor this morning to urge action on funding for victims of another major natural disaster, our 6-year drought, which has devastated farmers and ranchers throughout the West. This is a matter of importance that is not being reported on the 24-hour cable news networks or capturing front-page headlines across the Nation because it is not a sudden, horrific force like hurricanes; but it is very critical nonetheless. When I am at home on the weekends, I see the devastation firsthand. I see the worry and the anxiety. I see the detriment this natural disaster is imposing on the local small town economies. Recently, the other body included $3 billion for drought relief in the Department of Homeland Security bill. To my colleagues here in the House, I urge support of this funding for drought relief. Floridians boarded up before their natural disasters. Let us make sure rural Colorado does not after theirs.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in favor of the proposed marriage protection amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Before addressing the merits of the marriage protection amendment, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) for bringing this bill up. I know there are some in Congress and the media who do not believe traditional marriage rises to the level of importance to be considered on the floor today. The American people disagree with them. This bill is about protecting the institution of marriage, which, as the Supreme Court said many years ago, is ``the foundation of the family and of society, without which there would be neither civilization nor progress.'' Since Labor Day, this Congress has spent time renaming post offices and Federal buildings, Mr. Speaker. If we have enough time to rename post offices and Federal buildings, surely we have enough time to spend an afternoon considering whether the very foundation of traditional marriage will endure another 200 years. On one matter, however, I do agree with the opponents of this bill: We should not lightly undertake to amend the Constitution. In the 213 years since the Bill of Rights was adopted, the Constitution has been amended only 17 times, an average of once every 12\1/2\ years. As a conservative I understand, perhaps better than most, the national consensus that the Constitution should be amended only rarely. Indeed, I wish we could leave the Constitution alone and this amendment was unnecessary, and if there was any other way to protect marriage, I would be the first to support it. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The matter has been forced upon us, and, whether we like it or not, the Constitution is about to be amended. Let me say that again: The choice before us is not whether to amend the Constitution or leave it unamended. One way or another, the Constitution will be amended, and the only choice we have is whether to act now and accomplish the amendment through the procedures specified in the Constitution itself, or fail to act, in which case the amendment would be accomplished de facto by activist courts bent on imposing by judicial fiat a transformation of traditional marriage that is unsought and unwanted by the American people. How do I know what the American people want? Simple. When the people are given a voice in this matter, they support traditional marriage by overwhelming margins. Last month, for example, the people of Missouri approved a marriage protection amendment to their State constitution by a margin of 70.8 percent, and 2 weeks ago the people of Louisiana approved a similar amendment by a margin of 78 percent. Yet the people's will does not seem to count with the courts. Last year, Justice Scalia warned us in their Lawrence decision that the Supreme Court was paving the way for activist judges to redefine traditional marriage. Even after Justice Scalia's warning, few of us were prepared for the breathtaking speed with which events would overtake us. Only months later, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decreed that for the first time in the history of this Nation, a State would be required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Massachusetts courts are not alone. Only last month, courts in Washington struck down as unconstitutional that State's Defense of Marriage Act in cases concerning the recognition of same-sex marriages. Even in the face of this judicial onslaught, some argue that we should wait to act until after the Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act. Does anyone else see the irony here? Many of those who spoke the loudest that DOMA was unconstitutional when it was enacted in 1996 are the very same ones who now say we ought to presume DOMA is constitutional until the courts tell us otherwise. I say if we could place our confidence in the Supreme Court, there would be no need for the marriage protection amendment in the first place. But in Lawrence, Justice O'Connor wrote a concurring opinion in which she specifically stated that she believed preserving the traditional institution of marriage would be a sufficient basis for upholding a State marriage law. The five members of the Lawrence majority had an obvious opportunity to join Justice O'Connor's position and thus reassure us on this issue. Instead, they chose to remain silent. Let me suggest their silence speaks volumes. No, we must not wait. The trajectory of the courts' decisions is unmistakable, and we must act now to preserve traditional marriage. We have already seen that even one State's misadventure in this area has had egregious nationwide consequences, as activists file lawsuit after lawsuit seeking to export same-sex marriages to other States. Ironically, it will take an amendment to the Federal Constitution to force this issue out of the courts and back to State legislatures, where it has always been and where it properly should be. Mr. Speaker, some people have opposed the marriage protection amendment on the grounds that it discriminates. But it is not the marriage protection amendment that discriminates against homosexuals. Rather, the institution of marriage, as it has been understood for millennia, by its very nature is reserved exclusively for persons of the opposite sex. Moreover, society has always limited the pool of persons available for marriage by age, blood ties, mental capacity, and other considerations. The limitations of traditional marriage rest not on an intent to discriminate, but on what is most beneficial for society and children, as evidenced by volumes of social science research. Traditional marriage is worth preserving because the nuclear family is far and away the best environment in which to raise children. Every child deserves both a father and a mother. Yes, traditional marriage has had its problems. The high divorce rate, infidelity, and domestic violence are a national scandal, but far from undermining my point, these trends reinforce it because we are dismayed by these trends for the very reason that they lead to the break-up of traditional families, which leads to more and more children being deprived of the tremendous benefit of having both their mom and dad around to raise them. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, let me say I wish traditional marriage was not under attack, but it is. I wish we did not have to deal with this problem now, but we do. Like it or not, the courts have thrust this burden on us and we must not fail to shoulder it. We as Members of Congress have a responsibility to restrain activist judges who think they can, without devastating consequences to our society, simply jettison the collective wisdom of thousands of years without the input or consent of the American public or their elected Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the marriage protection amendment. I submit the following letter for the Record. Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Musgrave: The United States House of Representatives is considering whether or not to send a constitutional amendment protecting marriage to the States for their consideration. Contrary to recent arguments and assertions, I believe that this amendment is consistent with--and increasingly necessary to uphold--the principles of federalism so important to our constitutional government. The Framers rightly left marriage policy, as so many other things, with the States. But the definition of marriage is not mere policy issue. It strikes at the very integrity and meaning of one of the primary elements of civil society. In a free society, certain questions must be settled for the good of that society. States can't impair the obligation of contracts, or coin their own money, or experiment with forms of non-republican government. We learned the hard way that the nation could not endure half slave and half free. As marriage is a fundamental social institution, it is not only reasonable but also obligatory that it be preferred and defended in the law. Activist judges forcing the redefinition of marriage make it necessary to protect the institution in the U.S. Constitution. This doesn't mean that marriage must be completely nationalized or should become the regulatory responsibility of the federal government. Policy decisions concerning questions such as degrees of consanguinity, the age of consent, and the rules of divorce should remain with the States. The wisdom of extending certain benefits that stop well short of marriage--that don't undermine the distinctive status of marriage--are policy questions that should be the responsibility of State legislatures. A Constitutional amendment that defines marriage and blocks the actions of overzealous judges would protect the States's capacity to regulate marriage by protecting the integrity of the institution as such. In order to guard the States' liberty to determine marriage policy in accord with the principles of federalism, society as a whole must prevent the institution itself from being judicially redefined out of existence. The constitutional amendment process is neither an exclusively federal nor an exclusively State action: It is a shared responsibility of both Congress and the States representing the American people. By intention, it is a very difficult process. Constitutional amendments ought to be rare and should be pursued only after careful and serious consideration, when it is necessary to address an issue of great national magnitude and when there is broad-based support among the American people throughout the States, as there is concerning marriage. Is marriage sufficiently important to protect in the United States Constitution? Despite our reluctance to amend our most sacred law-- despite the significance of the endeavor and awesome task involved--recent and impending judicial activism justifies this course of action. Thank you for considering and sharing these concerns with other Members of Congress. Sincerely, Edwin Meese, III, Chairman, Center for Legal & Judicial Studies, The Heritage Foundation.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. I learned a long time ago serving in the Colorado State legislature that criminals do not care about the laws we pass. They do not know who their Congressman is. They do not know who their Senators are. They do not have respect for law or lawmakers. Right here in Washington, D.C., there are many things that we are extremely proud of. One of the things, though, that really is a blot is the infamous distinction as the murder capital of the world. I think that we need to give criminals who would commit heinous crimes in this District of Columbia pause. I think we ought to make them wonder whether or not an individual that they would harm, whether or not they are going to harm a family or try to rape a woman or murder someone, give them pause, let these criminals wonder if that individual might be able to defend themselves. It is important when we think that businesses in this District, business owners can have guns on the premises, but individuals cannot have guns that are ready to use in their homes to protect their family. All of us know that our family members are more important to us than any material possession that we have. We need to give individuals in the District a right to defend themselves and we need to give these criminals that make this the murder capital of the world a doubt in their mind as to whether or not someone will be able to defend themselves.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam Speaker, the best gauge of whether the American people want the definition of marriage to be a union of a man and a woman is to look at elections in recent activities in the States on this subject. Madam Speaker, voters in 7 States have gone to the ballot box to enact either a State Defense of Marriage Act, to pass State marriage amendments, or to permit the State legislature to define marriage, thus preventing a State court from doing so. Each time the initiative passed overwhelmingly. The people of Hawaii voted with 69 percent approval to pass a State marriage amendment. The people of Alaska voted with a 68 percent approval to pass a State marriage amendment. The people of California voted with 61 percent approval to pass a State defense of marriage statute. The people of Nebraska voted with 70 percent approval to pass a State marriage amendment. The people of Nevada voted with a 70 percent approval to pass a State marriage amendment. The people of Missouri voted with 71 percent approval to pass a State marriage amendment. The people of Louisiana voted with a 78 percent approval to pass a State marriage amendment. Madam Speaker, 44 States have recently enacted laws that provide that marriage shall consist only of a union of a man and a woman. These 44 States constitute 88 percent of the States, well more than the three- fourths required to approve a constitutional amendment, and they include 86 percent of the United States population. The American people have spoken on this subject. It is time that Congress send to the States the marriage protection amendment so that States can decide for themselves whether to ratify the policy that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. Marriage is what really matters to the American people, to the American moms and dads, to the American children. It is just common sense.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to congratulate Kit Carson R-1 Elementary School in Kit Carson, Colorado for being chosen as a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of 2004. The Blue Ribbon Schools program honors public and private K-12 schools that are academically superior in their states or have demonstrated dramatic gains in student achievement. Schools chosen for the Blue Ribbon are meeting the mission of ensuring every child is learning and achieving. Blue Ribbon recipients are national models of excellence from which other schools can learn. I am proud of Kit Carson R-1 Elementary School for serving as a model in the great state of Colorado, and throughout the entire nation. The Blue Ribbon Schools program requires schools to meet specific assessment criteria. It recognizes schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance in accordance with state assessment systems. The program also rewards schools that score in the top 10 percent on state assessments. Kit Carson's 37 students scored in the top 10 percent nationwide in math and reading. Additionally, Kit Carson Elementary is only one of 27 rural schools in the nation that received the Blue Ribbon title. It is an honor to announce this award and it is a testament to the exceptional students of rural Colorado. It proves that a quality education is obtainable when teachers, parents, and students strive for achievement. Compared to other elementary schools around the nation, Kit Carson may be small in size, but it is prominent in its standing. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer my warmest congratulations to Kit Carson Elementary for this achievement.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, when I was in fourth grade, my family moved back to Galeton, Colorado. Soon after starting school, I met a little girl named Cynthia Lynch. We quickly became best friends, and I grew to love her family as my own. I have always had a special place in my heart for her dear mother, Joan. Today, with love and gratitude, I honor Joan on the occasion of her 80th birthday. Joan Lynch was born on October 12, 1924 in Greeley, Colorado, and is the third of five children. There was some confusion about her name. She was raised on the Colorado prairie by William and Kathryn Nelson who farmed northeast of Ault. In the depression and dust-bowl days of the 1930s, her family temporarily left the prairie to find work but did eventually return to the homestead her father had settled in 1915. She has always considered the prairie her home. She has always had a passion for books and learning, especially history. She speaks of her education in the one-room school at ``North Victor'' as her favorite school experience. Her sisters and she walked a mile and a half to and from school each day, across an open prairie. She later graduated from Central City Colorado High School in 1942, and attended the Teacher's College in Greeley. Joan and ``Corky'' Lynch, were married in 1946 and lived on the East Coast while he was stationed there in the Navy. I've seen pictures of them in those early days. What a goodlooking couple! They returned to Colorado in 1947 and farmed in the Milliken area before moving in 1956 to the ranch where Joan continues to live today, northeast of Ault, and only a few miles from the homestead where she grew up. As teenagers, Cindy and I would always giggle and be slightly embarrassed when Corky would leave for work and give Joan a big kiss on his way out of the house. Really, though, we loved it. Corky passed away in 1999 from cancer. He and Joan celebrated 53 years together. I am so thankful I was able to go and see him before he passed away. I told him how much I appreciated all he and Joan had done for me growing up. We both cried. The older he got, the more tender- hearted he became. He was 75 years old when he passed away. I love Joan and I will never forget what she has done for me. As a young girl, she gave me lunch money when I needed it, and she put up with my frequent visits to spend the night. That love and support helped me get through the tough times and I will always hold that love in my heart. The way she has lived life has been a constant inspiration to me and her Christian example has always been present for all of us to see. May God bless her today as her family and friends celebrate her birthday. I love her dearly and cherish her as a second mother to me. I am pleased to honor a precious lady on this occasion of her 80th birthday.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the memory of John R. Olivas, Jr., an outstanding young man from Johnstown, Colorado, who tragically lost his life at a young age. John was born Aug. 23, 1985, in Loveland to his loving parents, John R. Olivas, Sr., and Christine T. ``Tina'' (Quintana) Olivas. John graduated from Roosevelt High School, where he was on the student council and he was a four-year letterman on the varsity wrestling team, and won the State Championship in 2003. He was currently attending the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and he was also a member of the UNC wrestling team. He was also currently working for Affordable Painting in Fort Collins. John loved being with his family and they loved being with him. John lived a full life and he enjoyed fishing, spending time with his friends, clubs, watching movies, snowboarding, and wrestling. He had one sister, Danielle, 16, who is currently attending Roosevelt High School. She is very active in volleyball. He was known as a ``good kid'' who did a lot of favors for people and he asked for no recognition. He loved to play with kids, including his cousins and young wrestlers. The younger kids that wrestled looked up to John, and saw him as a hero. It was nothing for him to stop by their house to make them feel special. John was a very selfless person and would do anything for anybody. Wrestling was one of John's passions, and he had dreams of becoming a wrestling coach some day. Many shared that dream with him and knew he would be able to inspire many wrestlers and help them excel. John began wrestling at the young age of five. His dad used to wrestle and was a volunteer coach. His dad got him involved, taking him to wrestling matches, and he began to really like it. From that time on, wrestling was a big part of his life. John's parents were supportive of this and attended match after match and basked in their son's extraordinary talent and discipline. Survivors are his parents, John R. and Tina Olivas of Johnstown; a sister, Danielle Olivas of Johnstown; his grandparents, Felix and Viola Quintana of Johnstown and Mary Martinez of Loveland, step-grandfather Joe Martinez of Loveland; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. The loss his friends and family feel is tremendous and he will be sorely missed. John will always be present in their hearts. It is my honor to pay tribute to John Olivas, Jr.'s life on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. May God bless all those who mourn his passing. May God comfort them in the days and years to come.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, when I was in fourth grade, my family moved back to Galeton, CO. Soon after starting school, I met a little girl named Cynthia Lynch. We quickly became best friends, and I grew to love her family as my own. I have always had a special place in my heart for her dear mother, Joan. Today, with love and gratitude, I honor Joan on the occasion of her 80th birthday. Joan Lynch was born on October 12, 1924, in Greeley, CO, and is the third of five children. There was some confusion about her name. She was raised on the Colorado prairie by William and Kathryn Nelson who farmed northeast of Ault. In the depression and dust-bowl days of the 1930s, her family temporarily left the prairie to find work but did eventually return to the homestead her father had settled in 1915. She has always considered the prairie her home. She has always had a passion for books and learning, especially history. She speaks of her education in the one-room school at ``North Victor'' as her favorite school experience. Her sisters and she walked a mile and a half to and from school each day, across an open prairie. She later graduated from Central City Colorado High School in 1942, and attended the Teacher's College in Greeley. Joan and ``Corky'' Lynch, were married in 1946 and lived on the east coast while he was stationed there in the Navy. I've seen pictures of them in those early days. What a good looking couple. They returned to Colorado in 1947 and farmed in the Milliken area before moving in 1956 to the ranch where Joan continues to live today, northeast of Ault, and only a few miles from the homestead where she grew up. As teenagers, Cindy and I would always giggle and be slightly embarrassed when Corky would leave for work and give Joan a big kiss on his way out of the house. Really, though, we loved it. Corky passed away in 1999 from cancer. He and Joan celebrated 53 years together. I am so thankful I was able to go and see him before he passed away. I told him how much I appreciated all he and Joan had done for me growing up. We both cried. The older he got, the more tender- hearted he became. He was 75 years old when he passed away. I love Joan and I will never forget what she has done for me. As a young girl, she gave me lunch money when I needed it, and she put up with my frequent visits to spend the night. That love and support helped me get through the tough times and I will always hold that love in my heart. The way she has lived life has been a constant inspiration to me and her Christian example has always been present for all of us to see. May God bless her today as her family and friends celebrate her birthday. I love her dearly and cherish her as a second mother to me. I am pleased to honor a precious lady on this occasion of her 80th birthday.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, it is with a sadness that I rise today to remember and honor the life of Joe Jabaily, a thoughtful and dedicated community servant who will be greatly missed by his community of Loveland, Colorado. As his family and friends grieve for the passing of Joe Jabaily, I want to take a few moments to remember his service and commitment to the town and citizens of Loveland. He began his work by opening the first neurology center in Loveland in 1983. However, the walls of Joe's neurology center could not contain his enthusiasm, love for people, and desire to make a difference for them and their community. In the 20 years that Joe lived in Loveland, he accomplished much. Beginning in 1984 Joe served on the McKee Medical Center Continuing Education Committee, the McKee Medical Center Credentials Committee; he joined the Loveland Chamber of Commerce; and coached basketball for the Loveland Midget Athletic Association. Joe served as a Loveland Museum Commissioner as well as two terms on the Thompson School District Board of Education. He taught as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado, and volunteered as a facilitator for People Offering People Support at Loveland High School. Joe served as Commissioner for the Loveland Open Space Commission. In 1997 the Jabailys were named the Volunteer Family of the Year. Joe's service continued as he volunteered for the United Way Campaign. Joe ran for the Colorado State House District 51 in 2002, and was running again for the same seat when he was involved in a tragic accident during a charity triathlon. Joe Jabaily was known to always be there to listen, laugh, and contribute in a positive way. He enjoyed meeting people and hearing their concerns. He was known to occasionally cancel a patient's debt if they could not pay. Joe had courage, and did not hesitate to speak out for the citizens of the community. His premature death has affected the community of Loveland, Colorado, in a major way. He will be missed tremendously. I will always remember him as a man full of life, living it to the fullest. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to pay tribute to the life of this outstanding gentleman. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of Joe Jabaily. May God bless his family and many friends in this time of mourning.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to offer this amendment today with the gentleman from Arizona to restore much-needed funding for the title V block grant program. These funds allow local educators the flexibility to address local needs, whether it is school safety, remedial reading, dropout prevention, professional development or support for charter schools. This innovative education program is the most flexible program contained within the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It is the only formula program that allows recipients to use the funds to benefit any and all student populations in any and all schools. In 2001-2002, 23 percent of the money provided to Colorado through this block grant was used for literacy programs, and 11 percent was used for library materials. Other States have used the money for computers and teachers. Many States are now using the money to meet the academic requirements of No Child Left Behind. I am extremely supportive of giving our local educators flexibility with their funding so they can make decisions that truly benefit students. These innovative education funds can be used for anything to improve academic achievement. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and restore these funds.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American hero, Private First Class Wesley Swanson of Greeley, Colorado. In 1999, Wesley graduated from Greeley West High School and soon after attended Aims Community College as well as the University of Northern Colorado. After the tragedy of September 11, 2001 Wesley signed up for the University of Northern Colorado Reserve Officer Training Corp. Wesley joined the Army and was sent over to Iraq in October of 2003. While in Iraq, he served as a 21 Bravo Combat Engineer. His mission was to clear an area for vehicles and troops by using high explosives. While Wesley was in Balad, which is about 30 miles north of Baghdad, a bomb exploded and a suicide bomber rammed into his HMMWV vehicle, knocking Wesley off of the gun position on top. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of torn muscles and ligaments in his neck and shoulder. Since then, Wesley has spent the past several months at Fort Carson with his wife, Jennifer, who is pregnant with their first child. He is currently working as a recruiter, but wants to make the Army his career so he plans on re-enlisting. Wesley comes from a military family. His grandfather served in World War II and his uncle died while serving in Vietnam. I am proud to honor Wesley for his courage and sacrifice on behalf of all Americans. Wesley's courage has helped to protect our democracy and keep our homeland safe. I urge all of my fellow colleagues to applaud Wesley for his service to our great Nation.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American hero, 20-year-old Lance Corporal Jason Murray. Lance Corporal Murray is a United States Marine from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Jason's home is in Sterling, Colorado, in the northeast part of our beautiful State. Jason has wanted to serve in the military since he was a boy. He graduated from Sterling High School in 2002 and enlisted in the Marines in the fall of that year. He became engaged to his high school sweetheart, Kelsi, in the fall of 2003 following boot camp. Jason is currently recovering from injuries he received in Iraq on March 29. Jason was patrolling near Ar Rahmadi searching for improvised explosive devices. One of the devices detonated 3 feet in front of Jason, killing the Marine in front of him and seriously injuring Jason. Jason received the full force of the explosion, with shrapnel striking him in the face, chest, and arms. He lost his right eye and currently has no vision in his left eye. He lost most of the teeth on the left side of his face and received brain trauma as well. He spent 10 days in a drug-induced coma at the 31st Combat Support Hospital outside of Baghdad. Numerous surgeries were performed before he was stable enough to be airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany, and then on to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland where his family and fiance joined him. Jason is making a remarkable recovery and has recently been transferred to Craig Medical Center in Denver for rehabilitation. Because he received wounds while in combat, Lance Corporal Jason Murray was awarded the Purple Heart. Jason also received a flag that had been flown over the Capitol in his honor on March 23, 2004. Mr. Speaker, we are so fortunate to live in this great country where freedom is something that we rarely have to think about and often take for granted. It is simply a way of life for us, and we are truly blessed to live in a country that honors citizens for their spirit, their ideas, their individuality, and their courage. We can maintain the blessings of our freedoms only because we have citizens like Jason who are willing to fight to defend them for us. I am proud to honor Jason for his courage and sacrifice on behalf of all Americans. I applaud Jason for his courage and selfless dedication to duty. He has helped protect our democracy and kept our homeland safe by placing his life on the line. Jason is truly the embodiment of all the values that have molded America into this great Nation that it is today. May God bless Jason.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bent County World War II Memorial Committee. Bent County was home to at least 1,200 men and women who served in WWII. To commemorate their homegrown heroes, several citizens made the decision to gather as much information as possible about Bent County residents who served in the war. The 10 members of the WWII Memorial Committee have created a book to preserve the veterans' stories. On May 29, 2004 the book was displayed at the WWII Recognition Program at the old Bent County High School. The book not only contains personal stories and experiences of these veterans, but it also contains two pictures of each veteran, and information on where each veteran was stationed during the war. Other information that was entered included medals and honors veterans received during their time of service. The committee has found approximately 400 of the 1,200 veterans, and they have received responses from at least 300. Aside from desperately seeking the information needed from the remainder of the veterans they are also collecting memorabilia including uniforms, military records, and cookbooks. The committee knows that this is an ongoing project, and the book and collection will eventually be displayed in the future John W. Rawlings Museum. I am proud to serve a constituency that is willing to go to such great lengths to honor ``America's Greatest Generation.'' Thank you to the following members of the Bent County WWII Memorial Committee: Fontella Gardner, Donna Dodson, Bill Lutz, Diane Baublits, Betty Pennington, Tom Pointon, Ron Kiniston, C.P. (Jerry) Bryant, Jr., Vivian Pitts, H.E. (Ed) Blackburn, Jr. I would also like to extend a debt of gratitude to the individuals and businesses that offered special assistance to make this book and event a success: Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 2411, Kitty Ann Long, VFW Post 2411, Jace Ratzlaff, Constituent Advocate (Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave), Walmart, Safeway, Mark MacDonnell. The Las Animas/Bent County Community is fortunate to have had such brave men and women to serve in WWII, and they are fortunate to have so many citizens that recognize the importance of their service to the United States of America.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor all of America's veterans who have served our country for the cause of freedom. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a fine organization that deserves our praise for striving to instill an understanding of responsibility to country. This year, more than 80,000 secondary school students participated in the Voice of Democracy audio/essay competition designed to give high school students the opportunity to voice their opinion on their responsibility to our country. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Ladies Auxiliary selected the theme ``My Commitment to America's Future'' for this year's annual contest. I am pleased to announce that Ms. Megan N. Worthman from the Fourth District of Colorado won the 2004 Voice of Democracy broadcast scriptwriting contest for this year. Her work exemplifies excellence and is worthy of recognition. It is inspiring to see such commitment to America in a young person, and I applaud her fine work. Her essay reads as follows: 2003-2004 VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Contest--``My Commitment to America's Future'' When I was about 7 years old, my grandfather gave me his Naval uniform. I listened to him for hours recounting his journeys in the Pacific. Although he was a radio operator and never saw action, I loved that he lived in such an important time, and he was sharing his experiences with me. When he gave me his thick blue World War II uniform, I was so excited. He gave me a very important piece of him, and I was proud to wear a part of American history. That same pride reflected in his eyes as I tried it on. Of course it was way too big for me, the bottom hem brushing on the floor, the sleeves well past my fingertips, and his hat falling down over my eyes and resting on my nose. That uniform is still to big for me, but I hope to grow into it. I know I will never fit into it physically, but I will grow into its image, to become a better person, and a better American. My commitment is to become that American who embodies the image laid out over two centuries, to become the American that so many others died for. When I was in grade school, about second or third grade, I became really interested in World War II, and the history of my country. I also started to learn about the principles that were the foundation of this country. Later on in fourth grade, I had set my sights on the Air Force Academy, or at least measure up to the high standard they have. To be one of the few who can give all they possess to their country. Now, my goal is to uphold the Constitution and teach my family and those around me the morals and values that have defined America for so long. I am, and will become a more complete person and start to fit into that uniform. Good Americans are those who work hard for what they believe in, and respect all those trying to accomplish the same. Even today, as a young High School student, I practice the Constitutional rights entitled to myself and those around me. Everyone has an opinion and the natural right to let it be heard. Everyone also has a different background and heritage, and should be respected for it, no matter what. I will give my time and resources to others who cannot support themselves because it is my obligation. I have the privilege of family, health and happiness. Because of these gifts, I will help others find and button up their own tailored uniforms. ``We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.'' That is my commitment. These words echoed through Independence Hall over 200 years ago and were very important to the early framers of our nation. These words make me realize that my commitment is no small one; I will give all of me to my country and my fellow Americans. Other Americans have set the standard, the uniform, for all of us to grow into. Other Americans have given their lives for a few words written on a piece of paper two centuries ago. The least I can do is to uphold those values and pass them on. It is my duty and my commitment to go to school and learn about the people who influenced our ideas and values of today. The people who gave their lives for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and to learn about those who tried to take it away. It is my duty to learn about my neighbor and other cultures. The great thinker Voltaire said, ``I might not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.'' This held true many years ago, and still holds enormous value today. It is important to learn from the past, other cultures and other people. When I graduate high school and finish college, suddenly the hem on my uniform seems farther from the ground. When I volunteer my time to my community, or help my little brother with his homework, my fingers appear at the ends of my sleeves. When I listen to both sides of the argument, my hat fits a little better. When I become a better person by reading, volunteering, teaching and learning, I start to mature and fill out the uniform. When I respect all people, when I learn about foreign cultures, my commitment begins to show and becomes a beacon for others to see. Everyone has a different uniform. For some, it could be a military one. For others, it could be a business suit, a doctor's smock, an athletic uniform or a construction jacket. However, everyone's uniform is made of the same materials; commitment, hard work, love, respect and time. Everyone's uniform is intertwined with everyone else's, and if one of us is missing, the fabric of America cannot be whole. Everyone has an important role to play, and I intend to do my part to succeed in whatever my role may be. My commitment is a I lifelong one, and it seeded when I was 7, listening to another American recount his experiences.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a true American. Alan Albertus was a man that served his country in the U.S. Air Force, as well as his community as an engineer. He was an outdoorsman who had few peers, respecting the land God had blessed us with while enjoying the challenges of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Alan gave much of his time to defending our constitutional right to bear arms, and often instructed young families on firearms safety, reloading, and firearms ballistics. He was active in politics--he organized rallies, celebrated the Bill of Rights, and was a delegate to conventions. Alan believed the best legacy he could leave to America was that of freedom, and he worked hard to preserve that freedom. Most importantly, Alan Albertus served his family and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He will be missed.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The 21st Space Wing, under the Command of Brigadier General Richard Webber, also under Air Force Space Commander General Lance W. Lord, recently participated as champions in the 37th annual Guardian Challenge competition and won the coveted Aldridge Trophy for Best Space Operations Guardian Challenge is the only national competition for Air Force Space Command professionals and has a history of competitions dating back to 1967. It allows nearly 200 best-of-the-best competitors from various Air Force Space Wing Teams around the nation to test their skills against each other in tough competition and rigorous evaluation. The competition helps them better perform their missions by increasing their overall capabilities. Teams qualify by competing at their home stations against difficult criteria set in a competitive environment. By qualifying, teams compete at the national Guardian Challenge competition where they demonstrate their capabilities. In this case, Team 21 from Peterson Air Force Base came home with high honors, securing the coveted Aldridge Trophy, which is awarded to the Best Space Operations Wing. I extend congratulations to the top-notch competitors in Guardian Challenge who earned the Aldridge Trophy for the 21st Space Wing. From Space Operations this includes: Captain Michael Bruno, Crew Commander, Technical Sergeant Kenneth DeFeo, Space Operator, Captain Jennifer Berger, Crew Commander, Staff Sergeant Robert Widrick, Crew Chief, Airman First Class Jennifer McCord, Space Console Operator, Flight Lieutenant Jay Garratt, Crew Commander, Flight Sergeant Ken Callaghan, Space Operator, Sergeant Stewart Williamson, Operations Team Trainer, Corporal Andrew Leckie, Space Operator, Corporal Gary Wright, Space Operator, SAC Kristopher Cochrane, Space Operator. From Communications: Staff Sergeant David Kisner and Senior Airman Jon McCullar, both Communications competition. From Security Forces competition: Staff Sergeant Duane Blackmon, Staff Sergeant Jon Scott, Airman First Class Steven Israel, Airman First Class Thanongsack Phanda and Staff Sergeant Matthew Tussey. In addition, I extend special congratulations to Staff Sergeant Matthew Tussey of 137th Space Warning Squadron, Air National Guard in Greeley, for earning the Top Gun Trophy and medal for overall best marksman in all of Air Force Space Command. I would also like to honor the entire Team 21 Wing Staff: Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 21st Space Wing, Vance Clarke; Colonel Gary Pond, 21st Maintenance Group Commander; Lieutenant Colonel Bryant Anderson, 21st Operations Group Deputy Commander; Colonel Al Kemmet, Jr., 21st Space Wing Guardian Challenge Project Officer; Staff Sergeant Jason Hand who was ``Iron Mike''--the Team Mascot; Major Matthew Carroll, Guardian Challenge Project Officer Advance Team; Mr. Dick DuBose and Mr. Mel Thiel, both Guardian Challenge Advance Team and Technical Sergeant Roger Kelley, Transportation Support. Mr. Speaker, I take great pleasure today in congratulating the 21st Space Wing for their outstanding achievements in this year's Guardian Challenge. They are true professionals in our United States Air Force and are part of the best space and missile team in the world.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of a truly extraordinary gentleman, Major General John A. ``Andy'' Love. General Love has proudly served the United States and is retiring on May 21, 2004 to civilian life from a stellar 36 year career in the Colorado Air National Guard. Andy Love earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado in Political Science. After that, Andy joined the Colorado Air National Guard. He did undergraduate work in pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, in Arizona, where he earned his pilots wings and became a Squadron Fighter Pilot who has over 2500 hours in the F100, A-7 and F-16. Andy served in many capacities for many years at Buckley Air National Guard Base in Colorado and eventually became the Vice Commander of the 140th Fighter Wing, then on to Deputy Commander for Operations. Soon after that he became the Assistant Adjutant General to the Air National Guard unit at Buckley. In September 2000, Andy became the Assistant to the Commander of Air Force Space Command, which required a move from Buckley to Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. In April 2003, General Love was promoted to the position from which he now retires as the Assistant, for National Guard Matters, to the Commander of NORAD/ USNORTHCOM (North American Aerospace Defense Command/US Northern Command). Major General Love has much to be proud of in his extensive military career, but also for the many awards and decorations he's received, including: Legion of Merit Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Colorado Meritorious Service Medal, Active Service Ribbon, Foreign Deployment Service Ribbon, Colorado State Emergency Ribbon, Mobilization Support Ribbon, and Colorado Long Service Ribbon. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating Major General John A. ``Andy'' Love on his successful military career, and thanking him for his years of service to a grateful nation.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of a truly extraordinary gentleman, Major General John A. ``Andy'' Love. General Love has proudly served the United States and is retiring on May 21, 2004 to civilian life from a stellar 36 year career in the Colorado Air National Guard. Andy Love earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado in Political Science. After that, Andy joined the Colorado Air National Guard. He did undergraduate work in pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, in Arizona, where he earned his pilots wings and became a Squadron Fighter Pilot who has over 2,500 hours in the F100, A-7 and F-16. Andy served in many capacities for many years at Buckley Air National Guard Base in Colorado and eventually became the Vice Commander of the 140th Fighter Wing, then on to Deputy Commander for Operations. Soon after that he became the Assistant Adjutant General to the Air National Guard unit at Buckley. In September 2000, Andy became the Assistant to the Commander of Air Force Space Command, which required a move from Buckley to Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. In April 2003, General Love was promoted to the position from which he now retires as the Assistant, for National Guard Matters, to the Commander of NORAD/ USNORTHCOM (North American Aerospace Defense Command/US Northern Command). Major General Love has much to be proud of in his extensive military career, but also for the many awards and decorations he's received, including: Legion of Merit Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Colorado Meritorious Service Medal, Active Service Ribbon, Foreign Deployment Service Ribbon, Colorado State Emergency Ribbon, Mobilization Support Ribbon, and Colorado Long Service Ribbon. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my fellow colleagues to join me in congratulating Major General John A. ``Andy'' Love on his successful military career, and thanking him for his years of service to a grateful Nation. As an alumnus of Colorado State University myself, and now representing CSU in the United States Congress, I have had a determined interest in CSU's mission to benefit our great State. I am proud to know that the tradition and excellence synonymous to Colorado State University will be carried on through the dedicated work of Dr. Larry E. Penley.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, wind energy is an inexhaustible, affordable and economically beneficial source of electricity, and is the Nation's fastest-growing new source of power. I am proud to salute the dedication on May 14 of the Colorado Green windfarm in Prowers County, near Lamar, in southeast Colorado. This dedication will take place in conjunction with Lamar's 118th birthday celebration, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, with the theme of ``Winds of Progress Powering Our Future.'' The celebration is being sponsored by Lamar Chamber of Commerce, City of Lamar, Prowers County, Prowers County Development, Inc. and local business owners. At 162 megawatts, Colorado Green is the Nation's fifth-largest windfarm, and provides enough power for approximately 52,000 homes at a price competitive with conventional fuels. The project was developed by GE Wind Energy and is co-owned by PPM Energy and Shell WindEnergy, which sell the wind power to Xcel Energy. It is the largest capital investment ever made in Prowers County, and it has already begun generating tremendous local economic benefits throughout the neighboring communities of Lamar and Springfield. The economic benefits of the Colorado Green wind project include the creation of 10-15 new well-paying jobs at the site. During the height of construction, nearly 400 workers were employed, and these workers provided a sizable economic boost to local Lamar and Springfield businesses. For example, local motels had much higher occupancy than normal, and local restaurants and business experienced an upsurge of demand. The Texaco Food Mart in Lamar had to ``bring in more help'' in the early morning to deal with the added demand, and the Hay Stack Restaurant reported a 30 percent increase in business due to the windfarm construction. I am inserting an article from the Lamar Daily News of October 29, 2003 that provides a first-hand illustration of the tremendous benefits that the Colorado Green wind project has brought to Lamar and the Prowers County area. This article, by reporter Virgil Cochran, shows the many economic benefits that wind development can bring to rural parts of our country. With so much of rural America suffering economic doldrums, wind energy has helped Lamar regain its footing, and I look forward to more such development throughout rural Colorado--which has the nation's 11th-best wind energy resource--in the coming years. Besides the formal dedication of the Colorado Green wind project on May 14, other activities scheduled in conjunction with Lamar's ``Winds of Progress Powering Our Future'' activities that weekend include a parade featuring a 113-foot GE wind turbine and free guided bus tours to see the new windfarm. There will also be a 5K Walk and Run, Antique Car and Truck Show, Ducky Derby, ``Good Morning Lamar!'' breakfast and a ``Rock the Block'' dance. I congratulate Lamar as it dedicates the Colorado Green wind project and celebrates its 118th birthday on May 14 and 15. [From the Lamar Daily News, Oct. 29, 2003] Wind Farm Construction an Economic Boon for County (By Virgil Cochran) Lamar.--The Colorado Green Wind Farm now under construction in south central Prowers County has already had a strong economic impact to the area--helping at least some local businesses offset slow sales blamed on a drought and generally sluggish economy. The giant project, the largest single capital investment in the history of Prowers County, will also continue to benefit the county for decades, boosting the property tax base and adding some 12-15 new jobs. For one couple, David and Aracelli Fernandez, who live near the former Pleasant Heights Church, just a stone's throw down the road from the project, the boom has already hit. David and Aracelli are producing burritos about as fast as they can make them and running two daily routes to provide the 200 to 300 workers on the job with some tasty nourishment. ``We'd starve to death if it weren't for that lady (Aracelli),'' joked Chad-o Miller, a foreman with QCI erectors, which is installing the nearly 300-foot-tall turbines. Miller also predicted the workmen on the job will be sorely missed by the local grocery stores, motels, and restaurants when the project is complete. David Fernandez told the Daily News Friday he and his wife have been selling an average of 400 burritos per day at $2 each. When we met up with Fernandez around noon Friday, he had three oversize coolers in the back of his pickup which he uses to keep the burritos warm, but all were empty. David had sold his load of burritos for the day, and was attempting a rendezvous with Aracelli to transfer some from her vehicle. It was essentially, a startup business for the Fernandez's, triggered solely by the wind farm. ``Most of our guys stay with Brad the Limo man,'' Miller said, referring to Brad Semmens of Country Acres Motel and RV Park. ``We've been filling up his motel and RV Park and he's been great to us.'' And Semmens is far from the only motel owner in the area to benefit from the influx of construction workers. Kenny Buxton of Wallace Gas and Oil said the project has also created a temporary boom in fuel and related sales, offsetting what was otherwise very sluggish business due to the downturn in agriculture. Buxton has been running fuel delivery trucks to the site for weeks, providing fuel and lubricants for dozens of vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment at the site. It sometimes requires two truckloads per day to meet demand, Buxton said, noting there are all sorts of excavating equipment and specialized machinery from cranes to forklifts to which he supplies fuel. Since it is impractical to move the machinery to a fuel station, the construction companies rely almost completely on bulk fuel delivery to the site. Sales tax receipts in the city have been on the slide for something over a year, running at times ten percent or more behind receipts for the same month of the previous year. But the most recent month for which sales tax data are available, the same month construction moved into full swing on the wind farm, shows sales tax receipts are up over 13 percent from the same month a year ago. While it is impossible to determine how much of that is attributable to the wind farm, many think the boom in local sales can be linked largely to the project. Once the project is complete and is producing power, the property tax benefits will roll on for at least three decades. Although figures are only preliminary guesstimates, County Assessor Andy Wyatt projects it will produce around $764,000 per year in new revenue to the county, another $917,000 to the Re-2 School District general fund, $203,900 to the Re-2 bond fund, and some $189,000 to Prowers Medical Center. Exactly how that will shake out is uncertain for several reasons, said Wyatt. First, the local mill levy to fund Re-2 is governed largely at the state level because of an equalization program in state education funding. It will, at least to some extent, lower the local mill levy taxpayers pay to fund schools, but the amount of reduction hasn't been determined. Some of the funds the county collects could be limited as well, Wyatt said, because the county is subject to the Arveschoug-Bird Amendment which limits revenue increases to about 6 percent per year. But because much of the increase in the county's assessed valuation is from new construction, Wyatt said the county may have the option of keeping most of the money. What the Prowers County Commissioners will decide to do with the approximately three-quarter of a million dollar annual tax windfall is not certain, but Wyatt said he thinks some of it should go to property tax relief by reducing of the mill levy for all taxpayers. He says that would help out businesses like Neoplan, making them more competitive. Since the wind farm is not located within Lamar City limits, however, the city will see little, if any direct benefit from property tax revenues. What Wyatt calls the ``windfarm windfall'' won't take effect for another year, the beginning of 2005, but over the long haul, the $760,000 per year in property taxes paid to the county alone would inject some $22.9 million into the local economy over a 30-year period if the commissioners chose to collect all the new money and not reduce the property tax levy. Wyatt said property like the wind farm is assessed at the state level, and uses a formula which assures that renewable energy projects are taxed at the same rate of investment that would be spent on conventional power plants. Thus even though the wind farm sold for over $200 million, the state formula means it will be assessed at an approximately $100 million in actual value. But that isn't the end of it. Construction is now under way on another major electrical power-related project about ten miles northeast of Lamar. Xcel Energy is installing an AC-DC power converter that will link electrical grids--a project estimated to be worth at least $25 million. Wyatt estimates the county will net another $189,000 from the substation, while Re-2 will see tax revenue increases of $226,000 to its general fund and $50,000 to its bond repayment fund. PMC would net about $47,000. All those figures are, of course based on present mill levies, but could vary. An engineer at the substation project north of Lamar said yesterday that the project is being built by a consortium of two companies, Beta Engineering of Pineville, Louisiana, and Siemens Transmission and Distribution of Raleigh, North Carolina. He said the project is expected to continue for about a year, and when complete, will link two of the nation's major power grids, converting electrical power from alternating to direct current, then back to alternating again. In the process, the station will also convert power from 230,000 volts to 345,000 volts so the power can be routed into long-distance transmission lines. The project was mobilized about a week ago, and a subcontractor on the job, Cajun Construction of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is already on the job beginning preliminary concrete work. In additional to local job opportunities and increased sales by local businesses the projects have created and will continue to create, the two projects combined will provide an estimated $79 million in property tax receipts over a 30-year period, according to Wyatt's figures. The project also paved the way for Lamar Light and Power and the Arkansas River Power Authority to own wind farms of its own. G.E. does not ordinarily sell only a handful of its 1.5 megawatt turbines--the largest in the wind power business--because of complications and expense with maintenance and warranties of the equipment. But since the wind farm was only a few miles down the road, ARPA and Lamar were able to capitalize on the event, along with 40-year lows in bond market interest, to install windfarms in Lamar and Springfield.

Mrs. MUSGRAVE

Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I didn't know Thomas Faria. But I know of the work he did. And I know the importance of the fight he waged for years for freedom. I rise today to give tribute to Thomas Faria and his work. Mr. Faria was a Connecticut businessman who had contributed to the efforts of the National Right to Work Committee. In 1977, after already contributing to the cause for 8 years, he sent a letter to Committee President Reed Larson offering his services as a member of the Board of Directors. In that letter, Mr. Faria explained his strong desire to be more deeply involved with the Committee's efforts. He wrote: ``Although I have supported the National Right to Work Committee for a number of years because of my strong belief in individual freedom, I did not really appreciate the clout of Union political power until I worked on trying to close loopholes in Connecticut's Unemployment Compensation law. I would like the opportunity to do more in the area of right to work as I feel America's future depends on it.'' Luckily for those in the Right to Work movement, Reed Larson took Mr. Faria up on this offer, beginning a quarter century fight together for workers' Right to Work. Mr. Faria joined the board of directors of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation shortly thereafter. The Right to Work principle--the guiding concept of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation and one of the guiding principles of Thomas Faria's work--affirms the right of every American to work for a living without being compelled to belong to a union. The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation gives legal assistance to employees who are victimized because of their assertion of that principle. Mr. Faria generously supported the Foundation with his time and resources until his death almost 1 year ago. His efforts helped to provide free legal assistance to thousands of Americans whose rights had been violated by abuses of compulsory unionism and helped make more Americans free. Many workers, and many Americans who believe in the American ideal of freedom, owe thanks to Mr. Faria. I am speaking on their behalf, and on my own today, to publicly acknowledge this gratitude. So, Mr. Speaker, today I proudly pay tribute to Mr. Faria and the National Right to Work organization with whom he served. Their efforts have preserved and advanced freedom for individual workers for more than 35 years. I applaud their unwavering dedication and tireless action on behalf of what should be every American's birthright not to be forced to join a labor union to get or keep a job.