Bob Ney

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Jay and Sarah McDougal were united in marriage April 23, 2005 in Marietta, Ohio; and Whereas, Jay and Sarah McDougal have dedicated their lives to each other; and Whereas, Jay and Sarah McDougal shared their wedding day with family and friends; and Whereas, Jay and Sarah McDougal have illustrated the love and commitment necessary to live a long and beautiful life together. Therefore, I join with their family, friends, and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in congratulating Jay and Sarah McDougal on the occasion of their marriage.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Lizzy Ratner is celebrating her 30th Birthday today; and Whereas, Lizzy Ratner has been and continues to be a positive influence on all persons fortunate to meet her; and Whereas, Lizzy Ratner has shown love for her family and friends and must be commended for her dedication to these relationships. Therefore, I join with the residents of the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in congratulating Lizzy Ratner as she celebrates her 30th Birthday.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by an American hero, Specialist Gavin Colburn of Frankfort, Ohio. He was an Army Reservist with the 542nd Transportation Company serving in the war on terror in Iraq. Specialist Colburn would be considered a hero by anyone's standards for being willing to answer his Nation's call to duty. Yet, Gavin was a hero in an even greater sense. On April 22 when a roadside bomb exploded near Specialist Colburn's truck, he threw himself in between the bomb and a fellow soldier, saving her life while sacrificing his own. As we struggle to deal with the loss of this young man, let me assure Members that Specialist Gavin Colburn's life was not sacrificed in vain. Specialist Colburn was a young man full of promise, passion, bravery and heart, a young man fighting for what he believed was right and fighting for a cause he believed to be true. Gavin loved his fiancee, his family and friends. And he loved his country. His family, his fiancee, his friends, the community of Frankfort, Ohio, and the United States of America, will never forget the incredible sacrifice this young man has made, for Specialist Gavin Colburn was born more than a soldier, he was an American patriot and an American hero. May God rest his soul.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Lieutenant Roy Zaletski has completed his tour in the Navy's House Liaison Office; and Whereas, Lieutenant Roy Zaletski has demonstrated a commitment to meeting challenges with dedication, confidence, and outstanding service; and Whereas, Lieutenant Roy Zaletski will continue in his service to the United States of America as Assistant Air Detachment Officer on the USS NEW ORLEANS; and Whereas, in this post Lieutenant Roy Zaletski will protect our great Nation and play an important role in the War on Terrorism. Therefore, I am honored to join with Members of Congress and Congressional Staff in recognizing a true patriot, Lieutenant Roy Zaletski.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, I hereby offer my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and community of George Tozzi, Sr.; and Whereas, George Tozzi, Sr. was a retired meat cutter with Kroger company, the former owner of the Tee-Pee in West Bellaire, and former owner of Phillip's Trailer Court; and Whereas, George Tozzi, Sr. was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in St. Clairsville, the Knights of Columbus, Board of Directors for A Special Wish Foundation, former member of the Bellaire Civil Service Commission, and American Legion Post 52 of Bellaire; and Whereas, George Tozzi, Sr. bravely defended our country for four years aboard the U.S.S. Nashville in the Pacific Theater of World War II; and Whereas, the understanding and caring to which he gave to others will stand as a monument to a truly fine person. His life and example inspired all who knew him. Therefore, while I understand how words cannot express our grief at this most trying of times, I offer this token of profound sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of George Tozzi, Sr.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, I hereby offer my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and fellow officers of James M. Feltis III; and Whereas, James M. Feltis III was a man committed to his family, a devoted husband to his wife of 21 years, and loving father to his six- year-old daughter; and Whereas, James M. Feltis III was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; and Whereas, James M. Feltis III had been a field training officer, a criminal investigator, and a member of the HAZMAT Response Team through his 11 years of service with the Pentagon Police Department; and Whereas, James M. Feltis III will be remembered for his ultimate sacrifice of self while protecting others, earning the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal of Valor. His example of strength and courage will be forever remembered by those who knew him. Therefore, while I understand how words cannot express our grief at this most trying of times, I offer this token of profound sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of James M. Feltis III.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, I hereby offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Natalie J. Vannelle; and Whereas, Mrs. Vannelle was a loving sister, wife to her husband, Frank, mother to their four children, and grandmother to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and Whereas, Mrs. Vannelle was a member of the St. John Catholic Church in Bellaire, Ohio; and Whereas, Mrs. Vannelle will certainly be remembered by all those who knew her because of her loving nature towards her family, friends, and community; and Whereas, the understanding and caring to which she gave to others will stand as a monument to a truly fine person. Her life and love gave joy to all who knew her. Therefore, while I understand how words cannot express our grief at this most trying of times, I offer this token of profound sympathy to the family and friends of Natalie J. Vannelle.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Melvin Mahlke has served for twenty years in the United States Navy; and Whereas, Melvin Mahlke is to be commended for the honor and bravery that he displayed while serving our nation; and Whereas, Melvin Mahlke has demonstrated a commitment to meet challenges with enthusiasm, confidence, and outstanding service; and Whereas, Melvin Mahlke is a loving husband to his wife, Candra, and father to his children, Brittany, Mason, and Dalton. Therefore, I join with the family, friends, and the residents of the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in thanking Petty Officer Second Class Melvin Mahlke of the United States Navy for his service to our country. Your service has made us proud.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Joseph and Audrey Bocek were united in marriage January 9, 1953, and are celebrating 52 years of marriage; and Whereas, Joseph and Audrey Bocek have dedicated their lives to each other; and Whereas, Joseph and Audrey Bocek have illustrated the love and commitment necessary to live a long and beautiful life together. Therefore, I join with the residents of Toronto, and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in congratulating Joseph and Audrey Bocek as they celebrate their 52nd Wedding Anniversary.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I hereby offer my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and community of PFC Gavin J. Colburn upon the death of this outstanding soldier. PFC Colburn was a member of the Army Reserve's 656th Transportation Company of Springfield, Ohio serving his great nation in the country of Iraq. He was a loving son to his parents, Tony and Tina, a caring brother to Matthew, and a loving fiancee to Sarah Kern. PFC Colburn was an active citizen in his community and did his best to make his neighborhood a better place to live. PFC Colburn will be remembered for his unsurpassed sacrifice of self while protecting others. His example of strength and fortitude will be remembered by all those who knew him. While words cannot express our grief during the loss of such a courageous soldier, I offer this token of profound sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of PFC Gavin J. Colburn. His service has made us proud.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are here to consider H. Res. 224, an omnibus funding resolution providing for the expenses of certain committees of the United States House of Representatives in the 109th Congress. In February of this year, the chairman and ranking member of each committee presented a budget request to the Committee on House Administration and introduced individual resolutions, as is our process, to support their funding request. H. Res. 224, the Omnibus Primary Expense Resolution, combines all of the individual resolutions into one bill, including our new permanent committee, the Committee on Homeland Security. I am pleased to put before the House a bipartisan resolution that can be supported by a majority of Members on both sides of the aisle. I feel that both chairmen and ranking members will agree that this carefully crafted agreement will provide sufficient funding for them to carry out the duties and responsibilities with which they are charged. As we all know, the Committee on Homeland Security was created at the beginning of this Congress, making it a permanent standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. The committee will provide an important oversight function overseeing the Department of Homeland Security and ensuring that the combined agencies are doing the job we all expect of them with regard to protecting our homeland. The inclusion of the Select Committee on Homeland Security and the permanent committee funding process significantly raises the funding levels needed for committees to operate. Their budget alone increased funding for this resolution by 1 percent. Protecting our homeland is now a reality, and the funding needed to run the committee is also a reality that we dealt with and came to a conclusion that I think is good for the committee and the entire process here in funding. During this cycle, committees requested a total of $273.4 million in spending. This is approximately $40 million more than what was authorized in the 108th Congress and represented a 17.1 percent requested, and I stress ``requested'' increase. Removing homeland security from the equation, the request by committees totaled $257.8 million, which is a $35 million increase over the 108th authorized levels and a 15.7 percent increase. This resolution reduces, I am pleased to say, the amount requested by committees by $16.2 million, or a 5.9 percent decrease. H. Res. 224, as amended, provides for expenses of all committees and authorizes $257.4 million, a 10.1 percent increase. This is a $23.7 million increase over the 108th Congress authorized levels. It should be noted that the 109th Congress funding level of $257 million in this resolution is still lower than the funding levels in the 103rd Congress when adjusted for inflation. The mark for the 103rd Congress was $223.3 million, which adjusted for inflation amounts to $296.4 million in 2005 dollars. That means in real terms we have held a reasonable line of expenditures for the committee; but we are able to still carry out the tasks of these committees, which is so important to constituents across the United States who depend on these committees to be able to produce public policy and to do their work for the people of the country. I am proud of the numbers we are putting forward with this resolution, Mr. Speaker. As I stated earlier, I feel that most Members will be able to widely support this measure. This resolution also carries forward a goal that we reached in the 107th Congress whereby committees allocated at least one-third of their resources to the minority. Since the 104th Congress, we have strived to reach the goal of dividing committee resources on a two-thirds/one- third basis between the majority and the minority of each committee. I am proud to say that committee chairmen have worked with their respective ranking members and vice versa and produced agreements that provided for a two-thirds/one-third split of resources agreements that have been reached between the Chairs and the ranking members to their satisfaction. I want to note that it is important that under the leadership of the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), who runs the House, and the goal that he set when the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) was chairman and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) Hoyer was the ranking member, they set the two-thirds/one-third allocation and did a wonderful job to get to that. The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) was our ranking member, and the Speaker held to the same tenacity to reach that deal, and we reached the two-thirds/one-third. I am pleased today our ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), is here and has carried on to make sure that has stayed intact and refined it and has pushed for the minority in a marvelous way. This goal would never have been reached if it were not for our ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald). This ensures a fair division of the resources. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for their work on this issue and the previous assignments, and I want to thank the chairman of each committee and their ranking member for their cooperation with each other on this matter. Mr. Speaker, when I speak again, I will have some ending thanks for some staff on both sides of the aisle. I will save that until after our ranking member speaks. Let me just say, I am so proud. We might have differences in the House, but we come together for the institution of the House today. I am so proud of our ranking member for working through the issues, of expressing for her membership for the ranking members of what they wanted to see in this document. I want to thank again the Chairs and the ranking members. It is truly a document that will receive, I believe, wide bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 224) providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Ninth Congress, as amended.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I do not believe that I have any further speakers on this issue, but I did forget to mention the franking issue, and I agreed with that amendment. What we did is we changed the rules. We did not clarify the rules, but we changed the rules. Previously, committee mailings were not covered by the same regulations that apply to individual Members. This was the case in the 108th and the previous Congress. This rule change will treat committee mailings the same as individual mailings with respect to the blackout and the preapproval. So we have I think made a change in the rules that, as I said, I agreed with is good, and all the chairs of the committees and the ranking members agreed with the change.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I wanted to mention a few thanks that we need to say. The minority leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), and also her counsel, Bernie Raimo; the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), of course, for his diligence on this issue and fairness with the committee funding structure; Scott Palmer with the Speaker and Ted Van Der Meid, who provided constant assistance to us on the issues; also our staff, Paul Vinovich, Jeff Janas and David Duncan; and the minority, George Shevlin, Charlie Howell, and Catherine Tran. Let me also thank the members of our committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds), and our newest member, the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller). As we have opened up the House, and it is a wonderful thing, to the age of the Internet, where Americans can actually see what is going on in their House, in the committees, as we have done that, more people are writing than ever before, more people are wanting answers than ever before; and that is wonderful open structure in this House. But that has caused, obviously, extra work; and we have staff of these committees, both minority and majority staff, that are doing a wonderful job to respond to citizens across the country and crafting laws. We can argue about the laws, whether they are good or bad, or make amendments; but if we did not have the committee structures of all of the committees of this House, we would not be able to craft the law; we would not be able to carry out lawmaking. So, again, I want to especially thank our ranking member for doing a wonderful job, giving us her views, and giving wonderful input into the system. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I do have a speaker who has arrived, so I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

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

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 239) dismissing the election relating to the office of Representative from the Sixth Congressional District of Tennessee, and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of H. Res. 224, as amended.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Chillicothe, Ohio, police officer Larry Cox. Officer Cox was a man of dignity and compassion. A 19-year veteran of the Chillicothe police force in Chillicothe, Ohio, Officer Cox was a devoted law enforcement official who had dedicated his life to one of our Nation's noblest fights, keeping our children away from drugs. As a DARE officer, Officer Cox was able to provide impressionable elementary school students with the guidance and support that many could not find elsewhere. This past Thursday evening as Officer Cox walked home from visiting his parents in Chillicothe, Ohio, he surprised a fleeing robbery suspect who then shot and killed him in an utterly senseless act of violence. It is times like these that we question the world we live in, but we must not let this senseless act blind us from the goodness that is all around, the compassion of our teachers, the innocence of our children, and the ultimate bravery of our law enforcement officials. For it is these things that Officer Cox was born of and ultimately died for. So I stand here today to honor the life of Officer Larry Cox, to honor each and every law enforcement official that risks their life to protect the most treasured pieces of our community. Officer Cox understood these treasures and the paramount importance of caring for others; and though his body has left us, his spirit of bravery, dignity, and compassion will forever be found in our communities.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Steven ``Steve'' McNamara, the Inspector General of the House of Representatives will be retiring at the end of May after a long and distinguished career in service to the United States Government. His exemplary career spans 35 years of service, the last 5 of which have been spent with the House of Representatives. Steve's considerable professional skills and credentials as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Government Financial Manager equipped him for the important role of leading the Office of Inspector General in the House of Representatives. Through Steve's strong leadership, the Office of Inspector General has conducted essential reviews of the House's financial and administrative operations. These reviews and resulting recommendations have helped the House to achieve our present standards of safety, security, information assurance, and accountability, and Steve's role in these worthy institutional achievements cannot be understated. Steve's leadership of the Office of Inspector General has spanned a wide area of audit services ranging from the analysis of the House's financial controls to careful analysis of emerging technologies. His business improvement initiatives and focus on efficiency have improved administrative functions in the House Officer organizations and realized cost savings for the House. Furthermore, his efforts have served a valuable purpose in achieving improved services and security for individual Members of Congress and staff. He has worked to ensure fire safety improvements in House facilities and has been paramount to assuring the integrity of the House's information technology systems. Steve will be missed by all of his colleagues and the House, but he can take great satisfaction in the many positive and important accomplishments of his career. Steve's judicious advice and counsel on matters of significant importance to the House will be difficult to replace. I wish Steve and his wife Jill a joyful and exciting retirement and I thank him once again for his long and distinguished career in Federal service.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 19) providing for the appointment of Shirley Ann Jackson as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

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

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here with my friend and colleague from New York, and we appreciate his support of these resolutions. I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 20, which provides for the appointment of Robert P. Kogod as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents. Robert Kogod is the second nomination we are considering today. He is expected to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Wesley Williams. Mr. Kogod is the former co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of the Charles E. Smith Realty Companies. The Smith Companies he headed pioneered mixed-use development in the Washington, DC area, which puts residential, office, and retail buildings in close proximity. Mr. Kogod and his wife, Arlene, are renowned philanthropists. In 1979 the Robert and Arlene Kogod School of Business at American University was named in honor of a major gift from the Kogods. They also helped establish the Institute for Advanced Jewish Research, within the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. The Kogods are also world-recognized collectors of American crafts, art deco, and American art. They are longstanding members of the Smithsonian's American Art Forum and Archives for American Art. Mr. Kogod has also served as a member of the Smithsonian Washington Council, and he is currently serving as a special adviser to Secretary Small on the Patent Office Building renovation project. He serves as a trustee and adviser to the President of American University, which is where he also earned his bachelor of science degree in 1962. He possesses an extensive background in business, philanthropy and art. His diverse experience will make him an excellent candidate to serve on the Smithsonian Institution's governing board. I support House Joint Resolution 20 and ask for its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 20) providing for the appointment of Robert P. Kogod as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

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