Bob Ney

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me say in closing, again, I think this is a great day, and considering the holiday, and, in fact, my relatives came here under the name O'Ney, I would like to thank also the late Speaker, Tip O'Neill, our current Speaker O'Hastert and Congressman O'Larson for joining us today in honoring C-SPAN.

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

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

Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 551) thanking C-SPAN for its service to the House of Representatives on the 25th anniversary of its first coverage of the proceedings of the House.

Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of S. Con. Res. 94, the Senate concurrent resolution just concurred in.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 93) authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of S. Con. Res. 93, the Senate concurrent resolution just concurred in.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Carr-Bailey American Legion Post No. 519 of Mineral City is recognized for supporting American forces in Iraq; and Whereas, Carr-Bailey Post No. 519 has upheld their Congressional mandate to support veterans and active-duty members of the United States armed forces by providing care packages to the brave men and women serving in Iraq; and Whereas, Carr-Bailey Post No. 519 has demonstrated patriotic and faithful dedication to those fighting for liberty and freedom at home and around the world; Therefore, I join with the residents of Tuscarawas County and the entire 18th Congressional District in commending Carr-Bailey American Legion Post No. 519 for continued support of our American troops overseas.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Sessions), who has done such a good job on framing the proper type of debate on this rule today and has done a good job on the rule. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 552 and the underlying bill itself, H.R. 339, the Personal Responsibility and Food Consumption Act. As original cosponsor of H.R. 339, I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) for introducing, I think, a very important piece of legislation and the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), for working towards its passage. When this situation occurred, I think it was the first time in New York, and as a parent I can relate to this, it clearly pointed to the fact that a parent could not control their child, could not control how many times they went to a restaurant per day or where they went to, no form of responsibility. So they just ended up going with some plaintiffs' lawyers and they filed a lawsuit. Now, there are serious issues that have been discussed by both sides of the aisle about obesity and what, in fact, should happen, and exercise. And we can get into those issues. But I believe, Mr. Speaker, firmly, and I said it at the time the day those lawyers ran around and started this with the lawsuits, our judicial system that day was hijacked. It has been hijacked by greedy, blood-sucking, immoral plaintiffs' attorneys. They have made a ridiculous situation, and they have made the ridiculous the reality. What was once thought of as a hilarity on late-night comedy shows has been brought into mainstream media by absurd frivolous lawsuits. The situation really is not laughable, though it is scary. These actions are clogging our courts, driving our doctors out of practice, and are killing business growth in our great Nation, if we want to talk about jobs today. What is the purpose, you may ask? Will they promote social justice or make America safer? The answer is no. These suits are to line the pockets of America's trial bar. Contingency fees of 40 percent plus court costs leave lawyers enriched and their clients baffled. In big-time class actions, lawyers are hauling in fees that range as high as $30,000 per hour. I guarantee you that their clients are not receiving awards at that same rate. Now, Mr. Speaker, the same class-action lawyers that have sued other industries are turning towards our restaurant industry, pure and simple. They have held strategy sessions and seminars to hatch their schemes estimating they could reap hundreds of billions of dollars in settlements from the so-called obesity lawsuits. The lawsuits charge that children are overweight because of cheap fast food and aggressive food marketing by restaurants. But when you look at the underlying fact, it is clear that the American tort system is being exploited once again, pure and simple. Statistics from the National Bureau of Economic Research show that 60 percent of Americans' weight gain over the past 2 decade is attributable to increases in sedentary life-styles. The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that only 20 percent of children participated in daily physical education programs in 1999, compared to 80 percent in 1969. Nutritional data shows that teen obesity rose 10 percent in 1980 and the year 2000. Teens' caloric intake rose only 1 percent during that time, while their levels of physical activity dropped by 13 percent. Mr. Speaker, the judicial system is being used by industrious law firms and plaintiffs' lawyers who sue without repercussion. Their strategy is simple: sue until the defendants concede; once the restaurant company settles, the flood gates will open. As you can tell, I am not an attorney myself, I am a teacher by degree, but I have been around long enough to know that opening the flood gates of litigation is bad news. It is bad news for our courts. It is bad news for our doctors. It is bad news for business. It is ultimately bad news for America. The restaurant industry employs more than 12 million Americans. Restaurant companies lose just by being forced to defend these types of crazy lawsuits. They are forced to shift precious resources away from expanding their business and creating jobs and towards defending lawsuits solely filed to satisfy the insatiable appetites of the plaintiffs' bar. Mr. Speaker, it is the Congress's obligation to give American businesses the tools necessary to defend themselves from this type of litigation. There are proper times for lawsuits; I know that. There is a way to work at this. We have to look at exercise and education and responsibility within the restaurant industry and within the American population, period. But these insane and crazy lawsuits are absolutely not the way. I think the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) has a responsible approach to this problem.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Ohio delegation, I rise today to acknowledge and commend the accomplishments of the Ohio Department of Education and Dr. Mary Lou Rush for their work implementing Ohio's 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Ohio's 21st Century Community Learning Centers offer programs and services that benefit the educational and related health, social services, cultural, and recreational needs of our communities. These centers provide academic enrichment opportunities to help students and to meet state and local student performance standards. In addition, they offer students a broad array of additional programs and activities, such as youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, art, music and recreation programs, technology education programs, and character education programs. Dr. Rush, and those like her throughout the State of Ohio, are ensuring that all children, regardless of ethnicity, income, disability, or geographic location will meet with academic success. I am including in the Record a recent letter to Dr. Rush signed by members of the Ohio delegation to honor her accomplishments. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, February 27, 2004. Dr. Mary Lou Rush, Ohio Department of Education, Columbus, Ohio. Dear Dr. Rush: We are pleased to recognize Ohio's 21st Century Community Learning Centers and their commitment to excellence in education. It is with great pleasure that we acknowledge and commend the Ohio Department of Education as the national leader in 21st Century Community Learning Center program implementation. In particular, we want to commend you for your exemplary leadership in developing Ohio's network of safe and supportive learning environments for all children, both during and outside the traditional school day. A tireless and committed advocate, your singular ability to focus Ohio's diverse communities on the educational needs of all children is assuring that Ohio's education system is the best in the nation. On behalf of the Ohio delegation, we extend our thanks to the Ohio Department of Education for supporting a program that has impacted the lives of so many children. We congratulate the individuals behind the 21st Century Community Learning Center program and wish them continued success in their efforts to create appropriate educational opportunities for the children of Ohio. Sincerely, Members of Congress: Bob Ney, Marcy Kaptur, Sherrod Brown, Steve Chabot, Paul E. Gillmor, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Dennis Kucinich, Steven C. LaTourette, Robert Portman, Timothy J. Ryan, Ted Strickland, Patrick J. Tiberi, and Michael R. Turner.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, today in Arlington National Cemetery, John J. Boyle, a veteran of World War II who was the first employee of the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) to rise through the ranks to become Public Printer of the United States, was laid to rest. Jack Boyle, as he was known to his friends at the GPO, on Capitol Hill, and throughout the American printing industry and library community, had an impressive career that deserves our recognition. Boyle came to the GPO in 1952 as a proofreader following an apprenticeship in his native Pennsylvania. In 1954, he became a reviser and in 1960, he was named principal technical assistant in the GPO's Office of the Superintendent of Composing. Boyle was an early and vigorous advocate of applying electronic printing technologies at the GPO to meet Congress's printing needs more efficiently and effectively. With the support of the Joint Committee on Printing, electronic printing was introduced at the GPO in 1963 and Boyle was selected to develop and coordinate all phases of its operation. The following year, he was appointed Special Assistant to the GPO's Production Manager for Electronic Printing. Subsequently, Boyle worked to establish the GPO's Electronic Photocomposition Division, which over the ensuing decade evolved into the largest and one of the most modern photo typesetting facilities in the entire printing industry. For his leadership capabilities, Boyle was promoted to Deputy Production Manager for Electronics in 1971. In 1972, he was detailed as Production Manager and a year later Public Printer Thomas McCormick named him Deputy Public Printer. He served in that capacity until 1977, when he was nominated and confirmed by the Senate as the 19th Public Printer of the United States, the first of the GPO's own employees ever to attain that position. As Public Printer, he continued modernizing the GPO's operations, gaining widespread respect in Congress, federal agencies, throughout the printing and paper industries, the library community, and from the GPO's employees. He retired from the GPO in 1980. Well known throughout the commercial printing industry, Boyle lectured in the United States and in England on new processes in printing. He was an original member of the federal Electronic Printing Committee that was created in 1962 as an advisory committee to the Joint Committee on Printing. Boyle was a member of the Washington Club of Printing House Craftsmen, the Washington Litho Club, and the Franklin Technical Society. He served as a member of the Graphic Arts Advisory Committee of the Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Graphic Arts and Photography, and the Advisory Committee of the University of the District of Columbia. He was on the Board of Directors of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation and the Washington School of Printing. In 1977, Boyle received the Horace Hart Award of the Education Council of the Graphic Arts Industry in recognition of distinguished public service in the field of printing and publishing. He was elected to membership in the Walter E. Soderstrom Society of the National Association of Printers and Lithographers and was an honorary life-time member of the International Printers Supply Salesman's Guild. In 1979, Boyle received the Gold Key Award from Gamma Epsilon Tau in New York City and was made an honorary member of that printing fraternity. In 1980, he received the Joint Graphic Communication ``Man of the Year'' Award from the organization of seven Washington, DC, graphic arts associations. In addition to work with these organizations, he devoted much of his personal time to speaking at meetings of craftsmen's clubs, litho clubs, and printing industry associations throughout the country on the need for retraining of personnel and for increasing management skills. A veteran of World War II, Boyle served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945 and was with the First Armored Division in the North African Campaign. He was a prisoner of war for two and a half years in Italy and Germany. Boyle is survived by his wife Jeanne; two children, Sarah Sundstrom of Baltimore, MD, and Robert Boyle of Charlottesville, VA; a brother; and five grandchildren. Boyle's pioneering leadership in helping to bring electronic printing technologies to the GPO resulted in improvements that continue to benefit Congress, federal agencies, and the public to this day. He gave many years of dedicated service to the public through his work at the GPO, and later, through his distinguished leadership of that agency. On behalf of the Joint Committee on Printing, we sincerely appreciate his contributions and offer our heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Boyle and her family.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Carrie Mytinger was presented the 2003 Rookie of the Year Award by the Chillicothe Jaycees; and Whereas, Carrie Mytinger must be commended for her work with the Chillicothe community; and Whereas, Carrie Mytinger has demonstrated a commitment to community service through her work with various organizations, meeting challenges with enthusiasm and confidence; Therefore, I join with the residents of the entire 18th Congressional District in congratulating Carrie Mytinger for her outstanding accomplishment.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, the Bridgeport Aerie No. 995 Fraternal Order of Eagles is celebrating 99 years of service to the Bridgeport area; and Whereas, the Bridgeport Eagles have contributed untold volunteer hours in building character, citizenship, and leadership to the community; and Whereas, the Bridgeport Eagles must be commended for its hard work and dedication in providing an outstanding service to the Bridgeport area; and Therefore, I join with the residents of Bridgeport and the entire 18th Congressional District in recognizing the Bridgeport Aerie No. 995 Fraternal Order of Eagles for 99 years of community service.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, James E. Carnes served the people of Ohio as a member of the Ohio State Senate for 9 years; and Whereas, James E. Carnes has served as Chairman of the Senate's Finance Committeee, overseeing the State budget; and Whereas, James E. Carnes is currently the longest serving member of the Ohio State Senate; and Whereas, James E. Carnes has used his position within the Ohio State Senate to help better the lives of thousands of people; and Whereas, James E. Carnes has been appointed to continue his service to the citizens of Ohio as the Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources; and Whereas, James E. Carnes must be commended for his dedication to improving the State of Ohio and his willingness to continue this service through his new appointment. Therefore, I join with the residents of the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in celebrating James E. Carnes' 9 years of service in the Ohio State Senate and wish him the best of luck in his new position.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, is celebrating 200 years of excellence in advanced education and character development; and Whereas, liberal arts institutions are essential to the progress of arts and sciences and important to morality, virtue and religion in any society; and Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of Ohio met in Chillicothe, Ohio, to establish a university in the town of Athens by the name and style of ``Ohio University'' on February 18, 1804; Therefore, I join with the residents of Ross County and the entire 18th Congressional District in celebrating Ohio University's Bicentennial Anniversary.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and also the gentlewoman for supporting this resolution. I want to particularly thank the chairman for always responding when it comes to international affairs and making our Congress proud. Mr. Speaker, we have the support of many great colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), just to mention a few of the cosponsors of this resolution. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for being the prime sponsor and the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for all his support, again. I rise today in support of House Resolution 526, which expresses the sympathy of the House of Representatives for the victims of the devastating earthquake that occurred on December 26, 2003, in Bam, Iran. More than 40,000 men, women and children, including an American, were killed when the ancient city of Bam was struck by a massive earthquake. While the final toll is still being tallied, the loss of life ranks this as one of the worst human tragedies in recent memory. Aside from the unspeakable humanitarian disaster, which has been pointed out on the floor today, more than 90 percent of the 2,000-year-old city was destroyed. Indeed, in this destruction was the magnificent citadel of Bam. Located in southeastern Iran, 200 kilometers south of Kerman, Bam was made mostly of mud bricks, clay, straw, and the trunks of palm trees. The more modern part of the city was originally founded during the Sassanian Period, around the third century A.D. During this time of suffering, the American people immediately showed their sympathy and offered their help. Rescue teams and aid personnel from all over our Nation jumped into action as though this tragedy hit their own next-door neighbors. President Bush was among those who acted with great speed. He temporarily lifted sanctions on Iran only 5 days after the earthquake. The President's actions enabled American relief organizations to swiftly send aid to the people of Bam. It is not inconsequential that American help was warmly received and welcomed by the Iranian people. Our workers were received with generosity and great appreciation by the Iranian people. Teams from the Mercy Corps were among the first to arrive and worked hand in hand with local aid organizations. American and Iranian personnel rescued people from the rubble and brought much-needed supplies to very weary survivors. Our brave aid workers dispelled misconceptions about America that pervade the Middle East. They showed the real essence of our great Nation and of our people, one of generosity and one of compassion. Mr. Speaker, the leadership that President Bush has shown in exempting humanitarian aid from U.S. sanctions on Iran will go a long way towards improving understanding by the people of Iran, the Mideast and America towards each other. The President's actions have shown that two societies can work with each other in a time of great need and in a time of great trauma and strife. I ask that the Congress join me in expressing our heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the Bam earthquake and our gratitude and appreciation for the courageous work of the American aid personnel. By passing this important resolution, we will commend President Bush's decision and this Congress' support to temporarily make aid organizations exempt from the sanctions on Iran, and we will continue to show that the compassion and generosity that has kept America the world's leader in humanitarian missions still continue to this day.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, Matt and Wendy Petersen are celebrating the birth of their son, Byron Spencer Petersen; and Whereas, Byron Spencer was born on the 16th day of February, 2004, and weighed 9 pounds and 6 ounces; and Whereas, the Petersens have all occasion to celebrate with friends and family as they welcome Byron Spencer into their family; Therefore, I join with the Members of Congress and their staff in congratulating Matt and Wendy Petersen and wishing Byron Spencer a very happy birthday.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Margaret and Stan Planton have provided years of dedication to improving their community, including Margaret's service as the Mayor of Chillicothe; and Whereas, Margaret and Stan Planton, along with members of their community, arranged a letter-writing campaign to help convince United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) to build its uranium centrifuge plant in Piketon, Ohio; and Whereas, Stan Planton worked tirelessly to gather information about USEC's plans and convey the information to Members of Congress and other legislators; and Whereas, on January 12th, 2004, Piketon, Ohio, was selected as the site for USEC's centrifuge plant, bringing an estimated 500 permanent high-paying jobs into the area; and Whereas, Margaret and Stan Planton were an integral part in Southern Ohio being chosen as the site for USEC's plant; Therefore, I join with Members of Congress and the entire Eighteenth Congressional District of Ohio in thanking Margaret and Stan Planton for their dedication to this project and their continued efforts to improve their community.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, Christine Irene Mikropoulos has devoted her life to serving others through her membership in the St. John's Episcopal Angels Program and her work with Warren Hospital; and Whereas, Christine works with elderly patients, bringing her warm and personal touch to these individuals who are spending their time in a hospital setting; and Whereas, Christine is a committed volunteer with the Guardian Angels program, providing clothing, shoes, books and other essential items to children of military personnel and children whose parents are incarcerated; and Whereas, Christine has ceaselessly given of herself to others, always placing the interests of those in need ahead of her own; Therefore, I join with the entire 18th Congressional District in thanking Christine Irene Mikropoulos for her dedication to improving the lives of those around her.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Kurt Angle, and John Bradshaw have made significant contributions to youth civic activities through their efforts with WWE's ``Smackdown Your Vote!''; and Whereas, WWE has registered 500,000 new voters between the ages of 18 and 30 over the past two years. Accordingly, under their leadership, WWE intends to register an additional two million new voters for the 2004 campaign; and Whereas, On January 27, 2004 Kurt Angle and John Bradshaw visited Capitol Hill to meet Members of Congress and staff. During their visit, they helped spread the message about the importance of youth involvement in the political process; and Whereas, WWE's ``Smackdown Your Vote!'' program has proven to be a highly effective organization for outreach to younger voters; and Whereas, we look forward to the active participation of the WWE, Kurt Angle, and John Bradshaw in the American political process in 2004; and Therefore, I join with Members of Congress in thanking WWE, Kurt Angle, and John Bradshaw for their unwavering commitment to increasing youth civic participation.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I hereby offer my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and community of Sgt. Todd Michael Bates upon the death of this outstanding soldier. Sgt. Bates was a member of the Ohio National Guard 135th Military Police Company serving his great nation in the country of Iraq. He was a leader in his unit and a loving grandson to his grandmother, Shirley Bates. Sgt. Bates was an active citizen in his community and did his best to make his neighborhood a better place to live. Sgt. Bates 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 Sgt. Todd Michael Bates.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Renee Young has served as a dedicated Field Liaison for the Ohio Emergency Management Association for 27 years; and Whereas, Renee is always willing and able to address the needs of, and lessen the stress upon, the County Directors and is a source of stability in times of crisis; and Whereas, Renee has demonstrated her commitment to aiding those during emergencies by working overtime, and from her own home if necessary, to see that the emergency is resolved; and Whereas, Renee serves as a training instructor for the Ohio EMA and has a reputation for keeping participants engaged through a mixture of humor and information; and Whereas, directors from counties outside of Renee's district routinely call upon her leadership and experience to assist their counties; Therefore, I join with Members of Congress and the entire Eighteenth Congressional District of Ohio in thanking Renee Young for her dedication to the Ohio Emergency Management Association and her continued efforts to protect and improve her community.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, it is with sad tidings that I announce the loss of Ken Burns, a dedicated House employee that many of us had the pleasure of working with. Ken began his career with the House working for House Information Resources as a Communications Specialist in November 1999. During his time there, Ken served as the PBX administrator and supported video conferencing for all congressional offices. Ken also served as a Move Coordinator during the last transition. He was always very helpful and dedicated to the customer. Ken received numerous letters of recognition for his cheerful and positive attitude. He never hesitated to go the extra mile to make sure his customers were totally satisfied. He made himself available to assist customers no matter when he was needed. He was a real pleasure to work with and always maintained an upbeat attitude--even when you knew things were not going well for him. And for the past year, Ken worked at the Recording Studio, handling all the video teleconferences for Members. He was very knowledgeable about the systems and stayed on top of new technologies. Ken was always very helpful in many areas of that operation--he helped answer phones at the front desk and operated television cameras in the House studios regularly. Ken's personality was infectious, always positive, upbeat, and never had a bad word to say about anyone. I feel privileged to have known Ken as a person and know that he will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of working with him.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Charles and Lillian Haver were united in marriage November 4, 1933 and are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary; and Whereas, Charles and Lillian Haver have demonstrated a firm commitment to each other; and Whereas, Charles and Lillian Haver must be commended for their loyalty and dedication to their family; and Whereas, Charles and Lillian Haver have proven, by their example, to be a model for all married couples; Therefore, I join with the residents of the entire 18th Congressional District in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Haver as they celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.