Bob Ney

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Christian ``Chris'' Hendricks, Deputy Inspector General of the House of Representatives will be retiring at the end of this year after a long and distinguished career in service to the United States government. His exemplary career spans twenty- seven years of service, including the last six years with the House of Representatives. Chris' considerable professional skills and credentials as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Information Systems Auditor have enabled him to assist the House of Representatives in achieving its present standards of safety, security and accountability. Chris' duties within the Office of Inspector General have ranged from the analysis of the House's financial controls to careful analysis of emerging technologies. His efforts have contributed to improved administrative functions for the House and improved services and security for individual Members. He has worked to ensure fire safety improvements in House facilities and has been critical to assuring the integrity of the House's information technology systems. Chris will be missed by all of his colleagues, but he can take great satisfaction in the many efforts of his career. Chris' advice and counsel on matters of significant importance to the House will be difficult to replace. I wish Chris and his wife Nancy a joyful and exciting retirement, and I congratulate him once again for his long and distinguished career of 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 8 years; and Whereas, James E. Carnes has served as Chairman of the Senate's Finance Committee, 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 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's 8 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, Thomas Patrick Flannery has devoted himself to serving others through his membership in the Boy Scouts of America; and Whereas, Thomas Patrick Flannery has shared his time and talent with the community in which he resides; and Whereas, Thomas Patrick Flannery has demonstrated a commitment to meet challenges with enthusiasm, confidence and outstanding service; and Whereas, Thomas Patrick Flannery must be commended for the hard work and dedication he put forth in earning the Eagle Scout Award; Therefore, I join with Troop 87, and his family and friends in congratulating Thomas Patrick Flannery as he receives the Eagle Scout Award.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, Rita Dutton has devoted herself to serving the Union Local School District for the past eleven and a half years; and Whereas, Rita Dutton has served as the President of the Union Local School Board in 1996, 1998, and 2003; and Whereas, Rita Dutton supported the construction of and served as Board President during the groundbreaking of a new high school and elementary school; and Whereas, Rita Dutton has given selflessly of her time and talents to improve the quality and facilities of the Union Local School District; Therefore, I join with the Union Local School District and the entire 18th Congressional District in congratulating Rita Dutton on her retirement from the Union Local School Board.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Kaye Forbes has served the Bayer Employees' Federal Credit Union for 32 years; and Whereas, Kaye Forbes has been a loyal leader to her co-workers and will continue to be an admired citizen of the community; and Whereas, Kaye Forbes has served as Vice President of Operations, working to promote the interests of the company and wellbeing of its employees; and Whereas, Kaye Forbes must be commended for her professionalism and her ability to motivate those around her by establishing a superb example; and Whereas, Kaye Forbes's dedication and service will be deeply missed. Therefore, I join with Members of Congress and Congressional staff in celebrating Kaye Forbes's years of service and retirement from Bayer Employees' Federal Credit Union.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Donald and Dilla Manasse are celebrating the birth of their son, Joseph Bruno Manasse; and Whereas, Joseph Bruno was born on the Twenty-third Day of September, 2003 and weighed 3.3 kilograms; and Whereas, the Manasse's have all occasion to celebrate with friends and family as they welcome Joseph Bruno into their family, and Therefore, I join with Members of Congress and their staff in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Manasse and wishing Joseph Bruno a very Happy Birthday.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 1680), to reauthorize the Defense Production Act of 1950, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment to the House amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, on this particular issue I am actually standing in for the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Oxley) on this particular unanimous consent bill. As far as the rest, that goes above my pay grade, but I am sure that our side will be more than happy to talk to your side.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

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. Con. Res. 345.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 345) authorizing the printing as a House document of the transcripts of the proceedings of ``The Changing Nature of the House Speakership: The Cannon Centenary Conference,'' sponsored by the Congressional Research Service on November 12, 2003, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 253, a reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program. I am pleased that an arrangement this afternoon could be worked out between all of the interested parties so this bill could come up under suspension. We can all agree that this is a fiscally responsible bipartisan piece of legislation. Floods have been and continue to be one of the most destructive and costly natural hazards to our country. The National Flood Insurance Program is a valuable tool in addressing the losses incurred throughout this country due to floods. It ensures that businesses and families have access to affordable flood insurance that would not be available on the national market. The National Flood Insurance Program was established in 1968 with the passage of the National Flood Insurance Act. Prior to that time, insurance companies generally did not offer coverage for flood disasters because of the high risk involved. Today almost 20,000 communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. More than 90 insurance companies sell and service flood policies. There are approximately 4.4 million policies covering a total of $620 billion. In order to participate in the program, communities must agree to abide by certain hazard mitigation provisions. These provisions include adopting building codes that require new floodplain structures to be protected against flooding, or elevated above the 100- year flood plain. The National Flood Insurance Program is administered by FEMA. It is worth noting that on November 25, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which brought FEMA under the new Department of Homeland Security. The NFIP authorization expired on November 21, 2002. Unfortunately, Congress adjourned without extending the program. This situation was quickly remedied in the 108th Congress on January 13, 2003. President Bush signed into law a bill to reauthorize the program for 1 year retroactively to January 1, 2003. This 1-year reauthorization will give us the time necessary to determine how best to go about reforming the existing program. This is a good day for the National Food Insurance Program and a good day for American taxpayers. I applaud all Members for reaching agreement and give credit to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer). Also, I want to note that a correction was made that was a terrible situation for many people in that if they moved a trailer off a property, they could not take it back in; and they were forced to build expensive, tall walls and it hurt a lot of poor people. That correction was made after 5 years of injustice on that. I urge my colleagues to support this initiative. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley). (Mr. OXLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I will do that, and then I will make a phone call too, and if the gentleman wants, we will bring them to his office for a chat.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time. In closing, I want to thank everybody involved with this bill. I want to mention the supporters of H.R. 253 include National Taxpayers Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, Heritage Foundation, Taxpayers for Common Sense, American Bankers Association, National Association of Realtors, America's Community Bankers, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Homebuilders, National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, American Planning Association, the Association of State Floodplain Managers.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker).

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, in a calmer, non-Cajun moment, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter). (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin).

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 253) to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to reduce losses to properties for which repetitive flood claim payments have been made, as amended.

Mr. NEY. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

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 insert extraneous material on this legislation.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3491) to establish within the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and for other purposes.

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).