Pete Olson

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise with deep concerns about yesterday's vote to grant the Palestinians full membership in the U.N. organization known as UNESCO. America has been crystal clear about what the consequences would be for this kind of end run around negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinians seeking their own nation. This action by UNESCO emboldens the fraudulent Palestinian bid for recognition without the Palestinians immediately recognizing Israel's right to exist as a Jewish nation- state or even denouncing their stated goal of Israel's destruction. The United States had no choice but to refuse to make a scheduled $60 million transfer to UNESCO. That $60 million should be used to pay down our Federal debt instead of to support an organization committed to thwarting peace in the Middle East.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with 32 additional bipartisan House members, to introduce the Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act of 2011. I am introducing this legislation to preserve patient access to important, life-saving advanced diagnostic imaging services, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound. Radiologists are paid for the time, effort, and skill involved in interpreting images, rendering patient diagnoses, and reporting their findings as part of the medical record. A Proposed Rule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would cut the professional component reimbursement for radiologists by 50 percent through application of a multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) to the interpretation of multiple images for a single patient. Under the Proposed Rule, CMS seeks to apply this MPPR policy to the professional component due to what we think is a flawed view that there are considerable ``efficiencies'' when the same patient receives multiple imaging services from the same radiologist during a single session. This substantial cut is a disservice to radiologists and ignores the fact that radiologists spend an equal amount of time, effort, and skill interpreting each diagnostic image, regardless of the number of images being examined, the section of the body being examined, or the particular date of the imaging service. My legislation ensures that CMS does not arbitrarily undervalue the role of the radiologist within the health care delivery system. As you know, individuals receiving multiple imaging studies often represent the sickest and most complex patients seen by radiologists. Constituent radiologists contacting our offices in recent months have shared their concerns regarding the impact of this policy, particularly on patients who receive multiple scans during a single session and are typically affected by severe trauma, stroke, or widespread cancer. Implementation of this flawed MPPR will disproportionately affect our most vulnerable patient population and could actually cost our health care system more in the long run. This action could force physicians who currently provide imaging services in a private practice setting to move to a hospital setting, causing these vital services to be reimbursed through the more expensive Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment Schedule (HOPPS), rather than the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. I urge all Members of the House of Representatives to lend their support to this bipartisan legislation dedicated to preserving patient access to community-based diagnostic imaging services.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to tell the story of an American small business owner, Joe Schneider, struggling to keep his head above water. A few weeks ago, I had lunch with Joe at the Barbed Rose Steakhouse, which he owns in Alvin, Texas. When we finished our lunch, Joe took me on a walking tour to show me his plans to open five more restaurants in the area. He wants to revitalize his hometown by bringing commerce, jobs and good food to historic downtown Alvin. But the likelihood of a large tax increase, whether it be from tax cuts expiring or the White House's proposed tax hikes, has put his expansion plans on indefinite hold. Small businesses deserve certainty from Washington and a tax policy that allows them to keep more of their money to expand, to reinvest in their communities, and to grow jobs. Mr. Speaker, people like Joe Schneider need commonsense tax reform that will encourage American job creation, not hinder it.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, one of the privileges we have as Members of Congress is to have the leader of a church back home deliver the opening prayer for the United States House of Representatives. Today, I'm proud to introduce America to my home pastor, Morris Matthis. Morris has had a tremendous spiritual influence on my family and me. When we moved back to Texas, my wife and I worried about uprooting our two children from the only home they'd ever known. But we shouldn't have worried. We found Morris and the amazing people at Christ United Methodist Church in Sugar Land, Texas. They welcomed us with open arms, and have loved us ever since. During his tenure at Christ United Methodist Church, Morris and his team--his wife, Jepilyn; his son, Kyle; and his daughter, Amy--have made sure that every single man, woman, and child who has walked through our church's doors has felt the peace, the love, and the faith that embraced my family. Whatever I do in Congress, however long I'm here, I'll have no fonder memory than my pastor, Morris Matthis, standing before the American people in prayer for our great Nation.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. I thank the chair of the subcommittee. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 2273, the Coal Ash Residuals Reuse and Management Act. By supporting H.R. 2273, I'm also rising in support of American jobs and environmental protection, a concept that may be lost on a few of my distinguished colleagues from the other side of the aisle. This piece of legislation will, for the first time, establish minimum Federal requirements for the management and disposal of coal ash. Not only will H.R. 2273 provide certainty for State regulators as well as manufacturers that rely on coal ash as building material, it will keep coal ash out of our landfills and prevent unnecessary hikes in electricity rates. EPA has delayed rulemaking because they're weighing two options: One, continue to regulate coal ash as nonhazardous; or, two, ignoring science to classify it as a hazardous waste. EPA has already determined on numerous occasions that coal ash should not be classified as hazardous waste. They came to that conclusion most recently in 2000, over a decade ago, under the Clinton administration. In fact, EPA's finding went even further, arguing that ``Regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste would be environmentally counterproductive because it would unnecessarily stigmatize coal ash and impede its beneficial use.'' Meanwhile, due to the uncertainty created by EPA's inaction on this rule, the coal ash industry is crashing. Regulating coal ash as a hazardous waste flies in the face of years of scientific research and EPA's own findings. Coal ash as a hazardous waste would force unworkable requirements on our electric utilities, resulting in serious economic consequences for American job creators and American families. I urge my colleagues to vote for American jobs and a clean environment. Vote for H.R. 2273.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, passing the South Korea, Colombia, and Panama trade agreements will decrease our trade deficit and make it easier for U.S. companies to compete on a global level. Specifically, the U.S.- Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement levels the playing field for Texas exports and translates into a potential duty-free savings of $180 million for this fast-growing regional market. For example, in the district I represent, Texas 22, Schlumberger exported $6.7 million in machinery parts to Colombia in 2010 and paid over $336,000 in duty fees. In Texas 22 alone, over 107,000 jobs are directly supported by over $57 billion in exports. Free trade means more money--money that stays with the companies in America, money that can be used to expand American businesses and grow American jobs. I urge my colleagues to level the playing field for American businesses by supporting these three free trade agreements. Let's export American goods and services, not American jobs.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. I thank the chairman of the subcommittee. Mr. Chairman, President Obama's regulatory agenda, being led by the EPA, is going to kill the American pulp and paper industry. My father spent his entire career in the pulp and paper industry, so I know firsthand that if the misguided Boiler MACT rules are allowed to be implemented, 36 mills across this country will close and more than 80,000 jobs will be lost. These jobs will be lost because of the EPA's failure to understand the basics of how this industry works. The industry does not--does not--impose reasonable regulations. They are just asking to have regulations based on sound science, which can be achieved with technology that is currently available here in the real world. Mr. Chairman, we need to stop exporting American manufacturing jobs. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, to create an immediate positive impact on American jobs and the recovery of our economy.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for yielding. Mr. Chairman, today, the House takes another step to ensure a stable regulatory environment for the cement industry. In a rush to regulate, the EPA issued economically damaging rules that jeopardize 4,000 American jobs in the cement industry. The cement industry has stated that it cannot comply with these rules even with the best current technology. CEMEX is a cement company with operations based in Houston, Texas. They've asked Washington for help in negotiating with EPA on these unachievable rules. CEMEX is just one company of many that Congress has repeatedly heard from that may be forced to move operations overseas where regulations are more reasonable. EPA's failure to strike the proper regulatory balance puts U.S. jobs in jeopardy and hurts our global competitiveness. The bill before the House today simply gives EPA the needed time to ensure the rules are reasonable and attainable in the real world. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 2681, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act, so we can stop exporting American jobs.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness about the importance of juvenile diabetes research. Approximately 3 million Americans suffer from type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. More than 30,000 new people are diagnosed annually, including 15,000 children. These individuals must take insulin daily to stay alive and must undergo multiple injections or have insulin delivered through a pump. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a leader in type 1 diabetes research worldwide. The goals of juvenile diabetes research are straightforward: to cure type 1 diabetes, to develop better ways to treat type 1 diabetes, and to prevent type 1 diabetes from occurring in those most susceptible. This research means taking scientific developments and translating them into cures, treatments, drugs, and therapies. Mr. Speaker, by keeping our taxpayer investment in juvenile diabetes research, one day soon we will find a cure.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. I thank my colleague from Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, there appears to be some funny accounting at the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA justifies issuing major rules that will have a tremendous negative impact on our economy by relying on the concept of ``lives saved from premature death.'' Well, let's take a look at those ``lives saved'' numbers. Ninety percent of the 13,000 to 34,000 theoretical ``lives saved'' from the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule are from particulate matter exposures already below the National Air Ambient Quality Standard. Ninety percent of the 6,000 to 17,000 theoretical ``lives saved'' from the Utility MACT are from particulate matter exposures already below the National Air Ambient Quality Standard. Do you notice the theme? The EPA should explain how they attribute a net benefit to a concentration of particulate matter below their own standards. I encourage Members to vote ``yes'' on the TRAIN Act, H.R. 2401, to hold the EPA accountable, and to put a stop to this job-killing nonsense.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, last week in this Chamber, the President challenged a joint session of Congress to pass his jobs stimulus bill. He promised the American people that it would be paid for. This week, we learned that it will be 100 percent paid for through tax hikes on job creators. Pinnacle Asset Integrity Services is a small business engineering firm employing 100 people in the district I represent in Pasadena, Texas. Pinnacle's president told me that the higher taxes proposed by President Obama would not affect his personal salary, but higher taxes would severely restrict the funds available to him to pay employees while maintaining the reserve cash needed for monthly salaries. The result? Layoffs. Mr. Speaker, tax hikes on job creators like Pinnacle are simply not the solution. Regulatory certainty and reasonable tax rates will do wonders for job creation. I urge my colleagues to stand with the job creators and reject this tax increase. Let's get America back to work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Texas City, Texas on its one hundred year anniversary. Located alongside Galveston Bay, this city has made significant contributions to both the Houston and Texas economies. Congratulations to Texas City for a wonderful century of contributions to the Great State of Texas! September 16th, 1911 marks the founding of Texas City. This city has grown from a sleepy town of 3,500 people in 1925, to a vibrant city of more than 45,000 people today. Texas City plays a critical role in our state's economy with its contributions to the shipping and petrochemical industries. The Texas City Industrial Complex is a leading center of the petrochemical industry. The history and economic efforts of Texas City bring pride to our state. Congratulations to Texas City for one hundred years of excellence and to a bright future ahead.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. In conclusion, the Keystone XL pipeline will strengthen America's economy, reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, and produce hundreds of thousands of jobs right here in America. It's a win/win/win. I urge my colleagues to support this very important energy security bill that creates, jobs, jobs, jobs right here in America.

Mr. OLSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his leadership on this important issue. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1938, the North American-Made Energy Security Act. This bill is a bona fide jobs bill and will have a positive economic impact on our entire country. The Keystone XL pipeline will stretch from our neighbor and ally Canada through Montana, the intersection of North Dakota and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, all of the way down to my home State of Texas, ultimately transporting nearly 1.3 million barrels of oil per day--1.3 million barrels per day--and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs on its journey to the gulf. The Keystone XL pipeline has the potential to create up to 624,000 jobs over the next 15 years, including 50,000 in the Lone Star State, with its economic impact valued in the billions. Madam Chair, 170,000 companies alone in Texas would serve as suppliers. These are real jobs for real Americans. This is real energy security for America. The Department of Energy has determined that this pipeline could ``essentially eliminate'' our dependence on Middle Eastern oil sources. The Obama administration has dragged its feet for over 2 years, insisting on delaying the project with more environmental studies and regulatory hurdles. If we don't break through this regulatory wall, China is more than happy to take our place. The studies have been done, Madam Chair. It is time to approve the permit. H.R. 1938 will ensure that the administration does just that. The Keystone XL pipeline will strengthen America's economy and reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, yesterday marked the 42nd anniversary of our Nation's greatest achievement--putting an American on the moon. Today marks a different milestone with the last flight of the space shuttle. The space shuttle program has been the heartbeat of human spaceflight for the past 30 years. Today, we celebrate the shuttle fleet--Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor--for their awe-inspiring records: 135 missions, over 5 million miles flown in orbit, construction of the international space station, repair of the Hubble telescope. The list goes on and on and on. We owe immense gratitude to those heroes on Challenger, Columbia, and their families who made the ultimate sacrifice for space exploration. Most of all, we recognize the best space industry team in the world for enabling our country to bear the honor of such incredible achievements. I am proud beyond words to represent the Johnson Space Center, the home of U.S. human spaceflight now and forever. May God bless America and remember this remarkable team.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: Atlantis . . . Hail Atlantis! This, final thrust . . . This The Shuttle's Final Mission, so as such! Five . . . Four . . . Three . . . Two . . . One . . . Ignition . . . lift off! As up towards the heavens you now so rush! As on this day as is such . . . with this your last and most final journey, all our hearts but lie in a hush! As from The Beginning . . . now to The End! Oh how so quickly, we've all so been taken to so then . . . To such new heights we've all so sped! So shuttled to back and forth, time and again! And because of all of this, to what new world's will we one day so transcend? All because of The Discovery's, The Endeavor's . . . that went forth all in your stead! As The Challenger, who so met and held that course! To new Columbia's, with your most heroic force! All in your most heroic blood so shed! As to lost worlds discovering, and to new ones Atlantis you now report! Let this Enterprise so continue to go forth! Of all of these most distant travelers, all out on their most heroic course! And let not this quest so end! All in our search for the answers, the truth that we all must so comprehend! Let Us Go Forth, all in our hearts of youth begin! And for all of those many journey's, over all of those years. As have so here, to Man and Womankind meant so much! While, out upon the face of God you've all so stared! So sped! All out there on the very edge of death, hurdling through space as you left! As your fine hearts would so crest! And because of all its majestic beauty, all in tears you were so left! As with this final thrust, suddenly how all of those years have so come and gone! By so fast, so sped! To find answers, to all of those questions . . . to which all our hearts must so be led! While, soaring to new heights . . . as you'd crest! As you've appeared to us so very bright, all in what was said! As out on the night's horizon, streaking across her skies at dusk in flight . . . full speed ahead! With all our hopes and dreams, and fears . . . so carried with you up there, as one we were wed! As together, we've all so waded through . . . through all of those most heartbroken tears! With all of those broken hearts and dreams, that which so tragically appeared . . . With but the loss of, all of those most magnificent courageous pioneers! As but exploration's grave cost so very clear! Of The Challenger and The Columbia so here! With all of those fine lives so lost so very dear! SMITH, SCOBEE, McNAIR, ONIZUKA, McAULIFFE, JARVIS, RESNIK, BROWN, HUSBAND, CLARK, CHAWLA, ANDERSON, McCOOL, RAMON . . . Brave Hearts, all out in their search for new frontiers! Who so boldly so went forth without fear! As for them and their families, but hear our Nation's prayers . . . her tears! As now all of their fine souls are so etched across the heavens, appear's! As a lesson to all of our young, as to what new heights and worlds . . . A heart of courage can so climb to, can so come! As on this day Atlantis, as you So Search For The Truth! All in your hearts of youth, so sung! While, Reaching For The Stars . . . soaring ever forth, as brilliant, as brilliant as any sun! All in your quest for knowledge, but Let This Dream Live On! Let not this be the end, but the beginning of new dreams and suns to form! As on this Mission, The Shuttle Program so comes to her end! Let us give praise and thanks, to all of those who have so shown! So shown us all the way to courage and faith, whose most magnificent hearts have so carried us with them on their ways . . . Who once upon a time, let their dreams take flight to new heights . . . as did they! And go, where no women or man before has so gone! Who upon all of them, all our very futures are so born! While, upon such magnificent structures of Man . . . to new heights they would soar! All because of their most courageous hearts telling them, To Go Forth and Explore! As up to the heavens, and outer space defying death again once more so spoken all with such grace! To take Command, as now they so race! And to all those, who upon this earth who have stood by them so close! Who at Mission Control, have so shown such brilliance and such vigilance, when it all so meant the most! As The Centurions, The Guardians, of all of those distant travelers up in outer space, who counted upon you, would boast! Living with them, on the very edge of death as you would host . . . As on each new day, all of their very lives were placed! All in what they so faced! Let not this so be the ending, but the beginning . . . but to keep so sending! To so sending up explorers to new worlds, up in outer space! To a world of hopes and dreams, where such hearts of youth can so race . . . Can so plan and scheme . . . Like JFK's Dream, this pace! But, to continue this most important race! And Go Forth! But to find the answers, to new celestial worlds as we are advancing . . . As already, from all of their gifts, so much has so come forth, exists! And yet, so much more but still lies ahead . . . all in our travels up in outer space, all in what is to be written . . . so said! For only if we go forward steadfast, will all of our futures so be blessed, as come to pass! So Hail Atlantis, as you take that one last pass . . . around this earth . . . Take one last long hard look, one last long glance all in its worth! For all of us here so down upon this earth, as you pass! So, ever must we Endeavor to Discovery! To find in you Atlantis, new worlds to explore and see! So Godspeed! Godspeed, fair well Atlantis as you speed! As you and your kind, are but the very height to where Man and Womankind can so be led! Because, whenever we ENDEAVOR . . . in our ENTERPRISE to entertain such thoughts . . . To rise! All in our DISCOVERY, from hearts of courage what can be brought forth . . . No matter what the cost, and not compromise! To new worlds and lost shores, to chart our course evermore . . . to new COLUMBIA'S this force . . . or an ATLANTIS to so explore! Then, will we win as THE CHALLENGER! And to this our world, but all of our futures to so insure! To learn and to grow, to therein there so . . . but to fine the answerers! Of The Universe, to so strive for and know! All bathed in exploration's warm glow! That which lies before us so! Hail Atlantis! Hail Atlantis! Hail Atlantis! As You Soar! As You Go!

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. I thank my colleague from New Jersey for the time. Mr. Speaker, there are two reasons why this is the most important vote of my 2\1/2\ years in Congress: Their names are Kate and Grant Olson. They are my children. Kate is 14 and Grant is 11. My wife, Nancy, and I uprooted them from the only home that they knew and moved back to my home State of Texas to run for Congress because we were worried that the ever-increasing Federal debt was the greatest threat to their future. Today, for the first time in my children's young lives, the House of Representatives is passing game-changing legislation that puts our Nation on a path to fiscal sanity and ensures that my Kate, my Grant, your Kates and your Grants, have better lives than we did. I urge my colleagues to make a downpayment on the future of America's youth and vote in support of H.R. 2560.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, Congress has a very important decision to make very soon on whether or not to increase the national debt ceiling. Today, our national debt limit is a staggering $14.3 trillion, and the President is seeking a $2.2 trillion increase in our debt limit. An increase to our Nation's debt ceiling that is not accompanied by equal or larger spending reductions would be reckless and arrogant. Speaker Boehner was right when he said, ``It's true that allowing America to default would be irresponsible, but it would be more irresponsible to raise the debt ceiling without simultaneously taking dramatic steps to reduce spending and reform the budget process.'' This debate is a unique opportunity to achieve significant and serious spending reforms in Washington and to prove to the American people that their employees, the Members of the United States Congress, are listening to them. I believe this is our best chance for the foreseeable future to obtain substantial and credible long-term deficit reductions, to reform the way Washington spends taxpayer dollars, and save America from ruin. Elections matter. Last fall changed the debate here in Washington. We may not be cutting spending as fast as some of us prefer, and quite frankly, I have been frustrated by the pace. But the discussion has shifted to how much should we cut, not how much should we spend. This distinction is critical to getting our Nation's fiscal house in order and one that has been driven by conservatives in the House. House Republicans have developed a three-fold ``cut, cap and balance'' strategy that includes deep spending cuts, enforceable spending caps and a balanced budget amendment with strong protections against Federal tax increases. These proposals will ensure that the Federal Government adheres to the same parameters that families and businesses live with every single day. The time for irresponsible Federal spending is over. With each passing day, our Nation's fiscal problems only compound, leaving our children and grandchildren with a larger legacy of debt. My colleagues on the other side have advocated an increase to our debt with no strings attached. They continue to stand for business as usual right here in Washington, DC. But we cannot ignore the problem, nor can we simply tax our way out of this mess. Furthermore, in the event we fully reach the debt ceiling, we cannot trust the White House to prioritize our debt payments, nor can we trust the administration not to default on our obligations. The American people must remember that if we default on our debt, the executive branch would have full control over what programs get cut, not Congress. Mr. Speaker, the only resolution to this problem is to secure trillions in spending cuts and put our Nation on a solid fiscal path to financial sanity, and ensure a strong and prosperous future for our children and our grandchildren.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, our Nation's medical liability system is broken. It has put limits on patient access to health care and has increased costs. But since 2003, my home State of Texas has been a leader on medical liability reform. As a result of tort reform, from 2003 to 2009, Texas has seen an increase of roughly 60 percent in new physician licensure applications. And since 2003, Texas had 21,640 new physicians licensed. That means more doctors to treat patients-- especially in rural areas with limited access to health care. All major physician liability carriers in Texas have cut their rates, giving Texas doctors affordable premiums and allowing them to focus on quality of care. Texas is a model for tort reform for the Nation. I urge the Congress to adopt a similar policy to increase patient access to care and save our Nation billions in defensive medicine costs.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. I thank my colleague from Kentucky for giving me this time. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2021, the Jobs and Energy Permitting Act. This bill will help clarify and improve EPA's decisionmaking in air permitting off the coast of Alaska and restore much needed certainty to that regulatory process. Estimates show that the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas have the potential to produce up to 1 million barrels of oil per day while creating over 54,000 American jobs. It is unacceptable that the bureaucratic permitting process has caused delays for 5 years and continues to block American energy resources from being developed. This bill would hold the administration accountable for its actions and provide the certainty so desperately needed by the private sector to grow jobs and get our economy back on track. At a time of record high gas prices, we should be committed to developing American energy resources, reducing our dependence on Middle Eastern sources of energy, and providing good-paying American jobs. Let's put America back to work. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and in gratitude of the brave men and women of NASA, and the Shuttle program. On this, Endeavour's last and final mission, and to the crew of Kelly, Johnson, Fincke, Chamitoff, Feustel, Vittori, we say God Speed. Our prayers are with you and your families. I ask that this poem penned in honor of them by Albert Caswell be placed in the Record. Endeavour When . . . Whenever . . . Whenever, We Endeavour! And go forth! All out upon our most heroic course * * * and reach for the stars! To new heights, all in our hopes and dreams . . . This Flight . . . This Force, that only hearts can so ignite! Burning bold and burning bright, all out upon our most heroic ways! To strive for such lofty goals, and dreams! All out towards new worlds to explore, such magnificence . . . such themes! To soar to, where none before have gone! As ever onward, we speed . . . to far off and most distant shores . . . `As all in this, it so surely seems . . . That this force, these golden dreams . . . but can only come from, from within . . . the bravest of all hearts, convene! Only with such shining hopes and dreams, will we reach this end! As we Endeavour, to go forth to see what must be seen! Armed with but only our hearts of courage full, as we so dare to dream, time and time again! As all ahead full, we proceed! To take us out of earth's surly bonds, all out upon our most historic course . . . To new worlds, so far beyond . . . this force! All in our search for the truth . . . To Discovery and beyond, all in the pursuit of knowledge . . . all in our hearts of youth! As we are gone! As to new world's we explore! But, for Man and Womankind's very existence to so insure! Above and beyond! To Reach For and Achieve, all in what we believe! As our hearts take flight, to plant these seeds! To meet Woman and Mankind's, needs! While, all out there on the edge of death . . . hurdling, through space . . . at speed! As these bravest of all hearts so crest, and so rapidly so beat . . . all in this their race against time, we so see! Right to the very edge of death, all in these their most heroic quests! All for our world to so bless! This need! To find the answers that we must know! But, to Endeavour there so! While, all of their precious lives but lie in their hands . . . The men and women Omission control, who now so stand! Who so tirelessly work, all on their watch . . . who plan . . . As life and death, but hangs on a strand! For you are worth your weight in gold, as this we all so understand! As you too have chose to Endeavour, as so much is owed! As through these journeys we continue to learn, and grow! All out upon our course! So that in the end, Woman and Mankind may ascend! To new heights and so go forth! And so Endeavour, as you take your last and final mission . . . and final visions, and blast off to this final ignition! All in your most magnificent of quests, and celestial visions . . . A prayer, a wish . . . to all of you, but come our blessings! As you hurdle through space, on the very edge of death! For all of us to bless! God Speed, and safe journey on that edge! You most heroic champions of space, as said . . . The ones who so dare to dream, as now up to new worlds you so speed! And to all those who over the years, who too have so Endeavored here . . . With tears, as you rode upon her historic wings . . . As to your most courageous hearts, her songs to you did sing! As you so brought back to our world, many a splendid thing! All within the light of the knowledge, that you so carried back with you all upon her golden wings . . . All because you all so chose, To Endeavour! --Albert Caswell

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Gail Parker, the President and C.E.O. of the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance in Fort Bend County, TX. Mrs. Parker is retiring after nearly 8 years at the helm of the Chamber. Gail has certainly left her mark on the Chamber. Under her leadership, Gail led the charge to double the Chamber's membership from roughly 400 members in late 2003 to just over 800 members currently, representing businesses from all sectors and industries across Fort Bend County. She also helped to create the Hispanic Business and Young Professionals Divisions, which have been critical to bringing new members of the Fort Bend business community to the Chamber. Gail is a consummate professional who cares deeply about the community she serves. The Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance has been well served by her leadership and commitment to excellence. Throughout her tenure as CEO, Gail demonstrated the dedication and leadership necessary to advance the Chamber's mission and enlarge the scope of the organization. I'm honored to call her a friend and I wish Gail and her husband Randy all my best. She is in my prayers as she leaves the Chamber to fight her next battle and, as she says, become a cancer ``survivor.'' On behalf of Fort Bend County, I thank you for your hard work and service to the Fort Bend business community.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1473, a continuing resolution which will fund our government and, most importantly, our troops' families for the rest of the fiscal year and will help generate a better environment for job creation. While this final agreement is far from perfect--more cuts going forward are absolutely needed--this agreement is a victory for the American people. At $38.5 billion in cuts, H.R. 1473 represents the largest spending cut since World War II. Domestic spending will actually fall by 4 percent this year with the passage of this CR. We accomplished this historic cut just months after President Obama asked Congress for a spending freeze. That would have meant zero, nada, nil, cuts in spending this year. In fact, our Federal Government will spend $78.5 billion less than President Obama proposed this year with the passage of H.R. 1473. These historic cuts would not be possible without the strong and constant support of the American people to end the out-of-control spending in Washington. Their voices were heard loud and clear on November 2. House Republicans were able to translate the people's call for reining in spending into the largest non-defense spending cut in history. Washington is no longer talking about if we should cut spending; we are talking about how much we should cut spending. This is the American people's victory, and they deserve the credit for providing the support and momentum to change our debate. This bill is also a victory for my home State of Texas and for the good people of the 22nd Congressional District, whom I am honored to represent here in Washington. Importantly, H.R. 1473 repeals the Doggett amendment, a heavy-handed regulation that was forcing Texas, and only Texas, to violate its own constitution and spend education funds as the Federal Government dictated while giving every other State in the Nation the flexibility to spend their funds as they see fit. The Doggett amendment, which was inserted in last summer's State government bailout bill, singled out Texas by attaching unconstitutional strings to $830 million in funding. No other State faced such treatment. Teachers across Texas have faced the threat of losing their jobs with this expected shortfall in education money. But passage of this bill will right this egregious wrong for the great State of Texas. Mr. Speaker, passage of this measure today means we will have succeeded in reducing discretionary spending to pre-bailout stimulus levels. We will be lowering the baseline for next year's budget, which will result in hundreds of billions of dollars in savings over the next decade. Most importantly, we are setting the stage for the real challenge that comes next: cutting trillions in spending through the new Republican budget, the Path to Prosperity. We didn't get into this financial crisis overnight, and we are not getting out of it overnight. But today, for the first time in years, Washington will begin to tighten its belt, just as families across America do every day. This is just the beginning of an important first step forward in changing the culture of spending the people's tax dollars with reckless abandon. America is open for business again. I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1473.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 258, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. I yield the balance of my time to my colleague from Michigan (Mr. Upton).