Todd Platts

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to just thank our ranking member, the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns), for his work and his staff's work with me and our subcommittee staff on the majority side. It has certainly been a bipartisan effort, and I am grateful for his assistance. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 4259, the Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a great institution of higher learning, the Pennsylvania State University, as a leader in post-secondary education. On July 1, 2004, Penn State began a year-long celebration of its 150th Anniversary, marking the historic achievements it has made in Pennsylvania, the Nation, and around the world. Penn State, known at its inception in 1855 as ``the Farmers'' High School,'' was born at the behest of the State's Agriculture Society. The Society members recognized the need to base the growing field of agriculture in sound sciences. College President Evan Pugh rose to the challenge, uniquely combining classical studies with practical application. Pugh's vision soon became the foundation of the institution's mission: to provide ``instruction, research, outreach and extension''. As student and business interest grew over the following decades, Penn State grew along with it. Recognizing the limitations the Depression placed on households in the 1930's, Penn State began opening satellite campuses throughout the state. Penn State began renting classroom space in York, Pennsylvania, which is in my Congressional District, as early as 1926. In 1955, the Penn State York campus officially opened and began offering courses to students at its current location. The campus was much-admired for having one of the highest concentrations of students enrolled in technical courses and studying the field of engineering on a satellite campus. As a student who studied engineering at the Penn State York Campus, I can attest to the high quality education provided to Penn State students. Continuing its mission for outreach and extension, Penn State merged with the Dickinson School of Law in 1997, also located in my Congressional District in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. There can be no doubt that Penn State has played a strong and vitally important role in the education of students around the world. With three members of my staff, both past and present, as Penn State alumni, I can attest to the quality education Penn State provides. Even as the proud son of a University of Pittsburgh graduate, a known ``rival'' of Penn State, I wish to congratulate the Pennsylvania State University on its successful 150 years, and extend best wishes for continued successes in the years to come.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I want to commend him and the gentleman from Maryland for their sponsoring this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased and proud to be a cosponsor of this amendment. I respect all Members' opinions, but I do take exception to the premise that we who maybe do not have tobacco growers have no business offering an amendment that deals with the expenditure of $9.6 billion of our taxpayers' funds. I think we have every right to offer this amendment. It is important to recognize that there are other proposals that would allow this quota system to end, allow for these small tobacco farmers to be adequately compensated for that right they have in these quotas, but it would be done in a way that is more responsible and that the beneficiary of the buyout, the tobacco industry, which CRS, Congressional Research Service, says will benefit to the tune of about $15 billion over the next 10 years, that the tobacco industry will pay for the buyout, as opposed to the American taxpayer. So I support the amendment. I think it is well thought out, it is reasonable, it is responsible. It is important to note just in the last several weeks two new reports have come out. In one, the latest data tells us that smokers, on average, have 10 years shorter life expectancies than non-smokers, yet we are proposing the American taxpayer pay $9.6 billion, instead of the industry, to help an industry that shortens the life of users of their products by, on average, 10 years. I commend the makers of this amendment, I am pleased to stand with them, and I certainly urge a yes vote.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time for an opportunity to speak about a great American, a great statesman, a great leader for our Nation and for all of the free world. I will submit my written statement for the Record, but I am honored to state just briefly how much I admired and how grateful I am for the service of President Ronald Reagan. I am honored to say that the first vote I cast in a Presidential election as an 18-year-old freshman in college was in 1980 on behalf of Ronald Reagan. He turned the tide for our Nation at a difficult time in our Nation's history. He taught us to again believe in our Nation and believe in the principles for which our Nation stood and continues to stand this very day. He also reminded us to be grateful for the blessings we have as Americans. My mom and dad showed me by example the importance of caring about our fellow citizens, and they taught me about community service and led me to an interest in public service. Ronald Reagan furthered that interest and further inspired my desire to serve, first in the statehouse and now here in Congress. On behalf of all of the people in the 19th Congressional District, I am honored to say, Mr. President, thank you on a job well done and on a life well lived. My deepest sympathies go to your family at this time of great loss. May God bless you and your family, and may God continue to bless the country which you so deeply loved, the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ronald Wilson Reagan, our Nation's 40th President, a true statesman and patriot, a husband and father, and a Great American. I offer my sincerest condolences to Mrs. Reagan and the entire Reagan family. My prayers are with them in this time of mourning and remembrance. When Ronald Reagan was elected President in 1980, America was facing a crisis. The crisis went deeper than the economic problems of double- digit inflation, rising unemployment, long gas lines, and threatening military actions of the Soviet Union. After Vietnam, Watergate, and the hostage situation in Iran, America actually began to experience a crisis of faith in itself. More than any other person, President Reagan helped us to overcome our doubts and remind us that America is, in fact, a ``shining city on a hill.'' Ronald Reagan was the eternal optimist, a believer in America's abilities, ideals, and innate goodness. His faith in the greatness of our Nation was perhaps best expressed when he said, ``In this land of dreams fulfilled where greater dreams may be imagined, nothing is impossible, no victory is beyond our reach, and no glory will ever be too great.'' Through his outlook and conviction, President Reagan restored America's confidence in itself. As a result of Ronald Reagan's inspiring leadership as our President, the world changed dramatically. Economic stagnation was replaced with a dynamic economy. President Reagan challenged the Soviet Union to ``tear down this wall,'' and the Berlin wall came down. He saw a day when Eastern Europe would join the Free World, and it did. He stayed firm at Reykjavik and, for the first time, Russia and America stopped building, and started destroying, nuclear weapons. Ronald Reagan understood the price of freedom. Forty years after D- day, and 19 years and 364 days before he passed away, President Reagan commemorated ``the boys of Pointe du Hoc'' who took the cliffs at Normandy for the Allies during World War II. He said: The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge--and pray God we have not lost it--that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt. You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you. It is this understanding of history, this moral clarity, that helped Ronald Reagan to lead us to the freer world we have today. It is what helps to make President Reagan one of the giants of the 20th Century, along with his personal hero, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Six years ago, in commemoration of Ronald Reagan's 87th birthday, I had the pleasure of joining First Lady Nancy Reagan and Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick at the Reagan Library in California. I was there as an elected member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. But I was there, most importantly, as an American citizen who was honored to pay tribute to and to express my deep gratitude to President Reagan for his tremendous service to our Nation. In my conversation with Mrs. Reagan that day, my message was simply one of thanks. Thanks to her and, through her, to President Reagan for their dedicated, hard-working and outstanding service to our great Nation and its citizens. Ronald Reagan's service to others, his statesmanship, his love of country, and his unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom, liberty, and justice for which our Nation stands, were great examples for all of us fellow citizens to emulate. President Reagan was truly inspiring to countless citizens. His example helped to affirm my own commitment to the ideals of public service, to the ideals of giving back to one's Nation, and certainly helped to affirm my interest in serving the public office, including here in Congress. I am greatly honored to join with fellow Americans in saying: Mr. President, thank you for a job well done and a life well lived. You will long be missed and never forgotten. God bless you and God bless this great Nation you loved so dearly, the United States of America.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor and privilege for me to participate today in this opportunity for members of the House to pay tribute to fallen heroes across the Nation and in our individual Districts. It is difficult to find the right words to adequately express the deep respect I have for those who have sacrificed their lives for our great Nation. America would not have been born, nor would our Nation's citizens enjoy the unparalleled blessings of liberty, freedom, and justice for all, but for the courageous and selfless sense of patriotism of countless men and women throughout America's history such as the fallen heroes we honor today. These are the names of the heroes, with ties to the 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, who gave their lives for us while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan: Army Specialist Ryan G. Carlock; Army Specialist Martin W. Kondor; Army Specialist George A. Mitchell; Navy SEAL Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts; and Army Staff Sergeant Kimberly A. Voelz. My deepest sympathies go out to the family members and friends of our fallen heroes. I hope all citizens will keep them in our prayers and forever remember the selfless sacrifices that these heroes have made on our behalf.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 177 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, as the Member with the proud privilege of representing the 19th Congressional District, including Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, I have tremendous admiration and respect for this Nation's thirty-fourth President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. When President Eisenhower left the White House in January of 1961, he and his wife Mamie settled down on their small farm in Gettysburg to enjoy their retirement together. This farm remains a popular tourist attraction today. The former Supreme Commander of the Allied Troops on D-Day, Supreme Commander of NATO, and President of the United States passed away on March 28, 1969. On the 35th anniversary of this loss, John Burke Jovich, a Presidential Historian and constituent of the 19th Congressional District, wrote a remembrance of Ike that very effectively captured the character of this great American. I am honored to commend this article to my colleagues. The Eisenhower Legacy . . . Remembering Ike on 35th Anniversary of His Death It seems that Americans have a funny way of remembering their past presidents. Last November 22nd, for example, the 40th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, our nation was barraged with television specials and print commemorations focusing on JFK's life and death. Even during the non-milestone years, there is always some public reminder of President Kennedy on the 22nd of November. But do we remember the deaths of those presidents who served immediately before and after Kennedy? Do we bother to observe the death of Harry Truman each December, or Dwight Eisenhower in March, Lyndon Johnson in January, or Richard Nixon each May? Of course not. None of those presidents were assassinated. They did not die suddenly in office. And all four lived into their senior years and enjoyed the elder statesman status that comes with presidential longevity. It was thirty-five years ago today, March 28, when Dwight David Eisenhower passed away at Walter Reed Army Hospital. As his wife, Mamie, held his hand in hers, he spoke his last words to her and their son, John: ``I've always loved my wife. I've always loved my children. I've always loved my grandchildren. And I have always loved my country. I want to go; God take me.'' Americans called him Ike. He was the commanding military figure of the 1940s, the dominant national leader of the '50s, and the respected elder statesman of the '60s. He had an enduringly handsome grin, and Mamie's curls were as much a trademark in her day as Farrah Fawcett's locks became twenty years later. Over the years, several historians have made the mistake of discrediting Eisenhower's two administrations over his habit of relying heavily on the advisement of presidential aides. While Ike did not possess quite the persuasive personality of Franklin Roosevelt or the cajoling force of Lyndon Johnson's in-your-face prevalence, he worked equally hard to achieve his goals. As president, Eisenhower worked diligently with the United Nations to end the Korean War shortly after taking office. He lobbied behind the scenes to put the brakes on Joe McCarthy's red-baiting hearings. Ike dispatched federal troops to Little Rock to allow black students to safely enroll at the all- white Central High. It was on Eisenhower's watch, not those of Kennedy and Johnson, upon which NASA was initially formed and the Mercury 7 Space Program established. And it was Ike, in his last nationally-televised address as president, who warned the American people about the eminent dangers of the military-industrial complex, a full three years prior to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the tragic escalation of the Viet Nam War. But perhaps the most crowning of all Eisenhower's achievements as president was his determined work with a Democratic Congress to establish this nation's interstate highway system, which today stretches some 42,000 miles across our land. The idea for such a national undertaking occurred to Ike as a young first-ever Tank commander in the Army at Camp Colt (Gettysburg) during World War I. He witnessed what can happen when entire brigades of tanks and artillery became mired in mud or fell off impassable roads. He told fellow officers that if he ever achieved an important position in public service, one of his goals would be to create a magnificent system of highways for the convenience of all Americans. Today, whenever you see one of those familiar blue and white signs adorned with five stars along the interstate that read, ``Eisenhower Interstate System,'' think of Ike. Dwight Eisenhower was not a perfect individual. But his affable and honorable disposition made him friends all his life. He was a brilliant military tactician and a gifted leader among men. But he was also very much a common man who preferred watching ``Gunsmoke'' on the back porch of his Gettysburg farmhouse while eating a TV dinner atop a tray, as opposed to hosting a formal dinner at the White House. One of the classic stories about Eisenhower occurred one evening in Washington. The President picked up the telephone and asked the switchboard operator to please get Senator Young on the line. After a couple of minutes, the senator respectfully said, ``Good evening, Mr. President.'' ``Hello, Milt, I want to touch base with you about the status of our Agricultural bill. These Democrats on that committee are holding this thing up and . . .'' The senator on the other end of the line attempted to interrupt Ike, saying, ``But Mr. President. . .'' Eisenhower ignored him and kept on urging the senator to get fellow Republican senators together and ``talk some sense to those Democrats about this legislation. . .'' The senator again tried to interrupt Ike, without success. Finally, the senator raised his voice and said, ``Mr. President, this is Senator Steve Young, not Senator Milt Young.'' Stunned, Ike realized that the White House operator had mistakenly called the Democratic Senator Stephen Young from Ohio rather than the Republican Senator Milton Young from North Dakota. Ike muttered, ``Oh damn,'' and hung up. Despite the error, Senator Young of Ohio continued to like Ike. And so did America.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate an organization that has dedicated its efforts to the education and prevention of tobacco use among our Nation's young people. Founded on March 4, 1999, as a result of the historic Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), the American Legacy Foundation celebrates its 5th anniversary this week. Over the past 5 years, the American Legacy Foundation has made great strides in improving health for all Americans by creating an environment which allows young people to reject tobacco products and assists others to quit. The American Legacy Council is best known for their award-winning truth youth counter market campaign. Truth advertisements provide a blunt and frank approach to the negatives of smoking and tobacco usage. These advertisements are credited as one of the reasons for the recent declines in youth tobacco usage. Additionally, the foundation's programs extend well beyond targeting youth. Through their cessation programs, the Circle of Friends creates circles of support around women who wish to quit, the Great Start Program helps to provide counseling for pregnant women regarding the risks of tobacco usage during pregnancy, and the Priority Populations Program focuses on those groups disproportionately harmed by tobacco use. In addition to celebrating the American Legacy's Foundation wonderful achievements, I wish to take this opportunity to share with my colleagues the very real threat to the financial existence of programs such as truth, and the existence of the Foundation itself. This year the American Legacy Foundation has received its last payment from the MSA. Because of the dramatic reduction in resources, all of the successes that the Foundation has achieved are in jeopardy. Already, the Foundation is cutting programs. It is imperative that members of Congress join together to not only congratulate the American Legacy Foundation on their great success over the past 5 years, but also join together to ensure that the American Legacy Foundation will be able to continue on their path for years to come.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce important legislation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our Federal government--the Program Assessment and Results Act, or PAR Act. As elected representatives of the people, we have a responsibility to use taxpayer dollars in the most effective way possible. As Congress formulates its budget each year, we must have the best information available to us on which to base our spending decisions. The Government Performance and Results Act, or GPRA, has laid a solid foundation for agencies working with Congress to set strategic goals and begin to utilize performance based information. Building on GPRA, we must take the next step toward reforming the way the government conducts business. One of the key aspects of any reform effort is to change the prevailing mind set. If our emphasis is on creating a more results- oriented government, then we must change our mind set from outputs to outcomes. It takes time to achieve this type of cultural shift. The reforms of the early 1990s--the CFO Act, GPRA and others--are just beginning to work as intended. Prior efforts to make the federal government more effective--the Hoover Commission, Zero-Based Budgeting, the Planning-Programming- Budgeting System, Reinventing Government--have come and gone with little lasting effect. Federal managers have learned that if they wait, each new administration is likely to attempt yet another broad-based reform. From a management standpoint, it is difficult in that type of environment to make long-range plans; and it's next to impossible to achieve the kind of cultural shift needed to reform the management of the federal government. Major reform takes time. By enacting GPRA, Congress put government reform in statute. Because of this statutory framework, federal managers now look at the requirements for performance plans and strategic plans required by GPRA and know they are here to stay regardless of changes in Congress and the Executive Branch. When the first round of strategic plans fell short of expectations, the reform effort was not scrapped--it was improved. Now, ten years after GPRA was enacted, we have strategic plans that are more in line with what was envisioned. We have seen slow, sustainable improvement. GPRA requires that agencies focus attention on program evaluation as one of six aspects of their strategic plans. Unfortunately, according to a draft report from the General Accounting Office, program evaluation is the one area where departments consistently come up short. Not only have agencies failed to comply with this requirement, the valuable information that stands to be gained from these evaluations is not culled, coordinated, or presented in a useful way. We have seen great progress in meeting other objectives set out in GPRA. In 1997, only 76 percent of federal managers had developed performance measures. By 2003, that number had risen to 89 percent. It is now time to strengthen GPRA to address the shortfall we see in program evaluation. By creating and using the Program Assessment Rating Tool, or PART, this Administration has gone a step beyond the strategic plans required by GPRA and implemented a system for evaluating the performance and results of federal programs. The next logical step is to codify the requirement for a coordinated evidence-based review of programs. In looking at this legislation that I am introducing today, we must ask ourselves, do we believe that better understanding how government operates program by program is a good idea. If the answer to that question is yes, and I believe it is, then we should work to ensure that program assessments be required for this and every future administration. This legislation does not seek to codify the use of the PART specifically. Rather, this bill amends GPRA by establishing a requirement for program reviews. Specifically, the Office of Management and Budget is required under the Act to review each program activity at least once every five years. By requiring OMB to be responsible for overseeing program assessment data, we will take a great step forward in realizing the reform envisioned by GPRA and make the federal government more efficient and results oriented. Information gleaned from these program reviews needs to be useful across the board to all stakeholders. Members of Congress, taxpayers, federal managers and the Executive Branch need to know if programs are being managed effectively and if they are achieving the desired result. Further, this legislation, once enacted, will allow us to compare data among different agencies, to see how different programs with similar goals are achieving results. Members of Congress can use the information to make informed budget decisions and conduct more effective oversight. It will help the taxpayers see what they are getting for their money. Most important, federal managers will use the information to improve the way they manage programs. The results will be a more effective and efficient government for the good of all Americans.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 176 to reaffirm the value of sound financial planning in achieving life's goals and to recognize the dedication of American families and financial planning professionals for their adherence to the financial planning process. Across our Nation, financial planning helps American families manage higher education costs, purchase homes for the first time, and achieve short and long-term financial objectives. Sound financial planning empowers American workers and their families to successfully overcome unexpected financial challenges, preserve personal wealth, and to improve their overall quality of life. As my colleagues and I debate national economic policy in the United States Congress, it is equally important to emphasize the benefits of sound financial planning to the American family. I would like to commend the Financial Planning Association and its members in South Central Pennsylvania and across our Nation for their work in increasing public awareness about the importance of sound financial planning. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting the financial planning profession and all American families striving to realize the American dream by passing this important resolution and promoting the week of October 6, 2003 as Financial Planning Week.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional life of Mother Teresa, who began her decades of service to humanity with the simple goal of helping the less fortunate and grew to be a symbol for human rights all over the world. At the age of eighteen, Mother Teresa became a Roman Catholic sister, the beginning of her life as an educator, a leader, and a servant of God. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the establishment of the religious order, Missionaries of Charity. With over 5,000 sisters, the goal of Missionaries of Charity is to help the poor in all aspects of life, providing food, clothing, and shelter to millions of the world's most destitute. Additionally, Mother Teresa initiated countless relief projects, international peace-keeping missions, and medical assistance projects for the needy. Later in life, even as her own health deteriorated, she pressed on with new projects, including the creation of hospice programs for those living with AIDS. A well-deserving recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the impact of this remarkable woman will last forever. I could not be more pleased to join in remembering Mother Teresa of Calcutta as a shining example of selfless dedication to human kindness. She was an inspiring example for us all.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this very important legislation. I was honored to join the gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis) and 16 other Members of the House on our trip to Iraq just a few short weeks ago. I was honored to convey the sincere gratitude of my constituents and all Americans to our troops for the devoted service and immeasurable contributions to the safety and security of our Nation. Our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have exhibited remarkable courage, skill, and ingenuity in defeating Saddam's Hussein's military. They are now exhibiting an equal level of courage, skill, and ingenuity in rooting out the remnants of regime loyalist, foreign terrorists, and common criminals who are determined to obstruct Iraq's transformation into a peaceful, democratic nation. Much of our time in Iraq focused on getting a firsthand understanding of the status of stabilization and normalization efforts. Our delegation met extensively with United States Army General Ricardo Sanchez and Major General Raymond Odierno and other senior American and coalition nation military and civilian leaders. These individuals presented compelling arguments, emphasizing the importance of funding electrical, water, and security infrastructure improvements throughout Iraq to ensure that we win the peace just as we won the war. Generals Sanchez and Odierno emphasized that infrastructure improvements will not only improve the quality of life for Iraqi citizens, but also the security of American troops in Iraq. General Sanchez stated that sustaining the existing level of troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future is critical for achieving and maintaining a safe and secure environment in all corners of Iraq. The General emphasized, however, that we are not going to win the peace militarily. Rather, the peace will be won through Iraq's economic revitalization, political transformation, and the establishment of Iraq's own security forces. Our delegation's visit to a mass grave site just outside of Al Hillah, in southern Iraq, and the newborn intensive care unit at Al Yarmuk Hospital in Baghdad were two of our more emotional and somber visits. What these visits told us, though, is we must finish the job and do right by our soldiers in Iraq. The remains of approximately 3,000 men, women, and children were found in the Al Hillah grave site, one of countless mass grave sites throughout Iraq. These individuals, including infant children, were executed by Saddam Hussein's regime in the spring of 1991 as part of the regime's mass execution of at least 30,000 Iraqi Shiites. The chief administrator at Al Yarmuk Hospital, an Iraqi physician, described Saddam Hussein's refusal to invest in Iraq's healthcare system over many years. The tragic death of one of the newborns in the intensive care unit during our visit emphasized Iraq's healthcare challenges, including a staggering infant mortality rate of over 100 infant deaths per 1,000 births. While there is much work to be done and many challenges to be overcame, there were many signs that peace has gained a strong foothold throughout Iraq. Children cheering on the Coalition forces escorting our convoy, grateful and hopeful words of Iraqi civic leaders, civilian traffic congestion on the streets, children playing soccer, the return of power generation to pre-war levels, the training and deployment of 40,000 Iraqi police officers, and the existence of more than 150 free and independent newspapers in Iraq. With the continued support and assistance of the United States and our allies, the people of Iraq are on the path to transforming their country into a peaceful, thriving democratic nation. The funds for civilian infrastructure projects contained in this legislation will help ensure that the years of despair, fear, and torture under Saddam Hussein's regime are successfully replaced with freedom, justice, and hope for a bright and promising future for all Iraqi citizens. Finally, and more importantly, as Generals Sanchez and Odierno emphasized, these supplemental funds will help to ensure that our courageous men and women in uniform have the resources they need to fulfill their challenging mission in Iraq and in the broader War on Terrorism. I urge all members to support this legislation.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2452, introduced by my distinguished colleague from the State of New York (Mr. King), designates the postal facility in Bethpage, New York, as the Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building. Mr. Speaker, this legislation honors an extraordinary American. For more than 2 years now, people all over the world have heard stories of the uncommon courage of the New York City emergency service personnel who responded to the September 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York. When the first plane hit the north tower, numerous firefighters, law enforcement personnel, medical personnel and others traveled to the World Trade Center, entered the building, headed up the stairs towards the fire, and never appeared again. Captain Brian Hickey was one of these intensely brave patriots whom we lost on that fateful day. Captain Hickey was with the Fire Department of New York for 20 years. He was the leader of Rescue Company No. 4. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Captain Hickey never hesitated as he put the lives of others ahead of his own and marched up the stairs of the south tower to fight the overpowering blaze. Just before 10 a.m. that morning, the south tower unthinkably collapsed, the first of the two towers to fall. It is very fitting and appropriate for this House to revisit the courage, the patriotism, and the amazing compassion for fellow Americans exhibited by people like Brian Hickey on September 11, 2001. That unbelievably tragic day united all Americans in a way that no event has done in more than a generation. We will be wise to never forget what this Nation went through on that fateful day and to always remember the sacrifices of Brian Hickey. Captain Hickey made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation and for his fellow citizens. With the passage of H.R. 2452, this Congress can immortalize Brian Hickey's courageous legacy by naming this post office after him in his hometown of Bethpage, New York. For all of these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 2452, which honors the life and service of Captain Brian C. Hickey. I commend the gentleman from New York for his work on such a meaningful piece of legislation, and I look forward to his words regarding Captain Hickey. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I would again like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) for his work on this bill. This honors a true American hero, Captain Brian Hickey. I strongly urge all Members to support H.R. 2452. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2452) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the ``Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building''.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2452.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 262) supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I introduced House Resolution 262 to help increase awareness about a horrible disease, pancreatic cancer. This year over 30,700 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Because of the lack of early detection methods, 99 percent of those diagnosed will lose their lives, the highest mortality rate of any form of cancer. By the time the symptoms present themselves, it is almost always too late for a positive prognosis. Patients diagnosed have an average life expectancy of only 3 to 6 months. It is a moral imperative for Congress to work to increase awareness about this life-threatening disease. Currently, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, known as Pan CAN, is the only national advocacy organization available for pancreatic cancer patients and their families and friends. This outstanding organization exists to create awareness, patient support, professional education and advocacy for pancreatic cancer funding. It has been my pleasure to work with the Pan CAN network through a constituent of mine, Mr. Bob Hammen, in order to pass this resolution. With the passage of House Resolution 262, Congress will be adding our support to Pan CAN and their efforts to increase awareness for pancreatic cancer. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting pancreatic cancer patients, their families and friends and Pan CAN by passing this important resolution and promoting November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Science.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 71) recognizing the importance of Ralph Bunche as one of the great leaders of the United States, the first African-American Nobel Peace Prize winner, an accomplished scholar, a distinguished diplomat, and a tireless campaigner of civil rights for people throughout the world.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for his work in introducing this measure and certainly encourage all members to support it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.