Todd Platts

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Concurrent Resolution 59, legislation introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), my esteemed colleague. This resolution expresses the sense of Congress regarding the prevention of shaken baby syndrome. Shaken baby syndrome is a medical term used to describe the violent shaking and resulting injury sustained from shaking a young child. Often there are no external signs of injury to a baby or young child's body, but there is injury inside, particularly in the head or behind the eyes. The term was first discussed in medical literature in 1972, but knowledge about the syndrome continues to develop today. Shaken baby syndrome can occur when children are violently shaken, either as part of a pattern of abuse, or simply because an adult or young caretaker has momentarily succumbed to the challenges of responding to a crying baby. Violent shaking is especially dangerous to infants and young children because their neck muscles are underdeveloped, and their brain tissue is exceptionally fragile. Their small size further adds to the risk of injury. Vigorous shaking repeatedly pitches the brain in different directions. Shaken baby syndrome can have disastrous consequences for the victim, the family, and society in total. If the child survives the syndrome, medical bills can be enormous. The victim may require lifelong care for injuries such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy. The child may even require institutionalization or other types of long-term care. Madam Speaker, this resolution expresses Congress' support to protect children from abuse and neglect. I encourage all Members to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we will cast a very important vote here in the House. We will take up the second component of the President's comprehensive tax relief package, H.R. 6, the Marriage Penalty and Family Tax Relief Act. I rise today to join my freshmen Republican colleagues in expressing my strong support for H.R. 6. Earlier this year in January my freshmen colleagues and I announced we would commit ourselves to the enactment of legislation that would eliminate the marriage penalty once and for all. I am delighted that our House leaders have embraced this number one priority of the freshman class and have scheduled this legislation for a vote tomorrow. I want to thank the lead sponsor of H.R. 6, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller). Over the past several years, the gentleman from Illinois has led the effort to eliminate the marriage penalty and restore fairness and equity to our Tax Code. I sincerely appreciate his hard work and dedication to this very important issue. I also compliment the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) and members of the Committee on Ways and Means for moving this legislation very quickly, and for their decision to couple the marriage penalty relief aspects with a much-needed increase in the child tax credit. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to cosponsor the Marriage Penalty and Family Tax Relief Act as one of my first deeds as a Congressman. This important legislation will double the child tax credit. It will go significantly further than was proposed initially in President Bush's tax package to lessen the impact of the marriage penalty. H.R. 6 is not tax relief for the rich. In fact, this legislation is designed substantially to reduce the tax burden on low- and middle- income families. It does so by raising the standard deduction for married couples to twice that for single taxpayers. In 2000, the year 2000, the standard deduction amounted to $4,400 for single taxpayers, but just $7,350 for married couples filing jointly. That is an automatic tax penalty for married couples at every income level. H.R. 6 will eliminate this unfair and inequitable provision. H.R. 6 will also expand the 15 percent tax bracket, the lowest tax bracket for married couples, to twice that of single taxpayers. Under current law, the 15 percent bracket covers taxpayers with taxable income up to $26,250, but only $43,850 for married couples filing jointly. H.R. 6 will also help low-income working families by increasing the income ceiling on the earned income tax credit, making more couples eligible for this vital tax relief. In addition, H.R. 6 will provide $100 in immediate tax relief this year to every low- and middle-class working family by increasing the child tax credit from $500 per child to $600 per child, retroactive to January 1 of this year; then, phasing that increase into $1,000 by the year 2006. Finally, H.R. 6 will ensure this critical tax relief does not erode due to unfair consequences from the alternative minimum tax. Mr. Speaker, there are over 28 million working couples in the United States, including more than 63,000 couples in my district. Enactment of H.R. 6 will return over $225 billion in marriage penalty relief to these hard-working American families. When coupled with the across-the-board rate reductions the House passed earlier this month, the expanded child tax credit would provide the average family of four with an additional $560 in tax relief in the year 2001 alone. Over the next few years, the Marriage Penalty and the Family Tax Relief Act will save the average family of four well over $1,000 a year in taxes. That is more than $1,000 to have available to spend on a mortgage payment, new clothes for the children, day care, preschool, college savings accounts, or a host of other critical priorities in a family budget. But the Marriage Penalty and Family Tax Relief Act does more than just allow American families to keep a larger percentage of their earned money. It would also help keep families together. With nearly 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce today, we certainly should not penalize couples who stay together. Rather, we should do everything we can to alleviate the economic constraints which hinder their ability to build a family and a lasting relationship. Mr. Speaker, let us give American families a fighting chance. I urge my colleagues to support the Marriage Penalty and Family Tax Relief Act when it comes to the floor tomorrow. I thank again the leadership for bringing this issue before us and making sure we have the full support of the leadership ranks and Members from both sides of the aisle who want to do right for the working families of our Nation.

Mr. PLATTS

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. 821.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 821) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1030 South Church Street in Asheboro, North Carolina, as the ``W. Joe Trogdon Post Office Building''.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us, H.R. 821, was introduced by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble). This legislation designates the post office located at 1030 South Church Street in Asheboro, North Carolina, be known as the W. Joe Trogdon Post Office Building. Each Member of the House delegation from the State of North Carolina has cosponsored this legislation pursuant to the policy of the Committee on Government Reform. Mr. Trogdon was born in Asheboro, North Carolina, in 1932 and was educated in the Asheboro city school system. He then attended North Carolina State University from 1950 to 1954. He participated in the Army ROTC program while studying at NC State. Mr. Trogdon served our Nation as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army Security Agency on active duty in Germany for 2 years, from 1955 to 1957. In 1957, he was made a 1st lieutenant in the Army and served in the inactive reserve until 1963. Mr. Trogdon served on the Asheboro Planning Board from 1964 to 1973 and the Asheboro City Council from 1973 until 1983. He was then elected mayor of the city of Asheboro and continues to hold that position. He is the former chairman of the Piedmont Triad Council of Government and a former member of the board of directors for the North Carolina League of Municipalities. Mayor Trogdon is also an active member of the Asheboro Jaycees, the Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, the East Hog-Eye Yacht Club, and the board of directors for the Wachovia Bank & Trust. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the First United Methodist Church. Mr. Trogdon is the president of a family-owned business of general contractors, which was established in 1928. Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that a post office be dedicated to a gentleman who has given his life to public service in a city where he was born and grew up. I urge our colleagues to support H.R. 821, a bill that honors Mayor W. Joe Trogdon. I also want to recognize the dedicated work of the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) for sponsoring this legislation and for the other Members of the delegation in cosponsoring and bringing this issue to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).

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

Mr. PLATTS

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. 364.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker we have before us H.R. 364, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5927 Southwest 70th Street in Miami, Florida, as the Margery Williams Scrivens Post Office. The distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) introduced this legislation on January 31, 2001. It is supported by all House Members of the State of Florida pursuant to the policy of the Committee on Government Reform. Marjory Williams Scrivens started working for the United States Postal Service in 1970, and in 1972 she was one of the first women to deliver mail in the Miami-Dade County area in Florida. Ms. Scrivens succumbed to bone cancer a year ago. Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support H.R. 364 as an appropriate tribute to Marjory Williams Scrivens in naming the post office for her many dedicated years of service to the postal service. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. 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. 364) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5927 Southwest 70th Street in Miami, Florida, as the ``Marjory Williams Scrivens Post Office''.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of over 1.3 million veterans in Pennsylvania and to express my strong opposition to legislation which I consider an affront to the heroic service to our Nation. As introduced, H.R. 62 would move Veterans' Day to election day in Presidential election years. The intended purpose of this legislation is to increase voter turnout by establishing election day as a national holiday in conjunction with Veterans' Day. Although I agree action needs to be taken to help convince our Nation's citizens to take a more active role in the political process, this particular solution troubles me. I believe we need to take necessary steps to increase voter awareness and participation, but depriving our veterans of the day set aside historically to honor their sacrifice is not the way to do it. By designating November 11 of each year as Veterans' Day, we give thanks and pay tribute to the soldiers who fought and gave their lives to preserve the freedoms we know today. In 1918, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, the Treaty of Versailles was signed between the Allies and Central powers to end the fighting of World War I, the war to end all wars. In the years immediately following 1918, memorial gestures were made on that day worldwide. In 1926, Congress passed legislation to commemorate this date with, quote, ``thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through goodwill and mutual understanding between nations.'' In 1938, Congress officially designated November 11 as Armistice Day. It was a day to honor the bravery of our veterans and celebrate the cause of world peace. In 1954, one of our greatest veterans, President Dwight Eisenhower, declared Armistice Day as Veterans' Day so that all Americans would, quote, ``solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly to preserve our heritage of freedom.'' Mr. Speaker, I give this brief history of Veterans' Day because it serves as proof that November 11 was not randomly selected as a day on which to honor veterans. Moving Veterans' Day, even if it is only once every 4 years, does a great disservice to our veterans and the freedoms for which they fought so hard to secure and defend. Congress learned its lesson on moving Veterans' Day once already. In the 1970s, Congress moved Veterans' Day to the Monday closest to November 11 to allow for a 3-day holiday weekend. The movement of Veterans' Day was met with so much outrage that President Ford returned the observation of Veterans' Day to November 11. Mr. Speaker, I have heard from countless individuals in my district that are outraged that legislation is once again pending before Congress to move Veterans' Day. These citizens, veterans and nonveterans alike, do not understand why their government wants to diminish the opportunity of this Nation to remember the sacrifices of our veterans. Veterans and the families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice certainly do not understand why Congress would even consider legislation that would lessen the tribute paid to our brave sons and daughters who have served in all branches of our armed services. In my opinion, we should not diminish the observance of Veterans' Day. On the contrary, we should be promoting the reason we mark this day. There are over 26 million veterans in this country, including nearly a half million who are permanently disabled. The Veterans Administration estimates that we are losing approximately 1,100 veterans a day. It is extremely important that we not only remember their service but honor it as well. The best way to do that is to pass meaningful legislation which will improve benefits and ensure that every veteran has access to the best health care possible. It is imperative that we demonstrate our commitment to those who served us with dedication and valor. Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate that I stand ready and willing to work with my colleagues to find ways to get more of our citizens to the polls, not just in Presidential elections but in all elections. However, we must not attempt to solve the problem of voter apathy by showing disrespect to our fellow citizens who have gone into harm's way on behalf of our great Nation. Our veterans have fought courageously to secure and preserve the freedoms we enjoy today. Without the efforts of our heroic veterans, our citizens would not have the right to vote. Our veterans have fought, and many have died, so we can live in a county with free and fair elections, a country where even in an election as close as the last Presidential contest, the winner is decided by the rule of law, and not with violence. Mr. Speaker, our veterans have fearlessly put their lives on the line for this country. This country can surely give them their own day of remembrance. Veterans' Day is and always should remain November 11. I for one pledge to do my utmost to preserve this day of recognition for our patriotic men and women of our armed services.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to have the House consider House Joint Resolution 7, important legislation introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox). This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives in recognition of President Ronald Reagan's 90th birthday. Mr. Speaker, today we honor Ronald Reagan, our Nation's 40th President, who joins only John Adams and Herbert Hoover as former presidents to reach the age of 90. President Reagan moved into the White House in 1981, 7 years after America lost confidence in the presidency due to Watergate, 6 years after the end of the Vietnam War, which ripped America apart and, during dire economic times, including high inflation, high unemployment, and high interest rates. Across the country, morale was low. America was embarrassed in Iran with the hostage crisis, and our standing abroad had been greatly diminished. And then came Ronald Reagan, riding into Washington to save the American spirit. From the moment he placed his hand on the Bible to take the oath as President on January 20, 1981, it was clear that America would once again stand tall. In his inaugural address, Ronald Reagan said that we had every right to dream heroic dreams. After all, he said, ``Why not? We are Americans.'' Ronald Reagan came to office disdained by many so-called wise men and women. They called him an ``amiable dunce'' and an actor reading a script. They twisted his belief in a strong defense and staunch anticommunism into a caricature of a war-monger unable to deal constructively with the Soviet Union. They were aghast at his common- sense characterization of the Soviet Union as an ``evil empire,'' and his prediction that it was headed for the ``ash heap of history.'' But President Reagan was a man of character and a man of conviction. He was a leader, a man not mesmerized by polls and focus groups, but one with the courage to stand up for what was right. With the strength of his beliefs and his faith in the ideals in the Founders and the inherent talent, energy and character of the American people, Ronald Reagan transformed our country and our world. He brought the world closer to peace and ended the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. Thanks to President Reagan's determination and leadership, the Berlin Wall fell, and then the Soviet Union fell, and with it, all the statues and monuments to Lenin, Stalin, and other former Soviet Union leaders. President Reagan had brought the Cold War to an end. The world was finally at peace. Ronald Reagan lead our economy out of an economic abyss and into years of prosperity with low interest rates, low unemployment, and low inflation. He rebuilt the hollow military force that he inherited into a fighting force second to none. America stands tall today, thanks to the leadership of Ronald Reagan. He is a giant among presidents and remains a larger-than-life figure who changed the world for the better. Ronald Reagan was a President with class, dignity and respect for the high office to which he was elected. Future historians will recognize him as one of America's truly great Presidents. For all that he did, for all that he said, and for all that he stood for, President Reagan deserves our admiration, our respect, and our gratitude. On behalf of all Americans, we in the Congress proclaim: Happy 90th birthday, President Reagan. 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 California (Mr. Cox).

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon).

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, President Reagan has also enjoyed a special relationship with the American people. In 1994, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, he wrote a heartfelt letter to all of us. ``My fellow Americans,'' he wrote, ``I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.'' Thanks to President Reagan, there is still a bright dawn in our future. For that, President Reagan deserves our gratitude, our best wishes, and our love. Happy birthday, President Reagan. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this joint resolution.

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

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter).

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise tonight to join my colleagues in paying tribute to our Nation's 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan on this, his 90th birthday. When Ronald Reagan was elected President in 1980, I had just graduated high school. Already involved in politics, I followed and admired President Reagan over the next 8 years in office, and certainly ever since. In that time, the world changed a lot. President Reagan challenged the Soviet Union to ``tear down this wall,'' and the 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. Over those 8 years, America itself changed. Ronald Wilson Reagan was the eternal optimist, a believer in America's abilities, ideals, and innate goodness. His faith in the greatness of our Nation was 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.'' Ronald Reagan restored America's confidence in itself. Three years ago, in commemoration of President Reagan's 87th birthday, I had the pleasure of joining First Lady Nancy Reagan at the Reagan Library in California. I was there as an elected official at that time with the Pennsylvania General Assembly, a step that helped lead me here to becoming a member of this great institution. But I was there, most importantly, to pay tribute to, and to express my deep gratitude to President Reagan for his tremendous service to our Nation. In my conversation with Nancy 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. President Reagan's conduct in office and his statesmanship, his love of country, were great role models for all of us citizens, and they were very inspiring to countless citizens. His example helped to reaffirm my commitment to the ideals of public service, to the ideals of giving back to one's Nation, and certainly helped to reaffirm my interest in serving in office and to serving here in Congress. I am greatly honored to join with my colleagues tonight in saying, Mr. President, happy birthday, and God bless you and this great Nation of ours, the United States of America.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 395) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2305 Minton Road in West Melbourne, Florida, as the ``Ronald W. Reagan Post Office of West Melbourne, Florida.''

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. 395.

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) is supported by the House delegation from the State of Florida and it is fitting and appropriate that we bring this legislation to the floor today to commemorate the 90th birthday of our great leader. There has been much written and known about former President Reagan, and everybody has a favorite story or anecdote. We will, however, be unable to capture all facets of his life during our allotted time. Mr. Reagan, our 40th President, won a landslide victory in 1980 and was easily reelected 4 years later. Ronald Wilson Reagan came from humble beginnings. He was born in Tampico, Illinois, son of a salesman with a mother who was a devout member of the Disciples of Christ Church. After moving to various locations, the family settled in Dixon, Illinois, where his father became part owner of a shoe store and his mother did occasional work to supplement the family's meager income. Young Ronald Reagan excelled in sports and received a scholarship to attend Eureka College. Even with a scholarship, he had to work hard to stay in college. He graduated with a B.A. in economics and sociology, the first person in his family to attend and graduate from college. He showed an early interest in politics, but did not participate. He did, however, show interest in some form of show business. ``Dutch'' Reagan, as he was known, became a very popular sportscaster in Iowa. Soon thereafter, he went to Hollywood where he was offered a 7-year contract with Warner Brothers for $200 a week, an offer he could not turn down. He then brought his parents to live with him in California; and although not an instant star, he was a steady worker. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan became President of the Screen Actors Guild in 1947; and several years thereafter, his activities with the Screen Actors Guild aroused his latent interest in politics. Thereafter, when his longstanding friend, Barry Goldwater, won the Republican nomination for President, Mr. Reagan helped with the campaign. Soon after, he was persuaded to run for governor of California, a race he won by a landslide over a popular incumbent. He won reelection in 1970. Ronald Reagan was nominated for President in 1980, supporting the issues of family, work, neighborhood, peace, and freedom. He became the oldest President to be elected in our Nation's history. Two months after his election, he was the victim of an assassination attempt, but made a remarkable recovery. He served the Nation as President for 8 years and now resides in California. In 1994, after several years of writing, traveling, and silence, former President Reagan, who was known as the Great Communicator, wrote a handwritten letter informing the Nation he had the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Perhaps the essence of President Reagan's life is captured in his own words. He wrote: ``In this land of dreams fulfilled where greater dreams may be imagined, nothing is impossible. No victory is beyond our reach. No glory will ever be too great. ``The world's hopes rest with America's future. ``Our work will pale before the greatness of America's champions in the 21st Century.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 395. 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 Florida (Mr. Weldon).

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