Adam Putnam

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Madam Chairman, I wish to extend my gratitude on behalf of the entire Florida delegation to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Mike Rogers) for entering into this colloquy with us regarding a very crucial issue to Florida as well as this Congress. Last fall the State of Florida withstood an historic four hurricanes causing enormous devastation and damage to property, waterways, homes and individuals' lives. I commend the relief efforts on the ground in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane as well as the willingness of Congress to step forward and offer meaningful relief to hurricane victims. But there are two issues for which the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency should recognize under their current statutory authority to effectively address Florida hurricane-related damage. Congress appropriated funds to respond to the hurricane devastation through the Military Construction Appropriations and Emergency Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations Act 2005, Public Law 108-324, and the Emergency Supplemental of 2004, Public Law 108-303. At this time, Madam Chairman, I yield to the distinguished chairman, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), to ask how was Florida hurricane disaster aid reflected in the designation of FEMA disaster relief funds?

Mr. PUTNAM. I thank the chairman for his time and attention to this most important effort. It is my hope that this colloquy brings clarity and direction to FEMA as it administers the critical disaster relief funds.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. I thank my friend and colleague from Jacksonville and the successor to Tillie Fowler's great 4th District in Florida. And I appreciate the opportunity that you have given us all to share our feelings and our remembrances of this lovely woman. And I think how sad it is that we so often save our kindest words for those that we love and care so deeply for until it is too late. It is an honor to pay tribute today to a great Floridian, a woman who touched so many lives, including my own, and dedicated herself to making our State and our Nation a better place. Congresswoman Tillie Fowler was a remarkable woman. She was an inspiration to us all, and she sought to bring out the very best in each and every American. Her optimism was contagious, as she brought a sunny disposition to the greatest of tasks and backed it up with a steel will. Tillie was a public servant, in the truest sense of the word, who not only served her community in the Sunshine State but also her Nation. In the 8 years she spent in the halls of Congress, she earned a reputation as one of the hardest-working and most effective Members of this House. After leaving this House, her service continued. In fact, I think it is a testimony to her abilities that some of her greatest challenges were given to her after she had retired from the House, as through her service she continued to support a strong and modern military through her chairmanship of the Defense Policy Board and every other difficult task that the Secretary could pass her way. We all mourn the loss of Tillie Fowler. Her distinguished leadership and grace will be dearly missed and her accomplishments and her legacy will be with us always. Tillie blessed our Nation through her hard work and her generous nature. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, her husband, Buck, and her two daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth. May we all be worthy of the honor that she bestowed upon this House, and may we all work hard to maintain and to follow that blazing trail which she cut through for us.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the 2004 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 5A State Football Champion Lakeland Senior High School Dreadnaughts from the 12th Congressional District of Florida. The championship game victory capped an undefeated season for the Lakeland High Dreadnaughts as they finished 15-0 for the third time in the past nine seasons and won their fourth state championship under Coach Bill Castle. I commend the champion Lakeland High School football team for a wonderful and magical run this year. The people of Florida and all of Polk County are proud of you. You have all demonstrated that hard work, perseverance and unity are the foundation of success. I applaud Lakeland Head Coach Bill Castle for being awarded this year's Dairy Farmers Award as coach of the year of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, but most importantly for his commitment to his players and stressing the important values of preparation, hard work, dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship. I pay tribute to Lakeland High School students, teachers, coaches and the entire football team on their outstanding achievement.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 64) and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the 2004 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class lA State Football Champion Fort Meade Middle-High School Fighting Miners from the 12th Congressional District of Florida. This was an incredible season for the Fighting Miners as they finally became the best football program in Class 1A and one of the elite teams in Florida under Head Coach Michael Hayde. I commend the champion Fort Meade Middle-High School football team for a wonderful and magical run this year. The people of Florida and all of Polk County are proud of you. You have all demonstrated that hard work, perseverance and unity are the foundation of success. I applaud the entire Fort Meade football coaching staff for their commitment and dedication to their players and for proving that hard work, sportsmanship and determination pay off. I pay tribute to Fort Meade Middle-High School students, teachers, coaches and the entire football team on their achievement as victors of the Class 1A state championship football game.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the 2004 Florida High School Athletic Association, FHSAA, Class 4A State Football Champion Seffner Armwood High School Hawks from the 12th Congressional District of Florida. The Hawks won their second straight State title after a hard fought victory over the Lake Gibson Braves also from 12th Congressional District. I also want to recognize the valiant efforts of the entire Lake Gibson football team, even though they came up short in this year's state championship game. I commend the champion Seffner Armwood football team for a wonderful and magical run this year. The people of Florida and Hillsborough County are proud of you. You have all demonstrated that hard work, perseverance and unity are the foundation of success. I applaud both Seffner Armwood and runner-ups Lake Gibson's football coaching staff for their commitment and dedication to their players and for proving that hard work, sportsmanship and determination pay off. I salute the Seffner Armwood High School students, teachers, coaches and the entire football team on their achievement as once again victors of the Class 4A State championship football game.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant who has served this institution with distinction. During the 108th Congress, Bob Dix served as my staff director on the Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census. In that capacity, Bob assembled a remarkable team of experts that assisted the subcommittee in conducting oversight on a number of areas crucial to our domestic and national security. Over a period of 17 months, the subcommittee held 39 substantive hearings, ranging from the implementation of the President's Management Agenda and E-Gov initiatives to the threats posed at our Nation's airlines and seaports. Bob was the lead staff member of my Corporate Information Security Working Group, which was a public/private partnership that was tasked with creating a uniform set of safe- practice information security standards for businesses, government and consumers. In the process, Bob has distinguished himself as a leading expert on the cutting edge technology issues of our times. Bob Dix has accepted the position of Vice President of Government Affairs and Corporate Development for Citadel Security Software, Inc., and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his service to the subcommittee and his commitment to public service.

Mr. PUTNAM

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 866 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from San Diego, California (Mr. Cunningham), a decorated war hero and outspoken supporter of all men and women in uniform.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. PUTNAM asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, it is a beautiful Saturday morning all across America and people are waking up and taking their morning coffee, reading the paper, getting the kids off to soccer practice, and slipping into the woods to do a little hunting. As I say, on this glorious Saturday morning, people are going about their lives and doing the things that they do, enjoying time with their family and their business, and they are undoubtedly thinking to themselves, as they find out that Congress is in session on a Saturday, that it is about time those guys did some work. It is an important issue indeed that finds us here doing the people's business this weekend as we wrap up a very productive 108th Congress. The omnibus package that is here before us today, this rule, H. Res. 866, provides for consideration of H.R. 4818, making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. Mr. Speaker, this rule waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration. Section 2 of the resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 114 under a closed rule and provides for one hour of debate in the House, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. All points of order against consideration of the joint resolution are waived. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit H.J. Res. 114. Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents a tremendous amount of work on the part of our appropriators, working in conjunction with the authorizing committees on a bipartisan, bicameral basis. It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that this omnibus represents the work of nine different subcommittees on appropriations. There are nine different bills combined in there, but it is not because of the work of the House that that is the case. The House has passed all but one of those bills, and, unfortunately we find ourselves here at the end of the 108th Congress passing them en blanc as a result of issues not related to the House, as the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), and the ranking member of that committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), have done a tremendous job of making sure that the House appropriation train runs on time. This legislation includes funding for the majority of our agencies and departments, along with very important infrastructure appropriations and needs. It is vital that we pass this to ensure the smooth and continued operation of the Federal Government. The final spending package fully complies with the spending targets agreed to by the Congress and the administration, totaling $821.9 billion in fiscal year 2005 discretionary spending. Mr. Speaker, it is important to note and to reinforce the fact that this fully complies with the spending targets laid out by this Congress and represents a freeze, or zero percent growth, in nondefense discretionary spending. Total discretionary spending in this bill is $388.4 billion. All additional spending is paid for by an across-the- board cut of 0.83 percent in all nondefense and nonhomeland security spending, a $300 million recession in nonwar, nonemergency defense funds, and $283 million from limitations on expenditures from the Crime Victims Fund. Mr. Speaker, discretionary funding in the fiscal year 2001 budget, the last budget of the last administration, was 15 percent. Fifteen percent. Mr. Speaker, for the past 4 years, we have been able to hold the line on discretionary spending. This year's freeze demonstrates this Congress' commitment to fiscal responsibility during a time when our men and women in uniform are in harm's way. In our restraint, however, we continue to make provisions for those who rely on America's promises. The bill provides a record level of resources for veterans health, including a total of over $30 billion for the Veterans Health Administration; $19.5 billion for medical services; $4.7 billion for medical administration; $3.7 billion for medical facilities; and $385 million for medical research. In addition, the bill does not contain additional fees or surcharges for America's veterans. The bill also provides a significant boost in the manpower and resources of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The bill includes over $5 billion for the FBI, an increase of over $625 million above last year, and $100 million above the President's request. This funding provides enhanced training, information technology, and staff to the tune of over 1,100 new positions for the FBI to improve intelligence and counterterrorism capabilities, while continuing to fight white collar and violent crime. The package we consider today prioritizes our Nation's needs in a fiscally responsible manner, and I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I certainly share the gentleman's concern about the situation that people up north find themselves in. It is a situation, to be honest, that is somewhat unfamiliar to me, having been raised in Florida and never having seen snow until I was 30. But I understand the plight. I am proud of the work that the appropriators have done, undoubtedly from the Northeast and around the country, who share the gentleman's concern at funding LIHEAP at $2.2 billion, an increase of $84 million over last year. They are certainly doing everything they can to make sure that the winters in Boston are a little bit less cold and a little bit less dark. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon), a distinguished physician.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula), the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee who has played a key role in putting this bill together. (Mr. REGULA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am delighted to see that the work of the appropriators has been so well received as it relates to transportation needs and defense needs and continuing our support for international issues and the fight against AIDS and malaria and tuberculosis, the investments that they have made in basic medical research. I am glad to see that their work is so highly regarded that the focus of the opposition is limited to a single issue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman has presented two rhetorical questions, and I will respond to one. It is a pleasure to be here with the distinguished gentleman from Washington, a man who represents a very technologically savvy constituency and a very environmentally concerned constituency. And that tremendous pile of paper was available on the Web last night at 12:15 that would have taken advantage of the skills that are out there as well as saving a few trees. This is an important work. And I might also ask how long it took for the gentleman to read cover to cover all of the nine bills that had already passed this House in due time? Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp), who also serves on the Committee on Appropriations and has worked very hard toward this final product.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would just point out that this bill is within budget and that the House has done its work in hearing and passing the individual spending bills, and whatever inadequacies there may be in this process would not be a result of this half of the legislative branch. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the amendment and on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.