Jon Porter

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTER. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I could not imagine growing up that some day I would be on the House floor debating the merits of Christmas, and I certainly have great respect for my colleagues and their concern. But what is great about America is we can debate Christmas on the House floor. But let us talk about a few other things that we do in this House that I am very proud that we have done. We have recognized Korean Americans and the symbols. We have recognized Filipino Americans, ideals, very special weeks that we recognize here on this House floor numerous times. Pancreatic cancer, campus safety awareness. As a matter of fact, one of our next bills this evening is American Jewish Month. And that is what is great about America. We can have this debate about Christmas, but certainly there are thousands of Americans and there are thousands of people around the world that believe in this tradition. I too say ``happy holidays'' in respect to Chanukah. I say ``happy holidays,'' but I also will say ``Merry Christmas'' because that is what December 25 is about. Again, I appreciate my colleagues and I think that their point is being well considered. I have great respect for my colleagues across the aisle, but I think it is a very cherished national holiday; and I would certainly encourage that we support this, as we have many other symbols and different groups in this country, because that is what Congress is about.

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett). (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis).

Mr. PORTER. Absolutely.

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 579, which would express the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected. Each year during the month of December, thousands of homes across America are decorated with Christmas trees, lights and festive wreaths. Christmas is the most widely celebrated festival in the world, with traditions and customs that originated long ago and still are very much alive today. Christmas has long been for giving and sharing and for coming together with family and friends. The tradition is a celebration of the spirit of love which is what makes this holiday so popular throughout the world. I urge all Members to come together to support and protect the pastime and traditions of a holiday that many of us hold very dear. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 579) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected, as amended.

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I am not sure of the protocol of the debate on the floor.

Mr. PORTER. I would absolutely support a bill that talked about the symbols of Chanukah. Absolutely.

Mr. PORTER. But I believe that the gentleman's point is well taken. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I am, again, not certain this is time for the debate, but I think we should look at all these groups that would like to be considered. Again, this is not a place for the debate, and I would be happy to have this discussion.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 3508, as amended; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise today in support of H.R. 3508, the 2005 District of Columbia Omnibus Authorization Act, introduced in July by Chairman Tom Davis and Congresswoman Norton and approved by the Committee on Government Reform in September of this year. This is the second year in a row that Congress has moved an omnibus authorization bill for the District. The purpose of H.R. 3508 is to provide a process by which Congress works with the District to consider annually or biannually any changes that need to be made to Federal laws regarding the District. H.R. 3508 contains many provisions that will help the District manage its operations more effectively. Also, the legislation will help Congress in its oversight of the affairs of the Nation's capital by permanently creating a D.C. Chief Financial Officer, which will be fully accountable to this Congress, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3508. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3508) to authorize improvements in the operation of the government of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the extraordinary efforts of Easter Seals in Southern Nevada. Their numerous programs provide the kind of community-based relief for individuals with disabilities and their families. Unfortunately, one of these most valuable programs is facing significant financial hardship. This particular program has provided after school activities for children with disabilities from the age of 6 to 18 for the past 15 years. Without the help of business leaders and private individuals in the community, these children and their families will lose this most important resource. As a whole, Easter Seals is Nevada's largest community-based organization serving over 2,000 persons with disabilities and their families each year. Their efforts on behalf of individuals with disabilities bring greater self- sufficiency and most importantly greater dignity. We must work to ensure that these resources continue to be available in the community. Mr. Speaker, I hope to bring to the attention of my colleagues the wonderful services that Easter Seals of Southern Nevada provides to the most vulnerable in our society. The needs of this single program highlight how we, as Members of Congress, must continue all of our efforts to strengthen the resources available to the neediest in our communities. Easter Seals of Southern Nevada represents the ideal of a community- based care provider for disabled children. Without the generosity of all the individuals who make this dream a reality, these most valuable resources would fail to exist. I am confident that, during this holiday season, the businesses and individuals of Nevada will show their support for this important program and continue to demonstrate the generosity of my home community.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 315. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Nevada?

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 315) urging the President to issue a proclamation for the observance of an American Jewish History Month.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with my colleagues, Congresswoman Shelley Berkeley and Congressman Jim Gibbons, to recognize the significant contributions of the Nevada Commission on Tourism in leading the United States in tourism marketing and promotion in China. Since 2002, the Nevada Commission on Tourism has been instrumental in collaborating with Chinese officials to strengthen international ties with this burgeoning tourist economy. The Nevada Commission on Tourism is the first U.S. tourism entity at any government level to be granted a license by the Chinese government to advertise its tourism attractions to prospective Chinese tourists. All of this was achieved in less than 1 year and with minimal costs to taxpayers. The result of their efforts has not solely benefited the State of Nevada, but has encouraged tourism to all parts of the United States. Statistically, Chinese tourism to the United States has increased by 20 percent from 2003 to 2004, when Nevada was able to achieve its licensing goals. Therefore, through their innovative efforts, the Nevada Commission on Tourism has paved the way for other States to actively participate in marketing to this uniquely lucrative economy. We are encouraged by the tremendous growth in Chinese tourism and we recognize that there is fertile ground in this burgeoning international travel and tourism market. Further, we are optimistic that other states will follow Nevada's lead and actively begin to market travel and tourism to China, the world's largest market place. Mr. Speaker, again, we applaud the uniquely monumental efforts of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and look forward to witnessing an even greater increase in Chinese tourism to our State and other tourist destinations throughout the United States.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my condolences to the family and friends of James Cashman, Jr. Anyone living in the Las Vegas valley knows of the contributions that James gave not only to the community, but also to his family and friends. He was a native of Las Vegas and a member of a family traditionally dedicated to the development of Southern Nevada and to service to the people of the area. Born February 19, 1926, James served as a gunnery instructor in the Army Air Corps during World War II, after which he entered the business of his father. In 1945 he married the former Mary Carmichael, who survives him. He was appointed General Manager of Cashman Cadillac and became co-owner of Cashman GMC Truck in 1958. In 1962 he assumed the Presidency of Cashman Enterprises. James Cashman, Jr. became a true leader of the community and was very active in community service, including the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Nevada Development Foundation, University of Nevada Land Foundation and United Way of Clark County. He was also a member of the Southern Nevada Drug Abuse Council; the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas, Executive Board; Boulder Dam Area Council, Boy Scouts of America; the Las Vegas Elks Lodge, and the Las Vegas Rotary Club. James received many commendations and awards over the years, some of which include being named the Las Vegas Junior Chamber's Outstanding Young Man of 1955. In 1969, he was named chairman of the United Fund Drive. In 1974, Cashman became president of the United Way of Clark County. I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the family and friends of James Cashman, Jr. As we move forward in our lives, may we never forget his achievements and contributions. He was a wonderful person, a good friend of mine, and someone I always looked up to. This is a great loss for the state and people of Nevada. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Windsor Freemyer, a dear friend and undeniably one of the most talented, dedicated and trustworthy individuals on Capitol Hill. As my Chief of Staff for the past 3 years, Windsor has continually proven her ability to advise with confidence, and critique with kindness. Windsor began her career on Capitol Hill with Senator Hank Brown from Colorado in 1992, served as a Legislative Assistant for Scott McInnis from Colorado, and joined the Nevada delegation with now Senator, then- Representative, John Ensign during his freshman year. Windsor quickly advanced and became Representative Chris Cannon's Chief of Staff in 1998. Her final stop before joining my staff in 2002, was a tenure with the Sugar Growers of America. While Windsor's resume demonstrates her ability to serve various members in many capacities, I would like to briefly mention two of her most significant accomplishments. Windsor was vital in the passage of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. Through her efforts, the people of Southern Nevada receive the much needed infrastructure and education dollars that are so important to our dynamic community. I would also like to point to her dedicated opposition to the storage of high-level nuclear waste at the Yucca Mountain Waste Repository. She has proven to be a stalwart force in helping persuade others of the inadvisability of this action. For all of her efforts, I and the people of Southern Nevada thank her. While I am fortunate that Windsor shared her talents and skills with my office, I have been truly blessed in knowing Windsor Freemyer as a person. She and her husband Allen are the parents of two beautiful and intelligent daughters, Lucy and Lilly. Both are lucky to have inherited the unlikely combination of warmth and sincerity that have made Windsor such a vital member of my staff. Windsor, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for everything you have done for me, my staff, and the people of Southern Nevada. I wish you all the best in the coming years and am confident that your past successes will only enhance your talents in the future. Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress search far and wide for the most qualified and talented staff. I was most fortunate to have found the ideal of this in Windsor. I am honored to pay tribute to Windsor Freemyer as she ends her distinguished service on Capitol Hill. Her contributions to my office and this body are immense and her personal friendship has been immeasurable. I ask all my colleagues to join with me in celebrating the career of this consummate professional and extraordinary person.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I too share the pain of those families that were impacted by the terrible storms in the Gulf Coast, having been there within 24 hours after the devastating storm, seeing it firsthand and helping those families. But I stand today to talk about the equitability of this particular proposal. There is a number of industries that have been impacted from all walks of life, but there are close to 50,000 families that are being impacted by a carve-out in this legislation, 50,000 hard-working moms and dads trying to take care of their kids. I believe in equitable treatment, and the gaming industry that has been carved is not asking for special treatment. They are asking to be treated like every other business. And as a Member of this body, I believe firmly that States do have rights, and I believe that local communities have rights, and they have made decisions to allow these businesses to prosper as they are a big part of their economy. As my colleague from Nevada said, close to $800 million a year into their economy and close to 50,000 jobs. Again, I stand here asking for equitable treatment for a tax-paying business that is approved by State and Federal laws, and they too should be treated equally. I am extremely disappointed, and I believe when we start a carve-out process, it is a slippery slope for this Congress to be telling local governments and State governments who should be receiving these tax credits.