Jared Polis

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Thank you for highlighting some of the research that was done in your district regarding this matter. And I would like to thank Representative Patrick Murphy for taking this challenge on, making our military stronger, saving taxpayer money. I would like to bring the attention of our viewers to a very recent report that was published. It's called ``The Efficacy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' by Colonel Om Prakash. You can find it on the Internet. This was a study that was done by a student at the National War College. It actually won recently the 2009 Secretary of Defense National Security Essay Competition. One of the quotes on the cover is from General Omar Bradley, and it says, ``Experiments within the Army in the solution of social problems are fraught with danger to efficiency, discipline, and morale.'' Now, of course this was not in relation to our current discussion. It was in reference to the racial integration of the United States military by Harry Truman in 1948. At some point the experimentation, the so-called experimentation, becomes the exclusion. At this point in the evolution of our society, it is more experimental to use the military as a social incubator to try and deny gay and lesbian soldiers from serving than simply allowing them to serve. The military isn't the place for evaluating whether or not we as a society accept or don't accept homosexuality. It should be designed as a fighting force to defend our Nation. And anything that compromises that weakens our military and is not in our interest as a country. The report by Colonel Prakash--allow me to quote from it--it says, ``If one considers strictly the lost manpower and expense, `Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is a costly failure.'' Colonel Prakash further quotes the GAO's estimates that the cost is $190.5 million for the previous 10 years of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Not only does it cost money, but it costs lives. Whenever we put anything other than our best foot forward in terms of the very most capable personnel for every particular mission, we jeopardize the lives of other men and women serving in our military. We owe it to the men and women serving in our military to ensure that the most capable person is in every job, regardless of the race or the sexual orientation of that individual. Colonel Prakash's report ends, ``Based on this research, it is not time for the administration to reexamine the issue; rather, it is time for the administration to examine how to implement the repeal of the ban.'' We have a number of other speakers here tonight, Mr. Murphy, and that is a testimony to your leadership and the importance of this issue. I look forward to engaging in a discussion after we've all had a chance to say a few words.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Research shows that the number of books in a home is the single strongest indicator of a child's future reading ability--setting him or her on a track record for success in school and in life. Unfortunately, many low-income children lack age-appropriate books in their homes. With this campaign, Jumpstart gives each participating Jumpstart child a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar for their home library. Jumpstart and its partners have asked libraries and schools to host a reading event so that all children can participate on October 8, even if the kids don't have a copy of the official book at home. In addition to this campaign, numerous other programs work to enhance early childhood literary. Jumpstart has sponsored Read Across America Day--which encourages parents to read to their children. Jumpstart also sponsors the Toys for Tots literacy program that promotes children's literacy while fighting poverty. Recognizing Read for the Record Day encourages children, students, parents, and teachers to show their support for a shared reading experience. By planning a book drive, reading to children, or volunteering with Jumpstart, we can all play a significant role in helping to educate the youth of this country. With that, I want to thank Representative Markey for introducing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 741, which supports the designation of October 8, 2009, as national Jumpstart's ``Read For the Record Day.'' I would like to yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the bill, my colleague from the great State of Colorado, Betsy Markey.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 741 into the Record.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 741) expressing support for designation of October 8, 2009, as national Jumpstart's ``Read for the Record Day,'' as amended.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I yield back.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I would like to inquire if the gentleman from Wisconsin has any additional speakers.

Mr. POLIS. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I would like to inquire if the gentleman from Wisconsin has any additional speakers.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous influence that country music has made on American culture. The themes invoked in country music resonate with important American values such as responsibility, determination, and hard work. Some country songs foster an appreciation of the important sacrifices made by our men and women serving in our Armed Forces. ``Only in America,'' by Brooks and Dunn, and ``Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,'' by Aaron Tippin, encourage patriotism and the pursuit of the American Dream. Other songs, like Dolly Parton's ``Nine to Five'' and Loretta Lynn's ``The Pill,'' echo the struggles of rural and working class women and have become anthems of the women's equality movement. In addition to powerful patriotic lyrics, the country music industry has also directly supported the causes of our Armed Forces. Portions of the proceeds from some patriotic compilations have even gone to support the United Service Organizations' active duty troops and families of fallen soldiers. Country music is rooted in the folk traditions of the British Isles. In the New World, those roots meshed with immigrant and African influences. Many gospel, rock & roll, blues, and pop music derives from elements originally heard in country music. Famous artists such as Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, and Garth Brooks were influenced by the sounds and instruments of this music. Every stage of country's long history has left an imprint on the music. Today, country is many sounds and many styles, some as old as the fiddle and bow, others as new as tomorrow's technology. But we will continue to hear about people's unique experiences through what we call country music. Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for this resolution, and thank Representative Stearns for bringing this bill forward. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 650 into the Record.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 650) recognizing that country music has made a tremendous contribution to American life and culture and declaring country music to be a uniquely American art form.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I think the case has been made in eloquent and bipartisan fashion with regard to the importance of raising awareness and improving practices to protect American children attending colleges and universities across this country from the risks of fires. I encourage support of the resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), the sponsor of the resolution.

Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 167, which supports the goals and ideals of Campus Fire Safety Month. Madam Speaker, college campuses host our students as they study and provide a safe place for them to live as they do so. But all too often we are devastated by tragic events that take place on campuses. The Center for Campus Fire Safety reports that 129 people have died in student housing fires since January of 2000. Almost 80 percent of the fire fatalities have occurred in off-campus occupancies such as rented houses and apartments. Common factors in a number of these fires include lack of automatic sprinklers, disabled smoke alarms, careless disposal of smoking materials, and alcohol consumption. In many instances, the death of students, children and faculty members caused by campus fires could have been easily prevented with proper safety technology and appropriate fire safety student training. As recently as 2008, fires on the campuses of UCLA and Plattsburgh State University resulted in deaths. Fortunately, Congress has taken important steps to address these devastating occurrences. The recently enacted Higher Education Act requires each higher education institution to publish an annual fire safety report that includes mandatory supervised fire drills, policies for evacuation and fire training education. The Secretary of Education will highlight institutions with exemplary fire prevention procedures. As these provisions are implemented, I hope campuses and students alike will take needed precautions and prevent fires in the future. Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Campus Fire Safety Month and thank Representative Pascrell for bringing this resolution forward. I ask my colleagues to support this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 167 into the Record.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 167) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of Campus Fire Safety Month, and for other purposes.

Mr. POLIS

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

Mr. POLIS. I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Does the gentleman from Wisconsin have any additional speakers?

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 707 into the Record.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 707) expressing support for designation of the week of September 13, 2009, as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, as amended.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my colleague on the Committee on Education and Labor, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. POLIS. I would like to inform the gentlelady from North Carolina I was just given this information by staff that some of the remarks that she made were with regards to a previous version of the bill. The version that is being put forth in this rule does allow graduate students to be eligible for in-school interest subsidies for subsidization through the Stafford loan. So the changes she's referring to were in fact discussed and there was initially some discussion that it could come down a different way. But this bill being put forward does allow graduate students to participate in that. I would like to yield 2 minutes to a former member of the Rules Committee, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor).