Mike Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the compassionate actions of two Michigan businesses for reaching across the globe to touch the lives of orphaned children living in an Iraqi orphanage. Leaders at Meijer Inc. and United Parcel Service learned that soldiers in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne stationed near Mosul, Iraq, were helping nearly 70 children in a nearby orphanage. Meijer, a large supermarket/department store, immediately agreed to donate several large cartons of toys for the children. United Parcel Service supported the project, providing additional funds for toys. In September, the toys were shipped to soldiers at the 101st mobile military hospital near the orphanage and this past week, they were distributed to the children. These two generous organizations are to be commended for their efforts that not only help the individual children but also impact the relationships our military men and women are building with the citizens of Iraq. The long-range impact of this compassionate act by Americans is immeasurable. As these children grow up, they will remember the care and love of Americans who came to free their nation from tyranny and give them a future with hope. Mr. Speaker, we wish to extend congratulations to Meijer Inc. and United Parcel Service for their generosity and for being willing to reach across geographic and cultural borders to express their care and concern for children in need. We are honored to recognize their accomplishments and ask that our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives join in recognizing these Michigan businesses for their humanitarian efforts.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my strong support for the Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act. But before I begin I would be remiss if I did not thank my good friend and colleague Representative Pete Hoekstra for introducing and working so hard to pass this important measure. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1829 levels the playing field and lets private sector businesses compete for Federal Government contracts. Specifically it eliminates the mandatory contracting requirement that Federal agencies are subject to when it comes to products made by the Federal Prison Industries (FPI). In a misguided policy, Federal agencies are currently required to buy only from FPI. This requirement has transformed FPI from a small program focused on rehabilitation into a virtual monopoly power in the Federal marketplace. Providing over 300 products and services and generating $678 million in sales last year. We in Michigan have a keen appreciation of the impact of FPI because nearly 35 percent of these sales represent office furniture products that are competing directly with the many furniture makers in my home State of Michigan. In fact, approximately 5,000 inmates in 17 factories within the Federal Prison System are building furniture today. Without this bill, FPI will be able to continue its mission creep into new marketplaces directly competing with struggling private manufacturers. Mr. Chairman, the private marketplace has consistently shown that they can provide higher quality products quicker and cheaper than the FPI. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill and support American manufactures.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. I yield to the gentleman from Vermont.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) for his efforts on this. Coming from a State that depends on manufacturing, and we have lots of small manufacturing in our great State, this is one hurdle that they cannot get over. They are frequently talkers. When I get these small manufacturers, 50, 75, 100 folks in these small manufacturing facilities who talk about and embrace the ideas of free trade, they do not want to back away from that. They think it is good and it is helpful and it will produce jobs in America. But it has to be fair. One of the things that we have seen is that China is not willing to embrace the tenets of fair trade. Currency manipulation is the greatest of all of its evils standing up front. What it does is it artificially leaches off the value of the dollar, automatically making any deal put together by an American manufacturer uncompetitive. That is unfair. What they are saying is, hey, don't do away with free trade, but let's embrace the tenets of fair trade and help us eliminate those artificial barriers, and we will compete with our great labor force.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. As the gentleman may understand, there is a greater circumference of competition in every business and it means more than just labor costs. It is all of the costs that go in, including the quality of the production. When you talk to American manufacturers, they will tell you they can compete if these artificial barriers are gone. We ought to stand tall. I appreciate the administration's efforts to this point. We appreciate the things that they are doing. This resolution is an important step, by saying, we are going to give you every tool in the tool box. We are not going to tell you which one, but we are going to give you all of the tools to go after unfair barriers, just like currency manipulation. Let us stand tall for what the administration is doing and what we can do when we stand together for embracing jobs and competitiveness in American manufacturing.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of H. Con. Res. 270, I rise in support and wish to thank Chairman Davis for bringing it to the floor today and to thank Congressman John Tierney for joining me in sponsoring this resolution. H. Con. Res. 270 recognizes September as College Savings Month in conjunction with the National Association of State Treasurers and the College Savings Plan Network in order to raise public awareness about the need to save for educational expenses. Since 1980, the rate of increase of the cost of postsecondary education has exceeded the rate of increase of inflation, public assistance to students and family income. This rapid rate of increase poses serious threats to the ability of parents to save for and individuals to access postsecondary education. Given that it is in our Nation's best interest to have a highly educated population and to encourage parents to save for their educational expenses, many States, like Michigan, offer tax incentives to encourage their citizens to save for educational expenses. As a State senator, I sponsored legislation to develop a 529 plan that provides tax-free contributions and withdrawals made to an education savings account. Soon after becoming a Congressman, I introduced legislation to make distributions from State-sponsored prepaid tuition or college savings plans tax free. I was pleased when this provision was included in the 2001 Economic Stimulus legislation that was signed by the President. Education savings accounts are one way that we can ensure that individuals at every income level have the ability to contribute to their child's or a relative's or even their own postsecondary education. I realize many working families are trying to save for college and it would be ideal if no student had to take out a student loan. But for those who do incur debt, we need to make sure every student loan borrower has a real opportunity to borrow at the lowest rate possible. In order for borrowers to reach the lowest rates possible, there must be competition in all aspects of the student loan program, including consolidation loans. In order to ensure that we instill such competition, we will need to make sure that we repeal the single holder rule during the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which is currently moving through the Education and the Workforce Committee. I want to thank my colleagues, Chairman Boehner and Congressman McKeon, for their efforts to keep college costs under control. It will be part of my commitment to them as well as students and families everywhere that they can have the benefit of competition from the more than one thousand qualified lenders in the program when they consolidate their loans and, thus, allow them to further reduce their debt burden by taking advantage of historically low fixed interest rates, just as other borrowers are able to do every day. In conclusion, I encourage my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 270 and the goals and ideals of College Savings Month.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time, and I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney) for cosponsoring this legislation, working in a bipartisan way to recognize a very powerful tool that many do not know even exists. Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons for this resolution is to remind many Americans that there is a possibility that you can save and compound and fight the rising costs of getting your children a quality education. I remember in Michigan we started something like this where it is tax-free in and tax-free out in a 529. You do not pay Michigan income tax if you get into one of these education funds. At the announcement, a woman brought a jar full of pennies. She was so excited, she said, ``You know, no longer do I have to fill this jar with pennies. I can put it somewhere where these pennies will become dollars and hundreds of dollars for my child to have and get a chance at a quality education in America.'' How true that was, and how inspiring it was for that woman to recognize that this is such a powerful instrument for parents all across this great country, to have the benefits of a tax-free way to save and compound for offsetting these rising costs of getting that education. Mr. Speaker, 86,000 people since the introduction of this bill, in Michigan alone, have signed up and are putting $25, $15, $10 or $100, as much as $5,000, away in these funds and watching it grow, tax-free, certainly at the State level, and tax-free at the Federal level, thanks to all the Members of this Chamber, when you withdraw it for your child's education. You can start to fight back the cost of books and computers and room and board, and, certainly, that cost of tuition through these funds. I want to, again, thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for working in such a great, bipartisan spirit to reach a very laudable goal, and that is quality, accessible, higher education and vocational training for every American. This certainly empowers hundreds of thousands of them to do that right here at home.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) for all that she has done to get this bill on the floor and her leadership, and I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris) very much for taking charge of this bill this session and getting it to where it was. It was a little bit over a year ago that I stood in Detroit, Michigan, celebrating the 100th Habitat home going up with Secretary Martinez, and it was a great day for us. It was kind of a little bit chilly, a little bit rainy, but the excitement, the joy, even the tears about having that key go in that door and turning that knob was exhilarating and exhilarated a whole community as we stood under that tent together opening the door of that new home for that family. In that same crowd, there were dozens of folks who were there who had a little bit of hope to experience that very same exhilaration by sticking that key in that door and calling it theirs, calling it their home. We all know that there is a difference between a place to live and a home. That day, that particular house, built by volunteers and the family that was going in, became a home in a community that needed all the help it could get. It had a very low homeownership rate, and what we found is that as we increased these number of homes, truancy went down, crime rates went down, investment in the community, the school overall performance went up, and that is what this bill is about, and we should not forget it. It is about minority ownership coming up to where it needs to be, but it is about the very gift to the very family who is playing by the rules, getting up every day, doing the right thing, paying all their bills, putting shoes on their children's feet, making their rent payments, making their utility payments, and this is the one hurdle, the very one hurdle that stops them, that puts them in the back of the tent watching somebody else put that key in the door. For all of my colleagues that helped do this, I thank them very, very much. This will be a profound impact on thousands and thousands of American families. This is an investment in our future. I want to thank all of my colleagues for their commitment to this. I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney). I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris) for her leadership and Secretary Martinez for championing this cause.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished FBI Special Agent from the Bureau's Detroit Division on the occasion of his retirement. On February 5, 1970, Joseph F. Finnigan entered on duty as a clerk for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On March 15, 1971, in response to a call from Director J. Edgar Hoover for an additional 1000 agents, Joe was sworn in, sent to new agents training class, and began what proved to be an exemplary career as a Special Agent. From June, 1971 until August of 1972, Special Agent Finnigan was assigned to the Chicago Field Office and investigated a variety of criminal matters. It was during this period that Joe first began investigating organized crime, a pursuit that would become his specialty and career highlight in later years. In August of 1972, Director Hoover transferred Joe to the Detroit Field Office where he served for over 31 years. In 1986, Joe joined the management ranks when he was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) and placed in charge of the Great Lakes Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force and in 1988 he became the supervisor of the Organized Crime squad, the post from which he made what are perhaps his most significant contributions, the post from which he retires on September 30, 2003. During his tenure as the SSA of Detroit's legendary C-8 squad, Joe supervised the organized crime investigation code named ``GAMTAX''. His supervision and direction of this long and arduous investigation resulted in some of the most significant organized crime convictions and forfeitures in the history of the FBI. This investigation focused on the Detroit Family of La Cosa Nostra, an extremely active criminal enterprise for at least 30 years with criminal roots going back to the Prohibition era. The information developed during the course of this massive investigation allowed agents to prevent several murders and assaults. Supervisory Special Agent Finnigan met face to face with LAN Boss Jack Tocco and told him that he would be held personally responsible for any harm caused by him or his mob associates. In 1996, a Michigan Federal Grand Jury charged the entire hierarchy of the Detroit LAN with 25 counts of racketeering. ``Capo'' Vito Giacalone became the first member to publicly acknowledge his LAN membership and the existence of the Detroit LAN when he pled guilty to the charges. ``Capo'' Anthony Giacalone, one of two people Jimmy Hoffa was supposedly waiting to meet when he mysteriously disappeared was also indicted, but died of kidney disease before being brought to trial. LAN Boss Jack Tocco, whose only previous conviction was for attending an illegal cockfight, was convicted of racketeering and extortion and sent to prison. SSA Joe Finnigan has received letters of commendation from every FBI Director, consistently received top job performance reviews, and has garnered many letters of appreciation from the United States Attorney's Office and the United States Department of Justice. He has earned and kept the respect of his law enforcement colleagues and has diligently protected the citizens of the great State of Michigan and the citizens of this great Nation with enthusiasm, dedication and pride. Supervisory Special Agent Joseph M. Finnigan has exemplified the very finest traditions of the FBI by adhering to the traits that make up the Bureau's motto: ``Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that my Colleagues join me in recognizing Joe for his service to our country and offering our best wishes on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Lansing City Rescue Mission for its service and devotion to the less fortunate people in my district. For over ninety years, the City Rescue Mission has been providing warm meals, warm beds and warm hearts to the people of Lansing who are unable to provide for themselves. The Lansing City Rescue Mission opened its doors in November of 1911 and while finances were tight, the mission still managed to provide warm clothing to the needy and wholesome meals to the hungry. During the depression, the mission opened a soup line to serve the many hungry men and women who were without job, or a home. After several location changes, the mission settled in its present location in 1949. That same year, the mission was incorporated and a board of directors was selected. Throughout the 1950's, the newly incorporated mission continued to expand; and by 1960 the mission could sleep thirty-seven and feed forty-two. Today, the Lansing City Rescue Mission continues to serve the Lansing area with distinction. The mission has grown to 12 separate buildings and serves almost 1,500 needy individuals each year. In 2002, the mission provided almost 19,000 clean beds and over 53,000 nutritious meals. In 2002, President Bush asked all Americans to devote themselves to the cause of community service and volunteerism. Mr. Speaker, The Lansing City Rescue Mission has been answering this call to service since 1911; and thanks to generous donations and hardworking volunteers, the Lansing City Rescue Mission will continue to serve for many years to come. On behalf of my constituents and the nearly 1,500 people served by the mission every year, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Lansing City Rescue Mission.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of Durand Union Station as October 4, 2003 will mark its historic birthday. In the last century, Durand Union Station has survived fire, neglect, dilapidation, and even the wrecking ball. Over the years, the proud citizens of my district have banded together to restore and preserve this local treasure. In 1903, construction began on Durand Union Station, at a cost of $60,000 the rail depot was an architectural marvel. The Chateau Romanesque style depot was constructed of Missouri granite brick with an interior of oak woodwork and wainscoting of Tennessee marble. However, just eighteen months after its construction, fire tore though the boiler room of the station in April of 1905. Firefighters had the blaze contained until the Eastbound train forced the firefighters to pull their hoses back across the tracks and allow the train to pass. The fire of 1905 destroyed nearly all of Durand Union Station. After being rebuilt, Durand Union Station served the people of Michigan until 1974. Unfortunately, the struggling railroad industry forced Grand Trunk Western Railroad to completely abandon the building in 1974. Consequently, Durand Union Station was stripped, gutted, vandalized and ready for demolition. But, state and local officials along with the citizens of Durand determined to restore the building were able to save Durand Union Station at the demolition zero hour. Today, Durand Union Station has been preserved and restored by Durand Union Station, Inc., a nonprofit corporation founded to manage the historic building. The Michigan Legislature has designated Durand Union Station as the natural site for the Michigan Railroad History Museum and Information Center. Under the leadership of Durand Union Station Inc., the station is slated to undergo nearly $4 million in improvements and expansion. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the one hundredth birthday of Durand Union Station. Over the past one hundred years, the station has become a monument to the American spirit. The people of Durand, Michigan have overcome numerous setbacks in their quest to preserve this wonderful Michigan landmark.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on the legislative day of July 25, 2003, the House had a procedural vote on H.R. 2859, the FY 2003 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. On House rollcall vote No. 448, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on the legislative day of Wednesday, July 23, 2003, the House had a vote on an amendment sponsored by Representative Rush to the FY 2004 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill. On House rollcall vote No. 421, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I intend to vote ``no'' on H.R. 2473 because it carelessly threatens the safety of American consumers. In a recent hearing before the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, of which I am a member, we heard from numerous individuals including William Hubbard, the Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning with the Food and Drug Administration. Commissioner Hubbard testified that since late 1996, the FDA has initiated 73 counterfeit drug cases that have netted in 44 arrests and 27 convictions. He further testified that they have seen an increase in drug counterfeiting activity targeting high volume, high cost drugs primarily those used for treating cancer and AIDS patients. One case, cited by Florida's Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, revealed a 2001 investigation that discovered South Florida criminals had counterfeited Procrit, a drug used to boost the immune systems of cancer and HIV/AIDS patients. The criminals re-labeled approximately 110,000 bottles of low strength Epogen to make the bottles appear to contain high strength Procrit, a drug 20 times the strength of the Epogen in the bottles. The criminals resold the relabeled drugs into the wholesale market with forged pedigree papers, passing the drugs through four states. Investigators located 800 boxes of the counterfeit Procrit at a large Texas wholesaler, which had unknowingly purchased the counterfeit Procrit. In addition, investigators found some of the product in Kentucky. In all, investigators recovered less than 10% of the counterfeit Procrit. In conclusion, ``the imported drugs arriving through the mail, through private express couriers, or by passengers arriving at ports of entry are often unapproved new drugs that may not be subject to any reliable regulatory oversight. FDA cannot assure the safety of drugs purchased from such sources,'' stated Commissioner Hubbard. It is for these reasons that I can not support such legislation that we have no way of knowing of its content or origin. I am firmly committed to continuing efforts to reduce the out-of-pocket costs for pharmaceuticals for all Americans but H.R. 2473 and drug reimportation without any safety measures is the wrong approach.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Sandy Draggoo of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) as she has recently received the American Public Transportation Association's Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award. Ms. Draggoo has dedicated nearly thirty years to the Capital Area Transportation Authority and is responsible for the successful enterprise it is today. In 1974, Sandy Draggoo's career with CATA began while the authority was in its infancy. Just two years after its inception, Sandy started as the secretary to the Executive Director. She was soon promoted to Personnel Manager in 1976, and after nine successful years succeeded her former boss as Executive Director in 1984. Under Ms. Draggoo's leadership, CATA has changed markedly in the last eighteen years. Annually, CATA provides over 8.7 million rides, more than twice the number it provided just five years ago, and almost twelvefold the roughly 730,000 rides the authority provided in 1974. This dramatic increase in ridership is a testament to Sandy's dedication and hard work and earned CATA the American Public Transportation Association's Outstanding Transit System Award in 1991. In 1997, CATA announced the opening of the CATA Transportation Center, an intermodal passenger transfer center that had been a project of the authority since the mid 1980's. Sandy's leadership was paramount in overcoming the many hurdles necessary to bring this project to fruition. More recently, Sandy secured a contract with Michigan State University to assume operation of their bus system and consequently increased ridership from 850,000 to nearly 3 million. Ms. Draggoo brought extended CATA routes to Michigan State University students living in new off campus communities, averting severe congestion that worried local residents and municipal leaders. Mr. Speaker, in her tenure, Sandy Draggoo has transformed the Capital Area Transportation Authority from a startup public transportation system into one of the nation's most premier. Her hard work and determination have eared her the American Public Transportation Association's Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Draggoo for the receipt of this award and for her leadership and commitment to my community.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Supervisory Special Agent Thomas M. Bourgeois for his nearly twenty-two years of service to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For the past two decades, SSA Bourgeois has selflessly put his own well-being in jeopardy to serve and protect the American people. Thomas M. Bourgeois reported for duty on October 5, 1981 and was first assigned to the Milwaukee Division of the FBI. He worked in both the Milwaukee and Myrtle Beach offices investigating fugitives, bank robbery, and kidnaping cases before being transferred to the Chicago Division to investigate narcotics and organized crime. During his tenure in Chicago, Tom was responsible for the apprehension of some of America's most dangerous criminals, including the Calabrese Street crew, Anthony Centracchio, and John Serpico. From 1986 until 1997, Tom served as a member of Chicago Division's enhanced SWAT Team. While serving on the SWAT Team, Tom was deployed on several assignments, including the Unibomber case, Hurricane Marilyn in the Virgin Islands, and the Republican National Convention in 1996. SSA Thomas M. Bourgeois is the recipient of numerous honors for his work at the FBI. He received letters of commendation from FBI director William Webster in May of 1982 and again in March of 1986. Mr. Bourgeois also received the Chicago Crime Commission's Star of Distinction Award in both 2001 and 2003 for his role in the Anthony Centracchio investigation and for his role in thwarting a scheme by Cicero, Illinois public officials to defraud the town of nearly $13 million. Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my best personal regards to SSA Thomas M. Bourgeois on his recent retirement from the FBI and I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking him on behalf of the American people for his service and dedication to our collective security.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on the legislative day of Wednesday, July 23, 2003, the House had a procedural vote on the FY 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. On House rollcall vote No. 424, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Walter B. Jaehnig on the occasion of his 90th birthday celebration. Walter B. Jaehnig is a remarkable man whose career in journalism spanned more than 36 years, most of them at The Daily News in Greenville, Michigan. During those years, he impacted his community and those with whom he worked in thousands of ways. From 1943 until 1979, Wallie worked at The Daily News, doing everything from working as a linotype operator those first years, to writing sports beginning in 1944, and serving most of that time as managing editor and sports editor. Even after retirement, he continued as a sports writer for the newspaper. Wallie's devotion to his community and the young people there is legendary. It was his joy in school sports that made The Daily News an integral part of the high school sports scene and boosted the popularity of those sports throughout the Greenville area. Boys or girls sports, from baseball to basketball to football to track and more--Wallie was attending, watching, encouraging, analyzing and reporting the exploits of the area's young athletes. His career- long collection of game score books chronicled his devotion to the ups and downs of those athletes and the men and women who coached them. During his years at the newspaper, Wallie also mentored untold numbers of young journalists, teaching them the basics of their trade and introducing them to the real world of community journalism. Greenville and Montcalm County, they soon learned from Wallie, was a place where the newspaper cared deeply for its mission and the people and community it served. Wallie exemplified that attitude of service to the people who were the lifeblood of his career. Today his proteges are scattered throughout the United States, many of them following in Wallie's footsteps as community journalists with a heart for the people they serve. Throughout his career and still today, it has been Wallie's family who were first in his life. His beloved wife, Adele B. Jaehnig, whom he married in 1937, and their three children, Faith, Walter Jr. and Candace were the center of his life. After Adele's death in 1990, Wallie continued to center his life around his children and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. On Sunday, July 27, 2003, his family and friends will gather to celebrate nine decades of a life that has been a joy to all who know and have known Wallie. Mr. Speaker, we wish to extend congratulations to Walter B. Jaehnig on the occasion of his 90th birthday. We are honored to recognize his many accomplishments and ask that our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives join in recognizing his very worthy achievements and wishing him a very happy 90th birthday.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Colonel James E. (Jim) Rogers for his brave and unselfish service as Commander of the Division Support Command of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles. Jim's great work in the 101st Airborne during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom helped to lift the dark threat that terrorist supporting regimes posed to the citizens of the United States and the world. Through Jim's work and leadership, and that of thousands of other U.S. soldiers, the United States and the Coalition of the Willing brought liberty to the oppressed and brutalized people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Without a doubt, the world can rest easier knowing that these brutal regimes have been removed from power. The swift and decisive removal of the Iraqi regime and the Taliban could not have been accomplished without Jim and the fine men and women of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles. Jim was commissioned in the ordnance corps in June of 1979 upon his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy. His military education also includes the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advance courses, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. Jim also holds a Masters Degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan. Over the past 24 years, Colonel Rogers has served the army in a number of posts and locations around the world. Jim's service has taken him to assignments with the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas; the 782nd Maintenance Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Executive Officer for Armored Systems Modernization in Warren, Michigan; the 801st Main Support Battalion at Fort Campbell, KY; the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, Korea; the 82nd Forward Support Battalion at Fort Bragg; and the U.S. Army Total Personnel Command in Alexandria, Virginia. Jim currently serves as the Division Support Commander for the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell. Jim's fine service to his country has seen him recognized with many awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe, and the Order of St. Michael. Jim has repeatedly stood for the defense of this nation, her citizens and their freedom. His devotion and commitment to the defense of freedom and liberty around the world epitomizes the words Soldier, Patriot, and American. Jim is a role model for his four children, and a devoted husband to his wife Reba. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend the gratitude of myself and the entire nation to Colonel Rogers for his service to the United States and his hard work in defense of freedom and liberty around the world. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Jim's efforts and wishing him well in his new assignment at CENTCOM in Tampa, Florida.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Major James ``Chocks'' Ewald of the Michigan National Guard for his courageous acts of bravery during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Major James Ewald has been serving his country since 1989 when he entered the Air Force. In July of 1998, Major Ewald joined the Michigan Air National Guard and has continued to fly contingency operations all over the world, including Bosnia, Korea, and Iraq. As a recent graduate of the United States Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Major Ewald has significant knowledge and experience in flying. On April 8, 2003, Major Ewald flew over Baghdad on an intelligence mission for Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the mission, Major Ewald's aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile. Miracously, Major Ewald was able to gather important intelligence, continue flying his damaged aircraft while notifying U.S. forces about his position, and prepare for a safe ejection and rescue. The bravery and determination of Major James ``Chocks'' Ewald are to be applauded and commended. Major Ewald has demonstrated true patriotism and loyalty to America. His service to his country will never be forgotten, and we can all be grateful for the sacrifices Major Ewald has made to protect our precious freedoms. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend the gratitude of myself and the entire nation to Major James ``Chocks'' Ewald for his service to this nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the heroic acts Major Ewald has performed while serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry for their courageous efforts in the Civil War that aided in the preservation of the Union, especially at Fredericksburg, Virginia. In December of 1862, during the battle of Fredericksburg, the Union faced fierce opposition on the Rappahannock River and was forced to send men across the river to secure the Union's position. Members of the Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry from Ingham County were among the daring men who risked their lives that cold December day. Under heavy fire, the Seventh Infantry paddled across the river and successfully flushed Confederate riflemen from their shelter. Their bravery is forever remembered in Michigan's state anthem, ``My Michigan, My Michigan.'' More than 140 years later, on December 11, 2003, the Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry is being honored with a monument that is to be placed in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This monument is to remember the bold and daring efforts put forth by the Seventh Infantry throughout the Civil War. Their efforts held this nation together amidst a time of national divide and struggle. The Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry has earned this place in our nation's history. In such a pivotal moment, the Seventh Infantry demonstrated bravery, determination and patriotism. They made their home state and their nation proud. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend the gratitude of myself and the entire nation to the Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry for their courage in the battle of Fredericksburg. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their place in history and their part in restoring the Union.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I rise reluctantly as well, but in peer review science, being in the middle of it is maybe not the place to effect change. Maybe we should set some parameters up front. One of the studies here sounds fairly innocent. Research on pandas and their relationship sounds a little funny on its face, but when we look at it, and I can say it no better than a representative from Michigan State University, and I just want to read this, ``Perhaps at no other time in human history have the issues been so crucial as pandemics whose roots are found in animals spread across the globe: SARS, AIDS and monkeypox, to name a few. Dr. Lou's work is exactly the research needed to understand and plan for tomorrow's health issues.'' They are getting into understanding and study of how some of these diseases get transferred from animals to humans. I would argue that is very, very important work, and we ought to invest in it.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, it would most likely be after the ag appropriation bill in late afternoon.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for continuing to yield. We hope to appoint conferees to the bill on Monday and look forward to working fast and furiously on this issue. In fact, I believe there have already been some informal conversations across the Capitol on this issue. Having said that, we do not intend to create any artificial time lines and, instead, will work as long and as hard as we can to get the best possible project.