Mike Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend an outstanding young woman who attends Auburn University, which is located in my district in east-central Alabama. Auburn's Political Science Department recently started a new award that recognizes a student leader who excels in both the classroom and the community. It's my privilege to announce the first winner of Auburn's Political Science Leadership Award, Ms. Emily Scammell. A faculty committee selected her in recognition of her superb credentials. Hailing from Daphne, Alabama, Emily is a junior political science major. She's minoring in hunger studies, which is part of the Universities Fighting World Hunger Initiative between the World Food Programme and Auburn University. Emily has a 3.9 Cumulative Grade Point Average and has made the dean's list for six consecutive semesters. She is a student in the Honors College at Auburn, won the Phi Kappa Phi First Year Award and is a recipient of the Spirit of Auburn Founder's Scholarship and the Academic Enrichment Scholarship. Emily is active in student government, having served as director of honors activities and assistant director of organization programs. She is co-founder and vice president of the Campus Kitchen/Hunger Studies Group and an officer in her sorority. Emily volunteers at the East Alabama Food Bank and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Auburn. She has also worked at the Bay Area Food Bank in Theodore, Alabama, and the World Food Programme in Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, I offer my congratulations to Emily and thank Auburn University for producing such outstanding students and citizens.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to pay recognition to the Jacksonville High School Lady Golden Eagles Women's Basketball team in Jacksonville, Alabama, who recently won the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 4A State Championship. The Lady Golden Eagles are the first girls' basketball team in Calhoun County history to win a state title. The team began the season unranked, but proved during the season and post-season to be number one. Their overall record was 31 wins and four losses. The Lady Golden Eagles are led by Head Coach Ryan Chambless and his assistants Nate Lyons and Megan Snider. All of us across Calhoun County and east Alabama are deeply proud of these talented young Alabamians. I'd like to congratulate the team, coaches and Jacksonville High School on this outstanding achievement.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to pay recognition to the G.W. Carver Wolverines Men's Basketball team in Montgomery, Alabama, who recently won the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A State Championship. After years of state tournament disappointment, including the last two seasons, the Wolverines grasped their first state title since 1984. The Wolverines record was 29 wins and three losses, but ended the season with a 23-game winning streak. Mr. James ``J.J.'' Jackson is the Head Coach. The members of the team are: Jeremy Johnson, Anthony Jarrett, Zachary Rumph, Craig Sword, Brandon Davis, Tony Armstrong, Brandon Murphy-Blackmon, Brandon Austin, Jose Duncan and Tony Cole. All of us across Montgomery County and east Alabama are deeply proud of these talented young Alabamians. I'd like to congratulate the team, coaches and G.W. Carver High School on this outstanding achievement.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 50th wedding anniversary of Toby and Dianne Miller. This event will take place on March 13th. Toby and Dianne were married in Buchanan, Georgia on March 13, 1962, and have three children, Hugh Dudley Miller, II, Alesia Miller Sherrow and Patrick Dean Miller. They have also been blessed with eight grandchildren. Toby and Dianne first met on at Sunday afternoon at a local restaurant in Anniston, Alabama, The Goal Post. Toby attended school in Oxford and Dianne attended Anniston High. In 1970, Toby and Dianne established Miller Funeral Home. In 1972, Congressman Bill Nichols selected Toby to be Oxford's Outstanding Young Man of the Year. Toby also organized the Oxford Rescue Squad which operated out of the funeral home. It is the only independently owned and operated funeral home in Calhoun County. In 2010, Miller Funeral Home was awarded Calhoun County's Sustaining Business Award. Dianne Miller operated Miller Florist which was founded in 1983. I salute this lovely couple on the 50th year of their life together and join their friends and family in honoring them on this special occasion.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. I want to talk today about gas prices. I represent a poor, rural congressional district where, unlike in the big cities, you have to have an automobile to get around. In the 10 years I've been in Congress, I have not had any issue that has upset my constituents more, including the wars, than the gas prices we had 3 years ago. Yet here we are back in the same situation, with the prices of $105 for a barrel and $3.75 for a gallon of gas, and nothing has been done over the last 3 years by this administration to deal with this issue. More recently, the Keystone pipeline, which would have helped bring a lot more oil into the marketplace by bringing it down from Canada to our refineries on the coast, has been denied by the President. He needs to be doing some things to help us. He says that people say, Drill, drill, drill, and that that won't solve our problem. Well, the fact is it might have if we'd started 3 years ago when we had the last burst of high gas prices. He's right, it won't help deal with the current problem, but this is going to continue to be a perpetual problem if he doesn't make some changes. He needs to authorize the drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf and in ANWR, and he needs to pass the Keystone pipeline.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a very special occasion today--the 65th wedding anniversary of Douglas and Katie Jo Medders. This event will take place on March 15th, but family and friends are celebrating the event on March 17, 2012. Douglas and Katie Jo were married in Anniston in 1947 and had three children, Douglas Wayne, Danny and Pamela. The Medders have lived in Anniston all their lives. Although now retired, Douglas worked at Lee Brass for 43 years retiring in 1990 and Katie Jo owned KaPam Beauty Shop for 28 years until her retirement. They are the proud grandparents of eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. I salute this lovely couple on the 65th year of their life together and join their friends and family in honoring them on this special occasion.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the 80th birthday of Mr. Eugene Champion. Mr. Champion was born on February 20, 1932, in Crenshaw County, Alabama to Leon and Carol Champion. The son of a farmer and teacher, Eugene finished high school and served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He attended and graduated from the University of Alabama on the GI Bill. Eugene was married to his high school sweetheart, Bobbie Royal, in 1951. They had five children, Cindy, Mac, Becky, Amy and Bob. In 1976, Bobbie passed away. In 1979, Eugene married Margaret Scott and added her three children, Duane, Emalyn, and Derek to the family. Mr. Champion received his CPA and worked as an accountant for several businesses as well as the State of Alabama. After retiring from the State, Mr. Champion opened his own accounting firm. Although now retired, he still helps out friends with their taxes each year. Eugene and Margaret are very involved in the First Baptist Church of Prattville. He is also an active member of the Lion's Club. Eugene is a proud grandfather and great-grandfather, who enjoys spending time with his family. On February 19, his friends and family will celebrate his birthday in Prattville, Alabama. Today I would like to wish Eugene Champion a very Happy 80th Birthday.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, Mr. Jack Cline, who retires from the Anniston Army Depot in April. Jack Cline is a native of Anniston, Alabama. Upon his honorable discharge from the United States Navy in 1979, he came to work at Anniston Army Depot March 1981. Jack began his career at the depot as an Electronics Worker in the Missile Guidance Branch, Directorate of Maintenance. He also worked in Directorate of Mission Plans and Operations as a Planner. In 1991, he became the Division Chief for Weapon Systems. In 1996, he became the Deputy Director for Production, and in 1999 served as the Division Chief for Tracked Systems. In 2001, he was promoted to Director of Production and Jack currently serves today as the Deputy to the Commander. Among many educational and professional accomplishments, Mr. Cline attended Army Management Staff College in Fort Belvoir, VA; and the Depot and Arsenal Executive Leadership Program at UNC, Chapel Hill. Married to the former Jeni Guthrie of Oxford, Alabama, Jack has one daughter Beth Williams, a teacher, married to Brad who serves as a Youth Minister. They have one granddaughter Savannah. Jack also has one step-son, Matthew, who is a Chemical Engineer. Jack and Jeni are active members of the Harvest Church of God in Anniston. We congratulate Jack on his retirement today and thank him for his steadfast and dedicated service to our nation. On behalf of everyone at Anniston Army Depot, we wish him the best.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, we have now reached a thousand days since the Congress of the United States has adopted a budget. It's not the fault of the House of Representatives. We passed a budget. We passed one last year and are going to pass another one this year. The President has proposed a budget every year, and nobody here much liked it. That's okay. He at least proposed a budget. What we haven't seen is the other body at the other end of the Capitol adopt a budget at all. They don't like the House budget; they don't like the President's budget. And they don't do anything. The fact is, if we're ever going to get our financial house in order, we have to have a budget, just like families, just like businesses. It's time for the other body to pass a budget. It's time for the President to call on the other body, which is controlled by his party, to pass a budget. I hope he'll do that tonight. Because the fact is we've got to get this country working again. It's all about jobs. And the fact that the Congress can't operate under a budget and get its fiscal house in order is hindering that job growth because it's affecting the financial markets in a negative way. So to the other body: Pass a budget.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to an upcoming celebration of the Tuskegee Airmen, which will be held on January 20th when the George Lucas film ``Red Tails'' makes its national debut. The movie will highlight the heroic Tuskegee Airmen who served our country with honor and distinction even though they faced great challenges back at home. The Tuskegee Airmen flew over 15,000 missions and were awarded the Congressional Medal in 2007. Across Tuskegee and Alabama, friends will honor this tribute by wearing red and hanging red ribbons across the community. There will be a red ribbon hanging in my Washington, DC office as well. In 1998, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at Moton Field in Macon County was established. This site draws people from all over to come and visit. It is with deepest appreciation and honor that we celebrate the Tuskegee Airmen for the film ``Red Tails'' filmed in their honor. This tribute should be another great way to help continue to tell their story for generations to come.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life of Mr. Jock Smith who passed away on January 8, 2012. Mr. Smith was born in Manhattan, New York, on June 10, 1948, and graduated from Tuskegee University and later the University of Notre Dame Law School. He returned to Alabama after receiving his law degree. Mr. Smith was an attorney and senior partner at the National Law Firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens and Smith, P.C. He also worked as a sports agent for Cochran Sports Management, Assistant Attorney General of the State of Alabama and as a professor of political science at Tuskegee University. Mr. Smith was a member of Christian Life Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He was married to Yvette Smiley-Smith and had a daughter Janay Johnson. We honor the memory of Mr. Jock Smith today.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the managers on the part of the House have until midnight tonight, December 12, to file the conference report to accompany H.R. 1540.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to congratulate Handley High School of Roanoke, Alabama, on winning its first Alabama Class 3A championship football title in 90 years. Rallying from a 14-7 deficit late in the fourth quarter, Handley came back to win the game 20-14 in stirring fashion with a goal-line stand in the final seconds. Led by their coach, Mike Battles, this team showed the type of grit and determination that we should all try to emulate during these difficult times. Originally opened in 1848 as the Roanoke Academy, it was the first school in the city. After various changes through the years, the name of the school finally settled on Handley High School in 1910 to honor the memory of a Confederate soldier, Captain William Anderson Handley. The late Captain had gifted the land which supports the campus today in exchange for one dollar. Known for its strong music, band and theatre department, Handley has always been known to offer its students excellent opportunities to pursue artistic endeavors. Now it has a football program it can brag about too. Congratulations to Handley High School, Principal Gregory Foster, Superintendant Chuck Marcum and all their fans on their State Championship. Go Tigers!

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to pay recognition to the special life of Ruby Hartley Barton of Talladega, Alabama. Mrs. Barton was born on December 15, 1911 in Georgia to James and Victoria Hartley. Mrs. Barton's father died while she was a baby, and her mother raised her and her six brothers and sisters. Mrs. Barton grew up in a fanning and textile family. She was married to the late B.W. Barton for over 50 years and was blessed with two sons, Charles D. Barton and Larry H. Barton and one daughter, Edith Barton Bishop. Mrs. Barton now has three grandchildren, three great- grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Mrs. Barton worked at Bemis Mills for close to 40 years and has spent her life serving God and volunteering in her church as a Sunday School teacher, choir director and pianist. On December 15th, her friends and family will celebrate her birthday in her room at Talladega Health Care in Talladega. Today I would like to wish Mrs. Ruby Hartley Barton a very Happy 100th Birthday.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request the House's attention today to help congratulate Honda Manufacturing of Alabama on its 10th anniversary as an economic engine and community partner in Lincoln, Alabama. Ten years ago, on November 14, 2001, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) started production of the first customer-ready Odyssey minivans and V-6 engines at its new plant in Lincoln. Today, the plant is Honda Motor Co.'s largest global light truck production source, with the capacity to produce more than 300,000 vehicles and engines each year. Its 3.5 million square foot manufacturing facility represents a capital investment of more than $2 billion. In the midst of challenging economic times, HMA has provided a stable work environment for many people across the 3rd Congressional District and surrounding region. HMA employs more than 4,000 associates and recently announced plans to hire an additional 50 workers in manufacturing, engineering, purchasing and production management positions. Along with its 35 suppliers, HMA is responsible for more than 45,000 direct and indirect jobs in Alabama. Annually, Honda purchases more than $2 billion in goods and services from suppliers and businesses located in the state. Honda's flexible manufacturing system allows the Lincoln facility to produce multiple models on the same assembly line, including Odyssey minivans, Pilot sport utility vehicles and Ridgeline pickup trucks. The plant will also begin manufacturing the Acura MDX sport utility vehicle in 2013, making it the first Acura product built by Alabama associates. HMA is also a generous community partner and good neighbor. Over the last decade, HMA philanthropic contributions to Alabama charities, community and civic groups have totaled more than $7 million. Just this year, HMA associates committed both time and money to support local tornado relief efforts, in addition to Honda's corporate commitment of $150,000. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing Honda Manufacturing of Alabama on its lot anniversary. HMA has been a dedicated partner to the citizens of Alabama in strengthening the relationships with the communities where its associates live and work. I am proud to congratulate them on their first ten years in our community, and wish them well in the coming decades.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life of Dr. Richard Leon Hooks who passed away on October 29, 2011. Dr. Hooks was born in Montgomery, Alabama, in August of 1943, and graduated from Alabama State University with a degree in Secondary Education. Dr. Hooks also attended the University of Alabama, where he earned a Masters of Arts and Doctorate of Philosophy in Education. Dr. Hooks began teaching in 1963 at Cobb High School in Anniston, Alabama. Later in his career, in 1980, he began administrative work with Anniston City Schools. In 2003, he retired and in 2008, was elected to serve on the Anniston City Board of Education. He served two years as the school board president. It is a sad day in Alabama as we have lost one of our great educators. We honor the memory of Dr. Richard Leon Hooks today.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life of Mrs. Mildred Hemmons-Carter who passed away on Friday, October 21, 2011. Mrs. Hemmons-Carter was born in Benson, Alabama, on September 12, 1921 and graduated from school in 1941 with a degree in Business from the Tuskegee Institute. On February 1st of 1941, Mrs. Hemmons-Carter received her pilot's license making history as the first African-American woman to do so. On February 1st of this year, a celebration was held to honor the 70th anniversary of her licensing. Mrs. Hemmons-Carter is survived by her husband of 70 years, Ret. Col. Herbert E. Carter, an original Tuskegee Airman. It is a sad day in Alabama as we lose one of our great women who proved the sky is the limit. We honor the memory of Mildred Hemmons- Carter today.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a special school superintendent today, Dr. Larry DiChiara. Dr. DiChiara was named Superintendent of the Year by the School Superintendents of Alabama in October 2011. Dr. DiChiara has always been committed to teaching and helping students. He was a former principal, teacher and coach from Loachapoka Elementary and High Schools in Lee County, Alabama, before taking over at Phenix City Schools in Russell County. I'm proud to congratulate Dr. DiChiara on this great achievement and hope he will continue his service for many years to come to our children, parents, teachers and our community. Congratulations!

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 745 I was entering the House Chamber when the vote was closed. Had I been able to cast my vote it would have been a ``yea'' vote.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to recognize the service of a longtime public servant, Mrs. Liz Decker, to Alabama's Third Congressional District. Liz will retire on September 30, 2011. After working as a packer and fine threads spinner at the Blue Mountain Cotton Mill in Anniston, Alabama, Liz became the church secretary at Gladeview Baptist Church in 1973. In 1977, she worked as an assistant to the Calhoun County Superintendent of Education and in 1981 began her Federal service by working for former Third District Congressman Bill Nichols who served in Congress from 1967 until he passed away in 1988. Since then, Liz has continued working for the Third Congressional District for three more Representatives, including Congressman Glen Browder, Congressman Bob Riley and now in my office. In addition, Liz also was elected to the Board of the Calhoun County Board of Education for two six-year terms. Liz is married to Ronald Decker. Liz has served countless East Alabamians through the years, assisting them with any number of concerns they may have had, from the grants process to casework focusing on immigration and Social Security. She is known as a kind and genuine public servant, and a joy to have in the Third District family. She will be missed. Thank you, Liz, for your service to the people of the Third District. On behalf of so many East Alabamians you have helped, we wish you well and congratulate you on your retirement.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request the House's attention today to recognize the life of a proud American hero, Anniston Police Officer Justin Sollohub. Officer Sollohub of Jacksonville died August 25th due to injuries sustained while on duty. Like others who have lost their lives serving their communities in the line of duty, words simply cannot express the sense of sadness we all have for Officer Sollohub's family, and the gratitude we feel for his service to the community. He was a selfless servant for the Anniston area, and he will be missed. We will forever hold him closely in our hearts, and remember his willingness to serve and protect our community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's remembrance at this mournful occasion.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a special Chaplain today, Vincent Turner. Chaplain (Second Lieutenant) Turner of Alabama was named Chaplain of the Year by the United States Corps of Chaplains for 2011. Turner has always been committed to helping others and serving God and country both through the United States Corps of Chaplains and the American Legion and Disabled Veterans. I'm proud to congratulate Chaplain Turner on this great achievement and hope he will continue his service to God, to the United States and helping people in need. Congratulations, Chaplain Turner.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this country has a real problem with jobs, or the lack of jobs, and our economy. It's what we in the Congress need to be debating solutions to resolve. Instead, we're having to argue with the President about our debt ceiling. The President is refusing to cut spending that every American knows we have to do unless he gets tax increases. And he's threatening to withhold Social Security checks from seniors to get his way. I think that's shameful, and he's going to have to answer for that one day. But right now, we've got a solution in the House, the Republicans do, called Cut, Cap, and Balance, that will limit spending to a level that we can afford in a responsible way without new taxes. We're urging the President to do something big. He says he wants to do something big about our debt problem. This is the solution. We urge him to work with us and not demand new taxes. And once he will do that, we can turn to some meaningful things that will help improve the job situation, which, by the way, is at 9.2 percent unemployment and going in the wrong direction. We can do some things, like getting the regulators off our community banks so that small businesses can have access to capital, and shrinking the size of EPA and OSHA and NLRB, which are bloated in their infrastructure and are just stifling jobs in America. We have a lot of things we can do. But first, we've got to get our spending under control. I urge my colleagues to vote for Cut, Cap, and Balance.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the people of Honda by including an editorial below from The Daily Home on May 28th about their resilience after the tragedies in Japan. It is very good news that Honda expects all its North American operations to be back to full speed by August and that includes its Lincoln plant where three of its most popular vehicles are assembled. The March earthquake and tsunami in Japan severely hampered Honda's supply chain and ended up costing the giant automaker months of production as it faced difficult and at times insurmountable obstacles to getting supplies from Japan to North America. Without those supplies, cars could not be built. As time passed, the supply chain opened up a bit, and then a little more. But not too long ago Honda officials (along with other Japanese automakers) were expecting a late fall date for full production to resume. Last week, however, the company announced it wouldn't take that long. ``Honda will increase production volume at its North America automobile plants to a rate of 100 percent original production plan in August,'' a company press release announced. Honda's employees in Lincoln met the news with enthusiasm. ``Today we announced to our associates in plant-wide meetings that we are planning to accelerate recovery of our production. . . .'' said Mark Morrison, a company spokesman. ``When we announced that the Odyssey and Pilot would reach 100 percent of their original production plan in August, our associates greeted the news with great applause,'' he said. That kind of reaction is what you would expect from Honda employees. The 4,000 people who work in the local plant are intensely loyal and, based on the plant's expansion since opening, also are very productive. That loyalty and productivity have been rewarded with a unique approach to the forced slowdown in production. Rather than lay off workers, Honda allowed them to work on maintenance chores, or to take earned vacation time to keep their paychecks coming. And after the April 27 tornadoes ripped through our area, Honda allowed its employees to take two days per week to volunteer at cleanup activities while getting paid as though they were at work. Those policies say a lot about Honda and the kind of company it is. And they say a lot about Honda's employees and the kind of people they are. Honda made it through this parts crisis without laying off a single employee in their North American plants, the company said. Now that they are ready to ramp up production again, those employees are available and their morale should be high, since no one had to do with a reduced paycheck during the difficult times. The Japanese automaker obviously enjoys great economic strength to be able to weather such a crisis without cutting employee paychecks. We commend Honda for its approach, we continue to wish the company a long and prosperous future in Lincoln and the rest of its North America plants.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. I want to thank Chairman Aderholt, my good friend from Alabama, for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I commend you for bringing this important legislation to the floor and for your hard work during these difficult budget times. As chairman of the subcommittee with sole authorizing jurisdiction over the Transportation Security Administration in the House, I welcome our continued collaboration on transportation security issues. Specifically today, I want to discuss with you the need to increase the number of explosive detection canines within TSA for aviation and surface transportation security. Within the area of passenger screening, we all know that explosive detection canines are one of the most effective screening means, and they do it without many of the concerns and costs of other types of detection technology. They do not impede the flow of traffic, and they avoid privacy concerns because they do not come into direct contact with passengers. We know that the military canine units in Iraq and Afghanistan can detect improvised explosive devices with an 80 percent rate, much higher than the 50 percent expected from those units with other technologies. And for all the good that canines do, they do it at a better price than other technologies. If there is a better, more cost-efficient option to increasing canines, I am open to any suggestion. In fact, according to published reports, the elite Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden likely carried at least one canine with them on that mission into Pakistan. Surely, then, canines can and do provide invaluable bomb detection services here at home. Especially in these times of heightened terrorist threats, along with the information that we gathered from killing bin Laden, we need to prudently increase the number of detection canines in TSA.