C. Ruppersberger

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support H.R. 5959. I would first like to thank Chairman Reyes and Ranking Member Hoekstra for their leadership in helping us put together a good bipartisan bill. I also am going to miss Bud Cramer, Terry Everett, and Heather Wilson. We have all worked well together on this committee. You will be missed. I ask my colleagues to vote for this bill because it supports the men and women who work within the intelligence community. The National Security Agency, the NSA, is headquartered in my district. I personally know that NSA's employees work very hard to ensure our Nation's security. We must continue to invest in the people and resources necessary to make our intelligence community effective. Intelligence is the best defense against terrorism. This bill advances the Cybersecurity Initiative to protect our computer networks, a very important issue that we will be dealing with in the future, cybersecurity attacks. We know now that certain countries are attacking the United States of America through the Internet. Two, it increases research and development so that we can maintain our technical advantage; and, three, invests in both satellite and airborne collection and in the systems needed to process, exploit and distribute this data. The intelligence community faces enduring technical challenges, but this bill provides our people, who are our most important asset, with the tools they need to do their jobs well. In order to protect our country from threats from countries such as China and Russia, we must continue to invest heavily in science and technology. This bill lays the foundation for the future and communicates areas of concern to current intelligence leaders and the next Presidential administration. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and the important work of the intelligence community.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support and recognition of House Resolution 369 honoring the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on the occasion of its 35th anniversary. For the last 35 years, the men and women of the DEA have served their country with distinction and honor while fighting one of the most dangerous problems this country faces today. Drug use and the violence associated with drug trafficking touches every American's life in some way or another. The men and women of the DEA are working tirelessly every day to prevent drugs from coming into the United States and to prevent or dismantle the manufacturing and distribution of drugs within our borders. This is no easy task. The DEA consistently adapts to changes in the drug trade. From dismantling illegal Internet pharmacies to identifying new trends in manufacturing and distribution, the DEA is and must be at the top of their game. Because the DEA has the greatest presence overseas of any Federal law enforcement agency, diplomacy and collaboration with the leadership of drug-producing countries, like Colombia, is essential for their efforts to be effective. The men and women of the DEA are up to the challenge. The over 9,000 employees of the DEA are an asset to the country, and I'm proud to honor them every day. They are in very dangerous places putting their lives on the line every day. I want to thank them for their dedication and their commitment to the agency and our country. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Dr. Renate Reimschuessel, recently nominated for the 2008 Service to America Homeland Security Medal. By honoring excellence in the Federal workforce, the Service to America Medal sends a compelling message to the American people about the importance of a strong civil service and inspires a new generation of Americans to public service. The Homeland Security Medal recognizes a federal employee for a significant contribution to the nation in activities related to homeland security. Dr. Reimschuessel has been nominated for her scientific breakthrough that identified the cause of the largest pet food recall in history and is currently conducting critical research to guarantee the safety of imported foods. In 2007, the FDA issued the largest pet food recall in history due to the significant number of pet fatalities. As a research biologist for the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine in Maryland, Dr. Reimschuessel was asked by the FDA to help investigate the cause of the hundreds of pet deaths and illnesses. Just weeks after she began her investigation, Dr. Reimschuessel discovered exactly why so many animals were getting sick, a discovery that is improving the safety of imported foods for both animals and humans. Due to Dr. Reimschuessel's discovery, the United States has increased surveillance for melamine and related compounds in food ingredients. In an effort to identify potential risks to humans, she is continuing to test the effects of melamine in chickens, pigs, and fish. Dr. Reimschuessel's research helped improve the way our government preserves scientific specimens and identified the ability of nontoxic compounds to become toxic when combined. These discoveries helped resolve an immediate crisis, and her continued efforts are helping protect the U.S. food supply from tainted imports and toxic chemical combinations. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Dr. Renate Reimschuessel in her nomination for the 2008 Service to America Homeland Security Medal. Her tireless investigation into the cause of the mass illness of pets in 2007 not only resolved a nationwide crisis, but initiated a series of scientific improvements, both in the veterinary world and the in safety of our imported food supply. It is with great pride that I congratulate Dr. Reimschuessel on her exemplary efforts to help guard against ongoing threats to the safety of the U.S. food supply.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Patricia Frounfelker, recently nominated for the 2008 Service to America Call to Service Medal. Ms. Frounfelker is being nominated for her studies of potential hazards and risks associated with U.S. combat vehicles. Ms. Frounfelker's research on these hazards has led to safety improvements that are minimizing risks for our Nation's soldiers on the front line. In her three years of government service with the Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, Patricia Frounfelker has become a leading expert in analyzing and characterizing the survivability of U.S. Army soldiers to a wide variety of potential risks. Most recently, she examined the potential for reactive armor to cause collateral injuries to troops who are near a tactical vehicle that is under attack. Ms. Frounfelker developed a detailed test plan to characterize reactive armor tiles being sent to Iraq for use on the Abrams tank. She collected and analyzed the data following each test and determined the collateral injuries likely to be suffered by dismounted U.S. troops within proximity to the tank. Ms. Frounfelker conducted her analysis using a novel methodology that she had previously developed to characterize the collateral damage to dismounted troops within proximity of the Stryker and Bradley vehicles. Her results identified areas of concern regarding hazards from each version of reactive armor and have led the Army to change how dismounted troops operate around these vehicles. During the same period, Ms. Frounfelker served as the lead assessor of crew casualties for 25 U.S. Army developmental systems, including 11 that were fielded in Iraq or Afghanistan. These systems included three variants of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and several tactical wheeled vehicles. She collected and analyzed fragment data for every live-fire test of these systems, and her assessments provided the data needed to assess the lethality of U.S. munitions and the survivability of combat vehicles. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Patricia Frounfelker in her nomination for the 2008 Service to America Call to Service Medal. Patricia Frounfelker's efforts in this time of war have directly benefited soldiers and Marines by identifying and assessing potential injuries they might suffer in or near U.S. combat vehicles. This has allowed the Army to modify the vehicles or the tactics, techniques and procedures before the vehicles are fielded to better protect U.S. military personnel. Her efforts have resulted in better equipped, better protected warfighters, who are better able to protect and defend our Nation. It is with great pride that I congratulate Patricia Frounfelker on her exemplary efforts to increase safety for our armed forces overseas.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 435, I was meeting with constituents in my district office. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 436, I was meeting with constituents in my district office. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 434, I was meeting with constituents in my district office. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of H.R. 6304. I would like to thank Chairman Reyes, Chairman Conyers, Majority Leader Hoyer, Minority Leader Blunt, and Ranking Member Hoekstra for coming together with a bill that we need on behalf of our country. My district includes the National Security Agency, and many of NSA's employees are my constituents. As a member of the House Committee on Intelligence and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, which oversees NSA, I know that the men and women who work for our Nation's intelligence agencies work hard every day to keep our Nation safe. The intelligence agencies must do their work within the laws of this country, and they need those laws to be clear. The NSA employees in my district need a clear law with a bright line between legal and illegal surveillance activities, and this bill provides that. Our Constitution requires checks and balances for the three branches of government. This bill provides that the FISA Court must review surveillance requests to protect the constitutional rights of our citizens. I urge my colleagues to support this bill because it gives our intelligence community the tools they need to keep our Nation safe while protecting the constitutional rights of Americans.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Keith Laffman on his eight years of dedicated service to the Office of the Attending Physician (OAP). Prior to his position at the OAP, Keith served as a physical therapist in the United States Navy, training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and then stationed at the Bethesda Navy Medical Center. Working as a Physical Therapy Technician in the OAP since November of 2000, Keith has consistently maintained close working relationships with the patients he serves. His dedication to his work and patients, along with his ability to organize and manage, made him a competent and effective office manager during much of his tenure at the OAP. Keith is an integral part of the team in the Attending Physician's office. As a person who has broken many bones and suffered multiple injuries, I can attest to the fact that Keith is one of the most professional, caring, and healing physical therapists I have ever worked with during my time as a patient. In addition to providing basic care to a wide variety of patients, the Office of Attending Physician provides a broad spectrum of services, including emergency evaluations, flu vaccinations, physician referrals, and occupational exams and certifications. Eight separate health units in Congressional and other federal buildings ensure that the OAP is able to provide convenient and quality health care around the Hill. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Keith Laffman for his committed service to his patients, from visitors and staff to high ranking government officials. It is with great pride that I congratulate Keith for his work at the Office of Attending Physician and his continued exemplary service to our Nation.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Robin August, recently awarded the title of 2007-2008 Baltimore County Teacher of the Year. Ms. August has been a teacher with Baltimore County Public Schools for 8 years, teaching mathematics at Deep Creek Elementary School and now Deep Creek Magnet Middle School. Ms. August began her career in education in 1990, working for the Baltimore City Public School System. In 2000, she accepted a position at Deep Creek Elementary School in Baltimore County and is currently a mathematics teacher and team leader at Deep Creek Magnet Middle School. As the team leader for the 6th grade at Deep Creek, Ms. August has been instrumental in developing and maintaining parental involvement that is necessary for the school to be successful. She consistently monitors the academic performance of her students in all of their classes in order to provide mentorship to the students and provide strategies to help them succeed. Throughout the year, Ms. August opens her classroom doors to teachers who are in need of professional development, modeling lessons that demonstrate excellence in teaching. She has dedicated her career to improving achievement for her students, serving on many school improvement teams and holding positions as diverse as Student Council Advisor, curriculum writer, and mentor. As a member of the leadership team at Deep Creek Middle, Ms. August continues to bring new ideas to the school plan, helping to design better and more efficient ways of meeting the various needs of the students. Through the Teaching American History in Maryland program, she has published work with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Center for History Education and presented at the Maryland Conference for the Social Studies. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Robin August in her acceptance of the 2007-2008 Baltimore County Teacher of the Year Award. Her legacy as a dedicated, enthusiastic educator will be forever remembered by the grateful students who walk through her classroom doors. It is with great pride that I congratulate Robin August on her exemplary career in education and her outstanding performance at Deep Creek Magnet Middle School in Baltimore County.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Christine Roland, recently awarded the title of 2007-2008 Harford County Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Roland has been a teacher with Harford County Public Schools for five years, teaching Biology and Forensic Science at Edgewood High School. Born and raised in Switzerland, Mrs. Roland earned a degree in advertising and public relations and became fluent in three languages before she moved to the United States. She has since earned a bachelor's degree in Biology from Towson University, a Certification in Education, and is currently working on her master's degree in Biology. Thanks to her unique background and teaching style, her bright, inviting classroom and original lessons keep her students active and engaged in the classroom. Using her background in advertising, Mrs. Roland packages her lessons and activities in an appealing and creative way. Her enthusiastic teachings inspire and motivate her students to put effort into their work and truly absorb the class material. Mrs. Roland goes the extra mile when it comes to helping her students succeed. Appreciating that biology can be a difficult subject, Mrs. Roland acknowledges all student achievement. She evaluates student understanding and provides immediate feedback. Her students know that she will not move on until there is a basic understanding of every concept. The projects and activities she assigns are challenging and diverse so every student can feel a sense of accomplishment. Mrs. Roland makes herself available to students and parents before and after school, as well as through e-mail in the evenings should a student need assistance with an assignment. Mrs. Roland is eager to attend relevant conferences and meetings to enhance her professional development. She plays a major role on the Technology Steering Committee and is actively involved in the curriculum writing for many subjects. She initiated a new course in forensic science for Harford County, received approval and wrote the entire curriculum. The course is now part of the county curriculum and she is working on staff development for the teachers. - Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Christine Roland in her acceptance of the 2007-2008 Harford County Teacher of the Year Award. Her legacy as a dedicated, enthusiastic teacher will be forever remembered by the appreciative students who walk through her classroom doors. It is with great pride that I congratulate Christine Roland on her exemplary career in education and her outstanding performance at Edgewood High School in Harford County.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Leah Waller, recently awarded the title of 2007-2008 Baltimore City Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Waller has been a teacher with the Baltimore City Public School System for eight years, teaching Kindergarten and first grade at Maree G. Farring Elementary School. When she's not teaching at Farring Elementary, Mrs. Waller has taught Summer School and tutored at the Jemicy School for Dyslexic Children. She has served as a mentor teacher for student teachers and new teachers. In addition, she has worked closely with the Children's Literacy Initiative and was selected to be a Model Classroom for Baltimore City. Always well prepared for daily instruction, Mrs. Waller utilizes the curriculum and Baltimore City Public School System mandated programs in an effective and engaging way. In Mrs. Waller's classroom, lessons are thoroughly developed with the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learner in mind. Skills and concepts are successfully mastered through a variety of strategies and techniques to ensure full comprehension from the students. The individual needs of all students are met in Mrs. Waller's classroom. Assessment data is consistently analyzed to diagnose student strengths and areas for concern. This data is analyzed to help drive instruction in the most beneficial way. Because of the active participation in the learning process, the environment in Mrs. Waller's classroom is very conducive to learning. She holds her students to the highest expectations and creates an atmosphere of mutual respect between the teacher and students. Mrs. Waller's professional responsibilities are fulfilled with great care. She maintains an organized recordkeeping system that monitors individual student achievement and progress. Constantly interacting with students, parents, colleagues, and administrators, Mrs. Waller works collaboratively to ensure the academic success and social development of her students. - Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Leah Waller in her acceptance of the 2007-2008 Baltimore City Teacher of the Year Award. Her legacy as a dedicated, enthusiastic educator will be forever remembered by the grateful students who walk through her classroom doors. It is with great pride that I congratulate Leah Waller on her exemplary career in education and her outstanding performance at Maree G. Farring Elementary School in Baltimore City.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Colonel Kenneth O. McCreedy, Installation Commander at Fort Meade in Maryland. Colonel McCreedy holds a bachelor's degree in history from Washington and Lee University, master's and doctorate degrees from University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Military Arts and Sciences degree from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College. He is also a graduate of both the Army's School of Advanced Military Studies and the Advanced Strategic Art Program. After over twenty years in the service, Colonel McCreedy took command of Fort Meade in June 2005. Since then, Colonel McCreedy has worked closely with business leaders and elected officials, to consider how his decisions would affect the communities both inside and outside of the Fort Meade gates. Fort Meade, located halfway between Baltimore and Washington, DC, is the fourth largest army installation base in the continental United States with approximately 40,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. The base thrives not only as a military installation, but also as a leading contributor to Maryland's economy. Colonel McCreedy has played a large role in planning and preparing for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, which will cause a projected 25 percent population increase and 5,700 jobs at Fort Meade alone. He also has worked closely with the Fort Meade Alliance, an advocacy membership organization created to promote and support Fort Meade as an economic asset and resource to the region. Among his countless awards and decorations, Colonel McCreedy has earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Colonel Kenneth O. McCreedy in his retirement from the position of Fort Meade Installation Commander. His legacy as a brilliant military commander will be forever remembered in his service to one of our nation's largest military installations. It is with great pride that I congratulate Colonel McCreedy on his exemplary military career and his outstanding leadership at Fort Meade.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Major General Bruce F. Tuxill, Adjutant General for the State of Maryland. After graduating in 1967 from Salem College in West Virginia with a bachelor's degree in business administration, General Tuxill underwent undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. For the next fourteen years, General Tuxill rose through the ranks at the Martin State Airport in Maryland. From 1994 until 2000, he served as the assistant adjutant general for air, Headquarters, Maryland Air National Guard in Baltimore. He then served as the Air National Guard assistant to the Commander of the United States Air Forces Europe in Germany until he was appointed Adjutant General for the State of Maryland in 2003. In his role as Adjutant General, General Tuxill was responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, programs, and plans affecting more than nine thousand men and women in Maryland's military department. The military department includes the Maryland Army National Guard, Maryland Air National Guard, Maryland Emergency Management Agency and the Maryland Defense Force. In the event of mobilization, if the state were to receive a presidential call to duty in times of war, national emergency, or operational contingency, General Tuxill would exercise command responsibilities and provide a force in readiness. As the Adjutant General, he served as the official liaison between the governor and the National Guard Bureau, and served as a member of the governor's cabinet. Among his countless awards and decorations, General Tuxill has earned the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, State of Maryland Distinguished Service Cross, Meritorious Service Cross, and Commendation Medal. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Major General Bruce Tuxill in his retirement from the position of Adjutant General for the State of Maryland. His legacy as an experienced and capable military leader and his service to the State of Maryland will be forever remembered. It is with great pride that I congratulate General Tuxill on his exemplary military career and his outstanding leadership of Maryland's military department.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 385, I was in an Intelligence committee briefing. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I thank you for yielding. Congressman Sarbanes, thank you for your advocacy. The Chesapeake Bay is so important to our region, to our country. I do want to respond though to my colleagues on the other side about the issue of oil prices. We are talking about the Chesapeake Bay, which is very important to our country. We all know that the oil prices and energy is a very important issue. Believe me, we have had 8 years trying to deal with that issue. And we will continue to deal with it because we know people are suffering. But we are talking about the Chesapeake Bay today. The Chesapeake Bay is very important to those of us who live in the Chesapeake Bay. We feel that we are stewards of the Chesapeake Bay. There are 16 million people that live within the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay, and that is very relevant. It's very relevant that we generate millions of dollars in seafood from the Chesapeake Bay. It's very relevant that our citizens who work around and within the Chesapeake Bay are also paid money for their jobs. But, more importantly, it's also about an issue of the environment too. The watershed. Right now, the Chesapeake Bay is having problems. We have to deal with those problems. This bill is a very important bill because if we don't move forward with this bill, we will not be able to educate our peers, 16 million people who, unfortunately, don't understand that when you pour a toxic substance down the drain, that it could go to the Chesapeake Bay. We need to educate our farmers to let them know that we need to have no-till farming, make sure that the fertilizer don't go to the Chesapeake Bay and kill the fish and the crabs and the oysters that are generated through the Chesapeake Bay. So I feel very, very strongly that we need to pass this bill. It's a relevant bill. We will deal with the issue of energy. We need to. We can't keep relying on other countries for our oil. I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of reauthorizing this critical program to continue and expand the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and make sure that the treasures of the Chesapeake Bay are preserved for future generations.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support and recognition of May as National Drug Court Month. Since the first drug court was created in 1989 drug courts have been a legitimate alternative to incarceration for nonviolent, drug-addicted offenders. By combining judicial supervision, comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment, random and frequent drug testing, incentives and sanctions, clinical case management and life skills services drug courts provide substance abusing offenders with the much-needed chance at long-term recovery and productive lifestyles. My home State of Maryland is a leader in the drug court movement. The Drug Treatment Court Commission was established in 2003 by Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of the Maryland Court of Appeals. The Commission has supported the development of 40 drug courts throughout the State so that Maryland can effectively respond to the thousands of individuals arrested in Maryland who are dependent on drugs and/or alcohol. Drug courts work. According to an April 2008 evaluation of the Harford County District Court Adult Drug Court program participants were significantly less likely to be re-arrested than offenders who were eligible for the program but did not participate. In Harford County and throughout the State drug courts are making a difference. During May, National Drug Court Month, I am proud to share that 30 graduations are being held across the State. Drug courts play an important role in breaking the cycle of addiction and crime and will help to reduce the over-reliance on incarceration for the addicted. We must do all that we can to maximize the impact of drug courts across the Nation. I applaud the work that the Maryland Drug Treatment Court Commission is doing and I congratulate all of the dedicated drug court professionals and graduates from Maryland and around the country.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Gloria McJilton, recipient of the 2008 Dundalk Optimist Club Citizen of the Year Award, the community's highest honor. Gloria grew up in Dundalk, and has been active in the community ever since high school. Her husband, Richard McJilton, was honored with the same award in 1984 by the original Dundalk Chamber of Commerce. Gloria and Richard work together at a Nationwide Insurance office in Dundalk, and support each other in their various community endeavors. Playing an integral role in a web of community organizations has let Gloria touch the lives of many in her community. She is currently the president of the Women's Club of Dundalk, which she feels is the most rewarding community work she does. Her work through the Women's Club has a direct impact on the community, through awarding scholarships and supporting local organizations. In addition to her local community activities, Gloria has been involved in county and state activities as well. Baltimore County Councilman John Olszewski, Sr., appointed Gloria to serve on the Baltimore County Landmarks Preservation Commission. She was chosen by Governors Parris Glendening and Robert Ehrlich to serve on the Maryland Judicial Nominating Commission, on which she sat for 12 years. Gloria is a founding member and treasurer of the Greater Dundalk Alliance. She also served as elected chairperson on the Baltimore County Commission of Arts and Sciences, and has been a member of the Dundalk Concert Association for 32 years. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Gloria McJilton on being named the 2008 Dundalk Optimist Club Citizen of the Year. Her legacy as an active resident of Dundalk will be forever remembered through the impact her work has had on her community. It is with great pride that I congratulate Gloria McJilton on her exemplary service to the Dundalk community.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Stephanie Jameson, recipient of the 2008 Dundalk Optimist Club Humanitarian of the Year Award. To be eligible for this award, the recipient must live outside of Dundalk, but be very involved with the Dundalk community. Stephanie has been a very active member of the Dundalk Renaissance Corporation (DRC), acting as a former president of the organization as well as the current treasurer. Aside from being an active member during meetings, Stephanie volunteers her time sitting on interviewing and hiring committees, handling very difficult personnel issues with which the DRC has been confronted. While Stephanie resides in Anne Arundel County, she owns a State Farm office located in Dundalk and has thrown herself into community renovations there. Her Dundalk community activities include sponsoring Community Assistance Network families at Thanksgiving, as well as sponsoring a drunk-driving simulator at the Community College of Baltimore County in Dundalk and a Dundalk recreation council baseball team. Stephanie participated in the 2001 Survey for the Urban Design Assistance Team (UDAT), which was made up of architects, urban planners and residents, which published a proposed revitalization plan for Dundalk in April 2002. State Farm offered to match the DRC's $15,000 to help the DRC in promoting the UDAT plan. Thanks to Stephanie's hard work, the DRC also received a grant from State Farm for an additional $75,000, which the DRC has used for buying and renovating its first homes to sell in Dundalk. Since 2004, the DRC has been able to purchase local homes, renovate, and sell them to promote the area, thanks to the grant money Stephanie was able to secure. The grant money has been a remarkable help to the Dundalk community. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Stephanie Jameson on being named the 2008 Dundalk Optimist Club Humanitarian of the Year. Her legacy as an active member of the Dundalk Renaissance Corporation will be forever preserved in the DRC's many community projects. It is with great pride that I congratulate Stephanie Jameson on her exemplary service to the Dundalk community.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. I want to thank Congressman Gutierrez and also the gentlewoman from Illinois, Congressman Biggert, for your support of this bill. I would also like to thank Chairman Frank for his support, and Congressman Snyder of Arkansas for his tremendous help in gathering support of other Members for this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support this legislation to create the Star-Spangled Banner commemorative coin. From VFW and American Legion halls across the country, to Little League baseball games, to presidential inaugurations, we play the national anthem to bring Americans together and honor our Nation. My hometown of Baltimore is proud to be the home of America's national anthem. In September 1814, Francis Scott Key was held captive aboard a British ship in the Chesapeake Bay during the attack on Baltimore by British forces. The morning after the bombardment by the British navy, he looked out his window and saw a large American flag flying proudly over Fort McHenry. He knew the American forces had successfully defended the city of Baltimore. The next day he penned his famous poem in honor of that flag. His brother-in-law, Judge Joseph H. Nicholson, set the poem to the tune of a popular British melody. A few days later it was printed in Baltimore and quickly spread to newspapers from New Hampshire to Georgia. The song gained popularity and was often played at public events and 4th of July celebrations. However, it was many years before ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' became our national anthem. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered that the song be played at military events and other official occasions. By the late 1920s, a consensus formed across the country that America needed a national anthem. John Philip Sousa argued in favor of ``The Star-Spangled Banner,'' and in 1931, President Hoover signed legislation adopting it as the national anthem. Even though it has been our anthem for more than 75 years, many Americans still don't know the lyrics to this wonderful song of our national anthem. A 2005 survey revealed that only 39 percent of Americans knew all of the words to our national anthem. The National Anthem Project has worked to educate Americans about our national anthem. Last year, they brought more than 5,000 school children to Washington to sing the anthem at the Washington Monument with the United States Marine Band. This legislation will create a commemorative coin to honor America's national anthem. This $1 silver coin will be minted for the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and will help fund the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. It is my hope that this collectible coin will inspire more Americans to learn the lyrics of ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' and learn more about the War of 1812 and the history of our national anthem, as well as the role Baltimore played in the history of our national anthem. The U.S. Mint only creates two commemorative silver coins each year. And I hope that my colleagues will join me in honoring Francis Scott Key and ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' with a vote for this bill today.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Harford Day School's Destination ImagiNation, DI, team, who recently won first place in the ``Chorific Improv'' competition at the statewide Destination ImagiNation competition and is headed to the national finals this month in Tennessee. Destination ImagiNation is a place where kids take what they know and what they excel at and learn to apply it to solve challenges, working cooperatively with a team and pushing the limits of imagination. Destination ImagiNation is a community-based, school-friendly program that builds the participants' creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork in enjoyable and meaningful ways. Teams of five to seven members work together to apply critical thinking and their particular talents to solve a Team Challenge. A Destination ImagiaNation Team Challenge is a challenge that is solved over a period of 8 weeks. Each Team Challenge is designed to be open-ended and solvable in many ways and on many levels. The Harford Day School DI team participated in the Chorific Improv Problem this year. The criteria for the Team Challenge focused on improvisational acting, story development, theater arts, team work, and sound design. Their challenge was to create a 6-minute improvisational skit about an ordinary, randomly selected chore in just 30 minutes at the Tournament. In addition, they had to integrate a randomly selected famous person into their skit. The Team's chore was to brush the dog. They created a cardboard dog on a leash, and their setting was a train on which they were riding to a dog show. In their skit, they had to overcome two randomly selected obstacles, which in their case meant the only brush they had was their mother's brush, and the bristles were falling out. Erasmus Darwin was the famous person the Team needed to incorporate into their skit. As he was a poet and a scientist, the team member playing Darwin's character made up a poem to recite. As the scientist, they had their mother's brush evolve into a dog brush and they used the fire from the train engine to melt the bristles in place. Harford Day School is a private school located in Bel Air, Maryland, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade. The school's team members include Ally Wright, Drew Devanney, Tommy Oursler, Charlotte Molali, Livy Ayd, Sammy Bowen, and Will Bolton. The team is led by managers Donna Peck and Marcy Sparks. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Harford Day School's Destination ImagiNation team. Their high scores at the Maryland statewide competition ensure their reputation as a team to be reckoned with in the national finals. It is with great pride that I congratulate the members of the Harford Day School DI team on their success in the statewide competition, and wish the team luck as they progress to the national finals.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the team members of the Baltimore Blast, who recently defeated the Monterey La Raza to win the Major Indoor Soccer League, MISL, 2008 Championship. The Major Indoor Soccer League was formed in 2001 and consists of anywhere between 10 and 15 teams from across the Nation each season. Since the formation of the MISL, the Baltimore Blast has captured four championship titles--in 2003, 2004, 2006, and now 2008. The Baltimore Blast's winning philosophy is their famous defense. The team has every player defend, and throughout the regular season, the Blast gave up the fewest points in the League. Players on the team are proud to play for the number one organization in the league. During the off-season, the championship-winning team members of the Baltimore Blast hold summer soccer camps for young soccer players between the ages of 5 and 13 throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area. The young players are taught individual skills as well as teamwork. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor the Baltimore Blast. Their winning records and multiple championship titles ensure their legacy as a team to be dealt with. It is with great pride that I congratulate the team members of the Baltimore Blast on their fourth MISL Championship win.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Chairman, on rollcall No. 214, I was at Bethesda Naval Hospital getting a CT scan. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' personal explanation

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Chairman, on rollcall No. 213, I was at Bethesda Naval Hospital getting a CT scan. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mrs. Capito

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 322, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Since its founding, Israel has been one of America's staunchest allies. As the only democracy in the Middle East, a close relationship between the United States and Israel helps ensure stability in that region. The ongoing Palestinian/Israeli conflict is of great concern to me. The loss of innocent lives on both sides is troubling and tragic. The ultimate solution must come in the form of a true peace between these neighbors so they may live side-by-side. I support policies that promote a peaceful solution to the conflict. I have visited the region a half dozen times and met with leaders in several of the key countries. I am convinced that a path to peace is the only way to provide true security and prosperity for every nation. Since Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East, peace in this troubled area is of direct interest to our Nation. Our Nations' strong alliance will help create a lasting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis and will diminish much of the tension and violence throughout the Middle East. Born out of the tragedy of World War II and the Holocaust, Israel provides a safe and secure homeland for Jewish people from the entire world. I thank Israel for its friendship with the United States, and look forward to another 60 years of close cooperation between our Nations.