C. Ruppersberger

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 1098, I was unable to vote due to medical reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 1097, I was unable to vote due to medical reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Martin (Marty) R. Resnick, founder, owner, and CEO of Martin's Catering. He has recently been inducted into the prestigious Baltimore Business Hall of Fame. Martin Ronald Resnick was born in Baltimore on September 3, 1931. He graduated from City College in 1949, deciding to enter the world of business instead of going to college. Marty's early business career started in department stores, learning the world of business until 1964 when he opened his first catering company, Eudowood Gardens. Martin's Catering now has the capacity to serve over 20,000 people operating in 7 locations. For over 40 years, Marty spent nearly all of his energy in the catering business, earning numerous awards from small business associations. Martin's, Inc. has annual sales of over $30 million. Several organizations have named him ``Man of the Year'', and former mayor of Baltimore William Donald Schaefer declared June 24, 1981, to be ``Martin Resnick Day in Baltimore''. Although his business interests are many and consuming, he devotes his boundless energy to many causes, including the University of Maryland Foundation, the Morgan State University Foundation, the Baltimore Alliance for the Prevention and Control of Hypertension and Diabetes, and the Baltimore City Police Department Foundation. Marty and his company ``adopted'' Riverview Elementary in 1989. Riverview Elementary is located in an economically disadvantaged community, and many of the students who attend Riverview come from single-parent homes. Before Martin's Caterers adopted Riverview, the school had poor attendance and the need for encouragement from caring, positive role models. Today, he is ``Uncle Marty'' to more than 1,000 students. Marty also provides jobs for the parents of his ``nieces and nephews'', where he teaches them good work ethic and valuable skills to learn and grow in their career. Marty received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Philosophy form Israel's Sinai University, and there is a Yeshiva in Jerusalem that bears his name. Even with all of his many business demands, Marty is truly an adoring family man, who has always placed his family first. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Martin (Marty) R. Resnick. His legacy as a professional will be forever preserved in the Baltimore County Business Hall of Fame, and will be matched only by his devotion to his family and community. It is with great pride that I congratulate Marty Resnick on his exemplary career in the catering and event planning business.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Edward, Ed, St. John, founder, president, and CEO of St. John Properties, Inc. After graduating from the University of Maryland in College Park in 1961, Ed St. John founded St. John Properties, Inc. Since 1971, St. John Properties has developed, constructed, and maintained ownership of over 13 million square feet of office, industrial, and retail space. The company serves business space requirements of over 1,600 tenants in Maryland, Colorado, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Louisiana. Ed is a leader and active member of the community. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the Economic Alliance for Greater Baltimore, Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation, the Johns Hopkins University Real Estate Institute, and the Maryland Science Center. He was inducted into the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame in 2001, and named Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year for Real Estate in 1997. Ed St. John created the Edward A. St. John Foundation in 1998 with a philanthropic focus on educational enrichment for children based on the belief that education has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities. To date, more than $40 million has been pledged and donated through outright contributions and gifts-in-kind to over 300 educational, medical, philanthropic, and other nonprofit organizations throughout the Baltimore/Washington region. Many colleges and universities have benefited enormously from Ed's philanthropic endeavors. The Edward St. John Endowed Scholarship at Bowie State University provides scholarships based on merit and financial need to full-time students who are majoring in either business administration or mathematics. In addition, he has made a $5.85 million commitment to the Johns Hopkins University School of Professional Studies in Business and Education. His donation will launch a full-time master's degree program to complement the university's part-time real estate curriculum. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Edward, Ed, St. John. His legacy as a leader in real estate will be matched only by his devotion to philanthropic projects. It is with great pride that I congratulate Ed St. John on his exemplary career in the real estate business.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize this week, October 21-27, 2007, as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and as Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in the State of Maryland. In recent decades, researchers have discovered the harmful effects for children who are exposed to lead products. Lead poisoning in children impacts brain function, resulting in reduced intelligence, learning difficulties, behavioral problems, and other health consequences. Fortunately, lead poisoning from paint in homes is 100 percent preventable. The public needs better information about the dangers of lead exposure. This bill will help parents hire a certified risk assessor to determine if there is lead paint in their homes. With this vital information, parents can determine how to keep their children safe from lead poisoning. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, over 300,000 American children ages 1-5 years have blood-lead levels greater than the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, CDC, 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. In 2006, over 1,200 Baltimore children under the age of 6 had blood- lead levels equal to or higher than the CDC recommended level. That number has dropped significantly in recent years, but more must be done. The Federal Government aims to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the United States as a major public health problem by the year 2010. In order to achieve this goal, several Federal agencies including the EPA, the CDC, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, are working together through various grant programs to help individual citizens, non-profits, and the States in their clean-up efforts. Non-profits around the country are actively working with Federal and State Governments to educate the public about the harmful effects of lead exposure. One such organization based in Baltimore, the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, has been working tirelessly to reach out, educate, and advocate on behalf of children and their families impacted by lead exposure. Organizations such as the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning play an important role in efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the next 3 years. In addition to the work done by non-profit organizations and federal and state agencies, I am proposing a Federal tax credit for homeowners that would help offset the costs of cleaning up lead paint in their homes. Today, I am introducing the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 2007, which would encourage homeowners and landlords to remove lead from homes in order to decrease the number of children who suffer from the effects of lead exposure. I hope that, through these combined efforts, we will eliminate childhood lead poisoning by 2010.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Arthur (Art) B. Modell, longtime franchise owner in the National Football League (NFL) and humanitarian. Art Modell was born on June 23, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York. His father died when he was 15, and Art dropped out of high school to work and help support his family. He completed high school by attending night classes and later joined the Air Force and fought in World War II. After the war, Art built a successful career in advertising and television production in New York City. In 1961, he purchased the Cleveland Browns, a National Football League team. Modell was not a traditional owner in the National Football League. He believed that the owner should play an active role in the everyday affairs of the team. Modell succeeded in creating a strong team. The team won the NFL championship in 1964 and four division titles between 1965 and 1969. At the end of the 1995 season, Modell surprised the city of Cleveland and excited fans in Maryland when he moved his team to Baltimore, Maryland. The city of Cleveland retained the rights to the Browns' name, and Modell renamed his organization the Baltimore Ravens. The move brought an NFL team back to Baltimore for the first time in 12 years since the Colts left for Indianapolis in the middle of the night, and in 2000, a Super Bowl victory for the Ravens. During his 46 years in the NFL, Art was the leader of the NFL's television negotiations and was an early advocate of the league's revenue sharing policy. Art Modell is almost as famous for his humanitarian contributions off the football field as he is for his role on the field. Art and his family have made donations to Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore Museum of Art, House of Ruth, Hospice of Baltimore, Ed Block Courage House at St. Vincent's and the recent restoration of the Basilica of the Assumption, all in Baltimore and surrounding areas. He currently chairs a $100 million fund drive that will help build a new cardiovascular tower for the Heart Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and with his wife Pat contributed $10 million to the project themselves. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Arthur (Art) B. Modell. His legacy as a pioneer in the National Football League and his lifetime devotion to the sport of professional football are matched only by his support of humanitarian and community foundations. It is with great pride that I congratulate Art Modell on his stellar and exemplary career in professional sports in the United States of America.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Donna and Steve Hill. The Hills originally came to the Baltimore County Department of Social Services interested in adopting one child, a boy. They had three daughters and were very much interested in adding a son to their family. The agency placed a young boy in their home who lacked impulse control and required a great deal of time, attention, and therapy. They were presented with many more challenges than they had expected. Several months later, the agency learned that a sibling of this child was also in foster care in Baltimore City, in a therapeutic foster home. When approached about taking this second child, a girl, the Hills again stepped up to the plate. In an effort to keep the siblings together, they agreed to be parents for this special-needs little girl as well. When the sister was placed with the Hills, she had to share a room with the Hills' youngest daughter. After a short period of time, it was evident that the two girls, being so close in age, were in constant rivalry due to a lack of their own space. As a result, the Hills decided to put an addition on their home to ensure that the siblings could continue to live together. Though the two children were biological siblings, they had never lived together since entering foster care and had not formed any significant attachment to each other. The foster son was struggling with multiple emotional challenges, and the Hills pursued intensive individual and family therapy to stabilize both children. The Hills officially adopted their 10-year-old daughter on March 23, 2007. They are still working toward adopting their foster son, who has expressed some reluctance because of ties to his biological father. This family has consistently put the needs of the children first. They have dealt with many difficult situations, while at the same time providing a stable, loving home environment for the children in their care. In addition, if this family had not gone above and beyond their original request to adopt one boy, these two siblings would not have had the opportunity to live together. Madam Speaker, today I ask that you join with me in honoring Donna and Steve Hill for being unsung adoption heroes and I am honored to recognize them in the Angel in Adoption program.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Art Donovan, a member of the National Football League Hall of Fame and American sports hero. Art Donovan, Jr., was born in the Bronx, New York, on June 5, 1925. He first played football at Mount St. Michael's High School in the Bronx. The son of a famed boxing referee Arthur Donovan, Sr., who supervised many of professional boxing's Joe Louis's matches, Donovan postponed completing his education and served as an aircraft gunner on the USS San Jacinto during World War II, participating in actions in the Pacific Theater. Art joined professional football as a rookie defensive tackle in 1950 for the Baltimore Colts at the age of 26. The early Colts franchise folded after one season, and Art joined the New York Yanks in 1951, played for the Dallas Texans in 1952 and finally joined the next Colts franchise in 1953. Art became a hugely popular player and was considered one of the best defensive tackles in league history. He was an All-NFL selection five times and played in five Pro Bowls and the world championship for two years. The first Colts player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Donovan played 12 seasons in the National Football League. Donovan's Baltimore Colts jersey No. 70 was retired by the team in 1962 and he was elected to the Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Donovan is presently the owner of the Valley Country Club in Baltimore, where my parents were original members. Since 1955, the club has been owned and managed by Art Donovan, his wife, Dorothy, and his family. In 1987, he published his memoir, titled Fatso, and has been a frequent and popular guest on talk shows such as the David Letterman Show. Art has been a friend to me and the entire Ruppersberger family for many years. After Baltimore Colts football games, I enjoyed going to Valley Country Club and talking football with Art and other Colts players. He would delight us with stories of the Baltimore Colts' championship teams of 1958 and 1959 which featured Hall of Fame defensive end Gino Marchetti, Don Joyce, ``Big Daddy'' Lipscomb, and Donovan. His sharp wit, contagious laughter, and wonderful stories made all of us his friends. I was amazed at how many Salami sandwiches and kosher hot dogs he could eat in one setting and wash it down with a Schlitz beer. Art played football with his friend George Young, who was my football coach at City College in Baltimore and later went on to become general manager of the New York Giants. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor Arthur Donovan, Jr. It has been a great honor for me to call Art my friend. He is a true American sports hero in Maryland, the United States of America, and around the world.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the memory of Daniel Baugh Brewster, a former U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Maryland. Daniel Brewster was born in Baltimore County, Maryland on November 23, 1923. He attended Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland and St. Paul School in Concord, New Hampshire. Mr. Brewster attended Princeton University before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1942. At the age of 19, he commanded troops in the South Pacific as a lieutenant with the 4th Marine Regiment of the 6th Marine Division. Mr. Brewster led assault waves on Guam in 1944 and on Sugar Loaf Mountain in Okinawa in 1945. He was wounded seven times during the assaults, and was awarded a Purple Heart, two Gold Stars and two Bronze Stars. He attended school both day and night at the Johns Hopkins University to earn enough credits to enroll in the University of Maryland School of Law. He graduated in 1949 by supplementing his course work with night classes at George Washington University's Law School. Shortly thereafter, he then formed a law practice with John Grason Turnbull, then majority leader of the Maryland Senate. He was elected to a countywide Maryland House of Delegates seat representing Baltimore County, Maryland in 1950, at age 26, and served two terms. In 1958, Mr. Brewster was elected to Congress from Maryland's 2nd District, which then encompassed Harford, Carroll and Baltimore Counties. He served two terms in the House of Representatives. Mr. Brewster was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962 at age 39. He was the sole sponsor of legislation that created the Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland and Virginia in 1963. In 1964, he was the stand-in candidate for President Lyndon B. Johnson when Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, a segregationist, ran in Maryland's Democratic presidential primary, a test battle amid the debate over the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor the memory of Daniel Baugh Brewster. He was a true American patriot who throughout his life went above and beyond the call of duty in his service to Maryland and the United States of America.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 850, I was in a meeting in my district at the National Security Agency with NSA Director, General Alexander. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Cardinal William Henry Keeler, Fourteenth Archbishop of Baltimore. William Henry Keeler was born March 4, 1931 in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Thomas L. Keeler and Margaret T. (Conway) Keeler. He was raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where he attended St. Mary School and Lebanon Catholic High School. He received a RA. from St. Charles Seminary, Overbrook, Philadelphia, in 1952 and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1956. Ordained a priest on July 17, 1955 in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Rome, Italy by Archbishop Luigi Traglia, the young cleric became assistant pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Marysville, Pennsylvania and secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal. In 1965, he was appointed to serve as Vice Chancellor of the Harrisburg Diocese and Chancellor in 1969. He held the position of Vicar General when he was named Auxiliary Bishop of Harrisburg and Titular Bishop of Ulcinium by Pope John Paul II on July 24, 1979. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Harrisburg on November 10, 1983, and he was installed as Bishop on January 4, 1984, by His Eminence John Cardinal Krol, Archbishop of Philadelphia. He was appointed Archbishop of Baltimore by Pope John Paul II and was formally installed as 14th Ordinary of the nation's oldest See on May 23, 1989 in ceremonies at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. An influential participant in a wide range of national and international issues, Keeler was elected President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and the United States Catholic, Conference in November, 1992. Cardinal Keeler was appointed to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II on November 28, 1994. The Consistory Ceremony took place in the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican City State. As part of his work with the NCCB, Cardinal Keeler developed a reputation for effectively building interfaith bonds. He is particularly noted for his work in fostering an effective Catholic-Jewish dialogue and is the Episcopal Moderator, Catholic-Jewish Relations of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor William Cardinal Keeler, Fourteenth Archbishop of Baltimore. His lifetime devotion to his faith, the Catholic Church and its mission are unsurpassed. It is with great pride that I congratulate Cardinal Keeler on his stellar and exemplary career in the Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, as a Member of the Intelligence Committee, I congratulate the nation of Turkey on its recent elections. On July 22, 2007, 43 million Turkish citizens--over 80 percent of Turkey's population--exercised their civic responsibility and went to the polls to elect Turkey's 550-member parliament for the next 5 years. The election occurred without incident or allegations of impropriety. With this election, Turkey affirmed that its democracy is alive and well, and provided an inspiring example to other nations in the region. The election will seat three parties in Parliament: the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Republican People's Party (CHP), and the National Action Party (MHP). In addition, 27 seats will be filled by independents. Turkey's financial markets reacted with enthusiasm to the elections. On Monday, July 23, the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) rose by 5.08 percent, hitting a record high at one point during the day, reacting to expectations of continued stability and increased economic prosperity. Foreign governments and world leaders praised the election process as free and fair. Numerous major media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times here in the United States, published positive editorials praising the ``wisdom of the Turks'' and noting that ``democracy was affirmed.'' America must cultivate and support our allies. We must reach out to moderate Muslim nations in the Middle East and build stronger relationships to repair our reputation abroad. Allies like Turkey can help foster economic and regional security. Turkey supports the Global War on Terrorism and is a critical ally in keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists. As the only democracy in the Middle East with a predominantly Muslim population, the significance of this election cannot be understated. The U.S.-Turkey relationship is critical to both nations' security. Turkey is and will continue to be an important and strategic ally of the United States. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Turkey on this impressive achievement of democracy.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the memory of Jonathan Adam Hild, who was born on April 27, 1979 and passed away on May 29, 2007. Jonathan attended White Oak Elementary School in Parkville, Maryland and Timonium Elementary School in Timonium, Maryland. He attended Ridgely Middle School in Lutherville, Maryland before graduating from Dulaney High School in Timonium, Maryland. Jonathan graduated with an Associate Degree from Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville, Maryland. Jonathan was raised Catholic and received all of the sacraments from being baptized at birth to his confirmation in later years at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Towson, Maryland. He attended Confraternity of Christian Doctrine at the Church of the Immaculate Conception for his First Communion, Penance and Confirmation classes and services. Jonathan enjoyed building and fixing things from an early age. He was very mechanically savvy. As a boy he frequently rode his bike and enjoyed the outdoors. Jonathan liked sledding in the winter, and going to the beach in the summer. During his teen years and through his twenties he always wanted the best and loudest music system. In his bedroom he had a sound system that would be suitable for a night club and he had big speakers in the trunks of his cars. It often caused some brotherly confrontations with his brother Damon. He played softball during his elementary school years with Lutherville-Timonium Recreation Council. Jonathan also attended a summer day camp at Towson University during elementary school summer recess. Jonathan's career included working at a printing and copy company, Cockeysville High School, Pierce's Plantation Restaurant, and as a self-employed licensed automobile wholesaler. Jonathan always loved cars and as an adult his favorite was BMW. He had several of them, but one red BMW 325i convertible was his favorite and for years he worked diligently to insure the car kept its brand new appearance inside and out. He enjoyed the BMW so much he drove it on a trip all the way down to southern Florida. Jonathan loved spending time during the summer enjoying his jet skiing hobby. He owned his own jet ski and would take it out often near his home with friends. Always thinking of others, Jonathan would bring the jet ski down to Ocean City on vacation to share with all of his family. Jonathan is survived by his father, John Hild, his mother, Linda Hild, and his brother, Damon Hild. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor the memory of Mr. Jonathan Adam Hild. Jonathan was an exceptional young man from Maryland who will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleagues in recognizing the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's 50th anniversary. I commend Congressman Rush in reserving this time to pay homage to this great American institution. When this organization held its first annual convention in Montgomery, AL, five decades ago this August, I was just a young boy understanding the strategy of the nonviolent approach to hate, segregation, and inequality that was and still is prevalent today in America's society. As a former prosecutor and County Executive, I have worked very hard to ensure the organization's commitment to nonviolent action to achieve social, economic, and political justice currently are focused on issues such as racial profiling, police brutality, hate crimes, and discrimination. Today, the Southern Christian Leadership is a nationwide organization that is made up of chapters and affiliates with programs that affect the lives of all Americans. Its sphere of influence and interests has become international in scope because the battle for human rights is one that transcends national boundaries. Madam Speaker, I believe by recognizing organizations that have given so much to this country is sending a clear message to the American people that the legacy of its past and future presidents will never be forgotten.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007. The Supreme Court ruled in a narrow 5-4 decision that Lilly Ledbetter was not entitled to any remedy after demonstrating she had been paid as much as 40 percent less than male workers doing the same job for 19 years. The decision was founded on a narrow misreading of the intent of Congress in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Court erroneously ruled that Ms. Ledbetter could only rely on paychecks she received in the final 180 days of her career at Goodyear to prove discrimination. Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court's narrow reading of the law prompted me to introduce my own legislation to correct this injustice. I was joined by Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz as original authors of H.R. 2660, the ``2007 Civil Rights Pay Fairness Act''. I want to thank them both for working with me on this issue, and I commend our Chairman George Miller for moving expeditiously to right this wrong. Chairman Miller's bill brings about a different remedy in H.R. 2831, but it is no less forceful, and I am proud to also be a cosponsor. Both bills clarify the intent of Congress by amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make clear that courts must consider a pattern of pay decisions that recur and are cumulative. H.R. 2660 and H.R. 2831 are bills that ensure that victims of workplace discrimination receive effective remedies. The decision of the Court in this case was a sharp departure from precedent and would greatly limit the ability of pay discrimination victims to vindicate their rights. Congress must make clear that a pay discrimination claim accrues when a pay decision is made, when an employee is subject to that decision, or at any time they are injured by it. As a former prosecutor and County Executive, I fought against this kind of injustice and I am pleased this House is ready today to stand up and correct the error of the Supreme Court in the Ledbetter case. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 to correct the Supreme Court's misinterpretation of Title VII regarding when a pay discrimination claim is timely filed.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this very responsible funding bill. I commend the Chair and the ranking member for working together in a bipartisan way to come up with an outstanding bill. Mr. Chairman, you are a true leader, and I respect the way you've handled yourself throughout the process. In my former position as a Baltimore County Executive I was required to submit a $2 million operating budget each year, and I did so without raising taxes and without cutting vital public safety or economic development programs. I call this bill today our Law Enforcement and Investment Budget for America. This is where we fulfill our obligation to protect our citizens from crime. It is where we invest in our economy, our sciences and new technologies. This is where we keep America competitive in a global economy. I learned in my former position as county executive that if you neglect public safety, and you neglect public investment, the taxpayers end up paying a higher price down the road and get less for their money. They pay in more crime, a lagging economy and a higher price tag on new infrastructure. Some of my friends on the other side are proposing across-the-board cuts. Congress should never impose such cuts for two reasons. First, you cut the meat with the fat, the good programs with the bad. Second, as a leader, you fail in your duty to make tough choices and to provide vision and direction for our country. A proposed 1 percent cut would mean we can fund about 7,000 fewer bulletproof vests for cops in your police and sheriff departments. A proposed 6 percent cut means $12 million less for STOP grants to fight violence against women. For many years Congress has neglected the law enforcement budget in the CJS appropriations bill. We have underfunded law enforcement. As a former prosecutor, I was shocked this year when the administration proposed a hiring freeze for the DEA at a time when drugs are the scourge of so many of our communities. This bill corrects that. These are tough fiscal times, yet this is the first time in the history of our country that we have cut taxes while we are at war. We borrow from our children and countries like China, and then continue to spend and spend in Iraq. What kind of fiscal management is this? It leads to huge deficits, and it is fiscally irresponsible. This CJS bill reflects new priorities and new direction. Congress would never propose a 1 percent cut in the funding of our troops in Iraq. Congress should never have a 1 percent cut in funding for cops on the beat in our communities. It is time we stand up for our cops and first responders, just like we stand up for or troops. It is bad fiscal policy to have across-the-board cuts in the vital economic development programs of Commerce, Department and Census Bureau. Cuts in the census harm our local communities and leave us behind in the information economy. Mr. Chair, if we did not have this deficit we confront today, I would support even more funding for law enforcement.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise before you today to honor the outstanding lifetime achievements of Hanan Y. ``Bean'' Sibel, one of Maryland's most successful business leaders and strongest community advocates. Hanan Y. ``Bean'' Sibel is an active and respected business and civic leader in all walks of life in greater Baltimore. He is the founding chairman of the Maryland/Israel Development Center, a nonprofit partnership of the state of Maryland, Government of Israel and The ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, an organization that promotes trade and investment between Maryland and Israeli businesses. Under his leadership, the MIDC became one of the most respected US-Israel trade promotion organizations in the country. The MIDC was awarded an unprecedented five grants exceeding $3.5 million from the bi-governmental US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation. He also serves on the board of The ASSOCIATED. He chaired The ASSOCIATED annual campaign in 1987 and has served on numerous strategic committees and task forces. He was also President of Israel Bonds for the state of Maryland and Vice President of the Jewish National Fund. Hanan has been an outstanding leader beyond the Jewish Community as well. He is Chairman of the Baltimore County Revenue Authority. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, Bean also serves on that school's Board of Visitors. He also served as President of the Signal 13 Foundation and the Governor's Mansion Foundation. Widely recognized as an important business leader in the state, Bean was a leader in Maryland's food brokerage industry for 45 years. He was elected to the Food Hall of Fame of Maryland in 2005 and has also served as a Board Member of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Maryland and First Mariner Bank. Bean and his wife Carole, a community leader in her own right and past chairman of the board of The ASSOCIATED, have three married children, Todd and Amy Sibel, Steve and Joyce Sibel and Cara and Jay Cohen, as well as seven grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today in honoring Hanan Y. ``Bean'' Sibel, a man whose deep commitment to the business community, civic groups and philanthropic organizations has improved the quality of life for thousands of residents of the State of Maryland and the State of Israel.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy L. Tinnel, who died the first of July 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Tinnel, 20, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, died of injuries sustained from a non-hostile accident during combat operations on the Euphrates River just off the shore of Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Tinnel was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Jeremy was promoted to Lance Corporal January 1, 2007. His military decorations include the Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Tinnel left for his second deployment to Iraq on March 7, 2007. In May 2007, Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Tinnel was injured by an improvised explosive device. Lance Corporal Tinnel was a turret gunner on a Humvee during a routine patrol on May 14, 2007 when an IED detonated near the right side of the vehicle. The blast blew away the wheels, hood and engine block, and sent the wreckage screeching across the road. However, he remained in Iraq and returned to duty after about a week's recovery. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Jeremy grew up in Highland Springs and Sandston, Virginia and was home-schooled. He lived in Mechanicsville, Virginia before joining the Marines in August 2004. While in North Carolina, Tinnel met ``the love of his life.'' He and his wife, Angel Nichole Tinnel of Havre de Grace, Maryland, were married in December, 2006 during a small ceremony in Mechanicsville. Before joining the Marine Corps, Tinnel volunteered for many summers in eastern Henrico County, Virginia at the New Bridge Baptist Church's summer camp ministry and created a puppet character for the church's children's ministry that had a pointy green head, red hair and an English accent. In addition to his wife, survivors include his father, Herold Tinnel, and stepmother, Joyce Tinnel, of Sandston, Virginia; two sisters, Christy Flowers of Charles City County, Virginia and Laura Tinnel of Sandston, Virginia; and a brother, James Tinnel of Sandston, Virginia. Madam Speaker, today I ask that you join with me in honoring the life of a man truly dedicated to serving his country.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to address this important issue--accountability. All of us in government service have an obligation to be accountable for our actions and we all take an oath to follow the laws of this country. Unfortunately, it appears the Vice President believes he should be held to some different standard that applies only to him. The news that the Vice President as advanced a legal argument that he is not a part of the executive branch and not a part of the legislative branch but has some special status which means he does not have to comply with Executive Orders or the law in safeguarding classified material is nothing less than shocking. As a member of the House Intelligence Committee I can report to my colleagues that if we stand by and allow the Office of the Vice President to exempt itself from the same rules that apply to any employee in our intelligence services, we will deal a serious blow to the morale of these patriotic Americans defending our country. I will therefore support every measure in this Financial Services Subcommittee bill, at every step in the process as it becomes law to compel the Vice President to follow the law of the land. The Vice President should be leading by example. He should be setting the highest standards of conduct and accountability.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2008 Financial Services Appropriation, and I urge Members to vote for this bill. It is an excellent bill approved by the subcommittee unanimously. It is below the President's request, and fulfills our obligation to be efficient with the taxpayers' dollars. I commend Chairman Serrano and Ranking Member Regula for their leadership and their bipartisan achievement. As a former prosecutor and county executive, I am especially proud of several initiatives in the bill. I would like it highlight one program specifically. There is $226 million, a $6 million increase, over the President's budget for high-intensity drug trafficking areas. HIDTA funding enables local, State and Federal law enforcement to work together in fighting the war against drugs. As a county executive in Baltimore County, we worked with HIDTA to bring everyone to the table who had a stake in stopping drug trafficking. We don't stop drug buys with just a single piece of information. It takes solid policework, intelligence, and trained experts analyzing information to help officers make the drug arrests. The HIDTA program is making a major impact in areas like Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York and other locations. Statistics show that drugs are connected to over 70 percent of all violent crime in the United States. This increase in HIDTA funding helps protect this country and our communities against drug dealers and other violent criminals. I urge my colleagues to support the Financial Services appropriations bill.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise before you today to honor the outstanding career of William J. Quigley, on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Coast Guard. CDR William J. Quigley is the Prospective Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Cryptologic Group. He assumed his current duties as the Coast Guard Liaison Officer to the Commander, Naval Security Group, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland in 2004. Immediately prior to this assignment, he served as Chief, Intelligence Resource Management Office, Intelligence Directorate, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC. Commander Quigley was born in Lowell, MA, and grew up in Hudson, NH. A 1984 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, Commander Quigley began his career as a deck watch officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alert (WMEC-630) in Cape May, NJ. Commander Quigley's service included numerous afloat assignments and is a qualified Coast Guard Cutterman. Commander Quigley's shoreside assignments include duty as a Watch Officer at the Coast Guard Intelligence Coordination Center in Washington, DC; the supervisor of the Coast Guard Detachment at the Navy Operational Intelligence Center in Suitland, MD; the Coast Guard Liaison Officer to the Department of State in Washington, DC, and Chief, Operational Analysis and Planning Division, Office of Operations Strategic and Business Planning, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. Commander Quigley holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT, and a master of science degree in strategic intelligence, earned at the Joint Military Intelligence College, Washington, DC. Individual military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Coast Guard Commendation Medal with gold star and operational distinguishing device, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with gold star and operational distinguishing device, the Commandant's Letter of Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Commander Quigley is married to the former Paula May Harris of Hampden, MA. They currently reside in Millersville, MD, with their two sons, Kyle and Connor. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today in honoring CDR William J. Quigley, a man whose deep commitment to the United States and the United States Coast Guard has gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to our great country.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise before you today to honor the outstanding career of William J. Quigley, on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Coast Guard. Commander William J. Quigley is the Prospective Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Cryptologic Group. He assumed his current duties as the Coast Guard Liaison Officer to the Commander, Naval Security Group, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland in 2004. Immediately prior to this assignment, he served as Chief, Intelligence Resource Management Office, Intelligence Directorate, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Commander Quigley was born in Lowell, Massachusetts and grew up in Hudson, New Hampshire. A 1984 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, Commander Quigley began his career as a deck watch officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) ALERT (WMEC-630) in Cape May, New Jersey. Commander Quigley's service included numerous afloat assignments and is a qualified Coast Guard Cutterman. Commander Quigley's shore side assignments include duty as a Watch Officer at the Coast Guard Intelligence Coordination Center in Washington, D.C.; the supervisor of the Coast Guard Detachment at the Navy Operational Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland; the Coast Guard Liaison Officer to the Department of State in Washington, D.C. and Chief, Operational Analysis and Planning Division, Office of Operations Strategic and Business Planning, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. Commander Quigley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence (MSSI), earned at the Joint Military Intelligence College, Washington, DC. Individual military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Coast Guard Commendation Medal with gold star and operational distinguishing device, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with gold star and operational distinguishing device, the Commandant's Letter of Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Commander Quigley is married to the former Paula May Harris of Hampden, Massachusetts. They currently reside in Millersville, Maryland with their two sons, Kyle and Connor. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join with me today in honoring Commander William J. Quigley, a man whose deep commitment to the United States and the United States Coast Guard has gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to our great country.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to honor Army Specialist Casey W. Nash, who died the eighteenth of May two- thousand seven in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Specialist Nash and two other soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device in Tahrir, Iraq. He died of serious injuries when the roadside-improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. Specialist Nash enlisted in the Army in February 2003, shortly after graduating from Eastern Technical High School, where he played football. Casey was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Casey served as a fire support specialist and his duties included mapping coordinates and driving a Humvee. He was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. Casey Nash was born in Pasadena, Texas, and moved to Middle River, Maryland with his family when he was a child. He attended Victory Villa Elementary School and Middle River Middle School before attending Eastern Technical High School. Casey moved to Essex, Maryland with his mother, Sandra Nash, and his sister while he was in high school. The Eastern Technical High School alumnus is succeeded by his father, Lewis Nash, his mother, Ms. Sandra L. Nash, his sister, Sara Nash, and many family members in Middle River and Essex, Maryland. Madam Speaker, today I ask that you join with me in honoring the life of a man truly dedicated to serving his Country.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 396, I missed the vote on passage. I was chairing a briefing in the Intelligence Committee with NSA. I missed the vote by 30 seconds. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Chairwoman, I want to first say that I rise in support of H.R. 2082, the Intelligence Authorization Act. Our Nation is at war. We are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, and we are battling terrorists worldwide. We are also witnessing the rise of nuclear powers in Iran and North Korea. We are facing major challenges from China and Russia, who want to gain a technological edge on the United States. America has to stay on the offensive, and the way to do that is with stronger technology. This bill will strengthen our intelligence capabilities and invest much needed resources in new research and development. I am the chairman of the Technical and Tactical Subcommittee, which is responsible for overseeing technical intelligence assets, including the National Security Agency. The subcommittee has been working hard to ensure that this bill provides the necessary resources so that the Intelligence Community has the latest cutting-edge research and technology. This is the foundation for good intelligence. Other countries are gaining the ability to take out intelligence assets, such as orbiting satellites. Al Qaeda is finding innovative ways to communicate over the internet to plan attacks. We need to develop smarter tools to collect this information about threats to the U.S. and our allies. This bill refocuses the Intelligence Community on these new and emerging threats. The number one priority is preserving our technical workforce. This bill invests in our scientists and engineers. This bill also addresses the future of research and development across the Intelligence Community. Let me emphasize; we must invest more heavily in research and development. The committee is looking to the Director of National Intelligence to establish an aggressive R&D investment strategy that promotes cooperation among various agencies while allowing each agency to conduct research that fulfills its specific needs. During this time of growth, we need to maintain the good working relationships the Intelligence Community has with our Nation's research centers. In closing, we need to maintain our technology. We should vote for this bill. I have been on the Intelligence Committee for 4 years. I feel very strongly that this committee should be USA first. What we have to deal with is very important. I am very distressed and concerned that the minority at this point, who I have worked with and are excellent friends and I respect, the first bill that we have coming out of as a majority are voting ``no.'' We need to bring consensus together. We need to work as a team. There are some things that we have and some that we don't, but I hope that we will be able to work together in the future and go beyond this tonight.