David Reichert

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an extraordinary young woman from my District whose unyieldingly positive spirit in the face of a horrendous challenge is a true inspiration at any time, but especially leading up to the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Marin Morrison, 17, of Sammamish, Washington, was one of the top swimmers in the country as a 14-year-old. She was just 1.5 seconds away from qualifying for the Olympic time trials. She received recruiting letters from some of the top schools in the country. She was a natural and earned medal after medal. However, fierce headaches and double vision turned her world upside down. An MRI revealed a tumor on her brain and doctors gave her 4 to 6 months to live. As a result of surgery in 2005, she was left partially paralyzed. She was forced to relearn some basics such as reading, writing and walking. It appeared her Olympic dreams were dashed. Although she sometimes struggled mightily, she swam nearly every day. She refused to give up and started a new type of Olympic journey. She battled fatigue and her other physical ailments like a heavyweight boxer and never stopped fighting. Classmates at Eastlake High School, family, friends, former Olympians and countless others rallied around her. Then in April, Marin flew to Minnesota for the paralympic trials and earned a spot on the 37 member swim team, realizing her Olympic dream. Marin's story is beyond inspiring. The circumstances she has overcome are truly humbling. She is a true American hero and we wish her all the best in Beijing and in the future.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Chief Dan Packer, the former Chief of East Pierce Fire and Rescue who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty Saturday, July 26, 2008, in Northern California. Packer, the only chief of the East Pierce district and the past president of Washington Fire Chiefs, arrived in Northern California on June 25, 2008, to assist in the Panther Creek fire as a Division Supervisor. He was called to duty by the U.S. Forest Service and immediately leaped at the opportunity to serve and protect in another community. Chief Packer began his career as a firefighter in Burien, Washington, in 1981. In 1995, he took over as the fire chief of Bonney Lake, Washington, and transformed the department of six firefighters into East Pierce Fire and Rescue. The district now serves nearly 75,000 people in the areas of Bonney Lake, Sumner, Lake Tapps, South Prairie and Wilkeson; about 142 square miles total. Aside from his duties as a day-to-day leader at East Pierce Fire and Rescue, Chief Packer argued patiently, eloquently and reasonably before the State Legislature in order to make the people he served in Pierce County safer. During a time of reflection such as this, many phrases continue to appear while describing the kind of servant Chief Packer was. I read Chief Packer was ``a firefighter's fire chief,'' a ``visionary leader,'' and a ``great and exceptional man.'' The residents of East Pierce County have lost a wonderful leader and I grieve with you. To the fire personnel who worked under and alongside Chief Packer: I understand your pain. I have experienced losing a partner in the line of duty. Most of all Madam Speaker, we grieve with the family of Chief Packer. He was a son, a husband, father and grandfather; his sacrifice was also their sacrifice and their loss. But they can live with the comfort in his spirit and the hope that his spirit lives on to inspire others with his true heroism and willingness to serve to protect all of us. That is the spirit of a first responder and the memory of Chief Packer we must always honor and never forget.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of two heroic brothers, Ryan and Aaron Job, constituents of the 8th District of Washington State, whose time spent in defense and service of our Nation are both inspirational and incredible. Both served under harrowing conditions in Iraq and are two fine examples of the young men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. Aaron, who signed up for the Marine Corps before his senior year at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Washington, in 2001, served two tours in Iraq. He participated in the invasion of Iraq in early 2003 and he, along with his Marine Corps comrades, renovated schools and medical clinics, dredged water canals and helped build six new markets. Before returning home from his second tour of duty, he helped oversee the first free elections in Iraq in early 2005 while in Najaf. Najaf is also where he suffered shrapnel wounds to his hand and narrowly escaped insurgent sniper fire. Once home, he served in Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina with his fellow Marines. Ryan, who was nearing the end of Navy Seal training when Aaron was ending his second tour, was on patrol in Ramadi in 2006 when sniper fire hit the rifle he was holding and severely damaged both of his eyes, leaving him permanently blind. His lack of sight did not stop him from recently climbing Mt. Rainier, a 14,441 foot mountain. Throughout their service, Ryan and Aaron's commitment to God and Country never wavered. With selflessness, courage and resiliency, Ryan and Aaron served our country admirably and this entire body is grateful for their sacrifice.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a military ceremony taking place in Seattle, Washington, from July 24-26. This ceremony will finally mark the official end to an injustice thrust upon 28 members of an African American unit at Seattle's Fort Lawton in 1944. On August 14, 1944, an Italian prisoner of war was lynched at Fort Lawton following a nighttime confrontation between members of three all-black Army port companies, a company of prisoners in an Italian Service Unit and many other Army personnel. Subsequently, 28 of the 43 African-American soldiers charged in the melee were convicted of rioting; two soldiers were also found guilty of manslaughter. Although the sloppiness of the investigation, coupled with clear racial discrimination, tainted the entire court-martial proceeding, the ruling and the dishonorable discharge of the 28 convicted soldiers stood for more than six decades. However, following the publication of a scrupulously researched account of the clash and courts-martial by a Seattle author, and the interest of my colleague on the other side of the aisle, Congressman Jim McDermott, the U.S. Army overturned the convictions of the 28 soldiers and granted them honorable discharges. Although the wheels of justice turned painfully slow for 28 African-American veterans, July 24-26 will be a wonderful celebration of their dedicated service to our country and the final corrections of their military records. Unfortunately, only two of the original 28 soldiers are alive today, meaning 26 Army veterans passed away before an extreme personal injustice was rectified. My hope is that the families of the deceased veterans can find some kind of peace knowing their loved ones service is truly appreciated and honored.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. In conclusion, I would just like to thank the chairman and ranking member for their support, and the gentleman's kind suggestions and thoughtful suggestions. I would urge passage of this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to my good friend from Florida, the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Mica.

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Chairman, as we all know, skyrocketing gas prices and the pain they cause is one of the most daunting issues facing this Congress and our Nation. Today in the State of Washington, the price per gallon of regular gas was $4.34, while a month ago it was $4.02 and a year ago it was $3.11 in the State of Washington. It is hard to believe we are now in the position to yearn for the days of $3 gasoline. My constituents are looking for some form of relief, an option to paying outrageous prices to fill up their cars only to sit in gridlock traffic. Mass transit offers relief; however, mass transit does not succeed if the public is not convinced that it is a convenient alternative to driving their cars. The Transportation Research Board studied the accessibility of transit services to suburban commuters, and has identified strategies that improve customer acceptance and the use of transit services. The study found that acceptance and use of transit services are clearly influenced by the availability, convenience, and the cost of commuter parking at rail stations and at park-and-ride lots for commuter buses. Increasing commuter bus park-and-ride availability directly increases transit ridership in these routes. According to Sound Transit, a local transit agency in my district, once parking lots are 80 percent full at commuter bus stations, the public perceives them to be completely full and they continue to drive by, bypassing an opportunity to ease the pain of high gas prices in an environmentally friendly way. Expansion of these facilities incentivizes transit systems and the communities they serve by increasing their suburban park-and-ride lot capacity and increases the use of transit. Like every community, people in the Puget Sound region of Washington State are parking their cars and taking transit more often. In my district alone, the number of people who rode Sound Transit's buses and trains in 2007 increased by nearly six times the nationwide increase. A few bus ride examples. In the first quarter of 2008, the express bus service connecting two suburbs of Seattle, Lynnwood, Washington and Bellevue, Washington, grew by more than 31 percent over the first quarter of 2007. Ridership on Sound Transit service between Everett, Washington and Bellevue, Washington is up 24 percent. And between Federal Way, another suburb of Seattle, and the Microsoft campus in Redmond, it is up 12 percent. Those are some great examples of mass transit working in my district. I urge you to support my amendment. My amendment will simply allow bus park-and-ride lots the same Federal funding as commuter rail park- and-ride lots receive in this bill. Join me in giving Americans a choice on how they go to work, go to the grocery store, or move about town other than painfully paying at the pump to fill up their cars. This amendment will ease congestion, help the environment, and save commuters from high gas prices. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize Harborview Medical Center, a premiere hospital in the Pacific Northwest, for receiving the 2007 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service from the American Hospital Association (AHA). Every year, the AHA presents this prestigious award to a U.S. health care organization that displays a strong commitment to the health and well-being of its community. Harborview was chosen as the recipient of this year's award because of its outstanding record of providing services to the surrounding community. The medical center has made great strides in handling major public health concerns including mental illness, homelessness, cultural and linguistic barriers to health care, childhood safety, and chronic illness. Harborview is our region's Level I trauma center, and continues to provide exceptional emergency care for people across the Northwest. Harborview is a deserving recipient of recognition for its outstanding commitment to public health and quality care. I offer my sincere congratulations to Harborview Medical Center for receiving this honor and their continued dedication to Washington State.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in order to congratulate my constituent, Melanie Roach, for her resiliency while earning a place on the United States weightlifting team for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Her story is a wonderful example of the power of the human spirit and she will no doubt represent her family, community and country well throughout the entire 17-day competition. Before qualifying for the games this summer, Melanie was on the verge of making her way to Sydney, Australia for the 2000 Olympic Games when an injury shattered her Olympic aspirations. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Melanie threw herself into the role of mother to her three children, supportive spouse to her husband, a State legislator in Washington, and started a business. However, she could not shake the desire to compete athletically and worked tirelessly to get back to an Olympic level and compete with the best lifters in the world. She is one of only four women to qualify for the team and at 33 years old, she is the oldest member of the U.S. weightlifting team, and yet the youngest at heart. She will travel to Beijing prior to the August 8, 2008, opening ceremonies and will bring the pride of her family and friends, her community and the State of Washington, and all the people of the United States of America. Melanie is an inspiration to all and I wish her the best in Beijing and safety in her travels.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the 100th Anniversary of The Congressional Club; the only club in the world established by an act of Congress. Since its founding in 1908, The Congressional Club has provided a nonpartisan setting for the spouses of Members of Congress to form lasting friendships and foster bipartisan collaboration on several projects benefiting our children and communities. Each year, The Congressional Club hosts the First Lady of the United States for a luncheon and donates the proceeds to a selected charity. The First Lady's Luncheon is the Club's largest and most prestigious event of the year. My wife Julie is currently serving as 3rd Vice President of The Congressional Club and had the privilege of serving as Co-Chair of the luncheon this year, which hosted 1,800 guests including distinguished Members of the House and Senate, the President's Cabinet, and the spouses of the Supreme Court Justices. In honor of First Lady Laura Bush, the Club donated the proceeds from the 2008 luncheon to Ford's Theater; one of the most visited sites in our Nation's capital, celebrating the life and legacy of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. Past recipients of the Club's charitable giving include mentoring programs, literacy programs, child care centers, and domestic shelters. Over the past 100 years, The Congressional Club has been a home away from home for many of its members. The friendships made and memories shared will forever be cherished, and the community forever grateful for the kindness and generosity of The Congressional Club. Congratulations to all members of The Congressional Club on 100 years of outstanding service and friendship to our Nation, and may your next 100 years be as memorable and rewarding as the first.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the journey of remembrance our Nation's flag has made over the past 6 months, which culminated on Memorial Day when it flew over the Capitol and specifically the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. that day. The flag's journey started December 7, 2007, in Hawaii to mark the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The flag made a stop on Christmas Eve in Washington's Eighth District, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. During its journey, Old Glory traveled to 28 different locations in 20 States, being flown over a significant memorial site at every stop. The journey of our Nation's flag is a wonderful way for this body and for citizens throughout this country to remember the sacrifices of millions of men and women in service to our great Nation. Ordinary men and women have done extraordinary things time and again to preserve the values and beliefs that make the United States a wonderful country. Their brave sacrifices will never be forgotten or overlooked. As we speak, men and women are fighting for freedom and justice and helping to preserve peace in foreign lands throughout the world. Their remarkable sacrifices are being made not for personal gain or fame, but because of deep-seeded patriotism. That American spirit is alive and well and will preserve this Nation for years to come. On behalf of my constituents in the Eighth District of Washington, I want to take this moment to honor the service of our many soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Their sacrifices allow Old Glory to fly. On Memorial Day, citizens throughout this country united to reflect on the valor and sacrifice we honor, and it is my hope that we carry that spirit every day of the year.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life- saving and ground-breaking medical care happening at the Seattle Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center every day. Continuing a tradition that has held for 16 years, Seattle Children's is once again ranked among the top 30 children's hospitals nationally in US. News & World Report's annual rankings. Seattle Children's ranked fifth-best in the Nation for pediatric cancer care, eighth-best for general pediatrics, neurolopy and neurosurgery, and ninth-best for respiratory disorders. Children's also ranked 23rd in neonatal care and 30th for heart care and heart surgery. Year in and year out, Seattle Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center provides life-saving care to the most vulnerable among us. The Pacific Northwest is fortunate to have such an exceptional institution in our region. I salute the medical professionals and support staffs who work tirelessly to give their extraordinary talents for the health and wellness of our children. Seattle Children's is a deserving recipient of this national recognition.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam speaker, I rise today in recognition of Rachel Meis, a young woman from my home district, the Eighth District of Washington, who earned the Congressional Medal. I honored her achievements at my district office during the Memorial Day recess and I do so again today. Rachel didn't just showcase her selfless and wonderful spirit to earn congressional recognition. She has consistently lived her life in a way that is inspiring and a wonderful example for young people everywhere. Aside from her Congressional Medal, Rachel is a National Merit Finalist, a member of the National Honor Society at Tahoma High School and a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the National Honor Society of Green River Community College--where she participated in Running Start Program courses to supplement her education. Rachel is also a star on the track. She is a sprinter and qualified for the Washington State championships in four separate events. She finished 11th in the 100 meter, 13th in the 200 meter, 11th in the 4 x 100 meter relay and medaled in the 4 x 200 meter relay. Most recently, Rachel scored in the top 1 percent of more than 46,000 students in the Department of the Treasury's newly minted National Financial Literacy Challenge--an initiative recommended by the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy. Rachel will attend George Fox University in Oregon starting this fall and plans to major in mechanical engineering. So far in her young life, she has succeeded due to a wonderful attitude and a positive work ethic. I am excited to see what she will accomplish in her future.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate MultiCare Health System CEO Diane Cecchettini for earning the 2008 ``CEO IT Achievement Award'' from Modern Healthcare Magazine and the Healthcare Information and Management System Society, HIMSS. Ms. Cecchettini will receive her award during National Health IT Week, which calls attention to the need for health information technology to provide better, more affordable health care for all Americans. Health IT enables health care providers with a more comprehensive view of patients' health histories, making care more accurate and less costly. I commend Ms. Cecchettini and Multicare for adopting an electronic medical records system that is improving the quality of care for their patients and reducing administrative burdens and costs. The Pacific Northwest remains a hub of technological innovation, and it is encouraging to see networks like MultiCare using technological advances to enhance the lives of their patients. I offer my sincere congratulations to Ms. Cecchettini and MultiCare's network of health organizations for receiving this honor.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Bellevue Youth Link, the city of Bellevue and Bellevue Public Schools for their continued success in giving the youth in Bellevue a voice in the community and a wonderful opportunity to stay active in Bellevue and their respective neighborhoods. Since 1990, Youth Link has served in Bellevue and Washington State's Eighth District as a whole in wonderful ways--let me just list some of the recognition Youth Link has received in their 18 years of service: Back in 1992, the National League of Cities awarded Youth Link an award for innovation and in 1994, the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission recognized Youth Link for excellence in Youth & Government Partnerships for their Bellevue Safe Rides program. The recognition has continued, as evidenced by 3 years--2006, 2007 and 2008--with Bellevue being recognized as one of the best communities in our Nation for young people. The unprecedented efforts of people like Helena Stephens, the manager of Family, Youth and Teen Services, and Terry Smith, assistant Parks and Community Services director, do not go unnoticed and have forever altered the landscape of the Bellevue community. And the outstanding volunteerism and spirit of public service of the youth involved in Youth Link is truly inspirational and a perfect example of generations of Americans coming together to improve an already great community.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. I thank the gentleman for his support, and I yield back my time.

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Chairman, today we are considering legislation to improve the conditions of our elementary and secondary schools. Yet nothing in this bill addresses the issue of class size and the overcrowding that plagues our schools and hinders the learning environment of our children. There are 50 million students in our public elementary and secondary schools, and enrollment is expected to continue to increase. By the year 2100, our public and private institutions, from pre-kindergarten, through college, will accommodate an estimated 94 million American children and young adults, an increase of over 40 million over the current school population. Our schools are already severely overcrowded, with many forced to accept twice their capacity and open portable classrooms. According to a 2000 report from the National Center for Educational Statistics, 36 percent of schools had to use portable classrooms to accommodate growing student populations. I've also heard reports that some schools are requiring and asking students to actually sit on desks and on teachers desks due to the overcrowding in classrooms. This is not an environment for learning for our children, and they deserve much better. Since students in overcrowded classrooms lack quality one-on-one time with their teachers, their academic skills suffer. Research shows that smaller class sizes significantly increase the amount of learning that takes place, reducing disciplinary problems and improving teacher productivity. Smaller classes also particularly benefit students from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds. For example, lowering class sizes in Tennessee closed the achievement gap between black students and white students by 38 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Education, ``A growing body of research demonstrates that students attending small classes in early grades make more rapid educational progress than students in larger classes, and that these achievement gains persist well after the students move on to larger classes in later grades.'' One of the most well known conclusive studies on class size is Project STAR, the only large-scale controlled study of the effects of reduced class size that was conducted in 79 elementary schools in the State of Tennessee. According to the results from this study, 72 percent of students graduate on time in smaller class sizes, versus 66 percent from regular class sizes. Children in smaller class sizes complete more advanced math and English courses, and the drop-out rate is at least 4 percent lower in schools with smaller classes. Our children deserve the individualized attention and instruction afforded by small class sizes. As we consider legislation today to usher our schools into the 21st Century, we should, at the very least, consider how new technologies and building designs can accommodate smaller class sizes, which is what my amendment would do. My amendment is very simple. It provides that local education agencies may use a grant for modernization, renovation or repair of public school facilities to help reduce class sizes. Students and teachers deserve better than shared and portable classrooms. It's time we do something to help ensure our students receive the individualized attention they need, to help teachers in maintaining an orderly classroom. In addition to building new modern schools with minimal environmental impact, we should build schools for the 21st Century equipped with technology and modern equipment that accommodates small class sizes that are safe for teaching and encourage learning. Madam Chairman, this amendment is simple. It is straightforward, and has been endorsed by the National Education Association. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I am the proud sponsor of House Resolution 1180, which recognizes the important contributions of women to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the health of many industries that have created new jobs, boosted economic growth, and improved our Nation's competitiveness. Congress must continue to educate the public about the important role of women in society and recognize the key accomplishments of women in scientific fields. Furthermore, we must encourage more young women to pursue careers in science and technology fields by adequately funding STEM education in our schools. Much is being done in the Pacific Northwest to achieve these goals. Seattle's Pacific Science Center remains an educational force in our region and continues to inspire students' interest in science. Similarly, the Museum of Flight recognizes the success of female aviation pioneers and helps young women discover career possibilities in the world of aerospace. I am pleased that the Science and Technology Committee quickly brought this measure to the floor in a bipartisan manner, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I respectfully submit the following two poems into the Congressional Record, authored by long-time U.S. Capitol tour guide Albert Caswell in honor of National Police Memorial Week: In Honor of Two Slain Officers, Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, and Officer John McMillian on the Occasion of National Police Memorial Week at the U.S. Capitol The Unsung Hero A Hero! A quiet man . . . A calm and careful caring man, with a sure and steady hand . . . While there just waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting . . . to make his stand . . . A time . . . when all life and death upon him so depend and lie . . . all within his hands . . . A transformation, from a mere mortal . . . all to a Gotham- like Superman! A Hero! This unsung man . . . Quietly, ever so moving on his way . . . Quintessentially humble, throughout each and every passing day . . . Questioning and there qualifying . . . observing all . . . while, upon his way . . . Quantifying, reading and measuring carefully, as we see him both night and day . . . Quiet, until that one moment, that one instant, that one day, until out there on harm's way . . . This unsung man . . . That moment of truth . . . That time when all hell around him so breaks loose . . . That split second of life or death, that real moment of truth . . . That reaction, his response . . . determining if evil will win or lose . . . Quiet stealthiness erupting, as this dark evil he pursues, a hero, a real American who's who . . . Who without regard of his own life to lose, as these grave decisions as he must so choose . . . That moment of truth! Reacting all in time . . . Reaching that edge, where life and death are all so defined . . . Reading the moment, instinctively preserving life, with but this thin blue line . . . Responding all there within these precious moments in time . . . as his true heart we find . . . Rushing into the darkest of all dangers . . . while there, caution he so heroically leaves so very far behind . . . Relief, it's all over . . . as there in the midst of grief, so brilliantly he now so shines. . . Reacting all in time . . . As, he's saving lives . . . As all of the loved ones he has spared, all because he cared, on this day . . . All living to see another sunset . . . basking in the sunrise as together they . . . Life guards . . . whose heroism its so splendidly portrayed . . . as onward they so make their way . . . Liege, as to them we so our allegiance owe . . . as now so quietly back to work he so goes this day . . . Letting none know, waiting until that one moment of truth The Unsung Hero, as for him we pray . . . As, he's saving lives . . . A Hero, This Unsung Man . . . That Moment Of Truth . . . Reacting All In Time . . . As He's Saving Lives! Dedicated to All Great Americans and these officers Chestnut . . . Gibson . . . and McMillian . . . who are the personification of the words `Unsung Hero' --Albert Carey Caswell 2001. In Memory, on National Police Memorial Week at the Capitol, of Slain Officers Jacob Joseph Chestnut and John Michael Gibson on the Upcoming 10th Anniversary of Their Deaths, July 24th 1998 Up to the Lord, They Would Rise On one bright warm sunny day in July . . . As two great American Heroes were to lay down their lives . . . People stunned and confused, asking that age old eternal question, why? As few noticed on that day, as two bright lights were heading up into the skies . . . As straight to heaven, their souls to our Lord they would rise . . . In this our world, no woman or man . . . nor even a child . . . can know of or plan, of this their final fate or time . . . As when one's life passage which is so very precious, which is so very fine . . . will end without reason or rhyme . . . Until tested . . . while acting on a clarion call, will we be the ones ever standing tall . . . while standing in death's line? For on this bright and beautiful sunny day in July, as two great American heroes in harm's way stood . . . as our nation she would find! As straight up to heaven, their souls to our Lord they would rise . . . For all of the children and wives, now without husbands or dads . . .oh how so very unjust, so very sad . . . As there is no greater courageous act, which can be . . . than while in the line of ones duty, gallantly forsaking the life that you have . . . To all those men, women and children who were spared . . . forever remember how they cared . . . ever hold in your hearts, the good not the bad . . . In the Kingdom of our Lord, one's life . . . for there is no greater gift, nor is there such higher sacrifice, so rejoice . . . for they are in our Lord's arms, be glad. As straight up to Heaven, their souls to our Lord they would rise . . . Let not this day always be remembered for that one lone foul coward's evil attack . . . Instead . . . ever look on the goodness of mankind and those heroic hearts which were so to find these unselfish Christian acts! Now, honor our Fallen Heroes ever in this way . . . so forever in our hearts, their great deeds of valor shall so stay . . . so warmly so intact . . . For on this dark . . . dark . . . dark day of evil . . . as two lone brave hearts stood . . . bringing light . . . bringing good . . . for their courage would not lack . . . As straight up to Heaven, their souls up to our Lord as they would rise . . . To the children and the wives, who have lost the ones ever so close . . . their grave sacrifice means everything, just the most! A Dr. King or a woman who just might save the world, as from all of these unselfish Christian acts . . .. as we may soon warmly boast . . . Families hugging and crying, all still intact . . . all because two heroes now lay dying . . . as on this day, death came so very . . . very . . . very close . . . For the names of Chestnut & of Gibson, we shall now forever carry in our hearts, just everything . . . all! As these fine magnificent souls gave the most! Surely, those two bright lights heading up into the skies, were but their fine souls . . . as up to Heaven they had closed . . . As straight up to Heaven, their precious souls to our Lord . . . they rose! In Memory of Officers Chestnut and Gibson, to the Families, our prayers and thoughts are with you, we cherish the honor & great privilege to have known & served with such fine men of character & great honor . . . And to all the men and women in blue who showed their true & great worth on this day of heroes . . . May God Bless you . . . --Albert Carey Caswell  1998.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, Today is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Just outside this chamber, are thousands of law enforcement officers, here to honor the fallen. Freedom is not something we can take for granted. Police officers understand their role in this and take it seriously. For 33 years, I wore the badge of the King County Sheriff's office, and understand the sacrifice, and the pain of losing a partner. My good friend Mr. Poe has a resolution honoring these brave men and women who sacrificed all while protecting our communities and keeping our children safe. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed the resolution on May 1st and yet the Majority has failed to bring it to the floor. Why? The House has honored our peace officers and passed this resolution every year since 1999. This is the first time in 5 years the resolution has failed to come to the floor during National Police Week. Madam Speaker, on this National Peace Officers Memorial Day, I ask this body to reconsider, and pass the resolution honoring these brave men and women.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this rule. Yesterday the Culberson-Reichert-Shays Iraqi reconstruction amendment was offered and subsequently ruled out of order before the Rules Committee. The intent of this amendment was to allow for the recent gains in Iraq to continue and at the same time reduce the burden on American taxpayers. Since April 2003, United States taxpayers have spent more than $46 billion in reconstruction in Iraq. This amendment would have allowed us to begin to reduce American taxpayer dollars going to Iraq for reconstruction. This amendment would have directed that U.S. taxpayer dollars going to Iraq, to come to Iraq in the form of a loan. It would have enabled the Iraqis to still have a steady flow of reconstruction funding should they be unable to draw down their own funds. Now is the time, especially with skyrocketing oil prices, for the Iraqis to stand up and take responsibility for their own reconstruction. In order for the Iraqi Government to stand up their economy, they must take the responsibility, they must bear the costs for reconstruction of their own country, not the American taxpayer. I oppose this rule.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible talents of two young people who reside in the Eighth District of Washington State. Both students represent the promise of America and lead their peers inside and out of the classroom. Ari J. Livne, a senior at Lakeside School in Seattle, and Anisha Gulabani, a senior at Eastlake in Sammamish, Washington, were included in the list of 141 Presidential Scholars for 2008. Since its inception in 1964, the Presidential Scholars Program has honored more than 5,500 graduating high school seniors for academic excellence, artistic accomplishments, and civic contributions. In short, the young men and women named each year to the Presidential Scholars list represent the best and brightest young people in America--the leaders of tomorrow. Ari and Anisha are preparing themselves to lead this country into the future. Ari joined the list of Presidential Scholars in the Arts in 2008 because of his accomplishments in the visual, literary and performing arts, as well as for his scholarship, leadership and public service. Initially, more than 7,000 young people from across the Nation applied for a spot on this prestigious list before it was narrowed down to just Ari and 19 other young talents. Ari holds a 3.7 cumulative GPA and will take his place among some of Lakeside's most outstanding graduates-- including Microsoft's Bill Gates and former Washington Governor Booth Gardner--when he enters the next step in his educational journey in the fall. After turning down a scholarship offer from Julliard, Ari decided on Yale in order to pursue both his academic interests and incredible musical gifts simultaneously. Anisha will graduate this spring from Eastlake High School with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She fills her school day with every Advanced Placement course available to her. She is a co-captain on the debate team, a member of the National Honor Society, a member of Mu Alpha Theta-- Lakeside's Mathematics Honor Society--and a member of the Children's Hospital Guild in Seattle. I am told that initially she wanted to become a medical doctor. However, after her sister's leg was amputated, she decided to focus on bio-medical engineering with a special focus on prosthetic limb design at Harvard University. Ari and Anisha showcased incredible talent at their respective high schools and clearly deserved the honor of being a part of the 2008 Presidential Scholars Program. I hope they continue on their promising course and emerge as leaders in whatever field they choose.

Mr. REICHERT

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, in May, we honor Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a celebration of the culture and contributions of millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Their diverse talents have contributed to communities all across our Nation. The Eighth District of Washington has a vibrant Asian Pacific community. Nearly 100,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders reside in my district, contributing to their individual communities through business, education, volunteerism and public service, just to name a few. I am also very aware of the bravery and patriotism many in the Asian and Pacific Islander community have shown by serving honorably in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other dangerous places. The Asian Pacific American community is growing in my district and our Nation at large. I know, as the influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders grow, the American people will more fully understand--and respect--the many contributions they have made to our communities and our Nation.