Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) who is the distinguished chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my friend, my colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. SKELTON. Let me point out, Mr. Speaker, under the new title 18 of United States Code section 1389, one of the classifications is Prohibition on Attacks on U.S. Servicemen on Account of Service. Let me also point out this legislation includes the Brownback amendment which fully protects religious speech under the First Amendment, which says that nothing in this bill will burden religious speech or expression, including sermons from the pulpit on Sundays. I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin).

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 4 minutes to my friend, my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. SKELTON. I have no more speakers, but I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. How much time do I have remaining, please?

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) for his efforts in the Defense authorization bill this year. It's important that I do so because he's been a great partner. He's been jumping in with both feet as ranking member from the day he began serving as ranking member. At a time when the Department of Defense is fighting two wars and simultaneously promoting and serving America's strategic interests around the world, I'm proud to say that our Congress is nearing completion on a strong and effective Defense authorization bill. The bill that this House approved overwhelmingly on June 25, like its Senate counterpart, reflects the Congress' deep commitment in supporting American servicemembers and providing the necessary resources to keep our Americans safe. Both bills provide our military personnel with a 3.4 percent pay raise, an increase of .5 percent above the President's request. The House bill also includes a number of initiatives to support military families this year, which, of course, is the Year of the Military Family. We fully fund the President's overall budget request, and worked hard to provide robust funding for military training, equipment, maintenance and facilities upkeep. The House bill continues the commitment to oversight of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which has been a hallmark of our committee, as well as personal pride on my behalf. The bill also works to equip and modernize our military forces and extend our acquisition reform efforts which we passed a substantial bill here earlier this year. With that, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

Mr. SKELTON. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 12 of rule XXII, I move that meetings of the conference between the House and the Senate on H.R. 2647 may be closed to the public at such times as classified national security information may be broached, provided that any sitting Member of Congress shall be entitled to attend any meeting of the conference.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with sadness that I inform the House of the death of Jeffery R. ``Puff'' Adams, Ray County's presiding commissioner. Mr. Adams was born in Richmond, Missouri, in 1957. After graduating from Richmond High School, he became involved with many Richmond community activities. For example, he was a lifetime member of the Richmond All Sports Club. He also served on the Spartan Football Chain Gang for several years. Since 1990, he was responsible for painting the Spartan football field before every football game. Additionally, he was past president of the Richmond Little League Baseball program. He also coached several of Richmond's Parks and Recreation girls' softball teams. In 2008, Jeff was named the grand marshall of the Richmond Spartan Homecoming Parade. He was a loyal alumni and lifetime supporter of the Richmond sports community. In addition to his involvement with Richmond athletics, Mr. Adams served in a variety of community roles. He served on the Mid-America Regional Council for Presiding Commissioners Board, Ray County's 911 Board, Ray County's Rural Fire Department Board, and Ray County's Planning and Zoning Board. He was past president and served on the Shirkey Golf Club Board, and was very active on the Club House Building Association. Jeff was co-owner of Adams and Howell Floor Covering in Richmond. Madam Speaker, Jeffery Adams was a respected leader in the Richmond community. I am certain that the members of the House will join me in extending their heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this means to celebrate and pay tribute to the commissioning of the USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). On October 10, 2009, the United States Navy will commission this guided missile destroyer named in honor of a native Missourian, Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer. Long regarded as the ``Father of Aegis,'' Rear Admiral Meyer dedicated his life to serving our country. The USS Wayne E. Meyer will be commissioned in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and home ported in San Diego, California. Madam Speaker, I am certain that my colleagues will join me in congratulating the Commanding Officer, Officers and Crew upon the commissioning of this beautiful ship.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, on September 12, 2009, the Honorable Emanuel Cleaver, Congressman from Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, sponsored a remarkable event at the Truman Library. This event was in honor of those who fought in the Vietnam War in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Well over 1,000 veterans attended. The Honorable Dennis Moore, Congressman from Kansas's Third Congressional District, spoke, and yours truly had an opportunity to deliver a message of gratitude to the Vietnam veterans present. The keynote speaker was Major General (Ret.) Robert H. Scales, former commandant of the U.S. Army War College. His address was very well received by the veterans in the audience. The address is as follows: Mr. Skelton, Mr Cleaver, distinguished guests and, most importantly, fellow veterans. What a great thrill it is see my comrades in arms assembled here so many years after we shared our experiences in war. Let me give you the bottom line up front: I'm proud I served in Vietnam. Like you I didn't kill innocents, I killed the enemy; I didn't fight for big oil or for some lame conspiracy I fought for a country I believed in and for the buddies who kept me alive. Like you I was troubled that, unlike my father, I didn't come back to a grateful nation. It took a generation and another war, Desert Storm, for the nation to come back to me. Also like you I remember the war being 99 percent boredom and one percent pure abject terror. But not all my memories of Vietnam are terrible. There were times when I enjoyed my service in combat. Such sentiment must seem strange to a society today that has, thanks to our superb volunteer military, been completely insulated from war. If they thought about Vietnam at all our fellow citizens would imagine that fifty years would have been sufficient to erase this unpleasant war from our conscientiousness. Looking over this assembly it's obvious that the memory lingers, and those of us who fought in that war remember. The question is why? If this war was so terrible why are we here? It's my privilege today to try to answer that question not only for you, brother veterans, but maybe for a wider audience for whom, fifty years on, Vietnam is as strangely distant as World War One was to our generation. Vietnam is seared in our memory for the same reason that wars have lingered in the minds of soldiers for as long as wars have been fought. From Marathon to Mosul young men and now women have marched off to war to learn that the cold fear of violent death and the prospects of killing another human being heighten the senses and sear these experiences deeply and irrevocably into our souls and linger in the back recesses of our minds. After Vietnam we may have gone on to thrilling lives or dull; we might have found love or loneliness, success or failure. But our experiences have stayed with us in brilliant Technicolor and with a clarity undiminished by time. For whatever primal reason war heightens the senses. When in combat we see sharper, hear more clearly and develop a sixth sense about everything around us. Remember the sights? I recall sitting in the jungle one bright moonlit night marveling on the beauty of Vietnam. How lush and green it was; how attractive and gentle the people, how stoic and unmoved they were amid the chaos that surrounded them. Do you remember the sounds? Where else could you stand outside a bunker and listen to the cacophonous mix of Jimmy Hendrix, Merle Haggard and Jefferson Airplane? Or how about the sounds of incoming? Remember it wasn't a boom like in the movies but a horrifying noise like a passing train followed by a crack and the whistle of flying fragments. Remember the smells? The sharpness of cordite, the choking stench of rotting jungle and the tragic sweet smell of enemy dead. . . . I remember the touch, the wet, sticky sensation when I touched one of my wounded soldiers one last time before the medevac rushed him forever from our presence but not from my memory, and the guilt I felt realizing that his pain was caused by my inattention and my lack of experience. Even taste is a sense that brings back memories. Remember the end of the day after the log bird flew away leaving mail, C rations and warm beer? Only the first sergeant had sufficient gravitas to be allowed to turn the C ration cases over so that all of us could reach in and pull out a box on the unlabeled side hoping that it wasn't going to be ham and lima beans again. Look, forty years on I can forgive the guy who put powder in our ammunition so foul that it caused our M-16s to jam. I'm OK with helicopters that arrived late. I'm over artillery landing too close and the occasional canceled air strike. But I will never forgive the Pentagon bureaucrat who in an incredibly lame moment thought that a soldier would open a can of that green, greasy, gelatinous goo called ham and lima beans and actually eat it. But to paraphrase that iconic war hero of our generation, Forrest Gump, ``Life is like a case of C Rations, you never know what you're going to get.'' Because for every box of ham and lima beans there was that rapturous moment when you would turn over the box and discover the bacchanalian joy of peaches and pound cake. It's all a metaphor for the surreal nature of that war and its small pleasures . . . . those who have never known war cannot believe that anyone can find joy in hot beer and cold pound cake. But we can . . . Another reason why Vietnam remains in our consciousness is that the experience has made us better. Don't get me wrong. I'm not arguing for war as a self-improvement course. And I realize that war's trauma has damaged many of our fellow veterans physically, psychologically and morally. But recent research on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by behavioral scientists has unearthed a phenomenon familiar to most veterans: that the trauma of war strengthens rather than weakens us (They call it Post Traumatic Growth). We know that a near death experience makes us better leaders by increasing our self-reliance, resilience, self image, confidence and ability to deal with adversity. Combat veterans tend to approach the future wiser, more spiritual and content with an amplified appreciation for life. We know this is true. It's nice to see that the human scientists now agree. I'm proud that our service left a legacy that has made today's military better. Sadly Americans too often prefer to fight wars with technology. Our experience in Vietnam taught the nation the lesson that war is inherently a human not a technological endeavor. Our experience is a distant whisper in the ear of today's technology wizards that firepower is not sufficient to win, that the enemy has a vote, that the object of war should not be to kill the enemy but to win the trust and allegiance of the people and that the ultimate weapon in this kind of war is a superbly trained, motivated, and equipped soldier who is tightly bonded to his buddies and who trusts his leaders. I've visited our young men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan several times. On each visit I've seen first hand the strong connection between our war and theirs. These are worthy warriors who operate in a manner remarkably reminiscent of the way we fought so many years ago. The similarities are surreal. Close your eyes for a moment and it all comes rushing back. . . . In Afghanistan I watched soldiers from my old unit, the 101st Airborne Division, as they conducted daily patrols from firebases constructed and manned in a manner virtually the same as those we occupied and fought from so many years ago. Every day these sky soldiers trudge outside the wire and climb across impossible terrain with the purpose as one sergeant put it ``to kill the bad guys, protect the good guys and bring home as many of my soldiers as I can.'' Your legacy is alive and well. You should be proud. The timeless connection between our generation and theirs can be seen in the unity and fighting spirit of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Again and again, I get asked the same old question from folks who watch soldiers in action on television: why is their morale so high? Don't they know the American people are getting fed up with these wars? Don't they know Afghanistan is going badly? Often they come to me incredulous about what they perceive as a misspent sense of patriotism and loyalty. I tell them time and again what every one of you sitting here today, those of you who have seen the face of war, understand: it's not really about loyalty. It's not about a belief in some abstract notion concerning war aims or national strategy. It's not even about winning or losing. On those lonely firebases as we dug through C ration boxes and drank hot beer we didn't argue the righteousness of our cause or ponder the latest pronouncements from McNamara or Nixon or Ho Chi Minh for that matter. Some of us might have trusted our leaders or maybe not. We might have been well informed and passionate about the protests at home or maybe not. We might have groused about the rich and privileged who found a way to avoid service but we probably didn't. We might have volunteered for the war to stop the spread of global communism or maybe we just had a failing semester and got swept up in the draft. In war young soldiers think about their buddies. They talk about families, wives and girlfriends and relate to each other through very personal confessions. For the most part the military we served with in Vietnam did not come from the social elite. We didn't have Harvard degrees or the pedigree of political bluebloods. We were in large measure volunteers and draftees from middle and lower class America. Just as in Iraq today we came from every corner of our country to meet in a beautiful yet harsh and forbidding place, a place that we've seen and experienced but can never explain adequately to those who were never there. Soldiers suffer, fight and occasionally die for each other. It's as simple as that. What brought us to fight in the jungle was no different than the motive force that compels young soldiers today to kick open a door in Ramadi with the expectation that what lies on the other side is either an innocent huddling with a child in her arms or a fanatic insurgent yearning to buy his ticket to eternity by killing the infidel. No difference. Patriotism and a paycheck may get a soldier into the military but fear of letting his buddies down gets a soldier to do something that might just as well get him killed. What makes a person successful in America today is a far cry from what would have made him a success in the minds of those assembled here today. Big bucks gained in law or real estate, or big deals closed on the stock market made some of our countrymen rich. But as they have grown older they now realize that they have no buddies. There is no one who they are willing to die for or who is willing to die for them. William Manchester served as a Marine in the Pacific during World War II and put the sentiment precisely right when he wrote: ``Any man in combat who lacks comrades who will die for him, or for whom he is willing to die is not a man at all. He is truly damned.'' The Anglo Saxon heritage of buddy loyalty is long and frightfully won. Almost six hundred years ago the English king, Henry V, waited on a cold and muddy battlefield to face a French army many times his size. Shakespeare captured the ethos of that moment in his play Henry V. To be sure Shakespeare wasn't there but he was there in spirit because he understood the emotions that gripped and the bonds that brought together both king and soldier. Henry didn't talk about national strategy. He didn't try to justify faulty intelligence or ill formed command decisions that put his soldiers at such a terrible disadvantage. Instead, he talked about what made English soldiers fight and what in all probably would allow them to prevail the next day against terrible odds. Remember this is a monarch talking to his men: ``This story shall the good man teach his son; From this day ending to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; And gentlemen in England (or America) now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhood's cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.'' You all here assembled inherit the spirit of St Crispin's day. You know and understand the strength of comfort that those whom you protect, those in America now abed, will never know. You have lived a life of self awareness and personal satisfaction that those who watched you from afar in this country who ``hold their manhood cheap'' can only envy. I don't care whether America honors or even remembers the good service we performed in Vietnam. It doesn't bother me that war is an image that America would rather ignore. It's enough for me to have the privilege to be among you. It's sufficient to talk to each of you about things we have seen and kinships we have shared in the tough and heartless crucible of war. Some day we will all join those who are serving so gallantly now and have preceded us on battlefields from Gettysburg to Wanat. We will gather inside a firebase to open a case of C rations with every box peaches and pound cake. We will join with a band of brothers to recount the experience of serving something greater than ourselves. I believe in my very soul that the almightly reserves a corner of heaven, probably around a perpetual lager where some day we can meet and embrace... all of the band of brothers throughout the ages to tell our stories while envious standers-by watch and wonder how horrific and incendiary the crucible of violence must have been to bring such a disparate assemblage so close to the hand of God. Until we meet there thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice, God bless you all and God bless this great nation. . . .

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs. Joyce Ernestine Westerhold, the Region 4 Outstanding Older Worker of the Year. As a homemaker, school teacher, and library assistant, Mrs. Westerhold has dedicated her life to serving others. She began her career as a school teacher in 1948 and served the students of Missouri's public schools for a total of 26 years. While teaching various subjects in several public schools, Mrs. Westerhold remained active in the state teacher's organization and the Parent- Teachers Association. After a distinguished teaching career, Mrs. Westerhold began working as a library assistant with University of Central Missouri. During her 24 years with the University's library system, her job was redesigned three times and she saw many technological changes. As the times changed, so did she. While this award is in recognition of Mrs. Westerhold's 50 years of full-time employment as a teacher and library assistant, her work as a dedicated wife and mother cannot go unnoticed. She and her husband of 60 years have raised two lovely children. Madam Speaker, Ernestine Westerhold has distinguished herself throughout her careers with Missouri public schools and the University of Central Missouri. I trust that the Members of the House will join me in congratulating her for this great contribution to Missouri and our country.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with sadness that I inform the House of the death of the Honorable Judge William Morian ``Bill'' Kimberlin, former Circuit Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Missouri. Judge Kimberlin was born in Garden City, Missouri, in 1915. After graduating from Garden City High School, he attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri where he received a music scholarship, majoring in Piano. An accomplished musician, he played a variety of instruments and was gifted with a rich baritone voice. After two years, Bill transferred to the University of Missouri School of Law. He was a loyal alumni and lifetime supporter of MU where his father, children, and grandchildren are also alumni. Judge Kimberlin was pleased to account that he was the first graduate to be awarded a diploma at the 100th anniversary commencement of the University of Missouri. Upon graduation in 1939, he moved to Harrisonville, Missouri, where he practiced law with the firm Crouch & Crouch. His young legal career was interrupted by the onslaught of WWII where he served four years in the Army Air Corps. For his service in the Mediterranean and European Theatres, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service and six campaign stars. Before going overseas, Judge Kimberlin met his future wife, Martha Bumby, on the dance floor of the Officers' Club while stationed in Orlando, Florida. The couple was married in 1946 and settled in Harrisonville. A lifelong Democrat, Judge Kimberlin was elected Mayor of Harrisonville, served two terms as Prosecuting Attorney of Cass County, and served as the City Attorney of Harrisonville. He was elected five times to serve as Circuit Judge of the 17th Judicial Court of Missouri, and served for 29 years. In honor of his great service, a courtroom was named in his honor upon completion of the new Cass County Justice Center in 2004. He was also one of the twelve original committee members appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to draft the Missouri Civil Approved Jury Instructions for use in all courts of the state and was appointed a Special Judge to sit for a term on the Missouri Supreme Court. Judge Kimberlin was revered for always treating everyone with dignity and respect, both inside and outside of the courtroom. He dedicated his life to public service, donating much of his time to community organizations and serving on numerous boards and committees. Included were the First Christian Church, Ararat Shrines, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Sons of the American Revolution, Cass Lodge #147 A.F. & A.M., Board of Directors of the Missouri Municipal League, district Chairmen of the Thunderbird District of the Kansas City Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, was past President of the Harrisonville Kiwanis and lieutenant-governor of the Division II Kiwanis. At the same time, he was an avid hunter and golfer. Most importantly, Judge Kimberlin was a devoted family man who enjoyed spending time with his wife Martha, his children, Marsha Peters and William Bruce Kimberlin, and two granddaughters, Lauren Kimberlin Peters and Lindsey Morlan Peters. Madam Speaker, Judge William Kimberlin was an honorable Judge and respected leader in the community. I am certain that the members of the House will join me in extending their heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the significant bipartisan accomplishments made by the 111th Congress for our veterans and their families. Our Armed Forces sacrifice a tremendous amount for this country. In light of such commitment and dedication to our nation, the House has worked feverishly to provide the resources and support America's warriors need before, during, and after their service. In this Congress, one of the House Armed Services Committee's finest achievements was unanimously passing H.R. 2647, the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. Designed to restore our military's readiness and improve the quality of life of our service members and their families, the bill would provide a 3.4 percent pay raise for service members, strengthen efforts to expand mental health care for troops, and improve military housing. On June 25, 2009, H.R. 2647 passed the full House by an overwhelming margin. Additionally, the House has worked to ensure the health of our veterans and their families. Among other initiatives, we have approved legislation to expand and improve VA health care services for the 1.8 million women who have bravely served our country, voted to increase veterans' disability payments to reflect cost-of-living increases, and approved a bill I introduced that would expand military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees with less than 20 years of service. In June, the House approved the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, authorizing Congress to approve veterans' medical care funding one year in advance to better anticipate and meet the demand for veterans' health care services. And, in February, the House approved my resolution designating 2009 as the ``Year of the Military Family'' to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of over two million military families. The dedication of our men and women in uniform makes our nation strong and keeps us free; we cannot forget the debt we owe to those who serve so nobly. While there certainly remains work to be done, I am proud of the achievements this Congress has made on behalf of our nation's warriors and their families.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, 8 years ago on September 11, 2001, this Chamber was empty, the Capitol was evacuated, the Pentagon was burning, the Twin Towers in New York lay crumpled, and almost 3,000 of our citizens were dead. We can never forget them, and we should never forget what we owe them. Today we will once again mourn the families and those that are fallen, and we express our deepest sympathy to their friends and their loved ones. This is only right, but it's not enough. We owe it to the victims, to their loved ones, to the survivors, to ourselves to make sure that those who carried out this awful attack are brought to justice and to ensure that they can never again attack and kill our people here at home. For too long the war in Afghanistan was the forgotten war. Only recently have we refocused our attention on the war on al Qaeda and the Taliban who sheltered them as they carried out their plot to murder thousands of Americans. We can debate the best way to prosecute the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban. For my part, the President has proposed a strategy for Afghanistan with which I agree. What we cannot do is walk away from the fight. We cannot allow the memory of this horrific event to be forgotten, and we cannot forget how important it is to bring those who caused it to justice. Failing in Afghanistan brings clear and compelling dangers. Failing means the Taliban will once again control Afghanistan and permit their al Qaeda terrorist allies to operate from there. Failure means we let down those who died on 9/11. We can and we should consider how best to prosecute the war in Afghanistan. It's not a simple war, it's not an easy war. But for the first time, we have a real strategy. And for the first time, we are providing the resources needed for the fight. We have a new commander who is breathing new life into our effort, and now we must show that we have the resolve to give our men and women in uniform the time and resources they need to show progress in the fight against enemies who carried out this and supported the attacks of 9/11. America was attacked on 9/11 by a ruthless, callous enemy. We cannot forget that. And we cannot walk away from the war in Afghanistan against them.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to support of House Joint Resolution 44, which I introduced on April 29, 2009. This resolution honors the service and sacrifice of our Army's Noncommissioned Officers. As the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I am privileged to be joined here today by a number of my colleagues in the House to recognize the service, sacrifice, professionalism and commitment of all those who serve and have served our Nation as Noncommissioned Officers in the United States Army. Our Nation's Noncommissioned Officers are unlike any other in the world. While many consider them the backbone of the force, I believe they are really the soul of the force. Not only do they provide the leadership, training and mentoring of junior enlisted personnel, but they also are responsible for the development and guidance of our junior officers as well. The responsibilities that an Army Noncommissioned Officer carries are vast, but they often carry out their responsibilities with little fanfare and official recognition. This resolution seeks to acknowledge their contributions, particularly over the last eight years of conflict. The history of the Army Noncommissioned Officer began with the birth of the Continental Army in 1775. The first Sergeant Major of the Army was Sergeant Major Willion O. Wooldridge. Since then, there have been 13 Sergeant Majors of the Army, and the currently serving Sergeant Major is Kenneth 0. Preston. He is the highest ranking Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Army. Army Noncommissioned Officers live by the NCO Creed, which was written in 1974, and adopted officially by the Army in 1985. The Creed reads: No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as ``The Backbone of the Army.'' I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit or personal safety. Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind--accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain technically and tactically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishments. Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiatives by taking appropriate action in absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders! The creed of the Noncommissioned Officer of the United States Army captures the essence of how these individuals live their daily lives. I am honored to have introduced this resolution and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of House Joint Resolution 44 to commend the service of the Army's Noncommissioned Officers.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I intended to offer an amendment to provide funding for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation in the amount of $660,000. I decided not to offer that amendment today, but I wish to engage the chairman of the subcommittee in a colloquy regarding the importance of this foundation. Mr. Chairman, I believe that it is in the best interest of our Nation to ensure that the leaders of tomorrow have access to the best educational opportunities available. For that reason, I have long been associated with the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, which awards scholarships for college students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service. The Truman Scholarship Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 as the Federal memorial to our 33rd President, Harry S. Truman. The foundation has been operating from the original appropriation and the interest from that amount since 1977; but as the cost of college has increased over the years, the foundation's assets have not grown accordingly to meet the needs of the students it serves. So, Mr. Chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Serrano, I ask your assurance that you will seek to include funding for the Truman Foundation in conference with the other body.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield.

Mr. SKELTON. I certainly thank the gentleman, and I thank you for this opportunity to raise the issue on the floor.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this time to honor a dedicated military educator, Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, who will be retiring as the President of the National Defense University, after having served this nation for 37 years in the United States Marine Corps. Culminating with her appointment as President of the National Defense University in 2006, General Wilson has, throughout her career, focused on professional education while working tirelessly to create an educated and well-trained class of American warriors. She has completed seven advanced training courses, including Harvard's Senior Executive Course in National Security, and earned four Master degrees along with a Doctorate in Education. Through these impressive academic undertakings, General Wilson acquired the knowledge and skills needed to prepare America's future officers for the complex contemporary world. Most impressively, General Wilson has relentlessly used her extensive education to increase the capabilities of our Armed Forces. She commanded the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island, directed the Manpower Management Division at Marine Corps Headquarters, and managed the military's Reserve forces while a member of the Reserve Force Policy Board. Through her leadership in these posts, General Wilson greatly advanced the professional development of the marines under her command and helped to mold a vibrant military education system. As President of the National Defense University, General Wilson understood the critical need for National Security Professionals within the Executive Branch. She spearheaded the development of the National Security Education Consortium and, recognizing the importance of international cooperation, established educational partnerships with 79 nations, especially our NATO allies. Additionally, she added three Masters degrees to the University's curriculum while managing NDU's reaccredidation process. As a strong proponent of military education myself, I could not be more pleased with General Wilson's efforts or the many accolades she has received over her long career. General Wilson's leadership has strengthened both the Marine Corps and the professional military education system. As a staunch believer in continuous education for professional soldiers, I am proud of her commitment to lifelong study and the development of America's warriors. I trust that Members of the House will join me in congratulating General Wilson for her contributions to the United States of America.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this moment to recognize the Lafayette-Lexington Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter for creating the Susan Skelton Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was created in memory of my late wife Susan Anding Skelton, honoring her dedication to higher education and Lafayette County. Susie, a native Missourian, graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1958. In 1976, she served as the first president of the 95th Congress group, the organization representing spouses of new Members of Congress. Susie also played a prominent role in the Congressional Club, serving as treasurer for 2 years and then as president. She was only the second Missourian to serve in that position. As president, she presided over one of the largest memberships in the history of the organization. Additionally, she was president and vice president of International Club III, an organization for spouses of Members of Congress and Ambassadors and was a member of the Congressional Families for Drug- Free Youth. In Missouri, Susie served two consecutive terms as Regent of the Lafayette-Lexington Chapter D.A.R. She also served 4 years on the Democratic State Committee during the 1970s. In Lexington, she taught Sunday school, was a Cub Scout den mother, and a local first grade teacher. Susie was also active in Missouri University Alumni Association events in Lafayette County. Our family friend, LaVeda Cross, was aware of Susie's great involvement in both Washington, DC, and Missouri. As a result, LaVeda and the Lafayette-Lexington D.A.R. Chapter have offered a collegiate scholarship to those individuals that embody the values of Susie. I appreciate the D.A.R. chapter for recognizing the achievements and contributions of Susie. The scholarship is open to any female student who is a permanent resident of Lafayette County and a graduate of one of the following schools: Concordia R-H, Lafayette County C-1, Lexington R-V, St. Paul's Lutheran, or Wellington-Napoleon R-IX and plans to attend college after graduation. Madam Speaker, Susie was influential in Lafayette County and Washington, DC. I am honored that the D.A.R. has created this scholarship in her name. I know the Members of the House will join me in recognizing the Lafayette-Lexington D.A.R. Chapter for assisting hard-working young women in achieving a higher education.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. I certainly thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, as a farm State Representative, I have said for quite some time that any climate change legislation approved by the House must take into consideration the unique needs of rural America, including those of farmers and rural electric cooperatives. Since first being introduced, the climate change measure has improved a great deal, thanks in large part to the work of House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and his negotiations with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman. I first approached this legislation with a great deal of skepticism. I have since been pleased that some, though not all, concerns of utilities, electric cooperatives, and farmers have been addressed in the version of the bill that is being considered today. As this bill was being drafted, I have heard the views of Fourth District residents and have raised them with the House leaders. To be sure, the measure before us is not perfect, but it's a step in the right direction. I think it's important that we move this bill forward. After we pass it in the House, the measure will receive additional refinement in the other body. I think that the congressional leadership and the administration understand the concerns of rural America, and I will keep working to ensure our point of view is more completely addressed in the final bill. Truth be told, Congress has an obligation to enact energy reform this year, especially given that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that is the EPA, is working right now to create tough, costly regulations on greenhouse gases emitted by livestock, farms, factories, and utilities. Without congressional action, the EPA will have free rein. That is unacceptable to me, and ought to be unacceptable to every farmer and business owner in Missouri. Unlike the EPA proposal, the House bill would exempt livestock and farms from greenhouse gas regulation, and it would provide farmers an opportunity to potentially profit from their carbon-friendly farm practices by participating in the carbon market.

Mr. SKELTON. Also, for farmers, the legislation would correct a problem that has been lingering since enactment of the 2007 energy bill. For the next 5 years, it would prevent EPA from calculating indirect land use when determining how to implement our Nation's renewable fuel standard. This is good news for ethanol and biodiesel production facilities and for the farmers who sell the goods to these facilities. Energy reform is not just a matter of wanting to keep our air and planet clean, as worthy and important as those goals are. It's also a matter of national security. In recent years, the Pentagon has taken a hard look at how climate change could have an impact on global security and stability.