Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that, during further proceedings today in the House, the Chair be authorized to reduce to 2 minutes the minimum time for electronic voting on any question that otherwise could be subjected to 5-minute voting under clause 8, rule XX.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my colleague and my friend from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) who is an original sponsor of the bill together with Mr. Abercrombie.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Pennsylvania (Ms. Schwartz) who is a cosponsor of this legislation.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend, our leader, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield at this time 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. SKELTON. May I inquire of the Chair how much time is remaining.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Some will knock, Mr. Speaker, the importance of this legislation. It is a bill to require the Secretary of Defense to submit to us here in Congress reports on the status of planning for the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq. Further, it requires the Secretary to meet with Congress to brief us on the matters contained in those reports. Under the Constitution, Mr. Speaker, we are charged here in Congress with raising and maintaining the military. It's important for us to be able to look around the corner to unseen challenges that are out there. The last 30 years we've had 12 military engagements, most of which were a surprise to us. So consequently, it's important for us in Congress to understand the progress and the status of planning for the redeployment of our Armed Forces from Iraq, because there may be those contingencies out there. We hope it doesn't come to pass, but if the future is anything like the past, our forces will be necessary. So let us understand what this bill does. I think it's a step in the right direction. I am absolutely pleased with the bipartisanship we have had, both in the Armed Services Committee and here on the floor. And special thanks to my friend, my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Turner) for his work and his amendment on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this moment to recognize the extensive career of Skip Rich. Mr. Rich spent over 30 years serving Cole County as its Collector of Revenue, but will retire on October 3, 2007. Skip Rich was first appointed as collector in 1977, and he was re- elected to that position every term thereafter. His record as collector has been outstanding. He has presided over notable increases in county collections and he was instrumental in starting the Cole County employee retirement system. Skip Rich has also honorably served our country in uniform. He is a Marine who served a tour of duty in Vietnam and who later joined the Missouri Army National Guard. In that position, he held the rank of command sergeant major for over 14 years and received over twenty awards and service medals. Having devoted his life to public service, Mr. Rich's leadership will indisputably be missed. He plans to spend his retirement traveling with his wife, Eva, and spending time with his three children and four grandchildren. I trust that Members of the House will join me in wishing Skip Rich and his family the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, today I want to recognize and pay tribute to a true patriot and exceptional leader of our military, General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for his more than 40 years of dedicated service to the U.S. Armed Forces and to our country. General Pace was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up in Teaneck, NJ. A 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from The George Washington University and attended Harvard University for the Senior Executives in National and International Security program. The General is also a graduate of the Infantry Officers' Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, in Quantico, Virginia; and the National War College, at Ft. McNair, Washington, DC. In 1968, upon completion of The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, General Pace was assigned to the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam, serving first as a Rifle Platoon Leader and subsequently as Assistant Operations Officer. He joined his platoon, their third platoon leader in as many weeks, during the battle for Hue City. He was decorated for valor during his tour in Vietnam, yet General Pace holds as one of his most valued treasures the photo of LCpl Guido Farinaro, the first Marine he lost in combat. The lance corporal's forever young likeness is under the glass on General Pace's desk, each day reminding him of the impact of his decisions as a military leader. Following Vietnam, he was assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, where he served as Security Detachment Commander, Camp David; White House Social Aide; and Platoon Leader, Special Ceremonial Platoon. General Pace has held command at virtually every level, and served in overseas billets in Nam Phong, Thailand; Seoul, Korea; and Yokota, Japan. While serving as President, Marine Corps University, then Brigadier General Pace also served as Deputy Commander, Marine Forces, Somalia, from December 1992-February 1993, and as the Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force-Somalia from October 1993-March 1994. After an assignment as the Director for Operations (J-3), on the Joint Staff in Washington, DC, then Lieutenant General Pace served as the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic/Europe/South. He was promoted to Generaleral and assumed duties as the Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command in September 2000. General Peter Pace was sworn in as the sixteenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on September 30, 2005, giving him the distinction of being the first Marine to serve in this role. In this capacity, he served as the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, General Pace served as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 2001 to August 2005, also earning him the distinction as the first Marine to have served in this capacity. General Pace and his wife, Lynne, have a son, Peter, a daughter, Tiffany Marie, and a daughter-in-law, Lynsey Olczak Pace. General Pace represented the U.S. Armed Forces with great distinction for the past 2 years as its senior military officer and throughout his more than four decades of service to our great Nation. He is a highly respected source of military counsel for our country's leaders, always keeping at the forefront the best interests of our men and women in uniform. General Pace is known for his thoughtful manner, his sense of humor, and his integrity. One Pace trademark we have all come to value is his constant consideration of ``PFC Pace'' in all military-related discussion, thereby ensuring the President, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, the Homeland Defense Council, and this body of Congress consider the impact of their decisions on even the most junior members of our military. General Pace's leadership significantly contributed to the success of military operations in recent years and improved the security of the United States. General Pace took every opportunity to recognize the tremendous efforts of the 2.4 million active, guard and reserve members of the Armed Forces, and he likewise recognized the invaluable dedication and sacrifices of the family members who sustain our all-recruited force. During his tenure as Chairman and Vice Chairman, General Pace traveled more than 715,000 miles to meet with his counterparts around the world, and visit troops stationed overseas and across the United States. Madam Speaker, I know the Members of the House will join me in paying tribute to General Pace and in thanking him for his dedicated leadership to our country.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, on September 6, 1757, 250 years ago today, a Frenchman named Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert Du Motier was born. This young man, who would later be known as Marquis de Lafayette, had a profound influence on the formation of our country and on Western democratic fundamentals of freedom and human rights. As a lifelong resident of Lafayette County, Missouri, I was pleased to draft legislation earlier this year to mark the 250th anniversary of Marquis de Lafayette's birth. The House of Representatives approved my bill on May 22, 2007, honoring, as Americans have done time and again, Lafayette's role in our nation's history. On July 7, 2007, the French Embassy's Military Attache, Major General Jean-Luc Delon, traveled to my hometown of Lexington, Lafayette County, Missouri, and participated in a public ceremony honoring Marquis de Lafayette. It was a distinct honor and privilege to have a representative of the French government in Missouri to discuss Lafayette's life and the important bilateral friendship he helped establish between the United States and France. More than any one person, Marquis de Lafayette symbolizes the assistance American colonists received from Europe in the struggle for independence from Great Britain. As we celebrate his 250th birthday, I am hopeful that all Americans will take a moment to remember his legacy on the United States.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it has been brought to my attention that Command CMSgt Vicki Orcutt of Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, MO, has retired after 29 years of service. Command Chief Master Sergeant Orcutt joined the Air Force in the mid- 1970s. In her current role, she advises the Wing Commander on matters related to the health, morale, and welfare of the enlisted force and on matters related to the proper training, equipment, and utilization of enlisted personnel. Throughout the entire Air Force there are 138 Command Chief Master Sergeant positions. Only nine are women. In her early years, Command Chief Master Sergeant Orcutt obtained a degree in Human Resources. She is now considering a teaching job and hopes to stay in Lafayette County, MO, her current home. Madam Speaker, Command Chief Master Sergeant Orcutt has been a valuable asset to Whiteman Air Force Base and the entire Nation. She has helped to shape the future of the Air Force through her dedicated service of 29 years. I know that the Members of the House will join me in paying tribute to Chief Master Sergeant Orcutt.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, on September 7th, the Missouri Press Association's Missouri Press Hall of Fame will have as its newest member a person who has devoted her life to community journalism, community philanthropy and community service, all while raising a family of public servants and serving as a business and civic partner with her late husband. Wanda Brown was born June 16, 1918, in Franklin County, AR. She attended Draughon's Business College in Ft. Smith, AR, from 1936-1938. After graduation, she was business manager for Robbins Buick Motor Company in Ft. Smith. She met her husband, J.W. Brown, Jr., when he came into the dealership to buy tires. They were married June 14, 1946. From 1946 until 1955, they made their home in Willow Springs, MO, where J.W. owned the newspaper and also served as Postmaster. In 1955, they purchased the Harrisonville Democrat-Missourian and formed the Cass County Publishing Company. Under the ownership of J.W. and Wanda Brown, Cass County Publishing Company operated the Cass County Democrat- Missourian, the Lee's Summit Journal, the Belton Star Herald, the Bates County Democrat and the Lawrence County Record. Two generations of Cass County residents have known Wanda Brown as the author of a column in the Democrat-Missourian, ``Wanda's Favorite Recipes,'' and have prepared many of them for their families. Few probably are aware that the proceeds from two of her recipe books were given to support The Way Off Broadway Players and the Cass Medical Center Foundation. With her retirement in 1985, after 30 years as Business Manager of the Cass County Publishing Company, she accelerated her contributions to her community and to the State of Missouri. Wanda Brown has been a generous supporter of the Missouri Press Foundation, the Harrisonville Memorial Hospital, and the Harrisonville Public School Foundation. In her hometown of Harrisonville, she has contributed to the construction of the Harrisonville Baseball Fields, to the Harrisonville High School Bleacher Project, the Children's Library at the Cass County Information Center, and to the creation of a nursing scholarship at the Cass Medical Center. She was a leader in the campaigns to fund the Thermal Imaging Camera for the Harrisonville Fire Department, the construction of the Harrisonville Parks Amphitheater, and the creation of the Harrisonville Public School Foundation Endowment. She also helped to fund the Community Journalism Chair at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to Wanda and her family--Larry and Jean Snider, Bill and Mary James, Alex, Doug, Kate, Anne, and Molly. I am certain that my colleagues will join me in commending Wanda for her decades of community service.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 601, I call up the bill (H.R. 3159) to mandate minimum periods of rest and recuperation for units and members of the regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces between deployments for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SKELTON. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3159, introduced by my colleague on the House Armed Services Committee, Ellen Tauscher, the gentlelady from California, as well as other Members of the House. Our troops and their families are stressed and they are under pressure. Yesterday, the USA Today newspaper had an article entitled, ``Stress of War Hits Army Kids Hard.'' The article, sadly, was about the increasing number of child abuse and neglect cases among deployed Army families. The article quotes Amy Lambert, an Army wife living at Fort Stewart, Georgia. She states, ``I firmly believe that more time at home between deployments would be the most beneficial solution.'' I think that quote sums up the reason we're here and why this bill is before the House. Our troops and their families are tired. They are being stressed by the continued and extended deployments. It's time that Congress takes a stand on behalf of our families and states in a clear, unequivocal voice that it is time that servicemembers have a minimum dwell time between deployments. This bill would require that active component units and members be provided at least the same time at home as they are deployed. It would also require that Reserve and National Guardsmen who are called to deploy are given at least three times at home as they are deployed. This proposed minimum period of deployment is less than the Department's own goal, which provides that active duty servicemembers should be deployed for 1 year, with 2 years back in home station, and Reservists and Guardsmen should have 5 years between deployments. The Army recently implemented a policy that requires active duty units to deploy for 15 months and only spend 12 months back at their home station. This is a troubling sign, Mr. Speaker, since the time back at home station is used to reset, retrain and re-equip forces. Servicemembers and their families are entitled to a predictable and stable time between deployments. Congress needs to step up on behalf of the troops, as well as their families, and say enough is enough. We need to hold the Department accountable to their own policies and protect the readiness of our forces. That's no small thing. We have a moral responsibility to our troops to ensure that their quality of life is reflective of the sacrifices that we ask them to make. We need to ensure that our active forces have at least the same amount of time deployed that they have back home with their families, and that our citizen-soldiers have at least three times the amount home as that time deployed. This bill is also about our national security and its readiness, and it's about strategic risk. This bill will help to ensure that our military can deal not only with Iraq, where they have been serving remarkably under extraordinarily difficult conditions for 4 years, but wherever the next conflict occurs, our force must have adequate time to train if it is to be prepared. And in this exceptional all-volunteer force, we must keep our retention levels up if we are to insure that our military will be able to succeed both now and in the next fight, which, of course, is very unpredictable. H.R. 3159 is a step in the right direction. I urge my colleagues to stand with us in support of our troops and in support of our families. Before I reserve the balance of my time, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlelady from California (Mrs. Tauscher) control the time on my behalf.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the motion to recommit offered by my friend, my colleague from California who has served with me through the years on the Armed Services Committee. The ground forces of the United States in particular are being stretched and strained as never before. For instance, during the Second World War, those that were involved with active combat after 3 or 4 months at the most would be taken off line for rest and recoupment. The young men and young women today that are in Iraq are on point in combat and now are extended up to 15 months. I think this bill helps alleviate that point and helps keep the readiness at a higher level. The stretching and straining of the ground forces, in particular the Army, will have a breaking point. We already know about the equipment shortage of nondeployed units. Why stretch these young people? Why not bring them home? This is a reasonable proposal, reasonable, and should be enacted into law. And, as the gentlelady from California points out, should there be any problem with any unit, there are waivers provided for in this legislation. This is simple and straightforward. It is about protecting our military readiness, it is protecting the health of the troops and, by the way, helping those families recoup with their loved ones as they come back home with predictability, knowing when they will be home and knowing when they will be due to be deployed once again. So I find myself having to vote against this motion to recommit for all those reasons: the families, the troops, and the need for predictability; and I compliment the gentlelady on this proposal to bring about predictability for our troops.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the ``Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. As a conferee on this legislation, I worked on a number of provisions that strengthen U.S. nonproliferation and threat reduction programs, which the 9/11 Commission emphasized must be a top priority given the threat that weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and terrorism pose to the American people. I am particularly pleased that the bill strengthens the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which is an important tool for interdicting illicit transfers of WMD. The bill will help to expand PSI-cooperation with our allies and strategic partners; ensure that the PSI has the necessary budget, resources and structures; and enable Congress to exercise greater oversight of PSI activities. I also strongly support the bill provision that establishes a high- level coordinator for preventing WMD proliferation and terrorism. This new coordinator will ensure that the U.S. strategy, budget, programs and initiatives, and interagency action are comprehensive and well- coordinated, and will provide leadership that has been lacking and is critical to the effectiveness of U.S. nonproliferation and threat reduction efforts. Finally, I am pleased that the bill repeals limits on Cooperative Threat Reduction Program assistance, which have impeded the effectiveness of this Department of Defense program in past years; authorizes funding to strengthen and expand Cooperative Threat Reduction and Department of Energy nonproliferation programs; and includes other measures to counter the threat that WMD proliferation and terrorism poses to the American people. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. Our government has no greater responsibility than protecting the American people. By implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, we are taking real steps to close security gaps and provide a secure future for all Americans.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Chairman, from the time I was young, I was taught that a farmer's livelihood depends on two things: the weather and the markets. While the government can't control the weather, federal Farm Bills provide an invaluable safety net, bringing a level of stability to commodity markets that helps farmers stay in business, make plans for the future, and continue to feed America and the world. The 2007 Farm Bill would ensure farmers have economic stability by continuing the direct payment program and by keeping in place a strong safety net that allows producers to recoup some of their losses when agricultural markets collapse. The bill would give farmers the option of participating in the counter-cyclical initiative that was created in 2002 or in a new, revenue-driven program. At the same time, the legislation would make historic reforms by prohibiting those who earn more than $1 million in annual adjusted gross income from receiving federal agricultural subsidies, by closing loopholes that have allowed some people to avoid payment limits, and by re-balancing loan rates. These changes in current programs would free up additional revenue for the safety net and for the bill's investments in conservation, nutrition, rural development, and renewable energy. The Farm Bill would make conservation a top priority by increasing funding and access to conservation programs that preserve farmland, improve water quality and quantity, and enhance soil conservation, air quality, and wildlife habitat. Missouri is a very conservation friendly state, and the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, among others, have allowed farmers to more easily address conservation problems and comply with expensive, but important, environmental regulations. By extending and improving the food stamp program and making a strong commitment to other nutrition initiatives, the 2007 Farm Bill would promote the health of the American people and help families in need. The measure would also renew our commitment to rural development, agricultural research, forestry and energy. Important to Missouri's corn and soybean producers, it would authorize $2 billion in loan guarantees for biorefineries to help finance the cost of developing and constructing renewable fuel facilities. In Saline County, I have witnessed the overwhelming success of Mid-Missouri Energy's ethanol production plant. I am hopeful this bill will foster similar success stories in Missouri and across our land. Also important to Missourians, the Farm Bill would continue price supports for dairy farmers and create programs for fruit producers. It would also require that all meat sold to American consumers have a country-of-origin label beginning in September 2008. The measure retains the current prohibition on creating a national animal identification to verify the animal's country-of-origin. I praise Chairman Collin Peterson and other members of the Agriculture Committee for producing a good bipartisan bill. I support it, urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it, and ask them to defeat any attempt to strip away the meaningful safety net included in this legislation.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House of the death of General Wayne A. Downing. General Downing was born May 10, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois, son of Francis Wayne ``Bud'' and Eileen Downing. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1971 he received a Master's degree in Business Administration from Tulane University. General Downing served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade as an infantry officer in Vietnam. Later, he served a second combat tour in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division. During the 1989 operation JUST CAUSE in Panama, General Downing commanded the special operations of all services as a general officer. Additionally, during Operation DESERT STORM he commanded a joint special operations task force behind the Iraqi lines. General Downing spent time at Fort Bragg, N.C., serving as Commanding General, United States Army Special Operations Command. In May of 1993, General Downing received his appointment as Commander in Chief of the United States Special Operations Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. In this position, he was responsible for the readiness of all special operations of the Army, Navy and Air Force. In 1996, after 34 years in service, he retired from the military. General Downing was appointed by the President soon after his military retirement to assess the 1996 attack on the U.S. base at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. He served on the National Commission on Terrorism from 1999-2000. As Deputy National Security Advisor for combating terrorism, he served the White House in 2001. Two years later, General Downing was appointed as the Chairman of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. General Downing's awards and decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals, two Silver Stars, four Legions of Merit and the Purple Heart. Madam Speaker, General Downing was an incredible leader who served our country with outstanding dedication. I know the Members of the House will join me in extending heartfelt condolences to his family: his wife, Kathryn Bickerman Downing; two daughters, Elizabeth Revell, and Laura Downing; six stepchildren; his mother, Eileen Downing; a sister; and four grandchildren.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 533, I call up the bill (H.R. 2956) to require the Secretary of Defense to commence the reduction of the number of United States Armed Forces in Iraq to a limited presence by April 1, 2008, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.