Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, as a fellow says back home: You can have your own opinion, but you can't have your own facts. As I said to my friend the gentlewoman from Florida a few moments ago: Read the language. It is not what folks on the other side are saying it is. The Proliferation Security Initiative, as established by the President in 2003, is among the newer elements of our many efforts to stop proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The PSI is all about the interdiction of weapons of mass destruction and materials, and supports American and international security interests. It is a voluntary agreement that we propose, but we have actively encouraged other nations to participate. It is really pretty simple: It is in American interests to stop ships carrying weapons of mass destruction. It is in our own security interests, if not other countries', to join this effort and take on more of this critical work. The oceans of this earth are vast, and sometimes we are not closest to the ship that must be stopped. We need states all over the world willing to step in.

Mr. SKELTON of Missouri

Mr. SKELTON of Missouri. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House of the death of Mr. James (Jim) Roiter Scrivner of Versailles, MO. Mr. Scrivner was born in Stover, MO, on May 4, 1926, son of James Oscar and Adelia B. ``Della'' Roiter Scrivner. He graduated from Stover High School in 1943 and went on to serve his country in World War II with the United States Navy as a surgical technician. He came back to Missouri and attended Central Methodist College, graduating in 1949. In October 1950, he graduated as valedictorian from the Kansas City College of Mortuary Service in Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. Scrivner married Bertha M. ``Honey'' Guenther on September 3, 1949. They were blessed with three wonderful daughters and two granddaughters. Mr. Scrivner and his wife established the Scrivner Funeral Home in Versailles in January of 1952 and opened additional funeral homes in Stover and Russellville. In 1984, Mr. Scrivner's daughter and son-in- law became partners in the family business and in 2004 assumed full ownership from Jim and Honey. Along with his successful business, Mr. Scrivner was very active in his community and church. He served as mayor of Versailles from 1972- 1979. In 1972 he received the ``Certificate of Appreciation'' from the Missouri Municipal League and in 1981 was the recipient of an Economic Development Award from the Missouri Division of Commerce and Industrial Development. Mr. Scrivner was also very active with the Versailles Chamber of Commerce, the Morgan County Fair Board, the Versailles Lions Club, and local politics. For the last 10 years, he has served as a volunteer with the Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City. In addition, Jim was a member of the Versailles United Methodist Church. Madam Speaker, James Roiter Scrivner was a valuable leader in his church and community and a very dear friend. I know the Members of the House will join me in extending heartfelt condolences to his family: his wife Honey; his three daughters, Mona, Sherry, and Jamie; and his two grandchildren.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of S. 4046, the Iraq Reconstruction Accountability Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senator Collins and is the companion measure to my bill, the bill I introduced, H.R. 6341, which is pending here in the House. I can honestly say that if we pass this bill today, and I believe we will, it will be a good day for the American taxpayer. This bill is vital to ensure that the good work of the Special Inspector General for Iraq will continue as long as we remain in Iraq. It should not be a partisan issue, and I am glad to see this bill come to the floor today with bipartisan support. In particular, I want to thank Duncan Hunter, who has ably led the Armed Services Committee for the past 4 years, and who will serve as my ranking member in the next Congress. I look forward to working with him during the next Congress. Mr. Speaker, during our conference with the Senate on the defense authorization bill this year, Chairman Hunter agreed to expand the jurisdiction of the Special Inspector General for Reconstruction in Iraq to include reconstruction funds approved by Congress in 2006, at the same time the conference decided to change the date upon which the SIGIR would be terminated from a date dependent upon when the money was all spent to a date certain, October 1, 2007. Although I disagree with that decision, it was done in an open and fair manner during the regular course of the conference discussions, and I want to recognize the fact that Chairman Hunter always approached this issue in an upfront and honorable way. Furthermore, although Chairman Hunter continues to believe that the October 1 termination date is appropriate, he raises no objection to the consideration of the Skelton-Collins bill. For that, I wish to thank the gentleman. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction has been given a unique mandate by Congress, a mandate to review our rebuilding activities in Iraq. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been committed to this effort, often using abbreviated contracting procedures, and these activities are being carried out in an environment uniquely challenging not only for contractors but for the auditors attempting to oversee them. The SIGIR has done a remarkable job in providing constructive and aggressive oversight of these activities, and that group estimates that its oversight and audit activities have resulted in savings as well as potential benefits of some $405 million. I am confident that those savings will only increase as a result of the bill we consider here today, Mr. Speaker. I would point out that this bill passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support under unanimous consent, without any amendment, and my original bill here in the House just a few weeks ago has some 58 cosponsors, including a number of well-respected Republicans, including several senior leaders on defense issues. In addition, incoming Defense Secretary Bob Gates testified to the Senate that he truly believes that the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction should be extended, and the Iraq Study Group as well include the extension in its recommendations. We would be wise to heed the counsel of both Secretary-designee Gates as well as the Baker- Hamilton group. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this bill. Vote for accountability; vote for good government. I can assure you it is the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California was kind enough to mention the fact that we look forward to next year, and I look forward to working with him as ranking member. And I appreciate his many, many courtesies to me during his tenure as chairman, and our friendship shall continue. Thank you for that. We are going to be losing, as Chairman Hunter mentioned, several people from our Committee on Armed Services. I wish to make special mention of Congressman Lane Evans who has been a leader in veterans affairs, the ranking member of that committee, and we will miss him sorely. He has made a great contribution for a good number of years, and I wish to publicly thank Congressman Evans for his efforts, undying efforts through the years. Cynthia McKinney will be leaving. Curt Weldon will be leaving; he spoke yesterday in the committee. Joel Hefley, that marvelous gentleman from Colorado who has worked with me in particular on military construction efforts that have been so successful for the State of Missouri, and I should mention that his tireless efforts through the years in that arena were very, very good. Dr. Joe Schwarz will be leaving. There are others. Chairman Hunter mentioned them by name. These folks that I mentioned made a great contribution, and I wish to acknowledge them at this time.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it appears that I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in opposition to H.R. 6375. This is not the way to accomplish earmark reform because, quite frankly, it gives all the authority to the executive branch. The gentleman from California, Chairman Duncan Hunter, is right when he says that we are charged under the Constitution to raise and maintain the military. And that is the very reason that I oppose this particular bill. It contravenes congressional responsibility and authority. This bill also fails to achieve meaningful reform. The Democratic Open Government and Honest Leadership bill will offer a better approach, which will be taken up, Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the 110th Congress. This sets a huge administrative burden on the Department of Defense to identify thousands of contractors and multiple thousands of geographic locations, and list every congressional district. It gives the executive branch, I repeat it again, the executive branch, the right to grade the performance of Congress. That is not a good thing. Let me mention another matter which I have urged and the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), Chairman Hunter, has urged in the past. And that is the bill that should have been on the calendar regarding the Iraqi Inspector General. That is a bill that would eliminate the termination date of October 7. That termination date, unfortunately, got put in the defense bill, and there has been a great deal of media attention to it, and quite honestly, we should not have a termination date because that is an ongoing process. And I feel very strongly that that bill should be on the calendar. I want to say very clearly, Chairman Hunter agrees with me that that bill is a good bill and should be on the calendar. And it is not up to us. It is not our choice to say it should not be, but somewhere along the line, Mr. Speaker, it was sidetracked despite the fact that the chairman and I both pushed it very, very heartily. Getting back to H.R. 6375, I hope that we will take a good look at it. This bill defines an earmark as any change to the President's budget creating the perception that all congressional initiatives are ``pork'' and that Congress has no right to review administration spending requests. It is not a good bill. Consequently I do oppose H.R. 6375. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I fully support Senate bill 3759. It establishes an Armed Forces Readiness Center in Great Falls, Montana, as a memorial to Captain William Wylie Galt. And reading his resume, reading his citation, receiving the Medal of Honor, it is one of courage and selfless sacrifice. There is no question in my mind this is a very good gesture, as it should be more often, to those who exhibited the highest type of valor for our country. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote 511, which was on the question of passage of H.R. 4772, the Private Property Rights Implementation Act, I inadvertently voted ``no''. This bill was considered on September 29, 2006, and approved by the House on a vote of 231 to 181. My intent was to vote aye on rollcall vote 511, and I wish the Congressional Record to indicate my support for this legislation.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a number of officials from Barton County, Missouri, are retiring this year after serving the public for a number of years. I have had the privilege of representing Barton County in the United States Congress on two occasions. Barton County lies in the southwestern part of the Fourth Congressional District. Its county seat of Lamar is the birthplace of President Harry S Truman, and the people who live there today personify the same common sense, hard working, Show-Me State values that made President Truman an outstanding president and global leader. I am honored to represent these fine Missourians in the United States Congress and to have had the privilege to work with many of these outstanding public officials. Presiding Commissioner Gerald Miller was born in Idaho but moved to Missouri as a child. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1958 and has been active in the community since that time. Since 1999, Mr. Miller has served as Presiding Commissioner and has worked tirelessly to improve the communities he represents. He is a member of the Lamar Metro Club, the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine, and the Lamar Masonic Lodge. He is a successful businessman who is married to Brenda Rinehart and has two sons, Mark and Matt. County Clerk Bonda Rawlings is a lifelong resident of Barton County. She graduated from Lamar High School in 1961 and has dedicated much of her life to bettering her community. Since 1983, she has served as the Barton County Clerk and has been a leader in the State Association of County Clerks, serving as president in 1996. While working full time, she is also a member of the Barton County Chamber of Commerce, the Lamar Art League, the Barton County Historical Society, the Truman Area Transportation System, and the Lamar High School Booster Club. In all of these organizations, Mrs. Rawlings has held a leadership position. Bonda is married to Bill Rawlings and has two sons, Stan and Steve. Circuit Clerk Jerry Moyer has spent his adult life serving Barton County and is a graduate of Golden City High School. In 1976, he graduated from the College of the Ozarks with a degree in criminal justice administration. Mr. Moyer has served as the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Barton County since 1983 and has been a leader among his colleagues, serving as president of the Circuit Clerk and Recorders Association in 1994. Mr. Moyer previously served as Deputy Sheriff, a police officer, and a Deputy Juvenile Officer. He is active in the First Assembly of God Church, the Lamar Rotary Club, and the Freedom Singers gospel choir. Jerry Moyer is married to Jena Moyer and has a daughter named Tiffany. Recorder of Deeds Jean Keithly has lived in Barton County all her life and is a graduate of Lamar High School. From 1984 to 2003, she served as the Deputy Recorder of Deeds in Barton County. In 2003, she became the first elected Recorder of Deeds in Barton County since 1935, when the office had been combined with the Circuit Clerk's office. Mrs. Keithly has been an active member of the Recorder's Association of Missouri for 22 years. She is a long-time member of the Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church and has been an outstanding charitable volunteer. Mrs. Keithly is married to Bob Keithly and has two children, Michael and Teresa. Deputy Assessor Ona Mullinax has lived in Golden City, Missouri, for the past 41 years and has worked at the Barton County Courthouse since 1983. Throughout her tenure, she has capably worked through many changes within her office and was especially instrumental in assigning emergency 911 addresses to rural Barton County homes. In 1998, Mrs. Mullinax received the Employee of the Year award, which was presented by the Lamar Rotary Club. She and her husband, Rusty, have a shared family of seven children and ten grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, these five individuals represent the outstanding Missourians who live and work within Missouri's Fourth Congressional District. As they each prepare to spend time with their families and enjoy retirement, I know that my colleagues will join me in wishing them well.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House of the death of Major General Kathryn G. Frost. General Frost was an inspiration to many people. She was the wife of The Honorable Martin Frost, she was a sister, an aunt, a friend to the military, and a hero to many. General Frost consistently urged joint service officers and enlisted persons to be the very best they can be and worked hard to transfer her commitment to service to the soldiers with whom she came in contact. Her distinguished career spanned three decades, and her duties included tours as Chief, Military Personnel Office/Deputy Adjutant General, Berlin Brigade/United States Army, Berlin, Germany; Commander, Eastern Sector, United States Military Entrance Processing Command, Great Lakes, Illinois; Adjutant General/Commanding General, Physical Disability Agency/Executive Director of Military Postal Service Agency, Alexandria, Virginia; and Deputy Legislative Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC. General Frost's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge. She also was named one of USC's Distinguished Alumni in 2002. Mr. Speaker, Major General Kathy Frost was a respected leader who will be greatly missed by her family, her friends, and her colleagues. She and her husband were dear friends of mine and I know the members of the House will join me in extending heartfelt condolences to Major General Kathy Frost's family.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a longtime community leader in Lexington, MO, has been recognized for her commitment to the Daughters of the American Revolution. LaVeda Cross has been a member of this distinguished organization for twenty-eight years and recently served as Regent of the Lafayette-Lexington Chapter for the past eight years. Under the leadership of LaVeda Cross, the Lafayette-Lexington Chapter more than doubled its membership while at the same time promoting the City of Lexington and its local businesses. Notably, she traveled the state raising funds for the restoration of the Madonna of the Trail monument in Lexington. LaVeda Cross not only was active in her local chapter, she also has held many leadership positions with the state chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has served as the Missouri State Corresponding Secretary, Missouri State Registrar, and Chairman of the Missouri Madonna of the Trail Monument. Her leadership continued at the national level where she served as the National Vice Chairman of the Flag of the United States of America. As a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Ms. Cross devoted much of her time to traveling. She has represented the Lafayette-Lexington chapter at district meetings, fall forums, at the Missouri State Conference, and at the National Continental Congress. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank LaVeda Cross for her leadership to the community of Lexington, MO, to the State of Missouri, and to her country. I know the members of the House will join me in wishing her well.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas, Sheila Jackson-Lee. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The history of tribunals goes back to during and after the Second World War: The German saboteurs who were captured at Ponte Verde, Florida, and Long Island were tried before a tribunal; the Japanese leaders who carried out such inhumane treatment toward the American soldiers and prisoners of war, among them General Yamashita and General Tojo; and, of course, the Nuremberg trials held in Nuremberg, Germany, after the war of the Nazis who perpetrated those various crimes. Now, here we are trying to establish a tribunal or a commission, which we should do and need to do. The Supreme Court, as a result of the Hamdan decision, said that we in Congress need to do it as opposed to an Executive Order. But what we needed to do was to be tough on terrorists. And being a former prosecuting attorney and knowing that the specter that hangs over every prosecutor's head is that a hard-won victory in court will be overturned by an appellate court or by a Supreme Court, we should be tough on the terrorists; not just tough on them with the law but tough on them with certainty, not giving the opportunity through legislation for the overturning of a conviction. Now, as you know, Mr. Speaker, there are two ways in which a conviction may be overturned. Number one is on the evidence; a mistake made by the judge or a comment made by the prosecutor. On the other hand, someone may have their conviction overturned in the event that the law upon which the conviction is based is unconstitutional. In my debate and comments recently, I pointed out some seven areas of constitutional uncertainty which may very well cause a reversal of a conviction. Consequently, I think this bill before us, as I have said before, is flawed and that will cause us not only to be not tough but to be uncertain that these convictions will be upheld. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first I would make reference to my friend from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), and thank him for his comments. I am sorry that we don't agree on the basis of this. But thank you for your comments a few moments ago. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu). (Mr. WU asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee (Mr. Conyers) for 1 minute.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from El Paso, Texas (Mr. Reyes), who is also the ranking member of the Strategic Subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee.