Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member on the Committee on Government Reform.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. National security is not only a bipartisan effort, it is truly a nonpartisan effort. On the Committee on Armed Services, under the chairmanship of the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), we do our very best to be bipartisan in nature. And, frankly, it concerns me a great deal that no Democrat was even asked to make a recommendation on what might or might not be in this resolution. I would have included several items including reference to the families. I would have included reference to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I would have included a wish that the transition on June 30 be done correctly. And I would include that there should be increased international participation. But I was not given that opportunity. Young men and young women from Democratic homes and from Republican homes and from Independent homes have paid the ultimate sacrifice. And I think it is incumbent upon everyone that offers such a serious resolution as this to give everybody an opportunity to make recommendations and to help write it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I would relinquish to the next group that has jurisdiction for the next hour.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Frances Lyle. Mrs. Lyle, who recently celebrated her 82nd birthday, was nominated by her fellow employees at the Henry County Library in Clinton, Missouri, for the Missouri Older Worker Award. She subsequently received the regional State award. As an employee of the Henry County Library for the past 5 years, Mrs. Lyle has proven to be an asset and a joy to work with. She has shown her ability to relate to patrons of all ages. In an effort to serve the senior citizens in the community, she writes book reviews for the local paper, focusing on older books in the library's collection. She serves as an invaluable resource for older patrons who have read all of the books by their favorite authors. She has also become a favorite of many of the younger patrons, telling stories to the teenagers who pass through the doors. Mrs. Lyle has taken it upon herself to organize and manage the annual library book sale. This is a major fund-raising event for the library, with all proceeds going to children's programming. Mrs. Lyle's efforts have been successful enough to bring in a nationally recognized author or storyteller to visit with the local children each of the past 3 years. In addition to her work in the library, Mrs. Lyle is also an active member of her church. She is very involved in missionary projects, collecting books and supplies for children overseas. She also collects books for the church's annual gift drive, a project that ensures needy children in the area a special Christmas. In addition, she lends her beautiful singing voice to the church choir. Mr. Speaker, Frances Lyle's friends and colleagues believe she is worthy of recognition, and I agree. She serves as an example, not just of the value that older Americans have to our communities but for all of us who could do so much more for our neighbors and those in need. I am sure the other Members of the House will join me in thanking her for all that she does.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I would like to, if I may, bring up a recollection. When I was a teenager, I had the opportunity to go to the little White House at Warms Spring, Georgia, and there displayed is a copy of the undelivered address, now infamous undelivered speech, that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was to give on the following day, April 13, by radio, Thomas Jefferson's birthday. Remember, those were very difficult times. We were involved in the Second World War, and it was a very hard time for our country; but I will never forget writing that speech down, and I copied it verbatim on a tablet with pencil, the final words of that undelivered address. The final words, ``Let us move forward, with strong and active faith,'' and I think those words would be well-emblazoned on what we say and what we do today. He added that the only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith. So let us take a page not just from his life but take a page from that undelivered address, apply it to the challenges, and we have challenges of today, and move forward with strong and active faith.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), my cousin, for introducing this resolution. And I appreciate the bipartisan support of the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson) who is presiding today, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), all of whom joined in becoming original cosponsors of the measure. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was bigger than life when I was a youngster, and properly so, because he did such a wonderful job in leading America out of the worst Depression in our history and leading the United States toward victory against the Japanese and the Germans. Unfortunately, he died on April 12, 1945, and Missouri's Harry Truman, as you know, the Vice President, became President on that day. We all know his legacy as a leader, a political leader, a wartime leader, and one who so many people looked up to for so long, the only President elected to four terms as President of the United States. Let me touch on another subject as to why Franklin Delano Roosevelt is a true American hero. Should you come to my office in the Rayburn Building you will see in a prominent place a portrait, a signed portrait by the artist of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the unfinished portrait that was being made when he collapsed and died at his cabin known as the Little White House at Warm Springs, Georgia. Friends were present at the time when he was stricken and died within a few hours. President Roosevelt's life and legacy has played a meaningful role in so many lives of untold citizens, far more than as President of the United States in his political leadership or as his world leadership, but it played a social role to those who contracted polio at a young age. And most people who have been so stricken were of a young age. President Roosevelt established the March of Dimes in 1938 which caused Americans all across the country to send dimes to the White House or create their own March of Dimes fund. I remember very well being a Boy Scout, collecting the dimes on my main street in Lexington, Missouri, for the March of Dimes established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And he established the foundation at Warm Springs, Georgia, not too far from Columbus. This was an old resort and he changed it into the most modern hospital for the treatment of those who had polio. I have personal experience knowing of that. Warm Springs, Georgia became the mecca for the research, for the treatment, and for surgery involving those who had polio for so very, very long. And the March of Dimes that he created helped establish research funding that could, and, fortunately it did, for all intents and purposes, research that found a cure or a prevention, I should say, to polio. So, many young people, and I have had the opportunity to know them, created lives that were meaningful which otherwise would not have been possible, thanks to the Warm Springs Foundation established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It is rather interesting, he called the patients down there ``my kids.'' And as many Thanksgivings as he possibly could, he would go down and have Thanksgiving dinner with his kids. And that tradition lasted well past his passing from the scene. The March of Dimes, the foundation at Warm Springs, Georgia, all of that enables others to participate in public life, to take their place as meaningful, hardworking citizens of the United States. But for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, that would not have happened. So it is not just during the Depression that he did such a masterful job in pulling this country out, it was not just the war effort until he passed away in April of 1945, but his contribution to treating and to helping find the cure for the prevention of polio, that is what makes Franklin Delano Roosevelt such an outstanding person in the history of our country.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that Dr. Helen Washburn will retire as President of Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. Cottey College is a two-year, independent women's college that for the past 18 years has benefitted from the fine leadership of Dr. Washburn. In her time at Cottey College, Dr. Washburn has been the most valuable of leaders. Seeing needs, she worked to address them and make the experience at Cottey of the highest quality. As an example, Dr. Washburn was instrumental in combating a trend that she observed of young women losing interest in math and sciences at a young age. In response, she created a summer science camp held on the Cottey campus. This camp was exclusively for young women. In addition, Dr. Washburn's long-range planning efforts resulted in an Associate of Science degree to compliment the Associate of Arts already offered. Dr. Washburn's efforts to aid in the education of young women can be seen in other aspects of Cottey College. She led the campaign to construct the Rubie Burton Academic Center, a state-of-the-art academic facility that helps students keep up with the latest technology. The Center for Women's Leadership aids young women in becoming tomorrow's leaders. Most recently, under Dr. Washburn's leadership, Cottey College received ten-year continued accreditation with The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In recognition of the many accomplishments realized during her time as President of Cottey College, Dr. Washburn has been the recipient of many awards. For her efforts in creating an international community on campus, the French government named her an Officer in the National Order of Merit. In 2003, she was named Chief Executive Officer of the Year for District VI of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. In addition, the University of Idaho, from which she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees, presented her with the prestigious Silver and Gold award, an honor based on career achievement, and the University of Idaho Alumni Association inducted Dr. Washburn into its Hall of Fame. There can be no greater testament to an educator than the accomplishments of her students. The many women who have passed through the halls of Cottey College under the leadership and direction of Dr. Washburn have proven to be a worthy and lasting legacy. And though Dr. Washburn will soon be leaving the Cottey campus, many more women in the years to come will benefit from her outstanding work during her 18 years as its President. Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Members of the House will join me in honoring Dr. Helen Washburn for her years of service and in wishing her all the best in the days ahead.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that my good friend, Jimmy Luster, will retire as chief of police of El Dorado Springs, Missouri, after a lifetime of service to the various communities in which he has lived. In 1970, Jimmy accepted the position of chief of police for Fairview Height, Illinois, where he established a completely operational police department for the newly incorporated city. By writing the rules, regulations and operational procedures, he laid a solid foundation for the department. In 1976, Chief Luster left Illinois for Rogers, Arkansas, taking the position of chief of police in that community. He remained until 1978, when he moved to Missouri to serve the people of Cass County in the sheriff's department, supervising night operations. From 1979 to 1988, Jimmy served as chief of police for the town of Belton, Missouri. During his time there, he proved instrumental in getting a new state-of-the-art police facility built. Since 1992, the people of El Dorado Springs have had the good fortune to have Jimmy as their chief of police. His retirement brings to a close the career of a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the president of the Southwest Missouri Major Case Squad, a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a fine and dedicated man. Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Members of the House will join me in honoring Chief Luster for his years of service and in wishing him all the best in the days ahead.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr Speaker, one of the privileges of serving as a member of Congress is that you work with some amazing people. The halls of our buildings are filled with bright and energetic Americans, and every now and then among them a true hero. By my definition, a hero is someone who would never use that word. Dudley Tademy, who is leaving the Armed Services Committee staff this week, fits that definition. But he fits anyone's definition of an honorable patriot. Before Dudley came to Capitol Hill, before he took on the job of overseeing the military's readiness for the Armed Services Committee, before he was the assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy, before all of those achievements that would be enough credit for any man, he was thirty years a soldier. As Captain Tademy, he served in Vietnam, and what service that was. Mr. Speaker, even those members not familiar with the details of that grueling war may have heard of Landing Zone X-Ray, and the la Drang Valley. They are familiar names, thanks to the book ``We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young.'' That story, of how the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) endured one of the most brutal engagements of that war, is also part of the story of Dudley Tademy. He was there. And as the fire support coordinator for the 3rd Brigade, he devised and directed the artillery plan that was central to holding the enemy at bay and creating an escape path for hundreds of overrun American soldiers. Across our country are men, their children, and grandchildren who would not be with us but for Dudley Tademy. As he said of that time, ``It's our job to get the job done and get those kids home safe.'' He brought that same dedication and mission to his work with the Armed Services Committee--always putting the soldier first. For the last ten years, he has carried a Herculean load on the committee staff. He oversees military readiness, now a $140 billion portfolio; all Department of Energy nuclear weapons related activities, another $16 billion annually; all Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs--that's another $18 billion--and matters concerning two of my favorite subjects, organization of the Department of Defense and professional military education. That's more oversight responsibility in one man than some entire full committees on the Hill! And there's nobody you or I would trust more to carry those astounding tasks. Nothing I or anyone can say here can do justice to Dudley Tademy's service, in uniform or after. Yet to speak with him, you would never guess at it. He is, in a word we don't use enough in Congress, humble. His gentle character and cheerful whistle belie a man of great discipline--still keeping up a daily physical training regimen, you'd never guess that he was older than most members. But he remains young in spirit, mentoring junior staff, and active in his church, where he counsels troubled youth. Now he can begin to devote proper time to Audrey, who does so much to keep Dudley humble. And instead of serving sixty committee members, Dudley's priority will be six grandchildren, and I believe they already have him more fully scheduled than we ever did. Best of all, we know that any time the Committee gets in a jam, we can call upon the inspiration of an American who has honored this Congress with his service. I salute Dudley Tademy, and know that all members will join me in gratitude for his company and devotion.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that the Helias High School Marching Crusaders from Jefferson City, Missouri, have earned first place honors in the SBC/Cotton Bowl's band competition. Under the direction of Ray Cardwell, the students placed first for middle-sized schools in the field competition, parade and jazz band categories. Mr. Speaker, the Helias High School Marching Crusaders represented their school and their State with honor and distinction. I am certain that the Members of the House will join me in congratulating them on their fine performance.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on December 17 of last year, Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri celebrated the 10th anniversary of the arrival of the B-2 Bomber. I had the privilege of addressing the luncheon on that day. My speech to those attending is as follows: There are high moments in one's life. I experienced one such moment 10 years ago when the first B-2, the Spirit of Missouri, arrived here at Whiteman Air Force Base. Today we commemorate both the 10th anniversary of the B-2 Bomber mission at Whiteman and the 100th anniversary of man's first powered flight by the Wright Brothers. What an amazing parallel that 2 men, Wilbur and Orville Wright, began the saga of flight 100 years ago, and today the most powerful military weapon in the world, the B-2, is manned by only 2 airmen. It seems like airplanes have always been a great part of my life and make up some of my fondest memories. I imagine there are quite a few people in this room who feel the same way. I will never forget one particular warm, autumn day in my hometown of Lexington. I was 11 years of age, and I was with my buddies on the north side of Franklin Avenue, across from my home, when I heard and saw the Army Air Corps C-47s pulling gliders above us. I knew then that the Army Air Corps had a base near Sedalia where these planes were located. I later learned that those pilots were training for the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion of Normandy. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined that years after seeing those planes fly over Lexington, I would be a part of making that Sedalia Army Air Field, now known as Whiteman, the most modern bomber base in the world. My very first job was at the old Lexington Airport, which was located across the Missouri River. My duties included washing the Piper Cubs and Aeroncas and periodically raking the dirt floors of the hangars. I well remember a WAAF, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, ferrying a Culver Cadet airplane which landed at Lexington Airport to refuel. On the right seat of this airplane, which had a 27-foot wingspread, there was a large set of radio equipment. This massive equipment allowed the plane to serve as a drone, pulling targets for the Army Air Corps pilots to practice shooting. Thinking back, I recall that the small airplane was so heavy that the WAAF pilot could not get airborne until her third takeoff attempt on the short grass airfield. Without a doubt, aeronautical technology has come a long way since that time. This military installation has a rich history in the security of our country. As the Sedalia Army Air Field, it trained the C-47 pilots to fly the gliders for the Normandy invasion. Later, as Whiteman Air Force Base, it was the home of a B-47 wing. At the height of the Cold War, the base became a Minuteman I and II missile installation. Knowing that the missile mission would be phased out eventually, I urged the Air Force to put a B-1 Bomber Wing at Whiteman in 1982, but a Texas base was chosen to house the B-1 instead. It was later that year when I first received a classified briefing on the bat- winged bomber which was being contemplated by the Air Force. Subsequently, the legislative battle to authorize and build the Stealth Bomber was long and arduous, first authorizing 15 bombers, then another 5, then 1 more. During this time, I quietly urged the Air Force to consider Whiteman Air Force Base as the first base for this new weapons system. In early December 1986, Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger invited me to his office and told me that he had decided to place this new airplane at Whiteman Air Force Base. Since I had worked so hard to make this happen, the Secretary asked if I would be interested in making the announcement. At a press conference in Knob Noster on January 5, 1987, I had the honor of announcing that Whiteman Air Force Base would be the home of the newest and most advanced bomber in America's fleet, the Stealth Bomber. Then, Major General, now retired General Jim McCarthy deserves great credit for helping formulate the decision to put the wing here. Shortly after that announcement, the Air Force officially named the new Stealth Bomber the B-2. And you know the history from that moment on. Then Brigadier General, later Lieutenant General Ron Marcotte oversaw the formulation of the B-2 Wing here at Whiteman. Since the B-2 has been here for ten years, and people are fairly accustomed to seeing the aircraft, there might be a temptation to start considering it as old hat. But let me take this opportunity to remind you how exceptional this aircraft is, because you are looking at a significant piece of aviation history. First, there was the airplane. Then, in the First World War, aerial combat. Then, in the Second World War, radar to see through clouds and find attackers at great distances. Then an airplane that disappeared from radar. The B-2 wasn't the first jet, or the first flying wing, or the first stealthy airplane, or the first capable of spanning the globe. But it was the first stealthy jet airplane able to go anywhere. The B-2 changed the calculation from the number of planes per target to the number of targets per plane. It fundamentally changed the equation of offense versus defense. It is, in one respect, the summation of the 20th century's technological advances. It could not stay aloft without computers. It stays invisible because of advanced materials. And the airplane and munitions know their precise location thanks to satellites. To be sure, the Wright Flyer, wood and canvas, didn't have much of a radar signature. And it was quiet. And a 12-second flight is a lot easier than 24 hours. 24 hours. That's the other way the B-2 is the culmination of its century. The 20th century was, in so many ways, the American century. It's when our country reached its full flower, as a nation, as an economic force, as a political power. There is no more vivid expression of that than this airplane, which can leave here, project American power anywhere on the face of the globe, and return without landing. Winston Churchill called the United States the world's indispensable nation. The B-2's capabilities make the aircraft this indispensable nation's most sovereign instrument. But before you say, wait a minute, this is an instrument of war--should we really celebrate it? It's a good question. Let me answer it this way. This airplane is a humanitarian advance. Yes, it exists to intimidate, and if necessary to destroy. But if we accept conflict as inevitable, as history suggests it is, I ask you--is it better to flatten a city to hit a single strategic target? That's what we have had to do through most of my lifetime and that of the airplane--rain down as many bombs as possible and hope one hits. Or is it better to save the civilians and just disable the target? If war is necessary, this airplane lets us separate its effects from the civilians with whom we have no quarrel. During the legislative battle to build the B-2, there were a number of outspoken critics. That criticism continued even after all 21 planes arrived at Whiteman. But since their first combat deployments--first during 1999's NATO-led Operation Allied Force campaign in Yugoslavia, then during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and most recently during Operation Iraqi Freedom--those critics have disappeared. But it is more than the airplane and JDAM bombs. It is the men and women here at Whiteman--the maintenance crews, the bomb handlers, and of course the pilots--who made this chapter in American military history so very extraordinary. When the first B-2 arrived at Whiteman in December 17, 1993, on the 90th anniversary of man's first powered flight by the Wright Brothers, it was the fulfillment of a dream. There are any number of reasons why Whiteman Air Force Base was the logical choice as the home of the B-2, but I believe the most important reason is the strong support and patriotism shown by the entire community for generations. And the Pentagon knows this. I certainly do. Through the years, people throughout the area--on the streets, at civic organizations, in the Whiteman Community Council, in schools, and wherever I go--have given me words of encouragement about the progress of the B-2 mission at Whiteman. I doubt if any Member of Congress has ever had such strong support by the people he represents as I have had in this historic challenge. The people of this area have been strong supporters of each mission assigned here. The Missourians of today are as steadfast in their support as in yesteryear. Since the day of the announcement that the B-2 would be located here, the people of Missouri have taken the B-2, and all those who support its mission, to their hearts. With the B-2 mission firmly established at Whiteman, this base not only has a bright future ahead, but I believe it is also the premier Air Force Base in the nation. The B-2 mission ensures that Whiteman will continue to be a vital part of our national security establishment for decades to come, even though the installation's previous major mission, the Minuteman Missiles, were removed and silos destroyed following the end of the Cold War. And now that the B-2s have undertaken their first combat deployments--with pinpoint bombing in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq--those who fly and maintain this aircraft have more than proven the usefulness of this weapons system and demonstrated the foresight of those who imagined the potential of a long range bomber that could take off from rural Missouri and fly half-way around the world and back. So today we Americans have cause to celebrate an American invention--the airplane and the technologically complex airplane we call the B-2. As long as there are those skilled aeronautical engineers whose designs keep American air power on the cutting edge, and as long as we have dedicated Air Force men and women who crew and serve these craft, America will continue to be the bastion of freedom and a secure land. We know how far the first 100 years of aviation has taken us. But what will the next 100 years bring? Let me make a few predictions. In 100 years, planes will fly faster, fly farther, and probably fly on their own. Whiteman Air Force Base, which in 100 years will still be the premier Air Force base in the world, will be home to pilotless, hypersonic, stealthy bombers, able to reach any point on the globe within hours. And in 100 years, the people whose hard work and dedication make these amazing technologies come to life will be as inspiring to their fellow Americans as their predecessors amaze and inspire us today. I'm sure that over the last 10 years quite a few eleven- year-olds in Lexington, and throughout the state, have looked toward the sky and caught a glimpse of an airplane--not an army transport airplane pulling a glider, but the most modern bomber in the world, the B-2. Like those Army Air Corps planes of an earlier age, its home is located near Sedalia. This plane flies for the same purpose as the planes I saw in 1943--to preserve freedom. The airplanes have changed--but the mission remains the same.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my reflections on a trip I recently took with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), leader, and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) to Iraq and Afghanistan. I think it is important to publicly discuss the situation in those countries because events there have implications for all of us here in our country, as well as for the future of our foreign policy. We are less than 5 months from the planned transfer of sovereignty to a new Iraqi government. Yet it seems clear from talking to many groups in Iraq that the administration's proposed deadline for the transfer of power is unrealistic. Commanders we talked to indicated it would be logistically difficult, if not impossible, to conduct an election before July 1. There is no census. There are no registered voters. The likelihood of fraud would be great, and I think there is a strong likelihood that the United Nations representatives now in Iraq will reach the same conclusions. By the same token, Shia religious leaders in Iraq do not support the caucus system for choosing a new government that the administration has advocated. Finally, I do not think we can transfer sovereignty to a new Iraqi government until the rules of engagement for our forces are agreed upon. We simply cannot afford to have restrictions on the ability of our forces to pursue terrorists and to protect themselves. Simply put, we must handle the transition right, even if it means rethinking our original timeline. The outcome must be a government with legitimacy, a process that prevents civil war from erupting, and rules of engagement that leave our forces free to continue to fight against the insurgents. A second related conclusion from my trip is that it is clear that whatever new government assumes power must not be seen as a puppet of the United States Government or it will lack legitimacy. One way to help build that legitimacy is to get NATO involved in helping to establish security and provide stability in Iraq, as they are already doing constructively in Afghanistan. NATO involvement will reinforce the perception that it is the international community, not just the United States, that wants a new representative government in Iraq to succeed. Bringing NATO troops to Iraq to supplement our forces will also likely reduce the number of American military casualties, something I know we are all concerned about. My third conclusion about Iraq is that we are in a guerilla war there. It is not really terrorism because I do not think the attacks against Iraqi citizens and our forces are aimed just at terrorism. Their purpose is to prevent the installation of a new, stable regime and to expel our forces, a classic goal of guerrilla warfare. I also want to mention Afghanistan. The simple truth is we are shortchanging our effort to establish a viable Federal government and rebuild the country of Afghanistan. I understand that, on the face of it, Afghanistan is not as strategically as important as Iraq, but our efforts there are critical. Mr. Bin Laden and other leaders of al Qaeda and the leadership of the former Taliban regime remain at large. In the near term, the United States must bring renewed attention to our offensive operations there to flush those forces out. Over the long term, we need to ensure that a terrorist harboring the regime never again gains hold. If we poured half as many people and resources into Afghanistan as we have into Iraq, I think that country would be well on the way to recovering from the 20-plus years of warfare that have plagued that country. With few natural resources, little infrastructure, and a long history of tribalism, Afghanistan has a long way to go. I do not think we are making progress as fast as we need to in order for the Karzai government to survive in the long term. Simply put, we need to do more in Afghanistan. My final observation concerns our great men and women in uniform. They are doing a fantastic job under the most trying circumstances. They are living under the most arduous of conditions, and are literally putting their lives on the line every day. They are superbly trained, superbly led, and they are the finest force the world and our country have ever seen. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude. As we go into this budget cycle, we owe it to them to provide them everything they need in order to succeed, in Iraq as well as Afghanistan.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House of the death of the Honorable Elmo B. Hunter of Kansas City, MO. Judge Hunter earned his law degree from the University of Missouri in 1938. He went on to post-graduate work at the University of Michigan. Judge Hunter served his country in World War II with the United States Army, working in military intelligence. When he came home he joined the law firm of Sabree, Shook, Hardy & Hunter in Kansas City. Judge Hunter served on the bench as a state circuit judge from 1951 to 1957 and moved on to serve as a state appeals judge in that year. He remained in this post until 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson appointed him to the federal bench. In recognition for his service, Judge Hunter was awarded the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award in 1987. He was also the recipient of the American Judicature Society's Distinguished Service Award and served as the society's chairman and president. In 1991, the American Judicature Society saw fit to found the Elmo B. Hunter Citizens Center for Judicial Selection. The center researches nonpartisan, merit-based judicial selections, sponsors national forums, monitors state judicial reform projects and educates international visitors on the U.S. judicial selection process. Mr. Speaker, Elmo Hunter was a valuable member of the judiciary and a credit to his profession. I know the Members of the House will join me in extending heartfelt condolences to his family: his wife, Shirley; his daughter Nancy; and all of his grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, last year I stood in this well and called on my colleagues to support an increase in the Nation's military end strength, the number of people in our uniformed services. I am pleased that my colleagues rose to the challenge and recognized the increased pressures that have been placed on our servicemembers. As a result, Congress last year authorized an increase in end strength of 2,400 soldiers for the Army and 300 airmen for the Air Force. Unfortunately, this increase is just a small down payment on what the services, particularly the Army, need in order to meet today's increased operational tempo. Nearly a decade ago, Congress heard from the Army leadership about the need for an increase in end strength. The then Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, General Ted Stroup, testified before the Committee on Armed Services that the Army needed 25,000 more soldiers to meet ongoing operational needs. Our ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have only made the need for additional troops more imperative. I think we need an additional 40,000-person end strength increase in the Army alone, not to mention the other services. Many servicemembers who were sent to Afghanistan to search for Osama bin Laden and defeat the al Qaeda went home after their tours only to be told to pack their bags because they were going to Iraq for a year. Brigades from the 10th Mountain Division and from the 101st Airborne Division were sent to Afghanistan. They returned home for a relatively short duration, and then they were sent to Iraq to prosecute Operation Iraqi Freedom. If we continue these back-to-back deployments, we will literally break the force. That is something we as a Nation can ill afford to let happen. And now our military is about to embark on the largest troop rotation in the history of our country. I wish I could say that the replacement troops will be fresh, but the hard truth is that many of them will be returning to Iraq for consecutive tours. If we had enough people in the military, back-to-back tours in Iraq would not be necessary. It is important for everyone to understand that in the new force rotation into Iraq, National Guardsmen and Reservists will comprise about 40 percent of the force there. We are using the National Guard and Reserve as never before, and we have to be careful not to put such strains on these citizen soldiers that they leave in droves or that recruiting suffers. I was in Missouri recently and met with one wife of a National Guardsman now serving in Iraq. She told me when her husband returns from overseas he will be getting out of the National Guard and as many as one-third of folks in her husband's unit will be too. This may be anecdotal evidence of what is going on in our Reserve components, but it is certainly cause for concern. The increased demands being placed upon our troops in uniform call into question the ability of our forces to meet its commitments in other parts of the world. If conflict erupted on the Korean peninsula while these brigades are in southwest Asia, our ability to respond quickly would likely be compromised. Recently, Lieutenant General John Riggs, a senior Army officer, stated that the Army must be substantially increased to meet its global commitments. Yet the Secretary of Defense continues to maintain that the services have enough end strength already to meet their responsibilities and that the increased demands on the troops is only a spike or temporary increase. As a result, my expectation is that the President's budget will not include any permanent end strength increase but will permit only temporary overages associated with our current deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Department of Defense believes that additional servicemembers are not needed because we proved that our troops can vastly overpower an enemy with speed agility and power in war. The problem is that we are no longer in that type of war. We are rebuilding a Nation from the ground up. That kind of undertaking takes people. And right now we simply do not have enough. There is simply no substitute for having boots on the ground. To get the job done right I am pleased that a number of my colleagues have recognized the importance of increasing end strength. A number of them have written to the President and the Secretary of Defense calling for an increase in end strength. Others like the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) have introduced legislation to this effect. We must, we can, and we will in this Congress pass an authorization bill authorizing for appropriation additional end strength for the United States Army as well as the other services.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, the House is meeting today--69 days after the beginning of the fiscal year--to debate H.R. 2673, a colossal $328 billion spending bill that includes 7 of the 13 annual appropriations measures for fiscal year 2004. The gentleman from Florida, Mr. Young, and the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Obey, have worked diligently this year to pass the annual spending bills one-by-one. However, as it became apparent that the Congress could not approve these measures individually, congressional leaders began working to fit them together into one catch-all bill, like the pieces of a $328 billion puzzle. Unfortunately, the pieces of this puzzle are not fitting together in a way that benefits the American people. I will oppose H.R. 2673 because it breaks promises Congress made regarding education, it cuts necessary Federal funds for State and local law enforcement, and fails to extend unemployment benefits for thousands of Missouri workers who are currently out of work this holiday season. Education remains a top priority of the people of Missouri. When I am back home, I frequently visit schools to meet with students and teachers. At nearly every location, teachers and administrators inform me of the difficulties they have when it comes to unfunded Federal mandates burdening their districts. School districts throughout the Show-Me State and the Nation are experiencing tough times as the poor economic conditions and the fiscal choices made by this Congress are leading to decreased revenue for schools. The professionals who teach our children and grandchildren deserve to have the resources they need to get the job done. When the Congress approves legislation authorizing specific legislative initiatives, we ought to fully fund them. H.R. 2673 provides $7.8 billion less than Congress promised in the No Child Left Behind Act and falls 45 percent short in special education funding promised under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reauthorization bill that passed earlier this year. It also freezes Pell Grant awards at a time when State universities are drastically increasing tuition costs and underfunds by 18 percent the funds necessary for Impact Aid. H.R. 2673 also establishes a private school voucher program for students who live in the District of Columbia, moving Congress a step closer to abandoning our historical commitment to public schools and establishing the first Federal subsidies for getting a private school education. As a former prosecuting attorney and juvenile officer, I have worked closely with law enforcement officials. Law enforcement personnel play a critical role in protecting Missouri communities from the scourge of methamphetamine abuse and other crimes and from the threats posed by terrorism. Congress has a duty to provide adequate funding for those who protect us in our hometowns. Under H.R. 2673, State and local law enforcement is funded at $500 million below last year's levels. As the holidays approach, millions of Americans are still facing unemployment. While economic news has indicated that the numbers of jobless Americans decreasing, Congress must work to extend unemployment benefits to those who are not so fortunate. Time and again, we have worked in a bipartisan manner to assist unemployed Americans. I am disappointed that the House leadership has failed in this regard, especially at this time of year. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2673 shortchanges teachers and students, law enforcement personnel, and unemployed Missourians. Appropriations bills should speak to our priorities as a nation. I cannot support this measure that sets our country on a course of misplaced priorities.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, Major General Robert Shirkey, USA, Retired, delivered the following address at a Veterans' Day Memorial Service at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, MO. This is an excellent address by a highly decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War. His speech is set forth as follows: Major General Shirkey, USA, Ret., Veterans' Day Observance, Liberty Memorial Kansas City, MO--November 11, 2003 I am an American--Let me tell you why: Years ago persons from Ireland, Norway, Poland, Germany, and other locations, hugged their families for the last time and left their ancestral homes. These people boarded old, crowded ships to sail to America, leaving behind everything and everyone they knew in search of only one thing: Freedom. These people crossed the ocean with the determination to stand firm in their new home and fight for the freedom which had been denied them for centuries. America was born from a union of courage and passion for freedom. This is my heritage. My ancestors, under a new flag, represented a country that came to be known as the United States of America. One Irishman, O'Sharkey, went through the Revolutionary War. As indentured servants from Norway, my grandmother's family worked out the $36.00 passage to become Americans. A Polish girl in Poznan, Poland, saved the life of a Prussian soldier being chased by Germans by hiding him in a haystack during the Prussian Revolution of 1848. He returned after peace was declared, married her and together with his parents migrated to the United States. He also then served with the 27th Wisconsin Cavalry during the Civil War. Another part of my heritage who served with the South during that long war was General Wade Hampton. These men were the Privates, Captains, Majors, Colonels and Generals. When the Revolutionary and Civil Wars were over, they were once again free. They had paid the price with their lives, bloodshed, hardship and poverty. One of my ancestors, a second cousin, still lies in France, having paid the supreme sacrifice on September 27, 1918, for such freedom. I am an American--Let me tell you why: My patriotism can neither be contained nor displayed within the span of four (4) designated days every year. When I look at my country's flag, I see not only the Revolutionary War and Civil War, but ancestors who fought against injustice. I also see my ancestors who were on opposite sides of the Battle of the Wilderness, Chickamauga, and others. They smelled the gunpowder and heard the roar of musketry. Some of these men would never see another beautiful sunset, yet in each of their eyes were these same dreams of freedom and independence and a willingness to fight to the death for what they believed in. Lest we forget: For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know. As General Pershing said at this Memorial dedication: ``. . . there are many forces trying to destroy this freedom, so band together and dedicate yourselves to protecting that freedom you have so valiantly won on the battlefield.'' Never forget that the Ancient Romans sought freedom from responsibility and, as a consequence, lost all freedom. My flag has flown over ancestors and fellow soldiers in distant parts of the world who were slain giving all their tomorrows for our todays. My flag flew over my best friend's hastily dug grave at Legaspi, Luzon, following his untimely death April 15, 1945. He gave his life to save five wounded comrades by crawling up under machine gun fire. An attempt to save a sixth man was rewarded with death. For my symbolic flag he knew he was expected to die. Like many others, my life was spared by the controversial atomic bomb. I came home carrying my flag. My best friend came wrapped in my country's flag. My flag went to Viet Nam and returned with some of my dear friends wrapped in it. My flag is the same flag that belongs to victims of the Bataan Death March as well as survivors. The attitude of those men is epitomized in the gallows humor of war correspondent Frank Hewlett which still echos amongst the jungle foliage: ``We're the battling bastards of Bataan. No mamma, no papa, no Uncle Sam. No uncles, no aunts, no nephews. No nieces, no pills, no planes, no artillery pieces. And nobody gives a damn.'' These are the men who have carried my flag. Later, in fighting on Luzon, I walked that hallowed ground on Bataan. I saw the refuse of war and the fox holes-many of which had been dug with bayonets. In the words of William Lindsay White, author of They Were Expendable, ``Where do we get such men?'' Tribute on this day is paid to those fellow Americans who served in the Korean War, which ended fifty years ago. Over one hundred thousand men were wounded; fifty-six thousand two hundred forty six killed; nine thousand were captured; three thousand five hundred eight were repatriated; six thousand died as a result of criminal acts of the enemy. By the peace agreement in 1953, not one of the enemy was prosecuted. The odds of death of those of us in the front lines in Korea were one in nine. By contrast the odds were one in eighteen in World War II and in Viet Nam the odds were one in twenty- three, a striking example of the dangers in Korea. I fought through the Pacific War with one of the more noted Infantry Units the 158th RCT ``Bushmasters.'' We were comprised of twenty-two Indian tribes, Hispanics, Chinese, Japanese and men from thirty-eight different states. General MacArthur opined that ``no greater combat team has ever deployed for battle.'' Little known is the fact that Indians were finally given the right to vote in 1946. Strangely enough, not one black soldier was in our Infantry units! I am an American--Let me tell you why: To those Korean Veterans present and those of you who may read or hear what I have to say today, I want you to know as one soldier to another, we fought not for glory, for there was none, not for loot, for there was none. No crusading zeal drove us on. Our homeland was not threatened. Our countrymen at home made no comparable sacrifice. We fought and endured, while not understanding the geopolitics of that distant war and at a time when thousands of our fellow countrymen said we were engaged in a senseless war. We kept on much as we did in World War II. The real answer as to why we--the living and the dead--did this lies deep in the tissue of the substance which keeps America from becoming unstuck. It has to do with our parents, teachers, 4-H Clubs, Scouts, neighborhood centers, and belonging to a team; an implicit, unreasoned belief in our country and a natural belief in ourselves. To those present, to those now living, I bow to your patriotism. Many like myself were asked to again serve our country. I left behind two sons, one six months old and one three years old. Forty-eight hours after leaving Kansas City, I was again in the Korean front-lines. Let me say now, for all to hear and know, as a rifle company commander of one hundred fifty to two hundred men, I personally led one of the first integrated companies in Korea. The twenty to twenty-five black soldiers I led served with honor, distinction and bravery. We cry the same salty tears and bleed the same red blood. Equally important, in our hour of need on the battle field, we do not care who rescues us or carries our stretcher. I shall never forget Lovell Page who gave his life at the Inje River. His beautiful smile is etched in my memory and will be throughout eternity. These are the men who have carried my flag. That same flag gave comfort and hope to those who endured horrors including war camp. It is the same flag the men and women carry who came home crippled and maimed so that the social class into which I was born would not determine the limits of my potential. It is the flag that is seared into my memory as it lay draped over my dearest friends coffins while the echos of Taps were carried Heavenward on a windy day. It is the same flag that will someday drape over my coffin. I trust that you are as proud of that flag as I am. Protect it well. Protect it as I have. Forty-Five million of us have served our Nation since 1776. We have never, ever, let our nation down. We took the Hill!! I quote the last stanza of the poem by Billy Rose, which reflects the dedication of every American in their commitment to serve their country. ``I am the unknown soldier and maybe I died in vain, but if I were alive and my country called, I'd do it all over again. While I fought with and along side of the elite American Army troops, lest we forget, I should like to pay tribute to the troops of the twenty-one nations that comprised the United Nations forces in Korea. The undaunted courage and bravery of the Turks, British and Ethiopians, to mention a few that I witnessed, shall forever be with me. Likewise, the bravery of Republic of Korea soldiers like Chung Mun Joe, who served in my company, will never be forgotten as they fought for the freedom we Americans almost take for granted. To those who have not served and to those who never will, I quote Prophet Micah, as is etched in stone on the North side of this Monument, that all God requires of us is that ``we should do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God.'' You now see that: I am an American--I have told you why. In closing, I quote the Unknown Confederate Soldier's words: ``I asked God for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do great things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing I asked for, but everything that I had hoped for, almost despite myself. My unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, richly blessed.'' I am indeed an American.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, there is no truer indication of a nation's priorities than the investment it makes in the health of its citizens, particularly our senior citizens. Medicare was created nearly 40 years ago with a basic fundamental principle in mind: health care coverage should be guaranteed, affordable, and equitable to all seniors. Throughout the time I have been privileged to serve in Congress, I have worked to make sure Medicare remains strong for those currently benefitting from its coverage and for those who will rely upon its benefits in the years ahead. As a member of the Rural Health Care Coalition, I was pleased when the administration and congressional leadership announced earlier this year that providing a prescription drug program within the reliable Medicare system was a high priority for the 108th Congress. However, it has become clear throughout the year that efforts to provide a meaningful prescription drug benefit within Medicare were being undermined by a systematic attempt to destroy the Medicare program. I am disappointed that the bill before us today, H.R. 1, does just that, undermining the very foundation of Medicare while creating a confusing and inadequate prescription drug coverage program for rural Missouri's seniors. As I visit with seniors throughout Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, it remains clear that they depend on Medicare for their health care. They understand Medicare and trust it cannot be taken from them. Medicare is part of a health care contract with the senior citizens who brought this Nation out of the Depression, fought in our wars, and paid into the Medicare trust fund so they would have health coverage when they need it most. Unfortunately, H.R. 1 seeks to destroy the Medicare system on which these Americans have depended for nearly 40 years. Under this bill, in just six short years, millions of senior citizens in America could be coerced out of Medicare and into private insurance plans that generally don't do business in rural America. While the drafters of this measure explain that these private plans are simply a demonstration project and seniors don't have to participate if they don't want to, once the door is open to privatizing this vital government program, I am afraid it will not be closed. It is also troubling that if these so-called demonstration projects take root around the nation as H.R. 1 prescribes, seniors within Missouri could be paying very different prices for the exact same health care benefit. It would create a very confusing situation, where folks in Versailles could pay more than citizens of Blue Springs or Lamar for their health care needs. Show-Me State seniors trust Medicare because they know that everyone participating in this program will pay the same rate for their health care insurance no matter where they reside. H.R. 1 undermines this fundamental principle, which could create even more disparity in the health care coverage of rural Missourians. In addition to undercutting Medicare, I am concerned that the prescription drug portion of H.R. 1 will negatively impact seniors living in rural Missouri. This measure would require Medicare beneficiaries who wish to receive the new prescription drug benefit to enroll in private drug plans which rarely operate in rural America. These plans would be run by large insurance companies that would likely charge different premiums for the same prescription drugs. As an added benefit to large insurance companies, H.R. 1 would provide them with a $12 billion taxpayer subsidy while creating a $2,800 gap in prescription drug coverage for seniors. According to an article published in The Wall Street Journal on November 18, 2003, ``for the drug industry, the legislation is good news, at least in the short run.'' This is just plain wrong. For rural Missourians, H.R. 1 would also impose an assets test on low-income seniors who earn below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Seniors whose income falls within this financial threshold may be forced to either pay additional prescription drug costs if their assets--their car, their farm equipment, or their acreage, for example--total $10,000 per individual or $20,000 per couple, or sell their possessions to get cheaper pills. Many seniors in rural areas rely solely on their Social Security checks to get by each month and they should not be forced to sell their belongings or their property to qualify for a more comprehensive drug benefit. While I am dismayed that the leadership of this Congress would work to dismantle Medicare through this legislation, I am pleased that conferees were able to address Medicare reimbursement rates for rural doctors and hospitals. Through the years, I have worked with my colleagues in the Congressional Rural Caucus to boost reimbursements to those who provide health care in rural America. In fact, time and time again on the House floor, I have voted to instruct the conferees writing the Medicare bill to abandon divisive ideas of privatization in order to provide more adequate reimbursement to rural providers. Unfortunately, these motions were defeated each time. Mr. Speaker, senior citizens throughout Missouri understand and trust Medicare. They have worked all their lives, paid their taxes, and contributed to a system that takes care of their health care needs. Medicare is a contract with our seniors that should not be broken. That is why I will oppose H.R. 1 and urge all my colleagues to do the same. In the days ahead, I look forward to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to provide senior citizens with a real prescription drug benefit that strengthens Medicare.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, throughout the time I have been privileged to serve in the House of Representatives, I have been honored to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what is right for rural America. Today, the House is considering H.R. 6, its first comprehensive energy policy legislation in more than a decade. This measure will provide farm families and rural areas with an important economic boost and will recognize the unique role rural electric cooperatives play in delivering power to rural Americans. I am pleased to support this bill. H.R. 6 is good for rural Missouri. The conference report includes a long sought after Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that will gradually increase the contribution of ethanol (made from corn) and biodiesel (made from soybeans) to America's fuel supply to 5 billion gallons in 2012. The bill also includes a federal phase down and ban of the gasoline additive known as MTBE. Although I am disappointed that liability protections were included in the bill for this cancer-causing additive, I am pleased that the conference report phases MTBE out of existence over a period of time. H.R. 6 provides important renewable fuel tax provisions for ethanol and biodiesel. The conference report modifies the small ethanol producer tax credit to enable farmer-owned cooperatives, like Mid Missouri Energy, Inc., an ethanol production facility under construction near Malta Bend, Missouri, to pass along the credit to their farmer owners. The bill contains the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) provision, which will continue the tax credit for ethanol, create a tax credit for biodiesel, and will keep the Highway Trust Fund whole. Importantly, the measure creates a new tax incentive for biodiesel that will stimulate production of both soybeans and other agricultural products. No longer will biodiesel be treated as a luxury product, but one that vehicle owners throughout America will embrace as a clean-burning renewable fuel. For corn and soybean farmers, H.R. 6 could well be the best piece of legislation in decades. The renewable fuels embraced by this legislation are produced from crops that rise out of Show-Me State fields, and Congress' commitment to the production of more renewable fuels will act as a significant economic stimulus for rural Missouri. This comprehensive bill will also decrease U.S. reliance on foreign energy sources and create jobs. I am also pleased that H.R. 6 recognizes the unique role rural electric cooperatives play in providing power to those who live throughout the countryside. Electric cooperatives have a long and distinguished history in our country. They provide private ownership to consumers of their electric utility and operate at-cost. This type of ownership has been very successful in rural Missouri where population densities and revenues are low. It has also immunized electric cooperatives from the price gouging, market manipulation, and corporate malfeasance activities that have emerged in the energy industry over the past few years. Mr. Speaker, the comprehensive energy bill before us today is good for rural America, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Who has the right to close?

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me take a moment, Mr. Speaker. This is deadly serious business that we are about. We are providing for the troops, those who wear the uniform of the United States of America as provided by the Constitution of the United States. This is of the highest calling of our Congress. No, all the provisions in this bill do not meet with my approval wholeheartedly or with others'. But on the other hand there is so much in this bill that takes care of the troops, their families, their needs, their capability of waging war, and we are at war, Mr. Speaker. With that in mind, I hope that every person in this Chamber, despite the misgivings of some provisions, will support this bill with the understanding that in so doing, a vote for this bill is a vote of confidence and appreciation for those who are wearing the uniform and those families at home in whose prayers those young soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Marshall).