Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to instruct conferees offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley). I compliment him for this and I also compliment the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) for his support for this issue. This motion will direct the House conferees on the National Defense Authorization Act for the year 2004 to accept the Senate provision, which would provide enhanced health care coverage for Reservists and National Guardsmen. Under section 701 of the Senate bill, members of the Selected Reserve, which includes the National Guard, who are alerted for mobilization, would receive expanded medical and dental screening. However, more importantly, this section would provide members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve the ability to participate in the Tricare program on a cost-share basis. Tricare, as we all know, is the military's health care system. In addition, the Senate section would require the Department of Defense to continue to pay the health care premiums for Reservists who are called to active duty and have other health care coverage. Reservists and National Guardsmen have been an integral part of every military operation over the past decade. Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Somalia, Haiti, Kosovo, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom all have seen citizen soldiers called to active duty. The vital role the National Guard and Reserves play in our Nation's security has only become more clear since September 11. On the homefront, Guard and Reserve personnel were called to defend our Nation's airports and bridges and other important infrastructure across our country. Overseas, they continue to serve in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the globe. In the last 2 years, over 329,000 of our citizen soldiers have been called upon to protect our Nation's interests both here and abroad. Today, there are still almost 170,000 part-time volunteers serving at the tip of the spear. Those currently serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom have recently been informed that their deployments are being involuntarily extended. These Service members will have to serve at least 1 year in Iraq. Families who were expecting their loved ones to return home in a matter of months will not see their loved ones until next year. That means hardships for both military members and families alike. Thousands of Reservists who are basically part-time employees will have served full time for at least a year under incredibly dangerous and stressful conditions. Their families will have sacrificed in innumerable ways as well. The very least we can do for those who volunteer to serve their Nation as citizen soldiers, and for their families, is to provide access to quality health care for themselves as well as for their families. This motion by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) tells the conferees to agree to that very proposition. I urge my colleagues to join me in this motion.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on April 23, 2003, in my hometown of Lexington, MO, a rededication was held on the Pioneer Mother Monument, known as the Madonna of the Trail. In 1928, the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) erected 12 duplicate monuments known as the Madonna of the Trail paying tribute to the pioneer motherhood of the covered wagon days. The monuments were placed along the Old Trails Memorial Highway in twelve states across the United States. Statues are located in Springfield, Ohio; Wheeling, West Virginia; Council Grove, Kansas; Lexington, Missouri; Lamar, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Springerville, Arizona; Vandalia, Illinois; Richmond, Indiana; Washington County, Pennsylvania; Upland, California; and Bethesda, Maryland. At the original dedication of the Pioneer Mother Monument, 75 years ago, my father Ike Skelton III, spoke as a representative from the Lexington Legion Post. Also speaking that day was the Jackson County Court Judge Harry S. Truman. The rededication of this monument was under the direction of the Missouri DAR. The moving force behind this event was LaVeda Cross, of Lexington, MO, with the help of her devoted husband Bill. However, without the support of the Lafayette/Lexington Chapter DAR and all the local citizens, the day would not have been possible. I was privileged to deliver the rededication speech which is set forth as follows: Re-Dedication of the Pioneer Mother Monument Lexington, MO--August 23, 2003 Thank you for inviting me to take part in this special ceremony to rededicate the Madonna of the Trail, the Pioneer Mother Monument, here in Lexington. This event could not have taken place but for LaVeda Cross and her devoted husband, Bill. A special thanks to the Lafayette/Lexington Chapter DAR and local citizens for their efforts to make this day possible. To be able to participate in this event is very special to me, and not just because my wife Susie has been an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Seventy- five years ago, when this very monument was dedicated, many prominent people participated: Mrs. Benjamin L. Hart, the Missouri DAR's State Regent; Edward J. White, Vice President of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company; Mrs. John Trigg Moss, Chairman of the DAR's National Old Trail Committee; Mrs. Henry C. Chiles, Regent of the Lafayette Lexington DAR Chapter; and Judge Harry S Truman, President of the National Old Trails Road Association, to name a few. But according to the program, and according to history passed down in my family, my father, Ike Skelton, III, Lafayette County's young Prosecuting Attorney, was allowed to give remarks while presenting a memorial flag and flag pole at the monument site. He was acting as the representative of the Lexington American Legion Post. On that day, my father first made the acquaintance of Judge Harry Truman, the ``Man From Independence'', the man who would later become President of the United States. Because of the lasting friendship that was formed at the inaugural dedication of this monument, my wife and I in later years came to know President Truman as well--and he was a genuinely nice person. But imagining that Monday afternoon, September 17, 1928, it's unlikely anyone dreamed that among them stood a future President--a man whose decisions would set the course for the second half of the twentieth century and alter the future of the world. Makes you want to look around a bit at the crowd gathered here today, just in case. The Pioneer Mother Monument in Lexington has been a landmark in this city for my entire life. As you may know, there are twelve duplicate DAR monuments known as the Madonna of the Trail paying tribute to the pioneer motherhood of the covered wagon days. The monuments have been placed along the Old Trails Memorial Highway in twelve states across the United States. According to an article in the DAR Magazine written some years ago by Helen Bartlett of the Samuel Huntington Chapter in Huntington, Indiana, the idea of a monument to pioneer mothers came to Mrs. John Trigg Moss of St. Louis after she saw a picture of a statue in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to Sacajawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who guided Lewis and Clark from Fort Mandan, North Dakota, to the mouth of the Columbia River. That Sacajawea was the inspiration of this statue seems quite appropriate. Lexington sits on the bluffs overlooking the river Lewis and Clark traveled, not quite half-way through their trek across the unknown continent. And like the pioneer mothers who followed, Sacajawea also knew what it was like to care for an infant while leading a party of travelers through the wilderness. In this world of 24-hour news channels, satellite dishes, thousands of newspapers, magazines, and internet sites, it is difficult to overstate the leap of faith it must have taken for the pioneers who bravely ventured into largely uncharted territory as participants in the Westward Movement. In many respects, it was a jump into the great unknown. And in some cases, what the pioneers thought was true--from pamphlets, from books, from word of mouth--was far from it. A verse that pays tribute to the covered wagon people goes like this: The coward never started; The weak died on the way; Only the strong came through. The women and men who pioneered the West built this country, but the role played by the women who built this country deserves special attention and recognition. This statue, symbolizing all of the women who settled the West, is larger than life--just as the women we celebrate led lives that were larger than life. With a baby in her arms and another child at her side, the Madonna of the Trail glorifies the value of family. We can see her sturdy boots, visible as she strides Westward, but we also see that the Pioneer Mother carries a rifle. Looking at her, there is no reason to doubt that she would be able to use it. The women who endured the trip West were tough, sturdy and strong. They traveled the mountains, the hills, and the plains, crossed rivers, fought heat and cold, wind and rain. They cared for their husbands, bore children, and protected their families. They tended their animals, hunted and prepared their food, repaired their wagons, camped under the stars, and staked out homesteads. While men and women together built new communities in a new, strange land, it was the women who ensured that the communities were actually settled. They built homes, schools, and churches, worked farms and ran businesses. Some moved West by choice, others by circumstance. They faced terrible hardships. They made great sacrifices. They struggled mightily. Many of these pioneers--women, men, and children alike--did not survive. But those who did passed along to us a rich American heritage--a heritage based on the values of courage, independence, strength, determination, and freedom. In addition to the pioneer women whose accomplishments are commemorated by this monument, the statue in Lexington also pays tribute to leaders in our local community who were instrumental in our country's development during the covered wagon days. As noted on the statue's pedestal, Lexington was settled in 1820 by pioneers moving west from Virginia and Kentucky. The town became an early terminal for river transportation and also served as the starting point on the Western Trail of the pack pony and ox cart. Traders and wagon outfitters in Lexington were some of our most prominent citizens--John, James, and Robert Aull, William Russell, Alexander Majors, and William Waddell. These successful businessmen made their names not only by selling essential supplies to men and women traveling West, but also by running their own wagons into the frontier to supply settlers and U.S. soldiers in their outposts. Russell, Majors, and Waddell's later enterprise, the Pony Express, was extraordinary in its ambition and still today enjoys legendary status. Our pioneer ancestors seized opportunities that were available to those willing to take risks and settle our young country's Western territories. But unlike Harry Truman, who likely did not foresee in 1928 the prominent role he would play on the world stage, the early pioneers of our country realized that they were making history. From contemporary letters and diaries, we know that they understood that their adventurous spirits and determination to begin anew would shape our new country. Their motives were diverse. Some may have come West because they could own land. Others traveled to make fast fortunes-- some succeeded, and some simply held on to the dream of ``getting rich quick''. But whether immigrating from overseas, leaving crowded cities in the east, or moving from Midwestern cities that at one time bordered the frontier, their optimism was reflected in the belief that westward expansion was our nation's manifest destiny. After seventy-five years, the DAR's Pioneer Mother Monument, the Madonna of the Trail, remains a fitting reminder of those days. Seventy-five years since the initial dedication of this statue, we again recognize and pay tribute to those who made possible the permanent Westward expansion of the United States, as well as the twentieth century leaders who commissioned this monument and worked to ensure that we would never lose sight of the vital contributions of pioneer women in our nation's history.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on August 15, at the annual Military Order of World Wars and International Officers Ball, Admiral James O. Ellis, Jr., Commander of the United States Strategic Command, provided us with words that should be shared with all. I extend his remarks for fellow Members of Congress. I know that we can benefit from his words as we face international challenges. Congressman Skelton, a true friend and colleague in shared service to our nation over nearly three decades, Major General Shirkey, Brigadier General Hirai and fellow officers, active, retired, American and allied, Jim and Pat Snyder, who created this marvelous venue, veterans and members of the Military Order of the World Wars, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It's truly a pleasure to be with you this evening. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have been looking forward to tonight, with its camaraderie and conversation and its symbolism and spirit. I suppose I am the senior Naval Officer for a thousand miles in any direction, and if my being honored with this opportunity tells you nothing else, it tells you how far we really have come in joint and combined operations. Congressman Skelton, thank you for your far too generous introduction. Your kind words actually remind this wonderful audience of two basic facts about me. The first is that I am old and the second is that I can't hold a job! In all seriousness, I cannot tell you how delighted I am to have a small part in this great evening. This room is filled with a military presence that, literally, spans a wealth of experience and a world of potential. The real guests of honor this evening are, of course, the military members from the seventy-two countries, resplendent in the cloth of their nations, who join their American colleagues in a year of personal promise and professional opportunity. But it is also a particular honor to be in the company of veterans from what is now referred to as America's greatest generation but who would only protest they were merely doing their duty. It is also appropriate that we remember the thousands of military professionals who have passed through the doors of Bell Hall en route to prominence in the spotlight of history or, more often, to the unlit corners of the globe and the ironically brighter glow of heroism in all its forms known only to the colleagues with whom they served. In a very real sense, they, and all of you, have brought us to this place and time in history. It is also appropriate to recognize our hosts this evening. The Military Order of World Wars has always been active in work to support men and women in uniform. Through a long and storied history of over eighty years, the Order has stood tall. Among many other achievements, the Order successfully revived the dormant Purple Heart award for service members injured in combat and successfully lobbied Congress for creation of the nation's annual Armed Forces Day observance. I'd like to particularly thank the Greater Kansas City Chapter of this fine organization for making tonight's event an annual tradition over the past 14 years. Jim and Pat Snyder have worked very hard to make this night a success, and I particularly want to thank them. They are in good company, as part Kansas City chapter alumni include former Presidents and Army veterans Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. The world has changed a great deal since these two gathered in this group. Foes have become friends, prosperity and democracy have spread underneath an international security umbrella and alliances and coalitions that no one would have dreamed of a decade and a half ago have become reality. There is cause for optimism, even in the face of today's stark realities. As Secretary Colin Powell's fourth law says: ``It CAN be done!'' Last March, Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi said ``I am convinced that the time will come when many countries keenly realize the necessity of international collaboration for world peace, stability and prosperity.'' I would add only that the time is now and the obligations are ours, together. A few years ago, I was privileged to command NATO's Allied Forces in Southern Europe during a significant period of Balkan conflict. Then, as now, I saw the value of strong alliances of like-minded nations that could, in time of crisis, find a way to both debate and act to resolve issues of international security and humanitarian crisis. It is possible to accommodate legitimate national concerns and still deal swiftly, as we must, with dictators and despots. The old saying is that ``much is asked of those to whom much is given.'' We, all of us in this room, have been given much. Now is our time to show an understanding of the obligations that come with all those wonderful opportunities. Every nation--large and small--must contribute to the common good, as the Bible says, ``each according to his means.'' Consider the words of Estonian foreign minister, Thomas Hendrik. Speaking about NATO in October 2001, he said, ``The organization as a whole can only benefit from the fact that the alliance includes members whose national security is greatly dependent on the existence of a strong, prestigious, and vital defensive union. The members and the candidate states who make up this alliance, including Estonia, are not just consumers of security, but also very important producers of security''. In other words, we're all in this together. The basics remain the same. The challenges we collectively face are not all military or political. There are opportunities to share in a host of common interests in trade, technology assistance, culture, education and athletic exchange. But none of these will be possible without collective security. Ronald Reagan once said, ``There are simple answers, there are just no easy answers.'' And the security challenges have never been more difficult as a thousand snakes have replaced a single dragon. One of the security opportunities that works best is what we are seeing here tonight--the faces of military men and women from many nations, brought together in common interest to learn, share and grow, both personally and professionally. The goal is to share strengths and different perspectives; to appreciate and enjoy different backgrounds and cultures, not to eliminate them. A bit of humor will often help. Some years ago I was posted in Bahrain as Captain of the U.S. Navy regional flagship. One day a Royal Navy frigate Captain paid a call and asked if I had heard the new joke making the rounds of the UK Admiralty. A straight man to the end, I replied, ``No.'' He said it was about the two American Naval officers whose ship was sunk, leaving them stranded on a small desert island--a mound of sand, a palm tree and just the clothes on their backs. Within two days, he said, they were working nights. . . . You can make a lot of telling points with humor! Young men and women of 72 nations are participating in the Army Command Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, this year. I have been privileged to grow old in the service of my country, service that has allowed me to personally visit 37 of the 72 nations represented here tonight and to serve with half again as many of your professional military forces. Even tonight, I cannot gaze on your uniform splendor without beginning a flashback recall of 34 years that included the skies over Vietnam, a decade in the Arabian Gulf, from Japan to the Taiwan Straits and from Italy into Macedonia, Albania and even a parachute jump into Kosovo. We shared dangers, opportunities, challenges, commitment and the occasional toast. I learned and laughed with friends from many nations, some of whom I can never forget and others whom I only dimly remember. But I treasure each experience as well as the friendship that remain to this day. And I envy each of you, because your excitement is here and now. The American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ``The only way to have a friend is to be one.'' The flags decorating this hotel ballroom represent the nations who are now friends and partners with the United States. We truly value your views and experience in this newly globalized world. Whether you come from India or Indiana, from Kazakhstan or Kansas, your participation enriches all of us. Earlier, I mentioned the presence in this room of vast military tradition and experience. Another presence in this room is a spirit of teamwork. I see it reflected in the faces of men and women from other nations who stand with us today. Together, we are the best hope for a civilized world as we face an ever-changing field of security challenges. Teamwork is the mortar for the operational bricks of our military superstructure. There is an old proverb from the Czech Republic--``Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends.'' The nations of our alliances must stand together against those who would threaten the peace and security of our world. We must not hide in the shadows behind ever-taller barriers but rather stride confidently into the sunlight, unafraid in the company of our friends. This is our time to make a stand. This is our time to make a difference. One of the most encouraging developments I've seen over my 30-plus years of service is the growing strength of the alliances and coalition partnerships I've mentioned. Immediately after the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC there were many world leaders and ordinary citizens from many nations who expressed their anger at the craven acts, and support for the United States in confronting what we now know is a global scourge. One of them was British Prime Minister Tony Blair who said, ``This is not a battle between the United States of America and terrorism, but between the free and democratic world and terrorism.'' Blair said his soldiers would stand shoulder to shoulder with Americans and would not rest until evil is driven from our world. He and many others have remained true to that commitment. Just a few weeks ago, Congressman Skelton was speaking at the Truman Library as it opened a new exhibit on the Korean War. He talked about the coalition fighting the war against global terrorism and said, ``What they are doing today will set the stage for the next 50 years.'' I agree. And you all are the leaders of today and tomorrow who will get it done. The best of friends, I believe, are those who have demonstrated a resilience and resolve born of their own challenges well and truly met. Those who, perhaps in a decade or generation or over a long and storied history have shown they, as a people, have what is necessary to weather any crisis and pass any test that confronts us. That's why we look to those of you from other nations who are here tonight. The Greek warrior Thucydides said, ``We secure our friends not by accepting favors, but by doing them.'' It is my expectation that all of you embarking on this course of study will be challenged. It must be so if you are to learn. But think of the opportunities this year will bring and savor every moment. It reminds me of a story about a little girl who had been eagerly looking forward to her very first day of school. That evening, when her father came in from work, he called his daughter to him and asked her what she thought of school. She looked at her father and said, very seriously, ``I think I may have started something I can't finish.'' She was right. The serious business of learning more about others, about this world in which we live, and about our profession of arms is a process we never finish. Congressman Skelton is a strong proponent of lifelong education, both formal and informal. Indeed, I received a letter from him just last month in which he enclosed an abbreviated fifty-volume reading list he personally recommended. This is a man who practices what he preaches! He believes, as do I, in the truth of the old maxim, ``If you want a new idea, read an old book!'' When you graduate from Army Command and General Staff College, I encourage you to view your education as just the beginning or, hopefully, a continuation of what for each of you is a life-long effort to expand your horizons to include new ideas and, in so doing, deepen your understanding and appreciation of the world around you. My background is Navy, and, as such I am arguably not the most credible spokesman in support of Professional Military Education. Perhaps as a result of our deployment mentality, the U.S. Navy has come late to understand its value. I am embarrassed to admit in front of Congressman Skelton that, despite participating in a dozen Joint Task Forces, four combined operations in crisis and conflict and now leading a major Joint Combatant Command, I am not a graduate of ANY professional military courses. I am embarrassed, but it is true. I once noted that having me speak in favor of PME is about the same as making me the spokesman for the Hair Club For Men. But that is why the self-taught, home-schooled, on-the-job-trained warrior envies you the opportunity that this year offers. The value of a Professional Military Education is inestimable in today's world. It accelerates your professional life, allowing you to walk in the shoes of hundreds of others, to learn from their successes and their failures and to create the incredibly valuable capability to think. It also provides a time to consider what it means to be a professional soldier, Sailor, airman, Marine or Coastguardsman. The core values of integrity, service beyond self, and excellence in all we do are not only on-duty military values, they are lifetime values. Every one of you will gain skills as warriors, and at the same time you will enrich your lives by participating in the curriculum at Leavenworth. Those of you from other lands will enrich the American lives you touch. And when the time comes to return home or to your respective services, I hope you will take with you a renewed confidence in your own abilities to help shape a different world. For your efforts will define, in ways large and small, our future. In the affairs of nations, no outcome is pre- destined. Your presence here is the result of clear vision, decisive choice, and unwavering commitment. The future of individual nations and our alliances will be the result not of inevitability, but of sustained collective effort. It's effort we must continue to make every day, every week, every year, in defense of our shared freedom. In 1999, as his nation was joining the NATO alliance, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said, ``Finding one another is a promising beginning, staying together is a process, and working together is a success.'' So, tonight I challenge those of you from around the world to work together for our shared success. Someone once said that a successful marriage is a sixty- sixty proposition. In that light I encourage each of you to strive to put more than what you think is your fair share into this upcoming year; that will, ironically ensure you get out far more than you put in. Encourage one another to gain a deeper understanding of your part of our world and ensure that when your time together is ended, you can leave with the regret that characterizes good friends parting and not the regret of tasks left undone or words left unsaid. I would close by reminding you of something that you already know, but which you must never forget, in the words of a leader from another time and another crisis. You may not know it, but my Navy family harbors a dark secret. It concerns my son, who, despite the efforts of his mother and me to raise him properly and set him on the right path, is a graduate of West Point. He would be embarrassed to hear me speak of it, but, in all seriousness, he knows how proud we are of him, now in command of Bravo Company, Second Ranger Battalion. He has recently returned from Afghanistan where for six months he shared dirt, danger and duty with UK Paras, Italian Carabinieri and soldiers, new friends from a dozen other nations. In the four years that his mother and I journeyed up the Hudson to that storied Point, I came to appreciate the words of a distinguished graduate of that school who, in a moving speech nearly four decades ago described the role of a military in a democratic society and also described a world whose concerns have not changed so much in the decades since. Perhaps the more things change, the more they stay the same. General Douglas MacArthur said: ``And throughout all this welter of change and development, your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable. It is to win our wars. Everything else in your professional careers is but a corollary to this vital dedication . . . You are the ones who are trained to fight. ``Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of government; whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing indulged in too long; by Federal paternalism grown too mighty; by power groups grown too arrogant; by politics grown too corrupt; by morals grown too low; by taxes grown too high. ``These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a tenfold beacon in the night: duty, honor, country. You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defense. From your ranks come the great Captains who hold the nation's destiny in their hands the moment the war tocsin sound.'' He may have been Army, but I can't improve upon that! Thank you and have a good night.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me the time, and I rise in support of the motion to instruct the conferees, and I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) for this motion to instruct. This motion will direct the House conferees on the National Defense Authorization Act for next year to accept the Senate Defense authorization provisions that provide for a permanent increase in imminent danger and hostile fire special pay, as well as family separation allowance. Under the Senate bill, section 606 would make permanent a $75 increase in the family separation allowance, and section 619 would make permanent a $125 increase in imminent danger and hostile fire special pay. By accepting the Senate provisions, servicemembers and their families would continue to receive increases that were originally included in the first Iraq war supplemental, but which will terminate on September 30 of this year. The Department of Defense originally expressed concern about the cost to continue these special pays and allowances. However, recent public statements by officials within the Department indicate that the administration has reversed its position and now supports continuation of these important benefits, especially as American forces continue to face hostilities around the world, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our troops put their lives on the line every day. They do this for our country, particularly in Iraq, where guerilla warfare has become a daily occurrence. As of this morning, 179 servicemembers have given their lives in combat. Another 1,186 have been wounded in action. Additionally, another 110 have been killed, and 313 wounded in nonhostile action while deployed to that region. It would be fundamentally wrong, wrong to reduce imminent danger and hostile fire pay for these brave men and women. Military families back home have recently been informed that longer deployments for our men and women in uniform will become the standard for the foreseeable future. The increase in family separation allowance authorized in the Senate bill is the least we can do to recognize the sacrifices of these servicemembers as well as their families. Almost all families face increased household costs while their servicemember is deployed. Mailing letters, packages for morale, making long-distance phone calls are just a few examples of the additional expenses that families incur while they were separated from a military member. Increasing imminent danger and increasing the hostile fire pay as well as the family separation allowance permanently is the right and honorable thing to do. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in support of this motion of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) to instruct the House conferees.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize an outstanding individual who has served this House for as long as I have--more than 26 years. Jack Pollard, who has worked on my personal staff and as a staff member on the House Armed Services Committee staff, recently retired from Federal service to pursue new opportunities in the private sector. It's fair to say that I have known Jack for his entire life. Jack was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Lexington, Missouri, which is also my hometown. Our fathers were great friends from way back, so the Pollard family has always been a part of my life. Jack graduated from Lexington High School and attended the University of Missouri at Columbia where he earned A.B. and J.D. degrees. Following his graduation from Law School, he worked in Jefferson City as a research analyst and legislative counsel for the Missouri General Assembly's Committee on Legislative Research. Jack served on active duty with the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. His service included 13 months in Vietnam as a member of the 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Bronze Star (Meritorious Service) during his Vietnam tour. After I was elected to Congress in 1976, Jack came to Washington to work on my staff as legislative director, and he has been with me ever since. He was my longtime chief of staff and most recently served as Democratic counsel on the House Armed Services Committee. I believe that I must be one of the most fortunate people ever to serve in the U.S. Congress because I have been blessed with a staff member and a friend like Jack--a man who is not only talented and hard working, but who has also demonstrated his extraordinary loyalty time and again through the years. I have come to rely upon his sound judgement, his policy recommendations, and his broad expertise on matters both large and small. For me, Jack epitomizes all that is good about the thousands of Americans who dedicate their lives and their considerable talents to public service. I will miss his daily advice, counsel, and calm demeanor, but I wish him, as well as his wife Beth and children Leslie and Michael, the very best as Jack begins his next career. I know my colleagues join me in thanking Jack for his years of distinguished service to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate the Missouri Farm Bureau for reaching an all-time membership high of 100,000 Missourians. During the last decade, Missouri Farm Bureau membership has grown steadily and will exceed 100,000 by the end of its membership year on August 31, 2003. Missouri Farm Bureau was first organized in 1915 and was the first such state Farm Bureau to be organized in the Nation. Today, Missouri Farm Bureau is the state's largest farm organization and has offices in each of Missouri's 115 counties. Missouri Farm Bureau also plays an integral role in working with its partners around the country as a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Through the years, Missouri Farm Bureau members have worked to develop grassroots agriculture policy. Their advice is critical to Members of Congress' developing an agriculture strategy that will most benefit Missouri producers. Reaching a milestone of 100,000 members is truly an outstanding accomplishment and is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of Farm Bureau leaders throughout the Show Me State. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Missouri Farm,Bureau President Charlie Kruse and all 100,000-plus members of this farm organization for their work on behalf of American agriculture. I know that all my House colleagues will join me in congratulating them on a job well done.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to recognize the 150th anniversary of the Laclede Lodge No. 83 of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Lebanon, Missouri. The Freemasons of this lodge have worked diligently and provided many hours of community service in Lebanon and Laclede County. Lodge No. 83 was chartered in 1854 and the first Master of this lodge was Dr. I.W. Greenstreet. The lodge was first located on Wood Street in ``Old Town'' Lebanon. Currently the lodge is located at the corner of Second and Madison Streets in Lebanon. The Laclede Lodge and its members have stood the test of time. From the beginning, the lodge had to survive a Civil War and hardships from local congregations who did not understand the mystic brotherhood. Today the lodge thrives in a wonderful community and gives back to that community at every turn. Mr. Speaker, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons can be proud of the 150 year history they have in Lodge No. 83 and with the Lebanon and Laclede County communities. I know the Members of the House will join me in congratulating Lodge No. 83 for 150 years of fine service.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Madonna of the Trail. One of these historic statues stands in my hometown of Lexington, Missouri, where the pioneer mother monument was presented by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1928. The pioneer mother looks west, up the Missouri River, on area that was settled by American pioneers more than 160 years ago. In the early 1900's, the Daughters of the American Revolution suggested marking the national Old Trails Road with a series of small markers placed at frequent intervals along the route. This road began with Braddock's Road in 1755. Lt. George Washington surveyed the road, which was cut through the Allegheny Mountains by British soldiers. The road was later continued as the Columbia Pike; the Great Valley Road; the Wilderness Road (cut by Daniel Boone across the Cumberland Gap); the Cumberland Road (also known as the National Road); Boone's Lick Road; and, finally, as the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. In 1924, Missouri State Regent, Mrs. John Trigg Moss of St. Louis, a member of the Cornelia Green Chapter, envisioned the idea of placing an identical statue in each of the twelve states crossed by the National Old Trails Road instead of small markers. The twelve statues, designed by St. Louis sculptor August Leimbach, are made of algonite stone, a poured mass, of which the Missouri granite is used as the main aggregate, thus giving the monument a warm, pink shade. They stand ten-feet tall on a six-foot base with a five- foot foundation (two-feet showing) below. The Madonna of the Trail is a pioneer woman clasping her baby with her young son clinging to her skirt. The face of the mother, strong in character, beauty, and gentleness, is the face of a mother who realizes her responsibilities and trust in God. It has a feeling of solidarity-- a monument that will stand through the ages. Marking the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington during the Civil War and facing ever Westward, the Pioneer Mother statue was dedicated on September 17, 1928. The presentation of the American Legion Memorial Flag and Flag pole was made by Ike Skelton III. The keynote speaker was Judge Harry S. Truman, President of the National Old Trails Association. Mr. Speaker, the Daughters of the American Revolution can be proud of the Madonna of the Trail statue and the 75 years it has graced the City of Lexington. I know the Members of the House will join me in saluting the Daughters of the American Revolution for their contributions to preserving American history.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I am extremely pleased to cosponsor this amendment with my friend and my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern). We have sponsored a number of amendments over the last several years to take dollars from the American military assistance to Colombia, and I do not do this action because I am unsympathetic to President Uribe and what he is trying to accomplish. I think he is sincerely working to break the stranglehold that drug cartels and insurgency groups have on his nation. But the message sent by cutting this funding, those messages need to reach the Colombian people, this administration and his administration. It is true, Mr. Chairman, that more is asked of the American soldier that is sent to Colombia than Colombia asks of its own soldiers. This bothers me to no end. The Colombian people need to take concerted and consistent steps to help provide for their long-term security. That means providing for a sustained financial base. Our administration needs to come forward with a long-term strategy for American military involvement in Colombia. Many in this House are worried about the creeping nature of our expanding mission in Colombia, known as mission creep. We need to know what role the American troops will play and for what period of time. Having this knowledge is even more critically important as we face a long-term commitment. Our troops have the possibility of continued work in North Korea, Liberia, not to mention Iraq. We do not have enough troops to go around the world wearing them out. We need to increase our end strength, but we have needed to do that for a while. We also need to look carefully at all of our commitments and the decisions. So I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment. It does not eliminate all funding for Colombia, nor does it touch the critical programs like IMET, which is developing a more professional military in Colombia. I said a moment ago that more is asked of the American soldier that is down there helping them fight the rebels than they ask of their own soldiers. Every soldier in the American Army has at least a high school education or its equivalent or they cannot join. If anyone has a high school education in Colombia, they are exempt from their military conscription. If they come from wealthy families, if they have a high school education, they do not have to serve; but Americans down there to train them and trying to help beat back the rebels are more highly educated and are putting themselves on the line, when they in Colombia do not ask the same as we ask of our soldiers who are there to help them. Mr. Chairman, I resent this. I resent this very much. If they want our continued help, they should prove it by having a conscription law that cuts across all classes and all education. So I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment. It will not injure the programs that are important whatsoever, and it will cause them in Colombia, as well as our administration, to take a good hard look at what is necessary to win in Colombia.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding service to our Nation of Rear Admiral Stephen R. Pietropaoli, the Navy's Chief of Information, who will retire later this year. Rear Admiral Pietropaoli's career has worn the cloth of the Nation for over 26 years, during which time he has distinguished himself as a sailor, a leader, and a trusted advisor to many senior Navy and DOD senior military and civilian officials. Throughout his career, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli has excelled in numerous positions of great responsibility. Whether he was ``driving ships'' as a surface warfare officer; guiding and leading midshipmen as a teacher at the Naval ROTC program at the University of Pennsylvania; responding to media queries as the lead spokesman at the Navy's National News Desk; or providing thoughtful and wise public affairs advice and counsel as the public affairs officer to the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of the Navy, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli has always been widely recognized as the most trusted and respected military officer, national security expert and public affairs professional. It was during his tour of duty at the Joint Chiefs of Staff where his stellar reputation was further solidified. Rear Admiral Pietropaoli served as the sole communications strategist and public affairs advisor for two Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. While working for Generals Shalikashvili and Shelton, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli developed messages for countless media briefings, congressional appearances and international trips. During this time, the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the military services used these messages to work successfully with the Congress to provide the largest pay raise in 20 years and to restore retirement benefits for service members that serve 20 years in the military. In his final assignment as the Navy's Chief of Information, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli led a global team of 500 active duty, reserve and civilian public professionals. His personal leadership and actions gave the American public an extraordinary understanding of the sacrifices and contributions of our Sailors and Marines, and the capabilities of U.S. Naval forces in times of peace and war. His vision, leadership and dedication have raised the Department of the Navy's numerous worldwide public affairs operations to unprecedented levels of success. Without question, no other leader in the U.S. Navy had a greater impact on garnering departmental, congressional, and public support for key Navy issues and programs than Rear Admiral Pietropaoli. Whether coordinating Navy Public Affairs efforts following the attacks of September 11th, communicating the Navy's role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and the Philippines and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, or discussing Navy's support for homeland defense and Operation NOBLE EAGLE, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli orchestrated unprecedented media access to naval information and operations giving American and international audiences a clear picture of the readiness, dedication and contributions our Sailors made to national security. During his tenure as CHINFO, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli also demonstrated unparalleled expertise in all facets of Navy Public Affairs community management; active duty and reserve, officer, enlisted, and civilian alike. His knowledge of public affairs requirements across the spectrum of military operations, combined with his keen sense of an individual's strengths, ensured the right person was sent to the right job at the right time. Joint commanders augmenting their public affairs staffs during military operations routinely sought Rear Admiral Pietropaoli's well trained public affairs specialists. He has led the consolidation effort over various enlisted ratings into the public affairs family of ratings, ensuring better career management for all those who work in the public affairs arena. He has also championed efforts by the Secretary of the Navy to study and implement a civilian community management plan, becoming the sponsor for those in the public affairs and related series. There is no question that Rear Admiral Pietropaoli is the top communications professional in the U.S. military today. His unparalleled leadership and zeal for excellence will have a positive impact on the Navy Public Affairs Community for decades. He will be missed. In a Navy where many people come and go, Rear Admiral Pietropaoli is a symbol of commitment and dedication from which many of us could learn. I congratulate him on his retirement and thank him for his nearly three decades of honorable service to the Navy and country. On behalf of the U.S. Congress, I offer my congratulations to Rear Admiral Pietropaoli and wish him the best of luck as he and his wife, Dawn, and their two sons, Daniel and Matthew, begin this new and exciting chapter of their lives. Fair winds and following seas!

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. While there are many reasons to support this motion, let me say that one key reason for supporting it is that the provisions contained in section 3111 of the House bill are largely the same legislation adopted by this body in the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 which, of course, was last year's defense bill. The House adopted that legislation after considerable and very careful deliberations and on a bipartisan basis led by the gentleman from South Carolina. We authorized research but retained the prohibition on development activities that could lead to the production of a destabilizing and unnecessary new low-yield nuclear weapon. We also described permissible activities necessary to address the safety and reliability of those issues. Mr. Speaker, being a student of history, the war in Iraq and Desert Storm some 12 years ago now have taught us that stealth technology, standoff capability and precision munitions are the key to future warfare. New conventional technologies have changed the way we fight and, if anything, will allow us to become less reliant on low-yield tactical nuclear weapons. The House position on low-yield nuclear weapons makes sense. I urge my colleagues to support the motion to instruct conferees.

Mr. SKELTON. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to the gentleman from California for the purpose of explaining this request.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, is retiring after a long and exceptionally distinguished career. Admiral Gaffney's outstanding service to the Nation has been marked by meritorious service in increasingly demanding command positions, culminating as the President of the National Defense University. He has demonstrated strong and inspiring leadership, unsurpassed executive ability, and an untiring dedication to the spirit and mission of the United States Navy. Admiral Gaffney is a 1968 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He is also a graduate of Catholic University with a master's degree in Ocean Engineering. He completed an MBA at Jacksonville University and was a student and advanced research fellow at the Naval War College graduating with highest distinction. His distinguished career has spanned 3 decades and includes duty at sea, overseas and ashore in executive and command positions. His duties have included tours as Operations Officer, USS Whippoorwill, in Japan; Advisor to the Vietnamese Navy Combat Hydrographic Survey Team; Executive Assistant to the Oceanographic Unit for conducting hydrographic surveys in the Republic of Indonesia; Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs; Commanding Officer of the Naval Oceanography Command Facility, Jacksonville, FL; Assistant Chief of Naval Research in Washington, DC; Commanding Officer of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC; and Command, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. Admiral Gaffney's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Bronze Star (with ``V''), and the Naval War College's J. William Middendorf Prize for Strategic Research. Mr. Speaker, I know the Members of the House will join me in paying tribute to Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, for his outstanding commitment to the United States Navy and the United States of America.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege to deliver a few remarks at the opening ceremony of the new Korean War exhibit at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library in Independence, Missouri. My remarks are set forth as follows: Conflict and Consequence: The Korean War and its Unsettled Legacy Thank you for inviting me to be with you today for the opening ceremonies of this important new exhibit at the Truman Library. I am humbled to be here, particularly as we honor those who served our country so nobly during the Korean conflict. This library is a monument to the legacy and achievements of Harry S. Truman and we are blessed to have this renowned resource here in Independence. The Truman Library, and all of our Presidential libraries, are dedicated to the preservation of our nation's historical heritage, as repositories of Presidential papers and memorabilia. As far as I'm concerned, the mission of this Library--particularly its educational function--has never been more important, and the exhibit the Library opens to the public today is especially timely. I have to admit, and I'm sure this will come as no surprise to anyone, that I am very sentimental about one of the artifacts on display in this exhibition. You see, my father, Ike Skelton III, was an attorney in Lafayette County and became a friend of Truman's when they met on September 17, 1928. The occasion was the dedication of the Pioneer Mother Statue--the Madonna of the Trail--located in my hometown of Lexington, Missouri. They kept up this acquaintance, corresponding periodically, so it seems right in character that my father, a fellow veteran of World War One who served on the USS Missouri, sent a telegram to President Truman after the President decided to fire General Douglas MacArthur, letting him know that he agreed with the decision and pledging his continued support and that of Truman's friends in Lafayette County. This momentous decision--reaffirming the supremacy of civilian control of the military--is full of the drama that makes our history fascinating. And I hope that for others who see this document, this personal note to the President from one of his Missouri friends, it will be meaningful as well. I know that with the library professionals and historians in the audience I am preaching to the choir, but I am a big believer in the power of history, as was Harry Truman. Truman was an avid reader and student of history. My friend, the late Congressman Fred Schwengel, told me about meeting Senator Truman in 1935 while Schwengel was a college student in Missouri. Truman advised him that to be a good American, ``...you should know your history.'' That story is consistent with my experience. I well remember taking a group of grade school students to visit the Truman Library in 1963, and though President Truman was of advanced age, he spoke to them in the library auditorium about American history and the Constitution. He wanted young people to learn as much as they could about America. I do my best to encourage people, particularly young people, to study history. I have embarked on a school visit program I call ``History Matters'', which gives me the chance to talk about the importance of history whenever I visit schools. I also recently issued a 50-book national security reading list, which is heavy on biographies and histories, including the books I recommend to Members of Congress, military officers, and anyone interested in learning about character, leadership, and military art. Why do I believe it is so important to keep up our efforts to promote a broad knowledge of history? Let me share this with you for a little perspective. The college student interns who are working in my office this summer were only about 8 years old in 1989 when we witnessed the end of the Cold War with the fall of the Berlin Wall. This major event, as well as the many other significant events and crisis points of the Cold War, are far-removed from them. By no fault of their own, they did not experience these events the way many of us did. It took 50 years of national commitment to see the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc. But in spite of the cessation of hostilities in Korea in 1953, U.S. troops still deploy to South Korea to deter invasion from the North. The totalitarian regime of North Korea continues to rattle sabers and threaten not only the future of peace on the peninsula but peace in the region and the world. Today's college students have lived long enough to experience missile threats from North Korea, including nuclear threats. In spite of the prosperity of the South, and in spite of the passage of more than 50 years, many of the issues splitting the Korean Peninsula are still with us. This exhibit, which opens today, will be of invaluable help to all of us, but particularly our young people, to understand where we have been and where we are today. For the last several years, we have recognized and commemorated many of the significant events and milestones of the 20th century. Sometimes when we look back on the past, we tend to remember ``the good old days'' and think that day-to- day life in America is much more difficult now than it was before. Without a doubt, our country today, in the infancy of the 21st Century, faces significant challenges. But it does us good to remember that the circumstances and state of the world presented to Truman during his Presidency were extraordinarily daunting. Like the Presidents who came before and after him, Truman was burdened with the loneliness that goes along with being the Chief Executive. But President Truman's character ensured that he did not shy away from difficult, often politically unpopular, decisions. He once said, ``Do your duty and history will do you justice.'' America had endured the Great Depression. Along with our allies, America fought a long and costly war against fascism. Although there was an understandable euphoria following victory in World War II, the state of the world prompted Truman to move away from America's established pattern of peacetime isolationism in order to assist European economic recovery through the Marshall Plan and to protect Western Europe under the umbrella of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Almost immediately, Harry Truman was forced to confront the reality of the Cold War, and the struggle of the U.S. and other western democracies was on to stop the spread of communism. Truman had the courage to stand up to the communist aggression that marked the beginning of the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine made clear that the United States would not stand idly by in the face of communist aggression in Greece, Turkey, and elsewhere. Truman's commitment to the democratic rights of free people was clear as the U.S. provided essential supplies to the people of Berlin during the Soviet blockade. And fifty-three years ago, President Harry S. Truman made the agonizing decision to use American troops to lead the United Nation's resistance to the communist invasion of South Korea. Over the next three years, more than 54,000 Americans paid the ultimate price, with over 33,000 killed in action. Over 110,000 Americans were wounded or missing in action. In addition, over 228,000 South Korean soldiers and untold numbers of civilians gave their lives. These stark statistics serve as a reminder to all of us that the slogan ``freedom is not free'' is more than just a few words. The sacrifices of thousands of American service members purchased the freedom that South Koreans enjoy to this day, a freedom that our military continues to protect. In many respects, our participation in the Korean conflict has served as model for the way our military operates today. Korea was the first multilateral United Nations operation, and it has become the longest standing peacekeeping operation in modern times. The unfortunate experience of Task Force Smith has taught us the paramount importance of sending forces into battle only when they are adequately trained and equipped. We have also learned that units cannot be thrown piecemeal into battle but must be engaged in a coordinated fashion with air and sea power and with overwhelming force. The lessons of the Korean War, taught at such great cost, have served us well in the conflicts in which we have participated since then, from Viet Nam to the Persian Gulf War to Bosnia, Kosovo, and the War on Terrorism. As much as we may be inclined to remember the leaders who ultimately brought us victory in the Korean War--Truman, MacArthur, Acheson, Walker, and Ridgway--it is really the men and women who served so bravely to whom we pay tribute. Without their selfless dedication, valor, and perseverance, the people of South Korea would not be living in a free and prosperous society. To the veterans of the Korean conflict--those who are with us today, those who never returned home, and those who we have lost in the years since--we say thank you. Each of you who lost friends or family members who died during this conflict understand that their loss creates a void that can never be filled. Three of my close friends--a high school classmate, a Boy Scout buddy, and a friend from Wentworth Military Academy Junior College--were killed in Korea. You were the ones who carried out the orders of the Commander-In- Chief, President Truman, who drew a line in the sand. This line was held by your blood, sweat, and tears. You gave of your youth to stop the spread of communism. I maintain that these fledgling efforts, these supreme sacrifices, were the foundation of our victory in the Cold War, some 50 years later. I know that you must feel a special kinship with our men and women who today are serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. You, perhaps as much as anyone, understand the hardship of fighting a war, a continent away from home, a war to ensure the survival of a nation and a way of life. What they are doing today will set the stage for the next 50 years, and I suspect that, like the Cold War, it may well be 50 years before we know for sure whether we have won the War Against Terrorism and brought peace and stability to the Middle East in the wake of the Iraq War. We would all do well to live by Truman's advice, ``Do your duty, and history will do you justice.'' The tough decisions made by Truman earned the praise of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who said to Truman, ``You, more than any other man, have saved Western civilization.'' History has indeed done justice and given evidence to Truman's wisdom, strength, and vision. May what we learn from the past enable us to do our duty today as well. God bless.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleagues as we pay tribute to our friend, Bob Stump of Arizona. I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing last weekend. I join my colleagues in extending our deepest sympathy to Bob's wife, Nancy, his children, and his entire family. Bob Stump was my first friend in Congress. Almost 26 years ago, two newly-elected Members of Congress sat down next to each other at an organizational caucus for the 95th Congress, and formed a friendship that has endured and grown through the years. You have to understand that when we met, Bob Stump and I thought we were pretty important. After all, we had both served in the State Legislatures of Arizona and Missouri--as Senators. But we both adjusted and came to love the House of Representatives. It should be no surprise that I liked Bob from the first time I met him. I could tell immediately that he was a person of character and integrity. He was a true son of the old Southwest: Strong, yet gentle. Tough, yet compassionate. Fiercely independent, yet unfailingly loyal. He was born in Phoenix in 1927, just 15 years after Arizona joined the Union as the 48th State. He was only 16 when he demonstrated the love of country and the patriotism that would characterize his life in public service. He left high school to join the Navy in 1943, and before his 20th birthday, he had served in combat in World War II. It was no doubt during this time that Bob acquired his life-long respect for the men and women who serve our Nation in uniform. This respect became a commitment, and the commitment became the hallmark of Bob's service here in Congress. As Chairman of both the Armed Services Committee and the Veterans Committee, he worked tirelessly on behalf of our men and women in uniform and our veterans. No one has done more to ensure that our military and their families have decent pay and benefits, the best equipment and training, and quality housing and facilities. No one has done more to ensure that our Nation honors its commitments to its veterans. Only last October, Bob's portrait was unveiled at the Armed Services Committee and placed up on the wall where it belongs--among the other great leaders who have chaired the Committee through the years. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to work closely with Bob during the past two years in my role as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee. As Chairman, he was respectful of others, fair, and honorable. Knowing him as I do, I would have expected no less. On most issues which Congress has faced over these many years, we agreed. On those rare occasions where we did not agree, our disagreement never got in the way of our friendship, and for that I am grateful.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate the Central Missouri State University (CMSU) Baseball Team on their NCAA- Division II Baseball Championship. With the leadership of Coach Brad Hill, ``MIAA Coach of the Year,'' the CMSU Mules defeated Tampa 11 to 4 in the championship game to claim its second national title. The Mules ended the season 51-7, their fourth straight season with 50 or more wins. The Mules also were led by the dedication of its six seniors: Rob Bergin, Boomer Berry, Eric Horner, Brandon Pugh, Brian Shewmaker, and Matt Whitney. Three members of the CMSU team made the NCAA-Division II All-Tournament Team: Zach Norman, Danny Guidry, and Danny Powers. Mr. Speaker, this outstanding team has played a wonderful season of baseball and has made the people of Missouri proud. I know that the Members of the House will join me in congratulating them on their NCAA- Division II Baseball Championship.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is good to hear Members such, as our friend from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), all veterans, speaking so well today for the young men and young women in the armed services. We appreciate it and their words so very, very much. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to first say that this resolution has no political agenda. We are here merely to say ``thank you.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel). (Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, a great Roman orator once said that gratitude is the greatest of all virtues, and that is what this resolution does; no more, no less. It expresses gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness to those young men and women in uniform, to those civilian employees who back them up, as well as civilian contractors. It is our way of saying thank you from the Congress of the United States. They are the pride of our country, and we wish to express our deep and sincere appreciation to them through this means.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), who is one of the original cosponsors of this legislation together with the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a stalwart supporter of our troops and as cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 177, I am pleased to join my colleague and my friend, the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), in support of this bill. This resolution commends and expresses the Nation's sincere appreciation to the men and women in uniform and our allies who served and are serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It also recognizes the outstanding contributions of the Department of Defense civilian employees and civil and defense contractors who have contributed tremendously to the success of these operations. And it urges communities across the country to honor and welcome home these brave and courageous patriots. Today we have an all-volunteer force that proudly stands watch over the Nation's interests both here and abroad. Over 1.4 million active duty service members and an additional 875,000 citizen soldiers, National Guardsmen and Reservists, part-time volunteers, comprise the finest, best-trained fighting force the world has ever seen. Let me say I am especially proud of the men and women in uniform from my home State of Missouri. Over 289,000 Guardsmen and Reservists have been activated since September 11, 2001, and nearly 220,000 have been called to active duty for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. And as these fine young men and women return home, I urge my colleagues to visit an active duty base, Reserve center or National Guard armory and spend some time with these dedicated individuals to thank them and their families for their commitment and for their sacrifice. I promise you will never forget the experience of meeting these fine men and women. I know my visits to bases in Missouri always make a lasting impression on me. When we send our fathers and our mothers and our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins in defense of this Nation, we are reminded that the price of freedom is not free. I would also like to commend our Nation's civil servants and contractors who provide support to our service members. Americans may be surprised to learn that there are also civil service and civilian contractors serving overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our Nation also calls upon its dedicated and committed civil service personnel and contractors to support those serving in a combat zone. Their contributions were also important to the success of these operations, and they too deserve our recognition and our respect for their service to our Nation's security. While those in uniform volunteer to make these sacrifices, their families are the ones that must shoulder these burdens as well. Anxiety, frustration, sadness, anger, pride, happiness, satisfaction, understanding, and reassurance are all feelings that military families must face during the months of separation. Hundreds of babies have been born while a parent was deployed to Afghanistan or to Iraq. Tragically, some will never know their parent who died while serving. Yet, time continues on, missed birthdays, proms, graduations, holidays; the loss of a loved one is normal hardship that military families endure. Military families endure much hardship and sacrifice, and to that end, they too serve. Reservists and National Guardsmen and their families often face similar problems when called to active duty. But Reservists and National guardsmen are also dependent on support from their employer. Thousands of employers across the country have gone the extra step and provided additional support in a number of ways. That includes paying the difference between civilian pay and military pay when an employee is activated, and continuing health care coverage for families that are left behind. Without the support of our Nation's employers, Reservists and National Guardsmen would not be able to volunteer to defend this Nation. I believe that it is of paramount importance to support the troops, the men and women in uniform who are literally putting their lives on the line for our country. More than 200 service members have died since the global war on terrorism began, and over 700 have been wounded or injured, and eight were held as prisoners of war. These individuals and their families have sacrificed for our freedom, and our thoughts and our prayers are truly with them. The Nation will not forget the price they paid to defend our country and the freedoms we all enjoy. While there are no words that can adequately express the Nation's appreciation for their sacrifice, our sympathies and our prayers go out to these families. It does not take too many hours of watching our troops in action on television to know that they are demonstrating acts of personal sacrifice and heroism on a daily basis. We have an obligation to let them know that we appreciate and admire their contribution to our national security. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, even before we were a nation, we had our flags. Different from today's to be sure. But serving the same purpose--symbols of unity, and of our hopes, achievements, glory, and high resolve. Brave New England patriots faced down British regulars at a place called Bunker Hill under the Continental Flag which prominently featured a pine tree. ``Don't Tread on Me,'' said the colonists in the South, and a coiled rattlesnake on their flag reinforced that message. The Grand Union Flag went to sea with John Paul Jones and marched under George Washington in the early days of our Revolution. By combining the British Union Jack with thirteen red and white stripes it reflected the thinking of the colonists during that time: allegiance to the Crown, but willing to fight for their rights as Englishmen. That thinking had changed, however, by July 4, 1776. The Declaration of Independence--``That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States''--set us on a new course, from which there was no turning back. It was a realization that a people could not at once fight against the king and at the same time profess their loyalty to him. And, it meant that the new United States would need a national flag. On June 14, 1777--the day we now celebrate as Flag Day--the Continental Congress adopted the following brief resolution: ``Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.'' It is now believed that Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, designed the first national flag that legend attributes to Betsy Ross. For his services, he submitted Congress a bill for nine dollars. Of course, government in 1777 was not really much different from government today. Hopkinson never got paid. So, we had a national flag, the ``Stars and Stripes.'' In 1792, the first version with thirteen stars in a circle appeared. In 1795, the flag was changed to recognize the entry of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union with the addition of two stars and two stripes. This flag of fifteen stars and fifteen stripes figured in many stirring episodes. It was the first flag to be flown over a fortress of the Old World when it was raised at Tripoli in 1805. It was flown at the Battle of Lake Erie and by Andrew Jackson at New Orleans. And it was flown at our young nation's most inspiring moment. In 1812, our nation had declared war on Great Britain because of British seizure of neutral U.S. trading vessels, and the impressment of American seamen into service on British ships. The British, preoccupied with Napoleon, were not amused. They were even less amused when we sent forth speedy privateers to seize their merchant ships and to frustrate their heavily gunned men-of-war. In 1814, with Napoleon exiled to the island of Elba, the British determined to put the upstart former colonists in their place. They dispatched a 50-ship expeditionary force--veteran soldiers and sailors from the world's strongest military power. Up the Chesapeake Bay they came, and on August 24 and 25, 1814, they burned Washington. Their next target: Baltimore--third largest city in the U.S., a rich trading center, and home to many of the fleet privateers that had humiliated the proud Royal Navy. As the British moved on Baltimore, one thing blocked their way--Fort McHenry, whose guns dominated the channels leading into Baltimore Harbor. Unless they could get past the fort, the British Navy could not support its ground forces whose advance on the city had been stalled. So, at dawn on September 13, a 25-hour bombardment began. At the same time, a 35-year-old American lawyer was being held on board a British ship pending the end of the battle. Francis Scott Key watched the ``rockets red glare'' and ``the bombs bursting in air'' through the night. At the first light of dawn, Key was relieved to see that Fort McHenry's giant flag--30 feet by 42 feet--``The Star Spangled Banner''--did indeed still wave over ``the land of the free and the home of the brave.'' Inspired by the sight, he took pen in hand and gave us what would become our National Anthem. The burning of Washington and the victory at Ft. McHenry united our young nation like nothing before had done. We emerged from the War of 1812, with a new national identity, confidence, and patriotism, a recovering economy, and a place in the world. And we continued to grow--to the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and beyond with new states joining the union and the number of stars in that field of blue growing. Less than 50 years after the end of the War of 1812, our flag would face one of its greatest challenges. As our nation was split asunder in a great civil war, and its ability to endure as one hung in the balance, courage related to the flag often spelled the difference between victory and defeat. Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, November, 1863. A key link between the east and west for the Confederacy. Confederate troops entrenched along a 400-foot-high, seven-mile-long summit. Sixty Union regiments under General George Thomas attacked positions at the foot of the ridge, and then, unexpectedly, surged up the slope. Flag bearers led the way. When one fell, another stepped forward to grab the colors, and the advanced continued. A young First Lieutenant--not yet 20 years old--caught the flag of the 24th Wisconsin as it was about to fall, and carried it to the crest. Arthur MacArthur's bravery earned him a battlefield promotion to major and the Medal of Honor that day. Many of you here today may have served under his son, Douglas, in the Pacific or Korea. In all, seven flag bearers won the Medal of Honor at Missionary Ridge. At day's end, the flags of 60 Union regiments lined the summit. The War ended and the Union was preserved. And the flag proved as inspiring in peace as it was in war. In 1868, a former Union Army Sergeant, Gilbert Bates, set out to carry the Stars and Stripes from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Washington, D.C., to prove to friends back in Wisconsin that we were once again one nation. Crowds cheered him at every town and village as he marched through the heart of the Old Confederacy. Ironically, and maybe today we could say prophetically, Sergeant Bates and his flag encountered real hostility and opposition only in our nation's capital. Westward we moved, behind the flag. Across the Wide Missouri, and along the South Platte to the Rockies, and beyond to Oregon and California. South to Santa Fe and the Rio Grande--conquering a wilderness, settling a continent, and fulfilling our destiny. New stars added to the flag and more people to enjoy the blessings of liberty it embodies: people in the new lands, and immigrants from the Old World-- the ``huddled masses yearning to breathe free.'' Our flag went to foreign shores. Up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt in the Spanish American War ending four centuries of Spanish colonialism in the New World. At Veracruz, on the Gulf coast of Mexico, its honor was defended by brave sailors and marines. ``Over there'' it went with a Missourian, General John Pershing, in the ``War To End All Wars.'' Our flag was tattered, but not lowered at Pearl Harbor. And we rallied behind it, lifted it higher. We took it ashore at Normandy, and across the Rhine with Eisenhower, Bradley, and Patton, and Hitler's ``Thousand Year Reich,'' the worst tyranny the world has yet known, crumbled at its advance. Across the South Pacific it went, island by island. In 1944, the most dramatic flag raising in American history, on a rocky Pacific island called Iwo Jima. When the sun rose the next day on that flag atop Mount Suribachi, the sun of Japanese Imperialism began to set. The flag was with us: In Korea helping to preserve democracy for half of a divided nation. In Vietnam, where brave American POWs fashioned handmade flags to defy their captors. It went to the moon with the astronauts of Apollo 11. Yes, our flag has stood by us--leading us, inspiring us, sustaining us--in all of our national endeavors, in war and in peace, for over 200 years. Now, sadly, it seems that some people don't want to stand by our flag. The Supreme Court has said that it is all right to desecrate our flag, to burn it even, in the name of free speech. ``Government,'' says the Court, ``may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.'' I agree that everyone in this country has the right to make his views known on any issue, no matter how irrational, how wrong, or how unpopular those views might be. But does that mean that every form of conduct is permissible as a means of exercising rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution? I say no. And I say so as a student of law and of history. The framers of the Bill of Rights used words carefully to convey a precise meaning. The First Amendment to the Constitution says ``Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, . . .'' It says nothing about ``expression.'' Legal precedent and common sense tells us that there can be limits on conduct which are not inconsistent with First Amendment rights. Consider some extreme examples: Would anyone, even the Supreme Court, contend that we must permit human sacrifice under the guise of free exercise of religion? Would someone be allowed to blow up the Lincoln Memorial to express a political view? Flag burning does not merit First Amendment protection. It is conduct that is offensive and provocative to the overwhelming majority of Americans. Moreover, it is unnecessary. Any point of view that can be expressed by flag burning can be better expressed in a manner that is reasoned, rational and more effective in communicating an idea or attempting to persuade others. We have a great system of government, and one reason it is so great is that if you disagree with a government action, even a decision of the highest court in the land, you can work to change it. Therefore, I support legislation being considered by the House of Representatives today that will create a Constitutional Amendment that will allow Congress and the States to ban flag burning and other similar forms of flag desecration. The process of changing the Constitution is not fast and easy. The framers wanted to make amending the Constitution a difficult, deliberative process. I am confident that a Constitutional Amendment can be passed. But if it fails, or if it stalls, we can move in other areas. We can redraft and enact new flag desecration statutes that attempt to meet the Court's objections to the Texas statute. If those new statutes won't pass muster, we'll enact new ones. We can do still more. Our children must be taught to respect the flag not only in our schools, but by our example. We must instruct them to display it and use it properly and salute it appropriately. We must encourage our children and every future generation to value the freedoms we enjoy and to stand tall and proud when they say, ``I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America . . .'' We must instill in them a strong sense of the heritage embodied in our flag, and the pride of being an American. Finally, we must ensure that they continue to recognize and honor the great sacrifices made by previous generations of Americans, many of whom gave ``the last full measure of devotion'' so that we could live free. The poet Edgar A. Guest said it best when he penned: The Boy and the Flag I want my boy to love his home, his Mother, yes, and me: I want him, wheresoe'er he'll roam, With us in thought to be. I want him to love what is fine, Nor let his standards drag, But, Oh! I want this boy of mine To love This country's flag! Let me take a moment and put a few things in perspective. As much as the Supreme Court decision has disappointed me, it is in the final analysis no real threat to our nation. Our flag stands for too much to be brought down by matches lit by those who would desecrate it. Its glory cannot be diminished by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. It cannot be threatened by any enemy, foreign or domestic. If they step on it, write on it, tear it to shreds, even burn it to ashes, we'll just raise it up again, and it'll fly higher and more gloriously than ever before. A few years ago, we had a flag day ceremony in the House of Representatives. County-western singer Johnny Cash recited these lyrics that he had written: Ragged Old Flag (By Johnny Cash) I walked through a county courthouse square On a park bench an old man was sitting there I said, ``Your old courthouse is kinda run down.'' He said, ``Naw, it'll do for our little town.'' I said, ``Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit,'' And that's a ragged old flag you got hanging on it.'' He said, ``Have a seat.'' And I sat down. ``Is this the first time you've been to our little town?'' I said, ``I think it is.'' He said, ``I don't like to brag, But we're kind of proud of that ragged old flag.'' ``You see, we got a little hole in that flag there When Washington took it across the Delaware And it got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key Sat up watching it, writing `Say Can you see' It got a bad rip in New Orleans With Packingham and Jackson pulling at its seams And it almost fell at the Alamo, Beside the Texas flag, but, she waved on though She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard and Bragg The South wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag On Flanders field in World War One She got a big hole from a Bertha gun She turned blood red in world War Two, She hung limp and low by the time it was through She was in Korea and Viet Nam She went where she was sent by he Uncle Sam She waved from our ships upon the briny foam And now they've about quit waving her back here at home In her own good land she's been abused She's been burned, dishonored, denied, refused And now the government for which she stands Is scandalized throughout the land And she's getting threadbare and she's wearing thin But she's in good shape for the shape she's in Cause she's been through the fire before And I believe she can take a whole lot more So we raise her up every morning Bring her down slow every night We don't let her touch the ground And we fold her up right. On second thought, . . . I do like to brag, Cause I'm mighty proud of that ragged Old Flag.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 4 and to give Old Glory the respect it deserves.