Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his full explanation and a special compliment on his foresight in helping insert these dollars for that additional research and development. I remember the early days of the then Stealth, now B-2 bomber, when so many had such serious questions about it. And I might say, in three conflicts now, the B-2 bomber has spoken well for America. I thank the gentleman for his help and leadership in that area.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Shorty we will end the general debate on this all-important bill. And of course I wish first to thank the members of the committee on both sides of the aisle for tremendously hard work. A special thanks to that wonderful staff that we have for the efforts, the late hours they have put in. This could not have been done without them. We have discussed in the last 2 hours the various problems that have crept into the bill. Hopefully, they will be debated at least on the second rule, which has not been made in order, so we can have a full and fair airing of those. But on a larger notes than that, I would like to quote the great Roman orator, Mr. Chairman, who once said that ``gratitude is the greatest of all virtues.'' So in what we do today, in passing this bill, which is basically a very good and strong bill for the military of the United States, we are saying ``thank you.'' And we express our gratitude to them, to the men and women of all ranks, to the men and women of all branches, regardless of their specialty. They have done good. Back home in Missouri, the finest compliment you can give in the Ozarks-part of our State is, ``You done good.'' So to each one of the men and women, regardless of where they are, whether they be aboard ship, whether they be in a camp, whether they be in a plane, whether they are training or serving as a peacekeeper in one of those distant places, all of us, both sides of the aisle, should give them a special thanks and word of gratitude. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute 40 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition. As far as I know, there is no opposition.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I think, frankly, this is a good amendment, for two reasons. The first is it calls for an assessment by the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, because this is a diplomatic as well as a military organization. Secondly, it would be up to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to make any final decision, but information such as cost that this amendment is aimed at I think is good information. So I find myself in agreement with it.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It not only makes the law consistent with the rest of the statutes regarding the qualifications for an attache which should have been done some time ago, I think it also sends a message to that country regarding recent activities insofar as expectations and friendship go. I must tell you how disappointed I am in that country regarding that. But, nevertheless, this does bring in line the law as it applies to all other attaches in all other countries, and I think it is an excellent amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. I might say, Mr. Chairman, this is an era of increased concern about weapons of mass destruction. This amendment includes a very prudent approach for enhancing our Nation's ability to hold at risk deeply buried targets. Additional investments in conventional research and conventional development are needed, particularly in the areas of improved targeting and improved planning. Smart fuses, guidance technology, that is what this amendment proposes. Mr. Chairman, I have spoken with professionals in both our scientific and national security communities, including B-2 bomber pilots, and I have learned one truth: the key to defeating hard deeply buried targets lies more in accuracy and penetration rather than the inherent explosive capability. That is why I think it is prudent to adopt this amendment, continue research on the conventional as opposed to the nuclear.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott), a member of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).

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

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from California (Chairman Hunter). The gentleman will recall in this Chamber the very arduous series of debates that we had on what was then known as the Stealth bomber, now known as the B-2 bomber; and with the gentleman's leadership, some additional funds were put into this bill for additional research and development regarding a new wave of bombers. Would the gentleman be inclined to share that thought with us, please?

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for giving me the opportunity to rise in strong, but reluctant, opposition to this rule. By and large this is a good bill. It puts forward the opportunity for the United States military to continue research and development, procurement, training, attracting the bright young men and women who serve, and to continue to educate them along the way to think strategically, operationally, and tactically. Yet I find that this particular rule is shutting out some amendments that I thoroughly believe should be made in order. I hope that the Committee on Rules, on the second look, in the second rule that it will adopt, will hear our recommendations from the committee hearing yesterday and take us quite seriously. Let me further state, though, that it is a pleasure working with the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter). And I thank him for his hard work, for his dedication, for his strong feeling for the military, and for his sincerity. I think that we should let it be known that he is a strong advocate for our national security. This is a big bill, Mr. Speaker. It authorizes almost $400 billion for the Department of Defense and energy. This bill is over 600 pages long. The Congress has a constitutional duty, as you know, to raise and defend the military in law. I had highlighted three major issues when I testified before the Committee on Rules. The first are the changes in the civil service system. That has not been ruled upon yet. Revising our environmental laws. That has been addressed in a manager's amendment here, as I understand it. And our nuclear weapons policy has not been fully faced in this first rule. On the face, amendments made in order by this first rule seem uncontroversial. However, I do take issue with amendment No. 73. This is a mere 10-minute alleged technical amendment that literally corrects spelling errors. But tacked on to that is the amendment that changes the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Regardless how Members might feel about the substance, it is not only unacceptable; but, quite honestly, it is outrageous. This is not the full debate that this House deserves on major policy changes. It is not right to cram changes to our environmental laws into technical amendments. It is not right to not make in order a major Democrat amendment on the environmental provisions, the Dingell-Rahall amendment, and not give us the full time and full debate. Ten minutes, that is all we are given. I certainly hope, Mr. Speaker, that in the second look, the second rule, that the Committee on Rules must come forward with it, it will allow us to more fully debate and fully discuss all the issues that I have put forward to them in my testimony yesterday.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to pay tribute to an exceptional officer in the United States Air Force, an individual that a great many of us have come to know personally over the past few years--Major General Leroy Barnidge, Jr. General Barnidge, who currently serves as Director of the Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison, will retire after 32 years of honorable active duty Air Force service. During his time in Washington, and especially with regard to his work here on Capitol Hill, General Barnidge personified the Air Force core values of integrity, selfless service and excellence in the many missions the Air Force performs in support of our national security. Many Members and staff have enjoyed the opportunity to meet with him on a variety of Air Force issues and came to deeply appreciate his character and many talents. Today it is my privilege to recognize some of General Barnidge's many accomplishments, and to commend his superb service he provided the Air Force, the Congress and our Nation. General Barnidge was commissioned through the ROTC program in 1971. His career has spanned a variety of operations and maintenance assignments, including major command and Joint Staff billets. He is experienced in aircrew operations, flight line maintenance and combat support activities. The General has also performed major command staff and executive support functions, as well as duties as a force planner and division chief in the Joint Staff. He has commanded a combat crew training squadron, a logistics group, an operations group, a B-1B bomb wing and the B-2 wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, MO. General Barnidge also completed the Program for Senior Officials in National Security at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and Seminar XXI, Foreign Political and International Relations, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received special recognition in 1999 as the winner of the Air Combat Command Moller Trophy, recognizing him as the best Wing Commander among 28 other commanders. General Barnidge has amassed over 2,900 hours in the T-37, T-38, OV-10, B-52G, B-1B, and B-2 aircraft. Throughout his distinguished career, General Barnidge exceptional leadership skills were always evident to both superiors and subordinates as he repeatedly proved himself in numerous select command positions. In his years of working with the Congress, General Barnidge provided a clear and credible voice for the Air Force while representing its many programs on the Hill, consistently providing accurate, concise and timely information. His integrity, professionalism, and expertise enabled him to develop and maintain an exceptional rapport between the Air Force and the Congress. The key to his success, I believe, was his deep understanding of Congressional processes and priorities and his unflinching advocacy of the programs essential to the Air Force and to our nation. I am greatly appreciative of General Barnidge's 32-year service to his nation and offer my sincere wishes for a happy and prosperous retirement. On behalf of the Congress and the country, I thank General Barnidge, his wife Sandy, and his entire family for the commitment and sacrifices that they have made throughout his honorable military career. These family sacrifices demonstrate their commitment to our nation and their contributions do not go unnoticed. I know I speak for all of my colleagues in expressing my heartfelt appreciation to General Barnidge for a job well done. He is a credit to both the Air Force and the United States. We wish our friend God-speed in his retirement.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to bring to your attention an article that was written by Jeff Joiner and appeared in the May 2003 addition of Rural Missouri magazine. The article, ``Where's Harry'', gives a brief history of President Harry S. Truman's life from his birth in Lamar, MO, until his death in Independence, MO. It also explains the various places you can learn about the history of President Truman, most notably the Truman Library in Independence, MO. Mr. Speaker, I wish to share this article with the rest of the chamber.'' Where's Harry? a tour of western missouri offers a glimpse at harry truman's life and the rural background that shaped one of the 20th century's most important leaders (By Jeff Joiner) The voice of Harry S Truman welcomes a group of children as they step into the Oval Office. Of course the office is a reproduction and Truman's voice recorded but the kids, on a tour of the Truman Presidential Museum and Library in Independence, instantly recognize the most famous office in the world. Truman's Oval Office, decorated as it was when he occupied it from 1945 until 1953, contains one artifact the kids find most interesting, a television with a tiny screen set in a large wooden cabinet. A tour guide tells the group Truman was the first president to have a TV in the Oval Office. A visit to the Truman Library in Independence is a reminder of some of the most volatile history of the 20th century. As president, Truman witnessed the end of World War II and the beginning of the rebuilding of Europe and Japan. But he also faced the expansion of communism, which led to confrontation in Berlin and the bloody Korean War, and devised a policy to contain communism known as the Truman Doctrine. Often loudly criticized for unpopular decisions, like firing Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Truman dealt with his heavy responsibilities straight on, without flinching or laying blame. Many historians credit Truman's plainspoken manner and upfront ``The Buck Stops Here'' frankness to his rural upbringing. Born in Lamar and raised on the family farm near Grandview, Truman came from humble beginnings. And once his presidency was finished, he and wife, Bess, returned to their home at 219 North Delaware in Independence where they lived only a few blocks from where Truman's political career began in the Jackson County Courthouse 30 years earlier. A real understanding of Truman and how he faced the problems of post-World War II America can't be appreciated without looking at where the man came from. Fortunately for travelers Truman's home state offers many places to see and touch the history that shaped the president. a birthplace in lamar Truman was born May 8, 1884 in a small, white frame house in Lamar where he and his parents lived for 11 months before moving to Harrisonville and later Grandview to the north. On the day his first child was born, John Truman planted an Austrian pine tree and today, 119 years later, that tree still lives in the front yard of the house, which has been the Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site since 1959. The house, managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, recreates a typical midwestern American home at the dawn of the 20th century. Truman was the first person to sign the guest book on the day the historic site was dedicated and typical of his down- to-earth style, he wrote, ``Harry Truman, Independence, Mo., retired farmer.'' a life begun on a farm The Truman family eventually moved to a 600-acre farm near Grandview in 1887 where they lived for three years before moving to Independence. Harry Truman often worked on the farm as a youngster and was responsible for the operation after his father's death in 1914 until he joined the military three years later. An Army captain, Truman led an artillery battery during World War I. What today is called the Truman Farm Home is part of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site administered by the National Park Service, which includes the Truman Home 30 miles away in Independence. A shopping complex called Truman Corners now surrounds what's left of the family farm, which includes 5 acres of land and the farmhouse, which is not open to the public. The farm is located near the intersection of Highway 71 and Blue Ridge Boulevard. the summer white house in independence The centerpiece of the Truman National Historic Site is the home that Harry and Bess occupied as a young married couple in 1919. Though he lived for many years in Washington, D.C., first as a United States senator, vice president and then 33rd president of the United States, Truman always considered the house in Independence home. Even during his presidency it was known as the Summer White House. Following the inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower as president in 1954, Harry and Bess returned to Independence where he was occupied with the planning and construction of his presidential library. Until late in life, Truman was known for taking long walks around Independence, a fact commemorated by the city on its street signs in the Truman Historic District which feature a silhouette of the former president, cane in hand, walking. Truman lived in the house on Delaware until just before his death on Dec. 26, 1972 at the age of 88. Bess continued to live in their home for another decade and died there. In her will she left the home to the United States and it was dedicated as a national historic site in 1983. The Truman Home, located on the corner of Truman Road and Delaware Street, is open for tours by National Park Service rangers. Tickets can be purchased at the site visitor's center on Main Street in downtown Independence. a library worthy of a president The crown jewel of Truman's Missouri is the presidential library which documents in letters and historic papers his legacy as the first president to step into the dark waters of the Cold War, a period that continued until the collapse of the communist government of the United States' chief adversary, the Soviet Union, in 1991. The library details in a series of exhibits Truman's political rise and his presidency including his whistle stop train campaign and upset re-election in 1948. It also documents the dark, early history of the Cold War. A painful reminder of that era is the Purple Heart medal and angry letter sent to Truman by the father of a U.S. soldier killed in Korea. The medal and letter were found in Truman's desk in his office after his death. Other Truman historic spots include the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence which maintains the office and courtroom of Presiding County Court Judge Truman and the Elms Hotel in nearby Excelsor Springs where the president holed up during election night in November 1948 when he, and most of the nation's press, expected Thomas Dewey to defeat him. By visiting any number of spots in Missouri frequented by the ``Man from Independence,'' people can appreciate how a simple, rural beginning shaped world history.