Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to welcome our guest chaplain, the Most Reverend John Raymond Gaydos, bishop of Jefferson City, Missouri. Knowing of his higher calling since he was a young man, Bishop Gaydos has dedicated his life to serving his church and his community. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he attended the St. Agnes School of St. Louis, which is the St. Louis Preparatory Seminary; cardinal Glennon College of St. Louis; and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Bishop Gaydos was ordained on December 20, 1968 at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Bishop Gaydos has been a pastor at several parishes in the St. Louis area, in addition to being secretary to the archbishop and vicar general of the St. Louis archdiocese. He was appointed bishop of Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1997, where he presently serves. He is well known for his leadership within the Church, serving as chairman and member of various archdiocese and national committees. I welcome Bishop Gaydos to the House of Representatives and thank him for his opening prayer this morning.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate and pay tribute to the Blue Springs Indians baseball team of Blue Springs, MO. These young players have distinguished themselves, the Blue Springs community and the State of Missouri with outstanding conduct on and off the field. The Blue Springs Indians are the #1 baseball team in Missouri in the 8 years old and under USSSA Missouri League. The team managed this feat by winning the Missouri State Championship Tournament. The Indians finished 11th in the World Series and are ranked #15 in the nation. The Blue Springs Indians are Taylor ``Tator Tot'' Cross, Luke ``Biscuit'' Crabb, Cole ``Little Man'' Erwin, Nate ``Bear'' Goff, Nick ``G-Man'' Gulotta, Gehrig ``Lou'' Hudson, Landon ``Boot'' Mason, Steven ``Sully'' Sullivan, Logan ``Mowgs'' Taylor, Brett ``T-Rex'' Valentine, Trevor ``T-Bone'' Wescott, and Andrew ``Action'' Wright. Mr. Speaker, these young ball players have played a wonderful season of baseball and have made their friends and family proud. I am certain that my colleagues will join me in wishing the Blue Springs Indians all the best.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that Margaret Gray of Lexington, Missouri, has donated $250,000 to a project that will benefit the citizens of Lexington and the surrounding area. The gift will go toward construction of the ``Lexington 4 Life'' project, a new building that will house a senior citizens' center, a comprehensive health care facility, a day care center, and a pre-school for at-risk children. Margaret Gray's support for the new ``Lexington 4 Life'' project is only her most recent commitment to the betterment of Lexington. Through the years, she has promoted aging issues and cultivated a more enhanced public sentiment with regard to the well-being of all persons in her community. For 25 years, Margaret served the people of Lafayette County and the State of Missouri by working for the Missouri Division of Family Services, the last ten of which serving as the Lafayette County Director. In 1978, Margaret joined a small group of individuals who started the Lexington Senior Center. She served on the local Center Services Board for ten years, before becoming a member of the District III Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors in 1985. She served on the Area Agency on Aging Board for 17 years, including a tenure as President of the Board. Margaret also served on the State Board of the Missouri Association of Social Workers from 1970 to 1980 and has been an active member of Business and Professional Women for over 40 years. Additionally, Margaret is working with her colleagues to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of the state's Medicaid system. Mr. Speaker, Margaret Gray's generous gifts, her talents, and her time are making a lifetime endowment to the community of Lexington. I am certain that all members of the House will join me in paying tribute to Margaret Gray's commitment and dedication to the people of Lexington, Missouri.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) for their remarks.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to complement the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) on this effort and his colleague from Connecticut (Mr. Maloney) who have worked hard and were successful in offering the amendment that was adopted unanimously in the Committee on Armed Services. I think this is very important. Although Missouri has a civil support team, and I am so very proud of the Missouri National Guard and the work they are doing, I think it is important that all States have the same type of response and protection. The measure that is represented in this motion by the gentleman from Mississippi is one that was adopted. It was on a bipartisan effort and it is particularly important that we shift our national attention to the task of defending our Nation against terrorism. This is an excellent motion and I thank the gentleman for allowing me to be part of this today, to endorse the important motion to instruct, and with the hopes that the efforts of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Maloney) will be elected positively by this Chamber and we thank also the chairman, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) for his cooperation and support in this regard.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, further reserving my right to object, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

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

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California and thank the gentleman from Ohio for their thoughtful presentation this evening. I think this is a very important bill that we should pass. It received very thorough discussion in the Committee on Armed Services and passed by a nearly unanimous vote out of that committee. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to pass this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, the funds authorized and the increases to pay and allowances included in this bill are critical to the Department of Defense's ability to continue to fight the war. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen).

Mr. SKELTON. Absolutely.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, by its verbiage, this is limited to the resolution that passed Congress on September 14, 2001.

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

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the bill being considered this evening will complete the House's consideration of the second piece of fiscal year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill passed the Committee on Armed Services with broad bipartisan support. Passing this bill will allow the House to quickly proceed to conference with the Senate on both pieces of the authorization bill, thereby providing our men and women in uniform with all the tools they need to fight the global war and to protect the American people. The bill as passed by the Committee on Armed Services reflects a balanced approach to authorizing the $10 billion war reserve fund requested by the administration. The amendment carries forward the specific authorizations made by the committee when it first considered the bill earlier this year. It includes the wartime pay and allowances increases from that earlier consideration, and includes two new, operationally oriented transfer funds that should enable the Department of Defense to meet operational expenses associated with prosecuting the war against terrorism. Although the committee's approach may not provide the Department of Defense with complete discretion and use of the $10 billion, I believe it provides sufficient flexibility for the department. I also want to indicate my support for the premise of this bill that the funds we authorize today are tied to the resolution passed by Congress on September 14, 2001, that authorizes the use of force against those who attacked our great Nation on September 11. The effort here today is to provide the administration funding for activities that are directly related to prosecuting the war against terrorism.

Mr. SKELTON. No, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me reiterate, according to the language of this bill, that it is limited to the verbiage attached to the September 14 resolution. Let me also add it is my considered opinion, Mr. Speaker, that should there be contemplated action against the country of Iraq by the United States of America that this Congress has the duty to pass upon such authorization as we have done so in the past. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Napoleon Bank of Napoleon, MO. This bank has given diligent service to eastern Jackson County and western Lafayette County citizens since 1902. Napoleon Bank was founded in 1902 by local stockholders who felt that the area in and around Napoleon needed a bank. After the founding of the Napoleon Bank, John Strodtman was named its first president. Since 1902, Napoleon Bank has outgrown its original placement and has had several additions, including five since 1966. Mr. Speaker, the citizens of Napoleon can be proud of the 100-year history of the Napoleon Bank. I know the Members of the House will join me in congratulating Napoleon Bank on a century of the fine service.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House of the death of ADM Robert L.J. Long of Annapolis, MD. ADM Long was born in Kansas City, MO, on May 29, 1920, son of Trigg Allen and Margaret (Franklin) Long. He attended Paseo High School, Kansas City Junior College, and Washington University in St. Louis, MO. ADM Long was a 1943 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He served his country in the Pacific during World War II on the battleship Colorado. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat ``V'', for meritorious service as Plotting Room Officer during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine Islands and the Ryukyu Islands. ADM Long went on to serve the U.S. Navy in many other capacities including commander of the Atlantic Fleet Submarine Force and Vice Chief of Naval Operations in 1972, and commander in chief of all U.S. military forces in the Pacific from 1979 until his retirement in 1983. After his retirement, ADM Long became a board member of Northrop Grumman Corporation and Hudson Industries. He was also principal executive of President Ronald Reagan's fact-finding committee that investigated the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. Mr. Speaker, ADM Long was a valuable leader in the U.S. Navy. He was a role model for younger people interested in military service. I know the Members of the House will join me in extending heartfelt condolences to his family: his wife, Sara, and his three sons, Charles Allen, William Trigg, and Robert Helms Long.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that several acts of selflessness were performed by Missouri National Guardsmen. Specialist Kenneth Loehner, of Jefferson City, MO, heroically helped rescue a group of people in danger of falling into the Savannah River in Savannah, GA, while others protected the area from intrusion by growing crowds. Spc. Kenneth Loehner and other Missouri National Guard members had been training during an annual two-week mission at Fort Stewart in Hainesville, GA. Halfway through their temporary duty, he and other members of his team were given a break and toured the local communities. During the break, Spc. Loehner heard a loud noise at a parking lot near the Savannah River. Part of the parking lot had caved in and trapped 3 tourists in a 10-foot deep crater nearly tossing them into the river. He immediately jumped into the hole to help the tourists and saved them in a matter of minutes. Several of Spc. Loehner's colleagues successfully directed onlookers away from the chaotic scene. Mr. Speaker, Spc. Kenneth Loehner and the other Guardsmen involved have distinguished themselves by going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of others. I am certain that my colleagues will join me in congratulating them on a job well done.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a long and exceptionally distinguished career has come to an end. Lt. Col. James Ahrens has retired as Director of Institutional Research from Wentworth Military Academy and Junior College in Lexington, MO. Lt. Col. Ahrens has led a life of serving his family, community and country. In 1962, he graduated from Grinnell College, Iowa, with a history degree and entered the United States Air Force as a radar controller and public affairs officer. While in the United States Air Force, James received a master's degree in Public Relations from the School of Public Communications at Boston University. He retired from all military service in 1995. Lt. Col. Ahrens arrived at Wentworth in January of 1982 to teach social science courses in the junior college division. While at Wentworth, he joined the 418th Civil Affairs Company in Grandview, MO, after receiving a direct commission in the United States Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs Officer. Lt. Col. Ahrens mobilized and commanded this unit as it served in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Turkey during Operations Desert Storm and Provide Comfort in 1991. He served as a detachment commander, company executive officer and commander before the end of his tour. During his years at Wentworth, he served as Assistant/Associate Dean, managing the Junior College from 1989 through academic year 1994. He served as acting Dean of Continuing Education until January 1995. He was also assigned as Director of Institutional Research from 1995 through May 2001. Lt. Col. Ahrens also coached soccer, track, was a sponsor of the Civil War Living History Club and assisted with academic competition for high school students for a number of years. Lt. Col. Ahrens is an accomplished historian who has completed a history of Wentworth Military Academy and Junior College from 1947 through 2000. He is also published in Vertical World magazine, which is a history of the United States Air Force Helicopter School. Lt. Col. Ahrens has distinguished himself as a husband, father, grandfather, teacher and soldier. He has and continues to make his friends and family proud. I am certain that my colleagues will join me in wishing Lt. Col. Ahrens and his family all the best.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate and pay tribute to Brian Hawkins of Harrisonville, MO, who recently received a bronze medal in the National History Day contest. This young man has distinguished himself, his family, and his community with the hard work put forward in his interests in piano and history. The National History Day contest is the nation's oldest and most highly regarded humanities contest for students in grades 6-12. This national academic challenge engages more than 700,000 students annually. Brian's hard work and dedication to history and the piano earned him the bronze medal in the Junior Individual Documentary. His documentary was titled James Scott, Ragtime Composer: A Revolution in Music. Mr. Speaker, Brian Hawkins has shown what a motivated young person can do when he puts his mind to it. This country will need that kind of tenacity in the future. I have no doubt that he will make us all proud. I am certain that my colleagues will join me in wishing him and his family all the best.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate and pay tribute to Sgt. James E. Closson of Marshall, MO, who recently was named Officer of the Year by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He has distinguished himself, the Missouri Highway Patrol, and the State of Missouri with dedicated service. Sgt. Closson has been serving and protecting the citizens of Missouri for 28 years. He is respected by the members of Troop A for his diligence in ensuring assignments are met and completed without fail. His years in the Troop A area and as the zone sergeant of Zone 10 in Saline County have established him as a leader in the community. Sgt. Closson is the son of a distinguished former Missouri Highway Patrolman, A.F. Closson. Mr. Speaker, Sgt. James E. Closson has been dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens of Missouri for 28 years and is well deserving of this prestigious award. I am certain that my colleagues will join me in wishing Sgt. Closson and his wife, Jenny, all the best.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a long and exceptionally distinguished career has come to an end. Mr. Charles Houseworth, of Lexington, MO, has retired as Director of the Lex La-Ray Technical Center. Mr. Houseworth began teaching and counseling in Brookfield and Lexington, MO in 1968, after receiving a Bachelor's degree from Central Missouri State University. After receiving a Master's degree from CMSU in Guidance/Counseling, he became the guidance counselor of the then brand new vocational school in Lexington in 1975. In the summer of 1982 until the present, he has served the Director of the Lex La-Ray Technical Center. Mr. Houseworth has not only taught and guided the young people of Lexington but has also been involved with many local civic and community activities. He served the people of Lexington as the 4th Ward Councilman for six years. Charles has also been serving on the Wentworth Community Council for the past six years as well as working closely with local, state, and national legislators. Mr. Speaker, Charles Houseworth has dedicated 34 years to the Brookfield and Lexington communities, serving with honor and distinction. I know that the Members of the House will join me in wishing him all the best in the days ahead.