Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the instructions of the House in the motion to recommit, I report the bill, H.R. 5013, back to the House with an amendment.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, the amendment before us is one that is technical in nature. It merely seeks to clarify certain technical errors and inconsistencies that arose during the process of drafting the bill. It conforms the bill to the intent of the Armed Services Committee in its markup. It makes no substantive changes, is noncontroversial, and I would certainly hope that we could adopt the amendment.

Mr. SKELTON. At this time, Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Arcuri).

Mr. SKELTON. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SKELTON. The gentleman is correct. The Armed Services Committee has under consideration a number of requests from Members of the House related to the impacts of current law regarding titanium and other specialty metals on the industrial base. We will consider these requests when we mark up the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2011. I look forward to working with Mr. Arcuri, Mr. Shuler, and Mr. Davis on the issue in the coming weeks so that these important concerns are addressed. I thank the gentleman for his efforts on this bill, H.R. 5013, and for agreeing to assist the committee in putting together our authorization bill.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge). (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and in which to insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill, H.R. 5013, just passed.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate the men and women of the Lincoln University Track and Field team for their outstanding performance at this year's NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. The women's team finished the season by bringing home their second national title in as many years and the Blue Tigers' tenth overall national championship. This accomplishment is even more impressive given the strong performance by the men's Track and Field team. Led by junior Kimour Bruce, himself a national champion in the 60-meter dash, the men's team finished in fourth place. Madam Speaker, I wish to extend my congratulations to the student- athletes of the Lincoln University Track and Field team for these remarkable achievements.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I wish to extend my congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Aaron Podolefsky as he prepares to end his tenure as president of the University of Central Missouri, UCM, in Warrensburg, MO. After 5 years of dedicated service to the University, Dr. Podolefsky will become the president of Buffalo State College in Buffalo, New York. After a distinguished record of academic accomplishment as a scholar at San Jose State University in California and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Dr. Podolefsky pursued a career as an educator and academic administrator, showing a commitment to public universities and the development of young minds across the country. During his tenure as President of UCM, Dr. Podolefsky presided over a period of great change. With the adoption of a new name for the University, he brought together students, educators, community partners, and civic leaders to develop and implement a new vision for UCM. He expanded opportunities for students and enhanced economic development in the region by reorganizing the academic departments and developing partnerships with national and international institutions. Under his leadership, the U.S. News and World Report and Princeton Review have recognized UCM as one of the best universities in the Midwest for the first time in university history. And, UCM provides this exceptional education at low cost, ranking first in the Midwest in low student debt. These accolades, combined with an ever increasing job placement rate for UCM graduates, are evidence of Dr. Podolefsky's sustained commitment to the University. Madam Speaker, I wish Dr. Podolefsky the best of luck in his future career at Buffalo State College and thank him for his dedication to the University of Central Missouri. Together with his wife Ronnie and sons, Noah and Isaac, Dr. Podolefsky will be missed and his mark on UCM will be felt for years to come.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it has come to my attention that my friend CAPT Randy Jackson will retire from the United States Navy on June 4, 2010, after three decades of service to our nation. Let me take this means to congratulate Captain Jackson on his well-earned retirement and to thank him for his lifetime of service to the United States and for his many years of friendship. Born in my hometown of Lexington, Missouri, Captain Jackson received his appointment to the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1980 with a degree in Systems Engineering. After distinguishing himself in the classroom, Captain Jackson moved across the country to serve aboard the USS Elliot, based in San Diego, California. Over the next 30 years, Captain Jackson showed remarkable adaptability and flexibility as he moved from post to post and job to job in the United States and around the world. As a Surface Warfare Officer, a Seabee Combat Warfare Officer and a Joint Qualified Officer, Captain Jackson dedicated his life to ensuring the men and women of the United States Navy had well-functioning and state-of-the-art systems, accommodations, and equipment. His superior service did not go unnoticed. Over the years, Captain Jackson has received numerous unit and service awards, among them the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Married to the former Sonja Huff of Camdenton, MO, Captain and Mrs. Jackson are the proud parents of three young adults: Ryan, Kirsten, and Evan. Madam Speaker, throughout his life, Captain Jackson has shown uncommon commitment to service and dedication to country. I trust my fellow members of the House will join me in wishing him well as he prepares to close a chapter in his life and begins to write another.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey, Second Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, on the occasion of his visit to the United States and in anticipation of his impending retirement from active duty following over three decades of service in the Royal Navy. Throughout a long and distinguished career, Vice Admiral Massey has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, stewardship and unwavering commitment to members of the Royal Navy, and for this alone he deserves recognition and admiration. But it is his many years of friendship and cooperation with the Armed Forces of the United States for which I pay tribute to this exceptional naval officer. Over the course of his career, Vice Admiral Massey has commanded a destroyer, a frigate, and two aircraft carriers. In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, as a key ally in Operation Enduring Freedom, he led operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan while in command of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS. Additionally, at the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, while commanding HMS ARK ROYAL, Vice Admiral Massey led the successful coalition amphibious assault into southern Iraq as part of Operation TELIC. In recognition of his exceptional performance, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire on the United Kingdom's Operational Honours List. Vice Admiral Massey has served in the Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom, on four occasions and has held two appointments on NATO Headquarters staffs. He served as Assistant Chief of the Royal Naval Staff, responsible for representing the maritime case in the Ministry of the Defence, while concurrently planning the Navy's future and coordinating its public communications strategy and outreach activity. In an earlier assignment, Vice Admiral Massey led the Operations division of the United Kingdom's Permanent Joint Headquarters, responsible for the conduct of joint military operations in all current theatres, including Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans. Vice Admiral Massey has a first class Honours degree from the University of Liverpool, and is a graduate of the Royal Naval Staff College and the Royal College of Defence Studies. Selected for promotion to Vice Admiral in July 2008, he was appointed as Second Sea Lord, equivalent to our United States Chief of Naval Personnel, and concurrently serves as Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command and Flag Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty the Queen. During the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2009, Vice Admiral Massey was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of Bath. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to rise with me to thank Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey for his service to the Royal Navy and for his long and distinguished career in support of the mutual interests of the United Kingdom and the United States. We wish him fair winds and following seas as he closes his military career and assumes his new duties as Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. We also wish Vice Admiral Massey, his wife Julie and their four children, James, Annabel, Tom and Sally, much success, infinite happiness and good health in the days ahead.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me share my support for the House Amendment to S. 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act. This is a good bill for our nation's veterans and those who care for them, and I am thankful for all the hard work that has gone in to this legislation. Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, which I have the honor to represent, is a rural district consisting of small towns, farms, and patriotic Americans, so I am particularly pleased with the provisions of the bill that focus on the needs of rural veterans. Veterans of all of our nation's conflicts, from World War II to today, call the Fourth District home, but the advantages of living in rural Missouri often come with long drives to the closest VA hospital or clinic. This legislation takes a number of steps to improve access to care for rural veterans, including increasing the mileage reimbursement rate for traveling to a VA health facility and partnering with veterans service organizations to provide transportation options for veterans living in rural areas. These moves would help address some of the concerns I often hear from veterans. I am also pleased with the provisions of the legislation that impact the caregivers of our veterans. Oftentimes, the day-to-day care of a seriously injured or ill veteran is provided by a spouse, a child or a parent. These individuals give of themselves gladly, but many are forced to take time off of work or school, or to leave their jobs or their pursuit of higher education altogether. And many caregivers do not have the experience or training to provide the most effective care for their loved one. The bill before us today expands training and education for caregivers, provides access to them for counseling and mental health services, and for those caring for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, provides a monthly stipend and health care through the CHAMPVA program. These caregivers are providing an important service for our veterans and this legislation gives proper consideration for their needs.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise today in support of H. Res. 855, a resolution that expresses our Nation's appreciation for the sacrifices that have been made by so many dedicated servicemen and -women who've worn the uniform of the United States. It's no small thing to raise one's hand and swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, and it's the responsibility of every American to recognize that servicemembers who have been wounded or become ill in the line of duty have paid an especially high price for our freedoms. I make it a point to visit servicemembers who are recovering at Walter Reed, and I know so many of my colleagues do just the same. Oftentimes, a spouse or a parent is there lending support and anxious to take their loved one home. I'm humbled by the strength and character of these servicemembers and their caregivers. The Silver Star Families of America deserves recognition for the tremendous job its members do in reminding us of the debt of gratitude our Nation owes to wounded and ill servicemembers, veterans, and their families. By supporting the designation of May 1 as Silver Star Service Banner Day, Members of the House add the collective voice to this body of good works. I thank my colleague and my friend, Roy Blunt, for introducing this resolution.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and to thank our brave men and women in uniform who risk their lives every single day to protect America and to keep our families safe. We have the very best warfighters in the world who are led by the very best commanders, and under President Obama, our military servicemembers are experiencing even greater success in keeping our Nation safe from those who seek to do us harm. Earlier this week, a joint raid by U.S. and Iraqi forces delivered what General Odierno, the top military commander in Iraq, identified as ``potentially the most significant blow to al Qaeda in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency.'' During this raid, two of al Qaeda's top leaders were killed, including al Qaeda in Iraq's top leader. This news was not only a sign of our continued progress against al Qaeda in Iraq and its affiliates but of our progress overall in our fight to quell terrorism and to keep America and our allies safe. Our increased success in killing and capturing terrorists isn't limited just to Iraq. Under President Obama, we have stepped up the fight against terrorists, and we have strengthened strategic partnerships in places like Pakistan and Yemen. With the help of these partners, we are finally making significant progress in the war against al Qaeda terrorists and their allies. We are capturing terrorist leaders every week, and we are seeing much greater success in getting our allies and other countries in the region to root out terrorists and to send a loud message that those who seek to do us harm will not be able to operate freely. This increased progress is markedly noticeable in Afghanistan, which for many years under the Bush administration was, frankly, the forgotten war. Mr. Speaker, Afghanistan is an epicenter of terrorism. We cannot afford to forget that it was the genesis of multiple attacks that have killed thousands of Americans: our children, our parents, our spouses, our friends, and our neighbors. After nearly a decade with no real plan in Afghanistan, we now have a strategy for success under this President. While we build an Afghan Government capable of keeping al Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a safe haven, we are striking ever harder at al Qaeda and at their allies as they hide in the mountains of Pakistan. Using special operations forces and Predator planes and in cooperating with the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan, we have captured or killed hundreds of al Qaeda's fighters and affiliates since 2009, far more than in 2008. In fact, during this administration, more than 600 terrorists have been killed by drone strikes. That is more than triple the amount from 2004-2008 combined. The President's new strategy in Afghanistan and in Pakistan, in cooperation with Pakistani forces, also helped lead to the capture of the Taliban's second-in-command, a former Taliban finance minister and two Taliban shadow governors. These were the most significant captures of Afghan Taliban leaders since the start of the war in Afghanistan. Building the capacity and reinforcing the will of other countries to strike at al Qaeda will, I believe, be critical toward eliminating this threat forever. President Obama's administration deserves to be congratulated for its progress on both fronts. Importantly, this administration understands that we need a comprehensive strategy to prevent terrorism. Just as you cannot effectively rid your backyard of poison ivy by just cutting off all the leaves, we cannot effectively destroy terrorist cells unless we take them out by the roots, cutting off the supply of recruits that feeds them. So, in addition to ramping up our missions to capture and kill terrorists, we are also now placing a greater emphasis on taking the necessary measures to prevent the recruitment of violent extremists. Mr. Speaker, with the responsible new steps being taken by our Commander in Chief, with the outstanding leadership by our commanders on the ground, and with the unrivaled dedication and courage of all of our men and women in uniform, I have no doubt that our Nation is safer today than it was 3 years ago. We have come a long way in keeping America safe from future terrorist attacks.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, one of the most serious threats facing our nation today is the risk of terrorist organizations like al Qaeda obtaining nuclear weapons--and we can all rest assured that they are trying their hardest to turn this risk into a reality. This is much different than the nuclear threat we faced thirty years ago in the midst of the Cold War. We no longer need to build up our nuclear stockpile to prepare for a world war. That threat is diminishing, instead being replaced by the risk of nuclear materials being spread to countries and terrorists who are hostile to the U.S. As this nuclear landscape continues to change, we cannot be effective in protecting our great nation unless our nuclear policy changes, too. Over the past several weeks, the Obama administration has made historic efforts to finally bring our nuclear policy out of the Cold War era and into the 21st century. This is an administration that recognizes the importance of pursuing a comprehensive agenda to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to our enemies and to secure vulnerable nuclear materials from those who seek to do us harm. Earlier this month, the President released the Nuclear Posture Review, a responsible plan that aligns our nuclear strategy to better address the threats we face today. We know that it doesn't make sense to try to keep nuclear material away from terrorists by creating more nuclear material. The Nuclear Posture Review instead focuses on taking steps to work with other nations to secure the nuclear material that is already out there--while at the same time making sure that we maintain a robust nuclear deterrence here at home. The NPR, for the first time ever, places the prevention of nuclear terrorism at the top of our nuclear agenda. It defines key steps to strengthen our global non proliferation regime and keep nuclear material secure. Just yesterday, President Obama wrapped up a historic nuclear security summit here in Washington, where nearly 50 nations committed to secure all of their nuclear material in four years. This is a significant achievement, and makes real progress toward keeping this dangerous material out of the hands of those who seek to do us harm. The NPR also renews our commitment to hold fully accountable any state, terrorist group, or other entity that supports or enables terrorist efforts to obtain or use weapons of mass destruction. Madam Speaker, I have heard some critics try to distort the facts about this piece of the NPR, but here is the truth: President Obama made it very clear that if we see states developing biological or chemical weapons that we think endanger our safety, he reserves the right to revise this policy. He also made it clear that if any state not compliant with the Non-Proliferation Treaty--and this includes countries like Iran and North Korea--were to attack us with chemical or biological weapons, Secretary Gates made it clear that ``all options are on the table,'' including responding with nuclear weapons. What the new security guarantee in NPR offers is an incentive for those nations that do not seek nuclear weapons and comply with the NPT. We have an unmatched conventional military capability at our hands, and my colleagues should not try to minimize this very powerful tool in our toolkit. Our new nuclear policy seeks to strengthen strategic deterrence and stability at reduced nuclear force levels, with the New START Treaty that we signed with Russia last week as an important first step. It also strengthens regional deterrence, broadening regional security architectures--including through missile defenses and improved conventional forces--to provide reassurance to our partners and allies. Finally, the NPR maintains a robust nuclear deterrence and sustains it by investing in our existing stockpile and the workforce that maintains it--a process that will keep our nuclear weapons reliable, safe, and secure without the need to make new nuclear warheads. Madam Speaker, this is not 1980. The nuclear threats facing our nation have moved beyond those of the Cold War, and we must move our nuclear policy beyond the narrow Cold War mentality. President Obama is taking the right steps to match up our nuclear policy with our current needs, and I commend him for his leadership to protect American families.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. I certainly thank the gentleman from Michigan. Mr. Speaker, it's a commonly known fact that I oppose the health care reform bill as it exists currently and will vote against it tomorrow, but my duty as the chairman of the Armed Services Committee compels me to ensure that the health care of our brave service men and women, our military retirees, and all of their family members are protected if the bill does indeed pass. In the health care bill currently under consideration in Congress, which originated in the Senate, TRICARE and the Non-Appropriated Fund health plans, the programs that provide health care for these individuals, will meet the minimum requirements for individual health insurance coverage, and no TRICARE or NAF health plan beneficiary will be required to purchase additional coverage beyond what they already have. However, to reassure our military servicemembers and their families and make it perfectly clear that they will not be negatively affected by this legislation, my bill, H.R. 4887, explicitly states in law that these health plans meet the minimum requirements for individual health insurance. Our brave men and women in uniform provide us with first-class protection. It's our obligation to provide them and their families with first-class health care in return. Every day, our troops risk their lives to stand up for us on the battlefield, and now I ask my colleagues, no matter what the position you may have on health care reform itself, to join me in standing up for our servicemembers and their families. Nobody knows what the fate of health care will be tomorrow, but by supporting this bill that's before us right now, H.R. 4887, we will at least know that we have protected those men and women who sacrifice their lives to protect us. We must affirm for our military servicemembers and their families that even if the health reform bill passes, the coverage provided by TRICARE and the Non-Appropriated Fund health plans will be properly defined in law as meeting the minimum requirements for individual health insurance.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1075) commending the members of the Agri- business Development Teams of the National Guard for their efforts, together with personnel of the Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development, to modernize agriculture practices and increase food production in war-torn countries, as amended.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1075, a resolution commending the Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard; and I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) for introducing this resolution. The Agri-business Development Teams, often called ADTs, are one of the unsung successes of the mission in Afghanistan. Agriculture makes up about 45 percent of Afghanistan's gross domestic product and employs over 70 percent of its population. Although Afghanistan once supplied food for the region, 30 years of war has degraded the agriculture economy of Afghanistan so much that substantial assistance is required to rebuild it and ensure that Afghanistan has food security. The first Agri-business Development Team was from the great State of Missouri, and I have particular pride in the great work that they do. These teams are made up of National Guard members who have expertise in agriculture from their civilian lives. These volunteers spend 1 month training for deployment in Indiana and then they are sent to Afghanistan for 11 months. Each team has about 58 personnel, with 12 agriculture experts, although all members of the team have some level of agriculture expertise. Right now there are teams from nine States deployed, including one from Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I might mention that the Thanksgiving before last I spent with the Missouri Agriculture National Guard team in Afghanistan. And I must tell you that they did a fantastic job. I am very proud of them. I was proud to have visited with them, break bread with them on Thanksgiving Day, and tell them that we in Missouri are downright proud of them. From the start, the Missouri National Guard has been a leader in the program, and the fourth Missouri team is now preparing to go. I have a list of the Missouri Guard members who have gone to Afghanistan and returned, and I would ask that their names be included in the Record. Missouri Agri-Business Team One Allen, Jon Matthew, E3. Allen, William Noel, Jr., E4. Allison, James Gregory, O5. Brandt, Curtis Herbert, E6. Briscoe, Aaron David, E4. Bruce, William Eugene, E5. Bunch, Billy Wayne, E4. Choate, Richard Austin, E4. Dignan, Kyle Patrick, E5. Douglass, Earl Brian, E4. Dunlap, Douglas Kevin, O3. Elkin, William Anthony, O2. Garner, Nathan Lee, E4. Gideon, Chad Ryan, E4. Godsey, Larry David, E8. Gustin, Brian Eugene, E7. Hall, Shannon DeWayne, E5. Harper, Stephen Timothy, O1. Hoaglin, Robert Lee, Jr., E5. Holderieath, Jason Jacob, E4. Huitt, Mark Douglas, E6. Kellison, Aaron Curtis, E3. Kidd, Jimmy Wade, E4. Lyons, Jeffry Joseph, E7. Murray, Rickie Dean, E5. Neher, Jeremy Lee, E4. Norman, Michael Timothy, E4. Oyer, Chad Edward, E4. Pennington, Nicholas Ryan, E3. Peterson, Erik Sven, E4. Pettibon, Matthew Travis, E4. Pierce, Russell Wayne, E7. Richards, Clayton Shawn, E6. Roth, Robert Edward, O3. Rufener, Damon Carl, E6. Salmon, Joshua Nathan, E6. Saunders, Berry James Allen, E5. Seek, Michael Lee, O3. Simmons, Randall Scott, E8. Stegmann, Matthew Herman, E7. Sutton, Darrell Craig, E4. Thornborrow, William Jose II, E5. Vesco, David James, E4. Vogel, William Joseph, Jr., E9. Wagner, Ted Curtis, E4. Williams, David Roy, E6. Winston, Bryan Joseph, E4. Wymore, John Darren, E6. Missouri Agri-Business Team Two Ashton, Daniel James, O2. Banuelos, Scott Alexander, E5. Bennett, Alan Lee, O3. Boyle, David Lee, O5. Brainard, Jonathan Gregory, E5. Branson, Timothy, E3. Brody, John Anthony, E4. Brown, James Edward, E4. Coplin, Richard Keith, W1. Cunningham, Heather May, E4. Dam, Russell Jens, E6. Davenport, Zachary Dale, E4. Davidson, Sean Michael, E4. Dipley, Jennifer Lindsay, E5. Flaxbeard, Zachary Thomas, E3. Frink, Richard Allen, E8. Funken, Jennifer Ann, E6. Green, John Allen, E5. Green, Ronald, E7. Hafner, Gerald Wesley, E5. Hartman, Timothy Ray, O5. Hill, Scott Douglas, E6. Hill, Timothy Michael, E4. Jones, Anton Claxton, E6. Keilholz, Nicholas Allen, E1. Lane, Andrew Christian, E4. Larsen, John Kenneth, E4. Latour, Andrew Dennis, E4. Ledbetter, Jason Robert, E5. Lee, Daniel, E1. Litherland, Sean Nicholas, W2. Love, Richard Anthony, E4. Matlock, Kyle, E4. Mullins, Matthew Dean, E9. Olson, Julie Ann, E4. Patty, Ryan Heith, E4. Percy, Jacob, E4. Powell, Nathaniel Elliot, E3. Reppert, Michael Leslie, E3. Sears, James Grant III, E1. Smith, Stephen Ryan, E4. Steinbrook, Michael Lee, E6. Stewart, David Liekweg, O2. Thomas, Michael, E3. Trigg, Timothy William, E6. Udovich, Anthony Steven, E5. Walters, James Wilson, Jr., E9. Wilkinson, Denise, O4. Wilmoth, Scott Allen, E4. Wilson, Tony Lynn, Jr., E4. Withrich, Jason Allen, E7. Wunderlich, Janet, O3. Beaver, Jonathan A., SSG. Brandau, Scott W. SRA. Herring, Adam S., SRA. Jacobs, Matthew E., SRA. Mackey, Seth E., SSG. Moe, Eric J., SRA. Pearce, Douglas D., SRA. Polley, Terry P., TSG. Robison, Richard C., SSG. Salcedo, Daniel A., SSG. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to include an exchange of letters in regard to House Resolution 1075. House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, March 16, 2010. Hon. Ike Skelton, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning House Resolution 1075, ``Commending the members of the Agribusiness Development Teams of the National Guard for their efforts, together with personnel of the Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development, to modernize agriculture practices and increase food production in war-torn countries.'' As you know, this measure was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. This resolution contains provisions within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In the interest of permitting your Committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this important resolution, I am willing to waive this Committee's right to mark up this resolution. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the resolution, the Committee on Foreign Affairs does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the resolution which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. Please include a copy of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Sincerely, Howard L. Berman, Chairman.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend and my colleague from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).

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