Bill Shuster

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield to the gentleman from Connecticut, who is the prime mover on H.R. 3858, Mr. Shays.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I will close very quickly because I am in danger of being labeled as a big softy if I give too much in the way of closing comments. I will close by just asking all of my colleagues to support this piece of legislation which is important to millions and millions of Americans. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to be here today to pass an important reform to our emergency management system. Like many Americans, I watched in disbelief last year as our government struggled to respond to the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. I believe we were all shocked by FEMA's performance, given FEMA's outstanding reputation just a few years earlier. Breaking FEMA up and burying its pieces within the massive Homeland Security bureaucracy was a mistake, I believe. Since Hurricane Katrina, the Transportation Committee, the Select Committee on Hurricane Katrina, held dozens of hearings on Katrina and drafted the most comprehensive report on reforming our emergency management system. Just a few days ago the chairman of the authorizing committees, Chairman Young, Chairman Davis, Chairman King, Chairman Reichert and I reached an agreement with the Senate authorizers to rebuild FEMA and reform the Nation's emergency management system. With the leadership, authority and resources necessary to respond effectively to the next disaster, FEMA can once again be a premier agency within the Federal Government. I am pleased to have one of these specific reforms on the floor today, H.R. 3858, the PETS Act, that ensures the needs of people with household pets and service animals are considered by State and local emergency preparedness plans. The Senate amended the PETS Act to permit FEMA to fund structures that will accommodate pets and service animals and provide essential assistance to people with pets and service animals following a disaster. People become very attached to their pets. I have a Wheaton terrier that has become part of the family, and it would be very difficult to leave Chloe behind in a disaster. I certainly can understand and empathize with those folks who have household pets. I would like to thank Chairman Young, who is an original sponsor of this legislation for his leadership and guidance on the bill, and on the broader emergency management reform bill that will be on the floor, we hope, next week. I would also like to commend Mr. Shays for his dedication and hard work in moving this legislation. Mr. Shays has been a champion of this issue and has worked to ensure that owners don't have to make a choice between their personal safety and their pet's safety. I would also like to commend Mr. Shays for his leadership on the committee's investigating response to Hurricane Katrina. He worked tirelessly to resolve the flaws in our Nation's emergency management system that became apparent during Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. That is my understanding, yes, sir.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 4653 repeals a 20-year-old prohibition on the use of certain Federal transit funds to tunnel in the San Fernando Valley area west of Los Angeles. In 1985, an explosion of naturally occurring methane gas blew up a department store in the Wilshire Boulevard corridor in Los Angeles, injuring 22 people. Concerned about the safety of tunneling in this area of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Council created a task force to investigate the explosion. The task force identified methane risk zones along the Wilshire Boulevard corridor. In 1985, the Los Angeles Red Line subway line was in the planning and design stage. Since then, the Red Line has been completely funded and built and has been in operation since 1993, with an extension to North Hollywood that was completed in 2000. The fiscal year 1986 transportation appropriations bill included a legislative provision that prohibits the use of Federal transit funds associated with the Los Angeles project for tunneling in or through an identified methane risk zone. The language was written very broadly, binding future funds provided by Congress and affecting all parts of the Metro Rail subway project, including future extensions. However, in November of 2005, a panel of engineering experts reported that tunneling along the Wilshire Boulevard corridor can be done safely if proper procedures and appropriate techniques are used. This bill, H.R. 4653, was introduced by Congressman Waxman in December of 2005 and will repeal the current prohibition on tunneling in the Wilshire Boulevard corridor. With its passage, a more comprehensive transportation planning process can take place in the corridor, and future transportation proposals that involve tunneling will be eligible for Federal funding. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 4653. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Once again, I understand the gentleman's concern, and I would suggest that we take care of this earmarking problem in the appropriations process. I know that the Senate bill has language in their appropriations bills that deal with this, and I think that is the appropriate place to do it. Again, I have great concern if we do not reauthorize this and get it to the President's desk that we, in fact, could sunset and terminate this program. That is something that I am not willing to take the risk on. Once again, I appreciate the gentleman's support for ARC, his passion for ARC. I want to remind my colleagues that there are no earmarks in this reauthorization bill and that I would encourage my colleagues to vote to continue ARC, the Appalachian Regional Commission's positive impact that it has had, extremely positive impact it has had on our region of the country that needs it.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2832) to reauthorize and improve the program authorized by the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2832 reauthorizes and improves the Appalachian Regional Commission, the ARC. I want to point out very early on that there are no earmarks in this legislation. The ARC has been a successful program for the past 40 years and has helped reduce the Appalachian region's poverty level, cut the infant mortality rate, increased the percentage of adults with a high school diploma, provided water and sewer services to a significant number of households and businesses, and created new jobs. S. 2832 is a simple 5-year reauthorization, increasing authorization levels to adjust for inflation. The reauthorization also makes a minor change to the economic status designations of ARC counties. Currently ARC has four statutory designations which are determined by the unemployment rate, per capita income and poverty rate of each ARC county. The bill creates an additional designation to assist counties that are at risk, yet don't fully qualify as distressed. Currently these counties may only be funded up to 50 percent of project costs. At-risk counties have fragile economies and have significant difficulty meeting the current 50 percent match rate to participate in the program. In many cases, at-risk counties were recently distressed and eligible for an 80 percent Federal match. The addition of the ``at risk'' designation will further assist counties as they transition from distressed to the transitional designation and fund projects in these counties up to 70 percent of the project costs. The ARC is viewed by most as a successful model for economic development, and the ARC has done a great job encouraging local economic development by making use of local resources for the benefit of the community. It was recently estimated that each dollar of ARC funding leveraged $2.57 in other public funding and $8.46 in related private funding. The ability to leverage a large amount of other public and private funding makes ARC a very valuable tool for our communities. The Appalachian Regional Commission is a vital tool for economic development in Appalachia, and the program will end in 10 days unless we pass S. 2832 today. I want to repeat, the program will end in 10 days unless we pass S. 2832 today. We must ensure continuation of the successful program and further express our support of the hard-working people in the Appalachian region. I want to remind my fellow colleagues that there are no earmarks in this reauthorization. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of S. 2832. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have up to 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2832, H.R. 4653 and H.R. 3858.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in solemn support of this resolution Five years after worst terror attack in U.S. history, the American people's steadfast support for the families and victims of 9/11 is a symbol of the perseverance that we, as a country, have maintained. The memorial services held around the country on Monday were a sobering reminder of the horror we, as a nation, faced that day. Ground Zero in New York, the Pentagon here in Washington, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania are sacred ground. I am proud to represent Shanksville, Pennsylvania in Congress--the heroes of Flight 93 did what all Americans hope and pray they would have the courage to do in the face of terror. They stood up for freedom and sacrificed themselves to save countless others. They were the first counter-attack in the War on Terror. Flight 93 was believed to be headed for the Capitol that ill-fated day five years ago. Many of us here today may have been in mortal danger had it not been for the brave passengers on that flight. I would like to thank the heroes of Flight 93 and their families for their sacrifice, for being the first line of defense against terror, and for showing the world our strength, our resolve and our courage as Americans. My prayers are with the families of the victims of 9/11.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5187.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5187) to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize additional appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 5187 was introduced by Chairman Young and Ranking Member Oberstar on April 25, 2006. The bill amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize additional appropriations for the Kennedy Center for fiscal year 2007. The current authorization for fiscal year 2007 is $36 million for the capital projects and the maintenance, repair and security accounts. H.R. 5187 raises the previously authorized level for fiscal year 2007 from $36 million to $39.1 million to align the authorized level with that requested in the President's budget. The slight increase in authorization will allow the Kennedy Center to proceed with the scheduled renovation of the Eisenhower Theater. Programing for the theater has been cancelled because of the renovation. It is critical that renovation proceed as scheduled to minimize the time the theater is offline. The additional authorization will also allow the Kennedy Center to continue necessary operations, maintenance requirements, including many life safety upgrades. H.R. 5187 will help ensure that the Kennedy Center is authorized to use all funds appropriated in support of the President's budget for fiscal year 2007. I support this measure, and urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. I thank the gentleman, and, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5013, to help ensure the American people retain their rights to defend their families and property during the chaos which may follow during a disaster. I also want to commend Congressman Jindal, the sponsor of this bill, and Congressman Kuhl for their hard work in bringing it to the floor today. The gentleman from Louisiana saw the breakdown of law and order following Hurricane Katrina and understands more than most why we need this bill. Congressman Kuhl serves with me on the Emergency Management Subcommittee and is a long-standing champion of our second amendment rights. They both deserve the lion's share of credit for protecting our rights today. I wish I could say that this bill wasn't needed, but after Katrina I know that it is. Following Katrina's devastation, thousands of law- abiding citizens found themselves in a desperate situation where chaos reigned and the police were overwhelmed. Under these circumstances, bedrock American principles, such as neighbor helping neighbor, self- reliance, self-defense, and even the right to bear arms were often the key to survival. This bill is needed, because under those horrible conditions, too many Americans were denied their basic rights and had their legal firearms seized. That is simply wrong and must be changed before the next disaster strikes. I also want to make clear, as I believe Mr. Jindal has made clear, that this bill does not suspend any existing law enforcement, local, State, or Federal; nor does it somehow make it legal to use firearms in a way that is otherwise illegal. I want to repeat that, because some today are trying to confuse that. This bill does not spend any existing law enforcement power, local State, or Federal; nor does it somehow make it legal to use firearms in a way that is otherwise illegal. If people use their guns illegally, then law enforcement has the legal authority to apprehend suspects and seize their guns. Nothing in this bill changes that. In closing, let me again thank Mr. Jindal and Mr. Kuhl for their leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with them and other Members to move this bill forward.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel James Eli Crowther, a distinguished officer who served his country and his home state of Pennsylvania throughout his life. As a native of Tyrone, the Colonel was the third Burgess (Mayor) of Tyrone and was serving in that capacity as the American Civil War began. Colonel Crowther served the Pennsylvania militia in the mid 1800's, where he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Washington Infantry in early August of 1842. From there he was again commissioned as a First Lieutenant for the Tyrone Artillery in early July of 1858. Less than one year later he began service as the Caption of the Tyrone Cavalry. His command of that Cavalry was influential during the first 90 days of service at the beginning of the American Civil War. The Cavalry then became Company D of the 14th Pennsylvania Infantry. Crowther volunteered as an Officer through the Civil War, commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel in 1861 and then Colonel in March of 1863. It was less than 2 months later that Colonel James E. Crowther was killed in action at Chancellorsville on May 3, 1863. His service to his country was noble, and his rank was earned through hard work and dedication to American principles and values. The leadership that Colonel Crowther displayed throughout his service and lifetime is to be remembered and respected as our country continues to move forward honoring those values. In his memory, the Colonel Crowther Foundation was established. This organization's intent is to protect, teach and re-live the rich and storied history of Pennsylvania and continue to honor the distinguished Colonel. As can be found in their mission statement, the Foundation strives to `create a living heritage environment where preservation is enhanced by demonstration and education.' It is only through our history that we are able to create a future. As a tribute to this man's great accomplishments the Tyrone Borough Council has declared Saturday August 6th, 2006 to be Colonel Crowther Day. Crowther's military service to the state of Pennsylvania and our country will not be forgotten.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 17, 2006, I could not be present for rollcall votes 375, 376, and 377 due to a previous commitment in my district. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: ``yes'' on rollcall 375 (H.R. 3085--To amend the National Trails System Act to update the feasibility and suitability study originally prepared for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and provide for the inclusion of new trail segments, land components, and campgrounds associated with that trail); ``no'' on rollcall 376 (H.R. 3496-- National Capital Transportation Amendments Act of 2005); and ``yes'' on rollcall 377 (H.R. 3729--Federal Judiciary Emergency Tolling Act of 2005).

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure have until midnight, Friday, June 23, 2006, to file a report to accompany the bill, H.R. 5316, the RESPOND Act.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, in a letter to a friend, Benjamin Franklin wrote that ``In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.'' The two will soon go hand in hand unless Congress acts to fully and permanently repeal the Death Tax. After a lifetime of paying taxes the Death Tax unfairly imposes a double tax on small, family-owned businesses and farms. Our family farmers appear rich on paper, but in reality are two poor growing seasons from bankruptcy. The Death Tax does not discriminate--it just forces the family to sell off the land to another larger farm in order to pay the tax. If Congress truly cares about the family farmer the best thing that can be done is to kill the Death Tax. Mr. Speaker, most small business owners have the entire value of their business in their estate. With the Death Tax, the government immediately ``inherits'' a 37 to 55 percent piece of the estate, a blow that many family businesses and farms cannot survive. Taxing small business owner's hard work in death punishes their families and threatens family businesses across the country. The mere threat of the tax forces business owners to spend thousands of dollars on accountants, lawyers, and financial planners so that they can attempt to ensure the survival of their business after their death. Mr. Speaker, I grew up on a family farm, and owned and operated a small business before serving in this House. The Death Tax is real and has tangible effects on real people. The Death Tax penalizes hard- working family farmers and business owners hoping to pass on their land or shop--their legacy--onto their children. The Death Tax is an insult to all those who spend a lifetime of hard work to ensure that their children can continue the family business.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nancy Pyle, President of Heartland Hall, Inc. of Bedford, Pennsylvania, who has been honored as the 2006 Citizen of the Year by the Bedford Rotary Club. The Club annually recognizes a local individual who epitomizes the Rotary Motto of ``Service Above Self.'' Nancy Pyle has made numerous and significant contributions to her community. After a distinguished 16-year career in the healthcare industry holding positions that ranged from hospital staff nurse to management, Nancy embarked on a new challenge. In July 2004, she displayed vision and enthusiasm in building a new hi-tech conference center to serve Bedford County. Heartland Hall opened in 2005 with Nancy as its President, bringing a wealth of new opportunities for businesses, organizations, and families in the region. Today, not only is Nancy a successful businesswoman who remains active in the medical field, but she is selflessly devoted to serving her family and community. She is a dedicated wife, and mother of three children. And she consistently finds time to be involved in numerous local organizations. Nancy has touched many lives in a positive way through her association with an impressive list of groups like Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the March of Dimes, the county Drug-Free Schools Task Force, the Bedford County Redevelopment Authority, and the Chamber of Commerce and Arts Council, just to name a few. The thousands of people who know Nancy Pyle--and who have benefited from her hard work and dedication--would certainly join me in thanking Nancy for her contributions to business, community, and family, as well as serving as an inspiration for the spirit of chivalrous virtue.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I want to first rise tonight to thank the men and women of our military for their efforts in Iraq, in Afghanistan and other places around the world in the war on terror. Their sacrifice, their families' sacrifice, has value and will never, never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, there are many members of the minority that have forgotten an important lesson of history, and that is you cannot appease tyrants and evil. We need to remember the 1930s, the voice of Winston Churchill that said we must confront Hitler and the Nazis as they began to build up the German military machine. Well, we waited and we waited until they invaded their neighbors. And it was the blood and lives of hundreds of thousands of Europeans and Americans that defeated that evil. In the 1960s and the 1970s, we failed to confront the growing Soviet threat. We waited and we waited until Ronald Reagan inspired this Nation to have the will to stand up to the Soviets and engage them in an arms buildup that cost Americans billions of dollars, but bankrupted the Soviets, and we defeated that evil. In the 1990s the terrorists attacked us over and over again. We failed to respond, as President Clinton dismantled our intelligence capabilities. Appeasement does not work. History shows us that over and over again. President Bush learned this lesson, and he and this Congress did not wait until Saddam had nuclear weapons. We acted on intelligence, not just our intelligence, but intelligence from agencies around the world. We thought it was accurate. Unfortunately, it was wrong. But it took us going into Iraq to find out that he did not have the biological, chemical and nuclear capabilities we thought he might be building. But we removed a tyrant. We freed a people and we focused the war on terror in Iraq. And today we are helping to build a democracy in an Arab world which can be a model to other nations to create liberty, justice and, most importantly, hope, hope for a better tomorrow for millions of Arabs. We must stay the course, as this resolution states, until Iraq can secure its nation and we defeat terror. This struggle will be as long as it is hard. But in the end, the lesson of history will be reaffirmed that appeasement is a failed strategy, and that sacrifice for freedom is always worthwhile.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John L. ``Jack'' Asher, who has played a vital role in the development of Asher's Chocolates, in Lewistown and Souderton, Pennsylvania, over the last 51 years. Started by his grandfather in 1892, Jack has led the company since 1966. With over 1,000 molds, Asher's can be respected as one of the largest candy molding companies, and one of the oldest family owned and operated candy manufacturers in America. The time-tested recipe for success is epitomized in the daily operation of one of the foremost confectioners in the country. I owned a small business for years and I understand, along with many others across Pennsylvania, the day-in and day-out work it takes to succeed. I applaud Jack for his commitment to his community and his business. In early April, Jack was bestowed with the national honor of induction into the Candy Hall of Fame. This award recognizes Jack for his life's achievements and dedication to the company, as his contributions to the business and the confectionery industry are immeasurable. As our economy continues to move in the right direction, our small businesses are the driving force. These businesses make up our communities, neighborhoods and towns. The Pennsylvanians who have benefited from the efforts of Asher's Chocolates--as employees, chocolate lovers and more--would certainly join me in thanking Jack for his contributions to the community and the economy, as well as serving as an inspiration for the spirit of familial virtue.