Bill Shuster

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 787 introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), honors the late Bob Matsui, a distinguished and well- liked Member of this body. A well-respected attorney and former city councilman, Bob Matsui served in this body for 26 years before his passing away on New Year's Day of this year. Since his passing, much has been said about our late colleague by Members that knew him better than I, many of whom are here today. So I will leave it to them to speak of his many and varied talents and abilities. This naming is a fitting tribute to an exceptionally fine person, a dedicated public servant, and a respected colleague. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 483) to designate a United States courthouse in Brownsville, Texas, as the ``Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse''.

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

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf). (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1463 introduced by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) designates a portion of the United States courthouse located at 2100 Jamieson Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia, as the Justin W. Williams United States Attorney's Building. The full courthouse is known as the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse. This is the second time this matter has come before the House, having previously been considered during the 108th Congress when it passed by voice vote. As before, the bill has the bipartisan support of the entire Virginia delegation. Born in New York City in 1942, Justin Williams earned his Bachelor's degree from Columbia University in 1963 and his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1967. After graduation, Justin Williams embarked upon his legal career. From 1967 until 1986, he worked for the Department of Justice Criminal Division, served as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Arlington County, and Assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia based in Alexandria. In 1986, Justin Williams was appointed chief of the Criminal Division and served in that capacity until his death in 2003. It is my honor to bring this bill to the floor, which honors a dedicated American who spent his entire career making America safer for everyone. I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the same. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to honor the life and work of Pope John Paul II and to offer my condolences to Catholics around the globe who mourn the death of their spiritual leader. For 26 years Pope John Paul II was a faithful Shepard to his flock and acted as a primary example of peace and justice to millions of all faiths. Trained as an actor, Pope John Paul II used the world stage to promote his message of social justice and freedom for all of God's people. Upon his election to the Papacy, Pope John Paul made one of his many journeys home to his native Poland. It was upon that journey that the Pope defiantly preached against the oppressive tyranny of communism and promoted messages of solidarity and freedom. In uttering the simple words, ``Be Not Afraid'', John Paul II offered courage to hundreds across Eastern Europe to break free from the chains of communism. Despite the illness that plagued him in the later part of his life, John Paul II never faltered in fighting against injustice and in protecting the most innocent in our society. Indeed, it was in the Pope's very public suffering that we are reminded of the dignity of every human life from conception until natural death. Mr. Speaker, today we join together to honor the life of a true servant of God. While we mourn Pope John Paul II and are filled with sorrow at his passing, we also rejoice in knowing that he has returned home to his Father.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel Bill Guinn, Commander of Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Colonel Guinn, a native of San Bernardino, California, will have served as Commander of Letterkenny for an unprecedented 3 years on July 18, 2005. While most Commanders assume posts for only 2 years, Letterkenny has been fortunate to have Colonel Guinn as Commander for 3. On July 29th, 2005, Colonel Guinn will complete his command duty and pursue another endeavor to add to an already impressive career of service to his country. He has commanded the 123rd Main Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division in Bosnia, Croatia, and Germany. Highlights of his honors include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Devoted to Letterkenny's mission of supporting the Global War on Terror, Colonel Guinn ensures the best equipment is available to field units throughout the world but especially in Afghanistan and Iraq. Colonel Guinn's concern and care for his soldiers enhances the effectiveness of their missions and has established a new level of commitment among the troops. However, what makes Colonel Guinn remarkable is not only his outstanding military credentials and devotion to country, but also to his immediate community. He has taken personal interest in the economic growth of Chambersburg and the surrounding area of Franklin County Pennsylvania. As Letterkenny transitions into the 21st century it has ceded some of its unused land to Franklin County to be used for private enterprise. Colonel Guinn has been there every step of the way with a spirit of cooperation and mutual support for the developing Cumberland Valley Business Park. Colonel Guinn takes his leadership beyond the gates of Letterkenny by personally participating in community events and pro-actively informing and educating the surrounding community as to the efforts of the Army Depot. A good neighbor in the truest sense of the word, Colonel Guinn ensures the community is welcomed onto the installation by way of annual picnics, Armed Forces Day activities, and provides recreational land for the Cub Scout Program. I know Chambersburg and all of Franklin County join me in grateful thanks for the spirit of service, patriotism, and dedication Colonel Guinn, his wife Karen, and their two daughters have inspired and provided to so many. My best wishes to him on the completion of his tremendous service at Letterkenny Army Depot.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3. It has been a long time coming. I want to commend the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), as well as the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), for their efforts on behalf of our Nation's transportation system. As a Pennsylvanian who represents a broad geographic region, I know the issue of transportation is critical to all of our constituents. I am very pleased that the legislation before us today includes many initiatives to combat congestion on our Nation's highways and further relieve bottlenecks on our roads. H.R. 3 contains innovative real-time and intelligent transportation initiatives that allow States to monitor and improve traffic flow and enhance safety. Building on these innovative programs, I also encourage support of an amendment that will be offered by my colleague, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy), to create voluntary toll or fast lanes. Drivers who chose to use these fast lanes will be charged electronically, eliminating the toll booths that add to backups and congestion. It will allow for our States to collect the funds necessary to increase the capacity on our highways. Congestion is a tremendous drag on our economy today, and it needs to be addressed. One concern, Mr. Chairman, I do have with this bill is the rate of return States will receive under this measure. It has been the wise practice in surface transportation reauthorization to take into account that some regions are saddled with greater needs than others and need a larger rate of return to maintain our national transportation system. My home State of Pennsylvania is unique in that we have more miles of State highway to maintain than all of New England and New York combined. Additionally, the Commonwealth ranks third in the amount of through truck traffic that neither originates nor terminates in the State. Pennsylvania receives little benefit from such commerce traveling through our State, yet States such as Florida, which is able to get its goods to the large Northeastern markets, benefit, while we still suffer from the constant pounding and damage caused by this through traffic. As we move forward to conference, I would encourage my colleagues to continue returning funds to States based on needs so that we can continue to have a safe and efficient national highway system. Lastly, Mr. Chairman, I want to take a minute to address an issue that has become of increasing concern to me and many of my fellow Pennsylvanians on the committee. In recent weeks, the Governor of our State has continued to flex funds designated for highway projects to bail out the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia transit systems to the tune of $412 million, which is roughly one-third of what Pennsylvania will receive from the Federal Government in funding next year. Mr. Chairman, transferring funds set aside by the government for highway projects to bail out troubled transit systems is wrong. The transit system in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia has continually had problems meeting its financial responsibility, and it is out of the pockets of rural Pennsylvanians that the funding shortfalls are met. Critical highway projects in our region are put in jeopardy when highway moneys are transferred to transit. Our highway system weaves a thread of viability through our State and between our urban areas. Quite simply, you cannot travel from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia without going through rural central Pennsylvania. To this end, I am pleased that included in the bill is language directing the Government Accountability Office to review this transfer authority and how it is being used. I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent), for their support on our effort on this issue. It is critical that Congress address this issue and examine the possible need of limiting Governors' ability to shift funds in the future. Rural Pennsylvanians, rural Americans should not have to continue to foot the bill for transit riders in the large metropolitan areas of this country. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the chairman again, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Petri), and the committee staff for all their hard work and efforts in getting H.R. 3 to the floor today.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the underlying legislation, known as the ``REAL ID Act'' H.R. 418. There is no greater responsibility placed upon myself and my colleagues than providing for a safe and secure homeland for America's citizens. We must and can do better to secure our borders, this legislation takes necessary and reasonable steps toward that goal. I strongly support this legislation because it will close current loopholes in our laws that terrorists have been taking advantage of to gain entry and have free reign within our borders. Every measure within the REAL ID Act is present because it closes a loophole a terrorist has used previously. For example, the September 11th the hijackers had within their possession at least 15 valid drivers licenses and numerous state issued identity cards with a large variety of addresses allowing them to get on U.S. airliners. This legislation includes a number of common sense measures aiming to establish minimum document and issuance standards for federal acceptance of drivers' licenses and state-issued personal identification cards and would require applicants to provide proof they are in the country legally. Additionally, this measure would require identity documents to expire at the same time as the expiration of lawful entry status which will prevent individuals who have illegally entered or are unlawfully present in the United States from having valid identification documents. The REAL ID Act will also strengthen and clarify our process for granting immigrants asylum within our borders. While America has always been and always will be a safe harbor for those being persecuted by tyrannical governments we must be vigilant to ensure those individuals are not taking advantage of America's generosity and good will. Our first responsibility is to protect the American people and we cannot put on blinders to expect that everyone who seeks asylum does so in good faith. This legislation closes one of the most egregious loopholes that currently exists--the REAL ID Act would prevent liberal judges from granting asylum to aliens on the basis that their governments believe they are terrorists. It is only reasonable that our laws do not force our country to provide safe harbor to those individuals that are being sought out by their governments due to their terrorist ties. I have given just a few examples of why this legislation is so important to further our ability to strengthen our border security and increase our ability to remove illegal aliens from our country. There are numerous other provisions within this bill that work toward those goals as well. I strongly encourage my colleagues to join me today in voting in support of this important border security legislation because it will help better defend our homeland.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers at this time. Again, Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to support H.R. 548 in honor of Tony Hall and for what he has done for this Nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 548) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 200 West 2nd Street in Dayton, Ohio, as the ``Tony Hall Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring before the House H.R. 548, introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Springfield, Ohio (Mr. Hobson), which designates the Federal building and United States courthouse at 200 West 2nd Street in Dayton, Ohio, as the ``Tony Hall Federal Building and United States Courthouse.'' Tony Hall's record of service to the United States and the world is well documented. He has served as a teacher of English in Southeast Asia, a member of the Ohio State legislature, a member of the House of Representatives and, now, as an official with the United Nations. During each of these endeavors, Tony Hall worked to make life better for those less fortunate, whether it was educating a single child who may not otherwise have attended school, or as an administrator of an international organization bringing food to the hungry worldwide. This is an appropriate honor that has the support of the entire Ohio delegation. Unfortunately, this is the third time that this matter has come to the Floor. During the 107th and 108th Congresses, my predecessor, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), brought this matter before the House and each time it passed by voice vote, but was never considered by the Senate. As a new subcommittee chairman, it is my pleasure to continue his efforts to get this bill enacted into law. I hope the results of our consideration this year will be more positive. I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson).

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus). (Mr. BACHUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf). (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 315, introduced by my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown), will designate the United States courthouse located at 300 North Hogan Street in Jacksonville as the ``John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse.'' Born in Kissimmee, Florida, John Simpson progressed through what would be called by any reasonable person a long, distinguished, and publicly oriented career. After receiving his law degree from the University of Florida, and 7 years of private practice, John Simpson would begin what would result in a career in public service spanning 54 years. He began as an Assistant State's Attorney, served 2 years in the United States Army during World War II, and was a State judge for 9 years before being nominated to the Federal bench in 1950. On the Federal bench, Judge Simpson was not content to just serve out his time. He served as Chief Judge for three different courts, the Southern and Middle District Courts of Florida, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He served on the Conference of Chief Judges for 3 years and was willingly reassigned twice, first from the Southern to Middle District Courts of Florida, and again from the Fifth to Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, each time to fit the needs of the judiciary. During his tenure on the bench, he was also instrumental in moving towards desegregation in Northern Florida during the late 1950s and early 1960s. His record of service and dedication to the judiciary are both commendable and make him worthy of this honor. I support the legislation, and I encourage all of my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 315) to designate the United States Courthouse at 300 North Hogan Street, Jacksonville, Florida, as the ``John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse''.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say I appreciate the gentleman's remarks on Judge Simpson. He personalized it and once again pointed out that only in America could somebody come from such humble beginnings and rise through the ranks of the American judiciary, and today we are naming a Federal courthouse after him. So I have no further speakers. I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 315.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw).

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

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sir Raymond A. Long, in honor of his dedication a commitment to the well being of his community and the Jaffa Shrine. For the past 43 years, as Colonel of Units for the Shrine, Sir Long's guidance has been the source of security and stability and his impact has been widely respected. Since the beginning, Sir Long has consistently exhibited the qualities to which he is committed, sharing with his community a moral code based upon honesty, strength of character, and the highest standard of ethics. His values go hand-in-hand with the Shrine's creed and his vision for a greater, more influential brotherhood has been adopted by the Shrine with open arms. Through the Jaffa Shrine's community outreach initiatives, countless children have benefitted from orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord care free of charge and the quality of life within the community has improved because of its effluence of optimism. Sir Long has connected with citizens in the area in a way that few are able. Since 1938, when he first joined DeMolay, Sir Long has worked diligently to make positive changes throughout the community so that the area would grow and prosper. Having taken the reigns as a strong leader since his youth, he has been a pillar of strength within his community, and his ceaseless dedication to the Jaffa Shrine is unparalleled. In the 43 years that Sir Long has had a significant hand in the Shrine's operations, it has become a driving force of service in the area by implementing new and improved health care technology in its hospitals, expanding the temple's infrastructure, and increasing the laughter and happiness among everyone involved. It was during the 1980s, a period in which Sir Long held significant positions within the Shrine, that Shrines all across North America experienced the greatest expansion in their history. The hospitals treated unprecedented numbers of children in need, Temples and Shrines expanded both in physical structure and in membership, and the feeling of brotherhood spread even further. His uncompromising sense of duty to the community in which he lives has been a source of inspiration, and the impact he has had is immeasurable. For his incomparable generosity, service to the Jaffa Shrine, and unabated commitment to excellence, Sir Raymond A. Long deserves the highest recognition. Throughout his tenure within the Shrine, Sir Long has not only enriched the lives of the other members, but of those in the surrounding communities who have undoubtedly benefitted from the charity, education and service that they have repeatedly provided. The legacy he has created is one that every American should emulate, and his contributions will not go unnoticed by the organization for which he has served nor the community in which he lives. I would like to congratulate Sir Long on his many accomplishments, and I wish him the best of luck as he continues his admirable service to the people of Blair County.