Bill Shuster

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan will be celebrating their president's third anniversary in office this May 20. Their president, Mr. Chen Shui-bian, has shown leadership and wisdom in the last three years. Taiwan enjoys one of the highest standards of living in Asia and a good strong relationship with the United States. Taiwan stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States after 9/11 and gave us total support in our war with Iraq. May Taiwan continue to enjoy economic prosperity and an ever stronger relationship with the United States. May Taiwan be successful in stopping the spread of SARS and in returning to the World Health Organization soon.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark a significant historical event in the community of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. This month the Zion Lutheran Church in Hollidaysburg will mark its 200th anniversary. The rich history of Zion Lutheran is a testament to its founders and all of its congregants to this day. By 1803, population centers in the United States were expanding westward. As small groups of people started to settle west of the Allegheny Mountains for the first time, a small group of German immigrants, led by Pastor Frederick Haas, started the first congregation of Zion Lutheran Church in a log building in Frankstown, Pennsylvania, 200 years ago. While many of the original members were used to the grand cathedrals of Europe, and the new log building was certainly a different way to worship for many settlers, their desire to worship and develop community moved them to embrace their new surroundings. With the opening of the Pennsylvania Canal and the Allegheny Portage Railroad in 1830, Hollidaysburg flourished and became the county seat. As the town continued to grow, congregants needed a larger building to worship, and a new church opened its doors to the spiritual needs of the community in 1853. Today congregants of Zion Lutheran still make this building their center of spiritual community, and it also serves as a central feature of the historic section of the Hollidaysburg borough. While the building is, itself, an historic, stately church and provides a beautiful place to worship, it is the people themselves, the congregants, that make Zion Lutheran a real natural treasure. With 965 members, Zion Lutheran is the largest Lutheran church in Blair County. Leading the congregation is no small task, and its pastors, the Reverends Scott and Carol Custead, are the latest in a long line of God's servants who have provided the community with religious guidance that has brought stability and hope through God's teachings. The word ``Zion'' literally means ``the dwelling place of God, where God meets His people.'' It gives me great honor to recognize Zion Lutheran Church in Hollidaysburg on its bicentennial, a place where God truly meets His followers.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 178, honoring the life and work of the former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Matthew J. Ryan. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wonderful family. Matt Ryan was a legendary figure in Pennsylvania politics and a true definition of an American statesman. As we remember Matt, we speak of dignity, wisdom and fairness. We also recall his strong-willed determination and focus in serving the State that he loved so dearly. In the world of politics it is rare to find someone who was so effective on so many levels and touched so many people. Speaker Ryan offered an extended hand to both friend and foe, and it is fitting that his legacy includes friends and admirers who sat on both sides of the aisle. Earlier this year, the Speaker told colleagues, ``I'll be back,'' when he was forced to take leave and battle his illness. It was perhaps unnecessary because Matt Ryan has never left. He will always be with us. The State of Pennsylvania has lost a leader, and the United States has lost one of its great citizens. I am honored to support House Resolution 178, to recognize the life and work of our distinguished and deeply missed Speaker.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, while many economic indicators show that the American economy is back on the road to recovery, working families in central and western Pennsylvania continue to struggle to pay their bills. Unemployment rates for some portions of my district have risen as high as 14 percent, and jobs are difficult to find, even for the most well-trained workers. For my constituents, the time to act on these alarming trends is now. I applaud the leadership of the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) and the Committee on Ways and Means on crafting H.R. 2 to help spur our Nation's economy, and we in the House were right to pass this vital legislation. The provisions of H.R. 2 will put billions back into our country and create thousands of new jobs for Pennsylvania workers. This legislation will ensure our economy continues to grow and creates jobs in the years ahead. H.R. 2 is an important step in answering the economic questions facing millions of American taxpayers. The benefits of H.R. 2 are staggering. Twenty-seven million taxpayers will benefit from the increased child tax credit in 2003 alone; nearly 10 million taxpayers will not pay the AMT; 10 million seniors will become more financially secure in retirement by keeping more of their dividend income. In fact, half of the immediate tax relief provisions of H.R. 2 are directed towards the child tax credit, eliminating the marriage penalty tax, accelerating rate reductions for middle-class families and ensuring these families do not face the alternative minimum tax; real money for families. As a former small business owner, I understand the importance of H.R. 2 to small businesses throughout America. H.R. 2 will benefit family businesses by increasing the immediate deduction for small business from $25,000 to $100,000 and modifying the definition of small business to allow more businesses to grow and prosper. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleagues in the House for supporting H.R. 2, and I urge the other body to move swiftly on this important legislation for our Nation and for working families.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 866, the Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2003, and I commend Chairman Young for sponsoring this important legislation. H.R. 866 authorizes the EPA Administrator to issue grants for vulnerability assessments and security enhancements at our publicly owned treatment works facilities. In addition, the legislation calls on the Administrator to provide much needed technical assistance regarding security measures that can be made to our smaller publicly owned treatment works facilities, that is facilities that serve less than 20,000 people. Lastly, the bill provides critical funding for the improvement of the methodologies and tools used to carry out wastewater vulnerability assessments. Mr. Speaker, ensuring that our wastewater treatment facilities are properly protected and secure is a crucial aspect of enhancing our Homeland Security. A terrorist attack on a public treatment facility could be devastating. I commend Chairman Young for his hard work on this legislation, and his efforts to draw attention to the need to improve the security of wastewater treatment facilities.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on May 10, 2003, the Roaring Spring Lions Club will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. I rise today to congratulate the members of this exceptional club for such a momentous occasion. The current members have continued a long standing Lions Club tradition of excellence. They should be proud of their commitment to assisting their community and fellow citizens through numerous service activities. The Roaring Spring Lions Club is one of many thousands of local clubs located in 190 countries across the globe, with a world wide membership of more than 1 million members. As an internationally known organization, the many local Lions Clubs make up a large web of community service projects that range from improving the environment, to helping local youth through outreach projects, to assisting the disabled in the community. Lions Club members are truly exceptional people and prove their commitment to the Clubs' motto ``We serve'' each and every day. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have had the opportunity today to pay tribute to and recognize the members of the Roaring Spring Lions Club for their 50th anniversary. I encourage the members to continue in their efforts to better their community through service oriented projects and I wish them each the best of luck in all their future endeavors.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on May 4, 2003 the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, in conjunction with the Altoona Area School District and the Blair County Arts Foundation, will be dedicating a long-deserved historical marker commemorating Isaac Charles Mishler, the original owner of the Mishler Theater, located in downtown Altoona, Pennsylvania. I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Mishler for his vision of bringing the arts to his fellow citizens. The theater and the community's dedication to the arts have stood the test of time. Indeed, since its opening in 1906, the Mishler Theater has hosted the cream of the entertainment crop for almost 100 years. The hallowed halls of the Mishler have seen the likes of John Drew, the Barrymores, Houdini, the Zeigfeld Follies, Bernadette Peters and George Burns. With over $1.3 million in improvements over the years, the Mishler continues to provide the community with top-notch entertainment today. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have had the opportunity today to recognize the efforts of the Altoona community and the numerous organizations that have worked together to preserve the Mishler Theater. Their efforts are a fitting tribute to Isaac Mishler's vision of a theater that serves as a center of arts and entertainment for the entire community.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate G. William Ward for earning the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Advocacy and the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award given by the Penns Woods Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Both awards will be presented to Mr. Ward at a dinner in his honor cosponsored by both award giving parties. G. William Ward is a resident of Blair County, Pennsylvania and currently serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of Ward Trucking Corporation. During his tenure with Ward Trucking, he has accumulated an impressive list of professional achievements and has always demonstrated a strong commitment to community service. In 1967, when Mr. Ward became the newly-elected president of Ward Trucking, he quickly established a strong presence in Blair County by opening a new Altoona terminal and maintenance hub as well as two new local warehouses. Just two years later, Ward Trucking celebrated the opening of a new general office complex, which made Altoona the official headquarters of the company. Under Mr. Ward's leadership, the trucking company has experienced numerous successes. In 1997, the Ward Trucking Corporation was inducted into the Blair County Business Hall of Fame for being an outstanding corporate citizen and being a ``vital component of the continued thrust for the economic development and improved business climate in Blair County.'' Five years later, that sentiment still holds true today. Mr. Ward has been instrumental in the growth and strength of the Ward Trucking Corporation. During his tenure as President and Chairman of the Board, the company has more than doubled its workforce, grew revenue from $7 million to more than $96 million at the end of 2001, and expanded service from two to eleven states. Mr. Speaker, in addition to being an excellent business advocate for the community of Blair County and surrounding areas, Mr. Ward is also a dedicated volunteer. He is especially involved with a nationally recognized community service organization, the Boy Scouts. He has served in numerous capacities, from a Den Leader to Vice-Chairman of the Camp Development Fund Campaign. Mr. Ward is an excellent role model and is always very generous with his time. Mr. Ward and his family are also very generous with financial contributions. They have a long history of donating, whether personally or through Ward Trucking, to a wide variety of worthy organizations in their community. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating G. William Ward for receiving both the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Advocacy and the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. I encourage Mr. Ward to continue to strive to achieve new business goals and to also remain such an active and caring member of his community. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 143 I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1166 is identical to legislation the House passed unanimously December 5, 2001. Unfortunately, this bill did not pass the Senate last year. We are here today to try again. This bill simply establishes a 3-year pilot program providing grants to the Small Business Development Centers for assisting Native Americans, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiian populations with their small business development needs. Few people realize that 60 percent of our Native American population lives in or adjacent to Indian lands that suffer from an average unemployment rate of 45 percent. One-third of Native Americans live below the poverty level. However, the number of businesses owned by Native Americans grew by 84 percent between 1998 and 1997, as compared to all other businesses, which grew at only 7 percent over the same time period. It is quite clear that the entrepreneurial spirit of Native American small business ownership is the key to economic growth and revitalization of these often forgotten communities. Instead of creating a new program, H.R. 1166 uses the existing Small Business Development Center network to develop culturally sensitive entrepreneurial counseling and technical assistance programs for Native Americans. The SBDC network has a track record of success. Small businesses that use their service have a higher survival rate than the average small businesses not receiving such assistance. Any SBDC in a State whose Native American population is at least 1 percent of the State's total population can apply for a grant from the SBA. Such grants must be used to provide SBDC program assistance to Native Americans. The maximum grant size is $300,000 and the authorized level is capped at $7 million per year. Already this fiscal year, the Small Business Administration received a $2 million appropriation to develop Native American entrepreneur education programs. I join many of my colleagues, including the chairman of the Committee on Small Business, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo), who is an original cosponsor of this bill, in supporting H.R. 1166. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers. I reserve my right to close.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this legislation.

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1166) to amend the Small Business Act to expand and improve the assistance provided by Small Business Development Centers to Indian tribe members, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians.

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

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. Mr. Speaker, I would close by first commending and congratulating the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for his hard work on this legislation and his support for the small business men and women across America. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the ranking member, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) for her support on H.R. 1166. And I finally want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Manzullo) for his leadership and his passion for defending the backbone of the American economy and that is small business.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker I rise today to recognize and congratulate an exceptional student from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. John Bradford has been named the male middle school student of the year by the Pennsylvania Middle School Association. John is currently a seventh- grader at Chambersburg Area Middle School, a member of the student council, and involved in numerous projects to help better his community. Last year, John was instrumental in a campaign to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. He organized an effort to raise $360 by collecting aluminum can tabs at his school. Through his involvement in student government, John has also been involved in other charity related projects such as Coats for Kids, raising money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and a food drive that sent 4,000 canned goods to the Salvation Army. He is most recently working on gathering other middle school students to join him in participating in a walk-a-thon for the March of Dimes. John has already accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments and has demonstrated a true desire to help better his community. I encourage him to continue volunteering and helping so many worthy charities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating John Bradford for earning recognition as an exceptional individual by being named the male middle school student of the year in Pennsylvania. I am very proud to have such a tremendous individual in my district, and I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of H. Con. Res. 104. It is very fitting that we honor those men and women who tonight are making the world a safer place. Their mission is legal and, more importantly, just. I am certain they will succeed in changing an evil regime, they will succeed in eliminating dangerous chemical and biological weapons, and they will succeed in liberating the people of Iraq. Our thoughts and prayers must also go out to the families of our troops. Their sacrifice is great and must be acknowledged. There is no greater love than the love of a family, so as a nation, as family America, we must send our love to families whose members are in harm's way defending our freedom. And finally recognizing our President for his leadership, his strength, his decency and his commitment to the American people. I hope and pray for a swift and safe return for all of our troops. May God bless our military and their families. And may God bless America.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on March 19, 2003, 1 was unavoidably detained in a meeting with my constituents, and was unable to vote in rollcall vote No. 71. Had I been able to vote, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Penn State Mont Alto for its 100th Anniversary as a well respected institution of learning. When this institution was first established, in May 1903 by the governor of Pennsylvania, it was known as the Pennsylvania State Forest Academy in Mont Alto. The academy was only the third forestry school in the entire nation, behind Yale and Biltmore respectively. The school was founded by Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock to train men for service in the state forests. To this day, the Forest Academy still educates America's foresters in addition to students in many other academic programs. The earliest goal of the academy was to reforest much of the surrounding land, especially in areas made barren by forest fires and charcoal production. On Arbor Day in 1905, the academy's first administrator, George Wirt assigned students to search for native tree species not found on campus. These students returned with over 400 specimens reflecting 30 different varieties of species. These collected specimens were the beginning of the Mont Alto arboretum. An arboretum that to this day continues to provide a training ground for students, as well as a research site for the development of new hybrids. The Pennsylvania State Forest Academy in Mont Alto has been constantly evolving throughout its history. In 1929, the academy merged with the Pennsylvania State College (now University) becoming one of the Commonwealth campuses. At that time, the campus was used only for the first year of training for Penn State forestry students. The students would then complete their three remaining years at the main campus in University Park. The campus continued to grow and by 1963 the first one or two years of most Penn State majors were being offered at the Mont Alto campus. The school completed its evolution in 1997, when students were able to earn their baccalaureate degrees at the Penn State Mont Alto campus. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Penn State Mont Alto for its 100 years of commitment and dedication to providing a quality education to so many young people.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues that on April 26, 2003, more than 1,200 students from across the United States will visit Washington, DC, to compete in the national finals of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program. This educational program is developed specifically to teach young people more about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and is administered by the Center for Civic Education. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education by an act of Congress. I am proud to announce that the class from Indiana Area High School from Indiana will represent the state of Pennsylvania in this national event. These young scholars have worked conscientiously to reach the national finals by participating at local and statewide competitions. As a result of their experience they have gained a deep knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy. The 3-day We the People national competition is modeled after hearings in the United States Congress. The hearings consist of oral presentations by high school students before a panel of adult judges on constitutional topics. The students are given an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge while they evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues. Their testimony is followed by a period of questioning by the judges who probe the students' depth of understanding and ability to apply their constitutional knowledge. The We the People program provides curricular materials at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels. The curriculum not only enhances students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy, it also helps them identify the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Critical thinking exercises, problem-solving activities, and cooperative learning techniques help develop participatory skills necessary for students to become active, responsible citizens. The class from Indiana Area High School is currently preparing for their participation in the national competition in Washington, DC. It is inspiring to see these young people advocate the fundamental ideals and principles of our government, ideas that identify us as a people and bind us together as a nation. It is important for future generations to understand these values and principles which we hold as standards in our endeavor to preserve and realize the promise of our constitutional democracy. I wish these young ``constitutional experts'' the best of luck as they participate in the We the People national finals.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 200th Anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Chambersburg into a Borough. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the county seat of Franklin County, is a town rich in history. Chambersburg was settled by Benjamin Chambers in 1730. He chose the area because of the promising demographic features of the land, where the Conocoheaque Creek and the Falling Spring merged to provide him with the necessary water power to operate a gristmill and a sawmill. The community of Chambersburg was formally spread out in 1764, extending the land south and east of a fort that was built to provide protection against Indian raids. The epicenter of the town, which served as the crossroads for many travelers, began to grow in size and importance. Due to the number of people that traversed through the area, many businesses began to settle and expand in the valley. These businesses were the start of the promising entrepreneurial, agricultural, and residential area that Chambersburg is today. In March 1803, the municipal government was established through a state granted charter as a borough. In May of the same year, the town elected the first mayor, the Town Council, a High Constable, and a flour and wood inspector were appointed. A tax duplicate of $550.97 was issued in order to begin providing government services, which at that time were mainly limited to those provided by the courts. The Borough of Chambersburg is now home to over 17,000 people, many small and medium industrial enterprises, and continues to have strong ties to agricultural endeavors. I am very proud to represent the individuals that make up this vibrant community and would like to again commend the Borough of Chambersburg for its 200th Anniversary.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to my colleagues' attention an editorial written by Lieutenant Colonel Craig Mayer (ret.) of Bedford, Pennsylvania. Lt. Col. Mayer is a former U.S. Department of Defense attache and served as a member of the United States Marines during the Vietnam War. On March 7, 2003 Colonel Mayer wrote an eloquent editorial that describes not only his reflections of war, but also made a compelling case in support of military action against Saddam Hussein. I urge my colleagues to keep the following article in mind as the debate concerning Iraq continues; When I think of America going to war with Iraq, what comes to mind first is the distinct, sickeningly sweet smell and the fell of dark, sticky blood as I helped drag a horribly wounded young Marine to a medevac helicopter. And the memory of picking up the young Marine's boot--most of his lower leg still in it--and tossing it into the helicopter. It's the odor of gunpowder and sweat, screams of agony, a green jungle haze, the confusing noise of whirling helicopter blades, Viet Cong machine gun fire, and gasping, wide-eyed men. I suffer no illusions about the real costs of war and have no impulse to go fight again or send others into the hellish experience I survived in Vietnam. Why then should we indulge this obscenity again with Iraq? What is at stake? And is it worth the sacrifice? The debate on the impending war is more, much more, about power and competing worldviews--within America and within the community of nations--than it is or ever was about Saddam's threats and misadventures. The issue is not really about inspections, adequate justification, sham cooperation, or any sincere belief that Saddam Hussein will ever willingly disarm, the debate is about the constraint of American power. Iraq is the stage for a test of those worldviews. One view seeks to avoid the use of military power to bring about the rule of law and instead relies on persuasion, negotiation, cooperation, and international institutions. It rationalizes and tolerates threats because its proponents really can't do anything about them. This view is borne of decades of global security and prosperity provided by the United States. It is a view grounded in strategic weakness. The competing view, the American power view, looks to military power along with the means and willingness to use it as essential for a state of security to create peaceful solutions and the rule of law to govern and grow. It sees international forums and processes as less than reliable. It perceives risks differently and is less willing to tolerate threats because it can do something about them. It is a position grounded in strategic strength. These opposing views are now colliding. Both views desire the rule of law and peaceful solutions to international problems, but their means are at odds. Those nations and people of the power adverse view will encounter and confront us simply because we are the only power on the world stage with the means to shape and effect global security. Only by constraining American power can they gain a relative advantage and advance or validate their view. Since the end of World War II, Europe and much of the rest of the world has depended on and has been responsive to American power and our ability to globally project that power--be it in economic or military terms. Our power is now enormous and unprecedented in world history. Adherents of the power adverse view, most notably France, Germany, and less so Russia, have chosen the Iraq crisis and the forums of the U.N. Security Council and NATO to confront us. We should not be misled by their public assertions or how they or their supporters would like to frame the international debate in the important days ahead. Behind all their coming challenges to intelligence information, appeals for peace, attempts at redefining compliance, pleas for delays, excuses for Iraqi resistance, and bleats about smoking guns is the objective of constraining American power--irrespective of any concerns about Iraq. This is the central and fundamental objective. There is overwhelming justification for the coerced disarmament of Iraq--the justification threshold was passed years ago. No greater damage could be done to the maintenance of a stable world order and global security than to succumb to the instincts and wants of those confronting us. The stakes in this encounter are quite high--perhaps more so than at anytime in the past half century. If the power adverse proponents prevail, it will weaken their security and severely undermine the effectiveness of the U.N. Security Council and NATO--paradoxically, the very institutions they hope to rely on. If they prevail, global security decisions will be thrown into forums and processes that promise little more than delay, equivocation, indecision, and paralysis. Something the world cannot afford in the face of immediate threats and mounting dangers. At the same time, France, Germany, and Russia are not our enemies--they are simply wrong. It is not time for their view to prevail and if history is a teacher that time will probably never come. The young Marine that I helped drag to a helicopter 34 years ago died a few hours after he was wounded. Our company commander wrote a letter to his parents. The family was presented a purple heart and their son's name was chiseled into the marble monument in Washington. In the impending war dying is at stake, suffering is at stake, and misery for loved ones left behind is at stake. It is obscene. But the harsh reality is that we live in an anarchic world of walls and the security and defense of a progressive, stable world order depends on military might and this is one of the roles we play. I know that these words provide little solace for the parents of a young Marine we lost years ago. I know that they will not fill the voids in our lives we now feel and that might be created in the days and weeks ahead. I only hope that they might help. If I thought the impending War with Iraq was a contemporary Vietnam, an ill-conceived and misunderstood venture, I would be one of the first to object. It isn't, and I do not object.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, the rising costs of medical liability insurance in Pennsylvania are among the worst in the country. In fact, Pennsylvania physicians faced a 50 percent increase in insurance costs in 2002, with an additional 50 percent hike expected this year. Physicians have moved from my district to other States to continue practicing medicine. Recently, one of the most efficient hospitals in my district was literally within an hour of closing its doors when its pathology department could not secure medical liability insurance the 11th hour. The threat of rising medical liability costs to quality patient care in central Pennsylvania is beyond a crisis situation. The time for the House to act is now. H.R. 5 is common-sense legislation aimed at reducing the skyrocketing medical liability costs that are threatening the availability of quality patient care in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. In addition, H.R. 5 protects the rights of patients with legitimate claims to receive compensation for economic losses, medicals costs, and lost wages. Mr. Speaker, the threat of frivolous medical liability litigation is endangering the ability of physicians in my district to provide quality patient care. Congress must do its part to ensure access to care is not jeopardized at the expense of lining the pockets of trial lawyers. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5.

Mr. SHUSTER

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding career of Mr. Dalton Paul, a very special individual from my district. Mr. Paul has been a resident of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania for more than 37 years. During that time he has dedicated himself to the noble pursuit of educating others. Mr. Paul has recently retired from his position as executive director of the Franklin County Career and Technology Center from which he has served since July of 1975. For four years prior to that, he also served as the school's assistant director. Upon his retirement, he has earned the distinction of being the longest-tenured executive director of a vocational school in the state of Pennsylvania. Mr. Paul earned a very impressive record during his time as executive director. Under his leadership, 96 percent of the students from the Franklin County Career and Technology Center went on to be part of the local work force. This impressive statistic is just one of the many reasons why Mr. Paul's school has been named the best vocational- technical school in the state of Pennsylvania for a number of years. In addition to his work at the career center, Mr. Paul is also affiliated with at least 30 different community clubs and organizations. A few examples of these organizations are: Boy Scout Troop 128 Committee, Greene Township Lions Club, Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Pennsylvania Vocational Association, and the Pennsylvania District Governor's Council for the Lions Club. Mr. Paul will continue many of his memberships and serve his community in numerous capacities. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Dalton Paul for his noteworthy career and his impressive accomplishments at the Franklin County Career and Technology Center. His students, colleagues, and community will greatly miss his experience and leadership in the areas of vocational education. I wish him the very best in all of his future endeavors.