John Sullivan

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, when I was coming to the House after the August vacation, where we did nothing on energy policy, I was walking through the airport, and many people were patting me on the back, said get down there, get that energy bill done, it's hurting us, we need something done. And they said they couldn't believe that the Speaker, Nancy Pelosi from San Francisco, would not allow us a vote on this. One guy said, I can't believe she's that powerful that she is single-handedly holding this up when the majority of the American people want to see this done and done now and get a comprehensive, all-of-the-above strategy. She does have that power, and she's exercising her power. She has the key. She holds the key in her hand to unlock the potential of America, to unlock oil and gas reserves in this country that would last for 160 years that we can get right here in our own backyard. And while we're doing that, we can develop technologies like wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, biomass, all other technologies in an environmentally sound way, and we need to do it now. Instead, we're getting a bill that's full of tax increases and drilling less in America, and this is the biggest hoax perpetrated on the American people that I've seen since I've been in Congress. And on her Web site, she says a bill should generally come to the floor under procedures that allow full and open debate. Members should have 24 hours to examine bills and conference reports before they come to the floor. But she's not doing it.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 6786, the Delaware Tribe of Indians Judgment Funds Distribution Settlement Act. The Delaware Tribe was the first tribe to sign a treaty with the fledgling United States in 1778, playing an important role in winning the Revolutionary War, and was called the ``Grandfather Tribe'' by other tribes in and around the Delaware River valley. The Tribe was forced inexorably westward by the Colonies and then the United States from its aboriginal area further west and eventually into Cherokee territory in Oklahoma. The Tribe was recognized by the United States throughout the 20th century until it was terminated by the Department of the Interior in 1979. The Department rescinded that decision in 1996, and the Tribe was recognized from 1996 until 2004 when a Tenth Circuit Court decision ended the Tribe's Federal recognition. The United States Solicitor General stated to the United States Supreme Court that the Tenth Circuit decision to end status of the tribe resulted in the need for Congress to address this issue. This legislation restores the rightful Federal recognition of the Delaware Tribe of Indians but also incorporates mechanisms for the Delaware Tribe of Indians and the Cherokee Nation to resolve issues between them in Eastern Oklahoma amicably. I am pleased to see not only Delaware restoration but also accord and cooperation between the two tribes.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, everywhere I go across the First Congressional District, my constituents have the same question on their minds: If record-high gas prices that are breaking the backs of families across the Nation won't entice Congress to act now, then what will? By failing to allow an up-or-down vote on legislation to increase the production of American-made energy, my friends on the other side of the aisle remain the only obstacle to putting America on a path to energy security and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. The American people overwhelmingly support a commonsense, all-of-the- above solution to solve this crisis and address our growing energy needs. The longer we delay in passing a comprehensive energy plan, the longer American families and small businesses will continue to pay more than they should for a tank of gas. It's time for the majority to live up to their promise and allow a vote on the energy future of this country.

Mr. SULLIVAN

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

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the third anniversary of the Supreme Court's 2005 decision in the Kelo v. City of New London case. In that decision, a divided Supreme Court ruled that the government may take people's homes and bulldoze them to make way for strip malls or other private development in order to increase tax revenue. The negative effects of this far-reaching decision places all private property owners at risk. No property owner is safe if the government decides that their land would serve a better purpose and be an economic gain if something bigger and more taxable were in its place. To combat these unjust property takings, I introduced H.R. 6219 to protect the rights of the private property owners. With this bill, all Americans now have the tools they need to fight unjust property takings and defend their homes and small businesses. The government has overstepped its bounds in taking private property from people. It has also done the wrong thing in not allowing us to drill for oil and gas in America. It is very important that we get it in our own backyard. A lot of people on the Democratic side talk about alternative energy sources, and that is good. And we as Republicans believe in that. But also, we believe we need to get energy right here in our own backyard as well as we need to develop these technologies.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 431 I was unable to record my vote. I intended to vote ``yea'' on that question. I ask that this statement appear in the Record adjacent to rollcall No. 431.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 6219, the Private Property Rights Protection and Government Accountability Act of 2008. Previously, the U.S. Constitution specifically limited government taking of private property through a relatively narrow exception for ``public use.'' Public use has historically referred to roads, schools, firehouses, etc. You may remember the infamous 2005 Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. City of New London, where the court broadened the government's ability to take your home, farm, business or place of worship. The negative affects of this far reaching Supreme Court decision places millions of private property owners nationwide at risk. Some States are trying to correct this injustice and have enacted restrictions on the use of eminent domain (in this case, is when the government seizes private property), with varied effectiveness. However, Congress has not taken action to restore private property rights and the abusive use of eminent domain has continued. That is why I am introducing the Private Property Rights Protection and Government Accountability Act of 2008, along with the House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Joe Barton. This legislation will restrict certain federal economic development funds for 10 years to any state or locality in which eminent domain is used to take private property for a private purpose. It will also allow private property owners the legal recourse they deserve to fight baseless private property takings by State and local governments. Examples of eminent domain abuse can be seen across Oklahoma, from Oklahoma City to Muskogee, and across this country. No family, business operator or place of worship is safe if the government decides that their property does not measure up, and that ``public purpose'' would be better served if it were torn down and replaced by something bigger, glitzier and more taxable. I encourage all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, as I look forward to celebrating Father's Day this weekend, I was proud to introduce House Resolution 1243, which honors fathers across the country by recognizing the important role that fathers play in shaping the lives of our Nation's young people, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children. Being a father is one of the greatest blessings of my life. I love my job, but I look forward to the end of the week when I can head back home to Tulsa to be with my family. My children, Tommy, Meredith, Sydney and Daniel are my number one priority, and I strive every day to show them they are important. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all fathers to spend extra quality time with their children on Father's Day, and to continue to do so throughout the year. I introduced this legislation not only to honor fathers but to call attention to the importance of the job. The role that fathers play in the development of our youth cannot be overstated. The absence of fathers contributes to many social problems that we, as legislators, fight to prevent daily. According to findings by the National Fatherhood Initiative, the closer adolescents feel to their fathers, regardless of the type of family structure in which they live, the less likely it is that they will engage in the use of drugs or delinquent behavior. Involved and proactive fathers help to shape confident and productive future citizens. So as we honor fathers on Father's Day, we should also encourage men to evaluate their own participation in their children's lives, because you never can be too involved. As a co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Responsible Fatherhood, as a father and a concerned citizen, I ask my colleagues to join me in spreading the message of responsible fatherhood to all levels of society, and encouraging more fathers to reconnect with their children by supporting House Resolution 1243.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to state for the record, and bring to my colleague's attention, that the month of May is globally recognized as Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month. On May 13, 2008, Tami Harbour, her mother Marcia Higgins from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Tami's 94 year-old grandmother Wilma Seely from Owasso, Oklahoma, came to my office with Tami's twin sister Teri to educate my staff and me about Neurofibromatosis (NF). NF is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on the nerves of the body. These tumors are not restricted to any certain portion of the body and can appear anywhere, at any time, at any age. NF type I strikes one in every 2,500--3,000 people, without regard to race, sex or age. The first signs of the condition are usually multiple cafe-au- lait colored spots on the skin. Some of the youngest victims of this condition can also be subject to optic gliomas--brain tumors that can cause blindness and can be life-threatening. In addition, bone deformities, including scoliosis at an early age, and plexiform tumors, which can cause severe medical problems and turn cancerous, can also be caused by NF. Learning disabilities occur in more than 65 percent of the individuals with NF type 1. NF type 2 is a genetically distinct form of NF that causes tumors to form on both acoustic nerves, resulting in deafness. NF type 2 also causes visual problems and muscle weakness. Symptoms of this type of neurofibromatosis include ringing in the ears, balance problems, and reduced hearing; however, these symptoms often do not appear until the late teen years, even if the condition has been present since birth. NF type 2 strikes 1 in 30,000 people and does not discriminate by age, sex or race. At this time, surgery is the only effective treatment to relieve the problems caused by the symptoms of both forms of NF. There is no pharmaceutical treatment to control the growth of tumors and, unfortunately, there is no known cure. Half of the people with NF do not have a family history of the disorder; however, a person with NF has a 50 percent chance of passing on NF with each child he or she has. Although Tami is the only one in her family with NF type 1, she learned in her late teens that she had the disorder called Von Recklinghausen's Disease. However, her tumors did not start multiplying until she was a young adult. She has had a few thousand of tumors removed. She is in constant pain, but the condition does not stop her from performing her duties as a housekeeper at the nursing home where she has worked for the past eleven years. I am encouraged by the NF research being conducted at the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Human Genome Research Institute and medical centers throughout the United States, funded by the National Institutes of Health. With robust federal and privately funded NF research, it is my hope that one day soon we will have a cure for this disease.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, consistent with House Republican Leadership earmark standards, I am submitting the following earmark disclosures for publication in the Congressional Record: Bill Number: H.R. 5658--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: GWACS Defense, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 4500 South 129th East Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74163. Description of Request: Provide an authorization earmark of $8,500,000 for the Ground Warfare Acoustical Combat System of Netted Sensors. The entire project cost to complete is $19,200,000, with anticipated funding of $5,000,000 being raised privately by GWACS Defense, Inc. over the next two years. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Defense, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy account. The funding will be used by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab to accelerate completion and purchase of a new small arms fire detection and location technology for force protection in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bill Number: H.R. 5658--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Westwood Corporation. Address of Requesting Entity: 12402 E. 60th Street, Tulsa, OK 74146. Description of Request: Provide an authorization earmark of $1,500,000 for Power Conversion Equipment for High Density Power Generation Packages. The $1,500,000 project will be funded as follows: Design: $180,000; Purchased Parts, Fabrication and Assembly: $720,000; Functional Testing: $120,000; Onsite Testing Support; $480,000. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Defense, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy account. The funding will be used to allow the electrical output of a new design generator with advanced shipboard architectures. Given that this request will be providing support to a federal agency, matching funds for this request is not required.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to state that due to unforeseen circumstances, I missed rollcall vote 353 to H.R. 6124 taken on May 22, 2008. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted ``yea'' on this measure. While this Farm Bill is not perfect, I would have voted to support the bill because of the benefit it will bring to Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers. In a time of rampant Government spending, I would like to have seen substantive reform in terms of fiscal responsibility. However, this bill does take necessary steps to help the agriculture industry that is vital to the State of Oklahoma. I look forward to voting on this measure to ensure that it becomes law.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to state that due to unforseen circumstances, I missed rollcall vote 354 to H. Res. 1194 taken on May 22, 2008. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted ``yea'' on this measure.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. I thank Congressman Shimkus, and I appreciate your leadership today and also on the Energy and Commerce Committee where Congressman Shimkus has worked hard on issues to help solve the problems in this country. Congressman Shimkus, you are right. I didn't realize until you showed the chart, how much under Democratic leadership oil prices have gone up. It is staggering. And gas prices have gone up, too, under Democratic leadership in this Congress. Congressman Shimkus knows, too, that we have tried very hard on the Energy and Commerce Committee to have rational, comprehensive solutions in this country. We had a bill recently where Congressman Shimkus tried to get some of his legislation into this bill that would have helped a great deal, the coal-to-liquids technology, and it was stifled. They wouldn't allow it in. What kind of bill did we get. Congressman Shimkus is right, ``no'' is not an energy policy. We got no energy policy. We got a bill that was energy policy in name only. What they did was they had those curly light bulbs with mercury from China in them and everybody is going to put the bulbs in their homes, and that is really going to help our energy solution. That is a step in the right direction, I guess, but it is not going to solve our problem. Also they looked at efficiencies in our appliances, which is a good thing, but we need to go much, much further. One of the things that Congressman Shimkus talked about is supply and demand, and that is what this is all about. We haven't built a refinery in this country in the last 30 years. Congressman Garrett was talking about that. That is a problem. When all of our refineries are operating at maximum capacity, you can only get so much fuel out of them. We need more refineries in this country, and we can do it in an environmentally sound way. Also, we need to spur domestic production, getting more oil, gas and coal in the United States instead of relying on countries, particularly in the Middle East, that we have been at war with recently. That is not a good idea. If it is in our backyard, let's get it here. Nobody wants to hurt the environment. Everybody wants to have clean air, water, and land. The oil, gas and coal companies do, too. We also need in our energy policy to start looking at other energy sources as well. That is important, getting away from oil, gas and coal, but it is not going to be in the near future. It is a pure technology-driven issue. And we need alternative sources of energy. We need solar and wind. We need nuclear. We need alternative fuels. We need all of those things, but it is going to take time. You can't do it immediately. We need to develop those technologies to where they can be brought to the public, like batteries in cars developed to where people can afford them, and develop and use alternative energy sources. And we need to develop more gas and oil here in the United States. You know, Cuba allows China to drill off the coast of Florida. Yet in the United States, we can't drill in a lot of places offshore here in the United States. We can't do it. Also here in the United States there are areas where we can't explore in. We hear a lot about the Alaskan Wildlife Reserve. Let's develop that here in the United States. There is a vast quantity of oil in the Alaskan Wildlife Reserve. We can develop it in an environmentally sound way where it is not going to hurt some caribou or anything like that. The Alaskan pipeline, they said that was going to happen there, yet the caribou actually like the pipeline. They use it for shelter. But if we develop the Alaskan Wildlife Reserve, let's put it in perspective. If ANWR were the size of a football field, the area we are talking about drilling in would be the size of a postage stamp on the football field. The footprint we drill in would be relatively small. Oil and gas companies want to do it in an environmentally sound way. And some experts say we could produce at least 2 million barrels a day out of ANWR. We were importing almost that much from Saddam Hussein and Iraq before the war happened. We could lessen that. It is ridiculous that we depend so much on countries that have been hostile to the United States on something that is so important. But when we look at energy policy, we need to look at it from a multi-pronged approach. We need to look at all of the oil, gas and coal. They are here to stay for the time being. But we need to look at alternative energy sources as well. I think everybody agrees that is important. We need real solutions. We need real energy policy in this country, and we are not getting it from the Democrat-controlled Congress. We have worked hard and Congressman Shimkus has worked hard in the committee to get these things done, but they stifle them every time. We need real solutions to real problems, and this is a problem that if we don't address relatively soon, it is going to come home to roost. It is a national security issue. We are putting ourselves in jeopardy, and it is wrong. It is the wrong thing to do. Again, I commend Congressman Shimkus for all he does on the Energy and Commerce Committee and for doing this special order tonight.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce H.R. 5721, the Strengthening the Safety Net Act of 2008. This important legislation will increase Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to Oklahoma and 19 other low DSH States and bring Oklahoma's hospitals on equal footing with other States who receive their fair share of DSH funds. With Oklahoma having the fourth highest rate of uninsured in the Nation, it is critical that Oklahoma hospitals receive a fair distribution of DSH funds we need to care for our indigent population. This legislation will increase the rate that unused DSH funds are reimbursed to these low DSH States from the current rate of 16 percent to 19.5 percent for the next 5 years. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 statutorily defined low DSH States and provided these States with 16 percent funding increases each year for the last 5 fiscal years. In total, there are 20 States that have lower DSH allotments, including: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The 16 percent rate expires at the end of this fiscal year, so it is critical that we increase this percentage so that our hospitals do not feel the financial strain of providing health care services to the indigent. Under the 19.5 percent increases, Oklahoma will receive an additional $49 million in Federal funds which, when matched by the State, could amount to $75 million over the 5-year period to allocate to Oklahoma hospitals to help offset the costs of uncompensated care. Oklahoma hospitals provided $325 million in uncompensated care costs in 2006. H.R. 5721 will help decrease uncompensated care costs for Oklahoma hospitals and ensure fairness among all 50 States by equitably distributing unused DSH Funds. Since this bill is being solely funded through unused Federal DSH allotments, the funding source of the bill merely utilizes funds that are currently being returned to the Federal Government by other States that do not use all of their DSH funds. These unused funds currently are not being used toward any other health care related programs. Another important issue which needs to be addressed is access to quality, affordable health care, especially within our Nation's indigent population. Indigent patients in Oklahoma and our Nation face a significant number of unmet health care needs. These patients have difficulty accessing primary, diagnostic and specialty care and rely on hospital emergency rooms as their primary entry into the health care system. The price of treating the indigent at hospital emergency rooms is astounding compared to care found in a primary care setting. H.R. 5721 will help bring down these costs and save taxpayer dollars in the process. My legislation will create an innovative new grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services to help our Nation's health care providers fund health access networks, which will get low income and uninsured patients who need basic medical care out of emergency rooms and into primary care facilities. These networks would be required to provide high quality primary, outpatient, inpatient and specialty care to uninsured and other medically vulnerable populations in an effort to reduce the costs of treating these individuals for hospitals and taxpayers alike. According to a 2005 study by the Lewin Group on Strategic Planning for Safety-Net Services, Tulsa, like many communities, faces many challenges in its delivery, financing and organization that limit its ability to successfully meet the needs of safety-net populations. To give an example, the price of treating the indigent at our hospital emergency rooms is astounding compared to the cost of treating someone in a primary care setting. To give you an example: the Oklahoma Health Care Authority recently found that the cost of a claim for asthma treatment in a primary care setting was $34.12 per claim, while the average cost for the same asthma treatment in an emergency room setting was $61.20 per claim. While some of these claims may have been emergencies, it is clear that treatment in an outpatient setting is significantly less, almost two times less, than treatment in an emergency room. Without these networks in place, the majority of Oklahoma's uninsured will continue to go without a primary healthcare provider. Lastly, my bill also changes the grandfather clause for the mandatory requirement related to hospitals providing nonemergency obstetric services which are located in low DSH States. The new grandfather clause will be the date this law becomes enacted. The purpose of this change is to remove a constraint imposed on low DSH States whose rural hospitals stopped providing nonemergency obstetrics during the 1990s and early 2000s due to rising liability insurance costs. The change is intended to encourage low DSH States to change their approach to funding more hospitals through the DSH program. Should my legislation become law, 16 additional Oklahoma hospitals will be able to qualify for DSH funds. I am pleased to have the support of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Oklahoma Hospital Association and advocates for Tulsa health-plexes for the Strengthening the Safety Net Act of 2008. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to see this legislation become law.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1424, the Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. I would like to commend Congressman Kennedy and Congressman Ramstad for the work they have done on this bill. There is a problem I have with it, though. I am disappointed with the offsets that are in there. I think these offsets do punish the pharmaceutical industry for participating in the Medicaid program, and it places financial limitations on physician-owned hospitals. Unfortunately, these offsets are essentially just a political game, and I hope at the end of the day they are not in this bill. Mental health illness, if someone has a biologically based mental disorder, it is no fault of their own. They either have it or they don't. It is a chemical imbalance of the brain, and I think it should be treated like any other illness, and it is high time in this country that we do that. This bill, people are going to say, we are going to score it, it is going to cost all this money. It is not. Some research says we spent $100 billion last year on untreated mental illness in lost productivity in the workforce in this country, and last year we lost $400 billion in lost productivity in the workforce due to substance abuse problems in this country. It is high time that we do not brush this issue aside anymore. We can't do it. It is costing us way too much. My State of Oklahoma has the highest rate of mental illness in the United States of America. I don't know why, but we do, and we need to address it. That is why I was so glad that Congressman Kennedy did come to my district to hold a field hearing there. We heard from businesses. We asked them point-blank, one of the biggest employers in my district, we said, is this going to cost you money? He said, no, it will help us. It will save money. We talked to other people in the district about that as well. People need this desperately. It is high time that we do treat people that have a mental disorder just like anyone else that has diabetes, a heart illness, or any other illness. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wonder how Congress could possibly consider addressing an energy bill that has no energy in it. The House is considering energy legislation which does nothing to expand domestic energy production, develop nuclear or coal-to-liquids technology, and only increases our Nation's dependence on foreign oil and hurts American jobs and the economy. While promoting the use of alternative energy is a worthy and long- term goal, by mandating and increasing renewable fuels 36 billion gallons by 2022 without concern to the fact that this technology does not exist today and with almost no consideration of cost or price to consumers, it is not the right direction for our country or the Nation's energy industry. In addition, the renewable portfolio standards mandates in this legislation, which only nine States can currently meet, can increase the cost to Oklahomans by a whopping $900 million. Given our country's current energy needs and our long-term goal of energy independence and security, it is imperative for us to increase our domestic production of crude oil and natural gas while exploring innovative and renewable energy technologies.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I missed rollcall vote 968 to H.R. 3678 taken on October 16, 2007. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted ``aye.'' While I support this extension of the Internet tax moratorium, simply extending the ban another four years is not enough. We need to make this ban permanent so that Oklahoma's families can continue to stay connected to each other and use the Internet for educational, business, and recreational purposes.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) which is set to deploy to Iraq early next year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today, a farewell ceremony honoring 2,400 deploying soldiers in the 45th IBCT is taking place at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Families and friends throughout the state will have an opportunity to celebrate the patriotism and courage of Oklahoma's citizen soldiers. This will be the largest single deployment of Oklahoma's citizen soldiers since the Korean War, an important event in the history of the Oklahoma National Guard. On October 19, 2007, the 45th IBCT will begin to move their soldiers to the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas. While at Fort Bliss, the brigade will undergo 10 to 12 weeks of intense mission specific training which will prepare them for any mission unique tasks that they will be required to perform while deploying to Iraq next year. The stakes could not be higher for success in the Global War on Terror. The 45th IBCT will play a critical role in securing Iraq from al-Qaeda and other militants seeking to undermine Iraq's growth and security, and protect America from future threats. I know this is not the first deployment for many of these brave men and women and their families back home. Their collective sacrifice for our Nation's security is symbolic of the pride Oklahoma has for our citizen soldiers serving in times of war and conflict. I am confident the 45th IBCT is ready to answer the call in the defense of our Nation. With this deployment, they are carrying forward the proud history of this brigade. It is an honor to represent many of these brave citizen soldiers in Congress, and I look forward to supporting the 45th IBCT's critically important mission to the fullest extent possible.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize IC Corporation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and its parent company, Navistar International. This year, the IC school bus facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma will manufacture its fifty thousandth school bus since the company became part of the Tulsa community in 1999. I am honored to represent the employees at IC Corporation who build the school buses that provide a reliable means of transportation and keep our children safe as they travel to and from school. The current IC facility originally opened 19 days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and was built to make B-24 Bombers to help our Nation win WWII. Based on a history of hard work, the first school bus was built by IC Corporation in January 2001. Still one of the largest industries in Tulsa County, the buses built by the employees of the Tulsa IC Bus Plant carry hundreds of thousands of children around the country to and from school. The employees at the Tulsa plant exemplify dedication and are one reason that the IC Corporation has more than 60 percent market share in the school bus industry. The fifty thousandth school bus will be delivered to the Ardmore City Schools in Oklahoma at a ceremony on October 17, 2007. Congratulations again, and thank you to IC Corporation and the more than 900 employees who work at the Tulsa Bus Plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to state for the Record that I intended to vote ``aye'' on rollcall vote 859 taken on September 6, 2007 supporting passage of H.R. 2786, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, it's really astounding that there is nothing in this bill that stops States from covering illegal immigrations in this bill. People have come up to me and said, you know, the Democrats, the people in the Senate wanted to allow illegal aliens to get free Social Security benefits. Now they want to give free health care, and that's wrong. There is nothing in this bill that prevents adults, States from covering adults, giving them health care. There's nothing in this bill that prevents States from even covering the children of the Members of Congress in this bill. I think this is a bill that should not happen. I rise today in strong opposition to it. One of my problems is that it eliminates the 5-year waiting period for immigrants who deserve to be eligible for Medicare and SCHIP. Congress wisely created this waiting period, and eliminating this waiting period will exacerbate our current immigration problems and further endanger government health care programs. By repealing this current law, millions of citizens will be eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP immediately. Had this bill been brought to the committee, the proper thing, I had an amendment that would have saved taxpayers $2.2 billion having this waiting period. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to state for the record that I missed rollcall vote 541 to H.R. 2764 taken on June 22, 2007. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted ``aye.'' I stand in strong support of H. Amdt. 390, which would prohibit the use of funds for travel by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to countries that are state sponsors of terrorism.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to state for the record that I missed roll call vote 532 to H.R. 2764 taken on June 21, 2007. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted aye. As an ardent supporter of the rights of the unborn, I stand in strong support of H. AMDT. 364, which would restore the President's emergency plan for AIDS relief authorization provision requiring 33 percent of HIV/AIDS prevention funding to be spent on abstinence and fidelity promotion programs.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to state for the record that I missed rollcall vote 533 to H.R. 2764 taken on June 21, 2007. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted ``nay.'' As an ardent supporter of the rights of the unborn, I am strongly opposed to H. Amdt. 367, which would allow international non- governmental organizations--NGOs--who do not comply with the Mexico City Policy to receive family planning assistance from the United States.