Joe Sestak

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, on this day, one of the finest schools in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District will pay honor to its many exceptional graduates who have given their lives in service to our nation. It is with a combination of pride and humility that I rise to honor the alumni, faculty, students and families of Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Specifically, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Dennis Murphy and Mr. Jim Ulmer. These two combat Veterans of the Vietnam War, in collaboration with other Veterans, graduates, and school president, the Rev. Augustine M. Esposito, O.S.A., Ph.D. have worked hard to pay tribute to Bonner's courageous graduates, their families and comrades-in-arms past, present, and future. Founded in 1953 and expertly led by friars of the Order of St. Augustine, Monsignor Bonner High School has imbued in every young man who has passed through its doors the moral and intellectual foundation required to serve our nation with honor, courage, and commitment. Among its alumni and faculty are thousands of veterans including the Rev. John Melton, O.S.A., who served in the United States Marine Corps and throughout his tenure as Bonner's Guidance Counselor inspired an untold number of young men to follow his example of service to country, community, and God. As our nation fights two wars far from our shores it is essential that we thank Monsignor Bonner High School and its surrounding neighborhoods in the Delaware Valley that have offered so many of their sons and daughters in service to our nation. There is a headstone in Ireland that reads, ``Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.'' Today, Monsignor Bonner High School continues to reflect the very best in our nation and society in memorializing the sacrifices of some of its many heroes. Most importantly, they have done so in a way that will forever represent our love and our respect for the great gift those young men offered in service to the United States of America.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. I rise to make four points in support of this bill. First, I believe the U.S. Government response has actually been too timid and too slow. Let me just take, for example, the failure of this House on the first vote in September to pass the initial bill, TARP bill. As a result of that, Mr. Paulson actually backed away from the initial purpose of this bill, which was to actually purchase distressed mortgage securities and to begin to give clarity, a price to them so that we might have attracted by now more private investment into the markets. Instead he had a mistaken policy that he pursued in his panic of actually putting more equity direct into the market. I believe, therefore, you've seen things happen that others have taken the place of our timid response. The Federal Reserve actually has stepped in, just for one example, actually guaranteeing in Citicorp's group, hundreds of billions of dollars of distressed equities, which we, in the TARP program, were actually meant to salvage. Second, I believe that we actually have had success. We have moved back from the apex of financial crisis, financial panic, when for the first week, in that first week in October, not one bond was issued in the United States; the first time that has occurred in the history of America. As we step back, we've seen the overnight bank lending rate actually fall from historic highs, significantly downward. That is important because every credit card in America is tied to that rate, and 50 percent of every adjustable rate mortgage is tied to that rate as we salvage a more dire consumer credit and other types of credit challenges. Third, I believe that, as we have seen some success, as we've seen that the 10-year Treasury securities, and as our mortgage rates have fallen and the dollar has strengthened, much more needs to be done, and that's what this bill does. It institutes the accountability that is absolutely critical. If I learned anything in the Navy, expect what you inspect. And we do have the right inspection regime finally in this bill. As we also step back and begin to get money funding to those types in tier 2 that need, it the commercial banks that can give it direct to consumers for loans and to small businesses, and as we begin to salvage the mortgage foreclosure, which is the long pole in the tent for the recovery in our economic recovery. And the final point is this: Again, at sea, what I learned is when you were in a physical storm at sea, woe be that seaman that never took precautions because he thought it might be unnecessary. We are truly in a financial storm, and the U.S. Government is the only one who continues to take the precautions necessary in order to salvage us from this storm.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the 40th anniversary of the Special Olympics, an outstanding organization which provides children and adults with intellectual disabilities--more than 18,000 alone in Pennsylvania--an opportunity to participate in year- round, athletic competitions. The Special Olympics motto ``Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,'' was originally spoken by gladiators entering the arena in ancient Rome. Villanova University, which is in my district, was the official host of the Special Olympics Pennsylvania state games this year. The Special Olympics Fall Festival at Villanova is the largest student-run Special Olympics event in the world. During the two-day event, Villanova University opens its campus to over 1,000 athletes, 400 coaches, and 2,700 volunteers. The athletes compete in six Olympic-type sports, bocce, long distance running, power-lifting, roller skating, soccer, and volleyball. Worldwide, the Special Olympics brings together more than 2.5 million athletes with intellectual disabilities in 180 countries. Children and adults who participate in the Special Olympics develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence, and a more positive self-image. They grow mentally and socially and, exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm, enjoy the rewards of friendship, and ultimately discover new abilities and talents. Special Olympics was best described by Sargent Shriver, Chairman of the Board of Special Olympics Inc., when he wrote that Special Olympics is unique and important because of the ways in which Special Olympics inspires and reveals the very best in human nature. ``It has become,'' he wrote, ``one of the most encouraging and profound developments in modern sports.'' I am pleased to recognize Special Olympics International for 40 years of service and commitment, and I wish the organization success in the years ahead.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in support of this bill from a different perspective. My colleagues from Iowa and California spoke very well about this bill and its purpose. For 31 years, I served in the military under laws that this Congress passed. We knew that we were allowed to kill, but we also knew that this Congress of ours, under the advising and consent agreement in the Senate, had passed a contract with me that I was not to torture. That contract was one that, if I did, I would stain this Nation, and that this Nation then would be held liable, as had been pointed out under the international law that we have accepted for my act of torture. But at the same time, I always knew that I had a contract with this Nation, a Nation of laws, not of men, and that if I were to be tortured, that this Nation would be there for me, that it would uphold its end of this law that we agreed to internationally in 1949--and that was that we would hold another country liable for that act of torture against me, someone who wore the cloth of this Nation for 31 years. That contract--that this Nation is actually a Nation of laws and not of men--is what is beat into us day after day in the military. In 1996, one administration passed a law, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, and said, you men, you can sue. Another administration in 2008 passed another law, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, and said, you men, you can, under law, sue. That someone, for whatever reason, decided that this contract with our military members would not be upheld I think is a stain on the institution of the Presidency and upon this institution of Congress if we do not uphold that contract with our warriors. The best picture in the Pentagon is one across from the Secretary of Defense's office. It is of a young servicemember kneeling in church and beside him is his young spouse and a young child. And under it you can tell this individual is about to deploy again into harm's way. And there is then noted that wonderful inscription from the Bible where God has turned to Isaiah and says, ``Whom shall I send? Who shall go for us?'' And Isaiah said, ``Here am I, send me.'' We don't serve a man, we serve a Nation of laws. And that's what this is really about today. I urge everyone in this Congress, both sides, and our President, who represents us as our Commander in Chief, to support this bill.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, I want to talk about Rabbi Hyman who just gave the opening prayer. There is a midrash, one of the many parables, that embellish upon the Torah. In this particular midrash, there is a man from the land of Israel, a businessman, who was in another country, and when he was there, he was accused of being a spy. He was then told by the judge that he would be executed. He asked for 30 days to go back to the land of Israel and while there finish up his business and come back. The judge initially laughed, but he turned to him and said, ``My friend will sit in a jail for me, and if I'm not back, he will be executed.'' The judge had to see this, and so the man went into jail. And the gentleman went back to the land of Israel and he finished his business. And he would have made it back in time, except there was a storm at sea. And when he finally arrived there, the man, his friend, was about to be hung, executed. And he yelled out as he came closer, ``It is I who am to be executed, not him.'' But his friend said, ``No, you're too late; it is to be me.'' They caused such confusion and commotion that the two men were brought before the king who had to see this, and after listening to their stories, he said, ``I will forgive you and pardon you on one condition, that I become your third friend.'' There is nothing like a friend in life. You helped me at a hard time, at the beginning of my political career, Rabbi, but more than that, Temple Shalom in my district radiated that peace, that friendship, that loyalty to everyone, that interracial, ecumenical clergy association you headed, not just Anti-Defamation League, but anti-violence summit that you held. Shalom. Thank you for being the friend you are, not just to me, but a dealer of hope to many in my district.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, in recognition of 24 years of devoted service to the United States Air Force and the United States of America. Beginning with his graduation and commissioning from Pennsylvania State University, Col. Iannuzzi has been an extraordinary pilot, leader, husband, and father. A Veteran of OIF, OEF, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he has played a vital role in a revolution in military operations unlike any in the history of warfare. In the course of his career he has lived throughout the United States and overseas. As such, he understands on personal and professional levels the vital role the United States plays in shaping world events. As a squadron CO he had enormous influence on thousands of young men and women who will forever remember his strength in difficult situations, and use his example to shape their decisions in response to life's challenges. However, Colonel Iannuzzi's greatest accomplishment is his family. His many achievements would lack full meaning without the love of his wife Maria and three children. Absent their inspiration and support, the long deployments and many separations would have been unimaginable. For 24 years Col. Iannuzzi has stood watch for his family and his country. I represent all Americans, and particularly your friends and neighbors in Delaware County, when I say thank you for a job extremely well done, and welcome home!

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, this August and September students will be returning back to their colleges and universities. It's a great time. And yet we're reminded by the comments on either side of the aisle that they're not going to be immune from the unique challenges that face us in the realities of our own homes elsewhere in the cities and suburbs of America. The tragic shootings at Virginia Tech, which ended in the death of 32 people, or the shootings at Northern Illinois University, where 24 people were shot and six died, emphasizes the importance of this issue of campus safety. As my colleague mentioned, the Department of Education noted that between 2004 and 2006 there were not only 8,000 forcible sex offenses, 9,000 aggravated assaults, 3,000 cases of arson, but also 37 homicides on the colleges and universities of what we like to think are our ivory towers. We also know that between one-fifth and one-fourth of female students will become the victim of a completed or an attempted rape--usually by someone they know--during their undergraduate careers, and yet less than 5 percent of the cases are ever reported. The National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that each year there are over 1,700 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 who will die from unintentional alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle accidents. That's why this resolution is so important, originally introduced by a colleague on the other side of this aisle in 2005, and the idea of a national nonprofit organization in my district, Security on Campus--King of Prussia, Pennsylvania is their home base--founded by the parents of which you noted, my colleague, by the parents of a 19-year-old college freshman, Jeanne Clery, who was raped and killed in her bed in college. In 2007, 150 colleges came together from 42 States and the city of Washington, D.C. to participate in programs on campus security; this was up from 50 the year before. This year, we expect over 350 colleges to come together. This is not the step, but it is a step towards eliminating an issue that we all have cared about, that of our children and their security, particularly when they are there to have education security. I urge all my colleagues to show their concern for the safety of the more than 15 million students we have in this great Nation of ours. And I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of a remarkable individual on the occasion of his induction into the United States Marine Corps Hall of Fame: Dr. Joshua ``Josh'' Culbreath, a native of Norristown, PA and an Olympic athlete, who distinguished himself as a community leader. Dr. Culbreath was a bronze medalist as a member of the United States' 400 meter hurdling team in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, part of an American clean sweep of the medals in that race. As a star track and field athlete, he was a state high school champion and was a three time national 440 yard hurdles champion, setting a world record in that event. Dr. Culbreath recognized that ``sport determined his destiny.'' A confident and self-motivated individual, he set seemingly insurmountable goals for himself. In addition to his brilliant racing career, Dr. Culbreath dedicated more than 60 years of his life as an educator and high school, college, and university track and field coach, sharing his knowledge, expertise, and love for track and field with aspiring athletes. The athletic accomplishments of his students are astonishing, as they won ten collegiate national titles. As the Director of Athletics at Morehouse College, Dr. Culbreath developed an athletic program that received national acclaim and Central State University named a new track, the Josh Culbreath Track, in his honor. Dr. Culbreath also took pride in tutoring his athletes, with more than 90 percent of them graduating from college. The Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters awarded to Dr. Culbreath by Edward Waters College is clearly deserved. On the international stage, he represented the United States as a lecturer, coach and sports ambassador in Iraq and India. In particular, he must be commended for his humanitarian work with the International Cultural Exchange Program, which resulted in a groundbreaking integrated competition in Africa between Black and White athletes, who raced in Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nysaland. In the United States he led integration efforts in Hollywood, Florida, using his stature as a record-setting athlete and talent as a communicator to unite people in that community. His work produced integration in housing complexes and at sporting events. Dr. Culbreath also served as a community leader by helping in the development and implementation of Plans for Progress in Philadelphia, a forerunner of the national Affirmative Action Program. He also assisted in the development of an affirmative action and equal employment opportunity program for the Sperry/Unisys Corporation. Through his work as a motivational speaker and lecturer, Dr. Culbreath has touched the lives of a diverse audience, appearing before corporate, governmental, and collegiate groups to discuss motivation and education, Olympic sports, and international athletics issues. Madam Speaker, I ask that we pause and salute Dr. Culbreath, father of Sandra Allen Penn, Khaliq T. Culbreath (deceased), Maliq R. Culbreath, Jahan L. Culbreath, and Camille A.M. Culbreath, for his amazing athletics achievements, his extraordinary accomplishments as a community leader and his commitment to improving the lives of others.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of a husband, father, grandfather, and Veteran, who, through hard work and determination, fulfilled the American dream. Irving Klothen, who passed away on Thursday, June 12, at age 84, believed strongly in the principles of democracy and took full advantage of his opportunities in the United States, building a prosperous family and successful career after narrowly escaping Nazi Germany. A German Jew born shortly after the end of World War I, Irving Klothen barely avoided deportation by the Nazis when he and his parents fled their native Berlin in 1941. Mr. Klothen displayed his strong work ethic and his resolve to make the most of his abilities as he simultaneously completed his secondary education at night school and worked full time for a picture-framing company. In 1943, Mr. Klothen entered the U.S. Army and his service included guarding German POWs in France, where he met the love of his life, Miriam Frank. He and Miriam, another Jewish refugee from Berlin, married in 1944. Following the war, Mr. Klothen graduated from New York University with a degree in chemical engineering and would receive several patents for his work with animal-feed additives. His expertise led to business trips that turned into family vacations with his son and wife across the globe. As an employee of American Cyanamid Co, he traveled to Europe, Latin America and Asia. Mr. Klothen, a loving father of his son Ken and loving grandfather of Erich and Rebecca, never forgot his roots and the family he left behind to move to the United States. In 1989, he visited the Berlin Jewish School, which he attended more than four decades earlier. He committed to assisting the new German Jewish community through work at the now- Jewish High School of Berlin. Even last year, he funded a program to allow teachers from that institution to visit Jewish schools in the United States. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in paying tribute to Irving Klothen. Through his beautiful family, and his contributions to Jewish communities in America and Germany, he has left a lasting contribution that we can all admire.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, 12,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year; 2,000 will not make it with their cancer to the end of this year. But there's no real face to those numbers until you've had it happen to you. As my new, wonderful friend from Ohio had it with her beautiful daughter, Caroline, or I did with my 4-year-old daughter Alex, nothing in my 31 years in the military, whether it was the ravages of being in war or whether it was the challenges of a cold peace, ever prepared for me for those words ``tumor,'' ``cancer,'' the words that need to be removed from our vocabulary by eradicating it from the lives of our children. When you live in a cancer ward and oncology ward, you see such hope as a child, your child, holds your hand and puts all that hope in you as a parent, knowing that you're going to make it all right. And at the same time, as you so well know, you see such hopelessness at times in the oncology ward when there's nothing else to be done. I came down today to speak of you. You really do take that wonderful dictum of Hubert Humphrey to fruition, that ``the moral test of a government is how well it does take care of those in the dawn of life, the children, so that they might see the twilight of life as seniors. The only sad thing about today is that you won't be here next year. In the Bible, Jonathan and David, as they departed, the two great warriors, for the very last time, Jonathan said to David, ``Tomorrow thou shalt be missed because thy seat shall be empty.'' Your seat won't be empty because you have left such a wonderful legacy behind for my daughter, so she will have a chance in the future, if it does come back. Because you all will, in this legacy, not only for her, but for so many, have given them the opportunity, those in the twilight of life, to know the dawn of life, to see the twilight of life as seniors. So thank you for her that, yes, we, as parents, can make it all right. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill. And thank you very much.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2008 gathering of the USS Ponchatoula Shipmates Association. As these remarkable Sailors, their families and friends spend time together this week, they represent over sixty years of dedication to the Navy's core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. These patriotic Americans keep alive the memory of their courageous predecessors who sailed into harms way aboard namesakes of USS Ponchatoula from 1944 until 1992. In that timeframe Sailors of that proud ship fought in WWII, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and other crises around the world. It is important that we all pause to imagine the courage and stamina it took to sail AOG-38 almost immediately from shakedown cruise into the battle of Okinawa. Carrying over a thousand tons of highly flammable fuel and limited to a maximum speed of ten (10) knots, the crew of only 62 brave souls spent days defending their precious cargo, and one another so that innumerable ships and small craft could support the invasion of Okinawa. All the while they knew that a torpedo, Kamikaze attack, or a simple electrical or propulsion fire could cause their ship and all onboard to be quickly lost in a conflagration of the most devastating form. With her mission complete AOG-38 got underway 14 December 1945 to transit home to the United States for deactivation. Thankfully, it is a custom of our great Navy to reward the courageous performance of a ship and crew in combat by renaming a successor to that ship. And so it was, when USS Ponchatoula (AOG-38 and later T-AO- 148) was built by proud craftsmen, some no doubt from the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, in Camden, NJ and commissioned in January 1956. From 1956 until 1992 new generations of U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command Mariners served proudly over most of the globe in supporting the ever expanding striking power of our naval forces. In my thirty-one years of naval service, I was often reminded that ``tactics are for amateurs and logistics are for experts.'' It has been ships and crews like the USS Ponchatoula who have been the foundation of our nation's sea power by affording naval commanders and planners the logistics, mobility, flexibility and persistence necessary to win every engagement and deter many more. Madam Speaker it gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the efforts of my constituent and Navy Veteran, Mr. John J. Bury of Media, PA and the officers of the USS Ponchatoula Shipmates Association for their commitment to their ship, one another and the future Sailors who will answer our nation's call to go down to the sea in defense of our precious freedoms. To the USS Ponchatoula Shipmates Association our nation says ``Bravo Zulu'' and God Speed.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable man and his equally remarkable family. Mr. Peter Quinn of Wallingford, PA is a man of many talents--each of enormous value to our community. He is deeply spiritual, with extraordinary compassion for those in our society who struggle with a wide range of personal challenges. A graduate of Villanova University and a peerless teacher and guidance counselor at Bishop McDevitt High School in Philadelphia, Pete Quinn possesses a unique capacity to positively influence young people. That quality was never clearer than when he left Bishop McDevitt to become a founder and prime mover behind ``The Bridge'' at Fox Chase. This creative residential substance abuse treatment program is a safe harbor for teenagers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and a model behavioral health service program. While at The Bridge, Pete worked tirelessly to see that young men with substance abuse problems received innovative treatment and, most importantly, that they had a role model for life in the person of Pete Quinn. Following that signal achievement, Pete became a valuable member of the Philadelphia business community while serving as the Government Relations Director and Community Outreach Coordinator for one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms. For nearly a decade he promoted responsible corporate programs to help the community he loves so dearly. In June 2008, Pete Quinn will complete his fourth impressive career when he retires as founding executive director of the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association (TMA). In that capacity Pete contributed directly to the economic vitality of the 7th Congressional District by advancing hundreds of transit improvements, including the 422 River Crossings Projects, I-76/I-476 TSM project and many more. Without doubt, however, Pete's greatest accomplishment is his loving and devoted family. His wife Maryanne, the love of his life and best friend, has been one of the area's finest Latin teachers for nearly two decades at the Haverford School. Their daughter Maryanne, her mother's namesake, scholarly equal and successful business leader, is married to Mr. Bryan Hancock with 2 beautiful children, Will and Hugh. Pete Quinn Jr, husband to Kristen and father of Warner and Anderson, reflects the best of his father. A graduate of the US Naval Academy and F-18 Hornet pilot, he's currently serving our nation as we fight wars on two fronts. Madam Speaker I ask that we pause and salute Pete and Maryanne Quinn, their exceptional children and grandchildren for representing the epitome of a life well lived in loving service to one another, their community and our great nation.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Speaker, on behalf of all the citizens of the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Montgomery on its 35th Anniversary. RSVP of Montgomery County, established in 1973, promotes voluntarism among persons 55 years of age and older, and provides opportunities for them to pursue their interests and use their abilities to help meet critical human needs in Montgomery County. This double mission is beneficial to all concerned. Major findings from more than 30 rigorous and longitudinal studies have found that seniors who volunteer have greater longevity, higher functionality, lower rates of depression, and less incidence of heart disease. With the large number of baby boomers (27 percent of the population) now reaching senior adulthood, RSVP's mission is becoming increasingly relevant to society as a whole. While volunteers are bettering their own lives, they are contributing invaluable service to the community at large. Last year RSVP of Montgomery County's 1,300 volunteers contributed more than 100,000 hours to 300 nonprofit agencies and 11 special programs that RSVP has developed to assist vulnerable sectors of society. In the area of arts and culture, 112 volunteers contributed 7,725 hours assisting 30 museums, libraries, historical sites, nature preserves, cultural organizations, and performance groups. In the area of health, 253 volunteers contributed 30,000 hours working in 48 hospitals, hospices, rehab centers, adult day care centers, nursing homes, the American Red Cross, March of Dimes, Easter Seal Society, Wellness Center, and organizations dedicated to specific diseases. In the area of Human Services, 691 volunteers contributed 36,000 hours working in 78 various human service agencies throughout the county including the Women's Center, Manna on Main Street, Meals on Wheels programs, hotlines, shelters, soup kitchens, and more. Within the 11 RSVP programs, 45 trained volunteers contributed 3,018 hours of service tutoring over 300 American and foreign-born adults in GED, ESL and basic literacy programs; 61 trained volunteers contributed 2,153 hours working with 200 young elementary school children, helping them improve their reading skills and confidence; 17 trained volunteer counselors contributed 1,908 hours assisting more than 1,000 seniors with health insurance concerns; 77 volunteers contributed 2,634 hours assisting frail/homebound elders with nonmedical tasks of daily living; 15 volunteers contributed 851 hours reading to Head Start children on a regular basis; 30 volunteers at Gwynedd Estates contributed more than 500 hours wrapping new gift books for Head Start children; 9 volunteers contributed 213 hours visiting special needs children in their homes on a weekly basis, providing the children with companionship and skill reinforcement while affording their families needed respite time and emotional support; 77 mentors contributed 6,967 hours meeting on a one- on-one, long-term basis with 82 elementary, middle, and high school students whose potential is compromised by difficult life circumstances; 27 volunteers contributed 481 hours enhancing emergency preparedness awareness in Montgomery County; 84 volunteers contributed 6,738 hours as tutors, aides, docents, and presenters to children in schools and agencies serving youth; 88 volunteer speakers and trained clowns contributed 2,064 hours making topical presentations and providing entertainment to community organizations, clubs, and nursing homes; and 44 retired executives, professionals, managers, and technicians contributed 2,973 hours helping nonprofit agencies build their capacity and enhance their service delivery. Just two examples of RSVP volunteers in action are: Ron, a retired businessman, has been a mentor to two brothers--Josh who is 10 and Nathan who is 12--through the Pretoge program. Originally, Ron was matched with Josh, but he said it broke his heart to leave Nathan behind when they went on excursions because the brothers are like ``two peas in a pod''. The boys' mother is seriously ill with Scleroderma and disabled. There is no family in the area except for an absentee father. The boys take care of their mother by cooking, cleaning, feeding her when necessary and remaining quiet so that she can rest. Both boys are motivated to do well and are well- behaved, but needed someone to build their confidence and take them on outings. Ron has taken them to the Camden Aquarium, the National Constitution Center, Fireman's Hall, the Auto Show, ball games, movies, and amusement parks. Ron is married but never had children. On Fathers Day last June the boys called him to wish him an honorary Fathers Day. At Pretoge's 10th anniversary event in November, Ron brought the boys and their mother. At that event, the mother asked to stand and thank Ron and Pretoge for all they have done for her children. Volunteer, Jan, goes once a week to Conshohocken Head Start where she spends two hours reading to the children. She also tries to cultivate their observational skills through various activities such as putting an item in a bag and asking the children to feel it and guess what it is; or putting items on a tray, having the children look at them, and then covering them with a towel and asking the children to remember what they saw. I applaud this great organization and their volunteers for all the work they have done and look forward to RSVP of Montgomery County's next 35 years of helping seniors help others.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Chairman, there are 8,500 autistic children in the U.S. military. Only 700 get intervention help. Part of the reason is that they, military families move every 2 to 3 years, and if they try to apply to their States into the right intervention help, they don't have enough time to get that. The other problem is the TRICARE program has in place what's called Echo, where they get, after they wait quite some period of time, 1 hour of help each day. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it should be 5 hours minimum a day, and the National Research Council says 8 hours minimum a day. This amendment, amendment 10, merely says at this time let's give them at least 2 hours a day. And then, because of Mr. Skelton, because of Congresswoman Davis, because of Congressman Snyder, this amendment is here today. Also in the bill is a study to see if we can't place them under standardized TRICARE plans so they can get everything that they need. I very much appreciate your help, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Chairman, I stood here a year ago and borrowed time from the other side to speak with my good colleague from Georgia against an amendment from my good colleague from Massachusetts that had defunded this school. This school is everything you say it is. It has come a long way since the days of the School of the Americas. And I told the story of how I pulled into, during my 30 years in the military, one country where young officers got underway with us. And as the officers left, one of them said to me, You treat your enlisted different than we do. And I said, What do you mean? He said, You treat them as though they're equal to you. And I said, Well, they say ``yes, sir,'' ``no, sir.'' He said, No. You treat them as though they're equal human beings. We don't. That's what's good about this School of the Americas. They're exposed to us, Americans. But I took two other things away that day. That young man was attracted to us. Even though they respected the power of our economy and our military, he admired the power of our ideals. That's what is good about being attracted to our ideals. I believe also in transparency because the second thing is I learned in this those 30 years that I did not work, even though I took orders from the Commander in Chief of this Nation, I worked for the public citizens of this country. They deserve to know how I was doing my job, whether it was leading men or women into harm's way or whether it was whom I was working with as long as it was safe for them. I do believe that 40-some years of having told who these individuals were to change it, it eludes me why now it is a danger. I support the ideal of transparency. It was attracted into my ship that day, and that's why I always support this School of the Americas now that I know it's WHINSEC because of the good it can do in teaching transparency to those elsewhere.

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Chairman, I rise to claim time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. SESTAK. Madam Chairman, first I want to acknowledge my esteemed colleagues Congresswoman Schwartz and Patrick Murphy, and I very much respect what they're trying to do for the citizens of their districts. However, I have stood in this Chamber and watched Representatives Costello, Oberstar, Andrews, and many others try to bring about transparency to the Federal FAA and to resolve the chaos that is presently in our air traffic management systems. We have had an FAA that has covered over the safety violations at Northwest and Southwest Airlines, letting 117 planes fly with safety violations. NASA has said there are twice as many near midair collisions than that FAA is reporting, with an 11 percent increase on near runway collisions last year over the previous year. I bring that up because I have also watched in my district, which is near both of my esteemed colleagues. And the FAA has now, after a period of time studying one option, has said that they will now no longer have aircraft take off from Philadelphia International Airport and stay over Delaware River, but they will now turn over my citizens, whom I care just as deeply about, at 500 feet. The statistical studies that have been provided to the FAA that they have ignored means that the children under those aircraft will lose 1 year of education between pre-K and high school and they will be at the highest risk of the number one killer disease in America, cardiovascular disease. And when the FAA Administrator was asked what is the cost of this? she answered to Representative Andrews, ``We don't know.'' We don't know the financial cost nor do we know the social cost. That is why the Government Accounting Office is investigating this one option. The study is due out this summer. There are 12 cases of litigation from four States that are trying to stop this option. Therefore, I want to work and intend to work to stop this, but I am standing here today because I believe no option should be taken off the table until a comprehensive Federal, local, and regional air traffic management plan has been conducted, and then we should work together, joining together, so that no one will be advocating at Willow Grove any civilian airport nor should they be flying over my district.

Mr. SESTAK

Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I have asked the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation to make available to the public a technical explanation of the tax provisions of H.R. 6081. The technical explanation expresses the committee's understanding and the legislative intent behind this important legislation. This explanation, document JCX-44-08, is currently available on the Joint Committee's Web site. General Leave

Mr. SESTAK. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6081, as amended.

Mr. SESTAK. I yield the gentleman from Washington 2 minutes. (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SESTAK. I yield the gentleman 30 additional seconds.

Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I joined up in the military during the Vietnam conflict, and at that time, and still today, we don't have human resource departments in the U.S. military. You tend, as a young division officer, to take care of the challenges that your young men and women have, and their families yourself, whether it's an eviction notice or whether it's a health issue, or whether it is, as thousands at that time and through the eighties used to have to go out and get their food stamps in order to continue their quality of life, you took care of them. This bill takes a significant step, I believe. As Mr. Rangel insinuated, it's a small step, but it is a significant step. I say that because the most moving picture I have ever seen in the Pentagon is one that is across from the Secretary of Defense's office. It's of a young servicemember kneeling in church and alongside of him is his wife and a young child. And under it is this great saying from the Bible, where God turns to Isaiah and says, ``Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'' and Isaiah replies, ``Here am I. Send me.'' We send them, and we need to welcome them when they come back. The commissary bags also used to have on them, ``The hardest job in the military is a military spouse.'' What this bill does is takes care of the cost of life. But it also is significant that it takes care of the cost of loss of life. Because what distinguishes this profession from anyone else's is that it has the dignity of danger about it, where the loss of life may occur. So in this bill it ensures if an employer still wants to, even after a death of a servicemember, contribute to his retirement plan, he can. It also then permits the spouse, having lost a servicemember, can actually then place this military gratuity benefit into an IRA without any penalty. It does much for our servicemembers; that lets them take combat pay, for example, and place it towards earned income so that they can move into the middle class as an earned income tax credit. In my mind, this is an excellent bill that has come out, and it has bipartisan agreement. But the reason I think this is so important today is that our servicemembers returning from overseas, 19 percent of them have post-traumatic stress disorder, 33 percent of them have a mental challenge, from depression to anxiety. This war is different. In World War II, the average soldier went into battle 182 days. He had time to rest in between major battles to get his nerves back in shape. Our soldiers in Iraq go outside the wire every day for 15 straight months into a combat-like situation. They are a strong generation, but this war is different. So therefore as we keep that in mind for those who say, Here am I, send me, we should also keep in mind that what we are doing here is when the great warriors Jonathan and David departed for the last time in the Bible, Jonathan turned to David and said, Tomorrow there shall be a new moon and thou shall be missed because thy seat shall be empty. This seat should never be empty. It should be filled with a legacy of what they have done for this Nation. This bill, in my mind, takes a step, a small but significant step to remembering that these men and women who have served this Nation should continue to be welcomed home by us with a legacy of thanks that this bill does. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESTAK. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. SESTAK. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth).