Zack Space

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 612, the Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act. This bill extends the eligibility period for receipt of VA hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for veterans who served in combat during--or after--the Persian Gulf War. Currently, the eligibility period for these VA services is two years. This bill lengthens that two year time frame to five years from a veteran's date of discharge or release from service. As we learn more and more about what are increasingly being referred to as the signature wounds of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom--Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder--I believe that this extension of VA care is essential to this Congress' mission to provide comprehensive care to our nation's heroes. Often, a servicemember's battle scars run deeper than what is visible to an outsider. While many bodily injuries sustained are apparent to the naked eye, TBI, PTSD, and other conditions are not easily observed. Diagnosis of these conditions may require lengthy, detailed evaluations by specialists over the course of time. Furthermore, some psychological disorders take months or even years to develop following a servicemember's release from duty. Some chronic physical conditions also take time to peak and subsequently diagnose. By extending eligibility to VA care to five years, we are helping to ensure that fewer physical and mental wounds go undiagnosed and untreated. We are helping to ensure that the care that veterans seek out and receive is more complete by enabling the VA to address more of servicemembers' health needs. Most importantly, we are offering another way to better care for our nation's wounded warriors who have sacrificed the best years of their lives. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 612 because it is an improvement upon the current system. General Leave

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker, today, May 3, 2007, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome home 13 members of the Ohio Army National Guard's Sentinel Platoon of the 2-174th Air Defense Artillery Battalion. These brave men deserve the thanks and admiration of our nation for the sacrifices they have made as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I know I speak for many when I say that we are forever indebted to the heroism exhibited by: SGT Adam D. Binckley, SGT Clinton O. Bozenske, SGT Eric M. Coffman, SPC Christopher S. Dearth, SPC Adam C. Dick, SGT Daniel S. Holdren, SPC Bryan D. Lee, SPC Todd W. McCutcheon, SGT Kyle W. McDaniels, SFC Kevin L. Mettler, SSG Nathan A. Stewart, SGT Christopher J. Weeks, and SGT Shawn E. Wiseman. I commend these Guardsmen for heeding the call to serve our nation, and I applaud their families for simultaneously sacrificing alongside of their loved ones. So often the parents, spouses, and children of deployed soldiers and reservists are the support systems our men and women need to accomplish the difficult tasks that they are asked to undertake. The 13 men I've named should be forever proud of the commitment, courage, and strength of character that they possess. Their selflessness should serve as an example to us all. Again, I offer my most sincere gratitude to the 13 members of the Ohio Army National Guard's Sentinel Platoon of the 2-174th Air Defense Artillery Battalion.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare).

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from California, Chairman Miller.

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Space-Hare-Welch-Altmire amendment to H.R. 1429. Mr. Chairman, I believe that Head Start is critical for our Nation's working families. We are a Nation founded on equality and opportunity for all. All of our Nation's children deserve the opportunity to participate in early childhood development programs regardless as to the financial standing of their families. Head Start programs in rural areas face many unique challenges in delivering services. The January 2007 report from the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services confirms the unfortunate reality that rural Head Start programs are, in many ways, disadvantaged. Simply put, in rural and geographically isolated areas the distance between Head Start providers and participants is a significant mountain to climb. Especially as gas prices continue to stretch both program and household budgets, the cost of transportation can be prohibitive. These distances can also impede Head Start programs from reaching out to families eligible to participate. It is certainly a tragedy when families can't enjoy the opportunities offered by Head Start programs because they didn't know about them, not because they weren't there. I am particularly concerned about barriers to parental involvement. I believe that parental involvement fostered by Head Start programs is incredibly important. There is no responsibility of our society more sacred or profound than raising our children. Bringing parents together to share in this experience strengthens our communities, creating bonds that can bring them closer together. In rural areas, parental involvement is again a challenge. The realities of less advantaged areas can keep parents away from these programs. This is simply a missed opportunity to build our communities. I believe that H.R. 1429 offers significant improvements to rural Head Start programs, and I applaud the work of my colleagues on the Committee on Education and Labor for making assistance to these areas a priority. In particular, I wish to thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Hare) for his amendment in committee that draws attention to the challenges of teacher retention and the recruitment of new participants in our Nation's rural areas. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 252, a resolution commemorating the 45th anniversary of John Herschel Glenn, Jr.'s historic first orbit around the Earth. John Glenn's accomplishments and service to his country made him an inspiration to a generation of young men and women like me. He was a source of pride for our Nation. His contributions to space exploration helped to change our Nation's way of thinking about the new frontier and taught a generation of Americans to dream big. I am honored that this true American hero was born, raised and educated in Ohio's 18th District. Born in 1921 in Cambridge, Ohio, and raised in nearby New Concord, John Glenn attended New Concord High School and earned a bachelor of science degree from Muskingum College in New Concord. John Glenn began his distinguished military career by enlisting in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program, going on to become a Marine pilot, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross on six occasions and the Air Medal with 18 clusters. After leaving the military, John Glenn became a test pilot for the Naval Air Test Center. In 1957 he set a speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in 3 hours 23 minutes. While these achievements are without question remarkable and cause for celebration, Madam Speaker, they are not what bring us here today. We are here to appreciate John Glenn's accomplishments in a space flight that revolutionized how Americans viewed space exploration. In the 1950s, the concept of sending a man into space was foreign to most Americans. A mere 50 years after the Wright brothers made their first brief attempts at manned flight, the prospect of propelling a human being into outer space was daunting. In 1959, John Glenn volunteered to become one of the original seven astronauts in the Mercury program, the first manned space flight program in the United States. Several years later, John Glenn embarked on his mission. In February of 1962, he became the first man to orbit the Earth, completing that feat three times over. Madam Speaker, I understand that Senator Glenn knew there was a significant chance he would not survive the flight. I had the pleasure of a conversation with Senator Glenn recently where he told me that he chose to go on the mission because it was the right thing to do, knowing full well he may not return. And it was the right thing to do not for himself, but for America. A year earlier than that, President Kennedy announced a bold new mission to place a man on the Moon. The success of John Glenn's flight helped bring credence and merit to President Kennedy's goal. Americans saw that what was once impossible was now possible. The possibilities suddenly seemed endless. Following the end of his career in aeronautics, Ohio was the fortunate benefactor of John Glenn's public service when he became a United States Senator. He served the State with dignity and honor for 28 years before retiring. Of course, space exploration was never far from his heart. After retiring from the Senate, he joined the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery and became the oldest man to ever venture into space. Madam Speaker, I have had the privilege of meeting this American hero. I am struck by his humility and his passion for service to his country. Time and again, he risked his life for the benefit of the American people. He prioritized the good of the whole over the good of the one, and for that I will always admire him. As a freshman Member of Congress, I often look for examples to follow. For me, John Glenn, along with his beautiful wife, Annie, represent the absolute best this country has to offer. They have shown courage in the face of adversity and selflessness for the sake of making our country better pride. They have instilled in all of us the hope and inspiration and pride that swells the heart and enriches our world. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to commemorate an achievement that was the catalyst for space exploration and scientific advancement in the United States.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 71, a measure commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading voice for the nation's 1.3 million American citizens of Greek ancestry and Philhellenes. First founded in July of 1922, AHEPA focused on responding to the bigotry and racism that was targeted at Greeks in early 20th century American society. The organization also concentrated on helping Greek immigrants assimilate into society. Today, the mission of AHEPA has evolved to reflect better times. Now, members of AHEPA concentrate on working to promote Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, and family and individual excellence--all of which are pillars of both the organization and Greek society. The principles of Hellenism--humanity, freedom, and democracy--have been broadcast around the world. In fact, not surprisingly, they were the principles that America's Founding Fathers looked to for inspiration in forming a new government. In fact, American representative democracy, as we know it, is rooted in the philosophy and ethos of the Greeks. Greek-Americans, such as myself and 1.3 million others, are fortunate to have the outreach and leadership that AHEPA provides to our community. Thousands of students have had the opportunity to take advantage of AHEPA's scholarship programs. Over the years, countless volunteer hours have been donated to worthwhile projects such as the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. With chapters across the nation, AHEPA communicates its members' positions to local and Federal legislators to ensure that Greek-American views play a role in not just the history, but also the future, of our Nation. As a member of the Hellenic Caucus and as a Greek-American, I am proud to support H. Con. Res. 71. AHEPA deserves this recognition on the occasion of its 85th Anniversary for all that the organization has done and all that it will continue to do.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in acknowledgement of last week's consideration and passage of H. Res. 228, a bill recognizing the 186th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and American democracy. I am honored to have supported a bill whose significance is so extensive and which has such enormous personal meaning to me. My paternal grandfather emigrated from Greece in the early 20th century and earned his citizenship in his new country by fighting in World War I. My father, Socrates, continued the Space family's patriotic tradition by serving in the Marines during the Korean War. After the war, my father attended Ohio State's law school, thanks to the GI Bill. I am immensely proud of my Greek heritage, but I'm also proud of the Greek American community. In fact, I'm proud of the symbiotic relationship between my Greek heritage and the Greek-American legacy. The opportunities afforded to my father and my father's father in America were--in my opinion--a result of the democratic by-products of freedom and liberty that Americans enjoy, thanks to the Greeks. Early on, America's Founding Fathers looked to the ancient Greeks and their enlightened society for inspiration in forming a new government. In fact, American representative democracy, as we know it, is rooted in the philosophy and ethos of the Greeks. Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of this wonderful Nation's independence, it's important that we continue to recognize the significance of Greek contributions to the global society. As an American, and as a Greek, I very much support the sentiment of H. Res. 228.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1284, a bill that will increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and also increase the rates of dependency and indenmity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and as the son and grandson of American veterans, I fully support the implementation of this bill. Passing H.R. 1284 is a matter of fairness to our veterans. These brave men and women sacrificed the best years of their lives in service to our nation, and they deserve all the resources they were promised and have earned. As the cost of living increases each year, so should the funds set aside for our nation's wounded warriors. It is unreasonable to ask our veterans to pay out of pocket for the services that they were promised, but that is unfortunately what happens when day-to-day living costs exceed veterans' disability compensation. For many veterans living on fixed incomes, they need the annual cost of living adjustment. Congress has an obligation to pass a cost of living adjustment measure to ensure that these veterans can continue their current standards of living and cover the costs of their basic needs. H.R. 1284 also makes certain that the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of disabled veterans keep pace with annual inflation. The spouses and children of veterans often suffer silently on the sidelines as their loved ones struggle with combat-related disabilities. We owe it to veterans' strongest support network--the families of veterans--to meet their needs when addressing a cost of living adjustment. I believe that Members on both sides of the aisle can and should rally behind this bill, as well as H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, and H.R. 797, a bill to improve vision compensation benefits for veterans. I urge the speedy passage of all three of these bills on behalf of Ohio 18's 66,000 veterans and all of America's veterans,

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker, both high-ranking Pentagon officials and the White House have said that they were shocked to learn of the shoddy treatment wounded soldiers were receiving at Walter Reed. They say the first time they heard about this treatment was from The Washington Post investigation last month. Madam Speaker, there is simply no way that the Bush administration did not know that this was a problem before the Post report. Several GAO reports have been conducted at the urging of Congress, and the findings of those reports back up exactly what we are now seeing at Walter Reed. The Washington Post was also not the first media outlet to highlight this problem. Salon magazine reported on the mistreatment of soldiers at Walter Reed 2 years ago. And yet the Bush administration continues to claim that it knew nothing about this until the Washington Post investigation last month. The administration is either completely out of touch or it simply does not believe taking care of our wounded military personnel is a top priority. Either way, it should be a top concern for this Congress and the American people.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with you my belief that we, as a people, are at a crossroads unlike any in our history. We have seen our manufacturing-based economy assaulted by the forces of globalization, the challenges of the ensuing revolution and energy production squarely upon us, and we are at the dawning of a new understanding, the fragileness of our environment. All of these things are, in their own right, seminal concerns of a profound scale, but in spite of the gravity and import of these issues, there is perhaps no more compelling matter before us than that of the war in Iraq. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle are distressed by the tragic turns that this war has taken. I do not, at this moment, nor do my colleagues, I presume, wish to draw upon the motivations or lack of candor exhibited by our President in letting slip the dogs of war. But I do long for leadership, leadership seasoned and honest enough to admit when a mistake has been made, leadership that has a vision for the future, leadership able to meld the inherent wisdom of man with the realities of the modern world. Under our form of government, it is the President who is singularly endowed with this leadership; yet at this critical historical moment, our call for leadership and inspiration has been unmet. As a result, Mr. Speaker, I today voice my opposition to the President's plan to deploy additional troops to Iraq. The crisis that Iraq has become will not be resolved merely with more, more, more, more troops, more tours and deployment extensions, more injuries, more deaths. Simply providing more without a blueprint is not enough. Without a clear plan and a clear objective, a troop increase will not help our Iraq policy. In fact, it will only deepen the disaster that Iraq has become. I do not utter these thoughts lightly. I share these sentiments, knowing that all of the people that I represent will not necessarily agree with me. I fear that my remarks will be misconstrued as reflecting something less than a full commitment to the brave men and women who have served or are serving their country in uniform, or to those heroes who have given their very lives for this cause. Let there be no mistake, Mr. Speaker, I have at the very heart of my motivation for these remarks a sincere appreciation for the sacrifice of our brothers and sisters who have been dispatched to fight this war. They, and their families by extension, have been called into action under trying circumstances, and I am profoundly moved by their sense of courage and dedication to country. In fact, it is my admiration and respect for our brave warriors that motivate my decision to express my dissatisfaction with the President's plan to subject more of them to the ravages of war. To date, over 3,000 Americans have fallen in this war. All of them loved their country enough to place themselves in harm's way in her defense. All of them left behind their families, who will never stop grieving. All of them have been deprived of the pleasures and privileges of a full life, just as we who remain have been deprived of the contributions to our society that each would have given. Fifteen young men from Ohio's district have died in this war, all of them were loved dearly. They are fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands. Ohio's 18th is exclusively rural in makeup, dotted by one small town and village after another. Our people are decent, hardworking, and imbued with a strong sense of personal responsibility. Our community is close knit and supportive. The death of each one of these brave soldiers was met with a deep sense of communal grief. This resolution stresses a message that many believed in. We support our troops, we support their commitment to and sacrifice for our Nation, we support their families and those of the fallen in their silent and eternal heartache. We cannot fully understand their pain, but perhaps we can learn from it. Mr. Speaker, I cannot support a troop surge without real answers as to how it will bring success in Iraq. I cannot support escalation without regard to diplomacy, without regard to the political realities of the region, and without regard to the underlying dynamics of this conflict. There is an unspoken pledge between a soldier of war and the mechanisms of power. That warrior unquestioningly serves, defends and, if need be, dies. In consideration, he expects his government to only place him in harm's way when need be, and only through a painstakingly thought-out plan for victory. Our troops have fulfilled their pledge to our country. It is time that our country fulfill its pledge to our troops.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker, Whereas, Mrs. Smith has shown an extraordinary commitment to her community by volunteering at the Salvation Army in Cadiz, Ohio, and at the Harrison Community Hospital, where she has been president of the Hospital Auxiliary for 4 years; and Whereas, Mrs. Smith has demonstrated values of hard work and service throughout her life, always maintaining a positive outlook; and Whereas, Mrs. Smith has worked for the United States Department of Agriculture, the Scio Pottery Company, Lib Gray's Dressmaker Shop, and as a farmer for many years and still continues her active lifestyle by walking 2 miles every day; and Whereas, Mrs. Smith's character has been praised by her hospital volunteer coordinator, who describes her as ``nothing short of magnificent'' and that her spirit is ``not a day over 14;'' Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that along with her friends, family, and the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I wish Helen Bass-Smith a happy and healthy 90th birthday. We recognize the tremendous impact she has had in her community and in the lives of all those people she has touched.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you to support Federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. My remarks today are made, Mr. Speaker, both as a legislator and as a father. My wife, Mary, and I are the proud parents of two beautiful children. My youngest child, my son, Nicholas is 16 years old. He is a great kid, typical in so many ways. He loves football, argues with his sister and struggles with the awkward challenges of adolescence. But Nicholas also suffers from juvenile diabetes. For the last 10 years, he has waged a battle against this devastating disease, undergoing thousands of injections and blood tests. He has done so without complaint and without self pity as his parents, my wife and I, are extraordinarily proud. As Nicholas approaches adulthood, Mr. Speaker, our family fears for what the future brings. For as difficult as this disease is to live with on a daily basis, most troubling of all is what potentially awaits someone who suffers from this disease: amputations, blindness, kidney failure, even premature death. Mr. Speaker, we have before us not simply an opportunity to help my son and the millions of other Americans who depend upon the promise of this science; we have an obligation. This research represents the only meaningful hope for a cure in my son's lifetime. While this measure is likely to pass, our President is likely to veto it. I am addressing my remarks not to the cameras, not to those who are inclined to vote for this legislation, but to those of you who do not have the will to stand up to a Presidential veto. We as a Congress must be resolute in making life better for our citizens. We are compelled to promote a society where the value of life rules supreme, where compassion prevails and where light overcomes darkness. The measure before you does not destroy life; it potentially gives life to those who need it, and it affords purpose to embryos that are otherwise destined for destruction. There is no time to wait. For every hour we debate, lives are being lost. This is no Golden Dancer. This is indeed a golden opportunity.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you to support this historic rules package. The winds of change have brought me here. I don't think it is too much to say that my very presence before you constitutes a message to this body, a message sent from the good people of Ohio's 18th District. By these presence, I wish to deliver this message on behalf of my constituents. The message is that the legislative process is broken. Rather than serving the needs of working families, this Congress has shown through past actions a preference for serving interests of the privileged few. Nowhere has this been more clear than in the influence wielded by lobbyists. The influence of lobbyists has compromised the reputation and even the health of this body. In order to restore the integrity to this Chamber and restore America's faith in its elected officials, we must undertake substantial ethics reform. Our actions today will not only enhance the most fundamental principles of a democratic society; they will remind our constituents that we are a body of the people and not above the people. The package before you will breach the circle of deceit between lobbyists, their wealthy clients, and this body. It represents long overdue real ethics reform. It bans House Members and their employees from accepting gifts from lobbyists and the organizations that hire them. It prohibits lobbyists from paying for or organizing Member travel, and it eliminates the all-too-common practice of legislative jet-setting. In short, the ethics package is the first step toward restoring integrity and beginning the process necessary to restore faith in our system of government. Coming from a district whose previous Congressman became mired, and then consumed, by scandal, my fellow district residents and I understand all too intimately the perils associated with weak and loosely monitored ethics regulations. We have suffered the frustration, disappointment, and anger associated with betrayal. We have suffered from not having a Member of Congress available to attend to the needs of the citizens of our district. But we are not alone. Other districts have suffered similar letdowns. That is inexcusable, and it is unconscionable. At a moment in time when our Nation needs truly heroic leadership, as the challenges of the changing world continue to grow, this body has failed to step up and lead. The institution of Congress has failed to make clear its commitment to the principles of democracy; and it has frustrated, disappointed, and angered the American public. The winds of change have, indeed, blown many among us into this Chamber, and there is much work to do. We cannot begin our work in good faith without this declaration today that we are of, and not above, the American people. The time to act is now. We have an extraordinary burden to prove to those who have given us this honor. We must make clear to them that we are representing their interests, not bartering legislative favors in order to gain gifts and trips. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this important ethics reform package.