Zack Space

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 496.

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 496, as amended, a bill to authorize appropriations for the Appalachian Regional Commission for 5 years. As we all know, the ARC was established to address the unique problems faced by the isolated Appalachian region that separates it from the economic mainstream. Although this small, well-organized, and well-run agency has accomplished a great deal over its 35-year existence, much more needs to be done. For this reason I enthusiastically support the legislation and the continuation of the ARC. ARC programs affect 406 counties located in 13 States, including all of West Virginia and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. This region covers nearly 200,000 square miles and contains approximately 22 million people. Using criteria based on national averages for income, unemployment, and poverty rates, the ARC administers its programs. Currently of ARC's 406 counties, 114 are considered distressed. ARC'S decision making and service delivery is so efficient that the ARC served as a model for the Delta Regional Authority. The partnership between the Federal Government and the States rests on true shared decision making between the Federal co-chair and the States with funding decisions devolving back to the States. The ARC is successful because it responds to identified and agreed-upon needs and is extremely flexible in its approach. This bill also authorizes the designation of at-risk counties and identifies the percentage of funds for which these counties are eligible. The bill allows the ARC to continue its economic development activities. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar for including provisions I offered during the committee's markup to establish a new economic and energy development initiative. This provision authorizes $65 million over the next 5 years for projects that increase the use of renewable energy resources in the region to promote alternative transportation fuels, electricity, and heat. We all know that economies require energy and infrastructure to thrive. And I believe that alternative energy production will breathe life into the struggling areas of Appalachia. In addition to these potential alternative energy resources, the Appalachian region possesses an extensive industrial manufacturing base that is already engaged in some of these emerging energy technologies, particularly wind turbine components, solar components, photovoltaic panels, and biofuel plants. This provision will enable ARC to fund projects that utilize the region's natural resources in a positive way and to promote the development of renewable energy. We will be invigorating the economies of our Appalachian counties while working to gain energy independence. That is a principle that all of us agree is important. Let me end by saying that what we're doing today is consistent with the forward-looking approach that President John Kennedy employed when he first created the Appalachian Regional Commission in the early 1960s. After witnessing firsthand an Appalachia that was home to, in his words, ``hungry children, old people who cannot pay their doctors' bills, families forced to give up their farms,'' President Kennedy vowed to create a bold, new approach to ridding the region of poverty. Today we're attempting to carry on that legacy. We are boldly seeking to employ 21st-century technologies to bring economic development to a region that for decades has been underserved. I support this bill and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill because it goes a long way to enabling the ARC to fulfill its mission. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from West Virginia, Congressman Rahall.

Mr. SPACE. I reserve my time.

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. This bill helps rectify some of the injustices and inequities that exist in this country with respect to rural America and in particular rural Appalachian America. We who live in Appalachian America understand all too well that we suffer from disadvantages, access to education, access to health care and access to technology put us at a distinct disadvantage. With the price of gas now at $4 plus per gallon, we don't generally have public transportation. We generally have to drive farther to where we need to be, work, school and the doctor. The price of gas has just made this discrepancy all the more onerous and difficult for the folks of Appalachia to bear. Recently, I had the experience of visiting a food line in Zanesville, Ohio, and a food distribution line in Logan, Ohio, where lines of hungry people in Logan over 2 miles long, cars lined up on the side of the road waiting to participate in food drives. We're talking about people that have worked all their lives, senior citizens that can no longer afford to put food on the table. We're talking about young mothers who are working full time yet can't afford to feed their children. This bill will help address many of the inequities and injustice that John Kennedy identified in Appalachia in the early 1960s. In many ways, those same injustices are still present, and these funds represent vital sources of funding for the people that we represent, ``we'' being those of us from Appalachia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Lincoln Davis). (Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, in thanking the gentlewoman from West Virginia for her very able advocacy of this bill, I too yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Belmont, Ohio was founded in August of 1808 by Joseph Wright; and Whereas, the residents of Belmont, Ohio are active, dedicated members of their Ohio community; and Whereas, all citizens of Belmont, both past and present, will be honored with a multiple day bicentennial celebration that will include a pig roast, barn dance, antique car show, and old-fashioned games for children; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Belmont, Ohio and its residents for their contributions to our community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, the dedicated people of Scroggsfield United Presbyterian Church celebrate their 190th anniversary; and Whereas, Scroggsfield United Presbyterian Church was founded in 1818 under the leadership of Rev. Elijah Newton Scroggs; and Whereas, Scroggsfield United Presbyterian Church still opens its doors for weekly services today; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend the congregation of Scroggsfield United Presbyterian Church for their unwavering commitment, dedication and contributions to their community.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Jeffery A. Spencer has served as Executive Director of Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission for over 14 years; and Whereas, Mr. Spencer has tirelessly assisted scores of communities in acquiring over $50 million in critically needed development projects; and Whereas, he continues to support many regional initiatives that bring more development funds and assistance to Southern Ohio; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with his friends, family, and the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Jeffery A. Spencer for his contributions to his community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Eloise Hagan began volunteering with the Red Cross in 1957; and Whereas, Eloise Hagan is 99 years young; and Whereas, she was recognized for her more than 50 years of volunteer service during the American Red Cross of Knox County's 2008 Volunteer Awards program; and Whereas, Eloise Hagan continues to exemplify a special dedication to service and community; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with her friends, family, and the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Eloise Hagan for her contributions to her community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, the Isleta United Methodist Church was built in 1858; and Whereas, the Isleta United Methodist Church is one of the oldest churches in its region; and Whereas, the Isleta United Methodist Church and its members continue to be integral, active participants of their community; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank the Isleta United Methodist Church for contributions to our community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Smyrna United Methodist Church was established in 1858, predating the Civil War; and Whereas, Smyrna United Methodist Church continues to have weekly Bible studies and an active choir; and Whereas, Smyrna United Methodist Church continues to be a central gathering point in the heart of their community; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Smyrna United Methodist Church for contributions to her community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Chairman, the steel industry has a proud tradition in this country. For over 150 years, steel production has been an important symbol of American strength and a critical source of American jobs. In recent decades, the American steel industry has faced an increasingly difficult landscape. Short-sighted free-trade agreements and illegal dumping policies set in place by foreign countries have placed American steel on an uneven playing field with foreign competitors. Facilities have been forced to close, at the expense of countless American jobs. In no place is this change in the industry more apparent than in my home of Ohio. Both my father and my grandfather found gainful employment in steel mills that now lie vacant and unused. Without question, Appalachian Ohio has felt the burden of global shifts in the economy, and I worry about the future of the jobs that remain. This amendment will ensure that American taxpayer dollars are used to support American industries and jobs. At a time when other countries like China are using questionable policies to develop an unfair advantage, there must be a mandate to use American steel with any federal funds. I am proud to lend my support to this amendment and the American steel industry.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker, mental health and substance abuse are an unfortunate reality in my home State of Ohio. Studies suggest that nearly 1 in 5 Ohioans experience some mental illness or emotional disturbance each year, while another 910,000 suffered from substance abuse problems in 2006. Given that these afflictions hurt not only those who suffer from them but their friends and family, these numbers are truly a grave challenge for my state. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of these illnesses to combat is the stigma of mental illness. A lack of understanding of these illnesses perpetrates deep into many of our communities, preventing those who need help the most from seeking it out of fear of losing their family and loved ones. As a result, 236,000 Ohioans failed to seek treatment for mental illness in 2006, and 695,000 opted not to seek support for alcohol use. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I introduced a resolution commemorating the work of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addition Services for its work in combating the negative stigma of mental illness. In October 2007, ODMH and ODADAS launched the ``Think Outside the Stigma'' campaign, which was designed to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness and substance abuse. This innovative campaign is an important initiative that will help encourage more Ohioans to seek the treatment they need. The battle against mental health disorders and drug and alcohol addiction will be a lengthy one. I am pleased that my home state is taking important steps to battle the stigma attached with these challenges.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Elosie Hagan began volunteering with the Red Cross in 1957; and Wheras, Elosie Hagan is 99 years young; and Whereas, she was recognized for her more than 50 years of volunteer services during the American Red Cross of Knox County's 2008 Volunteer Awards program; and Whereas, Elosie Hagan continues to exemplify a special dedication to service and community; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with her friends, family, and the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Elosie Hagan for her contributions to her community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Rankin & Rankin Insurance Agency has served the Zanesville, Ohio community for 80 years; and Whereas, Rankin & Rankin Insurance Agency has grown through hard work and determination since April 9, 1928; and Whereas, Rankin & Rankin continue to provide professional advice and direction for all of their customers; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Rankin & Rankin Insurance Agency for its contributions to its community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Sergeant Lawrence Skaggs served in the United States Army; and Whereas, he was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame of Valor; and Whereas, the local Army Reserve Center in Chillicothe, Ohio bears his name in commemoration of his hard work and dedication; and Whereas, Sergeant Lawrence Skaggs earned the Silver Star, a Purple Heart, Good Conduct, World War II Victory, and Asiatic Pacific Campaign medals for his service; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with his friends, family, and the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Sergeant Lawrence Skaggs for his contributions to his community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, the Winchester Community Church was built in 1858; and Whereas, the Winchester Community Church still holds regular Sunday and weekday services today; and Whereas, the members of the Winchester Community Church are active, important members of our community; and Resolved, that along with the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I congratulate the Winchester Community Church and its members, for their service and dedication.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Warrant Officer Robert D. Gabriel served in the United States Army; and Whereas, he fought with an engaged infantry unit in the Republic of Vietnam; and Whereas, Warrant Officer Robert D. Gabriel displayed personal bravery and devotion to duty as a soldier in the United States Army; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with his friends, family, and the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Warrant Officer Robert D. Gabriel for his contributions to his community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, 2008 marks the 95th anniversary of the carving of the remarkable Ernest Warther's Pliers Tree; and Whereas, in 1933 the Pliers Tree was on display at the Chicago World's Fair; and Whereas, the Pliers Tree remains on display in the Warther Museum in Dover, Ohio today; be it Resolved that along with the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I congratulate the Ernest Warther's Pliers Tree, for reaching this milestone.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Mary C. Polilli is 102 years young; and Whereas, she continues to make voting a priority; and Whereas, Mary C. Polilli continues to be a positive influence on the lives of others and contributes to her state and country; and Whereas, she strives to continue her good works of public service and inspire others to work for the many freedoms guaranteed by our democratic form of government; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with her friends, family, and the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Mary C. Polilli for her contributions to her community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Robert's Men's Shop has been providing excellent service to the people of New Philadelphia, Ohio for 35 years; and Whereas, Robert's Men's Shop has grown and prospered since 1973 through hard work and determination; and Whereas, Robert's Men's Shop was named 2005 Small Business of the Year by the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce; now, therefore, be it Resolved that along with the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Robert's Men's Shop for its contributions to its community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Sergeant Michael L. Art served in the United States Army; and Whereas, he distinguished himself through valorous actions while serving as a Squad Leader with Company A, 4th Battalion, 39th, an engaged infantry unit dispatched to the Republic of Vietnam; and Whereas, Sergeant Michael L. Art displayed personal bravery and devotion to duty as a soldier in the United States Army; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that along with his friends, family, and the residents of the 18th Congressional District, I commend and thank Sergeant Michael L. Art for his contributions to his community and country.

Mr. SPACE

Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Filner, as well as Ranking Member Buyer, for their cosponsorship on this legislation as well as for their work in bringing H.R. 3819, the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act, to the floor today. This legislation has been about a year in the making. Last March, I received a letter from Terry Carson, CEO of Harrison Community Hospital in Cadiz, Ohio, a small town in the 18th Congressional District for the State of Ohio. Mr. Carson wrote to me about a problem he was experiencing in his 25-bed rural hospital when providing emergency care for veterans. Currently, the VA reimburses non-VA hospitals for emergency care provided to veterans up to the point of stabilization. Once the patient is deemed stable enough to transfer, he or she is moved to a VA hospital. The problem that Mr. Carson brought to my attention is that oftentimes, veterans experience a waiting period for a bed in the VA hospital. During this limbo time, the VA is not required to reimburse the community hospital for care. Meanwhile, people like Mr. Carson feel morally obligated to continue care despite the fact that they cannot count on reimbursement. Worse even than non-VA hospitals footing the bill is the case of veterans who are paying out of pocket. The Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act closes this loophole by requiring the VA to cover the cost of care while the transfer to a VA hospital is pending and if the community hospital can document attempts to transfer the patient. I believe this legislation is the best solution for the VA, community hospitals, and, most importantly, our Nation's veterans. To that end, this legislation is supported by the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans Administration itself, and a bipartisan group of our colleagues here in the House. This bill is a perfect example of how our system is supposed to work: a constituent contacts his Member of Congress, the Member listens, and an appropriate commonsense legislative fix is found. I'm proud to have had a chance to advocate for Mr. Carson, to advocate for the veterans he treats, and to advocate for the veterans across the country. Once again, I would like to thank all of my colleagues in this bipartisan effort, and I urge all of those who have not joined thus far in supporting H.R. 3819.