Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the life of an African-American civil rights legend, Mrs. Victoria Gray Adams. Victoria Gray Adams, civil rights activist, co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Victoria Gray Adams and fellow civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer and Annie Devine were chosen as the national spokespersons for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and attended the 1964 Democratic Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Though their efforts to unseat the all-white Mississippi delegation were unsuccessful, these pioneering women and other members of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party's decision to challenge the Mississippi Segregationist political machine resulted in an integrated Mississippi delegation at the 1968 Democratic Convention and became a turning point in the civil rights movement. Mrs. Adams gave account of her civil rights involvement in the documentary ``Standing on My Sisters Shoulders'', in which she recalls the day in 1968 that she along with Fannie Lou Hamer and Annie Devine were the first African-American women to ever be invited as guest on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. She and others were honored at the 2004 Democratic National Convention for their trailblazing spirit and contribution to the civil rights movement. Mrs. Adams would later become the first woman from Mississippi to run for the United States Senate. Mrs. Adams helped change Mississippi politics significantly by guaranteeing a seat at the table to discuss the African-American agenda. Courageous and tenacious, Mrs. Adams had an unyielding commitment to the civil rights movement, and for that reason today Mississippi has the highest number of African-American elected officials in the nation. After attending Wilberforce University for a year, Mrs. Adams returned to Hattiesburg, Mississippi where she taught voter registration classes in the early 1960s and her fight for equality began. While Hattiesburg was 30 percent African-American, only 50 citizens were allowed to register to vote. In 1962, Mrs. Adams dedicated herself to the civil rights movement when she became field secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). She would later move to Thailand and labor on behalf of African-American United States servicemen for several years. In her own words, Mrs. Adams said she learned in 1964 that there were two kinds of people in grass-roots politics, ''those who are in the movement and those who have the movement in them.'' ``The movement is in me'', she said, and ``and I know it always be.'' Please join me today in honoring a true civil rights pioneer, Victoria Gray Adams.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the life of Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., president of Alcorn State University. Dr. Bristow, 57, became president of Alcorn State University, one of three Historically Black public Universities in Mississippi, on August 24, 1995. Prior to becoming president of Alcorn State University and 11 years of service and leadership, Dr. Bristow served as president of the Chicago Board of Education, dean of the College of Business at Chicago State University, and vice president at Olive-Harvey College in Chicago. Dr. Bristow was committed to increasing the percentage of minority students attending graduate and professional school and increasing the public's awareness and appreciation of the value and contributions to society by land grant universities through their research, extension programs, and overall excellence. Under Dr. Bristow's direction, Alcorn doubled the percentage of students attending graduate/professional school, improved retention and established a faculty research incentive program to enhance research in the life sciences, where the university has become a national leader in the production of African-American baccalaureate graduates in the life and agricultural sciences. President Bristow was a visionary who worked closely with the administration and the community to move Alcorn forward academically. He referred to Alcorn State University, a college of 3,500 students situated in rural Mississippi as the ``Academic Resort'' and ``Communiversity.'' He believed in quality education and made a difference in the lives of each of his students and believed that each student could make a difference in the world. The students were inspired by his passion for education and his belief in the success of their careers. Dr. Bristow cared deeply for the students and felt personally responsible for their education and stressed the importance of graduate and professional schools. He established relationships with universities in several countries and was responsible for implementing exchange programs and increasing the number of international student enrollment. President Bristow understood the needs of the university and the Alcorn community and used his shrewd business sense to help secure Federal funds to improve the ``face'' of Alcorn State's campus. Dr. Bristow earned a B.A., J.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and an MBA from Governors State University in University Park, Illinois. The contributions Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr. made to Alcorn State University will never be forgotten. He touched the lives of many students and alumni throughout his 11 year tenure as president of Alcorn and will truly be missed by the university, community, and his colleagues throughout the country. Please join me today in honoring the remarkable life of Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today as Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security in support of H.R. 5337, the Reform of National Security Reviews of Foreign Investments Act. This bill provides needed reform by formalizing and streamlining the structure and duties of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Indeed, this bill addresses many of the concerns raised about CFIUS during the past 6 months, especially its current lack of transparency and oversight. This bill rectifies these concerns by formally establishing CFIUS, its membership, streamlines how and when a CFIUS review will be conducted. Mr. Speaker, the bill formalizes the CFIUS membership and requires the following to serve: (1) Secretaries of Treasury, Homeland Security, Commerce, Defense, State, and Energy; (2) Attorney General; Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors; the U.S. Trade Representative; Director of Office of Management and Budget; Director of National Economic Council; and (3) The Director of Office of Science and Technology Policy; the President's assistant for national security affairs; and any other designee of the President from the Executive Office. Under this bill, the Treasury Department will be the Chair with the Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland Security as the Vice Chairs. CFIUS will conduct a review of any national security related business transaction in which the outcome could result in foreign control of any business engaged in interstate commerce in the U.S. After reviewing the proposed business transaction, CFIUS will make a determination, the outcome of which could require conducting a full investigation if one of three circumstances exists: transaction involves a foreign government-controlled entity; transaction threatens to impair national security and the review cannot mitigate concerns; or National Intelligence Director identifies intelligence concerns and CFIUS could not agree upon methods to mitigate the concerns. Incidents such as the Dubai Ports World (DPW) and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation's attempted bid for control of oil company Unocal raised and increased awareness around transactions that should receive CFIUS review. These incidents highlighted the need for meaningful CFIUS reform. The bill balances the need for continued foreign investment in the United States, but reviewing that investment to determine if it would impair or threaten national security or critical infrastructure. This bill establishes accountability to key Cabinet level agencies and, much like other corporate reform, requires personal action by the Secretaries of Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security. Congressional Research Service's independent report found that for all merger and acquisition activity in 2005, 13 percent of it was from foreign firms acquiring U.S. firms. This is up from 9 percent almost 10 years before. This statistic shows that foreign investment in the U.S. is vital to the economy. Only through this legislation will CFIUS have a formal budget, membership, and clear mission--protecting American security while maintaining a free and growing economy. In closing, let me thank my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee for their leadership on this legislation, especially my Democratic colleagues Representative Carolyn Maloney and Joseph Crowley of New York for their efforts. Congresswoman Maloney actually testified before the Committee on Homeland Security on this legislation, explaining its necessity and importance.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the life and legacy of Ms. Cora T. Walker. Cora Thomasina Walker was born on June 20, 1922, in Charlotte, N.C., one of nine children of William and Benetta Jones Walker. The family moved to the Bronx when she was a child. When she was an adolescent, her parents separated, leaving her, her mother and her siblings dependent on public assistance. After graduating from James Monroe High School in the Bronx, Ms. Walker promptly informed the Welfare Department that their help was no longer required: she would support the family. She took a night job as a teletype operator with Western Union and also sold Christmas cards. At the same time, Ms. Walker was enrolled at St. John's University, then in Brooklyn, in a special 6-year program in which students earned both a bachelor's degree and a law degree. She received a bachelor's degree in accounting from St. John's in 1945 and a law degree the next year. For much of her career, Ms. Walker was active in the National Bar Association, a historically black organization. She helped found the association's Corporate Counsel Conference, an annual meeting sponsored by its commercial law section. In 1947, when Ms. Walker was admitted to the New York bar, she found the doors of the city's law firms tightly shut. (One firm relented and offered her a position--as a secretary.) So she struck out on her own. Active in Republican politics, Ms. Walker ran unsuccessfully for the New York State Senate in 1958 and 1964. In 1970, The New York Times included her--the only woman--on a list of the most powerful leaders in Harlem. In 1960, Cora Walker became the first woman to serve as president of the Harlem Lawyers Association. Until recently her law firm was located in Harlem, first on 125th Street and later from a renovated brownstone on Lenox Avenue. Ms. Walker was the first woman to run for president of the NBA. This is a little known fact by the younger lawyers. A recipient of numerous awards, the annual Black Law Student's Association's Breakfast held at the annual NBA Convention is named in her honor. She retired from the practice of law in 1999. The same year the New York County Lawyers' Association installed a plaque outside her Lenox Avenue law office commemorating her half-century of practicing law. In 1988, she helped found the Corporate Counsel Conference which is still sponsored annually by the Commercial Law and Corporate Law Section of the NBA. Her first client was an undertaker, for whom she did collections. Before her retirement, her firm was representing corporate clients such as Conrail, the Ford Motor Company, Texas Instruments and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Although she was representing corporate clients, she continued to draft wills and represent the ``plain, ordinary, not elegant people'' . Cora T. Walker made an impact on the lives of many black lawyers across the country. She will be dearly missed, but not forgotten. It gives me great pleasure to give tribute to Ms. Cora T. Walker.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 5852, the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006. As the ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation. This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance and improve the capability of first responders to communicate during times of emergency. It does so by improving the coordination of Federal, State, territorial, local and tribal governments as it relates to voice, data and other emerging technologies. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Homeland Security has heard from more than 25 witnesses in the more than six hearings held on the interoperable challenges of emergency communications. We heard from Governors, mayors, first responders, emergency support responders, the heads of Federal agencies with responsibilities for promulgating emergency communication capabilities, as well as experts in the technology sectors of interoperable emergency communications. All in all, Mr. Speaker, the message from the witnesses was twofold: the need for leadership and funding for the deployment of an interoperable emergency communications system. Today, Congress has finally decided to show one of these two things by placing this legislation on the calendar. The timing, days before Members go home before the August recess and only a couple of months before fall elections, does not escape me. Despite the convenience of timing, I am grateful that we are moving forward and finally are doing something to help the men and women on the front lines of our homeland security efforts. This has been a long time coming. When Air Florida Flight 90 crashed in the Potomac Basin in Washington, D.C. on January 13, 1982, Congress learned that there were no provisions for communication interoperability in place. On April 19, 1995, when the white supremacist and homegrown terrorist Timothy McVeigh rammed his flammable truck into the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, the post-investigation revealed that the 117 local, State, and Federal agencies, with more than 1,500 personnel on the scene, were forced to rely on runners to disseminate critical, time sensitive information. Congress must respond. Now, in less than 2 months, this Nation will mark the fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001. On that fateful day, Americans learned that the Nation was vulnerable and unprepared for an attack that killed almost 3,000 people. Among the dead were 343 New York City Fire Department members and 23 New York City Police Department officers. As a volunteer firefighter of 26 years, Mr. Speaker, my heart dropped when I heard of the radio communication failures of that day. Lack of inoperable communication impeded a lot of help that could have gone to those individuals. Four years later, Mr. Speaker, as Hurricane Katrina and Rita struck the gulf coast, the same story emerged. Firefighters and police along the gulf coast didn't have the means to communicate. This legislation will move us closer to fixing the interoperability crisis facing our Nation. As I noted earlier, leadership is only half the solution for the interoperability crisis. All our efforts here today will be for naught if we do not provide funding for the development and deployment of a nationwide emergency communication system. My colleague, Representative Nita Lowey of New York, has repeatedly raised this issue. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the passage of this legislation. In less than two months, this Nation will mark the fifth anniversary of the Al Qaida's attack on the United States. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, millions of Americans watched in shock and horror as American Airline Flight 11 and United Airline Flight 75 torpedoed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City at 8:46 AM and 9:20 AM respectively. Within 17 minutes, the public learned that American Airlines Flight 77 smashed into the Pentagon. Twenty-six minutes later, United Airlines Flight 93 plummeted into a field in Shankville, PA after passengers attempted to deter the terrorists' attempt to fly the plane to Washington, D.C. Al Qaida's villainous assault on American soil killed almost 3,000 people. Among the dead were 343 New York City Fire Department Firefighters and 23 New York City Police Department officers. Americans were startled to learn of the United States' vulnerabilities and lack of preparedness on September 11th. As a former volunteer firefighter of 26 years, I understood instinctively the radio communication challenges the firefighters and police officers faced in New York City. As one who experienced the threat of collapsing buildings and other dangers in the line of duty, I was heartbroken to learn that New York City firefighters never received the police warning to evacuate the North Tower after the South Tower's collapse because their system was not interoperable with the police communication systems. Lack of interoperable communication also impeded the relay of the message that an open stairwell in the South Tower free of debris and obstruction could be used for evacuation. Interoperable or emergency communication capabilities became catch- phrases to the public because of September 11th. However, first responders face the challenge of emergency communications in everyday emergencies and high-profiled public safety events. Members of Congress also know of these challenges. When Air Florida Flight 90 crashed in the Potomac Basin in Washington, D.C. on January 13, 1982, Congress learned that there were no provisions for communication interoperability in place. On April 19, 1995, when white supremacist Timothy McVeigh rammed his flammable truck into the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, the post-investigation revealed that the 117 local, state, and federal agencies with more than 1,500 personnel on the scene were forced to rely on runners to disseminate critical, time sensitive information. In 1996, the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC), a blue ribbon committee created by Congress to examine the issue of interoperable communication, concluded that public safety agencies did not have sufficient radio spectrum to communicate with each other when they responded to emergencies. Responding to the PSWAC report, Congress included a provision in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which called for the Federal Communications Commission to allocate portions of the 700 Mhz spectrum for public safety use by December 31, 2006. The catastrophic Hurricanes Katrina and Rita demonstrated, yet again, the critical need for operable and interoperable communication. Despite the high-profiled events and everyday challenges facing first responders, Congress extended the date for freeing the much-needed public safety spectrum to February 17, 2009. Interoperability directly impacts the first responder community which consists of over 61,000 public safety agencies including 960,000 firefighters, 830,000 EMS personnel, and 710,000 Law Enforcement Officers. The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) conducted a survey of 192 cities regarding their interoperable communications systems in 2004 and found: --Of the cities with a major chemical plant, 97% reported that they did not have interoperable communications capability between the chemical plant, police, fire and emergency medical services; --60% of the cities reported that they did not have interoperable communications capability with state emergency operations centers; and --75% of the cities pointed out that limited funding was preventing achieving full interoperable communications capability. Despite the pressing need for effective emergency communications capabilities, the Department of Homeland Security has incredibly assigned a full-time staff of only four to seven employees to provide grant guidance, develop standards and methodology, implement pilot programs and the expansion of the Rapidcom program, research and development, conduct a national interoperability baseline study, and disaster management and emergency communication at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The 9/11 Commission said a rededication to preparedness is perhaps the best way to honor the memories of those we lost that day [September 11]. This is why I join my fellow original cosponsors to introduce the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006. H.R. 5852 will improve the country's preparedness and emergency communications capability by (1) creating, for the first time, a central office within the Department for the administration and policy consideration for emergency communications; (2) ensuring appropriate staffing and resources commitment to improve emergency communication capabilities; (3) compelling DHS to create a national emergency communications plan and inventory of the Nation's emergency communications system and capabilities; and, (4) seeking accountability regarding the use of DHS funds and governance. The bill would establish an Office of Emergency Communications within the Department where the Assistant Secretary for Emergency Communications would be directed to foster the development of interoperable emergency communications capabilities by State, territorial, local, tribal, and public safety agencies. The Office would prepare a baseline report that provides a snapshot of the current state of emergency communications capabilities; follow-up with periodic assessment reports regarding Federal efforts to address existing gaps and identify best-practices models; coordinate the capability to deploy backup communications services in the event of system failures during an emergency; create regional working groups made up of public and private sector emergency communication experts that would assess and report on the state of emergency communication networks nationwide; provide technical assistance to state and local governments; and, develop a plan to ensure the operability of the Federal governments communications systems. The legislation would require the Secretary to report to Congress on the resources and staff necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Office of Emergency Communications not later than 60 days after the enactment of the bill. Within 30 days of the Secretary's report to Congress, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is to review, assess, and report on the findings submitted by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The bill would also call a National Emergency Communications Strategy to expedite an effective nationwide emergency communications system and conduct a national inventory of the channels, frequencies, and the types of communication systems and equipments. The plan would also identify and make recommendations regarding both short-term and long- term obstacles and solutions to achieving emergency communication capabilities at all levels of government; set goals and timeframes for achieving nationwide emergency communication capabilities; and, accelerate the development of national standards for emergency communications equipment. To improve the accountability and good governance, State and local governments would be required to establish effective statewide interoperable communications plans before being able to use Department of Homeland Security grant funds for emergency communications. The Department's grant guidelines would also have to be coordinated and consistent with the goals of the national strategy for emergency communications. Finally, this legislation would establish an Emergency Communications Preparedness Center to act as a clearinghouse for the Federal Government's efforts to achieve nationwide interoperability; ensure cooperation among the relevant departments and agencies to implement the goals of the emergency communications strategy, and prepare and submit to Congress, on an annual basis, a strategic assessment regarding efforts of Federal departments and agencies to implement the emergency communications strategy. The 21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006 will take substantial steps to provide the leadership that is needed on emergency communication. I hope this Congress moves quickly to pass this bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 9, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. Passage of the Voting Rights Act has allowed millions of minorities the constitutional right to vote in Federal elections. One of the people for whom this bill is named is Fannie Lou Hamer. Fannie Lou Hamer was born, lived, and died in the trenches of Mississippi's Second Congressional District. Her history and involvement in voting education and voter participation include people like me, who stand before you as the highest-ranking African American elected official in the State of Mississippi, an opportunity that would not have been possible without the passage of the act. Had this act been in place, my father, who died in 1963, would have been a registered voter. Had this act been in place, my mother, a college graduate, would not have had to take three literacy tests to become a registered voter. As influential policymakers, it is our obligation to look beyond what is good and support the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 9, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. Passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act has allowed millions of minorities the constitutional right to vote in Federal elections. In 1964, only 300 African Americans in the United States were elected to public office, this included just three in Congress. One of the people for whom this bill is named is Fannie Lou Hamer. Fannie Lou Hamer was born, lived, and died in the trenches of Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District. Her history and involvement in voter education and voter participation include people like me who stand before you as the highest-ranking African American elected official in the State of Mississippi, an opportunity that would not have been possible without the passage of this act. Moreover, with the expiration of major provisions, section 5, section 203 and sections 6 through 9, of the Voting Rights Act rapidly approaching, Congress must reauthorize these provisions now to protect those who may face discrimination in their efforts to exercise their right to vote. In 2001, one of the most shameful and shocking reminders of discrimination occurred in Kilmichael, Mississippi. An all-White city council canceled city election 3 weeks before they were to be held after several African Americans appeared to be in a strong position to win seats. Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires covered jurisdictions to obtain approval, or ``preclearance,'' from the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court in D.C. before they can change voting practices or procedures, protected the voting rights of the people of Kilmichael. When elections were held, three African Americans were elected to the Board of Aldermen and the town elected its first African-American mayor. As our Nation embraces the notion that the right to vote is essential in preserving the health of our democracy, section 203, which requires certain jurisdiction to provide bilingual language assistance to voters in communities where there is a high concentration of citizens who are limited English proficient and illiterate, is a critical element to the Voting Rights Act. As leaders committed to diversity, it is imperative that all minority language Americans are guaranteed the right to vote and have a voice in a political process that affects every aspect of education, healthcare, and economic development in this country. Ongoing efforts must be made to guarantee fair access to the political process, and Sections 6 through 9 authorizes the Federal Government to send Federal election examiners and observers to certain jurisdictions covered by section 5 where there is evidence of attempts to intimidate minority voters at the polls. These statutes must remain in place to prevent the discriminatory election practices that still exist today. As influential policymakers, it is our obligation to look beyond what is good for any one of us to what is good for the whole country and its future. It is vital that we act now to renew section 5, section 203 and sections 6 through 9 of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 an additional 25 years.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, last week marked the first anniversary of the London subway and bus bombing, which killed 56 people and injured more than 700 others. Yesterday, we were reminded again of the terrorist threat to rail and public transportation systems when terrorists attacked trains in Mubai, India, killing over 100 and injuring far more. The victims of these attacks were ordinary people, not that different from many Americans who are going about their usual routine of commuting to work, school or terrorist sites. After the London bombing, Congress called on the administration to move quickly to reinforce our Nation's rail and public transportation systems to prevent such an attack from happening on American soil. Just last month, we learned that this threat is real when it announced that al Qaeda had planned to attack New York subways using poisonous gas. Yet, nearly a year after the London attacks, Mr. Speaker, the Bush administration has failed to produce a comprehensive strategy to secure America's rail and mass transit systems. The administration also continues to focus almost exclusively on aviation security, spending $9 per air passenger, compared to only one penny per rail and public transportation passenger. The administration has also failed to ensure the front line employees of rail and public transportation systems are trained on how to prevent, prepare for and respond to a terrorist event. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the administration has failed to devote significant resources to rail and mass transit research and development. Yet we all know that the only way we can truly secure subways and buses, which carry millions more passengers than airplanes, is through new technologies. To close these security gaps, last month Congresswoman Brown, myself, and other Democrats introduced the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2006. This bill will require the Department of Homeland Security to secure rail and public transportation systems using many of the same tools it is already using to secure ports. First, this bill requires a National Rail and Public Transportation Security Plan. Second, the bill requires rail and public transportation systems to submit vulnerability assessments and security plans for approval. Third, the bill requires rail and public transportation systems to train their employees on how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to terrorist attacks. Finally, the bill provides the resources and manpower needed to truly increase security. First of all, we plan to provide $400 million in authorized expenditures for a grant program dedicated to rail and public transportation security. Secondly, we authorize $150 million over the next 3 years for advanced research and development to uncover new solutions to the security threats faced by rail and public transportation systems. Finally, Mr. Speaker, $26.4 million per year is authorized over the next 6 years to hire 1,200 new rail security inspectors. For the record, there are only 100 rail inspectors in the country as we speak. This Democratic bill provides genuine solutions to the security threats faced by rail and public transportation systems here in America. I urge my fellow Members on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, in 2001 one of the most shameful and shocking reminders of voting rights discrimination occurred in Kilmichael, Mississippi, my congressional district. An all-white city council cancelled city elections 3 weeks before they were to be held because it appeared that African Americans would control the majority of the council's seats. Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires covered jurisdiction, like my home State of Mississippi, to obtain preclearance from the Justice Department before they can change voting practices or procedures, protected the voting rights of the people of Kilmichael. When elections were finally held, three African Americans were elected to the board of aldermen and the town elected its first African American mayor. As elected leaders, it is our obligation to look beyond what is good for any one of us to what is good for the whole country and its future. Mr. Speaker, the Voting Rights Act is reverent, relevant, and must be renewed.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the life and legacy of an African-American unsung hero, Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, a civil rights activist and family physician, who made waves on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to eliminate racial discrimination in the state. Dr. Mason was born in Jackson, MS, on October 7, 1928. He earned his B.S. degree from Tennessee State University in 1949 and his M.D. from Howard University Medical School in 1954. In 1955, Dr. Mason moved to Biloxi, MS, where he started his family practice and shortly thereafter began to challenge racial boundaries. He contested and protested the ``whites only'' section of Federally funded Gulf Coast beaches by leading a nonviolent ``wade in''. Jim Crow laws and intimidation tactics hindered and denied blacks the right to beaches, hotels, schools, restaurants, and jobs that whites enjoyed. Dr. Mason confronted racial injustices, and his commitment to civil rights spearheaded a movement in one of the first areas of the Magnolia State to see organized direct action. On April 17, 1960, Dr. Mason took a solitary swim at the ``whites only'' beach and was arrested. Hearing of his arrest, the following Sunday, student volunteers were outraged and joined in the ``wade in''. Dr. Mason and others were met by Klansmen and angry mobs that attacked them with chains, iron pipes and whatever else they could grab while burning wooden crosses. The ``wade-ins'' eventually led to one of the bloodiest riots in Mississippi's history. Dr. Mason successfully filed the first antidiscrimination lawsuit against the State of Mississippi and school desegregation lawsuit in the history of Biloxi. Dr. Gilbert R. Mason collaborated with the Mississippi NAACP to create a stance for civil rights partnering with CORE, SNCC, and SCLC. Dr. Mason worked closely with Medgar Evers, NAACP field secretary until he was gunned down in front of his home in 1963, fighting racial discrimination and championing equality for all mankind. In 1970, he became the first African American to be admitted to the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians. In 1992, he helped Harrison County elect its first African American and female supervisor. In 1998, he published a book detailing the struggle in, ``Beaches, Blood and Ballots: A Black Doctor's Civil Rights Struggles''. The wave Dr. Gilbert Mason began on the coast of Mississippi will never be forgotten. Please join me today in honoring a true civil rights pioneer, Dr. Gilbert R. Mason.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5589. It is long past its time. This is a bill that should have long since been to the floor. This legislation transfers the Shadow Wolves from Customs and Border Protection to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and allows the creation of an additional unit. The Shadow Wolves were created by an act of Congress in 1972 to address criminal activity along the U.S.-Mexican border. This group, comprised entirely of American Indians, focused on identifying, tracking and arresting drug smugglers along 76 miles of the U.S-Mexican border. With the aid of the Shadow Wolves, over 800 pounds of illegal narcotics are seized from smugglers on the reservation on an average day. The Shadow Wolves are located in Representative Grijalva's district in the Tohono O'odham Nation of southwest Arizona. Although he was unable to be here today, Madam Speaker, he shared with me the importance of ensuring this bill becomes law. Representative Grijalva has witnessed firsthand the almost 35 years of success the Shadow Wolves have had in the region deterring, tracking and intercepting drug smugglers. Their remarkable record should be continued. Allowing the Shadow Wolves to focus on their investigation functions allows them to better secure our Nation's borders against illegal drugs. In the future, I would like to work with other Members to increase the number of officers within existing units. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, next month marks the first anniversary of the London mass transit bombings. On July 7 and, subsequently, July 21, Americans watched in shock as terrorists struck at the heart of our ally's mass transit and bus systems, killing 56 people and injuring more than 700 others. The July 7 attack started at the heart of rush hour, with three bombs exploding at 8:50 a.m. on London's Underground subway system. Less than an hour later at 9:47 a.m., as London's subway system was completely shut down, an explosion tore through the back of the number 30 Hackney to Marble Arch bus. The victims of these attacks were ordinary people, not that different from many Americans, who were going about their usual routine of commuting to work, school, or tourist sites. After the bombings, Congress called on the Administration to move quickly to reinforce our Nation's rail and mass transit systems to prevent such an attack from happening on American soil. Yet, nearly a year later, the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have failed to produce a comprehensive strategy to secure America's rail and mass transit systems. In addition, the Department and TSA continue to focus almost exclusively on aviation security, spending $9 per air passenger, as compared to only one penny per rail/mass transit security passenger. The Department has made excuses for this failure by stating that mass transit security is a shared responsibility between Federal, State, and local partners, and that the Federal Government has provided significant support for the past three years. This ``partnership,'' however, has long left state and local governments paying the check without really knowing what they are paying for and why. The Department's failures extend beyond its ability to get along with state and local Governments. The Department has not actively engaged the private sector and frontline employees of the rail and mass transit systems. These men and women are the eyes and ears of these systems, yet the Administration has not adequately consulted with them on its initiatives. Nor has the Administration ensured that they are trained to respond to a terrorist event. Finally, the Federal Government has not moved forward with critical plans to secure our Nation's rail and mass transits. Instead, the Administration continues to approach the problem with piecemeal solutions instead of developing an overarching strategy that could be used to guide initiatives. Similarly, the Administration also has failed to devote significant resources and manpower to rail and mass transit research and development (R&D). Technology will play an important role in deterring and preventing future chemical, biological, or chemical attacks. The Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2006 will make our Country more secure by mandating that the Department of Homeland Security take concrete and decisive steps to secure our Nation's rail and public transportation systems. This bill requires a National Rail and Public Transportation Security Plan which will supplement the existing National Strategy for Transportation Security. This plan will (1) clarify roles and responsibilities of Federal, State, and local agencies in securing rail and public transportation systems; (2) strengthen intelligence sharing, (3) lay out plans for public outreach and education initiatives; (4) create a framework for resuming operations in the event of an attack; (5) include a strategy and timeline for research and development of new security technologies; and (6) describe lessons learned from past attacks. The bill also requires the creation of Area Rail and Public Transportation Security Plans. Modeled after the Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans required under current law for regions with several ports, these area plans will strengthen security planning in regions where there are more than one rail or public transportation entity, such as in the New York-New Jersey area. Furthermore, the bill requires Rail and Public Transportation Systems to submit vulnerability assessments and security plans to the Department for approval. Modeled after the vulnerability assessments and security plans that ports already have to submit under current law, these provisions will ensure that rail and public transportation systems adequately evaluate their risks and vulnerabilities and are taking steps to address any security weaknesses. The Secretary must approve or disapprove each vulnerability assessment and security plan. Vulnerability assessments and security plans must be reviewed and updated at least every five years. These plans will be useless unless enforced. For that reason, this bill gives the Secretary the authority to issue administrative and civil penalties for violations and to seek criminal penalties for knowing and intentional violations. Information and intelligence sharing must also be improved. This bill will fix the current problems by requiring the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, to issue a Rail and Public Transportation Strategic Information Sharing Plan to strengthen the intelligence updates provided to rail and public transportation systems. Another critical component to this bill is its provisions improving training and exercises. If an attack does occur in the United States, proper training and exercises could make the difference between life and death for front-line workers, first responders, and passengers. This bill requires rail and public transportation systems to train their employees on how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to a terrorist attack. It also establishes a Rail and Public Transportation Security Exercise Program to test the preparedness of rail and public transportation systems for a terrorist attack. It will cost substantial sums to implement the security measures needed to prevent a possible attack on U.S. rail and public transportation systems. This bill authorizes $400 million per year over the next 6 years for a grant program dedicated to rail and public transportation security. In addition, this bill authorizes $150 million over the next 3 years for advanced research and development that will find solutions to the security threats faced by rail and public transportation systems. Finally, the bill authorizes $26.4 million per year over the next 6 years to hire 200 new rail security inspectors per year. There are only 100 rail security inspectors at the present time. The security gap remaining in rail and public transportation is still a major threat to our Nation. The Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2006 will take substantial steps to close that security gap. I hope this Congress moves quickly to pass this bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, a terrorist attack takes three components: a weapon, a target, and a terrorist. Usually these three items are separate, as we saw in the 9/11 attack, the terrorist bombings in London, Madrid, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Israel, and countless other places around the world faced with terrorist attacks. In special cases, however, the weapon and the target are combined. Such is the case with a facility that produces or maintains large amounts of toxic or otherwise dangerous chemicals. If such chemicals can be released and cause harm, the target itself becomes a weapon. While the protection of all national critical infrastructure is important, chemical plants represent a special subset of those assets which should be given the highest priority in protecting. As a country, we recognized such a danger when it came to nuclear power plants. The Department of Energy made the connection and put in place rigorous security measures. The same has not been true for chemical plants, even though they are much more vulnerable, and can have much higher consequences if successfully attacked. Recently, however, this problem has been given the attention it deserves. Successful improvements in securing chemical facilities will take the cooperation of the administration, the Congress, and the facility owner-operators. We find ourselves in a unique situation where all three of these parties are in agreement that there is a security gap that needs to be closed, and that it will require regulation to do it. Since the formation of the Department of Homeland Security, one of its missions has been the protection of critical infrastructure. Some 85 percent of the critical infrastructure in the country is privately owned. Neither the private sector nor the government was eager to promulgate security regulations. The hope was that in a post-9/11 world, private industry would voluntarily make necessary security improvements, aided by guidance from the Department in the form of recommendations and publication of ``best practices.'' This worked to some degree. Many members of the chemical industry stepped up their security practices voluntarily. However, many did not, and the economic disadvantage suffered by those who made investments in security practices prompted them to ask Congress and the Administration for some regulatory mechanism that would level the economic playing field by requiring all members of the chemical sector to ensure that their facilities are secure. The Department of Homeland Security also noticed that there was a big disparity in the level of participation and cooperation to increase security across the chemical sector. Both Secretary Michael Chertoff and former Secretary Tom Ridge recognized this problem. In October 2002, then-DHS Secretary Ridge and then-EPA administrator Christie Whitman declared in a joint statement: ``Voluntary efforts alone are not sufficient to provide the level of assurance Americans deserve.'' Two and a half years later, during his appearance before the House Committee on Homeland Security in April 2005, Secretary Chertoff stated, ``In the area of chemical plants, the President has indicated that if we could not get what we need in terms of security using these various kinds of market-based incentives and best practices, that we would look to the possibility of some kind of regulation.'' He reiterated this stance in March during a forum on chemical plant security that ``free riders,'' meaning smaller plants that have not implemented voluntary security standards, need to be brought under a regulatory scheme to ensure security. Finally, Congress, in both houses and in both parties, is ready to act. Recently, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Collins and Lieberman has been marked up in the Senate. Mr. Lungren, myself and (whoever else) will soon mark up a bill which is quite similar and I am proud to be a part of this effort. The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 will make our country more secure by giving the authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to regulate security practices at chemical plants. However, the bill does not take a heavy-handed, overly proscriptive approach. The bill directs the Secretary to place the country's chemical plants into tiers based on risk, and to set security performance standards which increase in rigor for higher risk tiers. By setting performance standards rather than proscribing specific actions, the scheme would seek to form a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the chemical plants to come up with their own creative ideas to reach the desired level of security. The tiered structure will also provide incentives to chemical manufacturers to make their plants inherently safer and therefore lower their risk tier. By lowering the inherent risk of the plant, they would not be required to have as high a level of security if the plant moves from high risk to low risk. Obviously, a plant that makes extremely toxic chemicals needs tighter security than one that makes less dangerous ones. I believe that acquiring the use of inherently safer technology where feasible would be more effective, but I am hopeful that the incentive approach will be successful. We also ensure that chemical plant workers will be our partners in securing their facilities, by directing the Secretary to set up a method that will allow workers to report security gaps that they find to the Department, and ensuring that such workers are not retaliated against. The time for action is now. We have an opportunity to ensure this vital industry, and the population that lives around these facilities, are safe and secure. We must seize the opportunity to work together to secure our infrastructure, our economy and the lives of our citizens.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this conference report. It was my pleasure to serve as a conferee on the Fiscal Year 2006 Coast Guard authorization bill. I am a strong supporter of the Coast Guard men and women who valiantly serve our nation. Through their hard work and dedication, 33,000 people were saved in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This will not be the last time that we will turn to the Coast Guard for help. Congress must provide the Coast Guard with the support it needs to perform its security and life-saving missions. The Coast Guard's current assets are deteriorating quickly, and the Administration has clearly failed to realize that there is a problem. The Administration's request for the Deepwater program, which will provide the Coast Guard with more modern equipment, was $32 million less than last year. Congress, recognizing the problem, authorized funds in this bill that will help accelerate the purchasing of Deepwater assets. I had hoped that even more funds would be authorized for the Deepwater program. In the Homeland Security Committee's mark-up of H.R. 4954, the SAFE Ports Act, I supported an amendment offered by Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI) that would have provided enough funds to complete the Deepwater program in ten years rather than the current twenty years. I wish that provision had been accepted in this bill. Nonetheless, the funding level in this bill is a good first step. Finally, this bill establishes a review process before an Administrative Law Judge for individuals denied a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). TWIC cards will be required for all port workers. If a person is denied a TWIC, he or she will not able to work. Therefore, it is critically important that a neutral party be involved in deciding whether or not an individual should be denied this card. Every person deserves the opportunity to work and the government cannot arbitrarily inhibit this right. I thank the other conferees on both sides of the aisle for working with me on this conference report, and I recommend my colleagues support it.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America has always stood for economic opportunity and freedom. And in recent generations our nation has strived to provide an even better model for equality of opportunity. The work has been long and arduous, and it has not been without its setbacks. We have struggled in the schools, the halls of government, in the workplace to make equality of opportunity something that is written on our hearts as well as in our laws. Some of the most successful undertakings in the struggle for equality have been in our mills, and foundries and factories. Mississippi's manufacturing sector has provided generations of our citizens the opportunity to enter the middle class and realize The American Dream. Manufacturing jobs have traditionally provided above average wages and the medical and other benefits that strengthen families and society. These jobs have also provided Mississippi workers with the satisfaction that comes from seeing their work transform raw goods and materials into finished products of usefulness and value. Since 1998 the United States has lost more than 3.3 million manufacturing jobs. Here in Mississippi the manufacturing job loss approaches 60,000, and this has undercut the strength and resilience of our state's economy. The erosion of our state's manufacturing sector presents a significant barrier to our state's long-term economic progress. Mississippians are especially mindful of the need for economic strength and resilience as we rebuild from the devastation of last year's hurricane. The world has witnessed the stunning economic setbacks wrought by Hurricane Katrina, but they have also witnessed the strength of our spirit and our resolve to rebuild Mississippi better and stronger than before. If we are to accomplish this we must create a sound economic foundation for manufacturing. This means we face several additional important tasks as we continue to rebuild. We must ensure that international trade agreements--either in their drafting or their enforcement--do not discriminate against Mississippi manufacturers because they adhere to the world's highest environmental, health and safety standards. We must redouble our efforts to root out and halt all unfair trading practices among our trading partners because these practices place Mississippi manufacturers at a significant and unfair disadvantage. One American manufacturer is leading a national grass-roots effort to bring back the level playing field to global trade and the global economic arena in which our manufacturers compete. Nucor Corporation is underwriting and leading an unprecedented series of grass roots town hall meetings across the country to inform voters and inspire action among elected officials at every level of government. These meetings have been held in states across America and have drawn as many as 4,000 citizens. Nucor Steel--Jackson, Inc., which employs 250 workers in Mississippi, is hosting the eleventh Nucor Town Hall Meeting on June 29, 2006 in Jackson, Mississippi. It is noteworthy that in a political age where we often focus on personalities and scandal that this meeting will feature in-depth presentations and discussions of substantive issues. Voters and elected officials are provided an important forum to look at the underlying causes of our massive job losses and to propose policies and actions that can reverse the trend and put American manufacturing back on track. Rebuilding Mississippi in the wake of the hurricanes has proved a daunting challenge, but we have demonstrated the spirit and resolve to get the job done. We also face the long-term challenge to restore manufacturing to its rightful status as a cornerstone of our economy. We offer our appreciation to Nucor Steel--Jackson for their leadership as we face this challenge and make our commitment to Mississippi's future.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Allen L. Thompson, Senior Professional Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, for his dedication and service to Congress and our Nation. As the Ranking Member of the Committee, I speak for the entire Committee when I say he will be missed when he leaves the Hill at the end of this month. Al was one of the original Democratic staffers of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, the predecessor of the now-permanent Committee. During the past 3 years, he has been one of the ``best and the brightest'' working to secure our homeland and protect our communities. A Coast Guard Academy graduate, Al brought a unique perspective and discipline to the Committee. With his expertise and knowledge of port security, supply chain policy, and the Coast Guard, Al has certainly been a key member of the House's homeland security team. This Congress, Al has served as the Coordinator for Ranking Member Loretta Sanchez on the Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity. Representative Sanchez has this to say about Al, ``During my nearly 10 years in the House of Representatives, I've run across very few people with the level of professionalism and decorum matching that of Al Thompson. As the liaison assigned to assist me with my work as Ranking Member of this subcommittee, Al's expertise and Coast Guard background was invaluable in helping me forward the Democratic agenda of this young Committee, particularly in the area of port security. He will be sorely missed by those of us who had the pleasure of working with him.'' Former Representative Jim Turner, who served as the Ranking Member of the Select Committee during the 108th Congress, sent me the following comments when he heard of Al's departure: ``When Al first joined the Select Committee in June 2003, I knew he came for the right reason--his deep commitment to making America safer. From his experience as a member of the United States Coast Guard he knew this task must be accomplished over and over again every day by the men and women serving on the front lines of our homeland. For Al, homeland security was not a theoretical debate; it was a day to day passion.'' Now, as someone who has been married 38 years, I know that I would be remiss if I didn't thank Becca, Al's wife. She and their two sons, Tyson Allen and Hunter Gregory, have been as much a part of our Committee family as Al has. I personally want to thank Becca for her service to the Nation by lending us Al for long hours and late nights over the past 3 years, even with two young boys at home. From what I've seen, by the way, there is no question that those boys will follow in their father's footsteps and play college ball and maybe, if Al has his way, join his beloved Steelers one day. In sum, I want to thank Al Thompson for the caliber of service and patriotism he has dedicated to Congress, the Committee of Homeland Security, and the Nation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me time. I also want to pay tribute to the gentleman before he leaves us. I believe this is your last effort, Mr. Sabo. You have been a very, very good person to work with on the committee. I wish you well. I am not sure what the future holds, but I know it is very positive. Mr. Chairman, in the 3 short years since the Department came into existence, it has been in a constant state of transition and turmoil. Chronically understaffed at the border and in our airports, the Department has had to execute its critical national security mission without the people and resources it needs. Time and again the dedicated men and women of the Department of Homeland Security are asked to do more with less. There have been numerous turnovers at the highest level in the Department. In a week from today, the 2006 hurricane season will begin and FEMA is still not fully staffed. The Department also has a significant number of leadership vacancies, including the chief financial officer, the chief privacy officer, the commissioner of customs of border protection, and the Under Secretary of Science and Technology. There are so many ``actings'' at the Department that the agency might want to start handing out Screen Actor Guild cards. Seriously, it is no wonder that morale at the Department is practically dead last among all Federal agencies. This bill funds the Department at $33 billion, 5 percent over last year's funding measure. I am glad that we were able to increase the budget without raising the passenger ticket tax, but the level of resources provided is far short of what is needed to make real progress in the war on terror and partner effectively with State and local governments as well as the private sector. Grants and training programs are funded at $2.5 billion. That is just 2 percent over what was provided to our communities to train and equip emergency responders last year. At this rate we are not even keeping up with inflation. This bill also does not fulfill the funding commitments made in the 9/11 act. It does not fund 2,000 more Border Patrol agents. It does not fund 8,000 new detention beds. It does not fund 800 new immigration investigators. No wonder the border, Mr. Chairman, is in crisis. If we are not willing to fully invest in securing the border permanently, what do we expect? The decision to send our already overtaxed National Guard to the border is a Band-Aid solution to hide the fact that we are failing the good men and women of the Border Patrol, ICE and CBP by not giving them the resources and additional support they need to do their job. The bulk of my criticism is not for the appropriators. It is for the administration. The parameters for this year's appropriations were dangerously unrealistic. Mr. Obey attempted to correct this shortfall and infuse another $3.5 billion into the Department. Had the money been appropriated, the Department would be in better position to meet its responsibilities to the American people. The Department is in its toddler years, barely out of the terrible twos. It is going to take a significant commitment by this Congress to do the oversight and provide the support needed if the Department is to ever grow into the Federal agency that Congress envisioned and the American people deserve. Mr. Chairman, I again want to pay tribute to Mr. Sabo for guiding us during our terrible twos and threes in this Department. We wish him well.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I rise in favor of the amendment offered by my colleague from Minnesota. Whether it is breeding grounds in the north or wintering grounds in the south, the Wetland Reserve Program--WRP--is worthy of strong funding. Besides wildlife habitat restoration, WRP has an impressive record of providing flood protection, improving water quality and conserving water quantity. Farmer interest in these programs greatly exceeds the availability of funds. For example, in 2005 in my district, there were 240 farmers with unfunded applications totaling 34,000 acres and $49 million. These lands are marginal, high risk lands that are vulnerable both to floods and droughts because of the high content of hydric soils. These marginal lands detract from a farmer's cash flow and tend to experience repeated losses requiring disaster recovery assistance. Furthermore, it has been shown that WRP can reduce expenses in Federal crop insurance and other farm programs. WRP provides a lump sum easement payment that assists financially distressed farmers. The easement payment may be used to pay off current debts or to meet current operating fund needs. Additionally, WRP may provide farmers with both a temporary alternative source of income through the wetlands restoration contract and a permanent source of income from the recreational and lease hunting income generated by the restored wetland wildlife habitat. The public benefits from both the reduced demand placed on disaster assistance funds from lands that previously experienced repeated losses and from significant long-term conservation benefits obtained from the protection of wildlife habitat, improvement of water quality, increase of flood storage and reduction of soil erosion. As the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, I have seen avian influenza become increasingly more important. Although there has not been a case of a human contracting the disease from a wild bird anywhere in the world, it is feasible. The more we can disperse wild birds and improve their overall health, the less risk we will have, especially in an area that my colleague from Minnesota and I represent, the Mississippi Flyway. Let's not continue with empty rhetoric of supporting the 2002 farm bill. In 2002 we passed a farm bill consisting of an annual 250,000 acres of land to be enrolled in the WRP. If we are going to say that we support the 2002 farm bill, then we should support this amendment because it does just that and I strongly encourage its adoption.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the life and legacy of an African-American pilot and hero, LeRoy W. Homer, Jr., the First Officer of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed into a reclaimed coal-mining area near Stonycreek and Shanksville on September 11, 2001. At an early age, LeRoy W. Homer, Jr. knew that he wanted to be a pilot. As a child, LeRoy assembled model airplanes, collected aviation memorabilia and read books on aviation. LeRoy was 15 years old when he started flight instruction in Cessna 152. Working part-time jobs after school to pay for flying lessons, he completed his first solo at 16 years old, and obtained his private pilot's certificate in 1983. In the fall of 1983, LeRoy entered the Air Force Academy, and graduated with the Class of 1987, 31st Squadron. After completing pilot training in 1988, he was assigned to McGuire AFB in New Jersey, flying the C-141B Starlifter. While on active duty, LeRoy served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and later supported operations in Somalia. He received many commendations, awards and medals during his military career. In 1993, he was named the 21st Air Force Aircrew Instructor of the Year. LeRoy achieved the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge from active duty in 1995. LeRoy continued his military career as a reservist, initially as an instructor pilot with the 356th Airlift Squadron at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, then subsequently as an Academy Liaison Officer, recruiting potential candidates for both the Air Force Academy and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. During his time with the Reserves, he achieved rank of Major. LeRoy continued his flying career by joining United Airlines in May 1995. His first assignment was Second Officer on the B727. He then upgraded to First Officer on the B757/767 in 1996, where he remained until September 11, 2001. On September 11, 2001, LeRoy was flying with Captain Jason Dahl on United Flight 93. Based on information from several sources that day, we know LeRoy and Jason were the first to fight against the terrorist threat to the airplane. LeRoy was able to accomplish much in his short life. He was able to do so because of the support of his family and friends, and the encouragement of his teachers and mentors. For his actions on board Flight 93, Homer received many awards and citations posthumously, including honorary membership in the historic Tuskegee Airmen, the Congress of Racial Equality's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Drum Major for Justice Award, and the Westchester County Trailblazer Award. Above all of the accolades and awards, it is because of Homer's sacrifice that I pay tribute. I take great pride in recognizing Mr. LeRoy W. Homer, Jr., an African-American hero.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I rise in favor of H.R. 4200, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act (FERRA). Many of you are supporting this bill because of wild fires. My state and I have a different, but just as important need. Hurricane Katrina caused the largest single forest and wildlife habitat devastation in our Nation's history--5 million acres--and it did not discriminate between public or private land or the rich, poor or the middle class. She was an equal opportunity destroyer. By the way, this represents 19 billion board feet of timber with a value of $5 billion. This is enough timber to build 800,000 homes and make 25 million tons of paper and paperboard.) National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks and National Forests were all severely damaged. The DeSoto National Forest was hit the hardest. But besides trees, we had a diversity of plants and animals that lost their homes too. In fact, the damage left by Katrina is the largest single devastation of fish and wildlife habitat since the Exxon Valdez. I have witnessed the devastated, high quality forests of the DeSoto degrade to a point that we must appropriate many millions to clean up the debris and recover this forest. That was not necessary. By acting in a timely manner as FERRA will allow, we can salvage valuable wood products before they deteriorate. This will generate much needed dollars for rural schools and return more dollars to federal and state treasuries. It will also generate funds to restore the homes of wildlife and the citizens of places like the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. We don't need to cut down live trees that are valuable at producing oxygen, sequestering carbon dioxide and providing fish and wildlife habitat when we can use ones that are already damaged. It's just common sense. As the first member of my party to co-sponsor the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, I ask you to vote in favor of H.R. 4200.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin). (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the author of the Markey amendment, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), a champion for 100 percent cargo screening here in this Congress.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment.