Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Dr. Gregory Page. A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Page earned his undergraduate degree in zoology at Howard University and received his doctorate degree in dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania. Foregoing a lucrative career in Philadelphia's high class dentistry circles, Dr. Page packed his bags and began his professional career in Harlem, NY. Dr. Page, after 31 years, has achieved extraordinary accomplishments in improving dental hygiene in New York and abroad. He served as the director of dental services for an Aid to Dependent Children's (ADC) program in the South Bronx administered through the Health Insurance Plan of New York. He also has volunteered as a dental missionary in an underserved region of Saint Lucia, in the Caribbean. Additionally, he is also a past president of the Harlem Unit of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Page, as an adjunct associate professor in the Dental Hygiene Unit at Hostos Community College, has been directly or indirectly involved in the training of over six hundred dental hygienists, many of whom provide direct care to inner city communities like Harlem and the South Bronx. The program has consistently boasted a better than 90 percent passing rate on all national, regional and State board examinations. Dr. Page also serves as a police surgeon with the New York State Police Investigators Association, as a charter member of the Honorary Deputy/Police Commissioners Foundation of New York City, and has been inducted as an honorary member of the Honor Legion of the New York City Police Department. He also maintained a full time dental practice in Harlem for over twenty-five years. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Dr. Gregory Page for his extraordinary accomplishments in elevating the level of quality dental care in Harlem and the South Bronx. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Dr. Gregory Page.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Yvonne Nixon-Orr. In 1970, Yvonne immigrated to the United States and has resided in Brooklyn, New York. Soon after her arrival, she began teaching at the Haitian American Day Care Center, and later joined the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) where she has been teaching for more than 25 years. Middle School 61 in District 17 is where her career with the NYCDOE began as a literacy instructor for 6th and 7th graders. All along, she maintained her volunteering as a Sunday school teacher and an assistant youth coordinator at her local church, planning and implementing activities for the youth of the community. Yvonne Nixon-Orr is presently the school librarian at P.S. 181, The John Steptoe School in Brooklyn, working with students from Grades K through 8. In her functions, she helps students to develop a love for books and multicultural literature. In her teaching, she imparts skills that incorporate literacy, social studies, and the arts. Yvonne is passionate about imparting a love for learning and moral responsibility to the youngsters she encounters in the Public School system classrooms. In her role as a staff developer, she shares instructional techniques and skills with colleagues, mentors and assists new teachers with methodology, classroom management, and facilitates their transition to the New York public school system. Through her dedication and hard work as an educator, she has touched many lives and has equally had her own life enriched by working with colleagues, students, and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Yvonne Nixon-Orr holds an Associate Degree of Science from New York City Technical College, a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (CUNY), and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Adelphi University. Her post-graduate education focus has been in literacy development. She continues to enhance her knowledge of education and teaching skills by reading and attending professional workshops and seminars that expand on the latest development in literacy and the best approaches to teaching and learning in the 21st century. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Yvonne Nixon-Orr for her extraordinary contributions to education in New York City. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Yvonne Nixon-Orr.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Mr. Anderson Hyland. Mr. Hyland is a Certified Public Accountant with a great deal of diverse knowledge and experience to draw upon. He holds a BA in Business Administration and Accounting from Baruch College, City University of New York. Mr. Hyland was born in St. Michael, Barbados and attended Coleridge & Parry. This provided him with an excellent forum to develop some of his diverse interests such as soccer, cricket, traveling, and business. Upon graduating, he continued his studies at the O'level Institute where he received two A' levels (Law and Accounting) and later worked for the Barbados Internal Revenue Department as a Tax Officer. Mr. Hyland has extensive experience in British and American tax preparation services. This can be seen by the service he provides to numerous clients in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut region. He was formerly the Staff Accountant at Brookdale Hospital, Brooklyn, New York and a Tax Preparer at H & R Block and now works as the accountant for Local 420 District Council 37 in Lower Manhattan. Mr. Hyland feels very privileged to be on the Board of Trustees for Glenwood Gardens Condos and is able to serve the community. He is also a member of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), the International Foundation of Employee Benefits, and the Baruch College Alumni Association. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Anderson Hyland for his extraordinary contributions to New York City's academic, labor, and community institutions. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Anderson Hyland.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Michael Nonnan Haynes. Mr. Haynes, a Brooklyn native, earned his Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Northwestern University. He later began a career at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, becoming the first African-American Senior Director of Clearing House Operations there. Mr. Haynes, in 1990, shifted his career focus from supporting people's financial pursuits to supporting people coping with the emergent HIV/AIDS pandemic. One of Mr. Haynes' proudest moments as Director of African American Services for Stop AIDS Chicago was when he provided HIV/AIDS prevention education for a Youth Summit at Operation PUSH. Mr. Haynes continued his quest to serve by moving to Santa Fe to work for a workshop that changed his life, The Experience. This personal growth and empowerment workshop gave him new tools and refined what his tight-knit circle of support (family, extended family and friends) had taught him about ``being'' with people. Santa Fe is also where Mr. Haynes became infected with HIV. While this might have sidetracked another, it only empowered Mr. Haynes' desire to give back even more. Currently, he works for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation as an Assistant Director in the Office of Behavioral Health. In this capacity, he has spearheaded innovations in chemical dependency treatment as they concern the eleven public hospitals, including Woodhull, Kings County, and Coney Island hospitals. Honored as a Join Together National Leadership Fellow by Boston University's School of Public Health, Mr. Haynes has championed the implementation of cutting edge, researched based practices that effectively lead Brooklyn and city-wide residents through chemical dependency treatment and onto the road to recovery. These contributions to the Brooklyn healthcare community over the past 13 years, are evident, but none more personal or visible than Haynes' face and prevention message on billboards, bus shelters, and subway stations throughout New York City and worldwide through the internet as part of the HIV Stops With Me campaign. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Michael Nonnan Haynes for his extraordinary accomplishments in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Michael Nonnan Haynes.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Marshan Mason Gainer. Ms. Gainer began her career as a public high school teacher in Washington, D.C. after receiving her BA degree in English and Secondary Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia and an MA from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Ms. Gainer, in her 30-year career, has been responsible for the development and implementation of sales and management training and the design of multi-media and computer-based training programs. She has administered assessment centers and conducted training programs throughout the United States and abroad. Her areas of responsibility also cover all phases of human resource management for staff located worldwide. Before retiring from her position as Vice President of management services for Save the Children (a relief and development organization operating in 40 countries), Ms. Gainer was responsible for developing and implementing human resource policies and programs for the more than 2,500 staff members in the headquarters, field and overseas offices. A worldwide traveler, Ms. Gainer has visited countries on five continents. Her adventures also included stops in almost every state in America. Ms. Gainer is an active member of the Prince Hall Order Eastern Star and its affiliate groups. She has held several offices, chaired many committees, and was most recently the Grand Worthy Matron of Eureka Grand Chapter, Prince Hall Order Eastern Star Inc., State of New York. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Marshan Mason Gainer for her extraordinary accomplishments on behalf of children across the world. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Marshan Mason Gainer.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Mr. Israel Velazquez. Mr. Velazquez is the founder and President of Velazquez Associates, Inc., and its subsidiary Velazquez Accounting Services (D/B/A/), a New York-based Accounting and Non Profit Development Consulting firm. Mr. Velazquez, for the past 30 years, has consistently assembled public and private partnerships on affordable housing and economic development projects in urban cities throughout the United States and in several Caribbean islands. Mr. Velazquez has successfully managed to have a major input in various national, statewide and citywide revitalization programs benefiting various disadvantaged communities. His tireless efforts have borne fruit, as evidenced by new ventures in affordable housing, senior citizen housing complexes, community-owned shopping centers and well-recognized youth programs in these communities. Mr. Velazquez has held several executive positions as the first Comptroller for organizations such as the West Harlem Community Organization, Inc., the National Black United Fund, and the Black United Fund of New York, Inc. Currently, Mr. Israel Velazquez serves as Special Project Director for the East New York Development Corporation formulating public and private partnerships in ascertaining corporate giving, public grants, and funding specialized academic and recreation programs/activities for the youth in the East New York community. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Israel Velazquez for his extraordinary accomplishments on behalf of East New York and elsewhere. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mr. Israel Velazquez.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Ebone E. McIntosh. In 2004, Ms. McIntosh was appointed Vice President of Administration at the Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn. She was administratively responsible for the Departments of Ambulatory Care, Community Relations, and the hospital's Private Practice initiative. During her first two years, Ms. McIntosh worked tirelessly to improve the community's perception of Interfaith Medical Center by working with Community Board members, clergy, and primary care physicians in the immediate catchment. The hospital expanded its community outreach efforts through its participation in community health fairs, treatment adherence initiatives, and patient education. The hospital also became actively involved in HIV/AIDS programs, Adult and Pediatric Sickle Cell grants, and Breast Cancer awareness through the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Killough Trust. Ms. McIntosh, in early 2007, assumed more operational responsibilities at the hospital, taking on hospital support services including Security, Food and Nutrition, Patient Relations, and Construction Management. Within months, a new hospitality-driven model of guest relations was in place, including daily newspaper delivery, the provision of amenities kits, and personal choice dining; accommodations many of the patients at IMC had never experienced. Given the medically underserved population and the reliance on the Emergency Department for the primary care needs of the hospital's core population, Ms. McIntosh soon assumed control of the Department of Emergency Services. Under her leadership, the EMS turn around time, patient satisfaction, and overall patient flow significantly improved. Ms. McIntosh, prior to joining Interfaith, was the Senior Administrator for the Departments of Neurology, OB/GYN, and Pediatrics at the Columbia University Harlem Hospital Center. She was active in the application and approval process for their designated stroke center, was the Grants Coordinator for the Institutional Review Board, and has served briefly as the Residency Coordinator in Diagnostic Radiology. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Ms. Ebone E. McIntosh for her extraordinary accomplishments in improving health care at the Interfaith Medical Center and across New York City. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Ms. Ebone E. McIntosh.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I would like to share with my colleagues a press release which announces that the US Family Health Plan and the National Military Family Association have won the only Public Service Emmy Award presented nationwide in the category of local public service announcements. I would also like to pay tribute to Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Centers which for nearly 160 years has provided critical health care in New York and beyond, and is an important member of the US Family Health Plan. I am also pleased and proud to add that today, Saint Vincent's has a highly capable and dynamic new chief executive officer, Henry J. Amoroso, who is leading plans to build a new ``all-green, all-digital'' 21st century health care facility that will serve hundreds of thousands of patients annually. And the Emmy Award Goes to: The US Family Health Plan and the National Military Family Association (By Michelle Joyner and Susan Oakland) Washington, DC, November 20, 2008.--A series of public service announcements (PSAs) jointly sponsored by the US Family Health Plan, a DOD-sponsored military healthcare plan and the National Military Family Association, a non-profit organization committing to improving the lives of military families, has been honored with an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The PSA series, ``Now is Our Time to Serve,'' was designed to raise awareness of the need to ``support, befriend, remember and appreciate'' America's military family members. It won the only Public Service Emmy Award presented nationwide in the category of Local Public Service Announcements, designed for the PSAs that have aired in up to 50 percent of the country's TV markets. The series aired from July 2007 through February 2008, with total viewership topping 7.3 million, including broadcasts in major U.S. television markets and airings in over 200 movie theatres prior to family film screenings. The announcements-- just one facet of an ongoing partnership between the US Family Health Plan and the National Military Family Association--may be viewed online at www.yearofthemilitaryfamily.org. The PSAs were produced for the US Family Health Plan and the National Military Family Association by Marion, Montgomery, Inc. ``US Family Health Plan delivers the TRICARE Prime benefit to many of our beneficiaries and we certainly applaud these kinds of public awareness efforts,'' said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of TRICARE Management Activity. ``Congratulations go out to everyone involved in raising awareness about the needs of our military families.'' Kate Ryan, chair of the US Family Health Plan Alliance, said, ``We are honored to share the Emmy Award with the National Military Family Association. Both the NMFA and the US Family Health Plan are passionate about service uniformed services families and it's gratifying to know that our collaboration has helped spread the word about the need to support these everyday American heroes.'' Nancey Alsheimer, chairman of the National Military Family Association Board of Governors, said, ``The Emmy Award gives us renewed pride in our mission of protecting and promoting the interests of military families. The Emmy Award for the series will bring additional attention to the important message of support for families--and for that, we are grateful.'' The US Family Health Plan, a Department of Defense- sponsored health plan, is made available by nonprofit healthcare providers in six service areas across the country. It serves over 100,000 military beneficiaries, including active-duty family members, activated Guard and Reserve family members, and retirees and their family members. One of its hallmarks is its ability to maintain a consistently high level of patient satisfaction; in fact, in 2008, overall satisfaction with the health plan is 87.9 percent, compared to 61.9 percent for traditional HMOs. The six not-for-profit organizations through which enrollment in the US Family Health Plan is offered include: Johns Hopkins Medicine (1-800-801-9322)--serving Maryland, Washington D.C., and parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia Martin's Point Health Care (1-888-241-4556)--serving Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and northeastern New York Brighton Marine Health Center (1-800-818-8589)--serving Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, plus Rhode Island and northern Connecticut Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers (1-800-241-4848)-- serving parts of New York, all of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and southern Connecticut CHRISTUS Health (1-800-678-7347)--serving southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana Pacific Medical Centers (1-888-958-7347)--serving the Puget Sound area of Washington State. For more information about the US Family Health Plan, visit www.usfamilyhealthplan.org. The National Military Family Association, the only nonprofit organization that represents families of all ranks and services, prepares spouses, children and parents to better deal with the unique challenges of military life. The Association protects benefits vital to all families, including those of the deployed, wounded and fallen. For nearly 40 years, its staff and volunteers, comprised mostly of military family members, have built a reputation as the leading experts on military family issues. For more information, visit http://nmfa.org. Marion Montgomery, Inc. is a full-service marketing, public relations and interactive agency based in Houston, Texas. It produced the PSA series for the US Family Health Plan and the National Military Family Association. For more information on Marion Montgomery, Inc. visit www.mmihouston.com. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. For more information, please visit www.emmyonline.tv.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Bishop Eugene J. Blount. Bishop Blount has, from an early age, always placed a devotion to community betterment and a passion for Christ and his church at the forefront of every endeavor he has undertaken. Bishop Eugene J. Blount, in 1990, joined the Elim International Fellowship, where he introduced a renewed enthusiasm for the scriptures and an appreciation for the supernatural, serving in the prophetic ministry as one of the ``King's Seers'' and as Chief of Staff in the full time ministry under the leadership of Archbishop Wilbert S. McKinley, where he molded and implemented the mission of the church. Bishop Eugene J. Blount, an outstanding and well-respected member of the Brooklyn clergy, will undoubtedly prove to be a tremendous asset to the Bedford-Stuyvesant community as he is consecrated as a Bishop of the Elim International Fellowship. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Bishop Eugene J. Blount for his extraordinary accomplishments and to congratulate him on his consecration at the Elim International Fellowship. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Bishop Eugene J. Blount.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Mr. Anish Berry. Mr. Berry is the President of the Diagnostic Imaging Group, which operates 38 diagnostic imaging centers, 23 of which are in New York and 6 in New Jersey under the name Doshi Diagnostic Imaging Services, as well as 16 centers in Florida under the name Signet Diagnostic Imaging Services. Mr. Berry helped to engineer the aggressive growth of the Diagnostic Imaging Group by leveraging hardware-and-software prowess with the talents of a diverse medical, technical, and administrative staff to deliver high-caliber customer service to patients and over 40,000 referring physicians. This excellent team of medical professionals is paired with state of the art equipment in each facility where the full range of imaging services are offered, including MRI/MRA, CT, Ultrasound, X-ray, Mammography, PET/CT, Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, DEXA, Echocardiolgraphy and Vascular Duplex. Mr. Berry takes the same aggressive approach to his charitable works. He is the co-founder of the Doshi Difference Program at the John Bowne High School in Flushing, NY. This unique, selective program affords its students an outstanding introduction in research techniques as well as valuable learning experiences including scientific competitions, mentoring, field trips, and speakers. Mr. Berry was also responsible for the recent construction of a brand new science lab at John Bowne High School to further assist the students in their quest for educational excellence. Mr. Berry is also a staunch supporter of law enforcement, serving as the Director of the New York Law Enforcement Foundation, the Medical Director of Amtrack Police, the Director of the Suffolk County Police Reserves, and as a member of the Nassau County Police Reserves. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Anish Berry for his extraordinary accomplishments in diagnostic imaging, science education, and community service. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mr. Anish Berry.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Mr. Ken Burns, one of the most celebrated documentary producers of our day. His films have captured the American experience and have forever elevated and enriched our understanding of American history. Ken Burns, born in Brooklyn, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1975, and went on to become one of the co-founders of Florentine Films. His first Academy Award-winning documentary was Brooklyn Bridge, in 1981. Since then, he has produced nineteen more documentaries, two earning Academy Award nominations and seven winning Emmy Awards. Ken Burns was the director, producer, co-writer, chief cinematographer, music director and executive producer of the landmark television series The Civil War, considered by many to be his magnum opus. This film was the highest rated series in the history of American Public Television and attracted an audience of 40 million during its premiere in September 1990. The series has been honored with more than forty major film and television awards, including two Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, the Producer of the Year Award from the Producer's Guild, the People's Choice Award, the Peabody Award, the DuPont- Columbia Award, the D.W. Griffiths Award, and the $50,000 Lincoln Prize, among dozens of others. Ken Burns most recent documentary, The War, tells the story of the Second World War from the personal perspectives of men and women from Waterbury, CT, Mobile, AL, Sacramento, CA, and Luverne, MN. Airing in the fall of 2007, it was the most watched series in the last ten years on PBS. One hundred and seventeen PBS stations across the nation participated in some form of community outreach and nearly 30,000 educator guides went to every high school in the country. As was hoped, ``The War'' started a massive national dialog about this most cataclysmic event in the history of the United States. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Ken Burns for igniting a passion for American history in millions of Americans throughout his prodigious filmmaking career. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mr. Ken Burns.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Dr. Ovidio Joseph Falcone. Dr. Falcone, born in Salerno, Italy and raised in Yonkers, New York, displayed a passion for science, math, and sports from an early age, attending Manhattan College and obtaining his BS degree in Biology. Dr. Falcone began his medical career in 1982, when he entered the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, obtaining his D.P.M. and beginning his residency at the Interfaith Medical Center in 1986, serving as its Chief Resident from 1987 to 1988 and later as its On-Site Director. Dr. Falcone later became the Director of the Podiatric Surgical Division in 1998, developing one of the strongest Podiatric Surgical Residency Programs in the country as well as a dedicated, vibrant Podiatric Surgical Service at IMC. Dr. Falcone is a member of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and is a member of the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. In addition to these responsibilities at Interfaith Medical Center, Dr. Falcone has private practices in Queens and Brooklyn. Dr. Falcone has a deep love for teaching the art of surgery, a strong commitment to family, and a passion for patient care. He is committed to serving the underprivileged and he believes that there is a sense of fulfillment in knowing you participated in helping those that are in need. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Dr. Ovidio Joseph Falcone for his extraordinary accomplishments at the Interfaith Medical Center. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Dr. Ovidio Joseph Falcone.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today on behalf of Mount Calvary Baptist Church. This beacon of hope in Harlem has provided faith and fellowship for its congregation for 91 years. The rich history of this Harlem religious institution began 1917. At the time Black laborers were actively recruited to leave the South to work in New York's factories. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, among other churches, served as a pillar of spiritual sustenance and support for this young Black community. Throughout Harlem's tough times including devastating riots, poverty, crime, and unemployment, the church has continued its invaluable work, inspiring new generations of Harlemites to improve their communities and to develop their spiritual potential. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, in 1991, began a series of new community projects, starting with the Building Trade Training School Program and later the church's participation in the ``Angel Tree Prison Ministry'' in 1995. Mount Calvary Baptist Church has since built on its years of community work to found a highly successful men's ministry, women's ministry, and prison ministry, as well as sponsoring health workshops for men, a youth basketball team, and a Youth Ministry in 2001. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, under the adroit leadership of Reverend Dr. Adolph Roberts, Senior Pastor, can take pride in its many accomplishments in the community. Over the course of its 91-year history, the church has served as the spiritual home of thousands of men, women, boys, girls, and teenagers, inspiring them with a message of hope, deliverance, and prosperity.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and honor to the work and achievements of Archbishop Wilbert S. McKinley, founding patriarch of the Elim International Fellowship. Archbishop McKinley established Elim International Fellowship on July 26, 1964 at 9 Chauncey Street in Brooklyn. He began with a bold new vision: to create a dynamic spiritual center in the heart of Brooklyn that generates a pulsating excitement of the presence of God for people of diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Archbishop McKinley over the past 44 years has guided Elim's extraordinary growth and development, moving the church from its Chauncey Street location first to 1810 Fulton Street, then to 515 Classon Avenue, and finally to its larger, magnificent home on 20 Madison Street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Archbishop McKinley has succeeded in creating a vibrant home for thousands of men, women, boys, girls, and teenagers seeking a sincere, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The church has launched many powerful ministries that bring the Bible to life and inspire each individual to develop his or her spiritual potential. Archbishop McKinley is also an accomplished, celebrated preacher and a master teacher. His message of hope, deliverance, prosperity, and nationhood is broadcasted live to thousands of listeners worldwide every Sunday morning. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Archbishop Wilbert S. McKinley, Jr. for 50 years of outstanding service to our community as a member of the ministry. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Archbishop Wilbert S. McKinley.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 7217) to amend title 40, United States Code, to enhance authorities with regard to real property that has yet to be reported excess, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the measures just considered.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 7216) to amend section 3328 of title 5, United States Code, relating to Selective Service registration, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. I would like to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee, who is a person who came to us early on with this idea which, I think, is an excellent one, so I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper).

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 928) to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence of the Inspectors General, to create a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and for other purposes.

Mr. TOWNS. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I really feel that this legislation is so timely, because when you talk to people, when we had hearings that Inspectors General would come in and talk about the fact that sometimes they would be in the middle of an investigation of some type and that the budget would be cut, or in some instances they were actually fired. So I think this kind of brings about the independence that they need regardless in terms of the fact that if there is an investigation, if there's problems, it gives them the freedom to be able to move and get the things they need to get done. I would like to commend all of my colleagues that have been involved in this issue. I would like to commend the staff for bringing us where we are today.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1046) to modify pay provisions relating to certain senior-level positions in the Federal Government, and for other purposes.

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of S. 1046, the Senior Professional Performance Act of 2008, introduced by Senator George Voinovich of Ohio. This legislation passed the Senate with an amendment by unanimous consent on July 11, 2008, and was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. This legislation amends Federal pay provisions to raise the cap on base pay for certain senior-level scientific and professional government employees while eliminating locality-based comparability payments for the employees. The legislation makes small changes in the procedures for new appointments of senior-level scientific and professional provisions classified above GS-15. The legislation also allows the director of the Office of Personnel Management to extend the certification of an agency's performance appraisal system, which is otherwise limited to 24 months under the bill, for up to 6 months. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementing this legislation would cost the Federal Government roughly $7 million between 2008 and 2012, which would be paid from discretionary appropriations. This legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues. In 2003, Congress enacted legislation to reform the pay-for- performance management system for the Senior Executive Service. This legislation, as amended, authorizes agencies to develop and implement similar pay and performance management systems for senior level scientific and professional personnel in order to retain these talented and capable employees. With the prediction on the high numbers of Federal workers eligible for retirement, it is important that the Federal Government have tools in place to recruit and retain a highly skilled workforce. S. 1046 provides agencies with the flexibility needed to meet future workforce needs of the Federal Government. We recognize that pay-for-performance systems are still under review. However, this bill serves as a first step to improving innovative Federal compensation systems. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation by agreeing to pass S. 1046. I reserve the balance of my time.