Jim Walsh

Mr. WALSH of New York

Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today with great pride, to honor someone who is very close to me and for whom I have the greatest respect; Mr. Arthur A. Jutton. Known as Art or Mr. Jutton to his colleagues, Art served as my Chief of Staff since my first day in office until his recent retirement this month. As one of the longest serving staff members here in the House of Representatives, there are very few Hill staffers and Washington professionals who did not know or have the utmost respect for him. I cannot begin to describe all the contributions that Art has made throughout what seems like an endless tenure here on Capitol Hill. Art began his career working for former Congressman John Terry back in 1970. He served as Mr. Terry's District Representative until 1972. Art then worked for former Congressman Bill Walsh, my father, as his Field Representative from 1972 to 1978. In 1978, Art moved down to Washington D.C. to serve as the Administrative Assistant to former Congressman Gary Lee until 1982. In 1983, Art became the Administrative Assistant to former Congressman Gerry Solomon and served in that post until 1988 when he became my Chief of Staff. For the most part, all of the Members of Congress that Art has served have represented the Central New York region. As a Central Yorker himself, Art has helped all of us work diligently on behalf of the people of that region and also for the greater good of the country. During his time in government, Art became a pillar of strength among those with whom he worked with. From his first days until his last minute, Art carried a work ethic second to none and was an everlasting source of knowledge. In the late 1970s, he started the New York State Republican Administrative Assistant Association. This group would meet once a month for a breakfast to discuss the issues that were not only on the political forefront, but primarily issues that affected the citizens of New York State. These meetings have since turned into the New York Republican Chiefs of Staff breakfasts that continue to this day. Over the years, Art became a mentor to all staff that was lucky enough to have worked with him. Though sticking true to his beliefs, he had an uncanny ability to maintain an open mind and adjust with the times as they changed. Art not only created close relationships with staffers, but with all the employees of the House of Representatives. Every morning, bright and early, you could find Art in the Rayburn cafeteria sharing a cup of coffee with the Superintendent's staff. It was these early morning talks that Art credited as the source for the most useful information and inside tips. Madam Speaker, I am happy for Art on his retirement and extremely proud of the 37 years of service he has given the people of Central New York. I know that although not here in Washington, Art will find a way to stay involved. The work he accomplished was done with the highest level of professionalism, a vigorous work ethic, and most importantly a loving heart. On behalf of my constituents, the constituents of the aforementioned former members and all of the wonderful staff with whom he worked with, I personally thank Art Jutton for all he has done. We will miss him.

Mr. WALSH of New York

Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the town of Wolcott. This small town rests on the shore of Lake Ontario and currently has a population just under 4,700. Named after Gov. Oliver Wolcott of Massachusetts, Wolcott was founded in 1807. The original town of Wolcott included what are now the present day towns of Huron, Rose, Butler, and Wolcott. At that time, the area was part of Seneca County. In 1806, one of Wolcott's first settlers, Jonathan Melvin, purchased 500 acres in what would eventually become the village of Wolcott. Mr. Melvin built a gristmill and sawmill along with a frame house for his family, which he painted black. Known to be a very generous man, Mr. Melvin donated land for the construction of a local school and church. One of the landmarks of Wolcott is the statue of Venus Rising from the Sea. In 1913 the statue was placed at the four corners in Wolcott at the site of the old town pump. Constructed of cast iron, the fountain has been a landmark in Wolcott for over eight decades. Venus Rising from the Sea is one of only eight such statues in America. Production of iron was one of Wolcott's early main industries. The town was one of the two principle locations of the iron industry for western New York. The Wolcott furnace was located north of the village of Wolcott along the west bank of Wolcott Creek, on what is now Furnace Road. The Wolcott furnace was put into operation in 1821. The iron was formed into castings and hauled to Clyde, once the Erie Canal was constructed and began serving as the major transportation hub for bringing Wayne County products to market. The furnace remained operational until 1869 when the last run of iron making in Wolcott was completed. Today, Wolcott's main industries are fruit farming and food processing. On behalf of the constituents of the 25th District of New York, I congratulate the town of Wolcott on its 200th anniversary.

Mr. WALSH of New York

Mr. WALSH of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would like to begin by acknowledging the work of Chairman Obey and his staff in consulting with us on the Labor-HHS chapter of this bill. I know the gentleman from Wisconsin, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, has been put in a difficult position. A position we in the House lamented all last year when the other body neglected to schedule time for our bills. But I would remind everyone that under Chairman Lewis' leadership, we completed work on every bill but one by July 4 of last year. This process insist my view is beyond the pale. First of all, this is a continuing resolution in name only. For all practical purposes, it is an omnibus bill. To my knowledge, not one Member of the House other than the bill's sponsor saw this product in its entirety until Monday night. Let us be clear. This is not an inconsequential bill. It provides roughly half the money needed to run the government for an entire, and we are going to whisk it off the House floor in a grand total of 2 hours. The Appropriations Committee has not met to discuss the contents of the bill, let alone to offer amendments that could improve it. And Members of the House have had only slightly more than one day to decode the unorthodox language contained in this 137-page document. Furthermore, the bill before us is not amendable by the body as a whole. I cannot recall the entire time I have been a Member of the House a single appropriations bill that has not been open to amendment at some level. The American people who watch this debate will see us spend $463.5 billion of their money with a grand total of 2 hours of discussion, 1 hour on the rule, 1 hour of general debate. If you do the math, that is $3.8 billion per minute of public debate. Frankly, that is a travesty, and the American people deserve better.

Mr. WALSH of New York

Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Mrs. Ruth Colvin, a 2006 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work as the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America. Literacy Volunteers of America is a national, educational, non-profit organization that trains volunteers to teach Adult Basic Literacy (ABL) and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). In 2002 Literacy Volunteers of America merged with Laubach Literacy International to become ProLiteracy Worldwide, and now has 1200 affiliates across the United States and over 50 partners worldwide. Her work has made Syracuse, NY, the center of global literacy efforts. Ruth Colvin is a literacy pioneer and one of our Nation's most effective ambassadors to the world on the importance of education. The founder of Literacy Volunteers of America, she has dedicated her life to helping the less fortunate gain the reading and language skills they need to succeed. Her work has inspired others to lead lives of service and devote their time and talents to combating illiteracy. The United States honors Ruth Johnson Colvin for her extraordinary efforts to provide hope and opportunity to people everywhere.

Mr. WALSH of New York

Mr. WALSH of New York. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor this morning with my good friend and colleague, Richard Neal of Massachusetts, to draw attention to the Northern Ireland peace process. Many remember Northern Ireland's troubles with the endless bombings, bullets, bloodshed and continuous cycle of violence. The fight was for civil rights and national aspiration. The combatants made a conscious decision to end the killing and reach a compromise. Thanks to the efforts of the British, Irish and American governments and the political leaders of Northern Ireland, we have had peace for about 10 years. But they are still struggling to implement the Good Friday Agreement that provides for power sharing, proportional representation and self-governance. Over the years, in the face of significant criticism, Sinn Fein has delivered on every commitment outlined in the Good Friday Agreement. We now look to Ian Paisley and the Democratic Unionist Party to step up and deliver on behalf of the Unionist community. It is time for the DUP to validate their word given at St. Andrews by unequivocally committing to a devolved power sharing government with Sinn Fein. They must make good on their word and consummate their remarkable achievement. An historic moment is dawning on the island of Ireland. It is time to act.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to affirm the significance of our Nation's friendship with India through implementation of the U.S.- India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act of 2006. Our friendship with India is among the most important bilateral relationships for our Nation's security and prosperity. As a fellow partner in democracy, India has stood firm with the United States in many different arenas--from fighting the war on terrorism, to advancing both the U.S. and Indian economies, to assisting in the formulation of a productive dialogue with China. Time and again, India has shown herself to be a proven ally and this legislation represents yet another historic milestone in the association between our two great nations. This agreement marks a I80-degree policy shift pertaining to nuclear relations between India and the United States. This agreement permits the U.S. to sell technology to India for nuclear power development and in return, India will open up for inspection its civilian nuclear program, agree not to test nuclear weapons, and abide by nuclear export controls. In essence, this legislation brings India to the world stage as a verifiable and accountable nuclear power while reaffirming the U.S. and India as economic partners in peace. Mr. Speaker, this is a good and appropriate piece of legislation. This bill has undergone months of deliberation, been subject to modification and amendment and finally, brought forth for a vote. I would like to commend Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for all their hard work on this bill and reemphasize the significance it carries in furthering economic and technological cooperatives amongst democratic partners.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Louis Marshall. Louis Marshall is a staple in the Syracuse community. Born on December 14, 1856 Mr. Marshall spent his time growing up in our area. After attending Columbia Law College, Mr. Marshall returned to Syracuse where he began his legal career. In time, Louis Marshall distinguished himself as one of the more prominent and sought after lawyers in New York State. Through his tireless efforts advocating civil rights and combating anti-Semitism, Louis Marshal became a legendary appellate attorney and a Constitutional scholar. Throughout his life, he tried more cases before the United States Supreme Court than any other non-govemmental lawyer of his era. Locally, Louis Marshall was heavily involved within the Syracuse community. As a longtime trustee of Syracuse University, he worked hard for the creation of the New York State College of Forestry. His greatness was often sought after by many, landing Mr. Marshall on commissions at the State and National level. Throughout his prestigious career, Louis Marshall always maintained close personal ties to the Syracuse community. At the time of his untimely death on September 11, 1929, Louis Marshall had already cemented his greatness. Louis Marshall will always be remembered as a hard working, loving, individual who fought diligently to protect the rights of all and fought hard so the integrity of our great Constitution would never be jeopardized.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sodus Library and their #1 ranking among libraries nationwide. Every year a list of the Nation's top 100 libraries is published. Hennen's American Public Library Rating Index looked at over 9,000 libraries and ranked them on various traditional services. This year, the public library of Sodus, New York ranked number one in its population category. As we all know, libraries are an integral part to all communities. We have all experienced the benefits of libraries; whether as a small child in a reading club or as a young adult working on a research paper. It is an honor for me and the people of Central New York to have the number one library in the Nation. I congratulate Sodus Librarian Carol Garland and her staff for all the hard work that has attributed to Sodus Library being considered the top in the Nation.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give much deserved praise to the Fayetteville-Manlius High School Girl's Cross Country Team on their first place finish at the Nike Team Nationals, defeating 19 other teams and beating the second place team by 50 points to earn a national title. The Nike Team Nationals put together a race of 20 teams of the highest caliber to compete in Portland Oregon in a 5-kilometer race. The young women of Fayetteville-Manlius worked extremely hard this year to put together a team that was capable of competing at this level, and their hard work paid off with a first place finish and two runners within 20 seconds of first place. On behalf of all my constituents, I would like to congratulate this special team on their amazing athletic prowess, and especially Coach Bill Aris for leading them throughout the year. I wish them every success in the 2007 season, and look forward to watching them defend their national title. The team members are: Mackenzie Carter, Kathryn Buchan, Jessica Hauser, Hilary Hooley, Courtney Chapman, Molly Malone, and Ashley Higginson.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Hyde, Chairman Leach and Ranking Member Lantos for their great service to this country while serving on the International Relations Committee. They bring great honor to this House in their knowledge and the thoughtful approach they bring to our foreign policy, and I am very grateful to them for allowing this resolution to come before the House this evening. Let me thank also the entire International Relations Committee and staff for all the hard work and effort in getting this important resolution to the floor. It is such a critical time for this beautiful little country in Asia, Nepal. The timing of this resolution could not be more appropriate. The Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal just signed a comprehensive peace agreement on November 21, bringing an end to the 11-year people's war which has claimed over 13,000 lives. The 11-page historic document was signed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on behalf of the Nepal Government and Maoist Chairman Prachanda on behalf of his party. This ten-point agreement came after a number of earlier understandings and agreements between the Seven Party Alliance and the Maoists. The agreement states that ``After the Nepali Army is confined to barracks and the Maoist combatants to cantonments, possession and exhibition of arms, intimidation, and use of violence and weapons in any form shall be punishable by law.'' The agreement bars the government and the Maoists from recruiting soldiers, smuggling or transporting weapons and explosives, carrying out violent activities against each other, intimidating any person and destroying private property or public property. The agreement states no one is allowed to move about or participate in mass meetings and rallies with any type of arms. The popular uprising for peace and democracy in April was historic. The will of the people of Nepal is what made the agreements of recent weeks between the government and the Maoists possible, and I am hopeful that those agreements will move Nepal further along the path to lasting peace and democracy. The progress to date is commendable and there is cause for optimism, but there is much work to be done. Agreements are worth little if they go unimplemented, and the Maoists in particular continue to engage in behavior that calls into question their commitment to non-violence and multiparty democracy. As Richard Boucher, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, said during his recent visit to Nepal, ``You don't walk into Parliament with a gun in your pocket.'' I again call upon the Maoists and their Chairman Prachanda to permanently end violence, to submit to the rule of law and to compete on an even playing field with Nepal's political parties for a contest of ideas to seek the votes of the Nepalese people in free and fair elections. There is no place in a democracy for private armies. The parties of Nepal have requested U.N. assistance in monitoring adherence to the peace agreements, particularly the restriction of arms and armies. I welcome that request and the U.N.'s involvement, and I strongly support a robust U.N. monitoring mission in Nepal for the upcoming elections. I am pleased and encouraged by these developments. The Nepalese people have spoken and expressed their will to have their voices heard. It is time for the political leaders to acknowledge their wishes and fully carry them out. Mr. Speaker, again it gives me great pleasure to stand before you today to give praise to this historic comprehensive peace agreement as the framework for peace in Nepal and recognize the remarkable progress that has been achieved by all. Nepal can hopefully now travel down the path of peace, stability and prosperity. I commend the efforts of the leaders of that nation who focused on the greater good of the people of Nepal, and I urge them to continue to move forward.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a number of New Yorkers who have served so well in this Congress, some of whom are retiring, some of whom were defeated in the last election, all of whom have served our State ably. I regret, unfortunately, that some members of our very own delegation worked for the defeat of some of these, and unfortunately that does affect the comity and collegiality of our delegation, but we have to resolve that in the coming days. But I would like to talk about my travel partner, Sherry Boehlert, a man whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the last 18 years in my service here. He is a great guy. He is loved in his home. He is loved in Washington by all, as you have heard tonight, people on both sides of the aisle. He is a great baseball fan, a Yankee fan. People love the Yankees because they are the Yankees. They are New York. They are our brand name. He has served as a congressional staffer for 20 years. He served for former Congressman Alexander Pirnie. So he started at the bottom and worked his way to the very top. He is possibly the biggest baseball fan in the Congress. He is known as a centrist, a moderate. He served on the Science Committee since 1983 and became its chairman in 2001. In that capacity, he has been the leading Republican environmentalist in the House, a remarkable title and one that certainly is fitting. He is recognized as a champion of Federal investment in science and technology. He authored amendments to the Clean Air Act that have changed the way we breathe in this country. He authored the conservation title in 1996 on the farm bill, which changes the way we drink our water. So many things, so many contributions to our community. Perhaps the greatest contribution that someone in the Boehlert family made was his wife, Marianne, for the time that she spent away from him while he did his job here. We are deeply grateful to Marianne for that. I know Sherry looks forward to his move to Mike Castle's district and working in the Woodrow Wilson International Center, and he will serve us well there and his country. I would also like to pay tribute to my colleague and friend, Sue Kelly. Sue was elected in 1994 and is finishing her sixth term in the Congress. She represents the West Point District of New York. Prior to coming to Congress, she had a professional career that ranged from teacher, to small business owner, patient advocate, rape counselor, PTA president and biomedical researcher. What a resume. She was appointed chairman of the House Financial Services Oversight Investigations Subcommittee, was a coauthor of Sarbanes-Oxley, and made her subcommittee a leading force in Congress to improve the Federal Government's ability to track and disrupt terrorist financing. She also served on the bipartisan Congressional Anti-Terrorist Financing Task Force. Sue has also been a great advocate for the Hudson River and worked hard to enact the Hudson River Habitat Restoration Act. She is also a chief sponsor of the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act, enacted in 1998. She is a good friend, we will miss her, but I know she will continue to serve her country and her community. My good friend and colleague, John Sweeney, also a member of the Appropriations Committee, represents New York's 20th Congressional District in Clifton Park, New York. John served as executive director and chief counsel for the New York State Republican Party. John served 2 more years as the New York State commissioner of labor under Governor Pataki. He is a fellow appropriator and serves as vice chairman of the Transportation-Treasury Subcommittee and HUD Appropriations Subcommittee for Homeland Security and Foreign Operations. He is a dedicated, hardworking public official. His dedication to New York is unchallenged. He worked very hard to restore the Albany International Airport and the Capital Region, which is a booming airport today. He helped ensure that I-87 was designated a high-priority corridor to receive Federal highway resources, and he led the charge to ban dangerous steroid drugs in professional sports and throughout our society. Significantly, John played an important role in the $21 billion appropriation for New York City after September 11. Lastly, my colleague and longest serving Member to retire is Major Owens. Major Owens has served New York in so many ways, representing New York's 11th District in Brooklyn. Before coming here, he served as public library community coordinator, community action executive, New York city commissioner, Columbia University professor, and New York State senator. What a remarkable public servant he has been. During his tenure in Congress, Congressman Owens gained notoriety for his role as chairman of the Subcommittee on Select Education and Civil Rights in the 1980s, for his role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a strong supporter for the minimum wage, strong support of Davis-Bacon legislation and a strong supporter of workers rights to organize into labor unions. All of these men and women have given their all for the State of New York. We owe them much. They have asked little other than to serve. They have been given that award by the people of New York. Now they are going on to something else. We wish them all the best, Godspeed, and thank you deeply from the bottom of our hearts.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2430, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006. This is a strong, bi- partisan bill that deserves the support of all members. As many of you know, my district is home to the Lake Ontario shoreline. From its recreational use to its natural beauty, Lake Ontario directly affects a majority of my constituents. Areas on Lake Ontario like the Sodus Bay Chimney Bluffs and Irondequoit Bay, to the various trout streams and wetland marshes, all shape the landscape of this unique area. But this diverse landscape and its ecosystem are in need of attention. All the Great Lakes are in need of repair. This legislation allows us to begin the much needed restoration of the Great Lakes. Unfortunately, I must admit that nearly half of the original wetlands of the Great Lakes have been lost due to adverse threats like non-point source pollution and invasive species. These lost wetlands were the home to the sensitive ecosystem that is the building block of the larger Great Lakes basin. The basin is home to \1/5\ of the earth's fresh water and it commands our attention. This legislation helps get us there. Lastly, this legislation is the first step in implementing the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration strategy that President Bush commissioned in 2004. Since that time, the findings and recommendations have been used to develop an all encompassing piece of legislation, H.R. 5100, the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act. This bill includes a coordinated effort to clean up sewage treatment plants as well as the polluted waters and toxic waste water left over from the industrial boom of past generations. H.R. 5100 includes funding for permanent barriers to protect Lake Michigan and the basin from the invasive Asian Carp species. Similar to our Nation's successful efforts in the Everglades and the Chesapeake Bay, we must do the same for the Great Lakes. Congress must implement H.R. 5100, and the passage of S. 2430 is a critical first step. Streams, rivers, marshes and wetlands all over the basin are polluted and in dire need of attention. We know that restoration, protection and conservation can restore the Great Lakes much like the Everglades and Chesapeake Bay. The fish and wildlife that call these areas home must be restored to protect the magnificence of the lakes for generations to come.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ralph Conte, who recently retired as Chief of the Civil Engineering Facility Programming Branch Air National Guard. Ralph attained this position in 1990, assuming the duties as lead engineering programmer for the National Guard, providing infallible advice, council, and programming decisions. Ralph was born in 1940 in Ponza, Italy, a small Mediterranean island off the coast of Anzio. He lived his early years as a citizen of Italy, playing with childhood friends and attending the Italian school system, which at that time was limited to the 5th grade. This academic level is comparable to an American 9th grade education. Ralph immigrated to America in 1956 with mother and brother; joining his father who had left Italy for the United States in 1954. The trip from Naples to New York Harbor took 7 days on the grand dame of the sea, the Andrea Doria. This was the Andrea Doria's second to last trip before her horrific collision and sinking of July 25, 1956. Upon arriving in the United States, the Conte family settled in White Plains, New York, where Ralph became a naturalized U.S. citizen in July 1961, and graduated from White Plains High School. He continued his education, attending New York University, Bronx Campus, receiving a BS in Civil Engineering and Central Michigan University receiving a Master's Degree in Industrial Management. Ralph joined the Air Force on April 20, 1967 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt on June 30, 1967. From 1967 to 1970, he served on consecutive oversea tours from Aviano to Vietnam. In 1970, he was assigned to RED HORSE with Headquarters in Bien Hoa where he was responsible for all design and construction. Later, he was reassigned to Kunsan AB, Korea as the Officer in Charge for a Detachment of the RHS out of Cam Ran Bay. In 1972, Ralph was again reassigned to Wright Patterson, Ohio, where he assumed the oversight of facility programming including MFH, NAF, MILCON, R&D and O&M funds. Wright Patterson would be Ralph's last stop as an active duty service member, as he separated from the Air Force on Apri1 30, 1975 at the rank of Captain. Since 1975, Ralph has faithfully worked for the Air Force as a civilian in his former job, achieving his final assignment in 1990 as Chief of the Facility Programming Branch (ANG/CEP). Mr. Speaker, throughout his career, Ralph Conte has demonstrated a profound commitment to the Air Force, Air National Guard and the Nation. He is a consummate professional whose performance in over 30 years of service has personified those traits of competency and integrity that our Nation has come to expect of its senior civilian leaders. I would like to thank Ralph for his many years of dedicated service and wish he and his family a fulfilling retirement.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 200th anniversary of the Town of Otisco. Tucked away in Central New York, the Town of Otisco was formed from parts of the neighboring towns of Pompey, Marcellus, and Tully. Over its storied 200 years, the Town of Otisco has gone through many changes: In 1798, Oliver Tuttle was the first settler in Otisco, clearing land with his sons on the north end of Otisco Lake. Tuttle left, only to return with his entire family 4 years later. The Town of Otisco was officially created in 1806, as more settlers began to call the area home. As the population grew, the town began to experience changes such as the creation of a turnpike road started in 1806 to connect the Town of Otisco to the Town of Skaneateles. Otisco has contributed its part to our nation. There are 42 Revolutionary soldiers and 57 Civil War soldiers buried in the town, all of whom called Otisco home. Otisco also had nine soldiers in the War of 1812, 22 soldiers in WWI, and 26 soldiers in WWII. The town's population has slowly grown from 1,850 in the mid-19th century to 2,500 in 2000. Blessed by a pristine landscape and the beauty of Otisco Lake, the town provides a throwback feeling to the old days of small town living. To this day, farming is at the center of life in Otisco, and the lake is still the main area for activity. On behalf of the constituents of the 25th District of New York, I congratulate the Town of Otisco and its citizens, both past and present, on 200 years of history.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, I would like to congratulate the Department of Veterans Affairs on receiving the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award on Monday, July 10 from the Ash Institute in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, for their work in developing and implementing the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA). The VA was one of seven winners who were selected from more than 1,000 entries, including 200 forward thinking federal programs, that implemented a creative approach to a significant problem and demonstrated that their solution worked. This $100,000 award will provide VA the opportunity to share VistA's success story as a role model to other government agencies and the private sector. I am proud of the Department of Veterans Affairs dedication in providing excellence in health care to our Nation's veterans. The VistA system includes an electronic health record that organizes and presents all relevant patient data to directly support clinical decision-making, and improves safety and efficiency while reducing costs and staff requirements. Patient files are readily available, easily searchable, and proactive in that they alert providers to vital patient information. The records system enables physicians to review a patient's medical history, diagnoses, medications, charts and X-rays at any of the 1,400 VA sites. At a time when Americans are wrestling with the high cost and complexity of medical services, VA officials point to VistA as the model for delivering on the key components of health care: accessibility, quality, and cost. Five years ago, VA won an Innovation Award for creating a health management system that worked to reduce medical mistakes. VistA is a system whereby any authorized caregiver in VA's network has immediate access to every veteran's complete electronic medical record. According to Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, VA's Undersecretary for Health, the key to the success of the system was the full support of caregivers from the start. In fact, it was VA physicians who pushed for the system. It was developed in-house so that VA had complete control over the design and implementation. On the quality-of-care front, the system has reduced outpatient medication errors from the national rate of 5 percent to a fraction of 1 percent. The system also enabled VA to manage vaccinations much more effectively, increasing the vaccination rate for pneumonia from 26 to 92 percent in a decade. Also important, VistA has helped VA offer enrolled veterans better quality care than a decade ago. Their health status, as defined by patient functioning, has measurably improved. All of this has been provided a the same cost per patient as VA expended 10 years ago, while the rest of the country has seen costs nearly double. This was a proud day for the VA. Secretary Jim Nicholson said ``The VA is now at the forefront of America's health-care industry.'' Once again, I would like to congratulate the veteran health providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs on receiving this well deserved award and thank them for their dedication in providing excellence in health care to our Nation's veterans.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. Marilyn Pinsky. On June 30, 2006 Mrs. Pinsky retired as commissioner of the Department of Aging and Youth for Onondaga County, NY. Mrs. Pinsky's career with Onondaga County spanned over 35 years, starting in the Data Processing Department in 1971. She has worked her way up to commissioner of the Department of Aging and Youth, where she has ably served since 1993. Mrs. Pinsky is a graduate of Syracuse University and earned a masters of public administration from the Maxwell School. She is a member of many community boards, including the Central New York Community Foundation, Success by Six Policy Council, and the Board of Visitors of the Syracuse University College of Human Services and Health Professions. She is a past president of the Interreligious Council of Central New York, and was a member of the boards of the Syracuse Symphony, Syracuse Stage, and the Freedom Trail Commission. She has been a dedicated employee, leader, and mother. She is a recipient of the Temple Adath Citizen of the Year Award, a Post-Standard Woman of Achievement, the Hannah G. Solomon Award and the New York State Intergenerational Network Award, among others. Mrs. Pinsky's service has made a lasting positive impact upon my hometown community. Most recently, she spearheaded an effort in Onondaga County to educate and assist in enrolling area seniors in the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. For its efforts, her department recently received commendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mrs. Pinsky's dedication, knowledge and leadership are unparalleled and much appreciated. I wish her well in retirement and thank her for a job well done.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Frederick Murphy. On June 30, 2006, Mr. Murphy retired as director of the Syracuse Housing Authority in Syracuse, NY. A graduate of Ithaca College, Mr. Murphy's career in local community development began in 1965 when he went to work for the city of Syracuse Urban Renewal Agency under then Mayor William F. Walsh. Later, he headed the city's Code Enforcement Division until he was appointed executive director of the Syracuse Housing Authority on February 18, 1971. As the director of the SHA, Mr. Murphy successfully oversaw the administration of a $35 million annual budget operating 2,500 apartments and also managed the section 8 housing program. He helped secure more than $180 million in Federal grants to modernize every public housing development and oversaw great growth and expansion of the program, building 550 new apartments of public housing during his tenure. Mr. Murphy's service has made a lasting positive impact upon my hometown community. Throughout his career he has worked with many mayors and HUD secretaries to greatly improve Syracuse's public housing. Mr. Murphy's dedication, knowledge and leadership are unparalleled and much appreciated. I wish him well in retirement, and thank him for a job well done.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the retirement of Mike Vadala as the Chairman of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU). Elected to the NAFCU Board in 1997, Mike has been a leader in the credit union community both nationally and within my great State of New York. For the past 9 years, Mr. Vadala has been balancing his time as a NAFCU Board Member including this past year as the Chairman of the NAFCU Board, along with his responsibilities as President/CEO of The Summit Federal Credit Union. With over 67,000 members in northern New York, The Summit FCU has fostered many savings programs targeted to today's youth by teaching the importance of saving through targeted programs ranging from kindergarten through college. Mr. Vadala has worked hard to promote financial education programs and has armed his members with protecting themselves against identity theft. Throughout his tenure as Chairman of the NAFCU Board of Directors, Mr. Vadala worked tirelessly to enhance the federal credit union charter by working with Congress for regulatory relief legislation for credit unions. As Chairman, he has also helped maintain NAFCU's status as a leading credit union trade association. Mr. Vadala has proven himself to be a true gentleman. I have seen him walking the halls of Congress many times carrying the torch for the credit union industry and he has testified before this Congress on multiple occasions on issues important to credit unions. Although there might have been occasion where we may have not agreed, this did not deter Mr. Vadala from continuing his loyal service to NAFCU. Many would think that the work he does for credit unions would be enough to fill a day, but that is not the case. He is also a dedicated family man, as well. Mr. Vadala and his family have played a huge role in fundraising for the United Way in upstate New York. He was also the former Chairperson of the March of Dimes Walk America. His work with these organizations has made a huge impact on thousands of lives in New York and beyond. Also, Mr. Speaker I could refer to Mr. Vadala without mentioning that he is one of the biggest Syracuse Orange fan that I have ever had the privilege to meet. And I would like to share one more ``Go Orange'' with Mr. Vadala as he concludes his time on the NAFCU Board. I rise today to congratulate Mr. Mike Vadala on his fine work throughout his illustrious tenure as Chair of NAFCU. I have worked with him on issues that are important to the credit union community in the past and I am committed to continuing this relationship. With more than 20 years experience in the credit union community, there is no doubt in my mind that our good friends at NAFCU will feel a great void once he steps down. Congratulations on your retirement from the NAFCU Board Mr. Vadala.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rcognize 36 years of unstinting public service by Syracuse Housing Authority Director Frederick Murphy. I have known Fred for many years and I speak for many when I say he is one public servant who will be truly missed when he retires this week. During his tenure, the Syracuse Housing Authority has become a national leader in developing tenant organizations and encouraging resident involvement. When Mayor Lee Alexander asked Fred to take this job in 1970, the authority was facing a number of serious problems. Working with HUD, Fred was able to reorganize the housing authority into the high performer it is today. In only a short time, the housing authority had achieved full occupancy and satisfied the residents. Today Syracuse administers 2,500 public housing apartments, 1,300 for the elderly and 1,200 for families. Syracuse also manages more than 3,200 Section 8 vouchers, which bring more than $15 million each year to the annual economy. During his tenure, SHA has added 325 units of housing for elderly and people with disabilities, along with another 225 units of family housing. The success of its Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program--500 enrolled households and $1 million in escrow--led to its selection by HUD as a prototype home ownership program. Since 1972, Syracuse has also put $180 million in capital funds to work modernizing aspects of every one of the city's public housing developments. Another example of Fred's leadership was the SHA decision to convert two schools to housing for the elderly, addressing an issue facing communities across the Nation. Fred did not confine his leadership to Syracuse. He has been a strong national voice for public housing, serving on the board of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities and testifying frequently before Congress. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with him on behalf of the residents of Syracuse. And while his leadership and guidance will be missed, thousands of people will continue to benefit from his work for decades to come.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reiterate that now is not the time to bring our troops home from Iraq. Our soldiers have done a valiant effort in fighting terrorism and bringing a semblance of law and order to the chaos in the region and it would be shortsighted to lay out a specific timetable to bring U.S. troops home prematurely before their mission is accomplished. Over the last 12 months, enormous progress has been made in training Iraqi security forces and already we are seeing the fruits of our labors. Iraqi forces took the lead in election security and maintaining order during the December elections. In Southern Iraq control of the countryside is already in the process of being transferred from Japanese and Australian peacekeepers to Iraqi security forces. Slowly but surely this approach of having Iraqi forces take the lead in patrolling the streets of their cities while the U.S. military moves their troops to the perimeter is taking hold. As Iraqi forces continue to stand up, American forces will stand down. Congress needs to ensure that by our actions we don't send a message to our Iraqi allies that the United States is lessening its resolve and going back on our commitment to achieve our strategy for victory in Iraq and defeat the terrorist insurgents who are threatening this victory. While the United States will continue to face setbacks as we move forward with our mission to transfer authority over to the Iraqi people, we have to be firm in maintaining our resolve and finish what we started by achieving a lasting peace in Iraq. Everyone agrees that our ultimate goal is to establish a free, open and democratic Iraqi government and bring our men and women in uniform home as soon as possible. Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to our troops to ensure that terrorism does not prevail in the Middle East. Any Congressional agreement of an arbitrary time table to bring our troops home before we have accomplished our mission is unacceptable and could potentially increase the risk to our soldiers. I have confidence in our military leadership and in our troops that we will ultimately prevail in our war on terror. I look forward to the day when we can transfer U.S. authority over to Iraq's elected leaders and to a completed transition of power and governance of Iraq.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished chairman for yielding me time and for including this appropriation in his bill. Clearly, the Constitution provides the power of the purse to the House, and clearly, as elected representatives of the people of New York or Arizona or Michigan, we need to help establish priorities for the spending. The Founding Fathers put that power in our hands. We need to exercise it wisely. Our committee, under the leadership of Chairman Lewis, has done a great deal to reduce Federal spending. In fact, nondefense discretionary spending has led us to today in terms of reducing spending, and so great credit should be given to the chairman and to the Appropriations Committee. This expenditure is very important to New York State. We are involved in a competition not just with other States but with other countries around the globe, and across the country we have seen great American jobs lost to global competition where other countries and those communities are supporting those business' moves to those places. We have seen it happen with UTC, with General Electric, with Kodak, and certainly here with Xerox. We are working with local municipalities, the town of Webster, the County of Monroe, the State of New York, to incentivize, to try to retain those jobs in upstate New York. Now, Xerox is a major player. They are investing tens of millions of dollars in the location to build a new building, to put in new processes. Upwards of $50 million is their investment. What we are doing is providing one-fourth of the public investment: one-fourth Federal, a portion local, a portion county, and a portion State, to make the improvements that will facilitate the construction of this facility and the access and egress for the employee. Is that a lot to ask? I would ask my colleague and friend from Arizona, whose State has benefited from hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars, of Federal dollars support, taxpayer support, my constituents in New York that helped to build all the water projects across the West, that enabled people to live in otherwise very inhospitable places. I understand they now have designs on the water from the Great Lakes because they cannot sustain the populations in the desert where they have chosen to live. New York taxpayers and Michigan taxpayers and California taxpayers, New Jersey taxpayers, have helped to subsidize the livelihoods of the farmers of Arizona. We do not begrudge them that. We think it is great. The Salt Road project, other water projects across the southwest are providing a livelihood, the electricity, the air conditioning for the people that Mr. Flake represents here. We have provided those moneys other the years without any fight, without any begrudging of that. It is important. We need to work together as a Nation to strengthen our industry, to strengthen our quality of life, and I would only ask the gentleman to please consider this process that he has brought before us today. This $1 million will leverage tens of millions of private sector investment, will enable hundreds of people to gain their livelihoods in upstate New York, to compete in the globally competitive world and allow us to maintain our tax base and our quality of life. We support the quality of life for people of Arizona. We would ask no less from the gentleman for the people of New York.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Certificate of Appreciation presented to the Syracuse partnership, headed by the Onondaga County Department of Aging, from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services in acknowledgment of the key role they played in establishing and maintaining this highly effective coalition. The Onondaga County Office for the Aging is the federally designated Area Agency on Aging for Syracuse and Onondaga County. The agency plans, develops and coordinates programs and services for approximately 83,000 county residents age 60 and older. The Onondaga County Office for the Aging was one of the most active and successful in the region. Their strong commitment to Part D outreach and enrollment, their creativity, perseverance and hard work could serve as a model for the rest of the region. They emphasized targeted outreach and always stressed the positives of the Part D program. They recognized the importance of working with local, State and Federal agencies and elected officials and actively sought out those partnerships. The level of success that they achieved would not have been possible without their excellent planning and organization. It is my honor to recognize and congratulate the Onondaga County Office of the Aging for their tireless work in assisting seniors through the Medicare Part D enrollment process. I wish them continued success on the care that they provide to seniors.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the Le Moyne College Men's Lacrosse team on winning the 2006 Division II National Championship. Their 12-5 victory over Dowling College capped off an 18- 0 campaign for the Le Moyne Dolphins, and earned them their second Division II national title in 3 years. Le Moyne's national title efforts were spurred by the best D-II defense in the Nation. The Dolphins also had a total of 8 players earning All-America honors from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. On behalf of the people of the 25th District of New York, I congratulate Head Coach Dan Sheehan, Assistant Coaches Brian Datellas, Kevin Michaud, Eric MacCaull, and the players of the Le Moyne College Men's Lacrosse team: Jared Corcoran, Travis Tarr, Alex Bily, Markus Fallico, Brian Cost, Jason Longo, Chris Doran, Brian Griffin, Nate Evans, Chris Moore, Matt Juriga, Matt Emerson, Mike Recor, Jordan Witt, Tim MacLean; Brian Welch, Ted Rund, Ed Street, Mike McDonald, Doug McIve, Pete Gibbons, Blake Gale, Ryan Lewis, Tom Donahue, Kevin Kohl, Brad Wolken, Jim Fiacco, Matt Crandall, Marc Cizenski, Mike McLaughlin; Dan Brown, Jeff Lewis, Craig Rosecrans, Tyler Hill, Russ Oechsle, Andrew Carducci, Rob Poole, Mike Lindstrom, Mike Malone, Matt Cassalia, Dan Ziegler, Pat O'Donnell, Pat McPartlin, and Matt Foster.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the Onondaga Community College Men's Lacrosse Team on their NJCAA National Championship. Onondaga Community College, OCC, defeated Suffolk Community College by a score of 30-6, giving the school their first men's lacrosse national title. The championship victory culminated a season in which the OCC Lazers went undefeated with an 18-0 mark, outscoring their opponents 445-80 along the way. With their display of dominance throughout the year, it is clear that OCC was the best junior college team in 2006 and arguably the best in history. On behalf of all of my constituents, I congratulate these young men on their outstanding athletic achievement and praise Head Coach Chuck Wilbur, Assistant Coaches Mike Villano, Joe Villano, and Chris Brim on their team's success. I look forward to the 2007 season when the Lazers take the field to defend their national title. No. 1, Brooks Robinson; No. 2, Ryan, Boda; No. 3, Dan Casciano; No. 4, Mike Difusco; No. 5, John Tysco; No. 6, Lee Nanticoke; No. 7, Brendan Storrier; No. 8, Kent Squires Hill; No. 9, Stefan Schroder; No. 10, Nick Gatto, captain; No. 11, Isaiah Kicknosway; No. 12, Pat Shanahan; No. 13, Kevin Bucktooth, Jr., captain; No. 14, David Cougler; No. 15, Mike Tracy; No. 16, Dave Maldonado; No. 17, Sid Smith, captain; No. 18, Matt Myke; No. 19, Craig Point; No. 20, P.J. Motondo; No. 21, Adam Orlandella, captain; No. 22, Jay Tranello; No. 24, Mike Diglio; No. 25, Rich Herrig; No. 26, A.J. Vaughn; No. 27, Casey Fellows; No. 28, Josh Groth; No. 29, Pat Dimatteo; No. 30, Kris Frier; No. 31, Scott Herrig; No. 33, Devin Rookey; No. 34, Pat Shiel; No. 35, Brandon Novak; No. 36, Nick Sigona; No. 38, Cody Jamieson; No. 39, Adam Clark; No. 40, Ross Bucktooth.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend for yielding time. If anyone needs to find an example of bipartisanship and good work product, they need to look no further than the Energy and Water bill, under the leadership of Dave Hobson and Peter Visclosky, two fine midwestern gentlemen who know how to work together and lead us in a bipartisan way toward energy independence in the stronger and more effective Army Corps of Engineers. One issue within the bill that I would like to address, Mr. Chairman, that is the Department of Energy's recent pronouncement that it would no longer reimburse Department of Energy contractors for contributions to defined benefit pension plans and medical plans. It is an overly broad and unprecedented position. One Cabinet agency is attempting to prohibit contributions to defined benefit plans at the very moment the House and Senate conferees are negotiating over provisions to strengthen the financial solvency of the very same defined benefit plans. DOE should not be allowed to unilaterally mandate a reimbursement policy. The White House has publicly supported reforms to our country's pension laws to strengthen defined benefit plans. We commend Chairman Hobson and Mr. Visclosky for inserting language into this appropriations bill to preclude DOE from implementing this policy. Make no mistake that the House is working its will on this specific issue and is repudiating the DOE's policy to prohibit reimbursement of contractor contributions to these plans. It is my hope and expectation that the House leadership will sustain this position on any negotiations with the Senate. America's workers who are covered by defined benefit plans deserve our full support and protection.