Zach Wamp

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the induction of John Elkington of Memphis, Tennessee, into the Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame recognizes the accomplishments of nearly 100 individuals and groups who have had a significant influence on American music, particularly blues music. As a developer with an extraordinary vision, Elkington revitalized a two-block section of historic Beale Street that had fallen into disrepair during the urban renewal of the 1970s. When Elkington started the project, only one business remained open. Where others failed, Elkington redeveloped Beale Street, turning it into one of America's premier entertainment districts. From the handful of night clubs and restaurants that opened in the early 1980s, the Beale Street Historic District has blossomed into a place where fans from around the world come to hear America's original art form, the blues. John Elkington possesses a rare combination of perseverance and optimism. His love for Memphis is unrivaled, and he is indeed one of Tennessee's most important developers. After 27 years of hard work and dedication to Beale Street, John Elkington deserves a recognition of inclusion into the Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame. Congratulations, Elk.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. I thank the committees of jurisdiction, and I thank the leadership from the majority side and from the minority side. Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that effectively gives our drug enforcement leadership the tools that they need to continues this fight. Twelve years ago, much like Mr. Doyle was just talking about his tenure here in the House being defined by his extraordinary work in the area of autism, in many ways mine has been defined over the last 12 years by fighting methamphetamine production in the Southeast, particularly in east Tennessee, where it surfaced in the late 1990s after coming to this country, really, in terms of production, in about 1993. It surfaced first in California. Then it came to the mountains of east Tennessee. Much like moonshine did two generations earlier, it was a clandestine process where citizens would put together the chemicals to make it. It stunk really bad, so they would do it out in the middle of the mountains and the hills, and they would get as far away from urban centers as they could; but because the drug is so deadly and addictive, it encroached on other areas. We saw, frankly, the States that took the leadership take ephedrine and pseudoephedrine from behind the counter. They made it harder to get. They enforced a lot of rules at the State level, and it really knocked back the domestic production of methamphetamine. We still have a huge problem of methamphetamine coming in across the border, particularly through the transit country of Mexico, but this has helped us greatly combat the production. In east Tennessee, we formed the Southeast Tennessee Meth Task Force, which is a premiere local, State, and Federal partnership because methamphetamine production can't be combated exclusively at the State and local levels. It just simply can't. They didn't have the resources to surveil it. It became a toxic site where it was made, and they didn't have the resources to clean it up, so we formed this partnership. It grew to become the East Tennessee Meth Task Force, and now it is a premiere statewide task force. We have had tremendous success in combating methamphetamine production in Tennessee, but we have to continue to modernize the laws, including adding a Federal component, in order for drug professionals to be able to keep ephedrine and pseudoephedrine out of the hands of people who are addicted to methamphetamine, because they produce this most of the time for use. As a result, this is just a deadly, deadly disease out in the hinterland of America, and we have got to fight it. This bill is another step in the right direction. Congressman Gordon from Tennessee and I have been working together. Congressman Cooper from Tennessee and I passed a bill a few years ago to actually create Federal grant support for the children who are taken out of meth homes because when a meth home is infected by this plague, many times the children become wards of the State, and there was little help there at the State level as well. So if this plague of methamphetamine has not come to your hometown, unfortunately, it will soon, and it's something that requires a Federal component. This is a good bill. I urge the entire House to stand together and pass this piece of legislation, thanking the committees of jurisdiction and the original sponsor, Mr. Bart Gordon of Tennessee.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. I ask unanimous consent that the time on this amendment be extended by 15 minutes per side.

Mr. WAMP. I wish we could; we don't know. I just think 5 minutes per side is not sufficient on a matter this important before the House.

Mr. WAMP. May I ask unanimous consent, then, that the time be extended equally so that the time that the Speaker may claim to speak on her side of this issue might be allotted to the minority?

Mr. WAMP. Could the Chair tell me if it might be in order for the time to be extended on this very, very important matter before the House at least equal to the time that might be taken by the Speaker of the House?

Mr. WAMP. Madam Chairman, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has devastated communities in northern Uganda for more than 20 years and is now killing and abducting men, women, and children across areas of southern Sudan, Democratic Republic Congo, and Central African Republic. Following the brutal massacre of more than 800 Congolese villagers attending holiday worship celebrations on Christmas Day 2008, the rebel group led by Joseph Kony continued its rampage throughout the region. Under his leadership, the LRA went on to kill more than 1,000 people, abduct nearly 2,000 others and force more than 300,000 villagers to flee their homes during the weeks surrounding the Christmas holiday. In another horrific massacre just months ago, the LRA killed 321 people and abducted 250 more, many of whom were children. This particular rebel army's violence far outpaces other violent conflicts in the region, yet it tragically gets little attention. Thousands of Americans, especially our nation's youth, have recognized the urgency of this conflict. In my hometown of Chattanooga, I participated in an event last year called the Rescue, organized by college students as part of a national movement to raise awareness for the Invisible Children organization. I rescued a group that ``abducted'' themselves for a night and stayed at Coolidge Park symbolizing the thousands of Ugandan children that have been kidnapped and forced to become LRA soldiers. At that Rescue, I committed to doing what I could to help their cause. Several months later, I met with three students from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., who walked 800 miles from their college campus to Washington, D.C., as a symbolic journey similar to the ``night commute'' that children in Uganda make into the cities to hide in schools, churches or hospitals in groups to be less susceptible to kidnappers from the LRA, then return home during the day. Today, I remain committed to bringing awareness to these atrocities as a cosponsor of the LRA Disarmament & Northern Uganda Recovery Act. The tremendous public and Congressional support behind this legislation calls on the Obama Administration to take robust steps to lead multilateral efforts to permanently stop the rebel group's brutal violence, protect these innocent children and families from LRA attacks and help rebuild the lives of those affected. I urge the President to devise an interagency strategy to address this crisis which has gone on far too long. Alongside my colleagues who support this legislation and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have advocated for its passage, I look forward to seeing decisive action by President Obama and U.S. Department of State Secretary Hillary Clinton to bring about the U.S. leadership needed to see an end to this urgent and intolerable humanitarian tragedy.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, last week, flood waters devastated many businesses and homes of hardworking families in Tennessee. The torrential downpours and rise of the Cumberland River in Nashville was a 1,000-year event that no one could have predicted because this area is not in a flood plain. Therefore, a vast number of Tennesseans did not have flood insurance, leaving them hurting financially because of the high cost of home repairs and in need of additional support. Many are now homeless after this truly unique and devastating event in our State's history and my heart goes out to all affected, especially those who lost loved ones. While Tennessee's capitol city and surrounding areas have been severely damaged, the volunteer spirit of its residents has shined. Tennesseans are helping themselves and their neighbors recover and move forward. Clean-up efforts are well underway and fundraisers are being held for the thousands who lost their homes or so many of their belongings. We have a long way to go before our cities and towns are completely restored, and I am committed to doing all I can to help Middle and West Tennessee rebuild after these devastating floods.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. I thank the gentlewoman and the chairman for the time, and I will commend Representative Kind, Representative Inslee, and many others for bringing this legislation to the floor. But this is just a start of what we need to do in this country. Mr. Speaker, we have 13-year-olds all over this country on high blood- pressure medication. We have a type 2 diabetes and chronic obesity problem in America. We do have a lot of Federal involvement in education. Now we can debate how much of that we should have and, frankly, as someone who seeks to be the 49th Governor of Tennessee, I don't want any more. I want local control and State control, but we do have, through the Primary and Secondary Education Act and now No Child Left Behind, a lot of Federal involvement. What we really wanted was in the multiple measures category, physical education to be counted as other requirements are, because Thomas Jefferson said 200 years ago a child who is not physically well struggles with learning. We now know that is true and more true today than it was then because of these afflictions, because of poor nutrition. We know in my home State, with research from Dr. Mark Houston, that healthy doses of fresh fruits and vegetables can lower the cancer rate in your State by 40 percent. Nutrition is incredibly important. Physical activity is how children perform better. All the research shows if a child gets a good healthy dose of cardiovascular exercise, their brain functions much better, they test much better, they sleep better, their quality of life increases. Children who are physically well do much better. We have got to recognize that. Now, No Child Left Behind has squeezed out a couple of things from public education: one is PE, the other is arts education. That is really unfortunate because arts education is a left brain thing that broadens a child's dimension of education and learning, and physical activity is essential to a child learning and growing and becoming productive, let alone the consequences of type 2 diabetes and obesity and hypertension among young people, which can be a life sentence. So this is a matter of life or death. So if we are going to have Federal involvement in education decisions, we better have PE as part of the mix. We better have the best research for the States, which is what this bill gets to, on how to incorporate physical education into the curriculum and the daily regimen of children in school. Now, moms and dads need to know this early, but every fourth grader in America needs to know this is not about how big God made you. Some of us have big bones, small bones, wide, thin, tall, short, dark, light; this is about knowing that there is a dial in your life that must be adjusted if you want to live a high quality of life and you want to be physically well. The dial means you've got to get a certain amount of exercise. PE has been squeezed out of our schools; it needs to be welcomed back in with open arms. We need healthier children. This is a chronic problem. We tried to get President Bush to make this a centerpiece issue. We weren't able, even though he was very physically active and a great model for the country. We need to do all that we can. This is a minor first step. We took out all the mandates of this bill so that people couldn't complain about that, but let us at least come together and say accurate information, helping schools and States better understand what works, what doesn't work, what is the most effective way to incorporate physical education in education. Mind, body, and spirit is a holistic way to live a high quality of life. Out of this body we know this; we have the information. Share it with parents, teachers, directors of schools and, most importantly, the next generation. We will be a better country for it. I urge passage of this bill and I thank the authors.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 413.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, today I introduced the First Responders Protection Act to better protect the men and women who risk their lives every day on our behalf from the financial hardship related to potentially frivolous lawsuits. Too often, first responders can be forced to deplete their savings, put their own homes in jeopardy or sacrifice their retirement to pay for legal counsel to defend themselves. The First Responders Protection Act gives employers the authority to provide financial assistance for employees facing litigation after certain events that occur when performing their jobs. This bill would not override the comparable policies that some States already have in place, and it would offer assistance to any States to implement one. Upon review by attorneys and law enforcement experts, H.R. 413, which I previously supported, simply went too far without fully addressing this real issue affecting these men and women. My legislation, the First Responders Protection Act, is more narrowly crafted to keep first responders and their families from being financially drained as a result of frivolous lawsuits. I urge its passage in lieu of the previous bill.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, when the catastrophic earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti in January, Americans from coast to coast rallied together in the spirit of compassion and generosity to help those in need. Several emergency organizations including Virginia's Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue teams and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers responded to the crisis. They took on the daunting task of searching for survivors and recovering the remains of our fellow Americans from the Hotel Montana, a bustling hotel where many U.S. citizens were staying at the time of the deadly quake. The heroic efforts of these patriots went far above the call of duty. For more than a month, Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue teams braved extremely dangerous conditions, retrieving victims from the hotel ruins. The Army Corps of Engineers used heavy equipment to move mountains of rubble while the search and rescue teams simultaneously looked for survivors. They selflessly returned to the site each day facing the imminent threat of aftershocks and deadly structural collapse. Together, these men and women, led by U.S. Army COL Norberto Cintron, worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk in suffocating humidity and in temperatures that soared above 90 degrees to bring our missing fellow Americans home. Colonel Cintron is a man of exceptional honor and dignity who answered the emergency call to duty without hesitation. He provided an invaluable service to the families of the missing Americans, speaking with them at length on daily conference calls to explain the status of recovery efforts and answer all of their questions. Colonel Cintron broke from bureaucratic rhetoric to give family members straightforward, compassionate updates on their missing loved ones. He conveyed a sense of urgency and strong determination to find both the living and the dead trapped beneath the rubble of the Hotel Montana. With two daughters deployed to the Middle East, Colonel Cintron treated all of the missing persons as if they were a part of his own family. His heartfelt empathy and willingness to go the extra mile for those awaiting news back home brought humanity and hope to families suffering unimaginable loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and all of those who lost loved ones. I am grateful for the tenacity of leaders like Colonel Cintron, the volunteer spirit of the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue teams and the tireless work of the Army Corps of Engineers at the Hotel Montana. Their unwavering commitment brought a measure of closure to the families in the midst of this horrific situation.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, this is a defining week in the history of this Republic. At no time in history has the Federal legislature mandated that everyone in this country buy anything; yet this week we are going to mandate, if this bill passes and is enacted into law, that everyone in this country under the force of law has to buy health insurance. The Founding Fathers are rolling over in their graves today because they knew that we should be leery of a large central government mandating things to even the States that they have to comply with. They told us to have a healthy distrust of Big Brother, the Federal Government. They told us basically to sleep with one eye open and one eye closed because our freedoms could be at risk from within. We are at that moment in the history of this great Nation, and we must stand strong and resolute. In Tennessee where I live, our Democratic Governor, Phil Bredesen, has called this the ``mother of all unfunded mandates,'' because it forces all these new people into State Medicaid programs. In our State it is called TennCare. It is a multibillion dollar mandate to the people of Tennessee, and we don't have the money to pay for it. And we will not raise taxes to pay for it; we will not go into debt to pay for it. It is wrong for the States to be run over like this. They carved out the 10th Amendment and gave States some sovereignty. There are liberal publications today writing that article VI allows the Federal Government to override the States. But that is on matters of equality and justice, not a decision of policy by the Federal legislature to mandate costs and taxes and debt on its people. We must stand strong against this bill this week in the Congress. But if it is enacted into law, we must lead a repeal movement to immediately, as soon as possible, repeal this bill before it goes into effect. And then, if we are not able to repeal it, the Governors of this country should come out of their chairs and stand against this bill. I will tell you, in Tennessee, if I am to become the 49th Governor of our great State, we will meet the Federal legislature and the Federal Government at the State line to oppose this mandate, because we will not raise taxes, we will not go into debt, we will not be violated like this. And we must let our Founding Fathers rest peacefully, knowing that these living laboratories of democracy, our States, are allowed to exist, setting our own taxes, setting our own rules, living in the United States but not being run over by the United States. Mr. Speaker, this is a defining moment in the history of our country. We must be resolute. We must fight with every ounce of our energy to stop this Federal invasion and this overriding of States' rights.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, our nation lost an extraordinary public servant on January 12, 2010, when a catastrophic earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti. Diane Berry Caves died tragically in Port- Au-Prince helping others in the impoverished country through her work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her life and her dedication to public service are an example and high standard for us all. This remarkable young woman accomplished more in her 31 years than many people contribute in a lifetime. A devoted wife, daughter and sister, Diane dedicated her life to helping those less fortunate. Her professionalism and commitment to improving the world around her was recognized twice with outstanding service awards. In 2008, Diane was awarded the Public Administration Achievement Award from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, one of the country's best policy schools. Last year, Diane was chosen from 6,000 other Federal workers and honored as the Atlanta Federal Executive Board Employee of the Year. Diane grew up in the heart of my congressional district and graduated from Oak Ridge High School, where teachers remember her as an outstanding student and her classmates described her as adventurous. In addition to her work at the CDC and graduate studies at Georgia State University, Diane furthered her thirst for knowledge through book clubs and even found time to hike both the Andes Mountains and European Alps. There is no doubt, Diane's work ethic and zest for life left a lasting impression and inspired those around her. The void she leaves in public health, outreach and volunteerism will be felt far beyond the CDC in Atlanta and her hometown of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. May Diane's family be comforted by her memory and may her extraordinary legacy serve as an example to others.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the distinguished ranking member for his time and all of the benefits that he brings to the House of Representatives. This reminds me of when I got here in 1995 and in the morning, you would hear the strange noise as they would slide ice buckets down the floor up to the door of your office. And many of us thought, What are we doing paying people to deliver ice to our offices in 1995? And of course we ended that practice because it was an antiquated practice. And if you study the history of this, this is an antiquated issue that has really never been resolved. The history of the Capital City and the need for the President to be involved in the appointment of the Architect of the Capitol that had responsibilities as we laid the city out is an issue of long ago but not today. So I want to thank the original author, Ms. Wasserman Schultz of Florida--who I don't agree with much these days--but I certainly agree with her a lot on this issue. And I thank her for her service because she and I came side-by-side to get the Capitol Visitor Center finally finished on time and with the revised budget. And it took extraordinary cooperation and work, and we did that. And frankly, it was because the legislative branch engaged in a very meaningful way to finally get our arms around all of those change orders and all of the delays and inefficiencies, and it just underscored the need for the legislative branch to drive the process. And it was by far the largest challenge that the Architect of the Capitol had seen in centuries, literally, to do the Capitol Visitor Center. And it reminded us of how important it is that we have in the House and Senate a cohesive and unified effort to oversee the Architect and the Architect's work. In no way is this about an Architect. As a matter of fact, Stephen Ayers, the acting Architect, I think has done an outstanding job, and I hope will be made permanent under this new legislation which gives the legislative branch the total authority. The gentlelady worked with me to make sure that the committees of jurisdiction--including this very committee that brings this bill to the floor today--is involved in the decisionmaking process so that it's not just the leaders either. These committees have their hands in these issues. There are bigger issues today in our country than this, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't keep the trains running on time. That is what this is, making sure that we're doing our job. This is my 16th and final year here. I thank the gentleman from California. I have called him the conscience of the Republican minority today, and when he was in the majority I called him that because he was here early, he left to go back to California, he came back here. He has really provided extraordinary depth of knowledge and at times has been the conscience of the Republicans in the Congress. Extraordinary man. Ms. Wasserman Schultz is a tiger. This is one of those issues that few people would grab the tiger by the tail, but she's that kind of person. So we're doing this because it needs to be done. We're doing it for the legislative branch. We're doing it for efficiency and accountability and responsibility, and I urge passage.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, I did not prepare or plan to speak on this resolution, but I saw my friend John Lewis on the floor. I went 2 days ago, on this year's M.L. King Day, and I was moved beyond measure to stand on the very spot where Dr. King lost his life, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Lorraine Motel, to tour there and spend a couple of hours. It is an extraordinary museum, an extraordinary place. I would encourage all Americans to go see that, to experience it much more than I had ever dreamed. I had not been there. Even though I'm a Tennessean, even though I feel like, as an American who believes in equality and justice, I feel like a sojourner with my friend John Lewis, as the cosponsor with Lacy Clay of the Civil Rights Trail legislation which is pending before this House; cosponsor with Jesse Jackson Jr. of the naming of Emancipation Hall; cosponsor with John Lewis of the Green McAdoo legislation in Tennessee, recognizing the Clinton 12 and the bravery on the road that we're on. But to me, Martin Luther King Day is all about equality and justice, the traits of our great Nation that we hold so dear. That process and that journey is not complete. It is not over. We all know it. But great strides have been made, including the election of our President, a crowning achievement in this movement. But I was so moved by how a single bullet from across the street, and I went there as well, changed history but also how at that moment so many things began to happen. Now Dr. King even knew somehow in his heart, heading into that moment, that it was going to happen. I never realized the depth of that until I went there for 2 hours. A powerful, powerful way to celebrate this progress, this man and this part of our history is to go there. And of course John Lewis is all over it. You thank Chairman Conyers. Man, do I ever want to thank you, brother, for your life, for your courage, for the youth movement, for the freedom rides, for all that you have been involved in, for your book, for your legacy, for your service. John Lewis, a great American. Obviously, I don't always agree with you, but I respect you immensely. Thank you for how far you have brought us and for all the people who invested their lives in the civil rights movement. Thank you from all of us, from everywhere for the progress that has been made. It's so very important that we continue to fight for equality and justice for all. That's what people from around the world look to our country in amazement about. Our national character is not born out of our greatness and our power and our tall buildings and our military might. It's born out of our character which comes from lessons learned and wrongs made right. That's this journey that we're on. And to all that have given blood and have sacrificed mightily, the United States of America honors you in honoring Dr. King in his legacy. In many ways, he may have had to give his life to see these things happen, and that's why we honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform, I am committed to protecting taxpayers' money and providing greater transparency and a fully accountable process. H.R. 3326, Department of Defense and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 contains the following funding: Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Army--Medical Technology Legal Name Requesting Entity: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga Address: 975 East Third Street Chattanooga, TN 37403 Description of Request: The University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga requested funding for its work with artificial bone implants and grafts for American soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines who have lost limbs in combat. This research will greatly enhance the lives of injured service members giving them more independence and allow them to live more productive and fulfilling lives. The University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga receives $1,000,000 for this project. Distribution of funding: Yearly Staffing--37% Consultative Services--9% Scientific Material--54% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Other Procurement, Army--Training Devices, Nonsystem Legal Name Requesting Entity: Tennessee Army National Guard Address: Houston Barracks, 3041 Sidco Drive Nashville, TN 37204 Description of Request: The Tennessee Army National Guard requested funding to purchase and maintain Combined Arms Virtual Trainers to better prepare service members for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. This equipment replicates virtual battlefields and allows Army National Guard soldiers to train as they will fight. Allowing Combined Arms Training within a virtual environment will save lives on the real battlefield. The Tennessee Army National Guard receives $5,000,000 for this equipment. Distribution of funding: Equipment, Software, & Maintenance--100%

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of our chairmen and ranking members of the 12 Appropriations subcommittees for their work this year because it is important work. It is the only ``must do'' work that the Congress has every year, which is part of the power of the Appropriations Committee. I do think that just blaming each other for our shortcomings is not particularly helpful, but I want to point out a couple of things. Chairman Edwards is our chairman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, and I am the ranking member. It is an incredible privilege for both of us to carry out those functions. Chairman Edwards is a true patriot and does an excellent job. We have got a great staff. Our bill is certainly not the controversial part of this omnibus bill at all. As a matter of fact, our bill passed the House 415-3, and it passed the Senate unanimously. So there is huge consensus here, and we deserve bipartisan praise for doing right by our Nation's veterans and by the men and women and their families who are in uniform today. That is what we are supposed to do. But I have to say this: We had hearings every week through the spring, and we always asked, What is the most important thing we can do for you? We heard virtually every week, The most important thing you can do for us is to get our bill passed and enacted into law on time--by October 1. As a matter of fact, that is the battle cry for why we need advance funding, which is that they have to rely on the funding flow in veterans affairs and in military construction, and here we are more than 10 weeks later just now passing our bill. Last year, we got our bill done on time. That's not Mr. Edwards, and it's not me. It's somebody else on the scheduling of when these bills come up. This bill had such consensus, it could have just flown through in late September, and everyone under the $78 billion funding profile would have had their money on time. That is a problem. I don't care whether you are Republican or Democrat. That is a problem especially when you come and say, Let's start funding them in the future, 2 years out, so that they have the knowledge that the money is going to be there. Yet you don't get the bill done on time, and you're 10 weeks late or more. That makes no sense. It's not only ironic; it's unfortunate. Maybe they were holding this bill in case they needed a vehicle for all of the other bills that they couldn't pass. I hope not. I hope you're not doing that to our men and women in uniform and to their families and to our veterans. We can do better than that, I know. I was a conferee. I was there on Monday night as we negotiated this bill. I tried to take the TARP money, of which now there is $200 billion left, and put it back against the debt. I would put it in the Treasury because now there is a plan to go spend that money on things that may or may not work. Why not pay our debt down? The Chinese are worried about whether we will ever pay our debt. We are sinking as a Nation under a mountain of government debt, and we've got to do something about it. Neither party has got a lot to brag about, but you all are in charge. We can do better.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform among House Republicans, I am committed to honoring House Republican rules that provide for greater transparency. H.R. 3288, the Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act, contains the following funding that I requested: Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Army Legal Name Requesting Entity: Fort Campbell, Kentucky Address: 39 Normandy Avenue, Fort Campbell, Kentucky 42223 Description of Request: There is inadequate chapel space at Ft. Campbell. The current facilities are scattered across the entire installation in several substandard World War II buildings that are in disrepair. The construction of a chapel complex will provide every Fort Campbell soldier, their family members and retirees a quality facility in which to worship and practice their religious faith. As overseas deployments remain high, an increasing number of soldiers and families will rely on the chapel to support their spiritual needs. The local Clarksville Chamber of Commerce has strongly advocated for a new chapel on Ft. Campbell. Fort Campbell receives $14.4 million for this project. Distribution of funding: Chapel 72% Antiterrorism/Force Protection Measures 1% Infrastructure (electric, water) 11% Supervision, Inspection & Overhead 16% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Defense Wide Legal Name Requesting Entity: Fort Campbell, Kentucky Address: 39 Normandy Avenue, Fort Campbell, Kentucky 42223 Description of Request: Proficiency of foreign language skills is needed to maintain unit and individual soldier readiness. Each Special Forces soldier is required to practice linguistic skills two-hours per day to maintain skill level. Currently, students conduct language training in a World War II-era facility. The space is inadequate for the number of special operation soldiers receiving language training especially during periods of high attendance. An average student load of 212 students is anticipated. Fort Campbell receives $6.8 million for this project. Distribution of funding: Special Ops Language Training Facility 70% Antiterrorism/Force Protection Measures 1% Infrastructure (electric, water) 16% Supervision, Inspection & Overhead 13% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Surface Transportation Priorities Legal Name Requesting Entity: City of Chattanooga's Enterprise Center Address: 1250 Market Street, Suite 3020, Chattanooga, TN 37402 Description of Request: The City of Chattanooga's Enterprise Center requested funding to complete a feasibility study approved by Congress for a high speed maglev train between Atlanta, Chattanooga and Nashville. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the nation's busiest airport. A maglev train will relieve tremendous congestion in the Atlanta metro area and serve as part of a long needed ``intermodal mass transit system'' for the United States. Federal funding is needed for additional engineering work and development of a detailed financial plan, to include the number of riders and expected profits. The corridor is recommended by the State of Georgia's Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding. The City of Chattanooga's Enterprise Center receives $750,000 to complete this study. Distribution of funding: Salaries, wages, benefits and taxes 23.85% Professional Fee/Contractors 56% Office Supplies and maintenance 4.65% Travel/Conferences and Meetings 9.07% Indirect Costs 6.43% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Interstate Maintenance Discretionary Legal Name Requesting Entity: City of Cleveland Address: 190 Church Street NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 Description of Request: The Cleveland Mayor and City Council requested funding to redesign and construct Exit 20 on Interstate 75 to eliminate a dangerous bottleneck of traffic and widen a narrow bridge. This exit is the gateway to the Tri-State Exhibition Center, the Ocoee Recreation Region and the Cherokee National Forest, and is often excessively congested and unsafe for vehicles. A new exit and widened bridge will improve safety for travelers, truck drivers and community residents. The redesign will also facilitate new industrial and commercial growth in the area. The Mayor and City of Cleveland receives $1.2 million for this project. Distribution of funding: Right of way and utilities 100% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Transportation Planning, Research and Development Legal Name Requesting Entity: Oak Ridge National Laboratory Address: 2360 Cherahala Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37932 Description of Request: The National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory requested funding to examine how cutting edge technologies can be used to define real world driving conditions for advanced power train systems research. Building on past investments by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee, this study will support existing research to increase automobile efficiency and safety and introduce new capabilities for advanced transportation for universities, the government and industry. Using these cutting edge technologies to test various combinations of engine components before building a prototype vehicle will save time and money in developing our nation's next generation of trucks, buses, military vehicles and passenger cars. Oak Ridge National Laboratory's National Transportation Research Center receives $250,000 for this research. Distribution of funding: Data Analysis 50% Model Development and Use 40% Program Management & Reporting 10% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Economic Development Initiative Legal Name Requesting Entity: Claiborne County Industrial Development Board Address: 1732 Main Street, Suite 1, Tazewell, TN 37879 Description of Request: The Claiborne County Center for Higher Education provides educational growth opportunities not available in Claiborne, Hancock, Grainger, and Union counties. Rural counties need access to advanced education. Career skills are necessary for the jobs of the future. The Claiborne County Industrial Development Board purchased an unused facility to provide job training for residents in this underserved area. The Claiborne County Industrial Development Board receives $189,000 for renovations to the building. Distribution of funding: Fire Alarm 30.2% ADA Compliance 31.8% Window Replacement 33.8% Architectural Design 4.2% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Department of Education--Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Legal Name Requesting Entity: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Address: 615 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403 Description of Request: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga requested funding to create a Center for Leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. Federal funding is needed to help establish the Center and assist in teacher recruitment, training and support. As the competition for technical innovations increases, improved education in these fields is critical to maintaining economic competitiveness in the region. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga receives $770,000 to establish its STEM Center. Distribution of funding: Center Implementation & Capacity Building 25% Teacher Recruitment and Preparation 25% Educator STEM Training & Support 25% STEM Career Training for Adult Learners 25% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Small Business Administration--Salaries and Expenses Legal Name Requesting Entity: University of Memphis Address: 303 FedEx Institute, Memphis, Tennessee 38152 Description of Request: The University of Memphis requested funding for an entrepreneurial training program to promote new business growth targeting science and technology-based and minority-owned businesses. Federal funding is needed for University of Memphis experts and students to develop business plans, evaluate new technologies and provide legal expertise to small businesses and entrepreneurs. The program will have a significant impact on the economy and encourage investment and jobs in the Memphis metropolitan area and the mid-south region. The University of Memphis receives $685,000 for the entrepreneurial training program. Distribution of funding: Salaries and Center Administration 20% Equipment 13% Business and Legal Services and Training 47% Education and Conferences 20% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: COPS-Methamphetamine Enforcement and Clean-up Grants Legal Name Requesting Entity: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation- Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force Address: 901 R.S. Gass Blvd., Nashville, TN 37216-2369 c/o 1110 Market Street, Suite 332, Chattanooga, TN 37402 Description of Request: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force requested funding to train and equip local law enforcement officers throughout the State of Tennessee in a cooperative effort to combat the manufacture, distribution and use of methamphetamine, both domestic and foreign, in Tennessee. Twenty- four hour response will be provided to state and local law enforcement agencies fighting the epidemic. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the Tennessee Meth Task Force receives $2 million to supplement the lack of funding for preventing illegal methamphetamine use. Distribution of funding: Personnel 8% Benefits 3% Travel 8% Equipment 16% Supplies 25% Contract law enforcement officers 31% Training 9% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Department of Justice Byrne Discretionary Grant Program Legal Name Requesting Entity: City of Chattanooga Address: 101 East 11th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402 Description of Request: The Mayor and City Council of Chattanooga have requested funding to move and equip a law enforcement firing range. In 2003, President Bush signed legislation establishing the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District at the location where the current range has been used for police training for decades. The formation of the national park and the planned visitor center requires that the firing range be moved to another site. The Mayor and City of Chattanooga receives $500,000 to offset part of the expense associated with the relocation. Distribution of funding: Facility renovation 30% Equipment 50% Technology 20%

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, I rise today a proud Chattanoogan with the distinct privilege of recognizing the 100th anniversary of the world famous Chattanooga Choo-Choo. As one of the city's oldest and most well-known attractions, the appeal of the Choo-Choo has stood the test of time reaching far beyond the banks of the Tennessee River. History recalls a bitterly cold winter morning of December 1, 1909, as a crowd of several hundred gathered in the 1400 block of Market Street for the dedication of Chattanooga's ``Gateway''--Terminal Station, and the first train pulled into the station that day. At its pinnacle, the depot grew to serve nearly 50 passenger trains a day. Over the years, the Choo-Choo has welcomed many honored guests including three United States Presidents--Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, and my political role model, Theodore Roosevelt. This Terminal Station's place in history was literally recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1941 in the movie Sun Valley Serenade. Over the years, those words, ``Pardon me boy . . . is that the Chattanooga Choo-Choo,'' have actually become more well known than the movie that introduced the Choo-Choo to the world. Even though the last train stopped on August 11, 1970, the Chattanooga Choo-Choo has thrived as a unique vacation and business gathering complex. As part of the Centennial Celebration, the Chattanooga Choo-Choo will join the prestigious group of Historic Hotels of America as one of HHA's two-hundred plus unique historic properties, hotels and inns across the country. This is a remarkable accomplishment for a facility that was spared the wrecking ball in 1973 by a group of local businessmen. In 1974, it was most appropriately added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Choo-Choo is a great testament to the citizens of Chattanooga who have remained committed to preserving our city's history for future generations to enjoy.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Republicans are united against the Pelosi-Obama health care takeover, but it is not a partisan issue. This week, seven Democrat governors came out in strong opposition to the plan, including my Governor, Phil Bredesen, who called the plan ``the mother of all unfunded mandates.'' Why? Because it adds millions of people to the State's Medicaid rolls, makes them cover them, without the money down the road to pay for it. States have to balance their budget. They can't borrow $1 trillion and just print the money and add it to the next generation. They have to balance their budget. The 10th Amendment gives rights to the States. The Federal Government is handing mandates to the States, and they have nowhere to turn except to raise taxes or dramatically cut their budgets. This is not fair to the States. It is the wrong thing to do. Reject the Pelosi-Obama health care takeover.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, I thank all of the authors and supporters of this resolution, but I come as any Member of the House of Representatives could come, because we all have the distinct privilege of nominating and then appointing great Americans to all of our service academies. So, literally, today all 435 of us could come and tell stories of great young people who commit to serve their country in a very meaningful way that we have had the privilege of nominating and appointing to the United States Air Force Academy or the other service academies. But I come today in support of this resolution honoring the United States Air Force Academy because a year-and-a-half ago, in February of 2008, I had the distinct privilege and one of my highest privileges in my 15 years of service of being the keynote speaker at National Character Day at the United States Air Force Academy. When you fly in to Colorado Springs and you are able to go and be greeted there in the way that you are and have dinner with them, and then go into Arnold Auditorium and you are able to present to 2,800 cadets in their dress blues at the United States Air Force Academy, it will raise the hair on the back of your neck because it is such an exhilarating and inspirational experience. But something happened during the hour that I spent with them that I want to share with the House today. It was supernatural, in a way, but it speaks to the culture, the commitment of those cadets at the United States Air Force Academy, and in doing so honors this 50th anniversary of the first graduating class at the United States Air Force Academy. They did not know that I committed John Stuart Mill's quote to memory, nor did I know that they all have to commit John Stuart Mill's quote to memory. So in the course of my address, I began to say, War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A person who has nothing for which they are willing to fight, nothing they care more about than their personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of ever being free unless those very freedoms are made and kept by better persons than themselves. I was saying that so that they would understand that the people, the better persons than themselves that John Stuart Mill was talking about, is those 2,800 cadets and all those that came before them. What I didn't know is they all have to memorize it. So I was no more than about six words into it and it became a chorus of 2,801 persons together quoting John Stuart Mill's eternal quote about the value of our men and women in uniform who will stand between the threat and our civilian population and preserve our way of life, and we must remember that our very freedoms are kept by those better persons. So, today we honor, rightly, this particular institution which has made extraordinary contributions to our way of life, our freedom, everything that we hold dear, all of our constitutional liberties. These men and women dedicate themselves to excellence and to service above and beyond all measure, and we honor every single one of them today and all of our service academies. I commend so much this resolution to the House, and I know that we will all stand together to honor the United States Air Force Academy.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 866, expressing support for designation of a National Veterans History Project Week to encourage public participation in a nationwide project that collects and preserves the stories of the men and women who served our nation in times of war and conflict. I joined with my colleague, Mr. Kind, to introduce this legislation. Our Nation loses at least 1,000 veterans every day, and along with them we lose their stories of courage and memories of comradeship and sacrifice. In October 2000, Congress recognized the urgency of collecting these wartime memories, accounts and documents and created the Veterans History Project. Today we honor all the lives of veterans and the project by supporting the designation of National Veterans History Project Week. We encourage Americans to join in the effort to preserve and honor the service of our wartime veterans by interviewing those in their families and communities to contribute to the Veteran's History Project. It is a unique opportunity to help document the personal accounts of our Nation's veterans for today's generation and future Americans. More than 600 stories of veterans in the Tennessee Valley have been permanently archived at the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History project. More than 100 of these local veterans' memories were aired on Chattanooga's WRCB-TV. Through WRCB's television coverage, many veterans were inspired to share their stories and more were collected than we could have ever expected. Some of these memories include those of fresh-faced high school graduates who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-day, officers who fought through the Battle of the Bulge and left Europe as decorated heroes, and young women who voluntarily served in the Army Corps of Nurses helping our soldiers heal from their battle wounds. Theirs are the stories we may not have heard if not for the Veterans History Project. Our Nation's history of freedom is passed down from one generation to the next by American patriots who were willing to stand between a threat and our civilian population. It is essential that we work together to preserve their memories and experiences for future generations who have much to learn from those who have so honorably served our Nation.

Mr. WAMP

Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, as a leader on earmark reform, I am committed to protecting taxpayers' money and providing greater transparency and a fully accountable process. The Conference Report on H.R. 2996, the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act contains the following funding: Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: National Park Service--Construction Legal Name Entity Receiving Funding: Moccasin Bend National Archeological District Address: Moccasin Bend Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37405 Description of Request: Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, a unit of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, has a rich and varied cultural history with evidence of occupation dating back to the earliest human cultures in North America. Moccasin Bend was designated as a unit of the National Park Service to preserve the area's rich heritage for future generations. There are no facilities for public enjoyment of these nationally significant resources. Moccasin Bend National Archeological District received $500,000 for design and construction of an Interpretive Center and educational exhibits to promote awareness of the archeological district. Distribution of funding: Design development and construction--100% Requesting Member: Rep. Zach Wamp Account: Environmental Protection Agency--State and Tribal Assistance Grant Legal Name Requesting Entity: City of Harrogate, Tennessee Address: 138 Harrogate Crossing, Harrogate, Tennessee 37752 Description of Request: The Mayor and City Council of Harrogate requested funding to extend a wastewater collection system to the Tri- State Health and Rehabilitation Center, residences and businesses. Upgraded sewer capabilities are critical to support the increasing residential and commercial development in Harrogate. The proposed expansion will allow residents in the area to have safe, adequate wastewater service. The City of Harrogate received $500,000 for the wastewater improvements. Distribution of funding: Construction--83% Survey/Fees--1% Engineering--6% Inspection--3% Project Contingency--4% Environment Review--1% Administration--2%