Joe Wilson

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have become saddened and dismayed at the continued obstructionism practiced by Democrats here in Washington and throughout our Nation. In politics, there are winners and losers, majority parties and minority parties. In 2002, Americans spoke loud and clear whose leadership they most trusted and wanted to lead this Nation, as they voted to increase the Republican majority in the U.S. House and give control of the U.S. Senate back to Republicans. The same is true on the state level, where Republicans continue to hold a majority of governorships and state legislatures. Yet, since being voted out of power, Democrats seem to be experiencing fits of withdrawals, seemingly unable to play by the rules. In the U.S. Senate, we see the President's judicial nominees have waited over 2 years for a confirmation vote, because of an unprecedented Democratic filibuster. Before that, they spent their time holding up vital legislation like welfare reform and bans on human cloning and partial-birth abortion. And now we learn that in Texas, over 50 Texas State House Democrats stopped working and have actually fled to Oklahoma to avoid a vote they would surely lose. Their reason is that they do not like a Republican proposed redistricting plan. If so, they should stay and fight to make their case in Austin, Texas, the place the voters elected them to serve. Instead, these lawmakers have chosen to cowardly flee a fair fight. Texans democratically elected a Republican majority to govern the state, and Americans have elected a Republican President and Republican majorities in the U.S. Congress. Democrats are trying to force a minority rule, and it's not right, it's not fair, and it's not the American way.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Lt. Colonel Michael Viers for his selfless sacrifice in helping to save the life of a little girl in the Second Congressional District of South Carolina. Ten-year-old Shawna Crawford, an uninsured immigrant child living with her parents in Hardeeville, South Carolina, faced certain death just a few months ago as her kidneys began to fail and her family had no money to pay for the needed operation. Her plight was championed by community leaders Fred Nimmer and David Allgood, along with GSA official Mary Joy Jameson. JoAnn Coefield of the Second Congressional District's Midlands office was able to find the funds through Federal assistance, but Shawna still needed a donor kidney. Fortunately, Colonel Viers, a Marine stationed at the Marine Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, stepped forward. Michael Viers is a true hero. And just as his fellow troops were overseas risking their lives for freedom, he has risked his life to provide a future for Shawna Crawford. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Colonel Viers. In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the jobs and growth plan developed by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. He has worked hard to include the best of President George W. Bush's solutions to provide more jobs for Americans and giving our economy an immediate boost. Particularly I am appreciative that bonus depreciation will be increased from 30 to 50 percent for 3 years, an initiative similar to the Business Expensing Act of 2003, which I introduced this year. This proposal was championed by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller), recognizing that when businesses can save money immediately on buying new equipment more money is put into the economy and more jobs are created. The Heritage Foundation has estimated that this jobs and growth plan will create 1.2 million new jobs by the end of 2004 alone. Americans need jobs and the economy needs a boost right now. This plan is exactly the right plan at the right time. In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude with some other points real quickly, that is, that the President's jobs and economic growth plan is designed to strengthen the economy by allowing Americans to keep more of their own money to spend, save, and invest by creating jobs. The President's plan to cut taxes and hold the line on government spending would grow the economy and ultimately reduce the deficit as stronger economic growth and job creation causes revenues to rise to meet the restrained level of spending. At this time, too, I would like to, as we are concluding, indicate the various groups that are supportive of the bill tomorrow, H.R. 2. In fact, I would like to read a letter which was sent by the Tax Relief Coalition. There are hundreds and hundreds of organizations, in fact there are over 1,000, that are supporting the Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003. This is a letter again sent by the Tax Relief Coalition: ``On behalf of the more than 1,000 organizations and 1.8 million businesses of the Tax Relief Coalition, we urge you as a member of Congress to support the full elimination of the double taxation of dividends, the increase in the small business expensing allowance, and the acceleration of all the scheduled income tax rate reductions when the Committee on Ways and Means considers the economic growth reconciliation legislation. As companies and organizations representing businesses that employ tens of millions of Americans, we believe these provisions are necessary if we are to jump-start the economy and put people back to work. ``The full elimination of the double taxation of dividends within the framework of a $550 billion tax relief package is achievable and will have a singularly positive effect on the economy in both the short term and the long term. It will spur consumer spending by putting more money in the hands of shareholders who will pay less in taxes, receive higher dividend payouts and accumulate increased wealth as a result of the upward pressure on stock prices. The resulting increased demand and lower cost of capital will sustain economic growth and create jobs as companies invest in the new equipment, build new plants and develop new products. Many economists also believe eliminating this double tax will boost the stock market from 10 to 20 percent. ``Since small businesses create two-thirds of the new jobs in the United States, the importance of the small business provisions of the President's proposal should not be underestimated. Approximately 85 percent of small business owners file tax returns as individuals and represent nearly 80 percent of the taxpayers at the top income bracket. Accelerating all of the scheduled income tax rate reductions to this year, 2003, will provide approximately $10 billion in tax savings to small businesses that file as individuals. Allowing small business owners to expense critical investments will facilitate economic expansion, so we urge you to support raising the small business expensing limit from $25,000 to $75,000 and indexing it for inflation. These changes will create savings for small businesses that will put money directly into the economy and create new jobs. ``Any proposal that does not include the critical small business provisions and result in the full elimination of the unfair double taxation on dividends will significantly compromise the economic benefits of the President's package and jeopardize the hundreds of thousands of new jobs that would otherwise be created. ``In our view, representing tens of millions of working Americans and businesses, if you do not include the dividend tax reduction and the critical small business provisions, the jobs and growth package will simply not have the same effect. ``This has been respectfully submitted by the Tax Relief Coalition.'' Mr. Speaker, I am just very honored to have been here tonight with the gentleman from North Carolina to present on behalf of nearly 1,000 business associations, businesses and other think tanks that are proposing that we reduce taxes and the tax burden on the American people. I just cannot wait until tomorrow, and I hope the American people follow the debate. I am confident that just as we had the debates following the tax increases of 1993, which when those tax increases were put in place that we heard were so good tonight, the immediate effect was that a Republican Congress was elected for the first time in over 40 years. And so people do understand these issues. I know in the State of South Carolina that we understand those issues because, in fact, not only was there a new Republican majority in the House here in Washington, but for the first time since 1877 there was a Republican majority and the first Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives in the entire South, David Wilkins, was elected. The American people do understand these issues. We have gotten excellent leadership in our State and here in Washington. The Republicans then achieved a majority in the State Senate in 2001 for the first time since 1877 because people do understand the philosophical differences between the two parties. They understand that we as Republicans are working for limited government, expanded freedom. On the other side, they have tax-and-spend policies. They are well meaning, but they are wrong.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his input. For a person who is leading a young family, the gentleman is making a difference trying to protect them for the future. As we discuss H.R. 2 tomorrow, the Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003, we are going to hear a lot of scare tactics and misinformation, but I would like to go over what the different points are of the act because I believe the American people will understand that this is beneficial again in creating jobs, creating opportunities for our young people, for persons of all ages to have a better life. I am so pleased that we have an opportunity to discuss it tonight, and then tomorrow to vote on it. The first point about the acceleration of the 2001 tax relief for individuals, the President achieved an historic cut in taxes, and this is being accelerated. The first point about the child credit, this will increase the child credit to $1,000 for 2003, 2004, and 2005. I am so aware of the costs, having raised 4 children myself, along with my wife Roxanne, and I know how helpful this is going to be to young families as they are able to care for their children and give them the opportunities they want. The 10 percent bracket, this will accelerate the expansion of the 10 percent bracket for 2003, 2004 and 2005. Marriage penalty relief, this accelerates the expansion of the 15 percent bracket and the increase in the standard deduction for married persons filing joint returns, again in the years 2003, for immediate relief, 2004 and 2005. Individual rate cuts, this accelerates the 2006 individual rate cut scheduled for 2003 retroactively. That means that immediately the people of the United States will receive benefits, and families could receive a benefit on average of $1,048. This is real money to families, and so helpful to raising children and meeting the needs that we have of car payments, mortgage payments, and medical bills. The increase in the individual alternative minimum tax, the exemption amount, this will be increased by $7,500 for single persons and $15,000 for joint filers in 2003, 2004, and 2005. To help create the jobs, the business investment incentives that are in the bill which will be voted on tomorrow, first is bonus depreciation. This will increase the bonus depreciation from 30 to 50 percent and extend it through December 31, 2005. This will encourage businesses to buy equipment to increase manufacturing which creates jobs. I want to commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller), who helped lead the effort to provide for the bonus depreciation increase so that small businesses could grow. Then we have small business expensing for 2003 through 2007. That is an increase in the amount small businesses can expense. That would be immediately to from $25,000 to $100,000. It increases the definition of small business from $200,000 for capital purchases to $400,000, and the provisions are indexed for inflation. We all know that the backbone of business in America are small businesses. They provide in my State 85 percent of the employment. They are 99 percent of the businesses. So this is something I really am so pleased to have the support of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. We have excellent groups like NFIB which are letting Americans know how beneficial this will be. There is another business investment incentive and that is the net operating loss carryback which will extend the net operating loss carryback for 3 years, 2003 to 2005, and holds taxpayers harmless for the alternative minimum tax. Finally, another provision which will be voted on tomorrow is the dividend and capital gain tax reduction. This will reduce the tax rate on dividends and capital gains to 5 percent to taxpayers in the lowest tax bracket, and to 15 percent to all other taxpayers. I had an opportunity yesterday to meet Rick Wagner, who is the CEO of General Motors. In his presentation he indicated that there would be an increase in the value of the stock market of between 6 to 15 percent. This is hundreds of millions of dollars, billions of dollars which will benefit the American public. In fact, the dividend reductions in taxes, a majority of that are for the senior citizens of the United States. So I am so pleased that Mr. Wagner, who is building a home in Daufuskie Island in South Carolina, we welcome somebody who has been such an aggressive promoter of reducing taxes on the American people and to increase the value of the stock market, to increase and give incentives for more investment, more jobs for the American people. Those are the facts that are very clear. I know and I apologize if it sounded like I was an accountant, and I love accountants, but the American people need to know the facts. They will hear other information. The bottom line is this is beneficial to the American taxpayer. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes).

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight with several of my colleagues in support of the Republicans' jobs and growth package, H.R. 2, which we are scheduled to vote on tomorrow; and in fact, this vote is so important, I am really going to be missing a very significant event in South Carolina. We are very proud that President George W. Bush is going to be commencement speaker tomorrow at the University of South Carolina for graduation. I am just so proud of our president there, President Sorenson, what he has done for our institution, the trustees, Mack Whittle, Miles Loaholt, Mark Buyck, Eddie Floyd. They are working so hard to make the University of South Carolina, my alma mater from law school, one of the best universities in the United States; and certainly having our President there tomorrow, I am just so proud, and I know that my wife, Roxanne, will be right on the front row with our sons Julian and Hunter and Alan to encourage the President. Our economy is hurting and it needs an immediate boost. House Republicans believe the best way to get the economy back on track is to allow Americans to keep more of their own money, and I heard a few minutes ago that indeed it was not the public's money, it was not the people's money; but I know so well that, indeed, it is the people's money, and that is the first fact that we should address; and I appreciate good people like Jerry Bell of the Lexington County Chronicle making that point almost every week in his publication. This will give the economy an immediate shot in the arm by accelerating tax relief from the marriage penalty, increasing the child tax credit and providing working families with more of their hard- earned dollars through accelerated income tax relief. Furthermore, with sizeable, long-term tax relief on capital, businesses will receive investment incentives that will help create more jobs. This Republican plan is estimated to create 1.2 million jobs by the end of 2004 alone and will create many more in the years to come. On the other side of the aisle, House Democrats are talking about a government growth package. It busts a $30 billion hole in the budget, guts the Republican child tax credit increases, and it weakens job growth by watering down Republican tax relief for small businesses. Once again, the Democrats' answer to every problem, raise taxes and spend more. Americans are already overtaxed. Americans for Tax Reform, an invaluable nonprofit group headed by the visionary Grover Norquist, has tracked the tax burden in a way that puts it in proper perspective. Each year, Americans for Tax Reform determines the cost to government date which is the average date at which every American worker has earned enough to pay his or her share of taxes imposed by Federal, State and local governments. The cost to government date 2002 was July 1, representing the largest tax burden since 1996. Today, we are working a full 6 months just to give Uncle Sam his yearly check before we can even begin to earn enough to pay for food, health care, medicine, housing, clothing, college tuition, car payments and all the other needs that we have to provide for our families. My friend and former Congressman, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts), put it best when he said, ``Americans are taxed when we turn on a light. We are taxed when we use the phone. We are taxed when we eat lunch. We are taxed when we do brunch. Moms are taxed at the gas pump when they fill the tank to drive the kids home from a little league game. Dads are taxed when they try to save a few bucks for retirement in order to provide for their families, and Grandma and Grandpa are taxed for having the audacity to die.'' Ronald Reagan was even more blunt and always correct when he described the government's economic policy this way, ``If it moves, tax it.'' President George W. Bush understands that Americans are overtaxed. President Bush also understands that the only way to increase jobs in America is to allow individuals and small businesses to keep more of their own money to invest in our economy. The gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, has crafted a very wise and sensible bill that takes the best solutions of President Bush's proposals, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this bill tomorrow. Americans have given Republicans a tremendous opportunity to lead on issues that affect every working family. We must not squander this moment and work to bring them real tax relief. Let us hold true to the commission given by President Ronald Reagan. We need true tax reform that will at least make a start toward restoring for our children the American Dream, that wealth is denied to no one, that each individual has the right to fly as high as his strength and ability will take him. At this time, I will be yielding to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes). He is a very respected member on the Committee on Armed Services. He also serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Agriculture; and I know firsthand the respect that his constituents have for him. Last year, I went with my sons Julian and Hunter door to door in his hometown of Concord, North Carolina; and that is where one really finds out what people think of their local Congressman, and I found out that he was a person who was well thought of. He was highly respected and my colleagues will see tonight what a knowledgeable and fine person the Congressman from North Carolina is.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. It is so obvious by the tax breakdown that the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) brought out and the points he brought out that we need to be promoting, as the President is doing, the jobs and economic growth plan. I want to quote the President's speech in Little Rock this week. He has clearly indicated that by growing the economy, that is how you reduce the deficit, not by spending more money, as the gentleman correctly indicated the other side is truly proposing, but to grow the economy. His direct quote was, ``In order to offset any deficit, you've got to have more revenues. The best way to have more revenues is to encourage economic growth. The more economic growth there is, the more people are working, the more likely it is that you're going to get more revenues into the Treasury of the United States, and also to the individual States. I'm concerned about the deficit but I'm first and foremost concerned about that person looking for a job.'' That is what President Bush said this week in Little Rock, Arkansas. I am so proud that he has correctly identified what the gentleman just identified.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. I had the great privilege of serving the people of South Carolina for 17 years in the State senate. In fact, the State budget is being debated probably as we speak tonight. I know that instead of just sending money back to the States, we have already had a revenue-sharing experience that did not work and so that is simply spending more money. What we need to do is what the President has proposed and, that is, create new jobs, create new opportunities for people to have incomes. I know that in South Carolina, we are very proud about the expansion of Michelin Tire Corporation in Lexington, South Carolina. There are three plants there producing wonderful jobs and wonderful tires for the people of America. We have worked hard in our State to attract foreign economic investment. We are very proud that in Spartanburg in the community of Greer that we have the BMW facility. All Z-3s in the world are made there, the X-5s. Every time I have had the opportunity to travel, I have been very proud to know that we have had the economic expansion of BMW in our State providing jobs. That is what we are trying to do in the bill tomorrow with H.R. 2, and, that is, to encourage economic investment in the United States, to provide jobs and to give families the ability to spend their own money.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. This does indicate that under unemployment insurance, that the States have received $8 billion. This is from Federal funding. In 2002, only $2 billion of that was actually used. There was a surplus apparently of $6 billion. The bottom line is by creating jobs, what we are doing in the plan that we will be voting for tomorrow, we are providing for additional State revenue by sales tax. That is virtually a universal tax in the United States at most State levels and, that is, by providing for an increase in income, by a person having the ability to keep their own money, when they go to the store and buy products, when they are at Wal-Mart as I frequently am, that with the sales tax, that goes straight to the State. It goes for schools. Additionally, I am so pleased that this package includes a reduction in the capital gains tax. I can tell the gentleman from firsthand experience, until 16 months ago I was a real estate attorney. I know that by reducing the capital gains tax, and this has been a cause of the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), for a number of years. By reducing the capital gains tax, this will help again create jobs. The first thing that will occur, because I ran into it, a number of people that I know, particularly elderly people, would not sell property they have, real property, because they felt like they were being overly taxed and they considered it an insult, whatever the percentage was. So by reducing it to 5 percent, what will occur is that people who are currently holding on to property simply because they do not want to pay a capital gains tax, they will sell that property. When they do sell the property, the first occurrence will be construction. I met with the homebuilders association this week. They are very supportive. The AGC and the ABC, the various construction interests, are very pleased that if we can have a sale of property and the construction, the jobs are created. This also is going to benefit local governments and State governments in that having a turnover of real property, the taxes that are generated will go for schools. They will go for the services of local governments. This is going to be so beneficial because many people in our State, and I think this is true in other States, too, they will actually put goats or they will put a cow on some extraordinarily valuable property in the middle of an urban area. That is because they are able legitimately to qualify for an agricultural assessment. When they get an agricultural assessment, they may pay $10 in taxes on that particular tract of land. But by having the reduction in the capital gains taxes, by having the sale of the property, by having the development of that property by construction of new businesses or homes, that will generate thousands of dollars, instead of $10 to the local governments, that can be used to build schools, to address the problems that we have in local government, that we have to produce the best schools that we can for our citizens. There is just so much positive in the bill that we will be voting on tomorrow. I know that the gentleman probably has another question that he wants to ask me.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania. Suicide Awareness Week

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman bringing up the point about jobs. Joining us in this discussion is the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy). I am very proud that he is a member of the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Government Reform. Additionally he serves on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. He is a freshman, but as a freshman he has been the most recent of being truly in a tough campaign and finding out what the people think. I look forward to joining the Mental Health Caucus along with the gentleman. I am proud that the gentleman has taken that lead, and I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy).

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) who has worked diligently to strengthen workforce development and job training programs by eliminating wasteful duplication and refocusing services to ensure job seekers have access to the most effective job training resources available. The unemployment rate reached 6 percent last month. It is clear we must join together to provide out-of-work Americans with the tools and resources they need to get back to work. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1261 will strengthen and renew the programs at the one-stops by providing more effective and efficient services and by using resources more appropriately for Americans striving to get back to work. The one-stops I have visited are making a difference and this bill will allow them to provide even better services. H.R. 1261 combines the three funding streams into one, which provides for streamlined program administration and more efficient service delivery at the State and local level, resulting in additional funds available for the provision of services. However, funds continue to be targeted for those needing the most critical reemployment services. H.R. 1261 continues to require States to provide rapid response services in case of mass layoffs, plant closings, disasters, or other events that lead to substantial increases in the number of unemployed individuals. Employment services will continue to be provided as core services at the one-stop career centers. In addition, the bill provides an equitable distribution of funds between States and local workforce investment areas. The bill ensures that funds currently supporting the delivery of local reemployment and training services will continue. In conclusion, the one-stop operators will no longer have to track multiple streams of funds. States and local areas will have the flexibility to tailor services to the needs of their labor market. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1261, and God bless our troops.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who continue to act with honor, courage, valor, and respect. Operation Iraqi Freedom was fought with precision and ended decisively. Through the sweat and blood of our troops a vicious dictator's regime has ended, the American people are safer, and an oppressed people have new hope for the future. These extraordinary men and women risked their lives for this noble cause, while many nations stood on the sidelines, once again proving that America is the symbol of liberty and freedom in the world. I encourage Americans to continue their support of our troops and their families, even long after the war no longer headlines on our nightly news. I commend radio host Mike Gallagher for doing his part, in organizing a benefit concert, featuring the Marshall Tucker Band, for military families in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and I hope others follow his lead. May Cod bless our troops and may Cod bless America.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the chairman, for their efforts to improve the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. As a new grandfather for the first time, as the husband of a very hard-working school teacher, and with 17 years' experience on the Education Committee in the South Carolina State senate, I know the most important aspect of improving education is ensuring each classroom has a teacher committed to the task of educating children. Special education also requires teachers with this dedication. Teachers who choose to work with children with disabilities are especially gifted and especially valued. The particular legislation we have before us today brings some very positive changes. First, the bill focuses on reducing unnecessary paperwork which is not educationally relevant to the teacher's interaction with the child. Second, to further reduce the paperwork burden, the bill requires GAO to review paperwork requirements and report to Congress on strategic proposals to reduce paperwork burdens on teachers. Third, we have shifted the goal of the State Improvement Grant to focus grants entirely on the activities to support the professional development of regular and special education teachers and administrators.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 151, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mrs. Musgrave

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to thank Congressman Wu for his amendment that provides greater opportunities to States in reducing over-identification of children with disabilities. Each school district faces unique challenges in educating its youth. This amendment allows school districts and teachers to improve their ability to appropriately identify special education students. It also provides more support for early intervention so school districts can provide intensive reading and behavioral programs to help reduce the number of children identified as having a learning disability. Steps like this amendment combined with my bill entitled Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act, which will provide $17,500 in loan forgiveness for Special Education teachers, will demonstrate our resolve to students with disabilities and those who teach them.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on April 24, 2003, a bright light went out in South Carolina. One of our state's favorite sons, Isadore Lourie, passed away. Isadore was a widely respected South Carolina legislator, admired for his passion and integrity. We will all miss his vibrant personality and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. I particularly will miss the wise counsel of Senator Isadore Lourie (D-Richland), because as a gentleman he very warmly welcomed me to the South Carolina State Senate in 1985. On the first day of my service I introduced several procedural reforms with my colleague Senator John Courson (R-Richland) and Senator Warren Giese (R-Richland). As each was debated no one was more civil in rejecting our arguments than Isadore Lourie. On the last day of his service, I remember walking with Senator David Thomas (R-Greenville) and Senator Lourie to his car where he gave us the highest compliment of being proclaimed a ``mensch'' which is Yiddish for a respected friend. Isadore Lourie is indeed a Southern statesman as revealed in the following news article. It is taken from the Friday, April 25, 2003 edition of The State newspaper into the Record, and describes the extraordinary life of Isadore Lourie. ``Isadore Lourie Dies at 70: Retired Senator Hailed As `So Great Because He Was So Good' '' (By Carolyn Click and Lee Bandy) His great, good heart is what people remember. Isadore Lourie's heart was soft enough to embrace people of all races and creeds, steely enough to buck the established order, gracious enough to forgive, and ask forgiveness, of his antagonists. On Thursday, as word spread of his death from a rare brain disorder related to Parkinson's disease, people statewide hailed the attorney and former state senator from Richland County for his political courage and his personal integrity. He was 70. ``During the turbulent time of the '60s, Isadore was, for a time, the most meaningful voice that connected black people and white people,'' said Alex Sanders, the former College of Charleston president, who served with Lourie in the Legislature. ``He was so great because he was so good.'' The son of Jewish immigrants, Lourie showed up Sunday after Sunday in black churches, Sanders recalled, serving as a bridge from the state's segregationist past to an as yet unknown future. ``Izzy was truly one of the great progressive leaders of South Carolina during a very difficult time, a time of integration, a time of trying to replace centuries of bad times for African-American citizens and poor white citizens,'' said former Gov. Dick Riley. Lourie had great empathy for those who could not speak for themselves, in part because of his family's immigrant story. ``He saw the grand sweep of the American dream,'' said Charleston Mayor Joe Riley. ``He saw his part in it . . . and he wanted to extend that to everybody he possibly could.'' Lourie, along with a group of ``Young Turk'' Democrats that included Sanders, Joe Riley and Dick Riley, stormed the white, rural establishment that controlled life in South Carolina from the courthouse to the capitol. In the House and later in the Senate, the Young Turks backed school integration and ``fought like hell,'' Lourie once recalled, to institute such reforms as compulsory school attendance and reapportionment. Lourie was a freshman lawmaker in 1965 when he confronted the House speaker over what he deemed an egregious practice: the refusal to introduce black visitors sitting in the House gallery. He held an ``an eyeball-to-eyeball'' session with the late Speaker Sol Blatt, Lourie later recalled, during a time when white lawmakers were reluctant to cede long-denied rights to African-Americans. But Lourie prevailed. ``WE KNEW WE WERE JEWISH'' Lourie grew up in St. George above the family department store founded by his father, Louis Lourie, a Russian immigrant who arrived in America knowing no English and with little money in his pockets. But Louis Lourie had cousins in St. Matthews and Orangeburg and came to South Carolina to work for room and board. In 1920, he met Anne Friedman, a young Polish Jew who had come with her family to Charleston to escape European persecution. They were married in 1921 and moved to St. George. Lourie's father established the L. Lourie Department Store in St. George and ran a wholesale shoe business out of Augusta, Ga. The family grew to include six children--Isadore was the youngest--but his mother continued to manage the household and the business after her husband suffered a heart attack in 1939. Long after he was grown, Isadore Lourie remembered the quiet of Sunday mornings in the small town, his Christian friends packed off to Sunday school and church. By Sunday afternoon, he said, his solitude had ended and he was back running with his schoolboy chums. ``We knew we were Jewish--my mother strongly felt her Jewish identity--but we got along well with our non-Jewish neighbors,'' Lourie recalled in 2000. His mother kept a kosher house, and the family would travel to Charleston for High Holy Days. After Isadore completed high school in 1948, his mother closed the St. George store and, with her two eldest sons, Solomon and Mick, opened the new Lourie's Department Store in Columbia, now a fixture in the capital city. Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, still buys his suits from Lourie's, recalling the kindness of the late senator in helping Knotts arrange credit to buy his first suit after becoming a Columbia detective. ``He looked out for the little man,'' said Knotts. ``I looked up to him for that.''

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, was approved yesterday as the first Palestinian prime minister. Hours before he was sworn in, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a popular nightclub known as Mike's Place, located right beside the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. At least three people were killed and 30 injured, including an American. The world's attention is now focused on the new Palestinian leader, Abu Mazen. He has denounced terrorism, but words are not enough. Mazen must do everything possible to disarm terrorist groups such as Hamas and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade that are doing everything possible to derail the peace process. President George W. Bush has a vision for the Middle East, a plan that was delivered this morning where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace. We must not let terrorists thwart the important peace process that is now under way. In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Corporal Armando Ariel Gonzalez, who gave his life bringing freedom to the oppressed people of Iraq. Armando understood the significance of Operation Iraqi Freedom better than most Americans because, as a teenager, he and his father used a raft to escape from an oppressive regime in Cuba to find liberty in America. Corporal Gonzalez was a dedicated Marine assigned to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina. He served bravely in a hostile environment, and supported one of the most successful military campaigns in history, one that will be immortalized along with the battles of Belleau Woods, Okinawa, Inchon, and Khe Sanh. Armando fought for a country he could not call his own, but has received his citizenship posthumously, thanks to the hard work of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart). He leaves behind a loving wife, Liudmila, who is expecting their first child. His baby will be born an American, and can be proud of a father who died as a true patriot. In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sergeant George E. Buggs. This young man grew up in the South Carolina town of Barnwell. After graduating from his local high school in 1990, he decided to become part of something larger than himself by joining the U.S. Army to defend our Nation. On Saturday, the Pentagon announced that Sergeant Buggs made the ultimate sacrifice for his country during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His body was discovered during the rescue of Private Jessica Lynch along with eight other fallen Americans. We do not yet know if Sergeant Buggs was killed in an ambush or later suffered torture. Yet we do know that Sergeant Buggs did not die in vain. He gave his life so that we could remain safe from Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction and so that the citizens of Iraq could be free from oppression. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Sergeant Buggs, especially his 12-year-old son, and we ask for God to bless our troops still fighting to protect our freedom.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, it was a great honor for me to serve with the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett) in the South Carolina General Assembly, and now I am honored to be serving with him in Congress. I rise in support of the Barrett amendment to H.R. 6, which asks the Secretary of Energy to conduct a feasibility study to develop commercial nuclear energy facilities at Department of Energy sites. This is particularly important to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett) and me because we both represent the Savannah River site in South Carolina. Nuclear energy is our Nation's second largest source of power. Nuclear power plants have increased electricity production while reducing costs. In fact, these plants are so efficient that their production costs are among the lowest of any energy source. This amendment was previously passed last year, and the initiator of that effort in a bipartisan effort was the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) of the first district of South Carolina. I urge Members to join me in supporting this amendment which will help solve our current energy crisis by producing more nuclear energy.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, 3 weeks to the day after operation Iraqi Freedom began, the larger-than-life statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad's Paradise Square was torn down amid celebration by Iraqi citizens, an event very similar to the crumbling of the Berlin Wall. Promoted by President Ronald Reagan, this symbolic gesture signals the downfall of this totalitarian regime. The Iraqi people are certainly entitled to celebrate. Thirty years of brutal oppression are finally coming to an end thanks to the leadership and determination of our President, George W. Bush. I applaud the coalition forces for their courage and a dedication beyond compare. The loss of American lives, though tragic, has been reduced, and our mission efficient and effective, as I saw in February when I was encouraged by visiting the troops in Kuwait. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have suffered losses and our soldiers who continue to fight for the freedom of Iraq and an end to terrorism, which seeks to spread weapons of mass destruction against American citizens. It is our hope that the Iraqi people will be able to use the unique riches of their country to build a new life for themselves based upon the principles of freedom and liberty. May God bless our troops, and may God bless the newly freed people of Iraq.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, if there were previously any doubt about the importance of a vibrant and vigorous firearms industry in the United States, that doubt must surely have dissipated in the months since Sept. 11, 2001. Since that fateful day, American military personnel have been engaged in operations overseas, against those who seek and plot our destruction. At this moment, a quarter of a million of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thousands of reservists are mobilized, not only to support operations in Iraq, but also to support Operation Enduring Freedom--maintaining the watch against acts of terrorism on American soil. Thousands of Coast Guardsmen are protecting our coastlines. Tens of thousands of federal, state, and local law enforcement and security personnel are guarding our communities and our public facilities And millions of private citizens are doing what they always have done--protecting themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods, One thing these Americans share in common is the need for firearms. Another thing in common is the firearms that they use. In many instances, our military, law enforcement, security personnel, and private citizens use firearms made by the same manufacturers. Unfortunately, frivolous lawsuits that have been filed against firearms manufacturers, with the sole intent of driving them out of business. These shameful efforts have been based upon outlandish and widely-rejected theories of liability--theories that would be equally absurd if applied against the manufacturers of any other lawful product. Many states have already acted to put an end to these unwarranted lawsuits, which seek to hold the firearms industry responsible for the acts of criminals. It is time for Congress to do so nationwide. It's the right thing to do for America's security.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Sunset Restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia, SC. This small business has become a living legend of fine food and a valued social center for the Midlands of South Carolina. The stalwarts of this spirited enterprise are the owner Betty Jackson and the manager Gladys Crews, who since opening day have enthusiastically welcomed and served the public with quality country cooking including the specialty of catfish stew. At breakfast and lunchtime the 250 seats of the restaurant are filled with a cross- section of citizens ranging from U.S. District Judges to work crews on their way to the building site. Well-known as a people's place, political candidates of all parties have made a sausage biscuit breakfast or an open-seated luncheon a ``must stop.'' In June 1999, Texas Governor George W. Bush launched his successful effort to carry the South Carolina primary at the Sunset and in November 2002 the Sunset hosted the final public reception for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and Gov. Mark Sanford. Other memorable events for South Carolina officials with some broadcast live by television and radio, were held for Congressman Ed Young, Congressman Floyd Spence, Lt. Governor Bob Peeler, Attorney General Charlie Condon, Gov. Jim Edwards, Gov. Carroll Campbell, and Gov. David Beasley. The Sunset Restaurant is a testimonial to the significance of small business as the backbone and foundation of the American free enterprise system built upon the philosophy of hard work and high integrity, promoted by limited government.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, the Department of Defense has designated April as the Month of the Military Child. Today, thousands of fathers and mothers are halfway around the world from their children making tremendous sacrifices to defend freedom and liberty. Some sons and daughters will see their parent come home wounded and, in some cases, the military parent will not return at all. Military families make enormous sacrifices on a daily basis so that our soldiers have the support they need. It is up to Americans and communities throughout our great Nation to support these families, even by simple food, clothes and toy donations for the children. I urge all Americans to reach out to military families in their communities by contacting their local military base, National Guard and Reserve armory, and public affairs offices to find out how they can best help. In conclusion, God bless our troops.