Joe Wilson

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, President George W. Bush made history when he announced to the world on December 17, 2002, that America would deploy a national missile defense shield to protect our country. My friend and mentor, the late Congressman Floyd Spence, continually warned us about the urgency of having a missile defense system in place to protect the homeland. President Bush has demonstrated tremendous leadership by taking action to work with our allies to create such a system inspired by Ronald Reagan. As my colleague and chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), recently stated, ``The case for deploying a national missile defense system has never been more clear. Today, the United States cannot stop a single ballistic missile headed for an American city.'' I wholeheartedly agree, and I believe Congress should work in a bipartisan fashion to successfully implement a missile defense shield that will protect the American people and our allies.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend President Bush's courageous leadership in securing bipartisan Congressional and unanimous U.N. support to disarm Iraq. The threat of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons being transferred from Saddam Hussein to group like al Qaeda is a real threat to America and our allies. I also want to praise President Bush's initiatives in strengthening our important relationship with India. Over the past 10 years, bilateral trade between the U.S. and India more than tripled from 6 billion to 19 billion per year. We have continued to engage in joint military exercises, and we share common goals and concerns. One major goal is to dramatically increase bilateral trade. We have made significant advances in this area, but more remains to be done. We share the common threat of international terrorism from al Qaeda, and we must continue to share intelligence and coordinate counterterrorism strategies through our joint task force on terrorism. U.S.-India security cooperation is helping to foster greater stability in Asia and to make for a safer world. U.S.-India joint military exercises were held in Alaska from September 29 to October 11, involving troops from the U.S. Army 1st Battalion 501st Para Infantry Regiment and from India's 50 (I) Para Brigade. These exercises followed a joint airborne military exercise between the two countries held at Agra, India, in May of this year. As reported in the Washington Times on October 9, India's Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Lalit Mansingh, traveled to Alaska to observe the exercises. The Ambassador was welcomed by Brigadier General John M. Brown 111, Commander of the U.S. Army Alaska at Fort Richardson, who expressed his appreciation for the professionalism, discipline and adaptability of the Indian armed forces. Also last month, a major joint U.S.-India naval exercise, named ``Malabar IV,'' was successfully completed in the Indian Ocean. The U.S. and Indian Navies have agreed to jointly patrol the Strait of Malacca to ensure the uninterrupted flow of vital oil supplies. The U.S.-India Defense Planning Group has been established to help coordinate ongoing joint activities, while the Executive Steering Groups of all the three defense services are scheduled to meet again later this year to plan future joint exercises, training and other areas of cooperation for the next year. Earlier this fall, India once again demonstrated that it is indeed a democracy, where power is transferred by means of free and fair elections, with the conclusion on October 7th of a four-stage election for the Assembly in India's State of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the ongoing threat of violence by terrorist elements--most of which come from outside of India's borders--to intimidate voters and candidates alike, the elections went--forward successfully, as judged by the United States and other independent observers. Turnout was approximately 45 percent, and the result was a defeat for the ruling party--itself an indication that the elections were truly democratic. As the Washington Times reported on October 14 (``Embassy Row'' column by James Morris), ``The United States is praising the bravery of voters in Kashmir who defied threats from Islamic militants to vote in large numbers this month.'' The article quotes the U.S. Ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill, who said, ``It was a successful election. The election commission did a very fine job. It was a credible election carried out by democratic means.'' Other top U.S. officials have echoed these sentiments. The Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Christina Rocca, in a speech last month at the American Enterprise Institute, said that 'Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ``personal commitment to making them [the elections] transparent and open'' was a critical factor in moving the democratic process forward.'' Ambassador Blackwill did not mince words when it came to describing the guerrillas that used violence in an effort to disrupt the elections, calling them ``terrorists.'' ``Terrorists can call themselves many different things at different, places,'' our Ambassador said. ``Sometimes they are called freedom fighters. Any person who kills civilians is a terrorist.'' Mr. Speaker, America knows how it feels to be a democracy targeted by terrorists. India has for many years endured the same experience. In fact, the terrorist elements targeting India in Kashmir have links to the same Al Qaeda terrorist network that attacked America on 9/11 and was apparently responsible for the bombing in Indonesia last month. I have spoken out on several occasions this year about the terrorist attacks against Kashmiri civilians, and I have urged the leaders of Pakistan to stop allowing their country to be used as a base for terrorist training camps and extremist religious clerics who foment hate against both India and America. Unfortunately, the opposite may be happening. On November 12, the Orlando Sentinel, and other publications, reported that, ``U.S. intelligence says most of al-Qaeda's surviving leaders have relocated to Pakistan.'' The newspaper noted that U.S. forces cannot operate in Pakistan as they have in Afghanistan, due to concerns that an American military presence would anger Pakistan. Therefore, we must press President Musharraf to take control of this situation. Assistant Secretary Rocca stated in her speech that the U.S. and India are allies in the struggle against terrorism, saying, ``Counter- terrorism cooperation is maturing rapidly, including intelligence sharing, training, finance and antimoney laundering cooperation, improving border security, fighting cyber-terrorism and increasing mutual legal assistance.'' In fact, a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the U.S. and India is awaiting approval by the full Senate, having been approved by the Foreign Relations Committee in the Other Body. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote from President Bush in his remarks welcoming Prime Minister Vajpayee to Washington on November 9, 2001. ``My Administration is committed to developing a fundamentally different relationship with India, one based upon trust, one based upon mutual values. After all, the Prime Minister leads a nation that is the largest democratic nation in the world.'' I appreciate the commitment of our President, and I look forward to working with the Administration as the United States continues to improve and expand our relationship with India to the benefit of the people of both of our great nations. I look forward to working with the Republican leadership and President George W. Bush to shape a new relationship between the U.S. and India in the 108th Congress.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, with yesterday marking Veterans Day, I rise to commend the valiant service of all of the men and women who have served America in the armed forces. In particular, I want to recognize the Higgins family of Columbia, South Carolina who had 5 sons serving our Nation during World War II. Elliott Higgins served as a Captain with Army Intelligence under General George Patton in Germany; Harold Higgins served as a Sergeant with the Army Air Corps in Europe; John Higgins served as a Corporal with the Army on stateside assignments; Patrick Higgins enlisted with the Merchant Marines in the North Atlantic; and the youngest, Ross Higgins, at age 17 joined the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater. We should also remember the five Sullivan brothers from Iowa who died together on the USS Juneau after the Japanese torpedoed their ship. After their deaths, President Roosevelt began a policy that brothers should serve in different branches of the Armed Forces. This enabled the 5 Higgins brothers to serve our Nation with honor, and we will always be indebted to the sacrifices made for our country by veterans and their families.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lexington County Monument Fund which, on Veterans Day, will dedicate its monument to the veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the homefront. This monument is one of the first in the Nation to recognize jointly the heroic efforts of the veterans of these three crucial war periods. Very importantly, it is the only one to recognize the sacrifices in support of the people back home who worked the farms, built and furnished equipment and supplies to the military, and kept family members safe. We are especially honored that Brigadier General Paul W. Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay, will serve as the keynote speaker at the dedication ceremony. This monument is the result of the tireless efforts of Mr. Thomas Comerford, chairman of the Monument Committee and Clerk of Court for Lexington County. I would also like to pay special recognition to Mr. James St. Clair of Gaston, who provided invaluable assistance.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson) for her leadership tonight; and at this time I would like, as one of the newest Members of Congress and the most junior member of the Committee on Armed Services, to join in support of this bipartisan resolution. I am here tonight with a number of different perspectives. The first is that I am a military parent. Additionally, I am a member of the Army National Guard. Also, I am a desert war trainee and a Member of Congress. The most important role that I have tonight is that I am a military parent. I am very proud that I have three sons in the military. My oldest son, Alan, is a first lieutenant in the field artillery of the Army National Guard in South Carolina. He has just returned from advanced training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Additionally, I am very proud of my son, Addison, Jr., who is a Naval Academy graduate and an ensign in the U.S. Navy, and he is currently at USUMS, the uniformed services university medical school here at Bethesda, Maryland. Finally, I have another son, Julian, who is a junior at Clemson University, which is in the district of my colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Graham). He is a member of the Army ROTC, and his heritage is extremely significant to me. His grandfather, Julian Dusenbury, was awarded the Naval Cross for his service at Okinawa in the seizure of Shuri Castle. Finally, I am here also as a member of the National Guard. I am the only Member of Congress who is serving currently in the National Guard, and I am very proud of the people that I serve and work with. I know that they are trained and they are competent and they are dedicated to protecting America. I am here as a person who, 2 years ago, and I may have the most recent desert war training, served at Fort Irwin in California, the Mojave Desert, at the National Training Center in a rotation. I know that the American military is trained and ready for military service. As a Member of Congress, I know, Madam Speaker, that today we are discussing one of the most important decisions that we as United States Representatives will ever face. The question before us is whether or not to support the bipartisan resolution authorizing the use of American military force against Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi regime as part of the continuing war on terrorism. There is no doubt that each of us brings different perspectives to this debate, and for good reason. This is the people's House of Representatives; and, therefore, we should reflect the different people across this great country. In the case of Iraq, Saddam Hussein has proven himself to be a brutal dictator in possession of chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction and aggressively, according to the British Prime Minister, seeking nuclear capabilities. He has shown his willingness to use these weapons even against his own people. Saddam has continually harbored and supported known terrorist organizations, including members of the al Qaeda, the terrorist group linked to the murderous attacks on September 11 in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Saddam has also attempted to assassinate a U.S. President and fired thousands of attacks against American and British Air Forces in the no- fly zones of Iraq. In his own country, Saddam Hussein has carried on one of the most cruel and barbaric regimes in the world, murdering political enemies, raping the wives of his foes, and torturing their children. So what are we to do about this madman? Saddam Hussein is an enemy of the United States. This is a Stalin and a Hitler who has the capability of murder of thousands of innocent American men, women, and children, and who supports and harbors terrorists. In history, there have been some enemies of freedom and liberty that respect nothing but the threat of superior military force. Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime is such a threat. America has become the target because America is the world's symbol of freedom, liberty, and democracy. As one of America's great Presidents, Ronald Reagan, showed us in the Cold War, peace is achieved through strength, as he achieved victory in the Cold War. While I have no desire to see my children sent to war, we may be left with no other choice. I can assure the Members that as a member of the military, as a military parent, that the American military is ready and willing to answer the call to preserve freedom and liberty for generations to come, and to stop the threat posed by Saddam Hussein to the innocent lives of the American public. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to be here today to speak in support of H. Con. Res. 476, providing tribute to firefighters who have died in the line of duty. This Resolution has special meaning to my home community in that last year Jeff Chavis, of the Lexington County Fire Service of Lexington, South Carolina, lost his life as he courageously fought a fire that destroyed a home on the shores of Lake Murray. Jeff was a dedicated twenty-two year old firefighter who will always be remembered in South Carolina as a symbol of devotion to protecting the public from harm. Jeff's death, and then the murderous attack on the World Trade Center towers, have reminded all Americans of the courage of firefighters and the sacrifice they voluntarily provide. At no time in American history has this profession been more appreciated. My family has a personal respect for the competence of firefighters. The West Columbia Fire Department, led by Chief Barry Anderson, has three times saved our family home from a faulty water heater, a stove fire, and an electrical short of a television. In each event the Department was prompt and thoughtful. As a newcomer to Congress, I have been impressed by the quality of my colleagues in the House. One whom I have grown to truly respect is the author of this Resolution, Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania. I know firsthand of his appreciate for and his tireless work on behalf of our nation's firefighters.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown), I rise today to pay tribute to one of South Carolina's most dedicated public servants, the late Holly Johnston Richardson, who passed away this week after a courageous battle with breast cancer at the young age of 47. Most people know Holly Richardson as Senator Strom Thurmond's confidante, gatekeeper, and personal adviser since 1979, but some may not know she was also one of Senator Thurmond's closest friends. Holly was a native of Summerville, South Carolina, and was always loyally at Senator Thurmond's side. She commanded the most sincere respect from South Carolinians and Washingtonians because of her professionalism, her character, and her devotion to duty. All of South Carolina will miss Holly's Southern charm, her warmth, and dedication to Senator Thurmond. We extend our deepest sympathies to her husband Phil, to her two children, Anne and Emmet, and to her mother and father, Joanne and Coy Johnston. Her positive influence will continue through the Strom Thurmond and Holly Richardson Public Service Scholarship at her alma mater of Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday our family was honored to be special guests for the 136th anniversary service of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbia, South Carolina. Bethel has a rich history that is interwoven into the history of the city of Columbia, as well as the State of South Carolina. The church was organized 1 year after the close of the Civil War. It has built several historic sanctuaries, and during construction in 1921, the Bethel congregation worshipped in my family's home church, First Presbyterian of Columbia, ARP. Reverend Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr., with his first lady Carolyn, has been pastor of Bethel AME Church since 1992, inspiring a renaissance and revival. The membership has quadrupled to over 1,100 members, and the campus of sanctuary and support buildings make it one of the largest African Methodist Episcopal-owned campuses in the world. The anniversary address was presented by Bethel native son Bishop John Hurst Adams, senior bishop of the 11th Episcopal District of Florida. God has truly blessed this dear congregation, but a beloved hymn during the service was prophetic, ``The Best Is Yet To Come.''

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to welcome Pastor Rick Perrin from the Irmo community of South Carolina as our guest chaplain. Pastor Perrin has been the senior pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church for 11 years. He has been married to Barb Perrin for 30 years, and they have three wonderful sons. Scott Perrin serves with the Secret Service in Georgia; Tim Perrin, who worked for my mentor and predecessor, Floyd Spence; and Chris Perrin, who now works for my colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts). Pastor Perrin started the Community Roundtable, a group of leaders who have come together to lead and deal with at-risk youth. He also started the Human Relations Committee to promote harmony with racial and demographic changes in the community. Pastor Perrin is the chairman of the World Reform Fellowship which connects churches and ministry organizations around the world to build partnerships. Pastor Perrin has demonstrated consistent leadership over the years, and I count his family as friends. It is a great honor for all South Carolinians to have Pastor Perrin perform the prayer today in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this is a big day for me. It was just 9 months ago today that I had the privilege of being sworn in as one of the newest Members of Congress. It was right about this time of the day, and I am cherishing that memory at this time. I particularly appreciate that I had people who were helping me from the beginning, like the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner). And one of the very first things that I found out upon being elected was the extraordinary leadership in the House of Representatives. Also I want to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay). As I was attending conference meetings, I found out that we would be having the ability to work on welfare reform reauthorization, and I was just so excited because I had the privilege and opportunity in the South Carolina State Senate to be the chairman of the conference committee for the Family Independence Act which was the State equivalent of welfare reform. It was just an exciting time. It was the first time, one of the first times that a Republican had the opportunity to serve as chairman of a conference committee. As we were working on welfare reform in South Carolina, we were told we were wasting time. We were told that it would not work. I was told that we need to have more hearings, and I offered. I said, well, fine, let us have a hearing every day. Let us meet every day until it passes. So it did pass in South Carolina, and it did pass here in Washington. It has been a phenomenal success, as my colleagues can see from this chart. There has been since 1994 a reduction in the number of people on welfare by caseload from 14 million to 5 million. It has been one of the most extraordinary successes of social policy in the history of the United States. So I think it is very important. The House has passed this, and the Senate needs to bring it up. This is so important for the people to have the opportunity of independence. I have had the opportunity to visit the department of social services offices all over the district I represent, from Beaufort to Richmond and Lexington, from Hampton and Allendale. I have met the social workers who have made the program work, who have helped people get jobs. It has been exciting to see the number of people who now have opportunities that they did not have before. I am just really appalled that the Senate has not acted. I hope they will. Announcement by the Speaker pro tempore

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, when American families face difficult times, they set priorities. Today the United States is fighting a war and facing a slow economy. These are difficult times, and they call for clear priorities. President Bush and Republicans have done just that. In March, Republicans in the House, led by the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), passed the President's budget plan that clearly outlined spending priorities. We are keeping our commitment to education, Social Security, Medicare and, most importantly, national defense and homeland security. But Democrats have offered no plans and have set no priorities. The only clear message coming from them is let us spend more. We must focus on what we need, not what we want. The American people have been consistent in making the economy their top concern. The President and respected Alan Greenspan have said that the way to promote a strong economy is to control government spending. The President and Republicans have presented a responsible budget that meets our Nation's priorities. It is time for the Democrats to get on board.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, I welcomed Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov to Capitol Hill, along with Ambassador Elena Poptodorova and Foreign Minister Solomon Passy. Joining me in this meeting were the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Schaffer) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn), who are two members of the newly formed Bulgaria Caucus, also cochaired by the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher). The Bulgarian caucus was created to spread awareness in America about Bulgaria's strategic location and critical assistance in the war on terrorism. Members of the Bulgaria Caucus are also strongly committed to helping Bulgaria gain admittance to NATO this November. President Parvanov presented proclamations to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) and I to honor the creation of the Bulgaria Caucus. The presidential proclamation affirms ``Bulgaria is committed to standing by the United States in the war on terrorism for the long haul,'' and that the leaders of Bulgaria are looking forward to working with members of the Bulgaria Caucus to further interest and awareness in America about Bulgaria.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am a newcomer to Congress. I have been here only 8 months. I also have the distinction of being the only Member who is a member of the National Guard still drilling. At this time I have had, of course, my first August recess. During the August recess, the issue that came up the most was the issue already discussed, and that is the danger of Iraq. We now have a bloodthirsty dictator who has access to chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons; he has the ability with ballistic missiles to send them against American allies and against American troops that are stationed throughout the Middle East. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we should put our faith in the President, the intelligence agencies that we have, the wonderful military that we have, and the civilian military officials that we have before us. We need to understand there was a vote on September 14, 2001, right here in Congress, almost unanimously, to provide for military action against those who harbor or support terrorists, and the intent of that was to stop future terrorist attacks on the United States. America has been attacked, and we are under threat. This is not a speculation as to the future; it has occurred. It will occur again if we do not take action to defend our civilian citizens.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this week the American Red Cross will host a blood drive in memory of my friend, mentor, and predecessor, the late Representative Floyd Spence. His historic double lung transplant in 1988 by Dr. Shehadri Raju of Jackson, Mississippi, as well as his kidney transplant he received from his son, David, enabled him to provide consummate leadership to South Carolina and the Nation. His surgeries would not have been possible without volunteer blood donations. Every second, someone in America depends upon a life-saving volunteer blood donation. In addition to organ transplant recipients, blood is used every day for children with sickle cell anemia, cancer patients, and trauma victims. I would like to thank the Congressman's beloved widow, Mrs. Debbie Spence, for her generous involvement with this blood drive, and I would also like to recognize Ms. Laura Haas and Mr. Noah Simon for organizing this crucial event. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues and staff to visit the Rayburn foyer today and tomorrow between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to give the gift of life.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, it is a great honor to rise in support of H.R. 5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002. I commend the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), for his excellent service and the members of the Select Committee for the bipartisan nature in which this bill was put together. I also commend the President for his leadership in working for the establishment of the new Department. My perspective, indeed, is as the only member of the Army National Guard serving in Congress at this time, and I have had the privilege as a member of the South Carolina National Guard to work with the community agencies and with the different first responders for other natural disasters that have occurred in our country. In particular, I have worked with the situation of recovery from Hurricane Hugo which struck our State. It was an extraordinary experience, but working together we were able to recover in our State and ensure domestic tranquility. H.R. 5005 will ensure that our communities and first responders are prepared to address all threats. I believe that it is an orderly streamlining of agencies to focus on homeland security. In particular, I want to commend that the Secret Service will be moved to the Department. One of the main missions of the Secret Service is protecting individuals and securing key events such as the Olympics and Super Bowl. The Department will depend on this agency's protective functions and expertise. H.R. 5005 essentially accepts the Committee on Government Reform's recommendation. Another point that I see in this bill is recognition that active private sector participation in homeland security is essential. The Select Committee authorized the Secretary of Homeland Security to have a special liaison with the private sector to promote public-private partnerships and promote technology integration for homeland security. A national council for first responders is also established.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on August 15, 1947, India became an independent nation. Just as Americans look forward to their day of freedom every July 4, people of all faiths come together in India to celebrate a struggle for independence begun by Mahatma Gandhi. Both America and India fought against British domination to secure freedom for their nations. People in both countries cherish the freedoms found in our respective constitutions, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The framers of India's constitution were greatly influenced by the founding fathers of America, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and George Washington. America is now the world's oldest parliamentary democracy and India the world's largest democracy. The future looks bright for both of our countries. We have grown closer since victory in the Cold War, and rightfully so since we share the same values. America and India should take action to boost our bilateral trade and must coordinate defense strategies to maintain stability in South Asia. Both America and India serve as models for democracy and freedom around the world. And our independence days are symbols of these achievements.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, every day in America 15 people are diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, amounting to more than 5,600 people each year. The average life expectancy for people with this disease is only 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS, is a fatal illness that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When these nerve cells die, a person loses muscle control. People with advanced stages of the disease can be totally paralyzed, yet their minds remain sharp and alert. However, there is hope. Recent advances allow people with Lou Gehrig's disease to live longer lives. New breakthroughs have occurred, due in large part to the efforts of the ALS Association. The association provides the largest private source of funding for researching the cause, and ultimately, the cure for Lou Gehrig's disease. I commend the efforts of the Carolinas Chapter of the ALS Association and Executive Director Jerry Dawson for their commitment and dedication in caring for those with Lou Gehrig's disease in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Their efforts today will bring us closer to finding a cure tomorrow for Lou Gehrig's disease.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I condemn Saturday's terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 28 people. This attack was just another reminder to the Kashmiri Pandit community that Hindus are still being targeted by Islamic militants in order to drive them from the Indian state of Kashmir. This was cold-blooded murder of civilian men, women, and children, who were innocently listening to a radio sports event at a tea stall. More than 400,000 Hindus in Kashmir have been forced from their homes due to targeted attacks of Islamic militants. For many years, Pakistan's military worked together with its intelligence agency, the ISI, to coordinate attacks against civilians in Kashmir. These very same forces helped in creating the Taliban and al Qaeda. Pakistan must stop the movement of al Qaeda members from the northwestern part of Pakistan into the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan must also shut down its terrorist camps, remove the influence of extremist religious clerics from government affairs, and make generous peace offerings to India. Only then can a dialogue between India and Pakistan take place.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday morning, South Carolina lost one of its finest first ladies. She was not first lady as the wife of a Governor, but qualifies as a first lady who courageously worked for the two-party system to be established in South Carolina, and she made a difference. Emily Canaday Phillips of Columbia and Cope began her service in the Republican Party in the 1960 Presidential race, and she was a devoted volunteer in the 1961 race of State Representative Charlie Boineau of Richland County, who was the first successful Republican legislative candidate of the 20th century in South Carolina. Emily served in numerous positions with the new Party and Republican Women, achieving Second District Congressional Republican chairmanship for 10 years, and 5 years on the State Ethics Commission. Her integrity was recognized by twice being awarded the State's highest honor by two Governors, the Order of Palmetto. She is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, E.D. Phillips, and their five children: Becky Phillips, Deedie Belangia, Jackie Finch, Hal Phillips, and Steve Phillips, along with seven grandchildren. Emily will be missed; but her warm smile, her love for her family, and her dedication to governmental reform will never be forgotten.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, South Carolina is the second largest producer of peaches in the Nation, and yesterday fresh peaches from South Carolina were hand delivered to every congressional office. I would like to commend the efforts of the South Carolina Farm Bureau, the South Carolina Peach Council, and the interns and staffers for their efforts yesterday in delivering the peaches on Capitol Hill. Last Thursday, I was honored to be the guest Speaker at the 44th annual Lexington County Peach Festival in Gilbert, South Carolina. This wonderful event is held every July 4th, a time for patriotic families to come together to celebrate the independence of our great Nation. The festival features a parade with wonderful floats and, of course, fresh peaches, peach ice cream, and peach cobbler available for everyone. I would like to thank all the supporters and organizers of the Lexington County Peach Festival and especially the festival coordinator, Raymond Boozer, along with Gilbert mayor, Phil Price; First Lady Frances Price, and long-time parade coordinator, R. J. Taylor. My family has attended 32 Lexington County Peach Festivals, and I look forward to many more years of this special July 4th celebration.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am simply outraged at the revelations day after day that corporations have cheated and betrayed the trust of investors and employees by seeking personal gain while their companies floundered. We must hold each one of these criminals accountable for the abuses they have committed. I am pleased with the strong leadership that President Bush has shown by speaking bluntly and acting quickly. Businesses and corporate officers are not exempt from fair play and should be held to the utmost standards of ethics and decency of character. House Republicans on April 24 passed a responsible corporate reform bill, and it should be considered and enacted to restore confidence in the economy. However, with all the scandals that are splashed across the media, I am confident that the overwhelming majority of companies and accounting firms are morally responsible and law-abiding organizations that deeply care about the welfare of their investors. It is my hope leaders will arise in these companies, people involved in their communities, in a positive way that will reclaim the respect and dignity of their positions.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to be able to be here today. I want to commend the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), for his leadership in having this bill presented to us today. I want to give the experience of State level, in that I was only elected in December, and I had previously served in the State senate of South Carolina. I had been the floor leader for the concealed weapons bill in South Carolina, which provided that persons who were trained, law-abiding citizens, could carry weapons in public places. The effect of that over the last 8 years has been a reduction in crime. We have had tens of thousands of people who qualified to be able to carry weapons, and the effect has been to reduce crime. This bill will have the same effect; that is, it will reduce the hijacking potential at all times. Of course, a lot of people will be concerned that maybe it will be a shootout at the O.K. Corral. That was what was stated about what occurred in South Carolina. It did not happen. Even the fiercest opponents of the concealed weapons bill now recognize that this was a positive move, one that reduced crime. I again want to commend the chairman and also the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) for his leadership, and the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Mica) for his leadership.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I very much regret that I was unavoidably detained and unable to vote on rollcall No. 278, the motion to commit S. 2578, on June 27, 2002. Had I been present, you may be assured that I would have cast my vote in opposition. My beeper did not work.