Joe Wilson

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, it's with great gratitude that I rise today in support of House Resolution 1491 to formally congratulate the University of South Carolina's baseball team for its impressive success at the College World Series. Today's resolution, endorsed by all six Members of the South Carolina delegation to congratulate the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on winning the 2010 NCAA Division I College World Series, is particularly special to me as I am able to honor my alma mater and that of my mother and father and that of many of the Second Congressional District staff. The journey to this point hasn't been the easiest for the Gamecocks and history has not been on our side, as this is the first time in the school's history that the baseball team earned this great achievement despite going to the College World Series nine times. During the NCAA tournament, the team faced an opening loss to Oklahoma and as a result had to do the unthinkable: win four consecutive games that included back-to-back wins against in-state arch rival Clemson University. The last stop on the journey was UCLA, a highly respected and talented team in the championship series. The Gamecocks had impressive consecutive victories over the Bruins to finish the season with a 54-16 overall record and earn the title of College World Series National Champions. I'm extremely proud of the way these student athletes represented our university and our great State. None of this would have been possible without the USC Coach, Ray Tanner, whose leadership and determination has led to over 600 victories, 11 consecutive post-season appearances, and now a national title for the Gamecocks. Tanner's coaching success is complemented by associate head coach Chad Holbrook and assistant coach Mark Calvi. The team is led by Whit Merrifield, the first cousin of Second Congressional District staff member Melissa Hite of Irma, South Carolina, who withstood a hard collision in South Carolina's victory over Clemson but stayed in the game and drove in the winning run at the bottom of the 11th inning the next night to claim the national title for the Gamecocks. Defying all odds and refusing to give in, Jackie Bradley, Jr., delivered a clutch hit which scored the tying run in the bottom of the 12th inning against Oklahoma in the June 24 elimination game. Without Bradley's hit, the Gamecocks run at winning the national title would have come to a sudden halt. Second District resident Blake Cooper, of Neeses, was the most valuable player of the first game of the championship series with an outstanding pitching performance against the UCLA Bruins. Freshman pitcher Matt Price, of Sumter, held the Bruins scoreless for the last three innings of the College World Series and earned Freshman All American honors from Baseball America. I want to offer a big congratulations to Austin Ashmore of Greer, South Carolina; Parker Bangs of Laurinburg, North Carolina; Robert Beary of Apopka, Florida; Nolan Belcher of Augusta, Georgia; Jackie Bradley, Jr., of Prince George, Virginia; Jay Brown of Brunswick, Georgia; Alex Burrell of Landrum, South Carolina; Ethan Carter of Newport News, Virginia; Brison Celek of Charleston, South Carolina; Blake Cooper of Neeses, South Carolina; Sam Dyson of Tampa, Florida; Nick Ebert of Ocala, Florida; Kyle Enders of Greer, South Carolina; Bobby Haney of Smithtown, New York; Greg Harrison of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; Colby Holmes of Conway, South Carolina; Anthony Iacomini of Cross River, New York; Jeffery Jones of Ft. Worth, Texas; Evan Marzilli of Cranston, Rhode Island; Jose Mata of Miami Lakes, Florida; Adam Matthews of Lexington, South Carolina; Whit Merrifield of Advance, North Carolina, a constituent of Congresswoman Virginia Foxx; Adrian Morales of Hialeah, Florida; Logan Munson of Columbia, South Carolina; Steven Neff of Lancaster, South Carolina; Matt Price of Sumter, South Carolina; Jordan Propst of Gaffney, South Carolina; Jimmy Revan of Chesnee, South Carolina; Michael Roth of Greer, South Carolina; Richard Royal of Fayetteville, North Carolina; Patrick Sullivan of Columbia, South Carolina; John Taylor of Florence, South Carolina; Brady Thomas of Anderson, South Carolina; Christian Walker of Limerick, Pennsylvania; Tyler Webb of Nassawdox, Virginia; Adam Westmoreland of Cayce, South Carolina; Jake Williams of Greer, South Carolina; and Scott Wingo of Greenville, South Carolina. In conclusion, I urge my colleagues to join in supporting House Resolution 1491. Go Gamecocks.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, seven proposals have been brought to this floor for a vote directly from participants in the interactive forum YouCut. These proposals are commonsense cost savers of the people's money. House Republicans have listened to the will of the people and have voted to save billions by reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, by selling excess Federal lands, and by preventing taxpayer subsidized union activities. Yesterday, the House had another opportunity to save money by getting rid of promotional stimulus signs. A year and a half after the spending stimulus passed, unemployment has risen to 10 percent, as the so-called stimulus has failed to create jobs. But liberals cleverly came up with propaganda to push Americans on this failed policy at a cost of up to $10,000 a sign. Stimulus signs are nationwide. If we eliminated this waste, $20 million could be saved. When it comes to wasteful Washington spending, all signs point to the stimulus. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, before Congress adjourned for the July 4th recess, I stood at this spot with a plea to Democratic leadership to do the right thing and bring the military supplemental bill forward as a clean bill for quick passage. My request and those of many of my colleagues went unanswered. The result? Our troops at risk do not have the funding they need. It is a shame that Congress could not get this troop funding bill passed before the Pentagon's deadline. By not passing or debating a budget--another travesty--Congress certainly has had plenty of time to get this done. As a veteran myself, with four sons currently serving in the military, I know we have brave men and women in uniform around the world who shouldn't have to worry about Congress' failure to fund their programs and missions. We have counterinsurgency operations right now in Iraq and Afghanistan that should not be interrupted or held up by lawmakers so they can add billions of additional dollars in unrelated pet projects. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to commend the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin for their successful 28th annual convention. I was honored to join AAPI members from around the country at a reception on Capitol Hill, where nearly 500 physicians from 27 states had registered to make their voices heard in Congress. As the past co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, I have seen firsthand the professionalism, dedication, and success of Indian American doctors from rural and medically underserved areas to cities across South Carolina. I was recruited for the Caucus before I was elected by noted Lexington physician Dr. Kaushal Sinha and his wife Arunima, of Irmo, South Carolina. I want to commend Dr. Vinod K. Shah of Maryland for his successful presidency and wish Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi of California the very best as he leads AAPI forward. This is an historic period for South Carolina where State Representative Nikki Haley of Lexington, a very successful legislator of Indian heritage has served as a Majority Whip and is now a nominee for Governor. In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, over the last week, I have held six town hall meetings all across South Carolina's Second Congressional District focused on job creation and Washington's reckless spending habits. Residents in Aiken, Barnwell, Richland, Lexington, Orangeburg, Varnville, and Bluffton came out to express their concerns and hear the opinions of their neighbors. Mr. Speaker, the message I bring back from South Carolina's Second District residents is simple: stop this out-of-control spending and pass job creation policies that incentivize small businesses to create jobs and families to invest. People are concerned. They are concerned about their family's economic future. They are concerned about the enormous debt being imposed on our children and grandchildren. I encourage residents who couldn't attend to take advantage of two new interactive forums designed to give Americans a voice in Congress to share policy solutions: AmericaSpeakingOut.com and YouCut. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the House passed a financial regulatory bill, which shows Washington liberals once again how out of touch they are with the needs of hardworking Americans. Small business owners and community bankers across South Carolina will be adversely impacted by this bill. Justin Strickland, president of Southern First Bank in Cayce, and father of former House floor page Justin Strickland, Jr., said that ``this bill adds 30 new regulations that will severely limit the ability of small banks to extend credit to South Carolinians.'' Hal Stevenson, CEO of Grace Outdoor in Columbia, explains that this big bank bailout discourages lending to small businesses and reduces job creation. Calling this a reform bill is insulting when it fails to address the giants in the financial collapse, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Failing to tackle these two cancerous entities is like going in for surgery and keeping the giant tumor in place. In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, during my 17-year service in the South Carolina State Senate, I met many dedicated Senate staffers who were devoted to serving the public. One of the most outstanding was Robin McIntyre Moseley of Irmo who was always enthusiastic about being accountable and accessible. She has been the right hand of State Senate Education Committee Chairman John Courson, who has been so successful serving South Carolina promoting quality education. Robin is retiring on July 1, 2010, and her service was recognized by the South Carolina State Senate Resolution below that was unanimously adopted: A Senate Resolution CONGRATULATING ROBIN McINTYRE MOSELEY ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Coach Ray Tanner and the talented players of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks for winning the College World Series of Baseball at Omaha, Nebraska. When it comes to reducing Washington's out-of-control spending, Republicans continue to put forward ``more ways to save.'' One such proposal is this week's YouCut bill introduced by Congressman Phil Gingrey to save taxpayers $1.2 billion in 10 years by prohibiting taxpayer funding for union activities. Federal employee unions are subsidized by hardworking taxpayers while they engage in lobbying and political activities. This costs the taxpayers over $100 million a year. Americans should be alarmed about a $13 trillion deficit. We should note the images of riots in Greece. What, I ask, will it take for real change to take place here? In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, congratulations to the University of South Carolina's baseball team for a spectacular showing in the College World Series at Omaha, Nebraska. The journey to this point hasn't been the easiest for the Gamecocks. The team overcame an opening loss and then won four consecutive games for the finals. Gamecocks proved persistent. The USA Today headline says ``South Carolina in command after Game 1 victory.'' I'm very proud of the way these student athletes are representing the University of South Carolina on the national stage. Whit Merrifield, first cousin of congressional staffer Melissa Hite of Irmo, withstood a hard collision in South Carolina's victory on Saturday and stayed in the game, ultimately bumping his average to .300 in the College World Series. And talk about stats. Lead-off hitter Evan Marzilli has an impressive .378 batting average, to always start things off right. Second District resident Blake Cooper last night was MVP, with an outstanding defeat over UCLA in championship game one. Congratulations to USC Coach Ray Tanner for his leadership and determination.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I am happy to congratulate Jeffery Charles Riley and his wife Scarlett Diann Hutson Riley on the birth of their new baby twin boys. Patrick Sean Riley and Brenden Oscar Riley were born on June 22, 2010 weighing 5 pounds, 13 oz. and 5 pounds, 3 oz., respectively at Torrance Memorial Center of Torrance, California. Brendan is a little taller at 19 inches than his brother at 17 \3/4\ inches. I am so excited for this new blessing to the Riley family and wish them all the best as we know they will certainly have their hands full! I want to congratulate Patrick and Brendan's grandparents Charles and Debby Riley of Torrance, California, and Marion and Margaret Hutson of Cayce, South Carolina, on this wonderful new extension of their family.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today all across South Carolina, residents are celebrating Carolina Day to commemorate the brave South Carolina patriots who defeated the British fleet on June 28, 1776, promoting American independence. This victory saved Charleston from British occupation for another 4 years. It occurred at the first fort on Sullivan's Island, later named after its commander, Colonel William Moultrie. The battle at Fort Moultrie is known as the first decisive victory by American Revolutionaries. This battle is just one example of the direct role South Carolina played in the Revolutionary War. Throughout the War for Independence, more than 200 battles and engagements took place in South Carolina, more than any other province. One popular symbol of South Carolina's leadership in the Revolution is still seen today throughout the world: the yellow Gadsden Flag that reads, ``Don't Tread on Me.'' In 1775, Colonel Christopher Gadsden was representing South Carolina in the Continental Congress as five companies of Marines were about to join the Navy to intercept British ships. History has recorded that Colonel Gadsden presented his flag to the new commander-in-chief of the Navy, Commodore Esek Hopkins, before this critical mission. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism. Best wishes to the USC Gamecocks in the College World Series tonight at Omaha, Nebraska.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. The House should stop playing politics with troop funding. The money is being held up by liberal lawmakers so they can add billions of dollars to the so-called ``stimulus'' funds and special interest moneys to the troop funding package. Partisan special interest moneys and a hodgepodge of wasteful spending has no place in a true funding bill. We need a clean bill that will pass easily so our military operations will not be disrupted. Secretary Gates has warned us not to hold up this essential spending or else defense spending will suffer, meaning our troops will be at risk. As a veteran with four sons in the military, nothing is more important to me than making sure our troops on the front lines receive the funding they need. With two counterinsurgency operations going on in Afghanistan and Iraq, it's highly irresponsible to hold this up any longer. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I submit the following remarks regarding my absence from votes which occurred on June 22, 2010. Listed below is how I would have voted if I had been present. Roll No. 376--H. Con. Res. 288--supporting National Men's Health Week--``aye''; Roll No. 377--H. Res. 546--recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges of the future--``aye''; Roll No. 378--H. Res. 1407-- supporting the goals and ideals of High-Performance Building Week-- ``aye.''

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to thank John Bruton for serving the 2nd Congressional District with distinction. For the past 2 years, John has ensured South Carolina residents receive timely and accurate updates about the happenings in Congress. John has also been a key adviser on issues of science and technology, postal issues, and welfare. John's dedication and creativity will certainly be hard to replace as he heads off to law school at the University of South Carolina. John Bruton is the son of Jean and John Bruton of Columbia, South Carolina, two parents who have been instrumental in their son's success. He is the grandson of the late judge J. Bratton Davis, a legend of integrity and competence for the legal profession. I am confident that John's education at my alma mater, Washington and Lee University, his experiences as a Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and his dedication as a congressional staffer have made John prepared for success in the field of law. He is a credit to the people of South Carolina. I wish him Godspeed. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism. Congratulations to primary victors Nikki Haley, Ken Ard, Alan Wilson and Mick Zais.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the American people are tired of Washington politicians turning a deaf ear to their wishes and concerns. Two days ago, Congressman Dave Camp put forward a proposal to repeal the provisions in the government health care takeover that mandates Americans buy government-run insurance. But this popular proposal was defeated by Washington liberals by a vote of 187-230. People in my home State of South Carolina do not want an out-of-touch Washington bureaucrat forcing them to buy government-run insurance. We support the lawsuit of Attorney General Henry McMaster. We must defend the Constitution. Washington bureaucrats do not know what is best for South Carolinians or their families. The government mandate is unconstitutional. We need a constitutional alternative, and I have a solution: Siding With American Patients Act, SWAP Act, to repeal the government takeover and replace it with a patient-centered and affordable solution that expands access and continues to cover preexisting conditions. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, State Senator T. Allen Legare, Jr. was an inspiration to me growing up in historic Charleston, South Carolina, as a gentleman promoting job creation with the State Development Board and the State Ports Authority. My attending Washington and Lee University was coordinated by him, who had attended W&L, with my mother, Wray Graves Wilson, who attended nearby Hollins College in Virginia. The below article was printed in The Post and Courier on June 12, 2010. The Post and Courier: Obituaries--Local Politician Dies Thomas Allen Legare, Jr., a former S.C. senator and Charleston-area lawyer, died Friday. He was 94. A four-term senator from 1953 to 1966, Legare pushed for bridge and highway improvements. He served as chairman of the State Development Board, which set two records for industrial development under his leadership. He was the board chairman from 1969 to 1974. For his public service as a legislator, the S.C. Department of Highways and Public Transportation named the northbound U.S. Highway 17 bridge over the Ashley River after Legare in 1978. As a senator, he authored several bills that provided for the expansion of the State Ports Authority. He was a two-term Democratic representative from Charleston from 1947 to 1953. In 1979, Legare received the University of South Carolina's Distinguished Alumni Award. He earned his A.B. and law degrees from the university in 1939 and 1941, respectively. Legare was a past president and chairman of the alumni association. Legare was born in Charleston on July 22, 1915, to Thomas A. Legare and Lilly Mikell Legare. In 1964 he formed the Legare, Hare and Smith law firm in Charleston. He was an Army veteran, serving in World War II in the European and China- India-Burma theaters. Legare was a former director of the Charleston Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Lion's Club of Charleston. Other memberships included the American Legion Post #10, the Veterans' Advisory Council and the Carolina Yacht Club. Legare was a longtime member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Charleston. He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia I. Green Legare, and daughter, Irene G. Legare Wesley. Surviving are the couple's three other children, Virginia G. Legare Townsend, Sarah M. Legare Stuhr, and Edward T. Legare, all of Wadmalaw Island. Stuhr's Downtown Chapel is handling arrangements.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, a Marine Corps legend and Beaufort, South Carolina, resident, passed away on Friday, leaving behind many touched lives, an iconic image, and a legacy of service to our great country. This is a copy of the iconic Marine Corps recruit photo of Sergeant Chuck Taliano. The story of how Sergeant Chuck Taliano ended up on this famous poster is best reported by Patrick Donahue in the Beaufort Gazette. The article explains that: ``Sergeant Chuck Taliano was awaiting an honorable discharge at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in 1968 when a reservist writing a book about boot camp snapped a photo of him giving a recruit an `attitude readjustment.' ``That cemented Taliano's place in Corps legend. ``The photo captured his snarling mug inches from a fresh-faced recruit with the caption, `We don't promise you a rose garden.' It was on thousands of Marine Corps recruiting posters printed during the 1970s and 1980s.'' I want to thank Sergeant Taliano and his family for his commitment to America and the Marine Corps. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism. God bless the U.S. Marine Corps.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I was absent from votes which occurred on June 14, 2010. Listed below is how I would have voted if I had been present. Roll No. 355--H. Res. 1368--supporting the goals of National Dairy Month--``aye''; Roll No. 356--H. Res. 1409--expressing support for designation of June 20, 2010, as ``American Eagle Day'', and celebrating the recovery and restoration of the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States--``aye''; Roll No. 357--H.R. 5502--to amend the effective date of the gift card provisions of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009--``aye.''

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the United States Army celebrated its 235th birthday. Since the Continental Congress first created the Continental Army to protect and secure our new Nation, men and women have continued to make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and independence. For three centuries, from the Revolutionary War to D-day and the current global war on terrorism and every day in between, America's soldiers have performed bravely. The American military has achieved the largest number of countries living today in freedom and democracy in the history of the world. I appreciate firsthand the Army as a 31-year veteran of the Army Reserve and Army Guard myself. Also, my father served in the Army Air Corps as a Flying Tiger in China and India. But more meaningful to me is that I have three sons today serving in the Army National Guard, with my oldest son an Iraq veteran of the field artillery. On this 235th birthday, I extend my appreciation to those who have served or are currently serving and especially to those family and friends of soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of liberty. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism. Happy birthday, U.S. Army.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Today, I rise to recognize Rev. Eddie Lee Carter on the occasion of his retirement from serving here in the House where since 2004 Rev. Carter has been repairing and shining shoes. Rev. Eddie Lee Carter and I have a shared heritage. He was born at Beech Island, South Carolina, and my grandfather was born at Beech Island, in Aiken County, South Carolina. At a very young age, his family moved to Augusta, Georgia, which was nearby, and he attended elementary school with the world-famous musician James Brown, another great South Carolinian. Rev. Carter first began to work on shoes as a young man, even before he joined the Army in 1953. Rev. Carter was stationed primarily in Germany while serving in the Army. A musician himself, he was renowned for singing and entertaining generals when they passed through the post. In 1955, Rev. Carter left the Army with the rank of corporal and later moved to Washington from Augusta to work at Stern Shoe Repair. In 1992, he was ordained a Methodist minister. On June 7, 2004, Rev. Carter came to work at the U.S. Capitol repairing and shining shoes. He currently lives at Fort Washington, Maryland, with his wife, Molly Anthony Carter. They have been married for 28 years. He has a son, and Mrs. Carter has two sons. On Friday, he plans to retire to spend more time with the congregation. Personally, I will always remember Rev. Carter's cheerfulness and encouragement, his quiet reading of the Bible, and his proud wearing of U.S.-South Carolina flag pin. Godspeed, Rev. Carter. Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Price of Georgia

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, twenty years ago today, I served as an election observer in Bulgaria on behalf of the International Republican Institute (IRI) It was a life changing dream come true for me to experience firsthand the birth of liberty in a captive nation, which had been subjected for decades to Nazism and Communism. As a lifelong Cold Warrior I always promoted victory over Communism. A strong American military developed by President Ronald Reagan produced peace through strength and veterans today can see with pride more counties than ever as free market democracies. On June 10, 1990, the people of Bulgaria participated in the first free elections since the 1930s. It was inspiring to visit polling places in the Plovdiv region and witness the young and old participating freely. The talented people of Bulgaria were unshackled. People did not want to be a slavish Soviet satellite. I have developed a lifelong affection for the people of Bulgaria. Since then, Bulgaria has evolved from the antiquated ``frozen in time'' nation of the 1930s to being a vibrant free market democracy of today. It is now a valued member of NATO with troops having served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a dynamic member of the European Union. On the evening before the election in Plovdiv I met a musician who explained how he was inspired by Armed Forces Radio out of Greece with his favorite composer John Philip Sousa--as he stated, ``Stars and Stripes Forever.'' I responded, ``Bulgaria Forever.'' Two years ago I visited the training base at Novo Selo where young Bulgarian and American troops participate in joint training exercises. The American base was the first invited of foreign troops in Bulgaria's 1225 year history. I particularly appreciate Ambassador Elena Poptodrova for her promotion of the Bulgaria-America partnership. I am grateful for my first Bulgarian hosts Stefan Stoyanor, his wife Elizabeth and daughter Jana. Their warm Bulgarian welcome will never be forgotten. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism. God Bless Bulgaria.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago today, I served as an election observer in Bulgaria on behalf of the International Republican Institute, IRI. It was a life-changing dream come true for me to experience firsthand the birth of liberty in a captive nation which had been subjected for decades to Nazism and Communism. As a lifelong Cold Warrior, I always promoted victory over Communism. On June 10, 1990, the people of Bulgaria participated in the first free elections since the 1930s. It was inspiring to visit polling places in the Plovdiv region and witness the young and old participating freely. The talented people of Bulgaria were unshackled. People did not want to be a slavish Soviet satellite. Since then, Bulgaria has evolved from the antiquated, frozen-in-time nation of the 1930s to being a vibrant free market democracy of today. It is now a valued member of NATO, with troops having served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a dynamic member of the European Union. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism. God bless Bulgaria.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, listed below is how I would have voted if I had been present on June 8, 2010. Roll Number 337--H.R. 1061--to transfer certain land to the United States to be held in trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, to place land into trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, and for other purposes--``aye.'' Roll Number 338--H. Res. 518--honoring the life of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, explorer, researcher, and pioneer in the field of marine conservation--``aye.''

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the administration held a town hall by telephone with seniors across the country to promote a health care takeover bill that costs more by the minute. Seniors need more than a sales pitch. They need to know the facts about this bill. Fifty percent who depend on Medicare Advantage could lose this coverage. The impact of the bill could be devastating. In Texas, 300 doctors have already stopped seeing seniors. Seniors' loved ones will be deeply impacted by the takeover bill with a $2,100 hit. This is the amount the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has predicted that early retirees, the self-employed, small business workers, and millions of others who buy family coverage in the individual market will pay more for their health insurance. Instead of spending time selling a broken product, lawmakers need to repeal it and offer seniors a patient-centered health care plan that lowers costs and expands access. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee for including an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to require a detailed report on the ramifications of closing the Yucca Mountain Waste Repository. Before the administration irresponsibly walks away from a $10 billion investment and a 23-year bipartisan agreement, we need to provide America's taxpayers and decisionmakers with adequate information. To lessen our dependence on foreign oil, we must remain committed to investing in developing technologies. Nuclear energy is a clean, safe, and cost-effective energy source that has provided over half of the electricity generated in South Carolina for over 30 years. But in order to keep it safe, we must have a permanent site for disposal. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism during Memorial Day activities.