Lynn Westmoreland

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man of God who has dedicated the past 28 years of his life to a church in Georgia's 3rd Congressional District. Only those who have never darkened the door of a church hold the mistaken impression that preachers work 1 day a week. The writing and delivery of the Sunday morning sermon comprises just a small portion of what a minister does in the service of God each week. In addition to a teacher, a great minister also serves as a CEO of a nonprofit and as a shepherd of the flock, who tends to the sick, the lost and those in need. Dr. Elvis Hester has fulfilled all of these roles, and his leadership in the service of the Lord has blessed his flock at Eagle's Landing Church of God in McDonough. As CEO of a big church, a minister often is as deeply involved in management and logistics as he is in pastoral care. Dr. Hester started his career working in logistics for the Federal Government. He went on to serve a stint as an adviser to the nation of Bahrain. There in the Middle East, he helped establish a Church of God populated with 100 Christian converts. A colleague established a sister church in Pakistan. Upon Dr. Hester's return to the United States he went into the ministry full time, first working at a church in Franklin, GA. In 1980, he took the helm of the church that would become Eagle's Landing Church of God. Under Hester's leadership, the church experienced tremendous growth, with membership topping 1,000. But Dr. Hester's church members don't focus on how he has affected membership numbers. They reflect on how he has touched their lives. ``The pastor has led our congregation by example for 28 years, serving us all through thick and thin,'' said church member Janice Ross. ``My family remembers when a life- and-death crisis kept us up all night and the next day. After going through a horrible operation, we were blessed by the sound of the pastor in prayer. We are thankful that our pastor has stayed faithful to the Lord and the Word of God.'' One of his staff members, youth minister Brian Coody, said: ``Our Pastor is the type who is open for everyone to talk to, often going out of his way when you need counsel. He is very much filled with the spirit and he touches the lives of all those he meets. I have personally seen him moved to tears when a troubled soul was touched by Christ. Pastor Hester is a great man of God.'' Dr. Hester's ministry has extended far beyond Henry County. He spread the Word in many countries throughout South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. ``While they say there are no absolutes in life, I truly believe that the one absolute that does exist is that long after Pastor Hester and his wife, Rita, are gone, the things that were done and said by our once-in-a-lifetime pastors will be treasured and used by generations to come to spread goodwill and bring the light of Christ into people's hearts and minds,'' said a friend in the mission field, Charles Lambert. Madam Speaker, I join Dr. Hester's church members and friends in honoring his 28 years of service at Eagle's Landing Church of God and wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today to honor the memory of a great American, Felix Sparks, who recently passed away at the age of 90. Mr. Sparks' commitment to our country began in 1940 when he joined the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Division. He would go on to fight bravely in World War II, earning a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts. During the war, he even helped liberate 30,000 people from the infamous Dachau concentration camp. Upon returning to the States, Felix and his wife, Mary, settled in Colorado. Still wanting to continue his service to our country, he then joined the National Guard. He would remain active in the Guard until 1970, when he retired as a brigadier general. Besides his exemplary military service record, Mr. Sparks also excelled as a civilian. He had a brilliant legal mind. This was reflected in his appointment to the supreme court of Colorado at the age of 38, making him the youngest justice in the State's history. His expertise was water law, which he applied as director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board for over two decades. Considering his years of selfless public service to his State and to his country, I believe it is a fitting tribute to name a post office in Colorado in his honor. Hopefully, his life will serve as an example to others to follow. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any other speakers, but I want to urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 4240, the naming of this post office for this great American hero. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today to honor the memory of Army Staff Sergeant Larry Pierce, a true American hero. Larry Pierce was raised in Taft, California. He would have graduated from Taft Union High School in 1959, but he chose to enlist in the Army in 1958. Seven years later, having achieved the rank of staff sergeant, Larry found himself in Vietnam as the squad leader of a reconnaissance platoon. On September 20, 1965, his squad was on patrol when it was ambushed by hostile forces. Thanks to Staff Sergeant Pierce's leadership and courage, the squad successfully repelled the attack, driving the enemy away. While in pursuit of the enemy, Pierce's squad came across a dirt road. It was on this road Sergeant Pierce discovered an anti-personnel mine. Knowing it would destroy the majority of his squad who was not aware of its presence, Sergeant Pierce threw himself completely on top of the mine. In this act of unbelievable bravery, Sergeant Pierce saved the lives of all his squad, while sacrificing his own. For his actions he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He left behind a wife and three children. Sergeant Pierce represents the very best in the tradition of service and selflessness of our Armed Forces. It is fitting that we name this post office in his hometown of Taft, California, in his honor. Surely, his story can live as an example of what it truly means to be a hero. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to recognize the author of the companion bill that was dropped here in the House, the distinguished colleague of mine from California (Mr. McCarthy) for as much time as he may consume.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no further speakers, and I urge all Members to support the passage of S. 2110. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of Georgia's 3rd Congressional District, I'd like to extend my congratulations to Carol Silva, named the 2007 Harris County Citizen of the Year by the county's newspaper. Silva dedicated 20 years to serving the people of Harris County and retired recently from her post as county manager. During Silva's tenure, she provided the county with a steady and patient hand of leadership at a time of exponential population growth. Before Harris County fell in love with Carol Silva, Carol Silva and her family fell in love with Harris County. The Silvas decided to plant roots in Harris when her husband began working for the National Weather Service in neighboring Muscogee County. They bought property there 30 years ago and enrolled their children in the local elementary schools. Then, 20 years ago, she became the receptionist for the Harris County Commission. Silva's dedication and people skills quickly led to greater responsibilities. She became the county clerk and chief financial officer in 1992 and then the county manager in 1999. In addition to providing Harris with leadership, she steadfastly advocated for her employees. County Clerk Nancy McMichael worked for Silva for 15 years. Speaking of her boss, she told the Harris County Journal: ``She is honest and ethical and treated everyone with integrity and forthrightness. You always knew where you stood with her, and her door was always open for employees and citizens alike.'' Harris County Commission Chairman echoed that praise, saying that Silva put ``her heart and soul in her job.'' Madam Speaker, I would like to personally thank Carol Silva for her many years of public service. As an elected official, I know it is often the professional staff working behind the scenes who meet the day-to-day needs of Georgians. They don't do it for glory and they don't do it for riches. They do it because they care and they want to help their fellow citizens. Carol Silva's career with Harris County exemplifies the best of public service. I congratulate her on this honor and I wish her much happiness in her retirement.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Jeremy Todd Charron was a dedicated protector of both his State and country. An intense, goal-oriented young man, he aspired to be a marine since the second grade. After graduating high school, Jeremy fulfilled that dream and joined the Marine Corps, where he proudly served his country for 4 years. After his enlistment term ended, Jeremy's passion to serve his community and protect others led him to join the Epsom Police Department with the goal of ultimately becoming a State trooper. Tragically, on August 24, 2007, after attending two fellow officers' funerals, Jeremy was gunned down while questioning two suspicious individuals. Despite his fatal wounds, Jeremy fought back. He returned fire until he collapsed, forcing his killers to flee and steal a nearby truck that was identified by police and ultimately led to their capture. Leadership was a trait of Jeremy's throughout his short life, whether on the soccer field or as high school class president. He was also known as someone who would defend those who were unable to defend themselves. Jeremy Charron proved his dedication to honorably serving others, both in the military and as a law enforcement officer who ultimately sacrificed himself in order to keep his community safe. On this, the 10th anniversary of the death of Jeremy, it would be fitting to name the Hillsborough, New Hampshire, postal facility in his honor. So I join my colleague from Illinois in asking all Members to support the naming of this post office to honor this American hero.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, the city of Columbus in Georgia's 3rd Congressional District boasts a stellar health care community that enriches the well-being and quality of life for Muscogee and surrounding counties. This year, Georgia Trend magazine singled out one of those health care facilities, Hughston Orthopedic Hospital, for its Honor Roll, naming it one of the 15 best places to work in the state. Long known for its excellent patient care, Hughston's secret is now out: It also provides excellent employee care. One of the founders of the hospital summed up the organization's ethos by saying, ``It's not bricks, mortar and equipment that makes a hospital--it's people.'' Employee input helps the hospital keep its edge in providing the best possible care. Every month, the President's Council convenes to allow employees to voice suggestions or concerns directly to the CEO, Don Avery. Hughston employees receive 100 percent tuition reimbursement, flexible working schedules, day care discounts and a special HOPE fund to aid employees suffering hardships. Employees who go above and beyond the normal call of duty receive special recognition, such as the Spirit of Caring award for nurses dedicated to excellent care and the Frist Humanitarian Award for workers who engage in community service and extraordinary acts of kindness. In 1984, Dr. Jack Hughston, known as the ``father of sports medicine,'' and Dr. Thomas Frist Sr. founded the hospital. Today, the hospital famed for its sports medicine is a 100-bed orthopedic facility performing spinal surgeries and joint replacements. Madam Speaker, I want to call special attention to the special people providing visionary leadership and top-notch medical care to the patients in the Greater Columbus area. They embody the spirit of hard work and compassion that keep America great. On behalf of the 3rd Congressional District of Georgia and this House, I congratulate Hughston Orthopedic Hospital on this well- deserved recognition.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. WESTMORELAND. So this is more smoke and mirrors, is what you're saying?

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Smoke and mirrors.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. I want to thank the lady from Tennessee for her leadership in this and for her taking this late hour to come and be part of a group, the Republican Study Committee, that believes in fiscal conservatism, and are willing to stand up and fight, to be called names in this body. In fact, I think the lady and myself and others that have spoken here tonight have been called the fringe because we stand up and want to debate these issues and want to bring the truth to the American people. And to the lady from Tennessee, I just, you know, I think that we need to clarify to the people and let them understand what kind of position, not only us, but this whole House was put in today because less than 24 hours ago, at about 12:30 this morning, this bill, over 3,500 pages was filed. Now, I don't know about the rest of you, and I'm sure the gentlelady from Tennessee, but I was in the bed then, sound asleep, as I'm sure most people were. I got up this morning and got dressed and got on a plane and came to D.C., but the first time this bill was debated and just the rule on this bill was about 5:30 tonight. So put yourself in this position. Your financial officer for your company comes in and hands you a bill like this and says could you look at this and let me know if this is okay to finance this company for the rest of the year, and I need to know by about 8 o'clock tonight. Now, I think it would be impossible for them to do it. I think it would be impossible for any of us to do that. It's been impossible for us to take 3,500 pages, something that weighs over 34 pounds, and try to consolidate that into information that we can base a vote on. It's impossible. Talking about $515 billion. Now, when I was in the Georgia legislature, our State budget for 9 million people was a little over $16 billion, and I thought I realized how much $1 billion was but it was not until a friend of mine, Naomi Morgan, sent me an e-mail today, in fact, and pointed out several things to me. One billion, if 1 billion were seconds and we went back 1 billion seconds, we would be in 1959. 1959 is 1 billion seconds from right now. And when you're talking about that, we just got through passing a $515 billion bill in less than 24 hours, that's scary, isn't it? And. The other thing is 1 billion minutes, if we went back 1 billion minutes from now, Jesus would be walking the earth. Jesus would be walking the earth 1 billion minutes ago. Sometimes we lose perspective. We've been up here too long when we just throw around the word ``billion,'' but we were asked today to vote in less than 24 hours on a 3,500 page bill, weighs over 35 pounds, and contained $515 billion worth of spending. You know, that shows me that the process is broken, and when the process is broken, the product is flawed. This process has been broken. Now, we were lied to or misled. I'd hate to think that they purposely lied, but I think they misled us and the American people, the majority party, on the first day when they talked about a new open process, a new bipartisan spirit. See, I represent about 700,000 people, as every Member in this body does, and those 700,000 people want to have some type of input into the situation, and you know, unfortunately, I've not had any input in this bill. There has not been any amendments to be allowed. We could not look at all the 9,000 or so earmarks in this bill to see if they were justified, but I do want to tell the American people, because one of the things other than spending too much of their money has been illegal immigration. Now, that is a high topic, and I want the American people, and I think this is very important because every town hall meeting I have and I don't know about you, every town hall meeting I have, every teleconference I have, the hottest topic that we have is illegal immigration. Now, this should really at least let the public know the priorities that the majority party has. $10 million in this bill in that 3,500-page bill over there, $10 million of it went for emergency spending for defense attorneys for illegal immigrants. $10 million of that bill goes for defense attorneys in emergency spending for illegal immigrants; yet we did not fund our troops in Iraq one dime.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. I don't know how your constituents are going to feel about that, but when I go home and tell my constituents that we increased the IRS spending more than the normal 4 percent, or whatever it is, we have increased it double, and yet we didn't want to give any money to our troops in Iraq, they're going to be kind of mad about that. But then when I tell them they put up roadblocks about building the fence and we didn't fund our troops in Iraq, they're going to be upset about that. And then when I tell them about the $10 million in emergency spending for defense attorneys, I think they are really going to be mad about that. I hope the American people get a good grip on this.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. The funny thing is if we had corporate officers that were running their companies like that, we would have them in front of the Government Reform Committee and having a hearing on them. It's embarrassing that we are running our government the way we are running it, and yet we are having hearings about these corporate officers that are doing things in the dark of night and in smoke and mirror, phony documents that they're doing.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. You just told me something new when you were reading out those salaries in there under emergency spending. So we are paying district attorneys and judges and other people these salaries in emergency spending, but yet we are not funding our troops in Iraq. Is that what you're telling me?

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Fuzzy math.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. WESTMORELAND. I was going to say, and trust me, what you were just talking about as far as meeting these requirements, trust me, this $10.5 million that we're spending on these defense attorneys for these illegal immigrants, trust me, they're going to law you up and keep us from building that fence. And you know, now when my constituents say, Congressman, why aren't we building that fence, why aren't we securing the border, then I've got something I can tell them now. I can give them that 3,500-page bill, of course there's no telling what it would cost them to get a copy of that, 35 pounds of paper there, and say it's in this bill that we will build the fence but only under certain conditions. And I think the gentlelady from Tennessee, or anybody that's had a town hall meeting, would agree that these people do not care about the conditions. The only conditions they want is they want a fence. They want a border. They want a secure country because no country without secure borders is secure. And so that's what the American people want, not stumbling blocks and not something big enough to hide $10.5 million in for defense attorneys in emergency spending. Now, this is emergency spending for the illegal immigrants. We've got some true emergencies, but it's not in defending them. It's in allowing them to come here. So I just hope that the American people, that tonight somehow that we have made a difference or maybe had at least some eye opening with some of the information that we've given them about this bill over here that we were asked to vote on today, and I hope that they will understand that this is not an easy process. But the process is broken, and I will be honest with you, it was broken when we were in charge, but it's lost another wheel. We may have only been one wheel short when we were in charge, but trust me, both axles are broken right now, and it's just being drug along the ground. It is broken. The product is flawed. We need to start over. I would hope that the President would veto this bill. I would hope that he would veto this bill and get us back to the table so we can take some of these things back out, save the taxpayers some money. But I do appreciate, again, the leadership of the gentlelady from Tennessee and her willingness to come here this late at night and try to explain some of this to the American people so that they can have a better understanding of some of the challenges that we're faced with and some of the opportunities that the majority party is taking with smoke-and-mirror bills like we passed today. So I want to thank the gentlelady.

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Absolutely.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my personal heroes: a constituent in Fayetteville, GA, who has lived a life of exciting adventures, public service and family values. Glenn ``Tex'' Brewer will retire from the Fayetteville City Council at the end of this year after serving for 16 years, many of those years as mayor pro tem. But Brewer's civic duty in his hometown ranks as merely one of a long list of public services and great deeds. He spent most of his life serving our Nation as a career officer in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a captain. The man's career reflected the boy's dream. A 10-year-old Brewer saw a news reel about Navy deep sea divers while he was at the local theater to see ``Flash Gordon'' in 1938. When Brewer joined the Navy, however, he already had a pilot's license, so he was placed on the aviation track, where he received training in aerial and ground photography. This skill would come in handy after he graduated from the Naval Academy and switched from flight training to submarines. He soon became a highly skilled deep sea diver and an innovator in underwater photography. In fact, Brewer was the first man to dive beneath the North Pole and to take pictures of the underside of the ice block. This was part of the USS Seadragon's historic trip, the first to traverse the Arctic Ocean from Atlantic to the Pacific. The submarine traveled the Northwest Passage beneath the ice of the North Pole. The largest iceberg the crew encountered measured 1,500 feet long, 100 feet wide and 300 feet deep. Brewer's photos of the iceberg ran in Life Magazine, the New York Times and the Washington Post. The crew surfaced on the geographic North Pole and played a game of softball. A hit ball would travel through today, yesterday, and tomorrow in one play, Brewer said, adding that every view from home plate pointed south. It wasn't all good times on the North Pole, however. On another occasion, Brewer and two crew mates were accidentally stranded for 6 hours on the ice without tools, communications equipment, or sufficiently warm clothing. It was, Brewer said, a ``moment of truth'' in a potentially fatal scenario. For his work at the North Pole, Brewer received the Navy Commendation Medal; for being the first to dive at the North Pole, he was elected a member of the National Explorers Club, a distinction he called ``one of the finest awards'' he had ever won. After many distinguished years in the Navy, Brewer capped off his career with a stint in the offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he worked as chief of one of the National Military Command and Control Centers. He called the job the most rewarding of his life. For his service there, he won the Legion of Merit and then retired from the Navy in 1976. Inside the Navy and out, Brewer has always competed. During one tour of duty, Brewer raced hydro planes in the Southern California Speedboat Club in the American Power Boat Association, where he won two national championship hydro plane races. He set world records in straight-away speed and competition speed and earned a spot in the Gulf Oil Marine Racing Hall of Fame. In 1985, a hang-gliding accident left Brewer paralyzed from the waist down. The injury, however, didn't stymie his competitive spirit or work ethic. He returned to his ancestral home in Fayetteville, GA, and restored his family's antebellum farm. He also played wheelchair sports and won more than 60 medals, mostly in the National Paralyzed Veterans Wheelchair Games. For the past 16 years, Glenn ``Tex'' Brewer has served the people of his city as a member of the city council. During Brewer's tenure, he has strongly advocated restoration of Fayetteville's historic buildings, and he has championed the needs of the city's seniors and its youth. For his lifetime of service to his Nation and community, Glenn Brewer deserves the praise of this House. On behalf of Georgia's Third Congressional District, I would like to pay personal thanks to him for all of his good works and wish him health and happiness as he prepares to retire from the city council.

Mr. WESTMORELAND

Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, is it not true that if indeed this motion passed, this bill could be reported back to the two respective committees to which it is designated and that the bill could be reported back to the House on the next legislative day?