Robert Wittman

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I am privileged to rise today to honor the James Monroe Memorial Foundation and the annual James Monroe Day Program. I am pleased to recognize and honor the birth and life of our Nation's fifth president, and First District of Virginia native, James Monroe. I appreciate the invitation to share this special occasion with you. First, I want to recognize the important accomplishments of the James Monroe Foundation. Since 1928, the James Monroe Foundation has worked tirelessly to preserve the former President's great legacy. Your efforts have kept his memory alive and have allowed generations of people to learn about his many significant contributions to our Nation. I would like to thank the foundation for your hard work and for organizing this magnificent celebration. James Monroe came to the Presidency as one of the most qualified men to ever assume the office. He was the last American President of the ``Virginia Dynasty,'' and one who left such a lasting impression on American history that we gather today to recognize his life and celebrate his birth. As you know, President Monroe, one of five children to Spence Monroe and Elizabeth Jones, was born here in Westmoreland County on April 28, 1758. Monroe was raised and educated in what is now the First Congressional District of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He worked on the family farm until entering the College of William and Mary at the age of 16. Within a year, the American Revolution began and Monroe soon left college to enlist in the Continental Army. He was one of the men who crossed the Delaware with George Washington. As a politician, Monroe served in the Virginia Assembly, the Continental Congress, as Governor to the Commonwealth of Virginia, as a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State and Secretary of War to President James Madison. Ultimately, James Monroe became our fifth President of the United States. His presidency represented a key point in our history. National identity and patriotism were growing and the country's democratic institutions and capitalist economy were taking form. During Monroe's early years in the White House his administration was known as the ``Era of Good Feelings'', a time period in American political history in which partisan bitterness abated. President Monroe went on two long national tours in order to gain the trust and faith of the American people. Monroe expanded the country's borders by purchasing Florida from Spain. Yet, Monroe may be best remembered for his belief that the Americas should be free from future European colonization and interference in sovereign countries' affairs. His strong opinions and principles on foreign policy came to be known as the Monroe Doctrine. James Monroe was a loyal public servant and an exceptional statesman. He proved to be a visionary leader who helped form our Nation in its infant stages, and later helped to reconcile a deeply divided country in the aftermath of the War of 1812. President Monroe cherished the very principle of democracy, and championed the cause of a republic empowered not by privilege or birthright, but by the people. He once stated, ``In this great Nation there is but one order, that of the people, whose power, by a peculiarly happy improvement of the representative principle, is transferred from them, without impairing in the slightest degree their sovereignty, to bodies of their own creation, and to persons elected by themselves, in the full extent necessary for the purposes of free, enlightened, and efficient government''. This eloquent statement contained a very simple message that continues to ring true today. I recently introduced the James Monroe Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 4329) to honor James Monroe and the contributions he made to the Commonwealth and our Nation. This legislation would authorize the U.S. Treasury to mint coins to commemorate the bicentennial of the election of President James Monroe. In addition, the funds collected from the coin will go to the James Monroe Memorial Foundation to reconstruct the birthplace of President Monroe including farm buildings and a visitor and education center in Westmoreland County. Additional proceeds will then be used to support continuing education programs about President Monroe, the Monroe Doctrine, an online library, and collection and preservation of artifacts and historical items related to James Monroe's childhood and presidency. James Monroe was an outstanding citizen, soldier, and statesman who dedicated his life to our country. He was a good man who inspired a nation at a moment in time that begged for leadership. Jefferson said of his fellow Virginian, ``A better man cannot be.'' The citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and especially America's First District express their gratitude to James Monroe, in commemoration of the 252nd anniversary of his birthday.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my outrage about the lack of protection for health programs provided to veterans, servicemembers or their families in the health reform bill under consideration by the House of Representatives. This bill is deeply flawed. It covers TRICARE For Life but leaves out the other TRICARE programs that serve 9.2 million beneficiaries. Any health care reform legislation must explicitly protect TRICARE and all other Defense or Veterans Department health plans by including them in the definition of ``acceptable'' or ``minimum essential coverage.'' If the health care reform package under consideration today by the House of Representatives passes, millions of servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents across the Nation will be at risk of having their insurance plan being deemed ``unacceptable'' and therefore have to purchase supplemental insurance or obtain a new plan altogether. The tens of thousands of servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents in the first congressional district of Virginia have made great sacrifices for our Nation. I have long held the belief that the benefits afforded our men and women in uniform have been earned through sacrifice and hardship. The TRICARE and Veterans (VA) health care systems are unique and are designed to fulfill certain requirements that are not shared by the private sector. We must respect the unique identity and role of the military TRICARE and VA health delivery systems. Now is not the time to change either the terms under which our service members defend our country or the means by which we continue to care for those that have served. I cannot support legislation that does not uphold this Nation's commitment to our men and women in uniform, our veterans, and their families.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the American Traffic Safety Services Association upon its celebration of its 40th anniversary this past year. Headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia, ATSSA represents 1,600 member companies and individuals in the roadway safety infrastructure industry and has been the Nation's leading voice in roadway safety. Recently, ATSSA has committed to reducing American roadway fatalities from the current average of 40,000 to zero through its reauthorization policy Toward Zero Deaths. Since 2006, ATSSA has trained over 15,000 work zone workers in safety and proper setup and maintenance of work zones, helping to reduce the number of deaths for work zone workers and motorists. ATSSA members also help ensure that travel is as safe as possible. For the past 40 years, ATSSA has been improving roadway safety, raising awareness of the importance of roadway safety, and training Americans on proper roadway safety. It is my hope that they will continue those efforts for the next 40 years and beyond.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I'm hearing loud and clear from people of America's First District in Virginia that this health care bill before us will not reduce costs, will not increase access, and is full of sweetheart, backroom deals that they find highly objectionable and that now we are proposing to put this bill through without having to directly vote on the bill. That also makes them mad. Let me tell you what they're saying. Jimmy from Yorktown says, ``We are very concerned with the direction congressional leadership is taking health care reform. It is apparent Congress is not listening to the American public. We understand the need to address health care reform. However, Congress must include fiscal responsibility in any reform legislation. Congress needs to listen to the American voter and taxpayer instead of holding our views in contempt.'' There are many other people from the First District that have very similar views. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' Let's listen to the American people, listen to their concerns, and do the right thing.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I am privileged to rise today to honor the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) for their meaningful work and the imprint the organization has made on our nation. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference has a rich history and has played an important role throughout America's Civil Rights Movement. The work of the SCLC is based on the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The SCLC ensures that his dream continues to come true across the nation. In Virginia's First Congressional District, Gloucester County is home to Holly Knoll, a true American treasure. Just recently I visited Holly Knoll, which is not only the birthplace of the United Negro College Fund, but is also the site of a giant 400 year-old Oak tree where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. penned his famous ``I Have a Dream Speech.'' This groundbreaking speech was written to spark American drive and passion in order to overcome the struggle of freedom and equality for all of our nation's citizens. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) from 1957 to 1968, a precursor to the SCLC. At its first convention in Montgomery, AL in August 1957, the Southern Leadership Conference became the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The SCLC has perpetuated Dr. King's mission through their advocacy on education, leadership, voter registration, and civil rights issues. Dr. King's dream is made a reality by the great efforts of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The hope for equality for children of all races, creeds, and backgrounds is a struggle which endures and one that the SCLC addresses by their continued work and faithfulness. Dr. King challenged the nation on August 28, 1963 when he stated in his speech ``We can never be satisfied.'' He also said, ``My friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: `We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'.'' Today I am honored to recognize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the collective efforts of its leadership and volunteers to make certain Dr. King's dream is a reality across the nation and throughout the world.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, recently during my district work period, I met with officials from Matthews County Public Schools. Matthews County is representative of many of the communities in my district and around the Commonwealth that are dealing with difficult budget challenges. The Matthews County school system is projected to lose $1.2 million in the 2010-2011 budget year. For a small school district, this is a significant number. Unfortunately, in these cases, usually the only place left to trim the budget is personnel. This would mean less services and programs for children. Over the years, the Federal Government has expanded its involvement in funding and has added requirements on public education. In some cases, Federal requirements leave school districts strapped for funding. The Federal requirements and mandates are not joined with Federal assistance. In my district, I have formed an Education Advisory Council to look at these tough issues. Congress should carefully review these important programs and implement commonsense reforms to ensure that we are helping, not hurting, the education of our children. There are many counties like Matthews across Virginia's First Congressional District. We must be mindful of the impacts we have on their budgets.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Fred Ajootian. Fred Ajootian was a proud Lancaster County resident and a strong supporter of the Virginia Department of Game and Wildlife, and he honored this nation through a lifetime of service to the community. Fred was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Marguerite, and a dedicated father to their two children, Aileen and Caroline. Fred began his life of service in the United States Navy during World War II on the USS SIERRA off the coast of Shanghai, China. His passion for the Navy endured and he chose a career in shipbuilding where he continued his life's interest. As an avid outdoorsman, Fred also served on the Wetlands Board in Lancaster County where he volunteered his time for many years. Fred also was active after his retirement from shipbuilding, continuing his service through volunteering his time at the Rappahannock Pistol and Rifle Club. He also managed the Ocran Boat shop in White Stone, Virginia. Fred Ajootian will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He touched many people's lives and the work that he did for his community will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Charles Foley on the occasion of his retirement from the bench of the General District Court. Since 1986, Judge Foley has faithfully served the 20th Judicial District which includes the counties of Fauquier, Rappahannock and Loudoun in Virginia. Judge Foley was born in Richmond, Virginia and in 1968 he married Ms. Janice Foley, with whom he has two children, Page and James. Judge Foley graduated from the University of Richmond in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In 1971, Judge Foley received his Juris Doctor from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond where he was the President of Phi Delta Theta legal fraternity. From there he moved into private practice until 1974 when he was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for Fauquier County Virginia. Judge Foley served as a Commonwealth Attorney for 12 years until 1986 when he was appointed to the General District Court for the 20th Judicial District where he has served for the past 23 years. All of his life, Judge Foley has been a positive influence on his community and his profession. In addition to being a founding member of the Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia State Bar, he coached Youth baseball, basketball and soccer for 15 years. He also served as a board member, and later, as President of the Board of Directors of Fauquier Hospital, Inc. He has been a member of the American Judges Association as well as the Warrenton Fauquier Jaycees. I continue to be impressed by Judge Foley's selfless contributions to his community in an effort to enrich those lives around him. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Judge Charles Foley on his retirement from 36 years of public service.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize those men and women who give so freely to serve this great Nation, men such as Captain Sean Welch, United States Marine Corps. In November, America celebrated 234 years of having a United States Marine Corps that defends our precious freedoms at home and serves as the world's 911 force around the globe. We are fortunate to have men and women who are willing to answer the call of duty, time and again, especially in the midst of two wars. This year I had the pleasure of having one of America's finest serve in my office as a Congressional Military Fellow, Captain Sean Welch. It has been a privilege and an honor to work beside Captain Welch, who lives in Quantico, Virginia, part of Virginia's First Congressional District. As Thucydides once said, ``The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.'' Fortunately, with men like Captain Sean Welch serving in our Marine Corps, we don't have to worry about that distinction. He flawlessly balances his operational experience with a heavy intellectual rigor and enthusiasm that was clearly apparent during his year on Capitol Hill. Captain Welch serves as a role model and superb example for society and the marines he leads. So today, I thank Captain Sean Welch for his leadership, his perpetual service to our Nation, and his exceptional service this year as a Congressional Fellow on Capitol Hill.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to share with our colleagues the recent passing of John Warren Cooke, former speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. On November 28, 2009, I and many others around the Commonwealth were saddened to hear of the passing of former Speaker of the House of Delegates, John Warren Cooke. Speaker Cooke served in the House of Delegates, representing much of the Middle Peninsula from 1942-79 and was its Speaker from 1968 until his retirement. His dedication and service touched countless citizens of the Commonwealth not only through his work in the General Assembly, but also as publisher of the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal. Our thoughts and prayers are with Speaker Cooke's family as we all mourn his passing.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Murray Grey Foundation and Wreaths Across America. The Murray Grey Foundation and its Military Families Support Fund provides America's military families with emergency financial support and resources in their time of need. The Murray Grey Foundation recognizes that the sacrifices that our military servicemembers and their families continue to make are not only personal and professional but also financial. The foundation assists by providing financial assistance, education, and support to help military families avoid foreclosure or eviction from their homes and preserve their home ownership. They also provide emergency financial support, food, clothing, utility payments, transportation, rent and other critical resources. This year, the foundation partnered with Wreaths Across America, which places wreaths on the graves of veterans, to establish the Patriots Wreaths Program. I applaud the outstanding contributions of organizations like the Murray Grey Foundation and their work to honor the contributions of our Nation's veterans, servicemembers and their families.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank again Mr. Dicks from the State of Washington and his leadership and his vision especially as we progress from the Ohio-class of submarine to the next generation. He is certainly right, the Ohio-class has been an integral part of the triad of the defense of this Nation. It is critically important that we plan now for the next generation of submarine that will eventually replace the Ohio-class. And I applaud his vision, his leadership in recognizing the importance of the Ohio-class but also the efforts that make sure that we have that next class that provides for the defense of this Nation. And I'd like to thank Mr. Kissell, too, for his leadership and his recognition of the importance of the Ohio-class submarine and also the importance of the next class of the replacement for the Ohio-class for the future defense of this Nation. With that, Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield back my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share my colleagues' congratulations to the sailors of the United States Navy's Submarine Force following the completion of the 1,000th Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine deterrent patrol. This is no small feat and has been made possible only through the combined efforts of our dedicated sailors, the talented civilians employed at the Trident Refit and Weapons Facilities, the disciplined workforce of the naval reactors, and the industrial base that has delivered such reliable submarines and Trident missile systems. The ballistic missile submarine, or SSBN, is the critical third leg of our nuclear triad, and in many ways this capability is the most stealthy, delivering unparalleled firepower and near limitless endurance that poses a significant deterrent to potential aggressors armed with nuclear weapons. Likewise, our allies have relied on the shield provided by our ballistic missile submarines, which can operate unmolested in virtually any part of the world. Yet this deterrent capability comes at a significant personal cost to the Submarine Force, its crews, and their families. Since the first patrol of the USS Ohio in 1982 through today, these families have endured long periods of noncommunication with their loved ones and tense waiting for their safe return. Therefore, despite the extraordinary technological achievement and reliability epitomized by the SSBN, the true strength of the ballistic submarine lies in the extraordinarily talented and motivated sailors who have voluntarily chosen to serve in the submarine community and are among the most highly skilled, educated, and trained war fighters in the U.S. military. Today we thank and honor the crews of the ballistic missile submarines, the civilian and industrial workforces that strive to preserve the submarines' reliability and technological superiority, and the devoted families of the Submarine Force for their continued dedication and sacrifice. Finally, I would like to thank all of my colleagues who cosponsored this resolution, especially Representative Dicks of Washington for drafting this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to echo the comments of Mr. Nye from Virginia. Having visited a number of these homes, the health effects from this toxic drywall are very apparent. The sulfur there is pungent. Just in the time that I spent there, I experienced some of the same systems, runny nose, itchy eyes, irritation of the lungs, a cough; and that was just in the very short period of time of about 2 hours. I can only imagine what those families have to endure under those conditions and living in those homes. So our hearts and minds and concerns go out to them. Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission released the results of their most recent study of 51 homes. There was a lot of effort to try to get the Consumer Product Safety Commission to do a study on this toxic drywall. Their study did not find anything now that is conclusive about the health effects of drywall, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission did commit to continue the study because we all believe that just looking at 51 homes doesn't look at the full scope of this problem. This problem is in over 2,100 instances, and we know there are more across 32 States. So they've committed to work continually to identify which compounds could be causing these health problems. Their study found a strong association between the problem drywall, the hydrogen sulfide level in homes with that drywall, and corrosion in these homes. These two preliminary studies of corrosion of metal components taken from homes containing the problem drywall found copper sulfide corrosion in the initial samples tested, which supports the finding of an association between hydrogen sulfide and the corrosion. Ongoing laboratory tests continue to investigate the nexus between safety and the short- and long-term effects of such corrosion not only on the homes, but it should also be looking at the effects on individuals that inhabit those homes. Based on these studies completed to date, the interagency task force can begin a new phase by developing a protocol to identify homes with corrosive drywall and a process to address the corrosive drywall and its effects. I urge the task force to work expeditiously to complete the study phase and to release its protocols for identifying impacted homes and for remediation. This resolution will give homeowners the time they need to make decisions based on the Consumer Product Safety Commission studies and protocols for a more permanent solution to their situation.

Mr. WITTMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I'd like to thank my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Nye) for introducing this legislation to encourage financial and lending institutions to work with homeowners affected by toxic drywall. I would also like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Financial Services Committee for bringing this resolution to the floor. As of Friday, November 20, 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had received nearly 2,100 complaints from homeowners in 32 States and the District of Columbia. The Commonwealth of Virginia and particularly the Hampton Roads region has been hit hard, and many homeowners are facing significant health problems and financial ruin because of the presence of toxic drywall in their homes. The complaints to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which began sometime in 2006, include a rotten egg smell within the home; health concerns such as irritated and itchy eyes and skin; difficulty in breathing; persistent cough; runny noses; recurrent headaches, sinus infections, nose bleeds, and asthma attacks; and blackened and corroded metal components in electrical systems and air conditioning units. In October, I toured the homes of several constituents affected by the toxic drywall in the Hollymeade subdivision in Newport News and saw firsthand how toxic drywall has put the health and financial well-being of numerous families at risk. I met with these folks again last week to be updated on their current predicament. These homeowners, many of whom served or who are serving our country in the Armed Forces, cannot afford to carry a mortgage on a home that is uninhabitable and make arrangements to pay rent or pay a mortgage on a second home to keep their families safe. Many of these families are juggling the burdens of having a deployed spouse or a spouse preparing for deployment and an additional financial burden such as a move out of an impacted home, foreclosure, or loss of insurance coverage. All of these would be devastating to these families. This resolution encourages banks to allow for a temporary forbearance without penalty on payments on their home mortgages. This would give homeowners the time they need to work out a more permanent solution. My office is currently working with seven homeowners who are seeking assistance from their lenders. Again, I would like to thank my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Nye) for introducing this legislation, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Madam Speaker, in closing, I do want to thank Ranking Member Bachus. He has done a tremendous job in pushing forth this bill, along with the chairman. And I also want to thank again Mr. Ellsworth for his passion and his leadership on this issue. We all know that we dread times of storm. We've just gone through one in Virginia where, luckily, we didn't lose any lives. But we all know that when there are ways to prevent death and destruction, we ought to act in that way. Mr. Ellsworth and his leadership, seeing the need, seeing where we can save lives, stood up, assumed that leadership role and has really done, I think, a great thing for folks that have manufactured homes throughout the United States. Again, thank you for your leadership. And thank you again to Mr. Bachus, the ranking member, for his leadership on this and to the chairman for pushing this important legislation through.

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 320, CJ's Home Protection Act of 2009. I would like to thank the chairman for his assistance in expediting this important bill to the floor. And I'd like to thank my colleague and author of the legislation, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth), for putting this bill together. This bipartisan bill amends the Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 by requiring the installation of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio in all manufactured homes built or sold in the United States. These weather radios will provide immediate broadcast of severe weather warnings and civil emergency messages, including tornado and flood warnings, AMBER alerts for child abductions, and chemical spill notifications. The legislation is named in memory of CJ Martin, a 2-year-old boy who was killed during a tornado in southwest Indiana in 2005. His mother, Kathryn, helped pass a State law requiring the manufactured housing industry to install NOAA weather radios in all newly built units and spoke at the news conference in support of similar Federal legislation. Manufactured housing in this country has replaced a lot of substandard housing, and it provides very affordable housing. It is clean, and it provides an extraordinarily good home. Despite rapid advances in tornado warning technologies, residents of manufactured housing communities often do not have adequate access to proper shelter. Many residents of homes have a place to go in the event of a tornado, whether it is a basement or an interior room. That is why Congress passed the Tornado Shelters Act, which was signed into law in 2003. That bipartisan bill authorized communities using community development block grant monies to construct or improve tornado-safe shelters located in manufactured housing parks. Unfortunately, this program is not used often enough. H.R. 320 represents the final link in protecting families and residents in these communities. These weather radios will get warnings out, sometimes as much as half an hour or more before a severe storm arrives. We have the ability to build shelters. Now we are going to give residents an opportunity to hear these warnings earlier so they can take shelter from these storms. The cost of installing these radios is minimal, and this is going to save lives. It is going to save families. We will never go back and know whether CJ could have survived had this legislation been passed. We do know, though, by talking to people throughout the United States that these radios have in many, many cases already saved lives and will save lives if we install them in manufactured housing. We have a shot at significantly reducing over half of the deaths from tornadoes simply by taking the step together and passing this legislation. I again want to commend the chairman and ranking member for expeditiously moving this legislation, and I commend the Member from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth) for his thoughtfulness and his care and passion and dedication to this issue. With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 861, which recognizes the goals and ideals of National Military Family Month. And I want to commend Representative Tom Rooney of Florida for sponsoring this legislation. Twenty years ago, the week of Thanksgiving was deemed Military Family Week as part of the Great American Family Project. And in 1996, with the support of the Armed Services YMCA, Military Family Week was expanded into Military Family Month. And Military Family Month seeks to recognize the sacrifices of our military families and the things they do for our Nation each and every day. As we celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving during the month of November, it is important that we celebrate the critical role of the military family. During a time of extended conflict, it is imperative not only that we stop and take time to acknowledge the dedications and sacrifices made by our military families every day, but also that we pause to recognize the strength, commitment, and courage of the military spouse and children of our men and women serving today. Whether deployed overseas or training at home, the families of our servicemen and -women are the foundation of our military and proudly represent a keystone in a strong national defense. Even though this resolution commemorates 1 month of recognition for our military families, I believe our military families should be praised every day for their selfless service to America. I urge Members to vote in favor of this resolution and American military families. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney) for as much time as he may consume.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of House Resolution 494, which recognizes the service and sacrifices of the members of the 30th Infantry Division during World War II. And I want to commend Representative Larry Kissell of North Carolina for sponsoring this legislation, for his leadership, and for his deep passion concerning the members of the 30th Infantry. The 30th Division was a National Guard division made up of men from several States, with many initially coming from North Carolina and Tennessee. These citizen soldiers established a remarkable record in Europe during the operations from 1944 through the end of the war in May of 1945. So outstanding were their achievements that military historians of the day judged it to be the first among infantry divisions that had performed the most efficient and consistent battle service, achieving results without undue wastage of the lives of men who served in the 30th. The commitment of the men of the 30th Division to make the sacrifices necessary to finish the mission to defeat an obvious threat to freedom and the security of the world should serve as an example and inspiration to us today. The Nation provided these men the resources necessary to win the war to which they were committed. And our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have made the same commitment to this Nation today. We must heed the lessons to be learned from the 30th Division and today fully support our troops and their families with the resources necessary for them to finish the job in the wars America is fighting today. I urge every Member to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. I rise today to pay tribute to Kevin Lee Mitchem. Kevin Mitchem was a proud Mathews County resident and a fervent supporter of public education, and he was committed to lending his time and knowledge to youth in the community. Kevin was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Sara, and a dedicated father to their two children, Rachel and Daniel. As the owner of Mitchem Seafood, Kevin was a staunch supporter of watermen and the seafood industry. At the time of his passing, Kevin Mitchem was the chairman of the Mathews County Board of Supervisors, and prior to the chairmanship he served for 12 years as a board member. Additionally, he served on the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission. Kevin was deeply involved in his community and dedicated much of his time and effort to serve the residents of Mathews County. Kevin Lee Mitchem was a true friend to all who knew him and will be greatly missed. He touched many people's lives and the work that he did for his community will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Ed Eames. Ed Eames was a resident of Fresno, California and was a committed advocate for individuals with disabilities. At the age of 42, Mr. Eames lost his sight and this life-altering circumstance motivated him to strive for the improvement of services for the disabled. Ed was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Toni, who is also blind. They met when he was writing a book on guide dog schools and asked her to be a co-author. Ed and Toni co-authored two books, numerous magazine columns and articles, and even scripted the award- winning video, ``Partners in Independence''. The couple also co-taught a class on the sociology of disabilities at California State University, Fresno. Furthermore, along with their guide dogs, Latrell and Keebler, Ed and Toni traveled the world to further their joint commitment to assistance dog programs for the disabled. Mr. Eames was active in his community and was a fervent supporter of the addition of sidewalks for wheelchair ease and accessibility in the Fresno area. Mr. Ed Eames was the founder and President of the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners. He served on the Americans With Disabilities Act Advisory Committee for Fresno Area Express and was also a member and former president of the North Fresno Lions Club. On October 25, 2009 at the age of 79, Ed Eames passed away. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and the work that he did for the disabled will never be forgotten.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with you comments from my constituents in the First Congressional District of Virginia about H.R. 3962: Elizabeth from Williamsburg says, My business ends up with an 8 percent margin so an 8 percent of payroll contribution rate would be significant. Esther from Williamsburg says, Keep our government small. Bigger isn't better. Sandra from Seaford says, I want to choose my own health insurance. Beverly from Woodford says, I am happy with my health care right now and do not want to see it changed. I do not want the government involved in my health care. Diana from Yorktown says, Don't vote for a bill that would unfairly burden many generations to come. Bruce from Warrenton says, The health care legislation now pending will surely break the bank of this country in addition to destroying the finest health care system in the world. Connie from Dumfries says, I am concerned that some legislation in Congress will create a new government-run health plan that will cause me to lose my current employer coverage. I want to be sure that I can keep my current coverage, and I urge you to oppose any new government- run health insurance plan. Chester from Williamsburg says, I object to the government taking control of my private health care decision.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring the voices of my constituents in Virginia's First District to the House floor. Here are the words of some of my constituents. Elizabeth from Williamsburg said, ``Please consider small business owners when evaluating the health care proposals. My business ends up with an 8 percent profit margin, so an 8 percent of payroll contribution penalty rate would be significant.'' John from Newport News says, ``Over the 20 years I managed health care plans for corporations, managing cost increases was paramount not only for my employer, but also for my employees. I know how hard I worked at managing health care expense and have zero confidence that the government can handle the job. The bottom line is that more government involvement in our health care system is not the answer.'' Sandra from Seaford said, ``I am not in favor of a government-run health care bill. I want to choose my own health insurance. I am opposed to passing a health care bill for the sake of passing a bill. I am opposed to a health care bill that will cost trillions of dollars over the next 10 years, and I am not in favor of being penalized because I do not take part in a government health care bill.'' Mr. Speaker, they have said it better than I could.