Robert Wittman

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. I rise in support of this amendment and I would like to thank my colleagues from Virginia and Florida for offering it. This amendment will offer homeowners impacted by toxic drywall an option to apply for Small Business Administration loans to be used for the repair or replacement of toxic drywall manufactured in China. Last week, I toured the homes of several constituents affected by the toxic drywall in the Hollymeade subdivision of Newport News and saw firsthand how toxic drywall has put the health and financial well-being of numerous families at risk. I extended an invitation to President Obama to tour these impacted homes during his visit to Hampton Roads this week and I urged him to put this issue at the top of the agenda for his meetings in China next month. Of particular concern is the significant military presence in Hampton Roads and the impact on the military families who own homes where toxic drywall is present. 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, foreclosures, or loss of insurance coverage would be devastating. I recently sent a letter to the chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to urge the expeditious resolution of the commission's investigation into the scope and impact of toxic Chinese drywall. Homeowners across the Nation are waiting for the findings of the commission's investigation, which may determine their eligibility for State and Federal assistance, loan modification, insurance policy changes, tax deductions, and other programs. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, which will provide impacted homeowners with an opportunity to pursue some relief through the SBA.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, millions of Americans cannot afford or do not have access to health insurance. Since 1999, health care insurance premiums have more than doubled for most Americans. Virginians are not immune to the Nationwide trend in health care. For the last several years, health care premiums in Virginia have increased at approximately 10 percent a year, and today, more than 1.1 million Virginians are uninsured. From the hourly worker in Newport News, Virginia, who must somehow find room in his or her budget to pay for health insurance, to the small business owner in Fredericksburg, Virginia, who voluntarily chooses to provide health insurance as a benefit to his or her employees but, with the slowing economy, is finding it incredibly difficult to absorb increased health insurance costs, Virginians are struggling to find affordable health care. I've been traveling around my district, and have held dozens of meetings with constituents and with my 150-plus-member health advisory council, and thousands of e-mails are pouring into my office each week. In addition, I have also hosted multiple town hall meetings and tele- town hall meetings. What I am hearing from my constituents is that they do not want to be forced into a new government-run health care plan that will limit their choices of doctors and of medical treatment options. Equally as important is to protect our small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, from being penalized. I hope that we will take this opportunity to craft legislation across the aisle that will make health care more affordable, that will enhance access for all Americans, that will ensure patients are getting their health care, and that will guarantee that doctors and patients, not insurance companies, are making important health care decisions.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. 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 twelve 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 Matthews County. He helped coach Mathews County Little League Baseball, Youth Basketball, High School Junior Varsity Girls Basketball, and Junior Varsity Baseball. Mr. Mitchem was a strong supporter of community youth programs and he was instrumental in purchasing and renovating a facility for the senior citizens of Mathews County. Furthermore, Kevin was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Oriental #20 A.F. & A.M. of Mathews County, the Scottish Rite Temple of Newport News, and the Tidewater Shrine Club. Kevin was also an avid sports fan. He was a lifelong fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Redskins. Kevin Lee Mitchem will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He touched so 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. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3433. I introduced H.R. 3433 to provide for a simple, timely and essential change to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. Under current law, Congress appropriates money each year to be spent on projects to acquire, enhance, protect and restore wetlands in Canada, Mexico and the United States. In fact, this remarkable program, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has funded over 1,600 projects to conserve more than 20 million acres of wetlands and associated uplands across North America. This conservation has helped ensure improved waterfowl hunting across North America. Since 1989, this landmark law has required that each Federal dollar spent on a conservation project be matched by non-federal money. However, due to the irreplaceable nature of the breeding waterfowl habitat in Canada, a decision was made not to require matching funds from Canadian sources. Therefore, projects in Canada have been matched by conservation dollars from the United States. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the North American Wetlands Council has approved conservation projects in Canada worth nearly $70 million during its current 5-year funding cycle which began in 2007. Under law, this means that $70 million in private matching funds must be provided. Under my legislation, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act would be amended to allow up to 50 percent of the non-federal share of projects in Canada to be paid for by Canadian conservation supporters. My legislation will allow and encourage our Canadian conservation partners to fund a greater number of important wetland preservation projects north of the border. The authorization of appropriations for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act does not expire until September 30, 2012. We simply cannot wait to make this change because the nonmatching share imbalance will continue to grow and must be paid before the authorization expires. The language of this legislation has been fully vetted and been endorsed by all interested parties including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the member of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council which includes Ducks Unlimited, as well as the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3433.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I am privileged to rise today to honor Eggleston Services for the meaningful opportunities they provide for individuals with disabilities. Eggleston Services is a company in southeastern Virginia that has close to 600 employees, and upwards of three fourths of those employees have a disability. Many of these workers are able to work through a federal program called Ability One. Ability One encourages federal entities to work directly with agencies like Eggleston to provide valuable work at a fair price, all the while utilizing the skills of persons with disabilities. Eggleston Services is dedicated to providing a broad array of programs and services for individuals with disabilities. Since 1955 their goal has been to assist people in obtaining meaningful work opportunities, and to help them participate fully in their communities. Eggleston Services helps individuals with disabilities gain freedom from dependence on government support by providing them on-the-job training and stable work opportunities. Just recently, I had the honor to visit the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Center in Hampton, Virginia. The center is owned by the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation and managed by Eggleston Services, Inc. The center provides dynamic programs for individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities. Through its partnership with Eggleston Services, the Foundation helps persons with disabilities by providing a place to work, a place to live in a safe caring environment, and a place to learn to live independently. The profound work and programs that are available at the center help many and are invaluable. At the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Center, Eggleston Services operates a Life Enhancement Program, which provides specialized services, activities, and residential care. Eggleston Services also provides programs at the center, including Eggleston Document Destruction, a full-service secure document destruction and shredding business, a business fulfillment center, and a ceramics manufacturing facility. These remarkable programs serve as a way for people with disabilities to find independence and a sense of one's own. None of this would be possible without the Ability One Program and the dedication of Eggleston Services. Businesses can look to Eggleston Services and the Ability One program and use their successful programs as a model for their own business practices. Persons with disabilities can be key contributors in the workplace and I commend Eggleston Services in conjunction with the Ability One program and the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation for their work in providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the conference report for H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act. The members of the House Armed Services Committee are dedicated to supporting our servicemembers and their families, and as such, this bill includes an appropriate increase in military pay and improves veterans care. I am pleased to see that the bill makes progress towards strengthening our naval presence on the high seas. We must continue to develop the industrial base and promote shipbuilding to establish a floor, not a ceiling, of 313 ships in our Navy. I do, though, remain troubled by the absence of a 30-year shipbuilding plan and a 30-year military aviation plan. Without these, critical perspective is lost. The bill provides a temporary waiver for the number of carriers to dip below 11, but my reservations remain. Maintaining 11 aircraft carriers is essential to maintaining our long- term naval superiority. The strategic risk we accept in this Defense authorization bill is also of particular importance. As we consider strategic threats urgently facing our country today, it is troubling that the bill reduces missile defense funding by $1.2 billion. This bill also includes $46 million for channel dredging at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. It is fiscally irresponsible to spend money on dredging and preparing to homeport a nuclear aircraft carrier prior to the conclusion of the Quadrennial Defense Review. Unfortunately, the Senate also added a provision to expand the Federal jurisdiction over hate crimes. Proponents of this provision are using this national security bill to get this legislation to the President's desk through the back door, a tactic we have seen repeated over the last 9 months. This bill is about national security, not social legislation. To use the circumstances of our sons and daughters in harm's way to legislate on social issues is unconscionable. We should not use a bill in support of our servicemembers to promote social legislation. I urge my colleagues to continue in the future to work towards a better alternative. I would like to thank my colleagues, Ranking Member McKeon and Chairman Skelton, for their work in bringing this bill to the floor. But we can do better, and we must.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, on September 22, 2009 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 with my support. I voted for H.R. 3548, legislation that would extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks for states with unemployment rates in excess of 8.5%. Our nation is currently facing significant economic challenges, including the highest unemployment rates in over twenty years. With nearly five million Americans and 290,000 Virginians out of work, I believe extending unemployment benefits was the right thing to do. Several localities in Virginia's First Congressional District experienced unemployment above 8% this summer. However, I am disappointed that H.R. 3548 would not extend benefits in Virginia because the states unemployment rate is currently below 7%. This bill's 8% threshold needlessly overlooks struggling families in Virginia. I would like to see this measure amended to extend the same unemployment benefits to all Americans regardless of where they live. I understand that unemployment is putting significant strains on local families. That's why I recently hosted a First District Job Fair featuring state, federal, and private employers. Hundreds of First District residents attended the successful job fair and are now on their way into the workforce.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Thomas Jefferson National Acceleration Facility in Newport News, VA, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. Since its creation, the Jefferson Lab has welcomed scientists and researchers from across the globe to study the matter and forces which build and drive our universe. The Jefferson Lab is committed to educating the next generation of scientists by increasing the number of teachers who have strong backgrounds in math and science, and in doing so increase student motivation in the subjects of engineering and technology. Current Secretary of Energy and Nobel Prize winning physicist Dr. Steven Chu joined the lab in celebrating this momentous occasion. On Tuesday, September 29, Secretary Chu visited with the lab's scientists, and discussed the future of atomic research. Recently, the Jefferson Lab began an expansion of its accelerated electron beam, and I was glad to attend the groundbreaking of this project in April 2009. This project creates a collision of atoms so that scientists may study protons and neutrons at the smallest level. The work done at the Lab is known around the world as second-to-none, and this initiative, also known as the 12GeV Upgrade, will ensure the Lab's worldwide leadership position for the next twenty years. I continue to be impressed by the efforts of the men and women from the Jefferson Lab and their desire to lead the Nation and the world in research and innovation. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Thomas Jefferson National Acceleration Facility on its 25th anniversary.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank Chairman Rahall, Ranking Member Hastings, Mr. Brown and Ms. Bordallo for working with me to bring this legislation to the floor. I am honored to represent Virginia's First Congressional District. The First District includes many of the bay's major tributaries and borders much of the Chesapeake's shores. Improving the health of the bay is a priority to me and many of my constituents, and I think most Members of Congress. As Members have heard on a number of occasions, the health of the Chesapeake Bay is in trouble. While the States and Federal Government continue to fund restoration activities, the news has not been getting much better. It is time we reevaluate our efforts and determine if we can get better results from Federal and State expenditures. I offered H.R. 1053, the Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act, to address these issues and help move forward bay cleanup efforts. H.R. 1053 would implement and strengthen management techniques like crosscut budgeting and adaptive management to ensure that we get more bang for our buck and continue to make progress in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Both techniques will ensure that we're coordinating how restoration dollars are spent and making sure that everyone understands how individual projects fit into the bigger picture. That way, we're not duplicating efforts, wasting money, or working at cross purposes. H.R. 1053 would require the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with State and Federal agencies involved in the bay, to report to Congress on the status of Chesapeake Bay restoration activities. This legislation would also require the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and implement an adaptive management plan for the Chesapeake Bay and all of its restoration activities. Finally, on recommendations heard during committee hearings on this bill, we included the creation of an independent evaluator for the bay. An independent evaluator will serve to help implement adaptive management and drive success in the bay program. I believe that these are key components for the complex restoration activities necessary to truly bring the bay back to a state that we will all be pleased with. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 1053. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and with that I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Mr. Kratovil for his work, too. He is very much a partner in making sure that we restore the bay and put forth the efforts that we need to. We know that Maryland's First District and Virginia's First District are very, very similar. They have many, many resources in common; they have many needs in common. We all realize that restoring the bay is a good environmental effort, but it's also a good economic effort. We know it's an economic driver. We know the jobs that the bay creates. We know a healthy bay creates more jobs and creates a more vibrant economy, both for our seafood industry and for our tourism industry. So I appreciate his effort to partner to make sure that we get things done with the bay, and I think it's a great partnership that should stand as an example of how you can, across State lines and across party lines, work to get things done in the best interests of our natural resources. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 1771, the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education, and Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2009, which will authorize a number of programs within the Chesapeake Bay program. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1771 and strongly support the efforts of my friend, Mr. Sarbanes from Maryland. He has been a true leader on bay issues in this effort to improve and extend popular programs in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which is a tremendous advancement in the effort to preserve the bay. For example, the bill supports efforts to move forward with the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. This, the Nation's first all-water historic trail, traces John Smith's 17th- century voyages of discovery in the bay from Jamestown in my district. The bill also furthers efforts to extend NOAA's smart buoy system that provides real-world weather data and historical interpretation of points of interest along the Captain John Smith Trail. My district includes two of these high-tech buoys. One buoy is located just offshore from the site of the first permanent English settlement in the New World at Jamestown. The second buoy is located off Sting Ray Point in the Rappahannock River. This marks the site where Captain John Smith nearly died from the toxic sting of a sting ray. Mr. Speaker, these programs highlight the historical and recreational significance of the bay and are extraordinarily important to many of our constituents here in the bay watershed. And, again, I would like to thank Mr. Sarbanes for his leadership on bay issues and thank him for all of his efforts to preserve the bay. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, the minority has no additional speakers, and with that I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of this legislation offered by our Colorado colleague, Doug Lamborn. This legislation has been supported on a bipartisan basis and deserves passage today because it will help prevent a potential human safety disaster in Leadville, Colorado. The Leadville Mine Tunnel was supposed to be used for a nearby Federal water project; however, it has ended up becoming a public danger because of its potential to burst with chemical-laden water on nearby residents. Since the Federal Government owns this tunnel, it is therefore a Federal responsibility. I urge my colleagues to support this necessary legislation which fell victim to party politics earlier this year. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and with that I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, according to testimony on H.R. 905, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act, there appears to be broad local support for this expansion. In addition, the legislation does not include any new statutory prohibitions which would prohibit or restrict activities within the sanctuary. However, there have been concerns voiced on this side of the aisle about the potential increased costs of this boundary expansion that expands the current sanctuary by almost nine times its current size. While the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is entirely within the waters of the State of Michigan, concern has been raised that the cost of this expansion and any future needs will fall on the Federal Government. Not only will this increase the Federal costs for managing the resources that are entirely within State waters, but it could also have a negative effect on the other national marine sanctuaries. With that, though, Mr. Speaker, we do thank Mr. Stupak for his efforts in preserving national marine sanctuaries. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of this legislation. This bill would allow the Uintah Water Conservancy District to prepay its contractual commitment to the U.S. Treasury. This prepayment will bring much-needed funds to the Federal Treasury over a 10-year period. Unfortunately, current Federal law does not allow most water districts with Federal water contracts to prepay their balances. This is similar to prohibiting a homeowner from prepaying a mortgage loan. Congress must enact a law each time a water district wants to prepay its balance on a Bureau of Reclamation project. For this reason, Water and Power Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom McClintock has indicated that he may author general legislation to allow more water districts to prepay their contracts without congressional approval. That would mean that water districts are not saddled with longer-term debts and taxpayers will benefit. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

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

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the chairwoman has adequately described the legislation, and as my colleagues know, areas throughout the West are experiencing significant drought. Communities are faced with overcoming long-term water shortages as a result, and some communities have built water storage reservoirs while others have sought alternative water supplies through water recycling. This bill seeks to assist the bay area of California to help construct water recycling facilities.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 685 has been adequately explained by chairwoman Bordallo, and we thank her for that effort. We support the legislation with the understanding that the original intent of the bill is being preserved. The National Park Service proposed changes that would have prevented the program from focusing on the history of the movement to overcome slavery and racial discrimination and instead would have directed it to include other political causes, and we appreciate that change. We agree with the intent of the bill's sponsor, Mr. Clay, that the trail system tells the story of the struggle for civil rights based on racial equality. We thank Mr. Clay for his leadership and efforts on those lines and in bringing this bill forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman for yielding time. I rise in support of H.R. 965, the legislation to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network. I represent Virginia's First Congressional District, better known as America's First District, which is largely defined by the Chesapeake Bay. My constituents live, work and play in the bay watershed. My district includes many components of the Gateways Network, from historic Yorktown and Jamestown to George Washington's birthplace in Westmoreland County. The Gateways Network links together over 100 parks, museums, wildlife refuges, and other cultural and historic sites into a comprehensive system. The gateway program connects visitors with the natural beauty and rich history and recreational opportunities within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and I've had the privilege to travel the trail, specifically the Captain John Smith Water Trail. It is an amazing asset that we have. I've heard from many constituents that realize how valuable that is and what a great experience it brings to them to travel up and down the bay to link all the history and the resources that are there in our wonderful bay watershed. One of those recreational opportunities, as I said the network provides, is the chance to kayak or sail the Captain John Smith Water Trail. It's an amazing experience, and that traces John Smith's 17th century voyage of discovery, and you can put yourself in the place of Captain John Smith and the experience that he had when he first arrived on these shores. Again, Mr. Speaker, I offer my support of this bill and I want to commend my friend from Maryland, Mr. Sarbanes, for his effort in leadership in our efforts to focus on the bay and its restoration.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Dr. Karl E. Peace on the occasion of his 68th birthday. Dr. Peace is a distinguished scholar and academic in the field of biostatistics and mathematics. Born in southwest Georgia, Dr. Peace attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia Commonwealth University, receiving his doctorate from the Medical College of Virginia/ Virginia Commonwealth University in 1976. Dr. Peace has authored eight books, received numerous awards and contributed to a variety of publications and peer reviews in the field of biostatistics, mathematics, drug development and public health policy. He has held professorships at several colleges including Randolph-Macon College and Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Peace is currently the Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar, Founder of the Center for Biostatistics, professor of biostatistics and senior research scientist in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public at Georgia Southern University. Dr. Peace has been a member of several professional and honorary societies including the Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics, the National Research Council and the National Academy of Science. In 1994, Dr. Peace founded the Biopharmaceutical Applied Statistics Symposium to provide a forum for pharmaceutical and medical researchers and regulators to share timely and pertinent information concerning the application of biostatistics in the pharmaceutical field. Dr. Peace is the founding editor of the Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics and reviewer and editor of several additional journals including the American Statistical Association, Communications in Statistics, the Journal of the American Medical Association and the American Journal of Gastroenterology. Dr. Peace has a dedicated record of philanthropy to education. He has created twenty- one endowments at five institutions including three at his alma mater, the Medical College of Virginia and one at Randolph- Macon College. He endowed the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, the first school of public health in the U GA System. His endowments have enabled hundreds of students to complete their undergraduate or graduate degrees. Dr. Peace has generously donated time and resources to organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the Southeast Georgia Cancer Alliance and the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition that are dedicated to cancer research, treatments and cures. Madam Speaker, I am honored today to recognize Dr. Peace in celebration of his 68th birthday. I hope the year to come will bring him health, happiness and special times with family and friends.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Marguerite Johnson of Fredericksburg, Virginia, as she celebrates her 90th birthday. Mrs. Johnson has touched many lives through teaching, volunteering, and as a leader in her church. As a former teacher and principal of more than twenty-six years, Mrs. Johnson understands that a strong education is the key to success and instilled this in her students. She also demonstrated the importance of community service and citizenship, encouraging her students to volunteer and help those in need in the community. After retiring in 1984, Mrs. Johnson continued her commitment to education by volunteering as a teacher's assistant for special needs students at Tree of Life Christian Preparatory School in Fredericksburg. Mrs. Johnson was a 4-H Club and Girl Scout leader devoted to promoting the importance of citizenship, leadership and strong values. She was also a Pathfinder leader in her church. As a Master Guide, the highest ranking position in Pathfinders, Mrs. Johnson promoted youth leadership, encouraged community involvement, planned outreach activities and taught camping, survival training skills, nature and conservation classes. Mrs. Johnson enjoys the outdoors and being surrounded by nature. She has traveled extensively throughout the country camping and hiking in many of our national parks including Pike National Forest, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Redwood National Park, and the Grand Canyon National Park. Mrs. Johnson also enjoys the Shenandoah National Park where she recently celebrated her 90th birthday surrounded by family and friends. Mrs. Johnson has touched many lives in her lifetime. She truly loves her family and has an unwavering faith in God. Her generosity has encouraged and strengthened the faith and lives of family, friends and members of her church and local community. Madam Speaker, I am honored today to recognize Mrs. Johnson in celebration of her 90th birthday. I hope the years to come will bring her health, happiness and special times with family and friends.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010. Project Name: Aerospace Laser Micro Engineering Station Amount: $1,000,000 Requested By: Robert J. Wittman (VA-01) Account: Research and Development, Air Force (RDTE, AF) Intended Recipient of Funds: Jefferson Laboratory, 12000 Jefferson Ave. Newport News, VA 23606 Project description and explanation of the request: In September, 2001, the JLAB, with the Aerospace Corporation, initiated a joint project with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to expand the FEL capabilities to provide a microfabrication processing tool to produce miniature satellite components. Microfabrication of ceramics and glass is a high-potential JLab FEL application. The ability to create intricate microstructures in or on glass materials is considered a necessary value-added component in the development of advanced photonics and certain microinstruments. Microstructure patterns can be used to guide light, serve as frequency selectors, control fluidic flow or enable the extraction of specific cells to capture genetic material. The Aerospace Corporation is exploring the potential of microfabricating a class of glass materials called photocerams using ultraviolet laser processing. This technology promises a more precise, less expensive way of creating intricate glass microstructures with the goal of fabricating picosatellites weighing less than 1 kilogram for the Air Force. The JLab FEL ultraviolet capabilities will allow for the mass production-rate throughput necessary for industry. Because of the compelling need for the Air Force to develop new materials and metal alloys for aerospace applications, the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is requesting $3 million from the FY10 DOD Appropriations for the final commission and demonstration of the required accuracy and reproducibility for satellite production of the Aerospace Laser Micro Engineering Station (LMES). The LMES will make mass-producible satellites possible using 10 hours with the JLab UV FEL as compared to 270 hours using a conventional UV laser, making it possible to address new and unique missions not accessible using conventional satellite technology. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.