Robert Wittman

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, is comprised of 15,000 acres along 15 miles of shoreline. This bill authorizes the Secretary of Interior to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Porter County Commission to lease space for the use of a visitor center. It also permits the Secretary to accept donations of lands that are located along the borders of the lakeshore but are separated by a right-of-way. And today, as we are dealing with this particular unit of the National Park Service, I think it's fitting to remember that our constituents are dealing with high gasoline prices that are cutting into family vacations this summer, making it increasingly costly to visit our national parks. Over the Independence Day work period back in my district, I spoke with a number of constituents who are still frustrated about high gasoline prices and also are frustrated with what they perceive as Congress' failure to do anything to adopt a comprehensive energy policy. This Congress needs to take action to put all of our available resources and technologies on the table, including increase American- made energy, conservation and efficiency to bring relief at the pumps. I thought the best story that I heard was a lady that came to me and I asked her, I said, what do you think we ought to be doing about this energy issue that we're dealing with? And she said, Mr. Wittman, do you remember the movie Apollo 13? And I said, yes, I did. And she said, do you remember the scene there where the oxygen tank on the outside of the service capsule blew up and the engineers there had to figure out how they were going to get those astronauts back to Earth? So they moved the astronauts into the command module, but the problem with the command module is it didn't have enough capacity to take CO2 out of the air, so eventually the astronauts would be asphyxiated if they didn't come up with a solution to that problem and still have enough oxygen to propel the spaceship back to Earth. So what did they do? They sent the engineers to the duplicate capsule they had there at Mission Control in Houston. And they sent them in there and they said take everything out of there that's available to these astronauts and put it in a box. So those engineers put those materials in a box and they brought it downstairs to Mission Control and they laid those pieces out on the table. And they told those engineers, solve the problem, make sure we get those astronauts back here. Come up with a CO2 scrubber that gets that CO2 out of the air so those astronauts can survive and get back to Earth. And lo and behold, those engineers did just that. But they weren't crippled by saying, well, you can only use this in the box and that in the box. They were there to use everything. Folks, if we're going to be successful in this effort for our comprehensive energy policy, we need to make sure that we use everything. And that includes looking at the energy that we have available here in the United States, being aggressive with conservation, being aggressive in developing alternative and renewable sources here. And this country has shown to have the engineering and ability and the willingness to get to work on these tough issues and to solve them. Our history has been wrought with just those efforts to make sure that we solve these problems. The American people are looking at us now to make sure that we solve this problem. And they don't want us to take anything out of that Apollo 13 box to solve this problem. They expect us to put everything there and to make sure that we come up with a solution to this, and I believe that this country can do that. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

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

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland).

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun).

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, Preserve America has been an administration initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve cultural and natural heritage. Preserve America communities in Virginia's First Congressional District include Prince William County, Spotsylvania County, and Williamsburg, Virginia. The Save America's Treasures Program provides grants preserving certain historic sites and collections including Kenmore Mansion in Fredericksburg and the restoration of the original military campaign tents used by George Washington that are now currently on display at the Colonial National Historic Park in Yorktown, Virginia. I would like to acknowledge the positive contributions that have been made to responsible preservation, particularly by Mr. Turner of Ohio who has long promoted property rights as a key component of these programs. Mr. Turner's contribution to this legislation has brought us to where we are today by ensuring the constitutional rights of private property owners while promoting historic and cultural preservation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5741, the Shark Conservation Act of 2008. The United States is a leader in international efforts to manage and conserve shark species, and the United States currently has a shark finning ban in place and guidelines under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to rebuild overfished shark populations. I would like to take a moment to recognize the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in my district for their leading shark research. As a member of the National Shark Research Consortium, researchers at Virginia Institute of Marine Science have been monitoring shark populations in the mid-Atlantic since 1973. This long-term data set represents the longest running shark monitoring program in the world. This important research has contributed to the body of knowledge about sharks while providing important data for policymakers to better manage and conserve shark species. H.R. 5741 is necessary because of a mistake in a court ruling opening a loophole in the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000. The ruling allowed fishermen to transfer shark fins at sea to transshipment vessels. This is clearly a violation of that Act, and this bill closes that loophole. While supporting the bill, some Members do remain concerned that this broad legislation may be viewed as short-circuiting the ability of interested parties to comment on the proposal through the normal Regional Fishery Management Council rulemaking process. In addition, this bill may have unintended consequences for at least one State's shark fishery landing law. While I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 5741, these concerns require continued attention as this legislation moves forward in the Senate.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing our country today, and that is high gas prices. Soaring energy and gas prices are burdening American families and American businesses. We can encourage greater energy efficiency and offer some relief to families and businesses by offering conservation tax incentives. And we should make home energy efficiency upgrades tax deductible. At a time when families are choosing between buying gas and buying food, we should make it easier for American families. Congress should provide incentives for home builders and homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient. Having more energy efficient homes will help families by leaving them with more money in their wallet to pay their bills. This is also good for the environment, and also reduces our dependence on foreign oil. In addition to helping families, we should also offer investment expensing for industrial and commercial building efficiency upgrades. Helping businesses afford to be more energy efficient will help businesses afford to keep their workers employed. Families cannot afford to wait any longer for relief at the pump. We need to start today to encourage greater energy efficiency by offering these tax incentives by helping families and businesses to save money and reduce their dependence on foreign oil.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as I drove around the district today, I got to speak to a number of folks, in fact, even over the weekend; and the number one issue on their mind is our energy policy in this Nation. And they asked me, Rob, what are we going to do about fuel prices? What are we going to do about making sure that we have the long-term interests of this country at heart when we develop this energy policy? You know, I get to experience that every day. I'm privileged to live close enough to the Capitol here where I commute back and forth every day. I live in a little town that's about 80 miles from here, and I drive that every day. So I get to know what the cost of gas is, and I can really relate to folks back in the district when they ask me, What are we going to do about making sure that we have a good, comprehensive energy policy and making sure that we address fuel prices. For me, it is about an 80-mile commute, and it is very similar to other folks who live back in the district, whether they live in the upper part of the district in the Fredericksburg area or down in Hampton Roads. Many of them commute day after day. They have to deal with the cost of commuting to get to their work. And they also have to deal with that as they commute to take their families, whether it's to school or whether it's to after-school activities for their children. It's really putting a crimp in their budgets, and they are very, very concerned. As I drive through the district, I get to see the price of gas each day, and it ranges anywhere from $4.10 a gallon up in the Washington metro area down to $3.83 a gallon down in the Tappahannock area. So I know the range of fuel prices in the district, know where the best places are to buy fuel. But it's still extraordinarily expensive for people. And that really makes it difficult on them. It really puts a crimp in their budgets. It creates challenges for them, and it creates hardships for them. And that's something that they say, Why isn't Congress acting? Why aren't you coming up with a solution for these real problems that we have to deal with day in and day out? And it's frustrating for them. They watch a Congress that really kind of stumbles and doesn't do anything. And I can understand their frustration and understand why they are frustrated with us. You know, I would like to relate a couple of different stories. Earlier in the district, I spoke with some folks in the Fredericksburg area, the Sherman family, and they run a small business, and they rely on diesel trucks in their business. And they said, Rob, we bought diesel trucks for a specific reason. We bought them because of the hauling that we have to do, and diesels are more economical as far as hauling and heavy work. And diesel fuel, when they first bought those vehicles, was less than gasoline. And now we know today diesel is significantly more expensive than gasoline, and they're frustrated. They said, We made that decision. We made that decision based on good business sense, and now today their business is being affected by that. In fact, they're having to park their trucks, and it's cutting into their business. So not only is it costing them more to operate, but they also have to make up for that by parking trucks, which reduces the amount of business that they're able to do and affects their bottom line. So not only are they in a situation of having to deal with higher fuel prices, but their margins get pressed, and they do less business because of these higher fuel prices. And they said, Rob, we can't stand that for very long. This really is going to affect what they're able to do. So we don't have businesses that are growing. We have businesses that are retracting, and they're asking me, Rob, what are you going to do? Why isn't the Congress coming up with a sensible energy policy? And why isn't there a sense of urgency? You know, folks are saying, look, this is something that affects us day in and day out. We want to feel like Congress has a sense of urgency and is going to Washington to get things done. And they don't want us to sit by idle. They are tired of words. They want action, and I can't blame them. You know, we have the opportunity to work together to develop a comprehensive energy policy that provides relief to consumers for these high gas and diesel fuel prices and also addresses the issue of our reliance on foreign oil. A lady today told me she had a great analogy, and I think it's perfect. She said, Rob, did you ever see the movie ``Apollo 13?'' And I said, yes, I did. She reminded me of a scene there where, as the command module and the service module were going to the moon, there was an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks there, and it damaged the primary oxygen tank, which was there to fuel the rocket to send it to the moon. So, obviously, they cut that trip short. But then all the members of the crew, the three members had to move to the command module, and the command module wasn't designed for them to stay in there. You know, those command modules had scrubbers to take out carbon dioxide, these lithium oxide scrubbers, and they weren't designed to keep folks alive for 4 days. So what happened? They called back to mission control, and the folks in mission control went to the engineers, and they went together and they put together all the pieces of equipment that they had on board in both the service and command modules, and they put it in a box and they took it in the room with the engineers, and they dumped those items on the table, and they said, come up with a solution to the problem. And they gave them a very specific time limit because obviously their oxygen was going to run out. And those engineers took that time and they came up with an idea, and they solved that problem which assured that those astronauts got back to Earth alive. That's the same sort of spirit of ingenuity to solve problems that we need to bear with this energy problem. We can do it. We've seen that. We've seen that American ingenuity come to light. We've seen it solve problems, and we know with this particular situation we can put together a comprehensive energy policy that includes everything. We need to put everything in that box, just like those Apollo engineers did, and put it on the table and say let's develop a comprehensive energy policy for this country. And again, it has to include everything. We have to make sure that we look at domestic sources of energy, again to create energy independence, and looking at our refining capacity to make sure that meets our future needs. You know, we have vast resources here of energy. We need to make sure that we bring those things to the table, whether it's oil shale out west, oil sands, oil and natural gas in the Outer Continental Shelf. And we can do those things, and we can do those things in an environmentally sound manner. We have the technology to do that to make sure that we don't harm the environment, at the same time creating energy independence for this country. And we do have that ability. Whether it's in ANWR, whether it's offshore, or oil sands, or oil shales, we need to be doing that. You know, we haven't constructed a refinery in this country in over 30 years. We need to do that. We have the ability to do that. We have the ability to create and build environmentally sensitive refineries and develop our energy here in environmentally sensitive ways. You know, at the same time, it's critical that we encourage the development of clean energy sources, again, all different parts of the puzzle, and we need to bring those pieces together. We need to look at clean energy sources like wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal power. The technology is there. The technology is really developing at this particular point. We need to make sure that we enhance that, that we encourage that. You know, environmentally friendly power production needs to be part of our portfolio, too, in addition to conservation. You know, I think we all agree that development of our domestic sources has to be part of the puzzle, but we can't take that off the table. It has to be part of what we do in this suite of available resources that we have to solve our energy problems here and to come up with a comprehensive energy policy. You know, it's that energy policy that's going to determine the health of our economy in years to come. We have to conserve. We have to look at alternative and renewable sources of energy. We have to look at the existing sources that we have here. We have to look at nuclear power. We have to look at every available means to make sure that this country can meet its energy needs and to create energy independence. You know, we have to really ramp up the effort for research and development, not only of these resources, but of conservation and of other sources of energy. And we have to do that aggressively, in addition to aggressively pursuing the sources of energy that we have already. And we can incentivize conservation, and we can make sure that we encourage the use of more energy efficient equipment, in addition to developing our domestic sources. So, again, we have to look at an across-the-board comprehensive energy policy and realize that there's no silver bullet for increasing gas prices. You can't just say we're going to do one thing and that's going to create a solution to this problem. We have to, just as the Apollo 13 engineers did, put everything on the table, put everything in that box, and then put that on the table for us to solve these issues. But the American people are looking for Congress to take clear-cut action to try to solve this problem, and they expect us to work to come up with that policy. They expect us to hear them, to literally feel their pain, and to make sure that we get things done here. They want to make sure that we're investing in these clean sources, in addition to investing and making sure that we develop the sources that we have here in our continental United States. And you know, we should not cut off resources within our borders. I mean, we have that available. We don't see other countries throughout the world saying, well, we have these resources and we're not going to use them. And you know, we're in a world economy where we're competing against those other nations, and those other nations are buying energy abroad. They're developing their own sources. If we are going to compete with those economies, we cannot neglect the resources that we have here. We have to make sure that we have those resources available for us just to be able to compete. I know there's some folks that say, well, you know, that's not going to come on line for 2, 3, 4, 15, 20 years down the road. Well, we need to do this now because it does have an effect on price. We all talk about speculation in the market, and speculation is based on the expected supply, and if the expected supply goes up because the United States develops its own sources, that will have an effect on prices, in addition to the effect on prices that conservation and other alternative sources will have. So we can multiply that effect if we make sure that we don't take anything off the table in developing this energy policy. And you know, as I said, I know that we as Members of Congress have an obligation to act, and the American people demand that we act, and they demand that we take a comprehensive look at what we do to address these energy needs, and we come up with a comprehensive energy policy. You know, we had the opportunity years ago when we went through an energy crisis to develop a policy, and we didn't. Now, we have a renewed opportunity to do that and do what's best for the American people. They demand it. They tell me every day the things that I need to be doing as a Congress Member, and they say, look, you and your colleagues need to be doing that across the board. So I think we need to make sure that we're cognizant of what the demand is and what the requirement is from the American public on what we should be doing here, and that's a comprehensive energy policy that includes everything. Again, we need to take that Apollo 13 box, dump it out there, and say let's have at it, let's create a comprehensive energy policy that ensures the long-term economic viability of this country. I can tell you, we can no longer afford to wait, and my constituents demand that as well of every other Member of Congress. Now is the time to create a comprehensive energy policy, taking all the tools that we have.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the significant contributions of Thomas Jefferson to the religious heritage of this great Nation. Thomas Jefferson stated in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1779 that ``No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.'' Our Founding Fathers conquered tremendous obstacles to establish our esteemed United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The adoption of these documents as laws of the land brought forth the certainty that we would live in a Nation where our natural rights as citizens are defended with all our might. Thomas Jefferson, the second President of the United States, and one of our Nation's Founding Fathers, understood the need for protecting our natural rights. All of these rights were important to him, but none meant more than the freedom of religion. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was written in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The statute declares that compulsory religion is wrong, that no religion should be enforced on an individual, and that the freedom of religion is a natural right. As a Virginian, I am indebted to the Commonwealth and the General Assembly for the adoption in 1786 of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. The statute's doctrine and principles have inspired individuals beyond the Commonwealth and across the Nation. Thomas Jefferson requested that three of his greatest accomplishments be listed on his epitaph. Freedom of religion was so important to him that the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was listed along with the founding of the University of Virginia and the writing of the United States Declaration of Independence as his greatest lifetime achievements. The statute ultimately facilitated the path to complete religious freedom in the United States and was eventually included in the first amendment to our Constitution. Jefferson believed and argued that the concept of enforced religion is entirely erroneous, and he fought to uphold any measure that would contradict his belief in religious freedom. Throughout the years since Jefferson, our Nation has undergone tremendous internal and external turmoil, and it has gone through some significant transition. Yet, the right of religious freedom has stood tried and true. I am privileged to join my colleagues from Virginia, Representative Forbes, and 83 other cosponsors in signing my name on House Resolution 888, legislation which will continue to preserve and affirm our natural rights that were set forth by our Nation's Founding Fathers. I am honored to live in such a Nation where I can openly profess my faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to share with others Christ's word, as well as the impact His words have on my life. Jefferson once stated, ``From the dissensions among Sects themselves arise necessarily a right of choosing and necessity of deliberating to which we will conform. But if we choose for ourselves, we must allow others to choose also, and so reciprocally, this establishes religious liberty.'' I am truly grateful to Thomas Jefferson, a Virginian, a true patriot, a Founding Father, and above all else, a leader whose vision has stood the test of time and a man who stood so resolutely for religious freedom in our Nation.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. I'd like to thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) for yielding time to me on this important issue. I rise in support of H.R. 5540, legislation to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network. I represent Virginia's First Congressional District, which is largely defined by the Chesapeake Bay. My constituents live, work, and play in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. My district also includes many components of the Gateways Network, including historic Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, historic Jamestown, all the way to Washington's birthplace in Westmoreland County. This is a fantastic effort here that, as you have heard, was spawned by lots of great ideas and leaders in the past, and one of those that was part of this effort was the late Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis. She did a tremendous amount of work to put together the ideas to help in creating this network. She had a passion for the Chesapeake Bay and all the assets that are there in the Chesapeake Bay and passion to make sure people knew about those so they could appreciate the bay, they could appreciate the culture that it brings to our region, that folks could appreciate the natural resources there, and that they could understand how all of those parts are interrelated to understand the importance of the bay to our region. The Gateways Network links together over 100 parks, museums, wildlife refuges, and other cultural and historic sites into a comprehensive system so that people can understand it and so that they realize the parts of the things that make the Chesapeake Bay important. This Gateways program connects visitors with the natural beauty, rich history, and the recreational opportunities there within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. That's extraordinarily important so that folks can make the effort to understand the bay and be part of the effort to preserve and protect the bay. Mr. Speaker, as you know, my constituents, like everybody else, are dealing with the cost of rising prices for gasoline. These increasing cost are impacting their budgets and cutting into their planned summer vacations. I am strongly in support of this bill. But I do join Mr. Bishop and many of my colleagues to call on Congress to take action on a comprehensive plan to rein in gas prices. We should take a number of steps to promote American-made energy. We need to encourage next-generation technologies, we need to promote conservation, we need to look at bridging from the present and the use of fossil fuels to the future. But, let's face it folks, fossil fuels is going to be part of that bridge to the future. So we need to make sure that we have them available for us to get to this next generation of energy. We need to make sure that we, as part of that, look at our dependence on foreign oil, while keeping in mind the environment that we must protect in all parts of that puzzle in creating a comprehensive energy policy. Unfortunately, unless gas prices come down soon, I am concerned that families that may want to come to the Chesapeake Bay and enjoy the Chesapeake Bay watershed and enjoy the Chesapeake Bay network may not have the opportunity to do so. That means it's incumbent upon us to put together a responsible, comprehensive energy policy the make sure that folks can indeed enjoy the Chesapeake Bay, enjoy the network that this program provides so they can understand the importance of the different cultural and environmental and economic aspects of the Chesapeake Bay. So let's not miss this opportunity as we work to extend this particular network system to make sure that we also use this as a conduit to talk about energy policy, energy issues that are important to this Nation and to the Chesapeake Bay. Let's face it, the bay these days is being affected by the impact of man, and energy is part of that. So let's make sure that across the board we address these particular issues and make sure that we provide some relief to our hardworking American families that are dealing with these high energy prices. Again, it needs to be a long-term energy solution to make sure that we are able to address this in a way that is important for our future.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I submit the following: Vehicle Paint Facility, Fort Eustis. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert J. Wittman. Bill Number: HR 5658. Account: U.S. Department of the Army, Military Construction. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Newport News. Address of Requesting Entity: 2400 Washington Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607. Description of Request: Provide $4.076 million to construct a Vehicle Paint Facility at Fort Eustis with paint booths to accommodate the preparation and painting of vehicles, equipment, components, helicopters, and modular causeway sections. This project is required to support the preparation for and painting of approximately 1600 pieces of vehicular equipment. Most of this equipment belongs to the 7th Sustainment Brigade, which is one of the Army's most frequently deployed units. If this project is not provided, Fort Eustis will incur negative mission impacts and will not meet Virginia Environmental Quality requirements. Current painting operations will have an elevated cost because existing facilities cannot accommodate oversized equipment. The facility is critical to rapidly prepare equipment for deploying units in conjunction with time phased deployment schedules. In addition, the Deputy Secretary of the Army (Installations and Housing) certifies that this project has been considered for joint use potential. The estimated contract cost is approximately $3.0 million with an estimated contingency percent of 5 percent, supervision, inspection and overhead costs at an estimated 5.7 percent, design/build design costs at an estimated 4 percent and additional expenses for installed equipment. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the U.S. Department of the Army, Military Construction account and the Department of the Army is the recipient of these funds. There is no matching requirement. FEL Capabilities for Aerospace Microfabrication. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert J. Wittman. Bill Number: H.R. 5658. Account: U.S. Department of the Air Force, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Jefferson Science Associates on behalf of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. Address of Requesting Entity: 12000 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23606. Description of Request: Provide $1.4 million for the expansion of the Free-Electron Laser program at Jefferson Laboratory through the USAF RDT&E Account. The FEL has delivered world-record levels of infrared light for development of defense, science and industrial applications. This joint project of the Aerospace Corporation and the Jefferson Lab in support of the Air Force Research Lab has demonstrated the use of kilowatt levels of ultraviolet light useful as a microfabrication processing tool to produce miniature satellite components. The completion of the ultraviolet processing capability will enable microfabrication techniques for production of miniature satellites at substantially lower cost and processing time than what is achievable with current technology. $11 million was appropriated for the UV FEL project in the FY 2001-FY 2004 period, as well as an additional $1.6 million appropriation in FY 2008, which has allowed the hardware to be 90% completed. The FY 2009 request of $1.4 million is needed to complete and commission this project. There is no matching requirement, This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the U.S. Department of the Air Force, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation account. Marine Corps Base Quantico OCS Headquarters Facility. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert J. Wittman. Bill Number: H.R. 5658. Account: U.S. Department of the Navy, Military Construction. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Member initiated request. Address of Requesting Entity: N/A. Description of Request: Provide $6.53 million for construction of the Marine Corps Base Quantico OCS Headquarters Facility located at Quantico, Virginia. The funding would be used to construct a single- story administrative headquarters building to consolidate Headquarters functions at Officer Candidate School (OCS). The facility will provide workspaces for 75 Marines responsible for coordinating the administrative, educational, operational and logistics support required to conduct Officer Candidate training at OCS. The existing facility was built in 1945 and will be demolished once new construction is complete. Preventive and corrective maintenance, both routine and emergency, take place on a daily basis at the existing facility, consuming material, money and manpower. This project is listed on the USMC FY09 Unfunded Programs List. The entity to receive funding for this project is the United States Navy. The estimated contract cost for the 13,250 square foot facility is approximately $4 million with an estimated contingency percent of 5%, supervision, inspection and overhead costs at an estimated 5.7%, design/build design costs at an estimated 4% and additional expenses for installed equipment. The funds will be used for the OCS headquarters construction, technical operating manuals, information systems, anti-terrorism force protection, and supporting facilities (construction features, electrical, mechanical, paving and site improvements, demolition and environmental mitigation.) There is no matching requirement. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the U.S. Department of the Navy Military Construction account. Electromagnetic Railgun Program: Directed Energy and Electric Weapon Systems. Requesting Member: Congressman Robert J. Wittman. Bill Number: H.R. 5658. Account: U.S. Department of the Navy, Research and Development. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Fredericksburg Regional Military Affairs Council. Address of Requesting Entity: 2300 Fall Hill Ave., Suite 240, P.O. Box 7476, Fredericksburg, VA 22404. Description of Request: Directed energy and electric weapons systems and a laser weapons system are top research and development priorities on the Navy's FY09 Unfunded Program List. The laser weapons system is under development as a rapid prototype to serve as an adjunct laser weapon for the Navy's Close-In-Weapon System to counter rockets, artillery, mortar and unmanned aerial vehicles for ship and expeditionary base defense. The $5 million requested for FY09 would accelerate development of this program by two years. The Navy's Joint Vision 2020 outlined an objective to develop directed energy weapons that provide unique capability against emerging asymmetric threats. Directed energy and laser weapon systems research and development, including high power free electron and high brightness electron laser technology, is consistent with this objective. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the U.S. Department of the Navy Research and Development account. 'there is no matching requirement. Detailed finance plan below. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Activity/ Effort Company Amount Percent ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Financial Admin, NAVSEA NAVSEA......... 250,000 5.0 support, SBIR, etc. Program Management and SMEs.. PMS405......... 250,000 5.0 LASER WEAPONS SYSTEM (LAWS).. NSWCDD......... 175,000 3.5 Program management BTPS........... 75,000 1.5 support. Beam Director............ NSWCDD......... 550,000 11.0 Optics analysis...... PSU-EOC........ 200,000 4.0 Track systems............ NSWCDD......... 200,000 4.0 Sensor and mount L3/BR.......... 100,000 2.0 interface. System Integration....... NSWCDD......... 400,000 8.0 Technical support.... EG&G........... 100,000 2.0 Testing/Validation....... NSWCDD......... 300,000 6.0 Setup and data PSU-EOC........ 200,000 4.0 analysis. Demonstration............ NSWCDD......... 500,000 10.0 Technical support.... EG&G........... 200,000 4.0 PROJECT GUILLOTINE........... NSWCDD......... 375,000 7.5 Program management BTPS........... 125,000 2.5 support. Target development....... ENV............ 250,000 5.0 Field testing Dahlgren... BTPS........... 200,000 4.0 Field testing Yuma....... ENV............ 400,000 8.0 Data Analysis............ BAH............ 150,000 3.0

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Our military should be able to meet its operational requirements at all priority levels, and I request your support on these important aspects of this bill.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, and I would like to thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member Hunter for their extraordinary leadership and their bipartisan manner in which this bill was crafted, and also would like to recognize Ranking Member Hunter's extraordinary legacy of leadership as he leaves us as his duty on this committee expires. I would like to take a moment to highlight some of the important aspects of this bill. Nothing is more vital to our Nation's forward presence and security than the aircraft carrier, and it remains unacceptable to allow the total number of aircraft carriers to diminish. Maintaining the statutory requirement of 11 aircraft carriers is essential to maintaining our superiority on the high seas, and 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 urge support for this important aspect of this bill. I would also like to take a moment to discuss the importance of directed energy and electromagnetic weapons systems, a top priority of the Chief of Naval Operations' unfunded priority list. Increased funding for this research, development, testing, and evaluation will accelerate the installation and deployment of critical ship self- defense improvements. The weapons systems we are developing through this directed energy program will counter rockets, artillery, mortar, and unmanned aerial vehicles for ship and expeditionary base defense, and will ensure the safety of our fighting men and women. Such funding promotes Navy objectives, and the development of directed energy weapons will provide unique capability against emerging asymmetric threats, thereby increasing our Nation's effectiveness on the global war on terror. Lastly, I would like to discuss the importance of basing our defense budget on 4 percent of GDP, and I hope that we are able to address this in the future as that is one important part of this bill that is lacking. I would also like to talk about the importance of submarines in our national defense. Assessing the feasibility and cost of actions to maximize the service life and number of Los Angeles class submarines and assessing the attack submarine force structure requirement in the 2009 Quadrennial Defense Review and basing such an assessment on combatant commander requirements are important aspects of this bill. Submarines have been a central component of our naval forces for over a century, and today the submarine helps our Navy conduct numerous operations around the world. Our national defense demands that we have a strong and capable naval fleet, and we must maximize the use of the very capable Los Angeles class submarine and base our force structure on what commanders in the field and on the seas need to accomplish their diverse joint missions. We must keep our number of submarines high, and this aspect of the bill would be a positive step in strengthening our Nation's fighting forces. I am honored to do my role in supporting the men, women, and equipment of our Nation's military.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise in strong support of this resolution recognizing the courage and sacrifice of American military personnel held prisoner during the Vietnam conflict, and I would like to thank those folks for their extraordinary bravery, their valor, and their commitment to our Nation. We will be eternally grateful for their sacrifice. I would also like to highlight the courage and the sacrifice of our own Representative Sam Johnson of Texas who was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for 7 years. In the midst of our Nation's war against global terrorism, it's especially fitting that we now take the time to remember and honor our prisoners of war from the Vietnam conflict. Not all of those who were captured returned to freedom in what was called Operation Homecoming some 35 years ago. Those events, watched by millions of Americans, helped focus the Nation on the ordeal endured by those proud warriors, the prisoners of war, who were routinely subject to brutal mistreatment including beatings, torture, starvation, and the denial of medical attention and outside information. Since the return of these Vietnam-era prisoners of war, America has learned much more about how remarkably special, smart, and strong these men were. The stories of their courage, heroism, endurance, and exemplary service inspires us all, and we must never forget their sacrifices. One of those remarkable heroes who came home 35 years ago is our own Sam Johnson of Texas. Shot down in 1966, he was a prisoner of war for 7 years. Labeled by the enemy as a die-hard resister, he suffered tremendously and spent more than half his time in solitary confinement. That same indomitable spirit and commitment to serve our Nation continues today where he is an inspiration to all of us. Mr. Speaker, it is only right that we take time to honor men like Sam Johnson and the other prisoners of war from the Vietnam conflict, and I urge all Americans to do so, not forgetting that more than 1,700 American military personnel remain unaccounted for today.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

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

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 32, honoring the 19 members of the United States Air Force who were killed, and more than 500 other Americans injured in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, by a terrorist truck bomb in June, 1996. I want to commend my colleague on the House Armed Services Committee, Representative Jeff Miller of Florida, for sponsoring this resolution. This is the fourth time that the House of Representatives has honored on this floor the sacrifice of those who died or were injured that day. Previous resolutions were passed in 1996, 2001 and 2005. I note these milestones because they should remind us of important facts. One fact is that the global war on terrorism did not begin on September 11, 2001. It was well before that date that terrorists set out to kill and injure Americans on a large scale. We must never forget, and must be ever vigilant today against the continuing commitment of terrorists to seriously damage America and its interests whenever and wherever they can. Another fact is that the 19 Air Force personnel who died at Khobar Towers in June, 1996, were defending our freedom and the national security interests of the United States. The resolution today honors them for that sacrifice. The resolution also serves as a way to extend our continued sympathy to their families. So, Mr. Speaker, I call upon all Americans to pause and honor the service and sacrifice of those not only 19 Americans who died in the Khobar Towers bombing, but also those who served and continue to serve in the defense of our Nation and its values. I urge my colleagues to support this most worthy resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) for that time which he might consume.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1054, which honors the service and achievements of women in the Armed Forces and female veterans. Mr. Speaker, throughout this great Nation's history, women have answered the call without hesitation to defend our democracy and freedom. Since the early days when we fought to gain our independence, women have served with distinction in every one of our Nation's conflicts. Before women were formally allowed to serve in our military, they served on battlefields as nurses, water bearers, cooks and saboteurs. Frustrated by the gender restrictions of the day but fueled by ardent patriotism, many women found more unorthodox ways to serve. Often disguising themselves as young men, they joined the military and fought steadfastly alongside their brothers in arms. Mr. Speaker, since 1901 when the Army Nurse Corps was established, formally granting women rank and military status, hundreds of thousands of women have served with honor in the Armed Forces. They have never shrunk from the tough jobs or hesitated to go in harm's way: 34,000 women served in World War I; 400,000 in World War II; 120,000 in Korea; 7,000 in Vietnam; and over 41,000 served in the first Gulf War. Today, Mr. Speaker, over 350,000 women are serving in our Armed Forces. Over 190,000 have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to help rid the world of tyranny and terrorism. They serve on land, at sea and in the air, doing dangerous jobs such as pilots, military police and convoy truck drivers. Mr. Speaker, these women, just like the men in our Armed Forces, are volunteers. They have always been volunteers. They have chosen to serve, chosen to make the sacrifices that are inherent in military service. They endure long hours, long separations from their loved ones and the hardships and horrors of combat. And as so many who have served before them, these women have been wounded, imprisoned and have paid the ultimate price for their devotion and duty to this great country. It is without question that our military forces are unsurpassed. It is also undeniable that women have played a significant role in developing the extraordinarily capable military we are so proud of today. Military women have been pioneers in computer science, space and undersea exploration and medicine. Through their accomplishments America has made great strides in technology, mathematics and engineering. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlelady from California for introducing this resolution to honor America's extraordinary military women and veterans. I join her and all of my colleagues to celebrate the courageous women of our Armed Forces who serve today and who have served in the past. Their indomitable spirit and powerful sense of patriotism guarantee our freedom now and for generations to come. I, therefore, strongly urge all Members to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 961, which commends the Alaska Army National Guard for its service to the State of Alaska and the citizens of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the 586 courageous members of the Alaska Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry who recently returned from their year-long deployment in southern Iraq and Kuwait. These brave men and women, representing 80 different communities across Alaska, successfully served as security forces in northern Kuwait and southern Iraq, guarding camps and convoys heading into Iraq since October, 2006. Alaska's sons and daughters were joined by National Guardsmen from New York, Mississippi, Illinois, Georgia and Puerto Rico as they inspected and searched over 30,000 semi-trucks during their 12 months in Kuwait and Iraq. Thankfully, Mr. Speaker, all the members of this outstanding unit returned home safely, but not before distinguishing themselves by earning three Bronze Stars, 12 Meritorious Service Awards, 142 Army commendations, and more than 200 Army Achievement Medals for their outstanding service. Mr. Speaker, not since World War II has the Alaska National Guard had so many of its members deployed. I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not also pay tribute today to the incredible families of these brave soldiers who waited at home while their loved ones answered our Nation's call. The families of 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry also serve, and they deserve our sincerest appreciation and thanks. Alaska and the entire Nation owe the members of the Alaska Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry a debt of gratitude. We are all so proud of their service. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) such time as he might need. (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the 250th anniversary of the birthday of James Monroe, a First District of Virginia native. James Monroe was born in Westmoreland County on April 28, 1758, and was raised and educated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. James Monroe attended the College of William and Mary, fought as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army, and practiced law in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As a politician, Monroe served in the Virginia Assembly, The Continental Congress, as Governor to the Commonwealth of Virginia, as a US Senator, Secretary of State and Secretary of War to President James Madison. Ultimately, James Monroe became our fifth President of the United States. As Minister to France, Monroe helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase. During his 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. 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. The citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and especially America's First District express their gratitude to James Monroe, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of his birthday. James Monroe was a loyal public servant and an exceptional statesman. His ideals and leadership qualities are such that all citizens, not only of Virginia, but the United States can admire and learn from. As President Monroe 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''.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize Fort A.P. Hill as the winner of the 2008 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence and am honored to represent the men and women of Fort A.P. Hill. The Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes outstanding and innovative efforts of those who operate and maintain U.S. military installations, and A.P. Hill was selected based on their exemplary support of Department of Defense missions. Excellent military installations enable better mission performance and enhance the quality of life for military men, women and families. Each winning installation succeeded in providing excellent working, housing and recreational conditions. To compete for the award, installations completed detailed organizational self-assessment packages answering questions posed in the Army Performance Improvement Criteria. Top installations received a week-long site visit by a team of evaluators, and a final, detailed scoring assessment by a senior panel of judges determined the top three installations. The assessment was a thorough study of how business processes are designed and deployed, and how the installation fares in its business results across a variety of performance areas. I am honored to recognize the accomplishments of Fort A.P. Hill as the installation continues to sharpen the combat edge of America's Defense Forces, and I am proud A.P. Hill calls the First Congressional District home.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Charles ``Andrew'' Wilkins, a great young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 250, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. Andrew has been an active member of his Scout troop, participating in many activities. Over the many years Andrew has been involved with Scouting, he has earned 21 merit badges, spent 47 nights camping, and served as Senior Patrol Leader for 2 years. Andrew was also elected to be a member of the Order of the Arrow, scouting's national camping honor society. For his Eagle Scout project, Andrew coordinated the construction of the Northumberland County Fallen Heroes Memorial located in front of the sheriff's office in Heathsville, Virginia. This monument is a memorial to Deputy Sheriff John Sanford who was killed in the line of duty in 2005. Andrew is a senior at Northumberland High School, and plans to continue serving his community and our country in the United States Coast Guard. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Charles ``Andrew'' Wilkins for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I was not present in the House chamber for votes on April 3, 2008. If I had been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 159, a motion to recommit H.R. 4847, the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act, with instructions to amend the bill (forthwith) to provide liability protection to firemen that provide inspection services or advice on the use of child safety seats to their communities. I would also have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 160, final passage of H.R. 4847, the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act.