Robert Wittman

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, today we remember and honor the students and faculty who lost their lives a year ago at Virginia Tech. The entire community has made a valiant effort to move forward while still honoring those who were lost and injured on that fateful day. As a proud alumnus of Virginia Tech this day has very personal meaning to my family and me. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and the entire Hokie family today.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5489, a bill to designate a United States Postal Service facility located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, as the ``Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office.'' I introduced this legislation to honor Jo Ann who dedicated her entire being to serving the First District of Virginia. As you've heard, Jo Ann made history in 2000 when she became the first female Republican elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia. In Congress, she was a passionate advocate for better government, lower taxes, and a strong national defense. Jo Ann believed that God called her to service, and in her years of service to this Nation, Jo Ann's reliance on God never wavered. Virginia's First District is home to one of our Nation's most treasured historical sites. In 1607, our Nation's first settlement was founded at Jamestown. Jo Ann often reminded others in Virginia and around the Nation that she actually represented America's First District where the beginnings of America were founded. Indeed, the First District has a rich history, including a significant and important military community. And Jo Ann was a tireless advocate for our brave servicemembers. She constantly supported legislation that strengthened our armed services and improved benefits for our men and women in uniform. As cochair and founding member of the Ship Building Caucus, she worked tirelessly to ensure that Congress provided for our Navy. Jo Ann truly loved her family and had an unwavering faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She regularly attended the Members' weekly prayer breakfast, and she was also cochair of the 2007 National Prayer Breakfast, an event designed to bring leaders of the country and leaders from around the world together in recognition of our dedication to God. Jo Ann was known as an extraordinarily caring and helpful person, and anyone who came across her was touched. She worked on both sides of the aisle and truly defined bipartisanship. Jo Ann represented the people of the First District of Virginia with extraordinary distinction, and through her service, she set an example of courage in the face of adversity. She refused to allow a disease that afflicts many to affect her life or to take away from her work that she loved so dearly. She was dedicated to representing her constituents even while undergoing chemotherapy treatments. And I have to say that the day after one of those chemotherapy treatments, she was in the little town of Kilmarnock in the northern neck of Virginia to celebrate their 75th anniversary. I had the privilege of being with Jo Ann that day, and it was a cold, windy spring day, and she was there without a coat on. And I thought, how brave for her to be there right after a chemotherapy session, to be out there celebrating with the folks of Kilmarnock. And afterwards I got her aside and said, Jo Ann, I am so surprised that you're here after that chemotherapy treatment. And she said, Rob, listen, I'm not different than anybody else. I have adversity in my life just like everybody else, and I don't expect for me to do anything different than anybody else who faces adversity would have to do. And that just proved to me what a brave and humble soul Jo Ann was and how she really had in mind others above herself. Mr. Speaker, because of Jo Ann Davis' diligence and devoted service to our country, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the people of the First District, I am proud to sponsor this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5489.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) as much time as he may consume.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1020, as amended, which recognizes the tremendous service that members of the Armed Forces have given to the Nation, especially those who have been wounded in combat. Madam Speaker, throughout our history, America's sons and daughters have been called upon to fight our Nation's wars to preserve our freedom and our way of life. Each time we have gone to war, these brave men and women who answered the call, unfortunately, have been wounded and injured; 204,002 in World War I, 671,846 in World War II, 103,284 in Korea, 153,303 in Vietnam, and 467 in Desert Storm. Today, Madam Speaker, as we continue to fight terrorism throughout the world, 30,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been wounded and injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. As with previous generations, these men and women are our Nation's finest, and we owe them more than just our gratitude. Madam Speaker, since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress and the American people have made it clear that our combat wounded deserve the best our Nation has to offer. To that end, Congress has worked hard to ensure that the needs of the wounded troops and their families are met. From the best health care to jobs, to education benefits, the Members of this House have and will continue to insist that the support to the wounded and injured is unsurpassed. Madam Speaker, there is no question that serving in combat is a profoundly life-altering experience. Men and women who survive the horrors of combat return home forever changed. Our Nation is eternally indebted to the brave men and women of the Armed Forces who fight to preserve our freedoms. It is right and fitting, Madam Speaker, that today we recognize the service and the sacrifice of the members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded while serving this great Nation. I'd like to thank my friend and colleague from Vermont (Mr. Welch) for introducing this resolution, and I strongly urge all Members to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

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

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Joint Resolution 70, as amended, which congratulates the Army Reserve on its centennial. There are over 340 Army reservists in Virginia's First Congressional District, and over 150 have been mobilized in support of the global war on terror. Ever since 1908 when the Army Reserve began as a means to increase the efficiency of the Army Medical Corps, the Army Reserve and its soldiers have stepped up magnificently to every challenge and mission presented to them. Those challenges span the breadth of the American wars in the past 100 years. In World War I, 169,500 Army reservists served; in World War II, 200,000, including 29 percent of the Army's officer corps; in Korea, 240,500; in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 94,000. And since September 11, 2001, 147,000 Army reservists have been mobilized in support of the global war on terror; 110,000 have deployed, 39,000 have served multiple deployments, and 102 have died in the war on terror. Army reservists are citizen soldiers active in 1,100 communities across the Nation. They are the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers of America. They are remarkable in many respects, but no more so than their willingness to serve this Nation in a professional and unselfish manner. They continue to serve today knowing that they will likely be deployed away from home, family and civilian employment. For many in America, the patriotism, commitment, and sacrifice of these remarkable citizens called Army reservists goes unnoticed. I believe every effort should be made to highlight and acknowledge their service to a grateful Nation. So it is entirely proper and fitting that we take this moment not only to mark an historical milestone of 100 years of service to the Nation by the Army Reserve, but also to honor those soldiers past and present who have served and are serving so honorably as well as Army reservists. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this joint resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 265, as amended, which honors military children during National Month of the Military Child. Today we are a Nation at war with more than 2.75 million men and women in uniform and more than 280,000 deployed worldwide. The men and women of today's Armed Forces are all volunteers, but as never before in our history, they are also married and have families. At any given time, when deployed away from their home bases, 50 percent of the members of the Armed Forces leave behind families with children. While the numbers and statistics are interesting, the real message here is that the sacrifices and commitments made by the members of the armed services are very often directly felt and experienced by their family members and especially their children. Each of the military services and the Department of Defense go to extraordinary lengths to provide the resources and environment to support military families and children. Preservation and support of families is recognized as a military readiness requirement. I fully support those efforts. The resolution today strives to ensure that proper attention is focused on sacrifices, spirit and contributions made by the children of military families. This resolution also seeks to bring the recognition and thanks to both the Department of Defense and private sector programs that support military children and families. I want to thank my friend, Mr. Moran of Virginia, for sponsoring this important resolution and urge my colleagues to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Judith Hopkins, Social Security Administration level 1 district manager in Richmond, Virginia, who is retiring from Federal service after 33 years. A dedicated and selfless individual, Judy has devotedly served the public since 1975. Judy's tenure with the Federal Government began as a Social Security claims representative trainee in Richmond, soon advancing to operations supervisor, operations officer, assistant district manager, and the position she retires from this month as district manager. Judy's outstanding leadership, communication, and coalition-building skills were recognized by the agency as she was asked to serve on many regional and national Social Security workgroups. As the district manager of the Richmond complex, she was responsible for four offices and approximately 70 employees. Constituents in the First District of Virginia greatly benefited from Judy's positive attitude and conscientious work ethic. My staff and my fellow Virginia colleagues' offices always received courteous and prompt attention from Judy whether the question was a simple issue or an intensive, complex case. The commitment to public service was always apparent in the way she treated her co-workers, employees, and the citizens of Virginia. I am thankful to Judy Hopkins for the assistance and attention she provided my constituents, and I would like to wish Judy all the best as she embarks on this new chapter in her life.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department of Northumberland County, Virginia. I join a grateful community in extending my appreciation as they celebrate 60 years of service to our community. The Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department began serving the community on January 30, 1947. It was at that time that R.L. Haynie, the department's founder, gathered together 17 original members to provide much needed fire and rescue service to the Reedville community. In the beginning, the department housed its fire truck at a service station. Over the years, the department has grown and expanded, adding a Glebe Point substation in 1957 and a new Reedville firehouse in 1985. The Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department now boasts 44 members with a fleet of eight vehicles. I would like to extend my appreciation to all of the current and former members of the Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department for their dedication and outstanding service to our community. I would also like to thank them for their patience and understanding in my absence at their 60th anniversary celebration.

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia

Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 1171, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House, it is, indeed, an honor and a privilege to be with you today. Representative Wolf, thank you very much for those kind words; I really appreciate that. It is, indeed, a humbling experience to be here. I look forward to working with each and every one of you in the days to come to make sure that we do the best job that we can collectively here for our Nation. As I said, it's a very humbling experience, and I thank you. May God bless you.