C. Young

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of Dunedin High School, which first opened its doors in 1961. That year, 767 students and 44 teachers walked the halls for the first time. Half a century later the school serves more than twice that number of students, working to prepare them for their future while creating an environment that encourages students to explore their potential. From the beginning, the school embraced the rich Scottish traditions that have characterized the city of Dunedin since its founding in 1870. The school selected a Falcon as the mascot, harkening back to the sport of falconry, a favorite Scottish pastime consisting of training and hunting with falcons. However, the Dunedin Highlander Marching Band is perhaps the most unique aspect of the school. This band not only wears the Dress Stewart Tartan plaid as their uniform, they are one of the few high school bands in the country that features bagpipes. Since its establishment, Dunedin High School has sought to foster academic achievement, community pride and school spirit. Over the years, the students at the school have won numerous awards and state championships for academic, athletic and extracurricular activities. The students are not the school's only source of pride, as the dedicated teachers and administrative staff also have an award winning tradition, receiving many state and national awards for the high- quality education they provide. Students who have graduated from Dunedin have gone on to achieve great success, with many staying in the area to raise their children and enrich the local community. This community support extends to the high school, with volunteers putting in over 28,000 hours at Dunedin High School last year alone. Notable alumni include local politicians, famous musicians, professional athletes, and Hollywood actors and directors. I am honored to represent the students, teachers, and faculty who currently attend Dunedin High School as well as many of those that have enriched this public school for the last 50 years. I ask my colleagues to join with me today in recognizing this important milestone and to wish the school continued success in the future.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 20th Anniversary of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, which has been a key factor in restoring and improving the ecological health of Tampa Bay. Designated by Congress as an `estuary of national significance' under the National Estuary Program in 1990, the Tampa Bay Estuary program is one of only 28 programs in the United States and four in Florida. Unique environments that are found where rivers meet the sea, estuaries are vital components to the world's ecosystem. Estuaries improve water quality by filtering pollutants, act as buffers to protect shorelines from erosion and flooding, serve as nursery grounds for the majority of commercial and recreational fish and shellfish consumed by Americans, and provide essential food and habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife. Created by Congress in 1987, the National Estuary Program works to identify and restore nationally significant estuaries that are threatened by pollution. Through an amendment to an appropriations bill, we worked quickly to ensure that Tampa Bay was included as one of the first estuary programs, recognizing its importance to the ecosystem of Florida and Pinellas County. Since then, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program has operated as a partnership of thousands of volunteers, elected officials, resource managers and commercial and recreational resource users who work together to restore and improve the ecological health of Tampa Bay. The program has made significant progress in improving Tampa Bay during the last two decades. Important achievements over the years include the recovery of more than 6,000 acres of life-sustaining sea grasses, the restoration of more than 5,000 acres of coastal habitats, and improved water quality and clarity to levels not seen since the 1950s. The Tampa Bay National Estuary Program has done a tremendous job in cleaning, preserving and maintaining the health and vitality of Tampa Bay and today this estuary is not only a precious natural habitat for many species of fish, birds and flora, but also a beautiful playground for swimmers, boaters and general admirers. Mr. Speaker, it has been an honor to have been a partner in this incredible successful partnership that has made an invaluable contribution to restoring this unique Florida ecosystem. The hard work and dedication of the staff and their community partners ensures that the Tampa Bay Estuary Program will continue to build upon their success in the future. Please join me in congratulating all those who have been a part of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program for a job well done over these past 20 years.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Dano Davis, the rest of the Davis Family, and the staff and volunteers of the D-Dot Ranch in Jacksonville, Florida. For the past five years, the D-Dot Ranch has semi-annually hosted four wounded military returnees from Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts, for a three-day respite at the D-Dot Ranch. This respite has included food and lodging in their spectacular bunk house lodge and a one of a kind special Florida outdoor experience. Participants have included heroes who have lost eyes, arms and legs, as well as other physical and mental impairments. These respite visits have helped many highly-deserving individuals to realize they can still enjoy the great outdoors in spite of their impairment challenges. Personnel at Walter Reed, Bethesda and other military healthcare facilities have reported significant therapeutic benefit for these participants. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues join me in saying thank you to the Davis Family and the staff at the D-Dot Ranch for a job well done. America owes our wounded heroes a debt of gratitude that we can repay and this is one way that we can show our appreciation and admiration for their service.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this Balanced Budget Amendment. I have always been hesitant to support changes to our Constitution. It is the most significant document in our Nation's history and I am reminded of its guiding principals by the copy I carry with me each day. Truthfully, I wish this step had not become so necessary. A simple majority of us in the House, working with the Senate and the President have the ability to balance our budget without this Amendment. It has been done before. I have been honored to serve in this House for the last 41 years. During this time, we have managed to balance our budget twice, and both times occurred during my tenure as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The way we balanced the budget then was by making the hard, but necessary choices. The Appropriations Committee had to say no to many funding requests. It was not always easy and I was not always the most popular person around here. But we had to do the right thing for the country and we did it as a Republican House working with a Democrat President. In this Congress, the House and the House Appropriations Committee have made the difficult decisions to cut wasteful spending, consolidate duplicative programs, and reign in the excesses of recent years. We have reduced excessive spending and passed a responsible budget resolution. We have brought our bills to the floor under regular order--in contrast to recent years. Every Member on the Committee and in the entire House has had the opportunity to make their voices heard and offer their amendments. In fact, we have considered almost 500 amendments to appropriations bills just this year. I am proud to say that the House has made real progress towards fiscal responsibility. Unfortunately, much of our budget process has become dysfunctional. We are stuck with a Senate that has been unwilling to do their part. It has been more than two and a half years since they have completed the basic task of passing a budget. Under this President, spending has skyrocketed to consume more than 25 percent of the economy. Since 2008, annual spending has jumped by close to $1 trillion. The President's budget proposed to keep the spending going for the next decade, with spending growing from its historical average of 18 percent to 24 percent of GDP in 2021. We have mandatory spending that is spiraling out of control. For the first time in America's proud history, our credit rating was downgraded because we have been unable to come to an enforceable agreement on how to bring our debt under control. I have come to believe that the only guaranteed way to bring spending under control is to pass this Balanced Budget Amendment. The only way to get the entire Congress and the President to consistently agree on a fiscally responsible budget is to amend the Constitution to require it to happen. It is a common sense proposal that has widespread support. In 2009, I asked every voter in my district how they felt about requiring a balanced budget and 79.64 percent of the more than 32,000 who responded to my survey said that they support it. The National Federation of Independent Businesses recently asked small business owners in my district if they support the Balanced Budget Amendment and 78 percent responded that they do. National polls point to more overwhelming support. After all, families and small businesses across the country have to sit down and balance their own budgets, just as our state of Florida must. Why can't the federal government do the same? America has a spending problem. Just on Wednesday our national debt topped $15 trillion. We are borrowing 43 cents for every dollar we spend. This year gross interest payments on the debt reached $466 billion. Every one of our children and our grandchildren already owes more than $46,000 to our creditors. We owe it to the next generation to leave them a better country and a better future, as those who came before us did. It is essential that we change the culture of spending in Washington and restore fiscal sanity to our federal budget. It is crucial to the future of our Nation that we solve this debt problem, because if we don't, I hate to think what might happen to our economy, what might happen to our currency, and what might happen to our standing in the world. Let me close by saying that to have a strong national defense we must have a strong robust economy.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr. for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to the United States of America as the 36th Surgeon General of the United States Navy and Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Vice Admiral Robinson will retire as the Senior Healthcare Officer in the United States Navy and the principle medical advisor to the Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps. His military service spans across more than three decades of active military duty to the United States Navy and the Nation. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Vice Admiral Robinson was commissioned into the Navy through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program after graduating with a Doctor of Medicine degree from Indiana University, School of Medicine. In 1978, Vice Admiral Robinson was assigned to the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda for the very first time of many in his superb career. While assigned there he completed his residency in the area of general surgery. After his assignment in Bethesda, Vice Admiral Robinson was forward deployed to the United States Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. He was then selected as a ship's Surgeon on the USS Midway during his first duty at sea. After completing various operational assignments, Vice Admiral Robinson attended the University of Illinois School of Medicine, Urbana-Champaign, for a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at the Carle Foundation Hospital. After his fellowship he was again assigned to the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda to head the Colon and Rectal Surgery Division. While at Bethesda, he was again deployed as a ship's surgeon for the USS John F. Kennedy and the USS Coral Sea. He became a Medical Director for the first time in his career in 1994 at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth after serving and earned his Master's in Business Administration from the University of South Florida. In 1999, while serving as the Fleet Hospital Jacksonville Commanding Officer, Robinson commanded a detachment of the fleet hospital as for a medical contingent to Joint Task Force Haiti (Operation New Horizon/Uphold Democracy). In August 1999, Robinson reported to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery as the director of Readiness and was selected as the principal director, Clinical and Program Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. Vice Admiral Robinson was assigned as the Commanding Officer United States Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan from September 2001 to January 2004. In July 2004, he returned to the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda as the Commander. In 2007 Vice Admiral James A. Robinson was chosen as the 36th Surgeon General of the United States Navy and 40th Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. An accomplished and published academic, Vice Admiral Robinson holds fellowships in the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He is a member of the Le Societe Internationale de Chirurgie, the Society of Black Academic Surgeons, and the National Business School Scholastic Society, Beta Gamma Sigma. He holds certification as a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) from the American College of Physician Executives. Vice Admiral Robinson has been instrumental in preparing the United States Navy for the merger of the National Capitol Region's major health care facilities. He oversaw the planning, construction and execution of the new Joint Medical Facility and ensured that best practices of the Navy and other services were preserved throughout the transition. Vice Admiral Robinson was also never afraid to be an outspoken opponent of policies and issues from the merger that would sacrifice care for Service Members of any service. Without his foresight and wisdom throughout the process, the new National Military Medical Center at Bethesda would not be the shining medical facility model it is today for our Service Men and Women and their Families. Throughout his career, Vice Admiral Robinson has demonstrated expertise in medicine that ranks him among the very best in the world. However, I would say his most shining achievements have been his exceptional care for our Nation's most important treasure, our wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines, throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bethesda's renowned reputation as the gold standard of care for wounded Service Members improved throughout his tenure and will be the lasting legacy of the 36th Surgeon General of the Navy. The United States Navy, the Department of Defense and the Nation will dearly miss one of its most respected and valued leaders as Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson leaves active duty. We will all miss his humility, his selflessness, his candor and his integrity. When history looks back at this leader and his legacy it will be clear that he saved countless Service Members lives with his policies and daily practices. Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work closely with Vice Admiral Robinson over the last several years of his long and decorated career. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson for a lifetime of service to his country. For all he and his family have given and continue to give to our country; we are in their debt. We wish him, his wife Yuko, all the best in his retirement.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to Gus A. Stavros of St. Petersburg, Florida, a decorated war hero, a hugely successful small businessman, and a philanthropist who has devoted his life to educating our youth. Most importantly to me, Gus Stavros is my friend. Gus received a Certificate of Basic Engineering at the University of Florida in 1944 in preparation for his service to our nation and the Army during World War II. He served with great distinction in General George Patton's Third Army, earning three campaign ribbons for Northern France, Ardennes and Rhineland, and the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was severely injured on January 19, 1945, and required eight months of hospital care. Always placing the highest priority on the value of education, Gus returned from the war a hero and enrolled at Columbia University in New York, where he graduated in 1948 and went on to New York University, where he received his MBA in 1951. It was our good fortune that upon his graduation Gus moved to Florida to start a business forms manufacturing company in Pinellas County, Florida. As the owner and CEO, he grew the company from 3 to 550 employees making it the largest business of its kind anywhere in the Southeastern United States. Having achieved success as a businessman, he sold the company in 1989 and pursued his first love of education, cultural endeavors, and the tireless support of numerous charitable organizations. Wednesday evening, the Pinellas County Education Foundation will celebrate Gus Stavros' 25 years of service to the students, parents, and teachers of our community through the Foundation he established with then Assistant Superintendent of Schools Howard Hinesley. Unique at the time, the Foundation's first project was the establishment of Enterprise Village in 1989, a hands on program that teaches 10,000 fifth-graders a year important life lessons of business and economics. Every one of these fifth-graders spends a day at Enterprise Village running a business. For most, with the classroom lessons that prepare them for their special day of running their own business, they have their first introduction to free enterprise. Today the most appropriately named Gus A. Stavros Institute administers not only Enterprise Village, but with a $4 million expansion now teaches fiscal responsibility to 8,000 eighth-graders annually at its Finance Park. Local, state, national and even international leaders of education and business have paid visits to Enterprise Village to learn how they can inspire students in the areas of business and finance just as Gus Stavros has this past quarter century. Gus and his lovely wife of 63 years Frances have been honored many times over for the selfless work in behalf of numerous charitable organizations throughout our community. And our state's Governors and leaders of higher education have called on Gus repeatedly to serve on the board of trustees for many of our colleges and universities. Mr. Speaker, at a time when our nation searches for solutions to reenergize our economy and create jobs, we need to look to great Americans like Gus Stavros for answers and inspiration. There are few people I know that are half of Gus' 86 years that have as much energy and as many good ideas. Gus Stavros has served our nation in war time and in peace time. He has used his success in business to create jobs for others and to provide unique educational opportunities for hundreds of thousands of youth. Most importantly, he symbolizes the American spirit of selfless service to do what he can to improve the lives of others. It is my hope that my colleagues will join me in saying thank you to Gus Stavros for a lifetime of achievement and in paying tribute to him for a job well done.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 40th Anniversary of the Eckerd College Search and Rescue (EC-SAR) team, one of the most unique and successful programs of its kind anywhere in our nation. It is a privilege for me to represent Eckerd College and to have seen first hand the outstanding work of the students, faculty and staff who run the search and rescue program. Eckerd is a beautiful small private waterfront college with not only a tremendous academic reputation but also one as a leader in water sports and water activities. The Search and Rescue Program was started by a group of students in 1971 to provide safety services for the college's water sports activities. By 1977, the program had become so successful and had attracted so much interest that it expanded to provide routine and emergency search and rescue services to the Tampa Bay boating community. Since then, the students; who are trained in technical rescue, boating safety, seamanship, searching, fire fighting, de- watering, navigation, medical response, and piloting rescue vessels; have worked side by side with the United States Coast Guard and a multitude of state and local agencies to save lives and rescue stranded boaters. In fact, the Eckerd Search and Rescue team was one of the first units to respond to a disastrous shipping accident in 1980 which destroyed one span of the massive Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Mr. Speaker, the students and staff of Eckerd College give back to our community many times over through this superb program. They receive and respond to more than 500 calls per year and throughout the program's history have handled over 15,000 calls for assistance. This weekend, many of the program's organizers and volunteers from the past 40 years will gather to celebrate the history and accomplishments of this unique and valuable program. It is my hope that my colleagues in the House will join me in saying thank you to all those who have been a part of the Eckerd College Search and Rescue program for a job well done.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th anniversary of St. Petersburg, Florida Elks Lodge 124 which was established on February 16, 1911. Forty-two members started what would become the second Elks Lodge along the west coast of Florida. By 1926, with a new three story clubhouse in downtown St. Petersburg, Lodge 1224 became the largest Elk's Lodge in Florida with 1,750 members. Throughout the years, the Lodge has moved several times but in 1970, under a stronger leadership, the post significantly grew and was able to purchase the building it now occupies on 66th Street in St. Petersburg. Today with nearly 1000 members, the Lodge is very active in a number of important activities throughout the community. Along with many other Florida lodges, Lodge 1224 supports the Children's Physical Therapy Services Program. This program consists of 22 vans driven by physical therapists who offer free services to any child in need. The Lodge also welcomes our nation's veterans with open arms, proudly offering entertainment and meals in their lodge twice a month. Mr. Speaker, over the last 100 years the members of the Elk's Lodge 1224 have seen the city of St. Petersburg grow from a sleepy little town of 8,000 to a bustling city of nearly 250,000. Like all Americans, they suffered through the Great Depression, comforted a community through two World Wars, and they continue to serve the community today by proudly offering essential services to our children and veterans. It is my hope that my colleagues will join me this afternoon in recognizing the 100th anniversary of Elks Lodge 1224 and their century of service to our community.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to join with my colleagues in their friendly comments about our former colleague from Florida, Carrie Meek. I first met Carrie when I was representing her brother, who was a retired military veteran and a highly decorated veteran. That relationship ended when we laid him to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. We really got to know each other well when I had the privilege of chairing the Appropriations Committee, and Carrie was a really great member of that Appropriations Committee. I remember, in some of the very tense moments which happened on occasion, she would always find some way to bring a little bit of light and a little bit of pleasure to relieve the tension that was there. We talked often. I would say Carrie, Why is it that I can never get you to vote right? And she would say, You know, Chairman, I've been wondering the same thing about you, why I can never get you to vote right. We had this great relationship. I miss her serving here because she brought a lot to the House. She brought a lot to the committee. Carrie, like your other colleagues have mentioned, we really love you; and we really appreciate and respect your service to our great Nation.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize an outstanding group of individuals that I have the privilege to represent in Madeira Beach, Florida, which has dedicated years of generous care and hospitality for our Nation's veterans. Over the years, in cooperation with the Bay Pines Veterans Hospital, the Holiday Isles Elks Lodge 1912 has proved that their commitment to our troops is unwavering. Every day, members of Lodge 1912 can be found at the local Bay Pines Veterans Hospital demonstrating their commitment to those who have already sacrificed so much. For example, member Betty Ryan takes the initiative on a regular basis to find out what exactly it is our hospitalized veterans need. And within the lodge, Betty has set up a box for donations which she routinely presents to veterans at Bay Pines. The Elks community also offers and supports many individual programs designed to help and enhance the lives of our veterans. One of these supported programs is the Wounded Warrior Project which, in 2009, the Elks National Veterans Service Commission made available $50,000 to launch the Elks/Wounded Warrior Project. Just as the Wounded Warrior Project assists injured veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Elks offers a program known as the Army of Hope which assists the families of those who have been called to duty during these very difficult times of conflict. These constituents of mine provide an outstanding service to our veterans; however, this commitment does not end with Lodge 1912. There are 2000 lodges nationwide and you will find their members hard at work in each of the 172 VA Medical centers around the country living up to their pledge: ``So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.'' Mr. Speaker, Holiday Isles Elks Lodge 1912 not only shines in their display of compassion and patriotism, but also reminds us of the characteristics of great people that make up a great nation. Thank you to all the members for their excellent service in the past and for your continued assistance to the community and our veterans in the future.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Admiral Michael G. Mullen, for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to the United States of America as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral ``Mike'' Mullen will retire as the highest- ranking officer in the United States Armed Forces and the President's principle military advisor. His service spans more than four decades of active military duty to the United States Navy and the Department of Defense. Born in Los Angeles, California, Admiral Mike Mullen was commissioned into the Navy after graduating with the Class of 1986, from the United States Naval Academy. His rise in the Navy began at sea, when Ensign Mullen reported aboard the destroyer, USS Collett, as an Anti-Submarine Officer. While aboard the ship, he deployed to the Western Pacific and participated in combat operations off the coast of Vietnam. Afterwards, he subsequently served on six other warships, including command of three of those vessels at sea, and he commanded the George Washington Carrier Strike Group and United States Second Fleet. His shore assignments have been focused in the areas of resourcing and personnel which included duty with the Bureau of Personnel, the Navy staff, and the staff of the Secretary of Defense. He helped train, educate, and mentor future generations of naval officers during tours at the United States Naval Academy. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exemplary service in duty to the mission and care for his sailors. In August 2003, Admiral Mike Mullen was selected to serve as the Navy's 32nd Vice Chief of Naval Operations. During the first half of 2005, he served as Commander of NATO's Joint Force Command Naples and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, leading the Alliance's peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and its important training mission in Iraq. In July of 2005, Admiral Mike Mullen was sworn in as the 28th Chief of Naval Operations, serving as the top uniformed leader of the Navy and representative to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his tenure, he oversaw the service's efforts to man, train, and equip the United States Navy to fulfill its traditional missions at sea. Admiral Mike Mullen also conceived and championed the Navy's contributions to the ground war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and other regions to combat violent terrorism. Admiral Mike Mullen further led efforts to provide a framework and concrete plan to stabilize the Navy's shipbuilding program to support a three hundred-thirteen ship fleet to maintain the United States' maritime superiority in a dynamic and uncertain world. On October 1st, 2007, the President of the United States and the United States Senate appointed Admiral Mike Mullen as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Since assuming duties as Chairman, he has overseen continuous joint military operations with our Nation's allies to eradicate terrorist networks throughout the world. Admiral Mike Mullen's overall leadership supported the incredible turnaround in security and stability in Iraq and has bolstered the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance in Afghanistan. Additionally during his tenure, Admiral Mike Mullen oversaw military humanitarian assistance operations in relief of major international disasters to include the 2010 Haiti Earthquake and 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Although Admiral Mike Mullen's dedication to service has been honored by a wide array of leadership awards and decorations over the years, this consummate military professional's commitment to his Nation is driven by much more profound reasons. My wife Beverly and I have seen personally that he is a man who cares deeply for our men and women in uniform, their families, and the families of the fallen and missing. Admiral Mike Mullen, along with his wife Deborah, have passionately represented our men and women in uniform, particularly those who have returned from this decade's wars as they and their families heal from wounds both seen and unseen. His attention to our most critically wounded has been a testament to his willingness to ensure our wounded Service Members and their families receive the best care and support the Nation has to offer. I have no doubt his commitment to these Americans, who have given so much, will indeed endure far beyond his days in uniform. The United States Navy, the Department of Defense and the Nation will dearly miss one of its most respected and valued leaders as Admiral Mike Mullen leaves active duty and this Congressman and my wife Beverly will deeply miss his counsel on many important issues and most important his personal friendship. We will miss his humility, his selflessness, his candor and his integrity. When history looks back at this leader and his legacy it will be clear that his leadership produced the best military the world has ever known. Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work closely with Admiral Mike Mullen over the last several years of his long and decorated career. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Admiral Mike Mullen for a lifetime of service to his country. For all he and his family have given and continue to give to our country; we are in their debt. We wish him, his wife Deborah, and his two sons, John and Michael, all the best in his retirement.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 50th Anniversary this month of the National Reconnaissance Office. The National Reconnaissance Office was secretly created in 1961 in response to the Soviet launch of Sputnik with the purpose of overseeing ``all satellite and overflight reconnaissance projects whether overt or covert.'' This information was Declassified to the public in 1992. Today the NRO is in charge of designing, building, launching, and maintaining the United States of America's intelligence satellites. When the United States needs eyes and ears in critical places where no human can reach--be it over the most rugged terrain or the most hostile territory--we turn to the National Reconnaissance Office. We are proud to applaud the National Reconnaissance Office for recently completing one of the most aggressive launch campaigns since its inception by launching six complex satellite systems in only seven months. With fewer people and less infrastructure than in years past, this great accomplishment is a testament to the diligent National Reconnaissance Office program teams and the essential collaborative launch efforts with the United States Air Force and the talented workforce they draw from across the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. Whether creating the latest innovations in satellite technology, contracting with the most cost-efficient industrial supplier, conducting rigorous launch schedules, or providing the highest-quality products to our customers, these successful launches prove the National Reconnaissance Office's never-ending commitment to protect our Nation and its citizens. As one of the 16 Intelligence Community agencies, the National Reconnaissance Office is a hybrid organization consisting of some 3,000 personnel that is jointly staffed by members of the Armed Services, the Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense civilians. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, the National Reconnaissance Office launches from Cape Canaveral, FL and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, while maintaining ground station operations in Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Australia. This unique composition and placement of the National Reconnaissance Office workforce allows for launching and operating the most technically- capable systems to continued operations of legacy satellites in order for the United States to remain the premier space reconnaissance organization in the world. Together with other Defense Department satellites, National Reconnaissance Office systems play a crucial role in providing: global communications, precision navigation, early warning of missile launches and potential military aggression, signals intelligence, and near real- time imagery to United States forces in support of the war on terrorism and other contingency operations. Additionally, National Reconnaissance Office satellites have played an ever increasing role in supporting civil customers, assess crop production, map habitats of endangered species, track oil spills, and study wetlands. Through continued vigilance from above, the National Reconnaissance Office provides America's policymakers, intelligence analysts, warfighters and homeland security specialists the critical information they need to keep America safe, secure, and free. For these many achievements, I join my colleagues in congratulating the men and women who support the National Reconnaissance Office on 50 years of outstanding service to our nation and may they continue on this path to reach even greater milestones in space reconnaissance for years to come.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Barbara Jensen for her extraordinary dedication to duty and service to the United States of America. Ms. Jensen will retire after 27 years of distinguished service to the Nation, both as an Army officer and as an Army Civilian. Ms. Jensen began her service as a Medical Service Corps officer. She served honorably for 21 years, commanding troops and serving as a Logistician, Commodity Manager of the Army's critical medical supplies and equipment at Fort Carson, Colorado, Fort Lewis, Washington, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, and overseas in Germany. Ms. Jensen was assigned to ever higher levels of responsibility because her experience and reputation as a skilled leader, manager, and advisor grew. As the Director of Logistics for the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, she played a key role in enabling the Institute to provide world-class, life-saving diagnostic consultations. Her leadership also supported the innovative scientific research conducted at the Institute, while providing an opportunity to educate military and civilian pathologists, physicians, and various medical and scientific professionals. Ms. Jensen became a liaison to Members of Congress and advised Army leadership on Congressional interest items and legislation. With the Army Staff in the Pentagon, she provided legislative analysis on Congressional actions affecting Army programs. She led numerous Congressional staff visits and ensured that Members of Congress and their staff were supplied with critical, time sensitive information to afford deep understanding of the Army's medical research programs. She became the advisor to the Army's Surgeon General and his staff on legislation affecting military health care, thereby helping to ensure continued Congressional support for medical innovation and the finest medical care for our Service Members. Ms. Jensen retired from the United States Army in 2004, receiving the Legion of Merit award for her superb service. Afterwards, Ms. Jensen became a civil servant with the Department of the Army in 2005, returning to use her vast talents and expertise to serve her country once again. As an Army Congressional Legislative Liaison, the Army entrusted Ms. Jensen to provide accurate assessments to Capitol Hill and to effectively communicate the Army's priorities. She earned the trust and confidence of the Members of the House and Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittees, Congressional Staffers, the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Director, Army Staff and other service legislative activity directors. Ms. Jensen most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Congressional Operations Division, Army Legislative Liaison. Ms. Jensen was an instrumental member of the legislative team, collecting information Congress needed to enact authorizations and oversee the Department of the Army. Her advice was heeded by Army leaders to include the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff, the Under Secretary of the Army, the Vice Chief of Staff, and the Sergeant Major of the Army. Ms. Jensen has continued to remain passionate about Soldiers, their Families, and ensuring quality of life for Service Members matches the quality of their service. She has made a real and lasting impact through her numerous contributions toward gaining Congressional trust, confidence, and advocacy for the Army. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in saying thank you to Ms. Barbara Jensen for her extraordinary dedication to duty and service to this country throughout her distinguished career in the United States Army, both in uniform and as a Civilian. We wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Marine Science Technician Second Class Nicole Emmons, of Clearwater Florida, for her selection as the Military Times Coast Guard Service Member of the Year. Nicole exemplifies the best in our nation's military and serves as a shining example of how one person can make an impact at the community, the state and the national level. Nicole Emmons was chosen as both the Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles, Louisiana and the Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston's Enlisted Person of the Year by area Chiefs, Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs. Working with the Contingency Preparedness/Incident Management Division at Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles, Nicole contributed countless hours to stand-up her unit's first Homeland Security Division. As one of three Law Enforcement instructors, she shoulders significant responsibility. She organizes a month-long training program for new members, leads hands-on practice sessions and organizes qualifications boards. Nicole Emmons also worked during off-duty hours in mission requirements associated with specially targeted vessels and has participated in over 20 security boardings. Displaying exceptional initiative, she deployed to the Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur Incident Command Post, providing her expertise as a Situation Unit Leader in the aftermath of the EAGLE OTOME's 450,000 gallon crude oil spill. She filled a key role in providing operational commanders with continuous feedback regarding the progress of the clean-up efforts and was awarded the Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of Commendation. During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she was awarded the Coast Guard's Special Operations Ribbon for training reservist pollution investigators. In November of 2010, she transferred to the Planning Division and immediately accepted several large areas of responsibility well above her pay grade, including providing critical updates needed for the Geographic Response Plan and Area Response Plan. Nicole Emmons also serves her community. She helped create the unit's Moving Assistance Team to minimize the financial burden of local moves for fellow shipmates. She is a founding member of her unit's COMPASS program, which promotes community outreach and diversity education in local high schools. Serving as the Vice President of the Human Relations Council, she helps to provide a safe, open forum for discussing human relation issues and celebrating different cultures. Nicole Emmons' service to the community also includes volunteering for the local Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Lunch Buddy program and mentoring an academically and socially challenged child. She has participated in charity fund-raising and community events, such as the Ethel Precht Breast Cancer 3K, the Coast Guard Relay for Life and volunteering for the Lake Charles Special Olympics Torch Run. Along with all of her numerous career achievements, Nicole holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in saying thank you to Marine Science Technician Second Class Nicole Emmons for her extraordinary dedication to duty and service to this country through her outstanding performance in the United States Coast Guard and her community. We wish Nicole, her husband Michael, and her family all the best in her remarkably bright future.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

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

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise and report the bill back to the House with sundry amendments, with the recommendation that the amendments be agreed to and that the bill, as amended, do pass.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the motion to recommit, I think, is a strong statement that this is a pretty good Defense appropriations bill, because the minority, using the procedural vote that minorities most always use, does not do any real damage to the bill, but it doesn't really do anything that needs to be done, either, so it's a procedural vote, and I suggest we just vote against it and get on to the bill. But about the yellow ribbon. The bill already contains $246.5 million for the yellow ribbon program, which we support. It's a good program, especially for reintegration for returning guardsmen and reservists and their families. In addition, we accepted an amendment by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) to add $20 million for further suicide prevention for our returning combat veterans. This comes to a total of $266.5 million. That's not a bad number, when you consider that we had to reduce the President's budget by $9 billion. So I think we did pretty good, and I think that this motion to recommit is a strong indication that there's nothing really wrong with this bill, we just ought to go ahead and defeat the motion to recommit and pass the bill. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I will first admit that this gentleman introducing this amendment, if nothing else, is certainly persistent. The only problem is, after 2 lengthy days, 10 and 11 hours each day, with amendment after amendment being presented, we have just been given this amendment in the last 5 minutes. We would have liked to have had a little more time to really analyze it. But a quick analysis of this amendment tells me that it is very similar to all of the other Libyan amendments that we have defeated in the last 2 days. For example, I believe that this amendment would preclude any search- and-rescue mission on the part of Americans to save Americans. I'm satisfied it would prevent us from providing any intelligence surveillance, or reconnaissance. I'm satisfied that it would not permit us to do any aerial refueling of our coalition or NATO partners. I'm satisfied that the amendment would prohibit us from even being involved while operational plans are being developed that might have an effect on the support role that the United States plays. So, here we go again. We've already defeated this issue close to a dozen times in the last 2 days. So I just suggest that we move on and defeat this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentleman. I would say to the gentleman that he is correct; should the provision be carried on the final authorization bill, then the Department would have sufficient resources to fund the provisions should they decide to based on this appropriations bill.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I'm just not sure how this amendment accomplishes what the gentleman says since it prohibits enforcement of a section of a fiscal year 2006 bill, which only applied to that fiscal year. So I'm not opposed to the amendment; I just don't believe it does anything. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I agree with the gentleman that it is important that the military academies bring in the best young people from across the country, and the committee will work with him toward this objective.