C. Young

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for this opportunity to have that colloquy.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), a member of the committee.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, we want to do the right thing as well, but I want to remind the gentleman that this loan program was enacted into law on September 22 last year.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, the gentleman makes a good point. There is no question, as we watched on television as the recovery and the first response in New York City and at the Pentagon unfolded before our very eyes, we saw the importance of the first responders in not only protecting property, but especially saving lives. So I would have to tell the gentleman we are still in the process of figuring out the best division of responsibility among the various agencies for providing assistance to first responders, which we are going to do. There is no question about that. I agree with the gentleman from Michigan that we have to involve those agencies with responsibility for assisting firefighters and EMS personnel to help assure that they are prepared. I can assure the gentleman that the Committee on Appropriations will continue to work to make sure it takes into account the needs of firefighters and EMS personnel, as well as law enforcement officers, when it considers how to distribute the supplemental funding in this bill and in the fiscal year 2003 appropriations bill.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water. (Mr. CALLAHAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I just want to remind everybody. And as of tonight, as we stand in this Chamber, certain airlines have not even made their application, knowing full well that under the law that we passed last September the application process terminates on June 28. That is rapidly approaching. So the airlines are not totally free of guilt in not getting the job done. All that aside, we are prepared to try to help keep our airline industry viable. And the only airline that I can fly direct to my district is USAir. I do not want USAir to go out of business or to go bankrupt. I want to help them. But I have to tell my colleague that they could have applied for this loan guarantee a lot earlier and they did not.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, our heart is in the same place, I would tell the gentleman. But the gentleman's facts are not exactly correct, because the first application under this program was America West and it was filed on November 28 of last year. So the regulations were in order much earlier than the gentleman suggested.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, first let me say it is essential to the United States that a viable air transportation system be up and running. So I would say to the gentleman that what he suggests is my understanding. The Office of Management and Budget in a letter sent to our committee interprets this provision as only preventing the actual issuance of credit pursuant to the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act. The stabilization board may continue accepting and fully considering qualified applications as authorized by that act.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. If the gentleman would yield again, the committee does not intend to prevent any carrier from having an application fully considered, nor does it intend for this provision to result in the kind of outcome the gentleman is concerned about. We will work with the gentleman and other Members as we go to conference with the Senate on this bill to address any concerns that affected parties may have.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I listened attentively to all of these speeches. What I have to say is this is an emergency, wartime supplemental. Political speeches about whatever my colleagues want to make political speeches about, that is all well and good. Why do my colleagues not do that on some other bills? This is a wartime, emergency supplemental. The military is running out of money, especially those who are directly involved in the war in Afghanistan. We have got to protect those soldiers that are deployed. We have got to make sure that they have whatever it is that they need to fight this war. We have got to provide for the FBI and the intelligence agencies. Let us focus on what this bill is all about, and it is about protecting America. It is about seeking out those who would terrorize America. It is about securing our places and our people, our seaports, our airports, our airplanes, public gathering places. That is what this bill is about. This should not be a vehicle for political speeches.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook).

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. I do so to yield to my friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith), for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4775, and that I may include tabular and extraneous material.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding naval officer, Commander Gary Schram, who served with distinction and dedication during the last year as a Navy Appropriations Liaison Officer in the Assistant Secretary of the Navy's (FM&C) Appropriations Matters Office. It is a privilege for me to join my colleagues and the members of my Committee on Appropriations in recognizing his excellent work and the professionalism with which he has represented the United States Navy. Through his work with the members and staff of my committee, and our Subcommittee on Defense, Gary has provided timely and accurate information that has been invaluable to us in making many important decisions about the future structure of the Navy. His areas of responsibility included highly sensitive and timely programs that have been critical to our successful war against terrorism. Gary recently escorted my Congressional Delegation on a trip to Russia and several other countries. I greatly appreciate the time and effort he spent on this and other trips. His planning and coordination made these trips extremely successful enabling us to visit with numerous foreign dignitaries and U.S. service personnel in Europe in a relatively short amount of time. My colleagues and staff who have enjoyed working with Gary will sorely miss him. We know, however, that Gary is returning to his first love which is flying Navy jets and his next assignment as the Executive Officer of an S-3 squadron in my home state of Florida will be great training for his future job as a squadron Commanding Officer. There is no doubt in my mind that Gary will be a great XO and CO who ensures that his squadron performs safely while remaining ready to deploy and fight if necessary. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I wish Gary, his wife Diana, and their son Gary the very best as they relocate to Jacksonville, Florida. This Navy family continues to make many sacrifices to serve our nation and Commander Schram's distinguished and unselfish service exemplifies the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding naval officer, Commander Karl Van Deusen, who has served with distinction and dedication during the last year as a Navy Appropriations Liaison Officer in the Assistant Secretary of the Navy's (FM&C) Appropriations Matters Office. It is a privilege for me to recognize his many outstanding achievements and commend him for the superb service he has provided to the Department of the Navy, the Congress, and our great Nation. During his tenure in the Appropriations Matters Office Commander Van Deusen provided the members and staff of my Committee on Appropriations, and our Subcommittee on Defense, with timely and accurate support regarding Department of the Navy plans, programs and budget decisions. His valuable contributions have enabled the Defense Subcommittee and the Department of the Navy to strengthen its close working relationship and to ensure the most modern, well-trained and well-equipped Naval Forces attainable for the defense of our great nation. In addition to his professional relationship with my Committee, Karl has become like a family member to Beverly, to me, and to my sons. He is a constituent from St. Petersburg, Florida and he has served as a role model for my sons, who he has inspired to pursue careers in the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Karl is also a recognized hero. He was recently awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his courageous actions immediately following the September 11th attack on the Pentagon. Without regard for his personal safety, Karl time and time again helped bring fellow service members and civilians out of the burning building that terrible day. Mr. Speaker, Commander Karl Van Deusen is the epitome of a United States Naval Officer. He now embarks on the dream job of any sailor, taking command of a ship and her crew. As he assumes command of the USS Gonzales, one of our nation's newest destroyers, I know the many friends he has made in working with the Congress will miss him greatly. Of course, our loss is his new crew's gain, and I am confident that Karl will be a great Captain who will ensure that his ship and crew are ready for whatever lies ahead. I join with my colleagues today in wishing Commander Van Deusen, his wife, Beth, and their five children, Bonnie, Jon, Margaret, Todd, and Cora the very best in one of the best jobs in the world. This great American family has made many sacrifices during a Navy career in which Karl has distinguished himself with an unselfish service that exemplifies the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment. Clearly Commander Van Deusen is one of the best our nation has to offer and as he departs the Pentagon to return to sea duty, I call upon colleagues to wish Karl and his family every success and ``fair winds and following seas'' for the captain and crew of the USS Gonzales.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 392, expressing our nation's solidarity with Israel in our joint battle against terrorism throughout the Middle East and the world. Unfortunately, because of a family medical emergency I was unable to cast a vote for the rule to consider this resolution and for the resolution itself. My vote earlier today though, for the previous question, to allow for the consideration of this legislation is indicative of my strong support for the House's expression of unity with Israel and the Israeli people. The American and Israeli people continue to be the primary targets of cowardly terrorist cells and I stand with the people of Israel in ensuring their right to defend their homeland and their citizens from these attacks. This resolution today is one more signal to the world that our two great nations are allied in the effort to bring about peace and rid the world of terrorists. We must never waiver in that fight if we are to succeed and I pledge my continuing support.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would like to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) regarding two provisions in section 11 of the bill. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the chairman on a good bill which is long overdue. However, it is my understanding there are two provisions in section 11 that would create an additional requirement for discretionary appropriations. Specifically, subsection (b)(5) strikes a current fee collected by the INS to support the cost of processing certain immigrant applications, and subsection (b)(6) then authorizes appropriations for these applications. I further understand that this may require upwards of $1 billion over the next 4 years. Mr. Chairman, is my understanding of these provisions correct?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for the opportunity to clarify this matter.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would like to point out that the current House budget resolution does not assume this additional requirement on discretionary appropriations. As a result, any funding for this provision, if provided in fiscal year 2003, will have to come at the expense of reductions in other important funding priorities, including those for homeland security and the war on terrorism. Given the current budget environment and the demands on spending that we face, will the chairman be amenable to reviewing the need for these provisions during the conference deliberations on his bill?