Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER, 4, 2007 No. 184 House of Representatives The House met at 2 p.m. and was PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE the CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Ed called to order by the Speaker pro tem- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the Sellers, for their strong leadership. pore (Mr. HOLDEN). gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the f BORDALLO) come forward and lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance. 11th. DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER Ms. BORDALLO led the Pledge of Al- f PRO TEMPORE legiance as follows: FUND OUR VETERANS I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- United States of America, and to the Repub- (Mrs. DRAKE asked and was given fore the House the following commu- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, permission to address the House for 1 nication from the Speaker: indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. minute and to revise and extend her re- WASHINGTON, DC, marks.) f December 4, 2007. Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, this is I hereby appoint the Honorable TIM IN RECOGNITION OF THE BLUE day 65. That’s 65 days so far that our HOLDEN to act as Speaker pro tempore on CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF SOUTH veterans have not had the use of the in- this day. CAROLINA FOUNDATION creased funding for their benefits and NANCY PELOSI, Speaker of the House of Representatives. (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina health care. That’s $18.5 million a day asked and was given permission to ad- not able to be used. f dress the House for 1 minute and to re- This bill has been done for months vise and extend his remarks.) and the President has already agreed PRAYER Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. to sign it. But instead of moving the The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and bill forward, the Democratic leadership Coughlin, offered the following prayer: thank the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of in Congress chose to adjourn early for Lord of heaven and Earth, darkness South Carolina Foundation for the the Thanksgiving holiday. descends upon us as the days grow hard work on behalf of the citizens of I’m calling on the Speaker to pass shorter, and the cold chastens us to South Carolina. this bill, and I call on all Americans to withdraw inside. The purpose of the Blue Cross/Blue contact their Representatives and tell Be for us the light we long for. The Shield Foundation is to promote the the Democratic leadership to send a very promise of change creates expec- health and well-being of economically clean veterans appropriation bill to the tation. disadvantaged South Carolinians President now. By the first hints of Your dawn, ban- through expanded access to quality and Our veterans are heroes. We must ish all fear and hesitation. May those affordable health care. Through the provide all possible benefits and health who live on the margins of America’s awarding of grants, the foundation pro- care for our veterans now. rich blessings have peace and pros- vides necessary resources to free clin- f perity too. ics, health education programs, and HONORING THE LIFE OF Strengthen us with Your mighty school nursing programs. Realizing CONGRESSMAN HENRY HYDE arm, that this Congress may be unified that it is often children and young in lifting Your people to renewed hope. adults most adversely affected by inad- (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given For You are always faithful and can equate health care, the foundation fo- permission to address the House for 1 be trusted, now and forever. cuses on providing grant money to minute and to revise and extend his re- Amen. services that will assist children and marks.) adolescents who are either uninsured Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise f or underinsured. today to honor the life and accomplish- This year they have embarked on a ments of a terrific Member, former THE JOURNAL state-wide tour to recognize the $1.6 Congressman Henry Hyde. He’s often The SPEAKER pro tempore. The million in grants that they will be recognized for his wisdom and his elo- Chair has examined the Journal of the awarding. This is part of over $7 mil- quence of speaking. But, frankly, there last day’s proceedings and announces lion in grants they have awarded since were some other sides of him that were to the House his approval thereof. 2003. very precious. He was a man of quick Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- I want to thank the foundation’s ex- wit and a keen sense of humor, to nal stands approved. ecutive director, Harvey Galloway, and which I was always a willing audience. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H14087 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:14 Dec 05, 2007 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A04DE7.000 H04DEPT1 cnoel on PRODPC60 with HOUSE_CN H14088 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 4, 2007 Above all, he was passionately com- Iran is aggressively pursuing a nuclear ernor Rod R. Blagojevich informing him that mitted to protecting and improving the weapons program, we now find that as I am resigning my position as the United lives of Americans, all Americans, both with Iraq, this was not true. States Representative for the 14th District of born and the unborn. He was an effec- But, differently from what happened Illinois effective 10:59 p.m. CST, November 26th, 2007. tive pro-life advocate, through prohib- with Iraq, this time those professional, Madam Speaker, it has been a high honor iting Federal funding of abortions with courageous civil servants in our na- to serve in the House of Representatives for the Hyde amendment and his advocacy tional intelligence agencies stood up to almost 21 years. I am grateful to the people for the ban on partial-birth abortions. intimidation from the White House and of Illinois for giving me that honor. Conservative estimates indicate that spoke the truth objectively and de- Let me also thank you, Madam Speaker, there are about 2 million Americans tailed it with facts. We’re very proud of for the many courtesies you have afforded to alive today as a direct result of his them. me as a former Speaker during the past year and I wish you and all my colleagues God’s work. All the more reason why we should blessing as you continue in your service. Henry Hyde leaves behind a legacy not yield to the President’s threats to I am sincerely, that inspires and challenges those of us furlough over 200,000 civilian employees J. DENNIS HASTERT, who remain behind today. and contractors just before Christmas Member of Congress. My deepest condolences and sym- unless the Congress approves another Enc: Letter to Governor Rod R. pathy to his family, and may God bless $50 billion in war spending. Blagojevich. Henry Hyde. Mr. Speaker, we need to stick to our CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, guns. We’ve approved $459 billion in de- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, f Washington, DC, November 26, 2007. fense spending. That’s enough. IN RECOGNITION OF TIM Hon. ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH, CULBERTSON f Governor, State of Illinois, Springfield, IL. (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given SOUND POLICY FOR AMERICA’S DEAR GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH: I am hereby permission to address the House for 1 ENERGY NEEDS, NOT HOLLOW resigning my position as the United States minute.) PROMISES Representative for the 14th District of Illi- Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to (Mr. BOUSTANY asked and was nois effective 10:59 p.m. CST, November 26, take a moment today to recognize Tim 2007. given permission to address the House I have chosen this date because I have been Culbertson and all the members of the for 1 minute and to revise and extend Cheviot-Western Hills Chapter of the advised that it allows you sufficient time to his remarks.) call a special primary to select candidates to Military Order of the Purple Heart, Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, when run to fill my unexpired term on February 5, Chapter 3620. it comes to a national energy policy, 2008, an already established primary day. The primary mission of the Military here we go again. This will minimize inconvenience to the vot- Order of the Purple Heart is to foster In January, the Democratic leader- ers and expense to the counties in the 14th an environment of goodwill and cama- ship promised to work across party Congressional District. raderie among wounded combat vet- Serving the people of the 14th District of lines to come up with a sound, com- Illinois in the United States House of Rep- erans, to promote patriotism, and to prehensive energy bill that would ad- provide service to all veterans and resentatives has been a high honor that I dress Americans’ anxieties about dra- will long cherish. their families. matically high gas prices and esca- I am sincerely, Tim Culbertson, a Vietnam veteran lating home heating costs. J. DENNIS HASTERT, and Purple Heart recipient himself, has However, the Democratic energy pro- Member of Congress.