H12134 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 29, 2007 Upton Watson Wilson (NM) On rollcall No. 1010—‘‘nay’’—H.R. 3224, CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS ON Van Hollen Watt Wilson (SC) Vela´ zquez Weiner Wolf Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2007. AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPERS Visclosky Welch (VT) Woolsey On rollcall No. 1011—‘‘yea’’—H. Res. 573, IN HASKANITA, DARFUR, SUDAN Walden (OR) Westmoreland Wu Recognizing and commending the efforts of Walsh (NY) Wexler Wynn (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked the United States public and advocacy groups and was given permission to address Walz (MN) Whitfield Yarmuth to raise awareness about and help end the Waters Wicker Young (FL) the House for 1 minute and to revise worsening humanitarian crisis and genocide in and extend her remarks.) ANSWERED ‘‘PRESENT’’—8 Darfur, Sudan, and for other purposes. Akin Goode Sali On rollcall No. 1012—‘‘yea’’—H. Res. 747, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Forbes King (IA) Walberg Recognizing the religious and historical signifi- Speaker, today on the floor of the Franks (AZ) Musgrave cance of the festival of Diwali. House, I was very pleased to have de- NOT VOTING—66 bated H. Res. 740 that I authored with f Boehner Hastert Pryce (OH) Congressman CHABOT from Ohio and Brady (PA) Hastings (FL) Rohrabacher PERSONAL EXPLANATION joined by 55 of my colleagues. Brown, Corrine Hulshof Schmidt This resolution denounced the attack Butterfield Hunter Shays Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I took a on African Union peacekeepers. And it Buyer Jefferson Shea-Porter leave of absence on October 29, 2007; unfor- was a result of the codel led by myself, Carney Jindal Shuster tunately my airline flight was delayed. The fol- Carson Johnson (IL) joined by Congressman CHABOT and Simpson lowing list describes how I would have voted Chabot Kilpatrick Smith (WA) Congressman SMITH from Nebraska, Conaway Klein (FL) had I been in attendance today. Souder the first codel to go into Darfur since Costello Kucinich ‘‘Yea’’ on H.R. 3224—Dam Rehabilitation Spratt the signing of the agreement dealing Cubin LaHood and Repair Act of 2007, Representative Davis (KY) Lampson Tancredo with the peacekeepers. Taylor Salazar—Transportation and Infrastructure. Deal (GA) Marchant It is time now for our eyes to focus Dicks Meek (FL) Udall (CO) ‘‘Yea’’ on H.R. 573—Recognizing and com- English (PA) Myrick Wamp mending the efforts of the United States public on a safe return of those who have suf- Ferguson Nadler Wasserman and advocacy groups to raise awareness fered to their homeland, 2.4 million dis- Schultz Flake Neal (MA) about and help end the worsening humani- placed Sudanese, Darfurians, who live Frelinghuysen Paul Waxman in a state of flux and fear. Gohmert Payne Weldon (FL) tarian crisis and genocide in Darfur, Sudan, Granger Pence Weller and for other purposes, Representative Moran It is an outrage that these peace- Green, Gene Peterson (PA) Wilson (OH) (VA)—Foreign Affairs. keepers would be attacked. It is an out- Grijalva Pickering Young (AK) rage that, as the African Union has Gutierrez Pitts ‘‘Yea’’ on H.R. 747—Recognizing the reli- gious and historical significance of the festival stood up to be counted and provided ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE of Diwali, Representative Wilson (SC)—For- soldiers on the field to protect those The SPEAKER pro tempore (during eign Affairs. refugees, it is an outrage that they are the vote). Members are advised there being attacked. f are 2 minutes to record your vote. We ask the U.N. to intervene to pro- b 1913 REMOVAL OF NAME OF MEMBER vide more peacekeepers. We ask that Mr. GOODE changed his vote from AS COSPONSOR OF H.R. 2074 the genocide stop. And we ask that ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘present.’’ Mr. MCCAUL of Texas. Madam Khartoum recognize that they have an So (two-thirds being in the affirma- Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that obligation to the people of Sudan. Stop tive) the rules were suspended and the my name be removed as a cosponsor of the genocide. resolution was agreed to. H.R. 2074. The result of the vote was announced The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there f as above recorded. objection to the request of the gen- A motion to reconsider was laid on tleman from Texas? IN MEMORY OF SERGEANT the table. There was no objection. EDWARD PHILPOT f f (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina PERSONAL EXPLANATION asked and was given permission to ad- b 1915 Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, due to dress the House for 1 minute and to re- official business in the 13th Congressional SUPPORT OUR VETERANS vise and extend his remarks.) District of Michigan, I was unable to make (Mrs. DRAKE asked and was given Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. several votes today. Had I been present, I permission to address the House for 1 Madam Speaker, I rise today, with would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on final passage of minute and to revise and extend her re- great sympathy, in honor of the mem- H.R. 3224, the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair marks.) ory of Sergeant Edward Philpot of Act of 2007; ‘‘yea’’ on final passage of H. Res. Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, this is South Carolina National Guard’s 218th 573—Recognizing and commending the ef- day 29. That is 29 days so far that our Brigade Combat Team. Sergeant forts of the United States public and advocacy veterans have not had the use of the in- Philpot and his fellow soldiers were groups to raise awareness about and help end creased funding for their benefits and traveling as a convoy near Kandahar the worsening humanitarian crisis and geno- health care. That is $18.5 million dol- Airfield, Afghanistan, last Tuesday cide in Darfur, Sudan, and for other purposes; lars a day not able to be used. And when his Humvee accidentally went off and ‘‘yea’’ on final passage of H. Res. 747— why? Because the Democratic leader- the road. Recognizing the religious and historical signifi- ship has decided to not complete this Sergeant Philpot is the first member cance of the festival of Diwali. bill and send it to the President who of the 218th, my former National Guard f has agreed to sign it. Brigade, to lose his life while serving in PERSONAL EXPLANATION In June this House passed this appro- Afghanistan. His sacrifice is a reminder priation bill with a $6 billion increase of the courage and dedication to duty Mr. SHAYS. Madam Speaker, on October shared by so many of our fellow Ameri- 29, 2007, I missed 3 recorded votes. in a bipartisan manner. We are proud of our work and grateful to our vet- cans. We must never forget the im- I take my voting responsibility very seriously mense sacrifices these brave men and and would like the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD to erans. On September 6, the Senate com- women are making to defend freedom reflect that, had I been present, I would have and to protect American families. voted ‘‘yea’’ on recorded vote No. 1010, ‘‘yea’’ pleted their bill. This work is done. Our veterans are not pawns in a political My thoughts and prayers are with on recorded vote 1011 and ‘‘yea’’ on recorded Sergeant Philpot’s wife, Stephanie; vote 1012. game. They are heroes. America expects us to get the job their three daughters; his parents, f done. America expects us to provide Ottas and Willa; and his entire family, PERSONAL EXPLANATION the best care to our veterans. friends, and fellow soldiers who con- Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, Please join me in calling upon the tinue to defend our country overseas. on Monday, October 29, 2007, I was absent Democratic leadership to put our vet- His sacrifice is a testament to the love from the House due to travel complications. erans first and send this bill to the for his country, his family, and his fel- Had I been present I would have voted: President now. low soldiers.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:19 Oct 30, 2007 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29OC7.043 H29OCPT1 bajohnson on PROD1PC71 with HOUSE October 29, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H12135 In conclusion, God bless our troops, In high school, Lieutenant Murphy with eight additional SEALs and eight and we will never forget September the life-guarded at the Brookhaven town Army Night Stalkers aboard, was sent. 11th. beach in Lake Ronkonkoma, a job he As the Chinook drew near, a rocket- f returned to each summer through his propelled grenade hit the helicopter, college years. He graduated from causing it to crash, killing all 16 men THE DRIVE ACT Patchogue-Medford High School in aboard. (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given 1994. On the ground and nearly out of am- permission to address the House for 1 Lieutenant Murphy attended Penn munition, the four SEALs continued to minute and to revise and extend his re- State University, where he was an ex- fight. After 2 hours Lieutenant Mur- marks.) ceptional all-around athlete and stu- phy, Matthew Axelson, and Daniel Mr. KINGSTON. Madam Speaker, dent. He excelled at ice hockey, grad- Dietz had fallen. Over 30 Taliban were last week the Capitol hosted a display uated with honors, and was accepted to also killed. of electric cars, hybrids like the Toy- several law schools, but instead wanted The fourth SEAL, Petty Officer ota Prius and various generations. to serve his country as part of the Marcus Luttrell, was knocked uncon- And there was one car that got my world’s most elite fighting force: the scious and over a ridge by the blast of attention. It was an Auto-Cycle. It was U.S. Navy SEALs. a rocket-propelled grenade. Though se- a one-man car. It would go 75 miles an Slightly built at 5 feet, 10 inches, he verely wounded, he evaded the enemy hour. And the owner of it did not drive attended SEAL mentoring sessions at for nearly a day and was rescued by it in from Ohio where it was made, but the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at local nationals who cared for him until he said he could have. It goes 75 miles Kings Point and was accepted to the U.S. forces arrived for him 3 days later. an hour. And if you have a car like that Navy Officer Candidate School in 2000. Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was in town, you basically plug it in every Lieutenant Murphy was commissioned buried at Calverton National Ceme- day and you run all day long, and you as an ensign and after 6 months com- tery, less than 20 miles from his home- don’t use one ounce of gas. pleted Basic Underwater Demolition town. His other awards include the I am a cosponsor of something called SEAL training in 2001. He then at- Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, the DRIVE Act. It is a bipartisan bill tended Army Jump School, SEAL the Joint Service Commendation cosponsored by me and ELIOT ENGEL of Qualification Training, SEAL Delivery Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps New York. The idea behind it is to get Vehicle School, and earned his SEAL Commendation Medal, Afghanistan off Middle East oil by increasing the Trident by 2002. Campaign Ribbon, and National De- incentive to buy hybrid cars, flex-fuel Lieutenant Murphy was later de- fense Service Medal. vehicles, electric vehicles, biodiesels, ployed to Qatar and to the Horn of Af- Throughout his life, he was known cars that run on ethanol, and a number rica in support of Operation Iraqi Free- for his unwavering loyalty and an in- of other alternative-fuel vehicles. We dom. In 2005, Lieutenant Murphy was stinctive responsibility to help others. have the technology that’s out there. assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle With unwavering courage in the face of We are doubling, in the DRIVE Act, Team ONE as assistant officer in certain death, he gave his life for his charge of ALFA Platoon and deployed the tax credit for buying hybrids in country and teammates, reflecting to Afghanistan in support of Operation such cars. I believe that this is a step great credit upon himself and uphold- Enduring Freedom. in the right direction, and I urge my ing the Navy’s highest traditions. Madam Speaker, the Congressional Madam Speaker, our Nation is colleagues to cosponsor the DRIVE Medal of Honor commemorates Lieu- Act. blessed to have a military full of great tenant Murphy’s actions as the officer Americans like Lieutenant Michael P. f in charge of a four-man SEAL unit in Murphy who are serving with great dis- SPECIAL ORDERS support of Operation Red Wing, tasked tinction. He epitomized the selfless de- with finding a key Taliban commander The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. votion to duty our young men and in the mountainous terrain of north- CLARKE). Under the Speaker’s an- women have demonstrated time and eastern Afghanistan. again in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other nounced policy of January 18, 2007, and On June 28, 2005, shortly after insert- hostile regions. My heart goes out to under a previous order of the House, ing into the objective area, the SEALs the Murphy family and the people of the following Members will be recog- were spotted by three goat herders who Patchogue, New York, for they have nized for 5 minutes each. were initially detained and then re- lost one of America’s very finest. f leased. It is believed they reported the f HONORING LIEUTENANT MICHAEL SEALs’ presence to Taliban fighters. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a P. MURPHY A fierce gun battle ensued on the steep face of the mountain between the previous order of the House, the gen- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a SEALs and a much larger enemy force. tleman from Texas (Mr. POE) is recog- previous order of the House, the gen- Despite the intensity of the firefight nized for 5 minutes. tleman from New York (Mr. BISHOP) is and suffering grave gunshot wounds (Mr. POE addressed the House. His recognized for 5 minutes. himself, Lieutenant Murphy is credited remarks will appear hereafter in the Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam with risking his own life to save the Extensions of Remarks.) Speaker, it is with honor and with a lives of his teammates. f profound sadness that I rise to recog- He had moved into the open where he b 1930 nize Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy of could gain a better position to trans- the United States Navy, who last week mit a call for help. This deliberate and HONORING LIEUTENANT MICHAEL was posthumously awarded our Na- heroic act deprived him of cover and P. MURPHY tion’s highest award for valor: the made him a target for the enemy. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Medal of Honor. While continuing to be fired upon, he previous order of the House, the gen- Among my greatest privileges was made contact with Bagram Air Base to tleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. DENT) attending last week’s ceremonial pres- request assistance. He calmly reported is recognized for 5 minutes. entations of the Medal of Honor to his his unit’s location and the size of the Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, I just family at the White House and the enemy force while requesting support want to follow up on what my friend Navy Memorial. for his team. Mr. BISHOP of New York has just said. Known fondly as ‘‘Murph,’’ Michael He was shot in the back, causing him We all learned about Lieutenant Mi- was born on May 7, 1976, in Smithtown, to drop the transmitter. He picked it chael Murphy’s bravery. And, of New York, and grew up in Patchogue, back up, completed the call, and con- course, last week, as was just stated, in my district on eastern Long Island. tinued firing at the enemy closing in. he received the Congressional Medal of He was raised by a family of policemen, Severely wounded, he returned to his Honor from President Bush on October lifeguards, firemen, and teachers who men and continued the battle. 22. instilled values reflecting that public In response to Lieutenant Murphy’s I also want to share with you an ex- service is a noble calling. call, an MH–47 Chinook helicopter, perience over the weekend prior to the

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