January 24, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H123 from schools with which they will be services which boost our economy. need to end it now, not 2014. Not at merging. While the Archdiocese of That means that small businesses whatever other later date the military Philadelphia contemplates its plans for across America need customers, and brass decides is appropriate. After continuing to provide students with a they need customers right now. nearly 1,900 American deaths and more rigorous academic curriculum in con- So we must extend the expiring un- than 10 years of bloodshed and may- cert with spiritual values, families and employment benefits. We can’t aban- hem, we owe it to our troops and to parishioners can reflect upon the three don the millions of job seekers before their families, as well as American tax- principles of Catholic Schools Week— they find a good job. We should also payers, to bring them home. faith, academics, service—not simply immediately add an additional 14 This war is not just a moral disgrace, as a theme but also as a guide for their weeks of tier I unemployment benefits not just a humanitarian disaster, Mr. future decisions. for the millions of Americans who have Speaker; it’s a strategic failure. We’re Mr. Speaker, Catholic Schools Week completely exhausted their benefits spending at least $10 billion every is truly a time to demonstrate the in- after 99 weeks. Far too many Ameri- month to prop up a regime in Afghani- tangible value of Catholic education. cans have exhausted all of their unem- stan that is ineffective on its best day I’m extremely grateful for the hard ployment benefits and are still unable and downright corrupt on its worst. work and dedication of the administra- to work. We must not abandon these Afghanistan continues to be racked tors, faculty, students, and parents 99ers. by poverty and violence, and my belief who’ve created an environment fos- To achieve these ends, we must en- is that by continuing to have military tering academic excellence, spiritu- sure that we protect the efficient and boots on the ground, we’re encouraging ality, and service. effective programs we already have in more animosity towards the United f place and provide strong investments States, giving the Taliban a recruit- that spur immediate job growth. And ment tool, and thus, undermining our POVERTY IN AMERICA we have the resources to do this if we security. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The commit ourselves to increasing fair- Mr. Speaker, we need a new security Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from ness in taxation to ensure that the program. We need a new security para- California (Ms. LEE) for 5 minutes. wealthiest Americans pay their fair digm, an entirely fresh way of thinking Ms. LEE of California. As the founder share and enact a reasonable Tax Code about how to keep our Nation safe. of the Congressional Out of Poverty that includes financial transactions Won’t we make more friends and win Caucus, I rise again today to remind which will not only raise vital revenue more hearts and minds if we extend a this body about the crisis of poverty in but set some limits to the wild, out-of- hand of friendship to the rest of the America, which really should prick the control speculation and vulture cap- world instead of rattling the saber at conscience of every Democrat and Re- italism that nearly brought down this the first sign of trouble? publican. As we begin to consider legis- entire economy. Actually, that’s the heart of my lation for this year and budgets for the Also, we must take a bold approach SMART security platform. Why are we fiscal year 2013, we must do more to in how we allocate the large savings spending pennies on humanitarian aid help millions of Americans living in from our defense budgets as we bring for every dollar we’re spending on poverty. our troops home from abroad. weapons and warfare? Instead of a mili- We must do more for the millions of I’m confident that the President will tary surge, we need a civilian surge, Americans who are looking very hard speak to the moral and economic crises one that lifts people out of poverty, re- for a job and working hard every day to of income inequality and will not for- builds infrastructure, promotes edu- move up the ladder of opportunity, get the long-term unemployed, the cation, especially for women and girls, really trying to remove these very dif- poor, our seniors, our students, and the and combats malnutrition and global ficult barriers. middle class in his State of the Union health problems around the world. We must not balance our budgets on speech tonight. SMART security is a renewed com- the backs of the most vulnerable, the I hope the Republicans and Demo- mitment to diplomacy, multilater- poor, and low-income individuals, and crats in this body take heed and tomor- alism, and peaceful conflict resolution. we cannot allow any budget cuts or au- row pass the American Jobs Act for the It would support a dramatic downsizing thorize new spending on programs that good of the country. of the military industrial complex. Be- will increase poverty or increase in- f lieve it or not, the Pentagon consumes come inequality in America. 56 percent of discretionary spending We also must commit to taking bold SMART SECURITY: TO CREATE AN with a budget bigger in real dollars steps to reducing the devastating im- AMERICA BUILT TO LAST than it was at the height of the Soviet pact of poverty in America, and that is The SPEAKER pro tempore. The threat. And with SMART security, we by creating jobs. It’s inexcusable and Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from can reverse that. immoral to fail to take the strongest California (Ms. WOOLSEY) for 5 min- Tonight I’m told the President will possible action to bring immediate utes. sound the theme of an America built to help to those Americans in need. Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, tonight last. But no Nation, Mr. Speaker, that We cannot continue down the path when the President of the United exists in a state of semipermanent war- that leads to increasing poverty, in- States addresses our Nation from this fare can be built to last. I worry about equality, and income disparities which Chamber, we will hear some good news how we can be built to last when we focus more and more wealth in the on the national security front. The end have enough nuclear warheads to blow hands of the few and leave millions of of the Iraq war, for example, is an im- the world to smithereens many times Americans behind. With nearly 50 mil- pressive accomplishment, one that over. lion Americans in poverty and half of wouldn’t have happened if bold progres- Now is the time, Mr. Speaker. Our all Americans in low-income house- sives hadn’t called for our troops to be common humanity compels us to bring holds, we cannot wait. We must act brought home way back in 2005. the troops home from Afghanistan and now. I’m also pleased the President’s lead- implement a SMART security agenda. Mr. Speaker, poverty doesn’t just ership will make it possible for our Now is the time. hurt families and the children who military strategic review to call for f grow up in families trapped by poverty, significant reductions in defense spend- b 1100 but it costs our Nation hundreds of bil- ing. lions of dollars in lost productivity and But on both of these fronts, ending HONORING THE LIFE OF FORMER slows the Nation’s economic growth. our current wars and long-range na- REPRESENTATIVE ED JENKINS We must act to strengthen funding for tional security strategy, I’m hoping for The SPEAKER pro tempore. The programs that not only prevent hun- proposals that are bigger and bolder Chair recognizes the gentleman from ger, homelessness, crime, and maintain than what we’ve heard to this point. Georgia (Mr. LEWIS) for 5 minutes. access to education, but we all must Bottom line, Mr. Speaker, we need to Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, create initiatives to demand goods and end the war in Afghanistan, and we I rise to recognize and celebrate the

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Isn’t it strange how princes and kings Georgia, Congressman Jenkins would Although I didn’t have the pleasure and clowns that caper in sawdust rings often describe himself as a country of serving in this body with Ed, as he and common folks like you and me are lawyer, but he was a country lawyer retired from Congress in 1993 as I was builders for eternity. Each is given a with an extensive knowledge of the tax beginning my first term, I and count- bag of tools, a shapeless mass and a set system. He was knowledgeable; he was less others from across the country of rules, and each must make your life very informed. He was an advocate for looked to Ed as a role model. Ed came as flown a stumbling block or a step- the people and industries of Georgia. to me shortly after I was elected. He ping stone. He was a champion of the South’s tex- embraced me. He was always available Mr. Speaker, I’m so glad, and the tile industry and a fierce protector of to me for advice and counsel. Not only people of Georgia and this Nation are the local economy. that, he and his friend of many years glad, that Ed Jenkins was a stepping Although often soft-spoken, Ed Jen- and his business partner, John stone and not a stumbling block for a kins bravely pressed for the facts of the Winburn, made it a point to offer con- higher, better life for so many people Iran-Contra affair. He believed the tinuous support for Democratic Mem- across this country. We mourn his loss, American people deserved to hear the bers from the Georgia delegation, year but we are grateful that we knew him truth, and he was not afraid to speak in and year out; and Ed never asked for and that he passed this way. out, he was not afraid to speak up. anything in return. f He was thoughtful, considerate, a He was a humble and able country brave negotiator and an unbelievable, lawyer. He practiced in Jasper, Geor- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND just excellent colleague. When I first gia. He was born in Young Harris. He NATIONAL WWI MEMORIAL came to Congress, he was so helpful attended Young Harris College. He was The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and so caring. I learned so much from in the Coast Guard. For many years he Chair recognizes the gentleman from him. He was a good man, a decent served as an aide to former Congress- Texas (Mr. POE) for 5 minutes. human being. I never heard him say a man Phil Landrum of Georgia. He was Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this mean thing about anyone. elected to this body, and he served is a photograph of Frank Buckles. It I only wish we had more Members of from 1977 to 1993. was taken when he was about 16 years Congress on both sides of the aisle, As a member of the House Ways and of age. He may have been 15; he may with not just his demeanor, but with Means Committee, he played an instru- have been 17. the pride he took in this institution mental role in passage of key tax ini- You see, Frank Buckles Jr. joined and this Congress. He was very proud tiatives that benefited millions of the United States Army in the great to be a Member of Congress and proud working American families. He was a World War I, and he lied to get into the to be a member of the Ways and Means key figure in the investigation and un- Army so he could serve America in Committee, and that pride made him a covering the crimes committed during France. They called them doughboys powerful leader. the Iran-Contra affair. when they went to Europe. He drove an I can remember over the years each Ed, through his illustrious legislative ambulance so he could rescue other time the Ways and Means Committee career, always remained a passionate doughboys who had been wounded and came together for a reunion. He would and loyal advocate of the South’s man- killed on the battlefield in Flanders always show up long after he retired ufacturing and textile industry. In 1985, and other places in Belgium and from the Congress. he wrote and passed the Textile and France. I was so sad to hear of his passing Apparel Trade Enforcement Act, which After the great World War I was over and would like to express my deepest was ultimately vetoed by President with, he came back home to the United sympathy to his wife, Jo; his daugh- Reagan, but would have rolled back the States, while 114,000 doughboys did not ters, Janice and Amy; and his entire textile imports from foreign countries return alive. family. As a Nation, we greatly bene- by 40 percent. As a conservative Demo- Many of them died from flu that they fited from his service. As a colleague, I crat from the South, Ed Jenkins often had contracted in France and died in learned so much from his example and received praise from his constituents the United States. Four million served, his friendship. for putting their interests ahead of po- 114,000 died, and Frank Buckles Jr. got He will be deeply missed by the peo- litical ideology or party affiliation. to come home. After the war was over ple of Georgia, the people of this Na- In his political life, he always em- with, when the great World War II tion. He made a lasting contribution to bodied the adage of the turtle on the started, he was in the Philippines. our country; and we must never, ever fence post, which was quoted so often b 1110 forget this good and great man. by his childhood friend, former Georgia f Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller. He was captured by the Japanese and It goes like this: whenever you see a held as a prisoner of war for 31⁄2 years. TRIBUTE TO FORMER turtle perched on a fence post, you And shortly before he was to be exe- REPRESENTATIVE ED JENKINS know one thing—he didn’t get there by cuted by the Japanese, he was rescued The SPEAKER pro tempore. The himself. Somebody put him there. Ed as other prisoners of war, Americans, Chair recognizes the gentleman from Jenkins always remembered who sent Filipinos, were rescued. Georgia (Mr. BISHOP) for 5 minutes. him to Washington. He spent the remainder of his years Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Ed is survived by his beloved wife of in the United States. He drove a trac- I would like to thank Congressman 51 years, Jo Jenkins; two daughters, tor in West Virginia until he was 107. JOHN LEWIS and his staff for reserving Janice Anderson and Amy Dotson; two And then last year, at the age of 110, time this morning for Members of the brothers, Charles and Kenneth; three Frank Buckles died. Frank Buckles House to come to the floor to pay trib- sisters, Marilyn Thomasson, Ella Bat- had a mission before he died. It was to ute to my friend, one of Georgia’s tle, and Patti Chambers; and two see that all who lived and died and former and notable legislators, the late grandsons. My wife, Vivian, and I served in the great World War I were Congressman Edgar Lanier Jenkins. Ed would like to extend our sincere condo- remembered by this country. You see, died January 1 of this year. lences to Ed’s family, friends, and he was the last doughboy. He was the The poet Longfellow wrote: ‘‘Heights former constituents as they mourn the last American who died from the great by great men reached and kept were loss of our dearly departed friend. World War I. not obtained by sudden flight but, There must have been something This second photograph is a more re- while their companions slept, they about the water at Young Harris Col- cent photograph taken when Frank were toiling on upward in the night.’’ lege. It produced people who must have Buckles and I and others were at the

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