July 8, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7251 The bill includes $242 million in know he had a recent State champion- and in humble recognition of a man budget authority designated as being ship as well. He is no ordinary high who, by all accounts, was a servant of for overseas deployment and other ac- school football coach. Because in this God in every sense, a person who put tivities for the Coast Guard. Pursuant small town of Parkersburg, IA, the his faith to work by mentoring the to section 401(c)(4) of S. Con. Res. 13, high school is in two towns, Aplington- young people of his community as a the 2010, budget resolution, an adjust- Parkersburg, IA. It only has 2,000 peo- teacher and a football coach, a person ment to the 2010 discretionary spending ple in it. But this football coach has who put his faith to work by providing limits and the Appropriations Commit- taken four of his former players now a guiding hand as the community re- tee’s 302(a) allocation has been made presently playing in the NFL. At least covered from the tragedy of a tornado for this amount in budget authority three and maybe all four of these re- just a little over a year ago, a person and for the outlays flowing therefrom. turned to be pallbearers at his funeral. who put his faith to work as a father, The Senate-reported bill matches its We can see this record of the previous a husband, and an elder in the church. section 302(b) allocation for budget au- decade, and that record would be as Parenthetically, I wish to say this thority and is $1 million below its allo- good for the last decade. I am only about the close-knit families we have cation for outlays. No points of order sorry I don’t have a more recent pic- in the small communities of Iowa. It lie against the committee-reported ture showing Ed Thomas. happens that Coach Thomas and the bill. Two weeks ago today, at 10:30 in the family of the murderer go to the same I ask unanimous consent that the morning, a former student, a former church. The person who did the mur- table displaying the Budget Committee football player and the brother of a dering had, I assume from the news- scoring of the bill be printed in the football player who would have been paper, a drug problem. The Sunday be- playing this fall at this high school, RECORD. fore the murder, so the newspapers tell There being no objection, the mate- came into the weight room at Parkers- me, the family of the person with the rial was ordered to be printed in the burg High School. This coach was al- drug problem who did the murder ways there because he wanted to en- RECORD, as follows: asked in the church, would they pray courage his players to work out and to for their son. Coach Ed Thomas led the S. 1298, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY be healthy. He was there with them. prayer for that son, as it was reported APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010 This former student came in and killed in the newspaper. [Spending Comparisons—Senate-reported Bill (in millions of dollars)] him with a gun. Didn’t bother anybody It was barely a year ago when news else. That was it. He was rushed to the reports came across the wires about a Defense General Total hospital but probably dead on arrival. small Iowa farming town that was dev- purpose I say how outstanding he was and astated by an F–5 tornado that tore Senate-Reported Bill: how well liked he was. About 12 across the community and leveled hun- Budget Authority ...... 1,582 41,345 42,927 Outlays ...... 1,404 45,298 46,702 months before that, a tornado went dreds of homes and businesses—with Senate 302(b) Allocation: through Parkersburg destroying about eight people dying—the school and Budget Authority ...... – – – – – – 42,927 Outlays ...... – – – – – – 46,703 a third of the town. This is a town of what locals call the Sacred Acre or, to House-Passed Bill: only 2,000. This coach had his house the rest of us the famous Parkersburg Budget Authority ...... 1,553 41,064 42,617 blown away, but he didn’t worry about Outlays ...... 1,390 44,931 46,321 Falcon football field. President’s Request: himself. He headed for his high school, Just last week, this same town was Budget Authority ...... 1,365 41,473 42,838 which was also destroyed, to do imme- hit with possibly a more crushing blow Outlays ...... 1,219 45,079 46,298 diately what he could to help turn than a tornado could ever take from a SENATE-REPORTED BILL COMPARED TO: things around. town. The caretaker of the Sacred Senate 302(b) allocation: I have prepared remarks where I will Acre, the beloved football coach and Budget Authority ...... – – – – – – 0 refer to this so colleagues will be hear- town leader, Coach Ed Thomas, was Outlays ...... – – – – – – ¥1 House-Passed Bill: ing it twice. His goal from that Memo- senselessly murdered in front of his Budget Authority ...... 29 281 310 rial Day weekend to the opening of the very own students. Outlays ...... 14 367 381 President’s Request: football season, the first Friday night In our area of the State, it is not Budget Authority ...... 217 ¥128 89 in August, was to have that football hard to know Coach Thomas. He was a Outlays ...... 185 219 404 field ready to go so they could play pillar of the community. His success on Note: Both House and Senate bills include $242 million in budget author- football as they have. They had a very the football field made him an icon in ity designated as being for overseas deployment and other activities for the Coast Guard. outstanding season. his profession—two State champion- This is a person who led a commu- ships and four players currently in the f nity. He was not just a football coach. NFL. But the people who knew him MORNING BUSINESS My home of 75 years is 10 miles from will remember him most for his leader- Mrs. MURRAY. I ask unanimous con- that high school. They were our com- ship off the field. sent that the Senate proceed to morn- petitors. There is very fierce competi- It was his leadership that helped pull ing business, with Senators allowed to tion between football teams in these up the community that was knocked speak for up to 10 minutes each. small towns of the Midwest. I went off its feet by the F–5 tornado. His dec- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Sunday afternoon. The viewing of the laration in the aftermath of the tor- objection, it is so ordered. body was from 3 to 8. The next day the nado that the Aplington-Parkersburg The Senator from Iowa. funeral had 2,500 people at it. But at boys would play football on their home the time—I get there at 3 o’clock—the field in just a couple months gave the f line was 3 blocks long. I stood in line 3 town of Parkersburg, IA, purpose in REMEMBERING ED THOMAS hours to get to say my condolences to the most difficult of times. the family and to view. This family It was the Sacred Acre that brought Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I was so strong that they probably gave everyone in town together, and it was think I can be done in 10 minutes, but more comfort to the people who were the whole town that put the Sacred if I can’t be, I would like to have a lit- there to view than each of us gave to Acre back together so they could start tle bit longer because I am going to the family. the football season on time in that talk about a very good Iowan who was Three hours, and I thought: How long home game, the last Friday of August. murdered 2 weeks ago today. This is is the line? By 6:30, the line was 4 Coach Thomas and his Sacred Acre the purpose for which I rise. This is blocks long. That family stood there brought out the best in the commu- coach Ed Thomas. I will get to that in until 11 o’clock that night to greet all nity, just as he brought out the best in a minute. But before I leave that up the friends of this beloved Iowa coach. his team with what Coach Thomas there for Senators to view, I wish to With that as background, I came to called, ‘‘strength in togetherness.’’ tell them, this is not any ordinary high the floor to give this statement. I His impact reached the people of this school football coach. This is obviously thought I ought to put it in some con- community long before that fateful day an old picture because it only goes to text. in May 2008. For nearly four decades, 1998. He coached 37 years at this high I come before the Senate with the Coach Thomas led young men in more school. It says here ‘‘championship.’’ I heavy heart of an entire community than just the game of football. He led

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I want to tell Senator GRASSLEY, his donated the proceeds of his book sales Most of us can remember that one remarks, his compassion, and his pas- to Donna for the establishment of a coach or that one teacher who had the sion are appreciated, I am sure, not foundation, which she uses that money greatest impact on each of us. For only by the family and all Iowans but to help those less fortunate, those in many in the Parkersburg community, all of us in America, as we share in the need, and those on the cusp of doing that one person was Coach Thomas. tragedy and loss of a great man. I com- great things who need a little encour- He was well known for getting the mend him on his remarks. agement and a little capitalization. best out of his players and students. He f So as all of us have our opinions from was always providing motivation to his time to time about talk radio or jour- TRIBUTE TO NEAL BOORTZ kids. But those who knew Coach Thom- nalism or commentaries or those who as best say his No. 1 talent was friend- Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I rise may sometimes accuse us and some- ship. His friend, Al Kerns, said: for just a minute to talk about a gen- times praise us as politicians, I am de- He only saw the best in others, and I guess tleman who resides in my State, a man lighted to stand on the floor of the that’s why he got all this back. I have known for 40 years, and a man I, Senate and praise a man from my ‘‘This’’ being the outpouring of com- never in a million years, thought I State who for 40 years has given the passion from people across Iowa. It would stand on the floor of the Senate best he has, who has fought for what he may be best demonstrated by the scene and brag about. But today I did some- believed in but accepted being chal- in Parkersburg last week at the fu- thing I have never done. I voted on the lenged, and who always tried to say neral. As the hearse traveled from the Internet in relation to the National and do the right thing for America and funeral to the nearby cemetery, the Radio Hall of Fame nominees for 2009 the right thing for our community. streets were lined four or five deep for a gentleman by the name of Neal It is my sincere hope when the voting with myriads of color. It has been a Boortz. ends on October 1, that millions of true testament to the reach of this Neal Boortz is a daytime talk show Americans will have gone to the poll icon, not only because of the sheer host in the city of Atlanta. He started on the Internet, radiohof.org, and cast numbers of people but the myriad of in radio with Ring Radio in 1969, a lit- their vote for Neal Boortz. colors that came from high school foot- tle old 1,000-watt station in Mr. President, I yield back. ball teams from all across Iowa that Brookhaven, GA. Now he is one of the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- came in their game jerseys to honor a leading talk show hosts in terms of au- ator from Illinois. selfless man who shared his playbook dience in the United States of America. f He is syndicated on 230 different sta- as well as his heart. HEALTH CARE REFORM The tributes made since that tragic tions, has an audience of 5 million peo- morning show that even after his ple, and calls himself the High Priest of Mr. BURRIS. Mr. President, we have death, Ed Thomas is teaching us to be the Church of the Painful Truth. I have all heard that America’s health care better people by the way he lived his to rise and tell you as a politician who system is in crisis. But all too often, life. has been both the victim and the bene- Washington loses sight of what is truly It has been obvious that his two sons ficiary of any number of Neal’s dia- at stake. Some talk constantly about have taken his life lessons to heart, tribes, he is exactly that. He is a man how much reform will cost, but with- just like many others. I continue to be of the painful truth. He can find the out action more and more hard-work- struck by the poise of his sons who facts on any issue. He can get to the ing Americans will lose coverage. have performed the most monumental core of the issue, and he can move com- Soaring health care costs are increas- task by asking us to pray for the fam- munities to do good things and do the ing the burdens on the American peo- ily of the man who killed their father. right thing. ple, American businesses, and our gov- I cannot think of a greater tribute to I was delighted to hear that the Na- ernment. Today, our health care sys- their dad than the actions they have tional Radio Foundation has nomi- tem stands on the brink of collapse. performed and the words they have nated him for this award, and I want to Over the past 2 years, 3.5 million Illi- spoken over the last 10 days. There is say today I voted for him because I sin- nois residents, nearly 31 percent of the no question in my mind that these two cerely hope he gets the recognition for under-65 population, have been without young men possess the same qualities three reasons: One is, while he is not health care insurance at one time or as their father and that these two boys always right, he is seldom in doubt. His another. How can we allow American will continue his legacy. passion for what he believes rubs off, citizens to live in fear that the next Aaron Thomas, the oldest of Ed and and I think that is important. cough or fever would put them in the Jan’s two boys, said this at the funeral. Secondly, he loves to be challenged. poorhouse? There is a better way. He actually said more than I am going Unlike so many you hear on the radio Even for those who manage to stay to quote, but this is a very important who want you to believe it is their way insured amid the current climate of part: or the highway, he loves to share his rapid increasing costs, the economic You can be sad the rest of the day, but own ideas. He has published three toll of paying for insurance can be crip- come tomorrow, once you wake up, it’s time books. The first one, ‘‘The Terrible pling to middle-class families. to get going . . . there’s a lot of work to be Truth About Liberals,’’ is on its sixth Over the past 9 years, insurance pre- done in this town. publishing. ‘‘The FairTax Book,’’ miums have more than doubled. By While this community’s heart is which he cowrote with a Georgia Con- 2016 the projected cost of insurance for heavy, they will move forward to see gressman, JOHN LINDER, has been on a family of four in Illinois will top the brightness of another day and of the New York Times Best Seller list for $25,000 a year, meaning for a median in- another game, just as Coach Thomas a long period of time. come family in my State, nearly half would have wanted. Right now, his most recent book— of their earnings would be spent for I yield the floor. and that is, ‘‘Somebody’s Got to Say health insurance. Obviously, this would The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- It,’’ which he oftentimes does—is in its prove disastrous to people in Illinois ator from Georgia. second printing and No. 2 on the New and across the Nation. Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, before I York Times Best Seller list. The pressure of increasing premiums make my remarks, I want to express But the best part of Neal Boortz is is hurting our economy from the busi- my appreciation to Senator GRASSLEY not the thousands he has influenced in ness side as well. Small businesses in for his obviously passionate and com- over 40 years on the radio, his humor particular often cannot afford to pro- passionate remarks about a story and a and his passion. It is not his longevity. vide care for their workers. In 2006 only man who has captured America. As It is the fact that he always gives back 41 percent of Illinois businesses with Senator GRASSLEY knows, I have the to his community and his State. less than 50 employees were able to

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