Well, thank you, Connie. My report is about the Common Ground Project. One of the many joys of being active with this wonderful association is that it brings together Republicans and Democrats for our many programs, such as during our…

Thank you, Mr. President, Madam Speaker. It was a great honor and privilege for me to be with six former Members of the House of Representatives on the Democrat and Republican sides to go to China. The last time I was in China was 1995. I…

I have been involved in this cause for a long time because I am a former college President myself at Cumberland University, a small, private, independent college in the State of Tennessee. I am proud to be able to say that we have six…

I heard what President Bush had to say, but I also want to say to the Bush administration, we have to get tough. I say that we have to get tough because when we see what has happened with Enron and Global Crossing and WorldCom and all the…

I could not support the Republican bill because we have to have fairness. It does not offer fairness. As a matter of fact, I just completed a survey in Tennessee, and the fact is that prescription drugs are twice what they are in Canada…

I rise in support of H.R. 3694, the Highway Funding Restoration Act and I want to thank Chairman Young, Ranking Member Oberstar and my other colleagues from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their leadership on this…

I am very pleased, number one, that the Shays-Meehan passed by such an overwhelming vote. Now we have various amendments that could very well impact Shays-Meehan. I am not a lawyer, I am not a constitutional scholar, but I know one thing…

218 signatures. Two hundred eighteen signatures. That is what it took to finally force the Republican leadership to bring campaign finance reform to the floor of this body. In America we have a substantial number of people who do not vote…

I rise to pay tribute to a Member of the House, whom I consider not only a gifted leader but a dear friend. History is being made as Nancy Pelosi is officially sworn in as the new Democratic Whip. But history will ultimately cite not only…

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3282 is a bill to designate the Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Butte, Montana, in honor of Senator Mike Mansfield. Senator Mansfield, as all of us know, died in October of 2001 at the age of 98. He…

all of us gathered today know that aviation security must be radically improved. The current system is clearly broken. And fixing it is of dire importance to the American traveler, and to the nation at large. For we are a country built on…

Mr. Speaker, I returned Monday from a very successful bipartisan congressional delegation that included meetings with the Russian Duma, the exiled king of Afghanistan, representatives of the United Front fighting the Taliban, and Turkish…

Mr. Speaker, we were all shocked, horrified, disgusted, and sorrowed at the tragic events that transpired September 11, 2001, resulting in a large loss of life. My thoughts and prayers are with the families. There is no doubt, all of our…

we are all shocked, horrified, disgusted and sorrowed; and yet I am also extremely proud of the way all Americans in New York and Washington and all of the world have reacted. We know that there are groups and organizations, as well as…

Mr. Chairman, this is a serious matter. We have heard from doctors, patients all over the country, and we want some relief now. I was hoping the conversation that the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) had with the President would bring…

This bill is not about one's freedom of speech; it is about one's respect for our country and the rights provided by it. As a veteran of the U.S. Army and serving 29 years in the Army National Guard, I do not have to be told about the need…

This flag is a national asset, and I strongly believe it deserves our unquestioned respect and protection. I pledge my full support for this amendment, and I hope that my colleagues will vote to support its passage. I have heard from a lot…

I rise today to honor James Smith, winner of the Congressional Art Competition for the Fifth Congressional District of Tennessee. James is a recent graduate of my alma mater, Hillsboro High School in Nashville, with his award-winning…

I want to thank several people that have worked so hard concerning the Sudan Peace Act. I do support the rule. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the gentleman from New Jersey…

later today I will be introducing with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) the Character Learning and Student Success Act. Society is growing increasingly concerned about the steady decline of our Nation's core ethical values, especially…

I know we are all here tonight, and I am pleased to be here with the gentleman, because I know the gentleman is such a leader in education and in so many other areas, but also our other colleagues, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr…

I first want to say to the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence), and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), these two gentlemen are real heroes in the U.S. House of Representatives…

this resolution has been brought forward expressing the importance of music education to the floor tonight. Mr. Speaker, I come from Nashville, Tennessee, which we call Music City USA, this week to celebrate Fan Fair. We will have people…

I am very pleased today that H.R. 5 is moving. I have been in Congress for several years now, and this is a piece of legislation that I have felt like should have been passed many years ago. And I know senior citizens that have quit work…