H10870 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 10, 2008 

products. But as impressed as I was 

with Zimmer’s Statesville plant, I was 

more impressed with the company’s 

dedication to its employees and their 

safety. 

This summer the Zimmer plant 

logged more than 1 million safe hours 

with no injuries or illnesses that resulted in lost work days. That is nearly 

four straight years of providing a flawless safety record. So I was not surprised when I found out later that Doug 

Pond, the supervisor at Zimmer, won 

first place in the annual North Carolina Statewide Safety Talk Contest 

hosted by the North Carolina Industrial Commission in Greensboro, North 

Carolina. 

I congratulate Zimmer of Statesville 

for its impressive safety record and for 

its commitment to providing an accident-free workplace. During these uncertain economic times, it’s good to 

talk about a company that is doing 

something right. 

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SECOND NATIONAL HEALTH 

DISPARITY CONFERENCE 

(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was 

given permission to address the House 

for 1 minute and to revise and extend 

her remarks.) 

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding Second National Health Disparity Conference sponsored by the 

University of the Virgin Islands Caribbean Research Center and the Director, 

Dr. Gloria Callwood, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation 

last week in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. We will meet in Atlanta, Georgia, next year. 

The conference brought together 

Members of Congress, leading researchers from the Federal Government, academic institutions and the private sector, educators, advocates and health 

consumers. We looked at issues ranging 

from factors determining academic 

success in African American males to 

the impact of climate change on 

health, but primarily focused on the 

health and health care challenges of 

Americans of color and poor and rural 

Americans. The presentations, questions, comments and recommendations 

will inform the health care reform 

agenda of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 111th Congress. 

Madam Speaker, I extend thanks to 

the capitol and local security, sponsors, speakers, attendees, staff and all 

who made the conference a success, but 

especially Shelley Thomas of my staff 

and MUSC Assistant Professor David 

Rivers for his leadership and vision. 

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UNCLE ‘‘SANTA’’ SAM AND THE 

BIG THREE AUTO BOYS 

(Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

minute.) 

Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, it’s 

Christmas time in the city, so the Federal Government is about to give away 

more taxpayer dollars to those with 

their corporate hands out. 

Now the Big Three Automakers say 

they need Uncle ‘‘Santa’’ Sam to save 

them from themselves even though 

they have been bad all year. And they 

expect ‘‘Joe Sixpack’’ from Dime Box, 

Texas, to pay for their naughty deeds. 

We can’t call it a bailout because 

that might be too honest a statement 

to our citizens; so we call it a ‘‘bridge 

loan.’’ Actually it’s a bridge loan to nowhere. 

And Congress wants to create a Car 

Czar to oversee the control of how the 

Big Three make new cars. They tell us 

it’s not the nationalization of the car 

business, but it sounds close enough for 

government work to me. 

Anyway, does anybody really think 

the Federal Government knows anything about the car business? 

If you like the way the Federal Government fouled up the mortgage industry by over-regulating Fannie Mae and 

Freddie Mac that has cost the taxpayers billions, or you like the way the 

Federal Government controls passenger rail service with Amtrak that 

loses billions of dollars every year, 

you’ll love the way the Federal bureaucrats make new cars. 

The new federalized auto industry 

will have the competence of FEMA, the 

pleasantries of the Post Office, and the 

compassion of the IRS. 

And that’s just the way it is. 

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 

TEACHERS 

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina 

asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. 

Madam Speaker, the National Board 

for Professional Teaching Standards 

recently announced their latest list of 

newly National Board Certified teachers. I am grateful to report that the 176 

teachers this round from the Second 

Congressional District of South Carolina represent the highest number of 

any district in America. 

I know the citizens of the Second 

District are extremely proud and grateful to have such well-qualified professional teachers working to educate 

their children. Families understand 

that a strong education is the foundation for future success. We must continue to bring parents, teachers and 

school administrators together in a 

common pursuit of high quality, accessible and affordable education. This 

should be done with the utmost respect 

for the unique needs and challenges of 

our local schools. Our schools should be 

run by dynamic elected local school 

boards. 

I want to thank our Nation’s professional educators for their dedication to 

teaching our children and building a 

brighter future. 

In conclusion, God bless our troops, 

and we will never forget September the 

11th. 

RECESS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair 

declares the House in recess subject to 

the call of the Chair. 

Accordingly (at 10 o’clock and 11 

minutes a.m.), the House stood in recess subject to the call of the Chair. 

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b 1430 

AFTER RECESS 

The recess having expired, the House 

was called to order by the Speaker pro 

tempore (Mrs. TAUSCHER) at 2 o’clock 

and 30 minutes p.m. 

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REPORT ON H.R. 7322, COMMERCE, 

JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2009 

Mr. MOLLOHAN, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted a 

privileged report (Rept. No. 110–919) on 

the bill (H.R. 7322) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce 

and Justice, and Science, and Related 

Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, 

which was referred to the Union Calendar and ordered to be printed. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1, rule XXI, all points of 

order are reserved on the bill. 

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REPORT ON H.R. 7323, FINANCIAL 

SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 

2009 

Mr. SERRANO, from the Committee 

on Appropriations, submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 110–920) on the 

bill (H.R. 7323) making appropriations 

for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, 

which was referred to the Union Calendar and ordered to be printed. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1, rule XXI, all points of 

order are reserved on the bill. 

f 

REPORT ON H.R. 7324, ENERGY AND 

WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2009 

Mr. SERRANO, from the Committee 

on Appropriations, submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 110–921) on the 

bill (H.R. 7324) making appropriations 

for energy and water development and 

related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other 

purposes, which was referred to the 

Union Calendar and ordered to be 

printed. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1, rule XXI, all points of 

order are reserved on the bill.