H192 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 13, 2009 

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

Washington, DC, January 13, 2009. 

Hon. NANCY PELOSI, 

Speaker, House of Representatives, Capitol 

Building,Washington, DC. 

Hon. JOHN BOEHNER, 

Republican Leader, House of Representatives, 

Capitol Building, Washington, DC. 

DEAR SPEAKER PELOSI AND LEADER

BOEHNER: I am writing to tender my resignation from the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for the 111th Congress effective today, 

January 13, 2009. It has been an honor to 

serve with Chairman Filner and Ranking 

Member Buyer, as well as the other members 

of the Committee, to ensure the needs of our 

veterans remain a national priority. 

I remain committed to making certain 

that our veterans receive the best quality of 

care, benefits, and services that the United 

States is able to provide. Locally, the Dayton VA Medical Center, and all Miami Valley 

and Ohio veterans will remain a top priority. 

Since my election to Congress I have been 

proud to support all of our nation’s veterans 

through increases in VA funding and supporting the Wounded Warrior Assistance 

Act, which is aimed at improving the transition between DoD and VA medical care. Additionally, I was able to support final passage of the GI Bill modernization, which expanded veterans education benefits and allows them to transfer their unused benefits 

to their immediate family members. 

Locally, I have been able to advocate for 

the 500-bed Dayton VA Medical Center, 

which is one of the three original VA ‘‘soldiers’ homes’’ created by President Lincoln 

after the Civil War. This facility is the second largest federal installation in my Congressional District, and is an important community asset. I worked to ensure the Community Living Center, which was slated for 

closure, remained open and also received additional money for a state-of-the-art renovation. I was also proud to help rural veterans 

in my community continue to have access to 

important screening services close to home. 

I have recently been named the Ranking 

Republican on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services 

Committee. This leadership position requires 

a great deal of commitment and is a unique 

opportunity to continue my service to ensure our national security. 

I appreciate the opportunity to have served 

on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee 

for the past four years. Because of the commitment of all members on this distinguished committee, we have made great 

strides in caring for our veterans, and I know 

that the trend will continue. Please have 

your staff contact Joseph Heaton (joseph.heaton@mail.house.gov) at 225–6465 if 

my office can be of assistance. 

Sincerely, 

MICHAEL R. TURNER, 

Member of Congress. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without 

objection, the resignation is accepted. 

There was no objection. 

f 

ELECTING MEMBERS TO CERTAIN 

STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. 

Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration. 

The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: 

H. RES. 51 

Resolved, That the following named Members be and are hereby elected to the following standing committees of the House of 

Representatives: 

(1) COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION.— 

Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, Mr. Capuano, 

Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. 

Davis of Alabama. 

(2) COMMITTEE ON RULES.—Mr. Perlmutter, 

Ms. Pingree of Maine, Mr. Polis of Colorado. 

SEC. 2. Paragraph (5) of House Resolution 

24, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, agreed 

to January 7, 2009, is amended by striking 

‘‘Mr. Bishop of Utah,’’ and inserting ‘‘Mr. 

Bishop of New York,’’. 

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut (during 

the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be 

considered as read and printed in the 

RECORD. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 

objection to the request of the gentleman from Connecticut? 

There was no objection. 

The resolution was agreed to. 

A motion to reconsider was laid upon 

the table. 

f 

REPORT ON RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF 

H.R. 2, CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, from the 

Committee on Rules, submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 111–1) on the 

resolution (H. Res. 52) providing for 

consideration of the bill (H.R. 2) to 

amend title XXI of the Social Security 

Act to extend and improve the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and 

for other purposes, which was referred 

to the House Calendar and ordered to 

be printed. 

f 

REPORT ON RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF 

H.R. 384, TARP REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2009 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, from the 

Committee on Rules, submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 111–2) on the 

resolution (H. Res. 53) providing for 

consideration of the bill (H.R. 384) to 

reform the Troubled Assets Relief Program of the Secretary of the Treasury 

and ensure accountability under such 

Program, which was referred to the 

House Calendar and ordered to be 

printed. 

f 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE 

By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted to: 

Mr. BOUCHER (at the request of Mr. 

HOYER) for today and the balance of 

the week. 

f 

SPECIAL ORDERS GRANTED 

By unanimous consent, permission to 

address the House, following the legislative program and any special orders 

heretofore entered, was granted to: 

(The following Members (at the request of Mr. CHANDLER) to revise and 

extend their remarks and include extraneous material:) 

Mr. REYES, for 5 minutes, today. 

Mr. CHANDLER, for 5 minutes, today. 

Mr. DEFAZIO, for 5 minutes, today. 

Ms. WOOLSEY, for 5 minutes, today. 

(The following Members (at the request of Mr. POE of Texas) to revise and 

extend their remarks and include extraneous material:) 

Mr. BURTON of Indiana, for 5 minutes, 

today, January 14 and 15. 

Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, for 5 minutes, 

January 14 and 15. 

Mr. HUNTER, for 5 minutes, January 

14. 

Mr. NEUGEBAUER, for 5 minutes, 

today. 

f 

SENATE ENROLLED JOINT 

RESOLUTION SIGNED 

The Speaker announced her signature to an enrolled Joint Resolution of 

the Senate of the following title: 

S.J. Res. 3. Ensuring that the compensation and other emolument attached to the 

office of Secretary of the Interior are those 

which were in effect on January 1, 2005. 

f 

ADJOURNMENT 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. 

Speaker, I move that the House do now 

adjourn. 

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o’clock and 54 minutes 

p.m.), the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 

at 10 a.m. 

f 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, 

ETC. 

Under clause 8 of rule XII, executive 

communications were taken from the 

Speaker’s table and referred as follows: 

46. A letter from the Administrator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 

Department’s ‘‘Major’’ final rule — Walnuts 

Grown in California; Section 610 Review 

[Docket No. AMS-FV-08-0010; FV08-984-610 

Review] received January 7, 2009, pursuant to 

5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on 

Agriculture. 

47. A letter from the Administrator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 

Department’s ‘‘Major’’ final rule — Tomatoes Grown in Florida; Section 610 Review 

[Docket No. AMS-FV-08-0009; FV08-966-610 

Review] received January 7, 2009, pursuant to 

5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on 

Agriculture. 

48. A letter from the Administrator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 

Department’s ‘‘Major’’ final rule — Pears 

Grown in Oregon and Washington; Section 

610 Review [Docket No. AMS-FV-08-0008, 

FV08-927-610 Review] received January 7, 

2009, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the 

Committee on Agriculture. 

49. A letter from the Counsel for Legislation and Regulations, Department of Housing and Urban Development, transmitting 

the Department’s final rule — Revision of 

Hearing Procedures [Docket No. FR-5084-F02] (RIN: 2501-AD24) received January 7, 2009, 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Financial Services. 

50. A letter from the Associate General 

Counsel for Legislation and Regulations, Department of Housing and Urban Development, transmitting the Department’s final 


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