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Daniel Coughlin: was enactsed in november. now live houseve coverage. chaplain coughlin: above the cold winds is a clear blue sky. behind a flurry of activity is the conviction we are entering in this

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Daniel Coughlin: season. lord god, as congress resumes major responsibilities today, we mourn the passing of a dear colleague, strong witness of perseverance and suffering, an advocate for the poor and homeless,

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Daniel Coughlin: god of all consolation, reward her public service and be close to all who grieve the loss of her presence. as all who celebrate the feast of heaven and earth, we know many will greet her with

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Daniel Coughlin: the chair has examined the journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journal stands approved. the pledge of

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Virginia Foxx: of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will entertain

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without objection. ms. foxx: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to honor food lion, a north carolina business success story. for 50 years of doing business the right way. food lion, founded

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Dennis A. Cardoza: week and embody the ethic that great service and local communities is a formula for successful and profitable business. this company has shown a true commitment to its employees by offering employees

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Dennis A. Cardoza: a working environment that focuses not just on good wages but also integrates working conditions and profit sharing arrangements that are some of the best in the retail business. and food lion's

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Dennis A. Cardoza: easter seals, the united way, the american red cross, and local schools. food lion represents the type of company that helps make north carolina and america great. i applaud their 50 years of

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Dennis A. Cardoza: that in light of the passing of the gentlewoman from indiana, ms. carson, the whole number of the house is 433. pursuant to clause 4, the speaker signed the following joint resolution on

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house a communication. the clerk: the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, madam, pursuant to the permission granted in clause 2-h of rule 2 of the rules of the u.s. house

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to the amendments the house to the text of -- and title of the bill, senate 597, that the senate agreed to the conference report accompanying the bill h.r. 1585, that the senate agreed to without

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the clerk: the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, madam, pursuant to the permission granted in clause 2-h of rule 2 of the rules of the u.s. house of representatives, the clerk

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3648, that the senate passed without amendment h.r. 3739. with best wishes i am, signed sincerely, lorraine c. miller, clerk of the house. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before

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of representatives, the clerk received the following message from the secretary of the senate on december 13, 2007, at 6:55 p.m. that the senate agreed to without amendment h.j.res. 69.

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Dennis A. Cardoza: speaker, house of representatives, madam, pursuant to the permission granted in clause 2-h of rule 2 of the rules of the u.s. house of representatives, the clerk received the following message

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Dennis A. Cardoza: to the house amendments to the senate amendments to the title of the bill, h.r. 6, that the senate passed without an amendment h.r. 2406, h.r. 2671, that the senate passed senate 1396, senate

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Dennis A. Cardoza: rule 20, the chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which a recorded vote or the yeas and nays are ordered, or on which the vote is objected

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Collin C. Peterson: s and agree toto joint resolution h.res. 15. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of joint resolution. the clerk: house joint resolution 15, joint resolution recognizing

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Collin C. Peterson: the contributions of the christmas tree industry to the united states economy. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from minnesota, mr. peterson, and the gentlewoman

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Collin C. Peterson: of h.j.res. 15. h.j.res. 15, a resolution introduced by congresswoman virginia foxx of north carolina, recognizes the success and importance of the live c christmas tree industry in the united

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Collin C. Peterson: season. the live cut christmas tree industry ensures that this tradition continues every year for families across the nation. likewise, there are private forest landowners all over america

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Collin C. Peterson: responsible land stewards who provide wildlife habitat, give us cleaner air, protect water sheds and improve the environment. the economic strength and cultural contribution of this industry

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Collin C. Peterson: does the gentlelady from north carolina rise? ms. foxx: permission to address the house, mr. speaker? the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. foxx: mr. speaker, i'm deeply

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Virginia Foxx: can recognize this often overlooked yet highly significant farming industry. christmas trees have held an historic place in traditional american family values since 1850. just as importantly, christmas

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Virginia Foxx: trees play a vital role in the north carolina high country's economy by providing jobs and livelihoods for thousands of north carolinians. my district in north carolina is one of the largest

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Virginia Foxx: christmas tree industry is ranked second in the nation in the number of trees harvests producing over 19% of the real christmas trees in the united ates. north carolina has an estimated 50

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Virginia Foxx: ashe, haywood, henderson, jackson, make om, mitchell, -- may come, mitchell. the christmas tree is the most tree in north carolina america, frazier fir, and is shipped everywhere in the

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yet stronger branches for even the most heavier ornaments. through a contest sponsored by the national christmas tree association, the fir has been judged the nation's best and has been chosen

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frazier fir grown by joe four-seaman and linda jones of meadow christmas tree farm sits in the white house blue room as this year's official white house christmas tree. the christmas tree

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california, and ohio being the top christmas tree producers. nationally, there are more than 21,000 christmas tree growers and more than 100,000 people are employed in the live cut christmas

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Virginia Foxx: resource. there are over 500,000 acres in production for growing christmas trees in the u.s., and each acre provides a daily oxygen requirement for 18 people. on average, over 1,500 christmas

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Virginia Foxx: a strong and healthy tree. the retail value of all christmas trees harvested in 2004 was $1.4 billion. live cut christmas trees have been sold commercially in the united states since 1850.

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Virginia Foxx: have traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to celebrate the holiday season together at home around the christmas tree. this year, more than 10,000 trees were donated to american troops

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Virginia Foxx: and women in uniform who are bravely and honorably serving our nation throughout this christmas season. i'd like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the committee on agriculture and

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impact but also for its culturfoal contribution to the christmas holiday. thank you to christmas tree growers across the country for their contribution to our economy, our environment, and

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ms. foxx: we have no further speakers. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. >> mr. speaker, i also yield back the balance of my time.

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those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, and the joint resolution is passed and without objection the motion

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Collin C. Peterson: so ordered. the gentleman from minnesota. >> mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 3454. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the

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Collin C. Peterson: clerk: h.r. 3454, a bill to provide for the conveyance of a small parcel of national forest system land in the george washington national forest in allegheny county, virginia, that contains a

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Collin C. Peterson: from minnesota, mr. partyson, and the gentlewoman from north carolina, ms. foxx, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from minnesota. mr. peterson:. mr. speaker, i

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Collin C. Peterson: of virginia would convey property in the george washington national forest to the central advent christian church of alleghenyounty, virginia. the parcel will consist of no more than eight acres

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Collin C. Peterson: as is condition. the exact acreage and legal description of the property to be conveyed will be determined in a survey with usda's approval. usda will also set additional terms and conditions

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Collin C. Peterson: inconsistent with the foreign service mission which is why they have attempted to sell this property several times without success. i understand the central advent christian church has already

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Collin C. Peterson: support. mr. speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentlela dy from north carolina. ms. foxx: thank you, mr. speaker. i also rise today

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Virginia Foxx: to convey without consideration eight acres of the george washington national forest in allegheny county, virginia, to the central advent christian church. the conveyance includes a six-acre cemetery

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Virginia Foxx: and two additional acres between the cemetery and interstate 64. while typically the forest service would sell this property under existing authority, they did not receive any bids when

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Virginia Foxx: use permit. the church has tried to acquire the property but for financial and other reasons has been unsuccessful. the cemetery also creates some management problems for the agencyince

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Virginia Foxx: the land congress intended the agency to manage. i urge adoption of this bipartisan legislation. and yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pr o tempore: the gentlelady yields back.

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Collin C. Peterson: question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 3454. so many as are in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative,

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Collin C. Peterson: the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. the gentleman from minnesota. mr. peterson: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent