[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 154 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7699-H7700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMENDING THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS

  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1724) commending the city of Jacksonville, 
Arkansas, for its outstanding support in creating a unique and lasting 
partnership with Little Rock Air Force Base, members of the Armed 
Forces stationed there and their families, and the Air Force, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1724

       Whereas, for more than 50 years, the community of 
     Jacksonville, Arkansas, has supported and served the members 
     of the Armed Forces and their families at Little Rock Air 
     Force Base;
       Whereas, after September 11, 2001, Little Rock Air Force 
     Base restricted access to much of the community for security 
     reasons, and in response to the tragedy and the restrictions 
     caused by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the 
     community and air base came together to address a need for a 
     new education facility for both military members and 
     civilians;
       Whereas, recognizing the need to raise funds for a new 
     educational facility, the City Council of Jacksonville, 
     Arkansas, held a special election in which the citizens of 
     Jacksonville overwhelmingly voted to adopt a temporary one-
     cent sales tax, which raised $5,000,000;
       Whereas these funds were donated to the Air Force to help 
     build a new Joint Education Center on Federal property 
     outside the base perimeter, so that the facility could be 
     accessible to community people, students, and faculty, as 
     well as air base personnel;
       Whereas, in 2009, local individuals and businesses raised 
     over $50,000 for the base's 2010 Air show and more than 
     $22,000 was donated in support of Little Rock Air Force Base 
     rodeo teams that compete at McChord Air Force Base;
       Whereas community leaders sponsor numerous events, 
     including dances and community sporting and musical events, 
     for members of the Armed Forces and their families at Little 
     Rock Air Force Base and provide discounted or free tickets;
       Whereas the community sponsors a quarterly dinner for 
     families of deployed members and over 15,000 volunteer hours 
     are provided by retirees at the Airman's Attic, the Base 
     Clinic, the Retirees Activities Office, and other base 
     activities; and
       Whereas, on March 3, 2009, the City of Jacksonville, 
     Arkansas, was awarded the Abilene Trophy, which honors a 
     civilian community for exceptional support of Air Mobility 
     Command base at Little Rock Air Force Base: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends the 
     City of Jacksonville, Arkansas, for its outstanding support 
     in creating a unique and lasting partnership with Little Rock 
     Air Force Base, members of the Armed Forces stationed there, 
     and their families.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arkansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  People in America support our men and women in uniform. Everywhere, 
from coast to coast, regardless of political view, Americans support 
our military. Nowhere is this more true than in

[[Page H7700]]

Arkansas. Nowhere is this more true than in the city of Jacksonville, 
Arkansas. Any Arkansan can tell you the Little Rock Air Force Base is 
not in Little Rock. Until this debate today, however, I would guess 
that most Members of Congress assumed the Little Rock Air Force Base is 
in the town of Little Rock. Be assured it is not; although all of 
central Arkansas, including the people of Little Rock, are supportive 
of the Little Rock Air Force Base.
  Recognition of the great work done by the men and women of the Little 
Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas, is apparent to anyone 
familiar with the C-130 mission. Every Member of Congress who has flown 
in a C-130, including the one Member, Mr. Boccieri, who flies C-130s, 
relied on the training done at the Little Rock Air Force Base in 
Jacksonville, Arkansas. Yet compliments don't tell the full story.
  When the attacks of September 11, 2001, occurred, community access to 
all our military bases was disrupted, including access to on-base 
college classes by the civilian faculty and students. Yet we all know 
higher education is essential to our military. Anticipating a solution, 
the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, and the leadership of the Little 
Rock Air Force Base came up with a plan to build a Joint Education 
Center on base property but outside the perimeter. Time went by, but 
the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, did its part. Tax votes in a 
community are difficult, but the city of Jacksonville taxed itself 
through a vote of the people and raised $5 million to donate to the Air 
Force to help build the Joint Education Center.
  Soon after that vote, the money began accumulating. Unaware, in fact, 
that there would be a delay in construction approval, $5 million sat in 
the account for quite a long time. Legally, permission finally was 
given for the $5 million to be transferred to the Air Force. Long after 
the vote in Jacksonville, construction began. You will be very pleased, 
Mr. Speaker, to see the almost complete Joint Education Center 
underway. It is about ready.

                              {time}  1530

  It came about because of the people of Jacksonville, Arkansas and 
their willingness to donate $5 million to the Air Force.
  They have also raised money for the air show, which I attended with 
my little boys this year, and for the rodeo teams. The community 
council has been very, very active through the years and, in fact, the 
city of Jacksonville originally put together the land that was donated 
to the Federal Government, to the Department of Defense and the Air 
Force, on which the Air Force base is located today.
  This partnership between the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, and the 
Little Rock Air Force Base has gone on for over a half a century. 
Particularly in view of their willingness to tax themselves and donate 
$5 million to the Air Force, it seemed to me appropriate to recognize 
their work today, and I recommend approval of H. Res. 1724.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1724, which 
commends the city of Jacksonville, Arkansas, for its outstanding 
support and enduring partnership with Little Rock Air Force Base.
  I also want to commend my friend and colleague, Representative Vic 
Snyder from Arkansas, for sponsoring this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the city of Jacksonville has long embraced the Air Force 
members and their families stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, 
treating all like lifelong members of the community. While the city 
supports the base in a number of ways, one recent action was especially 
unusual. Recognizing the need for a new education facility, the voters 
of Jacksonville overwhelmingly agreed to temporarily raise their own 
taxes to pay for a Joint Education Center, donating $5 million to the 
Air Force for that purpose.
  It is no surprise that the city of Jacksonville was honored by the 
Air Mobility Command with the award of the Abilene Trophy for the 
city's exceptional support for the Little Rock Air Force Base.
  I urge all Members to support this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SNYDER. I appreciate the kind words of the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1724, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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