Neil Abercrombie

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing legislation today which will help America's working individuals and families, particularly those associated with the travel and tourism industry. My bill would re-instate the federal income tax deduction for expenses of persons traveling with spouses on business purposes. As you may know, the spousal travel deduction was a long established part of the tax code until 1993. At that time, President Clinton, as a part of his first budget to Congress proposed repeal of the deduction, along with many other tax changes. I supported his budget, despite reservations about some of the tax proposals, such as cutting the business meal and entertainment expense deduction from 80 per cent to 50 per cent, because they would have detrimental impact on the travel and tourism industry. Nonetheless, the need to reorder the nation's priorities was essential and overwhelming, and I voted in favor of the legislation. Supporting the 1993 budget was a difficult decision, but it was the correct one. It set the basis for rapid decline in the budget deficits which have plagued the nation for decades. We now have a budget surplus projected to be in excess of $50.0 billion. The travel industry and those states and localities dependent on the industry have sacrificed substantially in order to get our financial house in order. There is growing support for Congress enacting tax cut and reform legislation before we adjourn in October. I have worked closely in a bipartisan manner with the Congressional leadership, members of the Ways and Means Committee and with the Administration to generate support reinstating the deduction, and many have been encouraging on the proposal's merits and the beneficial impact that it will have on the economy. This bill is important to the working men and women of our country. The travel and tourism industry generates millions of jobs for our economy, and importantly, many of those jobs are entry level and give a first employment chance to less skilled workers, immigrants and those entering the job market for the first time. It provides an entry into the job market and opportunities for skill development, training and advancement. Representing a state and city very heavily dependent on travel and tourism, I have seen first-hand individual get a first break in the hotel and restaurant industries and advance in responsibility into management and supervisory positions. This is repeated throughout the country, but it is particularly apparent in areas with significant numbers of tourists, such as Honolulu, Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco, Miami and countless other communities across the nation. I also believe that there are significant misconceptions about the spousal travel deduction. It has been unfairly characterized as wealthy businessmen traveling to exotic locations and deducting the expenses of the wife. The reality is the deduction has been much more frequently taken by traveling salesmen and saleswomen and small business owners attending trade shows or soliciting business in trips across the around the nation. It was a middle-income tax, not an abuse exploited by the wealthiest. The wealthy have tax shelters that pale the spousal travel deduction, shelters not available to the working men and women of our country. The vast majority of beneficiaries solid, hard-working, tax- paying Americans with a couple of kids, trying to make ends meet. Those are the people we should be designing the tax system to give a fair shake. I will be working in the next weeks and months in this Congress to move this legislation forward. Any tax reform or reduction legislation should address this issue. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress to making enactment of this bill a reality.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, Officers Jacob J. Chestnut and John M. Gibson are American heroes. They gave their lives protecting us, our staffs, and visitors to the United States Capitol. This tragedy reminds us that the members of the Capitol Police and other police officers across the country put their lives on the line for us every day. We honor Officers Chestnut and Gibson for their bravery and sacrifice. We lost two good men and fine police officers. No words can adequately express our feelings on this sad occasion. Our hearts go out to their families and to their fellow officers. This tragedy highlights a dilemma as old as democracy itself: the balance between security and openness. We have made a decision--the correct decision, I believe--to maintain public accessibility to the Capitol. The people's business must be open to the public gaze. Every year people from our districts, some traveling literally thousands of miles, visit the Capitol to share their views and urge us to support or oppose this or that bill. They come to partake of the history that walks these halls. They come simply to see us in the flesh, look us in the eye, and take the measure of the men and women whom they have elected to make our laws. Their right to do so is enshrined in the very concept of democracy. Nowhere is it more appropriate to exercise that right than here in the people's house. At the same time, we can not escape the reality of the world in which we live. There are some individuals who would take advantage of that openness to enter this building and do violence to those engaged in the people's business. Their actions defile this temple of democracy. That is why it is necessary to have a Capitol Police force. Its members not only protect us as individuals, they defend the accessibility of this building, accessibility which is so important to our democracy. On Friday, July 24, 1998, two of those officers made the ultimate sacrifice. Their bravery and devotion to duty enshrine the names of Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson among the heroes of our nation. We bow our heads in sorrow and gratitude. We pledge to honor their memories by keeping our nation's Capitol open, accessible, and safe for everyone who desires to enter this building, the people's house.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, at this point I think we need to add little, but perhaps some other observations. I consider the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) not only my colleague but my dear friend, and I would say that on almost everything we have been together where human rights are concerned. I feel that we just have a difference of view today, and I hope that his, in this instance, does not prevail. Not because of any argument about commitment to human rights but what the best course is today in order to advance human rights. I make a plea to all of my colleagues who know Pete Peterson, not just as I do, as a colleague and dear friend, but know what he went through as a POW. Surely, surely, as the first ambassador to Vietnam since the war, we owe him the opportunity to carry through on all of the elements that he thinks he can bring to bear to see not only human rights but the relationship between Vietnam and the United States of America blossom. If we can conduct trade with China, surely we can conduct trade, surely we can give Mr. Peterson the opportunity to conduct the business of the United States. Surely, if we have this opportunity to make a statement that individuals can make a difference, that the Vietnam war can be healed, that those of us who have been scarred in this country by everything that took place there can find a healing purpose in giving Pete Peterson the opportunity to carry through on the program that he has put forward. If that is accomplished, I can assure Mr. Rohrabacher and my colleagues here, all of whom stand united on behalf of human rights, that a great advancement will have taken place. We will have made a step today in that direction that we can all be proud of. Mr. Speaker, I want to add to the comments that have been made this afternoon opposing this resolution because I believe passing it will not accomplish goals we all seek, such as greater accounting for POW's/ MIA's and economic reforms. I firmly believe that we are more likely to succeed in our foreign policy and human rights objectives by continuing and building on the work already begun by our ambassador, Pete Peterson, a former Member of Congress and a POW. The purpose of the Jackson-Vanik amendment is to promote free emigration. As of July 13, 4,388 Vietnamese had departed for the United States under the Resettlement Opportunity agreement. Since the Jackson- Vanik waiver was granted, Vietnam has greatly reduced the red tape for prospective emigrants. Both supporters and opponents must concede that progress is being made in emigration, business development, investment opportunities, and accounting for U.S. military personnel which are of vital interest and concern to America and the families of missing service men and women. This bill will not only end the progress that has been made, but reverse the positive developments that have occurred. It will be a setback for our efforts to account for missing U.S. military personnel and other objectives. I urge a ``no'' vote on the resolution.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I rise this morning to express my support for provisions in the Interior Appropriations bill we are debating today for the funding of the Brown Tree Snake control efforts. The consequences of the Brown Tree Snake becoming established on any of the Hawaiian Islands would be devastating. We have only to look at Guam to understand the potential extinction of many species will, not might, result from the introduction of the snake to Hawaii. Guam now experiences an instance of more than 12,000 of these snakes per square mile. Entire species have disappeared from Guam since World War II when the snake was accidently brought to the island, most probably abroad military aircraft which had visited areas of the South Pacific in the snake's natural habitat. The Interior Appropriation bill contains $2.1 million for prevention, education, and inspection programs, an increase of $500,000 over last year. We need to step up our vigilance in Hawaii against this invasive species which has brought wildlife ruin elsewhere. The scientific community has not yet developed an effective eradication method. Although I hope we can soon understand how to control and eliminate the snake, until that time, the only action we can and must take is preventing its introduction into Hawaii. I am very pleased that the Committee on Appropriations has recommended an increase, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in achieving the highest funding level to achieve our goals.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, it has been said several times tonight that we had an overwhelming vote on this before, and I think that is probably because we did not necessarily have the full implications before us. I certainly do not fault what the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) is trying to accomplish in terms of trying to keep money that should not be in our campaigns out of it. But here I want to emphasize to all of my colleagues that we are talking about legal permanent residents; people who have served in the armed forces. We are in a situation in which we can have convicted felons who cannot vote, they can give money to a political campaign, but a legal permanent resident who is paying taxes, working hard, raising their families is not going to be allowed to give. I am speaking right now because my colleague over there is the one who is going to be asked. I get out of it. I listened to some people on the floor say ``if I was asked''. I guarantee if someone looks like me, with the same physiognomy that I do, they will probably not get asked. But who is going to get asked are the people who are likely to be seen as foreign. Anybody who is in this country under the protection of the Constitution is deserving of participating fully in our constitutional and Democratic government.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the minority leader. (Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior).

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr). (Mr. FARR of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Minge).

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings).

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt).

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Peterson). (Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy).

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Fazio).

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm).

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) who I think knows as much or more about the sugar industry and its implications than anyone in the Chamber. (Mrs. MINK of Hawaii asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to the remaining time for each of us?

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, for our colleagues who may not be on the floor with us right now but listening to the exchange, I hope it has been informative. Over the past 25 years in elective office, I have followed a rule: Where we make a contract, a legislative agreement, that we follow it. Mr. Chairman, we made an agreement for 7 years and we compromised. I did not want to have some of the provisions that we voted for with the sugar bill previously. It has been mentioned by other speakers, and it bears repeating as we close this debate, we had an overwhelming vote on this bill. An overwhelming majority decided that we were coming to an honorable compromise. To jeopardize it now by raising the issue once again on this one-cent change makes a devastating impact on those who depended on us keeping our word. A 7-year commitment is not very long when it comes to agriculture, when it comes to making banking decisions. When we talk about special interests, Mr. Speaker, I can tell my colleagues I do represent a special interest, the special interest of people living in Hawaii, in housing that they could not afford if they were not able to keep the jobs they have right now. We are standing up for those who are the field workers, for the farmers and producers. If we keep our word to them, then I think we can hold our heads high as legislators. Mr. Chairman, we are fighting against wage slavery in the rest of the world. How is it possible for us to say that we can compete in a market in which we have child labor producing sugar, when we have oligarchs in other countries producing sugar and dumping sugar in our market? That is not the kind of thing we would be very proud of as a legacy to the children of our country, to say that we violated labor standards, health standards, environmental standards, all because we wanted to have cheap manufacture of sugar. Mr. Chairman, I ask in conclusion, please, let us keep our word as legislators. Let us stick to the contract that we wrote with one another. It is working and it is working for America.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barcia).

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, today the House is debating the appropriations for the Energy and Water budget. I would like to bring to your attention the funding for the U.S. Department of Energy's program ``Hydrogen from Renewable Resources.'' This very successful program conducts research into the renewable production and storage of hydrogen. At the University of Hawaii, the program has been so successful that it was rated as a ``U.S. DOE Center of Excellence in Hydrogen Research and Education.'' Last year, with a total budget of $16 million, approximately $6.9 million was allocated to core research and development for the hydrogen research program. This year, the House Appropriations Committee proposes to increase the funding to $18 million while the Senate has pursued a budget of $29 million. However, despite the Administration's $10 million request for research funding, the House Appropriations Committee has reduced the research budget to $3 million. Reduction of core research and development to only $3 million would be damaging to critical research programs at universities, within the national DOE laboratories, and to the University of Hawaii Center of Excellence. As we move forward with this appropriation process, I strongly urge that sufficient funding will be dedicated to this renewable energy resource.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues in Congress for all of their cooperation in our fight to help Hawaii's economy and to explain why the fight is far from over and why we must redouble our efforts to find solutions to the State's economic problems. Over the last few months, I have had success in bringing new jobs to Hawaii. For instance, the defense authorization bill contains over $200 million for new, needed construction projects in Hawaii, a record level. This includes renovation and construction of the barracks at Schofield and Kaneohe Marine base, as well as funding for Navy family housing and the Pearl Harbor Public Works Center. Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues' constituents are members of the U.S. military and reside for at least part of their time in service at Schofield or Kaneohe or Pearl Harbor. The military is very important to Hawaii. Having the military in Hawaii itself is vital to our national interests. I strongly believe we need to maintain and build upon the military presence in Hawaii as we approach the 21st century in the interest of the national interests of the United States. In addition to this, this year's transportation bill included funding for several vitally important highway projects which will further stimulate the construction industry in Hawaii, as well as provide much- needed improvements. I extend thanks for myself and on behalf of the people of Hawaii for all of the help that has come from Washington recently as we try to work our way out of this economic recession. Mr. Speaker, I returned recently from Hawaii and continue to hear from families and businesses that economic conditions are difficult and, therefore, the need for action by the State of Hawaii and Congress is necessary to return the islands to economic well-being. Although much of the mainland has been experiencing strong economic growth, Hawaii, despite periodic spurts of recovery, in fact remains stagnant. The 7-year recession in Japan and more recently in Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand has resulted in declining tourism, Hawaii's lifeblood, and subsequently high unemployment, record bankruptcies, foreclosures, and declining property values. In short, Hawaii is experiencing the deepest recession since statehood. Beyond the hardship being experienced by thousands of families in Hawaii, there have been layoffs which triggered declining confidence in the economy. There has been a cutback in spending and fearing for the future, a very real and human reaction I might say, Mr. Speaker. The consequence, however, is additional economic contraction, more layoffs and every business thus is affected. There is, in the face of this grim situation, knowledge that we will get back on our feet. In time, the Asian economies will restructure, currency exchange rates will stabilize, tourism will rebound, and the economy will regain its strength. We must, however, take every action available at the disposal of the Federal Government to cushion the recession and provide the short-term economic stimulation necessary to see it through the hard times. In addition to the successes I mentioned earlier, there are some projects still in the works. I am happy to be working with the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce to identify resources that can be brought to bear on our problems in Hawaii. For example, the Commerce Department needs adequate funding for its community and economic development program. A $50 million appropriation would provide needed grants for planning and technical assistance many communities need which are experiencing the economic problems that Hawaii has. I am working with the Congressional leadership and administration to reestablish the spousal business travel deduction and increasing business meal and entertainment deductions which will help promote tourism, not only for Hawaii, but all over the mainland as well. I have introduced legislation to repeal the airline tax in last year's budget bill. The highway bill, as I indicated, provided Hawaii with $135 million in annual formula grants and will fund numerous priority projects. Money will be coming in, for example, to help needed improvements in Honolulu's harbor. I will continue to call on Congress to pass funding for the International Monetary Fund. It is all too evident to the people of Hawaii that when the Asian economies suffer, the economy of our State suffers just as greatly. I might add by extension, Mr. Speaker, the mainland as well. We should send this money because it is the right thing to do and because anything that stabilizes the Asian economies will help increase tourism and help to stabilize our own economic progress throughout the United States. We must also focus on securing long-term solutions to our problems, improve our education for our children, higher medical care reimbursement. In Hawaii's case, I am helping to diversify Hawaii's agriculture and to upgrade the Pacific Missile Range Facility to help bring Hawaii's military facilities, which I have mentioned at the beginning of my remarks, Mr. Speaker, into the 21st Century. I also want to upgrade Hawaii's telecommunications links to the mainland and the world. Tourism, the military and agriculture will continue to be Hawaii's key industries in the next century. We must, however, be well prepared to guide the changes underway. In the long run, technology development and innovation, as well as diversity within those industries, will lead us back to economic growth, jobs and prosperity. We must make wise decisions in this time of economic crisis. I look forward to working with my colleagues to resolve Hawaii's economic problems.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 1847, the Telemarketing Fraud Prevention Act. H.R. 1847 increases criminal penalties for telemarketing fraud, especially telemarketing fraud targeting senior citizens. Older Americans are the targets of many fraudulent telemarketers because they are generally home more often, may be more trusting, and they may be led to look on a smooth-talking telemarketer as a friend rather than someone preying on their life savings. The measure is a positive step forward to protecting consumers and our seniors, but we need to do more. Besides increasing penalties on fraudulent telemarketers, we need to help educate consumers of the dangers of fraudulent telemarketing. I sponsored several mail and telemarketing fraud briefings for senior citizens in my district, Honolulu, Hawaii. These educational briefings were designed to give vulnerable senior citizens a fighting chance against an industry designed to victimize them. I encourage my colleagues to work with organizations such as the AARP and educate senior citizens in their districts. H.R. 1847 also allows law enforcement officials to prosecute individuals for conspiracy to commit telemarketing fraud. This provision allows police and prosecutors to seek out and punish organizers of telemarketing scams, who often arrange the schemes but don't actually commit the fraud themselves. Telemarketing fraud robs Americans of an estimated $40 billion per year. The actual amount may be higher, because some consumers are too embarrassed to report that they have been defrauded or consumers fail to recognize that they have been victimized. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1847 and continue to work to eliminate telemarketing and mail fraud.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support for enactment of House Resolution 404, regarding relations between the people of the United States and those of the Philippines. It is significant that we enact the resolution to salute and congratulate the Philippines on the 100th anniversary of its independence from Spain and its achievement of the establishment of its democracy. It is also noteworthy that the resolution also thanks the Philippines for aiding the U.S. in World War II, the Korean War and in Vietnam. It underscores the need for Congress to enact the Filipino Veterans Equity Act to extend full veterans benefits to Filipino soldiers who fought along side U.S. soldiers in World War II. Mr. Speaker, approximately 200,000 Filipino soldiers were under the command of General Douglas MacArthur during the early months of World War II. During that period, our armed forces in the Philippines were isolated from food, medical and ammunition supplies. Filipino soldiers displayed exemplary loyalty and courage in the defense of their nation and fought in every major battle, including Bataan and Corregidor. Beyond the outstanding conduct of the regular Army forces, after the islands fell to Japan, thousands of courageous Filipinos took up arms to continue the fight through guerilla warfare against enormous odds. Not only did they undermine the occupation forces, but they provided valuable intelligence to U.S. forces in the Southwest Pacific, rescued downed American pilots and diverted powerful enemy forces from deployment elsewhere. An estimated 60,000 to 80,000 surviving Filipino veterans, however, have been denied the full range and extent of veterans benefits available to American veterans with whom they fought side by side. This is an intolerable situation and we must resolve to remedy this tragic and insensitive dilemma. I urge my colleagues to review the provisions of H.R. 836, the Philippines Veterans Equity Act, and support the effort to bring the bill to the House floor for debate and enactment.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring an article in the June/July 1998 National Wildlife Federation magazine to the attention of Congress. The article, entitled ``A State Without Snakes Keeps a Wary Eye Out for an Alien Invader,'' describes the threat that Hawaii faces from the brown tree snake. As explained by the article's author, the brown tree snake has already devastated the ecology of Guam, and it is one of the most frightening alien species threatening Hawaii today. If it manages to become established in Hawaii, the snake could decimate Hawaii's entire bird population, as it has already done on Guam. It is also known to attack babies, eat pets, and cause frequent electricity outages by climbing power lines. Numerous programs in both the public and private sectors have been organized to contain and control the brown tree snake population. They deserve our support. Hawaii has unique and endangered plant and animal species, many of which would be threatened if the snake succeeded in establishing itself in the Hawaiian Islands. It is possible, but unlikely, that this event may have already occurred. Because there are no natural predators, one pregnant snake could establish this species on the islands. As we move toward consideration of appropriations in the weeks ahead, I look forward to sufficient funds being approved by the House for brown tree snake research and eradication. [From National Wildlife, June/July 1998] (By Anne Rillero) A State Without Snakes Keeps a Wary Eye Out for an Alien Invader Fred Kraus lifts a piece of corrugated metal, inspecting the ground beneath it. ``You have to think like a snake,'' he says, while considering places where a reptile might hide. In the middle of a Honolulu suburb, this wooded ravine offers unlimited possibilities: waist-high grass, tangled brush, rodent burrows, illegally dumped trash, even clumps of houseplants growing wild. As the alien species coordinator for Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kraus is investigating a report of a snake seen by a boy playing in these woods. The brown- colored snake climbed a tree until it was level with the eyes of the boy, who turned and ran. Throughout much of the United States, such a snake sighting would attract little attention. But in Hawaii--except for the harmless, earthwormlike Brahminy blind snake, which was introduced to the state from Asia--there are no terrestrial snakes. So any sighting suggests frightening possibilities. Given the Aloha State's subtropical climate and lack of predators, some of the world's most venomous snakes could easily become established there. Kraus is particularly concerned about the threat of an infestation by Boiga irregularis, the brown tree snake. The cause of a devastating ecological catastrophe on the island of Guam, it is considered one of the most frightening alien species threatening Hawaii today. Biologists believe the first brown tree snakes arrived in Guam after World War II as stowaways on cargo ships from one of their homelands: northern Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea or the Solomon Islands. Free of the natural controls of their native habitat and finding abundant prey for every stage of their lives, the snakes multiplied at an astonishing rate. Some areas of Guam are now infested with as many as 12,000 brown tree snakes per square mile and bird life of any kind is rare on the Pacific island. An extraordinary climber, the snake devours eggs, hatchlings and adult birds. It has decimated 9 of Guam's 12 native forest birds, pushing 3 species into extinction. Another imperiled creature, the Marianas fruit bat, is also close to extinction because of snake predation. ``The brown tree snake is capable of adapting to many tropical areas,'' says Thomas Fritts, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who has been studying the species since 1984. Sightings of the reptiles have been reported in Okinawa, Wake Island, the Marshall Islands, Tinian, Rota, Diego Garcia, Texas and Spain. Biologists believe that most or all of these snakes originated on Guam. Known for its bulging eyes and large head, an adult brown tree snake averages four to seven feet in length. It is a voracious nocturnal hunter that kills by constricting its prey with a mild venom injected with its back teeth. On Guam, it has snatched chickens and pets from yards and has even attacked babies asleep in cribs. Guam's public health records indicate that 74 toddlers were treated for snake bites between 1989 and 1995. To date, the reptile has not caused any human fatalities. But it has caused other problems for people. According to authorities at Guam's electric companies, the climbing snakes frequently short out power lines, causing an average of one electric outage every three days. Because the brown tree snake is light sensitive, it coils into concealed hiding places by day. When it selects an airplane wheel well or outgoing cargo as its hiding place, the reptile can hitchhike to new habitats. Since 1981, seven brown tree snakes have been found in Hawaii. All were captured or dead upon discovery, bit some other reported snake sightings have not been resolved and authorities worry whether they can effectively stop the reptile from slithering in the state. As home to 41 percent of all endangered birds in the nation, Hawaii has a lot to lose. The state imposes fines as high as $25,000 for importing or owning snakes of any type--a penalty that has not stopped people from smuggling in pythons and other snakes for pets. But the brown tree snake threat is different. ``Never in history has a snake done as much ecological damage as this snake,'' says Mike Pitzler, a biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Guam. Pitzler leads a team of federal, state, military and private individuals struggling to keep snakes from leaving Guam aboard outgoing flights and ships. The team maintains 1,400 snake traps in airports and other targeted sites around the island. It also relies on 14 Jack Russell terriers, which work in shifts around the clock, sniffing aircraft and cargo for snakes before departure. Pitzler's staff captures 3,000 to 5,000 snakes per year, but he acknowledges his program's limitations. ``Our canine teams are not 100 percent effective all the time,'' he says. ``There are also cargo items that are difficult to inspect.'' On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, meanwhile, five beagles put their noses to work sniffing out snakes on arriving commercial and military flights from Guam. For most flights, one of the dogs and an inspector are waiting at the gate to examine the aircraft. The pair then hurries to a nearby warehouse to inspect cargo from the flight. But because of a shortage of funds for the program, not all military flights are inspected and that worries state authorities. ``Is there an acceptable risk? The answer for Hawaii is no,'' says Mike Wilson, chairperson of Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources. ``Every brown tree snake that we don't stop now will turn into tens of thousands of snakes over the next 10 or 20 years.'' The species has a clutch size of 4 to 12 young and females may produce more than one clutch per year. Newly hatched snakes immediately begin to forage for food. On Guam, small skinks are readily available prey for the young snakes. An introduced alien initially thought to be harmless, one skink species is largely responsible for the population explosion of brown tree snakes on the island by allowing greater numbers of the snakes to survive into adulthood. ``The relationship between skinks and the brown tree snake's population is an example of what happens when you introduce nonnative plants and animals to a place,'' says Kraus. ``You can get a synergistic effect, things that you never expected.'' If one of the reptiles should slither off into Hawaii's landscape, Kraus usually oversees efforts to find the reptile. ``In some habitats in Hawaii,'' he notes, ``you could be standing right next to a snake and not know it.'' To search for the snake that chased off the boy in the suburban Honolulu ravine, Kraus brought in eight volunteers. The reptile was never found, though he concluded that it was not a brown tree snake because it was sighted during daylight. While Kraus continues his exhaustive searches, other experts are pursuing new methods to eradicate the reptile. But so far no such method has been found. ``We continue looking for solutions,'' says Thomas Fritts. ``We're not ready to give up.''

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. I yield to the gentleman from California.