Neil Abercrombie

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

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

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland very much. Considering the answers, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Cunningham] and the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] for the enumeration of the conditions and circumstances of the bill. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the information I have received, I am going to withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. So we will revisit the issue in 18 months at the conclusion of the circumstances the gentleman from Maryland just outlined?

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. And could the gentleman explain the rationale for those two answers?

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. 18 months?

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. And what would be the earliest date that the label could change? Would that be March of 1999?

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

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, in order for me to be able to completely understand the situation and to have it on the record, may I ask the gentleman from Maryland, under the bill as it is before us, the conference bill as before us, does the dolphin-safe label change now?

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] has referred to the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young], our great chairman, and in the context of his remarks quoted one or two of them from the gentleman from Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am sure it is known that the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young] has a well-deserved reputation for being blunt and direct. It remains for the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] and myself to take up the diplomatic mantle with respect to our committee and those elements expressed to us by the Committee on International Relations. May I say in any context, Mr. Speaker, that the Canadian Government is indeed fortunate that the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young] is in the process of recuperating and recovering from a recent operation, and I am sure all Members join with me in wishing the gentleman from Alaska a speedy recovery and a quick return to us here in the Congress. We need his leadership. We need his dynamism here. In this particular instance, Mr. Speaker, the long-running debate over the Pacific salmon treaty has been contentious without a doubt. But both the United States and Canada share responsibility for the continuing impasse. As such, the recent blockade of an Alaskan ferryboat, as referred to by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton], by Canadian fishermen was not only illegal, it was counterproductive to the ongoing negotiations. This resolution condemns the actions of the Canadians, but, more importantly, it urges them to return to the bargaining table that they abandoned this past June. Proper conservation and management of the Pacific salmon is more important to both the United States and Canada than confrontation. We cannot reach a meaningful agreement unless both sides are willing to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would say only in conclusion that the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young] is a man of resolute purpose, and so I advise both Governments that they should take this opportunity to come to a quick conclusion. Otherwise, I think when the gentleman from Alaska gets back, he will be happy to volunteer to solve the whole problem all by himself. The remarks of the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] are well- taken, Mr. Speaker, and I trust that both Governments will take this opportunity, particularly over the break that we have coming, and bring the issue to a conclusion.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. ABERCROMBIE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. ABERCROMBIE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine [Mr. Baldacci].

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] for his kind remarks. I would like, in addition, to cite the work of the staff with regard to this and other bills, Mr. Speaker. It is outstanding work always. Mr. Speaker, the remarks of the gentleman from New Jersey are such that I think they make a compelling case in and of themselves. I would like not to reiterate them but to amplify them somewhat. The temporary moratorium on the entry of large fishing vessels into these two fisheries will provide the East Coast councils the opportunity they need to develop management plans to protect the resources without the threat of overcapitalization. I think that the gentleman from New Jersey has made a clear and compelling case in that regard. Too many fisheries in the United States are already overcapitalized, and seasons that used to last for months are now over in days. In New England, coastal communities have been devastated by the crash of cod and haddock stocks. Mackerel and herring will be the only healthy fisheries if they can survive the next several years, but not if those stocks are suddenly being harvested by an influx of large vessels. Four or five of these boats could eliminate the opportunities for fishermen that have little else to depend upon. It is time that we learn from the mistakes of the past and encourage the proactive approach by the councils to the problems of overcapitalization. This bill does that by giving the councils the time to do their job. It will be good for the fishing industry and the fish, and I urge Members to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine [Mr. Allen].

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Delahunt].

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Tierney].

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. This is all we have to see right here, Mr. Chairman. Do Members want to hear about jobs? We all have people that work hard, and I understand the tradition of this country is if you work hard, you are supposed to be rewarded. Our sugar growers are the most productive people on the face of the Earth, and they are up against wage slavery. If Members want to vote for wage slavery, do it, but do not do it on the backs of American working people. If Members want to blame corporations and tax them, go ahead and tax them for the profits they are making. But I would like to bring this forward to Members for their consideration. Do Members think for an instant if they kill the sugar program that Coca-Cola is going to cost us any less because it is Diet Coca-Cola? They pocket those profits right now, and if Members kill the sugar program they are inviting Coca-Cola and everybody else to take even more profits, laugh all the way to the bank, and hurt the American working man and woman. Stand up for the American working man and the American working woman, and fight off the big corporate profits that will be made if Members pass this amendment today. I rest my case.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 1818, the Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1997. Earlier this year, the House considered and passed H.R. 3, the Juvenile Crime Control Act of 1997, which is directed at increasing the Federal penalties for violent juvenile crime. H.R. 1818 provides a complement to H.R. 3. It provides the prevention component of a comprehensive approach to addressing juvenile crime. This bill proves that both sides can work together and craft a balanced approach to juvenile crime. I am proud to be a cosponsor of it. H.R. 1818 makes a number of changes to current law to increase the flexibility of States to treat status offenders in the most appropriate manner. For example, it retains the four core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 and slightly modifies three of them. The core requirement mandating States to reduce the disproportionate number of minorities confined in secure facilities was strengthened and clarified. H.R. 1818 requires States to reduce disproportionate minority confinement by addressing both delinquency prevention efforts and system improvement efforts. However, it prohibits the establishment of numerical standards or quotas. The measure tries to ensure that prevention efforts are targeted to communities where a disproportionate number of minorities are committed to the juvenile justice system. H.R. 1818 also altered the sight and sound separation requirement to prohibit regular contact, but allow for supervised, incidental contact such as passing in a hallway. This does not mean that Congress is reducing its focus on this important core requirement. Last, the core requirement that prohibits the housing of juveniles in adult facilities was modified to build additional flexibility into the law by extending the period of time for which juveniles can be held in a facility with adults, prior to an initial court appearance, to 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. States must still enforce the sight and sound separation requirement. In addition, it allows juveniles to be held for longer periods of time in facilities with adults in rural areas as long as there is no existing acceptable alternative placement, the parent or legal guardian of the juvenile involved consents, and it is approved in advance by the court. Such placement is, however, required to be reviewed periodically, at intervals of not more than 5 days for the duration of the detention or confinement to ensure it is the appropriate placement for such youth. Also, courts are urged to use this exception carefully. Compliance with the four core requirements is still Congress' goal. H.R. 1818 tries to make it easier for States to comply with the core requirements by allowing States to receive 50 percent of the formula money and the other 50 percent depending on their compliance with the four requirements. Under current law, if a State is not in compliance with the four requirements, then it loses all of the formula money. In addition, H.R. 1818 consolidates current discretionary programs into a flexible block grant program entitled the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Block Grant Program. In order for a State to receive any money under the prevention block grant, States must participate in the formula grant program and agree to use 95 percent of the funds they receive to fund local projects. H.R. 1818 also requires States to develop a plan to reduce and prevent juvenile crime with the assistance of community-based organizations and organizations in the local juvenile justice system which carry out programs, projects, or activities to prevent juvenile delinquency. The block grants will be allocated in the following manner: 50 percent on the basis of how many people in the State are under the age of 18, and the other 50 percent on the annual average number of arrests for serious crimes committed in the eligible State by juveniles. The prevention block grant will help juvenile justice officials in Hawaii and in other States fund prevention programs, substance abuse programs, support programs for children who have little or no family life, and programs that would give State court judges an alternative program to deal with certain juvenile offenders instead of sending them to correctional facilities. Everyone here knows that the nature of juvenile crime has changed drastically over the years. We have only to look through the paper to see younger people committing more violent crimes. Today's youths need to understand that they will be punished accordingly for crimes committed. However, that is only half of the battle. It is our duty to reach to our children, to get them involved in their communities, and to prevent them from taking part in dangerous activities in the first place. H.R. 1818 is an important component in our fight to meet this new challenge. It will help States prevent, reduce, and control juvenile crime. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1818.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 235, the Rohrabacher amendment, I was unavoidably detained at the Arlington National Cemetery. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking today near the end of this debate as a member of the Committee on National Security. I think that before we cast any vote we should think about the national security implications. In today's Washington Post, to go no further than the most contemporary moment, Mr. Speaker, ``U.S. is big market for firms owned by the Chinese military.'' The People's Liberation Army is now being called in some quarters the People's Liberation Army, Incorporated. We find ourselves in circumstances where military-related firms now are working in our seaports, they are involved in shipping. The military is pervasive throughout China. It is against our national security interests to go forward with most-favored-nation status for China at this point. It reminds me of the 1960's. We find ourselves walking down a path toward confrontation with China which need not occur if we are able to see today that we should not grant most-favored-nation status.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I would certainly take that issue up with Mr. Gene Castenetti, who is the director at Punchbowl, and would be delighted to work with you and the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] and anyone else who is interested in seeing to it that we might make those kinds of improvements.