Robert Aderholt

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the President in his policy regarding Iraq. Resolutions regarding war are not something we consider without much thought, and this should be very serious business for this House and each Member of it. The last few months, there has been much talk about Iraq being given the opportunity to respond to weapons inspections. Sometimes this is said as if it were a new idea. However, when a defiant Saddam Hussein has repeatedly rejected inspections and threatened inspectors, there is little reason to believe that he will cooperate. You may have seen the movies in which a prison is going to be inspected. The warden replaces the spoiled food with fresh vegetables and maybe even a meat entree. If Saddam Hussein allows inspectors in, it will only be at specific locations and not the unlimited, surprise inspections that we need in order to have our questions answered. The fact that our President would consider any additional form of inspection is a testimony of his desire to avoid conflict. Saddam Hussein's actions in the past show a lack of regard, both for his own people and for his neighboring nations. I remember back about 10 years ago as a young man preparing to practice law. It was about that time that the U.S. and our allies spent an enormous time and effort freeing the Kuwaiti people and hoped that the Iraqi people would also be able to free themselves from the dictator. In World War II, Hitler introduced a concept of blitzkrieg, a high- speed attack by land and air. Today's increasingly long-range and accurate rockets, armed with warheads of mass destruction, makes blitzkrieg look like slow motion. The President's top advisers and the Secretary of Defense, along with other members of the President's Cabinet, have briefed Members of Congress repeatedly and in a timely manner. I went down to Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House just last week, and back on September 19 met with the Secretary of Defense along with several other Members of Congress at the Pentagon to discuss and be briefed on the situation in Iraq. Now, the President needs our support so that he can act quickly and decisively against the threat of Iraq should he deem that action necessary. Again, let me stress, the action that we take this week is not just another vote for the United States Congress. It is, indeed, one of those landmark votes that will be long remembered and recorded in the history books. The action that we take this week might just, and certainly we pray, negate the need to send our troops into harm's way. I would urge all the Members to support our President and vote yes on this resolution.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 438 I was attending a White House briefing on Iraq. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to oppose the amendment by the gentlemen from Arizona and Michigan, both fine and excellent Members of this body, but like many Americans, I am concerned that gambling is a panacea for the real problems of poverty on Indian reservations. As gambling has become more and more a part of Native American policy, investment in Federal programs intended to improve the health and welfare of tribes has declined. While the intent of the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was to allow Native Americans to lift themselves out of poverty through self- reliance, today nearly 80 percent of Native Americans do not receive anything from gambling revenues. The reality is that most tribes, which are located in areas not economically viable for a casino, live in poverty. The National Indian Gaming Commission, which is now in the bill, would be struck by this amendment. This would be unfortunate because the Indian Gaming Commission would undertake a study of a number of problems which impact the Native American community, including the welfare of Native Americans, including health, infrastructure, housing, economic development and educational opportunities; the relationship between tribal entities and nontribal communities; and regulations that govern tribal gaming to produce potential for abuse or exploitation by organized crime and the gaming industry. This commission, I believe, provides a much-needed review of Federal policy on Native Americans. Given the current state of affairs, I urge my colleagues to preserve the National Indian Gaming Commission and to oppose the Hayworth-Kildee amendment.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with 83 Members of Congress in cosponsoring H.R. 4965, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. I commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for sponsoring this legislation. The time has come for us to take a firm and decisive stand against this deplorable procedure. I have cosponsored two previous Partial-Birth Abortion Acts, in 1997 and again in 2000. The measure passed the House by overwhelming votes. On June 28, 2000, almost 3 months after the House last voted on the partial-birth abortion ban, the Supreme Court struck down a Nebraska ban on partial-birth abortions in the Stenberg case. And so once again we are here to stand and to fight against this violent and crude procedure. The Congress' last attempt to ban partial-birth abortions failed, but we must continue to do everything we can to save innocent lives. So many of us here in the House and the Senate and all across America want to see this legislation passed into law, not to trample on the rights of any individual as some would say. We want this legislation to pass to become law simply to protect the lives of the innocent. This afternoon I would urge my colleagues to join with me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation that will save the lives of many, many and let our common goal be to protect the lives of mothers and infants.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I want to join other colleagues of mine in thanking the fine young men and women who have served as pages for the U.S. House of Representatives this past session. I was particularly pleased to have Ms. Lauren Oswalt of Fayette County, Alabama here in Washington, D.C. She is a fine young woman and has represented her home area well. The pages not only provide valuable services to Members and their staffs, but they are able to learn a great deal about how their Federal government works. As they return to their communities and continue their studies, this knowledge can help them be effective citizens and leaders. To that end, I also want to thank the directors of the Congressional Page program. It is a fine combination of public service and education. Again, I congratulate the pages and thank them for their service.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, last June, I had the privilege of attending the ceremony at which President Bush signed last year's historic tax cuts into law. This was quite an event, because it marked the enactment of the largest tax relief package in the last two decades. It was also an accomplishment because it reversed the backwards way that Washington often views tax dollars as belonging to federal government bureaucrats, not to working family farmers and small business people. This backwards view is particularly stressful to families when a family member has passed away. When someone who has paid taxes all of his life passes away, the death tax will still force surviving family members to pay up to 50 percent on the value of property of the deceased for tax year 2002. Fifty percent, even though the deceased spent a lifetime paying taxes on that very property. This is double taxation. With this high rate of taxation, families can be forced from their houses, off of their farms, and out of their businesses. Thanks to last year's tax cut, the death tax will be gradually phased out by tax year 2010. However, because of a procedural rule in the other body, the death tax will come back to life in tax year 2011. To keep the death tax in the grave where it belongs, I am pleased to serve as an original cosponsor of H.R. 2143, the Permanent Death Tax Repeal Act, sponsored by Rep. Dave Weldon of Florida, and urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the distinguished career of the Honorable Rafe Heath Cloe, United States Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Hearings and Appeals, Social Security Administration, Birmingham, AL. Judge Cloe served for more than 15 years as a senior trial attorney for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. He has served in the United States Air Force, active and reserve duty, retiring as Colonel with the Office of the Judge Advocate General, and also serving as an instructor at the Air Force Law School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. On February 22,1982, he was appointed as the United States Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Hearings and Appeals of the Social Security Administration and has served in that capacity in Birmingham, AL since 1982. On June 3, 2002, Judge Cloe will retire after 42 years of distinguished service to the people of the United States. His commitment to protecting the Constitutional rights of the citizens of this country is exemplary and unquestioned. He is worthy of commendation for his commitment to public service.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order that section 101 of the bill, beginning on line 18 through line 23, violates clause 2 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives prohibiting legislation on appropriation bills. The language in question prohibits the Food and Drug Administration from consolidating its Office of Public Affairs or Office of Legislation at the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources under this bill or ``any other Act.'' As such, the language changes current law and constitutes a violation of clause 2 of rule XXI. I insist on my point of order.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I too want to rise this afternoon to recognize today as the National Day of Prayer. National Days of Prayer have been observed for several years in accordance with Public Law 100- 307. Mr. Speaker, I cannot remember a day or a year that today has meant more for this Nation. The heart of our Nation was wounded on September 11, but this wound has begun to heal through the ceaseless prayers of the people. We pray today for the continued grace of God upon our land. We pray for the safety of our men and women of the Armed Forces, many of whom are fighting across the sea in the war on terrorism, and we pray for peace throughout the world. We also pray for wisdom and guidance for this body here in the United States House of Representatives, for the Senate, for the judiciary, for the President and also his administration. Great tasks and heavy responsibilities lay upon our shoulders. Whether making decisions about the Middle East or international situations or policies for our own country, we pray that we do not rely on our own knowledge, but on the wisdom of God. Mr. Speaker, today, all across America, individuals are meeting in courthouses, city halls, State houses and here on Capitol Hill, to observe this National Day of Prayer. Since 9 o'clock this morning at the Cannon House Office Building right across the street, hundreds of individuals have assembled together for that purpose, as one Nation, under God, and indivisible.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 22 I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons), another strong supporter of this resolution who sought me out early on that he wanted to be a supporter of this resolution and to speak on it.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I urge the passage of this resolution to send a strong bipartisan message of solidarity with the Spann family as well as the men and women in the intelligence community and the armed services who are putting themselves at personal risk to defend this Nation and our people. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), who represents the district in which Mike Spann and his family were living.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring voice to my constituents, my State, and people around the Nation who mourn the loss of Johnny Micheal Spann, better known as Mike Spann. Mike Spann lost his life as has already been said, in service to this country during a prison uprising in Afghanistan on November 25, 2001. He is an American hero and I stand to honor him today. There are few facts about the exact circumstances of his death that we currently know, due to the nature of the war. Mike Spann was serving as a paramilitary officer with the CIA and was at the prison in Mazar-e Sharif interviewing Taliban prisoners. It is believed that these prisoners smuggled guns and grenades into the prison and used these munitions to stage an uprising against the Northern Alliance and the American soldiers. Mike and a fellow CIA officer drew their weapons and attempted to fight their way out of the prison fortress. While his fellow CIA officer was able to escape, Mike, unfortunately, became the first American killed in action in Afghanistan. Before his death, he and his fellow CIA officer were able to alert outside forces who were sent in to squelch the uprising. The bloody battle continued for 3 days. Five other Americans were injured during the struggle. It was not until the prison could be secured that Mike's body was found. Even without the full details of the prison riot during which he was killed, we can be certain that Mike Spann died doing what he loved, serving and fighting for his country. Since September 11, we have witnessed an outpouring of patriotism across this Nation. Mike was someone who overflowed with patriotism even during a time when it was not popular. His father recently quoted Mike as saying, ``Someone has to do the right thing that no one else wants to do.'' From a young age, he wanted to pursue a career in the Marines and with either the CIA or FBI. After graduating from Winfield High School in Marion County, Alabama, he attended Auburn University where he earned a degree in criminal justice. He immediately pursued his next goal, serving in the Marine Corps from 1992-1999, and he earned the rank of captain. From there, he was recruited to work for the CIA in special operations. Mike is survived by his wife Shannon and three children, Alison 9, Emily 4, and 6-month old Jake. Our prayers go out to them and the rest of the Spann family. Mike is also survived by his parents, Johnny and Gail Spann, and two sisters, Tonya Ingram and Tammy Dunavant. We are glad that they can join us in the Chamber today. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to attend the burial of Mike Spann yesterday in Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery is appropriate for a fallen hero. Full military honors were given, highlighted by the caisson, a 21-gun salute and a Marine honor guard. It should be noted that a memorial service was also held last Thursday in Mike's hometown in the district I represent of Winfield, Alabama. Mike's daughter, Alison, wrote a letter to him just a short while back, and the words of this letter should echo in our ears and our hearts as we consider this resolution today. In her words, ``Dear Daddy, I miss you dearly. Thank you, Daddy, for making the world a better place.'' May we use this resolution today as an opportunity to thank Mike Spann and to honor Mike Spann and the rest of the men and women fighting the war against terrorism, and for making this world a better place. Today as we commemorate the 3-month anniversary of September 11, the attack on this Nation, our hearts go out to all. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), who is a strong supporter of this resolution.

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

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, Johnny Michael Spann, the world found out today, is the first American known to have died in combat in Afghanistan. Having grown up in Winfield, Alabama, he served in the United States Marine Corps, and was a Central Intelligence Agency officer when he was killed during the prison riot at Mazar-e Sharif. Winfield, Alabama, is in the congressional district I represent, and only a few miles from my hometown. I am currently preparing a resolution to honor Mr. Spann in his service for his country. He was 32 years old and a father of three, and I extend my condolences to his family, and ask that all Americans keep his family in their prayers in the days to come.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, we have all heard stories over the past three weeks where Americans have gone out of their way and beyond the call of duty to help the victims of their families of the September 11 attacks of the United States. I have seen several examples in Alabama and in the congressional district I represent, the Fourth District of Alabama. One such example is in the northeastern part of the fourth congressional district in DeKalb County. A family there heard a firefighter tell of a need that was so simple, that many may not have even thought about it, the need for clean, dry socks. It should be noted that this area of the district is the ``sock capital'' of the world. After a few phone calls to numerous sock mills in the Fort Payne area, those in Alabama's hosiery industry were there to help, offering socks made in America, from American materials, finished in America, packaged in America and, most importantly, for American heroes in their time of need. The hosiery industry in Fort Payne and DeKalb County was presented with a need and answered the call within 24 hours. More than 5,000 pairs of socks were delivered to both New York City and the Pentagon. I want to express my thanks for the actions of the people of the Fort Payne area and the thousands of other families in Alabama's Fourth District who work in these sock mills. I am proud to represent this community, Fort Payne, even though it may not have been in the headlines of the New York Times, they stood up in an important way to help their fellow Americans.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, as we think of the most important things tonight, we think of prayer and we think of the people of this Nation. Prayer is sometimes spoken of as a thing of last resort, but is actually our primary source of strength and power before, during, and after a crisis like this one. Above all, let us pray at this time for the endurance of survivors and rescue workers in New York and at the Pentagon so that those who are trapped can be rescued and returned to their loved ones. Let us pray for the President and all of those who offer him council and advice. Mr. Speaker, we are proud beyond words of the spirit of this Nation. The Red Cross is overwhelmed with volunteers wanting to give blood. We are proud of the orderly way in which this Nation handled a day of attack and uncertainty. We all take comfort that there are still those who will give up their time and effort to those in need; and we saw that demonstrated yesterday, and we continue to see that even now. Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor and to visit the place where the U.S.S. Arizona was attacked on December 7, 1941. Along with the other Members of Congress who were there with me that day, we never thought that within 4 months, America would see even more loss of human life than that terrible day in 1941. My generation has actually seen very little of war. However, after yesterday, my generation knows what it is for these United States to be under direct attack. The legislation before us tonight clearly expresses how this House feels about these attacks. Furthermore, we must use our resources to make sure that as much as humanly possible, that what happened on September 11, 2001, does not happen again.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the gentleman from Texas as a cosponsor of H.R. 2, the Social Security and Medicare Lockbox Act of 2001. Although today, the Social Security program is able to meet its requirements, we face the problem of fewer workers who pay into the Social Security system, while at the same time, the number of retirees eligible for Social Security benefits continues to increase. I believe Congress and the new Administration can work together to safeguard and strengthen the integrity of the Social Security program. Our Nation's seniors rely on Social Security for approximately 40 percent of their income. Many depend on it for more. Without a lockbox, approximately $2.9 trillion in projected Social Security and Medicare Part A surpluses over the next ten years could be spent on programs and initiatives which may do little, if any, to protect our Nation's seniors. H.R. 2 will ensure that these surpluses will be used only to strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Furthermore, protecting Social Security and Medicare makes it easier for the Treasury Department to reduce the public debt. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 2.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to man who has not only been an outstanding Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, but also a good friend and a help to me during my time in Congress. Charles Canady, first elected in 1992, has been a leader on Judiciary issues, and a shining example of a citizen legislator who kept his word, and now returns to his home state of Florida to pursue other endeavors. There are two issues on which I have especially appreciated Congressman Canady's legal knowledge and leadership. The first is the issue of partial-birth abortion. Congressman Canady has been an eloquent and persistent voice on behalf of the most innocent and defenseless in our society. Although the outcome of his diligent efforts may not yet be what we would have hoped, his vigilance will be the foundation on which we will one day build the law that will outlaw this barbaric procedure. The other issue is Congressman Canady's effort to protect religious liberty in America. Responding to the constant attacks on the free exercise of religion, Congressman Canady has led the fight to restore the Constitutional protections for religious expression that our Founders intended, and to ensure that people of faith need not live as second class citizens in a nation that was founded on the principle that religion was an integral part of societal life. For these reasons, and for many more, I thank Congressman Canady for his service in Congress, and for his friendship. I wish him Godspeed in his pursuits upon his return home to Florida.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster); the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota Mr. Oberstar); and the gentleman from Tennessee (Chairman Duncan) for working with me to bring this bill for making a technical correction to the boundaries of the Lawrence County Airport to the floor this evening. Back in 1999, as it has been stated before, the FAA approved a revised layout plan for the Lawrence County Airport in Courtland, Alabama, which states that the ownership and the management of the airport consists of approximately 414 acres. This plan has been approved by the FAA and the local industrial development board in Lawrence County, Alabama. The FAA subsequently uncovered a map submitted in 1989 with a grant application for runway improvements showing the airport as consisting of approximately 600 acres. The additional acreage was incorporated into the grant application to accommodate an extension of the existing 5,000 foot runway to 7,000 feet each over a period of 20 years. There is no need for aircraft which require a 7,000 foot in the area, and this plan has not proceeded. Due to the discrepancy between the old grant application and the FAA's revised layout plan, Lawrence County is not able to use the property. H.R. 5111 makes technical and conforming changes that clarify that the 414 acre layout plan is in effect. Again, I would like it thank the chairman and the other members of the committee for their support, and ask my colleagues to support H.R. 5111.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, it has already been stated tonight and it has been stated very eloquently some things about Congressman Carl Elliott, who served as an outstanding representative for Alabama and our Nation throughout his life. He was born to Will and Nora Massey Elliott of Vina, in Franklin County, Alabama, in 1913, and he tirelessly devoted himself to serving others. He was a 1936 graduate of the University of Alabama Law School and he was admitted to the practice in Alabama under the Alabama State Bar the same year. He also set up his law practice in Russellville, Alabama, in 1936 and later moved that practice to Jasper, Alabama, where he later served as judge of the Recorders Court. In June of 1940, Carl Elliott married Jane Hamilton, who remained his wife until her death in 1985. Through their years together, the couple raised four children, Carl, Jr., Martha, John and Lenora. Following military service in the Second World War, Carl Elliott rose quickly in public life and was elected to the 81st and seven succeeding Congresses beginning in 1948. From the first day he came to Washington, Carl Elliott began working on a bill for Federal aid for education. In every Congressional session from 1949 to 1958, Carl Elliott introduced some form of a student aid act, knowing that under the seniority system, his legislation might take years to get a hearing. Despite these challenges, Carl Elliott was undeterred in his strong desire to improve the quality of our Nation's education system, from the elementary and secondary level through higher education in our Nation's colleges and universities. This persistence paid off when he was appointed to the House Committee on Education and Labor in October of 1951, the committee on which Elliott is known for having done his greatest work in the House. But Carl Elliott knew it was not always politically popular for a Congressman to be a champion of our Nation's educational system. In his autobiography, The Cost of Courage, the Journey of an American Congressman, Elliott wrote that ``By stepping into the arena of the fight for Federal aid to education, I was entering a battleground littered with nearly two centuries of corpses. Only twice in America's history had the Federal Government been able to pass laws that significantly and directly provided aid to the Nation's schools. The first was the passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, which set aside public lands for elementary and secondary schools. The second came in 1962, when Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, which provided land grants for state universities.'' As chairman of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Special Education, Carl Elliott saw that wherever he went, he was told the same thing that he had already known for quite some time, that something needed to be done to strengthen our educational system, particularly in the fields of science and technology. This need became dramatically clear in our Nation when Sputnik I was launched by the Soviet Union in October of 1957. With its strange beeping sound heard by millions of Americans as it orbited the Earth that month, Americans realized that there was a tremendous need to increase our scientific and technical knowledge base to win the space race and eventually win the Cold War. When the House convened in 1958, Carl Elliott's number one priority was passage of his bill, the National Defense Education Act. This historic legislation established loans to students at our Nation's colleges and universities, and provided financial assistance for strengthening education by authorizing Federal grants to States to purchase equipment for science and mathematics instruction. The National Defense Education Act helped to strengthen math and science instruction at a critical time in our Nation's race to the Moon and our eventual victory in the Cold War under Presidents Reagan and Bush. Carl Elliott was also responsible for the Library Services Act, which brought libraries to rural communities, and even now provides millions of dollars in Federal assistance for low-income elementary, secondary and college level students. As a member of the House Committee on Rules, Elliott worked for progressive social legislation and took a stand on racial issues during a time in the South when such a stand was anything but popular. Despite his Congressional defeat in 1964, Carl Elliott continued his career in public life, serving as a member of President Johnson's Library Commission in 1967 and 1968. He also served under Presidents Johnson and Nixon as Chairman of the Public Evaluation Committee, Office of Technical Services, and a member of the Technical Advisory Board within the Department of Commerce. Although elected and appointed to high office throughout his career, Elliott never forgot his roots, resuming his law practice in Jasper until his death on January 9 of last year. Two of Elliott's children, Martha Elliott Russell and Lenora Russell Cannon, who currently live in Jasper, are still living today, and also I just found out today that his grandson, William Russell, is working now on Capitol Hill. In 1990, Carl Elliott was given what is perhaps the greatest honor of his career when he was named the first recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. Created by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation to encourage elected officials to show courage in their political leadership, more than 5,000 people were nominated, but only one person was chosen, and that was Carl Elliott. In his autobiography, Carl Elliott himself best summed it up, and, as the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) eloquently put it tonight and it is the way he said it best in his book in the Profile in Courage speech, ``There were those who said that I was ahead of my time. But they were wrong. I believe that I always was behind the times that ought to be.'' To honor Carl Elliott's long and distinguished career, I am proud to introduce H.R. 4806 to designate the Federal building located at 1710 Alabama Avenue in Jasper, Alabama, as the Carl Elliott Federal Building. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I believe it will serve as a fitting tribute to a great leader who truly made a difference in making the lives of Americans in his era and in our own better than they would have been without his leadership. I had an opportunity to personally know Carl Elliott. As a college student I was working on a term paper and I went to see the former Congressman to discuss the topic that I was working on, the history of Winston County. He sat down with me, he was helpful, he was sincere, and he took time to help a student who needed his help. It is only fitting and proper that we honor Carl Elliott through this legislation.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, today, of course, we are considering H.R. 4811, the fiscal year 2001 foreign operations appropriations bill, and I rise in strong opposition to the amendment at hand. This bill includes language carried over from last year's bill, as has already been discussed. This language was a carefully crafted compromise which limits the amount of funding that can be distributed to foreign organizations that perform or promote abortions overseas. This amount was capped at $15 million. Of course, that is $15 million more than we would like to have seen; however, the agreement prevented hundreds of millions of dollars more from going into the abortion industry. The compromise also transfers $12.5 million to child survival programs if the President approves any U.S. subsidies for foreign abortion providers or promoters. This transfer would have the direct tangible effect of saving the lives of children around the world through immunization and oral rehydration therapy. These measures would prevent or treat diseases that currently take the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent children every year. The proposed amendment would strike this language and allow up to $1.3 billion in U.S. funds to flow freely to the international abortion industry. This is of great concern to me personally, and I believe that it should not be allowed. Economic development and health care are how to help families in other countries, not the funding of groups that have performed abortions in the name of birth control. I sincerely request my colleagues to join with me today in opposing this amendment and reaffirming the Mexico City policy compromise that we agreed to and passed into law last year. The language currently in the bill will save the lives of countless children around the world, both born and unborn.