Ken Calvert

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside, California are exceptional. The community of Riverside has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Bob Wales is one of these individuals. On Thursday, April 10, 2003, Bob will be honored at a retirement reception in recognition of his contributions as the Riverside Assistant City Manager. Bob received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1962. Upon graduation, Bob was commissioned in the U.S. Army and served honorably as a First Lieutenant in Orleans, France until joining the California Division of Highways in 1964. Bob obtained his license as a Professional Engineer from the State of California in 1969. Bob's accomplishments include the design of the 2/210 freeway interchange as well as the design of numerous bridges throughout California. Bob began his career with the City of Riverside as an Associate Engineer in the Public Works Department in August of 1969. Over the following eight years Bob served as a Senior Engineer and a Principal Engineer. In 1977, Bob was named Public Works Director and continued in that position for ten years until he was later appointed Assistant City Manager of Development. His duties included the oversight of the Public Works, Planning, Airport and Development Departments, as well as negotiating agreements with private developers and ensuring expeditious processing of key economic development projects. In 1986, Bob was appointed Executive Director of the Riverside Redevelopment Agency in addition to his other duties. In that position he has contributed to all facets of redevelopment in the City's six project areas. Under his exemplary leadership, the Agency has been involved in hundreds of projects worth millions of dollars including the reopening of the historic Mission Inn, the construction of a California State office building, the redevelopment of a major portion of the east side of Riverside with two large scale retail/entertainment projects and the creation of a Justice Center in the downtown area which brought in a State Court of Appeals, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court, a U.S. Federal District Court and a County Family Law Court. Bob's tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Riverside, California. He has been the heart and soul of many of the redevelopment projects and the vision of the future for Riverside and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he retires.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of sound energy for American citizens. First, I would like to thank the Members and staff of the four committees, the Committee on Energy and the Committee on Science, the Committee on Resources, and the Committee on Ways and Means, who have all worked so hard to bring this bill to the floor. There are a few points that I would like to address that I believe are crucial for the future stability of energy in America. First, I commend the inclusion of the hydrogen provision in H.R. 6, which is consistent with the President's call for alternative fuel sources in the future. We must actively pursue increased efficiency of fuel, reduced energy consumption, and additional research into alternative fuels such as hydrogen. The future of our economy and prosperity will ultimately depend on our ability to discover new ways to provide energy for our cars, homes, and businesses. Another important aspect of energy policy is the reform of nuclear and worker safety regulation at the Department of Energy. The Department of Energy is the only Federal agency that self-regulates; and after 10 years of studies, it is time that we implement external regulation of nonmilitary labs, for the welfare of the workers and to the benefit of taxpayers. While not included in this legislation, I am hopeful that we can pass other legislation to enact this reform and bring much-needed external regulation of worker safety and health to the Department of Energy. I am also hopeful that as we confer with the other body we will broadly include innovations in the field of biosynthetic fuel. Again, I commend the efforts of the various committees which have brought this bill about and look forward to moving more options in the arena of energy policy for the benefit of the American public.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I regret to inform you I have been unavoidably detained, due to airline transportation delays, and will not be present for votes today, April 7, 2003. However, if I had been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' on rollcall vote Nos. 109, 110, and 111.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to several organizations whose patriotism, dedication and contributions to the troops deploying out of March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California are exceptional. As our troops have been preparing to deploy to the Middle East many local organizations have taken it upon themselves to provide an outpouring of support and assistance. The local organizations involved have been the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Community Foundation, March Canteen and Harvest Christian Fellowship. March Air Reserve Base has a long history of honorable service to our country and once again it will hold a place in U.S. military history. The substantial airlift of 6,500 tons of cargo and the movement of 26,400 Marines headed for overseas has been helped by public donations of food and $30,000. The volunteers have handed out fruit, potato chips, cookies and paperback books to each Marine passing through the Marine deployment terminal. The Marines were also given personal items in order to provide a measure of comfort during their stay in the Middle East. The groups and individuals involved in the volunteer effort expressed nothing but appreciation and admiration for the men and women who have answered their call to duty. Their organization, determination, and work on behalf of our military are an example for every citizen of the United States of America. Their own call to the duty of volunteerism represents compassion and caring through organization. As our soldiers carry out their mission in Iraq, those last acts of generosity, kindness, support and love will be remembered as our troop's face what may be the most difficult time in their lives. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Community Foundation, March Canteen, Harvest Christian Fellowship and others have shown their patriotism and I am proud of the work they have done for our troops. I am honored to have such dedicated community organizations in my congressional district as well as a military base that contributes to the national security of our country and the liberation of the Iraqi people.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside, California are exceptional. Riverside has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. Carole A. Gudde is one of these individuals. After a year of exemplary service, we salute Carole as the outgoing Chairman of the Board for the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. As one of the oldest, largest and most influential chambers in the state, the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce (GRCC) works closely with local government and other entities to stimulate development and improve the quality of life in Riverside County. Carole Gudde's vision, leadership and ability to work with others have continued the mission of the GRCC in its work to promote economic development and pro- actively address problems within the community. The GRCC is approximately 1,600 members strong and Carole has been instrumental in maintaining and adding members to the Chamber. Carole's efforts as Chairman of the Board have extended beyond the boundaries of Riverside and into the State Capitol and Washington, DC. She has been actively involved in advocating pro-business legislation and fighting against measures that would put strains on local small business. She consistently kept members informed of the happenings in Sacramento as well as Washington, DC and made sure that Riverside's voice was heard. Carole has also been instrumental in promoting quality education for our children. Carole is also a member of the Executive Council of the Riverside Community Hospital, the YMCA Professional Business Women's Association, and the A. Gary Anderson School of Management Forum. She has been a recipient of the Small Business Eagle Award, 1996 Volunteer of the Year Award, and was named a ``Woman of Distinction'' by the Business Press in 1998. She is also the owner of Archive Management Service in Riverside. Carole's tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Riverside, California. Carole's involvement in the community and on behalf of the local businesses makes me proud to call her a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for her service and salute her as she exits as the Chairman of the Board for the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the Inland Empire are exceptional. The Inland Empire has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated business and community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Jamil Dada is one of these individuals. On March 21, 2003, Jamil will be honored by the Boy Scouts of American and will receive the 2003 Distinguished Citizen Good Scout of the Year Award. Jamil is the Senior Financial Manager for Provident Bank's eleven branches and serves as the manager of Investment Services. In addition to his outstanding professional career, Jamil finds time for numerous community organizations. He serves as Chairman of the Riverside County Workforce Development board which oversees approximately $18 million of federal funding that Riverside County receives for workforce development and job training. His financial experience and integrity led to his appointment to the board by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. In addition, Jamil serves as a board member of the Riverside Community College Foundation, the United Way of the Inland Valleys, the Boy Scouts of America Inland Empire Council, the Family Service Association of Western Riverside County and the Magnolia Center Division of the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Planned Giving Advisory Board at the University of California, Riverside. Jamil is a long time member of the Moreno Valley Rotary Club and currently is Vice-Chairman of the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is a board member of the Police Activities League and treasurer of the Moreno Valley Substance Abuse Task Force. He is also actively involved as the Vice President of Moreno Valley's largest food pantry, the Community Assistance Program. Jamil has also been instrumental at March Air Reserve Base as an Honorary Commander. He is also the Vice President of the March Air Field Air Museum, Chairman of the Friends of March Field and treasurer of the MARB Forum. In 1993 the Moreno Valley Hispanic Chamber honored him as their Man of the Year and in 1994 he was Rotarian of the Year for Rotary District 5330 and Moreno Valley's Citizen of the Year in 1997. In 2002 he was the finalist in the Inland Empire Leaders of Distinction. Jamil has set a standard of excellence and commitment in his work in the community that would be hard to match. His tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the Inland Empire. His involvement in the community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he receives the 2003 Distinguished Citizen Good Scout of the Year Award.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication to his country and community was extraordinary. Orange County, California, was indeed fortunate to have such a dynamic and dedicated community leader who willingly and unselfishly gave his time and talents to make his community a better place in which to live and work. The individual of whom I speaking is Ahmad Rateb Olomi. He was unexpectedly and tragically taken in an airplane accident over the Arabian Sea on Monday, February 24, 2003, at the age of 45. Mr. Olomi was born in Afghanistan, and earned his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, Pakistan. He moved to the United States in 1980. He was hired by Orange County in 1984 and shortly thereafter became a naturalized United States citizen. He worked his way up from Engineering Technician to the position of Senior Civil Engineer. Some of the more notable projects he worked on were Seven Oaks Dam, the Santa Ana River Mainstream Project, and the Laguna Canyon Road State Route 133 realignment. Over his 19 years of service to Orange County, Mr. Olomi developed himself into one of the County's most talented and valued professionals. In addition to his love for the United States and his community, he never forgot his original homeland. On the day of the tragedy, Mr. Olomi was on a six-month leave of absence from the County of Orange traveling with the Afghan Minister of Mines and Industries to help with the rebuilding of Afghanistan, and the construction of a transnational pipeline project that would pump natural gas and oil from Turkmenistan across Afghanistan and into Pakistan. Mr. Olomi was also a dedicated family man. He is survived by his wife Roya and children, Yusef and Sahar. He is remembered by his family and friends as a man admired for his integrity, honesty, intelligence and selfless commitment to others. My thoughts and prayers go out to them for their loss. Mr. Speaker, looking back at Mr. Olomi's life, we see a man dedicated to his family, community, adopted country and original homeland--an American and Afghani whose service led to the betterment of those who had the privilege to come in contact or work with him. Honoring Mr. Olomi's memory is the least we can do today for all that he gave over his lifetime.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication to his country and community was extraordinary. Orange County, California, was indeed fortunate to have such a dynamic and dedicated community leader who willingly and unselfishly gave his time and talents to make his community a better place in which to live and work. The individual of whom I am speaking is Ahmad Rateb Olomi. He was unexpectedly and tragically taken in an airplane accident over the Arabian Sea on Monday, February 24, 2003, at the age of 45. Mr. Olomi was born in Afghanistan, and earned a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, Pakistan. He moved to the United States in 1980. He was hired by Orange County in 1984 and shortly thereafter became a naturalized United States citizen. He worked his way up from Engineering Technician to the position of Senior Civil Engineer. Some of the more notable projects he worked on were Seven Oaks Dam, the Santa Ana River Mainstem Project, and the Laguna Canyon Road State Route 133 realignment. Over his 19 years of service to Orange County, Mr. Olomi developed himself into one of the County's most talented and valued professionals. In addition to his love for the United States and his community, he never forgot his original homeland. On the day of the tragedy, Mr. Olomi was on a 6-month leave of absence from the County of Orange traveling with the Afghan Minister of Mines and Industries to help with the rebuilding of Afghanistan, and the construction of a transnational pipeline project that would pump natural gas and oil from Turkmenistan across Afghanistan and into Pakistan. Mr. Olomi was also a dedicated family man. He is survived by his wife Roya and children, Yusef and Sahar. He is remembered by his family and friends as a man admired for his integrity, honesty, intelligence and selfless commitment to others. My thoughts and prayers go out to them for their loss. Mr. Speaker, looking back at Mr. Olomi's life, we see a man dedicated to his family, community, adopted country and original homeland--an American and Afghani whose service led to the betterment of those who had the privilege to come in contact or work with him. Honoring Mr. Olomi's memory is the least we can do today for all that he gave over his lifetime.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication contributions to the community of Corona, California are exceptional. Corona, and surrounding communities, has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated business and community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Bud Gordon is one of these individuals. On March 22, 2003, Bud will be honored at the annual YMCA Ira D ``Cal'' Calvert Distinguished Service Awards Dinner. For the past several years, Bud has volunteered and supported many of our most recognizable civic projects in Corona. He has served as the Executive Chairman of the Happy Hairston Youth Foundation and with late Happy Hairston, chaired the golf tournament for many years. Over the past seven years, Bud also has raised over one million dollars for local charities while serving as the Chairman for numerous golf tournaments that benefited local groups such as the Fender Museum Foundation, the Boy Scouts, the ARC Angel Foundation and the Happy Hairston Youth Foundation. He has also served as a committee member on several other charity golf tournaments such as the American Cancer Societies, The Boys and Girls Club of Temecula, and the Corona Regional Medical Center. In addition to his service on established charitable organizations, Bud initiated a new program called ``The Cool Down Corona Program''. During the hot summer months, senior citizens without air conditioning were suffering needlessly. Bud decided to go down to the local hardware store and purchase 30 window air conditioners. He then contacted the Corona Police Department, the Corona Fire Department and the Corona Senior Center and obtained the names of seniors in our community that did not have air conditioners. Over the past few years the program has grown and every year more seniors are helped during the summer months with much needed relief. Bud also co-founded the At Risk Children Foundation, or ARC Angel Foundation and has raised and given back to the community over half a million dollars in goods and services. One of the first activities organized by ARC Angel was to take 700 children from lowincome families to an Anaheim Angels ballgame at Edison Field, many of whom had never been out outside the city of Corona. Bud personally ftmded the tickets, food, souvenirs, and a mobile disc jockey. One of the defining moments in Bud's charitable record, was his involvement after September 11, 2001. On the weekend following the tragedy, Bud gave away United States flags to anyone who came into his car dealership requesting a flag. He also offered to donate $100 to the New York Relief Fund for each car that was sold in the name of that customer. On the week anniversary of September 11th, Bud closed the dealership at noon to have a brief program in remembrance of the victims. Local firefighters and police were honored and Bud announced he would match funds for anyone who would like to donate money to the relief efforts. Bud has set a standard of excellence and commitment in his work with charity. His tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Corona, California. His involvement in the community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he receives the ``Ira D. Calvert Distinguished Service Award''.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Corona are exceptional. Corona has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Mary Ybarra is one of these individuals. On March 22, 2003, Mary will be honored at the annual YMCA Ira D ``Cal'' Calvert Distinguished Service Awards Dinner. Mary was born in Yuma, Arizona but has resided in Corona for many years. She began service to the community at a very young age and as a teenager Mary was constantly busy organizing food drives for the needy in her local community. This drive and special gift of helping others would stay with her into adulthood. When her children began elementary school she quickly became involved in her local PTA. This involvement paved the way for her never-ending community interest and desire to serve. Many city events and organizations have greatly benefited from her presence. Some of the organizations that Mary has worked with include: ARC Angels, El Protector, Relay for Life, Day of the Young Child, A Day for Nicole, Little League Baseball, and Corona High Football Boosters. Mary has also chaired or co-chaired the following city events: the Health and Safety Fair, the Community Red Ribbon Week Celebration, the Community Blood Drive, and the fundraiser for Corona Regional Medical Center, ``An Evening to Remember''. Mary has also served as a YMCA Board Member, a member of several school site councils and has been involved in various school district committees. Throughout her years of involvement Mary has been instrumental in organizing numerous community events to help the needy and the underprivileged. Mary's crowing achievement was using her connections and undeniable powers of persuasion to organize two critical blood and marrow drives. Community participation in these events was overwhelming. Mary's experience, positive attitude, humor, wisdom, and determination led to the perfect bone marrow match for two wonderful and well deserving children of our community. Mary's tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Corona, California. She has been the heart and soul of many community organizations and events and I am proud to call her a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for her service and salute her as she receives the ``Ira D. Calvert Distinguished Service Award''.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the County of Riverside are exceptional. Riverside County has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. Stuart Glickman is one of these individuals. On January 10, 2003, Stuart was honored as he retired as a Riverside Superior Court Commissioner. A native born Southern Californian, Stuart was born and raised in Los Angeles. He was educated by Los Angeles public schools and was admitted to the State Bar in 1971. He went on to serve as Deputy District Attorney for Riverside County from 1971 to 1988. He was the Deputy in charge of the Corona Branch Office for ten years and assisted the Corona Police Department with training in the areas of search warrants and report writing. He also conducted courtroom training for police officers. He worked in the Riverside Superior and Municipal Courts, Corona Municipal Court and Hemet Municipal Court, handling both felony and misdemeanor cases. In 1988 he was appointed a Municipal Court Commissioner in the Corona Municipal Court. In 1992 he was appointed a Superior Court Commissioner and oversaw assignments that included criminal, civil, family law, traffic, small claims, and unlawful detainers. Stuart currently lives in Corona, California with his wife Ann of 43 years. He has two daughters, Marsha and Deborah, and is a proud grandfather of five. Stuart has been actively involved in the community as a member and past president of the United States Navy League of Corona. He is also a member and past president of the Corona Breakfast Lions Club and a member of the Temescal Palms Masonic Lodge in Corona. Stuart's tireless work as a Deputy District Attorney and a Superior Court Commissioner has contributed unmeasurably to the betterment of Riverside County. His involvement in the community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that the residents of Riverside County are grateful for his service and salute him as he retires. I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future for the good of our community.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday a tragedy occurred that touched every one of us. We lost seven brave explorers and now grieve along with their friends and family. In our modern world, we have grown comfortable with the frequent occurrence of space travel, forgetting that with each mission, there is risk. The men and women of Columbia knew the risks, and in the name of discovery accepted them. We owe each one of these brave voyagers a great deal of gratitude and reverence. As a country we hold life and freedom as our highest values, and it is natural for us to question the meaning behind the Columbia mission to determine whether it was worth the loss we feel now. One of the ironies of such a tragedy is that the valuable work these men and women were doing is now on the front pages of every newspaper and in the headlines of our evening news programs. If the mission had been completed as scheduled, there would have been perhaps a column on the back page of the newspaper or a 30 second newsbyte. Outside of the space community, few people are aware of the extraordinary advances being made in the fields of medicine, agriculture, physical and biological science by our space programs. Our missions into space will continue to hold a measure of risk and I believe we should support these missions in every way possible. Our country has had a tradition of leading the way in exploration in every field, and that tradition should continue. The exploration of space will go on in the name of these seven fine men and women and in the name of all those who went before them. On January 16 seven astronauts journeyed out of this world and they would go farther than anyone of us imagined; into the greatest unknown. However, their journey is not over and their legacy will never be forgotten God Bless.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an organization whose dedication and contributions to Riverside County are exceptional. Riverside County has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community organizations who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. St. Thomas the apostle church is one of those organization. This January, St. Thomas the Apostle Church celebrates its 100th year anniversary. The history of St. Thomas the Apostle Church includes service by the Jesuits, Franciscans and Diocesan priests as well as several communities of religious women. The Church has had the honor to have one of the newly named American saints work within the church community. St. Katharine Drexel and her order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, served the religious needs of the children at the Indian schools in the Southwest. In 1903, St. Thomas the Apostle Church's path began as Father O'Brien celebrated his first Mass to a church paced with Indian students using a kitchen table as an alter. In the 1940's, the church experienced many changes as the pews began to fill with Army personnel during World War II. Father Edmund Krolicki of the Conventual Franciscans, with the help of parishioner volunteers, worked to build the first school buildings at St. Thomas the Apostle. In the late 1950's the parish faced more challenges when the church was lost to an arson fire. The commitment of service and faith would see the church through these difficult times and the community quickly united in the effort of re-building the church. The new millennium has brought the parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle great spiritual and structural growth under the care and guidance of Fr. Joseph Felker. Since his arrival in 2000, the parish has enjoyed a renewed sense of community as the parish joins in the collaborative effort of renovating the parish site as well as building a new ministry center. The Katharine Drexel Ministry Center is a dream being actualized as a legacy for the next generation. St. Thomas the Apostle continues to illustrate what a church community should strive for; a community of prayer, a place for families to be blessed; a place to celebrate the sacraments; and where God's live is at work. St. Thomas the Apostle's tireless work in their community and among their members has contributed immeasurably to the betterment of Riverside county. I congratulate St. Thomas the Apostle on 100 years of service and worship.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to Riverside County are exceptional. Riverside County has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. David Zappe is one of these individuals. This year David will retire from the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District after providing more than 33 years of loyal, consciences and outstanding engineering and management service period. A native born Californian, David attended public schools in Riverside and Palm Springs, California. In 1969 he graduated from California State Polytechnic College in Pomona, California with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. As a student he was a member of the Engineer Honorary Fraternity, Sigma Phi Alpha. After his graduation David was employed by the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District as a Junior Engineer. He was quickly promoted to Associate Civil and Senior Civil Engineer position. As Senior Civil Engineer, David supervised the District's Project Planning Section. In 1983 David was promoted to the position of Flood Control Principal Engineer, with the responsibility for management of the Administrative Division, one of five divisions in the District. In 1992, he was promoted to the position of Assistant Chief Engineer and was responsible for coordination of District activities involving the District's six division and other governmental and private entities in the execution of the District's mission. In 1996 David was promoted to the position of General Manager-Chief Engineer. The Riverside County Flood and Water Conservation District presently employees a staff of approximately 175, forty of which are graduate engineers and thirty eight are registered civil engineers in the State of California. Under David's exemplary leadership the District continues to pursue an aggressive effort to design and construct needed flood control infrastructure. In addition to his degree in Civil Engineering, David completed the Advanced Management Program and the Executive Management Program at the University of California, Riverside. He has been a registered Civil Engineer in the State of California since 1972. He also is a member of ASCE and APWA. David's tireless work and unwavering loyalty will long be remembered. His commitment to the excellence of the District has contributed immeasurably to the betterment of Riverside County. His involvement in the community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that the District and many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he retires.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the city of Corona, CA are exceptional. Corona has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated business and community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. John O'Doherty is one of these individuals. On January 11, 2003, the Corona Chamber of Commerce hosted an Installation and Awards Banquet in celebration of John's year as president. John has been an invaluable member of the Corona Chamber of Commerce, having served as Treasurer, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, president Elect and currently, as President. His commitment to involvement has set a benchmark for those who follow him. During the past year, John has presided over Board, Executive and membership meetings as well as attending almost every after-hours activity. He prides himself on being involved beyond his direct duties as President. In addition to this extensive Chamber event involvement, John became a regular at the city council meetings giving a Chamber update to the mayor and council members. As his tenure as President, John had several noteworthy accomplishments. The Chamber grew in membership from 780 members to over 900. He also encouraged and participated in the growth and expansion of Chamber events such as Good Morning Corona which grew to an average attendance in excess of 100 and quarterly Membership Meeting Luncheons, which hit the all time high this year with over 320 members in attendance. Committee growth was also a legacy of this fine leader and under his tutelage, many Committees were motivated to reach landmark performance goals. The Chamber also reintroduced the Five P.M. Christmas Holiday, expanded the scope of the Business Expo and finely tuned the Ambassadors, who assisted many businesses in grand openings, open houses and ground breaking ceremonies. Under John's exemplary leadership, the Chamber was a visible participant in the annual Corona Beautiful program, run through the City of Corona's Economic and Redevelopment Department. He also oversaw a very successful Casino Night which raised proceeds that went to scholarships for high school students in the local area. The Chamber also hosted a very successful 13th Annual Corona Night with the Anaheim Angels. John has set a standard for excellence and commitment that will be difficult to duplicate. John's diligent work as the President of the Corona Chamber of Commerce has contributed unmeasurably to the betterment of the city of Corona. His involvement in the community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that all of the members of the Chamber are grateful for his service and salute him as his term comes to an end. I look forward to working with him in the future for the good of our community.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 111.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I call up a privileged resolution (H. Res. 34) election of majority membership on the Committee on House Administration, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to Southern California are exceptional. Southern California has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. Bob Drake is one of these individuals. On January 8, 2003, Ben will be stepping down as President of the Temecula Valley Winegrower's Association after a year of dedicated service. The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association represents 17 wineries and 49 grower members in their efforts to promote the making and growing of quality wine and winegrapes in the Temecula Valley appellation located in Riverside County. During his year as president, Ben has shown exemplary leadership skills as he has guided the association through a period of dynamic growth, vital to the associations' representation and promotion as one of the world's premiere wine and winegrape producing regions. Ben has represented the association on critical community and political matters, such as land use, beautification efforts, state shipping restrictions and continuing issues dealing with Pierce's Disease and the glass-winger sharpshooter. He has worked diligently to keep open lines of communication with our membership, regional vintner and grower groups and elected officials. Ben has placed much of his energy and focus on enhancing the recognition of the region as one of quality through educating association members through monthly enology and viticulture seminars. He has made himself available for countless media interviews and community outreach programs. Because of his personal and intensive involvement with association fundraising activities, he is leaving the association in a position of strength and financial stability. Ben's diligent work as the Temecula Valley Winegrower's Association has contributed unmeasurably to the betterment of Riverside County. His involvement in the community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. In know that all of the residents of Riverside County are grateful for his service and salute him as his term comes to an end. I look forward to working with him in the future for the good of our community.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication to the community and to the spiritual well- being of Southern California, the nation and the world is exceptional. Southern California has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. Greg Laurie is one of these individuals. The week of November 24th will mark 30 years of dedicated service and Greg's work will be celebrated by his family, friends, colleagues, church members, and all those whose lives he has touched through his work. Greg Laurie is a native of Southern California, born in Long Beach on December 10, 1952. His interest in the ministry began with a girl he followed into Bible study. At 19 he committed his life to Jesus Christ and grew a Bible study of 30 people into a church of more than 15,000 people. Greg is senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, the eighth largest church in America. As a pastor, Greg has sought to meet the challenges and opportunities of religion in the 21st century. In his 30 years of faithful service to the Harvest Christian Fellowship he has provided unwavering spiritual support and guidance. In addition to his work in the church, Greg sought out a way to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to Southern Californians in a non- traditional, non-church environment. With the help of a fellow colleague, Greg began the Harvest Crusades, a multi-night event of upbeat music, genuine worship, and a clear presentation of biblical messages. The first Harvest Crusades saw more than 90,000 people attend. Since that time, crowds totaling over 2.8 million people have attended Harvest Crusades in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina. In May of 2000, Harvest Crusades ventured outside the U.S. for the first time to present Harvest 2000 in Wollongong, Australia. Tens of thousands more people have participated in the Harvest Crusades via the Internet. Besides conducting evangelistic crusades, Harvest Ministries sponsors A New Beginning, an international daily radio program with messages by Greg Laurie, as well as a weekly television program, Harvest: Greg Laurie. Greg also serves as a board member of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse. At the Billy Graham Atlanta Crusade in 1994, Dr. Graham stated ``The media have been writing Greg Laurie up as the man who is going to be the evangelist of the future-and he is.'' In recognition of Greg's exemplary work as a minister and evangelist, his 30th anniversary as pastor will be a week long celebration of programs, activities and ceremonies. Greg's tireless work has contributed unmeasurably to the spiritual well-being and betterment Southern California and the world. His outstanding involvement in the community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to Southern California are exceptional. Southern California has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. Bob Anderson is one of these individuals. At the end of the year, Ben will be stepping down as President of the Building Industry Association of Southern California after many years of dedicated service. Ben has worked through BIA/SC, the California Building Industry Association (CBIA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to promote the building industry's contributions to the communities that it serves, to advocate on behalf of his colleagues and to create new home-ownership opportunities. Ben has exemplified leadership and dedicated service to the building industry as a CBIA and NAHB director, as BIA/SC Secretary/Treasurer, Second Vice President, First Vice President and President. Ben has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club in the City of Fontana and continues to be active in several business organizations both in the Inland Empire and Orange County. Ben has worked tirelessly to ensure that all Southern Californians have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream of home ownership, and to promote housing as a community asset which strengthens the fabric of our many neighborhoods in Southern California. Ben has been a dedicated, strong and effective voice for the principles and ideals of California's building community during his years as a member and leader of the Building Industry Association of Southern California. Ben's diligent work as the President of Building Industry Association of Southern California has contributed immeasurably to the betterment of Southern California. His involvement in community organizations makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that all of the residents and homeowners of Southern California are grateful for his service and salute him as his term comes to an end. I look forward to working with him in the future for the good of our community.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication to her country and community is exceptional. The Inland Empire has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated business and community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to make their communities a better place to live and work. Mrs. Candace Hunter-Wiest is one of these individuals and her exemplary leadership is being recognized at a dinner on Thursday, November 7, 2002 as she is honored as the 2002 Inland Empire Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen. Candace's career path is as unique as it is exceptional. She was married at age 18 and was a proud mother of three by age 22. As the sole provider for her family, she began working in the restaurant business and later took a clerical support position with an independent insurance agency. She was quickly promoted to bookkeeper, then to office manager and soon became a licensed agent. Her career in banking began when she associated with an agency owned by a bank holding company that had been perpetually unprofitable. Under her excellent management, Candace turned a profit in ten months. She moved to Riverside in 1988 and her career with the Inland Empire National Bank (IENB) began. Under her superb leadership, IENB has become one of the best banks in the country and has been named a Super Premier Performing Bank. Candace has been involved in numerous community organizations and she currently serves on the board of directors for the United Way of the Inland Valleys, the Community Foundation, the Mission Inn Foundation, and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce--to name a few. She is also on the University of California, Riverside's Chancellor's Executive Roundtable and the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management Executive Forum. In 1998 Candace was recognized as one of ``Twelve Women Who Make A Difference in the Inland Empire'' by the Inland Empire Magazine and the Business Press name Wiest ``A Woman of Distinction.'' She has also been listed in the International Who's Who of Professionals in the Year 2000 edition of Who's Who and has been named an Athena recipient as a YWCA Woman of Achievement in 1995. Candace's tireless work as a community leader has contributed immeasurably to the betterment of the Inland Empire. Her involvement in community organizations, especially the Inland Empire Council of Boy Scouts of America, make me proud to call her a fellow community member, American and friend. I am grateful for her efforts and service and salute her as she is deservedly honored as the 2002 Inland Empire Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen. I look forward to continuing to work with her for the good of our community in the future.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication to the community and to the overall well- being and prosperity of the County of Riverside, California, is exceptional. The County of Riverside has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. Tom Mullen is one of these individuals. After two terms as Riverside County Supervisor, Tom is retiring this year. I know all of the citizens in our great County will miss Tom and wish him well as he moves to new endeavors. Tom Mullen is a native of Hastings, Nebraska and has served his country honorably in the United States Air Force. Tom also served his community as a law enforcement officer and as an aid to State Senator Bob Pressley. Mullen was first elected to the Fifth District Supervisor seat for Riverside, California in 1994. As a county supervisor, he has been responsible for a population greater than 12 states and a multi- billion dollar budget that would rank among Forbes Magazine's Fortune 500 companies. Mullen has also been the leader for an ambitious planning initiative, the Riverside County Integrated Project, a three- pronged plan to simultaneously address transportation, habitat conservation and housing demands brought on by rapid population growth in Riverside County. The plan has been praised as a national model for other states and communities to emulate. Under Tom Mullen's excellent leadership Riverside County has achieved impressive results. The economy has grown significantly and during his tenure more than 350,000 jobs have been generated. Mullen's aggressive hiring of new Sheriff Deputies and prosecutors has produced a 50- percent decrease in crime since 1994. In recognition of Tom's exemplary work as a Riverside County Supervisor, Tom has been awarded the Riverside Community College Alumnus of the Year 2000; Management Leader of the Year 1998 by the A. Gary Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Riverside; and the Good Government Award from the Riverside County Chapter of the Building Industry Association. Tom is a devoted husband to wife, Kathy, and proud father and grandfather. Tom's tireless work as the Riverside County Supervisor has contributed unmeasurably to the well-being and betterment of Riverside County. His outstanding involvement in the community makes me proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of America's freedom, our Nation's security, and the resolution before us. We have the responsibility to deal with Saddam Hussein, not only because we have the most to lose, but because it is American leadership that the world looks to in times of crisis. While it is always preferable to lead a large coalition, America must be willing to go with a few like-minded friends or even alone if the situation demands it. Indeed, the United Nations is at a crossroads. Either it proves itself to be relevant to the 21st century or, in the words of Winston Churchill, it will be known that ``they decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful for impotence.'' Our actions here in Congress speak to the world, and our resolve can only strengthen our case. For its own sake, the U.N. must act, not just engage in endless chatter. That our Nation is willing to stand up to the most despotic and corrupt regime speaks not only to American leadership but to our vision for humanity. We desire only to see the peaceful development of Iraqi society and to witness Saddam Hussein's veil of insanity lifted from the minds of the Iraqi people. We cannot sit idly by while Saddam Hussein stockpiles weapons of mass destruction to use against our allies and for distribution to those terrorists that would use them to attack America. Mr. Speaker, Iraq poses a clear and present danger to the United States security and to the stability of a peaceful world; and, Mr. Speaker, in the words of Edmund Burke, ``The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.''

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001. Over the past year, this country has tried to come to terms with the tragedy we experienced on September 11th. Although I have written or spoken about that day many times, I have found that words often fail to describe the magnitude of that day. There are the haunting stories of loss and grief as well as stories of heroism and triumph. We learned about ourselves and our country that day and while we grieved for those we lost, we also cultivated a new sense of unity and patriotism. As a nation we renewed our belief in the American spirit and in the bravery of fellow Americans who would willingly risk their lives for a stranger. The stories of what ordinary men and women did under extraordinary circumstances continue to amaze me. As we remember September 11, 2001, let us remember all the brave men and women who not only saved lives but saved our sense of brotherhood. Let us extend our prayers to all our brave men and women in the Armed Forces who right now are protecting our way of life and let us extend our deepest gratitude to our fire and police forces who have redefined the word `sacrifice'.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside County, CA, are exceptional. The County of Riverside has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. Marcia McQuern is one of these individuals. On October 1, 2002, Marcia will be retiring after 30 years of dedicated service to the community as the Publisher, Editor, President and CEO of The Press Enterprise, the dominant news source for the Inland Empire. Her outstanding work in communicating with the public, in addition to her personal involvement in the community, will be celebrated at a luncheon her honor on October 8, 2002. Marcia obtained her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara and served as the editor of the student newspaper. She later obtained her master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. In her 30 years of exemplary employment with The Press Enterprise, Marcia has worked as the executive editor, managing editor/News, deputy managing editor/News, and city editor as well as holding numerous reporting positions. In 1992 she was named president of The Press Enterprise and in 1994 she was named publisher and editor. Under her excellent leadership the newspaper's daily circulation increased from 116,000 to more than 185,000. Marcia has also been an actively involved in the community and industry, currently serving as a member and former president of the board of the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Marcia also serves on the board of the Riverside Community College Foundations; the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Foundation; the Mt. San Jacinto College Foundation; the Inland Empire Economic Partnership; and the Community Foundation for the Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology. She is also a member of the Monday Morning Group, the Murrieta-Temecula Group and on the board of visitors for the UCR's College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Marcia has also served as a member of the boards of the American Society of Newspaper Editors; California Society of Newspaper Editors; the California Press Association; the University of California, Santa Barbara, Alumni Association; the editorial board of California Lawyer Magazine; and as a Pulitzer Prize juror. In recognition of her outstanding work in the community, Marcia has been honored by the University of California, Santa Barbara as its Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2001; was inducted into the UCR Women's Hall of Fame in 1998; recognized as the California Press Association's Newspaper Executive of the Year in 2000; and honored as the Riverside YWCA Woman of Achievement in 1994. Marcia's tireless work as the Publisher, Editor, President and CEO of The Press Enterprise has contributed unmeasurably to the betterment of Riverside County. Her involvement in community organizations makes me proud to call her a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that all of the residents of Riverside County are grateful for her service and salute her as she departs The Press Enterprise. I look forward to working with her in the future for the good of our community.