Jim Clyburn

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans], the ranking subcommittee member, for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Discrimination Prevention Act. This legislation is contained in S. 714, the compromise agreement which is before us today. This year's Subcommittee on Veterans Oversight hearings have demonstrated the extremely sensitive and serious problem of sexual harassment within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The legislation we are considering today meets these glaring problems head-on. The gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans] and I were original cosponsors of similar legislation back in 1993. At that time, we were told that changes were in the works regarding the EEO process at VA and throughout the Federal Government and that there was no need for this legislation. This expected Government-wide solution never happened. The Senate never acted on the bill we passed in 1993. And here we are today, almost 5 years later, dealing with the sexual harassment problems that continue to fester at the VA. It is a tribute to the leadership of the Subcommittee on Oversight chairman, the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Everett], and I thank him for recognizing the continuing need for legislation to improve the EEO process at the VA. Without his commitment to this issue, it is likely that we would not be on the floor today considering final passage of this significant EEO reform legislation. It is also a tribute to the VA that it has finally recognized its EEO process is seriously flawed and that it has independently proposed administrative changes that draw in large part from the bill we introduced earlier this year. The VA's proposal did not go far enough, however, and that is why we need to approve this legislation today. By voting in favor of this bill, we in Congress will be doing our part to bring professionalism and independence to the EEO process at the VA and to help restore the faith and trust in the process that has been so lacking over the past few years.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Thank you.

Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the gentleman so much. I am just pleased to be a part of this because, as we have discussed in passing, this is something I very much have been involved in over the years. I was just so pleased to find that the gentleman had such a rich and hands-on involvement. To have someone like the gentleman as an advocate in this area is something that makes me feel much more comfortable with our efforts. I just want to thank the gentleman for letting me be here tonight to join with him and to call upon our colleagues to continue this great work.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here this evening with my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Davis] and to thank him for all of his historical work in the field of community health centers. I want to say to him tonight that one of the most pleasant things for me to find out was, as I was working my congressional district a few months ago, to find out from so many of my constituents that he is considered a real hero among the people in this field. I am honored that he has asked me to join with him tonight in this special order. Community health centers have long been the sole means of medical attention for millions of Americans. For that reason alone, we should be very careful to afford them the resources needed to continue their services. Community health centers offer a wide range of services, including dental care, health education, community outreach, transportation, and various support programs. In many communities, health centers work in collaboration with other organizations such as the local schools, Head Start programs, and homeless shelters, just to name a few. As events of the past few days have proven, many of us are driven by numbers, so let me share some numbers with you concerning community health centers of the last year alone. Nine hundred forty community health centers served almost 10 million people nationwide. In my home State of South Carolina, there are 17 community health centers which are private, not-for-profit businesses owned and run by the local communities. In 1996 they provided primary and preventive health care services at more than 60 locations. These health clinics served more than 152,000 patients, many of whom would not have otherwise received medical care. More than 50,000 children, 85,000 adults, and 15,000 elderly South Carolinians depended on the health professionals in their community health centers for their medical care and made over a half million visits to them. In the Sixth Congressional District, which I am proud to represent, there were over 68,000 people in community health centers last year. Many of these people are children, some pregnant women, many uninsured, many minorities, many from rural areas, many from low-income households, and many Medicaid recipients. In my district, the Franklin C. Fetter Family Health Center in Charleston County had over 100,000 visits last year, the highest in the State. Another center in my district, the Family Health Center, Incorporated, in Orangeburg, served over 34,000 individual patients, another record high in the State. Now, I share these numbers with my colleagues to illustrate the value my constituents place on these local health centers. Nationwide, over 50,000 people are employed in community health centers. In South Carolina, that translates into more than 900 jobs and over $53 million being pumped into the State's economy. There is tremendous return on our investment in health centers. Every $100 million invested brings an additional $200 million in other resources into our communities. I think that my colleagues will agree with me that that is an investment worth making. Mr. Speaker, community health centers play a vital role in our Nation, our States and, more importantly, in our local communities. I am pleased to join tonight with my good friend the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Davis] to ask that this Congress continue to work toward the adequate funding of these unique and vital community institutions. I thank the gentleman for allowing me the time.

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, he may recall that that movement in South Carolina started with an effort in Beaufort County, the Beaufort-Jasper Comprehensive Health Care Center. That occupied significant amounts of our time trying to pull all of that together, and it finally got put together. Tom Barnwell, as you know, for many, many years directed that effort. It came about because Senator Hollings took it upon himself to go and visit rural Beaufort County and drew the Nation's attention to the health care problems in rural South Carolina. When that attention was focused, a lot of people were a bit upset, thinking that this was a negative for Beaufort. But when the Congress saw, it responded, and what looked like a negative turned out to be a tremendous positive not just for Beaufort County, but then it moved from there to Franklin Fetter. I think my colleague may be talking about Dr. Leroy Anderson.

Mr. CLYBURN. He directed that for a long period of time, and of course the Franklin Fetter Center started out working with migrants. It was my opportunity to serve for a number of years as the director of the South Carolina Commission for Farm Workers, and of course part of our work was on James Island and Johns Island and Yonges and Edisto Islands, trying to work with migrants who came into the area following the stream up from Florida, as well as seasonal farm workers. We found tremendous health needs among this rural part of Charleston county. Of course, Franklin Fetter was born there, and from there it has moved to Charleston's east side to focus on the urban aspects of these problems. The center is still there, enjoying a tremendous work and, of course, working with us now, we are about to establish a similar center in north Charleston. Thanks to the mayor and the council of north Charleston there, they have come forward to provide the building for us to put the center in. When we see these kind of efforts, it is not just about health care, it is about getting communities to work together, getting people to focus on needs that go beyond health, health being the method by which we get them organized. I think that your work with my friends in South Carolina, and of course I better mention, because also in my district, in fact, I spent last Saturday afternoon with the people in Eastover, where we have a similar center. Mr. Brown, who directs that, they were very pleased with the recent grant they got to help with their work. So I want to thank my colleague because, as I move throughout the district, I am amazed at the number of people. I am glad he lives in Illinois. Do not move to South Carolina, because I find it a little bit difficult, people think so much of you there for the work that you have done in this field. I think that health care is so fundamental to everything that we do, so I want to just thank my colleague for all that he has done.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to South Carolina's Teacher of the Year, Christine Fisher. Mrs. Fisher is a constituent of mine, and a seventh and eighth grade band teacher at Southside Middle School in Florence, SC. She is in Washington DC, October 6-8 for the fifth annual National Teacher Forum. This week, teachers across the Nation are being recognized for their leadership as well as excellence in teaching by participating in the National Teacher Forum. The forum is designed to tap the knowledge, experience, and insight that these teachers have gained with regard to Federal education programs and policies. Mrs. Fisher has been a teacher for 21 years; 12 of which she has taught at Southside Middle School. Under her leadership, the Southside bands have been awarded outstanding performance awards for 12 straight years. Mrs. Fisher has also been the recipient of numerous awards including the Florence District One Teacher of the Year, Time Warner Cable Star Teacher, Lead Music Teacher at the Curriculum Leadership in the Arts, Outstanding Junior High Band Director of the eastern district of South Carolina, and Teacher of the Year at two schools during her teaching career. She has also been a guest conductor and clinician for the Berkeley County Honors Band, the Eastern District Honors Band and the Spartanburg County Honors Band. In addition to her musical experience, Mrs. Fisher has also helped in writing, and has received, numerous grants for music education and technology. Mrs. Fisher also has been a guest speaker for numerous music seminars, including university level classes. Aside from her mainstream curriculum, she also has a great interest and knowledge in music for the learning disabled student. Throughout her 21 year tenure, Mrs. Fisher has taught music in schools through the Pee Dee area of the sixth congressional district. She is also a Member of the National Education Association, South Carolina Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, South Carolina Music Educators Association, and the South Carolina Band Directors Association. Mr. Speaker, I know Mrs. Fisher will be an excellent resource for the National Teachers Forum, and I ask that you join me in saluting her as South Carolina's Teacher of the Year.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1703, as amended, the Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Discrimination Resolution and Adjudication Act. The veterans oversight hearings chaired by the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Everett], my distinguished Republican colleague, have demonstrated an extremely sensitive and serious problem of sexual harassment within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans] and I were original cosponsors of legislation nearly identical to H.R. 1703 back in 1993. At that time, we were told that changes were in the works regarding the EEO process at the VA and throughout the Federal Government, and that there would be no need for this legislation. This expected Government-wide solution never happened. The Senate never acted on the bill we passed in 1993, and here we are again almost 5 years later dealing with sexual harassment problems that continue to fester at the VA. It is a tribute to the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Everett] that he has recognized the continuing need for legislation to improve the EEO process at VA. This May, with bipartisan support, the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Everett] introduced H.R. 1703, legislation derived from the bill that was first introduced in 1993. It is also a tribute to Secretary Hershel Gober that he has recognized a serious problem with the EEO process at VA, and that he has proposed administrative changes that draw in large part from the bill we have introduced in this Congress. The VA's proposals do not go far enough, and there is still the need for legislation in this area. That is why we need to pass H.R. 1703 today, and that is why we need to do all we can to make sure our colleagues in the Senate quickly act on their version of this legislation. By voting in favor of H.R. 1703, we in Congress can do our part to bring professionalism and independence to the EEO process at the VA, and to help restore the faith and trust in the process that has been so lacking through the last few years.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, this year, the Presidents' Summit for America's Future brought well-deserved attention to volunteers and volunteer programs throughout the country. Six months later, a number of news organizations are reviewing the results the summit brought about in corporate America. One volunteer initiative that is especially interesting to me is Nickelodeon's ``The Big Help.'' This is a volunteer program that began 4 years ago and focuses on motivating and inspiring kids aged 6 to 14 to volunteer. ``The Big Help'' distinguishes itself because it involves not only Nickelodeon's corporate pledge to the summit, but also young Nickelodeon watchers' pledges to volunteer annually. This program is effective because it teaches children at an early age the value of giving back to their communities. As part of its public responsibility, Nickelodeon created ``The Big Help''; in 1994 after their research discovered that kids wanted to help make the world a better place, they just didn't know how. Combining on-air messaging, school and community outreach, and partnerships with 23 national volunteer organizations, ``The Big Help'' provides kids with tools to actively volunteer and participate in real helping activities. This Sunday, September 28, Nickelodeon is inviting Members of Congress and their families to a celebration of kid volunteerism and ``The Big Help.'' This event will also showcase Nick, Jr., Nickelodeon's award-winning preschool programming block, and its new online offerings including ``nick.com'' and ``teachers.nick.com,'' the Internet component to Nickelodeon's ``Cable-in-the-Classroom'' programs. In addition to dedicating 10 percent of its airtime to ``The Big Help,'' Nickelodeon also provides substantial off-channel resources for outreach, including curriculum for elementary and middle schools and volunteer planning kits. In 1996, during the third annual ``Big Help-a- Thon,'' over 8.5 million kids called in and pledged over 92 million hours to making a difference in their communities. To further reach kids on a grassroots level, Nickelodeon will kick- off ``The Big Help-on-the-Road,'' this Sunday in Washington. This mobile Big Help headquarters features video-based interactive kiosks, on-site volunteer activities, and information about local volunteer opportunities. ``The Big Help-on-the-Road'' will travel to local communities across the country--urban and rural, large and small--to champion the spirit of kid's voluntarism. I hope you will join me in saluting Nickelodeon and its partner organizations in ``The Big Help.'' These include: 4-H, American Camping Association, The American Humane Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Caption Center, Earth Force, Easter Seals, Feed the Children, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Inc., Habitat for Humanity, Keep America Beautiful, National P.T.A., National Wildlife Federation, Points of Light Foundation, Ronald McDonald Charities, Safe America Foundation, Second Harvest, The U.S. Department of Education, Youth Service America, YMCA of the USA, and YWCA of the USA. I'd like to commend Herb Scannell, president of Nickelodeon, for his corporate leadership and commitment to empowering kids to make a difference. I would also like to commend Marva Smalls, senior vice president at Nickelodeon, and a constituent of mine, for organizing ``The Big Help'' program. Finally, I would like to salute the millions of kids across the country who are volunteering their time and efforts to make their world a better place. They should serve as an example to all of us.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of September 21-27 as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. There are presently 104 historically black institutions of higher learning throughout the United States. These cornerstones of African- American education have played an integral role in the lives of African-Americans and in American history. Historically black colleges and universities have set a precedent for providing quality instruction and valuable, lifelong experiences to students who are often underprivileged and under-represented. These students are taught to serve as successful, productive citizens and trained to compete in our global economy and work force. Though oftentimes faced with adversity, historically black colleges and institutions provide students with the opportunity to broaden their horizons and to reach their fullest potential. So, Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating and celebrating a legacy and tradition of the excellence, determination, strength, and perseverance of historically black colleges and universities during September 21-27.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the occasion of the re- opening of the Small Business Resource Center in Charleston, SC, that will serve existing and prospective small business entrepreneurs throughout the State of South Carolina. Statistics reveal that a large percentage of businesses fail due to a lack of management knowledge and business experience. This Small Business Center will provide informational seminars and technical assistance, as well as education and training on a continual basis to help small business entrepreneurs achieve and maintain success in their business endeavors. We are very fortunate in the city of Charleston to have a centralized location where individuals can get necessary information, and where all services are free of charge. Continuing its commitment to small business, Apple Computer, Inc. is donating state-of-the-art equipment, software, and seminar consulting assistance to the Charleston Small Business Resource Center. This remarkable facility will allow individuals and small business owners to research, plan, and jump-start their businesses and to receive free consulting from SCORE [Service Corps of Retired Executives Association] volunteers. Individuals will use the latest Macintosh technology to develop business plans, create marketing materials, develop loan packages, and conduct market and competitive researches. The Small Business Resource Center in Charleston is the result of a national agreement between the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency, and NationsBank to commit tangible resources aimed at increasing the success rate of small- and minority-owned businesses through education and technical assistance. The College of Charleston and Bell South also played vital roles in the opening of the South Carolina center. Mr. Speaker, I would ask that my colleagues join me in commending all those involved in reopening the Small Business Resource Center by forging partnerships that will embrace and encourage small businesses throughout the State of South Carolina.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who has been a strong voice in his community for years. Tom Kinard. It is my pleasure to recognize Mr. Kinard today as he celebrates 10 years of broadcasting his show, Kinard n' Koffee, on WJMX-AM in Florence, SC. I have had the pleasure of being one of his guests on several occasions, and I join with all of his listeners in congratulating him for 10 years of outstanding broadcasts. During the 10 years that Kinard n' Koffee has been broadcast, Mr. Kinard has received numerous awards for his unique style and commitment to his community. Among his accomplishments are six-time South Carolina Radio Personality of the Year, five-time National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Finalist for Medium Market Radio Personality, and South Carolina Music and Entertainment Commission Personality of the Year. Mr. Kinard has also received the South Carolina Broadcaster's Association's highest honors for public service with The Richard M. Uray Public Service Award for Outstanding Service to the Community and the highest honor an on-air broadcaster can receive as recipient of the 1996 Master's Award. Among his numerous other awards, Mr. Kinard has been awarded the prestigious Order of the Palmetto, the State of South Carolina's highest honor. Mr. Kinard's service to his community goes far beyond the radio show that so many hear every morning. He worked with numerous civic groups to aid local charities and promote education. Last winter, Mr. Kinard organized the Kinard-n-Koat drive to collect over 2,000 much needed coats for children and adults in the community. He had listeners send in over 100,000 Christmas cards through Kinard-N-Kristmas Kards for children in local hospitals, and he asked the community to help the soldiers of Desert Storm enjoy a small treat when over 5,000 gallons of Kool-Aid were sent to the Middle East. Mr. Kinard has also spread the holiday message to thousands in the southeast each year with his narrative presentation of ``The Other Wise Man'' He has given 30-40 presentations a year since 1976. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Members of the House of Representatives join me in saluting Mr. Kinard who is not only a powerful radio voice in South Carolina, but a dedicated citizen in his community. I congratulate him on 10 years of Kinard n' Koffee and wish him Godspeed in his future endeavors.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding young person from the Sixth Congressional District of South Carolina. Sterling Dowling, an Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School rising senior, has just been elected president of Boys' Nation, a week-long government and leadership training program that combines lectures and forums with visits to Federal agencies, institutions, memorials, and historical spots, held at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. At Orangeburg- Wilkinson, Sterling serves as corps commander of the Air Force Junior ROTC, is on the executive board of his student council, and serves on the student advisory board. He participates on the debate team, serves as an HIV/AIDS peer educator and is a member of Palmetto Project Operation HOPE for better race relations. Sterling Dowling's success is not a recent occurrence. Before being elected as president of Boys' Nation, Sterling served as governor of Palmetto [South Carolina] Boys' State. Sterling will return to Palmetto Boys' State next summer to serve as a youth counselor. Boys' State and Boys' Nation are both sponsored by the American Legion. After graduating from high school, Sterling plans to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta or South Carolina State University in his hometown to major in English education. He intends to seek a degree at the North Carolina Central School of Law. In his last year in high school, Dowling said he plans to go forth armed with confidence. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me in congratulating Sterling Dowling for his outstanding accomplishments and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Spann family on the occasion of their family reunion to be held July 25-27, 1997, in Columbia, SC. The Spann family began on May 16, 1844, with the birth of Jack Spann. Mr. Spann was born a slave in Middleton Township, Sumter County, and resided in Sumter County his entire life, both as a slave and a free man. Despite the condition into which he was born, Mr. Spann learned to read and to write, a feat denied to most slaves. Because of his literacy, he was able to memorize and readily quote scriptures from all books of the Bible. Due to his literacy and his faith in God, Jack rose to become an assistant clergyman at St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church. When not in the pulpit, Mr. Spann could be found on the family's farm as he provided for his family of 20 children. Although the children were born of two different mothers, the togetherness demonstrated by the Spann family was unmatched. To this day, the descendants continue to show that same bond. The Spann family has been a part of the African-American experience in South Carolina for many years, As the Spann family comes together this year in Columbia, all agree that they have been blessed as they are able to share this reunion with the last living child of Jack Spann, Mrs. Eliza Spann Missouri Pickett, the present matriarch of the Spann family. In addition, Mrs. Pickett's son, Clarence Missouri, was my college roommate and has been a close friend of mine for over 40 years. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me in honoring this fine family as they celebrate their family reunion.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an individual who has dedicated his life and career to public service. Robert S. Evans will retire this month after devoting 50 years of dedicated service to South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC. Mr. Evans began working at the university in 1947 as a temporary worker. In 1961, he was hired by the college as a stockroom clerk and supervisor of waiters. He was later promoted to assistant director of food services and subsequently appointed director of food services at the university. In addition to his service to the university, Mr. Evans is an active member of his community. He is a member of the Masons, the NAACP, the Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Elk Lodge, and Alpha Psi Omega Drama Fraternity. This remarkable individual also participates in the Orangeburg Neighborhood Youth Commission, the South Carolina State Booster Club, and the Mental Health Board. Mr. Evans is an active member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Orangeburg, SC, where he serves as deacon, secretary of the church board, and liaison to the trustee board. Robert Evans has touched the lives of many people of Orangeburg and across South Carolina through hard work and tireless dedication to others. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me in congratulating Mr. Evans on the occasion of his retirement after 50 illustrious years of service to South Carolina State University.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to publicly thank, and pay tribute to, a man who embodies the notion of public service. Lt. Col. Thomas F. Julich will leave his command as district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, in a ceremony tomorrow on the campus of the Citadel. A 1976 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Lieutenant Colonel Julich earned a master of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington and is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Military honors conferred upon Lieutenant Colonel Julich include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oakleaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two oakleaf clusters, and the Army Achievement Medal with one oakleaf cluster. In addition to his domestic assignments, Lieutenant Colonel Julich has served tours in Asia and Europe. As a Member of Congress, I view my role as a voice for the many constituents I represent who have no other presence in Washington. In this role, I interact with officials at all levels of the executive branch, and I know that each of them are dedicated employees who truly wish to serve the public interest. A very few of these public servants are remarkable in that their level of dedication and professionalism exemplify the very best in what I consider a noble calling. Lieutenant Colonel Julich certainly falls within this category. Time and time again, I have called upon him to provide information so that I may advocate for my congressional district and its residents. Each and every time, my request was met with the same pleasant, professional, and very capable response. I am very pleased to say that I also got to know Lieutenant Colonel Julich as a person, not just a public servant. I admire his dedication and I respect his integrity. Lieutenant Colonel Julich will be moving to the office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management at the Pentagon. All I can say is that the Pentagon's gain will be Charleston's loss.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a truly remarkable young man, Justin Leonard. I had the pleasure of meeting and playing with Justin in the Pro-Am 1997 Kemper Open on June 4. The team on which Justin and I played included Bill Schatz of Chagrin Falls, OH, Spencer Rankin of Green Brook, NJ, and William Zanoni of Glenview, IL. We finished third in the tournament, and several days later, Justin went on to win the Kemper Open. Justin, like Tiger Woods, Robert Damron, and many other young golfers, is redefining the game of golf and making it more appealing to members of his generation. In just 3 years as a professional on the PGA Tour, Justin has amassed performances and wins in some difficult and prestigious tournaments. In addition to the 1997 Kemper Open, Justin's tour victories and accomplishments have included a win in the 1996 Buick Open, a fifth place finish at the 1996 PGA Championship, sixth at the 1997 Masters Tournament, fifth at the 1997 Saint Jude Classic, and third at last week's 1997 Western Open in Lemont, IL. Fellow golfer and PGA pro, Tom Kite has said of him, ``I have never seen a player his age so polished.'' Justin's amateur record is just as stellar as his professional accomplishments. In 1992, he won the U.S. Amateur Championship and in 1994, while at the University of Texas, he became the NCAA Champion. Justin has also been a member of national teams such as the 1992 U.S. World Amateur, the 1993 Walker Cup, and the 1996 President's Cup. I am proud to say that Justin is a resident professional golfer at South Carolina's Kiawah Island Resort in Charleston, one of the counties I am proud to represent in this body. He is truly an asset to my home State of South Carolina and a role model for the youth of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I proudly associate myself with Tom Kite's description of Justin Leonard and ask that the Members of the House of Representatives join me in saluting Mr. Leonard for his outstanding accomplishments and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to South Carolina's watermelon farmers who planted more than 11,000 acres of watermelons this year. Yesterday, each Member of Congress should have received watermelons grown at the farm of Jim Williams of Lodge, SC. These watermelons were picked on Sunday and driven overnight by Clinton and Wade Murdaugh to be delivered to both the House and the Senate on Monday morning. We take great pride in our watermelons in South Carolina. We like to call them Mother Nature's perfect candy; they're sweet, succulent, nutritious and even fat-free. South Carolina farmers lead the way in the production of watermelons. My State was a pioneer in the use of black plastic and irrigation to expand the watermelon growing season. By covering the earth in spring with black plastic, farmers can not only speed the melons' growth by raising soil temperatures, but also prevent weed growth. So, as we all enjoy this summer treat, I would like to thank all the folks in South Carolina who brought us these watermelons: Jim Williams of Williams Farm in Lodge, SC; Les Tindal, our State agriculture commissioner; Martin Eubanks and Minta Wade of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture; Randy Cockrell and the South Carolina Watermelon Association; Bennie Hughes and the South Carolina Watermelon Board; and also Senator Hollings, Representative Spratt and their staffs who helped to deliver the melons. They have all worked very hard to share a taste of South Carolina with my colleagues here in Washington and I thank them.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank our distinguished chairman for his leadership on this issue. Mr. Chairman, the highway trust fund is one of the things that we use to endear our relationship with those who are all about making the future for all of our citizenry what it ought to be. The $12 billion that we are requesting in this amendment is something that we think is fair and it is balanced. We think that if we take a look at the facts, only a one-third of 1 percent reduction in domestic spending and the tax cuts over the next 5 years is a fair way to approach our permanent infrastructure. I think our roads and our bridges are in dire need of repair. We know from every study that has ever been developed that for each $1 billion we spend, we create a 42,000 jobs. Mr. Chairman, I will support this amendment and I call upon my colleagues to do likewise.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rev. Larry D. McCutcheon for his many contributions to the Florence, SC community. Reverend McCutcheon came to Florence in 1990 to assume the pastorate of Cumberland United Methodist Church. Under his tenure, Cumberland Church has grown in membership and built a community outreach center to address a myriad of social, educational, and human needs. A committed church leader, Reverend McCutcheon has held several important posts in the Methodist Church. Among these posts are: chairperson, South Carolina Annual Conference Health and Welfare Committee; dean, Ethnic Minority Local Church Pastor's School; and, registrar, South Carolina Annual Conference Pastors' Seminar. His affiliations include: Black Methodists for Church Renewal; Congregational Development Committee; and, the South Carolina Methodist Foundation. In addition to his responsibilities as a church pastor, Reverend McCutcheon has been a community leader and has given tirelessly of his energy and time to numerous causes and organizations, including: president, Florence Area Religious Leaders; president, Florence County Democratic Party; and, vice-chairperson, Lighthouse Ministries. He is a member of many civic organizations, including: the NAACP; Partners in Education; the Mayor's Advisory Board; the United Way; Denmark Technical College Foundation; and, the United Negro College Fund. Reverend McCutcheon will soon be departing Cumberland Church and the Florence community, and moving to Charleston, SC where he will be district superintendent of the United Methodist Church. On May 18, 1997, Reverend McCutcheon will be honored by his church and the entire Florence community for his years of unselfish and untiring service. As the representative of the Sixth Congressional District of South Carolina, I join in saluting Reverend McCutcheon and wish him and his family godspeed and success in their new endeavors.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of South Carolina's outstanding natives, Ms. Eartha Kitt. Ms. Kitt's personal story reminds me of the famous Harlem Renaissance poet Langsten Hughes who posed the question, ``What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Of fester like a sore--And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over--like a syrup sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?'' Luckily, Eartha Kitt never considered deferring her dreams. Born on a cotton plantation in South Carolina, the young Eartha Kitt left the South to live with an aunt in New York at the age of eight. It was there that she blossomed into the magnificent entertainer she is today. She has danced and sung her way to become one of the country's consummate cabaret performers, taken Broadway and the Silver Screen by storm, and amassed accolades from Tony, Emmy, and Academy Award nominations to receiving her own star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame. Ms. Kitt has also demonstrated her outspoken dedication to her strongly held beliefs. Her vocal opposition to the Vietnam war at a White House luncheon in 1968 resulted in her being blacklisted by the American entertainment community. That setback didn't stop Ms. Kitt from taking her act overseas where she still has a devoted following. I applaud and commend the contributions this South Carolina native has made to the entertainment industry. Her inspiring career, which had its humble beginnings on a cotton plantation in the deep South, has enchanted audiences around the world. As a result of her accomplishments, Eartha Kitt has become a living legend. Today, on behalf of the State of South Carolina, I offer a word of thanks as Ms. Kitt embarks on a performance from her heart. This week she participates in a special homecoming performance of Walter Rutledge's ``SOULS--The Calah'' benefiting Benedict College in Columbia, SC. Ms. Kitt's extraordinary talents, which have endeared this woman of the South to an international audience, will now be showcased for those back home. I join with all South Carolinians in thanking Eartha Kitt for the example she has set, the accomplishments she has achieved, and the contributions she has made to our cultural livelihood. Her life as a testament to what one can achieve if their dreams are not deferred.

Mr. CLYBURN

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman very much for her very moving statement on behalf of our honoree this evening. Mr. Speaker, as was said earlier, Arnold Aronson in 1943 started the move toward FEP agencies, but it was in 1945, I believe was the year, that the first State FEP agency was enacted into law, and that was in New York. It is my great pleasure now to yield time to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Owens].

Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the gentleman for his statement. Mr. Speaker, in closing this special order this evening, I thought as I listened to the remarks being made by my colleagues this evening, I thought about the last time I shared a lunch, I believe it was in Kansas City, with Arnold Aronson and the things we talked about. I thought about many of his successors as president of the National Association of Human Rights Workers: Dick Lexum in Michigan, Leon Russell, and Albert Nelson in Florida, Mary Snead in South Carolina, Marjorie Connor in Michigan, and many, many others. I thought about Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter from the Birmingham city jail. A lot of us read that letter. I try to read it at least once a year. There is a place in that letter where King spoke or wrote about people like Arnold Aronson. He wrote at one place in his letter that we are going to be made to repent in this generation, not just for the vitriolic words and deeds of bad people, but for the appalling silence of good people. I am pleased to join with my colleagues tonight thanking Arnold Aronson for being among the good people who refused to remain silent. Because he spoke up and because he stood up, many of us are here in this body this evening, and many of us are in similar bodies all across this country. I can think of no better way to help him celebrate his 86th birthday than to have participated in this special order tonight. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to wish Arnold Aronson many, many more birthdays.

Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the gentlewoman for her statement. Mr. Speaker, I would like now to yield to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton] who organized this special order for this evening and thank her for having done so.

Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her statement and thank her for her service to her constituents and to our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Lowey].