Howard Coble

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I say in response to my friend the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) about the heckling, I have heard about that, that night, and I have been told that that was not done by the gentleman who defeated Rich that night. That was not done under his guise. I think maybe some spirited people were there.

Mr. COBLE. This special order, Mr. Speaker, is to commemorate and honor the memory of one of our distinguished former Members, the Honorable Richardson Preyer. Judge Preyer, Congressman Preyer, was my congressman for 12 years. His family, Mr. Speaker, and this is probably known to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) because he is a man of letters, and this probably will not surprise him, his family was one of the frontiers in the pharmaceutical industry. Vicks VapoRub, for example, was invented, if you will, and the laboratory was actually probably make-shift, probably a modest facility at the time, by his ancestors. I shared this story with him one day. When I was a member of the Coast Guard in Seattle, Washington, one of my first times out of North Carolina as a young man, I came across a Vicks VapoRub package in a drugstore in Seattle. I saw on that package, Mr. Speaker, Greensboro, North Carolina. That is where it was manufactured. I felt a sense of obvious pride, as my friend in the well is smiling approvingly. I saw him much years afterward, and I told him that story. He too beamed with pride because I could see in his face the pride of his grandparents perhaps or uncles that preceded him in the development of that drug that became, obviously, a household word. Mr. Speaker, Richardson Preyer served as a State superior court judge. He served as a United States district judge on the Federal bench. He was a candidate in the Democratic gubernatorial primary for the office of governor. Although he did not win that nomination, he conducted a very credible campaign. Then in 1968, Mr. Speaker, Richardson Preyer ran what was then an open seat. I guess it was Congressman Kornegay had retired. Richardson Preyer and Bill Osteen, a long-time friend of mine, who is now a United States district court judge himself in the middle district of North Carolina, Rich and Bill, Bill Osteen, paired off in a very spirited, well-conducted campaign. Mr. Preyer, Congressman Preyer was declared the winner; and he went on to serve six terms in the House of Representatives. Emily and Rich, those names became synonymous with political spousal teamwork. I mean, oftentimes where there was one, there was the other. Or if Rich would be in one part of the district, Emily would be in the other part, carrying the political message. They were very adept campaigners. In fact, it has been said once that they felt perhaps Emily was, maybe, more comfortable on the hustings than was Rich. I do not know that that is true, but she did have that very natural gift of backslapping. There is nothing wrong with that, because I have been accused of being a backslapper myself. Rich was not a backslapper, but he nonetheless represented our district very ably. Someone once asked me, Mr. Speaker, ``You and Rich Preyer seem to get along very well, and your voting records are probably light years apart.'' They probably are. I think Rich Preyer's voting record and my voting record would be very dissimilar. But I said, ``Just because one does not agree with another on various and sundry political issues, that does not mean that you cannot disagree agreeably.'' Rich Preyer, I think epitomized that in his life. He was a very agreeable person although perhaps he did not agree oftentimes with others and with me in particular. But we never drew our sword from our sheaths because of that. Today, Mr. Speaker, the Federal building, the old Federal courthouse and post office in downtown Greensboro bears the name the Preyer Building. That building, I say to the gentleman from Raleigh, North Carolina (Mr. Price), he will remember that that building housed congressional offices, by gosh, probably 30 years. I think Rich's office was there. I know Gene Johnston's was there. Robin Britt's was there. Ours was there. We had to leave that building some recent months ago as a matter of constituency friendliness. Many of the people who came to call upon me were infirm and were not able to walk the two or three blocks that was necessary to gain admittance to the Preyer Building because there was virtually no on-street parking. So that was a constituency-friendly move, one that I did not want to make. That old building was home to me and to many constituents for that matter. But we did move. But each time I go back in there, I have fond memories of visiting with staff personnel there. I see that sign, the Preyer Federal Building, and it brings back good memories. I think that the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), Speaker pro tempore, is from the valley, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He probably did not know Mr. Preyer, but he would have liked him. He had many friends, some of whom still serve in this very body. But I see two of my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, have joined me on the floor. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Charlotte, North Carolina (Mr. Watt).

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) do not get me in the doghouse with the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price). Do not use too much time.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield very briefly?

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my special order.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, High Point, North Carolina, is known far and wide as the furniture capital of the world. High Point is hosting this week the largest wholesale home furnishing show in the world, where approximately 80,000 industry professionals have come from 50 States and 110 countries to buy, sell, and discuss furniture. The market was established in 1921 when 149 American companies organized their own show at a location central to the country's leading furniture manufacturers, and that is High Point, North Carolina. We extend best wishes to those at High Point this week for a successful market and extend furthermore a cordial welcome for all to return to High Point in the fall, in October specifically, for the fall market.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, Durham, North Carolina, is the center of the basketball universe these days as Duke University celebrates its NCAA national men's basketball championship. The Sixth District of North Carolina, however, can also claim to be a basketball hotbed as we celebrate the arrival of two high school basketball champions--and they both reside in the same city. High Point, North Carolina, is the new home of the Girls 2-A state champion High Point Central Bison as well as the Boys 3-A state champion T. Wingate Andrews Red Raiders. On March 9, the High Point Central girls completed a remarkable basketball season by defeating Eastern Alamance 92-62 to capture the Girls 2-A state title. While the overwhelming victory in the championship game was impressive in itself, it only capped what will be long remembered as one of the greatest high school basketball seasons ever. The Bison completed the season with a perfect record of 30-0. This was High Point Central's first undefeated season since 1993 when the Bison went 31-0 en route to the state 3-A title. Can you mention the word dynasty when you talk about the Bison? Central's championship this year was its second in the last three years and fourth in the last nine years. That's a better record than the Duke Blue Devils! As the championship game Most Valuable Player Velinda Vuncannon told the High Point Enterprise, ``We just played with a lot of heart tonight,'' she said. ``We played as one, as a unit. We came out with a fire. It's great to have another ring on my finger. It's a wonderful way to go out.'' Vuncannon earned MVP honors with a performance that included 17 points, 13 assists, and four steals. The win, however, was a total team effort. Leslie Cook led the way with 23 points, while Rachel Stockdale added 19 points, and Nikki Warren chimed in with 13. Congratulations are in order for Head Coach Kenny Carter and his outstanding staff in leading the Bison to their undefeated season. Joining Coach Carter on the bench were Associate Coach Jetanna McClain and Assistant Coaches Chris Martin, Dwain Waddell, Chris Shafer, and Twila Filipiak. Supporting the team effort were Managers Chastity Brown and Shauntae Pratt. Ably assisting were Video Managers Alan Byerly and David Gallemore, along with Scorekeeper Jessica Allen. Of course, as Coach Carter would be the first to say, the praise must begin with the players. Members of this year's championship squad included Leslie Cook, Kathryn Fulp, Mary Gheen, Erica Green, Brittany Hendley, Laura Kirby, Shameka Leach, Jillian Martin, Krystion Obie, Rachel Stockdale, Velinda Vuncannon, and Nikki Warren. So, we congratulate the players, coaches and staff, along with Athletic Director Gary Whitman and Principal Helen Lankford, and everyone associated with High Point Central High School for winning the Girls 2- A state basketball championship. Meanwhile, across town, the Red Raiders of T. Wingate Andrews High School are celebrating their own championship. On March 10, Andrews captured the Boys 3-A state basketball championship with a 63-60 victory over Kinston High School. The Raiders proved the old adage that it is good to peak late in the season. Andrews had lost four of its first 10 games to open the season but was riding a 12-game winning streak going into the title contest with the Vikings of Kinston. The Raiders, who finished with a record of 26-6, knew it was their night. ``We wanted this more than anybody,'' Will Price told the High Point Enterprise. ``We won 13 games in a row (counting the title game) and proved we're one of the best teams in the state right now.'' Price, a sophomore point guard, had a game-high 28 points, including hitting 5- of-6 free throws in the final 40 seconds of the contest, to capture Most Valuable Player honors. This was the second state basketball championship in the school's history. The Red Raiders had last won the state title in 1995. Leading the way this year was Head Coach Frank Hairston. Assistant Coaches David Kirkland and Jim Pierson, Head Athletic Trainer Laura Blacksten and Assistant Athletic Trainer Summer Green, along with Managers Julian Weathers and Aaron Ollis ably assisted him. The members of the championship squad included Freddie Aughtry- Lindsay, Tim Bowden, Jeff Collie, Lester Dunn, Steve Gillespie, Corey Hill, James Ledbetter, Rod McCollum, Will Price, Brandel Shouse, and Gary Thomas. Everyone at T. Wingate Andrews High School can be justifiably proud of the Red Raiders basketball team. We congratulate Athletic Director David Mizell and Principal Jerry Hairston and everyone at Andrews for winning the state Boys 3-A basketball championship. While they may still be celebrating in Durham, we know the real home of champions is in High Point, North Caroilna. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District, we congratulate High Point Central High School and T. Wingate Andrews High School for winning state basketball championships.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. The gentleman from Wisconsin and the gentleman from Michigan have pretty clearly laid out what this entails, Mr. Speaker. The World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO, administers the Protocol, which in turn operates the international system for the registration of trademarks. This system would assist our businesses in protecting their proprietary names and brand name goods while saving cost, time and effort. This is especially important to our small businesses which may only be able to afford worldwide protection for their marks through a low-cost international registration system. Unfortunately, and as the gentleman from Wisconsin alluded to in his remarks, Senate ratification of the Protocol and passage of the implementing language were derailed the last term as a result of a private dispute over a mark between Bacardi, the rum distiller, and Pernod, a French concern which formed a joint venture with the Cuban government. Although negotiations to develop an acceptable compromise failed, it is my understanding that the Senate and trademark community will redouble their efforts to resolve this problem during the present term. Mr. Speaker, it is important to move this legislation forward as a way of encouraging all parties involved in the Bacardi dispute to intensify their negotiations. House consideration of the Protocol will also assure American trademark holders that the United States stands ready to benefit imminently from its ratification. As the chairman pointed out and as the gentleman from Michigan pointed out, this matter has been before this House, and I think we have approved it three times before.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. The distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) have very adequately explained this bill, Mr. Speaker, so I will be brief. I have endorsed this bill during the preceding two Congresses, and I welcome the opportunity to voice my support for it today. I will not repeat what has already been said about it; but I would note, Mr. Speaker, that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the chairman of the committee, did add three additional features to this year's version in an effort to compromise, and I think this good-faith gesture ought to be acknowledged. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 860. It will help the multidistrict litigation panel discharge its responsibilities and will ultimately streamline the adjudication of complex multidistrict cases in a manner that is fair to all litigants.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I may repeat some that has already been said, but this is important to the people of Asheboro, and I want to go into a little more detail. At the outset, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), the Republican leadership, and the Members of the North Carolina congressional delegation for their assistance in bringing this legislation to the floor in such a timely manner. On March 1 of this year, Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 821, a bill to designate the new post office at Asheboro, North Carolina, as the W. Joe Trogdon Post Office Building. Several years ago, it became apparent that the former postal facilities in Asheboro were not adequate. In fact, the building was literally falling down. Condemnation of the original post office in 1997 expedited the need for a new building to serve the area. During this process, Mayor Joe Trogdon was instrumental in coordinating the wishes of his community with the requirements of the United States Postal Service. He encouraged the people of Asheboro to actively voice their views regarding the location of the new post office to ensure that this new facility would be built where it would best serve Asheboro and Randolph County. Mr. Speaker, I do not know how many of my colleagues have been involved in building or in relocating post office buildings, but it involves an eternal maze. For many years, the citizens of Asheboro have been inconvenienced by the poor accessibility, insufficient parking, and hectic traffic patterns surrounding the old post office. After searching for a potential site for the new building, negotiating and renegotiating with the U.S. Postal Service and various landowners in the area, the project was finally completed. This tremendous new asset to the community will have its official grand opening on Sunday, April 1. Although it has been a long and, at times, a tenuous process, the community, under the leadership of Mayor Trogdon, was able to work through the many frustrations and disappointments and now has seen its goal of a gleaming new postal facility become a reality. Once the location for the new post office building has been determined, the omnibus task of picking the perfect name still remained. In my opinion, the name of the building should reflect a constant presence in the community, a person who has given of his time, heart and spirit, not only in the creation of this post office, but to the growth and prosperity of the city of Asheboro. That being said, I can think of no one more qualified who exemplifies that description than Mayor Joe Trogdon. He is a hometown boy, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania pointed out. He grew up in the town of Asheboro. Joe received his college diploma from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Joe honorably served in the United States Army in Germany; 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserve; and following his tour of duty in Germany, Joe returned to his boyhood home to begin work in the family business. But that was not enough for Joe Trogdon. Nearly 4 decades ago, Joe started his public service career in Asheboro. He has served as a member of the Asheboro Planning Board, the City Council, the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, and since 1983, as Mayor of Asheboro. Joe also gives of his time and talent to civic groups and associations such as the Asheboro Jaycees, the Asheboro Kiwanis Club, the Asheboro Rotary Club, and the East Hog-eye Yacht Club. Joe is also on the board of trustees of the First United Methodist Church in Asheboro. What you can say about this man is that Joe Trogdon does not believe in sitting idly on the sidelines. When work needs to be done, Joe is the first one to pitch in and help. Through his many years of dedication to the people of Asheboro, Joe has always put the needs and views of his constituents first and foremost, and for that reason he has gained the respect and support of the people he represents. Mr. Speaker, I am not alone in my desire to honor Joe Trogdon. We have heard from a number of groups in the area encouraging us to introduce legislation to name the Post Office in Asheboro in honor of Joe. Included on this list is the Asheboro City Council, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, the Home Builders Association of Asheboro and Randolph County, the American Legion Post 45 of Asheboro, the Randolph County Senior Adults Association and the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, private citizens sent letters of support to our office to endorse this proposal, including my good friend, North Carolina State Representative Arlie Culp. Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my colleagues, one of my constituents did contact me and expressed his opposition to the naming of this building, not because it was being named to honor Joe Trogdon, but he expressed his concern that Federal buildings should not bear the name of people still living. I explained that rules governing the naming of Federal buildings do not prohibit the naming of buildings for people alive, and I do not think anybody is interested in accelerating Joe Trogdon's death to make him eligible to have his name put on the post office building, so I hope that gentleman's discomfort will be assuaged somewhat after he reconsiders it. Mr. Speaker, I am about to close, but I would be remiss if I failed to mention the names of Rebecca Redding Williams and Missy Branson. Rebecca is our district representative in the Asheboro office; and Missy, who is from Thomasville, North Carolina, is our legislative director here; and both of them worked tirelessly on this legislation, and I thank them for their efforts. It is for my friend and constituent, Joe Trogdon, that I move to pass this bill today. We wish Joe's wife could still be with us, but we know that Anne Trogdon is smiling down upon us today. Joe and Anne's three children and six grandchildren are very proud of what we are doing today. Mr. Speaker, I hope you will all join me in celebrating this great man by voting in support of this bill designating the new post office in Asheboro, North Carolina, as the W. Joe Trogdon Post Office Building. My hat goes off to Joe, and I thank you all for what you have done for Asheboro and Randolph County. What we do here today is a fitting tribute to your dedicated career of public service, Joe Trogdon.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I will be very brief. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from Wisconsin stated, S. 320 consists of noncontroversial technical amendments to the patent, trademark, and copyright laws. They are important improvements. I want to thank my friend, the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), the ranking member on the subcommittee, for his work, as well, on this bill, both in the 106th Congress and the 107th Congress. I also want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) for expeditiously moving this legislation along, because it is important. I urge my colleagues to support S. 320.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, what have the Republicans done for Americans. We reformed welfare, reduced capital gains tax. We have removed the earnings cap that penalized working seniors. We tried to repeal the estate tax and the marriage penalty; President Clinton rejected those proposals, however. Mr. Speaker, today we say to American taxpayers, you earned it, you will get to keep more of it. Fairness and equity at work. Many of my Democrat colleagues, and I do not say this critically, promote a big, bloated Federal Government. Many of my Republican colleagues, conversely, encourage the maintenance of a small, lean Federal Government thereby freeing up more money for taxpayers. Yes, the debt has stopped being ignored. The debt will continue to be paid down gradually, but we are not turning a deaf ear or a blind eye to the American taxpayer who earned it in the first place. American taxpayers, this is a good day for you. This is a victory for you.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the ``Patent and Trademark Office Reauthorization Act,'' and urge my colleagues to support what will prove to be an important contribution to our high-tech economy. Briefly, by way of background, the operations of the Patent and Trademark Office are fully-funded through user-fee revenue; the agency receives no stipend from the taxpayers. Since 1992, however, more than $600 million in PTO funds have been withheld and used for other purposes. This policy results in manpower shortages and inhibits the development of modernization efforts at the agency. With PTO workloads increasing every year, the ultimate losers are the men and women who pay the fees to have their patent and trademark applications processed. Our country suffers as well, since the development and export of intellectual property is crucial to the national economy. The Patent and Trademark Office Reauthorization Act will protect PTO revenues from diversion to other programs. The bill accomplishes this goal by amending two key provisions of section 42 of the Patent Act, which prescribes the PTO funding mechanism. First, the requirement in subsection (b) that all agency funds be credited to a special PTO Appropriation Account is deleted; instead, such funds are to be credited to a PTO Account in the Treasury. Second, the requirement in subsection (c) that subjects agency access to and expenditure of collected fees to appropriations is also deleted. This means that the Commissioner will have the authority to collect all fees and use them for agency operations until expended. This is a necessary bill for reasons that are known by all who support the operations of the Patent and Trademark Office. I urge my colleagues again to endorse the measure.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Madrid Protocol Implementation Act. This implementing legislation for the Protocol related to the Madrid Agreement on the International Registration of Marks was introduced in the past four Congresses. While the Administration has not forwarded the treaty to the Senate for ratification, the introduction of this legislation is important in that it sends a signal to the international community, U.S. businesses, and trademark owners that the Congress is serious about our Nation becoming part of a low-cost, efficient system for the international registration of trademarks. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) administers the Protocol, which in turn operates the international system for the registration of trademarks. This system would assist our businesses in protecting their proprietary names and brand-name goods while saving cost, time, and effort. This is especially important to our small businesses which may only be able to afford world-wide protection for their marks through a low-cost international registration system. The Madrid Protocol took effect in April 1996 and currently binds 12 countries. Without the participation of the United States, however, the Protocol may never achieve its purpose of providing a one-stop, low- cost shop for trademark applicants who can--by filing one application in their country and in their language--receive protection by each member country of the Protocol. In previous Congresses, the Department of State objected to ratification based on its dispute with the European Community over a voting rights procedure that would apply to the administration of the treaty. An acceptable resolution to this problem was reached during the 106th Congress, and the House passed the bill under suspension of the rules without opposition. Unfortunately, Senate ratification of the Protocol and passage of the implementing language were derailed as result of a private dispute over a mark (``Havana Club'') between a rum distiller (Bacardi) and a French concern (Pemod) which formed a joint venture with the Cuban government. Although negotiations to develop an acceptable compromise failed, it is my understanding that the Senate and trademark community will redouble their efforts to resolve this problem during the present term. Mr. Speaker, it is important to move this legislation forward as a way of encouraging all parties involved in the Bacardi dispute to intensify their negotiations. House consideration of the Protocol will also assure American trademark holders that the United States stands ready to benefit imminently from its ratification. I urge my colleagues to support the Madrid Protocol Implementation Act.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce, H.R. 615, ``The Intellectual Property Technical Amendments of 2001.'' As my colleagues know, the success of our economy and quality of modern life can be directly attributed to the innovation and genius of our patent and trademark system whether, it be in the fields of computers, media, aerospace, or bio-technology. In 1999, Congress successfully passed landmark legislation to modernize our patent system and transform the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) into a more autonomous and efficient agency. This legislation--the ``American Inventors Protection Act''--was the most significant reform of its type in a generation, and it represented five years of hard work by a large, diverse group of Members, Administration officials, inventors, union representatives, and businesses. At the same time, the Act contained a small number of clerical and other technical drafting errors. Today, I offer the opportunity for my colleagues to work with me to remedy these errors within this bill. In addition, this bill makes a small number of other non-controversial changes requested by the PTO. For example, it changes the title of the chief officer of the PTO from ``Director'' to ``Commissioner.'' It also clarifies some of the agency's administrative duties and the protections for the independent inventor community. This bill represents the progress made last session when the House was able to pass it (H.R. 4870) by a unanimous voice vote under suspension of the rules. The bill is being reintroduced in virtually the identical form as passed last year in order to expedite these house-keeping processes. Additional changes requested by others have been placed on the back burner for the present, since these revisions still require further review. Rest assured, there will be opportunities during the rest of the session for continued legislative oversight and innovation in these areas. I urge all Members to support this innovation-friendly legislation.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing H.R. 614, the ``Copyright Technical Corrections Act of 2001.'' H.R. 614 consists of purely technical amendments to Title I of the Intellectual Property and Communications Omnibus Reform Act of 1999 and title 17, H.R. 614 corrects errors in references, spelling, and punctuation; conforms the table of contents with section headings; restores the definitions in chapter 1 to alphabetical order; deletes an expired paragraph; and creates continuity in the grammatical style used throughout title 17. This legislation makes necessary improvements to the Copyright Act. It is non-controversial and was passed under suspension of the rules in the 106th Congress. I urge Members to support H.R. 614.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, a town in the Sixth District of North Carolina will celebrate its centennial next month, and I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Landis, North Carolina, on its 100th birthday. Landis was founded in southern Rowan County on March 7, 1901, by a group of investors in the textile industry. The first textile operation was Linn Mill that was started on land owned by Columbus Linn. The founding fathers of the town that would later be named Landis were, in essence, the board of directors of the newly formed mill company. How the town came to be known as Landis is subject of much discussion. According to Ted L. Allen, author of the Historical Survey (June 1974 N.C. Department of Natural and Economic Resources), Landis was named after famed jurist and baseball legend Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis. According to Allen, ``In 1901, the U.S. Government brought an anti-trust suit against a major U.S. oil company. The judge residing on the anti-trust case was Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis. As a result of the large sum of money involved, 29 million dollars, and the name of the judge in the case, a motion was made one evening in an informal discussion that the town be named Landis. The community leaders adopted the name and the name was submitted to the post office department. The post office department did not object and on March 7, 1901, the N.C. General Assembly ratified the incorporation of the Town of Landis, North Carolina.'' This story was well accepted by old timers in town. While it is a good story, there are a few holes in it. President Theodore Roosevelt didn't appoint Judge Landis until 1905. The oil company was Standard Oil Company and it appears that this case did not occur until the middle or latter part of the first decade of the 1900's. According to Frederick Corriher, his grandfather, Lotan A. Corriher, one of the original members of the Linn Mill board of directors, suggested that the town being named for Judge Landis at a town meeting in the 1920's. At that time, Judge Landis was commissioner of Major League Baseball, and thanks to the Black Sox scandal, was a national figure. Therefore, there is some friendly controversy about the naming of this town, but there are no disagreements about the future of Landis. The future for Landis is bright. During its first 100 years, Landis has developed into a thriving bedroom community of more than 3,000 with a balance of industry and commercial growth. The town, always self- reliant, is a full-service small municipality. Landis remains true to its heritage as a textile community. Parkdale Mills, for example, operates two plants there. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Landis, North Carolina on its centennial celebration. We offer our best wishes for much prosperity and success during the century to come.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, late last year, a constituent asked me ``why do newspapers and TV networks insist upon not reporting the accomplishments of the Congressional Republican majority, or if it is reported, the Clinton administration is given the credit?'' I replied, some do accurately report the facts, but the national media, printed and electronic, with rare exceptions, tilts noticeably to the left. Mr. Speaker, many Americans, if not most Americans, prefer fair, objective reporting. All too often, again, with rare exceptions, double standards are applied to the detriment of conservative Republicans. An example of this double-standard mentality is the recently-revealed Jesse Jackson saga. Had a nationally known conservative Republican religionist fathered a child out of wedlock, a universal firestorm would have likely erupted and, in lieu of a three-day story, it would have endured for several weeks with front page dissemination. Ironically, Mr. Speaker, African American reporters have been more critical of Mr. Jackson than have many nonblack reporters. This is an appropriate time, as we begin a new year, it seems to me, for the media to scrap the double standard it has nurtured for so long and embrace a single standard of reporting. If conservative Republicans are taken to the woodshed by the media, then so should liberal Democrats. The Jesse Jackson case involves not insignificant amounts of money changing hands to the benefit of the mother of Reverend Jackson's child. If the father of this child, in my opinion, were a conservative Republican, media sleuths likely would be developing a money trail to determine the source of these funds. Is such a trail being pursued in the Jackson case? Unlikely. When this story broke, I heard it said time and again that this story will be summarily dismissed, because Jesse Jackson is too powerful, and no one wants to annoy Reverend Jackson. While I am attempting to annoy no one, Mr. Speaker, I, however, am employing the national media to submit to a New Year's resolution that, henceforth, conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats be objectively fed from the same journalistic spoon and the Jesse Jackson case is one of several that can serve as a springboard for this purpose. My criticism of double standard reporting, Mr. Speaker, is directed to the mainstream media, or what is commonly known as the big markets. I am the beneficiary of fair and objective reporting by the media in my congressional district. But fairness and objective political reporting need to be practiced more fully at the national level. If my activities can be reported fairly and objectively within the boundaries of my congressional district, why can it not be done nationally? I hope this will be forthcoming. Should I hold my breath? I fear that would be ill-advised. Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, I will patiently wait and hope.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, we said earlier that we realized that President Clinton is signing concurrent resolutions for only 1 day at a time. If he were to sign a 3-day resolution yesterday, for example, we could all be in our districts, the appropriators on both sides of the aisle could be doing their respective work, and we could have come back here Monday or Tuesday. I would like to put a question to the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, if he would yield. I am told that one of the reasons the President has insisted on 1-day concurrent resolutions is his disagreement with the Republican majority regarding blanket amnesty being extended to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens. Is this one of his reasons?

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 2915) to make improvements in the operation and administration of the Federal courts, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the request is to take S. 2915, which improves the Federal Court System by improving its administration and procedures, eliminating operational inefficiencies, and reducing operating expenses, and not to pass the whole bill but to offer an amendment which will make technical corrections, strike section 103, and make modifications to section 309. Section 103, which I propose to strike, provides that retirement funds contributed by the judiciary be transferred back to the judiciary, which judges for whom the contributions were made elected to transfer to another retirement system. The amendment also makes modifications in section 309 which deals with insurance programs relating to judges of the Court of Federal Claims. This amendment is noncontroversial.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I offer amendments.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding to me. Before I talk about the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), I want to commend the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) for his comments regarding the previous hour. Much of that rhetoric was reckless, and it was obviously designed to trash George Bush of Texas, and I thank the gentleman for responding to that. Mr. Speaker, I met the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) primarily through tennis. Mr. Speaker, as we know, many Members of Congress or most Members of Congress who are involved in recreation do so in golf. Hunting and fishing would come next. My friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), is a good basketball player in his own right. I see my friends, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), and we enjoy tennis. I met the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) on the tennis court. What struck me initially was his James River-Virginia dialect. My staffers will say to me when I leave work in the evening, ``Take Cah,'' meaning to take care. That is the way the gentleman from Virginia says it. They emulate him almost precisely accurately. As Members may know, before he came to the Congress, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley) was an embalmer, a funeral home operator. When I first came to the Congress, my mayor back home is an embalmer, a funeral home operator, and the gentleman from Virginia knew him as mayor. He came to me one day and in his James River dialect, he says, ``How do you get along with your mayuh?'' I said, ``I get along fine with my mayor.'' He said, ``Well, if you have any trouble with him, I will talk to him mayor to mayor, gravedigger to gravedigger.'' I did not have to call him in because my mayor and I did get along very well. I would be remiss if I did not mention the turf battles that go on up here between the prestigious Committee on Commerce members here who have flanked me on either end here and the Committee on the Judiciary here on which I served. We have had turf battles when the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) was chairman, and when the Republicans became the majority party in 1994, I said, ``Finally we will get rid of these turf battles.'' Mr. Speaker, it must be the water they drink over there in the Committee on Commerce, because the turf battles would continue. Someone said to me, how I would respond to the turf battles. I said, ``Have the Committee on Commerce people keep their grubby paws off the Committee on the Judiciary issues and it will be resolved.'' But we will hear more about that later. Mr. Speaker, finally, in closing, I want to say that the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), and the gentleman from Missouri has already said it very accurately, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), a former Democrat converted to Republican; the gentleman from Virginia, mayor; the gentleman from Virginia, Congressman; the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Chairman, and has served very well, following the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), who also served as a very able chairman; the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), tennis player; the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), a sailor, and in fact, maybe sailor par excellence. I am told his sailing skills have been refined to almost a sophisticated element now. My staffers refer to him as the distinguished Virginia gentleman. I say to him tonight, to the distinguished Virginia gentleman, we will miss him here. Best wishes to him and Mary Virginia, the two children, and the grandchildren. I want to commend my friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) for having taken out this special order in honor of his chairman and our friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley).