Howard Coble

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, the Thomasville High School Bulldogs have long been known for their winning football tradition, but with the dawning of the 21st Century, the Bulldogs are distinguishing themselves as a force on the basketball court as well. On March 15, 2003, both the men's and women's basketball teams of Thomasville High School captured the North Carolina state 1A basketball championship. The Bulldog women's team became the first team in the school's distinguished history to win back-to-back championships after completing an impressive 32-0 season. Congratulations to Head Coach Eric Rader, Assistant Coaches Sara Larrick and Phil Apple, Managers Byron Lattimore, Patrick Jackson, and Andrew Oakley, and each member of the team. Best wishes to Impris Manning (11), Maya Ray (12), Brittanny Marsh (14), Lavonnda Harriott (21), Tyronnica Alford (23), Tameka Thomas (32), Kendra Rutledge (34), Shay Harris (40), Charnette Davis (41), Tiffany Carroll (42), Tasha Dallas (50), and Erin Crowder (33). Miss Crowder performed especially well, obtaining MVP honors for the second time. The Thomasville men's basketball team also performed well, finishing their season with a record of 29-2 before winning the state title. We congratulate Bryan Shore (10), John Benjamin (12), Adam Oakley (20), Cord Thomas (21), Rasheid Brock (22), Junior Thome (23), A.J. Banks (30), Roy Peake (32), Alan Jeffries (33), Josh Sweitzer (34), Jeremy Mills (42), Terranza Stephenson (44), Patrick Henderson (50), and Brandon Setzer (51). Mr. Setzer obtained MVP honors for the men's team. Athletic Director/Head Coach Woody Honeycutt and Assistant Coach Lacardo Means also deserve congratulations for their leadership in coaching this team to victory. The Sixth District would like to extend its congratulations to the Principal, Dr. Mike Allred, the students, faculty, and families at Thomasville High School. Best of luck to the Bulldogs for another successful season next year.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I introduced the ``Commercial Driver's License Devolution Act of 2003.'' This legislation will give states the option to establish their own commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements for intrastate drivers. As many in this House already know, I have always been a strong advocate for taking power out of Washington and returning it to the states. I do not believe that our traditional, one-size-fits-all approach to governing is effective, efficient or economical for the American taxpayer. The legislation which I propose today would return power to the states by giving states the option, and I emphasize option, to license intrastate drivers of commercial motor vehicles based upon testing standards determined by the individual states. As you know, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA) required states to establish a new and uniform program of testing and licensure for all operators of commercial vehicles both intra- and interstate. The principal objectives of this Act have been met and would not be harmed by this legislation. The CMVSA is good law, and its provisions were necessary and timely for improving standards of performance for long-haul truck drivers. The CMVSA, however, was also imposed upon intrastate commerce where the operation of trucks may be a small but necessary part of an individual's job. We imposed our will on thousands of small businesses not involved in long- haul trucking and somehow expected them to adjust to any circumstance that might arise. Under these conditions, I believe it should be within a state's discretion to determine what kind of commercial vehicle licensure and testing is required for commerce solely within its borders. I again want to emphasize that it would be entirely up to each state whether it chooses to reassume authority over licensing and testing of intrastate drivers. A state that chooses to exercise this option would in no way diminish the role of the CDL in the long-haul trucking industry. Additionally, this legislation effectively precludes two or more states from using this option as the basis for an interstate compact. I am confident that those states taking advantage of this option will develop testing standards that maintain the same level of safety offered by the federal program. After all, the primary mission of all state DOTs is to ensure the safety of those travelling on its roads. This legislation is extremely important to our nation's small businesses, and I urge the House to adopt this measure.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss a very important issue: domestic violence. Last week marked the second annual ``Stop Violence Week in Washington.'' A series of events were held here to encourage men and women to come together to stop violence. As chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, this issue is of particular concern to me. In the 108th Congress, our subcommittee will be tackling important issues relating to violence prevention. The Bureau of Justice statistics estimate that in 1998 about 1 million crimes were committed against persons by their current or former spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends. These types of crimes are generally referred to as ``intimate partner violence,'' and women are the victims in about 85 percent of the cases. In 1998, in excess of 1,800 murders were committed by persons against their intimate partners. Although these statistics are shocking, we have made great strides in the last 2 decades at increasing awareness of this problem, which is half the battle. Congress has taken an active role in addressing the problem by authorizing expiring grant programs and establishing new grants to more effectively target violence and abuse. Federal grant dollars are available through the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to be used by State and local authorities to assist their communities and schools in fighting violence. For example, grants may be used by local authorities to aid law enforcement officers and prosecutors in gathering evidence and building cases to bring violent criminals to justice. These grants also may be used to operate training programs for victim advocates and counselors. Many victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are afraid to retell their stories to friends, family or a counselor. Training people to know how to assist victims of domestic violence is a necessary tool in fighting this epidemic and preventing future abuse. The 2000 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act created new grants to be used to address violence issues on college campuses. It also authorized new grant monies to assist victims of violence with legal concerns and to address violence against the elderly and disabled. Continuing its commitment to fighting violence and domestic abuse, Congress provided generous monies again this year to the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women. It is important to recognize the work and dedication as well of groups committed to increasing awareness surrounding domestic violence through education campaigns, intervention, and counseling. Mr. Speaker, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the National Center for Victims of Crimes are just a few groups that are active in ridding our Nation, our homes, of violence. Many State and local groups across the country also work day to day to prevent violence, aggressively enforce penalties, and counsel victims of violent crimes. Mr. Speaker, I hope that the Congress will continue to fund outreach and education programs and encourage individuals to work together to change attitudes towards these crimes. It is clear that we are making progress in this area, but we must continue to work together to eradicate violence against women. To all of those working at the local, State and Federal level to eliminate domestic violence and sexual abuse, we express our thanks to them for their selfless efforts and dedication. We hope that our support in the Congress will assist them in this very important battle and fight.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), our chairman, for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, the manufacture of cloned human beings alarms an overwhelming majority of Americans. The theoretical discussion surrounding the cloning of humans has raised profound ethical and legal issues. Currently, no clear regulations exist in the United States that would prevent a private group from attempting to create a human clone. H.R. 534 would prevent experimental procedures that the National Bioethics Advisory Commission, the NBAC, called scientifically and ethically objectionable. The NBAC unanimously concluded that given the state of science, ``any attempt to create a child using somatic cell nuclear transfer, whether in the public or private sector, is uncertain in its outcome, is unacceptably dangerous to the fetus and, therefore, morally unacceptable.'' In fact, virtually every widely known and respected organization that has taken a position on reproductive human cloning flatly opposes the notion because of the extreme ethical and moral concerns. Cloning of human beings carries massive risks of producing unhealthy, abnormal, malformed children. The only way to prevent this from happening is to adopt the restrictions on human cloning set forth in H.R. 534. As Professor Bradley of the Notre Dame School of Law testified last Congress, ``The only effective way to prohibit human reproductive cloning is to prohibit all human cloning.'' Any other approach would allow for stockpiles of cloned human embryos to be produced, bought, and sold without restrictions. Implantation of cloned embryos, a relatively simple procedure, would inevitably occur. Attempts to enforce a cloning ban would prove virtually impossible to monitor. The last time Congress dealt with the issue of human cloning, an editorial in the Washington Post stated: ``It is unnecessary to be against abortion rights or to believe human life literally begins at conception to be deeply alarmed by the notion of scientists purposely causing conceptions in a context entirely divorced from even the potential of reproduction.'' The editorial went on to characterize the creation of embryos solely for research as unconscionable. It is important to note that research currently being done using adult stem cells, which I support, is showing great progress. I believe this relatively new area of research, Mr. Chairman, deserves appropriate funding and necessary scientific resources to discover its complete potential. To divert resources from this promising research to controversial procedures, such as therapeutic cloning, may inadvertently push an effective cure farther out of reach. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 534, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following for the record: For the past 64 years the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program has empowered Americans who are blind or severely disabled by providing them with a diverse set of employment opportunities. Today 38,000 disabled Americans are realizing their potential by working in their local communities across the country under this program. These Americans are proud to provide federal and military customers with a wide array of SKILCRAFTO and other JWOD products and services. The JWOD Program prides itself on delivering high quality products and services at a competitive price in the most convenient way possible. Some of the product categories offered by the JWOD program include office supplies, military specific, safety, maintenance, repair, medical-surgical, janitorial-sanitation, and customization. The services that are provided to the federal and military customer include but aren't limited to call center and switchboard operation, military base and federal office building supply centers, CD-Rom duplication- replication, data entry, document imaging and grounds care. I rise today in support of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program and the opportunities it provides for an underemployed population of hard working Americans. Furthermore, I urge my colleagues to purchase SKILCRAFT and JWOD products from the House-Senate Office Supply stores not only because of their quality and value, but also because of the socioeconomic benefits that can come from supporting the program. By purchasing these products and using these services we are enabling more disabled Americans to have the opportunity to become taxpayers. Today in Greensboro North Carolina, 68 blind Americans are employed under the JWOD Program and are producing items or services for us, the federal customer. The JWOD Program is administered by the Presidentially-appointed Committee For Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, with much assistance from National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH, which serves people with a wide range of disabilities. More than 650 local nonprofit agencies associated with NIB and NISH employ people who are blind or disabled to produce the quality products and offer the services authorized for sale to the federal government under the JWOD Program. The JWOD Program is a great illustration of a successful partnership that has the ability to continuously grow with the changing procurement environment within the federal government. The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program works for America.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be passed over without prejudice.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, as the dean of the North Carolina House delegation, it is my sad duty to inform my colleagues about the death of a previous dean of our congressional delegation, the Honorable L.H. Fountain of Tarboro, North Carolina. L.H.--as he was known by one and all--died on October 10, 2002, after a lengthy illness. Congressman Fountain served the Second District and all of North Carolina with distinction for three decades. He was a member of this body from 1953- 1983. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, I extend our condolences to the entire Fountain family. To my colleagues, I commend to you an excellent article and obituary, both of which appeared in Edgecombe County's The Daily Southerner. [lsqb]From the Daily Southerner, Oct. 11, 2002[rsqb] Edgecombe Diplomat Dies at 89 (By Calvin Adkins) Tarboro.--A stretch of highway on US 64-Bypass between Tarboro and Rocky Mount bears the name of one of Edgecombe County's most decorated political leaders--Congressman L.H. Fountain. Perhaps every yard of road on Fountain's highway could stand for a political contribution that the retired congressman made over three decades. Fountain, 89, died Thursday after suffering from a lingering illness. ``It is very unfortunate that we have lost Mr. Fountain,'' Donald Morris, Tarboro mayor, said. ``He was excellent in responding to the needs of the people from his district. He will surely be missed.'' During Fountain's tenure as congressman, he served on domestic and foreign committees. Some of them included Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalism, International Security and Scientific Affairs and senior member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. Locally, he was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Jaycees, and the Elks Club. Because of his outstanding leadership, a portion of US 64- Bypass was named in his honor by the state in 2000. ``That was the last time I remember seeing him.'' said Jenny Taylor, a Tarboro native. ``As a congressman, he was always trying to look out for people. He was very helpful to the people in this area when he was the congressman. We appreciated him. I wish that we can get more people like him in office.'' Fountain was born April 23, 1913, in Leggett. After attending UNC-Chapel Hill, he began his working career practicing law in Tarboro. That stint was shortlived after he entered the U.S. Army in 1942 as a private. He served four years and ended his term in service as a major. Fountain later joined the Army Reserve and retired as a Lt. Colonel. Fountain's political career dates back prior to World War II when he served as eastern organizer of the Young Democratic Clubs of North Carolina and reading clerk for the North Carolina Senate. In the early 1940s, the veteran's political popularity began to grow in the state. He ran for and won a North Carolina Senate seat in 1947. Fountain's political career continued to move upward. Five years later, he was elected to the 83rd Congress for North Carolina's Second Congressional District. After becoming congressman, he was appointed to serve on several committees. One of the most notable occurred in 1967 when he was appointed by Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson as a United States delegate to the 22nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Fountain served as assistant to U.S. Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg during the Security Council debate following the Arab-Israeli Six Day War. Fountain's duties and commitments carried on until he retired in 1982 after serving 30 years in Congress. For his constituents, his legacy will live on. ``What I remember most about Congressman Fountain was he always wore a white suit,'' said Congresswomen Eva Clayton, ``He always dressed nice. He was respectfully quite and a great person. My regret goes out to the family.'' The family will receive friends Saturday at Carlisle Funeral Home in Tarboro. A graveside service for the family will be held on Sunday. A memorial service will also be held 3 p.m. Sunday at Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church in Tarboro following the graveside service. Memorials in memory of Fountain may be made to Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church in Tarboro or the Institute of Government Foundation, Inc., at UNC.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and others have done outstanding work on this resolution; and I commend them. Madam Speaker, I want to apply hindsight. Hindsight inevitably is 20- 20. But as I apply hindsight, my train of thought reverts to the Second World War. I wonder aloud how, if there had been four or five or even two or three additional Winston Churchills who would have dared stand up to Adolf Hitler, would the Second World War have been averted. Perhaps. I think certainly its impact would have been diminished if that had occurred. Saddam Hussein, in my opinion, is the modern day version of Adolf Hitler. I have read that he is not as astute as Hitler. I do not know their respective intelligence quotients; but I do believe that Saddam is as brutal, as wicked, and as evil as Adolf Hitler was. The time for us to act is now. As the President told us last evening, Saddam and his thugs are not only willing to do us in, they are eager to do us in; and that distaste is shared by sizable numbers around the world. I am pleased, Madam Speaker, that President Bush last evening made it clear that we Americans are friends of the Iraqi people. This is not an effort to be adversarial to those people. They are the victims of this schoolyard bully; and Saddam, not unlike the schoolyard bully, has no respect for anyone. They are afraid of him. I think many of the Arab states would like to see him removed, but they do not want their fingerprints on it. If he is in fact removed, I think they would silently applaud enthusiastically. I was in the Middle East recently, Madam Speaker, and was confronted by a journalist who accused President Bush of being abusive to Saddam Hussein. I reminded that journalist that it was not President Bush who was being abusive, but that Saddam himself had been ruthlessly abusive, not only to others, but to his own people. The journalist did not respond to me, because he knew I was speaking factually and accurately. The time to act is now. I am uneasy when I think about nation building, because that could involve disastrous results. But the point is, and we need to drive this home, that nation building can be avoided with mere compliance. All Iraq must do is comply with the U.N. resolutions is to permit these inspectors back in, unfettered, no strings attached, in full view; and if this is done in a compliant manner, I see no need for war. President Bush himself last evening said, this is avoidable. It lies upon his table, and he can act accordingly. I urge him to do so. We do not want war. I think most people do not want war. But the time to act is now. Because, not unlike Hitler, if he is permitted to continue to defy the U.N., to violate this resolution or that resolution, who knows when he may well attack? Madam Speaker, the time to act is now. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. This conference report contains intellectual property provisions which are very significant, such as PTO reauthorization; the patent reexamination reform proposal; intellectual property technical amendments; the TEACH Act, regarding the distance education program; and the Madrid protocol implementation concerning the international registration of trademarks. Our subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary, Mr. Speaker, has worked a long time on these matters, and in the case of the Madrid protocol for 8 years. This is much-needed reform that will benefit the intellectual property owners of the intellectual property community, and the American public as well.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be passed over without prejudice.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the leader for yielding me this time. The manager's amendment as just presented by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) is technical for the most part, so I am going to direct my attention generally to the bill before us. Mr. Chairman, I traditionally oppose the capping or prohibition of damages. It is my belief that generally speaking, the matter of awarding damages should be an exclusive assignment to be discharged by the jury. When first the State legislature, then the Congress, then this third party or that third party began inserting their oars into the jury's waters regarding damages, potential problems rear their respective, troublesome heads. Invasions of the jury's province should be pursued very delicately, very deliberately, and very infrequently. The homeland security legislation directs our attention to plaguing, unrelenting threats imposed by terrorism, and that is the hook on which I hang my departure from long-held views in opposing capping or restricting damages. This bill proposes the elimination of damages in certain instances, and given the 9-11 attack by those wicked messengers of evil, I believe this justifies capping or prohibiting damages. Terrorism, my friends, is not our traditional adversary. Terrorists punish the innocent. Terrorists recklessly and needlessly destroy property. Terrorists are wicked and evil people and, given this set of circumstances, I believe our addressing damages is, therefore, justified. I do not believe I am compromising my beliefs. I hold to my strongly- held belief that the province of the jury is close to sacred ground but, in this instance, I believe the proposals presented in the homeland security legislation justify my support of this bill, including the matter of damages. Mr. Chairman, there will be a subsequent amendment that will involve near universal indemnification. We can ill-afford to authorize the negotiation of blank checks. After 9-11, I believe, Mr. Chairman, that this House proved that we will not leave helpless victims behind, but we must generously lace our proposals with prudence in lieu of fiscal recklessness. Finally, I say to the distinguished gentleman from Texas, our majority leader, I think he has done a good job in crafting a responsible piece of legislation, and I urge its support.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Excellence in Military Service Act.'' This legislation would increase the active duty service obligation (ADSO) of Military Service Academy graduates from five to eight years. Many Americans do not realize that this free and highly competitive college education costs the average taxpayer approximately $300,000 per cadet/midshipman. While I believe that investing in our military is critical to the future stability of our nation, I do not think it is fair to burden the taxpayer with this expense without requiring academy graduates to exhibit a similar commitment in their ADSO. I maintain it is not unreasonable that in return for a free education, with a monetary allowance, that a graduating cadet/midshipman be required to commit to a longer period of obligated service upon commissioning. As college tuitions continue to skyrocket, I believe our U.S. military academies will become even more attractive to prospective college students. In light of this fact, we need to ensure that a free education does not become a primary motivation for future applicants. I maintain that increasing the ADSO is an effective way to accomplish this without jeopardizing the viability of these historic institutions. I hope my colleagues will join with me in cosponsoring this legislation, and I look forward to working with them to protect the U.S. taxpayers' investment in our nation's future and ensure the integrity of one of our nation's most precious resources.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, with the recent court decision concerning the Pledge of Allegiance, more attention than ever has been brought to the American flag. I want my colleagues to be aware of a recent action by a Boy Scout in my congressional district who took it upon himself to come up with a new way to honor our beloved symbol of freedom. He is to be commended for his thoughtful patriotism. Ryan White, a member of Boy Scout Troop 20 in High Point, North Carolina, was looking for an appropriate project to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. After doing some research, Ryan discovered that the federal flag code does not detail any particular way to dispose of a flag that is no longer fit to display. (Our office had sent Ryan a Congressional Research Service report on flag law.) So, Ryan decided to organize a large, public flag disposal ceremony. His idea was so well designed and thoughtful, I want everyone in Washington and around the nation to be aware of his concept. This past May, the city of Thomasville conducted a Memorial Day Freedom Celebration at Cushwa Stadium. Ryan White was invited to be a part of this patriotic program. His ceremony was so well received that day, the hope is that Ryan's idea will spread throughout the country. His program was formulated to show proper respect for our flag and to stir the patriotic spirit of everyone who witnessed the ceremony. I will paraphrase the words of Ryan White's program to explain the ceremony he developed to retire a worn-out flag. First, the audience will stand and sing God Bless America as the flag is being lowered. Next, a designated Color Guard properly folds the flag to be retired and it is carried to a special kettle for burning. The song Taps is played as the flag is burned. Finally, as the new flag is raised, the participants remove their hats, or salute if in uniform, and join in the signing of the Star Spangled Banner. Ryan discovered in his research that the flag code is somewhat vague about how a worn-out flag should be retired. It states: ``The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.'' Ryan took this information and developed a ceremony that is dignified and patriotic. He has set a standard that can be used for years to come. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Ryan White of Boy Scout Troop 20 in High Point, North Carolina, for his outstanding Eagle Scout project. No matter what any court may rule, Ryan White has demonstrated that we can honor the flag in a patriotic and dignified way.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Excellence in Military Service Act. This legislation would increase the active duty service obligation of military service academy graduates from 5 to 8 years. This free and highly competitive college education costs the average taxpayer approximately $300,000 per cadet/midshipman. As college tuitions continue to escalate, I believe our U.S. military academies will become even more attractive to prospective college students. In light of this fact, we need to ensure that a free education does not become a primary motivation for future applicants. I maintain that increasing the active duty service obligation is an effective way to accomplish this without jeopardizing the viability of these historic institutions. I hope my colleagues will join with me in co-sponsoring this legislation, and I look forward to working with them to protect the U.S. taxpayers' investments and our Nation's future and ensure the integrity of one of our Nation's most precious resources.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, the chairman has done a thorough job of describing the bill, so I will not rehash his comments. I would say, however, that the bill was a bipartisan effort in the making, and I especially want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary; the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking member; and the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), who is the ranking member on the subcommittee of jurisdiction, for their contributions and cooperations. In addition to our work on H.R. 3892, the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman) and I have undertaken two other projects to help improve the ethical standing of the judiciary. We have written to the Chief Justice asking that the judicial conference consider implementing certain administrative changes that should improve the operations of the courts; and we have, furthermore, requested that the Federal Judicial Center conduct a study of complaint dispositions throughout the various circuits. Combined with H.R. 3892, I believe that these efforts will assist Federal judges in discharging their ethical responsibilities while better informing the Congress as to the effectiveness of the judicial misconduct statute which we are amending today. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the diligent work of the following people who were incredibly helpful in the drafting of H.R. 3892: Mr. Arthur Hellman of the Pittsburg School of Law, Mr. Mike Remington, the former chief counsel on the Subcommittee on the Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, Sandy Strokoff of the Legislative Counsel's Office, as well as the Honorable William Osteen, United States District Judge from the middle district of North Carolina who appeared as a witness, and who by the way, Mr. Speaker, is one of my constituents.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be passed over without prejudice.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to join with my colleague, Representative John Spratt, along with 40 other original cosponsors to introduce the ``Textile and Apparel Recognition Act'' (TARA). This legislation recognizes the significant contributions the U.S. textile industry continues to make to our economy while also acknowledging that this industry is confronting a terrible crisis and deserves our attention. Though it still employs nearly half a million Americans, the textile industry is in a state of crisis. Since 1994, a staggering 675,000 jobs have been lost in textiles and apparel. Last year alone the industry lost nearly 150,000 jobs and 2002 appears to be more of the same. These negative effects are not only being felt by the many thousands of textile workers who have lost their jobs, but by our local communities and states as well. As tax revenues have fallen as a result of plant closings, funding for schools, water infrastructure improvements, and basic services, such as garbage collection, have also been negatively affected. Closed foreign markets, which persist despite trade policies that have opened our own markets; continuing large-scale customs fraud and transshipment; and currency devaluation in several textile-producing nations along with a strong dollar have all contributed to a prolonged period of industry-wide downsizing and plant closings. Those of us representing U.S. textile and apparel producers have seen thousands and thousands of jobs in our districts disappear. We remain encouraged by the attention this administration has given to the crisis confronting this important sector of our economy and believe that this resolution offers an opportunity to show our support for continued efforts in this regard. I encourage my colleagues to join with us in this effort by cosponsoring this resolution, and I thank the Speaker for yielding me this time.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I wanted to come to the House floor earlier to engage in debate on this significant legislation, but I have been tied up in a Committee on the Judiciary hearing most of the day. I do not want to portray myself as a naysayer, but I am confident there is evidence to suggest that additional terrorist cells have been trained to take over commercial aircraft, and in the event of another terrorist hijacking, the Department of Defense will be forced to make the difficult decision to shoot down a plane filled with passengers to prevent that plane from being used as a weapon. We have gone through that before, and we do not want to do it again. As far as the amendment of the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), I think the chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation and the ranking member from Illinois may have said this, I think it is well- intentioned, and I do not see the gentleman on the floor, but what bothers me is the possible or probable additional cost that might have to be absorbed in the training of those additional pilots to qualify them to be armed in the appropriate cockpits.

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

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for that clarification. I appreciate that, and I will confine my remarks to the bill generally. Our aviation system, it seems to me, oftentimes is based upon redundancy. When all else fails, we need a last line of defense. Providing pilots with firearms, it seems to me, affords additional assurance that the hijackers can no longer be assured of success. It is a significant deterrent since a potential hijacker will no longer know whether or not a pilot is armed prior to breaking into that cockpit. I regret that I missed the debate on this bill, and I thank the gentleman for setting me straight.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I will admit to being biased, but I think it is important that we congratulate my alma mater--Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina--for winning its first-ever NCAA team championship. On May 16, 2002, the Quakers captured the NCAA Division III men's golf championship conducted at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska. What made winning the championship even more special for those of us who live in the Sixth District of North Carolina, Guilford College edged out cross-town rival Greensboro College to win the title. The two schools, which are just a few miles apart, traveled halfway across the country to duel for Division III's top golf crown. Even the third-place team was from North Carolina--Meredith College in Raleigh. Guilford College shot a 300 on the fourth and final day of the tournament to rally past third-day leader Meredith. Greensboro scored a tournament- best 288 on the last day to vault from seventh place to second. Is there any doubt that North Carolina is the golf capital of the world? Guilford finished second in the national championship last year, and Head Coach Jack Jensen did not want a repeat in 2002. ``It feels so good,'' Jensen told the (Greensboro) News & Record. ``We came so close last year. I really had this feeling before we went out that we would win today. Last year, we had a one-shot lead with one day to go. Every player on the team looked back to one shot and felt like he lost it, and in golf, you can always find one shot.'' In fact, Guilford has qualified for the Division III golf championships in 10 of its 11 years of NCAA play. This year, Jensen's Quakers were not to be denied. This was Jensen's and Guilford's first- ever NCAA title, but the coach and school are no strangers to winning national championships. Jack Jensen and Guilford College captured the NAIA national men's basketball championship in 1973 and the NAIA men's golf title in 1989. Guilford joined the NCAA Division III athletic program in 1991. In addition, Guilford College almost collected the individual player title in Nebraska. Sophomore Dave Patterson finished with a four-day total of 293, two shots off the lead. Patterson had a lot of assistance, however, in leading Guilford to its NCAA team crown. Joining him at Firethorn were Andrew Eversole, Savio Nazareth, Andrew Biggadike, and John Riddle. (Another reason we are slightly prejudiced in favor of the Quakers is that John Riddle is the nephew of Nancy Mazza who operates our district office in High Point, North Carolina.) Congratulations are in order for every member of the Quaker golf team including Harrison Pinnix, Head Coach Jack Jensen, outgoing athletic director Mike Ketchum, incoming athletic director Marion Kirby and everyone associated with Guilford College. I am proud to be an alumnus of the school and proud that it is located in our congressional district.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be passed over without prejudice.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for yielding the time to me. I have been in the People's House, Mr. Speaker, for nine terms, and during each term, peace in the Middle East has been debated at length. Here we are again today. I care not who speaks for Israel or for the PLO, but I do care who rejects terrorism and who embraces it. We cannot stand idly by and see innocent persons slain day after day. This peace process must be driven by reason, not anger and hostility. Israel has demonstrated that it can live in peace with its Arab neighbors, and reasonable men and women representing each side of this conflict should formulate a peace plan whereby bloodshed in the Middle East becomes a sordid plank of the past, and peace, an ingredient that sweeps across the Middle East, to be enjoyed by Israelis as well as Palestinians. This should be our prayer.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, when the Girl Scouts came to call on me for their annual visit to give me Girl Scout cookies, I said to them, I never hear from you all except at cookie time. They said, well, why not talk about us from time to time. So today I am going to talk about the Girl Scouts, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls, all girls where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, they build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop qualities that will serve them all of their lives, like leadership, strong values, social conscience and conviction about their own potential and self-worth. Today, there are 3.7 million Girl Scouts, 2.7 million girl members, and 915 adult members. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to continue to purchase and consume Girl Scout cookies, but let us promote them year-round. The Girl Scouts are, indeed, a first-class organization.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, the Copyright Society of the USA, a nonprivate organization, has chosen the week of April 22 to foster interest in and advance the study of intellectual property, especially copyright law. It is virtually impossible to conceive life without the arts. I can hardly imagine, Mr. Speaker, for example, what our world would be like without books, music, and movies. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, I am particularly aware of the important role copyright law plays in sparking the creative abilities of artists. The creative community contributes significantly to the well-being of our culture and our economy, and I urge my colleagues to join the Copyright Society in celebrating the contributions of artists to our culture and economy by supporting the copyright law.