Howard Coble

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time to me. Madam Speaker, I say to my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), with whom I have had disagreements and agreements, the gentleman says that this undoes what was previously agreed to. I think that is clearly subject to interpretation. We are going to have to disagree agreeably on that, and we can do that at another time. I say, Madam Speaker, that, and pardon my incorrect grammar, but I am a pretty easy dog to hunt with. I am surprised that no one has come forward prior to today. We had a hearing April 4, the second hearing on May 10, a subcommittee markup on May 22, a full committee markup on June 20, a report filed on June 28. Now, one would think if concerns were being felt or if anxiety was the order of the day, that someone would have rattled my door. No knock. The gentleman from Wisconsin has already indicated this, and I will be brief. But as he said, H.R. 1886 consists of noncontroversial, in my opinion noncontroversial, amendments to the patent reexamination system. It is not a new idea, but one whose time has finally come. Fairness demands that inventors deserve their day in court should a controversy arise, but we should spare them the expense and the burdens of Federal litigation when we can. This bill achieves that important and equitable balance. Again, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman); and I want to thank my chairman, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), and all members of the subcommittee who worked very arduously in addressing this matter. Finally, and I say to my friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), and to my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo), I have had several small independent inventors come to me thanking me for the work that the subcommittee has done. These small, independent inventors say, ``Now some folks claim they are on Capitol Hill representing the small inventors. We do not need anybody representing us. We are happy with what is being done at the subcommittee and full committee level.'' So, Madam Speaker, I believe that the concerns that have been expressed thus far, I say to my friend from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), I believe they can be assuaged and resolved.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I, too, want to join my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) in remembering Jim Ford. Tom Bliley, a recently retired Member from Virginia, and I and other Members would play tennis frequently with Chaplain Ford. I really came to know him, Madam Speaker, on the tennis court rather than within these halls. He used to have a shot: He would put an obvious spin on the ball. When the ball would strike the surface of the court, it would be virtually impossible to gauge in what direction it would go. Jim Ford called that his squirrel shot, and Bliley and I used to refer to that as Chaplain Ford's patented squirrel shot. Madam Speaker, we have an outstanding Chaplain in Father Dan. We had an outstanding Chaplain in Jim Ford. We want to remember Mrs. Ford and the children in this hour of grief.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I will be very brief, because the gentleman from Wisconsin has thoroughly stated the matter, as has the gentleman from California. As the gentleman from Wisconsin has indicated, H.R. 1866, Madam Speaker, consists of adding a single sentence to the law in order to improve the patent reexamination system. It is based upon testimony that was offered before our subcommittee earlier this year. With this single sentence, we stab at the heart of defective business method and other inappropriately issued patents. At the same time, we protect small businesses and small inventors from harassing conduct in these proceedings. I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), my friend and the ranking member of the subcommittee, for his work, as well, on this bill, and for that matter, all of the members of the subcommittee. In closing, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the chairman of the full committee, for having expeditiously moved this legislation along, because it is important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1866.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, the city of Thomasville, North Carolina, will celebrate its 150th birthday in 2002. When one thinks of Thomasville, there are many things that come to mind: Thomasville Furniture Industries, the Big Chair, the Baptist Children's Orphanage, Everybody's Day, textiles, and high school football. Thomasville was named for State Senator John W. Thomas, who helped pioneer the construction of the first railroad across North Carolina and, in 1852, created the town of Thomasville around the hustle and bustle of the State's first railroad. In 1857, Thomas finally obtained a charter for the town from the North Carolina General Assembly. The town of Thomasville grew rapidly with wooden household furniture manufacturing becoming the mainstay of the local economy. Eventually, Thomasville became known as ``The Chair Town'' due to the fact that the products that the Thomasville Chair Company, which eventually became Thomasville Furniture Industries, were almost exclusively simple, sturdy, straight-back chairs. Today, Thomasville remains an international center for furniture manufacturing; and Thomasville Furniture Industries, its leading manufacturer, has made the name Thomasville known around the globe. In 1922, in an effort to take advantage of its reputation as ``The Chair Town,'' Thomasville Chair Company erected a gigantic chair in the middle of the town square. The project kept three men working 20 hours a day for 1 week and took the same amount of lumber that would have been required to construct 100 ordinary chairs. Unfortunately, after 15 years of exposure, the local chair was torn down in 1936. Due to the Depression and the advent of World War II, another chair was not built until 1948. In 1948, once again, Thomasville Chair Company spearheaded the effort to construct another chair, and a decision was made to construct a chair that would stand the test of time. The concrete chair was a reproduction of the original Duncan Phyfe armchair. Today, the monument stands almost 30 feet high and overlooks the downtown square. In addition to the chair, downtown Thomasville is home to North Carolina's oldest railroad depot which today houses the Thomasville Visitors Center. Another one of Thomasville's significant contributions is its commitment to the Mills Home Baptist Children's Orphanage, the largest orphanage in the South outside of Texas. The orphanage provides a wide array of very important children's services to the local and State communities. One of the longest held traditions in Thomasville, Mr. Speaker, is Everybody's Day. We continue to observe it. The first Everybody's Day Festival was held in Thomasville in 1908 and is North Carolina's oldest festival. In 1910, the Amazon Cotton Mill, one of the Cannon chain of textile mills, opened its doors as did the Jewell cotton mills that same year. Jewell was a result of investments contributed by local investors in the community. Both these mills served as a catalyst for what would become a very vibrant industry, which still exists today. Last, but certainly not least, Thomasville is home to a long and rich high school football tradition, a tradition of champions begun under the days of Coach George Cushwa, a beloved coach and teacher. In fact, the current football stadium bears his name. Under Cushwa's tutelage emerged an individual in whom many place their hopes for continued success. This man, Coach Allen Brown, did not let the fans down. Leading the Bulldogs to several State champions and guiding them through the maze of several conference realignments, he was always able to keep his team focused and the fans engaged, continuing in the great tradition of his predecessor. Today, Mr. Speaker, the Bulldogs are led by yet another great leader and former quarterback, Benjie Brown, who follows in the footsteps of his dad, Allen Brown, and Coach Cushwa. Needless to say, Mr. Speaker, Thomasville is a vibrant city whose future looms bright, and it is truly an honor for me to be able to recognize this fine city, the Chair Capital of the World on the House floor and wish it well as it begins its celebration for its 150th birthday next year.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, on June 25, the Sixth District of North Carolina became the home of the AAU North Carolina State Championship baseball team for the fifth straight year. The Jamestown Jaguars captured the title after five tough games, winning four of them and losing only one. The Jaguars have been the North Carolina State Champions since 1997. Concord, North Carolina was the site of the final showdown between the Jaguars and the Catawba Valley Storm. The Storm gave the Jaguars their only tournament loss in the third game, by a score of 3-2. The rematch for the Championship ended with the Jaguars winning 5-1. Coach Dean Sink complemented the team's athletic ability and effort, telling the Jamestown News that ``their maturity and camaraderie on and off the field is what really sets them apart.'' The Jaguars are in Tennessee to begin the AAU Nationals in Kingsport from July 26 through August 3. Congratulations are in order for Head Coach Dean Sink and his assistant coaches. Members of the championship team include Anthony Autry, Chad Baker, T.J. Clegg, Travis High, Gator Lankford, Jessie Lewter, Matt McSwain, Mitch Sailors, Alex Sink, J.K. Whited, and Kunta Hicks. The Jaguars are coached by Dean Sink and his assistants, David Baker, Chuck Sharp, and Tony Clegg. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District, we congratulate the Jamestown Jaguars on winning the state title and we wish them the best of luck in the coming national tourney.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to set forth some of the history behind, as well as describe the workings of the Private Calendar. I hope this might be of some value to the Members of this House, especially our newer colleagues. Of the five House Calendars, the Private Calendar is the one to which all Private Bills are referred. Private Bills deal with specific individuals, corporations, institutions, and so forth, as distinguished from public bills which deal with classes only. Of the 108 laws approved by the First Congress, only 5 were Private Laws. But their number quickly grew as the wars of the new Republic produced veterans and veterans' widows seeking pensions and as more citizens came to have private claims and demands against the Federal Government. The 49th Congress, 1885 to 1887, the first Congress for which complete workload and output data is available, passed 1,031 Private Laws, as compared with 434 Public Laws. At the turn of the century the 56th Congress passed 1,498 Private Laws and 443 Public Laws--a better than three to one ratio. Private bills were referred to the Committee on the Whole House as far back as 1820, and a calendar of private bills was established in 1839. These bills were initially brought before the House by special orders, but the 62nd Congress changed this procedure by its rule XXIV, clause six which provided for the consideration of the Private Calendar in lieu of special orders. This rule was amended in 1932, and then adopted in its present form on March 22, 1935. A determined effort to reduce the private bill workload of the Congress was made in the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946. Section 131 of that Act banned the introduction or the consideration of four types of private bills: first, those authorizing the payment of money for pensions; second, for personal or property damages for which suit may be brought under the Federal tort claims procedure; third, those authorizing the construction of a bridge across a navigable stream, or fourth, those authorizing the correction of a military or naval record. This ban afforded some temporary relief but was soon offset by the rising postwar and cold war flood for private immigration bills. The 82nd Congress passed 1,023 Private Laws, as compared with 594 Public Laws. The 88th Congress passed 360 Private Laws compared with 666 Public Laws. Under rule XXIV, clause six, the Private Calendar is called the first and third Tuesday of each month. The consideration of the Private Calendar bills on the first On the first Tuesday of each month, after disposition of business on the Speaker's table for reference only, the Speaker directs the call of the Private Calendar. If a bill called is objected to by two or more Members, it is automatically recommitted to the Committee reporting it. No reservation of objection is entertained. Bills unobjected to are considered in the House in the Committee of the Whole. On the third Tuesday of each month, the same procedure is followed with the exception that omnibus bills embodying bills previously rejected have preference and are in order regardless of objection. Such omnibus bills are read by paragraph, and no amendments are entertained except to strike out or reduce amounts or provide limitations. Matters so stricken out shall not be again included in an omnibus bill during that session. Debate is limited to motions allowable under the rule and does not admit motions to strike out the last word or reservation of objections. The rules prohibit the Speaker from recognizing Members for statements or for requests for unanimous consent for debate. Omnibus bills so passed are thereupon resolved in their component bills, which are engrossed separately and disposed of as if passed separately. Private Calendar bills unfinished on one Tuesday go over to the next Tuesday on which such bills are in order and are considered before the call of bills subsequently on the calendar. Omnibus bills follow the same procedure and go over to the next Tuesday on which that class of business is again in order. When the previous question is ordered on a Private Calendar bill, the bill comes up for disposition on the next legislative day. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to describe to the newer Members the Official Objectors system the House has established to deal with the great volume of Private Bills. The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader each appoint three Members to serve as Private Calendar Objectors during a Congress. The Objectors are on the Floor ready to object to any Private Bill which they feel is objectionable for any reason. Seated near them to provide technical assistance are the majority and minority legislative clerks. Should any Member have a doubt or question about a particular Private Bill, he or she can get assistance from objectors, their clerks, or from the Member who introduced the bill. The great volume of private bills and the desire to have an opportunity to study them carefully before they are called on the Private Calendar has caused the six objectors to agree upon certain ground rules. The rules limit consideration of bills placed on the Private Calendar only shortly before the calendar is called. With this agreement adopted on July 24, 2001, the Members of the Private Calendar Objectors Committee have agreed that during the 107th Congress, they will consider only those bills which have been on the Private Calendar for a period of seven (7) days, excluding the day the bill is reported and the day the calendar is called. Reports must be available to the Objectors for three (3) calendar days. It is agreed that the majority and minority clerks will not submit to the Objectors any bills which do not meet this requirement. This policy will be strictly enforced except during the closing days of a session when the House rules are suspended. This agreement was entered into by: the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble), the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barr), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher), and the gentlelady from Connecticut (Mrs. DeLauro). I feel confident that I speak from my colleagues when I request all Members to enable us to give the necessary advance considerations to private bills by not asking that we depart from the above agreement unless absolutely necessary.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, Thomasville, North Carolina, is known as the chair capital of the world. It is also the home of the Emanuel Reformed United Church of Christ, where our guest Chaplain today has served for the past 7 years. We are pleased to have Warren, his wife, Marie, and son, Jason, with us today. Mr. Speaker, I visited the Emanuel Church many months ago for a dinner on the grounds, and on that day some of the parishioners expressed interest in having their pastor to serve as our guest Chaplain and here he is today. Reverend Casiday received his divinity degree from the Duke University School of Divinity in Durham; and Warren presently serves, Mr. Speaker, as the president of the Thomasville Ministerial Association and the Chair City Toastmasters in Thomasville. Warren said to me, Mr. Speaker, just a few moments ago, ``I am a follower of Christ and I am humbled and honored to be the guest Chaplain today.'' I say to him, Warren, we are honored and privileged to have you and your family and your congregation in Thomasville back home watching.

Mr. COBLE

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

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, several years ago when I arrived in Washington as a newly elected Congressman and an unabashed bluegrass and country music enthusiast, one of my first noncongressional, self- appointed assignments was to identify the right radio station. WAMU 88.5 was that station. Ray Davis and Jerry Gray, genial down-home hosts, escorted us through bluegrass country Monday through Friday. At that time the bluegrass program, as I recall, was aired from noon until 6 p.m. That time slot subsequently was reduced by half running them from 3 until 6 p.m. I did not take umbrage with this change and concluded it was not unreasonable. Six hours is, after all, a formidable block of time and reducing it to 3 hours appeared to be a fair compromise. The recent heavy-handed action taken by WAMU is neither fair nor a compromise; and as I told a Washington Post reporter recently, as we say in the rural South, I am hopping mad about it. The powers that be at WAMU have eliminated the Monday through Friday bluegrass that we so much enjoyed with Ray Davis and Jerry Gray. What were 3 hours of bliss have become 3 hours of painful silence; and it appears this silencing exercise was executed abruptly, with precision and with no advanced warning. Were Ray Davis and Jerry Gray afforded the courtesy of saying good- bye to their host of loyal listeners? Obviously not. I am told that now in the D.C. listening area we have two giants of public radio both supported by taxpayers, presumably tax exempt, broadcasting identical programs an hour apart and both broadcasting these programs twice to captive drive-time audiences. What became of diversity, the commodity so frequently promoted by public radio? Many listeners of WAMU have contacted me about this matter and most of these listeners are versatile in their musical tastes. They enjoy bluegrass and country, as do I, but they enjoy the classics as well, as do I. But the WAMU decision-makers have made the former more difficult to receive than the latter. We no longer hear Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys play and sing Paradise or Better Times A Comin'. We no longer hear Earl Scruggs, ably backed by Lester Flatt and the Foggy Mountain Boys as he plays the Flint Hill Special. During December's yuletide season, the Monday through Friday bluegrass fans will be deprived of Christmas Time A Comin' by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys or the Country Gentlemen's version of Back Home at Christmas Time. We, the Monday through Friday group, will have to make adjustments. As a member of Congress, I have consistently contributed to WAMU's various campaigns. I may have to direct my future contributions elsewhere because I do not appreciate the manner in which it appears WAMU terminated the Monday through Friday bluegrass programs. Ray Davis and Jerry Gray deserve better. WAMU's listeners deserve better. These listeners, by the way, are intensely loyal. So WAMU may be pursuing a volatile course. Again, Mr. Speaker, drawing from my days in the rural South, when youngsters misbehaved they were taken to the woodshed. You know, perhaps the WAMU management team members need to be introduced to the woodshed. For it is my belief they have misbehaved to the detriment of many innocent observers.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Commercial Driver's License Devolution Act of 2001.'' 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 their 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, the words courageous and heroic are sometimes used without thought or care. In the Sixth District of North Carolina, however, those adjectives and more should be applied to one of our young citizens who bravely came to his mother's rescue. For his efforts, eight-year-old Michael Mathis from Denton, North Carolina, was recently awarded the North Carolina 911 hero award, and he was recognized by the National Emergency Number Association. Young Michael was caught in a terrible predicament, which required him to show great courage while under severe pressure. Michael didn't let his young age hold him back from stepping up to save the life of his mother. On February 6, 2001, Michael was riding with his mother Cathy Surratt on a road near High Point. Michael's mother suffers from a thyroid condition and she has constant migraine headaches. During the course of the drive, Cathy began to see swirls in her eyes, pulled to the side of the road, then lost consciousness. Michael immediately got out his mother's cell phone in order to call his stepfather, but unfortunately the phone went dead, due to the fact that their minutes had expired. Knowing that a call to 911 was free, he then called the emergency number for help. Michael tried to tell the dispatcher where they were located, but with only trees and grass visible, he was only certain that they were on Highway 109. Shortly after that, the car, which was a stick shift, began to roll forward. Michael's voice suddenly turned to panic, and he pleaded with the dispatcher to have someone find them. The dispatcher instructed him to take the key out of the ignition. Though he was overcome with fear, Michael managed to get the key out, and the car stopped. The dispatcher told Michael to honk the horn and flash the lights in the hope that a passing car would stop. Michael quickly complied with the dispatcher's orders. Finally, a car stopped, and to his good fortune, the passengers in the car were an emergency worker and a trained nurse. When Michael's stepfather arrived, the car was surrounded by people who were there to help. Cathy Surratt was taken to an area hospital where she was successfully treated and released. The Davidson County Sheriff's Department named Michael a 911 hero, and he was awarded a plaque at a special ceremony. This week, the National Emergency Number Association recognized Michael at its 20th annual conference, along with other National 911 heroes. I am very pleased to be able to recognize Michael as one of our North Carolina 911 heroes. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we offer our personal congratulations to Michael Mathis--a true hero.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, along with the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, Representative Berman, I rise to introduce a bill to make permanent the authority to redact financial disclosure statements of judicial employees and judicial officers. Under the Ethics in Government Act, judges and other high-level judicial branch officials must file annual financial disclosure reports. However, due to the nature of the judicial function and the increased security risks it entails, section 7 of the ``Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998'' allows the Judicial Conference to redact statutorily required information in a financial disclosure report where the release of the information could endanger the filer or his or her family. This provision will sunset on December 31, 2001, in the absence of further legislative action. The Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosure recently submitted a report on section 7. The Committee monitors the release of financial disclosure reports to ensure compliance with the statute, reviews redaction requests, and approves or disapproves any request for the redaction of statutorily mandated information where the release of the information could endanger a filer. In 2000, the Committee noted that: (1) 13 financial disclosure reports were wholly redacted because the judge was under a specific, active security threat; (2) 140 judges' reports were partially redacted (59 of which were based on specific threats; the other 81 due to general threats and the potential risk of disclosure of a family member's unsecured workplace or a residence of a judge or a judge's family); and (3) a total of 218 financial disclosure reports, which includes reports from previous years, were partially redacted. The purpose of the annual financial disclosure reports required by the Ethics in Government Act is to increase public confidence in government officials and better enable the public to judge the performance of those officials. However, federal judges should be allowed to redact certain information from financial disclosures when they or a family member is threatened. Importantly, the practice has never interfered with the release of critical information to the public. This bill will eliminate the sunset in section 7 and permit the Judicial Conference to permanently redact information in financial disclosure reports where the information could endanger the filer or his or her family. This is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it when it is brought to the House Floor for consideration.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, June 25, 1 missed rollcall votes 186-188. Had I been present on this date, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 186, 187, and 188. On this date, I had committed to participating in an event in my congressional district prior to the scheduling of votes.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, on May 26, the Sixth District of North Carolina became the home of the 4-A men's state championship tennis team--Walter Hines Page High School in Greensboro. The Pirates completed their title match with a season record of 22-0--their second consecutive season with no losses. The Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the site where the Pirates defeated Fayetteville Terry Sanford High School 6-3. The single game winners included sophomore Jon Isner, freshman Robert Hogewood, and junior Adam Kerr. Both teams were undefeated up to this point and after single matches the score was 3-3. The game was still in anyone's court. Doubles matches were going to decide who would be the team to lose. All three Page High School doubles teams won their matches, which gave the state title to the Pirates. Congratulations are in order for Head Coach Jill Herb, Assistant Head Coach Tom Herb, along with assistant Jerry Steinhorne. Members of the championship team included Robbie Bernstein, Steven Eagan, Pete Georges, Andrew Hjelt, Robert Hogewood, Charlie Holderness, Jon Isner, Adam Kerr, Dean Mandaleris, Jonathan Newman, Daniel Rowland, Drew Saia, Jarrett Saia, Jason Steinhorn, David Stone, Robert Sullivan, David Tursky, and Danny Redell. Everyone at Page High School can be proud of the Pirates. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District, we congratulate Athletic Director Rusty Lee, Principal Dr. Terry Worrell and everyone at Page High School for winning the state 4-A Men's Tennis championship. In fact, winning two straight championships is impressive, but going undefeated for two years in a row is remarkable.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, On May 26, the Sixth District of North Carolina became the home of the 3-A state championship girIs soccer team--Southwest Guilford High School. The Cowgirls completed their victory run with a season record of 24-3. After winning state championships in 1995 and 1997, the team brought the title home again when they beat T.C. Robeson 4-1. With a team that has the Regional Player of the Year Erin Sides, All- State Player and leading goal scorer Kelly Whitaker, Conference Defender of the Year Lauren Field, and Erin Gonzalez as the All-State Stopper, Southwest Guilford had a leading advantage in capturing the 3- A state title. The Cowgirls won all five state championship title games. The final game was a scoreless tie at halftime. But the team remained united and was ready for the second half. ``We said at halftime, whoever scored that first goal is going to win the game,'' sweeper Lauren Field, one of three captains, told the High Point Enterprise. The Cowgirls' Erin Sides, scored their first goal, only two minutes into the second half. Laura Allen drilled another goal three minutes later. The final two goals that sealed the victory were by Kelly Whitaker, who was the championship game MVP. Congratulations are in order for Head Coach Mike Fitzpatrick along with his Assistant Coach Gary Sabo, Goalkeeper Coach Chris Barrett and JV Coach Jim Coggins. Members of the championship team included Laura Allen, Deanna Carr, Sara Crowder, Lisa Demeyer, Lauren Field, Erin Gonzalez, Natalie Henderson, Melissa Hunter, Andrea Lance, Bevan Menamara, Jolie Reed, Erin Slides, Marty Thompson, Marianne Trexler, Claire Walley, Kelly Whitaker, and Wendy Williams. Everyone at Southwest Guilford High School can be proud of the Cowgirls. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District, we congratulate Athletic Director Brindon Christman, Principal Wayne Tuggle and everyone at Southwest Guilford for winning the state 3-A girls soccer championship.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his generous introduction, although unfortunately I was never Master Chief, but I like to claim that honor. Mr. Chairman, I want to put a different face on this, because we have heard sterling comments in praise of America's oldest continuing seagoing service. I want to put a different face to it. A man once said to me, he said, ``The Coast Guard is the invisible service. Never hear about them.'' Well, we never hear about the Coast Guard unless we happen to be in distress and we need to be rescued by professionals. I spoke to a man who was once rescued, I spoke to him moments after the rescue, and he said to me, ``That Coast Guard cutter looked like an angel of mercy coming to me,'' and then he began to weep softly. They are indeed angels of mercy. The Coast Guard cutters, the Coast Guard aircraft, what they do is legendary; but it is oftentimes invisible. I have gone to Memorial Day and Veterans Day services across the land. My good friend, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), said we appreciate all of the services, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Those four will be recognized; the Coast Guard inevitably will be omitted. I went to a Veterans Day service back home in my district 4, 5, 6 years ago, and sure enough the inevitable happened, the four services were recognized by the playing of their respective hymns, but nothing about the Coast Guard. Mr. Chairman, I went to the music director of the school that day. I asked about the omission. She said, I do not have the music. I said, It is the most beautiful marching hymn of the services. Now, I am not completely objective about that, Mr. Chairman. She said, Get me the music; and I did. The next year, the Coast Guard hymn was the first one played. She came to me and she said, Are you satisfied? I said, Yes, indeed. But oftentimes folks do not recognize that the Coast Guard is one of our five armed services. Years ago the Coast Guard was the beneficiary of Navy hand-me-downs. I am not putting down the Navy for this. We were glad to get them and made the best of what we had. Now it is a little better. We still get hand-me-downs, but part of the problem from years gone by, many of the Coast Guard spokespersons would come up here and say, We can get along with $5 million; we do not need $99 million. Mr. Chairman, the other services were waiting to take that overflow. Now I think that attitude has changed. The Coast Guard comes up here more aggressively, not to embellish their budgetary needs, but to make it clear, matter of factly, what is needed to keep those search-and- rescue missions going, and to keep those drug interdiction raids successfully executed. I want the American people to recognize, and many do not, and it is not their fault because oftentimes the Coast Guard is omitted, we need to be aware that there are five armed services in this country; and the Coast Guard is equally important, as are the other four. The gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) have addressed this issue well. They have said this is a service whose time has come to be fully and openly recognized as a vital cog in the armed services wheel. I commend those who have brought the bill to the floor today; and I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his generous introduction.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, on June 3, the Sixth District of North Carolina became the home of the 2-A state championship softball team-- Southwestern Randolph High School in Asheboro. The Cougars completed their title run with a season record of 24-3. After making it to the state championship series the past three years, the team finally brought the title home when they beat East Bend Forbush 2-1. Jennifer Hurley, senior pitcher for Southwestern Randolph, allowed just one hit for the duration of two games on Saturday. On Sunday, during the title game, she yielded one run on three hits, but slammed the door on any further scoring by Forbush. Lee Harris's home run during the title game was all the offensive firepower the Cougars would need when in the first inning she went deep. This two-run homer, the first in Harris's career at Southwestern Randolph, set the Cougars on their way to the title. For her efforts, Harris was named the tournament MVP. Southwestern completed an inspirational season thanks, in no small part, to a compelling figure who never played a single inning--Jennifer Hurley's younger brother Drew. For the 14 years of his life, Drew has battled a condition similar to cerebral palsy. He is unable to speak, can hear in only one ear, and his limbs move in sudden jerks. Despite this constant struggle, Drew is at every game. The Cougars drew inspiration from Drew. After every victory, Drew would put on a batting helmet, and Jennifer would push him around the base paths in his wheelchair until he crossed home plate. It became a team ritual that brought the Cougars together and inspired them to victory. I read Drew's story in the Greensboro News & Record, and that prompted my attendance at one of the early Cougars' playoff games. Congratulations are in order for Head Coach Steve Taylor along with his assistants Lee McCaskill and Harry Daniel. Supporting the team efforts were Managers Stacey McCaskill, C.J. Taylor, Heather Taylor, and Kurtis Taylor along with Statistician Luanne Deaton. Members of the championship team included Megan Moody, Natalie King, Abby Auman, Kari McLeod, Crystal McPherson, Jennifer Hurley, Krystal Parker, Ashely Vereyken, Wendy Heath, Jodi Johnson, Beth Auman, Emily Ivey, Lesley Greene, Wendy Seawell, Lee Ann Chandler, Erica Tackett, Cristina Tedder, Mary Beth Sillmon, Crystal Hudson, and Lee Harris. Everyone at Southwestern Randolph High School can be proud of the Cougars. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District, we congratulate Athletic Director Trent Taylor, Principal Dr. W. Thrift and everyone at Southwestern Randolph for winning the state 2-A softball championship.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill to authorize the operations of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) for Fiscal Year 2002. Patents, and intellectual property in general, have been part of American jurisprudence and our national economy since the founding of the Republic. George Washington signed a patent bill early in his first term as President, and Abraham Lincoln (himself a patent owner) was quoted as saying that the patent system ``added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius.'' But for the most part, this subject matter--dry and arcane, the province of engineers armed with law degrees--has never inspired great interest for the public. In fact, I am hard-pressed to identify two words which are better suited to induce sleep in the average lay person than ``patent law.'' My good-natured jab at patent lawyers notwithstanding, Lincoln got it right, as he so often did. The Founding Fathers were prescient enough to understand that for the young nation to survive, its economy had to flourish. This is why our Constitution (Article I, section 8) actually includes provisions authorizing Congress to protect patent owners and their rights. More than 200 hundred years and six-million patents later, the economy and the country are the better for it. Our patent laws have enabled individuals and businesses to produce marvelous inventions that touch us in ways which we take for granted but which enhance the quality of our lives on a daily basis. For that matter, patents are the very life's blood of certain industries, as any biotech executive will acknowledge. Try raising a half-billion dollars in capital to bring a cancer treatment to market without patent protection for the underlying work. Unfortunately, the PTO is not currently providing adequate service to individuals and businesses. Innovators must obtain prompt and reasonable evaluations from the PTO on whether they can acquire patents if they are to make sound businesses decisions. The PTO is now taking more than 25 months from filing to process a patent application to a patent, and the latest projections show it will take an average of 38.6 months by 2006. I am fearful that the agency simply does not have the resources that will allow it to provide quality patents, especially in such emerging areas as biotechnology and business methods. On top of these problems, the PTO has been unable to adopt the latest information technology that could allow it to provide better service to the public and more efficient patent and trademark processing. If one accepts my point--that patents are vital to the sustenance of our economy--then I hope another point begins to resonate more forcefully among my colleagues. Since 1992, the U.S. Congress, with the participation of each Administration, has steadily diverted money out of the PTO to other programs. This practice imposes an unfair tax on inventors, because unlike most federal programs, the PTO does not receive stipend from the General Treasury. Instead, it raises all of the avenue needed to operate through the collection of user fees imposed on inventors who file for patent protection and businesses that file for trademark registration at the agency. In addition, the The bottom line is that time is money in the patent world; and with more money, the PTO can issue quality patents faster, which means more investment, more jobs, and greater wealth for American industry. The same is true for trademarks. When businesses develop new products or new brand names for existing products, early federal registration of the name, logo, or symbol is necessary to protect rights and avoid expensive litigation. My bill would help to correct this problem by authorizing the agency to keep all of the fee revenue it raises in Fiscal Year 2002. At the same time, however, this authorization would still be subject to the availability of appropriations, meaning that the PTO must still convince the appropriators that the agency needs and will properly spend any extra funds. In addition, and consistent with this emphasis on oversight, the legislation sets forth two problem areas that PTO should address in the coming year, irrespective of its overall budget: First, the PTO Director is required to develop an electronic system for the filing and processing of all patent and trademark applications that is user friendly and that will allow the Office to process and maintain electronically the contents and history of all applications. Fifty- million dollars are earmarked for this project in each of Fiscal Years 2002 and 2003 for this purpose. Second, the Director, in consultation with the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees, must develop a strategic plan that set forth the goals and methods by which PTO will enhance patent and trademark quality, reduce pendency, and develop a 21st Century electronic system for the benefit of filers, examiners, and the general public. Mr. Speaker, the Patent and Trademark Office Authorization Act of 2002 will allow the patent and trademark communities to get more bang for their filing and maintenance buck, while enhancing the likelihood that the agency will receive greater appropriations in the upcoming Fiscal Year. It is a bill that benefits the PTO, its users, and the American economy. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation that will require the Attorney General to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary regarding the effectiveness of the State Justice Institute (SJI or ``the Institute''). The report would be due by October 1, 2002. Congress established SJI as a private nonprofit corporation in 1984. Its stated purpose is to further the development and adoption of improved judicial administration in state courts. SJI is to accomplish this goal by providing funds to state courts and other national organizations or nonprofits which support state courts. SJI also fosters coordination and cooperation with the federal judiciary in areas of mutual concern. The Institute may not duplicate the work or functions of existing nonprofit organizations. Since becoming operational in 1987, the Institute has awarded more than $125 million in grants to support over 1,000 projects. Another $40 million in matching requirements has been generated from other public and private funding sources. Section 213 of the original authorizing legislation, now codified at 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10712, required the Attorney General to submit a report governing the effectiveness of SJI operations by October 1, 1987, to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary. Since SJI did not become operational until fiscal year 1987, however, the report submitted by former Attorney General Meese is of limited value in assessing the operations of the Institute. Still, the report praised SJI start-up activities in the following summation: ``Although the Institute has only recently begun implementation of its program, much has been accomplished since it began operation. The Institute has made diligent efforts to develop and implement effective policies, procedures, and guidelines. . . .'' With regard to oversight, the report also noted that the Institute had established ``. . . an effective system of internal control by developing procedures and guidelines for its staff and grantees that ensure its resources are protected against fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement.'' The report concluded by noting that a full assessment of SJI activities could not be made until grants had been awarded and other program activities implemented. As noted, the purpose of the bill I am introducing is to authorize the Attorney General, in consultation with the Institute, to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary regarding the effectiveness of SJI in fulfilling its missions. The report would be done in consultation with SJI, and would be due not later than October 1, 2002. Mr. Speaker, this is a noncontroversial bill that promotes good government. While I am impressed with SJI operations to date, all federal entities should be accountable to the taxpayers. I therefore urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, the Sixth District of North Carolina is proud to congratulate John Ralls, who has been named as the runnerup for the National High School Coach of the Year Award. Ralls, coach of the Ledford High School girls' basketball team, received this honor from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association on April 7th. In addition to this achievement, Ralls earlier was named the Southeast Region Coach of the Year and the North Carolina Coach of the Year. Mixed in with the good news of these accomplishments was a painful back injury that required surgery. ``I was kind of out of it,'' Ralls told the Greensboro News and Record, ``so I didn't pick up on it (the award) for about a week.'' Ralls's first back surgery was in 1992, his first year of coaching. The more recent surgery was much more serious, however, and Ralls was concerned that he might be unable to attend the ceremony on April 7th. Fortunately, Ralls was well enough to participate as well as perform as the assistant coach for the All- American girls' game in Phoenix, Arizona, where he picked up his award. Ralls came to be nominated for this national award by one of his opponents. His Ledford team scrimmaged Apex High School, and it was the Apex coach, Scott Campbell, who nominated Ralls for the honor that he received. During his 15 years as coach Ralls has greatly impacted the basketball program, but more importantly, many young lives. In the last seven seasons, the Ledford Varsity girls' basketball team has won three state championships, as well as appearing in the state finals four times. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Ledford coach John Ralls for his many accomplishments both on and off the basketball court.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce H.R. 1886, a bill aimed at closing an unfortunate administrative loophole and bridging a legal gap in the working of our intellectual property system. As you know, I chair the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property. In that capacity, my colleagues and I have as one of our continuing goals making certain that the U.S. patent system is the finest regime in the world. This bill relates to two important areas within our jurisdiction, namely the procedures linking the courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). This legislation eliminates an asymmetry in an administrative procedure disallowing the public the right to appeal a question from the PTO to a higher and independent authority for redress. This legislation closes a procedural loophole that is a gap in the law. Today, many of these administrative appeals are prohibited by current law. In my view, this makes the patent system unable to fully serve the needs of inventors and the public. Congress created the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 1982 with a specific goal. It was intended to be a specialized forum that brings both legal and technical expertise to bear on appeals of certain issues of national importance, including patent issues. The overwhelming consensus is that in the past 20 years, the Federal Circuit has proven to be a marked success. It contributes to the fairness of the system in two ways. First, it ensures predictability and certainty to appeals within the subject matter of its jurisdiction. Second, it is a check on the agencies within its jurisdiction. We have all heard stories about patents that issue but are subsequently challenged based on new evidence pertaining to scope and validity. This bill will ensure that the outcome of these challenges initiated by the public and consumers through the optional inter partes reexamination will be fair by establishing the right to appeal and judicial review. It is a very limited measure and it does not lead to any additional district court trials, or other added discovery burdens or expenses for inventors. It is aimed at the improved functioning of our domestic system and has no relation to what our trading partners use in their systems. While this is admittedly a small bill--some will describe it merely as a housekeeping bill--I believe that it will contribute greatly to the improved functioning of our patent system for all parties involved.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, this month, a second town in the Sixth District of North Carolina will celebrate its centennial. Ironically, this town is in the same county as another small municipality in our district to reach the century mark this year. Earlier, we celebrated the 100th birthday of Landis, North Carolina. Now, it is time to turn our attention to another Rowan County town as it marks 100 years of official existence. On May 19, 2001, the town of Granite Quarry will celebrate its centennial, and on behalf of the entire Sixth District of North Carolina, we honor the first 100 years of Granite Quarry and look forward to the town's bright future. While Granite Quarry is officially 100 this year, the history of the town is more than two centuries old. Granite Quarry began in 1766 when Michael Braun (Brown) moved to the area from Pennsylvania. He constructed what became known as the Old Stone House of native hand-hewn granite. (The house has been restored by Rowan Museum, Inc., and is recognized as the oldest German dwelling in North Carolina.) The town was known as Woodville in the late 1800s, and by 1891, when the first post office was established, it was under the name of Woodsides. The second name was for a family of Woodsides who lived in the community. On March 7, 1901, the North Carolina General Assembly officially changed the name to Woodsides. When the town was first incorporated, five families lived in the town. Jerry L. Shuping was the first mayor and William Lefler, L.H. Kluttz, Rufus B. Peeler and Alfred L. Peeler were the first aldermen. These family names remain fixtures in Rowan County today. Shortly after incorporation, it was discovered that there was another Woodsides in North Carolina, resulting in confusion for mail and freight deliveries. While the post office name was changed to Granite Quarry in 1902, it wasn't until February 5, 1905, that the General Assembly approved the new name of Granite Quarry to recognize and highlight the stone quarried there. The quarries were already attracting attention years earlier as they developed along the newly completed Yadkin Railway and more and more people moved into the area to work the quarries. Quarrying was begun by the eccentric J.T. Wyatt who was later known as a local newspaper columnist with the fascinating sobriquet of ``Venus of Faith.'' Wyatt began his digging at the site of the Balfour Quarry. The demand for paving stones and later, Durax blocks, kept the town full of workers. Durax blocks, four by four pieces of stone laid in circles on city streets, can still be seen in the nearby town of Salisbury on Depot Street in front of the Southern Railway Station. Curbing stones quarried in Granite Quarry can be found in cities all over the United States. Large scale quarrying began in 1906 when the Whitney Company was selected to provide the stone for a granite dam on the Yadkin River in Stanly County. Whitney contracted with the Gillespie Company to operate the Rowan County quarry. Hundreds of Italian laborers and English stonecutters were brought to Granite Quarry to work in the mines. Stone cutting was an art that few people in the United States knew, making it necessary to import workers. The dam lost almost $20 million and when the Whitney Company went into bankruptcy, the Gillespie Company ceased operations. Nearly all of the foreign workers left except for a few of the English stonecutters who had little difficulty in finding employment at other quarries. The waters of Badin Lake today cover the granite darn, but when the water level is lowered, the dam can still be seen in its watery grave. When the Whitney project failed, the town was hit by a depression, and Granite Quarry became a ghost town. It was saved from a permanent death in the 1920s when the state became a pioneer in the construction of public roads. The demand for crushed stone for paving was tremendous. That demand, when added to the normal output for curbing, paving blocks, ornamental stone, and memorial work, pushed production to new records. It would last for several decades. The quarrying industry has declined in recent years because of rising labor costs and the increasing use of concrete in buildings and road construction, but today, Granite Quarry does not survive on stones alone. The future for Granite Quarry is bright. The Rowan County town of almost 3,000 people is a bedroom community for nearby larger jurisdictions, but it still boasts of more than 30 businesses including restaurants, doctors' offices and service stations. It is proud of its paid police department of a dozen full-time and part-time officers. Granite Quarry has one of the largest volunteer fire departments for a town of its size with more than 30 members. The Granite Quarry Civic Park stands as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the people who live there. From 1968-1973, civic groups, churches, government and business leaders joined forces to construct the park that is still enjoyed by the residents of Granite Quarry today. While other towns may have grown larger and still others may have become better known, the people of Granite Quarry will tell you they cannot think of a better place to call home. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Granite Quarry on its first 100 years. We look forward with much anticipation to what the future holds for this outstanding Rowan County community.

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, 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. Reclaiming my time, I do not want to defend the hecklers, but sometimes folks become very spirited on election night. I am confident that if there were in fact hecklers, I do not think they meant anything personally by that. Madam Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from the Fourth District of North Carolina (Mr. Price).