Jerry Costello

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the District of Columbia/Labor-HHS-Education conference report. This is a terrible way to approve the federal government's budget and for that reason alone I would urge my colleagues to vote against it. However, there are other reasons to oppose this legislation. The District of Columbia conference report, while still including provisions I support, does not include the kind of reform and oversight I believe is necessary to provide accountability for taxpayer-funded programs in the nation's capital. In addition, the Labor-HHS legislation include a 1-percent across- the-board cut of all 13 appropriations bills, indiscriminately cutting defense, veterans, education, and other programs. If this effort were to achieve the goal of not touching the Social Security Trust Fund while balancing our federal budget, it would be worth consideration. However, the Congressional Budget Office--which for years the majority in this House has used as the agency with the most accurate budget numbers--estimates it will still result in dipping into the Social Security Trust Fund. The Republican majority is deluding itself by using the administration's more optimistic estimates in spending, something that would have been unthinkable in past years. By CBO's standard, this bill will cut into the Social Security Trust Fund, something I cannot support. I urge those on the appropriations committee to keep working on a solution that will balance our federal budget, fund our nation's priorities while not dipping into the Social Security Trust Fund. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this bill in its current form.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today to move one step closer to enactment of the Gas Hydrates Research and Development Act. I would like to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), chairman of the full Committee on Science, as well as the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), the ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, for all of their hard work on this bill. In particular, I would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle), our colleague on the subcommittee and full committee, for all of his hard work on this legislation. He of course is the author of this bill. Gas hydrates have the potential to provide a significant natural gas resource to this country if they are safely and economically extracted from the ocean floor where they are found. This legislation establishes an interagency research and development program to examine many issues associated with the extraction of gas hydrates, including the possible economic, environmental, and energy benefits. I strongly support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle), and I ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2, the Student Results Act. I am encouraged by the bipartisan nature of this education bill which was crafted on an unbiased basis following the appropriate committee process. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to see that Title I funds will receive a $1 billion increase over last year's appropriation level bringing the authorization level to $8.35 billion in fiscal year 2000. By providing this commitment to our educationally disadvantaged students, the success we will see in our Nation's school children will be immeasurable. This bill will require schools to meet challenging Title I standards and hold schools accountable for the results of their Title I programs by requiring an annual report to parents and the public on the academic performance of schools receiving Title I funds. In addition, this legislation strengthens the requirement for teachers' aides by requiring 2 years of higher education, an associate's degree or meet rigorous standards assessing their math, reading and writing skills. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased the bill allows states to set aside 30 percent of any increase in Title I funds to reward schools and teachers that substantially close the gap between the lowest and highest performing students that have made outstanding yearly progress for 2 consecutive years. In my own Congressional District in Southwestern Illinois there is a school that will benefit tremendously from this award system. Belleville School District 118 has been lauded as one of the best Title I programs in the State. In fact, the Illinois State Board of Education called upon Belleville 118's Title I director, Tom Mentzer, to give presentations to other school districts on how to reach the level of success that District 118 has had with their Title I program. Yet, this year Bellenille School District 118 was forced to reduce their Title I teaching staff. Due to no increase in Title I funds for this school year, and not being eligible for additional Title I related grants such as Comprehensive School Reform Initiative (CSRI) based on high test scores, there are schools in 118 that received Title I funding last year that will not be serviced by Title I funding this year. What a difference Title I funds may have made in an educationally disadvantaged student's life had they had additional funds to provide Title I remedial reading initiatives. By putting this provision in the bill we will no longer economically punish schools that have excelled in achieving the goals set out for them by Title I. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation that helps at-risk students stay in school. Vote for this bipartisan education bill that will benefit thousands of students in each of our congressional districts.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Central Baptist Church in Willisville, Illinois. As this millennium is nearing an end, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the history of small towns and cities which have committed themselves to their communities. Many churches and religious institutions have been the source of providing American citizens with comfort and strength during troubled times. In my congressional district, one church in particular has provided this type of example. For the past one-hundred years, community members of Willisville, Illinois and other neighboring communities have been gathering to worship and honor their religion in what is known as the first Free Baptist Church in Illinois. The history of the church is instructive. At the request of A.J. Rendleman of Campbell Hill, Illinois, the first formal meeting to establish the Free Baptist church was convened on Sunday, July 30th 1899 at precisely 3:30 p.m. Soon after on October 24th, the first Free Baptist Church was formed. Today, this church is a reminder of the dedication and the desire to reach a higher goal. One hundred years after the first official sermon, we find ourselves honoring an institution that has withstood diversity as well as achieved a great sense of unity within the community. While the Central Baptist Church has not witnessed significant change in the past 100 years, the building itself was rebuilt in 1917 due to a tornado that destroyed the old structure. The bell that used to hang from the church, now sits in front of the building. The name was changed from the Freewill Baptist Church to Central Baptist Church, but its ideals have remained the same. Members gather for Bible studies mid-week, an annual Baptist camp in conjunction with the Southern Illinois University, and many other youth camp activities. On Saturday, October 20th, 1999, church officials and other members of the community plan to bury a time capsule in tribute to the history of the church, as well as to promote future years of prominence. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor the Central Baptist Church and wish it continued success as it enters another century and continues to provide the citizens of Willisville with spiritual growth, unit and guidance.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the District of Columbia Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2000. This legislation funds the operations of the federal share for the D.C. government and its 600,000 residents, including city government, its social service agencies and fire and police departments. Unfortunately, the conference reports passed by the Congress the last several weeks have been flawed. While they do include several provisions I support--prohibiting the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, and the implementation of a needle exchange program for illegal drug addicts--they did not contain the level of oversight I believe is necessary for the Congress to safeguard the taxpayers money. While I disagreed with the Administration's veto for different reasons, in particular its support of the needle exchange and marijuana programs, I believe it gives us a new opportunity to include more accountability for the District's programs. The District oversees billions of dollars in housing, education, health care and law enforcement programs administered to its residents. While improvements have been made in past years, in particular with a new police chief and law enforcement operations, problems continue to plague its housing and educational facilities. The District's new mayor, Anthony Williams, has begun to take steps to put the right people in place to make the changes necessary to provide full accountability for the federal funds administered by its government, and changes are needed. However, until those changes are in place and reform has begun, it is incumbent on this Congress to continue in its oversight role. We know the difficulties that have plagued the District government for years--mismanaged housing programs that have resulted in dilapidated structures for its public housing residents, and schools that have not opened on time because of faulty roof construction, leaving thousands of public school students without a place to go during the day. We must continue to provide support and oversight to see that these long-term problems affecting the District's residents are resolved. I urge my colleagues to reject any report that does not have sufficient oversight so that we can work with the City Government to achieve the goals of the new Mayor while providing the nation's taxpayers with some assurance their funds are being used to give a new direction to their nation's capital city.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the substitute and in strong support for the Norwood-Dingell bill. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the process imposed in the House today by the Republican leaders. Once again the Republican-led Congress has made in order a rule they know will defeat the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell bill, the only bill that could provide real managed care reform for 32 million Americans. This is the Republicans clever way of fooling the public into thinking they would like to pass a real managed care bill. Mr. Chairman, the rule does not allow the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell bill to be offered in its original form and then links it with another poorly crafted bill that will deny access to the 32 million uninsured individuals in the lowest income bracket. This scheme is unacceptable, the Republican Leadership should be ashamed. The ``access bill'' that will be tied to the real managed care bill is for the healthiest and wealthiest of individuals. By expanding Medical Savings Account (MSAs), the access bill discourages preventive care, and undermines the very purpose of insurance. When we voted on the Kennedy-Kassebaum Health Insurance Portability Protection Act in 1996 I supported the MSA demonstration project. However, this demonstration project turned out to be a failure. Of the 750,000 policies available only 50,000 have been sold. In my own Congressional District in Southwestern Illinois my constituents do not have access to these policies. This access bill and the rule is just another attempt by the Republican-led Congress to undermine a bipartisan bill that could provide relief for millions of Americans. I am outraged that the Rules Committee denied Representative Dingell's request to offer an amendment to pay for this legislation. As a general rule the Republican leadership demands that legislation not bust the budget caps imposed in 1997. While the Norwood-Dingell bill was not expected to require additional spending, the Congressional Budget Office estimated it would cost $7 billion. Representative Dingell offered to offset the bill so that Members like myself who wish to protect Social Security could cast their vote in support of real managed care reform while ensuring the Social Security Trust Fund would not be touched. As a cosponsor of the Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act--legislation strongly supported by doctors and by the American Medical Society and the Illinois State Medical Society--I believe it is the only real reform bill that will provide a comprehensive set of consumer rights that includes guaranteed access to emergency care and specialists, choice of providers, and strong enforcement provisions against health plans that put patient's lives in jeopardy. I am pleased the bill protects our small business owners by excluding businesses from liability if they do not make the decisions. This bill contains provisions that create safe harbors to ensure that no trial lawyer will accuse an employer of making a decision by simply choosing what benefits are in a plan or providing a patient benefit not in a plan. I am encouraged by the State of Texas who gave their citizens the right to sue HMO's for the past two years. In that time there have only been four cases filed. I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule and support real managed care reform legislation. Vote for the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell legislation.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. I rise today in strong opposition to the process imposed in the House today by the Republican leaders. Once again the Republican-led Congress has made in order a rule they know will defeat the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell bill, the only bill that could provide real managed care reform for 32 million Americans. This is the Republicans clever way of fooling the public into thinking they would like to pass a real managed care bill. Mr. Speaker, the rule does not allow the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell bill to be offered in its original form and then links it with another poorly crafted bill that will deny access to the 32 million uninsured individuals in the lowest income bracket. This scheme is unacceptable, the Republican leadership should be ashamed. The ``access bill'' that will be tied to the real managed care bill is for the healthiest and wealthiest of individuals. By expanding Medical Savings Account (MSAs), the access bill discourages preventive care, and undermines the very purpose of insurance. When we voted on the Kennedy-Kassebaum Health Insurance Portability Protection Act in 1996 I supported the MSA demonstration project. However, this demonstration project turned out to be a failure. Of the 750,000 policies available only 50,000 have been sold. In my own congressional district in southwestern Illinois my constituents do not have access to these policies. This access bill and the rule is just another attempt by the Republican-led Congress to undermine a bipartisan bill that could provide relief for millions of Americans. I am outraged that the Rules Committee denied Representative Dingell's request to offer an amendment to pay for this legislation. As a general rule the Republican leadership demands that legislation not bust the budget caps imposed in 1997. While the Norwood-Dingell bill was not expected to require additional spending, the Congressional Budget Office estimated it would cost $7 billion. Representative Dingell offered to offset the bill so that Members like myself who wish to protect Social Security could cast their vote in support of real managed care reform while ensuring the Social Security Trust Fund would not be touched. As a cosponsor of the Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act--legislation strongly supported by doctors and by the American Medical Society and the Illinois State Medical Society--I believe it is the only real reform bill that will provide a comprehensive set of consumer rights that includes guaranteed access to emergency care and specialists, choice of providers, and strong enforcement provisions against health plans that put patients' lives in jeopardy. I am pleased the bill protects our small business owners by excluding businesses from liability if they do not make the decisions. This bill contains provisions that create safe harbors to ensure that no trial lawyer will accuse an employer of making a decision by simply choosing what benefits are in a plan or providing a patient benefit not in a plan. I am encouraged by the State of Texas who gave their citizens the right to sue HMOs for the past 2 years. In that time there have only been four cases filed. I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule and support real managed care reform legislation. Vote for the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell legislation.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Wood River Township Hospital. As we near the end of the millennium, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the history of the small towns and cities which have made a commitment to better health care in their own communities. This past summer my district celebrated the 50th anniversary of Wood River Township Hospital, with reflection on its vital role in our region. The Wood River Township Hospital opened its doors to the public on August 1, 1949 with great fanfare. A referendum to build a public hospital had passed three years earlier in a landslide margin of 4,049 votes for to just 270 against. Once passed, plans for the community hospital quickly commenced with the architectural designs of Jamieson & Spearl, built in a year by Brunson Construction Co. The town's enthusiasm for their new hospital was enhanced by the respect accorded to the patients of wood river township Hospital. The hospital staff today still proudly recall their first doctor, Harry S. Mendelsohn, M.D., first patient, Anna Westbrook, and first baby, Randall Charles Harmon. Today, more than 14,000 babies have been born there. Remarkably, the Wood River Township Hospital, is well known throughout the state of Illinois for being the site of other significant ``firsts'' in the world of health care. It was the first hospital in the state of Illinois to be built under a 1945 state law, which authorized townships to levy taxes for the construction, operation and maintenance of hospitals. Additionally, it was the first hospital in Illinois to give chiropractic physicians privileges, as well as the first to have paramedic-staffed ambulances. Every community is marked by the institutions that serve them, and Wood River is no different. The Wood River Township Hospital's devotion to patients and commitment to community allows us to see the town as a leader in progressive ideas built on a foundation of mutual respect. As the 20th Century ends and the beginning of the new millennium approaches, Wood River Township Hospital reminds us of our nation's heritage. As they did, 50 years ago, Wood River officials plan to bury a time capsule to honor the community's values and achievements. In this they will show that while the advances in technology made each day continue to fortify our nation's capabilities, it is the principal of caring in which our future generations may find inspiration. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Wood River Township Hospital in commemoration of its 50th Anniversary.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First let me thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), the chairman and the ranking Democrat of the full committee, as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the subcommittee, for bringing this bill to the floor today. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Department of Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act. We have been able to agree on many of the issues before coming to the floor today, and I appreciate the time all of those involved have taken to discuss our concerns and to make the necessary changes. However, I still have some concerns with this bill and hope to be able to address them on the floor today and in conference. Unfortunately, too many of our science programs, good programs, necessary programs, are being underfunded. On one hand, we have the nuclear energy R&D, fossil energy R&D, and a number of the Office of Science programs which have fared well in this bill. On the other hand, we have the solar, renewables and conservation accounts, and the Spallation Neutron Source, which have been cut well below the President's request. Solar and renewable energy is down $84.4 million, energy conservation R&D is down $67.8 million and the Spallation Neutron Source is down $96.1 million. In total, H.R. 1655 is $200 million below the President's request. This bill also contains draconian restrictions on foreign visitors to civilian laboratories that go far beyond the ones Congress has agreed to for the nuclear weapons laboratories. An amendment that I offered during the Committee on Science markup of another bill, as well as the language adopted in the DOD conference report, calls for a temporary moratorium on foreign visitors pending DOE and FBI certification. I believe this approach makes much more sense and I hope we can continue to work on this in conference. There have been small victories in the effort to put the bill on a more solid footing. In committee, there was an amendment offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) to add $100 million to the Spallation Neutron Source which passed with the support of the chairman of the committee and the entire committee unanimously. However, the $100 million had to be offset within an underfunded bill. It is my hope that we can get the project on track for the funding it needs for the future. The Spallation project is one project I worked with the gentleman from Wisconsin and the administration to move forward during the committee's consideration. I very much appreciate all of the efforts on behalf of the gentleman from Wisconsin and the contributions that he has made to that project. I was pleased with the ultimate cooperation that was exhibited on both sides of the Committee on Science and the Department on provisions to make sure that the project addresses some of its major problems while still moving forward. I agree that the Secretary should certify in writing to the Committee on Science in the House and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in the other body that qualified individuals have filled senior project manager positions for the project. I also agree that the Secretary should provide Congress a cost baseline and plans for revised project management structure. It is my hope that with continued progress, we can get the Spallation project back on track to fulfill its important scientific mission. I am pleased as well that this bill includes the methane hydrates provision that I supported in the committee as well as increases in the fossil fuel research and development program which is especially important to my congressional district in southwestern and southern Illinois. The solar, renewable and conservation programs are important to ensuring that this country has a broad, clean, affordable and sustainable domestic energy portfolio as we enter the 21st century. For example, DOE-funded research into the use of biomass to produce ethanol could one day enable us to turn agricultural waste into a cheap, clean and sustainable source of energy. The gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) will be offering an amendment to make sure these important programs are fully authorized. I urge my colleagues to support the Udall amendment. While this bill is not a perfect piece of legislation, I look forward to working on its improvement during the conference with the Senate and ask my colleagues to support its passage. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I have no requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, we are in strong support of the amendment.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the manager's amendment.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. (Mr. COSTELLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, we support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support the Udall of Colorado amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Udall amendment to H.R. 1655. This is not an appropriations bill, it's an authorization bill. If the appropriators do not have sufficient funds, then clearly all of these programs may have to be cut. All this amendment does is restore the authorization levels to the level of the President's request for these programs. Almost every other program authorized in this bill is at or above the President's request--why should these programs be any different? H.R. 1655 only provides $75.4 of the $92.4 million requested for biopower and biofuels. These cuts will reduce R&D in areas that could lower the costs of producing ethanol. The ethanol industry currently provides 40,000 jobs, or $1 billion in household income. Displacing gasoline with ethanol in automobiles reduces carbon emissions by 95%; if you merely mix a 10% blend of ethanol with gasoline, you reduce emissions by 25-30%. Voting for the Udall amendment will help to continue the important R&D that could lead to the development of cheap, sustainable and clean energy sources such as ethanol. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Udall amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) who is a member of the committee. (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, we support the amendment.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, we strongly support the amendment and urge its adoption.

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, we strongly support and commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) for his amendment and move its adoption.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I insert the following for the Record on the DOD Conference Report. August 4, 1999. The Honorable Speaker of the House, Capitol, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Hastert: As the House and Senate move forward with conference negotiations on the Defense Authorization bill (S. 1059), I urge your continued support of external regulation of the Department of Energy (DOE) through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The State of Illinois has long supported this concept. Specifically, I urge you to oppose the adoption of language that would place the regulation of DOE's safety programs in the hands of a quasi-independent agency that would ultimately report to DOE. We believe that the continued oversight of safety by DOE will continue to diminish worker safety as it has at several facilities throughout the country in recent years. In conclusion, I urge you to follow the path that will allow for the transfer of authority over public health and safety so that of a truly external regulator, such as the NRC. Such action would thereby allow closer regulation by the State of Illinois which works closely and in conjunction with the NRC. Thank you, in advance, for your consideration of this important matter. Should you need additional information please contact David Kunz in my Washington office. Sincerely, George H. Ryan, Governor.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 2684, the VA-HUD-independent agencies appropriations for fiscal year 2000. The Republican leadership's fiscal year VA-HUD appropriation fails miserably to protect our nation's veterans. The Republican leadership should be ashamed to offer a bill which slashes funding for the men and women who fought for our freedom. This Republican-led Congress has flat-lined veterans funding for the last four years. As our veterans continue to age, they face more medical emergencies. Unless funding for veterans' health care is significantly increased, services will be cut and essential health care will be denied. If we pass this bill, the message we send to our veterans is that the sacrifices they made for our country are meaningless. Give our nation's veterans what they deserve. Mr. Chairman, in these times of economic prosperity, our nation has a responsibility to provide adequate assistance to our most vulnerable citizens. This legislation should also be opposed for the devastating cuts that it makes to programs that protect the interests of senior, persons with disabilities, children and the poor. In my district alone over $4,612,000 dollars will be lost as a result of cuts to HUD. This will result in the elimination of a least 215 jobs as well as 401 housing units for low-income families. If we are to remain committed to the principles of welfare reform and economic development, we must recognize that massive cuts to transitional housing and the elimination of jobs works directly against these higher goals. If we are to consider ourselves advocates for our nation's children, we must know that a $10 million cut to the Lead Hazard Control Grant program puts children's health directly at risk. If we are to confront the needs of persons with AIDS, we must realize that their successful medical treatment requires stable housing. It has often been said that you can tell a lot about a country by how they treat their most vulnerable citizens. I ask, what does this legislation say about the Unite States:? In addition, it is a travesty that this bill eliminates funding for the AmeriCorps program. This initiative has been a tremendous success in my district. Lower-income children have been given opportunities to work with mentors that they would not have had without this program. These children have been given a chance to learn from an early age how important a quality education is, and to learn lifelong learning skills that will help them become productive members of our society and afford to go to college. Lastly, NASA and the National Science Foundation have made great strides over the years, and I am disappointed that important science initiatives have been drastically cut. I am concerned that a cut this large will destroy any chance of us becoming the world leader in space and technology endeavors. I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose the VA-HUD appropriation bill for fiscal year 2000.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 300th Anniversary of the Village of Cahokia. As we near the end of this millennium, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the history of the small towns within all of our districts. Throughout this year, Cahokia, a village in my district, continues to celebrate its tricentennial anniversary, with reflection on its vital place in American history. The Village of Cahokia derives its name, which means ``Wild Geese,'' from the Cahokia Indian tribe. While the Cahokian tribe continues to provide a vital, unique character to the region, in 1699, the diversity of the community was further strengthened with Cahokia's founding by missionary priests from the Seminary of Quebec. As the 18th century progressed, this community also became the principal commercial center in the Midwest. Specializing in the trade of Indian goods and fur, Cahokia's economic development thrived. This served as the impetus for prompting the expansion of agriculture as a viable livelihood, which was so necessary to feed the rapidly growing community of settlers. The Village of Cahokia also took pride in its role in winning a battle of the American Revolution. Captain Joseph Bowman and George Rogers Clark negotiated peace agreements in Cahokia at Fort Bowman with neighboring tribes of the Illini Confederation, and then launched an attack on British-occupied Vincennes. Both their soldiers and ammunition were primarily supplied by the residents of Cahokia. Cahokia has long been recognized as a significant force in Illinois politics. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Cahokia Courthouse served as an important center of activity in the Northwest. At one point it was both the judicial and administrative center for a massive area which rose up to the borders of Canada. Today, I am honored to represent Cahokia, which has embraced its heritage of both Native-American history, as well as the influx of French and other ethnicities, spurred by westward expansion. This close community of churches, civic groups, and businesses inspires us to remember the legacy of our forefathers, while also celebrating the future. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Village of Cahokia in commemoration of its 300th Anniversary.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my concerns about the funding level included in this bill for NOAA's programs, particularly those of the National Weather Service. The funding levels in this bill fall short of the Administration's request and the Science Committee's recommendations for these programs. The programs of the National Weather Service are of great importance to the people of my district, and indeed to all of our constituents. Over the past few Congresses, we have invested several billion dollars in the weather service modernization program. The Weather Service has not completed the deployment of the Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS). Now, when we are about to reap the largest benefits of this program, we are unable to provide the additional $18 million to deploy advanced software which will improve severe storm warning lead times, reduce false alarm rates, and improve severe storm detection--improvements which can save lives. The importance of this new technology was recently demonstrated during the May tornado outbreak in Oklahoma and Kansas. The funding levels in this bill represent a penny-wise, pound-foolish approach to government spending. In order to accommodate the funding needs of the Small Business Administration and the Census Bureau, the Committee designated almost $5 billion dollars as ``emergency'' spending to take these expenditures off-budget. I don't deny the importance of these programs, but they can hardly be classified as emergencies. We know the Census Bureau has a constitutional responsibility to conduct the census periodically. The Small Business Administration programs are worthy of our support, but if they are funded under emergency provisions, I cannot understand why we wouldn't fully fund the National Weather Service Programs under the same criteria. The National Weather Service is a critical federal agency that affects every citizen, every day. The employees in the National Weather Service offices across this country need adequate resources to continue to deliver the fine service to us that we have all become accustomed to. I hope that the Conference with the Senate will produce a bill that contains more realistic funding levels for NOAA and for the other essential programs funded under this appropriations bill.

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 300th Anniversary of the Village of Cahokia. As we begin to near the end of this millennium, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the history of the small towns within all of our districts. Throughout this year, Cahokia, a village in my district, continues to celebrate it's tricentennial anniversary, with reflection on its vital place in American history. The Village of Cahokia derives its name, which means ``Wild Geese'', from the Cahokia Indian tribe. Today, it is recognized not only as a wonderful, thriving community of Southern Illinois but also as the site of the Cahokia Mounds, which is both an Illinois State Historic Site and a World Heritage Site. The Cahokians, members of the Illini Confederation, along with their relatives, the Tamaroas, were the first people known to inhabit this small and beautiful region in the Mississippi Valley. While the Cahokian tribe continues to provide a vital, unique character to the region, in 1699, the diversity of the community was further strengthened with Cahokia's founding by missionary priests from the Seminary of Quebec. As the 18th century progressed, this community also became the principal commercial center in the mid-west. Specializing in the trade of Indian goods and fur, Cahokia's economic development thrived. This served as the impetus for prompting the expansion of Agriculture as a viable livelihood, which was so necessary to feed the rapidly growing community of settlers. The Village of Cahokia also took pride in its role in winning a battle of the American Revolution. Captain Joseph Bowman and George Rogers Clark negotiated peace agreements in Cahokia at Fort Bowman with neighboring tribes of the Illini Confederation, and then launched an attack on British occupied Vincennes. Both their soldiers and ammunition were primarily supplied by the residents of Cahokia. Cahokia has long been recognized as a significant force in Illinois politics. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Cahokia Courthouse served as an important center of activity in the Northwest. At one point it was both the judicial and administrative center for a massive area which rose up to the borders of Canada. Today, I am honored to represent Cahokia, which has embraced its heritage of both Native-American history, as well as the influx of French and other ethnicities, spurred by westward expansion. This close community of churches, civic groups, and businesses inspires us to remember the legacy of our forefathers, while also celebrating the future. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Village of Cahokia this month in commemoration of its 300th Anniversary!

Mr. COSTELLO

Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues the accomplishment of the National Weather Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in receiving a Computerworld Smithsonian Award for outstanding work in new information technology systems. The Weather Service's Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) recently received the award, which honors the use of information technology to create positive social and economic change. AWIPS was the only federal award winner: Most of the other nine categories were won by some of our nation's premier corporations. The new AWIPS system, which is now in National Weather Service field offices throughout the country, has already paid big dividends, most recently in saving lives during the devastating tornado outbreak of May 3-4 of this year, which swept through portions of 5 states. AWIPS technology gives Weather Service forecasters access to satellite imagery, Doppler radar data, automated weather observations and computer-generated numerical forecasts, all in one computer workstation. On May 3-4, more than 70 tornadoes were pounding the U.S. between Texas and South Dakota, with particularly severe damage in Oklahoma. The AWIPS system in the Weather Service Office in Oklahoma City enabled forecasters to simultaneously track and issue warnings for dozens of tornadoes that were tracking through the area. A highly informed public, and good cooperation with the media and with state and local officials in the area, reduced greatly the numbers of deaths that might have occurred in this still-tragic event. The AWIPS system will continue to yield new and improved warning and forecast services to enhance safety and improve people's lives. The modern National Weather Service is a good investment of tax dollars and will be an engine of economic gain in many weather-sensitive business sectors. For an investment that costs each American about $4 per year, today's Weather Service issues more than 734,000 weather forecasts and 850,000 river and flood forecasts, in addition to roughly 45,000 potentially life-saving severe weather warnings annually. Statistics show overall improvements in forecast accuracy and in timeliness of severe weather and flood warnings. Skilled NOAA professionals, working with AWIPS and other technologies such as Doppler radar, surface observation systems and weather satellites, make this possible. Mr. Speaker, as Ranking Member of the Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, which oversees NOAA programs, I am pleased to share with my colleagues the news of this award celebrating one of the many accomplishments of the National Weather Service.