Elijah Cummings

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, as many Members this morning have observed, when Congress failed to act on extending unemployment benefits last session, we failed those who needed us the most. Now today the Republican leadership offers a package that will help some but not all--1 million people who so desperately need help during these times of record unemployment. Mr. Speaker, in a word the Republican plan is a half loaf. How can any of us go back to our constituents with a straight face and tell them that during times of record unemployment we are not going to extend to I million workers--those whose benefits expired on December and whose shelves are empty--13 more weeks of unemployment insurance? I know I am not looking forward to telling my constituents this news, especially in light of the all the news surrounding the President's $674 billion stimulus package. Our workers are unemployed but they are not uninformed. If we can even consider a bill to spend $674 billion this means that the money is available. If it is available to spend to stimulate the economy, it can be used to put money in 1 million Americans' pockets--food on their tables, shelter over their heads, and clothes on their backs. We're not talking a new car here--we're talking basic necessities for these families who are undoubtedly hurting. Mr. Speaker, the Democrats offered an alternative plan which would have reestablished and expanded the Federal unemployment benefits bill. In fact it would guarantee all jobless workers at least 26 weeks of extended benefits and would expand access to unemployment benefits for workers who are low-wage earners or work part-time. I and many in this body support this plan. It is more generous and it is the right thing to do during these harsh economic times for the 1 million individuals caught in the December 28 time trap. Mr. Speaker as we work to provide dignity and security to our Nation's borders, and advance our military causes overseas in Iraq and North Korea, I think it is equally imperative that we provide dignity and security to our most valuable resources--our working men and women.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay homage to our fallen ``Front Line Soldiers''. The soldiers that I speak of did not die thousands of miles away from our shores in a foreign land; they were executed in their own home as they slept. These soldiers were not trained in military combat or armed with the latest weapons technology can devise; they fought a life and death battle armed only with a strong voice and a determination that they would not surrender. If the City of Baltimore were to erect a monument to all the innocent lives lost because of the proliferation of drug violence in our community, tragically the most recent names to be added would be Carnell and Angela Dawson, along with their children; Keith and Kevin Dawson (9 year old twins); Carnell Dawson Jr., 10; Juan Ortiz, 12 and LaWanda Ortiz, 14. On October 16th, while this family slept, a cold-blooded killer entered their home, spread gasoline throughout, and ignited a blaze that swept through the house in a few short minutes. Reportedly, this was done in retribution for the repeated efforts of Mrs. Dawson to stop these dealers from selling drugs in front of her home, in plain view of her young children. That night, Mrs. Dawson and five of her six children lost their lives. Mr. Dawson battled hard but perished a week later from the bums covering 80 percent of his body. We can not, and we will not walk away from the horrific acts of such cold-blooded killers. Mr. Speaker, this Congress must take action to give the people of Baltimore and people around this country the tools they need to combat the proliferation of drug related violence in our communities. As the Ranking Member on the House Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee I am especially wounded that such a barbaric act could occur within a city in my own district. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the effort to fight terrorism does not drain the fight against drug terror at home. Baltimore City Mayor Martin O'Malley and Police Chief Ed Norris have used their limited resources to make a positive effect on reducing drug-related crimes in the city of Baltimore. With the help of citizens, the mayor and the police chief have achieved a 23 percent reduction in violent crime in just a few short years. Federal agencies also report that Baltimore City has achieved the largest reduction in drug-related emergency room admissions of any major city in America. However, the plague of drug abuse is not a local problem or a problem limited to people of color; it is a national problem that demands a federal response. National statistics shows that this problem is not limited to Baltimore City. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that in 1998 an estimated 61,000 convicted jail inmates said they had committed their offenses to get money for drugs. The cost-effects of these statistics on Baltimore City and other communities throughout this nation are incalculable. That is why I am encouraged by the swift and decisive actions taken by Director John P. Walters of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to arm our domestic front line soldiers with the tools they need to combat the bane of our communities. I joined Director Walters on Oct. 23 of this year, as he announced the federal government response to this tragedy. Effective immediately, ONDCP will redirect existing funding resources within the Washington- Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA) to better protect specified high-crime neighborhoods in Baltimore City. The federal funds will help to pay the cost of additional foot patrols, police overtime pay, surveillance cameras and improved street lighting. This is only a down payment on the debt owed to the Dawson family and the many other families around this nation who are the domestic front line soldiers in what some residents of Baltimore call ``a killing ground.'' More will be done; more must be done to protect families living in communities of fear. Drug gangs cannot be allowed to rule our court system through intimidation. Children should not fear stray bullets as they sit in front of their homes. Families await a day when they can sleep soundly knowing that the drug gangs are no longer lurking within their community. Baltimore City's fight against these drug gangs is not a war America can afford to ignore; and retreat is not an option.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and a great man--Senator Paul Wellstone. The passing of Senator Paul Wellstone creates a void that is impossible to fill--it is a tragedy for this nation and a personal tragedy for me. Paul Wellstone was a tireless fighter for what he believed in. He was a man whose honor is unquestioned, whose energy was infectious, and whose dedication to his country--and those ideals upon which it was built--was obvious in everything he did. Paul Wellstone's passing robs voiceless Americans--the poor and disenfranchised--of one of their greatest advocates. And it leaves those of us bent on furthering a progressive agenda without one of our greatest leaders. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to mourn the loss of one of the hardest-working people I have ever known. Paul Wellstone earned himself a scholarship to the University of North Carolina as a student and an athlete. Four years after graduation he was awarded a Ph.D. in political science and began a 21-year teaching career in which he became increasingly involved in community organizing. In 1990, Paul Wellstone--an under-funded underdog--ran a long-shot campaign for the United States Senate, which he won by energizing ordinary Minnesotans. 12 years later, his political legacy stands as testament to him keeping his promises. Unlike many politicians, there was no disconnecting between Paul Wellstone's political ideology and the way he lived his life. Paul was the Senator who knew the names of the elevator operators and waiters in the Senate Dining Room. He was the Senator who, according to James W. Ziglar, a Republican who was Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate from 1998 to 2001, returned late one evening to his office to tell the cleaning staff how much he appreciated their work. Paul Wellstone's unique authenticity, and his ability to remain true to his roots distinguished him here in Washington and, as many Minnesotans will tell you, back in his home state. Paul Wellstone was an unabashed liberal. He believed that every American should have access to affordable health care and good public schools, that our foreign policy should be based first and foremost on the sanctity of all human life--American or otherwise. And he knew that coming down on the right side of an issue--keeping in-line with his morals and ethics--was always more important than voting with the majority or in a politically-motivated way. Paul Wellstone voted against the Persian Gulf War as one of his first acts as a Senator, and just recently was the only Senator facing re-election who voted against giving President Bush authority to conduct pre-emptive and unauthorized military strikes on Iraq. Paul was a man who did not compromise his ideals. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Senator Paul Wellstone. In an era where the difference between talk and action is often enormous, Paul Wellstone was a man who lived as he spoke. I believe that America is better for it.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, this Nation once again considers a course of action that will define our moral standing in the history of free peoples. I agree that America should speak with one voice in response to the challenges to international peace, security, and human rights posed by the regime in Iraq. That voice must be founded on the most fundamental of moral principles: the sanctity of human life. The value of human life has been the basis for the settled, bipartisan international policy toward Iraq that we in this Congress have expressed in the past. In 1998, Congress reflected a strong, unified voice when we voted to support legislation that noted Iraq's violation of U.N. disarmament demands to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction, as well as their development. In that same year, we also enacted the Iraq Liberation Act that authorized U.S. support for Iraqi liberation forces in their efforts to replace the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. We did so because Saddam Hussein has proven himself to be a serious threat to regional stability in the Middle East, a growing threat to the United States, and a leader who deserves to be tried in an international tribunal for crimes against humanity. However, we did not authorize the unilateral use of U.S. military forces towards that end. Neither the American people nor their elected representatives have wavered in our support for the values of human rights, security, international stability, and democracy reflected in those 1998 congressional resolutions. However, as we consider this resolution, we must not forget one essential fact. As the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has concluded, we have seen no evidence or no intelligence to suggest that Iraq indeed poses an imminent threat to our Nation. In the absence of an imminent threat to the United States, I cannot support the resolution proposed by the Bush administration that would authorize preemptive military strikes by the U.S. forces to enforce all relevant U.N. resolutions, some of which deal with issues other than Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. I agree with the senior Senator from West Virginia, who has observed that the President's proposed resolution is dangerously hasty, redefines the nature of defense, and reinterprets the Constitution to suit the will of the executive branch. The resolution proposed by the administration would codify the doctrine of preemption, the assertion that America has the unilateral right to attack a nation that has not attacked us. This, in my view, would be a precedent with disastrous consequences. A unilateral first strike would almost certainly result in substantial loss of life, both among American troops and among Iraqi civilians. A unilateral first strike would undermine the moral authority of the United States and could set a devastating international precedent that we could then see echoed in conflicts between India and Pakistan, Russia and Georgia, China and Taiwan, and in many other corners of the world. In addition, unilateral U.S. action may well destabilize the Middle East, harming the international cooperation that we need to defend America against terrorism. Experts tell us that the United States might have to remain in Iraq for a decade, a commitment requiring international support and engagement. Finally, the economic costs of going it alone would undermine the ability of our Nation to address our unmet domestic priorities. Although this resolution would authorize the President to take this Nation to war, it is not a declaration of war, it is a blank check to use force without the moral or political authority of a declaration of war. Congress must not abandon its authority under the Constitution. This resolution would do just that. The course of action that is more consistent with the values and security interests of the United States is to support a multinational collective security strategy towards the threats to regional peace and international stability that are posed by the regime in Iraq. The administration has indicated some progress within the United Nations Security Council towards that goal. I join the President in urging all members of the Council to act with due diligence. I also join in the position advanced by our colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt), who has proposed that we once again authorize U.S. military support for a renewed and strengthened U.N. Security Council resolution that demands true disarmament by Iraq. This is a threat that the civilized world must face together. The regime of Saddam Hussein, after all, is the world's problem as well as our own.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of H. Res. 569, expressing support for the President's 2002 National Drug Control Strategy. As the Ranking Minority Member of the drug policy subcommittee, I'm happy to join with my chairman, the gentleman from Indiana, as an original cosponsor of this resolution. As the War on Terror, homeland security, possible war with Iraq, and other issues dominate headlines, it is important that the American people, we in Congress, and the various state, federal and local agencies involved in the War on Drugs remain vigilant with regard to illegal drug control. Illegal drugs still claim many more American lives than terrorist attacks and they are responsible for much of the violent crime and property crimes that undermine the stability and safety of communities across the country, including my own city of Baltimore. The increasing linkage between illegal drug trafficking and the financing of terrorist activities makes it all the more imperative that we keep our eye on the ball and not let the war on drugs slip as a national priority. Chairman Souder and I share this concern and worked together in the Government Reform Committee on a provision in the homeland security bill to create a high-level position within the new department that will be responsible and accountable for coordination of drug control functions within and outside the new department. A similar provision has been included in the bill approved by the whole House and I would urge our colleagues in the other body to preserve it. Mr. Speaker, the President deserves credit for making drug control a high priority in his administration. The national drug control strategy unveiled in February by the President and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director John Walters reflects a balanced and thoughtful approach to combating the drug problem. It recognizes that U.S. demand for drugs is the root of our domestic drug problem, identifying U.S. demand-reduction as a ``central focus.'' Consistent with this recognition, the strategy boldly states the goal of reducing domestic drug use by ten percent over two years, and by 25 percent over 5 years. The strategy further reflects a recognition of the essential role that treatment plays in reducing drug-demand. The President's proposed drug control budget includes a $1.6 billion increase in drug treatment funding over 5 years, in addition to a solid commitment to the Drug Free Communities Program, the National Youth Anti-Drug Campaign, drug courts, and other vital demand-reduction programs. In the areas of treatment and domestic law enforcement, the President's strategy reflects an emerging pragmatic consensus around the concept that drug treatment and law enforcement are most effective when approached as complementary rather than competing objectives. The criminal justice system must work in concert with treatment initiatives in order to achieve positive long-term outcomes for users, addicts, and communities afflicted with drugs and drug-related crime. This is the approach vindicated by a recent, groundbreaking drug- treatment study, focusing on Baltimore, entitled ``Steps to Success.'' Commissioned by Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Inc., and conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of experts from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, and Morgan State University, the study showed that a substantial increase in funding for drug treatment resulted not only in dramatic decrease in addiction and abuse, but also in equally dramatic reductions in emergency-room deaths, HIV/AIDS transmission, and both violent and property crimes. ``Steps to Success'' is the most thoroughly researched study of its kind and should put to rest the notion that treatment dollars are not dollars well spent. This is a lesson that communities nationwide can benefit from. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman fro Indiana, Mr. Souder, for his constructive leadership on the drug policy subcommittee and in bringing this resolution to the floor. I know we both look forward to continuing to work together, and with Director Walters, in maintaining our government's focus on the critical goal of reducing illegal drug use.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Johnny Unitas--a great football player, a great Baltimorean, and a great human being. Johnny Unitas epitomized all that is right about sports, and he put Baltimore on the map with his dazzling skill and workmanlike attitude. Johnny Unitas hitchhiked home from his first training camp in 1955, cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent that year playing semipro ball for $6 a game, and working at a construction site nearby to make ends meet. The rest, as they say, is history. The Baltimore Colts signed Unitas the next year. He retired after the 1973 season, setting 22 NFL records, including the most passes attempted and completed, most yards gained passing, most touchdown passes and most seasons leading the league in TD passes. Unitas completed 2,830 of 5,186 passes for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns. He completed at least one touchdown pass in 47 straight games, a record not challenged since it was set from 1956-60. Johnny Unitas was the Most Valuable Player in 1964 and 1967 and played in 10 Pro Bowls. He led Baltimore to the NFL championship in 1958 and 1959 and the Super Bowl in 1970. On the NFL's 50th anniversary in 1969, Unitas was voted the greatest quarterback of all time. He also was selected at quarterback for the NFL's All-Time team in 2000 by the 36 Pro Football Hall of Fame voters. To many, including myself, Johnny Unitas was the greatest quarterback to play the game. He left an indelible mark on football, Baltimore, and this nation. Johnny never strayed far from the game. After his retirement in 1973, he was a fixture in the Baltimore football scene that he made famous, watching the Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis and the Ravens take their place. Johnny was famous for saying, ``Talk is cheap. Let's go play.'' I believe this is advice we could all afford to heed. On September 11, at the age of 69, Johnny Unitas suffered a heart attack and passed away. I extend my condolences to the family of Johnny Unitas, to his fans, and to all those people he touched. He will be missed.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the passing of one of our own--Representative Patsy Mink was in the truest sense a leader by example, and she will be missed. Patsy's life is a remarkable story of achievement and bravery, of fighting for what she believed in, and--at the end of the day--of incredible success in improving the lives of Hawaiians and all Americans. I think that to understand Patsy's determination to make the United States a nation of equal opportunity is to understand her personal history. Patsy created opportunity for herself, and in her success, she has helped make opportunity for all Americans less elusive. Patsy Takemato was born to poor parents on a sugar plantation on the island of Maui in Hawaii. An excellent student, she was elected president of her high school class and, after graduation, attended the University of Hawaii. Patsy then enrolled in the prestigious University of Chicago School of Law. With her law degree, she returned to Hawaii and became the first Japanese-American woman to hold a law license in the state's history. As she was her entire life, Patsy remained unfazed by doing what had not been done before--with the bravado and grace that, as her colleagues, we all know well. After election to the Hawaii Territorial Legislature in 1956, and the Hawaii State Senate in 1958, Ms. Mink was elected to the House of Representatives in 1965. Since then, she has championed causes that mattered to her with a rare sense of determination. I have long marveled at Patsy's ability to get things done. She was a powerful advocate for the equal rights and fair treatment of American women--among her many achievements in this arena, she was a leading sponsor of Title IX funding that ensured that women's sports were supported at equal levels as those of men. She was an eloquent voice of caution during the unfolding debacle of Vietnam. She was an ardent supporter of civil rights. She was, in her later terms, one of the truly wise voices of this body. Mr. Speaker, I believe I speak for all of us when I say that I am a better legislator and this is a better institution because of Patsy Mink. And I know I speak for women, minorities, and all disadvantaged communities in America when I say that this is a better nation because of the service of Congresswoman Mink. I would like to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the entire Mink family, and to all of the people who have shared in sustaining this loss.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the players of the Negro Baseball Leagues. These brave Americans--barred from playing major league baseball--organized their own professional baseball leagues that were, by all accounts, the caliber and quality of the all- white league from which they were excluded. What began in the early 1800's as informal contests became actual professional teams by 1885, and the official Negro Baseball Leagues by 1920. The leagues, which lasted until 1960 when African-American ballplayers were accepted into major league baseball, were the venue for some of the game's greatest players. Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron were giants of the game of baseball--all got their start in the Negro Baseball Leagues. More important than their impact on the game of baseball, however, was the symbolic value of the Negro Baseball Leagues. In an era where being black meant second-class status in America, the players of the Negro Baseball Leagues gave African-American children role models and helped to integrate the all-white American pastime. Mr. Speaker, the struggle from segregation to full racial integration--a struggle that continues to this day--is the story of brave men and women who broke racial barriers by challenging the social, political, and economic norms of their time. The players of the Negro Baseball Leagues were such people. Today, we commemorate the Negro Baseball Leagues and the indelible mark they made not only on baseball, but also on American society.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to join my colleagues in supporting H. Res. 523, which recognizes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Mr. Speaker, we honor the 105 HBCUs, like Morgan State University and Coppin State College, located in my district, and the 13 predominately black institutions of higher learning, like Baltimore's Sojourner-Douglass College. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to point out that I am a graduate of Howard University, an HBCU. This week, Presidents, Chancellors, and representatives from HBCUs attended a conference with Congressional and business leaders and members of the Administration to identify opportunities to advance HBCUs. HBCU's have been educating students for more than 100 years by making higher education affordable to all students, especially African- Americans. HBCU's have educated almost 85% of all African-American college graduates in the United States. Throughout their history, HBCUs have served as emblems of excellence in higher education for African Americans. These institutions of higher learning have a rich history of providing quality education that have allowed many students to attain their full potential. HBCUs have performed a remarkable task of providing the educational training for a significant number of African-American politicians, federal judges, lawyers, doctors, engineers, educators, researchers, entertainers, and business executives, thus providing an opportunity for African Americans to participate and make exemplary contributions in all walks of life. Often acclaimed, ``the salvation of black folks,'' HBCUs have engraved in American history the opportunity for freedom through education. The benefits of an educational experience at an HBCU are significant and cannot be duplicated. Students develop intellectually and build life skills and personal confidence about their identity, heritage, and mission to society. This record of outstanding achievement comes despite daunting challenges--not the least of which are limited financial resources. In fact, I must note that in comparison with other colleges and universities, HBCUs are often underfunded. However, these institutions have maintained their commitment to excellence in higher learning. Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, there are two HBCUs in my district of Baltimore. Coppin State College has become a beacon in the community, working with school children, while also providing services to small businesses in cooperation with the Small Business Administration. It has also sponsored workshops, health fairs, concerts, and other activities that enable the college to serve as a repository for African-American culture. Likewise, Morgan State University provides avenues for students to compete in the global marketplace by steering them toward nontraditional careers such as transportation at their National Transportation Center. Morgan has also become a premier institution in Maryland and the country for its engineering and science programs. These are just two examples of HBCUs working to fulfill their commitment to academic excellence. In the continuing struggle, the course is not to dismantle or compromise the HBCU, but should be to preserve their identity and integrity. These great institutions of higher learning merit full support in continuing their missions. So, in conclusion as we honor the Nations' HBCUs, let us really show our gratitude by supporting an increase in financial resources to each HBCU when we consider the Labor, HHS, Education appropriations bill and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to pay tribute and honor Crystal D. Sheffield, a Baltimore City police officer who was killed in the line of duty while coming to the aid of a fellow officer on August 21, 2002. She was the city's first female officer ever to die in the line of duty. Following a family tradition of public service, Officer Sheffield became a Baltimore City police officer in 1999, joining 3 family members already on the police force. Officer Sheffield was raised in Baltimore and loved her city. She wanted to give back to Baltimore and the community she loved. She worked the midnight shift in the western district of Baltimore, which is one of the more dangerous districts. I had the opportunity to attend Officer Sheffield's wake and funeral services a few weeks ago. It was a moving ceremony with more than 300 people in attendance. Political officials, ordinary citizens, police officers and firefighters from Baltimore, the State of Maryland and other jurisdictions were among the attendance. Many people approached the family, telling them stories of how Officer Sheffield helped them with a problem. The testimonial showed how much she was loved and will be missed. She worked the western district, which was near my house, and I got a chance to know her. It is interesting to note that when told of her tragic death, some of my neighbors simply wept. Not only was Officer Sheffield a dedicated police officer, she was also a dedicated wife and mother. She is survived by her husband, Lt. William Sheffield, a Baltimore City firefighter, and her son, Darian. It was said that she wanted to be a role model for her son so she worked hard, building a wonderful reputation of being dependable and a great police officer who could easily resolve conflicts. Officer Sheffield could often be found at her son's school, talking to his teachers and encouraging him to excel. Police officers work and put their lives at risk for all of us. Like all police officers, Officer Sheffield took an oath to protect and to serve. She was simply doing her job. Officer Sheffield did not know that her next call would be her last call, but she lost her life going to the aid of a fellow officer. That was the type of officer and the type of person Officer Sheffield was. So, Mr. Speaker, I want to pay special tribute to Officer Crystal Sheffield, a real American hero and a role model for us all. I extend my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Sheffield, and my thanks for a job well done.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of this important Resolution and to share in a day of grief and reflection with all Americans. One year ago today, the course of our Nation was forever changed. As we all know, on September 11, 2001, terrorists used hijacked airplanes to inflict catastrophic damage upon the United States, taking the lives of over 2,000 Americans. And while this day one year ago was marked by chaos, carnage, fear, and great loss, it also served to showcase the best we as Americans have to offer. In the year since, these qualities--courage, innovation, idealism, hope--have enabled us to take great steps toward rebuilding this Nation. In many ways, the legacy of September 11, 2001, is a patchwork of personal stories. For many of us, the world has been changed forever in very personal and very painful ways. Each child who woke up on September 12th without a parent--and each parent who suffered the unspeakable pain of awakening without their child--deserves our tireless pursuit of those responsible for these heinous crimes. All Americans deserve a country in which they feel safe. Each and every one of us has a connection to the destruction. Stepping out of my car that morning, I could feel the ground shake below me as the third hijacked airplane struck the Pentagon. I will never forget the uneasiness that I felt--I know that I will never be able to separate my personal attachment to that day with the larger infamy of September 11th. While our individual struggles to come to terms with what occurred are often frightening and lonely, they are also what bind us together. I believe I speak for millions of Americans when I say that a piece of me died with each victim of the September 11th attacks. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not mention a constituent in my district who also had a piece of him taken away that day. John Wesley's fiancee, Sarah, died on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. John, like so many loved ones left behind, funnels his grief into a positive effort that is a testament to his fiancee--ensuring that her legacy will continue. I must also mention that despite his grief, John, such a positive person--is now committed to preserving Sarah's mission of exposing kids to different cultures. Mr. Speaker, there are so many John Wesley's in our Nation and I salute them for their courage. We are now at the one-year anniversary of a day America will never forget. It is time to take a look at where we are. Already, we have waged our ``War on Terrorism'' to Afghanistan with great success. Brave American servicemen and servicewomen have risked their lives half-way around the world to prevent further attacks, and bring those responsible for September 11th to justice. We have radically altered the way that we look at national security by undertaking the single greatest Federal Government reorganization in 50 years. We have taken unprecedented strides in revamping our transportation security infrastructure. We have been forced to reevaluate our aging systems of immigration and naturalization. We have cleared the tons of rubble of the two largest buildings in America's largest city. We have removed and rebuilt the nerve center of this Nation's defenses. And we are far from through. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a patriot and a legislator. I take both roles very seriously. Since the attacks of September 11th, the American people have been reminded that freedom is not free. It takes courage to both survive in a dangerous world and retain our liberties. I will continue to work to give law enforcement the authority and resources it needs to attack terrorism, while standing sentry over the fairness, justice and constitutional rights of all Americans. I mourn the victims of September 11th, and together with all Americans, I accept the challenges facing us as a truly united America. We will never forget. But we will not let the actions of a handful of zealots derail the hundreds of years of work we have put into this country--the freest, most successful, and most democratic nation in the world. God Bless America.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski) for moving forward with H. Con. Res. 442, to recognize the 100th anniversary of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, also known as ARTBA. For more than a century, ARTBA has carried forth the visionary efforts of its founder, Horatio S. Earle. The legacy of this organization rests firmly on the guiding principles of its founder to improve the Nation's transportation system. Horatio Earle advocated an interstate system to link the Nation's capital with every State capital throughout the Nation. Mr. Earle's vision was realized with the creation of the Highway Trust Fund to provide funding for the construction of the Nation's highway interstate highway system. From its inception, ARTBA has advocated strong Federal investment in the Nation's transportation infrastructure, to meet the public demand for safe and efficient travel and shipment of goods. ARTBA has led the efforts to increase the level of funding for transportation and infrastructure improvements. Through its leadership, perseverance, and skills of its organization, ARTBA has established a legacy that has helped to strengthen the American economy. Today, ARTBA represents an industry that generates more than $200 billion in United States economic activity annually and sustains the employment of 2.2 million Americans. Mr. Speaker, it is a high honor to recognize ARTBA for its 100 years of continuing support for the Nation's transportation. As the Congress moves forward with legislation to reauthorize the surface transportation programs, I look forward to working with ARTBA to assist in building a national transportation system that will continue to serve this great Nation.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I commend the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski), for advancing legislation, H.R. 5157, that will allow local flexibility in the use of Federal transit funds in the newly designated urbanized areas over 200,000 population. H.R. 5157 amends the Federal transit program to allow transit systems in urbanized areas that for the first time exceeded 200,000 in population to retain flexibility in the use of Federal transit formula grants in fiscal year 2003 for operating and capital assistance. Without this flexibility, some transit systems would not have sufficient revenues to continue to provide public transportation services. The lack of flexibility in the use of Federal transit formula funds may result in the interruption in transit services or unnecessary hardship on transit systems. Mr. Speaker, as the committee moves forward with legislation to reauthorize the surface transportation programs, the flexibility needed for transit systems in urbanized areas will be addressed in the legislation. In the interim, I urge the enactment of H.R. 5157.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to commend the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), for their action on House Concurrent Resolution 401 that recognizes the largely unsung heroism that airline flight attendants display on a daily basis. On September 11 of last year, 25 flight attendants lost their lives as a result of terrorist attacks. When they left their homes and loved ones that morning, I am sure that none of them knew what tragic events would unfold before the day's end, and what role they would play in it. Five flight attendants working on United Airlines Flight No. 93 helped prevent hijackers from reaching their intended target of Washington, D.C. I am sure that many of us have to give credit to them for perhaps saving our lives. Everyday a workforce of 100,000 flight attendants make it their mission to ensure the safety of passengers that rely on them. In the war on terrorism, they can be compared to ground soldiers. They are our front line of defense. Not only did flight attendants display acts of heroism on September 11, but they also have repeatedly reacted courageously to thwart acts of terrorism on American aircraft. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to acknowledge the heroism and bravery of flight attendants. After September 11, when many were afraid to return to the air, these courageous workers devotedly returned to their jobs. I admire their sense of dedication and professional attitude. I urge my colleagues to support this very, very appropriate resolution.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of HR 3287, a bill that would rename the U.S. Postal Service's Brentwood Processing and Distribution Center in Washington, D.C., as the Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr. Processing and Distribution Center. Joseph Curseen, Jr., and Thomas Morris, Jr., were two of four U.S. Postal Service employees who contracted inhalation anthrax while working at the Brentwood Processing and Distribution Center in Northeast Washington last fall. It is believed that they were exposed while sorting contaminated letters sent to congressional offices. The anthrax attacks temporarily suspended some mail delivery, closed numerous Congressional offices and mail processing facilities, while health officials tested and decontaminated equipment, offices and facilities. It has been almost a year since the anthrax mailings and we are not any closer to finding the person who sent anthrax contaminated letters through the mail. Last year, I met with postal workers from my district. They are proud to work for the postal service but are concerned for their safety. They assured me that neither rain, snow, nor anthrax laced letters would keep them from delivering the mail. However, with that renewed pledge and resolve, they wanted my assurance that the government cared about them. I have the highest admiration for the postal workers who have continued to go to work in this time of uncertainty. Congress must pledge to continue funding for anthrax research. For years the military has been preparing for a chemical weapon attack, specifically from the biological agent anthrax. Some military personnel have been vaccinated for anthrax. Perhaps we should consider vaccinating postal employees along with EPA scientists, lab technicians and others who conceivably could be the first points of contact. Washington's principal mail-processing center has been closed since Oct. 21. However, I am pleased that preliminary samples from the test fumigation of the quarantined Brentwood postal facility indicate no traces of anthrax spores. Although their coworkers were successfully treated for anthrax, Morris and Curseen were misdiagnosed and died on Oct. 21 and 22, respectively. The sacrifice they innocently gave to this country will live on in the renaming of the Brentwood processing center.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask all of my colleagues to vote against H.R. 5203, the ``so-called'' Education Affordability Act that would make permanent all but one of the education tax benefits that were contained in last year's tax cut legislation. I understand that some of the education provisions, such as the exclusion for employer provided education benefits and tax breaks for student loan interests in the bill today have broad bipartisan support. However, those provisions can be considered in separate legislation that does not contain such provisions as the Coverdell Savings Accounts, that provides tax breaks equivalent to vouchers for private elementary and secondary schools' attendance. Five similar bills have been pushed through this House that would make other provisions of last year's tax cut permanent. The Republican Leadership's irresponsible tax cuts have propelled the nation into deficit spending. Every dollar spent on making these tax cuts permanent is another dollar taken out of the Social Security Trust Fund. Instead of passing this bill, the House should provide adequate public education funding. Additional resources are needed to implement the new ESEA law. This bill would divert much needed money from the public school system where funds are desperately needed to improve public education for all students. I would urge a no vote on H.R. 5203.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 94, the resolution to honor the contributions of sisters Venus and Serena Williams offered by Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald. I first want to congratulate Serena and Venus Williams for their outstanding and historic achievement of being ranked #one and #two, respectively, by the Women's Tennis Association tour, the first for siblings. Earlier this year the sisters faced each other in the finals at Wimbledon. The singles final was the first competition between siblings at Wimbledon since the very first edition in 1884, when Maud and Lillian Watson faced each other. Venus and Serena played a game that will not soon be forgotten. The sisters have won many awards including more than 43 professional titles between them. Settling Grand Slam titles is nothing new to Venus and Serena. Venus Williams was the first African-American woman to win the Wimbledon Championships since 1958 and was the first United States woman since 1924 to win an Olympic gold medal in both singles and doubles. It is no surprise that Venus was named Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year in 2000 and winner of the 2001 ESPY Award for Outstanding Women's Tennis Performer. Serena Williams was the first woman to reach the finals in a U.S. Open debut since 1978 and is the 2002 Wimbledon champion. Together, Venus and Serena Williams were the first sisters in professional tennis history to each win a Grand Slam singles title, the first to be ranked in the top ten simultaneously since 1991, the first to win a Grand Slam doubles title together, and the first to compete against one another in a Women's Tennis Association Tour final. The sisters also were the first to win gold medals in doubles at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. The Williams sisters are also winners off the court. They have established the Venus and Serena Williams Tennis and Tutorial/tennis academy that offers mentoring and tennis lessons to high school students in the Los Angeles area. Additionally, the sisters are co-founders of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center in Washington, D.C. These ventures will give hope to many young people and help keep them off the streets, on the tennis courts, and following their dreams. The sisters have also landed numerous endorsements including Reebok, Puma, and Avon Cosmetics, setting important precedents for women athletes--;especially women of color. They are shining examples of what can be accomplished with hard work and perseverance. As we honor these remarkable athletes, we must not forget to salute their family, especially their parents, Richard and Oracene Williams. They established a solid foundation of excellence in their children. They are indeed the backbones for their daughters' successful careers. Venus and Serena's accomplishments are victories for women of all ages who aspire to be or are already athletes. On and off the courts, Venus and Serena Williams are indeed ``giving back''. I believe that in a few days we will see another Williams sister- sister match up at the U.S. Open. Venus and Serena Williams are both advancing toward the finals in the U.S. Open. Mr. Speaker, the wonderful thing about this resolution is that it acknowledges the Williams sisters for their contributions to the sport of tennis, their community, and all the things they have done and will continue to do. Without question, Venus and Serena are two great athletes who have changed the game of tennis. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time, and I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender- McDonald) for sponsoring this resolution and certainly the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman). Mr. Speaker, we have heard already the great achievements of these two wonderful young ladies, and I cannot help but think about the words of Swindall, the great theologian, when he said that so often people do things which are unnoticed, unseen, unappreciated and unapplauded, and the fact is that so often they do these things quietly, and then there comes a time when all of that hard work and all of that effort and all the things that they have done behind closed doors and behind closed walls suddenly emerges into the spotlight of the sun. We have two wonderful young ladies here who have worked very hard, and it has already been said, worked hard within a family structure, a father who stood up for them over and over and over again, who saw in them so much. He had a vision, Mr. Speaker, but not only did he have a vision, he turned the vision into a mission. So often what happens is that folks have visions but they never do anything with it, but he saw in these two wonderful ladies something that would be great, and in other words, what he saw and if others, Mr. Speaker, had told him many years ago that his daughters would achieve all these things, some people may have considered it the impossible, but Richard was about the business of doing the impossible and he did. So I come here to salute these wonderful ladies. Finally, Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest moments of my life came at Howard University's graduation just this May when Venus Williams was being awarded a special award by the president of the university, and she really literally took all of our breaths away when she got up and she spoke about her sisters who had graduated from my alma mater, by the way, Howard University, and then she said something that really struck everybody in the audience. She said, ``They say I am worth millions, but I would give every penny I have got if I could walk across the stage like you are doing today,'' talking to the graduates, and I think that really touched everybody and put everything into context. One of the things she also said is that ``I have been busy playing tennis and making money, but I am going to return and make sure I get my degree.'' So it is that kind of spirit. It is a spirit that Swindall talks about, unnoticed, unappreciated, unapplauded and unseen, and so they are now in the sunlight of life, and they have so much to give and so many people to inspire, so many little girls looking up to them, and by the way, little boys also looking up to them. We salute them today and may God bless these great ladies.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great Baltimorean poet, educator, and founder of Aesthetic Realism, Eli Siegel. Mr. Siegel was born in 1902 and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland where his contributions to literature and humanity began. Mr. Siegel founded the philosophy Aesthetic Realism in 1941, based on principles such as: man's deepest desire, his largest desire, is to like the world on an honest or accurate basis, and that the world, art, and self explain each other: each is the aesthetic oneness of opposites. Mr. Siegel explained that the deepest desire of every person is, ``to like the world on an honest basis.'' He gave thousands of lectures on the arts and sciences. Mr. Siegel's work continues at the not-for-profit Aesthetic Realism Foundation in New York City, where classes, lectures, workshops, dramatic presentations, and poetry readings are offered. In addition, a teaching method, based on aesthetic realism, has been tested in New York City public schools. The teaching method has been tremendously successful. Understanding and using the teaching method may be used as an effective tool to stop racism and promote tolerance; because it enables people of all races to see others with respect and kindness. In 1925, Eli Siegel won the esteemed ``Nation'' Poetry Prize for ``Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana,'' which brought him to national attention. ``Hot Afternoons,'' Mr. Siegel said, was affected by his thoughts of Druid Hill Park. And so, it is fitting that on August 16, 2002, the city of Baltimore will dedicate the Eli Siegel Memorial at Druid Hill Park on a site near the Madison Avenue entrance, not far from his early home on Newington Avenue. The bronze memorial plague, designed by students of Aesthetic Realism, includes a sculptured portrait and poetry. Mayor Martin O'Malley has designated August 16, 2002 as `Eli Siegel Day' in Baltimore. At this time, I would like to insert the Mayor's proclamation and a few of Eli Siegel's poems found in the June 5, 2002 of the Aesthetic Realism Foundation magazine for the record. Eli Siegel died in 1978, but his poetry and the education of Aesthetic Realism will be studied in every English, literature, and art classroom across the nation for years to come. I would like to end this tribute by reciting a poem Eli Siegel wrote honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Something Else Should Die: A Poem With Rhymes (By Eli Siegel) In April 1865 Abraham Lincoln died. In April 1968 Martin Luther King died. Their purpose was to have us say, some day; Injustice died. Eli Siegel wrote poems for more than six decades. These poems expressed his thoughts on people, feelings, everyday life, love, nature, history. I am proud to offer this tribute. Thank you. [From Aesthetic Realism Foundation, June 5, 2002] The Right of Aesthetic Realism To Be Known baltimore represents the world--contempt causes insanity Dear Unknown Friends: In this issue we reprint the text of a public document that is beautifully important in the history of culture and justice. It is a proclamation by the Mayor of Baltimore, the city in which Eli Siegel spent his early years. Mr. Siegel was born on August 16, 1902, and the proclamation is a formal honoring of him on his centenary: an expression of pride in and gratitude for his work, by this major American city. It describes truly some of Mr. Siegel's greatness and the principles of the philosophy he founded, Aesthetic Realism. The mayoral proclamation was first read publicly on April 28 in the Wheeler Auditorium of Baltimore's distinguished Enoch Pratt Free Library. It began an event hosted by the Library in partnership with the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, ``The Poetry of Eli Siegel: A Centennial Celebration.'' I and others have written much about the horrible anger Mr. Siegel met from persons who resented the vastness of his knowledge, the fullness of his honesty, the newness of his thought. The Baltimore Proclamation stands for what is natural and just: if something or someone is great--and Eli Siegel is--we should rejoice. When a public document is mighty it is because, while impersonal, it embodies the deep feelings of people, their beating hearts, and the careful judgment of their minds. This Proclamation does. It resounds and is warm. With its legal structure, it stands, for example, for my own love of Mr. Siegel, my intellectual opinion of him: it represents people now and for all time. In honor of Baltimore as representing the world, and to show something of Eli Siegel early in his life, we include here two writings by him from the Baltimore American. After his winning the Nation Poetry Prize in February 1925, Mr. Siegel was a columnist for the American, a major newspaper of the time. First, we reprint a column about the firemen of Baltimore. The way of seeing people that is in it stands for who Mr. Siegel was, and is central to Aesthetic Realism. Fifty years later, in his Goodbye Profit System lectures of the 1970s, he said with ringing clarity that the most important question for America is ``What does a person deserve by being a person?'' That is the big question today, in 2002: it cries to be asked plainly and answered honestly. It was at the basis of the kind, passionately logical thought of Eli Siegel at age 22 as he wrote about Baltimore's firemen. In his teaching of Aesthetic Realism, Mr. Siegel showed that there are two aspects to what every person deserves. He was beautiful and uncompromising about people's need for both, and we see both in this article: 1) Every person deserves to live with dignity--deserves sufficient money, just compensation for his labor, respectful working conditions. And 2) a person deserves to be comprehended, his thoughts and feelings understood. In Aesthetic Realism, Mr. Siegel provided the means by which every person, in all our dear individuality, can be understood to our very core. The second writing in the 1925 paper concerns a memorial hall, just opened to the public in Baltimore, honoring soldiers of that city who died during World War I. Under the heading ``War Is Remembered,'' Mr. Siegel writes four poems from the points of view of four different people, each of whom sees the memorial differently. His justice to people is such that their feelings come to us now; the mother of a dead soldier, and an unemployed man of 1925, are immortal and musical. And Mr. Siegel is the philosopher who would explain at last the cause of war: the human desire for contempt. Humanity needs the knowledge and honesty of Eli Siegel. These exist now and forever in Aesthetic Realism. --Ellen Reiss, Class Chairman of Aesthetic Realism

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to ask my colleagues to vote against the Quinn amendment. This amendment does not fix the problems in the civil service provisions of the bill. In fact, the Quinn amendment is actually a step backward from the current law. In the underlying bill, the new Department does not have to comply with essential parts of title V. In fact, the reported bill does not guarantee the Federal employees will receive protections against unfair labor practices, get cost-of-living increases or even locality pay. Mr. Chairman, as former ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Civil Service, Census and Agency Organization, I firmly believe that it is critical that Federal employees transferred to this new Department retain their civil service protections. Federal employees whose responsibilities are the same today as they were a week ago or even a year ago could lose civil service protections just because the government's organizational chart will change. This is an unfair result that I know my colleagues want to avoid. Again, I ask my colleagues to vote against the Quinn amendment and support the Waxman-Frost amendment. Civil service protections should not be altered merely because employees are moved to the new Department. The Federal employees in the new mega agency should have the same rights as employees in other agencies.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Chairman, I was pleased to hear the sponsor say that he wanted to see the program continue. One of the things I was interested in is that there have been defense contractors, like Halliburton, which have done things that were illegal; and I was just wondering whether the gentleman will take the same stand with regard to defense contractors who might have violated the law?

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time. I just want to reiterate what the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) just said. I think that it is very important that at a time when so many of our young people are becoming addicted to drugs, and certainly I, along with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) of our drug subcommittee, have traveled with our subcommittee all over this country, and we realize that drugs have no boundaries, that we keep the campaign intact. The campaign is not perfect. There are some things that we need to do to make it more effective, but we really do not want it to go dark. I understand the gentleman's concerns, but I want to make sure that we give every parent every tool that they can possibly have to help lift their children up so that they can be all that God meant for them to be. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment by Mr. Barr. Mr. Barr's amendment would prohibit ONDCP from honoring a contract with advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather, under which Ogilvy would continue to provide advertising and advertising-related services that are central to the operation of ONDCP's Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. If this provision is enacted, it will shut down the media campaign for at least the next year, and it will only make more difficult the task of reauthorizing and retooling this important program. Mr. Barr states that this is not his objective, but it will be the effect. So while the ostensible target is Ogilvy, the real victims of the Barr amendment will be American families who might benefit from the campaign's anti-drug messaging. If this amendment passes, Mr. Chairman, it will effectively shut down the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign--at least for the next year. If this amendment passes, the Media Campaign will go dark in most media markets by January 2003 and totally dark by March 2003. In fact, the consequences are even more far-reaching: (1) there would be no activity for nearly 75 percent of the program; (2) the Advertising Council would lose nearly 50 percent in pro bono match; and (3) the Partnership for a Drug Free America and ONDCP would lose an additional match of $23 million. These are irreversible consequences. Additionally, the Campaign would be required to eliminate all local market and state-by-state media activity (local newspapers, local radio, local out-of-home media and local television media buys). As Ranking Minority Member of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, I believe that the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is an important part of our national drug control strategy. Anti-drug messaging has worked in the past to reduce drug use among children and teens, and in many places across the country it appears to be working now. Recent evaluations of the media campaign have not shown us the overall results we'd like to see in terms of reducing marijuana-usage among youth. But the same evaluations do show that anti-drug ads are being seen and remembered by parents and youth, and that ads targeting parents have been effective in getting parents to engage their children on the issue of drugs. Mr. Chairman, as a parent, one of the anti-drugs ads that I remember so vividly states this level of effectiveness most accurately--it reads and I paraphrase: Parents are the anti-drug. In my own 7th Congressional district in MD, there are 60,000 addicts in the City of Baltimore alone. Most of whom started using drugs in their early teens. I firmly believe that if their parents had talked to them about drugs and drugs use--there would be a lot fewer than 60,000 addicts. I think many of my colleagues would agree with this conclusion. Mr. Chairman, the Barr amendment attempts to circumvent Federal contracting law in order to impose upon one company punishment that similarly-situated companies would not suffer. Take, for example, Halliburton. This is a company that has profited, and continues to profit, enormously from multiple contracts with the Department of Defense. In February of this year, Halliburton subsidiary KBR reached a $2 million settlement with the government, amid criminal allegations of fraud, false claims, and false statements. KBR was subsequently awarded a ten-year unlimited-cost contract with the Army. Did we see a similar Barr amendment to the Defense Department Appropriations bill? No, Mr. Speaker, we didn't. And I think we have to ask why we are singling out one company and one program for special treatment--especially in view of the crippling effect this provision would have on the media campaign. If we're going to set aside the duly enacted laws and regulations that the Congress and executive branch have devised to prevent abuse by Federal contractors, it seems to me we ought to be fair and consistent about it. Either it's good policy or it's not. If it's good for Ogilvy and ONDCP, then it ought to be good for Halliburton and the Army as well. Can the campaign do better? I believe so. Will it do better? It will if we work together to make it better. For my part, I am committed to working with Mr. Souder, Mr. Portman, members of the drug policy subcommittee, our counterparts in the Senate and ONDCP Director Walters to work through the problems with the campaign, with the single aim of making it as effective as it can be. The amendment by Mr. Barr is simply not constructive toward this end. While it may make Members feel better to go after an easy political target in Ogilvy, the bottom line we should all be concerned with is this: passing this amendment will not improve the campaign. It will simply shut it down. I know that my colleagues want to avoid this result. So I would say to my colleagues that if shutting down the media campaign is what Members want to accomplish, then they should vote for the Barr amendment. If they want to see the campaign live to do a better job of deterring our children from using drugs, then they should join Mr. Souder, Mr. Portman and me in opposing this amendment. Let's not cut off our nose to spite or face. Defense Criminal Investigative Service Press Release The Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Department of Defense (DoD), announced today that on February 7, 2002, a settlement was reached with Brown and Root Services Corporation (BRSC), Houston, TX, regarding allegations of fraud, false claims and false statements. BRSC will pay $2 million in damages to the U.S. Government. BRSC was the subject of a qui tam lawsuit filed by a former BRSC employee who alleged BRSC engaged in international false statements and misrepresentations to the Army Corps of Engineers during negotiations for individual delivery orders issued under a job order contract (JOC) for the former Fort Ord, CA, military installation. Over 200 individual delivery orders were issued under the Fort Ord JOC, valued in excess of $18.4 million. The alleged conduct resulted in the overvaluation of the cost of material and construction methods provided by the BRSC. The former BRSC employee who filed the qui tam lawsuit alleged that BRSC project general managers directed BRSC construction cost estimators to inflate the quantity and quality of higher cost materials and then present the inflated value of those materials to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel during negotiations. The settlement reached with the BRSC releases them from the civil claims addressed in the qui tam lawsuit. The qui tam relater will receive an undisclosed amount of the collected damages. This investigation was conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (the criminal investigative arm of the OIG, DoD). Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Hirst, Chief of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, and Kandall Newman, Eastern District of California, Sacramento, CA, negotiated the global settlement.