Duke Cunningham

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I would say the President's budget, if we enacted the President's budget we are going to have billions of dollars in new taxes and billions of dollars in new spending. There are areas which I think we can add and this is one of them.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. What a good committee to serve on, Mr. Chairman. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Jack Murtha) has done nothing but been supportive and fought for the national security of this country. I would say that of every single subcommittee member on both sides of the aisle. There is no partisanship, it is for the national security of this country. However, I would tell the Members, Mr. Chairman, that national defense, and I was a professional for 20 years, is at the lowest I have seen it in 30 years, the worst shape I have seen it in 30 years. We could survive with a low budget and a balanced budget amount that we put in, but what is killing national security are the deployments and the national security policy of the White House, 300 percent OP TEMPO deployments away from home above what we were in the Cold War. That money from Haiti and Somalia and Bosnia and all the other deployments comes out of defense budgets. It is killing us. The effect is, it is driving our military out of the service. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) will agree. We only have 24 percent retention of our enlisted. That means our experience is going away. We are dealing with 1970s technologies in our F-14s, F-15s, F- 16s. There are only four up jets in Oceana today. They normally have 45 for training. Why is this? Because they are cannibalizing off the airplanes we have up and sending them to the front. Used parts on an old airplane with maintenance troops that are less and less qualified means that we are going to lose airplanes and air crew in massive numbers in the next 5 years, starting this year, Mr. Chairman. We have to do something about that. Look at what the threat is. In my first chart, those that will come before this body and say the Cold War is over, this is what the threat is. All over the world, this is where the Fulcrum, the Flankers, and the enemy missiles are stationed. Our own President sent missile technology to China, and China has been shipping chemical and biological weapons and nuclear components to Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan; real threats to this country. The Cold War is not over. I look at the next chart. This is just general equipment where the technology is above U.S. technology. I am alive today in combat because I had better training and better equipment. This edge is gone, Mr. Chairman. This is the SA-5, this is the SA-11 surface-to-air missiles, this is the tanks, this is the quad and radar-directed fire. I can go on and on with how their technology--they are supposed to be broken, the Cold War is over, but take a look. Look at this, Mr. Chairman. This is the AA-10 and AA-12 missile, that out-ranges our best missiles. Our pilots are going to die if they face Russian technology. Mr. Chairman, look at the F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18, today. If they meet an SU-27, an SU-27 they are at parity with, but an SU-35 or 37, with their technology and these missiles on board, if we come head to head and they can see us before we see them, their missiles out-range us and are better, better than our American Ram. The technology of the F-22 and the F-18E/F puts the Stealth where we can close inside those technologies, yet we do not have the procurement. This committee had to cut 3 F-18s. We also need C130s for transportation. I think in conference we will get all of them, but the threat is there. The Cold War is not over. I would ask my colleagues that want to continue to cut defense, there is a hollow force today, my colleagues. It is in the worst shape I have ever seen it in my entire life in service in the military. Do not let it happen, because it is going to be our sons and our daughters and our grandchildren that we are going to ask to serve. Do not ask them to serve and come back in a body bag.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, God bless the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for this effort. The loss of a child, or even the abuse of a child, I think is the most lifelong, hurtful, terrible event that can happen to a family. Sexual predators or drunk drivers, a gunshot wound at school, the loss of a child. Just think about what the families go through. I would like to also mention, we have named too many laws after dead children. I think of Megan Kanka and Polly Klaas and Jon Benet Ramsey. I want my colleagues to know where all of this started. The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) who was a Democrat when I first got here and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn) worked on Megan's Law. There were absolutely Members in this body that opposed it. And the gentlewoman from Washington and the gentleman from Georgia got together and dragged me as a wingman to Speaker Foley at the time and demanded that we be able to pass this on the floor. It then went to the President of the United States and he signed this bill. That is where it started. A good idea took off. And recently, Megan's Law underwent some changes. For example, if a person is a student or in the military and changes States, then they were not required to register as a sexual predator. So the changes adopted recently by the House have been a good thing. I would also like to thank Rick Roberts, a local talk show host in San Diego who announces the top 20 sexual predators every week in San Diego County. We have got Jerry Sanders with San Diego PD and Sheriff Bill Kolender, Dan Lungren who is our Attorney General and Governor Pete Wilson who has made it a point to work on Megan's Law and the protection of children and our most vulnerable, children, women and our seniors. Of all of the things in this bill, here are items in this thing that protects children. But the one thing that law enforcement has told us they need is time. Time in the first hours are very important in saving the life of a child. In San Diego, the San Diego PD literally went down and caught a sexual predator as he was packing and on his way out the door, because they had him, they had his profile, they had him on a computer before he could escape, and they found and saved the life of that child. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum), the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn), the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) and the people that have worked on this for treeing this individual and bringing me along as a wingman to work on this type of material. It protects children. It protects families. But life imprisonment is not enough for these sexual predators. I do not know if you have ever had a child. Once, very briefly, I lost track of my daughter. I never used to let her out of sight in a store. One time she just got out of sight and I did not know where she was. I remember the panic, the death thoughts that we had. Do not wish this on anyone. I would like to thank both members of the Republican and the Democrat Party for coming together on this issue. God bless you.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration but a heavy heart that I rise to pay tribute to an outstanding American and patriot, retired Major General James C. Pennington who passed away on June 5, 1998. General Pennington was the long-time president of the National Association for Uniformed Services. He died while carrying on the crusade which he had devoted much of his life--the crusade to save military health care benefits that were promised and dutifully earned by this country's veterans and military retirees. The military and veteran community has lost a great leader. His insightful, frank comments and tenacious determination to convince the country's leaders to honor the promises made to those who put their lives on the line were a rallying point and an inspiration to all. I got to know General Pennington well during the years we fought together to restore the full Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to our nation's military retirees. A tireless advocate, he traveled all across the country meeting with veterans and their families, senior government officials, the powerful and the disenfranchised in an unwavering effort to advance the cause. He paid particular attention to the ``old warriors,'' the group of veterans who fought and won World War II. He was one of them, having joined the Army on D-Day 1944 right out of high school. And while he fought for all veterans, his compassion for his WWII colleagues was legendary as he sought to take care of those most in need. A man of boundless energy, Jim Pennington was always ready to lead the charge. He never failed to point out that a promise made should be a promise kept; that our Government made a covenant with its veterans for lifelong health care in return for career service in defense of our country. Regrettably, that covenant has been broken for those military retirees passed the age of 65 who are denied access to the military health system. Each month 36,000 WWII veterans die. Of this amount, approximately 10% are military retirees. Current legislative proposals to study or demonstrate greater health care coverage for many of these veterans are simply too little, too late. General Pennington's valiant and unceasing efforts on behalf of all members of the military community set him apart. In a word, Jim Pennington was one of the few people in this word who made a difference. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the courageous men and women who have defended our nation. Jim Pennington never forgot that and he made sure that the people he met and spoke with never forgot it as well. There would be no better way to honor this great man than to make sure our military men and women receive the care they so rightfully have earned. Jim wouldn't want it any other way.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, it is an interesting debate, I think, from two different positions. I think the term ``the administration's national security advisors'' is an oxymoron, that if you take a look at the history that that is based on, those advisors, I think you would fire them. First of all, you take a look at the failed policies of an extended Somalia. Guess what? Aideed's son is still there. Billions of dollars in lost people in Haiti that could have stayed there for another 200 years and not been a threat, and guess what, Aristide is still there, and they still have the neckties. You look at Bosnia, arming the Muslims with Izetbegovic, and guess what, there is over 12,000 Mujahedin and Hamas there. If we ever pull out of there, it is going to be a tremendous disaster because then it is going to be Izetbegovic's forces. ``Expert control system'' I think is another oxymoron. How do you define sanctions? What is too much to stop someone from shipping? I would think just a shipping company shipping AK-47s into California would stop us from using a shipping company. That same shipping company that ships chemical and biological weapons to Iran, Iraq and Syria, I would think that would be enough to sanction them and stop them. But, no, this administration wants to give them a former Navy security base right in the heart of California. Guess what? This same company just last week, shipping chemical nuclear weapons to Pakistan. Is that enough to bring on sanctions? No. So that is why I think that when we talk about export control system of the White House, it is an oxymoron. Let us take a look at the Russian missile technology gone to Iran and Iraq. My colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), spoke of the technology that has gone to actually kill our friends. I have a business in my district. The gentleman invited me to a picnic. He was delighted to introduce me to a Russian scientist. That Russian scientist built and developed the SA-2 missiles that shot me down in Vietnam. But yet Russia is giving further technology to all of our allies, and yet that is not enough to have sanctions. Russia today is building, Mr. Speaker, a first strike nuclear site under the Ural Mountains. Why? The Cold War is over. They have one half its size to the northeast. But yet we need to just talk to them. I say it is time that we do not walk softly and carry a big stick of candy, Mr. Speaker, because that is the White House's foreign policy, walk softly and carry a big stick of candy. Peace comes through strength. And can we engage Russia and China? Yes. Can we deal with them through business? Yes. But you need to hold them at arm's length, and you have to talk from a position of strength, not a position of candy. I think unless we engage them with a dialogue that the gentleman is talking about, I think that is very healthy, but there is also time to draw a line in the sand, and we have not done that, Mr. Speaker. It is time. It is time now. It is always wait. It is always wait. The worst thing, Mr. Speaker, at the same time we allow Russia and China to sell mass destructive weapons of chemical and biological and nuclear weapons and missile technology to foreign countries, we give it to them, we give it to them with Loral. I say, I ask you, what kind of policy is that? It is a failed policy, Mr. Speaker. We need to do something about it now, and we need to pass this bill.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, as usual, I forget something, and I will be brief. But I would ask three things of you kids, critters. First of all, when there is a page reunion, come back, and make it a positive thing to do that, whatever it takes, because you have made lasting friends. I think that is important. Secondly, each and every one of you is going to go back home. You are used to going to Georgetown. You are used to going on the Metro. You are used to going down here to the little soup and salad place all together, all on your own. The first time you go out the door, your mom and dad are going to say ``Where are you going?'' and you say ``I am going out, mom and dad.'' They say ``Not so fast.'' Break them in easy. If I have ever seen a problem, it is with pages going back that have had their independence here and freedom, and all of a sudden going back home and to the reality of parenthood. Break in your parents easy. The third thing is come see us in the offices. Call us and send us letters. God bless.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. You know, a critter is something that is usually cuddly. They know what a critter is. It is something that is underfoot all the time. Sometimes you swish it away, sometimes you pat it on the head for doing a good job, and critters do whatever critters do. So I aptly named this class ``the critters.'' We were fortunate enough to have a sunny day and we took 70 of these critters out on the Potomac. I want to tell you, I bought 20 pizzas, 12 bags of chips, 12 bags of pretzels, 15 cases of soda pop, two Price Club bags of nuts, and they were gone before we got to Mount Vernon. They are also hungry critters, as most kids are. But we do not thank these kids enough. Sometimes they go about, they do their work. And if you have children and you want to talk about responsibility, when they left the boat, I said to a guy when I was up above driving the boat, I said, ``Is it clean down below?'' One of the critters looked at me and said, ``Duke, we are pages,'' like that is expected. That is the way that they carry on their daily basis. They do not do it because they have to or that it is expected. It is because they are professionals, they are loving critters, and God bless every one of you. If any of us can ever be the wind in your sails, please give us a call. Thank you.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Speaker, religion is important to every single Member in this House. I think that this is a real healthy debate because Members on both sides of the issue have concerns. My friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), I would say that when it comes to not shying away from being religious or right, the Black Caucus, regardless if we agree on fiscal issues or not, always stand out in front for their beliefs. I laud especially the Black Caucus. For that they take second to no one in this body. I think because of those reasons and those concerns, I think this is a healthy debate. But there has been, my concern is that there have been abuses. My wife is a principal in an elementary school. I do not think it is wrong to be able to have a Christmas tree at Christmas, but at the same time I do not think it is wrong to celebrate Hanukkah or any other religion. When I was dean of a college, one of my staff members, his name was Mostafa Arab, he was on the Shah's Gold Cup soccer team, came to me and said, ``Can I pray to my God at the school?'' And his God happened to be Allah. I said absolutely. Would I want him to conduct lessons in the Koran? No. But if he wanted to offer a prayer prior to an event, I would say yes. Maybe that is why this is so much of a problem, is that people do not know what is yes, what is no. But there have been abuses. I support the Istook amendment because I think it clarifies our position. Let us clear up the abuses and support the freedom of religion.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. In Vietnam even Buddhists dispense with the ``God'', and I do not know of any religion that uses ``God'' with a little G. To all of us it is a big G just like it is up here, and let us not change this to religious freedom. Let us keep it ``In God We Trust.''

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I would like to focus on the words behind you, and I sure do not want to change it to ``In Religious Freedom We Trust.'' It has the word ``God'' in it. And Lewis Farrakhan, time after time I have heard him refer to God. When I was in Egypt President Sadat said, ``Intrahlah,'' which means, ``In God we trust,'' and that was out of his own words ``in God.'' Mostafa Arab on my staff at National University came to me and asked me, said, ``Duke, can I pray to my God?'' which was Allah, and I think that is correct. I think by using the word God, if the gentleman were saying Jesus Christ, then maybe he would have a point, but we use God for all different religions, and from what I have heard all different religions use God.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, many Members have wondered why the technology that was loosed to Communist China is dangerous to the United States. There is a lot of talk in the newspapers about different facets, but let me be specific. In planning the war potential in different areas in all Southeast Asian countries, we looked at the ranges of different missiles. The booster that China had trouble with had problems, and we gave it the command and control guidance which allows it to target the MIRVing, which allows multiple warheads on different targets, but, even more important, the satellite technology at the Navy fighter weapon school. We can read the label on a missile stashed on an SU-27 to tell what kind of missile it is, what kind of intell. So they not only increased the range, the targeting, they increased the ability to target U.S. cities specifically. That is why this is a problem and potential problem not only for the United States but other allied countries as well. We need to look into this, Mr. Speaker. It is serious, and it is a problem.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that Torrey Pines High School, located in my 51st Congressional District, part of the San Dieguito Union School District, is named a National Blue Ribbon School. My congratulations go to Principal Marie Grey, and Superintendent William Berrier, and to the many parents, students, teachers and community leaders that make Torrey Pines High School the national leader that it is. So that every American may learn about what has made Torrey Pines High School such a success, I am honored to insert into the permanent Record of the Congress of the United States the attached essay describing its work and its history. In addition, I encourage Members and citizens to visit Torrey Pines High School on the Internet, at http://www.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/sites/tp/welcome.html. Torrey Pines High School Torrey Pines High School is one of three high schools in the San Dieguito Union High School District. The 2,230 students in grades nine through twelve represent the communities of Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch and Carmel Valley, all in Northern San Diego County. The campus is a modern facility constructed in 1974. Phase II construction, completed in 1986, added 23 classrooms, a theater, auditorium, stadium and a state-of- the-art library/media center. The campus is used seven days a week, day and night, by adult education classes, ROP, athletic teams and community groups. Our commitment to student learning has resulted in recognition at the state and national levels. Torrey Pines High School is a twice-honored Nationally Distinguished School (1987 and 1993), three-time California Distinguished School (1986, 1993 and 1996) and chosen by Redbook Magazine as the ``Best High School in California'' in 1993 and recognized for ``Overall Excellence'' in 1995. 97% of our graduates attend college and our test scores are consistently among the highest in the state. In 1996 our students had the highest SAT scores in San Diego County. Torrey Pines athletic teams, likewise, have a tradition of achievement, winning 66 CIF Championships, with 44 since 1990. To maximize in-depth student learning and facilitate project-oriented instruction, we use a rotating two-hour block schedule. Several noteworthy programs help us address the needs of our diverse population. The Peer-Tutoring Center and Math Assistance Program log over 1,000 hours of tutoring each year. The Center offers tutoring after school and evenings in all subject areas. The Advancement Via Individual Determination Program (AVID) fosters the academic success of under- represented minorities. Project Astral provides Latino language minority students with the opportunity to attain academic excellence and high self-esteem through English and Spanish language literature instruction and theatrical productions. Student Assistance Services (SAS) is a comprehensive program that offers a variety of activities focusing on preparing students to be ``ready to learn'' and providing the necessary services and networks to meet this goal, including student support groups, the Human Relations Council, parent education forums, Peer Assistance Listeners (PALS), Choices and Challenges, staff inservices and community referrals. The program trains students to offer unconditional positive regard for their peers and provide emotional support for those who are referred to the program. Our commitment to excellence in the classroom is complemented by the breadth and dept of our program of extracurricular activities. Approximately 45% of our students participate on 21 athletic teams. Student government strives to involve all students, with approximately 200 students contending for 37 positions in annual student elections. Student-initiated activities range from lunchtime concerts by student musicians to homecoming float-building. Clubs like Earth Impact, the International Club, Aztlan, Youth Outreach, VICA, Horticulture Club, the Investors Club and Students Against Drunk Driving insure that the TPHS activity smorgasbord offers something nutritional and appealing for every appetite. Extracurricular activities include the Science Olympiad, lunch-time activities, Academic League and student publications. Our student newspaper is distributed free to all students. The Falconer (newspaper), Free Flight (yearbook), First Flight (the TPHS literary magazine) and Free Flight Video have all received numerous state and national awards for excellence. The 155-member TPHS staff includes 65 percent of teachers with more than 10 years of teaching experience and 60 percent with Master's degree. The staff is a cohesive community built on a commitment to high educational standards, creative problem solving, support services for all students and a shared concern for the individual. Professional development activities have included course work at Oxford, Stanford, U.C. Berkeley, Princeton and other universities; travel/study abroad; Woodrow Wilson scholarships and mentor teacher projects. Teachers are currently involved with the Teacher- Led Professional Development Project, California School Leadership Academy (CSLA), the National Science Foundation, California Literature and Mathematics Projects and other professional growth activities and professional associations. Intradepartmental review and team planning are supplemented by workshops, classes, lectures, support groups, sabbatical leaves, summer institutes, inservices and staff development programs. TPHS parents play a vital role in the TPHS community. Each fall, five parents are elected to the School Site Council, which meets monthly with the principal and oversees the School Improvement Plan. Parents also serve as TPHS representatives to the District Site Council, District Budget Committee, Site and District GATE committees, District Curriculum Review Committee, Legislative Analysis Network and the Bilingual Advisory Committee. School-to-home communication is accomplished through a monthly newsletter and numerous parent meetings held at the school. Back-to- School Night, sponsored by the Parent Association, is held annually in October and fills the school to capacity, giving parents the opportunity to visit all classrooms. An estimated 600 parents attend annual College Nights and eight Parent Information Forums are sponsored each year by the SAS team and reach approximately 100 parents. Four to six district information evenings are held annually for parents of bilingual students, attended by an average of 175 persons and 3 to 4 meetings per year are held for parents of students in Special Education. The Torrey Pines High School Foundation was founded in 1993 to raise funds through donations and special events for the benefit of all students. Foundation funds support programs and improvements which are not adequately funded by district allocations. These programs and improvements provide for growth, broadened experiences and a well-rounded education for every student. The Torrey Pines Foundation raises approximately $500,000 each year to supplement district and state school funding. The following campus organizations are included in the Foundation: Academic Team Boosters, Art Club Boosters, Athletic Boosters, Dance Team Parents, Friends of the Library, Grad Night, Parent Association, Student Assistance Services, Technology Boosters and Theater Boosters. The 25 member Parent Board, with representation from all geographic areas, meets monthly at the school and is involved in significant support of the school program. Each year the Parent Association provides more than $10,000 in teacher mini-grants to support classroom activities. More than 200 parents volunteer on our campus serving regular weekly assignments or helping with special projects. A committee of 30 parents oversees the annual Grad Night celebration, with $30,000 raised annually. Friends of the TPHS Library has an average annual membership of 150 and draws upon local talent to provide such innovative programs as ``Authors Evenings'' to the community. The Technology Boosters, formed in 1994, is a group of twenty parents and community members who are actively participating in our site technology committee, collaborating closely with staff to set and implement school-wide technology goals. Dollars for Scholars, a national organization, awards approximately $40,000 in scholarships annually to approximately fifty graduating seniors. Community partnerships have enriched our school community. Participation in community organizations such as San Dieguito for Drug-Free Youth and Prevention Connection has provided us with resources for the war against substance abuse. ``Explorations'' is a career awareness program which brings professionals and business leaders from our community to speak to students about their careers. Teachers participate in the Teacher Job Shadow Program through a partnership with Mira Costa College and California State University, San Marcos. Through our School-to-Career Program, we have established an Internship Program which places approximately 200 students each year into semester-long internships in community businesses. Torrey Pines High School refuses to rest on its past accomplishments and is characterized by a spirit of continual school improvement. To this end, the Strategic Planning Leadership Team is in the process of developing a site strategic plan which will involve our entire learning community in the development of a shared vision for the school and a set of specific action plans which are aligned to the District Strategic Plan.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to students and teachers of Mt. Carmel High School, in San Diego, California, who recently came to Washington as national finalists in the first annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is an academic competition among teams of high school students designed to increase their awareness and understanding of the oceans and ocean sciences. It provides an opportunity for U.S. oceanographic research laboratories, like the Scripps institution of Oceanography in San Diego, to develop strong connections with their local primary and secondary schools. And it creates a unique national education event in honor of the International Year of the ocean, which is this year, 1998. I am particularly proud of the team from my congressional district, at Mr. Carmel High School. This past spring, they won well-contested Southern California Regional Ocean Sciences Bowl. The regional competition drew the cooperation of the Birch Aquarium, the San Diego County Office of Education, the San Diego Science Alliance, the San Diego Science Educators Association and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, all of which I want to recognize for their support. Let the permanent Record of the Congress of the United States show that the teachers and students of Mt. Carmel High School have distinguished themselves in the field of oceanographic studies as national finalists in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. In tribute to their hard work, I insert into the Record a summary of the Mt. Carmel team provided by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, whose President, Adm. James D. Watkins, USN (Ret.), has provided extraordinary leadership in this and many other fields. Mount Carmel High School, San Diego, California--Southern California Regional Ocean Sciences Bowl Team Coach: Harold W. Dorr teaches Introduction to Oceanography and Zoology. He also teaches college courses at Palomar College in San Marcos. Mr. Dorr has a BS in biological sciences from San Diego State University and a MS in marine science from the University of San Diego. Prior to teaching he enjoyed 5 years working as a biological technician (fisheries) for the National Marine Fisheries Service and 5 additional years working various diving activities including teaching SCUBA, working as a diver at an oceanarium, and collecting marine biological data on various research projects. Mr. Dorr shares his life with his lovely and patient wife and never gets his fill of sharing the ocean, mountains and deserts with his three children. Team Members: Senior Julie Fero enjoys swimming on both the school swim team and PQ Aquatics. She is also involved in dance at school. She hopes to attend Humbolt State University and pursue a degree in marine biology, and eventually a graduate degree in oceanography. Senior Shawn Nesbitt enjoys motorcycle riding, fishing and diving. His favorite school subjects are oceanography, and a course called work experience. His extracurricular activities include participating in the Oceanography Club activities and playing hockey for his school. Shawn is also an Aquarist intern at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. He would like to thank you for taking the time to read his biography and say hello to all his family in the audience. Senior Nathan Niemi moved from Minnesota to San Diego when he was seven and promptly fell in love with the beach. Physics is his favorite subject. He aspires to drive his parents bankrupt. He works as a waiter which allots him money to spend but no time to spend it. Body boarding and ice hockey are his first loves. Nathan's career goal is to do something that makes him happy. Senior Shadi Ghandchi is the youngest child in his family. About 3\1/2\ years ago he and moved to the US with his mother and sisters in search of a good education. Not speaking English made the first year difficult but the second year was better. Since sophomore year he has been an avid member of the Key Club, Math Club, California Scholarship Federation (CSF), and the Ecology Club. In his Junior year he became the President of the International Ski Club, and the Secretary of the Computer Club. Shadi's Senior year saw him awarded membership to the National Honor Society. He currently is the secretary of the Math Club. His favorite subject is science, especially biology, chemistry and physics. He hopes to become a Biological Engineer. Senior Keith Gretlein has marched in the award wining Mt. Carmel Band for four years and is currently in the nationally renowned Wind Ensemble. He has held a steady job for four years in the field of child development. His future education will carried out through many prestigious schools and will probably focus on oceanography. Keith would like to thank his parents, teammates and coach, Mr. Dorr.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Members on both sides of the aisle for their overwhelming support which enables disabled veterans and their disabled family members to participate in outdoor activities. For example, if they go fishing, they want a rail with a wheelchair or a sub. All funds are paid for by private funds. It has had overwhelming support from the Sportsmen's Caucus with over 200 members.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, the rush is that World War II veterans, the average age is 72 years of age. They are not going to be around. The Thomas-Stump bill I applaud for what they are trying to do. We are both trying to do the same thing to help veterans. But the Moran bill, the original Moran-Bond bill was limited, it only had two sites. The Thornberry-Watts-Cunningham bill put in $1.5 billion to a full program. That is what we need to do. This is a compromise between the 2 bills. Subvention does not give them enough care; it is a Band-Aid. They do not have access to TriCare. But I ask my colleagues to support this, and I look forward to working with the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) because he is trying to do the same thing we are.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, most of the time the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) is very eloquent. People listen to him. He has got a lot to say. But I would say that the gentleman is grasping at straws and his last comments are unbelievable, that I do not believe in my lifetime there will be peace in the Middle East or in Bosnia, not even northern Ireland. And I strongly believe that China and Russia today are our biggest enemies today. The gentleman would like to say the Cold War is over so he can cut defense more, but that is just not the fact. And to engage in trade with Bosnia, with China, with the Middle East, we need to engage not only in dialogue, diplomatic relations, but also trade. If we look at China, it is a lot different than it was 20 years ago because we have had an influence in there. But to suggest that trade equates to giving away military and technological secrets that would benefit a country in striking other countries and this one is ludicrous, and that is why I say the gentleman is grasping at straws. Another thing is that the threat is very evident from China and Russia today. I have gone through that several times on the floor of what their threats actually are. And for someone to propose himself as an expert of military strategy and technology that has never dealt with it, never donned a uniform, never planned strategic strikes is amazing, a self-proclaimed expert. They are a threat, Mr. Speaker. China is a very serious threat. And to give them the technology that could destroy this country is very, very serious.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor three high schools in San Diego County which have now had their excellence recognized and proclaimed as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Torrey Pines High School, in Encinitas, California, in my 51st Congressional District, part of the San Diego Union High School District, principal Marie Grey, and superintendent Dr. William Berrier. Coronado High School, in Coronado, California, part of the Coronado Unified School District, principal Dr. Jeffrey David, and superintendent Dr. Rene Townsend. University of San Diego High School, in Linda Vista, California, principal Dr. Richard Kelly. Let the permanent Record of the Congress of the United States show that these Blue Ribbon Schools display the qualities of excellence that are necessary to prepare our young people for the 21st Century.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, it is always interesting, those that say they want to save taxpayer dollars, for 40 years big government, higher taxes, more spending. I even remember a $16 billion pork-barrel package when the Democrats were in power for parking garages in Puerto Rico and sickle fin fishes in dictionaries. But that is not the issue at hand. The issue is veterans' health care. The FEHBP is a far bigger issue than to pay for smoking for our veterans. Right now, civilians have the right to a wraparound program when they come under Medicare and they can take up FEHBP. The same person in an office in the Pentagon, a secretary gets that but someone in the military does not get FEHBP. There is going to be a bill on the floor that really helps, instead of a Band-Aid, fix FEHBP. Many of us under the Watts-Moran bill want the $100 million the first year and then to be escalated. That takes away a Band-Aid fix. If you are really interested in helping the military, let us not only vote for the manager's amendment, let us support it and let us increase it. That will add to TRICARE, it will help subvention, it will help Medicare for the military, and it will give them FEHBP which they should have gotten a long time ago. It is far more important than this in the transportation bill which some are demagoging.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, there is nobody in this House on the other side of the aisle that I respect more than my colleague, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton). He knows that that is true. White House treason? No. But I would say to my colleague, I think that there has been some very poor decisions made, decisions that should concern every American family. It is not just in the China issue, it deals with foreign policy, it deals with national security that in my estimation, our defense forces are the worst off than I have seen them in 30 years that I have been associated with it. That is both from taking money out of defense, and the deployments that take money like Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia, that take money out of the operation and maintenance, already out of a low budget. I think those kinds of decisions are made when you surround yourselves with very left-wing oriented members of your cabinet and staff, like Strobe Talbott. The decisions that you make, you need people there that have some kind of sense of what is good. Let us face it, China is not the same China it was 20 years ago. There have been a lot of changes in China. I would tell the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), today China is still one of the biggest threats the United States faces. So is the former Soviet Union. They are not our friends. We have to keep working in that direction, but they are very, very dangerous. It is like a pit bull that you put inside a fence to guard you at night. You would not let that pit bull out to play with your children. That is what we are doing by this technology transfer to China. China shipped chemical and biological weapons to Iran and Iraq. That is one of the reasons we are in Iraq right now, because COSCO, the Chinese shipping company, is right out of China, owned by the PLA, the same company that the alleged allocations went forth with the money, but yet, we turn over Long Beach Naval Shipyard to them at the President's insistence. That is wrong, and that is a poor decision. That is letting them in our back door when they are dealing with chemical and biological weapons and then missile technology. The second thing, the nuclear triggers to Iraq, right in San Diego, my own city, Iraq tried to steal out nuclear components. Yet, China is shipping to those countries. That is dangerous. Yet, we enhance their ability on missile technology? That is wrong. I would tell my friend that both foreign policy decisions, and I would include the United States Marine Corps in Lebanon, I think that was very poor policy under a Republican President, trapping our marines there and not letting them fight back.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I am aware of that. I thank the gentleman for that. That was a good decision by the committee, but I think a very poor decision by the White House, as I am trying to point out. Foreign policy, like the extension of Somalia, where we changed from going humanitarian to going after General Aideed, and then drawing down our forces, and our military asked for armor, we do not give it, and we lose people; Haiti could have sat there in my opinion for another 200 years. But all of those cost billions of dollars, and we are taking money out of defense to pay for them. We cannot even get an FEHBP bill for veterans, and we pay $16 billion for Haiti and Bosnia. Those kinds of decisions, is what I am telling my friend, I believe are wrong. Russia is a threat. Under the Ural Mountains, the gentleman has seen the intelligence reports, they are building a first strike nuclear site the size of inside the beltway here. They have launched six Typhoon Red October class submarines. It is a very dangerous world. Yet, my colleagues on the other side say, well, the Cold War is over. The Cold War is not over, and when we are giving potential enemies like China and Russia technology, that should be a concern of every Member in this body. I know it is for the gentleman. It is not an issue on treason, it is an issue on national security, and one that I think that both sides of the aisle ought to stress, and we ought to look forward to it.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I spent 20 years in the military and not once, not one time did I ever see a woman's right to choose denied. If there was a need for that individual to come back and do it and get the procedure, they were allowed. Whether we are for or against abortion, it should not be in this body, and that includes funding for it. But in the military, if a woman is overseas and they are in a unit, they are in a combat backup unit, they do not want somebody there that has gone through an abortion. They want them out of the country. They want them out of that unit until they can recover and then come back. I have heard that it denies the basic rights. It does not. The statute says that they have the right, especially in the case of rape, incest or life of the mother. And any other case, the military will bring them back. Those folks that are for this very amendment are the same folks that are cutting defense and cutting defense and cutting defense. In the case of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), her biggest contributor is Loral, the one that sold the technology to the Chinese. If my colleagues want to worry about men and women in the military, then take care of the military and quit bringing these kinds of amendments up.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Centennial anniversary of the Tuna Club of Santa Catalina Island. Founded in 1898 by Dr. Charles Frederick Holder, following his rod and reel capture of a 183-pound leaping tuna, the Tuna Club inaugurated the sport of big game fishing. During the last century, the Tuna Club has advanced angling as a sport by designing rules that gave their quarry a sporting chance, introducing tackle categories that recognize an individual's skill, and initiating a code of sport fishing ethics. Many of these accomplishments have been adopted by angling clubs worldwide. In addition, the Tuna Club has had a significant impact on how the public perceives the importance of protecting marine resources. The Tuna Club has led by example, holding its members to a high degree of sportsmanship and fighting to secure legislation to protect the Catalina Islands fishery. Let the permanent Record of the Congress of the United States make note of the Tuna Club of Catalina Island, recognizing its first century of angling, sportsmanship, conservation and good fellowship. May its membership have good fishing for the Tuna Club's next century.

Mr. CUNNINGHAM

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, on one area I agree with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters). Mexico has a problem with drugs, and it is a problem in America. But I tell my colleagues, the White House cutting all the drug responses, from interdiction right down the line, that we Republicans had to restore, is the answer, not cutting them. Telling our children that it is okay to inhale or that he would if he could is not the proper message to send to our children in antidrug programs. Liberal trial lawyers that get the drug dealers and kingpins off and yet we cannot get through in this body stiff penalties for those druggers, that is wrong as well. Let me speak to the issue at hand on intelligence. First of all, it is amazing. I would almost let the other side of the aisle speak up here for 2 days on this issue. People that have never set foot in a military uniform, people that have never had to direct intelligence units, people who have never had to go in and plan the defense of major countries but yet they are, quote, the experts. ``There is no Cold War. The Cold War is over.'' But yet what they do not tell you is the threat that is out there. I tell my colleagues, you state your own opinion as fact and you are factually challenged. First of all, there are over 14,000 nuclear warheads in Russia alone. Because the Russian head said that they are not pointed at the United States, do you know how long it takes to change those targeting data? About 2 minutes. Fourteen thousand of them. Russia in the last 2 years built six nuclear class red October submarines and deployed them. Built them. But there is no threat. Russia this week, a nuclear ship, the largest missile cruiser in the world, launched a missile cruiser out of Russia. But the Cold War is over. Russia is building today the size of the Beltway here in Washington, D.C. under the Ural Mountains a first strike nuclear site. Why? ``Oh, the Cold War is over. There is no threat.'' There is one to the northeast half its size. But there is no threat. We are dealing with 1970s technology in our military, with the F-14 and the F-15 and the F-16, but yet they deploy the SU-35 and the SU-37 that uses vectored thrusts that outclass our fighters and they have an AA-10 and an AA-12 missile that outclasses our AMRAAM. But there is no threat. You are the experts. You would send our troops 300 percent increase in deployments over Vietnam and kill them and not provide for the services that they need and cut the defense budget and cut procurement by 67 percent for your great social programs because there is no threat. Give me a break, Mr. Chairman. We talk about intelligence and military and foreign policy all to protect this country. Poor foreign military policy does not help, either. Haiti. Haiti could sit there for another 200 years and not be a threat to this country. But yet a political move. And guess what? Aristide is still there. There is still poverty and it costs us billions of dollars. Somalia, the extension of Somalia in which the majority then under the Democrats extended Somalia. Guess what? Aideed died but Aideed's son is there and we got 22 rangers killed because the White House would not give armor to protect them. Twenty-two of our people, billions of dollars. The gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) talks about hurting veterans. Sixteen billion dollars for Haiti and Bosnia. And we have a bill that we cannot get a billion dollars for for FEHP for veterans, which I think he would probably support. But $16 billion and guess what? That comes out of our military and kills us, and kills any chance of helping the veterans. Yet you are the experts and you say there is no Cold War. I have got a tape here of 16 SAMs fired in pairs. Mr. Chairman, I lost three good friends because we did not have the intelligence to know they were there. I am sick and tired of self-proclaimed experts on intelligence and defense standing up and saying, ``Oh, look. Look at those that support defense. Look at those that support intelligence.'' Announcement by the Chairman