Lois Capps

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. Included in this bill is a waiver of Medicare's 24-month waiting period for persons disabled by ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease. This terrible disease leaves its victims totally unable to care for themselves. Tragically, their life expectancy is often less than the waiting period itself. Medicare coverage will ease their suffering and provide support for their families and friends. This provision comes from a bill authored by my husband, Walter Capps, which I reintroduced and which now has 282 House cosponsors. I want to thank these cosponsors. While recovering from a car accident, Walter received his physical rehab with a friend suffering from ALS, Tom Rogers. Towards the end of the rehab, Tom arrived one day with a pair of tennis shoes. He gave them to Walter saying he had no further use for them, he was now confined to a wheelchair. Walter wore these shoes throughout his campaign for this House. He never forgot the struggle that is Tom's and thousands of other ALS victims. This victory today is for ALS patients and their families who built support for our bill.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I support the National Campaign for Hearing Health. The campaign was launched a year and a half ago by the Deafness Research Foundation to put hearing health on the national agenda. With 28 million Americans suffering from hearing loss--from newborns to senior citizens--they are committed to promoting research, prevention, detection and intervention that will ensure that every American has the potential to lead a hearing life. Working with the campaign, I am pleased to announce the recent formation of the first-ever Congressional Hearing Health Caucus. The caucus is a bipartisan group of congressional Members committed to the study and support of hearing health issues. Caucus co-chairs include myself, Representatives Jim Walsh, Carolyn McCarthy, and Jim Ryun, who knows first-hand the impact of hearing loss. We are greatly interested in these vital issues that affect so many Americans' health and well- being. While the increase in the availability of newborn hearing tests represents tremendous progress--we all realize that screening is just the first step. We must begin to look to the future and prepare for the time when 100 percent of newborns are screened at birth. We must ensure that, once a baby's hearing loss is detected, all parents have access to the appropriate interventions--be they digital hearing aids or cochlear implants--regardless of their economic status. Block grant funding provided to the states through last spring's Walsh bill--also known as the ``Newborn Infant Hearing Screening and Intervention Act'' is also expected to be a catalyst to advance newborn screening and intervention programs through the states. But it too is only a beginning. Once a baby's hearing impairment is identified, early intervention with either hearing aids or a cochlear implant is critical. Somewhere between 6 and 24 months, a ``hearing impaired child'' brain starts to shut down that part that processes speech and language. Every hour, two babies in America suffer irreversible damage to their brain's ability to process speech and language. Every hour, two babies cross that 24 month critical window without the hearing assistance they need. The issue of funding is one that must be addressed. Today, the campaign is releasing its Medicaid Reimbursement State Report Card--to examine state-by-state the levels of reimbursement provided to low- income families for cochlear implants--one of the new technologies available for hearing impaired children and adults. While Medicaid, a joint federal and state program designed to provide medical coverage for low-income families, does cover cochlear implants for eligible children in virtually all states reimbursement levels vary widely from state to state. These figures are troubling, especially since studies have shown that cochlear implants provide significant overall savings over the course of a lifetime in comparison to special education costs. It is clear that we have reached a point where our technology has outpaced our policy--leaving us with a situation that is clearly unacceptable--too many children denied life-altering hearing assistive technology due to lack of income or inadequate funding. And the problem does not exist under the Medicaid system alone. Private insurance reimbursement for cochlear implants has been found to be even more limited than Medicaid, despite the clear benefits of this technology. As precedent has shown, changes in Medicaid and Medicare can lead to changes in private insurance coverage as well. It is our hope that this data will lead to greater awareness of reimbursement discrepancies in Medicaid policy and will encourage changes that will in turn lead to changes in private insurance reimbursement policy. With thousands of potential implant candidates born each year in the United States, we simply cannot afford to ignore this issue any longer. All children in America should have access to this miracle of technology, regardless of their income, socio-economic status or place or residence. By improving Medicaid reimbursement for children, we can ensure that the most vulnerable in this country--low-income children-- can have the world of sound open to them.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I bring to the attention of my colleagues the outstanding work of Ruth Harter. On Sunday, December 3, Ruth received the Distinguished Community Service Award from the Anti- Defamation League. As someone who has worked closely with the ADL in its efforts to promote tolerance and combat hatred and prejudice, I am pleased that this prominent organization has chosen to honor Ruth. For over twenty years, Ruth has distinguished herself as a tireless community activist. Among other positions, Ruth served with distinction as Santa Barbara's Chairwoman of the Anti-Defamation League from 1986- 1998 and is currently Chairwoman Emeritus and ADL National Commissioner. Additionally, Ruth is a founding-board member for both Beyond Tolerance and Latino-Jewish Roundtable. She is also a member of the Civic Light Opera, life member of Hadassah, and a sustaining member of the Women's Board of the Art Museum. Ruth also served as a member of the Grand Jury from 1987-1988. After serving on the Grand Jury she was appointed by the Superior Court to serve on the Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Prevention Commission for the County of Santa Barbara from 1988-1999. During her tenure as chairwoman, from 1995-1996, she helped to develop the ``Youth and the Law'' program which is presently being taught in most 7th grade or Middle Schools in Santa Barbara County. For her efforts, Ruth was honored by the Superior Court in 1997 and 1999. Ruth and her husband, Jerry, are founding board members of several organizations and active supporters of many charities. I believe that Ruth Harter's service to her community is an example for our nation, and I am very proud of her accomplishments.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I bring to the attention of my colleagues the outstanding work of Dr. David K. Winter. On Sunday, December 3, David received the Distinguished Community Service Award from the Anti-Defamation League. As someone who has worked closely with the ADL in its efforts to promote tolerance and combat hatred and prejudice, I am pleased that this prominent organization has chosen to honor David. David has served as president of Westmont College in Santa Barbara for the past 24 years. As president, he has given his leadership to a number of organizations within American higher education. He has served on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Council of Independent Colleges, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, where he served as the board's director for 3 years. In a survey of higher education officials and scholars who study the college presidency, David is one of the 100 most effective college leaders in the United States. During his presidency, David has provided leadership in connecting Westmont College to the local community. He is very active in local organizations, serving as the director of the Montecito Association, the Montecito Rotary Club, the Channel City Club, the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, and St. Vincent's school. He has also chaired the board of the Salvation Army Hospitality House, the Santa Barbara Industry Education Council, and the Santa Barbara County United Way Campaign, and served as vice chair of the Cottage Hospital board of directors. Among the many awards and honors that David has received are the Santa Barbara Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse 1998 ``Twelve Men of Distinction,'' the Santa Barbara News-Press 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 1999 he was honored by the John Templet on Foundation as one of the 50 college presidents who have exercised leadership in character development. David is a frequent contributor to journals and speaker on the topic of the educational experience of undergraduate students, and issues of diversity and multiculturalism. I believe that David's service to his community is an example for our nation, and I am proud of his accomplishments.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to state for the Record how I would have voted if I had been present today. Rollcall 593, Approving the Journal, ``aye.'' Rollcall 594, Conference Report on WRDA, ``aye.''

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I stayed in Washington until the last possible moment, hoping that Congress could finish the business of the people of the Central Coast and all Americans. There are critical unresolved issues still on the table--including school modernization, common-sense tax relief, and adequate funding for Medicare. I am deeply dismayed that the congressional leadership has decided to push these issues off to a lame duck session. The American people deserve better. I support the Water Resources Development Act for a number of reasons. The bill authorizes a historic environmental restoration of our national treasure, the Everglades. Here on the Central Coast, I was pleased to help include $9.2 million in federally authorized funding for the Lower Mission Creek Area flood control project. I am, however, very disappointed that two additional provisions that I secured in the House bill were stripped out by the Senate Leadership. I fought for authorization to fund the Los Osos sewage treatment. I also secured a $10.3 million authorization for a desalination project in Cambria. Both of these projects are important to the quality of life for thousands of San Luis Obispo county residents. At this time, I am pleased to note that the leadership of both the House and Senate have pledged to include these projects in the final appropriations legislation that will pass when Congress reconvene after the election. My constituents can rests assured that I will work very hard to see that these critical programs are enacted.

Ms. CAPPS

Ms. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my support for H.J. Res. 123. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Mr. Speaker, I stayed in Washington until the last possible moment, hoping that Congress could finish the business of the people of the Central Coast and all Americans. There are critical unresolved issues still on the table--including school modernization, common-sense tax relief, and adequate funding for Medicare. I am deeply dismayed that the Congressional leadership has decided to push these issues off to a lame duck session. The American people deserve better.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 592, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' in support of H.J. Res. 123.

Mr. CAPPS

Mr. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I honor the Junior League of Santa Barbara for 75 years of service to the community of Santa Barbara. I have had the privilege of working with the Junior League for several years and know of the impact the League has had on countless children and young people. The Junior League of Santa Barbara was founded and admitted to the Association of Junior Leagues on January 2, 1925. The Santa Barbara League's first program included a camp for underprivileged children and a program that saved many children from tuberculosis. In 1948, the Volunteer Bureau was organized as a clearinghouse for volunteers for civil, cultural and education agencies, and in 1957, the Welfare Council was established with the Junior League's assistance to improve health, recreation, and welfare of Santa Barbara County. During the 1960's the Junior League provided funds to the Fellowship House, the Goleta Boys and Girls Clubs, Head Start, the January 28th Committee, and the educational facility at the Child's Estate. The League was reorganized in 1971 and began a number of new projects, including a matinee concert series with the Santa Barbara Symphony, a workshop for elementary school teachers in environmental education, and the Courthouse Tours program. In the early 1980's the League began the Alcohol Abuse and Youth Project, donated funds toward the renovation of the CALM house, and began the Hospice Volunteer management project, followed by projects on foster care and alcohol abuse prevention, and community advocates for quality child care. Through its Public Affairs Committee, the League focused on crime prevention in 1985, and worked with local law enforcement entities and nonprofits such as Shelter Services for Women, and later began several new projects, including Anger Management, Volunteer Support for Senior Services, Friday Night Live Safe Rides, and the Literacy Support Project. In the early 1990's the Junior League began the Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting Project, made a substantial donation to the Red Cross for victims of the Painted Cave Fire, and initiated the Valued Youth Partnership program, participated in the Sexual Abuse Response Team Coalition, and started the Peace Education Project. In the late 1990's, the League partnered with the Blood Bank, the Storyteller Preschool for homeless children and began the Community Health Collaborative Project focusing on a Pediatric Enrichment Project including STARBRIGHT World and Well Gowns. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is organizations like the Junior League that serve as an example of dedication and commitment to those in need for our community and the nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and commending the Junior League of Santa Barbara on the League's 75th anniversary.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas and appreciate my fellow Members of Congress for the time that we can have to discuss this important topic. We are in the final hours of this 106th Congress. We have passed some spending bills, but there remains still a few more. When I think of my communities in the district that I represent and the concerns of the people that I represent, and I am so honored to represent them, I know that they look to me and to all of us in the area of health care as the most significant contribution that we can make to their lives here within the Federal Government, whether it is addressing the crisis of the number of uninsured Americans, people who face every day in terror that they will have health care needs that they have no resources to meet, or whether it is the people that I can call up in my mind, those seniors who live in my district who have to choose each day whether to fill their prescriptions, lifesaving prescriptions, or to put food on their table. These are people living on fixed incomes. They are not poverty stricken, but middle-class seniors. These are issues that we really need to be addressing here. We need to put an affordable voluntary prescription drug opportunity for all seniors within Medicare. We need to address the issues of the uninsured. I also want to use the minutes that the gentleman has given me to talk about another issue that people in my district have said we should do something about. They want us to do something about those HMOs that are making health care decisions in the place of their doctors. We have had, we have still, a great opportunity to enact a bipartisan bill that passed here in the House, the Norwood-Dingell patient's bill of rights, 68 Republicans and an overwhelming number of Democrats. A good bill, yet it languishes. This is something we can still do in these last few hours of this session of Congress. It contains critical provisions which, I believe, are key to quality patient care and which come directly from the experiences of people in my district and around this country with their managed care providers and with their insurance companies. They tell me in my district that they want to be able, as a patient, to choose their own doctors, their own hospital, to see specialists when it is appropriate. They do not appreciate having these decisions being made by insurance clerks and having the doctors told what they cannot and can do. The bill we enacted right in this House would protect medical privacy, guarantee emergency room care, and ensure that health plans cannot interfere when patients enrolled in clinical trials. Most importantly, this bill we passed holds HMOs accountable when they make medical decisions that harm patients. And this is a sticking point, and this is why there is such tremendous opposition to it right now. But we hold physicians accountable for malpractice. And when insurance companies practice medicine in a way that is not in the interests of the patients, they should be held accountable as well. I am from California, where HMOs got started; and I have seen for myself in my own experience and those of the people with whom I worked so many years as a school nurse that HMOs have done some wonderful things, such as spreading the availability of preventive care. But over the past decade or so in my district, the power has swung too far into the corner of HMOs and insurance companies making health care decisions and into the area of pursuing profits over patient care. Patients are being cut out of the decision-making process of their own health care. Doctors, nurses, other health care professionals are overruled by bean counters and profit takers. The bottom line is what is being intruded into health care, and our health care system is eroded today by mistrust and by anger. This legislation that we passed here, the model that we could still enact into law, is supported by virtually every major health care organization in this country. As I mentioned, this House passed it by nearly a two-to-one margin last year. The American people support it overwhelmingly. We have no excuse that we cannot afford to do something about this. We have examples of the gentleman's own State where a patient's bill of rights has been in place and where it has worked effectively. It has not cost people more than a dollar or two more in their premiums. The fear about everything going to the courts has not, in fact, turned that way. A very small number of lawsuits have actually resulted. When we have the example of Texas' patient's bill of rights being put into place, there is absolutely no reason why we should not be addressing this in this session of Congress before we adjourn. Our constituents at home are asking us to do this, and I am urging the leadership in this House and in the Senate and in that conference committee to deal with this before we adjourn.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, today I would much rather be on my way back home to the central coast of California in order to spend time with my constituents. Instead, I rise to express my deep concern over an issue that greatly affects them as well as millions of other Americans: Schools in this country and in my communities which are overcrowded and in great disrepair. In these last few hours in the 106th Congress, I am disappointed that we have not yet passed comprehensive school modernization legislation. But we are still in session and there is still time. I strongly believe that education is a local issue. But overcrowding is a national crisis which demands a strong national response, not just a token. I have come to stand here on this floor several times on this topic. Recently, I held a letter signed by over 300 students from Peabody Elementary School in Santa Barbara expressing their desire for real, meaningful school construction legislation. Now, this is a school in Santa Barbara built for 200 students which now houses over 600. These students know how disadvantaged they are when portable classrooms take up precious outdoor space which should be used in the development of their bodies and minds through physical activity. Time and time again, I have visited schools throughout my district which suffer from similar circumstances. Madam Speaker, there is not a school in the Santa Maria Bonita district whose enrollment is not hugely impacted. One school comes to mind, Oakley, which was built for 480 students and now houses over 800. The high school district in Santa Maria is hoping to pass a bond measure because of the extreme overcrowding. In San Luis Obispo, Cambria Grammar School was built to handle 200 students. They now have eight portables in its playground space with 345 students. Students who are kindergartners, the youngest of all, have been moved to a nearby middle school and they are housed in a small portable with a small fenced-in playground. I spent 20 years as a school nurse in the Santa Barbara School District, and I have seen firsthand the damage that deteriorating classrooms have. The students cannot thrive academically if they are learning in overcrowded and crumbling buildings. This is the most crucial time in their lives for learning and we have an opportunity to do something about this. Madam Speaker, I supported the America's Better Classrooms Act, a strong bipartisan measure, 225 cosponsors. It would have provided approximately $25 billion in interest-free funds to State and local governments so that school construction and modernization projects could occur. Such funding would help schools like Peabody, Oakley and Cambria Grammar Schools to make improvements in classrooms, playgrounds and would help reduce class sizes. I believe here in Congress we must set our standards high to ensure that all children have the right start. All children deserve to have safe, clean, modern school environments to be part of each day. So, Madam Speaker, this 106th Congress is coming to an end, but our students have a lifetime of learning ahead. They need our help now. I believe we can still act and must act to pass comprehensive school construction legislation in this session of Congress.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to follow my colleague the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) in speaking about our public schools. Once again, I rise to express my deep concern over the state of the schools across this Nation, which are overcrowded and in disrepair. In these precious last few days of the 106th Congress, I call upon our leadership to pass comprehensive school modernization legislation. I strongly believe that education is a local issue, but overcrowding is a local problem which deserves a national response. Just 1 month ago, I stood here holding a letter signed by over 300 students from Peabody Elementary School in Santa Barbara, California, expressing their desire for passage of school construction legislation. At this school, students receive a top-notch education. Unfortunately, the students also feel the disturbing effects of overcrowding. This is a school built for 200 students, but now it has an enrollment of over 600. The added portable classrooms take up precious playground space, which should be used so that students can take part in physical education and activities. I have visited other schools in my district which suffer from similar circumstances. In Santa Maria, the Oakley School's enrollment is currently over 800, while the school was originally built for 480 students. The first of four lunch sessions begins at 10:30. The last children do not finish until well after 1:30 in the afternoon. In San Luis Obispo County, Cambria Grammar School was built to handle 200 students. With eight portable buildings, they now have 345. Students have very limited playground space here, and their kindergarten needed to move to a nearby middle school because of overcrowding. This kindergarten is now housed in a portable room with a small, fenced-in playground. I spent over 20 years as a school nurse in the Santa Barbara school system. I have seen firsthand the damage that deteriorating school buildings can do. Students cannot thrive academically if they are learning in overcrowded and crumbling buildings at the most crucial time for learning in their lives. We simply must do better for our students. I strongly support the America's Better Classroom Act. This legislation enjoys bipartisan support and has 225 cosponsors. It would provide approximately $25 billion in interest-free funds to State and local governments for school construction and modernization projects. Such funding would help schools like Peabody, Oakley, and Cambria Grammar School to make improvements in classrooms and playgrounds that would help reduce class sizes. When I think what our local educators are forced to deal with and the struggle they are engaged in to address all these problems, I am awed and impressed by how they pull it off each day. They all deserve our most heartfelt appreciation, and I applaud them for the work they do. I believe that Members of Congress should come to the Central Coast of California and see the crowded conditions that students and faculty must contend with on a daily basis. Then I think we could see some action. Here in Congress we must set our standards high to ensure that all children have a healthy and safe start. All children deserve to have safe, clean, modern schools to attend each day. So, Mr. Speaker, I join with the students of the Central Coast of California and I ask that we bring H.R. 4094 to the floor for a vote before this session of Congress comes to a close. There is no excuse not to debate this important bipartisan bill. The 106th Congress is coming to an end, but our students have a lifetime of learning ahead and they need our help.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 460, a bill to raise the mandatory retirement age for federal firefighters from 55 to 57. As the lead cosponsor, I am proud that the House has passed this timely legislation. As the recent wildfires which ravaged much of the West have shown, firefighters, are in great demand. Many of our Nation's firefighters are quickly approaching retirement age, highlighting the growing shortage of well-trained, quality firefighters. In my District, federal firefighters have been part of the team of courageous men and women battling the Harris fire and the smoldering peat bog on Vandenberg Air Force Base during the past several weeks. These heroes deserve our strongest support, and I'm proud to have played a role in securing this victory. This important legislation will allow more firefighters to remain on the front lines in the battle against devastating fires in my District and across the country. Several years ago, Congress raised the mandatory retirement age for federal law enforcement officers from 55 to 57. H.R. 460 would correct this oversight and adjust the federal firefighters' retirement age so that it is equal to that of federal law enforcement officers. This legislation has bipartisan support and the endorsement of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Currently, over 2,500 federal firefighters are based in California-- the largest percentage of federal firefighters in the country. A recent report issued by the General Accounting Office (GAO) stated that because of an aging work force there will be a shortage of qualified firefighters in the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, and that the situation could have a direct impact on firefighters' safety. In fact, as reported recently in the Washington Post, 57 percent of Forest Service firefighters are 45 years of older (8/11/00). Because it takes 17-22 years of experience to become eligible for firefighters leadership positions, an extra two years of service would be of critical importance to a qualified and effective fire fighting operation. Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to bring this important legislation to the Floor for a vote and I commend the dauntless efforts of the firefighters in my District and across the nation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I honor the San Luis Obispo Symphony String Quartet, Cuarteto de las Misiones who have traveled from San Luis Obispo, California to perform tonight at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage State Days Series. The Cuarteto is Sharon Holland, Ginette Reitz, Mary Houston, and Ken Hustad. I had the privilege of nominating the Cuarteto to represent the great state of California for the Kennedy Center's program because they have demonstrated a wonderful commitment to their community, a unique sound, and inspiring talent. The San Luis Obispo String Quartet has been performing at Central Coast schools for over a decade. Last Spring, the quartet was reorganized and renamed the Cuarteto de las Misiones and began working with local Grammy-nominated composer, musicologist and California Polytechnic State University music professor Dr. Craig Russell to design an in-school program for 3rd and 4th graders. Dr. Russell has devoted the past several years to uncovering a wealth of music originally performed in California and Mexico during the colonial days. Through his discoveries, he has been able to demonstrate that there was a far richer musical life on the West Coast of the United States than was previously thought. Thanks to Dr. Russell, works by European immigrants to California and Mexico, once performed by the Chumash and Salinan people are being performed again after 200 years of silence. Cuarteto de las Misiones presents a narrated musical journey comparing the unique styles of mid-18th Century western culture. The quartet's performance this evening will include Dr. Russell's arrangements of the newly rediscovered music of the missions, mountain music and reels of the eastern United States and the chamber music enjoyed in Europe's finest salons. Mr. Speaker, this exciting new program has not only sparked my interest, but has received notice from the California Arts Council and has become part of their ``Rural and Inner City Presenting Program'' (RICP). They are a fine example for the community and I am proud to be their Representative. I would like to give thanks to the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation and the Hock Family Foundation for their generous support of the Cuarteto de las Misiones, and to the ensemble itself for their invaluable contribution to the Central Coast.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, as this session of Congress races to a close, we often lose sight of some of the wonderful things happening at home in our communities, and this is especially true when Washington, D.C. is consumed by political battles. That is why I rise today to commend the remarkable city of Santa Maria, California, which I am very proud to represent, for its fourth annual Peace Week. Mr. Speaker, two years ago, I stood on the House floor to congratulate Santa Maria on being named one of 10 All-America Cities. This high honor was justly granted to a city that has distinguished itself by its diversity and the fact that all the residents of Santa Maria work together to find innovative ways to solve their problems. One glowing example of this community cohesiveness is Peace Week, which will begin tomorrow, October 13. The goal of Peace Week is to stress nonviolence and conflict mediation. Each day brings a focus on a new topic and allows community members of all ages and cultures to discover ways they can make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of their neighbors. Examples of daily Peace Week activities include a candlelight march, nonviolence education, and children's friendship games. Participants will enjoy a free community breakfast on ``Community Peacemaker Day'' and a keynote address given by Clayton Barbeau. There will also be stress relief through massage and Reiki therapists, a workshop on healing racism, and an Ecumenical Musical Reflective Peace Service. Mr. Speaker, Peace Week is the product of an entire city and its enlightened leadership. I want to pay special tribute to my friend, Sister Janet Corcoran of Marian Medical Center Mission Services, for her remarkable dedication and tireless work on behalf of her community and the precious cause of peace. She is a role model for me and a role model for us all.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague from New York for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I have spent many months working with my colleagues in the Committee on Commerce on helping to support the Breast and Cervical Treatment Act. I want to pay particular tribute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), who is not able to be here today for her leadership in that effort in the committee and throughout the House. I want to pay a special tribute today to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick) for her leadership to move this legislation along. As a nurse, I fully understand the importance of human papilloma virus as a public health issue. I commend the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn) for his interest in this topic, and I hope that the House will address this issue very soon. But today we must be voting on a clean bill so that we can ensure that low-income women who have been screened positive for breast and cervical cancer can get the treatment that they so desperately need. As the gentlewoman from North Carolina said, early diagnosis is meaningless without the opportunity for treatment. That is what this bill, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, addresses. Adding the HPV provision to this bill which is extraneous to its underlying purpose of treatment jeopardizes its passage. Think of the disservice this does, the critical lifesaving treatment that could be denied to millions of women in this country today if this happens. Today, instead, we have the chance to pass this strongly bipartisan bill out of the House and send it directly to the President's desk for a signature. We cannot let that opportunity pass by.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to excellence on the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara. As Members of the House may know, the Nobel Prizes for chemistry and physics were awarded this week to two brilliant members of this wonderful university in my congressional district. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Professors Alan Heeger and Herbert Kroemer for their outstanding work. Herbert Kroemer, an engineering professor, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics for helping to develop cutting edge laser technology. This technology is widely used today in the Internet's fiberoptics network and consumer goods like CD players, bar code readers and laser pointers. His work has given us the communication tools that are powering our new economy and helping America to dominate the world in technology. Professor Kroemer has been at UCSB since 1976. Prior to that, he worked in research labs in the United States, in Germany, and at the University of Colorado. Arriving at UCSB, he persuaded his department to focus its research efforts on emerging compound semiconductor technology and helped the University to become a leader in this field. We are grateful for his foresight and dedication. Physics Professor Alan Heeger won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Many people believe that his work on electrically conducting plastics will revolutionize computing. It is expected that this new field of chemistry will provide ways to produce flat-screen TVs, plastic roll-up computer screens, and molecular computers smaller than watches. Professor Heeger has been at UC Santa Barbara since 1982. He has also taught at universities in Pennsylvania, Utah, and in Geneva. He has won numerous awards, including an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and a John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship. His lifetime dedication and work has developed a new field of study, and enormous new opportunities, at the intersection of physics and chemistry. A member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences noted that these two prizes are about the electronics of today and the electronics of the future. I certainly agree. Mr. Speaker, these two gentlemen reflect the high quality of research and instruction found throughout the University of California system and especially in my heart at the University at Santa Barbara. UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry Yang noted yesterday that Professors Heeger's and Kroemer's work are examples of the kind of interdisciplinary research that are a hallmark at this campus, UC Santa Barbara. I know that the central coast of California reaps the benefits of this wonderful institution on a daily basis. I have a long history with UC Santa Barbara. My husband was a religious studies professor there for more than 30 years, and that was before he came here to Congress. I received my master's in education there a few years back, and our son is also a graduate of UC Santa Barbara. Many of my staff were students there as well. It is a wonderful institution which has opened the doors of opportunity to millions of people, both young and old. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Professor Kroemer, Professor Heeger for this tremendous recognition and for the extremely wonderful contributions they have made to the University of California at Santa Barbara and to our society. The entire central coast is proud of their achievements and proud that they call UCSB home.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 163, which calls attention to a condition that affects thousands of women across this country, post partum depression. This resolution was introduced in May of 1999 by my colleague Jack Kingston and I. I want to thank him for his hard work and leadership in this area. Approximately 400,000 women will experience post partum depression this year, and many do not even know that they need help. This condition can put a strain on family relationships, at a time when most families are often experiencing the joy of the birth of a child. As a nurse for many years, I have seen firsthand how much women, their families and partners struggle with this difficult condition. There is great stigma associated with post partum depression, as many women feel ashamed of the feelings that they are experiencing. There are some steps that can be taken to alleviate this suffering. Our resolution makes some important recommendations. This legislation recommends that women be provided with information on post partum depression before they leave the hospitals with their babies. This way they can know what signs to look for in those early post-natal days. It also calls for more training of medical providers, so that they know what signs to look for in new mothers. Doctors should be encouraged to screen new mothers for symptoms prior to discharge from the hospital and when they bring their babies for early check-ups. The earlier we identify the symptoms, the better. Finally it recommends that we begin to collect data on post partum depression in the U.S., so that we can measure its extent. The National Institute of Mental Health is currently researching the topic, but more must be done. Federal funding is sorely needed in this area. My district is home to Post Partum Support International, an advocacy and support group founded by my constituent Jane Honikman. Jane is a pioneer in this field, and I applaud the work that she continues to do on this topic every day. Mr. Speaker, here in Congress we must work to raise awareness of post-partum depression, in order to ultimately lower the likelihood that women around the country will continue to experience it. Women and families around this country have suffered for too long in silence.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000. I commend my colleagues on the Committee on Commerce and others for all of their hard work. Today's medical advances allow many individuals with AIDS to lead longer and more productive lives. However, as patients live longer, the cost of their care and treatment has placed an ever-greater demand on community-based organizations and State and local governments. In the face of these challenges, the Ryan White CARE Act has made a great difference. This CARE Act provides care to tens of thousands of Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Recently I spoke with the Health Educator, Jayne Brechwald, with the Santa Barbara County Health Care Services in my district. She works on a daily basis with members of the community who benefit greatly from Ryan White funding. She spoke in strong support of funding for crucial services such as Meals on Wheels, food banks, housing counseling. She also praised programs which help those diagnosed navigate the options available for them. These include the medical care, education, and dental care that are so important during this terrifying time in a person's life. In Jayne's words, ``Ryan White funding is really about local control. The program requires that we do a needs assessment every year so that we have a very targeted, specific idea of how the population we serve is changing and how the funding is being utilized.'' I believe that the Ryan White Act represents the Federal Government at its best. This program defers to local expertise, while providing the needed helping hand of targeted Federal funding. Mr. Speaker, I applaud this legislation and urge its passage.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of this legislation. H.R. 4365 reflects consensus around issues that are of deep importance to all of us, keeping our children healthy and free of substance abuse and mental illness. This bill addresses major challenges in childhood disease and reauthorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. As a school nurse, a mother, and now a grandmother, children's health is an issue that has been of great concern to me throughout my entire life. This bill would dedicate more Federal spending and intensify efforts on childhood diseases, including fragile X, autism, early hearing loss, juvenile diabetes and other child-specific conditions and diseases. This legislation does much to help young victims of childhood disease. Mr. Speaker, parents and families with children who suffer from these childhood diseases have put their heart and soul into passing this legislation, and we must thank them for their tireless efforts. They have come forward with personal, often very painful stories, illustrating the need for this bill. I commend them, and I urge support for this important legislation. This bill also includes reauthorization of SAMSHA, based on a version of legislation that I introduced earlier this year. This reauthorization will address substance abuse as it relates to children, in addition to adults, with regard to under-age drinking, children and violence, and fetal alcohol syndrome, to name a few. To the extent that we can protect our children from alcohol and substance abuse, we reduce their chances of addiction or abuse as adults. Drug addiction is often an intergenerational family problem, with future use by children of addicts a very common occurrence. Sadly, this is a pattern I saw regularly as a school nurse. This legislation also includes a bill I authored, the Youth Drinking Elimination Act. This legislation, which has the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics, will provide competitive grants to private organizations and governmental agencies through SAMSHA to develop and implement programs and services to reduce under-age drinking. I have seen the success of SAMSHA prevention programs in my own district, particularly with Santa Barbara's Fighting Back and also with Life Steps in San Luis Obispo. They provide highly successful public awareness initiatives, mentoring, criminal justice partnerships and health care intervention programs. Mr. Speaker, SAMSHA reauthorization is the best way we can comprehensively address the problems of substance abuse and mental health confronting our communities. These problems are just too great for us to treat in a piecemeal fashion. I urge my colleagues to support this much-needed legislation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I was on a plane returning from my district tonight and was unable to attend votes. Had I been here I would have made the following vote on rollcall No. 487--``yea.''

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of H.R. 5109, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Act. I want to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for all their hard work on this legislation. Their unflagging commitment to our Nation's veterans is truly laudable. This bill will significantly improve veterans' access to health care. It will also provide much-needed raises for VA nurses and other health care professionals. As a nurse, I am particularly proud that this legislation will secure pay raises for 30,000 VA nurses. These registered nurses care for sick veterans day in and day out, and they deserve raises on a par with other Federal employees. H.R. 5109 will also allow for greater nurse participation in policy and decision-making at the Veterans Administration health centers, and it would revise the pay rates for VA dentists and pharmacists. These are measures which will address the difficulties the VA has experienced in recruiting and retaining nurses and other health care personnel. Now I want to highlight a particular provision that is included in this bill, and it is one that my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) and I have worked very hard to secure. I am very pleased that the Veterans Service Improvement Act is part of this bill, and I want to thank the gentleman from Cape Canaveral for his outstanding leadership on this issue. This is an important bipartisan provision which will authorize multiple pilot projects to allow the VA to contract with local hospitals to provide care for veterans. Now what does this mean for vets? Right now, for example, the veterans in my district on the central coast of California have to drive all the way to Los Angeles or to Fresno for hospital care under the VA. That means for my veterans driving 2\1/2\ to 5 hours just to check into a hospital. This is a definite hardship for aging veterans and for their families, the transportation involved and the sometimes inconvenience and real hardship that it puts families under. With this pilot project, veterans could check in with their local VA clinic and then get referred to a nearby hospital. This would allow vets to receive care close by to their friends and their family. The legislation also allows for the coordination of benefits. For example, veterans who use Medicare for care at a local hospital are currently paying a 20 percent copayment; and under these pilot projects, that copayment would be partially or totally covered by the Veterans' Administration. This is a benefit all veterans deserve, particularly those who are ill or disabled. This proposal is designed to expand the successful VA pilot program operated in Florida last year. As we have heard, over 1,000 veterans chose to participate in this program, and 98 percent of them said they would recommend it to other vets. In addition, the preliminary results show that this program provided a significant cost savings to the VA, and that is a benefit which we should not ignore. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5109 gives veterans more health care choices and provides more convenient options for their care. The veterans service improvement act is a pilot project; and I want to stress that as a pilot project, it will be carefully studied to see what the results are. It is not intended to undermine the Veterans' Administration specialized hospital care in any way. Rather, I believe it could demonstrate to augment it. So, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that this important legislation will pass through the House today, and I hope to see it signed into law very soon. The brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country deserve nothing less.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), my colleague, for yielding to me. We are going to make this an across-the-country discussion this evening of this issue of such great importance. Mr. Speaker, I am here this afternoon to discuss an issue of such great importance in my district and across this country: school construction and modernization. Last week, I visited Peabody Charter School in Santa Barbara, California. At Peabody School, students receive a top-notch education. Unfortunately, these students also feel the disturbing effects of overcrowding and inadequate school facilities. This is a school built for 200 students. Today it has an enrollment of way over 600 students. In an attempt to accommodate, portable classrooms take up precious playground space which should be used so that students can take part in physical activity, an important part of their education. Peabody School is one school in my district, which I am using this afternoon as an example to represent the dozens of overcrowded schools in my district. There are dozens of schools like this school, overcrowded and antiquated, in California and across this country. It seems rather amazing to me that as we begin this new century in this country, with unparalleled prosperity before us, relatively at peace in the world, that we are allowing our most precious resource, our children, to face their future preparing for it in circumstances that are far from ideal, that in many instances are totally unsatisfactory. Mr. Speaker, yes, public education in this country, one of our most important hallmarks, is a matter for local control; but I believe these issues are so pressing that there is a role for all of us to play. In my opinion and in my belief, the Federal Government can help to free up needed funds so that local districts can make the decisions they know best for the children in their communities. And I have here today a letter to our bipartisan House and Senate leadership asking that they allow and encourage the passage of H.R. 4094, the America's Better Classrooms Act before this session of Congress comes to a close. This letter is signed by over 300 students from Peabody School. I have the letter here. I have two signatures along with mine, and then I have a collection of pages with signatures, second graders, third graders, fourth graders, fifth grade, sixth grade, 300 students in this school. They asked me if I would bring this letter with their signatures; and I told them that I would not only bring it to Congress with me, but that I would carry it with me to the floor and stand here in the well and give their testimony to this House and to the Senate so that we can meet their expectations. These students were very excited to take part in this process, since overcrowded schools is something they know all about. It is an issue that affects their lives on a daily basis. In signing this letter, Peabody students are really making a statement about their educational environment and helping to improve the lives of future Peabody students. And they are actually speaking for students in their situations across this country. The America's Better Classrooms Act has bipartisan support and 225 cosponsors. It would provide approximately $25 billion in interest-free funds to State and local governments, for local school construction, and modernization projects. The funding would help schools like Peabody make improvements to classrooms and playgrounds and would help to reduce class size. Here in Congress, we must set our standards high to ensure that all children have a healthy start. All children deserve to have safe, clean and modern schools to attend each day. And, Mr. Speaker, my friends at Peabody Charter School ask us that we bring H.R. 4094 to the floor for a vote before this session of Congress comes to a close. I thank the students, my friends, for sharing and asking, along with me, for this vote. We owe them the best we can offer them. The business world, which has helped to bring our economy to the fast pace that it enjoys today, knows the importance of investing in infrastructure, and here our most precious resource, the key to the future and for future economic development, our children, ask nothing less that we pay attention to their surroundings and their learning environment. In doing that, we will assist them in becoming the best that America can be for the rest of this century and on into the future. I thank my friends at Peabody School. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), the former superintendent. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the following: Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, September 11, 2000. Hon. Dennis Hastert, House Speaker, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC. Hon. Richard Gephardt, House Minority Leader, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC. Hon. Trent Lott, Senate Majority Leader, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC. Hon. Tom Daschle, Senate Minority Leader, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC. Dear Congressional Leaders: We are writing to ask for your help with a long standing problem in our schools here on the Central Coast--overcrowding. Before the 106th Congress comes to a close, we ask that you pass H.R. 4094--the America's Better Classrooms Act--an important piece of legislation that would help improve Central Coast students' learning environments. At Peabody Charter School, students receive a top-notch education, but also feel the effects of overcrowding. Imagine how hard it would be for members of Congress to concentrate and work in conditions similar to those found at Peabody. Unfortunately, overcrowding problems exist in schools across the country, and we know this can have an impact on students education. H.R. 4094, which has bi-partisan support and 225 co- sponsors, would provide approximately $25 billion in interest-free funds to State and local governments for school construction and modernization projects. This funding would help schools like Peabody make improvements to classrooms, playgrounds and would help reduce class sizes. We must set our standards high to ensure that all children have a healthy start. All children deserve to have safe, clean, modern schools to attend each day. And so, my friends at Peabody Charter School and I ask that you bring H.R. 4094 to the floor for a vote before this session of Congress comes to a close. The congressional session is coming to an end, but Peabody students have a lifetime of learning ahead and need your help. Sincerely, Lois Capps, Member of Congress. Nick Hill, Milagros Macias, Peabody Charter School Students.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent the beautiful Central Coast of California and to celebrate the 150th anniversary of California's admission to the Union. The 22nd Congressional District lies on California's Central Coast and is considered one of the most beautiful areas in the United States. The district includes Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and features a spectacular coastline and majestic mountains. It offers a unique mix of major cities and small towns, bountiful vineyards, farms and ranches, and five highly esteemed colleges and universities. The Central Coast has a long history which embraces the experiences of Spanish explorers and missionaries, the Chumash Indians, a warm climate and a diverse blend of wildlife. One small town is named Los Osos, or the Valley of the Bears, for the grizzly bears that were once discovered by the explorers and missionaries. In 1772, Father Junipero Serra, established one of the first missions in the state, the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa because of the region's unmatched beauty and natural resources. Known as the ``Jewel of the Central Coast,'' San Luis Obispo is host to a variety of natural wonders, including 80 miles of pristine Pacific Ocean coastline, rolling green hills, and fresh blue lakes. Also known for its rich Spanish heritage, Santa Barbara is home to the ``Queen of Missions,'' an 18th century Spanish-style mission, after which much of the city's architecture and style has been modeled. In fact, this cultural gift is celebrated each year with a week-long ``Fiesta,'' or ``Old Spanish Days,'' featuring authentic food, music, and dance. People from around the world make the Central Coast, my District, their vacation destination. I am proud to call it my home. Happy anniversary California!

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a valued mentor, a key advisor, and dear friend who recently wrote an article which appeared in the Santa Barbara News-Press, entitled ``How Forgiveness Can Shape Our Future.'' In addition to being one of Santa Barbara's outstanding public citizens, Mr. Frank K. Kelly has been a journalist, a speech writer for President Truman, Assistant to the Senate Majority Leader, Vice President of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, and Vice President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Mr. Speaker, I commend the following article to my colleagues and ask them to join me in honoring the career and contributions of Mr. Frank K. Kelly. How Forgiveness Can Shape Our Future Frank K. Kelly Human beings have tremendous capacities to be creative and compassionate, cooperative and generous--and shocking abilities to inflict terrible pain upon one another. Is it possible for us to face the monstrous atrocities in the human record and yet to participate in the process of reconciliation, to accept the awful truth about ourselves and others and still move into the future with strong hope? In a heart-wrenching report recently published, the man who headed South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission wrestles with these questions and offers us reasons for continuing to believe in the possibilities of spiritual growth for the human family. Archbishop Desmond Tutu regards the transformation of South Africa from a state of oppression to a state of cooperation as an amazing example of human potentiality responding to a surge of God's grace. In his new book, Tutu says: ``South Africans managed an extraordinary, reasonably peaceful transition from the awfulness of oppression to the relative stability of democracy. They confounded everyone by their novel manner of dealing with a horrendous past.'' Many people had expected a blood bath involving the deaths of thousands of human beings would occur when Nelson Mandela took office as the first black president of South Africa. But that had not happened. ``There was this remarkable Truth and Reconciliation Commission to which victims expressed their willingness to forgive and perpetrators told their stories of sordid atrocities while also asking for forgiveness from those they had wronged so grievously,'' Tutu declares. ``The world could not quite believe what it was seeing.'' Tutu was asked to speak in Ireland in 1998, to explain in a strife-torn country how South Africa had become a peaceful country without bursts of revengeful violence. The South African experience had indicated that ``almost no situation could be said to be devoid of hope.'' Describing what had happened in his country, Tutu urged the Irish not to become despondent over the obstacles which were preventing the implementation of the agreement reached by the competing factions. ``In South Africa it had often felt as if we were on a roller-coaster ride,'' Tutu said. ``At one moment we would experience the most wonderful joy, euphoria even, at some new and crucial initiative. We would see the promised land of peace and justice around the corner. Then, just when we thought we had entered the last lap, something ghastly would happen--a massacre, a deadlock, brinkmanship of some kind-- and we would be scraping the bottom of despair and despondency. I told them this was normal.'' In addition to offering encouragement to the peacemakers in Ireland, Tutu has brought messages of hope to other areas of the world torn by violence. He has reminded people of what has to be done: ``At the end of their conflicts, the warring groups in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Burma, Afghanistan, Angola, the Sudan, the two Congos, and elsewhere are going to have to sit down together to determine just how they will be able to live together amicably, how they might have a shared future devoid of strife, given the bloody past that they have recently lived through.'' Based on the experience of South Africa, Tutu is convinced that forgiveness is a key element in creating a lasting peace and releasing the positive energy necessary to build a better future for humanity. He believes that true reconciliation of enemies is impossible without the new perspectives brought about by deep forgiveness. ``Forgiving and being reconciled are not about pretending that things are other than they are,'' Tutu acknowledges. ``True reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the pain, the degradation . . . It is a risky undertaking but in the end it is worthwhile, because in the end dealing with the real situation helps to bring real healing.'' With the other members of the South African commission, Tutu was frequently astonished at ``the extraordinary magnanimity that so many of the victims exhibited.'' There were some persons who admitted that they could not forgive the hardships inflicted on them, which demonstrated the fact that ``forgiveness was neither cheap nor easy.'' ``In forgiving, people are not being asked to forget,'' Tutu declares. ``On the contrary, it is important to remember, so that we should not let such atrocities happen again. Forgiveness does not mean condoning what has been done . . . It involves trying to understand the perpetrators and so have empathy, to try to stand in their shoes and appreciate the sort of pressures and influences that might have conditioned them.'' Tutu points out. ``In the act of forgiveness, we are declaring our faith in the future of a relationship and in the capacity of the wrongdoer to make a new beginning on a course that will be different from the one that caused us the wrong . . . It is an act of faith that the wrongdoer can change.'' Tutu acknowledges that he and others in the commission were strongly affected by their religious faith. But he expresses the conviction that all human beings will ``always need a process of forgiveness and reconciliation to deal with those unfortunate yet all too human breaches in human relationships. They are an inescapable characteristic of the human condition.'' Archbishop Tutu sums up his conclusions in the title of his book--``No Future Without Forgiveness.'' Whether human beings like it or not, we will have to forgive one another in order to survive. In my own life, I have found it extremely hard to forgive people who have treated me with cruelty or contempt. I have also found it hard to forgive myself for the severity with which I treated my sons when they were children. I convinced myself that I punished them for their own benefit, to make sure they followed the right path, but I later realized I had harmed them by my angry words and outbursts of rage. I had suffered often from the punishing behavior of my own father and it took me years to forgive him. My own sons have forgiven me more readily than I forgave him. The whole process has been painful but cleansing in the end. When I wrote speeches for Harry Truman in the 1948 presidential campaign I used harsh words to describe the actions taken by the Republican leaders in the Congress. I was not ready to forgive them and I hoped that my fellow citizens would punish them in the election that year. I was exhilarated when Truman triumphed and the Republicans lost their majority in the Congress. It seemed to me I had taken part in a righteous cause--and I still believe that. Yet the hot words of that campaign produced bitter feelings among the losers and a hostile atmosphere which made it almost impossible for Mr. Truman to get his proposals enacted. He forgave nearly all of the leaders who had attacked him, but some of those leaders would not forgive him for the charges he had made against them. In all of the election campaigns that have occurred since the United States was founded, injuries have been inflicted-- injuries that might have been healed by a better understanding of the power of forgiveness. If we are going to solve the tremendous problems we face now and in the future, we must learn from the South African experience that facing the truth and engaging in continuous efforts for reconciliation are essential for all of us. It is not easy to uncover the full truth about any situation. In the decades I have lived since I was born in 1914, I have been searching for the truth about many of the events which have affected my life--and I now realize that the process of seeking and discovering what really happened to me and millions of others in those crowded years may go on forever. I now try to base my comprehension on the French saying: ``To understand all is to forgive all.'' For many years I placed the blame for the two World Wars of the 20th century principally on the Germans--and I could not forgive them for the tremendous devastation I believed they had caused in the world. Under the Kaiser, they had been belligerent and savage; under Hitler, they had tortured and murdered millions of people. Perhaps God could forgive them for what they had done in that century. I couldn't. Perhaps my enduring rage against the Germans was partly due to the disfiguring wounds that had been inflicted on my father in World War I. He came home from that war with a hole in his neck and a twisted face that frightened me. In my childhood I had to awaken him from nightmares in which he was fighting with Germans who were trying to kill him with trench knives and bayonets. He had engaged in hand-to-hand, face-to- face, combat in the trenches in France--and he never got over it. His screams will echo always in my mind. He had killed enemies with his own bayonet but they were always coming back at him in nights of horror. While I can never condone the atrocities committed by some Germans under the Kaiser and under Hitler, I have learned enough about the history of Germany and the history of other nations to understand why those atrocities occurred. When I was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard, I heard a former chancellor of the German Democratic Republic, Heinrich Bruning, describe how Count von Papen and other German aristocrats tricked President Paul von Hindenburg into appointing Hitler as chancellor of Germany. Hitler had been defeated by Hindenburg in the German election of 1932, but he was placed in power later by plotters who thought they could control him. The monstrous rise of Nazism was due to the errors of arrogant men. Such errors have been crucial factors in the history of many nations. My father participated voluntarily in World War I, answering Woodrow Wilson's call to serve in ``a war to end a war'' and ``to make the world safe for democracy.'' But many of the Germans who fought in that bloody struggle believed that God was on their side and they were justified in what they did. In the light of history, I realized that many of their men who fought in the trenches suffered from ghastly nightmares similar to those which afflicted my father. War itself was an encompassing evil which brought evil effects to many generations of human beings. Desmond Tutu's harrowing book, which links truth and reconciliation to the power of forgiveness, offers ways to enable future generations to end the savage cycles of war and revenge. Let us hope that people all over this bleeding world will read it and learn from it. It sheds a great light on what needs to be done.