Tom Davis

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker: I rise today to honor a gentleman who has devoted a great deal of his time and energy to Fairfax County, Virginia. Master Police Officer Josh Brown will retire Friday, July, 13, 2001 after 23 years of service with the Mason District Station of the Fairfax County Police Department. He also gave 17 years to the Crime Prevention and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). With his prominent role as an officer of the law, MPO Brown has been able to bring many topics to the attention of his community. He has given many lectures on the importance of school security, as well as a variety of other safety lectures, including: lighting, commercial security, risk assessments, violence in the workplace, and community crime prevention. He has spoken at state, national, and international conferences on community crime prevention, lighting, and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). MPO Brown specializes in risk assessments of schools, businesses and communities. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the International Society of Crime Prevention practitioners have certified him as a Crime Prevention Specialist. He has also been awarded the Meritorious Service Award by the Fairfax County Police and was named Officer of the Year by Police and Citizens Together, a division of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. His knowledge of crime and its prevention has enabled him to write brochures on commercial robbery prevention, substance abuse, and trail safety. He has also produced literature on rape and assault prevention, as well as Neighborhood Watch training guides. His dedication to keeping his community as safe as possible is extremely admirable, and I am proud of his achievements. MPO Brown has many interests outside the department. He is married with three children, who take up much of his space time. In years past he has given his time to being a Scoutmaster, coach, and fundraiser for children's school groups. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I am glad to pay tribute to MPO Josh Brown who has given so many years to the police department as well as being a devoted father and member of the community. I hope my colleagues join me in saluting such a remarkable individual.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to reintroduce legislation with my good friend and colleague from northern Virginia, Representative, Jim Moran. Last year, we introduced H.R. 4246 to facilitate the protection of our nation's critical infrastructure from cyber threats. We aggressively pushed forward with the legislation and held a productive Subcommittee hearing with the then-Subcommittee on Government Management, Information, and Technology on the importance of the bill. Based on comments made at that hearing, we have worked hard with a wide range of industries to refine and improve this legislation. Today, we are again introducing this legislation with the full partnership of the private sector. Over the past several months, I have worked with the industry leaders from each of our critical infrastructure sectors to draft consensus legislation that will facilitate public-private partnerships to promote information sharing to prevent our nation from being crippled by a cyber-terrorism threat. In the 104th Congress, we called upon the previous Administration to study our nation's critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and to identify solutions to address these vulnerabilities. Through that effort, a number of steps were identified that must be taken in order to eliminate the potential for significant damage to our critical infrastructure. Foremost among these suggestions was the need to ensure coordination between the public and private sector representatives of critical infrastructure. The bill we are again introducing today is the first step in encouraging private sector cooperation and participation with the government to accomplish this objective. Since early spring of this year, Congress has held a number of hearings examining the ability of our nation to cope with cyber security threats and attacks. For instance, the House Energy and Commerce has held numerous hearings regarding the vulnerability of specific Federal agencies and entities, and how those agencies are implementing--or not implementing--the appropriate risk management tools to deal with these threats. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime has held a number of hearings specifically looking at cybercrime from both a private sector and a federal law Also, the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) met in early June of this year to discuss the necessary legislative action to encourage industry to voluntarily work in concert with the federal government in assessing and protecting against cyber vulnerabilities. The bill I am introducing today was endorsed at the June meeting. In recent months, the Bush Administration has aggressively been working with industry to address our critical infrastructure protection needs and ensure that the federal government is better coordinating its' cybersecurity efforts. I look forward in the coming weeks to working with the Administration to enhance the public-private partnership that industry and government must have in order to truly protect our critical infrastructure. The critical infrastructure of the United States is largely owned and operated by the private sector. Critical infrastructures are those systems that are essential to the minimum operations of the economy and government. Our critical infrastructure is comprised of the financial services, telecommunications, information technology, transportation, water systems, emergency services, electric power, gas and oil sectors in private industry as well as our National Defense, and Law Enforcement and International Security sectors within the government. Traditionally, these sectors operated largely independently of one another and coordinated with government to protect themselves against threats posed by traditional warfare. Today, these sectors must learn how to protect themselves against unconventional threats such as terrorist attacks, and cyber intrusions. These sectors must also recognize the vulnerabilities they may face because of the tremendous technological progress we have made. As we learned when planning for the challenges presented by the Year 2000 rollover, many of our computer systems and networks are now interconnected and communicate with many other systems. With the many advances in information technology, many of our critical infrastructure sectors are linked to one another and face increased vulnerability to cyber threats. Technology interconnectivity increases the risk that problems affecting one system will also affect other connected systems. Computer networks can provide pathways among systems to gain unauthorized access to data and operations from outside locations if they are not carefully monitored and protected. A cyber threat could quickly shutdown any one of our critical infrastructures and potentially cripple several sectors at one time. Nations around the world, including the United States, are currently training their military and intelligence personnel to carry out cyber attacks against other nations to quickly and efficiently cripple a nation's daily operations. Cyber attacks have moved beyond the mischievous teenager and are now being learned and used by terrorist organizations as the latest weapon in a nation's arsenal. During this past spring, around the anniversary of the U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, U.S. web sites were defaced by hackers, replacing existing content with pro-Chinese or anti-U.S. rhetoric. In addition, an Internet worm named ``Lion'' infected computers and installed distributed denial of service (DDOS) tools on various systems. An analysis of the Lion worm's source code revealed that it could send password files from the victim site to e-mail address We have learned the inconveniences that may be caused by a cyber attack or unforeseen circumstance. Last year, many of individuals and companies were impacted by the ``I Love You'' virus as it moved rapidly around the world disrupting the daily operations of many of our industry sectors. The Love Bug showed the resourcefulness of many in the private sector in identifying and responding to such an attack but it amply demonstrated the weakness of the government's ability to handle such a virus. Shortly after the attack, Congress learned that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) operating systems were so debilitated by the virus that it could not have responded adequately if we had faced a serious public health crisis at the same time. Additionally, the federal government was several hours behind industry in notifying agencies about the virus. If the private sector could share information with the government within a defined framework, federal agencies could have been made aware of the threat earlier on. Last month, NIPC and FedCIRC received information on attempts to locate, obtain control of and plant new malicious code known as ``W32- Leaves.worm'' on computers previously infected with the SubSeven Trojan. SubSeven is a Trojan Horse that can permit a remote computer to gain complete control of an infected machine, typically by using Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels for communications. In June 1998 and February 1999, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency testified before Congress that several nations recognize that cyber attacks against civilian computer systems represent the most viable option for leveling the playing field in an armed crisis against the United States. The Director also stated that several terrorist organizations believed information warfare to be a low cost opportunity to support their causes. We must, as a nation, prepare both our public and private sectors to protect ourselves against such efforts. That is why I am again introducing legislation that gives critical infrastructure industries the assurances they need in order to confidently share information with the federal government. As we learned with the Y2K model, government and industry can work in partnership to produce the best outcome for the American people. Today, the private sector has established many information sharing organizations (ISOs) for the different sectors of our nation's critical infrastructure. Information regarding a cyber threat or vulnerability is now shared within some industries but it is not shared with the government and it is not shared across industries. The private sector stands ready to expand this model but have also expressed concerns about voluntarily sharing information with the government and the unintended consequences they could face for acting in good faith. Specifically, there has been concern that industry could potentially face antitrust violations for sharing information with other industry partners, have their shared information be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, or face potential liability concerns for information shared in good faith. My bill will address all three of these concerns. The Cyber Security Information Act also respects the privacy rights of consumers and critical infrastructure operators. Consumers and operators will have the confidence they need to know that information will be handled accurately, confidentially, and reliably. The Cyber Security Information Act is closely modeled after the successful Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act by providing a limited FOIA exemption, civil litigation This legislation will enable the private sector, including ISOs, to move forward without fear from the government so that government and industry may enjoy a mutually cooperative partnership. This will also allow us to get a timely and accurate assessment of the vulnerabilities of each sector to cyber attacks and allow for the formulation of proposals to eliminate these vulnerabilities without increasing government regulation, or expanding unfunded federal mandates on the private sector. ISOs will continue their current leadership role in developing the necessary technical expertise to establish baseline statistics and patterns within the various infrastructures, as clearinghouses for information within and among the various sectors, and as repositories of valuable information that may be used by the private sector. As technology continues to rapidly improve industry efficiency and operations, so will the risks posed by vulnerabilities and threats to our infrastructure. We must create a framework that will allow our protective measures to adapt and be updated quickly. It is my hope that we will be able to move forward quickly with this legislation and that Congress and the Administration will work in partnership to provide industry and government with the tools for meeting this challenge. A Congressional Research Service report on the ISOs proposal describes the information sharing model as one of the most crucial pieces for success in protecting our critical infrastructure, yet one of the hardest pieces to realize. With the introduction of the Cyber Security Information Act of 2001, we are removing the primary barrier to information sharing between government and industry. This is landmark legislation that will be replicated around the globe by other nations as they too try to address threats to their critical infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Cyber Security Information Act of 2001 will help us address critical infrastructure cyber threats with the same level of success we achieved in addressing the Year 2000 problem. With government and industry cooperation, the seamless delivery of services and the protection of our nation's economy and well-being will continue without interruption just as the delivery of services continued on January 1, 2000. July 5, 2001. Hon. ---- U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC Dear Representative: We, the undersigned, representing every sector of the United States economy, write today to strongly urge you to become an original cosponsor of the Cyber Security Information Act to be shortly introduced by Representatives Tom Davis and Jim Moran. This important bill will strengthen information sharing legal protections that shield U.S. critical infrastructures from cyber and physical attacks and threats. Over the past four years, industry-government information sharing regarding vulnerabilities and threats has been a key element of the federal government's critical infrastructure protection plans. Several industry established information sharing organizations, including Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) and the Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security (PCIS), have been set up to support this initiative. The National Plan for Information Systems Protection, version 1.0, also calls for private sector input about actions that will facilitate industry-government information sharing. As representative companies and industry associations involved in supporting the ongoing development of a National Plan for critical infrastructure protection, we believe that Congress can play a key role in facilitating this initiative by passing legislation to support the Plan's strategic objectives. Currently, there is uncertainty about whether existing law may expose companies and industries that voluntarily share sensitive information with the federal government to unintended and potentially harmful consequences. This uncertainty has a chilling effect on the growth of all information sharing organizations and the quality and quantity of information that they are able to gather and share with the federal government. As such, this situation is an impediment to the effectiveness of both industry and government security and assurance managers to understand, collaborate on and manage their vulnerability and threat environments. Legislation that will clarify and strengthen existing Freedom of Information Act and antitrust exemptions, or otherwise create new means to promote critical infrastructure protection and assurance would be very helpful and have a catalytic effect on the initiatives that are currently under way. Companies in the transportation, telecommunications, information technology, financial services, energy, water, power and gas, health and emergency services have a vital stake in the protection of infrastructure assets. With over 90 percent of the country's critical infrastructure owned and/or operated by the private sector, the government must support information sharing between the public and private sectors in order to ensure the best possible security for all our citizens. A basic precondition for this cooperation is a clear legal and public policy framework for action. Businesses also need protection from unnecessary restrictions placed by federal and state antitrust laws on critical information sharing that would inhibit identification of R&D needs or the identification and mitigation of vulnerabilities. There are a number of precedents for this kind of collaboration, and we believe that legislation based on these precedents will also assist this process. Faced with the prospect of unintended liabilities, we also believe that any assurances that Congress can provide to companies voluntarily collaborating with the government in risk management planning activity--such as performing risk assessments, testing infrastructure security, or sharing certain threat and vulnerability information--will be very beneficial. Establishing liability safeguards to encourage the sharing of threat and vulnerability information will add to the robustness of the partnership and the significance of the information shared. Thank you for considering our views on this important subject. We think that such legislation will contribute to the success of the institutional, information-sharing, technological, and collaborative strategies outlined in Presidential Decision Directive--63 and version 1.0 of the National Plan for Information Systems Protection. Sincerely, Americans for Computer Privacy. Edison Electric Institute. Fannie Mae. Internet Security Alliance. Information Technology Association of America. Microsoft. National Center for Technology and Law, George Mason University. Owest Communications. Security. Computer Sciences Corporation. Electronic Industries Alliance. The Financial Services Roundtable. Internet Security Systems. National Association of Manufacturers. Mitretek Systems. The Open Group. Oracle. U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Why Information Sharing is Essential for Critical Infrastructure Protection Frequently Asked Questions What are Critical Infrastructures? Critical Infrastructures are those industries identified in Presidential Decision Directive--63 and version 1.0 of the National Plan for Information Systems Protection, deemed vital for the continuing functioning of the essential services of the United States. These include telecommunications, information technology, financial services, oil, water, gas, electric energy, health services, transportation, and emergency services. What Is the Problem? 90% of the nation's critical infrastructures are owned and/ or operated by the private sector. Increasingly, they are inter-connected through networks. This has made them more efficient, but it has also increased the vulnerability of multiple sectors of the economy to attacks on particular infrastructures. According to the Carnegie-Mellon Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), cyber attacks on critical infrastructures have grown at an exponential rate over the past three years. This trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. In our free market system, it is not feasible to have a centralized-government monitoring function. A voluntary national industry-government information sharing system is needed in order for the nation to create an effective early warning system, find and fix vulnerabilities, benchmark best practices and create new safety technologies. How Do Industries and the Government Share Information? Based on PDD-63 and the National Plan, a number of organizations have been created to foster industry-government cooperation. These include Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). ISACs are industry-specific and have been set up in the financial services, telecommunications, IT, and electric energy industries. Others are in the process of being organized. ISACs vary in their membership structures and relationship to the government. Most of them have a formal government sector liaison as their principal point of contact. What Are Current Concerns? Companies are concerned that information voluntarily shared with the government that reports on or concerns corporate security may be subject to FOIA. They are also concerned that lead agencies may not be able to effectively control the use or dissemination of sensitive information because of similar legal requirements. Access to sensitive information may fall into the hands of terrorists, criminals, and other individuals and organizations capable of exploiting vulnerabilities and harming the U.S. Unfiltered, unmediated information may be misinterpreted by the public and undermine public confidence in the country's critical infrastructures. Also, competitors and others may use that information to the detriment of a reporting company, or as the basis for litigation. Any and all of these possibilities are reasons why the current flow of voluntary data is minimal. What Can Be Done? Possible solutions include creating an additional exemption to current FOIA laws. There are currently over 80 specific FOIA Exemptions throughout the body of U.S. law, so it is clear that exempting voluntarily shared information that could affect national security is consistent with the intent and application of FOIA. Another solution is to build on existing relevant legal precedents such as the 1998 Y2K Information and Readiness Disclosure Act, the 1984 National Cooperative Research Act, territorially limited court rulings, and individual, advisory Department of Justice Findings. Why Pursue a Legislative Solution? The goal is to provide incentives for voluntary information sharing. Legislation can add legal clarity that will provide one such incentive, as well as also demonstrate the support and commitment of Congress to increasing critical infrastructure assurance.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an individual who has played an essential role in our society. That individual is John Cavanaugh. Mr. Cavanaugh was born in Bethesda, Maryland, and graduated from Georgetown University. He entered the teaching professional in 1973 as a German instructor at Georgetown Preparatory School. In 1976, he began teaching at the Congressional School of Virginia. During his tenure, Mr. Cavanaugh has taught United States History, American Government, World History, Geography, Latin, Italian, and Spanish. He has served as Yearbook Advisor for over two decades and is currently Chair of the Social Studies Department at the Congressional Schools of Virginia. The range of courses Mr. Cavanaugh has taught reflects the expansiveness of his mind and his concern for the interactions of the multifarious peoples within our society. Mr. Cavanaugh also brings keen intellect to his work and inspires his students to be like him--that is, to use their intellects. He is a model teacher because he creates an appetite for knowledge and then teaches his students how to satisfy this appetite. When this school year draws to a close, John Cavanaugh will have completed 25 years as a teacher at the Congressional Schools of Virginia. As we contemplate the problems of our education system and debate the solutions to those problems, it is important to focus on the many great educators within the system who have committed their lives and careers to inspiring youngsters to learn. John Cavanaugh stands for them all. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to congratulate John on his many achievements and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. I hope my colleagues will join me in saluting a man who gives much hope to our future.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, when the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) talks about sometimes it looks like you are just feeling like you are just running errands, that is what we feel some days as Members going back and forth as well. I just wanted to say congratulations and thank you for a job well done over these past few months. I was a page up here from 1963 to 1967. In those days, you could stay more than 1 year, and I stayed for my complete tenure during high school. The day after 8th grade I started, and the day before I went to college I finished. It paid pretty well in those days. You could live at home, and my family was right across the river in Northern Virginia. But you learn a lot of things. One is to try to bring some balance to a very busy life, and I hope you have learned something about time management with this. This may confront you throughout your life, in college, in your careers. If you can just take away from here that understanding of how important it is to organize and get things done, it is going to put you in great stead as you move through life. I hope you have a great appreciation and love of for this institution, which is what I had when I left. Whether you decide to go into politics or decide to be a refrigerator repairman, it does not make any difference as long as you understand the complexities of government, understand what Members face, what the staffs face and how the system works, it will give you this appreciation, will make you a better citizen. Maybe it will inspire some of you, from what the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) was saying it already has, to perhaps run for office someday. My appreciation led me to run for office, first at lower levels of government and then finally coming back here as a Member. You have been here through some very, very interesting times. Think of it, over a 4-year cycle, you are the ones who got to see a change in the Presidency, you got it see the counting of the electoral votes here in the House, and I do not think we had anything since 1877 that is anything close to this, and you got to witness that. You got to see a swearing in of a new Congress and the changes that that brought, passage of some landmark legislation. You have gone through a lot of late nights, some very stressful times and the excitement, the ups and downs that you get in a job like this. I do not know how many of you spent the night in a phone booth. It is not a very good place. But I can tell you where I come from, Republican Party used to meet in a phone booth. So we are pretty used to that as well. I just hope that your experience here will inspire you to continue to stay active in government and continue to stay active in helping your fellow citizens. That is ultimately what this is about. This is the way that we give back to our communities and try to make a limited number of dollars to go a long way to help the most people in the community. I hope you will dedicate a good part of your lives to doing that, whether it is in the political or the volunteer or the professional side as you move on. I want to say, I hope this experience will help you get into the college of your choice next year. It is a nice resume enhancer. Good luck and Godspeed to all of you, and thank you for a job well done.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a young man from Virginia's Eleventh Congressional District, Alan Webb, a senior at South Lakes High School in Reston. Perhaps you have been reading about him in the newspaper. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that it takes many years to become an overnight success, and this is certainly the case with Alan Webb. I saw him for the first time compete in the Foot Locker Challenge in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1999; and in the cross-country field he ran way ahead of the pack. He is an outstanding young man. But Alan achieved national recognition in May when he competed in the 27th Prefontaine Classic at the University of Oregon. This is considered one of the premier races in the sport of track and field. Alan finished a remarkable fifth against some of the finest milers in the world. But even more remarkable, his time was 3 minutes 53 seconds, a new record for the high school mile. The previous high school mark of 3 minutes 55 seconds was set 35 years ago in 1965 by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun). Let us put that in perspective. An 18-year-old broke a 36- year-old record in what many consider to be the most exciting event in track and field. His performance at the Prefontaine Classic electrified those in attendance. A large crowd anticipating Alan's record-breaking bid rose to their feet when Alan's name was announced. And their cheers were even more deafening when his time was posted at the race's end. He made no secret of the fact that he hoped to set the record at this event, putting an exclamation point on what was already an exceptional high school career. His accomplishment, in this sense, was Ruthian: He set the highest possible goal, and he achieved it. What is most commendable, perhaps, is the grace with which Alan has accepted his fame. He has said that he knows his mark will one day be broken as well. He has publicly recognized all those who have helped him reach such heights: family, friends, coaches, and teammates. As I noted earlier, Alan may have achieved new levels of public recognition by breaking the high school record, but the determination was evident long ago. On June 2, Alan joined his South Lakes teammates at the Virginia AAA Track and Field Championships at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. They competed in the 4x4 relay, where Alan's team placed fourth. He also competed in the 800 meter race, shattering the State record in that event by 2 seconds, finishing in 1 minute 47 seconds. Alan will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall. He realizes that he has only a few weeks left in high school and is enjoying every moment. His down-to-earth demeanor has allowed him to keep his achievements in perspective, as fans and friends now ask for pictures and autographs. He looks forward to greater success in the future. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Alan. It is especially pleasing to have the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun) with me on the floor here today. I appreciate the class with which he has passed his torch to Alan, and I am sure Alan does as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun).

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, let me say to the gentleman from Kansas, I appreciate his being here today. For Alan and his family and all of his supporters in the South Lakes community and across the country, we join in this tribute today.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 1885, a bill which will expand the class of beneficiaries who may apply for adjustment of status under section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act by extending the deadline for classification petition and labor certification filings. H.R. 1885 will allow immigrants to apply for legal residence while remaining in the United States, four months from the date of enactment of this legislation. This extension is consistent with the Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act's intention to provide a small window--which has been cut short due to administrative problems--to permit aliens to adjust their status. Immigrants may qualify if they have been in the United States since December 21, 2000. I believe this legislation is fair and equitable because it does not encourage illegal immigration or punish those who are presently waiting to enter the United States legally. In addition, H.R. 1885 requires that the family relationship or employment exists by April 30, 2001 to discourage the possibility of false marriages by illegal immigrants. Furthermore, H.R. 1885 will assist only the group of immigrants eligible by the April 30th date, but failed to meet the deadline. This is an important adjustment to the law because Section 245(i) allows prospective family and employment based immigrants to adjust their status to that of permanent resident while remaining in the United States, rather than requiring them to return to their home country to obtain an immigrant visa. I believe that failing to extend the 245(i) provision would burden American families and businesses, effectively splitting families apart and placing business projects on hold for an inordinate and undue amount of time. This is not in America's best interest. I, therefore, encourage Members from both sides of the aisle to support this fair and equitable adjustment to present immigration law.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of citizens in Northern Virginia who will be celebrating their graduation from the YMCA Community Service New Millennium Program on Friday, May 11, 2001. Forty-eight people will be receiving their certificates for completing this challenging program. The New Millennium Program is a joint, after-school effort run by Arlington Public Schools, Arlington Community Television and YMCA Community Services Department. It is also the only television program exclusively for youth in this area. It has been in existence for two years and has been extremely successful. The goal of the Program is to teach volunteer secondary school students the field of video production. After receiving instruction from the staff of Channel 33, the students pick a subject, and then write, film and edit their work. The Metropolitan YMCA Community Services Office and its predecessor, The Refugee Services Office, based in Arlington, have been providing multi-cultural programs for our evermore-diverse and dynamic population for over twenty years. The YMCA Community Services Office has been instrumental in opening doors for people who have come here from all over the world. Among the many services provided are: English as a Second Language classes for adults during the evening hours. After-school tutorials for students so that they keep pace with their peers. Multi-cultural and adaptation workshops for adults and teens and their families to ease ``culture shock.'' Millennium Youth Program designed to focus on technology, its impact on youth, and approaches for positive influence on the target audience. Interpreting and translating services. Job placement and housing referral service. The above programs, staffed and executed almost entirely by volunteers, are an admirable example of how a few people can make a positive difference in the lives of many. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to extend my congratulations to the individuals who have completed this program. It is truly an honor to have individuals like this in our community. I ask that all of my colleagues join me in commending this hardworking group.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 10, the Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act, a bill I consider to be one of the most important pieces of legislation we will consider during this Congress. Americans want to be self-sufficient. That desire is at the core of the vast majority of legislation we consider here in Congress, be it tax-related, healthcare-related, pension-related, or education-related. Americans want the resources available in their old age that will allow them to live in dignity, without dependency on the government or the charity of others, and without becoming a burden to their children. This is a simple request, but in order to make it possible, years of careful planning and savings are required. How can we as Members of Congress help in this process, Mr. Speaker? We have social security, but we all realize this is a program in need of comprehensive reform in order to remain viable. Many are skeptical that the money they pay into social security will be there to help them when they retire. Whatever is done--or not done with respect to social security, we all realize that depending heavily on social security to provide a secure retirement is a bad idea. In fact, it was never intended to be more than one leg, of a three-legged stool, the other legs of which were personal savings and pension plans. Unfortunately, with the level of personal savings in this country at its lowest level since 1933, this three-legged stool is becoming more of a pogo stick. Therefore, it is paramount that we in Congress give Americans tools to save more of their personal income for retirement. IRAs and 401(k)s have been excellent instruments to accomplish this goal, but allowable contributions need to be raised to more realistic levels. H.R. 10 raises the limit for IRA contributions to $5000 and the 401(k) limit to $15,000, then indexes them for inflation. It gives individuals over 50 years old the opportunity to ``catch up'' by making contributions of up to $5000 immediately. H.R. 10 also makes it easier for workers to move their pension savings when they change jobs, and eliminates regulatory barriers that discourage small businesses from setting up pension programs. There are other important provisions in H.R. 10, but I would like to summarize by saying that Messrs. Portman and Cardin have done an outstanding job crafting a comprehensive bill that will help Americans prepare for retirement. I commend them on their outstanding work, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor a friend of Northern Virginia, Ms. Elma Mankin, who is being recognized by the Herndon Rotary Club as Citizen of the Year at a ceremony on April 25, 2001 in Herndon, Virginia. Ms. Mankin has dedicated herself to making our community a better place. As an active philanthropist, she spends countless hours volunteering in Herndon's many historical sites. She is involved with the Herndon Historical Society, the Herndon Women's Club, Reston Hospital, Herndon United Methodist Church, the Council for the Arts in Herndon, and other local organizations. A lifelong member of Herndon, Ms. Mankin has seen it grow from a one- stop-light town to the booming technological corridor it is today. She began her career as a secretary at Herndon High School and eventually moved to the Herndon Elementary School. She retired when she gave birth to her two daughters. After the last of her children grew up, she looked for ways to remain active in the community. She went to Northern Virginia Community College to receive her associate's degree in fine arts. Her works became well-known, but she decided to keep art as a hobby. Ms. Mankin continues to enjoy art, but her real joy is her love of volunteering. She became involved in over ten organizations after finishing her degree. Ms. Mankin continues her volunteer efforts, visiting Reston Hospital once a week to assist in the rehabilitation center. She also participates in a social group for local women called ``Lunch and Fun Bunch.'' She serves as a trustee on the Herndon School Board, a lifetime member of the Historical Society, and has served as a town election official for 22 years. Her countless hours of service make our district proud to have such a fine citizen. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish the very best to Ms. Elma Mankin as she is recognized as the Citizen of the Year. She certainly has earned this recognition, and I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in applauding this remarkable achievement.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the Fairfax, Virginia Host Lions Club, is observing its 50th anniversary this month. The Fairfax chapter boasts a long list of distinguished members, including former Congressman William L. Scott, now a State Senator. The Mayor of the City of Fairfax has issued a proclamation proclaiming the week April 15 through 21 as Lions Club Week in the City. I ask unanimous consent that this proclamation be printed in the Record. Proclamation Whereas, on April 21, 2001 the Fairfax Host Lions Club will celebrate fifty years of community service to citizens and organizations of Fairfax, Virginia; and Whereas, the Fairfax Host Lions Club have given unselfishly of their time and skills to answer requests affecting the welfare of our community; and Whereas, these Lions have helped mankind in Fairfax through assisting the needy with food baskets at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter; furnishing eyeglasses, hearing aids and exams; providing support to Little League, Scouting, Drug Awareness and other youth programs; supporting the Lions Eye Clinic at Fairfax Hospital; providing support to the Eye Glass Recycling Program; providing support to selected International Programs to include Leader Dogs for the sight impaired and Hearing Dogs for the hearing impaired; and supporting Diabetes and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Awareness Programs in this area. Now, therefore, I, John Mason, Mayor of the City of Fairfax, Virginia, do hereby proclaim the week of April 15- 21, 2001 as Lions Club Week in the City of Fairfax and encourage all residents of the City to join in paying honor to and supporting the Lions for their many activities benefitting humanity in our City. Signed, John Mason, Mayor. Mr. Speaker, throughout our Country the Lions attempt to improve their communities in numerous ways although special emphasis is placed upon sight conservation. We in Virginia are proud of the Old Dominion Eye Bank, which, with the assistance of dedicated physicians, enables blind people to see once again. They also participate with other Northern Virginia Lions in an Eye Glass Recycling Program, providing glasses to numerous needy people overseas. I certainly hope that the Fairfax Host Lions Club can continue serving the Fairfax area in so many worthwhile ways, and would like to add my congratulations to the club for the fine work they have done over the years. I call upon all of my colleagues to congratulate them on their fine achievements.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor two outstanding groups in Northern Virgina, the American Legion Post 364 and Auxiliary Post 364. Recently, four of their most outstanding members were recognized, as well as the entire Auxiliary Unit. Jerry Howard, a member of Post 364, received the National Award for Children and Youth Chairman of the Year for Region 2. Tirelessly devoted to youth education initiatives, Jerry is most often recognized for aiding children of veterans, even providing financial assistance to those who are in need. Marie Rhyne, also a member of Post 364, was recently appointed as a member of the National Security Committee. This Committee not only lends support to foreign relations, it also endorses ROTC, blood donations, crime prevention, and junior law cadets. Barbara Stevenson, a member of Auxiliary Unit 364 and Legislative Chairman of the Unit, received the National Award for Outstanding Unit Legislative Program, Southern Division. Members of the Legislative Division make appearances at Congressional hearings and attend meetings with Congressmen and women's groups to explain their interests. Marcia Wheatley, also a member of Auxiliary Unit 364 and Junior Activities Chairman, Department of Virginia, received the National Award for Outstanding Department Junior Activities Program, Southern Division. Marcia recognizes that helping our youth is key to the success of the Unit and the community. Finally, Auxiliary Unit 364 was recognized with the Dr. Kate Barrett trophy for the most outstanding Unit in the Department of Virginia. This prestigious award is well deserved and proves that this Unit gives a great deal back to its community. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish the very best to the above individuals and the entire American Legion Post 364 and Auxiliary Post 364. All of the above recognized people have certainly earned this recognition, and I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in applauding their remarkable achievements. Northern Virginia is better off because of their efforts.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memories of those who perished in the Armenian Genocide. April 24, 1915 is remembered and solemnly commemorated each year by the Armenian community. On this date, eighty-six years ago, a group of Armenian political, religious, and intellectual leaders were arrested in Constantinople, sent further inland, and killed. In the following years, Armenians living under Ottoman rule were deprived of their freedom, property, and ultimately, their lives. By 1923, over a million Armenians had been massacred, and another half a million more people had been deported. This genocide, which was preceded by a series of massacres in 1894- 1896 and in 1909 and was followed by another series of massacres in 1920, essentially dispersed Armenians and removed them from their historic homeland. The persecution of the Armenian people left psychological scars among the survivors and their families. No person should have to endure the trauma and horrors that they did. On May 2, 1995, I had the honor of meeting the former Armenian Ambassador to the United States, Rouben Robert Shugarian, at a Congressional reception commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Ambassador Shugarian introduced me to several survivors of the 1915 genocide. This experience was a deeply moving and personal reminder of the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during the systematic extermination by the Ottoman Empire. It is important that we not only commemorate the Armenian Genocide, but also honor the memory of others who lost their lives during this time. We must remember this horrific and shameful period in world history so that it will never be repeated again.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 56, urging the appropriate representative of the United States to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to introduce at the annual meeting of the Commission a resolution calling upon the People's Republic of China to end its human rights violations in China and Tibet. Tibet is a country and culture that has garnered international attention in the past several decades. Since 1959, China has implemented a relentless policy and program to erase Tibet from history and existence. The former religious leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, was forced to leave Tibet, and now lives in exile in India. There are many other Tibetans who chose to follow him and thus, remain in exile today. I am particularly concerned with China's human rights record with respect to Tibet, such as repression of freedom of speech, religion, and expression. The Chinese government's policy of suppressing religious, political, and cultural freedom in Tibet in highly disturbing. I am deeply troubled that monks and nuns make up seventy-four percent of over 250 political prisoners incarcerated in Tibet. While there has been a slight decline in new detentions since 1997 in Tibet, this may be attributed to the implementation and intensification of the Patriotic Education campaign, which requires monks, nuns, and lay persons to denounce the Dalai Lama. However, the number of monks and nuns known to have been detained as a result of opposing the Patriotic Education campaign is a small fraction of those who have been expelled from their monasteries or who have fled from Tibet. Recently, it has come to my attention that Chinese authorities have increased the jamming of foreign radio broadcasts in Tibet following the allocation of increased resources by Beijing in an attempt to prevent ``infiltration'' of the airwaves by ``foreign hostile forces.'' It is my understanding that Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Voice of Tibet, which all cover both international news and news of the activities of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community in exile, have encountered intensified jamming of their broadcasts into Tibetan areas over the past four to six months. The Chinese authorities have also announced an expansion of state-run Tibetan language broadcasting, including the training of more Tibetan journalists and new programs in Kham and Amdo dialects, in order to counter foreign radio broadcasters. It is my belief that this intensified focus to jam such broadcasts is a result of the Chinese government's recent emphasis on propaganda work in Tibet, an important element of Beijing's campaign to develop the western regions of China. The United States has a moral obligation to pursue strong diplomatic pressures which assert an end to civil persecutions not only in Tibet but all countries where individual liberties are routinely repressed. I join by colleagues in voicing every American's opposition to these atrocities and acts of repression. I commend Congressman Frank Wolf from Virginia for his leadership in bringing attention to the plight of the Tibetan people and Tibetan culture, and I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support this important resolution.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my friend and colleague from Virginia, Norman Sisisky, who served this body with dignity, honor and extreme dedication since 1983. I first met Norm in 1974 when I was an aide in the Virginia General Assembly. He was a freshman member at that time, and he was known at that time as one of the smartest guys in the general assembly and a gentleman and someone if he wanted to pursue public service could go a long way, and he did. Virginia's Fourth Congressional District and the Nation has lost a first-class public servant. Norm was a true gentleman and a great patriot. I will never forget his kind and valuable tutelage when I first came to Congress, nor will I forget how he demonstrated to all of us the importance of doing good rather than getting credit. He certainly earned his reputation as a hard worker and skilled negotiator. During his 18 years in Congress, Norm secured committee assignments that paid dividends to the residents and businesses in his district. He played a role in reforming the Department of Defense's financial management system and worked tirelessly to preserve the nuclear shipbuilding industrial base so vital to employment rates in the Hampton Roads area. His was the proper and responsible balance: protect Virginia's military facilities, but also make sure that military spending decisions are fiscally prudent and fair to taxpayers nationwide. Norm was a businessman. Just as he transformed a small bottling company into a highly successful distributorship throughout Southside Virginia, Norm toiled in the Congress to improve procurement practices and streamline government to make it more effective and efficient. He leaves this country stronger and better for his tireless efforts. Mr. Speaker, I mourn the loss of Norm Sisisky as a friend and colleague. More than just a Member of Congress, he will be remembered as a husband, father, businessman, State legislator and patriot. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Rhoda and their four sons and extended family and staff. I cannot express how much I will miss this great public servant.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6, the Marriage Penalty and Family Tax Relief Act. I would also like to commend the excellent work of Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas for reporting this important legislation. The marriage penalty represents one of the more onerous aspects of our overly-complex tax code. It results in more than 21 million married couples incurring an average additional tax liability of $1400, just for being married. In the 11th District of Virginia, which I represent, it affects over 66,000 couples. It is troublesome glitches such as this that confuse taxpayers--that make them question whether the federal government is really there to help them, or whether it merely exists to exert its power in capricious and arbitrary ways. Mr. Speaker, I ask you, if we cannot afford to fix problems such as this when we are enjoying surpluses, when can we do it? When can we take the necessary steps to make our tax code fairer, to do away with the unintended consequences of past actions? I say that we can do it now. H.R. 6 is a clear reflection of what our priorities should be. We should encourage couples however we can. We should send the message that staying at home to raise your children has real value. We should say that we realize staying married is not an easy task. There are pressures and difficulties which too frequently rend asunder what God has joined--and most often these pressures are financial. We should wisely use the power entrusted in us by the American people to reduce this financial strain that causes many families to break apart. We should use that power to give them more of their own money to help raise their children. Mr. Speaker, how do we have any hope of stemming the flow of divorce, broken homes, and childhood violence if we do not support marriage and strong families at every turn? This bill will fix the marriage penalty. It will help more couples keep one spouse at home to help raise the children if they choose to do so. It will help with the expenses of raising a family by doubling the child tax credit to $1000 per child. In the 11th District alone, that will help the parents of over 120,000 children buy clothes for school, buy the gasoline to get them there, pay the heating bill to keep them warm, and buy the food to make them strong. It will send a message to couples, young, and old, that we support them. Mr. Speaker, it is time to divorce ourselves from this unfair tax. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my specific thanks to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) and the rest of the Committee on the Budget on both sides for including an amendment by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), my good friend, that would maintain the nearly 20-year-old tradition of pay parity between military and civilian Federal employees. As many of my colleagues already know, the pay rates for both civilian and military personnel have fallen significantly below those of their private sector counterparts. Very recently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report that confirmed that even now, more than 10 years after the enactment of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act, FEPCA, civilian and military employees are paid 32 percent and 10 percent respectively less than their private sector counterparts. The Committee on the Budget has taken the first important step for protecting the 20-year tradition of pay parity between military and civilian Federal employees. I would like to thank my very good friend and neighbor, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), for leading the cause of the committee and the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) for accepting this. Without this and the help of the chairman of the Committee on the Budget we would not have had this included in the fiscal year 2002 budget. A few words about the bigger picture, Mr. Chairman. The budget we have proposed is good for America's future. It shows a strong commitment to the fiscal responsibility that has long been lacking here in Washington. We are committed to paying down the national debt by providing $2.3 trillion for this purpose. That is the most that we can pay. The substitute pays down more of the debt that we can pay because of the long-term, non-callability of some of the government bonds, which leads me to suspect this money would lay around Washington and could be spent on other programs. It also recognizes that the American people deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money by providing tax relief for every family that pays taxes. That, Mr. Chairman, is only fair. It does not do so at the expense of important programs such as Medicare. In fact, it incorporates the vital protections we passed overwhelmingly in H.R. 2 by keeping the Medicare part A surplus off limits for any purpose other than for Medicare itself or paying down the debt until necessary reforms are made. It recognizes the vital role the Federal Government plays in health care by providing a $2.8 billion increase for NIH. Finally, it reflects the obligation we have to the future of our youngest citizens by increasing education spending by $47.5 billion over the next 10 years, including an 11.5 percent increase for fiscal year 2002, the largest percentage increase for any department. Mr. Chairman, this budget is a clear reflection of our priorities. It protects our senior citizens; it teaches the young; it improves the Nation's health care economically, physically and mentally. I urge my colleagues to give it their support.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Prince William County, Virginia, which will be celebrating its 270th birthday on March 20, 2001. Prince William County was established by the Virginia General Assembly on July 9, 1730, when the population increased to a point that the formation of a new county was necessary. It took several months for the legislation to become law. In 1731, Prince William County was recognized as a county and included Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudon and Fauquier. Named for William Augustus, the second son of King George II, the county was cut to its current size in 1759. Within the county there are also two independent cities, Manassas and Manassas Park. The citizens of Prince William County are continually contributing to the country's history and cultural heritage. The county was home to some of the nation's first European settlements. Many of the first arrivals to the county were of Irish descent. They settled on vacant plots and began to farm, aided only by convicts who had been sent from England. It also played an important role in the American Revolution by aiding in the formation of the new country. Prince William County was the site of many Civil War battles. One of the most notable of the Civil War conflicts was the Battle of First Manassas, which was the first major encounter between the North and South. The Manassas Battlefields are now National Parks visited by thousands every summer. Prince William County continues, to this day, to have a close connection to our military. In fact, the town of Quantico is completely surrounded by a Marine Corps Base. The military history of this town goes back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, when the land was used for Virginia Naval Operations. The Marine Corps Base was established there in 1917. Today, Prince William County is the second most populous county in the Commonwealth. The rich history in this county makes it one of the most historical counties in the nation. The citizens are proud to keep this history alive and are continually reminded of the past by the collective knowledge of those who live and work there. Moreover, Prince William County is a leader in a new Virginia revolution, a technology revolution. I am certain that her citizens will continue their role as leaders of Virginia's and America's futures. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish continued prosperity for the County of Prince William and I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in applauding this remarkable milestone. I am proud to represent a portion of Prince William County in the House of Representatives.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger), my friend, for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I rise today as the sponsor in support of H. Con. Res. 41, a resolution which expresses sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquakes that struck El Salvador on January 13, 2001, and February 13, 2001, and supports ongoing aid efforts. Two devastating and deadly earthquakes rocked the Central American nation of El Salvador on January 13 and February 13. The first quake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and had a depth of 96 miles and occurred off the El Salvadoran coastline 65 miles southwest of San Miguel. The second quake measured 6.6 on the Richter scale and had a depth of about 20 miles, and it occurred 48 miles east of San Salvador. Neighboring countries of Guatemala and Honduras also felt this quake. These devastating earthquakes were responsible for over 1,100 deaths and more than 8,000 injuries. In addition, the quakes destroyed 150,000 homes and damaged another 185,000 houses. In total, over 1.5 million El Salvadorans have been affected by these national catastrophes. The humanitarian needs of our neighbors in El Salvador are substantial. El Salvadorans need clean water, health facilities, homes, schools and paved roads. These needs are compounded by severe poverty, particularly in the rural areas, which affects 63 percent of El Salvador's rural families. The damage assessments continue to rise. The USAID reports that the cost of rebuilding after the two earthquakes will be more than $2.8 billion. Adding to the devastation are the aftershocks that continue to occur in El Salvador. The United States Geological Survey reports that hundreds of landslides have occurred, making the roads impassable in many places around lakes, while debris flowing around such lakes have altered drainage patterns which will cause sediment dams to form during the rainy season. In addition, many roads and bridges have been washed out or blocked by landslides or mudslides. As of March 15, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that over 70,000 people lack adequate drinking water and must depend on clean water transported by trucks. Currently, UNICEF is organizing the distribution of water and working closely with the Pan-American Health Organization and the World Health Organization. After years of brutal civil war and unrest, El Salvador has emerged as one of the most stable nations in Latin America. Not only has El Salvador developed a thriving economy, but it also has instituted many significant democratic reforms. I am deeply concerned that the damage and human suffering caused by these earthquakes may threaten the future stability and economic success of El Salvador. We cannot allow this tragedy to result in socio-political backsliding. The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is home to approximately 135,000 Salvadoran-Americans, which is the second-largest Salvadoran community in the United States, only behind Los Angeles, California. I want to take this opportunity to commend the El Salvadoran immigrants who live in America, work honest jobs, contribute to our local economies, and also save enough to send home to their families in El Salvador. Salvadoran immigrants' contributions to their home land is laudable and substantial. They send an estimated $2 billion annually to their families, making their remittances El Salvador's main source of foreign exchange. Saint Anthony's of Padua Catholic Church in Falls Church, Virginia, is a shining example of the community and the Church working together to bring relief to those who need it most. The congregation is where 5,000 Salvadoran-Americans worship weekly. By the end of January, almost $93,000 was collected during the Sunday services. Subsequent to this collection, Reverend Father Jose E. Hoyos and his congregation have collected food, drinking water, blankets, and other basic necessities to distribute to earthquake victims. Father Hoyos traveled to El Salvador in early February to inspect the damage and to report back to his parishioners on recovery efforts. In addition, Father Hoyos brought a check for $88,276 made out to the Catholic charity, Caritas, for the archdiocese of San Salvador. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Chairman Ballenger), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) for their support in quickly moving this resolution through their committees. Finally, I believe H. Con. Res. 41 is an important resolution that deserves the support of every Member, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this resolution.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 327, the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2001. It is estimated that small business owners spend at least a billion hours each year filling out government paperwork at a cost of $100 billion. For companies with fewer than 20 employees, paperwork regulations cost $2,017 per employee per year. For those with 20 to 499 employees, paperwork regulations cost $1,931 per employee per year. This is simply unacceptable. Although there have been attempts to mitigate this burden in the past, they are clearly not working. In fact, the Office of Management and Budget's FY 2000 Information Collection Budget shows that there have been increases in paperwork in each of the last 5 years. Such figures reinforce the notion that the Federal Government is simply a regulatory beast, better suited to imposing complex rules and creating extra work for the American people than being a source of assistance. This has to stop. Every effort must be made to make it as easy as possible for small businesses to conduct business with, and abide by the rules of, the Federal Government. H.R. 327 goes a long way toward making this a reality, and I commend Chairman Burton for his leadership in bringing this bill before the House so early in this Congress. H.R. 327 makes it easy for small businesses to find out their paperwork obligations by requiring that a comprehensive, annual list be published on the Internet and in the Federal Register. It also requires every agency to establish a single point of contact to act as a liaison to small businesses. Finally, it requires every agency to make special efforts to reduce paperwork for businesses with fewer than 25 employees, and establishes a task force to study the feasibility of streamlining reporting requirements for all small businesses. Small businesses have a hard enough time trying to survive in the competitive marketplace. There is no reason not to minimize the amount of resources that they must divert from conducting business to complying with the Federal Government. I urge my colleagues to fully support this bill.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor an organization in Northern Virginia that has made serving neglected and abused children its priority. Court Appointed Special Advocates has been serving the community for over a decade, and its dedication throughout our region is being rewarded at the Springfield Inter-Service Award Ceremony on March 14, 2001. Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, is a national organization dedicated to ensuring that the best interests of abused and neglected children are represented in court. It was started in Washington State in 1976 by King County Superior Court Presiding Judge David W. Soukop. The court found that before the formation of CASA, attorneys did not spend the necessary time and did not have the adequate training to provide the thorough investigation needed in these cases. Judge Soukop decided to recruit volunteers to do the required research and stay with the children as their court cases unfolded. There are programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. There are 25 CASA offices in Virginia, the largest of which is in Fairfax. The office in Fairfax was opened in 1989 and to date has helped over 3,000 children. With 150 volunteers, it is currently serving 400 children. Working with attorneys, school and medical officials, and social workers, CASA volunteers act on behalf of the children involved in cases so they do not become just another docket number. CASA volunteers must complete hours of training and are then sworn in by a judge. Before taking on a case, volunteers work hard to attain knowledge of the case by sitting in on a day of proceedings on that particular case. The dedication of these volunteers to the children they are asked to represent helps these children through very traumatic times. The first priority of CASA is to help children. They do not investigate the abuse; they only look into information about the child and the family. Their mandate is ``what is in the best interest of the child.'' Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish the very best to CASA as it is honored at the Springfield Inter-Service Awards Banquet in Springfield, Virginia. The volunteers certainly have earned this recognition, and I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in applauding their remarkable achievement.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor a friend of Northern Virginia, Ms. Jeanne Burns, for her many years of service to the community. Her dedication throughout our region is being rewarded at the Springfield Inter- Service Award Ceremony on March 14, 2001. Ms. Burns' outstanding contributions to Northern Virginia have paved the way for many tremendous achievements. She served on the PTA Board at Crestwood Elementary School, where she assisted in raising thousands of dollars last year alone. The money went to support after-school programs for at-risk children, fund school field trips, provide summer school tuition for children in need, and to promote art programs through a grant with the Virginia Fine Arts Commission. Her time is split between her work at the elementary school PTA and the PTA Board at both Key Middle School and Lee High School. Ms. Burns is also active in the schools' booster clubs. Part of her time is spent raising money for all-night graduation parties. Ms. Burns contributed to the planning of millennium activities in Fairfax County with the group ``Celebrate Fairfax.'' One of her other community endeavors was the Fairfax Fall Festival, which is held every year in the downtown area of the City of Fairfax. She was active in securing health care exhibits for the festival, as well as for a community health fair held at Crestwood Elementary School. She is currently doing volunteer work at Crestwood Elementary every Monday and Wednesday night, where she works with non-English-speaking adults in literacy classes. Ms. Burns volunteers earlier on those days to teach English to young, immigrant mothers. She provides the classes with supplements that she prepares herself. Ms. Burns continues to actively support Crestwood Elementary School with fundraising efforts and fulfills her commitment to educate non- English-speaking residents. She reminds us that there are people who are willing to give so much and ask for so little in return. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish the very best to Ms. Burns as she is honored at the Springfield Inter-Service Awards Banquet in Springfield, Virginia. She certainly has earned this recognition, and I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in applauding her remarkable achievements.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3, the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2001. The U.S. economy is currently experiencing a slowdown. In order to fend off a further downturn or recession, it is imperative that Congress act quickly to breath life back into the economy. By reducing income tax brackets retroactively to the beginning of this year, H.R. 3 provides immediate tax relief by decreasing withholding rates. This will result in an infusion of cash into the economy--up to $360 for a married couple in 2001--that our economy urgently needs. Some say that it is reckless to bring a tax relief bill to the floor of this body before we have adopted a budget resolution. I disagree. Rather, I commend Chairman Thomas for recognizing the fact that undue delay would deaden the positive, restorative effects that lowering marginal rates would bring. Furthermore, this being a bicameral legislature, we must wait for the other body to do their part on this bill. It is even more imperative, then, that we spur them on by doing our work expeditiously. Before a final conference report comes before us, we will have the benefit of a budget resolution. But if we wait for the final budget resolution before we begin the process, the tax cut could lost its stimulative effect on the economy. We have a choice: Either take the necessary steps to return our country to the positive growth, or bring the danger of recession ever closer through indecision and delay. H.R. 3, is only the first step in bringing tax relief to the American people. There are other areas of the tax code that Congress must fully address--the marriage penalty, the alternative minimum tax, higher savings levels for Individual Retirement Accounts, and the death tax; however, those must wait for a later date. Our focus now must be on keeping the economy healthy, keeping Americans working, keeping small businesses open, and ushering more and more people into the middle class through the prosperity that has blessed this country in recent years. Across-the-board cuts affect withholding rates now and give an immediate stimulus to the economy. Finally, reducing marginal tax rates is an issue of fairness. I believe that is simply wrong that the government currently takes away up to 40 percent of an individual's income--and much more when other taxes are taken into account. We must encourage enterprise. We must encourage savings. Our policies must reflect the oft-touted belief in the American Dream that through hard work and sacrifice one might build a better life--not become the object of higher government tolls and the subject of vilification merely because of success. I have heard from many of my constituents who would be positively affected by the relief this bill would bring. They are not the ``idle rich.'' They are individuals and couples who have mortgages to pay. They are parents trying to pay for their children's educations. They are making car payments. They are the people who tirelessly serve our federal government. They are the entrepreneurs whose small businesses are at the core of the high-tech revolution that has fueled our economy's growth over the past several years. I can assure you that they do not live lives of ease as has so often been portrayed by opponents of this plan. They deserve to get a small portion of the money that they have overpaid to the government back. It was their hard work and sacrifice that rescued the government from the massive debt it had accumulated over years of bloated excess. Now that they need a helping hand, we must not abandon them. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support S.J. Res. 6, the Ergonomics Rule Disapproval Resolution. Small business is the engine that drives our national and local economies. I am deeply concerned about the impact that this ergonomics rule would have for these reasons. Since the Department of Labor submitted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule on ergonomics on November 14, 2000, I have heard from many small businesses in my district concerned about the consequences of this rule on their places of business. While many American businesses are committed to providing a safe workplace for their employees by improving safety standards and protecting their employees' health, they are particularly troubled by the ambiguous procedures and vague definitions that OSHA promulgated through the ergonomics rulemaking. The rule holds employers responsible for paying 80 percent of an employee's pay for 90 days should his or her job contribute to a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). In addition, the OSHA rule is unprecedented in scope and is based on uncertain science, both in its treatment of alleged MSD and in their relationship to the workplace. Presently, MSDs are poorly defined with no differentiation between on the job injuries and those which are pre-existing. It is impossible to ignore non-work-related factors, yet OSHA requires employers to do so. Furthermore, there is no medical standard for confirming injuries or a standard treatment protocol. The lack of scientific or medical standards will only add to the confusion. Additionally, the OSHA ergonomics regulation may conflict with state workers' compensation laws. Employers will be left to determine whether to follow a federal OSHA requirement or state workers' compensation laws when any MSD occurs. The OSHA ergonomics rule overrides well- established state standards that set compensation levels for injured workers and determine whether or not a condition is work-related. The National Academy of Science report concluded that ``None of the common musculoskeletal disorders is uniquely caused by work exposures'' and that further ``research is needed to clarify such relationships.'' By OSHA's own estimates, this ergonomic rule will cover over 102 million employees, 18 million jobs, and 6.1 million businesses and cost almost $100 billion a year to implement. And there are no guarantees or certainties that this rule will protect workers or have a positive and lasting impact on workplace safety. Furthermore, OSHA's rush to judgment in issuing this regulation to meet artificial deadlines exemplifies irresponsible governmental action. I will continue to support common-sense protections for all workers. In addition, I will continue to support legislation to ensure that there are adequate workplace safety standards and rules for all workers. However, I do not believe that the OSHA ergonomics rule is the solution. For these reasons, I urge all my colleagues to support S.J. Res. 6.

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support today for H.R. 624, the Organ Donation Improvement Act. I have seen first-hand how important organ donation can be. My own sister-in-law has been the recipient of a transplanted kidney. Unfortunately, not every person who needs an organ transplant is as lucky as she was. In 1999 alone, over 6,000 people died while on the waiting list for a donor organ. Despite continuing advances in medicine and technology, the tragic truth is that the demand for organs drastically outstrips the supply of organ donors. According to a recent report, the number of Americans waiting for organ transplants more than tripled from 21,914 to 72,110 between 1990 and the end of 1999. However, annual donor transplants over the same period increased at a far slower rate, going from 15,009 in 1990 to 21,715 in 1999. H.R. 624 is an important step in addressing this crisis. This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a program to educate the public with respect to organ donation. It also authorizes grants to cover the costs of travel and subsistence expenses for individuals who make living donations of their organs. I believe that it is of the utmost importance that we encourage more individuals to share the life-saving benefits of organ donation. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to give this bill their full support.