Tom Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 4237) to amend the District of Columbia Convention Center and Sports Arena Authorization Act of 1995 to revise the revenues and activities covered under such Act, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DAVIS of Virginia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4237, which we have just passed, is a bill that permits the District of Columbia to move forward with a financing plan for the purpose of building a new state-of-the- art convention center in downtown Washington. This bill authorizes the Washington Convention Center Authority, an independent agency, to issue bonds and waive the 30-day waiting period for the D.C. City Council enactment to go into effect. Its passage this evening is important so they can get immediate Senate consideration and be signed by the President, and we can be in the ground and starting construction the 1st of September. Our subcommittee has followed the effort to build a new convention center in downtown Washington with great interest. We think this is critical for the city to reestablish a tax base in downtown Washington, and working with the MCI Center, we will build, we think, a revitalization of the downtown area. Over time it is estimated that the situation only gets worse in terms of attracting tourism if we were to go with the existing center. The District of Columbia's existing Convention Center is now only the 30th largest in the country, and it can accommodate only approximately 55 percent of national conventions and exhibition shows. That is a serious blow to the District's economy. A new convention center will provide much needed jobs for the city, and an increase in locally-generated local tax base revenue. It will boost morale for the entire region. I want to thank the General Accounting Office and the General Services Administration for their respective roles in analyzing the development of the financing plan for the new Washington Convention Center. Their thorough analysis has reinforced our confidence in permitting the District to move forward with this project. I also want to thank the District's Financial Control Board for their hard work and oversight on the development of this project. The Control Board is empowered to approve or disapprove all city borrowing, and this sign-off of the financial package I think gives everyone more confidence in its viability. After reviewing information from both the proponents and opponents of the project, our committee has unanimously approved the project, and the Control Board has, in effect, reported to Congress that all aspects of the project, including borrowing and costs, are compatible with the interests of the District of Columbia. The next step is for Congress to go ahead and pass this bill. Our action this evening is a giant step forward for the District. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran). (Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank Tracy Cox and Peter Sirh of my staff for the staff work they have done on this.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on this solemn occasion I would like to join my colleagues and the people of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia to pay special tribute to Special Agent John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut who gave their lives on July 24 to keep our seat of democracy safe. Special Agent Gibson was a resident of my congressional district. It is tragic that these brave men were cut down in the prime of their lives, but they will never be forgotten for the bravery that they displayed, the lives that they saved and the ultimate sacrifice that they made. Both men were dedicated 18-year veterans of the U.S. Capitol Police Force, and both were devoted to their families, and they will certainly be missed by everyone who knew them. Special Agent Gibson was much more than a Capitol Police officer, however. He was a father, a husband, a sports fan who was beloved and respected in his community. He was Santa Claus at Christmas time. He was loving to his family, generous to his neighbors loyal to his job. Special Agent Gibson will be remembered for all those things, but his enduring legacy will be heroism he displayed on that day. With his own life in danger, he acted quickly and selflessly to save others. He commanded the staff in the whip's office to hide while he faced the gunman alone, and he will be remembered as a great hero for sacrificing his own life to save the lives of others and for continuing to do his duty in the face of great peril. If Special Agent Gibson did not stop the gunman, this terrible tragedy would have spread and been even more severe. Officer Chestnut was an avid vegetable gardener and shared his squash, his cucumbers and peppers with his friends and family. He was a Vietnam veteran and retired Air Force officer. Only two months before retirement, he planned to pursue his hobbies of fishing and golf. It is heartbreaking that his plans ended as abruptly and as brutally while guarding the interests of the Capitol. And he was known by his colleagues for his dedication as a police officer, for following the rules of his post. I extend my sympathies to the family and friends that these heroes left behind, and I know that their wives and children will carry this loss with them forever but pray that they will be comforted by the gratitude of those that Special Agent Gibson and Officer Chestnut protected, and the families could be proud that these men defended the Nation's Capitol with bravery and honor. A tragedy such as this reminds all of us of how fragile life can be. Even at the center of our Nation's democracy we cannot take our security for granted. We owe our freedom as Americans to our dedicated law enforcement officials and military service officers. A tragedy such as this reminds all of us of how fragile life can be. Even at the center of our Nation's democracy we cannot take our security for granted. We owe our freedom as Americans to our dedicated law enforcement officials and our military service members. This fragility reminds us to be grateful of the many gifts and freedoms that we enjoy, many won really hard-fought. We are fortunate to have had Special Agent Gibson and Officer Chestnut on the Capitol Police Force who are well trained and loyal to their duties. When called upon to put their own safety and life above those they were sworn to protect, they did their job, no questions, no excuses. They did what they were trained to do. These men exemplified the best in law enforcement and the best in America. Their excellent work assures that Americans can visit this Capitol in peace and security. In death they will continue to serve as genuine heroes and role models for their colleagues and for all those who believe in the American dream.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), my friend, and would ask if the gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis) can help us in this endeavor.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring to the attention of the distinguished gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis) a problem with the Environmental Protection Agency. Since early this year, I have been working with the EPA on a support contract for the Superfund reportable quantities on oil spill programs. These discussions focus primarily on the issue of bundling non- Remedial Action Contractor (RAC) restricted work with a RAC-restricted work in a single competitive procurement and limiting competition to non-RAC firms only. Mr. Chairman, as the gentleman from California knows, a constituent company of mine located in Fairfax has been performing a scope of work for EPA that is deemed highly necessary in this program. The contracting vehicle is due to expire. Rather than conducting a new competition, EPA has arbitrarily and without justification decided to include this work under a restricted contracting vehicle, for which my constituent and every other RAC-restricted contractor would be precluded from competing as a Remedial Action Contractor. This violates Federal competition in contracting rules and is clearly unfair. Mr. Chairman, I have attempted to resolve this matter by working with EPA, but in a letter to my office dated June 16, 1998, EPA reasserted its position to exclude RAC contractors from competing for bundled Superfund work. I rise today to seek the assurance of the gentleman from California that if EPA does not move expeditiously to resolve this important matter prior to conference, that he will work with me in the context to reach a resolution.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to just once again thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), chairman of the full committee, and thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) for introducing this resolution. I am pleased to have the opportunity today to speak in favor of H. Con. Res. 208, which establishes this body's commitment to making housing a national priority. In a couple of minutes I can only begin to describe the importance of housing in this country, but housing has impacts far greater than can be succinctly described here. Let me say that when we take into account not only the economic benefits of housing, such as increased job opportunities and tax revenues, but the proven positive impact on communities and families and homeownership, we cannot afford to deny housing a top spot on our national agenda. One brief but illustrious example of the impact of housing on our economy is an estimate that the construction of 1,000 single family homes generates 2,448 jobs in construction and construction-related industries, not to mention more than $79 million in wages and more than $42.5 million in Federal, State and local tax revenues. Housing is an important issue in each and every congressional district in this country, and decent shelter is one of the basic necessities of this life. We owe it to American people to take this issue to heart and help make sure that every citizen's needs are considered. Yes, we have the VA-HUD appropriation bill on the floor this week, but this resolution talks not just about government's direct involvement with negotiations but public and private partnerships that can result, affecting the costs of land through zoning laws, through our own Federal largesse; the cost of construction, the cost of money, and the cost of regulations. Even local governments, with permitting and processing and moving those time periods through, have an effect on housing. With every level of government working together with the private sector, and of course encouraging the home mortgage interest deduction, which I think is critical if we are going to remain the country in the world with the highest percentage of homeownership, I think all go into this ingredient. I think the resolution addresses all of these. For these reasons I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 208.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, let me just ask my friend from Oklahoma who has raised this objection, Federal employees, as my colleague knows, have been on some very difficult times through the years, and the Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act which was signed into law by President Bush has called for annual cost of living allowances that can be waived by the administration under severe economic circumstances, and we find ourselves this year with a stock market at an all-time high, unemployment at a generation low.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, it would seem under these circumstances that, if the gentleman could reconsider and allow perhaps this to move through to the conference where it could be more fully debated at this point, I think he would be doing all Federal employees a great service.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of Mr. Frederick W. Silverthorne on his 80th birthday. I ask my colleagues to join me in sending warm wishes to Mr. Silverthorne on this special day. Mr. Silverthorne has served his country both in the Armed Services and as an elected official. After he graduated from the University of Illinois, Mr. Silverthorne served twenty-seven years in the U.S. Navy where he earned several medals and commendations for his bravery, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired from active duty after attaining the rank of Captain. His position as a naval aviator on the aircraft carrier Coral Sea allowed him to fly multiple types of aircraft. Mr. Silverthorne's bravery and valor are demonstrated by his experiences while fighting in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He retired from the Navy in 1968 and joined the National Security Industrial Association (NSIA) where he specialized in anti- submarine warfare for twenty years. Mr. Silverthorne moved to the City of Fairfax in 1962. In the 1970's, he served on the City's Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Board. He generously volunteered his time and guided the city at a time when it was experiencing rapid growth as a suburb of Metro Washington. He also served as a member of the Board and President of the Old Lee Hills Civic Association over the past thirty years and is still currently active in the organization. He helped put Old Lee Hills on the map as a politically active community. Mr. Silverthorne was elected to the Fairfax City Council in 1974 and was then elected Mayor of Fairfax in 1978 and re-elected in 1980. He took this position at a time when Fairfax City was feuding with Fairfax County over the city's independence. He was elected on a platform of preserving ties with Fairfax County including its' school systems. The 1978 Mayoral election had the largest municipal turnout in City history with well over 4,000 people voting. Mr. Silverthorne retired from the NSIA in 1988 after a long and distinguished career. Retirement has not slowed Mr. Silverthorne down, he remains active in all facets of his community. As a former champion diver, he gives diving lessons at the Country Club Hills Pool which he has been doing for 20 years. He is an avid golfer, playing any and everyday the temperature is over 40 degrees. Mr. Silverthorne is also embracing the technology age by taking computer classes. Mr. Silverthorne married the former Bette Brackett in 1943. They had four children: Craig, Janet, Nancy, and Scott. Scott has moved on to follow in his father's footsteps by serving as a five term member of the Fairfax City Council. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring the birthday of Frederick W. Silverthorne. As Mayor John Mason stated, ``Frederick Silverthorne has made an enormous contribution to the Fairfax community not only as mayor or but as an outstanding civic leader.'' His 80 years have showed us what being a devoted and loyal American truly means.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ruth R. Crone's outstanding leadership on the occasion of her retirement from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). For thirty years, she has helped guide the Washington region through an era of tremendous growth and change. As the Executive Director, Ruth was responsible for the overall administration of COG as well as supervising the development and implementation of COG's policies and programs. She served as the Director of Human Resources and Public Safety from 1980 to 1988, and as the Director of the Department of Human Resources from 1972 to 1980. The Council of Governments, founded in 1957, is an independent, non- profit association composed of the eighteen local governments in the Washington metropolitan area. The COG develops and implements programs in response to regional concerns such as growth, transportation, air and water quality, child care, crime, and economic development. Ruth also serves as the Executive Vice President of the Center for Public Administration and Service, board member of the D.C. Agenda Support Corporation, ex-officio board member of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, and editor for the Regionalist, the publication of the National Association of Regional Councils. She is a frequent speaker at area universities and association meetings, has appeared on local and national radio and television talk shows and news programs, and has testified before numerous Congressional committees. Prior to joining COG in 1969, Ruth worked as a planner with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission in Chicago and the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development, and as a health planner with the Public Health Federation of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ruth has been honored many times for her contributions to public service and for her successful career. Her awards include the National Public Service Award from the American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy for Public Administration, the 1998 Alumni Achievement Award from Muhlenberg College, and the International City/County Management Association's Professional Development Award. Washingtonian magazine named her one of the region's most influential leaders in 1992, and one of the region's most powerful women in 1994 and 1997. Ruth received her undergraduate degree in sociology from Muhlenberg College and obtained her Master's Degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating Ruth on her outstanding career and many achievements. Her leadership at the Council of Governments will be missed, but her accomplishments never forgotten. The groundwork Ruth has laid will continue to sow the seeds of success for the metropolitan region.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4105, the Internet Tax Freedom Act. I am proud to have been an original co-sponsor of the pre-cursor to this legislation and believe that it is crucial to the continued development of the Internet. In the last 5 years, the growth of the Internet has created an entirely new method of communicating: electronic commerce. With this rapid growth we have seen tremendous benefits and revolutionary technology, presenting unprecedented social and economic issues. These changes are forcing national and State legislators to quickly catch up with this growth from a policy-making perspective. The taxation of everyday sales transactions presents many complex economic and constitutional issues that should be resolved in a deliberate and holistic process, rather than a patchwork of rules and court decisions that would likely accompany future efforts by State and local governments to tax Internet transactions and services. The Internet Tax Freedom Act will give Congress and the technology industry the opportunity to examine Internet taxation issues thoroughly during a 3-year moratorium on State and local Internet taxation. It reflects the truly admirable spirit of cooperation between its chief sponsor, Representative Chris Cox, and State and local policymakers who were able to come together and work hard on a matter which has multi- faceted consequences on retail businesses, State and local treasuries, continued technological development, and our judicial system, to name a few. The Internet is a revolutionary technology that has become an integral part of our nation's economic growth. And it promises to expand beyond anything we could imagine. It would be detrimental, I believe, to our nation's leadership in this industry if we were to allow taxation issues to stunt the growth of the Internet. For this reason, I am very pleased that we have been able to bring the Internet Tax Freedom Act to the floor today. And I particularly want to commend Mr. Cox for his foresight in introducing this legislation that we will be voting on today.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise and pay tribute to Peggy Vetter, the thirty-third recipient of the Herndon Rotary Club's Citizen of the Year Award. For the past twenty- two years, she has devoted her time and effort to extensive volunteer and leadership activities throughout Herndon. In 1976, shortly after moving to the area, Peggy founded the Herndon Observer newspaper. The Observer was one of the first newspapers in the growing area. While the newspaper was initially published just twice monthly, it allowed for the town and its citizens to communicate and gave everyone a voice in the community. Peggy sold the paper in 1990, but continues to report on Herndon government as well as its people and events. Peggy's involvement in the community and its many facets did not stop there. While working at her paper she supported the community's youth by hiring high school students as correspondents and office helpers. In addition, she supported fund-raising efforts for youth sports, the Boy Scouts, and the Girl Scouts. Her skills with community fundraisers led her to chair the Rotary Club's annual efforts on behalf of the Embry Rucker Shelter, which has collected thousands of dollars' worth of clothing and supplies for those temporarily homeless. She participated in a wide range of activities with the Rotary Club, from cleaning up Spring Branch to ringing bells for the Salvation Army to acting as a Herndon Festival Marshal. On her own, she has volunteered at her children's schools, served for five years as a Cub Scout den mother, and helped found the American Women's Club in Kingston, Jamaica. In addition, she served on the Herndon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for many years. She was honored in 1996 as Woman of the Year by the Herndon Business and Professional Woman's Club. Peggy lived in several places and traveled extensively before settling in Herndon. She was born in Valpariso, Indiana, went to high school in Niles, Michigan, and then attended St. Mary's College at Notre Dame. She started her career as a journalist during World War II, serving as a reporter and editor for the Niles Daily Star. Following her marriage to her husband Don, she served as an assistant society editor of the Lansing State Journal an a capital correspondent for the Detroit Free Press and Times. Her husband's job with Pan Am Airlines led her and her three children to travel around the world to places such as Guam, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Miami, before coming to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in 1974. Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues join me in honoring and thanking Peggy Vetter for all of her hard work to improve the Herndon community. Her spirit and dedication to public service is truly outstanding, and we congratulate her for being named the Herndon Rotary Club's Citizen of the Year.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I rise today to announce the passing of Donald E. Kidwell Sr. His contributions to Prince William County will be long remembered. Don died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg. He was only 54. It is hard for me to believe that such a dedicated citizen is gone. In addition to being born in Northern Virginia, he lived in and served the area for his entire life. He attended the University of Virginia from 1961 to 1963 and then graduated from George Mason University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. Don made his living as president of Kidwell Title and Abstract Co, although his penchant for local politics led him to serve two four-year terms on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. Don, an Arlington native, represented the Woodbridge District on the board from 1980 to 1988. In 1991, he retired from local politics following an unsuccessful campaign against Democrat Kathleen Seefeldt in the race for the first-ever chairman of the board. However, he never lost touch with the political scene. He had a true love for Prince William County and its politics. Don always lived life to the fullest and his unfailing jovial manners remained with him till the end. Even when his title office opened on Saturdays to make time for overflow work, Don always made time for community service activities. He could be found at any number of civic callings including as a negotiator on Prince William County's behalf with the Woodbridge District, Manassas, and Manassas Park and as former chairman of the Potomac-Rappahanock Transportation District. In addition, he sat on the board of the Prince William County Symphony, and he was the president of the Boys' and Girls' Club of Prince William County. Donald is survived by his wife Jacqueline as well as five children, two brothers and two sisters. Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues and the citizens of Prince William County join me in mourning Donald's passing. His presence in the community will be missed, but his many accomplishments and good deeds will be fondly remembered.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the remarks of my friend the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh). Alan Emory currently resides in the 11th Congressional District, in Lake Barcroft, where he is a pillar of the community there. His respect reaches across regional lines in New York. He is a well-respected member of our community in Northern Virginia, where he and his wife and family has been active for a number of years. His political commentaries I think have been viewed nationally. He is very well-respected, and I am going to miss him. I would join my colleagues in wishing him and Nancy the very best in years to come.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it was many years ago. I remember my last day as a page. I was here for four years. In those days you could stay for the full time limit. I will add, in all these years on Capitol Hill, I have never been on Duke Cunningham's boat, so you are way ahead of me. We have had a great outstanding group of young men and women who participated in the page program this last year, and I do not think everybody appreciates sometimes the dedication, the focus, the long, long hours and the flexibility that you have had to share, and hopefully the lessons that you have learned from that and the discipline that you have had to incur will stay with you and enable you to be successful in whatever you do. But the average person sees you running around, doing errands on the floor, and does not recognize that you are getting up very early in the morning to attend school, and putting in a full day and sometimes a full night of work, and then going back to school the next day, and the rigors that it entails. I know during this time you have witnessed some of the great debates, and some of the not-so-great debates, that go on here on a daily basis. I just hope you take the experience, the knowledge and the history that you have been part of with you, to be able to share it with others. And maybe some of you will, like the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) and myself, enter the public arena some day. But whatever you do, we hope you will be successful and hope to keep running into you throughout the years. God bless all of you, and thank you for your efforts.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman. I would just simply add that Federal employees are the greatest asset we have in this government. We need to properly compensate and incentivize this. I am comforted by the remarks of the chairman.

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kasich). Mr. Chairman, as you are well aware, H. Con. Res. 284 as passed out of your committee includes a budget savings allocation of $1.6 billion to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. This allocation would directly impact Federal workers and retirees. While the current budget resolution does not detail specific program reduction recommendations, an earlier version specified that reductions should come from the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, the FEHBP, and through increased retirement contributions past the current expenditure dates. It cannot help but be implicitly perceived as continuing to endorse such reduction in Federal retiree benefits, and, I might add, current employee benefits. Mr. Chairman, it is I my understanding based on our earlier conversations that the Committee on the Budget will hold harmless the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight in the event the committee does not respond to its savings direction included in this budget resolution. Could the gentleman comment and clarify this situation?

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, as we know, language was included in the House bill, H.R. 2400, which would have directed the Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Board to resolve funding issues relating to rights-of-way acquisition and engineering overruns associated with segments of the Fairfax County Parkway. Mr. Speaker, is it the intent of the legislation that this provision be applicable?