John Doolittle

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, when it was reported yesterday afternoon that Elizabeth Smart was found alive and well, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief, thankful to God that, in this all too rare instance, there was a happy ending. For months, we prayed in earnest for Elizabeth's safety and for the Smart family, who courageously have crusaded for their daughter despite long odds, refusing to give up their search. Driven by faith, hope and love, their tenacity never wavered. Keeping the case alive, they created invaluable public awareness that eventually resulted in her safe retrieval. In particular, I would like to send my fondest wishes to my friend, Joy Bradford, Elizabeth's aunt who along with the Smarts refused to give up looking for her niece. I would also like to recognize the Salt Lake City community, who became an extended family for the Smarts, never faltering in support, and never relenting in a search for one of their own. Gratitude must also be extended to the four Sandy police officers that confronted Elizabeth's abductors and the people who alerted them. They are true heroes. It is difficult to express in words how relieved and overjoyed we all are that Elizabeth is alive and back in the arms of her loving family. Our prayers have been answered. Miracles do indeed happen.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, the Conference Committee for the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill has included language relating to the funding of the installment due on or before September 30, 2003 under the Consent Judgment entered on February 7, 2003 in Sumner Peck Ranch, Inc. v. Bureau of Reclamation. By including this language it is not Congress' intent that the United States default in the payment of that installment. Creating such a default would be unwise. Instead, the intent of the language is to indicate that funds under the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act are not authorized to pay such installment. By so indicating, it is further intended that payment of the Peck judgment installment is ``not otherwise provided for'' as that phrase is used in Section 1304 of Title 31 of the United States Code. Appropriations exist and are available under Section 1304 for payment of such installment, and it is intended that such appropriations be so utilized.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to express warm thanks, congratulations, wishes to Allen E. Johnson, upon his retirement as the city manager of the city of Roseville. His vision and managerial skills have helped develop one of the most pleasant, balanced, well-run communities in California. After achieving a bachelor of science degree from California State University, Sacramento in 1976, Al began a career in public administration as a personnel analyst for the County of Yuba. Within a few short years, he became director of personnel for Yuba City, where he served from 1979 to 1983. Then, in September 1983, he began a nearly 20-year tenure with the city of Roseville. Rising from director of personnel to administrative services director to city manager, Al has had a significant and lasting impact on the direction in which Roseville has developed. Most recently, he managed the city's day-to-day operations, its $300 million budget, and 1,000 employees. He has overseen the city-owned electric operation which weathered California's energy crisis better than most utilities in the state. Additionally, he has guided the proactive expansion of regional wastewater treatment facilities and improvements to local flood control capabilities. Perhaps most importantly, he negotiated agreements for and led the implementation of nine specific plan developments ranging from 500 to 3,000 acres in scope. It is fair to say that he has left lasting fingerprints on the shape and character of the city of Roseville. Roseville has experienced dynamic growth during Al's tenure. Under his steady leadership, the city has developed several outstanding public amenities, including the recently-dedicated Roseville Civic Center, the new Police Department headquarters, the Roseville Aquatics Center, the Roseville Sports Center, the Woodcreek Oaks Golf Course, and numerous parks and transportation improvements. In addition to the fine city projects which he oversaw, Al has also helped to create an environment in Roseville that fosters high levels of private investment. Perhaps the most recognizable example of this pro-business attitude he helped foster is the 1. 12 million square foot regional mall, known as the Roseville Galleria, which opened in the year 2000. Due to this aggressive economic development and contrary to previous history, the city is now regarded as one of the Sacramento region's premier retail centers and dining destinations. Noted for his leadership in regional public policy discussions, such as the recent local debate over sales tax revenue distribution, Al has shared his expertise and experience through numerous presentations to public forums, training sessions, and professional conferences. He is also an active member of several professional organizations. Beyond his professional capacity, Al Johnson has also contributed much to the community through his involvement in various civic and charitable organizations. Among these are the Roseville Chamber of Commerce, Roseville Host Lions Club, the United Way Leadership Council, and the Association for Retarded Citizens. Roseville, which was once a sleepy railroad town, is now a vibrant, well-planned community with award-winning parks, law enforcement, and city management. It is home to nationally-recognized, high-performing public schools. Its railroad past blends with its newer high-tech industry and thriving commercial centers. Its residential areas include dynamic new developments as well as historic neighborhoods. Despite its increasing affluence, the community has also met its affordable housing needs. In short, Roseville is a model community with a high quality of life and a bright horizon. The clear vision, tough negotiation, and consistent leadership of Al Johnson are a large part of the reason why. I thank him for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 70) and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, I too join my colleague from California (Mr. Dreier). I do not know personally Mr. Estrada, but I understand he is considered to be quite outstanding by all those who have known him. It is remarkable. It is also my understanding that at the age of 17 he came from Honduras and had very limited English abilities, and then he ended up going to a university and graduating from Harvard Law School magna cum laude and served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He was, I understand, an official in the Clinton administration, actually in the Solicitor General's office and has support from former Clinton administration people and has support from, I believe, the past six or seven Solicitors General of the United States. Truly a premiere candidate to serve in this important U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit. I just wanted to register my support for this individual, someone who is very outstanding, a great American, the first Hispanic to be appointed to the court of appeals. It would be outstanding, Madam Speaker, and I appreciate the opportunity to voice my support for him today.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to express warm thanks and congratulations to Claudia Gamar, the outgoing mayor of the City of Roseville, upon her retirement from the city council. After nine busy years of service on the council, including two terms as mayor, Claudia is able to enjoy private life once again. Following her studies in journalism and business at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the Reno Business College, Claudia embarked on a business career by directing client relations and convention booking at various hotels and casinos in Reno. In 1980, she came to Roseville, California, as the owner and operator of Gamar & Associates, a marketing and public relations firm. Since that time, Claudia has been a prominent part of Roseville's community fabric. Her civic involvement is manifest in her participation with numerous boards, commissions, business organizations, service clubs, and charitable causes. Most significantly, she committed herself to the sacrifices required of public officials when she was elected to the Roseville City Council in 1993. Roseville has experienced the most dynamic phase of its history during Claudia's tenure. Under her leadership, the city has developed several outstanding public amenities, including the recently-dedicated Roseville Civic Center, the new Police Department headquarters, the Roseville Aquatics Center, the Roseville Sports Center, the Woodcreek Oaks Golf Course, and numerous parks. In addition to the fine city projects to which she contributed, Claudia has also helped to create an environment in Roseville that fosters high levels of private investment. For example, she personally traveled to Japan three times to meet with NEC officials regarding the company's $1 billion of assets in Roseville. Perhaps the most recognizable example of this probusiness attitude she helped foster is the 1.12 million square foot regional mall, known as the Roseville Galleria, which opened in the year 2000. Due to this aggressive economic development, the city is now regarded as one of the Sacramento region's premier retail centers and dining destinations. Roseville, which was once a sleepy railroad town, is now a vibrant, well-planned community with award-winning parks, law enforcement, and city management. It is home to nationally-recognized, high-performing public schools. Its railroad past blends with its newer high-tech industry and thriving commercial centers. Its residential areas include dynamic new developments as well as historic neighborhoods. In short, Roseville is a model community with a bright horizon. My good friend Claudia Gamar is part of the reason why. I join with a grateful community to thank her for her efforts. Now that she is somewhat removed from the immediate glare of public scrutiny, demands on her time, and strains on her privacy and family life, may she and her husband, Bill, find fulfillment in the quality of life she helped generate.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor a dedicated and accomplished educator in Northern California, Mr. Donald Bott. Don was recently named the 2002 National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund. When the Newspaper Fund began in 1958, it focused on helping high school journalism teachers achieve their potential in teaching the skills to make their students first-rate journalists. The tradition continues to this day with the Fund's recognition program for outstanding teachers. This year, the Newspaper Fund concluded that Don Bott, who teaches at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Stockton, California, represents the nation's best in scholastic media advisers. Don, who was previously named as one of only five Distinguished Advisors by the Newspaper Fund in 2000, will now have the opportunity to travel to conferences throughout the year, speaking about the importance of offering journalism as a core part of school curriculum. Don's academic background is exceptional. Over the years, he has earned various degrees and certificates, including a Journalism Educator certificate, a Language Development Specialist certificate, a Single-Subject Secondary Teaching Credential, a Master of Arts decree in English from California State University, Sacramento, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature, with honors, from my alma mater, the University of California, Santa Cruz. Furthermore, Don has excelled professionally as an educator. Aside from teaching at both the high school and college levels, he has worked to develop standards and curricula in the field of secondary school journalism studies. His peers have recognized his excellence by naming him as a Special Recognition Adviser, San Joaquin A+ Educator, and 1994-95 San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year. Despite the accolades he has received personally, Don Bott views his work with a measure of modesty. He is quick to point out that the success of Stagg High School's newspaper, The Stagg Line, is a reflection of the talent and commitment of the students who produce it. Not surprisingly, one of his recent students has also received national acclaim. Together, Don and his students have created an award-winning newspaper. Among the honors it has garnered are: eight consecutive NSPA All-Americans, three National Pacemakers, two CSPA Gold Medalists, a Quill and Scroll International First Place, a first-pace state JEANC Best of the West, three first-place NSPA National Best of Show awards, a Journalist Impact Award, and numerous regional awards. While he is humble about his own role in the newspaper's success, Don is very proud of what his students have achieved in light of their school district's circumstances. Whereas many of the acclaimed student newspapers in the country are produced in affluent schools, The Stagg Line has been a bright spot in a high school that underperforms on standardized tests. This, indeed, is a tribute to a great teacher, inspired students, and hard work. I congratulate Don Bott for the outstanding work he has done to touch young lives and advance the quality of news journalism. May he and his colleagues continue their great success.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to recognize the 150th Anniversary of my hometown newspaper, the Placer Herald, which traces its roots to the first printing press used in California. On September 11, 1852, the first edition of the Placer Herald was published for 25 cents per copy in Auburn, California, not far from where gold had been discovered a few years earlier. Established by Tabb Mitchell, Richard Rust, and John McElroy to serve the mining community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the newspaper was housed in a plain, board-sided storefront office. As an interesting historical note, the paper was printed on California's very first printing press-- the one that Sam Brannan had brought to publish The California Star. In 1892, a new, two-story brick building measuring 30 feet by 75 feet was erected on the site of the Placer Herald's original headquarters. After changing hands many times over the subsequent years, new owners moved the paper in 1963 to Rocklin, California, where it continues to be published. I wish to commend the modern Placer Herald for its ongoing service to the people of Rocklin and neighboring communities. For 150 years, it has maintained its heritage of reporting local news to a segment of California's Gold Country. The newspaper serves a valuable purpose by both reflecting and shaping the community it serves. As we celebrate the Placer Herald's sesquicentennial, let me add my wishes that the newspaper will flourish for another century and a half!

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Premier Certified Lenders Program Improvement Act of 2002. This legislation makes a small but very significant change in the PCL program that will benefit hundreds of small businesses around the country without imposing any new burden on the Federal Government or U.S. Treasury. As my colleagues no doubt recognize, small businesses are the backbone of our nation. Indeed, Dr. Lloyd Blanchard of the Small Business Administration (SBA) testified recently before Congress, ``Today, almost a quarter of American households are either starting a business, own a business, or investing in someone else's business.'' The United States economy depends on entrepreneurs whose spirit results in the creation of both new businesses and new jobs. To continue the economic growth we are experiencing today, the Government should encourage small business development both by providing incentives for entrepreneurs and by removing regulatory hurdles. One successful example of Government encouragement of small business is the Premier Certified Lenders Program (PCLP). The PCLP, established in 1997, allows a participating Certified Development Company (CDC) the expanded authority to review and approve SBA 504 Loan requests and to foreclose, litigate, and liquidate SBA 504 Loans made under the Program. By taking on this authority, the private sector is able to stretch limited federal resources in order to help more small businesses. To participate in the PCLP, however, a CDC is required to deposit one percent of each SBA 504 Debenture issued under the PCLP into a loss reserve account. This deposit remains in the loss reserve account until the PCLP Debenture is fully paid or until the SBA suffers a loss. The loss reserve account is designed to cover ten percent of any loss incurred by SBA as a result of a default. The loss reserve account was made a part of the PCLP legislation to address the concern that a participating CDC would not have any perceived ``risk'' associated with its expanded authority under the Program. However, the percentages used in figuring the loss reserve accounts--the ten percent to cover any loss and the one percent of every Debenture as contribution--were determined arbitrarily and are not based on any historical loss record or risk analysis. The one percent contribution is the most egregious; the full deposit must remain in the loss reserve account even as the loan is paid down over its twenty year term and there is no accounting for the historical reduction of risk as a loan matures. As a result of these arbitrary requirements of the PCLP, many CDCs have decided not to participate in the PCL Program. As for those who are participating, some companies have accumulated large loss reserve accounts which are far in excess of any amounts that would ever be realistically used to insure payment of their loss obligation to SBA. The long term retention of these excess reserve funds hinders participating CDCs from reaching their full potential to foster economic development, create job opportunities, and stimulate growth, expansion, and modernization of small businesses. The legislation I am introducing today will improve the Premier Certified Lenders Program by giving participating CDCs greater flexibility. Specifically, my legislation amends the Premier Certified Lenders Program to allow willing CDCs to establish ``risk-based'' loss reserve accounts that are sufficient to protect the Government and taxpayers from default, but that do not contain excessive amounts of capital that would be better dedicated to helping additional small businesses. Mr. Speaker, maintaining a risk-based reserve is just common sense. Other industries, such as the banking industry, have already moved from a ``loan-by-loan'' reserve to a ``pool'' reserve to cover their exposure. Under my legislation, a participating CDC will be able to establish a risk-based reserve only if it: (1) proves itself to be an established PCL (minimum of $25,000 in its loss reserve account); (2) freely elects to develop such a reserve; (3) obtains quarterly approval from a third- party auditor that its loss reserve is sufficient to cover its risk of default; and (4) receives annual approval from the SBA. These requirements will ensure that participating CDCs are accountable and that U.S. taxpayers are protected. I hope my colleagues will take an opportunity to review this legislation to improve the Premier Certified Lenders Program. I look forward to working with them and the Small Business Committee, chaired by my friend, Don Manzullo, to encourage the creation and expansion of more small businesses across our nation.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Chairman, this area has been devastated by government mismanagement already. We already know the history when for no good scientific reason the water was cut off to the farmers. It did irreparable harm, and it should not have happened, and now we come with this new amendment which is going to just compound the error that was made then and will do grave injustice to a community that depends upon the farming. The farming is essential to these refuges. These refuges do not use much water. I think 2 percent of the water developed in the basin goes for the purpose of agriculture. It is really a de minimus amount. It is clear that pesticides are not a problem. We have had these uses compatible that have gone on for over a hundred years in this area. There is a waterfowl area. We need farming. The Kuchel Act mandates we have farming in order to sustain the refuges. We have to have this continue. It would be a terrible injustice to enact this amendment. We need to stay focused, get the good science; and the good science says that agriculture and refuges are compatible. Please defeat this amendment.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) or his representative. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate the gentleman from New Mexico. He is truly a man of the West. He has distinguished himself as such, and I just wish to offer my congratulations to him on his service here and well wishes for the future after his service is concluded. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for agreeing to engage in this colloquy. As the chairman is aware, my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), and I both sent letters expressing our support for funding in the amount of $2,943,150 from the fiscal year 2003 interior appropriations measure to compensate the High Sierra Packers Associations for losses incurred as a result of a recent injunction issued against the United States Forest Service. The injunction resulted in tremendous decreases in pack use within the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Areas located in both the Inyo and Sierra National Forests within California. Losses accumulated from this court mandate were based on the forest service's own violation of the law. This is simply unacceptable. Therefore, my colleague and I respectfully requested that the Federal Government reimburse the High Sierra Packers Associations in the sum of $2,943,150 for the unjust decision dealt to them. We look forward to working with the distinguished gentleman from New Mexico to see what avenues may be available to help the packers who, through no fault of their own, have been injured.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to remember and honor a dedicated public servant, Mr. Russell Anthony Tuccelli. After a lifetime of hard work and commitment to his family, community, and state, my friend, who was better known as Tony Russell, passed away on April 20, 2002. Having completed an eight-year battle with cancer, he was buried at sea on May 8th. He was 75 years old. Tony had a long and distinguished career working in the news media and on behalf of state and local governments. During the 1970s he was the news director for both KCRA Radio and KFBK Radio in Sacramento, California. He also was a foreign correspondent for United Press International and a talk show host for KFBK. In 1980, Tony assumed the role of director of communications for the Senate Minority Caucus in the California State Legislature. Later, he became my district coordinator when I represented the 3rd State Senatorial District. I deeply appreciate the valuable service he provided me. In 1984, he left my office to become an administrative assistant to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. In 1987 he moved over to a similar position for the Sacramento City Council before joining the Governor's Office of Criminal Justice Planning as the chief of communications. The year 1991 marked the beginning of his decade of service to California's Employment Development Department. Within this agency he worked as a public information officer, marketing specialist, and an associate information systems analyst. He was known as a leader in the community through his involvement as a youth mentor in EDD's School Partnership Program. Also, he was often the guest speaker at swearing-in ceremonies for our newest U.S. citizens, giving everyone in attendance a brief history lesson and instilling a rousing sense of patriotism. Tony is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Lenamarie Tuccelli. He is also survived by his son Michael and daughter-in-law Erin, his son Stephen and daughter-in-law Karen, and his grandchildren Angela, Raymond, Stephanie, and Ryan. Tony Russell will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but his legacy of devotion to family and service to the community remains with us forever.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, I very much appreciate the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), our chairman, supporting this resolution and advocating its passage on the floor today. I think he outlined very clearly what the threats are, as did the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) as well. I became really intimately aware of the ravages of this disease when a meningitis outbreak hit the Sacramento region in 2000, and then again in 2001, killing five high school students, three of whom were my constituents. Peter and Rose Kwett, personal friends of mine from Carmichael, California, saw their 15-year-old daughter, Mary Jo, taken from them as a result of this dreaded disease. This year, there have been seven cases reported in my region, including the fatality of a sixth-grade girl from Greer Elementary School in Sacramento. I introduced this resolution really to heighten the awareness of this terrible disease which afflicts approximately 2,500 individuals in the United States each year. As the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) indicated, people can do certain things to protect themselves, generally involving what we think of as good hygiene habits. Also, there is a vaccine available. Last year in my home State of California, the legislature passed a resolution designating the month of April as Meningitis Awareness Month. The Meningitis Awareness Key to Prevention Organization supports this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to remember and honor a woman who was a leader in public education in Northern California, Mrs. Sally Ann Robison. After a lifetime of dedication to her family, faith, and students, Sally passed away on April 25, 2002. She was 58 years old. The former Sally Ann Franklin was born in Riverside, California, on September 30, 1943, to Albert John Franklin and Mary Jane Richards. She grew up in the Cities of Stockton and Sacramento, where she attended C.K. McClatchy High School and Sacramento City College. After graduating from California State University, Chico, Sally earned a Master of Arts degree in education from California State University, Sacramento. With this training, she forged a lifetime of public service in the field of education. Her long and distinguished career as an educator spanned from North America's Pacific Coast to Western Europe, and from the classroom to the boardroom. While stationed in Germany with her husband, Air Force Academy graduate Jim T. Robison, Sally taught school for six years. Upon returning to California, she was an instructor for three years in the Sacramento City Unified School District and for one year in Gridley, California. Then, for 22 years, she taught at Noralto Elementary School in the North Sacramento Unified School District. Most recently, she taught kindergarten for six years at Pasadena Avenue Elementary School in the San Juan Unified School District. Aside from her efforts in the classroom, Sally's passion for teaching children to read led her to serve on the California State Textbook Adoption Committee. Additionally, she was greatly concerned with higher education. Since December 1992, she served on the Sierra College Board of Trustees. Thus, she had a role in shaping the lives of students from kindergarten to college, the beginning and ending of one's academic experience. Being both socially-conscious and socially active, Sally belonged to many community organizations. These included the San Juan Teachers Association, the California Teachers Association, the National Education Association, and the South Placer County Republican Women, Federated. While known for her quiet, friendly demeanor, Sally also had great integrity and a steely resolve. Standing for what was right at all times was important to her, even if it meant standing alone. Most importantly, Sally Robison was devoted to her family and was a committed member of the Sunset Christian Center in Rocklin, California. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Jim, her daughters, Amy and Ashley Robison, and her granddaughter, Alexis Robison. I join with her family, friends, and community in mourning her passing. May you rest in peace, Sally.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the terrorist attacks upon the people of Israel. On the basis of our shared principles and democratic values, we have an obligation to stand squarely with our democratic ally. We will support those who stand for freedom. On Monday, tens of thousands of Americans assembled in Washington, D.C., to stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and to support her right to defend herself. We must not and we will not allow the lone light of democracy in the entire Middle East to be extinguished by the Palestinian wave of hatred. Yasser Arafat has impeded peace and perpetuated his charade for far too long. The Palestinian Authority must not be allowed to breed its violence and hatred, and the international community, led by the United States, must make it absolutely clear that terrorism will not be tolerated. I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue their unyielding support for the people of Israel as they wage their own war on terrorism.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 378) permitting official photographs of the House of Representatives to be taken while the House is in actual session, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I draw Members' attention to an article in today's Washington Post, not by a Republican or a conservative, by Robert J. Samuelson, entitled ``It Is Not Reform, It Is Deception.'' That is all this Shays-Meehan bill and the McCain-Feingold bill are about. I encourage Members to read it because it is not from a Republican perspective, and yet it makes all the Republican arguments. With all of the demagoguery we are going to hear today, I hope Members will read this because in one little summary, Members will get the essence of what this is all about. Mr. Chairman, the disastrous present law that we have was given to us by the same liberals who are now bringing to us an updated version in the Shays-Meehan bill. This law was rammed through in 1974 by liberal Democrats in the far left of the think tanks to try and take advantage of Republicans through the law and making it harder for them to campaign. It worked. It took us 20 additional years before we won the House of Representatives as a result of that law. If this disastrous bill passes today unamended, I suspect we will have another 20 years in the trenches before we ever come back. Why is it right to abuse the law to skew it in favor of one party and against another? It is terribly wrong. As Samuelson says, it is not reform, it is deception. I support the amendment of the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder). If we ban soft money, ban it cleanly, not with 85 pages of exceptions like the Shays- Meehan bill does. Ban it cleanly. It does not need to be banned, but I am going to vote for the amendment because I want the bill to go to conference. This disastrous system the Democrats gave us needs to be fixed. The only way to fix it and get a level playing field is to send it to conference. I support the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Chairman, it is not reform. It is deception. That is what Mr. Samuelson from the Washington Post says about Shays-Meehan. I want to keep repeating that. It is not reform. It is deception. Because that is exactly what it is. It is deception. By the way, one part of this deception I really like which is this part about the loan provision is marvelous. That is perfectly consistent with my plan for deregulation, which would eliminate all the limits and would solve this problem once and for all because we would have full disclosure, and you would not have to have this subterfuge of soft money and issue ads and independent expenditures and all these things that are getting worse and worse because of you folks. You gave us the present law, and you are making it worse. But this loan provision is fantastic. I want to draw everyone's attention to it. If this horrible bill somehow becomes law, we will take full advantage of it, I promise you, because we can do this, too, as Republicans thanks to the provision that you have given us. Here is the analysis I am reading from. ``In contrast to current law, the proposed language would allow the national party committee to pay any debt with soft non-Federal dollars from the period of November 5, 2002, to January 1, 2003.'' Now, that is not consistent with the current regulations that specifically require hard debt to be paid with hard dollars. As a practical matter, the plain wording of the proposed language would allow a national party committee to borrow hard dollars, spend those dollars in an upcoming election, and then use the remaining soft dollars to pay the debt. This is great. You cannot even do this under current law, but under the change you are making, it is just effective, just for the end of this year we will be able to do this. Why not just go all the way, defeat your bill and pass deregulation, which really does solve the problem? Because if soft money is evil, why is it good for you to be able to do this and pack it in with all you can with your collateralized loans to get all the advantage you can out of this election? Just like Samuelson said, ``It is not reform. It is deception.''

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Chairman, again to quote from today's Washington Post, Robert Samuelson, not a conservative, not even a Republican, says of Shays-Meehan, ``It's not reform, it's deception.'' ``It's not reform, it's deception.'' Why are we offering this on the second amendment, the previous speaker asked? We have amendments to exempt everyone, frankly. The point we want to make is that this deception is trying to curb the free speech rights of all Americans. It is unbelievable how, despite the facts, these people continue to pursue this quest to regulate and crimp down as much as you can on the amount of money that can be spent. Mr. Samuelson, if anybody takes the time to read this, says this about campaign contributions: ``Do restrictions on campaign contributions curb free speech? Yes. ``Because modern communication, TV, mailings, phone banks, Internet sites require money, limits on contributions restrict communication. More restrictions on contributions to political candidates and parties is self-defeating. It simply encourages outside groups, unions, industry associations, environmental groups with their own agendas to increase campaign spending to influence elections.'' Mr. Chairman, the only reason we have all of the soft money is because these so-called reformers with their failed reforms who gave us the present law have so restricted the amounts of money that can be contributed from hard-money sources that all you have left is soft money. When they get done taking away the soft money, we will move the speech further out into these so-called special interest groups. The previous speaker talked about, well, would this not be terrible, having these unaccountable groups? If he wants the unaccountable groups, vote for Shays-Meehan. It is not reform, it is deception, to quote once again Mr. Samuelson, because I guarantee you, you are moving speech away from the candidate and out into third parties increasingly as you clamp down on the amount of money that can be spent. You empower some groups at the expense of others. We think groups that want to discuss the second amendment ought to be able to do so. We think all Americans ought to be able to do so. We will offer amendments to protect the rights of all Americans, and I guess you can vote against all of their rights too.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the topic of the out-of-order speech of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, in the 106th Congress, I chaired a Task Force formed by then-Chairman Don Young to examine whether bank regulators at the FDIC and OTS used their powers to leverage privately owned redwood trees, known as the Headwaters Forest in California, from an individual. The task force, which included Representatives Pombo, Thornberry, Brady, and Radanovich, undertook an 8 month review of the debt-for- redwoods matter. We held one terribly long hearing on the subject on December 12, 2000. In the 107th Congress, Chairman Hansen continued work on the subject and dedicated staff to draft a staff report to summarize the evidence of the FDIC and OTS redwoods debt-for-nature scheme and conclusions drawn from the oversight work. The report exposes how banking regulators took on an unauthorized, political agenda of leveraging redwood trees. A member of the Task Force, Representative Pombo, inserted the text of the staff report into the Record on June 14, 2001. Just as important as the report itself, is the collection of evidence and documents, appended to the report. Those documents validate the accuracy of information presented in the report. Today, for the benefit of my colleagues, I have put those appendices into the Record. The Financial Services Committee should review this information as they deal with re- authorizing the FDIC and the OTS. These entities are clearly out of control, and I want to summarize why this is so. Bank regulators at the FDIC and OTS have very specific statutory charges. They are to recover money from the owners of banks and thrifts when the institutions fail. This system keeps depositors whole through federally-backed insurance funds and collects money from the banks' owners if they failed to properly manage the bank. I emphasize, bank regulators are to recover money. We found boxes of evidence that clearly showed that the bank regulators at the FDIC and OTS deviated from their statutory charge and actually concocted a scheme, in concert with the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, to obtain redwood trees from an owner of the failed bank. The scheme was initiated, promoted, and lobbied by radical EarthFirst! ecoterrorists. It was embraced by FDIC lawyers and facilitated by FDIC's outside counsel, and it was sanctioned at the highest levels of the agency. The cornerstone of the scheme was to bring legal and administrative actions that the regulators believed and knew would fail against Mr. Charles Hurwitz, a 24-percent owner of a failed bank called United Savings of Texas. The bank regulators own written analysis of their claims said if the redwoods were not involved, their lawyers would have ``closed out'' the case. That means they would have dropped the case, period. Instead, the bank regulators and their lawyers synthesized the redwood for bank claims scheme with politicians in Congress and with outside environmental groups. They then met, at a critical juncture, with the Office of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior where the shocking and incredible realization was noted by one participant in the meeting: if we drop the suit we ``undercut everything.'' Even before this startling evidence was uncovered by the task force, a U.S. District Court judge, the Honorable Lynn Hughes compared the tactics of the FDIC and OTS to that of the mafia. Since the time when the report was placed in the Record by Mr. Pombo, the OTS administrative proceeding has been decided by the OTS administrative judge. In a 200 plus page opinion after reviewing 29,000 pages of transcripts and 2,400 pages of exhibits for over seven years, the OTS judge ruled against the agency on every single claim. This ruling validates the inescapable conclusion that the bank regulators at the OTS and the FDIC still fail to acknowledge: their claims totally lack of merit and were brought for the political reason of obtaining ``the trees''--the redwoods--at no cost to the government. The staff report sets out the evidence supporting this conclusion. This is an atrocious abuse of governmental power, and one that my colleagues and the agency should understand. For that reason, I have placed the evidence we collected--in its raw form--into the Record today. I am doubly disturbed about what the bank regulators did, because the Committee on Resources and the Congress have the legal authority to decide what land is acquired and what the conditions of the acquisition should be, not banking regulators. Bank regulators clearly brought their claims for the environmentalists, for the Department of the Interior, and for the White House, not in furtherance of banking laws. Their decision was political and the disposition by the OTS judge again proves the point. These documents are even further validation. When we asked the bank regulators at our hearing if their banking claims had anything to do with redwoods, they said, ``No.'' The staff report documents just how the bank regulators were deeply involved in the redwoods agenda--and how they cooperated to get ``the trees.'' The report shows how they switched their recommendation after meeting with the Department of the Interior. Right before they were to decide whether to pursue the claims, they obviously understood, ``If we drop [our] suit, [it] will undercut everything.'' Those are words are from the notes of a meeting between the FDIC and the Department of the Interior. Those words put the bank regulators squarely inside the redwoods agenda. The bank regulators were thick into redwoods early in the process. They hired outside counsel based on the supposed expertise to handle a ``unique'' settlement involving the redwoods. Their outside counsel even acted as a conduit between FDIC lawyers and the environmental groups that lobbied for the redwoods. There is so much evidence detailed in the staff report, which is why I am grateful that my colleague, Representative Richard Pombo, put the text of the report into the Record on Thursday, June 14, 2001. I want my colleagues to know that copies of the appendices to the report are also public record. The Task Force made them public at the close of its hearing on December 12, 2000. By my motion, they were released: Mr. Doolittle. . . . We've gone now for 5 hours. We haven't had a lunch break, and we're not going to have time to get into some of the other details. But I think there's enough revealed here that's very troubling, and it needs further examination, and therefore, I make the following motion: I move that all the documents we utilized in today's hearing be included in the hearing record and that all of the documents produced by the Department of the Interior be included as part of today's hearing record; and I furthermore move that any documents not included in the above categories that are necessary to document a staff report or analysis of the situation be released with such staff report. Hearing no objection. . . . So ordered. Now that they are in the Record, my colleagues can see them in the context of the staff report. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, June 6, 2001. Hon. James V. Hansen, Chairman, Committee on Resources, House of Representatives. Dear Mr. Chairman: Transmitted with this letter is the Staff Report entitled Redwoods Debt-For-Nature Agenda of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of Thrift Supervision to Acquire the Headwaters Forest that you and Chairman Young requested. The report composed of evidence, testimony, documents, records, and other material reviewed and analyzed by staff of the Committee on Resources during the 106th and 107th Congress. It follows the work of the Committee Task Force that reviewed the matter through December 2000. The analysis concludes that there was a redwoods debt-for- nature scheme pursued by the bank regulators at the FDIC and the OTS beginning in at least February 1994. The scheme used almost meritless banking claims against Mr. Charles Hurwitz (stemming from his minority ownership of a failed savings and loan) as leverage for the federal government to obtain a large grove of redwood trees owned by the Pacific Lumber Company, a separate entity that Mr. Hurwitz owned and controlled. It is clear that the scheme evolved as the FDIC grew to understand the importance of its (and the OTS') potential claims as the leverage for the redwoods during an unprecedented meeting it held in early 1994 with a Member of Congress. At that meeting, the investigation of the claims against Mr. Hurwitz and the redwoods debt-for-nature scheme were discussed in detail, a highly inappropriate action that launched the bank regulators into a hot political issue. Immediately after the meeting, the goal of obtaining the redwoods was shared by the FDIC with the OTS, and the OTS was then hired by the FDIC to pursue a parallel administrative action against Mr. Hurwitz. The coordinated purpose of that strategy was to provide more leverage to get ``the trees,'' according to the notes of the FDIC lawyers. The intense lobbying campaign by environmental groups, including Earth First!, directed at the FDIC, its outside counsel, the OTS, the Administration, the Department of the Interior, the White House, and Members of Congress was why ordinary internal operating procedures that would have closed out the case against Mr. Hurwitz were not followed. The scheme to obtain redwoods overrode the initial internal conclusion that the claims against Mr. Hurwitz were losers for the bank regulators and should not have been bought under the written policy of the agency. In fact, the FDIC met with the top staff from the Office of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior to discuss the scheme just a few days prior to the stunning reversal of the internal staff recommendation not to sue Mr. Hurwitz. The FDIC notes from the meeting say, ``If we drop suit, [it] will undercut everything.'' Of course ``everything'' was the just-discussed scheme to leverage redwoods from Mr. Hurwitz. The FDIC (and its agent, the OTS) were indeed an integral part of the redwoods debt-for-nature scheme. They willingly injected themselves into the issue through actions such as meetings with politicians and debt-for-nature advocates, internal analysis of debt-for-nature urgings by environmental advocates, and meetings with Department of the Interior officials promoting a redwoods debt-for-nature scheme. They did these things well before their claims were authorized to be filed by the FDIC board, and it became clearer and clearer to the bank regulators that there would be no ``debt'' and therefore no redwoods nature swap, if the claims were not brought or at least threatened. The evidence of the FDIC's participation in the debt-for- nature scheme is overwhelming and contradicts the testimony offered by the witnesses at the December 12, 2000, hearing of the Committee Task Force that reviewed the matter. That testimony was that banking claims or the threat of banking claims against Mr. Hurwitz involving USAT were not brought as leverage in a broader plan to get the groves of redwoods from Mr. Hurwitz. The weight of the documentation does not buttress that conclusion at all; it contradicts it. Indeed, these actions of the bank regulators, in particular the FDIC and by extension (then directly) the OTS, are an alarming display of how ``independent'' government agencies are not necessarily independent, have agendas, and do engage in politics when not controlled. What staff of such agencies often seem to forget is that the only authority they have is that which Congress gives to them by law. What staff of these agencies either did not know or forgot is that there is not authority in law for them to pursue the redwoods debt-for- nature scheme that they pursued. These agencies seemed to realize this well after the pursuit began and their claims were polluted with the illegitimate redwoods agenda. The cost of this improper, illegal engagement--on a loser claim that would have been ``closed out'' if it were the normal situation--is upwards of $40 million to Mr. Hurwitz. If the federal government can conspire and get away with doing this to someone with the capacity and resources to defend himself, then imagine what the federal government can do this to a person who does not have the means or capacity to defend himself or herself. The U.S. District Court Judge, The Honorable Lynn Hughes, who was assigned the FDIC case, after learning of just a fraction of what the FDIC and OTS had done to strong-arm Mr. Hurwitz, concluded that the agencies used tools equivalent to the cosa nostra (essentially a mafia tactic). Judge Hughes was absolutely correct, and the documentation in this report provides additional basis that validates Judge Hughes conclusion. No one--whether he or she is a millionaire industrialist or a laborer in a factory--should be subject to the unchecked tools of an out of control ``independent'' agency like the FDIC or the OTS, not in our republic. The report makes the following conclusion: ``The Directors of the FDIC and OTS should take corrective action and withdraw the authorization for the FDIC lawsuit and OTS administrative action against Mr. Hurwitz for matters involving USAT. The integrity of the bank regulatory system demands nothing less.'' I hope that the information in this staff report assists the Committee. Sincerely, Duane R. Gibson, Counsel.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the last duty performed to honor a local hero should not be thwarted by a technical flaw in the law. Let me explain. The Federal Flag Code provides guidelines for the display of the U.S. flag, but grants only the president and governors the authority to fly the flag at half-mast. While this code does not expressly outlaw local government officials from lowering the flag to half-staff, it does not expressly permit it. This technicality has upset local officials across the country who believe that communities should have the right to honor their fellow citizens without permission from their respective governors or the President of the United States. This quirk in the Federal Flag Code came to my attention when my friend and constituent, former Mayor George Magnuson of Rocklin, California sought to honor his friend and fellow volunteer firefighter, Cliff Graves, who died in the line of duty. Shortly after speaking to Mayor Magnuson I realized that this needless hurdle had to be corrected. That prompted me to introduce H.R. 1022, The ``Community Recognition Act.'' This simple, yet important, legislation authorizes the chief elected official of a locality, in the event of a death of a present or former official of that locality, to proclaim that the national flag be flown at half staff. Mr. Speaker, at the time I introduced H.R. 1022, the tragedy of September 11th was unfathomable. But, in light of the thousands of men and women who perished in those barbaric attacks now more than ever this simple correction needs to be made so they can be mourned in an appropriate fashion without undue delay. I thank the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Mr. Sensenbrenner, for shepherding H.R. 1022 through his committee in an expeditious manner, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the House will take up the airline security bill. This is a good bill. It gives the President the flexibility he needs to protect Americans as they fly. I would urge support of this legislation and defeat of the Democrat substitute. The heart of the Democrat substitute is a mandate to make the security checkers all Federal employees. Europe has gone down that road and has rejected it. Let me just quote out of the Washington Post what the chairman of the Europe-wide Task Force on Aviation Security had to say regarding contract employees versus government employees: `` `It is harder to do quality control on our government people,' said Frank Durinckx, director of Belgium's Aviation Inspectorate and chairman of Europe-wide Task Force on Aviation Security. `Government agencies do not like to criticize themselves or one another, and civil servants are hard to get rid of if they are not performing well. If we give the work to a private contractor, we have control over them,' Durinckx said. `If we are not pleased with a screener, we can withdraw their license.' '' Let us support President Bush. Support the House aviation security bill tomorrow and defeat the Democrat substitute.

Mr. DOOLITTLE

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor my good friend, Mr. Harold W. ``Hal'' Weygandt, Jr., who at the age of 81 years is retiring from Weco Aerospace Systems, the company he founded 30 years ago. Hal was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1920. Raised in this traditional mid-western environment, he learned the entrepreneurial spirit at an early age. Hal attended Joplin High School in Missouri where he excelled in football and boxing. After high school, he left Joplin and enrolled in the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Throughout his high school and college years, Hal worked at several jobs to help support his family and pursue his education goals through the depression years. After college, Hal moved to Southern California, where he joined Lockheed Aircraft in 1941. Just prior to America entering World War II, he volunteered with 2,500 other civilians in a Douglas Aircraft sponsored project for a top-secret mission in Africa. At the time, England was near the threshold of disaster when Winston Churchill requested help from President Roosevelt. This assignment, named ``Project 19,'' was created to assist England in its war efforts against Germany. The voyage on the USS Chauteau Thierry from the West Coast to Africa was a precursor of challenging times to come. The ship, which was originally constructed for a passenger list of 200, carried over 2,000 men to their remote destination. Project 19 established an entire town, American City, in east Africa that helped supply and repair fighter aircraft for the war effort. In 1943, well after America joined the Allies in the war, Hal volunteered for the Army Air Corps in Cairo, Egypt. He spent the next several years touring the European theater in a classified position in armament inspection. By the end of the war, Hal had been awarded several citations, as well as the Bronze Medal, and he ascended to the rank of Second Lieutenant. His most significant reward, however, was an English girl named Ann Sawtell. They were married in New Milton, England, in October 1945. After World War II, Hal returned to Southern California and embarked on his first business endeavor. In 1947, Hal and his uncle started RWS Electrical Accessories, Inc. This company supported the then-emerging aircraft industry with component sales and service. By early 1961, Hal and his family had moved to the foothill region of the Sacramento Valley, where they still reside. The Weygandts maintained a ranch, while Hal developed his career in aviation. Hal's company became a benchmark for independent successes in the aviation field. He participated and became close friends with many of the pioneers of today's modern aviation industry. By 1968, RWS merged with another aviation company that subsequently formed Aviall, a multinational industry leader in commercial aviation sales and support. Mr. Speaker, at a phase of life when some people begin looking forward to retirement, Hal formed Weco Aerospace Systems, Inc., in 1971 with his sons, Bill and Robert. This new company based in the Sacramento and Burbank areas focused its attention on supporting corporate aviation. This company has grown with the industry and now employes over 60 people in California and throughout the nation. It supports aviation operators internationally. Hal is the proud father of three children and eight grandchildren. It is worthwhile to note that he has raised a family of good and productive citizens. The Weygandts have been very active in civic affairs and have contributed much to their community. Hal's own activities have included involvement with the Masonic Lodge and Shriners, his church, the National Business Aircraft Association, the Helicopter Association International, and the Airborne Law Enforcement Association. He has also stayed active with yearly meetings of the Project 19 Association, in which less than 150 of 2,500 participants are still alive. While Hal is now retiring from active business life at the age of 81, he will continue as an advisor and Board member at Weco. And just to prove it is tough to keep a good man down, he and his wife, Cherie, plan to maintain their 80-acre ranch in the foothills of Lincoln, California, as well as traveling and enjoying many outdoor activities. Mr. Speaker, I take great pleasure in commending Hal Weygandt for his outstanding service to our country as a member of the Armed Forces, an innovative business leader, and a good family man. After all that has been said about him, he is simply a good and decent man, and I am personally thankful for his support and friendship.