Jo Ann Emerson

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, today we may be voting on a measure to open American markets to the reimportation of prescription drugs. I say we may be voting because, as a Member of this House, I have never seen an issue so important to me, to our colleagues, and to the American people treated so unfairly. Access to affordable prescription drugs is too important an issue to only be debated on the House Floor for 1 hour. Under the rule formulated for the debate on reimportation, the Speaker may pull this bill at any time. If that happens, Americans may remain under the thumb of the pharmaceutical industry for the foreseeable future. In America, breast cancer kills over 40,000 people, especially women, each year. Mr. Speaker, a bottle of Tamoxifen used to fight breast cancer costs $360 in the United States. It costs $60 in Germany. How long will American women who cannot afford Tamoxifen continue to subsidize those in Europe who can? And if the drug companies have their way in this debate, Mr. Speaker, the sorry status quo will persist. Lives will be shortened, lives will be lost. This is bad process, bad form, and a bad rule. Our seniors deserve better.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Speaker of the House for his graciousness in letting us bring this bill to the floor for debate tonight. And speaking of the leadership in the House, I thought it would be important to all my colleagues for a little clarification. We hear talk about the FDA blasting the Gutknecht bill, saying that it is unsafe. I want my colleagues to know, and it is very important that they know, that in 2000 when we passed the reimportation language that is current statute, that language was written, that statute was written by our leadership, by a person who is now working at the White House, by me, and by the FDA. My colleagues might remember it passed in the Agriculture appropriations act. The FDA chose the 26 countries where it felt it was safe to import from those countries, because our current drug manufacturers, U.S. manufacturers, are today manufacturing drugs in those facilities that are approved and inspected by the FDA. It is very important that my colleagues know this. This is the underlying bill of Gutknecht. Plus, we have added extremely high-tech packaging, tamper-resistant, counterfeit-proof packaging. And this is in addition to the safety requirements, the chain of custody that the FDA has written in the underlying bill today.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) for yielding me this time and for the graciousness which he has shown, as well as that of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), in allowing us to make the corrections on the legislation that will permit the Hunger Fellows to proceed with the remarkable work that they do. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), because this bill also goes through IR, and I want to thank Kevin Kramp and Lynn Gallagher from the Committee on Agriculture, and Frank Record from the Committee on International Relations, because without their great assistance we would not be here today. I also want to thank both the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) for the wonderful words they had to say about my late husband, Bill Emerson, and the commitment he had throughout his lifetime to prevent hunger wherever it is found. Mr. Speaker, passage of this bill is critical for the future of the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships. The funding for the 24 Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows and the 50 Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows will expire, as my colleagues have said, unless this legislation passes. These 39 Fellows fight hunger and poverty worldwide. They each earn just $10,000 helping nutritionally vulnerable populations in urban and rural communities get food. For example, the Emerson Fellows assist low-income communities in getting access to fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as helping to do the same for Federal nutrition programs for school-aged children and the elderly. The Leland Fellows work with national and international agencies and faith-based groups to get school lunches to over 300 million children overseas. In their work, the Fellows are constantly faced with things that we do not normally see on a daily basis, threats of terrorism, crime, AIDS, and, most recently, SARS, while helping the communities in which they are living formulate solutions to ending hunger and poverty. For the past 3 years, many may know that agricultural appropriations and private foundations have funded the Emerson-Leland Fellows through the Congressional Hunger Center. As my colleagues have mentioned, the farm bill did authorize an endowment for the Congressional Hunger Fellows program, which incorporated the current Fellows program operated by the Congressional Hunger Center. But because operating funds for the endowment are not yet in place, the Congressional Hunger Center is left without operating funds to recruit for their future classes. This legislation will allow the program to continue while we establish the endowment. So, again, I want to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and my good colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), who helps co-chair the Congressional Hunger Center, for all the work that they do in helping a problem that should not exist but, sadly, it does, and, hopefully, one day soon, we will find a means to make certain that no person on Earth goes hungry.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), for the tremendous job that he and his staff have done in putting together the inaugural Homeland Security appropriations bill and also for the honor of allowing me to serve on that subcommittee as well. This bill does make a large investment in our Nation's first responders. We have added $888 million above the President's request for the Office of Domestic Preparedness, Firefighters and Emergency Management. This also includes another $750 million in firefighter grants, which has greatly been appreciated in Missouri and, in my judgment, is one of the most successful programs that FEMA and DHS have undertaken. The bill also makes another important investment in intercity bus security by adding $10 million for this critical initiative. We also include over $5 billion for various transportation security initiatives to ensure that not only our airports continue to run smoothly but also our ports and our highways. We make a large investment in the future by investing $900 million for science and technology. The funds will target research, development and deployment of innovative technologies that will help us protect the Nation well into the future. So, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the chairman again and also Michelle, Stephanie, Jeannie, Jeff, Brian, Tammy, and Tom for the great work they have done.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of a measure soon to be considered by this legislative body, H.R. 760, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, and to call to attention the moral duty of the United States House of Representatives to ban this procedure. It is not necessary for me to walk you through the gruesome steps required for a physician to commit a partial birth abortion procedure as you are certainly well familiar with it from the testimony of previous speakers today. While the means of the procedure need not be repeated, the end to these means must be restated. Simply put, this procedure results in the end of a human life. A life that was moments before on the path towards formally entering the world--a path leading toward a life of loving, dreaming, learning--a path of potential. No, I do not need to define for you the cold, methodical death procedure that is a partial birth abortion or the pain experienced by the fetus. A child is deprived of a future; that should be moral reason enough to suspend the practice. For this fetus, this baby, all rights are forbidden in order for the mother to exercise her right to personal privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment. In America, we do not hold the rights of one person over those of another; there is equal treatment under the law. This is of course with the exception of abortion, where restrictions cannot be made on an abortion procedure unless the potential life of the fetus is considered ``viable.'' Even though I do not personally require the fetus to be viable in order for a life to be significant, it is an important justifying factor to the Supreme Court that many partial- birth abortions are performed on viable fetuses. A legal reason to suspend the practice. I do not believe that we, in Congress, are in any position to pick one life over another, which is why I believe that when the life of the mother is in danger, abortion should remain an option. Mr. Speaker, please know that I do not favor legislation that would decide for a family who should die, the mother or the child, but H.R. 760 is careful to address this issue. This measure includes a factual finding demonstrating that partial-birth abortion is never necessary to protect the health of a woman. Mr. Speaker, this legislation not only protects the rights of the unborn, but it is also a carefully crafted piece of legislation that addresses the concerns of the U.S. Supreme Court expressed in Stenberg v. Carhart. For a few thousand children, upon whom the partial-birth abortion procedure will be committed in the next year, H.R. 760 is not just legislation; it is life. Mr. Speaker I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 760.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, a well-known proverb exemplifies the life mission of our friend and educator Alan Lipke. ``A child is not a vessel to be filled, but a lamp to be lit.'' For 39 years, Alan Lipke has been an educator committed to bringing light to the lives of our children. Whether it was for two years at St. Paul Lutheran School in Evansville, Indiana, for 13 years at St. Paul Lutheran School in Aurora, Illinois or for the last 22 years right here at St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson, Missouri, students across the Heartland have been blessed by the dedication and passion of someone who has spent his life preparing our children for the future. Now, after playing such an integral role in the education of countless youngsters, Alan Lipke has decided it is time to retire from education and begin a new chapter in his life. Though it is clear that he has ``put in his time,'' it is with a heavy heart that we prepare for Alan's departure. He has been a remarkable and stellar educator and after 39 years of unparalleled service to the teaching profession, to say that his absence from education will be missed is an understatement. And though Alan is retiring from his current profession, I know he will still be a visible and active member of the Jackson community. Maybe we'll see him at Jackson Chamber of Commerce meetings, at festivities for the St. Paul Lutheran School or just out enjoying time with his wife Sally, his children Lisa and Scott, his daughter-in-law Ashley, and most important of all, his grandson Parker. Wherever we may see him, I am sure he will be having fun and enjoying this rich and wonderful time of his life. Mr. Speaker, on this very special occasion, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in congratulating Alan on this milestone and wish him every happiness for the future. Thank you.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, this week, as we watch the events unfolding in Operation Iraqi Freedom, our hearts go out--not just to the Iraqi people who we are liberating from tyranny and oppression--but to our dear brave friends, the men and women in uniform serving in the American Armed Forces. The men and women of our Armed Forces have been on the front lines in Operation Iraqi Freedom and other conflicts throughout our country's history. Some of these men and women are easy to see. They are on television, in newspapers and some have even called in to talk to radio reporters about the latest happenings on the battlefield. Others are not so easy to see, but their work does not go unnoticed. They are the Special Forces. This week, in Missouri's Bootheel one of our own retired Special Forces was lost. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ian D.W. Sutherland passed away after a skydiving accident. Lt. Col. Sutherland was a longtime resident and friend to many in the Cape Girardeau County area. Raised in Tennessee, Lt. Col. Sutherland entered the U.S. Army in 1951. During his military career he was a member of the Old Guard--the Army ceremonial unit--and participated in the state funerals of President John F. Kennedy and Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam, was associated with the 82nd Airborne Division (Green Berets), and was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. He retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel from the Special Forces School at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. His service was recognized by many. He was the recipient of many awards including the Silver Star, two Legion of Merits, and five Bronze Stars. But when he retired, he didn't simply sit back and enjoy watching life. Instead, he went on to law school and furthered his lifelong career in public service by serving as an assistant prosecuting attorney. At the time of his death, he was the First Assistant prosecuting attorney in Cape Girardeau County. In a 15-year career as a trial lawyer, he prosecuted thousands of cases and tired 123 jury trials. Mr. Speaker, even though Lt. Col. Sutherland is no longer here, his work, his commitment and his love of God, country and service continue. And like so many who came before him and those who fellow after, he served his country with distinction and honor--and that is how we in Missouri will always remember him.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, when we hear the term ``women's rights'' we must think of the early suffragette Susan B. Anthony who fought to establish equality for women. But few people equate this woman with the plight of the unborn. I'd like to take the opportunity, on this 183rd year following her birth, to commemorate the woman who fought to bring equality to women, African Americans, and unborn children. Long before pro-choice advocates took the term ``women's rights'' for their own cause, Susan B. Anthony and the early suffragists were advocating ``women's rights.'' Among the women's rights demanded by the suffragists was the right of a mother to give birth to her child. In fact, Anthony has been quoted as stating that abortion destroys a woman's life, wronging her greatly. For Anthony, women's rights and the rights of unborn children are partners in the same cause. Let us recognize in the voice of Susan B. Anthony the truth that abortion is a great wrong. Mothers who choose to have an abortion both extinguish the light of their unborn child and inflict almost certain emotional damage upon themselves. There is no reason for this needless pain and suffering to go on.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a constitutional amendment for the protection of the right to life. Tragically, this most basic of human rights has been disregarded, set aside, abused, spurned, and sometimes altogether forgotten. Even more tragically, the United States government has been a willing partner in this affair, and the sad consequence is the sacrifice of something far more important than just principle. One of the things that sets America apart from the rest of the world is the fact that in this country, everyone is equal before the law. Regardless of race, religion, or background, each person has fundamental rights that are guaranteed by the law. However, we too often overlook the rights of perhaps the most vulnerable among us--the unborn. When abortion is legal and available on demand, then where are the rights of the unborn? When abortion is sanctioned and sometimes paid for by the government, then how do we measure the degree to which life has been cheapened? When an innocent life is taken before its time, then how can one say that this is justice in America? My amendment would establish beyond a doubt the fundamental right to life. Congress has an obligation to do what it has failed to do for so long, fully protect the unborn. I urge this body to move forward with this legislation to put an end to a most terrible injustice.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a constitutional amendment for the protection of our nation's flag. The flag is a revered symbol of America's great tradition of liberty and democratic government, and it ought to be protected from acts of desecration that diminish us all. As you know, there have been several attempts to outlaw by statute the desecration of the flag. Both Congress and state legislatures have passed such measures in recent years, only to be overruled later by decisions of the Supreme Court. It is clear that nothing short of an amendment to the Constitution will ensure that Old Glory has the complete and unqualified protection of the law. The most common objection to this kind of amendment is that it unduly infringes on the freedom of speech. However, this objection disregards the fact that our freedoms are not practiced beyond the bounds of common sense and reason. As is often the case, there are reasonable exceptions to the freedom of speech, such as libel, obscenity, trademarks, and the like. Desecration of the flag is this kind of act, something that goes well beyond the legitimate exercising of a right. It is a wholly disgraceful and unacceptable form of behavior, an affront to the proud heritage and tradition of America. Make no mistake, this constitutional amendment should be at the very top of the agenda of this Congress. We owe it to every citizen of this country, and particularly to those brave men and women who have stood in harm's way so that the flag and what it stands for might endure. I urge this body to take a strong stand for what is right and ensure the protection of our flag.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to introduce the Military Retiree Health Care Task Force Act of 2003. This legislation will establish a Task Force that will look into all of the health care promises and representations made to members of the Uniformed Services by Department of Defense personnel and Department literature. The Task Force will submit a comprehensive report to Congress which will contain a detailed statement of its findings and conclusions. This report will include legislative remedies to correct the great injustices that have occurred to those men and women who served their country in good faith. Let us not forget why we are blessed with freedom and democracy in this country. The sacrifices made by those who served in the military are something that must never be overlooked. Promises were made to those who served in the Uniformed Services. They were told that their health care would be taken care of for life if they served a minimum of twenty years of active federal service. Well, those military retirees served their time and expected the government to hold up its end of the bargain. They are now realizing that these were nothing more than empty promises. Those who served in the military did not let their country down in its time of need and we should not let military retirees down in theirs. It's time military retirees get what was promised to them and that's why I am introducing this legislation.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Notch Baby Act of 2003, which would create a new alternative transition computation formula for Social Security benefits for those seniors born between 1917 and 1926. These seniors, who are generally referred to as ``Notch Babies,'' have been receiving lower monthly Social Security benefits than seniors born the years just prior to or after this ten year period. There are those who dispute the existence of a Notch problem. However, take into consideration the following example presented in a 1994 report by the Commission on Social Security Notch issue. There are two workers who retired at the same age with the same average career earnings. One was born on December 31, 1916 and the other was born on January 2, 1917. Both retired in 1982 at the age of 65. The retiree born 1917 received $110 a month less in Social Security benefits than did the retiree born just two weeks before in 1916. Also take into consideration that there are currently millions of seniors in our Nation who are faced with this painfully obvious inequity in the Social Security benefit computation formula. By phasing in an improved benefit formula over five years, the Notch Baby Act of 2003 will restore fairness and equality in the Social Security benefit computation formula for the Notch Babies. For once and for all this legislation would put to rest the Notch issue, and it would put an end to the constant barrage of mailings and fundraising attempts, which target our Nation's seniors in the name of Notch reform. Our seniors deserve fairness and equality in the Social Security system. They deserve an end to the repeated Congressional stalling on this issue. I urge my colleagues in the House to discuss this issue with the seniors in their districts, and to join me in ensuring that the Notch issue is addressed in the 108th Congress.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, today I am again introducing legislation to assist the over 6 million senior citizens who have been negatively impacted the Social Security Amendments of 1977. Seniors born between the years of 1917 and 1926--the Notch Babies--have received lower Social Security monthly payments that those seniors born shortly before or after this ten year period. My legislation, the Notch Baby Health Care Relief Act, will offset the reduction in Social Security benefits by providing a tax credit for Medicare Part B premiums. The approach taken in this bill is different than taken by my Notch Baby Act of 2001 or in any other Notch bill that has been introduced. This legislation is particularly noteworthy because it was suggested to me by one of my constituents--adjust Medicare Part B premiums for senior citizens born between the years 1917 and 1926, their spouses and their widows or widowers. The bill also eliminates the Medicare Part B premium late enrollment penalty for these individuals. As health care expenses can take up a large portion of a senior's retirement income, this tax credit can go a long way to both correct the inequity caused by the Notch and to help seniors meet their health care needs. I urge my colleagues to review the Notch Baby Heath Care Relief Act, to discuss this legislation with the seniors in their districts, and to join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. I rise today to introduce a constitutional amendment to ensure that students can choose to pray in school. Regrettably, the notion of the separation of church and state has been widely misrepresented in recent years, and the government has strayed far from the vision of America as established by the Founding Fathers. Our Founding Fathers had the foresight and wisdom to understand that a government cannot secure the freedom of religion if at the same time it favors one religion over another through official actions. Their philosophy was one of even-handed treatment of the different faiths practiced in America, a philosophy that was at the very core of what their new Nation was to be about. Somehow, this philosophy is often interpreted today to mean that religion has no place at all in public life, no matter what its form. President Reagan summarized the situation well when he remarked, ``The First Amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people of this country from religious values; it was written to protect religious values from government tyranny.'' And this is what voluntary school prayer is about, making sure that prayer, regardless of its denomination, is protected. There can be little doubt that no student should be forced to pray in a certain fashion or be forced to pray at all. At the same time, a student should not be prohibited from praying, just because he/she is attending a public school. This straightforward principle is lost on the liberal courts and high-minded bureaucrats who have systematically eroded the right to voluntary school prayer, and it is now necessary to correct the situation through a constitutional amendment. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and make a strong statement in support of the freedom of religion.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I fulfill the pledge I made to the citizens of southern Missouri to introduce and work tirelessly to pass an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, that requires a balanced Federal budget. Over the course of the past several decades, fiscal irresponsibility has produced a Federal debt that is fast approaching $5 trillion. That's trillion, with a `t,' Mr. Speaker. A debt of $5 trillion is a mind-boggling figure, but it can be placed in a much clearer perspective. A child born today immediately inherits nearly $20,000 of debt, owed directly to Uncle Sam. The same is true for every American. The era of continuing annual budget deficits must end, and it is clear that the only way to restore conservative fiscal values to the Nation's budget is to pass the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The stakes in this debate could not be more important. The fiscal future of the United States hinges on the ability of Congress and the President to make the difficult choices required to balance the Federal budget. It's more than debating trillion dollar figures. It's about making our economy stronger and providing every working American family with a better chance to make ends meet. A balanced budget will strengthen every sector of our economy with lower interest rates that will help families stretch each paycheck further. Home mortgages, automobiles, and a better education will become more affordable to every working family, making the American Dream closer to reality for all. Mr. Speaker, I am committed to working with my colleagues in the new Congress to see that the balanced budget constitutional amendment is passed and sent to the States for ratification. A constitutional amendment is certainly no substitute for direct action on the part of the Congress. However, we have seen time and time again instances where those who object to conservative fiscal responsibility find convenient excuses to deny the American people a balanced budget. An unbreakable enforcement mechanism is clearly needed to ensure that those who would continue to spend our children's future further into debt are not able to do so. I also want to make plain that the Social Security trust fund has no place in this debate. The independent trust fund is a sacred trust between generations and must never be used to balance the budget or hide the true size of the deficit. Commonsense conservatives in Congress and the American people are committed to balancing the budget. I look forward to working throughout this session with all of my colleagues and the White House to pass the balanced budget constitutional amendment on a bipartisan basis. The obligations we owe to hard working American families, their children, and our Nation's future generations deserve nothing less than decisive action to preserve our future by balancing the budget. A constitutional amendment will ensure this outcome.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today with the memories of September 11th forever etched on my mind. I remember thinking that the world would never be the same again after that fateful day. I was right. Now, one year later, I am touched and moved by the courage, compassion and character that people across our nation have shown in the days and months since the attack on America. I am nearly moved beyond words by the ways our children have responded to the new challenges facing our nation. Immediately following September 11th I visited classrooms all over the Eighth Congressional district. I listened and spoke with students, teachers and parents and felt--for the first time I can remember--a bond and sense of purpose that was somehow missing in the days before. I have never been as proud to be an American as I was when I visited with the children at those schools in my district. To be honest, I wasn't sure exactly how to talk about the tragic events of September 11th, because I wasn't sure how much they understood about why this tragedy happened to us. Instead of comforting them, they comforted me. Instead of me telling them what happened, through their patriotic songs, intelligent questions, cheers of pride, patriotic bulletin boards, and their hugs and tears, they shared what they had learned and seen. One of those schools was H. Byron Masterson Elementary School in Kennett, Missouri. The students shared their feelings, but they did more than that. They took action. And this week, a year later, the results of their actions were heard and seen in New York City. The message from the children is one of comfort. Their story is summarized in a story reported by the Associated Press and I would like to share it with all of you. Darlene Robertson says that on some days, the rut is the best place to be. On Sept. 12th, it was the daily rut of life in Robertson's southeast Missouri town that provided the stability her first-grade students needed in that insecure time after the terrorist attacks. ``September 11 upset the routine of America, and these little children felt it,'' Robertson said. ``That's why the rut was so important for us that day.'' Those students, now second-graders at H. Byron Masterson Elementary School, wrote about their experience in a book entitled, September 12th . . . We knew Everything Would be All Right. The book, which the children also illustrated, won the Kids Are Authors contest sponsored by Scholastic Books. Now Scholastic is publishing the book and distributing it nationwide. When Robertson first heard of the contest, she began talking with her husband about topics for a book her students could write. They knew that a lot of children would be writing about the terrorist attacks of September 11th, so her husband suggested September 12th as a topic. So the idea for the book was born, and in March, Robertson and her students began to recall what September 11th and 12th were like--how they had discussed what they saw on television, and how she assured them they were safe inside their classroom. ``September 11th shook us all up. As a faculty, we had to be careful not to show our true feelings about the day. We had to do things just like we had been doing the day before. It gave the kids security.'' The book takes readers through the day after the attacks and how the students' daily routine was a comfort to them: ``The sun rose again, and the students traveled to school as usual. They still had homework. And two plus two still added up to four,'' they wrote in the book. ``On September 12th, our parents still tucked us in our warm, safe beds,'' they wrote. ``We knew we would be all right because our parents said they loved us.'' My favorite quote from the books is one that I used recently in my weekly column about September 11th. The children wrote, ``We knew everything would be all right because the stars and moon came out and America went to sleep. And the next morning the sun came up again.'' The students, together with their parents, were recognized for their achievement. They along with teacher, Darlene Robertson and her husband, Dennis, and Masterson Principal Elsie Heller, left for New York City early Monday morning, September 9th. The group of approximately 40 spent three days in the Big Apple including the one year anniversary of September 11th. The trip, sponsored by NASDAQ, ended with the group taking part in the ceremonial opening and ringing of the bell at the NASDAQ market on September 11th. During their stay in NYC, the group visited various sights including every child's dream, Toys R Us, New York. They also toured the Empire State Building and the New York Public Library. And they took a trip to the company, Scholastic, whose contest made all of this possible. Scholastic will be at H. Byron Masterson Elementary School on September 12th for a banquet, where they will present the students with medals. The school also will receive 100 copies of the book and an autographed copy of the book will be sent to President Bush. As their teacher Mrs. Robertson said ``We're just a little small town of 11,000 in the Bootheel of Missouri but here we are . . . It is an honor to be chosen.'' It is an honor for me to represent these children and their families in Congress. Congratulations on this remarkable and special milestone in your lives. You children have inspired me. You have shown your compassion for others. You have displayed the true character of America. You have shown me and other parents and adults your maturity and depth of understanding about our great nation. You have given us resolve. You have given us courage. And you will help us show the world that no act of terror will ever bring us to our knees. We will be stronger than ever in the face of adversity. We will be one. We will be tougher. We will prevail.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join with my colleagues in paying special tribute to an extraordinary individual and one who has touched the lives of the entire Emerson family over many, many years. Mr. Speaker, I recall the friendship, the very close and deep friendship that Tony had with my late husband, Bill; the faith that they shared together, the friendship they shared together, and the compassion that Tony showed, and the deep faith and love Tony showed for Bill as he held our hands and Bill's hand through a very fatal illness and his subsequent death. All of this in spite of the fact that his own son was very seriously ill. But I guess that should not come as a surprise to anyone who knows Tony, because I can think of no person who is more of a hero and more of an inspiration than Tony Hall, not only in the work that he has done throughout his years in Congress, but truly, there is no one who has put a more human face on the issue of hunger, both here and abroad. Mr. Speaker, I remember so very well the time that Tony went on the hunger strike so that he would finally make all of us, or all of our colleagues; I was not in Congress back then, but Bill Emerson and everyone understood that there was a very serious problem in the United States and in the world, and that Congress needed to get serious about this issue. He made his mark. He made it not only here in the Congress, but throughout the United States and throughout the world. As Tony leaves his position here in Congress and he leaves his position as the chairman of the Congressional Hunger Center, he has left me in a bit of a precarious position, because Tony had recommended that I become the new chairman of the Congressional Hunger Center, and I do not think I have ever been so scared of anything in my life, nor so intimidated, because no one, no one could possibly fill the shoes that you, Tony, have. You are a remarkable person, and I am so pleased that the President understood the gift that you have for people, the gift you have for life, the faith, the leadership, the inspiration that you give to all of us. As you move to this very, very important job in Rome, all of us will be with you in spirit, be praying for you, and know that there is no better person to help the world understand the investment we must make to rid the world of hunger. Thank you, Tony, so much for being our friend, for being our colleague, and for being a real and genuine person who always cares more about others than yourself.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Chairman, I read an interesting article in today's Washington Times about a retired Air Force colonel, Ed Hubbard, a former POW in Vietnam, who traveled down to Miami this week to have a press conference where he was awarded with some medals for his bravery, which he truly deserved, but it was also to point a finger, if you will, at the person that he suspected of being the Cuban interrogator and torturer in Vietnam. Well, as it turns out, it was a very interesting article, and after he was awarded these pins, the colonel stunned everybody in the room by saying, you know, let me say something. The best way to topple communism and I quote, in today's Cuba, he said, ``is by establishing relations with Fidel Castro. Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe because we showed them how we live. I have to believe the same thing will happen with Cuba.'' That is Retired Air Force Colonel Ed Hubbard, a POW, tortured in Vietnam by a Cuban, who very strongly believes that we should open the door with Cuba. I think that says it all.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Goss amendment for one primary reason, and that is because its purpose is to undo what our colleague, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake) will offer following this, and that is an amendment to end the travel ban to Cuba. First of all, I just want to go through a few points about this. Number one, a main premise, if we all remember, of American policy toward the former Soviet bloc that was enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki Accords was that travel restrictions should be ended. From the American perspective, the purpose was to expose closed societies to western influence. If, in fact, that was the premise then, it should be the premise today, and anything that would stop us, as the Goss amendment would do, would, in fact, not allow us to spread our values, our democratic society, to those people who desperately need it, those people in Cuba. Like many people, and any people who have lived under communism, Cubans want contact with the rest of the world and not isolation from it, and they do benefit materially from foreign visitors. Contact with foreigners brings information, news and foreign influence. It erodes the information monopoly that the government and the communist party attempt to maintain. In spite of what anyone will say, and having been on two occasions to Cuba, tourist dollars do reach the people directly. Think of Cuba's artisan markets, the bicycle taxies, the private taxies, the private restaurateurs, the thousands of Cubans who rent their rooms to tourists, this is the 4 percent of the Cuban workforce that is employed as private licensed entrepreneurs. No, it is not nearly enough, but it is a beginning. They live largely on the money tourists spend when visiting Cuba. Then there are the hotel and restaurant employees, who do earn tips, some directly, some because all employees in a hotel pool the tips and divide them. They get dollar wages, they get dollar bonus, but, most of all, they do get the money that Germans, Spaniards and French and all the other tourists to Cuba give them, perhaps under the table, but they do have this to supplement their income. Finally, tourist spending has a secondary impact. Cuba's farmer's markets and the private farmers who supply them, and all the small entrepreneurs prosper when tourism is up and artists, restaurateurs, taxi drivers, bellhops and chambermaids have disposable income. American tourism would make this entire Cuban private sector boom. I, quite frankly, do not understand what anybody is afraid of, why people are afraid for Americans to travel to Cuba. In my opinion, it would only help the Cuban people in the long run.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I was attending to a family emergency and missed the following recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted, Yes on rollcall vote 171, Yes on rollcall vote 172, Yes on rollcall note 173, Yes on rollcall vote 174, Yes on rollcall vote 175, Yes on rollcall vote 176, Yes on rollcall vote 177, Yes on rollcall vote 178, Yes on rollcall vote 179, Yes on rollcall vote 180, Yes on rollcall vote 181, Yes on rollcall vote 182, Yes on rollcall vote 183, Yes on rollcall vote 184, Yes on rollcall vote 185, Yes on rollcall vote 186, Yes on rollcall vote 187, Yes on rollcall vote 188, Yes on rollcall vote 189, Yes on rollcall vote 190, Yes on rollcall vote 191, No on rollcall vote 192, Yes on rollcall 193, Yes on rollcall 194, No on rollcall 195, No on rollcall 196.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, March 30th, a great soldier and leader was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, 56 years after its authorization. Sadly, the recipient, SSG Winford Evans, who fought for this country in World War II passed away in 1991. However, the U.S. Army presented the award, along with two others, to his family during a ceremony held in Sikeston, Missouri. SSG Evans earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic action during a July 1945 battle in the Southwest Pacific Theater. Seeing his platoon leader wounded, SSG Evans disregarded enemy fire and brought the leader to safety. As the battle progressed, he directed mortar attacks and was wounded but continued to fight. Less concerned with his own immediate safety than with defending those around him, he positioned himself within 25 yards of the enemy, threw hand grenades, fired on the enemy and wounded and killed several enemy soldiers. In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, SSG Evans was awarded two Bronze Star Medals. The first has an oak leaf cluster and the other one has a ``V'' device. These two medals were awarded to SSG Evans for his heroic achievements in the Asian Pacific Theater from 1943-1945. This May as we take time to celebrate Military Appreciation Month, it seems fitting that we recognize men and women in uniform like SSG Winford Evans. His sacrifice, along with the sacrifice of so many others who stood in harm's way to defend our country, remind all of us of the selfless valor of our military men and women. I am hopeful, particularly during this time of military action abroad, that others will reflect on the service and dedication of those who came before SSG Evans and those who will come after him and hold in their hearts an appreciation and admiration for their actions and desire to secure peace and freedom for all of us. Mr. Speaker, on this very special occasion, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in recognizing and remembering SSG Evans and extend our best wishes to his family as they remember his service to the United States of America.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Combest) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), for the excellent and diligent work they did on a most challenging bill. I would like to just remind my colleagues to harken back to the 1996 Freedom to Farm bill and the fact that it was going to decrease subsidies, so to speak. But it was also based on three major components: number one, we would have lower taxes; number two, we would have fewer regulations; and, number three, we would have more markets in which to sell our commodities. We all know Freedom to Farm did not work. We do not have fewer regulations; we have more. We do not have more markets; we have the same or fewer. And while no farmer wants to depend on the government for anything, it is critical that we provide a safety net to our producers. I only wish that our colleagues who oppose this bill because of subsidies, and most of those folks I do want to say represent suburban districts, I wish that they would understand that in the United States we have a very cheap food policy. We spend 11 cents of every dollar on food, while in Europe they spend about 22 cents. In Russia they spend about 50 cents. We are very, very fortunate. We have the safest, most abundant food supply anywhere in the world. I think that the conferees have done a remarkable job on this bill, given all of the challenges posed to them. I do want to say one thing to our colleague from Oregon who said that we decrease funds for conservation. In fact, we increase funds by 80 percent. So that is incorrect. Let me also take one moment to commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for the steadfast commitment he has had and the work he has done on the Global Food for Education initiative. I greatly appreciate that work he has done, as well as our conferees, in funding this very, very important initiative that will help poor children in countries go to school and also get the nourishment they need. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. It is important that we support it and certainly vote down any motion to recommit.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I represent a district whose mainstay is agriculture, and for the last 4 years and now going into our fifth year our farmers are in very, very bad straits. As a matter of fact, I would agree with the gentlewoman from Florida when she says that our farmers are the heart and soul of America. They are the heart and soul of our American values, but they are hurting; and our farmers overwhelmingly want to sell their commodities to Cuba. As a matter of fact, they have sold $73 million of commodities to Cuba in the last 6 months. Those have been cash sales, and Cuba has paid up front for those purchases. Up until we imposed the embargo on Cuba 40-plus years ago, my farmers sold the bulk of their rice to Cuba. They lost that market when the embargo was imposed, and they have really never gotten those markets back again from any other country. Mr. Speaker, the other day, the Friday before last, I helped to load 250,000 bushels of my farmers' rice onto the barges in Carthersville, Missouri. It was my farmers' rice, not a company's rice, my farmer's rice. And I am absolutely shocked and saddened when I hear my colleague from Florida say that any firm or farmers who sell their commodities to Cuba will be blacklisted by the Democratic government that may take over when Castro leaves office, dies or is elected. That is shameful, as my other colleague from Florida said. Let me talk a little bit about a couple of other things. The administration has recently revoked the visas of several Cuban officials who represent their trading company, Alimport. Those officials were coming to Michigan, to North Dakota, to Missouri and other States to purchase commodities for future sales; and, unfortunately, our administration said it was not their policy to encourage agricultural sales to Cuba. If our farmers are hurting, if our American economy is hurting and we want to have an open trade policy, it is pretty hypocritical not to allow people who want to purchase our commodities to come and do so. When we are talking about private financing, we are talking about a company entering into a private financial agreement with the country of Cuba. It is a private company. If they want to take the risk, they should be allowed to take the risk because this is, I thought, a democracy where we were free to make those decisions on our own. Mr. Speaker, our policy towards Cuba should not be one that is based on a family feud, but rather it should be a policy based on helping the American economy and the American farmer.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, as we mark the 75th Anniversary of the Flood of 1927, the images that come to mind serve to remind us of how the flood affected Missouri and shaped the flood protection policies of today. Although the floodwaters of the past have receded, the lessons they have left behind are unmistakably clear. The first major levee break during the Flood of 1927 was at the Dorena levee and has significant meaning to those living in the surrounding area because it forever changed Missouri and the entire river delta. The Dorena break alone flooded 135,000 acres of land in the St. John Levee and Drainage District, left 7,500 people homeless and overtopped the Farrenburg levee near New Madrid, flooding an additional one million acres. Overall, the break will always be remembered as part of the greatest natural disaster in American history. When the Flood of 1927 finally subsided, the disaster had displaced 700,000 people--80,000 more people than currently live in Missouri's Eighth District today. Geographically, the flood left 26,000 square miles under water (an area roughly two times the size of the country of Switzerland), crops were destroyed, cities paralyzed, farm land ruined and more than a thousand people were dead (276 from the flood and the remainder from the sickness and disease that followed). Today, a flood of that magnitude would shut down every interstate from St. Louis south to New Orleans--running east or west. Prior to the Flood of 1927, the river control system in place was based on a ``levees only'' policy, which many attribute as being partially responsible for the Flood of 1927. The policy meant that there were no outlets, reservoirs or spillways to assist in flood control. The lack of coordinated protection for water flow combined with the heavy rain and melting snow resulted in major flooding which broke the levees in more than 120 places. At a time when the federal budget barely exceeded $3 billion, the flood, directly and indirectly, caused an estimated $1 billion in property damage. As is the case with many disasters, the Flood of 1927 prompted lawmakers to take a long look at past policy. In an attempt to learn from the flood so that they wouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past, the Flood of 1927 led to the ``Flood Control Act of 1928.'' The plan, which gave the US Army Corps of Engineers the job of providing flood control on the Mississippi River, authorized the Jadwin Plan, or what came to be known as the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project (MR & T). This comprehensive flood control plan has four major elements-- levees, floodways and control structures, channel improvements and stabilization measures, and tributary basin improvements. These elements work together to provide flood protection and navigation while simultaneously promoting environmental stewardship and restoration. Since the establishment of MR & T in 1928, more than 87 percent of the project has been completed. This investment of nearly $11 billion has been used for planning, construction, operation and maintenance. That $11 billion has paid off--people live in safer communities protected from many of the hazards of flooding; commerce and economic development have enhanced river towns and steps have been taken to promote conservation of land while providing recreational use opportunities for communities along our nation's rivers. Perhaps most notable is that the MR & T project has prevented $258 billion in flood damages to date. It means that for every one dollar spent, we have saved $24 in flood-related damages. It is that type of investment in the future that we continue to make as the Army Corps of Engineers works with Congress during the budget process. As was the case during the Depression and previous wars, Congress is currently faced with certain financial realities. In light of those realities, I still believe this much-needed funding is critical to ensuring that flood protection, navigation, port authority and drainage projects are completed so that lives are saved and the economic livelihood of towns up and down the river are preserved.