Jo Ann Emerson

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, when I talk with parents, teachers principals and school administrators throughout Southern Missouri, it becomes very clear that much needs to be done to strengthen our local school systems. Aging facilities, increasing class sizes, and tight funding are placing a tremendous strain on the quality of education available for our children. And no two school districts are alike in their specific needs. Whether it's building new classrooms, repairing a hole in the gymnasium roof, hiring more teachers, or acquiring new computers or test books, only the parents, educators, and locally elected school boards really know what priorities need to be met in their schools. There is no question that our local school districts are faced with significant challenges in preparing our children for the future. Unfortunately, our current federal education programs falling well short in assisting our communities to succeed. One of the problems is that 35 percent of federal education funds are spent on meeting the operation budgets of the more than 760 federal education programs spread out between 39 different agencies. This means that only 65 cents of each education dollar is actually making it to our classrooms. This diversion of funds is particularly burdensome on rural communities. Southern Missouri's school districts are limited in local funding options and we simply need more of our federal education dollars returned to us. Another significant problem is the burdensome federal regulations and mandates that tie schools' hands and cut into educators' valuable teaching time. According to Vice President Gore's National Performance Review, if a local school district decides to apply for a Department of Education grant, the entire process takes 26 weeks and 487 steps from beginning to end. That's 6 months and countless hours spent on applying for a grant--all without any guarantee that the funds will be approved. I have heard from teachers in Southern Missouri who personally spend up to three days out of the week writing grants and filing out paperwork. This is time that our teachers--who are already overloaded with large classes and limited resources--could be dedicating to planning lessons, teaching their classes, and reviewing student's work. It seems to me that our education system needs fewer bureaucrats in Washington crunching numbers and dreaming up federal mandates and more teachers in our local schools educating our children. I introduced legislation that begins to address the problems of funding and over regulation in our nation's education policy. My legislation--known as the: ``District Check for Education Act,'' or simply ``Direct Check''--would consolidate several Department of Education competitive grant programs and return federal education dollars directly to the local school or school district based on the number of students served. ``Direct Check'' funds are not tied to any burdensome federal regulations or mandates, and they can be used for purchasing text books, computers and technology, teachers' salaries, and classroom construction or renovation. Other allowable uses of these funds include literacy programs, job training initiatives, and drug and alcohol programs. Education is a national priority, but it is a local responsibility. It has always been carried out and implemented at the local level. The bottom line is that no Department of Education bureaucrat who lives and works in the city of Washington, DC or its suburbs can possibly understand the educational needs of our children in rural Southern Missouri. My ``Direct Check'' bill empowers local school districts by giving them the control and flexibility to use federal education dollars in a way that best meets their priorities for improving the education system for their children. And by freeing up resources and giving them directly to local school districts, we can help preserve and strengthen our American public education tradition as we head into the 21st Century.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleague, Senator Kit Bond, in introducing legislation that addresses one of the greatest challenges of our Nation: assuring quality health care for pregnant women and appropriate pediatric care for infants. Our bill, the Healthy Kids 2000 Act, builds upon the Birth Defects Prevention Act signed into law last April, by consolidating programs and providing more funds for local initiatives to prevent birth defects and maternal mortality. The idea behind our proposal is simple: we want pregnant women to be healthy, and we want children to be healthy. To accomplish this, we must remove some of the barriers women and children encounter in receiving adequate, appropriate health care. The Healthy Kids 2000 Act will allow States greater flexibility in ensuring quality prenatal care by allowing States to enroll eligible pregnant women in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), for which Congress provided $25 billion in 1997 to assist 10 million uninsured children in receiving the most basic health care. A recent study by the March of Dimes estimates that 45,000 uninsured pregnant women who are not eligible for Medicaid could be covered by S-CHIP if States were given the flexibility of extending coverage to income eligible pregnant women age 19 or older. Additionally, the bill increases enrollment of Medicaid-eligible pregnant women. Currently, approximately 77 percent of uninsured pregnant women are eligible for Medicaid but are not enrolled. The bill also ensures direct access to obstetric care for women, and direct access to pediatric care, since children have health needs that are very different than those of the adult population. Another crucial element of our bill allows our Nation's independent children's hospitals to receive Federal funding for graduate medical education. Currently, children's hospitals receive almost no Federal GME funding. With few Medicare patients, these children's hospitals receive less than $400 in Federal funds for each medical resident they train, while other teaching hospitals receive on average more than $79,000 for each resident--creating a serious inequity in the competitive market for these children's hospitals. As these hospitals try to fulfill their teaching missions, competitive market pressures provide little incentive for private payers to contribute toward teaching costs. In an effort to reduce our Nation's infant death rate and to improve the chances of healthy birth outcomes, the Healthy Kids 2000 Act establishes a National Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, and strengthens local initiatives for drug, alcohol, and smoking prevention and cessation programs for pregnant mothers. An estimated 150,000 infants are born each year with a birth defect, resulting in one out of every five infant deaths. More children die in the U.S. from birth defects in the first year of life than from any other cause. Effective locally-based programs will prevent these horrific outcomes by equipping mothers, families, and health care providers with information and approaches needed to ensure women safer pregnancies. Furthermore, our bill increases funding for the National Institutes of Health by creating the Pediatric Research Initiative, which will provide further money to research efforts on diseases and conditions which afflict our Nation's children, such as birth defects, SIDS, cystic fibrosis, juvenile diabetes, and muscular dystrophy. Our health care professionals in southern Missouri and across the Nation work very hard to provide the highest quality care for our children. The reality is that pediatric care, like all health care, does cost money. We need to take positive steps to ensure that every mother-to-be and their children are able to access this quality care. I am very pleased to again be working with Senator Bond on an important children's health initiative. On behalf of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens, I urge my colleagues to review the Healthy Kids 2000 Act, to discuss this bill with families in their districts, and to join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, February 28, 1999, the Veterans of Foreign Wars announced that Daniel Dirnberger, a senior at Oran High School in Scott County, Missouri, was the second place National winner of the ``1999 Voice of Democracy Program.'' Daniel was sponsored by Morley VFW Post 5368 and its Ladies Auxiliary. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Dirnberger, and he plans on attending Southeast Missouri University next school year. Daniel's essay, entitled ``My Service to America,'' captures the very essence of what it means to be an American. In a self-governing nation such as ours, each and everyone of us serves our country when we ``simply be the best we can be, fight the good fight, and be someone who is strong and proud to call themselves an American. We do that and everything that our elders bled, fought, and died for will be truly honored.'' I have enclosed a copy of Daniel's essay for the record. I hope that my colleagues will take a few minutes to read his words, and to share his essay with young people in their districts. Daniel exemplifies the energy, the optimism, and the dedication to country that compelled our Founding Fathers in their drive to create one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. My Service to America (By Daniel Dirnberger) As I stood in the darkness of the theater watching the end of the war movie ``Saving Private Ryan'' my eyes welled up with tears as the older Private Ryan stood at the grave of his friend. This scene made me think about how much these brave men and women have had to suffer and sacrifice so that our freedom may endure to this day. From where I stood I could see many of the reactions of the people in the audience. Some wept, others held their heads low, and still others seem so shocked that emotional reaction was impossible for them to express. What attracted my attention, however, was the reaction of the war veterans who had come to see the movie that day. The veterans sat in a group on the top row. None of them had shown any emotion during the movie until Private Ryan saluted the grave of his friend. At that moment the entire group of veterans stood up silently. Each one took off his hat, and all bowed their heads. This simple, quiet act touched me deeply and almost drove me to tears. It filled me with a deep sense of pride and admiration for these men and women who had endured so much for our country. As I walked out of the theater I felt ashamed. These people have given so much and I have given so little. Then I began to think about my service to America, what was I doing to try and make this country a better place? I could not think of any major task that I had accomplished to make me worthy of the freedom that was given to me. Then I thought of a very different service that I had been performing since I was young. I have always tried to do well in school, be an upright citizen, and obey the laws but these things were so minor, so insignificant that they could not possibly matter in this big country of ours. I know now that I was wrong about these small services to America. These services are not insignificant: they are the most important services that we as Americans today can do for our country. Just think what would happen if everyone tried just a little harder to do better, work together, and be the best they can be. Our country would be just a little bit better place to live and work. There are the pessimists who say that this view is nothing but a utopian philosophy that can never come true but these people have miscalculated their predictions of the future. They have forgotten about the power of the human spirit. This power can overcome any obstacle or challenge that is presented to it. All the spirit needs is a catalyst to push it on. Too many Americans have lost their faith in the human spirit. The media's negative news and the magazines slanderous articles break down the structure of society. These things lead our entire society to believe that the world is a horrible place filled with the monsters that used to haunt us as children. I believe that the human spirit can be reborn. If we all do our part or if even just a few of us do a little, the human spirit will shine through the negativity that surrounds us and we can defeat the monsters that the media has led us to believe exist in our society. Your service to America can be large or small, depending on the type of person you are. It does not take much to help your country or another person. Voting, volunteering, or simply picking up a piece of trash on the ground can help all of us. Don't say you don't have enough time to do something good and helpful. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein. (H. Jackson Brown, Jr.) Remember, if you don't do it, you'll never know what would have happened if you had done it. My service to America and my suggestions may seem small but in reality they are larger then you can imagine. By doing these little things we are contributing to a larger body of people who, like me, believe that the human spirit is the most powerful thing of all once it is driven on. The war today my friends is not on the battlefield of a foreign country but on the very land or our own country. My service, indeed all our services, to America is simply to be the best we can be, to fight the good fight, and be someone who is strong and proud to call themselves an American. We do that and everything that our elders bled, fought, and died for will truly be honored. We will be one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, February 20, 1999, Mr. Bill Wright of Doniphan, Missouri was honored by the local Chamber of Commerce as the 1999 Citizen of the Year. More specifically, Bill was nominated for this recognition by his community because of his lifetime commitment to the Town of Doniphan--which makes this honor that much sweeter. Bill is well known in his community. He has been a life-long resident of Doniphan which is a small rural community located just outside the Mark Twain National Forest in Ripley County, Missouri. In fact, Bill has not only lived in the same town all of his life, but his home is on the very same spot of the original house in which he was born in 1917. Bill's family history in Doniphan is well established with one of the local parks, the Wright Park along Bill's beloved Current River, was named after his forefathers. Bill graduated from Doniphan High School in 1935 and attended Westminister College in Fulton, Missouri from 1935 to 1937. Having played basketball in high school, Bill continues to be an avid fan of the sport. He is a regular spectator of the Doniphan High School ``Don'' and ``Donettes'' basketball. The morning after every game Bill can be heard on the local radio recapping the events. According to Bill, his continued ties to the high school have allowed him to ``keep in touch with more school students than he could have otherwise,'' and he has made bonds that have lasted through the generations. In addition to his love of basketball, Bill is a husband, a father and a grandfather. He has been married to Louise--who shares his love of basketball--for 33 years, and they have a daughter and a son and six grandchildren. Bill is a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church, where he served several years as the church secretary and where he just finished a year term as president of the church men's organization. He also served 4 years in the Army, where he served a tour of duty in Europe. I know from personal experience that Bill is a very active and energetic member of his community, and his positive contribution to his community is reflected through the Doniphan townsfolk's nominating Bill for Citizen of the Year. I think that Doniphan Chamber of Commerce President Russ O'Neil best sums up the essence of Bill Wright when he said that Bill ``could be counted on for a friendly smile, a handshake and a kind word. [Bill] has been actively involved in Doniphan and the community for many years and has chosen to support activities that would have positive affects on the people who call Doniphan home.'' Congratulations, Bill. May you, your loved ones, and the people of Doniphan be blessed with many more years of your thoughtful dedication to family, community and country.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, February 15 marks the 179th birthday of Susan B. Anthony. We all remember Susan B. Anthony as a pioneer in the long struggle for full equality for women. But what many have forgotten, or have chosen to ignore, is that for her, opposition to abortion was an essential part of the cause of women's rights. Far from being the cornerstone of women's rights--as some mistakenly view abortion today--for Anthony, abortion was a great betrayal of all the first feminists' hoped to achieve for women. Anthony was unequivocal in her condemnation of abortion, referring to it as nothing less than ``child murder.'' And she saved her harshest condemnation for those who would lead a woman to abortion, for she correctly viewed this as the greatest exploitation of women. So today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the birthday of this great American and to reclaim her pro-life legacy as a real and essential component of full equality for women.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart) be removed as a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 7. His name was inadvertently added on February 2.

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 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, I rise today to introduce the Notch Baby Act of 1999 which would create a new alternative transition computation formula for Social Security benefits for those seniors born between 1917 and 1921. These seniors, who are generally referred to as ``Notch Babies,'' have been receiving lower monthly Social Security benefits than seniors born in the years just prior to or after this five 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 in 1917 receives $110 a month less in Social Security benefits than did the retiree born just two days before in 1996. Also take into consideration that there are currently more than 6 million 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 1999 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 106th Congress.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to introduce the Military Retiree Health Care Task Force Act of 1999. 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 a constitutional amendment for the protection of the right to life. Tragically, this most basic human right 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 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, today I am again introducing legislation to assist the over 6 million senior citizens who have been negatively impacted by the Social Security Amendments of 1977. Seniors born between the years 1917 and 1921--the ``Notch Babies''--have received lower Social Security monthly payments than those seniors born shortly before or after this five 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 that taken in my Notch Baby Act of 1999 or in any other Notch bill that has been introduced in the previous Congress. This legislation is particularly noteworthy because it was suggested to me least year by one of my own constituents--adjust Medicare insurance payments for Notch Babies. Specifically, my new bill provides a refundable tax credit for monthly Medicare Part B premiums for senior citizens born between the years 1917 and 1921, 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 proportion 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 Health 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. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Mr. Fred Sanders. Fred was a small business owner in Leasburg, Missouri who, for ten years, ran a small campground and rented rafts and canoes to folks who wanted to enjoy warm-weather days floating down the serene Meramac River and to take in the beauty of the Onodaga State Park. Fred, however, was more than a successful entrepreneur. He was also a successful community leader. In 1991, a flood damaged a bridge in the Onodaga State Park, which enabled campers and ``floaters'' to make their way to Fred's campsite and canoe and raft rental outfit. In his quest to see the bridge rebuilt, Mr. Sanders met with some resistance. Fred made up his mind to try and rebuild the bridge himself. While his initial attempts were blocked, Fred persisted and after years of working with the county government, they agreed to replace the damaged bridge. Seven years after Fred began his crusade, the bridge in Onodaga State Park is now rebuilt. Unfortunately, Fred passed away on March 17, 1998--several months before his long-fought-for bridge was finally completed. In honor of Fred's unwavering commitment to this bridge project, the new bridge in the Onodaga State Park was dedicated in his memory on October 10, 1998. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to Fred. He fought long and hard to get this bridge built, and he was instrumental in making a real difference in Crawford County, Missouri. I think we can all learn from Fred's exemplary perseverance and commitment to a local infrastructure improvement project that one person truly can make a difference in his or her community. I am proud to be able to honor the memory of Mr. Fred Sanders today here in the House of Representatives.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, recently I was reminded that some of the best things in life are those things that too often go unnoticed. Leroy Parmenter was that way. A resident of Sikeston, Missouri, he was a man whose spirit of generosity and love for life was a bright sunshine in what these days too often seems like a gray and cloudy world. I wanted to share with all of you a few words from an article in the Sikeston Standard Democrat that recounted this remarkable individual's life. ``Leroy was one of those few who accomplished good deeds quietly. I had known Mr. Parmenter since Little League and graduated from high school with his son. But as a youngster I knew nothing about the selfless devotion and true concern for others that Leroy Parmenter showed every day of his life.'' ``It is sometimes awkward to know a man when you're a youngster and then to work along side him when you're grown. But it wasn't that way with Leroy. I had the pleasure to work on community projects with Leroy and was always amazed with his enthusiasm and his love of people. And believe me, it was genuine love. There was not a phony bone in his body. He visited veterans' homes and nursing homes because he wanted to let people know that someone cared about them.'' This past summer Leroy Parmenter passed away. While he isn't walking and talking with us on a daily basis, I know that his spirit remains with each of us who were touched by his kindness. His good works and thoughtful deeds have not gone unnoticed. And I hope that on those cloudy days, we'll remember others like Leroy Parmenter. You know, those unique and caring men and women who as the Sikeston Standard Democrat noted, ``accomplish good deeds quietly. (Who) never sought/(seek) the spotlight--though are/(were) proud when projects are/(were) successful.'' Mr. Speaker, the author of this article had it right, ``Leroy's reward was a smile on a kid's face. And he brought ample smiles through the years.'' Thank you Leroy--for the lives you touched--then and today.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member and the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) and all of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure staff for the hard work that they have done in crafting EDA reauthorization legislation and in securing consideration of it on the floor today. I also want to pay tribute to Assistant Secretary Phil Singerman, too, for the exemplary work that he has done on behalf of the Economic Development Administration and truly making it in tune and in touch with the needs of the folks in our districts. As the Chairman said, this is the first time in 17 years that we are on the verge of enacting EDA reauthorization legislation that will streamline and focus the program to serve our local communities more efficiently and more effectively, all the while saving taxpayer dollars. It reminds me very much of a good friend of mine, Pig Paul, who is the presiding commissioner in Howell County, Missouri, who has taken that county into the 21st Century with a bang because he has worked very, very hard with the EDA to bring grants to that county. As a result of those grants, we have had an explosion of jobs and companies wanting to come because of the good cooperative work that we have been able to do with EDA. I have seen successes of the program in other rural communities within my district, and I have a very, very rural district. So this is a program that does work. It does work for our local communities. I urge all of my colleagues to vote for EDA reauthorization.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to eulogize a great man who lived in my Congressional District in Sikeston, MO. Judge Marshall Craig died on August 31, 1998, at the age of 91. As an editorial in the local newspaper written by Mike Jensen stated ``Judge Marshall Graig was in a league of his own. Universally respected and genuinely admired by all of those who knew him . . . he leaves a legacy of community involvement, professional accomplishment and unparalleled admiration. We will likely not see another of his caliber come along for many years.'' Judge Craig was born on February 10, 1907, near Hickman Mills in Jackson County, MO, to the late Robert Lee and Theodocia Cowherd Craig. He graduated from high school in Columbia, MO, in 1926, from the University of Missiouri-Columbia in 1930, and from the University Missouri Law School in 1932. He played basketball for the Missouri Tigers, leading his team to the Big-Six Championship in 1930, as the team captain. He was selected to the First Team All-conference squad that same year. Craig was an assistant U.S. Attorney in St. Louis, and later served as prosecuting attorney in Mississippi County. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II, prior to moving to Sikeston and joining the Bailey Law Firm as a partner. He served four terms as Circuit Judge and was then appointed as the first senior judge in the state of Missouri. Judge Craig loved his family, church and community and took an active role in every organization he deemed important . . . and they were many. He received almost every honor and award that existed in Sikeston. In Mr. Jenson's editorial he stated, ``If you wanted instant credibility on any board or for any issue or cause, the first name to surface was Marshall Craig. His reputation brought that degree of authority and respect. To many of us, if Marshall Craig thought it was a good idea, that was good enough for us.'' Judge Craig also had a profound effect on a member of my staff when he presided over the adoption proceedings of my Executive Assistant, Kacky Garner, when C.W. and Lucille Martin adopted her. Kacky has related to me that Judge Graig often told her that having been involved in her adoption and then watching her grow to adulthood in that happy home was one of the nicest and most rewarding things he ever got to do as a Judge. One son, Michael H. Craig of Memphis, TN, one daughter, Nancy McMahon of Sikeston; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren survive Judge Craig. His wisdom, strength of character, and faith will never be forgotten by all those who knew and respected him. He was truly a great American.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Chairman, I rise today to urge support of H.R. 3248, the Dollars to the Classroom Act. I commend the sponsor, Mr. Pitts, Chairman Goodling and the Education and the Workforce Committee, for their continual hard work to ensure that real reform occurs in our nation's education system. Madam Chairman, this legislation sends more dollars to the classrooms while giving local educators more funding options. It is currently estimated that only 65 percent of all federal funds allocated for education actually reach our nation's classrooms. This town is notorious for talking about reforming the education system but this dismal statistic proves that nothing has been accomplished. The Dollars to the Classroom Act is a great way to send a message to the Administration that we in Congress are prepared to invoke real reform at the Department of Education. Our goal should be an education system where every child can out-score, out-perform and out-compete the students of every other nation in the world. It's time to put our children before bureaucrats. The decision of how our education money is spent must be made by local teachers, administrators and parents. Not the federal government. It's time that we invest more wisely. We must spend our education dollars where they can achieve the most--right in the classroom. This legislation would mean that schools in Cape Girardeau, West Plains, Rolla and every other school in Southern Missouri would receive $9,300 on average and each classroom would receive $425. At Dexter High School in my district, where I have taught a few classes, $9,300 is the difference between having computers and much newer books and other much needed learning resources. It's finally time for Congress to take a stand and do what is right for our nation's children. I urge my colleagues to support Dexter High School and support the Dollars to the Classroom Act. We must localize education not nationalize it.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Tiahrt amendment. This important amendment is being offered today to ensure that international population control programs which currently receive U.S. funding are administered in a voluntary manner. Unfortunately, as we can all see from the newspaper headlines on this chart, this is not the case in countries now receiving USAID funding. Mr. Chairman, every woman in this Nation has the right to choose, the right to choose whether or not to use family planning services, the right to choose which family planning method best serves their personal needs and values, the right to be fully informed of all methods available, the nature of the method chosen, including any health risks. Mr. Chairman, I believe poor women in poor countries deserve a choice, too. Recently, the government of Peru instituted national yearly sterilization quotas. In 1998, the government set a quota of 22,000 vasectomies and 78,000 tubal ligations. As my colleagues can see, the number of women targeted is three times greater than the target set for men. This, of course, is no accident. Everyone knows government enforced quotas for population control bureaucracies inevitably lead to women being coerced. In Peru and other poor nations involuntary sterilizations of women has been the result. And in several instances, the procedure, as the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt) said, has been performed by butchers in unsanitary conditions, which has led to death. Women in poor nations are vulnerable because their reproductive health needs are easily exploited by programs which move from making family planning available to making them compulsory. In Mexico, hundreds of cases of forced sterilizations have been documented and women routinely are inserted with IUDs after childbirth, often without knowledge or consent. Mr. Chairman, these abuses must stop, and that is exactly what this language will help achieve. Mr. Chairman, if this Congress is not prepared to defend the human rights of poor and helpless women in third world nations. Who will? I urge my colleagues to support the Tiahrt amendment.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3898, the Speed Trafficking Life in Prison Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation and I would like to thank its author, Representative Pete Sessions, and the Subcommittee Chairman, Representative Bill McCollum, for their hard work on this very serious issue. Like most Americans, and as a parent, I am deeply troubled by the high rates of violent and drug related crime that has such a devastating effect on our neighborhoods. The drug problem strikes at the very core of a community, putting our young people at risk and undermining our safety, our schools, our peace of mind, our way of life. The dramatic rise in the manufacture and trafficking of methamphetamine is one of the most disturbing trends. Highly addictive and cheap to manufacture, methamphetamine has become one of the most widely trafficked illicit drugs. The problem is particularly severe in my home state of Missouri, which now ranks number one in the country for clandestine methamphetamine lab busts--more than 700 in 1997--and second only to California in methamphetamine production. Furthermore, of the 290 meth labs that were raided and seized last year in a 5-state radius, over 230 of those were in Missouri. This year alone, there have been more than 88 labs seized in my District in Southern Missouri. There is much to do to fight the war on drugs, and this legislation is a very important part of that fight. It is a powerful tool to give to prosecutors and also a powerful message to send to drug criminals. It is a clear statement that meth dealers will be met by a swift and severe response, the full force of the law. The new minimum sentencing standards established in the bill will ensure that the thugs putting meth out on our streets will receive a fitting punishment for their crime. I urge a strong ``YES'' vote on this important legislation.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, whether you were at the game or enjoying the moment elsewhere with family and friends, on the evening of Tuesday, September 8, 1998, America witnessed a milestone. As my hometown newspaper, the Southeast Missourian printed Wednesday morning, ``In a nation that demands bigger, more, better, faster, Mark David McGwire is now a name--and an event--to be remembered.'' But there is something even more memorable about Tuesday night. More memorable than Mark McGwire hugging his son, Matt, as he crossed home base. More memorable than Mark McGwire taking time to share his accomplishment with the Chicago Cubs own Sammy Sosa; and yes, even more memorable than the touching moments that Mark McGwire shared with Roger Maris' family. Sure, hitting number 62 was great. And there isn't any Little Leaguer I know who probably didn't drift off to sleep that night thinking about what it would be like to be the ``King of Swing.'' But what truly touched me about Tuesday night was the way the entire country came together in the last days and weeks leading up to this very special event. When Mark MGwire belted number 62 into the record books, he put a special and indelible mark on history that will remain forever. Tuesday night, Missouri--the Heartland of America and my home--became the hallmark that represents what can be accomplished with dedication, perseverance, hard work and a little help from the Man upstairs. Mark McGwire recognized that Tuesday night and it reminded me of how proud we in the Eighth District are to call Missouri home. But something even more magical happened when Mark McGwire smacked that ball the last 341 feet into American history. In that instant--and with the help of what ESPN has called ``the nation's best fans''--the fans cheering on the Cardinals in Busch Stadium--it felt great to be an American. Again. Now that may sound strange to some, but in a time when coverage of the examples of poor role models often overshadows the coverage of good role models, it truly is comforting that today all of America has something to be proud of. On Tuesday night, America saw the kindness, honesty and dignity of a man whose character is not measured by numbers and dollars, but by the love of a national pastime and a respect for all of those who play the game. Tuesday night it felt good to be 10- years-old again rooting for your hero. Tuesday night, it just felt good to cheer. My dad, Ab Hermann, also played professional baseball. Even though he taught me countless lessons about life, I remember two very distinctly. First, you always have to keep your eye on the ball. Second, honesty and character really do matter. Like my colleague, J.C. Watts, another great athlete, says ``character means doing what's right when nobody is looking.'' Well, Mark McGwire did that. As Mike Jensen of the Standard Democrat noted on September 9, 1998, ``That monumental home run will neither solve world hunger nor the issues in the Mideast. But it did remind us that sometimes good guys finish first.'' And Tuesday night when all America was watching, Mark McGwire, with the class befitting a ``Home Run King,'' wrote his own story in American History. Thank you Mark, for giving all of America a story worth telling.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to introduce the Military Retiree Health Care Task Force Act of 1998. 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, today I am introducing legislation to assist the over 6 million senior citizens who have been negatively impacted by the Social Security Amendments of 1977. Seniors born between the years 1917 and 1921--the ``Notch Babies''--have received lower Social Security monthly payments than those seniors born shortly before or after this five 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 my new bill is different than that taken in my Notch Baby Act of 1977 (H.R. 146) or in any other Notch bill introduced in this Congress. In fact, the approach taken in this legislation was suggested to me by one of my own constitutents--adjust Medicare insurance payments for Notch Babies. Specifically, my new bill provides a refundable tax credit for monthly Medicare Part B premiums for senior citizens born between the years 1917 and 1921, their spouses and their windows or windowers. The bill also eliminates the Medicare Part B premium late enrollment penalty for these individuals. As health care expenses can take up a large proportion 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 Health 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. Mr. Speaker, I rise to clarify my vote on Roll Call vote 384, Mr. Bass' amendment to the Commerce, State, Justice, and the Judiciary Appropriations bill. Yesterday, I inadvertently voted ``Nay'' when I intended to vote ``Aye.'' Mr. Bass' amendment would have transferred funds from the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) to the Edward Byrne grant program at the Department of Justice, an effort which I strongly support. The Byrne grant program is a valuable tool for local law enforcement in the fight against the crime and drug problems that threaten our neighborhoods. I believe that scarce taxpayer dollars are better spent in this anti- crime program than in the ``corporate welfare'' ATP, which I have consistently opposed.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, earlier on I made a mistake on rollcall vote No. 384, and inadvertently voted ``no'' when I meant to vote ``aye''.

Mrs. EMERSON

Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to clarify my vote on Roll Call vote 384, Mr. Bass' amendment to the Commerce, State, Justice, and the Judiciary Appropriations bill. Yesterday, I inadvertently voted ``nay'' when I intended to vote ``aye''. Mr. Bass' amendment would have transferred funds from the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) to the Edward Byrne grant program at the Department of Justice, an effort which I strongly support. The Byrne grant program is a valuable tool for local law enforcement in the fight against the crime and drug problems that threaten our neighborhoods. I believe that scarce taxpayer dollars are better spent in this anti- crime program than in the ``corporate welfare'' ATP, which I have consistently opposed.