Sam Farr

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, as many of you know, this year has been designated the International Year of the Oceans. I am pleased that so early on in our legislative agenda, we have the chance to vote for something which so positively affects our understanding, and wise management of our ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources. These resources are of great importance not only to our economy and the environment, but to our social and cultural vitality, and even our national security. But we put incredible pressures on these environments. Over half of our population lives in the 10% of land area defined as coastal. We have over-harvested many of the fish and other living resources. We alter the physical environment, filling in wetlands, dredging our harbors, and bulkheading our shorelines. We pollute. We introduce alien species into our ecosystems. We're adding substances to the atmosphere that increase ultraviolet radiation and alter the climate. We are inundated with news of disasters that affect our oceans and coasts, from harmful algal blooms such as the Pfisteria outbreaks this past summer, to medical wastes washing up on our shores. I hope to be standing up in front of you soon to urge your support of the Oceans Act of 1997, H.R. 2547, legislation which I have put together with my colleagues to help ensure that our coasts and oceans are properly taken care of for generations to come. I believe that Sea Grant is, and will be, an integral part of efforts to better understand, properly conserve, and sustainably use our marine resources. For over 30 years Sea Grant programs have supported high quality, competitive, peer reviewed science to better understand these dynamic resources, our effects on them, and to propose ways to minimize negative impacts while enhancing economic benefits. This information is then distributed to the public and user-groups through educational and advisory programs, so that they can manage and utilize these resources in a sustainable manner. And these programs are fiscally responsible. Federal funding for Sea Grant must be matched by non-federal contributions, and over half of the funding for Sea Grant programs comes from non-federal sources. Sea Grant provides virtually the only funding for the study of marine resource policy, and is a major contributor to efforts in aquaculture, coastal and estuarine research, marine biotechnology, marine fisheries management, and seafood safety. Funded at about $50 million dollars annually, a Sea Grant funded industrial pollution model has already led to over $480 million dollars in savings for State pollution clean-up costs in the Great Lakes alone. Sea Grant efforts have led to enhanced fisheries management and production, with direct economic benefits. In my own district, Sea Grant research is being conducted on how coastal upwelling affects larval survival in rockfish, a study important to properly managing the $10 million-a-year rockfish fishery. There's another project also underway to try to isolate medicinal products from marine algae. Sea grant programs have led to the discovery of more than 1,000 new compounds from marine organisms, and 14 new product patents to date. A third project in my district is dealing with the important topic of preserving marine biodiversity, comparing the current diversity of the rocky intertidal in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the most biologically diverse regions known, to diversity levels recorded in the 1970's. This research will put into perspective issues of long- term ecological stability and community persistence in the face of natural and human impacts. And in my office this past year we had a Sea Grant fellow, a graduate student who was learning how to apply her scientific background and research to effective policy making. This is a tremendously valuable, fiscally responsible program, and I urge you to support its reauthorization, as well as increased appropriations to the authorized amount in FY99.

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding me the time and special thanks to our chair of our great committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton). I rise on this issue because I think oftentimes Members do not understand why a program like sea grant is so important to our Nation. We are a Nation surrounded by water. This whole globe is covered by water. Essentially the future of the survival of this planet is going to be dependent upon how societies treat the ocean. When we think about the meeting of land and water, which is the coastal zones of this country, that is the most fragile ecosystem there is on the planet because most of the people on this planet live in the coastal zone. So what happens is, if we do not understand what the significance is of using the ocean, dumping in the ocean, relying on the ocean, we are going to be victims of something we do not understand. We are already finding that as we find fisheries that are overfished, as we find global climate change, all of these factors are dependent upon a program that invests in collecting the best minds there are in the country to put some effort into studying the ocean. That is what the sea grant program is all about. There are 26 colleges in the United States that receive grants from this. It benefits the coastal States, benefits the Great Lakes States. These programs encompass advisory services, public education for marine scientists and also for our kindergarten through the 12th grade. So it is a program that is essentially looking into private sector collaboration with the government, an aquaculture program, coastal and estuarine research, marine biotechnology, marine fisheries management, and seafood safety. You add it all up and this is really a very important program. Frankly, the Federal Government puts very little money into it. We ought to put a lot more. This whole issue is so important that the world, other countries in the world are involved along with us with an International Year of the Oceans. This issue about what are we doing with authorizing the sea grant program is essentially we have made the administration of it much cleaner, much more specific, much more, I think, to the interests of, broader interests of this country, but we are also realizing that this agenda of engaging the smartest minds in this country is essentially an issue about survival, not just survival of the United States but survival of the globe. This is money well spent. This program is well done. Let me just tell you a little story. Last year I was able to get a fellow in my office, Jennifer Newton. She has been so good at being a sea grant fellow that I hired her when her fellowship ended up to be in my program. So it brings people into the Capitol who would not otherwise be here and allows us access to good scientific minds. This reauthorization is a step well taken. It has no partisan differences. It is what we do here in Congress best. I am very proud to rise in support of it and to thank my learned colleagues for their support and particularly the leadership of our chair and ranking member the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. This debate is really a debate about our Nation's future. This morning in this hall we opened the session with a pledge of allegiance in which we pledged to be one Nation. But what is that debate? What does it mean when we want to be one Nation? Well, one Nation is about national priorities and to have priorities we must make priorities. This Nation has found it important to have national standards for aviation, obviously for food safety, and even for truck tires, but we have never made it a national priority for education. There are no national standards. Think about that. High school standards are set by local communities and State legislatures. College boards exams are a private industry, not regulated by government. Everyone knows that tests are essential to function in our society. We require them for everything from driving a car to entering the Armed Services. This bill is the wrong way to go because we ought to have our national priorities be as important to us in education as they are for entering the military or driving a car. And we will never be one Nation unless we put education at that high priority. And when we do, we truly will be one Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a beloved and remembered man. Oscar Loya the superintendent of Alisal Union School District and community hero died on January 26th, 1998. Oscar helped foster strong involvement in his home, the Salinas Valley, by being ``an inspirational leader and a person who operated from the heart'' (Roxanne Regules, principal of Caesar Chavez School). Last year Loya received a recognition of his accomplishments by President Clinton for bringing PeaceBuilders, a violence reduction program, to Salinas schools. Immigrating to the United States at age 7, Mr. Loya, always concerned for others, gave many years of service toward improving the quality of education for migrant children. ``He was very caring about what happen with his students and what direction they were headed'' (Stephanie Lopez, a former student and first grade teacher). In return, the community was there for Loya. When it was discovered that he needed a bone marrow transplant, hundreds flocked to have their bone marrow tested during six drives in his honor. Although no matching donor was found, Loya helped to raise awareness of the need for bone marrow donors. In the Salinas Valley a true champion is lost. My thoughts remain with his family.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Well, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for yielding to me. I appreciate the fact that he is on the floor tonight to take special order time to talk about another great Californian, Ronald Reagan, and we are taking that time to talk about another great Ronald, Ronald Dellums, both from California, and I appreciated the gentleman's yielding. I am here as a relatively new Member, only having served 5\1/2\ years in the House. But I think that the history of the 70s, the history of the 80s, the history of the 90s saw incredible change in our country. And this House, during all that period, probably spent more time discussing our national security, our national defense, the Vietnam War, Panama, and the Middle East. We had lots of problems. Probably history will point out that the most talked about person of these eras, two-and-a-half decades, is going to be Ron Dellums, because in the people's House, he was an unusual person. He represented people that had not been represented before in Congress. He spoke about unusual ideas, many of which were unpopular. And they became the position of our Nation. He just said them before anyone else. He provided new leadership. Nobody of African-American descent had ever been chair of the Committee on Armed Services. And the fact he was taking that chair and had the opportunity to be there, he had life threats against him in this building as a Member of Congress. So as a newer Member to the people's House and one who is interested in the history of this House, I think that Ron Dellums' legacy will be something that will be talked about for decades to come. Our country will be proud of him, and is, but most importantly our grandchildren will know about Ron Dellums. You served us well. You will be remembered forever. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, it is with both honor and sadness that I rise to pay tribute to one of our colleagues, and a fellow Californian, Ron Dellums, who is retiring from Congress after nearly three decades of service in the House of Representatives. Ron has had a long and honorable career in public service, and his district knew him well long before he ran for Congress. He was involved in social work, economic development, and community politics for many years before being elected to the Berkeley City Council in 1967, a momentous time in Bay Area politics. Three years later, he ran for Congress for a seat which had been held for decades by the Republican Party. Ron not only won the seat, he has kept it ever since, frequently winning by sizeable margins. Needless to say, Ron came to the House of Representatives in 1970 as one of the most progressive progressives. When he joined the Armed Services Committee, he was considered so extreme that he had to fight--literally--for a seat on the dias. Knowing his views were in the minority, Ron nonetheless spoke out eloquently and repeatedly against bloated and wasteful defense spending. His speeches on the subject stand among the very best ever delivered on the floor of the House: well-reasoned, intelligent, compelling, and eloquent. As many will attest, one of Ron's greatest talents is his ability to balance his strong, outspoken beliefs with a deep sense of fairness. I was honored to serve under his leadership when I served on the Committee on Armed Services; in fact, Ron was my first Chairman when I came to Congress in 1993. As the most junior Member of the Committee, Ron accorded me the upmost respect and assistance, for which I am deeply grateful. As Chairman, Ron was always open, fair, and willing to listen to all arguments, whether he agreed or disagreed with them. His respect for the minority, acceptance of opposing views, and tremendous rhetorical skills are worthy of emulation by those in positions of leadership. Ron's long tenure attests to his effective service to his district. So beloved is Ron that some of his constituents have actually become offended when someone dares challenge him in an election year. Indeed, Ron's stature is such that he is known and admired by people throughout California. I know that some of my constituents were just as sad to hear of Ron's retirement as those from his own district. It has been a tremendous honor to serve in the House of Representatives with Ron Dellums. The Bay Area, the State of California, and the U.S. House of Representatives will greatly miss his presence, and I wish him and his family the very best in the years ahead.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rear Admiral Marsha J. Evans, a remarkable woman who served for the past two years as Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California before her recent retirement from the U.S. Navy. Admiral Evans has accumulated a long and distinguished military career. In addition to her position as Superintendent, Admiral Evans' leadership experience includes command of the Naval Station at Treasure Island, Commander of Navy Recruiting Command, interim director of the Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Executive Officer at Recruit Training Command, and Commanding Officer at the Naval Technical Training Center. She has also served at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the officer of the Chief of Naval Operations, and the office of the Commander in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe. Her extensive government experience includes serving as executive secretary and special assistant for the Secretary of the Treasury under President Carter, and serving as Deputy Director of President Reagan's Commission on White House Fellowships. Admiral Evans was not only a pioneer for women in the military, but a strong advocate for the needs and concerns of women serving in the defense of their country. In addition to being selected for promotion to the rank of Admiral, she was also the first female surface assignments officer in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, as well as the first woman to assume command of a naval station. She was also active in gender-related issues, having served as Executive Director of the Standing Committee on Military and Civilian Women in the Navy, chairing the Women Midshipmen Study Group in the 1980's, and serving on the 1987 Navy's Women's Study. In September 1995, the Naval Postgraduate School was fortunate to have Admiral Evans appointed as Superintendent, and she did not disappoint. Under her leadership, the school further strengthened and developed its academic mission. It began exploring important new fields, such as how to prevent and contain the use of weapons of mass destruction, and expanded such programs as its successful international officer exchange programs at the Center for Civil-Military Relations. Most recently, under Admiral Evans' direction the Naval Postgraduate School hosted a military-wide conference on Professional Military Education, which successfully brought together leading military and civilian educators and policy-makers from around the country to discuss how best to educate our soldiers to fight the conflicts of the future. Admiral Evans is a remarkable leader and pioneer, and I am sorry to see her depart as Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School. The Navy is losing a fine officer and outstanding individual, and her presence will be greatly missed. I wish her the best in her new endeavors, and urge other young, aspiring women and men in the military to look to Admiral Evans' great service as a model for success and leadership.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a woman who devoted herself to the people of her community. Rosemary Collins spent her life serving Santa Cruz and her family. She was known throughout the community as loving and kind to all those around her. Mrs. Collins was active in many organizations, including the Holy Cross Church which was graced by her ability to sing in many of the church events and running the monthly hot lunch program at Good Shepard School. Rosemary Collins loved children, and children loved her. She was always willing to help a child in need of a hug or just conversation. She worked as a teachers aide and secretary at Soquel Elementary for 28 years, where she helped children with learning difficulties. Her eleven grandchildren brought her great joy in this world along with the many nieces and nephews she read to. Rosemary often said, grandchildren were God's greatest invention, and a hug from a grandchild was what life was all about. Rosemary Collins is an example for all of us. She was the past president of the California School Employees Association as well as past president of the Young Ladies Institute, a co-founder of the 18- 29er Catholic young People's Group of Holy Cross Parish. Her commitment to these organizations, and her time spent on activities of the groups helped keep community spirit alive. She was also a member of the Altar and Rosary Society of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Capitola, and a volunteer for the Santa Cruz county elections department. Mrs. Collins will be missed by many. She was a model citizen for the community. Rosemary Collins made the lives of our children better and will be dearly missed. Our hearts go out to her family

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a woman who continually worked to nurture and to heal, not only the human body but the human spirit and soul as well. Dr. Friedy B. Heisler passed away last July in her Carmel Highlands home. Born, Sept. 16, 1900, in Switzerland, she graduated from the College of Neuchatel before immigrating to Chicago in 1924. Studying at the University of Illinois Medical School, Dr. Heisler finished her medical residency in psychiatry before opening a private practice in Chicago. Upon meeting her husband Francis, a civil rights and trade union attorney, Dr. Heisler moved to Carmel Highlands in 1948. She soon became active in the local mental health field, establishing again a private practice which continued until 1984. During this period she served as a mental health consultant to Carmel Unified School District and as an instructor in the Extension Division of the University of California at Berkeley and at Santa Cruz. Dr. Heisler was active in numerous psychiatric and mental health congresses, and she visited mental health institutions. Her vast memberships include: the American Medical Association, International Mental Health Association, Monterey County Mental Health Society, Northern California Mental Health Society, and Mid-Central Coast of Northern California Psychiatric Association. She was honored as a life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 1993. Dr. Heisler was instrumental in the founding of the psychiatric department of the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, where she was a former chairman. Dr. Heisler was truly a woman of impressive stature. Her involvement in mental health and well being was substantial, as was her love for her family and friends. It is at this time that I recognize Friedy B. Heisler's accomplishments and her involvement. She will be missed by the many people she touched during her lifetime.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding citizen of California's Central Coast. Dr. Robert G. Gard, Jr. began a lifetime commitment to public service with a distinguished military career and went on to become a leading advocate for one of Central California's most prized institutions, the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Bob will retire January 30, and he will be deeply missed. Lt. Gen. Gard served in the U.S. Army not only at the Department of Defense, but in Germany, Korea and Vietnam as well. As commanding general, he oversaw Fort Ord's transition from an Army training center to a light infantry division in the 1970s. Following that success he was brought back to Washington once again, where his expertise led him to become the commanding general of the Military Personnel Center and president of the National Defense University. After retiring in 1982, Dr. Gard put his international experience to use in the civilian world. Following his service with American and Johns Hopkins universities, the Monterey Institute of International Studies was both savvy and fortunate enough to land Dr. Gard as its President, a post he has filled superbly for over a decade. Located in California's beautiful Monterey, the Language Capital of the World, the institute provides training in 24 languages and comprises one-fourth of the nation's advanced foreign language training. During Dr. Gard's tenure, the institute has seen a 62 percent increase in student enrollment, a tripling of its endowment and a broadening of its academic and graduate programs like never before. Under his leadership, MIIS' Center for Non-Proliferation Studies has developed a worldwide reputation as the source of information on the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and is used as a resource by national policy-makers in Congress, the CIA and other federal agencies. Dr. Gard is a vocal advocate for such humanitarian causes as the elimination of anti-personnel landmines. He has openly pointed to the weapons' military insignificance and the need to prevent further needless destruction of innocent human life by banning them from all future use. MIIS is a better institution under Dr. Gard's leadership. While Bob's contributions will remain forever, we will surely miss him. On behalf of the constituents of the 17th district, I offer our heartfelt thanks and our best retirement wishes to a true American hero.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the fiftieth birthday of Patty Brissenden. I have personally known Patty for 17 years. Patty was one of my first employees when I was elected to the California State Assembly in 1980. Her energy, dedication and follow-through on issues in Santa Cruz county were invaluable. Having seen first hand her charismatic dedication, it was not surprising that she was active in many issues. During her time with me Patty successfully worked on organic food legislation, steel jaw traps legislation, extended Medi-Cal for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis, elders in residence at U.C. Santa Cruz, petition to ban off shore oil, and highway 17 safety barriers. In the office Patty set high standards for responsiveness, casework management, and office outreach. Patty organized the Bill Clinton/Al Gore (1992 and 1996) presidential campaign for Alpine County and co-founded the Sierra Nevada Alliance. As an owner of Sorensen's Resort in Hope Valley, in the Sierra Nevadas, Patty has helped transform the former roadside inn to a widely- acclaimed travel destination. She is a frequent presenter at the professional Association of Innkeepers International on topics of eco- tourism, health care, and destination marketing. Patty and I remain friends and she continues to work with me on issues such as; logging, tourism, environment, and conservation. In all of her efforts, Patty demonstrates compassion, advocacy for the individual in need, a sense of justice and the understanding that problems can be solved by bringing diverse groups together to work on a solution. Today I celebrate Patty's 50th birthday by wishing her continued happiness and success.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rear Admiral Marsha J. Evans, a remarkable woman who served for the past two years as Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California before her recent retirement from the U.S. Navy. Admiral Evans has accumulated a long and distinguished military career. In addition to her position as Superintendent, Admiral Evans' leadership experience includes command of the Naval Station at Treasure Island, Commander of Navy Recruiting Command, interim director of the Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Executive Officer at Recruit Training Command, and Commanding Officer at the Naval Technical Training Center. She has also served at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and the office of the Commander in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe. Her extensive government experience includes serving as executive secretary and special assistant for the Secretary of the Treasury under President Carter, and serving as Deputy Director of the President Reagan's Commission on White House Fellowships. Admiral Evans was not only a pioneer for women in the military, but a strong advocate for the needs and concerns of women. In addition to being the first (?) woman to reach the rank of Admiral, she was also the first female surface assignments officer in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. She was also active in gender-related issues, having served as Executive Director of Standing Committee on Military and Civilian Women in the Navy, chairing the Women Midshipmen Study Group in the 1980's, and serving on the 1987 Navy's Women's Study. In September 1995, the Naval Postgraduate School was fortunate to have Admiral Evans appointed as Superintendent, and she did not disappoint. Under her leadership, the school further strengthened and developed its academic mission. It began exploring important new fields, such as how to prevent and contain the use of weapons of mass destruction, and expanded such programs as its successful international officer exchange program at the Center for Civil-Military Relations. Most recently, under Admiral Evans' direction the Naval Postgraduate School hosted a military-wide conference on Professional Military Education, which successfully brought together leading military and civilian educators and policy-makers from around the country to discuss how best to educate our soldiers to fight the conflicts of the future. Admiral Evans is a remarkable leader and pioneer, and I am sorry to see her depart as Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School. The Navy is losing a fine officer and outstanding individual, and her presence will be greatly missed. I wish her the best in her new endeavors, and urge other young, aspiring women and men in the military to look to Admiral Evans' great service as a model for success and leadership.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who devoted his life to this country, his community, and his family. Howard Marcus's commitment to service began when he joined Peace Corps and continued throughout his life with an active involvement in local sports. He was a coach, a fundraiser, and a friend. Howard was a partner with Newman & Marcus & Clarenback, Attorneys at Law. He obtained his law degree from the Brooklyn Law School, and his undergraduate degree from Hofstra University. He has served the community in innumerable ways for the past twenty years. Howard was a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia from 1967-68, where he devoted a year of his life to helping the poor help themselves. Howard's service will be always be remembered in Colombia by those he touched. We on the Central Coast will forever remember and be thankful for the influence his service had on him. As happens with most Peace Corps Volunteers, Howard returned to the United States with a renewed and much more ardent desire to help his fellow human and make a difference in the community in which he lived. Howard was the author of ``Basketball Basics'', which was written from his love for the sport. Howard was recently head coach for the Soquel High School and Branciforte Jr. High School basketball teams, and a mentor to the students that he coached. He provided them with basic skills, but more importantly, he gave them a sense of pride and self-esteem. Howard, a sports enthusiast, planned many of the fund-raising events for local sports. He was an active member of the booster club and helped get financing for the all-weather track at Soquel High School. He also founded the Santa Cruz Track Club, where he coached, and helped organize the wharf-to-wharf race which helps sponsors high school sports activities. Howard will be missed by all those who admired and loved him. His community benefited greatly from his unique ability to coach and to care. Our hearts go out to the Marcus Family.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to pay tribute to Colonel Ila Mettee-McCutchon, the Commander of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and Presidio of Monterey, and Commandant of DLIFLC, on the occasion of her retirement from the U.S. Army. Colonel Mettee-McCutchon has been an inspiration to all during her 26-year career in the armed forces, and her positions of successive command only further confirm her valued leadership within the Army and of the respect shown to her by the men and women serving under her command. Colonel Mettee-McCutchon is herself an esteemed graduate of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. She first earned both a B.A. and an M.S. in clinical psychology from Auburn University which prepared her well for her exceptional career in military intelligence. Later, she completed the WAC (Women's Army Corps) Officer Basic Course and the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course, and then graduated from the Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College, true marks of distinction in the career of any military officer. For the first three years following Colonel Mettee-McCutchon's commissioning in 1971, she served as a psychologist at the Presidio of San Francisco responsible for drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation. After displaying compassion and savvy in that assignment, she was transferred in 1974 to the Military Intelligence Branch and appointed a Regular Army Officer of Military Intelligence, which was the beginning of her extraordinary career in the field of military intelligence. Colonel Mettee-McCutchon was initially a strategic analyst at Fort Bragg, before moving up to the following posts: Commander, Headquarters and Operations Company, 525th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Bragg; Chief, Joint Intelligence Center, U.S. Southern Command Panama; Commander, 741st Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Meade; and Staffer in the Intelligence Division, International Military Staff of NATO, at NATO Headquarters, Brussels. Because of her superb record of accomplishment in these critical intelligence posts, she was chosen to be Commander of the Garrison at the Presidio of Monterey in October, 1994. Colonel Mettee-McCutchon has earned numerous awards during her career including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. She is married to John R. McCutchon, Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry (Retired), and has one child, Erin T. Mettee-McCutchon. I am sure everyone who knows Colonel Mettee-McCutchon joins me in recognizing her career of exemplary service to her country, and expressing heartfelt wishes for a happy retirement.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the 1996 Monterey County Veteran of the year. Wilma McCann, a resident of Salinas, California has had a long established career in the military service department. Ms. McCann began her profession in the Navy as part of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service program during World War II. She was active in local veterans affairs and served for two years as the President of ``Sea Otter WAVES,'' a local chapter of WAVES international. She truly was a woman with pioneer spirit. Moving to Salinas 7 years ago, Ms. McCann served as the vice president of the Monterey County United Veterans Council and on the Monterey County Veterans Advisory Commission. Working with the Women in Military Service for America, she was field representative and state chairperson for California donations. Ms. McCann has lived her life with others in mind. My thoughts are with her husband, sons, and grandchildren.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2534, the Agricultural Research Extension and Education Reauthorization Act. I would like to thank the hard work that others have mentioned of the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Combest], the subcommittee chair; of the gentleman from California [Mr. Dooley] on our side; of the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Stenholm]; and our chairman, the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith]. It is a great day for Willamette, Mr. Chairman. Frankly, if you thank these people, you have got to thank their staffs, because they are the ones that have done such hard work on this important piece of legislation. It is not only important to America, but it is certainly important to California agriculture. The farmers in my district are the most productive specialty crop growers in the world. They produce $2.5 billion worth of fresh row crops, vegetables, and horticultural crops each year. Mr. Speaker, I represent not only the salad bowl, but the flower bowl of the country. The agriculture industry is the backbone of the communities in my district, and they do this without Federal price supports. This is a highly competitive field of agriculture. Research is one of the few ways that the Federal Government can help my farmers. I feel this legislation will help not just my farmers but all the farmers to be competitive into the next century. I especially want to bring to your attention the language that I offered that was adopted in the markup that will greatly affect some of the farmers in my district and others in other parts of the country. A high priority in the field of research is in the form of extension grants which will expedite the development of alternatives to methyl bromide. A fundamental change in the manner research is conducted in the Agricultural Research Service will help to avert the possible negative impacts on the American production as research will be directed to areas of greatest need as the phaseout date gets closer. Mr. Speaker, the bill also contains an initiative for organic farming that will help this niche market continue to grow. We have barely begun to tap the full potential of the organic farming systems. This initiative will provide grants to facilitate the development of organic agriculture production, processing, and potential economic benefits associated with both domestic and foreign markets. As we go to conference, I would like to echo the words stated earlier on the issue of the food stamps. We need to restore the food stamps, particularly to the children that have been affected and cut off by them. I am confident my colleagues will recognize the merit of this issue, and I look forward to their support.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I want to address the House for a time about the sanctity of one of America's most treasured rights: the freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is central to most every other right that we hold dear in the United States and serves to strengthen the democracy of our great country. It is unfortunate, then, when actions occur that might be interpreted as contrary to this honored tenet. Currently there is a dispute between journalists in my district and the new owners of the Monterey County Herald newspapers. All employees of the newspaper were required to reapply for their jobs when the new owners took over the paper. Several of the employees--some of them prize-winning journalists--were not rehired. This action has left many in the community feeling that the newspaper is acting unfairly toward the reporters and fearing that it will affect the tenor of the news reported. Further there are suspicions that the owners may be engaging in antiunion efforts, casting further pall on the ability of the paper to serve the reading public. I urge every American--no matter the position they hold in this society of ours--to carefully consider the actions they take when those actions concern the dissemination of public information. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are much too powerful rights to be lost to squabbles over the union or nonunion status of employees. They are too basic to the structure and fabric of American life to fall victim to bottom line dollar equations. I know the fired employees and the new owners of the Herald continue to negotiate over this matter. I am hopeful that the two sides can come to a mutually satisfactory arrangement that leaves the journalists reporting, the paper profiting, and the reading public informed.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan [Ms. Stabenow].

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Reyes].

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume and then with a close to the gentlewoman from Oregon [Ms. Furse]. Mr. Speaker, tonight the United States Capitol mourns the loss of our colleague, Congressman Walter Capps. Tonight, it is a beautiful autumn evening outside. The Capitol is basking in spotlights, and the flags are all at half-mast. Forty-eight hours ago in this Chamber, the House of Representatives, we were a buzz as the news, the shocking news, was passed from Member to Member about Walter's sudden heart attack. Tonight, I rise to pay tribute to this great man. First, because he was what politics in America needs, a scholar, a thinker, an accomplished man, Ph.D. from Yale, an author of 14 books, and, as so many speakers before me have mentioned, an incredible loving husband to Lois, the partnership that I think was the envy of the Capitol. But he was also an incredibly loving, wonderful father to Lisa, Todd, and Laura. How many times we saw Laura at Capitol events as she worked in the White House. And how many of us as parents envied the ability and the wonderful relationship that he had with his daughter to be able to work in the Nation's Capitol alongside one of your children. Walter was a mentor to us. What was so wonderful about him is his style, as everybody has mentioned. In an era of cynicism about politics, he made the cynics doubt themselves. He represented the district that is next door to mine, a district that I have long had close relationships with. The politicians in that district have been like the politicians in my own. I went to school with county supervisor Billy Wallace. And Jack O'Connell, the State senator, was my roommate when I was in the State legislature. And Andrea Seastrand, who preceded her husband, Eric Seastrand, who served with me in the State legislature and also died while he was in office. All of these people have been about that wonderful district. Walter Capps was a futurist about that district. He knew that he could make a difference. And he was making a difference. He was excited about the future. And he knew that he was going to help Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County. Tonight, those counties have lost a great Congressman. California has lost a great scholar. The Nation has lost a model public servant. So tonight's tribute to Walter, with the flags at half-mast, it is also about patriotism, but not so much about the protection of the land of Walter's forefathers as it is about the preservation of the land of Walter's children. Walter, look around you right now. I know up there in heaven, next to you is my father, who is former State Senator Fred Farr. He passed away just a few months ago. You two are probably sitting right now chuckling. With the passing of so many good Democrats, you are probably saying, the Lord is just trying to make a more perfect union. Good night, Walter. Good night, Lois. Good night, kids. We love you.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I guess we are all in shock, considering that yesterday at this time our colleague was en route to this very room, and today he is not with us. I do not know what we all have to say, except to reflect on the fact that we serve in an institution that he campaigned to be here in a style which is remarkable, because he comes here with such unusual gifts that this institution needs. He has a doctorate. There are not many Members of Congress that have doctorates. He has written 14 books. Not many Members have written any. He was an incredible human being with just a family that is the envy of everyone. And I guess as the son of a politician, I rise sort of for Lisa and for Todd and Laura, who are his kids, who no longer have a father, and for Lois, his wife, who is just a remarkable woman. I think his life teaches that we have to take a look at this institution, at the way we treat one another, the way we treat our radical schedule, and remember that he represented on this battlefield of this floor, a peacemaker. We need more peacemakers. And we need to make sure that Walter Capps, who was a gift to this institution, shall not die in vain, that in his memory this institution will better itself and that we will be more civil, that we will better treat our schedule and people who serve in public office. Because, Mr. Speaker, he is the one who did not have to serve. He had a career in education. He chose to come here, and that is the kind of people we like to attract to this institution. But if we keep treating ourselves the way we have been, people like Walter Capps will not come to the U.S. Congress. Let us not let him die in vain. Let us remember him, and to Lisa, Todd, Laura and Lois, I am very, very sorry.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. I rise in opposition to this bill. I want to speak specifically to some of those cosponsors, because I got close to cosponsoring this bill until I read it. Frankly what this bill is is a fast track for developers. It is a fast track that allows them to bypass the local zoning process. Look at this. This bill is opposed by the National League of Cities, by the National Mayors, and by the National Governors' Association. Why? It is because this bill allows that usurpation or that bypassing of the local process. What does that do? First, it is going to cost local governments a lot more money to have to defend these cases. Remember, this case is driven by the property owner and the property owner in this case is sponsored by the Homebuilders Association. This is not the little lady in tennis shoes who we often talk about that may have conditions placed on the development of her house and therefore you have got a takings issue. What the sponsor did not tell you is that in California, the State he represents, there is in the State constitution a protection of takings issues. There is a protection in the national Constitution. So there is nothing here that is broken. The only thing that is broken is the fact that people do not like zoning conditions, use permits, and conditions placed upon those use permits on their property. As the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell] indicated, you could do all kinds of things. You could complain that if you were a liquor store owner that you wanted to put your liquor store next to a high school because that local zoning may prohibit that. You could complain because you would not be allowed to put your waste dump in a residential neighborhood. Those are all issues that would generate takings issues. I think that this body ought to wake up and listen to a former Speaker who said all politics is local. In this case, leave those politics local. Oppose this legislation, join the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Judicial Conference of the United States and the President, who will veto this bill if enacted the way it comes to the floor. I oppose H.R. 1534.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to recognize October 26 through November 1, 1997, as ``World Population Awareness Week''. The purpose of this week is to educate the public about the impact of overpopulation on our resources and environment. Many communities have issued proclamations and I want to commend the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the mayor of the city of Santa Cruz for their recognition of this important week. Family planning programs are critical in our efforts to reduce population growth, protect the environment, assist in the sustainable development of poorer countries, and improve the health of women and children. Without such programs, the population of the Earth will double within our children's lifetimes--and many scientists believe our present world population of 5.8 billion may already be reaching the limit that our planet can sustain. World Population Awareness Week will teach and inform the global community of the need to bring the world's population into balance with the Earth's resources and environment. The world's population continues to grow by almost 90 million a year, mostly in underdeveloped nations, but population growth concerns developed nations as well. A citizen of the United States uses far more resources and energy than a citizen from an undeveloped nation. In order to ease the pressures human development puts on our fragile environment, we need to adopt sustainable development practices. The World Commission on Environment and Development, The Brundtland Commission, in 1987 defined sustainable development as the ability ``* * * to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.'' I think sustainable development can be expanded to include preserving the integrity and beauty of the natural environment for enjoyment of current and future generations, economic vitality, human health and well-being, and community prosperity and social justice. As we recognize World Population Awareness Week, we must be mindful of the need to adopt sustainable development initiatives to balance our planet's dwindling natural resources with our population growth so that future generations can prosper.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, in the weeks prior to the launch of the Cassini spacecraft, I heard from many of my constituents who were greatly concerned about the use of plutonium in Cassini and its potential hazard. I wrote to President Clinton before the launch, urging him to review the safety of the mission and address the concerns of Americans worried about the possibility of exposure to plutonium. I was greatly disappointed that he chose not to do so before Cassini was launched. Thankfully, Cassini was launched without incident. But there are still important concerns about the use of nuclear power in space that need to be addressed. Furthermore, Cassini's trajectory will take it close to earth, and many are worried that this poses an additional threat of nuclear contamination. I have been asked to submit a resolution, adopted by the City of Monterey on October 7, in opposition to the Cassini mission. It represents the concerns of many of my constituents, and raises important questions about the Cassini mission. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that this resolution be placed in the Congressional Record. City of Monterey, California Resolution No. 97-185 Resolution of the City Council of the City of Monterey calling for the cancellation of the planned National Aeronautics and Space Agency [NASA] Cassini Space Probe launch and communicating the council's position to President Clinton and our congressional Representatives. Whereas, as elected officials of the City of Monterey dedicated to the safety and protection of the public, we call for cancellation of the launch of the Cassini Space Probe which plans to carry 72.3 pounds of Plutonium-238 into space; and Whereas, NASA's environmental impact statement outlines several scenarios in which Plutonium might be released including an explosion of the Titan IV rocket, which is to loft the Cassini Space Probe into orbit, or an explosion of a small rocket, a Centaur, which is to propel the Probe on to Saturn; and Whereas, presently NASA's environmental impact statement warns that ``approximately five billion of the estimated seven to eight billion world population could receive ninety- nine percent or more of the radiation'' if an inadvertent reentry occurred; and Whereas, scientists and medical experts indicate that the ``number of cancer doses are so high as to make calculations extraneous'' and that the speed at which the Cassini Space Probe would hit the Earth's atmosphere would completely disintegrate the Probe and release all the Plutonium; and Whereas, there is no medical disaster plan in place that could be adequate in case of a Cassini Space Probe accident; and Whereas, worldwide fallout would contaminate much of the globe for generations and severely damage all living things; and Whereas, there is no need to use deadly Plutonium at all due to a breakthrough in the development of new high- performance solar silicon cells for use in the future for demanding deep space missions. Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the City Council of the City of Monterey calls on the President and the Congress immediately to stop NASA from launching the Cassini Space Probe.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. So the question is when.

Mr. FARR of California. Well, we have colleagues here, and we hope that they will join us, listening to us, and demand that a vote be brought on campaign finance reform so that together, in a bipartisan fashion, we can fix it in a comprehensive form. Not just plug up one little leak or two little leaks, but do the whole thing so that we limit how much money people spend on campaigns. That is the issue. We have to take the big mass, obscene expenditures out of campaigns, and we have a way of doing it. It has gotten to the President before. President Bush vetoed it, unfortunately, the Senate Republicans filibustered in the past, but now we have the ability because we do not need to have it go to the Senate and we can get the President to sign it. So all we need to do is get 218 votes here and the job is done and, hopefully, it will be done soon.