Sam Farr

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise because I want to speak with some concern about the implementation of this amendment, and I would like the author to just answer a couple of questions here. It says in the amendment, ``Any person who violates the subsection shall be sentenced for a term of imprisonment,'' and with the gentleman's amendment the term of imprisonment is not more than 10 years and a fine in an amount not to exceed $1 million.

Mr. FARR of California. Then I will claim the time in opposition.

Mr. FARR of California. I am claiming the 5 minutes.

Mr. FARR of California. I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut.

Mr. FARR of California. I will accept the 5 minutes.

Mr. FARR of California. Yes, Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FARR of California. I understand that. The point that I would like clarified is that it goes to a foreign national. What is the gentleman's definition of a foreign national? There is a lot of confusion as to what is a foreign national.

Mr. FARR of California. But those are not foreign nationals. So a foreign national would be a person who is coming to this country but does not have a green card? For example, a tourist could be a foreign national?

Mr. FARR of California. And I am just curious as to why this penalty is a more severe penalty than if an individual was caught as an illegal alien. If a person crosses the border with no papers, they are not entitled to be in this country, they are not a tourist and they come to this country and they are caught, even if they were doing this kind of activity, being involved in a campaign, which I cannot imagine that, but if they were, the penalty here is more severe. Why is that?

Mr. FARR of California. Could the gentleman, for clarification, explain to me what type of person and contribution would trigger violation of this law?

Mr. FARR of California. If a person came here, under the debate we are having on the floor now, under H-1B waivers, which are essentially the way we try to import high-tech people, professional engineers, scientists who are not American citizens to work with high-technology companies in America, if one of those while here in this country contributed, would they be in violation of the gentleman's amendment?

Mr. FARR of California. Never before in the history of this country has there been a violation of this law until the election of 1996?

Mr. FARR of California. In the history of election reform law, going back to the mid-1970s, there has been nobody convicted in violation of this law?

Mr. FARR of California. That is existing law. And then the gentleman is making existing law much tougher; is that correct?

Mr. FARR of California. The other question is why does it only apply to Air Force One? Why does it not apply to Members of Congress?

Mr. FARR of California. As I read it, under existing law the penalties, in the gentleman's opinion, are very weak; nobody yet has been convicted. The gentleman stiffens the penalties and broadens the scope. And my comment on that, and I think that is correct, my comment is I think the gentleman is opening up a real Pandora's box because I do not know how people can go about being involved in an election process.

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FARR of California. But as I understand it, this goes to the key of the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. What do you do with the individual who is very wealthy and you are in a very poor district?

Mr. FARR of California. Maybe you can make that a perfecting amendment?

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this rule, because the rule does a very important thing. It allows for an alternative. I think that in approaching this, that everyone in this room is in agreement that we need to solve the Salton Sea issue, and that we ought to do that under the name of our former colleague, Mr. Bono. But I do not think we all agree on how to get there. What we need before we get there is a road map. That road map is very important, because it is not being provided in this legislation, but it is being provided in the rule in the substitute. I rise in support of the rule because of the substitute. I am concerned that in the bill, the main bill, there is an appropriation in there, there is an authorization for an appropriation of $350 million that can be taken from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. That is the entire 2 years of appropriations for this House for all of the projects in the United States. So every Member who is voting for this bill ought to be concerned that those projects that are going to restore lands with authorized use from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, those projects may be put in jeopardy as this project takes priority to all of that. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to look at the substitute, the Miller-Brown substitute. I think it provides a much better solution. It is a complicated issue. This is essentially a sea or a lake that is taking the drainage. Water in Southern California is getting scarcer and scarcer and more valuable as we use reclamation, cleaning up dirty water and using it for agriculture, which will be in demand. The cost and uses of water that would go to the lake to sustain it are going to be in great demand. I do not think we can solve the problem by jamming it through with this solution. We need the substitute. The rule is a good rule because it provides that substitute. When we get to that, I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. of California Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Bill Williams, soldier, civil servant and civic leader. Bill was born in Newburgh, New York. Mr. Williams passed away this past May. He began his military career in 1943 at the age of twenty and retired from the military, after serving for twenty years and in many capacities, as a highly decorated Major in 1963. Bill's decorations included two Bronze Stars with the ``V'' Device, two Purple Hearts, a Combat Infantry Badge, service ribbons for the Normandy Invasion, and five Battle Stars for his service in Europe and Korea. Upon his retirement from the military, Bill began his second career which lasted another twenty years. He applied the knowledge he had gained as a Training Company Commander while in the Army to his peacetime job in the field of Personnel Management. During those years, Bill also applied his leadership skills as an officer in service clubs and veterans organizations. Bill was a life member of the Monterey Peninsula Kiwanis Club, including duties as Lieutenant Governor. He also held leadership posts in many of the other organizations of which he was a member: the Monterey Chapter of the Retired Officers Association, The Northern Military Order of the Purple Heart, The Northern California Region of TROA, The Masonic Liberty Lodge No. 70 of Paris France, and, The Pacific Grove Masonic Lodge No. 331. I knew Bill as an active advocate for veterans. He kept me advised of matters of concern to the retired military community in the Fort Ord area. Bill vigorously pursued a site for a Veterans Cemetery on the grounds of the decommissioned Fort Ord. I greatly appreciated the work he did as a veteran's liaison in my Monterey office. Bill leaves a loving wife of 49 years, Maria; his four daughters: Ginger, Debi, Kate and Elaine; and four grandchildren. We will all remember Bill as a fine example of leadership for his nation.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a confectioner, Joseph Marini, Senior, who delighted our towns-people and provided fond memories to generations of beach goers. Mr. Marini passed away this past spring. The mouth-watering treats in his sweet shops included traditional salt water taffy, spun on a vintage machine that has mesmerized young visitors since 1922. Mr. Marini devised candy dipped fruit, with cinnamon or cherry coatings, as well as chocolate flavors. Cotton candy was another popular item especially with the trick or treaters who visited Mr. Marini at his home on Halloween. Eventually, when the throngs of children numbered over 1200, the giveaway was discontinued. Many a vacation will be remembered by the aroma of caramel corn that wafted along the Beach Boardwalk. As central as his business was to the life of the Santa Cruz community, Joseph Marini made another contribution. He imbued countless young high school students with life-long values, by employing them, instructing them with clear guidance, and providing a living example with his own matchless work ethic. This training came from a man who was known for mischief and pranks when a youngster himself. His conversion came when his father, who started the business, brought his 10-year old son into the shop to help. It took a special ledge to boost the boy high enough to wrap taffy kisses. The candy business became so central to his life that he continued to diligently appear at his store long after younger members of his family were charged with daily operations. The candy business became so central to the life of the community, that Santa Cruz without Marini's is unimaginable. Joseph Marini, Senior gave this locale its own special flavor. He will be greatly missed and long remembered.

Mr. FARR of California

Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Gary Tate, an innovative leader and passionate advocate of the open spaces, parklands and the natural resources of Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Valley and the Big Sur Coast. Gary is retiring in July from his position as General Manager of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District after having served continuously for 25 years. First employed in June of 1973, soon after the District was formed, Gary was the only employee for 13 years. Fresh from the East Bay Regional Park District, Gary was only 29 years old when he was hired to manage an agency that did not exist. From an office that was 10 feet square, Gary set to work, seizing every opportunity to preserve open space and parklands. Garland Ranch was Gary's first purchase in 1975. The dedication of its opening was my first public role as a new Monterey County Supervisor. On that glorious day, Gary met me with a big white mare to ride the five miles to the dedication. It became a red, white and blue dedication: white was the horse, red was my bottom, and blue was my body. In the Park District's first quarter century under Gary's leadership, 23 projects throughout the Monterey Peninsula have been completed, resulting in the acquisition and protection of more than 7,500 acres that include river and pond wetlands, redwood and Monterey Pine forests, coastal dunes and beaches, and a wide variety of cultural and historic resources. In addition to garnering the necessary funding for these projects, Gary has trained a corps of volunteers, developed a support organization ``Friends of the Park'' and hired and supervised new members of the staff, now eight in all. Gary has the high esteem of his peers and the environmental community, and has been commended by the Sierra Club for his outstanding public service. Some of the specific projects started and concluded by Gary include: Formation of the Joint Powers Agency with the cities of Monterey and Seaside to acquire and preserve the lake at Laguna Grande and develop a park there; Development of the regional Monterey Bay coastal trail; A decade-long effort to correct the Local Coastal Plan of Sand City, resulting in an agreement with Sand City and California State Parks to preserve 70 percent of Sand City's coastline as a state beach; and Acquisition of more than $5 million in grant funding from federal, state and private sources, to acquire and preserve open space parklands on the Monterey Peninsula. Gary and his wife Sheri will continue to live in Carmel Valley where they have raised two daughters, Carrie and Christen, Gary, never idle, will be renovating his home, supervising a youth center building project for his church, hiking in Garland Park, and going fishing. He will remain active with the Hatton Canyon Coalition, which is seeking alternatives to a proposed freeway project. Gary will always be a steward of the area he calls home. Gary himself has said ``My 25 years with the District have been a never-ending challenge and a very rewarding experience.'' However, Gary's spectacular success, achieved through his clear vision, single- minded determination and energy, has made him our environmental hero. He has my very best wishes for continued health and happiness in his retirement. Gary Tate has left a special legacy that will be enjoyed by visitors and residents of the Monterey area in perpetuity.