Bob Filner

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize the Service Employees International Union Local 2028 [SEIU] and the Ironworkers Local 229 as they are honored by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO, for their strong support of the Labor to Neighbor program in San Diego and the Imperial Valley. The Labor to Neighbor program educates and involves union members and their families in the campaign to protect jobs and the future of working people in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The slogan of SEIU Local 2028 is ``Politics is Union Business.'' This slogan embodies the essence of the Labor to Neighbor program. Local 2028 mobilized over 100 volunteers in the 1996 election and has also provided crucial support to the Labor to Neighbor Union Summer Program. The Ironworkers Local 229 is being recognized for its leadership role in bringing Labor to Neighbor into the Imperial Valley. Local 229 also gave significant support to the Labor to Neighbor Union Summer Program and sponsored a golf tournament to help fund Labor to Neighbor's fall program. For these activities, the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO, recognizes SEIU Local 2028 and the Ironworkers Local 229 with their Labor to Neighbor Award. I am pleased to join in honoring their contributions to the working families of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize Houston Quick, Rebecca Underhill, and Ken Wilson, as they are honored by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO, for their dedication to helping working families and organized labor. Houston Quick was raised in a union family. I worked with his father, H.B. ``Hughie'' Quick, who was an organizer for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Since early childhood, Houston has been assisting and supporting labor causes. Motivated by his deep commitment, he has created the Houston Quick Organizing Scholarship Fund to train a new generation of labor organizers. Rebecca Underhill has redefined the word ``voluntarism'' with her actions behind the scenes in support of every part of organized labor's services and programs. She has volunteered literally thousands of hours with the Labor Council, United Way's Labor Participation Program, annual food drives, and Labor to Neighbor. She is being honored by the Labor Council for this long-time commitment to the working families of San Diego. Ken Wilson has been a friend to labor with his contributions and participation in labor causes and event. Formerly a member of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Local 30, Ken is in his seventh season as General Manager of San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. He is the type of professional employer who exemplifies positive labor- management relationships. These three individuals are being honored by the Labor Council as friends of labor: members of the community whose work has strengthened labor's efforts and who have touched the lives of thousands of San Diegans. It is truly fitting that the House of Representatives join in this recognition of Houston Quick, Rebecca Underhill, and Ken Wilson.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize the United Nurses Association of California [UNAC] Organizing Committee, as they are honored by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL- CIO, for their contributions to the labor movement and to the community as a whole. The UNAC Organizing Committee is being recognized by the labor council with its Organizing Award for the committee's commitment to organizing in the health care industry. This organizing committee conducted an historic drive for union representation at Sharp Hospital during 1996 and won the election by an overwhelming margin. UNAC and Sharp are now at the negotiating table to secure a contract for 2,700 nurses and other health care professionals. This is a milestone achievement, for UNAC is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Representing 8,000 members in southern California and 3,300 in San Diego, UNAC's members include nurses at Kaiser Permanente and the civilian nurses at Balboa Naval Hospital, as well as the newest members at Sharp. UNAC is also a member of the Coalition for Quality Health Care, which worked to educate the public about a proposed merger of Columbia and Sharp--one which has recently been rejected. They are active legislatively at the local, State, and national levels. UNAC is a true pioneer in protecting the future of health care in the San Diego community. I want to sincerely congratulate this organization and its members on receiving this significant award.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of all of my constituents to wish the Reverend Walter R. Huff, known affectionately by family and friends as ``Papa,'' a most glorious 100th birthday. In his 100 years, Papa Huff has witnessed the growth of our Nation, from its horse and buggy days, to the Model-T, to today's space age. He saw, first hand, the rise of organizations like the NAACP and the Urban League and the elimination of legalized segregation in our society. Born in 1897, Papa Huff lived in Little Rock, AR, for most of his life. It was here, at the Arkansas Baptist College, that Papa Huff received his education. In 1916, Papa Huff began his career with the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He started his 45-year tenure with the railroad by laying track. During his time with the Missouri Pacific, he progressed in the company from laying track to working the boilers, locomotive operation, and finally, as an inspector. In 1925, Papa Huff married Lucy Sterling of Little Rock, AR. They were united happily for 45 years. Papa Huff begin his preaching career in 1925 as assistant pastor of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR. It was also during this time that Reverend Huff joined the NAACP, led at that time by Mrs. Daisy Bates. In 1961, Papa Huff retired from the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He began his third career as an entrepreneur. He was the proud owner and operator of a painting business. Papa Huff came to my district in 1992, where he joined the Mount Erie Baptist Church, led by the Reverend Walter G. Wells. He remains an active member of this congregation. I, along with the residents of my congressional district, salute the Reverend Walter ``Papa'' Huff as a living celebration of history, steadfastness, and love. We wish him well on the joyous occasion of his 100th birthday.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 70 and Branch 2525, as they are honored by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL- CIO, for their contributions to the labor movement and to the community as a whole. The Labor Council's Community Service Award goes to the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 70 and Branch 2525, primarily for their successful food drives. For the sixth consecutive year, with the cooperation of the Postal Service, they have organized the most successful food drives in San Diego County, collecting between 60 tons and 170 tons of food per year for needy working families. With 2,500 members, including both active and retired letter carriers representing the majority of San Diego County, Branch 70 and Branch 2525 also contribute each year to the muscular dystrophy telethon. Last year, almost $10,000 was collected locally--joining thousands of other members nationwide to contribute $1.5 million to this worthy cause. Branch 70 and Branch 2525 of the National Association of Letter Carriers are truly deserving of the award which they are receiving. I join in adding my sincere thanks to their members, and I take pleasure in highlighting their service for my colleagues in the House of Representatives.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to honor the outstanding contributions of Dr. Marguerite Hung to the community of San Diego and to the acupuncture community of California and the Nation. Dr. Hung was born in Taiwan, graduated from the Doctor Tsao Acupuncture Institute, and taught at the Taipei Acupuncture and Moxibustion Clinic until 1978. She then joined the staff of the Tri Service General Hospital in Taipei as an Acupuncture Practitioner-- treating Army, Navy and Air Force personnel and their families. She was also a research member of the Research and Training Center for Acupuncture Science. In 1979, Dr. Hung moved to California. As a private practitioner, she has been an active member of the acupuncture profession, giving generously of her time and experience. She has served as vice president of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and was chosen by this group as Acupuncturist of the Year in 1994. In 1992, she was appointed by the Governor of California to the Medical Board of California, Acupuncture Committee. She represented this board at the International Acupuncture Conference held in Italy and hosted by the World Health Organization. Dr. Hung helped to found the Acupuncture Institute for Addiction-Free Life, a statewide, non-profit corporation organized to make a difference in our communities in the area of drug and alcohol abuse. She continues to serve as the president of this organization. She is a volunteer for the Holistic AIDS Response Program [HARP] in San Diego County. She also volunteers at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. She has traveled to Washington, DC to successfully persuade the Food and Drug Administration on behalf of acupuncture issues. Her active role in the community and her lifetime contribution to Chinese medicine is being recognized at the 68th Annual Chinese Medicine Day celebration on Sunday, March 23, 1997. Chinese Medicine Day is historically a day of celebration of the unique place that traditional Chinese medicine has in the health care system and the benefits it bestows on the health and quality of life of our citizens. It is truly fitting that the House of Representatives join in this recognition of Dr. Marguerite Hung. I appreciate this opportunity to call attention to the lifelong work of Dr. Hung toward making this world a better and healthier place.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember a great American leader and hero, Cesar Chavez. He was a husband, father, grandfather, labor organizer, community leader, and symbol of the ongoing struggle for equal rights and equal opportunity. March 31, the birthday of Cesar Chavez, has already been declared a State holiday in California. Today I ask my colleagues to join me in making March 31 a Federal holiday so that our entire Nation can honor Cesar Chavez for his many contributions. Cesar Chavez, the son of migrant farmworkers, dedicated his life to fighting for the human rights and dignity of those farmworkers. He was born on March 31, 1927, on a small farm near Yuma, AZ, and died nearly 4 years ago, on April 23, 1993. Over the course of his 66 years, Cesar Chavez' work inspired millions and made him a major force in American history. In 1962, Cesar Chavez and his family founded the National Farm Workers Association, which organized thousands of farmworkers to confront one of the most powerful industries in the country. He inspired them to join together and nonviolently demand safe and fair working conditions. Through the use of a grape boycott, he was able to secure the first union contracts for farmworkers in the United States. These contracts provided farmworkers with the basic services that most workers take for granted, services such as clean drinking water and sanitary facilities. Because of Cesar Chavez' fight to enforce child labor laws, farmworkers could also be certain that their children would not be working side by side with them and would instead attend the migrant schools he helped establish. In addition, Cesar Chavez made the world aware of the exposure to dangerous chemicals that farmworkers and all consumers face every day. As a labor leader, he earned great support from unions and elected officials across the Nation. The movement he began continues today as the United Farm Workers of America. Cesar Chavez' influence extended far beyond agriculture. He was instrumental in forming the Community Service Organization, one of the first civic action groups in the Mexican-American communities of California and Arizona. He worked in urban areas, organized voter registration drives, brought complaints against mistreatment by Government agencies. He taught community members how to deal with Government, school, and financial institutions and empowered many to seek further advancement in education and politics. There are countless stories of judges, engineers, lawyers, teachers, church leaders, organizers, and other hard-working professionals who credit Cesar Chavez as the inspiring force in their lives. During a time of great social upheaval, he was sought out by groups from all walks of life and religions to bring calm with his nonviolent practices. In his fight for peace, justice, respect, and self- determination, he gained the admiration and respect of millions of Americans, including this Congressman. Cesar Chavez will be remembered for his tireless commitment to improve the plight of farmworkers, children, and the poor throughout the United States, and for the inspiration his heroic efforts gave to so many Americans. We in Congress must make certain that the movement Cesar Chavez began and the timeless lessons of justice and fairness he taught be preserved and honored in our national conscience. To make sure these fundamental principles are never forgotten, I urge my colleagues to support legislation to declare March 31 a Federal holiday in honor of Cesar Chavez. In his words and in the words of the United Farm Workers, ``Si, se puede,'' yes, it can be done.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. On behalf of the Democratic Caucus, Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 106) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and like the previous speakers, I thank Mr. Bilirakis for this annual special order in which we take some time to remember our relationship and our debt to the people and the nation of Greece. It is a privilege and an honor to participate with him. We all know that March 25 will mark the 176th anniversary of the struggle that ultimately freed the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire. Back then, in 1821, the Greeks raised the flag of revolution against 400 years of Turkish rule and began a series of wars that lasted a full decade and resulted in freedom for the nation of Greece. We look to Greece for many of our cultural attributes, whether it is science, literature, art, architecture, philosophy. For over 2,000 years we have looked to Greece for inspiration. Before I entered this Chamber, Mr. Bilirakis, I taught a course on the history of science at the university level; spent a good part of that course on the contributions of ancient Greece. It was in the 6th and 5th century B.C. that the Athenians and the Greeks living in the Ionian cities for the first time asked rational questions about the natural world we live in and demanded rational answers. Whether it was on the structure of the universe or the nature of the human body, they invented what we call science. The process that they began back then, in fact, became the most productive and the most profound method of trying to discover truth in the world, and we owe the Greeks that. We look at Greeks, of course, foremost for the model of democracy that they gave us. I think every democratic nation on earth, past and present, has owed a debt to the Greeks, who said that human beings can rule themselves. We have the capacity, we have the intelligence to, in fact, rule ourselves. We do not have to look at kings, we do not have to look at outside forces. We can do it ourselves. As the gentleman knows, there was some debate earlier on spending limits. I think the Greeks might have laughed at that. They believed, in terms of their democracy, that everybody who was a citizen could serve in their assembly or other offices, and they chose their leaders each year by lot, by random selection. There were no campaigns for office that they had to put campaign spending limits on. Term limits were also built into their system. An individual served for a year and then returned to their job, and it seemed to work very well, at least for the cities of Greece at that time. Our Founding Fathers certainly looked to the Greek model of democracy as they drafted our Constitution. During World War II, as we have heard, Americans and Greeks stood shoulder to shoulder in the battlefields of Europe as we fought for freedom. And certainly in recent years Americans and Greeks have watched with pride as nations all over the world have rejected tyranny and embraced the democratic ideals we both share. Americans and Greeks alike understand the importance of supporting the seeds of democracy around the world and working toward a day when everyone is permitted the rights and liberties that our country so cherishes. Mr. Speaker, Greek Independence Day celebrates the fight against oppression and the struggle for freedom. We thank the gentleman again for helping us to remember that each year. This weekend when I go back to San Diego, I am proud to be joining the Greek community in my hometown for a grand celebration of Greek Independence Day, and I wish the entire Greek-American community a joyous celebration of Greek and American democracy.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, tonight I want to report some good news for our Nation's Persian Gulf war veterans. The Veterans Administration has set up a help line phone number that gulf war veterans can call for health examinations. Veterans who are in need of care or who wish to take advantage of the physical examination under the Persian Gulf registry or who have general questions about their experience in the Persian Gulf war can call the VA's Persian Gulf information hot line. That number is 1-800-PGW-VETS. Or, if they need the numbers, 1-800-749- 8387. Active-duty service members who were deployed to the gulf during the war may receive a health examination through military treatment facilities by calling 1-800-796-9699. The VA encourages all gulf war veterans to participate in this important program. I am proud to support President Clinton's action to make it easier for Persian Gulf war veterans to collect compensation benefits for undiagnosed illnesses resulting from this war. At the urging of Veterans Affairs Secretary Jesse Brown, the President agreed to extend the period during which undiagnosed illnesses, such as Persian Gulf war syndrome, will be considered related to a veteran's service in the gulf, thereby entitling that veteran to compensation benefits. Congress had begun to address this problem prior to President Clinton's decision. My esteemed colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Lane Evans, the ranking member on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, introduced a bill earlier this year that would lengthen the time that gulf war veterans can file for disability compensation. I was proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, the Persian Gulf War Veterans Compensation Act. President Clinton listened to Congress, and to the thousands of veterans across the Nation who are suffering from the mysterious illness known as Persian Gulf War Syndrome. Mr. Speaker, our inability to find an exact cause of gulf war syndrome requires that we give our veterans the benefit of the doubt. We must move forward and provide care for our suffering Persian Gulf war veterans even as the search continues for a cause of this syndrome. America and this Congress must not shirk its responsibilities to its veterans. I applaud the actions taken by President Clinton and the Veterans Administration to give our veterans the care that they need and deserve. Remember that help line phone number. It is 1-800-749-8387. Please get the help that is now offered through the Veterans Administration.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleague today, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, to introduce H.R. 836, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. Last year the Members of this House and our colleagues in the Senate took the first major step toward restoring fairness to this group of brave veterans. Both Chambers passed concurrent resolutions to recognize and thank the Filipino World War II veterans for their service and contributions toward the successful outcome of that war. In October the President joined us and issued a Presidential proclamation recalling the courage, sacrifice and loyalty of these Filipino veterans of World War II and honored them for their contributions to our freedom. These actions were the first step. Now is the time to build upon that recognition that these veterans so deserve. Now is the time to restore the benefits that they were promised back in 1946. Too few Americans are familiar with this chapter in our Nation's history. During World War II, the military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines were drafted to serve in our Armed Forces by Executive order of the President of the United States. Filipino soldiers defended the American flag in the now famous battles of Bataan and Corregidor. Thousands of Filipino prisoners of war died during the 65-mile Bataan death march. Those who survived were imprisoned under inhuman conditions where they suffered casualties at the rate of 50 to 200 prisoners per day. They endured 4 long years of enemy occupation. The soldiers who escaped capture, together with Filipino civilians, fought against the occupation forces. Their guerrilla attacks foiled the plans of the Japanese for a quick takeover of the region and allowed the United States the time needed to prepare forces to defeat Japan. After the liberation of the Philippine Islands, the United States was able to use the strategically located Commonwealth of the Philippines as a base from which to launch the final efforts to win the war. With their vital participation so crucial to the outcome of World War II, one would assume that the United States would be grateful to their Filipino comrades. So it is hard to believe that soon after the war ended, the 79th Congress voted in a way that only can be considered blatant discrimination, as they took away the benefits and recognition that the Filipino World War II veterans were promised in what was called the Rescissions Act of 1946. Now over 50 years have passed since this Rescissions Act, 50 long years during which the Filipino veterans have been waiting for justice. I am so proud that Congress and the President have taken the first step to restoring their dignity. The Filipino veterans, and sons, their daughters are most grateful for the recognition and honor bestowed upon them last year. But now is the time to complete the job. Now is the time to correct the injustices of the 79th Congress. Many of these Filipino veterans have already died, and in a decade or decade and a half there will no longer be any of these veterans still living. They have been patiently waiting and asking: Do we deserve that Rescissions Act of 1946? Did we not fight side by side with the forces from the United States? Have we not suffered the same suffering as the American soldier during that war? Did bullets ask if their target was an American or Filipino soldier? The bill that we have introduced this week, H.R. 836, will provide full benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans who served in the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the Special Philippine Scouts. During the last session of Congress, over 100 Members of the House signed up as cosponsors of an identical bill. Now is the time for all of us to join together in a bipartisan effort to correct a monumental injustice by restoring benefits promised to the Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of Democratic ideals.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I was honored yesterday to join Senator Barbara Boxer in San Diego, CA, in my district as we announced historic legislation to improve our Nation's border transportation infrastructure. Today, Senator Boxer and I will introduce this legislation that we have called the Border Infrastructure Safety and Congestion Relief Act. Mr. Speaker, it is critical that Federal funding be found for border highway and rail projects without affecting California's Federal highway assistance. Our legislation would establish a $500 million border infrastructure fund to pay for construction and improvements to border area infrastructure and would fund Federal loan guarantees to rehabilitate shortline freight railroads. Historically, U.S. investment in its transportation infrastructure has resulted in a system of roads, highways, bridges, railroads, airports, and seaports that is unmatched around the world. This transportation system has been crucial in keeping America's economy strong. Similarly, we know that border infrastructure is absolutely essential for the continued economic development of my city and county of San Diego, and we cannot afford to see America reverse this infrastructure investment policy now. Yet that is precisely what is happening because of Federal inaction on border infrastructure issues. Further inaction will place our national transportation infrastructure and our economic well-being in great jeopardy. Federal mandates regarding trade and immigration have placed a tremendous strain on roads, bridges, highways, and rail lines that simply cannot accommodate the increased traffic that results from these decisions. State Route 905 in San Diego and the reestablishment of the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad are just two such unfunded mandates in the city of San Diego. By order of the Federal Government, all commercial traffic traveling between San Diego and Tijuana, the two largest cities on the United States-Mexico border, uses a city street called Otay Mesa Road. Though it is currently only a four-lane street, this road carries hundreds of thousands of trucks every week. It is time that the Federal Government devoted its resources to establishing an effective, efficient, and safe highway connection to our Federal Interstate System. The San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad would establish a direct and important transcontinental commercial rail link between San Diego and the rest of the United States. This link is critical for the economic development of our port and for creation of thousands of jobs. Both priorities are high on the list for the city and county of San Diego, the San Diego Association of Governments, our chamber of commerce, our port and business and political leaders all through our county. With this infrastructure in place, San Diego would achieve its rightful status as a world class, 21st-century city with an open door to the great future of the Pacific rim trade. Without it, America's sixth largest city is relegated to a ``bedroom community'' status with no door to the vast world just outside its doorstep. The lesson is simple. The Federal Government must take responsibility for its trade policies and accept the consequences of its action. We must stop passing the infrastructure buck. I am glad to say there is a glimmer of hope, however. The Clinton administration has heard our pleas and will soon announce its proposals to fund border construction and trade corridor improvements in the Infrastructure Safety and Congestion Relief Act. We welcome the administration's response and we look forward to their recommendations. Mr. Speaker, Senator Boxer and I are taking the necessary steps to accept our own Federal responsibility and will be working together with all interested parties to begin addressing this Federal obligation. We strongly welcome and encourage Congress and the Clinton administration to join with us.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize this year's winner of the Rancho de la Nacion Optimist Club's Camacho-McCartney Award, Mildred Bundy. Mildred has lived in the 50th District community of National City for over 56 years, and she continues to shine as one of its brightest stars. Each year, the Rancho de la Nacion Optimist Club gives the Camacho- McCartney Award to a community member who has put their heart and soul into volunteer work on behalf of our community's youth. But saying that Mildred puts her heart only into youth-oriented voluntarism does her a great disservice, because there is not a corner of the community that hasn't been touched by her incredible energy, dedication, and love for her community. Besides all the work she does on behalf of our community's young people, including volunteering for the May Time Band Parade, the National City Girls and Boys Club and serving as a friend of the National City library, Mildred participates in We Are Your Neighbors, a program that seeks to find community answers to community problems. She also volunteers with the Christmas in July program, which assists senior citizens in making repairs and improvements to their homes. If I am ever given the opportunity to rewrite the dictionary, I will make sure that under the words ``community,'' ``caring,'' ``kindness,'' or ``compassion,'' it will say--``see Mildred.'' Thank you Mildred, thank you for everything.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to pay tribute to San Diego Hospice. In 1977, local citizens, clergy members, and medical professionals, motivated by a shared concern for the plight of terminally ill patients, joined together to create the San Diego Hospice. As one of the first hospice programs in the country, San Diego Hospice set the standard by which we provide care for the terminally ill and their families. Now caring for more than 1,600 people a year, San Diego Hospice is not only an integral part of our regional health care system, it is an innovator, constantly working to better its outreach and care. San Diego Hospice has effectively employed San Diego's large medical community to foster education, and it was the first hospice to bring palliative medicine into the curriculum of a medical school--the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. San Diego Hospice continues to develop cutting edge programs that serve as an example to other hospices. These include the Acute Care Center, the Center for Palliative Studies, and exceptional programs in pediatrics and bereavement support. Mr. Speaker, each and every day the San Diego Hospice brightens the lives of terminally ill patients and their loved ones. San Diego has been blessed by the care provided by the San Diego Hospice, and I am sure that it will continue to serve as an excellent model of people helping people and working together for the betterment of their shared community.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, colleagues, I rise today in celebration of Black History Month and to recognize a truly remarkable leader from my 50th Congressional District in San Diego. In the Rev. Dr. Timothy Winters, we find a man who has dedicated his life to the spiritual well-being of many of our neighborhoods in San Diego. In addition to being pastor of the Bayview Baptist Church, one of the largest churches in San Diego, he also holds the position as president of the Baptist Ministers Union. While in this position, Dr. Winters is shown to be a very capable leader in guiding his church and a ministerial organization to success and high achievement. He was instrumental in building of the Martin Luther King School, complete with meeting halls and banquet facilities. Dr. Winters is also an accomplished speaker, often called to speak on various problems and concerns of the African-American community and the city at large. He lectures frequently on the matters of consumer awareness and debt-free living. His workshops and finance seminars, which he often conducts from various churches, have helped to improve the lives of literally thousands who have heeded his advice and counsel. I am also proud of the many fair lending agreements that Dr. Winters assisted in forging with the many banks and financial institutions in our city. The accolades for Dr. Winters go far beyond the African-American community. His writings and teachings are celebrated nationwide. And, at a gala evening of celebration, the city of San Diego will honor this individual of such energy. He has often been a great inspiration to me, and I look forward to working with Dr. Winters to raise the quality of life in our community. Please join me in celebrating the great contributions and achievement made to the constituents of the 50th Congressional District by Dr. Timothy Winters.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, and many of my colleagues will submit statements to the Record to support this special order, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a great organization called Americans for Democratic Action, an organization we fondly call ADA, an organization that has worked tirelessly for 5 decades to improve American society. It was on January 3, 1947, that 130 people gathered at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC, to form Americans for Democratic Action. Included were political activists, academics, housewives, labor union leaders, and former New Dealers. They were idealists, the well-known and the unknown, all dedicated to the basic principle that government has a positive role to play in the lives of its citizens in promoting individual liberty and economic justice. Among the founders of ADA were such well-known figures as Eleanor Roosevelt, John Kenneth Galbraith, Walter Reuther, David Dubinsky, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Reinhold Niebuhr, Joseph L. Rauh, Jr., and Hubert Humphrey. And because I had the opportunity to work for Senator Humphrey back in the 1970's, I was able to learn from him firsthand about the importance of the role of ADA. I truly value my membership and my current position as a member of the board. The contributions of ADA have been many. In 1948, ADA's efforts led to the adoption of a strong civil rights plank in the Democratic Party platform which has defined our party's commitment to civil rights for over a generation. In subsequent decades, ADA has taken early principled stands on civil rights and civil liberties, nuclear arms control, apartheid in South Africa, workers rights, women's issues, and the Federal budget and tax policy. ADA was the first national organization to call for an end to the Vietnam war and the impeachment of Richard Nixon. The Humphrey-Hawkins full employment bill saw its genesis at an ADA convention. The values and ideals of ADA members are just as relevant today. For example, the increase in the minimum wage, preservation of Medicare and the passage of health care portability can all be traced directly to the influence of the members of ADA and similarly thoughtful people. Today ADA continues to be dedicated to building a better world with rising standards of living for all. Its members, in Congress and out, work for the values of promoting basic human rights at home and abroad, ending all forms of discrimination, ensuring full employment and balanced growth and more equitably distributing our resources. During the 105th Congress, ADA will continue to press for a national commitment to full employment, comprehensive campaign finance reform, universal and quality health care, access to a full range of reproductive health care for all, an end to discrimination, full access to quality education, a safe and healthy environment, and national economic priorities that reflect today's social and defense needs. It is quite a list, it is quite an agenda, it is quite a full plate. But it is normal for the members of ADA to take a comprehensive approach to the problems and opportunities that we see in American society. So I want to take this opportunity, as do many of my colleagues, to sincerely recognize and thank ADA and its members. The influence that ADA has exerted over national policy has led to several defining moments in our Nation's history. I welcome its participation in the debates of the future and wish for ADA a continued commitment and involvement worthy of its great founders.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the topic of my special order.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the City Club of San Diego. Over the past 20 years, the City Club has become an integral part of San Diego--providing a public forum for nearly 500 programs presented in the highest public interest. These accomplishments have earned it the distinction as one of America's great public forums. The President and Vice President of the United States have appeared before the City Club. On six occasions, the Governor of California has spoken. The list of speakers presented represents a remarkable variety of individuals and opinions, from Jerry Falwell to Gloria Steinem, from Maureen Reagan to Tom Hayden, from Tom Wolfe to Anthony Lewis. Local, State, and national elected officials, journalists, ambassadors, judges, authors, bank officers, media broadcasters, professors, business and sports figures, and others have presented their ideas in the forum of the City Club. The speakers represent rich and varied professions, philosophies, and political views. Senator Joe Biden returns for his 7th appearance as the featured guest of the 20th anniversary celebration on February 8, 1997. In addition to the forums, the City Club has offered other special events: a national conference on immigration; another on press, libel, and American freedom; and a third on the state of our language. One of the City Club's most ambitious undertakings was a four-part series on leadership in San Diego, focusing on government, justice, finance, and the media. City Club events have been covered on C-SPAN, the local PBS radio station, and cable television systems. A debate between Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate was carried statewide on cable TV. The City Club has held fundraisers for other nonprofit organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the San Diego Public Library, the United Negro College Fund, and the National Jewish Hospital. These efforts are notable, for it is highly unusual for one nonprofit organization to undertake fundraising for other similar groups. A lighter side of the City Club includes holiday parties, whale watching trips, theater evenings, a trip to the Nation's Capital, and Aspen ski trips--featuring programs with outstanding speakers as well as time on the slopes. George Mitrovich, the president of the City Club and prime mover behind its success, has stated: ``The ability of any democracy to survive, even in the United States, depends in no small degree upon the wisdom of its people--a wisdom that public forums help instill.'' This is the mission of the City Club: to present an arena where the best ideas might prevail. On the joyous occasion of its 20th anniversary, I am honored to publicly recognize and honor the accomplishments of the City Club of San Diego.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize one of the most time-honored and revered organizations in our Nation today. February 17, 1997 will mark the 100th birthday of the Parents and Teachers Association, known more widely as the PTA. Formed on February 17, 1897, PTA was initially known as the National Congress of Mothers. Credit for the initial concept of this world- renowned organization has been ascribed to Alice McLellan Birney, a mother of three children whose husband practiced law in Washington, DC. Joining Ms. Birney in this historic undertaking was Phoebe Apperson Hearst, widow of the late U.S. Senator George Hearst. Ms. Hearst always reminded her audiences that ``there could be no lasting improvement in human welfare other than through education.'' Another name synonymous with the early formation of the PTA is that of Selena Sloan Butler. Ms. Butler founded the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers in Atlanta, GA, in 1926. The National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers merged with the National Congress of Parents and Teachers in 1970 and formed what is now our present day PTA. The enormous contribution of Ms. Butler is equally notable this month as we also celebrate Black History Month across our Nation. Mr. Speaker, today we honor an organization that supports and speaks on behalf of our children. PTA assists parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect our children. It encourages parent and public involvement in the public schools of this Nation. On February 17, 1997, PTA chapters across this land will celebrate Founders Day, which honors the legacy of PTA. I therefore ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to rise and salute the PTA, the leading child advocacy organization in our Nation.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, it has been my privilege to serve on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs since I was first elected to Congress 4 years ago, and I look forward to continuing that service in the 105th Congress. I asked to serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee because I believe that the men and women who serve in our Nation's Armed Forces are special members of our American family. Because of their service, the rest of us are able to fully enjoy the freedoms on which our country was founded. We have a unique debt to our veterans, and, as a member of the Veteran's Committee, I have worked to ensure that that debt is repaid. On January 7, 1997, the first day of the 105th Congress, I introduced three bills of particular importance to veterans and members of the Reserves and National Guard. We have a longstanding national commitment to provide special assistance for veterans who want employment and training assistance, and these bills will help us fulfill that commitment. Last year, a Supreme Court ruling mistakenly eliminated a portion of the job protection we have provided for 50 years for people who serve in the Reserves and National Guard. Because of this ruling, citizen soldiers who are also employees of a State government are at risk of not being restored to their civilian jobs following their military service. H.R. 166, the Veterans' Job Protection Act, would restore reemployment protection for these individuals by making it clear that States must obey the law and reestablish these men and women in their State jobs when they return from their military duties. The Veterans' Training and Employment Bill of Rights Act of 1997, H.R. 167, would provide that service-disabled veterans and veterans who serve in combat areas would be ``first in line'' for federally funded training-related services and programs. Under current law, veterans are often underserved by national programs such as the Job Training Partnership Act [JTPA]. Veterans' service organizations have told us, for example, that program managers sometimes turn veterans away from JTPA dislocated worker programs because they mistakenly assume that veterans receive the same services from the Department of Veterans Affairs. My bill would reinforce our commitment to provide special training assistance for veterans and make it clear that eligible veterans have earned a place at the front of the line. Additionally, H.R. 167 would update the Federal Contractor Job Listing Program. Under current law, Federal contractors with contracts of $10,000 or more must make special efforts to employ certain qualified disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era. These contractors are also required to file annual reports with the Department of Labor [DOL] regarding the number of veterans they have hired. H.R. 167 would increase the contract level to $100,000. This level would reduce the number of reports filed and enable DOL to more carefully review and evaluate the contractor information. This bill would also establish the first effective appeals process for veterans who believe their rights have been violated under certain veterans' employment-related programs. My bill would require the Secretary of Labor to assist veterans who think Federal contractors have not met their obligation to hire veterans. The Secretary would also be required to help veterans who believe they were not given preference for enrollment in Federal training programs. A veteran could also file a complaint directly with a district court. H.R. 167 would provide the ``teeth'' that have been missing from some veterans' training programs and would go a long way toward ensuring that veterans' rights are respected. Many veterans have told me they would like to own a small business, and our national economy would certainly be strengthened if more veterans were able to establish their own companies. Because of this, I introduced H.R. 168, the Veterans' Entrepreneurship Promotion Act of 1997. This bill is designed to assist the development of small businesses owned by disabled and other eligible veterans. Under this measure, a program would be established to help eligible veteran-owned small businesses compete for Federal Government contracts. Additionally, because adequate capital is absolutely necessary for business startup and expansion, H.R. 168 would establish a guaranteed loan program in the Small Business Administration for veteran-owned businesses. Also included in my bill is a provision to establish a program of training, counseling, and management assistance for veterans interested in establishing a small business. Veterans are smart, disciplined, and hard workers--the kind of people we need to strengthen and expand our economy--and those who want to pursue self- employment should be supported and encouraged. These bills would significantly increase training and employment opportunities for those unique members of our American family--our Nation's veterans. These special men and women have more than earned the assistance that would be provided by these measures. I want to take this opportunity to thank the representatives of the major veterans' service organizations whose assistance in the development of these bills was invaluable. I also want to say that, as the ranking Democratic member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, I look forward to working closely with the chairman of the subcommittee and the chairman of the full Veterans' Affairs Committee on these and other issues of importance to America's veterans.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, the widows of our Nation's veterans are being misled and mistreated, misled and mistreated by our own Government. Although I introduced legislation 2 years ago to terminate the confusing system that discriminates against surviving military spouses when they reach the age of 62, no action was taken on the bill, and the problem continues. I know you find it hard to believe, Mr. Speaker, that our Government condones a system that penalizes aging widows. I know I was shocked when the situation was first described to me. Let me share with the Members a sad story that is typical of the thousands of these cases. When a resident of my congressional district retired after many years of honorable military service, he elected to have a portion of his monthly retirement pay set aside under the military survivors benefits plan, so-called SBP, so that when he died his wife would have an income she could count on. He knew the enormous sacrifices she had made in order to maintain a home for their family during his military career, often in parts of the world not nearly as lovely as my town of San Diego. He understood and appreciated that his wife had served their country as surely as he had. He did not, however, understand that following his too early untimely death, the SBP would provide his wife with the financial cushion she needed, but only until her 62d birthday. On the day she became 62 her SBP benefit, which had been 55 percent of her husband's retired pay, was automatically, automatically reduced to 35 percent of the retirement income. She received no warning that her check would be slashed on her 62d birthday. She received no explanation. When she was finally able to locate someone who could tell her why she was facing this crisis, she was given the following explanation: Your survivor benefits have been reduced because when you became 62, you also became eligible to receive Social Security. Puzzled, she pointed out that her Social Security payment, such as it was, was based on her own work. It had nothing to do with the survivor benefit plan her husband had paid into. Too bad, she was told. That is the law. Well, we have to change the law. The SBP plan is very complicated. The benefit for one group of survivors is reduced by the amount of the military retiree's Social Security when the widow reaches age 62, regardless of when she actually begins to draw Social Security benefits. Under the newer SBP plan which covers the widow in my congressional district, the benefit is automatically reduced at age 62 from 55 percent to 35 percent of the military retiree's retired pay. Even people with substantial incomes would have a tough time with a reduction of more than one-third of their retirement benefit. Mr. Speaker, it is time to change this misleading and unfair law. Too often it causes enormous financial hardship for the affected survivors. We Americans do not treat our aging citizens, some of the most vulnerable members of our American family, with such disdain. Two days ago, on the first day of the 105th Congress, I introduced H.R. 165, the Military Survivors Equity Act of 1997. This bill would fix the problem by simply eliminating the callous and absurd reduction in benefits that now burdens our military widows. Instead, they would get what they and their deceased spouses thought they would get: 55 percent of the military retiree pay. To put it simply, no offset; a simple solution to a difficult problem, an equitable solution to a mean-spirited practice. I hope I do not have to raise this issue with my colleagues a year from now, and say again that our Government is still misleading and mistreating military survivors. Let us correct this disgraceful situation and enact H.R. 165 in 1997.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Chris Lewis, president of the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce for this past year, 1996. Throughout the past year, Chris urged local business and community leaders to ``accentuate the positive.'' That spirit helped bring more than twenty new businesses to the city of Chula Vista in 1996, and it laid the groundwork for continued economic development. During Chris' term as president, the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce expanded its involvement in the education of our children, the training of our Olympic athletes, and the training of our future civic leaders. Indeed, Chris Lewis has accentuated the positive by creating and fostering a positive atmosphere for local residents and local businesses. The Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce has laid the framework for long-term economic expansion with the founding of the Chula Vista Convention and Visitors Bureau and the renovation of the Chula Vista Visitors' Information Center. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the residents of Chula Vista and the 50th Congressional District, I thank Chris Lewis for his service to our community, and I ask the citizens of our community to continue to work for its betterment.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the outstanding contributions of Muriel Goldhammer to the community of San Diego and to the entire southern California region. Muriel Goldhammer, a native San Diegan, is now retired and is planning to reside parttime in Israel, beginning on January 14, 1997. Before she makes this move, it is fitting that she be recognized for her work in Jewish community relations, in health issues, and in political and civic activities in San Diego, CA. Before her retirement, Muriel served as director of urban affairs at the University of California, San Diego Extension and as faculty at the School of Public Administration at San Diego State University. She is the author of several publications on public policy issues. She is currently serving on the steering committee of the San Diego Area Resource Center and on the past presidents council of Hadassah of southern California; on the institutional review board of the Children's Hospital and Health Center; and on the board of directors of the American Jewish Committee. She was formerly president of the California Southwest Region of Hadassah and a member of their national board. She was the founder and former president of the San Diego chapter of Parents of North American Israelis, as well as executive vice president of their international board of directors and international convention chair. Muriel was founder and chair of the San Diego Zionist Council, which from 1948 to 1958 set up a speakers' bureau on issues of concern to Israel and sent several non-Jewish civic leaders on study tours to Israel. She has also been deeply involved in health issues, serving on the Coordinating Council for Education in the Health Sciences; as president of the Comprehensive Health Planning Association for San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties; and the board of directors of the San Diego Mental Health Association; and on the Governor's advisory board of the San Diego Treatment Center for the Mentally Ill. As a member of the political and civic community of San Diego, Muriel served as president and on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters in San Diego and California; on the civil rights committee of the National League of Women Voters; on the boards of directors of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the San Diego Urban League; on the United Way allocations committee; on the Mayor's committee on uniform hearing procedures; and on the blue ribbon committee on restructuring the San Diego Convention and Visitors' Bureau. Mr. Speaker, these worthy contributions by such an intelligent, dedicated, and motivated woman were recognized by the celebration of ``Muriel Goldhammer Day'' on January 5, 1997, an event sponsored by the Point Loma Hadassah and Hadassah Southern California. It is truly fitting that the House of Representatives join in this recognition, and I appreciate the opportunity to call attention to the life-long work of Muriel Goldhammer toward making this world a better place.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, issues related to employment and training assistance for veterans have received a lot of attention in the 104th Congress. In fact, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have talked endlessly about our national responsibility to support and assist veterans in their efforts to obtain employment and training. However, to quote the Bard, their rhetoric is largely ``much ado about nothing,'' and their legislative commitment to veterans in no way matches the passion of their words. For over 50 years the House of Representatives deemed veterans' issues as near sacred--and far too important for partisan bickering and cynicism. Expecting that this bipartisan tradition would continue, I introduced three bills to protect, strengthen, and expand employment opportunities for our Nation's veterans. Unfortunately, the Republican chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Education, Training, Employment, and Housing, which has jurisdiction over these measures, chose not to act on any of this legislation. H.R. 3538, the Veterans' Job Protection Act, H.R. 3938, the Veterans' Training and Employment Bill of Rights Act of 1996, and H.R. 4080, the Veterans' Entrepreneurship Promotion Act of 1996, are all significant bills that would make significant differences in the lives of thousands of veterans. These bills are serious business--they are not ``much ado about nothing''--and I hope that in the 105th Congress they will not fall victim to the hypocrisy surrounding veterans' matters we have experienced this year. It is important that our veterans fully understand and appreciate what they have lost as a result of the destruction of the historical bipartisan support for veterans. Accordingly, I will briefly describe the bills which the Republican leadership chose not to support. First, I introduced H.R. 3538, the Veterans' Job Protection Act. This measure responded to a recent Supreme Court ruling which inadvertently eliminated job protections for veterans and members of the Selected Reserve whose civilian employment is with a State government. My bill would restore reemployment rights for these individuals. It would clarify that States must abide by the Federal law which requires employers to reestablish veterans in their former jobs when they return from military service. Because H.R. 3538 has not been enacted, members of the Selected Reserve who were activated for service in Bosnia could have problems when they return home and attempt to reclaim their civilian jobs if they are State employees. We hope and expect that the Selected Reservists now in Bosnia will soon return to the United States. It will be a dismal ``welcome home'' if their civilian jobs are not available to them because some in Congress chose not to protect them. Under H.R. 3938, the Veterans' Training and Employment Bill of Rights Act of 1996, disabled veterans and veterans who have served in combat areas would have the opportunity, for the first time, for the first time, to fully participate in all federally funded training programs. Too often, veterans have been underserved by these national programs. For example, although veterans accounted for approximately 24 percent of all dislocated workers, only 14 percent of those trained under the Job Training Partnership Act [JTPA] program for dislocated workers were veterans. Veterans' service organizations have told us that some program managers mistakenly assume veterans receive similar services from the Department of Veterans' Affairs and discourage veterans from taking advantage of JTPA services. Additionally, we are in the midst of a major redesign of our national labor exchange and job training programs. My bill would ensure that our country's long-standing commitment to providing priority services to veterans seeking employment and training assistance would be protected and strengthened. H.R. 3938 would also establish, for the first time, an effective appeals process for veterans who believe their rights have been violated under certain veterans' employment-related programs. Finally, I introduced H.R. 4080, the Veterans' Entrepreneurship Promotion Act of 1996. The purpose of this measure is to promote and assist the creation, development, and growth of small businesses owned by disabled veterans and other eligible veterans. Under this bill, a Governmentwide procurement program would be established to assist eligible veteran-owned small businesses to receive Federal Government contracts. For the first time, certain veteran-owned small businesses would have a real opportunity to become suppliers of needed goods and services through access to contract award opportunities in the multi- billion dollar Federal market. Additionally, because the availability of adequate capital for business startup and expansion can be an obstacle to the development and growth of veteran-owned small businesses, my bill would establish a guaranteed loan program for these concerns in the Small Business Administration [SBA]. H.R. 4080 would also provide eligible veteran small business owners with entrepreneurial training, counseling, and management assistance. I believe our Government has a responsibility to help the veterans of this country because of the sacrifices they have made in the service of their country. I also believe that the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces are a valuable national resource whose skills and abilities must be absorbed by, and integrated into, the civilian workforce. In order to facilitate this transfer of talent, however, we must provide our service members the tools, training, and job protection they need to reenter the nonmilitary workplace. Finally, I believe veterans are special and unique members of our American family. They have defended us all and have protected the freedoms we all value. I hope that in the next Congress we can work together as Americans, not as Republicans or Democrats, to develop responsible, effective, meaningful policies affecting our Nation's veterans.