Bob Filner

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, for over 50 years veterans' programs and benefits have been viewed as matters far too important for partisan bickering. Democrats and Republicans worked together to create the most generous and successful array of veterans' programs in the world. Unfortunately, this bipartisan tradition supporting veterans' matters is in the process of being destroyed by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. We have all heard and read the rhetoric put out by our Republican colleagues asserting their strong support for our Nation's veterans, and they have implied that President Clinton does not care about veterans; in fact, that he would balance the budget on the backs of veterans. But, Mr. Speaker, let us look at the facts. The Republican budget that has been presented for fiscal year 1997 slashes the President's request for veterans' funding by $573 million. Our Nation's veterans deserve better than empty Republican rhetoric. They have more than earned our real support and respect. Mr. Speaker, let us quit playing games with this special group of citizens and get down to the hard work of establishing and maintaining meaningful programs and benefits for our veterans.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great friend and community leader from California's 50th Congressional District. Dr. John Arrington has dedicated his life to improving the educational and social well-being of children throughout the San Diego Unified School District. With his retirement on June 10, we will lose his presence on school campuses throughout San Diego, but not his continuing leadership in the community. Those of us in the educational community are well aware of the commitment to educational excellence that John has shown throughout his distinguished career. He has also been an active participant in helping to improve living conditions in his community, notably as a leader and officer of the Southeast Kiwanis Club. John began his educational training by earning his bachelor of science degree from Tuskegee University in 1963. He received his master's degree in school administration from San Diego State University in 1974, and his Ph.D. in school administration from U.S. International University in 1977. He also received training from the Howard University School of Law in 1967, and he earned a counseling credential from San Diego State University in 1972. John has distinguished himself as a teacher, counselor, and administrator for nearly 30 years, serving as district administrator, vice-principal, and principal in the San Diego Unified School District. Nationally recognized for his work, John has been honored by the Administrators Association, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Kiwanis International, the Association of California School Administrators, and the Parent Advisory Task Force. As he retires from a sterling career in education that was marked by vision, creativity, and strong leadership, I joined his family and friends in congratulating him on nearly 30 years as an inspiration to us all.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a close friend and longtime fixture of the San Diego music community who died May 31-- Froebel Astor Brigham, known simply as Fro. Fron, whose musical career spanned more than half a century, will be greatly missed by more than three generations of music lovers in my hometown of San Diego. A patriarch of the area jazz scene since the 1940's, Fro dazzled everyone who listened with his smooth sounding trumpet, which featured a mouthpiece given to him by jazz legend Louis Armstrong. Following his arrival in San Diego in 1945, Fro became a must-see on the local jazz circuit. He and his Preservation Jazz Band were soon playing before some of the highest political and civic officials in San Diego. In the last two decades of his illustrious career, Fro's performance schedule was as consistent as the high quality of his playing--Fridays and Saturdays at Pal Joey's in Allied Gardens, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Patrick's II downtown. His talent, of course, earned him numerous honors. He won two San Diego Music Awards. He was honored in 1993 at the Catfish Club as the Grandaddy of San Diego jazz. He was recently honored at a special tribute at Pal Joey's. So moving was his trumpet playing that Lady Bird Johnson once flew him to her ranch in Texas to perform Not surprisingly, Fro became as well known for his contributions to the community as for his music. He led a volunteer drive to collect donated bread and sweet rolls from supermarkets for distribution to the needy. He delivered food to the hungry one or more times every week. And he was a board member of the Corrective Bahaviors Institute, a center for at-risk children. Fro served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. He was a groundskeeper for the San Diego Parks and Recreation Department for 30 years until his retirement in 1979. One thing he never retired from was his music, which was his most effective means of communication. Indeed, as an African-American, Fro was recognized as having broken ethnic music barriers that long existed in San Diego. His contributions to the art of music and to the San Diego community will not be forgotten.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Mr. FILNER. Let us all, again, stand for children.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, this coming Saturday, June 1, thousands of families, schools, churches, synagogues, and other organizations will gather at the Lincoln Memorial for what is aptly being called the Stand for Children. Stand for Children is a national day of commitment to children that has been convened by the Children's Defense Fund and endorsed by more than 3,000 national, State, and local organizations. From my hometown of San Diego, CA, alone more than 120 people organized by the Children's Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego will be attending this event. The Stand for Children will address the critical issues facing America's children, including drugs, violence, and poverty. Ironically, children in America are also under attack by the very institution that should be protecting them from these evils, the U.S. Congress. This 104th Congress is waging a stand against children. The Republican majority, with the so-called pro-family agenda, has pretended to extend its protective hand toward America's youth, when in reality it has not given our children a fair shake. This majority has voted repeatedly to slash funding for children's programs, including education, student loans, child nutrition, health care for children, child protection services such as foster care, and aid for disabled children. This agenda threatens not only the education and well-being of our Nation's children, it puts the future of America at risk. If our children do not receive a quality education, proper nutrition, and a nurtured upbringing, then American businesses will not be able to compete in the global economy. Congressional Democrats have worked with President Clinton to fend off the onslaught of these cuts. This year we successfully restored most of the education cuts proposed by Republicans in their 1996 budget, and the President vetoed many damaging cuts in children's programs contained in the so-called welfare reform and budget reconciliation pills. I would have hoped that Republicans learned a lesson from their failure to cut children's programs in this year's budget but, sadly, they have not. Their proposal for fiscal year 1997 would cut many of the same programs that were on the chopping block last year. This month 221 House Republicans voted for the 1997 budget resolution which would cut funding for education and training programs by 22 percent over the next 6 years. Here are the specifics of what the majority whip called the pro- choice or the pro-education or the pro-child Congress: A 6-year freeze in title I funding for aid to local schools, resulting in a 20 percent cut by the year 2002. A 6-year freeze for Head Start, resulting in a 20 percent cut by 2002. Elimination of the Goals 2000 public schools reform which currently helps 5 million students in more than 8,000 schools across the country raise their academic achievement. Their proposal eliminates all Federal funding for bilingual and immigrant education. It eliminates new funding for Perkins student loans which provide low-interest financial assistance to thousands of college students, and eliminates the direct loan program which helps 2.5 million students receive college loans more quickly and less expensively than traditional loans. It eliminates AmeriCorps, the national service program that gives 200,000 young people the chance to serve their communities while earning money for college. And it cuts 20 percent in funding for our Nation's libraries. This is what the gentleman from Texas [Mr. DeLay] called the pro- children's Congress. Republican cuts in other programs would also threaten the well-being of our children. By cutting Medicaid by $72 billion over 6 years, they jeopardize the Federal guarantee of coverage to thousands of low-income children. And by allowing the wealthy to opt out of the health care system through the use of medical savings accounts, they risk causing a further decline in coverage and services for poor families and children. The Republican budget would also cut spending for school lunches, foster care, aid to disabled children and youth crime prevention programs. It is time for Republicans to realize that the American people will not tolerate massive, irresponsible cuts that failed earlier this year. Our children deserve better. We must give our children the assistance and support they need for a successful future. Mr. Speaker, let us all stand for children.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commemorate the emerging field of multidisciplinary pain management. Millions of Americans suffer from the intractable chronic pain. These pain patients often find that, in addition to suffering unremitting pain, they cannot sleep, work, or engage in family and social events. Pain is the No. 1 reason that individuals seek health care. Pain is a costly epidemic. Until recently, pain management has been poorly understood and poorly treated. In recent years, great strides have been made in helping to reduce the toll of pain and suffering. Multidisciplinary organizations, such as the American Academy of Pain Management, have brought together the previously fragmented clinical disciplines and have raised standards for the delivery for pain management. The American Academy of Pain Management is the largest society of learned clinicians in the United States concerned with pain management. The academy credentials multidisciplinary clinicians in pain management, utilizing rigorous screening steps which help assure that the public can find empathetic and knowledgeable pain management clinicians. In addition to board certification in pain management, the American Academy of Pain Management accredits pain programs, cosponsors the National Pain Data Bank, and conducts continuing education in pain management. Because of dedicated organizations such as the American Academy of Pain Management, our ability to reduce pain and suffering is improving. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor and recognize the commitment of the multidisciplinary membership of the American Academy of Pain Management and their visionary leadership in providing quality care to so many people.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Riggs amendment which would raise the minimum wage and in vehement opposition to the Goodling amendment which would result in millions of Americans earning less than the minimum wage. Mr. Speaker, there are thousands of parents in my district--in cities like San Diego, National City, Chula Vista and Imperial Beach--that are working two or three minimum wage jobs to raise their families in dignity. These parents are sacrificing valuable time with their children in order to avoid welfare. These parents have not had a raise in over 5 years. We also have thousands of students working their way through school, and senior citizens working to augment their Social Security. They, too, deserve a rise. We must do the right thing for these families. But today's bill is a cruel hoax on these hard-working Americans. On the one hand we tease them with the prospects of the minimum wage increase, and on the other we snatch it away. That is why I urge my colleagues to vote for the Riggs amendment and against the Goodling exemption, which would allow millions of Americans to be paid less than the minimum wage. Let's do the right--and moral--thing for American families.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to place into the Congressional Record the following thoughts by Robert Sniffen, a U.S. Navy veteran who has served as a veteran's advocate for the past 27 years. He has held veteran-related positions in the U.S. Department of Labor and in the Center administration. He has also served as the national service and legislative director of AMVETS. Currently, Mr. Sniffen is chairman of the board for San Diego Veterans' Service, a southern California nonprofit organization dedicated to the needs and concerns of California's veterans. Memorial Day will soon signal the traditional salute to pay homage, tribute, and honor to our nation's men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifices on behalf of the freedoms we all enjoy. Beautiful, emotion charged ceremonies, largely attended by veterans and their families, will be encapsulated into micro-second broadcast news clips and short print articles including photos for public consumption. For those who deal daily with the survivors of military service, Memorial Day is also an appropriate date on which to inform and educate the public as to the status of the needs, issues, and concerns of veterans who have survived military service. To date, potential legislation is floating upward in Congress to establish a Commission to evaluate programs of the federal government that assist members of the armed forces and veterans in readjusting to civilian life. It will be known as the ``Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition Assistance''. Of the hundreds of pages of veteran legislation introduced before Congress, this ``Commission on Veterans'' is the most vital. Veteran organizations and veteran advocates must hold both presidential candidates responsible for obtaining such a commitment, before the November elections. Veterans must demand action now, or this landmark legislation will never see the light of day. If fully enacted, the Commission will conduct a bottom-up review of programs intended to assist veterans. Veteran advocates view this potential landmark legislation as a G.I. Bill of Rights review, as well as the reading of the fine print that violates the Sacred Government Contract made with each military inductee. Those who support veteran entitlements should contact their Congressional representatives and seek their support in creating this new Commission, which will evaluate and upgrade the earned entitlements of our military personnel and our veterans. Across America, our military personnel and veterans are disproportionately suffering the ill effects of military down-sizing, base closures, industry collapses in the defense and aerospace industries, and corporate down-sizing to increase profits. Military families and veterans are receiving food stamps; homeless veterans continue to roam the streets they fought to protect; thousands of fully qualified veterans are grossly disadvantaged economically, facing the ravages of unemployment and under-employment. Still others are shut out of the market place due to lack of re-training. There is little call for infantry or weapons skills in the high-tech information era. Training and re-training veterans must be a top priority. Meanwhile, only three million of the twenty-eight million living veterans actually access medical treatment from the veterans medical system. Budget and deficit reductions and streamlining of the VA programs through reorganization will adversely impact senior veterans, whose numbers will grow as rapidly as their current and future medical needs explode. While most veterans are successful and arise each day to run America, some veterans need help to reintegrate into a civilian society, as well as to overcome adverse economic factors. Thousands, currently in the military, are shifted daily from the military pay line, to the unemployment line, becoming a family ``at risk'' who, then, may soon become the ``new'' homeless. Veterans are being told by the Washington beancounters and Congress that veterans must sustain their share of budget cuts. It is believed that most Americans would agree that our veterans ``paid in full'' at the entry and exit doors of military service. As the American public makes way for the beaches, mountains, and resorts on Memorial Day, veterans and their families will pause to salute our fallen heroes. Veteran organizations and their leaders will ensure that the tributes occur as their solemn duty. It is these Americans who will give appropriate thought to the survivors and non-survivors. All Americans should give greater reflection to questioning our nation's commitment, to those who have contributed most to America's ongoing survival. Many this Memorial Day will be asking, ``Why has the contract with America's veterans been broken?'' ``How do we reinstate adequate programs for veterans in a country that now seems to approve the popular notion of budget cuts, even at great expense to those who served, survived, and now, more than ever, need our help?'' America is Number One, Thanks to Veterans, and other governmental agency slogans, such as Putting Veterans First are again singing, ``When Johnny Comes Marching Home,'' while the budget cut ``ax murderers'' blindly cut veterans' programs. Thus, wherever one finds themselves this Memorial Day, these are thoughts worth considering--and acting upon. As Memorial Day proceeds, veterans not active in a veteran's organization may wish to consider membership in a group of their choice, and thought should be given as to methods of citizen support for veteran programs, i.e., through volunteer participation, assistance with monetary needs for local veteran organizations that serve veterans, and letting the appropriate political leaders know that veteran programs should be the first saved--and the last cut--in current and future budget considerations. We need to remember those men and women who are in eminent danger in Bosnia, Korea, Liberia and other potential conflict sites for future veterans that will need to be honored at future Memorial Day ceremonies. Amidst the flood of broadcast and newspaper media of the business world's ``tribute'' to another holiday sales/ marketing opportunity, American needs to ``refocus'' its moral compass, directly upon those political leaders and candidates, to determine who will recognize and reverse the governmental failures over the many years before the next veteran-related holiday arrives in November of this year. Memorial Day 1996 is, indeed, an excellent occasion to remind ourselves that this year we should salute our fallen dead and also pay a living tribute to those who did survive-- only to return at a time when most Americans had lost respect and support for those who make democracy possible, worldwide and locally. Thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and rejoinders that ``Freedom is not Free'' is designed to provoke countrymen to take positive addition to reverse the demise of the importance of protecting, rather than slashing costs--that are the aftermath of this Memorial Day * * * and future Memorial Days to come. Let us all utilize this sacred, heartfelt day of tribute as the starting point in reinitiating dedication to keeping our commitments to veterans and their families, by insisting that government revitalize, not kill veteran's programs, as Memorial Day 1996 approaches. The very future of America may depend upon these veteran- related issues.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day will soon be upon us. Through ceremonies and private contemplation, we will honor our war dead--one million, one hundred eighty thousand and ten Americans who have died since the war that gave birth to our Nation more than two centuries ago. This custom has been a practice of all civilizations, from ancient Greece and Rome to modern day observances. I find Memorial Day to be particularly meaningful because it is a day when we set aside our everyday preoccupations to focus on the significant sacrifices made to keep our Nation strong and free. At Memorial Day services in Arlington National Cemetery in 1982, President Reagan summed up the thoughts of his country when he said: ``The willingness of some to give their lives so that others might live never fails to evoke in us a sense of wonder and mystery. I have known that poignant feeling as I looked out across the rows of white crosses and Stars of David in Europe, in the Philippines, and the military cemeteries here in our own land. Each one marks the resting place of an American hero. Each died for a cause he considered more important than his own life, for the values which make up what we call civilization.'' Freedom of speech and freedom to choose our religion, the responsibility of participating in our democracy through the ballot, the opportunity for achieving an education and earning a living--these are the defining pillars upon which our Nation is built, and these are the values that we must defend and pass along to our children. This day leaves few hearts unmoved in recalling the brave men and women who died in defense of these values of freedom and democracy. Memorial Day is not about war or peace. It is about people who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. How can we best honor their memory? We must make our lives a tribute to them by sustaining the values for which they fought. We must teach our children the freedoms we enjoy are due to the sacrifices by the Americans who were willing to die for freedom. We must pass along to future generations the importance of education and work. We must remind our youth that their right to free speech and to vote must not be taken lightly. We must provide opportunities for all our children to participate in this Nation's abundance. We must retain such basic rights as health care, decent food and housing, protection of our precious environment, and education by making them our highest priorities. In doing so, we will build a lasting memorial to our loved ones. Let us keep these commitments in our hearts as we commemorate Memorial Day, 1996.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, more important than that, I thank the gentleman for his friendship and his tutelage. We all know that the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] will be retiring at the end of this session. I just want to say when I first arrived in Congress, there was no one who was more gracious or more giving of his time and knowledge than the gentleman from Mississippi; and I appreciate his service, of course, to our Nation's veterans, and his assistance to me personally, as I have tried to learn the issues of veterans. Sonny, you are going to hear this many times in the next few months, but you will be missed greatly. I thank the gentleman very much. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.R. 1483. I was a proud cosponsor of the bill, as were the various organizations, such as the Disabled American Veterans and the Vietnam Veterans of America. This bill, as we have heard, provides a review for veterans who have been denied their benefits in the past. If there was a clear and unmistakable error involved in a VA decision the veteran may appeal, even if the current time limit for appeals has expired. Retroactive benefits will be paid to veterans whose appeal results in a favorable decision. The Board of Veterans' Appeals will be required to review these cases. Mr. Speaker, during the years 1991 through 1995, 3,600 motions to reconsider Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions were filed, but only 22 percent were granted. The other 78 percent of veterans who believe they had been wronged were denied a hearing on that appeal. We must keep our promises to our veterans. There are many veterans whose claims have been denied due to an error in the decision making process. This bill will allow us to correct the wrongs that many of these veterans have endured. I thank all the chairs and the ranking members for bringing this bill today, and I urge my colleagues to approve H.R. 1483.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, later today the House will take up the repeal of the 4.3-cent gasoline tax. The American people should know not only what is in this bill but what is not in this bill. This bill mandates repeal of a 4.3-cent gasoline tax, but it does not mandate that we as consumers or the American people as consumers will get the benefit of that 4.3 cents. I have the bill right here. It says that it is the sense of Congress that consumers ought to get that benefit, a sense of the Congress. It does not mandate anything. Mr. Speaker, we have some experience with this. When the airline surtax was allowed to expire recently, that 10 percent was not passed on to the consumers. In fact the airlines took at least half of that for their own. That is what will happen if we do not take stronger action today. The oil companies will get the benefit of this tax repeal and not the consumer. This bill later today should mandate that all consumers get the full benefit of the 4.3-cent tax repeal.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly remarkable leader from my 50th Congressional District in San Diego. In the Reverend Dr. Timothy Winters, we find a man who has dedicated his life to improving the socio-economic and spiritual well-being of many of our neighborhoods and communities 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 has shown to be a very capable leader in guiding both his church and the ministerial organization to success and high achievement. He was instrumental in the building of the Martin Luther King Jr. School, complete with classrooms, meeting halls, and banquet facilities. Dr. Winters is also an accomplished speaker, often called upon 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 of those who have heeded his advice and counsel. Lately, Dr. Winters has been working with other community leaders as a part of a group to charter a new community credit union in the heart of my 50th Congressional District, another indication of his tireless dedication to the social and economic well-being of his--and my-- community. I am also proud of the many fair-lending agreements that Dr. Winters assisted in forging with the many banks, and other financial institutions in our city. 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 achievements made to the constituents of the 50th Congressional District by Dr. Timothy Winters.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate 10 years of dedicated service by 10,000 volunteers of the Interfaith Shelter Network in San Diego County, CA. Ten years ago, the Network began as an idea in the minds of several people who were trying to resolve some problems of the homeless in the region. In 1985, the Network was formed as a joint effort between San Diego County community, civic, and religious leaders--and it started on a small scale, with approximately a dozen congregations. The Network offers 8 to 10 weeks of shelter for each participating guest who is referred by a social service agency. Congregations provide sleeping accommodations and meals as the guests work on transitional plans with their social service agencies to get back into their own housing. Participating congregations have developed a family-style environment where the volunteers become an important extended family for their guests. Responding to the need with rapid growth, the Interfaith Shelter Network now includes more than 130 Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i congregations in seven regions of San Diego County. More than 4,100 people have been provided with over 81,000 nights of shelter--and more than half of the 4,100 guests have left the Network's shelters for their own housing. When the program started, many of the people served were single men. Two years ago, families became the largest group served, as they also became the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. The Network, administered by the Ecumenical Council of San Diego County under the supervision of Executive Director Glenn Allison, began its second program in 1990--the Transitional Housing Program. To date, this new program has assisted more than 25 families, including 110 people, with education and counseling. The 10th anniversary of the Interfaith Shelter Network will be commemorated with an anniversary service and Thank-You Picnic this coming Sunday, May 19. On this joyous occasion, I commend the Ecumenical Council, the city and county of San Diego, and the many private donors who, with their donations and other means of support, have made the idea of the Network a reality. I commend the guests of this program who have enriched the lives of their host congregations and those who, with determination, have left the ranks of the homeless. And I commend the thousands of volunteers from the Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i communities who, with their generosity of time and spirit, have made the Network work. So often, we look around at the problems overwhelming our cities and despair that nothing can be done. In contrast, the Interfaith Shelter Network is an example of how people can make a positive difference in their communities.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me, and I rise in strong support of designating the road from Selma to Montgomery as a national historic trail. I thank the gentleman for allowing the bill to come to a vote, the bill sponsored by the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Lewis] and the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Hilliard]. We have a lot to thank people from 30 years ago. I was working in Washington at that time right across the street at the Library of Congress. I could not believe what I saw on television, saw the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Lewis] and others beaten badly, saw the sacrifices that were made, and turned to my colleagues and said what is going on there? All people are asking for are equal rights, the right to vote, the most precious vote, the most precious freedom that we have. So several of us said that sacrifices that those people were making in Alabama deserve support from people all around the Nation. Thousands of people joined them. I joined the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Lewis] a few miles outside of Montgomery. Thousands of people marched into Montgomery. It was an incredible testimony to people who saw that democracy could be made better in this Nation, that the right to vote was something literally that one struggled to die for. That march, as we know, bore great fruit; the Voting Rights Act was passed a few months later, resulting in the largest increase in democratic rights in this country in about 50 years. We have, as I said, Mr. Speaker, a lot to thank for the sacrifices that those at the Edmond Pettus Bridge, as the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Lewis] was at, for sparking all of us into a consciousness and a realization of what was going on. That march, I think, inspired democracy all over this Nation because it showed that people taking direct action could, in fact, move Congress, and in different Congresses, to taking the right and moral actions. So, we designate this trail from Selma to Montgomery as a national monument, we dedicate that trail to the lives of people who were sacrificed, we dedicate ourselves and recommit ourselves to the democracy to which they took action, and we will remember that terrible price that people had to pay for all of us to have democracy in this Nation, for all of us to have the right to vote, and we have to remind all of us every time. So, Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for allowing us to rededicate ourselves to increasing democracy in America for all our citizens.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, much has been said about the on-going gasoline price crisis and the proposed repeal of the 4.3-cent gas tax. I would like to offer my three-point plan for this repeal. First, we must guarantee that this repeal is directly returned to the consumer in the form of lower prices at the gas pump. We must not simply feed the profit margin of big oil companies. We cannot repeal this fee and naively assume that gas prices will decline accordingly. Let those who paid be repaid. Second, we must pay for this repeal. I have a bill, H.R. 1497, the Insurance Tax Fairness and Small Company Economic Growth Act, that will collect almost $2 billion every year, simply by closing a tax loophole that only benefits the 18 largest mutual life insurance companies. Third, this Congress must provide answers for the American people about the cause of these price increases. Congress must hold hearings and conduct an investigation. The American people deserve answers from their elected officials and it is our duty to provide those answers. Mr. Speaker, I say again, the consumer must benefit from our actions--let those who paid be repaid.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman. I appreciate the correct terminology here and certainly that is what my amendment uses. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My amendment could be called the mobile homeowners protection amendment, because it calls for fairness and equity for thousands of our citizens who live in mobile homes. Currently, as you know, housing assistance payments are made to landlords of rental property, not to the tenants. And in most cases, this makes sense. For example, an apartment renter having received a housing assistance payment could move without using the money for rent. But we have a very unique situation with residents of mobile homes. Most own their own home and rent the land on which it sits. Contrary to the name, mobile home, they are really not free to move quickly. It is both laborious and expensive to do so. For example, in San Diego County, where many of my constituents live in mobile homes, it costs a minimum of $10,000 to move a mobile home. In fact, in San Diego County, they can barely move at all because there are very few empty spaces and they are held captive to the whims of the park owners from whom they rent a space to park their homes. Mr. Chairman, when park owners decide they will not accept housing assistance payments, the mobile home residents are stuck because the law says their participation is voluntary and there is nothing that the department of HUD can do to force owners to accept payments for residents. In fact, recently HUD told a couple of my constituents who had section 8 eligibility whose park owner would not accept it, just move. Well, as I have said before, they cannot move. So my amendment will fix that. It is a simple change in the law which will allow housing assistance payments to go to the tenants of mobile home parks, the people who must rent their land upon which to put their mobile home. This amendment will not increase costs. It will not force mobile home park residents to accept new residents because mobile home residents who qualify for rental assistance do so because they have either grown older or become disabled. They are already residents of these mobile home parks by my amendment. This amendment will provide fairness to our citizens who need housing assistance and who live in mobile home parks. Mr. Chairman, that explains the amendment. If there are any questions or comments from the honorable chairman, I would be happy to answer them.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great friend and community leader who passed away this week: Harold James Ballard. Those of us in the educational community know that Harold always worked to make life better for everyone, especially our children. He lived the belief that activism was better than lipservice, progress better than the status quo. In 1952, a young Harold Ballard decided to serve his country, joining the U.S. Army. He received the Army Occupation Medal while in Germany. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Medal. Following his discharge from the Army in 1955, he served for 30 years in the Army Reserve. Those of us who care about the students in San Diego have all benefited from his many years of service. Harold started working with schools when his children were in grammar school. His concern was not limited to his own four sons, he was involved in parent groups throughout San Diego for over 30 years. He was awarded a lifetime membership in the PTA for services rendered to students and parents. Harold supported the Encanto Little League and was honored with the Silver Beaver Award for leadership in Boy Scouts. Any child could go to him for help. Also known as Jimmy, he volunteered as a member of the district advisory council [DAC], the school site council/school advisory council. Over the years, he served as the DAC representative for Johnson Elementary, Crawford High School, and Gompers Secondary School. His service on the DAC was recognized by his selection as its chairman. His leadership was rewarded with the Citizen of the Year for 1994-95 Award by Phi Delta Kappa, and his nomination for the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award. I came to call him ``Mr. Title I'' for his commitment and service to our poorest and most disadvantaged students. In this lifetime, we all come across a small number of special people, those who touch our minds, hearts, and souls with their activism, optimism, and dedication to making everyone's life richer. Harold was one of those chosen few. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Jean, and his family, friends, and the community. This world needs more people like Harold Ballard. He will be sorely missed.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Oberstar amendment. I represent the city of San Diego. We are engaged in a major effort with the support of all members of the community to upgrade the Port of San Diego, to transform the economy of San Diego, to provide thousands of jobs in the future. Mr. Chairman, as currently written, this legislation would hurt smaller-sized ports like the Port of San Diego. By allowing shippers and carriers to enter into secret and confidential shipping agreements, the concept of common carriage will effectively disappear. It has been this concept of the public display of contract terms that has kept ocean transportation available to small- and medium-sized shippers on the same terms and conditions as large shippers. This public disclosure of contract terms stimulates competition and ensures a level playing field for shippers and ports alike. Keeping contract details secret would put smaller shippers and ports with niche markets at a decided disadvantage and unable to match preferential deals offered by the largest companies and ports. We should not grant economic advantages to anyone and the Oberstar amendment ensures this by providing fair and equal opportunity for everyone--large and small--in ocean transportation: the ports, the carriers, and the employees of both. The economic well-being of America's ocean transportation depends on this amendment. Keep ocean shipping fair. Vote ``yes'' on Oberstar.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call our attention to one of our Nation's most cost-effective and productive programs: Head Start. Head Start is a comprehensive program aimed at preschool age children of low-income families. In addition to providing education, it also includes nutritional services, health screening and treatment, and social services. One of Head Start's strengths is its emphasis on involving parents in their children's education. The idea of Head Start is simple. If you help children prepare for school, and if you work with their parents, they will enter kindergarten better able to learn, develop, and compete. Head Start invests in child development as the core of an antipoverty strategy. In a time of declining resources, our country should protect its most cost-effective programs, especially those that invest in our youngest children, empower families, and support work. Head Start is just such a program. Comprehensive early childhood education programs have been shown to save at least $3 for every $1 invested--by reducing future costs of special education, public assistance, and law enforcement. Rosemary Flores is one of many Head Start success stories. She is a grandmother in San Diego who was recently appointed as custodian of her grandchildren. She says, ``Head Start is like a life raft. It teaches the value of education and the concept of family unity. If I had my way, it would be available to everyone.'' Unfortunately, Head Start is not yet available to everyone who qualifies. Currently only 40 percent of the eligible 3-to-5-year-olds or 20 percent of the eligible children from birth to 5 years are served by Head Start. Mr. Speaker, the President's budget request asks for $3.981 billion for Head Start in fiscal year 1997. This is a good start on Head Start. We should appropriate the full amount requested.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, and I know the Speaker is well knowledgeable about this, to speak about the sudden and outrageous increases in prices of gasoline that consumers in California and across the Nation have had to face. As you know, gasoline prices in California have gone up 40, 50, 60 cents a gallon. They threaten to go even further, and there seems to be no market reason why this has occurred. There is no emergency, there is no situation that would seem to have caused this drastic escalation in prices. Consumers are outraged, I am outraged. My colleagues from California and I have joined together to ask for an investigation of this situation by the Attorney General to see whether any monopoly or other practices have been involved. At the same time that these increases have occurred, the major oil companies have reported 40-, 50-, 60-percent increases in their profits from the previous year. So it is clear that this rise in price in gasoline is tied directly to the rise in profits of our major oil companies. Now, the Speaker of the House visited California over the weekend and announced that he would ask the Congress to repeal the recently added gasoline tax of 4 cents or so a gallon. I welcome the Speaker's attention to the problems of consumers in California, but I think he has deliberately taken our eye off the ball to focus on an extraneous issue. The issue is the 50-, 60-cents-a-gallon increase, the issue is the 40-, 50-, 60-percent profit margins that have recently occurred by the oil companies. The issue is not the 4-cent-a-gallon Federal gas tax. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that the Speaker helps us to solve our problems in California by helping us focus in on the issues and not take our eye off the issues to support some special interest friends of his and his party. So I look forward to working with the Speaker to look into this outrageous increase in gasoline prices, to find the real reason for it, and to try to bring the consumer some relief from this outrageous price increase.

Mr. FILNER

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