Martin Frost

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran].

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor Representative John Dingell, the dean of the House of Representatives, on the 40th anniversary of his election to Congress. As all of us recognize, John Dingell possesses a strong commitment to public service and a stellar record of legislative accomplishment. John has worked to enact meaningful legislation to protect the environment, improve health care, and defend the consumer from unsafe products and unfair practices. In fact, John has authored several of the most important environmental protection measures, including the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. In addition, as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, John has written legislation to lower cable television rates, to stop securities and telemarketing fraud, and to improve energy efficiency. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in the House with Representative Dingell. Clearly, John's hard work and dedication to public service have improved the lives of all Americans.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Pickett]. (Mr. PICKETT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Dellums], the ranking member on the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule which provides for the consideration of the conference report to accompany the fiscal year 1996 Department of Defense authorization. While there are matters contained in this conference agreement which I oppose, I will, however, support the agreement because it does address many matters of vital national security interest. I strongly support the funding made available for the B-2 Stealth bomber, and I especially support the initiatives taken by the conferees to accelerate high-priority quality of life projects for the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families. These projects are critical if we are to maintain a viable all-volunteer force, and especially so in light of the missions we have and will call upon our military personnel to perform. Finally, I am gratified that this conference report addresses the issue of core readiness and fully funds operations and maintenance accounts. Our military forces are by far the best equipped and trained in the world, but this conference report goes a long way toward assuring that they will remain so as we pass into the new century. I would like to note, however, that the ranking members of the House National Security Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee both oppose this conference agreement. Mr. Speaker, I find it troubling that a conference lasting 98 days could ultimately report an agreement which would be opposed by both of these able legislators. And, in addition to the substantive disagreement he has with this conference report, our colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Dellums], has also raised some legitimate questions about the manner in which this conference was conducted in the course of those 98 days. Mr. Speaker, in spite of the legitimate opposition to this conference agreement by both Senator Nunn and Representative Dellums, I urge my colleagues to support the agreement. It is late in the year and long past time that we should have sent this legislation to the President. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon [Ms. Furse].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Kennedy].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Pelosi].

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Moorhead] and the gentlewoman from Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder] for bringing this bill to the floor and for moving it forward at this time. I sincerely appreciate their efforts on behalf of this piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 632, a bill long overdue for inventors and small businesses in this country. H.R. 632 will enhance fairness in compensating owners of patents that were used by the U.S. Government. Inventors whose patents are taken for use by the Federal Government have only one way to obtain payment--they are compelled by statute to bring a lawsuit against the Government to recover their fair compensation. Because of the lack of explicit language in the current statute, they are forced to bear all the costs of the lawsuit even when they win their case. Many small inventors and businesses have been unfairly hurt by this situation. H.R. 632 will permit such inventors to be reimbursed for their reasonable costs. This bill would expressly authorize the recovery of reasonable costs by a small business or inventor who is forced by statute to litigate against the Government in order to obtain compensation. In each case, though, the costs would be scrutinized by the Claims Court to assure that they were reasonable, but to the extent they were reasonable, they could be recovered. This problem should have been corrected long ago--when it first became apparent that court interpretations would not permit inventors to obtain a complete recovery. To continue this inequity would be a serious disservice to some of our most productive inventors in fundamentally important industries. We need to be fair with those inventors in order to encourage innovation and make our country more competitive. H.R. 632 would help assure the necessary fairness. I urge my colleagues to join me today fixing this inequity and support H.R. 632.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity, before Congress recesses for the holidays, to bring to the attention of my colleagues a very significant anniversary coming up next month in my home State of Texas. On December 29, 1995, the people of Texas will celebrate our sesquicentennial of statehood. Entering the Union as its 28th State, Texas has consistently played a pivotal role in all facets of American history. Texas has supplied to this Nation a wealth of human talent in every field of endeavor--from science and technology to business and commerce; from academics to government; and from entertainment to agriculture; to name only a few. Mr. Speaker, on April 21, 1995, the regular session of the 74th Texas Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 118, commemorating the sesquicentennial of Texas statehood. I ask that the full text of House Concurrent Resolution No. 118 be published in the Congressional Record at the conclusion of my remarks. The resolution follows: The State of Texas, House of Representatives house concurrent resolution Whereas, The year 1995 will mark 150 years since the United States of America admitted Texas as the 28th state in the union; and Whereas, The sesquicentennial of Texas statehood is a truly momentous occasion that allows all Texans to reflect on their state's proud heritage and bright future; and Whereas, Acting on the advice of President John Tyler, the United States Congress adopted a joint resolution on February 28, 1845, inviting Texas to enter the union as a state with full retention of its public lands; today, a century and a half later, Texas enjoys the distinction of being the only state admitted with such extensive rights; and Whereas, The citizens of the Republic of Texas were deeply committed to the goals and ideals embodied in the United States Constitution, and, on June 16, 1845, the Congress of the Republic of Texas was convened by President Anson Jones to consider the proposal of statehood; and Whereas, Texas took advantage of the offer, choosing to unite with a large and prosperous nation that could more effectively defend the borders of Texas and expand its flourishing trade with European countries; by October 1845, the Congress of the Republic of Texas had approved a state constitution, charting a bold new destiny for the Lone Star State; and Whereas, The proposed state constitution was sent to Washington, D.C., and on December 29, 1845, the United States of America formally welcomed Texas as a new state; the transfer of governmental authority, however, was not complete until February of 1846, when Anson Jones lowered the flag that had flown above the Capitol for nearly 10 years and stepped down from his position as president of the Republic of Texas; and Whereas, With the poignant retirement of the flag of the Republic, Texas emerged as a blazing Lone Star in the American firmament, taking its place as the 28th state admitted into the union; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas, Regular Session, 1995, hereby commemorate the sesquicentennial of Texas statehood and encourage all Texans to take note of this historic occasion.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time at this point. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the following material:

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Moakley], a distinguished veteran of World War II and the ranking Democratic member on the Committee on Rules.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and rise I in opposition to this rule because I cannot support this conference report. The funding levels in this bill reflect the Republican majority's plans for balancing the budget in 7 years, but, unfortunately, those plans make unwarranted cuts in programs which protect the health and welfare of the American public. Now, Mr. Speaker, I support balancing the budget, and I will be happy to do it in 7 years, but I cannot, Mr. Speaker, support a plan to balance the budget which decimates environmental protection programs and dismantles programs which provide housing for the poor, the elderly and the disabled. Mr. Speaker, when the Committee on Rules met to consider this rule on Saturday, the gentleman from California [Mr. Lewis], the chairman of the HUD-Independent Agencies Subcommittee, explained that his Democratic colleagues from the House did not sign the conference report because they have not gotten over the fact that the money just is not there to support the programs they have funded in the past. I submit, Mr. Speaker, that the real reason they did not sign this conference report is because the priorities established by the Republican majority overall will eviscerate the programs which make this country great all in the name of providing tax breaks for the wealthiest among us. I do not think much of priorities which give money to those who need it least in trade for dirty air and polluted water. My Republican colleagues are in the majority in this House and in the Senate, but, Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that a majority of the American people truly support these policies. We all know how important it is to balance the Federal budget. That is not even an argument any more, but what is at issue is how we get there and who will pay the biggest price. The Republicans say we must balance the budget to ensure the future of our grandchildren. I suspect that leaving them a world in which the air is foul and the water undrinkable is not much of a future. Mr. Speaker, this conference report should be recommitted to conference and these skewed priorities should be realigned. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Murtha].

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Graham].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, may I ask the time remaining on each side.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Durbin].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan [Ms. Rivers].

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 7\1/2\ minutes of my time be yielded to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Bryant] and the remaining 7\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Brewster], and that both gentlemen be allowed to yield time.