Martin Frost

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise in sadness today to honor the memory of Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Gauna, a constituent of mine from Rice, Texas, who is among the missing sailors from the attack on the U.S.S. Cole. Tim Gauna was 21 years old and a 1997 graduate of Ennis High School. He was one of five children in a close family. Teachers said he was a quiet student who excelled in baseball and art. He joined the Navy 18 months ago with a dream shared by many recruits, to earn financial assistance to attend college. He wanted to learn about computers, then use the knowledge while attending the University of Texas at Austin. He would have been the first in his family to go to college. Before sailing into harm's way, Tim let his mom know that he was headed into dangerous waters, but that he would be okay. Like all the sailors aboard the U.S.S. Cole, Tim Gauna was serving his country bravely and honorably when this vicious attack took place. I join the Gauna family, and all the families of the missing sailors, in hoping that they will soon be accounted for. After the attack, I flew down to North Texas to visit Seaman Gauna's family. There, I spoke with a mother who is proud of her son's courage and patriotism. She described her son as having an open and friendly nature, and sharing the family's strong belief in their faith. And I talked to various family members who admire Tim's dedication to America. I do not know all the sailors on the U.S.S. Cole, Mr. Speaker, but I know the family of Seaman Gauna. They--like all of the U.S.S. Cole's sailors and their families--have America's gratitude, and our prayers.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas, it will be my honor and privilege to attend and participate in events which promote racial and religious unity and peace. On October 21, 2000, the Masjid Hassan of Al-Islam in Fort Worth, under the leadership of Imam Nasir Ahmed, will host a Southwest Regional Pioneer Banquet honoring those it considers to be pioneers in the causes of diversity, religious interaction, Islam, economic development, political awareness and education. I am humbled to be among a group of honorees which includes religious radio broadcaster and journalist, Robert Ashley; American Jewish Congress Southwest Region executive director, Joel Brooks; community relations consultant, writer and member of the Thanks-Giving Square Interfaith Council, Rose Marie Stromberg; 97-year old founder of the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society, Lenora Rolla; long-time Muslim, 95 year old Dave Hassan; and the organizer of Brooks of Baaziga, a Muslim girls' group, Ruby b. Muhammad. The work of the Masjid Hassan of Al-Islam is, by itself, noteworthy. Yet, the Masjid's efforts are heightened and broadened by the fact that this celebration will include the personage and the teachings of The Honorable Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, leader of the Muslim American Society. Throughout this country and around the world Imam Mohammed is known, respected and admired for his work towards peace, religious freedom and diversity, and liberty for all people. On October 22, 2000, the Fort Worth-Dallas area will have the pleasure of receiving his message on ``Dealing With Racism From Religion''. It is my great pleasure, therefore, to join with the Masjid Hassan of Al-Islam, my longtime friend Marzuq Jaami and his brothers and sisters in the Dallas Masjid of Al-Islam, and the larger Fort Worth-Dallas community in heartily welcoming Imam Mohammed to our community.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this rule expedites moving the Senate bill S. 2796 to conference and thus one step closer to being passed by the Congress and sent to the President before the adjournment of the 106th Congress. While this is a closed rule, it is supported by the majority of the Democratic Members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and for that reason, I will support it. The rule provides that the text of an amendment in the nature of a substitute to S. 2796, which was developed by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, shall be considered as adopted. The substitute contains authorizations for important water resources projects. It provides Army Corps of Engineers policy and procedure reforms and the first increment of the important comprehensive restoration of the Everglades plan, which I know is of special importance to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss). The rule also provides for 1 hour of general debate and for one motion to recommit with or without instructions. I should note, Mr. Speaker, this rule is not without controversy. The Committee on Rules did not make in order several amendments offered by other Members, including two offered by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Sanford) and one by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) and one by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer). While all of these amendments may be worthy of consideration, I believe, given the late hour of this Congress, these issues might best be left to the next Congress so as to expedite the consideration of the important projects contained in the substitute. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the rule and the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, as we all know by now, 17 sailors were either killed or are missing from the attack on the U.S.S. Cole. Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Gauna, a constituent of mine from Rice, Texas, is among the missing. Like all the sailors aboard the U.S.S. Cole, he was serving his country bravely and honorably when this vicious attack took place. I join the Gauna family, and all the families of the missing sailors, in hoping that they will soon be accounted for. Immediately after the attack, Mr. Speaker, I had the chance to visit personally with seaman Gauna's family. I spoke with a mother who is proud of her son's courage and patriotism. I talked to various family members who admire Tim's dedication to America. I do not know all the sailors on the U.S.S. Cole, Mr. Speaker, but I know the family of Seaman Gauna. They, like all of the U.S.S. Cole's sailors and their families, have America's gratitude and our prayers. I was moved by the memorial service today in Norfolk that a number of us attended. There the entire Nation joined injured sailors, some fresh from the hospital, their IVs still attached to their arms, in paying tribute to their fallen and missing comrades. But our obligation to these brave men and women is greater than that, Mr. Speaker. We must continue to be vigilant in the face of threats from terrorists around the world. We must find the criminals responsible for this cowardly act, and they must be brought to justice. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, these terrorists will soon learn that America responds quickly and forcefully whenever we are attacked. The FBI has now more than 60 agents in place investigating this attack, and the Navy has assigned six U.S. warships to Aden harbor to assist the U.S.S. Cole and its exhausted crew. Mr. Speaker, every time anyone in uniform gets into a ship, a plane, or a tank, they risk their lives in defense of America. For that, we owe these great men and women of the United States Armed Forces our most profound gratitude. They have it, Mr. Speaker, as well as the solemn promise that America stands with them always and everywhere.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday a terrible and cowardly act of terrorism was made against America and our armed forces. The U.S.S. Cole, which had entered the Yemeni port of Aden, was blindsided by a small boat in a group helping to moor the ship for refueling. The boat was loaded with explosives and blew up alongside the U.S.S. Cole. Mr. Speaker, 17 sailors were either killed or are missing from the blast, and 39 were injured. Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Gauna, a constituent of mine from Rice, Texas, is among the missing. Like all the sailors aboard the U.S.S. Cole, he was serving his country bravely and honorably when this vicious attack took place. I join the Gauna family, and all the families of the missing sailors, in hoping that they will soon be accounted for. Immediately after the attack Mr. Speaker, I flew down to North Texas to visit Seaman Gauna's family. There, I spoke with a mother who is proud of her son's courage and patriotism. And I talked to various family members who admire Tim's dedication to America. I do not know all the sailors on the U.S.S. Cole, Mr. Speaker, but I know the family of Seaman Gauna. They--like all of the U.S.S. Cole's sailors and their families--have America's gratitude, and our prayers. That's why I was so moved by the memorial service today in Norfolk, Virginia. There, the entire nation joined injured sailors--some fresh from the hospital, their IV's still attached to their arms--in paying tribute to their fallen and missing comrades. But our obligation to these brave men and women is greater than that, Mr. Speaker. We must continue to be vigilant in the face of threats from terrorists around the world. We must find the criminals responsible for this cowardly atrocity, and they must be brought to justice. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, these terrorists will soon learn that America responds quickly and forcefully whenever we are attacked. The FBI now has more than 60 agents in place investigating this attack and the Navy has assigned six U.S. warships to Aden harbor to assist the U.S.S. Cole and its exhausted crew. Mr. Speaker, every time anyone in uniform gets into a ship, a plane, or a tank, they risk their lives in defense of America. For that, we owe the great men and women of the United States Armed Forces our most profound gratitude. They have it, Mr. Speaker, as well as the solemn promise that America stands with them--always and everywhere.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas, it will be my honor and privilege to attend and participate in events which promote racial and religious unity and peace. On October 21, 2000, the Fort Worth Masjid of Al-Islam, under the leadership of Imam Nasir Ahmed, will host a Southwest Regional Pioneer Banquet honoring those it considers to be pioneers in the causes of diversity, religious interaction, Islam, economic development, political awareness and education. I am humbled to be among a group of honorees which includes religious radio broadcaster and journalist, Robert Ashley; American Jewish Congress Southwest Region executive director, Joel Brooks; community relations consultant, writer and member of the Thanks-Giving Square Interfaith Council, Rose Marie Stromberg; 97-year old founder of the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society, Lenora Rolla; long-time Muslim, 95-year old Dave Hassen; and the organizer of Brooks of Baaziga, a Muslim girl's group, Ruby B. Muhammad. The work of the Fort Worth Masjid of Al-Islam is, by itself, noteworthy. Yet, the Masjid's efforts are heightened and broadened by the fact that this celebration will include the personage and the teachings of The Honorable Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, leader of the Muslim American Society. Throughout this country and around the world Imam Mohammed is known, respected and admired for his work towards peace, religious freedom and diversity and liberty for all people. On October 22, 2000, the Fort Worth-Dallas area will have the pleasure of receiving his message on ``Dealing With Racism From Religion''. It is my great pleasure, therefore, to join with the Fort Worth Masjid of Al- Islam, its brothers and sisters in the Dallas Masjid of Al-Islam and the larger Fort Worth-Dallas community in heartily welcoming Imam Mohammed to our community.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor Tillie Burgin, executive director of Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex. Mrs. Burgin was recently inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame. Called the Mother Teresa of Arlington, Tillie Burgin works through Mission Arlington to provide the community's poor and underprivileged families food, clothing, shelter, counseling, childcare, healthcare, and a myriad of additional services. Tillie Burgin originally founded Mission Arlington in August 1986 to fulfill her vision of ``taking church to the community.'' Mrs. Burgin began with just two Bible study meetings in an apartment community. As Mission Arlington grew, however, so did Tillie's vision. The importance of meeting people's physical and emotional, as well as spiritual needs, became immediately apparent. The organization has since expanded to provide a number of social services to Arlington, bringing hope and opportunity to every person in the community. I am proud of the work that Tillie Burgin and Mission Arlington do to strengthen the city of Arlington and its families. She has changed innumerable lives with her great energy and dedication. Texas is honored to be home to Tillie and her Mission. I cannot think of a more passionate, humble, or deserving woman to receive this honor. I salute her today.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. The final question, which is, of course, the $64,000 question, on which day does the gentleman expect us to adjourn for the year?

Mr. FROST. A little inflation.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I ask for this time to inquire about next week's schedule, and I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss).

Mr. FROST. Another question. The gentleman has said on Wednesday and the balance of the week, and the gentleman listed several bills. Could the gentleman be more specific as to what day the gentleman expects the Labor-HHS appropriations to be on the floor?

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I have several questions, if I may, to the gentleman from Florida. The first question is, does the gentleman expect any other business on Tuesday besides suspension bills?

Mr. FROST. I thank the gentleman very much.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this rule allows for the consideration of the fiscal year 2001 intelligence conference report. This conference agreement is, in the main, not controversial. There is, however, concern about title VII of the conference agreement, which creates a new Public Interest Disclosure Act. Mr. Speaker, as Members know, detailed information about the provisions contained in authorizations for the intelligence activities are for the most part classified. It is my understanding that there is little disagreement on the part of the House managers on the provisions of the conference agreement contained either in the statement of managers or in the classified annex. However, title VII, the new Public Interest Declassification Act, sets forth standards governing access to and protection of national security information and creates a new set of penalties relating to disclosure of classified information. Both the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary, have expressed their grave reservations about these provisions and their implications on first amendment rights. Both the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) have said that they should not become law without full public hearings. However, since the Senate has already acted on this conference agreement, a motion to recommit the agreement to the conference has been precluded. I would hope in the next Congress, the Committee on the Judiciary, in cooperation with the Select Committee on Intelligence will thoroughly examine these issues and, if necessary, make remedial changes to the provisions now found in title VII of the conference agreement. Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, I urge Members to support this rule so that the House may proceed to the consideration of the conference report. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to simply state once again, as I indicated in my opening statement, that I intend to vote for this rule and I intend to vote for the bill. We would have preferred that it come up under a regular procedure; and obviously, we would prefer that other matters obviously be voted on by this House, but I will vote in favor of the rule. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I support passage of bankruptcy reform, and so, in order for it to pass before the adjournment of the 106th Congress, I will vote for this rule and for the conference report. But the reason the Republican leadership has been forced to resort to this kind of parliamentary game is because the Republican majority in this Congress has left unfinished the agenda that matters most to the people of this country. It is October 12, Mr. Speaker, and there is not an end in sight to this Congress, and there is little hope left that the real American agenda will be finished. Thus, in order to pass legislation which has overwhelming bipartisan support, the Republican leadership has resorted to using tricks and games, rather than regular order. Were this situation not so sad, Mr. Speaker, it would be laughable. Mr. Speaker, for 2 years Democrats in this body have asked the Republican leadership for the opportunity to address the issues that matter most to Americans: real Medicare prescription drug coverage, real help for America's schools, a real and meaningful Patients' Bill of Rights, an increase in the minimum wage, campaign finance reform, saving social security and Medicare, paying down the national debt. These are real issues that matter to real people. But in those 2 years, what have my Republican colleagues done? They have brought forward legislation that does everything but what the American people want. When the Republican leadership's position has been soundly defeated on a bipartisan basis, they have simply shelved the wishes of the bipartisan majority in this House. For example, in August of 1999, the House passed a real Patients' Bill of Rights, a bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights, passed it by a vote of 275 to 151. It took the Speaker until November 3 of 1999 to appoint conferees. When he did, he failed to appoint a single Republican conferee who supported the bill that passed the House, not a single one. Today that conference has still not reported back to either the House or Senate. The Patients' Bill of Rights sits on a shelf. In September of last year, the House passed a bipartisan campaign finance reform bill by a bipartisan vote of 252 to 177. That bill has also disappeared into the legislative dustbin of the 106th Congress. The Democrats in this body, as well as in the Senate, have repeatedly asked for further consideration of that legislation. But our requests have gone unanswered. Mr. Speaker, yet another meaningful bill sits on the shelf in the Republican leadership's closet. We asked that the House consider legislation that would give seniors a real Medicare prescription drug benefit, but we were prevented from getting a vote on the Democratic version of the bill. We have asked that the Congress consider legislation which would provide more well-trained teachers for schools across the country in order to reduce class size. We have been ignored. We have asked for a clean vote on increasing the minimum wage, and our Republican colleagues loaded up the bill with tax cuts that would benefit the wealthiest while begrudgingly offering a $1 an hour over 2 years wage increase for Americans who are at the very low end of the income scale. We have asked repeatedly for this Congress to consider issues that really matter to real Americans, the people who pay mortgages, who pay rent, who make car payments, who send their children to school, that they want to be safe. But we have been ignored, Mr. Speaker, so we find ourselves in this situation today. While the House has rules which regulate how and when legislation and amendments can come to the floor, the other body does not. As a consequence, the refusal of the congressional Republican leadership to consider real legislation that would mean something to real Americans, the refusal of the congressional Republican leadership to sit down and work on a bipartisan basis with the Democrats in the House and Senate and with the President of the United States, has resulted in the need to play these kinds of legislative games we are engaged in today. Mr. Speaker, I have long supported reform of our bankruptcy laws. I support this conference report. It will allow Americans who need a fresh financial start to get one, but it will also prevent those who have indebted themselves and who are able to pay those debts from just walking away from their obligations. This bill affords new protections for consumers by requiring that credit statements include more detailed disclosures. It protects the homes of individuals who live in States with homestead exemptions, but not those who move there simply to claim the exemption in a bankruptcy. It gives permanent Chapter 12 relief to farmers. Mr. Speaker, many Members are concerned about the process. Quite frankly, I share their views. It is not proper that the House should be considering this important legislative reform within a shell of a bill that has already been passed and signed into law. But given the hour, given the inability of the Republican leadership to manage the business of this House and the Congress any better than it has in the past 6 years, I will reluctantly vote for this rule so we may at least pass some meaningful legislation before the end of this Congress. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt).

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking member on the committee, and then we are prepared to close.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers).

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the rule, adoption of the conference report, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).