Elton Gallegly

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4444 which would extend to the People's Republic of China permanent normal trade relations. More importantly, however, passage of this bill serves to ratify the bi-lateral trade agreement reached between the U.S. and China last fall as a condition for China's accession into the World Trade Organization. This will be the only vote Congress has on this momentous agreement. On the one hand, China is a potential boom market for our industries, particularly agriculture which is critically important to my district. Bringing China into the WTO has the potential of making the Port of Hueneme, in my district, an even more important portal for Pacific Rim trade. With 20 percent of the world's population, China is an appealing market. It behooves us to work diligently and intelligently to open that market to U.S. sellers. The other hand carries many pitfalls. China's track record in meeting its obligations under international agreements is not good. China is the only remaining Communist superpower. China has stolen our nuclear secrets and threatens stability in Asia with her belligerence towards Taiwan and others. We ignore that reality at our own peril. Last year, I voted against a one-year extension of China's Most Favored Nation status based on two criteria: The United States maintains a multibillion-dollar trade deficit with China and has for years, and China has repeatedly demonstrated an aggressive military stance that includes stealing our most important nuclear secrets. At the beginning of this debate, I was not automatically against China's entry into the World Trade Organization, but I did have some very serious concerns. WTO membership carries more protection for the United States than does Most Favored Nation status. MFN has been a one-way street. It was a unilateral decision on our part to allow China access to our markets with no reciprocal opening on China's behalf. WTO is more of a two-way street. China must meet and maintain certain open-door criteria to remain in the WTO. Our trade with China historically has been a one-way street. In 1990, our trade deficit with China stood at $10.4 billion. By 1998, that deficit had climbed to $56.9 billion. It is estimated our trade deficit with China in 1999 will be $66.4 billion. China's entry into WTO and the ratification of the U.S.-China trade agreement can ease that deficit, but only if the agreement has teeth. I believe the WTO process has those teeth. In 1992, China and the U.S. signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding on trade access. China has violated it many times. In 1992, we also struck a deal with China to protect intellectual property, including copyrights on U.S. products. Today, U.S. copyrights for motion pictures and software in China are still being stolen by Chinese companies, a situation that results in the loss of billions of dollars and many thousands of American jobs. Chinese noncompliance has forced us to threaten trade sanctions several times. On the national security front, China was continuing a systematic raid on the designs of our most sophisticated thermonuclear weapons at the same time that it was modernizing and pretending to normalize relations with the U.S. Among the stolen designs was information on the neutron bomb, which to date no nation has opted to deploy and hopefully no one will. Even though China has been caught red-handed, it continues to deny its espionage. Meanwhile, it continues to showcase its belligerency by transferring sensitive missile technology to North Korea and by repeatedly threatening to attack Taiwan. The U.S.-China agreement can have positive consequences for the U.S., China and, indeed, the entire world. The agreement will force China to open its markets to U.S. goods and services, which will result in a lowering of the trade deficit. It could wean China from its passion for subsidies and government interference in its industries. It could educate the Chinese on the rule of law, as opposed to its current system of rule by the whim of its leaders. It could also hasten the spread of democracy within her borders. Each time a country has opened its economic markets, an open market of ideas has followed. But we must step carefully. We must not let our desire to access China's markets to blind us to China's distaste for democracy, her threat to our national security and her history of violating international laws and agreements. For the WTO agreement to work, it must level the playing field for U.S. exporters and be fully enforceable. Anything less will not open China's markets or advance the historical trend toward truly free trade and the rule of law. Since the U.S. signed a bilateral trade agreement with China last year, I have said repeatedly that my vote for or against permanent trade relations with China would rely on specific factors: It must protect American jobs, ensure Chinese markets are open to American goods and services, protect America's strategic interests and--be enforceable. I have made it clear that without those provisions, I would vote against Permanent Normal Trade Relations. Some of those protections were not in the bill until last night. Those protections are in the bill only because I and other Members of Congress withheld our support until every `i' was dotted. By working behind the scenes, we were able to force concessions that make this agreement a better deal for American businesses, American workers and for those who support greater human rights for the Chinese people. Last night, a bipartisan provision was incorporated into the bill that makes it easier for us to monitor China's trade compliance, and act if need be. That provision builds on provisions in the World Trade Organization agreement that allows us to continue to treat China as a communist economy. That's important because our safeguards and anti-dumping countermeasures are more stringent for communist economies than it is for capitalist countries. In addition, the revised bill continues Congress' all-important right to debate and vote on China's human rights practices and international behavior each year. The European Union signed its WTO agreement with China on Friday, followed by an agreement with Australia on Monday. Both were negotiated with China's history of duplicity in mind. In particular, the EU agreement improves the deal signed by the U.S. by making China significantly more open to foreign investment and trade. Under WTO rules, those provisions are open to the U.S. as well. We have given China Permanent Normal Trade Relations. But this is not the end, only the beginning. China has, at best, a mixed record of living up to international agreements, and I still have concerns about China's adherence to this one. But I am satisfied we have the mechanisms in place to force compliance, or take remedial action, if necessary. American businesses will not have a level playing field unless we continually insist on it, but now we have the tools to do that.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to recognize the years of hard work and dedication by Vietnam veterans and their families in turning this idea of building a simple plaque to honor those who died after their service due to war-related causes into a reality. I would like to particularly recognize and mention the efforts of Ruth Coder Fitzgerald, who began working on this memorial within weeks of the death of her brother John in 1992. John Coder died from non- Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer linked to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. It is Ms. Fitzgerald's dedication to our Vietnam veterans and their families that is the reason we are here today in the House of Representatives considering this legislation. Mr. Speaker, a creation of this plaque will not in any way diminish the impact of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial area. On the contrary, it will fill a void by honoring those whose names were not found on the Wall. As Ed Croucher of the Vietnam Veterans of America testified before the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands of the Committee on Resources: ``It meets a clear need. It is a very significant and appropriate project. It adds to the collective history of the Vietnam War.'' Mr. Speaker, the building of this small but powerful plaque is the right thing to do to honor those who died for our country because of their service to Vietnam, and I ask for the support of the Members of the House in passing this legislation.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on our side?

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Scarborough).

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo).

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), who serves on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3293) to amend the law that authorized the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to authorize the placement within the site of the memorial of a plaque to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam war, but as a direct result of that service, as amended.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the leadership for scheduling this bill between Memorial Day and the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. This timing reminds us that there are many who fought in Vietnam and died because of their service there, but whose sacrifices have still gone unrecognized. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3293 will remedy this situation. It will create a plaque honoring those Vietnam veterans who died as a result of the war, but who are not eligible to have their names placed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The wall is opened to some veterans who died after the conflict, but the criteria for eligibility does not include all veterans whose post-war deaths were a direct result of the war, including those who died from such factors as Agent Orange and post traumatic stress syndrome. Families of these veterans deserve a place to mourn the loss of loved ones who served honorably and who died years later as a result of that service. Mr. Speaker, we had a hearing on this bill in the subcommittee on March 22. The often emotional testimony by Ed Croucher, the Director of Vietnam Veterans of America, Captain Mike Fluke, board member of In Memory, and Lieutenant Colonel Jim Zumwalt demonstrated the strong feelings of veterans and their families on this issue. Among the groups who have endorsed the plaque are the Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Vietnam Women's Memorial, Inc., Rolling Thunder, the Korean War Veterans Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the National Conference of Vietnam Veteran Ministers, In Memory Inc., the American Gold Star Mothers, the Agent Orange Widows Awareness Coalition, and the Society of 173rd Airborne Brigade. In addition, the bill has 290 bipartisan cosponsors. H.R. 3293 is simple and straightforward, Mr. Speaker. This bill will honor the sacrifices of these veterans by creating a small plaque that will be placed in a suitable location within the 13-acre Vietnam Veterans Memorial. On the plaque will be a short, fitting inscription that honors these fallen heroes. The plaque will not be placed on the ``Wall'' or directly in front of the ``Wall.'' This will ensure the plaque does not impact the integrity and solemn nature of the Vietnam Memorial. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3293 was passed by voice vote in both the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands and the full Committee on Resources. No amendments were offered by anyone who may have opposed the bill. However, in response to some concerns raised by H.R. 3293, we have modified it in two ways. First, the bill now clarifies the mechanism in which the ABMC can receive funds. Second, the bill now adds the Vietnam Women's Memorial, Inc., as a consultant to the design and placement of the plaque. Mr. Speaker, it is vital to us as a Nation to have hallowed ground to honor these men and women, and I would ask that the Members would support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Claire Hope, who has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the 2000 Veteran Advocate of the Year. Claire Hope is the founder and president of Claire Hope Enterprises in Camarillo, California, in my district. She has more than 30 years experience in human resources management, and has offered that experience pro-bono to many veterans. Since 1992, she has served on the California Employer Advisory Council Veteran Committee. She specializes in assisting veterans to become small business owners. Claire Hope is also President and Founder of the Industry Education Council of Eastern Ventura County, implementing strategic plans that included the employment of veterans. Other avenues she has used to promote employment of veterans and small business ownership by veterans include: Regional Vice President of the California Employer Advisory for six years, Committee Member of the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, and Task Force Member for Workforce Development for the Conejo Valley Community Foundation. Claire also served as President of the Simi/Conejo Valley Employer Advisory Council (SCVEAC). In 1997, SCVEAC was chosen as the outstanding EAC in the State of California and outstanding EAC in the United States for encouraging veteran business ownership. Claire Hope is a very capable and dedicated advocate for veterans and is very deserving of this honor. I have the pleasure of working with Claire on Ventura County Stand Down 2000, which she founded and chairs and for which I serve as honorary co-chairman. A Stand Down is where homeless veterans gain rest for a weekend from the daily battle for survival, by sleeping in comfortable tents and taking advantage of services that could lead to jobs and housing. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating Claire Hope for her recognition as the U.S. Small Business Administration Veteran Advocate of the Year and in thanking her for all her hard work and dedication on behalf of our veterans.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Simi Valley High School Academic Decathlon Team--champions this year in Ventura County and the State of California, and silver medalists in the national competition. After winning the Ventura County and State of California titles, the Simi Valley team last month traveled to San Antonio, Texas, for the U.S. Academic Decathlon competition, competing against 37 other schools from across the United States. The rivalry was fierce. Simi Valley lost to the team from Katy, Texas, by a mere 460 points. Each team scored more than 52,000 points in the match-up. The nine-student Simi Valley High School team is representative of the best and brightest our country has to offer. They have been accepted to such universities as Harvard and Stanford. Seniors David Bartlett, Steve Mihalovitz, Cary Opal, Jeff Robertson, Jennifer Tran, Michael Truex, Justin Underhill and Randy Xu, and junior Kevin White, are truly America's future leaders. Their coaches, Ken and Sally Hibbitts, are dedicated educators who deserve equal praise for a phenomenal job of preparing their students. Last year, Moorpark High School became the first Ventura County team to win the national title. By winning the silver medal this year, Simi Valley High School has proven that Ventura County is an educational powerhouse. They have also proven that Ventura County students and teachers have the dedication and perseverance to be the best they can possibly be. It takes months of studying from early morning to late at night to prepare for these competitions. Jobs, friends and family are place on the back burner. If they had won no medals, their dedication to a common goal alone would have made them champions. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating the National Silver Medalists, California State Champion and Ventura County Champion Simi Valley High School Academic Decathlon Team for its impressive wins, and in wishing team members great success in their future endeavors.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4055, the (IDEA) Full Funding Act, which sets the federal government on a course to reach full funding of the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). I am a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation and I want to thank the House Leadership or bringing it to the floor for consideration. Simply put, IDEA has the honorable intent of providing a quality public education for children with special needs. It requires school districts to provide programs and related services for special needs student and commits the federal government to provide 40 percent of the cost of those programs. However, since IDEA was implemented in 1975, the federal government hasn't been come close to the 40 percent if promised. The federal government currently pays only about 12.6 percent of the program's costs. Because of the financial burden the under funded IDEA program places on school districts, the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools and other members of my local Education Advisory Council identified IDEA as their number one federal education issue. The federal government's failure to keep its promises to fund its share of IDEA is putting a back breaking strain on local school districts. This shortfall is hurting the students the act was designed to help, and every other public school student as well. H.R. 4055 sets a schedule to meet the 40 percent commitment by fiscal year 2010. This bill will authorize increases of $2 billion each year to ensure the federal government's commitment becomes reality in 10 years. I am pleased that we are already working toward this goal by committing to an additional $2 billion for IDA in the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Resolution. However, the IDEA Full Funding Act will ensure we meet this goal. I hope we can pass this bill on a bipartisan basis to fully fund IDEA and finally make good on our promises. I urge my colleagues to support this Bill.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Robbi and Rickey Gelb, who were recently honored by Haven Hills Inc. for their service on behalf of domestic violence victims. A National Crime Victimization Survey indicated that in 1996 there were about 1 million rapes, sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated assaults and simple assaults committed by someone in an intimate relationship with the victim. Eight of 10 of the victims were women. Despite that frightening statistic, a 1998 report by the U.S. Department of Justice indicates that the rate of domestic violence in many categories has been declining over the past decade. I believe the downward trend is directly attributable to the outreach efforts by such organizations as Haven Hills and supporters such as Robbi and Rickey Gelb, in conjunction with stronger laws to deal with the problem and greater community awareness. Haven Hills has helped more than 80,000 women and their children confront domestic violence during the past 22 years. When its phenomenal success required new facilities, the Gelbs stepped forward. The new building the Gelbs helped acquire will house administrative offices and support and services to many more victims of domestic violence. Robbi and Rickey Gelb are successful business people in the California's San Fernando Valley and have a long record of community involvement. They have donated community facilities; generously support the Mid-Valley Jeopardy Foundation, which provides services and facilities for at-risk youth; and have provided wheelchairs to needy students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Rickey Gelb serves on numerous committees and organizations dedicated to making the community better, including a committee to build a memorial and monument to honor police officers and firefighters. In addition, Rickey Gelb is a Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles, and a member of the Encino Chamber of Commerce, the L.A. Department of Transportation Mobile Action Committee and the Mayor's Job Recovery Corporation. The Gelbs have been married for 34 years and have two grown children, Geoffrey and Lisa. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating Robbi and Rickey Gelb for a lifetime of dedication to their community and for their deserved recognition from Haven Hills Inc.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the California State Champion Simi Valley High School Academic Decathlon Team. The Simi Valley team's win this past weekend was impressive, beating last year's National Champions by a mere 21 points. Last year's National Champions also hail from my district--Moorpark High School. The two have been trading the Ventura County title for the past eight years, and now have the distinction of trading the California State title. Next month, Simi Valley High School will travel to San Antonio, Texas, where they will compete against 37 other schools from across the United States in an attempt to capture the National Champion title for Ventura County for the second consecutive year. The nine-student Simi Valley High School team is representative of the best and brightest our country has to offer. They have been accepted to such universities as Harvard and Stanford. Seniors David Bartlett, Steve Mihalovitz, Cary Opal, Jeff Robertson, Jennifer Tran, Michael Truex, Justin Underhill, Randy Xu and junior Kevin White are truly America's future leaders. Their coach, Ken Hibbitts, is a dedicated educator who deserves equal praise for a phenomenal job of preparing his students. Whatever the outcome in San Antonio, Simi Valley High School has proven that Ventura County is an educational powerhouse. They have also proven that Ventura County students and teachers have the dedication and perseverance to be the best they can possibly be. It takes months of studying from early morning to late at night to prepare for these competitions. Jobs, friends and family are placed on the back burner. Coach Hibbitts says his team has the dedication and determination to win a national award. They will be champions either way. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating the California State Champion Simi Valley High School Academic Decathlon Team for its impressive win this week, and in wishing the team great success in the national championships.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3822 regarding OPEC's role in raising oil prices to the detriment of the U.S. and other industrialized nations. I want to commend the Chairman of the International Relations Committee, Mr. Gilman for his efforts to find ways to help our constituents with this problem. Everyone knows prices are skyrocketing at the gas pump. Others are beginning to realize that crude oil prices are also driving up the costs of paving your driveway, painting your house or installing new carpet--all of which contain oil products. Prices for most everything else will also likely rise as well as transportation costs are passed on to consumers. It is critical, Mr. Chairman, that we find a short-term solution to this problem. But it is equally critical that we find long-term solutions so that we are not faced with another price crisis next Fall or next year. The International Relations Committee reported this bill which was designed to reduce or terminate foreign assistance or weapons sales to any country that engages in oil price fixing. This is a reasonable position to take because it sends a message that if our friends among the oil producing nations wish to continue to have good relations with the U.S., which is supporting their efforts to defend themselves and their resources, then we all must cooperate across the board. Last week, I wrote to President Clinton, urging him to take immediate action to persuade the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase production. OPEC is meeting next week to reconsider whether they should boost oil production in order to allow oil consuming nations, particularly the U.S., to refill its critical oil reserves and to stabilize oil prices. We all know that the oil producers were not happy when oil sold for $10 per barrel. And maybe we, as a nation, did lower our commitment to energy conservation in the wake of cheap prices at the pump. But now the pendulum seems to have swung too far in the opposite direction and it is critical that the OPEC nations understand the position of the United States well in advance. As I pointed out to President Clinton, we went to war and shed American blood to protect two Persian Gulf OPEC nations--Kuwait and Saudi Arabia--from Saddam Hussein and we pitched in with unswerving support for Venezuela during its recent natural disaster. It is inexcusable, then, that these same countries are conspiring to keep oil production low which results in increased gas and other fuel costs. Similarly, in the case of Mexico, the health of their economy is highly dependent on the strength of ours. They must know that these policies will slow the economic vitality of the U.S., which in the long run will negatively affect their own economies. Having said that, Mr. Chairman, once crude oil prices are stabilized, the President and the Congress must resolve to create a new national energy strategy. As Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said on February 16th: ``It is obvious that the federal government was not prepared. We were caught napping.'' That is unacceptable. It is also unacceptable that the U.S. relies on foreign imports for 56 percent of its crude oil needs--up from 35 percent during the 1973 Arab oil embargo. At the same time, domestic production has fallen dramatically. U.S. energy policy is serious business. It affects our entire economy. When the administration is admittedly caught napping, the American people suffer. Mr. Chairman, I urge passage of this legislation as a sign of our concern to our friends in OPEC. But beyond that, we must, as a nation, get serious about our future energy needs.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Arthur E. Goulet, who will be honored this week for 22\1/2\ years as director of the Ventura County Public Work Agency. Art will retire at the end of this month. My district includes most of Ventura County, CA, and I have had the pleasure of working with Art on many projects throughout the years, both in my role in Congress and my prior service as mayor of Simi Valley. Most recently, Art Goulet has been the lead staff member in the county's effort to determine if Matilija Dam near Ojai should be torn down. We also worked closely on the Santa Paula Creek Flood Control Project, which is nearing completion after two decades of perseverance. He was instrumental in building the Freeman Diversion dam, which protected agriculture in the Oxnard Plain by pumping fresh water into underground aquifers and pushing the salt water back to the sea. Art Goulet is Ventura County's longest-serving department head. His expertise and sense of history in the county will be sorely missed. As Director of Public Works, Art Goulet oversees five departments with nearly 400 employees and a budget of close to $150 million. His agency is responsible for roads, county buildings, flood control projects, water resources, wastewater management, solid waste and surveying. Art Goulet is considered an expert, and has testified as such, in public works administration, contracting and financing matters. He serves on too many state committees and task forces and is a member and officer of too many associations for me to list here, but suffice it to say he is well respected throughout the State of California. In 1995, he was awarded the County Engineers Association of California Ed-Hanna Memorial Award as the California County Engineer of the Year. Art and his wife, Judy, have called Camarillo home for many years. They have two children and three grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in wishing Art and Judy a long, happy and healthy retirement.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Rollie Roth, who will be honored this week by the Simi Valley Education Foundation at the Lew Roth Awards Dinner, to be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in my district. Rollie Roth has been an active member of the Simi Valley, CA, community for about 35 years. She served for eight years as a commissioner on the city's Public Safety Committee, assisted the community's Incorporation Study Committee on research projects and volunteered for the March of Dimes and American Cancer Society. But it is in the area of education that Rollie Roth has truly made her mark. She served on the PTA of every school that her three children--Paul, Miriam and Barry--attended. At Vista Fundamental School, she was responsible for the newsletter for two years. She also served two years as PTA President at Sycamore School. With Rollie's full support, her husband, the late Lew Roth, served for 25 years on the Simi Valley Unified School District Board of Education. It was his vision that led to the founding of the Simi Valley Education Foundation. In 1993, Rollie was appointed to the Foundation board. An energetic board member, she has served as Board Secretary and provides leadership in staging the benefit dinner that bears her husband's name. Mr. Speaker, Rollie Roth has been a stabilizing influence for both the community and her family. She cared enough about her community, and of teaching her children the importance of community, to remain active after Lew's death while raising her children. Rollie Roth's dedication and determination has also influenced many others to become involved. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join the Simi Valley Education Foundation and me in paying special tribute to Rollie Roth's years of dedication to our community and its children.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of this legislation. It is a bill we have worked on for many years.

Mr. GALLEGLY

Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be in Washington yesterday and I missed two rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 16 and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 17.