Jim Gibbons

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay my condolences to the people and the families that suffered from the powerful tornadoes in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas in the last few days. The thoughts and prayers of all Nevadans are with the victims of this tragedy. Fire, police and emergency services and the National Guard's personnel worked alongside of heroic neighbors in working through the night to help people affected by this tragic act of Mother Nature. Mr. Speaker, it will take some time to rebuild the damage to the houses, and homes, and buildings and the families. The Federal Government will now do its part in assisting with this effort, helping to rebuild the communities and the lives of those who were affected by these devastating tornadoes. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the President's announcement to declare these States national disaster areas, allowing the Federal Government to offer speedy financial aid and support. Mr. Speaker, I and the State of Nevada also stand ready to assist our friends and families as a Nation, and we must join together and persevere in this tragedy.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, a window of opportunity to find a peaceful solution to this conflict in Kosovo was opened this weekend in Vienna, Austria. For my congressional colleagues and my Russian Duma counterparts who participated, those meetings represent a real and attainable step toward a lasting peace. Obviously, this conflict represents one of the most serious challenges to international security since World War II. Most Members realize the power that many constructive Russian-American efforts can offer in finding a solution. In that light, this bilateral conference agreed on a course of action which would withdraw Serbian troops from Kosovo, cease all military activities of the KLA, and end NATO bombing. Once these measures are complete, the repatriation of the refugees, administered by an international peacekeeping force and the international community, can begin the healing and rebuilding process. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support this joint effort to find a diplomatic solution to the Balkans crisis because, in my mind, peace is an exit strategy everyone can understand.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, this evening I join my colleagues down here in the well of the House on the floor to join myself with their remarks. My colleagues, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown), I am sure are going to speak eloquently on this very subject that we are talking about this evening and that is that our hope as we stand here this evening is an opportunity to give peace a chance in the Balkans war. No war, no conflict and certainly no humanitarian crisis has ever been resolved by bombing a country into oblivion. May I say that, as a veteran of two wars myself, that diplomacy is always preferable to war. And I am sure that we all recognize that this Balkan crisis, the war over there in Yugoslavia, the ethnic cleansing, the terrorism, the human tragedies, are an enormous crisis that this world faces; and military escalation by itself will not end, nor will it solve, this crisis. In fact, it may even precipitate an increase with the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps I can explain that in just a few words. Whenever a small country is opposed by an organization of 19 other nations, the propensity of that country to defend itself may reach extremes. To that end, it may reach for those arsenals that it could acquire from some other country of a weapon of mass destruction, whether it is chemical, whether it is biological or even whether it is nuclear, in order to defend itself from the onslaught of an attack. I urge this administration and I urge my colleagues here this evening to seriously consider the efforts and the recommendations of the U.S. Congress and the Russian Duma meeting that was held in Vienna, Austria, this last weekend. I urge them to consider the recommendations in order to bring about a fair, an equitable and a peaceful settlement between the warring factions in Yugoslavia. This meeting that was held with the leaders of the Russian factions in their Duma, which is our equivalent of the House of Representatives here in Congress, reached consensus, reached an agreement, on areas that we thought would form a framework for the resolution, the peaceful resolution, I might add, of the Yugoslavia crisis. Those include, first, ending the ethnic crisis, the ethnic cleansing and terrorism; an end of the NATO bombing; an absolute removal of the Serbian military forces; an emplacement of an international peacekeeping force that will ensure the peaceful repatriation of the refugees back into Kosovo, and wide autonomy is the final goal for Kosovo. I think all of us here in this room this evening can agree that these are elements that we can all consider as a solution for this crisis, elements which will allow us to resolve this. May I say that later this week my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will have an opportunity to deal with the concurrent resolution that is the result of the recommendations of this meeting in Vienna, Austria, a historic meeting, and now this resolution will simply state a sense of Congress as to the meaning that diplomacy is always better than warfare. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will give peace a chance as we debate this issue and vote on it later this week. May I also say that it has been a great pleasure to work with my friends on both sides of the aisle when we have a common goal, a common goal of peace, not only in the Balkans but peace in the world. So, Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to have stood down here to associate myself with my colleagues' remarks as we go forward in this process of seeking an alternative to an escalated war in Yugoslavia. I would like to thank them for the bipartisanship and the friendship and the collegiality that was demonstrated throughout this meeting. It is indeed a great honor for me to stand here, arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, in this effort to bring peace to this world.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of our colleges and universities for they are the foundations of America's intellect as they prepare our young men and women for their futures. The University of Nevada-Reno has strengthened that foundation and is receiving national recognition for a program that helps student athletes complete their degrees after their sports eligibility expires. The National Consortium for Academics and Sports based in Orlando, Florida, recently honored the University of Nevada-Reno's program as a model for more than 100 colleges and universities that utilize the consortium's services. Member schools invite former scholarship student athletes back to campus in order to complete degree requirements. In exchange, the former student athletes participate in community service and youth outreach. This is a winning approach for the students, the university and the surrounding communities. I applaud the University of Nevada-Reno and its continued excellence in education.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today on behalf of the great State of Nevada, I would like to personally thank the travel and tourism industry because of its lasting partnership and patronage. Nevada ranks sixth in both direct domestic and international travel spending among all 50 States. Total travel expenditures in Nevada exceed $17 billion, travel payroll climbed well over $5 billion, and it employed more than 307,000 people. To this effect I would like to specifically recognize the Grand Canyon Air Tour Industry which has served southern Nevada and the Grand Canyon for more than 70 years. This service provides enjoyment to over 800,000 passengers annually, of which 30 percent are over the age of 50, to the outstanding air tours of the Grand Canyon, truly one of America's most treasured sites. Without the Grand Canyon tour industry, many handicapped would never be able to enjoy the deep, colored canyons or the magnificent raging Colorado River. Again on behalf of my constituents and the many tourists who visit southern Nevada, thank you for your economic contributions and your continued steadfast service.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I have asked the Russian government to work constructively towards a resolution of the Balkans crisis, and I am happy to say that the Russian government has responded in the hopes of achieving a workable solution. Unfortunately, the administration has missed what I and many of my colleagues consider a tremendous opportunity to end this conflict and the bloodshed on both sides. I commend our counterparts in the Russian Duma and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) for their efforts in furthering this option which relies on diplomacy instead of smart bombs. Mr. Speaker, this proposal includes Serbia's compliance with all NATO conditions, an end to ethnic cleansing, deployment of international troops to Kosovo, and all under a United Nations sanctioned monitoring group. As a veteran who understands the horrors of war, I believe that we, as a Nation, would regret not pursuing a peaceful solution to this conflict, a conflict which has already caused a humanitarian disaster and potentially thousands of lives, military and civilian alike. I hope the administration will embrace this effort for peace in the Balkans.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the Second Congressional District of Nevada is a vast area containing about 110,000 square miles and 1.2 million people, many of whom are spread out over a large portion of rural Nevada. So today I rise to support meaningful reform of the Satellite Home Viewers Act. Every American, no matter where they live, deserves access to their local television networks. Our office has received thousands of phone calls and letters from frustrated constituents in my home State. These honest, hard-working Nevadans are frustrated over the current Federal law which prevents them from receiving local programming with a satellite dish. They often ask, ``Why will the Federal Government not let me watch my local news?'' The only answer is because of outdated, misconstrued Federal regulations. We need to reform the Satellite Home Viewers Act to reflect the changes in technology, to change the mistakes of the Federal Government and adhere to the needs of the American people. Today I urge my colleagues to join me in helping reform the Satellite Home Viewers Act.

Mr. GIBBONS

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

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the Constitution, as I read and understand it, gives the House of Representatives the sole authority to raise taxes. However, now the nuclear industry wants to change this. H.R. 45, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999, proposes to grant taxing authority to the Secretary of Energy. That is right, the Secretary of Energy will have the authority to raise taxes on your electric rates, and that is a terrible precedent to set. The bill also proposes to take the Nuclear Waste Trust Fund off budget. We all know what that means. No more congressional oversight on how much money goes into the account or how the money is spent. And it puts the Nuclear Waste Trust Fund in the same technical off-budget status as the Social Security Trust Fund. How bizarre. H.R. 45 will break the balanced budget resolution and circumvent the bipartisan Budget Enforcement Act. Not to mention this bill still completely ignores our environmental laws, it ignores commonsense science, it ignores transportation hazards, and it ignores human health concerns. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 45 circumvents the Constitution, it sets bad congressional precedent, and it is bad for America. We need to do what is right for our constituents and oppose H.R. 45.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, what a better way to celebrate Earth Day than to honor the great example of a public-private partnership known as the Yosemite National Institutes, an organization that provides award-winning environmental education programs in America's national parks. YNI now welcomes more than 32,000 participants each year to its three institutes in the magnificent natural settings of Yosemite and Olympic National Parks as well as the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. Since its founding in 1971, more than 450,000 school children and adults have experienced YNI programs. The partnership between YNI and the National Park Service is commendable. YNI does not receive government funding, but performs a great percentage of the interpretation in each of the parks where it exists. At YNI, learning occurs in an advocacy-free environment. Ideas and values are not forced upon students; instead, they learn important processes of applying critical thinking to questions and choices that will confront them now and in the future. YNI is now celebrating 28 years of extraordinary service. I commend all of those who have contributed to this wonderful program and its achievements.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, like my colleagues here, we all rise today to express our grief and sadness to the families of Littleton, Colorado, and once again the television sets across this country have flashed the words, ``breaking news.'' This is another incident of violence that has occurred at one of our Nation's schools. Yesterday, senseless and tragic shooting at Columbine High School is another painful reminder of the risk our children face every day as they attend school. Last year in my district I held several townhall meetings to discuss the issue of school violence. The interest generated by these forums provided an important dialogue for community leaders across Nevada. They are doing an important job in helping to find the solutions to prevent these terrible incidents from occurring in our State. As Members of Congress, we have the responsibility to work in a bipartisan manner to provide our teachers, parents, students and school officials with a safe, drug-free learning environment. Our students, their education, their future and their safety demand no less. Mr. Speaker, with a heavy heart, I yield back the balance of my time and pray for the families in Colorado.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, just 3 days ago, I was in the war-torn region of Kosovo along with many of our colleagues from the House and Senate. And, as a veteran of two wars, I know the great sacrifice that our U.S. military men and women are making for our country and for world peace. And I am thankful that I was able to travel to the Kosovo region to personally thank these brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen for their service to our great Nation. I want to take this opportunity to reinforce my commitment to them in what may very well be the most trying time in their life. I thank them and America thanks them for having the courage to carry out this selfless duty to our country. From both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, I am personally and gravely aware of the enormous challenges that these brave men and women face. Having been deployed far away from my family for countless weeks and months, I can relate to the myriad of emotions that these troops and their families must be experiencing during this very traumatic time in the world. Our prayers and our full support are with them. May God speed and bring each of them home safely and as soon as possible.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous concept to dispense with the call of the Private Calendar today.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, there is going to be a $2.3 billion price tag for transporting nuclear waste across America. I guess the question should be, and the one we should be asking is, should it be the responsibility of the nuclear power industry who, by the way, created and profited from nuclear energy, or should this price tag be picked up by the American taxpayer? Well, legislation now pending before the House will force taxpayers to pick up the tab, all $2.3 billion, for moving this lethal garbage through their neighborhoods and through their communities. On top of that, this legislation would also use American tax dollars to pay for the storage of nuclear waste. I think most Americans would agree that the cost of transporting and storing these hazardous materials should not have to be paid by innocent American taxpayers. Rather, it should be paid by those responsible: The nuclear power industry. Madam Speaker, let us save Americans' hard-earned tax dollars and return the responsibility of waste to the power companies who created the problem. Oppose H.R. 45. I yield back the balance of my time and what little money is left in the pockets of the American people.

Mr. GIBBONS

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

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, it was 180 years ago that Daniel Webster said in the case of McCullough v. Maryland that the power to tax is the power to destroy. Well, today this Federal Government has been destroying working families all across America with excess taxation. I rise today to support H.J. Res. 37, the Tax Limitation Amendment, that will put a leash on this Federal Government by requiring a two- thirds majority vote in both Houses to raise taxes. In 1994, as a private citizen, I led an effort to amend our own State constitution with very similar language. I am proud to say that Nevada voters in two consecutive elections overwhelmingly passed that measure, and it has become a Nevada law. By passing this law, the citizens in Nevada declared in a loud and clear voice that they want to put a leash on the way government spending and burdensome taxes are increased. States whose governments have similarly imposed a supermajority requirement for tax increases experience greater economic growth, lower taxes and a reduced growth in government spending. The Federal Government needs to put this same fat-free diet into existence by making it more difficult to raise taxes on America's hard-working men and women.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Fernandez, Jr., upon his retirement from the United States Air Force after 22 years of distinguished service to our great Nation. An American hero, a decorated military aviator, Lieutenant Colonel Fernandez has served with distinction, including service as a squadron commander at several locations worldwide. Most recently he served with honor and great distinction to the United States Congress as the deputy chief of the House Liaison Office. In this position Manny, who is known to his friend as Manny, excelled at providing information and service to Members of the House of Representatives. His intelligence, his charm, keen wit, and a can-do attitude made Manny Fernandez a pleasure to work with. Because of Manny's credibility and good will, the Air Force and the Department of Defense will long reap the benefits of his tenure here on Capitol Hill. On behalf of my colleagues, I wish Lieutenant Colonel Manny Fernandez and his wife, Susan, the very best as he enters retirement.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, the Federal Government will reach out its big hands and its sticky fingers and stick them into the pockets of every hard-working man and woman in this country. Two days from today, April 15, Mr. Speaker, the tax man comes into every working family's home to collect his dues. Well, enough is enough. That is why I am supporting H.J. Res. 37, which proposes an amendment to the Constitution and requires the House and the Senate to garner a two-thirds majority vote for passage of any legislation that will result in a tax increase. At a time when the Republican Party is trying to whittle down the tax bite of the Federal Government, to ease the tax burdens on American families, the least we can do is enact common sense legislation to make it harder to raise taxes. Taxes are currently too high, and now this country is starting to run a budget surplus. The last thing Congress should do is dig deeper into the pockets of hard-working taxpayers. We should all support tax cuts, support a constitutional amendment that makes it more difficult to raise taxes, and by doing this we will be supporting America and its future. Mr. Speaker, I yield back any small change that may be left in our pockets.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 449 was introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski). Mr. Borski has worked hard on this bill which will greatly enhance the visitor experience at Independence National Historical Park. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 449 is a noncontroversial and bipartisan bill that would authorize the Gateway Visitor Center at Independence National Historic Park. This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Gateway Visitor Center Corporation to construct and operate a regional visitor center on Independence Mall. The center would provide information, interpretation, facilities and services for visitors to Independence National Historical Park, its surrounding historical sites and the City of Philadelphia. Mr. Speaker, private and public funds will be used to develop the visitor center on National Park property, and it is my understanding that approximately $30 million of private funds have already been raised and this project is ready to move forward. Mr. Speaker, this is a great example of how we can incorporate private enterprise to improve our parks and the experience for our visitors. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 449. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 449) to authorize the Gateway Visitor Center at Independence National Historical Park, and for other purposes.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the security of America and its citizens has been seriously jeopardized because of the nuclear weapons and missile transfer of technology to China. The American people deserve to know just how our Nation's goose has been cooked. Newsweek recently reported that our top nuclear weapons expert practically fainted when briefed by CIA analysts on the preliminary damage assessment from Chinese espionage. Additionally, I think the American people will also feel faint when they learn that the investigating officials believe that the Chinese spying, even into our most serious secret weapons programs, is described as almost total. Mr. Speaker, nuclear warhead technology might be hard for most to conceive, but the fact that China could conceivably have the power to kill as many as seven million Americans with one missile is something that I think everyone can visualize. This Chinese espionage has gone on far too long. I urge the Security Council to release the Cox report because this administration needs to stand up and take responsibility for release of this Top Secret technology, and the American people deserve to fully know what kind of mess we are actually in. Mr. Speaker, I yield back any secrets we may have.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 15. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the Otay Mountains, near the U.S.-Mexico border, are a unique region with diverse natural values. The area has good opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation and is particularly important to the people of San Diego County. The area contains several sensitive species, including the only known U.S. populations of the Mexican flannel bush and Tecate cypress. In the 1980s, the Bureau of Land Management recommended a large portion of these mountains as wilderness, and this recommendation has received strong public support. The Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 1999, introduced by our distinguished colleague from California (Mr. Bilbray), would designate about 18,500 acres of the Otay Mountain region as wilderness to protect its sensitive resources and preserve it for future generations. During the negotiations and hearings on H.R. 15, several sources expressed concern that wilderness designation in the Otay Mountain region could adversely affect Border Patrol and drug interdiction activities. The Border Patrol assured the committee that in light of the fact that the roads in the area were excluded from the wilderness area and given the language in section 6(b) of the bill, border operations would not be adversely affected by wilderness designation. Given these assurances, the committee decided not to amend section 6(b). I want to emphasize once again that H.R. 15 has widespread support from environmental groups, the BLM, the DEA, the Border Patrol and the people of San Diego County. I commend the gentleman from California for his hard work on this important piece of legislation. This is good legislation that will protect an important area. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 15. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray), the sponsor of this piece of legislation. (Mr. BILBRAY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)