Virgil Goode

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado for addressing immigration and for pointing out the figures that are impacting the Fifth District of Virginia and most every House district in this country. One piece of legislation that I would like to see addressed by this Congress would establish English as the official language of the United States. I am not advocating that all in this country should speak English only. In fact, I would encourage all students to learn other languages. I have encouraged my daughter in her efforts to learn French and Spanish and to be fluent in both of those languages. We should try to learn other languages and other cultures, and I believe that our President is a stronger President because of his fluency in Spanish. But we need to have English as the language of this country. Having one common language is a unifying force for a nation. We will be stronger as a nation with one language which all persons in this great country share and which all could use in communicating with persons all across the United States. We can avoid the Canadian situation. In Canada, they have held several referenda to break apart that country. The French-speaking Quebec province has sought several times to split from Canada. In the last referendum, there was a very close vote and the separatists almost prevailed. If we drift into a situation in this Nation where all persons in a region speak and use only a non-English language, then the separatist spirit may arise in the United States. I do not want to see a situation in this country develop like that in Canada. By adopting English, we can avoid certain other problems. We can avoid the need to have multilingual highway signs. Can one imagine the cost on each State if we had to adopt multilingual signs. If all of our governments had to adopt forms and papers in the various languages, it would be a huge cost on the Federal Government and the individual State governments. We can prevent a separatist spirit from arising here by choosing English as our official language now. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) for his focus on this important issue.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, today Virginia and the Nation has lost an outstanding representative. Norman Sisisky has helped many citizens throughout the Fourth District of Virginia. He fought for fiscal constraint and worked tirelessly for the defense of our Nation. Through his leadership, the seas and the skies are safer for America and her Armed Forces. Our Armed Forces would not be what they are today without the steadfast support that he gave to our national defense. Norman was one of the finest businessmen in Virginia, and he shared his success not only with his family, but with many charitable endeavors throughout the Fourth District, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Nation. His contributions to institutions of higher education in south central Virginia have helped many students gain a college degree. It was an honor to serve in this body with Norman Sisisky, and also in the Virginia General Assembly, where he was a member of the house appropriations committee. He helped tremendously the Petersburg area of the Commonwealth and also all of Southside. Norman was a personal friend, and I shall always remember the guidance he provided when I was first elected to the House of Representatives. I, like many others, am thankful for the opportunity to have known and worked with Norman Sisisky. My deepest sympathies go to his family and his staff.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Madam Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to Tom Bliley, Owen Pickett and the late Herb Bateman for their service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the entire nation. It has been a great pleasure to know and serve with these gentlemen in the House of Representatives. These men have served not only the people of their districts and the Commonwealth of Virginia, but the entire nation as well. Each has provided invaluable leadership, experience, and statesmanship to the people of their districts, state, and nation. I will miss their friendship and guidance and their districts, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation will miss their service, wisdom and experience. Tom Bliley's 20 years of service and his tenure as Chairman of the House Commerce Committee has benefitted his district, state, and country. Tom has led a life of public service and prior to his election and 20 years in the House of Representatives he was an outstanding mayor and leader for the City of Richmond. Owen Pickett has always put the people, especially our military personnel, above partisanship. His many years of work and experience on the House Armed Services Committee and as Ranking Member of the Military Research and Development Subcommittee will be sorely missed by the 2nd District, the Commonwealth of Virignia and the nation. The late Herb Bateman was a fine representative and a fine man. I appreciate his friendship as well as his service. We will miss his 18 years of service in the House and his experience on the Armed Services Committee and Chairmanship of the Military Readiness Subcommittee, but more than that we will miss Herb.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 575, a resolution to promote Internet safety awareness. As more and more Americans are utilizing the Internet and many children in this country have access to the Internet, it is important that we raise awareness to the dangers that the Internet can pose, especially to children. As this resolution reflects, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that one out of five missing 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds in America are due to Internet activity. There are many predators that use the Internet to make contact and gain information on unsuspecting children. Children have been raped, assaulted and kidnapped by individuals they met on the Internet. In Bedford County, Virginia, a county that I represent along with the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), we are proud of the diligent work that Sheriff Mike Brown and his office have done to combat Internet predators. Developing a nationally recognized program called Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, Sheriff Brown and his office have targeted pedophiles that use the Internet to reach children. While law enforcement officials in Bedford County, Virginia and elsewhere have been successful in apprehending on-line predators, there is no substitute for having parents and children that are aware and educated on the dangers that exist on the Internet and how to keep children safe from online predators. With the aid of grants from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bedford County sheriff's office has also conducted Internet safety programs dubbed Safe Surfin' in the local schools. They hope to make children aware of the dangers and teach them how to surf the Internet safely. I want to commend many of my colleagues who attended the demonstration here in the Capitol in September of 1999 on Operation Blue Ridge Thunder that was provided by the Bedford County sheriff's office. The demonstration showed the extensive presence of pedophiles and predators online and illustrated the importance and necessity of Internet safety awareness and education. The Commonwealth of Virginia recognized September as Internet Child Safety Awareness Month and has run public service announcements on television and radio warning parents of the dangers that exist on the Internet. I commend the Commonwealth for its proactive role in promoting Internet safety, and I hope that my colleagues will join me in passing this resolution raising awareness to the dangers of the Internet and supporting efforts to educate parents and children on the safe use of the Internet.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, today over 40 million Americans lack adequate health insurance coverage and millions more are struggling to cover their health care bills. Unfortunately, seniors and children are among the groups most vulnerable in American society. Finding solutions to this health care crisis has to be at the top of our agenda. Fortunately, there is help. Right now, generic drug companies are producing lifesaving and life-improving medicines that cost substantially less than brand name drugs. In fact, generic drugs provide one of the best values in the United States health care system. The substantial savings provided by generic drugs means more Americans can buy the medicines they need. It also means that through greater use of generic drugs, public health programs, like Medicaid and Medicare, can manage to help more Americans. Generic drugs should be a key part of any prescription drug program approved by this Congress.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to a valued friend, a patriot, a veteran Member of this body, a distinguished Virginian, and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. When someone dies, floods of thoughts and recollections about that individual come to mind. Such it was yesterday morning when I learned of Herb Bateman's passing. I remember vividly how Herb helped me over the years. When I was elected to the State Senate of Virginia, Herb gave me valuable insights into how the Senate worked and how I might work within the Senate to help my district. Four years ago when I came to this body, Herb was one of the first to extend his knowledge and guidance to help me on my way. Herb Bateman loved this country. He enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War and was discharged as a lieutenant. In the Senate of Virginia and the House of Representatives, Herb represented areas that have significant military installations. He worked tirelessly on behalf of a strong military and the needs of America's service men and women. In the Senate of Virginia and in this the Congress of the United States, Herb always worked for fiscal restraint, making the best use of money available. It was he who sponsored legislation in the Senate of Virginia to establish J-LARC--the Joint, Legislative, Audit and Review Commission. This commission has served over the years to eliminate waste and abuse in Virginia government and to uncover overlapping in the work of agencies. J-LARC is the model upon which other states have created their own similar commissions. Throughout his years of public service, Herb has been supported faithfully by his wife, Laura, and their union was blessed by two children, both of whom are grown and leading successful lives. And, the children have given Herb and Laura three grandchildren, who were the apples of Herb's eyes. Herb, we will miss you. I will miss you. Be assured that the light of your legacy will continue to shine through your family and the many people whose lives you touched and guided.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, this bill would wreck 90 years of patronage of the Boy Scouts of America. I urge opposition.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, first I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler) for his efforts on behalf of the second amendment. He has taken the time to analyze this 24-page Smith & Wesson agreement and to understand its ramifications. Many may think this applies only to Smith & Wesson, the Department of Treasury, HUD, and the localities that signed it. Not so. This has a direct and significant impact on individuals. For example, a widow living alone who wanted to buy a firearm to protect herself in her own home goes to a gun store and, under this agreement, can she get a firearm? No, she cannot, unless she has taken a government-approved course or passed a government-approved test. What if she wanted to buy something besides a Smith & Wesson, a Colt, a Berenger, or some other brand? No, she cannot get it under this agreement. I urge my colleagues to read this agreement. We want our second amendment right preserved. I ask my colleagues to stand up for their right to defend themselves, their right to own a firearm, and vote for the Hostettler amendment.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I want to say thanks to all on the subcommittee and the committee who worked on reporting the bill, naming the annex at the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville on behalf of Pamela B. Gwin. Pamela B. Gwin was not a high profile military person. She is not a movie personality. She is not a famous legislator, but she was a hard-working, dedicated and loyal employee at the Federal Executive Institute for almost two decades. She was known by every student and graduate at the Federal Executive Institute as Pam. She loved politics and our Federal Government. She served as assistant director from 1983 until she passed away at a young age on December 31, 1998. Mr. Speaker, I am indeed happy, privileged and honored to say these remarks on behalf of Pamela B. Gwin and to express appreciation to the committees again and to all in the House for naming the facility at the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville in her honor.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, when the President delivered his State of the Union address on January 27, he touted the unprecedented prosperity of the Nation. He pointed to the fast economic growth and the lowest unemployment rates in 30 years. Unfortunately, this is not the case in all areas of the country. In some parts of the Fifth District of Virginia, which I represent, we have experienced significant job losses and unemployment rates that are three to five times greater than the State average. The job losses are the result of textile plant closings and the decline of the apparel manufacturing industry in Southside Virginia and throughout the Nation. Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia, used to be known as the ``sweatshirt capital of the world,'' but with the recent loss of over 3,000 apparel manufacturing jobs, that title will no longer be applicable. Recent figures show that the unemployment rate in Martinsville for the month of December was 19.6 percent, and the unemployment rate for surrounding Henry County was 11.6 percent. Neighboring counties, including my home county of Franklin, also have seen textile plants close and unemployment rates increase. The people who have lost their jobs are able and willing workers. Many in the community were concerned when NAFTA was proposed, and they feared the impact that the agreement would have on their jobs and the local economy. Their fears and concerns have now been realized. Nearly all of the plant closings in the area have been certified by the Department of Labor as NAFTA impacted, making the workers eligible for the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program and the NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance Program. Many have taken advantage of these programs which provide job training grants. With the help of the Virginia Employment Commission, many of them are enrolling in training programs. However, job training will be of little benefit to these people if there are no jobs available to them. There is legislation that has been introduced in the House of Representatives which I believe would help these displaced workers and others like them around the country. H.R. 1967, the NAFTA Impact Relief Act introduced by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows), now has over 70 cosponsors. The NAFTA Impact Relief Act would provide tax incentives and grants to communities affected by the loss of businesses and jobs as a result of NAFTA. I believe this measure is an example of what we need to try to do in order to assist adversely impacted localities in their efforts to create jobs and to get their economies on the same track as those sectors of the country which are enjoying more prosperous times. I hope that in these times of economic growth for the Nation as a whole, my colleagues and the President will recognize that not everyone is experiencing the same prosperity. I hope that we can all work together on efforts to help these hard-working Americans in their time of need.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I am opposed to this amendment. I do not think that we should exempt our carve-out to tobacco industry from other business, corporations, and industries across this country. They should be treated just like any other entity under the provisions of 1875. It is going to impact tobacco companies negatively if this carve-out is allowed. Tobacco growers in my area have already suffered greatly. In the flue-cured tobacco country, we have had a quota cut of 35 percent over the last 2 years. What does that mean? That means that they have a reduction of 35 percent of their gross income and their expenses stay about the same. This year prices are down all across the old belt tobacco market, and growers are suffering. Many tobacco farmers are going out of business. They cannot continue along the course that has been thrust upon them. If we single out the tobacco industry for different treatment than the rest of the businesses and companies in this country, we will be driving a further nail in the coffin of the tobacco companies. If we do not have them, we will not have buyers. Then the tobacco that is utilized in this country by those adults who choose to use it will come from China, it will come from Zimbabwe, it will come from Brazil. I want us to be fair to the American tobacco grower, be fair to the American tobacco industry. And I hope that those that want to utilize tobacco in this country will have the opportunity to always purchase American tobacco instead of foreign tobacco. We do not need this unfair treatment for American businesses.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, August 4, 1999, I mistakenly voted ``aye'' on House Amendment 394 (Roll No. 372) offered by Mr. Scott to the fiscal year 2000 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill. I intended to vote ``nay'' on that amendment.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this is a modest amendment to lift the outright ban in the District of Columbia by repealing the 1976 gun ban law in the District. It does not affect the gun restrictions in place prior to 1976, where someone seeking to have a firearm for their self-protection or for the protection of their business would still have to go and get fingerprinted, would have to go down to the D.C. police office and have a background check, and would have to be registered and have the gun registered. The focus of this amendment is the gun ban. If you believe in gun bans, then you should vote against this amendment, but if you believe that the second amendment gives you the right to protect yourself and to protect your business, then you should vote ``yes'' on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would just point out one thing: The person that came in the Capitol and shot the two officers under my amendment would have violated the law when he crossed the line. He was illegal unless he had gone down to the police department, got fingerprinted, got a background check, got his gun registered and got himself registered. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler). (Mr. HOSTETTLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns). (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would point this out, Virginia for years regulated gun shows, had an instant check. Today in the United States capital, every State is going by Federal rule. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. They talked about bringing bomb material into the United States capital. The person would have to go down and be registered with the D.C. police chief to be able to do that, and I do not think the D.C. police chief is going to do that. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of the time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle). (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, the week of May 9 is National Hospital Week, when communities across the country celebrate the health care workers, volunteers, and other health professionals. This year's theme for National Hospital Week is ``People Care, Miracles Happen.'' A great example of this theme is an event called Martha's Market at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. Martha's Market is a weekend event that transforms an indoor tennis facility into a shopping plaza with 40 unique boutique vendors. The event began as a fund-raiser by a group of enthusiastic volunteers who wanted to raise awareness of breast cancer, and it won the American Hospital Association's prestigious Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence. Income for the event comes from corporate sponsors, individual donations and vendor profits. The net profit for the Market grew to more than $150,000 in 1998. The proceeds are used to support the hospital's breast cancer outreach program, provide free or reduced-fee mammograms and health screenings to low-income women, and sponsor free mammography days. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity as National Hospital Week is approaching to congratulate Martha Jefferson Hospital for its award-winning program.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, first I want to commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) for their leadership on this most important issue. I also want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) for yielding a part of his time. Mr. Speaker, at this time when such a large portion of our income goes to taxes, I firmly believe that we should have no new national tax increases unless there is a consensus in this body and a consensus in the country. I was not here in 1993 when we had a very divisive tax hike in this body and in the country, but if we had had the tax limitation amendment, we would not have had a number of recent tax increases over the last decade. A vote for the TLA is a vote for consensus, a vote for the tax limitation amendment is a vote for bipartisanship, because rarely in the history of this body or in the history of the U.S. Senate have there been two-thirds of one party in control. With the TLA, we would have to have a two-thirds vote in both bodies before any tax increase would take effect. That would demand consensus and bipartisanship. I believe the families and businesses in this country support consensus and bipartisanship. I firmly believe if we submit this amendment to the States, that it would be quickly adopted and ratified by three-fourths.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I want to talk just a few minutes in support of this amendment. I fully concur and commend the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt) for standing up in a courageous way to fully offset this supplemental. I can tell my colleagues, if I went back to the Fifth District of Virginia and said they have a choice between a callable capital account and Social Security, overwhelming support in the district would be in favor of Social Security. I have heard those words repeated roundly in these halls a lot this year and a lot last year. We have heard it on the hustings all across this country. This is an opportunity to say, yes, we are going to go with Social Security first, even in supplemental situations where there is an emergency.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, when the roll is called today I will vote ``yes'' on impeachment. After assessing the evidence, testimony, and materials presented to the House Judiciary Committee, I believe that the President lied under oath in a grand jury proceeding and made false statements in a sworn deposition after acknowledging that the testimony was subject to the penalty of perjury. In my judgment, these offenses are impeachable. They violate the rule of law which is fundamental to our democracy. To me, the issue is not what the lie was about, but the fact that the President made the choice to lie, repeatedly, after having taken an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Today there are hundreds of people in the United States in jail because they lied under oath. Today is a sad day for Congress, a sad day for the Presidency, and a sad day for America.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Yoseph Getachew who will be honored on October 20, 1998, by the National Industries for the Blind as the 1998 Peter J. Salmon National Service Employee of the Year. At age 22, Mr. Getachew developed a massive, fast-growing brain tumor that cost him most of his vision. When hospitals in his homeland of Ethiopia were not able to perform the necessary surgery and when he lacked financial resources to have surgery elsewhere, Dr. John Jane at the University of Virginia offered to perform surgery without charge. Following recovery from surgery, Mr. Getachew was hired by the Virginia Industries for the Blind, where he uses a computer adapted to use speech software. Mr. Getachew is independent and self-sufficient. He has expressed appreciation to Dr. John Jane and the Department for the Visually Handicapped for their compassion, support and generosity. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Getachew. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a young man of courage and fortitude, Yoseph Getachew. On October 20, 1998, in St. Louis, Missouri, National Industries for the Blind will honor Mr. Getachew as the 1998 Peter J. Salmon National Service Employee of the Year. At the age of 22, Yoseph, then an engineering student in his homeland of Ethiopia developed a massive, fast growing brain tumor. Local hospitals were unable to perform the necessary surgery and Yoseph was forced to begin a desperate search for a capable neurosurgeon. Mr. Getachew lacked the financial resources needed to fund such treatment, but after writing to physicians and hospitals in both the United States and Great Britain, he finally received word from Dr. John Jane at the University of Virginia Medical Center who offered to perform the operation for free. Yoseph's condition was very grave by the time he arrived in the United States; the tumor had deprived him of most of his vision and left him deaf in one ear and a few days before the operation Mr. Getachew slipped into a coma. Dr. Jane's procedure removed the tumor and saved Yoseph's life, but as he recovered, Yoseph found himself in a daunting situation. Mr. Getachew was alone in America, lacking money, friends and family, and he was blind. A social worker for the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped approached Yoseph during his convalescence and arranged for a temporary home and rehabilitation training. Through the department, Mr. Getachew learned orientation and mobility, vocational and daily living skills, how to read Braille and use a specially adapted computer. Dr. Jane also stepped in with much needed financial support while he got back on his feet. In 1995 Mr. Getachew applied for and was hired by Virginia Industries for the Blind who had just acquired a service contract with the General Services Administration in Springfield, Virginia. In his job, Yoseph uses a computer adapted to use special speech software which enables him to process orders from government customers over the phone. Mr. Getachew has made a new life for himself here in the United States and has no plans to return to Ethiopia. ``The awareness level and support of people with disabilities is very high and the technology and specialized training has enabled me to become independent and self- sufficient.'' Yoseph takes great pains to recognize those who supported him along the way. ``Dr. John Jane and the Department for the Visually Handicapped. . . . Their compassion, support and generosity helped me beyond all my expectations . . . I love America''. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Getachew on the receipt of this award. His courage and determination are an example to us all.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, next week the ``Old Belt'' flue-cured tobacco markets open in Southside, Virginia, and the farmers have never faced greater uncertainty. Over the course of the last year, the tobacco farmers in the Fifth District of Virginia, and across the southeastern part of the United States, have been tossed around like a political football. The farmers were not included in the original settlement, but throughout the debate over the proposed settlement, people on all sides have indicated that they want to protect the tobacco growers. Yet, we see legislation proposed in Congress that will cripple and ruin the American grower. We must fight such proposals. Mr. Speaker, I just hope that as various political agendas go forward, the hard-working growers and their families and their communities do not end up busted, bankrupt, and broken. The annual opening of the tobacco markets historically have been a time of optimism and hope. But this year, as the markets open in Southside, Virginia, the optimism is replaced by uncertainty and worry.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to join my colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Sisisky) in expressing sadness at the passing of former Congressman Watkins M. Abbitt of Appomattox. He served with distinction in this body for over 24 years. He represented the 4th District, but from 1972 on, he was a resident of Virginia's 5th District. He first came to Congress in the winter of 1948 when he won an overwhelming victory over four opponents. In the years that followed, he rarely faced opposition because of his outstanding reputation and his leadership in the United States House of Representatives. As Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, he fought hard to bring our party into a position of prominence. In 1946, he had the distinction of being the only Statewide campaign manager for two Statewide campaigns, those of U.S. Senator Harry Byrd and U.S. Senator A. Willis Robinson. Both were overwhelmingly successful. In 1972, Wat Abbitt retired from Congress though not from politics or life. He left all of us who knew him with many legacies, but I should mention three of the hallmarks of his legislative years: support for tobacco, fighting for peanuts, and warnings about rising deficits. In his later years he remained active. This last year he sold more tickets to the Appomattox County Democratic Fish Fry than any other person. He gained renown as a great speaker, and I fondly recall his remarks and his speeches on my behalf in the nomination process for the U.S. House of Representatives. I join many others in extending condolences to his wife; to his son, Watkins M. Abbitt, Jr., who is following in his father's footsteps and who is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates; to his two daughters; to his two brothers; and to his sisters. May we all remember his enthusiasm, his zest for living, and his willingness to fight for causes that were just and may he always serve as a model for us in the years ahead.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an anti-crime program that has been successfully implemented in several cities across America. The program, which was the topic of a June 18 article in the Washington Post, is known in Virginia as Project Exile. Project Exile includes a program that imposes automatic five year sentences on felons caught carrying guns. The program is being credited by Richmond police with helping to dramatically cut the city's homicide and armed robbery rates. The idea behind the program is simple: To get guns out of the hands of those who are caring them illegally, felons who are most likely to use the weapons in the commission of a crime. Mr. Speaker, I include the Washington Post article for the Record. [From the Washington Post, June 18, 1998] Richmond Gun Project Praised (By R.H. Melton) Richmond--A program that imposes automatic five-year sentences on felons caught carrying guns is being credited by Richmond police with helping to cut dramatically the city's homicide and armed robbery rates. The program, under which authorities generally prosecute gun cases as federal crimes--ensuring stiffer bond rules and tougher sentences--is known as Project Exile and has received high marks from two unlikely allies: Handgun Control Inc. and the National Rifle Association. The federal prosecutor's office here is one of only a handful in the nation--Boston and Philadelphia are two others--to launch an experimental attack on gun crimes. The idea behind the program, authorities say, is to get guns out of the hands of those who are carrying them illegally, people who are most likely to use the weapons in other crimes. In Richmond, which in recent years has had one of the nation's highest homicide rates, authorities credit Project Exile with helping to reduce gun-related homicides dramatically. Police say there were 140 gun-related homicides last year; so far this year there have been 34. Gun-related armed robberies, meanwhile, are down by a third. On a morning talk show Sunday, NRA President Charlton Heston told a national television audience that ``in less than a year, they reduced deaths, murders, in the city of Richmond by half'' through the Exile project. Handgun Control Chairman Sarah Brady, in a letter to the U.S. attorney here, said: ``Your work is succeeding in getting guns out of the hands of criminals . . . The results in Richmond are impressive. Cynthia L. Price, a Richmond police spokeswoman, said Exile has had a profound effect on the number of violent crimes and the nature of those offenses, leading to far fewer instances in which guns are drawn in anger. ``It's a great program,'' Price said. So how did Exile help cut homicides and armed robberies? A cadre of aggressive federal prosecutors, including a lead attorney who earned his spurs hounding Mafia dons in New York City, determined that Richmond's number one crime problem was similar to that plaguing Washington: street-level violence fueled largely by an evidently insatiable appetite for weaponry. They then brought to bear on city gun cases the full force of the federal government, using statutes dating from the late 1960s to seek mandatory minimum prison sentences of five years for gun-related crimes. That expedited many of the gun cases, ensuring stiffer penalties and, in many cases, eliminating parole. In some instances, steering a local criminal into the federal system was as simple as a Richmond police officer paging the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to double-check for federal gun violations, such as the obliteration of serial numbers on weapons, use of a gun while possessing a controlled substance or possession of guns buy fugitives. Several federal judges here have complained that their caseloads now seem to resemble reruns of the ``Night Court'' television show, but city officials and community leaders delight in the lower homicide rate. n the year that ended last week, 363 guns were seized, 191 of 251 of those arrested on gun violations were convicted, and 137 of those were sentenced to an average of 56 months in jail. James B. Comey, the executive assistance U.S. attorney who helped craft the Exile program, said the numbers in part reflect the unusually large number of people who were carrying guns in Richmond. ``Richmond is a weird place,'' he said. ``The world is flooded with guns here.'' Comey, a tall, boyish prosecutor who spins hair-raising tales about his Mafia wiretapping days in New York, said the gun ``carry'' rate--the number of times police confiscate a gun when arresting suspects--has dropped from 135 a month to 67. ``It's an amazingly high carry rate,'' he said. ``I've never seen a place like 'Richmond. Dealers in cities like Chicago, New York or Cleveland have access to guns, but they're not standing on a street corner with a gun!'' Of Project Exile, he added: ``It's a cultural war. It's totally apolitical. It's about locking up criminals with guns.'' Gun violence has long plagued Richmond, sending its homicide rate higher than the District's several years this decade. In the fall of 1994, for instance, Richmond passed its previous homicide record, outpacing every city in the country except New Orleans. S. David Schiller, the senior litigation counsel in the U.S. attorney's office, said police have passed out 17,000 hand bills detailing the program. There are Exile billboards, television spots and even a giant black city bus that runs through the city with a message in stark white paint: ``An illegal gun gets you five years in federal prison.'' A coalition of civic and merchant groups has raised $40,000 and pledged an additional $60,000 to fund the marketing efforts. Though the Exile prosecutions have not been glamorous-- ``These cases are not sexy: These are mutts with guns,'' said Schiller--they are getting notice in other urban centers. Seventeen cities nationwide, including the District and Baltimore, are now participating in a federal pilot program to trace illegal guns, and there has been talk of extending Exile elsewhere. ``Richmond has one of the most involved programs in the country,'' said Joe Sudbay, a spokesman for Handgun Control in Washington. ``It's a great combining of resources to combat violence.'' NRA Executive Director Wayne R. LaPierre said that Exile ``ought to be in every major city in the country where there's a major crime problem.'' ``The dirty little secret is that there is no enforcement of federal gun laws,'' LaPierre said. ``What Exile's doing-- which I think is great--is for the first time in a major American city, if a criminal picks up a gun, he'll do major time. It's a message the NRA cheers, a message police cheer.'' ``That's the magic of what they're doing in Richmond. The word is out on the streets of Richmond that the U.S. attorney is dead serious about stopping gun violence.''