Bart Gordon

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the accomplishments of a dedicated group of young men who worked together in the true spirit of sportsmanship to achieve a long-awaited goal. The group is the Oakland High School football team of Murfreesboro, TN. The goal the team achieved is winning the State 5-A football championship this past season. These men of Oakland High trained vigorously and played tirelessly. They deserve recognition for a job well done. I congratulate each team member, head coach Marty Euverard, assistant coaches Donnie Webb, Lebron Ferguson, Mike Cantrell, Mark Burke, Joey Freeman, Chuck Swafford, Todd Williamson, managers Alicia Garcia, Laura Austin, Katie Wright, Amanda McDougal, Matt Bingham, trainer Mike Gross, video technician Brian Josey, the team doctors and school Principal Ken Nolan. I know they won't soon forget this milestone. The players are true champions. They are Alvin McDermott, Jeremy Harrison, Dejuan Hathaway, Kendrick Roper, Decarlos Carneal, Roland Ogletree, Trey Mosby, James Smith, Robbie Knight, Wardell Alsup, Desmond Rhodes, Matt King, Victor Stevenson, Mark Drew, Colby Wright, B.J. Malone, Mario Lyles, Derrick Savannah, Tee Thompason, Aaron Wells, Freddie King, Cory Hixson, Chad Pfalmer, Mason Jones, Jamie Malletta, Jeff Weaver, Chris Counts, Gabriel Batten, Essex Johnson, Jeff Atkins, Greg Spray, Justin Hutchins, Chris Parrot, Newt Ealy, Jeremy Spivey, Josh Peay, Mitch Welborne, Tommy Lawwell, Jeff Harvey, Dustin Griswold, Troy Broughton, Brett Trott, Zach Hollins, Jay Adkins, Dustin Jones, and Luke Ferguson.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th Anniversary of Eagleville, TN. Historically, the first known settlers arrived in the Eagleville area in 1790. There are indications that Native Americans also camped near the local springs. The town derives its name from a legend about an unusually large eagle that was killed near the village. This name was officially adopted on August 16, 1836. Eagleville received its charter of incorporation on March 31, 1949. Today, the tradition of this historic city continues to grow with a nationally recognized school, the community churches and its businesses. The city government consists of an elected mayor, Nolan S. Barham, Sr., and six elected council members. Eagleville's population has steadily grown through the years and today stands at 501 people. On Saturday, March 27, the town of Eagleville will celebrate their 50th anniversary. They will be holding a community dinner from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Some members of the community, who were present for the original incorporation ceremony, will be recognized during this event. Please join me in congratulating Eagleville for reaching this milestone.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fleetwood Homes of Tennessee, an organization that has achieved distinction for its outstanding work to ensure comfortable living. I want to offer my personal congratulations on a great job in customer satisfaction again this year. The 1998 National Champions of Customer Satisfaction Award is a distinguished achievement in itself, but this is the fifth year that this organization has been recognized. The continual satisfaction they have provided their customers makes this an even more remarkable accomplishment. This award is based on customer satisfaction with the quality of their home after a period of six months. Fleetwood has received a 95.3% positive response after this period of time, making this organization the highest rated out of 46 manufacturers across the United States. This is quite an incredible number of people in Tennessee and across the nation that are satisfied with their service from Fleetwood Homes. I particularly want to recognized the office in Westmoreland, Tennessee that has received the award for their outstanding service in the Sixth District. They have not only achieved this particular award five out of the ten years it has been presented but also have gained recognition by receiving the Division Champion Award. I am very proud to have a company of such high standards in service and quality in my district. I want to congratulate Fleetwood once again on this accomplishment and thank them for satisfying so many Tennesseans with their efforts. I hope to see this organization continue with its success in the future and encourage them to keep up the great work.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with unfortunate news. While returning from West Virginia with her husband following the New Years weekend, I am sorry to report that Jean Frohlicher, the first president and general counsel of the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP), passed away in Elkins, West Virginia. She is survived by her husband John, niece Sandra Neuse and two nephews, Lee and Carl Neuse. Since coming to Congress, I have worked hard to enhance educational opportunities for students across the nation. I believe that it is imperative that we ensure access to a higher education for every child in America. And though I have done what I can to reach this goal, my efforts have been dwarfed by those of Jean Frohlicher. As the Executive Vice President and General Council of NCHELP, Jean recognized early on that we truly are facing a crisis in the cost of higher education and need to provide more assistance to students. Working with her colleagues in the education community and my colleagues on Capitol Hill, Jean has helped reform and expand our student loan programs, making more money available to students each year. Her advice and guidance on higher education financing has been invaluable to me. Mr. Speaker, several years ago when my father died, I found the words of Angelo Patri, the American educator and columnist very comforting. He said, ``in one sense there is no death. You will always feel her life touching yours, her voice speaking to you, her spirit looking out other eyes, talking to you in the familiar things she touched, worked with, loved as familiar friends. She lives on in your life and in the lives of all others who knew her.'' Jean's passing will truly be a loss to our country and our students. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jean's husband, John, as well their family and friends. She has left behind many who respected and admired her, and her absence will certainly be felt by all.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, today I want to pay tribute to the career of Mr. Brent Ayer. Brent has served my office in the capacity of Chief of Staff for two years; however, he has served the United States House of Representatives loyally for twenty-one. As Chief of Staff, Brent has performed his duties with meticulous skill and care. His ability to organize and prioritize keeps the office running like clockwork. Brent is a true asset to my staff, providing a level of leadership and wisdom that could only be gained through twenty-one years of service. How best to describe twenty-one years on Capitol Hill other that stating the obvious point that Brent is the kind of employee rarely seen this day-and-age in the workforce. He is the consummate Capitol Hill staffer and a model for anyone wishing to answer the call of service to his country and Congress. Brent's tenure in the House of Representatives began in the office of Rep. Goodloe Byron, where he was hired as a staff assistant in 1977. He stayed on with Rep. Beverly Byron after Goodloe's death and advanced to Chief of Staff. Brent's career path moved from Rep. Byron's office to Rep. Ron Klink in 1994 and, finally to work for me. Brent has a well-earned reputation for untangling really tangled messes. No task is too large or too small for him to handle. Whether Brent is attending a White House signing ceremony for legislation he helped his boss push through or defending a two-year-old child with Leukemia against a large health insurance company, he handles his duties with ease. Brent's ability to get into the trenches has been a true motivating factor toward emphasizing a team atmosphere in our office. Speaking of team efforts, included in the long list of Brent's accomplishments one of his greatest assets is his running ability and knowledge of the sport, which has helped Team Gordon successfully win the Capital Challenge six consecutive years. He has been a staffer's advocate, too, and the House is a better place to work because of his tenure. Brent was instrumental in establishing a fitness program for staffers. He helped begin a program of assisting new offices in setting up--thereby easing the transition to Congressional life for new staff. Every staffer and former staffer who worked with or under him praised his leadership, his calmness, and his ability. I have heard Brent explain his long tenure in this way, ``I came in, I put my head down, I did my work; when I looked up twenty-one years had passed.'' With well earned accolades and a long list of good memories in hand Brent will end his era of congressional service on November 15, 1998. On that day the House of Representatives will lose a strong and capable resource and veteran, his colleagues, both past and present, will lose a friend and mentor and I will lost a Chief of Staff, the likes of which come along once in a lifetime--if one is as lucky as I. It is with sincere thanks and gratitude that I say good bye and good luck to Brent Ayer.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I want to give thanks to Robin Moll Meagher, my legislative director, who will be leaving Capitol Hill after six years of dedicated service. Robin has become my right hand on telecommunications and healthcare policy. This session, she helped me pioneer legislative action on telecommunications fraud called Cramming, by developing Congressional Hearings, drafting groundbreaking legislation, and working with industry leaders to resolve this problem. Whether confronting complicated federal bureaucracies, or helping a constituent solve a difficult problem, Robin has never forgotten the peoples' priorities. On a daily basis, I have been able to count on Robin to manage policy issues in my office, coordinate the legislative staff that help me do my job, and keep the overwhelming amount of information coming in organized and manageable. I owe her a debt of gratitude, and I am not the only one. Like the Oilers from her hometown of Houston, Robin came to serve the people of Tennessee after a long period of service with some of my former colleagues from Texas. Working for Congressman Pete Geren and Jake Pickle, Robin's diverse skills helped her achieve important successes in trade policy, by amending NAFTA implementation language; transportation policy, by helping secure important aviation routes for her state, and by assisting her state in a number of other ways that benefited her bosses' constituents; and her alma mater, the University of Texas. Like many bright young Americans, after Robin graduated college--from a school in Austin we in Tennessee call ``the Other UT''--she came to Washington to serve her country, its elected representatives, and its people. We are grateful for her help. As Robin opens a new chapter in her life, I would like to say good luck and thank you.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to congratulate and express my appreciation to Ray and Judy Danner for their service to the people of Tennessee. Forty years ago, Ray Danner came to Tennessee from Louisville, Kentucky to open a Shoney's Franchise in Nashville. During the next thirty years Ray grew Shoney's into one of the largest and most successful restaurant chains in our country's history. Almost twenty-five years ago Ray was joined in marriage with Judy Danner. Together they have made unlimited contributions to the cultural, educational, and social fabric of their community. In 1987, Ray retired from Shoney's and started the Danner Company, an investment and management firm. In a scant ten years, his venture has spawned more than forty companies, with over four thousand total employees worldwide and gross revenues in excess of five hundred million dollars. Ray and Judy Danner represent the best of what our country has to offer. They firmly believe in the value of hard work, a loving family, a dedication to their community and a faith in God. It is a pleasure to join their many friends in recognizing Ray and Judy Danner's service to Tennessee and I wish them the best in the years to come.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of a great leader, General Daniel Smith, and to celebrate the 250th occasion of his birth. On October 17, 1998, he will be remembered for his contributions in the westward movement of our country's history at his home ``Rock Castle'' in Hendersonville, Tennessee. General Daniel Smith was born in Stafford County, Virginia, in 1748, and educated at William and Mary University. In 1773, at the age of twenty-five, he was appointed deputy surveyor of Augusta County, thus beginning his career as a great leader. After serving in a variety of different military and political offices for 12 years, General Daniel Smith emigrated with his family, in 1785, to the Cumberland settlement. Tennessee has been his home ever since. General Daniel Smith in every way embodied the spirit and courage of the early frontiersman. In his military career, he fought for independence and supported the creation of the new United States. Politically, Smith realized the importance of states' rights. Some of his accomplishments include attending the convention to ratify the United States Constitution, making the first map of Tennessee, serving in the U.S. Senate from 1805-1809, and negotiating two treaties with the Cherokees. General Daniel Smith made many contributions to the state of Tennessee and to our Nation. He was a true leader of his time, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to a fine leader, and honor him for all that he did for his country. He truly made the people of Tennessee proud.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Thank you, Joe Moakley. I thank you for all your leadership and friendship when we served together on the Committee on Rules. No matter how acrimonious things would get there, you were always able to tell a quick joke and help us to move forward. You certainly serve a great function there. For those of us that know Joe, that know that probably the last place he wants to be tonight is right here, hearing Members say good things about him, I want to try to be very brief, because this is really sort of a bittersweet time for me. I know now that inevitably I am not going to see as much of my buddy, that we are going to be friends and we are going to stay in touch, but we are not going to see each other on a daily basis. That is a hard thing to come to grips with, when you have spent so much time with someone over the years. But I am so happy for his new future. I am also very sad that this House is going to lose his strong, passionate, energetic voice for the less fortunate, for the working men and women of this country. As so many folks have said here, Joe just does not say it, he feels it. And when you look up on the board and you see his vote, there is no compromises there. That is what he thinks needs to be done. I do not think that I have seen anybody in the last 12 years that has worked harder at trying to make everyday working people's lives better, at trying to make sure that those folks that are less fortunate have a chance to get ahead. One thing I have noticed, as Joe and I have been together and traveled around, is it is amazing just how recognizable he is. Whether he is on the steps here in Washington or he is at an airport in Zaire, people know Joe Kennedy. They come up all the time. And no matter how tired he might be, no matter how behind, and it seems like we are always behind, trying to catch the next plane or whatever it might be, he always stops. He talks to them. He wants to hear what is on their mind. Never complains about it. I think they help him to see how real people are and really what he is trying to do. It makes me proud when I see him that way. So not to try to embarrass him any more tonight, but to say that I am glad that he is going to have more time with the boys. He has twin boys, Joe and Matt. They used to be little boys. Now they are big boys. And I guess probably the thing that Joe anguishes more over than anything is that every now and then he misses one of their ball games. It is a major deal when we are called in session and he cannot get there to see them, because they really are a team. I am glad he and Beth are going to have even more time together. Beth is a soothing part of his life. And as Patrick has pointed out, Joe is, to a great extent, is a patriarch of an extended family, for all the cousins, and he tries to be there. And I am glad he is going to have more time to be there for not only his generation but also that next one below. I think that folks do look at Joe to be the guy that will be there when they need him. So, Joe, as you leave this Chamber and you leave this House, you do so truly, truly, truly knowing that you have left this Congress, this country, a better place. And I am happy to know that you are now going to take another adventure and that the enthusiasm that you brought to this Congress you are now going to take to the private sector now. I do not know that it has been said yet, but Joe started a little company in his basement a few years ago and now it is a billion dollar, or multibillion dollar company, and its only purpose is to help others, to get them cheaper prescription drugs, to make their energy costs a little bit less expensive. So now Joe will be able to take that energy and help those same folks he has wanted to in a legislative way in an entrepreneurial way. I am proud of you. Everybody that has worked with you is proud of you. And you, again, can leave this place knowing that it is better for your having been here. Thank you, Joe.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to Title II, the Music Licensing Exemptions title in S. 505, the Copyright Term Extension Act. Although some characterize this provision as a ``compromise,'' this provision is entirely unfair to American songwriters. Mr. Sensenbrenner's ``compromise'' on Musical Licensing would exempt certain sized bars and restaurants from paying royalties for radio and television broadcasts in their establishments. Restaurant owners must pay produce vendors for the fruit and vegetables they serve, alcohol distributors for the beer and wine they sell and furniture suppliers for the tables at which their customers sit. It is absurd to suggest that you should not be compensated for the use of someone's music. Intellectual property must enjoy the same status as real or personal property; a person cannot use or improperly interfere with another's property without facing consequences. In my home state of Tennessee, music is one of our area's largest economic assets, and it is vital that the United States maintain high protection and enforcement standards in the U.S. and throughout the world. Mr. Chairman, I have letters from constituent songwriters and Opry performers that don't understand why writers of books, movies, television programs are all compensated each time their work is enjoyed, and songwriters should not be allowed the same protection and compensation. I believe it is hypocritical of the leadership of this body to pass this lop-sided provision, when tomorrow, we bring to the floor the conference report on H.R. 2281, the WIPO International Copyright Treaty Implementation Act. H.R. 2281 strengthens U.S. copyright laws regarding the transmission of copyrighted materials. Tonight, this music licensing exemption weakens copyright protection for songwriters and their creative works. Commerce Secretary William Daley wrote in a letter to Speaker Gingrich stating strong opposition to the Sensenbrenner music licensing exemption. Specifically, Secretary Daley points out that our trading partners will claim that an overly broad exemption violates our obligations under the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary Works and the Agreement on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs Agreement). We should be concerned that passage of Title II would sacrifice U.S. interests of U.S. music copyright owners abroad in order to satisfy the demands for uncompensated use of music domestically. The American music industry is the most successful in the world, and royalties from foreign performances are an important source of income for U.S. artists and composers, who are small businesses too. If we expand the exemptions as written, other countries could use this as an excuse to adopt exemptions in their own copyright laws, leading to economic losses to U.S. music copyright owners in the hundreds of millions. Songwriters are small business-persons that are engaged in an extremely difficult and competitive occupation. It is often only after years of struggle that a writer can even begin to make a living. As I said before, music is intellectual property--and the owners should be paid for the use of their product--particularly when other businesses are making money by using their work. Finally, I agree with Rep. Mary Bono in hopes that the House will revisit this issue and its detrimental effect on American songwriters and our international trade agreements in the next session. Enacting Title II of this bill is a grave mistake.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate James ``Boots'' Donnelly on a successful career as head coach of the Middle Tennessee State University football team. Boots' 22-year career record as a collegiate head coach stands at 151-92-1. He recently announced he will be stepping down at the end of the 1998 season, after a 20 year career as head football coach at MTSU, his alma mater. Boots' record and awards are impressive: the eighth winningest coach in Division 1-AA history, 1997 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inductee, recorded 12 straight winning seasons between 1981 and 1992, four Ohio Valley Conference championships, 10 national top 25 finishes and five Coach of the Year awards. Fourteen of Boots' players have gone on to play in the National Football League. MTSU has Boots to thank for the opportunity to begin Division 1-A play in 1999. The hallmark of Boots' success has been his interaction with his players. When recruiting players, he not only assessed their athletic ability, but also their character, integrity and intelligence. Once a recruit joined the Blue Raiders, Boots taught him the importance of team spirit and discipline, traits that would remain with the player throughout his life. He has always had the respect and admiration of his players and assistant coaches. Boots is a keen judge of character. He knows to stay away from people with ``big hats and no cattle'' and those who can ``find a bone in ice cream.'' His teams were always well-prepared and disciplined. When game time came, they ``stepped up to the licking block, stayed in the buggy when the horse rared up and never spit on the bit.'' Although Boots always desired to win, and usually did, he took loses with his usual good humor. He understood that ``sometimes you get the chicken, and sometimes you get the feathers.'' Again, Boots, congratulations on 22 years as a winning collegiate head football coach. Thank you for the contributions you have made to your players, fans and the MTSU community.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1702, the Commercial Space Act of 1998. This act represents another in a long series of bipartisan efforts to promote the development of a healthy and expanding U.S. commercial space sector. I will not attempt to discuss every provision in H.R. 1702, but I would like to highlight a number of important aspects of the bill. First, H.R. 1702 contains a series of amendments to existing law that should help the U.S. commercial launch industry to move to a new generation of low-cost launch vehicles. The amendments authorize the U.S. Department of Transportation to license reusable launch vehicles, vehicles that can take off, fly into space and return to earth to be used again. A number of U.S. companies, both large and small, have such new vehicles under development. However, they need to have a predictable licensing and regulatory environment. H.R. 1702 will help establish that environment. Second, H.R. 1702 makes a strong statement of support for the global positioning system and encourages the administration to ensure the operation of the global positioning system on a continuous worldwide basis, free of direct user fees. GPS has provided the foundation for the growth of entirely new businesses, and we need to assure that it and its augmentations continue to play that role. Third, H.R. 1702 contains other provisions to promote governmental purchases of commercial data and launch services when appropriate. These provisions can help to promote the further development of the commercial space sector in the years ahead. Mr. Speaker, this final version of H.R. 1702 is the result of constructive discussions and compromises between the House, the Senate and the administration. I want to express my appreciation for the positive roles played by the chairman, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Brown), the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and their staffs. H.R. 1702 is a bill that will foster economic growth, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. I simply close by saying this is a good bill, it deserves the strong support of this House, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Brown), one of the most knowledgeable Members of this body on our space program. (Mr. BROWN of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend the contributions Dr. George Clifford Gillespie, Jr. has made to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and his community. Dr. Gillespie is the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at Middle Tennessee State University. He is a native of Nashville and received his undergraduate and Masters degrees at MTSU. He also received a doctorate in College Administration from the George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. From 1975 to 1996, Dr. Gillespie held the position of Dean of Admissions, Records, and Information Systems at Middle Tennessee State. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest person to hold such a position in the United States. From 1983 through 1986, Dr. Gillespie held the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Executive Committee of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. He has also been a presenter at the annual meeting of AACRAO on numerous occasions. In 1994, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) appointed him Interassociation Representative. Dr. Gillespie had the honor of being selected to serve on the Board of Trustees of ACT Inc. from 1998 to 2001 this year. Richard L. Ferguson, ACT President, said that ``during his six years as Tennessee Representative to the ACT Corp., Cliff Gillespie has consistently given thoughtful advice on ways ACT can enhance its educational services.'' Dr. Gillespie has done an exceptional job as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management. Since his employment with the school in the early 70's, he has brought about many changes. Under Dr. Gillespie's leadership, enrollment has almost doubled. In addition, ACT average scores for the entering Freshmen at MTSU are above the national average and exceed the Tennessee tested population averages. He is truly a strong proponent of the institution. Dr. Gillespie has also distinguished himself as the annual premier announcer for horse shows at the national and international level, including the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration at Shelbyville, TN and the International Championship Horse Show held at MTSU. His enthusiasm has earned him the distinction of being one of the best announcers in the country. I would like to congratulate Dr. Gillespie on his stellar accomplishments. Additionally, I want to sincerely and personally thank Cliff, his wife, Gayle, and their children Matthew, Michael and Lauren for their contributions to Middle Tennessee State University and the Murfreesboro community.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend the contributions Dr. George Clifford Gillespie, Jr. has made to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and his community. Dr. Gillespie is the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at Middle Tennessee State University. He is a native of Nashville and received his undergraduate education at MTSU. He also received a Masters Degree at MTSU and a Ph. D. in College Administration from the George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Prior to his recent promotion, he had held the position of Dean of Admissions, Records, and Information Systems at Middle Tennessee State since 1975. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest person to hold such a position in the United States. Dr. Gillespie is a former member of the Executive Committee of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. He held the position of Secretary/Treasurer from 1983 through 1986, and has been a presenter at the annual meeting of AACRAO on numerous occasions. He has done an exceptional job with the office. Since his employment with the school, in the early 70's, he has witnessed many changes. One of the major changes is the increase of enrollment due to his professional expertise in admissions. He is truly a strong proponent of the institution. Dr. Gillespie is noted for the automation he has brought to the admission processes at MTSU. He is often called upon by other institutions to serve as a consultant in the area of registration, records management, and enrollment. On occasion, he teaches in the doctoral program on higher education at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Gillespie is known for more than his role as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at MTSU. He has also distinguished himself as the primary announcer for the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. I would like to congratulate Dr. Gillespie on his stellar career. He had done a fine job in representing Rutherford County. I thank him for the contributions he has made to Middle Tennessee State University and the Murfreesboro community.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judge James Buckner on his retirement. He has served Rutherford County for the past 36 years as General Sessions Court Judge. Judge Buckner was appointed to the judgeship in 1962 by Governor Buford Ellington and has won every re-election since then. Perhaps this is due to his way of treating people--equally and fairly--regardless of their social status. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice A.A. Birch can testify that Judge Buckner's manner of meting out justice is consistent. As Birch tells it, when he was a Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, he got a speeding ticket and thought he might get a break from Judge Buckner. He explained to the judge that he had been testing his brakes by speeding up and slacking off, when he got pulled over for speeding. Judge Buckner politely listened to Birch and then fined him anyway. A lot has changed since James Buckner became judge. My very first court case as a fledgling, practicing attorney was before Judge Buckner. For the first 11 years of his judgeship, he handled all criminal, civil and juvenile cases in Rutherford County. His position was part-time, but it was actually a full-time job at part-time pay. Judge Buckner had to maintain a private law practice to make ends meet. The state legislature eased his workload somewhat by creating a second General Sessions judgeship to handle juvenile cases. Now, Rutherford County has three General Sessions judges, four Circuit Court judges and one Chancellor. Before he retired, Judge Buckner routinely had upwards of 600 civil and criminal cases on the docket. The high number of cases pending can be attributed to the astronomical growth of Rutherford County. Judge Buckner is a man of integrity. His sense of public service can be traced back to his father, George Buckner. George Buckner was an attorney who would later serve as a state representative. The late Congressman Joe L. Evins' first job out of law school was as an attorney working for George Buckner. Judge Buckner's sentencing style is well known in the community. After handing down the appropriate sentence, he would say, ``And--have a nice day.'' Well, Judge Buckner, I sentence you to a long and happy retirement spent with family and friends. And--have a nice day.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, at the end of this month, Mr. Joe Patton Lane III will leave my office to enter the School of Law at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. Patton has been a loyal and effective member of my congressional staff for the past three years. However, I have known Patton for over a decade. As a college student, he assisted with my re-election campaigns. My then-campaign manager made the statement, ``Come election time, I wish I had fifteen Patton Lanes working for me!'' In a congressional personal staff office, there are thousands of demands made on hundreds of issues. Success in this environment requires attention to detail and conscientiousness. These are Patton's strengths. He has been a hard-working, dedicated employee. Patton is part of a rare breed, one of which should be required in each congressional office. A native of Carthage, Tennessee, he knows every town, every zip code, and most of the elected officials in Middle Tennessee. He is well-regarded by his co-workers and is recognized as someone who willingly undertakes any assignment without complaint. Patton is from a long line of attorneys recognized in the state of Tennessee for their competence and ability. With his commitment to public service and his abilities, I am confident he will do well in his new endeavor. It has been a pleasure to have Patton serve in my office and I join my staff in wishing him the best of fortune in his new undertaking.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the continued success of the hard-working men and women of Meritor Automotive, Inc. Today, the 552 employees of Meritor Automotive, Inc., along with local and state officials, will gather in Gordonsville, Tennessee to celebrate yet another milestone in the company's history. This milestone marks the revitalization of a factory--providing needed jobs to this growing community. Meritor is a true success story. On April 1, 1995 Meritor purchased the business from Dura Automotive Systems. At the time many people felt Dura Systems' decision to discontinue production signaled the closure of this facility. However, the Meritor team changed that perception and was able to turn the business into a preferred supplier of Ford parts and receive numerous awards of excellence. Since Meritor assumed control of the facility, the plant in Gordonsville has added 280 jobs to the local community; invested over $15 million to refurbish the facility; pumped over $50 million into the local economy; and invested over $250,000 in environmental protections. These are not small tasks. While the company continues to grow, they are also helping make Gordonsville, Smith County and the surrounding area a better place to live and raise a family. The list of community service projects include: providing on-site GED training at no cost; allowing college courses to be taught in their training rooms; working with local charities and civic groups, like the Lion's club to provide free eye examinations to the children of Smith County. Middle Tennessee is one of the fastest growing areas in the country-- with over 110,000 new jobs created since 1984. Meritor is committed to improving the quality of life in the Gordonsville community. They have worked to see that our children receive a good, quality education and allowed our young people to find a good job close to home. All of these contributions help build on my dream of a vibrant, growing economy in Middle Tennessee for the 21st Century. I want to personally thank Meritor and all its employees for its continued commitment to this community and congratulate them on being awarded the Ford Q1/QS 9000 distinction.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Mr. Lee Hammer for his efforts on behalf of the citizens of Middle Tennessee and on my behalf. Lee has served as a member of my Congressional Staff for two-and-a- half years, beginning in November of 1995. He is a highly motivated and very cooperative staffer. There is a great volume of detail work in a congressional office. Lee has pitched-in and has undertaken even the less glamorous aspects of the work with enthusiasm. Lee speaks well and has sound analytical skills. He is well-regarded by his fellow staff members. In the course of his work, he has tracked and overseen the drafting of legislation, responded to constituent inquiries, represented me before industry and trade association representatives, and drafted testimony and floor statements. In my capacity as a member of the Commerce Committee, Lee has handled some of the legislative issues most important to me and to my constituents. Lee has already completed a Masters Degree in Political Science and is preparing to undertake the study of law. At the close of this month, he will be leaving my office to pursue a legal education at the Southwestern University School of Law in his hometown of Los Angeles, California. My staff and I join in wishing Lee the best of fortune as he enters law school.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce important consumer protection legislation, H.R. 3990, the Gordon and Dingell Anti-Cramming Protection Act of 1998. This bill will prevent unauthorized charges from showing up on a consumer's telephone bill, or ``cramming'' as this practice has been dubbed. Cramming is the fastest rising subject of fraud, according to the National Fraud Information Center. It has risen from the twelfth on the list of most frequent frauds to fourth. The FCC has received nearly 2000 complaints, and these are largely under-reported numbers. In most instances of cramming, unauthorized charges are billed every month as a ``Miscellaneous Charges and Credits'' entry on the local phone bill. I am concerned that cramming will tarnish the integrity of the local phone bill as an option for billing competitive telecommunications services, and hope that it does not lead to selective billing. That way, customers will continue to have competitive choices when ordering telecommunications services. Approximately 32 million of these ``Miscellaneous'' transactions are processed for residential customers--that is one out of every 6 Americans. Some of these charges are for long-distance calling plans like 5-cent Sundays that come with a $3.00 monthly fee. Other charges are for enhanced telecommunications services, Internet Access, calling card fees, paging services or telecommunications equipment like caller- ID boxes. The fraudulent or ``crammed'' charges seem to threaten the legitimate products and services that are billed in the same manner, except without consent. In my home state of Tennessee, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority has recently handled over 100 cramming complaints--resulting in the removal of over $11,000 in charges from consumers' phone bills. One of my constituents, Mark Cole, of Smyrna, Tennessee, was crammed when an unauthorized charge for a calling card plan appeared as $9.02 charge on his local phone bill every month. As it turns out, while shopping one day, his wife filled out a contest entry form. However, the fine print was illegible. By signing the contest entry form, she was unknowingly enrolled in a new calling card plan with a monthly fee. It took at least three months and help from the Tennessee Regulatory Authority before the charges were removed. I have been an advocate for consumer protection and of maintaining the integrity of local telephone billing for several years. I first became involved when constituents began complaining about extraordinary high charges for calls to 1-900 numbers. Cramming has emerged in a similar fashion as the fraud that once plagued the 900 Number Industry. As the author of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act (TDDRA), the bill that regulates the 900 Numbers Industry, I know that, it serves as a basis for cleaning up the cramming problem. That is why my bill adds a new Title to TDDRA and will prohibit this deceptive practice. Allow me to share a few highlights from my legislation. The Anti- Cramming Prevention Act: Ensures that the subscriber has knowingly consented to any purchase or charges that appear in the miscellaneous section of their phone bill. Requires the service or product to be clearly listed and described on the phone bill. Permits consumers to block blocking for miscellaneous charges, where cramming appears, at their request. Requires the names and phone numbers of the Service Provider and any third party billing company to be printed on bill for the consumer's information. Entitles consumers that have been crammed to an automatic refund or credit within 90 days of the billing date. Orders the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules and procedures for the resolution of disputes of unauthorized charges reported after the first 90 days. Cramming is a spreading problem nationwide, and must be stopped. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues that care about consumer protection to sign on as a co-sponsor to the Anti-Slamming Protection Act.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my congratulations to the Commandos of Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee as they celebrate their victory in the 1998 TSSAA Class AAA State Soccer Championship. This is a tremendous achievement for the Commandos as it is their first State Championship since 1989. In a remarkable show of school and community spirit, senior team members aspired to win not only for themselves, but also for alumni who had played before them. The championship game was won 2 to 1 by the Commandos under the leadership of Head Coach Russ Plummer and Assistant Coach Darren Frank. Goals were made by seniors Jeff Cundiff and Dylan Brown. Other team members include seniors Ryan Brody, David Kopko, Ryan McComas, Leif Sherry, Clark Hastings, Ian Cummings, and Ben Meyer; juniors Danny O'Keefe, Doug Ziegler, and Michael Rose; and sophomores Joe Carmack, Ryan Alexander, Travis Pulley, Jeremy Willis, Hank Stanfill, Andy Duensing, Corey DeGuira, and Zach Glaser. I congratulate these players and others who have made significant contributions to their success, including Hendersonville High School Principal Paul Decker, Athletic Trainer Robb Williams, Athletic Director Charlie Lewis, and Team Managers Kathy Calderala and Megan McMullen. However, the greatest honor goes to the parents who, I am sure, are very proud of their sons' accomplishments. I give my highest congratulations to these young men on their great achievement. I am certain the Hendersonville community is very proud of these young men for their hard work and dedication.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate a good corporate citizen of mine, Nortel (Northern Telecom) for the critical role they are playing in advancing the Internet for the betterment of all mankind. Recently Donald J. Schuenke, Chairman of the Board of Nortel, was among a stellar list of guests at a White House unveiling of the largest and fastest research and education network in the world. The network, Abilene, is being developed by the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID) with the expertise of Nortel, Qwest Communications, and Cisco Systems. Abilene will provide an advanced backbone network for universities participating in UCAID's Internet2 project. The unveiling was conducted by Vice President Al Gore who said the project ``. . . . represents the kind of collaboration among government, industry and academia that leverages the expertise and resources of each entity, to enable technological advancements and innovation. This project will provide the technological leadership our nation needs as we prepare to enter the 21st century.'' Also attending the unveiling were Joseph P. Nacchio, president and CEO of Qwest, Dr. Douglas E. Van Houweling, UCAID's president and CEO, and John Morgridge, Chairman of the Board of Cisco. Abilene will allow networking capabilities which will enable researchers and educators to develop advanced applications for higher education. Nortel and Cisco Systems will provide networking equipment that will enable the Abilene network's leading edge capabilities. Qwest will provide access to its state-of-the-art nationwide fiber optic network. ``Nortel is proud to be part of this important effort and to provide the most advanced equipment in the world to help Abilene develop cutting-edge applications that will make a real difference in the lives of constituents,'' said Schuenke. ``This effort will allow researchers the security, capacity and reliability they will need to take technological innovation to a new plateau.'' It is expected that initial operation of Abilene will begin before the end of 1998, with full deployment completed within one year. The Abilene project will provide unparalleled networking capabilities to the member universities of UCAID. It will provide advanced networking capabilities such as quality of service and multicasting and will interconnect with existing advanced research and education networks such as the very high performance Backbone Network Service (vBNS). Nortel has been a leader in promoting the Internet in education. They have given generously to schools both here in the District of Columbia and around the country by providing computers, access to the Internet, teacher training and maintenance. They are also great believers in private-public partnerships. Greg Farmer who heads up Nortel's Washington, D.C. office is a leader in this area. Most recently he formed Partners in Technology, a public-private partnership aimed at ensuring all D.C. students have access to the Internet and teachers are trained to bring them into the 21st Century. Nortel works with customers in more than 150 countries to design, build and integrate their communications products and advanced digital networks. Nortel has about 27,000 employees in the U.S., more than in any other country. In Nashville, they have about 1,200 employees who work at the company's headquarters or at Nortel's telephone remanufacturing facility. They also have major facilities in Raleigh, North Carolina; Richardson, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Sunrise, Florida; and Santa Clara, California. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating Donald Schuenke and everyone at Nortel for the leadership role they are providing in Internet2 and Next Generation Internet.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of a hard-working, dedicated public servant, Mayor Joe B. Jackson. Mayor Jackson has served the City of Murfreesboro, my home town, for the past 30 years. First as city councilman from 1968 to 1982, then as Mayor until his retirement on May 7, 1998. During his tenure, Murfreesboro has grown from the quaint, southern, small town to one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. When Mayor Jackson began his public life, Murfreesboro's population was around 25,000--now, under his leadership, the population has grown to over 60,000. Although the growth has been tremendous, especially in the past ten years, Mayor Jackson has made sure we continue to maintain our exceptional quality of life. Murfreesboro has faced many challenges since Mayor Jackson first took office. One was to successfully recruit more industry to the area, therefore providing better job opportunities for young people. While many point to industrial development as his single greatest accomplishment, it has been his vision and leadership that has proven time and time again to bring our community together to do the long- range planning necessary. As the senior member of the council, he has always been the first one willing to learn. One of his greatest talents is his ability to look ahead, not just to the next week or next election, but his ability to look to the future and plan for the changes that lie ahead. Mayor Jackson has not only served at the helm of our fair city, but he has also held leadership positions as the past-president of the Tennessee Municipal League and as a member of the Board of Directors at The National League of Cities. Although he may be retiring as Mayor, he is not retiring from public service--it's in his blood. Besides, we do not plan on letting him retire. I know I will turn to him for advice, and am confident future city leaders will do the same. It goes without saying that Mayor Jackson would not be the leader he is today without the support and guidance of one special individual, his wife, Frances. She not only helped raise three wonderful daughters, Janeese, Jodi and Jennifer, but she has always been there by his side through the ups and downs. Everyone in Murfreesboro knows their accomplishments are joint accomplishments. On a personal note, Mayor Jackson has meant a great deal to me and my family. Mayor Jackson has known my parents since they all attended college together at Middle Tennessee State University. His family, along with mine, have been longtime members of Saint Mark's Methodist Church in Murfreesboro. Mayor Jackson, we will forever be indebted to you. Thank you for sharing your time and your love to help make Murfreesboro a better place to live for all of us.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous contributions Dr. Patrick Doyle has made to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), his community and our environment. In 1972, as faculty advisor to the MTSU Biology Club, Dr. Doyle instituted a recycling program on the school's campus. To date, the program has been responsible for the recycling of 9.2 million pounds of newspaper, one million pounds of office paper and 176,000 pounds of aluminum cans. Students recycling on campus and individuals and businesses in Murfreesboro have contributed to Dr. Doyle's recycling efforts. My Murfreesboro district office staff and I are very grateful to Dr. Doyle and the biology students who collect our cans, newspaper and office paper for the recycling program. I am sure the students who have received scholarships, as a result of this program, are grateful as well. Over the past 20 years, funds totalling $400,000 have been used to assist over 200 students through the more than 20 scholarships generated by the recycling program. Dr. Doyle has also taught an environmental problems course since the 1970s. One day, back in 1978, a fledgling Congressman visited Dr. Doyle's class. The students bombarded the freshman legislator with questions. He was genuinely concerned with the issues they raised. He told the students he would study the issues and get back with them. True to his word, he researched the students' questions and sent them a letter. Now, Vice President Al Gore is internationally known for his knowledge on environmental issues. Dr. Doyle is known for more than his environmental achievements. He has distinguished himself on the racquetball court, as well as introducing this Member of Congress to his first semester of college. I would like to congratulate Dr. Doyle on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Dr. Doyle, Thank you for the contributions you have made to Middle Tennessee State University and the Murfreesboro community.