Ralph Hall

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barcia), and I ask unanimous consent that he be permitted to yield time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1551. It is a bill that provides a 2-year authorization for research and development activities of the FAA. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) has laid it out very succinctly. The bill reported by the Committee on Science was developed in a rather unusual spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship. They really worked together on this. It took a little time to hammer it out. But I certainly want to congratulate the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), the chair of the Subcommittee on Technology for her good work, and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barcia), the ranking Democratic member, for the fine work in crafting this bill. I also want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), chairman of the Committee on Science, for his efforts of bringing the bill forward and bringing it to the House for its consideration here today. Mr. Chairman, the FAA, as my colleagues know, is responsible for the safe operation of a very complex transportation system. It now handles about 1\1/2\ million passengers per day. That continues to grow. I think H.R. 1551 has been well described by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner). It does provide for research programs that is going to enable the FAA to modernize the Nation's air traffic system successfully. Because of the importance of air commerce to our economy, I certainly recommend this legislation to my colleagues and ask for their support and the passage of this bill. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1551, a bill which provides a two-year authorization for the research and development activities of the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill reported by the Science Committee was developed in a spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship. I want to congratulate the Chair of the Technology Subcommittee, Mrs. Morella, and the Ranking Democratic Member, Mr. Barcia, for their fine work in crafting the bill. H.R. 1515 authorizes only a relatively small part of the FAA's budget. But the research that will be carried out in accordance with the bill will have a disproportionate influence on the ability of the agency to meet its responsibilities for management and operation of the national airspace system. The FAA is responsible for the safe operation of a complex transportation system that now handles 1.5 million passengers per day and that continues to grow. The FAA's research and development programs must provide the underpinnings for the technology that will help increase the capacity and efficiency of operation of the airspace system, while ensuring its safety and security. Pursuant to an agreement with the Transportation Committee, the Republican Manager of the bill will offer an amendment to modify the authorizations included in the bill, as it was reported from the Science Committee. Basically, some activities will be removed from the bill that were included in the main FAA authorization bill considered previously by the House. There has been some confusion about the nature of the activities that the agency includes in its Facilities and Equipment appropriations account. Clearly, some of these activities are very similar to the kinds of R&D programs normally authorized by the Science Committee, and consequently, these are retained in H.R. 1551. Disagreements exist about the R&D content of some of the other activities, which the amendment deletes from the bill. In order to ensure that a complete description of FAA's research programs is provided to Congress in future, H.R. 1551 requires the agency in its annual budget submission to report on all of its R&D activities. Specifically, the bill requires FAA to identify every program, regardless of the title of the budget category from which it is funded, that meets the definition of R&D, according to OMB's published guidelines. H.R. 1551, as amended by the manager's amendment, endorses the administration's funding request for the R&D activities covered for FY 2000 and FY 2001. This request includes growth in the second year needed to reverse recent declines in the research side of the agency's R&D programs. Because of the importance of air commerce to our economy, I recommend this legislation to my colleagues and ask for their support for its passage.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in qualified support of the Department of Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1999. This bill has a lot of good things in it and reflects the hard work of Chairman Sensenbrenner at the full committee level and Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member Costello of the subcommittee. My support is qualified because I realize the bill could have been better. The committee did well in the traditional energy areas, but the alternative energy sources of the future are short-changed. The Office of Science accounts fared well, but the Spallation Neutron Source is funded at half the level it needs. Energy research may be out of style when energy prices are relatively low, but we should not be caught up in short-term thinking. Developing new energy sources and getting the most out of current ones takes time and money well in advance of when the energy is needed. I just hope that when the next energy crunch hits, we don't look foolish for not having made the necessary energy investments in fiscal years 2000 and 2001. On a positive note, I'm pleased that the funds for nuclear energy R&D and fossil energy R&D are at or above the president's request. These programs are essential to maintaining a balanced energy portfolio. Most of our energy currently comes from fossil fuels and will continue to do so for our lifetimes. The fossil energy R&D programs help us get more oil and gas out of the ground, make our large coal resources more environmentally acceptable, and otherwise stretch our fossil energy resources further into the future. Unfortunately, other programs authorized in this legislation did not fare as well. Some of the most striking cuts are to Solar and Renewable Energy, which is down $84.4 million, Energy Conservation R&D, down $67.8 million, and the Spallation Neutron Source, down $96.1 million from the President's request. Even more distressing is how energy and other research programs have been faring in the appropriations process this year. We have watched a pattern of research cuts in one appropriations bill after another. How can we expect to have a strong economy in the future when our priorities are so misplaced in the present? Last week in committee, we developed an important multiyear computing and information technology bill (H.R. 2086) which gives a real boost to understanding how to build bigger and faster computers and to use them to solve even larger problems than we can dream of tackling today. Yet, we have watched the Appropriations Committee make cuts in these programs, agency by agency, to the point that the program we have authorized can't be carried out as designed. We worked hard to make NASA lean and mean only to have the appropriators decide to slash another billion from NASA's hide. Now today we are bringing forward a carefully thought-out budget for energy research which, while not perfect, comes close to doing the job. Unfortunately, our friends on the Appropriations Committee have cut $580 million from the administration's budget for environmental and energy research. When we reduce actual funding to these levels, how can we expect to gain the understanding we need of how energy use affects the environment we live in? How will we reduce our dependence on foreign oil? What assurance do we have, if we are unwilling to make the investments, that new energy technologies will be there when we need them? I hope that my colleagues support today's amendments. Even if you don't, I hope you support the bill. Voting for H.R. 1655 is the best way we have of sending a message to our colleagues on the appropriations committees and the negotiators who will finalize next year's budget that research in general and energy R&D in particular are critical to maintaining a high-quality way of life well into the next century.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in August I introduced H.R. 2756, the ``Fair Competition in Tax-Exempt Financing Act of 1999'', which has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee. As a general proposition I believe that governments should be cautious in their use of tax-exempt financing, particularly when it is used to provide services that can be obtained through the private sector. Since I introduced the bill, I have learned that it may raise significant issues that could affect the tax-exempt bonds of municipal electric systems. It was certainly not my intent to do anything that would affect the ongoing debate on the private use restrictions on these tax-exempt bonds. As the Ranking Minority Member of the Energy and Power Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee, which has electric restructuring legislation pending before it, I believe it is prudent that I remain neutral on this issue. In fact I have encouraged the investor-owned utilities and public power systems to reach an agreement on private use and offer it to the Congress as a solution to this important restructuring issue. Mr. Speaker, in order to make my intentions completely clear, were I permitted to withdraw the bill, I would do so. However, the custom in the House is not to permit bills to be withdrawn. As a result of the information I have received and the concerns that have been expressed since the introduction of the bill, I have decided not to seek further action on this legislation.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in support of H.R. 1883. As you know, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1883. I think that it is a useful bill, and one which I believe has been improved by an amendment that I offered at the Science Committee's markup of the bill last week. I am pleased to see that my language has been included in the bill that is before the House today. Basically, my amendment shortened the notification requirements in order to avoid unnecessary bureaucratic delays and costs that do nothing to enhance our security. In addition, it corrected a problem that had arisen when an amendment was adopted by the Science Committee's Space Subcommittee in its markup of the bill. That Subcommittee markup had included an amendment requiring partial transfer of Service Module ownership to the United States in the event of any extraordinary payments. My amendment changed that to ``goods and services''. The issue of transferring ownership of the Service Module is a complicated one in light of the existing international agreements. And I don't think that we'd really want to own part of the Service Module in any event. Most members would agree with me, I think, that controlling the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the most important challenges facing our nation. I think that this bill helps address that challenge, and I urge Members to vote to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1883.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for that. I would like to point out that today the real dollar funding has gone down from the $14.4 billion to the $13.6 billion. At a time when they are projecting a $1 trillion savings in the next 10 years, this is no time to cut down our opportunity to really move ahead in the field of science.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I will be brief. I just want to point out the great need and the devastation that will occur if this is not carried. I want to point out some of the background. Back in the early nineties there was a great effort made at the time when we had projected continued deficits that we would have cutbacks, and they called on all of the committees to cut back anywhere from 5 to 10 to 15 percent. Well, space particularly and the NASA program, it is hard to cut back when you do not really know the effect of what you are doing. So with the help of the then ranking minority Member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), I as chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics called in Mr. Goldin and told him what our problem was. We said, You can cut it with a surgeon's knife or we will cut the budget with a baseball bat, and it makes more sense to do it by someone like you, because when we cut the budget, we are always frightful we are going to cause loss of life or cut it in some life-threatening area. Well, the thing I want to report to you is in the early nineties the projected spending for NASA was some $18 billion, and the reorganization and streamlining that took place at that time reduced it some 30 percent. So we have already taken hard licks in the NASA budget, hard licks in the space program, and really and truly by keeping the faith now we really do suffer from the cut that is proposed at this time. I urge a reconsideration of this. I totally support the gentlewoman from Houston and those from other parts that support NASA. I do not doubt that you on that side support NASA and want the best for the program. I just urge you to reconsider and to give us some help somewhere along the line, whether it is at the level of the House and Senate conference committee or wherever it might be, to reconsider this. Point of Order

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong and unchanged opposition to the Roemer amendment. I am a little bit uneasy about the things that I have to say, and I am trying to think of something nice to say about the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) that I have not said before on all the other occasions that we have voted this amendment down. A good American? You bet. Bad amendment? Absolutely. Great Member of Congress? No question about it. Bad amendment? It is a cinch it is a bad amendment. Fine personal friend? I do not have any better. As a matter of fact, we probably voted together on every other item that comes before this Congress but this one amendment. He is a wonderful guy, just wrong on this amendment. I thought it was a bad amendment back when he first brought it up. I still think it is bad. This amendment, I think everybody knows, would cancel the Space Station just when we are really getting ready to reap the rewards of the investment we already made in this program, a huge investment we made. The first two pieces of the Station are already in place. Much of the rest of the Station is hardware that is stacked out there somewhere around Cape Kennedy that is ready to be put in place, much of it already purchased. It would be a colossal waste of money to stop the Space Station at this late date just as we are starting to assemble it. At the same time, crippling the Space Station would really cripple our ability to conduct the important biomedical and research plan for the Space Station. And that is one of the reasons I am still in Congress, to see the biomedical thrust in space. All of us have a reason for this. My reason is personal because I have had cancer in my family. I have had them wasting away in the cancer ward. I know the benefit of a biomedical thrust in space. We have it up there now. We have to keep it up there. I think the U.S. and the taxpayers of this country are ready for a break-through from space. I say to the gentleman who has the amendment, we are ready for something other than giant expenditures of money. I agree with him on that. We are ready for something other than ticker tape parades. We are ready for a break-through from space, like a cure for cancer, diabetes, or any of the other dreaded diseases. I think that certainly includes research that can help the veterans that are wasting away in VA hospitals with the dreaded diseases that we cannot cure today with the technology that we have. My colleagues all know that I am a supporter of the veterans and I am a supporter of fiscal responsibility. However, this amendment does nothing to help either cause. It should be defeated. I urge the Members to oppose the amendment.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Emergency Steel, Oil, and Gas Guarantee Act of 1999. Mr. Speaker, I'm here tonight to offer my support for the men and women in Texas, as well as throughout all of what we know as the ``Oil Patch.'' These people have built an industry that has brought us a way of life. Inherent in this industry has been the willingness to take risks by the investors, and an abundance of hard work. The oil and gas industry in this country owes it's past successes to the classic hard work, family business, the American way. Without the risks and hard work we would not currently enjoy so many of the conveniences that make our way of life the envy of the world. Yet, these family businesses, otherwise known as Independent Producers, have hit upon very serious hard times, and while the rest of our economy appears to be booming, these hard working people have been forced to cap wells, lay off their employees, and compete with very strong foreign markets. The stacked oil riggs give mute testimony to their plight. We must vote YES, and pass this bill, for at least two important reasons. (1) Our National Security rests upon our ability to rely on domestic energy resources in case of emergency, * * *. We cannot afford to sit back and watch this industry fail. (2) It is the right thing to do, * * *, these men and women, have been there for us in tough times, all they are asking of us, is that we be there for them in what most of the rest of us are experiencing as good times. This industry is deserving of these loan guarantees, and as a matter of national security, we must respond to their call for assistance.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to ``50 Years of Great Chemistry'' by the Texas Eastman Division of Eastman Chemical Co., which has accomplished and contributed so much as a company and to the people of East Texas. Eastman Chemical is a leading international chemical company that produces a wide range of chemicals, fibers, and plastics. In 1949, Longview, Texas, was selected as the location for the Texas Eastman Division. In 1950, plant construction began, and by 1952 products were being shipped out. From its modest beginning in 1950, the Eastman Division has grown into one of the largest petrochemical plants in Texas. The original plant in Longview, Texas, occupies a 6,000-acre site close to the East Texas Oil Field, which has provided the company with its principal raw materials--propane, ethane, and natural gas. The company also owns and operates a 300-acre underground storage facility in Tyler, Texas, where more than 250 million gallons of propane, ethane and chemical intermediates are stored. Texas Eastman uses approximately 55,000 barrels per day of its raw materials. In order to produce such a large quantity of raw material, Eastman owns and operates 11 pipelines that extend as far as 200 miles to the Texas Gulf Coast. Texas Eastman's products are high-volume, continuous processes which operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. On average, the company ships more than 9 million pounds per day of chemical and plastic products to its consumers worldwide. Texas Eastman is one of the largest employers in East Texas with approximately 2,700 employees and annual payroll and benefits totaling 175 million dollars. Eastman also employs some 16,000 men and women in 30 countries around the world. Committed to working toward an improved quality of life for our families, neighbors, and communities, Texas Eastman and its employees participate extensively in civic and professional organizations throughout East Texas. Additionally, the company floods the East Texas economy with hundreds of millions of dollars each year through materials, services, freight and local state taxes. Since 1981, Texas Eastman has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on environmental, operating, developmental, and capital projects, on its way to becoming the 9th largest chemical producer in the United States. Eastman Chemical Company's commitment has not gone unrecognized. In 1993, Eastman won the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, the first chemical company to win this prestigious national award. Texas Eastman also received the first Texas Quality Award presented to companies that are role models for quality excellence in the State of Texas. Additionally, Texas Eastman has received numerous awards for its efforts to protect the environment, such as the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator's Award for ``outstanding achievements in pollution prevention.'' For its significant improvement in the state's environment, Eastman also received the ``Excellence in Environmental Awareness'' award from the League of Women Voters of Texas in 1995. From the ``Best in Texas'' award, the Clean Industries 2000 Award, the list of honors and accolades bestowed upon Texas Eastman are numerous and distinguished. ``It is the policy of Eastman Chemical Company to carry out its business activities in a manner consistent with sound environmental management practices and in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.'' These very words are the proud motto by which all Eastman employees stand true. The men and women of Texas Eastman proudly assume this responsibility as caring citizens, who continue to devote their time, talents, and energy as volunteers and civic leaders for the betterment of their communities. Mr. Speaker, the Texas Eastman Division of the Eastman Chemical Co., is a tremendous asset to East Texas. As we adjourn today, let us honor and recognize the 50th anniversary of this committed and prosperous company.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a truly fine American--Mrs. Willie Lee Glass of Tyler, TX--who died May 2, 1999. In honor of her tireless efforts in the East Texas area, Mrs. Glass received many awards and accolades including, the People of Vision award and induction into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame. Mrs. Glass was born August 24, 1910, in Nacogdoches, TX, to the late E.J. and Mary Campbell, both educators. She left Nacogdoches to attend Prairie View A&M and later received her master's degree from Iowa State. As a result of her strong family background in education, Willie returned to East Texas to serve as a homemaking consultant for the Texas Education Agency. She was also an active member of the Texas College Board of Trustees, the American Red Cross, the University of Texas at Tyler Foundation, and the Stephen F. Austin University Foundation. She was presented numerous tributes from the people of East Texas such as induction into the Nacogdoches Heritage Festival Hall of Fame and recognition as a Philanthropy Day Awards Outstanding Volunteer honoree. Mrs. Glass was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. D.R. Glass, a 30-year president of Texas College. They were both members of the St. Paul CME Church. Willie's passion for education still runs deep even after her death, as a memorial scholarship has recently been established in her name at Texas College. Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in honor and in respect for this truly outstanding American--Mrs. Willie Lee Glass.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to a truly fine American--Mrs. Davida Mount Edwards of Tyler, Texas--who died on Sunday, May 16. Davida was a devoted wife and mother, and will be dearly missed by those she touched in the East Texas area. Mrs. Edwards was born September 19, 1921, in Chico, Texas. Her family later moved to Houston where she graduated from Reagan High School, in 1939, and later taught home economics. She expanded her extensive work in education by teaching Adult Homemaking Education classes for the Houston Independent School District. She also worked with the Texas Education Agency as a homemaking supervisor, covering 14 counties throughout the great state of Texas. Mrs. Edwards' loving and caring ways touched every aspect of her community. She was instrumental in forming the East Texas School of Nursing through her extensive travel within the East Texas area recruiting members to fill the first classes. She also assisted in the formation of the Robert Craig School of Nursing at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. In addition, Mrs. Edwards served in organizations such as the American Association of University Women, the Deborah Bible Club, Tyler Women's Forum, and was a 48 year member of First Baptist Church where she conducted Sunday School classes for many years. I always felt a kinship to Davida in that her husband, Welby, and I are alongtime friends. We are both from Fate, Texas, and John Payne and I have kept in touch with the Edwards through the years. Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in honor and respect for this truly great lady, Mrs. Davida Mount Edwards.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a fine American, Mr. Martin P. Doolan, recipient of the prestigious 1999 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Following a distinguished and highly-decorated military career, Mr. Doolan retired as captian in July of 1997, after 7 years active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard and 30 years of service in the reserves. His military career is augmented by an equally successful business career, which spans a quarter of a century of executive management of corporate turn-arounds with return to long-term profitability of numerous sizable corporations. Mr. Doolan's ability to salvage the equity value in these corporations has enabled their continual growth for both shareholders and the thousands of Americans employed within these firms. Currently, he serves as President/CEO of Value City Department Stores and DSW Shoe Warehouse, a $1.6 billion off-price retail department store and shoe chain. His accomplishments have been chronicled in nationally recognized publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Business Week, and many others. Recently he was featured on ``CEO Call'' which airs on CNBC Live. Established in 1986 by the National Ethnic Coalition Organization, Ellis Island Award Recipients embody exceptional humanitarian efforts and contributions to fellow Americans. Previous awardees have included six United States Presidents, Governors, community advocates, and members of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Along with Mr. Doolan, other 1999 Ellis Island Award recipients include: First Lady Hillary Clinton, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and Senator John Glenn. Mr. Doolan was joined at the awards ceremony by his lovely wife of 36 years, Grace Ann Doolan and his three daughters, Theresa Doolan, Jennifer Doolan Patty and Jeanne Doolan Cunningham. A former resident of Duncanville, TX, the Doolans currently reside in the quiet suburb of Heath, located on the outskirts of Dallas. Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in honor and respect for this great American, Mr. Martin P. Doolan.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1218. I have listened to this type of testimony for a long, long time. I rise without any ill will toward those who differ with me. I have heard testimony on abortion for the last 50 years. I started my public service in 1951. I have listened to fathers, and I have listened to mothers. I have listened to girls in trouble, to pastors. I have listened to medical testimony. I am not among those who want to push anybody off on a sidewalk or fire on anyone who is trying to enter into an abortion clinic. I hope I am not a part of the far right or the far left. I believe I am a part of what they might call the far middle, because the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) testified from the record that 78 percent of the people want parental rights. I have listened to all that testimony. I voted many, many times. While I have compassion for those who differ with me, I come down on the side of life. I can come down on no other side. By voting in favor of this bill, I think I am not just voting to protect young women. I think I am voting in support of States' rights, and I am voting in support of parental rights. All of us want the best for our children. We want to help them make very difficult decisions. We want to be there to support them through this process. This bill allows parents to be a part of that very trying time physically and emotionally by enforcing State laws which require parental involvement in a decision bearing serious consequences for our daughters. In a time when our children cannot even, as has been testified to here time and time again, so much as even receive an asprin at school without parental permission, it certainly seems illogical to allow our minor daughters to travel across State lines to have an illegal abortion. This bill gives us the chance to tell our daughters that we care about their health and well-being and we want to prevent other adults from taking our place. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for her leadership, and I am pleased to vote in support of States, of our parents, and of our children.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank my good friend for giving me the time to express my strong opposition to H.R. 2122. In lieu of recent events--more specifically, the tragedy in Littleton, Colorado--I share the concern and fear for the future of our great nation--especially for our children. Such tragic occurrences demand serious reflection by all of us--parents, children, educators and legislators alike. I pray that such reflection will create serious dialogue between parents and their children, for I believe that the true solution to such tragedies lies within the family unit. We are united in our compassion for those involved in these recent tragedies, but we must be careful not to confuse the issues surrounding these terrible events. It seems that every time there is a drive-by shooting--or every time some mal-contented, misguided, or incorrigible youth decides to obtain guns in order to kill innocent people--there is a rush to jump on the bandwagon to take away our Second Amendment rights. These tragedies ought, instead, to spawn a resurgence of the effort to put God back in our schools and in the hearts of every student. Such tragedies should also spawn a resurgence in parents' commitment to raise their children to respect the sanctity of life and to be responsible, law-abiding citizens. We need to focus our efforts where we know the problem lies--on the number of broken families in our country, on our over-sized classrooms, on the amount of sex and violence in our children's music, movies and games, and on the drugs and drug dealers that are infiltrating our inner cities. The root of the problem is the absence of God in our homes and in our schools--not the presence of guns in our society. Despite the hundreds of gun laws that exist today, none prevented such horrifying events. And none ever will. In Washington, D.C., it is a felony to possess a handgun in your home--yet this has had little effect on the crime rate in our nation's capital. We must not punish the majority of our law-abiding citizens by making it harder on them to--legally--pursue a constitutional right. Instead, we must empower our law enforcement agencies and judicial system to track down and convict those who choose to use guns illegally--regardless of their age. In short, Mr. Chairman, we need to focus our efforts on strengthening our juvenile justice system. We need to instill values and build character in our children at home, in our schools and in our churches. We need to advocate more parental control--not more gun control. I urge colleagues to vote against H.R. 2122.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a true American hero, Captain D.L. ``Pappy'' Hicks. In a recent trip to Washington, Pappy was honored by Congress for his dedication and service in the Secret Army, which operated in Laos during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Pappy was a deep, covert operator in clandestine operations in South Asia from 1959 until 1982. Many of these operations have remained concealed over the years as a result of their top secret nature. American citizens and U.S. troops, alike, were unaware that any fighting was occurring in Laos during the Vietnam War, hence the operations have often been called the ``Secret War''. The Secret Army was comprised of Hmong and other Laotian Mountain people in cooperation with the Royal Laotian Army and American advisors such as the CIA, U.S. Army Special Forces, and U.S. Army covert operators. Yet, as a result of the covert nature of their service, the men who gave their lives serving in the Secret Army in Laos are not recognized on the Vietnam War Memorial. Their mission was to find potential enemies of the United States operating within the Laotian borders with the North Vietnamese. Reportedly, these men saved thousands of American lives through their efforts; thus, their recent Washington tribute was an emotional one for Pappy. At the ceremony, Pappy was given a pa'ndua, a ritualistic cloth used to tell the history of the Hmong people, by General Vang Pao, his Laos commanding officer. In his speech, Pappy struggled to fight back tears as he recollected his time in Laos and the injuries he sustained while operating in that area. As he spoke to his fellow soldiers, Pappy remarked, ``Ever so often, years after the fact, when we become old men, we who worked in the dark are let out in the light for a moment of glory. For me, this is the day''. Captain Hicks, from the Fourth District of Texas, currently resides in Troup, Texas, with his lovely wife of forty-five years, Marjorie Ann Tupa. Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in honor of this true American hero--Captain D.L. ``Pappy'' Hicks.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. (Mr. HALL of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today, of course, in strong support of H.R. 1654, and I want to talk a little about the amendments. This is an annual matter, and I have such high regard for the author, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer). I have said so many times that this is another of those situations where one likes the author, but one cannot stand his amendment. But I am getting used to it, because we have voted on this day in and day out, year in and year out. I really think some of these amendments are not all that bad. I would say that to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer). It is kind of like in gun control. I do not mind the waiting period, I do not mind registering them, but I know that the full intent is to take them away from us. Here, these amendments are steps in the direction of losing the space station. We do not want to do that. We cannot afford to do that. I am pleased that the International Space Station and the space shuttle operations are fully authorized at the level as requested by NASA and this legislation. I think they are entitled to the respect of this committee because some time ago the chairman of the Committee on Science and I, working together, minority and majority, talked to the Administrator and told him of our desire to cut down the NASA expenditure and try to cut it by say 25 or 30 percent. It seemed like the words were used that if you do not cut the budget here, you know how to cut it because you know all of the ramifications of the budget. We know about as much as we can know, but we will either cut it with a baseball bat or you cut it with a razor and do it in the right manner so that NASA could still operate. I am happy to say that Mr. Goldin did that and he cut that budget almost 34 percent, more than I think any other budget percent-wise has been cut on Capitol Hill. So I would just say that NASA's space research has been cut, but they are still operating, and it results in products that improve our quality of life, such as instruments that measure bone density without penetrating the skin, cardiac pacemakers, computer readers for the vision impaired, smoke detectors, voice-controlled wheelchairs, and the list goes on and on of the accomplishments. And yes, the inspiration to the young school children all over this country. If we cancel out this space station, I would say we would have than uprising from the schools, from the intermediate schools on up to the strongest higher education levels that this Congress has never envisioned before. I say to my colleagues, they would come alive. We need to continue the research that the space station could lead to, the medical breakthroughs of combating cancer, arthritis, diabetes, balance disorders, Alzheimer's, cardiopulmonary diseases and other afflictions that threaten our citizens. We need this space station. We need the hope that this space station holds out. For those wasting away in cancer wards as we speak, they have one thing in their heart, and that one thing is hope. I hope that this Congress will not let them down and cut off the one operation that could deliver to them the deliverance from the wards they languish in. They are entitled to that hope. Mr. Chairman, throughout America's rich history, there has always been among the American people and its leaders a deep and abiding belief in that hope, and in that future, a belief that we can and will continue to accomplish great feats and make great discoveries. Space is our last frontier, and NASA is the organization that provides the knowledge, the resources, the heroes and the vehicles necessary for space exploration. This is important legislation, and just as in the gun control thrust, they will take several steps toward it that look innocuous, but would take the guns away and violate the amendment to the Constitution that these people rely on. This is the same situation. A few amendments can cripple the space station. We do not want to get to that point. I think this legislation deserves our support today. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1654, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act of 1999, and for the important work that NASA has consistently accomplished as the world's leader in space endeavors. As a longtime member of the Science Committee, it has been gratifying to see the progress that NASA continues to make in streamlining its programs, controlling its spending, while continuing to deliver good results. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that the International Space Station and Space Shuttle operations are fully authorized at the level requested by NASA in this legislation. The space station represents an investment in our future and represents the combined hopes of many nations that microgravity research in space will have far-reaching benefits for our people. Specifically, this legislation designates slightly more than $1 billion over the next three years for life and microgravity sciences and applications. As you know, Mr. Chairman, NASA's space research has already resulted in products that improve our quality of life, such as instruments that measure bone density without penetrating the skin, cardiac pacemakers, computer-readers for the vision-imparied, smoke detectors, and voice- controlled wheelchairs. We continue to hope that research on the Space Station could lead to medical breakthroughs in combatting cancer, arthritis, diabetes, balance disorders, Alzheimer's, cardio-pulmonary diseases and other afflictions that threaten our citizens. This legislation provides $6.9 billion for the international space station and $9.6 billion for space shuttle operations. The space station began as a dream and still has its share of critics. But through hard work, careful planning and the financial commitment of many nations, the space station dream is still very much alive. This legislation will help keep it so. Throughout America's rich history, there has always been among the American people and its leaders a deep and abiding belief in our future--a belief that we can and will continue to accomplish great feats and make great discoveries. Space is our last frontier, and NASA is the organization that provides the knowledge, the resources, the heroes, and the vehicles necessary for space exploration. This is important legislation, Mr. Chairman, that deserves our support today.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I will be brief, Mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman of the committee; and I want to congratulate my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), for his very hard and successful bipartisan work on this bill. He has worked closely with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frank Pallone), who is an active member of our subcommittee, as well as the original cosponsor of this legislation. These two men together have done such an excellent job of building bipartisan support that, as the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) has pointed out, it was reported out unanimously by both the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the full Committee on Commerce. I know of no objection to this project; and I am, therefore, pleased to add our support to the legislation that would authorize FERC to extend the license for the Mt. Hope hydroelectric project for an additional 2 years. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to get to say a word or so about Jake Pickle. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) and others have talked about all of his attainments, his acquisitions and his honors. I guess I just want to talk about Jake Pickle, the good guy that I knew. I have probably known him longer than any Member of this Congress. I have known Jake since I was about 20 years old. I am 75 years old, and Jake would say that he is much younger than I am. People are proud of him all the way from Roscoe, Texas, where he was born out in far west Texas, Big Spring, Austin. He knows everybody. Everybody knows Jake. There was no better Member of Congress, no one more persuasive, no one that could get something done because everybody liked Jake and everybody wanted to help Jake, and Jake knew everybody in the world. Allan Shivers, John Connally, of course, LBJ, Joe Kilgore, all the movers and shakers. Jake was a close personal friend of theirs, and they felt a brotherly feeling, and people in this Congress felt like Jake was a brother to them because he loved them and they loved him. I just know of no public servant that has been any better than Jake. I first knew him when he was in a PR firm there in Austin, a young man, handsome, of course, and part of the Lyndon Johnson team from the word go. They have had great Members of Congress to serve Travis County and the area around: LBJ, Homer Thornberry, Jake Pickle, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) doing a superb job of representing that area today. Jake was always the same. That is what I liked about him. He was always the same. He was always cordial. He was always smiling. He always knew everyone, and he was always persuasive. He could have a bill that he had introduced, moving something out of someone else's district that they liked into Travis County and he was so persuasive he could make them think it helped them more than it did him. That was the Jake Pickle I knew and loved. I wish him the best, I wish Beryl the best because they are the best. God bless this couple and God bless this occasion for Jake Pickle.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here today to rise in support of H.J. Res. 37, the tax limitation amendment. I admire and certainly appreciate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) and my own colleague over on the Democratic side, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goode), and others, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg), who have worked so hard on this. I thank the Speaker for giving us April 15 to pursue the passage of this amendment, and that pursuit and that determination is offset by the graciousness of my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt), and his innate fairness to allow me to speak on his time when he opposes the amendment. I thank him for that. I want to be simple and to the point here if I can. Today is a day that millions of hardworking Americans have filed their tax returns with the Federal Government. It is a tough day for a lot of people. It is also a day that most have come to dread because they feel that the government continues to take their taxes. We have created a situation in which many Americans do not feel that their government responds to their needs, taxes them excessively, continuing to spend without regard. I hope today is the day we can return some of the confidence in the government to the people. The tax limitation amendment will return confidence by promising that the Congress will no longer raise their taxes without careful consideration and a two-thirds vote in support. This would have precluded the passage of a lot of bad so-called tax reform acts. There would have to be a strong consensus among members of both parties, not just one side, to raise taxes, making sure it would be a necessity. This is a simple, straightforward proposition that a number of States have already adopted and a number of others are expected to consider this year, including my home State of Texas. In States that require a two-thirds vote to increase tax rates, growth in both spending and taxing is lower than in States without it. This simple fact is proof that the intent of this legislation can and will accomplish its goal if we just pass it today. The amendment would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in both chambers of Congress to pass any legislation that raises taxes by more than a minimal amount. This resolution would cover income taxes, estate and gift taxes, payroll taxes, excise taxes. It would not cover tariffs, user fees, voluntary premiums, and other items which are not part of the Internal Revenue laws. The two-thirds standard is reserved for the most important decisions, including amending the Constitution, ratifying international treaties, impeaching the President, and on and on. It is time we elevate raising taxes on the American people to this same high standard that it takes to carry out any of these other obligations. I have worked hard to push for a balanced budget amendment and control spending and taxing while in Congress. The tax limitation amendment makes good sense by restoring discipline to our system, which has spun out of control. Today, April 15, we can tell our constituents we will no longer slip tax increases through by slim margins, and commit ourselves to a direct yes or no when their pocketbooks are at stake. I am proud to join the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Virgil Goode) as the lead Democrat on this bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to pass the tax limitation amendment. In summation, if we ever have a balanced budget amendment, we need this amendment to stand side by side. Otherwise, a future Congress could balance the budget by simply raising our taxes with a slim majority vote. That should not be.

Mr. HALL of Texas. I thank the gentleman from Texas, and I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) for his graciousness in giving me this time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the latest achievement of a wonderful group of young men and women from my district--the Canton, Texas, Mighty Eagle High School Band. Just last month, on St. Patrick's Day, I came before the House to honor the numerous awards and recognitions that have been bestowed upon these youngsters. In addition, I wanted to publicly acknowledge them for being chosen to represent the State of Texas in Dublin, Ireland, on St. Patrick's Day, for that city's St. Patrick's Day Parade. Mr. Speaker, not only did the Canton High School Band go to Dublin, Ireland to perform, but they won the international competition by winning the event's top prize. The Eagle Band ``wowed'' the five member international judging panel with its rendition of ``Festive Overture'' by Demitri Shostakovich. For its winning performance, the Eagle Band was recognized by Dublin Lord Mayor, Joe Doyle, with the parade competition championship trophy. Playing before crowds of people and ambassadors from France, Russia, Argentina, England and Germany, the Canton Band proudly represented their home town, the State of Texas and the United States. As we adjourn today, let us do so in honor of the Canton Mighty Eagle Band and their latest achievement.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great American, who has dedicated his life to those less fortunate--Dr. George A. Hurst, M.D., of Tyler, Texas. In honor of his tireless sacrifices and endless contributions to the medical community, Dr. Hurst will be named as Director Emeritus at the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler on March 31, 1999. The son of American missionaries, Dr. Hurst was born in Brazil, attended high school in Georgia and graduated from Austin College. He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and interned at Parkland Memorial Hospital. In 1964, he came to Tyler as the Clinical Director of the East Texas Chest Hospital. In 1970, he was named Director and worked in that capacity until January of 1998. In 1977, the hospital became a part of the University of Texas System and was renamed the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler (UTHCT). Working with the leadership of the UT System, he has guided the institution through a remarkable period of growth in its facilities including: the Patient Tower in 1980, the Biomedical Research Building in 1987, the Medical Resident Center in 1987 and the Ambulatory Clinic Building in 1996. More importantly, UTHCT evolved from a chest hospital to an acute care facility with a multiple mission of patient care, medical education and biomedical research. To help fulfill this mission, The Family Practice and Occupational Medicined Residency Programs were begun during his tenure. A dedicated servant, he has served his institution, community, family and church with humility and insightful leadership. A godly man, placing others before self, he dedicated his life to caring for those in need and in so doing achieved a high level of respect from his peers, as signified by the many honors bestowed upon him. The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler is honored to recognize, Dr. George A. Hurst, Director Emeritus, for his exemplary service to mankind as its Director from 1970-1998. Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in honor and respect for this great American--Dr. George A. Hurst, M.D.