Dave Hobson

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, Mr. Anthony F. Carozza, known as ``Tony'' by his friends and family, retired on the first day of May 2001, after more than 40 years of exemplary service in the restaurant industry; and Whereas, Tony launched his career in 1960 with Gino's successfully assisting in the start up of many of these famous food chains, and Whereas, in 1962, he desired a new challenge, and he opened three of his own pizza and sub shops, in Baltimore, MD, called Tony's Snack Shops; and Whereas, in 1970, Tony Carozza and family grew tired of city life, and up and moved to Ocean City, Maryland, where Tony worked as pile driver in the frigid February waters before becoming a manager at Pappy's Pizza and Beer, and taking over Beefy's, the first real fast food restaurant in this resort town; and Whereas, in a small community where all the locals known each other, Tony, his wife, Mary Pat, and their four young children ran the restaurant, with each family member making his/her own significant and sometimes humorous contribution to the business; and Whereas, the Carozza home and Beefy's served as a ``home away from home'' for countless friends, neighbors, and family members who shared many fond and funny memories with the Carozza family including enjoying the famous upside down Christmas tree handing from the rafters of Beefy's; and Whereas, in 1980, Tony, a shrewd businessman who was known for being tough on salesmen, began his 20 years in the food service industry, beginning with Shoreland Food Service, followed by PYA Monarch from 1985-1990, then Sandler Foods from 1990-1993, and ending finally in 2001 with J.P. Food Service/U.S. Food Service; and Whereas, his many years of hard work in the restaurant business led to his becoming an award winning salesman with J.P. Food Service/U.S. Food Service bringing in over $3.5 million annually for several consecutive years; and Whereas, Tony Carozza's impressive work ethic and complete dedication to his family and his community have brought him many successes and much happiness, and his many friends and family members who recognize his integrity, his standards of conduct, and his honorable work and life code. Now therefore, on behalf of the United States Congress, I take great pleasure and pride in joining with his family and friends to honor Anthony F. Carozza upon his retirement after more than 40 years of outstanding service to his customers, community, and family.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I normally would not rise to get into this debate, but I just got back from visiting our troops in Korea. They need our help. I just got back from Italy from visiting our troops. They need our help. I visited my base at home. They need our help. I think, with all due respect to the gentleman from Wisconsin, I like the gentleman from Wisconsin and we are friends, but I think to use our servicepeople and involve them in a disagreement over a political matter in this House, I cannot stand idly by and not speak that I think that is inappropriate. Our people in the field need to train, they need care, they need help. To allow them to become part of a partisan battle here I think is inappropriate. We voted on this. We should pass this. We should get this help. I just came back from the Defense Department. They need a lot more help, because we have underfunded the Defense Department. They admit they have waste, they admit they have problems, and they are trying to change them. I think that we should get on with that and not bring other debates into a situation where our troops and their lives and their training and their families on these PCS changes and everything else is affected. It is not appropriate.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members of the Sayers Family from Clark County, Ohio and their combined commitment to shared American values. I rise today to recognize the fact that the four children of Charles and Virlie Sayers have each married and raised their own families for a combined total of 231 years. The Sayer Family provides an excellent example for our community in Ohio, as well as for the country as a whole, of the importance and benefits of a solid family heritage. In today's society, it is very uplifting to hear stories such as these and to see the commitment this Ohio family has made to one another. It was through the Sayer Family's strong foundation that they understood the meaning of hard work as well as the value of family. Growing up, the children were encouraged to be good students, trained in music, and helped run their family farm. They understood the meaning of responsibility and the importance of strong family ties. I want to take this opportunity to recognize the Sayers' for preserving such a strong family bond and for their traditional values and morals.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding Naval Officer, Commander James Stader, who has served with distinction and dedication for almost two years for the Secretary of the Navy, as the Congressional Liaison Officer for Civil Engineering, Appropriations Matters Office under the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller). It is a privilege for me to recognize his many outstanding achievements and commend him for the superb service he has provided to the Department of the Navy, the Congress, and our great Nation as a whole. During his tenure in the Appropriations Matters Office, which began in August of 1999, Commander Stader has provided members of the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Military Construction as well as our professional and personal staffs with timely and accurate support regarding Department of Navy plans, programs and budget decisions. His valuable contributions have enabled the Subcommittee on Military Construction and the Department of the Navy to strengthen their close working relationship and to ensure the most modern, well trained and well equipped naval forces attainable for the defense of our great nation. Mr. Speaker, James Stader and his wife Clara have made many sacrifices during his career in the Navy. His distinguished service has exemplified honor, courage and commitment. As they depart the Appropriations Matters Office to embark on yet another great Navy adventure in the service of a grateful nation, I call upon my colleagues to wish them both every success and the traditional Navy send-off ``fair winds and following seas.''

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained on May 21, 2001, due to a delayed flight; therefore I missed rollcall votes 126 and 127. If I had been present, I would have voted ``yes'' for both H. Con. Res. 56 and H.R. 1885, rollcall votes 126 and 127 respectively.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding person whom it has been my privilege to know and work with for more than 10 years. Mary Beth Carozza has been my Chief of Staff since I became a Member of Congress in 1990. I knew that to have a successful Congressional office I would have to have someone serving as my Chief of Staff who could get the things done that I might tend to overlook, and who had strengths in areas where I sometimes needed assistance. I never have regretted my decision to make Mary Beth my top aide, and I fully realize the deep impact her experienced leadership has had in helping me try to meet the expectations of my constituents as a member of this distinguished body. Before coming to work for me, Mary Beth worked for then Senator William Cohen and served as the press secretary for then Congressman Mike DeWine. My first personal involvement with her came during an event at a dairy farm in my district, when I was directly told by a young woman with a commanding voice to move quickly over to a group of Ohio State legislators for a photograph. Little did I realize that same young woman so at ease with giving orders to a State Senator, would soon become the most important member of my team and one of my closest friends. Mary Beth has been a successful leader not only in the way she has led the staff of Ohio's 7th Congressional District, but in the way she has been successful in helping the Ohio Congressional delegation work together. She has fought very hard on numerous issues, never swayed from her personal convictions, and successfully directed hundreds of important projects that would not have been accomplished without her direct involvement. Mary Beth shares my belief that the best investment is an investment in good people. She always has been a supportive Chief of Staff, deeply committed to helping staff develop their creative abilities and best use their talents. Her success in this can be seen in our current outstanding office staff, and in the levels of achievement reached by former staff members who have gone on to become leaders in government and the private sector. While keeping the 7th District Congressional office running smoothly, Mary Beth has also been generous with her time to help new chiefs of staff develop their leadership skills. She has served with distinction as a member and past vice president of the House Administrative Assistants Association which provides management training for Administrative Assistants in conjunction with the Congressional Management Foundation. As a result of her tireless efforts, Mary Beth has become a trusted and valuable resource for staff and Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and across the country. Mary Beth has demonstrated time and again the selfless service and dedication to ideals which guide her actions, and reflect positively on all who are around her. She will undoubtedly be a tremendous asset as the new Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for House Affairs and I am truly thankful for our time together and what we were able to accomplish. Mary Beth has achieved a great deal through hard work and determination, but she also knows the value of maintaining close ties with her family. I have had the pleasure of meeting Tony and Mary Pat Carozza on several memorable occasions. They exemplify the traditional values of hard work and integrity, and instilled those same attributes in Mary Beth which have served her well. As Ohio's Seventh District Representative to the Congress of the United States, I take this opportunity to join with members of my staff, the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the thousands of Ohioans who have benefited from knowing and working with her to honor the efforts and the achievements of Mary Beth Carozza. Her many contributions to the people of Ohio and the U.S. House of Representatives are greatly appreciated by all and I thank her for her service.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 112, and recognize the accomplishment of the 4-H Youth Development Program. In 1902, in Clark County, Ohio, which is my home and part of Ohio's 7th Congressional District, Mr. Albert Belmont Graham held the first meeting of what eventually become known throughout the nation as 4-H. The four H's are head, heart, hands and health; all of which should be used to serve your community, country, and world. The purpose of Mr. Graham's initial meeting was to instruct the county youth on the best methods of harvesting corn, testing soil samples, planting a garden, and identifying natural wildlife. Soon, The Ohio State University's College of Agriculture became interested in Mr. Graham's meetings, and assisted him in setting up more of these ``agricultural clubs'' across the State of Ohio. Since that time, 4-H has expanded to all fifty states, internationally to more than 80 countries, and 45 million people now are 4-H alumni. The original curriculum has been expanded to include health, family life, photography, and more than 200 subject areas. The 4-H community not only includes those with agricultural backgrounds, but has broadened to reach the youths of the inner-cities and suburbs. Every summer when I tour the county fairs in my district and see young men and women showcasing their talents, I am reminded of the vision of Albert Belmont Graham and his 4-H program, which continues to provide lasting educational, cultural, and social benefits to young people across America and throughout the world.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 91, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague from Nebraska, Congressman Bill Barrett. Bill and I had the distinction of coming to Congress in the same year, and I have always appreciated his enthusiasm toward issues we have worked on together. Bill is a fellow Member of Congress who knows the value of visiting constituents at home and where they work. Like me, he spends almost every weekend traveling in his home State so he can spend time with his constituents in their hometowns. In his first term, Bill was tapped by leadership for two key committees--the Agriculture Committee and the Education and the Workforce Committee. He has worked hard at these assignments and his increasing seniority has allowed him to take a leadership role on a host of pivotal issues including; small business, child care, senior citizens, education, health care, rural development, agriculture, and other important issues. As chairman of the General Farm Commodities Subcommittee, which he has chaired for three terms, and his assignment as vice-chairman of the Risk Management, Research, and Specialty Crops Subcommittee, Bill Barrett has been on the forefront of agriculture policy. Through the subcommittees and as vice-chairman of the full House Agriculture Committee, he played a vital role in overseeing the 1996 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act, which unleashed U.S. agriculture from antiquated programs and overbearing Federal intrusion. Bill has been a leader in balancing the Federal budget and reducing taxes. In the 106th Congress, he has worked to maintain fiscal discipline while paying down the national debt and ensuring the long- term viability of Social Security. His priorities for agriculture have included export market development, further regulatory relief, and improved risk management options. In another parallel to my own experiences, Bill Barrett's public service didn't begin in the Nation's capital. He started at the grassroots level and has been active in local, State, and national politics for many years. He was a member of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature from 1979-90 and served as Speaker the last four of those years. As Ohio's Seventh District Representative to the Congress of the United States, I take this opportunity to join with members of the Nebraska Congressional delegation and the rest of his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the efforts and the many outstanding achievements of Representative Bill Barrett. His many contributions as a Member of the House of Representatives will be long remembered in Congress and by the people of Nebraska.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my fellow Ohioan and good friend, John Kasich. I used to serve with my colleague from Ohio on the Budget Committee, and I know how difficult it is to put together a budget that moves the country forward in a positive direction and remains responsible to the American taxpayer. I want to take a minute to go back a few years and look at where we have been, and how far we have come under the leadership of the Chairman of the Budget Committee. After 30 years of Congress recklessly spending more than we take in, American voters demanded a change. In 1995, the Republican majority came to Congress to restore discipline to the budget process. But before he became Chairman in 1995, the Congressman from Ohio was writing his own balanced budget every year. Back then some of the people who had been in Washington for a while, called it tilting at windmills. But what really was going on was he was building a groundwork for the budget discipline the American people would demand, and Republicans would bring to Congress after we became the majority. In 1991, Mr. Kasich's balanced budget received 114 votes, and the other 303 votes were for a budget that continued to raid Social Security and pile up debt for our children and grandchildren. In 1993, he was able to win another 21 votes and his balanced budget received 135 votes, and the other 295 votes were for a budget that continued to raid Social Security and pile up debt for our children and grandchildren. In 1994, he added 30 more votes, and his balanced budget received 165 votes, and the other 243 were for a budget that continued to raid Social Security and pile up debt for our children and grandchildren. In 1995, the gentleman from Ohio as Budget Chairman passed a Republican budget by a vote of 238-193. And in 1997, this Congress and the Administration came together in a bipartisan to write the Balanced Budget Act--which once and for all, ended the raid on Social Security, which ended once and for all, the reckless practice of spending more than we take in, and which finally balanced the budget, and put our country's books in order. I want to thank the Budget Chairman, on behalf of myself and my colleagues and the constituents in my district and across the country for his service to his country. We are going to miss your expertise, your tenacity, your endless optimism, and your vision of a better America now that you have completed your final budget in the House. As Ohio's Seventh District Representative to the Congress of the United States, I take this opportunity to join with members of the Ohio delegation and members of the Budget Committee to honor the efforts and the many outstanding achievements of Representative John Kasich. His many contributions as a member of the House of Representatives and leadership as a valued Committee Chairman will be remembered.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for an important issue that will require the full attention of Congress in the coming year--database protection. While I am disappointed that consensus could not be reached this year on legislation to protect the right of individuals and organizations to protect their databases from the outright theft of their products, I am hopeful that the 107th Congress will act expeditiously on this issue when it convenes in January. A database anti-piracy law is an imperative for an information society that is growing ever more dependent on the Internet and on the information available in electronic databases. Companies that compile the complex information for these databases put a tremendous amount of work into developing an accurate, understandable resource bank for private or public use. This is a lengthy, expensive, and ongoing process that deserves to be protected. Individuals, companies, and organizations that work hard to compile information for the benefit of their consumers should be protected under our laws. It is not acceptable to allow a ``data pirate'' to steal the product of someone else's hard work and profit from it, while causing the original compiler market harm. Our nation's intellectual property laws have long recognized the importance of rewarding work with legal protection, and this is one area where the law needs to be improved to keep up with advances in technology unforeseen by earlier generations of lawmakers. In the district I represent, the consequences of inaction are very real. I have a background in small business and real estate, so I know that importance of this legislation. From the local realtor to the database company that employs thousands in my state, not acting to provide legal recourse to the victims of data piracy, significantly affects jobs and commerce in Central Ohio. I am concerned that without legislation to protect their databases, there is no incentive to devote time, capital, and resources to the creation and maintenance of dependable and accurate databases. People from all walks of life utilize these databases everyday for information on medicine to information on real estate. Society will be severely affected if these information systems cease to exist. Without legislation to protect them, the lack of incentives for creating and maintaining databases of accurate information will eventually lead to the non-production of these important data compilations. In the next Congress, we can develop legislation that will protect database producers and still allow consumers the same access to the free flow of information for legitimate purposes. Developing sound legislation on database anti-piracy will be a top priority for me in the 107th Congress. I look forward to working with Mr. Coble, Chairman of the Judiciary Courts and Intellectual Property Subcommittee, the Commerce Committee, and the House Leadership on this important issue.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Republic of China on Taiwan which celebrates its 89th anniversary as a nation this month. I join my colleagues to commend Taiwan's successful efforts towards developing a democratic nation as well as electing a new leader. Chen Shui-bian in a free and fair election. Taiwan also is excelling in areas of economic growth and currently is ranked twenty-fifth in the world in per capita income and nineteenth in the world in terms of Gross National Product. Taiwan's many accomplishments serve as a measure of its leaders' dedication to strengthening principles of freedom, democracy, and economic prosperity, values all Taiwanese citizens may enjoy. Additionally, I would like to recognize Ambassador C.J. Chen of the Republic of China on Taiwan for diligently representing his nation in the United States. I look forward to a continued and prosperous relationship between the United States and Taiwan.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Chairman and our Subcommittee for crafting such a fine bill which meets the needs of our veterans, addresses our critical housing needs, protects our environment and at the same time pays down our national debt. As a member of the Appropriations Committee and the VA-HUD Subcommittee, I support the common-sense approach the Committee has already taken to address the problem of contaminated sediments in our rivers. Three years ago, Congress directed the EPA not to issue dredging or capping regulations until the National Academy of Sciences completes a study on the risks of such actions. Qualified scientists are working to finish this report to determine the best way to clean up rivers with nominal impact to the surrounding environment. This has been an open process, allowing input from the public, environmental organizations, and from the EPA itself. I want to reiterate that in the final decision making process, the EPA must ensure that remedies will protect human health and environment, and be cost effective. The National Academy of Science study will be extremely useful in guiding the EPA to develop the most appropriate methods of mediation. My colleagues on the Committee and I will be closely watching to ensure that EPA considers the recommendations of the study and fully integrates them into the final rule. Additionally, the report language which accompanies this bill also allows for the immediate sediment clean up in specific, urgent cases where the contaminated sediment poses a significant threat to public health. However, I would like to clarify that this exception is only for new and immediate risks. Mr. Speaker, I agree that this is an environmentally sensitive issue, and it is important that most qualified, independent scientists weight in on this regulation. This is why I support the existing language, which directs the EPA not to act prematurely and to wait until the NAS study is complete. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walsh for the excellent work he has done on crafting this find bill. it has been a pleasure to work with him this year.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding Member of Congress and an individual who has helped make this Nation a better place for families, our veterans, and our armed forces. Mr. Porter first came to Congress in 1980. Since that time he has become a recognized leader in health care issues. He has always done a commendable job in working in a bipartisan manner to fund valuable programs through the most difficult of situations. His keen interest in supporting health care, education and labor issues, has helped set Federal priorities in those critical areas which further the best interests of our country. Mr. Porter and I share an interest in health care issues, which I developed in my days in the Ohio State Senate. I have always appreciated Chairman Porter's leadership in supporting needed programs in the Labor/Health and Human Services bill to benefit pediatric care, physician training, mental health services, and other important health programs. As a former Army Reservist, Mr. Porter has approved a valued member of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, where I serve as Chairman. Mr. Porter has always been a strong advocate for improving the living and working conditions for our military personnel and their families and he will be missed on our subcommittee. Today, as we honor Mr. Porter, I am pleased to join with his friends and colleagues, his wife, Kathryn, and his children, in wishing him all the best in the years to come and to thank him for his years of dedicated service to our Nation. As Ohio's Seventh District Representative to the Congress of the United States, I take this opportunity to join with members of the Ohio delegation and other members of the Appropriations Committee to honor the efforts and the many outstanding achievements of Representative John Porter. His many contributions as a member of the House of Representatives and leadership as a valued Committee Chairman will be remembered.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I support the long-awaited bankruptcy reform legislation included in H.R. 2415. As a small businessman, I know the importance of improving the bankruptcy system for Americans. While the bankruptcy process should continue to be a life preserver for those who have debt that is insurmountable, this bill makes the needed for reforms to prevent abuse of the system. Not reforming the system amounts to a hidden tax on American consumers, who currently subsidize individuals who walk away from mountains of debt, yet can afford to pay back a portion of their debts. The number of bankruptcies has trended upwards, despite the economy's overall good health. In 1997, the figure climbed to 1.35 million, more than triple the number recorded in the early 1980s. The rise in bankruptcy filings is often attributed to a rise in household debt burdens. Since 1980, household debt has risen from about 61 percent to 85 percent of total disposable personal income. This bill provides for the increased use of Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which allows for the repayment of some debts. This is an appropriate step to ensure that our bankruptcy laws ensure that individuals who can repay a portion of their debts, pay their fair share. I commend my colleagues for their hard work and years of effort to reduce the ``abuse'' of the bankruptcy system while continuing to protect low- income consumers.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this piece of legislation. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall) and myself introduced this back in 1992, the original legislation. As stated, it is a bipartisan piece of legislation. We think the park has progressed very well working together today. The park is fairly unusual as national parks go because it has a number of different locations, as has been explained. The major part of it is in the district of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall). That is where they built the first flying machine. Where they learned how to fly was in my district on Huffman Prairie. The story goes that people used to ride the Inner Urban out to watch the Wright Brothers learning to fly. We hope that lots of people will come to our districts and to go in and see the Wright Brothers museum and also go out to the Huffman Prairie. And some day we hope that there is not only an interpretive center out there, but an actual flying machine on the prairie. I would also like to remark, it is something that is not in here today but it is in the original park bill and it is still there, is the Paul Laurence Dunbar Museum. Paul Laurence Dunbar and the Wrights had a very unique relationship back many years ago, which is something I think all of our public should learn about and emulate in the relations between two people who look differently. The Wrights and Paul Laurence Dunbar established a good business and friendship back in those days, which is something I hope we can foster with this park. We had this technical problem with the park which we think has been worked out and everybody seems to be in support of it today. Again, I would like to commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall) for his work in the establishment of this park.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Historic Black Colleges and Universities Week to honor the achievements of two of Ohio's historically black institutions of higher learning which I have the privilege of representing in the U.S. House of Representatives. Wilberforce University, with a current enrollment of 964 students, and Central State University, with a current enrollment of 1,111 students, have demonstrated time and time again that they are firmly committed to academic excellence and the pursuit of knowledge. I am very familiar with both of these universities, as I have had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors of both of them. Before coming to Congress, I served as the President Pro Tempore in the Ohio State Senate and became very involved with both institutions. I have found their respective administrators and educators to be of the highest caliber, and I am proud to represent their interests in both the Ohio Statehouse and the U.S. Congress. Wilberforce University, which is named in honor of the 18th century statesman and abolitionist, William Wilberforce, was established in 1856. It is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was the first institution of higher learning owned and operated by African Americans. Central State traces its origin to legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly in 1887 to create a Combined Normal and Industrial Department at Wilberforce. In 1951, the general assembly officially changed the name of the state-supported portion of Wilberforce to Central State College, and then to Central State University in 1965. Central State University remains the only public historically black university in the State of Ohio. The true resilience of these educational institutions has been demonstrated in the way they have recovered following the tornadoes of April 1974, which devastated large portions of both campuses. Both schools have been revitalized and have produced aggressive plans for the future to continue producing outstanding graduates for the State of Ohio for generations to come. As Ohio's Seventh District Representative to the Congress of the United States, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to honor the efforts and the achievements of Wilberforce and Central State Universities. Their many contributions to higher learning in the State of Ohio are greatly appreciated by all.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding Ohioan and an individual who has helped to show that the American Dream can become a reality. Raj Soin came to this country from India in 1969 to attend graduate school. The airline which brought him to this country lost his luggage and Mr. Soin began his American odyssey with $3 and only the clothes he was wearing. Through hard work and determination, he received his degree and began a career with Williams International in Michigan. By 1984, Mr. Soin had created Modern Technologies Corporation and established it in Dayton to be near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and its extensive military research facilities. As his businesses grew, he never forgot the importance of family. His wife and sons have publicly praised his ability to balance his professional and family commitments. Mr. Soin is currently president and CEO of MTC International, a parent company for a number of high-tech and manufacturing businesses involving engineering, consulting work for the military, computer applications and services, plastic materials and land development. Mr. Soin is living proof that America is still a land of opportunity. Mr. Soin's belief that the best investment is an investment in good people has given him a vision of excellence and helped him provide crucial leadership to Wright State University. Mr. Soin is committed to Wright State's development as a premier institution of higher learning and he has consistently demonstrated his ability to help this dream take form. While building his own successful business ventures, Raj Soin has served on Wright State University's Board of Trustees since 1993 as well as its Business College Board of Advisors. He also serves on the boards of the Victoria Theatre, the Dayton Foundation, and the Ohio Business Roundtable. Additionally, he founded the Asian Indian American Business Group in 1987 and the Ohio India Project which raises funds for charitable work. As a result of his steadfast support, Wright State University publicly recognized Mr. Soin on September 11, 2000 by naming the school's College of Business and Administration in his honor. As Ohio's Seventh District Representative to the Congress of the United States, I take this opportunity to join with Wright State University and our entire local community to honor the efforts and the achievements of Raj Soin. His many contributions to the Miami Valley are greatly appreciated by all.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the achievements of Business Technologies and Solutions, Inc,'s (BTAS) of Beavercreek, Ohio, which is being honored at the Annual National Minority Enterprise Development Week in Arlington, Virginia. As Representative of Ohio's 7th Congressional District, I am pleased to recognize Ms. Angela Vlahos, President of Business Technologies and Solutions, as her company receives the award for the Region V Minority Small Business Firm of the Year. BTAS has demonstrated outstanding success since it was established in 1992. Ms. Vlahos' commitment to providing quality business and enterprise solutions has allowed her company to experience rapid growth and enjoy more extensive contract opportunities with public and private companies, including Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. BTAS has trademarked its Right Solution Model which provides a framework for consistent delivery of high performance for each individual contract. This dedication to quality now is officially recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency. Additionally, I wish to thank BTAS for its participation in our local community. The firm's contributions to the area, including information technology training for students of the Dayton School System and recreational activities for children at St. Joseph's Treatment Center, serve as a positive model for other local companies. Mr. Speaker, I join the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency in recognizing the achievements of Ms. Angela Vlahos and Business Technologies and Solutions, Inc.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, Division A of the conference report we present to the House today recommends a total appropriation of $8.8 billion for military construction, family housing, and base closure. Overall, the agreement recommends $3.6 billion for items related to family housing, $4.2 billion for military construction, and $1 billion for the implementation of base realignments and closures. As always, I want to express my appreciation to all members of the subcommittee, as well as expressing to our ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver), for his cooperation in crafting this agreement. These funds represent an investment program that has significant payback in economic terms and in better living and working conditions for our military personnel and their families. Mr. Speaker, I also want to congratulate the big chairman and all the other chairmen that worked on Division B. This has not been an easy process for them to go through, but it is an essential process to maintaining our defense posture in this country. I hope that when we complete our work tonight we will have passed this bill in support of our troops, in support of their living conditions, and I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who worked very hard to make this a reality this evening. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record data relating to Division A of the Military Construction Appropriations Bill. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH29JN00.041 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH29JN00.042

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker: I rise in support, of the important legislation before us today that will help seniors in Ohio's 7th Congressional District with the high cost of prescription drugs. I first want to acknowledge the efforts of Chairman Bliley and Chairman Thomas, as well as the efforts of Representative Burr, Representative Greenwood, and Representative McCrery. They've worked long hours, and they have written a very good bill that adds a sustainable, fair, and compassionate drug benefit that modernizes the Medicare program so seniors can afford the drugs they depend on to stay healthy. Our bill puts in place a new benefit in Medicare that allows seniors to receive their prescription drugs through at least two choices--as opposed to the one-size-fits-some approach advocated by the President. It does so in a fair way that lets seniors in my district keep their existing coverage, and in a way that provides assistance to every senior in financial distress or with unusually high drug costs. And every senior will benefit from the power of group discounts that will reduce the out-of-pocket cost of prescription drugs. One of the truly innovative things this bill does, and which is long overdue in the Medicare program, is to create a new Medicare Benefits Administration outside of the current bureaucracy that will be focused on seniors and their benefits first and foremost. Let's compare that to the existing agency that runs Medicare and that would run the program proposed by the President. Seniors and health care providers in my district are very familiar with HCFA, the Health Care Financing Administration which runs Medicare. They also--unfortunately--also are very familiar with the technical answers they can't understand, busy phone lines, a general level of unresponsiveness, and the endless delays at that agency. You might think that Congress would have a little better luck. Sadly, that is not the case. I want to tell my colleagues today about a letter I sent this week to HCFA that demonstrates the importance of our plan entrusting the administration of a new prescription drug benefit to a new senior-focused agency rather than HCFA. For example, in 1997, Congress included a simple and straight-forward provision in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that would allow seniors that depend on a wheelchair or a similar piece of medical equipment some flexibility in ``upgrading'' an old or deteriorating piece of equipment. Today, three years after Congress enacted this improvement for seniors, seniors are still waiting for the current bureaucracy to act. The point is, three, four or five years is too long to make seniors wait. And the President's new claim that HCFA could implement a new prescription drug benefit in a year and a half flies in the face of their actual track record. My colleagues can point to scores of missed deadlines on similar changes approved by Congress. We can't afford to take the same road with a prescription drug plan, and I believe our creation of a new Medicare Benefits Administration is a key improvement over the President's plan. I also want to address the idea that a prescription drug benefit should follow the Canadian model. Some have advocated the solution is simple--seniors just need to import the drugs from Canada. However, for those who support importing the Canadian system, let's take a look at prescription drugs in Canada. Since we last had this debate in 1994, Americans have not forgotten that the way Canada keeps costs down is simple--they don't provide the type of quality care we do in the United States, they allow the government instead of doctors make medical decisions, and health care is rationed--and the result is long waiting periods, where months or even years, for medical treatments are the norm. With respect to drugs, in Canada, it takes an average of one and a half times as long as in the U.S. to approve a new drug. Since Canadians then can only take the drugs their government has approved payment for, they then have to wait even longer to learn if the government will allow that drug in their medicine cabinet. In comparison, our bill provides the same type of discounts available under the socialist, state-run Canadian health care monopoly but instead relies on the power of the marketplace, group discounts, and competitive pricing to achieve these price reductions for seniors. Let's duplicate the cost savings, but let's not think again about importing a failed Canadian health care plan--which Americans overwhelmingly rejected the last time it was proposed. Let me conclude by saying that it is time for Congress to act. I am deeply disappointed by reports in the media that opponents of our legislation don't want to support this bill so they can point their fingers and say that this is a ``do-nothing Congress.'' Enough already. It's time to stop playing politics with this issue and pass this legislation to help the seniors in my Ohio district afford prescription drugs. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my home state of Ohio and its motto, ``With God All Things Are Possible.'' This motto was adopted by an act of the State Legislature in 1959 to express an optimistic and poignant view of what it means to be a resident of our great state. The motto embodies the belief that faith and Providence have played an important role in the development of the State of Ohio from pioneer times to the present day. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the motto is an unconstitutional endorsement of Christianity because the motto is derived from the Gospel of St. Matthew in the New Testament, yet followers of Islam have stated publicly that they have no objection to the motto since it simply references God. The court's ruling is part of a disturbing trend to completely remove religious symbolism from public forums. This was never the intention of the Founding Fathers. The entire purpose behind the First Amendment was to prevent the establishment of an official state-endorsed religion like the Church of England and to protect the individual right to worship without fear of persecution by the government. I'm sure that the authors of our Constitution would truly be perplexed at the way this straightforward constitutional matter has been interpreted to mean that the name of God or a supreme creator is never to be seen on a public document or inside a public building. We have a state motto which states that the belief in God can inspire Ohioans to accomplish even greater achievements in the future. If the court's interpretation of the matter is allowed to stand we will soon be faced with the unpleasant task of striking the words ``In God We Trust'' from our currency, suspending prayer before the meetings of virtually every elected town council and state legislature in the nation, and eliminating the Prayer Room and the Office of the Chaplain from the U.S. Congress. Is this the reality that we want to create? Must God only be praised in the voice of the individual and from private homes and established houses of worship? I truly hope not. The First Amendment of the Constitution was created to protect religious freedoms, not to restrict the right of an individual state to determine its own motto. This ruling is a misguided attempt to negate the democratic process which allowed the motto to be established.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, there has been a remarkable step forward in the rapprochement between Greece and Turkey over the past two weeks as our two NATO allies have cooperated militarily as part of NATO's Dynamic Mix exercise in the eastern Mediterranean. Greek-Turkish military cooperation during this exercise marks a historic turning point. For the first time, 150 Turkish soldiers landed on a Greek beach as part of an alliance wargame to practice repelling an enemy assault on a NATO ally in its southern region. Turkish troops landed near where the Greeks began their 1821 war of independence against the Ottoman ancestors of modern day Turkey. As part of the maneuvers, Turkish warplanes also landed at a Greek airbase for the first time since 1972. Improved relations between Greece and Turkey started with low-level talks on non-contentious matters and were given a boost by mutual outpourings of assistance when destructive earthquakes struck both countries last year. Military cooperation between Greek and Turkish forces--which had been stalled by intractable disputes over the Aegean sea, airspace, sovereignty, militarization of islands, and Cyprus, since the early 1970s--could pave the way for further progress on bilateral problems. Although the two allies have not yet tackled these complex issues, their commitment to cooperation in NATO maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean is an encouraging sign. Turkey made the first gesture on Aegean disputes this time by agreeing to file flight plans for its military aircraft participating in the exercise, a Greek demand even though the 1944 International Civil Aviation Organization accords do not require military aircraft flying in international airspace to do so. Greece accepted the goodwill offer by allowing the flight plans to be filed in NATO's southern region headquarters in Italy, rather than in Athens. Turkey is one of the staunchest NATO allies and continues to field the largest standing army in the Alliance after the United States. Turkey anchored NATO's southern flank from the time it joined the Alliance in 1952 through the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991. Turkey hosted NATO's southeastern land and air commands at Izmir, while counterpart headquarters in Larissa, Greece, were stood up just last fall. Turkey has played consistently in NATO exercises in the region, despite Greek boycotting of the maneuvers over disputed Aegean airspace and militarization of its islands. Greek-Turkish military cooperation in NATO's southern region is crucial for the Alliance to shore up its defenses in the eastern Mediterranean, respond to potential crises in the Middle East, and promote stability in the Balkan region. Our allies in the eastern Mediterranean have already become the new front line states for post Cold War conflicts, such as the Gulf War, the conflict in Bosnia, and the war in Kosovo. Further military gestures to circumvent longstanding Aegean disputes, such as Turkey's compromise this time, will strengthen bilateral relations between two key allies and bolster NATO's ability to defend its southern region in the 21st century.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present during rollcall votes 311, 312, and 313. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 311, ``no'' on rollcall vote 312, and ``yea'' on rollcall vote 313.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak against this amendment and in favor of the report language included in this bill. As a member of the Appropriations Committee and the VA-HUD Subcommittee, I support the common-sense approach the Committee has already taken to address the problem of contaminated sediments in our rivers. Three years ago, Congress directed the EPA not to issue dredging or capping regulations until the National Academy of Sciences completes a study on the risks of such actions. Qualified scientists are working to finish this report to determine the best way to clean up rivers with minimal impact to the surrounding environment. This has been an open process, allowing input from the public, environmental organizations, and from the EPA itself. Mr. Chairman, I agree that this is an environmentally sensitive issue, and it is important that most qualified, independent scientists weigh in on this regulation. This is why I support the existing language, which directs the EPA not to act prematurely and wait until the NAS study is complete. I encourage a ``no'' vote on this amendment.