Tim Holden

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, I would like to briefly discuss an issue which I believe is very important, the cost-effectiveness of Defense energy acquisition. Before doing so, may I say that I am sure that I speak for the vast majority of the Members of the House in congratulating the Members of the National Security Committee for their hard work on this important legislation. It is not an easy task, and my thanks go to all concerned. Mr. Chairman, I have just completed a thorough on-site inspection of the Department of the Air Force's ongoing policy for the acquisition of required modern heating services for the U.S. facilities in the Kaiserslautern Military Community of Germany. Pursuant to previous authorization law, 10 U.S.C. 2690, and subsequent appropriations measures, the Department has only recently completed the first of three essential heating modernization agreements in this military region, this one being for American facilities in the city of Kaiserslautern. I would like to make all of my colleagues and particularly the members of the National Security Committee, aware of this situation. I would like to add that the agreement between the city Kaiserslautern and the Air Force, for the acquisition of furnished heating services, meets the cost-effective criteria of the legislation, and likewise provides for the use of American coal as the base-load energy in the municipal heating system which will provide furnished heat to the U.S. facilities in Kaiserslautern West. Acting under what it says are the guidelines of both the authorization and appropriations [[Page H6013]] legislation, Air Force- Europe is undertaking the various steps of procurement that will result in counter-cost-productive energy acquisition policy. I refer to the two other major installations in the same military community, the U.S. facilities in nearby Landstuhl, and Ramstein Air Base as well. The Air Force agreement for the city of Kaiserslautern stipulates the cost- effective use of American coal, but proposed agreements for these other two installations include the use of costly foreign natural gas as the base load energy. This development was made known to me, in spite of recent German energy statistics which clearly indicate over a 6-year period, natural gas and oil used in German central heating systems has increased in price at least twice as much as coal. Mr. Chairman, it seems there are at least two very serious drawbacks on this policy. First, more efficient cost considerations are being laid aside by the Air Force; second, the interests of the U.S. energy industry are being once again put aside in favor of a policy that directs the benefit of U.S. Defense dollars to foreign economics. I feel this is a very serious matter. I regret that the complete picture of the cost deficiencies of this energy acquisition matter was not available prior to the House committee adopting the fiscal year 1996 authorization act. In view of the most disturbing economic trends of this Air Force policy, I believe that these concerns should be expressed to the Committee on National Security and in turn to the Secretary of the Air Force, and that further, pending the outcome of an independent evaluation of cost effectiveness on the issues, that the Department should place all procurement in abeyance until this has been fully considered by the Committee. I believe that the Department of the Air Force should suspend such procurement activity for the time being, while the cost effectiveness considerations are being evaluated.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. First, I want to commend the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Emerson] and the chairman, the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Roberts], for the work they did on this. I, too, have 14 spent years in law enforcement, 7 as a sheriff, and I support the amendment of the gentleman from Ohio. We have pictures on drivers licenses, we have pictures on ID's, to identify people for alcohol. It works as a deterrent. The first EBT project program in the whole country was in Reading, PA, in my district. I just hung up with the director of public welfare in Berks County, PA. They tell me this will work as an added deterrent to people trying to defraud the welfare system through EBT. I urge everyone to support this.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Deal substitute and its provisions for greater child support enforcement. Members of this core group of moderates have worked hard to expand upon last year's mainstream forum proposal and build a consensus among those wishing to make meaningful and long-lasting changes to our current welfare system. As the former sheriff of Schuylkill County in my home State of Pennsylvania, I have firsthand knowledge of how difficult it can be to collect unpaid child support. Under the Deal substitute, all parents would be accountable to their children through: First, increased paternity establishment; Second, central registries of child support orders in each State; Third, uniform interstate enforcement procedures; and Fourth, punitive measures for deadbeat parents such as direct income withholding and State option to revoke occupation, professional, and driver's licenses We owe it to our children to have the financial support of both parents and to the taxpayers who fund the irresponsible behavior of deadbeat parents. I urge my colleagues to lend their support to the Deal substitute and real welfare reform.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor a member of a World War II, B-17 bomber crew for an act of heroism that, until now, has gone unrecognized. His name is William J. Shade, of Fleetwood, PA, and he was a technical sergeant in World War II. He has been awarded there Oak Leaf Clusters and one Air Medical. William Shade was a radio operator and gunner with the 545th Bomber Squadron, based in England during the war. He entered the service in November of 1942. He received his preliminary training in California, and was later trained as a radio operator in South Dakota, and took gunnery training at Tyndall Field, FL. He was promoted to sergeant before going overseas in 1943, and while overseas was promoted to staff sergeant and later technical sergeant. The accounts of William Shade's heroic act are taken from crew members who were saved by his bravery. These men would not have survived the mission were it not for Mr. Shade's actions. On March 3, 1994, the 545th Bomb Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group based at Grafton-Underwood in England was dispatched on a mission over Berlin. The crew had been briefed to expect less than perfect weather over the target. However, the briefing officer believed that the crew could fly above the weather somewhere between 20 or 25 thousand feet. As the mission progressed it became apparent that the bomber was not going to find weather good enough to maintain formation and bomb their target. Approximately, two thirds of the way to Berlin, the mission was recalled and the B-17 was told to return to England. Shortly after the bomber had completed its turn to proceed to their base in England, Sergeant ``Chick'' Metz, the ball turret gunner, requested permission to leave his battle station for a short time. At this time, the plane was still flying at 25,000 feet. A few seconds later the oxygen control officer, Lieutenant Betalotti checked to see if Sergeant Metz had returned to his battle station, but he did not answer. After a few more seconds he was again called and still did not answer. One of the waist gunners, Sergeant Alfter, went to check on him. Sergeant Alfter reported that Sergeant Metz was apparently unconscious and would need some help. About the same time Sergeant Alfter lost consciousness because of lack of oxygen. A third person, gunner, Sergeant Gatzman, proceeded to the access door of the ball turret to give Sergeant Metz and Sergeant Alfter aid, but he too passed out. Then Sergeant William Shade, looked through the door of the radio room, saw and recognized the seriousness of the situation for the three unconscious gunners, and began to take immediate action. With no regard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Shade disconnected his own oxygen, and made it to the location of a walk- around oxygen bottle, which was very small and had only a few minutes of oxygen left. He was able to connect the ball turret gunners normal oxygen supply and then was able to connect Sergeant Alfter's and Sergeant Gatzman's supply. All three gunners regained consciousness within a few moments and suffered no permanent mental effects. If it had not been for the Sergeant William Shade's quick action under pressure, the three crew member's would not have survived. When the B-17 returned to the base, one of the crew members mentioned to the debriefing officer that Sergeant William Shade should receive a medal for his actions. The debriefing officer, said the least that could be done was to give him a promotion. The officer promoted William Shade to staff sergeant then and there. and the crew flew 12 more times until their 25th mission when their B- 17 was shot down over France on April 13, 1944. Mr. Shade was then arrested and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. He was finally transported by cattle-car to Stalag 17B in Austria were he was a prisoner of war from April 13, 1944 to May 2, 1945. Mr. Speaker, Americans have always answered the call of duty to defend our freedom. The history of our Nation is full of actions of individual heroism. William Shade may not have received the medal he deserved, but three men have him to thank for saving their lives and it is never too late to recognize the bravery of those who have defended our freedom. It is with great pride that I honor William Shade and ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this true American hero.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise toady in favor of the Conyers-Schumer substitute that will be offered later on this afternoon. I say to my friends on the Republican side of the aisle that I have voted for many of the pieces of legislation that they have brought forth in this this session of Congress because I agreed with them and I felt they were right. But I urge my friends to reconsider what they propose doing to the cops-on-the-streets program. I have spent 14 years in law enforcement, 7 as a county sheriff. And I believe in my heart that if we are going to win the war against crime, to make a significant contribution to reducing crime, we need more police officers on the street. percent of success in anything is physical presence. All of us know that is true in politics. But if you ask anyone in law enforcement what they think about the physical presence of police officers on the street, they will tell you that it works, it will reduce crime, it will have the neighborhoods be involved with the community, and would have a positive reflection on the crime rate. I also say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that they should spend time in their districts, where we had police community grants awarded last year. I did that this past weekend. I spent time in the borough of Pottstown, which received Federal funding for two police officers about 10 months ago. They have reduced the crime rate in that borough because they have the physical presence of police officers walking the beat and being involved in the community. I also was very fortunate to have 24 municipalities in my district last week who were awarded funds to hire one additional police officer. I believe that is going to have a great effect on reducing the crime rate in those municipalities. I urge my colleagues to please reconsider what they are proposing this afternoon, please reconsider what they will do to the program that will put 100,000 police officers on the street. We do not need to have examples, as the gentleman from Illinois said, of abuse in the grant program. We need to have the police officers on those streets, fighting crime. I urge my colleagues to support the Conyers-Schumer substitute this afternoon.

Mr. HOLDEN

Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce in the 104th Congress legislation to reduce the amount of money Members are able to spend on franked mailings. Mr. Speaker, the American people are demanding that Congress show leadership in reducing some of its expenses. I constantly speak to constituents who tell me they want to see spending cuts by the Federal Government. For that reason, today I am introducing a bill that cuts each Member's franking allowance by 20 percent as a way to show such willingness on our part. This legislation illustrates the commitment of Members of Congress for cutting legislative branch spending. My bill is simple: the factor used to determine each Member's franking allotment will be reduced from a factor of 3 to a factor of 2.4, a 20 percent reduction. This bill will not eliminate the flexibility in the Legislative Appropriations Act which accommodates each Member's particular costs of mailing--geography, population density, etc. If we are calling on Americans to sacrifice then Congress, too, must lead by example. A 20 percent cut will not impinge on any Member's ability to communicate with his constituents in a responsible manner. Nor will it stop a Member from using his franking budget in whatever manner he or she deems appropriate. Mr. Speaker, Congress must cut back and tighten their belts, just as we will be asking the American people to make sacrifices as we cut and eliminate Federal programs. I want Congress to lead by example, and I think this bill puts us squarely on that road.