Robin Hayes

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I oppose a declaration of war, having just returned from the Balkans more firmly convinced, no ground troops. I know you cannot see it, but this is a picture of a young Apache pilot in the Balkans who graduated with my son. He said, ``No ground troops. The cost in human life would be too high.'' We need a negotiated settlement, not a declaration of war. I am working to provide momentum, leverage and direction to the administration to settle this conflict. My colleagues on the other side are dissatisfied because of a lack of leadership by the administration. We are dissatisfied with a lack of leadership and failed foreign policy. Do not declare war. Do not lose lives of our military. Focus our attention on rebuilding the military, helping the refugees, and negotiating a settlement that returns the refugees to their homes in safety and brings our POWs and our troops home.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to report back to my colleagues of the enthusiastic response I received from my time in the district at a number of schools about the Ed-Flex legislation. I rise today to speak in favor of the rule, but let me begin by saying, Mr. Speaker, how deeply sorry I am for the parents, classmates, friends and families of the students who perished and were wounded in the tragic events of yesterday in Littleton, Colorado. I am truly sick with grief over this tragedy, and I pledge to the mourning families and all Americans alike that I will do all I can as a Member of Congress to end the senseless violence preying on our students, our families, and our communities. After initial passage of the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 in March, I spent time during the Easter recess in the classrooms of the schools of my 8th District in North Carolina talking to teachers, students, and administrators about Ed-Flex. This bill will allow innovative ideas in teaching to evolve at the local level. I spoke with Captain Jack L. Ahart at A L Brown High School in Kannapolis, North Carolina, who is teaching civics in his JROTC class. He told me that Ed-Flex will allow him to incorporate more computers into his classroom and expand the students' learning experience. I spoke with Scott Bennett and his 9th grade history students at Ellerbee Junior High regarding their visit to Washington, D.C. and Mr. Bennett's creative involvement with the kids' experiences in the classroom environment. I spoke with Miss Pam Van Riper and Principal Kevin Wimberly at Wingate Elementary School about the challenges they face in a rural community. Each of these teachers are excited about the possibilities that greater freedom to work within their local school districts will provide in the way of a better learning experience for all their students. As I have said before, Ed-Flex addresses the basic fact that what works in New York City does not necessarily work in Rockingham, North Carolina. I encourage my colleagues to support the rule and to show our teachers in the classroom that we support their hard work and their new ideas.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and pleasure to rise today to pay special tribute to Mr. Earl Hendrix of Hoke County, North Carolina. Mr. Hendrix was recently named Man of the Year in Southeast Agriculture by Progressive Farmer. Earl Hendrix is a lifelong farmer, known for his quiet, unselfish leadership. He has made outstanding contributions to North Carolina agriculture as a producer of soybeans, tobacco, corn, small grains, cotton, tobacco seed and swine. Mr. Hendrix has served on many agricultural boards over the years including the state boards of the Cotton Promotion Association, the Small Grain Growers Association and the Soybean Producers Association. He is former president of the Soybean Producers. Nationally, Hendrix is serving his third term on the United Soybean Board and is chairman of the USB Production Research Committee which oversees more than $6 million annually for soybean research nationwide. Mr. Hendrix has been honored by the North Carolina Association of County Agriculture Agents and has been the recipient of the state commissioner's ``Friend of Agriculture'' award. He has received the Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservationist of the Year award and he and his wife, Hazel, are the recipients of the Extension Area Farm Family of the Year Award. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrix have three children, two of whom are partners on the family farm. Mr. Hendrix devotes time and money to support the local 4-H and his optimistic outlook for agriculture is noticed and appreciated by all in the farm community. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the distinguished service to agriculture and the State of North Carolina of Earl Hendrix for his leadership and professional commitment to stewardship of the land and providing food and fiber to the world.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4, a bill that declares as our policy the deployment of a national missile defense. Without national security, there can be no Social Security or education opportunity. I want to commend my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans alike, many of whom I serve with on the Committee on National Security, for their commitment to the strong national missile defense and for bringing it to the attention of the American people. They have pressed forward over the last 7 years and remain scorned by an administration message that preys on our Nation's false sense of security. Today my colleagues' efforts are about to pay off as we establish a policy to defend our Nation and her people from a missile attack. I would be remiss if I did not mention the very telling vote taken on missile defense in the Senate yesterday. Ninety-seven Senators supported this legislation. Mr. Speaker, what strikes me as odd is that this same body, no different in political composition, failed to reach cloture on missile defense legislation a mere 6 months ago. Mr. Speaker, why the sudden change? What are we to believe? Has the threat to our national security grown so ominous in 6 months that the left and the administration believe the moment is right to embrace a policy of national missile defense? Or has the President been playing politics with the security of the American people? Mr. Speaker, from one end of my district to the other, my constituents are concerned with our national defense, and they know there is no function in the Federal Government more important than ensuring our Nation's security. I am pleased that the President and his allies have joined us in a policy that assures all Americans and American generations to come that they can sleep safer under a blanket of missile defense. Mr. Speaker, the administration's actions speak louder than words. Delays in the past have been irresponsible. Delays in the future are simply dishonest and unacceptable.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to rise today to pay special tribute to Scotland County, North Carolina, as it celebrates in 1999 its 100th anniversary. I also want to recognize this Thursday, March 18, as Agricultural Appreciation Day in Scotland County. Although Scotland County is relatively young among North Carolina counties, having been created by the North Carolina General Assembly on February 20, 1899, it has a rich and interesting history. Central in the history of Scotland County is the presence of and dependence on agriculture. Agriculture in Scotland County, just like in the rest of America, is recognized as the foundation of our society. Scotland County Farmers contribute over 40 million dollars to the local economy. There are approximately 125 farms in Scotland County which produce cotton, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, oats and hay; hogs and broilers are also raised in Scotland County. Scotland County farmers contribute over $40 million to the local economy. There are approximately 125 farms in Scotland County which produce cotton, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, oats, hay and hogs. Broilers are also raised in Scotland County. Mr. Speaker, Scotland County farmers are the stewards of the soil and water resources that provide substance to feed, clothe and shelter the American people and those around the globe. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join with others in Scotland County to honor those individuals involved in agriculture, one of the most noble of professions, and thank each farmer in Scotland County, indeed each farmer in America, for their hard work and commitment to stewardship of the land and providing food and clothing to the world.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to House Concurrent Resolution 42. This is not a partisan issue. I oppose sending our troops to Kosovo. However, I strongly support the Speaker's call for debate on this issue. Enough is enough. We can no longer expect some of the Nation's finest men and women to travel halfway around the world to accomplish a mission without objectives. Mr. Chairman, my district, the 8th of North Carolina, is steeped in military tradition. We hail Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base as our own, two installations that have sent their fair share into combat. I visit these bases frequently and I am sure these young men and women I speak to there are no different than the million and a half soldiers we have stationed all over the world. What amazes me every time I speak with these young soldiers is, without exception, the can-do spirit they demonstrate. They so quickly forget the sacrifices we asked of them yesterday to accept the challenges of tomorrow, never once questioning why their government continues to ask for more while giving less. In the forty years leading up to 1990, the United States deployed our troops 10 times. Since then, in only nine years, this country has deployed more than 25 times; 19 under this administration. Mr. Chairman, today I am doing what all of our men and women in this service proudly resist. I am asking why? I am asking why do we continue to send our troops on missions navigated by an administration with seemingly rudderless foreign policy? Nearly 20 years ago, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger laid out a doctrine of criterion that must be met before our forces are sent into combat. Is a vital national interest at stake? Will we commit sufficient resources to win? Will we sustain the commitment? Are the objectives clearly defined? Is there a reasonable expectation that the public and Congress support the mission? Have we exhausted our options? And I would add we must have a clear exit strategy. Mr. Chairman, on the eve of yet another deployment I ask my colleagues to join me in sending the administration a strong message. Do not approve, do not send our troops to Kosovo.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I just did not want to be that hard on my good friend, the gentleman from New York.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, it has been my experience as a legislator in North Carolina, and one who has run Statewide, that each time I move into a district, regardless of whether it is the east or west, time and time again a Federal mandate for paperwork, to make it in the simplest terms, takes away from that classroom teacher's time that she could be spending with her children to fill out forms and endless paperwork. This is one of the clearest examples.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in opposition to the amendment. I move against this amendment, I am in opposition to it and I vigorously want to oppose it, not because I doubt the sincerity or intent of the message. My good friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Major Owens) has spoken very eloquently about his beliefs. But I would simply ask that Members not confuse the idea of accountability with Federal mandates and government control. The Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 provides our teachers and our local school systems the things that they need, that flexibility within accountability to provide the education. As I travel through my districts in North Carolina, and I have to be careful not to go back through my own career in public education, which was delightful, so delightful I probably did not achieve as high marks as I should, but I remember those principals and those teachers that worked from morning until night to give me the chance to learn about math, about science. I think of Jessie Blackwelder in Concord, who took over a school that was suffering real problems. She got on the phone and called me up. She said, get a couple of dump trucks over here. We need to clean this place up. She started calling parents. She said, we need books. We need help. We need new desks. We need you over here. We need local support. We need those of you who know this community and these students to pour out your heart and soul into our education system. What keeps this from happening so many times is the Federal Government, with more mandates shutting down this creativity, shutting down this support, this enthusiasm, this involvement between parents, teachers, grandparents, school boards, and those that are empowered and entrusted.

Mr. HAYES. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. HAYES. Classroom teachers, superintendents, principals. It is just too much of their time that is spent meeting Federal requirements which are not productive, and I think this bill does a fabulous job of giving them their time back to spend it in their classrooms with the children.

Mr. HAYES. I have lost the gentleman's train of thought, but I appreciate the gentleman rising to talk about that. Mr. Chairman, my point is that accountability flows from local involvement. Accountability comes from parents and teachers and school boards being involved. It does not come from the Federal Government imposing itself upon our local education system. Again, I oppose this amendment. I vigorously support the Education Flexibility partnership. It is a commonsense proposal that will help stop the one-size-fits-all mentality that comes from Washington and the Federal Government. The bill addresses the basic fact that what works in New York City unfortunately does not always work in Rockingham, North Carolina. Our Nation's future rests on the quality of education that our children receive. There is nothing we can do in this Congress that is more important than ensuring the quality of education in our public school system. Mr. Chairman, I have spent a lot of time listening to parents and teachers in the Eighth District of North Carolina. What I have learned from these conversations is that the best new ideas and innovations come from the districts, and not from Washington. Unfortunately, it is the Washington bureaucracy that stifles the creativity at the local level. Mr. Chairman, we have before us today a bill that helps cut the Federal red tape which hinders excellence in public education. This amendment works against the Ed-Flex bill, requiring more Federal mandates for local education.

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, the American people know that Republicans and Democrats have some differences on the issue. They accept that. But what they do not understand is why we do not move forward on the issues when we do agree. The Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 has the support and the endorsement of all 50 Governors, Republicans and Democrats alike, from all areas of the Nation. Mr. Chairman, it is time we passed this bill. It was intended to empower the people who are the true innovators in public education, our local folks, our parents, our teachers. Do not let those who are opposed to this flexibility speak out and hurt this great bill. Join me in a strong vote of confidence for our parents and teachers. Support the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 and oppose this amendment.

Mr. HAYES. Yes, sir.

Mr. HAYES. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that I will introduce legislation to address a problem that is hurting much of rural America, a stagnant economy and the declining number of job opportunities. Mr. Speaker, if we read the newspapers inside the Beltway, we will think that all Americans are experiencing the best economic times of their lives. While our economy is indeed strong, we have to realize that there is a significant number of Americans, rural Americans, who are struggling economically because the job base in their hometown is drying up. According to a study by the Aspen Institute, many of our rural economies are suffering because of declining sales in their natural resources market and intense international competition in the manufacturing sector. Just like many industries across the Nation, businesses in our small towns are being forced to downsize operations while demanding more from fewer employees. The growth in metropolitan areas is quickly absorbing displaced workers there, but workers in smaller, remote communities are at a great disadvantage because economic development is virtually stagnant. In fact, a growing number of rural workers are forced to commute long distances or actually relocate their families in order to find work in these metropolitan areas. In the region around my home district, the Eighth District of North Carolina, the Charlotte area has more jobs than workers. Each day more than 100,000 commuters, 25 percent of the area's work force, leave their local economy to go to work in Charlotte. Obviously, this trend hurts our rural communities, and it adds to the many problems our metropolitan areas suffer with traffic congestion and excessive growth. In the Charlotte area, the unemployment rate is a meager 2.3 percent. Just two counties to the east, however, Anson County has an unemployment rate of 8 percent, Scotland County 8 percent, and Richmond County over 8 percent. We can either address this problem, or we can sit idly by while it gets worse. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the Rural Economic Development and Opportunities Act of 1999. What I am proposing is not a complex package of government programs and new spending. Instead, I am advocating that we adopt a commonsense proposal that will level the playing field for our rural communities by offering a basic tax credit for a new or existing rural business when it creates a job for rural workers. It is that simple. No mountains of paperwork to fill out, no layer upon layer of government bureaucracy to work through. Local governments and development authorities will have all the flexibility they need to develop a local or regional strategy. In fact, this is not a giveaway program that will allow rural communities to relax. That is a basic tax credit that gives our rural communities a better opportunity to increase local economic development and job opportunities. When we measure our nation's economic health, we have to look just as closely at Main Street as we do at Wall Street. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to offer the Rural Economic Development and Opportunities Act of 1999. I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Hannah Covington McGee, a woman who was dedicated to serve in her community and at Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina. Mrs. McGee, was a native of Rockingham, North Carolina. The McGees moved to Wingate 6\1/2\ years ago when her husband, Jerry, was named president of Wingate University. Together they have raised two sons and served the thousands of students who have attended Wingate University under their tenure. Jerry and Hannah McGee have been married 33 years. They have been sweethearts ever since his high school football days in Richmond County, North Carolina. Dr. McGee often referred to his wife as ``the girl with the ponytail who stole my heart.'' At Wingate University, Mrs. McGee, an art lover, took a keen interest in the new fine arts center. She helped lead the fund-raising campaign for a new George A. Batte Fine Arts Center and assisted with its interior decoration. As the wife of the President, Mrs. McGee attended numerous dinners, graduations and special functions at Wingate, that she was not required to attend. But she shared her husband's commitment to the University and was honored to participate. In the community, Mrs. McGee was tireless in her efforts to serve. She helped launch English as a second language program in the Union County schools. Mrs. McGee was on the Board of Directors at the Union County Players, and she helped in restoring the M.B. Dry Memorial Chapel on campus. Most recently, the McGees were in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands where Dr. McGee was on a three month sabbatical to relax and spend more time with his wife. In remarks Dr. McGee released, he said, ``She was the mother, wife, daughter and sister that everyone dreams of--one of the easiest people to love who ever lived.'' Hannah McGee will be missed. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring a remarkable woman.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to rise today to pay special tribute to an outstanding student-athlete from North Carolina's Eighth Congressional District. Nick Maddox, a senior at A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, North Carolina, has proved through his play on the field that he is one of the top tailbacks in the country. For the past two years, Nick Maddox has been honored with many awards for his athletic talents, including: Parade All-American and Associated Press Player of the Year for North Carolina. Mr. Maddox demonstrated that with a great deal of hard work, dedication to his teammates, and a strong sense of commitment, you can realize your dreams. Mr. Maddox has been humble in the spotlight, giving credit to his fellow teammates and coaches. The A.L. Brown High School Wonders finished the 1998 football season with an undefeated regular season with an record of 11-0 and made it to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association division AAA football play-offs. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Maddox had 45 total touchdowns while rushing for 2,574 yards last season. Maddox finished his high-school career with more than 6,600 rushing yards and a state record 114 touchdowns. Mr. Maddox will be continuing his football career in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Florida State University. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Nick Maddox for his accomplishments on and off the field. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to an outstanding student-athlete.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the efforts of my colleague from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan) for his introduction of a resolution that undertakes the Social Security Guarantee Initiative. Through this resolution we establish a framework for debate and reaffirm our commitment to the long-term solvency of Social Security. It is clear to me that the moment is prime for a national debate on Social Security. The citizens of our Nation understand the importance of Social Security's fiscal health, not only for the time being but for generations yet to come. They expect their elected officials to come together in a bipartisan fashion to provide solutions. I recently had the opportunity to lead a forum on the future of Social Security reform. What struck me the most about this particular event was that its main participants were not a panel of experts or a group of politicians. Instead, those most interested were concerned North Carolinians who have a stake in the system and expect a fair return on their investment. They do not need policy experts from Washington to explain to them that in a few years the government will not have enough money to keep the promises it made when the program began. Mr. Speaker, ensuring the viability of Social Security is a tall challenge, and I realize there is no silver bullet, but we must take one step at a time. I support the resolution before us now and the spirit of cooperation that it represents. Citizens from my district, the Eighth District of North Carolina, expect their elected officials, Republicans and Democrats alike, to work together for a better future.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to rise today to pay special tribute to an outstanding group of student- athletes from North Carolina's Eighth Congressional District. This past fall, the Richmond Senior High School Football Team completed a truly memorable season by winning the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class AAAA Football Championship. The 1998 Richmond Senior High School Raider Footfall Team demonstrated that, with a great deal of hard work, dedication to the task at hand and to each other, and a strong sense of commitment, you can realize your dreams and make them come true. The Richmond Raider Footfall Team successfully defended their 1997 class 4-A title with an impressive 16-0 undefeated season. The Raider football team capped off this perfect season with a win over Garner High School this past December at the championship game held at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Led by four Associated Press All-State Players, the Raiders realized their dram through a great deal of hard-fought success. Their willingness to dig deep within themselves to find the extra energy needed to produce a championship is a true testament to the unwavering loyalty that each player has for the team. The unselfish attitude of the Richmond Raiders is certainly a good example of what can be accomplished when people work together for a common goal. Senor and All-State team member Michael Waddell, deserves special congratulations for his state and national records last season by returning seven punts or kickoffs for touchdowns. Waddell is joint on the All-State team by Brian Nelson, Jeremy Barnes and Marcus Ellerbe. The senior members of this team have the distinction of never having lost a high school football game. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate head coach Daryl Barnes, his assistant coaches and the 1998 North Carolina State 4-A Champions, the Richmond Senior High School Raiders. I would urge all of my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to an outstanding team.

Mr. HAYES

Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank our distinguished chairman the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence) for his leadership and guidance in pointing out to the Congress, the administration and the American people the shortfall in the President's year 2000 defense budget proposal. The public deserves to know. More importantly I commend the chairman and my colleagues on the Committee on Armed Services for their enduring commitment to the men and women who serve our Nation in the armed forces. Their attention and diligence to the steady decline of our country's military under this administration were brought to light during last month's State of the Union address. At last the President took heed of the advice from Congress and professed to the American people his intention to reverse current trends of reduced defense spending. President Clinton's emphasis on a strong defense was applauded by Members on both sides of the aisle. His acknowledgment of the military's needs and his vow to restore teeth to our Nation's defenses served notice to our men and women on the front line, their families and the American people that this country protects her own. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, as we have seen today, the President's pledge rings hollow. I do not intend to repeat what my colleagues have so eloquently made clear, but I do want to reiterate that Mr. Clinton's defense budget does not, as he claims, represent a $12 billion increase for fiscal year 2000. It certainly does not reflect a $112 billion increase over the next 5 years. I will mention, however, that I am particularly disappointed by the gimmickry the administration used in its military construction budget. They have literally, as Secretary Cohen confirmed today, borrowed from one account to bolster another. I am not sure if David Copperfield could create a better illusion. The President's partial funding of scores of construction projects gives false hope of starting and no expectation for completion of vital military construction. In North Carolina's 8th District, Fort Bragg and Polk Air Force Base have been promised only 23 percent of their needs. In my district, the 8th of North Carolina and countless others, this is unacceptable. After review of the administration's budget, it is clear that we as authorizers have a great deal of work ahead. It is my sincere hope that the President will work with us to make good on his promise to shore up defense spending. It is irresponsible to play politics with our Nation's security by playing games with the budget. I look forward to his cooperation.