Mike Honda

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding me the time. I rise this evening as Congress considers one of the most difficult decisions a nation must make. President Bush and leaders from the House negotiated a resolution to authorize the use of force against Iraq. However, this new resolution still allows the President to launch a unilateral, preemptive attack without providing any evidence to Congress that the U.S. is under imminent threat. The President says that he is willing to go it alone against Iraq as a last resort, but there is no mechanism in this resolution to ensure that it is just that, a last resort. Let one thing be clear. A vote for this resolution is more than an authorization for use of force. It is a declaration of war, and I will oppose it. We all agree that it is critical for the United States and the world community to ensure that Saddam Hussein is not developing weapons of mass destruction. I believe we can accomplish this goal by working with the U.N. Security Council to gain consensus on a tough and effective plan to gain unfettered access to inspect Iraq facilities. A powerful multinational force created by the U.N. would carry legitimacy and strong support in the United States and abroad. If the U.N. does not heed our call to action, then other options should be explored. As of today, it is clear that the administration has yet to exhaust diplomatic options. Many generals, military strategists and Republican policy-makers have expressed reservations with President Bush's approach to Iraq. Iraq does not exist in a vacuum. The decisions our government makes relative to Iraq will have consequences that will extend to all corners of the world, as well as potentially destabilize the Middle East. Will the concentration of our Armed Forces in Iraq limit our resources for a war against al Qaeda? Additionally, experts agree that a war against Iraq will be much different than the Gulf War. Intensive, urban combat against an entrenched force is likely. How many thousands of American lives is the administration willing to imperil? What are the long-term plans for the stabilization of Iraq, and how many billions of dollars will this cost American taxpayers? After September 11, the United States made great strides with the international community in our war against terror. A unilateral effort by the United States would not only weaken our relationship with our allies but also will increase resentment in the volatile Middle East and further embolden anti-American opinion throughout the world. We must rid Saddam Hussein of any weapons of mass destruction. However, I urge the administration to continue to work with the U.N. to gain support for a tough resolution with an accompanying national multinational force, if necessary. Diplomatic efforts must continue. This war can still be avoided; and, as such, I cannot vote to put American lives and innocent civilians in harm's way, straight from our war against terror, or create uncertainty that could further hamper our struggling economy. I will not support this resolution.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, the relationship between Mexico and the United States of America is stronger than ever before. This relationship has been tested and strengthened throughout their shared history, a history typical of two close neighbors. There have been disputes and agreements, conflicts and truces, all of which have led the two countries to where they stand today: united, both in their diplomatic relations, and in their efforts to improve the lives of all their citizens. Fortunately, recent history between our two countries has been resoundingly positive. But in the decades following our countries' declarations of independence, disagreements and conflict were far more commonplace than the diplomacy and cooperation we are accustomed to today. One of these disagreements led to full-scale war, the effects of which have influenced the geography and culture of North America to this day. This war, the Mexican-American War of 1846-48, was characterized by fierce battles, tense stand-offs, and from both countries, overwhelming national pride. In 1847, in Muleg[eacute], there was one such conflict that today is honored as the embodiment of Mexican national pride. Shortly after the beginning of the war, United States forces set out to isolate Baja Mexico from the mainland and to make the pueblos neutral in order to pacify the populace and prepare them for eventual U.S. rule. Muleg[eacute] was one such targeted pueblo. When hearing of the U.S. encroachment into the Baja, government officials in Mexico City dispatched a group of officers led by Captain Manuel Pineda to establish a military presence in the region. Captain Pineda arrived in Muleg[eacute] by September of 1847, and set to work assembling a group of Baja locals to help him resist the advancing U.S. forces. In response to Pineda's mobilization, the U.S. military officials sent the sloop Dale to Muleg[eacute], under the command of Thomas Selfridge. Once arrived, Selfridge sent ashore a letter to Pineda and his men warning against any agitation. Pineda, undeterred, responded that he would defend his country to the end. On October 2nd, 1847, Commander Selfridge sent some 75 sailors and marines ashore to attack the defenders of Muleg[eacute]. Outnumbered and outgunned, Pineda and his men exchanged fire with the advancing Americans from opposite banks of the creek leading up to the pueblo. Although neither side suffered casualties, the intensity of the firefight was enough to repel Selfridge's men, marking the first military success for the Mexican Army in the war. Pineda's success began a swelling of public support, and he and his men would go on to fight many more battles until his capture in March of 1848, at the very end of the war. Pineda had many successes during his military career, but none were as courageous and inspiring as his stand at Muleg[eacute]. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge not only this historical event, but also the shared history of the United States of America and Mexico. Many good men from both countries have fought and died in the name of patriotism, and today, both countries are stronger for it. Through times of peace and war, our countries now find themselves more closely allied than ever before. I am sure the future will serve to strengthen that bond.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Dr. Roy Young of San Jose, California. As a devoted husband, father, and professor, Dr. Young deeply influenced the lives of thousands of Californians. On July 26th, 1925, Dr. Young was born in San Angelo, Texas where he was raised. He studied theater at Cornell University and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. During World War II, he served as an ensign on the battleship USS West Virginia. Eventually, Dr. Young moved to San Jose where he served as professor and chairman of the political science department at San Jose State University for 30 years. During his tenure, his research focused on American politics and elections. He created two new courses at San Jose State University on public opinion and ethnic politics. The University and Bay Area were fortunate to be recipients of his work. He gave to his community as a professor and as an active community member. Twice elected chair of San Jose State University's Academic Senate, he challenged the University's governance policies. He was a proud democrat and an active member of the San Jose Board of Ethics and Campaign Finance. The University's College of Social Sciences presented him the Distinguished Service Award. In each position, he took seriously the responsibilities placed on him, often challenging the status quo. His teaching was what he was most proud of. His passion for education overflowed into every aspect of his life. His dedication to his students went far beyond the prescribed role of a professor. If a student needed a book, he would purchase it with his own money. His love of learning extended beyond the classroom and into his home. A lover of books, his house is filled from floor to ceiling with texts covering a broad range of subjects. As testimony to his devotion to education, Dr. Young chose to be buried on a hill overlooking San Jose State University and the students of tomorrow. In the last years of his life, Dr. Young recovered from a heart attack and battled Parkinson's Disease and cancer. Though his last years were difficult, they slowed his busy schedule giving him cherished time to spend with friends and family. In passing, he leaves his loving wife Linda and his two sons Jason and Joshua. He succumbed to pneumonia on August 8th at the age of 77. Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest condolences to Dr. Young's wife, children, and friends. Please join me in honoring a truly exceptional individual, Dr. Roy Young, who dedicated his life to the service of others. I want to give thanks for all he did throughout his life to make his community and our country better for human kind.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding, it is with great sadness that I rise today to address the House. I offer my deepest sympathies to Patsy Mink's family, husband John Francis Mink, daughter Wendy and brother Eugene Takemoto. Anyone who was fortunate enough to have been touched by her life knows that this Nation has lost a true warrior in the constant struggle for justice. We will all miss her counsel and guidance as well as her friendship. She encountered early on the difficulties of prejudice and sexism. She also understood the importance of coalition building that she would carry on for the rest of her career. She was a person of firsts: first Japanese American woman to become a lawyer in Hawaii in 1952, first Asian American woman and woman-of-color elected to Congress, being 1 of only 12 women total in 1964. Her abilities in awakening all of our social consciousness through her tireless advocacy, work and dedication, inspired students, community leaders, political appointees and especially elected officials of the APA community and beyond. Congresswoman Mink's record as an advocate for civil rights is unassailable, a crowning achievement being the passage of Title IX of the Federal education amendments in 1972. This landmark legislation banned gender discrimination in schools, whether it was in academics or athletics. As I have indicated, she has been a role model for countless women as well as those of us from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Though she is not physically present, her spirit and legacy will live on through those of us who believe that the fight for fairness and equity is never over. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Patsy had a fierce passion for freedom and equal treatment for all persons and during these tense times as our Nation faces growing poverty rates and international turmoil, I'd like to close with two quotes from Patsy Mink. The first quote underscores her passion for the need to stand up for the underrepresented and the second quote makes the point that when our national security is tested, we as a people must not ignore the basic principles that this country was founded on: If to believe in freedom and equality is to be a radical, then I am a radical. So long as there remain groups of our fellow Americans who are denied equal opportunity and equal protection under the law * * * we must remain steadfast, till all shades of man may stand side by side in dignity and self- respect to truly enjoy the fruits of this great land. America is not a country which needs to punish its dissenters to preserve its honor, America is not a country which needs to demand conformity of all its people, for its strength lies in all our diversities converging in one common belief, that of the importance of freedom as the essence of our country. We all know that Hawaii was founded by Polynesian travelers guided by the stars. Today in the skies of Hawaii shines yet another star in the constellations to still guide the islanders and those of us here on the mainland. I will miss her very much.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I think this is what she has done a lot is draw the podium down to her height. I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding me the time and for putting this session together, and I also would like to share my deepest sympathies with Patsy Mink's family, John Francis, her husband, her daughter Wendy and her brother Eugene Takemoto. I also want to share my sympathies to the people of Hawaii. Many things have been said here this evening, and as a child growing up I remember reading about her. I remember hearing about her in the community, her accomplishments, Patsy Mink, and this session, my first session, I had the privilege to get to know her, sit next to her through the debates and through different issues that came up on the floor, but what everybody said here this evening was new to me. So I appreciate the Members sharing. I appreciate her life. I also appreciate the accomplishments and the work that she has done because although we say here tonight of her work, there would be many people and future generations who will not know of her work, but will be touched by her work. To her, I thank her for that. Many quotes were given that she had said on the floor. Many thoughts were shared by them of her, and I had not had the fortune of being able to work with her through many issues on the floor and in this body, but I am the recipient of her work. I am the recipient of her toil. One thing I did learn listening to people tonight is that many people did say, I did not know that she was the first woman of color here. I learned that, too, and I think there will be many people in this country who will learn and do well by the lessons that she has done through her life. When I hear other people talk, I understood that she took her private and personal life and converted that into public policy that would affect this country. Let me close with a quote that she has left behind. Many things, people have been memorialized by statutes and by the inscription of their sayings. Here is one I would like to share with my colleagues that she said, and it is especially poignant today because of what we face as a Nation: ``If to believe in freedom and equality is to be a radical, then I am a radical. So long as there remains groups of our fellow Americans who are denied equal opportunity and equal protection in the law, we must remain steadfast to all shades of man we stand beside in dignity and self-respect, to truly enjoy the fruits of this great land.'' Hawaii was found by Polynesians following the stars. Tonight in the skies of Hawaii there is another star to lead the islanders.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, today marks the one-year anniversary of one of the most tragic days in our country's history. I am proud of the way Americans have united following the horrific terrorist attacks on civilians. Neighbors who rarely spoke to each other, or people who did not even know each other shared their thoughts, compassion, and prayers for our fallen heroes. Our country is now stronger than ever. Understandably, a lot of Americans are outraged following the attacks. Let it be clear that we will continue to hunt down those responsible for the attacks of Sept. 11, and those that may be foolish enough to plan to harm us again. We must also remember that we are not fighting a war with people of any specific ethnic group, nationality, or religion. We must be vigilant and wary of any efforts by the U.S. government or members of our citizenry to racially profile innocent people, as we wage our war against terrorism. I repeat the poignant words of a famous philosopher who once said ``Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster.'' As a child, I was a first-hand witness to civil injustice. My family and I were locked up in a U.S. internment camp during World War II only because we were of Japanese descent. There were many patriots during this war. Thousands of young Americans of Japanese ancestry fought and died for the very country that imprisoned their families. However, their loyalty to America never wavered. Our war against terror is going to be a long-term engagement. Along the way we will need to be thoughtful and critical of many different courses of action. It will be more important than ever to ensure that we all have the freedom to ask tough questions of our government officials, cultural institutions, and citizenry. The declaration of war against terrorism, in itself, is not sufficient justification for the passage of invasive and constitutionally suspect government powers, or calls for military action against nations. A true patriot will ensure that the actions of our government are just and reasonable. Our Constitution is rarely tested in times of tranquility, but is severely tested in times of tension, turmoil, and tragedy. We must remember to embrace the principles of our Constitution--our contract for democracy and freedom--which others seek to destroy. They shall not succeed. My heart and prayers go out to all those lost someone dear to them. Know that I share your pain, and that I will never forget the sacrifice your families made in the name of America.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the California State Legislature for its efforts to recognize a day that celebrates the contributions of the Salvadoran community in the State of California. On August 6, 2002, the State of California will officially celebrate El Dia del Salvadoreno (Salvadoran Day) for the first time. There are more than 275,000 Salvadorans in California, the majority of whom reside in Los Angeles County. Many of these individuals have actively participated in the professional and political arenas, as well as many other fields. It is my hope that the strengths, struggles and triumphs of this culturally-rich community can be remembered and passed on for generations to come. Salvadoran communities throughout California and El Salvador currently celebrate Salvadoran Day on August 6 as an act of remembrance and celebration. This year's celebration is expected to draw up to thirty thousand people. Historically speaking, the official founding of Villa de San Salvador occurred on August 6, 1525, in the Valle de las Hamacas (Valley of the Hammocks). In this place, the indigenous peoples of Central America fought historic battles against the Spanish conquistadors. The spirit of those indigenous warriors lives on in the Salvadoran people today and is evident in their will to survive and fight to better the lives of their families and communities. The Salvadoran American National Association (SANA) should be commended as well for its actions on behalf of Salvadoran communities across the country. SANA is a multi-ethnic peace and reconstruction organization founded by Salvadoran-American citizens who have been involved in the community for over 25 years. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the California Legislature and SANA for their contributions to the Salvadoran community. Having served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador, I am especially touched by this issue because of my close ties to the people there and to the Salvadoran community in California. I will forever remember the generosity and friendship of the Salvadoran people, and I am proud to celebrate with them this Dia del Salvadoreno.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express gratitude to Santa Clara County's outstanding librarian, Susan A. Fuller, who has announced her retirement after 37 years serving Santa Clara County. Susan has performed her duties with great dedication and leadership. Her work will be missed, but always appreciated. During Susan's service as County Librarian, the library was ranked first in the nation for its size in Hennen's American Public Library Index for the year 2000. Susan had the responsibility of working with the staff and elected officials of ten jurisdictions to restructure the County Library after tax shifts that caused a 40 percent revenue loss. One of Susan's most notable accomplishments was her ability to build library use from 2,500,000 materials in circulation in 1985 to nearly 8,450,000 materials in 2001. Her loyalty during a time of great stress in California libraries reflects her enthusiasm and strength. Furthermore, her welcoming personality enabled her to develop trusting relationships with ten district jurisdictions. During her time with the library, Susan showed her interest in improving library services through renovation and increased electronic services. She was honored with Library Journal's title of National Librarian of the Year 1998. In 1995, she received both the ``Outstanding Public Administrator of the Year'' and ``Outstanding Public Program of the Year'' awards from the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Society of Public Administrators. In 1991, Susan also negotiated two highly politicized censorship issues: the rights of minors to access material on video and through the Internet. Susan has been a true role model for the community, and has excelled in many facets of her job since she earned her Masters in Library Science from the University of California at Berkeley. Susan has, however, made many intangible contributions during her career as well. She has always demonstrated a firm commitment to the principle of protected access to knowledge and information, access she believes should be equally available to all citizens. She has stood firm in the face of censorship, and has fought for freedom of speech when it has been attacked by not only lawmakers but also from others within the library system who would compromise this important cornerstone of American democracy. Her work is commendable, and the ideals that drive her are equally remarkable. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to honor Susan Fuller before the House. I extend my congratulations and warmest wishes to Susan for her commendable contributions.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Eugene Wei on the grand opening of the American Museum of Asian Holocaust, located at 400 Taylor Avenue in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania. The museum came about as a result of Mr. Wei's vision. I commend Mr. Wei for having the foresight to create such an important learning institution. The mission statement of the museum is ``to remember those events of World War Two in Asia, preserve them through photographs, written word and multimedia, and to educate the public now and in the future so that the wounds of the past may be healed through repentance of the perpetrators and forgiveness from the victims and their families.'' This museum will have photographic exhibits of the Asian Holocaust of World War Two, which was perpetrated by the invading and occupying forces of Japan in Asian countries including China, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as stories of the American defense of Bataan and Corregidor. The museum will tell the story of the plight of the American POWs who were forced to work for Japanese companies as slave laborers in coal mines, shipyards, copper mines and steel mills and their horrible hell ships experiences. Existing exhibits made by the Alliance for Preserving the Truth of Sino-Japanese War (APTSJW) on the Rape of Nanking, Comfort Women, and Japanese Unit 731 biological and chemical warfare, will be on display at the museum as well. A special display on anthrax attacks in China by Japan during the years 1942-1944 will also be shown. I commend Eugene Wei for educating the public about the atrocities that took place in the Pacific Theater during World War Two. This is not an easy history to tell, but it must be told so that we do not repeat it in the future. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all those who have the opportunity, to visit this important museum.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Dennis DeMelloPine, and to wish him and his fiancee, Miss Pattie Christman, the very best on the occasion of their marriage. A native of Santa Clara, California, Mr. DeMelloPine has devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to community leadership, labor leadership, and charitable causes. His greatest contribution, however, has been his professional career-thirty years of dedicated service to the Bay Area as a firefighter. Dennis's love for aviation as a young man led him to become a United Airlines mechanic, in which capacity he perfected the skills that would eventually help him become a licensed pilot. But Dennis decided to make aviation an avocation rather than a career, and in 1972, he joined the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Over the course of the next decade Dennis served in several different communities, and became a Fire Captain in 1979. A few years later, he settled in permanently at the University Avenue Station in Los Gatos, where he has served for the last twenty years. His fellow firefighters could not have been happier about that decision: when Dennis is not out on a job he is busy cooking his company some of the best meals to be found in town. Considering the long hours required of a firefighter, and how strenuous those hours can be, it is amazing how much Dennis has contributed to our community outside of his firefighting duties. For fourteen years, Dennis served as President of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1165, bringing improved working conditions and increased benefits to his peers while working to maintain a strong labor-management partnership. He has also helped the Department procure governmental relief from budget problems, and has played a major role in making the County Fire Department more efficient and accessible. He not only understands the needs of the employees in his own community, but also works effectively between community fire departments by using his managerial savvy to facilitate mergers. From every point of view, he has made an invaluable contribution to the fire departments of the Bay Area. Dennis received a letter of commendation in 1997 for fighting the ``Cats'' fire in Los Gatos and a Merit Award for outstanding service in 1999, but Dennis has done much more for the community that goes largely unnoticed. He is a coach in the local PONY baseball and softball league, and he is an organizer and active participant in local fundraisers for charity and labor concerns. Much to my delight, Mr. DeMelloPine is also a strong and active supporter of the Democratic Party. Dennis's commitment to family is every bit as strong as his commitment to the community and to his career. He has close relationships with his brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles, relationships serving as an important balance to the demanding nature and stressfulness of his job. Most importantly, Dennis's mother has been a good friend and a great parent to her son for his whole life, and much of the success Dennis has enjoyed in life can be attributed to this wonderful woman. Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Dennis DeMelloPine and wish him and his lovely fiancee, Miss Pattie Christman, all the best on the occasion of their wedding. They have both brought much happiness and security to our community, and may they now do the same for each other.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Joe and Barbara Saltzman who were married on July 1, 1962, and are now celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. They are the children of Ruth and Murray Saltzman and Sid and Lillian Epstein, the parents of David and Michael Saltzman, the parents-in-law of Jennifer Saltzman, and the grandparents of Samantha and Sarah Saltzman. Joe and Barbara Saltzman have been active as professional journalists in the community for four decades, with Joe Saltzman having won more than 50 awards as a broadcast journalist including the Columbia University-duPont broadcast journalism award, four Emmys, four Golden Mikes, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, a Silver Gavel, and one of the first NAACP Image Awards, and Barbara Saltzman having been a member of the Los Angeles Times staff for 22 years and editor of the daily Calendar section. When their son David, a Chadwick School graduate, tragically died of Hodgkin's disease after graduating from Yale, Joe and Barbara could have turned their backs on the world. Instead, they mortgaged their house to keep a promise they had made to David. They promised that if he finished his children's book, The Jester Has Lost His Jingle, they would make sure it would be published in the way he envisioned it and would donate it to children who were suffering from illnesses. Joe and Barbara made that promise a reality producing more than 40,000 Jester books and 35,000 Jester & Pharley Dolls that have been donated to ill and special-needs children. The book has also become a national best-seller and there are more than 300,000 copies in circulation. To further their efforts, Joe and Barbara Saltzman have created The Jester & Pharley Phund, a non-profit charity so that they can continue the mission of giving every child a sense of hope, a feeling of empowerment, a love of learning, the joy of laughter, and the desire to live up to The Jester & Pharley's motto: ``It's up to us to make a difference, it's up to us to care. . . .'' Barbara has become ``The Jester's Mom'' bringing the Jester & Pharley's message of hope and laughter to thousands of children in hospitals and schools throughout the country. Joe has served the community as a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication for more than 35 years and continues to serve as an educator, academic, journalist and administrator. Mr. Speaker, Joe and Barbara Saltzman have dedicated their lives to helping children who need to hear the Jester's message and have made a significant difference in the lives of so many people who need to find hope and laughter. I commend their commitment in bringing a little more happiness to all our lives.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and work of Ms. Georgia Travis, whose amazing life came to a peaceful end on March 12, 2002, after 94 wonderful years. Ms. Travis committed her extraordinary life to the betterment of others, through social work, teaching, writing, and countless other endeavors, culminating in the creation of the Georgia Travis Center for homeless women and children. This shelter, along with the indelible imprint she left on so many lives, will stand forever as the legacy left by this amazing woman. Georgia Travis dedicated her personal and professional life to helping others. Born in 1908 in Kansas City, Missouri, Georgia was brought up in a family with a keen awareness of social injustice and inequity. She was taught to lend a helping hand to those in need, a notion that would dictate the course of her long life. After becoming one of the first students to earn a master's degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, she began working in the relatively new field of medical social work, helping stress patients in Chicago and disabled children in Seattle. By the late 1930s. Ms. Travis was traveling the country as a consultant for the new Washington, DC, based Crippled Children Service Department and the U.S. Transient Bureau. In 1953, Georgia was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship which sent her to Sydney, Australia, to teach. Shortly after returning to the States, she settled into what would eventually become her permanent home: the Bay Area of California. The State of California may never fully realize the full extent of Ms. Travis' contributions, but I would like to take moment to share some of the many highlights. By 1962, just a few years after arriving in the Bay Area, she was name California Social Worker of the year. A year later she became a professor of Social Services at San Diego State University, teaching graduate level courses until her retirement in 1970. But Georgia's idea of ``retirement'' was as unconventional as it was prolific. Ms. Travis lived in retirement with the same spirit and ideals of her childhood and professional life; she could sense injustice and suffering, create solutions, and see the process through to the end. After the passing of her mother in 1971. Georgia found solace and balance in the Quaker faith, and became a member of the Quaker Society of Friends. Strengthened by her new faith, Georgia focused her efforts on the plight of the homeless community, a pursuit that would lead her to some of the biggest accomplishments of her life. She started out with fundamentals like providing meals at the Family Center in Agnews Hospital and distributing clothing at the Family Shelter in East San Jose. Then, with the help of the American Association of University Women, Georgia organized a committee that develops and provides the homeless, especially women and children, with improved services and outreach. She convinced Stanford University to conduct a major study on homeless children, and helped initiate educational programs for the children as well. Mr. Speaker, the list of her successes, of the tangible changes she made for thousands of people, is far too long to describe here. But I would like to make note of perhaps her greatest accomplishment of all: the establishment of the Georgia Travis Center. In 1992, the nonprofit San Jose shelter agency InnVision honored the wishes of Ms. Travis by opening a new shelter for homeless women and children, to be named after the woman who perhaps had done more for their cause than anyone else in the city's history. At the Center, volunteers help women and children get back on their feet by providing meals, medical care, childhood-development courses, and classes on computers and career planning. The Center provides them not only with new hope for the future, but a sense of a security and value that may have been taken away from them when their homes were lost. Ever humble, Ms. Travis was embarrased by the attention of having her name immortalized, but the Georgia Travis Center will forever be a working tribute to Georgia's insatiable desire to empower, enlighten, and improve the lives of those in need of help. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of a friend and a role model. I had many opportunities to work with Ms. Travis, and what amazed me most about her was the ability she had to instill in others the same passion and resolve that she herself had in everything she set out to accomplish. The Bay Area should feel fortunate to be chosen as the beneficiary of her great works, and I personally feel fortunate to represent a district so deeply touched by her.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be here today to address the situation of our former American POWs who fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. My commitment to addressing these issues is deep-seated. I am proud to be a co-author of the bill H.R. 1198, the Justice for U.S. Prisoners of War Act of 2001, with the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher). We are joined by 226 of our House colleagues on this bill. I am a teacher by training, and I am not an expert on the issue of war and the atrocities that all too often accompany the prosecution of war between nations. I want to share with Members why I think it is important to pay attention to events that happened over 50 years ago. My involvement in the pursuit of justice for American POWs stems from something that is deeply personal and uniquely American. It is a view that is held by a great many of us that are part of the new generation of Asian Americans whose parents were born in the United States. The roots of my involvement in the POW reparation movement was embedded in me as a youth, well before I had any idea about the atrocities that some Japanese companies visited upon our servicemen during World War II. Like many Japanese American families, my family and relatives were interned in a camp in Amache, Colorado, in 1942. We were eventually able to leave the camp because my father volunteered to serve in the Navy's military intelligence service. Later in the 1970s and 1980s, the Japanese American redress movement focused the United States on coming to terms with the injustices of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. This shaped my desire to set the record straight. It was once taboo in my community to discuss the internment issues. The redress movement brought the issue out into the open and allowed the healing process to begin, and this enabled many of us to put aside our bitterness and understand clearly what happened to us in our own country during World War II. Just as the healing process began in my community, it is my great hope that this historic bill will bring some measure of closure for our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were so severely mistreated as prisoners of war while educating our Nation about what really happened during World War II so that together we can learn from the lessons of those dark times. As we go forward, it is critical to remember that the relationship between the U.S. and Japan is important to our national interests and that nothing in this bill is intended to harm the strong friendship the United States and Japan have enjoyed for these many decades. But we cannot ignore the past and sweep the events of the past under the rug. When I think about forgiveness, I think about a friend, Dr. Lester Tenney, an American veteran and POW who once told me as he was recalling a conversation he had with a fellow POW, his friend said I cannot forgive nor forget, and he told his friend if you cannot forgive, you are still a prisoner. Dr. Tenney's story mirrors what many of the POWs went through. He became a prisoner of war on April 19, 1942, with the fall of Bataan in the Philippines. A survivor of the Bataan Death March, he was sent in a hell ship to Japan where he became part of the slave labor force in a Mitsui company coal mine. Dr. Tenney has stated and I quote, ``I was forced to shovel coal 12 hours a day, 28 days a month for over 2 years, and the reward I received for this hard labor was beatings by the civilian workers in the mine. If I did not work fast enough or if the Americans had won an important battle, the beatings would be that much more severe.'' It is important to stress that this legislation we have introduced, H.R. 1198, is by no means an instrument to further anyone's agenda that fosters anti-Asian sentiments, racism, or Japan bashing. What this bill will do is to give our veterans their long-awaited day in court, restore some measure of dignity to them, and set the record straight. Our intention in pushing for this bill, the Justice for U.S. Prisoners of War Act of 2001, is to support our former prisoners of war held in Japan during World War II. These heroes survived the Bataan Death March only to be transported to Japan in death ships, forced to work for private companies under the most horrendous and horrific conditions. Private employees of these companies tortured and physically abused our GIs while the corporations withheld essential medical and even the most minimal amounts of food. After the war, approximately 16,000 POWs returned, all battered and nearly starved to death, many permanently disabled, all changed forever. More than 11,000 POWs died in the hands of the Japanese corporate employers, among the worst records of physical abuse of POWs in recorded history. Now, like many other victims of World War II era atrocities, the remaining survivors and their heirs are seeking justice and historical recognition of their ordeal. The former POWs do not seek any action or retaliation against the current Japanese Government or against the Japanese people, nor do they seek to portray Asian Americans in any sort of negative light. Rather, they simply seek just compensation from the Japanese companies who were unjustly enriched by the slave labor and sufferings. The main problem these POWs face today has been the way in which the peace treaty with Japan has been interpreted by our State Department. To date, the State Department has asserted that former POWs can claim no benefits due to the State Department's interpretation of the terms of the peace treaty. However, other countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, and even the former Soviet Union, have helped their nationals in receiving benefits, and Japan has extended more favorable peace treaty settlement terms with those countries, and has continued to settle war claims by nationals of other countries. The United States State Department has stood in the way of our POWs' efforts to obtain their measure of justice by the State Department's reading of the peace treaty. In the face of these obstacles, Congress passed a resolution, S. Con. Res. 158, in the final days of the 106th Congress, calling upon the State Department to put forth its best efforts to facilitate discussions designed to resolve all issues between the former members of the Armed Forces of the United States who were prisoners of war forced into slave labor for the benefit of the Japanese companies during World War II and the private companies who profited from this slave labor. Today, the State Department has apparently taken no significant actions to resolve this matter. It is, therefore, up to this Congress to press this issue firmly and fairly. Our bill is a balanced and fair response to the situation. H.R. 1198 would, one, pursue justice through the U.S. court system as any former employee of a private company can; two, allows States such as California to extend the statute of limitations applicable to these claims for a period of up to 10 years; and, three, require any U.S. Government entity to provide the Department of Veterans Affairs any medical records relating to chemical or biological tests conducted on any POW and make those available to the POW upon request. Since the end of World War II, the Japanese corporations that abused these former POWs profited from their forced labor have prospered enormously. Many of these companies are household names in the United States. As an ethical and moral matter, they long ago they should have voluntarily reached out to their victims and settled this injustice. On the eve of America's entrance into World War II, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, Sr., once asked, ``What constitutes an American? Not color, nor race, nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family, nor the place of his birth. Not the coincidence of his citizenship. Not his social status, nor his bank account. Not his trade, nor his profession. ``An American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. An American is one who will sacrifice property and security in order that he and his children may retain the rights of free men. An American is one in whose heart is engraved the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence: 'We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' ``Americans have always known how to fight for their rights and their way of life. Americans are not afraid to fight. They fight joyously in the pursuit for a just cause.'' Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand here today in the House of Representatives and give you my word that I will continue to fight joyously in the just cause of America's World War II POWs. We must remember these men, these men of our Nation's greatest generation. They volunteered to serve our country and some were only 17, 18, 19 years old. They were young, strong, and spirited. They survived the ordeal of a forced surrender in the Philippines. They survived the cruelties of the Bataan Death March, the hell ships, and being POWs in Japan. They survived the tortures of slavery. And today, they are surviving our justice system. In the beginning of this year, there were only 5,300 surviving POWs, but we are losing these men on a daily basis. For the sake of these men, for the sake of reconciliation, for the sake of our future, we must do right by these men. Let us give these heroes their day in court. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), for his passion, for his conviction, and for his understanding of what it is that we need to do, and for his precise words that hopefully, as in church we say, convicts us to move and do the right thing. A couple of words I would like to close with. One is ``spirit'' and the other is ``reconciliation.'' The spirit that I have learned in this process is the spirit of the victims, the ex-POWs, the spirit that was exhibited by Dr. Lester Tenney, by Mr. Frank Bigelow from Florida, who at 6-4, as a young man hunched over in the tunnels of the coal mines in Japan, had his leg broken by a boulder that fell down and shattered his leg; no medical facilities, no medical attention. In a couple of days they realized that his leg was gangrenous, and they needed to do something in order to save his life. The choice was, do we amputate his leg and take the chance that he may die because of that, or do we allow the gangrene to continue and know that he will die? And he said, take it, and they took it with a pocket knife and a hacksaw and no anesthesia. Yet today, both Dr. Tenney and Frank Bigelow have the spirit and the grace to say that they forgive what had happened to them, and what they seek today is just justice in their own court system. The other word is ``reconciliation.'' We just left a millennium of wars and atrocities, of the inhumanity of one person against another for many reasons. We have an opportunity in the new millennium to make this the millennium of reconciliation, of forgiveness, of healing. I believe if this bill is passed and considered by our committees that is supported by over 226 Members of this House, that would move right through our committees if heard, that would move right to the President's desk, and to be signed by him would be the stroke that would allow our Members, the generation that we consider the greatest generation of our time in this country, to be able to attain the measure of dignity, the recapturing of justice, that they would seek and would attain when they have their day in court. That is all we are seeking. We are not seeking to predetermine the outcome of the court action, but we are seeking their right for their day in court.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my steadfast opposition to H.R. 4635, legislation that would unnecessarily and unwisely introduce lethal weapons into an airplane's sterile environment. As we debate final passage of this bill, I remind my colleagues that the Congress considered this issue last November when it passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. Under that landmark aviation security legislation, a pilot of a commercial air carrier may carry an approved firearm while flying an aircraft if he or she receives approval from the Transportation Security Administrator or his or her employer. In other words, Congress deferred this critical decision to the experts who have since concluded that arming pilots may actually compromise aviation security and aviation safety. Our Nation's security leaders, Homeland Security Director Ridge, Transportation Secretary Mineta and TSA Administrator John Magaw, have all made public statements signaling their opposition to arming pilots. Members who vote for final passage of this bill will vote to override the decision of those experts principally responsible for guaranteeing the security of air travel. I join these experts in expressing my fundamental opposition to arming pilots, and I also oppose this particular bill because it mandates a pilot program before the completion of the most basic studies on the introduction of guns into the cockpit. No real studies have been performed on the consequences of an accidentally discharged bullet on a cockpit's computers. No real studies have taken place to determine where a gun should be stored in flight and between flights. No real evaluation has been made as to how this added responsibility would impact TSA's ability to meet significant but important congressionally mandated deadlines to bolster aviation security. In proposing this legislation, the Congress is experimenting with the lives of the flying public, and furthermore, it is being careless with taxpayers' dollars. Under this legislation, armed pilots would be deputized by the Federal Government, exempting airlines and pilots from legal liability. Instead of giving pistols to pilots, let us keep our focus on the fundamentals of aviation security, hardening cockpit doors, screening all checked baggage, vetting passenger manifests, ensuring a validated workforce and deploying Federal security screeners. Let me conclude by reaffirming my utmost respect for our Nation's airline pilots. Each day, they safely transport thousands of passengers to destinations all over the world. The job requires great expertise and great diligence, and my vote today is to vote to keep pilots focused on what they do best, on flying airplanes.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the City of Santa Clara, California, on the occasion of its 150th anniversary as an incorporated city. The sesquicentennial celebration for this ``All- America City'' gives us the chance to honor the past, enjoy the present, and look towards a bright future. Santa Clara is a city where tourists love to explore, students love to learn, and locals love to live. What was once a land of wide-open spaces and orchards is now the home of over 100,000 people and several globally-recognized technology companies. Santa Clara's evolution has been an exciting one, but even as the community has become fertile ground where the high tech industry can flourish, it has continued to embrace the human touch. The region's history started long before the city's incorporation, dating back 6000 years to the time of the Ohlone Indians. Thousands of years passed before the next settlers arrived, drawn to the area by the scenic landscape and the abundant water resources. These settlers, mostly missionaries and military explorers, chose the area that is now the City of Santa Clara to build a new mission, and in 1777 the Mission Santa Clara de Asis was established. This Franciscan mission, the eighth-oldest of California's 21 original missions, still stands on the campus of Santa Clara University, and is a living tribute to the legacy of Father Junipero Serra and to the work of Father Francisco Palou, founder of the mission. After Santa Clara's incorporation in 1852, the allure of the region's natural resources attracted ranchers and farmers from the Eastern United States, Mexico, and Europe. Stores were opened and soil was cultivated, and by 1900 Santa Clara boasted a population of 3,650. The city suffered through and survived the historic San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, and later sent many brave women and men to serve in the World Wars. Following World War II, Santa Clara experienced another population boom thanks to a growing number of manufacturing concerns such as the Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation. The growing population of almost 60,000 began to fill the suburbs developing around the city, a precursor to the population boom that would accompany a skyrocketing new industry arriving just a few decades later. The arrival and rapid expansion of the technology industry would quickly bring Santa Clara and the whole of Silicon Valley to worldwide prominence. The technology industry has seen incredible growth in the past twenty years, and the City of Santa Clara has permanently established itself at the forefront of this phenomenon. Some of the most powerful names in the industry, names like Sun Microsystems, Applied Materials, and Intel are all headquartered here. Santa Clara's entire history is full of originality and opportunity, recent history being no exception. The most important aspect of the relationship between the technology sector and the City of Santa Clara is that it is built on a foundation of reciprocity and mutual respect. The city's two major challenges-- providing affordable housing and reusing state surplus land--are being addressed in a collaborative effort by the city and leading high-tech firms. The Intel Teacher Housing Fund, for example, will provide $500 a month for eligible teachers' mortgage payments, and Sun Microsystems set aside part of the land occupied by their headquarters for the preservation of historic buildings and for use by the public. The city, of course, provides a willing and able workforce, and has done a tremendous job of accommodating the large inflow of tech-savvy job hunters and entrepreneurs. The mutually beneficial relationship between the city and the tech industry is just one of the many reasons why Santa Clara is a special place, and those of us who live in the area aren't the only ones noticing. Last year, the City of Santa Clara won an All-America City award from the National Civic League, one of only 10 cities to receive the award. We who know the city have always believed that Santa Clara is a special place, but the 54-member delegation representing Santa Clara at the competition last June did an exceptional job of ensuring that the panel of judges understood Santa Clara as well. The delegation, consisting of community groups, government officials, business leaders, and private citizens outlined the ways in which Santa Clara goes above and beyond meeting the requirements for the award, from the symbiotic relationship between the city and industry, to the contributions of Santa Clara's volunteer work force, to the city's commitment towards improving the lives of local youths. These factors, combined with the intangible qualities that only a native can describe, helped the City of Santa Clara bring home this prestigious award. I believe that the words of the All-America City delegation put it best: ``Santa Clara blends the best of a modern, urban metropolis with the comfortable charm of Small Town, USA.'' Santa Clara is a perfect place to raise a family, pursue a career, and fulfill lifelong dreams. It is the home of California's oldest institution of higher learning-- Santa Clara University--and other fine schools like Mission College and the Santa Clara, Wilcox, and Wilson High Schools. The weather is beautiful, and the best that California has to offer is right around every corner. I am proud to represent this city as a Member of Congress. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the history and celebrating the achievements of Santa Clara, California, on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. The city is an example for all others, and I look forward to being a part of its bright future.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No.'s 249, 250, 251 and 252, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 249, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 250, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 251 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 252.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my opposition of this prescription drug proposal. Mr. Speaker, the elderly and disabled have waited long enough for a prescription drug benefit in Medicare and for relief from the high cost of prescription drug prices. While the Republicans have been busy voting on permanent tax cuts and attending lavish fundraisers by the pharmaceutical industry, seniors throughout the country have been waiting for Congress to take action. All seniors need relief from prescription drug prices, and they need it now. However, the Republican prescription drug bill completely fails the test of a real Medicare drug benefit. The Republican bill has no guaranteed minimum benefit, no guaranteed, affordable monthly premium, and no guarantee of fair drug prices. To add insult to injury, their bill leaves a huge coverage gap. Seniors who need more than $2,000 worth of drugs must pay one hundred percent out-of-pocket, and keep paying premiums, until they reach the $3,700 out-of-pocket cap. Mr. Speaker, the Democrats have an alternative we had hoped to offer. Under the Democratic plan, seniors and individuals with disabilities will be able to keep making the choices that matter. Seniors will not be forced to join an HMO. They will not be forced to join a private insurance plan that will restrict their access to needed drugs, deny coverage for the medicine their doctors prescribe, or force them to change pharmacies. And unlike the Republican plan, our plan has no gap--beneficiaries will always have coverage. But the Republican Leadership is denying Democrats the opportunity to offer our alternative. They are denying our right to participate in a fair, democratic debate about prescription drugs. The time is now for a real, meaningful, and affordable Medicare prescription drug benefit. Unfortunately, it looks like this Republican-led House won't be providing one anytime soon.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, my comments are very brief, and it is about we need. We need to remember our seniors. We need to remember who they are, where they came from. We need to remember the kinds of work they have done in order to attain the age that they have. My mother needs prescription drugs, and I think that what we have to look at, we need to look at everybody's prescription capsule, the container, and on the container is a label that says expiration date. We need to have a good prescription drug to address all the seniors of this country so that we do not need to worry about them, that they do not need to worry about whether prescription drugs are going to be too expensive or not. We need to take care of business, and we need to do it soon.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions and achievements of Professor Yan Xin on the twelfth anniversary of the professor's introduction of the ``Yan Xin Life Science Technology'' to the American public. Working as a physician, a professor and a scientist, Professor Yan Xin has had an integral role in major breakthroughs in experimental research, which have led to new methods of preventing disease and promoting the health of humankind. Professor Yan Xin has long been recognized as a leader in the fight against cancer, AIDS, and diseases associated with the aging process. He has been certified as a chief physician by the Ministry of Health in China and has conducted collaborative research with several world- renowned research institutes and universities. Professor Yan Xin has been a blessing to both his colleagues and those who have benefited from his healing, so much so that Presidents George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton and George W. Bush have all met with him personally and praised his work. The key to Professor Yan Xin's success is his ability to combine modern scientific procedures with traditional healing and fitness methods. Yan Xin Life Science Technology utilizes elements of traditional Chinese culture such as acupuncture and medicines derived from natural products, then incorporates Western health treatments and the research of Professor Yan Xin and his peers in the modern scientific community. This blend of intuitive and empirical thinking serves as an example for all of those who are working improve the lives of others. Mr. Speaker, I commend Professor Yan Xin both personally and on behalf of all those whose lives have been improved as a result of his work. Professor Yan Xin's career is far from over, and we can all look forward to continuing successes in his many areas of expertise.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 230, 231 and 232, I was unavoidably detained with matters important to my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 230, 231 and 232.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the achievement of Mr. Andrew Kamei of Bishop, California. Andrew Kamei was awarded first place in the Junior Historical Research Paper category at the California State History Day competition held in San Jose, California. Having accomplished this, Andrew has earned the honor of representing California in the National History Day Competition this month, an event honoring the scholarship and creativity of students across the nation. Andrew Kamei is a 12-year-old seventh grader with an inspirational work ethic and a remarkable understanding of history. His award winning research paper, titled `` `In Times of War the Laws are Silent': The Fair Play Committee, Heart Mountain Relocation Camp, Wyoming, 1944'' is a written testament to these qualities. The paper describes the experiences of the Fair Play Committee, a group of Japanese Americans who were sentenced to extended terms in federal prison for refusing to appear for draft induction while being held in internment camps as potential enemies of the United States. The sixty-three members of the Fair Play Committee unanimously agreed to serve in the military on the condition that their constitutional rights be restored, a remarkable historical event that Andrew Kamei explored with tremendous determination. By talking to former internees, scouring state archives, and meeting with surviving members of the Fair Play Committee, Andrew has put together a research paper of the highest caliber. Furthermore, Andrew draws on his own experiences as a Japanese American and the son of a man born into internment to give his work an added depth and gravity. The result is an important historical document worthy of competing in the National History Day Competition. Mr. Speaker, I commend Andrew Kamei for his spirited pursuit of academic excellence and historical perspective. Balancing national security and civil liberties is an important issue, one that Andrew can continue to study and apply to what will certainly be a bright academic and professional future.