Stephanie Jones

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I will be unable to attend the homegoing services for your husband, father, brother, and my friend, Walter Burks. Please accept this letter in my absence. I observed Walter Burks from a far as a teen, working in the campaigns of the late Ambassador Carl Stokes, and the Honorable Congressman Louis Stokes. I came to admire this man some called the ``Silver Fox'' (silver for the hair color and fox for his leadership skills), as he lead the Department of Personnel of the City of Cleveland, in the cabinet of then Mayor Carl B. Stokes. My summer internship in the Department of Public Utilities gave me more opportunities to see him in action. He seldom raised his voice and understood the important roll he played in assuring that everyone had access to employment opportunities with the City of Cleveland. As I matured and decided to run for public office, Walter was always there to support and encourage me. After public office, Walter, even in his private business continued to work to improve the lives of the people of his community. His housing developments are testament to that work. My only regret is that I didn't have a chance to say goodbye. So Walter, since I know you are looking down upon us, Thank You, I Love You, and God Bless You. Rest well and if we do as you have done, we will meet again. I join with the residents of the 11th Congressional District, who mourn the lost of a great civic leader, political activist, family man, and friend. [From the Cleveland Plain Dealer] Walter Burks, 77, Was Builder, Civic Leader, Political Activist (By Richard M. Peery) Plain Dealer Reporter Shaker Heights.--Walter Burks, 77, a developer and political activist who built more than 200 homes in Cleveland, died Thursday at University Hospitals. Burks was a former trustee of Cleveland State University. He served on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and the State Board of Education. Mayor Carl B. Stokes appointed him personnel director and chairman of the Civil Service Commission. In 1974, he formed Burks Electric Co. and participated in commercial and public building projects, including the rebuilding of the Regional Transit Authority's Shaker rapid line. Burks was born in Cleveland. He attended East Technical High School and studied engineering at Fenn College. Drafted into the Marine Corps during World War II, he was a sergeant in an engineers unit on Eniwetok and the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. After the war, he and his first wife, Cynthia, built a home on E. 147th St. in Mount Pleasant. Although banks refused to lend to nonwhites in that area, he obtained financing from a black insurance company. He later helped friends build homes nearby. Burks worked as a mail clerk for Cleveland Municipal Court and was promoted to supervisor of the trustee division, but he spent evenings and weekends on construction projects. After he joined Stokes' staff in the 1960s, he put special effort into hiring and promoting minorities. As a builder, Burks concentrated in the 1980s on converting former schools into apartments for the elderly. When he was accused of failing to follow complicated HUD regulations, he said the fault lay with the government. A jury cleared him. In 1989, Burks undertook what was considered a high-risk project when he constructed Glenville Commons, the first new homes to be built in the area in more than 50 years. Its success was followed by a surge of home building in the city. At the behest of Mayor Michael R. White, a former business partner, a park on Parkview Dr. in Glenville was named for him. Burks and his wife, the former Charmaine Colwell, lived in Shaker Heights. He also is survived by a son, Dr. David of Ann Arbor, Mich.; a daughter, Karen Bailey of Richmond Heights; three grandchildren; two sisters; and five brothers. Services will be 10:30 a.m. at Antioch Baptist Church, 8869 Cedar Ave., Cleveland. Arrangements are by E.F. Boyd & Son Funeral Home of Cleveland.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I failed to mention, and I thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding, that before I came to Congress, our district was represented by the Honorable Lewis Stokes. Congressman Stokes made a huge effort to see that public housing had the funding that it needed. One of his real reasons for doing so was the fact that both he and his brother, the former mayor, Carl Stokes, former Ambassador Stokes, were both raised in public housing. At the public housing unit in Cuyahoga County, they made a museum to Carl and Lewis Stokes for the work that they had done in that community, where their mother by herself raised two young men. We have to think about it like this, there may be another Carl and Lewis Stokes actually residing in public housing across this country. If we do not continue to fund a program such as this so that they can be inspired, so they can have an opportunity to live in a community that is free of drugs, we may be in a dilemma that we do not want to find ourselves in. Again, I plead to my colleagues to listen to what we are saying, to listen to people who have experience and background and knowledge of what is going on in public housing. The other thing I plead with them is to not get so caught up to say that the people here do not know what they are talking about, or our function is in a different direction, or our assignment is in a different direction. Our assignment as public officials is to do all on behalf of all the residents of the United States.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. This is as of today, what he is reporting from?

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I would like to see it when he is done.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, to the people of the United States, the argument that you are hearing this morning is the real reason why we should not have had a tax cut. We should not be standing here arguing about whether we fund a drug elimination program or we fund a homeless downpayment assistance program. The reality is that both of these programs need funding, and there are dollars in the U.S. budget to fund them both. But, instead, the United States policy on housing is such that we have to argue over $20 million for each of these programs. Let me just switch for a moment to a discussion as to whether or not we should fund drug elimination programs in public housing. Before I came to Congress, I served for 8 years as the Cuyahoga County prosecutor. Many of you can stand up here and say what you think works. I can tell you what I know works. I know it works because it was my responsibility to have oversight over the Cleveland Police Department as well as oversight over the Cuyahoga County Metropolitan Housing Police Department. It took the effort of both of those departments to diminish and eliminate the drug problem at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. See, when we start talking about the importance of law enforcement, it is important to understand that the people get to know who the police officers are. You can stand in a vacuum and say that the City of Cleveland or the City of New York or the City of Chicago ought to fund police departments, but we as a government, the City of Cleveland is part of the United States Government. The City of Chicago is part of the United States Government. HUD housing is Federal housing. It is public housing. And the people there, regardless of who funds it, need to be able to live in safe housing. Let me talk a little bit more about how law enforcement has moved from ``lock them up and throw away the key'' to some point talking about prevention. Part of prevention is using innovative programs to be able to talk to young people, to talk to older people about how you eliminate an addiction and begin to live in a wholesome housing situation. In fact, the public housing neighborhoods across this country have begun to be able to do that. It would seem to me that it would really be in the best interests of these United States, of the Federal Government, to talk about saving programs that are working. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman from New York letting me know that Cuyahoga County has $2.5 million in the pipeline and $2.5 million that might be available next year. I would like to ask him to give me more than $2.5 and to suggest to him, after having talked to the director of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority less than an hour ago, that maybe as of today's record there is not showing an expenditure but those funds are in fact ready and have been expended for purposes of that program. I am not sure how their accounting works. Let me further say that some of the programs may not be what you traditionally believe are programs to deal with drug elimination, but I find it hard to believe that any of us who have not had the experience of working in drug elimination can stand on the floor of the House of Representatives and talk like we are experts. Those of you who have not had the experience owe it to yourself to go visit a housing authority to understand what you may in fact be funding. I am heartened because, when we did in fact have a Subcommittee on Housing hearing and the Secretary of Housing came before the Subcommittee on Housing, I was dismissed as being out of line when I said to the Secretary of Housing, after he said there are no drug problems in elderly public housing in the United States, to ask him what country he had lived in in the past 10 years. I meant no disrespect. Mr. Secretary, if you are listening this morning, I mean no disrespect this morning. But what I need you to be able to understand is the problem that exists. Announcement by the Chairman

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I apologize to the Chair.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Would the gentleman repeat that, since he was talking about my congressional district? I did not quite hear what he said. Would he say it again?

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I know the chairman works very hard to try and craft some legislation that would address the issues of our community. But I am concerned about the cut in housing that has occurred in this bill, particularly the drug elimination program that was provided for public housing. In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, that will mean the cut is equal to the entire budget for the law enforcement department at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. For me and for my community and district, that is significant. So I ask Members to rethink that. I ask them to realize that even though people think it is a stupid program, in fact the people who live in public housing that have had an opportunity to have drugs eliminated think it is a great program. However, I do want to compliment the chairman and the ranking member on the work they have done for the NASA program. The NASA program in Cuyahoga County is very, very important. I want to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson), and my ranking member for seeing that NASA had an opportunity to get additional dollars.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words, and I rise in support of the Lee-Leach global AIDS amendment. Mr. Chairman, I want to compliment the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for their leadership on this issue. My second term in the House of Representatives, and last year, through my work with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), I became more and more aware of the need for this country to step up to the plate and take its leadership role in addressing the pandemic of AIDS. In reality, as we nickel and dime our way towards paying for the AIDS pandemic in our country and across the world, we ought to be anteing up $1 billion from the United States that would allow us to leverage another $8 to $9 billion across the world to support this AIDS, to get rid of this AIDS pandemic. The prior speaker specifically said that we were cutting funds. But in fact we are looking at funds to leverage to the trust fund, and we are not cutting USAID funds. We are not talking about bilateral funds, and we are not talking about decreasing the income of the various countries that are being dealt with. We are talking about decreasing an increase for these countries, because some of the dollars have actually sat being unused. For example, in the country of Peru, military funds for the Andean initiative sat unused for a number of years. In addition, funds in Colombia would not be affected. Additionally, cuts to this initiative are budget cuts only to budget increases over the next few years. Let me for a moment, Mr. Chairman, tell my colleagues some of the 24 organizations that are supporting this piece of legislation, and these are organizations that are religious, health, hunger and research oriented groups. They include ACT UP out of Philadelphia, AIDS Action, AIDS Alliance for Children Youth and Families, AIDS Nutrition Services Alliance, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, Advocates for Youth, the American Public Health Association, Catholic Relief Services, Church World Service, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Gay Men's Health Crisis, Global Campaign for Microbicides, Global Health Council, Health GAP Coalition, HIV Medicine Association, the Human Rights Campaign, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Maryknoll AIDS Task Force, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, the National AIDS Fund, PLAN International, the Presbyterian Church USA, Washington Office, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Student Global AIDS Campaign, and the Washington Office on Africa. All of these organizations get it. All of these organizations understand the importance of our addressing the AIDS pandemic across the world. Now, I am knowledgeable to the point that I have seen and I have read that there are grandparents across sub-Saharan Africa that are raising 35 and 40 grandchildren, and they are raising 35 and 40 grandchildren as a result of the fact that AIDS has wiped out generations across sub- Saharan Africa. We should not continue to let that happen. It would be different if we could not make an impact. It would be different if we had to say to the world, World, we cannot help you, we can let this AIDS pandemic continue to spread. But we can make a difference, the big United States of America, the one that comes to the plate for everybody else. Step up, America. Step up, United States, and fund this AIDS pandemic program at its maximum.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I would like to say to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), we are glad we have the attention of his committee and other Members of the Congress with regard to the steel industry. I hail from the great city of Cleveland, the home of LTV Steel. Let me just give you some statistical information about how important LTV Steel is to my community and the fact that it, along with 17 other steel companies in the United States, are currently in bankruptcy. It is estimated that $2.27 billion of the 2001 gross State production in Ohio comes from LTV, an impressive amount given the total gross State product of Ohio is about $400 billion. LTV employs 5,200 persons in Cuyahoga County and 6,600 Ohioans, including both organized and exempt positions. Based upon the 2000 tax rates, LTV has 3,607 employees in local municipalities and provides tax revenue of $4,474,276 generated from the workers at LTV. Based upon estimates, an additional 12,970 Cuyahoga County jobs are dependent on LTV operations and employees. Statewide, 27,020 jobs are relying on LTV. These jobs generate an additional $1.1 billion in wages. LTV pays $338 million in annual wages and salaries and $68 million in benefits to current employees in Cuyahoga County, which amounts to about $406 million annually in the county. Statewide, LTV represents $430 million in annual wages and $85 million in benefits to employees. More than 34,000 employees, retirees and dependents across northeast Ohio rely on LTV for more than $72 million in medical benefits annually. There are 15,000 retirees in Greater Cleveland alone receiving pension benefits. Annually, LTV purchases $1 billion in goods and services from 1,600 Ohio companies. The steel industry has about 1.75 percent of all the jobs in northeast Ohio, with LTV providing nearly 22 percent of the region's steel jobs, according to the latest information. Why are we standing in support of the Visclosky-Mollohan amendment? Because we are standing in support of the steel industry in this country. The real dilemma is, and I heard someone talk about Alan Greenspan talking about the fact that the steel industry, or industry, was not in a dilemma, Alan Greenspan is the one who said last week that we should get rid of minimum wage. Why are we talking about this issue right here on the floor of the House? Because where else do we stand up for workers in the United States but on the floor of the House of Representatives of the United States? There have been a rising tide of layoffs and bankruptcies, driven in large part by our government's failure to enact trade policies that are important and support the steel industry. Why are we after Ex-Im Bank? Because it has in fact supported the steel industry in another country while the steel industry is dying in the United States. Steelworkers built our country, and we need to let the steelworkers continue to work and the steel industry to continue to prosper. In other countries, they subsidize the steel industry. In our country, we do not. Therefore, we should not be using public dollars in these United States, other United States taxpayers, to subsidize a country, a steel industry in another country like China. Now, you are arguing to me these dollars go to American companies in the United States to support a steel company in China. I say to you we should not subsidize American companies that subsidize steel companies in foreign countries when we are in fact at a trade deficit in the steel industry. Let me give you just a few more statistics. By the end of last year, the industry was operating at less than 65 percent of its capacity in the United States, the lowest operating level in more than 15 years. Steel imports, which totaled less than 16 million tons in 1991, more than doubled in 10 years to an annual total in 2000 of 39 million tons. Where are they making the 39 million tons of imported steel? In companies like Benxi, which is subsidized by money from Ex-Im Bank. More than 15,000 steelworkers have lost their jobs since January of 1998; 84,000 in the last 6 months. Mr. Chairman, I say support the Visclosky-Mollohan amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, had I been present on Monday, July 23, 2001, the record would reflect that I would have voted: on roll 257, H.R. 2137, Criminal Law Technical Amendments Act of 2001, ``yea''; on roll 258, H.R. 1892, Family Sponsor Immigration Act, ``yea''; and on roll 259, S. 468, James C. Corman Federal Building Designation Act, ``yea''. I was unable to return to Congress on July 23, 2001 due to a funeral of a close family friend. Therefore, I respectfully request an excused absence for July 23, 2001.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I want to be heard and go on the record in support of my colleagues, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly), with regard to this amendment. Particularly of importance to my community is the BusinessLINC program that would allow businesses and the community to work together in improving small business. Mr. Chairman, when Congress passed legislation to establish the New Markets Initiative last December, it did so in a spirit of bipartisanship, to ensure that all of our nation's communities have the opportunity to realize the American dream. BusinessLinc is an innovative partnership between the Small Business Administration, the Treasury Department, and the business community. The program encourages large businesses to work with small business owners and entrepreneurs to provide technical assistance and mentoring. This program will improve the economic competitiveness of smaller firms located in distressed areas, both urban and rural. In speaking with many small businesses in my community, the Eleventh District of Ohio, it is clear that business success is predicated on a number of factors, such as the quality of the product or service, its price, marketing, the financial stability of the business, and the owner's experience. But one factor which has been largely overlooked in legislation is a business person's contacts within the community. Some call this the effect of the ``old boy's club.'' My constituents have conveyed their frustration at being left out of informal networks that form the basis for later business dealings. These informal networks have a decided effect on an owner's ability to plan and a small business' ability to grow. Simply stated--information and skills are key to success. BusinessLinc will provide much-needed access to mentoring and support for disadvantaged businesses. In developing the BusinessLinc program, local coalitions have taken creative approaches to assist small businesses to employ strategies that best respond to the needs of the community. My colleague, Nydia Velazquez, the Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee will offer an amendment to restore funding to this program. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and demonstrate their support for business growth by funding BusinessLinc.

Mr. JONES of Ohio

Mr. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, when Congress passed legislation to establish the New Markets Initiative last December, it did so in a spirit of bipartisanship, to ensure that all of our nation's communities have the opportunity to realize the American dream. BusinessLinc is an innovative partnership between the Small Business Administration, the Treasury Department, and the business community. The program encourages large businesses to work with small business owners and entrepreneurs to provide technical assistance and mentoring. This program will improve the economic competitiveness of smaller firms located in distressed areas, both urban and rural. In speaking with many small businesses in my community, the Eleventh District of Ohio, it is clear that business success is predicted on a number of factors, such as the quality of the product or service, its price, marketing, the financial stability of the business, and the owner's experience. But one factor which has been largely overlooked in legislation is a business person's contacts within the community. Some call this the effect of the ``old boy's club.'' My constituents have conveyed their frustration at being left out of informal networks that form the basis for later business dealings. These informal networks have a decided effect on an owner's ability to plan and a small business' ability to grow. Simply stated--information and skills are key to success. BusinessLinc will provide much-needed access to mentoring and support for disadvantaged businesses. In developing the BusinessLinc program, local coalitions have taken creative approaches to assist small businesses to employ strategies that best respond to the needs of the community. My colleagues, Representative Nydia Velazquez, the ranking member of the Small Business Committee, and Representative Sue Kelly will offer an amendment to restore funding to BusinessLinc, the 7(a) loan program and PRIME. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and demonstrate their support for business growth by funding BusinessLinc and other programs that are vital to the success of small business.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, over the past decade, the number of women in the Federal Prison system has grown by 182 percent, compared to 152 percent for men. Prison has never accommodated the needs of women prisoners well. And while health care available to low-income women is poor, women in prison face terribly inadequate medical care. Although all women in federal prison receive annual OB-GYN exams, the ban on federal funds for abortion services is a direct assault on women's reproductive health care. There are many reasons why women decide not to bear children. Abortion has been a legal health option for women for almost 30 years. But because women in federal prison are more likely to be poor and minority, the ban prevents these women from controlling their own bodies. Women who are able to pay for abortion may use their own funds to do so, however, jobs available to prisoners pay at a rate of 23 cents to $1.15 per hour. This means that inmates make anywhere from $4.80 to $16 per week. At this rate, very few inmates are able to make enough money to pay for an abortion. The ban on the use of federal funds effectively forecloses their opportunity to obtain these health services. Imprisonment is a necessary punishment when the law is broken. Imprisonment does not mean, however, that prisoners have no right to safety and medical care. Poor medical care is not punishment, it's a denial of fundamental rights. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the DeGette amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, to my colleagues, I stand in opposition to this rule. As a second-term Member of Congress, legislation was quite new to me in my first term. What I am seeing happening today is the inability of a legislator with good intention to offer a campaign finance reform bill who, after having had a chance to speak with his or her colleagues, saying, Well, maybe that's a good idea. Maybe I should suggest an amendment or a change. Yes, there are 14. There probably could be 25 amendments that would be offered by colleagues to try and make this a better bill. I must say very truthfully, I am still torn about how we do campaign finance reform. I support campaign finance reform because I know it is good for all the people of our country. How we get to it seems to be a difficult question. And I say to Mr. Leader and to others here on the floor, let us take some time. The Senate dedicated 2 weeks. Why do we only get 1 day?

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to commend my colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for their work on this particular piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill which would establish a commission to commemorate the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. Back on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and, therefore, violate the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution. Back on May 17, 1954, I was 5 years old, attending the Cleveland Public Schools, which, at that time, was one of the best public school systems in the Nation. I rise in support of this Commission and speak to the issue that, even though we have done a lot since Brown v. Board of Education, many of our school systems are still segregated. That school system that I loved and enjoyed as a child is now a predominantly African American school system; and the funding for schools, public schools is no longer as high or as good as it used to be back when I was in elementary school. On May 8 in Cleveland, however, we worked and passed a $3.7 million bond issue for school construction. It would raise $335 million, which would be matched by $500 million from the State of Ohio. They are greatly needed in the city of Cleveland, as I am confident they are needed across this country, to bring those crumbling public school systems and buildings back to the level that we wish that all of our children would enjoy in public schools. I thank my colleagues for giving me the chance to commemorate Brown v. Board of Education.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about issues of public safety. H. Res. 172, honoring the fallen firefighters from the Father's Day blaze in New York City, was on the floor this afternoon commemorating the heroic efforts of those firefighters. John Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford were dedicated and experienced firefighters whose service to the city they loved was truly inspirational. It strikes me that being a firefighter is one of the most physically challenging and dangerous professions possible. The men and women who undertake firefighting as a career are at risk every day trying to keep their fellow citizens safe from fires but also are responsible for an ever-growing number of tasks. Today's firefighters are responsible for hazardous material clean up, response to terrorist threats and emergencies, and providing information to citizens on fire safety techniques. America's colleges let out for the summer recently but not without some loss of innocence for our children. Fire can affect our kids as much as it affects the lives of firefighters. I have introduced H.R. 2145, the Campus Fire Prevention Act, in an effort to address the safety of college students. My legislation will provide funds for the installation of fire sprinklers and other fire suppression devices in college dormitories, fraternities and sororities. Even one death is too many; one injury is too many when it comes to the safety of our children. The tragedy at Seton Hall University in 1998 opened the eyes of parents and students to the risks of living in dormitories that had not been outfitted with sprinklers or other fire suppression. My bill will provide matching funds to a university or organization that applies given approval by the Department of Education and the Fire Administration. This past school year in Ohio there were four students killed in campus fires. A December fire at the University of Dayton killed one male student in a house fire in a building owned by the university. In May 2001, two fires killed students at John Carroll University and Ohio University. Both students were scheduled to graduate this year. Unfortunately this is not unique to Ohio, there were fire related injuries and fatalities throughout America's universities. I encourage my colleagues to join me in enacting H.R. 2145, it is a common sense measure that has already gained 43 cosponsors. Data has demonstrated fire sprinklers work in protecting property and preventing injury. In buildings with functional fire sprinklers there has not been a fire resulting in more than two fatalities. We should honor the fallen firefighters from New York by helping to prevent future tragedies for firefighters and other innocent Americans. Talking Points How often do fires occur in school, college, and university dormitories and fraternity and sorority houses? In 1997, the latest year for which national fire statistics are available, an estimated 1,500 structure fires occurred in school, college, and university dormitories and fraternity and sorority housing. These fires resulted in no deaths, 47 injuries, and $7 million in direct property damage. Between 1993 and 1997, an estimated average of 1,600 structure fires occurred each year, resulting in eight fatal fires known to NPFA, representing a total of 16 deaths over the five years of 1993-1997, 66 injuries, and $8.9 million in direct property damage per year. How many fires occur specifically in fraternity and sorority housing? Between 1993 and 1997, an annual average of 154 structure fires occurred in fraternity and sorority houses, resulting in 18 injuries, and $2.9 million in direct property damage per year. What are the most common causes of fires at school, college, and university dormitories and fraternity and sorority housing? The leading cause of fire in these types of occupancies is incendiary or suspicious causes. The second and third causes of these on- and off- campus housing fires are cooking and smoking, respectively. How often are smoke or fire alarms and fire sprinklers present in dormitory fires? In 1997, smoke or fire alarms were present in 93% of all dormitory fires, but sprinklers were present in only 28% of these fires. These figures apply only to properties where fires occurred; the overall fraction of properties with these active systems is probably higher. On average, direct property damage per fire is 36% lower in dormitory fires where sprinklers are present compare to those where sprinklers are not present. H.R. 2145--the Campus Fire Prevention Act is identical to legislation introduced in the Senate by Senator John Edwards of North Carolina and designated S. 399. The bill is intended to supply money for colleges to retrofit sprinklers in dorms and allows fraternities and sororities to access the $100,000,000 in money each year over 5 years. The bill provides money in the form of federal matching grants for the installation of fire sprinkler systems and other fire suppression or prevention technologies in college living situations (including sororities and fraternities). Priority would be given to any organization applying for the money from the bill with an inability to fund the fire suppression without accessing the funds under the bill. Grants would be administered through the Department of Education in consultation with the U.S. Fire Administration. The bill does not mandate using fire sprinkler systems in dorms, only provides funds for those who would like to make their residents safer. Currently there are 43 cosponsors to H.R. 2145 and it has received endorsements from many campus organizations like the College Parents of America and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank my colleagues for having the tenacity and the guts to stand up and talk about no drilling in the Great Lakes. When I was a little girl studying about geography in the Cleveland public school system, people used to say to us, how do you remember the names of the Great Lakes? And they used to tell us to call it ``HOMES,'' Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. So when I think about the Great Lakes, I think about it as home to 20 percent of all the freshwater resources, home to all the species of fish and wildlife that live around those lakes, home to millions of Ohio residents, Michigan residents, Minnesota residents, Illinois residents, and the residents of all the 50 States. Now, I know that the Army Corps of Engineers holds the Great Lakes in the public trust, but I also know that this Congress is obligated to give direction and guidance to the Army Corps of Engineers. By this amendment, we can give them direction and guidance and say no direct drilling in the Great Lakes.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on Monday in the City of Youngstown, LTV Steel filed in the bankruptcy court a request to be relieved from its union contract in order to continue its process of reorganization. Over the past 6 months in conjunction with Federal officials, including yourself, local officials, counties, State, we have been trying to work with LTV to help them through this bankruptcy. I would encourage LTV corporate officials and the unions to go back to the table. We know that we are in a difficult time right now, but it is very important that we do not lose 5,000 jobs in the City of Cleveland that would impact 40,000 jobs throughout our area. LTV, back to the table. The union is ready to work. Let us resolve this issue for the people of the City of Cleveland.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. The interesting thing is, and I think that everyone on our side of the aisle wants to be clear that we are not trying to bankrupt any of the drug companies. We thank them for the research that they have done in this particular area.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I thank the gentleman very much.