Paul Kanjorski

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the industrial and cultural coal-mining heritage of Northeastern Pennsylvania. This Congress recently passed legislation to create the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna and Wayne counties in Pennsylvania, and the President signed it into law on October 6. Together with the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and the Schuylkill National Heritage Corridor, this designation honors the coal-mining heritage of the people of the region and their contribution to powering the industrial Revolution and helping the United States win two world wars. For the benefit of other members of the House of Representatives who may not be familiar with this rich heritage and its legacy, I would now like to read into the Record a short statement composed by a friend of mine, Mr. Richard Morgan of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Northeastern Pennsylvania has been well blessed with quality people. Thousands of immigrants came to our section of Pennsylvania from the world over. Our neighbors became blended together as one. We came to share our lives in a manner that was beyond the belief of outsiders, who had never experienced the unique joy we found in each other. The rich cultural fabric that resulted is second to none. The severe economic conditions that have been present for generations in the hard coal regions, have caused most of our sons and daughters to spread themselves, their talents, and their deeply ingrained coal cracker lifestyles far and wide across America. Other communities throughout America have benefited by our loss. Our young people were the greatest gifts we had to give our country, even greater than the Anthracite natural resource that was stripped from our region to provide fuel and energy for the Industrial Revolution. We who remain in the region, are proud of the achievements of those who have left us for greener fields, green fields that are no longer to be found in the old hometowns, and around the half-doubles they reluctantly left behind, but which they have never forgotten. The sound moral values that they learned from their immigrant families, will remain with them forever, wherever they may come to hang their hats. Mr. Speaker, in the closing days of this Congress, I would like to call to the attention of my colleagues not only the positive parts of the anthracite coal's legacy to Northeastern Pennsylvania, but also another part of the legacy that can still be seen today: the need for a comprehensive reclamation of the mine-scarred land. The federal Office of Surface Mining has estimated that the restoration of all the land and water in the anthracite region would cost more than $2 billion, but until this year, the anthracite region has received only about $10 million annually from the federal government to restore abandoned mine lands. At that level of funding, we will have a critical environmental problem in place for two centuries. Let us not forget that this is fundamentally an issue of fairness. Pennsylvania anthracite coal fueled the Industrial Revolution that made America the superpower it is today. Unfortunately, the physical scars left by the Industrial Revolution of the 19th and 20th Centuries have decreased our competitiveness in the Information Age of the 21th Century. As Mr. Morgan eloquently points out, this has had the effect of forcing many of our young people to look elsewhere for opportunities. In the same way that the federal government has made a commitment to restoring the Everglades in Florida, a similar comprehensive approach is needed to restore the anthracite region in Pennsylvania. Restoring the anthracite region is also consistent with the growing consensus that it is better to clean up and reuse formerly polluted ``brownfields'' for industrial development than to wipe out more of America's disappearing ``greenfields,'' the untouched open spaces that are so important to our quality of life. For these reasons, joined by Congressmen Sherwood, Holden and Gekas, my three colleagues from Pennsylvania who represent the anthracite region, I have sponsored the Anthracite Region Redevelopment Act (H.R. 4314), to create a new bond program that would provide $1.2 billion in 30-year tax-credit bonds to finance a comprehensive environmental cleanup of the region. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to hail from the hard-coal region of eastern Pennsylvania. As Mr. Morgan's statement illustrates well, in the richness of our cultural fabric, our work ethic and strong values, our love of country, in all these we are second to none.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to John ``Stanky'' Stankovic of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, who has been entertaining people of all ages with his polka magic for 55 years. In 1945, at the age of 9, Stanky and some friends landed a job playing polka music at a three-day wedding in Nanticoke. From that beginning, Stanky and the Coal Miners, as he and his band are known now, have gone on to play all over the world with scores of famous people. He has learned or written more than 500 songs, most of which are featured in the band's 21 albums and six videos. He learned to play the accordion from his father, Joe Stankovic, a Czech immigrant who came to America at age 16 and went straight to work in the coal mines. When Stanky was a young man, he was more interested in being a professional baseball player. However, his father wisely made sure he practiced his music one hour a day before going out to play, and audiences around the world have benefited from Stanky's ultimate career choice. For example, in 1988, Stanky and the Coal Miners played to a crowd of a million people in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. While the membership of the Coal Miners has changed many times over the years, Stanky's own family now forms the core of the band. Playing regularly with him are his wife, Dottie; his daughters, Kim Bukowski and Debra Horoschock; his son-in-law, Vince Horoschock; and his granddaughters, 3-year-old Alexandra Bukowski and 2-year-old Ashley Horoschock. Other members include drummers Norbert Wisniewski, Tom Novakowski and Dave Burns and trumpeter Mark Steinkircher. Stanky and Dottie also host and produce the popular ``Pennsylvania Polka'' program on WVIA, Northeastern Pennsylvania's public television station. The show has aired for 20 years, allowing him to reach a wider audience of fans. While Stanky travels the world, he always remembers the region he calls home and the people who love his music. When he is in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Stanky also devotes one or two days a week to playing concerts at local rest homes. Mr. Speaker, I send my congratulations to Stanky and the Coal Miners in this, the year of their 55th anniversary, and I also send my best wishes for continued success.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Chairman Leach and Ranking Member LaFalce for their tireless work on moving legislation that brings some much-needed reforms to the housing and banking industries. S. 1452, the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act, is for the most part valuable legislation that deserves our support. As you know, Mr. Speaker, our economy continues its record expansion, and our nation has achieved its highest homeownership rate in its history. The 1993 Budget Act helped to form the foundation on which these accomplishments have been built. The budget policies outlined in that law have contributed to record budget surpluses, lower interest and mortgage rates, more than seven years of robust economic growth, and record levels of consumer confidence. Despite our successes, significant numbers of households are still precluded from sharing in the benefits of homeownership. S. 1452 addresses many of these inequities. Specifically, S. 1452 contains many provisions of H.R. 1776, legislation previously passed by the House in April by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 417 to 8. Like H.R. 1776, S. 1452 will increase homeownership opportunities for all Americans, enhance access to affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals, and expand economic opportunity for underserved communities. It will also help schoolteachers, police officers, and firefighters to purchase homes in the jurisdiction that employs them with reduced downpayments in addition to restructuring and streamlining manufactured housing standards. Furthermore, it will allow elderly homeowners to refinance their reverse mortgages while establishing consumer protections to shield them against fraud or abuse. Finally, S. 1452 contains language to reauthorize numerous reports by federal banking regulators, some regulatory relief for financial institutions, and provisions to improve financial contract netting in bankruptcy cases. Although S. 1452 is a good beginning, we still need to do more to encourage economic investments in underserved communities. After all, increased homeownership rates often flow from increased prosperity. That is why I hope that before the 106th Congress completes its work we will pass the Administration's New Markets Initiative and the Speaker's Community Renewal proposal. This legislation passed the House in July on a strong, overwhelming, and bipartisan vote of 394 to 27. This program includes tax credits and guaranteed loans for private firms to invest in targeted communities and small businesses. When the House considers the Community Renewal and New Markets Act of 2000, I also hope that it will include the text of H.R. 4314, Anthracite Region Redevelopment Act of 2000. This legislation, which has the bipartisan support of the four Members of Congress who represent the anthracite coal region in Eastern Pennsylvania, will provide interest-free capital by authorizing a qualified entity to issue special tax credit bonds. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds will then be used to fund comprehensive environmental restoration and economic development of the twelve counties making up the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania. Additionally, while I am pleased that S. 1452 contains several important components of H.R. 1776 as well as other needed reforms, one particular omission concerns me. Unfortunately, this omission may ultimately have an effect on the number of families who will realize the dream of homeownership. One provision not included in S. 1452 is Section 102 of H.R. 1776. Section 102, as my colleagues may recall, would require federal agencies to perform a housing impact analysis before issuing new regulations. The impact analysis would determine if a significant negative impact on affordable housing would result from those new regulations. We would define ``significant'' as increasing consumers' housing costs by more than $100 million per year. Further, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1776 stipulates that the private sector would have an opportunity to submit an alternative to the proposed regulation if it would have less of a negative impact on the cost of homeownership. As with the other provisions in Title I of H.R. 1776, the goal of the housing impact analysis is to alert federal agencies and the general public of the effects of a regulation on housing affordability. Ultimately, the objective would help lower the cost of a home by minimizing regulations that pose a barrier to homeownership. The housing impact analysis addresses this issue by requiring the federal government to perform an ``internal check'' of sorts in an attempt to discern whether the agency might construct the rule in a better way that would not lock some individuals out of homeownership. Mr. Speaker, I view this internal check as a positive action, and I am concerned that we excluded this worthy provision, a provision 417 of my colleagues supported, from the bill that comes before us today. although this legislative provision will die with the closing of the 106th Congress, I hope that we can revive this concept next year, with the commencement of the 107th Congress. In closing, Mr. Speaker, S. 1452 is a solid piece of legislation that helps more people become homeowners in very innovative ways. Because increased homeownership rates strengthen communities, I support S. 1452 and encourage my colleagues to vote for its passage.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Howard J. Grossman, executive director of the Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, who is retiring on Oct. 31 after more than 29 years of serving in that capacity. The Council serves Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, and Wayne counties. Howard came to the region on June 21, 1971, after serving as Deputy Director of the Montgomery County Planning Commission in Norristown. He has served Northeastern Pennsylvania well, with much significant progress having been made under his tenure. Howard's accomplishments and achievements are too numerous to mention, but I would like to highlight just a few examples of how his leadership has helped the region through his work at EDCNP. Following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Agnes in 1972, EDCNP was one of the leading organizations to plan our area's long-range flood recovery. Under his leadership, the council has also participated in the creation of the Montage development in Lackawanna County, which has been termed the most extensive and best development of its kind in the region and perhaps the East Coast. The council also established the Regional Enterprise Development Program, which assists many companies in the region with low-interest loans, technical assistance in procurement, exporting and international trade, and has used community development banking to assist small businesses. I have known Howard Grossman since he first came to the area and have worked closely with him on many projects over the years. In recent years, he may be best known for his leadership of the community effort to keep the Tobyhanna Army Depot open when it was threatened by the base closing commission. He helped to organize thousands of volunteers to demonstrate their appreciation for this vitally important community asset, and I will never forget the sight of hundreds of people holding signs and blue ribbons as Congressman Joseph McDade and I traveled with the commission members to Tobyhanna. I am especially grateful for the assistance that Howard provided in preparing the winning application for the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna watershed, which led to its designation as an American Heritage River. Mr. Speaker, like his accomplishments and achievements, Howard's awards and positions of leadership in the community are too numerous to list them all, but please allow me to mention a few as examples of his long and distinguished service. He has received the J. Roy Fogle Award from the National Association of Development Organizations as the Outstanding Executive Director of a Multi-County Planning and Development Organization, the Professional Planner of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Planning Association and the Distinguished Leadership Award for a Professional Planner from the American Planning Association. Howard also served as a member of the Ben Franklin Partnership Board for 11 years under Pennsylvania Governors Dick Thornburgh and Robert P. Casey. Howard has been President of many nonprofit organizations in the region and state, was a founder of the Pennsylvania Association of Non- Profit Organizations, and was President of the Eastern Pennsylvania BAHIA Brazil Partners of the Americas, a national partnership that took over the Kennedy Alliance for Progress Initiative in 1965. This partnership continues today. He has also served in many other national, state, regional and local capacities, and plans to stay active with many of the organizations with which he has been associated in the region. As David Donlin, president of EDCNP, said in announcing Howard's retirement, speaking for many in the region, ``We will miss his leadership and guidance as the Council moves into the 21st Century with a strong view toward continuing its goals and mission: to be the regional advocate, catalyst, innovator, and promoter of economic growth and the highest quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania.'' Mr. Speaker, I send my best wishes to Howard Grossman on the occasion of his retirement as executive director of the EDCNP.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 109th Field Artillery of the Pennsylvania National Guard on the occasion of its 225th anniversary. The 109th is one of the oldest organizations in continuous existence in the entire Armed Force. It was organized under Colonel Zebulon Butler on Oct. 17, 1775, just six months after the ``shot heard `round the world'' at Concord and Lexington sparked the American Revolution. Since then, the 109th has served the local community, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the nation through many conflicts and emergencies. Although founded as an infantry unit, the regiment alternated between infantry and artillery throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Under various designations, the unit fought not only in the war for America's independence, but also in most of the nation's major wars. Mr. Speaker, the history of the 109th in battle is a long, brave and distinguished one. To give just one example, the unit fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, striving valiantly to halt the German offensive in the Ardenesse. Once its guns were destroyed, the 109th fought as infantry, often in vicious hand-to-hand combat. For its valor, the battalion was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest decoration a unit can receive. It is authorized for wear by all current members of the battalion. The sacrifice of the members of the 109th extended to the Korean War era as well. On Sept. 11, 1950, at Coshocton, Ohio, 33 members of the 109th Pennsylvania National Guard, who had been called into service in the Korean War, were killed in a train wreck and scores were wounded. During the remainder of the war, the battalion, along with the 28th Infantry Division, served in Europe as part of the defenses against the Soviet army. In 1977, the unit assumed its current designation as the 1st Battalion, 109th Field Artillery. It is a component of the 28th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Pennsylvania National Guard. With an authorized strength of more than 600 members and more than $50 million worth of equipment, the battalion is a crucial community asset for dealing with emergencies and natural disasters. It is also a key wartime resource, since the National Guard comprises more than half of the entire Army's field artillery force. The 109th also pumps more than $3 million into the local economy each year. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and honored to have been asked to serve as honorary chairman of the community dinner that is being held Oct. 13 to honor the unit for its long and distinguished service to the Wyoming Valley and the nation. The chairperson for the dinner is Colonel Keith Martin, and the scheduled speakers are Medal of Honor winner Peter Lemon and reigning Miss America Heather French. As befits such a milestone anniversary, the dinner is just one of a series of events scheduled for the weekend, including an open house at the armory. Today, America stands tall as the lone remaining superpower, and freedom and democracy superpower, and freedom and democracy are thriving around the globe. To be sure, many people still do not breathe free, but the progress we have made is truly remarkable, and those National Guard citizen soldiers who have served in the defense of our nation and the cause of freedom helped to make this possible. In addition to honoring their service in wartime, it is especially important to honor their service in peacetime emergencies and disasters. Mr. Speaker, I join a grateful Wyoming Valley in honoring all those who have served in the 109th Field Artillery in its 225 years of existence, and I am pleased to call their service to the attention of the House of Representatives.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join with our chairman of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services and ranking member in paying tribute to Bruce Vento. Bruce was the sort of fellow that was a real legislator, a quiet, gentle man. I came to the Congress a number of terms after Bruce, but I was always impressed with the fact that he would willingly offer his insights as to how the Congress operated and how we could best serve our constituents. Speaking of constituents, Bruce really had two: that excellent district he represented in Minnesota but also all the needy and homeless people of America. Their benefits over these last many years, although they probably have no awareness of the fact, are to a great deal due to his ever-present desire to see that the American government recognized that there are needs in this country that must be served, and he was their best ambassador and representative to serve those needs. I think it is most fitting that we tie Bruce Vento to the McKinney Act, because in a way Stew McKinney had some of the same characteristics of gentleness that Bruce had; an able legislator, not a partisan but a person that worked with real integrity. I suspect Bruce and Stew will be in conversation now; and we in the Congress, we in America, are poorer for their passing but inevitably as life makes its cycle we all come to pass. I am very pleased and honored to join the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) in supporting this resolution, and I hope that we have the full support of the entire Congress.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Dr. James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, and to thank him for the fine job that he and the staff of the Library have done with the Local Legacies program, which has served as the focal point of this year's bicentennial celebration for the Library. As the members may be aware, the Library of Congress, the nation's oldest federal cultural institution, was established by an act of Congress in 1800, when President John Adams signed a bill transferring the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington. In addition to the Local Legacies program, which is the focus of my remarks today, the bicentennial of this great institution has been observed with ceremonies, exhibitions, the issuance of a commemorative stamp and coins, as well as the launch of a new, easy-to- use and entertaining Web site, americaslibrary.gov. In light of Dr. Billington's accomplishments and the tremendous success of the Local Legacies project, I would like to point out his ties to the Keystone State and to Northeastern Pennsylvania in particular. He is a native of Pennsylvania and holds an honorary degree from the University of Scranton. He has made great stride toward his goal of making the Library truly the ``people's library,'' and the Local Legacies project is an excellent example of this. Last year, each Member of Congress was asked to submit audio, visual, or textual documentation for at least one significant cultural heritage that has been important to his or her district or state to serve as a record for future generations, who might otherwise have lost this important knowledge forever. This documentation is now permanently housed in the collections of the Library's American Folklife Center. In May, Members of Congress and Local Legacies project participants from across the country came together in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson building to celebrate the completion of this magnificent collection of historical material. I was pleased to register several important cornerstones of community life in my district for posterity as Local Legacies: the Hazleton Funfest, the Bloomsburg Fair, the West End Fair, the Wyoming Commemorative Association, the Anthracite Heritage Parade, the Pittston Tomato Festival and the Saint Mary's Annual Homecoming Picnic in Mocanaqua. Led by Father Thomas Skotek, the pastor of Saint Mary's, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, the Mocanaqua community sent the largest delegation of anywhere in the country--more than 80 people--to Washington for the Local Legacies completion ceremony. I was pleased to introduce them to Dr. Billington at the ceremony. Mr. Speaker, the visit of the Mocanaqua delegation for the Local Legacies celebration was a particularly special occasion for Frank Evina, a native of Mocanaqua and 30-year employee of the Library of Congress, whose accomplishments are noteworthy in their own right. Mr. Evina was co-coordinator of the Local Legacies project and has helped organize numerous exhibits at the Library, including The Thomas Jefferson Building: Book Palace of the America People,'' an exhibition marking the centennial of the opening of the Jefferson Building, and ``The Wizard of Oz: An American Fairy Tale,'' an exhibition marking this year's 100th anniversary of one of America's most beloved stories, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The Library is holding a gala celebration tonight as part of the year-long observation of its bicentennial. I send my congratulations to Dr. Billington, Mr. Evina and the staff of the Library of Congress for their tremendous work on the Local Legacies project and all of the bicentennial commemorations, and I also send my best wishes to the people of Saint Mary's and Mocanaqua for the continued success of the Homecoming Picnic.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Little Flower Manor of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a nonprofit skilled nursing home which is celebrating its 25th anniversary of compassionate, loving care and service to the community. The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm operate Little Flower Manor under the auspices of the Diocese of Scranton. This exceptional facility opened its doors in 1975, a living tribute to the vision, dedication and persistence of the Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, the late Bishop of Scranton, and the generosity of the faithful of the Diocese. This dedication to provide service to the aged continues under the leadership of the Most Reverend James C. Timlin, the present Bishop of Scranton. At Little Flower Manor, each resident is given the attention required to enable him or her to maintain personal dignity, individuality and independence. A 25th Anniversary Gala will be held Nov. 3, 2000, at the Woodlands Inn and Resort with Judge Peter Olszewski as guest speaker. Sister Jeanette D. Lindsay, administrator and chief operating officer of Little Flower Manor, will present the inaugural Crystal Rose Award. The honored recipients are Mr. and Mrs. John D. McCarthy and the late Bishop McCormick. Jack and CeCe McCarthy have been outstanding supporters of the values, commitment and mission of Little Flower Manor, practicing stewardship by giving unselfishly of their time, talents and treasure. Mr. Speaker, I send my congratulations and best wishes to the McCarthys, the Carmelite Sisters, the Diocese of Scranton, and everyone who plays a part in Little Flower Manor's continued service to its residents.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, no one could deny our colleague that we honor today, Bill Goodling, has had a brilliant career in education in this Congress and is well known. But I can attest to the fact that he has more horse sense than any Member that ever served in the United States Congress, and that is saying something. Bill is the type of guy that has a twinkle in his eye and love for what he does and for his colleagues that we are going to miss, because he is of the old tradition of the House. As I drive back to my district in Pennsylvania, I go through the gentleman's district. So many times, I have had the occasion to see him when we have stopped for coffee or something. I am going to miss those occasions. Mr. Speaker, I would just suggest that the Members of the House today that have not had the opportunity to spend late evenings with Bill at dinner when we are in session and hear about his horses or hear about his violets, it is a great treat. Because here is a sensitive man who has dedicated his career to the 19th District of Pennsylvania that has not only served his district, but has served this Nation with honor and distinction. As his colleagues have attested to today, he is probably known as ``Mr. Education'' in the House of Representatives. I am going to miss my good friend, Bill Goodling. And as a member of the Pennsylvania delegation, I wish him well, he and Hilda, in their retirement. But I am sure we will hear from him in all of those special occasions. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant).

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Charles A. Giunta, who has been chosen by the Italian American Association of Luzerne County as their 2000 Person of the Year. The association will honor him at their annual dinner on Oct. 8. The officers of this fine organization are Herman Castellani, president; Judy Russo, vice president; Michael Delconte, secretary; and Leonard Cumbo, treasurer. Charlie has been a member of the association for the past six years, having served on the board of directors and other various committees. Charles is a graduate of Pittston High School and Wilkes-Barre Business College and attended Wilkes College. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1946, a year after the war ended. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War with the rank of captain to command the 487th Transportation Truck Company. In addition to serving his country and the cause of freedom, he has also served his community well. He was past president of the Columbus League of Luzerne County and was an active member of the committee responsible for obtaining and erecting the statue of Christopher Columbus that now stands in Pittston. Charles has been an active member of the Wilkes-Barre chapter of UNICO for the past 40 years and is a past president, secretary and treasurer of the organization, in addition to having served on several of its committees. He has also served St. Anthony's Church of Exeter as a volunteer worker in the rectory and currently serves as chairman of the church's finance committee. Charles resides in Exeter with his wife of 55 years, the former Nancy Berto. They have three sons, Joseph, of Dallas; Samuel, of North Wales; and Charles, of State College; as well as two grandchildren, Joseph and Bridget Giunta. Mr. Speaker, I salute Charles Giunta on the occasion of this honor, and I am pleased to call his long service to the attention of the House of Representatives.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the enduring faith of the parishioners of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, which will celebrate the centennial anniversary of its founding on October 22, 2000. The parish has its roots in the immigration of people from Slovakia who began to settle in the Wyoming Valley in the late 1870s and early 1880s. They came to the area upon hearing of the abundant work in the coal mines. At that time, there were no churches specifically for people of Slovak descent, so they attended churches where most of the members' first language was English. Around 1885, a Slovak parish, St. Stephen's Church, was founded in Plymouth and many people from the Edwardsville area traveled there on foot for services on Sundays and other holy days. However, this travel was difficult, especially in the winter months, and so the Slovak people of Edwardsville joined together and began work to build their own church. In September 1900, Bishop Michael J. Hoban officiated at the dedication of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church on Grove Street in Edwardsville. Until the winter of 1901, the pastor of St. Stephen's Church in Plymouth also served as their pastor, when the arrival of Father John Jedlicka gave the parishioners of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church their own clergyman. Father Jedlicka oversaw several modifications to the church structure, including the tower and much of the interior, at a cost of $1,400, quite a sum at the time. During his tenure, the parish also purchased land on Pringle Hill for a cemetery and started a four- classroom school in the church basement. In 1904, Father Jedlicka was replaced by a newly ordained priest, who had to leave because he could not find a place to live. The parishioners borrowed $3,000 to build a rectory, which was completed in 1905, and Father Jedlicka returned. That building still stands today on the corner of Grove and Hurbane streets in Edwardsville. The following year, the parish tragically lost its church building, dedicated only six years before, in a fire. The current church on Zerbey Avenue was built in 1907 to replace it. In 1921, Father Jedlicka died and was replaced by Father Edward Bellas, who served the parish for about eight years. He in turn was replaced by Father Stephen Gurcik, who was pastor until 1943, guiding the parish during the difficult years of the Great Depression. Many events were held to raise money, notably parish picnics, and finances began to improve in the 1940s. Father Gurcik loved the outdoors and often took the alter servers camping. During his tenure, the parish also sponsored a baseball team. Father Joseph Podskoch served as pastor from 1943 until his death in 1949. He held bingo and other events to reduce the church's still- considerable debt. He was well-known in Edwardsville and would often walk up and down the streets to meet the people. Father Michael Harvan, who became pastor in 1949, instituted a ``day's wage'' collection. During his pastorate, a few parishioners made sizable donations to the parish, and many improvements to the church were made. It also became possible to pay all existing debts. While pastor at Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Father Harvan was honored by becoming a Monsignor, or Prelate of Honor to the Pope. Upon his retirement in 1985, he left the parish with a sizable amount in its savings account. In 1985, Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church was joined with St. Anthony of Padua Church in Larksville, and both shared the same pastor, Father Joseph Ziobro. Since Father Ziobro lived at St. Anthony's Rectory, the one at St. Cyril and Methodius was sold at that time. Father Ziobro worked hard to bring the two churches together as one parish family. In 1990, Father Ziobro was transferred and Father Andrew Strish became pastor of the two churches until he was transferred in 1996. Father Bernard Evanofski then became pastor of the two churches. Upon his arrival, it was obvious that Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church was in need of a new roof and other repairs. Through a capital fund campaign and the generosity of the parishioners, all needed repairs were made, including a new roof. Mr. Speaker, the people of Sts. Cyril and Methodius church continue to be active and strongly supportive of all parish functions as they celebrate both the centennial of the church's founding and the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. I salute them on the occasion of this milestone anniversary, and I am pleased to call their faith and service to the attention of the House of Representatives.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of the Essential and Critical Hospital Preservation Act of 2000. This bill improves previous legislation I have introduced in the 106th Congress by targeting relief to similar regions of the country like Northeastern Pennsylvania. Hospitals in these regions have a disproportionate number of elderly patients and have, therefore, been more greatly affected by the drastic cuts made in Medicare from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Furthermore, in these regions, the formula for Medicare as applied to those hospitals returns them an insufficient payment to meet their basic costs. This bill is designed to assist economically distressed hospitals in regions where the combination of managed care, Medicare, and commercial payments changes have threatened to destroy the entire health care delivery infrastructure. It applies only to hospitals which have more than 40 percent of its patients on Medicare and receive the rural reimbursement rate despite being located in a Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mr. Speaker, the hospitals in my region of Pennsylvania are in deep distress. Many of them are in severe economic difficulty. My proposal would give hospitals in regions of the country like Northeastern Pennsylvania a minimum of a 5-year, 10-percent increase in Medicare payments while they work through the development of long-range economic recovery programs. It also requires the hospitals to devise a coordinated economic recovery program with the assistance of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Speaker, in a time when the future of Medicare is under strict scrutiny, we must today continue to provide the basic essential care under the Medicare program that are intended some 35 years ago. I urge all Members of Congress to review this critical legislation in the remainder of the 106th Congress and work to enact it into law.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Charles J. Spitale, who is retiring this month as the vice president and chief executive officer of AAA-Mid Atlantic. Charlie has served the members of the AAA for 40 years., He began as a service counselor in 1960, worked his way up to the position of office manager, and eventually was promoted to the position of executive vice president with the former Valley Auto Club. Upon the merger with AAA Mid-Atlantic in 1996, he was appointed vice president and CEO. He has also served for many years on the AAA Board of Directors and the Finance Committee of the AAA Federation. Charlie has also received numerous awards as a member of several Pennsylvania AAA Federation committees, and he has received national recognition from AAA in the area of sales production and promotion. He was also instrumental in facilitating the merger of the Tourist Promotion Agencies of Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties. Mr. Speaker, in addition to his accomplishments on the job, Charlie has a long and distinguished history with the Kiwanis Club of Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania. He joined the club in 1966, serving as its 56th president from 1974 to 1975 and its secretary from 1987 to 1988. During his year as president, the club completed several outstanding community service projects as well as a variety of activities for Kiwanians and their families. Under his leadership, the club's primary fundraising project during that year was a performance by the world-famous Yugoslavian dance ensemble, the Frula, which means ``flute'' in Slovenian. This and other fundraising allowed the club to assist not only the Kiwanis Charitable Foundation, but also for the Kingston Senior Citizens' Center, Camp Acahela of the Penns Mountains Boy Scout Council and the Wyoming Valley Cerebral Palsy Association. Last but certainly not least, Charlie also founded the club's High- Rise Tree Trim Project in 1972 and chaired it for 26 years. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of Representatives the numerous accomplishments and good deeds of Charles Spitale, and I wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley), the ranking member, for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. Yesterday, myself and three other Members of Congress, the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), all proposed an amendment to this bill. If we are going to spend money, if we are going to reduce taxes, we ought to put in a repair for the notch babies. Those are the individuals in our society that are going to be forgotten. If this bill is passed today in its present context, the money that would be there to fix the notch-baby problem will be gone forever. I hear my friends on each side talking about whether we are going to give a tax cut to people making millions of dollars in retirement or we are going to reduce it and put a cap on it. I say we have got 3\1/2\ million Americans that are 74 years of age to 84 years of age, more than 90 percent of them never meet the beginning cap of taxation. These individuals have been denied more than a thousand dollars a year for many years. If we pass this legislation today, the surplus that everybody talks about, and which has been spent for 2 months in double time so it is questionable whether any surplus is there at all, will be gone. The potential fix of the notch-baby problem will be, as a former commissioner of Social Security, as someone in the Reagan administration told me and Members of Congress when we met with them, fixed by attrition. We are going to wait until they die, and we will not have to fix it. The message of this Republican Congress to those notch babies should be clear, they will not and do not intend to fix the notch-baby problem. Therefore, those 3\1/2\ million Americans that are 74 years of age to 84 years of age, all of which need this money, have been denied this money for 20 years, will now lose it. And the problem will be solved by attrition until they die. Mr. Speaker, this is ridiculous. It is political, and I urge all my colleagues to vote against the rule and against the proposition to be cutting taxes before we fix fundamental problems with Social Security and Medicare.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to seek recognition to introduce a bill that will overturn what has come to be known as the ``Feres doctrine.'' In introducing this legislation I hope to rectify a grave injustice that has been perpetuated upon our servicemen and women and pay tribute to a truly inspirational young woman, Kerryn O'Neill. Kerry O'Neill grew up in Kingston, Pennsylvania in my Congressional District, and I had the pleasure of nominating her for admission to the United States Naval Academy. On December 1, 1993, Kerry O'Neill, a ``graduate with the distinction'' of the United States Naval Academy in the top ten percent of her class, was brutally murdered by her former fiance, Ensign George Smith, while sitting in her on-base apartment watching a movie with a friend, who was also killed. Ensign Smith, who was to have commenced his first tour of duty on a nuclear submarine the next day, then shot himself. O'Neill had a superb record at the Academy setting athletic records for the fastest time run by an Academy cross-country runner and for the indoor and outdoor track 5,000 meter runs. In 1992 she was the first female athlete in any Naval Academy sport to qualify for the NCAS Division I Championships. She was also the recipient of the Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence Sword as the outstanding female athlete in her class. Her accomplishments, however, paled in comparison to her intelligence, dedication, and enthusiasm, which made her an ``inspiration'' to those who knew her. As James E. Brockington, Jr., Commander, USN wrote of Kerry, ``Gone too soon is that smile that brightened the darkest of days. Lost are those sparkling eyes that mirrored our quest for perfection. A leader, a dreamer, a source of unparalleled excellence--she is gone too soon.'' In attempting to understand this tragedy, and what could have caused Ensign Smith to commit such murderous act, Kerry's parents learned that Ensign Smith had scored in the 99.99th percentile for aggressive/ destructive behavior in Navy psychological tests. To evaluate his psychological fitness for the unique demands of submarine duty, Ensign Smith had, two months before the shooting, been required to submit to the Navy's ``Subscreen'' test. Ensign Smith scored more than four standard deviations above the normal levels for aggressive/destructive behavior and more than two standard deviations above normal levels in six other categories. Because Ensign Smith's results were well above the two-standard deviations above norms in multiple categories, under non-discretionary Navy regulations his abnormal test results were referred to a Navy psychologist, who in turn was required to conduct a full evaluation. The Navy civilian psychology responsible for reviewing the unusual scores and evaluating Smith, simply fail to conduct any such review or evaluation. This failure to review was a clear violation of Navy regulations (Compl. Paragraphs 10-15; Pet. App. 15a-17a). A psychological evaluation could have identified the potential for this destructive act and possibly prevented this tragedy from occurring. Based on this negligent behavior by the Navy psychologist, the O'Neills filed suit seeking damages for the injury and death of their daughter under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Their case was dismissed pursuant to the Feres doctrine, based on the reasoning that because at the time of her death Kerry O'Neill was in her military quarters and was on active duty status, her injuries and death were ``incident to military service.'' In the 1950 case of Feres v. United States, the Supreme Court created a broad exception to the federal government's general liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act, where the service member's injury arises out of or is ``in the course of activity incident to service.'' Since this initial ruling, the Court has departed from the original justifications for its holding and has expanded the ruling based on vague and broad policy justifications, not intended by Congress when it enacted the Federal Tort Claims Act. In passing the Federal Tort Claims Act, Congress intended to prohibit tort claims against the federal government by a military member or his or her family only when the injuries arise ``out of the combatant activities of the military or naval forces, or the Coast Guard, during time of war.'' Kerry O'Neill's death was the result of a social relationship and the negligent failure of a Navy civilian psychiatrist to further evaluate Ensign Smith, not due to her involvement in combat, and in actuality, not incident to her service. Congress wrote the statute to prohibit claims for injuries ``arising out of the combatant activities of the military or naval forces, or the Coast Guard, during time of war,'' because we do not want to allow soldiers or their families to be able to sue the government in a combat situation, when countless decisions are made that ultimately result in the death or injury of the service member. In order to protect the integrity of military command decisions, we cannot have any and all instances of death or injury brought and questioned by juries. Such considerations, however, do not necessitate that military personnel lose their ability to recover for clearly negligent behavior by the federal government, just as every other individual in this country is allowed to do. Unfortunately, the individuals hurt most by the Feres doctrine are those men and women who commit their lives to the service of their country. These individuals should be protected by our laws, not punished. As case after case has demonstrated, the consequences of this doctrine are unjust. Private Charles A. Richards, Jr., who was off-duty, was killed by an Army truck, whose driver had run a red light. He was driving home from work at Fort Knox to care for his then-pregnant wife. His wife was unable to recover damages. Another service woman, who had given birth to twins, discovered one of her twins suffered bodily injury and the other died due to the negligent prenatal care at a military hospital. She was unable to recover damages. Such unjust outcomes were clearly not the intention of Congress. The Feres doctrine has been the subject of harsh criticism. In dissenting from the denial of rehearing en banc in Richards v. United States, four judges of the Third Circuit, including Chief Judge Becker, called the Feres doctrine a ``travesty'' and urged the Supreme Court to consider the case. Numerous law review articles have also been written on the case, decrying the doctrine. Additionally, Feres's critics have included at least three current Justices of the Supreme Court, who have argued that Feres was wrong when decided. My legislation, like the companion bill introduced by the senior Senator from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, simply seeks to overturn the judicially created Feres doctrine, while leaving in place the original intention of Congress to prohibit tort claims arising out of combatant activities during times of war. The legislation amends the Federal Tort Claims Act to specifically provide that the Act applies to military personnel on active duty to the same as it applies to anyone else. There is no reason to deny our military men and women the just compensation they deserve when they are injured or killed as a result of the negligent actions of the Federal government or its agents outside the heat of combat. Mr. Speaker, the legislation will not bring back Kerryn O'Neill, or the other two service members, who were harmed by their government in this one instance. Nor will this legislation bring compensation to their families. But hopefully, this legislation will right this unjust doctrine, and help to prevent similar tragedies in the future. We need to address this situation as quickly as possible and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for the opportunity to rise in favor of passage of this bill today, but not in total satisfaction, because H.R. 4923 represents a compromise. Unfortunately, when we have a compromise, we often do not have everything that one would think is needed. But not to make the perfect the enemy of the good, I think it is important that my colleagues in the House support this bill to move the process along. This compromise occurs because of a lot of good people in this body, in the Senate, and, particularly, the President of the United States, have the dream of extending American opportunity to those distressed communities and pockets of America that have not participated in the economic boom of the last 8 years. Last year, I had the occasion to travel with the President of the United States the length and width of this country. We stopped in more than a dozen communities and saw their needs. Each night at dinner or some other gathering, we discussed what we saw that day. We concluded that there was not a uniform problem in America, and not any one single community was the same as another community, in terms of its base problem. In other words, Mr. Speaker, there is no silver bullet to bring economic opportunity and improved quality of life to many of those citizens that do not share it today. I think this legislation does go a great distance in starting to develop tools that will help economically lagging communities. Whether it be the Indian tribes of South Dakota or the inner city of Hartford, Connecticut, or the Delta of Mississippi, all of these communities will find something within this bill that can lead them along the road to more economic development and increased economic opportunity for their citizens. I would hope, as this bill proceeds from the House to conference with the Senate, that my friends in the House will recognize that there are other good demonstration projects that are being attached as part of this bill, particularly in the Senate. Our colleague in Pennsylvania, Senator Santorum, for example, has added a demonstration project to renew areas by attacking regional problems comprehensively. Included in the Senate version of the bill by Senator Santorum will be the Anthracite Region Redevelopment Act. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) on the Republican side and I support this plan. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden) also support this proposal from the standpoint that it represents an approach and a methodology to attack land destroyed as a result of prior mining practices with a renewal and a reclamation project that is self-funded and operated by the local community. It costs this government the least amount of money to accomplish this greatest end. It is intended that we take that demonstration project and one day move it across the coal mines of America, from Pennsylvania to Alabama and from Alabama to Montana. We can use the project to examine those areas that have suffered horrendous environmental destruction over the last 100 years. To a large extent we cannot bring back the economies of those areas without bringing back the environment of those areas. We need a Federal vehicle to accomplish that end. This amendment that was supposed to be part of this bill in the House, and I think was agreed to by the Speaker in Chicago with the President last November, does not appear in the context of this bill. I think we all have to be good sports. Sometimes we are not happy with what happens, but I hope that the Senate will attach that amendment to the bill as it proceeds. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in conference to support that plan. In the meantime trying to be a sport and a player on the team for progress, I compliment both sides of the aisle and the leadership in proceeding through with this bill today. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues in the House to support H.R. 4923. It is the right thing to do at the right time. In the midst of American prosperity we should give those distressed communities across America an opportunity to share in the benefits that most of Americans have shared in for the last 8 years.

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent because of the request for additional time on both sides that the Chair allow 10 minutes additional debate on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the good work that is being done by the Job Corps program that is run by the Department of Labor. The Job Corps serves low-income young women and men, ages 16 through 24, who are in need of additional educational, vocational and social skills training, and other support services in order to gain meaningful employment, return to school or enter the Armed Forces. I am proud that my district is home to the Keystone Job Corps Center of Drums, Pennsylvania. At a Job Corps advisory meeting in Pennsylvania earlier this year, a member of the Transportation Communications International Union, or TCU, which represents many Job Corps employees, presented me with an e-mail written by Dawn Day, a young woman from rural Maine. Ms. Day recently graduated from the Potomac Job Corps Center, and I think she provides an excellent example of the good results that this program produces. I would like to enter a portion of that e-mail into the Record. Between my salary and my moving I should make over $50,000 this year. This is a way more money than I have ever dreamed of making. My first knowledge of TCU was at a conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, where I met with students from other schools. From there I contacted the TCU to set up an interview. The interviewer, Tom Huster, told me about a student in Florida who was making $14.22 an hour and my jaw hit the ground. I told a friend ``I'm going to have a job like that when I leave here,'' Little did I realize that one year later, I would have a job exactly like that in Jacksonville, Florida. Now, one more year later, I have a job paying about $45,000 to $50,000 per year in New York. I never could have imagined that TCU would open such great doors for me. Before PJCC and TCU, I was working in a fish factory in a tiny town in Maine making $5.33/hour. When the opportunity was upon me to go to TCU in St. Louis, I though of a zillion reasons why I shouldn't go. The small-town girl in a big city, you know, the usual excuses associated with change. But there was one thing that made me realize I had to go, I never wanted to look back and say ``What if'' and know I didn't even try. I knew I could always come home but I may not always have an opportunity to do anything like this ever again. So, I was soon on a plane and on my way to TCU. The best advice to a student interested in TCU would have to be stay focused. There will be many mountains in which you will have to climb in order to reach your goals. But I guarantee that after each mountain there will be a sunny day waiting for you on the other sides. Mr. Speaker, I think Ms. Day's experience is a tremendous example of why we need to encourage other young people to participate in this program and other training programs through Job Corps. I send my best wishes to the students, graduates and employees of the Job Corps and my wishes for continued success.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call to the attention of the House of Representatives the efforts of the Big Band Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this week. The names of landmark recording artists such as Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers and Duke Ellington, may not meet with instant recognition with those Americans who grew up with MTV. But for millions of music lovers, those artists represent the beloved sounds of their generation. The Big Band Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania is to be commended for keeping this musical tradition alive. One way they do this is by holding their annual gala dance each summer at the Irem Temple Country Club in Dallas, Pennsylvania. Under the leadership of dedicated people like Pat Perillo, its president, and Charlie Aten, its treasurer, this organization, with its devoted members, has drummed along tirelessly to promote the tunes and the personalities of the Big Band era and to bring that original sound and enduring spirit to younger audiences. Mr. Speaker, for many Americans, the Big Band sound its much more than a style of music--it is uniquely American and evokes moving memories for a generation filled with patriotism, pride and love of country. I am pleased to honor the Big Band Society for their part in keeping alive this important tradition of our nation's culture. I send my best wishes to the members of the Society on their 30th anniversary as well as my wishes for continued success.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the members and employees of the Service 1st Federal Credit Union in Danville, Pennsylvania, on the occasion of the credit union's upcoming 25th anniversary. Service 1st was originally known as Geisinger Federal Credit Union when it was founded in August, 1975, by several employees of Geisinger Medical Center who saw the need to provide a financial services alternative to their fellow workers. The name change was made to reflect the expanded field of membership and the credit union's commitment to all of its members. Over the years, the credit union has grown into a full-service financial institution with membership expanded well beyond the employees of the Geisinger Health System. With branches in Wilkes- Barre, Lewisburg and Selinsgrove, Service 1st now provides service to more than 150 employee groups, including workers at Bucknell University, Susquehanna University, and Tri-County Farm and Home Supply. Service 1st also has a unique program, headed by Kathy Linn, chair of the board, that allows students at Danville Area High School to join and work in a branch that is based right in the high school. Service 1st has come a long way since its founding 25 years ago and is now a well-established credit union with more than 13,000 members and more than 450 million in assets. In June, Service 1st opened its new headquarters in Danville at 1027 Bloom St., complete with a drive- up ATM and drive-through teller service as well as expanded business hours inside the lobby. Mr. Speaker, Service 1st and its strong commitment to its members serve as a good example of why I and others in the Congress worked to enact the Credit Union Membership Access Act that President Clinton signed into law in 1998. Credit unions serve an important purpose as a non-profit provider of financial services to millions of Americans. Pennsylvania in particular has the highest proportion of credit union membership of any state in the nation, with one out of every four Pennsylvanians belonging to a credit union. I send my best wishes to the members and employees of the Service 1st Federal Credit Union on their 25th anniversary and my wishes for continued success.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Carol McNulty, a teacher at Edward Mackin Elementary School in Wilkes-Barre, and the Newspaper in Education program of the Citizens' Voice, which is run by Debby Higgins. Carol and Debby will be coming to Washington to receive an award from the Newspaper Association of America for their Old King Coal Day project. The NAA will present them with one of its Newspaper Innovators in Education Awards on July 14, and they will also be participating in a week-long educational seminar as guests of the NAA. They in turn will present the Old King Coal Day program to Newspapers in Education people from across the country. This project began as a way to teach a new generation of children about the history of Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially the role that the anthracite coal mining industry played in the region's development. Through the efforts of many people, Old King Coal Day became a reality on Sept. 23, 1999 at Edward Mackin Elementary School. Students listened to speeches about the Molly Maguires and breaker boys, watched presentations about mining tools and equipment, and learned about the area's coal heritage. The organizers felt the day was a success and are planning a second Old King Coal Day for September at the Pringle Street Elementary School in the Wyoming Valley West School District. This spring, I visited with the students at Mackin elementary and can attest to the enthusiasm Ms. McNulty has generated. Old King Coal Day stimulated the students to seek a postal stamp honoring coal miners. On their behalf, I recently submitted to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee the petitions that the students circulated, bearing more than 2,000 signatures. One of the fourth-grade students, Stephen Grobinski, whose great- great-grandfather was killed in a coal mine, wrote an especially moving letter to the head of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee explaining why a coal miners stamp would be important to him. I would like to have this letter reprinted in full below Dear Dr. Virginia Noelke: We want you to issue the stamp, because we want to honor the dead miners. How would you feel if your dad, grandpa, uncle, and your friends died in a mine? My great, great grandpa died in the mines. How do you think other people feel? I don't feel happy. They probably feel sad that their dads, grandpas and uncles died. We did lots of projects for ``Old King Coal Day.'' We did it to honor all the miners. I know somewhere in your heart you feel sad. If you don't, I can't understand why. People say that children can make a difference, and that is our goal. One thing I want to know is why did you say no to all the people that asked you to issue the stamp? I hope you listen to us. If you say yes, I know that all the little people like me can make a difference in our lives. I said little people could make a difference because all my life I gave up, but this time I'm not going to give up! This is one thing that I want to accomplish!. I want a stamp to honor the coal miners. Please, say you will grant my special wish. Sincerely, Stephen Grobinski. The NAA award, which is a monetary prize, will be shared by the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, which participated in the First Old King Coal Day, and the Citizens' Voice NIE program. Mr. Speaker, I think it is also worth noting that Carol McNulty has been named The Citizens' Voice Teacher of the Year. Both Carol McNulty and Debby Higgins are to be commended for their fine work with our young people and for ensuring that our history is passed on to future generations. I also congratulate the Newspaper Association of America for creating this program to encourage newspapers to become more actively involved in schools. Our democracy depends on well-informed citizens, and this program helps to develop our young people into the active citizens of tomorrow. I am pleased to call the service of Carol McNulty and Debby Higgins and their well-deserved honors to the attention of the House of Representatives, and I send my best wishes for continued success.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment of the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly), which would eliminate language in the Agriculture Appropriations bill that would prohibit funds in the bill from being used on activities related to the American Heritage River Initiative. The language currently in the bill would bar most USDA funds from being used to support and coordinate the American Heritage River Initiative. This broad language could be interpreted to prohibit most USDA agencies from undertaking community-oriented service or environmental projects related to the American Heritage Rivers. This could selectively put at a disadvantage 25 States that contain all or portions of the current 14 American Heritage Rivers. I would like to compliment my colleague from New York (Mr. Hinchey) who at the full committee was successful in having language inserted in the bill. The bill language would not affect the Hudson River, which the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) represents, and the Susquehanna River which I represent, but it would still not remove the bar and the effect on the other 12 Heritage Rivers in the country. The fact of the matter is that this initiative, although sometimes attacked, sometimes understood and sometimes misunderstood by some of our colleagues is not a threat of the American government to the American people. It is, in fact, reinventing government at its best. It says basically that each community along the river or groups of communities have and are encouraged to put together comprehensive programs to celebrate the historical significance of their community to protect that, to add and think about the economic development elements that their river affects in their community and to provide for historical preservation. Mr. Chairman, the essence of the success of this program was really set out when the initial applications were made when 126 rivers across America competed for designation as an American Heritage River in the first round, and that competition was some of the stiffest competition I have seen since I am a Member of Congress. There were 14 that won the initial round, 14 rivers. I think to use the appropriation process to bar Federal funds to move to this program would be wrong from this standpoint. This is a creature of reinventing government. Some of the very basic problems in our governmental structure is that funds flow down through the departments and agencies of government in a very narrow focused way. What this initiative calls for across government is to come together in an agreement and agencies and departments and bureaus of the Federal Government to cooperate with those communities that have set out a comprehensive plan, that plan has been reviewed and thought to have great merit and then these agencies to cooperate in this comprehensive effort to be more efficient and effective in expending Federal funds to further the plans of those local communities. Mr. Chairman, I cannot think of anything that is more American, more supportive of community activity and that should not be inhibited, either in the appropriation processes here or by the nature in which this program was originally established. I want to compliment my colleagues, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) for the process itself, protecting the Hudson and Susquehanna Rivers, but I want to compliment the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) to carry that protection to all 14 rivers of the American Heritage River Designation and Initiative. With that, Mr. Chairman, I wish to urge all my colleagues on the Democratic side, together with my colleagues on the Republican side, that this is indeed good policy. It is something that is starting to show areas of success, and we should not prohibit or inhibit the American communities from participating in honoring and preserving and forwarding the success and effort of the American Heritage Initiative.

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, I know that we have had a lot of time spent on this, so that we can proceed, I urge a vote on the amendment.

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good friend Bill Brady, who will retire June 30 after serving 19 years as the postmaster of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and with a total of 40 years and one month of government service. Bill is truly an example of a dedicated public servant who has taken on as his mission in life the efficient delivery of mail, and he has become an institution in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Brady is a graduate of Duryea High School and a four-year veteran of the Air Force. He received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Scranton in 1971. Mr. Brady began his postal career as a distribution clerk in Scranton in January 1966. In 1973, he became a U.S. postal inspector and was stationed in Illinois, New York and Wilkes-Barre. In 1980, he left the Inspection Service and became manager of retail sales and services at the Wilkes-Barre sectional facility office. In April 1981, he went to the post office in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, as superintendent of postal operations, and served for six months in that position before assuming his present duties. During his career at Wilkes-Barre, he has also been assigned to higher-level positions as acting director of mail processing at the Lehigh Valley Postal Facility, director of field operations for the Harrisburg Division and director of marketing for the Harrisburg Division. As the Postal Service has changed and become more technologically advanced, Bill has adapted, always keeping customer service uppermost in his mind. Mr. Brady is a past president of the Luzerne County Chapter of Postmasters and is a member of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States, having served as national chairman of the Postmaster Representative Committee for four years. He is also a member of Pennsylvania NAPUS Postmasters and has been active in numerous professional associations during his postal career. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call Mr. Brady's public service to the attention of the House of Representatives, and I send my best wishes on the occasion of his retirement.