Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional elder statesman in my district. Bowling Green Mayor Wes Hoffman retires from public office at the end of this year. A native of Philadelphia, Mayor Hoffman served first his country and then his community. Wes' pursuit of a college degree at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School was interrupted by World War II, when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943. After his heroic service in the war ended, Wes decided to pursue a career with the Army Air Corps, retiring from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1969. Throughout his military service, both during World War II and as a career officer, Wes served our nation with honor and distinction, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with five Battle Stars, the Air Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal both with Oak Leaf Cluster. After retiring from the Air Force, Wes decided to pursue additional higher education at Bowling Green State University, where he obtained a Masters Degree in 1971. In 1972, he began his public service with the City of Bowling Green as the Safety Service Director and later, in 1974, as the city's first Municipal Administrator. He retired in 1988. His retirement was short-lived, however, as he was approached by local leaders and urged to run for Mayor in 1991. He was elected in 1992, re- elected in 1995, and now retires from official business. Of his tenure, Mayor Hoffman noted, ``It has indeed been a privilege for me to have been a part of the deliberations and decision-making processes that have contributed to civic betterment and community well-being.'' Truly, the city of Bowling Green has grown, prospered and flourished under Wes' tutelage. Visionary, patriotic, mindful of the needs of others, Wes Hoffman is a true community leader. His good deeds have not gone unnoticed, and he has been honored with awards and recognitions too numerous to mention from local, state, and national organizations. He is also a proud member of several veterans organizations, civic groups, educational and humanitarian organizations, and government consortiums. I know that even though Wes is retiring from ``active'' public life, he will remain very much in the thick of life in Bowling Green and Northwest Ohio. We wish him an enjoyable retirement, spent with family and friends, and doing all those things he put off until tomorrow. For people in our community, Wes Hoffman embodies the finest tradition of service before self that lies at the heart of America's nationhood.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, Henry James once said, ``it takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.'' Today I rise in tribute to the extraordinary people of Rossford, Ohio, who have recorded the first hundred years of history of their community in a book entitled, ``As I Recall.'' Mr. Speaker, a community is made up of neighbors who care, whose spirit makes the community what it is. This book, four years in the making and written by more than twenty members of the community, tells the stories of these neighbors, their triumphs and tragedies. It is their history that made Rossford the place it is today. And, as we see how life has changed since then, it's also a comfort to know that some things just don't change in Rossford--it's still a community where neighbors help neighbors and where people try to live up to the legacies of those who came before them. The authors of this labor of love include: Josephine Ignasiak; Milo Louis Bihn; Stanley Brown; Mary Lou Hohl Caligiuri; Virginia Craine; Arnold Frautschi; Estelle Heban; Virginia (Grod) Heban; Arlene Hustwick; Lucille H. Keeton; Lee Knorek; Frank Kralik; Frank Newsom; Eleanor Nye (Mary Kralik). Also Valeria Ochenduszko; Gabriel Palka; Sister Janice Peer; Rosalie and Steve Peer; Sally Plicinski; Jim Richards; Maureen Richards; Ben Schultz; Stan Schultz; Judy Sikorski; Pat Sloan; Charlotte R. Starnes; Audrey Stolar; Dr. Don Thomas; the Tisdale Family; Ed Tucholski; Irene Verbosky; Kim Werner; and Marjorie Wilbarger. For me this book is very special as our father and mother operated a family grocery in Rossford when my brother Steve and I were growing up. We were flattered to be asked to include our recollections of Rossford. Mr. Speaker, may we congratulate Rossford reaching this milestone and be inspired by the people who gave so much of themselves so that our history would forever be preserved.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of U.S. Marine Corps Captain Sarah Deal. Captain Deal deserves the warmest, most heart-felt congratulations for her accomplishment of becoming the first female pilot in Marine Corps history. Her achievements reflect her courage, determination and self-belief. On behalf of Ohio's lawmakers and citizens, I wish to pay tribute to this outstanding young woman. Growing up in Pemberville, Ohio, Captain Deal always had a passion for flying, in part inspired by her father, a former Marine, who worked as an engineer testing jet engines. A graduate from Eastwood High School, she went on to study Aviation at Kent State University. From there, she made the tough choice to join the United States Marine Corps to begin training as an air traffic control officer. Even though women were allowed to fly in the Army, Navy and Air Force, she still chose the Marines, knowing that the only way she would be allowed to fly would be recreationally. However, her difficult choice was rewarded with the landmark Defense Department decision in 1993, ordering the armed forces to end their ban on women flying combat missions. Following the announcement, Captain Deal immediately chose to attend Marine flight school despite being the only women there. Her persistence and hard work were rewarded in April 1995, when her father had the pleasure of pinning her wings to her uniform at her graduation ceremony in Milton, Florida. Abigail Adams once wrote in a letter to her husband, ``all history and every age exhibit instances of patriotic virtue in the female sex; which considering our situation equals the most heroic of yours.'' Captain Deal follows in the footsteps of the legendary Grace Hopper, mathematician and computer pioneer, who became the first female Rear Admiral in the US Navy. And of Sally Ride, the first female U.S. astronaut. And of Mary Hallaren, champion for permanent status for women in the military after World War II and subsequent director of the Women's Auxiliary Corps from 1947-1953. All these women have proved there is nothing that cannot equally be achieved by women in our armed forces. Captain Deal's achievements are a proud demonstration of what can be achieved by women in today's society. Her achievements offer hope and encouragement to all women to follow their dreams and to pursue paths that have previously been unjustly denied them. Her efforts have been a key factor in breaking the gender barrier that existed in the armed forces and in opening the eyes of others to more tolerant attitudes. This month Captain Deal will be inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, in recognition of her achievements. On behalf of Ohio's Ninth District, I would like to wish Captain Deal every success with her military career and in her current assignment with the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California. We are truly grateful for her service to our country and once again congratulate her for all her achievements. Her virtue and patriotism are a shining example to all women, and indeed, all people in this Nation.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to, as we close out this first session of the 106th Congress, and we close out this century, extend my deepest appreciation on behalf of the people of Ohio and, by affiliation, the people of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois to the chairman, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), who could not have been more diligent in working with us, and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), to permit the people of our region of the United States to tell the full story of our history, the battle that occurred on this site and the assumption of the northwest territory and the opening of our entire region of the Nation to settlement. I cannot thank the gentlemen enough on behalf of the people of the Buckeye State and our adjoining sister States for making this possible, before this century ends. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today is a matter of great significance to the American Midwest and to the 9th District of Ohio in particular. The bill under consideration today, Senator DeWine's S. 548, is the companion to legislation I have introduced in the House, H.R. 868. I wish to thank Senator DeWine for taking the lead on this measure in the Senate. Some authorities place the Battle of Fallen Timbers among the three most important battles in the formation of the United States, alongside the battles of Yorktown and Gettysburg. We should note that the Battle of Fallen Timbers did secure and open a large territory--now embracing parts of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois--for new settlements in our fledgling nation. Another, contemporary battle should also be recognized here today. That is the struggle for national recognition of the Battle of Fallen Timbers as a keystone in the Maumee Valley and the Midwest. In 1991, I was able to secure authorization in the Interior Appropriations bill for the National Park Service to assess the Maumee River Heritage Corridor for historically significant sites. The first site assessed was the Fallen Timbers battlefield. We will hear later this morning from two people who have served in that more recent battle, Dr. G. Michael Pratt from Heidelberg College and Jean Ward, Director of Metroparks of the Toledo Area. Dr. Pratt heads the Center for Historic and Military Archeology. He led the archaeological study that definitively located the Fallen Timbers Battlefield site. Jean Ward has served the Toledo area as director of its park system for more than 30 years. Toledo Metroparks manages over 7,000 acres of parkland and historic sites in Lucas County. The Battle of Fallen Timbers In 1794, the line of control between British forces and their Native American allies and the forces of the United States lay across the ``Foot of the Rapids'' on the Maumee River. On August 20, 1794, General Anthony Wayne led his legion down the Maumee River valley from near what is now Waterville, Ohio. Coming to an area where a recent storm had toppled much of the forest, Wayne's leading elements were engaged by about 1,100 warriors from a confederacy of Ohio and Great Lakes tribes. The U.S. soldiers fell back to their main lines and a pitched battle surged back and forth over the ``fallen timbers.'' Finally, a concerted charge by the entire legion drove the Native Americans back to within sight of Fort Miamis to the northeast, and their resistance dissipated. The Native American coalition included members of the Wyandot, Miami, Ottawa, Delaware, Mingo, Shawnee, Potawatomi, and Chippewa tribes as well as a few Canadian militia. The battle was a clear victory for the United States, a policy failure for the British, and a disaster for the Native American Confederacy. The resultant Treaty of Greenville in 1795 gained the City of Detroit, then the largest city on the Great Lakes and secured much of the Northwest Territory for the growing United States. I am holding here a typical U.S. Department of Defense sketch of the Battle of Fallen Timbers that has been widely displayed in Army installations across our nation for decades. In addition to the battlefield, the Historic Site would include the nearby site of Fort Miamis, which played a role not only in the Wayne campaign but also in the War of 1812. In the spring of 1813, British forces landed troops and artillery on the site of the deteriorated Fort Miamis on the lower Maumee River. Together with Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, the British twice attacked the American garrison at Fort Meigs--another military outpost along the Maumee River--and twice were repulsed. These U.S. victories at Fort Meigs frustrated British attempts to regain the Northwest Territory and were a prelude to the victory of Commodore Perry's Battle of Lake Erie victory later in 1813, a large mural of which hangs just outside the House chamber. the battle for fallen timbers The people of northwest Ohio have long held a strong interest in the history of our region and, in particular, in the battle that won the territory for the United States. In the mid-1930's, a 9-acre site on the banks of the Maumee River then thought to be the location of the Battle of Fallen Timbers was dedicated and a statue commemorating the battle erected. As interest in preserving both our local history and natural areas grew earlier this decade, I was able to secure the authorization for a resource study of the Fallen Timbers area by the National Park Service as part of a possible Maumee River Valley Heritage Corridor that lies between Toledo, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. It remains one of the most scenic and bucolic stretches in the Midwest. Beginning in 1995, an archaeological investigation led by Dr. Pratt set out to identify the exact location of the battle. Dr. Pratt's excellent work has proven conclusively that the battle actually took place some distance from the existing Fallen Timbers Monument. Development is beginning to encroach on the battlefield site, but a significant portion of the core battlefield is still in agricultural use and owned by the City of Toledo. It is that site, along with the Monument site and the Fort Miamis site, that this legislation would establish as a National Historic Site and an interpretive locus for the entire heritage corridor. Most impressive, however, has been the outpouring of grassroots interest in the Battle of Fallen Timbers and the preservation of its sites. Our office has received hundreds of letters supporting preservation of these sites including this batch of drawings of Fort Miamis sent by the students at the Fort Miami School in Maumee, Ohio. Local press coverage has been extensive. We should particularly note the efforts of Marianne Duvendack and the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Commission. The Commission has produced a flyer describing the battle and its historic significance. It has also produced an excellent video presentation in support of preservation. Another person whose efforts must not be forgotten is the former Mayor of the City of Maumee, Steve Pauken. His tireless efforts contributed as much as anyone's to saving Fallen Timbers. Others that have contributed financial, individual, and organizational resources to the effort include the Ohio Historical Society, the City of Maumee, the City of Toledo, the Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor, Heidelberg College, Toledo Metroparks, and the Toledo Blade and its editorial staff, particularly Ralph Johnson. The Fallen Timbers Battlefield was listed as number two on the 1996 list of the ten most endangered National Historic Landmarks in a report by the National Park Service. It was included in the 1959 National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings as one of 22 sites representing the national historic theme ``The Advance of the Frontier, 1763-1830.'' It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 as ``the culminating event which demonstrated the tenacity of the American people in their efforts of western expansion through the struggle for dominance in the Old Northwest Territory.'' The National Park Service Resource Study concluded that the Fallen Timbers Battlefield site would be ``eligible, suitable, and feasible for recognition as an affiliated area of the National Park System if the 185-acre core battlefield can be acquired for preservation purposes.'' The House should know that we have the commitments of the State of Ohio, the City of Toledo, and the City of Maumee to see this project through to completion. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to support this bill which helps complete the appreciation of our nation's early history.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, as a cochair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I rise to commemorate the 66th observance of the Ukrainian Famine, to help record this century's largely untold story of famine and repression in the former Soviet Union. During 1932 and 1933, the people of Ukraine were devastated by hunger, though not the kind caused by unfavorable natural conditions. Instead, only certain regions or a part of the country suffered famine while the government of the former Soviet Union turned their backs upon the population. The famine of 1932 and 1933 stemmed from political rather than natural causes. In 1932, Ukraine had an average grain harvest of 146,600,000 metric tons of wheat, and there was no danger of famine, or at least there should not have been. But the famine was first and foremost a planned repression of the peasants by the Soviet government for their resistance to collective savings. Second, it was an intentional attack on Ukrainian village life, which was the bulwark of Ukrainian heritage. Third, it was the result of the forced export of grain in exchange for imported machinery which was required for the implementation of the policy of industrialization. The events of 1932 and 1933 are considered a man-made famine because food was available. But what happened was politically motivated. It characterized the Soviet system and ultimately resulted in the deaths of over 6 million people, including our great grandparents. People died by the millions, and they were piled at the village edge like cord wood. According to Stalin's commands and the law that was enacted in 1932, Party activists confiscated grain from peasant households. Any man, woman, or child either could be, and often was, executed for taking a handful of grain from a collective farm field or was punished by 10 years of hard labor. Gangs of Communist Party activists conducted house-to-house searches, tearing up floors and delving into wells in search of grain. Those who were already swollen from malnutrition were not allowed to keep their grain, and those who were not starving were suspected of hoarding food. An average peasant family of five had about five pounds of grain a month to last until the next harvest. Lacking bread, peasants ate pets, rats, bark, leaves, and garbage from the well-provisioned kitchens of Party members. There were occurrences of cannibalism. People dug in the frozen ground with their raw hands to find even an onion for soup. But many villages died out, in spite of the fact that party activists continued confiscating grain. The unprecedented calamity came in the winter and spring of 1933, before a new harvest could be gathered, when the world population was left without any means of sustenance and authorities did not organize any supplies for the villages. Some villages in the regions of Poltava, Kharkiv, and Kyiv were completely deserted by the spring of 1933. When the casualties of collectivization, famine, the purges of the 1930s, and the nearly 6 million who died during World War II are combined, it is estimated that more than half the male and one quarter of the female population of the Ukraine perished. Along with these people, the achievements, lessons, and hopes that one generation communicates to another were destroyed. Under the circumstances, it was all the more remarkable that Ukrainian society had any strength left for self-assertion in the postwar period. In summing up the famine in Ukraine, it is no exaggeration to say that the Ukrainians' greatest achievement during that decade and this century has been to endure and survive. In this sense, we must recognize the Ukrainian famine on a yearly basis to bring light to the tremendous sacrifices a people had to endure. Last year we commemorated the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian famine with a commemorative resolution. Later this week, on November 20, the Ukrainian community will have an opportunity to commemorate the fallen victims of the famine with an ecumenical service and program at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. I join with the Ukrainian- American community in commemorating this tragic period in the world's history, certainly in the history of Ukraine. Always remember, never forget. And here in America we will attempt to tell the history of a people who struggle even today to build a nation where democratic reforms and freedom are possible for millions and millions of those who survived and those who remember the great price that their families paid only because they wanted to be free.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), and I do underline ``gentleman.'' I want to compliment him on carrying through these negotiations, along with the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), the chairman of the subcommittee, who have worked so vigilantly with the ranking members of the full committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and also the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished ranking member of the subcommittee, who has done such a tremendous job in bringing a compromise measure to the floor. I just want to say before discussion closes here that, as the Wye Accords move forward, I think it is very important for the administration and this Congress to recognize that building peace takes a long time. And we have one important ingredient of the peace process under which the subcommittee, of which I am ranking member, has something to offer; and that is using the tremendous power of our food aid programs under section 416 and P.L. 480 in the West Bank to help Israel with its desalinization efforts and also in Lebanon, because we know the funding in this bill is not sufficient to meet the needs of the peace process. These programs have largely not been used in this region simply because of the instability of the region. But now that the peace process is moving forward, it is amazing what can be done if we look at a country like Lebanon. Using food aid creatively, monetizing it in a counterpart way, a country could double the number of villages that are being assisted. In the West Bank this has never been used, and we know that the funds are insufficient there. So we could have a win for America for our farmers, for our rural communities. We could also have a win for the peace process. I wanted to highlight that as these discussions close this morning. Again, we thank those here who were able to reach a final compromise and bring this measure to conclusion.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and in opposition, strong opposition, to the bill. This bill is pro megabank and it is against consumers. And I would say to the people listening tonight, Are you tired of calling banks and getting lost in the automated phone system, never locating a breathing human being? This bill will make it worse. Are you fed up with rising ATM fees and service fees that now average over $200 a year per account holder? This bill will make it worse. Are you skeptical about banks that used to be dedicated to safety and soundness and savings but are now switching to pushing stocks and insurance and debt? This bill will make it worse. Are you tired of the megafinancial conglomerates and mergers that have made your community a branch economy of financial centers located far away, whose officers you never know, who never come to your community? This bill will make it worse. Punitive reporting requirements in this bill are aimed at disabling community groups that are the only groups in this country that hold these institutions accountable for the depositors' money. It is going to make them a target of Federal reporting requirements. So why do community groups oppose this bill, like the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs, the Fair Housing Alliance, the National Low- Income Housing Coalition, the Coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions, Consumers Union, the Volunteers of America? Sounds like the folks that live in my neighborhood, my colleagues. I would say this is one of the worst-conceived bills ever to come before this body, simply because it does not pay attention to the majority of the American people who have, on average, less than $2,000 in any financial institution in this country. To anyone listening tonight I say, Put your money in the credit unions. They are owned by you and they will take care of you. Vote against this bill. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise in support of the resolution and to say that I would merely beg the leadership to allow this vote to occur, because over 228 of our Members have asked for it. I think to bottle this up and not allow a vote is truly not in the best spirit of this House when in fact the Constitution provides that trade- making authority rests in the House, in the Congress, and all revenue measures begin here in the House. With what is going to happen at the end of the month in Seattle and the beginning of December, we want to send a strong message to our trade negotiators, we do not want them opening up the antidumping and countervailing duty provisions of our trade laws. No industry in this country has suffered more than the steel industry and been forced to restructure. It has the most modern production in the world. Yet we continue to lose thousands and thousands of jobs, even over this last year. It is absolutely essential that our negotiators hear this, and it is not the executive branch's responsibility, it is our responsibility to enforce the laws that we pass. And so we ask and beg of the leadership of this institution, please allow us to bring up this resolution which allows us to instruct our negotiators as the Constitution intended. There are 228 Members of this institution that want to be allowed to be given voice and this resolution brought to the floor. I rise in strong support of the resolution.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary contributions that Roy and Georgette Engler made over the course of their lives to benefit mentally disabled children in Northwest Ohio. Their story poignantly recounts the love and patience that characterized one family's heroic struggle with mental retardation. Though both passed away in the 1970's, their legacy lives on in the form of Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio, a first-rate facility that provides assistance to hundreds of developmentally disabled individuals and their families. Loved and cherished by many, Roy and Georgette are remembered as selfless humanitarians who sought to help those shunned by the rest of society. Their efforts are truly worthy of recognition and praise. On behalf of Ohio's lawmakers and citizens, I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring these two wonderful people. Roy and Georgette Engler did not have an easy life. Both were high school drop-outs who struggled to make ends meet. Roy worked 12-hour shifts, 7 days a week as a railroad telegraph operator while Georgette, just 16 when she married, helped out at her parents' bar, grille, and country store. The situation became substantially more difficult, though, when it became apparent that all five of their children (two girls and three boys) were mentally retarded. Teachers told the Englers that their 2nd grade daughters would have to leave school because they were simply too slow. The boys, moreover, were less capable than their sisters, even having trouble relating with each other. The situation was bleak. Roy confided in a friend, ``No one will ever understand what it is like to sit around the table at meal time and look at your children and know that they will never be independent.'' The Engler's visited several institutions but realized it would be best to keep the children at home, where they would be loved and properly cared for. The magnitude of this responsibility took its toll, though. Roy was forced to work night shifts at the telegraph office and take odd jobs in the morning. He was hospitalized seven times for depression and stress. Georgette was thus forced to remain at home, day after day, caring for the five children. She contemplated suicide, though she fortunately never acted on these impulses. The total commitment to their children was robbing them of life. The Engler's had long since abandoned their hopes and dreams, resigning themselves to the fact that they would have to care for their children the rest of their lives. As the children reached their twenties, though, Roy and Georgette realized that they needed to ensure acceptable care for their children when they passed on. The Engler's knew from experience that institutions were an unacceptable choice. They believed their children, as well as other mentally disabled youths, would benefit from an organization that placed an emphasis on individual care, love and simple pleasures. Roy and Georgette started Sunshine Inc. in 1949 and 50 years later it serves hundreds of developmentally challenged individuals with a budget of over $13 million. Moreover, Sunshine manages 14 group homes, operates a summer day camp and supervises adults that live on their own. The Superintendent of the Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation says they are among the best facilities in Ohio. John Milton wrote ``freely we serve, because we freely love.'' This is thoroughly exemplified by the actions of Roy and Georgette Engler. Through their unselfish dedication, mankind has advanced and come to understand more about the range of crippling illnesses and brain disorders that afflict millions of people. Let us hope medical science in this generation will unlock the mysteries of human development, but until then, let us be forever grateful for the lifetime of sacrifice Roy and Georgette dedicated through love and uncommon valor. I would also like to extend a warm thanks to Tahree Lane of the Toledo Blade for writing such a wonderful article that brought this touching story to my attention.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the dynamic ranking member for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I wish to rise in support of this resolution, with full knowledge that the resolution itself is harmless. It basically says we hope the President will work with us on this, but the truth is that this Congress several times this year has had the opportunity to appropriate the money to help the victims in North Carolina, the farmers who have suffered drought related losses all across this country, and we have consistently failed to do that every month. In fact, in the bill that our committee has responsibility for, the appropriations bill, our committee was dismissed and never called back as Members waited to offer amendments to deal with the serious situation in North Carolina, and the bills that passed in prior weeks here have not accommodated the full range of losses across this country. So, in a way, I guess it is good to shift the buck up the street, but the truth is that we in the Congress have the power, we have had the power, and there was no reason for our committees to be discharged of their duties. So those of us who have been to many of these regions recognize the huge losses that exist out there both in life, limb, and property. And it is unconscionable that this Congress would be fiddling around in the closing days of this first session of the 106th Congress in passing a resolution that has no money attached to it when in fact we have had several opportunities to do that. I would just say to the gentleman from North Carolina, I hope that he would agree to regular order and that the committees of jurisdiction be allowed to act and to meet the needs of the Nation as this resolution is brought forward. I would also like to enter into the Record the lopsided picture of what is wrong with the bills that have been passed prior this year that do not fully deal with the loss situation affecting regions across this country, not just those that have been affected by Hurricane Floyd, but regions that have truly suffered from drought and economic loss all across rural America. We actually let a two-legged dog get through here and passed it a few weeks ago, but it certainly does not deal with the range of losses across our country. News From Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur lopsided farm bill: what's wrong with this picture? The lopsided $8.7 billion fiscal 2000 Agricultural Appropriations relief bill fails to link the major share of assistance to farmer hardship or loss. It provides only $1.2 billion for natural disaster relief across our entire nation. It does not include needed funds for hurricane losses in North Carolina. Yet it then targets $5.5 billion in Agricultural Market Transition Act (AMTA) payments to certain farmers with $1.2 billion of these payments going to just five Congressional Districts. Forty percent of all AMTA payments--$2.2 billion--will be distributed in only five states: Iowa, Texas, Illinois, Nebraska and Kansas. Five Congressional Districts get as much money in AMTA payments as is available for the entire nation for natural disaster assistance. These AMTA payments will not go to farmers who lost their crops. They go to people who signed production contracts with USDA three years ago based on the average of acreage planted between 1991 and 1995, even though some of them are no longer even actively involved in farming. And this $5.5 billion is added on top of $3 billion in similar payments that were made last year. Taxpayers are now paying more to assist farmers with economic losses than they were before Freedom to Farm was passed in 1996. Some of us tried to argue that money should be targeted towards those farmers who have suffered the greatest losses. That means starting with the people who have had their entire crops wiped out by drought or Hurricane Floyd, regardless of what they produce. You may remember hearing during debate that Congress had to pass this bill because ``we can't delay payments to farmers.'' Yet the Republican-led Congress has delayed this bill all year long as rural America faces crisis. Natural disaster victims and those who suffered real losses should be the people who are first in line. This bill does them no justice. Rather, the first to receive the largest share of taxpayer- borne benefits are individuals who planted and harvested a crop for which they are being paid under ``Freedom to Farm''. Some people who are no longer actively involved in farming at all will receive payments. These are the people who can expect their check just two weeks after this bill is signed into law, while those who may have lost everything will have to wait! Even then, producers who may have lost everything will get only cents on the dollar, while others who did not suffer natural disasters will get a doubling of payments for crops they harvested or didn't have to plant. And because of the prejudice in the bill against livestock, dairy, specialty crop and non-feed grain production, some farmers who suffered huge economic losses will receive almost nothing. Fatal flaws exist with our farm disaster response mechanism. Crop insurance either doesn't provide the right coverage, or in the case of many fruit, vegetable, and livestock producers it doesn't provide any coverage. And while the assistance Congress did provide will certainly be helpful to some, since there isn't enough money to go around, the first applicant doesn't get a penny until the last application is processed. Continuing federal bailouts for failed farm policy is not the solution. Farmers need help in moving value-added products to market. And antitrust laws need to be applied to agriculture to create a competitive playing field for farmers. This bill accomplishes none of these goals. I and many of our colleagues in the Agricultural Appropriations Conference were prepared to offer amendments to try to begin to address the real dimensions of the crisis. We were never given the chance. We were sent away while a few members handpicked by the majority leaders negotiated this bogus deal without consultation with members of the conference committee or with USDA. And they produced a lopsided deal whereby some of the largest, most profitable farms will be among the bill's biggest beneficiaries. Philip Brasher, the AP Farm Writer notes, ``an individual farm could claim up to $460,000 in subsidies a year--double the current restriction,'' and the bill ``creates a new loophole for producers to get around'' any cap. The Wichita Eagle quoted one farmer who said ``I probably would have made it without the relief, but I am sure glad to get it.'' Agriculture is vital to our nation and to world trade. Farmers deserve a fair price for their production, and I certainly agree that farm prices are so low that many producers may be forced out of business without some help. That principle applies from the largest wheat producer to the smallest blueberry producer, from the grandest corn farm to the smallest livestock feed lot. Farmer should not be pitted against farmer, or commodity against commodity. That is the grossest violation of the spirit of Freedom to Farm, along with its exorbitant rising costs. Every person should know more about what it takes to produce the food that we find in our grocery stores, our restaurants, our school cafeterias, our hospitals, and our homes. If it wasn't for the farmer, many more than just Old Mother Hubbard would find their cupboards are bare. I urge all of my colleagues to demand that equity be restored to our farm programs. Our first resolution of the new millennium should be using food policy to build a sustainable future, not a politically expedient deal.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of House Rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to present a question of privilege to the House. The form of the resolution is as follows and relates to maintaining antidumping and countervailing measures as relates to our trade laws. It calls on the President to abstain from renegotiating international agreements governing antidumping and countervailing measures. We know the World Trade Organization is about to meet in Seattle, and whereas under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, the Congress has the power and responsibility with regard to foreign commerce and the conduct of international trade negotiations; Whereas the House of Representatives is deeply concerned that in connection with the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting to be held in Seattle, Washington, later this month, and the multilateral trade negotiations expected to follow, a few countries are seeking to circumvent the agreed list of negotiation topics and reopen the debate over the World Trade Organization's antidumping and anti subsidy rules; Whereas the Congress has not approved new negotiations on antidumping or antisubsidy rules and we have clearly, but so far informally, signalled opposition to such negotiations; Whereas strong antidumping and antisubsidy rules are a cornerstone of the liberal trade policy of the United States and are essential to the health of the manufacturing and farm sectors here in our country; And whereas it has long been and remains the policy of the United States to support antidumping and antisubsidy laws and to defend those laws in international negotiations; Whereas the current absence of official negotiating objectives on the statute books must not be allowed to undermine the Congress' constitutional role in charting the direction of U.S. trade policy; Whereas, under present circumstances, launching a negotiation that includes antidumping and antisubsidy issues would affect the rights of the House and the integrity of its proceedings; Whereas the WTO antidumping and antisubsidy rules concluded in the Uruguay Round have scarcely been tested since they entered into effect and certainly have not proven effective in view of our trade deficit; Whereas opening these rules to renegotiation could only lead to weakening them, which would in turn lead to even greater abuse of the world's open markets, particularly that of the United States, which has become the greatest dump market in the world; Whereas conversely, avoiding another decisive fight over these rules is the best way to promote progress on the other far more important issues facing the World Trade Organization Members; Whereas it is therefore essential that negotiations on these antidumping and antisubsidy matters not be reopened under the auspices of the World Trade Organization or otherwise: Now, therefore, be it resolved that the House of Representatives calls upon the President (1) not to participate in any international negotiation in which antidumping or antisubsidy rules are part of the negotiating agenda; (2) to refrain from submitting for Congressional approval agreements that require changes to the current antidumping and countervailing duty laws and enforcement policies of the United States; and (3) also calls upon the President to enforce the antidumping and countervailing duty laws vigorously in all pending and future cases.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, soon the House will have an opportunity to consider S. 900, what is entitled the Financial Modernization Conference Report. This complicated and controversial legislation seeks to overhaul banking laws that have been in existence in our country since the Great Depression. These laws were dedicated to safety and soundness in the banking system of the United States. The laws that have been on the books for this entire century since the Great Depression have separated the activities of bankers, of the insurance industry, and of the securities and stock brokerage industries. Essentially, what this legislation attempts to do is to allow them to intermarry and to do business together. Now, I recently did a survey in my district, and I asked our constituents the following question: How would you describe your personal views of bank practices? Two-thirds stated that they disliked the changes that have been occurring in the banking system. They say the fees are not consistent with the services provided, services are declining, and most of our banks are no longer locally owned. If we think to the system that has been in place in this country that has permitted us to grow and to increase equity for America's families, the epitome of this system was the community bank. And in fact, the community banker became an active member of the local chamber of commerce in every neighborhood, in every city; and banking became equated with stability. What we have seen happen in the banking system of our country, and it has been happening slowly, slowly, slowly, we have watched communities like my own, Toledo, OH, become a branch economy of an institution located someplace else. And when that happened, community contributions to Boy Scouts by those institutions went down, to children's softball teams and so forth. The community contributions, the philanthropy of that institution and the personal identification of the president of the institution with the community as a whole diminished. In addition to that, we have seen the idea of safety and soundness changed fundamentally to where now most of these institutions have turned into high-flying debt pushers trying to get consumers to take on more credit than they can afford. In fact, last week when I got home from Congress and I opened my mail, I got so mad I ripped this letter up. Because this came from an institution that does business in Ohio, and what did it have? It had one of these $5 checks attached that says that, if you cash this and sign up for our program, we will send you $5. But what was I to sign up for? Here is a banking institution pushing more credit on the commercial side to me, a depositor in that institution. They want me to sign up for Shopper's Advantage, over 250,000 brand items; Traveler's Advantage, again credit to travel; concierge's service; Saver's Club discount book. In other words, they are pushing debt, pushing debt through the banking system at our consumers. Now, this is a fundamental change in the way that our country used to operate in the field of banking and credit. In some ways, these lending institutions, if we can call them that, are not so much interested in building communities as in milking communities and in taking money that should be placed in those depositors' accounts so that they can end up owning a piece of the rock rather than assuming these greater and greater debt burdens that are characterizing family accounts across this country. Here is a recent chart on the rising level of consumer debt in our country. The average family cannot survive more than 3 months without getting their paycheck in the mail because of the debts that they owe. Yet these institutions that are supposed to be dedicated to safety and soundness are into pushing more credit, not in the interest of community building, but in the interest only of profits of those institutions. We have seen megafinancial conglomerates and mergers across our country, and this bill will only add new hurdles to the already difficult task for consumers obtaining basic financial services without incurring outlandish and arbitrary fees. Further, consumers will be forced to speak with more 1-800 recordings. How many of us have got lost in those when we try to get an answer out of a banking institution in this country and very pricey automatic teller machines rather than dealing with human beings? This is happening across our country. Mr. Speaker, the fundamental precept of any banking laws in this country should be safety and soundness, not high-flying credit pushers. I rise today to outline my concerns with this conference report. I believe America's Fiscal Fitness is in jeopardy as we enter the next millennium. Are we really prepared for the challenges that lie ahead? I am concerned about the growing trend toward mergers and acquisitions throughout America's banking industry. These massive consolidations, most recently seen with the merger of Nations Bank and Bank of America, will likely result in fewer financial service options and fewer alternatives for consumers when it comes to shopping for life insurance, checking accounts, and investments transactions. The mega-financial conglomerates created by this bill will only add new hurdles to the already difficult task of obtaining basic financial services without incurring outlandish and arbitrary fees. Further, consumers will be forced to speak with 1-800 number recordings and sent to pricey automatic teller machines rather than dealing with human beings. Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of our economy, but increases accounted for an astounding 85 percent of the growth in the gross domestic product last year. And it's fueled by unsustainable efforts by most families. Consumer debt, from credit cards to home mortgages, now total about 85 percent of personal income--with installment loans accounting for $1.4 trillion. The 55 to 60 million households that carry a credit card balance from month-to-month have an average balance of $7,000 and pay more than $1,000 per year in interest and fees. As consumer debt has increased net family worth has declined. Federal Reserve reports that the median net worth of all U.S. families, in constant 1995 dollars has dropped from $57,000 in 1989 to $55,600 in 1995. A report released by the Consumer Federation of America found that half of U.S. households do not have $1,000 in assets available for an emergency. Should the economy take a dramatic downturn, these families are not prepared. As a percentage of the gross domestic product, consumer debt has increased from 13.74 percent in 1990 to 15.41 percent this year. One family in six below $25,000 in annual income spends more than 40 percent of its income on debt service. American families have kept their heads above water by working more hours--middle-income couples with children are putting in an average of 6 full-time weeks more each year than a decade ago. The burden of today's consumer debt coupled with an increase in interest rates, a new wave of downsizing, or a cutback in overtime hours would force families to curtail spending and push many into bankruptcy. Today, over 12 million American families can't afford bank accounts. And for those who do have accounts, the average annual cost of maintaining a regular checking account has risen to more than $217 in 1999--according to U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Meanwhile, in 1998 banks recorded nearly $62 million in profits, an eighth straight record year. The Financial Modernization Conference bill does little to discourage the growth of bigger, higher fee banks, leading to less consumer choice and higher fees for all Americans. There are also privacy concerns that are not addressed in this bill. The bill allows for sharing between mega-bank affiliates. Which can only lead to more of the solicitations like this one that I received over the weekend from Key Bank. The bill does not allow a customer to ``opt-out'' if a financial institution wishes to distribute the customer's information to affiliates within the financial holding company. Is it too much to ask for a customer to have the right to ``opt-out'' and inform his or her financial institution that it may not distribute his or her personal, private financial information to financial institutions? Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the tremendous work on the part of the Banking Committee Members and staff and appreciate their work on this important issue. I remain, however, concerned that the bill falls short from meeting consumer protection needs and reducing bank fees.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the lifetime of contributions that Edward Bela Ujvagi made to his family, community and to our world before his passing on Monday, October 4, 1999. A resident of the city for over forty years, Mr. Ujvagi was an erudite gentleman of the first order. Popular and well loved, he embodied the ideals of a virtuous and loving generation. He will be missed by all who knew him. On behalf of Ohio's lawmakers and citizens, I wish to pay tribute to this outstanding individual. Born in Budapest, Hungary, on March 11, 1916 Mr. Ujvagi was an avid outdoorsman, taking part in activities such as ski jumping, glider flying, boxing and more. He became a precision machinist and master tool and die maker, founding a small company that specialized in producing precision analytical balances. His company, however, was eventually nationalized by the communist regime. When the people of Hungary revolted against this government in 1956, Mr. Ujvagi, at the age of 40, fled to the United States with his wife and four children. A fifth would be born in America. They spent six months in an Austrian refugee camp along the way. Despite arriving in our country with little more than the clothes on their backs, the family refused to give up. Mr. Ujvagi founded the Toledo Scientific Instrument Co. in his own basement with only a milling machine and lathe. A very capable man, he was able to use his skills to develop and expand this business into E & C Manufacturing Co. Inc., which has operated for more than four decades. In America, he was able to piece together again the precious shards of a dream deferred. Edward Ujvagi was truly representative of the ethnically diverse, blue-collar individuals who make up the city of Toledo. Having endured internment in a Russian labor camp following World War II, he was someone who understood freedom: he knew what it meant to have it taken away. He was not just a man who discovered a new life in another country; he was a man who embraced newfound opportunities and possibilities. He took an active role in his community, belonging to the Toledo Chamber of Commerce, St. Stephen's Catholic Church, the Hungarian Club of Toledo, Hungarian Communion of Friends and many more groups. Though fiercely proud of his heritage, he also worked hard to become an American citizen, accomplishing that in April 1965. Mr. Ujvagi was also a great believer in education and urged all of his children to expand their own horizons and pursue their own dreams. Christopher Morely once wrote, ``There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way.'' Based on this, I honestly believe that Edward Ujvagi was successful in life. He lived his life to the fullest and will be remembered as a man of love, faith, integrity and accomplishment. On behalf of the people of the Ninth District, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mr. Ujvagi's family, his wife Magda, daughters Magdalene, and Bernadette Ujvagi; sons Charles Edward J. and Toledo City Council President Peter Ujvagi; brother Istvan Ujvagi; and 17 grandchildren. May our thoughts and prayers strengthen them in this time of reflection and profound loss and may a lifetime of memories of this rare individual sustain them today and always.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the lifelong contributions that Representative Darrell W. Opfer has made to Ohio and more specifically, the Fifty-Third Ohio House District. For the last seven years, Darrell has been the epitome of a public servant in the Ohio House of Representatives. He works tirelessly to represent both Ohio and his district to the best of his ability, and for this we are greatly indebted. On behalf of Ohio's lawmakers and citizens, I am pleased and honored to pay tribute to this outstanding leader. Born and raised Elmore, Ohio, Darrell has been a resident of Ottawa County and the Fifty-Third district his entire life. After completing bachelor's and master's degrees from Bowling Green State University, he entered the Peace Corps as a volunteer school teacher, instructing schoolchildren in East Africa. Upon his return, he spent sixteen years teaching high school government and social studies at Genova High School. Darrell began his political career by serving as an Ottawa County Commissioner for ten years. During this time, he helped form the Ottawa County Visitors Bureau and the Community Improvement Corporation. These organizations have improved the quality of life in his district, as each implemented programs to create more jobs and support local businesses. Darrell was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, where during his first term he became known for his bipartisanship. During his tenure in the Ohio General Assembly, he was a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Finance and Appropriations Committee, Local Government and Townships Committee and Veteran's Affairs Committee. He was also the ranking minority member of the Agriculture and Development Subcommittee. In his last two terms in office, he was dedicated to bringing about electric deregulation, attempting to meet the needs of schools, local government, industry, customers, and public utilities. Through his career Darrell passed a remarkable amount of legislation, personally sponsoring 30 bills and co-sponsoring 718 others. During his years of service in Columbus, he never missed a session of the Ohio House of Representatives and never missed a vote. In 1991, he earned the Outstanding Chief Elected Official Award, presented by Ohio Training Directors Council. His steadfast dedication in representing his district as an Ohio House Member was only interrupted by state mandated term limits. Darrell has always been wise counsel to other elected officials and community leaders, quietly building coalitions on issues, bringing various points of view together in discussions, and offering his expertise with myriad concerns. Throughout his years as a Commissioner and State Representative, I have sought his advice many times and know him to be a man possessed of great skill and a wealth of knowledge. He has truly been an invaluable resource for all Ohioans and for us in Northwest Ohio. Upon Darrell Opfer's retirement from the State House, the prosperity of Ottawa County and jobs for its residents continue to drive his ambitions. After careful consideration, he accepted the position of director of Ottawa County's economic development program. He plans to use his government, utility, and business acumen to further economic development throughout Ottawa County. Walter Lippman once said, ``The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on. . . . The genius of a good leader is to leave behind him a situation which common sense, without the grace of genius, can deal with successfully.'' The work of Darrell Opfer has made out state a better place to live. On behalf of the entire Ohio community, I would like to thank you, Darrell, for your loyalty and service to our state and your district. We will certainly miss your skills as a legislator, but you know that you will continue your dedication to leadership and service in your new position. Good luck and God bless.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I offer the following: ``I must study politics and war that my sons and daughters may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons and daughters ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.''--Letter to Abigail Adams from John Adams [May 12, 1780]. Mr. Speaker, Jamie Whitten, the former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee for forty years, said the only real wealth we have is the land. Much like President Adams, he believed that what farmers do provides us with the greatest security in the world--the freedom from hunger so that we are afforded the freedom to undertake other endeavors. Farmer Cooperatives have been a real source of strength in the 20th century. They provide an opportunity for many small producers to band together to create strength among themselves for themselves. Farmers have been able to purchase supplies and sell product through cooperatives. They have banded together based on commodities or region for the betterment of all. They also have been a vital source of development in rural areas with telephone and electric power services. They provide collaborative financing for producers and rural businesses (Farm Credit Services). There are more than 3,500 cooperatives in the US, with total sales of over $100 billion. They employ nearly 300,000 people, with a payroll of $6.8 billion. Cooperatives have been storehouses of ideas and innovation. As we see consolidation in the agriculture industry today, co-ops offer farmers the opportunity to vertically integrate and take advantage of profit sharing as a way to keep rural areas and rural families productive, while offering new opportunities for prosperity. Farmers have been unfairly portrayed as unsophisticated individuals who could easily be fooled by ``city slickers''. The next time you want to talk with someone who is knowledgeable in cutting edge science, the intricacies of international trade, who is prepared to compete on a global scale, and must depend upon every available tool to stay ahead, you might want to think about Intel and Microsoft. But you would be wrong. The person you need to talk to is the American farmer and his co-op manager. There are no more savvy people like them in the world.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the ranking member, for yielding me this time. Having recently returned from Israel, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Authority, I wish to urge the House to consider the great opportunity before us to use American food surpluses as a tool to build stability in the Middle East and aid in sustaining the peace process. Mr. Speaker, as we debate the fiscal year 2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations conference report, I wish to focus the attention to the House on a nation in the Middle East is rarely mentioned on this floor, Lebanon. There are strong historical ties between the Lebanese people and the American people--ties that have been repeatedly reinforced by new generations of Lebanese who have immigrated to the United States. Moreover, Mr. Speaker, as we, hopefully, move toward a lasting and just peace in the Middle East, we must recognize the importance of regional stability for the maintenance of that peace. Lebanon is critical to that stability. The pro-market orientation of Lebanon's economy has not alone been sufficient to create economic health in that country. The Lebanese people are struggling to rebuild a society and infrastructure devastated by 15 years of civil war. We now have an opportunity to assist by allocating U.S. surplus commodities to Lebanon and allowing the proceeds of the sale of these commodities to be invested in medium and long-term development projects in that country. A preliminary assessment by the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Security at the American University of Beirut suggests that commodities such as corn, soybeans, alfalfa, rice, and red meats would be well suited to the country's needs and circumstances. These commodities have high water requirements and are therefore not produced in water-scarce Lebanon. Agriculture is an important sector in the Lebanese economy, and there are many areas in which its economic performance could be improved by investments in irrigation networks, an agricultural extension service, modern agricultural processing and marketing systems, scholarships, or endowments for agricultural science, establishment of a land resource database, or many other investments important to developing an agricultural economy. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to consider the importance of Lebanon to a long-lasting Middle East peace and urge the Departments of State and Agriculture to think creatively about ways to use American agricultural surpluses to sustain the peace process.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a woman who has dedicated her life's work to peace in the Middle East and who will share her story at the Eleventh Annual Grand Banquet of the Greater Toledo Association of Arab-Americans on October 16, 1999. As a daughter of Ramallah, she is considered by many in northwest Ohio from El-Bireh as a sister, part of their families. Dr. Hanan Ashrawi has been the human face of the Palestinians. As the official spokesperson for the Palestinian delegation to the Middle East peace process, she has told the world the story of her people, the pain they have felt and their hopes for the future. Her passion and her commitment to her people and to peace have led some to call her one of the most influential women of the 20th century. Her dedication to peace can be traced to the influence of her parents. When she was a child, her father told her to ``be daring in the pursuit of the right.'' She has taken the words to heart. In fact, it was her father's dedication to the written word that has had a lasting effect on Dr. Ashrawi. She is a woman of letters: a poet, a playwright, an author, and a professor of English. She sees the power that words hold--the power of ideas. Dr. Ashrawi sees peace as based on the sanctity of human rights, especially the rights of women. She helped to found the Jerusalem Center for Women and works with many groups across the globe, including the Palestine Center for Human Rights; the Carter Center and the Fund for the Future of Our Children. John Foster Dulles once said ``You have to take chances for peace, just as you must take chances in war * * *'' Dr. Ashrawi is not one who has been afraid to take chances--to reach out for compromise, to lend her voice for her people, and to be a strong woman. Mr. Speaker, our nation was built on the principle of freedom of the people. We have an obligation as the world's harbinger of freedom to work with those dedicated to this principle as well. I congratulate Dr. Ashrawi on her life's work of freedom and peace.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) who has just been vigilant throughout this process to be fair to all segments of the United States.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) who has done such a tremendous job as a member of the authorizing committee.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price) who has been such an advocate for the needs of farmers in his State as well as around our Nation.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell) who represents such a major share of U.S. agriculture.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), a distinguished member of the subcommittee who also was robbed of her rights to offer an amendment, as these proceedings were recessed.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey), a member of the subcommittee, who has worked so diligently on this bill and, as the rest of the members on our subcommittee, was actually robbed of his rights as a Member of this institution because our committee was recessed and never called back to complete work on this bill.