Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true patriot and outstanding American, Gen. Walter A. Churchill. On September 21, 1998, Gen. Churchill lost his battle to a series of debilitating strokes and passed away at the age of 94. He was a friend to us all. Yes, he was a demanding General but even more he was a compassionate human being. Enlisting in the Marine Corps at the young age of nineteen, Gen. Churchill remains one of only a few to rise to the rank of Marine Corps General. He retired on December 1, 1963, following 41 years and eight days of service to our country. In addition to his active membership in the Marine Corps League, Gen. Churchill established himself as a local political leader and a successful businessman in our district. Gen. Churchill knew how to build community and a better future. He followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle in 1917, and managed a successful grocery business in northwest Ohio. He became the national leader in one stop shopping in 1971, when he opened the Monroe Street store. Always an innovator in the business world, Mr. Churchill has provided countless numbers of young people with the opportunity to earn money while attending college, and many retirees have found employment in his stores to supplement their retirement income. He was always helping others. Mr. Churchill served as a loyal member of the Toledo Rotary Club where he maintained 37 years of perfect attendance. He served on the Board of Directors of the Toledo Better Business Bureau, the Toledo Small Business Association, and he served as president of the National Association of Retail Grocers. He was not just a member of these organizations but he was an activist. On many occasions, he traveled to Washington, DC to bring his views on national issues to those serving in elected life. He always came with a twinkle in his eye and a remarkable zest for life. Gen. Churchill's commitment to his employees and our community, and his love for our country will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. A mighty oak fell when he passed from this life. On behalf of our entire community, we extend deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Gen. Walter A. Churchill. He was ``always faithful.''

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, over Labor Day weekend, John Morrison died suddenly of an apparent heart attack at his home in Dubberly, Louisiana. Across the country, his family, friends, and colleagues were shocked by the news. His leadership and vision for all farmers will be greatly missed. For the past six years, John had been the Executive Director of the National Country Poultry Growers. He had founded the organization due to his own experiences as a contract grower facing the unfairness of his contract and the control exerted by the large poultry companies. It was the commitment and leadership that John and other family farm organizations had that prompted me to sponsor H.R. 2738--The Family Farmer Cooperative Marketing Amendments Act. Other colleagues have joined me as co-sponsors. On one of the last days of the session nearly a year ago, I met with representatives of the NCPGA and national allies that are working together to increase support for this legislation in the countryside. That meeting was two days after the momentous defeat of fast-track legislation. I remain committed to working for passage of this legislation in the next Congress. It is an important step towards restoring social and economic justice to an entire group of farm families; those who are growing and marketing their commodities; whether poultry, grain, hogs, or livestock under the excessive control of major corporations. This legislation will enable farmers in their cooperative associations to negotiate for a fair contract.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, do we remember the movie Roger and Me, where producer Roger Moore attempted to find Roger Smith, the President of General Motors? He looked everywhere for him. He looked in Detroit, he looked in Boca Raton. He could not find him, as Roger dutifully avoided the camera lens. In Congress this month and last, we are producing a sequel to Roger and Me. It is called the Omnibus and Me. Let me ask, where is the omnibus bill? We know it is a large bill. We know we cannot find it. We know it is looking more and more like one of those dreaded congressional Christmas tree bills. No one seems to know in which room it is being written. No one knows exactly who is writing it. In fact, we are told three or four staffers are actually in charge. So who exactly are these unelected people? Where can Members go to read the bill? Most importantly, Members do not know what is in the bill. We are told one-third of $1 billion is being slipped in to bail out poultry traders, get this, in Russia. That issue never came up during House consideration of the agricultural appropriation bill, which passed here overwhelmingly. It never came up in the Senate, either. According to Sect. 201(f) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978; ``The Commodity Credit Corporation may not make export sales financing authorized under this section available in connection with sales of an agricultural commodity to any country that the Secretary determines cannot adequately service the debt associated with such sale.'' Currently, Russia is ineligible for the program. So why is regular order being violated for certain special interests who can gain access to the corridors of this Congress very late in the year? In fact, every piece of legislative business not completed during this Congress, now famous as the do-nothing Congress, the 105th Congress, is now being put on the table as bargaining chips among a very few players. Why? Because this Chamber and the other have not completed their business on time. The fiscal year began October 1. Everything happening here in Congress is being played actually in overtime, simply because every single congressional deadline under regular order has been missed by the group in charge. What about the budget? There is no approved budget resolution for 1999, the fiscal year. We are already into that year. Some Committee on the Budget Members in leadership positions here in the House want to run for president, but they have not even completed the responsibilities of their committee work here in the House. Look at the appropriation bills. A majority of them, eight of 13, have not been completed on time. Now they are being picked apart by a very few folks around here, without the sunlight of regular order and regular committee oversight. Why is Congress here in October, at the end of a fiscal year? There is no budget. A majority of appropriation bills for fiscal year 1999, which has already begun, are not completed, a majority. Congress is operating in a stop-start knee-jerk operation actually not worthy of those that we represent. For the record, let me point out again, there is no completed budget for the fiscal year we are already in because Congress did not finish its legislative business by passing its 13 appropriation bills by September 30. On September 25 the first continuing resolution was offered that extended the congressional session 14 days overtime, as a handful of Members began drafting the omnibus bill that I have been looking for for several days. They are doing so in secret. Members, find the room and tell me where all this is being done. Then, when they still did not finish after 2 more weeks, a second continuing resolution passed the House on October 9. They said they needed 4 more days to add more to the Christmas tree bill. That did not work, so then a third continuing resolution was offered on October 12, Columbus Day, somewhat historic, I suppose, for 2 more days, until October 14. Now today, a fourth overtime resolution was offered for 3 more days until Friday, the end of this week, October 16. I sure would not put those manipulating this hit and miss scheduling in charge of anything after this Congress is over. So I ask, where is the omnibus Christmas tree appropriation bill? Where can Members read it? Where, more importantly, can the public read it? Is it going to be put on the Internet, so the American people can read it before we have to vote on it, whenever that is? I would say to Members, and I have been here a few years, I can tell Members with absolute certainty, if Members are not able to read this bill before it comes to the floor, Members have only one choice: Vote no.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to bring recognition to the important topic of mental illness. In fact, during this month of October, our Nation is disposed to do our best to raise awareness about the tragic lack of proper care for those among us who are suffering daily from the most severe mental illnesses. More than 5 million of our fellow citizens suffer from these debilitating, severe mental illnesses. Unfortunately, far too many people are not receiving the proper diagnosis, treatment, or strong community care they need to lead quality and stable lives in our country. The current practice of psychiatric care in our country has spawned growing homelessness, neglect, as well as violence since deinstitutionalization of patients occurred over two decades ago with no community follow-up. I am working with several women members, the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Roukema), the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) of California, such a leader in this effort, who is here with us this evening, and the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson). All of us are trying very hard to establish a House working group on serious mental illness. This House working group would be responsible for examining the State of our mental health system, especially those who are not being adequately treated with resulting neglect and even violence. We had an example of that here in our own Capitol with the tragic slaying of two of our officers, Gibson and Chestnut, less than 2 months ago. This group would hold hearings and gather testimony about what America can do. This week, we are also introducing a sense of Congress resolution regarding the seriousness of mental illness and the need for Congress to establish this working group. We intend to reintroduce this resolution in the next Congress and ask the Women's Caucus of this House to help us spearhead our efforts. I urge all Members to support the establishment of this House working group on mental illness as well as our sense of Congress resolution. Mr. Speaker, I am more than pleased to yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), our very capable and caring colleague.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) for taking time to join us this evening and also to say if we could put some of the partisanship aside, and we intend to do that in this working group, we can do so much for America. It seems to me that too much effort is wasted here in Washington in trying to find out why we are different from one another rather than what we can do to work together on important issues like this that affect millions and millions and millions of our fellow citizens. I would also note that the energy for this comes largely from the women in this body. It would be so easy for the leadership of this institution to make this happen with merely a snap of the fingers and yet it has not. That says a lot about this institution, but it also says a lot about the women here who on a bipartisan basis are trying to do what is right for this country. We know that with persistence and with goodwill and with bipartisanship, we can achieve real, lasting changes for the better for people in our country who suffer every day under these extremely difficult diseases; their families, their communities. We know, we understand what needs to be done. I also want to acknowledge the leadership in past years, First Lady Rosalyn Carter who came to this Congress and testified when it was not so popular to do so over 20 years ago, and also Tipper Gore, the wife of the vice president, who has also been supportive of our efforts.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Ladies Literary Club of Sylvania, Ohio in my district. The club proudly celebrates its centennial this year, with a special event on October 14, 1998. Members past and present will celebrate the 100th year of active study of the fine arts, with a luncheon and historical presentation. In October of 1898, four women who lived in Sylvania met in the home of Mrs. Walter Cutler, the wife of a Congregational Minister, to begin the study of Oliver Wendall Holmes' ``The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table''. Regularly since that day, the ladies of Sylvania continued to gather to discuss works of literature. They meet once a month. September through May, with the membership by invitation only remaining at thirty. The purpose of the club since its inception has been ``to read, listen, share, and be aware of the world around us.'' The ladies of the club live by words from Audobon: ``Use the talents you possess; the woods would be silent if no birds sang but those who could sing best.'' In keeping with the group's first study, a message from an 1884 Address given by Oliver Wendall Holmes carries this motto a step further, and captures the spirit of the Ladies Literary Club of Sylvania, Ohio. Holmes noted, ``. . . as life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived.'' Through what is certainly lively discussion not only of arts and literature but also the events of the day, the ladies of the club have celebrated and participated in their times, their discussions weaving their way through the fabric of each of their lives in ways both big and small and perhaps even they didn't always realize. Their discussions may have helped shape their actions, and their actions may have helped shaped their times. It is truly a gift that the Ladies Literary Club of Sylvania, Ohio have continued for 100 years. It is a privilege to be among members of an organization which, in the words of one of its members, ``will have touched three centuries''. I wish both past and present members of the Ladies Literary Club of Sylvania, Ohio my heartiest congratulations on this momentous achievement, and wish them well as they are poised to begin a new century.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lucas County Mental Health Board in Northwest Ohio. The year 1998 marks the 30th anniversary of the Lucas County Mental Health Board, and the agency is celebrating a commemorative event on September 9, 1998 to recognize the achievement. The Lucas County Mental Health Board ably and effectively has served thousands of our most vulnerable citizens through three decades which have seen monumental change and a complete overhaul in the treatment of mental basis. Through it all, the Lucas County Mental Health Board has adapted, growing to meet the changing needs of its clients and their families. The agency administers sites throughout the county which handle the unique needs of children with mental illness, people with milder forms of illness, those who are most severely disabled, families, and people needing short term help to get them through the rough spots of their lives. Always, the people of the Lucas County Mental Health Board strive to provide these services remembering the dignity of those they counsel, providing both caring treatment and advocacy. I am pleased to take this opportunity to salute the men and women, past and present, of the Lucas County Mental Health Board whose careers have been dedicated to lifting the stigma and the suffering of mental illness from so many. Their efforts and their victories large and small are commendable, and are truly making our community and the lives of its residents a better place. For their unsung efforts, we offer a grateful thank you.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the administration, faculty, staff, students and families of Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio. On October 9, 1998, the Clay High School community will rededicate the Clay Memorial Stadium. In December, 1941, our nation entered the greatest conflict in human history. Young people from all walks of life served in our armed forces. Many soldier, sailors, airmen and marines came from the Oregon, Ohio, area and served with honor and distinction as we freed the world of Axis terror and fascism. Some of these young people never returned. They gave their lives for freedom with the hope that our nation and their community would always cherish the gifts that America offers. It was in this spirit that the Oregon, Ohio, community dedicated the Clay Memorial Stadium, in 1948, to the young men and women who gave their lives in defense of liberty. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the stadium. The Clay High School family and the Oregon community at large are now embarking on a renovation project to make the stadium's World War II memorial the focus of the facility. The community also plans to add memorials to those who served in Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. The renovated stadium promises to be a renewed memorial to those who have made the supreme sacrifice and a symbol of youth and hope as we enter the 21st Century. Mr. Speaker, as the Congressional author of legislation to create a national World War II Memorial it gives me much pride to represent the citizens of Oregon, Ohio in this great House. They and the nation will never forget the sacrifice of the millions of men and women who gave their lives to freedom in the victory over tyranny that defined world history for the 20th century. Our community extends warm appreciation to the citizens of Oregon, Ohio as they rededicate the Clay Memorial Stadium.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Richard Cherry, a member of the American Legion in my district. Dick is being feted by his comrades and friends at a special Appreciation Dinner to be held on November 14, 1998 at the Adams Township Post No 553 of the American Legion. I will be proud and humbled to participate in this well-deserved recognition. Dick Cherry currently serves as National Committeeman for the more than 164,000 members of the Ohio American Legion. In his 29 years with the Legion, he has also served as Commander of the Department of Ohio, First Vice and Second Vice Commander of the Department of Ohio, Commander of the Great First District of Ohio, Commander of Lucas County, Commander of the Adams township Post, and Delegate to Lucas County, the First District, Department of Ohio, and National Organization. He also diligently labors on countless committees on the County, District, Department of Ohio, and National levels. A member of the United States Army, Dick is a veteran of the Korean War who served with the Second Division, 23 Infantry Battalion. With the deepest of understanding of the importance of remembering our nation's veterans, he is an active member of the Toledo Soldiers Memorial Association, and the Lucas County Veterans Service Commission, and the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Association. Listing his involvement in civic and veteran organizations only gives one a glimpse of the man. Dick Cherry is a man of the greatest compassion and empathy, with a sharp mind and a deep soul. He has been a trusted advisor to me on veterans issues, offering wise counsel regarding health care in our nation's VA medical centers, compensation and pension benefits for veterans and their families, and the ``veterans position'' on national issues. In any forum, he conducts himself with dignity and grace, quietly but effectively conveying the message that we must never forget our veterans, their courage, or the sacrifices they made to bring us the freedom we know today. If a measure of a man is the esteem in which others hold him, then Dick Cherry is a man beyond measure. I join his wife Carol, his family, friends, and colleagues in paying homage to a most down-to-earth yet most remarkable man.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give special recognition to the Third Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio. Beginning November 11, 1998 and concluding November 15, 1998, the church will celebrate its 130th anniversary with a host of celebration activities. I am pleased to commemorate this anniversary. This milestone is a testament to faith, to the strength of community, and to the values of family and tradition. The 130 year long journey of Third Baptist Church has only come about through the faith and perseverance of its congregants. As their lives have been made richer by their faith, so, too, has our community been made richer by the church's presence. This church in the heart of one of Toledo's oldest neighborhoods has housed generations of souls uplifted by the strength of prayer and each other as God's Word was celebrated each Sunday for 130 years. Third Baptist Church has been a cornerstone of the community, and is strongly supported by its members. Generations worship together, in the truest sense of church and community. Third Baptist's motto is ``Celebrating Our Goodly Heritage Through Worship and Praise.'' Its members live this testament, coming together to offer joyful songs, inspirational prayers, and deep, personal worship. As 130 years are celebrated through several days, I know that the spirit of the church's ancestors will be felt, and they will join today's membership in the commemoration. As we look back on the past, may we also direct our vision toward the future.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a member of the clergy in my district, the Imam Khattab of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo. The Imam is retiring as the congregation's director, having served the Muslim community of Northwest Ohio for sixteen years. Born in Egypt, Abdelmoneim Mahmoud Khattab completed his undergraduate degree at Al-Azhar University, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Theology. He later received Masters Degrees in Social Services and Theology, and completed three years in the College of Law at Cairo University. After immigrating to Canada, he obtained a Masters Degree in Sociology and went on to complete his PhD coursework. A true scholar and learned man, Imam Khattab has directed his expertise to the fields of education, health, and foreign affairs, as well as directing Islamic Centers in Edmonton, Alberta and London, Ontario prior to his tenure in Northwest Ohio. Imam Khattab has profoundly affected each congregation to which he devoted himself. With his guidance, the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo has fostered an interfaith understanding with the community, and it has become a centerpiece of Muslim faith and culture in our region. Those who visit the mosque, whether members of the Muslim community or not, cannot help but be swept up in the reverence, humility, faith, and sense of the world which reverberates within its walls. Imam Khattab has been a leader in every sense of that word, directing the members of the mosque in his quiet, humble manner and with the greatest dignity. He takes his leave to pursue other important ventures, but leaves all of those who knew him during his stay here richer for the experience. We wish him well in his journey. Assalamu Alaikum, a friend to each of us who strive for a world of greater understanding, peace, and fellowship.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the administration, faculty, staff, students and families of Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio. On October 9, 1998, the Clay High School community will rededicate the Clay Memorial Stadium. In December, 1941, our nation entered the greatest conflict in human history. Young people from all walks of life served in our armed forces. Many soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines came from the Oregon, Ohio, area and served with honor and distinction as we freed the world of Axis terror and facism. Some of these young people never returned. They gave their lives for freedom with the hope that our nation and their community would always cherish the gifts that America offers. It was in this spirit that the Oregon, Ohio, community dedicated the Clay Memorial Stadium, in 1948, to the young men and women who gave their lives in defense of liberty. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the stadium. The Clay High School family and the Oregon community at large are now embarking on a renovation project to make the stadium's World War II memorial the focus of the facility. The community also plans to add memorials to those who served in Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. The renovated stadium promises to be a renewed memorial to those who have made the supreme sacrifice and a symbol of youth and hope as we enter the 21st Century. Mr. Speaker, as the Congressional author of legislation to create a national World War II Memorial it gives me much pride to represent the ctiizens of Oregon, Ohio in this great House. They and the nation will never forget the sacrifice of the millions of men and women who gave their lives to freedom in the victory over tyranny that defined world history for the 20th century. Our community extends warm appreciation to the citizens of Oregon, Ohio as they rededicate the Clay Memorial Stadium.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give special recognition to the Farley United Methodist Church in Richfield Township in Northwest Ohio. On October 18, 1998, the church will celebrate its 150th anniversary. The Farley Society was founded in 1848. Later named the Farley Methodist Church, and then the Farley United Methodist Church, the church is a small rural congregation in the town of Berkey, Ohio. Strongly supported by its members, succeeding generations of the original founding families still attend the church. To quote one of its members, ``Although the church remains today as a small, country church, it has been part of the fabric and an influence in the Richfield Township community for generations.'' I am pleased to commemorate the church's 150th anniversary. This milestone is a testament to faith, to the strength of community, and to the values of family, tradition, and coming together. A church is only as strong as its members, and the 150 year long journey of the Farley United Methodist Church has only come about through the faith and perseverance of its congregants. Their lives have certainly been made richer through their faith, but our community has also been made richer by the church's presence. The simple white structure at the town crossroads has housed generations of souls uplifted by the strength of prayer and each other as God's Word was celebrated each Sunday for 150 years. As those years are celebrated, I know that the spirit of the church's ancestors will be felt, and they will join today's membership in the commemoration. May all present find the day to be one of inspiration, reflection on the past, and vision for the future.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of this conference report on H.R. 4101, which is the 1999 appropriations bill for Agriculture and Related Agencies. Mr. Speaker, I want to say how pleased we are today also that our fine and distinguished colleague, the gentleman from the State of Texas (Mr. Henry Gonzalez), is here for this debate, and how very much we enjoy working with him on every single issue that comes before the Nation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend our chairman, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen), and as well as all the members of our subcommittee, and the committee staff, Tim, Sally, and Bobby, for their outstanding leadership in helping us put this bill together. Without question, it keeps our Nation at the leading edge for food, fiber, fuel, and forest production as well as research, trade, and food safety. Really a full plate. Our bill contains this year $55.88 billion in total budget authority for the fiscal year 1999, where the clock has already begun running, of which $13.65 billion is for discretionary programs, with the vast majority, $42.2 billion, for mandatory programs. Over two-thirds of this bill's spending, in fact, is dedicated to mandatory programs, largely the nutrition programs, like the school lunch and the school breakfast programs and the food stamp program, which comprise nearly 70 percent of all the funding incorporated in this measure. Now, this is a balanced bill that attempts to address the needs of farmers, food and drug safety, rural community development, consumers, and those in our population most nutritionally at risk. The chairman has fashioned a bill with our committee that is the best possible bill within the allocation that we were all dealt. I have to say, I appreciate the bipartisanship and sensitivity of the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) to balancing the burden of these tight funding levels between various constituencies served by our bill, Members who may represent Bronx, New York, all the way to the southern third of New Mexico and Arizona. So we have a very diverse committee and a very diverse Congress. I would be remiss if I did not point out that there remains a veto threat on this bill because of the level provided for disaster assistance in agriculture. I would hope that there would be another opportunity for this Congress to perhaps incorporate additional disaster assistance in an omnibus supplemental appropriations bill. Funding levels are also still well below the administration's request for several of our most critically important programs in this bill. For example, in the area of food safety; the Women, Infants, and Children's feeding program; our conservation program, so important to today and tomorrow; youth tobacco prevention; all of the rural water and sewer needs that each of us knows so well from our respective States, and certainly The Emergency Feeding and Assistance Program known as TEFAP. Without an additional allocation of resources, we continue to betray our commitment to American farmers and to all consumers who benefit from the bounty that our farmers produce. I am going to reference a few of the major points in the bill right now, beginning with disaster assistance. Mr. Speaker, there is a real crisis facing most American farmers in rural communities today, and many have been unduly affected by the drought and other extreme and unusual weather conditions. Some are suffering the impact of repeated crop disease year after year, and others have been impacted by very low farm prices, falling farm prices, and increasing inability to obtain credit at prices that really work on the balance sheet. While the rest of the country may be experiencing economic recovery, thousands and thousands of farm and ranch families, certainly so many of our dairy farmers that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), our ranking member, has so eloquently represented in these debates, and the communities that depend on them have been left behind. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Johnson) just talked about that a bit earlier during the debate on the rule. I am pleased that we were able to provide over $4 billion in emergency assistance to farmers in this conference report, but I remain concerned that this level of funding still remains insufficient to deal with the magnitude of the real farm crisis facing this country. We must keep in mind that this bill will provide only a 1-year fix and that prices are projected to be low again next year. In fact, at a meeting earlier today, one of our Ohio members told me he had taken his third cutting on hay and alfalfa. That is terrific, except it means that prices are going to continue to go down. Farmers need a long-term safety net and we may need to look to other options for assistance in the future. Let me move on to the area of food safety. Each year over 9,000 Americans die, that is 9,000, die in this country and another 33 million become ill from food-borne pathogens. Currently less than two- tenths of 1 percent, less than 1 percent of imported produce is being inspected for pathogen contamination. This bill provides a $51 million increase for the President's Food Safety Initiative, and we thank the administration for that initiative, with $20 million targeted to import inspection through our Food and Drug Administration. This will go a long way toward bolstering our Nation's food safety inspection and research efforts to assure that our food and produce are of higher quality. I regret, however, that the conferees were unable to adopt country- of-origin labeling for produce and meat, specifically beef and lamb, which we feel is so important for our people to know where their food is coming from. Consumers have a right to know where the food that they eat originates from. Let me move on, finally, to the area of derivatives and say I remain concerned about a provision in the bill that places a moratorium on the ability of the Commodity Futures Trading Corporation to regulate over- the-counter derivatives. We have all seen in the recent headlines the default and bailout of the company called Long-Term Capital Management, which in essence was a hedge fund. They play in the area of risk with no assets. Many of the Members in this Chamber may already know about this situation. An emergency financial rescue of over $3.5 billion was hurriedly put together by the Federal Reserve and several New York banks on behalf of a very few large financial institutions and wealthy individuals. In effect, the largest banks in this country, who lent organizations money to invest in these hedge funds, are at risk because their fundamental deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which means the taxpayers of this country, because our Nation guarantees bank deposits up to $100,000. That creates the risk pool for insurance, and they are going to be faced with drawing on it very heavily if they are not able to make whole the people who play in those markets. This federally backed rescue involved Long-Term Capital Management from Connecticut, which was not even regulated by the Federal Government. Yet the package put together was a Federal package. In essence, the taxpayers of America are becoming the insurance company of last resort for a handful of very high risk takers, institutions and individuals that are involved in the highest stakes game and are completely over-leveraged in the international markets. Mr. Speaker, where are we, where is this Congress and where is our government when it comes to helping out all of the people of this land, including our farmers who are strung out, many of them, to their very last acre? I find it ironic that this conference report includes nearly $4 billion in emergency assistance for America's farmers, barely much more than is being provided to some of America's wealthiest individuals and largest institutions connected to long-term capital management. It is an interesting ratio to think about. Drought and floods and deteriorating world markets are ravaging America's farm sector. Our dairy farmers are being wiped out one after another, and regularly we see on television incidents and acts of God beyond the control of those who are making a living, a hard and difficult living, off the land. Thousands and thousands of farmers and farm families and ranchers are looking to us for this much needed assistance. Those who speculate on financial trends, those who take major risks and never get their hands dirty, based on which direction currency and commodity prices will go, are taken care of in an instant. One could say that they are bailed out in less than a New York minute by the New York Fed's intervention. In closing, I want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) again for putting together the best bill that we could under the circumstances. Let me just reiterate my continuing concern that we have not been able to provide in this bill country-of-origin labeling on meat, especially beef and lamb. Also, our hope to provide some certainty in the market, for mandatory price reporting in the livestock area, which would be such a simple thing for us to do, it was not included in this legislation. Those are shortcomings in this bill that we hope to overcome in future years. Overall, it is a good bill. It is worthy of the Members' support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy), who has fought harder than anyone I know for the needs of the farmers in the Great Plains States due to the disasters that have been ravaging that part of the country. The Dakotas are lucky to have him here.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield our remaining time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), from the Buffalo area, one of the hardest working Members of this Chamber. (Mr. LaFALCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) the very distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture, a rancher and farmer himself, from the great State of Texas. (Mr. STENHOLM asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), who really helped our committee a great deal in enlightening us on some of the civil rights damage suits pending before the U.S. Department of Agriculture and who worked so closely with us, as did the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters). Without question, this is a better bill, a much better bill because of their leadership. (Mr. BISHOP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) who has worked so hard with us on the sanctions portion of the bill.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton).

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, might I inquire as to the remaining time on this side, please?

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry), who has worked so hard on this measure.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield one minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Fazio). This is his last conference bill. I can honestly say this is a man that has worked so hard for America, for California and on our committee. We will miss his brilliance and his leadership. We hope he will come back and visit us many, many times, and we thank him for his service to America.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield two minutes to the very able and dedicated gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who works harder than any other Member of this chamber on most days.