Pete King

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my fellow `Hope Coalition' members who joined with me in introducing the `Hope for Children Act' (H.R. 622). I will be very proud to see H.R. 622 pass the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. Every child deserves a permanent, loving home and, with so many families who want to open their hearts and their homes to these children, I firmly believe we should help remove the financial barriers that may hinder this union. By extending a $10,000 tax credit to families who adopt a child, The Hope for Children Act will help to foster strong, healthy families across the nation. The promotion of special needs adoptions is essential. Families who adopt special needs children incur significant costs after an adoption has taken place. It must be mentioned that the Hope for Children Act, as introduced, included a $10,000 flat tax credit for families who adopt children with special needs. Though this measure was eliminated in Committee, I will not stop fighting to ensure that the needs of these children and families are adequately addressed. Across America, there are an estimated 122,000 children waiting for a family to love and care for them. but with adoption costs ranging from $8,000 to $20,000, many families can not afford this huge expense. No child should be forced to grow up without a family because of the tremendous cost of adoption. It has been a privilege and an honor to work with the members of the `Hope Coalition' in ensuring that this legislation passed the House of Representatives. Please be assured that I will continue to do all that I can to make sure that the Hope for Children Act becomes law.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note that Notre Dame is again a national champion. This past Sunday, Ruth Riley's two free throws with 5.8 seconds left secured a 68-66 victory over Purdue and gave the University of Notre Dame its first ever women's basketball national championship. Mr. Speaker, you can now add the names Riley, Ivey and McGraw to the rich tradition of Notre Dame athletics. The same institution which produced Rockne, the Four Horsemen and 21 national titles now has Muffet McGraw and a women's basketball national championship. It came down to two great teams, both struggling valiantly and never quitting. It truly was a classic confrontation. I want to commend Coach McGraw and the Fighting Irish for their class, grit and determination. Congratulations! Notre Dame is a winner again. Go Irish!

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, it is really a great honor for me to be able to stand up and speak on behalf of this resolution. If there is anyone who deserves it, it is Joe Moakley. I can honestly say that, for the time that I have been in Congress, no one has personified to me more what it means to be a Congressman than Joe Moakley. If everybody in this House were like Joe Moakley, we would get along much better; we would get a lot more done. We would realize that partisanship is important, but yet it stops. We should be able to reach across the aisle and shake hands and have a drink and share a joke and make a cutting remark or humorous remark about one of our colleagues in a way that really shows the camaraderie that we should have. From the time I came here, Joe Moakley reached out to me. He was, as the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn) have said, a good guy in the very best sense of the word. Yet, he was also an outstanding Congressman, a man who fought and fights so hard for his district, a man who obviously believes the principles for the Democratic party, fights hard for those principles; but at the end of the day, is willing to sit down and talk with anyone, no matter what their party affiliation happens to be. He reaches out for people who need help. He is a person who I know, speaking for Members on my side of the aisle, when they needed a favor, when they needed help, when they needed a break, the guy they went to on the other side was Joe Moakley. He never let party divisions stand between him and them. As the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) said, Joe Moakley represents a working class district. He represents real people. There is nothing phony. There is nothing built-up by the media. This is the real thing. When one sees Joe Moakley, one is seeing what a real person is. Today, to be honoring him in this way, it is important. It means a lot. But on the other hand, if there was never any courthouse named after Joe Moakley, if there was never any plaque or citation put out for Joe Moakley, he would always be remembered by those who knew him, those who served with him in Congress. And as the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) has said, probably most importantly of all, the average guy on the street corner in his district, the average guy in the bar, the average guy driving the bus, the average guy going to work every day, he realizes that Joe Moakley, in every sense of the word, represented those people here in Congress, the people who otherwise would not have a strong voice, the people who are so busy working day to day they cannot afford to be getting involved in exotic causes. They have to know that they have somebody who is on the firing lines for them day in and day out. The fact that so many projects went to Joe's district as opposed to mine or the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), we take that in stride, realizing that was Joe fighting for his district, and, quite frankly, doing a better job than we were for ours. So I am proud to join with all of my colleagues today in honoring Joe Moakley and speaking on behalf of this resolution and saying it has been a true source of pride and honor for me to be able to work with Joe Moakley. I wish him the best of health. I wish him the very best to himself that he has given to so many of us for so many years.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, together with so many Americans--particularly New Yorkers--I was deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely passing of Lars-Erik Nelson. Lars was a uniquely gifted journalist of unsurpassed integrity and courage. I will be eternally grateful that I was able to call Lars my friend-- for he was a friend in every sense of the word. Whether it was discussing the issues of the day, demonstrating concern for someone else's health problems or giving an encouraging word, Lars was always there. Although he had every right to do so, Lars never took himself seriously. Very simply, it was always a delight to be in his company. When my wife Rosemary was in Washington, she and I would enjoy getting together with Lars and his wife Mary for dinner. Lars was raconteur, gourmet and wine connoisseur. What better way could there be to spend an evening? Just several days before he died, Lars and I were trying to schedule dinner in the upcoming week. It was not meant to be. I will cherish personal memories of Lars. Sitting with him at my first Gridiron Dinner. Meeting with him and Gerry Adams in Washington during a key moment in the Irish Peace Process. Having lunch with him in the House Dining Room and listening to his calm reflections during the impeachment debate. His writing an overly complimentary blurb for a novel I wrote. But mostly I will remember a man who was a true giant as a journalist and a friend--a man of innate decency. A man who will be sorely missed by any who had the opportunity to know him. May he rest in peace.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the high priority that should be placed on improving our relationship with Panama. Beyond the interest in the Panama Canal, where the traffic destined to or from the United States amounts to some 65% of total Canal tonnage, U.S. investment in Panama ranks third in Latin America. Panama has many investment opportunities and is fast becoming a strong tourist destination. Large numbers of Panamanians are fluent in English, and the U.S. dollar is the official currency of the nation making Panama attractive to private investments. It is extremely important, in the interests of both the United States and Panama, to keep strong personal and economic ties between the countries. One Long Islander is trying to make a difference in those relations. Robert R. McMillan has just been elected Chairman of the United States- Panama Business Council--an organization devoted to the continuance of close relations between our two nations. I want to congratulate him on his election and wish him the best in his new endeavors.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the enormous strides that Taiwan has made in becoming a full democracy. Mr. Chen Shui-bian was recently elected president through free and fair elections. With Mr. Chen's election, Taiwan continues to refine its democracy by improving safeguards for human rights and contributing to the international community. Unfortunately, Taiwan's efforts to participate in international organizations have often been thwarted for political reasons beyond Taiwan's control. It is unreasonable for the people of Taiwan to be excluded from full participation in international institutions due to threats from mainland China. Denying Taiwan membership in the United Nations and other international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, obstructs access to important international resources. The people of Taiwan have proven that freedom and democracy are not just American ideals; they are universal principles that apply to every individual, to every community and every nation.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, as President Chen Shui-bian, Vice President Annette Lu and the people of the Republic of China prepare to celebrate their National Day on October 10, 2000, I wish to extend to them my congratulations. The Republic of China on Taiwan has a lot to be proud of. Taiwan's economy is very strong. For instance, export orders reached US $74 billion from January to June, up 21 percent from the same period last year. In June of this year, exports and imports enjoyed almost 25 percent growth from the year-earlier period. It is the government's policy to continue to develop Taiwan's new economy based on information and high technologies. Furthermore, Taiwan's citizens enjoy one of the highest living standards in the world. Politically, Taiwan is a true democracy with free island-wide elections, press independence and political pluralism. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is a model of success for many countries in the world, and we need to give Taiwan our approbation and support.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3100, the Know Your Caller Act, which will help protect the privacy of consumers from telemarketers. I cannot begin to tell you how many constituents have complained to me about the number of annoying telephone calls they get at home. These calls come from credit card companies and other telemarketers trying to make a sale. These calls are intrusive and are wrong. H.R. 3100 would prevent telemarketers from interfering with consumers' caller-identification machines and require the companies to make their name readable to applicable caller ID services. Most importantly, because consumers have very little recourse, telemarketers would have to provide a phone number to the ID service that consumers can call to have their names and numbers removed from call lists. In addition, consumers could sue telemarketers for up to $500 per unidentified call. Because we live in a very fast paced world where every free moment with our family and friends is valuable, we cannot allow these companies and businesses to violate our privacy. I support this measure and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), chairman of the Committee on International Relations, for yielding me this time. At the very outset I want to commend him for the outstanding job he has done for so many years, not just in the last 6 that he has been chairman of the Committee on International Relations, but for more than two decades as a real warrior in the cause of peace and justice in Ireland. We also have to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights for the invaluable work that he has done in holding hearings that go right to the depth of the allegations against the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and right to the heart of the problems which have inflicted law enforcement and the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland for far too many years, for at least the last three decades. Also, I have to commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) for the tremendous work he has done, not just during the 12 years he has been in Congress, but the years before that when he was the mayor in Springfield, Massachusetts, and just for the tremendous amount of dedication and enthusiasm and unyielding tenacity he brings to this entire issue of peace and justice in Ireland. Mr. Speaker, I know that if the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) were here tonight, in fact he has asked me to say this on his behalf, there is nobody in the House of Representatives he looks up to more in providing moral leadership and guidance than the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal). And the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) asked me to put that on the public record this evening. As the gentleman from Massachusetts said earlier, this is a bipartisan issue. I want to commend President Clinton for the job that he has done. I know that tonight the gentleman read into the record a statement from Vice President Gore. The gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman) and I and the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) can report last week Governor Bush also has put out a statement calling for the full implementation of the Patten Commission report, which shows that this clearly is a bipartisan issue. It is an issue on which all men and woman of goodwill can stand together. What we are faced with tonight, today, and for the next weeks and months in the north of Ireland is a true crisis. If the Good Friday Agreement is premised on concession and compromise. The Good Friday Agreement itself was a compromise. The Good Friday Agreement itself was based on very strong concessions made by all sides, particularly by the Catholic community, the Nationalist community, the Republican community who made very deep concessions in return for a pledge by the British and Irish governments that all the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement would be carried out. Mr. Speaker, no provision was more important in the Patten Commission than the section dealing with police reform, because in the north of Ireland for three decades the Royal Ulster Constabulary was guilty of the most vicious and gross human rights violations imaginable. It is hard for us as Americans to envision in the English speaking world, in the United Kingdom which stands for the Magna Carta and justice and law, that there was such brutality systematically carried out. Not the type of brutalities that occur by accident, not those that are incidental, but brutalities that were root and branch a part of the policing in Northern Ireland. Torture, murder of children, intentional killings, intentionally maimings. This was all part of the police policy in the north of Ireland. So the police have to be reformed. That was an integral part, the integral part of the Good Friday Agreement. And the Patten Commission, which was chaired by Chris Patten, a conservative MP, a former conservative MP, a minister in Margaret Thatcher's government, he came up with a series of reforms which, again, were themselves a compromise. There is much that is lacking, as the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) has pointed out time and again. The Patten Commission itself, the Patten Commission recommendations themselves are deficient. Yet now the British Government is attempting to compromise the compromise. It is attempting to water down the compromise of the Patten Commission to come out with a series of reforms that will not be reforms at all. It will just be a readjustment of the status quo. It will be a continuation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Not even under a new name, because the old name will still remain. It will be a subset, but it will still be there and this is wrong. Mr. Speaker, the entire peace process is at risk. The entire peace process is being put at risk by the British Government, by the Ulster Unionist Party, and probably nothing is more aggravating than to hear someone like David Trimble, who is head of the Ulster Unionist Party, to say that we in the Congress should not get involved, that the American Government should not get involved. The reality is that on the night the Good Friday Agreement was reached and the morning that it was signed, David Trimble would not sign it until he was assured by President Clinton that the U.S. would stay involved. And now that we are involved he is saying that we should get out and back away from the agreement and allow it to go back to the status quo. The way it was for three decades and seven decades and even three centuries, if we want to go all the way back, where the Catholic community was systematically discriminated against and had their rights violated. It is essential for us in the Congress to stand together. It is essential for the President to speak out as clearly as he has in the past to let the British Government know, to let Tony Blair know, let the British Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson, know that they cannot continue to violate the rights of Catholics. They cannot take the Nationalist community for granted. The fact is an agreement was signed, an international agreement, and the British Government has the absolute obligation to enforce that agreement. It cannot back down and cannot succumb to blackmail from David Trimble, because if it does it puts at risk the entire peace process and we will go back to the situation that ruined so many innocent lives for so many years. Mr. Speaker, if that happens the blood will be on the hands of the British government and the Ulster Unionist Party.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas for yielding me the time. I certainly thank him for his cooperation and support in expediting the passage of this bill. I also want to, Mr. Speaker, give a special debt of thanks to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak), himself a former police officer, for the yeoman's job that he has done in making this a truly bipartisan effort and for giving up so much of his time and effort. And also words of thanks are due to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly), who actually was very instrumental in the passage of the initial legislation 2 years ago which this bill today is amending. She certainly deserves credit. I also want to thank the Committee on the Judiciary for acting in such a bipartisan way. Also, I want to commend Kevin Horan of my staff for the great job that he has done in moving this bill along. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) have detailed exactly what this bill is about. I just think it is absolutely essential that we pass this legislation. My father was a former New York City police officer for more than 30 years. I have known many police officers. I also, unfortunately, have known police officers and families of police officers who have been killed in the line of duty, who have been permanently disabled. And while there is nothing we can do to make those families whole, there is nothing we can do to take away their grief and suffering, the fact is that this is a step in the right direction. It ameliorates some of that suffering. It also, probably just as importantly, shows that our country as a whole wants to acknowledge the debt that we owe to these men and women for the sacrifice and suffering that they have gone through. It is a way of we, as a Nation, telling what we are really all about and acknowledging the men and women who are on the front lines, who are protecting us day in and day out, who are putting their lives and limbs on the line for us so that we can enjoy a safe and prosperous life in this country. So this is a bill which is very instrumental in, I believe, acknowledging the debt we owe to these people. It is also very important in showing where we as a country stand. It also shows that we, in a bipartisan fashion, can acknowledge the work that has been done by the police officers of this country and also give a little bit of respite, a little bit of solace, and a little bit of peace to the families of those who have suffered so much.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, Senator Moynihan has often said that there is no sense in being Irish unless you realize that some day, somehow, the world is going to break your heart. Well, obviously the hearts of New Yorkers are broken by the stepping down from the Senate of Senator Moynihan. But, at the same time, we as New Yorkers can rejoice in the absolutely unparalleled contributions he has made to our country, to our State, and also in the fact that he is the quintessential New Yorker. Whether it was growing up in the streets of New York, shining shoes, working on the docks, working for Governor Harriman, running for the president of the New York City Council many years ago, serving as ambassador to the U.N. in New York where he stood up for the dignity of people everywhere, where he almost single-handedly denounced the resolution against Zionism, a man who was willing to always come to the brink, to stand and fight for what was right. Certainly during the 24 years he has been in the United States Senate, he has never allowed partisanship to in any way interfere with the job that he did. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) stated that he has the privilege of being your Congressman. I got the short straw. I represented Senator D'Amato for many years as his Congressman. I remember the many conversations I had with Senator D'Amato, where he would say how you were invaluable to the Senate, how partisanship never entered into the relationship you had, going back to the very first meeting after his election you had with him in the Hotel Carlyle in Manhattan. I remember Senator D'Amato preparing for that meeting with you, and afterwards saying, ``I just met the greatest guy in the world.'' From that day forward you forged a close relationship. But that really personifies the relationship you had with all the people of New York. You were always there. You were, on the one hand, always defending the institutions of the United States, but, at the same time, willing to challenge accepted thinking. Your book Beyond the Melting Pot certainly redefined the importance of ethnicity in the United States, the fact that you were willing to challenge Federal programs that were not working, which certainly antagonized people on the left; but then you went against people on the right by telling them that we had much more to do to strengthen the American family, we had more to do to be responsive to those who were being left behind in good economic times. Senator Moynihan, it really is a privilege for me as a Member of Congress to be able to join in this tribute to you. It certainly was a great meaning to me as a New Yorker for many years, whether it was reading your books, whether it was trying with my thesaurus and dictionary trying to understand all of your speeches and op-ed pieces in the New York Times and intellectual journals, whether it was always being challenged and sometimes provoked, other times really just put to the test by trying to measure up to the standards you set by answering the questions that you were posing; and you real personify what it means to be a Senator. You are a man of Hell's Kitchen and a renaissance man; a working man and a Harvard professor; a street politician who ran for president of the city council; and a diplomat who walked with world leaders. So I am again honored and privileged to be able to serve with you in the United States Government, but, most importantly, to be here today, and also to not really make a request, but almost impose upon you to say you have an obligation to work with us for all of your remaining years, to keep those columns coming, those op-ed pieces, to keep the letters and speeches coming, and never, ever stop probing our conscience, making us take that extra step to work for our constituents and the meaning of the United States. Thank you, Senator Moynihan.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 25th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. We remember the brave and gallant service and the great sacrifice made by the sons and daughters of our great nation who served in that war. Even more important, we remember the great sacrifice made by the parents, spouses and families of those sons and daughters. The Vietnam War has left an indelible mark on all parts of this nation of ours, including my own district in New York. St. Mary's High School, which lies within the town of Manhasset, in my district in New York, was also affected by the Vietnam War. It sent many of its sons to fight in the Vietnam War, some paying the Supreme Sacrifice in the service of our country. During the latter part of this year, St. Mary's High School will be holding its First Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Nominated for induction is United States Marine First Lieutenant John Arthur Keepnews of Manhasset. John Arthur Keepnews was born in Bayside, Queens and moved with his parents and younger brother Robert to the suburban community of Manhasset in 1958. His parents bought a home at 443 Hunt Lane, nestled in the heart of beautiful Munsey Park. During that same year, he entered St. Mary's High School in Manhasset and his parents became devout St. Mary's Parishioners. John Keepnews was your typical student at St. Mary's High School. He was a young man with a great deal of heart and potential. He was an honor student and a top runner on the St. Mary's High School Cross Country and Track Teams and on Long Island. He worked very hard at his running and as one of his former coaches put it, ``John did not have a lot of talent, but he had the tenacity of a bulldog.'' He trained in innovative ways which included running on beaches and interval, hill and weight training, at a time when distance runners merely did distance running to train. John Keepnews trained in a manner that was ahead of its time. (Today, these training methods are common to runners of all categories, as these methods provide more power and help to prevent injury.) At St. Mary's, he was coached by Brother Thomas Joseph. In cross country, John ran in the low 14's on the legendary Cross Country course at Van Courtlandt Park in Bronx, New York. In track, John ran a 4:50 mile and a 9:52 two mile, his best event. He medaled frequently in races and enjoyed some heated rivalries. During his senior year at St. Mary's, John co-captained the track team and placed 4th in the two mile in both the indoor and outdoor Eastern States Championships. He received a track scholarship to Iona College in New York and the promise of a scholarship at Mount St. Mary's College in Maryland. John became an exceptional runner at St. Mary's and was one of the top distance runners of his time, if not in the history of St. Mary's High School. Outside of St. Mary's he was a regular guy, who would often find his way to the field at After graduating from St. Mary's High School in 1962, John decided to attend Mount St. Mary's College. The ``Mount'' was part of the Mason- Dixon (Athletic) Conference of the National College Athletic Association (NCAA). Pursuing his running career here, John placed second in the two mile during the 1963 Outdoor Mason-Dixon Conference Championships and helped to contribute to the first ever Mount St. Mary's College track title. John was also instrumental in helping the team win the 1964 cross-country conference crown and the track title. He ran 4:37 for the mile, placed 4th in the 1962 Loyola Cross-Country Invitational, placed 5th in the 1963 Outdoor Track NCAA Atlantic Coast Regional 2 mile race and won the mile and two mile on numerous occasions. He was named All-Conference on several occasions and may have held at one point both the cross country and two mile records. Graduating from Mount St. Mary's College in 1966, John entered the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He graduated from The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia as an infantry officer and waived his overseas control date and requested orders to Vietnam. In early 1968 (just in time for the Tet Offensive), John was a Platoon Commander and Executive Officer of F Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. His unit spent all of its time just below the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), near places that are now legend in the Marine Corps: Khe Sanh, Con Thien, Camp Carroll, Quang Tri and the Rockpile. As were all the Marines in I Corps (the northernmost provinces of Vietnam), John's unit was in almost constant contact with North Vietnamese Army regulars. On a daily basis, John and his unit sought out, closed with and destroyed the best trained, best equipped and best led units of the North Vietnamese Army. Tragically, we lost this Great American and outstanding Marine from Manhasset on June 7, 1968. It was at the time of his death that his brother Robert was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. First Lieutenant John Arthur Keepnews was killed as a result of multiple shrapnel wounds received near Landing Zone Stud (later renamed the Vandergrift Combat Base) in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. His death coincided with the 170th Anniversary of the formal establishment of the Marine Corps by the United States Government. It was in June of 1798 that Congress legally established the Marine Corps as a separate Department of the Navy. As a result of his brave and gallant service and self sacrifice as a United States Marine during the Vietnam War, Lt. Keepnews was awarded a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation (Gallantry Cross Color) and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. At the time of his death in June of 1968, Lt. Keepnews was survived by his parents Arthur J. and Mary E. Keepnews, his younger brother Robert, his wife Patricia and his 5 month old daughter he had never seen, Margaret Ann. We have much to be thankful for First Lieutenant John Arthur Keepnews and extend appreciation not just for his supreme sacrifice in the service of our country, but also the great sacrifice made by his family. We will forever remember John Keepnews, his humor, wit, hard work, perseverance, athleticism and bravery. I am proud to know that John Keepnews was a resident of my district, the 3rd Congressional District of New York. I know full well that when a young person joins the St. Mary's High School Cross Country and Track teams, John Keepnews will be with them placing hope and encouragement in them with each stride they take, in each race they compete in. First Lieutenant John Arthur Keepnews is a true representative of St. Mary's, of Manhasset, his country and his family. He represents the highest character of morals and bravery and embodies the spirit and principles of what it means to be a Great American. He is a person we are and will always be extremely proud of. In closing, I would like the members of this chamber to join me in remembering a true American Patriot and support his nomination for Induction into the St. Mary's High School Hall of Fame.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment proposed by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran). In opposing this amendment, to me, the issue is one of simple fairness. Very simply, I see no reason we in the Congress should delay implementation of regulations which require contractors to be responsible, to be in compliance with the law, all laws, environmental laws, labor laws; nor is there any reason the taxpayers' dollars, the dollars of hard-working Americans, should be used to reimburse the attorney's fees of contractors even when those contractors have been found guilty of violating labor laws. Finally, Mr. Chairman, I see no reason why taxpayer money should be used to reimburse contractors the cost of conducting anti-union campaigns. Mr. Chairman, very simply, I believe the contractors doing business with the Federal Government must be responsible. The taxpayers' money must not be squandered. I call for the defeat of this amendment.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize not only the importance of our strategic relationship with the Republic of Turkey but their historic contribution in the Korean War. Almost 50 years ago, in October of 1950, the Turkish brigade consisting of 4,500 army troops arrived in Korea. By the time Turkey had completed its commitment, 29,882 were rotated through the brigade, 717 were killed in action, and 2246 were wounded. These figures, the highest casualty rate of the United Nations mission, demonstrated that Turkey's reputation was well deserved. The Turkish brigade's courage and contributions were repeatedly highlighted in the press at the time. For example, the battle of Kunuri was detailed in a TIME magazine article which stated ``The courageous battles of the Turkish Brigade have created a favorable effect on the whole United Nations Forces.'' Their courage was also referenced on Capitol Hill, with former Representative Claude Pepper opining that, ``There is no one left who does not know that the Turks, our valuable allies, are hard warriors and that they have accomplished very great at the front.'' Having become a member of NATO in 1952, Turkey also demonstrated its indisputable role in European security. Among all NATO allies, Turkey defended the longest border with the former Soviet Union, and carried a heavy responsibility in helping to contain, and ultimately defeat communism. After the end of the Cold War, Turkey seized the opportunity to help shape the peace in the region. One of the first countries to recognize the independence of new emerging democracies, Turkey actively sought to assist with their efforts to integrate into the international community. Turkey provided them with direct assistance in credit and goods, military cooperation agreements to assist in building their national defense structure, scholarships for students to study in Turkish universities, offering an alternate route for transportation and communication facilities, and legal technical assistance and know how. Turkey remains at the center of our energy security policy to develop the ``east-west'' access for the transport of both oil and natural gas from the Caspian region. This strategy would further shore up the economies of the countries involved, and encourage the development of democracy in the region. At the time of the Korean War, most strategic thinkers would probably have envisioned Turkey as playing an important role in the future of European security, but the scope and breadth of the relationship which developed has most likely surpassed even the greatest expectations. Our relationship with Turkey has developed into a strategic one which we should continue to develop and nurture.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the measure now under consideration, H. Con. Res. 331.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the bill now before the House, H.R. 4475, the fiscal year 2001 appropriations bill for the Department of Transportation and related agencies. This bill contains $10,000,000 in Federal transit capital investment grant funding for the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Long Island Rail Road East Side Access [ESA] project. While the ESA project could obligate much more Federal new start funding this year, with construction anticipated to begin this fall, I am very grateful for the committee's support. Federal taxpayers can rest assured that the ESA project will quickly put all Federal transit appropriations to good use for the public. I am pleased to mention that the NYS MTA's 2000-04 capital plan was just approved in the State legislature and provides the necessary local matching funds, $1,500,000,000, to enable ESA to move rapidly into heavy construction this year. Daily LIRR riders, 50,000 of whom will save nearly 3 hours a week now wasted backtracking from Penn Station on Manhattan's west side to jobs on the east side, are eager to see this project become a reality. Many of these harried commuters are hard- working mothers and fathers who should have these hours to spend with their families. Transit riders throughout the MTA system will benefit from better distribution of passengers made possible by the ESA project. Planned new entranceways into the Grand Central Station complex will enhance the station's flow of LIRR, Metro North, and subway transit passengers. In Queens, passengers also will benefit from a new station to be built in Sunnyside. This project, which will provide major transportation benefits for the entire New York City Metropolitan region, has received Federal transit new start funding for the last three fiscal years. In addition, a major portion of its overall length was constructed throughout the 1980's with nearly $900 million in Federal dollars (plus an equal amount of State/local dollars) as part of the MTA's 63d Street tunnel and connector project. The ESA project will complete the unfinished elements of these federally aided projects by allowing LIRR commuter trains to use the already constructed lower level of the tunnel and proceed into Grand Central Station. The busy upper level of the 63d Street tunnel now carries subway trains. In addition to maximizing passenger circulation throughout the transit system, ESA will enhance the environment by taking over 12,000 cars per day off the East River bridges that bring commuters from Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau, and Suffolk to jobs in the Nation's largest central business district. It will also allow for reverse commuters to leave the west side of Manhattan from the same location that Metro North Railroad customers now enjoy. The ESA project, which I anticipate will be completed by 2011, is moving ahead steadily. The project is prepared for actual construction to begin during this calendar year, and to go into high gear in early fiscal year 2001. Local and State support for ESA are strong. It is Governor Pataki's No. 1 transit priority. The mayor and the county executives of Nassau and Suffolk, as well as the business community support the project. Nearly $192 million in State and Federal funds already have been invested in the ESA project, including $46 million in Federal new starts appropriations. With the MTA's suggested overmatch of 50 percent, similar to what it had provided for its previous new start project, the 63d Street Connector, the ESA is a solid Federal investment that will maximize the use of facilities already built with Federal dollars and awaiting use by the taxpayers. A number of my colleagues including Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Congressman Joseph Crowley have worked together to support including fiscal year 2001 funds for the ESA project in the Appropriations Committee's reported-bill. It has been a tough effort because there are dozens of transit new starts projects competing for a limited amount of Federal funds. This has been a difficult process for Chairman Wolf, whom I thank for all his support and leadership, and I extend my gratitude to Ranking Member Sabo as well.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) for yielding me this time. At the very outset, I want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) for the great leadership they have shown in bringing this to the floor so all of us today can have the opportunity to reflect on the great contributions that were made by John Cardinal O'Connor. I was very proud to call Cardinal O'Connor a friend. He was a man of great vision, a man of great dignity, a man of great moral capacity; and certainly he was a giant of the church. In many ways, too, he was also the ultimate New Yorker. He had a fighting spirit. He had a sense of self-deprecating humor. He took issues very seriously but never took himself seriously. At a time of moral relativism, Cardinal O'Connor had the courage to stand for lasting truths and immutable principles. He spoke out on behalf of the unborn. He spoke out on behalf of working men and women. He spoke out on behalf of the impoverished, those suffering with AIDS, and he always made it clear to all men and women, no matter what their religious faith, that they had an obligation to look beyond themselves, to look for those who have been left behind and take care of them. I had many personal experiences with Cardinal O'Connor. He was very, very active in bringing the Irish peace process forward. Certainly, from the time he came to New York in 1984, the St. Patrick's Day parade in 1985 where he stood up to pressure from the British and Irish governments to review the St. Patrick's Day parade. In 1994, when Jerry Adams received his first visa to reach this country, Cardinal O'Connor insisted on meeting with him to send a signal that this was important to the peace process to go forward. In 1996, when there was a break in the peace process, it was Cardinal O'Connor who publicly met with leaders at St. Patrick's Cathedral from Ireland, including Jerry Adams, and there are so many others. As the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) said, he spoke out on behalf of Haitians. So it was not just one particular ethnic group or one particular religion. It was all people that were oppressed that Cardinal O'Connor identified with. I think at this time when again there are few real heroes in our country, it is important to look to someone who did stand for what was right and was not afraid to say so. Also I think it is very important to note that during this past 8 or 9 months when he was suffering from brain cancer, he showed the same class, the same courage, the same sense of dignity that he displayed throughout his life. He certainly displayed grace under pressure, and that is the ultimate definition of class. It is also the ultimate definition of a man who has a true faith and a true belief in God. Again, I am proud to stand here today with all of my colleagues in honoring John Cardinal O'Connor. I was proud to call him a friend. He certainly will always be in my prayers and the prayers of my family. May he rest in peace.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, today I honor and congratulate an exemplary constituent of mine, Dr. Sami Repishti, on his seventy-fifth birthday. Throughout his life, Dr. Repishti has been dedicated to fighting human rights violations to which he has been long exposed. Dr. Repishti was born in Shkoder, Albania in 1925. He and his family were victims of Italian fascist and Nazi terrorism. Despite being arrested and jailed for ``pro-American'' activities, Dr. Repishti immigrated to the United States in 1962. He continued his college education and eventually received a Doctorate in French in 1977 from the City University of New York and the University of Paris, France. From 1966 to 1991, he taught French and Italian in the Malverne Public School System, serving as District Chairman of the Department of Foreign Languages from 1976 to 1991, and from 1976 to 1991 was an adjunct professor at Adelphi University. He retired in 1991 after a dedicated and fruitful teaching career. After his retirement, Dr. Repishti founded the National Albanian American Council in 1996 and served as its president until 1998. This organization is dedicated to fighting for freedom and human rights for all Albanians. He has testified before the United States Congress several times, and nobly represented the Albanian American community at the White House and Department of State. He has long been a leader of cultural and political activities and is a well-respected member of his community. Dr. Repishti currently resides in Baldwin, New York with his wife Diane. They have two children: Daron, a physician, and Ava, a lawyer. Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to represent such a respectable man, Dr. Repishti's life should serve as an example for all Americans. It is my pleasure and honor, to congratulate Dr. Sami Repishti on his birthday and to sincerely offer him my best wishes.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) for yielding me this time. At the very outset I want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) for the truly outstanding job he has done and the leadership he has shown in bringing this resolution before the House today. I am proud to join with my colleagues in supporting the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to John Cardinal O'Connor. I have had the privilege of knowing Cardinal O'Connor since he first became the Archbishop of New York. I am proud to call him a friend. During that time, like so many other New Yorkers, Catholic and un-Catholic alike, I have witnessed the tremendous leadership he has shown, the willingness he has shown to stand up for what is right, the willingness he has shown to speak out on behalf of truths, the willingness he has shown to defy contemporary thinking, the willingness he has shown to make the tough decisions, to speak out on behalf of life, to speak out on behalf of justice, the support he has shown for the inner-city schools where there are many non-Catholic, nonwhite children being educated in the inner cities and Catholic schools by Cardinal O'Connor. And the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) has pointed out, the tremendous results that have been brought about from that education. In addition to that, we have seen, as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) pointed out, we have seen the Cardinal literally working with AIDS patients at the hospital, giving of his time and effort. We have seen him reach out to other religions and to forge close relationships with non-Catholics, such as former New York City mayor Ed Koch. In fact, the two of them even coauthored a book several years ago. It was that type of ecumenism where he was able to reach across the religious divide and show how all religions should stand together as one, and that friendship and relationship with Mayor Koch personifies that. In addition, he has reached out to those in need. He has stood behind those police officers that were wounded in the line of duty, such as the hero police officer Steven McDonald who also has told me the tremendous assistance that Cardinal O'Connor has given to him and his family in their time of need. I have seen Cardinal O'Connor firsthand work on the Irish peace process dealing with many of the players involved, not just in this country, but in Ireland, in Britain, on both sides, Catholic and Protestant alike. Mr. Speaker, he also has a tremendous sense of humor, a self- deprecating humor, a sense of irony. He has never shown that more during this time of his recent illness, where he is undergoing surgery and treatment for a brain tumor; yet he has courageously come forward and gone before his flock, gone before his congregation and his parishioners, and showed the type of courage in time of adversity that he showed during the good times. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with my colleagues in voting for this gold medal for Cardinal O'Connor. No one deserves it more than John Cardinal O'Connor; no one personifies more what true religion should be. Whether you are Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim, whatever your religion happens to be, you can identify with Cardinal O'Connor, because he represents eternal truths. He also represents a commitment to peace and justice.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am proud to rise this evening to discuss the Irish peace process and the crisis that threatens it this evening and, unfortunately, probably into the next several weeks. At the outset, I want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) for his leadership, both in calling this Special Order this evening and also the leadership he has shown as chairman of the Friends of Ireland Committee and for the work he has done, for instance, in leading the congressional delegation which accompanied President Clinton to Ireland and Northern Ireland in 1995 and again in 1998. I also have to commend my colleague in the neighboring district of Long Island (Mrs. McCarthy) for the enthusiasm and the interest she has shown in this issue. She also was with the President and Congressman Walsh and myself in Ireland, in Northern Ireland on the President's trip in 1998. She attends meeting after meeting; she meets with all of the parties from all sides. She meets with victims; she meets with the police; she meets with representatives of the British Government, the Irish government, and all of the significant political parties in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Of course, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), who is the Cochairman for the Ad Hoc Committee for Irish Affairs who represents the district that I was born and grew up in. Unfortunately, I did not have enough money to be able to live in his district. I had to move out to Long Island. Joe represents that district today, and he does a great job, both in representing his constituents and also in applying himself so much to this issue of peace in Ireland, an issue which he addressed when he was a member of the New York State Assembly and which he has continued to address in an even more dramatic way during the 2 years he has been a Member of the United States Congress. So all of us are here this evening, Mr. Speaker, to address the underlying crisis which threatens the very survival of the Irish peace process. First of all, I want to say that I associate myself with all of the remarks of Congressman Walsh and Congresswoman McCarthy, and I am sure whatever remarks that Congressman Crowley makes I would also attach myself to those. I do know that the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) is going to attempt to make it here this evening, but if not, he wanted to put it on the record that he stands with us in the call that we are making this evening. Mr. Speaker, it is essential, I believe, that the facts be laid out as to exactly what has precipitated this current crisis. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) has gone over many of them in his presentation, and I would like to reiterate a number of them now. Because unfortunately, I believe that both here in the United States, particularly in the American media and also in the British media and, to some extent, even the Irish media, the facts have been misrepresented and a totally false image has been created. Number one, the fact is that the breakdown in the Irish peace process is solely the responsibility of David Trimble and the LC Unionist party. Sinn Fein and Jerry Adams have complied with each and every provision of the Good Friday Agreement and each and every understanding that was arrived at with Senator Mitchell last fall. This crisis came about because David Trimble said that the IRA would have to begin decommissioning by February 1. The Good Friday Agreement called for decommissioning by May 22 of this year. Even that date of May 22 was premised on governmental institutions in northern Irish and north-south institutions between the north of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland being in place sometime in August or September of 1998. In other words, there was supposed to be a 20-month lead up to the conclusion of decommissioning. The purpose of that was to let the people on the ground, to let the people in the Catholic and the Nationalist and the Republican community see that the political process was working. As that process was working, weapons would be decommissioned and it would have been completed by May of this year. It was David Trimble who refused to allow the government to be created in the north of Ireland. It was David Trimble who delayed and delayed and delayed through every obstacle in the way and caused a 16- month delay. So it was not until November; actually, December 2nd of last year that the government was finally put in place in Northern Ireland and that an executive was set up which included two members of Sinn Fein, Martin McGuinness and Barbara deBrun, who would sit as members of that executive. That creation of the government was preceded by months of negotiations with Senator Mitchell. The result of those negotiations was that David Trimble agreed to allow the government to be created and, in return for that, the IRA, the Irish Republican Army, agreed to send one of their members to take part in the meetings of the International Commission on Decommissioning. That was the sum and substance of the agreement that was worked out with Senator Mitchell. When David Trimble then went public, he announced that yes, he was allowing the creation of the government, but then he imposed an arbitrary deadline of February 1 which had not been agreed to by anyone. I think it is important to put on the record, because, unfortunately, not everything is being made public these days. But the reality is that on December 6 of last year, Peter Mandelson, the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland came to Washington and, at a lunch with a number of Members of Congress, stated that the first he heard of the February 1 so-called agreement was when David Trimble announced it; that it was never agreed to. He, quite frankly, did not know what was going to happen when February 1 came along. The first thing he did was ask Gerry Adams for help and advice, and he said he would work with the British government and try to find a way to resolve this. But never, ever was it a condition. Yet, as February 1 approached, suddenly all of the pressure was but on Sinn Fein, it was put on the Irish Republican Army, it was specifically put on Gerry Adams. I find it really disgraceful that so many American newspapers, and I am talking about The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, the Boston Globe, News Day in my own county, all of them wrote totally one-sided editorials saying that there had been an agreement breached by Sinn Fein and the IRA because it was not going to be decommissioning by February 1 when, in fact, no such agreement ever existed. The entire premise of all of these editorials was a lie. There was never any agreement at all to have any decommissioning by February 1 of this year, but based on this lie, based on this misrepresentation, everything was set in motion. As a result of that, this crisis developed. Even though there was no obligation on the IRA, there was no obligation on Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams was meeting around the clock with the British Government, with the Irish government, attempting to meet with David Trimble, on the phone with people here in the United States, talking to the White House, talking to the National Security Council. And he was doing that to try to find an agreement which he was under no legal or moral obligation to find, but he did it anyway because of his commitment to the peace process. He did it, and he did come forward with a number of concessions by the IRA, the most recent being last Friday concessions they had no obligation to make. Yet, in spite of that, the British Government, under the direction of Secretary of State Mandelson, last Friday suspended the agreement, suspended the Good Friday Agreement and they took all the powers back to London, away from Belfast. I think what is lost in all of this is, and Congressman Walsh mentioned this in his speech, this was illegal. There was no legal justification for one government, the British government to eviscerate an internationally arrived at agreement. This was a formal agreement which was arrived at by Great Britain, by the government of Ireland, and by all of the signators to the agreement, including Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein, and it was an agreement that was ratified by 90 percent of the people in the Republic of Ireland and over 70 percent of the people in the north of Ireland. Yet, even though not one provision of that agreement was violated, the British have now reimposed direct rule in Northern Ireland, and there is no legal basis for that. Now, the argument can be made, and I can understand it to some extent, that the British found that if they did not do this, the peace process would collapse. Well, what they have done is they have in effect; not in effect, but in reality, they have violated the law for what they feel is the greater good of preserving the peace process. Well, if that is their motive, then there is even more of an incentive on them to make sure this peace process works. They have to let David Trimble know that he cannot be the final arbiter of what is acceptable. Already he is saying he wants the British government to renegotiate what is going to happen with the Northern Ireland police force, the royal constabulary. He wants to renegotiate any number of items that are in the Good Friday Agreement. He has no right to renegotiate anything. This was an agreement that was formally ratified and approved by referendum and signed by the two governments, and he has absolutely no right to be doing this; yet, he is giving the clear impression that he is a veto power over the process. If that is the case, how can anyone expect the Republican community, the IRA, Sinn Fein, or his rank and file Catholics living in places like Derry and West Belfast, how can we expect them to have faith in the system if David Trimble can undo it whenever he wants to; if he can rewrite an agreement whenever it suits him. What is the incentive to go into the agreement. What is the incentive to enter into a peace process if David Trimble can just pull the rug out whenever he wants to. That is why it is so essential that the British government make it clear that David Trimble is not going to be allowed to continue to ride roughshod over a lawful process and he is not going to be able to literally rip up agreements when he chooses to do so. Also, if there is going to be an ultimate agreement reached in this whole decommissioning issue, it is essential that it be resolved once and for all, and that it involve all the guns in Northern Ireland. Again, Congressman Walsh has mentioned this. There is the guns of the British army; there is the military installations of the British army, many of which were increased after the IRA cease-fire went into effect. There is also, and many people do not realize this, 150,000 Unionist guns in Northern Ireland, so-called legal guns. These are guns which the British government and the Northern Ireland authorities have allowed the unions to have, 150,000 legal guns. They also have what are called 35,000 personal security guns which are given to people in public life or people who feel that they are being threatened. None of those guns are given to members, for instance, of Sinn Fein. Almost all of those guns go to Unionists and Loyalists and yet, I believe the facts will bear me out on this, that no political party in the western world has had more fatalities and more casualties because of political violence than Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein's officials have been attacked, they have been shot, murdered, wounded, and maimed; and yet nothing is done at all to protect them, and all we hear about are the guns of the IRA. Also, there are the guns of the loyalist paramilitaries, the Ulster Volunteer Force, the Ulster Defense Association, and any number of others, we can go on and list them all. So all of this has to be addressed. The entire issue of guns in northern Ireland has to be addressed. Yes, the IRA did walk away from the negotiations today. However, as Congressman McCarthy said, they did not walk away from the peace process, and that is important to remember. Mr. Speaker, I cannot say what I would do if I were in their place, but I can certainly understand the logic in what they did. Because back in November they made a solid agreement with Senator Mitchell that they would send a representative to the decommissioning commission to meet, discuss decommissioning in return for David Trimble allowing the government to be set up in Northern Ireland. Now that that government has been suspended, the IRA feels why should it keep its end of the agreement if David Trimble is not keeping his. But significantly, it has been made clear to all of us who have looked into this that the IRA has no intention of breaking the cease-fire; the cease-fire is intact and it is going to remain intact. So they are still part of the peace process even though they are not at the table of the decommissioning body. How much longer can this be risked? How much longer is Tony Blair going to allow these games to be played where one person can undermine and unravel the peace process that has taken years to be put together? The key player in that quite frankly has been President Clinton. He has done a tremendous job in keeping the parties together. Certainly over the last several weeks, I know the President was personally involved in this. He and members of the National Security Council were in contact with all of the parties and were responsible for keeping the process going as long as they did. I am, however, critical of the statement the White House put out where it seemed to put the onus on the IRA for not coming in sooner with their proposal. The fact is, as we said before, they have under no obligation to submit any proposal at all, and it appears as if the proposal they did submit was known to Peter Mandelson in advance, and yet he still took no action to stop the suspension of the government, which leads to the belief he was going to suspend the government anyway just as a way to protect David Trimble. So in the days and weeks ahead as we head towards St. Patrick's Day, which will be approximately five weeks I guess from today, or probably four weeks from this week, it is so important that all of us, and all Americans, not just Irish Americans but all Americans who care about peace and justice in Ireland, will stand together, stand as one. Yes, we are more than willing to work with David Trimble, work with the British government, work with any of the parties who are honestly committed to the peace process. But we cannot allow ourselves to be used as accessories to a game where David Trimble rewrites the rules, rewrites agreements, and reneges on agreements that he has entered into. If that is what is done, there is not going to be peace in Ireland, and it is a situation that none of us even want to contemplate what could happen if this unravels, because this is the best chance for peace for all the people in Ireland probably in the entire history of Ireland, and certainly in the last 30 years or 75 years. There has never been an opportunity such as the one that is there today. It is there. It is the good Friday agreement. It is the basis which allows all of the parties to move forward while all of the parties at the same time make concessions. It is the agreement which provides the basis where everyone's legitimate rights are protected, and everyone should receive peace and security, so long as the agreement is fully implemented. That is what has to be done. That is the role the U.S. can play. Senator Mitchell has done a great job in the past. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) is trying to bring about a divorce in the Mitchell family by asking George Mitchell to go back again. He has made the ultimate sacrifice twice in putting in so much time and effort. If he is willing to do it again, God bless him. But we as Americans, as Members of this Congress, as people who care about the peace process in Ireland, we have to do what we have to do. We have to work with the President, we have to work with all the parties to bring about that peace which is so close and yet so far, but in doing this, we cannot allow ourselves to be scared off or turned away by the American media, which unfortunately in the last several weeks, and I think it has really been disgraceful the way they have so misrepresented and misreported what the reality is in Northern Ireland, and unfortunately has provided a climate and backdrop which has allowed both the British government and David Trimble to do what they have done. I know that when we look at the British media, when we look at the television and radio shows in Northern Ireland, especially, all of these editorials are cited as proof that the American people are standing behind David Trimble, when exactly the opposite is true. Those of us who know what is going on realize that the onus for all of this is on David Trimble, and we are not going to allow him to get away with it. We are going to stay committed to this process until peace does come to Ireland. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) again for his efforts, both tonight and throughout the history of this process.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern about the violence that recently took place in Armenia. The Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Parliament, as well as other prominent Armenian politicians, were killed in a hail of gunfire on the floor of the Armenian Parliament. Besides my deep concern and sympathy for the individuals who were brutally murdered and for their families and friends, I fear that this event could cause a delay or postponement of the peace talks currently underway between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Thankfully, both governments have stated that the peace process will not be interrupted by this tragic event. Armenia should step up its efforts to push the peace process along. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been going on for 11 years now, and more than 30,000 people have been killed and over a million refugees created on both sides, including over 800,000 in Azerbaijan. It is time to reach a peace agreement, and Presidents Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Robert Kocharian of Armenia have met four times in recent months to discuss such a settlement. As original sponsor of legislation designed to repeal Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, I would like to draw your attention to a statement in the New York Times, that appeared on November 3, urging to loft ``the ban on giving Azerbaijan the same kind of economic assistance that it provides to all other former Soviet republics. This would serve both to recognize the risks that Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan's President, has taken for peace and begin to bring about more realistic attitudes in Armenia. If we are to be an effective broker, we must adopt a balanced approach.''

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I just want to take this opportunity to commend the gentleman from New York for the outstanding job he has done in bringing this issue to the American people and continuing the fight and not backing down at all. The gentleman deserves the credit of all of us, and I just commend the gentleman for the great job he has done.

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?