Pete King

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the most intellectually vapid and vacuous arguments I have heard in opposition to the COLA. The fact is there is no logical argument to be made against the COLA other than those people who enjoy self-flagellation, who enjoy pandering and do not have the guts to stand up for what they believe in. If they do not have the pride to accept a COLA which was set in law then, quite frankly, I do not think they deserve to be in the House of Representatives. What are they ashamed of? We are talking about an American economy which is stronger than any economy in the history of the world. We are talking about an American Government which right now is not at war. There is not one American soldier losing his life or her life anywhere in the world today, and yet we have people coming before the House and saying the American people are outraged at the Congress. The only reason the American people have a reason to be outraged at the Congress is they listen to some of the ridiculous arguments that were made here today by people who want to pander, who want to appeal to the least common denominator and who want to tear down this institution. I am proud to be a Member of Congress; I will be very proud to accept the COLA because I believe I earn my money. I also believe that the position of a Member of Congress deserves the increase, whether or not that person happens to be qualified or not qualified, and quite frankly listening to some people today, I can see why they do not want to take a pay raise, because they have a good self-analysis, and maybe they believe, as individuals, they do not deserve the pay raise. But in spite of that I believe that the institution as itself, as an institution, deserves to have a COLA, deserves to keep in line with the American people and with the cost of living, because if my colleagues follow their logic, when would there have been a COLA; during the Depression? During World War II? During the Korean war? During Watergate? During the cold war? There would never have been a raise, and we would end up having what we are coming close to having today, a Congress of wackos and millionaires reaching a situation where working people, and I am talking about the gentleman from New York [Mr. Ackerman]. But in any event, very seriously, if we are to be proud of ourselves as an institution, if we are going to have enough self pride to stand up for what we believe in, let us have the guts to accept the COLA and not be pandering, not be yielding to the lowest common denominator. So, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strongest opposition to the motion of the gentlewoman from Washington, and I ask my colleagues to show some guts, show some courage, stand up for what they believe in.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. At the very outset I want to thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica] and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Cummings], for all of their support in expediting this matter and bringing it to the House floor, and for the support and assistance they have given me on this resolution. I also want to thank our majority leader, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey] for the assistance he has given me also and working with my staff in arranging to have this on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, Jimmy Stewart's death on July 2nd of this year saddened millions of Americans of all ages. Not only was Jimmy Stewart an extremely talented actor, more importantly, he personified the very best of what it means to be an American. He appeared in more than 80 films. He received an Academy Award and four additional Oscar nominations, and appeared on Broadway and on television. But Jimmy Stewart was also a man of great courage and a genuine war hero. As the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica] and the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Cummings] have already brought out, Mr. Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and flew more than 20 combat missions over Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Air Medal, and six battle stars. Following World War II, Jimmy Stewart remained active in the Air Force Reserve and rose to the rank of brigadier general. Mr. Speaker, Jimmy Stewart never had the exalted sense of self- importance that afflicts so many Hollywood stars, especially today. In his dealings with everyday people and in his private life Jimmy Stewart was, by all accounts, modest and unassuming, a man of innate decency and integrity. Mr. Speaker, in 1985 President Reagan awarded Jimmy Stewart the Medal of Freedom, which is our Nation's highest civilian honor. Today, by adopting this resolution honoring Jimmy Stewart's contributions to our Nation, this House, the people's House, is honoring a man who truly personified the essence of the American people and a man who did, indeed, lead a wonderful life. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the resolution.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, Long Island lost one of its most distinguished citizens recently with the passing of Salvatore Milone. Mr. Milone, who I knew personally and with whom I had the privilege of working, was a leading contractor in the Islandwide community. His company, which his father, an Italian immigrant, founded in 1899, was responsible for the construction of the St. Agnes Cathedral, the seat of Catholicism on Long Island. In addition, Dominick Milone Inc. built many of his buildings at Mercy Hospital and at Molloy College, both located in Sal Milone's native Rockville Centre. As the head of the family business, Salvatore Milone was a pioneering figure but to the community at large he was much more. Mr. Milone was a long time member of the fire department and the Knights of Columbus. Until recently he was a prominent figure in Republican politics, serving as his village's Republican leader as well as vice chairman and treasurer of the Nassau County Republican Committee. As a leading Long Island businessman, Mr. Milone was asked to serve as a board member of the Chemical Bank and the Nassau Savings and Loan Association. In addition he was a former chairman of the board of Molloy College. Because of his service to his church, Salvatore Milone was installed as a member of the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepluchre of Jerusalem, one of the highest honors accorded a Catholic layman. Bishop John McGann, spiritual leader of the Rockville Centre Catholic Diocese, said the Mass of Christian burial for Mr. Milone and John Cardinal O'Connor participated in the service as well. Fittingly, the Mass took place in St. Agnes Cathedral for it was in this beautiful edifice that Mr. Milone married his first wife in the first marriage ceremony upon completion of the cathedral. Margaret Milone died in 1966 and Mr. Milone remarried 3 years later. Sal Milone, who was just days shy of his 90th birthday, leaves his wife, Maria; a son, Dr. Richard Milone; a daughter, Elissa Metz; three sisters, Caroline, Vera, and Grace; two brothers, Louis and John, and five grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, nothing is more impressive than a life well lived and Sal Milone's certainly meets that test. His charitable impulses, his civic leadership, his business acumen and--most important of all--his dedication to family make him one of the most noteworthy citizens of our Long Island. It is fitting that the rest of America know him as well.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Engel-Gilman amendment. I commend them for their efforts. Mr. Chairman, the Irish peace process is right now at a very defining moment. One of the main causes of violence over the years has been the systematic discrimination against the nationalist community. If American money is going to the north of Ireland for the Fund for Ireland, it is essential that discrimination not be allowed, that systematic discrimination be rooted out and uprooted. It is only then that we can have real peace in Ireland. It is essential that the United States stand by the absolute commitment to peace and justice, and also to ensure that no systematic state-sponsored discrimination be allowed in the north of Ireland.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lt. Col. Noreen Holthaus of the U.S. Army Congressional Liaison Office. Noreen will be leaving Capitol Hill next week for a new assignment in the Pentagon. Over the past 3\1/2\ years I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with Colonel Holthaus as she has tirelessly assisted both my New York and Washington offices on numerous occasions. Whether it was constituent casework, defense legislation, an overseas trip itinerary or a phone number for an obscure Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Pentagon, Colonel Holthaus always did her level best to solve the problem at hand. The services provided by our Armed Forces liaison offices are truly invaluable to our constituents and our staffs and should not be taken for granted. We are very fortunate to have their vast knowledge and technical expertise at our disposal. Throughout Colonel Holthaus' tour here in the House of Representatives she has consistently performed her duties in a superb manner. I believe I can speak for all the Members of Congress who have had the honor to work with Colonel Holthaus when I say that she will indeed be missed.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, on this 15th anniversary of the massacre of over 20,000 Sikhs at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, I join many of my colleagues in rising to remember and condemn that terrible act. How could anyone not condemn such a brutal act? It is ironic that June 6, the last day of this military assault, was the 40th anniversary of D-day, the day on which the Allies began the invasion of Europe which ultimately destroyed the Nazi empire. The Golden Temple massacre, called Operation Bluestar, kicked off a campaign of state terror against the Sikh Nation which is still going on. According to estimates from the Punjab State Magistracy and a coalition of human rights groups and journalists, more than a quarter of a million Sikhs have died at the hands of the Indian regime since 1984. Christians in Nagaland, Kashmir's Muslim community, and many others have also been subjected to this brutality. American support for freedom in South Asia is essential. The best thing that this country can do to honor the victims of the Golden Temple massacre is to use our strength to see to it that the people of South Asia can live in freedom. We can do this by cutting United States aid to India, and declaring our strong support for the people of Khalistan. These are reasonable measures that will induce India to begin observing the basic principles of democracy and human rights so that freedom and stability can reign all through South Asia. We should move now to enact these measures in memory of the Golden Temple martyrs.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the first anniversary of the popular election Li Teng-hui as the President of the Republic of China. This is historic because it was the first time in history that the people of China have elected their President, the first time a head of state in China has been elected by the people. Last year 21 million in Taiwan went to the polls in record numbers. This was a tremendous victory, not just for President Li, who a number of Members have met over the years, but more importantly it was a victory of the people of China, because in going to the polls they defied the force and might of the mainland Chinese, who were launching missile tests and were doing everything they could to harass and intimidate the people on the island of Taiwan. Mr. Speaker, for many years the people on Taiwan and their government have been our strong allies and friends. It is essential that we commit ourselves to standing with them. The Republic of China deserves our support, President Li deserves our support, and I am proud to stand today commemorating his election as the first ever popularly elected President in the history of China.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to denounce the outrageous decision by the Justice Department to deport Irish nationals from this country. As my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez] has said, we are talking about 10 men and women who have lived in this country a number of years, who have never violated any laws of the United States, who are legally in the United States, who are married either to American citizens or foreign-born residents of this country. The fact is these men are outstanding members of this community. They have raised their children who go to our schools, they have raised families, they have worked hard, they have contributed to this country. Yet, in a mean-spirited action, the Justice Department is moving to deport them. Their only crime is they were politically convicted in nonjury political courts in Britain years ago. They were political prisoners. They entered this country legally. Now, for no reason whatsoever, our Justice Department is moving to deport them. The gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] and I had the opportunity to testify for one of these men, Brian Pearson. At his trial the judge found that he was entitled to status in this country, and refused to deport him. Yet the Justice Department has decided to appeal that decision, in direct violation of President Clinton's campaign pledge that there would be no more Joe Doherty's. This is another Joe Doherty. The decision is wrong, it is outrageous, and I condemn it.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] for yielding this time to me, and I thank him for the tremendous job he has done in moving this to the floor, and of course the distinguished ranking member, my neighbor in the next-door community of Queens, NY [Mr. Flake] for always being such a worthy advocate of so many good causes, and most importantly of course we have to commend and congratulate the gentleman from Bronx, NY [Mr. Serrano] for all he has done. And I fully concur with the gentleman from New York [Mr. Flake] in that the other gentleman from New York [Mr. Serrano] drove us all crazy in getting this done. There was not a day that went by that he was not on the floor working it, making sure that I was working and making sure that the gentleman from California [Mr. Bono] was working, making sure that everything was in order to make sure that this was done and done properly. I just want to thank the gentleman from New York, [Mr. Serrano] for once again showing the tremendous leadership that he shows on so many of the issues and, of course, to commend the gentleman from California [Mr. Bono] for his work, and also Senator D'Amato, who has attained the passage of similar legislation in the U.S. Senate. Mr. Speaker, Frank Sinatra is truly an American legend. Frank Sinatra, as much as anyone ever, deserves this gold medal which is being voted to him today. Frank Sinatra, as the gentleman from New York [Mr. Serrano] has pointed out, was and is an amazing singer, a person who was able to touch the hearts of so many millions of Americans generation after generation. He was also an outstanding actor. He also, though, probably most importantly personified what it means to be an American. Frank Sinatra gave of himself to so many philanthropic causes and charitable causes, helped out so many people which most people do not even know about, always there, a helping hand, a person willing to help out and a person who fought his way up, a person who climbed out of poverty, a person who worked his way up all the way to the top to the very pinnacle of success, but never ever forgot where he came from. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from New York [Mr. Serrano] said, Frank Sinatra certainly did do it his way, and today this is a most fitting tribute to him and to his family for all that he has meant to so many generations of Americans. I know my father, my uncles and my mother and all of us always cherished the voice of Frank Sinatra and cherished what Frank Sinatra meant to so many people. And as a New Yorker, without any reflection on Chicago or whatever, I would say that ``New York, New York'' is the national anthem of New York. It was sung by Frank Sinatra and in many ways personifies the spirit of New York. So I am very proud to be joining with all of my colleagues today in supporting this legislation, and again I want to thank my friends, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Serrano] and the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Flake] for their help, and I certainly urge the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I was alarmed to read of the death of Kashmir Singh, the Publicity Secretary of the Akali Dal, Amritsar, for the district of Hoshiarpur. This incident has, once again, raised serious questions about the Indian Government's policies on political dissent. According to media reports, Kashmir Singh and his father were taken from their home by Indian police at about 1:30 a.m. on March 15. Kashmir Singh died in police custody. Although the police declared the incident an ``encounter,'' there is a long history of such extrajudicial killing in India's campaign of oppression against the Sikhs and other minorities in South Asia. Even the pro-Government Indian Express called Singh's death ``a cold- blooded killing.'' Unfortunately the death of Kashmir Singh was not an isolated incident. There is an established pattern of repression in India. Countless political critics of the regime have been unfairly imprisoned, tortured, or disappeared. The United States must support human rights and democracy throughout the world. Our Nation is a beacon of hope for people seeking self- determination and freedom. The people of Khalistan deserve that support.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, throughout his years as U.S. Congressman, mayor of the city of New York and as mayor for life of the city of New York, Ed Koch has secured for himself the title ``The Voice of Reason.'' Mayor Koch has a unique capacity to find common sense solutions for the problems that plague our society. Even more importantly, he is not afraid to be controversial. He is a true New Yorker who knows how to get to the heart of the problem. This quality was most recently typified in his recent column entitled ``Immigrants are New York City's Greatest Asset'' which appeared in the New York Post on January 17. I commend this column to my colleagues because it touches so meaningfully on the issue of immigration which is being exploited and demagogued by too many politicians today. Immigrants Are New York City's Greatest Asset (By Ed Koch) Ellis Island is holy ground: My parents landed there separately in the early 1890s. Before 1924, there were no limits on the number of people permitted to enter this country. If you survived the voyage in steerage and did not suffer from a contagious disease, you gained entry. My parents and millions of others came here looking for a better life. They sought economic opportunity and freedom from anti-Semitism. They did not believe the streets were paved with gold. But, like millions of others, they did believe America would be free of the daily cursing they endured from their non-Jewish neighbors in Poland. And they believed America would offer them and their children a future denied them elsewhere. Several years before my father's death, my sister and her son Jared sat down with him and taped some of his early memories. She asked, ``Daddy, what did you do for fun in the winter?'' He replied, ``Mostly we went inside to get warm.'' My mother's home in Poland was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. I recall asking her, when I was quite young, ``Mama, why do you always refer to Kaiser Franz Joseph as the `good Kaiser Franz Joseph?' '' She replied ``Sonny, because he didn't kill the Jews.'' For years, I always wondered if she was right. After her death, I read that Kaiser Franz Joseph issued a decree that there was to be no Jew-bashing in his domain. Mama was always right. I've visited Ellis Island a number of times, both before and after its renovation and designation as a federal museum. Like many others whose parents or grandparents came through the Great Hall, I was elated when given an opportunity by the new museum to mark my parents' passage with metal markers. Now, when I go to the island, I visit those markers. I touch my lips with my finger-tips in a symbolic kiss and then touch my parents' names inscribed on the metal plates. My parents, who were marvelous people with very few worldly goods and a very limited education, nevertheless made it, raising three children--my brother, Harold, the eldest; my sister, Pat, the youngest; and me--and becoming part of America's middle class. My mother died at age 62, my father at age 87. Mother lingered in excruciating pain before her death, an experience that has made me believe in physician-assisted suicide. I will never forget her screams of unending pain as she pleaded with me, ``Eddie, please let me die.'' And I, in tears, replied ``Mother, you're getting well,'' when I knew that she was not. My father, a gentle and beloved man with an enormous number of friends, died easily, quickly and painlessly. We thanked God for allowing him to pass over to the next world in such peace. We were not so appreciative of the painful passage of our mother. I've always been bewildered by the Catholic acceptance of pain in the onset of death. If I understand the concept correctly, the pain of one dying individual is in some mystical way a great benefit for humanity and provides enormous good for others. Two princes of the Catholic Church--Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, whom I met briefly and admired, and Terence Cardinal Cooke, with whom I had a warm friendship--both embraced death and pain. My mother told me early on, ``Ed, don't mix in someone else's religion.'' So I won't. While I do not fear death, having had a full life, I do ask God to allow me to pass over without pain when the time to go arrives. Why am I dwelling on the lives of my parents? Because recently there has been a spate of stories on immigrants, particularly those who came to New York in the last 10 years. The City Planning Commission issued a report entitled ``Annual Immigrant Tape Files, 1990-94, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Population Division.'' I won't list its many conclusions -- all favorable -- concerning the impact of legal immigrants on the City of New York. But these conclusions reinforce the need to fight the mean-spirited efforts by Congress to punish immigrants. It isn't wrong to require sponsors of immigrants to fulfill their legal obligations to support those they brought here who otherwise would become public charges, as the new law mandates. But it is wrong to deny legal immigrants who arrived before this law went into effect the SSI coverage and welfare benefits they'd been receiving. The new laws stripping legal immigrants of welfare inclusion should have been prospective and not retroactive. Recently I read the comments of Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, a Boston Brahmin, on the value to our country of the immigrant: ``I have long said that in the 1920's and 1930's the best Americans were Europeans, and principally European Jews who had reason to know what made this country special. In the 80's, the best Americans were Asians, for the same reason.'' I silently cheered. According to the City Planning Commission report, legal immigrants are coming to the U.S. in even larger numbers, and increasing percentages of the total number of these immigrants hail from parts of the world that did not participate in large-scale immigration when my parents came here, including Africa, Asia and Latin America. These immigrants, like their predecessors--my parents among them--add to the richness of this country. They give us the benefit of their intelligence, their labor and their children. In the words of Martha Stewart, ``It's a good thing.'' My father never learned to write anything besides his name in English, although he could read. He worked hard all of his life, generally holding two jobs to support his family. He retired from his small fur coat manufacturing business at 75, but, bored, he went to work for Bloomingdales' fur coat storage six months later. When elegant ladies asked him to store their coats, he would ask them to write their name and address on a ticket. He would invariably look at the ticket and say, ``I see by your address that my son is your congressman.'' It made no difference if these women lived in Brooklyn or Jersey City. My father saw me as representing the entire United States. We should acknowledge the enormous contributions of immigrants, embrace them and warmly welcome them. Immigrants are New York City's greatest asset, today and for the future. Updating the philosophy of the good Kaiser Franz Joseph, ``Let there be no immigrant-bashing in the U.S.''

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, the historic opening session of the 105th Congress, to pay tribute to Prof. Thomas P. Campbell, Jr., of Waban, MA, an outstanding American and friend of my office who passed away in November after a long illness. Professor Campbell's life was marked by his extraordinary devotion to his family, his faith, his community, his profession, and his country. He led a life of involvement and accomplishment and was truly the embodiment of the American Dream. My thoughts and prayers are with Professor Campbell's family. On behalf of every Member of this House, I want to extend good wishes to his wife Anne, sons Tom, Ned, and Jim, daughter Molly, his daughters- in-law and, of course, his four grandchildren. Like Professor Campbell, they demonstrated great courage and dignity during many difficult times in recent months. Mr. Speaker, at this time, as part of my tribute to Thomas P. Campbell, Jr., I want to offer into the Congressional Record an article from the November 13, 1996 edition of the Boston Globe that discusses his many achievements and his lasting legacy. [From the Boston Globe, Nov. 13, 1996] Thomas Campbell Jr., Professor of Law at Northeastern; at 58 Thomas P. Campbell Jr., a Northeastern University law professor renowned for his legal scholarship and compassion for students, died of cancer Monday at his home in Newton. He was 58. Mr. Campbell was a professor at Northeastern since 1970. He was honored by the university with a distinguished teaching award in 1994, and was repeatedly chosen by graduation classes to address them at commencement. ``Tom Campbell will be remembered as the pillar of teaching excellence at this law school,'' Northeastern Law School Dean David Hall said yesterday. He taught property law in a way that students learned what they were supposed to learn.'' Born in Manhattan and raised in White Plains, N.Y., Mr. Campbell attended Brown University and the University of Virginia Law School. He practiced on Wall Street and served as assistant general counsel of the Melville Shoe Corporation prior to his academic career. Former students yesterday recalled Mr. Campbell's gift for breathing life into arcane and technical legal issues. Behind a stern and stoic visage, they said, lay an elegant sense of humor and infectious love for the law. ``Virtually everyone who ever took a class from him became an admirer,'' said Suffolk District Attorney Ralph C. Martin 2d, who first encountered Mr. Campbell as a first-year law student. ``He had a facility with the law and a way of presenting the law that demystified it. He was just a prince of a guy.'' His property law course, one of the traditional first-year requirements, helped introduce generations of Northeastern students to the rigors of law school. ``He was an absolutely brilliant professor,'' said former dean Dan Givelber. ``Students uniformly adored his teaching. He will be remembered as a beacon of sanity in a confusing first year of law school.'' Mr. Campbell also played an instrumental role in the affairs of the law school outside of the classroom. He set up the first co-op program there in 1970, and spent a year as acting dean in 1992. He also enjoyed a lifelong involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, receiving the Silver Antelope Award, the highest regional award in scouting. Colleagues say they saw a new and profound side of Mr. Campbell in recent years as he struggled with illness. He insisted on maintaining his normal course load and drove himself to maintain his lofty standards of scholarship. ``He taught us much more than law,'' said Northwestern associate dean Diane Tsoulas, another former student. ``The phrase I think of for him is `lion-hearted.' He was incredibly courageous in the face of illness and taught us a great deal about courage and dignity.'' Mr. Campbell leaves his wife of 36 years, Anne (Shanklin); three sons, Thomas P. 3d of Roslindale, Edward S. of London and James D. of Old Town, Maine; a daughter, Margaret A. Campbell of Jamaica Plain; two sisters, C. Gale Brannan of Sussex, England, and Anne C. Lyman of Pund Ridge, N.Y.; and four grandchildren. A funeral Mass will be said at St. John the Evangelist Church in Wellesley Hills tomorrow at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Newton Cemetery.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, October 10 marks the anniversary of the birth of the Republic of China [ROC]. On this occasion, I wish to send my greetings and congratulations to the leaders on Taiwan, especially to President Lee Teng Hui. For many years Taiwan has been a loyal trading partner of the United States. Its people participate in and fully subscribe to the principles of freedom and democracy. They have worked with the United States on issues ranging from endangered species to trademark infringements. Taiwan is our friend and ally. One of the ways the United States can help Taiwan is to make sure the ROC has an easy transition into the World Trade Organization [WTO]. Without question their economic status and legal system more than qualify them for membership. The only reason Taiwan has not been admitted to the WTO is the strong objection of the People's Republic of China. While the United States formally recognizes the PRC, we must not allow our relations with the 21 million people on Taiwan to be compromised by the demands of the PRC, and if it were not for the situation with the PRC, they would be a member today. The United States should work to assure the ROC its rightful place at the table in the WTO. Better relations between the U.S. and the PRC must not come at the expense of the 21 million people on Taiwan who must depend on the United States to help promote and defend their interests. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is fortunate to have Dr. Jason Hu as the new representative in Washington. Dr. Hu formerly served as the head of the Government Information Office. He replaced Benjamin Lu who has returned to Taipei to serve as an advisor to the President. I also want to take this opportunity to note that several solid officials from the Taipei representative office here in Washington will be returning to Taiwan at the end of the month. Dr. Lyushen Shen, and his colleague Mr. James Huang, have served their country admirably during their time here in Washington. The October 10 celebration marks the continuance of the friendship between our two countries, as well as the founding of a nation. Again, I congratulate Taiwan on the occasion of its National Day.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, recent reports show that the Indian regime has been killing and torturing the families of Sikh activists, whom the regime describes as militants. According to the video ``Disappearances in Punjab,'' the grandfather of Paramjit Singh Panjwat, a man in his 80's, was tortured by the regime. His mother was killed and his brother and sister were murdered, as over 50,000 other Sikhs have, according to statements by Justice Aiit Singh Bains, the former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court who heads the Punjab Human Rights Organization. Gurbachan Singh Manochal was the head of the Panthic Committee until he was killed by the security forces. The Panthic Committee is the organization that declared the independence of Khalistan on October 7, 1987. His mother, father, sisters, and brothers--10 people in all--were all killed by the regime. The Panthic Committee, which represents the full range of Sikh organizations in Punjab, Khalistan, authorized the Council of Khalistan to conduct Khalistan's struggle for freedom. The Council of Khalistan is committed to conducting that struggle by peaceful, democratic, nonviolent means. Even if these people are militants, this does not justify extrajudicial killings, torture, disappearance, and other acts of brutality against their families. The Sikhs are struggling for freedom against a regime which has stationed half a million troops in Punjab, Khalistan. This oppressive regime continues to hold over 70,000 Sikhs under the repressive ``Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act,'' which expired last year. It has murdered over 150,000 Sikhs since 1984, including the families of political opponents. It kidnapped human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs. The regime refuses to allow American citizen Balbir Singh Dhillon to return to his family in California even though the charges against him have been proven false by the Human Rights Wing. Thousands of family members of Sikhs labeled ``terrorists'' or ``militants'' have been killed.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, on August 2 India West reported that the mass cremations of Sikhs would be probed by India's Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI]. This is the investigation which led the Indian Supreme Court to describe the policy of mass cremation as worse than genocide. On September 6, 1995, a year ago this Friday, Jaswant Singh Khalra was kidnapped by the police from his home in Amritsar for publishing a report exposing these mass cremations. Here in America, reporters often write stories questioning official findings. Can you imagine the outrage if these journalists were picked up by the police and made to disappear? That is what happened to Mr. Khalra a year ago. The Reuters article in India West, which I am inserting into the Record, quotes a senior CBI official as saying that innocent Sikhs were killed in the 1980's and confirms that the Indian regime paid cash rewards for killing Sikhs. In 1994 the State Department reported that more than 41,000 of these bounties were paid in a 3-year period from 1991 to 1993. As vice chairman of the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee, I will continue to monitor this investigation and I urge every Member of Congress to join me in this effort. The United States must be willing to do whatever we can to insure that the people of the world are free from persecution and are afforded their basic human rights. [From Reuters, Fri., Aug. 2, 1996] CBI To Probe Cremation of 1,000 Bodies in Punjab Amritsar--The Punjab police said July 25 they would cooperate in a federal investigation into charges they secretly disposed of almost 1,000 ``unidentified'' bodies between 1990 and 1995. The claim against the police was made in a public interest litigation filed at the Supreme Court by the human rights wing of the Akali Dal. The party has accused the police of torturing, killing and then cremating Sikhs. ``Whatever record is asked for by the Central Bureau of Investigation will be handed over without delay to the concerned authorities,'' Deputy Inspector General of Police B.S. Sandu told Reuters. ``We will provide all necessary help to the CBI to speed up the investigations,'' he added. Earlier in the week, the CBI submitted a report to the court which said 984 bodies had been cremated by the Punjab police. ``The police confirmed the existence of these bodies, but we have yet to ascertain who they are and how they got killed,'' a senior CBI official said. He said it was normal for police to cremate bodies they have been unable to identify. Senior Punjab police officers, who declined to be named, told Reuters that innocents were killed during a violent Sikh separatist insurgency in the 1980s--when rewards were offered for the capture of guerrillas. Akali Dal lawmakers staged a sit-in on the floor of the Lok Sabba in Delhi July 25 to protest against the government's silence on the cremated bodies claim, the United News of India agency said. The speaker of the house placated the protesters by promising to look into the case and, if necessary, publish a report on the probe's findings. An Akali Dal activist and a vocal critic of the police, Jaswant Singh Khalra, was abducted from his house last September and has been missing ever since. His disappearance has prompted reactions from human rights organizations and even U.S. President Bill Clinton, who wrote a letter to a radical Sikh leader expressing concern. The campaign for an independent Sikh state was fuelled in 1984 by Sikh outrage over the Indian Army's storming of Amritsar's Golden Temple. In October that year, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had ordered the action against the temple, was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards. After the installation of a state government headed by Beant Singh, in 1992, the militancy withered away. However, Singh was killed in a car bomb blast last year.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding and before I begin my remarks, let me also join the House in congratulating the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade]. I am so delighted his long nightmare is over. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and in support of the underlying bill. For the first 180 years of our Nation, immigrants came to our shores knowing that they had to learn the English language to become part of the American mainstream. They maintained their own cultures, their own traditions, their own religion, their own beliefs, their own parades, their own festivals, but they were bound together by the English language. Growing up in New York City in the 1940's and 1950's, I witnessed this firsthand. I saw the beautiful American mosaic of all the different cultures and belief, bound together with the glue of a common language. Unfortunately, in the past 45 years we have gotten away from that. We have bilingual education, bilingual voting, bilingual programs one on top of the other, which results in dividing us as a Nation, dividing us by language. Mr. Speaker, if we are to come together as a nation, if we are going to build bridges and reassert and reestablish that beautiful American mosaic, it is essential that this bill be adopted. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from California [Mr. Cunningham] and the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Roth] for the work they have done over the years. I urge all Members to vote for the bill and vote for the rule.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 123 and in opposition to the amendment of my good friend, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Serrano]. Mr. Chairman, for the first 180 years of our Nation, we were bound together by a common language. Immigrants came to this country knowing they had to learn English. They knew that they had to learn English to become part of the American mainstream. They maintained their our culture, their own identity, their own religion, their own ethnic values, their own beliefs, but they were bound together by that common language. That was the glue that created the great American stained glass window of many cultures with one language. Twenty-five years ago we went away from this. Prior to that, I had grown up in New York City as did Mr. Serrano. I saw the various ethnic groups come and become absorbed and learn English, become part of the American main stream. But we have gotten away from that in the past 25 years. I was hoping today we would have an intelligent debate over why people should be voting in a foreign language. Instead we are here talking about churches being burned and gays being bashed. To me that shows the weakness of the argument on the other side. Rather than address the merits of the issue, they are resorting to name calling and ad hominem attacks. I am not talking about Mr. Serrano, because he and I have had this debate many times. I certainly respect his views. I respect his beliefs. I respect his integrity. But too many of the voices from the other side today have resorted to vicious name calling. To me that just undermines and underlines the basic weakness of their argument. It shows that they cannot defend their point intellectually so they have to resort to the ad hominem attacks. I urge the adoption of this bill because I believe we do want to bring all people together. We want to stand together as one. We want to have English as our common language.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents who gave his life in defense of our Nation. U.S. Air Force Capt. Christopher Adams of Massapequa, NY, tragically lost his life in the brutal terrorist attack on the United States military installation in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. A decorated officer who flew dangerous missions following the conclusion of the gulf war, and more recently over Bosnia, Captain Adams, in the words of the President, ``represented the best in America and gave America his best.'' He did indeed. The Korean War Memorial--one of the newest and most visually striking and emotionally moving monuments in Washington, DC--bears the words: ``Freedom is not free.'' The terrorist attack on Dhahran drove home the meaning of those words. Throughout our Nation's history, brave men and women like Capt. Christopher Adams have understood that freedom is not free and put their lives on the line in defense of our liberty. In a world that remains a very dangerous place, we have great need of such individuals. Capt. Christopher Adams died in the service of his country and gave his life in the name of all for which America stands. It would be a great dishonor to his memory if, as some have suggested, the United States withdraw from the Middle East and other international flashpoints, and generally turn inward, away from the rest of the world. To do so would only play into the hands of terrorist murderers responsible for the Dhahran bombing. The United States of America must continue to play its vital role on the world stage. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Captain Adams. They will be in my prayers, as will all those courageous and dedicated men and women in uniform who protect our freedom and defend our interests, both here and overseas.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to take this opportunity to honor some very special and talented young people from my district. The students who participated in the ``Artistic Discovery'' Congressional Art Competition are all deserving of praise for their efforts. These students each demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm, boundless creativity and outstanding artistic talent. I was awed by the remarkable display of artwork at the Third Congressional District's local competition. As the honorary chairman of this event, I enjoyed meeting with the young artists and viewing the fruits of their artistic expression. I like to congratulate all of the students from my district who took part in this event, beginning with the first prize winner, Christopher Papa of Farmingdale High School. Other award winners were second prize winner, Sarah Han of Manhasset High School; third prize winner Jeremy Pama of Syosset High School, and honorable mention winners, Glenn Steinle of Farmingdale High School, Christine Sampson of Island Trees High School, Sara Becker and Sari Gordon of Oceanside High School, Dan Torok of Seaford High School, and Chris Boniface of Wantagh High School. The following students also submitted entries to the Congressional Arts Competition: Bellmore J.F.K. High School: Stephanie Barge, Janis Temchin; Hicksville High School: Janine Friedmann, Dawn Sumner, Tania Trikha, Kristen Wigand, Antonio Jimenez, Nicole Terranova, Myra Velez; Island Trees High School: Kathryn Curran, Victoria Gonatas, Joe Manzella, Janine Minai, Justin Orlando, Dawn Giunta, Jesica Linzie, Melissa McMills, Richard Molinelli. Manhasset High School: Jeremy Arambiro, Matt Despegni, Doug Gilman, Chelsea Karges, Leslie Koch, Serena Dawn Leong, Sylvia Lin, Juan Mialon, Hector Orihuela, Katie Reilly, Meredith Trufelli, Dwayne Wilson, Ella Berroya, Elizabetha Donoghill, Richard Kim, Rebekka Kuhn, Daniel Leung, Matt McCann, Juan Nealon, Sarah Outten, Sarah Richardson, Kareem Wallace, Tom Young. Oceanside High School: David Burtman, Hadass Dagan, Pamela Gordon, Deborah Graffigino, Alexandra Lasky, Danielle Marchetta, Jessica Milberg, Nicole Nolan, Mike Postle, Aimee Smith, Alexandra Beloshkurenko, Lorraine Cerami, Joe Fotana, Matt Herr, Sara Lieberman, John Marino, Anthony Nicolo, Robert Peppers, Scott Segal, Lauren Williamson. Seaford High School: Anthony Carozza, Lenore Madonia, Kimberly Seluga, Keith Hunter, Paul Marko, Bonnie Thompson, Christine White; Syosset High School: Jaqueline Dashevsky, Lauren Merril, Bruce Gilbert; Wantagh High School: Denise Becker Shawn, Allison Galvin, Annie Lo, Donna Pearson, Shanna Greenberg, Jacqueline Moon, Lisanne Todaro.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute one of Long Island's most dedicated and accomplished educators, Sister Janet A. Fitzgerald, O.P., Ph.D. After serving as president of Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY since 1972, Sister Janet has announced her resignation. Sister Janet's tenure of almost 24 years was longer than that of any other Molloy president. Nearly 85 percent of Molloy's 8,500 graduates earned their degrees during Sister Janet's term in office. Coming to Molloy 27 years ago, Sister Janet taught in the philosophy department. She became president in 1972 and served in that capacity until this year. Following the completion of a well-deserved sabbatical, Sister Janet will return to Molloy to once again teach philosophy. Under Sister Janet's leadership, Molloy College grew dramatically. Enrollment has more than doubled and the number of faculty has increased from 73 full-time and 27 part-time in 1972 to 136 full-time and 142 part-time for the 1995-96 academic year. As president, Sister Janet oversaw the construction of three new campus buildings: The Wilbur Arts Center, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, and the William J. Casey Center. During her presidency, extensive renovation and modernization were done to both Kellenberg and Quealy Halls. Molloy College also expanded its academic offerings during Sister Janet's administration Twenty-one majors were created and in 1989, Molloy offered its first graduate program, the M.S. in Nursing. Molloy has also added three additional M.S. programs in nursing. On a personal level Sister Janet and I both grew up in the Sunnyside/ Woodside neighborhood in Queens, NY. Sister Janet certainly epitomizes the qualities which were prized in our neighborhood--courage and strength of purpose. Sister Janet Fitzgerald is truly one of Long Island's greatest assets and one of our Nation's greatest educators. She compiled an outstanding record as president of Molloy College and deserves a debt of gratitude from all of us. I wish Sister Janet all the best and hope that she enjoys her sabbatical, but I know that she will be eager to get back to the classroom.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Todd Kaminsky of Long Beach High School for the outstanding leadership which he has shown as a columnist and political activist to his school and community. It is encouraging to see an active, independent young man playing such a leading role in our political process. Mr. Kaminsky will be graduating this month from Long Beach High School and plans to attend the University of Michigan. I am certain that he will have a particularly successful academic career. I am pleased to insert in the Congressional Record a recent column which Mr. Kaminsky wrote for the April 1996 edition of the ``Tide'' which is the student newspaper for Long Beach High School. King Calls for Student Involvement (By Todd Kaminsky) For a few months a year, a couple of hundred of men and women gather in a neatly assembled, large, white building to discuss a few matters concerning the state of our nation's well being. Welfare reform, gun control, the environment, and even the occasional blurb on nuclear weapons are some of the random sounds you might hear bounce off the inner walls of this stately building. These are just some of the great topics most teenagers couldn't care less about. But these men and women are our Congressmen, easily some of the most important people in our country. Although the attitude on politicians reflected in the prior paragraph may be the prevailing one amongst teenagers, the teens of Long Beach have reason to breathe a little easier. Of the near 500 members of Congress, struggling to tackle daily important foreign and domestic issues that face this nation, you will see that at least one of these brave souls is looking out for the future of our nation. Congressman Peter T. King, who represents Long Beach among other areas in the House of Representatives, knows how important teenagers are to a prosperous democracy. ``Even when I was very small, I was still interested in political events. I guess it was a natural interest,'' said King, who is one of the few politicians who realizes how vital a role teens actually play in our government. In Congress right now, there are many important domestic issues that our Congressmen vote on. Some of this legislation effects teens directly, and some will affect them later on down the road. This is why King feels, ``Teens owe it to themselves to get involved.'' King has gained most of his fame in Congress, by passing or being the sponsor of bills that directly affect teenagers. Recently, he was given much attention for a bill which would make English the official language, and would end bilingual education. Representative King has always been involved in making important educational decisions. ``I feel that my greatest work as a Congressman was done with the English bill. It has been one of my greatest accomplishments,'' said King. There is a great variety of things a teenager can do to make a difference in his or her community. Most political meetings, (school board, or otherwise) are held publicly. Just by attending a few of these meetings, you can become aware of what is taking place in your community. It is almost considered a fact, that most teenagers would rather play sports than follow the nation's political affairs. We have a whole slew of sports teams in LBPS, but do we have a Young Republican Club? Of course, we don't. Congressman King played basketball in high school and boxed as well. He admits to never being great at these sports, but he always tried his hardest. If you ask any coach what makes a great athlete, he will tell you hard work, good thinking, and perseverance. It is no coincidence that when I asked Congressman King what are the characteristics one needs to be successful in Congress, he replied, ``hard work, smarts, and perseverance.'' Of all the characteristics King described, he felt that perseverance was the most important. He lost a race for State Attorney General a number of years ago. Not only did he lose, but he got clobbered. He lost by almost 1 million votes. But King kept coming back again, and again, and again. Now he is among the most powerful in Washington.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, the facade of a free press in India is crumbling before our eyes. Just the other day the Indian Government sized all the copies of the Kashmir Times newspaper. The seizure was reported in the May 13 issues of the Tribune of Chandigarh. I am introducing this article into the Record. According to the report, the newspaper was seized for printing objectionable material about the election process. This objectionable material is not specified. An Urdu-language newspaper, Awam, had been seized previously for similar reasons. India likes to tell the world that it has a free press, but this episode shows that this claim is false. These seizures would be bad enough if they were isolated incidents. They are not. This repeats a pattern of Indian Government behavior which has previously been prevalent in Punjab, Khalistan, as well as Kashmir, and other states seeking self-determination. Many of us condemned those incidents, including a blanket censorship order imposed on Punjab, Khalistan, back in 1994. I hope that the new Government of India will move to put an end to this kind of repressive activity and that India will finally live up to its democratic principles. [From the Tribune, May 13, 1996] Copies of Kashmir Times Seized Srinagar, May 12.--The state authorities today seized all copies of the Jammu-based leading English daily, The Kashmir Times, at Srinagar airport. The step was taken as the copies of the daily carried ``objectionable material'' regarding the on-going election process, the police said here. The police had seized all copies of a national Urdu daily, Awam, for similar reasons on Friday last.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule for H.R. 2406, and urge my colleagues to support both the rule and this truly historic and revolutionary legislation. I also must commend my good friend and fellow New Yorker, Rick Lazio, chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the Committee on Banking, for the outstanding work and dedication he has shown in addressing the issue of public housing, of introducing this critical legislation. Mr. Speaker, public housing in this country has been a failed policy but H.R. 2406 will, among other things, reform public housing by putting power back into the hands of local communities and by making public housing authorities accountable to professional standards of management. This is an outstanding bill that is revolutionary legislation, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Sikh Nation on Vaisakhi Day, the anniversary of the founding of the Sikh Nation. The 297th birthday of the Sikh Nation occurred this past Saturday, April 13. I salute the Sikh Nation on this occasion. The Sikh religion is a revealed, monotheistic religion which believes in the equality of all people, including gender equality. Its principles are found in the Guru Granth Sahib, the writings of the 10 Gurus, founders of the Sikh religion. Vaisakhi Day marks the anniversary of the consecration of the Sikh Nation by the tenth and final Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The Sikh Nation has always tried to live in peace with its neighbors. The Sikhs suffered disproportionate casualties in India's struggle for independence, and Punjab, the Sikh homeland, was the last part of the subcontinent to be subdued by the British. Sikhs ruled Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and again from 1765 to 1849. When India achieved its independence, the Sikh Nation was one of the three nations that were to receive sovereign power. However, the Sikh leaders of the time chose to take their share with India on the promise of autonomy and respect for Sikh rights--an arrangement similar to America's own association with the people of Puerto Rico. Many of us have spoken about Indian violations of the fundamental human rights of the Sikhs and others. The abduction and ``disappearance'' of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra is one prominent example. Despite the solemn promises of Gandhi and Nehru, these violations have been going on since the Union Jack was taken down for the last time in 1947. As a result, no Sikh to this day has ever signed the Indian constitution. If the people of New York, California, or Illinois had not agreed to the U.S. Constitution, would we consider them part of this country? When India attacked the Golden Temple, the Vatican or Mecca of the Sikh Nation, in 1984, more than 20,000 people were killed. Another 20,000 were killed in simultaneous attacks on 38 other Sikh temples, or Gurdwaras, throughout Punjab, Khalistan. The Indian regime also has imposed ``Presidential rule''--that is, direct rule from the central government which supersedes the elected state government--on Punjab nine times. It is likely that if Punjab, Khalistan makes any move toward freedom after the elections, Presidential rule will be imposed for a tenth time. This is one more way to deny the Sikh Nation the freedom that is its birthright. On October 7, 1987, the Sikh Nation declared its independence and the sovereign country of Khalistan was born. The Sikh Nation is set unalterably on a course to freedom, although this movement is nonviolent and democratic. Khalistan will secure its freedom the same way that India secured its independence. India cannot keep together an empire which has 18 official languages. Many experts predict that India will unravel within ten years, if not sooner. It is falling apart in front of our eyes, and too many of my colleagues do not even recognize it. The collapse of the Soviet empire shows that you cannot keep an empire of many nations by force permanently. America is a country founded on the idea of freedom. Let us remember America's mission: in the words of John F. Kennedy, ``to secure the survival and success of liberty.'' We must support freedom around the world because we are the land of the free. The American idea requires us to support freedom for the Sikhs, the Muslims of Kashmir, the Christians of Nagaland, the peoples of Assam and Manipur, and all the oppressed peoples of the Indian subcontinent. Two bills are pending which address this issue. The first, H.R. 1425, would cut off United States development aid to India until basic human rights are respected. The second, House Concurrent Resolution 32, calls for self- determination in Indian-occupied Khalistan. I call upon my colleagues to support these bills. They will help to end India's brutal occupation of Khalistan and insure that when we congratulate the Sikh Nation on its 300th anniversary three years from now, we can offer those congratulations to the leaders of a free and sovereign Khalistan.

Mr. KING

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I would like to include in the Record an article from the Tampa Tribune which describes River Ridge (FL) High School's mock State legislature and what its student participants learned about the legislative process. Of special interest are the reflections of Kevin Miller, ``Speaker of the House.'' Students Find Legislator Seat No Easy Chair (By Tiffany Anderson) New Port Richey.--For at least a few hours, seniors became senators. The 12th-grade class at River Ridge High School got a chance to play politics by participating Friday in the school's mock state legislative session. To earn class credit in American government, more than 328 students served as state representatives and senators and sat on committees. The bills they wrote won't ever make it outside the school's auditorium. But that didn't keep most seniors from taking the event any less seriously. ``People told me that I would run everything,'' said Kevin Miller, 18-year-old speaker of the ``House.'' ``In a way, that's true. I just didn't realize how much power Newt Gingrich has. If he doesn't like someone he can make it really hard for people.'' State Rep. Mike Fasano spoke to the seniors on the first day of the two-day event. Later, students spent hours heatedly debating dozens of issues from abortion education to education reform. By Friday, the make-believe legislators had learned that life in the Capitol isn't easy and that getting a law passed is even harder. More than 275 bills were discussed in committee. Only 40 were heard on the House and Senate floor. Students proposed such legislation as: The Dumb Teachers Act, requiring instructors to be recertified every year. Mandating that school administrators keep toilet paper and soap in the bathroom or be subject to fines plus tar and feathering. Increasing the speed limit on state highways to 85 miles per hour. Ultimately, only five bills became ``law,'' making it more difficult to use lottery money to supplement school funding; allowing a vehicle's tinted windows to be as dark as the driver wanted; permitting students to work as many hours a week as they wanted as long as they maintained a ``C'' average; requiring boating licenses for those 14 and older; and making it easier to get an ``A'' at River Ridge, but abolishing extra points for attendance. The mock legislative session has been staged for the past four years, said teacher Tom Fleming. ``It's better if they live the legislative process,'' he said. Students agreed. ``Even though they're not real laws, you still learn a lot,'' said Gena Deluigi, 18. ``It's just good to see how a bill gets passed. Now, I can look at a bill and even though it may already exist, I can see why this or that wasn't included in it . . . because it could have come up in our session, too.''