Joe Knollenberg

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. I appreciate that from the gentleman, and I thank the gentleman for joining me in the colloquy.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my absolute disappointment, frankly disgust with the President's decision endorsing the EPA's stricter regulations on air pollution. The President says that the reason for imposing these new rigorous regulations was because he, and I, quote, thinks kids ought to be healthy. I agree with him. But I also think it is in the best interest of America's kids if their parents are able to remain employed. And frankly, the new proposals may in fact hurt our kids. The current clean air standards already require cities to have emission-control plans to ensure the air is cleaner each year. As stated in the June 24 Wall Street Journal, current emission control plans will be thrown out while the new ones are being written. This will actually slow, slow the clean air progress perhaps for years. And in the process our workers will be placed at risk. The unions know these standards will cost workers their jobs. That is why many are opposing the EPA's stricter standards. I think we need to ask ourselves, when is enough enough? How many jobs must we lose to clean up the air more than it is? There is a point of diminishing returns where the cost far outweighs any benefits. Mr. Speaker, the Browner-Gore-Clinton EPA standards reaches that point. We have made great progress in the last 20 years. Today the air is cleaner than it has ever been. When our current standards were put in place, the majority of our States and communities could not comply. Today over 96 percent, over 96 percent of our communities in nearly every State is able to comply with the current standards. Compliance has carried an expensive price tag but improving our environment and our air was necessary to protect the future of our country. I believe we have succeeded. Now is not the time to turn the tables on these successes and apply more regulations and tougher standards on our communities, our workers and our families. Right now, Mr. Speaker, the President is about to make perfect the enemy of good. Pushed by the most radical, including the Vice President and EPA Administrator Carol Browner, he is about to sacrifice our workers, our jobs and our economy at the altar of perfect air. I and many others are not ready to blindly follow. I think we know the facts. We studied the circumstances and we have seen the data. For example, a New England Journal of Medicine study has said our children are harmed more by cockroaches, dust mites and mold than by our current air. Only 4 of the EPA's 21 scientists who serve on the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee actually supported the tougher standards that the President has endorsed. Even Newsweek provided a feature issue on how to protect your children from asthma. And almost nothing in that article, nothing focused on our current air standards as the problem. The PR game has begun and the President is beginning to play his part on the bully pulpit. But I would suggest we not buy the snake oil that is being sold. His evidence is razor-thin and the costs are steep for our communities, our businesses, our workers, and our families. Today we have a strong coalition, Republicans included, Democrats, business leaders, workers, who oppose these new regulations. I believe we need to stop the new EPA regulations before they do damage to America. We need to commend our communities for the great progress that they have made on clean air and progress they have made. Instead, it seems President Clinton wants to reward them by punishing them with these impossible standards which they may never ever be able to meet.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support normal trade relations for China. American workers benefit most from the trading status with China. The facts I think are very clear. If we reject MFN, we do not improve the trade deficit, but we do lower or approve the loss of exports to China. In my State of Michigan alone, there is some $215 million in exports and over 5,000 jobs. If we translate that into the USA entirely, it is 228,000 jobs. China has been reported as the world's third largest economy, after the United States and Japan. It has, by far, the world's highest annual growth rate of 9 percent. We cannot exclude American companies, farmers, workers, goods, and services from this large market. For the sake of our businesses, our jobs, and our workers, we must reject this resolution. We must not slam the door on one-fourth of the world's population. If we really want to promote human rights and civil rights, and I do, and we want to plant the seeds of mutual understanding, then continue normal trade relations. I urge opposition of this resolution.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a loyal and dedicated officer to the community of South Lyon in Oakland County, MI. Chief of Police Gerald L. Smith, in his 19th year of service as chief, will retire on August 26th. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1963, Smith began his career in law enforcement for Waterford Township in 1964 and served until 1971. Smith was Oakland County's senior substance abuse program coordinator from 1971 to 1979 where he worked with the County's health department to fight the scourge of drugs. In 1979, he was appointed director of public safety and police chief for the city of South Lyon. When the Public Safety Department was dissolved in 1985, he continued to serve the community as chief. Gerald Smith has dedicated more than 37 years of his life to protecting others. His leadership, courage and bold vision have been an inspiration not only to those who worked for him, but to the community he served. The dedication of Gerald Smith exemplifies his committee to making South Lyon a safer place for our families. He is a loyal public servant who deserves the recognition, honors and accolades he receives.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced H.R. 1955 with the support of many of my colleagues in order to prevent death penalty convicts from receiving military burial honors in our Nation's 114 veterans' cemeteries. Today, the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Skelton] is offering an amendment to the defense authorization act prohibiting the same sorts of burial honors. I am a cosponsor on that amendment. It saddens me personally to offer this legislation, but it is the right thing to do for the veterans of our country who have given so much for us. The most heinous domestic violence act ever committed ripped apart the insides of our Nation. I am talking about the Oklahoma City bombing which will always remain, I believe, ingrained in our hearts, our minds and our souls. And yet the perpetrator of this dastardly act which killed 168 people, many of whom were children, can receive a military honor burial in a veterans' cemetery after he receives his death penalty sentence. Our Nation's veterans' cemeteries are sacred ground. They are a solemn and sad reminder of the price our Nation has paid for the freedom we enjoy every day. It is not fitting to allow Timothy McVeigh in the company of our fallen heroes.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that strikes at the very heart of our Nation. It saddens me to rise and offer this today, but it is the right thing to do for the veterans of our country who have given too much for us. The most heinous domestic terrorist act ever committed ripped apart the insides of our Nation. I am referring to the Oklahoma City bombing, which will always be ingrained in our hearts, our minds, and our souls. Yet, after speaking with veterans and military leaders, we have found out that the criminal who committed this dastardly act which killed 168 people, many of whom were innocent children, can receive, I repeat can receive, the military honor of burial, the military honor of burial in a veterans' cemetery after he receives the death penalty sentence. Mr. Speaker, I and several of my colleagues have introduced legislation to make sure McVeigh, and other death penalty convicts like him, cannot receive the honors that our fallen heroes have deserved and have been granted. Our Nation's veterans cemeteries are a sacred ground. They are a solemn and sad reminder of the price our Nation has had to pay for the freedom that we enjoy every day. While veterans who commit certain criminal offenses forfeit their benefits, McVeigh could have still received them and received burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Speaker, we could not allow that to happen. Too many people whose lives were taken in the name of freedom made the ultimate sacrifice for us. They are placed in that sacred ground. It is not fitting to allow the likes of Timothy McVeigh in their company. I ask my colleagues to join my effort and cosponsor my bill, and all Members on both sides of the aisle, to eliminate these burial rights for death penalty convicts.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I keep hearing from my liberal friends who are outraged that Congress is trying to cut taxes. They look at Washington and they know that Congress is trying to balance the budget and they simply cannot understand why Republicans are calling for tax cuts. Well, Mr. Speaker, should Congress balance the budget first and then cut taxes? The answer is no. To say that we cannot balance the budget and cut taxes is to forget what that assumes. It assumes that Washington cannot cut spending more. It assumes that Washington should continue to take much of your money while it is waiting to get its act together. It assumes that Washington should do the wrong thing for just a few more years while it is waiting to put its financial house in order. Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, this is exactly the kind of thinking that got us in this trouble in the first place. The balanced budget agreement gets it right and puts more money in the pockets of American families.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a special person--Father William Cunningham--who passed away last week. Detroiters, those in need and Catholics across America have not only lost a kind benefactor and gentle heart, we have lost a hero, friend, and a perfect model of inspiration and hope. A visionary pragmatist who founded Focus:HOPE, one of the Nation's largest civil rights organizations, Father Cunningham worked tirelessly for more than three decades building racial harmony and creating jobs in the city of Detroit. Although we have not yet reached his goal, because of his passionate work, relations among our citizens have improved dramatically. It was a shock to everyone last October to learn that this great man was stricken with cancer, but his courage and tenacity shone bright as the Sun as he fought his deteriorating health to the very end. His long request to his long-time friend and cofounder of Focus:HOPE Eleanor Josaitis: no plaques, no streets, no buildings named after him, ``Just make sure my work continues.'' Even during his last breath, this hero to many was still concerned about us--about the future of the city and its people he loved with all his soul. Focus:HOPE will serve as his lasting legacy. Born out of the ashes of the Detroit riots of 1967, Father Cunningham made his dream of helping the poor a reality. Whether it was food, jobs, or racial harmony, Father Cunningham and Focus:HOPE were on the leading edge, breaking new ground, winning the war on poverty inch by inch. It was an honor to know such a great man. He was a generous man with a kind heart. His service was to God and his fellow man. He always had a kind word, willing ear, and helpful advice. Father William Cunningham was a good friend to all he knew and those he didn't know, but could help. He will be missed sorely, but his legacy and spirit will remain ingrained in our souls forever.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, at this very hour, thousands of Detroiters are lining the streets of Woodward Avenue in Detroit to honor their Detroit Red Wings, the 1997 Stanley Cup champions. After Saturday's 2 to 1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, the Red Wings completed a 4 to 0 sweep to win hockey's hallowed crown, Lord Stanley's Cup, the World champions of hockey. I was privileged to be at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday evening, and the atmosphere throughout the evening was electric. After the final horn sounded securing the cup victory, the standing room only crowd and fans everywhere rejoiced. There was no other picture that captured the victory better than Red Wing Captain Steve Yzerman circling the ice, holding the massive trophy over his head, sharing the victory with the screaming fans who have waited 42 years for this glorious moment. The town, Detroit, the community, the State, were starved for a hockey title. They got it Saturday night. The most successful U.S.- based NHL franchise in history had not sipped from the cup since 1955. And after great seasons in 1994, 1995, and 1996. All ended in disappointing playoff defeats, the Wings fought off the demons and the naysayers skating into hockey lore with Red Wing legends like Gordie Howe, Terry Sawchuck, Ted Lindsey, and many others. Mr. Speaker, I came to Detroit in the late 1950's, when the Red Wings were a dynasty and hockey was the local religion shared by everyone. They won four Stanley Cup crowns during the 1950's and the expectations were always great. This team and its fans have endured good times and bad times. For years in the mid 1980's, when the Wings were the worst in the league and, in fact, in one season won only 17 games, to the disappointment of the 1995 finals, all that will be swept away today with the parade of victory. So congratulations go to Scotty Bowman, the coach, to Mike Illitch and Jimmy Devallano for putting this team together. Congratulations, obviously, to Steve Yzerman, the captain, to the MVP Mike Vernon, to Brendan Shanahan, to the Russian five, and to all members of this great club for laboring through the tough times. And congratulations also to the Red Wings fans who stood behind their team through it all. Together, we have finally done it. With an international flare, unlike many other teams, the Wings have Americans, Canadians, European, and Russian players. Detroit, with all of this group, has finally returned to hockey's ultimate peak. With the 42-year climb filled with pitfalls and setbacks, now it is finally over. It is time for this team and our fans to enjoy the view, the Stanley Cup. But only for the summer. Next season starts in September, and the Red Wings are for real. Mr. Speaker, it is not called Hockey Town USA for nothing.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Pallone amendment and urge my colleagues to join the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] in supporting his amendment. This amendment will finally, we believe, bring peace and stability to this war torn region of the former Soviet Union. The amendment that we are offering this evening would urge the President and the Secretary of State to take a greater leadership role in efforts to gain a negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Armenia and Azerbaijan have spent the last decade entangled in conflict over the tiny enclave of Nagorno-Karabagh. This never-ending conflict has caused tremendous hardship and suffering, and despite continuing efforts by the OSCE's Minsk Group, resolution is still a long way off. Like it or not, the U.S. is now cochair of the Minsk Group. And as the world's greatest power we must recognized our role as an important positive part of efforts to reach a negotiated settlement that would end the bloodshed. As the State Department recently said, the U.S. must act as ``an unbiased mediator in this conflict and support a solution that is mutually acceptable to all parties.'' We must do so because only an agreed, not an imposed solution will be stable and will endure. President Clinton also vowed that the U.S.'s consistent position of neutrality in the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict has not changed and will not change. Lives are here on the line, Mr. Chairman, and we must continue to play an important supporting role in efforts to end this disastrous conflict once and for all. I know there are a lot of people out there that may want to address other issues, like territorial integrity and the unfettered delivery of U.S. aid to the region. However, this is neither the time nor the place to debate these issues. Indeed, the Minsk Group is the only place to do it, and only with unbiased U.S. leadership can the Minsk Group become a productive forum for resolving such disputes. Here is the bottom line. This amendment expresses Congress' desire to see the United States be an unbiased leader in resolving the Nagorno- Karabagh conflict, nothing more, nothing less. This is not a new position. The President has pledged neutrality and the State Department has pledged neutrality. It is time for Congress to follow suit.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I appreciate the gentleman's support and I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey's work on this.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I appreciate the gentleman's question, and tell him that that is correct. I do not believe that this amendment changes current U.S. policy in any way. In fact, what it does, it reaffirms a consistent U.S. policy as stated by both the President and the State Department. So that is a yes.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, it is safe for our children to go outside and play again. The EPA's PM-2.5 ozone standards are being questioned again by experts. In Newsweek's cover story on asthma, Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills of UVA's Asthma Disease Center says it is biologically, and I am quoting, ``it is biologically abnormal behavior'' for American kids to spend so much inactive time in front of TVs and computers. With air quality improving, many are beginning to question the correlation between fine particulates and asthma cases. Instead, the real culprit, the real asthma culprit, might be hiding right inside our homes. Cockroaches, dust mites, molds, and animal dander may be the real cause for concern. A recent study featured in the New England Journal of Medicine examined 476 asthmatic kids and found that cockroach allergies emerged as a key to increased asthma attacks. They no longer need to be scared of lions and tigers and bears, but watch out for roaches, mites and mold. So America, open up the doors and windows, and send the children out to play with a deep breath of fresh air.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Fawell] and the gentleman from New Jersey, the ranking member, [Mr. Payne], for their leadership in recognizing the importance of preparing for retirement. It is not too often that we see such bipartisanship on legislation passed out of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. This was one of those examples. But it is not a partisan issue, it affects everyone, whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent. There is a common problem that we have: All of us either live too long or we die too soon. And speaking about the former, investing for retirement is not easy. It takes discipline; it takes foresight. Too often we put off until tomorrow what we should do today. I believe Congress has an opportunity to play a major role in educating the public about retirement preparation, and that is why I am in strong support of the SAVER Act, the so-called Savings Are Vital to Everyone's Retirement Act. Mr. Speaker, there are several things we know about the current status in America. We know that the average retiree can no longer rely upon Social Security benefits as their sole means of retirement income. We also know workers are not taking advantage of savings opportunities available through 401(k) plans, IRA's, and the rest. Again, education and outreach are both vital. The SAVER Act begins the process that will highlight on a national level the importance of educating individuals about retirement savings. First, as has been pointed out by the chairman and others, it directs the Department of Labor to maintain an ongoing program of education and outreach. Second, the SAVER Act convenes a national summit on retirement savings. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is time that we begin to recognize that there are Federal barriers to retirement. Call them disincentives if you will. But investing is complex enough without adding the many Federal barriers. By identifying those barriers, we in Congress can begin to develop a system that is investor friendly and not investor prohibitive, and Congress must be aware of these so that we can move those disincentives out of the way. Last, I am glad to see that Congress is taking a proactive role in educating the public about the benefits of retirement planning. The fact is, and I believe this has already been pointed out, the more a person understands about the benefits of retirement planning, the more likely that person will plan for retirement. And the sooner we begin to educate, the sooner we can defuse this retirement time bomb. I again thank the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. Fawell], and the gentleman from New Jersey, ranking member Payne, for their work.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I think we should stop the presses. It appears that the EPA has their facts wrong again. After weeks of chatter about proposed new clean air standards and their urgent necessity, this week we find out that the EPA has been given some incorrect or bogus data, certainly very questionable. First, they cried that 20,000 people are killed every year by PM 2.5 pollution. Then it was revised to 15,000. The EPA Administrator, Ms. Browner, paraded before the Committee on Appropriations and my subcommittee to tell us how important these tough standards are and why they were needed. Now we find out it is not 20,000, not even 15,000 lives that are at stake, that we are not even clear as to how many there are. In fact, scientist K. Jones, whose name appears along with some commentary in yesterday's Congress Daily, suggests that because of inadequate research, that EPA's first revision of their data now shows it could be below 1,000, less than 1,000 people are affected by the finer particulate matter pollution. What is the EPA going to do now that this information has emerged? I believe they are hell-bent on imposing tougher clean air standards on our communities, businesses, and residences, even though the air quality across the country, across America, has improved immensely since we began this quest. After Mr. Jones, a scientist, caught them in their first mistake, how can we really trust the EPA data now when billions of dollars in costs are at stake for our communities? I believe we have to get the facts straight before asking our local communities to pay up for costly regulatory reform. Also I might add, in addition, this week the New England Journal of Medicine, which is often quoted certainly by EPA as their source, has, it seems, driven another stake into the EPA drive to impose costly tougher air quality standards on us. After hearing about how many children, for example, are hurt by PM 2.5, this Nation's most respected health journal reports that cockroaches are more of a problem than the air. That is right, cockroaches. The study, and it was not just a short-term study, it was for 10 years, focused on children and found that those exposed to cockroaches are more likely to suffer from asthma. They are over three times more likely to be hospitalized, and 80 percent more likely to have unscheduled doctor visits for asthma. Yet the EPA says it is not the bugs, it is the air. Our communities, businesses, and people are still going to be stuck with the EPA's bill. I just hope as we rid our communities of the roaches to fight asthma, they do not become protected under the Endangered Species Act. Let us get the facts straight before we impose new air standards on our communities. One scientist suggests there should be a 5-year moratorium, a 5-year study, before we present any facts, any conclusions. The EPA seems determined in spite of the conflicting data to move ahead. They seem to have a sense of urgency that is wrapped up in the willingness to accept anything, any information that will justify their personal proposal, their own idea, about what is the proper proposal. They ignore, along the way, common sense and cost as part of the equation.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, what I want to do is thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Lazio], his staff, and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Kennedy] for their willingness and cooperation on the language that was part of the request for the amendments en bloc. I believe that that language will do a great deal to reduce the amount of fraud and abuse that exists when an individual is on public housing and the public housing PHA's are required to report their income. What I wanted to do today, and I am not going to offer it, I wanted to submit another amendment that would go further. The language in the en bloc amendments did not go far enough, in my judgment, but I believe that another time, another day, we will be able to offer this, because what it does, it strengthens the disclosable income that individuals have that is presented to the housing authority. I want to work continually with the gentleman from New York [Mr. Lazio], with the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Kennedy], and also with the Committee on Ways and Means to present this in a fashion that I believe will be a provision that will strengthen further what it is that we want to do. We want to actually eliminate fraud and abuse. We only have so many dollars to go around. My language that would be presented in a second amendment will make sure that as much money as possible goes to those people who need it. I think the most important thing is that each dollar that is lost due to fraud and abuse denies money to others. Again, I simply want to thank the chairman, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Lazio], the staff, and the ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Kennedy] for their cooperation and willingness.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, today the tax burden on working Americans is as high as it has ever been. We are asking our families to pay up to nearly 40 percent of their income in taxes. Tax Freedom Day, that is the day when we start working for ourselves and our families, is later and later every year. This year it is May 9, 2 days later than last year, the latest ever. Yet, many of my friends on the other side of the aisle do not feel our taxes are high enough. But if they would listen to the American people, they would find they are wrong. We can do something about it as well. We can provide a family with a $500 per child tax credit, cut capital gains, remove estate taxes. The facts are clear. The American people are overtaxed and it is time to provide relief. Reaching an agreement for working families is not going to be easy, but we owe it; we owe it to the American people. Let us all do our part to make Tax Freedom Day occur earlier, urge the President to live up to his campaign promises, and join our efforts to help working Americans loosen the noose of the current tax burden.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I may sound like a broken record, but just 1 year ago I stood here in this well and said we must save Medicare. I said we cannot let this program that helps so many senior citizens in our country go belly up. Yet as much as many things change, they sure seem to stay the same. Medicare is still on the road to ruin and now we only have 4 years, 4 years before it is bankrupt. In fact, because of the President's inaction, it is now 2001. At that time Medicare will be $23.4 billion in the hole. Perhaps the President may have had too much on his mind with all of those fundraising distractions last year. But now the campaign is over, and it is time to worry about our seniors who need a healthy Medicare to survive. So I would ask my friends, particularly those on the other side of the aisle, to join in this time to help us fight, stop the games, stop the demagoging. It will not help your campaigns to put our seniors at risk. Let us save Medicare.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, thank you for taking this time tonight to speak about this important topic to many people in this country, including many in my district in Michigan. Recently, our Armenian-American community lost a great hero, Alex Manoogian. A penniless Armenian immigrant who came to America in 1924, Manoogian was a kind benefactor, gentle-hearted leader, a talented inventor and a perfect model of the American dream. He was one of the most important and influential leaders in the Armenian-American Community over the last century. As we commemorate the 82d anniversary of the genocide of millions of Armenians at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, I want to remember a bright light who this community misses dearly. And if he were here today he would be telling the story of his heritage. It is a story of sorrow, followed by a story of triumph. It is a story we must always remember so that this dark period can never happen again. I rise today to commemorate this dark period in history--those 8 years staring in 1915 when over a million and a half of Armenian men, women and children were murdered by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. While everyone has heard the story of Hitler and his systematic extermination of the Jewish people during World War II, the story of Armenian Genocide remains unknown to many. The Ottoman Turks were every bit as systematic as Adolph Hitler. After eliminating the Armenian leadership--most of which was done on 1 day, April 24th, 1915--they then went after the male population. The Turks took their guns and put them into work camps where they labored until they died or were killed. Finally, the surviving women, children and elderly were marched out into the desert, where they were starved, raped, and tortured. Very few who left ever came back. They were stripped of their homes, property, freedom, dignity, and ultimately, their lives. By 1923, 1.5 million Armenians had been massacred and 500,000 more had been deported. The mental images are nothing less than horrifying. The ghost-like silhouette of an Armenian man after weeks and months of starvation and torture in a labor camp. Women, children, and the elderly, forcibly marched into a wasteland, left to die. These images should be etched in the collective memory of every citizen of every country in the world. Unfortunately, there was no CNN to beam disturbing pictures into the world's living rooms to galvanize international opinion. There were no U.N. convoys to bring food for the hungry and medical treatment for the injured. There was only blood, hunger, and dust as thousands upon thousands of innocent victims died in agonizing obscurity. What troubles me most, beyond the scale of the atrocities, is that you can ask 10 people on the street what they know of the Armenian Genocide, and most will likely respond with silence. Most people are unaware that the Armenian Genocide ever happened. It wasn't until the 1980's that the world community officially recognized the genocide. And to this day, there are still some who dispute that classification. It is time for the world to remember the Armenian Genocide and give it its rightful place in history. If not for justice's sake, then for the important and painful lessons it lends to today's events. We in America have a special responsibility to remember those who died in those dark days. Our country was built with the sweat of millions of persecuted refugees, who came here from many places and at great risk, to simply embrace a better life and to be judged only by the excellence of their endeavors. Alex Manoogian is an example of this attitude. Sometimes, while we have enjoyed the fruits of freedom, democracy, and basic human rights for so long, we tend to take them for granted. This complacency sometimes allows us to forget that there are places where people have been systematically murdered because of who they are. So let us pay homage to those who fell victim to their Ottoman oppressors, but let us also go forth and tell the story of the forgotten holocaust to everyone we know. For the sake of the Armenian heritage, it is a story that must continue to be told.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two great Italian-American community leaders in southeastern Michigan, Judge Michael Martone and Dr. Augustine Perrotta. Each has been named Metropolitan Detroit's 1997 Italian-American of the Year by the Italian Study Club. Judge Martone, the son of a first generation Italian-American, was elected to the district court bench in 1992. He created the Court in the Schools-Critical Life Choices, a program that relocates his courtroom to local schools. Students witness defendants being fined, punished, or jailed for drunk driving, drug possession, and other crimes. The second part of the judge's program includes an interactive dialog about what the students witnessed and the lessons they can learn. Judge Martone, whose program has been copied by other States and featured on NBC's ``Today Show,'' remains very active in the local community with his wife Martha and their two sons, Jonathan and James. Dr. Augustine Perrotta, a first generation Italian-American born after Mount Vesuvius' eruption drove his family from their ancestral home in Arienzo, worked his way through college and medical school, graduating as valedictorian of his medical school class. Named the ``Top Doc'' by Detroit Monthly Magazine in 1995, Dr. Perrotta is a leader in the medical community serving on the boards of numerous hospitals in southeastern Michigan. His philosophy of practice has been to use humor as medicine and he is well known for maintaining Italian traditions in his home. His hospitality, warmth, and kindness are not only enjoyed by his wife Grace and their three children, but each and every one of his patients. Judge Martone and Dr. Perrotta are outstanding community leaders. As we enjoy the 23d annual Festa Italiana, I want to recommend them and thank them for their longtime service and loyal commitment to our community.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, in recent years the price tag on a college education has gone through the roof. Last year, the General Accounting Office reported that between 1980-95, tuition at 4-year public colleges and universities increased by a whopping 234 percent. In comparison, the Consumer Price Index increased by 74 percent and median household incomes--the measure of a family's ability to pay for college-- increased by 82 percent over the same period. With tuition increases outpacing inflation and the growth in family incomes, it has become harder and harder for students to pay for college without taking out loans and going thousands of dollars into debt. As a result, the average student loan has increased from $518 in 1980 to $2,417 in 1995. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that addresses this serious problem by strengthening the Federal work-study program. Under current law, earnings from this program are taxed. My bill, the College Student Tax Relief Act of 1997 excludes these earnings from the Federal income tax. The Federal work-study program enjoys strong bipartisan support because it rewards those who are willing to help themselves. This program provides jobs to needy students who must earn money to help pay their college expenses. By allowing these students to keep more of what they earn, my bill will significantly increase the take-home pay of working students and ease the financial burdens created by the aforementioned increases in college tuition. Consider the following example: Jennifer, an undergraduate student at a public university, qualified for a work-study award of $2,600. To earn her award, Jennifer worked 18 hours a week during the school year--28 weeks--at the library and was paid $5.15 an hour for her services. During the summer--12 weeks-- Jennifer earned $3,600 by working as a receptionist in a law firm. Therefore, Jennifer's total earnings for the taxable year were $6,200. Under current law Jennifer would be able to deduct $4,000--the standard deduction for individuals who can be claimed as a dependent-- from her taxable income, leaving her with a tax burden of $332. Under my proposal, Jennifer's tax liability would be eliminated because she would also deduct $2,600--the amount of her work-study earnings--from her taxable income. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor the College Student Tax Relief Act of 1997. While $332 might not sound like a lot of money, it would help students like Jennifer make ends meet and minimize their student loan debt.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time to speak about an important issue to all working families. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1 and in opposition to the amendment of the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller]. I think it is a poison pill for this bill and it would literally gut this excellent proposal. Mr. Chairman, we have heard a lot of the distortions about what we are doing here. We have heard this legislation would take money and benefits out of the hands of hard-working individuals; that it would give employers the upper hand; that it would harm our working families, our hard-working families. If that is the case, why is it that President Clinton's pollster is saying that 75 percent of working families favor this bill, H.R. 1? I think it is because they want the choice to take time off for their families instead of receiving overtime compensation. Currently, most employees have no choice. Government union employees do have this choice, but the rest of us do not. We have to take the pay even if we would rather have the time off. The bill is for our workers and their families who do not have enough hours in the day to spend together. It is for the mom or dad who wants to go to school to see their child's play, visit their teacher or attend a basketball game. It is for those of us who need to take extra time to go to the doctor or take our children to the doctor. It is for those of us that actually would sacrifice the overtime pay just to take an extra vacation or a few days off to be with our kids or take care of important personal items. The most important part of this is to remember that this is paid leave that the worker has earned, not unpaid family and medical leave that often goes unused because, frankly, our workers cannot afford to take the time off. Employees can make an intelligent and informed decision about how to best use their overtime. Whether they use comp time or take the pay is a decision they should make, not some Washington bureaucrat. The choice is simple, Mr. Chairman. Let us give our families and workers the choice they deserve. Support H.R. 1 and oppose the Miller amendment.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a loyal and dedication citizen in my district, Edgar Hagopian. Edgar will be honored this week by the Oak Park Business and Education Alliance [OPBEA]. Hagopian is being recognized for his many contributions to the Oak Park community, especially the students of Oak Park's schools. President of Hagopian and Sons, Inc., Edgar has been very active in the Oak Park schools and its programs. He has been a strong supporter of the district's student of the month and the middle school job shadowing programs. A member of the Oak Park Chamber of Commerce, Hagopian has been a supporter and leading member of OPBEA since its inception in 1993. Known for his presence in Michigan, Hagopian is also known internationally for his leadership in the worldwide Armenian community. He founded the Armenian Business Council and has served as its president. In recognition of his many generous contributions to Armenian causes, he was named the 1995 Person of the Year by Canada's Armenian Business Council. All funds raised from the event honoring Edgar will be used by OPBEA for the Edgar Hagopian Scholarship Fund, which will provide scholarships to Oak Park graduates that have excelled in the group's Contract for Success program.

Mr. KNOLLENBERG

Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce The Plumbing Standards Improvement Act of 1997. My bill would repeal the plumbing fixture flow restrictions that were enacted by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1992. Specifically, they limited the capacity of all newly manufactured toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush, and showerheads to 2.5 gallons per minute. Through originally enacted to conserve water, these restrictions have had a number of unintended consequences, which I believe make a strong case for their repeal. First and foremost is their impact on the public safety and health of the American people. The most damning evidence comes from a recently- released study by the University of Cincinnati. It shows that the increased mist levels created by restricted flow showerheads have led to a higher incidence of respiratory illnesses. And as you all know, children and the elderly are usually the most susceptible. In addition, I have heard from several plumbing contractors in my district. They tell me that these showerheads have resulted in more scalding episodes, by causing a delay between the adjustment of the hot water knob and the resulting temperature increase. Thus, people, especially children, are over-adjusting the hot water and sustaining minor burns. Regarding the toilets, it is apparent that new 1.6 gallon models are not as effective as their prerestriction counterparts. Plumbers and plumbing supply stores have been overwhelmed with complaints from unsatisfied consumers, and black markets for the old 3.5 gallon models have popped up across the country since the restrictions were put in place. But beware: if you or I buy a 3.5 gallon toilet off the black market or remove the restrictor plate from our water-saver showerhead, under current law we would be subject to Federal fines as high as $2,500. Simply put, this provision is making criminals out of normal, law abiding citizens who only want a decent shower and a toilet that needs to be flushed only once. Finally, even if my bill is passed and the Federal restriction is repealed, there is nothing stopping governments in water-scarce areas from passing these kind of restrictions. Some governments may find it necessary to do so, but it is a decision that seems best done at the State and local level. I urge my colleagues to take a close look at this. It is my belief that if Congress knew about the safety and health risks alone, it would not have included these restrictions in the first place. I think the bottom line is that the Federal Government should be out of the bathrooms.