Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens), a person who in this House really works very hard for school construction. (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), a champion of women and children's issues. (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) to close the debate on behalf of the Progressive Caucus.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 45 seconds. Mr. Chairman, our budget gives money to the troops for housing, for wage increases. Our budget takes money away from weapons systems which do not work. There has been 7.6 trillion in accounting entries in the Pentagon; and of that, 2.3 trillion were not supported by enough evidence to determine their validity. The Department of Defense stores nearly 30 billion worth of spare parts it does not need, according to the GAO. The GAO also reports that the Navy recently wrote off as lost over $3 billion worth of intransit inventory, and the Air Force is missing over 2.3 billion in stock. Today's defense budget is 80 percent of the amount allocated during the height of the Cold War and is 15 percent higher than in real terms than when Mr. Rumsfeld left the Pentagon in the 1970s. We need to pay attention to housing, to education, to opportunities for all Americans and adopt this progressive budget.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Hilliard).

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, please join me today in welcoming Ms. Gina Quin, Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, to Cleveland as guest of honor at the Collins and Scanlon, 22nd Annual St. Patrick's Day Open House. Educated at University College Dublin with an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Master of Business Administration, Ms. Quin currently represents 3000 Business Members in the Greater Dublin City Area. Her position requires her to develop policy that will aid in the overall development of Dublin by maximizing enterprise and investment opportunities within the Capital city. Ms. Quin has held various other executive positions before her appointment to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce in 2000. She was an executive for both Lansdowne Market Research and the Irish Export Board. For six years prior to her work with the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Quin served as chief executive for Gandon Enterprises where she was responsible for managing business activities across both manufacturing and service industries. My fellow colleagues, let us welcome our distinguished friend from Ireland, Mr. Gina Quin, to Cleveland to join in our celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John D. Baker on being awarded the 2001 Irish Good Fellowship Club's Good Fellowship Award. This prestigious award is a well-deserved honor which recognizes the dedication and commitment John D. Baker has shown to his family and the workers of our nation. John D. Baker has had three children during his forty years of marriage. Always ready with a smile or kind word, Mr. Baker has been a living example of compassion for his children. He has worked hard to make sure that they grew up in a loving, caring environment. Throughout his life, John D. Baker has exhibited a dedication to working men and women throughout the Cleveland area. He has been an active member of the International Longshoremen's Association since 1959, and now serves as the Vice-President to that organization. John D. Baker has committed his life to the cause of worker's justice. John D. Baker has served on many councils and committees, covering a wide-range of issues. From labor disputes to historical preservation, John D. Baker has played an important role in the development of the Cleveland area. John D. Baker is a deserving recipient of the Irish Good Fellowship Club's Good Fellowship Award. Throughout his life, he has worked to help other people; both in their personal lives as well as in their workplaces. John D. Baker has been a great force of fellowship for many people, always offering caring words of encouragement and his friendship. A fellowship award is truly justified by Mr. Baker's daily life. Throughout his life, Mr. John D. Baker has proven to be a leader by bringing people together and working for a more just society. His hard work and dedication have inspired many people to strive with him when he stands up for workers everywhere. My fellow colleagues, please stand with me in honoring Mr. John D. Baker.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting the hard working men and women of Iron Workers Local 17 of Cleveland, Ohio as they celebrate their 100th Anniversary. The brilliant craftsmanship of the thousands of dedicated men and women who comprise the Iron Workers Local 17 is evident across the landscape of Northern Ohio. The bridges that span Ohio's beautiful rivers and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are both fine examples of the permanent imprint that Iron Workers 17 has cast on thousands of structures in the state. This community of working people who understand the value and importance of family are committed to creating a tradition of excellence. Performing one of the ten most dangerous jobs in the world, courageous ironworkers brave the tough Cleveland weather and risky working conditions to build the office towers, sports stadiums, and highway bridges that illuminate the skyline. Early on when structural steel construction was in its infancy, ironworkers often worked ten hour days and seven day weeks for as little as twenty cents an hour, only expecting to hold positions for ten years before death or major injury ended their career. When Local 17 gained its charter in 1901 money was tight, but the union persevered and provided help to its members. In the turbulent years that followed, union iron workers learned how to deal with steel industry giants, often initiating strikes to gain fair labor practices. By the end of World War I, the unions successfully established the eight-hour day and five-day work-week. Local 17 thrived in the midst of the great industrial expansion of the 1920's. In this decade, the largest building project in Cleveland's history, The Cleveland Union Terminal complex including the landmark Terminal Tower, was completed. During World War II, ironworkers, dedicated to the ideals of the United States, served in all branches of the military and were even recruited to work as ``seabees'' by the Navy to repair aircraft carriers and battleships. Iron workers on the homefront assisted in war munitions production or worked around the country building power plants, hydroelectric facilities, and dams needed in the war effort. In the decades following the war, iron workers were busy rebuilding the bridges and highways in disrepair after many years of use. Presently, Local 17 is enjoying renewed respect with growing membership and cordial relationships with contractors. My fellow colleagues, please join me in saluting the thousands of dedicated men and women that brave tough conditions at great personal risk to keep Cleveland growing.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dignitaries Ireland who are spending St. Patrick's Day in my home district of Cleveland. My city is honored to have them with us on such an important holiday. Our four distinguished guests hail from Achill Island, Ireland. They are: Mr. Thomas McNamara, Achill Tourism Chair; Father Pat Gilligan, Achill Tourism Committee Member; Ms. Karen Grealis, Achill Tourism Manager; and Ms. Adrian Kilbane, Achill Tourism Public Relations Officer. Together, they have left their homes to spend a very important holiday with us. Rich with cultural heritage and diversity, the city of Cleveland includes a very important Irish population. Never forgetting their roots, the Cleveland community never forgets to celebrate ethnic holidays. Saint Patrick's Day, traditionally a day of lavish celebration and remembrance of one's heritage, is revered by the City of Cleveland by an extensive parade. My city is lucky this year to have with us a delegation of dignitaries from Achill Island, Ireland to assist us in the festivities. Visiting to help us remember our shared past, these people should give us all pause to remember our families and our heritage. It should be of great joy to everybody in Cleveland that we have such honorable people visiting us on such an important holiday. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the distinguished delegation of visitors from Achill Island, Ireland.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the nation of Greece on its triumphant 180th anniversary of winning independence. Throughout its glorious history, Greece has proven to be an inspiration to the United States. The birthplace and cradle of democracy, Greece's long history of promoting the ideals of justice and freedom now serves as a stand against which we measure all other nations. The legacy of antiquity is still felt throughout the streets of Athens today. It was the ancient Greeks who first realized that the right of self-governance was an essential foundation of any civilized society. Although such principles seem elementary today, their ideas were revolutionary in their own time. We cannot discount the influence that ancient Greece has had on our nation. In the founding of our nation, Greece served as a model by which the framers of the constitution structured our government. The political and philosophical influence of Greece can be felt throughout the institutions of our government. After helping to author our Constitution, Thomas Jefferson referred to Greece as ``the light which led ourselves out of Gothic darkness,'' That same light, still shining from the distant memories of ancient Greece, guides our nation today. Every year, the people of Greece come together to celebrate Greek Independence Day. Much like our own Fourth of July, Greek independence Day is a time for people to put aside difference and celebrate the vision which they share. It is a time to honor all people who join in the struggle for freedom. This year, it is important for all Americans to remember the history of independence and to remember where the roots of our nation originate. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the nation of Greece, on the 180th anniversary of their independence.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Flex E. Hujarski, a respected member of the Cleveland community. Flelix E. Hujarski will be remembered for his kind heart, his devotion to his family and friends and his dedication to Polonia. Dedicated husband and father, he is survived by his wife, Wanda, daughter, Irene Mastropieri and son, Lawrence. He is the beloved grandfather of nine and great grandfather of six. Wherever Felix went, he left behind his positive spirit, charm and humor. He was a positive life force, always sharing his love and thinking of the needs of others before his own needs. He was a most unique individual, with an obvious commitment to his family, his many friends and to his community. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of this remarkable man. He was a man of great passion, a dedicated servant to his community, and a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be missed by all.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Cleveland Film Society. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Cleveland Film Society has enriched and educated our community for generations. Every year, the Cleveland Film Society sponsors the Cleveland International Film Festival, which has become one of the premiere cinematic events in the country. Sponsoring over eighty feature films each year, the festival has become an important cultural event for the city of Cleveland. Always consciously working to create a more diverse social climate, the festival has served as a venue for people of all races, sexual orientations, and ethnicities to come together and express themselves. The Cleveland International Film Festival has served not just as a catalyst for tolerance, but also for understanding by providing people with an environment conducive to the intellectual analysis of film and important social issues. Throughout its 25 years, the Cleveland Film Society has always provided the community with important educational opportunities. Two years ago, they began offering classes to the people of the surrounding neighborhood. Bringing innovative filmmakers to teach the classes, the community has been provided with an amazing educational resource. The society offers many classes from art appreciation to animated design. Another important service of the Cleveland Film Society is the Cleveland Filmmakers Program. Offering consultation and advocacy services, the program has become an asset to area filmmakers. The program now has more than 300 members who attend meetings, workshops, and seminars. After 25 years of valuable community service, the Cleveland Film Society has continually proven to be a valuable resource to our community. Providing our neighborhood with wonderful educational opportunities and chances to have dialogues with filmmakers, the society has become an important asset to the Cleveland area. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the Cleveland Film Society.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alice Robie Resnick, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, who is being honored by the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party at their annual dinner this year. Justice Resnick is a graduate of Siena Heights College, and the University of Detroit Law School. Serving as Assistant Prosecutor for Lucas County, she tried more than one hundred serious felony cases including ten death penalty cases. In 1982, she became the first woman elected to the Sixth District Court of Appeals. Justice Resnick became the second woman in history to be elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1988. Justice Resnick has a long history of devotion to public service. She helped to form Toledo Crime Stoppers, Inc. and continues to serve on their Board of Trustees. As Chairperson of Safety on the Streets, she has spoken extensively on crime prevention. In 1991, she prompted the Ohio Bar Association and the Ohio Supreme Court to form the Joint Task Force on Gender Fairness, which she co-chaired. Justice Resnick wrote two Supreme Court opinions, continuing her work to improve the lives and welfare of women in Ohio: State v. Koss, regarding battered women syndrome, and Kerans v. Porter Paint Co., which dealt with sexual harassment issues. In addition to recognition from The Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, Justice Resnick received the Outstanding Judicial Service Award from the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Judicial Excellence Award from the Mahoning Valley Women's Political Caucus in 2000. She was also named 1990 Woman of the Year of the Columbus Branch of the American Association of University Women. Justice Resnick is married to Judge Melvin Resnick of the Sixth District Court of Appeals. She has three step children and six grandchildren. My fellow colleagues, please join me today in recognizing the many accomplishments of Justice Alice Robie Resnick, a woman dedicated to public service.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Marjorie Condon, a life-long resident of Ohio, who dedicated her life to the teaching profession. She will be missed, not only by her beloved family, but also by hundreds of former students. Mrs. Condon taught fourth grade in Cleveland for over 15 years, first at Tom L. Johnson Elementary and then at Charles Lake Elementary, taking time off to raise six children. Holding bachelors degrees in both journalism and education, she shared a love of learning and literature with her husband, former newspaper columnist, George E. Condon. George and Marjorie met at Ohio State University and were married for 58 years. She raised a family and loved crocheting, sewing, and playing piano. She also enjoyed fashioning stained glass, making candles, and cooking Chinese food. While in her mid-50s, Marjorie even taught herself how to snow ski. My fellow colleagues, please join me today in celebrating the life of this remarkable woman. She was a woman of great knowledge and learning, who dedicated her life to her family and students.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues an article published in the Continental March 2001 magazine that highlights the achievements of the NASA Glenn Research Center over the past 60 years. Revolutionary advancements in aerospace and aviation technologies have been developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), which is located in my congressional district in Cleveland, OH. This article highlights Glenn's contributions to aviation, which include research to create quieter, nonpolluting airplanes. In addition, it details the GRC's work in developing a power system used on the International Space Station and how their research is used to improve commercial products in the United States. NASA Glenn Research Center continues to play an instrumental role in maintaining our Nation's leadership in aeronautics and aerospace technology. In the future the center will continue to make groundbreaking discoveries that will improve both space travel and life on Earth. [From the Continental, March 2001] Reaching for the Stars (By Todd Wilkinson) On airy moonlit nights, stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere may notice what appears to be a glowing white speck making regular passes through the sky. It's not a UFO they are seeing or even the pulses of a meteor shower. That piece of metallic glitter is actually a massive human stepping-stone to the cosmos--the new International Space Station--orbiting 220 miles above the earth and taking shape as a base camp for the future exploration of our solar system. Back on the ground, scientists and biomedical researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are paying special attention to the space station's evolving construction from laboratories located in Cleveland. That's right, Cleveland. As in Ohio. The city pressed up against the southern shore of Lake Erie. Surprising to many is that quietly over the past half- century some of the most revolutionary advancements in space and aviation technology have been developed at Lewis Field. The Glenn Research Center here, named in honor of the pioneering astronaut and U.S. senator, John Glenn, is perhaps the most unsung of NASA's 10 major campuses. Less known than the Johnson Space Center in Houston or the Kennedy launch pads at Cape Canaveral, Fla., or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., NASA Glenn is, nonetheless, playing a pivotal role in transforming the agency's 11th and most novel facility--the space station--from a pie-in-the-sky dream into a symbol of 21st-century ingenuity. And it is giving Cleveland and numerous partner businesses and local universities a tangible connection to the frontier of space. The NASA Glenn Campus is a labyrinth of six wind tunnels and more than 150 buildings, along with a beehive of laboratories. Since the early 1940s, around the time America entered World War II, the research facilities have been central to the development of jet engines that are today the foundation of commercial and military aviation. But in 1961, when President John F. Kennedy set U.S. sights on the moon, the laboratories also became nurseries for rocket propulsion in the race to space, notes Donald Campbell, director of the Glenn Research Center. Better than any political leader in the country, Senator Glenn has understood the dividends accrued from public investment in technology. During recent heated debates in Congress over funding for NASA and concerns about cost overruns that have dogged the space station, it was Glenn who urged colleagues to support research and development in emerging technologies. If the United States is to maintain a competitive edge over other nations, he argued, it must sustain and nurture institutions like NASA. Campbell says NASA Glenn channels much of its research- driven technology into U.S. industry, enabling major advances in commercial products like jet engines and communications satellites. During the 1970s and 1980s, NASA spent about $200 million on turbine engine technologies developed by Glenn and its commercial partners. In turn, that investment yielded billions of dollars in benefits for the U.S. economy, through job creation and spin-off technologies, including the eventual production of the General Electric 90 engine--the workhorse of many planes. ``Engine propulsion technology has historically led the development of new generations of aircraft design, and that shows no signs of changing,'' says Joe Shaw, chief of NASA Glenn's ultraefficient engine technology program. ``More and more we are seeing a cross pollination of ideas between the dual missions of NASA--its support of aeronautics for commercial and military purposes and exploration of space.'' Likewise, the quest to build more powerful and efficient spacecraft reaped incredible dividends. ``It's hard to tell what could come out of our space research that will affect our lives on the ground,'' Shaw says. ``I don't think anybody with the Apollo program knew it would lead to the proliferation of personal laptop computers and digital wristwatches and microbiological sensors.'' Not far off on the horizon, Shaw says, are aircraft that will burn dramatically cleaner fuel, reducing carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions that contribute to global warming and smog. Those same planes will boast engines that are barely audible to the human ear on the ground once the planes are beyond airport boundaries. Yet the biggest advancement that could arrive in less than a generation will be fleets of ``smart airplanes,'' whose computer systems adjust engines in flight to make them fly more efficiently. And where commercial flights are concerned, efficiency results in the need for less fuel. Ultimately, that would mean better bargains for travelers. An ambitious goal of NASA Glenn scientists is to reduce the travel time to the Far East and Europe by half within the next 25 years, but to also make it possible at today's ticket prices. Last September, R & D Magazine named three research teams based at Glenn winners of its prestigious R&D 100 Award, known within the industry as the ``Nobel Prize of applied research.'' The projects that attracted global attention involved the development of superstrong titanium alumnide sheet metal used in aircraft bodies; advancements with PMR (Polymerization of Monomer Reactants) to give aircraft longer shelf lives; and the application of GENOA software that has enabled Boeing and GE aircraft engines to save millions of dollars improving the cutting-edge 777 aircraft engine. Since the early 1960s, Glenn researchers have claimed nearly 80 of the 110 R&D 100 Awards given to NASA projects. Without question, the most awe-inspiring projects are those dealing with space travel. By his own admission, John Dunning, a 30-year NASA veteran and manager of space station support at Glenn, isn't a man prone to spontaneous gleeful outbursts. But last November, when Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off from the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, Dunning and his Glenn colleagues let out a collective whoop. In her belly, Endeavour carried solar panel arrays and advanced nickel-hydrogen batteries that are today providing the power essential to making the International Space Station operational. Without the electrical juice generated by the photovoltaic panels and stored in super batteries, astronauts would be whistling in the dark, says Dunning. Much of the transportable power grid, built and tested in cooperation with a handful of private aerospace companies, originated on drawing boards at the Glenn laboratories. Prior to shuttle launches in October, November and January, a specially designed radiator that removes waste heat from the station was tested in the Space Power Facility, the world's largest space environment simulation chamber, at NASA Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio. ``Before these recent shuttle missions delivered the power components, the space station crew had been confined to a service module, because most of the structure was uninhabitable,'' Dunning says. ``With the power systems up and running, the volume of space available to crews will significantly improve by about a factor of three, and the amount of consumable electricity will increase from four kilowatts to 24 kilowatts.'' A future principal component of the station's power plant, being developed by NASA Glenn, could be the ``flyway energy storage system,'' which functions like a gyroscope motor spinning at 60,000 revolutions per minute. When the space station arrays are illuminated by the sun, the flywheel functions like a mechanical battery, converting motion into usable energy and vice versa. During periods of orbit when the station is shaded from sunlight, the wheel is turned into a generator that makes electricity to power the life support system and science equipment. Scientists note that at full operating speed the flywheel rotor's linear velocity is two-and-one-half times the speed of sound (1,875 miles per hour). If the wheel itself were allowed to spin without meeting resistance, it would go on for more than 12 hours. ``The flywheel energy storage system represents a revolutionary step in energy storage technology,'' says Raymond Beach, NASA Glenn's team leader for flywheel development. He sees the flywheel as a potential long-term alternative for chemical batteries, which don't last as long and which generate waste. ``The process is very efficient,'' he points out. ``More than 85 percent of the energy put into the wheel comes out.'' NASA believes that in the coming decades similar solar- powered generators could have applications on earth and on Mars. When the Mars Surveyor Lander mission reaches the Red Planet, two pilot Glenn projects--the Mars Array Technology Experiment (MATE) and the Dust Accumulation and Removal Technology (DART)--will explore the feasibility of producing oxygen propellant from the Martian atmosphere and will test whether power-generating solar cells can function amid extreme cold and notorious Martian dust storms. ``Because of the dust, the cold temperatures and the varying light spectrum, the best solar cell for our `gas station on Mars' might be one that we wouldn't consider using in our space solar arrays,'' says NASA Glenn Project Manager Cosmo Baraona, who is overseeing the experiments. Solar cells designed at Glenn have already performed better than expected with the Pathfinder and Sojourner Rover, but David Scheiman, a researcher at the Ohio Aerospace Institute in Cleveland, a partner of Glenn, says it is uncertain if those cells will work over the estimated five years it will take to get a human to and from Mars. Through its Microgravity Science Division, Glenn is NASA's star performer with microgravity experiments involving combustion and fluid physics. Aside from its history with spacecraft and jet engines, Glenn has bolstered Cleveland's reputation as a hub for biomedicine. ``We are fortunate to reside in a region with some of the best medical research institutions in the country and a growing biomedical industry base,'' says Campbell. At the forefront are researchers like Rafat Ansari, a groundbreaking physicist. ``My personal interest is with the human eye,'' he says. According to Ansari, our eyes are not only windows to the soul, but also windows to the human body, reflecting the health and function of vital chemical processes. They are also places where physicians can look to better understand the risks of exposure to radiation during deep space travel to destinations like Mars. ``When light passes from the cornea into the retina, it also passes through nearly every tissue type found in the body,'' Ansari says. ``By studying those tissues, we can look for evidence of certain conditions from one's cholesterol level to the formation of cataracts to the potential for Alzheimer's disease to diabetes.'' Ansari began his career with NASA 13 years ago. His fascination with eyes started when his father developed cataracts. It led him to investigate the etiology of cataracts and the risks associated with certain diseases. Astronauts can be especially vulnerable because increased exposure to radiation associated with deep space travel may accelerate the growth of cataracts and macular degeneration. Ansari and a team of Glenn researchers are working with the federal Food and Drug Administration to develop a screening process for diabetes. Another project at the Glenn laboratories involved development of an apparatus in partnership with the National Eye Institute, located at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. It would have applications not only on Mars but also in rural parts of the world where there is a niche to fill with telemedicine. The patient or, in the case of space travel, the astronauts would wear a specially designed helmet with eye-examining goggles connected to special sensors monitoring the heart in real time. The apparatus could detect health abnormalities as explorers walk across the Martian surface. But long before the first human mission is sent to the fourth planet from the sun, Ansari would like to see such mobile devices used in remote locales on earth where medicine is unavailable. In the years ahead, the facility bearing Senator Glenn's name promises to claim its own prominent place on the journey of human discovery. ``This year, as we celebrate the Glenn center's 60th anniversary, all of us can look back in pride at our outstanding accomplishments that have helped propel NASA and U.S. industry to new horizons,'' adds Campbell. ``And no matter where that next horizon is found, Glenn's pioneers and innovators will make it possible for us to travel beyond it. Ultimately, we want the public to benefit from what we do.''

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, I was privileged to be one of the representatives to the talks, the conference of parties, discussions, concerning the effect of global climate change. The talks took place in Buenos Aires, and I was one of the few Members of Congress who was privileged to attend and present views consistent with the discussion that is occurring on this floor. There is concern all over the world about changes taking place in the global climate. I spoke with individuals from some of the islands in the South Pacific who talk about how the sea level is starting to rise and it is affecting the properties on those islands. We know that there are 2,500 scientists who have done studies in connection with the United Nations which have demonstrated that global climate change is a reality. I mean, any citizen of this country is aware that, in the last few years, we have seen extreme changes in our climate. We have seen 100-year floods occur every few decades, if not every few years. We have seen tremendous heat waves which buckle freeways with their great heat intensity. We have seen unusual storms take place in areas which have been unaccustomed, hurricanes with much more intensity; tornadoes the same. I mean, sooner or later, we come to an understanding that it is human activity which is beginning to create an overall change in the Earth's environment; and sooner or later, we have to come to an understanding that our responsibility here is, not only in the present, it is not simply to keep certain interest groups moving forward, but our responsibility is to many generations forward so that people have a place to work out their own destiny on this planet. So the survival of the planet is at stake here and the survival of the democratic tradition, because we have an obligation as citizens of democracy to address this issue in a forthright way and to do it with others who are concerned from around the world. We have a moral responsibility to reduce emissions. Now, as of late, we are seeing assertions that somehow carbon dioxide is not a problem. The truth is, since the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of carbon dioxide has risen about 30 percent and is now higher than it has been in the last 400,000 years. Humans have created this level of carbon dioxide that the Earth can no longer naturally absorb. So we are driving the rate of global warming, and we must take steps to reduce CO2 pollution. The United States is the greatest polluter. Now, in spite of strong consensus around the scientific evidence, it seems that special interests are more influential. The recent pattern of environmental decisions are an ironic backdrop to the debate occurring right now on campaign finance reform. Before the interest groups have made their lobbying effort to prevent carbon dioxide regulations, we could all see the science as justifying greater efforts to control carbon dioxide. We know that Secretary O'Neill 3 years ago spoke of global warming significance as second only to nuclear conflagration. He even criticized the Kyoto Protocol as being too weak. We know that Administrator Christine Todd Whitman has spoken out strongly about putting limits on carbon dioxide emissions as part of a multi-pollutant strategy to curb emissions. Unfortunately, we are seeing another direction taken. I would like to conclude by also, not only by pointing out how we are going the wrong way on carbon dioxide emissions and dealing with that, but, also, yesterday, a statement was made that the administration pulled arsenic regulations out of concerns about drinking water. Now, this industry that is driving this was apparently more influential than studies from the National Academy of Science. And before the EPA was even created, arsenic was regulated. So we need to be very concerned. I urge my colleagues and this administration to pay heed to the scientific evidence. Whether the issue is carbon dioxide or arsenic, there is a consensus around the issue; and that consensus is that scientific proof ought to be carefully regarded.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I submit into the Record the following editorial from the March 11th edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. I believe this piece speaks to the urgent need for action to aid the American steel industry, and I encourage my colleagues to read it. [From the Plain Dealer, Mar. 11, 2001] Reviving Steel Why is America's steel industry in such a sorry state? Poor management, inefficient work rules, runaway imports, outrageous energy costs, low prices, expensive obligations to retirees, skeptical landers and rapidly changing technology have all played a role. But the collective impact is undeniable: In little more than three years, 16 firms, including Cleveland LTV Corp., have sought bankruptcy protection. Since last spring, profits at even the best-run firms have largely melted into pools of red ink; LTV lost $351 million in the last quarter alone. The mini-mills that once seemed to be steel's new wave now look almost as vulnerable as the dinosaurs in this historically cyclical industry. Since steel is an economic and military necessity, America needs a healthy industry. And in our system, that's largely the responsibility of individual steelmakers. They have to be intelligently managed, flexible, able to see technological change before it overwhelms them. Companies that can't or won't change will fail. And yet, it's not unreasonable for government to help such a vital enterprise negotiate a market shaped by forces that bear little resemblance to economic theory. The Bush administration is said to be studying how best to assist steel. And a bipartisan group in the House of Representatives has offered a set of proposals, many of them rooted in ideas put forward by industry leaders and the United Steel Workers of America. While specifics of the legislation, whose co-sponsors include Cleveland-area Democrats Dennis J. Kucinich, Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Sherrod Brown, may be a bit dubious, they do pinpoint areas that need attention: foreign competition, ``legacy costs,'' consolidation and capital. Ask most steelmakers and their allies to identify the industry's No. 1 problem and chances are they'll finger the glut of low-priced foreign steel that flooded this country last year. But the import crush is not some foreign plot. A strong U.S. dollar, while good for the overall economy, makes imports relatively cheaper and more desirable to cost- conscious steel users. Even in the best of times, American steel makers cannot meet domestic demand. Industry officials concede that about a quarter of the steel used in this country will always come from abroad, much of it slab that's then finished by American steel firms. Still, American steel firms need some respite from bargain- basement competition. The question is how to give it to them, especially since the world Trade Organization has rejected America's anti-dumping laws. Perhaps the administration at least could give American producers the ``anti-surge'' warnings that NAFTA partners Mexico and Canada provide their steelmakers by constantly monitoring imports. U.S. steelmakers proudly point to billions invested in modernization since the late 1970s. America today makes as much steel with a third as many workers. But shrinking the work force meant early retirement for thousands of empoloyees; LTV's integrated steel operations, for example, support 12,000 active workers and 72,000 retirees. Many established steel firms thus face enormous ``legacy costs,'' mostly for retiree health care, that add an estimated $15 to $20 to the price of each ton. It's a burden not shared by domestic upstarts or by foreign competitors whose governments pay for health care. The House bill proposes a surcharge on every ton of steel sold in the United States to help cover retiree health costs. A similar program operates in the coal industry. Spreading the burden of legacy costs might speed the consolidation that many think the steel industry desperately needs. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, who led a troubled aluminum industry back to profitability while at Alcoa, has signaled that any long-range fix for steel probably will require some global reduction in capacity that pushes up prices. Retrenchment may cost some American firms, but their workers and retirees should not be punished in the process. Finally, steel may be on the verge of technological quantum leaps. But they won't be cheap, and already many banks are understandably leery of investing in such a dicey industry. Even a federal program that currently guarantees 85 percent of a loan has attracted so few takers that the Bush budget suggests cancelling it. Some suggest that governments or pension funds could step in as financiers. But before heading down that risky road, let's see whether help on import competition and legacy costs encourages private lenders to take another look at steel.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of George Becker, the recently retired president of the United Steelworkers of America. Through his leadership, courage and determination, labor unions across our nation have been revitalized and reenergized with a newfound strength. George Becker became a member of the United Steelworkers of America when he became a mill worker in Granite City, Illinois. His determination and dedication to helping others allowed his ascent to the presidency of the union. As a vice-president of the United Steelworkers, George Becker organized a strike against Ravenswood Aluminum Corporation. Lasting over twenty months, the eventual resolution benefited steelworkers. The first major strike in years to offer positive tangible results, the Ravenswood protest was just the beginning of how George Becker worked to organize and lead the labor movement. Upon becoming the president of the United Steelworkers of America, George Becker promptly restructured the union, bringing new efficiencies and operational improvements. He also worked to redefine its mission, so that the union would help foster new leaders for tomorrow. Creating the Legislative Internship Project, George Becker invited young people to become involved in the labor movement. He fostered a sense of community from within, and as President Becker was able to create a stronger labor union with a newfound political clout. George Becker has continually fought and stood up for the steel industry in the United States. He founded Stand Up For Steel, an alliance of unions and steel manufacturers. United to help stop unfair trade practices, Stand Up For Steel has become an important organization in the battle to promote fair trade. As George Becker ends his long term of service to the United Steelworkers of America, he leaves behind a stronger, more assertive union. He has spent a lifetime helping his fellow workers by representing and expressing their needs and concerns. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring Mr. George Becker.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to John Gallagher. Known as ``Bobo'' by friends, John Gallagher dedicated himself to working for justice and creating a safer community. As bailiff for Judge Norm Fuerst, Mr. Gallagher strove to fight crime and create a more secure community. He worked hard and was dedicated to the public interest. His dedication to his community did not end with his job. In his free time, Mr. Gallagher devoted himself to improving his neighborhood and creating a better home for his family. His love for his family could be seen in how he spoke of them to his friends, neighbors, and coworkers. John Gallagher contributed to the restoration of St. Colman Church and he worked tirelessly to support the West Side Irish Club. John Gallagher loved his country and was active in many political campaigns, working to advance the causes in which he believed. Even greater than his dedication to his community was John Gallagher's commitment to his family. The father of three, John Gallagher always worked to help strengthen his family. He was a loving, caring father who saw the importance of creating a safe neighborhood for his family to live. He was proud of his family as well as his heritage. John Gallagher was always quick with a smile, or a kind comment or word of encouragement. John was, in the words of a longtime friend, a ``ray of sunshine.'' John Gallagher was a model citizen who recognized the connection between a strong family and a safe community. Throughout his life, he worked to strengthen both. He will be missed. My fellow colleagues, please help me in honoring John Gallagher.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, we can be for tax relief, but it makes sense to see the budget first. The government should not spend money that it does not have and should not give away money it might need. I know there are some people with great resources who do not need public education, Social Security, Medicare, or prescription drug benefit. Some do not need these programs because they can take care of themselves. Mr. Speaker, why give away 43 percent of the tax cuts to the top 1 percent when we may need that money for education, Social Security and Medicare needed by most Americans. Basic American fairness requires that we should give the most to the many. Under our alternative, millions of waitresses, mechanics, nurses, home health aides, teachers and factory workers would get about $300. Families would get between $600 and $800. Mr. Speaker, that proud eagle above our heads spreads its wings to protect the entire Nation. It is not some bird to be plucked and stuffed and eaten by a few.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise in congratulations to the success of St. Michael Hospital in maintaining the tradition of high quality, community health care. Last year, the life of St. Michael Hospital, a full service community hospital, was threatened by a buyer who sought to close it. Without notice, patients were told to find other physicians, wards were closed, ambulance service was stopped and units were shut down. Once the community learned of the pending closure, they sprang into action to save St. Michael. A massive effort began. Neighborhood residents spoke out, the City Council supported, doctors and nurses worked tirelessly and my office filed an amicus brief to prevent the closure, supported by hundreds of constituents. Today, St. Michael Hospital is not only in stable condition, but growing its services and expanding its facility. Not even a year after it stood at the brink of closure, it is now in the middle of plans to increase the size of the emergency room by 50 percent. Construction will begin in a few months to allow the hospital to create more treatment areas for trauma patients. Later this month, two renovation projects are slated to begin. A new inpatient gero-psychiatric ward was opened last December after renovation was completed on the fourth floor. St. Michael has even started a shuttle service for patients without transportation. For 117 years, St. Michael Hospital (formerly St. Alexis) has done a remarkable job of tending to the health of Clevelanders. It has provided high quality health care to hundreds of thousands of patients, no matter their color, country of origin, age or ability to pay. Over 20 percent of its patients are unable to afford health care, but they are treated at St. Michael. Our community has long known the institution's strength of compassion, and we are now so lucky to witness its strength of determination and resilience. St. Michael has rebounded with new medical care programs, an increase in patient volume and an improved financial situation. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the work of St. Michael Hospital and the University Hospital Health Network which came to its rescue. I ask that you join with me in congratulating all who have brought St. Michael Hospital back to life.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I am glad my good friend mentioned business because from a business perspective this motion is narrow minded. A productive workforce is a healthy and skilled workforce. When workplace injuries cause workers to take time away, businesses have to train new workers and pay higher worker's compensation premiums. All of these costs will get higher and higher if this motion passes. That escalation will cut into productivity and render American business less competitive in the future. Beyond that, this motion will stop OSHA from protecting Americans against repetitive stress disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome and the physical injuries that workers sustain every day. Many of these millions are women. They are our mothers, our aunts, our sisters and our daughters. Each year 400,000 women workers suffer injuries from dangerously designed jobs. Sixty-nine percent of all workers who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome are women. This motion represents a betrayal of promises made to the women of America. In 1998, the House Committee on Appropriations majority report stated the committee will refrain from any further restrictions with regard to the development, promulgation or issuance of an ergonomics standard following fiscal year 1998. The chairman signed and sent a letter reiterating that promise. What we have here are broken promises, broken bodies, broken faith in government. This ought to be defeated.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a woman from my home State of Ohio who in many ways exemplifies the qualities of our greatest citizens. On March 11, Vera Gillis will celebrate her 70th birthday. Throughout her life, Vera Gillis has served as an example of how hard work can touch the lives of others. To say Vera Gillis is still going strong would be an understatement. This year, Vera will run her church's rummage sale and tutor numerous students from overseas. Vera Gillis also exemplifies compassion as she brings the Eucharist to those who aren't able to attend Mass every week. This year, she will welcome home her children who will come from as far away as Maine, Massachusetts, California, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Belgium to celebrate her birthday. Throughout her life, Vera has consistently worked to make day-to-day life more meaningful and enriching by bringing people together with her overwhelming enthusiasm and wonderful sense of humor. She has served as the unofficial neighborhood ambassador since the early 1960s when her growing family moved to Westlake. Vera made sure everyone knew each other, even if it was just getting together at her house for an annual Christmas party. Now a grandmother of six, Vera has always made her home a special place for children. Not only did she teach Spanish gratis to the students at Holy Trinity Elementary School, she also taught the neighborhood kids how to swim, go Christmas caroling and even put on musical shows. She has been a steadfast and dear companion to her ever-growing circle of close friends. As an active member of Holy Trinity Church and its affiliated school in Avon, Ohio, Vera has contributed much more than even the 20 years of playground duty would indicate. Despite the many changes and the enormous growth in Westlake and Avon as suburbs, one of the constants has been the sense of community that results when people like Vera live there. Always quick to share a smile or kind words, Vera Gillis has helped to bring her community together. One of Vera Gillis' most notable achievements has been her dedication to teaching English as a Second Language and American Citizenship classes. Her never-ending patience and enjoyment in bringing people from such diverse countries as Denmark, Poland, and Japan together is truly remarkable. Rather than just instructing people in the English language or American history, she shows people how to be neighbors, friends, and citizens. I would like to thank Vera for her commitment and service to the people of the State of Ohio. My fellow colleagues, please join me in wishing Vera Gillis a very happy 70th birthday.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Gerome Rita Stefanski. A loving mother of five children and a courageous businesswoman, Mrs. Stefanski's life serves as a beautiful example of the American dream come true. Daughter of Helen and Alexander Rutkowski, Gerome Rita Stefanski was raised in a loving and caring environment. From her parents, Mrs. Stefanski learned strong family values which helped her in raising her own children. Married in 1937, Mrs. Stefanski was mother to five children: Ben, Hermine Cech, Abigail, Floyd and Marc. Throughout her life, Gerome Rita Stefanski always made her family her first priority. Foregoing a career as a social worker, Mrs. Stefanski chose to stay at home and raise her children to assure that they would grow up in the same loving environment which she had known as a child. Mrs. Stefanski attended college at Notre Dame College of Ohio and earned a master's degree from Catholic University of Washington, D.C. At her college graduation, Mrs. Stefanski was awarded the Bishop Schrembs Cross for recognition of her superior essay on the subject of religion as a working principle of life. She was also recently awarded an honorary doctorate from Notre Dame College of Ohio. Shortly after her marriage, Gerome Rita Stefanski was an important partner in the founding of the Third Federal Savings Association. Working closely with her husband Ben, she prepared all of the original organizational documents. Mrs. Stefanski served as the sole advertising manager and wrote all of its publications for almost fifty years. A pioneer of the increased role of women in the workplace, Mrs. Stefanski became the Third Federal Savings Association's first female director in 1981. Mrs. Gerome Rita Stefanski was a brilliant businesswomen and a loving mother, My fellow Congressmen, please join me in celebrating the life of Gerome Rita Stefanski.