Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shiloh Baptist Church in celebration of 150 years of service and worship in Cleveland. Shiloh Baptist Church is the first African American Baptist Church in the city of Cleveland. Since its founding in 1849 Shiloh Baptist Church has developed and maintained a unique link to the city of Cleveland. During the time when Cleveland was a small rural community, a merchant by the name of Michael Gregory owned a dwelling storefront that became a meeting place for the settlers. It was there that seeds for the need of a church were planted and soon after Shiloh Baptist Church was the magnificent blossom. Through the years, Shiloh's development was insured by the dedication and care of several ministers, deacons, and members. Today, under the pastorate of Rev. Alfred M. Walker, more than 1,300 new members have joined Shiloh Baptist Church. Leading under the theme ``Exalting Jesus, the Christ'', Rev. Walker has adopted the main task of: ``Recognizing Evil and doing something about it; and seeking to know the Truth and be willing to speak and act in its defense''. Considered to be the Mother Church in Cleveland, Shiloh Baptist Church has been responsible for the organization of many other churches in the surrounding area. Through Shiloh's maternal link with the Cleveland community the congregation has continued to grow. Shiloh Baptist Church has managed to nourish and nurture the community for 150 years through its various organizations and activities. This great church offers the people of the community a chance to work together with the church in grand synopsis form which has produced men and women who have made many significant contributions to the economic and social development of the city and the state. I am pleased to congratulate Shiloh Baptist Church on the 150th anniversary in addition to its being designated a historical landmark by the Heritage Society of Cleveland and the Cleveland Restoration Society. It is an honour to recognize the Shiloh Baptist Church on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Forest City Park Civic Association of Cleveland, Ohio on its 60th charter anniversary. The Civic Association marked its anniversary with a celebration on August 10, 1999. The Civic Association dates back to May 11, 1939 when it was first chartered by the state of Ohio as a non-profit, non-political organization. It was the first group in southeast Cleveland to set up a vigorous Neighborhood Improvement Program which served to catalyze similar programs in other communities. The Forest City Park Civic Association has also pioneered many other activities during its 60 years of existence. They have been involved in a Green Up campaign to plant trees and shrubs throughout the community along with civic participation in pollution control and abatement. Other activities of the Civic Association entail garden tours, picnics and street parties for the community. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the members of the Forest City Park Civic Association on their anniversary and salute them for sixty years of civic service and continuing their dedication to the community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the Annunciation Parish Community as it celebrates its 75th year of dedicated service to the West Cleveland community. The Annunciation Parish Community, through its ``willingness to bear Jesus to the world,'' has served as a center for the religious expression and the spiritual growth of the West 130th and Bennnington communities. Through the rite of Baptism as well as conversions, Annunciation has brought many members of the community into the Catholic faith. Throughout the years, Annunciation has served as a center of spiritual and religious growth within the community through the rites of Eucharist and Confirmation. Also, Annunciation unites Catholic members of the community through marriage, offers spiritual pardons through confession, as well as memorializes the deceased through Christian burial. Annunciation has also educated generations of young men, women and children who have passed through the residential school over the last seventy years. In addition to teaching children the fundamental academic disciplines, Annunciation has taught the importance of service to the community. Currently, Annunciation is involved in helping to bring the Bellaire-Puritas Development Corporation and the Meals-On- Wheels to the area, providing their end of the month Neighborhood Meal, and monthly Food Collection and Hunger Collection, both of which are very supportive of the West Park Community Cupboard. It is evident that the Annunciation Parish Community has, over the years, played a crucial role in the community, and that its many years of service have been an invaluable contribution to the West Cleveland community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, today, the House of Representatives decides whether elections will continue to be controlled by a wealthy and powerful elite, or whether a significant curb on their hold over the American political process will be put in place. H.R. 417, the Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance reform bill will help to give elections back to the people by curbing the influence of the moneyed interests. Do not be fooled by the amendments offered today. They are intended to gut the Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform bill. The rules of today's debate were designed to undermine real campaign finance reform with a series of poor substitutes. The real test of whether this House supports campaign finance reform or thwarts it is this: we must defeat all substitute amendments and poison pill amendments, and then we must pass Shays-Meehan.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the chairman for their concern over this, and we really need support on this and we are going to do everything we can. I want the people to know we are going to do everything we can to try to resolve this.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I want to first of all thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) for his work and his support on the concerns which we have for the NASA Glenn Research Center in the Greater Cleveland area. I want to say that people in that community certainly know that we have a bipartisan coalition working together on behalf of that Center. The budget in the bill for NASA currently before the House represents about a $1 billion cut, or cut of 10 percent from current funding. The LaTourette amendment would effectively restore $68 million for important programs for NASA's science, aeronautics, and technology. This increased funding would benefit NASA research centers, projects, and American jobs. NASA Administrator, Dan Goldin, has said that if the 10-percent cut in this legislation becomes a reality, then one or more NASA centers could be closed and significant layoffs in the existing workforce would be likely. What a terrible loss to American business and consumers that these cuts closed centers like NASA Glenn Research. NASA Glenn is one of the most important sources of technological innovations and advancement. For example, NASA Glenn has produced the de-icing system used on every small commercial aircraft, thus enhancing passenger safety. NASA Glenn has developed the coating for scratch resistant eyeglasses used by millions of people who wear glasses. NASA Glenn developed artificial hip joints. NASA Glenn developed fire-resistant fabrics. And NASA Glenn is now developing aircraft engines that use less fuel, release fewer pollutants, and generate less noise. Clearly, American consumers stand to benefit from continued NASA Glenn research and activity. So does American business. For instance, NASA Glenn has helped a Cleveland electronic manufacturer demonstrate the capabilities of its antenna enabling it to win a contract with a German automobile manufacturer. NASA Glenn helped an American vacuum manufacturer improve its products by reducing noise associated with its fans by using sophisticated computer software that was developed for jet engines. NASA Glenn helps the American satellite industry with developing cutting-edge communications electronics. NASA Glenn helps the aerospace industry with improved jet engines. And NASA Glenn has advanced important microgravity experiments. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and I support increasing funding for NASA science, research, and technology that could be used for activities at various research centers nationwide, including NASA Glenn, where more than 2,000 employees work for a better present and a better future. The funding for NASA's science, research, and technology promises to yield innovation and major advancements that will make possible a high- technology economy for a long-term future. We must focus on our long- term priorities. These priorities must include the future of American workers with advanced training who deserve high-paying jobs. They must include the future of the American economy. Let us demonstrate our commitment to the advancement of science and technology. Let us demonstrate our commitment to American workers nationwide. Let us demonstrate our commitment to American consumers and businesses and an expanding economy. And let us demonstrate our commitment and appreciation of NASA. I also want to thank the scientists the engineers and the support personnel at NASA Glenn for the work that they do, because they are truly serving our country and it is only right that their representatives stand in defense of their work and in appreciation of the work that they do every day for this country and for NASA Glenn.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Northeast Ohio's designation as the 74th Clean Cities region under the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program. Clean Cities is a national partnership formed to increase the use of clean-running alternative fuel vehicles. The Northeast Ohio Clean Cities designation encompasses Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga, Lake, and Ashtabula Counties in Northeast Ohio. The Northeast Ohio Clean Cities program is driven by The Northeast Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition, a group of dedicated people and organizations led by the Earth Day Coalition, a long-time leader in environmental protection for Northeast Ohio. On Tuesday, September 14, 1999, U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson will formally designate Northeast Ohio as the 74th Clean Cities region in a ceremony to be held at the Great Lakes Science Center on Cleveland's Waterfront. The Northeast Ohio region joins other partners recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, including Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Chicago. Northeast Ohio, a region historically known as a pioneer in the automobile industry, has more recently become a leader in the production and use of electric and alternative fuel vehicles. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority helped pioneer the use of alternative fuels in its fleet. Northeast Ohio is home to the NASA Glenn Research Center, an organization pioneering the future of hybrid engine technologies. Furthermore, the Northeast Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition was formed to promote alternative fueling stations and alternative fuel vehicles to regionally facilitate the development of a nationally viable alternative fuels industry. Achieving Clean Cities is a significant next phase in Northeast Ohio's commitment to alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles. This designation is an important step to achieving more local awareness and acceptance of alternative fuel vehicles that will, in turn, draw greater support for legislation that will enhance the alternative fuels marketplace. As the 74th Clean Cities region, the Northeast Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition will seek to facilitate alternative fuel vehicle production, conversion, and use, expand fueling availability, create new jobs and commercial opportunities, advance objectives outlined in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, increase public awareness of alternative fuel benefits, and provide greater fuel choices in the Northeast Ohio area. I am pleased to welcome Secretary Richardson to the Northeast Ohio area where I am certain he will be impressed by the commitment of the dedicated individuals who are working to make Greater Cleveland a more environmentally and economically sustainable place to live and work. It is an honor to recognize the Department of Energy's Clean Cities program and the Northeast Ohio Clean Fuels Coalition on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Henry J. Morgan Post 451, American Legion of Rocky River, Ohio on its 65th charter anniversary. The Post will mark its anniversary with a dinner on September 11, 1999. I am honored to have been asked to attend and participate in this event. The Post traces its roots back to September 11, 1934 when the organization became officially chartered. The following year the Post joined efforts with the Alcorn Camp of United Spanish War Veterans and launched a program to decorate the graves of veterans with flowers and flags. Delegates from the Post continued this tradition of cooperation among veterans associations by forming a Joint Veterans Council for the City of Lakewood and its vicinity in 1936. During WWII, the Post was active in promoting a flag program and displaying flags throughout the community. Members showed their continuing patriotism by serving as Auxiliary Police, Boy Scout leaders and organizing the Rocky River High School Cadet Drill Corps. Following the war, activities were held in conjunction with other veterans organizations to benefit the Marine Hospital. In addition, recreational activities such as legion baseball and bowling teams were coordinated for veterans. Currently the Post has 300 members and continues to grow and attract new members through its active participation in community projects. Post 451 has always placed greater emphasis on community service, especially in the areas of youth and veterans. The group currently works with local school systems on flag education, the Americanism test, and the Legion Oratorial Contest. In addition, the post sponsors high school students to attend Boys State in Columbus, Ohio, where they learn about government. The organization supports the academic achievement of local students and is in its 5th year of sponsoring a $10,000 scholarship program for Rocky River High School, awarding the top 100 students with a $100 scholarship. The Legion is also active in the Gifts for Yanks program, which provides Christmas gifts to patients in veterans hospitals. Mr. Speaker, I salute the members of the Rocky River Post No. 451 for bravely serving their country and continuing to serve their community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, the Kucinich-Ros Lehtinen amendment would provide valuable and needed protection to state and local laws made vulnerable by NAFTA and the GATT Uruguay Round to assault by foreign corporations, investors and nations. However, some domestic opponents of the Kucinich-Ros Lehtinen amendment argue that it is not necessary since it would protect laws that the commerce clause of the Constitution would prohibit. In response to this argument, I would inform our critics that most of the state and local laws that are endangered by NAFTA and WTO are local economic development and public safety laws and have nothing to do with the commerce clause of the Constitution. For instance, the amendment would protect Kentucky's small-business set-aside law, which the European Union has said is WTO illegal. The amendment would also protect New Jersey's ``buy local'' requirements for state procurement, which the European Union has said is WTO illegal. Also, the amendment would protect California's ban on a poisonous gasoline additive, which a Canadian company has challenged on the grounds that it is NAFTA illegal. Some domestic opponents claim that the Kucinich-Ros Lehtinen amendment ``prohibits the federal government from challenging any state or local law on the grounds that it violates treaty obligations'' and would, therefore, put the United States in violation of treaties. First of all, there is some confusion implicit in this objection to the amendment about the legal status of NAFTA and the WTO. Neither NAFTA nor the Uruguay Round of the GATT is a treaty. Neither received two-thirds vote of the other body, as the Constitution requires for treaties. They are Congressional-Executive agreements, not treaties. Moving on to the question of preemption, in fact, the amendment is very narrowly crafted to protect state and local laws from preemption only by NAFTA and WTO bureaucrats. The state and local governments need the protection provided by the amendment since NAFTA and the WTO pose unique problems for them that treaties do not. For instance, human rights and environmental treaties do not preempt state law. Congress has always made clear when implementing human rights treaties and environmental treaties that they are not to be construed as preempting state law. But state and local law did not receive such protection under NAFTA and WTO. While the NAFTA and WTO implementing legislation clearly state that they do not preempt federal law, they do subject state law to direct preemption under trade rules. The amendment does not limit Congress from preempting state and local law for any reason Congress chooses. It only limits the Department of Justice from using the courts to enforce a WTO-bureaucrat decision against a state or local law. Therefore, Congress can pass the Kucinich-Ros Lehtinen amendment and the U.S. will still be in full compliance with all treaties. Domestic opponents also claim that there is process for federal-state consultation to decide whether state law should be preempted under trade agreements, and so far no state laws have been struck down as violations of trade rules. In response to this objection, I would remind critics that the consultation process does not give the states, or Congress, any control over the decision of whether to preempt state law. Instead the implementing legislation for both NAFTA and the WTO give the President the sole authority to decide whether to ask the federal courts to strike down state laws as a violation of trade rules. No state laws have been struck down yet because the challenges to state law have been filed recently and the trade panels have not yet assessed damages against the United States based upon the state laws. If you need to see realized the predictable consequences of the far- reaching and unprecedented rights given to foreign investors, corporations and nations by the NAFTA and WTO (at the expense of state and local governments), wait until the trade panels start awarding damages against the U.S. based upon state laws--$970 million in damages requested based on California's MBTE ban, $750 million asked by Loewen for Mississippi Jury award, and $40 million sought by a Canadian company that doesn't like Massachusetts state sovereign immunity statute. Mr. Chairman, I hope that this helps to clarify the facts about the Kucinich-Ros Lehtinen amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional woman, Ms. Margaret W. Wong. Today, Ms. Margaret W. Wong is the recipient of the Belle Sherwin Democracy in Action Award. The Belle Sherwin Democracy in Action Award is awarded annually by the league of Women Voters of Cleveland, Ohio. Ms. Margaret W. Wong reflects and upholds the goals of the league through her dedication to serving others and furthering the quality of our Cleveland community. She is a civic leader and committed to helping immigrants and those in need through her work in immigration and naturalization law. Ms. Margaret W. Wong is an admirable member of our community. I ask you to join me in acknowledging her accomplishments and honoring her for receiving the Belle Sherwin Democracy in Action Award.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Very Reverend Father Mikhail E. Mikhail, D. Min who celebrates the Silver Jubilee of the Priestly Ordination for 25 years of service at the Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Cleveland. The Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail E. Mikhail began his service to God at a young age as a student of several Coptic Orthodox Church leaders in Cairo, Egypt. He excelled in his studies and was fortunate to enter the Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary in Caro which he came under the patronage of his most influential mentor, H. H. Pope Shenouda III, who was the H.G. Shenouda, Bishop of the Christian Education and Dean of the Seminary. In 1972, the Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail, then Deacon Mounier, graduated from the Seminary and was assigned to serve at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Masarra Shoubra in Cairo. Shortly after, he became the first consecrated deacon to serve in the United States at the St. Mary & St. Antonius in Queens, New York. Only a year later, in 1974, he was called back to Cairo and on May 11, 1974 Deacon Mounir married Seham Samuel. On August 23, 1974 Deacon Mounier was ordained the Priest Mikhail Edward Mikhail by H. H. Pope Shenouda III at St. Marks Cathedral. In 1975, Fr. Mikhail and his wife arrived in Cleveland to begin his new ministry as the first resident pastor of the St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church. Here he served a community which was about fifty families large as well as other Coptic communities in Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati in Ohio; and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Fr. Mikhail took the lead in the building of a new church in Cleveland in the traditional Coptic style which officially opened in 1988. The Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail has dedicated his life in the past 25 years to the spiritual growth and enhancement of the Coptic community in Cleveland. As a result of his guidance there has been a revived interest in true Coptic Orthodox religious practices that have brought people closer to God. As a father, a teacher, and friend, the Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail has been a blessing to the Coptic community both in Cleveland and abroad. My Fellow colleagues, join me in honoring the Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail, a man who has dedicated his life to God, freedom and the well-being of all people.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the memory of Mrs. Winnie Lee Brown Martin of Garfield Heights, Ohio for her years of devotion and service to her community. Mrs. Martin devoted her time selflessly and wholeheartedly, balacing between the community, a family, and her job. She was a diligent worker and worked at the Joseph Feiss and Company's clothing factor for more than twenty-eight years, but never let it subtract from her life at home. Her sense of family values lead to a warm, loving home for her two sons, Elroy Martin, Jr. and Laddree Lee Martin, and to her late husband, Elroy Martin, Sr. who sadly passed away eleven years ago. She skillfully represented her community and was a dynamic local political leader. The list of her achievements is seemingly endless. She served as president of the Garfield Heights Women's Civic Club, precinct committeewoman, and was on the executive board of the Garfield Heights Democratic Club. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections further deputized her to assist them in the voting process. She also contributed so much to the community life, serving on the Council of Ministries of Schaffer United Methodist Church and later, as an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. She even organized the community's popular High Steppers drill team. These activities did not go unrecognized: in 1983 she was awarded the Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation Award for outstanding community service and in 1985 she was awarded the Henry S. Trubiano Award for service in the Democratic Club. Mrs. Martin's legacy lives on in her sons, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. Her dedication and her warm personality will be remembered with affection for many years to come. My dear colleagues, please join me in honoring the memory of this remarkable woman. She will be greatly missed.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, this bill is flawed from the sky above to the earth below. Here on terra firma the bill would hurt the poor, the elderly and the disabled by cutting their housing assistance and the sky above, our space program, and its innovation, its ability to create new jobs is being destroyed. Glenn Research Center in my district, which is one of the finest centers in this country, is under attack in this bill. America is in effect eating its technological seed corn by destroying the ability of the space program to create new jobs with cuts like this, and at the same time America turns its back on the poor while the rich are getting richer, the poor are indeed getting poorer. It is time to take this bill away from fat city and send it back to committee.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the faculty, staff, and students, past and present, of Saint Edward High School as they celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the school's founding. The story of Saint Edward High School is one of community. Three Brothers of the Holy Cross opened the new school in 1949 with a mission of providing outstanding Catholic education to the young men of Cleveland's West Side. The Brothers of the Holy Cross recognize community as an invaluable resource to the individual, one from which valuable lessons of self and God are drawn. The school that they built would reflect this awareness of the human family's interconnectedness. The story of Saint Edward High School is one of tradition. The schools's tradition is one of excellence based in common values arrived at through honest contemplation. Saint Edward men confront the same questions that every human being with an honest thirst for justice and peace must confront. That they arrive at similar conclusions lends only more credence to the school's core of beliefs. The values have stood the test of time and so has Saint Edward High School. Saint Edward men are not committed to doing justice because that is their reputation. Saint Edward men are committed to doing justice because, by virtue of an honest, open, and on-going investigation into how life is to be lived, the way of love seems the only rational approach. The story of Saint Edward High School is one of family. Saint Edward students tend to beget Saint Edward students, generation after generation of families growing up amongst the same faculty, the same staff--a growing community that never forgets what it is, what it was, and the values that have allowed for its progress. It comes as little surprise, then, that a listing of the school's achievements sounds so much like what proud parents might say of their children--the school possessing a selfless enthusiasm for its student's achievements. Indeed, Saint Edward High School has much reason to be enthusiastic. St. Edward men's excellence in the classroom transfers on to the playing field. The St. Edward Wrestling, Basketball, and Baseball teams delivered Ohio High School State Championships in 1998. Whether it be debate or band, Latin or chess, St. Edward students consistently prove to be the best amongst their peers. My fellow colleagues, I ask you to join me in wishing the best to the community of St. Edward High School as it celebrates the school's first fifty years in existence.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Stanley J. Trupo of Berea, Ohio, who recently announced his retirement after 12 years of dedicated public service. Mayor Trupo inherited a city without a strategic vision--and an office without furniture. Elected in 1987, the new mayor entered his office in city hall to find it empty, save a broken desk chair. Stan immediately went about restoring order to Berea's house. The Mayor's first step was to develop the city economically. The Mayor's efforts translated into Berea's being the site of the Cleveland Browns' headquarters. Under Stan's leadership, Berea became not only a city in which to live, but a city in which to work. His promotion of the city's industrial corridor has brought over 4,000 jobs to Berea. While the city's business sector has expanded, Berea has remained a community of families. Berea is a city that takes care of its children. Berea public schools form one of the most respected systems in my state. Mayor Trupo's youth diversion program provides guidance to at- risk kids. Trupo projects like the Berea Recreation Center well represent the city's rich community life. The Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds host the county's huge annual fair. Berea Summer Theater entertains crowds at Baldwin Wallace College. With the return of the Browns, parents and children will once again line practice fields, watching their gridiron heroes preparing for the coming season. It is Mayor Trupo's success in moderating Berea's economic development as a city on the move and his hard work to maintain longstanding community traditions that has led to Berea's being named as a White House Millennium City. Mayor Trupo's work does not end at Berea's borderline. Stan has also served as a trustee on the board of Regional Transit Authority. Stan's time on the board has been marked by an expansion period during which Cleveland-area residents have enjoyed a better level of service than ever before. A White House appointment added a seat on board of the Federal Home and Loan Bank of Cincinnati to Mayor Trupo's long list of responsibilities. The tireless Mayor Trupo served in each capacity with characteristic resolve. I wish to thank Mayor Trupo for his outstanding service and ask my fellow colleagues to join me in wishing Mayor Trupo all the best as he moves on to new endeavors.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dixon). (Mr. DIXON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. KUCINICH

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

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, neither NAFTA nor the Uruguay round of GATT is a treaty. Neither received a two-thirds vote of the other body as the Constitution requires for treaties. Congress can support my amendment, and the U.S. will still be in full compliance with all treaties. We must protect the States from challenges from foreign corporations and countries. Let us stand by our States and stand by our local communities. Vote for the Kucinich-Ros-Lehtinen amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, the Kucinich Ros/Lehtinen amendment protects State and local laws and sovereignty. The past year has proven that State and local laws are under assault by means of NAFTA and the World Trade Organization. In the past year, foreign corporations have challenged laws in Mississippi and California, claiming that the States violated NAFTA's chapter 11 foreign investor rights. In Mississippi, a Canadian-based funeral conglomerate is seeking hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in compensation. In California, a Canadian chemical company is challenging a State ban prohibiting the use of a harmful gasoline additive on the grounds that the Canadian company will lose future profits as a result of the ban. The State of New Jersey has enacted ``buy local'' materials requirements for the construction of public works projects that the European Union says is WTO illegal. California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and West Virginia have adopted tax regulations so that foreign-owned corporations would pay their fair share of taxes. The European Union says this is WTO illegal. Is Congress prepared to allow the States to be the subject of an assault by foreign corporations and nations? This amendment says ``no.''

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute. (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller). (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)