Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

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

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to divide the time, 2\1/2\ minutes for myself and 2\1/2\ minutes that would be managed by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior).

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Campbell amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Bill offered by Mr. Campbell. This amendment stops the funding for the use of secret evidence by the Immigration Naturalization Service. In 1996 an amendment was added to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, authorizing the INS to use secret evidence in barring or deporting immigrants as well as denying benefits such as asylum. However, this law restricts two rights Americans hold very dear: (1) the right to due process and (2) the right to free speech. This country has always and must continue to value the right to a fair trial and the freedom to hold and practice personal beliefs. However, allowing the use of secret evidence undermines the rights and liberty of both citizens and legal aliens alike because it lessens the constraints of both Constitutional considerations and conscience on INS cases. The case of the Iraqi seven clearly illustrates the flawed use of secret evidence. Seven Iraq individuals were among the many Iraqi Arabs and Kurds who were part of a CIA-backed plot to overthrow Saddam Hussein. While attempting to gain political asylum in the United States after their work in Iraq with 1,200 other Iraqis, these seven individuals were singled out and detained by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service on the claim that they were a risk to national security. These seven individuals, who had worked with the U.S. in opposition to Saddam Hussein, were now seen as a threat to our national security based on secret evidence. Evidence that no one was allowed to see. Not the 7 Iraqis. And not their attorneys. Evidence that could be used to deny them asylum and deport them back to Iraq where they would surely meet their death. After much pressure, 500 pages of this so-called secret evidence was released. Closer examination revealed the evidence was tarnished due to its faulty translations, misinformation and use of ethnic and religious stereotyping. There have been about 50 cases where secret evidence was used to detain and deport individuals. This is unAmerican. The cornerstone of our judicial system is that evidence cannot be used against someone unless he or she had the chance to confront it. The INS is relying more and more on the use of secret evidence. If we continue to fund the use of secret evidence against non-citizens, then soon secret evidence will be used against American citizens too. There will be no limit to its use. So, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. I ask you to maintain and defend the civil rights of all citizens living in the United States under the U.S. Constitution. Vote ``yes'' on the Campbell amendment. Mr. Chairman, I include material relating to this matter for the Record.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would like to again assert that I have a letter from the chairman of the Telecommunications Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in support of the principles that are in this Bass-Kucinich amendment. I also have a resolution on the FCC's resource optimization rulemaking proceeding which has been passed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners which, in fact, states that they are asking for support of, again, the principles embodied in Bass- Kucinich. I would further assert that the problem is caused by the FCC preemption of States' abilities to solve this area code situation. The States have the ability to do that. Our amendment gives the States the power to resolve this issue. And before preemption happened, New York State solved a New York City problem with a 917 area code. Since then, they were preempted by the FCC. Now, telephone number exhaustion is perceived as a local problem, but the truth is that the States are best able to solve the local problem, and it is self-evident at this point. Just think about it. About 10 percent of the numbers are being used. This is a practical matter which affects millions of Americans. Ten percent of their phone numbers are being used, and yet the FCC permits new area codes to be created until there will be no more area codes left and we will have to add another digit and that will cost consumers $150 billion. Give this amendment a chance. Give consumers a chance. Do not pave the way for the largest telephone rate hike in history. Let us enforce a discipline upon the FCC for number conservation and for conservation of the fiscal resources of our constituents. We do not need more area codes, we need an FCC which has the direction from this Congress to do its job and to quit wasting the telecommunications resources of this Nation. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Bass and I offer a commonsense amendment to protect consumers. Our amendment will eliminate the inconvenience and cost experienced by consumers when the telephone company announces that the area code has to change. Our amendment deals with the root cause of area code changes. Our amendment will prevent the exhaustion of telephone numbers and save the economy about $150 billion in preventable emergency measures. If the rate at which new area codes are being introduced continues, we may run out of area codes by as soon as 2007. If that occurs, we could be forced to add one more digit to all US phone numbers. The FCC and other reliable sources estimate that the cost to the economy of adding an extra digit to all telephone numbers could be as high as $150-billion. The cost would cover reprogramming all computer networks and data bases to recognize the expanded numbering format. It is about the same as the cost of fixing the Y2K bug. But unlike the Y2K problem, the coming crisis in telephone number allocation is entirely preventable. Through years of wastefulness, there is now a crisis in area code exhaustion. Residents all over this nation are familiar with the proliferation of new area codes due to the exhaustion of number supply. Residents in my own district of Parma, Ohio, have first hand knowledge. In Parma, the telephone Company declared that it had to split Parma into two areas codes. The residents decided to fight back and have contested the need for the area code split in the Ohio Supreme Court. In the process of that effort, they learned that over ninety percent of the telephone numbers in the old area code were not even in use, but were wasted because of telephone company allocation practices. Indeed, Lockheed Martin, the private company that now manages the assignment of new area codes in the nation, has said that only five percent of the nearly 6.4-billion potential telephone numbers are actually in use. Lockheed Martin has also said that if an alternative to these wasteful practices is not adopted immediately, the hundred billion dollar solution of adding a new digit to all telephone numbers will have to be employed. Our amendment directs the FCC to move quickly to prevent the exhaustion of area codes, minimize cost to consumers and, in case of emergency, delegate to state utility commissioners the ability to prevent area code exhaust. Our amendment promotes competition by ensuring that consumers can take their telephone numbers with them if they choose to switch carriers. Our amendment restores the ability of consumers to dial only seven digits and reach anyone in their area code. And, our amendment will save the economy about $150 billion in unproductive, and preventable emergency remedial action. The Bass-Kucinich amendment is pro-consumer. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this for all of those people across this country who are fed up with what has happened, with area codes being split, and there not being an exhaustion of telephone numbers.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Dixon) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman) for their support of this amendment. I thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) for his cooperation in working on this and to the senior Members, who are the chairmen of the committees. Mr. Chairman, there are more than 2 billion potential telephone numbers right now, but only 10 percent of them are in use. So there are plenty of telephone numbers. But due to the FCC mismanagement, roughly 70 million customers have been told they have to switch area codes due to a scarcity of numbers in their area code. Now, the U.S. is only a few years away from running out of area codes. This will necessitate adding an extra digit to all telephone numbers. Now think about that for a moment. If one's phone number is 224-3121, and they want to make it 224-31210, just adding that extra digit is going to cost consumers in this country $150 billion. We are talking about the largest telephone rate hike in history here. The Bass-Kucinich amendment would direct the FCC to make sure that more telephone numbers were assigned efficiently before new area codes are imposed. That would save consumers $150 billion in preventable telephone bill charges. The State Regulatory Utility Commissioners support the goal of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I have a letter from the Chairman of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners as well as the resolution of that body which, in effect, endorses the principles that are in this amendment by myself and the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass). I include the letter and resolution for the Record as follows: The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, August 5, 1999. Re: Number conservation Hon. Thomas Bliley, Chairman, House Commerce Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington DC. Dear Chairman Bliley: I write to request that you support enabling state commissions to respond effectively to telephone number exhaustion. I am Chairman of the Telecommunications Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). NARUC represents state and territorial commissions which regulate telecommunications services. We have appreciated Congress's close concern with Telecommunications Act implementation, and its interest in the views of state public utility commissions. Many state commissioners in affected states support current Congressional proposals to enable state commissions to respond to the numbering crisis. NARUC itself has not endorsed specific Congressional action, as opposed to Federal Communications Action to broaden state commission ability to respond, subject to Congressional oversight. However the problem is addressed, the need for state authority is compelling and is urgent. Telephone number exhaustion is perhaps the most heated and controversial issue state public utility commissions in large and medium-sized states. Residential and business customers become more upset about area code changes than about most rate increases. Customers associate their area code with their physical location and also resent the expense and confusion caused by area code changes. Customers perceive numbering and area codes as state issues and focus their anger on state public utility commissions. State commissions are blamed for the train wreck but lack adequate tools either to avoid it or to clean up the mess after it occurs. State public utility commissions have taken a proactive and constructive approach to numbering issues. State commissions have been fully engaged with the Federal Communications Commission, where several petitions are currently pending, and with the North American Numbering Council on all aspects of number planning. State commissions have emphasized conservation measures before exhaustion occurs and have devised appropriate measures for their states when area code relief is required. Unfortunately, state commissions are currently hamstrung in their efforts to conserve numbers and respond to numbering exhaust. Recently, NARUC adopted a resolution concerning numbering exhaust and conservation, focusing primarily on possible FCC action. Among other things NARUC urges that states be allowed to implement thousand block number pooling and be granted strong enforcement authority over number conservation. I have attached a copy of the resolution. Expanded state commission ability to mitigate and respond to number exhaustion is consistent with the cooperative federalist design of the Telecommunications Act, is consistent with the development of competition, and is the right thing to do for telecommunications customers. Sincerely, Bob Rowe, Chairman, Enclosure. Resolution on the FCC's Number Resource Optimization Rulemaking Proceeding Whereas, The current numbering administration process for the North American Numbering Plan has proven to be inadequate and has led to the inefficient use of numbering resources and the premature assignment of new area codes; and Whereas, The current numbering crisis demands immediate action by the FCC, and failure to act expeditiously will result in substantial disruption, including the activation of new, unnecessary area codes that will permanently destroy geographic associations with specific area codes, will needlessly subject both residential and business customers to unnecessary costs, confusion and inconvenience, and will wastefully consume the limited resources of both telecommunications providers and State regulators; and Whereas, Companion number conservation bills, H.R. 2439 and S.B. 765, have been introduced in Congress by Representative Kucinich and Senator Collins, respectively, to reduce the need for new area codes that are being created due to the inefficient practices of the telephone companies; and Whereas, The FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Number Resource Optimization Docket, CC Docket No. 99-200, FCC 99-122 (June 2, 1999), requests comments on many important issues and proposes several different approaches to resolve the numbering crisis; and Whereas, The States and territories believe that adherence to the principles and approaches outlined below is essential to the creation of an effective, competitively-neutral, administratively feasible numbering administration system; now therefore be it Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), convened in its 1999 Summer Meeting in San Francisco, California, that NARUC supports the FCCs efforts in its NPRM on numbering resources and encourages State commissions to file comments with the FCC that: a. Urge the FCC to abandon the voluntary Central Office Code Administration Guidelines and establish more stringent, enforceable number assignment rules and regulations, and b. Urge the FCC not to give carriers the freedom to ``pick and choose'' the number conservation measures in which they wish to participate and instead grant States and territories, which have an obligation to protect the public interest, flexibility in developing a number conservation plan which is consistent with national standards but which also meets the State's specific needs; and c. Urge the FCC to establish uniform standards for thousand block pooling and allow States and territories to require the implementation of thousand block pooling as soon as possible; and d. Urge the FCC to allow States and territories to implement thousand block pooling in all LNP-capable switches in all areas of the country, not just the top 100 MSAs; and e. Urge the FCC not to condition the implementation of thousand block pooling upon rate center consolidation; and f. Request that States and territories be given strong enforcement authority over all code holders (including wireless carriers) and access to all information collected by the FCC and NANPA; and be it further, Resolved, That NARUC counsel is directed to file comments consistent with this resolution with the FCC. Mr. Chairman, I would quote from the letter which says that ``Expanded state commission ability to mitigate and respond to number exhaustion is consistent with the cooperative Federalist design of the Telecommunications Act, is consistent with the development of competition, and is the right thing to do for telecommunications customers.'' So this is from the chairman of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in support of the principles established in the Bass-Kucinich amendment. So, Mr. Chairman, I am asking for the support of the Members of this House so that those tens of millions in telephone customers who are our constituents across this country will not be burdened with the inconvenience and with the extra expense of having to go through one area code change after another when, in fact, there are plenty of telephone numbers to go around, and there is a way to manage efficiently the use of telephone numbers, and this legislation guarantees that. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin).

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

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, more than ten thousand American steel workers have lost their jobs. Steel workers are not losing their jobs because the American steel industry is inefficient. In fact, the American steel industry is the world's most efficient. The reason American steel workers are losing their jobs is that the price of foreign steel, though more inefficient, is so much cheaper due to the devaluation of the currencies of those countries. Steel workers are not the only workers losing their jobs to cheap imports. This loan guarantee will help steel companies bridge the difficult market conditions caused by the devaluation of foreign currencies. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1664.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I want to say at the outset that I, too, am offended by the false reports which are alluded to by my colleagues. It is repugnant that any agency should submit information to the government which is anything less than accurate. I can understand why some would be so offended about the abuses cited. However, I am even more offended by poverty, poverty which locks people out of opportunities for justice, poverty which humiliates people when they cannot be represented, poverty which makes people invisible when courts would take action in their absence; poverty which would deny the poor legal representation. How many of those who have been in this Chamber can imagine what it is like to need an attorney but have no access to help because one cannot afford it? Indeed, if a Member of Congress is subject to legal process in the performance of his or her duties, he or she will receive legal assistance from the Office of General Counsel at no cost. How could we deny those who we represent, who have much less recourse, how could we deny them access or claim to the resources of the country? Mr. Chairman, there is a level of condescension and condemnation of the poor and judgment which is inappropriate here, because this is not only about whether we will see full legal services for the poor and whether Legal Services for the poor will survive. Moments like this instruct us as to the health of our democracy and its ability to survive. At a time when Members of Congress are prepared to give 70 percent of a multi-billion dollar tax cut to the top 5 percent of the people who make over $200,000, this Congress should be more gentle with the have- nots on such basic issues as legal representation. Somewhere in America there are poor and working poor who are concerned about whether they will have representation on issues of consumer debt, defective products, insurance coverage denial, assistance on family violence, eviction defense, illegal lockout defense, utility cutoff defense, housing discrimination defense, disability benefits defense. Legal Services is there for them, and this Congress ought to be here for Legal Services. The poor have a right to a decent legal representation. The poor already are at a disadvantage in all legal situations. They tend to lack education; they tend to lack knowledge of the system; they tend to be, because of the sting of poverty, a bit disorganized. We will be challenged by a higher test here, and which resonates with a very old question that was put forth about 2000 years ago: When I was hungry, did you feed me? When I was naked, did you clothe me? When I was thirsty, did you give me water? Let me add in that spirit, as we move towards the 21st century, when I was poor and I needed help, did you give me access to legal assistance? Let this Congress meet that test. Vote for the amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 987, the so- called ``Workplace Preservation Act.'' Perhaps it ought to be called ``Woman Out of the Workplace Act.'' Because this legislation is against working women. This bill is about our aunts. It is about our mothers, our sisters. It is about women who have many responsibilities not only in the workplace but at home that when they have a repetitive motion problem it compounds their life. H.R. 987 would stop the writing of regulations that protects workers, primarily women, who suffer the crippling and painful injuries caused by repetitive motion. Each year, according to the AFL-CIO, 400,000 women workers suffer injuries from ergonomic hazards. Sixty-nine percent of all workers who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome are women. Now, everyone has their personal stories. A dear aunt of mine who worked as a secretary required surgery in both wrists to deal with carpal tunnel. I have a sister who worked as a meat cutter who because of repetitive motion injury could not do her job anymore; and then when she tried to file a workers comp claim, the company fought her. That is typical, also. It is not just the people get injured; it is that they often cannot get help, so they are victimized further. Besides the physical and emotional costs caused by these workplace injuries, there is a huge economic cost. workers compensation costs of repetitive motion injuries is $20 billion each year. So this, of course, hurts families, but it also hurts businesses in reduced productivity. It cuts business profits. It increases claims. It increases litigation. This is time for new thinking. We are entering a new millennium. Let us have new thinking and let us start by voting ``no'' on H.R. 987.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me. So with almost $4 billion invested in these programs and OPIC's sketchy environmental record, it is ever more important that OPIC be held accountable to the public regarding its investment in environmentally sensitive projects. The ideal legislation to correct the lack of transparency in investment fund projects would require the public disclosure of environmental impact assessments conducted on all new investment projects. It would also allow for public commentary where citizens, especially those living in the affected area of the project, could voice their opinions of the project. In the case of projects already under way, a renegotiation of contracts to allow for public disclosure would be required to avoid breach of contract concerns. In the absence of legislation like this and because of the limitations of appropriations bills, my amendment simply cuts funding for environmentally sensitive investment fund projects. If we cannot have full transparency in all investment fund projects, then OPIC should not be involved in projects that are environmentally sensitive. While projects like oil refineries, gas and oil pipelines, chemical plants that produce hazardous or toxic materials, and large-scale logging projects may be necessary for the industrial development of developing countries, holding the U.S. taxpayers liable for investments in projects that could pose serious environmental or health risks to local populations with no public oversight or disclosure is unacceptable. It is OPIC's policy, as outlined in the Environmental Handbook to conduct rigorous internal Environmental Impact Assessments on all environmentally sensitive projects. Environmental impact assessments are also required by law as found in Executive Order 12114 and Public Law 99-204. However, while the assessments for insurance and finance projects are publicly disclosed, assessments on Investment Fund projects are not. Accountable government demands that these assessments be disclosed. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is endorsed by Friends of the Earth, Environmental Defense Fund, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Center for International Environmental Law, Pacific Environment and Resources Center, Rainforest Action Network, Institute for Policy Studies and Amazon Watch. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and shed some light on OPIC's environmentally sensitive Investment Fund projects.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, my amendment cuts funding to environmentally sensitive Overseas Private Investment Corporation fund projects, such as oil refineries, chemical plants, oil and gas pipelines, large scale logging projects, and projects near wetlands or other protected areas. Current OPIC investment funds are not subject to any transparency requirements. Furthermore, no specific information on these projects is contained in OPIC's annual reports. As a consequence, Congress, the public and the residents living near OPIC projects have no knowledge of the potential environmental and related financial and political risks. What is the taxpayer's interest in these projects? Taxpayers are liable for OPIC investments overseas if they fail. I want to repeat that. Taxpayers are liable for OPIC investments overseas if they fail. Private corporations and investors make investments in OPIC investment funds. OPIC-supported funds, in turn, make direct equity and equity-related investments in new, expanding and privatizing companies in ``emerging market'' economies. While taxpayer money is not actually invested in these funds, taxpayers are liable for the investments should they fail. These funds have invested in more than 240 business projects in over 40 countries. Recent estimates show that the total amount in Investment Fund programs will soon reach $4 billion. Since taxpayers are exposed to millions of dollars of potential liabilities, I believe OPIC has a responsibility to Congress and to the public to operate in an open and transparent manner. The lack of environmental transparency conceals environmentally destructive investment of these funds not only from Congress and the American public but also to locally affected people in the countries where OPIC projects are run. For example, a 1996 Freedom of Information lawsuit focusing on OPIC activity in Russia revealed that an investment fund project was involved in a clear cutting of primary ancient forests in northwest Russia. Russian citizens, expecting democracy building assistance from the U.S. Government, had not been provided with any environmental documentation. In fact, according to documents obtained in a lawsuit, an OPIC consultant had falsely documented the Russian citizens' support for the harmful, irreversible logging of pristine forests. OPIC investment funds have also been involved in a gold mine in the Cote d'Ivoire in the area of a primary tropical forest which is opposed by local citizens. Reports of other troubling projects are also being circulated. Conservation groups have filed Freedom of Information requests to obtain the names, nature, location and environmental impact assessments for all OPIC investment fund projects. OPIC, however, continues to conceal the environmental consequences of these questionable investments from the public. What little information has been uncovered about these funds reveals a checkered environmental record. With environmentally and socially sensitive projects being a main focus of the funds, public disclosure of environmental impact assessments is even more crucial. Organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Earth, Institute for Policy Studies, Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, Center for International Environmental Law and Pacific Environment and Resources Center have long advocated increased transparency in OPIC investment fund projects. Representatives of these organizations met with the new OPIC President in February, where he agreed with their assertion that these funds should be transparent when it comes to the environment. OPIC recently launched a $350 million equity fund for investment in sub- Saharan Africa which will include transparency and public disclosure provisions. But, Mr. Chairman, there are still 26 other funds which remain shrouded in secrecy. With almost $4 billion invested in these programs and OPIC's sketchy environmental record, it is ever more important that OPIC be held accountable to the public regarding its investment in environmentally sensitive projects.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is absolutely correct. And I am sure the gentleman is likewise aware of the fact that another, that other action has granted $20 million for security for Kosovo, and with the KLA being in charge of the province, it raises questions as to whether or not that money would actually be for the security of the people there or would be to advance the interests of the KLA. So I thank the gentleman for expressing his concern that was raised by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns), and I appreciate the gentleman's sentiments. Organized Crime Gangs Rule Kosovo (By Laura Rozen) Around 30 people a week are being killed in Kosovo as organized gangs take advantage of the U.N.'s failure to police the province. Nato spokesman Jamie Shea admitted yesterday a ``law and order vacuum'' has been created by a long delay in deploying U.N. civil administrators and an expected 3,000-strong police force. But he insisted the war-torn province was not yet out of control. Western diplomats in Pristina say gangs, some of which are suspected of having links to the Kosovo Liberation Army, are taking apartments, real estate, businesses, fuel supplies and cars from Kosovo Albanians and Serbs, who have little recourse to justice. A British K-For official in Pristina said: ``UNMIK (the U.N. interim administration) is unprepared to take over law and order. In the absence of police and legitimate rules, a vacuum has occurred. ``That vacuum is being filled by organized crime. Albanian gangs are inviting Kosovo Serbs to leave their apartments. Now Kosovo Albanians are being invited to leave.'' Because so many Kosovo Albanians had identity documents and license plates seized by Serb forces, and because there are now no border controls, many gangs are moving in unhampered by the 37,000 K-For soldiers. While the U.N. plans to deploy 3,125 international police, only 400 have arrived. The police commander has decided not to put troops into active service until he has enough to patrol entire areas. Currently, the commander says, his most urgent need is for border police to keep out more gangs and smugglers. The German K-For commander, General Fritz von Koriff, said his soldier stop cars to search for weapons and frequently come across smuggled items, such as massive amounts of cigarettes, particularly at the Morina-Kukes border crossing. But Nato's mandate does not permit his soldiers to confiscate any item except weapons, and the smugglers are permitted into Kosovo with their loot if it is believed they are from the province. One of the biggest problems involves gangs showing up at homes to claim ownership and threatening to beat those who refuse to move out. No statistics are available on the number of property seizures, but anecdotal evidence suggests a growing problem. And, while initially it seemed that seizures were ethnically motivated, and targeted at Kosovo Serbs in the capital Pristina, increasingly Kosovo Albanians are victims as well. Kosovo's provisional prime minister, KLA leader Hashim Thaci, 31, denied his organization was behind seizures of Kosovo Serb apartments. ``We have no such information. We know there are those who have left Kosovo, but we have not forced anybody to leave, or put pressure on them to leave. That is propaganda. Any one who has not committed crimes is free to live in Kosovo.'' According to a U.N. police commander, who asked not to be identified, intelligence suggests there are three main types of organized criminal gangs in Kosovo: Russian, Albanian, and those linked to the KLA. Some analysts suggest that the seized apartments and other looted goods are the KLA's way of paying debts to arms procurers, funders and important soldiers and there relatives. U.N. officials deny the organization's slowness is responsible for Kosovo's growing crime problem. One senior U.N. commander said, unlike K-For, which has been preparing for a Kosovo mission since February, the U.N. wasn't told it was to take over civilian operations in Kosovo until June. An American involved in the international police force warned that by the time the U.N. police are deployed, criminal gangs will already have their networks set up, and will be as much a menace for Kosovo's Albanian population as they are for the Serbs.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Stearns amendment that would call for a report on atrocities against Serbs. A report by the Secretary of State on the atrocities against Serbs in Kosovo and the July 25 massacre is necessary because there must be ongoing accountability for the ongoing atrocities against Kosovar Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. Security must be our top priority in the Balkans. Peacekeeping operations are supposed to keep the peace. But there was no peace when 14 Serbian farmers were killed on July 25, 1999, in one of the worst massacres since the end of the war. Who is accountable for this? Who did this? How did this atrocity happen amidst peacekeeping troops? How can we prevent this from ever happening again? We need answers. A report describing these atrocities will provide answers. More than 146 Kosovar Serbs and Albanians have been killed since the end of the bombing campaign on June 10. More than 150,000 Serbs have fled Kosovo since NATO arrived on June 10. More than 20 Serbian Orthodox churches have been damaged or destroyed since June 10. Only yesterday a Serb Orthodox cathedral in the province's capital, Pristina, was bombed. These are not signs of peace. For true peace to prevail, there must be accountability of these actions. Peacekeeping operations will amount to nothing if they cannot prevent continued ethnic cleansing. Peacekeeping operations will amount to nothing if the perpetrators of these and other crimes are not brought to justice. This report on atrocities committed against the Serbs including the July 25 massacre is necessary if the NATO-led peacekeeping force intends to prevent any further atrocities from happening in Kosovo. Again, I support this important amendment, and I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for the Stearns amendment; and again I think we are all concerned about events in Kosovo. We are all concerned about what happened to the Kosovar Albanians. Let justice be consistent, and let us also be concerned about what is happening to the Serbians.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Ms. Brigid O'Keeffe, a student from Ohio's 10th district. Ms. O'Keeffe has recently been announced as one of the National Security Education Program's Undergraduate Scholarship and Graduate Fellows for the 1999- 2000 academic year. The National Security Education Program, which was established in 1992, was created to increase U.S. citizens' understanding of different world cultures, to increase international cooperation and security and to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness. The National Security Education Program fellows study those languages and areas of the world most critical to future U.S. national security. Ms. O'Keeffe was selected from a rigorous national-merit based competition made up of a pool of hundreds of well qualified applicants. Aside from traveling to Russia, where she will be studying, Ms. O'Keeffe will participate in the National Security Education Program's Federal service requirement. All National Security Education Program award recipients have agreed to seek work in the Federal government in an organization with national security responsibilities. In the past, the program has placed award recipients in various positions throughout the Federal sector, including: Departments of Commerce, Defense, State, and Treasury; NASA, USAID, USIA, and the Intelligence Community. Ms. O'Keeffe will no doubt be a fine addition to any one of these organizations. She should be congratulated on her accomplishments.

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 Bennington 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-five 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. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Mr. Nathan Bedrosian, a student from Ohio's 10th district. Mr. Bedrosian has recently been announced as one of the National Security Education Program's Undergraduate Scholarship and Graduate Fellows for the 1999-2000 academic year. The National Security Education Program, which was established in 1992, was created to increase U.S. citizens' understanding of different world cultures, to increase international cooperation and security and to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness. The National Security Education Program fellows study those languages and areas of the world most critical to future U.S. national security. Mr. Bedrosian was selected from a rigorous national-merit based competition made up of a pool of hundreds of well qualified applicants. Aside from traveling to Japan, where he will be studying. Mr. Bedrosian will participate in the National Security Education Program's Federal service requirement. All National Security Education Program award recipients have agreed to seek work in the Federal Government in an organization with national security responsibilities. In the past, the program has placed award recipients in various positions throughout the Federal sector, including: Departments of Commerce, Defense, State, and Treasury; NASA, USAID, USIA, and the Intelligence Community. Mr. Bedrosian will no doubt be a fine addition to any one of these organizations. He should be congratulated on his accomplishment.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Andrews-Sanford-Sanders amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. OPIC subsidizes U.S. companies that invest in risky foreign markets and businesses by providing them direct and low-cost financing and insurance. While claiming to help America's small businesses invest in foreign markets, OPIC actually provides loans and risk insurance to some of the largest multinational corporations in the world. And while claiming to invest in sustainable development projects, OPIC has been involved in clear-cutting pristine forests in northwestern Russia, and a gold mine, a gold mine in a World Heritage site. Through OPIC, U.S. taxpayers are exposed to environmentally, financially, and politically risky private sector investments, the implications of which, in many cases, are not even disclosed to the public. The government should not be in the business of committing billions of taxpayer dollars to underwrite the investments of Fortune 500 companies. This is corporate welfare at its worst. As has been said earlier, OPIC puts taxpayers at risk. It obligates the taxpayer to underwrite insurance for the possible loss of private investment by the richest companies in America. The Congressional Research Service estimates that the taxpayer is typically liable for 90 percent of the insured investment. Americans have already paid $80 billion to bail out the savings and loan industry; we should not ask them to pay if OPIC's projects go bad. These multimillion dollar companies are fully capable of assuming the risk of investing in developing countries. They do not need government insurance of their foreign investments, but the substantial profits they gain from these investments, while American taxpayers are held financially responsible for any potential losses, looks pretty good on the bottom line. OPIC is not necessary for investments in emerging and developing markets. In 1998, private capital flows to emerging markets topped $150 billion. U.S. capital outflows to Brazil in 1998 totaled $3.7 billion, yet OPIC offered $317 million worth of insurance to U.S. companies investing in Brazil over the same period. It has been pointed out by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Sanford) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn), and I would like to state it again: OPIC does not operate at zero cost to the taxpayers. Although OPIC does not receive a direct appropriation, it pays for many of its operations with the interest earned on its U.S. Treasury bonds, bonds given to OPIC as seed money when it was established. In 1998, the agency reported $139 million in net income; yet, $193 million of its revenues consisted on interest from its U.S. Treasury bonds, another large government IOU. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Andrews-Sanford- Sanders amendment and prevent OPIC from initiating any new projects.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment. In 1980, four U.S. churchwomen were brutally murdered in El Salvador. Among them was a close friend of mine, Sister Dorothy Kazel from Cleveland, killed by graduates of the School of the Americas. In 1989, six Jesuit priests were massacred in El Salvador by School of the Americas graduates. Archbishop Oscar Romero and Bishop Juan Gerardi of Guatemala were assassinated by School of the Americas graduates. Almost 1,000 citizens of the El Mozote community in El Salvador were massacred by School of the Americas graduates. In 1997, 30 peasants in the Colombian village of Mapiripan were massacred by School of the Americas graduates. If this is a school for the Americas, then Al Capone ran a social club for Chicago. It is time to close the school. In 1992, nine students and a professor were killed in Peru by School of the Americas graduates. Efrain Barnaca and U.S. citizen Michael DeVine were killed in Guatemala. Three people were innocent civilians and missionaries working for peace and justice, and they were brutally killed by officers who received their human rights training from the United States Government at the School of the Americas. Three of the five officers responsible for the ``U.S. Churchwomen's'' deaths, including my friend, were trained at the SOA. Nineteen of the 26 officers accused of the massacre of six Jesuit priests were graduates of the SOA. Two of the three officers responsible for the assassination of Archbishop Romero went to the SOA. Ten of the twelve involved in the El Mozote massacre of 1,000 people were SOA graduates. The six Peruvian officers who killed the students and their professor attended the SOA. The officer in charge at the Mapiripan massacre graduated from the SOA. And the murderer of Efrain Barnaca and U.S. citizen Michael DeVine is a SOA graduate. Unfortunately, these are only a few examples of the human rights abuses committed by SOA graduates. In spite of the half-hearted human rights instruction that the SOA claims it includes in every course, the State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices highlight more examples of SOA graduates committing human rights abuses each year. What Latin American militaries need most is a curriculum solidly based on human rights, civilian control of the military and democratic values. It's not hard to imagine why graduates who spend the majority of their time on military intelligence, psychological operations, battle staff operations, and commando courses and only eight hours of human rights instruction end up committing human rights violations upon returning to their home countries. As this issue comes to a vote, an InterReligious Task Force delegation of young Ohioans is meeting with victims of violence in El Salvador. They will visit the site of the Jesuit massacre and the El Mozote massacre. They will also visit the site where the four churchwomen were murdered. When they return, we will have yet another first-hand account of the suffering so many SOA graduates have caused. The young people in this group are acutely aware of the tragedies incited by SOA trainees. As more reports of sketchy curriculums and SOA graduates committing human rights abuses are revealed, this awareness is spreading across the country and the American people are demanding that this school be closed. It is time to stop funding of this school. If we are truly committed to promoting human rights around the world, we cannot continue funding this school and training future human rights abusers. Let's support justice and peace, not violence and deceit. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on Representative Moakely's amendment to cut funding for the SOA.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Visclosky- Oberstar-Borski amendment. Mr. Speaker, wetlands protect our families from floods, filter our drinking water, provide recreational areas, and provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Yet we have destroyed more than half of our wetlands for development and agriculture and we continue to destroy one hundred thousand acres of wetlands annually, one hundred thousand. In my state of Ohio we have already lost more than 90 percent of our precious wetlands. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that floods have killed almost 900 people and destroyed $900 billion in homes, businesses, crops, and government structures since 1990. The anti-environmental rider in this bill will allow developers to drive their tractors through a loophole and dump fill directly into our wetlands. This rider seeks to extend, indefinitely, a scientifically discredited wetlands permit known as Nationwide Permit 26. This same permit has been the largest source of permitted wetlands loss in America, authorizing tens of thousands of wetland-filling development activities each year. We cannot afford this decimation of one of our nation's most treasured resources. Mr. Chairman, I urge my fellow members to support this amendment to remove this damaging anti-environmental rider and close this loophole. Vote yes for this amendment and allow us to provide fair and effective protection for the nation's critical wetlands.