Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the truth is war is being waged and will continue to be waged without declaration. But such violence is neither redemptive nor justified in law or morality. Hope is redemptive, love is redemptive, peace is redemptive, but the violence of this conflict stirs our most primitive instincts. When we respond to such instincts, we enact the law of an eye for an eye, and we at last become blind and spend our remaining days groping to regain that light we had once enjoyed. He only understands force, it is said of Mr. Milosevic, but we must understand more than force. Otherwise, war is inescapable. We must make peace as inexorable as the instinct to breathe, as inevitable as the sunrise, as predictable as the next day. With this vote, let us release ourselves from the logic of war and energize a consciousness of peace, peace through implied strength, peace through express diplomacy, peace through a belief that through nonviolent human interaction, we can still control our destiny.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Edward Keshock, Honorary Consul Designate of the Slovak Republic for the State of Ohio. Dr. Keshock is currently Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cleveland State University. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and has conducted research on a variety of topics, including energy conservation. Dr. Keshock was also a summer faculty fellow at the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland. He has received numerous awards for his teaching and research. In addition, he holds the rights to two patents. In addition to his academic achievements, he is also President of the Cleveland-Bratislava Sister Cities. In 1995 he helped coordinate the group of trade and government officials from the Slovak Republic who attended the White House Conference on Trade and Investment in Central and Eastern Europe. Dr. Keshock has strong ties to the Slovak Republic and was a co- founder of the Public Against Violence movement in 1989 that was the leading Slovak force in the Velvet Revolution against communism. On May 2, 1999, Dr. Keshock will be installed as the Honorary Consul during the Slovak Spring Weekend celebration. The weekend events include the ceremonial opening of Slovak Consulate Offices in Cleveland, Ohio, which will be attended by the Slovak Republic Ambassador, Ambassador Butora. This opening is a historic event in Slovak-American relations and interactions. Other activities being held include traditional Slovak entertainment and history presentations. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Dr. Keshock for being installed Honorary Consul Designate, a position for which he is well qualified.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 25th anniversary of the Association of Philippine Physicians in Ohio (APPO). The APPO is a non-profit, professional organization of Filipino American physicians in Northeast Ohio. The group strives to provide continuing medical educational programs for physicians and allied professionals and conducts medical and surgical missions to the Philippines for the indigent. APPO also sponsors scholarships and grants to deserving medical students in the U.S. and in the Philippines. The selfless members of APPO are committed to helping the needy and less fortunate, and they often volunteer in free clinics, hunger centers and nursing homes. APPO will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in conjunction with its annual Sampaguita Ball on May 1, 1999. The Sampaguita Ball is a fund raising event to support the various charitable projects of the organization. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the Association of Philippine Physicians in Ohio for the service they have provided to the Cleveland area and to those in the Philippines for 25 years.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Cleveland Catholic Blind Community for 50 years of providing support to the city's blind residents. The Catholic Blind Community, an organization for blind and partially sighted Catholics, was founded in 1949 by Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Hoffman. Because Mr. Hoffman himself was blind and his wife was partially sighted, they clearly understood the needs and challenges faced by the visually impaired. According to Mr. Green, the first president of the Catholic Blind Community, the group represented an effort ``to bring blind people into the Church and bring the Church closer to the blind.'' This mission was achieved with help from members of the St. Vincent de Paul society. By the mid-1970s, the organization had grown significantly in size and began meeting regularly at the St. Augustine Parish. The Catholic Blind Community soon joined in partnership with the parish and began working with the hunger center, the Deaf Community, and support groups established at the parish for those suffering from mental disabilities and illnesses. The blind quickly became integral members in the parish by singing in the choir, serving as lectors and Eucharistic ministers, serving on the parish council and planning parish activities. In 1994 the Catholic Blind Community organized the Catholic Blind Association, a voluntary association that is Catholic in character but welcomes members of all faiths. This additional group was organized to provide greater service to the Blind Community. The Blind Community now boasts a membership of 225 blind individuals. I would like to take this opportunity to commend Mr. Jim Green, the organization's first president who served for nine years and is honored by the group for his 50 years of volunteerism and leadership by voting him president in this anniversary year. Through its dedicated efforts, the group has worked to improve the quality of life for the blind. On behalf of all those whose lives have been affected by the group, I offer my congratulations to the Cleveland Catholic Blind Community for 50 years of service.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, it should be obvious that the President does not need this resolution to use air power because he is already using it. He needs Senate Con. Resolution 21 because, if it passes, both houses of Congress will have satisfied the War Powers Resolution to authorize force, and that effectively gives the President the power to wage an unlimited war even with ground troops. Section 5 of the War Powers Resolution states that the President must terminate the use of force after 60 days unless Congress, first, declares war; second, enacts explicit authorization of the use of force; or third, extends the 60-day period. Although Senate Con. Resolution 21 refers only to air war, it is an explicit authorization of force. The President will not be limited to only air war once the War Powers Resolution requirement is fulfilled. Since this resolution authorizes the President to conduct military operations against Yugoslavia in the air, its passage by the House is, in fact, a blank check for the President to wage war, not only to bomb, but to send ground troops. If Senate Con. Resolution 21 should fail, then the war in Yugoslavia will be limited to air war, which is what is now being waged, and no ground troops, and the President will have to get Congress' authorization to deploy ground troops at a later time.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Scarborough).

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support. We are all repelled by the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, at the crimes against humanity. That is why we should take this crisis to the U.N. Security Council, instead of taking international law into our own hands and bombing without a declaration of war. We should take the opportunity to go to the Russians, our brothers and sisters struggling to hold onto a democracy, and ask them to help negotiate peace. This would be true internationalism in search of peace, and a fitting beginning to a new millennium.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I believe we should withdraw our troops and resubmit this matter to the United Nations Security Council and make this tragedy the entire world's burden and not primarily that of the people of the United States of America. It is understandable that this House should be conflicted here, because this mission is itself at conflict between the U.N. charter, which bans force, violating State sovereignty and the universal declaration of human rights, which guarantees the rights of individuals against oppressive States. NATO's action fails the test of humanitarian intervention, if only because of the damage NATO has inflicted on civilian populations. Humanitarian bombing is an Orwellian attack on logic. If the United States continues as the chief sponsor of this war, we have, in effect, decided that the United Nations is no longer relevant. This places upon America the awesome responsibility of policing the entire world.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, if this rule passes and permits the consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution 21, then Congress will have, in effect, declared war and permitted both bombing and ground troops, all in one. Let me explain how. The Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 21, which authorizes bombing. In Dellums versus Bush, the court case against the Iraq war, Judge Green wrote in his opinion that Congress has the sole power to authorize the use of U.S. forces overseas, where the lives of our men and women would be put in danger. The President, at the very least, in order to be in accordance with the Constitution, needs a resolution passed by both Houses that authorizes him to use force. He does not need a declaration of war to proceed with the war. Therefore, if the House joins the Senate in Senate Concurrent Resolution 21, it meets the constitutional test of both Houses, and the President is authorized to send ground troops and to prosecute the war. Some say we must win the war. I believe we must win the peace. Some people believe that only military action can bring about peace. I believe that only diplomatic initiatives and constant negotiations can bring about peace. Some believe we need to teach the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia a lesson by bombing their Nation to rubble. I believe that violence is not redemptive but it breeds more violence, and places the hope of resolution far beyond the horizon of peace.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, some say we must win, but we must win the peace. We cannot win peace through war. The failure of the bombing campaign is proof. We can win peace through negotiation, through diplomacy. We must pursue peace as vigorously as we would pursue war. We will decide today whether to escalate an undeclared war. Better to push diplomatic initiatives, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) is attempting. We will decide today whether to send ground troops. Better to put peacekeepers on the ground in Moscow, in Belgrade, to obtain a negotiated agreement. Today we will decide whether to continue bombing; bombing which has not worked, bombing which has been counterproductive, bombing which has destroyed villages in order to save the villages, bombing which is killing innocent civilians, both Kosovar Albanians and Serbians; bombing which is leaving little bomblets across the terrain in Kosovo, injuring young Albanian children, unexploded bombs being played with by children. There are more amputations now in Kosovo than have ever occurred probably anywhere because of these unexploded bombs that children are finding and playing with and are blowing up. I think, Mr. Speaker, this is a metaphor for the war. This entire war is an unexploded bomb which is ready to maim and kill children. The sad fact is that today, if we pass Senate Con. Res. 21, we will be authorizing not just continuing the bombing, but sending ground troops, and we will have given a license to expand an undeclared war. The cruelest irony is that Congress will take money from the Social Security surplus, money that our senior citizens need to assure their Social Security, they will take that money and use it to send the grandchildren to fight. We must continue to give peace a chance, declare a cease fire, halt the bombing, help the refugees, pursue peace, not war.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the truth is war is being waged and will continue to be waged without declaration. But such violence is neither redemptive nor justified in law or morality. Hope is redemptive, love is redemptive, peace is redemptive, but the violence of this conflict stirs our most primitive instincts. When we respond to such instincts, we enact the law of an eye for an eye, and we at last become blind and spend our remaining days groping to regain that light we had once enjoyed. He only understands force, it is said of Mr. Milosevic, but we must understand more than force. Otherwise, war is inescapable. We must make peace as inexorable as the instinct to breed, as inevitable as the sunrise, as predictable as the next day. With this vote, let us release ourselves from the logic of war and energize a consciousness of peace, peace through implied strength, peace through express diplomacy, peace through a belief that through nonviolent human interaction, we can still control our destiny.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I support the Goodling resolution. Some say we must listen to the President, some say we must listen to military leaders. I say we must listen to the now still voices of those Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice more than a generation ago in an undeclared war, in an unwinnable war, a bright, shining lie of a war where truth was the first casualty. Now we are engaged in a great humanitarian mission, or so we are told. But humanitarians do not excuse the bombing of Albanians and Serbian civilians. Humanitarians do not bomb passenger trains. Humanitarians do not bomb refugees fleeing the battle. Humanitarians do not bomb residential areas. Humanitarians do not blow up water systems, electric systems, sewage systems, and create an ecological catastrophe in the name of peace. Humanitarians do not leave thousands of bomblets in the ground so refugee children can lose their lives after the battle. No more bombing the villages to save the village, no more ground troops sacrificed to redeem our failure in the air. All we are saying is to give peace a chance. All we are saying is to give peace a chance through negotiation and mediation and through diplomacy. Give peace a chance.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sherwin- Williams Co., and its charitable arm, the Sherwin-Williams foundation, as one of Cleveland's most charitable corporate partners. The company not only employs thousands of people in the greater Cleveland area, but also contributes significant funds and strong support for some of the region's most deserving organizations. The CEO of Sherwin-William, Jack Breen, has just completed his twentieth year with the company. Mr. Breen has been the recipient of a number of awards, including top honors from the Wall Street Transcript in the Building Materials Industry. In 1996, he was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame sponsored by Cleveland Magazine's Inside Business. This award is presented to individuals who not only have achieved business success, but who generously shared that success with the community. Mr. Breen is a native Clevelander, and during his time with the Sherwin- Williams Co., the stock price has increased about 50 times and earnings per share have increased dramatically. Beginning on April 26, 1999, Sherwin-Williams will again demonstrate its commitment to the Northeast Ohio community through a week-long ``Spruce Up Our Parks'' program which will benefit Cleveland's Lakeshore State Park. Working in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful, Inc., Sherwin-Williams will underwrite the cost of paints and supplies that will be used to beautify various structures throughout Edgewater, Gordon, Euclid Beach, Villa Angela, Wildwood, and Mentor Headlands parks. Sherwin-Williams will also coordinate with Keep America Beautiful to oversee the work of more than 500 students from area high schools who are serving as volunteer painters for the event. The participating high schools include: Lakewood, St. Edward, St. Ignatius, Glenville, John Hay, Collinwood, Benedictine, Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Harvey, Riverside, Kirkland, and Mentor High Schools. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the good work the Sherwin-Williams Company is doing to help beautify the Cleveland area and parks across the country.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I support the concept of flexibility in the way that our federal education programs are implemented at the state and local level. Local Educational Agencies and individual schools need flexibility to ensure that our programs are conducted in a manner that is responsive and relevant to local conditions and the divergent needs of all students. However, educational flexibility needs to be viewed in its proper context--specifically in terms of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In this context the Conference Report on H.R. 800, the Ed-Flex legislation, falls short and I rise to oppose the Conference Report. I am a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and this Committee has just begun to take up the numerous important issues that are involved in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It is folly, Mr. Speaker, for this final version of the Ed-Flex bill to come up before the ESEA has even been considered. How can we justify creating a system in which all states can have the option to waive federal education requirements when those federal education programs have not even been reauthorized? It is inappropriate and unjustified for the Congress to be granting across-the-board waiver authority to states before the House Education and Workforce Committee has reconsidered the ESEA. In fact, the Conference Report on H.R. 800 is actually weaker than the version that was passed by the House of Representatives. At least our House version of the bill contained a sunset provision that mandated that Ed-Flex be taken up during the ESEA reauthorization process. The Conference Report eliminates this provision. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, accountability must not be sacrificed for the sake of flexibility. If the Congress grants greater flexibility to the states, the states must be held responsible to use these new powers in a way that improves educational quality and student performance. The Conference Report is weak on accountability provisions. We tried to strengthen these accountability provisions in Committee, but were not successful. Now the Congress has placed itself in a position that will grant huge loopholes to states and localities when it comes to measuring and enforcing accountability. This is another reason why I urge my colleagues to oppose the Ed-Flex Conference Report. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that the long-term effect of Ed- Flex will be to shift valuable federal resources away from schools in high-poverty neighborhoods towards school in more wealthy districts. It is a hallmark of national education policy that federal funds be used to benefit schools and school districts that are most in need of outside resources. Federal programs need to be targeted to the disadvantaged. It is very possible that this bill will open the way for states to redirect ESEA Title I funds away from the disadvantaged. This trend dilutes the essential purposes of Title I. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Ed-Flex Conference Report.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my colleagues to recognize the NASA Glenn Research Center Director Donald J. Campbell who has been named the 1998 Laboratory Director of the Year by the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology Transfer. The award, presented annually, honors federal laboratory directors who have made exemplary contributions to the overall enhancement of technology transfer for economic development. Mr. Campbell was selected to receive the award in recognition of his successful efforts to broaden the commercialization of Glenn's technologies. In the last five years, at least 20 new products have been created due to Glenn-developed technologies. Under Mr. Campbell's leadership, the newly created Garrett Morgan Commercialization Initiative helps to increase the competitiveness of disadvantaged and small businesses in Ohio and the Great Lakes region through the use of NASA technologies. The Glennan Microsystems Initiative is another highly successful program which was launched under Mr. Campbell's direction. The Glennan Initiative, a public private partnership between NASA Glenn Research Center and Case Western Reserve University, will enable companies to capture significant market share in the area of miniaturized sensors and actuators. In addition, the Lewis Incubator for Technology was established to help entrepreneurs and start-up companies gain financial and marketing assistance as they commercialize NASA-developed technologies. Mr. Campbell also has been instrumental in providing a hands-on educational experience to African-American and Hispanic students each year through the Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA). The program, a collaborative effort between Glenn and Cuyahoga Community College, in Cleveland, Ohio, has proven to be extremely successful. Since its inception, SEMAA has been replicated twice, with plans for seven additional sites in major cities. Mr. Campbell's leadership and personal commitment to work with industry and our community is exemplified in the highly successful programs described. I am happy to be able to recognize his contributions today. He has been a role model throughout his career. He is the first African American to win the FLC Director of the Year. More than 600 of the largest federal government research laboratories and centers, representing 16 federal departments and agencies, are presently members of the FLC. The mission of the FLC is to promote and facilitate the rapid movement of federal laboratory research results and technologies into the mainstream of the U.S. economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me the opportunity to share this success story with my colleagues. Once again I commend the efforts and dedication of Mr. Campbell and the entire staff at NASA Glenn Research Center for a job well done.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) also for the opportunity to share in this very important reflection on a former mayor of the city of Cleveland, Mayor Ralph J. Perk. Ralph Perk leaves us at a time when the world could use the message of his life, which was to unite people across racial and ethnic lines. For generations he led us in celebrating the beautiful cultural mosaic that is our inheritance in greater Cleveland. He understood the beauty and the strength of each individual expressing his or her own uniqueness. I shared with Ralph many a platform, festooned with colorful flags, many an ethnic picnic, many polka-filled moments. He had a great enthusiasm for life. He was a wise and dedicated public servant who served Cleveland long and well as a city councilman, a county auditor, and mayor. His greatest strength was his common touch, his ability to stay close to the life of Cleveland's neighborhoods. Throughout his long life he never left the city he loved, and because of his dedication to Cleveland, his memory will never leave us. My deepest sympathies go out to his dear wife, Lucy, and to his children. I will miss Ralph, but I shall never be able to think of him without smiling about this engaging, energetic, passionate public man and dear friend.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Father Alcuin Mikulanis, Associate Pastor of St. Stanislaus Church in Slavic Village. Father Alcuin, as he was known to the many parishioners he served, had ministered in the Cleveland area since 1984. During these years, he was well known in the Polish community not only as a compassionate and dedicated Pastor, but also as an accomplished singer. In fact, he was frequently called to sing introductory prayers and benedictions at meetings and gatherings. Fr. Alcuin was a man of many talents, and he shared them graciously with his parishioners in the several states where he served. For example, from 1958 to 1962, in addition to being Vocations Director of his Franciscan Province, he was Director of a Polish radio program entitled ``Christ the King Hour.'' Recordings of Polish folk songs and Christmas carols from this program is still in high demand after 40 years. While serving as Chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Meridian, MS from 1963-1966, he was involved in the civil rights activities of the time. In Ohio, he served as Chaplain of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis at Marymount Convent. Later, as Associate Pastor of the historic St. Stanislaus Church, he was able to focus directly on the Polish ministry of his new parish. Fr. Alcuin witnessed the completion of one of his dreams last year with the restoration of St. Stanislaus Church on its 125th anniversary as a parish. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the memory of Fr. Alcuin.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Patrick Sweeney for 35 years of public service. Mr. Sweeney began his career as a legislator in 1967 in the Ohio House of Representatives. In 1974 he was elected Assistant Majority Leader. Four years later he was elected as chair of the Education Section and as Vice Chairman of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee. In 1984, Mr. Sweeney was named Majority Whip. He later served as Minority Leader of the Ohio House where he left in 1996 to serve as State Senator of the 23rd District. Mr. Sweeney currently serves as an advisor and co-professor at Cleveland State University. Mr. Sweeney achieved many accomplishments for the Cleveland area while in office. He brought millions of state dollars home for various projects, including the renovation of Playhouse Square and Cleveland State University's 17-18th Street Project, which included a new law library and a new business school building. Mr. Sweeney has also been supportive of the arts and theaters in the downtown area. Patrick has been a dear friend, colleague and mentor for many years. I have tremendous respect for him as a legislator. I was very pleased that he succeeded me as State Senator of the 23rd District when I was elected to Congress. It gives me great pleasure to publicly recognize the achievements of Mr. Sweeney. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring Patrick Sweeney for his 35 years of Public Service. He will be saluted for his achievements at a dinner by the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Normandy High School for its 30 years of excellence in educating the students of Parma, Ohio. Normandy High School first opened its doors in the fall of 1968 and welcomed 1700 sophomore- and junior-year high school students. The architectural design of the school was unique and considered state-of- the-art when built 30 years ago. The first commencement exercise was in June 1970, with 525 young men and women receiving diplomas. Since this first commencement ceremony, 13,400 students have graduated. Normandy's current enrollment is 1,128 students and the staff consists of 87 faculty and 58 support people. Normandy High School subscribes to rigorous academic standards and offers an extensive curriculum. There are accelerated course offerings in all academic areas. A full range of vocational education programs are also available. Normandy students' score on the standardized SAT and ACT tests are consistently above the State and National averages. The school's Renaissance Program demonstrates the commitment to academic excellence, continuous improvement and citizenship which contributes to the high caliber of graduates from the school. Normandy High School is indeed an outstanding asset to the Parma community. Normandy not only has a fine academic program, but its athletic department is also well renowned. In addition to numerous victories in state playoffs, invitationals and tournaments, Normandy's athletes have accomplished the following LEL Championships: Baseball 1979, 1982 Softball 1976, 1977, 1983 Football 1981, 1982, 1983, John Thomas San Francisco 49er's Super Bowl Champs, Girls Basketball 1976-77, Cross Country 1984, 1989, 1998, 1973 All American Track & Field Curt Tesar, Golf 1988, 1990, 1992, 1998 Chris Wollman & Bernie Jablonski State Champs, Wrestling 1981, 1985, 1987 Volleyball 1976, 1978, 1982, 1988, 1995, 1998, Hockey Baron Cup Champs 1976, 1998, 1999. Providing excellent educational opportunities for all children is one of the most important goals in our society. I am encouraged by the involvement of the students, teachers, administrators, parents, local businesses and community organizations who are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Normandy High School and working toward continued success and involvement in our schools. I am confident that Normandy will continue to produce exceptional students who will greatly contribute to the future of the Parma community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the renaming of the Cleveland VA Medical Center to the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the dedication of the new parking garage. Louis Stokes is not only a military veteran of World War II, but he is also a veteran of nearly two decades of public service to the people of Cleveland in the House of Representatives, and a maker of history. During his time in Congress, he was considered the dean of the Ohio Congressional Delegation. Louis Stokes was the first African-American from Ohio to win a seat in Congress on November 6, 1968. He has impressed all who have known and worked with him with his commitment, erudition and patience. He has been a political mentor to me, and I have known and appreciated his abiding loyalty, good advice and friendship for many years. Louis Stokes is also widely respected for his broad knowledge of veterans affairs and health issues. It is very fitting, therefore, that the Cleveland VA Medical Center be renamed the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. My fellow colleagues, please join me in congratulating our former colleague, Louis Stokes, as he accepts this great honor.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the San Lorenzo Club and one of its co-founders Antonio Ramos for their service to the Cleveland community. Antonio Ramos has been involved in many different organizations in the Hispanic and non-Hispanic community. He is the only active founder of the San Lorenzo Club, and has occupied almost all the positions in the Board of Directors through its existence. He also founded the Roberto Clemente Baseball Little League, to help create a sense of cultural identity for children. He now serves as President of the league. The goal of the San Lorenzo Club, which has many members from different countries and cultures, is to have a place where Puerto Ricans can meet and feel a little bit like they are in their tropical island and at the same time promote their roots in a different country. When the club reached its goal of having their own place, after three years, not even a large fire which destroyed the building could dampen their dreams. Even with no place to meet the club maintained the unity between members and started having their monthly meetings in members' houses. The club has been a vital part of the Hispanic and non-Hispanic community in the Cleveland area. The club works to maintain its families through sports. The San Lorenzo Club is a permanent sponsor of the Roberto Clemente Baseball Little League in Cleveland, and pushed the city to rename the city park after the famous Puerto Rican baseball player. The club also works to help the Hispanic and non-Hispanic needy throughout the Cleveland area. My fellow colleagues, join me in honoring both Antonio Ramos and the San Lorenzo Club for their outstanding service to the Cleveland area.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW). The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when Veterans of the Spanish- American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. A group of veterans founded the American Veterans of Foreign Service in Columbus, Ohio. Similar groups were later formed in Denver, Colorado and throughout Pennsylvania. In 1913, the Veterans of the Foreign War came into existence as a result of the merger of these three separate foreign service organizations which held the same ideals and similar membership requirements. The mission of the VFW is to support and further the interests of United States veterans. Membership in the VFW is available to all US citizens, honorably discharged from the armed forces, who have earned an overseas campaign medal. Currently, the VFW has a membership of 2.1 million. In addition to assisting veterans with numerous issues the organization is involved with national programs such as the Americanism Program. This program provides materials and information, sponsors events and promotes activities which are designed to stimulate interest in American's history and tradition, institutions of civic responsibility and patriotism. A key element of VFW involvement is community service. The organization sponsors programs benefitting education, the environment, health services, civic pride, and community betterment. VFW is also the sponsor of Voice of Democracy, a national audio essay competition which annually provides more the $2.7 million in college scholarships to high school students across the nation. In addition, members work with a variety of youth organizations including Junior and Special Olympics and the Boy Scouts of America. The organization is also active in drug awareness and missing children efforts. The VFW raises money for needy veterans and their families through the Buddy Poppy program. More than 17 million Poppies are sold each year, generating funds for the national veterans service program, relief for local veterans and their families and the VFW National Home. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the VFW's 100th anniversary and its members who have bravely risked their lives to serve the United States.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Cleveland Slovak Dramatic Club. The Cleveland Slovak Dramatic Club is a vital part of the Cleveland area as it encourages Slovak youth to be loyal Americans and to be active and proud of their Slovak heritage. Throughout its 50 years of existence, The Cleveland Slovak Dramatic Club (C.S.D.C.) has been involved in many activities to help the Slovak community in the Cleveland area. During the first 10 years of the C.S.D.C., it actively sponsored various Slovak cultural activities such as live stage plays which were performed throughout the Cleveland area. Profits from these cultural events went to aid Slovak refugees who had escaped persecution in Slovakia and were dispersed throughout Europe. The events raised over $20,000 which was donated from the club to aid refugees. In addition to C.S.D.C.'s cultural plays, the club also provided live cultural programs on Christmas and Easter holidays on Cleveland's Slovak radio. C.S.D.C. members have become very active in all Slovak movements and activities in various Slovak Clubs, fraternal and social organizations such as, Slovak League of America, Slovak World Congress, First Slovak Catholic Union, and many others. It is through their help and activity in these organizations, that Slovak heritage, culture and Slovak fraternalism have prospered and grown for many years. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the Cleveland Slovak Dramatic Club for their years of service to the Slovak community of the Cleveland area.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a gifted writer, Don Robertson. A Cleveland native, Mr. Robertson attended Harvard University and Western Reserve University. After serving in the army, he began his professional journalism career as a copy editor for the Plain Dealer. Robertson was the author of 19 novels, many of which were set in Ohio and revolved around major historical events. His best known books include ``The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread,'' ``Praise the Human Season'' and Paradise Falls.'' Robertson also used his journalistic talents to write scripts for the television soap opera ``The Edge of Night,'' movie and theater critiques for WKYC Channel 3 and to serve as editor for Houston City Magazine. He was also a columnist for the Cleveland Press and worked for the Cleveland Magazine. Robertson's journalistic endeavors included being a features writer for the Cleveland News and a radio and television talk show host. He had shows on WERE Radio, WVIZ Channel 25 and Channel 61. Robertson received numerous accolates for his writing. In 1991, he was presented the Mark Twain Award from the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature, which is given to a writer whose work continues in the tradition established by Twain. He was inducted into the Press Club of Cleveland Hall of Fame in 1992. In addition, he was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cleveland chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the memory of a talented writer, Don Robertson.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements and contributions of Madeline Cain, Mayor of the City of Lakewood, Ohio. As the first woman mayor of Lakewood, Cain has focused her efforts on developing an effective economic development strategy, controlling costs, preserving high quality and safety services and protecting the residential character of the community. Cain initiated the ``Mayor's Night Out'' program to bring government and community members together. This program includes a door to door visit by the Mayor and an informal gathering of neighbors and city officials at the home of a host resident. Other achievements include the creation of the Economic Development Fund to encourage private investment in the community, protect and create jobs, and prevent the deterioration of commercial and industrial areas. Cain also served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, where she authored one of the nation's first anti-stalking laws and sponsored various bills regarding children and the disabled. While in the House of Representatives, Cain also served in leadership of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus as Chair of Policy and Research. Mayor Cain is also active with a number of organizations, including serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for Lakewood Hospital and the Advisory Board of Malachi House (a home for terminally ill homeless). My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the accomplishments of a dedicated public official, Mayor Madeline A. Cain. Her work is greatly appreciated by her constituents and I wish her continued success.