Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Ohio Trails and Greenways Day on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, and the work of the Ohio Field Office of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Ohio Field Office (RTC-Ohio) has three main goals: awareness, potential and sharing. RTC strives to promote awareness of trial and greenway projects in local communities, surrounding regions and throughout the state. The organization also seeks to explore the possibilities that trail and greenway projects offer to both transportation and recreation opportunities for the citizens of Ohio and visitors to the state. Their third goal is to create an atmosphere where information about trails and greenways is easily understood and accessible by everyone. RTC has completed over 300 miles of rail-trail and is currently working on over 500 additional miles. In recognition of the importance of conservation and the efforts of RTC Ohio Governor Taft will officially declare April 20, 1999 at Ohio Trails and Greenways Day. I am pleased to join in celebration of Ohio Trails and Greenways Day and wish the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy continued success in their environmental protection efforts.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Holy Family Sodality of St. Rocco Parish in Cleveland, Ohio. The church was established in 1924 and one of the first acts of the founding Pastor, Father Sante Gattuso, was to institute the Sodality. Today, it is the largest organization in the Parish. Including the new members to be initiated this weekend, the membership numbers 225 people. Most of the members are second and third generation members and a few are even fourth generation members. The members of the Sodality have made invaluable contributions to the Parish. Because of their efforts, church activities, dinners, and the annual St. Rocco Festival are always well-attended and very successful. The success of these events is essential to the financial stability of the church and the school, so the help of the members of the Sodality is invaluable. In addition to participating in religious functions and helping at church activities, members also visit the sick and shut-in members of the parish, pray the Rosary at the funeral home for deceased members and accompany them to the cemetery after the funeral mass. Every year, the members fill two buses to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the ministry of love and service provided by the Holy Family Sodality of St. Rocco Parish.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Barton Senior Center for its 35-year record of enriching the quality of life for seniors in Lakewood, Ohio. The Barton Center has been the inspiration for countless noteworthy projects and activities designed to benefit the Lakewood community. This non-profit, self-supporting organization offers a variety of social, educational, recreational and health related activities, classes, programs and services to the seniors of Lakewood. It is truly a multi-purpose senior center. The inspiration for the Barton Center happened in 1963 when the first residents of the newly built Westerly senior apartment building realized their need for a common social area. With help from government loans, foundation gifts and individual donations, a full service senior center was built, complete with a spacious lounge and dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, a room for arts and crafts, a library, a pool and game room, a workshop and hobby room, and office space. A full-time director and activities coordinator was also hired. Since its beginning, the Barton Center has continued to grow and expand. The center publishes a regular newsletter that has a circulation of over 1,500 people. Current programs and services such as the Driver Evaluation Program, Home Town Band Concerts, the Holiday Fair, the Dinner Theater, health and exercise programs and neighborhood transportation service are also immensely popular with the hundreds of members of the center. My fellow colleagues, please join me in recognizing the 35th anniversary of the Barton Senior Center.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Monte Ahuja, a Cleveland entrepreneur and Cleveland State graduate, for his achievements and generous contributions to Cleveland State University. Mr. Ahuja has donated $1 million and has pledged an additional $1 million to Cleveland State University, primarily in support of the James J. Nance College of Business Administration. Born in India, Mr. Ahuja received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1967. He arrived in the U.S. in 1969 and earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University in 1970. After moving to Cleveland in 1971, and while working full time with a Maple Heights automotive firm, he earned his MBA from Cleveland State's College of Business Administration in 1975. As an assignment for a marketing class, he developed a business plan for an auto transmission supply business. After graduation, Mr. Ahuja turned this plan into his own company--Transtar Industries, Inc. Although the firm began with only two employees and virtually no capital, today Transtar has nearly 700 employees and is the leader in the transmission products industry with 21 operations in the U.S. and worldwide distribution. In addition to his generous monetary donations to Cleveland State University, Mr. Ahuja has dedicated his time by serving as a director of the Cleveland State University Foundation, and establishing the Ahuja Endowed Scholarship Fund in Business Administration and Engineering and the Distinguished Scholar in Comparative Indian and Western Philosophy, a cultural endowment initiated by a close friend, Dr. D.C. Bhaiji. As chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Ahuja oversaw one of the largest physical expansions in Cleveland State's history. In 1990, he was named one of Cleveland State's top 25 distinguished alumni. Let us join Cleveland State University as they honor Mr. Ahuja on March 26, 1999, for his contributions to the university.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recommend that OSHA be enabled to continue its work on protecting American workers and employees by preventing Musculoskeletal injuries and other injuries at the workplace of America. An update of OSHA guidelines (which have been extensively and voluntarily used by employers for the last 10 years) is timely. American employers currently spend $15-20 billion/year on disability and absenteeism due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, not considering the legal costs of law suits filed by employees. The total cost to the American society is about $60 billion/year due to medical costs and lost productivity of injured employees. The ergonomics of work is a well-studied field by scientists in academia and NIOSH and the conclusions from that research point that most musculoskeletal disorders caused by the unsound ergonomic practices could be avoided if guidelines by OSHA were implemented at the workplace, thus protecting workers from un-necessary suffering and saving money for employers. While the regulations by OSHA may be improved and made more efficient, flexible and responsive to the needs of a particular employer, OSHA's capability to protect American workers and employers should be maintained. I believe that the costs of efficient OSHA regulations for protecting workers from musculoskeletal injuries are minuscule in comparison with the cost of maintaining the status quo and continuity of costly musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the opening of the Heart Center at Parma Community General Hospital and the hospital's continued dedication to meeting the healthcare needs of the community. Parma Community General Hospital, a not-for-profit, community-based hospital dedicated to bringing high quality health care services in a familiar, cost-effective setting, received numerous awards in 1998. According to a study by a national organization, Parma Hospital was rated first in quality of care in orthopedics of the 31 hospitals in its six-county region. In addition, Parma Hospital ranked in the top five in overall performance based on all services offered. The nursing staff, a critical element in Parma Hospital's excellence, also received accolades for their commitment to quality. Mary Ann Hassing, R.N., in the Small Wonders Maternity Unit, was named Health Care Worker of the Year by the Ohio Association for Hospitals and Health Systems. In addition, Karen Krauth, R.N., certified Diabetes Educator and Renee Knapp, R.N. who works in the Emergency Department, were chosen by the Plain Dealer readers as the Best of the Best. Last year, Parma also became the first hospital in the area to sign the pledge created by the National Healthcare Workers Safety Program and convert to needle safety blood drawing products and IV angiocatheters. Parma also provided care for a record number of patients in the Emergency Room in 1998. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the accomplishments of Parma Community General Hospital and the Sunday, March 28, 1999 opening of the Heart Center at Parma Community General Hospital.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the American people may be surprised to know that although we have not declared it our policy to do so, we have already spent $120 billion of taxpayers' money for a nuclear umbrella which does not exist for a threat which has never materialized. I propose that we can save the taxpayers at least another $120 billion by announcing to the world that we already have a nuclear umbrella. Who is going to know the difference? Latter-day Dr. Strangeloves are running around the Capitol today saying the sky is falling and we ought to buy a net to catch it. Save the taxpayers money. Here is a prototype nuclear umbrella. This has about as much of a chance of repelling raindrops as the real thing would have in stopping nuclear missiles if scientific evidence is to be believed. Now, if we buy into the fear mongering, what is next? Duck-and-cover drills? Loyalty pledges? Red scare number 2? The second Cold War? We have already proven that we can leave the post-Cold War world in peace not through preparing for war but through dedicated nuclear nonproliferation. Let us work for peace and let us be brave and strong and true in defense of democratic values here at home and around the world. Vote against the rule and vote against H.R. 4.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Steven Popovich, founder of the Cleveland International Record label. Over the past 36 years Mr. Popovich has achieved considerable success in the music business by taking chances on artists and music at the fringes of the mainstream. For example, Popovich signed Meat Loaf to the Cleveland International label after Meat Loaf had been rejected by several record companies. After signing Meat Loaf, Popovich launched what is considered one of the most successful marketing campaigns ever. Popovich mixed the powerful CBS marketing department with grassroots efforts to make Meat Loaf a national icon. Popovich's success with Meat Loaf provides just one example of how and why Popovich has been successful. Once he believes in someone he puts everything he has into making that person successful. This dedication has worked for Popovich regardless of the artist or type of music he is promoting. In 1986 Popovich applied this formula to Polygram Nashville and turned the label into a success. Acts like Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, the Everly Brothers, and Kathy Mattea signed with Popovich and Polygram Nashville. Popovich also signed polka legend Frankie Yankovic, the Polka King, to the label. Yankovic won a Grammy for his 1986 album ``70 Years of Hits'', which Popovich co-produced. Yankovic and his polka music were quick hits in Nashville. Popovich has since started Our Heritage, a polka and ethnic music subsidiary of Cleveland International. In the fall of 1998 Popovich, along with his son, Steve, Jr., Ed Shimborske, and Michael Seday, formed another subsidiary of Cleveland International, Grappler Unlimited. With Grappler Unlimited, once again, Popovich is focusing on music that is perhaps outside the mainstream-- punk. His ear for music that is outside the mainstream, and his willingness to dedicate himself to it and the musicians who perform it, has enabled him to be successful for over 36 years. With his son at his side, Steve will undoubtedly continue to help all types of great music find an audience. Ladies and gentlemen please join me in honoring Steve Popovich. The Polka Punk Rocker By Laura Demarco Steve Popovich made Meat Loaf a main course and helped tell the world ``Cleveland Rocks.'' Now, he's looking to strike gold again with the ethnic music of his roots--polka--and the DIY spirit of his son's passion--punk rock. The walls of Steve Popovich's office don't have to talk to tell his story. Mixed in among the rows of gold and platinum records hang ``I love kieska'' and ``polka naked'' bumper stickers. A ``Cleveland Rocks'' sticker decorates the window. His son's high school class photo hangs near a backstage snapshot of Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. A huge, psychedelic poster of Meat Loaf is framed near a smiling reproduction of Frankie Yankovic. It's a scene as colorful and complex as the man himself. Each memento stands for a part of Popovich's life: Music mogul. Proud ethnic. Even prouder father. Genius Meat Loaf marketer. Polka promoter. The man who helped Ian Hunter tell the world ``Cleveland Rocks.'' He's also the busy head of two new subsidiaries of his Cleveland International Record label, the ethnic/polka Our Heritage * * * Pass It On line and the punk/metal offshoot, Grappler Unlimited. Why polka and punk? Like the other music Popovich has championed through his 36-year music industry career, they're styles that often get overlooked. Both have a devoted core of fans who buy the records, wear the fashions and seek out the shows. Neither gets radio play nor respect in mainstream media. Then again, neither did a certain hefty singer, until Popovich made Meat Loaf a household name. Popovich may look like anything but a music mogul in his jeans, Cleveland International T-shirt and Pat Dailey's baseball cap, but he has struck gold more than once by betting on the underdog. Today, he's trying it again. Coal miner's son Popovich doesn't like to talk about the past. He's rather discuss what he's working on now--expanding Our Heritage * * * Pass It On and promoting Grappler's first band, Porn Flakes. But to understand how Popovich got to this cluttered, homey midtown office, you have to look at where he came from. Born in 1942 to a Serbian father and Croatian-Slovenian mother in the coal-mining town of Nemacolin, Penn., Popovich's early life was a long way from the Manhattan office buildings he would find himself in years later. His father was a miner who opened a grocery store in the last two years of his life. It was from him and another father figure, Popovich's lifelong friend, Father Branko Skaljac, that his love for music began. ``My dad played in a tamburitza band with his two brothers and a couple other guys. They always played music around the house and sang. Fr. Branko came and taught us tambura [a stringed Balkan instrument] every Thursday.'' Looking back, Popovich sees the importance of music for people in a place like Nemacolin. ``I really believe polka was our people's Prozac,'' he says. ``When they were working in the mines, factory jobs, they'd get depressed, so they'd throw on their music or pick up their accordion or tambura.'' A few years after learning the tambura, another stringed instrument caught Popovich's attention: the upright bass. He formed a polka-rock band called Ronnie and the Savoys that played out at local hotels and the Masontown, Penn., Italian Club. When Popovich's father died in 1960, he moved to Cleveland with his mother and sister, where they had family. He attended John Carroll on a football scholarship, but quit after a year, spending the next few year doing odd jobs. Then in 1963, two articles in a paper he was reading caught his attention. The first was a notice that Columbia Records was opening a Cleveland warehouse. The second was a story saying one of his favorite polka artists, Cleveland's Frankie Yankovic, who recorded for Columbia, had been injured in a car accident. ``So I called Frank out of the blue and said `hey you don't know me, but I play your music back in Pennsylvania. Can you get me an interview?''' says Popovich. ``And he did that from his hospital bed. I never forgot that.'' Popovich got the job ad thus began his music industry career; schlepping boxes around 80 hours a week for $30. On his nights off he would play with the Savoys, who had followed him up to Cleveland. But with his strong work ethic, Popovich quickly climbed out of the warehouse. He soon found himself working promotions in the local Columbia office, and in 1969 was offered a promotions job in the label's New York office. A year later, at age 26, Popovich became the youngest vice president of promotions ever at CBS Records (Columbia's parent company). While there, he worked with the label's roster, including rising stars Bruce Springsteen, Boz Scaggs and Chicago. He was the first and youngest recipient of the Clive Davis Award for promotion (named for the legendary president of CBS Records), and for two years in a row was named top promotion executive in the country by Billboard. Quite an accomplishment for a ``hunky'' (Popovich's slang term for ethnics) from a part of America most record execs not-so-fondly dub ``fly-over country.'' Promoting artists led to signing artists when Popovich became head of A&R (artists and repertoire) in 1974 at CBS subsidiary Epic. If his promotions career seemed remarkable, his time in A&R was even more impressive. Popovich presided over the signing of Michael Jackson, Cheap Trick, Boston, Ted Nugent and Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. He also helped Steubenville's Wild Cherry, of ``Play that Funky Music (White Boy)'' fame, and Michael Stanley find a home on Epic. (Decades later, Popovich helped another local band when he took a tape of Dink to Capitol Records head Gary Gersh, who signed the band). Sales at Epic rose from $12 million to over $100 million in three years under Popovich. He credits this to his ability to look for artists where other A&R pros never bothered. ``Small-town America, I always try to represent that,'' he says. ``What's going on with the blue-collar people . . . those have always been the fans.'' Cleveland (International) rocks ``Cleveland, in fact, back then did rock,'' says Popovich, leaning forward in this chair, the red sticker with the motto he brought to the world looming on the window behind him. ``Through it sounds really trite and old fashioned to now even say the words `Cleveland rocks.' '' For Popovich, this wasn't just a slogan. In 1976, he and two other CBS Records executive left New York to form an independent label called Cleveland International that was backed by Columbia. ``Cleveland was a very important market in those days,'' says Popovich. ``It really was WMMS . . . they made a real big impact nationally. That was the reason I moved back here from New York. It was such a viable record breakout market that I thought basing a company here would be a good idea.'' He was correct. Not seven months after the label started, Popovich signed another underdog no one else would be near, but one who soon put Cleveland International on the map. ``Meat Loaf was too fat, too ugly. His hair was too long, the voice was too operatic,'' says Popovich. That's what the labels that passed on Meat Loaf thought. But the fans thought otherwise. The product of songwriter Jim Steinman, producer Tod Rundgren and a one-of-a-kind singer with a voice big enough to match his girth, Marvin Aday (a.k.a. Meat Loaf), Bat out of Hell is an album few rock fans can claim not to have heard--it has sold an astonishing estimated 28 million copies. But at the time New York attorney David Sonenberg was shopping it around, no one in the music business new what to think about it. So they just stayed away. Except for Popovich. After signing Meat Loaf, Popovich embarked on what is regarded as one of the most successful marketing campaigns ever in the music industry. It included radical tactics, such as Popovich showing up at radio stations and retailers across the nation to drop off Meat Loaf tapes--an unheard of activity for a record company president. He also convinced CBS to make a $25,000 Meat Loaf promotional film for play in movie theaters--a noval idea will before the video age. He also battled CBS to put the full force of its marketing department behind the album. ``Adroit marketing propels Meat Loaf up the charts,'' proclaims the Wall Street Journal in a 1978 front-page article that raved about Popovich's tactics. But though he may have been the biggest, Meat Loaf wasn't the only act on Cleveland International. The label was also home to Ellen Foley, Ronnie Spector and others; it was the management company for Ian Hunter. It was Popovich who convinced the E Street Band to back Hunter on his 1979 You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic record, which includes the now infamous ``Cleveland Rocks.'' Lawsuits, TV shows and Meat Loaf ``We were conveniently left out of it. Hey, people try to change history, but a fact's a fact,'' says Popovich. He's referring to a recent VH-1 ``Behind the Music'' show on Meat Loaf that failed to mention of his role in the making of Mr. Loaf. ``It's been well documented everywhere, the historical role the marketing of that record played, the fact that it had been [rejected by] three or four other labels before we got it.'' Popovich says that when he found out the show was in the works, he called the president of VH-1, John Sykes, whom he had worked with when Sykes was a promotions man for Columbia in Buffalo. ``I called him before it ran and said `John, just tell the truth,' and [the show] didn't. He's the president of VH-1, he knows better.'' When questioned about Popovich's absence, the producers of ``Behind the Music'' replied that ``regrettably, in the course of telling a person's life story, someone always feels left out.'' Sykes did not return a call asking for a comment. Why the black out? Considering that the show was obviously sanctioned by Meat Loaf, who appeared in multiple interviews, it could have something to do with a 1995 lawsuit that Popovich's Cleveland Entertainment Inc. filed against Sony Music Entertainment Inc. and CBS Records in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The suit alleged that Popovich was defrauded out of royalties for Bat Out of Hell through various devices, including fraudulently calculated royalties for the sales of CDs. Meat Loaf, who re-signed to Sony following the filing of Popovich's initial complaint, was expected to testify against Popovich at the trial. But the suit never made it to court. Popovich, who sought $100 million, and Sony settled for a confidential amount last February. Ancillary litigation filed in New York federal court by Meat Loaf against Sony and Cleveland Entertainment was dismissed at the same time. Today, Popovich will only say that his suit was settled ``amicably.'' For the first time in two decades, Meat Loaf is off his plate--though Popovich says that as a result of his Sony lawsuit he does receive royalties from sales of Bat Out of Hell. Old world Popovich grabs a black-and-white photo off a pile of papers on his desk. ``Here, look what I found,'' he says, talking to his son, Steve, Jr., who just walked into his office, a muscular, spiky haired, tattooed contrast to his father. The photo shows a young boy, about 6-years-old, standing proudly, hands on his hips talking to a group of men around him. The men are Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr. and Cowboy Jack Clements. The boy is Steve, Jr. ``You're talking to them like you're Clive Davis,'' his father continues, laughing. The photo was taken during Popovich's years as vice president of Polygram Nashville, a position he took in 1986. ``I had been through a pretty intense divorce . . . there had been a whole series of misadventures, including coming out of having one of the biggest acts in the world and ending up with very little,'' says Popovich about his decision to shut down Cleveland International. ``The reality of that set in, and out of the blue an old friend of mine who took over Polygram in New York called and said `hey, you want to have some fun,' and I was like, `I'm ready for that.' '' In typical Popovich fashion, he took Nashville's least successful label and built it into a powerhouse, signing Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and the Everly Brothers and turning Kathy Mattea into a star. In not so typical Nashville fashion, Popovich signed his old friend, Frankie Yankovic--whose 1986 Grammy Award-winning album, 70 Years of Hits he co-produced--to the label. Yankovic became a quick favorite in Nashville, selling out concerts and recording one album, Live In Nashville. But Popovich wasn't a country boy for long. In 1993, he returned to Cleveland. ``My son wanted to go to Lake Catholic High School to play football and wanted to see more of his mother. My family's up here, and I thought it was an opportune time to start another label.'' It wasn't long before he revived Cleveland International, this time in partnership with Cleveland businessman and metalwork factory owner Bill Sopko, a friend since the `70s. ``The concept was to try to find some new people that the big companies were not interested in, to try to do something regionally,'' says Sopko. ``And he would keep his ears open and possibly pick another winner. We're still trying to accomplish that.'' Since Cleveland International's humble rebirth--it has a staff of two, including Popovich, who often even answers the company phone--the label has released 31 albums. The diversity of sounds is striking: Danish pop-rock from Michael Learns to Rock to Hanne Boel; a Browns protest compilation called Dawg Gone; a Cockney folk duo called Chas and Dave; the cast album from the touring Woody Guthrie American Song production; Ian Hunter's 1995 Dirty Laundry; new releases from Polish polka king Eddie Blazonczyk; and the Grammy-nominated 1995 release by Frankie Yankovic and Friends, Songs of the Polka King. But it's his return to his ethnic roots that Popovich is most excited about. ``Maybe that's what I'm supposed to do at 56 years old. This is what I grew up with, so maybe as you get older what you grew up with becomes more important. Or maybe it's a reaction to the Sony-fication of the world,'' he says. This roots revival has led Popovich to create Our Heritage . . . Pass It On, a mid-priced label he describes as ``meant to reflect the ethnicity of Cleveland and the Midwest.'' So far, the label features releases by Cleveland crooner Rocco Scotti and the Here Come the Polka Heroes compilation, and Popovich plans to expand the variety of nationalities represented on the subsidiary. He's looking into working with Irish and Latin music groups, and he recently assisted Cleveland's Kosovo Men's Choir, a Serbian church group, in releasing a record on their own label that he may pick up for Our Heritage. But while his first reason for Our Heritage may be his love for the music, it's not Popovich's only impetus. ``I'd like to see this break through, and I'd be the king of polka records. If Sony wanted to deal with polka music, they'd have to come to me,'' he says. He sees a real future in celebrating the past. ``There is a hunger for the Euro-ethnic. Whether it's in books, music or videos. I'm not saying on a titanic level at all, but there's something very interesting going on,'' he says. To prove his point, he pops a video into the VCR next to his desk. Groups of brightly clad dancers emerge on the screen, doing a Croatian folk dance. ``You have this group [The Duquesne University Tamburitzans] in Pittsburgh, 35 born and raised in America Euro-ethnic kids who go and do two hours shows to standing ovations and play all over the country. And then you go see them after the show, and they're wearing their Nine Inch Nails T-shirts.'' He pops in another video, and the screen is filled with polkaing twentysomethings. ``He pops in another video, and the screen is filled with polkaing twentysomethings. ``This goes on at Seven Springs on July 4th every year,'' he explains, refering to an annual polka-fest held at the Pennsylvania ski resort. ``I'm the oldest one there. ``They should get PBS in Pittsburgh down there. This is America, man. If I say polka, people are like, `the p word'. . . but you see the ages of these dancers. The whole floor's going nuts. ``We need someone with a TV camera. Someone interviewing these people about the history of this thing and why they love this. They don't hear it on the radio, they don't see it on TV, they don't see it on movie theaters, but it stays alive. Why? It's an underground thing and has been for the greater part of this century. That's what I love about it.'' New world ``Show her your tattoo, Pop,'' says Steve Popovich to his son, using the nickname they call one another. Steve, Jr., in chain-clad baggy jeans and a button-down Adidas shirt, pulls up his sleeve to reveal the words Zivili Brace, Zivili Sestra, a Serbo-Croatian saying meaning roughly ``to life brother, to life sister.'' It's also the name of a polka by Johnny Krizancic. Like father, like son. A cliche perhaps, but a saying that rings true for the Popoviches. Nineteen-year-old Steve, Jr. has just made his move into the music world, in partnership with his father and the owners of Toledo-based punk-metal label Sin Klub Entertainment, Ed Shimborske and Michael Seday. The four have just formed Grappler Unlimited, a subsidiary of Cleveland International. Unlike Our Heritage, this label has nothing to do with Popovich's love for the Old World. It has everything to do with his love for the little boy who once stood talking to Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Jr. Steve, Jr. was a major reason Sin Klub first caught his father's attention. Seday was dating Popovich's daughter, Pamela. He and Steve, Jr. became friends, and he took the younger Popovich to Toledo to see some of Sin Klub's bands, including a heavy rap-punk called Porn Flakes. ``Something just clicked, I was just drawn to it,'' says Steve, Jr. ``It was like a disease. It was catchy, it really was.'' Steve, Jr. was so impressed with Porn Flakes that he came back to Cleveland and, at age 16, promoted his first show, a concert at the Agora featuring Porn Flakes, Fifth Wheel, Cannibus Major and Cows in the Graveyard. He also told his father about what he saw. Steve, Sr. began to take notice of this young label that was taking the same kind of regional marketing approach that he had always practiced. ``Popovich started putting his hand into [Sin Klub] and helping us out, giving us advice. He was kind of like a father figure to the label,'' says Shimborske. ``He helped throw his weight around a little, getting us some better shows.'' ``He admired the fact that we stuck it out for so long,'' he says. ``Plus, I think he needed, or wanted, to kind of fill the void with his conglomeration of labels, as far as having a younger, more cutting-edge sound. A fresher, alternative sound.'' Popovich admits appealing to a younger audience was a factor behind Grappler. ``We established a certain kind of image for Cleveland International, and I got a little concerned when people would think it was only a polka label,'' he says. Grappler was finally formed in the fall of '98 with Porn Flakes as the first signing. Though in some ways the new subsidiary has a loose, family feel--Shimborske's parents help out with art and photo work, and Popovich once took Frankie Yankovic to Shimborske's grandparents' house for homemade pierogis--all four partners are very serious. Seday and Shimborske, who still run Sin Klub, are doing A&R and marketing. Steve, Jr. is doing promotions out of his father's office. And Steve, Sr. is doing what he can to help without trying to run the show. ``I don't want my rules to apply to that label. It's whatever they feel people their age want. These are three pretty talented guys who know the music business,'' he says. ``They're real passionate, and that's the key word.'' ``Cleveland International funded it. I try to stay in the background and bring these guys along with what contacts I have.'' So far this has meant making calls to radio stations on the label's behalf and taking the label's product to conventions. This week, Popovich, his son and Seday have taken Porn Flakes product to the Midem conference in France, the world's largest music-industry convention, in hopes of getting world licensing for the group. Despite his connections, Popovich realizes it's not going to be easy to break Porn Flakes or any other new band. The times have changed since he started in the music industry, and different rules now apply. High-priced consultants who dictate playlists across the country rule contemporary radio, making a grassroots regional push like the one used with Meat Loaf almost impossible. And Cleveland is far from the music hub it was in the days when WMMS mattered. ``The problem is you have five major companies that control American radio. You have great local radio people still, people like Walk Tiburski and John Lannigan. The people are here. The ownership unfortunately is not here, and the consultants for the most part are not based here. They live in Washington, D.C. or Texas and are adding records in Cleveland, Ohio.'' Still, Popovich predicts a future when radio might not matter that much. ``Mushroomhead is not on the radio, and they're packing bars. People love it, and they still manage to attract a crowd. It's beyond that now going into the next century. You don't need A&R people now. If you believe in what you do, get somebody to put up the money to press up a thousand records and put them in stores in consignment. If those records go away, get a thousand more. And then go on with your Website. You can start that way. Then at some point you need to be seen at South by Southwest or one of those New York gigs.'' Popovich also has some forward thinking ideas about Cleveland International. He's talking about starting an Internet radio station and believes that to sell records you need to get them into unorthodox places, like hotel lobbies and drug stores, not just mega-record stores. ``I need a person who is a head of sales who has no rules, who can think into the next century,'' he says. Still, there are some troublesome factors. ``It's a questionable time to be doing what I'm doing, given the fact that people can now make their own CDs and that there's MP3,'' says Popovich. ``The industry's going through a lot of changes.'' So why start Grappler? ``They're kind of keeping me in balance,'' he says. ``There's a whole new world of 19-year-olds out there who don't necessarily love 'N Sync or Backstreet Boys or what MTV is trying to shove down their throats. I've always loved that end of the business. Most of the artists I dealt with no one believed in, in the beginning.'' That's how he got all of those records on the wall.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Dublin, National University of Ireland, The Honorable Paul O'Connor. Dean O'Connor is the guest of honor at the twentieth annual Donahue & Scanlon St. Patrick's Day Party. Dean O'Connor received primary and postgraduate degrees in law at University College Dublin, the largest law school in Ireland, before qualifying at the Irish Bar in 1976. He was then awarded a fellowship to study at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with a Masters in 1978. After practicing briefly in Philadelphia, he returned to his alma mater to take up his first teaching post. Dean O'Connor specializes in the subjects of Criminal Law, Evidence, and Family Law, and he is widely published in each of these areas. In 1986, he resumed his academic acquaintance with the United States as a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Michigan where he studied comparative matrimonial property regimes. Dean O'Connor has guest lectured in Europe, the United States and Australia. He is a board member of both the Irish Centre for Commercial Law Studies, and the leading Irish law journal, The Irish Jurist. He is also currently a member of the Solicitors profession's Future of the Legal Profession Committee. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the accomplishments of Dean Paul O'Connor.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Stanley Sheinbaum, one of the great beacons of liberal thought and socially responsible practice. Today, we mark the accomplishments of this great American, who has singularly left the mark of conscience on the history of modern America. Stanley Sheinbaum's long career of good works in the public interest began with his revelations of CIA early and active presence in Vietnam. He then organized and coordinated the legal defense team in the Pentagon papers trial. He served as the Chairman of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California and as a member of the ACLU National Advisory Council for over 25 years. He has given freely of his expertise and time to the Center for Law in the Public Interest, People for the American Way, and California Common Cause. And he was consulting editor for the thought-provoking political journal, Ramparts. Stanley Sheinbaum also made his mark on American politics as a Democratic Party activist. He served as a McGovern Delegate from California to the 1972 Democratic Convention and was instrumental in organizing substantial resources for the McGovern Presidential Campaign. Stanley Sheinbaum's peacemaking influence has been felt at the local and the international levels as well. He was President of the Board of Police Commissioners and initiated needed reforms after the civil unrest caused by the Rodney King incident. He was also one of the early diplomatic pioneers who worked to bring Chairman Yassir Arafat into negotiations in a powerful effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also served on the board of Americans for Peace Now and the International Center for Peace in the Middle East. Stanley Sheinbaum has demonstrated how one can be an effective advocate for justice at every level of life: local, state, national and international. He is a great visionary and a great American.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Greek Independence Day, March 25th. The fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottoman Empire brought a halt to the important leadership role of Greeks. Their heritage remained important, however, for others around the world. Tsarist Russia emulated the Orthodox and imperial models of Byzantium. Classical Greece offered inspiration and guideposts for the flowering of the Renaissance. And the influence of Classical Greece on the founding fathers of American independence is universally known. During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the Greek people never lost sight of their distinct identity and deep devotion to their Orthodox Church, whose clergy played a critical function in maintaining their language and religion. As the eighteenth century ended, the Greeks began organizing a struggle for their freedom. On March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos called for all to join the campaign for Greek independence. Despite overwhelming odds, thousands of Greeks throughout the region responded to this inspiring call and fought heroically. The combination of Greek sacrifice and bravery with the help of foreign volunteers succeeded by the end of the 1820s in establishing an independent Greek state. It was a struggle that caught the world's attention, in large part because of the admirable ideals of freedom and revived opportunities for a heroic peoples. We cherish and honor these same ideals today. The Greek-American community offers a cultural bridge between the two countries and takes pride that Greek ideals contributed to America's revolution before Greeks themselves had the chance to follow a related and successful campaign for freedom. My fellow colleagues, please join me in celebrating Greek Independence Day.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of one of the most influential teachers of my life, Sister Leona Nieberding. Sister Leona entered the Congregation of St. Joseph from St. Ignatius parish when she was 18 years old. Two years later, she was given her first teaching assignment at St. Joseph school in Canton, Ohio. This began a life of total dedication to the ministry of the education of young people. Over her 77 years as an educator, she taught at five different schools in the Cleveland area: St. Joseph, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Aloysius, St. Ignatius, and St. Angela Merici. She also served as principal at St. Aloysius and St. Vincent de Paul. Sister Leona worked hard to prepare young people for life, guiding them spiritually as well as intellectually. She demonstrated to her students the practical applications of spiritual guidance and ethical conduct in everyday life. Sister Leona was known for her devotion to young people and her insistence that they understand the importance of education and live up to her high expectations of them. In 1979, the Kiwanis Club of Fairview Park recognized her outstanding efforts by honoring her as the ``Teacher of the Year.'' Sister Leona, however, never sought credit for her deeds. She often organized the resources of her parish to ensure that the needy families were provided with food and clothes, without taking any credit for the work. These selfless personal efforts did not go unnoticed. Her service is in the finest tradition of nuns of the Congregation of Saint Joseph, who dedicate their lives to serving God and their fellow parishioners. Throughout her 96 years, Sister Leona touched the hearts and souls of many. We have suffered a great loss in her passing, but those of us who were lucky enough to have known her are better people for having shared in her special gifts. Sister Leona will never be forgotten.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 975. Mr. Speaker, we are here because of policies which have failed to protect the American steel industry and workers from unfair competition. The administration could have prevented this bill from coming to the floor by initiating its own restrictions on the surge of cheap imported steel, but the administration would not go to such lengths to protect the steel industry. But they have gone the distance and more to protect the banana industry. Mr. Speaker, does the banana industry employ 160,00 American workers? No. Are foreign bananas crowding out the American banana business? No. This has not stopped the administration from making every effort to protect the banana industry. Bananas did not build America. Steel did. Steel helped build our automotive industry. Steel helped build our defense. We cannot build a tank with a banana, we cannot build a plane with a banana, we cannot build ships with a banana. We did not build cars with bananas. We did not build bridges with bananas. We did not build America with bananas. We built America with steel. But the administration has ignored the steel industry that employs 160,000 Americans that have suffered the loss of 10,000 jobs since the import crisis began and that has endured the undercutting of its American market. The administration cares more about bananas than about steel. Such a trade policy is, in a word, bananas. Our approach is different from the administration's. H.R. 975 is the only action that will directly confront the major cause of layoffs in the steel industry. Our bill is America's best hope of averting an economic crisis of our own. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the rule, and I urge support for H.R. 975.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, Jesus said, blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. What can be said of a Congress which will not let the United States make peace in Kosovo? What can be said of a Congress which would intervene at a critical point in peace negotiations and take steps to undermine a peace agreement? What can be said of a Congress which refuses to let the United States join hands with other peacekeepers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? What can be said is this: If we are not letting peace be waged, then we are letting war be waged. What can be said is that if we are not thoughtful as to the consequences of our actions today upon the Kosovo peace talks, then we are as sorcerer's apprentices, mindlessly stirring a cauldron full of the blood of Balkan innocents. When this cauldron is stirred, there will be blood on our hands. What will be said about this Congress is that with our NATO allies at the ready, Congress abdicated the United States role as a world leader. Blessed are the peacemakers. We are able to make peace because we are the strongest nation in the world. We are able to make peace because we have been committed to peace. Listen to the words of John F. Kennedy's inaugural. He said that we have been unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. We are challenged every day to renew our commitments to peace, to justice, to the American way of democratic principles, to lifting the burden of our brothers and sisters anywhere in the world, to becoming the light of the world. Our Star Spangled Banner asks this question every day: Oh, say, does that star spangled banner still wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave? Let us continue to demonstrate that we will be brave so that we may remain free and that others may remain free. Let us not turn our backs on peace. Let us not turn our backs on our allies. Let us not turn our backs on those principles which have helped form this Nation. Let us not turn our backs on those who thirst for justice, on those who hunger for righteousness, on those who look to the United States to be first in peace.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lisa Naftzger, an accomplished poet, National Young Leaders Conference participant, and a student at Shiloh Senior High School in Parma, OH. Lisa has been selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, this week. She is among 350 outstanding National Scholars from across the country who are participating in a unique leadership development program. Since the theme of the conference is The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today, Lisa is taking advantage of the opportunity to interact with key leaders and news makers from the three branches of government, the media, and the diplomatic corps. This week she is also participating in a number of leadership skill- building activities such as a Model Congress and role-playing the President, members of the cabinet and Members of Congress. The conference activities get young people on the right track to achieving their full leadership potential. I am certain that Lisa will not only gain knowledge and experience here, but that she will also leave with a sense of accomplishment and an increased ability to face the challenges of the future. In addition to honoring Lisa for her achievements, I would also like to commend to your attention the following poem that she has written titled ``The Unknown Soldier.'' The Unknown Soldier By Lisa Naftzger, Shiloh Jr. High, April 1, 1997 So much strength and courage it certainly takes, To fight for your country with so much at stake. And this Unknown Soldier, that's just what he's done, For my admiration he's certainly won. So, to represent Shiloh and lay down the wreath, To honor the soldier who is now at peace, Would be the greatest honor I've ever known. I know how much gratitude needs to be shown. For the Unknown Soldier should certainly be, Honored from now to eternity.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Christina Rozakis a National Young Leaders Conference participant and a student at Lakewood High School in Lakewood, OH. Christina has been selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, this week. She is among 350 outstanding national scholars from across the country who are participating in a unique leadership development program. Since the theme of the conference is The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today, Christina is taking advantage of the opportunity to interact with key leaders and news makers from the three branches of government, the media and the diplomatic corps. This week, she is also participating in a number of leadership skill- building activities such as a Model Congress and roll-playing the President, Members of the Cabinet and Members of Congress. The conference activities get young people on the right track to achieving their full leadership potential. I am certain that Christina will not only gain knowledge and experience here, but that she will also leave with a sense of accomplishment and an increased ability to face the challenges of the future. My fellow colleagues please join me in congratulating Christina for all her accomplishments.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sara McClelland, a National Young Leaders Conference participant and a student at Berea High School in Berea, OH. Sara has been selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, this week. She is among 350 outstanding national scholars from across the country who are participating in a unique leadership development program. Since the theme of the conference is The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today, Sara is taking advantage of the opportunity to interact with key leaders and news makers from the three branches of government, the media and the diplomatic corps. This week, she is also participating in a number of leadership skill- building activities such as a Model Congress and role-playing the President, Members of the Cabinet, and Members of Congress. The conference activities get young people on the right track to achieving their full leadership potential. I am certain that Sara will not only gain knowledge and experience here, but that she will also leave with a sense of accomplishment and an increased ability to face the challenges of the future. My fellow colleagues, please join me in congratulating Sara for all her accomplishments.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the following excerpts from an article written by Bill McAllister that appeared in the Washington Post on March 4, 1999. The article, ``How Clean Air Bit The Dust,'' exposes yet another environmental injustice. With more and more sound scientific evidence showing correlations between poor air quality and increased incidence of diseases and environmental degredation it is sad to see that some misguided interests asserts that ``it's standard stuff'' to fight for the right to pollute our Nation's air. Is it ``standard stuff'' to increase the incidence of childhood asthma and lung cancer? The article states that some ``fretted that their opposition might rile EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner.'' Now they can worry about riling Congress. Read on. [From the Washington Post, Mar. 4, 1999] How Clean Air Bit the Dust (By Bill McAllister) What happens when a big business coalition closes the door and plots strategy? Some enviros recently got a copy of notes of a Jan. 21 meeting of the Air Quality Standards Coalition and were appalled by what they saw through a rare window into the world of business lobbyists. The lobbyists' bravado and scheming had Philip E. Clapp, president of the National Environmental Trust, and John Passacantando, executive director of Ozone Action, so angry they demanded that Thomas R. Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, which hosted the meeting, repudiate the group. In the meeting, the lobbyists chortled over their successful strategy of rounding up governors, local officials and congressional Democrats to oppose a ``haze rule'' that the Environmental Protection Agency was promoting to cut pollution in national parks. ``We're delighted we're in place with this coalition,'' said a representative of the Chemical Manufacturers Association, who was also unnamed. ``Maybe we need to rename it. How about just drop the word `standards' and call it `the Air Quality Coalition.' '' Others fretted that their opposition might rile EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner. ``We don't want Browner to own this thing.'' said one. ``The key is keeping it out of Carol Browner's bailiwick,'' said another. The meeting's big decision: to plan a retreat to discuss strategy. ``We're going to help our friends on the Hill, Bring in key Hill staff to work with us,'' one remarked. The lobbyists plotted tapping into corporate foundation that could fund pollution research and complained of their dwindling bank account (``only $60,000'') and the work that the Alphine Group, a lobby shop, was doing--at $7,500 a month--finding Democrats to oppose the EPA rules. Attendees, according to the notes, also included representatives of the American Petroleum Institute, the National Mining Association, General Motors, American Trucking Associations and Daimler Chrysler, among others. ``It's standard stuff'' said Paul Bailey, Edison's vice president for environmental affairs, when asked about the notes. ``We're surprised it has become a big deal.'' An EPA official, speaking on condition he not be named, agreed. ``They've been our nemesis for more than a year,'' the official said, adding the group had used similar tactics to fight a smog rule in 1997. ``We wouldn't be surprised at anything the Air Quality Standards Coalition does. It's deja vu all over again.''

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I basically support this resolution. Americans have been misled by some to doubt that Social Security will provide retirement security. In fact, Social Security does not face a financial crisis. A projected shortfall occurring 34 years in the future is not a crisis, it is a projection. No other organization, public or private, has a plan for operation nearly two generations into the future. Social Security does face a political crisis if Congress abandons its commitments to guarantee benefits. This resolution is a good first move and should put to rest whether Social Security will pay full benefits. With this resolution Congress pledges to guarantee paying full benefits to current and future retirees. A pledge is good. Making it the law would be better. Congress will have to add this concept in any reform legislation we adopt to make the words of this resolution meaningful. We must work to ensure that any reform legislation Congress passes also upholds the Social Security guarantee that promised benefits are as good as money and are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, just like our currency and bonds. I hope everyone will join me in adding meaning to this resolution by writing the Social Security guarantee into law.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Well, 7 days once they make a determination that an application should be rejected on a technical basis.

Mr. KUCINICH. At that point, they notify them they have 7 days, and if they cannot do it, then that is unfortunate. But at least they have the time to correct it, and if it is a minor thing such as filing the wrong form, and they could get the wrong form, they can turn that around in a few days. So, as my colleagues know, this is not intended to create a loophole where someone could, in effect, I say to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman), forestall the proper execution of the Federal grant program. But it is intended to make certain that no one, no worthy and otherwise proper applicant, and this was the case that I cited which someone had already been operating under a Federal grant and followed all the guidelines, no one would be denied the chance to be a grantee simply on a routine technical matter. They would have the chance to come back.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman's advice and counsel in doing that. It is good to work with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman).

Mr. KUCINICH. Since the Federal agency has already an apparatus in place, which they pay for in terms of personnel, this would simply require a phone call each time there was a deficiency so that the costs would be negligible.

Mr. KUCINICH. The amendment is broad enough that it would not be limited to just a misfiling, but it also, as I indicated earlier, would be considered technical even if there was a material impact and eligibility of the applicant. Any failure, if they fail to submit something that was a substantially complete application which the Federal Register required, that would not fall under a technical deficiency, and they would be knocked out.

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, it would be a deficiency including but not limited to a misfiling error or omission, and that may be considered technical notwithstanding material impact on the eligibility of a applicant or proposed activity for requested funding.