Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) for the chance to work with him, and I, too, yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KUCINICH

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

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my best wishes to Cleveland's newly remodeled Allen Theater in celebration of its grand re-opening. The Allen has stood the test of time through many hardships to allow its patrons to enjoy the hundreds of films and performances that have graced its dazzling auditorium. Designed by the famous architect C. Howard Crane and built by Jule and Jay Allen, the theater first opened its doors on April 1, 1921 amidst a frenzy of publicity praising this $1,900,000 movie ``palace.'' Its elegant interiors included a Great Rotunda illuminated by a grand chandelier hung 33-feet above ground. It held 3,080 seats and played host to many silent films. Even with its obvious success, the Allens would operate the theater for only a year, at which time Lowes took over, starting a long succession of different owners. All brought significant changes to the Allen, from its structure to the actual performances that took place inside it. From 1972-76, it played host to many soon-to-be-famous rockers who were looking to showcase their acts, such as the BeeGees, Cheech & Chong and the rock band KISS. After a brief ``dark-out'', the Allen came alive again with a techno- entertainment show called the Laserium that lasted only a year, after which the theater closed its doors for 16 years. But after a long struggle, the Playhouse Square Foundation received the support to save this historic landmark from demolition by signing a 20-year lease to handle its operations. It presented the cabaret show ``Forever Plaid'' which was met with great success. Officials chose to remodel the theater's stage and make it conducive to long-running musicals like Phantom of the Opera and Showboat. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the Allen Theater during this time of great celebration. Its grand re-opening marks a new beginning for this grand institution. Despite much adversity, it will continue to give us the magic of theater long into the future.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Archbishop Alojz Tkac, Archbishop of Kosice and the metropolitan of Eastern Slovakia. Archbishop Alojz Tkac, a native of Hummenne, in the region of Zemplin Eastern Slovakia, was ordained a priest on June 25, 1961. After 14 years of service, Archbishop Tkac was denied permission to serve in priestly ministry by the communist party. After eight years of absence, Archbishop Alojz returned to his passion and was named the pastor of the parish in Cervenica. On February 14, 1990, Pope John Paul II named him the Bishop of Kasice. In 1995, the Diocese of Kosice was elevated to a metropolitan see and Bishop Tkac became its first Archbishop since 1962. Pope John Paul II personally presented the Archbishop with a Pallium, which was worn by Metropolitans on July 2, 1995 during the Pope's visit to Kosice. On his third visit to the United States, Archbishop Tkac will visit several churches in the Cleveland area and meet with many prominent members of the Slovak-American community. On October 4, 1998, the Archbishop will be attending mass at SS Cyril and Methodius Church in Lakewood, Ohio with Father Ondrejka. The SS Cyril and Methodius Church is honored that the Archbishop will be attending and is grateful for the Archbishop's efforts to preserve the Slovak tradition in Cleveland. My fellow colleagues, join me in honoring Archbishop Alojz Takac, a man who has dedicated his life to God, freedom and the well-being of all people.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my best wishes to the Orchard Civic Association of Cleveland, Ohio, as they celebrate their 40th anniversary in the 71st Harvard area. Throughout the years, this organization has been dedicated to diligent community service in their neighborhood. Ths mission of the Orchard Civic Association consists of informing residents about neighborhood issues and new information concerning the 71st Harvard area, working with the Councilman to resolve neighborhood concerns, as well as learning and becoming well-informed about the City of Cleveland. The Association has been gathering at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church to hold interesting and newsworthy meetings, often highlighted by a speech from Councilman Edward Rybka. The Association's hard work and determination clearly shows through their numerous accomplishments. The group has ensured that the United Parcel Service expansions were compatible with the surrounding neighborhood, addressed concerns about truck traffic, pushed for poorly maintained housing to be brought up to code, as well as worked with the Councilman to renovate homes and build new ones. They have also worked to reduce crime and increase the number of police officers in the neighborhood and joined with the Warner Turney neighborhood to get the Harvard Refuse Landfill closed for all dumping, except building debris. With all their success, the future of this organization looks promising. Their future goals will focus on plans to tackle absentee landlords, get housing code enforcement, and continue to address local issues. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring Cleveland's Orchard Civic Association on 40 years of exceptional service in their neighborhood. Their dedication has brought substantial changes to the 71st Harvard area and its residents. I would like to extend them my best wishes for their future work.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Cuyahoga County Public Library for 75 years of serving its community. Throughout its existence, the library has earned a reputation for conducting innovative programs and providing valuable services which have become models for libraries across the nation. When the state legislature passed a law enabling the establishment of a county district library for any area not served by a free public library, the ever-increasing population of Cuyahoga County saw an opportunity to build a library in its community. The Cuyahoga County Public Library was the first to be organized under the new law. The library rendered its services through schools, which proved to be the best way to serve residents eager for this resource. The schools had ample space and were willing to provide the available quarters rent-free. According to the County Library Report for 1924-1925, eight branches and 49 stations and classroom libraries were opened to the public. As it continued to expand throughout the years, the Cuyahoga County Library was restructured within the framework of a regional library system. It grew to include in-depth collections and subject specialities in specific areas of study. Annual circulation grew from six million in 1965 to 10 million by the mid-eighties. Today, this library has reached such success that it is ranked among the 10 busiest library systems in the nation. It has 29 locations, serving 47 suburban communities with a population of approximately 608,000 people. I am pleased to honor such an achievement on the 75th anniversary of the Cuyahoga County Public Library.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Peter P. Di Leone of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Mr. Di Leone was an accomplished man, serving his community as a lawyer, a labor expert, and an advocate of free speech. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, he was raised by a socialist father who loved to have energetic discussions at the dinner table. He attended Adelbert College, where he played half back on the football team, and then went on to law school at Western Reserve University. As a lawyer, Mr. Di Leone specialized in labor arbitration through the National Labor Relations Board. He was among a small number of experts who were chosen as permanent arbitrators for rubber companies and the rubber workers union. His accomplishments were awarded when he was elected to the board of governors of the National Academy of Arbitrators. Along with that honor, he was known as the ``Pillar of the Cleveland City Club,'' where he served as president. The City Club was established to encourage new ideas and a free exchange of thought through the renowned tradition of debate and discussion, pastimes that were embedded deep into his frame of mind. In 1987, he became the first person to be inducted into the City Club Hall of Fame while still living. Mr. Peter P. Di Leone was a great man who led a successful and accomplished life. I would like to express my deepest condolences to his daughters, Linda Klein and Paulette Novak, and the rest of his surviving family. He will truly be missed by all who knew him.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my best wishes to the Third Federal Savings in celebrating 60 years of service to the city of Cleveland and its surrounding area. Since 1938, Third Federal has provided its customers with the best rates, service and value available. Because they wanted to help their neighbors save money and purchase homes, Ben S. Stefanski and his wife and partner, Gerome, envisioned an opportunity to charter a savings and loan institution designed to provide the community with safe and stable financing for anyone who wanted to own a home. Third Federal grew quickly in the post-war years, earning a solid reputation as a ``good investment'' that allowed for its expansion. In 1958, it took its first steps toward that goal by merging with Lincoln Heights Savings and then quickly added eight other offices and assets totaling $150 million. Such phenomenal growth could not have happened without Third Federal's commitment to its key principals. This institution has thrived on the values of personal respect, responsibility and trust. Because of the bank's strong sense of history, tradition of hard work, and its pursuit of a clearly defined business goals, it continually provides outstanding financial services to its customers. Today, Third Federal Savings issues more home mortgages than any other lending institution in Northeast Ohio and has acquired assets exceeding $5.6 billion. It is an organization that is built on personal service, stability and sound financial management. It is continuing to enjoy solid growth by controlling costs and constantly searching for ways to improve service. My fellow colleagues, please join me in celebrating the 60th anniversary of this outstanding lending institution. Third Federal Savings has accomplished great success by following a simple vision: to help its neighbors to save money and purchase homes in Northeast Ohio. This vision has stood the test of time to guide Third Federal in its journey to present success now and will continue to do so in the future.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the midst of a year long celebration, to honor Saint Stanislaus Church on its 125th anniversary. Located in Cleveland, Ohio's Historic Slavic Village, St. Stanislaus Church, a Victorian Gothic structure, originated to serve the Polish immigrants who worked in the steel mills in the 1870's. In 1877, under the leadership of Father F.A. Marshall, the rapidly growing community assumed the name of St. Stanislaus, a saint of the 11th century who was cherished by the Poles because of his valor to stand up to a corrupt king. in 1883, Father Anton Kolaszewski was initiated as the new pastor of St. Stanislaus church. As the congregation grew, so did the need for a larger church. In 1886 developments began and, six years later, a church that was built by the hands of its community was dedicated. Upon its completion, St. Stanislaus was considered the second-largest Gothic church in the United States. Throughout the 1920's, 30's, and 40's the St. Stanislaus Parish, through the leadership of Fr. Protase Kuberek and Sir Sigismund Masalski, was known for its talented marching band and professional dramatic presentations in the Polish language. These social events provided by the church kept the city in harmony and the parish gratified of its heritage and religion. On September 19, 1969, a historic moment in St. Stanislaus chronicle occurred. The Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, Karol Cardinal Wojyla, presently Pope John Paul II, celebrated mass at the church in appreciation of the assistance the Polish Americans of Cleveland gave to Poland. Today, under the leadership of Father William Gulas and through the dedication of its parishioners and help throughout the community, Saint Stanislaus Church is continuing to undergo a massive restoration and improvement project. The walls, columns and ceilings will be repainted to reveal original artwork and colors, scrolling and trimming. In addition, the floors, electrical systems, sound and heating systems and water-damaged plaster will all be repaired. Already hailed as the most extensive and complete restoration of any church in the United States, this 107 year old building will finally reveal its original beauty and elegance that once shined nearly 100 years ago. My fellow colleagues, please join me in celebrating the 125th anniversary of Saint Stanislaus Church, a parish that has warmed the hearts it has touched and enhanced those who have witnessed its significance.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Daniel Pensiero, Jr., a native of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Pensiero had a distinguished career in the food and travel industries. He was dedicated to his loving family and was involved in many community activities. Daniel Pensiero, Jr. passed away on August 15, 1998 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Mr. Pensiero and his wife, Mildred, lived in Las Vegas, having moved from Chagrin Falls. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. When he graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1951, he went to work with his father, Daniel Webster, Sr., a food broker who owned the Carl Weber, Co. Mr. Pensiero became president of the company in 1971. After he merged it with another firm, it became Smith, Weber, & Swinton in 1986. He served as a chairman for 3 years. He then bought several travel agencies and merged them into the company A Ticket to Ride, which he operated for 8 years. At the time of his death, Mr. Pensiero was a consultant for Stanislaus Foods, a manufacturer of tomato products. Mr. Pensiero studied classical music as a child and enjoyed playing the piano. He cooked meals for his friends and family and loved to travel. He was a good friend to many. In addition, he was very active in fund raising for local charities. Mr. Pensiero is survived by his wife, Mildred, children Debbie, David and his wife Cynthia, Daniel III, Jeffery, and his brother Donald A. Pensiero, M.D. Daniel Pensiero, Jr. lived an admired and honorable life. I would like to extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the breakthrough work of Marc Millis, the head engineer for Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program at NASA's Lewis Research Center. Since 1990, his tireless work has centered around the idea of how to build space vehicles that bypass the rules of physics and carry humans far into the universe faster than the speed of light. He gathers and explores a variety of ideas from his fellow colleagues and physicists throughout the nation. Although most of the ideas that come from this program are considered, as he puts it, ``too far away from fruition for sponsorship,'' Mr. Millis has strong convictions to continue his research on how we can best explore the vast outer space. To recognize his important work, on August 31, 1998, Newsweek published the following article, ``Department of Warp Drives and Wormholes.'' The text is as follows: [From Newsweek, Aug. 31, 1998] Department of Warp Drive and Wormholes The geeks are getting impatient. Here we are practically in the 21st century, and human beings have never been to another planet. We've never accelerated to unimaginable speeds, warped space-time or manipulated gravity. And that's not good enough for Marc Millis, an aerospace engineer at NASA's Lewis Research Center. When he was a kid he watched ``Star Trek'' (all baby engineers do) and Jacqeau Cousteau on TV and wanted to be an explorer. ``I assumed by the time I was old enough to get into the field, the rocket technology used by Apollo would be old hat,'' Millis says. Would that it were so. NASA is still heaving metal into space with rockets. But there are signs of change--or at least willingness to change. Millis runs a small, meagerly funded program called Breakthrough Propulsion Physics. The idea is to figure out how to build spaceships that bypass the rules of physics and carry human beings far into the universe faster than the speed of light. Inside the rocket-scientist fraternity of NASA, these guys stand out: they're serious researchers who actually use sci-fi terms like ``warp drive'' and ``gravity shield.'' Millis rides herd over the group, organizing workshops and extracting the big ideas while filtering out the nutty ones. For Millis the job began in 1990. At a workshop he made a presentation titled ``Unsolved Problems: Propelling Spacecraft Without Rockets.'' Quietly, a few likeminded souls introduced themselves, even though ``these kinds of topics were . . . the polite way to say it is `too far away from fruition for sponsorship','' says Millis. In other words, crazy. Then in 1995 NASA started the Advanced Space Transportation Program at Marshall Space Flight Center, seeking to improve space exploration with traditional technology. ``Someone asked, `What about things like manipulating gravity? Is this light-speed thing still a showstopper?' Stuff like that,'' says Millis. ``And one of the Marshall people tracked me down.'' It turned out there were plenty of ideas out there. At Caltech, a physicist named Kip Thorne was investigating what it would take to construct a person-size wormhole, a shortcut that tunnels through space-time, the quantum-mechanical fabric of the universe. A University of Wales physicist named Miguel Alcubierre proposed that a ship could exceed the speed of light by compressing space-time in front and expanding it behind--your basic science-fictional warp drive. Quantum physicists were trying to figure out how photons, particles of light, seem to accelerate past light speed when they tunnel through an obstacle. Only one idea is actually being tested: researchers at Marshall's Space Sciences Lab are trying to replicate experiments said to show reduced gravity above a spinning superconductive disc. But designing an experiment that eliminates external influences has proved difficult. ``It's fascinating,'' says David Noever, the researcher leading the project, ``but you have to be very careful.'' Needless to say, the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program is controversial. ``NASA is a place that builds things, not a place to try and take ideas which are decades, if not hundreds of years, from fruition and try to build working prototypes,'' says Lawrence Krauss, a physicist at Case Western Reserve and author of ``The Physics of `Star Trek'.'' Thorne, the wormhole expert, is starting to think that fundamental physics forbids traversable, human-size wormholes. And then there's the money issue. ``So far Millis's activity has not spent much government money,'' says Gerald Smith, a physicist at Penn State. ``Advanced propulsion is a very tough area, and NASA's not putting much money into it. Those of us who are doing work in it don't see it wasted.'' Millis knows he's not likely to be making the jump to hyperspace any time soon. But the program continues to gain speed--in February the Marshall center ran a weeklong workshop on breakthrough propulsion. Next year Millis hopes to award a few small grants to researchers in the field. ``There's a few people that these subjects will make nervous,'' he says, ``but there seems to be a greater number who find it exciting.'' They're the ones without the patience to wait to reach the stars.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, was the trade agreement that made it easier for employers in America to close plants here and reopen them in Mexico. NAFTA gave leverage to companies to threaten plant closures, since American workers are competing for their jobs with Mexican workers, whose wages are one-tenth of our wages because their labor unions are brutally repressed. NAFTA gave license to companies to pollute all they want, since Mexican environmental laws are rarely enforced, and NAFTA gave unprecedented powers to corporations to sue governments for damages when they try to pass tighter environmental laws. Since NAFTA, America's trade surplus with Mexico has turned into a trade deficit. Fast track expands NAFTA and will expand the defects which NAFTA creates. NAFTA defects include low NAFTA partner wages. What does fast track legislation do to remedy the defect? Nothing for Americans. NAFTA defect: increased import of contaminated food. What does the fast track legislation do to remedy that defect? Nothing for Americans. NAFTA defect: Trade deficit growth. What does the fast track legislation do to remedy that defect? Nothing for Americans. NAFTA defect: pressure to lower U.S. wages. What does the fast track legislation do to remedy that defect? Nothing for Americans. NAFTA defect: employer threatens to move to NAFTA partner country. No action for Americans with this legislation, nothing for Americans. There is nothing for Americans in fast track except closed plants, lost jobs, lower wages, and trade deficit growth. The bill, this fast track bill, closes plants on a fast track. It cuts jobs on a fast track. It increases the trade deficit on a fast track. Fast track is a fast move to expand NAFTA and worsen the problems NAFTA has created. Vote no on the rule. Vote no on fast track.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my best wishes to the community of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. For more than a century, this parish has served as a spiritual refuge, opening its doors to any soul in search of peace. In the spring of 1873, led by Father Patrick F. Quigley, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland established a mission in the village of Brooklyn, Ohio. The community's first mass was held at the local public school, but by 1874, it celebrated the blessing of the cornerstone of its first church, the Sacred Heart of Mary Mission. As the parish flourished, the Cleveland Diocese elevated the community to parochial status in 1894, appointing Father Michael Becker as its first pastor and opening the Sacred Heart of Mary School. Unfortunately, in 1907, an accident caused a fire that destroyed the church and the school. While rebuilding took place, the parish continued to celebrate mass in the town hall. By August 15, 1909 the new church was finished with a new pastor, Father Luke Rath. During the next eight years, the parish population grew, causing the community to expand their church with a new sister's house, mission house, and portable school buildings to serve 385 students. Father Rath presided over the dedication ceremony, where the community changed its name to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. The current church was dedicated in 1930, a beautiful building which includes a soaring bell tower modeled after that of Sancto Spiritu Church in Florence, Italy. Although it struggled during the Great Depression, the parish maintained a social life, sponsoring a variety of plays, operettas, and card parties. The community also added a bowling alley, a cafeteria, and a new school addition. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish and its current pastor Father Leroy Moreeuw, CPPS as they celebrate in commemoration of 150 years in service to God. Throughout its long history, the parish has undergone many changes, but the spirit and dedication of its members have remained constant. As the Cleveland Diocese celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish remains a beacon of solace and friendship for its members and the residents of Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the annual celebration of the Feast of St. Wenceslaus which will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on September 27, 1998. St. Wenceslaus is the patron saint of Bohemia. He was born near Prague in 903. His father was the Duke of Bohemia as Wenceslaus was growing up, his grandmother, also a saint, taught him the values of Christianity. In the year 922, when an anti-Christian faction killed Wenceslaus' father and took over the government, Wenceslaus staged a coup and was named the new ruler. During his reign, Wenceslaus attempted to reduce the oppression of the peasants by the nobility and promoted Christinity. His younger brother, Boleslaus joined a group of dissenters after he lost succession to the throne as a result of the birth of Wenceslaus' son. Boleslaus invited his brother to a religious festival, and while Wenceslaus was on his way to mass on the morning of September 28, 929, Boleslaus and a group of followers ambushed him. Wenceslaus' last words were, ``My God forgive you, brother.'' Wenceslaus was immediately venerated as a martyr, and was celebrated as the nation's parton saint by the end of the century. Today. St. Wenceslaus is remembered for his concern for the poor in a popular Christmas carol, where he leaves his castle with a page during a winter storm to deliver food and wood to a peasant. As the storm worsens, the page follows in Wenceslaus' footsteps which miraculously warm his freezing feet. By following the path of righteousness the two were led out of their respective storms. Wenceslaus was led into sainthood, and the page was led out of the storm. The parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes also try to follow the path of righteousness and St. Wenceslaus' example. They are celebrating his feast day this weekend with a mass and a traditional Czech meal.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to show my support of H. Con. Res. 315 in condemning the atrocities in Kosova. The region has suffered significant loss of life and an immense amount of property damage due to the brutal actions of the Milosevic administration's military forces. Tension in the area has been increasing since the government of Yugoslavia removed Kosova's autonomous status in 1989 without the consent of the people, of whom 90% are ethnic Albanians. Human rights groups report that the conflict has escalated to the point where forces are conducting abductions and summary executions of innocent civilians. More than 900 people have died in the fighting this year, while an estimated 200,000 Albanian refugees have been forced out of their homes. If the offensive continues, these refugees will be at risk of freezing to death in the forests where they have hidden. Mr. Speaker, we can not allow this destruction of Kosova's resident's to continue. Because the Milosevic government has been primarily responsible for this conflict, it should bear the burden of providing compensation for the loss of life and for the costs of rebuilding the destroyed areas.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the recent, sad events at the Capitol have drawn us together as a community as never before. Within these walls, there is something greater than a collection of strong-willed individuals going their separate ways. We are a part of the same community whether as individuals, we are the Speaker of the House, a janitor who cleans at the end of the day, a Congressman from Ohio, or a Capitol policeman. Our community has the specific goal of setting and refining the ground rules that guide our great country; ground rules that define the balance between the rights of the individual and the rights of the community. The balance between the rights of individuals and the rights of the community can be murky, especially when dealing with an individual's health and the safety of others in the community. Tuberculosis, for example, is a highly contagious disease. People who refuse treatment for this disease are a danger to themselves and others. The State of New York now legally mandates this treatment. This is an example of where the community has balanced the rights of the individual and the rights of the community and come up with a win-win situation. Both the community and the affected individual benefit from a successful treatment. What are the rights of the community when someone who suffers from schizophrenia refuses to take his medication or follow-up with a psychiatrist? Should others die so that an individual ill with the disease of paranoid schizophrenia can have the freedom to refuse treatment. Several States have enacted an outpatient commitment which requires the ill individual to take medication and follow the prescribed treatment or be committed to a hospital. As a Congress, we need to encourage more States to adopt outpatient commitment laws. In addition, we need to make more resources available to encourage the training of psychiatrists. One simple aid would be for the Department of Health and Human Services to designate psychiatry as a primary care speciality and actively encourage hospitals and medical schools to maintain and expand their psychiatry residency programs. Another impediment to training psychiatrists could easily be removed. It is not unusual for psychiatrists to have had some previous training in another field of medicine, before embarking on a psychiatry residency. Current Medicare regulations often reimburse these residents at 50% of the rate of other residents. This disincentive needs to be removed. Although we can never eliminate the possibility of a recurrence of the recent tragedy at the Capitol, these measures can reduce the chances of such a recurrence. If the deaths of Officers Gibson and Chestnut have helped many of us realize the importance of community, then their deaths will not be entirely in vain.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, a month long celebration beginning on September 15, and lasting until October 15. America strives on the diversity of its people. As a nation, we pride ourselves on the fact that our national character is magnified by citizens who assert and respect cultural customs brought from other lands. Hispanics, nearly five-hundred years ago, came to this country in search of democracy, freedom and a better way of life. Throughout history, Hispanic Americans have immensely contributed to the well-being and advancement of our nation. Through science, business, government, agriculture, academics and the Armed Forces, Hispanic Americans have made their presence known in American history. They have undauntedly fought to preserve democracy in America, having served in the United States Armed Forces in dimensions much larger than their percentage of the population. Hispanic Heritage month is a time to acknowledge the contributions that Hispanic Americans have made to our country, and are continuing to make. Communities all over the nation are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, each in their own distinct manner. In Cleveland, the Cuyahoga Community College Hispanic Steering Council is coordinating the Festival Hispano, featuring performances, workshops and lectures celebrating Hispanic culture and tradition. My fellow colleagues, please join me in sending a special thanks to the following organizations for their outstanding contributions to making the Cleveland Festival Hispano, such a success: Beck Center for Cultural Arts, Case Western Reserve University, Centro Cultural Hispano de Cleveland, City of Cleveland, The Cleveland Cinematheque, Cleveland State University, John Caroll University, Julia de Burgos Cultural Art Center, Cleveland Public Library, M.Q. Productions, Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio Hispanic Social Service Workers Association, The Cleveland Orchestra, Phantasmagoria Gallery, Spanish American Committees, Cuyahoga Community College, and the Westside Vet Center.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary Golden Agers in celebration of their 25th anniversary on September 20, 1998. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Golden Agers Club was founded on September 18, 1973, by a group of parishioners who recognized the need to increase social activities for the senior members of the parish. Eleven charter members, along with Father Frank Bartnikowski, met and chose Helen Skuza as their first president. In 1985, Helen Skuza retired, and Joseph Sommerfelt was elected to serve as the next president. Traveling is the favorite activity of the group. However, when traveling is not an option, social events prevail. Picnics, bingo and raffles are enjoyed by the group on the holidays as well as manning the Winter and Ice Cream Socials, Tumbola, Maverick, Instant Bingo and the Split Raffle. Throughout the last 25 years, the Golden Agers have also promoted many philanthropical events. They have made generous contributions to the Friends and Parents of Retarded Children, Inc., the annual fireworks display at Morgana Park and continue to give money and food to the needy of their community during the holidays. The Golden Agers also hold an annual Rummage Sale and Card Party to raise funds to provide scholarships for the eighth grade graduates of Jesus and Mary School. While organizing and participating in extracurricular activities, the Golden Agers have never lost touch with their parish or their community. Over the past 25 years they have generously donated their time and their money to better their community. We owe the Golden Agers a sincere ``Thank you''.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my best wishes to the parish community of Saint Wendelin Church as they celebrate their ninety-fifth year in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood. For almost a century, Saint Wendelin's has served as a spiritual refuge, opening its doors to any soul in search of peace. Originally serving the Slovak community of Cleveland's near west side, the ministry of Saint Wendelin's began in 1903. It was on May 3rd of that year that the community received permission to found Saint Wendelin Parish. A small church was soon erected, and on December 6, 1903, Father Koudelka celebrated Saint Wendelin's first mass. Not long after, the Sisters of Notre Dame established Saint Wendelin's School. The order would continue to provide quality Catholic education for the next seventy years. In 1925, the current church and school complex was dedicated. Non- territorial, Saint Wendelin's welcomes all believers to join in worship. It is a testament to the Saint Wendelin's ministry that Catholics from all corners on the city answer the call to celebrate at the little church on Columbus Avenue. Cleveland's strong tradition of Catholic education continues at Saint Wendelin's under the direction of Ursuline Sisters with their operation of Urban Community School. Saint Wendelin's facilities serve as a second home to the 300 students of Urban Community. Saint Wendelin's also serves as the headquarters for Heartbeats, Inc., a ministry operated by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, supporting women from third world countries. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the parish community of Saint Wendelin Church and its pastor, Rev. Jerome Lajack, as they celebrate mass with Bishop Anthony Pilla in commemoration of 95 years in service to God. A community bound by its faith, the believers of Saint Wendelin's are committed to doing justice, both in the church's surrounding neighborhoods and the world beyond. Let us pray that Saint Wendelin parish continues as a beacon of Christian charity as we enter into the next millenium.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the achievements of Richard Kowalchik, who has dedicated thirty years to government service. Mr. Kowalchik has been an Ohio resident since 1942 when his parents moved to the Cleveland, Ohio area from Pennsylvania. He was educated in the Cleveland Public School System and earned degrees from both Ohio University and Western Michigan University. On April 1, 1968, Mr. Kowalchik was hired as an Immigration Inspector with the Department of Justice, United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, in Cleveland Ohio. In 1973, he was promoted to the position of a Deportation Officer, where he served for over four years until he was selected as a Special Agent. In that Investigations Program, Mr. Kowalchik advanced to positions of Supervisory Special Agent, Senior Special Agent and Assistant District Director for Investigations. In 1989, he was promoted to Deputy District Director for the Cleveland District. Through time and experience, Mr. Kowalchik earned respect and dignity from his coworkers. This respect and dignity earned him the right to serve on the Organized Crime Strike Force, working with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. On August 31, 1998, Mr. Kowalchik retired as District Director and will be remembered in the workplace as a man of impeccable integrity and fairness. My fellow colleagues, join me in honoring Mr. Kowalchik, a man who has benevolently dedicated and unselfishly given thirty years of service to the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service's Cleveland District.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4083, to make ``Windows on America'' programming available to the Ukrainian Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, and to the Slavics Collection at the University of Indiana. First, I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), my principal cosponsor of this legislation. I would also like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) the full committee chairman, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) the ranking Democrat, and the Ukrainian Caucus in the House, chaired by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fox). This is a bipartisan bill that would benefit thousands of Ukrainian Americans. The Ukraine is one of Europe's oldest cultures and one of its newest democracies. In this century, the country has been wracked by world wars, major famines and some of the worst political repression the world has ever seen. During the Soviet era, Joseph Stalin and his successors waged war on Ukrainian culture, destroying churches and valuable artifacts, burning books and other literary treasures. Nearly 50 years ago, a group of displaced Ukrainian scholars living in Cleveland, Ohio, began a museum and archives in the Tremont area, the place where the neighborhoods meet the industrial valley and home to many immigrant communities; also, by the way, home to the community where I first began my political career over 30 years ago. Their mission was to preserve valuable items of Ukrainian culture during an Orwellian era when these items were being deliberately destroyed in Ukraine itself. Tapping into a network of similar scholars, displaced diplomats and ordinary citizens, the Ukrainian Museum-Archives compiled a world-class collection of Ukrainiana. With the advent of Ukrainian independence seven years ago, scholars from Ukraine finally got a chance to see for themselves the size and quality of the collection. They confirmed that many of the items preserved in the Cleveland collection cannot be found anywhere else, even in Kiev or our own Library of Congress. As awareness of Ukraine as a geopolitical factor grows, so does interest in Ukrainian culture and history. The Ukrainian Museum-Archives is now working with the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, Ohio State University's Department of Slavic and Eastern European Languages and Literature and other institutions to make this unique collection accessible to scholars in this country, in Ukraine and throughout the world. That is why I am pleased to be the sponsor along with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) of this bill to make available to the Ukrainian Museum-Archives videotapes of the U.S. Information Agency's television program ``Window on America.'' For more than 5 years now, this pioneering program has been beamed by satellite to Ukraine to a weekly television audience of 10 to 15 million people. The videotapes of these programs constitute an invaluable chronicle of U.S.-Ukrainian relations during the critical first years of Ukraine's independence and a welcome addition to the collection at the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland. Ukraine, like other countries that have been victimized by Soviet repression, has had to endure economic difficulties as it moves from a communist style command economy to one that relies on free enterprise and free markets. In that process we have learned that Ukraine's problems are spiritual as well as economic and political. By exploring their own past and reclaiming their cultural heritage, Ukraine is taking an important step towards true independence and economic viability. The Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland and similar institutions elsewhere will play a small but important role in that process. I am pleased along with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) to be able to help. It is an honor to be here to say, ``Slava Ukraini.''

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the St. Procop Parish for its year long celebration of serving in the Cleveland Community for 125 years. After the large migration of Bohemian people to Cleveland in the late 1800's, St. Procop was established to serve Czech Catholics living on the west side of Cleveland. Throughout the decades, St. Procop has provided a rich atmosphere of spiritual, social and educational growth to its members. As an urban parish, the parishioners have a healthy sense of respect for tradition, a commitment to faith, and a friendly welcoming atmosphere for all people. For over a century, the St. Procop Parish has been a viable Catholic presence in the city and today still continues to convey it's mission of Christ. As the St. Procop continues to be a Christ-centered, hope-filled community, the church perseveres to face the needs and challenges of the community through: celebrating, evangelizing, teaching, caring and participating. My fellow colleagues, please join me in praising the St. Procop Parish, a diverse, charitable and caring parish dedicated to improving the community of Cleveland on their 125th anniversary.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Smith & Oby Company, a mechanical contractor in Cleveland, OH. Smith & Oby Company is the oldest continuously operated mechanical and plumbing contractor in Ohio. For a century, Smith & Oby has unselfishly dedicated itself to improve conditions in the mechanical industry that have benefited all contractors and pipefitters. In addition to improving conditions in the mechanical industry, Smith & Oby has diligently served as a civic minded company that has supported many community based organizations since its founding. Smith & Oby Company has developed an indisputable reputation of quality, integrity and fairness which is recognized by the industry and the business community. For a century, their valued officers, staff and workforce have developed a respect by their peers that has allowed the Smith & Oby Company to prosper into the successful firm it is today. My fellow colleagues, join the Mechanical Contractors' Association of Cleveland and myself in congratulating and honoring the 100th anniversary of the Smith & Oby Company.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, Social Security is a guarantee. No senior has ever gone without a benefits check, even in times of economic recession. That is because the full faith and credit of the United States stands behind the Social Security promise. Social Security is there for everyone. Wall Street is a gamble. Unlike Social Security, Wall Street cannot guarantee anything because the stock market is premised on a bet that there will be someone willing to pay a lot more for something than someone else will. The recent fall in the stock market should be a reminder: As with all gambles, there is a downside. What goes up must come down. Turning Social Security over to Wall Street will mean that senior retirees will have to check the Dow Jones before they check their mailboxes to see if they are going to have any money left for shelter, food and medicine. There is no reason to sell out Social Security to Wall Street. Privatization schemes trade away Social Security's guarantee for a Wall Street gamble. Americans do not need a gamble. Americans need to hear Congress reaffirm its commitment to its citizens. Protect Social Security.