Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Joseph Talerico, for his many years of distinguished service to the community of Parma. Born in Italy, Mr. Talerico immigrated to Cleveland at the age of 2. After attending Cleveland's John Adams High School, Mr. Talerico joined the Army and proudly served America during World War II. In 1946, Mr. Talerico moved to Parma. He owned and operated a string of grocery stores there and in nearby Broadview Heights. In addition to his business endeavors, Mr. Talerico distinguished himself as a civic activist, receiving Parma's Outstanding Citizen award in 1955. He served as a member of Parma's Charter Board and as Parma's recreation director. Mr. Talerico also belonged to such civic organizations as the Parma Exchange Club, the Broadview Heights Rotary Club, and the Brian Club. Mr. Talerico also played an instrumental role in the lives of Parma's youth. He actively supported Parma youth athletics, ensuring the construction of Mottl Field. He founded and served as president of the Parma Amateur Athletic Federation, and, earlier this year, the Parma Amateur Athletic Federation inducted Mr. Talerico into its hall of fame. Joseph Talerico leaves behind a wife, three children, eight grandchildren, a brother, and two sisters. His contributions to the community of Parma will be difficult to replace. Mr. Talerico will be greatly missed.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of striking section 413 of H.R. 2378. As a former local official, I know that every dollar counts, and that local taxpayers are being asked to shoulder an ever- increasing burden of services the Federal Government no longer provides. That is why I support a money saving program for local and State governments, and why I now support striking its repeal in this appropriations bill. The cooperative purchasing program, which Congress passed into law in 1994--section 1555 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act--was designed to allow local and State governments, school districts, and public hospitals to purchase goods and services at the super-discounted Federal rate, saving local taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars per year. But special interests have manipulated the legislative process in order to repeal the program and block local entities from getting the most for their tax dollars. They would have Washington let local governments be fleeced. Here's how the cooperative purchasing program is supposed to work: A school district has to purchase computers, chalkboards and basic furniture. Thanks to the cooperative purchasing program, the school district could buy the supplies and services it needed directly from vendors at the discounted prices the General Services Administration [GSA] negotiated. GSA is the procurement agency for the Federal Government. These GSA-negotiated prices are often the lowest anywhere. The Federal Government is a very large consumer of all kinds of goods and services. That is why it is able to negotiate discounted prices. The 1994 law simply allowed State and local governments and public agencies to benefit from those prices. It is a good example of allowing government officials to think and act efficiently. Nursing homes and public hospitals would also benefit, since they must purchase equipment, medical devices, and life-saving drugs for elderly citizens and the ill, especially people with AIDS. Basic local government would also operate more efficiently and less expensively, since local governments could purchase many products and services at discounted prices, saving State and local taxpayers billions of dollars. Initiated by the National Performance Review, led by Vice President Gore, cooperative purchasing aims to bring efficient practices to local and State governments without onerous regulations or government mandates. If for some reason a locality did not want to use the cooperative purchasing program, it would not have to. Cooperative purchasing is also completely voluntary for industry, and it costs the Federal Government nothing. The bottom-line savings would be realized by local taxpayers, who pay the bill of local government. A pilot project in West Virginia demonstrated that police departments could purchase cruisers at the GSA discount price, saving local governments close to 10 percent. Furniture is available at a discount of 25 percent. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices are available at up to a 37 percent savings. Athough saving money for local taxpayers is a good idea, there are those who oppose it. Certain industry groups benefit from government inefficiency and would like nothing more than to have the law repealed. The pharmaceutical industry wants to see the program repealed, because cooperative purchasing would entitle public hospitals and AIDS clinics to significant discounts on life-saving drugs--why sell AIDS drugs at a life-saving discount when you can sell at full price? The medical equipment industry is also mobilizing against the discounts. I believe that a reasonable policy is to allow willing industries to participate in the cooperative purchasing program. Indeed, it has received support from a group of Fortune 500 backers, especially in the computer and software industry. In addition, every major association of elected and appointed officials has endorsed the cooperative purchasing program, from mayors to Governors, from school boards to regional hospitals. Local police departments benefit from a similar, voluntary program administered by the Department of Defense. That program faced initial resistance from certain industry groups, but it has blossomed into a program where hundreds of local police departments are able to purchase police cars, bullet-proof vests, and other crime fighting equipment at money-saving prices. Strong interest groups have spent large amounts in political contributions to kill the cooperative purchasing program, without even a hearing or congressional debate. Repeal of cooperative purchasing is tantamount to a tax increase on every resident in America. We have a way to reduce the cost of government. It's called the cooperative purchasing program. Today, the House will keep this idea and this program alive by striking its repeal with a point of order. Let us hope that the House conferees may see to it to preserve the program in conference with the other body.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Mrs. Ann Trapp, for her many years of service and countless contributions to her community. Ann Trapp was born in Cleveland. In 1949, she graduated from the St. Vincent Charity School of Nursing. She went on to work as a registered nurse for the St. Vincent Charity Hospital for 34 years. During this time she was also a member of the American Lung Association for Practitioners of Infection Control, and a member of the Lung Association. Mrs. Trapp was devoted to many political organizations. She was a Democratic precinct committee leader and a member and ward leader of the Democratic Executive Committee. She was the recording secretary of the Parma Democratic Club. She played a role in several political campaigns in Parma and Cleveland and was named Parma Woman Democrat of the Year in 1990. Not only was Mrs. Trapp active in politics, she was dedicated to her church as well. She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church for more than 40 years and served as a Eucharistic minister there. She belonged to Legion of Mary, Catholic Daughters, and Just Friends. She was also involved with the West Side Irish American Club and the Women's Guild of St. Vincent Charity Hospital and was a member of their alumni association. Mrs. Trapp leaves behind 1 sister, 2 brothers, 4 daughters, 3 sons, and 15 grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Three years ago, President Clinton vowed to place 100,000 more police officers on the streets of American cities in a nationwide effort to reduce crime starting at the community level. To fulfill this goal by the end of the year 2000, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services [COPS] was established. Halfway through the 6-year program, 65,000 officers have been added to police forces across the Nation, and reports of dramatic drops in crime are coming in from cities throughout the country. Cleveland, OH is one of these COPS success stories. Juvenile crime had been on the rise in Cleveland. Arrests for weapons violations rose 67 percent from 1989 to 1994. A 35-percent increase in juvenile felony arrests was seen between 1992 and 1993 alone. In spite of this rise in crime, the number of police officers had declined. The Cleveland Police Department has received over $8 million in grants from the COPS office. Among many COPS-funded programs, one especially innovative and successful program stands out, the Residential Area Policing Program [RAPP]. In an effort to create more of a community policing presence, the Cleveland police department identified abandoned, nuisance properties in various neighborhoods, restored the properties and stationed specially trained community policing officers there 24 hours a day. These officers established themselves in the neighborhood, made regular patrols, and conducted door-to-door surveys of the residents' problems. They also hosted training seminars and provided a safe house to the youths of the area. In short, the community police formed partnerships with the residents of the neighborhoods and, together, they improved the appearance of the neighborhood, identified community problems, and developed substantial solutions. In each of the four sites selected for the year-long program, the community officers became integral members of the community and left lasting, positive effects. Drug traffic has decreased, gunfire has diminished, and the number of civil disputes is down. Equally as important, the number of calls for service rose 100 percent showing that the residents felt comfortable turning to the police for help. RAPP is but one of many endeavors on the part of the Cleveland police department to get more involved in community policing. Over $11 million have been awarded to communities in the 10th congressional district of Ohio resulting in the hiring of over 170 new officers. Residents profess that the programs have helped reduce crime, and the statistics prove it. Community policing works, and I support its continued funding so other cities may see the rewards of communities and police departments working together to combat crime.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Miss Kay Halle for her lifetime achievements in cultural activism. Kay was born in Cleveland under the name of Katherine Murphy Halle. She attended Laurel School in Cleveland and the Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, RI. She also studied at Smith College and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Kay Halle was known as a radio personality, a worldwide traveler, a writer, and an activist. While she lived much of her life in Washington, the city of Cleveland considered her its ``Ambassadress Extraordinaire.'' Ms. Halle lived in England for a year and wrote a regular column for the Cleveland News. It was there in England that she frequently dined with cultural and political leaders, including Winston Churchill. Back in the United States, she campaigned for Franklin D. Roosevelt and later for John F. Kennedy. For 2 years she hosted a Cleveland radio show, ``Know Your City,'' in which she interviewed local and world figures. In 1940, she traveled around South America by plane recording her impressions on tape for broadcast at Cleveland's WGAR radio station. She later served as the Washington's feature correspondent for WGAR. Kay Halle led an active, fulfilling life. She made a dynamic impression wherever she traveled and shared her inspiring experiences with the Cleveland community. She is survived by her sister, Ann. Kay Halle will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize HOPE Central Academy in Cleveland, OH, for its outstanding record of educating Cleveland's young people. The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Education and the Workforce has selected HOPE Central Academy as the site for their hearings tomorrow on What Works? And What's Wasted in Education. HOPE Academy is 1 of 57 schools participating in a pilot program testing the efficacy of school choice in Ohio. The nearly 2,000 inner-city children from low income families who enrolled in 1996 saw test scores rise an incredible 15-percentile points in mathematics and 5-percentile points in reading, while national test scores for inner- city children of the same age (K-3) usually decline. More than 3,000 children are expected to take advantage of this exceptional program next year. I am confident that the panelists at Friday's What Works? And What's Wasted hearing will realize that HOPE Central Academy shows ``What really Works'' in education when parents, teachers, and the community work together to give our children a chance to learn in a positive environment. The only thing wasted in the case of HOPE Central Academy is time, as in we should have done this a long time ago.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the 95th anniversary of the Harmonia-Chopin Singing Society. Since its inception in 1902, this organization has interacted with leading artists and performers and has participated in countless significant musical events. Among many other significant contributions to the city of Cleveland's cultural scene, in 1946, the society used concert proceeds to purchase and install a bust of Frederic Chopin in the Polish garden of Cleveland's Cultural Garden. The Harmonia-Chopin Singing Society has remained committed to Cleveland's ``Warswaza'' community through participation in numerous events and through continued investment in the community as a whole. The dedicated members of the society have kept Polish culture and tradition alive and celebrated in the Cleveland area. Once again, I salute and congratulate the Harmonia-Chopin Singing Society for 95 years of preserving, promoting, and sharing the Polish culture to people of all nationalities and races in the Cleveland area. I wish the group continued success.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Our Lady of Mercy Church for 75 years of service to its dedicated and faithful parishoners. Over the past 75 years, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church has grown and flourished from a small, isolated Slovak community, to a modern thriving parish. The original name of the church was St. John the Baptist. Early parishoners converted a store into a frame church, and remodeled nearby houses into a two-room schoolhouse and a rectory. After going heavily into debt and being abandoned by the Polish National Church, these parishoners were finally received into the Roman Catholic Church by a public Act of Faith in 1921. The church was blessed and renamed Our Lady of Mercy. In 1948, construction on a much needed, larger, and more modern building began. The new building is built in the Slovakian Church Architecture style and boasts a 56-foot bell tower and unique artwork. The church used to host an annual Slovak Cultural Day to celebrate its rich traditional history. It still offers parishoners a Catholic Parish Credit Union, the second in the Cleveland Diocese; a weekly bulletin, ``Our Lady of Mercy News,'' and is highly involved in the Cleveland community. This summer, after 24 dormant years, the school building at Our Lady of Mercy Church was renovated and is once again in full use. The new Hope Academy, a private noncatholic school, serves students in the greater Cleveland area and is the crown jewel of the recent accomplishments of Our Lady of Mercy Church. Our Lady of Mercy Church has served its community well for 75 years. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring this exceptional parish as its dedicated members and other prominent dignitaries of the community celebrate this landmark anniversary on September 14, 1997. I wish them continued success.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of the St. Stanislaus Dad's Club, as they celebrate their 50th anniversary of service to the St. Stanislaus Parish, the St. Stanislaus Grade School, and the St. Stanislaus Parish Community. Over its 50 years, the St. Stanislaus Dad's Club has generously donated its time and resources to projects ranging from partially subsidizing a teachers salary shortage at the St. Stanislaus Grade School to renovating a 1,400-pipe organ found in the parish cathedral. In addition, the St. Stanislaus Dad's Club regularly donates items of need to St. Stanislaus Grade School, sponsors the Boy Scouts and local youth athletic teams, helps maintain community buildings and supports other parish and community organizations. The St. Stanislaus Dad's Club has helped literally thousands of young people in the greater Cleveland metropolitan area. The club has done great work over the years, and I am very grateful for its immeasurable contributions to the community. The St. Stanislaus Dad's Club plans to celebrate their anniversary on September 14, 1997, by attending mass and hosting a commemorative banquet. My fellow colleagues, please join me in praising the St. Stanislaus Dad's Club for 50 years of distinguished service

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Jack Wiewel, of Rocky River, OH. Jack devoted his life to improving the image and expanding the influence of Germans in America, and throughout the world. Considering his numerous accomplishments and awards, he was exceptionally successful. Jack Wiewel served as a lieutenant in a German army armored unit during World War II. After the war, he worked as an electrical engineer before emigrating to Canada in 1954. Answering the great demand for skilled workers, he moved to Cleveland to work at the Ford Motor Co.'s Cleveland Casting Plant a year later. He remained at Ford until his retirement in 1991. Mr. Wiewel was surprised that so many Americans still distrusted Germans, and he quickly set a goal to change this negative impression. Less than 10 years after moving to Cleveland, he became president of the Federation of German-American Societies of Greater Cleveland, an umbrella organization for 25 other groups. He served as an officer in countless other German-American groups and societies, and was the current president of the German-American National Congress. Mr. Wiewel's efforts in the German-American community did not go unnoticed. In 1974, he was awarded the Federal Service Cross 1st Class by the country of West Germany, the highest award given to civilians. In 1996, the Federation of German Societies of Greater Cleveland honored him by naming him German-American of the Year. His work was also recognized by Gov. George Voinovich, who appointed him to the Council on Ohio Nursing Homes. Former Gov. Richard Celeste appointed him to the German-American Tricentennial Commission, and former President Nixon appointed him to the Draft Board Commission. My fellow colleagues, please join me in recognizing a great American who worked hard to dispel stereotypes and improve German-American relations not only in the Cleveland area, but throughout the world. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I want to say that I agree with my distinguished colleague's last words about the necessity to fight against drugs. In Latin America, and around the globe, wherever we find that problem, I think it is important that all of us in this Congress take a stand against the drugs which are infecting this country and the entire world. So I am glad that there is that kind of support, and it is bipartisan support for fighting drugs. However we are called upon, and looking at the amendment of the gentleman from California [Mr. Torres], to make an assessment of a school that is operated out of Fort Benning, GA, which does more than just train people to deal with drugs, and we all agree that we want drugs dealt with, and there are many ways in which they can be dealt with, but that is not what the School of the Americas is about. The School of Americas in Fort Benning, GA, has a roster of graduates that reads like a Who's Who of human rights violators: Nineteen of the twenty-six Salvadoran officers accused in the 1989 massacre of the six Jesuits and their housekeeper and the housekeeper's daughter were graduates of the School of the Americas. Ten of the twelve cited in the El Mozote massacre where an entire village was wiped out without a trace; men, women and children, wiped out; 10 of the 12 people involved in that were graduates of the School of the Americas. Two of the three officers cited in Archbishop Romero's assassination were graduates of the School of the Americas. The School of the Americas; of what America is this the school of? Certainly not the United States of America, because the people of the United States of America do not support murder, do not support rape, do not support torture. Yet this is called the School of the Americas, and its graduates are involved in rape, murder, torture, genocide. The School of the Americas indeed. The people of the United States do not support the kind of conduct which has come from this school and which is being done in the name of Americas. Four churchwomen, including Sister Dorothy Kazel, a nun from Cleveland, OH, and someone who happened to be a friend of mine, were raped and brutally murdered in El Salvador. The U.N. Truth Commission investigating the murders verified that the School of the Americas trained three of the five officers responsible for the churchwomen's deaths. Now Sister Dorothy was more than a friend to me. She was a friend to humanity. She went to El Salvador to bring about peace and justice for those who desperately need it, and she was brutally murdered for her efforts, along with Jean Donovan and two other nuns. Sister Dorothy Kazel's sister-in-law asked me to deliver this message to my colleagues in the United States Congress, and I quote: ``Congress needs to act now. The women were killed by officers trained at the School of the Americas. I just don't understand why we are training human rights violators on our own soil. Why does this school still operate?'' Mr. Chairman, those who oppose closing the School of the Americas defend it as a haven for human rights protectors. The inversion of meaning is an ongoing problem in political philosophy. It is something that the writer, George Orwell, well understood where wrong becomes right and worse becomes the better reason and where murderers and rapists become human rights protectors.

Mr. KUCINICH. Where wrong becomes right, where worse becomes the better reason and where people who have murdered become human rights protectors. Well, I think the American people are well aware of the record of the School of the Americas. We owe it to them, and we owe it to the memory of Sister Dorothy Kazel, the other nuns, the Jesuit priests, the civilians who have been murdered, and to everyone else who has ever been terrorized by the School of the Americas, to see that this school be shut once and for all. This is the Congress of the United States of America, and it should not let anyone defile the name ``America'' in our own name on our own soil with our own tax dollars. Close the School of the Americas.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland during the yearlong celebration of serving northeast Ohio for 150 years. The diocese was established in 1847 and originally served 10,000 Catholics. Today, nearly one million people in northeast Ohio are associated with the diocese which provides innumerable benefits ranging from spiritual guidance and charity to education and health services for everyone in the community. The diocese is comprised of a myriad of ethnic communities. Catholic German and Irish immigrants settled in northeast Ohio in the early 1800's. Later, immigrants from eastern and southern Europe made their home there. In the early 1900's, many immigrants from Mexico and, following World War II, immigrants from Puerto Rico moved to the area to work in the steel mills. The diverse ethnic groups of the diocese are united as a family in their common religious beliefs and goodwill toward each other and the rest of the community in spite of social, economic, or racial differences. This diversity cherished and celebrated as an asset to the diocese. Upholding a longstanding tradition of goodwill, the people of the diocese work together to serve over 600,000 people annually in Catholic hospitals, charities, and agencies. Over $80 million worth of health and human services is provided each year through these organizations. Furthermore, 70,000 students from all socio-economic levels are educated in Catholic-affiliated schools including the 146 elementary schools, 23 high schools, 2 seminaries, and several colleges and universities in the northeast Ohio area. Events catering to different constituencies of the diocese are planned throughout the year to celebrate this landmark anniversary. A ``Celebration on the Mall'' in Cleveland, scheduled for August 17, 1997, will feature the multicultural aspects of the community. Dancing, arts, games, food, and a major liturgical event will fill the day culminating in a fireworks display in the evening. My fellow colleagues, please join me in praising the Catholic diocese of Cleveland, a diverse, charitable, and faithful family dedicated to the improvement of and inextricably united to the northeast Ohio community.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make note for the Record of the future of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's [NASA's] Lewis Research Center [Lewis]. Throughout the 1990's, Lewis, along with many other NASA field centers suffered due to downsizing and budget cutbacks. However, the future appears to be full of promise. In NASA's most recent strategic plan, published in February 1996, the overall agency mission provides for near-, mid-, and long-term goals. Within these time parameters there are various missions which will be carried out. Comparing Lewis' current roles and missions, they could feasibly be involved in all of the missions in each of the time periods. Contributing to such things as research on the international space station, developing technologies that will enable human missions beyond Earth orbit and advancing the implementation of routine, affordable space travel are just some of the programs in which Lewis has the relevant expertise. As the Center of Excellence in Turbomachinery and NASA's No. 1 aeropropulsion research facility, Lewis is set to play an important role in all of NASA's future planned missions through the year 2025. This unique expertise would be difficult to find elsewhere and NASA would not be able to meet its goals without Lewis. The backing of both Congress and the White House in NASA is evident from the fiscal year 1998 budget recommendation. In turn, NASA's faith in Lewis is seen from the fact that their 1998 funding level is likely to be increased by $50 million. As long as the Nation continues to benefit from the important work that NASA conducts, they will receive the necessary funding, their near-, mid-, and long-term goals will be met and Lewis' position as an important and central component to this success will be secured. I recommend the following report, which has been prepared by the Congressional Research Service, commenting on the promising future of Lewis Research Center. NASA Lewis Research Center--Part 4 The Future of Lewis When the potential for closing NASA centers is discussed within the space community, some mention Lewis as a center likely to be closed. The reductions at Lewis over the past four years may have furthered the impression that the center is a candidate for closure. One way of gauging the potential for closing LeRC is by comparing NASA's future plans with the current roles and missions of Lewis. If future NASA plans require the resources and facilities of Lewis, that lessens the likelihood that LeRC will close. The following two sections look at how Lewis' roles and missions compare with NASA's current strategic plan. The first section looks at NASA's overall goals and whether Lewis would be involved with fulfilling those goals, and the second section compares Lewis' main role in aeropropulsion and turbomachinery with the strategic plan. NASA's Strategic Plan--Overall Agency Goals NASA's future plans are portrayed in its strategic plan, the most recent of which was published in February 1996. The plan provides the overall agency mission and defines the near-, mid-, and long-term goals that NASA wants to achieve over the next 25 years and beyond. NASA has determined that it has 3 mission areas: To advance and communicate scientific knowledge and understanding of Earth, the solar system, and the universe and use the environment of space for research; to explore, use, and enable the development of space for human enterprise; and to research, develop, verify, and transfer advanced aeronautics, space, and related technologies. Each of these mission areas has 3 main goals for the near-, the mid-, and the long-term periods for a total of 9 main goals per period. In comparing Lewis' current roles and missions, the center could contribute to at least one goal over each time period in each of the 3 missions. The following lists the goals in which Lewis could have a role. Near-term Goals (1997-2002) Explore nature's processes in space; assemble and conduct research on the International Space Station and enable a long-term U.S. presence in space; develop new technologies and processes to enhance research and make space programs more affordable; and develop affordable technologies for U.S. leadership in the aviation growth markets of the 21st century. Mid-term Goals (2003-2009) Expand long-duration research to understand nature's processes in space; live and work in space to develop and demonstrate critical capabilities and systems to prepare for expanded human exploration; lead the activities of industry, DOD, and others to develop advanced technologies that will enable human missions beyond Earth orbit; dramatically improve aeronautics and space system design cycles, technologies and applications to enhance research and foster new products and industries; and apply knowledge gained from space-based experimentation to ground-based research, development, and manufacturing. Long-term Goals (2010-2025 and beyond) Expand our understanding and use of nature's processes in space; achieve affordable, routine space travel to enable research and human enterprise; enable advances to aeronautics and space systems to support ``highways in the sky,'' ``smart aircraft,'' and revolutionary space endeavors; and support the maturation of established aerospace industries and the development of new high-tech industries such as space-based commerce. At this level of analysis, it appears that Lewis could have a significant role in achieving the agency's goals over the next 25 years and beyond. As the Center of Excellence in turbomachinery, Lewis is attempting to position itself as a world-class center whose expertise and facilities are not matched by any other U.S. facilities. As such, the closure of Lewis would appear to inhibit the agency's ability to achieve the goals that have been set forth. Aeropropulsion and Turbomachinery and the Strategic Plan A more detailed analysis of Lewis' future can be achieved by examining how the center's main mission as the Lead Center for Aeropropulsion and the Center of Excellence for Turbomachinery coincides with the agency's strategic plan. This main mission of Lewis maintains a FTE level of approximately 970, representing almost half of the total Lewis FTE level. The future of Lewis is more closely tied to this mission area than any other Lewis mission. NASA has divided the work it undertakes in its strategic plan into 4 main areas which are known as ``enterprises.'' Each center undertakes activities in one or more enterprises, but each is associated with one primary enterprise. Lewis is associated with the Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology Enterprise. This enterprise divides its strategic plan goals into three areas known as ``pillars'': Global Civil Aviation, Revoluntary Technology Leaps, and Access to Space. The future plans of these three areas are stated in 10 goals. Lewis could have significant involvement in 7 of these 10 goals. A listing of the 7 goals that could involve Lewis participation follows. With each goal, a brief description of how Lewis could be involved is included. Reduce the emissions of future aircraft by a factor of three within ten years, and by a factor of five within 20 years. This is a goal related to aeropropulsion. It involves the pursuit of engine technologies that lead to cleaner- burning and higher-efficiency engines. Reduce the perceived noise levels of future aircraft by a factor of two from today's subsonic aircraft within 10 years, and by a factor of four within 20 years. This goal includes the development of engine configurations that would reduce engine noise. Reduce the cost of air travel by 25% within 10 years, and by 50% within 20 years. Research efforts to meet this goal will include the development of new design techniques and concepts to advance today's state-of-the-art for engines. Reduce the travel time to the Far East and Europe by 50% within 20 years, and do so at today's subsonic ticket prices. This goal includes the development of technologies for supersonic engines that are cleaner and quieter than today's subsonic engines. Invigorate the general aviation industry, with U.S. industry delivering 10,000 aircraft annually within 10 years, and 20,000 aircraft annually within 20 years. This goal includes the development of general aviation aircraft engines that are ultra-reliable, maintainable, and affordable, and allow for faster flight. Provide next-generation design tools and experimental aircraft to increase design confidence, and cut the development cycle time for aircraft in half. This goal includes the testing of air-breathing engines and engine design concepts on experimental aircraft. Reduce the payload cost to low-Earth orbit by an additional order of magnitude, from $1000s to $100s per pound, by 2020. This goal includes the development of air-breathing propulsion for use in space launch vehicles. Aeronautical air-breathing engine concepts will be applied to space launch vehicles. One could argue that Lewis' expertise in aeropropulsion and turbomachinery and its unique facilities allow the center to have a significant role in fulfilling the strategic goals of the Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology enterprise over at least the next 25 years. The expertise could be portable, but the unique facilities would be difficult to replicate elsewhere, making it difficult to achieve the strategic goals without, Lewis. Conclusion During the 1990s, NASA Lewis has undergone significant reductions in its budget and FTE levels, and its areas of work responsibility have been reduced. When compared to other NASA centers, Lewis has had the highest percentage reduction in budget of all NASA centers; has had the second highest FTE percentage reduction; and has a total planned FTE percentage reduction through FY2000 that is surpassed by KSC and MSFC. During discussion in the space community, Lewis often makes the list of potential NASA centers that could be closed in the future. The reductions at Lewis over the past four years may have furthered the impression that the center is a candidate for closure. Based on the current strategic plan, however, the near-term closure of Lewis appears unlikely. Recent statements of NASA Administrator Dan Goldin support that supposition. In an April 24, 1997 hearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space, Mr. Goldin was asked if the agency had any future plans for the closure of some of its centers. He responded that NASA's future requires all of its centers and that there were no plans for closing any centers. He did assert that his response was predicated on the assumption that NASA's outyear budget plans would be met. That caveat is important to note. NASA's strategic plan assumes that the agency will have stable budgets over the next few years. If NASA were to undergo significant reductions in its budget, the possibility of center closures might become more likely. The future of Lewis would then be tied to what priority the nation gives to NASA's Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology enterprise versus the other three NASA enterprises. If budget constraints precipitated the decision to reduce or eliminate NASA's aeronautics mission, the future of Lewis would be in doubt. However, such a scenario appears unlikely in the near-term.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mary Emerson on her birthday, September 3, 1997. At 100 years young, Mary continues to live a fulfilling and happy life. She has prospered in her professional career as well as in her personal life. Mary is a joy to be around. She is loved by her family and many friends in the community. My fellow colleagues, please join me in wishing a great lady a very happy birthday and many more delightful years to come.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add further comment to the status and future of Lewis Research Center [LEWIS]. The following represents the third installment of a special report conducted by the Congressional Research Service and deals with changes at Lewis during the 1990's. NASA Lewis faces an optimistic future. The center has weathered some challenging times recently, and has emerged even stronger. Faced with limited budget allocations, Lewis has managed to achieve more with less and through careful budgeting have prospered in many areas. They have been designated as the No. 1 center for aeropropulsion and as center of excellence in turbomachinery. Lewis' other missions include aeronautics research, on-board space applications, and commercial communications. In addition to this, Lewis is also a contributor to many NASA-wide programs. In the past they have conducted microgravity research for the U.S. space shuttle. Currently, they are developing further microgravity technology for the international space station. They have contributed to the Mission to Planet Earth Program whose focus includes such things as analyzing ozone depletion and detecting and understanding the consequences and causes of destructive natural phenomena. Lewis also had a hand in the Mars Pathfinder mission which landed on Mars on July 4, 1997, in order to conduct mobile geological studies. Although Lewis has been affected by past NASA budget limitations, they are currently contributing to the most exciting and dynamic of NASA's missions. They have and are continuing to provide for the future, useful, accessible, and informative research material on a wide array of science-based activities. Their importance to NASA and to the Nation is evident from the fact that their funding for 1998 has been recommended as $671 million, $50 million higher than that received in 1997. The third installment of a report by the Congressional Research Center outlines the challenges that NASA Lewis has met and conquered:

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the opening of the new Fairview Park Regional Library on August 9, 1997, in Fairview Park. OH. Public libraries are one of the greatest treasures in our local communities because libraries are centers of knowledge, and what higher ideal can a society strive for, than the search for truth and knowledge. Libraries provide our children a place where they can enrich their minds and provide adults a place where they can continue their education. The people of Fairview Park are excited about their new library. The new library will cater to both the young and old and will serve as a meeting place for the entire community. I am proud to announce that another center for learning has opened in northeast Ohio and I congratulate the people of Fairview Park on the addition of the new library to their community: [From the Sun Herald, July 24, 1997] Regional Library Gets Ready to Open Its Latest Chapter (By Ken Prendergast) Some wonder if the library's exterior could have been different. Some regret that a viable furniture store was razed for it. Others say they wanted the library located elsewhere in Fairview Park. Those ``what ifs'' will be filed in the historical footnotes, now that the new, $6.5 million Fairview Park Regional Library is a heartbeat away from its Aug. 9 opening. Once people walk into the new library, something will happen. Comparisons between the new and old libraries will occur automatically. But there is no comparison. The old library is a labyrinth. The new is more like the atrium of a Fortune 500 company's headquarters. The old has no rhyme or reason in its layout. In the new library, it is possible to find your way without asking someone--twice. The old featured duct tape. The new actually has carpeting. ``I think it will serve the community a whole lot better than where we are,'' said Cathy Monnin, manager of the regional library. Library users may be surprised at how spacious the new building is. The glass front puts natural light into a three- story-tall atrium, graced by a spiral staircase. Entry to the library is at the middle level. On the atrium's ground level is a coffee lounge. That's where Java Connection will stand, starting in late November. The coffee business is owned by Cleveland Crunch soccer player Andy Schmetzer. Above, artwork dangles from the third- floor ceiling. Barely noticeable, soft music is piped in ``We're trying to do a Border's-style feel,'' Monnin said. Just as functional, the library was designed by Chagrin Falls architect David Holzheimer, who plans buildings from the inside-out. ``This old library is kind of a labyrinth,'' Monnin said. ``Everything is in different sections. In the new library, everything is together.'' The new library has 44,000 square feet of floor space and lots of amenities. There is a separate room for holding ``Story Hours'' for children, complete with its own bathrooms and a patio for holding story hours during nice weather. Available to the public will be four independent study rooms, which eventually will have personal computers. And, speaking of computers, half the tables in the library feature floor outlets so laptop computers can be plugged in. For those who aren't machine compatible, an electronic learning lab for Internet training was built. There also is an adult services room, a geography section, a microfilm area and, of course, a whole section devoted only to genealogy. One limited-access room will contain rare items, such as historical and holiday-oriented material. All of the books, tapes, discs and catalogues will be moved starting Monday--when the old library shuts down for good. The new library will open its doors to the public at 9 a.m. Aug. 9. At 7 p.m. Aug. 8, a grand opening celebration, called ``A World of Opportunities,'' will feature a laser light show, plus music, refreshments and library tours. ``Everyone is looking forward to it,'' Monnin said. ``I can't wait.''

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and pay credit to the excellent work being conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's [NASA's] Lewis Research Center [Lewis]. The center, located in Cleveland, OH, is one of 10 NASA field centers, Employing more than 2,000 personnel and comprised in more than 140 buildings, Lewis is one of NASA's larger research facilities and has, since its groundbreaking in 1941, been invested with some $480 million. Lewis has developed an international reputation for its research on jet propulsion systems and under the current directorship of Donald Campbell, research and development of new propulsion power is continuing to flourish. NASA has designated Lewis as its No. 1 center for aeropropulsion. Its pioneering work in developing and verifying aeropropulsion technology has benefited the Nation directly, through the results and data which it has complied and also through the transfer of this knowledge to U.S. industry. Indirectly, such advances have significantly contributed to the promotion of economic growth and national security through safe and superior U.S. aircraft propulsion systems. Lewis is also NASA's Center of Excellence in Turbomachinery. It has developed innovative technology and made use of its analytical and experimental expertise to enhance future aerospace technology. Lewis' other roles and missions include aeronautics research, on-board space applications and commercial communications. The following Congressional Research Service report, ``NASA Lewis Research Center: Part 2,'' outlines the functions, history, and current roles and missions of the center: NASA Lewis Research Center: Part 2 Introduction This report examines the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Lewis Research Center (LeRC).\1\ Changes at the center during the 1990s are examined as well as how NASA's announced plans compare with Lewis' current roles and missions. Whenever the closing of any of NASA's centers is discussed within the space community, some mention Lewis as a likely candidate. This report finds that although Lewis has been downsized at a greater rate in the 1990s than most of NASA's centers, it does not appear to be in danger of being closed in the near-term if currently planned budgets are funded. As currently envisioned, Lewis is expected to have a significant role in NASA's future in fulfilling the goals set forth in the agency's strategic plan through 2025 and beyond. Location The center is located 20 miles southwest of Cleveland, Ohio, occupying 350 acres of land adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Lewis comprises more than 140 buildings that include 24 major facilities and over 500 specialized research and test facilities. Additional facilities are located at Plum Brook Station, a 6,400-acre facility about 50 miles west of Cleveland and 3 miles south of Sandusky, Ohio. The center currently has approximately 2,150 employees and on-site contractors totaling approximately 1,600.\2\ Since its initial groundbreaking in 1941, more than $480 million has been invested in the center's capital plant. According to the center, its currently estimated replacement cost is approximately $1.3 billion. The Director of LeRC is Donald J. Campbell and the Deputy Director is Martin P. Kress. Julian M. Earls is the Deputy Director for Operations. History Lewis was established in 1941 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). At that time it was known as the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory. It was one of three NACA centers nationwide.\3\ Named for George W. Lewis, NACA's Director of Research from 1924 to 1947, the center developed an international reputation for its research on jet propulsion systems. The three NACA Centers became the nucleus of NASA when it was created in October 1958. Current Roles and Missions The work of Lewis is directed toward research and development of new propulsion, power, and communications technologies for application to aeronautics and space. Microgravity research in fluids and combustion also is a main area of focus. The end product of Lewis' work is knowledge, usually in the form of a report, that is made fully available to potential users--the aircraft engine industry, the energy industry, the automotive industry, the space industry, other NASA centers, and other federal government organizations. NASA has designated Lewis as its Lead Center for Aeropropulsion. The center's role is to develop, verify, and transfer aeropropulsion technologies to U.S. industry. The center's aeropropulsion program plays a significant role in the agency's goals to promote economic growth and national security through safe, superior, and environmentally compatible U.S. civil and military aircraft propulsion systems. The agency's major efforts are in subsonic, supersonic, hypersonic, general aviation, and high- performance aircraft propulsion systems, as well as in materials, structures, internal fluid mechanics, instrumentation and controls, interdisciplinary technologies, and aircraft icing research. Lewis has also been designated NASA's Center of Excellence in Turbomachinery. It develops innovative technology and leverages its computational, analytical, and experimental expertise in turbomachinery to enhance future aerospace programs. The goal is to attain improvements in reliability, performance, and efficiency; increases in affordability, capacity, safety, and environmental capability; and reductions in design cycle time and development costs. Areas of focus include air-breathing propulsion and power systems, primary and auxiliary propulsion and power systems, on-board propulsion systems, and rotating machinery for the pumping of fuels. Related technologies include fans, compressors, turbines, pumps, combustors, bearings, seals, gears, inlets, nozzles, sensors, and actuators. Related disciplines include materials, structures, lubrication, acoustics, heat transfer, computational fluid dynamics, combustion, cryogenics, icing, and controls. Lewis' roles and missions include: Managing a broad array of aeronautics research and technology propulsion activities including propulsion support technology and propulsion systems analysis; space applications involving power and on- board propulsion; commercial communications; managing intermediate and large payload launch vehicles; and microgravity research in the disciplines of combustion science, fluids physics, and ground-based research. Lewis is a major contributor to many NASA-wide programs. These programs include: NASA's High Speed Research program in the areas of combustor design and enabling propulsion materials; the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) effort; microgravity research on board the Space Shuttle in addition to its historical contributions to the program; the development of the Lewis-designed Electrical Power System for the International Space Station (ISS). Lewis will also be a major contributor to the microgravity science aboard the ISS including the development of the Fluids and Combustion Facility; U.S.-Russian cooperative programs such as the Mir Cooperative Solar Array and providing microgravity science experiments; and the Mars Pathfinder mission.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the commitment this Congress has made to solar energy research and technology. This Congress, following the recommendations of the Energy and Water Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, appropriated an increase of $62,960,000 over the fiscal year 1997 funding level. Specifically, Congress has continued or increased America's investment in solar energy through appropriations for solar building research, photovoltaic energy systems, biomass/biofuel energy systems, wind energy systems, and renewable energy production incentives. Solar energy technology is made in America by companies large and small, by American workers occupying high-technology, high wage jobs. British Petroleum, for example, is the second largest solar technology manufacturer in the world and is headquartered in Cleveland, OH. Solar Cells Inc., based in Toledo, OH, is a small company, the innovations of which help make solar energy available and commercially viable throughout America. Additionally, this Congress has underscored the significance of Federal procurement of solar technologies. In 1994, the President issued Executive Order 12902, the goal of which was to encourage cost- effective uses of solar energy by all departments in Government. Congress has now instructed the Department of Energy to report to Congress on the progress of implementing this landmark order. Solar energy research is a dynamic, innovative and extremely important technological advance. It is a safe, clean and renewable energy process which is becoming more and more cost effective and productive as each year passes. Solar energy may lead the way to lighting up our Nation's future on the investments we make today.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, the news from the latest assessment of NAFTA's effects is bad. They reported bad news for northern Ohio, where I represent the west side of the city of Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs. The story there is repeated around the country's auto- dependent regions. The latest report reveals that United States exports to Mexico are inconsequential. Mexico is not the consumer market the NAFTA cheerleaders promised that it would be. Mexico has been increasingly an export platform for vehicles sold in the United States. United States auto imports from Mexico are more than 10 times the value of United States exports to Mexico. The United States auto trade deficit has grown since NAFTA by about 400 percent, $14.6 billion from $3.6 billion. The report is silent about jobs lost to Mexico. The report's authors claim that they can only estimate the number of jobs gained in the United States through exports but they cannot estimate the number of jobs lost due to increased imports. Well, that defies common sense. The Department of Labor's own figures of jobs lost due to NAFTA estimate over 120,000 jobs lost. Respectable academic estimates of jobs lost due to NAFTA put the number of jobs lost at about 420,000. The report can estimate only 90,000 to 160,000 jobs supported by NAFTA-associated exports to Mexico. What the assessment did not say is how NAFTA has affected the American worker and the American way of life. The bad news is that NAFTA has cost the American people jobs, it has cost American families their stability, NAFTA has cost American people their homes, NAFTA has cost people health care benefits, and NAFTA has cost American parents an ability to help provide a college education for their children. The report does not address the fact that NAFTA has made a big impact on the American workplace. NAFTA has strengthened employers' hands to take back wages and to crush collective bargaining in the United States. According to a Cornell University researcher, manufacturing and transportation firms have threatened to close the plant 62 percent of the time workers are either trying to form a union or trying to negotiate a new contract once they have a union. Let me give a case in point. NTN Brower in Macomb, IL, used threats to scare workers. The company circulated a leaflet with the headline: ``With the UAW, your jobs may go south for more than the winter.'' Now, against a map of the United States, a large arrow pointed south to Mexico, and it reads: ``There are Mexicans willing to do your jobs for $3 to $4 an hour. Free trade treaty allows'' this. This is right from the literature that was passed out in the plant. Let me give another case in point: ITT Automotive in Michigan, where the company parked 13 flatbed trailers loaded with shrink-wrapped production equipment in front of the plant for the duration of a union organizing drive. The trucks had these large signs posted which said, ``Mexico Transfer Job.'' So it is clear that people are making threats against workers ever time workers try to claim their rights. The report makes no mention of health hazards or food hazards of the transporter trucking problem. NAFTA opened the floodgates to tainted food from Mexico. U.S. border inspectors are absolutely overwhelmed. Fewer than 1 percent of the 3.3 million trucks entering the United States each year are inspected. In about 6 weeks, Madam Speaker, this Congress will be deciding whether to spread NAFTA's poor performance over the entire hemisphere. This is the meaning of the fast track vote. What we know about NAFTA's first 3 years does not justify spreading it throughout the hemisphere. As recently as March 18, 1997, a top official at the U.S. Trade Representative's Office said in a debate with me on national television that they could back up job growth estimates with specific companies, specific cities and towns where the growth has occurred, but they have not. I think supporters of NAFTA should go back to the drawing board and report accurately and fully the effects of NAFTA. Congress should not give the President special fast track authority to expand NAFTA. We should look for ways to protect the American worker, protect American jobs, and assure that our economy will have the ability to prepare America for the new century.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the leadership, scientists, engineers, and other dedicated employees of the NASA Lewis Research Center, which is located in my district on the west side of Cleveland, OH. The Lewis Research Center plays an important role in many NASA-wide programs, including microgravity research and the international space station power systems. In order to keep the citizens of Cleveland informed about the status and future of the Lewis Research Center, I asked the Congressional Research Service [CRS] to prepare a special report. The report, by CRS Analyst in Aerospace Policy David Radzanowski, describes how the Lewis Research Center fits into the overall strategic direction of NASA. I request that this report be published in the Congressional Record over the next 4 days, starting with the Summary and an Appendix on the Lewis DC-9. NASA Lewis Research Center Summary This report examines the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Lewis Research Center (LeRC). Changes in the center during the 1990s are examined as well as how NASA's future plans compare with Lewis' current roles and missions. Lewis is one of ten NASA field centers. The center is located 20 miles southwest of Cleveland, Ohio, occupying 350 acres of land adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Lewis comprises more than 140 buildings that include 24 major facilities and over 500 specialized research and test facilities. Additional facilities are located at Plum Brook Station, a 6,400-acre facility about 50 miles west of Cleveland and 3 miles south of Sandusky, Ohio. The center currently has approximately 2,150 civil servant employees, along with approximately 1,600 on-site contractors. Work at Lewis is directed toward research and development of new propulsion, power, and communications technologies for application to aeronautics and space. Microgravity research in fluids and combustion also is an area of focus. NASA has designated LeRC as its Lead Center for Aeropropulsion and its Center of Excellence in Turbomachinery. Due to declining budgets in the 1990s, Lewis, as well as all NASA centers, has experienced significant changes in its roles and missions as well as its workforce. Several of these changes, such as workforce reductions, are ongoing. The majority of these changes were the result of recommendations made in NASA's 1995 Zero Base Review. In FY 1993, Lewis' funding peaked at $1,002.6 million and its personnel level peaked at 2,823 full-time equivalent (FTEs). For FY 1998, the request for Lewis is $671.5 million with an FTE level of 2,085. Many Lewis employees assert that the center has accounted for a greater share of total NASA reductions than over NASA centers. Lewis has had the highest percentage reduction in funding of all field centers; however, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has experienced a relatively greater FTE percentage reduction than Lewis. In addition, KSC and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) both have a total planned FTE percentage reduction through FY 2000 that is higher than Lewis. Lewis has had a larger share of the reductions than many other NASA centers. When the potential for closing NASA centers is discussed within the space community, some mention Lewis as a likely candidate. The reductions at Lewis over the past four years may further convey the impression that the center is a candidate for closure. This report finds that although Lewis has been downsized at a greater rate in the 1990s than most of NASA's centers, the center does not appear to be in danger of being closed in the near-term if currently planned budgets are funded. Current plans indicate that Lewis is expected to have a significant role in NASA's future in fulfilling the goals set forth in the agency's strategic plan through 2025 and beyond. Appendix: Lewis Research Center's DC-9--May 19, 1997 This Appendix discusses the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) decision not to renew the lease on a DC-9 that is used for parabolic microgravity research flights at Lewis Research Center (LeRC). You specifically asked whether this decision is an attempt by NASA Headquarters to eventually terminate microgravity research at Lewis. My analysis suggests that this is not the case. There may be a question of whether the decision is cost-effective, however, it does not appear that there is an underlying motive to terminate microgravity research at Lewis. Microgravity investigators often need to conduct reduced gravity experiments in ground-based facilities during the experiment definition and technology development phases of their research. The NASA ground-based reduced gravity research facilities include two drop towers at LeRC, a DC-9 aircraft based at Lewis, and a KC-135 aircraft based at Johnson Space Center (JSC). The DC-9 is the newest microgravity facility. It is a leased aircraft that began operations in 1995. The decision to add the DC-9 to the microgravity program was due to a perceived need for additional flight hours for research. In 1995 NASA's Zero Base Review recommended that all program aircraft be consolidated at Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) in California. The cost effectiveness of such a move was immediately questioned, particularly moving the DC- 9. In the summer of 1996 NASA assessed three options regarding the disposition of the DC-9. These were: transferring the DC-9 to DFRC; privatizing the operation; and utilizing instead the KC-135 based at JSC. In August 1996, NASA determined that the KC-135 could meet NASA requirements for parabolic microgravity research flights; that the DC-9 lease and options would not be continued past July 1997; and that the possibility existed that the program may need an additional KC-135 based at JSC to meet requirements. Meanwhile, legislative language inserted into the FY 1997 VA- HUD-IA Appropriations Act prohibited NASA from moving aircraft to DFRC that were east of the Mississippi River. In early December 1996, LeRC was notified of the decision to terminate the DC-9 lease. The decision may or may not be cost-effective, but the question has been raised whether it is an attempt by NASA Headquarters to eventually terminate the microgravity program at Lewis. Such a motive appears unlikely for the following reasons. Consolidation of aircraft at the fewest number of NASA sites is part of an overall new agency management philosophy to reduce redundancy across NASA. It is not motivated by efforts to terminate programs. NASA Headquarters asserts that the decision will actually save the agency money over the years. Although Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is the Lead Center for NASA's microgravity program, Lewis maintains program responsibility for fluid and combustion microgravity research. This research is a critical component of the research program plans for the International Space Station. Any severe disruption to the program, such as moving it to another NASA center, would be very detrimental to the space station research program. Lewis still maintains the 2 drop towers for ground-based microgravity research. Before researchers use aircraft for their experiments they must first prove that the drop towers will not fulfill their requirements. Similar drop towers are not located at any other NASA centers. Even though the KC-135 would be based at JSC it is likely that the aircraft will fly research campaigns at the sites where the experimenters are based. Experiments developed at Lewis will most likely still be flown from Lewis. In March of this year, NASA created a National Center for Microgravity Research on Fluids and Combustion. This institution is a partnership of Lewis, Case Western Research, and the Universities Space Research Association and it is based at Case Western. It is unlikely that NASA Headquarters would terminate the microgravity program at Lewis having just created the National Center in Cleveland. Based on these reasons, it appears that the decision to terminate the DC-9 lease was not motivated by a desire to terminate Lewis' microgravity research program.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the independent contractor provision is a potential disaster for the working people of our country. What would it do if adopted? It would take away health care and pension benefits from millions of employees. It would punish socially responsible employers and reward companies which refuse to invest in their workers. It would mean an instant tax increase for workers who would pay twice as much in Medicare and Social Security taxes. It would deny workers their legal protections against sex, race, age, and disability discrimination. It would lead to the misclassification of millions of employees, and this would cost the U.S. Treasury billions of dollars. Mr. Speaker, the independent contractor clause is bad for employees, bad for legitimate businesses, and bad for the future of our economy. Twelve Republicans wrote to the Speaker of the House citing their serious reservations about this clause. Seventy-nine Democrats wrote to the President asking him to delete this provision. Let us reaffirm our commitment to America's workers and eliminate this provision from the final budget bill.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

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

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the citizens of Puerto Rico on Constitution Day, July 25, 1997. The people of Puerto Rico established the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for the very same reasons our forefathers wrote the Constitution of the United States of America, to establish themselves as a democracy. The Puerto Rican Constitution ensures basic welfare and human rights for the people, ensconces the idea of a government which reflects the will of the people, and pays tribute and loyalty to the Constitution of the United States of America. The Puerto Rican culture is a distinctly unique culture. By pledging allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, the people of Puerto Rico celebrate shared beliefs and the co-existence of both cultures. By ratifying their own constitution, the people of Puerto Rico retain and honor their original heritage while expressing the desire to pursue democracy and happiness for themselves.