Mark Kirk

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Iowa (Chairman Leach), the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith), the gentleman from California (Chairman Royce), and our ranking Democratic members, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra), a strong voice for Koreans, for this resolution. North Korea is the humanitarian issue of this decade. As South Korea celebrates the World Cup, people in North Korea are starving. In 1997 and 1998, I went to North Korea, from Changin to Sariwon, Huichon to Wonson. I saw the faces of hundreds of children starving, like Kim Uan Bok, age 12, weight 35 pounds, in Huichon Hospital Number 1. I also traveled to China, along North Korea's border, and I met the Kot Je Be, Black Swallows children, orphans who had escaped the 9.27 prisons for hungry children located in every ``Ri,'' or county, in North Korea. Beyond our nuclear nonproliferation missions, we have three main goals in our policy in North Korea. First, President Reagan said that a hungry child knows no politics, and we are here still in a state of war with North Korea, and yet the U.S. feeds every North Korean child under the age of 15, 21 million meals a day. We need to bring back the U.S. non-governmental organizations that work there, CARE, Mercy Corps and AMIGOS, back into this effort. I also want to commend Kraft, a constituent company in my district, for agreeing to help the new effort to feed North Korean children. We have a second mission, human rights. There are 200,000 refugees in China. They arrive hungry and lost and need our help. They tell stories of grandmothers and fathers in the Korean tradition during times of crisis of starving so that their kids may live. We should work with China and the U.N. Human Rights Commission to establish refugee processing centers and offer safe passage to South Korea, the U.S. and Canada, to offer a new life for North Korean refugees. Our law commits us to reach out to a person with a ``well-founded fear of persecution.'' I would put it to this House that anyone forced to return to the DPRK has such a fear. Finally, our third mission is to reunite Korean Americans with their relations in North Korea. 500,000 Americans have relations in North Korea, and hundreds of South Koreans have seen their kin, but no Americans. Three months ago, the Korean-American Coalition of the Midwest assembled 30,000 signatures from Korean Americans calling on the Nation to take up the issue of reunifying Americans with their North Korean relations. I am pleased to report Secretary Powell accepted their petition and agreed to put the case of reunification on the U.S.-DPRK agenda. I commend the gentleman for the resolution and urge its rapid adoption.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) in his objection on this motion. The gentleman from Ohio refers to House rule 9 preserving the integrity of the House, but he does not refer to article II of the Constitution, which clearly places the power to ratify treaties not in this body, but in the Senate. He does not refer to the text of the ABM treaty, which reads as follows, in article 15, part 1: ``Each party shall, exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from this treaty if it decides that extraordinary events related to the subject matter of the treaty have jeopardized its supreme interest. It shall give notice of its decision to the other party 6 months prior to the withdrawal from the treaty,'' which the President has done. This power is given directly to the President to respond to increased threats from missiles by withdrawing from the outdated 1970s document. This motion by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) ignores settled Supreme Court decisions regarding the abrogation of the treaty with Taiwan. This motion does not refer to the SHAHAB III Iranian missile program, the Iraqi Scud program, the North Korea No Dong missile program, all pointed at the U.S. Armed Forces. It makes no reference to the 39 Scud missiles that fell on Israel and the growing missile threat to our Israeli allies. Under the terms of the Constitution, giving this power to the Senate, not to the House, in a treaty which specifically allows the President to withdraw from it, and relevant Supreme Court decisions regarding the abrogation of the treaty, and in light of the growing missile threat from rogue nations to the United States and our allies, the President has duly executed this authority and the House has no role. In sum, Mr. Speaker, this is a treaty, not a law. A treaty should be regarded as a statute, especially with regard to implementing legislation requiring House action. That is not present here, and the motion should be ruled out of order.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I seek to be recognized on the point of order.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4073, the Micro-enterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 Amendments Act. This legislation is absolutely critical in the fight against global poverty, and serves as a reminder of the importance of our nation's continued foreign aid. As a staffer for the House International Relations Committee under Chairman Gilman, I worked to craft the original legislation that helped establish micro-enterprise grant assistance. Now, as we consider reauthorizing and increasing funding levels for these critical programs, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation. Despite the overall growth of the international economy over the last twenty years, billions of people throughout the world continue to live on less than one dollar per day. The world's poorest people do not have the appropriate resources to start small businesses despite the fact that in many areas, starting a business requires as little as $100. As a proven method of foreign aid, micro-enterprise has successfully paved the way for nearly 20 million people to achieve economic independence and a better way of life. Small business is the lifeblood of our thriving American economy. We must make every effort to ensure that our friends abroad are given the same opportunities to start and maintain their own businesses. Micro-financing stimulates growth, generates new employment, and can help raise the income of others. Additionally, these programs promote higher household income and increased family welfare. While micro- enterprise has been proven to enhance the lives of the world's poorest people, it has also played a specific role in bettering the lives of poor women throughout the world. Studies indicate that the majority of those who benefit from micro-enterprise are women. Please join me in supporting this bill, which would responsibly increase funding for micro-enterprise programs to $175 million in FY 2003 and $200 million in FY 2004. As the world's leader in foreign aid contributions and as a beacon of freedom and prosperity, the United States must continue to guide the world out of the darkness of poverty, and micro-enterprise is one effective avenue to accomplish this goal.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I come to the floor today to look back upon the life of Pastor H.J. Cook of Waukegan, IL. For 42 years, Pastor Cook served the Gideon Missionary Baptist Church in Waukegan. He was a remarkably committed spiritual leader. In our lives, we rarely meet men so totally devoted to their community, so keenly in touch with their congregations and so passionately inspired in the service of their faith. Pastor Cook was such a man. On Wednesday, May 8, 2002, Pastor Cook died at the age of 75. H. Judea Cook was born in Varner, Arkansas, on November 5, 1926 to General and Gerilla Cook. He met and married Osa Lee Jones on March 7, 1948. In 1949, Reverend Cook accepted his call to the ministry-serving the Morning View Baptist Church in McCrory, Arkansas for 10 years. Pastor Cook attended Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, the Jackson Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL, and the Mariet Business College in Oakland, CA. During the course of his study, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Theology, a Master's of Theology, and is an Honorary Doctor of Divinity and an Honorary Doctor of Letters. On October 9, 1959, Reverend Cook came to Waukegan as the Pastor for Gideon Missionary Baptist Church. Through four decades of service, he has steadily increased the membership of his congregation and demonstrated outstanding financial leadership. In 1961, Reverend Cook was pastor to little more than 90 people who worshiped in a small concrete building in Indiana. Today, the Gideon parsonage is home to a $1 Million renovation project. The church has moved to Ridgeland Avenue and has added a Christian Education extension, a new library, offices, and sanctuary. Since 1988, the church has established the Christian Education School for leadership training, and the Baptist for Nurture program. Gideon is home to a departmental church school, a mission ministry, a bus and tape ministry, and an evangelistic program. Still, in spite of all the changes to the physical foundation at Gideon, Pastor Cook has remained faithful to the spiritual mission of the church and is remembered as a centerpiece of Waukegan's own community fabric. Pastor Cook will be laid to rest this afternoon in North Chicago. He is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Sister Osa Cook, by his five daughters and by one son. He is grandfather to thirty-seven children and great-grandfather to twenty-two more. Pastor Cook leaves behind an entire community of friends and family and untold numbers who were touched by his smile, his warmth, and his generosity. It has been my privilege to serve Pastor Cook and to see his faith and love in action. He will be missed.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I want to also thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) and our other defense leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), for this legislation. This bill supports President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld, who commands our troops currently in battle. It supports our Naval training at the Navy's only boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. It advances our efforts to combine Naval Hospital Great Lakes with North Chicago VA to help out veterans and active duty health care. It protects our air crews over Afghanistan and Iraq with improved tactical Navy electronic warfare aircraft, and it supports our fellow allies to meet the missile threat, especially giving early warning eyes in the sky to Israel and Arrow anti-missiles to shoot down SCUDs. It is a good piece of legislation; it deserves our support for the fundamental mission of the Federal Government to defend our country. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act. This bill supports the efforts of President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld to modernize and strengthen our military. The bill supports the needs of our men and women in uniform, ensuring that they receive better pay, have better equipment at their disposal, have a better quality of life, and are provided with all the tools necessary to complete their missions. The effects of these initiatives will be appreciated by servicemembers around the world, from the recruits currently in my district at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center to the Special Forces troops operating in the mountains of Afghanistan. Additionally, this bill strongly supports electronic warfare and the EA-6B Prowler, our Nation's lone remaining electronic jamming aircraft. The Prowler is integral to successful airborne strike operations and is often the first aircraft in theater and the last aircraft to leave. Without the Prowler, our aircrews would be vulnerable to a wide variety of threats from integrated air defenses and advanced surface-to-air missiles. In support of the aging Prowler fleet, this bill authorizes $85.8 million to procure and install wing center sections and outer wing panels, both of which have suffered from fatigue and forced the grounding of eight aircraft. $35 million is included to procure advanced USQ-113 jammers, which will enhance that ability of the Prowler to cut off enemy communications. I am also encouraged that $29 million are included to procure band 9/10 transmitters, which will enhance Prowler capabilities. Perhaps most importantly, H.R. 4546 includes an increase of $10 million to continue efforts to develop a successor to the Prowler. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support our men and women in uniform, our national defense, and this bill. I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for including the Tiahrt amendment language in the en bloc. This sunsets many unneeded reports after 5 years. The bill already contains the Tiahrt-Kirk language ending 20 unneeded reports that were previously required by law. Our effort is the first fruit of Secretary Rumsfeld's tooth-to-tail effort to increase the amount of effort we have on the front line by decreasing unneeded logistic efforts behind the lines. The Secretary launched this effort on September 10, but we are now yielding real fruit. The current bill language killing unneeded reports is estimated to save over 21,000 man-hours inside the Pentagon. This effort in the en bloc to sunset all reports after 5 years will go a long way to focus efforts on the combat front line and away from the rear echelon. I thank the gentleman from Arizona, and I thank the gentleman from Missouri for including this in the en bloc.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I take a point of personal privilege first to wish the best of luck to Hoover House at the University of Chicago in their ancient and honorable scavenger hunt. I rise in support of the Sanchez amendment because it guarantees American women in uniform that they can use their own funds for all legal options in their health care. As a Naval officer I served at Incirlik Air Base in Adana, Turkey. I know of the outstanding clinics available on base and also of the poor conditions available at the Adana Turkish City Hospital. I believe that U.S. service men and women should be treated on base by American doctors and that our women in uniform should not be forced into some clinic where English is not spoken. I commend the gentlewoman, and this amendment should be adopted.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, as chair of the Nuclear Fuel Safety Caucus here in the Congress, I would remind everyone that in the shuttered Zion nuclear power plant just 100 yards from Lake Michigan lies a thousand tons of highly radioactive nuclear waste stored next to Lake Michigan. This is not unique to my district. The Great Lakes have another 31 coastline sites where nuclear waste is stored. Twenty percent of the world's fresh water is found in the Great Lakes. Thirty million Americans depend on the Great Lakes for fresh water. Not one scientist or scientific study claims that storing nuclear waste next to the world's largest supply of fresh water is environmentally sound. Moving nuclear waste from 131 temporary storage sites around the Nation to one secure location where America has already tested dozens of nuclear weapons is the goal of the Nuclear Fuel Safety Caucus. We must move nuclear waste from the Great Lakes. Why Yucca Mountain? Because without Yucca Mountain, we would have to construct 131 permanent storage facilities for nuclear waste in 39 different States. These storage facilities are close to groundwater, earthquake zones and in close proximity to major cities, including San Francisco, Boston, New York and Chicago. Without Yucca Mountain, 161 million Americans would have to live their entire lives within 75 miles of a nuclear waste site. And then there is the cost. According to the government's own study, the cost of building 131 permanent storage sites would be over $61 billion. To cover this, the Federal Government would have to borrow from Social Security or raise taxes. Perhaps we could reinstitute the death tax, but we would have to double it to pay for the cost. And that would not cover the lawsuits which would total over $56 billion for reneging on the promise to provide a nuclear waste storage site. A vote for this resolution is a vote to protect our Nation from further terrorist attacks. Removing nuclear waste from 131 sites to a single repository buried deep inside a mountain range 100 miles from a population center is much safer from sabotage or terrorism. I urge the adoption of this resolution. Let us wipe clean the terrorist shooting gallery of 131 sites located around the country and vote for this resolution for a secure environmental future.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote on the most important environmental and homeland defense issue of the year. Spent nuclear waste is stored at 131 locations around America: near Long Island Sound, in the Tennessee Valley, and on the shores of our precious Lake Michigan. These locations are a terrorists' shooting gallery of potential targets, and 161 million Americans live within 75 miles of a temporary nuclear storage site. Today we will vote to move this material to a secure storage facility where the United States has already tested hundreds of nuclear weapons. The protection of the Great Lakes is my number one priority, and moving nuclear waste from our shores will protect our people from terrorism and environmental threats.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our whip, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), as well as the ranking Democratic member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for this resolution. As President Kennedy said, ``America is great not because we do the easy things. We are great because we do the hard things. A powerful Nation fields armies and commands fear. A great Nation advances justice and human freedom.'' Our foreign policy is best when it reflects our values, supporting democracies like Israel. Terrorists do not hate Israel because it is a Jewish state, they hate Israel because it is a free, open and democratic state in a region of dictators. Iran and Iraq, enemies of the Gulf War, unite against Israel because of her democratic model. And after September 11, we speak with moral clarity that America supports democratic allies in the war on terror. Israel has always been ready to sign a peace, but when faced with a homicide bomber, that little democracy needs a bottom line, and we are that bottom line for Israel and the other democracies of this world. In tough times, we served as the arsenal of democracy, and we serve as that again. I am proud when America defends our values, who share our freedom and democracy, and that is Israel. And I thank the gentleman for moving this resolution.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April 24th, 1915 as one of the darkest days of the 20th century. On this day 300 Armenian leaders, writers, religious figures and professionals in Constantinople were gathered together, deported, and brutally murdered. Thousands of Armenian citizens were dragged out of their homes and murdered in the streets. What few citizens remained were taken from their communities and marched off to concentration camps in the desert, where most died of starvation and thirst. The Ottoman Empire systematically deprived Armenians of their homes, property, freedom, and ultimately, their lives. By 1923, 1.5 million Armenian citizens had been murdered, while half a million had been deported. Today, we must overcome the obstacle of denial. The Armenian Genocide is a historical fact. The United States and the international community must overcome this denial and recognize the horror that took place between 1915 and 1923. The Armenian people have spent the last ten years courageously establishing an Independent Republic of Armenia. These efforts are a testament to the strength and character of the Armenian people. I strongly support the United States' continued efforts with Armenia to ensure a safe and stabile environment in the Caucasus region. Today, I join my colleagues in recognizing the Armenian genocide of 1915, and while this is indeed a day of mourning, we must also take this opportunity to celebrate Armenia's commitment towards democracy in the face of adversity.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, Stuart Paddock, Jr., was a leader. He inspired reverence among his friends, his associates, and his employees. He was a leader who did not take credit, but instead, gave it away. He led with vision, enthusiasm, determination, and courage. His kind words, his optimism, trust in people, and thoughtfulness endeared him to all. According to an editorial in today's Daily Herald, if we took a poll of the people who work at the Herald, we would find something extraordinary. We could not find a single person with a bad word to say about Stu, not one. The work force numbers 880. That is the kind of leader he was. Stu Paddock died on Monday, April 15, at the age of 86. During three- and-one-half decades of ownership, he built the Daily Herald from a weekly community newspaper to the third largest daily in Illinois. His is a remarkable success story of a family-owned business in an era of corporate giants. Paddock was the inspirational heart and soul of one of the small number of family-owned newspapers in America. When he assumed leadership of the company in 1968, the newspapers were publishing three times a week, with a circulation below 20,000. At his death, he left a growing suburban daily with a circulation of over 148,000, now the 7th largest in the Nation. Born September 19, 1915, in Palatine, Paddock graduated in 1937 from Knox College in Galesburg, and joined the paper as an assistant editor. He was called into service shortly after Pearl Harbor as a second lieutenant, serving as a company commander in a tank destroyer battalion as part of Patton's Third Army in Europe. He was discharged in 1946 at the rank of captain. In 1969, Paddock's willingness to take risks saved the newspaper. A critical slowdown occurred when Marshall Field and his Sun-Times started a daily newspaper called The Day in direct competition with the Herald. Over the next 4 years, the weekly Herald newspapers lost 40 percent of their circulation. A plan to publish three times a week failed to turn around the paper's fortunes. ``We either had to go daily or die,'' Paddock later reflected. Shortly after taking over as president, he turned the paper into a five-days-a-week publication in 1969. Day Publications soon surrendered and sold its newspaper operations to Paddock in 1970. Paddock constantly pushed expansion, adding weekend editions and weekly papers in Lake County in the 1970s that then went daily in 1984, and in the years since, Paddock oversaw nearly 20 expansions into areas of Lake, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties. Paddock's thoughtfulness is legendary among staff. Bob Frisk, the Daily Herald's veteran assistant managing editor of sports, retells the story of the night he was to be inducted into the media wing of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in Bloomington. Bob's wife was very ill and could not attend. Frisk was feeling lonely when Stu and Ann Paddock walked into the room. Paddock told Frisk, ``We didn't want you to be alone when you were inducted on this big night.'' Stu's legacy is rich with similar stories, like funding spirits ``not the cheap stuff'' for a holiday party to celebrate a job well done in Naperville and coming out to cheer on employees who were playing for the local softball team. Stu Paddock enjoyed classical music, the Bears and opera. He supported a number of good causes like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera, Ravinia, Goodman Theatre and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Stu was the father of six, five daughters and a son. His wife, Ann, his four children and between them, 23 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Stuart R. Paddock, Junior, he served our country, he served our community, he served his employees and served his family with courage, honor, determination and thoughtfulness and will be sorely missed by all.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate nine students from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois who competed in the prestigious U.S. Academic Decathlon contest over the weekend. Created in 1981, the rigorous program tests students in 10 categories: art, economics, essay, interview, language and literature, mathematics, science, social science, speech, and super-quiz. This year's super-quiz topic was ``E-Communication: The Internet and Society.'' Stevenson's decathlon team has risen to statewide prominence since it was formed six years ago. The team placed seventh in the Illinois competition in 1997 and fourth the two following years. The squad placed fifth in 2000, second last year and third this year in the state-wide competition. The team who competed over the weekend in Phoenix, Arizona consisted of: Julia Wallace, a senior from Long Grove; Jessica Eggert, a senior from Hawthorn Woods; Dan Pyster, a senior from Lincolnshire; Dan Kaplan, a senior from Lincolnshire; Jackie Lantz, a senior from Buffalo Grove; Chad Spiegel, a senior from Buffalo Grove; Ryan Schaefges, a senior from Buffalo Grove; Eric Swanson, a junior from Buffalo Grove; and Jeff Waxman, a junior from Buffalo Grove. I want to commend these students and teachers who have worked tirelessly on the weekends and after school to prepare to achieve this goal. The team from Stevenson entered the competition ranked 10th in the nation. They faced 55 schools from 40 states which were broken up into three divisions based on their size. The Stevenson team placed 8th in the largest division and 11th in the nation. Congratulations for all your hard work.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, as we mark the 23rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act today, I wish to comment on the special relationship between the United States and Taiwan. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China. To ensure Taiwan would continue to prosper and grow, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979. For the last twenty-three years, the Taiwan Relations Act has worked exceedingly well, providing Taiwan with the necessary security, while reminding the Chinese mainland not to use force against this flourishing democracy. On this 23rd anniversary, it is important to remind everyone that the United States stands behind the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act. The United States continues to enjoy a longstanding and healthy relationship with Taiwan. The people of Taiwan have always stood shoulder to shoulder with us, and we should stand by them as well. I rise today in recognition of these continued positive relations between Taiwan and the United States.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, this budget funds critical national security programs that will allow the United States to respond, not just to prosecute this war, but to respond to future threats. As this chart shows, the North Korean missile threat to the United States has grown enormously, originally from a scud missile, now to the taepo dong missile, which is able to deliver a weapon of mass destruction against the United States. More worryingly, North Korean missiles are now being sold to the government of Iran, and these missiles are not only aimed at U.S. Armed Forces in the Persian Gulf but also our allies in Israel which can now be well hit with the no dong and taepo dong systems. Likewise, the Syrian missile threat has grown, especially to our allies in Israel. If you are concerned about the security of U.S. allies, if you are concerned about responding to the missile threat, then you should support this budget. I wish the other side had produced a budget which would outline their program to respond to these threats to America and its allies. Our budget does that, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this budget. We have led on our side. We have a plan to protect Social Security. We have a plan to prosecute the war and provide for tax relief for Americans. The other side's leadership has ordered them not to produce a budget. The gentleman from South Carolina is a very fine Member of Congress who would have been able to put together a good alternative had he been allowed to. But instead, there is no plan on the other side. When we look at the options, the options are to raise taxes, cut defense spending, go further into debt. We have no leadership on the other side. Thank goodness our majority has led on this topic.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 181st anniversary of the revolution that earned the independence of the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire. Nearly 400 years ago, after the fall of Constantinople, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the Greek flag at Agia Lavras, sparking a powerful revolution against the Ottoman oppressors. Following the triumphs of 1821, Greece continued to prove itself as a loyal ally of the United States and an internationally recognized advocate of democracy. Greece is one of only three nations in the world beyond those of the former British Empire to be allied with the United States in every major international conflict of the 20th century. In the Balkans, Greece has played a steady hand of democracy in the face of regional unrest and instability. Now, in the wake of September 11, Greece again stands firm with the United States. Our efforts in the war against terror would not be as successful without the continued assistance from our allies in Greece. Greece's role as a stable democracy and key NATO ally is critical as the international community fights against global terrorism. On this special occasion, I commend and thank the Greek people for their spirit and their ongoing pursuit of peace. To Greece, a free and democratic ally: ``Cronia polla hellas''.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize a great ally of the United States, Tunisia, as she celebrates 46 years of independence. In 1797, the United States signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the North African country of Tunisia. Over 150 years later, Tunisia peacefully gained independence from France. Today, we congratulate Tunisia for 46 years as an independent nation. The Republic of Tunisia has remained a steadfast friend to the United States, joining Allied forces during World War II and continuing support throughout the Cold War. Now, in the wake of September 11, Tunisia has once again emerged as a true ally, supporting our current efforts in the war against terror. Based on her geopolitical location, Tunisia's cooperation in the campaign to root out terrorists is absolutely critical. Today, Tunisia enjoys a burgeoning economy, as the nation's per capita income continues to grow substantially. One of Tunisia's most valuable assets has been its continued willingness to support a Middle East peace process. Despite being surrounded by nations engulfed in political turmoil, Tunisia continues to take an active role in combating international unrest. I congratulate Tunisia on 46 years of independence and look forward to the United States' continuing strong relations with Tunisia for years to come. Please join me in celebrating the 46th Anniversary of Tunisia's independence.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, many of our colleagues and staff will celebrate the service of Nancy Bloomer to our country tomorrow. Nancy served the House International Relations Committee for many years, both in the minority prior to 1995 and in recent years in the majority. The committee dealt with critical issues of our time--the cold war, Central America, Desert Storm, Haiti, Bosnia, and Iraq. After the elections in 1994, Nancy and the new committee staff director, Rich Garon, assembled a team that helped guide this House through the transition to a Republican majority. Many people did not know what a Republican majority would do at the helm of the committee. Barely anyone was around in 1954 when Republicans last took charge. Under Chairman Ben Gilman, Nancy and the committee team leapt into action as dedicated internationalists, committed to America's role in the world. We passed key parts of the Contract with America, the American Overseas Interests Act and numerous other pieces of legislation designed to strengthen U.S. foreign policy. I was a staff member of that team. I remember Nancy as the complete professional, helping Chairman Gilman organize many different member requests into a coherent whole. In those days after the cold war and before the War on Terror, it was hard to build a central core of members with a common vision of America's role in the world. It took vision by members of this body and it took solid staff work by Nancy and her colleagues through endless hours spent between hearings, markups and consideration of legislation on the floor. Nancy should be very proud of her work. Congress has played a strong hand in modernizing the State Department, paying our dues to the United Nations and backing up key allies in need. We also played the leading humanitarian role in feeding starving North Koreans and helping refugees around the world. Much of this work would not have been done or would have not looked easy to do without Nancy's contribution to her country. As she departs the Congress after years of service, we wish her well and know that America is stronger overseas in part due to the service of Nancy Bloomer.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, the $74 billion Bush tax relief plan is already yielding benefits in the form of accelerated economic activity. According to yesterday's estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, higher economic growth added $23 billion to Federal revenue in fiscal year 2002 and $16 billion in fiscal year 2003. Congress' nonpartisan analysts now show a $5 billion surplus in fiscal year 2002; and if we exercise fiscal discipline as we consider new programs and set the budget targets, this new revenue brings a balanced budget within reach for fiscal year 2003. That is good surplus news. CBO is changing budget estimates released just 2 months ago. I applaud their quick response to new economic information. However, we need to do more. We need real-world budget estimates that incorporate the effects of economic incentives on proposed policy changes. We need to hold our budget analysts accountable every year for the difference between what they have told us would happen and what actually happened. With that, we can improve future budget projections and make sure this economy is rolling again.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Shays- Meehan Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Bill. We must take action now to clean our political financing system, eliminate corrupting special interests, and enhance accountability. As we have seen in years past, the role of soft money on our campaign system extends far beyond our nation's borders. Not only are corporations and unions able to pump exorbitant amounts of soft money into Federal campaigns under current law, but so too are foreign nationals across the globe. In the last ten years, China has stood out as the most infamous contributor of soft money funds, particularly during the 1996 election cycle. Beginning in 1995, reports indicate that Chinese officials planned on channeling more than $2 million in to U.S. presidential and congressional campaigns. By supporting Shays-Meehan, we have a genuine opportunity to shut down this source of funds that has become synonymous with the 1996 Presidential election. Foreign nationals in China took advantage of the massive soft money loophole to funnel illegal funds into Federal political campaigns through campaign committees, and as current law states, nothing will stop them from repeating these practices. Because there are no current disclosure requirements for the funding sources of issue ads, foreign governments could finance advertising efforts with complete anonymity. We must pass comprehensive legislation that eliminates this soft money loophole and the growing potential influence of nations such as China. The Shays-Meehan bill will completely ban soft money fund- raising for national parties. If the Shays-Meehan bill had been in effect in 1996, China's negative role in influencing campaigns could have been avoided. In the wake of September 11, global security is one of the highest priorities for the United States. We must not undermine our nation's federal election process by leaving a gaping loophole for foreign nationals to exert their potentially harmful influence. The sooner we pass the Shays-Meehan campaign finance bill, the sooner we will be able to eliminate the negative influence of governments on our nation's democratic process.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the life of Dan Drew, our mayor of Waukegan, Illinois. Dan died of a heart attack, and he was only 53 years old. Last year, Dan ran for mayor. It was a hotly fought contest. He won by the slimmest of margins, six votes. He took over a city beset with problems, environmental cleanups, the loss of key industries, a crisis of confidence in the city administration. But Dan proved he was the right leader for these challenges. He brought confidence, commitment, and boundless energy as mayor. Despite his narrow victory, he became a mayor of all of Waukegan and showed us that the city faced better days ahead. I worked with Dan only a short time. After one city meeting I said that all I needed from his office was a mayor ready to quickly sign any Federal grant application that could benefit Waukegan. He replied, ``My pen is ready.'' I can count at least seven major projects we were working on for the city of Waukegan. Mayor Drew's sudden death shocked us all. It was only after he passed away that I learned about his long struggle with diabetes. Tall, skinny, and with a quick smile, Dan looked the picture of health as he led Waukegan down Sheridan Road in the Fourth of July parade. His fellow Bears season ticket holders sent a wreath to his wake that said, ``Good-bye, Slim.'' Dan's family will bury him today in a sad funeral. The crowd at last night's wake stretched around the church many times. We will sorely miss Dan's smile and humor. He became Waukegan's brightest political star. All of us, his fellow Democrats, we Republicans, white, African Americans, Hispanics, young and old, will miss him. Dan Drew was the right man for the right job who left us at the wrong time. On behalf of Congress, I want to express my sorrow to his wife and family and the people of Waukegan. Our mission now is to pick up from his vision for the city as we see it through as Dan would have wished.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I requested this time to highlight the contribution of the United States Navy to our victory in Afghanistan. After the September 11 attacks, the investigation quickly turned to Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan. At first glance, a war in Afghanistan offered few options for the United States. Afghanistan has no coast line and is situated hundreds of miles from any shoreline. None of the nations bordering Afghanistan would permit U.S. strikes against Afghanistan from their own soil. With few options, President Bush turned to the one asset in our military that can strike anywhere at any time, without needing permission from anyone, the United States Navy, which moved into action. In fact, September 11 fits the classic model of any crisis in our recent past. One of the first questions any President asks in time of national peril is this: Where are the carriers? In this case, the USS Enterprise was in the Indian Ocean, heading home after a long deployment in the Gulf. Her crew saw the aircraft hit the World Trade Center and Pentagon on CNN; and without direction from Washington, the skipper ordered his battle group to come about and head for harm's way. Within minutes of this crisis beginning, the United States Navy, our Navy, was moving into position to strike back at our enemies in the heart of Central Asia. The war against terrorism is unlike any war we have fought before. Of the approximately 60,000 U.S. military members currently deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, more than half are sailors or Marines. The Navy and Marine Corps has served as the backbone of Operation Enduring Freedom. From the very beginning, the Navy has been involved in power projection and combat operations against Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda network, and the Taliban. Two weeks prior to the first shots of the war, the USS Enterprise was on station in the Arabian Sea, ready to launch strike aircraft against Taliban air defenses at a moment's notice. At the same time, Navy submarines were positioned near Afghanistan, gathering intelligence on the movements of Taliban and al Qaeda leadership and preparing to insert Navy Special Operation forces, namely, the legendary SEALs. These missions performed by the ``silent service'' are frequently cloaked in secrecy, but are vital to our efforts in Afghanistan. More than 50 U.S. Navy ships have participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, including five aircraft carriers and two Amphibious Ready Groups, carrying the 15th and 16th Marine Expeditionary Units. U.S. Navy and coalition surface combatants continue to play an important role in ongoing interdiction missions in the Arabian Sea. Navy ships operating in the Arabian Sea have demonstrated the adaptability and flexibility of the modern Navy that is unprecedented. The USS Kitty Hawk is operated as a Mobile Offshore Logistics Base, serving as a launch platform and supply base for Special Operations forces operating inside Afghanistan. This large carrier did not launch strike aircraft, but adapted to the unconventional needs of the war ahead. The Navy and Marine Corps tactical air assets have also remained flexible, agile, and adaptable. The ability to rapidly retask aircraft and Tomahawk missiles provides the combatant commander with the flexibility he needs to engage the enemy. For example, Navy F-14 fighters have been engaged in air-to-ground strike missions, missions the aircraft was not originally intended to perform. The ability to position aircraft carriers just offshore has allowed the coalition to strike targets for special operations in Afghanistan. The nearest base from which the Air Force has been able to launch strike aircraft in the region is Kuwait, leaving the bulk of close air support to the Navy. On any given day, naval aircraft have been flying 60 to 80 strike sorties as part of the campaign against al Qaeda. Naval strike aircraft have flown more than 4,000 strike sorties and dropped nearly 5,000 weapons against Afghanistan. While the Air Force has performed most of the long-range strategic bombing, the Navy and Marine Corps have provided all of the close air support and precision strike capabilities required by forces on the ground. For many of us unfamiliar with the geography of Central Asia, the scale and scope of the task before the Navy is hard to understand. If you were to superimpose a map of Afghanistan on the eastern United States, our carriers would be based off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, and the aircraft would be striking targets near Milwaukee. That capability, providing global reach to our Commander in Chief, gives the United States options and influence far in excess of any other nation. The capability to strike hard and deep requires a complicated ballet of personnel and equipment that is daunting, at best, from the many ships supplying and protecting the battle groups to teams maintaining the aircraft to the air crews of airborne control, tankers, electronic warfare support, fighter caps, and close air support. We have won another war from the air. I want to note the contribution of the sister services, especially the Air Force's heavy bombers, that dropped most of the strategic ordnance in this campaign. They made a vital contribution to this effort. But the key support was provided by tactical aircraft, close air support for our troops, provided overwhelmingly by the Navy. The tactical aircraft from the U.S. Air Force were very limited because, from Kuwait, 13 hours' flight from Afghanistan, gave permission for U.S. strikes from their soil. They had little flexibility arriving over their targets. This diplomatic limitation meant that naval aviation had to carry the vast load of the work in Afghanistan. I want to make special note of the Navy's electronic warfare aircraft and what they did. With that, let me just close by saying that we want to take this opportunity to thank the men and women of the following battle groups: the Enterprise, the Roosevelt, the Vinson, Kitty Hawk, Bataan, the Bonhomme, Richard, and the many men and women of the 15th and 26th MEUs. To the men and women of Enduring Freedom, we wish you a happy holiday and the thanks of a grateful Nation; and in the words of the Navy, we would say ``Bravo Zulu.''

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support for the Foreign Operations conference report, and I want to especially commend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) on his first bill, and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) for her work. While the foreign assistance program may not be the most popular, the events of September 11 underscore its importance. By supporting U.S. allies in a time of war against terror, we reduce U.S. casualties and shorten this conflict. Speaking as a member of the Committee on Armed Services, I would liken this program to its predecessor, the Land Lease Aid of World War II. Foreign assistance represents some of the most effective national defense dollars we provide, and also as a member of the Committee on the Budget, I will fight next year for function 150 funding to make this subcommittee's job easier. I want to highlight two keys aspects of this bill. First, after great delay, this bill provides the full measure of assistance to our allies in the Middle East, including Israel. If there is anytime to show tangible support to Israel, it is now. Democracies should stick together and this bill does that. I also want to commend the compromise to provide resources for family planning. The average Afghan woman has six children. Many young Afghans have few prospects and are tempted to extremism. This bill helps dry up the wells of discontent in central Asia, stabilizing new allies in the war on terror, both through the Agency for International Development, and especially through the UNFPA. I want to commend the committee and staff of the subcommittee and urge rapid adoption of this bill.