Mark Kirk

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, on October 7th of last year Hezbollah terrorists crossed the Israel-Lebanon border and perpetrated the cowardly kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers. In the last nine months Hezbollah has repeatedly refused to provide any information on the fate of these young men, leaving their families and friends in a state of torturous limbo. Last week it was revealed that the United Nations is in possession of a video tape that was made of the scene of this crime the day after it occurred. The Israeli government investigators believe that this tape may contain material evidence that will help them identify the terrorists who committed this act. U.N. peacekeepers should be expected to keep the peace. This includes assisting in the apprehension of those who violate international borders to commit war crimes. I have introduced a House Resolution that calls for the United Nations to immediately provide Israeli investigators with an unedited copy of the crime scene video tape and any other material evidence that would help bring these terrorists to justice and to end this nightmare for the families of Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad. I urge my colleagues to join me to show our strong support for the rule of law, for the sovereignty of our ally Israel, and for these men held in captivity by terrorists.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2131. I would like to particularly thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) for his strong leadership on this issue. He is one of our environmental leaders here in the Congress, and I salute him. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) for bringing this legislation to the floor and thank Tim Miller from the staff of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) for his work. Under President Bush's 1990 Enterprise for the Americas Initiative Act, the United States sponsored many debt-for-nature swap programs. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act, based on this idea, was first introduced by the gentleman from Ohio in 1997 with bipartisan support and was signed into law in 1998. As a congressional staffer, I had the honor to work on that legislation and help him achieve that goal. I am pleased to support this bill which continues in that tradition. Bangladesh is the first country which benefited from this program. Because Bangladesh has been able to restructure its debt, it was able to create a national forest fund of almost $9 million, which went to protecting the Mangrove Swap area, home to over 500 wild tigers. Currently, there are 11 nations on three continents interested in considering debt forgiveness under this program, including places like Belize and El Salvador. I think the United States has an important national interest in supporting the protection of the world's natural resources, including tropical forests. Tropical forests are home to half of all known plants and animals. We are losing an area equal to a football field a minute, and this must stop. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) is our leader on this issue and built on the work of the previous Bush and Clinton administrations. Later this year, the Congress will consider legislation building on this model to protect coral reefs. Coral reefs are home to most aquatic plants and animals. Many reefs are disappearing, and most of them are in developing countries. I salute the leaders on this issue, commend the gentleman for this legislation, and urge the House adoption of this bill.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, first I want to commend the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) for restoring funding for renewable energy in this bill. With regard to contamination of Lake Michigan, we have had the Rock Gobie, the Fish Hook Flea, alewife, nuclear waste and PCBs. Lake Michigan has had enough. We killed Lake Erie in the 1960s and nearly killed Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes are home to half of the world's supply of fresh water. It is one of our Nation's greatest environmental treasures. I strongly support the Bonior-LaTourette bipartisan amendment and am totally committed to Lake Michigan's environment and urge Members to support this worthy goal.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I applaud the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) and the committee for taking action to fight the growing gridlock that plagues northern Illinois. For the first time in 70 years, our country is building a new commuter rail line, Metra's North Central line; and once complete, this line will pull thousands of cars off of our crowded highways and will help us meet our obligations under the Clean Air Act. The bill also contains funding for a traffic control center in Libertyville, Illinois, the Pace Suburban Bus System that relieves the pressure for the reverse commuters and for runway construction at Palwaukee Airport that will rebuild a crumbling runway that is crucial to relieving congestion at nearby O'Hare. I want to thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) for their commitment to the quality of life and environment of northern Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I urge strong support for this bill.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on the immediate release of three Israeli soldiers and one Israeli citizen who have been held hostage by Hezbollah in Lebanon for the last eight months. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) for sponsoring this resolution and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for bringing it to the floor today. On October 7, 2000, Hezbollah terrorists crossed the Lebanese border into Israel, ambushed an IDF patrol unit, and abducted Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad. Only a week later, Elchanan Tannenbaum, an Israeli civilian, was abducted while on a business trip to Switzerland. Despite constant international pressure, Hezbollah has not yet shown any signs of releasing these four hostages. Hezbollah continues to deny any requests to meet with these four men. The kidnaping of these three soldiers and one citizen is yet another intolerable element of the ongoing struggle in the Middle East. Iran and Hezbollah's blatant violation of established international norms must be confronted. Syria, Lebanon, and Iran all voted in favor of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the United Nations General Assembly, yet Hezbollah has continued to deny the International Committee of the Red Cross access to these prisoners. Having worked against Hezbollah in Bosnia, I am aware of the danger they pose to Israelis and America abroad. We must take all necessary steps to ensure that, at the very least, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran call upon Hezbollah to allow representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit these Israeli hostages. For 261 days, these four men have been held captive. The families of these young men cannot continue to be tormented by the uncertainty of their loved ones' existence. Hezbollah has remained tight lipped on the condition of these men, and several Arabic language newspapers have reported that at least one of the soldiers had died in captivity. The United States must take a strong position against Hezbollah and call for these terrorists to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, Omar Souad, and Elchanan Tannenbaum. This resolution is a re-affirmation of our commitment to Israel and the values of democracy, justice, and human decency.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2272 the ``Coral Reef and Coastal Marine Conservation Act of 2001,'' to help developing countries reduce foreign debt and provide for the creation of comprehensive environmental preservation programs to protect endangered marine habitats around the world. I have been joined by thirteen of my colleagues who are committed to creatively addressing two problematic issues of foreign policy. The burden of foreign debt falls especially hard on the smallest of nations, such as island nations in the Carribean and Pacific. With few natural resources, these nations often resort to harvesting or otherwise exploiting coral reefs and other marine habitats to earn hard currency to service foreign debt. The Coral Reef and Coastal Marine Conservation Act of 2001 will essentially credit qualified developing nations for each dollar spent on a comprehensive reef preservation or management program designed to protect these unique ecosystems from degradation. This legislation will make available resources for environmental stewardship that would otherwise be of the lowest priority in a developing country. It will reduce debt by investing locally in programs that will strengthen indigenous economies by creating long- term management policies that will preserve the natural resources upon which local commerce is based. This concept has been successfully used by the United States to encourage environmental stewardship that would otherwise prove cost- prohibitive to developing countries. Resources are reinvested in local economic growth and our planet as a whole reaps the benefit. I urge my colleagues to join myself and my cosponsors in support of this legislation.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 164) and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the name of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) as a cosponsor of H.R. 1716.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time, without intervention of any point of order, to consider in the House Concurrent Resolution 145, condemning the recent order by the Taliban regime of Afghanistan to require Hindus in Afghanistan to wear symbols identifying them as Hindu; that the concurrent resolution be considered as read for amendment; that the concurrent resolution be debatable for 1 hour, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on International Relations; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution to final adoption without intervening motion.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, we must hold forecasters accountable for the accuracy of their projections. As we are asking for straight A performance out of our public schools, we must also ask that out of our budget forecasters. We want better and more efficient use of energy resources. As Secretary Rumsfeld is completing a comprehensive overall of our defense network, how can we expect anything less than continuous improvement from the way that we prepare the Federal budget? And we have a long way to go. Everyone I talk to in Washington assumes that budget forecasts we use are setting priorities that are wrong; that they can be way off the mark; that we never are able to estimate correctly what our financial status is. In 1997, the Congressional Budget Office estimated a $145 billion deficit for fiscal year 1998. We had a surplus of $69 billion. In 1999, CBO predicted a $107 billion surplus for fiscal year 2000, $129 billion below the actual $236 billion achieved. You can see it here on chart number one, where CBO estimates a $211 billion deficit, it was only $107. Then a $156 billion deficit, it was only 22. The biggest year they made a mistake was 1998; they forecast a $145 billion deficit. We ran a $69 billion surplus. And on and on the errors have gone. Mr. Speaker, this is no way to fill our elected mandate of keeping the economy strong. There is more at stake than the issue of whose numbers are right. Congress uses these estimates to make key decisions about tax policies that encourage economic growth, foster entrepreneurship, and reward individuals for seeking opportunities to work, learn and get ahead. Inaccurate forecasts end up crowding out uses of other Federal funds. If defense programs produce large cost overruns, then less money is left for new education projects. If the actual cost of Medicare part B programs often exceed preliminary estimates, it becomes harder to build support for new benefits such as a prescription drug benefit. Better forecasts should be a bipartisan initiative focused on the goal of making government more effective. Some errors of the past can be blamed on estimates that rely on status quo analysis, assuming that taxpayers will not change their actions in response to legislative changes that affect their pocketbook. Such a projection applies recent growth rates to baseline- year figures, assuming that current trends will continue indefinitely. Common sense tells us when you increase taxes on something, such as saving and investment, you get less of it. A change in tax policy influences the decisions that individuals make, thereby affecting revenues. The recent history of the capital gains tax policy shows the shortcomings of status quo analysis. In 1984, Congress passed the Deficit Reduction Act, which temporarily reduced the long-term capital gains holding period from 12 months to 6 months, making it easier for investors to qualify for preferential tax treatment. Investors reacted, and quickly. Capital gains realizations in 1985 were twice the amount in 1984. However, investor euphoria was short-lived. Congress repealed the capital gains deduction as part of the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Our budget experts prepared status quo estimates that anticipated large Federal revenue gains from a higher capital gains tax. Quite the contrary happened. Capital gains realizations tumbled in 1987. Budget estimators were confounded by the fact that taxpayers acted to avoid taxes. Chart 2 shows the reaction. We projected as we raised taxes, that we would actually raise revenue. We did not. We lost it when we raised the tax on capital gains. The status quo then changed once again when we used the estimates and when we reduced capital gains charts. The status quo predicted a dismal drop in revenue. In actuality, capital gains realizations increased steadily and substantially, contributing to the surpluses we have now enjoyed, as you can see from this chart, where the realizations for fiscal year 2000, we projected $329 billion and we have $643 billion. In order to make the best decisions, Congress needs real-world estimates that account for the interaction between Federal taxes and Federal programs and individuals' behavior. We have just passed one of the largest tax relief packages in U.S. history without the benefit of real-world analysis that effectively forecasts the turning points that we can use. Under the current House rules, the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means has the right to request real-world forecasts, and the Joint Committee on Taxation must provide them in a timely manner. This should be required, not optional, and should be used for all tax bills. The chairman of the Committee on Rules has introduced a capital gains tax reduction bill. Consider how a status quo analysis would misguide us on examining that legislation. Budget accuracy will be achieved with small steps, and we need it now. This is a job for innovators ready to meet the challenge of helping Congress spend taxpayers dollars wisely. As a start, we can improve budgeting accuracy by using projections that do not ignore changes in the behavior of individuals when taxes increase and decrease. next, we need to account for expenditure increases when the government establishes a program that ``pay for'' goods and services, thereby making them less expensive for individuals. The Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office are developing models that incorporate certain ``real world'' assumptions to measure behavioral changes; however, we are just at the beginning of this process. As we move forward, it will be important to check ``projected'' against ``actual'' results. By ``backcasting''--loading actual economic variables in models to determine how much the variability of particular assumptions affected the overall forecast--we can isolate the best of what we have and identify what areas of our forecast models need work. Third, we must give every federal agency the incentive to employ the assets they own to their highest and best uses. For example, the Defense Department owns major bands of Spectrum, but is unwilling to turn them over for commercial use; could this decision be based on the fact that it does not benefit from the sale of these assets? The next few years should be a time of testing new limits and learning from what does not work. In the end, our goal should be to ``leave no Congress behind.'' The accuracy of the projections we work with will influence the quality of our policy decisions. Each Congress deserves the best it can get--and so do the American people. The right decisions will stand behind economic growth that benefits us all.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this legislation. In 1976, a young man 16 years old took the family out for a sail off the coast of my district. After capsizing several times, his judgment became impaired, and he decided to swim for it. In the cold May waters, he had only about a half hour to live. Body temperature fell; he went through a classic near-death experience, and eventually passed out. Mr. Chairman, this young man woke up inside a Coast Guard vessel from the auxiliary station out of Wilmette, Illinois. He asked the guardsman if he was going to live or die, and the man said, I do not know. But thanks to the prompt rescue of the Coast Guard, that young man survived. Mr. Chairman, I am that young man. Every day of my life after my 16th year is a borrowed day given to me by virtue of the United States Coast Guard. It is a difficult thing to say for a Navy man, but the Coast Guard saved my life; and that is the essence of their mission here. The kind of life-saving that happens off of the coast of the 10th Congressional District of Illinois is critical because Lake Michigan, most months of the year, is lethal due to temperature. It is the kind of work carried out by Air Station Waukegan, now providing life-saving services via helicopter throughout the entire south Lake Michigan region. Mr. Chairman, I am incredibly supportive of the Coast Guard. I strongly support this legislation. But for the Coast Guard, I would not be here.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to mark the publication of God, Faith, and Health: Exploring the Spirituality-Healing Connection, by our own Dr. Jeff Levin, raised in Wilmette, Illinois, a graduate of New Trier High School. Dr. Levin is a pioneering scientist and author whose research beginning in the 1980s helped create the field of religion, spirituality, and health. In this groundbreaking new book, Dr. Levin--a National Institutes of Health funded social epidemiologist who has conducted much of the original research in this increasingly influential area of health and medicine--explores the latest compelling evidence of the connection between health and a wide array of spiritual beliefs and practices. These include attendance at religious services, faith in God, and worship, prayer, and meditation. With examples from spiritual traditions as diverse as Christianity, Judaism, and Yoga, he looks with an open mind and perceptive eye at the many ways that religious involvement and belief can prevent illness and promote health and well being. Drawing on his own and other published studies, Dr. Levin shows how religion's emphasis on healthy behaviors and supportive relationships influences our overall health and how the optimism and hopefulness of those who profess faith promote the body's healing responses. Levin studies other healing modes as non-contact therapeutic touch, distant prayer, and transcendent experiences and asks if other forces could be at work in many cases of healing. Sharing compelling evidence from recent research, he offers an exciting vision of a new era in modern medicine, one in which body, mind, and something else are brought together to promote health, prevent illness, and produce healing. Filled with the dramatic stories of people whose health has been affected by their faith, God, Faith, and Health will alter the way we think about our bodies and our faith, and shows us the path for improving our own health through spiritual practice. In January, President Bush signed executive orders establishing the White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives. In light of the Administration's emphasis on faith-based institutions, Dr. Levin's God, Faith, and Health is an especially timely contribution. It provides a scientifically grounded model for how religious faith can help serve to promote the health and well being of all Americans. According to Dr. James S. Gordon, Georgetown professor and Chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, ``Dr. Levin shows us--clearly, thoughtfully, comprehensively-- that belief does matter. Spiritual practice and religious observance are powerful medicine.'' I commend Dr. Levin for his groundbreaking contribution to science and medicine. The evidence presented in God, Faith, and Health promises to heal the divisive barriers that separate faith from medicine, and science from spirit.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to rise and recognize an important international company whose headquarters are located in my congressional district, Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Baxter is a global medical products and services company with a mission of delivering critical therapies for people with life-threatening conditions. Their products and services are used to treat patients with many conditions including cancer, trauma, hemophilia, immune deficiencies, infectious diseases, kidney disease and other disorders. Baxter was named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by ``Business Ethics'' magazine and just a few weeks ago received the Business Ethics Award from DePaul University for its special dedication and innovative approaches to integrating ethics into everyday business practices. Baxter has also received more than 250 awards from the government or outside organizations for its environmental, health and safety initiatives in the last ten years. I stand here today welcoming Baxter employees from my district and others who are arriving in Washington, DC today to share their experiences and personal stories. They will be meeting with me and other Members to inform and discuss with us the important work they are doing to assist individuals with life-threatening conditions. I look forward to their presence on Capitol Hill and I send out my sincere welcome.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, on June 5th of 1981, the first official report on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome was published. Twenty years later, the AIDS pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 20 million people worldwide. In my home state of Illinois alone, over 15,000 people have perished in the last twenty years. 36 million people worldwide are presently living with HIV/AIDS. Nearly 70% of those reside in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Zimbabwe, one out of every four adults has HIV. The HIV infection rate in Asia will out- pace that of Africa within the next decade. In Illinois, 35,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS. HIV infection is growing at an alarming rate among women and African Americans. The demographics of those infected with AIDS in Illinois mirrors that of our nation. There is hope. Twenty years ago, surviving the AIDS virus was impossible. Today, people in developed countries can manage living with HIV, while it is still a death sentence in the developing world. In 1986, I suggested to Congressman John Porter that the U.S. Congress start an International AIDS Control Program. He joined forces with Representative Bob Mrazek, and the program was born. Today, the United States is the leader in the fight against AIDS with so much more to do. Twenty years and we are finally fighting AIDS.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) for his diligent work this week in addressing the increasing problem of transportation congestion in our Nation. As a Member of Congress who represents a suburban district that has experienced a great deal of growth, I see the importance of a well- maintained and modern transportation system on a daily basis. The residents of the 10th Congressional District of Illinois consistently ranked transportation needs as one of the primary challenges facing our way of life. Our region is gripped by highway gridlock and exacerbated by continued outward expansion of residential and commercial properties. Mr. Speaker, our Nation's transportation infrastructure is critical to our social and economic vitality. We must continue to improve local commuter rail lines that will bring thousands of automobiles off congested roadways. It will also help us meet the mandates of the Clean Air Act; and, additionally, we need to invest in high-speed rail that will give an alternative to congested airports. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with the gentleman from Alaska on this matter and thank him for the commitment this week to fighting congestion.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) representing West Point. (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I agree with everything that the gentleman said, except that I think it should be called the Kirk, Larsen, Davis, Udall, Crowley, Hayworth, Kelly, Edwards and Hayes amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), chairman of the committee.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute. (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, to conclude on this amendment, I want to salute the bipartisan leadership on this. We have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans concerned. Under the Constitution, the number one mission of our government is national security; but I think education also comes as a top priority, and it is the education of military kids, Indian kids, and kids coming off of Federal property that is a key Federal responsibility. We have fallen behind, Mr. Chairman. We used to fully fund this program. We now only fund 46 percent. So by adopting this amendment, I think we can unscore the achievement and begin the consensus building that we need to fully fund the needs of military, Indian and other related kids for Impact Aid. Mr. Chairman, the children of military families are the most likely to be joining the military in the future. So for our country's own national defense, making sure that quality education is available on or near military, Indian reservations, and other Federal facilities is critical. I urge adoption of the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen), my Democratic colleague and partner in this effort.

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is about Impact Aid. If we are concerned about military pay, if we are concerned about military housing, if we are concerned about military health care, we also need to be concerned about the children of military personnel. That is why we support Impact Aid. The average school district in America, the $10 million school district, gets $9 million from local resources and only $1 million from the Federal Government. But what happens if we cannot tax that housing? In many military districts, Indian reservations, and other facilities, kids flood into the school districts, but we have no dollars attached. The Impact Aid program makes up the difference, but it has made up the difference in an inadequate way. From 1950 to 1969, the Federal Government fully funded the Impact Aid program, but now only 46 percent of the needs of military kids and other kids are met. This amendment is the start of a process where we will build consensus behind the Impact Aid program. For us, we make a statement today that the needs of military kids and other kids must be met by fully funding Federal Impact Aid. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 126, I was delayed due to flight problems. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. KIRK

Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I reluctantly rise today to urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Recent research shows that voluntary family planning reduces abortion. Two separate studies, one by the RAND Corporation in Bangladesh and one by Princeton demographers in Kazakhstan, show the same conclusion: Abortion rates fall when contraception is prevalent. Mr. Chairman, across the former Soviet Union, abortion was the principal method of birth control under Communism. Princeton University studied Kazakhstan through the 1990s, looking at the effect of increased access to voluntary family planning. The results are clear. Contraceptive prevalence increased by 50 percent since the beginning of the 1990s, while abortion decreased by the same amount. ``The proposition that the occurrence of abortions can be reduced by increases in the use of contraception has been demonstrated again in the analysis of data from the 1999 Kazakhstan Demographic and Health Survey,'' said Charlie Westoff, Princeton University's demographer. This amendment will not reduce abortion but the real way to reduce abortion is to increase voluntary family planning.