Nick Lampson

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Frances Marie Quinn, who recently left us. Like many women of her generation, she began her family during World War II. While her husband, Coridon John Quinn II served his Nation across the world as a pilot, Frances gave birth to her first child. The Quinns had eight children and two of their sons carried on the family tradition of military service. That proud family tradition is now carried on by two of Frances' grandchildren. After a full life marked by a strong family and care for her community, Frances passed away at the age of 76. Her family and friends will miss her greatly.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, just as an example, this is the envelope we are using with Bianca's picture on it, Bianca Lozano, and I thank the gentleman for his commitment that he also makes to this major catastrophe that is facing our country, and I look forward to working with the gentleman on it.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Dan ``Stormy'' Johnson who is currently serving as president of the American Medical Association. Dr. Johnson is only the fourth native Texan to hold this national position, and the first from my district. He is being honored tomorrow night at a recognition dinner in Port Arthur, TX. Dr. Johnson was born in Port Arthur and received his M.D. degree from the University of Texas at Galveston. He has been active in organized medicine for many years, and prior to his service as president of the AMA, Dr. Johnson served both as speaker and vice speaker of the AMA House of Delegates. It is a true honor to have such an outstanding individual and medical leader come from Port Arthur, TX, in my district. Dr. Johnson's commitment to the medical field is legendary and his pursuits within this profession leave him worthy of our recognition. He was cofounder and president of the American Society of Head and Neck Radiology and he is also a past president and past chair of the board of the New Orleans Radiology Society. Dr. Johnson has also served in his community for many years on the boards of the Louisiana State Museum and its support group, the Friends of the Cabildo. He has lectured extensively throughout the United States on many issues of health care reform, most notably on financing the delivery of health care. Some of Dr. Johnson's ideas to improve the cost effectiveness of our health care system include using the concepts of pluralism and patient choice. These innovative ideas have helped in the debate on the importance of health care reform. I applaud Dr. Johnson for his dedication to the medical profession and I send him my sincere congratulations for his achievements within this field. I look forward to attending the recognition dinner in his honor so that I may personally be able to congratulate Dr. Johnson on his special day.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, my home State of Texas and sadly, all of America, is suffering from a rash of child abductions. In the Ninth District community of Friendswood, the Smither family buried their 12- year-old daughter, Laura, last month. In Killeen, TX, the Thompson family buried 7-year-old DaNydia. Each of these little girls were abducted by strangers and murdered. We must do a better job of protecting our children, sometimes even from their parents. Three-year old Bianca Isabella Lozano was abducted April 7, 1996, from Baytown, TX, another town in my district. Authorities believed she was kidnapped by her own father. Her mother and her family do not have any idea if she is OK or not. I have printed her picture and vital statistics on my office envelopes in hopes that someone has seen her and can point the authorities in the right direction. We have formed the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus to do what we can to help families like Bianca's. I urge my colleagues to join.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, when the majority party was in the minority, they did complain about the size of government. Now they seek an outrageous increase in the dollars spent on their own personal political fiefdoms. It begs the question of whether the majority's supposed concern about the size of government was a core belief or just political rhetoric, particularly after a promised freeze. Actions speak louder than words. I know there are uses for those dollars that can benefit working families. I find it difficult to believe that the committees need such an increase in staff. The majority's meager agenda so far in this Congress certainly does not warrant it, and I will vote against House Resolution 129.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, for the sake of our future, I rise today to support full funding for the International Space Station. I represent the Johnson Space Center and the thousands of men and women whose livelihoods depend upon this project and our commitment to space exploration and research. I am proud to represent them, but I do not want my support for the space station to be viewed as pork-barrel politics, helping only the ninth district of Texas. In fact, we must all support the space station for our future. I stand before you today to voice this support for the station because of what America learned about its future in 1969. At that time I was teaching physical science at South Park High School in Beaumont, TX, and I saw firsthand how our progress in space culminating in the lunar landing encouraged and inspired students. The prospect of a fully functioning international space station will rekindle our enthusiasm for space and science and lead us to greater discoveries than we can even comprehend today. I have with me some of the 7,000 letters that were written by science and math teachers from all across America voicing their support for the space station. They know the space station is crucial to the future of science and technology in this Nation. I am proud to speak today on their behalf. We have an obligation to the future of this Nation and to that of humanity to use our resources to discover and interpret the scientific advancements that can be made through research in space. As the 19th century philosopher and mathematician W.K. Clifford said: You cannot fail to see that scientific thought is not an accompaniment or a condition of human progress, but human progress itself. Scientists performing research in zero gravity have been able to make tremendous breakthroughs. Their work has already provided new information about the makeup of diseases such as cancer, emphysema, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, viral hepatitis, and influenza. We have all been affected by these illnesses, and we want to utilize every possible resource to find a cure or a successful treatment. Despite what its detractors say, the international space station is not an amusement park for scientists. It has real world, real life implications for people on this planet. I recognize the need to balance our budget, but the 2.2 cents per day that it will cost each American to fund our portion of the international space station is an investment in healthier, longer lives and new high-technology industries. An important issue at this point in time is the participation of the Russians in the international space station. We all regret their inability to deliver on their promises. But let us not forget, though, that the Russians were in space before we were and they have expertise that will benefit the space station. While Russia endures difficulty in its political and economic transformation, the international space station keeps the Russian scientific community constructively engaged. This project will help solidify relations between the United States and Russia and all the participating nations. The Russian historian Zhores Medvedev described how scientific progress improves relationships between nations in 1970. He wrote: As science progresses, the worldwide cooperation of scientists and technologists becomes more and more of a special friendship, in which, in place of antagonism, there is a growing up, a mutually advantageous sharing of work, a coordination of efforts and a common language for the exchange of information, and a solidarity, which are in many cases independent of the social and political differences of individual States. Space is not the domain of any nation. Those of us who have the ability to go into space are still obliged to share its wonders with the world. In 1969, I watched wide eyed as the future of humanity was instantly and forever changed. I was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what man had been able to accomplish. The promise of space still lies before us. Through the space station we can translate a little more of that promise into better lives for us here on Earth. With 160,000 pounds of flight hardware already constructed, two-thirds of the international development funds already spent and with a launch scheduled, why would we stop now? We cannot.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I would like to say good afternoon, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon to my colleagues assembled here today. At this very moment I am supposed to be addressing a group of eighth graders in my district and after last night's debate and subsequent floor maneuvering, I cannot help but wonder if they would be a more mature audience. I returned from the retreat in Hershey optimistic that the rhetoric of bipartisanship would become a reality. Well, this afternoon I ascribe that optimism to my naivete as a freshman Member of the House. The majority is determined to spend an exorbitant amount of money through the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight to investigate alleged fund-raising improprieties by the White House last year. My question, Mr. Speaker, is, Why do we not investigate alleged improprieties that occurred in campaigns in this body? In late October 1996, vicious television advertisements attacking me personally were purchased by a group calling itself Citizens for the Republican Education Fund. Similar ads appeared in the final days of my December runoff election as well. This group, along with Citizens for Reform and Coalition for Our Children's Future, purchased advertisements attacking Democratic congressional candidates across this land. These front groups were used to dump anonymous, unregulated money into these races on behalf of Republican candidates. On the board of directors of Citizens for the Republican Education Fund is former Reagan White House aide Lyn Nofziger, a man indicted and convicted of influence peddling. We all know that too much money was spent on campaign 1996. It is ridiculous that I personally raised and spent $1.6 million to win my election. If we are going to spend millions of taxpayer dollars investigating campaign finance improprieties, then let us investigate everyone. Let us be comprehensive. Let us be bipartisan, and let us bring campaign finance reform to the floor of this House.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, bravery and valor are qualities we do not hear much about anymore. Recently though, Galveston County, TX, was the site for two notable displays of those qualities, and their heroes deserve our praise. Mr. Speaker, my sister is a quadriplegic. I cannot think of anything more frightening than her being caught in a fire. That is the tragedy that befell a man in Santa Fe, TX, last week. As he slept, his home caught fire. Officers were dispatched to the scene. When Sgt. Lee Stephenson and Officers Carl Nunn and David Thomas arrived, they were told by neighbors that the occupant was wheelchair-bound. Unable to get through either door due to the flames and smoke, the officers broke through a bedroom window, located the man and carried him to safety. Every day, men and women who have devoted their lives to protecting our communities put themselves at risk. We should honor them every day, and I am pleased to tell their story. Before this U.S. House of Representatives, I recognize and I salute the bravery and valor displayed by Santa Fe police officers Lee Stephenson, Carl Nunn, and David Thomas. I also wish to recognize the efforts of the Santa Fe Volunteer Fire Department for their hard work and dedicated public service. An even scarier situation emerged last month in Galveston County when a man driving with his two toddler daughters in the car had a seizure while approaching the Galveston Bay Causeway on Interstate 45. The car flew off the highway and fell 15 feet into the water, landing fortunately at a shallow point. Five young people were following a few hundred yards behind. They saw the tragedy unfold, pulled over and rushed into the water to help. They pulled the two little girls and their father to safety so they could receive medical attention. Before this House of Representatives, I recognize and I salute the bravery and valor displayed by Mark Kneip of Texas City, TX, and Shawn Cook, Katherine Holmes, Paul Holmes, and Evelyn Urban, all of Dickinson, TX. I am understandably proud to come before this body and tell the American people these stories of heroism from my district. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues and the charitable interests who organized last weekend's bipartisan retreat. As a new Member of this body, I appreciated the opportunity to discuss the operation of the people's House without regard to party affiliation or seniority. I and most of my freshmen colleagues recognize that we were elected in part as a response to the marked partisanship of the previous Congress. This weekend was a giant leap forward toward a more collegial and, therefore, more productive House of Representatives.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, as a freshman Member of this House, I have heard a lot of stories about the frenetic pace of the opening of the previous Congress. I heard of votes being taken late at night and working weekends. Now that I am here, elected by the people of the Ninth District of Texas, I cannot help but wonder what happened. Is this what the majority means when they talk about wanting less Government? Mr. Speaker, if this is the session when we are going to agree to do a balanced budget plan, we need to see activity from the other side of the aisle. They have criticized the President's plan. They have even called on the President to submit a second budget plan before submitting their own first budget on the most important issue this Congress will debate. I and many of my freshman colleagues are still waiting to see the evidence of the bipartisanship that we have heard so much about. I join the Democratic leadership today in asking the majority party to join the budget process by presenting their plan. There are only 13 legislative days left until the April 15 budget deadline.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, as a father and also a Member of this body, I rise to add my voice to those leaders of my party who yesterday called upon the majority to work in this session toward expanding health insurance for American children. When we know that 10 million American children have no health coverage, I wonder why the majority leadership of this body needs to be asked to make this pressing need for American families a priority. Mr. Speaker, our economy is changing and unfortunately too many new jobs do not offer health insurance for workers' families and workers' children. Ninety percent of these uninsured children's parents work. I was proud to participate in the introduction of the families first agenda last year when I was a candidate for this office. That agenda addresses the real needs of our families and if made into law would make health coverage available to those families. Those are the priorities of the people of the Ninth District of Texas and that they elected me to fight for. It may not be popular inside the beltway but if we want to rebuild the trust of the American people in this institution, those are the priorities both parties should share.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I noted Mr. Coburn's apology to the public for comments made earlier. While noting the misplaced outrage of other Members of this body, I want to express my admiration and thanks to NBC and to Ford for airing ``Schindler's List'' this weekend. I would like to thank the film maker Stephen Spielberg not only for his brilliant film but also for his recommendation broadcast before the film began Sunday evening that the film may not be suitable for young people, young children. I watched ``Schindler's List'' with my daughter and found it as moving a film as I have ever seen, and any allegation that any aspect of this story is gratuitous or improper would be laughable if it were not so sad. And the comments, the words, of Mr. Coburn, the airing of the film should outrage decent-minded individuals everywhere, should be taken note of. Our own great Nation is still plagued by hate crimes 221 years after being founded as a nation of freedom and equality. We watch with horror as churches and synagogues are burned and cemeteries are desecrated in our communities, and the best way to fight hatred and intolerance is with the truth about the most egregious crime against humanity in modern history, the Holocaust.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, while noting the misplaced outrage of other Members of this body, I would like to express my admiration and thanks to NBC and to Ford for airing ``Schindler's List'' this weekend. I would like to thank the filmmaker, Steven Spielberg, not only for his brilliant film but also for his recommendation, broadcast before the film began Sunday evening, that the film may not be suitable for young children. Perhaps my colleague from Oklahoma was still at the refrigerator at that time. I watched ``Schindler's List'' alongside my daughter and found it as moving a film as I have ever seen. Any allegation that any aspect of this story is gratuitous or improper would be laughable if it were not so sad. Our own great Nation is still plagued by hate crimes 221 years after being founded as a nation of freedom and equality. We watch with horror as churches and synagogues are burned and cemeteries are desecrated in our communities. Mr. Speaker, the best way to fight hatred and intolerance is with truth about the most egregious crime against humanity in modern history, the Holocaust.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I stand before the House for the first time today, and I must admit I feel much like I did the first time that I stood before a classroom full of students at Forest Park High School in Beaumont, TX: A little nervous and awed by the responsibility. I recently received a letter from a grandmother in Port Arthur, TX. Her 18-year-old grandson is making good grades and wants to graduate from high school, but he is being harassed by a gang. In fact, this young man has been shot at recently. His grandmother tells me that the gang members continue to follow him and continue to threaten his life. Last night the President was absolutely correct when he recognized that we cannot expect our kids to learn when they are not safe. To me, school yards become the domain of gangs when the bell rings at the end of the day. We have seen the epidemic of violent, juvenile crime spread from the poorest inner cities to middle class suburbs and small towns. Mr. Speaker, I hope this Congress will join the President in his promise to crack down on gangs. Too many defenseless families are counting on us.