Nick Lampson

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I am here again. That means that Ludwig Koons is still in captivity in Rome, Italy. A 9-year-old boy, abducted by his pornographer mother, lives in a compound where there is prostitution. We cannot get the United States Government to help us, nor can we have get the Italian Government to help us. Psychologists in both countries have said the child needs to be removed from the situation that he is living in. Where are our consciences? Why cannot we make something happen with this case? I need Members to be as absolutely outraged as I am. Please do something to help this child, a 9-year-old United States citizen. Yes, he is living with a parent. That parent does not have custody. She is in the business of doing erotic sex shows around the world. She has a pornographic Web site. Psychologists have said the child is in danger if he continues to stay there, and his father has spent millions of dollars trying to get the child back home to the United States, unquestionably away from the circumstances in which he is living. We need help. My colleagues, please respond and bring Ludwig Koons home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Madam Speaker, I stand here today in utter shock and disbelief and absolute anger. For 2 years, I have been telling stories about missing children. For 2 years, I have been talking about internationally abducted children. For 2 years, I have been working with Jeff Koons and his attorneys to help bring his son Ludwig home from Italy. For 2 years, I have not seen progress. No change in Italy, and no response from our own government. I cannot express today the outrage that I feel right now about our Justice Department, our State Department, and the government and judicial systems of Italy. Since 1984, for 8 years, Jeff Koons has been trying to get his son back, a son who he has legal custody of, who has been abused and neglected and forced to live in a pornographic compound in Rome, Italy, by his mother. On March 4 of 2002, this year, the Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed Ilona Staller's conviction for kidnapping Ludwig from his habitual residence in New York. This means Ilona Staller is a convicted kidnapper; yet Italy is still letting her retain Ludwig. Yesterday, the Minors' Tribunal in Italy held a so-called hearing on the emergency order to keep Ms. Staller from taking Ludwig to another country, Hungary. And it is a so-called hearing because this hearing was nothing more than a dog and pony show. Ms. Staller was questioned for 15 minutes about her lawbreaking, about her intention to once again take Ludwig to another country. The judge questioned Ludwig, a scared, manipulated and abused 9-year-old little boy, about his wishes, alone, in the judge's chambers, with no witnesses, with no attorneys, with no video. And then the judge comes back in and says he is fine with his life as is. The best psychologists in both countries, Italy and the United States, and doctors, say that Ludwig is on the brink of no return. Unless he is removed now, there is no telling what damage might be done to him physically and mentally. Yet these experts, the top Italian experts, were not allowed to testify at this so-called hearing. In the end, the emergency request was denied and Mr. Koons was given 30 days to go prepare briefs and another 20 days to respond. Another 2 months of delay. It is contrary to all applicable principles of public international law and procedure to preclude an American citizen minor, who was kidnapped from his habitual residence, any access to his country of birth, even the temporary visits with his father and paternal family in their country of residence. Ludwig, who is now approaching adolescence, finds himself in a dire situation that places him in imminent danger of grave and irreparable damage. His critical condition is directly related to his mother's continued abuse and neglect of the minor over the years, combined with her willful and systematic breach of Mr. Koons's visitation rights. I stand here tonight because I am concerned that Mr. Koons may be subjected to further discrimination and inequitable treatment by the Italian judiciary in these impending proceedings. I stand here a part of the United States Government, and I have to say that I am ashamed. Where are our priorities? Where are our values? I sit and listen to the politicians sound off about family values in this Chamber every day; yet every day our government lets this little boy remain captive against his will. Where is our State Department? Where is our Justice Department advocating for U.S. citizens? Ludwig Koons is a U.S. citizen. We saw Blackhawk helicopters recently go in to rescue missionaries in Afghanistan, people who had been there of their own will. Yet our government will not send a letter or make a phone call demanding that this kid be sent back to our country. Do we only go to bat for citizens being held by those who are not our allies? Should we not go to bat for everyone? Eight years ago, Jeff Koons put his faith in the law. He put his faith in the United States of America. We have not returned that faith. I am asking my colleagues if they will please take the time to ask every constituent of theirs in this country, and that they do the same, and write the President of the United States, write the Attorney General of this country, write the Secretary of State of this country and plead for the return of this child to the United States of America now. Bring our children home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we left off with the abduction of Ludwig Koons. On June 9, 1994, against a New York court order, Ilona Staller abducted Ludwig to Italy. A bench warrant was issued in New York. Ms. Staller kept Ludwig in hiding for over a month, and Jeff Koons had no contact with his son. He did not know where he was, if he was safe, nothing. Due to the abduction and other circumstances, Mr. Koons was awarded temporary custody of Ludwig pending a final decision by the New York Supreme Court. In the fall of 1994, the Italian authorities charged Ms. Staller with parental kidnapping pending before the Pretura Penale di Roma. However, the Italian Government stalled and stalled. Proceedings on the charge were delayed for 2 years. In December of 1994, custody was awarded to Jeff Koons by the Supreme Court of New York. The court entered a final judgment dissolving the marriage and blaming Ms. Staller for the breakdown of the marriage, and deeming Jeff the most fit parent. Mr. Speaker, Jeff Koons was awarded custody of Ludwig by the Supreme Court of New York, yet Italy refuses to acknowledge this. Where is our State Department? Does anyone care? Bring Ludwig Koons and all American children home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I continue today with my story of Ludwig Koons. Last week, we left off with Jeff Koons finding his son abandoned by his mother and left in a dangerous and pornographic environment. Mr. Koons took Ludwig from this environment and returned with him to New York City where he immediately initiated divorce and custody proceedings in the Supreme Court of New York. His ex-wife filed an appearance through counsel, and the parties agreed on joint custody of Ludwig. The agreement prohibited either party from removing the child from New York until a final ruling on the divorce. Both parties agreed to be accompanied by a bodyguard outside the home to ensure that Ludwig remain in New York City. The Supreme Court of New York ordered ratification of the parties' agreement, ruling that the parties were prohibited from removing Ludwig from the jurisdiction until further court order. Well, Mr. Speaker, Ilona Staller ignored that court order and on June 9, 1994 abducted Ludwig to Italy. Neither the United States Government nor the Italian Government is working to help solve this problem. Mr. Speaker, join me in helping bring Ludwig Koons and all American children home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise again today to talk about Ludwig Koons. Ludwig is still being held illegally by his mother in Italy. He was born in New York City in 1992. When he was a year old, his mother, Ilona Staller, took him to Rome. After promising a quick return, Ilona delayed her return to the United States after Mr. Koons had purchased tickets for his family to return to New York. But in December of 1993 he learned that Ilona had left their son with unknown third parties and traveled to Ecuador to participate in an erotic pornographic show. Mr. Koons quickly went to Rome to find his son. He found Ludwig confused, disoriented and abandoned by his mother, left in the care of a foreigner who spoke neither Italian nor English. Ludwig's housing environment was filled with pornography and was physically dangerous due to construction materials left strewn about. Neither the Italian nor the United States governments are helping to correct this situation. Mr. Speaker, we would not want our own children in this kind of an environment. We should not want it for any American child. It is time to bring our children home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2002 Men and Women of Heart Gala honorees. The honorees have dedicated themselves to their communities and to service. I am proud to represent them here in Washington. The recipients are: Anita Fogtman, Colin Fox, Norman Frede, Kathleen Harlan, Bette Johnson, Bill Lowes, Victor Maria, Floyd H. Myers, Charlotte Tetter, and Paula Orcutt Thomas. These citizens were presented this award for their committed and caring service to their fellow Texans, and have helped make their communities better places for all.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the sailing teams from Texas A&M at Galveston, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas for their heroism. I am amazed at the selflessness that these young people displayed. On Saturday, February 23, 2002, Texas A&M University at Galveston was hosting a sailing team-racing regatta. As the sailboats were maneuvering for the start of the race, a mini van carrying a total of six people drove at high speed off a dead-end road and flew approximately 80 feet out over the water and sank. The van landed within 30 feet of the starting line. Participants from the regatta yelled to shore for someone to call 911 and then swam in the 60-degree water to the van and made repeated dives in an effort to rescue the people trapped inside. The rescuers called for rocks from the shore to smash the windows open and other students began swimming the rocks out to the site. An anchor from the regatta motorboat was also used to smash the windows. Over a period of ten minutes while the van was submerged the participants successfully rescued the five unconscious occupants, brought them to shore and administered first aid/CPR. The students rescued two adult women and three children, four years old, six years old and seven months old. The driver of the van, who purposely drove the van into the water and escaped on his own, is incarcerated and faces attempted capital murder charges. Mr. Speaker, these students, many of whom were injured themselves from broken glass, showed astonishing courage. Today, I would like to recognize them on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. These brave sailors are: Coach Gerard Coleman, Brence Bedwell, Jenipher Cate, Megan Chrostowski, Kelly Cunningham, Capt. Jeffrey Daigle, Kelly Gallop, Kevin Gunn, James Loynes, Chris Noll, Robin Roger, Joseph Richardson, Bill Self, Julie Svaton, Danna Svejkosky, Lloyd Towns, Judkey Reed, Mr. Shannon Galway, Capt. Jake Scott, Jennifer Doreck, John Gross, Spencer Ogden, Mike Curtin, Sarah Lakhani, Varun Idnani, Jennifer Curtin, and Scott Marsden. On behalf of the city of Galveston, I would like to express my thanks to these courageous sailors who showed no regard for their own safety when it came to rescuing the people trapped inside that van. They make me proud to be a Texan. God bless.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Congressional Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children to express my condolences to the family and the friends of Danielle van Dam. As an activist on the issue of missing kids, far too often I have seen parents who have had to deal with this tragedy. I have seen communities mobilized to search for a child who has not come home from school or disappeared from home. We must continue to work hard to educate and protect America's children from exploitation. I urge all Members to go back to their offices and log onto www.missingkids.org and find out how we can talk to our children and what we can do to help in our communities. Our efforts to prevent crimes against children have not kept pace with the increasing vulnerability of our young citizens. Please contact my office if Members are not already a member of the Congressional Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children. Our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews are counting on Members to give them a voice in Washington, as are people like Ludwig Koons, who is being kept illegally in Italy with little or no help from the Italian Government or the United States State Department. We must bring our children home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, today I will stray from the story of Ludwig Koons to respond to a letter from the German embassy that was published in the Washington Post. I am delighted to hear the German government agrees that abducted children deserve swift and fair decisions and it is committed to ensure that this happens. For most parents who have been separated from their children for years, this will certainly be an enormous relief. I completely agree that abducted children deserve more than rhetoric, which is what most left-behind parents have had to contend with. Hopefully, the German authorities will keep their word and take some positive action to ensure that left-behind parents gain access to their children. Nobody implies that courts in the United States are perfect, but this does not absolve the German authorities of their responsibilities to allow non-German parents to see their children. As the German embassy rightly pointed out, Germany is not the only country that has a poor record in returning abducted or illegally retained children to their country of origin. Most left-behind parents are left without any enforceable access rights. This cannot be allowed to continue. We must bring Ludwig Koons and all of our children home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in great sadness to honor Richard Leonard Dixon, who passed away yesterday, February 25, 2002. Richard Dixon was a remarkable man who was committed to his community, his country, and above all, his family. He is survived by his wife, Geneva Farris Dixon and his son, Jeff Dixon. Richard was concerned about southeast Texas and the people who lived there. He was a long time civic and community leader. His impact on the community could be felt everywhere, he was a positive force in southeast Texas. Richard Dixon attended Lon Morris Jr. College, Wharton Jr. College, graduating from Sam Houston University. A member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, he began his career with the Brazosport Facts, was former State Editor for the Beaumont Enterprise, Assistant Director of Public Information at Lamar University, and finally a member of my staff. Richard was active in community and church affairs in Beaumont and in Nederland. He was of the utmost character, and his attributes of selflessness and commitment to others are rare gifts that his community was lucky to have. Richard Dixon was a man who served his community with great pride and devotion. His work was part of the fiber of southeast Texas, and with his passing a great loss will be felt in the spirit and the heart of our community. Richard was a long time friend with a sharp sense of humor and an unbridled spirit. Today, as a Congressman I have lost a trusted member of my staff, but as a person, I have lost a friend.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and recognize an American hero, Lucian Adams, who risked his life for his country and went far beyond the call of duty. It is my honor to salute this valiant man in his heroic efforts and his exceptional community service in the 9th Congressional District of Texas. On April 23, 1945, President Harry Truman awarded Mr. Lucian Adams with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Mr. Adams is the recipient of this prestigious award for his brave actions during World War II. He is also the recipient of a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Mr. Adams served as a Staff Sergeant in the 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, under the United States Army. On October 28, 1944, Sergeant Adams was responsible for saving the lives of his company near St. Die, France. On that fateful day, Adams and his company were stopped by the enemy while trying to drive through the Mortagne Forest to reopen the supply line to the isolated 3rd Battalion. Sergeant Adams encountered the concentrated fire of machine guns in a lone attack on a force of the German troops. Despite intense machine gun fire which the enemy directed at him and rifle grenades which struck the trees over head engulfing him with twigs and branches, Sergeant Adams made his way to within 10 yards of the closest machine gun and killed the gunner with a hand grenade. This and other actions allowed Sergeant Adams to personally kill nine soldiers, eliminate three enemy machine guns, dismantle a specialized force which was armed with heavy artillery, and clear the wood of hostile opponents. The course of actions that were taken by Sergeant Adams would seem to be a scene directly from a movie however, all of these courses took place in a time of unsettling war. Throughout the years, Mr. Adams has exhibited an unyielding commitment to his community and city at large. In 1986, the city of Port Arthur changed the 61st Street to Staff Sgt. Lucian Adams at the request of the Port Arthur Mexican Heritage Society. For his efforts in reaching out to the youth of Port Arthur, a scholarship fund has been set up in his name. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Adams' life is rich with countless examples of self- sacrifice and extraordinary accomplishment in service to our great Nation. His contributions to Southeast Texas are immeasurable. He has dedicated his life to the United States Army and this country and I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Mr. Lucien Adams in serving our great nation for over 50 years. Congratulations, Mr. Adams on a job well done. God bless you, and God bless America.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, as of today, Jeff Koons, a custodial parent in New York, has not spoken with his son Ludwig for 2 months. Jeff and Ludwig were supposed to spend the holidays together in Rome. Jeff went to Rome, but was denied access to his son by the noncustodial mother, Ilona Staller. He was not even allowed to talk with him on the phone. Nothing is being done. Ms. Staller is clearly in violation of all agreements and court orders. Ludwig is in great danger, as he is being raised in a pornographic compound in Rome, Italy. Yet there is no authority enforcing Mr. Koons' and Ludwig's rights. It is absolutely critical that Jeff, at the very least, be allowed contact with his son. It is critical to Ludwig's welfare. Mr. Speaker, this body, the administration, the State Department, and the Justice Department must do something now. These children must be returned to our home, the United States of America. Ludwig Koons can wait no longer. Bring our children home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, every day for a year I spoke out on international child abduction. Today I will focus on one case, that of Ludwig Koons, who is being illegally kept in Rome, Italy. Until Ludwig is returned to the United States, I will speak with outrage at the injustice that is being done to this family, an example of what thousands of American parents and their children face every day. Ludwig Koons was born in New York and was abducted from the family residence to Rome by his mother, Ilona Staller. Mr. Koons was awarded custody in the United States, but the Italian courts have refused to accept any American jurisdiction. The father has been deemed the fit parent by the courts, and U.S. and Italian psychologists have stated that Ludwig is in grave danger and must be returned to Mr. Koons. Yet he remains captive in Italy, being held by the Italian Government and by his mother, a porn star living in a pornographic compound. Mr. Speaker, every day Members of this body and administration speak out on family values. I can think of no better way to demonstrate our commitment to family values than to return Ludwig Koons to his father now. Mr. Speaker, we must bring our children home.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in great sadness to honor Donald Glover, who passed away yesterday, December 11th. Donald Glover was a remarkable man who was committed to his community, his country, and above all, his family. Donald was concerned about Southeast Texas and the people who lived there. He was a long time civic and community leader. He followed me as the Chair of the Jefferson County Democrats and helped thousands of citizens register to vote. Always a man who believed in equality and justice, he fought hard for working men and women, for senior citizens and for children. His impact on the community could be felt everywhere, he was a positive force in Southeast Texas. Donald and his wife Helen were a team like Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird. Their ``matching AMC pacers'' became a sign at any political or community event that the Glovers had arrived and it would not be ``business as usual.'' He was of the utmost character, and his attributes of selflessness and commitment to others are rare gifts that this nation was lucky to have. Donald Glover was a man who served his community with great pride and devotion. He often thought outside the box to make sure that everyone got a fair shake in life. His work was part of the fiber of Southeast Texas, and with his passing a great loss will be felt in the spirit and the heart of our community. Today, as an American we lost a great activist, but as a Congressman I have lost a friend.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, the tragedies that befell our country on September 11th claimed many lives and caused our Nation great pain. These tragedies have given us a strong reminder and renewed our understanding of what extraordinary work our public safety professionals do on a daily basis. These men and women symbolize bravery and courage, two of the founding pillars that laid the framework for our great Nation. As they proved on September 11th, our public service professionals are a lifeline to those whose lives are in danger. They are the brave souls who risk life and limb to save our own, and for that we are eternally grateful. They are the rock we lean on when it seems like things are caving in. They are quite simply heroes. In keeping with honoring those who symbolize bravery and courage, I rise to recognize the public safety professionals from across the 9th Congressional District of Texas. Their professionalism, dedication and strong work ethic make me extremely proud to call myself a Southeast Texan. Words cannot express the gratitude that 1, along with my fellow Texans, share for the work that our uniformed officers do. And as I rise to recognize our public safety individuals, we must never lose sight of how critical they are, not only in times of need, but in our everyday lives, Let us today reaffirm our support and commitment to all of the Nation's law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and all other uniformed professionals as they selflessly serve their communities.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time, and for the significant work she does and her statements regarding the children. There is, indeed, much work that remains to be done. It goes obviously to the heart of people like this family that is exhibited in the picture that the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) has been talking about and many, many others who lost loved ones, families broken apart. Those are hurts and pains that will take literally forever to heal, and probably never to be able to be put back together. There are things that we can be doing in the House of Representatives and in the Congress of the United States to put into place and make a difference in people's lives. Mr. Speaker, one of those other areas of unfinished business happens to be airport security. It is unbelievable to me that we continue to have a debate at this late date. The attack occurred on September 11. The gentlewoman joined me and others of our colleagues only 5 days after September 11 with a specific plan that we discussed at one of the major airports in Houston, Texas, and that we discussed at other airports in southeast Texas. We came back here, and there was a proposal made in the House of Representatives. The Senate took it up soon after that, passed a measure unanimously that we could not pass in the House of Representatives. It seems that our desire and America's desire for us to be considerate of all the needs of all of the people and considerate of our political differences set partisanship aside; and on so many things we have done that. But in too many areas we have broken down in our ability to work together. I have big concerns about where we are and why we are not able to move this forward. We would not dream of contracting out the protection that our police provide or the protections that our military provides. Why are we having a debate today on whether or not this body would attempt to contract out airport security? That is, finally, we hope, going to be debated in a conference as soon as the Senate, I think they are preparing to name their conferees, as we did yesterday. Airport security forces have to be reliable, standardized and verifiable. There should be no compromise on this. We should speak to the will of the people of this country, 82 percent of whom have told us what needs to be done. That is in the Senate's legislation that will be discussed between our two Houses, hopefully within the next few working days. We should not continue to even think about rewarding the private companies who have a proven track record of egregious violations. The example about the man carrying knives, Mace, and a stun gun that slipped past the screeners, well, slipping past people is not acceptable any longer. If we are going to affect the lives of the family that the gentlewoman is talking about, and every family happens to be dealing with the safety of travel within this country, our ability to move about the country and promote economic security and development throughout this country relies on safe transportation; and that means in the air just as it does on the ground. We must move this legislation through the conference committee, and do so quickly and effectively. Speak to the will of the people of this country and put into place so that the national defense and security, which are the charges of the Federal Government, will indeed work to keep our skies safe, and it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to make it happen. It is plain and simple common sense. I hope that everyone in this country and certainly everybody in this room tonight asks themselves, who do you want protecting you and your family, a Federal security force or the lowest bidder? I think that question is real simple on almost everyone's minds. I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for allowing me to come and speak a little bit to this concern, this one particular area of concern that I have and the many things that are left to be done, as you are graciously taking the opportunity to point out to us and give our other colleagues the opportunity to talk about. We have an economic stimulus package that is critical for the United States of America. We obviously were in an economic slump before the attack on September 11, and we certainly are today. We are trying tremendously hard to affect the real areas of our economy that can make a difference in re-creating the activity that helps so many people enjoy some level of quality of life. That does not mean that we have to put money out to those businesses that are continuing to lay people off. It needs to be put in the hands and the pockets of the people who will spend it today because they need it today. They need it to have food and clothing and shelter that will make a difference for themselves and their families. We will pray for the family of the woman whose life was lost in that attack, and we will also pray for each and every person in the United States of America that we will continue to hold together as we have and fight through this war that we are now living in the hopes that we will overcome terrorism worldwide, that we will not ever face the terrible tragedy that we faced in this country on September 11, and the pain and suffering of the people like this gentleman and two young kids will have to face because of the loss of a loved one. We do not ever, ever want to see that happen again. If we will act on these pieces of legislation soon, now, we can make a difference in their lives and an appropriate one. I thank the gentlewoman for allowing me to have the time. I wish you well in your continued work as I do for all of us.

Mr. LAMPSON. In my opinion, the ideology difference that we had in the House came down to politics. It is clear to me that 49 Senators and 50 Democrats and one independent coming together in the Senate on one bill was not a political statement. It was a statement in belief of the American people. When it came to the House, the House was broken on ideological grounds and that broke down to party lines. That is unfortunate. That is what I am talking about. The biggest concern that I had during that whole debate was not that people are not going to be hired; people will be hired. We need that experience to be the same regardless of what airport it is. As you were just saying, the training has to be much more significant than what it has been. And if we leave the people in charge of the process who have been a part of the process, and I might add that before the Transportation Committee just 2 or 3 weeks ago, we had some of the major airport security companies represented at a meeting, three of the five present were foreign-owned businesses. If we are going to allow people working in our airports for foreign-owned companies to be in line with our Federal security agencies, with information that is critical to the security of the United States of America and allow them to come into this loop, I think that is a ludicrous thing. But at this point, we just have to have a bill before this President to sign so that the country can get back to traveling and feel safe in doing so. I hope that the House will quickly consider what the Senate put forth and that in our conference, whenever it happens and hopefully it will happen very quickly, maybe Monday or Tuesday of next week, that we can have a bill that the people of this country will be as happy with and feel secure with as they have in the statement that was made very clearly that this whole process be federalized. Regardless of the end run, we have to have the standard in training and in action and in a career path that allow people to keep an interest in the job that they are doing in the hopes that because they do a good job at one level, they will be able to grow from level to level and on through, so it truly becomes a career. Through that, I think our country will be safer and more secure in their travels, our economy will get back to what it was doing before with so much of it being driven by tourism, by hotels and many other tourist activities that are involved with air travel. I think these are critical pieces. My plea to our colleagues is that we set aside partisan politics in this matter, do the business that the people of this country want them to, and let us get this bill back over here so we can put it on the President's desk and let it become law.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support the Democratic alternative of the aviation security bill. This measure is identical to S. 1447, the Aviation Security Act, passed by the Senate unanimously on October 11. It places responsibility for aviation security with the Federal Government to ensure that professional law enforcement agents are in charge of securing the airports and airplanes. It has been 7 weeks since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the Republican leadership has been dragging their feet on aviation security legislation. It's outrageous and irresponsible, and the leadership stalled this legislation because they oppose the federalization of security personnel. The bill ensures that federal security personnel screen and check all individuals and baggage before boarding a plane. We wouldn't dream of contracting out the protection that our police provide, we wouldn't dream of contracting out the protection our military provides, why in the world are the leaders of this body attempting to contract out our airport security. Airport security forces must be reliable, standardized and verifiable. This will ensure that security screeners are more highly paid--rather than continuing the practice of private contractors hiring personnel for less than fast food, service wages who turn over every six months. Experts including the General Accounting Office, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Transportation Department have all indicated that low wages and high turnover are the major problem in aviation security. Following Sept. 11th I've been meeting with schools kids from the 9th District. Recently I asked them the question--Should the security forces that protect our airports be federalized like the police and military? The kids resoundingly answered yes--it's common sense, kids know it, the American public knows it, but my colleagues on the other side of the aisle don't seen to. Under the bill, screener applicants will be required to pass a rigorous selection examination, and complete classroom and on-the-job training. It also gives the government flexibility to suspend or terminate under-performing employees. Consistent with existing law, federal screeners would not have the right to strike. Ask yourself--who do you want protecting you and your family, a federal security force or the lowest bidder. Airport security is national security.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for yielding me this time. We would not dream of contracting out the protection that our police provide and we would not dream of contracting out the protection our military provides. Why in the world are the leaders of this body attempting to contract out our airport security? Airport security forces must be reliable, standardized and verifiable. There should be no compromise on this. Following September 11, I have been meeting with thousands of school kids from my district. Recently I asked them the question, should the security forces that protect our airports be federalized like the police and military? The kids resoundingly answered yes. It is common sense; kids know it, the American public knows it. But my colleagues on the other side of the aisle do not seem to know it. National defense and security are charges of the Federal Government, and keeping our skies safe is part of that responsibility. It is plain and simple common sense. Ask yourself, who do you want protecting you and your family, a Federal security force or the lowest bidder? Support this motion to instruct conferees to include more money for airport security.

Mr. LAMPSON

Mr. LAMPSON. When we work together, we make good things happen.

Mr. LAMPSON. David Moore of Beaumont, Texas.

Mr. LAMPSON. That is the kind of cooperation that is critical if we are going to solve the problems that are facing our communities and truly have the kind of safety that we all need and want to have. This incident that occurred in my congressional district in Texas happened at a port. Ports are critical facilities for us, particularly when they are serving the petrochemical industry, which is a facility that develops the fuel that runs all our automobiles and brings products to all of us all over the United States of America. So is it a critical area we need to address? Unquestionably, it is. And this is a reasonable tool with which we can do something for the grass-roots level of people who are strapped for cash, who are trying their best to put good programs into place to stretch their means as far as they possibly can to make sure that there are an adequate number of policemen and firemen and other kinds of law enforcement and emergency management folks to do the jobs that have to be done. It is tough.

Mr. LAMPSON. We hope our colleagues will join us all in cosponsoring this legislation and in seeing to it that it gets brought to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote quickly.

Mr. LAMPSON. All of what the gentleman has been saying is right on the mark in trying to look out for the local jurisdictions who are having a difficult time responding to many different needs that they are facing right now during such an unusual time in the history of our country. Primarily, this bill will establish $1 billion in grant programs for cities, counties, towns, boroughs, tribes, and other municipalities and regional authorities to develop local emergency response plans that would do a large number of different things, such as to develop strategic response plans that provide for a clearly defined and unified response to terrorist attacks or other catastrophes; to coordinate the activities and procedures of various emergency response units; to define the relationship, roles, responsibilities, jurisdictions, and command structures and communication protocols of emergency response units; to coordinate response procedures with similar emergency response units and neighboring units of local government as well as with State and Federal agencies. That is a critical point right there. One of our agencies got shut down in my congressional district just last week because of a lack of cooperation, a lack of questions about whose jurisdiction or whose real ground is this that we need to be responding to. That is unfortunate, and we need to find ways to make sure that all levels of our government are sharing information and are working to solve problems in unusual and very extenuating circumstances, to find situations where one organization or a person feels like they have the right or responsibility to do one thing and should not be checked by another agency, yet it is another agency's responsibility to be looking out after the security of a particular area. Those are arguments we should not be having right now. This bill would provide the means for local governments, whether it is cities, counties or whatever level it might be, as well as Federal agencies to develop plans to work together.

Mr. LAMPSON. Of all of that money, only $300 million makes it out to local communities.