Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on February 4th, I joined my distinguished colleague from New Jersey, Congressman Christopher Smith, in introducing H.R. 3161, the Torture Victims Relief Act. Together, the two of us introduced similar legislation during the 104th Congress. Our important legislation attempts to deal with the detrimental consequences of the most egregious form of violation of international human rights--the widespread use of torture. Human rights experts estimate that there are over 79 countries around the world where torture is practiced on a systematic basis. As a consequence, there are currently an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 victims of foreign governmental torture in the United States, who are in dire need of qualified psychological and medical treatment in adequate facilities. The traumatic experiences of torture--which according to experts in most cases does not ultimately aim to obtain information, but simply to break and destroy the victim's personality and human identity--result in continuous nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and deep depressions. In 1973, Amnesty International appealed to the world medical profession to respond to the international use of torture and to develop a multi-pronged treatment program to counter the severe effects of torture. These efforts--in particular under the outstanding leadership of Dr. Inge Genefke, MD, DMSc.h.c.--resulted in the establishment of the first Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1982. This international movement has now grown to encompass 173 centers in 76 countries. The successful work of these centers--based on four parallel pillars consisting of psychotherapy, physiotherapy, social counseling and nursing--have shown that with adequate treatment, torture victims can resume productive and fulfilling lives. Mr. Speaker, since torture is used by the most despicable of totalitarian oppressors around the world as one of their most common techniques for suppressing freedom of speech and democratic rights, it typically targets the strongest and most outstanding defenders of these democratic values in foreign countries. The United States has courageously defended and promoted the values of freedom and democracy around the world, the very principles on which this country was founded. The victims of torture are these courageous people who, knowing full well the risk of physical and psychological harm which will inevitably come to them if they are arrested, uphold our common values in the face of their brutal oppressors. Mr. Speaker, these heroic defenders of human rights and human liberty deserve our strongest support. The Torture Victims Relief Act (H.R. 3161) will fully implement the provisions of the U.N. Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which prohibits the involuntary return of any person to a country if there is substantial evidence that a reasonable person in those circumstances would fear subjection to torture. President Ronald Reagan signed the U.N. Convention on April 18, 1988, and the United States Senate ratified it on 21 October, 1994. With the ratification of this convention, these international norms became binding law in the United States. There is no domestic legislation, however, to implement these international legal provisions. Our legislation will rectify this oversight by providing the legal provisions necessary to implement the Convention on Torture. Furthermore, our important bill will make important changes in the immigration procedures under which torture victims will be handled. The provisions of this bill expedite the processing for asylum applicants who make credible claims that they have been victims of torture. The legislation establishes the presumption that such applicants should not be detained while their asylum case is pending, and it designates refugees who are torture victims as refugees of special humanitarian concern with priority for resettlement at least as high as that given to any other refugee group. In addition, the Torture Victims Relief Act provides for special training for officials who are involved in implementing immigration procedures. This training will provide information about torture and its long-term effects, and this will help these officials to consider the special physical and psychological circumstances a torture victim has to endure when they have to provide evidence in support of their asylum claim. In order to ensure an adequate rehabilitation treatment for victims of torture, this bill authorizes $5 million for FY 1999 and $7.5 million for FY 2000 from funds authorized for the Department of Health and Human Services to support domestic torture treatment programs. In addition, the bill fully supports the international efforts I have outlined above. It authorizes $5 million for FY 1999 and $7.5 million for FY 2000 of funds authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act for international rehabilitation services, and it authorizes $3 million for FY 1999 and $3 million for FY 2000 of funds authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act to contribute to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Torture Victims. In a further effort to strengthen the international effort to address the scourge of torture, our legislation commits the United States to use its voice and vote in the United Nations to support the investigation and elimination of practices outlawed under the U.N. Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of this important legislation.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor for me to pay tribute to San Francisco City Attorney Louise Renne, who was recently cited in California Lawyer magazine as one of the state's top attorneys for 1997. To those of us who have known her and followed her career over the course of the last three decades, Louise is so much more than an outstanding solicitor: She is a fighter for the people of San Francisco, a crusader for the progressive values of fairness and equal rights and one of the most compassionate and decent public officials that I have had the privilege of knowing. California Lawyer writes: ``Think of a hot political issue that came up during the past year involving a city, and San Francisco City Attorney Louise Renne was probably center stage.'' For Louise, 1997 was indeed a successful year, as her participation in a $1 billion-plus lawsuit forced Bank of America to admit its culpability in knowingly mishandling millions of dollars as trustee of San Francisco's municipal bond programs. While this is a landmark achievement for the city, it serves as only one of many in Louise's remarkable career. Her commitment to public service has spanned decades, initially as a California deputy attorney general for eleven years, during which time she worked with the Sierra Club to stop clear-cutting at Redwood National Park and with the San Francisco Fire Department to ensure the hiring of more women and minorities. As president of the California Women Lawyers during the 1970's, she fought tirelessly for increased representation of women on the judicial bench. In her twelve years as City Attorney, she and her highly regarded staff have established a record of legal accomplishment and dedicated community activism that dwarfs contemporaries and predecessors alike. One of Louise Renne's most recent and, in many respects, most significant battles has been her fight against Big Tobacco. In June 1996, at a time when many analysts and attorneys claimed that it would be folly to demand compensation from large tobacco companies for the billions of public dollars spent on treating tobacco-related illnesses, her office filed suit against these irresponsible corporations. San Francisco was one of the first cities to stand up to Big Tobacco, but certainly not the last. Following Louise's leadership, public officials began to speak out in overwhelming numbers, demanding that tobacco companies be held accountable for decades of deceit and outright lies. She has already scored one huge victory, negotiating a settlement with R.J. Reynolds that included $1.5 million for city anti-smoking programs focusing on children and a ban on the use of the cartoon character Joe Camel forever in the State of California. She continues to make her voice, and the voices of the overwhelming majority of San Franciscans, heard on this vital issue, fighting for legislative initiatives which promise to reimburse cities and towns, restrict tobacco advertising and keep this addictive and deadly drug away from our children. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have as my constituent and friend such as outstanding public servant. Congratulations to Louise Renne on being named by California Lawyer as one of the state's top attorneys for 1997, and congratulations to all San Franciscans for twice electing this outstanding woman as City Attorney.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Joseph L. Alioto, an outstanding American who served two terms as the mayor of San Francisco from 1968 to 1976 and who left his distinctive stamp on our city. Joe Alioto died last Thursday at his home in San Francisco after a struggle with prostate cancer. Mr. Speaker, Joseph Alioto left an indelible imprint on San Francisco, and he represents the best of this city. Immigrants have contributed much to the character, the zest and the diversity of San Francisco, and Joe Alioto was a product of that culture. The son of a Sicilian immigrant fish wholesaler, he was born in 1916 in North Beach and grew up in that area. He attended San Francisco schools--Garfield and Salesian Schools and then Sacred Heart High School. He graduated from St. Mary's College in Moraga, and then received a law degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. As an attorney, Joe Alioto had a highly successful career, both before and after his two terms as Joe Alioto's mayor. After completing law school in our nation's capitol, he accepted a position in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1945 he returned to San Francisco to establish a highly successful private antitrust legal practice, one of the first such practices in the country. After retiring from politics in 1976 upon the completion of two terms as mayor, Joe Alioto returned to his antitrust practice, which for a time was our nation's largest such law practice. He established a distinguished record as a determined advocate for such clients as Walt Disney, Samuel Goldwyn and Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders football team. His career in public service began shortly after he returned to San Francisco in 1945, after spending eight years in Washington, D.C. at law school and at the Department of Justice. In 1948 Joseph Alioto was appointed to the San Francisco School Board, and seven years later he became a member of the board of the City's Redevelopment Agency. The decision to run for mayor of San Francisco was not a part of a calculated or long-term plan. In 1967, Joe Alioto was chairman of the mayoral campaign of Eugene McAteer, who died suddenly from a heart attack just two months before the election. After a few days of reflection, Alioto made the decision to run in McAteer's place. He waged a lightning 55-day campaign and won, overcoming the lead of his opponent in the early polls of 44 to 17. The two terms that he served as mayor--from 1968 to 1976--were a critical time, and his administration left a positive and a lasting imprint on the City that he loved. He became mayor during a politically unstable period--hippies dominated Haight-Ashbury; demonstrations, some of which turned violent, were taking place against the Vietnam War; and racial tensions reached a fever pitch following a series of street killings known as the Zebra murders. Mayor Alioto largely succeeded in keeping the city at peace during the turbulent period of domestic protests against the Vietnam War. He fought racial violence and intolerance, telling black militants ``come to me with your problems before you take them to the streets.'' He was a strong advocate of civil rights, and he was also a strong opponent of violence. As our current San Francisco mayor, Willie Brown, said, he was ``a champion of racial diversity long before it was fashionable.'' Mr. Speaker, the tenure of Joseph Alioto as mayor has had a permanent impact upon the physical appearance of San Francisco. He was largely responsible for the building boom that created the downtown city panorama as we now know it, including the TransAmerica Pyramid, the Embarcadero Center, the Golden Gateway, and a number of skyscrapers that still dominate the city's profile. Hunters Point renewal programs began under his leadership, and the city escaped the destructive rioting that convulsed a number of other major American cities at that time. Jerry Carroll and William Carlsen in The San Francisco Chronicle said his legacy as mayor was ``an explosion of downtown growth that changed the city's skyline, helped cement San Francisco as a player on the Pacific Rim and stirred up the neighborhoods in a way that has altered the city's political landscape to this day.'' He seized national attention as San Francisco's mayor. In 1968, just a few months after he was elected mayor, he was considered a leading candidate as runningmate of Democratic presidential candidate, Hubert Humphrey. Though ultimately he was not selected as the vice presidential candidate, he did make the speech nominating Senator Humphrey at the Democratic Convention. His career suffered from a libelous story about him in Look Magazine in 1969. Although he eventually won a substantial libel judgment against the magazine in the courts, his political career did not recover. He easily won reelection as mayor of San Francisco in 1972, but he lost the Democratic primary for governor of California in 1974. When his second term as mayor was completed in 1976, he returned to his legal practice, which he continued until a few months before his death. Joseph Alioto was a larger-than-life personality. Ken Garcia in The Chronicle said, ``On so many levels, Joe Alioto was San Francisco-- often vain and parochial but unerringly charming and sophisticated, and always ready for a good fight.'' Carroll and Carlsen, also in The Chronicle, called him ``bold, tireless and articulate, combining a boundless self-confidence with a buoyant charm and erudition that enabled him to dominate any gathering.'' In an editorial paying well deserved tribute to the former mayor, The Chronicle called Alioto ``a man who embodied boundless ambition, high self-regard, operatic conduct, and the city's immigrant character'' and dubbed him ``a San Francisco story, a local boy who made good, charging through life in high style.'' He was larger than life. As The Chronicle observed editorially, ``He gave speeches in Italian. He wrote poetry that he spouted in North Beach coffeehouses.'' Carroll and Carlsen added that, ``in addition to everything else, Alioto was found of quoting Dante and St. Thomas Aquinas to illustrate his points.'' His last press conference as mayor in 1976 gives some of the flavor of the man. He spent more of the time at this final press conference savaging the media; nevertheless, the next day, The Chronicle called him a ``colorful and zestful man, who roared into office literally bursting with energy and imagination'' and further said he was ``one of the most energetic, entertaining and stylish of mayors.'' Mayor Willie Brown observed that ``Joe's two great loves were his family and the city of San Francisco.'' Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in extending condolences to Joseph Alioto's family--his wife Kathleen Sullivan Alioto, and his children Lawrence M., Joseph M., John, Michael, Angela Mia, Thomas, Patrick, and Domenica. He will be missed, Mr. Speaker. He was a great mayor, a dedicated public servant, and a great San Franciscan.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I want to express my strong support for the passage of this legislation. Let me say at the outset that I share the concerns which were raised by the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on International Relations, Mr. Hamilton, about the inappropriate way in which this bill comes to the floor of the House today. We should have held hearings, and we should have had proper consideration of this legislation in the Committee. There is not such urgency in the adoption of this legislation that we could not have followed regular procedures in the consideration of this bill. Having said that, however, Mr. Speaker, I want to indicate my strong support for S. 1564--the Holocaust Victims Redress Act. I want to thank my dear friend, Congressman Jim Leach, the Chairman of the Banking Committee, who introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives and who has shown great sympathy for this issue. I also want to thank my dear friend, Congressman Ben Gilman, the Chairman of the International Relations Committee, for his efforts and support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, the Holocaust Victims Redress Act directs that the United States government support the contribution of all or of a substantial portion of the gold remaining under the control of the Tripartite Gold Commission to charitable organizations to assist survivors of the Holocaust. It also authorizes the President to obligate up to $30 million for such distribution. It authorizes appropriations for archival research to assist in the restitution of assets looted from Holocaust victims and for other activities to further Holocaust remembrance and education. The legislation urges efforts to facilitate the return of private and public property-- primarily works of art--which were seized during the period of Nazi rule to the rightful owners in cases where the ownership can be established. Mr. Speaker, it is most appropriate that we take the action proposed in this legislation. Thousands and thousands of the victims of Nazi terror suffered the destruction of their lives, the murder of their family members, and debilitating illnesses resulting from their unbelievable hardships. It is only appropriate that we acknowledge this suffering and take these modest steps to assist the victims. The Administration has indicated its support for the approach that this legislation takes. The United States government recognizes that a portion of the gold looted by the Nazis contained a significant amount of gold stolen or coerced from victims of the Holocaust. I am delighted that the Administration favors the proposal that the remaining gold, or most of it, be contributed to the ``Special Persecutee Relief Fund'' which was announced in December 1997, and I welcome the positive reaction from many of the potential donors to this fund. I do hope, Mr. Speaker, that the neutral countries who received Nazi gold during the course of World War II will also make generous contributions to this fund. It is most appropriate in view of the benefits they enjoyed as a result of the Nazi gold that was moved to their countries during the war. I am also pleased, Mr. Speaker, that the Administration has shown United States leadership by indicating our intention to participate in this fund with a contribution of up to $25 million. This should be an incentive for countries which have claims under the Tripartite Gold Commission and countries which were neutral in World War II to join in making significant contributions to this fund. Our contribution is indeed a modest amount--and I hope that our participation will increase--but I do hope that it will encourage others. Mr. Speaker, no amount of monetary reparation and no amount of recognition or expressions of sorrow can ever compensate for the unspeakable suffering that the victims of the Holocaust have endured. It is important, however, that we make this gesture of recognition-- regardless of how small it is in the face of the enormity of the injustice against these victims.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating Gabriel Erem, the publisher of Lifestyles magazine, upon the 25th anniversary of the establishment of his prestigious publication. On its 25th anniversary, Lifestyles features an outstanding governing committee: They are: Mr. Erem, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham H. Foxman, philanthropist and humanitarian, Mrs. Ludwig Jesselson, philanthropist and community leader, Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder, international business leader, Professor Peter Littman, futurist and best-selling author, Faith Popcorn, international marketing guru and recipient of the French Legion of Honor, Michel Roux, community and business leader, Howard Rubenstein, founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, violin virtuoso and chairman of Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern, community leader and philanthropist, Andrew Tisch, international Jewish leader, Peggy Tischman, and Nobel Laureate, Elie Wiesel. In order to understand why Lifestyles magazine was created, one must first learn about the personal history of its publisher, Gabriel Erem. Mr. Erem was born in Hungary right after the Second World War. During that war, 186 members of his family perished in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. Twenty-five years ago, when Mr. Erem started Lifestyles magazine, his goal was to show Jewish contributions to the world. Currently, Mr. Erem serves in a volunteer capacity on the committees of many worthy charities and organizations. One of them is the prestigious Weitzmann Institute of Science in Israel. Mr. Erem related to me that during a recent dinner for the institute in which Lifestyles magazine participated, there were 44 individuals honored for their contributions to medical research. All of these 44 individuals were recipients of the Nobel Prize in their respective fields. Mr. Erem recently told me of a private talk he had with the late Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir, following the Yom Kippur war. Mrs. Meir said to him that ``the world does not understand what it means to lose 6 million human beings to a systematic massacre.'' The Prime Minister then continued, ``The real tragedy is that the world does not seem to understand that it is not only those 6 million human beings that we are missing, but that it is the generations that will never happen after them.'' Steven Spielberg's film ``Schindler's List'' made a similar point when, at the conclusion of the movie, the following words appeared on the screen: ``From the 1,100 human beings Oskar Schindler saved, today there are more than 6,000 descendants alive.'' Remembering what Golda Meir said and using the equation at the end of Schindler's List, Gabriel Erem pointed out to me that during the Holocaust we lost a potential of over 36 million human beings who could have been members of our society. Just ask yourselves a question: How many Einsteins? How many Nobel Laureates? How many great philosophers, doctors, scientists, * * *? We will never know. It is not only a Jewish loss--it is the world's loss as well. Lifestyles magazine was established to salute Jewish contributions in all arenas of life. Jewish-Americans of all backgrounds, professional and philanthropic interests consider it an honor and a privilege to be included in this most prestigious publication. Over the past 25 years, one could read on its pages exciting, intimate profiles of extraordinary human beings ranging from Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel to the musical giant Isaac Stern and thousands of individuals who excelled in their various fields, making this world a better place. Lifestyles magazine has also treated its subjects with the utmost seriousness, and it has established itself as a respected voice of integrity. Each issue is dedicated to helping humanitarian causes of all kinds. Working hand in glove with virtually hundreds of humanitarian causes, its publication not only serves as a mirror of North American Jewish society for the past quarter century, but also as a beacon of charitable giving. Lifestyles magazine's commitment to advancing the Nation's democratic principles is also underscored by its constant activities in the fields of culture, business and the sciences. Gabriel Erem, a child of Holocaust survivors, is being saluted for his passionate commitment to teaching Jewish history and culture and preserving the Jewish legacy to the world. Recently, Gabriel Erem made a sizable contribution to Holocaust education in our country by dedicating an entire issue of Lifestyles magazine to describing the goals of Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation, an organization committed to teaching future generations about the lessons of the Holocaust. Mr. Speaker, Gabriel Erem is a man of outstanding commitment and accomplishment in the noblest of pursuits. His contribution to culture, education, ethnic understanding, and the spreading of democratic and free market principles is truly awe inspiring. Through his vast commitment to preserving and nurturing Jewish communal life, both in the United States and Canada, Gabriel Erem has made a tremendous and enduring gift to the education of future generations about Jewish history and culture. I commend Gabriel Erem and Lifestyles magazine for their unnumerable contributions to our society and I invite my colleagues to join me in applauding Gabriel Erem and Lifestyles magazine on their continuing mission.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives late today approved House Resolution 322, which places this body on record in favor of using force against Iraq if that is necessary in order to compel Iraq to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions which call for the elimination of Iraq's capability to produce nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and missiles capable of delivering such weapons. While my resolution specifies that efforts should be made to resolve the problems peacefully through diplomatic means, it makes clear that if such efforts fail, the Congress supports the use of military force. The bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is that we must be certain that we eliminate Saddam Hussein's ability to produce weapons of mass destruction and the missiles which deliver them. Our resolution makes that objective clear. If we can do that peacefully through active diplomacy, that clearly is the course we should take. If diplomacy fails, however, we should use force--through multilateral cooperation with our allies, if that can be done, but unilaterally if that is our only remaining option. The purpose of this resolution is to make it completely clear and unequivocal to Saddam Hussein and his government that the Congress supports the use of military force if that is required. There must be no doubt about the importance of continuing inspections as called for under U.N. Security Council decisions, and there must be no doubt about the resolve of the U.S. Government and of the support of the American people to take military action if that should become necessary. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Speaker, the majority leader, and the minority leader for their support and assistance in the adoption of this resolution. I also want to thank my friend and colleague from New York, the distinguished chairman of the International Relations Committee, Mr. Gilman, for joining me as the principal cosponsor of this resolution and for his bringing this resolution before the International Relations Committee earlier this morning. I also want to thank my friend and colleague from Indiana, the distinguished ranking Democratic member of the International Relations Committee, Mr. Hamilton, for his strong support of the resolution and for joining as a cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, also joining as cosponsors of this resolution are a number of our colleagues: Mr. Goss of Florida, the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr. Yates, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Skelton, Mr. Sisisky, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Spratt, Mr. Horn, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Rothman, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Foley, and Mr. Waxman. The text of our resolution as it was adopted here in the House is as follows: H. Res. 322 Expressing the sense of the House that the United States should act to resolve this crisis with Iraq in a manner that assures full Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the destruction of Iraq's capability to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction, and that peaceful and diplomatic efforts should be pursued, but that is such efforts fail, multilateral military action or unilateral United States military action should be taken. Whereas at the conclusion of the Gulf War the United States and the United Nations, acting through the Security Council, determined to find and destroy all of Iraq's capability to produce chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and its ability to produce missiles capable of delivering such weapons of mass destruction; Whereas in pursuit of this goal, the United Nations set up a special multinational commission of experts to oversee the completion of this task (the United Nations Special Commission--UNSCOM), and that task could and should have been accomplished within a matter of months if Iraq had cooperated with United Nations officials; Whereas sanctions were imposed upon Iraq to insure its compliance with United Nations directives to eliminate its capability to produce weapons of mass destruction; Whereas for 6\1/2\ years Iraq has pursued a policy of deception, lies, concealment, harassment, and intimidation in a deliberate effort to hamper the work of UNSCOM in eliminating Iraq's ability to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction; and Whereas recently the Government of Iraq has escalated its policy of noncompliance and continues to breach in a material way United Nations Security Council resolutions by refusing to permit United States citizens who are recognized specialists to participate as members of UNSCOM teams in carrying out in Iraq actions to implement Security Council resolutions: Now therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that-- (1) the current crisis regarding Iraq should be resolved peacefully through diplomatic means but in a manner which assures full Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the destruction of Iraq's capability to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction; (2) in the event that military means are necessary to compel Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, such military action should be undertaken with the broadest feasible multinational support, preferably pursuant to a decision of the United Nations Security Council; and (3) if it is necessary, however, the United States should take military action unilaterally to compel Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I want to commend the cochairman on the Republican side of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter], for his powerful and eloquent statement, and I want to commend the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, who has been indefatigable in his fight for human rights, in bringing H. Con. Res. 137 before us. I fully concur with all previous statements made concerning Saddam Hussein and his despicable regime. It is remarkable, Mr. Speaker, that even at this late date there are apologies for Saddam Hussein and his brutal and cruel regime in the West. There are countries that can hardly wait to renew on a large scale their lucrative business deals with Iraq, despite the fact that the Saddam Hussein regime has been attempting to conceal, hide, obfuscate its continuing development of weapons of mass destruction. Later this afternoon, this body will have an opportunity of dealing with a resolution that expresses the view of the House that if peaceful and diplomatic measures do not succeed, military action, preferably on a multinational scale, be undertaken to eliminate Hussein's chemical, biological, nuclear and missile capability. But while that is a military issue, this is a human rights issue. A regime which has poison gassed its own people, a regime which perpetrates the worst human rights violations of the 20th century against its own people, does indeed need to be hauled before an international tribunal and tried for crimes against humanity. If there was central casting's appropriate person to be hauled before the international community for crimes against humanity, it is Saddam Hussein. His brutality, his ruthlessness, his bloodthirstiness, knows no bounds. I call on all of my colleagues across the aisle to vote to approve this important measure.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, as divided as this House was on fast track, we are as united on the subject of dealing with Iraq. Today, I am introducing a resolution supported by Members across the political spectrum which has a message for Saddam Hussein in Bagdad. At the conclusion of the gulf war, the United Nations decided to find and to destroy all of Iraq's capability to produce chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and the missiles capable of delivering them. For 6\1/2\ years, Iraq has pursued a policy of deception, lies, concealment, harassment, and intimidation in a deliberate effort to hamper the work of the inspectors designed to eliminate Iraq's ability to produce weapons of mass destruction. Recently Iraq has escalated its noncompliance by refusing to permit United States citizens of the inspection team from carrying out their responsibility. My resolution calls for resolving peacefully, through diplomatic means, this matter with full Iraqi compliance. Short of that, my resolution calls for military action undertaken under the broadest feasible multinational basis, preferably under United Nations' auspices, and, if necessary, my resolution calls for the United States to take military action to assure the destruction of Iraq's capability to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the Smithsonian Institution's planned exhibit on the history of sweatshops in America--``Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A Dialogue on American Sweatshops, 1820-Present.'' The exhibit is scheduled to open at the Smithsonian here in Washington in April 1998. Unfortunately, however, the U.S. apparel industry is seeking to prevent the display of this exhibit on the grounds that the exhibit will not present a balanced picture of the garment industry. Rather than letting an objective exhibit of historical and contemporary significance go forward, the California Fashion Association, which represents major clothing manufacturers in southern California, has vowed to turn the exhibit into a political football and prevent its display. Mr. Speaker, it is no surprise that clothing manufacturers are opposed to this exhibit. It is also no surprise that the leaders of the opposition to this exhibit are from southern California--notorious for the El Monte apparel sweatshop in which some 70 Thai workers lived under slave-like conditions until the horror was discovered and the brutality was terminated. This, Mr. Speaker, was not a century ago--this was just 2 years ago in my home State. Make no mistake about it, Mr. Speaker, the garment industry's fear is not that the American people will view the history of sweatshops in the 19th century but that they will view conditions in sweatshops operating today--in 1997. Sweatshops are in violation of our Nation's overtime, minimum-wage, and safety laws. Sweatshop operations are often underground and disguised, and monetary transactions in connection with these activities are usually done in cash. For these reasons, it is difficult to get a precise idea of how prevalent sweatshops really are. Some specialists have estimated that there are as many as 7,000 sweatshops across the United States. Sweatshops are often outside the law in other ways, not only evading wage and hour laws, but also avoiding the payment of Federal, State, and local taxes. Violation of local building codes is common, including such serious safety problems as blocked fire exits or no fire exits at all. The operators of these sweatshops seek out and exploit undocumented immigrants. Let me make one thing clear, Mr. Speaker, immigrants are not the cause of sweatshops, they are the victims of the operators of such vicious practices. Mr. Speaker, I ask that at this point, an excellent editorial--``Save the Sweatshops''--which appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle be placed in the Record. [From the San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 23, 1997] Save the Sweatshops To its lasting credit, the Smithsonian Institution is planning a hardedged exhibit on sweatshops, an historical look at rapacity and exploitation that is still in our midst. One poignant feature has raised the ire of the apparel industry: a depiction of the El Monte factory raided in 1995 where some 70 Thai immigrants lived in peonage while cranking out clothing. The exhibit, prepared in part with the help of California state labor authorities, will borrow equipment seized in the raid in order to re-create the dungeon-like sewing shop. Is the factory typical of clothing factories? Obviously not. But it should provoke thought about immigrants, their hunger for work and the role of a vigilant government. The exhibit, which is due to open next April, will trace sweatshops from early last century to the present. By its very title, it deals with an unsavory back alley of American working life. Along with El Monte, it will highlight the epochal Triangle Shirtwaist fire in Manhattan that killed 146 women trapped in a sweatshop in 1911. Such episodes aren't pretty, but brushing them away, as industry publicists would like, would be a mistake. These critics may be counting on the Smithsonian to cave in. Several years ago it wanted to mount an exhibit that showed the Japanese death toll from two American atomic bombs that ended World War II. Veterans groups objected saying the decision to drop the bombs was not fairly explained, and the museum eventually recast the exhibit in tamer form. That debate had its own ingredients, and it would be a mistake to compare it to the El Monte dispute. The Smithsonian, which serves as a curator of American life, cannot survive such challenges and serve its mission well. Critics who want to sanitize controversy deny everyone a chance to experience history. Mr. Speaker, I further ask that two Letters to the Editor which appeared in the Los Angeles Times also be placed in the Record. The letters appeared in the newspaper after it published news stories about the controversy over the sweatshop exhibit in September of this year. The first letter is from I. Michael Heyman, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and the second is from Evan Smyth of Los Angeles: Letter of I. Michael Heyman, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution is an educational institution that strives to make American history accessible, useful and meaningful to the millions who view our exhibitions, read our catalogues and participate in our public programs. It occasionally presents difficult, unpleasant, or controversial historical episodes, not out of any desire to embarrass, to be unpatriotic, or to cause pain, but out of a responsibility to convey a fuller, more inclusive history. By examining historical incidents ripe with complexities and ambiguities, we hope to stimulate greater understanding and appreciation for the historical forces and choices that shaped America. Ultimately, the Smithsonian Institution mounts these kinds of exhibitions because we have confidence in the American public's desire for candor and appreciation for important historical stories. The exhibition, ``Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A Dialogue on American Sweatshops, 1920-Present,'' scheduled to open April 15, 1998, will be a balanced presentation, both in the historical material it presents and the outside views and participation it will include. We have sought to include the voices of participants on all sides of this issue. Our exhibition will be strong in scholarship, but equally it will be sensitive to participants' concerns. We will continue to reach out to all interested parties, including the manufacturing, apparel and retail sectors, to ensure a fair and balanced presentation. Letter of Evan Smyth of Los Angeles The apparel industry trade groups claim that their position could not be heard in an exhibit like the one proposed for the Smithsonian. Perhaps they are right, but I would be very interested to hear their position on sweatshops in light of the following facts: The slave conditions at El Monte are a matter of public record. One of the largest garment manufacturers in Southern California, Guess, Inc., is currently scrambling to defend itself against charges in a class-action lawsuit that minimum wage and overtime violations are rampant in their contractors' sweatshops. Guess, Inc., has been removed from a Department of Labor trendsetters list because of recidivism in its `fight' against wage-and-hour violations. Sweatshop conditions appear to be the cornerstone of the apparel industry rather than ``a few bad apples.''

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the groundbreaking of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit [BART] Extension to the San Francisco International Airport [SFO]. The groundbreaking, which took place on Monday of this week, marked one of the most significant transportation milestones in the bay area. It was my great pleasure to join the many residents and elected officials of the peninsula and the bay area who have worked hard to bring fast, efficient mass transportation to the San Francisco Airport. It was a great pleasure to participate in the festivities marking the long-awaited beginning of construction of this world-class transportation link for the entire bay area. Mr. Speaker, the BART Extension to the airport will connect the 95 mile, four-county BART rapid transit system to the fifth busiest airport in the united States and the seventh busiest airport in the world. The 8.7 mile extension will consist of 7.5 miles of new mainline track, much of which will be underground, and 1.2 miles of track linking the system with the San Francisco International Airport. The BART Extension will expand commuter rail service on the peninsula in and out the city through three new stations in peninsula communities-- South San Francisco, San Bruno and Millbrae--and a station at the airport. The BART Extension will provide fast and easy service for travelers directly to the airport for the entire bay area, including the east bay. Mr. Speaker, the BART Extension to the airport is the cornerstone of BART's rail expansion program--the biggest bay area transit project since BART was built in the early 1970's. The project is also an excellent model for Federal-State cooperation in public transportation investment. Fully seventy percent of BART's expansion program is paid for by State and local funds. The voters of San Mateo County have indicated their overwhelming support for the BART Extension at the ballot box in a series of referenda data back to 1980's when voters approved measures in 1985 and 1987 which allocated local funding through SamTrans to bring BART to the airport. Subsequent measures in 1992 and 1994 reaffirmed our region's support for a BART Extension to the airport and the willingness of our residents to contribute a fair share of those costs. Mr. Speaker, the BART Extension will provide fast and convenient access for travelers and will help alleviate traffic congestion on neighboring freeways. Traffic on peninsula freeways near the airport and into San Francisco already exceed existing highway capacities, particularly during peak commute periods. The airport is already the single largest generator of traffic congestion-over 65 percent of air passengers and employees drive to the airport. The airport's own expansion program is expected to increase annual air traffic by some 70 percent by the year 2006. The extension of BART to the airport will provide much-need effective mass transit alternative for travelers throughout the bay area. Mr. Speaker, the BART Extension to the airport will also provide an important economic catalyst for San Mateo County and the entire bay area. The extension will create or sustain between 30,000 and 40,000 construction jobs and more than 12,000 permanent jobs once the extension is in operation. Construction will create new business opportunities for peninsula suppliers and vendors. When completed, the BART Extension will improve access to local businesses and retailers and will significantly enhance the region's important travel and tourism industry. Mr. Speaker, the BART Extension will provide an effective transportation alternative for hundreds of thousands of bay area residents to help provide relief from wasted time and energy spent tied up in traffic congestion. BART's expected ridership on the peninsula will eventually reduce close to 100,000 cars a day on neighboring freeways. Getting people out of their cars and off of freeways will help improve air quality in our region and will conserve fuel. We have waited a long time on the peninsula for relief from the gridlock which exists on our freeways, Mr. Speaker. I have been a strong and consistent advocate since the 1950's for a mass transit system completely around the San Francisco Bay. I see the beginning of construction on the long-awaited extension of BART to the airport as a further important step in that direction. I look forward to the day when construction is complete and we will put this much-needed rapid transit extension to the airport into service.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine, and that action set in place the conditions which led to the reestablishment of the State of Israel 6 months later. On May 14, 1948 the people of Israel formally proclaimed the establishment of the modern State of Israel, and on that very same day, the United States extended diplomatic recognition to the new state. Beginning later this month with the 50th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly vote and continuing through the formal celebration of the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the state next May, the people of Israel are marking a half century of the flourishing of the modern State of Israel. Mr. Speaker, it is most appropriate that we here in the Congress on behalf of the American people reaffirm the bonds of warm friendship that link us with the Jewish people and Israel. Israel is our only democratic ally in the volatile Middle East region, and the strong common links that bind us with the people of Israel reflect our shared experiences and our strong shared interests. Today, with our distinguished colleague and the Chairman of the International Relations Committee, Congressman Benjamin Gilman, and a number of our other distinguished colleagues in the House, I have introduced a Joint Resolution which (1) recognizes the historic significance of the fiftieth anniversary of Israel, (2) commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the face of half a century of terrorism, hostility and belligerence by many of her neighbors, (3) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between the United States and Israel for the past half- century and which have been significant for both countries, and (4) extends the warmest congratulations and best wishes to the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful and prosperous and successful future. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me and Chairman Gilman in cosponsoring this resolution, and I ask that the text of our resolution be included in the Record. H.J. Res. 102 Expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Whereas on November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine, and through that vote, to create the State of Israel; Whereas on May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of the sovereign and independent State of Israel and the United States Government established full diplomatic relations with Israel; Whereas the desire of the Jewish people to establish an independent modern state of Israel is the outgrowth of the existence of the historic Kingdom of Israel established three thousand years ago in the city of Jerusalem and in the land of Israel; Whereas one century ago at the First Zionist Congress on August 29 to 31, 1897, in Basel, Switzerland, participants under the leadership of Theodore Herzl affirmed the desire to reestablish a Jewish homeland in the historic land of Israel; Whereas the establishment of the modern State of Israel as a homeland for the Jews following the slaughter of more than six million European Jews during the Holocaust; Whereas since its establishment fifty years ago, the modern state of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and dynamic society, and created a unique and vital economic, political, cultural, and intellectual life despite the heavy costs of six wars, terrorism, international ostracism, and economic boycotts; Whereas the people of Israel have established a vibrant and functioning pluralistic democratic political system including freedom of speech, a free press, free and fair and open elections, the rule of law, and other democratic principles and practices; Whereas, at great social and financial costs, Israel has absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jews from countries throughout the world, many of them refugees from Arab countries, and fully integrated them into Israeli society; Whereas for half a century the United States and Israel have maintained a special relationship based on mutually shared democratic values, common strategic interests, and moral bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and Whereas the American people have shared an affinity with the people of Israel and regard Israel as a strong and trusted ally and an important strategic partner: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of American in Congress assembled, That the United States (1) recognizes the historic significance of the fiftieth anniversary of the reestablishment of the sovereign and independent modern State of Israel; (2)commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East in the face of terrorism, hostility and belligerence by many of her neighbors; (3) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between the United States and Israel for the past half-century and which have been significant for both countries; and (4) extends the warmest congratulations and best wishes to the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful and prosperous and successful future.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to the attention of all Members of the House the appalling labor conditions that exist in the garment industry in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands [CNMI]. These islands, which were under Japanese control during World War II and were occupied by the United States in 1944, have been governed by a covenant with the United States since 1986. The covenant grants United States citizenship to the residents of the Marianas, but the United States agreed not to extend United States immigration laws there, responding to fears that excessive immigration might result. The Federal minimum wage was also not extended to the Mariana Islands. Mr. Speaker, a recent congressionally mandated report notes that, ``Ironically, CNMI policies have resulted in aliens becoming a majority of the island's population. . . . The garment industry takes full advantage of the immigration and minimum wage exception privileges, as well as privileged exceptions to the Federal trade laws, to ship products partially manufactured in the islands into the United States market even though the islands are outside the customs territory of the United States.'' The worst aspect of these developments has been the increasing practice by which Chinese bonded and indentured workers are imported into the factories of the Marianas, unprotected by labor laws, under contracts which prevent these workers from practicing their religions, engaging in political activity, or even marrying. Ample documentation exists that the barracks in which these workers are housed are as squalid as anywhere in the world, but ironically apparel produced in these sweatshops comes into the United States labeled ``Made in the USA''. According to the Federal Government, ``the average landed value of CNMI garment shipments to the United States is now at a rate of $625 million annually.'' Mr. Speaker, it is totally unacceptable for manufacturing to take place on what is American soil under these deplorable conditions. There is a new administration that will soon take office in Saipan, and President Clinton is to be commended for insisting that the CNMI live up to United States labor and human rights standards in order to continue receiving the preferences and aid it receives under the covenant. I hope that all Members will support legislation that will correct these inequities.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the centenary of the opening of the Thomas Jefferson building of the Library of Congress. This magnificent edifice has now served the American people and the U.S. Congress for 100 years. This is an anniversary that should be noted, remembered, and appreciated by all of us here in the Congress, who benefit from the excellent facilities and the outstanding staff of the Library, and it is an anniversary that all Americans should join with us in celebrating. All Americans are blessed with the outstanding collection of materials housed in the Library, but we are also fortunate to be able to enjoy the beauty of the Thomas Jefferson building, which is one of the finest public buildings in our Nation. This building reflects the best of American architecture, art, engineering, and construction. Mr. Speaker, on this important anniversary of the opening of the Thomas Jefferson building, I ask that a short article of Dr. James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, be placed in the Record, and I urge my colleagues to read it. The article by Dr. Billington appeared in the October/November issue of Civilization, a magazine published by the Library of Congress which provides information and background about the incredible resources our national library possesses. Mr. Speaker, Civilization is only one of the many creative innovations that Dr. Billington has contributed since he became Librarian of Congress 10 years ago this September. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in celebrating a century of service to the American people of the Thomas Jefferson building and to join me in commending Dr. Billington on his decade of outstanding service to our Nation as Librarian of Congress. A Glorious Moment for Mr. Max West (By Dr. James H. Billington) On a rainy Monday, November 1, 1897, the ``largest, costliest, and safest'' library building in the world opened its doors to the public without ceremony. In a front-page story that day, the Washington Evening Star noted that ``the rain did not come amiss to the bookworms'' who rushed to the Library's new building but ``rather served to heighten their enjoyment [of] the literary feast provided for them.'' The first volume requested after the doors were opened, reported the Star, was `` `Roger Williams' Year Book' of so recent a date that it had not been received. . . . The first book applied for and given out was `Martha Lamb's History of New York City' and the gentleman [reader] . . . bore the name of Max West.'' The new Italian Renaissance building housed 1 million books, 55,000 maps and other items that had been carted across the street from the Capitol, which had been the Library's overcrowded home for 97 years. The new structure was not only the most modern library building in existence, it was also a unique architectural feat. The Library's glittering dome, plated with 23-carat gold leaf, capped an elaborately decorated facade and a spectacular marble interior adorned by murals, frescoes and statuary created by more than 40 leading American artists. For months prior to the official opening, newspapers and popular magazines carried effusive articles about the new Library. Few visitors were disappointed. Senator Justin Morrill of Vermont, one of the Library's chief supporters in Congress, felt that its ``grandeur and felicitous finish'' would be likely to remain long unrivaled ``in this or any other country.'' Speaker of the House Joseph G. Cannon called it the best public building in Washington. Architecture critic Montgomery Schuyler praised the structure as a ``national possession, an example of a great public building monumentally conceived, faithfully built, and worthily adorned.'' On November 25, 1897, more than 4,700 people visited the Library during special Thanksgiving Day tours. The new building--today one of the Library's three major buildings on Capitol Hill and named the Thomas Jefferson Building after the Library's chief founder--was completed at a time of considerable optimism and national pride. The election of William McKinley in 1896 had seemed to inaugurate a period of domestic tranquillity. Prosperity was returning after the great Wall Street panic of 1893. There was unfinished business: The Civil War and Reconstruction had brought black Americans emancipation but nothing close to equality, and reformers decried child labor, slums and extremes of wealth and poverty. Nevertheless, all 45 states (Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico were still territories) were now linked by telegraph and transcontinental railroads; the population, swollen by European immigration, had reached 76 million; the country boasted steel mills and farms second to none; the telephone was beginning to take hold in the cities; the first automobiles had appeared. New land-grant colleges, notably in the Midwest, were producing future managers, engineers and teachers, and Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy had begun to build hundreds of local public libraries. Progress was in the air. This November, we plan to mark the 100th birthday of this glorious building without great fanfare but with deep gratitude to our forebears. There will be a gathering of members of Congress and other friends and benefactors of the Library, and a new brass plaque honoring Senator Morrill will be unveiled. Curators will make fresh additions to ``American Treasures,'' our permanent rotating exhibition of great artifacts and published works from the Library's collections. And, as we look back to the 1890s, we also will note certain differences in the 1990s. Visitors to the exhibition halls have to come and go through security gates--a necessity, sadly, on Capitol Hill these days. On the bright side, more than 60 images of the ``American Treasures,'' which range from the original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence to Thomas Edison's first copyrighted motion picture, have been digitized and made available to people across the nation on the Internet, along with 350,000 other unique items of Americana from the Library's collections and our entire electronic card catalog with 27 million entries. The Library now serves not only people who come to Washington. Thanks to new technology, the Library's most useful resources are becoming accessible on- line to all Americans every where. That is progress.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my dear friend, Hungarian businessman Gabor Varszegi, for his generous contribution of $100,000 to support a research fund at the Rosenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies at the City University of New York. Gabor's exemplary act of altruism will allow for the financial backing of many valuable Holocaust-related research projects. His donation will greatly assist the continuing efforts of the Rosenthal Institute and a myriad of worthy historical scholars in their collective crusade to make sure that the lessons of the Holocaust will be remembered eternally. In recognition of Gabor's devotion to this cause, he will be awarded the Graduate School's President's Medal at the City University on November 18, 1997. Mr. Speaker, I join the City University of New York in honoring Gabor Varszegi and paying tribute to him on this special occasion. Gabor Varszegi is an outstanding example of a highly successful post- Communist businessman in Hungary. He first achieved great success as Hungary moved into the post-Communist era by establishing a 1-hour film processing business in Hungary, FOTEX, Ltd., one of the first 1-hour film processing companies in Eastern Europe. FOTEX has now expanded to include a wide variety of enterprises in a host of nations. Notwithstanding Mr. Varszegi's great entrepreneurial achievements, he has never forgotten his roots as the son of Holocaust survivors. His outstanding generosity and commitment to furthering important Holocaust-related research led to his establishment of the J. and O. Winter Research Fund at the Rosenthal Institute in 1991, which his recent gift will permanently endow. This valuable scholarly resource, named after Mr. Varszegi's late parents, has provided backing to a number of important undertakings which address not only the events of the Holocaust but its causes and its significance as well. Research done through the research fund includes studies on: Sites of Memory: Vienna, the Past in the Present, the Jewish People's History in Heves County, the Rescue of Jews Across the Hungarian-Romanian Border Between 1940-1944, Remembering the Martyrs of Hidegseg, Teaching About the Holocaust at the Secondary School Level, Remarks on the Rise of Political Anti-Semitism in Romania, and the Holocaust as Topic in Hungarian and Israeli Novels. As a result of Mr. Varszegi's generous gift, as well as the fine efforts of my dear friend Prof. Randolph L. Braham, the administrator of the J. & O. Winter Research Fund, and other outstanding faculty members at the Rosenthal Institute and the Graduate School and University Center at CUNY, this substantive work will continue for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Gabor Varszegi for his devotion to the cause of Holocaust remembrance. His actions reflect a genuine understanding of the words of Patrick Henry: ``I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past.'' Mr. Varszegi is providing the oil which lights this lamp that will illuminate the steps of all of us as we seek to build a world that is more just, more humane and more respectful of the human rights of all men and women. I invite my colleagues to join me in applauding him and his praiseworthy endeavors.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to call to the attention of my colleagues in the Congress the significance of the biotechnology industry in San Mateo County, CA. A part of the impetus for my remarks today is the release of a recent report, ``Bioscience in San Mateo County: An Industry Study,'' which was prepared by the Bay Area Bioscience Center in cooperation with SAMCEDA, the San Mateo County Economic Development Association. The bioscience research industry in San Mateo County was ushered into our area in 1976, when the founders of Genentech, a pioneer and major biotech firm, rented space and began operations in the city of South San Francisco. Today, San Mateo County is home to nearly 100 bioscience companies employing over 10,000 men and women. In the past 15 years, San Mateo County has become one of the world's most important centers for the research and the commercialization of bioscience research and development. The economic benefit to our local communities from bioscience companies is significant. Bioscience companies pay high wages, provide steady employment, and are environmentally clean operations. The members of its work force are well-educated and involved in their residential communities. To win the benefits of this vibrant bioscience industry in our communities, economic development initiatives to support local bioscience companies have been undertaken by dozens of cities, counties, and States throughout the United States, as well as by Canada and many European countries. Often these recruitment efforts have targeted San Mateo County and other northern California companies with a variety of incentives. Although San Mateo County is the fortunate birthplace of the bioscience industry, there continues to be fierce competition for the industry's future growth. In the 1950's and 1960's, California's civic and business leadership advanced the State economically by anticipating and encouraging the growth of the aerospace and the electronics industries. The basic elements of that long-term technology development strategy helped create a prosperous Silicon Valley and, more recently, benefited our State's growing bioscience industry. According to the report ``Bioscience in San Mateo County: ``An Industry Study,'' few foreign countries and only one other State (Massachusetts) can match the extent of San Mateo County's booming bioscience activity. From industry leaders like Genetech and PE Applied Biosystems Division to promising young companies like Tularik and Arris Pharmaceuticals, the county has established itself as a locale of choice for bioscience companies. One of the principal reasons for this success is the high quality of life that we enjoy on the San Francisco Peninsula. Ironically, this same success of San Mateo County in establishing its preeminence for the bioscience industry has also created challenges to county leaders in the effort to maintain preeminence in the bioscience industry. This report is a blueprint to assist local officials, business leaders, and the citizens of San Mateo County in considering what steps should be taken to ensure that the county can benefit from the continued growth of this valued industry. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the executive summary of this report be placed in the Congressional Record. I think that it will be useful for our colleagues in the Congress to examine this report because it provides an excellent example of cooperative local efforts to deal with the problems of attracting industry for the benefit of a community. It is my hope that the information and recommendations contained in this report can provide a focus for discussion as well as a working tool for economic development by San Mateo County officials, public utilities companies, development authorities, and the national bioscience industry. Executive Summary During the last fifteen years, Sam Mateo County has become a locale of choice for the economically promising bioscience industry. To help ensure that the county maintains its prominence, the San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA) and several local bioscience companies asked the Bay Area Bioscience Center to conduct a Bioscience Business Environment Survey and to offer recommendations for maintaining the competitive advantages currently afforded the industry by the county. This first-ever look at the scope of the dynamic and growing bioscience industry in San Mateo County comes at a time when the country's business community is implementing a county-wide economic development strategic plan for the retention, expansion and attraction of business through public/private partnerships. The information and recommendations contained herein are intended to provide a focus for discussion as well as a working tool for economic development efforts by county officials, public utilities, developers and the bioscience industry itself. Selected information and recommendations are summarized on the following pages: Employment Forty survey participants expect to create 1,100 new jobs in 1997. This expansion represents a highly impressive overall employment growth rate of 15 percent. The total operating budget of 32 bioscience companies in 1995 was more that $1.4 billion, including an estimated $470 million in salaries and benefits. Real Estate and Construction More than 3.7 million square feet of office, laboratory and distribution space is currently being utilized by the surveyed firms. The rental expense incurred in San Mateo County by survey respondents for the years 1996 and 1997 is expected to be $71 million, a 48% increase over the $46.7 million two year total for 1994 and 1995. Survey participants invested $138 million in new construction in San Mateo County for the two years 1994 and 1995, not counting tenant improvements paid for by landlords. The same companies plan to devote $186 million for construction spending in 1996 and 1997, an increase of 35%. Facilities growth is not limited to a few large companies: More than 70% of the survey respondents planned to expand their facilities in the two year period 1996 and 1997, pending favorable financing and regulatory conditions. Recommendations Develop an incubator initiative in San Mateo County to assist bioscience entrepreneur in their startup operations. The high cost of doing business, and in particular the challenge of finding affordable wet-lab space, is a significant deterrent to new bioscience company formation in the county. A life sciences incubator would help ensure the county's continuing preeminence in bioscience for years to come. Conduct a comparative analysis of the county's tax and regulatory policies vis-a-vis other leading bioscience counties in California and the nation, and initiate reforms as appropriate. Establish within SAMCEDA a bioscience industry liaison position that will oversee all issues related to the growth of a strong bioscience industry in San Mateo County, and help implement the recommendations in this report. Support continued efforts in education reform, particularly in improving the math and science curricula. Work with high schools and community colleges to develop a school-to-work initiative such as a tech-prep or apprenticeship (work-based learning) program to train entry- level bioscience technical. Expand the county's existing community and four-year college efforts to train bioscience laboratory technicans, with particular emphasis on providing minority students with access to the high-growth bioscience industry. Work with the scientific, academic and industrial communities to increase teachers' familiarity with commercial applications of science and science-related careers for students, especially in bioscience and biotechnology. This may be done in many ways, including workshops for teachers, teacher education programs or career-oriented video presentations. Promote lifelong training for local bioscience workers in a manner that is accessible to the workers and that offers relevant courses developed in cooperation with bioscience companies.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on November 22 of this year, Mr. Speaker, the city of Pacifica, CA, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its incorporation. I am delighted and honored to call this anniversary to the attention of my colleagues here in the Congress, and I invite them to join me in congratulating the citizens and the city leaders of Pacifica on this noteworthy occasion. Although the city of Pacifica is only 40 years old, the area is one of the most important historical areas in the State of California. In November 1769, a group of 63 Spanish explorers under the leadership of Don Gaspar de Portola climbed the mountain now known as Sweeney Ridge which lies within the boundaries of the city of Pacifica. They were the first Europeans to view the glorious panorama of the San Francisco Bay. It is noteworthy, Mr. Speaker, that the birthplace of de Portola-- Balaguer, Spain, in the region of Catalonia--became a sister city of Pacifica in 1970. Through the tireless efforts of many local Pacificans as well as other concerned citizens of our peninsula, coupled with the consistent and long-term effort of a number of us here in the Congress, Sweeney Ridge--the Plymouth Rock of the west coast--was included within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1984. Eighteen acres of land in Pacifica at the Portola discovery site have been designated a national historical landmark. Mr. Speaker, lime pits beside Calera Creek in what is now Pacifica were exploited to provide whitewash which was used for the Presidio of San Francisco in 1776. As early as 1785, crops were planted in San Pedro Valley in Pacifica at the outpost of Mission Delores. Two years later, willow fences were built to keep grizzly bears from the surrounding mountains away from the crops. In 1839 Don Francisco Sanchez was given a Mexican land grant by the Governor of the Mexican State of Alta California with boundaries similar to the present city boundaries of Pacifica. In 1846, Don Francisco moved to what is now called the Sanchez Adobe, which still stands on Linda Mar Boulevard. Throughout the first century of its history, this building was used as a home, hotel, bordello, speakeasy, bootleg saloon, hunting lodge, and artichoke packing shed. The building was acquired in 1947 by San Mateo County, and it is currently maintained as a county museum and park. Pacifica remained an agricultural area until this century. In 1907 a quarry was opened in what is now Pacifica to provide stone for the rebuilding the city of San Francisco following the devastating earthquake of 1906. At about that same time, the Ocean Shore Railroad was extended into the area, and the development of housing in the Pacifica area began. The Little Brown Church, Anderson's Shore, and the San Pedro School--which later became city hall--also date from this period. After World War II, growth accelerated in an effort to meet the housing needs of the many young families moving to the peninsula. On November 22, 1957, 10 communities-- Edgemar, Pacific Manor, Manor Village, Westview, Sharp Park, Fairway Park, Vallemar, Rockaway Beach, Linda Mar, and Pedro Point--were jointed together and incorporated as the city of Pacifica. The name given the new city is the Spanish word for ``peace''-- ``pacifica.'' Although the area has a long and distinguished Spanish heritage, the name of the city does not derive from the early Spanish settlers or explorers of that area. It was the product of a contest held in 1957 to find an appropriate name for the newly incorporated city. The winning name was derived from an 80-foot statue by sculptor Ralph Stackpole, which was created as the theme symbol for the Golden Gate International Exposition held on Treasure Island in 1939-1940. Although the 80-foot statue was destroyed after the Exposition, two of the sculptor's working models have been saved and both are now in Pacifica--one is over the front stairs of the Pacifica City Hall and the other is in the city council chambers. ``Wisdom in Progress'' is the slogan adopted when the city was incorporated, and that phrase has indeed marked the development of Pacifica since its establishment. The city has constructed a fishing pier, an important facility for visitors and residents to enjoy the ocean. Pacifica has also fostered a number of important projects to establish and improve the outstanding quality of life its fortunate residents enjoy. Mr. Speaker, I invite the Congress to join with me today in extending congratulations and best wishes to the 40,000 residents of Pacifica on the important 40th anniversary of the founding of this excellent city.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, the Right Reverend William Swing, Bishop of the Diocese of California of the Episcopal Church in the United States, is one of the outstanding religious leaders of our Nation. We in the bay area have the great blessing of having him in our city of San Francisco. Bishop Swing is an extraordinary man who is dedicated to promoting peace and respect for human rights around the globe. Throughout his life, he has also been sincerely dedicated to helping the homeless, the elderly, and the sick. Recently, Bishop Swing has launched the United Religions Initiative which seeks to unite all religions in order to establish peace among them. In a world where blood is often shed in the name of religious belief, the United Religions Initiative is working toward the reconciliation of religious groups for the good of all nations. Mr. Speaker, on October 29, Bishop Swing made a presentation at a briefing of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus to discuss the United Religions Initiative with Members of Congress and congressional staff. I had the pleasure of introducing Bishop Swing and spending time with him on that occasion as he presented his ideas for encouraging peace and respect for human rights. I ask, Mr. Speaker, that Bishop Swing's remarks at this recent meeting of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus be placed in the Congressional Record, and I urge my colleagues to give thoughtful and serious considerations to the ideas of this dedicated man of God. Remarks of Bishop William Swing to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus I would like to call attention to an Initiative that could have a profound influence on global peacemaking. I am referring to the United Religions Initiative. This initiative seeks to create a new global forum where the world's faith communities, continuing to respect each others distinctness, would meet together on a daily and permanent basis to deepen mutual understanding, recognition and respect; to create an open dialogue for exchanging ideas and finding a common voice; and to cooperate in new ways to address urgent suffering. This effort would create for the world's religions a forum with the stature and visibility of the United Nations. As the people of the world work together to shape a new world order following the end of the Cold War, we confront enormous questions. How can we ensure peace? How can the world's people live together as neighbors? What structures of cooperative effort can help us to secure a decent world for our grandchildren? And what visions can guide us as we consider these questions? Finding answers together will require not only new ways of thinking and new voices at the table, but also a firm foundation of shared spiritual values. In this conversation, the world's religions must necessarily be involved. When we look to our religious traditions for guidance, however, we must first acknowledge a hard truth: while religions historically have been an immense source of good, they have also been the direct cause of much violent conflict. When not actually fighting themselves, they have all too often fanned the flames of hatred, or stood mute in the presence of injustice. Not one of the original founders of the world's religions taught murder, coercion or injustice as a way of propagating the faith; and yet religious violence continues to this day, deeply injuring the moral credibility of our religious institutions. Moreover, such violence is increasingly a major threat to world peace. Much of the large scale violence in the world today--in Bosnia, Chechnya, Palestine, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and East Timor, for example--is caused, encouraged or abetted by religion. And yet the world's religions are also humanity's great treasure houses, where our deepest values, aspirations and wisdom have been sustained. It is religion that reminds us that life is ultimately larger than what we know; that life is sacred; that each of us is called to act responsibly in light of these truths; and that the deepest meanings of life are to be found beyond narrow self-interest. Religions are our window to a larger life, a life beyond ourselves. Drawing on their deepest sources, could they themselves now set an example of how we all might live with one another as neighbors? It is the conviction of the United Religions Initiative that this is indeed the challenge. The Initiative owes much to previous interfaith efforts. Over the last 100 years, many have worked to begin dialogue and cooperation among people of different faiths. On the local level, interfaith cooperation is already rapidly emerging in hospital ministries, jail ministries, and university campus ministries. Cities around the world are developing interfaith commissions. National interfaith coalitions are beginning to appear. And a few groups, such as the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, the Temple of Understanding, the International Association for Religious Freedom, and the World Conference on Religion and Peace, have undertaken significant international dialogues and action projects. All of these distinct efforts have begun to provide an infrastructure of interfaith work throughout the world; and all of this deserves to be acknowledged and genuinely celebrated. Given this present level of interreligious activity, and the world's search for a new foundation of shared values, is there anything else that could happen among religions beyond what already exists? The answer is an emphatic yes. There is a vast untapped potential for partnership among the world's religions that could be an enormous resource for peace-making and community building. If religions themselves could move just one step beyond their ancient competitions and attempt a new dimension of religious cooperation, a great new focus for global hope would be forthcoming. And if religions, continuing to respect their differences, were then able to join their enormous resources in a serious, mutual effort of service to the world, a tremendous new force for global good would come into being. The United Religions Initiative is an attempt to call together members of the world's religions and spiritual traditions to create a comprehensive global framework for just such an effort. With the help of an organizational development team from Case Western Reserve University, they are building a worldwide network of supporters at the grassroots level, while simultaneously overseeing a large scale collaborative process of writing an organizational charter for a United Religions Organization. This charter will be formally signed on June 26, 2000, the 55th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Currently, the Initiative has active, committed groups on six continents, and they will hold some 15 regional conferences during the coming 18 months. They are committed to the inclusion of youth, women and indigenous traditions as full partners in this effort. One key initial project of the Initiative is a call for twenty-four hours of non-violence and making peace among faith communities on December 31st, 1999. Organized through a large partnership of supporting organizations, this call will invite people around the world to one day of individual and community reflection, repentance, and resolution to offer each faith's deepest values as a gift for the new millennium. The logistical challenges of such an immense project are daunting; on the other hand, the overriding vision is that for this one day, the global hope of a United Religions could actually become a lived reality. A United Religions would have much to offer the world as we move into the next millennium. Where economic and political solutions by themselves have proved inadequate, it could offer deeper, value-based visions of global possibility. It could directly address many of those deeper problems which are beyond the capabilities of government. Most importantly, as we move into an uncertain future, a United Religions could offer the world a powerful new vision of hope--the vision that the deepest stories we know can now cease to be causes of separation between people, and become instead the foundation for a reunited humanity.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and honor to pay tribute to the exceptional public service career of my dear friend and one of San Mateo County's most dedicated public servants, A.G. ``Bud'' Harrison, upon his retirement from the Burlington City Council. His extraordinary devotion to serving his community, as well as his longtime commitment to educating young people about the importance of civic involvement, make him a genuine hero to all of us who care about the Bay Area. Bud's strong belief in public service is rooted in his background and has been proven repeatedly throughout the course of his 67 years. Born in San Francisco, his future political intentions were foreshadowed at a young age when his classmates at Balboa High School elected Bud president of the senior class. After his graduation in 1948, he volunteered for a far more meaningful type of service in the U.S. Air Force. Bud spent 4 years in the military, aided his country during the Korean war, and was discharged in 1952 as a staff sergeant. After his military career ended, Bud enrolled at the University of San Francisco, where he graduated in 1957 with a secondary teaching credential. It was then that he began his career which was destined to influence the lives of literally thousands of young men and women, as he became a political science teacher at Capachino High School. Both of my daughters, Annette and Katrina, were privileged to be among those fortunate students in Bud's classes, and they recall his lessons with great fondness and appreciation. Remembered Annette: ``In a time of great cynicism, he infused his pupils with a strong sense of civic activism and an appreciation for the remarkable role of politics in America.'' Katrina described Bud's ``enthusiastic spirit which imbued his students with a love of public service.'' In Bud's 33 years at Capachino High School, and in his 16 years as a political science instructor at the College of San Mateo, he made a lasting contribution not only to lives of thousands of young people but also to the success and stability of our democratic system of government. For this, Mr. Speaker, we are all in his debt. Bud's most significant lessons were those of his own example. He did not preach mere platitudes about public service to his students; rather, he was an inspiring example of the impact that a sole individual can have by becoming involved in his or her community. His 35-year career spanned a wide variety of local offices and an even broader array of well-represented and appreciative constituents. The citizens of Burlingame elected Bud to three terms as their mayor, as well as to 12 years of service as a city councilman. In addition, But worked tirelessly as a San Mateo County supervisor, as a Burlingame planning commissioner, civil service commissioner, and a member of the Library Board of Trustees, and as a longtime member of the board of directors of ReCare, formerly Easter Seals, and as the director of the San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and in a host of other important civic positions. Through all of these challenging posts, and all of Bud's dynamic efforts to make Burlingame and San Mateo County a better place to live and raise a family, he has been loyally and lovingly supported by his wife of 44 years, Doris, by his four children, Chuck, Mary, Terry, and Cheri, and by his six grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, as Bud Harrison's distinguished career in public service comes to a conclusion with his retirement from the Burlingame City Council, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this outstanding man, an example of the best that our communities have to offer, and a true role model to all those he has taught in his classes and in his life of community activism.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, this morning a number of us had a leadership breakfast with the visiting President of China, Jiang Zemin. In that meeting a number of very serious human rights concerns were raised with our Chinese guest by the participating Senators and Members of Congress. Mr. Speaker, it is important that President Jiang Zemin understand the seriousness of the concern, the strength of the interest of the American people in human rights. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, on the eve of President Jiang's arrival in Washington, DC, the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights of the House International Relations Committee held a hearing on China's record on human rights under the leadership of Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith of New Jersey. That was a most appropriate and most important hearing at which a number of excellent witnesses discussed in some detail the appalling abuse of human rights by the Government of China. I ask, Mr. Speaker, that my opening statement at that hearing be placed in the Record. As the President of China visits us here on Capitol Hill, it is important that he understand clearly and unequivocally the point of view of the elected representatives of the American people. Statement of Congressman Tom Lantos of California--``U.S.-China Relations and Human Rights,'' October 28, 1997 Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. First, I want to commend you for holding this hearing. I deeply regret that, apparently, this is the only hearing held on this general subject during the visit of the President of China, because I think it's extremely important that the public relations campaign so carefully constructed and so effectively executed by the paid propagandists of Beijing not be successful and that the true story about China be relayed. Since I so strongly agree with most of the statements that you just made, Mr. Chairman, allow me to begin with a general observation that puts this visit in its proper perspective. I disagree with this administration's China policy. Having said that, however, let me state for the record that I'm convinced that the commitment to human rights of this administration is far stronger than was the commitment to human rights of the previous administration. And while we can discuss ad nauseam and ad infinitum the human rights policies of the Clinton administration vis-a-vis many countries on the face of this planet, and while I share your concern, Mr. Chairman, with respect to the Clinton administration's human rights policy with respect to China, the record must show that the Clinton-Gore Administration has a far greater commitment to human rights than did Bush- Quayle; that Secretary Albright has a far greater commitment to human rights than did former Secretary Jim Baker; and that on balance, this administration is far more sympathetic to human rights concerns across the globe than was the previous administration. Let me state at the outset that I look forward to listening to our witnesses as one who has unbounded admiration for China as a civilization and a culture. Chinese civilization and culture is obviously one of the great civilizations and cultures on the face of this planet. And nothing would please me more than the opportunity for that culture and that civilization to blossom in freedom and in growing friendship with the United States. Let me also at the outset, Mr. Chairman, put to rest perhaps the most preposterous notion that many who oppose our position claim with respect to U.S.-China policy. There is an attempt on the part of many--and many in the administration-- to juxtapose a policy of engagement with a policy of isolation. That is a phony juxtaposition. No one is more committed to engagement with China than I am, and I believe you are, Mr. Chairman. What we are calling for is an engagement which is consonant with fundamental America principles and values. No one in his right mind is advocating isolating 1.2 billion human beings. All of us recognize the enormous importance China will play in Asia and in the Pacific. All of us are hoping for a prosperous, peaceful and democratic China. So, I reject categorically the juxtaposition of engagement versus isolation, however, high the authority may be who is pursuing that line. Our problem with China, of course, is many fold. Today, we are dealing with human rights. But let me, for the record, state that I am--as I am sure you too, Mr. Chairman-- profoundly concerned with China's role in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. I am profoundly concerned with the profoundly unfair trade relations between the United States and China--a trade imbalance which this year will exceed $40 billion. I am profoundly concerned with the subtle undermining of political democracy in Hong Kong. I am profoundly concerned with the onslaught on the free and democratic Taiwan. And of course, I am profoundly concerned about outrageous performance of this Chinese regime in Tibet. Cynical photo opportunities by the President of China-- seeking out the most sacred places of American democracy in Philadelphia or Williamsburg or elsewhere--will not suffice to cover up the shameful human rights record of the Chinese government. The record is clear. In addition to the litany of items you mentioned, Mr. Chairman, we will be hearing from my friend Harry Wu concerning the sordid traffic in organs of executed prisoners--one of the shabbiest aspects of China's policy anywhere on the face of this planet. I have no doubt in my mind that the almost pathological opposition of this regime, to his holiness the Dalai Lama stems from the inherent fear of a sick and valueless system when it is confronted with ultimate moral authority. There is no rational explanation as to why this vast and powerful country of 1.2 billion people with a vast military apparatus should be afraid of a simple Buddhist monk in saffron robes-- without a military, without economic power, without anything except his moral authority--which he juxtaposes to the powerful regime in Beijing. Human rights have, in fact, deteriorated in China in recent years. Our decoupling of most-favored-nation treatment (MFN) issues from human rights--as you, Mr. Chairman, and I and our good friend, Congressman Wolf so ably stated at the time--was a mistake when it occurred. And it is my, perhaps naive, hope that at least in the House of Representatives this next time around we will have sufficient votes with a new coalition emerging--covering the broad spectrum from human rights through the American labor movement to the religious groups-- that we might in fact eke out a narrow majority for a victory for the moral position on that issue. Let me just say in conclusion, Mr. Chairman, that long after the Jiang Zemin's of this world have been thrown on the dump heap of history, the heroes in China's prisons will continue to live in the minds of men and women across the globe who believe in human freedom and dignity, in religious freedom, in the right of people to select governments of their own choosing. This transitory regime will not be here for long in its present from because the people of China are as entitled to live in a free and open and democratically elected society, as are the people Taiwan today and as are the people of Hungary or the Czech Republic or Poland. It was not too many years ago when those of us who expressed hope that the communist regimes will collapse in the Soviet Union and in the Soviet empire were labeled naive. Naivete is on the other side--mostly on the side of the leaders of the multi-national giant corporations who, for the sake of a few contracts, are ready to swallow all of the principles taught to them in schools here in the United States. And our great democratic allies are no better. In France, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, the pursuit of contracts with China is no less vigorous and shameless as it is by multi-nationals headquartered in the United States. But naivete is not on our side. It is on the side of those who hope that making deals with the devil is a long-term proposition for national prosperity. In the not-too-distant future, I look forward to welcoming to Washington some leaders of China who will view the American shrines of democracy not merely as photo opportunities, but as fountains where they can replenish their yearning for freedom. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life of Richard L. Swig, who passed away on September 25, 1997, at the age of 72. Dick was a universally respected San Francisco businessman, a dedicated philanthropist, and a devoted community leader in the bay area. Mr. Speaker, I have known Dick, Cissie, and the whole Swig family for almost 50 years, and my wife Annette and I have loved and admired them for all that they have meant to our community. We first met Dick's wonderful parents in the summer of 1950. Although they were part of San Francisco's social and business elite, and we were just a young couple in the academic community, they enthusiastically accepted our invitation for dinner at our tiny and modest apartment. Dick's late father, Ben Swig, made one of his very last public appearances at the wedding of our younger daughter, Katrina, in the summer of 1980. Dick first set foot in San Francisco over half a century ago. After serving in the Navy during World War II, the Massachusetts-born Swig moved to the west coast to begin a career with the Fairmont Hotel, which his family had purchased a few years earlier. Dick spent several years learning about every facet of the business, working in management, publicity, and service-oriented positions. In 1953, at the age of 27, he became the hotel's president. For over four decades, Dick's leadership made the Fairmont the model of luxurious hospitality and one of the most highly regarded hotels in America. World leaders, famous celebrities, and San Francisco visitors with an eye for excellence would call the Fairmont home during their visits to the bay area. The hotel's unqualified success spawned six similarly elegant hotels across the country, in New York, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas, and San Jose. Dick demanded the same levels of superiority and class at these establishments as he did at his San Francisco flagship, and they realized the same degree of achievement. Said his son Rick: ``His legacy both to the Fairmont, a company he dearly loved, and as a hotelier in general, is inestimable. . . . His management style was inspired not only by great care and attention to hotel guests, but also the extraordinary recognition of his hotel staff. In the days of independently owned luxury hotels . . . he set standards for us all.'' Upon his death, the Fairmont flags flew at half-staff. So did every other flag on ever other San Francisco building, per the order of Mayor Willie Brown. This tribute reflects the scope of Dick's contributions, which extended well beyond the Fairmont to the entire bay area community and humanitarian concerns around the world. Dick Swig, along with his equally dedicated wife Cissie, devoted a large portion of his life to serving the bay area and to fighting for compassionate causes that he cared so much about. He served as trustee, chairman, or board member of more than 40 charitable, professional, and educational institutions, ranging from the Leukemia Society of America to the San Francisco Symphony Association to the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, of which he served as president. Dick assumed a particularly strong leadership role in the Jewish community, both in the bay area and nationally, and he worked tirelessly for humanitarian and charitable groups that fought discrimination, educated the public, and served the interests of the community. These organizations included the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, the Jewish Community Federation, the Jewish Museum of San Francisco, and numerous others. Dick received many distinguished honors for his philanthropic work, including the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Humanitarian Award, the Golda Meir Award, the U.S. Coast Guard's Distinguished Public Service Award, and the City College of San Francisco President's Award. He was truly a man who cherished the value of public service, and his heartfelt generosity improved the lives of many Americans. Mr. Speaker, shortly after the passing of Dick Swig, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on a recent event that, in my opinion, is characteristic of this fine man. The September 26, 1997, edition reads: A while ago, Cissie Swig was honored at a reception at the Fairmont, and her husband, Richard, wanted to be there but he wasn't feeling well enough (waiting for a heart transplant at the time) to stand in a receiving line. So he managed it in his own great style: sat in a chair in his favorite lobby in the world and greeted everyone--for what turned out to be a last time. Mr. Speaker, Dick Swig was a man who loved people, who loved San Franciscans, and who devoted his life to making others feel comfortable, whether as guests in his hotels or beneficiaries of his generosity. He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him and who had the opportunity to enjoy his ebullient and compassionate spirit.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, relations between the United States Congress and the Government of India have been improving steadily in the past 2 years. One of the major reasons for this improvement has been the excellent work of Shyamala B. Cowsik, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India here in Washington. During her current posting, Ambassador Cowsik has worked tirelessly with Members of Congress and congressional staff to explain India's important economic reforms, its secular democratic government, and its large consuming class. In doing so, she has helped to create a climate in which an ever growing number of the Members of this body have come to realize the importance of a strong India-United States relationship. Mr. Speaker, Shyamala Cowsik is an Indian Foreign Service Officer. Prior to being the Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington, she served as India's Ambassador to the Philippines. Earlier she held important postings in Thailand and Yugoslavia. Having now completed her term in the United States, Ambassador Cowsik is leaving at the end of the month to become India's Ambassador to Cyprus. I know my colleagues join me in wishing her success in this position as well as congratulations on a job well done here in Washington.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, recently we have heard horror stories from a Senate Finance Committee about Federal employees of the Internal Revenue Agency, the IRS. As these charges have echoed and reechoed across the political spectrum, there have been few voices willing to express a contrary point of view. I fear, Mr. Speaker, that we are again witnessing an effort to score political points by scapegoating Federal employees. While I do not condone wrongdoing by any Government employee, the recent charges have been blown completely out of proportion and have tainted all employees of the IRS. This is absolutely appalling. Mr. Speaker, in this atmosphere National Public Radio has again demonstrated that it is a national treasure, a vital information resource that provides critically needed alternate points of view. NPR is not just another ``me-too'' media outlet reflecting, but not thinking about, the so-called news. In an excellent commentary broadcast by NPR's ``All Things Considered'' on Tuesday, October 21, Jacob Weisberg, the chief political correspondent for Slate magazine, provided a much-needed alternate point of view. It puts the IRS bashing into perspective, and it emphasizes that Federal employees are a competent and dedicated group of Americans. Mr. Speaker, I ask that his commentary be placed in the Record, and I urge my colleagues to give it serious and thoughtful attention. Robert Siegel, Host: Commentator Jacob Weisberg says IRS bashing has become a popular new game on Capitol Hill and in the news media. He says the accusations would not stand up to an audit. Jacob Weisberg, Commentator: Republicans have an excellent new enemy--the Internal Revenue Service. With Senate hearings and a national barnstorming tour, party leaders have spent the past several weeks vilifying the one government bureaucracy they think has no friends. Democrats and the Clinton administration, sensing a political hazard, have piled on with their own expressions of outrage and called for reform. But is the IRS really a rogue agency? Consider what we've learned in recent weeks. The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from four abused taxpayers. These four were culled from some 1,500 who have contacted the committee. There's no way of knowing how many of those have legitimate gripes. But even if all were genuine victims, it would not remotely approach the kind of systematic sadism alleged by Republicans. There are more than 200 million tax returns filed each year, of which 2 million are audited. Fifteen hundred abject failures would mean an error rate of .00075 percent. And that's not even per year. It's per ever. Even some Republicans used to think that was pretty good. A bipartisan commission on the IRS recently concluded that there was no systematic abuse of taxpayers. The commission found very few examples of IRS personnel abusing power, its report noted. What about the IRS using revenue quotas? To the extent this happened, it was a response to pressure from Capitol Hill. In 1995, the newly elected Gingrich Congress passed a compliance initiative authorizing the hiring of 1,200 new agents. It demanded data from the agency to show that the money was being well spent. But didn't we at least learn that the IRS persecutes the poor? There has been a sharp decline in audits of taxpayers with incomes of more than $100,000, and an increase for those under $25,000. But there are some innocent explanations. In 1990, the IRS began categorizing non-filers about whom it lacked information in the $25,000 and under category. It audited more of them after Congress demanded that it prevents cheating on the Earned Income Tax Credit, which goes to the working poor. Upper income audits dropped when shelters were closed by tax reform in 1986. Despite the weakness of these and other charges, Republicans seem to think IRS bashing makes a great theme. Trent Lott, the Senate Majority Leader, recently slashed the agency as intrusive, abusive, and out of control. That's not a bad soundbite. But the IRS isn't out of control. Its critics are.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure both as a Member of Congress and a proud American citizen to recognize the outstanding and courageous contributions of our women veterans. Since the birth of our Republic, through the darkest days of our most painful wars, brave women have selflessly displayed their patriotism by risking their lives in the name of our national security. In honor of these pioneers and the almost 2 million American servicewomen who came before them, the Women in Military Service Memorial at the Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated on Saturday, October 18, 1997. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught, who directed this historic project for over a decade, to my former colleague, Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar, whose 1985 bill to create this memorial I was proud to cosponsor, and to all the women and men who worked tirelessly to recognize the innumerable achievements of these brave Americans. During the early days of our country, in an era when few doors opened even for the ablest and most talented American women, they served as nurses and cooks and in any capacity where the causes of desperate men were so threatened as to override the gender barriers of the day. During the next two centuries, as women were slowly granted their due rights as American citizens, their roles in our Armed Forces have expanded as well. In the last 5 years, under the leadership of President Clinton and Vice President Gore, women have come still closer to the goal of equality in military opportunity. This administration has presided over the first woman to head one of our service branches, Secretary of the Air Force Sheila Widnall; the first women to serve at 3-star rank; the first woman to command a flying wing; the first woman to command a naval base; and the first women to serve aboard an aircraft carrier. In the words of Vice President Gore: ``Today, women are a vital element of virtually every aspect of our mission . . . around the world 24 hours a day; at sea, on the ground, in the air, and even in space.'' Mr. Speaker, it is high time that we paid these courageous women the respect and honor that they deserve. The Women in Military Service Memorial fulfills this overdue purpose. This monument, which includes a reflecting pool, an exhibit hall, a theater, and a computerized registry of servicewomen, now serves as a magnificent tribute to our female veterans who, in many instances, fought multiple enemies: the paramount foe in war, and the less conspicuous but omnipresent nemesis of gender discrimination. As President Clinton stated in a videotaped message at Saturday's ceremony: ``The . . . memorial is a living reminder that we are all involved, men and women, when it comes to protecting America's security . . . This knowledge was sometimes slow in coming. For much of our history many Americans felt that a woman's place should be closer to the homefront than the frontlines. Still our women volunteered, struggling for freedom all around the world.'' Captain Catherine Kocourek Genovese, a retired Marine Corps officer who now lives in my home of San Mateo County, CA, is typical of the competent and dedicated women who are honored at this new memorial. She joined the military at the height of the Vietnam war. After enduring the demanding physical training required of all Marines, both male and female, she faced challenges which tested her mental fortitude as well as her perseverance in the face of gender discrimination. The Washington Post reported on Captain Genovese's experiences in its October 18, 1997 edition: As a young commanding officer at a base in Twentynine Palms, Calif., Genovese said, she quickly came up against a group of male recruits who refused to salute her. After a quick lesson in Marine etiquette, she said, it never happened again. ``These guys were tough,'' Genovese said. ``It wasn't easy to confront a group like that. But after that, even if they were half a block away, they'd salute and say, `Good morning, ma'am.' '' Captain Genovese refused to allow sexism to interfere with her desire and ability to serve her country. At 22, she became the first female Marine to pass a pistol marksmanship test and earn the second-highest ranking as a sharpshooter. She later became the first women assigned to a weapons training battalion. Mr. Speaker, we all owe Captain Genovese and all of her fellow trailblazers an immense debt of gratitude. As President Clinton declared at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Women in Military Service Memorial in 1995, ``For far too long women were treated as second class soldiers. They could give their lives for liberty, but they couldn't give orders to men. They could heal the wounded and hold the dying, but they could not dream of holding the highest ranks.'' This new monument serves as a constant remainder to all that women have given to their country and to all they have achieved in surmounting the barriers to their full service in the armed forces.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday with a number of our distinguished colleagues in the House, I introduced H.R. 2635, the Human Rights Information Act. Joining me to introduce this bill were my colleagues Constance Morella of Maryland, James McGovern of Massachusetts, Elizabeth Furse of Oregon, John Lewis of Georgia, James Oberstar of Minnesota, Martin Sabo also of Minnesota, Jose Serrano of New York, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Martin Meehan of Massachusetts. Our legislation is a companion bill to S. 1220, which Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut introduced in the Senate with a number of his distinguished colleagues in that House. Our legislation will dramatically improve the current declassification procedures of human rights documents pertaining to gross human rights violations in Guatemala and Honduras. This important bill strikes an appropriate balance between the need for speedy and comprehensive declassification and the need to protect legitimate U.S. national security interests. It will be of invaluable assistance to the work of my good friend, Dr. Leo Valladares, the Honduran Human Rights commissioner, who came to testify before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, which I cochair with Congressman John Edward Porter. It also will support the work of the Guatemalan Clarification Commission, as well as the people of Guatemala and Honduras in general. Only full consideration and investigation of human rights abuses in these two countries can achieve the full accountability needed to rebuild a peaceful and reconciled civil society in those areas. The Government of Guatemala and the rebels, the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity [URNG], formally ended their hostilities at the end of 1996. But peace cannot exist without truth, a principle which these parties recognized in agreeing to establish a truth commission--The Commission for the Historical Clarification of Human Rights Violations and Acts of Violence which have Caused Suffering to the Guatemalan People. Given this monumental task, the commission has only a very short period to accomplish its important work. The commission's work by law is to take only 6 months, but that time limit can be extended for another 6 months. The clock began ticking when the work of the commission formally began on July 31, 1997. Therefore swift and comprehensive declassification of all relevant United States agency documents is critical to the success for peace and democracy in Guatemala. The same applies to Honduras. In 1979, the first disappearance took place in Honduras and dozens of others followed, along with extrajudicial killings. This nightmare followed the implementation of the Honduran military's National Security Doctrine which embarked on a deliberate policy of eliminating people suspected of having links with insurgencies in Honduras and El Salvador or with the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. In May 1992, a law created the National Commissioner for the Protection of Human Rights and in November appointed Leo Valladares Lanza to lead this work. By December 1993, the Commissioner had published a report entitled ``The Facts Speak for Themselves'' detailing the disappearance of close to 200 persons since 1980. Before Dr. Valladares concluded his preliminary report, he asked the U.S. Government for files and information. With a number of members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, I have supported the requests made by Dr. Valladares in several letters to the President and to other administration officials. Despite a Presidential Executive order, declassification of relevant documents has been very narrowly focused and extremely slow. Thus far, the State Department has responded by releasing 3,000 pages of documents, while other agencies fell dramatically short in their efforts to comply with Dr. Valladares' requests. Mr. Speaker, The Human Rights Information Act will make a number of important changes in the law that will assure prompt and complete declassification of important human rights documents, while at the same time fully respecting and protecting our legitimate national security concerns. The legislation requires Government agencies to review human rights records within 120 days after inquiries by the Honduran Human Rights Commissioner or the Guatemalan Clarification Commission and ensure the release 30 days thereafter. The legislation also applies to requests from appropriate human rights organizations in other Latin American or Caribbean countries requesting information relating to human rights abuses in their countries. The legislation will ensure that an interagency appeals panel reviews agencies' decisions to withhold information, and it provides that two outside human rights specialists suggested by human rights NGO's and appointed by the President will be members of this appeals panel. The declassification standards in this legislation follow the same standards as the Congress has already enacted in the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Act. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, at a press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, I publicly announced the introduction of this legislation. Joining me on this occasion--in addition to our colleagues Elizabeth Furse and James McGovern--were a number of outstanding leaders in the struggle for human rights in Central America. They included: Jennifer Harbury, U.S. attorney, author, and wife of disappeared Guatemalan Guerrilla commander Efrain Bamaca Velasquez; founding member of Coalition ``Missing.'' Ms. Harbury, who now lives in Texas, came to Washington yesterday especially for this event. Sister Dianna Ortiz, OSU, an Ursuline nun subjected to horrifying torture in 1989 following her abduction. She is a human rights activist and founding member of Coalition ``Missing.'' Calixto Torres, a Guatemalan community worker who was forced to flee because of his work. He has been granted political asylum and currently works with Guatemala Partners and the Latin American Youth Center. Meredith Larson, a human rights worker attacked by knife-wielding assailants in 1989, is a founding member of Coalition ``Missing.'' She is a resident of the beautiful city of San Francisco and came to Washington especially for this event. Oscar Reyes, editor of Washington metro Hispanic newspaper ``El Pregonero'' who himself is a victim of torture in Honduras. Eileen Connolly, sister of Father Carney who disappeared in Honduras in 1983, and her husband. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the text of H.R. 2635 be placed in the Record at this point. I urge my colleagues to join me as a cosponsor of this important legislation.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and pleasure to hail the accomplishments of Dr. Stanley B. Prusiner, the 1997 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Dr. Prusiner, a professor at the University of California San Francisco, joins 30 other Nobel laureates in the UC system, including UCSF's two previous medical honorees--microbiologists J. Michael Bishop and Harold Varmus, the current head of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Prusiner was awarded this premier distinction for his landmark discovery of prions, rogue protein particles that function as infectious agents. This remarkable innovation could eventually lead to a cure for dreaded neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and amyotropic lateral sclerosis, ALS, better know as Lou Gehrig's disease. In the citation announcing Prusiner's $1 million prize, Sweden's noted Karolinska Institute lauded the social impact of his achievement. ``Stanley Prusiner's discovery provides important insights that may furnish the basis to understand the biological mechanisms underlying other types of dementia-related diseases, for example Alzhemier's disease, and establishes a foundation for drug development and new types of medical treatment strategies.'' For Dr. Prusiner and for his entire research team at UCSF, this recognition marks the zenith of a 15-year battle for a revolutionary theory that flew in the face of earlier scientific judgments about the causes of communicable brain diseases. Prusiner's commitment to using his medical genius to helping others began long before his discovery of prions. Born in Des Moines, IA, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and, after long doing biochemistry research at the National Institutes of Health, moved to the Bay Area in 1972 to begin his residency in neurology at UCSF. That year, a pivotal event shaped the direction of Prusiner's expertise: He began treating a Marin County woman affected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, an exceptionally rare and always fatal condition that mercilessly destroys the brain. Prusiner's patient passed away after 7 weeks in the hospital, but her sickness impelled her doctor to examine further links between Creutzfeldt-Jakob and similar neurological illnesses, and to seek the cause of these devastating diseases. ``At that time,'' said Prusiner years later, ``most people believed that the brain diseases were caused by slow viruses, but since I didn't know any virology, I figured I ought to look for some other explanation--and that's when I started hunting for proteins that might be involved.'' This research continued throughout his tenure as a Howard Hughes Investigator at UCSF from 1976 to 1981, culminating in his development of the prion theory in 1982. Prusiner's then-radical pronouncement stated that the cause of Creutzfeldt-Jacob and related maladies was not a virus at all; rather, these illnesses emanate from prions, biologically unique proteins which contain no DNA. Rather, in place of genetic reproduction, prions convert neighboring proteins, creating more disease-causing agents. This phenomenon has a devastating effect on nerve cells in the brain, ravaging tissue and leading to a certain death. The scientific community greeted the prion theory with disbelief and outright criticism that targeted not only Prusiner's conclusions, but his ethics as well. His financial grants quickly vanished, and he was forced to operate for years with only in-house grants from the loyal UCSF administration. These frustrations strengthened Prusiner's dedication to his work and as the years progressed, the case for the prion theory became stronger and stronger. His opponents found little evidence to discredit his conclusions, and Prusiner and his dedicated team of researchers, notably brain pathologist Stephen DeArmond and pharmacologist Stephen Cohen, published hundreds of papers substantiating the role of the prion in a variety of contagious neurological diseases. The grants returned, with significant contributions including a $2.5 million prize from the W.M. Keck Foundation in Los Angeles and the Israeli Government's prestigious $100,000 Wolf prize. Such resources enabled Prusiner to tie the existence of prions to the recent British epidemic of bovine spongiform encepalopathy, BSE, better known as mad cow disease, and to chart the course for eventual cures to BSE and other disorders. He also won the coveted Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award in 1994, generally regarded as a strong indicator of a future Nobel Prize. In the words of his colleagues, neurologist and biochemist Jiri G. Safar, Prusiner ``carried on his shoulders the burden of proving this extraordinary new idea. * * * He single-handedly validated his theory. To do that, it takes a person of strong conviction and real guts.'' Mr. Speaker, we are all in debt to the courage of this outstanding man. Dr. Prusiner's next challenge is to eradicate these diseases from the face of this planet. In the aftermath of the BSE outbreak in Great Britain, he has used his findings concerning the replicating and infectious nature of prions to lobby the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture to protect our food supply and make sure that such a plague will never occur in this country. Prusiner's research will also continue to seek the causes of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and ALS. Once the origins of these diseases are discovered, treatments such as gene therapy and prion-blocking medications may be created to cure them or to prevent them from spreading. Prusiner expects that within the next 5 to 10 years we will see a drug to stop the progression of Creutzfeldt-Jakob, the disease that led him to this area of neurological research a quarter century ago. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Prusiner has earned our utmost gratitude and respect. As his UCSF colleague Dr. DeArmond remarked, he is truly a ``Mozart of science.'' Prusiner's brilliance, dedication, and, most of all, his persistence are a credit to his country and to the San Francisco community where he has lived with his wife, Sandy, and his family for over 25 years. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 1997 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, Dr. Stanley B. Prusiner, for his most-deserved award, for his devotion to finding answers to questions that have vexed the scientific world for generations, and for his dogged commitment to standing up for his life- saving beliefs in the face of cynicism and skepticism.