Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], my colleague and friend. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LEWIS of California. Unless the community's groundwater poses a genuine health risk, yes, there is such a requirement.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Yes, it is, and I must say to my colleague that I very much appreciate his raising this question, for across the country there are other districts that have similar concerns, and the answer is yes.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, it has been suggested that the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes] and I, working on this very complex bill, have found ourselves in a circumstance where perhaps this subcommittee is a model for the work of the balance of our subcommittees. I think more important than that, the bill involves, as has been suggested, a great variety of very complex issues that cover the gamut in terms of services to the American public. Veterans' medical programs are important, obviously. Housing programs are important. We are all excited today about NASA. EPA's work is critical to the country's future. Indeed, when those kinds of programs are involved and there is competition head-on, the point that shortly comes to the fore is that major public policy issues, when we can get down to the nub of it, have very little to do with partisan politics. It is searching for alternative solutions and answers that lead to the best result for the American public. In this bill, I think we come very close to accomplishing much of that. Because of that, I give my thanks to our staff, as the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes] has suggested, but very much to my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Lewis Stokes, for his cooperation as well. Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to support this bill.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill (H.R. 2158) making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for other purposes, and that I be permitted to include tables, charts and other extraneous material.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word for purposes of making an announcement. Mr. Chairman, before we get into reading the bill for amendments, I would like to make this announcement about how we have agreed to proceed for the balance of the evening. First, there will be no more recorded votes this evening. Any votes ordered will be rolled until tomorrow. We will be reading the bill for amendments. We plan to read for amendments and debate all amendments through title II at the maximum. We will not read into title III even if we finish the first two titles quickly. So, any Member with an amendment that will be offered in the first two titles needs to be here tonight. However, we will stop considering amendments no later than 10:30 p.m. even if we are not through with title II. To summarize, there will be no more recorded votes tonight, and we will consider amendments through title II or 10:30 p.m., whichever occurs earlier.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. And when the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Tiahrt] first raised this question effectively in our full committee, we were talking about $20 million; and it came to our attention that there was some $30 million within the Subcommittee on National Security, at least $10 million in Labor-HHS. If there is an add-on here, that is additional. But I must say, I do not know all the accounts because I have not had a chance to go through those in the last few days. But there is a growing level of funding in which this issue and this problem is being recognized, and it is a direct result of the work that the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Tiahrt] is about.

Mr. LEWIS of California. If the gentleman would continue to yield, either they are earmarked funds out of research moneys, for example, there is already DOD money, a pool of money, and they designate some. We designated a portion out of research moneys in this bill, et cetera.

Mr. LEWIS of California. If the gentleman would yield further, yes, the President did. And as a result of our work, we have beefed it back up and there is significant adjustment upward in the research budget.

Mr. LEWIS of California. If the gentleman would continue to yield, by $33 million over the President.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I rise with a good deal of sympathy for the amendment presented by my colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey]. But I would suggest to him that there are a number of questions that I still have in my head that cause me to resist this amendment. I can remember our discussions time and time again about horrendous costs that the country is facing relative to disaster circumstances. In the time I have been chairman of this committee, FEMA has received some $10 billion. One of the areas that is difficult, that we do not have a handle on, does deal with wind damage. One way or another we have to try to do the right things. None of these things seems to be perfect, but we have to try to do the right thing in terms of wind mitigation. Mr. Chairman, as I look at the gentleman's amendment, I know his purpose is directed at this wind simulation center, but really he just affects one of the accounts within FEMA by reducing that, but that does not prevent them from going forward with the wind tunnel. In an attempt to respond to the very questions that the gentleman has in mind, I have been in discussion with the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], and frankly, I am not sure who really has the appropriate jurisdiction, here or there, because those battles on the authorizing side are considerably more difficult than ours. But having said that, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], some discussion, responded by saying, ``I would present an amendment where I think we are going to have an authorization that goes forward that would essentially delay this until we have more time to talk through the very questions that the gentleman is discussing.'' I do not really think we have any differences here, so I would urge the gentleman to at least reserve at this point and see if we cannot figure out a way to begin marching our way down the path where that makes sense, with the cost of wind damages. And clearly the gentleman can tell from what I am saying here that I do not have the answers either, but we need to begin to seek them in a serious way.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I would just say that absolutely the gentleman is right. We do not want to pit programs like this against one another. Unfortunately throughout this bill, that is the challenge of the bill. We have program after program that are vital to people, whether it is the poorest of the poor in housing programs or otherwise. One person's mind's eye view of what is enough money for this program versus another creates the difficulty. I am not at all challenging what the gentleman suggests. I think he also knows full well that, before we get through this process with the other body, the conference, the AmeriCorps funding is going to be there. So indeed it is just a reflection of the discussion this evening that expresses people's viewpoint. It is helpful but it can be carried further than it need be.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate my colleague yielding. I think the point I am really trying to make here is to suggest to the House that we are all on the same side of this. The fact is my colleague knows and I know before we get through this process of the conference that AmeriCorps is going to have its funding restored, we know that. What has really happened though as a part of the full committee discussion and here, is suddenly there is a different attention being paid to the Persian Gulf syndrome, which the gentleman's district should be very pleased with as well. So at the end of the process we will raise that to a much higher level of attention; the gentleman's district will like that. But AmeriCorps will be funded at the other end, as my colleagues know. Frankly it is important that the public know that we are all on the same side really in this discussion. And as my colleagues know, we have a tendency to fill all the time that is available regardless of whether we agree or disagree.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I must say following the remarks of both the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Dicks] and the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hyde] I cannot help but be a bit disconcerted by that disconnect, for I am quite surprised at the position of the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Dicks] as well. In the short time, 4 years, that it has been my privilege to serve on this committee, I have become very, very impressed by the fact that America is pretty good at what they do. A combination of my service on the defense subcommittee of Appropriations and this committee tells me that America is more than just leading the world, we are the strength for the future of peace in the world, in no small part because of the work done by many of these agencies. But there is little doubt that those who suggest that the gross number means almost nothing, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that underlying that is the balance. And it is not the people here in this room who necessarily want to know what may be all of the spending of some of our subagencies involved. It is the people who would be our enemies who would like to have that information. Excellent work being done by the FBI as well as other agencies relative to controlling the impact of drugs in our society, a tremendous war developing there that will be very important to the future of our youth. Absolutely no question that the impact that we are beginning to have upon potential terrorists is very important as related to this work. There are those who love to see what our satellites are all about, exactly what they mean and what we are spending. Indeed it is very important that we recognize that it is the people who largely wish America ill who like to have those kinds of details, and because of that I am supporting the chairman's position. I certainly would urge the ranking member to reconsider his position, for America's future is involved in the work that we are about in the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank very much my chairman for yielding me this time. I rise to express my support not only for the rule itself but also for the bill that will be before the House shortly. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence now for some 4 years and presently having the privilege of serving as chairman of the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, I can say that this is a very, very finely crafted bill. I am speaking to the bill briefly at this moment before I have to go to the full Committee on Appropriations during the time of general debate, but I wanted to share with the Members my thought that in crafting this bill, it is most impressive to see that the chairman and our ranking member, the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Dicks], have very carefully gone about scrubbing the numbers here to make certain that we are spending as little as possible for very, very important interests of the American public and our national strategic interests as well. I would point out that in the final analysis, there are some very significant cuts to a number of unmanned aerial vehicle programs and other technical programs in spite of the high priority given by my subcommittee. At the same time the funding that does go for technical assistance is critical to our future and I think the committee overall has done a very fine job. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not point out to my colleagues that the President's request for some of those tactical intelligence systems and operations supporting our men and women in both activities and reserve military components is significantly less than the Congress authorized last year. Mr. Speaker, this bill increases the President's request for intelligence support to the military by only 1.3 percent, and despite this increase, the bill's authorization in this area is 4 percent below last year's. The men and women who serve and who indeed have to fight and sometimes die for this country when in difficult circumstances deserve the best weapons we can provide but they also deserve the best intelligence systems that can be made available. It is our effort to meet that challenge as well as we can provide. This bill is a very well developed and finely balanced bill. I urge support for the rule as well as for the bill's final passage.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the fine work and outstanding public service of Dennis Martin who is retiring as supervisor of the Inyo National Forest after a long and dedicated career in forest management. Dennis will be recognized for his many contributions at a retirement dinner in his honor on July 12. Dennis Martin was born in 1939 in the small mining town of Cornucopia, OR. He began his forest work at the age of 18 with the Wallowa-Whitman Forest in Washington State. Two years later, he began working as a smoke jumper in the North Cascades in Washington. Following a 2-year stint in the Army and a year working for a private timber company, Dennis returned to the Wallowa-Whitman Forest to begin his permanent career. Over the years, Dennis has worked in a variety of capacities in forest management in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. After a 3\1/2\ year stint as deputy forest supervisor of the Boise National Forest in Idaho, Dennis became forest supervisor of the Inyo Forest in 1986. Dennis has also done critical collaborative work in forest management and has achieved great success through recognizing the value of partnerships in resolving important land use issues. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and our colleagues in recognizing the many fine achievements of Dennis Martin. We are grateful for his remarkable stewardship of the Inyo National Forest and wish him the very best in the years to come.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to bring to your attention, once again, the avid pursuit and spirit of excellence from the young women and men of Needles, CA. I am speaking of the Needles High School Lady 'Stangs softball and Mustang baseball teams. These individuals will be remembered for their talent, hard work, perseverance, and commitment to work as a team. To me, and the proud friends, families, and citizens of Needles, CA, they are winners in every sense of the word. The Lady 'Stangs who entered their championship tournament undefeated, approached their most worthy opponents with the faces of optimism and true strength. Although their opposition had a very impressive record of 24-4, the young women of Needles answered the challenge by outplaying their competitors in every game. Over the three game tournament the Lady 'Stangs blew out the competition by outscoring them 40 to 3. A unique feature of this year's team was the winning contributions on all levels. From the new first year head coach and coaching staff, to the outstanding seasoned veteran seniors, the vital energy of the younger teammates, and the enduring support from parents and fans, these women had the winning combination for the State championship. The city of Needles celebrated not one but two State championships that hot Saturday afternoon. I must mention an equally impressive Mustang baseball team whose battle to take the championship was a true fight to the end. It was the Mustangs seventh time facing their AA Conference rivals and going into the championship game they each won three. The men had fought hard to pull themselves back from the loser's bracket and become contenders once again for the title. In the second inning of the final game the Mustangs pulled away with a 7 to 0 advantage. That was the last time they scored. Their strong opponents capitalized on the men's fatigue and came back in the next five innings to a too close for comfort score of 7 to 6, advantage Needles. These Mustang men, with the support of teammates, friends, families, and fans held off and like the song goes: ``For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out at the old ball game.'' The Mustangs found themselves the 1997 men's baseball State champions. Mr. Speaker, these young men and women have gone above and beyond to exemplify the spirit of excellence. They played with the fire of champions and never faltered in their quest. Their courage and determination provides an example for all of us to admire and emulate. To all the people who make Needles their home, it was truly a championship year.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the fine work and outstanding public service of my dear friend, Dr. Harold Boring, the assistant superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District. Hal is retiring after a highly distinguished career and will be recognized for his many years of service to education and our community at an event in his honor later this month. Hal Boring began his career with the San Bernardino City Unified School District in 1963 as an elementary school principal in Highland at Cypress Elementary School. In 1966, he became the instructional materials consultant and in 1971 Hal was promoted to serve as the district wide director for instrumental materials. Two years later, he became the director of instructional and business resources and served in that capacity until 1977 when he became the assistant superintendent for administrative services. Over the years, Hal has been active in a number of educational, civic, and political activities benefiting a great many people in our community. He has served as a member of the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee, the State Republican Central Committee, the International Council for Friendship and Goodwill, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Highland Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he has developed meaningful and productive relationships that have led to legislation resulting in many positive changes to our educational system. He is particularly well known throughout California for his knowledge of legislation and the legislative process. His work with the Association of California School Administrators [ACSA] for over 20 years has helped make ACSA a vital voice in the educational process across the State. Hal and I first became friends while attending San Bernardino High School several years ago. Since that time, our friendship has continued to grow and I have been privileged to work with Hal on many occasions. To say the least, Hal's interest in and commitment to education and public affairs has made a tremendous difference to the many lives he has touched. He has always had a special gift for assisting others and a willingness to listen and lend a hand whenever possible. Mr. Speaker, Hal Boring provides an example of leadership that is deeply respected and admired by his professional colleagues and our community at large. I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and Dr. Boring's many admirers in thanking him for his remarkable public service over the years and wishing he and Gloria the very best in the years ahead.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the fine work and outstanding public service of my dear friend, Jim Connelly. Jim is retiring after a highly distinguished public relations career and will be recognized for his many years of service an event in his honor on June 27. Jim was born in Youngstown, OH on April 2, 1992 as the fourth child of Cora and Martin Connelly. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 with the Military Railway Service and the Armed Forces Radio Service in China, Burma, and India. Upon leaving the service in 1945, he served as public relations director for Edward J. DeBartolo, the shopping center king. He later served as public relations director for the Kenley Theater Summer Stock Co. where he was charged with securing publicity for celebrities including Mickey Rooney, Alan Jones, Burt Wheeler, and others. Jim moved to California in 1959 and embarked upon a newspaper career. He worked for a number of area papers including the Rialto Record, Bloomington News, and the San Bernardino Independent Press. At this time, he also handled public relations for Bob Hope including many of the Bob Hope Desert Classic Golf Tournaments and the many USO shows overseas conducted to entertain our American troops. In a recent note, Bob Hope said he was unable to attend Jim's retirement party because he was running in a 100-mile marathon. To say the least, Jim has had a most remarkable life and career. He worked on behalf of the Presidential campaigns of both John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. He served as the director of public relations for the State of California Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also directed public relations for the grand opening of the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital in Loma Linda. Over the years, he has served many, many worthy organizations with his time, energy, and talent. Mr. Speaker, Jim Connelly provides an example of community outreach and leadership that is deeply respected and admired by his professional colleagues and our community at large. I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and Jim's many admirers in thanking him for his remarkable public service over the years and in wishing him and Rose the very best in the years ahead.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the fine work and outstanding medical service of Dr. Ralph Cutler of the Loma Linda University Medical Center and the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital in Loma Linda, California. Dr. Cutler is retiring on July 14 after a highly distinguished medical career and will be recognized for his 40 years of service to others at an event in his honor on June 26. Ralph Cutler graduated with honors from UCLA in 1952. After completing his medical degree in 1956, Dr. Cutler began his postgraduate training as an intern and medical resident at the Los Angeles County General Hospital. He served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps from 1961-63 and worked as the department head of the Metabolic and Arthritis section at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland. Dr. Cutler has also had a most remarkable academic career at both the University of Washington School of Medicine and the University of Loma Linda School of Medicine. He joined the University of Washington faculty in 1963 and served for 18 years as the chief of nephrology at Harborview Medical Center. In 1981, Dr. Cutler joined the faculty of the University of Loma Linda School of Medicine as a professor of medicine and pharmacology and the chief of pharmacology. He has also spent much of his time working at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center as the chief of nephrology. Over the years, Dr. Cutler has been a mentor, teacher, friend, and inspiration to numerous men and women pursuing their dream of practicing medicine. He has also been a leader through his involvement in numerous professional medical organizations. His research and extensive writings have reshaped the body of medical knowledge in a number of areas. To say the least, Dr. Cutler has made and continues to make a difference in the lives of those people he touches. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Cutler provides an example of leadership that is deeply respected and admired by his professional colleagues and the community at large. I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and Dr. Cutler's many admirers in thanking him for his remarkable medical service over the years and wishing he and Carol the very best in the years ahead.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago our Nation's Capital was blessed with the arrival of the U.S. Oceanographic Research Vessel, Atlantis. Operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute of Massachusetts and brought to Washington, DC, in conjunction with the Office of Naval Research, the 288-foot Atlantis docked in Old Town Alexandria prior to leaving on a 2-year global research mission. The Atlantis was built by the U.S. Navy and launched recently in Pascagoula, MS, at a christening ceremony including Members of the House, the Senate, and the administration. The Atlantis will be operated by Woods Hole, an outstanding institution that has been a leader in ocean science and research for nearly 70 years. Over the years, the findings of Woods Hole have benefited the United States and the world. Much of this work involves basic research sponsored by a number of Federal departments and agencies including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Commerce, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The results of the work of Woods Hole is far reaching and vital to our future affecting food production, earthquake and storm predicting, agriculture, medicine, and even our own national defense. This work is also critical to unlocking the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of the world's oceans which comprise two-thirds of the Earth's surface. Mr. Speaker, the recent arrival of the Atlantis in our Nation's Capital served as a reminder of the importance of scientific research which is critical to our national economy and world leadership. I commend the leadership of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy for their continued work in this area and urge my colleagues to continue to support the fine work of both the Atlantis and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.