Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the majority whip yielding. George Gekas is a friend of all of ours. The gentleman from Pennsylvania has made a great contribution to the House. It has been my privilege to not just be his friend but to work very intently on his behalf. He is a great guy. We will miss him in the House. He has made a great contribution to the House. Indeed, I appreciate very much the gentleman from Texas raising this point at this moment as he has had this fantastic success at the end of his legislative career.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay tribute to Thomas J. Schiltgen, who has performed a near-miracle in the past three years as District Director for the Los Angeles District of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Coming into the busiest-- and most troubled--office in our immigration system, Mr. Schiltgen turned the Los Angeles District into one of the most efficient in the nation. Thomas Schiltgen joined the INS out of college in 1975 as a Criminal Investigator in Chicago. He moved up through the ranks, and served in a wide range of positions that included Deputy Director in the agency's Bangkok office. Before taking over the Los Angeles office, he served for four years as Director of the INS San Francisco District. When he was assigned to take over the Los Angeles District, the office was known throughout the country for crowds lining up every day in a desperate attempt to work through the immigration process. The office averaged 24 months to process routine citizenship and legal immigration cases. More than 400,000 cases awaited resolution. Winning the respect of his own staff and the immigration support community, Mr. Schiltgen has managed to virtually eliminate the backlog and has reduced the waiting time to as little as six months for most naturalization and adjustment of status cases. The efficiency of the office was shown dramatically this year when nearly 5,000 applications were handled in a single day at the end of a family reunification program. Mr. Speaker, although the Los Angeles District serves all of Southern California, I want to pay special tribute to Mr. Schiltgen on behalf of the Inland Empire. Under his leadership, the INS has opened a wonderful new office in San Bernardino, and provided a much wider range of services closer to home for thousands of immigrants who live and work in my district. The new INS office is an asset to the downtown of my home town, and provides a warm and professional face for the federal government in the city. Mr. Schiltgen has also opened an expanded service center in Orange County, and has helped redesign the main INS facility in Los Angeles to provide heightened privacy, convenience and service for those who have come to our nation seeking the American dream. Mr. Speaker, after 27 years with the INS, Thomas Schiltgen has decided to retire and pursue opportunities in the private sector. I ask you and my colleagues to please join me in thanking him for providing such high-quality public service, and wish him and his wife Brenda well in their future endeavors.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, the residents of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in Southern California are in a very unique position when it comes to television stations. The Los Angeles broadcasters are close enough to provide all the local coverage we can receive. But they consider most of our news too far away to cover. For the past 40 years, the only broadcaster that has continuously served the people of San Bernardino and Riverside counties has been KVCR, the public television station operated by the San Bernardino Valley Community College District. They have provided news, focus documentaries, features and creative programming that have often been the only source of local broadcasting for an area that includes nearly 2 million people. Forty years of providing the only public broadcasting to such a large area would be worth celebrating even if this was the only service provided by KVCR and the community college district. But the station's other role may be even more important: It is an access point to the world of broadcasting for a student body that is among the most diverse and hard-working in Southern California. The graduates of this program have moved on to many of the commercial and cable broadcasters throughout our region and the nation, and they in turn have served as role models and mentors for other minority communities and other cities. In fact, Mr. Speaker, KVCR was the first TV station in the nation to be owned and operated by a public community college, and it has instructed tens of thousands of students via educational broadcasts and remains an essential component of the college district. The station is a national pioneer in the use of television for direct instruction intended for viewing in the area's classrooms, in the workplace, or conveniently in the homes of students. Mr. Speaker, KVCR-TV is a vital link in educating the new and existing workforce for tomorrow's business needs. And it remains the only broadcaster providing local news and public interest reports, as well as serving the diverse needs of our community. I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating General Manager Lew Warren and the San Bernardino Community College District board for continuing to provide this valuable public service.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report to accompany H.R. 5010, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003, and for other purposes, and that I may include tabular and extraneous material.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 579, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 5010) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, Members will be very pleased to hear that I prepared a half-hour address regarding this measure, but I gave those remarks this morning. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record a document relating to the 2002 and 2003 Defense appropriations. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10OC02.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10OC02.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10OC02.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10OC02.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10OC02.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10OC02.006 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH10OC02.007 Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, last evening we completed the work on the Defense appropriations bill. That measure is designed to provide the funding whereby America is able to carry forward its responsibility in the world as the force for peace in our world. I am very pleased with the results of that bill, and while we were not discussing this with the other body yesterday, I could not help but from time to time watch the discussions of this measure on the floor. This resolution is a very, very important statement by the American Congress. It has been crafted by some of the most capable people in both of our bodies, and I want to congratulate the chairman, as well as others who have been so involved. I could not help but come to the floor as I watched this discussion begin regarding some substitutes for this resolution. I must say, Mr. Speaker, it is most important that we reject those alternatives for the resolution is designed simply to give our Commander-in-Chief some flexibility as he goes forward in projecting our responsibilities for peace in the world. Indeed, there are those who presume that this automatically means a war in Iraq. This resolution does not automatically take us to war. As a matter of fact, it is a tool for the Commander-in-Chief to indeed go forth with those efforts that are most important in terms of our future hopes for peace. There is little doubt that America focused again upon the importance of our strength as a result of 9/11 just 1 year ago. There is little doubt that the world understands that a strong America is very important for peace. I would suggest to my colleagues that the one thing that we could do to undermine that strength is to pass a resolution like this one that is before us at this moment. Indeed, my colleagues, there is much discussion about what the Commander-in-Chief has not done. In the past, there was a lot of discussion about the fact that perhaps his advisers were not as good as some would like. We look at the Vice President, we look at the Secretary of State, we look at the Secretary of Defense. The community not so long ago was amazed at how great their strength might be. Do we presume that they have not been giving advice and counsel to the Commander-in-Chief? Indeed, I believe they have a plan that will strengthen our ability to be a force in the world for the good. Resolutions like this will take us exactly in the opposite direction. Let us not by actions today undermine the President's ability to lead. At the same time, let me say that most of my colleagues know that I am a strong believer in a bipartisan force in this House. Let us not as a result of these votes today have one of our parties be the party working with the President for peace and have the other party be the party of the United Nations.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay tribute to Dr. Darryl Gordon Heustis, who has made his entire medical career one of service to our Nation's veterans. After 25 years at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Administration Medical Center in Loma Linda, California, Dr. Heustis is retiring today as the medical center's chief of staff. In our modern, fast-paced, mobile world, it's rare to find a homegrown talent who grows up to serve his community as well as Dr. Heustis has in the Inland Empire. A native of Riverside, Darryl Heustis received a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of California, Riverside, and an MD from Loma Linda University. He completed his residency in pathology in 1977 at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and immediately went to work for the nearby Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Administration Medical Center. The medical center was newly completed in 1977, and Dr. Heustis became one of the original employees. He served as Director of Laboratories until 1986, and then Chief of Laboratory Service for the next three years. He continued his education even as he worked full time in these jobs, and in 1983 received a masters degree in management from Claremont Graduate School. In 1989 Dr. Heustis was named Vice President of Medical Affairs, and has served as the medical center's chief of staff to this day. During his career at the medical center, Dr. Heustis has helped ease the transition of the Veterans Administration from a hospital-room oriented facility to one that provides care to most veterans on an outpatient basis. Although the number of beds at the medical center has been reduced from 500 to 97, patient visits have grown to more than 340,000 a year. I applaud Dr. Heustis for meeting the prime responsibility of providing the very best care to our Nation's veterans, while at the same time ensuring that Americans get maximum value from the taxes they pay. Dr. Heustis has been a champion in the drive to ensure that our veterans are satisfied with the treatment they receive at the Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center. Under his leadership, the staff has met every challenge and has gained a reputation for quality care and sensitive treatment of veterans. Over the years, the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center has become highly respected as a teaching hospital. Working in close affiliation with Loma Linda University Medical Center, the VA medical center has provided a training ground for student doctors for nearly two decades. With its international reputation as a medical innovator, Loma Linda University has provided many benefits for the veterans at the VA, as well. Dr. Heustis has taken a direct role in this relationship as a professor of pathology at the university, co-medical director of the School of Cytotechnology, and associate dean for veterans affairs. He has also published numerous articles in medical journals, and been a regular presenter at scientific symposiums. He has been named the “highest-rated lecturer” at sixteen symposiums since 1986, and received the Scissors Award from the Healthcare Leadership Institute in 2000. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Darryl Heustis has met the highest professional standards as a medical doctor, ensured top-notch care for hundreds of thousands of veterans, and overseen the education of countless student doctors over the past 25 years. Please join me in thanking him for his service to his community and our Nation, and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to congratulate the citizens and civic leaders of Victorville, California on the 40th anniversary of cityhood for the Mojave Desert community. The history of this rapidly growing city is a fascinating glimpse of the growth of the inland areas of California. Like many of the towns of the Southwest, Victorville began its existence as a railroad stop. Around 1885, a station was established at the Mojave River crossing on what ultimately became the Santa Fe Railway's on its Mojave Desert. It was named for Jacob Nash Victor, a railroad construction superintendent who was a pioneer in the early development of the expansion of the railroad to the west. In 1901 the US Postal Service renamed the city to Victorville to eliminate a name duplication problem with Victor, Colorado. When it was incorporated on Sept. 21, 1962, the city of Victorville had grown to just over 8,000 residences; by 1995 the city boasted a bustling population of 60,649 and had increased its size to 67.68 sq. miles, an increase of over 58 sq. miles. Rich soil and an abundance of water encouraged the development of the agricultural community. Large deposits of limestone and granite led to the cement manufacturing industry, which has emerged as the most important sector of commerce in the Victor Valley. With the historic Route 66 running through Victorville and heading on up to Chicago, the town has always provided numerous activities for tourists, included a Route 66 museum and the San Bernardino County Fair. The city has become the commercial hub of the Victor Valley, which includes more than 300,000 people in a wide range of communities. One of the most important national connections with Victorville began in 1941 with the construction of the Victorville Army Airfield. Later renamed George Air Force Base, the base construction was completed on May 18, 1943. When fully activated, the base housed two jet fighter wings of the Tactical Air Command whose primary aircraft was the F-4 phantom Wild Weasel, which provided vital electronic reconnaissance from the Vietnam War through the Persian Gulf War. The base also employed over 6,000 military and civilian personnel. In January 1989 the Secretary of Defense announced the closure of the base. In the past decade since the closure, Victorville annexed the base, renamed it the Southern California Logistics Airport, and has turned it into a booming new commercial center and international cargo airport that is expected to serve the entire Southwest region. Mr. Speaker, I have proudly represented the City of Victorville for more than two decades in Congress, and I have watched it grow into a dynamic city that is well-governed and fiscally sound. The City Council now oversees a budget of $77.6 million for 69,298 citizens who are known for their friendliness, self-sufficiency and optimism. Please join me in congratulating the city leaders and the community for their 40 years of cityhood, and wishing them continued success in the future.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I offer a motion.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 5010) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate. Motion to Instruct Offered by Mr. Olver

Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to accept the gentleman's motion. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay tribute to Martin Matich, a very good friend and a man who has earned a reputation throughout California as a builder of flawless public works and community leader. Mr. Matich reaches his 75th year this month. The Matich Corp., which Martin Matich ran for 40 years until his retirement as chairman in 1992, is one of Southern California's largest heavy construction companies. It builds freeways, bridges, runways, flood-control channels and dams. The San Bernardino County company, founded by Mathich's father John, has built more than 1,000 miles of roads and freeways in California, Nevada and Arizona, and constructed runways and aprons at 40 military and civilian airfields. Under the leadership of Martin Matich, the company became known for its top-quality work and innovation. The Matich Corp. developed continuous-slip forms that allowed 90-foot-deep intercontinental ballistic missile silos to be built at Vandenberg Air Force Base in one step, making them stronger and faster to finish. It also pioneered continuous-pour concrete paving machinery, which allows long stretches of highways to be built without elaborate forms. The company, which is now run by Matich's son, Steven, has completed more than $1 billion in projects in its 85-year history. Six members of the family's third generation are still in company management. It's latest endeavor is to repave and improve hundreds of miles of highways in Mexico, which will help that country meet the challenges of trade with the United States. Martin Matich has been so involved in local and regional community affairs that the local press often calls him the most influential non- elected person in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, an area known as the Inland Empire of Southern California. His advice and counsel is sought by presidents, senators, House members and most local officials--;and he provides it, without regard to party affiliation. He knows the mood of Inland Empire residents, and he is dedicated to putting their interests first. He has served in a wide variety of community positions, including mayor and City Council member of Colton, a member of the California State Water Commission, member and former president of the National Orange Show board of directors, chairman of the National Orange Show Foundation and St. Bernardine Hospital Foundation. He was president of the Inland Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America and chairman of the Water Resources Institute at California State University, San Bernardino. He was appointed to the statewide California Advisory Council on Economic Development and the Commission of California's advisory council. Over the years, Martin Matich has been honored with many awards, including the Engineering Honor Award by his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, and Citizen of the Year by both the San Bernardino Board of Realtors and the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Speaker, it would be hard to imagine someone who is more exemplary of the designation community leader than Martin Matich. His 75 years in the Inland Empire have made his hometown community--;and mine--;a better place to live and work. Please join me in congratulating him on his 75th birthday, and wishing him and his wife Evelyn the best in the years to come.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep appreciation to the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) and to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) for the very fine work they have done on this supplemental bill. This is, after all, the supplemental to provide additional funds for the war on terrorism. It was not quite a year ago that we met downstairs in this building to mark up the fiscal year 2002 appropriations bill for national security. As we were meeting that very morning, all of us had the experience of seeing those planes fly into those buildings in New York, shortly thereafter learning about a plane flying into the Pentagon and the President brought us all together to discuss for the first time the war on terrorism. One of the most significant moments of my time in public affairs was to share with Members in this House when the President came to the House, bringing us all together, both bodies of the Congress, the Supreme Court, all of the members of the cabinet, in order to talk about this new challenge that America was faced with. I will never quite forget that scene when the leader of the other body, who was in the well of the House, came across the well of the House and we saw the President of the United States and that leader in friendship and leadership and otherwise hug each other expressing the public's view that we ought to be together as we go about fighting this war. Indeed, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) has indicated that this bill might have moved more quickly. There are any number of interests that have come forward since the fiscal year 2002 bills were marked up, and indeed the best effort has been made to reflect those additional interests in this fiscal year 2002 supplemental. But most of it, approximately half of it, is money to fight the war on terrorism; and we are coming together to further express our commitment on both sides of the aisle to make certain that we do whatever is necessary to see that we win this war. America is not backing off from the challenge that is before us. Indeed, the people of the United States continue to insist that we work together intently to make sure that America remains the strongest Nation in the world carrying forward that battle to be successful in the war on terrorism.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, let me say it is really impressive that the gentleman has gotten this job accomplished in this length of time. It is very important that Americans, and also people around the world know that America is standing together regarding that for which those brave men and women gave their lives. Indeed, they sacrificed themselves to make sure that further disaster did not take place on that day. The further irony is that the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which handles national defense, was meeting that morning. We usually have our people meet about 9:30 for rolls and coffee, because we want them to be at the meeting at 10, but we were there early and witnessed these planes flying into the World Trade Center. None of us knew what was going on in Pennsylvania. Indeed, I am not sure that we would have gotten notice if the terrorists had been successful. They could have had, as their target, the White House, or they could have had the symbol of this country's freedom, the Capitol of the United States. If that was the case, we might very well have been struck. We abandoned our work and left the Capitol, as everybody else did. But, indeed, if the terrorists had been successful, we might not have had a chance. Literally, those brave men and women set the stage that day for the President of the United States to declare war on terrorism. Together we stand firm to fight for that battle, for the very civilization we believe so much in is at stake, and I believe the freedom of the world may very well be at stake. I congratulate the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) who is a fantastic partner in our business, in defense appropriations. But more importantly, this symbol will be there forever, and it is a reflection of what we are willing to give that freedom might live.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). It is my privilege to rise today and join many a colleague to express my feelings about Lindy Boggs. I especially appreciate the gentleman from Georgia's (Mr. Linder) bringing this matter before us today and giving us this opportunity. Let me say the last time that Lindy and I were together in a social way was during the time when she served as ambassador to the Holy See, a fabulous experience for a woman of her background and experience and talent; but it was most interesting to me over that luncheon to watch Lindy, for it was very clear to those who know her at all to know that she was missing something that day and the feeling one got was that she was missing the House. It was my honor to serve with Lindy for a number areas in the House of Representatives. Almost all those years we shared committees together within the appropriations process. She worked long and hard in the legislative branch as well as that subcommittee that deals with housing programs and veterans, those programs within our Committee on Appropriations that serve people in many ways the most. Lindy, above and beyond all else, was a woman of the House who cared most about the institution that is the Congress. While the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) is my Congresswoman, she and I share the fact that Lindy Boggs represents the best of what we would hope to be as we serve here in the House of Representatives. Lindy Boggs, with almost every breath during the years she served here, wanted to reflect the best of the House of Representatives, for she cared about this institution. It was her energy that was applied to try to make sure that it did the utmost on behalf of this institution as it continues to serve our people and our freedom well. Lindy, I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday when people will, in a formal way, address many of your accomplishments. Today it is a privilege of mine to just say a few words about a great friend from the House of Representatives.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, with that, we will accept the amendment if we can move forward.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, we have no objection to the amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify the Committee's intent regarding the ``SPY-1 Solid State Radar.'' the Committee intends that the entire amount contained in the President's budget under the Sea Based Midcourse for Sea Based Solid State Radar development be used for the development of the S-Band SPY-1E radar. Mr. Speaker, I did not take the time earlier for we were about to pass the first appropriations bill of the year in record time. There was a small little train wreck that got in the way of that record time; and, thus, I will take a moment that I would have taken earlier to express my appreciation for those who made this success possible. Both the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) have been very, very helpful in the work of Committee on Appropriations this year as it deals with national defense. I want to take a moment to especially express my appreciation to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), my partner in this business, for we never would have been able to accomplish the level of bipartisan support we had in the House as demonstrated by the vote without his assistance. Beyond that, we were both blessed with very, very fine staff on both sides of the aisle who do a fine job. Kevin Roper on my side and Greg Dahlberg on the other side help lead a team of staff people who worked endless hours, weekends, night and day to make sure this bill is not just successful but that it is done in a highly professional manner, and for that we very much appreciate their work.

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. 5010, just passed, and that I may include tabular and extraneous material at the appropriate place in the Record.