Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate the gentleman yielding time to me, and rise in strong opposition to the amendment offered by my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas). It is with some hesitancy that I do so, but he and I had talked more than once about the fact that the Founding Fathers designed this system almost to stimulate confrontation. The body is made up of two parties, and the debate that takes place between the two parties oftentimes is the healthiest part of the work that we do around here. Sometimes we have a Democratic Congress and a Republican president, and vice versa. Indeed, that dialogue and exchange is very healthy for the process. The automatic continuing resolution presumes that we cannot get our work done without some way of avoiding that confrontation. Nothing could be worse for our government than that. If we had an automatic continuing resolution in place, there are some pretty dramatic things that could happen in the months ahead. Let me illustrate that point. The presumption here is that in the 00 year, everything was fine with certain kinds of programming, so we do not need increases for the 01 year. Let me suggest that if the proposal of the gentleman from Pennsylvania were in place, this is what would occur in the defense arena, the area that I have responsibility for appropriating about. The 01 bill provides for $19.6 billion for national security above last year's bill. In specific categories, the military would be dramatically impacted by this proposal if it were in place. For example, for military personnel, those people we wanted so desperately to help last year, we would lose $2 billion; for operations and maintenance, there would be a reduction of $5.2 billion; for procurement, very important assets for the military, $8.6 billion. The problem goes on and on. I would suggest very, very strongly that the Gekas amendment, while carefully thought out by the author, is not what we need in this legislation. Indeed, with this amendment, I would urge all of my colleagues to vote no on the entire bill.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, today I celebrate the achievements of Dick Dale, a resident of Twentynine Palms, California, in the heart of the 40th district. Better known as the King of Surf Guitar, Dick Dale is a gifted musician who defined a music style in the early 1960s that is still enjoyed by millions of music-lovers the world over. Surf music, which attempts to capture the feeling of riding the waves on a surfboard, was a uniquely American style of music known as the ``California Sound.'' Along with his group, the Del-Tones, Dale composed and recorded the first surf record, which lit the fuse in 1961 for the national explosion of the surf music craze. He also helped pioneer the development of electronic reverberation and concert-quality amplifiers and speakers. Dale has recorded for NASA, Disneyland, and a multitude of commercials, television shows, and movies. The recipient of countless awards, Dale has been nominated for a Grammy and is enshrined in the Surfing Hall of Fame. Beyond his musical talent, Dale is an accomplished horseman, exotic animal trainer, surfer, martial arts expert, archer, and pilot. In addition to his recording and performing career, Dale has worked tirelessly to clean up the world's oceans and protect endangered wild animals. He has donated the proceeds of some recordings to the Burn Treatment Center at the University of California. Dick Dale has not been content to sit back as a legend. This superb musician and innovator is still performing and has won over a whole new generation of fans as well as maintained his legion of long time admirers. He always has time for his devoted fans, often signing autographs and swapping stories for hours after his concerts. Dick Dale is an American original and will forever be the King of Surf Guitar.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the recent passing of Martha Manuel Chacon, and elder and tribal leader of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, who helped the tribe maintain its pride and traditions and simultaneously setting it on a course of future self-reliance. Mrs. Chacon passed away on March 28 at the age of 89. Martha Manuel Chacon was born in a two-room adobe house without floors and was raised on the San Manuel Reservation in Highland, California. She was the granddaughter of Santos Manuel, the Serrano Indian leader who was responsible for holding the tribe together during difficult times in 1866, and for whom the reservation was named. After attending Highland Elementary School and St. Boniface Catholic School on the Morongo Indian Reservation, Martha Manuel worked in any job she could find as a young adult, commuting weekly to Los Angeles when she couldn't find them locally. She became a tribal leader and regularly traveled to the state capital in Sacramento as a spokesman for the San Manuel Band. Tribal members give her credit for bringing electricity to the reservation in the last 1950s and running water to tribal homes in the 1960s. Her strong devotion to her Serrano ancestry, culture and heritage helped the San Manuel Band improve its quality of life and set out on the path to self-reliance. Martha Manuel Chacon is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Raoul Chacon, six children, 18 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, words do not begin to convey the love and admiration with which Martha Manuel Chacon was held by her family, friends, and supporters. Her life journey stands as a remarkable testament to leadership, courage, strength and honesty and her memory will continue to inspire countless people. It is only appropriate that the House pay tribute to this courageous woman today.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I have no further requests for time, but I reserve the balance of my time. I am prepared to yield it back as soon as we are through on both sides.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate my chairman and my colleague yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I must say that all of us must have empathy for the expression of concern about our commitment to Kosovo, the number of troops we have there, and how long we have been there, and how quick we can get them out. The difficulty I have with the argument today and this proposal is that we do not need 435 Secretaries of State; we do not need 435 Secretaries of Defense. I went to Kosovo in January, and at our major base camp, I met with about 30 young sergeants who talked to me about why they were there. The re-up rates in the Army are the highest there than anywhere in the world because those people know they are there to save lives. They want us out, as well. But, indeed, behind this mission is the stability of Europe. And we need a unified America speaking about solving that problem. To have a proposal that would essentially have us force withdrawal sends the wrong message to Milosevic. We should be most worried about the spring thaw, where the Albanians are about to react. They, too, want to have a head-on collision with the Serbs. Blood could flow as a result of a message that says America is not unified in its voice. This is the wrong time for this amendment presented in the wrong way, and I urge a very strong ``no'' vote.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to yield the balance of my time, presuming the other side is as well.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, as my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), indicated we are not going to have any problem with this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bateman).

Mr. LEWIS of California

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun). (Mr. RYUN of Kansas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley). (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham). (Mr. CUNNINGHAM asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I have no additional requests for time, except to mention that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), my partner in this whole process on the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations, has been more than great in his help; and we want to especially recognize the work of our colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence), the chairman of the authorizing committee, in the entire effort. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I want to say for the record to the gentlewoman that we are happy to accept this amendment that you present to the House.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of the time remaining to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha).

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo).

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, it is my privilege to rise this evening in support of an amendment that is known by some as the Lewis-Spence-Murtha-Skelton amendment to this appropriations bill. It is an amendment that is a reflection of the very close working relationship on both sides of the aisle between all members and the committee leadership of the national defense effort, the authorizing committee as well as the appropriations committee. It is important for the Members to know that this amendment is designed to be responsive to that list of critical high priorities given to us by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the individual chiefs, priorities that are absolute must-need items as we go forward in order to operate effectively in support of our national defense. The amendment provides for some $4 billion of additional funding in areas like military quality of life, recruiting and advertising and retention programs, military health care programs, in this instance in cases where we actually have health care obligations must be met. Further, the amendment provides broad-based support to deployed military forces throughout the world. And it is designed further to address unmet needs in equipment maintenance for a variety and mix of programs, including the repair of our ships throughout the country. Mr. Chairman, I submit for the Record information that provides a breakout of the $4 billion in this amendment, by appropriations account. Military Personnel Quality of Life Programs: The amendment includes Section 2207, which appropriates $221,000,000 for the Department's Basic Allowance for Housing program, and $10,000,000 for the overseas supplemental food program, as follows: (in thousands) Military Personnel, Army........................................$70,000 Military Personnel, Navy.........................................56,000 Military Personnel, Marine Corps.................................17,100 Military Personnel, Air Force....................................58,600 Reserve Personnel, Army...........................................4,100 Reserve Personnel, Navy...........................................4,000 Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps.....................................600 Reserve Personnel, Air Force........................................300 National Guard Personnel, Army....................................6,900 National Guard Personnel, Air Force...............................3,400 Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide..........................10,000

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

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank very much the gentleman from Florida for yielding me this time. The rule includes an amendment that will allow as we have heard for additional $4 billion to be added to the defense accounts. It touches on many of the vital needs that we have in terms of our shortfall for our military. I will have an opportunity to discuss that later. I will not later be talking about the Colombia piece, and I would like to take just a moment to address that. I would like my colleagues to know that this brings back amazing memories. For the first time I ever focused upon my chairman the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) who today was presenting the difficulty of our schedules and our ranking member the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), it was at a time that we were discussing Central America and Latin America. In those days, the debate flowed around El Salvador and Nicaragua, Guatemala, indeed the voices that swirl around the ranking member today were very similar in those days. They were opposed to America's involvement in Central America. Today, we see that region thriving in democracy. Indeed today Colombia is asking us for our assistance with a very, very significant drug problem. Indeed, America cannot solve Colombia's entire problem; but they have asked for our help. It would be a grave error for us to make the same mistake that those same voices would have suggested we make in El Salvador in the country of Colombia. I urge us to pass the rule and indeed to support this bill in its final form.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Taking back my time, there is little doubt that the voices were almost identical to those that flow today regarding this issue. There is little question, they did not want us involved in El Salvador or Nicaragua, and there is democracy there today because of America's involvement in part. Colombia has a major problem. They are asking for our assistance. I would suggest that we provide them with a small amount of assistance.