Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 261, I call up the conference report 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.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, first let me say that I very much appreciate the gentlewoman's work on our committee. She is a most effective member. She and I have discussed the fact that water rights are really State and local issues, but at the same time, the gentlewoman is in a perfect position to make this point at a very appropriate time. I concur with the gentlewoman from Ohio, and encourage the VA to act expeditiously to resolve this conflict.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Frelinghuysen], a very diligent and effective member of our subcommittee.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, the gentleman is correct, the near-term research is vital, and $5 million is a good estimate of what would be necessary to carry out this research.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to participate in a colloquy with my colleague and member of the committee.

Mr. LEWIS of California. If the gentleman will continue to yield, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is correct. It would be the intent of the conferees and this conference report that institutes such as HEI would receive priority in the process laid out in the conference report.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Walsh], the chairman of the Subcommittee on Legislative Appropriations. (Mr. WALSH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Leach], the chairman of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Bachus]. (Mr. BACHUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is correct.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, that is my intention and I will be happy to join the gentleman.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the gentleman's leadership on this matter. I will be happy to join him.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me echo my colleague's remarks about the bipartisanship of the work that we have done together. I want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey], ranking member of the full committee, certainly the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes], my colleague. I am very appreciative of the help of the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston], as well as all of our staff. I would just note one item. The bill is a very complex bill, as we have suggested. We have operated in a circumstance where a very high percentage of our bill has not been authorized, in some instances for several years. It is very important, to help us with that work, that our authorizing committees go forward with their work as well. We will try to work with them positively in the next Congress or the next go around. Without authorization, it is very difficult to reflect all the needs of the Members of the House.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the conference report. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join in a brief colloquy with my colleague, the gentleman from Michigan.

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 the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA. As the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that provides funding for veterans programs, including veterans medical care, I am especially proud of this facility at this historic moment. On Thursday, September 25, this fine facility will celebrate 20 years of service to veterans who live and work in southern California. My dear friend and predecessor in Congress, Shirley Pettis Roberson, will address those attending this very special ceremony at the medical center. In June 1974, a large crowd gathered for the ground breaking to begin construction of this facility. The first patient was admitted in December 1977, realizing a dream and long-term goal of former Congressman Jerry Pettis. Jerry Pettis was a good man and a close personal friend. Today, his legacy lives on through the commitment and fine work of the men and women who strive to serve our veterans with great care and respect. Jerry Pettis would certainly be proud of this fine institution and the many worthy people it serves. The Pettis VA Medical Center has 125 acute care beds and 106 nursing home beds. With a budget of approximately $109 million, over 600 volunteers, and over 1,200 employees, the facility last year alone, had over 6,500 admissions and over 230,000 outpatient visits. Working closely with Loma Linda University in many areas of clinical research and study, the medical center continues to conduct critical work in a variety of scientific disciplines. In addition, the Pettis VA Medical Center has vigorously explored ways of providing the best possible service to the more than 290,000 veterans in Riverside County and San Bernardino County. The recently opened Victorville outpatient clinic, for example, has greatly improved access to primary care for thousands of veterans in California's high desert region. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and our colleagues in paying special tribute to the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center on its 20th anniversary. All of us owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our veterans, and we also owe a special thanks to the memory of our good friend and former colleague, for whom this facility is named. To both Jerry Pettis, and our veterans, Congress thanks you--and salutes you--on this historic day.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to bring to your attention the communitywide celebration taking place later this month in the High Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County. The congregation of the Trona Foursquare Church will be celebrating its 58th anniversary on September 28th, as well as honoring its pastors for 25 years of service to the community. A dinner and evening of fellowship will mark this important occasion on September 27th. Reverend and Mrs. Melvin Wilson came to Trona in July of 1972. Living in Trona, they have faithfully served their church family while involving themselves in numerous ways in the life of the local community. Their love, care, concern, influence, and loyalty is reflected in their service which touches literally everyone in Trona. They have truly been, by all accounts, servants of God. The citizens of Trona are grateful beyond words for their devotion and I am proud to ask our colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in saluting them today. I would also like to pay special tribute to the Trona Foursquare Church as it, too, celebrates an important milestone--its 58th anniversary. To say the least, the entire community is very much looking forward to a weekend of celebration to mark both the service of Reverend and Mrs. Wilson, as well as the anniversary of the church itself. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me and our colleagues in paying tribute to the Trona Foursquare Church as it celebrates these important moments in its history. It is only appropriate that the House recognize Reverend and Mrs. Wilson for their 25 years of faithful community service, as well as the service of this church as it, too, celebrates a most esteemed anniversary.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to bring to your attention the fine work and outstanding performance of Lake Arrowhead Elementary School in Lake Arrowhead, CA. Earlier this year, Lake Arrowhead Elementary was named a California Distinguished School by State superintendent of public instruction, Delaine Easton. This recognition, one of the highest educational awards presented in California, puts this fine school in the top tier of educational institutions in the entire state. Lake Arrowhead Elementary School, located in the mountains of San Bernardino County, has achieved an excellent level of success in maintaining high-academic standards for its students. Under the fine and capable leadership of Principal John Fenn, this school has excelled largely because of its outstanding faculty, devoted student body, and the active and involved support of the entire mountain community. As the largest elementary school in the rim of the World Unified School District with an enrollment of 840 students, Lake Arrowhead Elementary is especially well known for its dedication to its students. In February, Lake Arrowhead Elementary was selected as a 1997 regional nominee for the California School Recognition Program. The competition for this recognition alone was exceptionally stiff with nearly 700 schools submitting applications to the State superintendent of public instruction. Several months later, John Fenn was notified of his school's crowning achievement--selection as a California Distinguished School--a success that was shared by the entire Lake Arrowhead Elementary School community in May. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me, our colleagues, and the many admirers of Lake Arrowhead Elementary in recognizing the outstanding achievements of the staff, students, and others who continue to bring success to this fine school. This achievement provides a model of success to be emulated not only by other schools in California but across the country as well. I join the House in applauding the efforts of this fine program and congratulate Lake Arrowhead Elementary for a job well done.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I certainly am not going to object to this suggestion by my colleague. By way of commentary, however, I must say that it was at least 15 years ago as a member of this committee I traveled to the northern part of the State of New York, and during that trip I visited a place called Love Canal. At that point in time we knew that the Superfund program had many a problem. The new Administrator indicated to us that this was a program and project that was very, very important but which was broken. I certainly do hope that between now and the time we go to conference that my colleague will join with me one more time in asking the administration for their suggestion as to how we fix this program, for she has been talking about it publicly a lot, but I have seen no recommendation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.