William Lipinski

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota, [Mr. Oberstar] the ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, we at the present time only have two speakers remaining. I do not know how many speakers the gentleman from Pennsylvania has. He still has more time than we have, so I would like to try to balance this out, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. LIPINSKI. It is my opinion that they would not, no.

Mr. LIPINSKI. At least five and perhaps six. I cannot confirm the sixth one, but I certainly can confirm five occasions.

Mr. LIPINSKI. That is correct.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Absolutely.

Mr. LIPINSKI. No hearings in the subcommittee or full committee in the Senate.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Not in the full committee.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Not in the subcommittee.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would yield, no, there were never any hearings on it in the House.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Volkmer]. (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 6 minutes. Mr. Speaker, let us focus on what this debate is really about. This provision for FedEx is another assault on the American middle class, the American middle class that has been attacked for over 15 years by our Nation's terrible trade policies, technology, profit driven downsizing, profit-driven deregulation, and systematic sinister weakening of unions. How, you ask? Let me explain. During the debate on the rule, I outlined the history of this dubious Federal Express provision. Let us take a closer look at what my colleagues are calling a technical correction. The last express carrier, as defined by the ICC, went out of existence 20 years ago, so at the ICC's suggestion the classification was removed from statute because it was obsolete. But suddenly, after the ICC bill is signed into law, one company and its countless consultants decided that it might want to be an express carrier some day and started knocking on doors up here. I have already outlined the five other times FedEx has tried to get this provision into law. Judging by the consistent effort and expense they have gone to, it must really be important for them to remove this dead classification. But why? Federal Express would not go through all this trouble if they were not going to get something out of it. The fact is that it is much more difficult for a union to organize under the Railway Labor Act than under the National Labor Relations Act. Under the RLA a unit of the company would have to be organized companywide, while under the NLRA it can be done facility by facility. Why is this relevant for a company like Federal Express, which is currently classified as an air carrier and already subject to the RLA? Federal Express' operations have changed. No longer does every package get on a plane. Often it just goes on a truck to its destination. I understand that Federal Express' long-term plan is to truck in packages less than 400 miles away from their hubs around the country. Why would an airline like Federal Express rely so much upon trucks? Because it is cheaper. To their credit, Federal Express is planning for the future to remain competitive. It sure seems to be working. In fiscal year 1996, Federal Express had revenues of $10.3 billion. That is $10.3 billion revenues in 1996. It has headquarters in Memphis, Miami, Hong Kong, and Brussels, with offices in hundreds of cities around the world. And yet, it is afraid of middle-class Americans coming together in a union to improve their way of life, improve their children's way of life, and expand the American middle class. Managers at FedEx get a labor law book which states in large print: ``Our corporation goal is to remain union free.'' Sections in that document are titled: ``What are indications of union activity and what can I do?'' ``What can I do to prevent union intervention?'' I have that documented right here in my hands at the present time, if anyone would like to look at it. No wonder they want to be an express carrier. Mr. Speaker, there are no express carriers and have not been any for two decades. Federal Express is pushing this provision so it will be prepared in the future to meet its corporate objective: Remain union free. That is why they have tried to attach this provision to six bills in the last 9 months. The Republican leadership has decided even though the airports need funding, the FAA needs to be reformed and aviation security needs to be addressed, as well as the other four areas this bill addresses, it is more important to do FedEx a favor. Today we have an opportunity to take a stand for the American middle class, a small but very significant stand. We can strip from this bill the 11th hour, no hearings in subcommittee or full committee, Federal Express amendment that makes it much, much more difficult for middle- class Americans to organize into unions so that they can improve their standard of living with better salaries, wages, and benefits. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Clement].

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell].

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell], the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Commerce. (Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. DeFAZIO

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, how much time do we have remaining on our side?

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the ranking member of the full committee.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3539 is a good bipartisan bill except for one horrible extraneous provision which was beyond the scope of the conference. We should be passing a conference report today in order to fund airport improvement program grants, reform the FAA, address the security needs of our aviation system, restructure the Washington Airport Authority, and deal with the ways that pilot records are shared, accident victim families are treated, and children are allowed to fly. But I cannot ask my colleagues to vote for this bill because the Republican leadership has chosen to sabotage this important legislation with a big favor for the Federal Express Corp. In case my colleagues have not heard, the history of this controversial so-called Fed Ex provision is as follows: There has never been a hearing on it, not in a subcommittee in the House, not in a full committee of the House, not in a subcommittee of the Senate, not in a full committee of the Senate. They attempted to attach this provision to the fiscal year 1996 omnibus appropriations bill and failed. They tried to attach it to the NTSB reauthorization bill and failed. They tried to attach it to the Railroad Unemployment Act amendments and failed. They attempted to attach it to the amendments to the DOT appropriations and failed. I understand that they even tried to attach it to the CR that we will be voting upon today, tomorrow, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, whenever it comes to pass. Now they have stuck it on this very important aviation bill, threatening everything in it. Defeating the rule will enable us to have this terrible special interest provision removed so that the product of 2 years of effort of the Aviation Subcommittee will not be sacrificed to Federal Express. Mr. Speaker, I hate to see the progress that we have made in improving virtually every aspect of aviation for the American people thrown away to cater to one powerful corporation. We have had splendid, outstanding cooperation on all aviation matters here in the House, principally because of the nature of the chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan]. He and I have worked splendidly together throughout the entire process of this bill and many other bills. The ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], chairman of the committee, have worked in tremendous cooperation to improve the aviation industry in this country, with all the legislation that is included in this bill. Now, unfortunately, at the last moment, when everything else was done in conference, when we had worked everything else out between the House and Senate, at the 11th hour, an amendment is brought forward to aid and assist one giant corporation against the American middle class, a provision for Federal Express. Mr. Speaker, I say to one and all in this House, this is an opportunity for Members to stand up and do something for American middle class people, and vote against this rule. For the arguments that people will put forth that we do not want to defeat this very important piece of legislation because so many things will be adversely impacted in the aviation industry, I simply say to them, the very distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon], has stated in several publications if the rule is defeated, if the bill is defeated, they will simply put it on the continuing resolution, or they will bring it back without this provision and pass a clean aviation bill. Mr. Speaker, I say to the Members, vote against this terrible rule.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding group of volleyball players in my district. This special group of players are students at Our Lady of the Ridge High School in Chicago Ridge, IL. What makes this group stand out and shine is that when other schools were out for the summer, this group of players extended their season into late June and captured their program's first national title. This is truly a momentous triumph and I am very proud to represent such a fine group of young women in Congress. This year's Amateur Athletic Union Junior National Volleyball Championships were held in Des Moines, IA, on June 21-25. This year, a division was started which included volleyball players ages 10 years and younger. The division was created to allow younger players to compete in the national competition. This year, 10 young ladies from last season's fourth grade team received maximum benefit from the exposure. The team was led by tournament MVP Jessica Strama and All-Americans Kellie and Katie Pratl. Additionally, Elizabeth Rutan, Cori Omiecinski, Megan Liston, Laura Dirschl, and Katherine Casey played an important role in their aggressive floor play during the game. Stefanie Krawisz and Lauren Uher were top in their field outstanding serving ability during the game. The Our Lady of the Ridge team was coached by Milena Strama and Ron Pratl. The team ended its season with an impressive 77- 23 record. Finally, the team could not have come as far as they did if it were not for their many sponsor and supporters from the parish community of Our Lady of the Ridge. As the team coach Ron Pratl said, ``There was a team of supporters that made it possible for us to get here, and then there was the team that won the gold. My hat goes off to all of them.'' Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to have such a fine group of players and supporters in my district. This group of hard working young volleyball players are truly an inspiration and I am pleased to be given the opportunity to honor their hard work today.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I join the chairman in expressing my strong support for H.R. 3159, the National Transportation Safety Board Amendments of 1996. This legislation reauthorizes the NTSB for 3 years, and makes a number of changes requested by the NTSB to allow the Board to continue its excellent work. The NTSB is probably the most respected Government entity in the United States. In recent months, we have witnessed two devastating aircraft crashes that have focused the Nation's attention on the NTSB's work. In the most difficult of circumstances, the NTSB works with local, State and Federal entities as well as with the families of accident victims. And the Board is not just involved in aviation--the NTSB leads investigations of accidents in every mode of transportation. As we discuss this reauthorization on the floor today, it is important for us to recognize the public service performed by the Board. They are a critical element of our national transportation system. Mr. Speaker, as requested by the NTSB, H.R. 3159 enables the Board to fully participate in foreign investigations by providing protection from Freedom of Information Act requests for a 2-year period. Our intention is not to keep information from the public. Rather, the measure simply enhances the NTSB's access to information that will lead to improvements in aviation safety. The bill also encourages data sharing programs among the FAA, NTSB, and the aviation community by prohibiting the Board from disclosing voluntarily provided safety information. By sharing information before an accident occurs, we can save lives. The legislation establishes a framework which will enable this to occur. Mr. Speaker, the legislation we are considering today contains higher funding levels than those contained in the introduced bill. This slightly higher authorization in the outyears, along the lines of an amendment offered by Mr. Oberstar during committee markup, will enable the NTSB to increase its work force by some 20 employees. In recent months, with the ValuJet crash in the Florida Everglades and the TWA crash last week off Long Island, it has become even clearer to me that the NTSB needs every resource it can get. I want to thank the ranking member of the committee, Mr. Oberstar, for his leadership on this issue, and both Chairman Shuster and Chairman Duncan for their willingness to work with us. The higher funding level makes this a better bill for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation, and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar].

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the ranking member of the full committee.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.