William Lipinski

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a group of forgotten cold war veterans who, along with their families, are suffering the after-affects of serving in the military during the nuclear age. I am speaking of atomic veterans and their survivors. These service people were the ones called in to clean up after accidents involving nuclear weapons, apparently with little regard to their safety and long-term health. While we may never fathom the number and full extent of these accidents, there are two we do know something about, thanks mainly to the diligence of many of the veterans involved in these cleanups who brought the truth to their fellow citizens. One mishap occurred in Greenland in 1968, when a B-52 bomber carrying four 1.1 megaton bombs crashed, spreading radioactive debris across the frozen tundra. Service people, who were not even issued protective masks, reportedly picked up the deadly pieces with shovels, and in some cases, their bare hands. In a 1962 incident, Navy personnel on Johnston Atoll in the Pacific were subjected to incredibly high levels of radioactive materials for days when a Thor rocket tipped with a 1.4 megaton warhead blew up on the launch pad during testing. Debris strewn about the atoll, including across the air strip, prevented the flight crews of a Navy air patrol squadron from leaving for days. Veterans of this squadron suffer from various cancers, teeth and hair loss, sterility, joint disease, eyesight failure and reproductive problems. However, the most insidious manifestation of this problem may not be among these veterans, but in their children, who are also suffering from their parents' exposure. These children suffer from a variety of ailments, ranging from learning disabilities to congenital deformities, related to genetic damage to their parents who were stationed at these nuclear hot spots. I believe that these children have suffered because of the negligence of our Government toward their parents, and therefore, am a cosponsor of H.R. 2401, the Atomic Veterans Survivors Benefits Act. The this much needed legislation was introduced by my good colleagues from Illinois, Mr. Hyde and Mr. Fawell. This bill would simply treat the children of atomic veterans suffering from these disabilities like veterans with service-related injuries in regard to compensation. Advocates for those who served at nuclear hot spots such as Johnston Atoll and Greenland include the Veterans Rights Coalition and the Alliance of Atomic Veterans. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2401. It is the least this country can do for those veterans and their children who have ended up as casualties of the cold war long after it ended.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to say a few words about our health care system. The current debate over changing our system seems to have fallen victim to partisan political posturing. That is unfortunate. Three years ago, along with a dozen of my Democratic colleagues, I cosponsored legislation to create medical savings accounts, most commonly known as MSA's. Today, I am still a Democrat, and I am still a supporter of MSA's. MSA's are an idea whose goal is to re-introduce the consumers' best interests into the health care market place. Clearly, consumers' needs are not being met. For instance, when was the last time a mammogram sale was advertised? We see advertisements concerning sales on eye check-ups, eyeglasses, and frames--we even receive mailings on teeth cleanings and annual dental exams. So what is the difference? Typically, an individual's health care expenses are paid for by their insurance policy, so there is never a thought about finding premium care at low costs. Why? Because people are spending the insurance company's money, not their own. But when it comes to spending money on eyeglasses or for a dentist-- money that typically comes right out of one's own pocketbook--cost, service, and quality suddenly become important. In fact, due to cost effective shopping, spending for those industries was relatively flat during the years health care costs were soaring. MSA's would encourage the same kind of consumer response for health care. By forcing doctors and hospitals to compete for patients who are concerned about quality and cost, health care spending will slow down. Ultimately, this competition will lead to sales on important services, such as mammograms. Likewise, MSA's will provide a real incentive to shop around for the best values and alternatives when nonemergency treatment is needed. The incentive? Consumers will keep the money they save. Critics of MSA's claim that this incentive will lead healthy people to choose MSA's, leaving sick people in a separate, and therefore, more expensive health insurance pool. But while many healthy people will choose to save money, the sick will also choose MSA's because their out-of-pocket costs will be less. Moreover, during recent health care debates, a rallying cry on both sides of the aisle was choice. MSA's provide that choice for consumers, and that is exactly what MSA's are about. And what is wrong with giving a break to people who take care of themselves, exercise regularly, watch what they eat and drink, and don't smoke? Don't they deserve something for their efforts? We as a society are already subsidizing those who abuse drugs and alcohol and are severely overweight. According to one recent study, one out of every four welfare mothers uses illegal drugs or drinks excessively. In addition, it is documented that Medicaid recipients use prescription drugs 2.2 times as much, see their doctors 3.6 times more, and visit the hospital 4.5 times as often as those who have their own insurance. So I ask again, what is wrong with giving people a break for taking care of themselves? There are additional reasons that MSA's are good for the consumer. MSA's will reduce administrative overhead as small bills will be settled and paid directly between provider and consumer. They will also increase the record low savings rate of Americans. Lastly, since MSA's provide an incentive to stay healthy, preventive medicine will be encouraged. These are the reasons I support the MSA concept when I first heard about it, and these are the reasons I support MSA's today. But there is an additional and very powerful reason why I still support MSAs. They are clearly successful where they are being offered, in spite of Congress' failure to act on the needed changes in the Tax Code. So I say to my colleagues, as we prepare to reconcile the House and Senate health reform bills, include MSAs in any health insurance reform measure that will come out of Congress this year, because MSAs will cut costs, provide choice, promote healthy lives and save money for the consumers. Is that not what the epitome of reform is?

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute today to a brave young woman in my district whose quick thinking saved her family. Ms. Marynez Torres, 15 was baby-sitting her two younger brothers when a fire broke out in the kitchen of the family's home. Unable to extinguish the fire, Ms. Torres rushed her two brothers out of the house to a safe location and dialed ``911''. She was recently honored by both the Hodgkins Village board president and the Pleasantview Fire Protection District for her heroic efforts. As Pleasantview Fire Chief Dan Hermes told Ms. Torres, ``You did everything right. We thank you for remembering what to do.'' Mr. Speaker, I commend Ms. Torres for her quick thinking that saved the life of her two brothers.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding veterans organization in my district, the Emil Schieve Post of the American Legion, in Lyons, IL, as it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. The post was founded in 1921 by a group of World War I veterans. Its namesake, Emil Scheive was the first Lyons man killed in World War I. He died in action in France on October 4, 1918. In its three quarters of a century in, the post has had four homes, moving to its current location at 4112 Joliet Avenue, the village's former library in 1967. In honor of its anniversary, the post is displaying historical photos from its archives that not only highlight its history, but the community's as well. Mr. Speaker, I commend the members, living and past, of Emil Schieve American Legion Post on its 75th anniversary serving the veterans of their community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to pay tribute to two outstanding police officers who heroically risked their lives to save two people from a burning house in my district. Officers Robin Prokaski and James Liotta of the La Grange, IL police department were the first to respond to an alarm that brought them to a burning house in the community in the early morning hours of February 24. One occupant of the house, Jerry Chlapcik, had escaped the flames and smoke, but his elderly wife and his daughter, a guardriplegic, were still trapped inside. Officers Prokaski and Liotta climbed through a window and found the mother attempting to get the daughter out of bed. Working quickly in the dense smoke, they were able to get both mother and daughter out of the house, handing the victims out of the window. For their heroic efforts, Officers Prokaski and Liotta were awarded the Chief's Award of Valor from the fire department. Mr. Speaker, I commend these two brave police officers, and I wish to remend all Americans of the debt they owe those who risk their lives to protect ours.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor one of my constituents, William C. Dunne, for his long and distinguished career with the U.S. Secret Service. This month Bill Dunne retired from the Secret Service and tonight his colleagues from the law enforcement community, as well as his family and friends, will all come together to honor him at a retirement dinner. One from a family of 10, Bill was born and raised on Chicago's Southwest Side. After receiving a degree in law enforcement administration from the University of Oklahoma, Bill began his career as a special agent with the U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Within 2 years Bill was presented with the opportunity he sought since childhood--to become a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service. For over 20 years, Bill served with distinction as a special agent with the Secret Service. Bill worked in the Secret Service's Syracuse and Chicago field offices, as well as the Washington, DC, headquarters where he served on the protection detail for President Ronald Reagan. In Washington, Bill's protection experience, talents, and skills caused his elevation to head the protection detail for former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Chief of Staff Donald Regan. During his distinguished career, Bill Dunne traveled abroad frequently ensuring the safety of U.S. Presidents, Vice Presidents, and other Government officials in foreign lands. Bill's protection duties over the years also included Presidential candidates, foreign diplomats, and Pope John Paul II during his visit to Chicago in 1979. His last assignment was in the capacity as a supervisor in the Chicago field office. In addition to his protection responsibilities, Bill led many successful criminal investigations in counterfeit and fraud cases involving U.S. currency and financial instruments. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me today in saluting Bill Dunne, his wife Pat, and their four children, Bill, Patrick, Shannon, and Colleen, and to wish them the best in the future.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to an outstanding young man from my district, Michael J. Zalewski, who was recently honored for academic excellence at St. Rita High School. During St. Rita's academic awards banquet, Mr. Zalewski, a senior bound for the University of Illinois, was recognized nine times for his scholastic achievements. He was cited as a member of the St. Rita 1996 Academic All-Stars, a winner of the 1996 Heeney Award, as an Illinois State scholar, and as a recipient of the Presidential Educational Award. Mr. Zalewski was named as a member of the Gold Honor Roll at St. Rita, the JETS Science Team, the National Honor Society, and was listed in ``Who's Who Among American High School Students.'' In addition, he received the U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Michael J. Zalewski, and of course his parents, Michael R. and Millie Zalewski, on his academic achievements, and extend to him, as well as the members of the Class of '96, my best wishes for much success in the future.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the girls' basketball team of Morton High School in my district. The squad recently won its first ever regional title in the Illinois State basketball tournament. In fact, this was the Morton team--boys or girls--to advance past the regional round of the playoffs since 1972. Unfortunately, Morton's dream season ended with a defeat to perennial power Mother McCauley in the sectional semifinals last week. Nonetheless, I congratulate the team and its first year coach John Molitor, for bringing home the regional championship and basketball pride to Morton High School.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to two outstanding young women from Edison School in Stickney, IL, who were the winners in the American Legion, Stickney Post's Sixth Annual Oratorical Contest for eighth grade students. Sarah Ellen Jones received a medal and a check for $50 for her oration on the duties and obligations of a citizen under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, Sara Chapin, the runner-up, received $25. Other participants in the contest were Allen Aguilar and Gregory Biziarek of Home School in Stickney and Julie LaPointe and Jacqueline Galvan of St. Pius X School in Stickney. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate these fine young people for participating in this important exercise in civics and wish them continued success as they develop into the leaders of the future.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, for too many Americans, the great American dream has been replaced by sleepless nights of worry. Worries about how to care for elderly parents, how to pay for a home, how to pay for a car, and how to pay for the children's college tuition, in a world where real wages have become stagnant, taxes are being raised, benefits are under assault, and jobs are being lost. Second jobs often become the only job, because the main jobs have been lost to downsizing, or have been transferred elsewhere. That's what people are dreaming about. Their anxiety is real, not imagined. American workers used to be in control of their own financial destinies. Hard work, loyalty, and ingenuity were rewarded and appreciated by American businesses. The result? Americans realized and lived the American dream, as generation after generation witnessed an increased standard of living. But younger generations do not believe they will have it better than their parents. For these days, hard work and loyalty are being rewarded with pink slips and unemployment checks. Before Pat Buchanan enlightened America to the plight of the American worker, the issue of jobs and the state of the American economy was not a part of the political discussion. In the worlds of Democratic leader, Richard Gephardt, Pat ``has, at the very least, recognized the crisis of falling wages and incomes. He has acknowledged what hard-working families go through to raise their children and put food on the table.'' And the New York Times stated that ``until Patrick J. Buchanan made the issue part of the Presidential campaign, it seldom surfaced in political debate.'' Pat pointed out the falling wages of the American worker. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average hourly pay has fallen 11 percent since 1979. Why? Because of greedy corporations and the failed trade policy of the United States. First, let me talk about the trade imbalance in America. For years I have been fighting to balance the playing field by introducing legislation to impose restrictions on imported steel and automobile. Not because foreign steel and cars are better than their American counterparts, but because foreign countries are restricting imports of American steel and cars. It is not fair to the American worker to allow foreign products to generously flow into this country without opening foreign markets to the same American products. And now the North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA], and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade [GATT], two deals I vociferously opposed, are only making things worse for Americans. By Trade Representative Mickey Kantor's own figures, each $1 billion in exports equals 20,000 jobs. In 1995 the U.S. merchandise trade deficit was over $175 billion. That means 3.5 million jobs were lost to foreign countries. And what is contributing to this deficit? NAFTA. In 2 years, we've gone from a trade surplus with Mexico of $1.35 billion to a trade deficit of $15.39 billion last year. In addition, in 1995 the United States trade deficit with Canada was also over $15 billion. That is 600,000 jobs lost because of NAFTA. Many of our own companies have in effect thrown up their hands in surrender to low-wage countries and decided to ship their operations abroad to take advantage of minuscule labor costs. In Indiana, the Whirlpool Corp. has announced it is moving 265 positions to a plant in Monterey, Mexico in order to strengthen the plant and improve job security. Aided by NAFTA, Whirlpool has improved job security to such a degree that over 5,000 jobs have been lost at its plant in Indiana in the course of the last 10 years. But this is not a unique case. In my own district, General Motors has slowly but steadily been decommissioning its Electro-Motive plant for the last 10 to 15 years and sending the same work down to a subsidiary in Mexico. But Mexican and Canadian workers aren't any better off than American workers, and neither is our environment. Because of NAFTA, American roads may soon open to Mexican trucks--trucks that often weigh more than double the 80,000 pound United States limit. These trucks are lax in safety standards, and with only 1 in 700 trucks being inspected at the border, American roads will be filled with mammoth, unsafe trucks carrying materials to points throughout the United States. And not only is the American worker paying for these bad trade agreements in lost jobs and extra peril to the environment, but a trade deficit also represents a liability on our national balance sheet--a loan that must be financed. If the trade deficit remains constant, by 2010 the United States will be paying the equivalent of 2.5 percent of our GDP in interest payments and capital outflows to foreign countries. I agree with Pat Buchanan that global free trade should be judged by three simple rules: First, they maintain U.S. sovereignty; second, they protect vital American economic interests, and third, they ensure a rising standard of living for all American workers. It is clear that trade agreements like NAFTA and GATT are not following these rules and looking out for the welfare of working Americans, but are looking out for the interests of large multinational corporations whose sole loyalty is to the bottom line. For too long, we have engaged in trade deals and foreign policy that serve foreign countries. The $50 billion loan bailout to Mexico, which I opposed, only proves that NAFTA is a failure. And GATT, which often places the settlements of trade disputes in the hands of the World Trade Organization and representatives of small, Third World countries, compromises our sovereignty. Moreover, we rebuilt Europe and Japan after the Second World War--we still provide for their security--but it's time to use our powerful resources to rebuild the American dream and rebuild security for American families. Not just through Government programs--but through a partnership where Government can set fair and compassionate rules. Where Government can be an impartial referee, and where Government helps provide the tools. That leads me to the plight of the American worker. In the 1980's, mostly young, male, blue-collar workers dominated layoffs. Wages of the principal breadwinner were declining and families were making up for that by sending more family members into the workplace, and they worked longer hours. By the end of the decade, families were running out of hours, with both parents working at several different jobs. In 1988, I joined other colleagues in passing legislation that would prevent employers from blindsiding blue collar workers with sudden layoffs. This legislation, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, requires the employers to notify three bodies-- workers, State dislocated worker units and local governments--of impending major mass layoffs, plant closings, or plant relocations. Unfortunately, while this legislation prepares American workers and communities for what lies ahead, it does not stop employers from firing workers en masse and causing sleepless nights of worry. But now, white collar people with college degrees, a large number of women included, are also being laid off, or downsized, as corporations like to call it. Large corporations account for many of the layoffs, and a large percentage of the jobs are lost to outsourcing--contracting out work to another company. While these outsourcing jobs contribute to the 8 million jobs that President Clinton claims have been added to the work force since 1992, these jobs are often with small companies that offer little benefits and low pay, and many are part-time positions with no benefits at all. Often, the laid off only get temporary work, tackling the tasks once performed by full timers. Even though I am happy that jobs have been created, the statistics don't show that these are part-time jobs that do not pay living wages. In fact, the country's largest employer is Manpower Inc., a temporary-help agency that rents out 767,000 workers a year. A person who is dependent all of his life on low wages is a slave. This economic stagnation and loss of opportunity is sapping America of its boundless confidence and freedom. Clearly, the dignity of labor has been replaced by the slavery of insecurity. You can't do that to American workers and expect America to stay strong. Often, in order to allay this insecurity, these low-paid or temporary workers try to join a union in hopes of raising pay or improving benefits. At a recent congressional hearing, a $5.50 per hour employee of a small business with annual sales of over $150 million testified that management told the employees that they would put a padlock on the door and move the business to another town if the employees formed a union. This is not an isolated case, for throughout the landscape of the American office, warehouse, and factory there are widespread fears of joining a union and expressing one's views. The fear of job loss and anxiety about the future coupled with falling wages of Americans does not equate with America's economic figures. Profits of corporations are 50 percent higher than a decade ago, the gross domestic product is growing, and unemployment is lower. Then where is the money going? To fat cat corporations. The growing divide between Wall Street and mainstreet is causing a widening rift between the rich and the poor. In 1974, U.S. CEO's were paid an average of 35 times the average worker. Today, that ratio has ballooned to 187 to 1. Comparably, in Germany that ratio is 21 to 1. In Japan the ratio is 16 to 1. There are great effects that result from the greed of these corporate CEO's. In 1979, the top 1 percent of earners in America held 22 percent of the wealth, Today, the top 1 percent hold 42 percent of the wealth. We even surpass Britain, long seen as the snooty example of a class structured society, in income disparity. It is clear that multimillionaire CEO's are keeping more of the money for themselves. Workers once received compensation increases equal to 80 percent of productivity gains. Since 1979, workers have only received a 25-percent increase in compensation compared to their productivity gains. This is not fair, nor is it right. Workers who produce more and better products are being forced to labor longer for less compensation. Furthermore, it is not secret that when a company announces a layoff that its stock soars. On the day of the announcement that 40,000 jobs would be cut, AT&T's stock when up 4 percent and Bob Allen, the CEO of AT&T, saw his stock increase by $1.6 million, in that 1 day alone. The day Sears announced that 50,000 jobs would be downsized, its stock climbed 4 percent. When Xerox said it would trim 10,000 jobs, it stock surged 7 percent. The list goes on and on. Fortunately, not all corporations view their employees in simple terms of stock market statistics. Anheuser-Busch, Malden Mills, Inland Copper, and United Technologies have all respected their workers and treated them like assets. For, instance, United Technologies reeducates its workers and gives stock incentives to employees who go back to school, no matter if the studies are related to United Technologies or not. This is the kind of social contract that is needed in America between corporations and its workers. Even financial forecasters have foreseen that companies which invest in their employees are better investments in the long term than companies that recklessly fire workers for the benefit of the quick buck. But currently, Wall Street is not reacting well to the news of employment gains. When on March 8, the Labor Department announced that 705,000 workers had been added to payrolls, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 171 points. The next day's headline in the Washington Post screamed, ``Job Gains Send Markets Plunging.'' There is no doubt that the short sighted interests of Wall Street investors conflict with the long-term interests of working Americans. Less jobs, more profits, that is what Wall Street wants. As White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry said about the markets' response to job gains, ``Sometimes there's a disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street.'' No, Mr. McCurry, not sometimes. It happens more often than we care to admit. Sure, change and some turnover was inevitable as the American economy evolved past the industrial age. Technological innovations now allow a corporation to do more work with less manpower. But as of late, the economy has been driven by a policy that transformed labor markets. Incentives increased on Wall Street to break the social contracts between corporations and workers. Capitalism and greed ran rampant without regulations, injuring the working man and woman and losing sight of a vision for America's economic future. Yes, I do believe in capitalism, but I hold democracy and the welfare of the working men and women of this country in higher regard. While I respect the right of the individual, this society cannot be one that lives by the rule of survival of the fittest. There are solutions to the plight of the American worker. We must change trade policies, modify corporate behavior, strengthen workers' rights, and provide for a more effective social safety net for the unemployed. I also believe in free trade, because America has the most productive work force and best minds in the world. But most often, the countries that we trade with, do not have open markets and are not playing by the same rules that we hold to ourselves. They do not believe in free trade and therefore take advantage of America's willingness to play at a disadvantage. The time has come for a comprehensive U.S. trade policy that emphasizes reciprocity and stems America's hemorrhage of jobs and incomes. Future trade deals should not be made with foreign countries until they open their closed markets. Current trade agreements, such as NAFTA, should be amended or repealed unless certain conditions are met. To this end, I am a member of a bipartisan coalition of Members in the House and Senate that have introduced the NAFTA Accountability Act. This act would incorporate a comprehensive set of benchmarks against which to measure NAFTA's promises in regard to trade balances, net job growth, democracy, reduction of illicit drug activity, crime, and increased public health standards. If any of the benchmarks of a prudent trade policy are not met, Congress would instruct the President to withdraw from NAFTA. The American people themselves are clamoring for legislation of this kind, as recent polls indicate that 52 percent of the public in March 1994 believed that NAFTA would help the job situation here. By November 1995, only 36 percent of the public still held that belief, while 55 percent of the people believed that NAFTA is causing jobs to go to foreign countries. Changing bad trade deals goes hand in hand with changing corporate behavior, since these corporations are taking advantage of agreements by using cheap foreign labor while CEOs reap the profits. Moreover, multinational corporations often escape from paying U.S. income taxes while retaining the rights of citizenship. These tax loopholes must be closed, and corporations that receive tax breaks only to subsequently downsize should have their tax breaks eliminated. But eliminating corporate tax loopholes will not solve the whole problem. I propose going one step further and creating tax rates that reward those corporations which create higher quality and better paying jobs in America. A new social contract should be adopted between the Government, the business community, and the working people of America. Tax rates would be reduced for corporations if they pay living wages for their workers, maintain or add jobs, give good benefits, and train or upgrade skills. Corporate America is constantly clamoring for tax breaks, as the Republican Contract With America proposed to do. But tax breaks have been given in the past to these corporations only to see jobs go to foreign nations, the American work force downsized, CEO's reap huge profits, and the budget deficit balloon out of control. So let's give corporate America what they want: A tax break. But let's hold them accountable for the welfare of the American worker. Corporate America is not the only entity that can help the middle class. Unions, as the vanguard of the workers, also have a role to play. They ensure a stable economy. To quote from Ray Abernathy of the AFL-CIO, ``When organized labor and minimum wage laws were passed during the Depression, it wasn't only to prevent the exploitation of workers, it was also because big business understood the need to ensure the buying power of its customers.'' That statement makes sense, because in modern economies, wealth is created when labor, capital, skills, and natural resources are continuously recycled as profits, wages, operating costs, taxes, or social welfare payments within the society that produced them. Unions, in effect, promote a healthy society by making sure that a fair percentage of the wealth is recycled in the form of wages. But distributing to much wealth as welfare undermines the work ethic, and distributing to much as profits to a relatively few top executives, as has been happening in America in the last two decades, concentrates wealth in the hands of a few. Therefore, this has undermined support for the community and has led to a weakened public school system, unsafe streets, a declining morale, and an anxiety about the future across America. At the very least, Government can ease the pain of down sized workers by passing health insurance reforms currently before Congress that allows those who lose their jobs to keep their health insurance. It is not fair, nor is it right, to have health and other social benefits for the very poor while Americans who have worked all their lives and contributed to the U.S. economy cannot have the same peace of mind. Mechanisms such as health insurance portability need to be instituted so that working Americans will not have to spend all of their savings on health care bills and subsequently fall to a level of poverty where the only means of living is provided for by the Government. But this is just a minimal step. Much more can and should be done to ease the real anxiety and worries that Americans are now feeling. We must all work together to not only reinforce America's place in the global economy, but to return the American worker and the American family to a prosperous place in society. Then we can progress on our course at the greatest industrial democracy in the world. Mr. Speaker, tonight I have presented the problem and a few potential solutions to the economic quandary America faces. But I would like everyone within the sound of my voice to send me their solutions. And in a few weeks I will present those solutions and give a vision of what America can be.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to an outstanding gentlemen from my district who has devoted himself to his community, Mr. Alois Vana, the retired executive director of the Berwyn, IL, Park District, who will receive the All Berwyn Committee's 1996 Merit Award April 26. Mr. Vana, a Berwyn native who grew up across the street from one of the parks he would eventually oversee, joined the district as superintendent in 1958, and he served his community for 37 years before retiring December 31, 1995. Mr. Vana, an Army veteran, also served as president of the Berwyn Kiwanis Club and United Way, and has contributed to many other charitable and civic organizations, including the West Suburban Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Berwyn Tree Board. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Vana on receiving this honor from the All Berwyn Committee and wish him many more years of service to his community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to two people in my district who made, and have kept, a lifetime commitment to one another, Rose and Charles Matt of Riverside, IL. The Matts recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary and their 85th birthdays with family and friends at a local restaurant. They were married June 16, 1934, at Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Cicero, IL. Over the years, the Matts have been active in the local business community and involved in civic affairs. The Matts opened a successful appliance store and two bowling alleys in Cicero. In addition, Mr. Matt served as a member of Morton High School District Board and is a past president of the Cicero Rotary Club. Mrs. Matt is a past president of her church's Alter and Rosary Society. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Matts on 61 years of commitment to each other and their community, and wish them many more years of wedded bliss.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of an outstanding public servant in my community, Mr. Raymond Chmela, president of the Hawthorne Park District Board, who passed away March 31, 1996. Mr. Chmela also served as a building inspector for the town of Cicero and coordinated the town's July 4 festival. A Korean war Army veteran, Mr. Chmela was active in many youth organizations in Cicero, including serving as past president of the South Cicero Baseball Association. He served on the Park District Board for 9 years. Mr. Speaker, I extend my condolences to the family of this fine public servant, including his wife Roberta.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a group of outstanding young women from my district who are a credit to the Girl Scouts and their community. Ten members of the troop based at Our Lady of Charity and Lincoln Schools in Cicero, IL were recently recognized for their good works with two different religious awards. Chantel Bruno, Nicole Grimes, and Lindsay Pisarczyk were honored with the Marion Award during a ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. Christine Braun, Trisha Esparza, Emilia Huerta, Dalese White, Laura Vietmeyer, and Rose Villareal received the ``I Live My Faith'' award at a ceremony in our Lady of Charity Church in Cicero. Among the girls' activities was a Christmas party they organized at a local nursing home, including preparing treats to meet the special dietary needs of residents. Mr. Speaker, I commend these outstanding Girl Scouts on these honors, and extend to them my best wishes for the future.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding group of young ladies from my district, the fifth grade girls' basketball team of Our Lady of the Ridge School in Chicago Ridge. This squad of eight determined players won the South Suburban Catholic Basketball League title this season, the school's first ever championship. The girls combined strong rebounding, spirited defense, and relentless hustle into a 14 win season. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate coaches Brad Grove and Mike Liston, as well as their players: Katie Pratl, Kellie Pratl, Jackie Grove, Colleen Madej, Kelly Liston, Megan Liston, Laura Dirschl, Katie Roe, and the ever so accurate score keeper, Ron Pratl. I wish them continued success on and off the court for a job well done.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 842, the Truth-in- Budgeting Act, to take the four transportation trust funds off budget. This bill is really quite simple. If you support jobs, investment, and keeping faith with the American people, then you support H.R. 842. That's all there is to it. Every day, Americans who fly or drive contribute through user fees to the transportation trust funds. They do so in order to finance the public infrastructure which they utilize as they travel. If they don't drive, they aren't asked to contribute to road projects. If they don't fly, we don't expect them to finance air traffic control operations or airport improvements. The systems are designed to be user financed-- those who use them pay for them. But unless the trust funds are off-budget, the American people who pay for infrastructure investment aren't getting all they pay for. The balances in the four trust funds continue to grow, while infrastructure needs across this Nation go unmet. I support infrastructure investment in the United States because it spurs economic growth and creates good jobs. The fact is that transportation represents 17 percent of the American economy. Since 1950, one-fourth of America's improvement in productivity is due to transportation investment. But for me, the most important issue is jobs. Every $1 billion spent on infrastructure creates 42,000 good high-wage jobs. That's why the Laborers International Union of North America supports this legislation, and why you should too. Mr. Chairman, as the ranking Democratic member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, I see every day the impact of our underfunded air traffic control system. There are reports almost every week of an outage of some kind at an air traffic control facility in this country. The equipment is old and needs to be replaced. The FAA predicts that U.S. domestic passenger enplanements will grow from 530 million in 1995 to nearly 800 million in 2005. We are constantly looking to find the funds to meet tomorrow's needs. The best place to start is with the balance sitting in the aviation trust fund. Mr. Chairman, this afternoon's vote is about keeping faith with the American people. The American people pay their gas tax and ticket tax to finance investment in our critical infrastructure. That's what the trust funds are meant to be used for. Mr. Chairman, I urge every Member of this body to support H.R. 842 and keep faith with the people who sent us here.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my opposition to the safe meat and poultry inspection panel provision which was added at the last minute, with no hearings or public debate, to the farm bill. Although its title suggests otherwise, the safe meat and poultry inspection panel will actually hamper consumer protection efforts by delaying meat and poultry inspection reform. The seven-member panel, consisting primarily of meat scientists, poultry scientists, and food scientists, would be responsible for reviewing every decision made by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service [FSIS]. This industry-friendly panel would have broad authority over USDA decision making in such matters as inspection procedures, labor relations, employee work rules, food safety standards, food safety practices in meat and poultry plants, and approval of new technologies. Such broad authority gives tremendous power to a part- time panel that does not necessarily include public health doctors. Yet, even if the panel met full time year round, it could not meaningfully address the large volume of decisions made regularly by the USDA's FSIS. It is obvious that the safe meat and poultry inspection panel would quickly cause a bottleneck in the FSIS decision making process. The FSIS food safety reform agenda would be substantially delayed, if not entirely blocked, by this panel. In fact, the safe meat and poultry inspection panel is actually an attempt at back door regulatory reform. It puts additional regulatory review power in the hands of industry-friendly panel members. This panel provision also adds two new Federal Register publication steps to the existing decision process. In other words, it creates another regulatory hurdle to delay implementation of additional safeguards. However, each delay in the reform process further undermines the public's confidence in the meat and poultry inspection system and food supply. In these times of severe budget constraints, the Food Safety Inspection Service is struggling to simultaneously meet its current inspection responsibilities and make needed food safety reforms. The agency certainly cannot afford to pay for another advisory panel; yet, this provision provides no new funds to finance the panel. I cannot believe that at a time when Americans want less Government, the Congress is creating an unfinanced panel that actually duplicates the work of the existing National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Food [NACMCE], which has a diverse membership and has worked closely with the FSIS since 1987. The safe meat and poultry inspection panel is not needed and would actually work against the consumer protection mission of the FSIS. It has no place in this otherwise fine farm bill compromise. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to express my opposition and greatly urge my colleagues to join me in opposition to the safe meat and poultry inspection panel.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Medical Savings Accounts. Unfortunately, MSAs have become a polarizing and partisan issue in this House. By giving MSAs tax treatment that is equal to other types of employer-provided health insurance plans, we will be giving the American people what they desperately need in their health care: Portability, lower costs, and more choices. MSAs should not be a partisan issue. In fact, Democrats were the initial sponsors of MSAs, and MSAs unanimously passed the House Ways and Means Committee in 1994 during the debate on the Clinton health care plan. While I understand that many of my colleagues do not want to weigh down or destroy any health insurance reform with any extraneous and unnecessary provisions, I believe that MSAs are an essential part of insurance reforms that will benefit all Americans. It goes without saying that the health care of the American people should always hold priority over partisan politics. Those opposed to MSAs claim that they will lead to adverse risk selection. But of the over 2,000 MSA plans that employers have in place, there are no actual examples of adverse risk selection. And the very sick will save money in most cases because their out of--pocket-- costs will be less under MSAs. I also support basic health insurance provisions included in the Democratic substitute that allow for portability, limits on the exclusion for pre-existing conditions, and increases in the health insurance tax deductions for the self-employed. These provisions would allow employees who get laid off to keep their health insurance, and gives an individual the peace of mind to change jobs or start their own business based on what is best for their career and family without worrying about his or her family's health insurance. In addition to portability, exclusion of pre-existing conditions, tax deductions, and MSA's, an ideal health insurance reform bill would also include provisions that allow small employers to pool together to purchase health insurance. These small businesses should be allowed the same exemptions from State regulations that big businesses enjoy. But, I do not believe that medical malpractice provisions that put a price on pain and suffering as low as $250,000 should be included in any health insurance bill that we pass today. In any case, MSA's should be added to health insurance reform because they will lower costs while still giving individuals the freedom to make career decisions based on the best interests of the individual. MSA's do lead to cost containment, as studies have shown. Soaring health costs are a large reason for an increasing anxiety among cash- strapped working Americans, and MSA's are proven to lower costs to employers and employees without sacrificing service and care. Lastly, MSA's give the consumer unlimited choices. Patients are allowed to shop around to choose their personal doctors based on their own unique needs. Mr. Speaker, we should subdue our partisan politics for 1 day and include MSA's in health insurance reform so Americans can worry less about their health care and more about their career and family.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, today, I offer my amendment on behalf of approximately 800 Polish and Hungarian immigrants who legally entered this country between 1989 and 1991. My amendment will allow these 800 immigrants to adjust their status to permanent resident so that they one day may become full citizens of the United States. This group of immigrants was paroled into the United States by the attorney general. Parole is a limbo status which gives them the right to live in the United States indefinitely, but denies them the opportunity to acquire permanent residency or citizenship. These immigrants have already endured much hardship and suffering. They came to the United States after living for years in refugees camps in Europe. All of the parolees where on the verge of gaining refugee status when U.S. refugee policy for those two nations changed. With the fall of communism in 1989, INS no longer accepted their refugee applications. In fairness to those who were far along in the application process, INS granted some of the applicants parole. The parolees have now been living in the United States for more than 6 years. They are working and paying taxes. They have made new homes and adjusted to a new way of life. America is now their home. Unfortunately, the parole status places strict limitations on these new lives. Without residency or citizenship, they lack some of the rights Americans take for granted. These include the ability to qualify for in-state resident tuition at public universities and the right to travel internationally at will. That's right, they have no international travel privileges which has prevented them from visiting families for years. They have missed both weddings and funerals. INS predicted that the parolees would adjust their status through relatives in the United States who petition on their behalf through the family reunification program. Unfortunately, this has not happened. In many cases it is not possible to apply for adjustment through family members, and in other cases it could take many years. This is because U.S. immigration law allows permanent residents to petition only for their spouses and children. Citizens can additionally petition for siblings. Grandparents and cousins, regardless of status, can never petition. Many of these parolees were brought here, however, by distant family members. Without passage of this amendment, these unlucky individuals will never be residents. Some of the parolees were brought by brothers and sisters, many of whom came as refugees and are not yet citizens. Under current law, a parolee would have to wait 5 years for his or her sibling to become a citizen, then another 9 years for a fourth preference petition to become current. It would take 14 years for this kind of parolee to become a resident. Then again, if the bill currently under debate passes, siblings will not be allowed to petition for other siblings and therefore, the parolees would be without an avenue to adjust their status. Mr. Speaker, these 800 parolees have suffered much. Let's make their life a little easier and provide them with an opportunity to become full U.S. citizens. Please support my amendment.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the committee, whom I affectionately call ``Mr. Aviation,'' for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2276, the Federal Aviation Administration Revitalization Act. I want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Tennessee, for all his work on this important legislation and for his leadership with the Aviation Subcommittee. I have enjoyed working with him and look forward to continuing to do so throughout the rest of the year. I also want to commend the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, and the ranking member of the full committee--my predecessor as the ranking member on this subcommittee--the gentleman from Minnesota. I know that this legislation is the product of considerable effort on all of their parts. I look forward to working with them to see this bill enacted into law. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2276 directly addresses the problems at the FAA that we unfortunately see spelled out on the nightly news on a regular basis. The bill recognizes that the problems at the FAA are systematic and not related to, or greatly affected by, any particular individual's management style or philosophy. It is time to make changes at the agency so that the very capable people leading the FAA can have flexibility, resources, and management tools to anticipate and develop policies for the changes coming in the highly dynamic aviation industry. This bipartisan legislation has strong support within the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and currently has 62 cosponsors. It is what the FAA needs to operate effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding community servant in my Congressional District, Ms. Ruthann Vihon, of Western Springs, IL, on the occasion of her being honored with the Hinsdale/Gateway Rotary Club's Paul Harris Fellow Award on March 2, 1996. The award recognizes her commitment to community service and volunteerism and will provide a $1,000 donation in her name to the Rotary Foundation. This truly tireless activist sits on the elected Lyons Township High School Board of Education. In addition, Ms. Vihon is a volunteer with the Community Support Service, Respite House, and the Hindsdale/Gateway Rotary Club Special Needs Scholarship Advisory Board, which assists special education students pursue higher education. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Ms. Vihon on this honor, and extend to her my best wishes on continued success in her service to her community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sympathy to the family and many friends of Melvin Eggert, the former mayor of Countryside, IL, a community in my district. Mr. Eggert was a true pioneer in the community, which was incorporated in 1959. From 1960 to 1963, he served on the city council and then was Countryside's mayor from 1963 to 1967. He helped guide the city through its infancy, providing the foundation for its growth into one of the most prosperous suburbs in the Chicago area. He was also a successful restaurant owner in the area. Mr. Speaker, I extend my condolences to Mr. Eggert's wife, Martha, and his entire family and his many friends on his passing.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a law enforcement officer who had been recognized for his community invovlement--Detective Nicholas Salerno of the Berwyn, Illinois Police Department. Detective Salerno, an 18-year veteran of the force, was honored with the Cook County Sheriff's Award for Merit in recognition of his involvement with his community. A member of the Department's Juvenile Unit, Detective Salerno has been active with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education [DARE] program in the city. Mr. Speaker, I commend Detective Salerno and all the other law enforcement officers who go above and beyond the call of duty to help the young people of their communities.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to two constituents who are an inspiration to all those who say ``I do''-- James and Helen Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Adams of Riverside, IL recently celebrated their 50th anniversary with a large party with dozens of their friends and family members. However, the real celebration should be for a young sailor and his 20 year old fiance from Brookfield, IL who would not let even a world war from keeping them apart. With conflict still raging in the Pacific in June 1945, Jim Adams had planned to take advantage of a short leave to marry his sweetheart, Helen Jean Bennett. But, as is often the case in wartime, his leave was canceled and he was not able to get back home until December of that year, a few days before Christmas. Not only were there no churches available during the holidays for a wedding ceremony, there were no priests or preachers either. Finally, on New Year's Eve, a clergyman was found and the wedding took place in the bride's house. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Adams on not only their 50th anniversary, but also their perseverance and devotion 50 years ago that prevented even a world war from keeping them apart.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to five outstanding individuals and three organizations in my district who were recently honored for public service and volunteerism by the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce (WSCC). Mr. Lawrence Kinports of LaGrange, IL, was named as the WSCC's Citizen of the Year. Mr. Kinports, a retired business executive and current LaGrange trustee, is renowned in the community for his volunteer work. He serves as an active member of the boards of numerous organizations, including the Southwest Suburban Center of Aging and the Community Extension Project, which serves the youth of his community. In addition, Mr. Kinports has been previously recognized by this Member with my Senior Citizen of the Year Award. WSCC Man of the Year Ronald Henrickson of LaGrange is another individual who can't say no when it comes to giving of his time and talents. He is a member of LaGrange's Economic Development/ Redevelopment Commission, sits of the board of directors of the Richport YMCA, and volunteers with Mainstreet LaGrange, a redevelopment group in the community. Ms. Linda Johnson of Western Springs, IL, the Chamber's Woman of the Year, is a successful small-business owner who also finds time for her community. She has been especially active in expanding opportunities for girls and young women, serving as board member of the Whispering Oaks Girl Scout Council and is a past president of the LaGrange Business and Professional Women's Organization. Ms. Johnson also sits on the Western Springs Economic Development Commission and the WSCC Board of Directors, and is the immediate past president of the Western Springs Business Association. Mayor Carl LeGant of Countryside, IL, the WSCC's Public Servant of the Year, represents all that is good about government service. Mayor LeGant is a true pioneer in his community. He was active in Countryside's incorporation in 1959 and has served in city government since 1963. His honesty and devotion to his community are unquestioned, and after scandal rocked Countryside's government nearly 20 years ago, Carl LeGant was elected Mayor and helped restore the people's faith in their municipal leaders. Mr. James Durkan of Indian Head Park, IL was recognized with the Outstanding Community Service by an Individual Award. Mr. Durkan serves as president of the Community Memorial Fund, which distributes funds for health and wellness projects throughout the community. He is also active in the LaGrange Kiwanis Club and received the LaGrange Community Nurse Service Association's Outstanding Service Award in 1993 and currently serves on the Chamber's board of directors. Other WSCC award winners include the Rich Port YMCA as the Outstanding Community Service Organization. The Y, a true landmark in LaGrange, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of serving 15 area communities. More than 200,000 people utilize the Rich Port YMCA each year. Winners of the Chamber's Beautification Award include Burcor Properties of LaGrange and Courtright's Restaurant of Willow Springs, IL. Burcor and its owner, Jerry Burjan, a former WSCC Man of the Year, have done much to improve downtown LaGrange, including renovating a number of commercial buildings. William and Rebecca Courtright, owners of Courtright's, painstakingly preserved the surrounding natural beauty of a sweeping, wooded hill when they constructed their restaurant in Willow Springs. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce honorees on their contributions to the community and wish them and the WSCC much success in the future.