William Lipinski

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to three police officers from my district who recently went above and beyond the call of duty to save a man from his burning home. In the early morning hours of January 29, 1996, Sgt. James Ritz, Officer Charles Wright, and Officer Robert Schook of the Lyons Police Department responded to a 911 call from the home of Charles Schmidt, 77. Upon arriving, they discovered smoke pouring out of the house and learned that Mr. Schmidt, who has vision problems and is a partial amputee, was trapped inside. Without a second thought to their own safety, the three entered the building and groped through its smoke- filled rooms until they found Mr. Schmidt and carried him out of the house. As Lyons Deputy Fire Chief Gordon Nord said of these three heroes, ``To go in with no protection was above and beyond the call of duty. If it wasn't for the three police officers, we would have had one fatality.'' Mr. Speaker, I commend Sergeant Ritz, Officer Wright, and Officer School for their incredible bravery. All Americans owe these three officers, and all those who risk their lives to protect ours, a debt of gratitude.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my condolences to the many friends and family of Donald Brooks, a leading businessman from my congressional district, who recently passed away. Donald Brooks, a resident of Western Springs, IL, and owner of Marcia's Hallmark Card Shop, was a longtime pillar of the La Grange, IL, business community. He was a leader in the La Grange Business Association, serving as its treasurer, and he spearheaded efforts to make the downtown retail shopping area among the finest in suburban Chicago. Mr. Brooks, a pharmacist who owned a drug store for 24 years, was an early organizer of the Endless Summer Festival that brings tens of thousands of residents into the community each summer. In addition, he was an important nuts and bolts organizer who coordinated the LGBA's cable television advertisements and served as the group's pointman on downtown parking issues with village government. In addition, Mr. Brooks, a graduate of Lyons Township High School in La Grange, served his country as a member of the Air Force Reserves during the Vietnam war. Mr. Speaker, I extend my sympathy to Mr. Brooks' wife, Marcia Jane, and all his friends and family on the untimely passing of this true community leader.

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. 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 Mike Grove and Brad Liston, as well as their players: Katie Pratl; Megan Liston; Kellie Pratl; Katie Roe; Jackie Grove; Kelly Liston; Colleen Madej; and Laura Dirschl. I wish them continued success on and off the court.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an organization that has been protecting lives and property in a community for a century--the Lyons, IL, Fire Department. The department was founded in December, 1895 by village ordinance. But as anyone who has ever had dreams of racing to the scene of a fire in a red engine will tell you, it did not really start until January 21, 1896, when the department's first vehicle, a nonmotorized, man- powered horse car, was purchased. From those humble beginnings, the department has grown into one of the finest in suburban Chicago. The village and its fire department will commemorate 100 years of service with numerous ceremonies this year, including a dinner-dance this month, a muster with interdepartmental competition in May, and a picnic for past and present firefighters in June. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the department and its personnel on its century of success and wish them many more years of effectively protecting lives and property in their community.

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 first 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 Monitor, for bringing home the regional championship and basketball pride to Morton High School.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an organization that is indispensable to the health and quality of life to the people of not only my district and most of the Chicago area, but anybody who uses Illinois waterways as well, the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. One of the district's main plants, the Stickney sewage treatment facility, was recently recognized with a gold medal for excellence from the Association of Municipal Sewage Agencies for its complete and consistent compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. The facility takes in more than three-quarters of a billion gallons of waste water, every day, and successfully removes pollutants and other solids before discharging the water back into the State waterway system. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the district's Board of Commissioners, led by President Thomas Fuller, as well as Stickney plant manager Allan Crowther, Deputy Chief Engineer Don Wunderlich, and all the district workers who made this achievement possible.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 27 outstanding students at Lyons Township High School in my district who were recently named All-State Musicians. These talented young people were selected by Illinois music educators during auditions to perform with either the jazz band, jazz choir, band, or chorus, during the all-State conference, held February 1-3, 1996. While many schools will send three or four musicians to this conference, Lyons Township High School will be represented by many times that number. The musicians include: Lettie Bowers, T.J. Ow, Karen Riccio, Christina Castelli, Jennifer Hsieh, Stephanie Majewski, Christopher May, John Alletto, Molly Comiskey, Kathleen Eich, Ann Fitzgerald, Jim King, Matt Kiverts, Betsy Klaric, Leah Kwilosz, Matt Lauterbach, Dan McKeever, Eric Meyer, Eric Nylen, Tommy Parker, Mike Penney, Amy Ruzic, Justin Sisul, Andrew Stott, Brian Webb, Shane Weber, and Beth Wilkinson. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate these fine young musicians and their teachers on this fine honor.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute three teachers in my district who represent all that is good in education today--Mr. Kurt Engel, Mr. John Sieple, and Mr. Bob Boyd of Lyons Township, IL, High School. These three educators were recently honored as a Most Inspirational Teacher, an award for which they were nominated by former students. Mr. Engel, a physics teacher and baseball and football coach, characterizes his teaching method as stepping back and putting yourself in the students' shoes and seeing how you're meeting their needs. Mr. Sieple, a psychology teacher and football coach, said he likes to use students' own experiences to illustrate the points he makes in class and believes teachers must be flexible for their students. Mr. Boyd, a music teacher and choral director at LTHS for 23 years, often gets to teach students from their freshman through senior years and says he finds it rewarding to witness the progression of their skills. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate these three fine teachers on receiving this honor and wish them, and all other dedicated teachers in our Nation, further success in shaping the minds and character of young people.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to three heroic citizens who helped prevent three crimes in Berwyn, IL, in my district--Ms. Caryn Saimo of Berwyn, Mr. Tom Haymes of Berwyn, and Mr. Eugene Wojcichowski of Chicago. All three were recently honored with commendations by the police department and the city council of Berwyn for their efforts in preventing crimes and apprehending criminals in the community. Ms. Saimo stepped in to physically rescue an 11-year-old girl who was the victim of an abduction attempt and provided information to the police on the attacker. Mr. Wojcichowski pursued a purse snatcher and helped police catch him. Mr. Haymes' telephone call to the police about a suspicious stranger in his apartment building led police to recover $1,400 in stolen property in the suspect's car. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate these three individuals on their willingness to get involved and not look the other way, and I hope that all Americans develop their spirit of responsibility in our war against criminals.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true community servant in my district, Mr. Elmer Mueller, who was recently selected as the Pleasantview Fire Protection District Employee of the Year. Mr. Mueller, or ``Fuzzy,'' as he is known to virtually everyone, has served the district as a paid-on-call firefighter for 35 years, starting when the multicommunity district had two firehouses and two full-time employees. Now there are 4 facilities, 2 paramedic units, and 16 people on duty staffing the district around the clock. Fuzzy's dedication has helped the department become one of the finest in the State. He currently oversees the district's air rehab unit, which provides sometimes life-saving air to firefighters and victims on the scene. The unit also provides a few comforts for his colleagues weary from battling a fire, like coffee, snacks, and blankets. Fuzzy also serves as treasurer, responsible for fundraising that helps cover the district's expenses and special programs, like providing bath thermometers to senior citizens so they will be less likely to scald themselves. Fuzzy is also active in his church, Hope Lutheran in LaGrange, singing in the choir, and he only recently stepped down as coach of the church's softball team after 48 years. In the words of his chief, Dan Hemers, Fuzzy ``goes at it full-bore, does it on his own, and makes sure it's done right.''

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a leader in my district who has worked diligently to dramatically improve the quality of life in her community, Betty Loren-Maltese, town president of Cicero, IL. President Loren-Maltese was recently recognized for her efforts by Grit magazine which bestowed her with its True Grit Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service. Although I could comment on the remarkable job president Loren- Maltese has done for her community in her less than 3 years in office, I will instead convey the words of the Cicero resident who nominated her for the award: ``Cicero had a bad reputation. But because of town president Loren-Maltese, we can hold our heads up high. She has declared war on gangs, slums, and dope pushers and [is] making Cicero a haven for law-abiding citizens.'' Mr. Speaker, I congratulate president Loren-Maltese for receiving this prestigious award and the great job she has done as a leader of her community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the winners of the Take Pride in Cicero Award, which recognizes residents and businesses in the community for improving their property. While many communities sponsor similar programs, Cicero, a community in my district, warrants special mention because of the leaps and bounds it has made in improving its image. While municipal government leaders have played an important role in this transformation, it is the residents, small businesses, and community organizations in Cicero who have been the real catalyst for this change. To recognize these efforts, the Take Pride in Cicero Award was established by the town government, Cicero Chamber of Commerce, and Life newspapers. The winners of the Take Pride in Cicero Award in four different categories included: Ms. Geraldine Ceranek; Mr. Juan Perez; Mr. Clark Burkhart; Mr. Edward Lopez; Seguin Services; Central Building Materials; St. Dionysius Church; Lang's Ace Hardware; CasaAmerica; Osco Drug; and Ms. Mary Rosario, with help from Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Speaker, I commend the winners of this award and hope their spirit of community improvement spreads throughout Cicero and all the towns and villages of our great country.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an educational institution that has been educating American children since the founding of the Republic, and continues to provide top quality instruction and a moral framework for young students--Catholic schools--during Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 29-Feb. 2. There are dozens of these fine institutions serving my district, and they are celebrating their educational contributions with events ranging from family skating parties to a visit from a NASA astronaut. Ms. Penny Wright, a music teacher at St. Cletus School in LaGrange, is being honored with a Heart of the School Award from the Chicago Archdiocese for her dedication and creative approach to education. Ms. Wright is 1 of only 20 teachers working in the archdiocese receiving this honor. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Catholic schools on their heritage of providing academic excellence and a moral grounding for their students, and I wish these institutions continued success in educating our young people.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true Chicago sports legend--Sid Luckman--at the news he will receive our State's highest honor, the Order of Lincoln, on April 20, 1996. Sid Luckman joined the Chicago Bears in 1939 and quarterbacked them to four NFL championships in the next 12 seasons, the years that earned the Bears their reputation as the ``Monsters of the Midway.'' Perhaps his most memorable performance was in the 1946 championship game against the New York Giants, the first football game I can remember listening to on the radio. Sid Luckman's championship performance was capped by scoring the winning touchdown on what was called the ``bingo keeper'' play. With the Bears at the goal line, he faked a handoff to one running back, faked to another rusher, tucked the ball under his arm and outran the defense along the line of scrimmage and into the end zone. In addition to earning his teammates respect while serving as their captain, he was honored by all of football as the NFL's most valuable player three times and was named an all-pro seven times. He received football's highest honor when he was enshrined into the Hall of Fame after his retirement. Sid Luckman also enjoyed a 14-year stint as a coach with both the Bears and the University of Notre Dame. In addition, he recently completed a successful business career when the packaging company, Cell-Craft, he bought into in 1946 was sold. But perhaps the thing that has made Sid Luckman so special has been his tireless devotion to his community. He has always been willing to lend his time, efforts, and stellar reputation to good causes both in the Chicago area and throughout the country. For instance, he established a scholarship to the prestigious Mayo Clinic to help deserving medical students study there. For his athletic and civic accomplishments, Sid Luckman will join the likes of former President Reagan, actor Charleton Heston, journalist John Chancellor, and one of his successors in football's pantheon, Walter Payton of the Bears, in the Lincoln Academy. The Academy, named for Illinois' most famous son, was established 31 years ago to honor distinguished Illinoisans, either by birth or residency, who have brought honor to the Land of Lincoln. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Sid Luckman on joining the Order of Lincoln and wish him many more years of enjoying the respect and admiration of his community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a fine resident of the Third Congressional District who passed away on Sunday, December 17, 1996. Mrs. Daisy Vondrak, 80, a resident of the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, died on Sunday in the Brentwood Nursing Center in Burbank, IL. Mrs. Daisy Vondrak was the cofounder of Vondrak Publications. For almost 40 years, she coowned and operated with her husband, Edward, the Southwest News Herald and four other local community newspapers. Mrs. Vondrak handled the bookkeeping and finances of the newspaper, while her husband was in charge of the editorial operation. She watched the books closely; her attention to detail and strong work ethic pulled both the couple and the newspaper through many tough times. During the Depression, Mrs. Vondrak and her husband purchased a small paper, the Gage Park Herald, that primarily provided neighborhood news to servicemen away from home. Deciding to broaden their publishing efforts in 1946, they attempted to purchase the Southwest News. Her husband was then an editor for the Life newspapers. They had to borrow all they could from friends and relatives and neighbors. It was a big chance for two young adults to take but they did it. Mr. and Mrs. Vondrak started out with just the two of them and ended up with 52 employees. The Vondraks retired in 1987 and initiated a humorous publication, the Chuckle Town Times. The weekly newspapers the Vondraks copublished covered such southwest side communities as Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, Clearing, and Marquette Manor and the suburbs of Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Justice, Bridgeview, and Hickory Hills. The newspapers provide both national and neighborhood news to their subscribers. By faithfully watching the books and taking care of business, Mrs. Vondrak guaranteed that her neighbors would know what was going on around them in the community, the Nation, and the world. She provided a wonderful community service and will be sorely missed. I first met Mrs. Vondrak in 1959, when I worked as the physical education instructor at Marquette Park. Every Monday night, I would submit stories to her or her husband Ed about activities at the park that would appear in the Thursday edition of the Southwest News Herald. I knew her personally and saw each week how dedicated she was to keeping the local publications up and running. Mrs. Vondrak is survived by her two sons, James and Edward, a sister, a brother, and six grandchildren. I would like my colleagues to join me in offering sincere condolences to Mrs. Daisy Vondrak's family. She was a hard worker and strong businesswoman who will be missed by the entire community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness at the recent passing of Michael Bruton at the age of 59. Michael Bruton, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, died Sunday, November 12, from complications caused by cancer. Michael held numerous positions with the CFL and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He was elected president of the CFL in 1994, and had been assistant to the president since January 1986. He served as vice president of the CFL. Michael started his union career in 1954, when he became an apprentice electrician with Local 134. He was a 1954 graduate of De La Salle High School in Chicago. He attended Washburne Trade School and received his journeyman credentials in 1958. He also attended the Kennedy Electronics School and the University of Illinois Labor Program from 1972 to 1976. In 1989, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority by Mayor Richard Daley. Michael was a former member of the Illinois State Board of Education. He served as secretary of the board and vice chairman of its Equal Employment Opportunity Committee. Michael was a member of St. Daniel the Prophet Church on Chicago's Southwest Side and its Holy Name Society. He coached basketball at St. Daniel in the 1980's, and was active in the Boy Scouts of America. Michael served on the board of the United Way/Crusade of Mercy Catholic Charities, the Board of Governors of the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. He also was a labor representative on the Chicago Private Industry Council and served several other charitable and civic organizations. Mr. Speaker, I extend my condolences to his wife, Marilyn; three sons, Michael, Timothy, and Thomas; six daughters, Susan Cerebona, Mary Beth Carroll, Nancy Herbster, Sharon, Denise, and Karen; three brothers, Lawrence, Patrick, and James; and two sisters, Ann Howell and Pauline Thomas.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, the peace that was brokered in Dayton that is supposed to resolve the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina is nothing but a thin, glass wall waiting to be shattered. It is just another cease-fire that will once again be broken by discontented parties. To send American ground troops into the thick tension that still prevails is nothing short of a kamikaze mission. Many Bosnians want Americans to come and help enforce the peace established in Dayton. Unfortunately, this is not true peace. True peace does not require 60,000 foreign soldiers to police the streets. Bosnian Serbs living in Sarajevo are staging daily protests hoping that the peace settlement will be renegotiated. They are dissatisfied because under the Dayton agreement the suburbs of Sarajevo that they call home will be turned over to the newly created Croat-Muslim Federation, which most view as a fate worse than death. This one provision in a multifaceted agreement is enough for some to pick up arms once again. Because Bosnian Serbs are so discontent with the agreement, their leaders announced they would hold a referendum on December 12, to ask their citizens whether or not they should accept the Dayton peace plan. The fact that Croatian President Franco Tudjman, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic were able to sit down in one room together and over the course of a few weeks, create a plan for peace is, of course, nothing short of a miracle. President Clinton and his administration ought to be commended for accomplishing the unthinkable. The problem though is that only presidents and foreign ministers present agreed to stop the war; no one consulted the people. It is the people who have festered hatred in their hearts which has caused this civil war. There cannot be a workable peace solution unless the people want it, unless they are willing to put away their deep-seated hatred for one another and say enough is enough. This tenuous peace which 60,000 NATO troops must enforce will be led by American troops and was promised to the warring factions before the American public could have its say. In fact, the understanding of the three warring parties before they came to the peace table was that America would be there to monitor the final agreement. But we cannot send 20,000 of your young, vibrant men and women to enforce a peace that is not going to last. President Clinton has promised Bosnia the lives of thousands of our young people for 1 year. Does President Clinton really believe that hatred which spans to course of hundreds of years is going to be resolved in 1 year? Why do we want to subject our soldiers to the wrath of the Serbs? What will these young men and women be to angry Serbs? Targets. Targets of their frustration of being bombed by American-led NATO war planes. Targets for their frustration of losing large amounts of territory to Croatia this past summer. Targets for their frustration of being forced to accept a peace plan they do not agree to. Targets for the anger of Serbs who were bombed by Americans in Sarajevo. Targets along the slim stretch of land, Brcko, that the Serbs want expanded and handed over to them. And when our soldiers are not the targets of snipers they will be subject to the threat of thousands upon thousands of landmines that will be covered by the winter snow, Yes, the best way for factions who are reluctant to go along with the Dayton agreement to sabotage peace is for them to attack Americans. And why should Americans be deliberately put in harms way? What vital interest does America have in Bosnia? None. We have no vital interest in Bosnia. Secretary of State Warren Christopher called Bosnia ``the problem from Hell.'' Political leader for the Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic, who has the responsibility of drumming up support for the agreement said, ``What is wrong with the Dayton agreement is that it has created a new Beirut in Europe. It is going to bleed for decades.'' Why does this require that we put American lives on the ground in a country whose hatred is older than our Republic? This is a civil war that must be resolved by its own citizens. It took nothing short of a totalitarian regime to maintain the peace during this century. One year of peacekeeping will not solve their problems or further any of our interests. For this reason, Mr. Speaker, I will vote today for H.R. 2770 to prohibit the use of Federal funds from being used for the deployment of United States Armed Forces on the grounds of the Republic of Bosina and Herzegovina.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, as International Human Rights Day approaches, Indian repression of the Sikh nation continues. Over 150,000 Sikhs have been killed by the regime since 1984. The State Department reported in its 1994 country report on India that the regime paid more than 41,000 cash bounties to police officers for killing Sikhs. One of those Sikhs, Mr. Harpreet Singh, was reported killed in an encounter with the police 4 years ago. Interestingly enough, the Associated Press reported that he appeared in court last month to sue the Indian authorities for wrongful custody. That is quite an achievement for a dead man. Unfortunately, cases like Mr. Singh's are typical of the human rights abuses committed by Indian authorities in Khalistan. A similar case is that of Sarabjit Singh, a man twice killed. On October 30, 1993. police brought two bodies to a hospital for an autopsy, claiming that they had been killed in an encounter. However, one of the two men, Sarabjit Singh was indeed alive. While the Doctor called to inform his family that he was not dead, the police took Mr. Singh away, killed him, and cremated the body. These two incidents, plus the many others which my colleagues and I have placed in the Congressional Record are only the tip of the iceberg. These brutal acts of tyranny and terrorism must be stopped. American support for an end to these atrocities and for the right for the Sikhs to live in peace is crucial. I commend the Council of Khalistan for its tireless work to ensure that the plight of these people is not forgotten. It is time for our Government to join in this effort. With the many human rights causes this great Nation fights for, surely we can raise our voice for the people of Khalistan as well. India is the third-largest recipient of United States aid. It is time for the United States to tell the Indian Government that there will be no more aid until the repression of minority nations has ended. Not until the repression of the Sikhs and other minorities begins to hurt the regime will the suffering end and the glow of freedom shine throughout the subcontinent. I am introducing an article from the November 2 issue of the New York Post on the case of Harpreet Singh into the Record as reference for this atrocity. [From the New York Post, Nov. 2, 1995] Dead Man Resurrected in Court New Delhi, India.--A Sikh man who police claimed was killed in a gun battle four years ago appeared in court yesterday to sue authorities for wrongful custody, his lawyer said. The case of Harpreet Singh highlights irregularities allegedly committed by police in Punjab state during their campaign to crush a decade-long uprising for a separate Sikh homeland. Human rights groups say thousands of civilians were accused of being militants, illegally detained, and sometimes killed. [[Page E 2330]]

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, as the former chairman of the now defunct Merchant Marine Subcommittee, I am keenly aware of the deteriorating health of the U.S. maritime industry. The number of U.S.-flag vessels has declined substantially, from 716 in 1948 to less than 150 today, as have the number of American officers and seamen trained to operate these vessels. Although the United States continues to be the world's largest trading Nation, the U.S. commercial shipping fleet now ranks 16th in size in the world. Why is this? Why are we allowing foreign flag vessels to take over our Nation's commercial shipping fleet? U.S.-flag vessels must comply with Federal tax, environment, safety, and labor laws. Foreign flag vessels do not. Foreign flag vessels hire foreign citizen [[Page H 14061]] crews. They do not have to pay their crew minimum wage or provide them with health, pension, or vacation benefits. They do not have to pay U.S. taxes. In addition, foreign flag vessels have absolutely no obligation to comply with the health and safety standards established by our government. In contrast, U.S. shipowners hire U.S. citizens and must comply with Federal laws protecting the welfare of the crew members. With these higher labor and other requirement costs, U.S. shipowners are at a serious disadvantage. No American company can successfully compete under these circumstances. We must take action to save the U.S. maritime industry. In addition to commercial shipping activities, privately owned vessels play a significant role in U.S. military readiness. The Defense Department relies on the domestic merchant marine for military sealift operations. In the recent Persian Gulf war, 95 percent of all equipment and supplies needed by American soldiers in the field was moved by sealift--one-third was shipped on privately owned U.S.-flag vessels. In time of crisis, we cannot depend on foreign ships and foreign crews for sealift and sustainment requirements. Why should we rely on Third World crews who have no allegiance to the U.S. to deliver equipment, medical supplies, and materials that American service men and women need as they fight to protect America's interests abroad? We should not and we cannot. The Maritime Security Act of 1995 ensures a maritime security fleet comprised of privately owned U.S.-flag, U.S. crewed vessels that we can readily rely on to carry our exports throughout the world and to carry our military supplies during a national emergency. I urge you to please vote in favor of H.R. 1350. We need American-crewed, American-made ships to support our national interests.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I simply want to say that I stand in support of the manager's amendment. Mr. Chairman, I support the manager's amendment. It has two components. Section 610 of H.R. 1788 allows Amtrak to delay compliance with certain provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act, but does not afford the same benefit to commuter railroads which share stations with Amtrak. Without this provision, commuter rail authorities could bear the entire cost of making stations accessible to people with disabilities when the stations are renovated. The amendment assures that commuter railroads are given the same treatment as Amtrak and are not penalized in any way. The second element of the manager's amendment requires the Federal Railroad Administration to transfer some unused magnetic levitation test track equipment to the State of Florida. Since Florida needs the equipment and the FRA doesn't this move makes sense. In the event Florida is unable to use the equipment, it will be returned to the FRA. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment and urge its adoption.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman would continue to yield, I certainly agree with the gentleman that we should carefully evaluate this during our conference with the Senate, and I thank the gentleman for the colloquy. Amendment Offered by Mr. Shuster

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman would yield to me, the present Amtrak board has done an excellent job in providing guidance to the corporation during these difficult financial times. Last year, Amtrak was faced with a $200 million shortfall. Rather than come to the Congress for supplemental appropriations, as has been the past practice of the board, this board worked with Amtrak management to undertake the painful cuts necessary to make Amtrak live within its means. These efforts were successful because Amtrak finished fiscal year 1995 with a $15 million cash balance. This board has demonstrated its ability to make the tough decisions. Within the last year, train miles have been reduced 20 percent and employment has been reduced by 8 percent. Clearly, this board is up to the challenge of moving Amtrak off its dependence on Federal operating subsidies.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I will be very happy to discuss this issue with the gentleman.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his support of this amendment. I would just like to say in conclusion we are in the day of trying to privatize. We are in the day of advocating free enterprise. Competition in this amendment will create competition for probably the largest economic area in the entire United States of America. So I urge all Members to support the Nadler amendment.