Steven LaTourette

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 233) expressing the profound sorrow of the Congress for the death and injuries suffered by first responders as they endeavored to save innocent people in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would first note that H. Con. Res. 233 was discharged from committee consideration and has been expeditiously brought to the floor for immediate action. Although this is not the normal process, in the interest of time the committee will occasionally discharge consideration, particularly for a measure as important as this. What the House will do in the next 40 minutes is important, and we will discuss, and this piece of legislation will honor true American heroes. H. Con. Res. 233 recognizes the sacrifice and dedication of all of the emergency responders who risked their lives assisting in relief efforts following the terrorist attacks of September 11. Tragically, many of these initial responders became victims of the attacks and did not survive the collapse of the World Trade Center. Three hundred forty-three firefighters, 23 police officers, and 74 members of the Port Authority are all dead and many are still missing. Twenty-eight engine companies suffered losses in New York, and another 25 ladder companies. The Fire Department lost its chaplain and its heroic chief. In fact, Madam Speaker, so many commanders were lost that fateful morning that Mayor Giuliani needed to promote 168 new officers 2 days later. The sense of duty that these heroic men and women felt on the morning of September 11 is nothing short of extraordinary. Those on- duty, off-duty, retired, on medical leave and on vacation rushed to the scene. One group of firefighters even commandeered a city bus in order to get to the scene. They went in so thousands more could get out. James Coyle, who was a rookie firefighter at age 26, was on vacation. He rushed to the scene to join Ladder Company No. 3 that morning and it cost him his life. Walwyn Stuart had left his job as a New York City narcotics cop when his wife became pregnant. He wanted safer work and he joined the Port Authority police. The morning of September 11 he was on duty at the PATH station at the World Trade Center. He helped evacuate the station and then went into the North Tower to save others. He has left behind a wife and a 1-year-old daughter. James Corrigan, the World Trade Center fire marshal, is credited with leading a team of his men to get dozens of children out of day care facilities that morning. He and five of his colleagues died, but not before saving the children, some of whom were trapped because the exits near the day care center were clogged with folks trying to rush out of the building. Corrigan and his men broke through windows and carried the children through shattered glass to safety before rushing back in to help others. Madam Speaker, there are so many stories of heroism and courage that have fortified our country since September 11. Americans have the most profound respect for our police and firefighters before and certainly now. These men and women were the first in, and to this day the rescuers have paused only to honor the dead and the missing. There are countless stories of firefighters having their charred, melted boots cut off their feet, of having their wounds bandaged and then defying doctors' orders and returning, battered and exhausted, to Ground Zero to try to find that one living miracle. As a Nation, we are awed and humbled by their courage, their effort and their sacrifice. We thank those who rushed into the fiery World Trade Center and the Pentagon and rose to the challenge that was the core of their everyday lives and their beloved professions. We grieve for all those rescue workers who gave their lives, for the 4,700 innocent victims of this abhorrent terrorist attack, and for the family members and friends who are left behind. So many lives were changed forever that morning. Fathers, mothers, sons, husbands, wives, daughters, coworkers and friends were lost. Those moments of terror forever changed the landscape of too many families in this country. Jean Palombo of Brooklyn, who was the wife of Frank Palombo of Ladder Company 105, became a widow at the age of 41. She is today left to raise 10 children, ages 11 months to 15 years, eight boys and two girls. Gigi Nelson was 8 months pregnant with her first child when her husband, Peter, went into the World Trade Center that morning. He was working overtime with Rescue Company No. 4 on September 11 to help out with the expenses of the new baby. Twenty-five days after the World Trade Center collapsed, Peter Nelson's first child, daughter Lyndsi Ann, was born. When she is old enough, Madam Speaker, she will learn of her father's heroism. These children and so many others will grow up knowing what America knows, that their parents were heroes in the purest sense of the word. It is fitting that we take this opportunity to consider H. Con. Res. 233 to pay tribute to those first responders who perished while doing their jobs and while saving so many others. I urge my colleagues to join in support of this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 233.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, the United States fell victim to the worst terrorist attack in our history. The attack was prompted by a hatred for freedom and liberty and resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent people. On that day, four civilian aircraft were hijacked. Two crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A third struck the Pentagon building here in Washington, D.C., and the fourth hijacked plane crashed in a rural part of southwestern Pennsylvania, after passengers on that plane heroically tried to take control of the aircraft. Since these attacks, we have honored our heroes, mourned those that we have lost, and offered an unprecedented amount of support and comfort to those in need. We have also witnessed an outpouring of unity and American spirit that has been unmatched in our Nation's history. In remembrance of the tragic events of September 11, as well as the remarkable events that followed, House Joint Resolution 71 would designate September 11 as United We Stand Remembrance Day. Each year the President of the United States would issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities. I want to commend the author of this legislation, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella), for bringing this important measure to the floor. I also want to thank the Committee on Rules for expediting the consideration of this bill in the House. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. It is an important step towards ensuring that the events of September 11 are never forgotten. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the balance of the time on our side be given to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) and that he be permitted to yield time as he sees fit.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of October 24, 2001, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 71) amending title 36, United States Code, to designate September 11 as Patriot Day, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.J. Res. 71, the joint resolution under consideration.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the special orders of the House of October 24, 2001, relating to the United We Stand Remembrance Day be applied to House Joint Resolution 71.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Pursuant to the order of the House of today and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for consideration of the bill, H.R. 3061. In the Committee of the Whole Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 3061) making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes, with Mr. Combest in the chair.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I was heartened by the response that I received from the Honorable Donald Evans, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, regarding the Korean Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO) and its relationship with Dongkuk Steel Mills of South Korea. Secretary Evans' statement is indicative of a genuine commitment on the part of the Administration to ensure that a fair and equitable environment is prevalent for American steelworkers. I look forward to working with Secretary Evans in the near future to help safeguard and protect our domestic steel industry. The Secretary of Commerce Washington, DC, August 17, 2001. His Excellency Chang, Che Shik, Minister of Commerce, industry, and Energy of the Republic of Korea, Seoul. Dear Mr. Minister: I enjoyed meeting President Kim and Minister Hwang at the CBCD Ministerial earlier this year. I felt we had good meetings and very productive discussions, and I look forward to continuing those discussions with you. One of the first issues I would like to discuss regards the upcoming September auction of Hanbo Iron and Steel by the Korea Assett Management Corporation (KAMCO). As you know, the United States has long term concerned about financial support for Hanbo from the Government of Korea. To put this issue in its proper context, in a 1998 exchange of letters with our government, the Korean Government stated that the sale of Hanbo would take place under a transparent process following international customs and practices. There were also assurances that Hanbo's creditors were committed to selling Hanbo through international competitive bidding that would ``provide equal opportunities for all potential purchasers and that the market will dictate the terms of the assets sales and disposition.'' In addition, the Korean Government has assured the United States that POSCO would not bid on Hanbo and that the Korean Government would not provide financial support for the purchase of Hanbo. I am encouraged by KAMCO's commitment to auction the company, in whole or in part, as well as its refusal to enter into private, non-transparent negotiations with companies before the open bidding process has begun. As KAMCO prepare to complete the sale of Hanbo, I would like to emphasize that it is important that the auction be conducted in the most open and transparent manner possible. Toward this end, I believe it is imperative that (1) the Korean Government only accept market-based bids, from financially sound firms; (2) financing from Korean Government-owned or controlled banks not be used to secure any sale; and (3) the bid selection process be based on commercial, not political factors. I feel strongly that by implementing these guidelines the Korean Government will fulfill its previous assurances that Hanbo will not receive any further government support and will be sold through a market-based process. I appreciate your concern and continued cooperation in ensuring that the sale of Hanbo is completed as efficiently and expeditiously as possible. I look forward to working with you in the future. Warm regards, Donald L. Evans.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, there are few new thoughts we can add at this hour of the evening about our reflected thoughts of the last 36 hours, but I do appreciate the fact that the House has made it available for every Member who wanted to offer a thought to do so. Aside from an expression of sincere sympathy to all those who have lost a loved one, a prayer today for the souls of those who have perished, and an expression of admiration and thanks to all of those who have struggled mightily to recover and rescue people they do not even know, I would hope that we might all take a moment to contemplate the inhumanity of people who would commandeer four aircraft full of innocent people, including children, with the intent to propel them into buildings filled with thousands of other innocent people who did nothing more than show up to work on a Tuesday morning. These terrorists, Mr. Speaker, are not people in the accepted understanding of the word, and the world will not be safe until they are blotted from the face of the Earth. I have every reason and hope to believe that this Congress is united in its commitment to provide the President of the United States with every resource necessary to search and recover the victims of this horrible tragedy and to search, discover, and destroy this blight upon the human race.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bills H.R. 2501 and H.R. 988.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 179.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding to me. H.R. 2501 authorizes the Appalachian Regional Commission for fiscal years 2002 through 2006. The bill also requires the ARC to target at least half of ARC project funds to distressed areas and counties, creates a council to coordinate Federal economic development assistance in the region, provides affordable access to technology and telecommunications through a new program initiative, and lowers the administrative cost share for Local Development Districts that include a distressed county. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello); the ranking member of our full committee, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar); the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), for their diligent attention to this very important program, and two Members of our subcommittee to whom this program is critical, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), a valuable new member of the subcommittee, who worked tirelessly to assist us in this reauthorization. I support the bill and thank the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2501) to reauthorize the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 179) expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of a National Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. H.R. 988 designates the U.S. courthouse at 40 Centre Street in New York as the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse. Mr. Speaker, similar legislation to honor this great jurist passed the House in the 104th, the 105th, and the 106th Congress. Sadly, and unfortunately, the other body has not acted. I too want to congratulate our colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for his persistence in bringing this important matter to our attention. It is a bill worthy of being enacted by this body, and hopefully we can have it on the President's desk for his signature.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 988) to designate the United States courthouse located at 40 Centre Street in New York, New York, as the ``Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse,'' and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I want to voice my strong support for his amendment seeking to provide relief for local communities that today are shouldering up to 90 percent of the burden of revamping their wastewater treatment facilities. The American Waterworks Association unveiled its new study that predicts required spending of more than $250 billion over the next 30 years to take care of this problem. In the last Congress, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barcia) led the charge in the Congress with the Wet Weather Quality Act, together with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell). The language is included in the Labor-HHS bill over in the Senate that provided a landmark 2-year grant program to be administered by the EPA. We are not alone. We had a little hearing in front of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment earlier this year, and Administrator Whitman was in front of us. We said they have to provide money for the State revolving loan fund and this grant money as well, because communities cannot take it across the country. The President put in $450 million in his budget for this program. While I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), who certainly understands the program and the problems as well as anybody in this Congress, the fact is that while the subcommittee has funded the State revolving loan fund and is willing to give loans to communities, there is no grant program in place that would take care of this problem across the Nation. I want to just bring up one example, not in my district, but it is in Worcester, Massachusetts. To build a single-family home, one has to pay a $16,000 tap-in fee. Who in this Congress, Mr. Chairman, could pay $16,000 to flush the toilet to build a single-family new house? But that is the problem facing not only the folks in Worcester, Massachusetts; but it is the problem facing all of America today if we do not do something. I would say to the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, if we go back to the Contract with America in the very first bill the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) introduced, the unfunded mandate legislation, this Congress, this Federal Government, has mandated all of these initiatives upon the wastewater treatment plants of the small municipalities in this country, but has not sent the money. It is time to send the money. It is time to pass the Barcia amendment. It is too bad that the rules indicate we have to make an offset on the basis of the Superfund allocation, but this money needs to be sent to the small communities of America. I praise the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barcia) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), and I urge an aye vote.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Chairman, we are fortunate in Ohio to have one of the most outstanding federal installations that exists in the United States--NASA Glenn Research Center. I wish to thank Chairman Walsh and Representative Hobson for their hard work of the VA, HUD, Appropriations Committee, and for recognizing the importance of the work done at NASA Glenn. This VA-HUD appropriations legislation goes a far way in restoring many of the dollars that have been cut over the years to NASA Glenn Research Center, and the Subcommittee should be applauded for its recognition of the importance of this Center. Yet, there is still work to be done. There are advances in biotechnology to improve our health care; Quiet Aircraft Technology to improve our quality of life, and other important energy saving research--all conducted right at NASA Glenn Research Center. This Center has an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion to the State of Ohio and provides in excess of 12,000 jobs. And these are high tech jobs. Scientists and engineers in areas such as aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, and physics account for more than half of the jobs at the Center . . . 25 percent of these employees have Ph.Ds. NASA Glenn grants more than $10 million a year to Ohio's universities and pumps more than $243 million into Ohio industry through contracts. Because NASA Glenn is the only NASA installation north of the Mason Dixon Line, its impact is felt far and wide across our Nation. The accomplishments of NASA over the years are nothing short of amazing and many times we overlook the impact the NASA Glenn Center has on our everyday lives. NASA Glenn has been a leader among other NASA centers by winning more R&D 100 Awards than all other NASA Centers combined. Historically, NASA Glenn's value to the Agency has been its strength in aeronautics and space. In response to the Agency's changing priorities NASA Glenn has endeavored to redirect its core competencies toward biotechnology (fluids and sensors), nanotechnology (advanced materials), and information technology (communications). NASA Glenn remains a leader in the areas of propulsion, power and communications. Several of the testing facilities at NASA Glenn are unequaled, from the largest icing tunnel in the world, to the zero gravity research facility where most space shuttle and International Space Station experiments are tested before being launched. The Agency encourages its centers to share knowledge and research with area academic institutions and research facilities. Northeast Ohio has an unbelievable wealth of knowledge when it comes to biotechnology. We have world-class health care facilities like the Cleveland Clinic and University hospitals. We also have some of the finest educational institutions like Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Chairman, I hope that this Congress continues to realize the impact of NASA Glenn, and I urge the President and my colleagues to support NASA and the work at NASA Glenn to continue the fundamental research so vital to our future.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S. Con. Res. 41 and H.R. 819, the measures just considered by the House.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

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

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 819 designates the Federal building at 143 West Liberty Street, Medina, Ohio, as the ``Donald J. Pease Federal Building.'' Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), a neighbor, for reintroducing this legislation this year. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this important legislation, along with many of our colleagues from the Ohio delegation. Last year the House passed similar legislation, but, unfortunately, the Senate never had the opportunity to act on it. It is my hope we can get this through the other body and signed into law by President Bush this year. Congressman Pease was born in Toledo, Ohio, where he attended public schools. He earned his undergraduate and Master's Degrees from the Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, before becoming a Fulbright scholar at Kings College, University of Durham, England. Congressman Pease served in the United States Army from 1955 until 1957, at which time he returned to Ohio to work at the Oberlin News- Tribune. He was first co-editor and publisher, before becoming its editor. He was editor from 1969 until 1976, during which time Congressman Pease also served on the Oberlin City Council, the Ohio State House of Representatives and in the Ohio State Senate before being elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976. He served in this House from 1977 until his retirement in 1993. Congressman Pease began his Congressional career on the Committee on International Relations advocating human rights. He later secured a spot on the Committee on Ways and Means, and, by the 102nd Congress, earned one of three seats on the Committee on the Budget reserved for members of the Committee on Ways and Means. Congressman Pease's determination to work with both sides of the aisle included service on the conference committee for the tax reform bill of 1986. This is a fitting tribute to a former Member of the House. I support the bill, and urge my colleagues to join in support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.