Steven LaTourette

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1605) to designate the United States courthouse building located at 402 North Walnut Street and Prospect Avenue in Harrison, Arkansas, as the ``Judge J. Smith Henley Federal Building,'' as amended.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1605, as amended, designates the Federal building and United States courthouse in Harrison, Arkansas as the ``J. Smith Henley Federal Building and United States Courthouse.'' Judge Henley was a lifelong resident of northwest Arkansas. He was born in Saint Joe, Arkansas, attended the University of Arkansas, and practiced law in Boone County. Judge Henley was appointed as a United States district judge in 1958 for the eastern and western districts of Arkansas, and in 1975 was appointed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the 8th District. He took senior status in 1982 and continued to carry an active docket until his death in 1987. This designation is a fitting tribute, and I urge enactment of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 278) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 19th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. House concurrent resolution 278 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the 19th Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service on May 15 of 2000, or on such date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration jointly designate. The resolution authorizes the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Hill Police Board, and the National Fraternal Order of Police, the sponsor of the event, to negotiate the necessary arrangements for carrying out the event in complete compliance with the rules and regulations governing the use of the Capitol grounds. The Capitol Hill police will be the hosting law enforcement agency. The event will be free of charge, and open to the public. Mr. Speaker, this service will honor Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the year 1999. This is a fitting tribute to the men and women who have given their lives in the performance of said duties. Mr. Speaker, I support this measure, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, our subcommittee is fortunate not only to have the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) ably managing the bills for the minority today, but the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Wise), an outstanding ranking member. The subcommittee misses the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant). As ranking member, he did a great job in the last Congress, as the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Wise) does in this Congress. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) mentioned the police memorial here in D.C. One of the amazing things about that memorial is that it is not supported by taxpayer money. By an Act of Congress, a coin was minted. As a result of that subscription and that sale, the police are able to maintain that memorial, and every year to inscribe and honor the names of those who have fallen in the line of duty.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, this is a worthy bill. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 279), as amended, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 200th birthday celebration of the Library of Congress, as amended.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 279 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the 200th birthday celebration of the Library of Congress on April 24, 2000, or on such date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration jointly designate. The resolution authorizes the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Police Board, and the Library of Congress, which is the sponsor of the event, to negotiate the necessary arrangements for carrying out the events in complete compliance with the rules and regulations governing use of the Capitol grounds. The events will be free of charge and open to the public. April 24 is the 200th anniversary when President John Adams signed into law an act establishing the Library of Congress, and appropriating the huge sum of $5,000 for the purchase of the books. The celebration will include a free concert on the Capitol grounds, and other events inside the Library. Mr. Speaker, I support this measure, I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 281), authorizing the use of the East Front of the Capitol Grounds for performances sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 281, introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and cosponsored by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member of the committee, authorizes the use of the East Front of the Capitol for performances by the Millennium Stage of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It is expected that performances will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Memorial Day to September 30, 2000. The performances will be open to the public, free of admission charge, and the sponsors of the event, the Kennedy Center and the National Park Service, will assume responsibility for all liabilities associated with the event. The resolution expressly prohibits sales, displays, advertisements, and solicitation in connection with the event. Mr. Speaker, this unique event allows the Kennedy Center to provide leadership in the national performing arts education policy and programs and could conduct community outreach as provided for in its mission statement. By permitting these performances on the east front, the Congress is assisting the Kennedy Center in fulfilling this mission. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4052) to preserve certain reporting requirements under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and for other purposes.

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. 4052 would restore certain reporting requirements for agencies under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that would otherwise be eliminated as part of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995. Section 3003 of that Act eliminated thousands of reports that had been required by the Congress and were referenced in a communication from the Clerk of the House dated January 5, 1993. The 1995 Act had provided for a sunset date of December 21, 1999. Section 236 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act for year 2000 extended this deadline until May 15 of 2000. While the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act will reduce unnecessary paperwork and reduce agency expenditure, it would also inadvertently delete the requirement for certain reports that the committee believes are necessary in executing its oversight responsibilities. H.R. 4052 corrects this by providing that the 1995 Act does not apply to specified reports. This will affect a small percentage of the total number of reporting requirements eliminated by the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act. The number of reports restored by this bill is a paltry 61. The bill does not address prospectuses or 11-b reports submitted to the Committee by the General Services Administration under the Public Buildings Act of 1959, since these reports do not fall under the definition of reports to be eliminated. The Committee received correspondence from the GSA stating that these reports will continue to be submitted. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, I urge its adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 1567, as amended, designates the United States Courthouse nearing completion in Albany, Georgia, as the C. B. King United States Courthouse. Chevene Bowers King was born in Albany, Georgia, in 1923. He ably served his country in the United States Navy. Mr. King attended Fisk University in Nashville and earned his law degree from Case Western University. C. B. King was a cooperating attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. King handled cases involving school discrimination, voting and political rights, the right to serve on juries free of discrimination and employment discrimination. King's legal actions led to the passage of the Jury Selection and Service Act of 1968. King used the legal process to achieve significant civil rights accomplishments. This is a fitting honor for a distinguished civil rights leader. I support this measure and urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1567) to designate the United States courthouse located at 223 Broad Street in Albany, Georgia, as the ``C. B. King United States Courthouse,'' as amended.

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. 278; H. Con. Res. 279, as amended; H. Con. Res. 281; H.R. 1359; H.R. 1605, as amended; H.R. 4052; and S. 1567, as amended, the measures just considered by the House.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1359) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse to be constructed at 10 East Commerce Street in Youngstown, Ohio, as the ``Frank J. Battisti and Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I just want to commend our colleague, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) for having the foresight to hire a chief of staff named Stephanie Jones. If there is anyone named Steve LaTourette, I guess I could go shopping for that as well. Mr. Speaker, I would urge passage of the bill.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1359 designates the Federal building and United States courthouse now under construction in Youngstown, Ohio, as the Frank J. Battisti and Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building and United States Courthouse. Our colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant), who I mentioned earlier, is a proud member of our committee and introduced this measure. As with so many of the bills he had an introduced, it was a good idea. Judge Battisti and Judge Jones were both Ohio natives who had a positive impact on their communities. Judge Battisti was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1950. Before being elected judge of the Common Pleas Court in Mahoning County, he served as an Assistant Attorney General for Ohio. In 1961, he was appointed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In 1969, he became the chief judge for the Northern District, and shortly after his retirement, Judge Battisti passed away. Nathaniel Jones served in World War II in the United States Army Air Corps. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1957 while he was the executive director of the Fair Employment Practices Commission of the City of Youngstown. Judge Jones was later appointed assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. He later served as assistant general counsel to the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders and was the general counsel for the NAACP for 10 years. In 1979, Judge Jones was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit and took senior status in 1995. This is a fitting honor for two of Youngstown's most distinguished natives. I support this measure and urge our colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a beloved member of the Ashtabula County Sheriff's Department who lost his life Saturday, March 25, in the line of duty. The heroism of Cero Niemi is credited with saving the lives of at least two fellow officers. Cero answered the call to duty as a gunmen showered police with bullets following the shooting of an innocent bystander, Jefferson resident Walter A. Olson. Cero was the K-9 partner of Deputy William R. Niemi. The loyal German shepherd was born November 3, 1997, in Germany, and had received his Ohio Peace Officer Training and North American Work Dog Association certification in December 1999. Since that time, he had worked diligently for the K-9 unit at the sheriff's department, often assisting with felony apprehensions and drug arrests. Mr. Speaker, the death of K-9 Cero has deeply touched folks throughout Northeast Ohio, and the grieving extends beyond his partner, his partner's family, and the sheriff's department. Many people were moved by the heroic sacrifice of this dog, and folks are left to wonder how anyone could shoot and kill a human being and then a police dog in the blink of an eye. The shooting deaths of Walter Olson and K-9 Cero have plunged the community of Jefferson into a period of collective mourning. Mr. Speaker, Cero will be laid to rest tomorrow with full police honors, and officers and police K-9 units from throughout Ohio are expected to attend the service. Cero is the first police dog in Northeast Ohio to die in the line of duty in more than 20 years. I have asked that a United States flag be flown over the Capitol in honor of Cero Niemi, his partner, Deputy William Niemi, and the Ashtabula County Sheriff's Department. Mr. Speaker, K-9 Cero is credited with saving the lives of at least two officers, and possibly more on this one violent morning. He died like any other officer in the line of duty; trying to make our streets and communities safe. K-9 Cero's duty and sacrifice are worthy of recognition, and I extend my sympathies to Deputy Niemi; his wife, Julie; their children, Heather, Brittany and Jonathan; and Cero's K-9 companion, Abby. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the Record a poem in Cero's memory. It is by an anonymous author and captures the bond between officers and their K-9 partners. Guardians of the Night Trust in me my friend for I am your comrade. I will protect you with my last breath. When all others have left you and the loneliness of the night closes in, I will be at your side. Together we will conquer all obstacles, and search out those who might wish harm to others. All I ask of you is compassion, the caring touch of your hands. It is for you that I will unselfishly give my life and spend my nights unrested. Although our days together may be marked by the passing of the seasons, know that each day at your side is my reward. My days are measured by the coming and going of your footsteps. I anticipate them at every opening of the door. You are the voice of caring when I am ill, the voice of authority when I've done wrong. Do not chastise me unduly for I am your right arm, the sword at your side. I attempt to do only what you bid of me. I seek only to please you and remain in your favor. Together you and I shall experience a bond only others like us will understand. When outsiders see us together their envy will be measured by their disdain. I will quietly listen to you and pass no judgment, nor will your spoken words be repeated. I will remain ever silent, ever vigilant, ever loyal. And when our time together is done and you move on in the world, remember me with kind thoughts and tales, for a time we were unbeatable, nothing passed among us undetected. If we should meet again on another street I will gladly take up your fight, I am a Police Working Dog and together we are guardians of the night.