John Larson

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the World War II Veterans who will be receiving their High School Diplomas at the West Hartford Board of Education on the evening of November 8, 2000, more than 55 years after they originally were supposed to have graduated. These men all left high school early in order to serve their country in the midst of World War II. They are graduating under the terms and conditions of a recently enacted Connecticut law that allows people who left high school to join the military to be given their official diplomas. As such they have now become certified high school graduates. These Veterans represent what Tom Brokaw has called ``America's Greatest Generation''. Raised in the Great Depression, some the children of immigrants, they endured hardship at home but rallied to the causes of patriotism and helped the United States defeat the threat posed by the Axis nations. Upon coming home from the war, they led productive and useful lives. They became skilled workers and businessmen who worked hard in raising their children and providing support to their communities, churches and synagogues. They served their country both in time of war, as well as peace, and we are all better off because of their sacrifices. Several of them will be joined by their wives, children and grandchildren and other family members and friends for this happy event. While more applications for diplomas are still being processed, the following people have already been certified as High School Graduates under the Connecticut program: Albert Lefkin, Herbert Anderson, Donald J. DesRoches, Robert Douglas Soule, Kenneth William Bassett, Anthony N. Cardillo, Otto D. Vincenzi, Joseph J. Viscounti, Edward H. Friedman, and John Robert Clutz. Others will be honored posthumously and I know that their families will also take delight and comfort over the recognition of their achievements. They are: Agostino Guzzo and William A. Zambrello. In closing Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend the appreciation of the American people to the fine men who contributed so greatly to the preservation of our freedoms. They deserve our praise and honor. Many of them have participated in the high school and college graduations of their children and grandchildren over the years. However, their own accomplishments are unique and I hope that these self-effacing men will allow themselves and their loved ones to rejoice in the celebration of their own lives. I would like to urge my colleagues in the House to join me in saluting and thanking the World War II Veterans and official high school graduates. The nation and community has learned and benefited much from you.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill H.R. 4794, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Heritage Act of 2000. At the outset, Mr. Speaker, I wish to deeply thank the gentleman from Alaska, Chairman Young, and the gentleman from California, Mr. Miller, for all of their efforts to bring this bill to the floor today. I also would like to thank and commend my colleagues Mr. Gilchrest and Ms. Kelly, who helped to have this bill placed on the House Calendar, and the other co-sponsors of this bill. Earlier this year, I received a letter from Hans DePold, a constituent of mine and a Member of the Sons of the American Revolution. The letter asked for my help in preserving a very special piece of history for all Americans, a route traveled by General George Washington and General Rochambeau during the American Revolution. It is from this correspondence and several meetings with Mr. DePold that I decided to introduce this piece of legislation. Since the introduction of H.R. 4794, I have received letters of support from States across this Nation urging the preservation of this Route. Almost 220 years after the Yorktown campaign, which was the decisive battle in the Revolutionary War, few Americans are unaware of the assistance from America's French Allies. In 1780, George Washington's army dwindled to less than 3,000 and assistance was desperately needed. Fortunately, 5,000 troops from the French expeditionary army, led by General Rochambeau, landed in Newport, Rhode Island to assist General Washington. At Rochambeau's urging, Washington abandoned his original plan to face the British in New York, and the combined army continued south to Yorktown, Virginia. General Rochambeau was vital in advising Washington and in guiding the ``end-game'' strategy that implemented the Yorktown Campaign. The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route is just another example of our Country's rich history. The troops traveled through 9 states up and down the East Coast and it is this route these soldiers took that has become known as the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Road. When the troops passed through Connecticut, many buildings served as inns or officers housing. Seven towns and cities in my Congressional District have been documented as Washington Rochambeau sites. But my District and the State of Connecticut only represent a small piece of the larger story. There has been no comprehensive effort since 1957 to mark this route in its entirely. This bill would authorize the National Park Service to conduct a resource study for the 600 miles that extend through Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The study would identify the means of preservation and interpretation of the Route for the education of the public. The Secretary will also consult with the State and Local historic associations and other appropriate organizations. This bill will help in preserving this route, which serves as a reminder of how Americans won their freedom. This legislation has bipartisan support and the co-sponsorship of every member who represents the district where the WRRR travels through. I applaud the hard work and vision of the members of The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Russell Wirtalla, Vice President of the New England Region Sons of the American Revolution, and Hans DePold, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Committee of Correspondence. My sincere thanks and admiration also goes to Dr. Jacques Bossiere Chairman of the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Committee, Dr. James Johnson, Executive Director of the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Committee and Serge Gabriel, President of Souvenir Francais, Connecticut. In addition I would like to recognize, John Shannahan and Mary M. Donahue of the Connecticut Historical Commission, Dr. Robert A. Selig an eminent historian on Rochambeau's Cavalry, and Marolyn Paulis, President of the Connecticut State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It would be remiss of me to not also recognize the work and support of Jay Jackson, Chancellor and Dr. David Musto, President of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Connecticut. Much gratitude is also extended to Larry Gall of the National Park Service and Steve Elkinton, Director of National Park Service Historic Trails. I would also like to offer my gratitude for the support of the Ambassador of France to the United States, Francois Bujon de l'Estang. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record a letter of support from Francois Bujon de l'Estang, the Ambassador of France to the United States, and urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Ambassade de France aux Etats-Unis, Washington, June 29, 2000. Hon. John B. Larson, Member of Congress, House of Representatives, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Larson: Thank you for taking the initiative to introduce a legislation to commission the Secretary of Interior and the National Park Service to complete a resource study of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Road, the six hundred mile trail traveled by the American and French generals en route to the decisive battle of Yorktown. I commend you for paving the way to a proper commemoration of an important page of the shared history of our nations. The Washington-Rochambeau alliance is a reminder to us of how long and deep the relationship between our two countries has been. All events that remind us of the importance of the historical links uniting our nations should be encouraged. Sincerely, Francois Bujon de l'Estang.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support legislation sponsored by my colleague from Florida (Mr. McCollum). The Protecting Our Children From Drugs Act will give this country a much needed additional source of ammunition in our war against drugs. This legislation will send a forceful message to drug dealers that our children and our schools are not going to be participants in the drug trade. In addition, by taking increased measures to protect our children from the dangers of illegal drugs, we are ensuring that one day they will be readily equipped to continue the fight for a drug free America. As statistics show that the rate of teen drug use in this country has doubled since 1992, it is clear that the time for this legislation is now. I, unfortunately, know all too well about the constant challenges of protecting innocent children from being corrupted by the drug trade. In June of 1999, the ONDCP designated my district a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. A month before, an arrest in the suburban town of Newington, Connecticut, that netted 60 bags of heroin, took place 1500 feet from a day care center. In November of that same year, a man was arrested in Hartford for using a 15 year old to sell over a hundred bags of heroin. These examples highlight the disturbing reality that our children and our schools are not ignored by drug dealers, but that they are often targeted. As both a legislator and a father of three young children, it is painfully obvious that drug trafficking is everywhere. We must send a message to drug dealers that their crimes will be punished with significantly harsher penalties if they invade our schools, and infiltrate among our children. In his long and continuing effort to protect our country and our children from illegal drugs, my colleague notes that intervention is the first step necessary to winning the drug war. However, intervention is not always the goal we strive for. Perhaps it is because we often see exposure to drugs as an inevitable part of our children's lives. It doesn't have to be. We must intervene and prevent exposure at the source, and let dealers know that our kids are off limits. Further action, such as this legislation, will protect our children and give them the opportunity to lead this country into the 21st century. I rise in support of this legislation today and I urge our colleagues to join us.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4281, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) Authorization Act of 2000, which will create statutory authority for the ICCVAM, a consortium of 17 federal departments and agencies cooperating on the validation of new test methods. In recent years product manufacturers have been attempting to move away from traditional animal tests in order to respond to public concerns about animal welfare, but have been hampered by Federal regulations slowing down the validation of alternative methods. Strengthening the ICCVAM will create a vital framework to streamline government/industry partnerships in developing and regulating new test methods. This legislation has three objectives. First, it will establish a centralize clearinghouse for test method information. Second, it will expedite the approval of new technology and test methods with higher accuracy than animal-based test methods. Finally, it will reduce the number of test animals used in laboratories when reliable alternatives are available. This bipartisan bill is supported by a coalition of industry and animal protection organizations. As a member of the Science Subcommittee on Basic Research I support this bill's effort to coordinate the validation and national harmonization of toxicological test methods. In 1999 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintained its position that it will continue to do everything it can to limit the amount of animal tests and the number of animals used in the tests. Also, the National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences, the National Toxicology Program, and the EPA have committed as much as $5 million over the next two years to develop and validate non-animal test methods. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to increase testing efficiency and reduce redundant animal testing by coordinating interagency test validation efforts. The ICCVAM will not only conserve research funding but also drastically reduce the number of animals needlessly killed by scientific testing. As someone who received a 100% rating on my voting record from the Humane Society of the United States, I believe it is vital that Congress act on these issues and pass this legislation. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the ICCVAM Authorization Act.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my dismay this afternoon that the Conference Report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001, H.R. 4205, does not contain language which would have expanded federal hate crimes laws. Despite this disappointment, as a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, I have no choice but to support the Conference Report and will vote for it. As we all know, Mr. Speaker, a majority of members in both the House and the Senate voted to include the hate crimes provisions in this bill. The Senate voted in favor of an amendment adding the hate crimes provisions to the Senate version of the bill on June 20th by a vote of 57 to 42. On September 13th, I was eager to join the majority of my colleagues in the House in voting in favor of the Conyers motion to instruct conferees to include these provisions in the final version of this bill. It is truly shameful, however, that the Republican Leadership in Congress was able to prevent the inclusion of these provisions in the conference report despite the fact that majorities in both Chambers voted in favor of them. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1082, was one of the first bills I co-sponsored upon becoming a Member of Congress. I believe that this legislation is a common sense effort to combat the heinous crimes that are being committed against members of our society simply because they are a member of a specific group. Some have argued that hate crimes laws are not needed because all crimes are hate crimes. Of course all crimes are wrong and should be punished. What makes this legislation so important, however, is that hate crimes are intended to intimidate and punish a whole class of people. Whether it is a lynching in Texas, a crucifixion in Wyoming, or spraying bullets in a bar in Virginia, these horrific acts are intended to terrorize entire groups of people and should be punished accordingly. It is a centuries old part of our common law system to weigh the element of intent in evaluating the severity of a crime and the hate crime law do just that. It is tragic that the Republic Leadership in Congress has been able to disregard the clear majority of both Chambers and prevent the hate crimes provisions from being included in this bill. I will join the President in his fight to include them in another piece of ``must pass'' legislation so that we can do our part before adjournment to combat these horrific crimes.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Prescription Drug Import plan contained in the Agriculture Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2001 and the rule providing for its consideration. While I applaud any effort to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. I can say with confidence and sincerity that the plan in this bill is not a solution to the problem. Due to the immense loopholes contained in the legislation and its watered-down content, it will not in any way affect the cost of prescription drugs for seniors in the United States. If the prescription drug import provisions in this legislation were an honest attempt to address this issue, it is possible that they would be effective in reducing the cost of prescription drugs for our citizens. However, they have been written in such a way as to allow the drug companies a way out of having to offer American seniors what they need: quality medications at reduced costs. Since the provisions are contained in the larger agriculture appropriation bill, I must vote in favor of the overall bill. However, I wish to register my opposition on the content of the reimportation provisions. These provisions are a sham piece of legislation designed to allow drug companies to continue to make outrageous profits off of senior citizens in America. This is why money must be removed from the political process, because as long as drug company money floats freely into it--this is the kind of trickery that will continue to rule the day. The greatest generation of Americans; the same generation that persevered through the Second World War; the same generation that lived through the Great Depression, is now being sold down the river in exchange for advancing the interests of the pharmaceutical companies. This is a campaign year, smoke and mirrors tactic that nearly every credible source has dismissed as useless and not credible. This is a sad day for this Congress, but an even sadder day for the elderly people who thought they might get some relief this year. I am sorry to say that this plan has been fashioned to appear as if it is part of the answer to the high cost of prescription medicines, but appearances to not solve problems, only legislation that is comprehensive and complete can effectively deal with the financial burden that rests on our seniors. In order to truly keep our promises to the American people, and reduce these costs, we must establish a prescription drug benefit under the Medicare program. I urge my colleges to vote against the rule so that we can be allowed to offer a real solution to the problem of the high cost of prescription drugs instead of allowing the leadership to attempt to fool our seniors into thinking we are doing something for them.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Republic of China on Taiwan, which celebrates its birthday today. Taiwan has much to celebrate. It is a modern country led by a democratically-elected President, Mr. Chen Shui-bian. President Chen was elected on March 18, 2000, and this free and fair election resulted in the peaceful transfer of power from the ruling Kuomintang Party (KMT) to the more progressive Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). This election demonstrated to the world that Taiwan is democratic and is worthy of the respect it has received from democratic nations. In addition to the freedom to select their government leaders, the people of Taiwan can also celebrate their other freedoms, such as the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. I believe that the freedom and democracy in Taiwan set an example for other nations in the area to follow. The people of Taiwan can also celebrate their stunning economic success. Taiwan is the nineteenth largest economy in the world and is the United State's eight largest trading partner. This economic achievement has given the people of Taiwan the twenty-fifth highest per capita gross national product (GDP) in the world and one of the highest living standards in Asia and the world. In recent years, Taiwan has led most Asian nations in its production of computers, chips, and telecom equipment and has contributed mightily to the worldwide high technology boom. Mr. Speaker, let me say again that Taiwan has a lot to celebrate today. On the occasion of Republic of China's National Day, it is important to remember that the United States has a strong relationship with Taiwan and its people. We share a mutual respect for democracy and freedom, as well as a strong economic bond, and I hope that this relationship will continue to flourish in the year to come.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my colleagues on the Interior Appropriations Committee for including $8 million in this Conference Report on HR 4578, the Department of the Interior Appropriations Act for FY2001, specifically for the maintenance of a Home Heating Oil Reserve in the Northeast. I have fought to see this reserve created for most of the last year. I was an original cosponsor of HR 3608, the Home Heating Oil Price Stability Act, which directs the Secretary of Energy to create a fuel oil reserve containing a total of 6.7 million barrels of heating oil. Under this legislation two million barrels of heating oil would be stored in leased storage facilities in the New York Harbor Area, and 4.7 million would be stored in one of the four existing Strategic Petroleum Reserve caverns in the Gulf Coast. The bill would give the President the authority to immediately release home heating oil to the Northeast when fuel oil prices in the United States rise sharply, during a fuel oil shortage, or during periods of extreme winter weather. I was pleased that the provisions of HR 3608 were ultimately included in HR 2884, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reauthorization bill, which passed the House on April 12, 2000. However, this bill has seen no further action in Congress' other legislative body. During the initial debate on this bill, we put forth an amendment on June 15, 2000, that would have provided $10 million to actually create the Home Heating Oil Reserve. That amendments was defeated by a vote of 193-195. However, we were later successful in passing an amendment on June 27, 2000, authorizing a new regional home heating oil reserve in the Northeast during consideration of HR 4733, the Department of Energy Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2001. Unfortunately, the Conferees on the FY01 Department of Energy Appropriation bill saw fit to eliminate that authorization from the final Conference Report, the main reason I opposed final of that bill. However, despite this Congress' inability to reauthorize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and authorize the creation of a Home Heating Oil Reserve, the President has decided to move forward and create the Home Heating Oil Reserve in the Northeast under his executive authority. It is my understanding that the Department of Energy has already contracted to store one million barrels of home heating oil as part of this reserve in my home state of Connecticut. I am pleased that the members of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee have included funding to ensure that the Reserve will be ready before the long New England winter has settled in. This is a simple bread and butter, kitchen table issue that the people of this country should expect their government to address. There is no reason that people should have to choose between putting food on their table and heating their homes. I want to thank the members of the Committee for working to ensure that we have one more tool to combat the rising price of oil and protect our constituents from winter supply shortages.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. The act, which was passed into law by a Democratic Congress as part of the 1994 Crime Bill, is a powerful testament to the commitment of the United States and this Congress to fighting acts of brutality and cruelty perpetrated against women. The act includes issues that are vital to the safety of every woman in America, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It also includes education and training for judges and funding for programs that are so necessary to protecting the well being of women that the true worth of the program cannot be measured in dollars. Although tremendous strides have been made, domestic violence still devastates the lives of many women and their children. Nearly 900,000 women experience violence at the hands of a partner every year. Nearly one-third of women murdered each year are killed by a partner, and violence by intimates accounts for over 20% of all violent crimes against women. Reauthorization would continue and expand the domestic violence hotline, the battered women's shelter programs, and rape prevention programs as well as expand the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. It would also provide assistance to a greater number of victims and support effective partnerships between law enforcement, victims' advocates, and communities. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this authorization that is so important to the lives of so many women and children so that we may continue to provide services and assistance that not only improves, but can also sometimes save a woman's life.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference report and add to the chorus of extending my personal gratitude for the outstanding leadership performed by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the chairman of the Committee on Science, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), the ranking member, and the other distinguished members of the conference committee and the Committee on Science in general for their hard work. I also would like to commend directly the men and women of NASA and their visionary leader, Administrator Dan Goldin. His vision of aerospace as a commercial industry, and as continued space exploration, the confluence in coming together of biotechnology, information technology, and the nanosciences is what places this country on the cutting edge of technology. I have had the opportunity to bring our astronauts to our schools. These heroes of space exploration indeed are an inspiration to all of our children. Now, this is just a small portion of what NASA does for the continuing education of our children, especially in the critical areas of math and science. I would also like to thank very much the conference committee for including the ultra-efficient engine technology. As Administrator Goldin has pointed out, when it comes to engine technology, there is no greater core science that goes into the creation of machine than that science, math and engineering capability that goes into the making of aircraft. Again, I commend the chairman and the entire committee.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Resolution 343, regarding the importance of families eating together. I would like to commend my colleague Mr. Rangel for bringing this important piece of legislation to my attention and the attention of the American people. Families eating together have long been a pillar of American Family Life and should be part future generations as well. Family Dinners are a dying commodity or infrequent at best. Having dinner as a family opens up communication lines between parents and their children. One will know more and have more influence on their child if they spend time talking to them. What better time to talk and communicate, then sitting around the dinner table sharing a meal. We need to spend more time with our children to influence them to do their best in school, to avoid tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs and to make them productive, healthy citizens. One of my constituents, Chris Lenihan, who is now an intern in my office, a nice young gentleman, told me that he had dinner as a family every night when he lived at home. He has benefited greatly from the discussion at the dinner table and feels that his parents David and Midge had a great impact on him as result of eating dinner every night as a family. We need to make sure that the Youth of America grow up to become healthy productive citizens. We can start by having more dinners with our families. I realize that parents can not immediately have dinner every night with their children, but establishing a National ``Eat Dinner with Your Children Day'' is a step in the right direction. I fully support this resolution and urge the rest of my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4807, the Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000. The programs that this will fund ensure that those living with HIV and AIDS in major metropolitan areas, as well as elsewhere, continue to get the federal support services they need. HIV and AIDS are problems that America cannot afford to turn her back on. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Americans living with AIDS has more than doubled over the last five years, and it is currently the 5th leading cause of death among people aged 25-44. Such unchecked and exponential growth represents a most extreme threat. Over the last few years we have seen a dramatic increase in spending for AIDS and HIV research, and accordingly, we have made some great progress regarding the treatment and understanding of this horrible disease. However, we must not forget about the 650,000-900,000 people who currently live with this disease and may have neither the means nor the opportunity to get the treatment they need and deserve. It is for these people, and for those who will be infected before such a time when a vaccine and other prevention methods are widely accessible and affordable, that we must pass the Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000. Under this act, funding to metropolitan areas will not only be based on the number of AIDS cases, but will also take into account the number of HIV infections. If we are to win this war we must do what we can to tackle AIDS in its early stages, and this means the treatment of people who suffer from HIV infection and not just the full-blown virus. Under the act, grants for dealing with perinatal transmission of HIV are increased from $10 to $30 million. This increased funding will add treatment services for pregnant women infected with HIV, and will increase the funding for service on the current list which includes counseling, voluntary testing, and outreach. Although we are extremely grateful for the recent advances in the treatment of HIV and AIDS, they still represent a very real threat to the well-being and security of our nation. By passing the Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000 we will come one step closer to winning the war on HIV and AIDS, and we will come one step closer to helping those already infected with HIV and AIDS live more productive and healthier lives. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, we must pass H.R. 4807. It is imperative to the well being of our country, and it is imperative to me as a public servant, and it is imperative to anybody who has seen the devastating effects of HIV and AIDS. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4807 so that we can continue to provide these important programs to those living with this disease.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize a true World War II hero, John Russell Bergendahl. For most of his brief life, Mr. Bergendahl was a resident at the Cromwell Children's Home in my district, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. He lived at the Home until his graduation from Middletown High School, and this year his classmates are holding their 60th class reunion in his honor. While his unique role and his supreme sacrifice on D-Day are paramount in this recognition, it is also important to emphasize the example Mr. Bergendahl provided to so many of his peers as a friend, a serious academic student, an outstanding athlete, and a dependable worker during his years at the Children's Home. Although an only child whose parents died early in his life. Mr. Bergendahl never reflected on his family tragedy. He had a remarkably positive attitude, an outgoing personality, and the physical and mental discipline needed for military service at the time, and would have been the key to his success in civilian life. He was a model resident at the Cromwell Children's Home, a reflection of the dedication of its staff and its program. Russ Bergendahl and Jim Broman, who first brought Mr. Bergendahl's story to my attention, were in military training when they last met in Cromwell several months before being sent to England in early 1944. During that meeting, Mr. Bergendahl expressed that he did not expect to survive the war because of his assignment to the 82nd Airborne. Although Jim and Russ attempted to meet again when they were deployed overseas, these attempts were futile because Jim's assignment to the 101st Airborne, also limited outside contact prior to D-Day. After D-Day, Mr. Broman was unable to learn anything about his friend Russ until nearly two weeks later when he was told that a Bergendahl was killed by a sniper six days after the invasion. It was not until 55 years later when Mr. Broman returned to Normandy and visited Russ Bergendahl's grave at Omaha Beach that he learned Russ was actually killed on D-Day, June 6, 1944, after the American landing. It is not possible to document, or likely even comprehend, what Mr. Bergendahl experienced when he landed in Normandy prior to the massive airborne landings conducted by the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions a few hours later. He may have merited the highest of military honors, but none of us will ever know. However, we do know that his sacrifice and service is what allows us all to be here today to remember him under the banner of liberty and freedom he fought to maintain, and for that we should honor him as a true hero. The 100th anniversary of the Cromwell Children's Home is an appropriate occasion to establish and maintain a memorial to John Russell Bergendahl at the place where he made his home for most of his brief life. This memorial is a tribute to his courage and bravery, and also recognizes the contribution of the Cromwell Children's Home and the many dedicated staff members to the lives of children, such as John Russell Bergendahl, during their 100 years of service. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to join with me in this tribute to remember the life of John Russell Bergendahl.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a former colleague in the Connecticut State Senate, who after many dedicated years of service to the people of Connecticut, the Senate and our political atmosphere as a whole, is stepping down. Adela ``Dell'' Eads was born 80 years ago in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia as well as the Gibbs School in New York City. She began her political career in 1976 in the State House of Representatives where she served two terms. Dell was first elected to the Connecticut State Senate in 1980, and in her 20 years of service held numerous leadership positions in her party and the senate including Senate President Pro Tem and Minority Leader. In a time where our political dialogue seems to be clouded by partisan bickering an grandstanding, Dell has always been the epitome of dignity and class. She is known today, as well as when I served with her in the state senate, as a bridge builder who always chose to do what she knew was best for her District and the State of Connecticut as a whole, rather than what was simply popular. Even though we represent different political parties, I have nothing but sincere admiration for her as a former colleague and consummate public servant. The State of Connecticut and the Senate will surely miss her. I ask the House of Representatives to recognize her career in public service as well as applaud the manner in which she has conducted herself during the last 24 years; with grace, understanding and most of all the willingness to work with others to accomplish what is right.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of The National and Community Service Amendments Act of 2000, of which I am a proud original co-sponsor, was introduced last week in the House by two of my distinguished colleagues, Mr. Shays of Connecticut and Mr. Andrews of New Jersey. The bill would reauthorize the Corporation for National Service and the programs it administers: the National Senior Service Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. The bill has been drafted in close consultation with more than 200 community service groups. This legislation is a simple extension of the existing program with a few improvements: Codifies the cost-cutting agreement reached with Senator Grassley in 1996. The Corporation for National Service has lowered its cost per- member to $15,000 for FY 99, including a $4,725 education award to finance college or repay student loans; and a mere $7,421 for a living allowance. Expands the cost-cutting ``Education Award Only'' model, where the Corporation provides only the education award, and the sponsoring organization provides all other support. Eliminates controversial AmeriCorps grants to other federal agencies. AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corps, engages more than 40,000 Americans in intensive, results-driven service each year. AmeriCorps members are tackling critical problems like illiteracy, crime and poverty. They have taught, tutored or mentored more than 2.6 million children, served 564,000 at-risk youth in after-school programs, operated 40,500 safety patrols, rehabilitated 25,179 homes, aided more than 2.4 million homeless individuals, and immunized 419,000 people. In Connecticut, more than 1,200 residents have served their communities through AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps helps solve critical problems in an effective way. It creates $1.66 worth of benefits for each $1.00 spent. And for every full-time AmeriCorps member, 12 regular and occasional unpaid volunteers are recruited and mobilized. AmeriCorps is, indeed, effectively preparing young people for the future and strengthening local communities. Furthermore, AmeriCorps also funds a great number of important projects that foster involvement and learning in technology by children and adults. One of these is Project FIRST (Fostering Instructional Reform through Service and Technology Initiatives), whose role it is to increase access to technology and its educational benefits in the nation's least-served schools. Another way AmeriCorps is involved with technology is through TechCorps, a national non-profit organization that is driven and staffed primarily with technologically proficient volunteers. I believe these programs are important, because even though American technology is propelling the nation's economy to unprecedented heights, growing concern remains for those who are not benefiting from this prosperity. For those left behind by the advancing technology, the divide growing between the ``haves'' and ``have-nots'' is increasing at an alarming rate, as demonstrated by the Department of Commerce in its July 1999 report, ``Falling through the Net.'' These AmeriCorps programs bring technology to underserved populations and address weaknesses in our economy, such as unequal access to technology, teacher training, and evaluation. However, I do not believe AmeriCorps is essential just because it can help close the ``digital divide.'' It is essential because it exposes young people to the ideal of serving their community and their nation. Collin Powell has succinctly captured this idea of community service by stating, ``For some of our young people, preserving our democratic way of life means shouldering a rifle or climbing into a cockpit or weighing anchor and setting out to sea. For others, it means helping a child to read or helping that child to secure needed vaccinations or it means building a park or helping bring peace to a troubled neighborhood or helping communities recover from natural disasters or reclaiming the environment.'' Harris Wofford, former United States Senator and now head of the Corporation for National Service, echoes Powell's thoughts, ``Our country needs more . . . patriotism. AmeriCorps encourages and inspires this patriotism on the home front.'' Finally, a quote by Vaclav Havel, I believe, explains the need to have an AmeriCorps, ``The dormant goodwill in people needs to be stirred. People need to hear that it makes sense to behave decently or to help others, to place common interest above their own, to respect the elementary rules of human coexistence. Goodwill longs to be recognized and cultivated.'' This, I believe, is the essential value of national service, and by extension, of AmeriCorps. Serving is as important and rewarding as being served. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and hope that the House Leadership allows us to act quickly on this critical legislation.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky) for his outstanding work, and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), as well. I would note to my colleagues that victory has many fathers, and defeat, of course, is an orphan. But defeat is not an option, especially for those who are dependent upon home heating oil and have to make the awful choice between heating their homes, providing themselves with prescription drugs that they need, or in fact the food that they place on their table. Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci) who spoke eloquently about the coalition of those of us in the Northeast who have sought bipartisan support, especially in the area of the release of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the establishment of a strategic home heating oil fuel base for those who need this kind of relief. I further concur with the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick) about the need for the Federal Trade Commission to further pursue these companies with respect to what seems to be gouging at the gas lines. Further, I would also note that there is an important need for an investment that is not addressed in this legislation. We currently import somewhere in the area of $5 billion worth of oil a month. That is $60 billion a year. We are making cuts in the very area of research and development, specifically in the area of fuel cells, that could benefit us and allow us to compete in a global economy, and get us to a point where we are not dependent upon foreign sources of oil, so we can provide ourselves with efficient home heating oil and the means to provide us with transportation to and from our jobs.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I mark a very significant anniversary in the history of the Connecticut National Guard. Fifty years ago this week, the Connecticut National Guard's Company K, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43d Division was called into active duty for service in the Korean war. On June 25, 1950, Communist-supported North Korea invaded South Korea by crossing the 38th Parallel. That same day President Harry S. Truman began the activation of the National Guard. It was only a few short months after Truman's activation that Connecticut's National Guard received its official orders from the United States Army. On September 5, 1950, at 7:15 a.m., Company K, based in the Middlesex County, reported for roll call. The Company, along with the rest of the Division, was sent to Camp Pickett in Virginia for training. On July 19, 1951, the Division received its orders to report for overseas duty in Germany. The 43d Infantry Division was the first National Guard Division ever to go to Europe in peacetime. Its orders were part of a determined effort to strengthen the free world's defenses against Russian aggression. In name, it stayed there for more than 2\1/2\ years. Company K went into the portions of Bavaria that directly faced the Iron Curtain on the Czechoslovakian border. There it organized the terrain and built a defense system as part of a strengthening NATO force. A June 25, 1990 article in U.S. News and World Report aptly describes the reason why Company K's involvement was so crucial in the Korean War, ``The War's effects were felt far from its battlefields. Worried that Korea was only a diversion in advance of a Soviet attack on Berlin, the Truman Administration sent four divisions to Europe to bolster the two already on occupation duty and began pressing to transform occupied West Germany into a rearmed anti-Communist bastion.'' On June 25, 2000, the members of Company K will hold their 50th Anniversary Reunion. I would like to urge my colleagues to join me not only in celebrating their anniversary, but also in recognizing the service and sacrifice these individuals gave to their country in its time of need.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Holt, to the Fiscal Year 2001 VA-HUD Appropriations bill. Without the adoption of Mr. Holt's timely amendment this bill will be woefully inadequate. As it stands, this bill would cut the National Science Foundation's budget for science and engineering research by over $500 million from the President's request. Mr. Holt's amendment will reinstate much of this funding and will allow important NSF programs to continue and grow. The current version of H.R. 4635 includes a reduction of 21 percent from NSF's requested sum for undergraduate education. This includes a nearly 50 percent cut in funding for the National Science, Math, Engineering and Technology Education Digital Library. Obviously, today's students cannot become tomorrow's leaders if they do not have a proper education. We must strive to give our students pertinent knowledge in these important fields. Mr. Holt's amendment will allow tomorrow's scientists to learn the valuable information they will need for the 21st century. Additionally, the bill we have on the floor today will eliminate funding for almost 18,000 researchers and science and mathematics educators. These scientists and educators perform cutting edge research on a daily basis, and the elimination of their funding will weaken the United States world leadership in the fields of science and engineering. Furthermore, the bill will severely undercut funding for basic research, including health care, environmental protection, energy, and food production. Fortunately, Mr. Holt's amendment will restore this funding and allow the United States to maintain its positive reputation in the field of international research. Moreover, H.R. 4635 would result in the elimination of 4,000 grants for research and educational endeavors. Through this reduction, investments in the crucial fields of information technology, nanoscale science and engineering, and environmental research will drop, and thus will slow the development of new discoveries. Clearly, these cuts must be restored so that American technology can stay competitive in the global marketplace. Mr. Holt's amendment will allow American technology to continue to advance and improve. Finally, we must remember that in the past 50 years, half of U.S. economic productivity can be attributed to technological innovation. In order to stimulate the economy for the next 50 years, we must make this important investment in America's future and support the NSF. As a result, I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment and I commend Mr. Holt for his steadfast leadership on this issue.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maine for yielding. I would only add to his eloquently stated verse with regard to the impact that this legislation will have on workers all across this great Nation of ours and in my home State of Connecticut. The fact of the matter is, as the gentleman has pointed out, that as we experience globalization, we know that the blessings of commerce are not evenly spread across this Nation. So that is why it is critically important that the Federal Government coordinate a response in a timely fashion that this legislation will provide. Again, I thank the gentleman from Maine for his hard work on this bill; and as he indicated, we seek cosponsors as well.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Chairman, the Fiscal Year 2001 VA-HUD Appropriations bill. H.R. 4635, which we are considering today is woefully inadequate and fails to address America's needs in housing, economic development, veterans, and science and technology programs. This is particularly distressing in these times of unprecedented prosperity and rising surpluses. Among many unacceptable funding provisions, the bill freezes funding for veterans medical research, cuts grants for construction of state veterans homes $30 million below the current year level, and provides $56 million less than requested to improve processing of applications for benefits. The bill appropriates no funds for the 120,000 new housing assistance vouchers proposed by the Administration. Further, it cuts the Community Development Block Grant by $275 million below the current year level. And while it provides an increase for research at the National Science Foundation, it falls short of the President's requested increased by $508 million. The bill also fails to adequately provide for National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Science and Technology programs, which the bill underfunds by $323 million. These cuts I believe would jeopardize the future of our space research programs, including programs directed at solving problems here on earth, that are pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge about our universe. Even more distressing, the bill only appropriates $300 million of the $2.9 billion requested by the Administration for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund, thereby jeopardizing FEMA's ability to respond quickly and adequately to natural disasters. Finally, the bill once again seeks to completely eliminate the AmeriCorps National Service program. As a result a great number of important projects that foster involvement and learning in technology by children and adults and programs that bring technology to underserved populations and address weaknesses in our economy, will go unfunded. One of these is Project FIRST (Fostering Instructional Reform Through Service and Technology Initiatives), whose role it is to increase access to technology and its educational benefits in the nation's least-served schools. Another way AmeriCorps is involved with technology is through TechCorps, a national non-profit organization that is driven and staffed primarily with technologically proficient volunteers. However, these cuts ensure that TechCorps will not receive AmeriCorps/VISTA volunteers to bring this program to underserved, low- income communities. Mr. Chairman, I believe the cuts in this bill would move America in the wrong direction. Despite our unprecedented economic prosperity, there are significant unmet needs in our nation's communities and in our science and research programs. This bill is part of the majority's strategy of financing tax cuts targeted to the well off by cutting domestic spending. We should not be placing the burden of our prosperity on the backs of the people who will suffer most from cutting programs that meet vital housing, economic development, emergency, and research needs. I will strongly oppose this bill because it fails to meet our responsibilities to war veterans, to provide relief and recovery after natural disasters, to provide service to the community, to protect the environment, to help meet housing needs, and to undertake the essential research and development that is fueling the magnificent growth achieved by the American economy and enjoyed by the American public in the last eight years. We can do better, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, we are preparing tomorrow evening to drop an important piece of legislation, a bill whose short title is the Community Emergency Adjustment Act. It is a very simple and straightforward solution for communities who are experiencing sudden economic distress. That sudden economic distress occurs due to plant closures, mergers and acquisitions that lead to dislocation, displacement and layoffs, layoffs that occur because of trade or technology. I am pleased to announce that we have more than 160 cosponsors, bipartisan support, and am equally pleased that all the members of the Connecticut delegation have sponsored this legislation, along with my good friend the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci), who we will hear from shortly as well, and I especially want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kasich) for their advice in pursuing this legislation. I know firsthand why we seek this kind of remedy. We are experiencing some 1,700 layoffs within my district. What we know firsthand is that there is often a lack of coordination. It is this kind of coordinated effort that this piece of legislation seeks to remedy. In short, when there is a natural disaster, FEMA comes in and provides an opportunity to make sure that it integrates with all the Federal agencies the kind of emergency response that is needed when communities are experiencing a natural disaster. It is true when there have been base closures in the past that the Department of Defense comes in and also organizes all the Federal agencies that are impacted, and in this way presenting a coordinated effort in assisting the communities through these problematic concerns. That is not the case currently when layoffs occur, when workers are displaced. So, what this bill seeks through the Department of Commerce is to create in the Economic Development Administration a coordinating entity that will work with our various agencies, that will work with the Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration, the Treasury, Labor, HUD, and, of course, the Department of Commerce itself. The purpose here is to appoint a team leader. Again, when communities are experiencing these kinds of layoffs, currently the communities involved have to reach out to the various Federal agencies. What this will do when a community experiences the economic distress that I have talked about is it will provide the Department of Commerce with the opportunities to come in and coordinate this assistance, so it will be both cost savings, efficient and effective and assist our communities and assist those who are being displaced, those who have been laid off, with getting the kind of immediate coordinated assistance that they expect from the Federal Government. I want to thank as well the administration, especially the Department of Commerce, for working with us on this approach. We hope to pilot this approach by getting them up to Connecticut and having them work through some of these particularly thorny areas so that we can coordinate in a whole-hearted effort to make sure that workers are receiving the kind of relief that they have. Mr. Speaker we are seeking original cosponsors on this bill that we are going to drop tomorrow evening. As I have indicated, we have more than 160 cosponsors to what is a very pragmatic, straightforward solution in addressing communities that experience economic distress.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Skelton amendment. This fervent patriot has been an ardent supporter of our military and the men and women who wear the uniform. I understand the strategic value and the importance of training. But I also understand that we train our military to preserve the democratic values that the Skelton amendment will allow for the citizens of Vieques. That is why this amendment is so important. That is why I associate myself with the remarks of my colleagues that have stood here.

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose this amendment. I have great respect and admiration for the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) and his efforts on this committee, and I applaud those efforts. As has been said by many of the people that have risen today, we worked very hard as a committee to come to solutions. I believe, however well intended the gentleman's solution is, that it only goes part of the way, and that the wisdom behind the amendment of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) and the time that it allows from its inception to its fulfillment, will provide us the remedies, whether the gun has been jammed, whether the program has been crippled, to correct those problems within the system, so that we can provide for our veterans what they richly deserve, the fulfillment of the commitment and the pledge that we made to them.

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Taylor amendment. What is at stake here is a fundamental commitment to the men and women who wear the uniform. This is not a time to go slow. That is not what we have asked our veterans to do. This is not a time for incremental gain. We need the comprehensive approach that the Taylor amendment calls for. I join with my colleagues in recognizing the efforts of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) on this committee, but I would like to point out that what we need here is the will to move forward. As we go through mid-time review and see the surpluses that this Nation will have achieved because of our economic strength, we have the ability to carry out the options necessitated to make sure that we live up to the commitment that we made to these veterans. Mr. Chairman, my father used to say to my mother Pauline, sitting across the dinner table, ``Who won the war?'' It is to the bewilderment of many of our veterans these days, thinking that their Nation has forgotten about them, that it has reneged on their promise. I do not question the patriotism or the fervor on the part of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) or anyone here who has served on our committee to do the very best for veterans. I simply believe that we can do more and we should do more. This is not a time to pull back. This is a time to move forward because we have the resources and the will to accomplish this on behalf of our veterans. Memorial Day is around the corner. I agree with the gentleman, too many times we hear semantical speeches and plaudits given to veterans. We have an opportunity here today to act on their behalf. I urge support of the Taylor amendment.

Mr. LARSON

Mr. LARSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this legislation. And I want to commend our distinguished chairman, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence) and, of course, the great leadership of the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) as well. This is an important bill in so many respects, but I rise this afternoon concerned about a very important segment, a segment that addresses the concern of veterans and their health care and the benefits that they so richly have earned and deserved. This committee has distinguished itself in the nature of its bipartisan accord and the way that we have been able to come together around important issues that concern this Nation's defense and the quality of life that is needed within our military. But at the heart of what this committee has stood for is a morale commitment to those men and women who wear the uniforms. I stand in support of this bill and hope that we address the concerns raised by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor).