Robert Matsui

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman not allow me to answer the question?

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kiyoshi Patrick Okura on the occasion of his 88th birthday and the 10-year anniversary of the Okura Mental Health Leadership Foundation. It is my great pleasure to count Pat as a personal friend, as well as one of the most esteemed members of the Japanese-American community. Mr. Speaker, Pat Okura is not one to rest on the accolades of his exceptional list of accomplishments and contributions. In fact, even at age 88, he continues to contribute enormously to those around him. But I would like to take time now, in honor of the celebration of himself and his successes, to commend his constant efforts to improve all the communities he has lived in, and his willingness to serve the public. Pat's leadership in the Asian American community, both local and national, has led to incredible gains in Asian American participation in Government. As the National President of the Japanese American Citizens League, Pat expanded the JACL's tradition of political engagement and brought the organization his message of empowerment. There are very few leaders who impress upon the younger members of a community the importance of engaging the political world as well as Pat. But when he shares his experiences as a Japanese American, his heartfelt encouragement and strength inspires youth with a remarkable motivation. Pat's dedication to his country and his community shows through in his more than 50-years of work for government and service organizations. Perhaps even more dramatic than his career and volunteer work, however, was Pat's firm commitment to this nation and his personal ideals when he was threatened with slander, racism, and ignorance. Early in his career, Pat distinguished himself as the first Japanese American to work for the City of Los Angeles' Civil Service Department. The leadership Pat displayed in his job was used against him, however, during the hysteria following the outbreak of the War in the Pacific. Despite his U.S. citizenship and years of working in public service, a writer from the Los Angeles Times falsely accused Pat of plotting espionage against the United States. Eventually Pat, his wife, their families, and thousands of other Japanese Americans, spent 9 months living in horse stables as internees at Santa Anita racetrack before being taken into internment camps. In spite of the injustices thrust upon he and his family during the War, Pat continued to demonstrate his steadfast desire to help other people, becoming a psychologist at Father Flanagan's Boys Homes in Boys Town, Nebraska--a position he held for seventeen years. Years later, Pat focused his leadership and compassion on winning reparations for the Japanese Americans arrested during World War II. Pat's efforts combined with other leaders in Asian American community and on all levels of government to win reparations and an apology to more than 120,000 Japanese Americans. Ten years ago, Pat and his wife Lily founded the Okura Mental Health Leadership Foundation. During the past decade, the Foundation has raised awareness for the very specific mental health issues in the Asian American community. Each year, the Foundation brings Asian Americans to Washington, D.C., to meet with health professionals and learn how to work with federal and state agencies to improve the health of their patients and community. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday at the Ft. Myer's Army Base Officer's Club in Arlington, Virginia, there will be a very special event in Pat's honor. Pat and Lily will be joined by many of the dozens of young men and women who have benefited from their time as Okura Fellows, as well as many other well-wishers, to celebrate Pat's 88th birthday and commemorate his many accomplishments. As a friend of Pat's it gives me great joy to add to their voices in commending him on his tireless efforts and his well-earned successes. He has been a true leader for so many generations and communities who will always owe their heartfelt gratitude for his life's work.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, it is my personal honor and privilege to rise today and pay tribute to my State's Capitol, my Congressional district which I have served for the past 20 years, and my home; the City of Sacramento on their 150th anniversary. In January of 1848, James Marshal reached into the American River near Sacramento and retrieved a small nugget of gold. This discovery gave birth to California's gold rush and provided a prosperous foundation for Sacramento to thrive. At the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, the City of Sacramento grew quickly, cradled by the fertile land of the Central Valley. On August 1, 1849, Sacramento's City Council convened for the first time and began drafting the City Charter. On March 18, 1850, the City of Sacramento became the first incorporated city in the State of California. Since that time, Sacramento has developed a national and international reputation for progress and innovation. From its early days as the terminus for the Pony Express and the Transcontinental Railroad, to its current seat of government for the nation's most populous state, Sacramento has embraced its destiny in defining the ever-changing face of California. Today, instead of Sacramento's riches coming from the surrounding hills of gold, our riches come from the great wealth of people, culture and diversity. As the 7th largest city in California, and the 38th largest city in the Nation, we owe our prosperity to the men and women who have sacrificed and dedicated their lives to the social and economic strength of our City. Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga bestowed upon our City the name Sacramento, meaning holy covenant with God. As the City of Sacramento begins its 150th anniversary, I encourage the people of Sacramento to make a personal covenant with each other, to honor our history, respect our diversity, and challenge us all to ensure a prosperous future. This evening, the City of Sacramento will begin a yearlong celebration of its 150th anniversary at a special City Council meeting at City Hall. As a former member of the City Council, I would like to personally congratulate the Mayor and the City Council for achieving such an honorable milestone. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the City of Sacramento on their 150th anniversary. Sacramento's golden history is reflected often throughout the City and is a constant reminder of the wealth of opportunity, which continues to grace the people of Sacramento.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Chairman, Mr. Shuster and the Ranking Member, Mr. Oberstar, as well as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Boehlert and Borski, for their efforts to secure additional flood protection for Sacramento. Additionally, I am grateful to my colleague from California who sits on the Subcommittee, Mrs. Tauscher, who has been extremely helpful in working toward a consensus on this issue. Of course, I extend a sincere thank you as well to Senator Boxer for her tireless work in the Senate and role as a conferee in providing countless efforts to find resolution on this issue. Mr. Speaker, with a mere 85-year level of flood protection, no other city of its size is as defenseless to flooding as Sacramento. In a study completed by the Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento ranked worst among some of the most flood prone cities in America. Cities such as Kansas City, New Orleans, Santa Ana, Omaha and St. Louis, many of which have smaller populations than Sacramento, were found to have much greater levels of flood protection--more than 500-year in most cases. I ask you to consider the catastrophic consequences a flood would pose to the Sacramento metropolitan area and Northern California. The resulting loss of life, proper damage, economic repercussions and health and safety impacts would be staggering and like no flood damage this nation has ever seen. More than 600,000 people in Sacramento live within the flood boundary. This flood area contains more than $37 billion in property, including the California State Capitol, six major hospitals, 26 nursing home facilities, over 100 schools, and approximately 160,000 homes and apartments. The area contains headquarters for many major companies, as well as many banks and manufacturing facilities. Three major highway systems that serve as critical links through the state and surrounding region would be disrupted for an indefinite period of time. Electric, sewer and water systems would be out of service and hazardous and chemical waste vessels would break loose and pose health, safety, and environmental threats to the region. A 500-year flood in Sacramento would far surpass total damages the 10 states in the 1993 mid-western floods incurred. Sacramento knows from experience that such an event is not hypothetical. In 1986, storms left Sacramento at the brink of such catastrophe. Operators of the region's flood control facilities estimated that just one additional inch of rain would have resulted in major flooding. Given the perilous situation confronting the region, I am disappointed that the conferees did not adopt the Senate language pertaining to the American River, favoring instead the insufficient language contained in the House bill. This language provides only incremental improvements to Sacramento's flood control facilities. These provisions will correct original design deficiencies of Folsom Dam by installing new river outlets and modifying existing outlets. These additions will allow Dam operators to optimize Folsom Dam performance by releasing more water faster and earlier during storms and would reduce the amount of temporary storage space needed in anticipation of bad weather. The modifications will increase Sacramento's level of flood protection to approximately 135 years, a step in the right direction, yet far short of the level of flood protection needed to protect Sacramento against catastrophic flooding, and far short of the protections enjoyed by most other major river cities. I am thankful however, that the conferees recognized these inadequacies and have directed the Corps of Engineers to complete further studies by March 1, 2000 and report back to the Congress on additional steps that may improve the level of protection for Sacramento. Mr. Speaker, the flood threat confronting my constituents clearly is the most pressing public safety issue facing the community. Although this Congress was unable to find resolution and incorporate provision capable of providing Sacramento with a level of protection it must have, the measures included in this bill represent a key step required to advance our needs for future work on this issue. I remain grateful to the Members on the Committee and those who were conferees for their patience in dealing with this issue. I look forward to working with them in the coming months on resolution to the flood threat facing Sacramento in preparation of the next WRDA.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to make a couple observations. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Social Security who has studied the issue of Social Security now for 2\1/2\ years, I have to say that there was a lot of misleading information passed on by the House of Representatives last week when we discussed this bill. There has been a lot of talk about a lockbox and $3 trillion. The fact that $2 trillion will be put in a lockbox, that in fact is Social Security money. That is payroll tax money coming in over the next decade, 15 years, the $2 trillion. The problem is that will not preserve Social Security. The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) said last week that that will save Social Security. That will not save Social Security. By putting the $2 trillion in a lockbox, all that does is make sure that Social Security problem does not get any worse, that it does not get any worse. That is what the issue is. But it will not solve that problem. In fact, what will be needed, if we do not want to cut benefits, is general fund money going into the Social Security system. The bill of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Archer) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) puts general fund money into the Social Security system. Now, we have a $1 trillion dollars surplus that is projected, it is only projected over the next decade in the on-budget, non-Social Security surplus. If in fact this tax cut goes through and becomes law, and we all agree it probably will not, but assuming my colleagues vote for this tax bill, that essentially means that they are going to favor cuts in benefits over the Social Security system. I have to say the purpose of this vote is to put Members on record so that the American public in the year 2000 will find out who wants to protect Social Security and maintain the level of benefits we have now or who wants to cut benefits. Because this vote, if my colleagues vote against this motion to recommit, they are saying, in the year 2001, when we try to deal with Social Security, that they are going to cut benefits, or an alternative, they may want to raise payroll taxes, although I do not believe that is true, so they are going to be cutting benefits. So this vote against the motion to recommit will be to cut benefits and Social Security. What we are talking about here is a reduction in benefits of 25 percent of the Social Security benefits. So I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel).

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise in tribute to Mr. Wing Fat of Sacramento, California. The Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center will honor him for all of his great contributions to the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in our area. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in saluting Wing Fat's outstanding philanthropic endeavors. Wing Kai Fat was born in 1926 in Canton, China to Frank and Mary Fat. At the age of nine, Wing and his mother joined his father in the United States. While his parents worked hard to achieve the American dream, Wing, being the older sibling to his brothers and sisters, became a father figure in the family. While helping to raise his younger brothers and sisters, Wing worked along side his father for very long hours at Frank Fat's restaurant when it opened in 1939. Wing graduated from Sacramento High School in 1945 as a very accomplished athlete. From 1945 to 1947 Wing served in the U.S. Army Air Force during the end of World War II. He rose to the rank of sergeant while stationed in the Philippines. He returned home to graduate from Sacramento State College in 1951. Wing became the manager at Frank Fat's restaurant where he quickly acquired a reputation as a gregarious and gracious host. While working at Frank Fat's, a famous Sacramento eatery, he hosted presidents, governors, members of Congress, legislative leaders, and many celebrities. Governor Pat Brown appointed Wing to the California Veterans Board in 1966 and Governor Ronald Reagan re-appointed him to that post in 1971. In 1981, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Wing to the California State Fair Board. Wing remains close with former California Governors George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson. Besides Frank Fat's, Wing is co-owner of Fat City, California Fat's, and a soon-to-be opened restaurant in Roseville, California. He has established a remarkable reputation for his business acumen, as well as his community service activities. He has served on the board of directors of Cathay Bank and River City Bank in Sacramento. Additionally, he has served on the boards of the California State University Sacramento Foundation, the Sacramento Host Committee, and the Golden State University Board. Wing is currently active on the University of California at Davis Hospital Leadership Council and the Transplant Hope Foundation to raise funds for the UCD Transplant Research Center. He is also the past president of the Grandfathers Club of Sacramento. Wing Fat is truly a gentleman in every sense of the word. He epitomizes honesty in business and service to community. His strong links to the business community have made the Asian Pacific Rim Festival founded by his father a great success every year in Old Sacramento. With the passing of his legendary restaurateur father, Wing devotes himself to continuing Frank Fat's legacy of strengthening the influence of Asian Americans in business and politics. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in applauding Wing Fat's great contributions to the Sacramento community. As he is honored I wish him a very enjoyable evening at the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center's annual August Moon Night Dinner.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Packard and the Ranking Member, Mr. Visclosky, for their support of Sacramento flood control projects included in the FY 2000 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Flooding remains the single greatest threat to the public safety of the Sacramento community, posing a constant risk to the lives of my constituents and to the regional economy. Thanks to your efforts and the efforts of this Committee, Sacramento can continue to work toward improvement flood protection. With a mere 85-year level of protection, Sacramento remains the metropolitan area in this nation most at risk to flooding. More than 400,000 people and $37 billion in property reside within the Sacramento flood plain, posing catastrophic consequences in the event of a flood. While the Congress continues to debate the best long-term solutions to this threat, funding in this bill will provide much needed protection to the existing flood control facilities throughout the region. Specifically, this legislation will allow for the continuation of levee improvements and bank stabilization projects along the lower American and Sacramento Rivers, increasing levee reliability and stemming bank erosion. Additionally, I greatly appreciate the Committee's willingness to provide funding for projects--including the South Sacramento Streams Group, Strong Ranch and Chicken Ranch Sloughs, and Magpie Creek--aimed at preventing flooding from a series of smaller rivers and streams that present substantial threats separate from those posed by the major rivers in the region. Importantly, the Committee's willingness to include funding for the American River Comprehensive Plan will allow for ongoing Corps of Engineers general investigation work on all area flood control needs, including a permanent solution. Your support of these vital projects represents a recognition by this Congress of the grave danger confronting Sacramento and a willingness by the federal government to maintain a strong commitment to the community. Again, on behalf of my constituents, I am grateful for your support in helping to address this perilous situation.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, there is no question that if you look at China's record on human rights, on the whole issue of espionage, the trade deficit, one would have to say that our relationship with China is a very difficult one, it is an uncertain one, and it is one that obviously has a lot of ups and downs. I think the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) recently in an op- ed piece in the Los Angeles Times described it as a roller coaster ride that we have with China. But in spite of all this, I think, as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) mentioned, we are going to continue on our trade relations with China. It is somewhat unfortunate that we have this debate tied with trade, because what eventually happens here is the fact that trade continues on and to some extent the comments made by the opponents of trade with China become diminished. We should really highlight the issues of human rights, the whole issue of proliferation, but it should be in a different forum, one in which we can all join together and deal with. The reason we must continue on trade with China is pretty simple. China is 22 percent of the world population. One out of every five individuals on this planet is Chinese. Over the next 20 or 30 years, China will become one of the most dangerous players in the world if we begin to try to isolate them; or, on the other hand, if we engage the Chinese, perhaps, not certainly but perhaps, we can enter into a period where the U.S. and China and other countries of the free world begin to operate and work together. This is a strategic issue for the United States. This is an important issue for the United States. Let me address, if I may, the issue of human rights just for a moment in conclusion. Yes, there is political repression in China and there is very little political rights in China. On the other hand, with the continuing engagement of the U.S. and other countries with the Chinese, there are probably more personal freedoms than we have ever had. Hopefully that middle class in China will begin to understand that it must, over time, change its own government. That is the key to trade with China and that is the key to make China a more open form of government, along with the open economy it is trying to achieve at this time. I urge a strong ``no'' vote on this resolution.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to recognize the 50th Anniversary of The State Hornet, the newspaper of California State University, Sacramento. As the CSUS community celebrates this journalistic milestone, I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in honoring the great work of this student newspaper. Fifty years ago, just four students at the newly established Sacramento State College began The State Hornet newspaper. Their tireless work became the foundation upon which the future successes of the publication would be built. The State Hornet first appeared on April 14, 1949. Since that first day, the student editors and reporters have worked hard to cover the news stories that most directly affect the everyday lives of its student readership and the Sacramento State community-at-large. Since its founding, The State Hornet has experienced dramatic growth and change that is not reflected in the mere passage of fifty years. Since 1949, hundreds of talented students and generations of journalists have learned their trade in the offices of The State Hornet. Today, approximately 75 students and staff work for the newspaper, which makes the State Hornet not only one of Sacramento State's oldest employers, but one of the largest as well. Along the way, the staff has moved from the converted shoe repair shop where the newspaper began into a modern university building. The State Hornet is the only college newspaper in California with offices designed as a professional newsroom. Its circulation has grown from a few dozen in 1949 to 12,000 copies distributed currently. Through decades of journalistic accomplishment, The State Hornet has provided the California State University, Sacramento community with impressive, amusing, and sometimes controversial news coverage. The paper has documented fraudulent voting, income tax evasion, and many other significant issues. The State Hornet is moving into the next century by debuting an Internet edition that will be available on the World Wide Web. Since 1996 The State Hornet has produced an archive of each weekly issue that is available online. In time for its 50th Anniversary, The Hornet is launching its second newspaper, The State Hornet Online. This web site will contain all the stories and information included in the print edition, but other articles will be posted daily. Mr. Speaker, the staff of The State Hornet at CSUS has accomplished a great deal over the past five decades. These accomplishments have led to the paper's worthy reputation for journalistic excellence and sound reporting. I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in saluting The State Hornet on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary and wishing it every continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today in tribute to Virginia Medina of Clarksburg, California. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in remembering this remarkable wife, mother, and public servant. Mrs. Medina passed away on June 27, 1999 following a three-year battle with ovarian cancer. She worked as a law librarian at the California State Department of Water Resources. I salute her professional as well as personal dedication to inspiring others and working hard to make a better life for her family. State Senator Deborah Ortiz, Mrs. Medina's daughter, described her mother as ``my greatest inspiration.'' Mrs. Medina was a working mother who put herself through secretarial school after surviving an early bout with thyroid cancer. She had a wonderful reputation throughout her community as a warm, loving woman who never hesitated to help others in need. Mrs. Medina inspired significant legislation in the California State Legislature, authored by her daughter, which provides for annual research funding into gender-based cancers. At the Department of Water Resources, Mrs. Medina was known as an exceptionally hard worker with a sunny personality. She served the people of California in that agency for over fifteen years. One of her coworkers told the Sacramento Bee, ``Despite all her suffering, she always had time to listen and to encourage others. She didn't complain. She wasn't cynical. She brought a lot of love and light to other peoples' lives.'' A native of Lafayette, Colorado, Virginia Medina was born to a family of migrant workers. She moved to the Sacramento area at the age of seven. Although she was a high school dropout who married at 16, she always stressed the importance of education to her own children. Mrs. Medina not only served as a worthy role model for her daughter, but for her four sons as well. We can all respect the way in which she raised her family, promoted strong values, and contributed to her community. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in remembering this strong and vibrant wife, mother, and citizen. As her family and friends endure this great loss, our thoughts are with them during this most difficult of times. Yet the legacy which Mrs. Medina leaves behind will endure for years to come.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York, the ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means, for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, in January of 1995, after 1 year of taking over the House of Representatives, the Republicans took probably the most irresponsible act I have seen in my 21 years in Congress when they shut down the Federal Government for a period of about 2 weeks. We had the threat of perhaps Social Security checks being withheld, veterans' benefits being withheld. I have to say that as I stand here on the floor of the House today, the tax bill that they have before us and the vote that they will take in a few hours is the second most irresponsible act that they have had in the last 5\1/2\ years since they have taken control of this institution. If this bill ever became law, and God forbid if it did, we would be cutting veterans' benefits by some 25 percent over the next 10 years, we would be cutting education benefits by 25 percent over the next 10 years, we would be cutting Social Security and Medicare, and the Republicans whom we will be hearing from during the course of this debate, they have a lockbox that preserves the Medicare surplus and the Social Security surplus. That will only maintain the status quo. You will still have a cash flow problem in the year 2013, 14 years from now. And by the year 2035, just a generation from now, the whole Social Security system, in fact, will go bankrupt. That will be the consequence of this legislation. The legislation also does one other thing, and we have not been able to get really a distribution table to find out exactly where the benefits will go, but we do know some things. Over the next 10 years, people making $300,000 and above, families making $300,000 and above will get about 50 percent of this tax cut. So we are going to take away from veterans, we are going to take away from education, and we are going to take away from Social Security recipients to give to the most wealthy Americans in this country. So the fact of the matter is that this bill again is second in the most irresponsible act that I have seen in my 21 years here, next to the closure of the Federal Government in 1995.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the time I have remaining?

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey). (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, before I call my last speaker, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), I would just like to take this opportunity, as I said earlier, to thank the leadership for bringing this matter to the floor. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose), the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger), the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle), the gentleman from California (Mr. Condit) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) for being a unified Northern California delegation in favor of this resolution, but particularly the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) who has taken the lead on this issue as a new Member of the House of Representatives. I also would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) of the Committee on the Judiciary for yielding time to me to handle this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of the time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), who is a gentleman who has been well-known as an expert on the Holocaust, somebody that all of us in this institution have a great deal of respect for, and really one of the leaders in the area of anti-hate crimes, and in the area of tolerance in America.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) the chair of the California Congressional Delegation.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the Speaker the remaining time on my side?

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) a great leader in civil rights. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) for those comments that he just made. He has been a distinguished Member of Congress, and certainly in the State assembly when he was there, and we appreciate his efforts. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. I would like to express my gratitude that it is being considered by the House with such dispatch. I appreciate the leadership for bringing this up in a very timely fashion. This is a very important issue to Sacramento and actually all Americans who abhor intolerance. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my California colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose), the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle), the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger), the gentleman from California (Mr. Condit), the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), and many others who have given us the strong support from Sacramento County. We appreciate their concern very much. Also the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), who has been at the forefront on the issue of fighting hate crimes in America. On June 18, Mr. Speaker, under cover of darkness, at 3 in the morning, a cowardly act was committed against three Sacramento synagogues. Within a period of 45 minutes, Congregation B'nai Israel, Congregation Beth Shalom and Kenesset Israel Torah Center were set afire in an act of deliberate and premeditated hate. Our hearts went out to Rabbi Brad Bloom, Rabbi Joseph Melamed, Rabbi Stuart Rosen, Rabbi Mona Alfi and all of their Congregations when we heard what happened. In all, over $1.2 million in damages was done to these three temples. But even more than the dollar amount, there was the destruction of over 5,000 books, many of which are irreplaceable, from which the hundreds of congregants and children studied Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. And now the memories of these ceremonies, the traditions practiced, and the rites of passage experienced by so many will be forever altered. This was the largest collection of works actually west of the Mississippi, all destroyed by the arsonists and hate criminals. Some individuals during this evening placed their own lives in jeopardy to save sacred Torahs. Many rushed into the burning buildings, alerting fire fighters of the places where the sacred texts could be found. Every Torah was saved, including several that had already been rescued from European synagogues destroyed during the Holocaust. Even in the dark of night there were heroes in Sacramento to be found. It matters little in which community these acts occur, because the injury is borne by everyone who values American principles of religious freedom and diversity. The responsibility to condemn these acts is shared by all of us. When an act of destruction is committed at any institution of faith, there are wounds and wounds run very deep. But what helps us is there is somebody to be there with you, and today, through this resolution, on a bipartisan basis, we send the message that bigotry and hate will not be tolerated and that we choose to stand together as people who celebrate and embrace our religious freedom and join with those who would heal our communities when others seek to divide us. Mr. Speaker, Sacramento has been a perfect example, an inspiration of how a community must respond when such acts occur. The reaction was so swift and overwhelming in support of the Sacramento Jewish community. Just a week ago last night, over 5,000 people from every corner of our community gathered together to renew our community fabric. Over 50 public officials, including Mayor Joe Serna attended; the entire Sacramento City Council, including Councilman Jimmie Yee, whose own home had been firebombed in 1993, the County Board of Supervisors, and every member of every clergy in our community was there to lend support. Abe Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a Holocaust survivor, flew in from New York to be there. Seventeen people in all spoke during this three hour community service. There was not a single element in our community unrepresented, and the effect was powerful and the message was clear. Plans are already in motion to not only rebuild the targeted synagogues, but also to build them a Museum of Tolerance so we can learn from this experience and grow from it. A proposal has been made to reinstate a program called ``A World of Difference'' to teach children in our public schools about culture diversity throughout the world and the need for tolerance. Secretary Andrew Cuomo came to Sacramento to announce that the Department of Housing and Urban Development will be able to use a special fund to guarantee loans to rebuild those temples. By supporting this resolution, Mr. Speaker, we as Members of Congress call attention to these efforts to make our communities whole and to reaffirm our opposition to cowardly acts of hate. When I heard of these attacks early in the morning on June 18, I recalled Crystal Night. Many of my colleagues are familiar with that terrible night in 1938 when non-Jews across Europe took to the streets, often going to neighboring towns where they were not known, to shatter the windows of synagogues and the windows of homes and shops of Jews. The message was, ``You are not welcome here.'' It was a pivotal moment in the emergence and acceptance of the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. Well, that night was not and will never be repeated as long as communities such as Sacramento come together in the way it did in the wake of this terrible affront to all of us. Let me quote in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, from the Reverend Martin Niemoller, who had the belief that the community was responsible for its own members. He was an outspoken advocate of accepting collective guilt for what happened to the Jews during the Holocaust. He said, ``In Germany, the Nazis came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I was not a Jew. Then they came up for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one to speak up for anyone.'' That is why we are here today to support this joint resolution on a bipartisan basis, and I urge the adoption of it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), the civil rights leader of America.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I rise to extend my most sincere thanks to Chairman Wolf and the Ranking Member, Mr. Sabo, and the Members of the Committee, for their willingness to provide funding for Sacramento's transportation priorities contained in the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2000. Funding in this legislation will allow Sacramento to make significant advancements on projects that are urgently needed to address the population growth and transportation inadequacies confronting our region. Specifically, I am grateful for $25 million for the Sacramento light rail extension project and the $1.25 million allocation for the Sacramento compressed natural gas bus program. Both projects are needed to assist efforts to ease traffic congestion and provide efficient, affordable, and environmentally sound modes of transportation to our region. I also thank the Committee for the $1 million in funds for the Sacramento Transportation Information Technology Project and seek clarification in noting that this program supports the efforts of Sacramento County, California. This project represents the latest undertaking by Sacramento County under a program that will permit our community to develop and implement a model intelligent transportation system. Watt Avenue is a major north-south artery in the region surrounded by tremendous geographic restrictions, making expansion extremely impractical. These restrictions result in much larger than normal traffic flows for an arterial of its character. By creating a transit priority system to permit queue jumping for buses, this program will improve transportation efficiency, increase traffic flow, reduce emissions of air pollutants, improve traveler information, and build on existing projects among other priorities. Again, on behalf of the Sacramento community, I thank the Committee for its recognition of these transportation priorities so vital to the stability and growth of our region.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Mr. Harold P. Machen of Sacramento, California. Mr. Machen passed away on June 11, 1999. He will be eulogized on June 19th and I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in remembering him as a great citizen and attorney. Harold P. Machen was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 17, 1924. After completing high school, he attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. While in college, he worked as a dining car waiter for the New York Central Railroad. His plans for law school were interrupted by the military draft. He served in the United States Coast Guard for three years. Upon leaving the Coast Guard, he studied at Los Angeles City College. He eventually earned his L.L.B. and Juris Doctorate from Southwestern Law School. On July 22, 1953 Mr. Machen was admitted to the California State Bar. He would enjoy an excellent legal career spanning more than forty years. After practicing law in the impoverished area of Watts in Los Angeles County, Mr. Machen moved to Sacramento in 1969. For the next several decades, Harold Machen established a first-rate reputation as an attorney and Counselor at Law, as well as a good friend to the Sacramento legal community. He was a special member of the Wiley Manuel Bar Association, of which he was a founding member in 1977. As an accomplished attorney and community servant, Harold Machen rendered legal assistance and financial support to numerous organizations and social causes. Among these were the Volunteer Legal Services Programs, the Sacramento City Unified School District's 4th and 5th R Program, and the 100 Black Men Mentor Program. Concisely, Mr. Machen demonstrated a long-standing commitment to serving the legal needs of citizens in the State of California and especially in the Sacramento region. On July 14, 1995 he was honored by the Wiley Manuel Bar Association of Sacramento County for his outstanding 40 year legal career, as well as his efforts to improve employment and living conditions for Sacramento's citizens through his service on the City's Human Rights Commission. Mr. Speaker as Harold P. Machen is remembered in Sacramento, I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in saluting his outstanding record of quality legal representation, public service, and civic activism. His community contributions will certainly be remembered for many more years to come.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I honored to recognize the completion of the ``Go for Broke'' Monument today in Los Angeles, California. I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in commemorating this important unveiling. The ``Go for Broke'' Monument is the first of its kind in the Mainland United States to honor the World War II heroics of Japanese American soldiers who fought bravely while their families were held in U.S. internment camps. It commemorates the 100th, 442nd, MIS, 522nd, 1399th, and 232nd battalions and serves as a permanent reminder that civil liberties belong to all Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Today, the ``Go for Broke'' Monument will be given to the City of Los Angeles by its builder, the 100th/442nd/MIS World War II Memorial Foundation. Nisei veterans, their children, and grandchildren from throughout the United States will gather to celebrate the ``Go for Broke'' Monument. This is a special moment for all Americans, but especially those of Japanese descent, to pay tribute to the brave soldiers who defended democracy while their own families were being denied the most basic civil liberties back home. I applaud the foundation's mission to educate our nation about the selfless achievements of these brave Nisei veterans. I am honored to join with Senator Daniel Inouye, Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, and a host of other distinguished guests and veterans in marking this great occasion. The legacy of the Japanese American soldiers who fought in World War II, and the values that they represent, must never be forgotten. In addition to building the monument, the non-profit 100th/442nd/MIS World War II Memorial Foundation, in partnership with the Japanese American Citizens League and the Japanese American National Museum, has secured grant funding to develop an important educational program on constitutional issues and civil rights. I salute these efforts to educate all Americans about our nation's bedrock principles. Too few of our nation's young people are aware of the heroics of the 100th/442nd/MIS during World War II. This monument will attract students, foreign visitors, and many others to the story of the Japanese Americans who fought during World War II. All of my colleagues can share in my pride knowing that this chapter of our national history will not be told more often to more of our citizens. Mr. Speaker, as the ``Go for Broke'' Monument is unveiled in Los Angeles, I am extremely honored to recognize all of the Nisei veterans present for their steadfast patriotism and commitment to our country. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in saluting them and commemorating the unveiling of this marvelous monument.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), because I think he and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Archer) have attempted to come up with a piece of legislation conceptually that at least deserves not only a hearing, but perhaps even a markup. What I really would suggest we do now is go to a markup. We are 6 months into this year. We had a White House summit or conference last December. It appears to me now that now is the time to mark up a bill. We have essentially 3 months left, probably 25 to 30 legislative days left this year, and if we run out of time we are going to get into the year 2000, and everyone can see we probably will not take social security up in an election year, Democrats and Republicans. It is not a partisan observation. So we have a slight window. That means this window is probably within the next 20 or 30 days at the very most, and this issue is too critical to put off with resolutions, as we saw in January, or this so-called lockbox, which will do no harm but do no good. As a result of that, we should begin the markup. We are going to be 25 percent short of paying out benefits over the next 35 years, 25 percent short. As a result of that, we have an obligation to deal with this problem now. We should not be fooling around with gimmicks like lockboxes and resolutions. We should take this issue seriously. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would just point out to the gentleman from Arizona that even though the gentleman only has a 6-vote majority, he is a majority. We cannot bring a bill to the floor of the House, we cannot bring a bill to the committee and get it marked up. Only the people in the majority can. The gentleman's side is in the majority. They have the obligation to mark up a piece of obligation. We are 6 months into this year without it. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra).