Robert Matsui

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased and proud today to pay tribute to Richard H. Koppes, who at the end of this month will retire from his position as general counsel and deputy executive officer of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, known as CalPERS. Mr. Koppes has played a major role in guiding the highly regarded CalPERS corporate governance program, which seeks to improve the performance of companies in which CalPERS invests. Throughout his many years in working with some of the Nation's largest corporations, Mr. Koppes has been known as a leader who was firm but fair. This even- handed manner quickly won the respect of many chief executive officers and has allowed him to be as influential and accomplished as he is today. In 1994, The National Law Journal named him as one of the country's 100 most influential lawyers. Mr. Koppes began his career in 1971, when he received his juris doctorate from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is the founder and past president of the National Association of Public Pension Attorneys, a member of the American Law Institute, and a current member of the New York Stock Exchange Board of Governors' Legal Advisory Committee. Mr. Koppes has been widely regarded as an authority on pensions and the retirement system. Specifically, he has written and lectured on many issues related to the role of pension fund investors in corporate governance and fiduciary duties. Fortunately, Californians will continue to benefit from his expertise even after he departs CalPERS. Mr. Koppes will continue his distinguished career at Stanford University Law School, where he will be an instructor of law in the school's executive education program. He will also serve as a counsel to various organizations, including the law firm Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue and the American Partners Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Koppes' career in the private sector will focus on providing corporate governance expertise and institutional shareholder consulting. Mr. Speaker, Richard H. Koppes deserves recognition for all of his contributions and achievements in the public service. I am proud to recognize this talented constituent and pleased to wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida, really, truly one of the outstanding leaders in America on the issue of international trade, and one who we will miss when he leaves the Congress at the end of this year, and I thank him for all the expertise he has imparted to me and other Members of this body over the years. Of course, to all my colleagues who oppose the continuation of MFN, I know how sincere they are and how strongly they feel about this issue, but I think as the gentleman from California [David Dreier] has said, we who favor the continuation of MFN are just continuing the bipartisan support we have had to engage the Chinese since Richard Nixon opened up China in 1978. In fact, all the Presidents since Richard Nixon favor the continuation of MFN. Every Secretary of State, every Secretary of Commerce, every United States Trade Representative favors the continuation of most-favored-nation status with China. We have heard a lot of horrible things that the Chinese and the Chinese Government have done, and many of it and much of it is true. But the fact of the matter is, China, China is 22 percent of the world population. Almost one out of every five persons on this Earth lives in China and can claim Chinese citizenship; one out of every five. Do our colleagues think for a minute that we can isolate the Chinese? Do we think for a minute that cutting off MFN status, which is tantamount to a declaration of war, will further the cause of human rights, intellectual property, trade? Of course not. In fact, the great fear that all of us have with respect to China is the fact that the Chinese may decide to become the most powerful military country that this world has ever known. Should they do that, the Japanese, the South Koreans, the Indonesians with 180 million people, they will begin to rearm, and then Asia will become a tinder box in 5 or 6 or 10 years from now. We have to do this for our children and our grandchildren. This is not an issue of trade. This is an issue of international security and peace in our country and our world. I would like, however, to talk a little bit about the trade issue because that has been brought up and up and up by many of my colleagues, the $33 billion trade deficit with the Chinese. First of all, in the last 24 months, the last 2 years, much of the deficit has been because of transshipment to Hong Kong. In fact, the Commerce Department has said that about 40 percent of the $33 billion is due to transshipment, and therefore the trade deficit is somewhat inflated. In addition, the four tigers, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, they are moving much of their production offshore back into China, and as a result of that, the trade deficit with those four countries has gone down while the trade deficit with China has gone up. So we have not lost all those jobs that the opponents of MFN have stated. But, most importantly, and in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, what is really important here is for the United States to stabilize our relationship with the Chinese. We are attempting to do that now. We made progress on the issue of the ring magnet sale to Pakistan. We made progress on the piracy of the Chinese of our intellectual property. But it is going to take time. China is 3,000 years old and it is going to take time. But for the sake of the world, for the sake of our people, for the sake of this great Nation, we have an obligation to deal and to engage the Chinese.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Dr. Dale Francis Redig who is retiring from a successful career in dentistry. On June 22, 1996, many of Dr. Redig's friends and colleagues gathered in Sacramento, CA to honor his many contributions to dentistry in California and throughout the world. Born in Arcadia, IA in 1929, Dr. Redig enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1946 and served his country for 3 years before entering college at the University of Iowa. There, he earned his D.D.S. and M.S. degrees, including a stint as a Fullbright Lecturer at the University of Baghdad in Iraq. After graduating, he practiced pediatric dentistry for 14 years and also headed the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Iowa. In 1969, Dr. Redig moved his family to San Francisco where he served as dean of the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry for 9 years. During his career, Dr. Redig has held numerous leadership positions, both academic and administrative. He served as president of the American Society of Constituent Dental Executives and as a consultant for Federation Dentaire Internationale; the University of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia School of Dentistry; the University of Saigon School of Dentistry; and the United Nations. He has served as chairman of the American Dental Association, president of the American Fund for Dental Health and president-elect of the American Association of Dental Schools. Dr. Redig also holds membership in a myriad of professional and honorary societies. In perhaps one of his greatest roles in the development of dentistry in this State, Dr. Redig has been the executive director of the 20,000- member California Dental Association since 1978. In this capacity, he has served tirelessly to advance the caliber of dental services throughout California. In addition to membership in numerous professional and honorary societies, Dr. Redig's volunteer service to his community and his profession is a local commodity. Since 1992 he has served the Board of Regents and the University of the Pacific; Since 1992 he has served on the Golden Gate University's Community Advisory Board; Since 1994 he has served the Sacramento Theatre Company on the Board of Trustees; Since 1994 he has served on the corporate cabinet of the Sacramento AIDS Foundation; and in Iowa he served on the board of the Des Moines Health Center and as chairman of the United Campaign, Dental Division. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize Dr. Dale F. Redig for his many contributions to the field of dentistry. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating him on a sterling career of service to his profession and in wishing him happiness and success in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to commend the Committee on Rules for coming up with the rule they have. Obviously the vote on the motion to disapprove will be allowed tomorrow and, of course, the other piece of legislation will also be discussed, which will mandate that the four committees of jurisdiction that have jurisdiction over the issues that we are concerned about with China will report back by September 30 after holding hearings and possible legislation. I think it is a good solution in terms of crafting the rule. I think we will be able to get to the nub of the issue with that particular rule. China is the most important relationship that the United States will have over the next 25 years. China comprises 22 percent of the world population. We cannot isolate the Chinese. If we walk away from the Chinese, the Japanese, the Europeans, the Brazilians, every other country will go into China. So we have to engage the Chinese. I think, as the gentleman from Arizona said, if we cut off MFN, that is tantamount to declaring war with China. China then will become a very belligerent power. Right now they are not expansionary, as we saw with the Soviet Union. But if China should become expansionary and build up their armaments, then the Japanese, then the South Koreans, then the Indonesians, then all of Asia will build up arms and we will have a tinderbox in Asia for the next 10 to 20 years and it will be a threat to world peace and a threat to our children and grandchildren. That is why this issue is important. Now let me address for a moment the issue of the trade deficit. If we can stop spending 6 months a year on the issue of Most Favored Nation status with China, we can then get to the issues of opening up the Chinese market. And we can do it by exercising section 301, just as we saw last week on the issue of intellectual properties. What we did there, if my colleagues will recall, is tell the Chinese we will impose $2.3 billion worth of sanctions against them unless they come to an agreement with us on the piracy of our intellectual property. They have agreed with us. Now, obviously, we are going to have to make sure that agreement is enforced. But the fact of the matter is that the only way we are going to be able to deal with the Chinese is by engaging them, not by trying to isolate them, because that will not work. And the key obviously is the fact that we must try to bring China into the civilized nations of the world over time. So I would support this rule. I would obviously vote against the motion that the gentleman of the Committee on Rules will offer, and certainly support the gentleman's resolution that will require the four committees to look into this matter, hold hearings and obviously pass legislation should it become necessary. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this rule.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I have to say that this debate is kind of interesting, because about 3 months ago when we first talked about the repeal of the 4.3-cent gas tax, the Republicans came in like an elephant, and now that this debate has ensued and now we are near the end of the day, they are walking out like mice. The reason for it is because the Republicans have put to all of you, the American public, a great, great deception. I do not think anyone knows this, but the fact of the matter is, this great debate is going to result in a 4.3-cent tax cut of the gas tax for 7 months. It expires on December 31, 1996, so we got a 7-month gas tax repeal. So we are going to get big headlines in the newspaper tomorrow. It is going to be on national TV tonight. You can understand why they tried to do it earlier in the day. But the fact of the matter is they want to get through the election, the election in November of this year. They are going to say, ``We passed a gas tax repeal, 4.3 cents,'' but the reality, on January 1, 1997 that gas tax is going to go up 4.3 cents again. So I want to congratulate the Republicans because they tricked people. They tricked them over the last 3 months, thinking that you were doing something really great for the American people, but they are walking out like mice. Let me make one other observation. The gentleman said that the consumers will get this 4.3 cents. Why is it then that the oil refineries, why is it then that the auto dealers or the gas station owners want this cut? Because they know they are going to get a piece of the action. They know it is not going to go to the consumers. We all know that. In fact, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel] offered an amendment in the committee, and he was turned down by the Republicans on that issue, to pass this cost on to the consumer. Mr. Speaker, this is a fraud. Vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, we rise before you today to pay tribute to Mr. Lester Riggins of Sacramento who is retiring after an outstanding career of more than 40 years as a manager, educator, administrator, entrepreneur, community, and political activist and serviceman in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Riggins was born in Marshall, TX and moved with his family to Fresno, CA at the age of 8. In his early academic career, he strived for excellent grades in preparation for college and pursued a number of sports, as well as success in the California Cadet Corp., where he rose to the rank of First Sergeant. In 1946, Mr. Riggins joined the U.S. Army and served for almost 2 years, earning the rank of Buck Sergeant and obtaining 4 years of education through the GI bill. He then returned to Fresno, enrolling at Fresno State College, where he played football on scholarship and completed his AF ROTC. He graduated from Fresno State College in 1951 with a BA in history and earned awards for outstanding AF ROTC cadet, three varsity letters, a Blue Key Honor Society scholarship, Phi Gammu Mu and listing in Who's Who in College, 1951. Shortly after graduating, he was called to active duty during the Korean war, serving from 1951 to 1971 in a number of assignments which took him throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. During this period of service, he earned a number of medals and awards and pursued his academic interests, earning an MBA from Indiana University and a masters in science, counseling, and psychology from DC University, he has since completed all course work for DPA at the University of Southern California. After leaving the military, Mr. Riggins became active in politics, community activism, and civic interests. Professionally, he settled at California State University in Fresno where as Assistant Professor, he served as chairman of the black studies program, increasing enrollment from 200 to over 2,000 students. In 1976, he was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as Chief Deputy Director of the Department of General Services for the State of California. There, he was responsible for over 5,000 employees and a budget exceeding $50 million. In 1983, he left the State and founded California Matrix, Inc., a consulting firm. He later served for 1 year as director of youth training program for IMPACT, a California National Guard program in Modesto, CA. In 1985, he took a position as counselor/night administrator at the Grant Skills Center of the Grant Join Union High School district. In this capacity, he provides counseling services and resources to the more than 1,000 students attending each semester. Apart from his professional careers in the USAF and in education, Mr. Riggins has distinguished himself as a consummate activist devoting outstanding service to a number of organizations including the National Education Association, California Teachers' Association, NAACP, Urban League and the Retired Officers Association. In addition, he has served a number of local organizations including the Sacramento City Civil Service Board, the Harry S Truman Club, the Sacramento City Affirmative Action Committee, and the California Conference on the Black Family. Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in recognizing the great spirit of this committed individual and in wishing him many years of continued success, happiness, and prosperity of his retirement.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my support for the amendment offered by my colleague from New York, Mr. Nadler. I strongly agree that we must eliminate the provisions of this legislation that would require specific congressional authorization for the creation of new national wildlife refuges. It is clearly the case that Congress ought to be involved in decisions about the creation of wildlife refuges. In fact, we are already intimately involved in this process. Federal purchase of lands for any wildlife refuge--whether the refuge is new or already in existence--cannot occur unless the Interior appropriations bill specifically allocates funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for this purpose. However, this bill goes too far in requiring that authorizing legislation be approved before a wildlife refuge can be created. Such a requirement would sharply limit the creation of wildlife refuges-- taking away from the Federal Government a key tool in protecting critically important lands and wildlife in a manner that imposes very limited regulatory burdens. If this bill had been in effect in 1992, it could potentially have prevented the creation of the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in southern Sacramento County. Stone Lakes is a fine example of the opportunities that the National Wildlife Refuge System presents for cooperative, voluntary environmental protection. Since the creation of the refuge, the Fish and Wildlife Service has acquired approximately 800 acres from willing sellers and is in the process of arranging the donation of an additional 1,400 acres for the refuge. The agency is also working to develop cooperative land management agreements with other governmental bodies that own some 5,500 acres within the refuge boundaries. Through these arrangements, the Federal Government is maximizing environmental benefits while minimizing its costs as well as impacts on private property owners. The benefits are tremendous. The site is a key link for the migratory birds that inhabit California's Central Valley. In addition, Stone Lakes is already a part of nonregulatory solutions to the challenge of species and resource protection--serving as a mitigation site for wetlands and endangered species preservation. Finally, the proximity of this rich resource to the urbanized Sacramento area provides an invaluable opportunity for area residents to enjoy the refuge's benefits. Stone Lakes exemplifies the possibilities of the National Refuge System. This bill makes a grave mistake in creating major obstacles for the creation of similar sites elsewhere in the country. I strongly oppose these provisions and urge their removal from the bill.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to say that I do not believe we have any further speakers. I might just add, in closing on my side, that we hope that the Members support this bill. I urge support of this legislation. The President supports this legislation and will sign this bill and, again, I look forward to continuing working with the gentlewoman from Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant]. As the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Johnson] has said, he really has been very helpful providing information to us, both in terms of the burden of proof issue and, second, in terms of lifting the $100,000 cap to $1 million in terms of the damage issue. We want to thank him very, very much for that. We both look forward to working with the gentleman in the future on the third tax bill of rights legislation when we bring it before the House. Again, we thank him. Second, I would like to just thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Cox] for his very helpful information and piece of legislation, as well, in terms of the alternative uses besides the Postal Service in terms of filing returns. I might also add the name of this legislation is the Pickle-Johnson legislation, and that is not two Texans, that is not President Johnson, but that is the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Nancy Johnson, and of course Jake Pickle, who was really one of the leaders for the last 10 years working on the tax bill of rights. This is the Pickle-Johnson legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in strong support of H.R. 2337. This legislation has been adopted numerous times by the Committee on Ways and Means on a bipartisan basis, and certainly on the floor of the House it has been adopted as well, and the enactment is certainly long overdue. This legislation is supported by the administration and will result in a much needed protection for taxpayers in their dealings with the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first of all take this opportunity to commend the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Chairwoman Nancy Johnson, who has done a tremendous job on making sure that we have a bipartisan approach to this piece of legislation. All through the drafting and the putting together of this legislation, we have worked very cooperatively, and she and her staff have kept us informed, and I just want to take this opportunity to personally thank her for her efforts. Certainly it goes also to the majority's fine staff, Donna Steele, and the members of our staff, Beth Vance, as well; all have played a significant role in making sure this legislation is in the form that it is today. I want to also thank Secretary Rubin, and particularly Les Samuels, the assistant to Mr. Rubin, who has been very helpful with his input in the drafting of this legislation. Of course, the Internal Revenue Commissioner, Margaret Richardson, who has made, as Chairwoman Johnson stated in her opening statement, numerous reforms in this particular area. This legislation, Mr. Speaker, is the second comprehensive taxpayers' bill of rights that have been adopted by the Congress and signed, hopefully signed, by the President. this bill will establish, as the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Johnson] has said, a taxpayer advocate which will replace the ombudsman. The advocate will have four main responsibilities. One to assist the taxpayer in resolving problems with the Internal Revenue Service; two, to identify problem areas within the Internal Revenue Service; three, a proposed change in the practice of the Internal Revenue Service to solve these problems; and, four, identify legislative solutions to these problems as well. The second area in this bill in terms of making major changes, it will switch the burden of proof in cases in which attorneys' fees will be awarded. Currently taxpayers must show that the position of the IRS was not substantially justified in order to recover his or her attorney fees. Under the bill, a taxpayer who wins a suit can recover his or her fees unless the Internal Revenue Service can show that it was substantially justified in pursuing the action against the taxpayer in the first instance. Three, the bill includes a number of provisions in which the IRS has greater flexibility in waiving certain penalties and will require that the Internal Revenue Service notify taxpayers before taking actions that would adversely affect them. Fourth, the bill does address a problem that has been in the news over the last few years, and this deals with divorced spouses. There have been several cases where divorced spouses have signed returns not knowing what is in these returns, and before collection will occur now the Internal Revenue Service must give advance notice to the former spouse before any collection efforts will be taken. In addition, the Service will do a study that will be due back in 6 months on how to deal with the issue of joint and several liability, undoubtedly which will affect many people in the middle of a divorce or are divorced when the filing occurs. Again, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Johnson] and members of the majority staff for all their help in this effort. I know that this is only the second step. We intend I believe to have a taxpayers' bill of rights III during the next Congress, and I look forward to working with the members of this committee and certainly the Members of the House and the administration. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Ron Brown. Secretary Brown's tragic death on April 3 robbed our Nation of a highly distinguished and talented leader. Throughout his career, Ron Brown made the most of every challenge that confronted him. As Secretary of Commerce and in his other work, he dedicated himself to creating opportunities for others. I first met Ron when he ran Senator Edward Kennedy's 1980 Presidential campaign. But I didn't begin to fully appreciate Ron's talents until 1991, when, as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, he asked me to join him as treasurer of the DNC. In that capacity, I witnessed first hand Ron's vision and leadership. He had an uncanny ability to bring disparate factions together and a capacity of persuasion that was literally unparalleled. I believe it was Ron's early work on the Presidential campaign of 1992 that enabled then-candidate Bill Clinton to emerge from the Democratic Convention with the momentum and resources that ultimately resulted in his victory. Another of the many distinguished legacies that Ron Brown leaves is the dramatic results of his tireless advocacy on behalf of American businesses in his 3 years as Secretary of Commerce. Ron worked closely with businesses large and small to identify new opportunities and to promote American products. He recognized the tremendous potential that foreign markets held and knew that American firms must seize this opportunity if our Nation was to thrive as it entered the 21st century. He worked effectively as a peer with the most powerful business leaders in our Nation, yet Ron Brown never lost his ability to identify with and related to average Americans. He was greatly beloved in his boyhood home of Harlem and left strongly positive impressions among the people he came into contact with while traveling throughout the country. Ron's leadership, keen intelligence, and passion will be greatly missed by all those who knew him personally and his loss will continue to be felt by many more whom he impacted through his work. I am a better person for having known Ron Brown, and I deeply mourn his passing.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, much of the debate that we have had over the last 2 days is a discussion of what steps we should take to address the serious illegal immigration problem facing our Nation. That is an important debate, and I welcome it. There may be differences in this Chamber about what steps will be most effective in addressing the problem of illegal immigration, but we are in agreement that we must act and act quickly. We should complete the illegal immigration debate and send legislation to the President. I rise in strong support of the amendment being offered by Mr. Chrysler, Mr. Berman, and Mr. Brownback because I firmly believe that we should separately address the far more controversial and questionable contention that legal immigration is having a negative impact on the United States. The House should affirm, as the Senate Judiciary Committee has, that it is absolutely inappropriate to view legal immigration as a part of the same problem as illegal immigration. When we talk about legal immigrants, we are talking about individuals who have waited patiently to enter our Nation, who have come here and contributed a tremendous amount to our society, our economy, and our tax base. I would call my colleagues' attention to observations made by the chairman of the Federal National Mortgage Association, James Johnson, in assessing the results of a recent survey by the association. Mr. Johnson wrote the following about legal immigrants in the Wall Street Journal: [T]hey are optimistic about our Nation's future; and they are willing to work and save to buy a home. That desire translates into millions of American jobs--in homebuilding, real estate, mortgage banking, furniture and appliance manufacturing, and the dozens of other industries that are dependent on a strong housing market. They hold significant economic power which, if realized, translates into jobs for Americans and prosperity for our Nation. . . . Before Congress enacts legislation to further restrict immigration, it should consider what the costs of ``people protectionism'' are likely to be for neighborhoods, job creation and the democratic ideals upon which our Nation was founded. While opponents of this amendment will argue that there is a demand for legal immigration reform, a prominent Republican pollster has found that 80 percent of Americans believe that we should address the problem of illegal immigration first. This polling also suggests that seven of every eight Americans oppose penalizing those who have played by the rules in applying to immigrate to the United States. Yet this bill would slam the door on many individuals who have done exactly that-- applied for visas and waited as long as 17 years to legally enter the United States. We ought to reserve judgment on the question of whether changes are warranted in our legal immigration policy until we have taken effective steps to address illegal immigration. Let us move forward with that work before taking radical and unwarranted steps such as denying our citizens the right to reunite with their siblings, adult children, or parents. I thank Mr. Berman, Mr. Chrysler, and Mr. Brownback for offering this important amendment, and I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague Jerry Lewis in introducing legislation that would allow the Federal Government to rapidly obtain the lands designated as the Manzanar National Historic Site. During World War II, 11,000 Japanese-Americans were held at the Manzanar Internment Camp. These individuals were some of the over 120,000 Japanese-Americans interned at 10 sites throughout the United States. The National Park Service determined in the 1980's that of the 10 former internment camps, Manzanar was best suited to be preserved and to thus serve as a reminder to Americans of the glaring violation of civil rights that the internment represented. As a result, the Congress passed legislation in 1992 to establish a National Historic Site at Manzanar. The legislation that Mr. Lewis and I are introducing will allow us to finish the process of creating the Manzanar National Historic Site. The bill will make it possible for the Federal Government to obtain the Manzanar site through a land exchange with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power [LADWP], which currently owns the property. LADWP recently reached an agreement with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and Inyo County that identifies a land exchange that can occur rapidly once our legislation is passed. I commend these parties, as well as the Manzanar National Historic Site Advisory Commission and the Japanese-American community, for their work in bringing us to this stage in the process. I also deeply appreciate the commitment of my colleague, Jerry Lewis, to this effort. In 1988, the Congress passed legislation to make redress for the suffering that Japanese-Americans endured as a result of the internment. In addition to directing an official apology by the Federal Government and symbolic payments to Japanese Americans that were interned, the bill included efforts to educate Americans about the internment. In many ways, this final aspect of redress is the most important. It is essential that we instill in our citizens a high level of public awareness about the internment, so that our country never again makes such a terrible mistake. Creation of a national historic site at Manzanar clearly will make an important contribution to this effort. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, so that we can quickly make the Manzanar National Historic Site a reality.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with the U.S. Department of Education in saluting Sacramento, California's Rio Americano High School for recently winning recognition as one of our Nation's blue ribbon schools. I am proud to have such a model institution within my district. For many years, the school's administration, faculty, students, and parents have devoted their collaborative efforts toward the construction of a school and student body which exceeds local, State, and national goals for educating all of its students. Rio Americano's recognition is well-deserved and its students' phenomenal success underscores the positive results other schools can enjoy by adopting the principles of GOALS 2000: Educate America. As testament to its success, the school boasts a dropout rate of 0.3 percent and students graduating from Rio Americano are extraordinarily competitive; 94 percent were accepted at the college or university of their choice in 1994. The proximity to the State capitol provides Rio Americano with a highly motivated, informed community with expectations of excellence in education and the willingness to become partners in the realization of that goal. Students take an active role in the setting of goals and priorities for the school, as well as discussions which address the implementation of these goals and priorities. This approach fosters the development of sound character, democratic values, ethical judgment, good behavior, and the ability to work in a self-disciplined and purposeful manner. The results are evident in the students' successful roles in a highly active student government, the operation of the school's radio and television stations, the production of the newspaper and yearbook, the planning of rallies and assemblies, the operation of clubs, and the chairing of meetings of student representative groups. Parents of Rio Americano students logged 8,837 volunteer hours at the school last year alone. They are actively involved in the development of programs, representing the interests of the community, and raising resources which enable the students to participate in enriching experiences within and beyond the classroom. As part of their extensive involvement, parents are responsible for the development and management of several model programs for facilitating the exit of seniors from the schools. Finally, the school is fortunate to enjoy the outstanding leadership of its principal, Dr. Ronald Uzelac and his dedicated faculty of educators. Together, they have structured the school to take advantage of the strengths of our community, creating and facilitating forums for staff, students, and parents to work together to examine, debate, and develop programs which draw upon these strengths. One such program gaining acclaim is Academia Civitas, a political academy which takes advantage of our location in the State capital by establishing a partnership with local political and educational communities. Students follow a specialized curriculum developed by study teams which prepare them to be politically aware citizens able to compete in and contribute to a global society. The academy requires community service, parent involvement, and an internship with one of the many volunteer agencies in our political community. The State of California has recognized Rio Americano's excellence by honoring the school three times with the Distinguished School Award in 1988 and 1994 and the Sustained Achievement Award in 1990. Again, I would like to take this opportunity to salute the tremendous efforts on the part of Rio Americano High School's administration, faculty, students, and parents. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this model public school and in wishing Rio Americano many years of continued successes.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my good friend from New York, Congressman Houghton, in the reintroduction of this important legislation. This bill will remove the $150 million limit on outstanding bonds that can be issued by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and will allow bonds issued by 501(c)(3) organizations to be treated similarly to those issued to finance direct State or local government activities. Nonprofit organizations such as colleges and health care providers have traditionally used tax-exempt financing for the construction, renovation, and modernization of facilities used for activities related to the nonprofit's mission. Prior to the 1986 Tax Reform Act, this financing was generally available to all qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in recognition of the public purpose they serve. Placing a $150 million cap on these nonprofits has had unintended and unforeseen consequences. For example, the restriction on tax-exempt financing has prevented private colleges and universities from improving their educational facilities and research capabilities. Currently, the capital renewal and replacement needs of colleges and universities exceed $60 billion of which one-third is urgently needed for repairs and renovation. The National Science Foundation has reported that for every $1 spent to maintain research facilities, an additional $3.50 was deferred. Our Nation needs to improve its educational and research facilities given that our work force and businesses must compete in an everchanging global economy. Health care providers are also subject to the $150 million cap. A growing number of health care providers are delivering medical services in a cost-effective manner outside of the hospital setting. Yet, providers like community health clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and ambulatory care facilities are limited by the $150 million cap per institution in outstanding tax-exempt bonds. Additionally, as alternative health care facilities and hospitals form integrated health care delivery systems, the $150 million cap hinders the consolidation of these entities. The cap actually acts as a barrier to these mergers. After a merger, the surviving institutions would have a single, $150 million limit. Any bond issuance which exceeded this limit could become taxable retroactively to their date of issuance, an event that would constitute a default under the typical covenants governing nonhospital 501(c)(3) bonds. I have sponsored or cosponsored similar legislation in past Congresses but I remain hopeful that with the bipartisan support the legislation enjoys that it can move forward in this Congress.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of H.R. 2567, the Constructed Water Conveyances Reform Act of 1995. I want to thank Representative Condit for his efforts to address this important issue. California farmers have been very active in developing innovative strategies for reducing the discharge of pollutants into our natural waterways. Producers in the Sacramento Valley have used closed drainage systems that hold water until its pesticides degrade, making it safe for release. Such efforts have yielded extremely impressive results. However, the possibility that these closed drainage systems could be required to meet water quality standards similar to those for natural waterways has created a great deal or uncertainty for users of these pollution control methods. H.R. 2567 would provide the certainty needed to ensure that these innovative efforts to improve water quality can continue to go forward. At the same time, its provisions will ensure that there is no change in the regulation of the impact of constructed water conveyances on natural waterways. In the Sacramento area, we already face significant challenges in protecting and improving the quality of our waterways. We must not make this task more difficult. I am aware that the administration has expressed concern about certain aspects of this legislation. I am pleased, however, that they are committed to addressing the concerns of California agriculture on this matter, and I am ready to work with them to achieve resolution. I urge my colleagues support for this issue of great importance to California's agricultural economy.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I am astonished that this bill has finally reached the floor of the House in the shape it finally is in. it is somewhat ironic, because the Republicans have indicated that this will get people on welfare off welfare and into the work force. In fact, there is a requirement by the year 2000, 5 years from now, that 50 percent of those people currently on welfare will be either in jobs or through a job training program. That sounds wonderful, and if you just think of the goals and the vision, we all as Americans support that goal and that vision. The problem is, they do not provide the resources. I think anybody who has thought this issue through knows that before a woman can go off welfare into the work force, she has to have some kind of training. Because of the economy in America today, we do not have that kind of opportunity for a lot of people who have not graduated from high school or college. For example, we do not have file clerks in America today who file papers alphabetically. I remember when I was a kid going through college, I would come back home and work as a file clerk for the State of California. All those people around me that were working full-time were women who had minor children. That job does not exist anymore, because we are a computerized society in America, so those women today are probably on welfare, AFDC. So you have to provide some kind of training for them. You also have to provide some kind of transportation for them. But, most of all, because by the law anybody on AFDC has minor children, you have to provide daycare for these people. This bill does not have any of those provisions. They block grant generally AFDC and say okay, States, figure it out. You want to give this issue to the States. Think about it for a minute. The States, this is a group of States, 50 States, that have in fact messed up the education system of this country. Now you want to put AFDC and welfare in that mess as well. This bill is mean spirited. It will put 2 million people into poverty, children into poverty. We need to vote down this conference report.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I want to point out to the last speaker there, that, yes, seniors will get more money. They are going to get about $6,600 per capita per year on their health care benefits under this proposal. The problem is that for those people that have private insurance, they are going to have a massive increase as well. In fact, we will be spending, in the year 2002, $6,600 on that senior citizen, 75, 85, 90 years old, but we will be spending $7,700, $1,100 more, on somebody 30 years old. What do you think will happen to senior citizens? They will be given second class health care at a time when they need it. The gentleman from Ohio referred to a telephone number in a budget. That was in 1981. I was thinking, that was the last time the Republicans had effective control of the House on a budget. That was the year when they said in 1984 they would balance the budget, increase defense and cut taxes. Look what happened. We have budget deficits that are running $200 to $300 billion a year mainly because of the extremism on that side of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, let me tell my colleagues about these special interest provisions that have gotten into this budget. There is a pension provision in this budget. This pension provision is going to affect 13 million workers and retired people over the next 7 years. It is going to allow major corporations to take out billions and billions of dollars. By their own estimate, $20 billion, in order to pay for increases and bonuses to management employees, limousines if they want, leverage buyouts. That is what this bill is really all about. It is a special interest bill that takes from senior citizens, middle-income people and gives to the very, very wealthy. This bill is an outrage to the American public and there will be a price to pay for it in 1996.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give recognition to an individual that has demonstrated strong commitment to the improvement of education in California. In December, Ms. Louise Perez will be completing a year as president of the California School Boards Association [CSBA], after several years in leadership positions with that organization. She is the first Hispanic woman to serve as the CSBA president. I know that through her work with CSBA, Ms. Perez has had a very positive impact on California's education system. In addition to this statewide leadership role, Ms. Perez has been a trustee of the Sacramento City Unified School District since 1982. She is also the executive director of Sacramento's Community Resource Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization involved in housing and education issues. Previously, she worked as a program developer for the California Department of Aging and as a work experience coordinator for the Washington Unified School District in Yolo County, CA. She has also served on the State House Conference on Aging and the State House Conference on Children and Youth. Although these professional roles represent a very significant contribution to the community, Ms. Perez has not been satisfied with this work alone. She has taken on a variety of other community service projects including involvement with the Education Committee of the Cal- Neva Community Action Association, the Private Industry Council, the Sacramento County Affirmative Action Committee, the Junior Women's League, the Child Abuse Task Force of Sacramento County, the Mayor's Committee on Hispanic Affairs, and the Mayor's Committee on Child Care. Ms. Perez' achievements have been recognized by a variety of organizations. She has been honored as the Sacramento YWCA's Woman of the Year and Mujer Inc.'s Hispanic Woman of the Year. She has also received the Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Education Award from the California Department of Justice, the Community Service Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Outstanding Contribution to Head Start from Sacramento Employment and Training. As we approach the 21st century, California and the Nation face serious challenges in the area of education. The dedication of individuals like Louise Perez will be absolutely essential if we are to achieve our goals in this area, which is so vital to our future well- being. In her role as CSBA president, she has called on all of us to recommit ourselves and take responsibility for the education of all of our Nation's children. I thank Ms. Perez for her efforts in delivering this vitally important message and deeply hope that her call will be answered.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman, the prior speaker, said that this reconciliation proposal is not perfect. The gentleman is correct, and when imperfections are raised, the Members of this body should try to do something about it before Members are going to be asked to vote on it. I will give you one example: It is the pension reversion issue. Many of you know about it. Some do not know about it. You better get to know about it soon, because it is going to hit you in the first 6 months of 1996. If you recall, in the eighties we had massive withdrawals of pension funds by companies, companies that were basically in trouble, $20 billion, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation had to take over a lot of these pension programs. What we did in 1986, 1988, and 1990 under Reagan and Bush, on a bipartisan basis, is clean it up. So there is now an excise tax of 50 percent if you take pension fund moneys out of these pension programs, unless it goes to health care benefits for your retirees. What the Committee on Ways and Means did, what the majority did, was put a provision in to allow companies to take money out of their pension funds without any restraint. They can use the money not only for health care, but they can use it to buy luxury cars, they can take the money out for bonuses for their executive employees, they can take the money out for leveraged buyouts. In fact, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, which is a nonpartisan group, says that over $40 billion will be taken out of this fund over the next couple of years, probably in the first 6 months of 1996, when all of us are going to feel it, mainly because there is an incentive. There is no excise taxes for the first 6 months of 1996. This is a provision that is going to do major damage to the average American worker, and this is a provision that is strictly special interest. We received reports written by companies that were special interests that basically supported this provision, but all objective outside groups have said this is going to do major damage, major damage, to the average American worker. I would just be aware of this, because we are going to feel this in the first 6 months of 1996.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to bring to my colleagues' attention the work of a distinguished public service organization, the Florin Japanese-American Citizens League [JACL]. On November 4, 1995, the Sacramento community will gather to honor this organization and celebrate its 60th anniversary. The Florin JACL was formally organized in 1935 as one of the original 115 chapters nationwide. A volunteer nonprofit and educational organization, the Florin JACL has dedicated the past six decades to upholding the human and civil rights of Japanese-Americans and all Americans. In their early years, the Florin JACL operated with dignity under the cloud of World War II. Though parents and relatives were confined in isolated relocation centers, 45 young Nikkei Florin soldiers fought a 2-front war: 1 against the enemy and 1 against national prejudice. After the war, the Florin JACL played an instrumental role in he resettlement of internees after the camps closed. During the post-war era, after the passage of the landmark 1952 Walter-McCarran Act, the Florin JACL mounted a successful campaign which promoted and assisted Issei to become naturalized citizens, a privilege heretofore denied to them and others of Asian ancestry. In more recent times, the Florin JACL has directed its efforts to social and educational service. In 1962, the Florin JACL Scholarships were initiated and for the past 23 years have provided students with the financial and moral support needed to pursue higher education. Always evolving to meet the needs of today's society, the Florin JACL now boasts such successful programs as an Annual Women's Day Forum and the Healthy Family Traditions project. In addition to these interests, the Florin JACL has worked tirelessly to preserve the rich history of Japanese-Americans. For the past 12 years, the organization has sponsored Time of Remembrance programs featuring significant speakers, teachers, workshops, children's sessions, and Nikkei VFW participation via lectures, exhibits, video, dissemination of informational materials, and question-and-answer sessions relating to the Japanese-Americans and World War II. One of the most ambitious and exciting new projects in Sacramento is the establishment of the Japanese-American Archival Collection. Started by the Florin JACL's donation of the Mary Tsukamoto collection, the project has grown dramatically and serves as assurance that Japanese- American history will be preserved with tangible proof for future generations. The Florin JACL is most deserving of our thanks and praise for their efforts and compassion for all people in the Sacramento region. I know my colleagues will join me in wishing the Florin chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League many years of continued success.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today, we are not making health care policy. We have taken a number, randomly selected by the Budget Committee, and devised a mechanical computation to reach an arbitrary $270 billion goal. In the process, we have placed the health of our citizens severely at risk. The United States is renowned for its health care. Our hospitals are considered the finest in the world. This is because we, in America, place a unique value on each, individual life. It doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, or what you have chosen to do with your life--everyone deserves quality health care. Under the Republican plan, this value will be challenged. Hospitals will no longer have the resources to provide quality care, and ill people of all ages will lack the security of knowing that everything possible is being done for them. Moreover, the elderly will not be able to live out their final years in comfort. The vast majority of senior citizens in this country are not wealthy, and new costs imposed on necessary medical services will be prohibitively expensive. The question we must answer is whether a civilized society has a role to play in improving the lives and health of its older members. In the past, we have answered this question in the affirmative; today, the Republicans have a different response. The Medicare system has been subject to careful reform virtually every year since its inception. These changes have been deliberate and grounded in thoughtful policy. Reforms have been made with the health of American citizens in mind. I am saddened to see that the bill before us is not based on the same honorable values. Instead, it represents a mathematical solution to a cold, mechanical $270 billion challenge. Calculations were made devoid of reason, research, and compassion. Qualify health policy played no role. Our elderly and all American people deserve more.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Gibbons] for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I have to say that this notion that the bill, if in fact, it passes does not pay for tax cuts is nonsense. What the Republicans plan to do, if this bill passes today, is to bring it back and put it on the reconciliation bill, and that way, they will be able to use the $270 billion in savings on Medicare to pay for the $245 billion in tax cuts. If, in fact, this Medicare bill goes down today, they will not be able to do the $245 billion tax cut, because they will not be able to put it on reconciliation. So it is obvious what is really going on. I might also further point out what this debate is really all about. Everybody says, well, this is really just slowing the growth of Medicare on the Republican side. That is right. It is slowing the growth of Medicare. In the year 2002, just 6 years, 7 years from now, the average Medicare recipient will have $6,500 spent on them per year. Per capita, $6,500. Mr. Chairman, they do not tell you the growth in the private sector. The private sector growth will go up to $7,600, a gap of $1,100. So I and anybody 30, 40, 50 years old in the work force will get $7,600, but if you are 60, 70, 80, 90 years old, you are going to get $1,000 less. Why do we have Medicare in the first place? Medicare was passed in 1964 because seniors were not in the workplace, because seniors could not have access to private health insurance. As a result of that, they were left uninsured. We had a 25 percent poverty rate in senior citizens in 1964. It is down to 11 percent now and we should be very proud of that. What we are going to do is we are going to bankrupt the senior citizens of America. That poverty rate is going to go up. We are going to be doing major damage to the senior citizens of this country, and I think, as the minority leader said, this is really an issue of values. Mr. Chairman, I ask my Republican colleagues, what are your values? What do you stand for? Why are you here? Do you believe in the future of this country, or do you want to play games with senior citizens, those people that supported you in the prime of your life?