Karen McCarthy

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in grief and gratitude to remember the seven brave men and women who perished in the February 1st disaster of the space shuttle Columbia. In the words of the President from the memorial service on February 4, ``We remember not only one moment of tragedy, but seven lives of great purpose and achievement.'' Commander Rick D. Husband, pilot William C. McCool, payload commander Michael P. Anderson, payload specialist Ilan Ramon, mission specialist David M. Brown, mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, and mission specialist Laurel Clark now take their places in our collective memory, alongside the seven astronauts lost in the 1986 Challenger disaster. The President, NASA, the House Science Committee and the Senate Science Committee have each begun their investigations. What we learn from these inquiries will enable us to improve our international space program for the betterment of mankind. My heart goes out to the families who have just lost their loved ones who gave themselves to the greater service of mankind. While the world mourns the loss of the Columbia crew, my community joins the extending condolences to the family of Commander Laurel Clark, whose sister lives in Kansas City. Laurel's sister, Lynne Salton, joined the observers for the launch of Columbia on January 16th and was anxiously awaiting her older sister's return on Saturday. We cannot know the magnitude of the loss they feel. In memory of their bravery I wish to share a poem by John Gillespie Magee, Jr., entitled ``High Flight''. It was quoted at the memorial service for the 1986 Challenger disaster, and is etched on the memorial plaque at Challenger Memorial Park in Clear Lake, Texas. Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds,--and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of--wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air . . . . Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or ever eagle flew-- And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in honoring the memory of the seven brave souls who were aboard the illfated space shuttle, Columbia, and who will now dance above us in the ether.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the many accomplishments of Catholic schools. On January 26 the annual weeklong national recognition of Catholic schools began across the Nation. I am proud to have several of the nation's high achieving Catholic schools in my district in metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri. As a former educator I understand the importance of recognizing the achievements of education throughout our Nation, and I welcome this opportunity to applaud the Catholic school community nationwide. For 165 years, the Catholic schools of the Kansas City Diocese have prepared thousands of competent young adults fully for lives as productive citizens. There are over 40 Catholic education centers in metropolitan Kansas City, and they are all known for their high academic standards and rigorous educational instruction. These centers currently serve 14,000 students in my district. Every day over 1,000 dedicated faculty offer the guidance and instruction that make these students some of the best the Nation has to offer. Not only do the metropolitan Kansas City Catholic schools promote excellence in the classroom, they also encourage community service. In the first semester of this school year, our 14,000 students offered 87,978 hours of service to their communities by working to combat hunger and to provide care for the elderly. One of the brightest educational beacons in the Kansas City Diocese is St. Elizabeth School in Kansas City. They are recipients of the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education. The award recognizes St. Elizabeth's for exceeding local, State, and national education goals. I participated in the announcement of this award and was overjoyed to see the level of excellence embodied throughout the school. They expressed their gratitude by giving me a remembrance of our day together: a Kelly green sweatshirt that I cherish, especially in St. Patrick's Day parades. St. Teresa's Academy, another blue ribbon school of excellence in my community, is the oldest school and women's institution in Kansas City. The school was founded and is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who, since their founding in the 17th century in France, have been in the forefront of preparing young women for the future. I had the pleasure of accompanying the Secretary of Education, Roderick Paige, to St. Francis Xavier School in Kansas City, St. Francis is one of the seven Central City Catholic Schools established by the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph to provide educational support to children of the urban core of Kansas City. It serves a diverse population of students, some of whom are Catholic, but all come to receive their outstanding educational instruction offered as a part of the St. Francis Xavier curriculum. There is also a commitment to serving the whole child. More than half of the students at St. Francis qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school also participates in partnership with community organizations, including the Rockhurst University School of Education for teacher and parent training; Rockhurst High School in establishing a ``Middle School Academy'' to align curriculum, share resources, and setting up a mentoring program; and Young Audiences, to enrich the curriculum through the arts by having visual and performing artists work with teachers. St. Francis is part of the President's Service alliance and all students are required to perform community service. St. Francis students get real life experiences as part of their curriculum through partnerships the teachers establish with the community. The students also have a connection to students in the global society fostering the development of cultural awareness. I have also visited St. Thomas More School for a presentation by 6th Graders on the Federal minimum wage. This was part of a class project titled ``That is Not Fair,'' a program which emphasizes social justice issues. I was accompanied by Brigid Flanigan, principal; Leanna Kilgore, Cindy Rapp, Barbara Mingori, and Paula Pawlewicz, 6 grade teachers; Ann Harbin, facilitator of the ``That's Not Fair program; and Michael Poulin, social justice program coordinator. After listening to the presentation and hearing the students' hopes and aspirations of the future I challenged the students to reach high and achieve their goals. With the first rate education provided by St. Thomas More and throughout the Kansas City Diocese, there is no question that they will be prepared to do just that. Mr. Speaker, these are but a few of the Catholic schools in metropolitan Kansas City which play an important role in gifting students with the abilities to excel academically, socially, and civically. And I ask all of my colleagues to join me in celebrating the legacy and the bright future of the Catholic schools in the 5th District of Missouri and of the Nation.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the preservation of American creative culture. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced today the first annual selection of 50 recordings to the National Recording Registry. I am proud to congratulate my colleagues who supported the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, legislation that made this historic moment possible. I worked diligently in shepherding this legislation through Congress with the help of then House Administration Ranking Member Steny Hoyer, now Minority Whip. Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Librarian of Congress is charged with selecting recordings annually that are ``culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'' And the list of offerings is just that: cultural, historical, and aesthetic jewels that tell the story of our beloved America. Congress created the registry to celebrate the richness and variety of our audio legacy and to underscore our responsibility to assure long term preservation of that legacy so that it may be appreciated and studied by generations to come. The creation of the registry, inspired by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), is one part of the legislation that charges the Library of Congress with developing a comprehensive national recording preservation program, and first of its kind. The National Sound Recording Preservation Act of 2000, Public Law 106-474, created an advisory National Recording Preservation Board appointed by the Librarian of Congress, and consists of experts from organizations representing composers, musicians, musicologists, librarians, archivists and the recording industry. The National Recording Preservation Board in turn makes the selections of works to be included in the National Recording Registry. The National sound Recording Preservation Act of 2000 also created a fund raising foundation to restore and preserve the Library's music collection. All three components are conducted under the auspices of the Library of Congress, providing the necessary elements of a comprehensive program to ensure the survival, conservation, and increased public availability of America's sound recording heritage. William Ivey was named Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Recording Preservation Foundation and was instrumental in creating the National Recording Registry when he was President of the National Endowment for the Arts. The foundation is a charitable and nonprofit corporation created by the Preservation Act to promote and ensure public accessibility of the nation's sound recording heritage. The foundation will accept gifts and administer a grants program to support sound preservation in archives throughout the United States. Ivey is past chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and presently the Branscomb Scholar at Vanderbilt University. His work in this tireless effort is appreciated. Included in the 50 releases are masterful brushstrokes on the canvas that is American cultural history. The list includes such groundbreaking recordings as the Edison Exhibition Recordings (Group of three cylinders): ``Around the world on the Phonograph;'' ``The Pattison Waltz;'' ``Fifth Regiment March.'' (1888-1889); ``Stars and Stripes Forever'' Military Band. Berliner Gramophone disc recording (1897); Lionel Mapleson cylinder recordings of the Metropolitan Opera (1900-1903); Scott Joplin ragtime compositions on piano rolls. (1900s); Booker T. Washington's 1895 Atlanta Exposition Speech (1906 recreation); ``Vesti la giubba'' from Pagliacci-Enrico Caruso (1907); ``Casey at the Bat'' DeWolf Hopper, reciting (1915); ``Down-Hearted Blues'' Bessie Smith (1923); President Franklin D. Roosevelt's radio ``Fireside Chats'' (1933-1944); Billie Holiday's ``Strange Fruit'' (1939); Bob Dylan's Freewheelin' (1963); and Precious Lord: New Recordings of the Great Gospel Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey-Thomas Dorsey, Marion Williams, and 38 others (1973). Great American poet Walt Whitman noted that: ``Perhaps the best of songs heard . . . is the resume of them, or any of them, long afterwards, looking at the actualities away back past, with all their practical excitations gone. How the soul loves to float amid such reminiscences!'' Mr. Speaker, with the release of these, the first 50 of the sound recordings preserved in the National Recording Registry, my soul is floating atop the marvel of what is to become of the National Recording Registry and the possibilities of cultural awakening for coming generations. Congratulations to all who are making this dream come true.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 484, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil, a man some call ``Mr. Kansas City.'' ``Buck'' is a man who has come to embody the ideals we share as a nation. As he celebrates his 91st birthday on November 13, 2002, I am proud and honored to celebrate his lifetime of achievement as our hometown hero. John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil was born November 13, 1911 in Carrabelle, Florida. He developed a love of baseball at an early age and his father nicknamed him ``Buck'' after the co-owner of the Miami Giants, Buck O'Neal. Though a segregated America denied Buck the opportunity to grace the diamonds of the Major Leagues as a player, he was able to showcase his unmatched talent with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. He joined the Monarchs in 1938, and played for them until 1943, at which time he went to serve his country in World War II. Recognizing his patriotic responsibility to our country, he entered the United States Navy and was stationed in the Philippines from 1943 until his discharge in 1946. Buck was named player/manager for the Monarchs in 1948 and continued his association with the team through the end of the 1955 season. As a player, Buck had a career batting average of .288, including four .300-plus seasons at the plate, and led the Kansas City Monarchs to victory in the 1942 Negro World Series. After 12 years as a player, Buck changed hats and managed the Monarchs to four more league titles in six years. Following his career with the Kansas City Monarchs, Buck joined the major leagues as a scout for the Chicago Cubs. In 1962 the Chicago Cubs made him the first African American to coach in the Majors. Buck is credited with signing Hall of Fame baseball greats Ernie Banks and Lou Brock to their first professional contracts, and is acknowledged to have sent more Negro League athletes to the all white major leagues than any other man in baseball history. Today he serves as the Board Chairman for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and spends his time promoting the achievements of African American baseball players who played for the love of the game, despite the color barriers at that time that kept them out of the Majors. He is also actively involved in utilizing the Museum to assist in the education of youth in the community through programs such as ``Reading Around the Bases'' where elementary school students learn from community readers about the pioneers of the Negro Leagues. I was honored to be asked to read from ``second base'' to a group of students as part of celebrating Buck's 88th birthday party. Buck participates in the Negro Leagues Museum's ``Night of the Harvest Moon'' program on Halloween night. It provides area children a safe alternative from the traditional to door-to-door trick or treating. More than 16,000 children have participated in the event over the past five years. Our ``Hometown Hero'' is very active in various charitable causes within the community. He lends his name and energy to sponsor the Buck O'Neil Golf Classic, a fundraiser for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In the past four years, the event has raised nearly $400,000 for the organizations. For the past seven years, the Kansas City Securities Association, Inc. Educational Endowment Fund has given four-year scholarships to graduating high school students in honor of Negro Leagues players, one each year in honor of Buck O'Neil. And Buck still keeps on giving. This entire birthday week is dedicated to giving. Buck wants to fill the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for his birthday, so the museum is trying to get 9,100 people to the museum in honor of Buck's 91st year. Yesterday, Buck's actual birthday, tickets to the museum were only a dollar all day, and the 91st person to walk through the door won an assortment of prizes. On Friday, November 15, Buck will get together with friends for ``Givin' Buck the Blues'', a star-studded celebrity roast in his honor and donate all of the nights proceeds to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, And there is no indication that Buck will ever slow down. He started his birthday on the radio, left to read to children, spoke at a news conference, and headlined a Project S.O.S. dinner to help kids get school supplies and clothes. The amazing thing about all of this is that he still finds time to give hugs, give autographs, speak to church groups, and throw baseballs to the small children who frequently walk up to him. Buck has risen to national prominence with his moving narration of the Negro Leagues as part of Ken Burns' PBS baseball documentary. He has been the source of countless national interviews including appearances on ``Late Night with David Letterman,'' and ``Late, Late Show with Tom Snyder,'' and being interviewed numerous times on the Jim Rome Show, a nationally syndicated sports radio program. Mr. Rome has talked to Buck so often because Buck had such rich experiences to share about various baseball players, and baseball in general. He states that Buck was one of the most interesting interviews he had ever had on his show. On his 90th birthday, the City of Kansas City, Missouri named a street in his honor one block north of 18th and Vine, the area that houses the Negro Leagues Museum as well as the American Jazz Museum. The street's new name is John ``Buck'' O'Neil Way. I look forward to the day in the near future when the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee recognizes our hometown hero for his accomplishments on and off the baseball field and approve his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In addition to his work in Cooperstown and at the museum in Kansas City, Buck has found new and exciting ways to enjoy life and spread his infectious charm and warm spirit. He is a local hero whose recognition for service is recognized at home and nationally. Buck and the Negro Leagues are to be honored with an award from the ``100 Black Men'' in New York on November 14, 2002. He was given the Trumpet Award in 1999 by the Turner Broadcasting System saluting him for achievements to African Americans. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International conferred on Buck its ``Paul Harris Fellow'' in appreciation of his ``... furthering better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.'' Kansas State University bestowed upon him the ``Lifetime Leadership Award'' in ``recognition for leadership, community involvement, commitment to diversity, and life long record of contribution to the public.'' Buck has received numerous awards in recognition of his work in the community and assistance to various organizations. Some of these awards are: the United States Army Award for Outstanding Support of Army recruiting in Kansas City, the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurion Leadership Award, the State Historical Society of Missouri Distinguished Service Award, and the 2001 Jewish Community Center Ewing Kauffman Outstanding Achievement Award. As an award winning baseball player, esteemed baseball manager and scout, decorated veteran, and humanitarian Buck exemplifies excellence in public service and his career serves as a beacon for generations to come. He symbolizes the spirit of American patriotism and is a role model for us all. With all that Buck has done and all that he continues to do for Kansas City and the nation, one might wonder what Kansas City will give Buck for his birthday. Buck simply says, ``If I could just see that museum overflowing, it would make my heart sing. That's all I want for my birthday.'' Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the many lives Buck has touched will return the favor on this birthday and many more to come. Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil. It is an honor and a privilege to join in the 91st birthday celebration of an American hero, a national treasure, a symbol of African American pride, and one of Kansas City's favorite sons. Buck's favorite song is ``The Greatest Thing In All My Life, is Loving You.'' Buck, I love you, salute you and your heroic accomplishments, and am delighted and privileged to know such a patriot and to call you my friend. Thank you, Buck.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 3295, the Help American Vote Act. I wholeheartedly endorse the meaningful collaboration of the bipartisan group, led by my colleagues Congressman Ney and Congressman Hoyer. The Help American Vote Act corrects the mistakes with our election system that were highlighted in the aftermath of the 2000 election. I have seen firsthand the challenges inadequately equipped polling places and poorly trained poll workers pose to our communities. This measure will go far in ensuring everyone's right and access to a vote. I introduced bipartisan election reform legislation to establish a federal grant program to provide assistance to States for modernizing and enhancing voting procedures and administration. The substantive changes that my legislation proposes are contained in the detailed election reform conference report we will pass today. I applaud this bill because it provides states with both the standards and the funding to make real election reform happen. This legislation authorizes $3.0 billion over 3 years--for a grant program administered by the commission to help States meet election requirements, train poll workers, provide voter education, and administer elections. The Help American Vote Act also requires States to abide by uniform and nondiscriminatory requirements, such as providing provisional ballots, implementing statewide voter registration databases and ensuring that each precinct has at least one machine that is accessible to the disabled. It also establishes an Election Assistance Commission, a bipartisan commission that will issue voluntary guidelines, issue grants, and administer research grants, and pilot projects. Mr. Speaker, this bill would provide the most meaningful reform to our democratic election system since the civil rights laws were enacted in the 1960s. It is time to pass real election reform, time to Help American Vote. This legislation will restore the confidence of the American people in our election process and encourage all citizens to take part in one of the paramount processes that defines us as a nation. Strengthening our election system strengthens our democracy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this conference report.

Mrs. McCARTHY of Missouri

Mrs. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. The Spratt-Moran substitute charts the right and responsible course. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Spratt-Moran Substitute to H.J. Res. 114. I join the sponsors in commending the President for calling upon the United Nations to enforce existing Security Council resolutions eliminating weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, as well as his seeking approval of a new resolution establishing tougher arms inspections. Should force be necessary, this substitute encourages the President to make every effort to obtain U.N. Security Council approval. It is essential that we execute a multilateral approach to Iraq by uniting with our allies as we did this past year in Afghanistan, and which we also did in prosecuting Desert Storm with a minimal loss of American lives. Indeed, mobilizing a broad coalition of nations to join us in Desert Storm helped avoid destabilizing the Middle East, something which we may be powerless to prevent if we act unilaterally now. It is important to acknowledge that, as with our responsibility to nurture and support the effort to democratize and help stabilize Afghanistan, it is also in our national interest to make a long term commitment to assist in the transition to a new and stable democratic government in Iraq. This is the way to build a collective security throughout the region and enhance the prospects for a lasting peace. I concur with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that ``the use of massive military force to remove the current government of Iraq could have incalculable consequences for a civilian population that has suffered so much from war, repression, and a debilitating embargo.'' In addition to concern for the people of Iraq who have been subjugated by Saddam Hussein and his evil regime, we must fully understand that an attack on Iraq, particularly without support from the world community, may have unintended, negative consequences to our global war on terrorism. We must not lose sight of the fact that it is the worldwide terrorist network which poses the most immediate danger to the people of the United States. We have the support of the world in combating terrorism. If we go it alone in Iraq, we risk destroying that support and impeding our ability to win the war against terrorism. That is reason enough for making a strong and diligent effort to obtain support of the U.N. Security Council for an aggressive and immediate program of widespread on-site inspections for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The Spratt-Moran Substitute allows the President to use our troops to assist the U.N. inspections. Such inspections must be executed unrelentingly and must lead to the immediate disarmament of Iraq. Mr. Speaker, historian Robert Dallek recently noted that during the Presidency of Harry Truman our defense policy was one of containment and deterrence quite unlike the policy proposed by the current administration. President Truman felt that the best way to preserve the peace following World War II was to contain our adversaries. Truman said, ``There is nothing more foolish than to think that war can be stopped by war. You don't `prevent' anything by war except peace.'' Mr. Dallek assessed the current administration's policy as ``prevention'' by removing a head of state who has the power to do harm to us. Such a unilateral act must be justified with facts that convince the American people to go it alone. The Spratt-Moran Substitute calls upon the President to justify that such force is the only option left available, and mandates that the President seek a second vote of the Congress to authorize use of our military might if the President determines a regime change in Iraq is the goal. I commend my fellow Missourian, Mr. Skelton for his efforts to assure that we adhere to our Constitution by requiring this second vote. Mr. Speaker, we are united in our desire to achieve peace and stability in this region. One of the strengths of our country is our right to express our views freely and not have our patriotism questioned if we disagree with a particular administration or policy. I realize my view may not be the prevailing opinion of this body or this administration, but I truly believe it represents the view of a majority of my constituents given the information that is available to us. I recognize the tremendous sacrifices of the armed forces in this endeavor and I fully support them. The question before us is when and how they should be engaged. I support the multilateral approach stipulated in the substitute and the call for a vigorous, all encompassing inspection program by the U.N., and urge my colleagues to adopt the substitute. As anthropologist Margaret Meade wisely noted: ``We must devise a system in which peace is more rewarding than war.'' The Spratt-Moran Substitute charts the right and responsible course.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5469, the Small Webcaster Amendments Act of 2002. This bill codifies a compromise between webcasters, recording artists, and record companies to determine royalty payments for Internet radio broadcasts. I opposed the bill in its original form last week when it delayed the payments to copyright holders for six months. The measure allows webcasters to broadcast diverse programming to consumers, artists will be paid the royalty fees they need to continue creating and performing the music we want to hear, and record companies will deduct the administrative fees for royalty collection. This compromise bill benefits all parties involved. After deductions, record companies will receive 50 percent of the royalty, artists will receive 45 percent of the direct royalty payments, and the rest is distributed to nonfeatured musicians and vocalists. This is a vast improvement from past versions of this bill which left the recording artists out of the equation. Even though webcasters have not begun to make payments, future royalty rights are protected in H.R. 5469. Small webcasters benefit from a reduced royalty fee, which will keep many webcasters from declaring bankruptcy due to excessively high costs. This lower payment schedule will ensure that Internet radio continues to offer consumers a nearly endless number of listening choices including Latin, classical, and even native African music that may not be available over terrestrial stations. In addition, record companies can deduct the administrative costs associated with royalty collection for digital recordings so that their past and future expenses are reimbursed. Paying copyright owners for the use of their creative work is not a new concept. In 1909, Congress passed a law to ensure that manufacturers of piano rolls had to pay for the songs they were reproducing. The license protects the composer's right to control reproductions of the work, but permits the recording of a song by a third party on ``mechanical'' media like a piano roll or record. This statute was later expanded to protect digital media, and thus it applies to Internet radio. The Copyright Arbitration Panel (CARP) first met in 1998 to determine royalty fees, but they were unable to come to an agreement between the interested parties. The last piece of the puzzle came in the form of the Librarian of Congress implementing rates for the statutory license on June 20, 2002, with the assumption that Internet radio companies would begin paying royalties on October 20, 2002. The private sector compromise codifies the Librarian's recommendations, and webcasters now have a defined schedule to pay artists for the use of copyrighted works. I thank my colleagues for their support of H.R. 5469. I am very grateful to the organizations whose negotiations helped craft this important legislation. Due to this agreement, consumers will benefit from a myriad of choices for their listening pleasure.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. I rise today to commemorate the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on our nation. As I reflect on this first anniversary of the tragic attacks on our nation I am overcome with sadness and hope. that we as a nation have come together in a spirit of reflection, resiliency and continued renewal is a testament to the enduring greatness of the American spirit. Though we are pausing throughout the day to remember those we lost, our resolve to protect our freedom, is unyielding. Our nation is strong and once again America and our values have persevered. Friday's Special Session of Congress in New York's Federal Hall invoked the history of the first Congress convened in 1789 and represented a strong message to the world that as Americans we stand together in our fight against terrorism. Last year when I visited Ground Zero I saw evil in the devastation present. Last week at Ground Zero I saw the continuing of our healing process and the unlimited hope of the American spirit. Throughout the past year I have been working with community leaders in my congressional district to both cope with the aggression forced upon us and assess the level of preparedness in our region should another incident occur. We need to be sure our everyday heroes: our police, fire, ambulance, and medical personnel have the adequate resources, training, supplies, materials, and equipment they need to protect our community. These brave men and women are a critical component of our Homeland Security for they are our front line. Because of their valiance and commitment to service we are safer than we were a year ago. As we remember the attacks on our nation in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania we are reminded of the promise and the hope that has risen from the ashes of that dreadful day. For Independence, to Lee's Summit to Kansas City, the people in the heart of our nation are joining in numerous events commemorating the 9/11 anniversary. One such event, the interfaith observance, ``Remembering 9/11: A Day of Hope reflects the uniqueness of Kansas City as a place known for its river and fountains. Water gathered from the Missouri River and many of the area's fountains will be mixed with water gathered from rivers all over the world, including Tibet and Egypt. The water will be distributed to participants in the observance to be used at other events later in the day symbolically connecting all those present to a spirit of renewal and healing, regardless of religion or creed. Another common theme throughout the Kansas City area remembrances is the number 3,000 approximating the number of victims in the September 11 attacks: 3,000 flags are to hang at the Kansas City Middle School of the Arts, 3,000 memorial candles are to light at Temple B'nai Jehudah, 3,000 names are to be read at the bell tower at Rockhurst University. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in support of H. Con. Res. 464 and echo the sentiments of Margaret Truman, daughter of President Harry S. Truman and native of Independence, Missouri that ``in years to come we will see September 11 as a turning point in our history as a people, a day of grief and glory that created a new dimension in the soul of America.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4965, the Late Term Abortion Ban Act. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court held, by a 5-4 decision, in Stenberg v. Carhart that a Nebraska law prohibiting later term abortions was unconstitutional. The Court's decision makes clear that federal legislation addressing this issue must include exceptions to protect the life and health of the mother. H.R. 4965 ignores this health exception clearly outlined by the Supreme Court. I am a cosponsor of House Resolution 2702, the Late Term Abortion Restriction Act. This legislation would prohibit all abortions after fetal viability unless it is in the judgment of the attending physician it is necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother. The Supreme Court concluded in Stenberg v. Carhart that a woman's health must remain the physician's primary concern and that a physician must be given the discretion to determine the best course of treatment to protect women's lives and health. H.R. 2702 will pass constitutional scrutiny. In addition, this measure addresses the termination of viable fetuses in the late stages of pregnancy. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we are debating a bill ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. Instead, we should be debating and voting on H.R. 2702, a bipartisan measure to ban all late term abortions except ``to preserve the life of the woman or to avert serious adverse health consequences to the woman.'' Mr. Tiahrt. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4965, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Regardless of whether one is pro- life or for abortion rights, the partial-birth abortion procedure is clearly morally indefensible. While every abortion sadly takes a life, a partial-birth abortion takes a baby's life as he/she emerges from the mother's womb and while the baby is still in the birth canal. My fellow colleagues have described the horrific process with pictures that make one sick to his stomach. It is unfathomable that someone could do this to another human being, especially a helpless baby. Specialists who perform the partial-birth abortion have testified there is no medically-accepted use for the partial-birth procedure, and that, in fact the procedure itself presents health risks for the mother. There is talk of including a provision to allow for exceptions when the ``mental health'' of the mother is at risk. This is a phony ban. My home state of Kansas passed such a bill, which has essentially meant that partial-birth abortions are banned unless a woman wants one. I am ashamed to report that in Wichita, the infamous late-term abortionist George Tiller performed 182 partial-birth abortions in 1999 alone under this weak law. That is 182 viable babies who were brutally murdered. We cannot allow that to happen. Congress has passed a partial-birth abortion ban twice, which President Clinton vetoed both times--over the wishes of the American people. President Bush strongly supports H.R. 4965 and is looking forward to signing a partial-birth abortion ban. 70% of Americans believe that partial-birth abortions should be banned. This body that is expressly the ``people's House'' needs to listen to the will of the people. As a father of three beautiful children and a strong defender of human life, I am embarrassed that our wonderful country permits partial-birth abortions. I urge you to vote in favor of this important legislation so that all the beautiful children who come into this world are treated as the human beings they are.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Slaughter-Dicks amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Slaughter-Dicks-Horn- Johnson-Morella amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill to give the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) additional appropriations of $10 million and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) an additional $5 million. The value of the NEA lies in its ability to nurture the growth and artistic excellence of thousands of arts organizations and artists in every corner of the country, making the performing, visual, literary, media and folk arts available to millions of Americans. Even in this time of fiscal restraint and budget deficits, the value of the NEA cannot be overstated. Additional appropriations are still required, as the NEA is a great investment in the economic growth of every community in the country. A recent study conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology found that the nonprofit arts industry alone generates $134 billion annually in economic activity, supports 4.85 million full time jobs and returns $10.5 billion to the Federal Government in income taxes. While the economic benefit of the arts industry is integral to our Nation's economy, affording children access to the arts through education yields more significant dividends to our society. The U.S. Department of Justice found that arts education reduced delinquency in San Antonio by 13 percent, increased communication skills of Atlanta students by 57 percent, and improved cooperation skills of Portland youth by 57 percent. In addition, the College Board has shown that college bound students who are involved in the arts have higher overall SAT scores than other students. The National Endowment for the Humanities is the largest single funder of humanities programs in the United States, enriching American intellectual and cultural life through support to museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, state humanities councils, public television and radio, and to individual scholars. A small investment through NEH reaps large rewards, providing seed money for high quality projects and programs that reach millions of Americans each year. This money, and NEH's reputation, leverage millions of dollars in private support for humanities projects. NEH is critical to addressing the Nation's future needs in education. More than two-thirds of our Nation's K-12 curriculum is dedicated to the humanities; 2 million new teachers will be needed in our classrooms over the next decade, and 4 out of 5 teachers feel inadequately prepared in their subject area. NEH summer seminars and institutes address these very issues, and are the catalyst for revitalized teachers for tens of thousands of students each year. America's creative industries are our Nation's leading export with over $60 billion annually in overseas sales, including the output of artists and other creative workers in publishing, audiovisual, music and recording and entertainment businesses. The National Endowment for the Humanities plays an important role in the American arts enterprise. NEH grants provide critical funding for work in art history, theory and criticism, including: university based and independent research projects; professional development seminars for K-12 and college teachers; film and radio programs; museum exhibitions and exhibition catalogs; and material culture preservation. In my home state of Missouri, our Humanities Council currently is planning an array of public programs for distribution in Missouri during the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition, 2003 through 2006. The planning is supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Missouri Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission. The NEH planning grant supporting these trial programs is intended to produce program templates that can be deployed successfully with local participation by Native American spokespersons in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, serving communities within a day-trip's distance of the Missouri River. These programs will provide Missouri youth an important lesson in American history in an entertaining environment. Mr. Chairman, I commend all arts advocates today on their continued dedication to arts in education. I strongly urge for increased resources for arts education in this year's appropriations process.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 295, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Jack Calegari, an outstanding individual, Veteran, and public servant from the State of Missouri. Mr. Calegari is known for his gentle manner, warm smile, and his tireless efforts for the betterment of our community and region. His dedication and consistent support to various veterans programs and issues have proven to be a valued resource. It is with great pride that we acknowledge the honor bestowed on him as the Distinguished Legionnaire in the Western Region of Missouri from the R.C. Connie Burns American Legion Post 71. In the tradition of the American Legion, Jack Calegari has demonstrated the patriotic and philanthropic values throughout his military and civilian careers. On January 28, 1952, Mr. Calegari began his service in the United States Army and performed duties as a valuable cryptographer. He was later stationed in Stuttgart, Germany and quickly made the rank of Corporal. Shortly after his return from overseas, he married Tessa and their family soon expanded to include their son, Jack. Mr. Calegari worked as a television repairman and eventually began employment at Bendix Corporation, which would later evolve into Allied Signal and is currently Honeywell's Kansas City Plant integral to the Department of Energy's manufacturing system. Mr. Jack Calegari has held every office in Post 71, serving as Post Commander for four terms and as Fifth District Commander in 1997-1999. This noble gentleman and his charming wife, Tessa, have donated much of their time at the Kansas City VA Hospital lifting spirits, helping the Women's Auxiliary wrapping Christmas gifts, and taking pictures around the holidays. As a member of the American Legion's Forty/Eight Club, Honor Society of the American Legion, he volunteered to work on their fund raising bingo project. The proceeds from bingo have furnished four rooms on the 11th floor of the Kansas City VA Medical Center so family members have a place to stay with their critically ill veterans. In addition, the Forty-Eight recently donated a new van with a wheelchair lift to the hospital. At Christmas time you can find Jack volunteering as a Christmas Kettle bell ringer for the Post 71 Salvation Army Bell Ringers. Jack Calegari is active in many local causes and civic endeavors. He has been a mentor for our youth through his work in programs such as Boys State Program Committee that ensures leadership in future generations. He promotes and has worked with the District Oratorical Program to provide high school students with the opportunity to develop oratory skills while learning and understanding our Constitution. Another important youth project he participates is the J.R.O.T.C. program at Paseo High School of Performing Arts where he is a beloved figure. For the past ten years he has served as Chairman of the Cadet Patrol Committee for Missouri. The American Legion sponsors Missouri high school students to attend the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy. Yearly preparations required six months of Jack's time to organize, market and purchase necessities like uniforms and insurance for the cadets. In an effort to provide the cadets with a college opportunity he partnered with Central Missouri University to insure the availability of two college scholarships. The reward for Jack has been the opportunity to work with the cadets and attend graduation ceremonies. He believes that students obtain an understanding of law enforcement while developing practical lifetime skills. Mr. Calegari is quite active as President of the Permanent Memorial Day Committee and worked on the KC150 Committee to honor Veterans during Kansas City's celebration of its 150th birthday. Most significantly, Jack was instrumental in a national project very dear to me. We both worked for several years in partnership with community stakeholders to restore and rededicate the Liberty Memorial to honor our World War I veterans. He has been a wonderful resource to me and for my staff. Jack's legacy lives in the work he has so graciously performed, and in the lives of those he has assisted with kindness and understanding. Jack gives his time and energies to make our community a better place to live. Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting Jack Calegari the Western Region's District Legionnaire of 2002 from Missouri's Fifth District.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I am in opposition to the measure before us and in support of the Democrat alternative that was denied. I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4954, the Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002. This ``Insurance Company Protection Act'' will not provide an affordable and dependable benefit for seniors. The Democratic substitute, which is being denied consideration by Republican leadership, provides comprehensive prescription drug coverage and savings to employers. The ``Insurance Company Protection Act'' is an effort to privatize Medicare. This bill shifts $68 billion in health care costs onto employers, by designing the benefit so that private plans are required to cover prescription drug costs. As a result of this increase in costs for employers, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that one third of seniors in employer sponsored retiree plans will be dropped, leaving three million seniors who currently have employee based retiree coverage owing more for prescription drugs after this law is enacted. The ``Insurance Company Protection Act'' threatens our local pharmacies. With myriad medications, seniors rely on their local pharmacists for advice and help in the management of their prescriptions. This legislation does not allow any pharmacy to be applicable for the prescription drug program, breaking many long standing relationships between pharmacist and patient. Instead of shifting costs onto employers and seniors losing their coverage, the Democratic proposal offers a universal benefit with a $25 a month premium, $100 a year deductible, 80 percent of costs paid by Medicare, and a $2,000 out of pocket limit per beneficiary per year. It provides low income subsidies to ensure that every senior can afford to participate in the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. In addition, physicians would have received a true solution to the Medicare payment problems that threaten the program today. The Rules Committee had an opportunity to produce a bill that provides sufficient drug coverage for our seniors by allowing a vote on the Democratic substitute. Instead, the House will vote on a plan set by industry, the ``Insurance Company Protection Act,'' that provides no entitlement under Medicare, an inadequate and ill defined benefit, and no equality for seniors in different parts of the country. Seniors cannot even be assured that the drugs they are prescribed will be covered, or that they will be able to continue their trusted relationship with their pharmacist. With these provisions, it is not difficult to understand why every senior group opposes the bill before us. I urge my colleagues to vote against the Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding individual and dedicated public servant from the State of Missouri. On July 26th, Vincent J. Bilardo, Jr. will be ending his current assignment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District in which he has served as the Kansas City Brownfields Federal Showcase Program Director. He will leave a lasting legacy of tireless commitment to the betterment and preservation of our community and region. Prior to joining the Corps in 1992, Mr. Bilardo began his career in public service with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) where he spent ten years at four different NASA facilities throughout the nation. His assignments included serving as a systems engineer in the Space Station Program at NASA Headquarters, a Space Shuttle propulsion systems engineer at NASA Kennedy Space Center and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, and as the manager of a branch of fifteen research scientists charged with developing closed loop environmental control systems for future lunar and Mars exploration missions at Ames Research Center. Mr. Bilardo began his current position with the Kansas City Brownfields Federal Showcase in 1999 which consists of both the City of Kansas City, Missouri and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/ Kansas City, Kansas. He has been responsible for developing federal and state grant applications, providing technical assistance to a number of important regional initiatives, and managing several Brownfields redevelopment projects. His efforts have earned the program national acclaim as an award winning initiative that has significantly enhanced regional investment, economic growth, and environmental quality in the communities he serves. Under Mr. Bilardo's leadership the Kansas City Brownfields Federal Showcase has partnered with economic and industrial associations to implement an aggressive strategy to rebuild infrastructure, expand operations, and improve facilities in the region. The crowning achievement of Mr. Bilardo's tenure has been in his diligent guidance and development of the Kansas City Riverfront Heritage Trail, for which he serves as the Bi-State Program Director. The Kansas City Riverfront Heritage Trail is an 18 mile long, bistate system of bicycle and pedestrian trails, pocket parks, restored ecosystems, and trailheads that has successfully leveraged municipal, state, federal, and private funding resources. Upon completion, the Riverfront Heritage Trail will connect critical riverfront activity centers to provide recreation, promote economic investment, wetland habitat restoration, and feature the rich historical and cultural highlights of our metropolitan area's past including Lewis and Clark's Corp of Discovery expedition and their two stops along the southwestern most bend of the Missouri River. Anyone who has been involved with the Riverfront Heritage Trail is cognizant of Mr. Bilardo's immeasurable contribution to this project and of the fact that it would not be the success it is today without his passion and tireless commitment. Mr. Bilardo will leave a large void to be filled as he returns in August to NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. He will be fondly remembered by his peers and coworkers as a tireless and dedicated leader. Mr. Bilardo's amazing barbeque skills will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure to work with him. It is with deep gratitude and honor that I recognize Vince Bilardo for his remarkable service to the State of Missouri. His devotion is an example to us all. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Mr. Bilardo and wishing him and his wife Heidi and their two daughters, Kendall and Rachel continued success and happiness in the adventures that await them.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of providing Amtrak a loan guarantee or supplemental funding in order to keep our national rail system from shutting down. Since 9/11, many travelers have opted to use rail transportation as an alternative to flying. A shutdown would cause serious disruptions for commuters and travelers nationally, and to local economies across America. Amtrak is critical to my constituents in Kansas City and to the people of Missouri. Missouri has four Amtrak trains: two Missouri Mules that travel between Kansas City and St. Louis and the two Ann Rutledge trains that travel between Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago. These trains are integral to tourism and commerce in our state. This year, the Kansas City station has had approximately 60,000 passengers, the St. Louis station has had over 74,000, the Jefferson City station has had more than 41,000, Hermann's station has had over 11,000, and the Warrensburg station has had 11,000 plus passengers. Amtrak has proven to be an extremely convenient method of transportation for the business traveler. Missouri state officials commute on the train to work at the State Capitol in Jefferson City. Many Missouri business travelers commute between Kansas City to St. Louis to avoid airport and highway congestion. This rail system has played a significant role in helping reduce congestion at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis by providing routes from Kansas City to St. Louis and throughout the Midwest. The stop in Warrensburg Amtrak station provides an affordable transportation route for Central Missouri State University students from across the state. This station also provides 10,000 military personnel and civilians access to Whiteman Air Force Base which maintains the Air Force's premier weapon system, the B-2 bomber. Individuals traveling on the Missouri routes are able to visit many sites including the: restored historic Kansas City Union Station, Truman Presidential Museum in Independence, American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Missouri State Capitol and Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City, Hermann's wineries and famous Octoberfest activities, Lewis and Clark Territory, and the restored St. Louis train station by the landmark Arch. Amtrak has been forced to run a national system with insufficient financial support since its creation. Approving $200 million in emergency funding is essential and timely. The federal government has provided subsidies for all modes of transportation including our nation's airports, highways, riverways, and buses. No comparable national passenger rail system in the world has operated without subsidies, and no system has ever succeeded without substantial public capital investment. I urge my colleagues to support emergency funding for Amtrak in order to maintain and reform America's national passenger rail system.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gracious gentlewoman from Hawaii for this opportunity to join with her today as we are commemorating the 30th anniversary of the passage of title IX of the education amendments of 1972. This title has been instrumental in prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and sports activities that receive Federal funding. This law applies to admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, grading, vocational education, recreation, physical education, employment, athletics, and much more. This title continues to present many opportunities for girls to acquire new skills, friendships and make their dreams a reality. Before title IX, many schools saw no problem in maintaining strict limits on the admission of women or simply refusing to admit them at all. Since the passage of title IX, this has changed dramatically. In 1994, women received 38 percent of medical degrees, 43 percent of law degrees, and 44 percent of all doctoral degrees. In 1972, women received only 9 percent of medical degrees, only 7 percent of law degrees, and a mere 25 percent of doctoral degrees. Title IX has provided unprecedented opportunities for young women interested in pursuing a competitive athletic career. The U.S. Women's Soccer team won the World Cup victory in 1991 against Norway and again in 1999 against China, and this was possible because title IX funds were available to the young women earlier in their lives. I had the opportunity to share a remarkable experience with the team. I was able to attend Eileen Collins' launch of a NASA space shuttle with the soccer team, then First Lady Hillary Clinton, and many other supporters of title IX. This was the first time a woman commanded a NASA shuttle. It was a spectacular event that symbolized the accomplishments of the act. Commander Collins and members of the soccer team continue to inspire younger women to follow their own dreams. Younger women are now aggressively entering many fields with more confidence and assurance because of the positive impact of models such as these and the availability of title IX funds. In my district, title IX has allowed many young women to enter and excel in sports. Independence's Fort Osage High School's Dana Rohr was awarded a $2,000 scholarship for her academic work and participation in sports. Angela Goodson of Blue Springs South High School won the Missouri State Girls title in swimming. Liz Pierson of Lee's Summit North won six goals and three assists for her soccer team, which finished second in Missouri. Janiece Gatson, a junior in Grandview, won fifth place at the Missouri 4A State meet for running 400 meters in 57.3 seconds. Saint Theresa's, an all girls' school in my district, became the first non- St. Louis team to win a Missouri 1A-3A soccer girls title with a 6-2 victory this past Saturday. Thanks to title IX, more and more young women are being recognized and encouraged for their scholarly and athletic work. Since 1971, women's participation in sports has markedly increased, with more than 135,000 women presently competing in intercollegiate sports. Women currently constitute nearly 40 percent of all college athletes, compared with only 15 percent in 1972. Recent data show that approximately 2.6 million high school girls participate in a wide selection of high school sports, representing nearly 40 percent of all high school athletes. In 1971, only 7.5 percent of high school athletes were female. Female participation in sports, like receiving a college education, has had an unexpected benefit for women. Studies have shown that values learned from sports participation, such as teamwork, leadership, discipline, and pride in accomplishment, are important attributes as women increase their participation in this workforce as well as their entry into business management and ownership positions. My love of sports throughout my schooling gave me confidence and a sense of accomplishment. The friendships I made with teammates and the memories we share keep us in contact in our adult lives. My experience in sports enabled me to attain leadership and professional skills and gave me the confidence that helped shape my career. Thirty years after the passage of title IX, we recognize and celebrate the profound changes this legislation has helped to bring about in America and the resulting improvements in educational and related job opportunities for millions of Americans. More and more women are entering and graduating from college and graduate school, more women are entering and excelling in sports activities, and more women are entering the corporate world and holding management positions. I thank the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) for her leadership in enacting title IX. Thanks to her courage and her persistence, the country is better because more women are able to achieve their full potential. I am pleased to join with her and my colleagues today in celebrating the 30th anniversary of title IX and promise to work with them to uphold and enforce this legislation in order to ensure equal opportunity for all Americans.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 438, a sense of the House that improving men's health through fitness and reduction of obesity should be a priority. Obesity is a neglected public health problem in the United States. This disease affects approximately 51 million Americans and more than one quarter of all adults. The number of overweight and obese Americans has continued to increase since 1960. Unfortunately, this trend is not slowing down. Today, 61% of adult Americans (about 120 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. While this resolution is focused solely on men's fitness and obesity issues, this epidemic transcends gender. While the prevalence of being overweight is higher for men (59.4%) than women (50.7%), the prevalence of obesity is higher for women (25.0%) than men (19.5%). Fitness and physical activity should be a priority for all Americans, regardless of gender. Obesity is the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths. Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S., and healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount to approximately $100 billion. Obesity increases the risk of illness for about 30 serious medical conditions, including cancer, birth defects, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Yet despite this correlation, obesity has not received the attention it deserves. Research is severely limited by a shortage of funds, and inadequate insurance coverage limits access to treatment. Weight loss of about 10% of excess body weight is proven to benefit health by reducing many obesity related risk factors. Research has documented that physical activity is a key part of maintaining weight loss. Exercise can lower one's risk of heart disease and heart attack, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. A decrease in the amount of daily activity related to work, transportation and personal chores is believed to contribute to the high percentage of overweight and obesity today. By adding moderate physical activity, progressing to 30 minutes or more on most or preferably all days of the week to one's daily routine, we can start to reverse the upward trend of obesity. Mr. Speaker, we should applaud those who live a healthy lifestyle and encourage our public health system to recognize obesity and inactive lifestyles as a true health care epidemic. Finally, as of this past fiscal year, the IRS announced a new policy stating that ``obesity is medically accepted to be a disease in its own right.'' For taxpayers, this means that treatment specifically for obesity can now be claimed as a medical deduction. I hope that this promotion of healthy lifestyles will continue as we try to curb this epidemic, and that a tax deduction for individuals who choose to stay healthy will be considered seriously by the IRS.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, the broadcasting business is unique in that it provides its service for free. Most communication mediums, like high-speed Internet, satellite TV, and cable require a subscription. But anyone willing to purchase a TV set and rabbit ears can enjoy local TV. Three stations in my district have already invested to see that this tradition continues into the digital era. I would like to thank Hearst- Argyle stations KMBC, ABC, and KCWE, UPN, for their recent conversion to digital broadcasting on April 30, 2002, and again praise KCPT, Kansas City's public television station which has been broadcasting a digital signal since November 9, 1998. Actions speak louder than words, and these stations, through their actions, have demonstrated a commitment to the future of free, over the air television. KMBC, KCWE, and KCPT should be commended for making digital television broadcasts available to homes in Missouri's Fifth District. I look forward to the ongoing transition to digital television, and I commend my local stations for leading the way. Let me offer my thanks and congratulations to them for flipping the digital switch.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the Democrat substitute which provides immediate, permanent estate tax reform, but in opposition to H.R. 2341. Small businesses and farm owners should not be penalized for their success, nor should they need to worry about their ability to pass the family business on to future generations, and the substitute addresses these concerns. I continue to oppose complete repeal as proposed in the measure before us because it disproportionately benefits a small number of extremely wealthy individuals and runs our Nation's budget into deeper deficits. In its current form, the estate tax affects less than 2 percent of the wealthiest Americans. As of January 1, 2003, the substitute will immediately increase the estate tax exclusion to $3 million for a single person and $6 million for a married couple. The substitute permanently exempts 99.7 percent of Americans, leaving the tax burden entirely on the wealthiest 0.3 percent of estates. This substitute updates our most progressive tax to affect even fewer families. I continue my support for immediate, permanent estate tax reform, unlike the Republican bill, which will not provide relief until 2011. The Democratic substitute offsets the cost of the estate tax increase, but the Republican bill to totally repeal the estate tax, which costs more than $50 billion per year, comes at the cost of a prescription drug benefit, our children's education, and paying down the debt. I have worked too hard balancing budgets during my 25 years of public service to permit such irresponsible fiscal policy to prevail. Totally repealing the estate tax is contrary to the wishes of two Republican Presidents, Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, who put this tax in place. In 1907, Theodore Roosevelt said the following regarding this progressive tax, ``Such a tax would be one of the methods by which we should try to preserve a measurable quality of opportunity for the people of the generation growing to manhood.'' During his Inaugural Address in 1909, William Howard Taft said, ``New kinds of taxation must be adopted, and among these I recommend a graduated inheritance tax as correct in principle and as certain and easy of collection.'' Historically, the richest in our society are the ones who pay the majority of the estate tax, and the original justification for this progressive tax is still applicable today, but reform is needed as our economy and times change. Rick Mos is a small business owner in Kansas City, and he has concerns about the future. His company, High Life Sales Company, is a beer distributor in my district. He supports the reform that has already taken place to raise the exemptions and decrease the tax rates, and he supports permanent reform. He does not, however, support permanent repeal. He told me that if it were not for the estate tax, the wealthiest Americans would lose a necessary incentive to create charitable foundations which help all of our communities. Two of the largest charitable foundations in my district, the Kauffman foundation and the Hall foundation, have donated millions of dollars to the Kansas City community, including the construction of a state-of-the-art concert hall which is scheduled to be completed in 2007. Would there be as much money available if the estate tax was repealed? It is unlikely. Ewing Kaufman and Joyce Hall were great philanthropists, but they were also businessmen, and they recognized the tax benefits of giving to charity under the estate tax. Voting for H.R. 2341 repeals this charitable incentive. Mr. Mos supports the Democratic substitute, but not a total repeal. We are hearing a lot of Members today talk about small business owners and farmers, but how many of you have spoken to small business owners in your district? I am sure you will find many constituents with the same beliefs as Mr. Mos. Many of our Nation's billionaires have bonded together to form an organization called Responsible Wealth. Warren Buffet, one of the group's founders, argues that repealing the estate tax would be equivalent to ``choosing the 2020 Olympic team by picking the eldest sons of the gold medal winners in the 2000 Olympics.'' Let's do what is responsible for America and permanently reform the estate tax but not repeal it.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2941, the Brownfields Redevelopment Enhancement Act. Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. Cleaning up these sites and redeveloping them could generate 550,000 additional jobs and up to $2.4 billion in new taxes revenues for cities and towns. This bill will help our communities clean up the estimated 500,000 brownfield sites, including Kansas City, Missouri's Central Industrial District (CID). Also known as the ``West Bottoms,'' Kansas City's historic Central Industrial District is a cradle of commerce and industry. It is the centerpiece of the City's Brownfields Program which has been the target for infrastructure investment by the City of Kansas City due to its development potential and central location. The City's Brownfields program has been successful in its efforts to work with a number of private sector entities to create a number of new development opportunities. Past infrastructure improvements have included storm water facilities, roads, and streetscape rehabilitation. This bill will provide for further investment, development, and environmental restoration at formerly used industrial sites, salvage yards, and other chemically contaminated sites such as the Blue River Industrial Corridor and the Missouri Riverfront Heritage Trail. Although the Housing and Urban Development's Section 108 loan program encourages site cleanup, cities are required to pledge their community development block grant (CDBG) funds as partial collateral for the loan guarantee. Few small cities can afford to tie up their CDBG funds this way. Moreover, under current law, the Section 108 loan program is tied to the Brownfield Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) grant program. As a result, if cities cannot obtain the loan, they can't obtain the grant. H.R. 2941 provides cities with more options by delinking the BEDI grant program from the Section 108 loan guarantee program. Empowering cities to clean up our nation's brownfields will reap many benefits for our communities. Cleaning up these sites will create a healthier environment and help preserve existing green spaces. When cities work with developers and builders to revitalize existing sales, they create an incentive for reuse as opposed to new development. This bill will help communities redevelop contaminated sites by encouraging economic development. H.R. 2941 will help clean up our environment, revitalize the economy, and create livable communities for our children and future generations. The passage of this bill is essential to the Kansas City Blue River Industrial Corridor, West Bottoms/Central Industrial District, and the Missouri Riverfront Heritage Trail. I urge my colleagues to invest in our future and vote in support of H.R. 2941.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4073, the Microenterprise For Self Reliance Act of 2000 and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 Amendments Act. Microenterprise is the provision of small loans that average less than $150 dollars at competitive interest rates and other financial services to the poorest individuals in developing countries, especially women, in order to start or expand self employment ventures and pull themselves out of poverty. Microenterprise is a solution to the poorest people's inability to find satisfactory employment and obtain needed credit. While microenterprise has spread to countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America reaching approximately 30 million clients, tens of millions of very poor families who could use microenterprise still do not have access to this effective route out of poverty. This legislation, which increases assistance through microenterprise organizations, is a step in the right direction to expanding this successful program. Microenterprise is an economically sound method of fighting poverty. In developing countries, the rate of repayment of well established microenterprise programs ranges from 95 to 99 percent. Due to a system of peer support used in many microenterprise models, repayment rates are high as borrowers are responsible for each other's success to ensure that every member of their group is able to pay back their loans. With support to grow and become efficient, microenterprise programs in developing countries need less grant money, can utilize loan and loan guarantees, and eventually get linked into the formal financial system. Microenterprise organizations have been able to cover 100 percent of operational costs with the interest income generated by the loans. Women greatly benefit from the microenterprise organizations. Most of the 1.2 billion people living on less than a dollar a day are women. Women are often responsible for the upbringing of the world's children. Poverty may result in the physical and social underdevelopment of their children. Experience shows that women are good credit risk. Many women invest their income toward the well being of their families. Simultaneously, women themselves benefit from the higher social status they achieve within the home when they are able to provide income. The Women's Empowerment Program in Nepal, for example, conducted a study that showed an average of 89,000 out of 130,000 or 68 percent of women in its program experienced an increase in their decision making roles in the areas of family planning, children's marriage, buying and selling property, and sending their daughters to school, all areas of decision making traditionally dominated by men. Mr. Speaker, in may developing countries, the self employed comprise more than 50 percent of the labor force. Access to small amounts of credit with reasonable interest rates allows poor people to move from tiny initial income generating activities to small microenterprises. In most cases, microenterprise programs offer a combination of services and resources to their clients including savings facilities, training, networking, and peer support. In this way, microenterprise allows families to work to end their own poverty with dignity. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that on May 25, 2002 the citizens of Kansas City and dignitaries from around the world will come together for the rededication of the Liberty Memorial, our nation's only recognized World War I Monument. This monument, originally dedicated on November 11, 1926, serves as a lasting beacon to our men and women of the armed services. I am proud that this distinguished historic landmark is located in the district that I represent. Following the Armistice on November 11, 1918, the citizens of the heartland rallied to build a memorial in honor of the 116,516 Americans who died in the war. The Liberty Memorial Association made up of greater Kansas City's business and political leaders organized a fundraising campaign with the slogan ``Lest the Ages Forget.'' The goal of $2.5 million, $2 million designated to build the monument and museum and $500,000 for Allied charities, was reached in ten days. On November 1, 1921, more that a hundred thousand people witnessed the site dedication, an event that hosted the five great Allied Commanders of World War I: General John J. Pershing of the United States; Admiral Lord Earl Beatty of Great Britain; General Armando Diaz of Italy; Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France; and Lieutenant General Baron Jacques of Belgium. General Pershing, a native Missourian, noted on the occasion that ``The people of Kansas City, Missouri are deeply proud of the beautiful memorial, erected in tribute to the patriotism, the gallant achievements, and the heroic sacrifices of their sons and daughters who served in our country's armed forces during the World War. It symbolizes their grateful appreciation of duty well done, an appreciation which I share, because I know so well how richly it is merited.'' During the parade that followed the ceremony, the American Legion Vice Chairman of Decoration Committee, Honorable Harry S. Truman, presented their country's flags to the Allied Commanders. Vice President Calvin Coolidge participated as an honored guest during the site dedication and returned as President five years later as honored speaker for the official Liberty Memorial dedication on November 11, 1926, attended by one hundred and fifty thousand people. In his address at the Liberty Memorial dedication, President Calvin Coolidge noted that, ``We are attempting to restore the world to a state of better understanding and amity. It is enough for us to know that the side on which we fought was victorious. But we should never forget that we were asserting our rights and maintaining our ideals.'' His words are especially true today as we rededicate our efforts to fight for our ideals of peace and liberty against those who threaten us through acts of global terrorism. Forty years later, Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle proclaimed that a rededication of the Liberty Memorial would take place the week of November 10, 1961 to promote international understanding. Mayor Bartle gave purpose to the rededication with the following statement, ``This monument encompasses all the individual efforts of the people of the world to live in friendship and fraternity so that all can assist one another in eliminating hunger, poverty, disease and illiteracy so that the world can set aside the hatred, fears, prejudices, and inequities that exist.'' The ceremonies featured former Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Harry S. Truman along with 57 foreign representatives to emphasize international relations and the establishment of People to People headquarters in Kansas City. On Veterans Day, November 11, 1961, President Truman said, ``Those who fought in the war thought it was the war to end all wars. It would have been if we had done our duty as a nation. Our failure to participate in the League of Nations was a factor in World War II . . . I was here in 1921, at the original dedication. It is a wonderful thing when people take on themselves a job that ought to be done . . . I hope this day will be a preliminary to continuing world peace.'' Today we continue to strive for world peace as we continue the job of what ought to be done. In 1994 the deterioration of the Liberty Memorial had reached a critical stage and had to be closed. Once again the citizens, corporations and government responded. The State of Missouri appropriated the amount of $15,000,000. The United States Congress approved my request for $5,000,000. Foundations, corporations, private citizens and a Kansas City sales tax have resulted in an additional $55,000,000. The culmination of the restoration project will be at the rededication ceremony this Saturday on May 25, 2002, when the Liberty Memorial will once again be opened to the public. The Liberty Memorial has renewed life from the work of artisan craftsmen, priceless oil paintings restored, bronze light fixtures refurbished, sky light in place, and the monument made structurally sound. This Saturday, May 25, 2002 the flame will once again grace the skyline of Kansas City. Allied leaders, diplomats, international dignitaries and Ambassadors from Italy, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom have been invited to participate in the rededication of this very special monument, which represents the appreciation of those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom, ``Less the Ages Forget.'' On the base of the Liberty Memorial is an inscription which reads, ``In Honor of Those Who Served in the World War in Defense of Liberty and Our Country.'' The top of the Memorial has four Guardian Spirits: Honor, Sacrifice, Patriotism and Courage. This Memorial Day weekend our prayers should include the brave men and women who serve in defense of Liberty and our Country with honor, sacrifice, patriotism and courage. Mr. Speaker, please join me in commemorating one of our Nation's most cherished reminder of liberty and freedom, the restored World War I Liberty Memorial in Kansas City Missouri.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the International Association of Lions Clubs who will observe May 30th as Lions Youth Appreciation Day. Since 1917, Lions have served the world's population through hard work and commitment making a difference in the lives of people everywhere. With 1.4 million members serving in more than 44,600 clubs in 188 countries and geographical areas, Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. More than 139,000 of these members are young people between the ages of 12 and 28, and I congratulate these youth for their commitment to others. Lions Club International was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1917 and is the world's largest service club organization. Since that time, their Code of Ethics has guided the members in their quests to create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world, promoting a world of compassion and tolerance. The Lions' International slogan is ``Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation's Safety (LIONS).'' With over 15 Lions clubs in my district, the Youth Lions aim to provide young people of the world with opportunities for achievement, learning, and service, individually and collectively, through sponsorship of activities identified as best practices in the field of youth development. Evolving from the founding Lions' steadfast dedication to the blind and visually impaired, the Youth Lions have devoted their energy to a wide variety of philanthropic causes. The Lions Club of Jackson, Platte, Clay and Cass Counties in Missouri are sponsoring a Youth Appreciation Night on May 30th, with special guest, Lions International President J. Frank Moore. His leadership theme, ``Light the Path'' focuses on implementation of several youth programs. Among the programs that have been particularly successful include: Leos and the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Leos are young men and women of good character, ages 12 to 28, who are dedicated to making a difference in their communities. The peace poster contest was created in 1988 to give young people an opportunity to express their feelings and desire for peace. Since then, more than two million children from approximately 65 countries have participated in the annual contest. The activities the youth Lions have taken part in deserve to be recognized. Cutting across all national, racial and cultural boundaries, Youth Lions activities have included work with the visually impaired, programs including drug education and prevention, diabetes detection and research, and work for international cooperation and understanding. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in saying ``Congratulations and Thank you'' to the International Association of Lions Clubs on Lions Youth Appreciation Day. May 30th is the perfect time to commemorate this wonderful organization for its commitment and dedication to making the community and world a better place through activism and service.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4737, the bill before us today, and in support of the Democratic alternative. In a time when the States are already facing serious budget cuts, this bill exacerbates their budget woes. Missouri, my State, would have to come up with over $316 million to implement the mandates in this bill, but it is already facing a $536 million budget deficit. The bill before us inadequately funds many of the programs and block grant monies States need in order to carry out welfare reform and improve upon it. I supported the original welfare reform bill 5 years ago. I worked hard on the issue of ending unfunded Federal mandates in this House and was proud when we adopted it into law, and I am very chagrined and worried about what we are attempting to accomplish in this bill today. The Democratic substitute provides both inflationary increases in our block grants and increases child care funding by $11 billion over 5 years. We must, if we are going to expect our welfare recipients to stay in the work force, provide these services. The progress we have made as a result of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, which I supported, will be undermined by this measure. It imposes up to $11 billion in unfunded mandates on the States over the next 5 years. Missouri has been recognized nationally for its creative community- based partnerships with youth mentoring, before and after school programs, parenting classes and child development classes, all of which foster independence from public assistance and improve family well- being. Missouri also makes excellent use of case-by-case individual assessments, which assists in making the transition to work by offering job training, post secondary education, and job placement services. H.R. 4737 takes away Missouri's flexibility in providing these programs by eliminating educational and occupational opportunities that contribute to the outreach the State now provides. The Democratic substitute provides both an inflationary increase in the TANF block grant, and additional $6 billion over 5 years, and increases child care funding by $11 billion over 5 years. H.R. 4737 adds no new money for childcare. My constituent Marcia, a mother of three, came to Missouri's Department of Family Services shortly after she and her family moved to Missouri to escape an abusive husband. The Democratic substitute gives Marcia the comfort in knowing that while she is working to improve her family's quality of life and getting support for her abusive situation her children will be cared for. Without adequate childcare, welfare recipients who find themselves in situations like Marcia's will not be able to meet the increased work requirements mandated on them by H.R. 4737. If my colleagues on both sides of the aisle truly want self sufficiency I urge them to adopt the Democratic substitute. Mr. Speaker, stricter work requirements with fewer resources is a losing equation for the welfare mothers of Kansas City and for the children of our Nation.