Karen McCarthy

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mrs. Jane Murdock Holland, who will celebrate her 80th birthday on November 15th of this year. For eight decades Mrs. Holland has seen this country through many eras, including the Great Depression and World War II. She was happily married for 45 years to Edward Holland, who passed away in 1986. A devoted mother and wife, she raised six children who are all very active in social, political, and in civic causes. Lovingly referred to as ``Gam,'' she is the proud matriarch of 14 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Mrs. Holland graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. In her younger years, she was a successful athlete, playing both softball and basketball, and even now her grandchildren consult her on upcoming sporting events. She has volunteered on several political campaigns, including my own, and she also volunteers her time to read to children every week. She is an avid bridge player, reader, and gardener. Mrs. Holland is an example of women who have made personal sacrifices as they raise the next generation of leaders. She has contributed in numerous ways to the strength of her community and to the strength of America by devoting her time and attention to her sons and daughters. I am proud to have such a dear friend and to have such an extraordinary woman in my district. Happy Birthday, Jane.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 417 as amended by the Senate last week. This legislation, a companion to H.R. 4017 of which I am a co-sponsor, represents a bipartisan, bicameral, win-win solution for communities like Kansas City which currently find it cost-prohibitive to comply with the requirements of the Energy Policy Act. On September 29, 1998, the day after H.R. 4017 passed the House, I participated in a Forum on Transportation, sponsored jointly by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Mid America Regional Council. When I shared with the Forum participants the news of our success with H.R. 4017 in the House, they were very excited about the opportunities this legislation would present for the use of biodiesel products in metropolitan transportation fleets and for the growth of associated markets, such as agricultural waste products and soybean products. S. 417 is a step in the right direction--for cleaner air, for less dependence on foreign petroleum, for opening up new markets for indigenous energy use, and for cost-effective compliance with EPAct standards. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Thank you.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall votes Nos. 521, 522 and 523 on October 12, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 521, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 522, ``nay''; and on rollcall No. 523, ``nay.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution, in support of a fair process of inquiry.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the motion to recommit House Resolution 581 so that the measure may be amended to provide a swift, fair, judicious resolution to the inquiry of whether the referral of the Independent counsel constitutes an impeachable offense by our President. The debate to day is not about whether to proceed with an impeachment inquiry. It is about how we should proceed. I support a responsible inquiry that will focus on the 15 findings contained in over 10,000 pages and documents provided to the Congress and the American people. Our inquiry should begin with a determination of what standard constitutes an impeachable offense, and an examination of the sufficiency of the evidence. If more evidence is needed, we can expand the inquiry. We must be sure the findings constitute impeachment. For too long the attention of the Congress has not been focused on the needs of the American people: reforming our health care system, achieving quality education, making Social Security solvent, and restoring soundness to our global economy which faces the possibility of a serious recession in light of a world economic downturn. For the sake of the country we should complete this inquiry by the end of the year, so that we can get back to the business of the American people. I approach this vote with a deep respect for the Constitution, the Presidency, and the Congress. It is a serious act to overturn an election. I am profoundly disturbed and disappointed by what the President has done. Impeachment is meant not to punish a President but to protect the Nation and its citizens against the abuse of power. Our actions today are more important than any one individual. This vote speaks to the essence of our democracy and the premises of our Founding Fathers. The inquiry must go forward expeditiously and free from partisanship. I am committed to exercising sound judgment in the best interest of the citizens of my district and this great Nation. (Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. William Hawkins. On October 20, 1998 in St. Louis, Missouri, National Industries for the Blind will honor Mr. Hawkins with the first annual Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award, named for the late Milton J. Samuelson in recognition of his leadership for upward mobility and placement programs for people who are blind. Mr. Hawkins was diagnosed with progressive glaucoma and cataracts soon after birth. Before his third birthday he had lost all of his sight, but the challenge of his blindness did not prevent Mr. Hawkins from striving for excellence. With the help of his grandparents who raised him, he achieved an impressive record of success in his youth. He graduated from high school in 1983 as valedictorian, student boy president, and scholar athlete. Following high school, Mr. Hawkins attended college at night while he worked as a successful insurance sales agent and for the Alphapointe Association for the Blind. Although his college career ended after marriage and the birth of his daughter, he continued to set and achieve meaningful goals for himself. He accepted a part time position as a telemarketer with United Missouri Bank (UMB), and within the next two years was promoted by UMB several times. Mr. Hawkins is currently a valued member of UMB management, and has assisted other people who are blind with securing employment at UMB. I applaud him for both his personal achievements and for his generosity to others. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating this admirable American upon being the first person to be honored with this prestigious award.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to join in support of H.R. 4017, the Energy Conservation and Reauthorization Act. The act contains an amendment which I have sponsored along with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus). I want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Dan Schaefer) who is retiring after long and distinguished service to this body and to this Nation and who will be sorely missed by those on the subcommittee, and the ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) for all of their assistance in perfecting this legislation. H.R. 4017, as amended, would change the Energy Policy Act of 1992, by allowing covered fleets to meet a portion of their annual vehicle acquisition requirements under the act through the purchase and use of a 20/80 blend of biodiesel fuel, usually called B-20, that is produced from domestic renewable resources such as soybean oil, rapeseed, cottonseed, sunflower oil, beef tallow, pork lard, yellow grease and corn oil. The amendment incorporated into the bill establishes this as a pilot program that can be used to evaluate new means to meet those standards in the EPACT program that our Nation seeks in order to reduce our dependence on imported petroleum and improve our air quality. This amendment provides more choice and greater flexibility to fleet operators throughout this Nation, and I wanted to talk a little about my community of Kansas City because we are now in our own pilot program to try to see how biodiesel will work and whether indeed it will help us reduce our air emissions so that we meet those quality standards we seek. This year in Kansas City we have had 5 instances of air quality rising above Federal pollution limits of 125 parts per billion. Any more occurrences and stricter air pollution limits for Kansas City businesses will trigger sanctions, and this is certainly something that no one in our community seeks. We know that biodiesel is an alternative, along with the others in the national act, that can help us meet those goals. An ozone red alert is issued when ozone levels are expected to rise above 110 parts per billion. Those are the alerts that we seek to avoid in Kansas City. Mr. Robert Sellers, who maintains our Kansas City Area Transportation Authority fleet, testified before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power meetings and told us that in our efforts in Kansas City to meet these environmental goals, we have put four buses in use in a 10-month test using B-20 biodiesel. They have traveled over 90,000 miles and consumed over 28,000 gallons of B-20. And we made a comparison with those using regular diesel fuel, and the results were outstanding. One important point to note for other communities as they seek this alternative is that no modifications are necessary to tanks or pumps or other fueling infrastructure in order to use B-20 fuel. No changes needed to be made to the engines of the buses or their refueling systems. No additional maintenance or service requirements are necessary for B-20 buses. The fuel economy we found in our pilot program in Kansas City of the B-20 buses was similar to the pure diesel buses. Further, I observed this myself firsthand, black exhaust smoke was visibly reduced. I did not see any in the buses that I traveled on, and exhaust odor was noticeably improved in the B-20 buses. Most importantly, I think, Mr. Speaker, the project generated a really positive response from the citizens in the area and the local media. Therefore, I really do appreciate the good work of all individuals in reaching a compromise so that B-20 fuel can be used throughout this Nation in a pilot program to help all of us meet the broader goals that H.R. 4017 seeks; again, cleaning up our environment, getting creative solutions to that difficult problem, and also making sure that we are reducing our import of foreign oil. The market that will be created, by the way, in Missouri alone, when we move to B-20 throughout our urban areas, is a very positive one, and I know others will speak to that today. Our top cash crop is soybean, and that is a major use for B-20 fuels in the State and throughout the Midwest. The market that will be created for all agricultural waste produced on soybean farms and all of our farms can be put to good use, B-20 fuel, and will really create jobs and a stronger economy for our agriculture communities throughout the Midwest and the Nation. I urge everyone to support 4017, show their commitment to clean air and a strong economy. As amended, HR 4017 provides more choice and greater flexibility for fleet operators who want to comply with the requirements of EPACT but may find this compliance difficult. HR 4017 is a ``win-win'' solution to the problem of compliance for communities like my own all over America. B20 biodiesel fuel substantially reduces air emissions from motor vehicles. Testing results reported in March 1998, but the United States Environmental Protection Agency show that the use of biodiesel fuel reduces particulate matter emissions by 30%, hydrocarbon emissions by 95%, and carbon monoxide emissions by 50%, when compared to normal diesel fuel. According to this study, the overall ozone-, or smog-forming potential of exhaust emissions from biodiesel is one-half that of conventional diesel fuel. The air quality of benefits of biodiesel are especially relevant for my hometown, Kansas City, Missouri. This year alone, Kansas City has had five instances of air quality rising above federal pollution limits of 125 part-per-billion. Any more occurrences and stricter air pollution limits on Kansas City businesses will be triggered. For example, public utilities in the area may have to increase rates on customers to clean up their generation process. Biodiesel is going to improve air quality in our city. An ozone ``Red Alert'' is issued when ozone levels are expected to rise above 100 parts-per-billion in a one-hour time period. Red Alerts are a cautionary measure, intended to warn people with lung conditions to avoid heavy outdoor activities. In Kansas City, ozone levels have topped 110 parts-per-billion on nine days this summer. Using biodiesel fuel can greatly reduce ozone levels and thus improve our air quality. Biodiesel fuel is biodegradable and non-toxic, and it is a renewable fuel, which makes it an option for long-term use. The blending of diesel and biodiesel fuel does not affect the performance or emissions of the fuel, and economic research conducted both by Booz-Allen and Hamilton and the University of Georgia indicates that when all capital, operating, and maintenance costs are considered, a 20% blend of biodiesel--B20--has the lowest annualized cost on a ``per gallon consumed'' basis versus other alternative fuels. The Clean Air Act sets standards to move toward a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment. However, as our nation moves toward these admirable goals, we must recognize that some areas of the country--because of population density, geographic characteristics, and industrial concentrations--will find it more difficult to meet the new standards. We must look for creative solutions to the difficult problem of cleaning up our environment. HR 4017 provides such a solution. Because Missouri's top cash crop is soybeans, the use of B20 fuel in this state would not only help to meet the Clean Air Act standards, but it would also positively impact the state's economy, by creating a market for the agricultural waste. This market would create opportunities for agriculture, industry, and government to work together toward a sustainable future. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for HR 4017, and to show their commitment to clean air and a strong economy. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. Danner).

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy).

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton).

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I rise once again, Mr. Speaker, to urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4017, because it represents a bipartisan agreement that helps our environment, is good for our economy, aids our farmers and our metropolitan areas in their quest to meet Federal air quality standards, improve the quality of life for their residents and keep our agriculture strong in this country. H.R. 4017 reauthorizes several small but important energy conservation and export promotion programs for 5 years. I worked on these programs, Mr. Speaker, before coming to this august body as a member of the State Legislature in Missouri, so I know of their worth and their value to communities and States throughout the Nation. The State Energy Conservation Program and Institutional Conservation Program is one such component. The programs to enhance renewable energy, commerce and trade, as well as programs on energy efficiency, and weatherization conservation reauthorized in this Energy Conservation and Production Act are all valuable components to meeting those goals set forth in the national policy that we are reauthorizing today. Mr. Speaker, it also makes congressional and judicial branch agencies eligible to enter into energy saving performance contracts. That is good for our national budget. That is good for America. Mr. Speaker, bio-diesel presents a chance for us to make a choice that is good for our country and good for our environment. I urge all my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4017. Biodiesel makes sense. Allowing biodiesel to be used to meet up to 50 percent of the alternative fueled vehicle requirements under EPAct will help metropolitan areas to meet the goals outlined in EPAct. According to the Department of Energy's own analysis from July 1997, our Nation will not reach the petroleum displacement goals as outlined in EPAct-- 10 percent by 2000 and 30 percent by 2010. The Department's latest numbers indicate that since 1992 only about 3.1 percent displacement has occurred. Most of this, 2.9 percent was due to oxygenates which were required by the Clean Air Act. Only about 0.2 percent was due to alternative fuel use by Alternatively Fueled Vehicles. Further, the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition supports this legislation. Biodiesel is good for the environment. Biodiesel has been tested by the Department of Energy, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and they have all found that biodiesel provides substantial energy benefits. If I may quote from the lifecycle analysis conducted by the EPA: Biodiesel can play a role in reducing emissions of many air pollutants, especially those targeted by the EPA in urban areas. These include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides . . . and air toxics. Biodiesel is economically feasible. Not only will using biodiesel reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum supplies, it will also create new domestic markets for agricultural waste products. This Act is significant for our country. Improving on the Energy Policy Act is critical for energy efficiency, clean air and trade through promoting agribusiness. Throughout my career in public service I have championed initiatives which strike a balance between industry and the environment. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H.R. 4081, legislation to extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act applicable to construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Arkansas. H.R. 4081 would authorize FERC, upon the request of the licensee and in accordance with the requirements of section 13 of the Federal Power Act, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction for three consecutive two-year periods. FERC does not object to the enactment of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is not controversial. A companion Senate bill has been approved by their Energy and Natural Resources Committee. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Rangel Democratic Amendment and oppose H.R. 4578. I strongly support the Democratic Amendment which would create an account at the Federal Reserve Bank for the entire Social Security surplus. It is fiscally irresponsible for Congress to spend any of the anticipated surplus before we have addressed the long-term retirement needs of working men and women, or before the surplus has even materialized. In order to claim a budget surplus, the majority will use money from the Social Security trust fund. We cannot let this happen. We must restore the $9 trillion in unfunded liability owed to individuals who have paid into this most successful government program all of their working lives. Mr. Rangel's Amendment would transfer 100% of any Social Security surpluses to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to be held in trust for the Social Security system. Congress should stand firm to ensure that Social Security will remain strong for future generations. I urge my colleagues to support the Democratic Amendment sponsored by the gentleman from New York, Mr. Rangel. Mr. Speaker, we need to save Social Security first.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, the House is considering a Republican tax bill which spends the entire anticipated budget surplus on tax cuts instead of saving it for Social Security. It is a tax bill that violates the budget rules. That is bad public policy. Mr. Speaker, I have sponsored and voted for specific tax cut proposals in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and capital gains tax reduction. I will support the Democratic alternative for tax cuts that take effect only when there is a budget surplus that does not include counting Social Security Trust Funds. Save Social Security first, then offer tax cuts to hard-working people of America.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 426 on S. 2206, I was unavoidably detained in transit on US Airways. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. chairman, on rollcalls No.'s 380-387, I was unavoidably detained participating in the primary elections in Missouri. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: No. 380--H. Con. Res. 213, Yes; 381--Mollohan Amendment on Legal Services, Yes; 382--Skaggs Amendment on TV Marti, Yes; 383-- Souder Amendment on drug counts, No; 384--Bass Amendment on ATP, No; 385--Scott on Truth in Sentencing, No; 386--Gutknecht on Public Broadcasting, No; and 387--DeGette on Abortion, Yes. Amendment Offered by Mr. Traficant

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in opposition to the provision in H.R. 4194 which removes all funding from AmeriCorps, the national service program that allows people of all ages and backgrounds to earn help paying their higher education expenses in exchange for a year of community service. This four-year-old program has met with great success throughout America. Currently, more than 40,000 AmeriCorps members serve in over 600 programs across the country. In my district, AmeriCorps volunteers have helped residents in distressed neighborhoods develop a vision for their neighborhoods block by block, and acquire the necessary resources to achieve that vision. The number of neighborhoods being served in the City Building Blocks program has increased by 40 percent thanks to AmeriCorps. One block served by an AmeriCorps volunteer has successfully closed two drug houses and a methamphetamine lab. These structures are now being renovated by the Community Development Corporation, and they will soon be occupied by new residents. If AmeriCorps funding is cut this block and many others like it will lose the support that AmeriCorps volunteers have provided. Seniors for Schools is another successful AmeriCorps program in my district. Last year twenty AmeriCorps volunteers tutored 90 first, second, and third grade students in reading. At the beginning of the school year, these students were all below grade level in reading--45 percent of them were two grade levels behind. After one year of AmeriCorps volunteers' help, each and every one of these students now reads at or above grade level. Gail Vessels oversees the Seniors for Schools program through the Kansas City YMCA, and she notes that AmeriCorps has ``allowed us to tackle the hardest issues in this community.'' She indicates that it would just not be possible to have these programs without AmeriCorps funding. I urge all members of the House to continue AmeriCorps funding, so that programs like those I have mentioned will continue in their own districts as well. AmeriCorps does more than rebuild communities. In my district, several AmeriCorps volunteers were actually able to leave welfare rolls because of AmeriCorps, and they were also able to go on to college, earn a degree, and gain employment--and thus stay off of welfare. These volunteers are often middle-aged, single parents who have been on welfare for several years. They have low self-esteem and not many skills. AmeriCorps allows them to gain valuable skills while serving their community. In addition, they earn an education award after one year of service that can be used to offset college or vocational training tuition costs. AmeriCorps has allowed one Kansas City volunteer Anna--a single parent who had been on welfare for many years--to earn her children's respect, attend college, and get off of welfare. Anna now works full time for a local neighborhood association. I strongly oppose eliminating this valuable program and urge my colleagues to restore funding in the Conference Committee. AmeriCorps strengthens America. We must support proactive programs that help to build communities and give individuals the opportunity to better themselves through education and giving back to their communities.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of extension of the Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam and in opposition to House Joint Resolution 120. This resolution would deny my community and others like it the opportunity to continue its humanitarian efforts with the Vietnamese people to promote emigration. UPLIFT International, Heart to Heart, the Westmoreland Scholar Foundation have made generous contributions to those in need. One of the recipients of the Westmoreland Scholar Foundation, Joyce Nguyen, is an intern in my district office. As a Student Ambassador from Rockhurst College, she traveled to Da Nang to assess the needs of the doctors and staff. She is a first generation American whose parents fled Vietnam after the war. Joyce learned of her cultural background and shared her American heritage with the doctors and the students that she taught English to. Her work in Vietnam allowed her to make permanent life friends and retrace the history of her ancestors. I see many positive advantages at the local and national level for free emigration and social development. As the next millennium approaches, we should be concerned with forming a lasting friendship with Vietnam. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.J. Res. 120. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the extension of the Jackson- Vanik waiver for Vietnam, and in opposition to House Joint Resolution 120. It is true that our relationship with Vietnam has been marked with sorrowful memories. Unfortunately, when the word Vietnam is spoken, it conjures up haunting images of war and not of the beautiful and culturally rich country that it is today. In 1994, the Clinton Administration lifted the U.S. Trade Embargo which allowed U.S. firms to enter Vietnam's economy and compete in the international community. This action has led to Vietnam being part of the ASEAN organization, a qualification which show promising potential for the country to be a significant trade partner with the U.S. Our goal is to forge a new relationship for both nations, so that we can both benefit from a friendship dedicated to healing and reconciliation. Trade is important to America. More importantly, trade relations are important to the Fifth District of Missouri. Currently, Vietnam has a crumbling infrastructure, a shortage of medicine, and limited technology. Companies like Black and Veatch, Hoechst Marion Roussel (HMR), Butler Manufacturing, Burlington Air Express, and countless other companies have business ventures with the Vietnamese which are vital to my district. Black and Veatch, an engineering firm, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri is performing a $2.4 million project for the people of Vietnam. Black & Veatch is an 80 year old corporation which employs 2,500 engineers and architects in the Kansas City area and over 7,000 working professionals in over 90 offices worldwide. Black and Veatch was the first engineering company to set up an office in Vietnam and is currently upgrading water treatment plants in seven towns. HMR has a subsidiary in Vietnam which markets the drugs it makes here in the United States to the people of Vietnam. About 2,000 of my constituents work at HMR World Headquarters, an established pharmaceutical company which manufacturers and markets medicine you can find in your local drugstores and across the world. Another company, Butler Manufacturing and its 5,100 employees rely upon the economic ties established in Ho Chi Minh City to deliver preengineered metal buildings and structural frames. In Missouri, corporations are looking overseas for opportunities to sell American goods and services. Proctor and Gamble, United Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Goodyear, Pfizer International, Harley Davidson, Caterpillar, and Lucent Technologies are just a handful of companies employing thousands of Missourians who have operations and ongoing projects with Vietnam. This resolution would deny my community the opportunity to continue its humanitarian efforts with the Vietnamese people. UPLIFT International, Heart to Heart, and the Westmoreland Scholar Foundation have made generous contributions to those in need. Corporate sponsors like Black and Veatch, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Federal Express, and Boeing have helped establish trust, and placed people before profit. What began in 1995 as a Heart to Heart airlift to supply 46 tons of medical supplies has led to additional efforts to supply the Vietnamese people with undertakings like UPLIFT`s Project HOPE to ensure tuberculosis education and prevention. Under the direction and vision of Mike Meyer, UPLIFT has gained much corporate sponsorship as well as the trust of the Vietnamese government. When Typhoon Linda struck the Vietnamese coastline, Mr. Meyer was specifically asked by the Vietnamese government to help out and quickly found a way to provide the supplies needed. The Westmoreland Scholar Foundation, named in honor of General and Mrs. William C. Westmoreland, is a non-political, non-profit educational foundation established for the purpose of educating those young people who can best contribute to reconciliation and harmony between the people of the United States of America and the people of Vietnam. One of the recipients of the Westmoreland Scholar Foundation, Joyce Nguyen, is an intern in my District Office. As a Student Ambassador, from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, she traveled to Da Nang, Vietnam with the intent to assess the needs of the doctors and staff. She and a fellow Rockhurst student, Son Do (sun doe) traveled to Da Nang and are both first generation Americans whose parents fled from Vietnam after the war. This was a unique experience for them to witness their parent's homeland and to communicate what the hospital lacked in essential equipment and medicines for its patients to UPLIFT International. With the support of Vietnam veterans like Ret. Col. Roger H. Donlon, the first soldier to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor in Vietnam, his wife Norma, and many community members, Joyce learned of her cultural background and shared her American heritage with the doctors and students as she taught them English. Her work in Vietnam allowed her to make permanent life friends and retrace this history of her ancestors. The Westmoreland Scholar Foundation has Vietnamese American students enrolled in many colleges throughout the United States including Rockhurst College in my district. This program is meant to build bridges between both American and Vietnamese cultures. It ensures opportunities for students active in the Vietnamese-American communities for study and humanitarian services in Vietnam and for the exchange of Vietnamese students to study in the United States. This organization is dedicated to friendship with our Vietnamese allies, and the opportunity to gain the respect of our former Vietnamese adversaries in the tradition of patriotism, service, and leadership demonstrated by the lives of the Westmorelands. I see many positive advantages at the local and national levels for free immigration and social development. As the next millennium approaches, we should be concerned with forming a lasting relationship with countries like Vietnam. I urge my colleagues to vote no on House Joint Resolution 120.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the special White House school safety summit called by President Clinton for October. This conference will bring together educators, law enforcement officials, and parents to discuss methods for ensuring school safety. Our children are our future, and we must do everything we can to guarantee them a safe learning environment in our public schools. Unfortunately, many school children today face threats on a daily basis in their schools--if not more tragic acts, such as the recent shootings on school grounds. It is also important to recognize that every day, all across America, children are being threatened, harassed, and beaten. President Clinton quoted statistics showing that three out of four students claim that they have trouble with disruptive classmates. These children are not able to fulfill their full potential because they are too afraid or distracted to focus on learning. Problem students who show constant disregard for teachers' classroom rules cause disorder that prohibits learning. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that in 1993-94, 23.6% of public school teachers indicated that student disrespect for teachers is a serious problem. When teachers are not in control, their morale is lowered, the students are afraid, and the time spent in school is wasted. Perhaps even more distressing are the students who simply do not attend school. Truancy leads to many criminal acts, including drug and alcohol use, gang activity, and violence. Further, truant students are not learning. When our children don't go to school, not only their own future, but also our country's future is threatened. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 4009, which will combat juvenile crime in our schools and amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. This bill encourages school based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and school systems. Federal funding would be provided to hire School Resource Officers, who would work with the school to proactively address crime in the school. I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 2408, the After School Education and Safety Act of 1997, which would provide children with a safe and supervised place at the end of the school day. Safe places are especially important in the hours after school because this time frame poses the greatest risk for juveniles to be affected by criminal behavior. This bill would also create enrichment programs for the children to participate in, to increase their academic success and improve their intellectual, social, physical, and cultural skills. We must commit ourselves to taking responsibility for our children's educational future. Parents, teachers, and community leaders must work together to provide a safe and stimulating learning environment for our students. Our children deserve the best possible education we can provide, and they deserve to learn and grow in a safe environment. In my district, schools are using a variety of programs to keep kids safe. The Kansas City School District has used the ``Growing Healthy'' program in elementary schools for the last three years. This program utilizes materials on conflict resolution and violence prevention, but its main focus is on mental and physical health awareness. In Independence, Missouri, schools use a program developed by Alvin Brooks of the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime titled, ``Stop the Violence,'' which includes a series of videos and speakers. In Fort Osage, schools have designed their own program to identify troubled students so as to enter them into early intervention counseling programs. Other strategies used in my home state of Missouri to increase school safety include placing police officers in schools, training student mediators, and installing metal detectors. Metal detectors have significantly reduced the number of weapons violations in the Kansas City district. During the 1992-93 school year, more than 100 weapons violations were reported in one month. This past year, weapons violations were down to 16 in a month. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the ``First Annual Report on School Safety,'' which will be the result of the school safety summit. Participants in the President's summit on school safety will identify and share creative and effective solutions to the problems currently facing our public schools, such as those being implemented by Missouri school districts. I hope that my colleagues in Congress will take their ideas and concerns to heart and make school safety a top priority.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 340, in support of H. Con. Res. 311, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 311 to honor the two Capitol Security officers, Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, who gave their lives last Friday in service to our nation. I offer my deepest sympathy to their families. I also honor all of the other law enforcement personnel throughout the nation who put their lives on the line each day for the safety of our nation's citizens. The Capitol Police responded to this situation swiftly and effectively. They told the staffers and tourists what to do during the melee and comforted them afterwards. They shielded people and saved lives. I would like to extend a thank you to all of these officers. I would like to share an editorial printed in the Kansas City Star on Monday, July 27, 1998. This editorial honors Officers Chestnut and Gibson, as well as the other dedicated security personnel across the country who are committed to protecting all of us. The shooting deaths of two police officers in the U.S. Capitol are a tragic reminder that thousands of law enforcement and security personnel put their lives on the line every day so that the rest of society can go on about its business. All too often their willingness to put themselves at risk is taken for granted. But as events inside the Capitol demonstrated last week, these brave men and women may be called upon at a moment's notice to protect hundreds of innocent people from harm. One day something goes wrong--an alarm goes off, a suspicious figure rushes by, shots ring out in a hallway--and suddenly their years of training and experience, their sheer speed in determining what must be done and their courage in doing it, become absolutely critical. Capitol Police Officers Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty on Friday, will be remembered by thousands of friends and colleagues in Washington and by millions of people across the country for their heroism. Chestnut was shot while attempting to protect an entrance to the Capitol. Hearing shots, Gibson ordered the people around him to get down to protect themselves. He then confronted the gunman and was fatally wounded. But the dying officer fired on the gunman, saving government officials and tourists from harm. It appears that the gunman was someone suffering from a mental illness that included bizarre delusions--someone who, fearing trouble with the government, traveled across the country to find that trouble. But in the midst of Friday's crisis, Officers Chestnut and Gibson did not know who he was. These Capitol Police veterans simply knew that one of the central institutions of the U.S. government was under attack-- and they found themselves on the front line of its defense. They did their duty without hesitation, and for that the entire nation honors them. As the work week begins, many Americans will feel an extra measure of respect and appreciation for the many other police officers and security personnel who stand guard in government buildings and private offices around the country. As the result of this tragedy, the already elaborate security system on Capitol Hill will be reviewed. Perhaps some changes will be made. But as President Clinton and other officials have indicated, it would be a mistake to reject the commitment that has been made to keep the Capitol so accessible to the public. Many other public places, after all,have been targeted by sick individuals and terrorists. Reasonable steps must be taken to discourage such violence. But we should not allow fear to dominate our lives, either at home or in our nation's capital city. Given the visibility of the Capitol as a symbol of the government, and the thousands of people who move through it on a daily basis, the overall security record there appears solid; this was reported to be the first shooting in the building in decades. Brave, dedicated people like Officers Chestnut and Gibson have been at the heart of that system. They will always play the critical role in protecting American institutions from confused individuals and those who wish our nation harm.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 3605, the Dingell-Ganske Patients' Bill of Rights, of which I am a co-sponsor. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in support of this bipartisan bill. This bill guarantees that medical decisions will be made by doctors and their patients, not by insurance companies. It ensures that doctors can inform patients of all of the treatment options available to them so that patients can make educated choices regarding their health care. It guarantees that a patient who goes to an emergency room with severe pain will be treated. The Patients' Bill of Rights also extends important protections to women. This bill allows women direct access to obstetric and gynecological care, and it allows women to designate their own gynecologist as their primary care provider. This provision allows a woman to continue to be treated by a doctor with whom she has become comfortable and who knows her personal medical history. Further, the Dingell-Ganske bill provides patient protection at an affordable price. The Congressional Budget Office has reported that most individuals would only pay about $2 more per month in premiums as a result of the Patients' Bill of Rights. The peace of mind and security that will result from this bill are well worth this small amount. Last year, my home state of Missouri enacted legislation that ensure a patient's right to emergency room care, to choose a doctor, and to know about all of the options available to them for treatment, regardless of the cost. In addition, the Missouri law provides for well-child care, mammography screening, drug abuse and alcohol treatment, bone marrow transplants, and breast reconstruction. With this legislation, Missouri took great strides to guarantee access to specialists and provide more rights for patients. If the Gingrich-Hastert bill is enacted, Missouri's law will be over-ridden, and the rights of the people of my state will be taken away. We must not let this happen. Instead, we should recognize successful efforts like Missouri's at the state level to guarantee patients basic rights and follow this lead by passing the Dingell-Ganske bill. We must guarantee that insurance companies are held accountable for their actions when they deny patients the health care they need. We must guarantee that when patients need to go to the emergency room, they can go without worrying whether their insurance will allow them to be treated for their medical emergency. We must guarantee that doctors and not insurance companies are making the decisions about what is medically necessary for their patients. In my district, at the Children's Mercy Hospital, social workers are fighting the current system to ensure that patients receive the care they need. For example, one little boy with an amputated arm needed a special kind of prosthesis. His insurance company deemed the special arm not medically necessary and refused to pay. The social worker at Children's Mercy was able to secure outside charitable funding for this little boy to get the arm he needed, but not all hospitals are able to provide this service, and frankly, they shouldn't have to. Join with me in supporting H.R. 3605 and grant America's patients the basic medical rights they deserve.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Matsui) for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of extending normal trade relations to China for the coming year and against House Joint Resolution 121. Extending normal trade relations is in the best interest of the United States. It will strengthen our presence in Asia and allow us to remain engaged on such questions as human rights and protecting the global environment. Further, it will help to integrate China with the rest of the world and expose China to American values of individuality, freedom and democracy. Our engagement with China has resulted in the release of Wei Jingsheng and Wang Dan and the signing of an international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights. Extending normal trade relations to China does not endorse their disregard for human rights. Instead, it provides the United States with an opportunity to speak against China's human rights violations, as the President did on his recent visit. Our relationship with China has made it possible for organizations such as China's Children to facilitate the adoption of 154 baby girls in my district alone. Next week's Children's Hope International, of which China's Children is a member, will be meeting right here in our Nation's Capital to discuss and determine how this new engagement will facilitate even further progress. One quarter of the world's people live in China, Mr. Speaker, and it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It is estimated that China's energy demand will double within 10 years. It is already the world's largest producer of ozone-depleting substances and the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Building trade relations with China will open the door for the United States to work with China to protect the global environment we are all concerned about. Trade relations will also provide opportunities for cultural exchange. The United States and China have agreed to implement cultural and educational programs to increase the interaction between the two societies, including high school student exchanges, scholar exchanges for the Fulbright program, and book donations of 550 American volumes to Chinese educational institutions. These exchanges are the key to promoting American ideas of individual freedom and democracy in China. Finally, approximately 400,000 American jobs depend on export to China and Hong Kong, and export to these countries have more than tripled over the past decade. China is our fifth largest trading partner and it is crucial that we continue our relationship with China. In 1997, my State of Missouri exported $296 million in goods to China, and from 1995 to 1996 our exports to China grew by 631 percent. China is in Kansas City's eighth largest export destination, with $61 million in merchandise and export in 1996 alone. My district exports plastic materials and resins, automotive parts, telecommunications equipment, building materials, food and dairy products, agricultural machinery and pollution control equipment to China. Since 1988, 51 percent of all new manufacturing jobs in Missouri have been as a result of foreign investment in China, and these new positions have been higher paying than traditional manufacturing jobs. The average monthly wage for Missouri employees who work for a foreign subsidiary is 13 percent higher than all Missouri businesses. For example, Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, one of Missouri's leading law firms and the Nation's fastest growing firm, employs more than 320 attorneys and 500 staff members, and many of their clients transact business with China and anticipate growth in that area. Mr. Speaker, a small manufacturing company in Kansas City, Dan Bunch Enterprises, has shared with me that they expect a 40 percent increase in jobs for their company this year as a direct result of trade relations with China. I urge my colleagues to support extending normal trade relations to China, and to continue to work toward engaging this country on international issues of importance. Please oppose House Joint Resolution 121. Help to bring freedom and democracy to the people of China.

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri

Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Russell Patterson, a major contributor to the arts community in Missouri and a friend of mine who is retiring after 40 years as founder and Artistic Leader of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. He also organized The Kansas City Symphony and has served as its Artistic Director. In addition to his position with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Russell is Festival Director and Principal Conductor at the Sunflower Music Festival. He founded both the Sunflower Music Festival and the Missouri River Festival of the Arts, and serves as Artistic Director of the Buzzards Bay Musicfest. He has appeared as guest conductor in opera and concert engagements in Mexico City, London, New York, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Sacramento. Mr. Patterson has spent his career enriching Kansas City with his talent and vision. He is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He helped establish the Middle- America Opera Apprentice Program in conjunction with the Conservatory. The Apprentice Program is designed to prepare exceptional young singers for a professional operatic career. The Program continues to gain national recognition for its commitment to aspiring artists. As a trailblazer in the arts community, Mr. Patterson has served on the Advisory panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Missouri Arts Council, as a consultant to the Ford Foundation, and on the Board of Directors of OPERA America. He has received numerous awards and honors including the Alumni Achievement Award, the Dean's Award, the nationally prestigious Conductor's Award from the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, and the W.F. Yates Medallion from William Jewell College. In 1996, Mr. Patterson was honored at the OPERA America 25th Anniversary Conference for his years of service. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Russell Patterson for his commitment to our community's future artists and his service to music in Kansas City. I wish he and his lovely wife Terri well in all of their future endeavors, and hope we can enjoy some tennis at the Cape.