Jim McDermott

Mr. McDERMOTT

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 191. I am deeply concerned that the European Union might vote tomorrow to disapprove the Boeing-McDonnell Douglas merger and impose a multi-billion dollar fine on the Boeing company--a fine that would effectively shut Boeing out of the European market because it would be levied on payments to Boeing by European airlines. In my view, Boeing has made numerous reasonable efforts to not only convince the European Commission that the merger is not anti- competitive, but also offered several options that should ease European concerns. Yet despite these efforts, the Commission has responded with extreme demands--including the transfer of patented technology and cancellation of existing sales contracts. It would be unfortunate for the EU to use this proposed merger, as an attempt to improve Airbus's competitive position at Boeing's expense. If the Commission continues its obstructive course, the likely impact of a failed merger would result in the bankruptcy of McDonnell Douglas, the loss of 14,000 high-technology jobs in Southern California, and the substantial devaluation of assets for those airlines that have McDonnell Douglas aircraft in their fleet. Hopefully this scenario can be averted. With the passage of this resolution as well as the continued pressure by the Clinton administration, I am confident we can reach a favorable conclusion to this unfortunate trade dispute.

Mr. McDERMOTT

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Jerline ``Jeri'' Ware, a bridge builder and a role model to all. She passed away July 6, 1997. Jeri Ware was born February 13, 1924, on a farm in Beggs OK, the third of eight children. After graduating from Beggs High School at the age of 15, Jeri, with the approval of her family, friends, and church, set out to expand her horizons. Over the next several years, she lived in Colorado, New Mexico, as well as Hanford and Seattle, WA. In the mid-1940's, she moved to San Francisco, where she enrolled at San Francisco City College. There she studied political science, and also met and married John, her husband of 48 years. In 1951, the Wares moved back to Seattle where Jeri would become known throughout the city and the Pacific Northwest as a respected community leader. During the next 46 years, Jeri championed issues such as employment and education. She urged city officials to address concerns about the lack of opportunities for many black Americans in Seattle; she helped establish cooperative nursery schools and tutorial programs at the University of Washington. Jeri was a charter member and chair of the Central Area School Council, and a member of the Seattle Human Rights Commission. My predecessor, Mike Lowry, recognized Jeri's talents; for almost a decade, she served the people of the Seventh Congressional District as a member of his District Office staff. Jeri's opinion commanded the respect and attention of elected officials in Seattle because she was a bridge builder and a role model. She helped many public officials to understand issues impacting the community by presenting the problems along with attainable solutions. Jeri Ware led by personal example: she showed the importance of family strength by standing by her son's side when he protested the Viet Nam war. She embodied tolerance by embracing and respecting others' opinions although they may have differed from hers. She taught determination by her life-long efforts to help our youth prepare for their future. Mr. Speaker, the Seventh Congressional District of Washington mourns the loss of Jeri Ware. Thanks to her, many strong bridges of friendship and understanding stand in Seattle today.

Mr. McDERMOTT

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, in about 15 minutes the conference committee on taxes will meet downstairs. I continue to be appalled by the Republican attempt to create the image of people who have children and who have worked and make $24,000 a year and calling them a welfare family. Now, I do not understand why a rookie policeman making $23,000, has two kids, is considered a welfare family and, therefore, is not entitled to the child tax credit. If there is any family that needs a tax break for its kids, it is families that are working and making less than $25,000. And to call those people, whether they be school teachers or nurse's aides or rookie policemen or road workers or whatever, anybody working ought to be eligible for the $500 tax credit. They are not on welfare.

Mr. McDERMOTT

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, if what the gentleman says is true, why when the Republicans show us graphs does it always look like their bill gives all the benefit to the middle class, when he says that in fact they give it mostly to people at the top? How do they do that with the graphs?

Mr. McDERMOTT. The issue is at full implementation. They never talk about what happens way out, 10 years or beyond. That is really what the gentleman is saying, is it not?

Mr. McDERMOTT. There is another issue that they keep raising with us, and that is that the rich people pay most of the taxes so why should they not get most of the benefit? That makes some sense, I guess, in some way, but when I go to my district, people say, well, it is the people at the bottom who need the benefit, not the people at the top. Where is the fairness? How does that work?

Mr. McDERMOTT. If the gentleman will yield further, putting in mind for me is the story I read in one of the major newspapers about the family of four living in a southern city, the father is a rookie policeman, makes $23,000 a year. Some people have been saying that the people that we want to give this child tax credit, that this is like giving welfare to them. This is a rookie policeman making $23,000. Under the Republican plan, he would get nothing. Under the President's plan he gets $767. I cannot understand how we cannot raise the issue of fairness, because it does not seem to me to call a policeman who is making $23,000 a welfare recipient because he is going to get an income credit, or a tax credit on the basis of his children. That to me is not a welfare person. That is a working person. I find that extraordinarily unfair.

Mr. McDERMOTT. Because they say he is not paying taxes. Are they not deliberately misleading people by saying he is not paying taxes when they mean he is not paying income taxes? He is paying FICA taxes. Those are Federal taxes.

Mr. McDERMOTT

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, I would reclaim my time and inquire of the gentlewoman, we are talking always about working people here?

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, it is not fair. Announcement by the Chairman

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, does the gentleman think that a policeman in Georgia could take a loan on his house and buy a big stock purchase?

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time again, if I could inquire of the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Jefferson], we were talking before about the whole issue of what a really smart person would do with this tax bill if they wanted to make a lot of money. Tell us about how one could play the game with this bill.

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, how could that be fair?

Mr. McDERMOTT. Paying taxes.

Mr. McDERMOTT. And she is working.

Mr. McDERMOTT. And she does not get a nickel.

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, maybe they needed the money that would have gone to this lady to give the tax breaks to the people who need the estate tax break up at the top.

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, I would say to the gentleman, just like the policeman in Georgia.

Mr. McDERMOTT. And pay FICA taxes. They are paying Federal taxes.

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, half the kids in California do not get the tax break.

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, the gentleman is talking now about families who are working, with children, working families?

Mr. McDERMOTT. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, does the gentlewoman think the average policeman making $23,000 has the money to put into an IRA?

Mr. McDERMOTT. Nothing? Wait a minute. The gentlewoman is telling me a police officer who makes $23,000 is going to get nothing out of this tax bill?