John McHugh

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to pay a compliment to the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm). They found themselves in a very difficult position on this issue in that they do not have technical jurisdiction; and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest), from my personal perspective, was very gracious in bringing some of us in and trying to work a way through this very difficult question and one over which, as the Chair has so, may I say, Mr. Chairman, eloquently and very thoroughly reviewed and ruled on the technicality of germaneness. But I want to associate myself with the words of the gentleman from Louisiana, who spoke at this very podium a few moments ago with respect to the great difference between technical rights and responsibilities. Several Members today, including the gentlewoman who preceded me, have spoken accurately about the fact that the current compact came about in ways which, in their perspective, was not adherent to the normal practices of this Congress, certainly this House. As I said before the Committee on Rules not so many hours ago, that is an issue on which we all agree. I have been involved with the compact since my days in the State senate in 1985, where I was fortunate enough, from my perspective, to have the opportunity to help write the first version of that; and I can tell you that I have no joy in the fact that the Northeast Compact exists as it does today through the process that was followed. But I would say to the gentlewoman, and I would say to my friend, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), who also accurately noted the process to create this dairy compact, how can you say and complain about no debate, and then act very deliberately today to prevent the debate? There are a lot of things that are points of disagreement on merits. We have heard a lot of, as I have heard so many times in the past, Mr. Chairman, claims that are laid as fact that are simply untrue; claims of effects on consumers, where reports from OMB, reports from the USDA, reports from various ACNielsen scanner data, and on and on and on, have rejected those arguments. We have heard about consumer impacts that are certainly and without question unfounded, and on and on and on. As much as I would not just welcome, I would relish the chance to engage in a debate on those merits so we can lay out the facts and let Members decide to vote as they will, we are precluded again this day. Speaking now as more of a plea, Mr. Chairman, I take no joy as well in the very fact that, as has been related here today, and giving credit to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin about the pain that dairy farmers are feeling across this Nation, including her State and her region, and, as I have been saying on the floor of this House now for at least the past 4 years, I very much want to work with any Member to try to do everything we can to help all dairy farmers, because they are alike, they are hard-working individuals, they need assistance, and, frankly, we need to help them, because they help us so much. But the inability for those of us to have the opportunity on the floor of the people's House for just a debate and just an honest, open vote to decide this issue, creates frustration that I doubt few can truly comprehend. It is with great sadness I stand here today, Mr. Chairman, but with no animosity, and, again, with a plea to those who are in a position to effect a change in the developments of this day, that we be provided that opportunity as Members rightfully elected from our individual districts. In closing, again, a word of appreciation and friendship to the chairman and the ranking member. Amendment No. 32 Offered by Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Madam Chairman, let me echo the words of many who have spoken already. I know we will hear more about the great spirit of unity that we have seen displayed in the formulation of this bill, and that is a compliment, of course, to the Members on both sides of the aisle. But a particular word of thanks and appreciation to the chairman, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), for their incredible leadership. Madam Chairman, given the truly tragic events of Tuesday, September 11, in my home State of New York and Northern Virginia at the Pentagon, and, of course, in Pennsylvania, it certainly is fitting, timely and essential that we consider this bill at this moment. Like so many others, I rise in strong support of this measure. I believe there are many, many reasons for each and every Member of this body to enthusiastically endorse the legislation when it is called for a vote. Most importantly, Madam Chairman, this bill represents a balanced approach to improving national security, providing significant initiatives in modernization, missile defense, readiness, research and development, military construction and procurement and that kind of balanced approach. For the long-term improvement to our national security, it is absolutely essential to our mission and certainly is essential to dealing most effectively with those developments of September 11. On the personnel side, I think that there are many exceptional provisions that certainly argue strongly in favor of this bill. I want to thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) who just spoke for his leadership as the ranking member and for working with all of us on both sides of the aisle to put these provisions together. Although you just heard a number of them, I think they bear repeating. Specifically, this bill builds on the administration's fiscal year 2002 budget request for military personnel and health care that causes this legislation to be the strongest, most robust proposal in years. It provides some $6.9 billion more for the military personnel accounts than we provided just last year. That is the biggest 1-year increase in military personnel accounts since 1985. It increases the health care operations accounts by $6 billion over what was authorized in fiscal year 2001. It reflects a commitment shared by DOD and the Congress to fully fund health care for our brave men and women in uniform that we are now looking to to lead us in this, this greatest of challenges. The legislation also provides for the largest military pay increase since 1982, including a 5 percent across-the-board increase for officers and a 6 percent across-the-board increase for all enlisted personnel. Further, the bill authorizes retirement-qualified members of the uniformed services to receive VA disability compensation. This would allow us for the first time to meaningfully deal with that concurrent receipt issue. I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), who has been such a leader in this provision. The bill also very quickly reduces out-of-pocket costs that we require our military men and women to pay from 15 percent to 11.3 percent over the next year, keeping faith with the plan that we initiated to eliminate those costs, and many other provisions with respect to improving TRICARE, health care for our men and women in uniform, building on the budget request for so many other kinds of personnel issue accounts that are so invaluable as we ask these men and women to go forward to defend our Nation. As we ask these men and women to go forward to defend our Nation and defend our interests, this bill I think signifies very strongly our shared commitment to them as we go forward on this day; and I certainly urge all of the Members to strongly support this measure when the vote is called.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart to salute Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude, the Army's deputy chief of staff of personnel, who is among the 74 Army personnel missing and presumed killed in the September 11th attack on the Pentagon. The horrible violence done to America by the terrorist attack of September 11th hits sharply home when we learn that good Americans, like Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude, the Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel, have been lost in this senseless act of terror. Tim, as he invariably introduced himself, was on duty at the Pentagon when a terrorist-piloted aircraft slammed into his office. America's Army has lost a dedicated professional. A true friend to America's soldiers is gone. The nation will miss this patriot. I knew General Maude professionally, as he often testified before my Subcommittee on personnel policy matters. But I am certain the intensity, creativity, and commitment that marked his professional life were indicators of the quality of his heart and soul, as well. I know he will be deeply missed by the many who called him friend. From my perspective, when the Army chose him to be its senior military personnel specialist 13 months ago, Tim Maude was the right man to meet the challenges the Army faced. Then, the future of the all- volunteer Army--active, Reserve, and National Guard--was seriously in question. Army recruiters were struggling to attract sufficient numbers of quality men and women, and recruiting advertising appeared increasingly ineffective. Understaffed Army divisions faced the challenge of having too few people to train properly, and the difficulty of dealing with increasingly more frequent deployments with an insufficient number of personnel. Pay was inadequate, and the Army appeared ill-positioned to effectively recruit America's future military heroes. Today, that bleak picture is dramatically changing for the better, in large part because Tim Maude found the methods, means, and support within the Army, the Department of Defense, and on Capitol Hill to turn things around. Throughout his 34-year Army career--from the day he enlisted to when he became the chief of personnel--Tim Maude served in a series of assignments that groomed him to successfully meet the Army's most complicated personnel challenges. His list of accomplishments is long. His contribution to the Army will be lasting. Quite simply, he made a difference. There are no words that can lessen the sorrow his family, friends, and colleagues are experiencing. It is always difficult to cope when someone is taken before their time, but the sense of loss is somehow amplified by the tragedy of these horrific circumstances. I hope that his family is comforted by the knowledge that he was admired, respected, and appreciated by all of us who knew him on Capitol Hill. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting General Maude. We will miss him.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, as a life-long resident of Northern New York, I have watched the 24th Congressional District thrive as a bustling arena of agricultural production, aluminum processing, automobile parts fabrication, paper-making, tourism and textile manufacturing. Regrettably, in the last decade or so, the trends have been altered dramatically and the manufacturing sector--particularly in the Northeast--has diminished considerably. Furthermore, our small family farmers have seen a dramatic decline in the price they receive for their hard-earned production, forcing many of them to abandon their beloved way of life. The statistics, unfortunately, bear this out; earlier this month it was reported that Northern New York continues to have the State's highest unemployment rate. While the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate was 4 percent and the national rate was 4.1 percent, the rate in the ten counties in my rural Northern and Central New York District ranged as high as 9.1 percent. Mr. Speaker, we are a proud and independent people who have long relied on our ingenuity and integrity to make our way through life. While we have accomplished much through our resourcefulness, there is more that can, and must, be achieved to return greater prosperity to what we call ``God's country.'' That is why I rise today to introduce a legislative package of rural economic development initiatives that I believe will create at least the initial incentives to bring new business and industry opportunities--and the attendant job creation--to our rural communities. First, the use of high-speed Internet access is no longer limited to the wealthy or so-called computer techies. It has fast become a mainstay of everyday life, particularly in the business world. Accordingly, the first measure I am introducing, the Rural America Digital Accessibility Act, contains four incentives to help bridge the digital divide in rural America. The technology bond initiative would provide a new type of tax incentive to help state and local governments invest in a telecommunications structure and partner with the private sector to expand broadband deployment in their communities, especially underserved rural areas. The broadband expansion grant initiative complements these bonds by utilizing grants and loan guarantees in underserved rural communities to accelerate private-sector deployment of high-speed connections so that our residents can access the Internet with a local, rather than a long-distance, phone call. The third initiative targets funding for research to increase rural America's broadband accessibility and make it more cost-effective. With six four-year universities and colleges and seven two-year colleges within my District's boundaries, it only makes good sense for us to tap the expertise of our nation's educators to assist in our endeavors. Accordingly, the fourth incentive will help small- and medium-sized businesses connect with educational institutions that can provide technological assistance designed to improve the business' productivity, enhance its competitiveness and promote economic growth. Second, to help our farm community, I am introducing the Agricultural Producers Marketing Assistance Act. This measure would establish Agricultural Innovation Centers on a demonstration basis and provide desperately-needed technical expertise to assist producers in forming producer-owned, value-added endeavors. It would also help level the financial playing field for producers by providing a tax credit for eligible farmers who participate in these activities. In this way, farmers and producer groups can earn more by reaching up the agricultural marketing chain to capture more of the profits their product generates. Lastly, but certainly not least, I am introducing the Rural America Job Assistance and Creation Act. This a comprehensive measure designed to address a host of issues that have been identified as problematic for residents and businesses in rural America. Because many small businesses lack the financial capacity to support the training of highskilled workers, this legislation establishes regional skills alliances to help identify needed skills and develop and implement effective training solutions. It also encourages cooperation between educational institutions and entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas but who cannot afford the legal and consultant fees necessary to convert their concepts into reality. Another incentive involves an expansion of the work opportunity tax credit to include small businesses located in, and individuals living in, communities experiencing population loss and low job growth rates such as those found in rural Northern and Central New York. Approximately 100 such communities would be designated, subsidizing some 8,000 jobs in each area. Mr. Speaker, when employees face layoffs or the shutdown of their place of employment, thereby losing some or all of their family income, the one thing that provides them some small sense of security is severance pay. While this is without a doubt a welcome helping hand in a time of need, unfortunately, the recipients often lose a third of their severance pay to taxes because they are pushed into a higher tax bracket. My legislation excludes from gross income up to $25,000 of any qualified severance payment, limited to payments of $150,000 or lower. When a company that employs 100 or more workers makes the decision that it can no longer stay in business or must reduce its workforce, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, Act requires 60 days advance notice of a major layoff or plant closing. As part of the notification requirement, current law states that notice be served upon, among others, the applicable State dislocated worker unit and the chief elected official of the appropriate unit of local government. I believe we must expand the notification process to include, as well, the appropriate Federal- and State-elected officials, i.e., U.S. Representatives and Senators and State Legislators. The expansion included in my legislation serves two purposes: (1) to alert these officials to the situation and the impact it will have on workers and the community and (2) to provide these officials with the opportunity to assist in determining if State and/or Federal resources are available and can be utilized to prevent closure or layoffs and the loss of employment opportunities. As publicly-elected officials, we have access to many avenues that may lend assistance at this troubling and uncertain time. Mr. Speaker, my Congressional District borders the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and we consider Canadians to be not only our neighbors to the North, but our friends, as well. One valuable benefit of this association is the symbiotic relationship we have nurtured in the area of economic development and job creation. Unfortunately, the current immigration visa procedures for H-1 B professional speciality workers often complicate the employment related travel of Canadians to the United States and preclude what should be a seamless and unencumbered process. In September 2000, the General Accounting Office reported that Immigration and Naturalization Service decisions about the priority of H-1 B applications in comparison to other types of petitions handled by INS have resulted in delays of several months in processing employers' requests for H-1 B workers. Delays of this nature mean that businesses across the nation, but particularly in Northern New York, are placed at a disadvantage. In my border communities, workers oftentimes travel mere miles to cross the border to provide the skilled labor needed by American companies. In Another component of the package I am introducing will give statutory authority to the already-existing National Rural Development Partnership and State Rural Development Councils. The NRDP and its principal organizational component, the SRDCs, were established a decade ago to help rural community leaders, government policy makers, agency program administrators, rural development practitioners, and citizens address a long-standing problem--the lack of coordination in identifying rural community needs, planning solutions to meet those needs, and implementing those solutions. State Rural Development Councils currently exist in 40 States, including the State of New York. While neither the Partnership nor the Councils make policy and generally do not administer programs, the key to their success has always been collaboration--bringing together funds, knowledge and individuals to assist rural communities. They have helped generate local solutions to rural development needs and a specific authorization would help establish a dedicated and predictable funding source for their activities. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. travel and tourism industry is one of America's largest employers and my Congressional District is no exception to that statistic. Northern New York State contains some of the most scenic and environmentally-unique lands in the entire nation: The Adirondack Mountains, the St. Lawrence River Valley and Seaway, the Champlain Valley and the Thousand Islands region. Tourism is a critical component of our economy and is universally recognized as a significant contributor to the region's visibility, economic development, and overall quality of life. But the full potential of the industry remains untapped. Some of the factors that have limited the benefits to be realized from the tourism industry include the vastness of the region, the compartmentalization of its assets and resources and, perhaps most importantly, the lack of regular data upon which to base policy or marketing decisions. While considerable effort has been undertaken at the State and local levels to promote development and jobs for the region, as well as to market and promote the abundance of tourist related attractions and events, we continue to lack integration of current economic development efforts with the tourism potential of the region. It is for these reasons that I am proposing establishment of the Northern New York Travel and Tourism Research Center at the William C. Merwin Rural Services Institute at the State University of New York at Potsdam, New York. The Center would fill the critical deficiency we face and play a crucial role in the economic revitalization of Northern New York. The final element of my job creation and assistance legislation mandates the General Accounting Office to examine and report to Congress on how best to address the long-term problems resulting from a lack of infrastructure and a lack of venture capital in rural areas. The study will focus on the need for expanding existing economic development and small business loan/grant programs and will include tourism and agriculture-related projects. The study will help us better identify the problems that presently exist and evaluate how infrastructure, venture capital and federal programs can be better utilized to enhance rural areas. Mr. Speaker, during the nearly nine years I have been honored and privileged to represent the residents of Northern and Central New York in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have joined in a wide variety of efforts to help revitalize rural America--from tax relief for individuals and the business community, protection and enhancement of the environment and addressing our energy problems to preserving our health care system, promoting fair international trade and enhancing transportation opportunities. Most recently, since the start of the 107th Congress in January, I have spearheaded several efforts to help rural America and its citizens. I am involved in legislative initiatives that would assist our communities recover and develop property known as brownfields, and are designed to complement broader, more comprehensive brownfields legislation moving through Congress. The Brownfields Redevelopment Incentives Act provides direct federal funding, loans and loan guarantees, and tax incentives to increase the amount of support available to assess and clean pieces of abandoned, idled, or underused property where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse is complicated by environmental contamination or perceived contamination. I have also joined with several of my House colleagues from New York in introducing the Acid Rain Control Act. By reducing sulfur and nitrogen emissions, the measure would result in more than $60 billion in annual benefits by providing improvements to human health, visibility, aquatic and forest ecosystems, and buildings and cultural structures. At the same time, the EPA estimates costs associated with implementation of the Act to be about $5 billion. I think it is safe to say that this is the kind of cost-effective legislation we strive to achieve, with 12 times the benefits for the costs involved. A third initiative I introduced earlier this year, the Self-Employed Health Affordability Act, provides for the full deductibility of health insurance costs for the self-employed. Current law provides for 100 percent deductibility in 2003, but we need to make the change immediately in order to bring relief to the many hard-working small business and farm families who must pay their own health insurance premiums. Coupled with estate tax reform, rate reductions and pension improvements, among other tax code changes recently enacted into law, this is another step toward helping our taxpayers keep more of their hard-earned money and decide for themselves how it should be spent. Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, my constituents are proud and resourceful. They, too, have continued to take the initiative to help themselves and their communities develop the tools necessary to fulfill our mutual goals. The economic development package I am introducing today is simply one more step, albeit of a more comprehensive nature, that I am taking in a long line of legislative initiatives designed to assist our communities manage the wide-ranging challenges faced by rural America in the 21st century.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, with a final word of appreciation to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) and a final word of deepest sorrow and deepest appreciation to the families of these fallen heroes, we can never undo the tragedy that they have witnessed. We can never ameliorate the pain that I know is with them each and every day. But I would hope, and I know my colleagues join me in this hope, that with the adoption of this resolution, they will take from our action some solace in the fact that we do not forget that this Congress remains committed to the resolution of justice and to bringing to trial and to a proper conviction those who have wrought this tragedy upon such innocence. Madam Speaker, I again urge all of our colleagues to join us in support of this concurrent resolution.

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson). As the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) and I have both mentioned, we are collectively very grateful to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) for having the concern and enacting the initiative to bring this resolution to us today on this very sad anniversary.

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 161) honoring the 19 United States servicemen who died in the terrorist bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia on June 25, 1996, as amended.

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) honoring the commitment and sacrifice of the 19 servicemembers killed 5 years ago today on June 25, 1996, when a terrorist truck bomb demolished the Khobar Towers barracks in Saudi Arabia in which they were stationed. This resolution should remind us that these brave Americans then, as well as those serving in uniform today, willingly risked their lives to defend United States' interests and the freedom and the values that we all enjoy as citizens. Such commitment imposes on the rest of us an obligation to ensure that we do not break faith with those who serve and that we respond to such commitment by resolving to provide the resources necessary for our military forces to successfully carry out the missions assigned to them. For the families and loved ones of those who died on this day, this resolution signals our continued understanding of the pain and loss that they feel and that the sacrifices made by these 19 men and women, some of America's best and brightest, will not, cannot, be forgotten. Finally, we as a Nation must understand that terrorism directed at Americans will continue for the foreseeable future. Five years ago, terrorists killed 19 Americans residing in Khobar Towers; 8 months ago, they killed 17 aboard the U.S.S. Cole. In the face of this terrorism, we must be vigilant to prevent or reduce the probability of it occurring, and relentless in the pursuit of those who perpetrate such horrendous actions. While I am pleased that Federal indictments have been issued in connection with the Khobar Towers attack, I and many others join me in a mutual concern that not all of those responsible for the attack have yet been identified. America should not rest until all the perpetrators have been brought to justice. Madam Speaker, I want to pay particular tribute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) for his work in putting together and advancing this worthy resolution. His commitment, I know, is shared by many in this House, certainly many on the Subcommittee on Military Personnel; the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher), the ranking member; the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder); and so many others on both sides of the aisle who recognize that this sort of resolution knows no party. Rather, in joint celebration of lives that were cut off too short and in solemn resolution of a recognition of the loss of those lives, we join together. Madam Speaker, I would certainly urge all of my colleagues in the House today to join me in supporting this very, very worthy piece of action. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 161.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the contributions of Peggy Rabideau, Brad Ott, Noelle Cannon, and Beth Besaw--teacher, principal, reading specialist, and school nurse, respectively--at Morrisonville Elementary School in my New York 24th Congressional District. On June 29, Peggy, Brad, Noelle, and Beth will be honored at the Time Capsule 2000 Dedication Ceremony taking place at Red Cross Square here in Washington. For the last five years, under Peggy, Brad, Noelle and Beth's supervision and leadership, students at Morrisonville Elementary School have been involved in a Junior Red Cross program. Morrisonville is the only school in the area involved in such a program. In 1996, the group was presented with an award by the New York State Red Cross for holding a fundraiser to help families impacted by the flood in Morrisonville. The group had hoped to raise $10,000, but, in fact, raised $22,000 to help the victims of the flood. That same year, the group designated January as Community Contributor month. In the second year of this program, the group made ``comfort packs'' containing books and stuffed animals, among other items, and contributed them to the local hospital. The group has also worked with the Humane Society and, in 2000, sent 12 cartons to Nicaragua containing food and other supplies. The group's contribution to the time capsule will include a ``comfort pack,'' a copy of the 1996 award the group received, T-shirts designed by two of the students, a button that was made for the ice storm volunteers, and the names of 22 children and their social security numbers so that they can be contacted in 50 years when the time capsule is opened. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to recognize the contributions Peggy, Brad, Noelle, Beth, and their students have made to their community. Theirs is truly a tremendous accomplishment, and, on behalf of the community which they serve, I offer them my congratulations and thanks.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lt. General Daniel W. Christman--the 55th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy--upon his retirement from the Army. As a member of the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors, I want to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to General Christman for his long and distinguished service to the United States Army and our nation. At the end of this month, General Christman retires after serving 36 dedicated years in the Army during times of peace and war. In many respects, General Christman's military career has brought him full circle. He began his active duty service in the military in 1965 after graduating first in his class from West Point. On June 8th, he relinquishes command after serving five years as the Commanding General and Superintendent of the Academy. Throughout his career, General Christman has occupied a number of senior executive and key command positions and has earned numerous military decorations. General Christman has accomplished what most of us seek to do in our lifetimes--he leaves wherever he has been a better place than he found it. Serving on the Board of Visitors during General Christman's tenure, I have witnessed first-hand the positive difference his leadership has made for one of America's finest institutions. General Christman has enhanced the environment in which the Academy's cadets live, learn and prepare to become tomorrow's leaders. May they continue to learn from his example. General Christman exemplifies the qualities that we seek in our leaders--selfless service, dignity, compassion and honor. In his final command brief General Christman stated that the Academy has the responsibility of `deepening this understanding of what it means to be an inspirational leader.' General Christman has been such a leader. And to him, we owe our sincere appreciation and gratitude for all that he has done in the service of our nation.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time on the legislative day of Wednesday, February 28, 2001, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules relating to the following measures: H.R. 256, H.R. 558, H.R. 621, and H. Con. Res. 27.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5309) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2305 Minton Road in West Melbourne, Florida, as the ``Ronald W. Reagan Post Office Building.''

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon). As I mentioned earlier, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) was owed the thanks, I think, of this entire body for taking the initiative in bringing this bill to the floor here tonight. I commend him for that.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to say once again that I thank the gentleman from Florida and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown), a member of the Florida delegation, for their efforts in this regard. I urge all of our colleagues to join us in final passage of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have had the honor of speaking on dozens of these initiatives over the past year, and each one has been an honor, and each designee, I think, brings a special quality and a special attribute before us that we can all admire. This first bill, the Ronald Reagan Post Office, obviously seeks to honor an individual that presents a challenge in that regard. It would be impossible, certainly, for me to fully describe, even adequately describe, the contributions, the remarkable life that this man brought and even to this day offers to each and every one of us as an example of the American way, from his time overcoming what I think most people would fairly describe as a challenging family background, to become the first graduate of college in his family, through his remarkable contributions to sports fans across this country and his days as a sports broadcaster, to his very illustrative and, I think, very entertaining time in the movie industry, and thereafter, of course, in his remarkable contributions in the public sector as the Governor and as the President of the United States. I think I would simply say that, even at this moment in his lifetime, Ronald Reagan is a story that we can all learn from and we can all build upon. As our President, he came into office at a time of some disillusionment, a time when I think many Americans were questioning, not just themselves, but the role of this great country. He gave us hope and he gave us confidence in ourselves and in this Nation once more. The power of his words, the power of his leadership were felt virtually every day in which he resided in the White House. It would be impossible as well to describe in detail the achievements that he put forward, the crushing of Communism, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, and so much more. I think for my part in this, Mr. Speaker, I would simply say that, in 1994, after several years of riding and traveling in silence, at that time, former President Reagan, who was known as a great communicator, wrote a handwritten letter informing this Nation that he had the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Perhaps the essence of President Reagan's life is captured in his own words. I would simply read them to my colleagues: ``In this land of dreams fulfilled, where greater dreams may be imagined, nothing is impossible. No victory is beyond our reach. No glory will ever be too great. The world's hopes rest with America's future. Our work will pale before the greatness of American champions in the 21st century.'' Those lines written by the Great Communicator himself, I think, encapsulizes so very well the dream that he helped us to rediscover. I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon), who worked with the entire Florida delegation in bringing their cosponsorship to this naming. I would add as a final word a conversation that I had with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) just prior to coming to the floor about why he chose and decided to pursue a naming of a postal facility in the State of Florida. He said to me, ``There are going to be a lot of children in the years ahead that will look on that building and ask the question, who is Ronald Reagan? And I want them to know who this great American was.'' I cannot think of a better reason or a better tribute to honor this great man. Our congratulations, of course, go to him and our support and best wishes to his family, particularly his lovely wife, Nancy. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 5309.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to give a final urging to all our colleagues to join us in supporting this very worthy piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), the sponsor of the House version of this bill, and who, as I mentioned, we are indebted to for his work in honoring one of our former colleagues, Bob Walker.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), another member of the Pennsylvania delegation who I know worked with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) in bringing this bill forward, and who, I know as well not only served with Bob Walker but is someone who considers him to this day a friend. (Mr. GOODLING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill, as has been noted, was indeed introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown). And, as is our custom, all the Members of the House delegation from the State of Florida support this legislation. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) for her work and for her efforts in bringing this naming bill to the floor here this evening. I would note for the record, Mr. Speaker, the legislation is amended to correct the name of the facility from ``post office building'' to ``post office,'' as determined after review by the United States Postal Service. I am certain that the sponsor who is pleased to be here with us tonight will recount in some detail the life and the achievements of Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy. But I do want to say that this individual I think measures up extraordinarily well to the caliber of previous nominees, folks who labor in their communities who go about their lives in a way to try to make a difference and try to improve the lives of those around them. Certainly Mr. Kennedy has a long and very illustrative and illustrious record in that regard, working for the poor and the underprivileged, associating himself with so many organizations like the NAACP, Meals on Wheels, the United Negro College Fund, and on and on. I would say that, although he died earlier this year, I am sure the people of Orlando will remember him fondly and remember him as well as a hard-working, popular public servant. I think it is a very, very fitting tribute to a very, very distinguished individual. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4399) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 440 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, Florida, as the ``Arthur `Pappy' Kennedy Post Office Building,'' as amended.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4399.