John McHugh

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton], the chairman of the full committee and, as we have heard here today, one of the instrumental players in this victory here today.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1585) to allow postal patrons to contribute to funding for breast-cancer research through the voluntary purchase of certain specially issued U.S. postage stamps, as amended.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1585, as amended.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you and our colleagues of the passing of my good friend, Robert C. McEwen of Ogdensburg, NY, on Sunday, June 15. Bob McEwen served as a Member of the House of Representatives from northern New York from 1965 until 1980. Prior to that, he served as a member of the New York State senate for 11 years. Elected to the 89th Congress, Bob McEwen first served on the Committee on Public Works and the Committee on House Administration. As he gained seniority, he served with distinction as a member of the Committee on Appropriations. At the time of his retirement, he served as the ranking minority member of its Subcommittee on Military Construction. Bob McEwen was not the kind of man who could easily retire from public service, however. President Ronald Reagan called him back into public service in 1981, appointing him to serve as the U.S. chairman of the International Joint Commission, an assignment he undertook with enthusiasm. I feel privileged to have occupied his seat in the New York State senate and am honored to represent today the district which he served with such distinction for so many years. Bob McEwen served in elected office for three quarters of his adult life and never lost an election. In making his retirement announcement in 1980, Bob McEwen said, ``Serving in an elected office is more than a way of making a living, it is a way of life.'' He dedicated his life to public service and exemplified the very best traditions of this institution. He is survived by his wife, Peg, and two daughters, Mrs. Nancy McEwen Wax of Easton, CT, and Mrs. Mary McEwen Fitzpatrick of Lawrenceville, NJ. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that three members of Bob McEwen's original staff are still serving his North Country Congressional District as members of my staff, Cary R. Brick, my chief of staff; Miss Donna M. Bell, my administrative secretary, and Mrs. Joann Ellis Humphries, my caseworker and office manager, all served Bob McEwen with distinction and join me in expressing our most sincere sympathies to the McEwen family. Mr. Brick delivered a eulogy for Bob McEwen at the interment service which was held on Friday in Ogdensburg. It spoke eloquently of the high regard in which he was held by all of those who were privileged to know him. Mr. Brick's remarks follow: Tribute to Robert C. McEwen (By Cary R. Brick) Thirty-seven days ago, many of us gathered at the Robert C. McEwen Customs House, the oldest building in America occupied by agencies of the Federal government, to commemorate National Historic Preservation Week. I was honored to have been asked to participate in that ceremony. I took the opportunity to speak about the man whose name graces the historic structure, our friend, Bob McEwen. Characteristic of Bob, he called both my wife and my mother the next day to tell him how pleased he was with the event, and being the consummate gentleman that he was, added some gracious comments that any wife or mother would want to hear about her husband or son. He called me, as well, to thank me. I remember his words: ``Mr. Brick,'' he said, ``it is not every man who gets to hear his own eulogy, thank you for letting me hear mine. I hope I won't give you reason to change your opinion of me when the time comes.'' I responded by telling him he couldn't change anyone's feelings for him! I didn't consciously prepare those remarks of 37 days ago as a eulogy. I prepared them because I wanted Bob McEwen to hear what I, and all of his friends, thought of him. But, I guess Bob knew I would repeat some of those thoughts when the time came. One of the displays in the Customs House notes ``historic buildings serve as symbols of the patriotism and pride Americans feel for their country.'' I asked then and I ask again today that we acknowledge that historic building as a permanent monument to one of Ogdensburg's most prominent native sons, a gentleman who spent more than a quarter of a century serving in legislative bodies--11 years in the State Senate and 16 in the United States Congress. May that building which Congress determined in 1980 should bear his name always serve as a memorial to his public service. May it stand strong and with dignity and class as he did for so many years. He served more than three-fourths of his adult life in the service of New York and the nation. Bob was an American patriot and a North Country treasure whose senior statesman status was deserved because it was earned through 16 successive victories in special, primary and general elections. There might have been 17 or 18 or more, but Bob McEwen knew when it was time to come home to stay. Today, as Bob has made his final journey, we join together to celebrate his life, his contributions and his lessons. Bob McEwen stood as a symbol of what makes our democracy survive. He was selected by his neighbors to be their voice in government, and he met their mandate with distinction. Success came easily to him because, as several newspapers have reported in the past few days, he never forgot where he came from and who he represented. He knew his district, whether it was one county or ten. His elections took him to Albany and Washington, but he never forgot his roots. Bob knew that when the time came for him to answer his final roll call, as a veteran and former Member of the House of Representatives, he could be interred beside some of our nation's greatest national heroes, statesmen, Supreme Court Justices and other veterans from every American war in Arlington National Cemetery. He knew that he was entitled to an interment with pomp and circumstance. But Bob was a man of our North Country. He wanted it simple. He wanted it here. And we honor his wishes today. Had he let us, we could have filled Ogdensburg's largest house of worship to the rafters, and then some. He wanted it private and brief. And we respect his wishes today. We do so just as Bob respected the people of the North Country--the men and women who, he liked to joke, had the opportunity to renew his employment contract every two years. Bob McEwen reflected the best of our public servants. His honesty, his personal integrity and high morals and love for his family, combined with his respect for others-- even those who may not have shared his beliefs or character-- reflect what our Founding Fathers had in mind when they created the experiment which we call the American democracy. I ask you to join me in thinking of the Customs House on the shore of Bob's beloved St. Lawrence as a monument to his countless contributions to the North Country. There is not a community or institution in the vast landscape between Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain which has not felt the influence of Bob McEwen. It was Bob McEwen who singlehandedly laid the groundwork for the creation of the new Fort Drum which occurred after he retired from Congress. He built the foundation upon which Dave Martin and the Army created the only military installation in the United States built from scratch since World War II. In an April, 1985, letter to his successor he called the new Fort Drum ``the project that had been my greatest hope for our North Country.'' At this very hour, as we pay tribute to Bob, John McHugh and his colleagues in Congress are continuing that effort by debating the 1998 defense bill which contains nearly $25 million for additional Fort Drum development. Bob McEwen served in the Congress during a remarkable and exciting time in American history. He went to Congress in 1965 when Lyndon Johnson was transforming John Kennedy's New Frontier into his own Great Society, creating hundreds of new social programs and expanding the role of the federal government to address every social ill. Like his neighbors back home, he supported some and opposed others. He feared that some of them could contribute to uncontrollable deficits for future generations. Time has proven him to be a man of foresight. He witnessed the expansion of our involvement in Vietnam and stood behind our servicemen even when the tide was turning against their involvement in an endless war on the other side of the globe. He grieved when his President lost the faith of the American people. He thought there was no greater offense than abusing the trust of the people. Bob McEwen never served in the majority party in the Congress, but there was never any doubt that he served the interests of the majority of his constituency--which he saw as his extended family. To his immediate family, I say we all share in your loss. You have lost a husband, father and grandfather. We have lost a friend. To Peg, we are grateful that you came into Bob's life when you did and for being a devoted wife and partner. Illness presented many challenges to Bob in recent years--challenges which would have devastated a weaker man. Peg, you were there to provide the emotional support which allowed Bob to fight his illnesses with the same vigor that he demonstrated in every campaign. You were challenged, as well, by illness and demonstrated that there was always reason to hope for better days. To Nancy and Mary: Bob so enjoyed your success as career women and the successes of your husbands. Having lost your wonderful mother, a warm and grand lady, you already know that the loss of a parent creates a void which can only be filled by memories. Your father frequently talked about his father, a man from whom he drew great inspiration and learned many lessons. Your father was a student of his family's heritage. I recall walking through the McEwen cemetery in the Town of Lawrence with him one summer evening and listening to him describe the life and times of each of your ancestors buried there. (To really know Bob McEwen, you had to know how to listen!) Your father understood that the McEwen family tree has very deep roots, its branches are ever expanding, its leaves sometimes colorful, as was he, and takes its strength from the rich earth beneath it. As you mourn the loss of your father, you will draw upon the strength of that heritage and you will find peace. You are, after all, Bob McEwen's daughters. I can think of no greater tribute to both of you. To all the McEwen grandchildren, I say you are blessed. I hope in the years to come, as you become young adults and mothers and fathers, you will study your grandfather's career, learn from it, and if you are so inclined, emulate it in any way you can while maintaining your individuality. Whatever you do will make him proud. Lastly, to my mentor and our friend Bob: Speaking for all of those who were privileged to work for and with you in Albany and Washington, I thank you for allowing us the privilege of being a part of your team. We are better people for having had that honor. We're not here to say goodbye, as solemn as this moment is for all of us. We are here to remember you, to celebrate your life and to find joy in having walked the road of life with you. Our memories of you shall live forever. We will pay tribute to you by cherishing your ideals and your principles. May God grant that your memory ever inspire us. And may peace and bliss be granted to you until we meet again.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Chairman, let me begin my adding my words of deep appreciation both to the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Spence], the chairman of the full committee, and the gentleman from California [Mr. Dellums], the ranking member, for their very diligent work on this particular piece of legislation. As we have heard already, a matter as complex as this brings about some disagreement. I think it is a tribute to these two gentlemen particularly but also the entire committee that we have been able to craft such, I think, a fair and balanced piece of legislation in this particular bill. I would like to spend my time, Mr. Chairman, on a portion of the bill on which I think and I hope we can all agree. That is the provision relating to morale, welfare, and recreation activities of the Department of Defense. Let me also add my words of appreciation to all of the members of the MWR panel, Democrat and Republican alike, particularly to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Meehan], the ranking member, for their constructive and always, always bipartisan participation in the panel's work on H.R. 1119. The Special Oversight Panel on Morale, Welfare, and Recreation of the Committee on National Security considered several issues that year that have significant implications for the military resale system, for service MWR activities, and, most importantly, for service members and their families. The panel's goal this year, as it has been in the past, has been to ensure the health of the military resale system, the commissaries and exchanges, in such a way that we preserve the benefit and quality of life for our service men and women who make such great sacrifices in order to serve us and to serve our country. Perhaps just as important at a time when we are, as we all know, under increased pressure to do more with less, the panel has tried to make the MWR system more efficient and at the same time more cost- effective. I believe the provisions in this particular bill represent a significant step in achieving these objectives. I certainly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill for that reason. Let me highlight, Mr. Chairman, very briefly some of the more significant MWR provisions in the bill. First, in partial response to some of the actions of the department over the last year, we have included a provision that would tighten up existing merchandise and pricing requirements at commissaries. Other provisions in the bill make more rigorous the requirements for brand-name commercial items sold at commissaries to be acquired noncompetitively and transfer administrative responsibility for MWR programs to the office of the Comptroller of the Department of Defense. We have also increased the financial management flexibility of the Defense Commissary Agency by expanding the categories of revenues that may be deposited in that organization's operational account. Finally, Mr. Chairman, we have included provision giving the department the authority to go forward with public-private ventures as long as those activities will benefit MWR activities and its patrons. By supporting this initiative, Mr. Chairman, all Members of this House can clearly demonstrate our commitment to the men and women in uniform. It is a good bill, good provisions. I strongly urge its acceptance.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], chairman of the Committee on International Relations. (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. McHUGH. 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. I would only say in closing that we have heard today a very extraordinary outpouring of warmth and love for two very deserving gentlemen. Perhaps it is the air, perhaps it is the water or some other factor but it is obvious that Indiana has the ability to produce some extraordinary representatives to this great body. No two finer examples in my humble opinion exist than both John Myers, the subject of this bill, and Andy Jacobs, the subject of the previous one. Like the previous bill, Mr. Speaker, I would strongly urge all of our colleagues to support this measure and give Mr. Myers a very deserved piece of recognition and tribute.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to yet another gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Pease]. (Mr. PEASE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to yet another gentleman from Indiana [Mr. McIntosh].

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Buyer].

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton], the full committee chairman and, as I said, the chief sponsor of both of these very meritorious pieces of legislation.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as in the previous bill, H.R. 1058 was also introduced by the gentleman from Indiana, Dan Burton, and it too is supported by the entire Indiana delegation pursuant to committee policy. As we have heard, Mr. Speaker, this legislation designates that the facility of the U.S. Postal Service under construction at 150 West Margaret Drive in Terre Haute, IN, be named as the ``John T. Myers Post Office Building.'' Mr. Speaker, I think it is fair to say that this afternoon is at least in part a Hoosier celebration. It is because John Myers, too, is a true son of that great State. He was born in Covington, IN, in 1927 and received his B.S. degree from Indiana State University in 1951. He joined the Army in 1945 and served in the European Theater during World War II. He remained in the Army Reserve from 1946 through 1967. John is today a banker and, as I heard him relate personally to his friends just moments ago off the floor, the thing apparently he loves to do most, a farmer. He owns and operates a grain and livestock farm in Fountain County, IN, where he is a member of the Masons, the Elks, and Lions Club. John Myers was first elected by the Seventh District in Indiana to serve in the 90th Congress and decided to retire after the 104th Congress. During his long congressional career, he served on the Committee on Appropriations and was chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development for 2 years. He was ranking member of the Committee on House Ethics in the 1980's. John also served as ranking member of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service in 1993 and 1994, which makes this designation even more fitting. Mr. Speaker, as with our previous designee, John Myers is a man who really exemplifies what is good about public service and what is good about this House of Representatives. He is a gentleman to whom we can all look for friendship and all look for kind and guiding words when it was most needed. We, like with Andy Jacobs, miss John Myers' presence dearly. But certainly I want to join with all of our colleagues in not just helping to bestow this honor but in wishing him the very best for a long, healthy, and productive retirement. With that, 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. 1058) to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service under construction at 150 West Margaret Drive in Terre Haute, IN, as the ``John T. Myers Post Office Building.''

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Buyer].

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for, as always, his input and his support and his assistance on not just this but the other bills that the subcommittee has considered. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton], chairman of the full committee, chief sponsor of this bill.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1057 was introduced by the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton], and, as required by the committee policy, supported by the entire Indiana delegation. Mr. Speaker, the original bill designated the Circle City Station Post Office as the ``Andrew Jacobs, Jr. Post Office Building.'' However, the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight approved the amendment proposed by the Subcommittee on Postal Service designating the facility housing the operation of the Indiana Main Post Office as a more appropriate building to bear the name of ``Andrew Jacobs, Jr.'' Mr. Speaker, as most of our colleagues in this House know full well, Andy Jacobs is and has always been a product of Indianapolis. After finishing high school in 1949 in that city, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean conflict. He returned thereafter to his home State and received his B.S. degree from Indiana University and his LL.B. from Indiana University School of Law. He practiced law in that State and in that city, and he was elected to the Indiana State House of Representatives at age 26. He served in the 89th Congress and was a Member from 1965 to 1973. As he was not reelected to the 93d Congress, he did return to Indianapolis once again to teach and practice law. He was elected again to the 94th Congress and served through the 104th Congress thereafter. During his tenure he chaired the Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Speaker, those of us who remember Andy remember him for his political unorthodoxy. He returned tens of thousands of dollars to the U.S. Treasury from his salary, veterans disability payments, mileage reimbursements and office allowance. In fact, an Indiana newspaper once described him as ``refreshingly unpredictable.'' He is reported to have said of himself, ``I am not the best go along in the House. Frankly, sometimes I do not get along very well.'' That may be true in that self-observation, Mr. Speaker, but I am sure all of us agree that Andy Jacobs got along very, very well. He was one of the most respected and certainly one of the most admired Members that this House has seen in many, many years. I certainly think that this naming bill is a very appropriate way in which the Members of this House and the people of this Nation can say gratefully to this gentleman, thank you for all that you have done. I strongly urge passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill--H.R. 1057--to designate the building in Indianapolis, IN, which houses the operations of the Circle City Station Post Office as the ``Andrew Jacobs, Jr. Post Office Building,'' as amended.

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to, very briefly, in closing, say that I think the words spoken here today by the gentlemen from Indiana, Chairman Burton, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Buyer, and others, underscore in what great esteem Mr. Jacobs is held by Members of this House. And I am sure that equal esteem will be forthcoming for the Member who is honored through the next bill. With that, I close by urging all of the Members to support this very worthy and very meritorious piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bills just considered, H.R. 1057 and H.R. 1058.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the birthday of the United States Army. June 14, 1997 marks the Army's 222 years of service to the United States of America. For 222 years, our Army's purpose has been to fight and win our nation's wars. America's Army exists to give the nation decisive victory on the battlefield and wherever else the nation needs them. Decisive victory today means more than simply destroying the army of an opponent. It can take many forms: saving lives by producing and delivering clean water to Rwandan refugees, restoring democracy in Haiti, or keeping the peace in Bosnia. Whatever the mission, the nation turns to the Army for help during crises, and the Army delivers success. The key to the Army's success has been its willingness to change, to meet the world as it is, while remaining constant in its selfless service and its dedication to duty, honor and country. These are not mere words; they are codes by which the Army lives. General Douglas MacArthur, in 1961, summed it up best when he said, ``Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory--and that if we fail, the nation will be destroyed.'' But the world has changed, and it continues to change. For the Army, the 21st century began in 1989. Think about it. From 1950 to 1989, almost 40 years, the United States of America used its military 10 times. Since 1989, we have used our military 25 times, a 15-fold increase. Let's quickly review some of the major recent actions in which the U.S. Army played a critical role: in 1991, Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia and Provide Comfort in Turkey and Iraq; in 1992, relief efforts after Hurricane Andrew; in 1993, Restore Hope in Somalia; in 1994, fighting fires in the Western United States, Uphold Democracy in Haiti, and Support Hope in Rwanda; and in 1995 and 1996, Joint, Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard in Bosnia. Yes, during the past 7 years, the Army has done 70 to 80 percent of the heavy lifting, and they have done it for less than 24 percent of the budget given to the Department of Defense. The U.S. Army is indeed a cost-effective force. The cold war may have been more dangerous, but today's geopolitical environment is more complex. We must deal with the crumbling of an empire--the breaking up nation-states around the world. We must deal with the possibility of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction--a sure knowledge that any nation with resources can buy instant terror. We must deal with uncertainty throughout the world--what's next, where are we headed? We must deal with the explosive release of religious and racial tensions that have lain dormant in the global village for more than 50 years. We must deal with difficult, emotional issues that have been covered up since World War II. Television and the other electronic news media have taken us back to the future. How our soldiers deal with those tensions is played our for us at breakfast tables and in our living rooms almost instantaneously-- 24 hours a day, up close and personal. It is the responsibility of our generation to sustain and pass on an Army that is as good as, or better than, the one we inherited. Today's Army has evolved into a full-spectrum force. It has shed the label describing it as a strictly threat-based force. We have evolved beyond that. We can reassure our friends and allies, and we can provide support to civilian authorities in times of domestic crisis. If necessary, we can compel and deter potential adversaries. We've moved out on this exciting journey, and we have come a long way. We are bending metal and we are moving electrons across the battlefield. The term includes Army civilians, soldiers and members of industry working together to secure the future. We are learning the tremendous potential of situational awareness and information dominance. It is very reassuring to know where all our friendly forces are 100 percent of the time, and to know where our enemy is as well. With that kind of intelligence, the Army can do things they've never done before on the battlefield. This will clearly allow the Army to maintain the edge. It clearly will allow this force to be the world's best Army. We are in the execution mode of Army 21--the Army of the early 21st century--and changing in a fundamentally different way then ever before. We have information dominance. The Army's Chief of Staff, General Dennis J. Reimer, has said ``Army 21 is critical, but it is only an intermediate stop along our journey. The focus of our intellectual efforts has shifted to the `Army After Next.' The Army After Next is our effort to look as deep as possible into the future, to look at what happens to the world in the 2025 time frame, to evaluate the geopolitics, the technologies, the human resources and war-fighting capabilities that will be available at that time. Army After Next is a totally different force, but we know a lot about it. We know we want to have greater lethality.'' ``Army After Next is the objective force,'' General Reimer said, ``but the road to Army After Next goes through Army 21. We must insure that we develop the total force design--that we have the training package right, that we have the force structure right, that we validate the doctrine, and that we insure the technology is there so we can leverage the tremendous potential of this great informational dominance.'' General Reimer caution us against the notion that new technology will automatically result in large-scale reductions to the size of the Army. Already since 1989, the active force in all the services has been cut by 700,000 people--about a third. The Army has taken its share of the cuts, but there is a limit to the downsizing we can sustain without losing mission readiness. It takes soldiers with the capability for long term commitment to separate warring parties . . . to reassure fearful civilians . . . to restore public order . . . to keep criminals from taking advantage of the vacuum in civil order . . . to deliver humanitarian assistance . . . to prevent and win the nation's wars. Such capabilities require boots on the ground. We must never forget that soldiers are the essence of the Army--always have been and always will be. The Army is changing to meet the challenges of today, tomorrow and the 21st century. They must change if they are to remain relevant to the needs of the Nation. They must work smarter, and must be willing to take risks. Not to take risks is the greatest risk of all, because they will miss the window of opportunity to tap the tremendous potential that is there. Despite the ambiguity of future warfare and the many forms it may assume, the battlefield will always be a lonely, frightening and dangerous place. Only soldiers of character and courage, trained to a razor's edge--ably led, superbly equipped and in sufficient numbers--will survive there and win tomorrow as they have in the past. Yes, the Army is changing to meet the challenges of today, tomorrow and the 21st century. This past year, the soldiers bore out that fact very well: They concluded operations in Haiti, giving that country an opportunity for democracy. After years of devastation in Bosnia, we finally deployed our soldiers there. To a war-torn country, those soldiers brought hope and more than a year without war. They also showed the world that the United States means business when it places its soldiers on the ground. Time and time again, the spirit of our soldiers came through in so many ways. One shining example is the bridge we built across the Sava River. Not only was it the longest pontoon bridge since World War II-- 620 meters long--but they also put it in under the most difficult conditions. They had sleet. They had rain. They had snow. They had freezing cold. They had mud up to their ankles and they had a hundred- year high-water mark. But our soldiers wouldn't be beaten. They put in the bridge. They put it in on schedule so our forces could successfully enter Bosnia. A tremendous accomplishment and a tremendous tribute. It was not only a tribute to technology but, more important, to our soldiers and their indomitable spirit. The evacuation of Liberia, Operation Assured Response, involved 300 soldiers--special forces, infantry and signal units. They were called upon to assist with the evacuation of American citizens from Monrovia. Most of those soldiers had just returned from Bosnia. They hadn't even turned in their cold-weather gear when we deployed them into the heat of Liberia to evacuate American citizens. They had no time to prepare, but they performed magnificently. They secured all the American citizens and brought them back safe. They did it without casualties--a flawless mission. The Military Observer Mission Ecuador and Peru takes place on the border between Ecuador and Peru--a contested border area. Fewer than 60 of our soldiers stand guard down there. They're holding together that critical point of the world and they're doing a magnificent job--just a handful of American soldiers. Probably the world's most visible event took place in Atlanta at the Summer Olympics of 1996. Again, American soldiers--primarily Army National Guard soldiers assisted by U.S. Army Reserve and active- component soldiers--provided security to the events. They insured that the athletes got to the right place. They insured that officials got to the right place. They earned the accolades of a grateful world. Task Force Vanguard consisted of active- and reserve-component soldiers sent to fight forest fires in the Northwest United States. It's a tough mission, but they are good at it, and their civilian counterparts admired them for their organization ability, their discipline, and the physical ability and endurance they brought to the task. Last year, we carried out Operation Desert Strike. Smart weapons from airplanes and ships could not deter Saddam Hussein, so--in the short span of 96 hours--the U.S. Army deployed over 3,500 soldiers--a brigade from the 1st Cavalry Division, two Patriot missile batteries, and other soldiers--to Kuwait. Saddam Hussein got the message, and the world found out what it meant when we talk about ``power projection''. Yes, we clearly showed last year that we are a full-spectrum force--a force of decision--a force based on capabilities. We're building and maintain the right force for the times, and we'll keep it honed to a razor's edge. We can't help feeling at least a tinge of regret that the colors of so many proud Army units had to be furled and cased. Fortunately, size by itself is not the most important thing, and America can still take pride in having the world's best army. What they lack in quantity, the more than make up in quality. Know this, they accept the sacrifices that make them better able to fulfill the motto on the Army seal: ``This We'll Defend.''. The building of a force better able to defend American freedom is an Army birthday present all of us deserve and should be delighted to receive. This we'll defend--this land, this Nation, this flag that must never be furled and cased. In closing, let us all reflect for a moment that June 14, 1997, is Flag Day as well as the Army's birthday. Like our Army, the American flag grew out of revolution. And like our Army, the design of our flag--Old Glory--has evolved over the years since 1777. The liberty is stands for, however, remains constant. So does the Army's vigil to protect that liberty, because, in the words of General Eisenhower, ``A soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as a prisoner's chains.'' Since 1775, more than 42 million Americans, in times of crisis as well as times of peace, have raised their right hands to take an oath, making America's Army what it is: the premier fighting force in the world and a values-based institution closely bound to the Nation and the Nation's people. They have taken that oath not to a king, and not to a flag alone, but to the ideals our flag represents. Yesterday the Army was ready, from Lexington and Concord to Gettysburg, and from Normandy to Bosnia. Today they are ready to fight and win the Nation's wars, and to keep the peace or provide humanitarian relief around the globe. Tomorrow, too, they will be ready. Wherever the time, wherever the mission, whatever the challenge, American can count on its Army.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. McHUGH

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to say that I thank the majority leader for his thoughtful and, I think, appropriate remarks. As I understand, procedurally the gentleman from Pennsylvania had yielded back his time, but I note yet another Representative from Texas, the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] has entered. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] if she would like to make some comments.