Buck McKeon

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the balance of my time be controlled by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 782) to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2000 through 2003, as amended.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, over a year and a half ago, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Barrett) walked into my office and suggested that it was time that we reauthorize the Older Americans Act, and I immediately agreed. The following week, we had breakfast with the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), ranking member, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez); and they too agreed that passage of the act was warranted and long overdue. Now we all said that, if we were going to be successful, we would have to do two things: one, always keep the best interest of seniors at the top of the list; and, two, work together. From that moment forward, there has been no turning back. We held six hearings, including three in the field and three here in Washington. We heard from everybody, and I mean everybody, from the administration to State units on aging to area agencies on aging to local providers to volunteers and to the seniors themselves. In other words, we heard, not just from the folks that run the programs, but also from those folks who were served by them. Armed with their insight, experience, and expertise, we first sat down among ourselves and crafted H.R. 782, the Older Americans Act Amendments of 1999, which was favorably voice voted out of the Committee on Education and the Workforce last year. Then this year, we sat down with our colleagues from the other body and crafted a bipartisan preconference agreement based on H.R. 782 and the Senate version, S. 1536. It is this proposal, the House and Senate bipartisan preconference agreement, that we will be voting on today. This new agreement addresses everything from voluntary contributions, rural consideration, care giving, elder rights, disease prevention, and the senior employment program. Now, let me just say that, if one still has doubts as to whether or not we really need to modernize this act, consider the following: one, the baby boom generation is graying; two, Americans are living longer; three, 44 million Americans are age 60 and older; and, four, the last time Congress passed this act was in 1992. There is simply no doubt that some changes are needed. My colleagues will find there is no question that the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 does just that and does it in a bipartisan fashion benefiting all older Americans. For instance, not only does this bill ensure flexibility and streamline the act services by reducing the number of programs and projects, but it protects essential programs like disease prevention, elder abuse aid and Meals on Wheels. In addition, the bill consolidates and strengthens two existing programs into a new family caregiver program to provide grants to States for such services as counseling, training, support groups, respite care, informational assistance and supplemental services. Today, approximately 4.4 million elderly persons are in need of long- term care assistance because they are not able to perform basic everyday tasks such as dressing, bathing, and eating. Over 7 million caregivers provide informal or unpaid care to them each week. As a result, this particular program alone will enhance the quality of life for frail individuals and those who care for them, plus save taxpayer money in the long run by preventing and/or delaying a senior's admittance into a nursing home. For example, a September 1998 report commissioned by the Alzheimer's Association found that increased use of respite care at mild and moderate stages of Alzheimer's has shown to delay nursing home placement significantly, a net savings of as much as $600 to $1,000 per week. Delaying nursing home admissions for people with Alzheimer's disease by just one month could save at least $1.12 billion a year. Imagine the impact this new family caregiver program will have on the families that it assists and the money it will save when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid. It is no wonder the Alzheimer's Association calls the bill's authorization for the family caregiver program a welcome breakthrough. Finally, the bill also reforms the Senior Community Service Employment Program by instituting performance standards and accountability measures. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment and publicly thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling); the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), ranking member; the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez); and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Barrett) for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. I thank them for their commitment to see this bill through. I would like to wish each of them well in their retirement. I am pleased that they can finish their outstanding tenure here in Congress with the passage of the Older Americans Act reauthorization. I would like to end by saying that, for the first time in close to 8 years, Members have a chance today to vote for a bipartisan Older Americans Act, one that ensures flexibility, streamlines the services, improves the performance of the senior employment program, and includes a new family caregiver program. Do not miss out on this opportunity. Vote for the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the athletes from the Santa Clarita Valley and the greater San Fernando Valley for their outstanding performance in the games of the XXVIIth Olympiad, which began on September 15, 2000 in Sydney Australia. The majority of the San Fernando Valley lies within the 25th Congressional District. If the Greater San Fernando Valley was its own country, it would rank 14th in the gold medal count, just behind Hungary. The Olympians exemplify all that is right with America. To become a member of the United States Olympic Team, the athletes needed tremendous discipline to maintain grueling training schedules. They made personal sacrifices in order to reach their goals and have continually displayed outstanding sportsmanship. They are truly a credit to our country. Olympians who call the 25th Congressional District home include Adam Setliff, who placed fifth in the men's discus throw; Crystl Bustos, member of the women's softball team which won the gold medal; Anthony Ervin, winner of a gold medal in the men's 50-meter freestyle and a silver medalist in the men's freestyle relay; Mark Crear, winner of a bronze medal in the men's 110-meter hurdles; and Maurice Greene, who won a gold medal in the men's 100-meter race as well as a gold medal in the men's 100-meter relay. The efforts of these athletes are reflected not only in their collective medals but in the respect of every American. I would like to thank the Olympians for their tireless effort, dedication and contribution to America.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman (Mrs. Myrick) for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule for the Fiscal Year 2001 Floyd D. Spence Defense Authorization Act. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the conference, I am proud of the bipartisan bill the House and Senate agreed upon. Over the last 8 years, the Clinton-Gore administration has cut defense spending to historic lows. In fact, the Service Chiefs have testified that there is still a mismatch between resources and requirements. The services are migrating funds from modernization accounts to operations and support accounts to maintain current readiness. This bill tries to lessen the current Clinton-Gore impact on long- term readiness by increasing procurement accounts by $2.6 billion and increasing research and development accounts by $1 billion. The bill includes $688.6 million for the Joint Strike Fighter. Boeing recently flew their concept demonstrator at Edwards Air Force Base, and their competitor, Lockheed Martin, is scheduled to fly their version later this month. We have included language in the bill which will require the Department of Defense to perform a cost study of final assembly and checkout alternatives for the Joint Strike Fighter program. Studies have been done that show that $2.2 billion can be saved by building the Joint Strike Fighter in California. The Joint Strike Fighter may be the last manned fighter ever built and is expected to be the fighter of choice by all three services and our allies, as well. The Joint Strike Fighter is important to our defense and to our economy. Also included is $115.3 million for research and development to modify the B-2 fleet. The B-2 Spirit of America is the Air Force's only all-weather, stealth, long-range bomber. The funds will be used to enhance the B-2 capabilities making it far more capable even than it was in Allied Force. A Link 16 and Center instrument display will give connectivity for in-flight re-planning. New bomb racks to carry state-of-the-art weapons will increase its lethality, and maintainability upgrades will increase its survivability. These are just a few examples of modernization efforts we have funded this year. Others have spoken of other things we have done to improve our readiness and enhance the quality of life for our troops. This is a good bill and a good rule, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4216) to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to authorize reimbursement to employers for portable skills training, as amended.

Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4216.

Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4216, to increase the flexibility of customized training programs available under the Workforce Investment Act. First, I want to commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) for his leadership in pushing this important legislation forward. The economy is in good shape nationally, but that prosperity has not been felt in all of our districts. For example, unemployment stands at 15 percent in the district of the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), and he is doing something with this legislation to help solve that problem for his constituents. Two years ago we were successful in enacting the law, the Workforce Investment Act. In addition to streamlining multiple Federal job training programs and empowering individuals to choose their own training, this act increased the role of employers to ensure that the training provided under these programs is relevant to job opportunities in their areas. The ability for local programs to provide customized training is just one example of how training can be guaranteed to meet the needs of local employers. This type of training has three basic characteristics: First, it is designed to meet the special requirements of an employer or group of employers. Second, it is provided with a commitment by the employer to hire the participant upon successful completion of training. Third, it provides employers with a reimbursement to offset a portion of the costs associated with the training. Under the Workforce Investment Act, we limited this reimbursement to just 50 percent. However, we have since learned that many employers are hesitant to participate in these programs because of this cap. This legislation before us today lifts this cap and allows local programs to negotiate a reasonable reimbursement for the training provided by employers. However, it maintains the requirement that at least a portion of the cost continue to be covered by the employer. The benefits of these programs are numerous. Not only do they provide employers with skilled workers, they also enhance the employability of the training participants, who come into these programs because they are unemployed or on welfare or underemployed. At a time when we are considering expanding the number of foreign workers into this Nation in order to fill high-paying high-skilled jobs, we must work to promote efforts such as customized training. By providing more local flexibility in carrying out such training, this legislation accomplishes that goal. In addition to changes made to customized training, this legislation makes two additional technical corrections to the Workforce Investment Act. The first allows youth seeking to participate in training programs to satisfy the low-income criteria by providing proof that they are eligible for free meals under the National School Lunch Act. This change relieves local programs of the burden of collecting additional income information from these youth. In addition, this legislation maintains a provision from the prior Job Training Partnership Act which inadvertently dropped during the consideration of the Workforce Investment Act. This provision simply ensures the continued coordination of job training provided under the Workforce Investment Act with the unemployment compensation system. Finally, I urge all Members to support the passage of this legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), the author of the bill.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding. Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, many of us traveled to southern Virginia to attend the funeral of a good friend and colleague, Herb Bateman, and many wonderful things were said about him at that time. I wish we had been able to have that kind of a meeting for Herb when he was with us. I am really happy that we are able to stand today and say just a few good things about our good friend, Bill Goodling. When the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) was talking earlier about him starting meetings at 9:30, and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) remarked about him getting up early, being a farmer; when he started meetings at 9:30, he has already probably been up at 5 o'clock, fed the horses, done the things that he needed to do at the farm and then driven down here from Pennsylvania to start his day's activities in Congress. Or if he did not go home the night before and spent the night in his office, he had already been to the gym and done a good day's work before he started that meeting at 9:30. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with Bill Goodling. It is ironic that now education seems to be the top issue in the country. He has been speaking about education as a voice in the wilderness for 26 years. He is a man of integrity and passion. His passion includes many things: horses, music, and golf. And I have been able to participate in some of those things with him. But really his main passion is education and literacy. He truly cares about helping people through education. His work ethic is second to none. He is a strong Christian and stands tall for what he believes in. A beloved king once told his people, ``When you are in the service of your fellow man, you are only in the service of your God.'' I know of no one who has exemplified that better than Bill Goodling. I am privileged to call him a friend.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Quality Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act. Just this week, Newsweek's cover story asks ``Who will teach our kids?'' Since one half of all teachers in America are slated to retire by 2010, this is a question on the minds of millions of families across this country. In my home State of California, we are already feeling the teacher crunch where as a result of the State's class size reduction program, there are 35,000 uncertified teachers in our classrooms. Over the past two years, the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training, and Life-long Learning (which I serve as Chairman and the bill's sponsor, Lindsay Graham, serves as vice chairman) has devoted substantial time and effort toward the issue of teacher quality and recruitment. We have held numerous hearings and have had an active hand in shaping legislative proposals aimed at getting teachers into our classrooms. Those proposals include: The teacher quality enhancement grants--established in the higher education amendments of 1998; Language in H.R. 2, the ``Education Options'' Act to boost the qualifications of the 180,000 teachers and paraprofessionals who teach in our Nation's poorest school districts; The Tech-for-Success Program in H.R. 4141 to help better prepare teachers in how best to use technology to improve student academic achievement; The Bipartisan Teacher Empowerment Act to enable schools to focus on a host of initiatives including bonus and merit pay, tenure reform, teacher mentoring programs, and professional development; and Increased flexibility in the ``100,000 New Teachers'' Program so that schools experiencing a high percentage of uncertified teachers can use funds to focus on boosting teacher training as opposed to hiring additional teachers. H.R. 5034 builds on these significant efforts by expanding another important provision in the higher education amendments--loan forgiveness for teachers. This legislation enhances loan forgiveness by increasing the number of those qualified for the program while retaining the current requirements so that we not only get qualified teachers into the classroom but keep them there. The bill also addresses the need across the country for special education teachers by granting them loan forgiveness no matter where they teach. To conclude, in order to combat the shortage of teachers, we must continue to look at innovative ways to motivate thousands to come into the teaching profession. The new loan forgiveness provided under H.R. 5034 is one such incentive and, as such, I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the city of Santa Clarita, California, for its activities on behalf of preserving the Santa Clara River, located in my district, and for its activities recognizing National Pollution Prevention Week. The City of Santa Clarita will hold its annual ``River Rally'' at the Santa Clara River on September 23, 2000. This event will highlight the importance of the Santa Clara River. During this annual event, citizens from throughout the city and the greater Santa Clarita Valley gather and pick up trash from the banks of the river. The River Rally raises awareness of the river and pollution prevention measures. The city and the many business and individuals who participate in the River Rally deserve our thanks. The City is holding the River Rally during National Pollution Prevention Week, which is September 18-24. We all value a clean environment. In order to achieve that goal, the city of Santa Clarita has developed a pollution prevention program that is aimed at protecting the environment and encouraging economic competitiveness. Santa Clarita is to be commended for taking these steps to safeguard our environment and raise awareness of the importance of pollution prevention.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I stand today with my fellow delegates in celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the State of California. California was admitted to the Union 150 years ago as the Nation's 31st state. Since that time, California has grown dramatically. This state, once known as part of the ``Wild West,'' has now become a vast metropolitan region of business, enterprise and entertainment. I represent the 25th district of California, which consists of three major areas: the Antelope Valley, the northwest San Fernando Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley. Each of these areas has contributed a great deal to the heritage of our state. The Antelope Valley was first settled in 1886 by 50 to 60 families of Swiss and German descent. Desiring to reside in California, these families were told to travel until they saw palm trees. Arriving in the Antelope Valley, they mistook the numerous Joshua trees for palm trees and settled, naming their new town Palmenthal. This name was eventually changed to that of the current city, Palmdale. The Antelope Valley has often been referred to as the Aerospace Capital of the United States. U.S. Air Force Plant 42, in Palmdale, was the birthplace of the B-1 and B-2 Bombers, the SR-71 Blackbird, the space shuttle and the next generation space shuttle--the X-33. Also, the Boeing Co., Northrop-Grumman, and Lockheed-Martin maintain production facilities here. The Antelope Valley's largest city, Lancaster, is home to a first-class performing arts theater and a popular minor league baseball team, the Lancaster Jethawks. In the 1930s and 1940s, the San Fernando Valley was known as the ``Horse Capital of California'' because many movie stars would come in from Hollywood to ride horses and enjoy the slower rural pace of life. Even today, in the smaller communities, such as Chatsworth, it is not unusual to see horses tied to the hitching post out back of the Los Toros Mexican Restaurant or the Cowboy Palace Saloon. Since then the Valley has grown to become a major economic powerhouse in the Southern California area, home to more than 1 million people. Even the powerful Northridge Earthquake that hit on January 17, 1994, could not keep the Valley down. Residents of the Valley pulled together to rebuild their homes and the roads. It is now poised to become a city in and of itself. The Santa Clarita Valley, located in between the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys, has made many contributions to the history of both California and the United States. For thousands of years, the Valley served as a major migration route for Native American groups as they traveled between the coast and the interior valleys and the great eastern deserts. This is the location of the first documented discovery of gold in California; the oldest existing oil refinery in the world; the first commercial oil field in California; the third-longest railroad tunnel in the world at its completion in 1876; and it is the location of one of the last ``treat train robberies'' in the United States. In the 1920s, William S. Hart and Tom Mix used the Santa Clarita Valley to create the traditional Western film. The Western film industry continued growing through the decades with actors such as Gary Cooper, Roy Rogers, John Wayne and others. Our quaint little valley created the ideal background for great Westerns such as the ``Lone Ranger,'' ``Wyatt Earp,'' ``Annie Oakly,'' ``Gunsmoke'' and many more. As you can see, Mr. Speaker, the 25th district has played a vital role in California's livelihood. I am honored to represent this district and to have been a life-long resident of the Golden State. From the days of the Gold Rush, to the current times of the Silicon Valley, California has always had a major impact on U.S. history and the economy. Please join me today in celebrating the Sesquicentennial of this great state.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Literacy Involves Families Together bill. This legislation builds on a strong legacy of support for literacy programs by this Congress and in particular our Committee on Education and the Workforce chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling). We believe that if children learn to read early their chance for success in school is much greater. At the same time, if the entire family is part of the learning process, all members of the family have the opportunity to reach their full potential. I have heard it said that the family that prays together stays together, and the family that plays together stays together. I would like to add that the family that reads together progresses together. With this bill, we will help break the cycle of poverty, unemployment and welfare that is often a result of illiteracy. This legislation accomplishes these goals through strengthened services under the Even Start literacy program. Specifically, H.R. 3222 provides more resources to train Even Start instructors. The need for more training is acute. For example, last year during a hearing on teacher preparation, we heard from a young African American teacher who was given a third grade class and told to teach them how to read. He had never had any training on teaching how to read. He was simply told, you know how to read; teach them how to read. He was frustrated. His students were not learning; and he was ready to quit. It was not until he received some additional training that he was able to really connect with and teach the children in his class and reach his full potential as a teacher. Passage of this bill will give reading instructors the additional help they need. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to share my gratitude, along with my other colleagues, for the work of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) on this important bill. As the author of several important literacy initiatives, including the Reading Excellence Act, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) recognized long ago the need for quality reading programs for the entire family. I have had the privilege of serving with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) on the Committee on Education and the Workforce since coming to Congress in 1993, and I have learned a lot from him on this and other education issues. This legislation culminates the outstanding work that the chairman has done on literacy and will be a highlight of his legacy when he retires at the end of the 106th Congress. His dedication to the young people of this Nation is extraordinary and should be emulated by all Members of this body. I am sorry to see him go but wish him well in all that he does. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3222.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, this letter was brought to my attention by a constituent of mine in the 25th district of California, and I find it fitting to include it in the Congressional Record. I believe Ms. Sabria sheds a whole new light on the Elian Gonzalez case, in retrospect, and highlights many of the freedoms Americans take for granted. Letter to Those Who May Not Understand: Elianated yet? I am. And duly so. It seems like an unending saga and we're all sick of it by now. But after Holy Saturday's events, even I, a pretty impartial Cuban-American, feel obligated to at least help you, my Anglo-American and African-American friends understand why the Cuban community is so outraged! To reunite a little boy with his father is a beautiful thing. To do it with a gun at his head is not! If I can remember the small trauma when I was only two years old and my father put me and my mother in the bathroom while he nailed the ironing board to the front door to protect us from a big hurricane, I am certain this six year old will never forget this day! To take a little boy back to his real home is wonderful. But Elian is not going home to Cardenas, his home town, oh no . . . He's going to an 11-room mansion in Havana where he is going to live with his parents, yes, but also with other children and some ``teachers'' . . . Is that ``home'' or an indoctrination camp? To some of you, most of the impassioned Cubans you have seen on T.V. today may seem irrational in their desire to keep that little boy in this free land. To us who see a child miraculously saved from the treacherous, shark-filled waters of the Florida strait, after his mother risked his life and lost hers to bring him to a place where he could be raised as a free A beautiful, fertile land that could still be as it was four decades ago, the most prosperous and advanced of all Latin America, where now children can only drink milk for a few years before their ``quota'' is removed, where medical doctors give up their practice to work as taxi drivers so they can earn U.S. dollars to feed their families because the peso has no value anymore; where young women prostitute themselves to tourists as the only way to earn that precious ``dollar'' that will buy their children some shoes; where children must join the communist ``pioneros'' movement with their red berets and are taught to sing communist songs and hate Americans, and youngsters grow to be ``Communist Youth'' members and are kept from dreaming dreams by being fed stories of upcoming invasions from ``the enemy''; a country where artists and writers can only produce art that follows the government line; and fathers like Juan Miguel must obey what Fidel Castro orders him to say and do rather than do what is best for his child. Do you know that Elian's father asked for a U.S. visa twice before little Elian came, and that he called his relatives here to let them know his child was coming here with his mom? But little Elian will soon be reunited with his father and with his grandparents in that paradise island and we should be happy about that. No, maybe we're not acting out of concern over Elian and what his life is going to be like when he goes back ``home''. Maybe we're acting out of the pain that's in every one of these acclimated, prosperous, hard- working Cuban-Americans who cannot forget. How can I forget the eight months I had to work in the fields shoveling dirt and pulling weeds as punishment because I had requested a visa to leave the country? How can I forget that my friends and I were kicked out of the University of Havana, even though we had the highest scores in our class, just because we had not joined the Communist Party's Cuban Youth group? How can I forget the long year my godmother spent in jail for suspicion of counter-revolutionary activities and was never the same woman again? How can I forget Eddy who died of suffocation when they packed them like sardines in a truck after being captured in Bay of Pigs... He was a handsome young man in his early twenties. How can I forget the months my cousin Ramon spent in the dungeons of La Cabana Castle right after the BoP invasions (just for being a young man and not belonging to the communist militia), where they almost starved him to death and where he heard the shots every night of those who were being executed. How can my friend Marta forget the ten years she waited in Castro's Cuba while her husband, a young poet, wasted away most of the time in solitary confinement, surrounded by rats and roaches, and the ten more years she spent in the States struggling to get him out? This poet is the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Armando Valladares. Do you know that due to the terrible tortures and malnutrition he suffered when they finally got together after 20 years, he could not give her the children she had longed for and they had to adopt? Or Emilita, who sent her children to live with her parents in the States to keep them safe while she stayed behind with her husband who was serving 20 years in political prison? When she saw her children again, they were no longer children. The stories are endless, my friends, every Cuban in this country has a story, and it is those stories that are crying out today. The story of a people who felt betrayed after the Missile Crisis when President Kennedy signed a pact with Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev never to allow Cubans to plot another invasion to free their land . . . The story of a people who are feeling betrayed again because one of our own who was saved from the sharks is now being sent back to the biggest shark of all . . . Fidel Castro, who will indoctrinate him and turn him into an icon of his propaganda or, if he doesn't succeed, will destroy his spirit by turning him into a frustrated youngster with no way out. My friends, I apologize for this ``speech'' but I thought it was time for this formerly not very outspoken Cuban to speak out. I know you will understand. Carmen Sabria, Miami, Florida.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today, I join with my other colleagues on the Education and the Workforce Committee--Committee Chairman Bill Goodling, Early Childhood Subcommittee Chairman Mike Castle, and Johnny Isakson--to introduce the Classroom Modernization Act. I support this legislation because it is a reasonable and, more importantly, a responsible solution to our nation's school improvement and construction needs from a federal level. The building of new schools or the major renovations of existing ones has always been left to the states and local school districts. And it should continue to be that way. Instead, the Classroom Modernization Act is responsible to the needs of the American taxpayer, our school boards, and our children. It is responsible to the American taxpayer because it provides for a limited program aimed at fulfilling the most important needs of America's schools. We do not open the federal coffers to a broad, new-- and potentially very costly--construction plan. It is responsible to our school boards because it doesn't make promises the federal government cannot keep. Instead of promising them new schools paid for with federal dollars, we are promising them assistance to meet mandates and standards imposed on them by the federal government. Finally, it is responsible to our children because through this legislation, we will give special needs students access to school buildings; we will make schools safer; and we will provide them with the resources they need to be ready to join the New Economy of the 2st Century. To conclude, I want to thank Chairman Goodling, Chairman Castle, Mr. Isakson, and the other Members who have worked to put this legislation together. It was truly a collaborative process. I want to urge all my colleagues to support this legislation. Thank you.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today I commend a young constituent of mine for his insightful letter. Terry Kraemer, Jr., of Palmdale, CA, sent me a very thought provoking letter about the recent death of his father, Terry Kraemer, Sr., due to melanoma. His letter recounted how his father endured a painful death as his skin cancer traveled from a small mole on his leg to his lymph system and then to other vital organs. He also told me about how his father served his community as a Boy Scout leader, a counseling intern, and as a ``father figure'' for many of the children in the neighborhood. In his dad's memory, Terry wrote to me to ask that Congress place a special emphasis on finding a cure for melanoma and on educating other Americans, so they will not suffer as Terry's family has suffered. His letter compelled me to find out what the federal government is doing to prevent this devastating disease. I was pleased to see that both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have extensive programs on melanoma. First, the NIH's CancerNet website contains a comprehensive page on melanoma including information on early detection, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. CancerNet also addresses genetics, risk factors, and prevention so that sun worshipers will be able to protect themselves early and properly. You can find CancerNet at http:// cancernet.nci.nih.gov/cancer_types/melanoma.shtml. Second, the CDC sponsors the ``Choose Your Cover'' Campaign--a skin cancer prevention initiative aimed at children and young adults. This program uses education materials, brochures, posters, and public service announcements to remind young Americans that they can have fun in the sun and still be safe. For more information on this campaign, see the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/ChooseYourCover. As we head to the beaches and outdoors over this 4th of July recess, I appeal to all my colleagues to learn more about melanoma by reviewing these websites and to educate their families and constituents about the ways to prevent this horrible disease. In closing, I want to thank Terry for bringing this important issue to my attention. Terry put aside his grief so that others will not suffer as he has. He is a brave young man and deserves to be recognized. I am proud for this opportunity to do so. And, finally, on Terry's behalf, I encourage you all to ``Choose Your Cover.''

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, the 100,000 teachers sounds like a great idea, and it may be a great idea. But a Federal 100,000-teacher mandate does cause problems in the local area. We set out last year in a bipartisan way to really find out how our committee could help do a better job of education across the country. We held hearings across the country, and we listened to people. We listened to parents. We listened to teachers. We listened to school board members, superintendents. We asked them, what is the most important thing in education? And they said, first of all, the parent; and, secondly, a qualified teacher. Now, I have six children. I have 19 grandchildren. It is important to me that they have a good education. When our children were going to school and my wife was active, she was PTA president. She was very active in the local schools, most of the parents know who the best teachers in the schools are. Most of the parents know which teachers are the most qualified and which can help their students learn the most. And they try to get their students into the classroom with the best qualified teacher. Now, it is very important, it is very popular right now to talk about reducing class size. And in California, our governor did this a few years ago. He cut all class sizes from K through three down to 18. We thought would be very helpful. But the problem was we did not have enough qualified teachers available to be hired, just as there is not 100,000 qualified teachers right now to be hired. And so it resulted in over 30,000 underqualified teachers in the classroom in California to get that class size down to 18. I asked parents, I said, if they had a choice of having their child in a classroom of 15 students with a brand new teacher just out of school, maybe not quite as seasoned, quite as qualified as some that had been around a little longer, or if they had their chance to have the very best teacher in that school of a class size of 25, where would they have their child go? And every time they say, I would take the class with the best qualified teacher even if we had 25 students. The thing is, with the Teacher Empowerment Act, we do not have to make that kind of decision. We could have both. We say in the Teacher Empowerment Act, use this money for class size reduction. If they cannot get enough qualified teachers, then they can use that money to help their teachers become better qualified. They can give them a voucher. They can let them go get the training that they need. In one of our hearings here in Washington, D.C., we had a young African American teacher that had been teaching just a few years; and he told us that he was hired to teach reading in the third grade and he was very frustrated. His first year he had not had a class in how to teach reading. But he was told that he knew how to read, he can teach reading. He said he was very frustrated. He was not able to teach. His students were not learning. He was ready to give up the teaching profession. Fortunately, he had an administrator that helped him get the teaching that he needed so that he was able to adequately teach his students. But it took a few years of preparation. He said now he felt better about what he was doing, his students were learning, and he was able to progress. That is what we do with the Teacher Empowerment Act. We help teachers become better teachers so that they are qualified and able to really help young children learn, which is what we are all trying to achieve. But instead of having a mandate out of Washington saying they have to hire 100,000 teachers, we give the local jurisdictions the opportunity to make the best use of that money. I oppose this amendment and encourage all of my colleagues to do so.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4504) to make technical amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder), a strong member of the committee. (Mr. SOUDER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McKEON. 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. 4504, as amended.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make just a couple more comments. In addition to the committee staff that I thanked earlier, I would like to thank my legislative director, Karen Weiss, for all of the work that she has done on this bill. This may be the last time that we stand as a subcommittee on the floor with legislation during this Congress; and if so, I want to again thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez), the ranking member of this committee. He has been a joy to work with. He really has the people of this country at heart. He has served a lot of time in this Congress and done an excellent job, and I just want to let him know that I appreciate greatly the ability that he has brought to this Congress and the opportunity that we have had to work together.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today we are considering the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 2000. Most of you will recall that just over 2 years ago we met here on a bipartisan basis to consider the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. That legislation was subsequently enacted into law on October 7, 1998, and now greatly benefits students by providing the lowest student loan interest rates in almost 20 years, as well as by making needed improvement to important student aid programs like Work- Study, Pell grants and TRIO. First, I want to express my thanks to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) for his leadership on that bill and for the years of leadership he has shown on all education matters during his time here in the Congress. I also want to thank the committee ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), the former ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), and the current ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez), for their cooperation in bringing this bill to the floor and for the great work that they have done on the other bills that we have been working on. These amendments which we crafted together have been a great success, and our continued efforts on this legislation will only improve on those results. The legislation we are considering today makes numerous technical corrections, but it also includes some significant policy changes that we believe are necessary to ensure that the Higher Education Act is implemented in the way we intended. Although we could not include all the changes on everyone's wish list, we did try to include those improvements that will benefit students and families who are struggling to pay for a college education. An important change included by the committee impacts the eligibility of historically black colleges and universities to participate in the Federal student aid programs. These institutions play a vital role in providing access to post-secondary education for students who might not otherwise enroll in higher education. In the 1998 amendments, we required some of these institutions to submit plans and implementation strategies that would result in default rate reductions at their institutions. However, we did not provide sufficient time for the affected institutions to take the actions outlined in the default management plans to reduce their cohort default rates. This bill is correcting that mistake. H.R. 4504 also includes three new provisions all related to campus security. The first provision is based on H.R. 3619, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), that requires institutions of higher education to have a policy related to the handling of reports on missing students, including the notification of parents, guardians and local police. The second provision is based on H.R. 4407, introduced by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Salmon), which requires institutions to have a policy regarding the availability of information provided by the State under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act with respect to registered sexually violent predators. The third provision was an amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Roukema) that requires institutions to include in their annual security report a description of campus fire safety practices and standards. All of these provisions will result in greater awareness of potential security risks on campus, and I, for one, believe that more information is better. Additionally, this legislation will improve the regulatory process for institutions of higher education and other program participants. We continue to hear reports that the Department does not give the public enough time to comment on or to implement complex student aid regulations. For that reason, we have established minimum time periods for certain activities. First, the bill requires the Department of Education to allow a minimum of 45 days for comment after the publication of a notice of proposed rule making. Second, it prevents disclosure or reporting requirements from becoming effective for at least 180 days after final regulations are published. Although some groups would have preferred a longer period of time, the committee believes that these time frames provide a reasonable period of time for action without causing disruptive delays in the regulatory or implementation process. Most importantly, the bill clarifies and strengthens provisions in the Higher Education Act regarding the return of Federal funds when students withdraw from school. Specifically, it will correct the Department interpretation so that students will never be required to return more than 50 percent of the grant funds they receive. In addition, it will provide students with a limited grace period for repayment to help students who are unable to repay immediately upon their withdrawal and it will set a minimum threshold for grant repayment of $50. All of these steps will aid students who withdraw from college for emergency or financial reasons. It is our hope that these changes will allow a low-income student to make another attempt to obtain a post- secondary education in the future, which is, of course, what we are trying to do with this whole education process. This legislation will improve the implementation of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 which we worked very hard to enact in the last Congress, and I urge every Member of this Congress to support it. Finally, I would like to thank our Education staff members, Sally Stroup and George Conant on the majority side, and Maryellen Ardouny and Marshall Grigsby on the minority side, for all of the work they have done to make this bill possible at this time. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), a staunch member of the committee.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a very special man. He is a friend, a community leader, and an exceptional educator. His dedication, competence and responsible attitude exemplify all that is right with America's public school system. For more than twenty-five years, Justin ``Jay'' Caufield has served as a Principal in the Saugus Union School District. He has been a very active member in the community and in the school district. Prior to entering the field of education, Mr. Caufield served four years in the U.S. Army in Special Forces. Mr. Caufield is highly respected by his peers, teaching staff and parents. As a teacher and principal in the Saugus School District, Jay Caufield has touched the lives and made a difference for thousands of students. For the past 17 years, Mr. Caufield has served as the Principal at Emblem Elementary School. As a result of his fine leadership and commitment to excellence, Emblem has earned both State and National recognition. In 1995, Emblem achieved the status as a California Distinguished School. In 1996, the school received recognition from the California School Board Association by earning the Golden Bell award for its highly regarded TEAMS program. In 1997, Emblem Elementary School received the highest possible recognition by being named a National Blue Ribbon School. Under Mr. Caufield's direction, Emblem has continued to excel and uphold its high academic standards. I want to commend Mr. Jay Caufield for his selfless commitment to the students and to the entire educational community. His distinguished career has been a shining example for all.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule and H.R. 4576. Mr. Speaker, this is the first year that the President has brought us a reasonable defense budget for consideration. Over the last 7 years, the President's budget has failed the military service chiefs and our fighting men and women in uniform. While the President's budget was reasonable this year, it still failed our arms services to the tune of $16 billion, according to what the service chiefs have told us. However, under the leadership of the gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis), the House has once again added funding to support our defense requirements. While still living within a balanced budget, we have added $4 billion to the President's defense request. This was used to fund much-needed programs. For instance, the B-2 bomber that my friend the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) just spoke about was the central part of the success story from the air war in Kosovo. The B-2's success in this conflict underscored our need for an adequate and modern bomber fleet. We also learned some very important lessons about the effectiveness of our smart bombs during the war and we learned we had some shortcomings. We found that there are changes that could be made that would make our bomber fleet more effective. One of those was to add 500-pound bomb capabilities instead of just the 2,000-pound bombs. We used to talk about how many planes it would take to take out a target. Now we are talking about how many targets one plane can take out. Unfortunately, the President failed to fund the research and development of the 500-pound JDAM and the 500-pound JDAM bomb rack even though the service chiefs had told us that that was a high requirement. It was under the leadership of the gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis) that funding was added for these upgrades and advancements. In total, the committee added funding of $96 million for upgrades on the B-2. These include the Link 16 upgrades that will modernize the cockpit and allow for in-flight replanning, research, and development of the 500-pound JDAM and the integration on the B-2. The flights that we had over Kosovo were actually 30-hour flights that went from the State of Missouri. And when we are on long missions like that, sometimes changes are made in the planning. These Link 16 upgrades will allow for that. With the success of the B-2, these upgrades will allow our military to exert further strength and keep freedom and peace abroad, thus making B-2 truly the Spirit of America. This is just one program of many that the committee has seen fit to fund at the level it needs. Faced with a very difficult task, the committee found a way to ensure that our forces are taken care of and our national security remains strong. I congratulate them for this bill, and urge a yes vote on this rule and on the legislation.