Buck McKeon

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today, my colleague, Mr. Goodling, and I are introducing the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 2000. Many of my colleagues will remember that in the last Congress we enacted the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 on a bipartisan basis. The passage of that Act was one of the most important pieces of legislation we enacted for students and their parents. I want to again thank Chairman Goodling for his leadership on that bill. Throughout that process he kept members focused on our goal of improving our student financial aid system. Additionally, I want to acknowledge his leadership in crafting this technical package, which will improve the implementation of the 1998 Amendments. I also want to thank the Committee Ranking Member, Mr. Clay, the former Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Kildee, and the current Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Martinez. The 1998 amendments, which we crafted together, have been a great success, and our continued efforts on this legislation will only improve on those results. As Chairman Goodling noted in his statement, the legislation introduced today is technical in nature, but also makes policy adjustments that we believe are necessary to ensure that the Act is implemented in the way Congress intended. We worked with many organizations and individuals who put forth proposals for our consideration. We included those which are bipartisan in nature, benefit students and their parents, and are paid for. Our goal is to pass a bill that can be acted upon by the other body and enacted into law in the near future. The legislation we are introducing today will improve our national early outreach efforts by making modifications to the TRIO and GEAR UP programs. The bill allows participating organizations to provide grant aid to students and, in the case of GEAR UP, to serve students from seventh grade through high school graduation. It will improve the operation of our student loan programs by making minor adjustments to streamline some loan forbearances and to conform the law to reflect current practices for perfecting security interests. This bill will also improve the Perkins Loan program by allowing borrowers to rehabilitate loans by making a single lump sum payment and by clarifying that loans in deferment for a student that performs service resulting in their cancellation are reimbursed for interest as well. Additionally, this legislation will improve the regulatory process for schools and other program participants. This is important, because 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. First, the bill will require the Department of Education to allow a minimum of 45 days for comment after the publication of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). Second, it prevents disclosure or reporting requirements from becoming effective for at least 180 days after the publication of final regulations. Finally, the bill we are introducing will clarify and strengthen provisions in the Higher Education Act regarding the return of federal funds when students withdraw from school. Specifically, it will correct a Department interpretation so that students will never be required to return more than 50 percent of the grant funds they received. In addition, the bill 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 postpone or withdraw for emergency or financial reasons. Mr. Speaker, the legislation we are introducing is bipartisan. It has no cost, and it will improve the implementation of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 which we worked so hard to enact in the last Congress. I urge every member of this body to support its passage.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing an important resolution which urges the House of Representatives to support ``Increase the Peace Day'' events throughout the country. On April 20, 2000, on the one-year anniversary of the tragedy at Columbine High School, students, teachers, parents, and community leaders from Challenger Middle School in Lake Los Angeles, California hosted an ``Increase the Peace Day''. The program featured the formation of a human peace sign and a presentation by a former skinhead who turned his life around and now works with the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance. The highlight of the day was when the 650 students of Challenger signed an ``Increase the Peace Pledge'' in order to avoid any similar acts of school violence. Among the promises in the Pledge were to find a peaceful solution to conflicts, to not hit another person, to not threaten another person, to report all rumors of violence to an adult, to celebrate diversity, and to seek help when feeling lonely or confused. I was proud to join the other supporters of ``Increase the Peace Day'' and be a part of this incredible event. I would like to take a moment to recognize the outstanding efforts of teacher Bruce Galler who came up with the original idea for ``Increase the Peace Day'' because he believes that something can be done. Bruce uses a quote by Edward Everett Hale on all literature to promote the event and I believe it illustrates what each of those students accomplished last month. The quote is as follows, ``I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.'' That day, I promised to introduce this resolution in order to show that as one Member of Congress, I can do something to highlight this important event and encourage all Americans to reject anger and hate and instead to promote peace and community. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution and to encourage their local communities to institute a similar program.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule and for H.R. 4205, the Defense Authorization Act. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Spence) for his hard work and dedication in putting together a measure that helps our fighting men and women. The efforts of the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Spence) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) should not be underestimated. It is truly apt that this legislation we debate today is named after the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Spence). 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 armed services to the tune of $16 billion. However, under the leadership of the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Spence), the Committee on Armed Services has once again added funding to support our defense requirements. While still living within a balanced budget, we have added $4.5 billion to the President's defense budget request. For example, the B-2 bomber was an essential part of the success story from the air war in Kosovo. The B- 2's success in this conflict underscored our needs for an adequate and modern bomber fleet. We also learned some very valuable lessons about the effectiveness of our smart bombs during the war. Unfortunately, the President failed to fund the research and development of the 500-pound JDAM and 500-pound JDAM bomb rack, even though the Service Chiefs wanted it. It was the Committee on Armed Services, under its able bipartisan leadership, that added funding 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 re-planning, research, and development of the 500-pound JDAM and the integration on the B-2. With the success of the B-2, these upgrades will allow our military to exert further strength to keep freedom and peace abroad, thus making the B-2 truly the spirit of America. I also want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) for implementing legislation I introduced last year on the Joint Strike Fighter program. As we all know, one of the pillars of the Joint Strike Fighter program is affordability. My legislation called for a cost study to be conducted on possible production sites for the Joint Strike Fighter. While I contend that Air Force Plant 42 offers the best opportunity for savings, I believe that the Defense Department owes Congress and the American people a study showing the savings opportunities that the different production sites offer. Mr. Speaker, these two programs are just a few of the many success stories found in this legislation. Again, I want to thank both the chairman and the ranking member for their hard work on this important legislation. Yet again, the Committee on Armed Services has worked in a bipartisan manner in order to put the national security of the United States ahead of politics. It is for this reason that the legislation passed in committee with an overwhelming majority and deserves the votes of the Member of this House. I urge a vote on this rule and for this important legislation.

Mr. McKEON

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. Res. 492.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 492) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of America's teachers.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2\1/2\ minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important resolution in recognition of our Nation's teachers, and I would like to start off by simply saying thank you. Thank you to all of the teachers who have shaped the lives of American school children. Thank you for your selfless and sometimes exhausting commitment to the children of this country, and thank you for protecting America's future. Mr. Speaker, I believe in many cases that we take teachers for granted and simply expect them to single-handedly prepare our students to face the challenges of life and become productive members of society. Here in Congress, we have a responsibility to ensure that Federal education programs allow local officials and schools the flexibility to make decisions based upon their specific needs. Again, I want to stress the flexibility is the key. Last year, in bipartisan fashion, the House passed the Teacher Empowerment Act to help address the needs of local schools and teachers relating to their recruiting, hiring and training of teachers. While this legislation requires school districts to both decrease class size and improve the quality of training for teachers, it leaves the exact balance between the two at the discretion of those at the local level who best know the needs of their schools and communities. I know I am not alone when I say I was privileged to have teachers who had a profound impact on my development, not only as a student but as a person. One of the greatest rewards of my job now is the opportunity to visit schools and witness the great work that our teachers are doing and the difference they are making. It is almost universally true that every successful person, regardless of their field, can include the role of teachers as significant in the process of achieving that success. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to reiterate my thanks to all the teachers across our Nation who mean so much to our children and, consequently, to every citizen of this country both now and in the future. Teachers certainly deserve recognition, and I am honored to be able to be here on National Teacher Day to associate myself with this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the chief deputy whip.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the author of this resolution.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), a good friend of education.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson), a strong member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup), a strong supporter of education.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez).

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn), a good friend and colleague and a former university president.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez). We have had the good fortune of working together during this Congress. It has been a real joy working together with him. I do not know how many other opportunities we will have, but I want to thank him and let him know that I really have appreciated working with him, and appreciate his friendship. He is a great man and he has done a lot for this country. He has been a great Congressman.

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

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), a good friend of education.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and honor a young student from my district who has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in her community. Robyn Strumpf of Northridge, CA, has just been named one of my state's top honorees in the 2000 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Miss Strumpf, a seventh grader at Sierra Canyon Middle School in Chatsworth, CA, is being recognized for creating ``Project Books and Blankies,'' a service project that aims to fight illiteracy by providing books along with handmade blankets to children. Robyn's inspiration for the project goes back to when she was struggling with reading in school. After overcoming her own reading problems, she realized that illiteracy was a significant problem facing children today. Robyn began asking local businesses and bookstores for book and quilt donations, so she could start collecting books and sewing quilts that would be attractive to children. Through ``Project Books and Blankies'', she donates blankets, along with a basket of books, to children's educational programs in her area. Robyn also reads aloud to children once a week, in an effort to show them the importance of books. In light of numerous statistics that indicate Americans today are less involved in their communities than they once were, it's vital that we recognize and support the kind of selfless contribution this young citizen has made. People of all ages need to think more about how we can work together at the local level to ensure the health and vitality of our towns and neighborhoods. Young volunteers like Miss Strumpf are inspiring examples to all of us, and are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. The program that brought this young role model to our attention--The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards--was created in 1995 by The Prudential Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principles. It aims to impress upon all youth volunteers that their contributions are critically important and highly valued and to inspire other young people to follow their example. In only five years, the program has become the nation's largest youth recognition effort based solely on community service, with nearly 75,000 youngsters participating since its inception. Miss Strumpf should be extremely proud to have been singled out from such a large group of dedicated volunteers. I heartily applaud Miss Strumpf for her initiative in seeking to make her community a better place to live and for the positive impact she has had on the lives of others. She has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere admiration and respect. Her actions show that young Americans can--and do--play important roles in our communities, and that America's community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3293, and I want to commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. This important legislation recognizes a group of veterans that are all too often forgotten, but are nonetheless heroes. The American Vietnam veteran faced adversity that few can ever imagine in order to keep this Nation free. Unfortunately, these veterans are the victims of a technicality that keeps them from being honored with their fallen soldiers. The Vietnam Wall, while open to some veterans who died following the war, is not open to veterans who passed away due to complications from Agent Orange or posttraumatic stress syndrome. These veterans died as a result of their service for this Nation. The least that our Nation can do is honor them near their fellow servicemen and women. This important legislation would allow us to do so without diminishing, in any way, the service of these men and women who died in the field of battle in Vietnam. Instead, this measure would provide a plaque for those fallen heroes to be placed in the vicinity of the current Vietnam Memorial. So I ask my colleagues to join me and the many veteran service organizations in supporting H.R. 3293.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in strong support of H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full Funding Act. First, I would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) for all of his hard work on this important issue. He has long been an advocate for special needs children. His leadership will sorely be missed when he retires at the end of this year. Now, in this era of budget surpluses, we must resist the temptation to create new untested Federal programs. Instead, I believe that, before we pass any new programs, we must first fulfill a promise we made a quarter of a century ago, a promise to assist our local schools so that they can provide our special needs children with a public education. Time and again, I hear our States and schools must sacrifice other educational needs and priorities in order to make up for the Federal shortfall on IDEA funding. For example, the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys in my Congressional District must find nearly $5 million in additional funds to cover the Federal share for educating special education students. I am sure there are a lot of other things those schools could do with $5 million if the Federal government would simply live up to its obligation. I am hopeful the President will join us in this important endeavor. If the President would first fund the special education mandate, our State and local school districts would have the funds to do the things the President proposes, such as building new schools, hiring new teachers, buying more computers, and ensuring accountability. Already, as earlier speakers have said, the Republican Congress has dramatically increased funding for special education. Under H.R. 4055, this Congress will provide fair Federal funding for special education so, in the end, we can approve special education for all of our children. Therefore, as a proud cosponsor of the IDEA Full Funding Act, I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this bill.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green), the sponsor of the bill, the original author of H.R. 3629

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3629) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the program for American Indian Tribal Colleges and Universities under part A of title III, as amended.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).

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

Mr. McKEON

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. 3629, the bill just passed.