Marty Meehan

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jack Connors, Jr., founding partner, Chairman and CEO, and all of the employees at Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc. on 35 years of excellence in the advertising and communications business. Thirty-five years ago today, May 13, 1968, Jack Connors and his three partners, Jay Hill, Alan Holliday and Steve Cosmopulos, officially opened Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc. for business. With 1,500 square feet of office space on the top floor of 143 Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay, the business had no clients and no billings, and in the early going, the four partners used an outside pay phone to make calls to prospects. Today, Hill Holliday is a nationally recognized advertising agency that produces internationally-acclaimed creative work, and is widely recognized as one of Boston's most successful businesses. Hill Holliday's list of clients includes some of the biggest and most well- known brands in the world including Anheuser-Busch, John Hancock Financial Services, FleetBoston Financial, Dunkin' Donuts, CVS Pharmacy, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Verizon Wireless, and The Boston Globe. While leading Hill Holliday from a one-room shop to a national force is impressive, Jack's commitment to serving his community is what makes him and Hill Holliday extraordinary. Jack has used the talent and resources of Hill Holliday to make a difference in the Greater Boston community through pro bono work for dozens of non-profit and charitable organizations. Under Jack's direction, Hill Holliday donated more than $1 million in cash and $4.5 million in in-kind services to various community-based organizations last year. Over the past 2 years, our nation has become far too familiar with the unethical and corrupt dealings of some in the business world. Today, I rise to congratulate Jack Connors and Hill Holliday on 35 years of success and for setting a positive example that future generations of American businessmen and women should follow.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a Elizabeth Neuffer, a Boston Globe journalist who died in a car accident today while covering the conflict in Iraq. Elizabeth was a well-respected journalist with the Globe, New England's largest daily newspaper. During the 1980s, she won a reputation for courageous reporting for her work on war crimes in the Balkans. She went on to report from Rwanda after the genocide; from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq during the first Gulf War; and from the Soviet Union during the transition from Gorbachev to Yeltsin. Her most recent assignment was the United Nations, and after covering the war in Afghanistan, she underwent training for reporters to be imbedded in Iraq and was helping to cover the ongoing conflict with her colleagues at the Globe. She was passionate about covering the reconstruction effort, and at the time of her death she was working on a story about efforts to remove the influence of the Ba'ath Party. Her unique perspective as a reporter covering the realities of genocide helped her transfer an abstract debate about war crimes prosecution into a book, ``The Key to My Neighbor's House: Seeking Justice in Bosnia and Rwanda.'' Among her many awards while serving as the Globe's European bureau chief were the Courage in Journalism Award, as well as the Edward R. Murrow Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations. Elizabeth once said, ``The truth may be hazardous to those who tell it, but truth is not dangerous, disinformation is. As I saw in Bosnia and Rwanda, it is propaganda that fans the flames of hatred.'' Elizabeth will be missed not only by her family, friends, and those who loved her, but by those of us who had the privilege to work with her in the world of politics and journalism.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Patriots' Day and express my strong support for H. Con. Res. 149--a resolution expressing support for the annual celebration of Patriots' Day and honoring the Nation's first patriots. As Massachusetts citizens, every April we are fortunate to celebrate Patriots' Day in honor of the heroic battles of Lexington and Concord which were fought on April 19, 1775. I am proud to represent Concord where Patriots' Day is celebrated on the actual day, April 19. Each year on Patriots' Day troops of ``Minutemen'' assemble in Concord and the neighboring towns to stage a mock battle with a troop of ``Redcoats.'' The historic events along Battle Road marked the beginning of a struggle for Massachusetts residents to retain their rights. The subsequent national war for independence and self-government would last another eight years. The Resolution on the floor today supports the many different ways citizens throughout Massachusetts and other states commemorate this important day in our nation's early history and I urge its passage.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Boston Globe on their Pulitzer Prize for public service, journalism's highest honor, for their coverage of the clergy abuse scandal in Boston. They are to be commended for their outstanding and comprehensive reporting. In January of last year the Globe ran a Spotlight series, which showed a widespread pattern of sexual abuse by priests, covered up by the Archdiocese of Boston. Throughout the year, a team of reporters, including Spotlight reporters Walter V. Robinson, Matthew Carroll, Sacha Pfeiffer, and Michael Rezendes; investigative reporters Kevin Cullen, Thomas Farragher, and Stephen Kurkjian; and religion reporter Michael Paulson, managed by editors Ben Bradlee Jr. and Mark S. Morrow, produced nearly 800 stories related to the scandal. The Globe executed courageous and timely reporting and coverage of the scandal. They reached a level of reporting and coverage unparalleled in recent times in its depth and force of reporting. As a result of their coverage, the scandal received international attention, and culminated with the resignation of Cardinal Bernard F. Law in December. At a time when we need public servants, and we call on our citizens to offer their services to our communities and to our country, the Globe proved that newspapers too can rise to the challenge and provide an incredible public service. There is no doubt that the thousands of families, who found a voice through the pages of the newspaper's coverage of this scandal, are far better off for the Globe's work. We all owe them our thanks and a debt of gratitude for their service.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. MEEHAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, let me ask a question. What about the case of Ken McGuire and David Lemongello, two New Jersey police officers shot in the line of duty and seriously injured at this moment in time? They want to file a civil suit. Is that a frivolous case suit, and should they not have a right to go in a State court in New Jersey and have a judge hear the case and hear the facts of the case? And if the pawnshop is found guilty, should they not have a remedy in common law in New Jersey?

Mr. MEEHAN. If the gentlewoman would continue to yield, what about this case? There is a pawnshop where somebody comes in and buys 12 guns, and they buy them all with cash and then go out and give them to known criminals. In fact, the person who sold the guns was so suspicious that they called the ATF and said, there was a guy in here who bought 12 guns, they gave me cash, and now they left. Would the gentlewoman say that is more than a frivolous lawsuit?

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Look, there is no need for a definition of what negligence is in this amendment because negligence has been established in case law all across this country in all 50 States. All 50 States have case law that determine what the standard of negligence is. This particular underlying bill tends to undermine the States' ability for people to go into court and be made whole that are victims of negligence under those individual State laws. Now, it may well be great in Boston that they decided not to follow through with a suit because it was frivolous. And I believe that to the extent that frivolous suits are dismissed, even against the gun companies, that is a fine thing and that is the way it should work. But let me give an example of why my amendment is necessary. Let us take for example the case of Ken McGuire and David Lemongello, two New Jersey police officers who were shot in the line of duty and at this moment in time are seriously injured. These officers have filed a civil action against a West Virginia pawnshop that had a clerk sell 12 guns in one cash transaction to a suspicious straw purchaser. Twelve guns, cash transaction, suspicious straw purchaser. In fact, the deal was so suspicious that after the sale the pawnshop later called the ATF to report the sale. Sure enough, this gun trafficker sold the gun illegally to a known criminal who shot Officer McGuire and Officer Lemongello. None of the so-called ``exception to immunity'' confirmed by the committee's mark would prevent their suit from being dismissed under this bill. West Virginia law does not even recognize negligence per se, and the sale apparently complied with all of the relevant statutory requirements, even though the pawnshop's employee obviously thought the transaction was extremely suspicious. Their case would fail under the so-called negligent entrustment exception because they negligently sold guns to the straw purchaser, not the user of the gun. The exception for knowingly or willfully would not apply because the standard of willful intent is extremely difficult to meet, and the bill seems to suggest that liability arises only where the seller has actual knowledge that the buyer intends to use the gun to commit a crime. So this is just one example of why this amendment is needed in a case that I do not think anyone in this body would want to see dismissed because of the underlying bill in this case. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would not gut the underlying bill. It would still bar claims based on strict liability. Without my amendment, there is no way to sue for negligence cases of straw purchases. Do not forget the case of Ken McGuire and David Lemongello, two New Jersey police officers who were shot in the line of duty and seriously injured. They filed a civil action in West Virginia because a pawnshop clerk sold 12 guns for cash to a straw purchaser. Those two police officers ought to have the right to have their case heard in court in West Virginia. This case would deny them, because the purchaser of the guns was a straw purchaser.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), a distinguished member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I do not think any industry should be given blanket immunity for its negligence, especially when it results in the deaths of innocent people. My amendment would allow the victims of gun violence to recover damages from the manufacturers or sellers of firearms where their negligence allows guns to fall into the hands of criminals. It would ensure that manufacturers, distributors, and retailers are held responsible for their negligence just as every other industry and every other individual may be held responsible. Now, without my amendment, the bill would essentially immunize manufacturers from lawsuits from victims of gun violence, and it would allow these victims to sue retailers only under exceedingly narrow circumstances. Even if my colleagues think strict liability or rather expansive legal theories should not be available in gun cases, should we not all be able to agree that a well-settled set of principles of negligence should apply to guns in the same way that they apply to virtually every other context under State common law? As reported by the Committee on the Judiciary, the bill would bar suits against manufacturers entirely, and it would limit claims against retailers to theories based on negligent entrustment or negligence per se. The problem with negligent entrustment is that it would apply only where the person to whom the gun is supplied uses it in a manner involving an unreasonable risk or a physical injury to that person or to others. This means the retailers who negligently sells a gun to a straw purchaser would not be liable if the ultimate recipient uses the weapon to shoot a police officer, because straw purchasers transfer guns to criminals rather than using them themselves to commit the crime of violence themselves. So what does that mean? It means this bill really does immunize the entire chain of suppliers, even when they have reason to know that the weapons they sell will end up in the hands of criminals. The problem with negligence per se is that some States do not even recognize that doctrine. And the ones that do oftentimes require plaintiffs to show that the retailer has violated a specific statute or regulation that is expressly designed to protect people from the misuse of guns. This means that if the seller has reason to think a buyer may give the gun to a criminal but the sale complies with statutory formalities, like the background check, negligence per se would not apply. This is the reason why my amendment is essential. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would suggest that Officers Ken McGuire and David Lemongello from New Jersey have a right to have their case heard, and their case should not be thrown out because of this underlying bill, which would take away their right to be heard because somehow this person who sold the guns illegally did not have a background check. In this instance, the person who sold them was suspicious and they called the ATF. Maybe that example is not good enough, so let me provide another example of a suit against a negligent gun manufacturer. Let us consider the manufacturers that supply weapons to dealers who repeatedly sell the guns to straw buyers, and then directly to violent criminals. Robert Ricker, a former gun industry insider, has alleged that it is common knowledge within the gun industry that certain sellers routinely engage in straw purchases. Ricker says manufacturers know who the problem dealers are because they supply the data to the ATF that they use to trace the guns that are used back to retailers. I have not heard Mr. Ricker testify, nor have I had access to any of the discovery in any of these cases, but I think that is exactly why we need to allow the suits to proceed, to get to the bottom line what information gun makers and distributors have about how their firearms wind up being used in crime. Under this bill, no jury will ever test the credibility of Mr. Ricker's statements, and we may never find out what kind of manufacturer data is about that shows patterns of criminal activity associated with specific retailers. Let us at least give an opportunity for the victims of crime, for the people of this country to hear whether or not Mr. Ricker's statements are credible and stand up in a court of law where a person has a right to be heard. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to United States Army Specialist Mathew G. Boule, 22, who died on April 2 in service to his country. Mathew Boule was a resident of a community in my district, Dracut, Massachusetts, who was serving with the armed forces deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mathew Boule was the first confirmed casualty of the conflict from the state of Massachusetts. After graduating from high school, Mathew Boule signed up for a five- year Army tour. He learned discipline and the value of camaraderie during his tour of duty, and was proud to tell his family of his plans to someday pilot military planes. Mathew Boule's parents Leo and Sue are proud of their son, not just for the supreme sacrifice he paid on behalf of his country, but for the time he shared with them during his life. Sue Boule eagerly and happily boasts of her son's generosity. ``The kind of kid who would give you the shirt off his back,'' she fondly recalls. His giving of his life, along with the other brave soldiers who have lost their lives so far in this conflict, has contributed immensely to the freedom and security of the United States, Iraq, and the world. In Mathew's honor, his parents continue their efforts to collect care packages for their son's unit, a project which has both mobilized and unified his hometown. Mathew was a proud member of the United States army, a loving son and brother. Mathew Boule served his family, his hometown, and his country, valiantly and faithfully. Specialist Boule died serving the country he loved, with comrades he loved and with the love of his family in his heart. Our nation is humbled and grateful for his sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time we recognize Specialist Mathew G. Boule, United States Army, who gave his life in service to his country.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Eagle Tribune, a newspaper in Lawrence, Massachusetts. This week the Eagle Tribune was awarded journalism's highest honor the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news, for its coverage of four young children from Lawrence, Massachusetts who drowned in the Merrimack River earlier this year. The tragedy was one of the worst on the Merrimack River in the last century. Three young boys, ages 7, 8, and 9 attempted to save their friend, age 11, who had fallen through the thin ice. All four young boys died. Just as these children, so young and innocent, acted upon their first instinct, which was to help their friend, so did the Eagle Tribune reach out to help their community by reporting this story not only with accuracy and depth, but also with compassion and justice. Expressing their commitment to preventing future tragedies on the River, the Eagle Tribune donated their Pulitzer Prize cash award to a fund established to aid the families of the victims and to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lawrence. As Eagle Tribune publisher Irving ``Chip'' Rogers III said, ``The job of a newspaper is to get the news and publish it instantly, but in doing so we are not immune from its heartbreak.'' Indeed, the reporters and staff of the Eagle Tribune, led by metro editor Gretchen Putnam, with reporters Jim Patten, O'Ryan Johnson, and Jason Grosky, covered the story with a deep sense of grief and regret felt by both the reporters and the community, while maintaining a stunning truthfulness. The Eagle Tribune produced excellence at a time when our communities depend on fair and accurate news coverage more than ever. The paper and its reporters are to be commended not only for their excellence in journalism and professionalism, but also for their compassion and generosity in the face of tragedy. They are role models for all of us in public service.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on the 182nd anniversary of Greek Independence Day. Greek Independence Day is a celebration of freedom and democratic self-governance. Classical Greece was the birthplace of democracy. Athen's era of liberty and self-governance inspired many of our Founding Fathers, particularly Thomas Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of Independence. Freedom movements throughout history have been inspired by classical Greece. The 400 year foreign occupation of Greece by the repressive Ottoman Empire cast a pall over the proponents of democratic self-governance. The Greeks captured the world's imagination again when they began their fight for freedom from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. The Greeks won their independence and renewed the worldwide movement towards self- governance. I am proud to represent one of the longest sustained communities of Americans of Greek descent. The first Greek came to Lowell in the mid- 19th century. By the 1890s Greek immigrants began moving to Lowell to work in its mills. They opened Greek Orthodox churches, developed small businesses, organized social institutions, and helped build the city of Lowell. The Greek families thrived and grew and Lowell became a major destination point for Greek immigration. In fact, Lowell was called the ``Acropolis of America.'' Thousands of Greek families throughout the United States can trace their roots back to Lowell. The Hellenic community of Lowell remains vibrant and engaged. For example, last month I held a community forum on the Cyprus dispute. The unlawful division of Cyprus has been a major foreign policy dilemma for N.A.T.O. and the State Department. This winter, a new United Nations plan and popular support on both sides of Cyprus for a settlement fostered intensive negotiations. Because of the importance of this issue, I held a forum on the Cyprus negotiations. I'm often told that people do not care about international affairs until after a dispute has become an international crisis. This was proven wrong by the demonstrated interest of the Hellenic community in the Cyprus negotiations. Those in attendance at the Cyprus forum belonged to such institutions as: Hellenic Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, St. George's Greek Orthodox Church, the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England, Greek American Legion Post #1, the Mani Society, the Pan-Macedonian Association, the Pan-Laconian Federation, the Order of A.H.E.P.A., the Euorkos Society, the Sons and Daughters of Kastrakini, and the Pan-Messinian Federation, among other institutions. The latest negotiations failed largely because the northern Cyprus obstructionist leader Rauf Denktash prevented the plan from being sent to the Turkish Cypriots for a referendum. This latest travesty by Mr. Denktash will only fuel the increasing distant between himself and the new, pro-settlement government of Turkey. While frustrating to all, the negotiations went further than any prior negotiations. It is the continued interest and work of the Hellenic community that will raise awareness about Cyprus. I can think of no better living tribute to Greek Independence Day.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for the resolution offered by my colleague from Rhode Island. This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the need for improved fire safety in nonresidential buildings in the aftermath of the tragic fire on February 20, 2003, at a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, and expresses the condolences of Congress to the families and friends of the people who died in that horrible fire. I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic deaths of the 99 people who were killed and more than 180 others who were injured in the fire, including the death of Derek Gray. Derek was a Dracut, Massachusetts resident and only 22 years old when he died as a result of the nightclub fire. I want to express my deep condolences to Derek's family, as well as to the families and friends of all of the people who died or were injured as a result of the fire. The Station nightclub fire was a massive tragedy--one in which nearly 100 people lost their lives. What we know about that horrible event is that the people who perished that night were the victims of a lack of protections--or enforcement of existing protections--to ensure the safety of club-goers. Last month, numerous others lost their lives in a Chicago nightclub stampede for the same reason. We in Congress have a duty to the people who lost their lives and their families to work to ensure that these events never occur again. We need to dramatically increase safety protections at entertainment facilities across this country, and we need to do it now.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, as our nation continues to build international partnerships in the war against terrorism, it is important to remind ourselves and the world of the values of democracy and free expression represented by the United States of America. In the war against terrorism, we have significantly increased levels of communication and cooperation with nations across the globe. No truer is this the case than in the newly independent states of Central Asia. These oil rich nations can be vital allies in eliminating the international terrorist threat. Nevertheless, we must not sacrifice our values in their courtship. One example clarifies my point. Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev rules with increasing dictatorial force on his populace. His family owns the only legally authorized media outlet in the country. The underground press are sought out and, in noted instances, brutalized. Opposition leaders such as Akezhan Kazhegeldin and others are banned from the country thereby preventing any true opposition party. President Nazarbayev has not honored his commitment to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to allow constitutional rights of assembly, speech and representation for the people of Kazakhstan. A federal grand jury in New York is investigating serious allegations of bribery by oil interests resulting in the Swiss government freezing President Nazarbayev's and his family's secret Swiss bank accounts at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice. These are but a few examples. Mr. Speaker, the United States continues to put millions of dollars into our ally, Kazakhstan. However, one must ask what the average Kazakh citizen thinks of U.S. support during this time of tyranny. A recent editorial in The Economist suggested a frightening answer: ``Where people conclude--as some already have--that America and its allies care about nothing except oil revenues and military bases, the West can come to seem the source of their travails, and they become easy converts to extremism.'' (I ask unanimous consent that the complete editorial be placed in the Record at the end of my remarks.) I am concerned for our long term relationship with the people of Kazakhstan and ask the Administration to pressure the Nazarbayev regime towards a return to democracy. Our global war against terrorism demands that we work with many governments willing to help. In building these partnerships, it is our moral duty and in our national interest to advance democratic principles. [From the Economist, May 4, 2002] Stopping the Rot--Using Western Influence in Central Asia Central Asia: Democracy and the sport of geopolitics On HIS tour this week of Central Asia, Donald Rumsfeld, America's defense secretary, thanked the region's leaders warmly for their contribution to the war in Afghanistan, They had opened up their roads, railways, air corridors and military bases. And they had been only too happy to help. The Taliban and the armed Islamists they spawned had menaced each one of these fragile new states. Yet fostering new military relationships, important as these are, should not be the only aim of western policy. Development and better government are needed too. Kazakhstan, for example, looks set to become one of the world's top oil producers. Yet evidence from other places suggests that oil money can badly distort an economy as it travels the short distance between western buyers and the offshore bank accounts of cynical rulers. Outsiders can help guard against that danger by keeping up pressure in these former outposts of Soviet rule for more open societies, where the strains of wrenching change can be absorbed by a healthy degree of press freedom and political debate. Instead, in Kazakhstan and in Kirgizstan, the two most committed until recently to market economics and multi-party democracy, there have been arbitrary arrests and a crackdown on the independent media, Meanwhile Uzbekistan, which aspires to be the regional cop, has always had an authoritarian tinge. No bad thing, some outsiders would say, when there are unruly borders to guard and a real threat from Islamist extremists. But leaders in all three places have clearly taken their new-found strategic importance as an opportunity to turn the screws on dissenters. Meanwhile Tajikistan and Turkmenistan offer cautionary tales of the trouble that could infect the whole area if the outside world turns a blind eye. For most of its first decade of independence, Tajikistan was mired in a drug-fuelled civil war that still has disastrous effects: Tajiks play a key role in transporting Afghan heroin to Europe. In Turkmenistan, a sterile personality cult has fostered poverty and human- rights abuses; the country at one point flirted with the Taliban, and has failed to exploit or market its huge gas reserves effectively, Tempting as it might sometimes seem for western governments to shrug off Central Asia's creeping, authoritarianism as a price worth paying in the bigger geopolitical and financial game, that would be short-sighted--for pragmatic reasons as well as for moral ones. Tyrannies with unhappy subjects are unlikely to be reliable economic or strategic partners, Where people conclude--as some already have--that America and its allies care about nothing except oil revenues and military bases, the West can come to seem the source of their travails, and they become easy converts to extremism. Once anti-western sentiment has taken hold, it can then be cynically exploited by local despots (even those with cosy relationships with the West) to distract attention from their own misdeeds. What can western governments do? They cannot turn the Region's leaders into paragons of democracy. Heavy-handed pressure, applied to tough rulers still jealous of their newly-won independence, can be counter-productive. Western governments would do better to give a helping hand to those courageous individuals who are working to keep the flame of independent thought flickering. Often the best deliverers of such help are not embassies or visiting politicians, but non-governmental agencies. Tiny amounts of money--a printing press here, an internet-linked computer there--can make the difference between survival or extinction for a local party or lobby group. encouragement where it counts To advocates of cold realism in foreign policy, such concerns may smack of sentimentalism. As long as Central Asia's rulers open their airfields to western military planes and their oilfields to western corporations, does it matter very much if they lock up their rivals or use electrodes on their dissidents? Such arguments were once used to justify America's unconditional support for the monarchy in Iran. When opposition there finally burst into the open, it was not inspired by western models but was driven by anti-western rage. These days technology makes it even harder to maintain repressive regimes and stamp down dissent. Ideas cross frontiers more easily, no matter how hard tyrants try to prevent this. Another good reason for western governments not to collude with creeping authoritarianism in Central Asia, but to use their influence to stop the rot.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight with a heavy heart but with determined resolve. A member of Congress faces no more important debate than authorizing the President to use military force. Just over a year ago, Mr. Speaker, the eyes of the world were opened to the depths to which evil men will descend in order to put fear in the hearts and minds of peace loving people. In the post-September 11th world, Americans now understand that there are those who have no regard for human life, and that they will kill the innocent in untold numbers to achieve evil goals. We now also know that sometimes our Nation must act to prevent that which may happen in the future. Which brings us to Saddam Hussein and Iraq's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Saddam has a unique brand of state-sponsored terror that threatens the world like no other. Unchecked, he pursues chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and has demonstrated the capacity to use them. Among dictators and despots, his record stands by itself: he has brutally murdered and repressed his own people, he has used chemical weapons against his neighbors and his countrymen including women and children, he has launched unprovoked attacks on other nations, he sponsored an assassination attempt on former President Bush, he harbors terrorists including members of Al Qaeda, and he defies the will of the United Nations and the international community by refusing to disarm and continuing to develop every conceivable weapons of mass destruction known to man. That is why it is critical that the United States asserts its unique leadership role in the international community and put an end to Saddam's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Now is the time to work within the United Nations Security Council to move a tough Resolution calling for the complete disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction under threat of force by a global coalition. It must be the policy of the United States to exhaust all forms of diplomacy within the United Nations and other appropriate forums before considering any other course of action relative to disarming Iraq. And if that diplomacy fails, then we must act with the broadest coalition of nations as possible to force the disarmament of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Speaker, the strategy that Secretary Powell briefed me on that we are pursuing with the U.N. Security Council is precisely the reason why I am such a strong supporter of the Alternative being offered by John Spratt of South Carolina. The Spratt Alternative authorizes the use of U.S. military force in pursuit of a Security Council-sanctioned effort to disarm Iraq, by force if necessary. That is what Secretary Powell and the Administration are pushing for within the U.N. right now and that is what the Congress should be supporting. This alternatives makes clear that if the Security Council fails to take action that Congress will act immediately to vote on authorizing the President to use unilateral, if necessary, force against Iraq to disarm. We are also considering the underlying resolution that provides the President with the authority to use force in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions and unilaterally. It is a significantly broader authorization than the Spratt Alternative. However, changes have been made including: (1) support for and prioritization of U.S. diplomatic efforts at the U.N.; (2) limiting the scope of the authorization to Iraq only; (3) requiring presidential determinations to Congress before the president may use force; (4) and requiring the President to consult with and report to Congress throughout this process. I had hoped that there would have been more opportunity for the House to improve on the underlying resolution during the course of this historic debate. However, I was deeply encouraged by the President's words Monday night when he said, ``Approving this resolution does not mean that military action is imminent or unavoidable.'' Likewise, I was deeply encouraged by my meeting yesterday with Secretary Powell in which he spelled out in detail our strategy for action within the U.N. Security Council. I take both President Bush and Secretary Powell at their word. In the coming days, weeks and months, I plan on holding them to their words. As a Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I've seen the bravery of our men and women in uniform. In fact, I was able to visit many earlier this year in Afghanistan and I was struck by their determination to secure the peace for that nation thousands of miles from home. It pains me that more families may be missing their loved ones soon. Nevertheless, let there be no doubt that Saddam Hussein's unfettered pursuit of weapons of mass destruction are a real and growing threat to the United States and the international community, and that whatever course others may take--America will defend herself.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Professor Dean Bergeron upon his retirement for his lifetime commitment to educating and inspiring students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Robert F. Kennedy often said that ``It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope; and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.'' Professor Dean Bergeron, who is lovingly referred to by students as ``Dean'', learned the lessons of acceptance, tolerance and the joy of life from his parents Joseph and Chloe. Their upbringing inspired Dean to enter the teaching profession, so he studied History at St. Michael's College. Upon the completion of his baccalaureate degree, his passion motivated him to further his education in history at both Villanova and Brown University. In 1965, Dean Bergeron concluded his studies and accepted a teaching position in the History Department at Lowell State College, a decision that resulted in a lifetime career that positively changed thousands of students' lives. Dean Bergeron displayed diverse acts of courage on a daily basis by challenging students to recognize the depths of their potential. He implemented cutting edge classroom techniques to keep students engaged. He created the Model Leagues, an involvement learning program for students to participate in simulated United Nations and Arab League conferences. He and Professor Joyce Denning used their own money to start a grant program for students. He even implemented new classes into the curriculum, such as, Middle East Studies, the Environment and the Kennedys. His impact upon the lives of students has truly been remarkable. The Model Leagues program is one of the best in the nation, winning local, national and international awards. It has provided students with the opportunity to learn and to travel. The grant opportunities has provided students an opportunity to create meaningful projects at home and abroad. There are few words to express the way students feel about him. Many refer to him as a mentor, advisor and best friend. Dean Bergeron used the classroom to encourage students to stand up for an ideal, to help those less fortunate and to dispel myths about other cultures. Dean was truly an outstanding professor who cared about his students. His legacy has created countless ripples of hopes that impacted the hearts and minds of his students and has left the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States of America and the World community a far better place.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to learn of the tragic death of Donald Leo Ducharme on June 11, 2002. Donald was a Dracut, Massachusetts resident, Lowell-native, and dedicated teacher for 27 years at the Greater Lawrence Vocational High School. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Rita and his six children, Heidi, Dawn, Jessica, Donald, Todd, and Toby. A beautiful eulogy was given on June 14, 2002, at St. Magdalen's Church in Dracut by his son, Donald. I ask for unanimous consent to submit it to the Record: First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming. It is really amazing how many people I have seen over the past couple of days. You may think that it was tough to stand up yesterday for 8 hours, but the longer it went the easier it got. It was such an incredible tribute to see for my father. I would also like to ask you to keep a smile on your face and feel free to laugh, Dad would want it that way, and I may need the help. Some of you maybe wondering how I was picked to be up here. I'm happy to say that it was actually my father's wish. I know this because we talked about it. About a year ago, I had a short strange dream one night. It started with me in this same exact spot. I walked to the podium and the first thing I did was ask the question, ``How many of you people think my father is one of the biggest pains in the butt you know?'' The wording was a little more harsh, if you know what I mean. Anyway, half the place raised their hands. I followed that question with another, ``Now how many people would think of that same pain in the butt as the first person to call if you needed help with something?'' and all the same hands plus a few extras came up. I awoke just after, thinking that was a very strange dream. I wasn't sure whether or not to tell him about it, but after working with him for so many years, I was able to talk to him about anything. I told him the story a few days later, which was also just after the family's long time friend and neighbor, Mr. Pepin passed away. He said, ``You know, when I was at Mr. Pepin's funeral, I thought about asking you to do it.'' So here I am. In the time since September 11th, many people have been called heroes. So, I named this next section ``Our Fallen Hero'': He may not be a veteran of a military war, but did I ever have some with my brothers. He wasn't a policeman, but he was at least a traffic cop in our house. He wasn't a fireman, but no one could build a more beautiful, safer place for a fire. He was always there when you needed him, no questions asked, except to find out what tools he needed to bring. He is our Fallen Hero. Okay, enough mushy stuff, OR we do the mushy stuff his way and all line up for slaps in the back of the head, any takers? Yes, it was a strange way to show love, and it didn't make much sense for a long time. He wanted things done right and done right meant his way. As much as I tried to prove him wrong, somehow he was always right. It started making sense to me when I was about 16. I was thinking about getting my license and therefore needed a car. Well, when I was 12, 13, 14 years old it didn't make much sense to me why I had to go to work with him all summer and every Saturday during school, but when I asked my Mom how much money I had to buy a car it started making sense. Then a couple of years later I started realizing it had nothing to do with the money, but it had everything to do with the ability and skills it takes to be able to make money, and making money really meant being able to stand on your own two feet and providing for your own family some day. We all had our lessons growing up. Heidi was in charge of cleaning the pool, and no one kept it cleaner than her. The only problem was Dad thought she dragged the hose on the concrete and put holes in it. So, he booted her in the butt all the way to her bedroom and she was grounded. Sometime later, maybe a couple of months or the next summer, there were a few more leaks in conjunction with butt chewings and punishments. It turns out it wasn't Heidi at all. Luckily, for her, Pepere R. Dad's father-in-law, figured out that because of the way the hose was hung on the fence the sun was actually melting holes in it. Then there was Dawn Ann; could be here all day, only because there is no one more like Dad. Dad was always very strict with his girls, especially with all the guys that were always hanging around the house. One day my parents weren't around when Dawn got a call to go to a Celtics game. She really did want to ask for permission, uh huh, but it was before everyone carried a cell phone. So in her infinite wisdom she decides she is going into Boston on the train with 3 of the guys to a Celtics game. Mom and Dad came home and asked Heidi where Dawn was. You would have thought there was a steam engine train in the living room with the smoke that came out of his ears. You guessed it, Grounded! Jessica. As any parent knows, you never want to pick favorites out of your kids, or at least admit it. Well, we all know that Jess is the favorite, Daddy's little girl, can do no wrong. Just a couple of weeks ago I was at my parents' unloading my truck from a long day of work. As I was about to leave, Dad came out of the house and said, ``Jessica just called and there is a bat in the house. Do you mind giving me a hand?'' Now mind you it was about 8:00 in the evening and Dad hadn't even eaten dinner yet, but it was Jessica, so we went over right away, of course after we grabbed the necessary tools: a fishing net, racquetball racquets and leather gloves. We show up and Jess and her roommate are hiding in her car. Dad is there to save the day so they got out of the car and proceeded to tell us the bat was this big, it had fangs and was hissing at them. Frankie had also shown up in the mean time. The three guys go into the house looking all over. We went upstairs to double check rooms we already searched and as Dad opened a door, he saw it flying and slammed the door shut. The hunt was on, we had it trapped in one room, but we had to make our plan. Frankie suggested going out onto the roof of the farmer's porch from the other bedroom and try to see where the bat was. I crawled out onto the roof and made my way over to the bedroom window. The shades were almost all the way shut, except for a small slot in the middle. Dad has his hand on the door ready to barge through with the racquet when I give him the okay. I see the TINY bat flying around. I'm yelling, ``Not yet, not yet!'' from the roof, and then I'm not sure where it is, so I said, ``I think it landed in the closet.'' Dad makes his charge, but I was wrong, it wasn't in the closet, it was flying right at him. In a flash, I see his eyes light up, a scream come out of his mouth, and the racquet whipping around. I almost rolled off the roof I was laughing so hard as I witnessed this all through the window. Once again, our Hero came through. A little side note to Frankie, No pressure, but if you had plans to ask Dad for Jessica's hand in marriage you're in trouble, because now you have to come through me! This next one is about Toby, another one I could go on all day about. One day, all 6 kids went to McDonald's with Mom. Right before we left the restaurant Toby snatched up some ketchup packets and put them in his pocket. When we arrived home, Toby decided that it would be funny to put the ketchup under the tires of Mom's car. Next thing you know, Mom drove off and the ketchup splattered all over the driveway. We all thought this was hysterical, until later that evening when Dad YELLED downstairs, ``Kids, get up here! All of you!'' We all thought we were going to get into trouble for the ketchup incident and didn't think twice abut pushing Toby up the stairs first (since he did it of course). As we all crept up the stairs, cowering behind Toby, we inched down the seemingly never-ending hallway to Mom and Dad standing in the kitchen. With the look of death on their faces, we became more nervous. They sat us down and began speaking in a stern voice. But instead of getting in trouble, they proceeded to tell us that we would be visiting Disney World for Christmas. I bet they never saw such relieved faces as we all laughed and jumped around. We then all started to laugh about thinking we were going to be in such trouble over the ketchup and ended up telling Mom and Dad what had happened earlier that day. To our relief, they laughed too and Toby wasn't in trouble. It turns out Disney wasn't the only thing on the agenda. Dad also built a fireplace for his sister Jackie while we were down there on vacation. Todd. When it came to just about everything my Dad did, safety was always one of the most important things. One day at work, we were coming to the top of a big chimney. We had staging set up on the roof, and a hoist ladder to bring the material up to the roof. Todd was always the best tree climber in the family, so he was elected to walk the material from the ladder to the staging and up the incline of the roof. Like I said, Dad was always safety conscious, so he tied a rope around Todd and then tied it to the staging, in case he slipped. Todd backed up a step and had a very nervous look on his face. My father was concerned and said, ``Todd, are you still afraid to fall,'' and he replied, ``No''. So he asked why he looked so scared, and Todd replied, ``I don't like being tied so close to you that I don't have a chance to get away before you slap me if I do something wrong.'' It was always tough love from Dad. Some of those stories make him sound like a bad guy, but really, he only meant the best for his kids. Officially, he only had 6 kids, but sometimes it seemed more like 26. He treated so many of our friends and relatives as if they were his own. For example, even with 6 kids on his hands, he didn't hesitate for a second to bring his nephew Jeremy into our house when his brother fell off a roof and was paralyzed. Jeremy became another brother to all of us. There are many others he treated with the same love, to name a few, TJ, Rick and Reg, Frankie and Shawn, Lisa, Nicky, Lyle, Bobby, Patrick, All of the guys that ever worked from him, Mike, the Kenny's, Scooter, Billy, and many others, you know who you are. Not only was he a great father to many, but he was also a true friend and brother. Over the past couple of days, it felt kind of strange hearing some of these people say sorry to me for my loss, and the rest of my brothers and sisters. It felt strange because I thought I should be saying the same to them knowing what they lost, the best friend or brother you could ever ask for. Aunt Ruby, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Gerry, Uncle Norm, Ralph, Peter, Billy, Rudy, Klaus, Ronny and so many others, I just can't name them all. As a Pepere, to his 7 \2/3\ grandchildren, Victoria, Ali, Gary B, Mitch, AJ, Kelly, Josh, and one soon to be. What a treat to go to Pepere's house, the surprise bag (a toy or treat for each kid, every time they came to the house), rides on the bobcat, playing in the sand pile, ice cream sundaes right after breakfast, the ball pit, swings on the tree, and even a swing in the house just in case it rained. If your Mom or Dad said No, just ask Pepere. As a husband, Mom, I don't know how you did it. Not only did she take care of 6 kids, but he was the biggest kid of all. He loved to play: fishing, Nascar, racquetball, driving the vette (at 160 mph early Sunday morning). There was so many things he loved to do and he did them right to the end, but most sacred of all in his heart was you Mom. He couldn't have done any of the things he did without knowing you would be waiting there for him when he got home. Especially seeing the only thing the man could cook was popcorn! Thank You.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my friend, 20-year- old United States Marine Lance Corporal Peter Orlando, who died on Saturday in service to our country. Peter Orlando was a lifelong resident of my hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts, who joined the United States Marine Corps 2 years ago. He valiantly served his country as part of our forces of Operation Enduring Freedom, deployed on a supply ship off the coast of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. Peter was currently training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in preparation for continuing desert warfare training later this month in California. Peter was a member of the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine division, since December of 2000 after graduating from boot camp at Parris Island. Peter was assigned to the battalion's combined antiarmor platoon within the weapons company. He served as a machine gunner. In June of this year, Peter had returned to the United States after a 6-month deployment in Okinawa. While deployed to Okinawa, Peter had further deployed to Bahrain from January to April of this year. There he participated at shipboard security operations in support of Operation Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. Peter was an expert rifleman and was a recipient of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the National Service Medal. Peter's death during a military training exercise was a tragic and devastating loss to his loving family, to his community, and to his country. His death touched me personally as well. I got to know Peter when he was 9 or 10 years old. He became involved in my first campaign for Congress in 1992. I remember Peter walking the mile or so from his home in the Centerville area of Lowell to our campaign headquarters. I remember his useful enthusiasm as a volunteer, his constant zeal. He was always campaigning, no matter where he was. Over the decade that followed, I kept in touch with Peter and was proud that from time to time he would call me for advice or my view on something that he was doing. Every Saturday when I would go to the Double Tree Hotel in Lowell for breakfast with community leaders, I would meet his mother and she would tell me how Peter was doing and where Peter was, wherever he was around the world. He was a 2000 graduate of Lowell High School, after which Peter enlisted in the armed services, a career that I was very, very proud of him for entering. I remember one time he said to me ``I am going to enter the service, which do you think I should enter?'' I said, ``Well, I hear the Marines is the toughest.'' He said, ``Yeah, that is the one for me. I have brothers who are also Marines.'' And I was extremely proud to hear of his plans to reenlist for another 4 years, his resolve, like that of our Nation, strengthened by the cowardly attacks on our country on September 11. Peter is survived by his loving mother, Audrey, and 10 siblings: Lisa, Karyn, Christine, Heidi, Allyson, Gino, Anthony, Joseph, Maria, and Sara, as well as of many nieces and nephews. Yes, Peter was a United States Marine, but first and foremost he was a loving son, brother, uncle, a young man who was committed to his family, a legacy where he will always be remembered by not only his family but to those he touched and to those who loved him from his hometown of Lowell. Peter Orlando served his family, his community, and his country proudly and faithfully, and I salute him today in the United States House of Representatives and say to you, Peter Orlando, today, thank you for your service to our country, and tonight from the floor of the House, Peter, you are my hero.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express concern for the fate of an independent media in Kazakhstan. On May 21 several unidentified men forcibly entered the officers of the Sol-Dat newspaper--one of the few remaining independent opposition papers in Kazakhstan. The men severely beat two journalists in the office, destroyed and stole equipment and told the beaten journalists that this was only a warning. Police who arrived on the scene further confiscated equipment and files. The very next day, another independent newspaper in Almaty, ``Delovoye Obrozreniye'' was firebombed. What did these newspapers do to deserve this fate? They dared to criticize President Nazarbayev. In recent years President Nazarbayev has made a concerted effort to shut down his opposition by denying dissent voices any means of expression. He has also put political opponents in jail and driven others into exile. All this, despite repeated assurances to President Bush and the international community that he would preserve an independent media and free expression for the citizens of Kazakhstan. Mr. Speaker, the importance of Kazakh oil fields to the U.S. cannot blind us to President Nazarbayev's ongoing assault against the liberties of the men and women of Kazakhstan. I call upon President Nazarbayev to live up to his stated commitments to human rights and an independent media. And I call on this Administration to press for a resumption of a free press and tolerant government in Kazakhstan.