Marty Meehan

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and thank the ranking member for yielding me time. Thanks in large part to the efforts of the Blue Dogs, we will consider meaningful campaign finance reform legislation under a fair process. I want to thank every Member who signed that discharge petition, particularly the minority leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), who worked tirelessly to get us back to the floor under a fair rule. Mr. Speaker, with the Enron scandal casting a cloud over the White House and the capital, this House has a historic opportunity to reform our campaign finance laws by ending the soft-money system. Twice this House has passed bipartisan campaign finance reform with over 250 votes, but never with such a strong chance that the bill would become law. Tomorrow will be the moment of truth for reform. The role will be called and the votes will be counted. And over the course of this debate opponents of reform will attempt to perpetuate several myths about our bill in an attempt to stop us. But do not be fooled. Myth number one, Shays-Meehan has been weakened to the point that it is meaningless. My friend, if that were true, do you think getting this bill passed into law would be so difficult? Would this floor fight be described as Armageddon? Here are the facts: our bill bans soft-money contributions to the national parties, prevents Federal office holders from raising soft money for parties to spend in Federal elections, and prohibits State parties from spending soft money on TV attack ads attacking Federal candidates. Myth number two, it is a partisan bill. This is a bipartisan bill. If this were a partisan bill, I have complete confidence that the President of the United States would be waving his veto pen for all of us to see. But he is not. McCain-Feingold, Shays-Meehan, Levin, Castle, Graham, Stenholm, Roukema, Lieberman, Thompson, Snowe, Wamp. The list goes on and on, Democrats and Republicans joining together to say enough is enough. Myth number three, the Ney bill is a better choice. The truth is the Ney bill allows $900,000 in soft money per donor to be given to national parties in just one election cycle, and unlimited money to the State parties for TV attack ads on Federal candidates. The Ney bill is not serious reform. It is, to put it bluntly, a political device proposed in an attempt to break apart our reform coalition. Myth number four, Shays-Meehan is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has upheld contribution limits time and time again. This Court has long upheld laws saying that spending on campaign ads has to be disclosed and has to come from hard money. The Shays-Meehan bill makes sure that campaign ads masquerading as issue discussion are subject to the same laws that uncloaked campaign ads should be. Mr. Speaker, more than any other recent scandal, the unfolding Enron scandal has made it clear that under the present system money talks and public interest walks. Let us pass campaign finance reform.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I concur with these substitutes and amendments. I thank the gentleman from Connecticut and members of the Republican Conference who have worked diligently over a period of the last several months on this bill. I think we have an historic opportunity to make a fundamental change in the way elections in America are carried out. I thank the gentleman for his cooperation. I also thank the minority leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), and all of the Members from both sides of the aisle who have been part of this historic process over the last few months.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, my good friend Steven A. Baddour was elected to the Third Essex Seat of the Massachusetts State Senate in a special election held on January 8, 2002. Steve is a former Assistant Attorney General for Massachusetts and also served as an Economic Development Specialist in my Massachusetts offices. On January 23, 2002, Steve delivered his first speech as a State Senator. It was an eloquent and moving address. Without objection, I submit the text of his remarks: Thank You. Your Excellency, thank you very much. I look forward to working with you throughout the years to come. Mr. President, thank you as well. On behalf of the people of the Third Essex District, I want to thank you for your commitment to democracy and representation. The fact that you scheduled this election, so soon after the resignation of the now Secretary of Public Safety, is proof that you place public service over politics. Thank you. Speaking of the Secretary of Public Safety. I want to thank him for his unwavering commitment on behalf of the citizens he represented with such distinction and honor. It is truly an honor for me to succeed by friend and mentor, the Secretary of Public Safety. Please join me in thanking him for all that he has done for the citizens he has so ablely represented. Attorney General Tom Reilly--thank you so much for being here and for all that you have done for me. As the leader of the best professional public law office--you have said repeatedly--you expect nothing but the best of your employees--and as the newspapers are reporting day after day--it shows. You are a mentor and a good friend and I am so proud to have worked for you. You gave me a chance and hired me, and more importantly, you gave me an opportunity to represent the entire Commonwealth and fight for working families--a valuable experience that will benefit me and the district that I now represent. To all of the Assistant Attorney General's who are here, thank you for friendship and your commitment to public service. You are the unsung heroes of state government. To the local officials who are here today and to those who could not make it, I pledge to you my cooperation and vow to work with you to make our government better for the people we collectively represent. I would not be here today if it were not for the support of so many people, actually just about everyone in this room. To those of you whom are here in this historic chamber today for the first time--come back. The energy and enthusiasm you displayed during this campaign is needed in government. Get involved and stay involved. This is your government and your input, now more than ever, is greatly needed. I especially want to thank someone whom I love very much and if not for her support I would not be here. I always knew during the campaign and even before that if I had a bad day, I could just go home and get all the support I needed. My wife Ann may be quiet but she is strong and I couldn't ask for a better friend, wife and mother to my child. Ann, thank you. My life changed forever in December. And no not because of the election. But because of the birth of my first daughter Isabella. I now know what the term ``daddy's little girl'' means. The first time she looked at me and smiled it was all over. I hope that someday, she smiles at me and says that she is proud of the work I did as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate. I also want to thank the members of my family. I learned at a very early age the importance of community. My parents Shae and Phyllis were great role models and I want to thank them for their love and support over the years. They deserve a round of applause because if it were not for their nurturing and encouragement, I would not be here today. My step-mother Marie is also here and I want to thank her for the countless hours she spent on the telephone and for all that she has done for me over the years. My brother Shae is also here today with his wife Michelle and their three children, Matthew, Nicole and Shaena. I want to thank them, especially my brother, for always being there when I needed him. He is a great brother, but more importantly a great husband and a super dad. To my new colleagues, I look forward to working with each of you. I look forward to building a friendship. Over the next few days, I will be calling each of you to set a meeting where we can sit down and begin to build a friendship as well as a partnership. I look forward to working with you as a productive member of this great body. To my supporters I pledge to work everyday fighting for the issues that I campaigned on. Opening the political process, a commitment to education, especially Adult learning, and the list goes on. I am a true believer in the phrase coined by Tip O'Neil that all politics is local and I truly look forward to representing and working for the people of Methuen, North Andover, Haverhill, Salisbury, Merrimac, Amesbury and Newburyport. As anyone can tell--the geography of this district is as diverse as its people. And the challenges that lay in the month's ahead could easily make one turn his or her head the other way from public service. But having already worked for the district, having represented the Commonwealth as an Assistant Attorney General--I look forward and am excited to meet those challenges head on. Today, I stand before you and reiterate the one promise that I made throughout this campaign: I will never forget where I came from. I am the son of a working class family and a product of public education from kindergarten through college. The daily struggles I witnessed and experienced along with my family, friends and neighbors have made me who I am and have brought me here today. I will remain true to that promise and to the commitments I made during this campaign, I will not forget where I came from.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I was saddened last week to learn of the death of Sophie Jajuga, the mother of my good friend James Jajuga, the Secretary of Public Safety for Massachusetts and a former State Senator. At the funeral service for his mother on February 5 at St. Lucy's Church in Methuen, Massachusetts, Secretary Jajuga delivered an eloquent tribute to his mother that deeply touched me and all others who were present. He described in vivid terms the lifelong love and support that Mrs. Jajuga gave to her family. Secretary Jajuga's beautiful eulogy to his mother should be of interest to all of us. I ask for unanimous consent to submit it to the record: Good morning, on behalf of my entire family, I want to thank you for attending this beautiful service here at St. Lucy's this morning, as well as for the many kindnesses you have extended to me and to both the Bednez and Jajuga families over the past few days. I would also like to thank Fr. Loscocco for his support and guidance during this difficult time and for celebrating today's mass, and Camille Peters for her beautiful voice and organ playing. I was asked by my family to share with you some thoughts about my mother, Sophie, and am both humbled and honored to do so with you now. In life we tend to take some things for granted. One of these things is that our mother will always be there for us, in good times and, especially, in bad times. No one shares a child's happiness, pain, or sorrow, more than his or her mother. No one understands more how a child is feeling-- really feeling deep down inside--than his or her mother. My mother, Sophie, was a wonderful mother to me and to my two sisters, Jane and Mary. We grew up in Haverhill and moved to Lawrence. Some of us took that move better than others, but that is a story for another day . . . A story I would like to share with you today that exemplifies the kind of person my mother was is this: When we were young children things would disappear from our house, ``things'' like clothes, dolls and toys, and, of course, my favorite jacket that I had only worn for a short period of time. Finally, mother told us that she had been sending our personal belongings to our relatives back in Poland because, in her own words ``they need them more than you do!'' When we came home from school or play, we never knew what would be missing next, and if we really valued something we knew we better find a very good hiding place to keep it safe from mother's reach. Mother called all of us ``Honey'' or ``Dear'' and when she did call us by name it was usually someone else's name. In fact, for a while there I really wasn't sure whether my name was ``Jimmy'', ``Stanley,'' or ``Eddie,'' because she called me all three names regularly! She continued to do this with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well. My mother loved us all--her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, her brothers, Stanley and Eddie, her sister, Helen, and her many dear friends. Sophie's love knew no bounds. She loved to laugh, and she especially loved to spend time with her grandchildren and her great- grandchildren. She used to play cards with the grandchildren, a variation of the game of poker called ``No Peek.'' A game where no one was supposed to look at the cards. But of course she would always peek. They'd call her on it all the time, but she would swear that she only saw one card, when they knew she had seen them all. But they always let her get away with it. I asked everyone in the family, including the grandchildren, what they felt were mother's strongest attributes. By unanimous proclamation they all agreed her greatest strengths were her kindness, her generosity, and her thoughtfulness. My mother never had a bad word to say about anybody. She was always there ready to help out whoever needed it. She did not--could not--say no to anyone, no matter what was asked of her and regardless of her own situation. She shared whatever she had with others unselfishly. She never asked for anything in return. She was a gentle woman. She went out of her way to show she cared, always putting family and friends first even before herself. Today, we say goodbye--for now--and though we are all deeply saddened by her untimely passing, we are comforted in our firm belief that she is in a better place, reunited with our father and with those members of our family who have gone before us. Ma, thank you for a lifetime of memories that we will cherish forever. Thank you for always being there for all of us. We love you, we miss you, and we all look forward to playing ``No Peek'' with you again someday. God bless you, Ma, and God bless you all.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express relief and gratitude that the federal government will finally take meaningful steps to shore up security at our airports and on our airplanes. The tragic events of September 11th left the residents of Massachusetts' Fifth Congressional District--whom I am privileged to represent--all too aware of the potential price of inadequate airport and airplane security. Two flights that fateful day departed from Logan Airport in Boston, bound for destinations in California. Instead, murderous terrorists armed with knives and box cutters hijacked those planes and used them to destroy the World Trade Center. 28 individuals from or with close connections to the Fifth Congressional District lost their lives due to these terrorist acts. Their families and friends mourn their loss and honor their memories--now and forever. We cannot replace or restore the loss endured that day. That is our permanent tragedy. But we can bring the perpetrators to justice, and we can prevent innocent American life from being taken again by terrorists. This is our obligation to all Americans and to the memories of those who died on September 11th--to put up our guard for good. It had long been evident that airport security was not being taken so seriously as it should have been. Few pieces of baggage were screened for explosives. Private security companies with poor track records were trusted with guaranteeing the safety of airplane passengers. Cockpit doors were not secure against intruders. Thankfully, this will now change. When the House first took up airport security legislation, I was proud to vote in favor of a bill previously passed by the Senate, which would have required airport passenger and baggage screeners to be federal employees. Unfortunately, the bill that initially passed the House rejected the Senate approach and chose instead to maintain too much of the status quo. I am very pleased that the conference report we take up today shares much more in common with the Senate approach than the original House bill. It would require, within a year of enactment, airport screeners to be federal employees at virtually all airports in the United States. Moreover, all checked bags will be screened by X-ray equipment within 60 days of enactment, and all bags will be screened using explosive-detection equipment within a year. This is a sea change from the current approach--a change that will benefit the millions of Americans who travel by air for work and pleasure. I do wish the bill had gone further. The bill does permit airports to request to use private screeners after three years. However, the Secretary of Transportation must find that non-federal screeners will provide an equal or higher level of security to approve any such application. It is imperative that the Secretary interpret this requirement stringently. We must not compromise the safety of American air travelers. Nonetheless, the bill is clearly a large step forward towards secure airports and airlines. Just as the events of September 11th spurred the development of enactment of this legislation, those events explain my absence from voting today. This afternoon, there will be a memorial service in Boston's Fanueil Hall for the 131 individuals from or with close connections to Massachusetts who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. I join Senator Edward M. Kennedy and the families of these individuals in this hall of liberty to commemorate liberty's martyrs. While I wish there were no schedule conflict between the memorial service and votes on the airport security conference report, I feel strongly that my place today is with the families of the Fifth Congressional District who lost love ones on September 11th.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of public service and passing of Congressman Edward ``Eddie'' P. Boland. Congressman Boland was a humble statesman who moved legislative mountains and earned the respect of his colleagues with a polite manner and solemn regard for this body. He received his education from Springfield's Bay Path Institute and Boston College Law School. The son of an Irish immigrant railroad worker, he would later establish himself as a community leader. Boland began his life of public service at the age of twenty-three when elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Later, he was elected as the Hampden County register of deeds. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army to fight tyranny in the Pacific theater of World War II and was promoted to captain. In 1952, Eddie Boland won election to Massachusetts' second congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his 36 years in the House, Congressman Boland became the Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and of the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. Developing the necessary trust between his committee and the intelligence community and an acceptance of the need for Congressional oversight were hallmarks of his Chairmanship. Furthermore he was a steadfast advocate for individual's privacy rights and providing informative but discreet intelligence information to the public. Among this most notable legislative achievements was passage of the Boland amendments which restricted the use of U.S. funds by Nicaragua's Contra rebels and lay at the heart of the ``Iran-Contra'' scandal. Although Congressman Boland rose to become a figure of national prominence, he never lost sight of his modest beginnings in the Hungry Hill district of Springfield, Massachusetts. Congressman Edward P. Boland is survived by his wife Mary Egan, and four children. His legacy to our nation is a model of leadership born from quiet dignity and integrity.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation that this year's Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report will rename the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farmer-to-Farmer Program after Captain John Ogonowski, who died on September 11, 2001 while piloting American Airlines' Flight 11. Captain John Ogonowski was a highly respected resident of Dracut, Massachusetts, a pilot, and a fourth-generation farmer of his 150-acre farm. John also sponsored a program for Southeastern Asian immigrants to learn to farm and maintain their agriculture heritage through the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project--a partnership between Tufts University, the University of Massachusetts Extension Service, and Massachusetts's Department of Food and Agriculture. He provided land to these immigrants and became a close friend to many. Similar to the program that John sponsored, the USDA Farmer-to-Farmer Program will be renamed the John Ogonowski Farmer-to-Farmer Program. This program provides assistance to farmers in developing countries to help increase food production and distribution, and improve the effectiveness of farming and marketing operations. John made a notable difference in the lives of many immigrants learning to farm, and it is only fitting that the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, which embodies John's commitment to training new farmers, will now carry his name. It is comforting to know that John's family and friends will have this lasting tribute to him, which encompasses his love of the land and his commitment to helping others. If his family, including the members I have gotten to know--his wife, Margaret; his children, Laura, Caroline, and Mary Katharine; and his brother, James--are any indication of the kind of person John was, then he was a truly magnificent man, both in spirit and in his deeds. Their strength of heart and commitment to John's legacy, combined with tributes like this, will ensure that John's memory never dies. I am grateful for the willingness of Chairman Bonilla and Ranking Member Kaptur to include this designation in the Conference Report. I also want to thank August Schumacher, Jr., John's friend and the former Under Secretary for Farming and International Agriculture Programs, for his commitment to remembering John. I imagine that John would be truly grateful, and modest, in his acceptance of such an a honor.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, my district in Massachusetts has been very hard hit by the events of September 11. Twenty-eight families in my district have been devastated, with 28 victims who were on flights, a vast majority of them, on American and United Airlines. As I met with families who have been devastated, overwhelmingly they say to me, if you do nothing else, please make airports and airplanes in this country safe. If you do nothing else. Overwhelmingly they say to me, federalize security at the airports. They say to me, we noticed the other body voted 100 to nothing to federalize airport security. Why can the House of Representatives not do the same? I do not have an answer for those families. Apparently, there is somebody on the other side of the aisle that does not want to federalize security at airports. On behalf of the families who have been devastated in my district, I urge the leadership of this House to bring that airport security bill down to the floor of the House of Representatives that passed 100 to nothing in the other body. Let us get it done this week.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I have been proud to serve as a member of the House Judiciary Committee over the past month. In the past, our committee has had a reputation for confrontation--not consensus. But when terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center and assaulted the Pentagon, the Judiciary Committee beat its swords into plowshares. Under the leadership of Jim Sensenbrenner and John Conyers, we came together to produce a bipartisan bill that updates law enforcement's arsenal against terrorism without casting aside our fundamental liberties. Our efforts produced a balanced bill that received a unanimous vote-- a historic accomplishment. I wish it were the Judiciary Committee bill on the floor today. Unfortunately, today's floor debate has tainted that accomplishment. The short-circuiting of the regular order clouds what should have been a day of unanimity. Nonetheless, I rise in support of the antiterrorism legislation before us. While the bill is not perfect, it does maintain an acceptable balance between bolstering law enforcement powers and protecting our civil liberties. In fact, when I read the Senate bill, I see much of the House Judiciary Committee's work reflected in that product. Since our surveillance laws were first enacted, the terrorists have gotten smarter, faster, and richer. The technology that brings us unprecedented convenience has brought them unprecedented opportunities to wreak havoc. It's time for law enforcement to catch up. I only regret that today's action won't have quite the bipartisan shine it should.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution before us to give our Commander in Chief and President the authority to use military action against these cowards who made such an unprecedented evil attack against the United States of America. We must respond to terrorism and respond swiftly, not only to the terrorists, but as the President so accurately said, to anyone who would harbor terrorists anywhere in the world, whether they be countries or individuals. As a member of the Committee on Armed Services, I have confidence in the men and women who serve this country in uniform. They are the smartest, the brightest, the most well equipped and well trained fighting force in the world. I have confidence in the Commander in Chief and the national security team to make sure that we are successful in this effort. But we must be patient and understand that we need a broad and sustained campaign in order to win the battle on terrorism. Mr. Speaker, I believe standing together as a Nation, and this is the most united I have ever seen this House in 9 years, I believe we will win this battle. God bless America.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues in sadness and anger, as our nation has paid severely for its love for freedom. Yesterday, those who have long practiced terror against the innocent revealed that their capacity for evil truly knows no bounds. They struck at America because America embodies what they hate: prosperity born of liberty; the triumph of diversity; and the pursuit of justice at home and abroad. While the entire nation mourns the loss of innocent life, many families in Massachusetts are experiencing loss on a personal level as two of the airplanes used in this attack began their journey in Boston. My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost friends and loved ones too young, too soon. No words of sympathy can ease their pain; no acts can restore what they have lost. Our responsibility to them above all is to honor and recall those who died and bring those responsible for their deaths to justice. Those who visit violence on citizens of this nation will feel America's might. We pursue them without joy but with a firm resolve to prevent future tragedy. Today is a day for mourning and remembrance. In the days to come, we must take a hard look at the state of our defenses against terrorism. It is a delicate task to prevent terror while preserving the civil liberties that have long distinguished our nation. We must rededicate ourselves to finding a balance that both protects and empowers the American people. And we must never, ever let down our guard. Terrorism may spill blood on our shores. But it cannot extinguish our nation's faith in the principles which motivated its founding and have guided its history. America will endure, stronger tomorrow than today, ever a beacon of hope and inspiration to the entire world. While I recognize that this list may be incomplete, I wish to honor and remember the men, women and children of Massachusetts who died at the hands of terror yesterday, and whose names will forever testify to America's commitment to freedom: John Ogonowski, Dracut, Mass. Anna Williams Allison, Stoneham, Mass. Robin Caplin, Natick, Mass. Jeffrey Coombs, Abington, Mass. Tara Creamer, Worcester, Mass. David DiMeglio, Wakefield, Mass. Paige Farley Hackel, Newton, Mass. Alex Filipov, Concord, Mass. Karleton D.B. Fyfe, Brookline, Mass. Peter Gay, Tewksbury, Mass. Ted Hennessey, Belmont, Mass. Charles Jones, Bedford, Mass. Daniel C. Lewin. Chris Mello, Boston, Mass. Laura Lee Morabito, Framingham, Mass. Jane Orth, Haverhill, Mass. David Retik, Needham, Mass. Richard Ross, Newton, Mass. Bill Weems, Marblehead, Mass. Garnet ``Ace'' Bailey, Lynnfield, Mass. Mark Bavis, West Newton, Mass. John Cahill, Wellesley, Mass. Lynn Goodchild, Attleboro, Mass. Peter Hanson, Massachusetts. Susan Hanson, Massachusetts. Christine Hanson, Massachusetts. James E. Hayden, Westford, Mass. Ruth McCourt, Westford, Mass. Juliana Valentine McCourt, Westford, Mass. Jesus Sanchez, Hudson, Mass. Brian D. Sweeney, Barnstable, Mass. Patrick J. Quigley IV, Wellesley, Mass. Jessica Sachs, Billerica, Mass. Alex Filipov, Concord, Mass. Kenneth Waldie, Methuen, Mass. Peter Hashem, Tewksbury, Mass. Betty Ong, Andover Mass. Douglas Gowell, Methuen, Mass. Frederick Rimmele, Marblehead, Mass. Robert Jalbert, Swampscott, Mass. Dianne Snyder, Westport, Mass. Louis Neal Mariani, formerly of Dracut, Mass. Marie Pappalardo, formerly of Methuen and Lawrence, Mass. Memories of them will always be with us.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, what we are talking about is not really about technicalities, though there is a manager's amendment that we should have been able to offer and, in fact, we will be able to offer, because this rule is going down if we do not get an up or down vote on campaign finance reform. But what this really is about are technicalities designed to kill a bill to end this soft money abuse. The United States Senate, in a historic vote, voted for a bill we have been working to preconference with Members of the other body. We have negotiated over a period of time and had a final product at 12 o'clock midnight on Tuesday. The Committee on Rules did not meet until Wednesday, sometime around 3 o'clock. We should have had the opportunity to present to the committee and have an up or down vote on the bill that we agreed to. But technicalities were being used to try to defeat campaign finance reform. There is a strong feel across America these unlimited amounts of money have to be curtailed. We cannot get a patient's bill of rights passed in this body because of the influence of soft money. We cannot get Medicare prescription drug coverage for seniors because $15.7 million in soft money are gumming up the works. It becomes difficult to get legislation passed to protect our environment when continually soft money has played a role in killing that legislation. So my colleagues can talk all the technicalities that they want. The fact of the matter is, my colleagues will either give us an en bloc amendment or we will defeat the rule. Because the American people want a vote on Shays-Meehan, and they want that bill to be similar enough to the bill passed in the other body so that we can avoid a conference committee, where legislation to reform our campaign finance laws have historically died, where the Patient's Bill of Rights died, where reasonable gun safety measures to protect America's children have died. We want to avoid that conference committee. So we have preconferenced this bill in an effort to build on the progress that was made in the other body, in an effort to work with Members in a bipartisan way in this body, Republican Members who are willing to take on this issue in a leadership role and a bulk of the Democrat party, to see to it we end this abuse of the soft money system. It is inexcusable to continue to fund political campaigns through unlimited amounts of money. I believe tonight, as soon as my colleagues acquiesce on this rule, we will be ready to begin that historic debate.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I too want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for all of the wonderful work he has done over the period of the last several weeks. Joe loved him very much. The op ed piece the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) wrote for the Boston Globe was a powerful, powerful expression of love and an expression of Joe Moakley's life. Mr. Speaker, I also want to acknowledge all of the people from Joe's staff who are here. I would daresay that there is not a Member of Congress who had a closer relationship of love with his staff than Joe Moakley did. I also want to compliment all of the members of Joe's staff for all of the work they have done over the last few weeks, as well. I know Joe is looking down and is very, very proud of the job that members of his staff did. It has been, I guess, about 4 months since Joe announced that he had an incurable form of leukemia. I remember the Sunday when he called the members of the delegation. I had gone to Taunton in Joe's district as a member of the Committee on Armed Services. Joe was not going to an event, and they asked me to go and sort of say good-bye to a group of Reservists who were going over to Kosovo. I went in and did the ceremony, and there were a lot of television cameras there. I got home and my wife said, ``Gee, you were on all the stations.'' I got a call about an hour and a half later, and it was Joe Moakley on the line. They said, ``Do you want to wait?'' I covered over my phone and said, ``It is Joe Moakley. He is going to give me a hard time about those television cameras down in his district.'' Then he got on the phone with the shocking news that he had an incurable form of leukemia. I will never forget that conversation, anticipating what I am going to say to have a split second response, not knowing what he was calling for. Joe was a remarkable person, a very, very funny, sharp person. I was reminded listening to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) talking about some of the stories, and the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), I was fortunate enough to have been at a dinner 2\1/2\ weeks before Joe passed away. I want to remind the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) that Joe Moakley ran, he told us that night, as an independent for Congress to avoid the Democratic primary because he had figured out exactly what the people in his district were thinking and knew that he could be sworn into the Congress as a Democrat having gone directly to the general election. What a wonderful night of stories. So many stories, so little time to tell them. But one of the stories that stands out to me was, after the President had recognized Joe for his battle with cancer, has recognized him. The gentleman from New York (Mr. King) was over the next morning, and Joe would sit over here, and the gentleman from New York ran over and said, ``Joe, how do you do it, the President of the United States coming up to you and praising you that way, everybody spending so much time, Joe Moakley. What a tribute. How do you do it?'' Joe looked up with a split second response and said, ``Peter, believe me, it is not worth it.'' The strong message that he sent with that. There was 2 weeks ago, Joe was very committed to Suffolk University, and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) had gotten an honorary degree and went over to thank him, Joe is a member of the board of trustees, for recommending him. Now, Joe looked up and he said, ``Now, you are going to get the doctor, right? It is the doctor.'' He said, ``Yeah, it is all set.'' ``But, Richey, you know it is the doctor, the doctor of law.'' Richey said, ``Yeah, it is the doctor of law.'' Joe looked at him and he looked at me, and he said, ``You know, Meehan has one of those. If he has one, you ought to have one as well. Jim's op ed piece in the Globe, Jim goes in to see Joe at the hospital, and everyone is concerned about Joe. Jim looks at him and says, ``Joe, you look better than I do, for crying out loud. You look great.'' Joe looks up and says, ``Better than you, huh? That is not saying much.'' At the end of the day with all of the events, wonderful events, the foundation raising millions of dollars at a wonderful dinner here in Washington, a wonderful dinner up in Boston, the wonderful dedication of the courthouse, and what a beautiful ceremony that was, the wonderful portrait unveiling here, and then the wonderful ceremony at Saint Bridget's in South Boston, to see the lines of average every-day working people, seniors, waiting in line for hours and hours and hours. There was someone in back of me that said, ``Excuse me, you are a congressman. You serve with Joe, right?'' She said, ``You know, Joe threw me out of a night club when I was 19 years old,'' and with a smile. I said, ``Oh, you did not mind.'' She said, ``Well, he was a bouncer.'' I said, ``How did he know enough to throw you out?'' She said, ``My brother was a pal of his. I was under age, and my brother tipped him off, says I am going to call Joe Moakley and let him know to keep you out.'' She smiled. So many wonderful stories. The ceremony at the State House, thousands of people waiting in line. Then the wonderful tribute that everyone across the Nation had the opportunity to see at the church on Friday. When all is said and done, though, the difficult part for all of us in the Massachusetts delegation was coming back to this Chamber on Tuesday at about 6:15 when, after every weekend, we would come back, and Joe would be over here in the left-hand side, and every member of the delegation would go up to him and talk to him about what had happened. He would have great stories. He did not miss anything that happened over the weekend. If one wants a news program or newspaper article, Joe read it, and Joe had something to say about it. That is a part, I think, all of us are going to miss the most is not having that unique opportunity to interact with a great American, Joe Moakley.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled today to honor an inspiring American. Edward J. Santos, a native of Lowell, Massachusetts will be honored Sunday, May 6, 2001, at a Memorial Dedication, in his hometown at Hosford Square. Edward Santos was a true American hero. He served his nation and cared for his loved ones as a war veteran, dedicated public servant, an active member of his community and family patriarch. As a Sergeant in the United States Army, Ed served from July 7, 1942, to December 2, 1945. During his wartime service Ed earned the Combat Infantryman, Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Occupational of Germany Medal. Ed was a very active member of his community, playing a major roll in Lowell politics for more than 40 years. He was a Past Commander of VFW Post 662, a member of the Portuguese American Veterans, Lowell Lodge of Elks, Lowell Veterans Council, Portuguese American Civic League, Portuguese American Center, Holy Ghost Society, National Association of Letter Carriers, Lowell License Commission and a Trustee of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. He was beloved by the membership of St. Anthony's parish where he was a member of the Holy Name Society. Since his passing, Ed has been deeply missed by his friends and family including sons Ron, Edward Jr., James and Thomas. Ed and his lovely wife Pauline were the proud grandparents of thirteen wonderful grandchildren. I am proud to call Edward J. Santos my friend as are the hundreds of lives he touched throughout his exceptional life.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in this commemoration of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Each year, I join Members of Congress from both sides of the political spectrum to take part in this commemoration. We join together to raise awareness of a chapter in history so brutal and violent that it sadly deserves the horrific title of ``Genocide.'' Each year, as I rise to pay tribute to over 1.5 million Armenians who were killed in this tragedy, I am amazed at how the news of the Armenian Genocide was suppressed at the time and then shrouded from public view for generations. We all remember the question posed by Adolf Hitler at the beginning of World War II--he said ``who remembers the Armenians?'' Today, for the sake of justice and human rights, we answer: ``We do.'' The events that took place between 1915 to 1923, when Armenian men, women and children were systematically mistreated and killed, represent one of the darkest chapters of human history. Armenians were tortured, had their property confiscated, and died from malnutrition and starvation during long, forced marches from their homeland in Eastern Turkey. When tragedies of this magnitude take place, we must ensure that they are not forgotten. Let us teach our children that attempted systematic annihilation of a people must be a fixture of the past. Let us teach our children to value diversity and promote peace and understanding. Theirs can be a better world than the world of the Armenians between 1915 and 1923--but only if they truly understand the cruelty that humankind can wreak upon its own. There are survivors of the Armenian Genocide in my district, and the horror of this ordeal is forever etched in their collective memories. Every year, survivors participate in commemoration ceremonies in Boston, Lowell, and other parts of Massachusetts' Merrimack Valley. The commemoration offers participants an opportunity to remind the media and citizens around the world of the tragedy suffered by the Armenians at the hands of the Turkish empire. I represent a large and active Armenian community in my Congressional district. They are hard-working and proud of their heritage. With great respect for them and for Armenians throughout the world, let us renew our commitment here today that the American people will oppose any and all instances of genocide.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire. March 25, 2001 will mark the 180th anniversary of the start of Greece's struggle for independence from the Turks. The struggle of the Greek people against the Ottoman Empire exemplifies the remarkable ability of a people to overcome all obstacles if the will to endure is strong enough and the goal, freedom, bright enough. The parallels between the United States and Greece are substantial. American political thought was influenced just as much by Greek philosophy as the Greek revolution of 1821 was inspired by the American fight for freedom in 1776. In fact, Greek intellectuals used the U.S. Constitution as the basis for its own constitution in the 1820's. Moreover, the common struggles of our countries have given rise to a bond that spans the generations. The United States and Greece have long-standing historical, political, and cultural ties based on a common heritage, shared democratic values, and alliances during World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War. Greece is a country of 11.5 million citizens. Its gross domestic product measures approximately $120.25 billion per year, and it is estimated that Greece's economy will grow at a rate of five percent annually over the next few years. Furthermore, Greece has major export markets in the United States, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. And as we all know, Greece has among the richest cultural histories of all nations. The Greek language dates back at least 3,500 years and university education, including books, is free. The citizens of Greece are now preparing to host the 2004 Olympic Games, an honor that holds particular historical significance for them. Beginning in 776 B.C., the Olympic Games were held in the valley of Olympia in Greece every four years for almost 1200 years. The modern Olympic Games were created by Baron Pierre de Coubertin and inspired by the ancient games. First staged in 1896 in Athens, the games attracted about 245 athletes to participate in 43 events. At the Sydney 2000 Games, more than 10,000 athletes took part in 300 events. The Olympic Movement has survived wars, boycotts and terrorism to become a symbol of the ability of the people of all nations to come together in peace and friendship. And in 2004, the games return to their home. Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent a large and active Greek- American community in the Fifth District of Massachusetts. U.S. participation in Cyprus settlement efforts, the fight for freedom and human rights for the people of Cyprus, the inclusion of Greece in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, and the presentation of the Congressional Gold medal to His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew have all been priorities for the Greek-American community and worthy initiatives I've been proud to support. I will continue to fight for the interests of Greece and Greek-Americans and encourage others Members of Congress to join me.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, we have an historic opportunity to pay down the debt, cut taxes substantially for middle-class and working families, provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit for seniors and invest in the children of our country in education. Instead, we are snatching deficits from the jaws of surpluses. Families watching this debate across America have to be scratching their heads. When they consider making major financial commitments, they first sit down at their kitchen tables with a pad and a calculator and see if they can afford it. When they cannot afford to repay their debts, they pay down those debts before using the money to buy new goodies. But some in this body, I guess, know better than the American people, because today we are passing a trillion dollar tax cut in a budget vacuum, and we are making excuses about why we cannot pay down the debt. Only in this Congress do we strap on a blindfold before making major fiscal policy decisions. We can do better than this, and the American people know it. I urge a no vote on this bill.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for moving on this courthouse quickly with both sides of the aisle embracing this. This is very, very important at this time; and I compliment the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for not only the way he has gone about this but his remarkable friendship with Joe Moakley over the years. When I got elected to the Congress, I had never been in a legislative body before, and I was a little inexperienced; and I remember getting here and butting heads with Joe Moakley. Then I quickly surrendered. Joe is a remarkable guy. Many of us have heard the stories about what he has done in terms of building Boston and what he has meant to that community, with the Big Dig, depression of the Artery, the beautiful courthouse, the sense of humor that he had. Amazing. All of us have read the story about Joe's illness, and his initial remark was, ``The doctor told me that I should not get any green bananas.'' Remarkable sense of humor. The jokes on the floor. But also his commitment on so many issues. I remember, and it was mentioned earlier, in the wake of the burial of the murdered Jesuits and nuns in El Salvador in 1989, Speaker Foley appointed Joe to head the special task force to investigate the El Salvadoran government. It was Joe Moakley who led the way there and exposed violations of human rights that have made a dramatic difference there. What a legacy his work on human rights in El Salvador. An incredible legacy. Many of us had been fighting over the years to try to get the School of the Americas shut down, could never get the votes in the House, until Joe Moakley took it up. He said I will offer this and we will get it passed. That is Joe Moakley. The personal relationships with Members, not only all he has done for his own district but everyone's district. When we go to the dean of the delegation from Massachusetts and we ask him for help, we are more effective in our districts. I will tell a quick story, if I can get 30 seconds more. Malden Mills in my district in Lawrence and Lowell, a great factory that burned down a few years ago. Aaron Feuerstein, the owner of the mill, kept all the workers working at Christmas time. Kept them all employed. He developed Polartec for cold weather. We were looking for a way to get it to the Marines, get it to our service members, because it is cutting-edge fabric. Aaron came down and said, ``How do I do this?'' I said, ``Well, I will tell you how we will do it. We will go to see Joe Moakley.'' Needless to say, the contracts have been signed, and the Marines are now wearing Polartec. So this is a great honor to a great man, and I congratulate the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join many of my colleagues in expressing our outrage with the continuing atrocities in Sierra Leone. Two weeks ago, seven Sierra Leoneans testified before the House International Relations Committee's Subcommittee on Africa. They told chilling and horrifying tales that I will not soon forget. Thousands of Sierra Leoneans--men, women, children, and even infants--have had their limbs amputated as part of a campaign of terror by rebels. As the democratically elected government and the rebels battle over control of the nation's lucrative diamond mines, the citizens of Sierra Leone live lives of fear and tragedy. Meanwhile, the international diamond industry continues to purchase enormous quantities of diamonds from Sierra Leone. It does not matter who controls the mines, the rebels or the government, as long as the industry continues to receive its precious commodity. I want to commend brave Sierra Leoneans who have risked their lives to tell the world about the atrocities in their country. I also want to commend organizations such as the Friends of Sierra Leone. The Friends of Sierra Leone is a non-profit organization made up of Sierra Leone emigres, former Peace Corps volunteers, and other human rights activists. Without the hard work of the Friends of Sierra Leone and similar organizations, these atrocities would not be receiving the attention of the media and Congress. One volunteer in particular who educated me on this issue is Massachusetts State Senator David Magnani of Framingham. Senator Magnani spent two years in Sierra Leone and another year in Kenya as a Peace Corps volunteer in the late 1960's. Since then, he has closely followed events both in Sierra Leone and throughout Africa. I appreciate his efforts on this important issue. Consequently, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 5147, The Carat Act, introduced by Representative Tony Hall. This bill imposes an embargo on diamonds from Sierra Leone and Angola that have not been certified by their governments. Furthermore, it prohibits the shipment of diamonds from known smuggling centers. This legislation would assure that diamonds imported from unknown sources, like those that come from the mines controlled by Sierra Leone's rebels, would be embargoed from importation into the United States. Legislation like this lets the diamond industry and Sierra Leone's rebels know that we are very serious about not importing diamonds that have come at the cost of innocent lives. It is the responsibility of Congress to take this stand, and I urge your support for this bill.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my mother, brothers and sisters, my Aunt Katherine and Uncle John, my cousins, and my entire family, I want to thank all of you for joining us today to help celebrate our father's life. We are all honored by your presence and are grateful for your support and affection over the last few days. I can imagine my father looking out at the long lines forming outside McCabe's Funeral Home yesterday. He would have said, ``Frankie McCabe must be giving something out for free!'' Frank isn't, Dad, believe me. My father was born in Lowell on July 16, 1927 to Martin H. Meehan and Josephine Ashe Meehan. His father immigrated to the United States from County Claire, Ireland in 1912. His mother, who immigrated from County Kerry the year before, was a cousin of the great Irish patriot Thomas Ashe, who died during one of the first hunger strikes--in Ireland's fight for freedom in Mount Joy Jail in 1916. Thomas Ashe's picture was hung on the wall of his family home on Batchelder Street in the Acre Section of Lowell. In 1963, a portrait of President Kennedy was added. The Acre was where the Greek and Irish immigrants settled in Lowell. My father grew up there and he loved it. Swimming in the canals, playing baseball for St. Patrick's and Lowell High School, and building lifetime bonds. It was a neighborhood where the kids were tough and strong, and everyone had a nick name--hence ``Buster.'' The Acre was where thousands of new immigrant families were becoming part of the great American Dream. In 1946 Dad met my mother at a party her cousin Maureen Gay had. Dad was not invited, he crashed. And my mother was glad he did. They were married three years later. My father had a saying for everything in life. Some of them really bugged me at times. But they all had a purpose and wisdom for how to lead a good life. ``One God, One Country, One Woman'' he used to say. That--one woman-- was my mother. He was passionately in love with her through 51 years of marriage. Their love for each other intensified and grew. I believe the lover our father and mother shared for one another was extended to every person who was a part of their lives. I can remember as a very small boy first learning the concept of love. ``I love you kids with all my heart'', he'd say. ``But I love your mother even more''. ``But Dad'', I once replied, ``Who am I supposed to love more? You or Ma?'' ``you kids should love your mother the most'', he'd say. ``She gave birth to you.'' First they lived in a three tenement on Lincoln Street where Colleen and Kathy and I were born. Later they bought an eight room house the next street over at 22 London Street where they raised seven children in a home that was filled with love, laughter, energy . . . action 24 hours a day . . . a strong commitment to the Catholic Church and to family. It was a great neighborhood--and my father helped us spread our family's love all over it. And there isn't a better testament to that love--than our relationship with the Durkin family who had seven children of their own, just down the street. So many memories, so many stories. Visiting the ice cream stand with Dad was unforgettable. He would load all of us into the car with as many of our friends as would fit. He would ask us what we wanted. ``I'll have a banana split,'' I'd shout. My sisters would say, ``I'll have a hot fudge Sunday.'' Our friends couldn't believe it--they would order a shake or double ice cream scoop with extra nuts, extra whipped cream! He'd take everyone's order and then go up to the line. ``Don't worry,'' he'd say, ``I'll carry it back''. Ten minutes later he'd return with 13 single cups of chocolate ice cream. ``That's all they'd had'' he shug. Dad was also a very successful little league coach. On Dad's White Sox team everyone played--at least three innings. I remember how embarrassed I was when Dad's White Sox lost every game. 0-18. Some games we were winning after three innings, 8 to 4 or even 7 to 2. But in the fourth inning Dad put all of the subs in--no matter what. ``everyone plays!'' he'd say. The other teams kept the best players in for the whole game. Naturally, they would win. Today I am so proud of the way my Dad coached the kids on that 0 and 18 team. Today, I am so proud of how my father lived his life. As children, we shared so many happy times together each summer with family and friends at Seabrook Beach. Later as adults, with his grandchildren, we spent weekends at Dad and Mom's beach house. After a few morning hours together on the beach, Mom and Dad would head back to the house to begin the day-long cooking ritual so that we could have dinner together. Many times in the evenings, we would sing songs around a bonfire on the beach. We enjoyed lobster bakes and thankfully Mom and Dad got to enjoy an occasional sunrise together. And many times, after a long day, many of us would sit together and watch the sun go down and our father would say to us all, ``it's a great life and it's a great country.'' Dad worked at the Lowell Sun Publishing Company for 43 years. He started as a truck driver * * * became a linotype operator * * * then became Assistant Foreman in the Composing Room. He loved the Sun and the newspaper business, and he knew it from soup to nuts. There were a lot of great reporters that came through the Sun over the years, but my father never hesitated to tell them when he felt they just didn't get it right--especially on a political story. Frank Phillips, Chris Black, Brian Mooney and others all heard from Dad on more than one occasion. When he was finished he had earned their respect and they appreciated his wisdom and experience. And they all affectionately repeat those stories--even today. Dad was an active lifetime member of the Typographical Union--serving in a leadership position. He always stressed the importance of workers being able to organize for fair wages and benefits. It's not surprising that my sisters Colleen and Kathy are members of the teachers union and Mark and Paul are active members of their respective unions as well. But as strong as a Union person as he was--he loved the Lowell Sun and the company's ownership, the Costello family. He followed the Costello kids' lives as if they were his own--always loyal to the company and the Costello family. Supporting Mom and seven young children was not always easy. For seven years he got a second job working nights as a corrections officer. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays he would get up at 5:30 to be at the Sun to punch in at 7 o'clock. His shift was over at 3:30. He'd put on his uniform at the Paper, punch in at the jail at 4 o'clock and work until midnight. He got home by 12:30 in the morning, and went to bed for five hours so he could be back at the paper by 7 a.m. I'm sure it wasn't easy--but he wanted the best for his children and he wanted my mother to be able to be home with us. My father didn't care what we did for work--but he wanted us to get an education. And we all did. He was especially proud of the fact that my sisters, Colleen, Kathy, and Mary all became school teachers. He thought it was the most important job of all. ``Teaching is NOT a job''--Dad would say--``It's a vocation.'' He loved the idea that his daughters were helping to shape the minds of 25 kids in a classroom each day. He was so proud of all his children, in a unique and special way. My brother Mark, a master electrician, ``has the biggest and best heart of all my kids,'' he'd say. And Mark gave Dad his newest precious grandchild ``Sarah'' just two weeks ago. He was so proud that Paul followed him to the Sheriff's Department. Paul is a model for overcoming obstacles and winning. He recently went back to school for his degree, got married, and was promoted to Captain as well. When I ran for Congress in 1992 my sister Maureen answered the call and put her work--and life--on hold to take the most important job in the campaign--raising the money to win. My Dad just loved the fact that I turned to my sister. And when we won he knew it was Maureen who was the rock behind us. ``Politics is a tough business'' he'd say--``you need people you can really trust--and that means family.'' [That's of course why President Kennedy had Bobby.] Of course after the election, I remember Maureen was sick and I asked, ``What's wrong with her now?''--Dad's split second response-- ``Working for you!'' Dad was so well read, a voracious reader * * * A lover of poetry and words, and boy did he love to sing! So much love in his heart, and this extension of love was felt by his grandchildren and in-laws. The term ``in-laws'' didn't mean much to Dad--he welcomed them and loved them like they were his own. And they loved him back. All 15 of his grandchildren are loved as individuals and each of them realizes the power of love and family through their papa and munama. One of my young nieces asked during the last couple of days, ``How did Papa have so much love to give to so many people?'' Well, I really don't know the answer to that for sure. I just know that he did. Every time our father gave us a hug--or as he would say a hug-a-deen--he would accompany it with an ``I love you.'' ``Aren't they wonderful,'' Dad would say. ``Your mother and I will live in them in the next generation through these beautiful kids * * * and as I've told you,'' he'd say ``that's, the sweet mystery of life.'' So happy, so content, there was NOTHING more in life that he wanted-- than that which he already had--His Family. And he thanked God for our happiness every single day. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., once said that the measure of a man's success in life, was not the money he had made, but rather the family he had raised. That quote has been framed in my parent's home over 15 years. My father believed it and devoted himself to family every day of his life for 73 years. He was an immensely successful man. We love you Dad and will miss you.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India. As you know, the Prime Minister will be addressing a joint session of Congress to provide us with his personal perspective on the role India plays and will play in our new world order and economy. U.S. foreign policy is increasingly focusing on the importance of India, and appropriately so. India is slated to out-populate China by 2035. It is an important strategic democracy in a volatile and strategically important geographic region--a region for which there are hopes of permanent peace. Since India's inception 53 years ago as an independent country, it has maintained a constitution based on the same democratic principles that our Founding Fathers valued. The Indian Constitution safeguards all its people from all forms of discrimination on grounds of race, religion, creed or sex. It guarantees freedom of speech, expression and belief, assembly and association, migration, and acquisition of property. It maintains a government where five national parties and 14 prominent state parties can co-exist in a coalition government. Furthermore, India reaffirmed its commitment to human rights when it signed the Warsaw Declaration in June of this year. This declaration emphasized the interdependence between peace, development, human rights and democracy. Signatories agreed on the right of every person to have equal protection under the law; freedom of opinion and expression; freedom of thought; equal access to education; freedom of peaceful assembly; access to a competent, independent and impartial judiciary and that all human rights--whether civil, cultural, economic political or social be promoted and protected. Moreover, India is also making its mark as an economic entity. For the past 10 years, the U.S. information technology (IT) industry has made increasing investments in India. They have recognized that India is capable of providing an educated, ambitious workforce that can meet the needs of the world's technology-driven economy. This has allowed India to help cultivate the growth of its IT sector. India has successfully educated its workforce with IT skills and established successful partnerships with industry leaders. India is second only to the United States in the number of Microsoft-certified professionals. India recognizes the important link between political freedom and economic development. As India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru said ``We talk of freedom, but today political freedom does not take us very far unless there is economic freedom. Indeed, there is no such thing as freedom for a man who is starving or for a country that is poor.'' This symbiotic relationship between economic success and personal freedom is the foundation for a just, stable world order. The prioritization of economic success and personal freedom is also reflected in our Indian-American population. There are over 1.5 million Indian-Americans, and their contributions to engineering and technology, art and literature, and education and culture are prominent across the nation. They work in our hospitals as doctors, they start local businesses as entrepreneurs, and they serve in our government as public servants. They fill our temples, teach our children and participate in our civic processes, and so embody and exemplify the ideals of the American Dream. As a member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian- Americans, I recognize that it is time for the United States to further its relationship with India. Our economic and political relationships with India and Prime Minister Vajpayee have accelerated greatly in recent years. President Clinton urged us further along this path with his visit this past March to India. The President met with government officials, traveled in India with Indian-Americans as his foot soldiers, addressed their parliament, and met with India's citizens. Through these exchanges, the United States strengthens and prioritizes its relationship with India. I am especially proud of the fact that in my district, some of the finest citizens of Indian heritage have been contributors to our economic and social fabric. We complement our relationship with India by recognizing the importance of our Indian- American community. We validate it through continued dialogue and discourse.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the Republican Members, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton), who worked so hard to bring this here and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), as well as Democratic Members. Can any of us forget over the period of the last several months the efforts of the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) to bring us to this point in time? And I congratulate both of them for that. This is an important step, but it is a step. Let none of us forget the fact that this House passed a campaign finance reform bill by a wide bipartisan margin that would have dealt with the problems in this bill. The problem is the bill went over to the United States Senate with 53 Members of that body, the majority of the Members, all of the Democrats and several Republicans, a majority of that body voted to pass that bill; and it could have gone to the President's desk for signature, but 60 Members of that other body were required to break a filibuster. So let no Member in this body or no one in this country make the mistake of thinking this is comprehensive campaign finance reform, because it is not. We still have our work cut out for us, and we are going to try to push our colleagues in the other body to break that filibuster, and we are going to be back at it. If we cannot get this done before this session, then next session. It is an important step, and I congratulate my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, it is very important that we reduce the influence of money in American politics. At every turn we have met with obstacles, but we will continue in this effort; we will push this effort until we break the filibuster in the other body and send a real campaign finance reform bill for the President's signature, because he is waiting to sign it.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment of the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and my colleagues and my amendment. This is not about taking money out of the medical care budget. This is about taking money, $4 million, that is for medical care litigation. That is when the Veterans Administration has an opportunity to go out and get money that is owed to them, then they go to court and litigate. Now what better expenditure than to expend that litigation money on fighting the tobacco companies? We have seen Attorneys General from across this country litigate and take the lead, before the Federal Government and this Congress did, to litigate against the tobacco industry; and they won $246 billion to repay Medicaid costs related to tobacco. Why is this such a good investment to take the tobacco companies to court? Well, I will tell my colleagues why it is a good investment. The gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), who has offered this amendment, had hearings before the Congress. The tobacco companies came before the Congress; and they said their product, under oath, did not addict people. They said their product, under oath, was not addictive, was not harmful to health. Then we found out when we looked at internal documents that, in fact, they knew the dangers and the death and destruction that this product was causing. We are talking about veterans, many of whom started smoking in the 1950s and the 1960s when there were no warnings on cigarette packages then. There were days when the veterans used to get free cigarettes from the tobacco companies. I wonder why they gave them free cigarettes? We now know that in the 1950s and the 1960s they were conducting studies. They knew of the addictive propensity of their product, and they knew they were addicting people to their product. It is time that we make the veterans and the Veterans Administration whole. We should get back what is owed to the veterans, what is owed to the Veterans Administration. That is why this expenditure for litigation makes so much sense. Why do you think the tobacco companies settle for $246 billion? They were cutting their losses. We have a great opportunity here to make whole expenditures for veterans health care cost. What a great time to do it, at a time we are trying to meet our commitment to our world or to veterans for health care, at a time when consolidation is causing anguish among veterans all across the country. In Veterans Administration facilities, many of these veterans are there because of health-related costs that they got from smoking tobacco, from smoking cigarettes at a time when tobacco companies told them it was not dangerous, at a time when tobacco companies did not warn them of the dangerous propensities. That is why we go to court, that is why we have this civil lawsuit, and that is why we are looking to make whole the Veterans Administration and make whole the veterans of this country and others who were victims. We are talking about representing victims in court. We have a $4 million litigation account where the Veterans Administration takes and says, where can we make whole our expenditures in health care. How can anybody argue that the proper place for the Veterans Administration, too, to be made whole for health care cost than going after big tobacco. We have been remiss in not going after the tobacco companies earlier. We have let the Attorneys General take the lead on it. We have let State legislatures all over the country take the lead on taking on big tobacco while the Congress has sat back and waited. What would we do if Jeffrey Wigand had not had the courage to come forward and tell us as a scientist from one of the major tobacco companies that, as a scientist, they were manipulating the nicotine in their products, knowing it was addicting people? That is what this liability is all about. This is not a partisan issue. A cosponsor of this amendment is the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), Republican, cochair of the Tobacco Task Force on Health in the Congress, an outstanding Republican Member of this body. He is a cosponsor of this amendment. So this is not a partisan amendment. It is not about politics. It is about whether or not the Federal Government is going to move forward and try to find a way to make whole the Veterans Administration, that nearly $4 billion a year that has to be accounted for. In fact, in the 105th Congress, we told the Attorney General and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century that they should take, and I quote again, ``all steps necessary to recover from the tobacco companies amounts corresponding to the losses and the costs which would be incurred by the Department of Veterans Affairs for treatments.'' We told them to go get this money. Support the Waxman amendment.

Mr. MEEHAN

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the United States Senate took a small but important step towards restoring some accountability to our elections system. We have a chance today to match that step with one of our own. We cannot afford to wait. The election season is already upon us. There are millions and millions of dollars being raised and the public has no idea where it is coming from. We have to stop this corrupt system of raising money and having no one know where it comes from. The opportunity is now. Now is when we need to change this system. Let us match step with the other body and send a message across America that whoever contributes to campaigns in America in this cycle, the American people are going to know where that money came from.