John Mica

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against section 524.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against page 47, line 6, beginning with ``and the'' through line 13. This provision violates clause 2 of rule XXI . It changes existing law, and therefore constitutes legislating on an appropriations bill in violation of House rules.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. This amendment is simply unnecessary and unworkable. Some of our colleagues have said, and I think wrongly believe, that air cargo is a hole in our aviation security system and that extreme measures must be taken immediately. I am sensitive to those misconceptions, but believe that serious efforts are being made by the Transportation Security Administration and the aviation industry; the airline industry are taking appropriate steps to address cargo security needs. TSA is currently developing new and more comprehensive standards for air cargo security which should be finalized soon, and TSA has also issued air cargo security directives recently. Let me just respond, also, to a couple of things that have been said here. First, people are speaking without information. We heard the gentleman from Massachusetts say that we are putting our families through the utmost possible screening. That is not true. Some of the Members should take time to see the classified results of what we are putting them through and the holes in the current system. Putting explosives on a plane through cargo is a small risk at this point. Having a passenger walk through 1950 metal detectors is a great risk because those metal detectors do not detect explosives. That is how a plane will be taken down if a plane is taken down. This amendment actually can do a great deal of damage. In contrast to what the gentleman from Connecticut said, in the Congress we put a provision in that said 2003 instead of 2004. Those bags still are not being screened. We have only done 14 airports inline. That is because the Congress might say something, but they are not funding this. Look at R&D. I put $50 million in the original TSA bill to fund research and development. One of our friends from the State of Washington in the other body took $30 million of the $50 million for R&D the first year, and that is why we do not have the technology to determine what equipment can be used to effectively detect explosives. And then again we can stand up here and ask the cow to jump over the Moon; but unless you provide the money and the technology and the means to do that, it is not going to happen. The next year you took the money and you did not fund the money, and we had $75 million for R&D. You all waited 5 months, and the people who are talking now are the people who delayed the appropriations. So TSA took $63 million of $75 million out of their funds for research and development and had to use it for personnel. So the problem is here, and the problem is Congress making these kinds of edicts that do more damage. I have summed up the problem. I have identified the problem. The problem is here, people talking about things, telling folks that we are putting our families at risk. We must address this on a risk basis, and we must properly fund R&D. We do not have the technology to do this now. We do not have the technology to address our greatest risk, which is people strapping explosives to themselves and walking through a 1950 metal detector that does not detect explosives. So we need to address the risks. We need to do this on a logical basis. Not something that grabs headlines but something that is effective, that solves the problem at hand, that truly protects the American public from a terrorist act. So I urge the Members to defeat this amendment. It could pass 100 times, and it does not mean anything because we are not going to be able to do it. We have $150 million this year for R&D, and that should be spent appropriately, not in haste.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, just to correct the record also, I would like the gentleman and the other Members to know, it was said in the beginning of this debate, also, that Pan Am 103 was brought down as a result of this situation, explosives in cargo. That is not true. It was explosives in luggage.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I want to also thank the committee Chair, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), for his leadership on this issue, the great job he is doing on homeland security. The gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and I have the honor and privilege of serving with him as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Aviation. I understand the frustration of the gentleman. Both the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and me are very frustrated with the operation of TSA. However, I rise in opposition to eliminating the screening cap of 45,000 that the Committee on Appropriations has placed on TSA. I did not coordinate my remarks with the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), but ironically he got up and said we were promised in the beginning, it took, they said, maybe 26,000 it would take the private sector to add fewer screeners; and we can debate the merits and or demerits of what they did. And then we were told 30,000; and then we were told 35,000 would do the job; and then 40,000 would do the job. Only give us 50,000; and one day we woke up and there were 60,000 TSA employees. Now, they did a job that was mandated by Congress, and they put all those folks out there. But at some point it got to be exactly what the chairman described. Thousands standing around. It became a joke. And what we had to do was right-size that agency. We got something in place; and it was, no question, overstaffed. One of the problems with this is that a defect in the organization of TSA, and this is no offense to TSA, Congress organized it. But we created basically, and I have said this publicly before, a Soviet-style Moscow-centered, in this case Washington-centered, bureaucracy. The Chair just described the process of hiring a person, a vacancy in San Francisco and then waiting days and weeks. We just waited 6 months for TSA to finalize its most recent screener allocations. They just released them. I am the chairman. I represent Orlando International Airport at one of the busiest tourist destinations in the United States. We needed 124 part-time positions before Christmas. I still do not have the part-time screeners that we need there. They cannot get it right. Please do not believe that bigger government, just give us 10,000 more, 20,000 more, will solve this. It will not. It has to be decentralized. It has to be localized. And that is what we intend to do. We do have 14 airports that have automated inline screening systems, and you heard the reduction in personnel, just at one example; and more will come online, so we actually need fewer screeners. The performance rate of even the screeners we have, I hate to say this, I invite every Member of Congress to receive the classified results. The Inspector General testified before us publicly; we had Federal screening and five demonstration public screening operations compared with all Federal screening operations, and the Inspector General described the results that they performed equally poorly. I say that TSA is mostly a mirage. We are fortunate that we have secured cockpit doors, that we have armed air marshals, that we in fact have pilots that have been armed. That gives us this protection, not this mirage you see. A bigger mirage is not going to solve it. What is going to solve it is decentralization of the process and then better technology. Go to New Jersey. You do not need an invitation. See our test center. See equipment that will detect weapons, will detect explosives. That is what we need in place. I will say, no matter how hard they try and how many employees they get, 40, 50, 60,000, they will never get it right from Washington in this bureaucratized, centralized operation. It will never be able to service the needs, the requirements of 440 airports with different schedules. Think of Dulles out here. They are going to have Independence Air with 300 additional flights. Well, that is not in the allocation that they just took 6 months to get. It will take them months and months to get it right. So we need to vote down this amendment and correct the deficiencies in TSA.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against page 14, line 9, beginning with the words ``provided further'' through line 19. This provision violates clause 2 of rule XXI. It changes existing law and, therefore, constitutes legislating on an appropriations bill in violation of House rules.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word to engage in a colloquy with the chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, if you would, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor). First of all, I want to take just a moment to commend the gentleman from Mississippi (Chairman Taylor) and the Committee on Appropriations for their outstanding efforts in bringing this important measure to the floor during these very difficult budgetary times. As he may know, I have been working to improve and expand educational resources and public accommodations at the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida. That is our national monument. This national monument is not only a unique part of our national parks infrastructure but it is also a national treasure. The National Park Service is expected to complete a study this fall which includes plans to construct a required facility there. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding that when this plan is completed and this project is authorized by Congress, the Interior and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations would consider funding this much-needed expansion and renovation project. I would ask the gentleman from North Carolina whether this is his understanding and intention as well.

Mr. MICA. I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. MICA. I thank the chairman for his response.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, it was my privilege to know Rosalie Robinson Gordon-Mills, a community leader and distinguished citizen of Florida's 7th Congressional District. Her recent death is a great loss to St. Johns County and the State of Florida because of Mrs. Gordon-Mills' many contributions to our school system, civil rights, and community service. I join others in paying tribute to this special woman. It is my honor to include in the Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives the rich history of her life and many contributions from a recently published obituary. Mrs. Rosalie Robinson Gordon-Mills, 96, died April 20 at Flagler Hospital following complications of a collapsed lung. A retired educator and counselor for 44 years with the St. Johns County School System, she was head of the English Department at Excelsior School and director of guidance and college placement at St. Augustine High School. In addition to her teaching career, Mrs. Gordon-Mills was a civic leader and politician, having been the first black woman in 400 years to run for public office in St. Augustine, for which she is currently listed in the Florida history books. In 1986, she received a Presidential Award from President Reagan for Private Sector Initiatives because of her outstanding leadership role with the St. Augustine Council on Aging in procuring the site and establishing the first multipurpose senior citizen's center in St. Augustine. Mrs. Gordon-Mills was born in Tallahassee, to Arthur Howard Robinson, owner of a dairy business, which exported dairy products interstate. Her mother, Callie Eliza Ferrell, was a school teacher with her own school, as was her grandmother, Henrietta Robinson, the first licensed black teacher in the state of Florida. In the 1920's, her parents moved to St. Augustine, where her father became the head of the Agriculture Division of Florida Normal College and her mother became the dean of women. They came at the invitation of President Collier, who had met them in Tallahassee. Mrs. Gordon-Mills attended the Model Laboratory School of Florida A & M, where she graduated with highest honors. She then realized her dream of attending college at Boston University, where she majored in chemistry and physical sciences. During her years at Boston University, she was a member of the varsity broad jump and pole vaulting team, as well as the debating team. She also pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority-Epsilon Chapter and was a member of The Aristos, a Boston social club. She would later return to Boston University and receive her master's degree in guidance and counseling in 1947. When she returned to St. Augustine following graduation to visit with her parents, she met her future husband, Dr. Rudolph Nathaniel Gordon, America's first black maxillo- facial surgeon, who was researching a location for his practice. They met at an Episcopalian Church picnic, were married and were together for 25 years prior to Dr. Gordon's death in 1959. Together they were a formidable force in the St. Augustine community. Education and care of the children of Lincolnville was a top priority. They encouraged young people to attend four-year colleges and often took them to college and paid their tuition. He established a free dental clinic for Lincolnville children and a Boy Scout troop for the boys of the community. After Dr. Gordon's death, Mrs. Gordon-Mills would marry Dr. Otis J. Mills, longtime friend and member of the family that owned the famous ``Iceberg'' drugstore and manufactured the popular ``Smooth As Silk'' ice cream. They had a wonderful 12-year relationship before he succumbed to Alzheimer's disease. Mrs. Gordon-Mills was an enthusiastic participant in the civil rights movement and supported all efforts of Lincolnville to work with Dr. Martin Luther King. She also befriended Mrs. Peabody, who came from Massachusetts to support the movement in St. Augustine. During this time, she ran for the City Council against six males and, after winning the primary, finished third in the final election, making her the first black woman to run for public office. She always felt a strong commitment to the future of St. Augustine and wanted to promote racial harmony. A member of one of Florida's most illustrious families, she was a direct descendant (through her maternal grandmother, Henrietta Robinson) of ``The Great Antonio Proctor,'' who was born in 1743 and was the recipient of 185 acres in St. Augustine from the Spanish Governor of Florida for his work as an interpreter between the Creek Indians and the Spanish when Florida was still under Spanish rule. Mrs. Gordon-Mills' elder years were as filled with activity as her early years. A woman of intellectual brilliance, impeccable character and determination, she continued to be active as a lifetime member of the Board of the Council on Aging; an officer of the Board of Echo House--a tutoring and community center she started--and an active member of St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, where she was a member of The Daughters of The King and a member of the Vestry. She was the active C.E.O. of the family real estate business until the week of her death, spending each day problem-solving, meeting with her management crew and ensuring that her tenants and her properties were well cared for. Her considerable business acumen was respected by all of the business people whom she encountered. (She made recent trips to Tallahassee to meet with the State Historical Society to present grant requests for her Echo House project). Her social life was equally active. As a founding member of the Daytona Beach chapter of the Links, Inc., she attended meetings and activities regularly and participated in their many scholarship fund-raising efforts for regional students. In addition, she administered the scholarship fund set up by her dear, deceased friend, Mrs. Bemis, of St. Augustine, that enables deserving and talented students to attend Bethune Cookman College. She enjoyed the regular gatherings of the Clique Club and Venetian Club, to which she had belonged for many years. Mrs. Gordon-Mills loved her family; her daughter, Dr. Carlotta Gordon Miles and her son-in-law, attorney Theodore A. Miles, of Washington, D.C. (Her beloved son, Rudolph N. Gordon II, predeceased her in 1967.) Her grandchildren were the loves of her life and she had a special relationship with each of them--Dr. Wendell Gordon Miles and Miss Lydia Carlotta Miles, of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Cecily Miles Slater and her husband, Ramael Slater, of Hollywood, CA. Her brother, Dr. Arthur J. Robinson, and his son, Arthur J. Robinson Jr., of Palm Coast; her sister-in-law Verna C. Robinson of Washington and her niece, Angela Robinson Witherspoon, and her husband, John Witherspoon, of Los Angeles, CA, and her nephew Elbert C. Robinson, of Washington. Her first cousins, Celestine Nicks of Mandarin, and Ida Mae Harrison, of Columbus, GA. Her family looked to her for guidance, advice and as an example of a Christian life well-lived. Born into a privileged family, Mrs. Gordon-Mills had a deep sense of obligation to her fellow man and an unfailing determination to make a difference with her life. She had a deep devotion to all children, a strong sense of racial pride and a commitment to the concept of ``From those to whom much is given, much is expected.'' Her selflessness and generosity to others was unequaled. She believed that love should be put into action and faith in God is the foundation of life. Mrs. Gordon-Mills was fortunate in having a circle of loving friends who, in the last years of her life, joined her family in making these years especially joyful. W.D. McCoy, a former student and ``son,'' was a devoted and concerned companion; Dorothy and Rudolph Israel and Maggie and Pat Patterson were ever present and supportive in whatever she chose to undertake. Otis and Myrtis Mason made it possible for her to continue her Links Inc. participation. Father David Allert and the members of the St. Cyprian's congregation admired and respected her wisdom and her spirituality. Arthur Schwecke, her neighbor and ``son;'' and Joe Logan and Janis Brown, her business manager, helped her continue her corporate activities. Josephine Quarterman, Lena Callueng and John Gilbert enabled her to continue to maintain her household and lifestyle until the end. These special friends will always be remembered with gratitude and deep affection by her family.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, on Memorial Day, May 31, 2004 a ceremony was held in Central Florida in commemoration of naming the new Interstate 4 bridge connecting Volusia and Seminole Counties as the ``St. Johns River Veterans Memorial Bridge''. The designation of this structure, a principal transportation link, was made possible by action of the Florida Legislature; by an Act signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush on May 13, 2004; and by resolutions adopted by the Seminole County Commission and the Volusia County Council. While it was my privilege to recommend naming the bridge in honor of all veterans who have served our Nation, I would like to express my appreciation--and that of all Florida veterans and citizens--to those State and local leaders who made this tribute to our veterans and special designation possible: Governor Jeb Bush. Members of the Florida Senate representing Seminole and Volusia Counties--Sen. Evelyn J. Lynn, Chair of the Volusia County Legislative Delegation; Sen. Lee Constantine; Sen. Anna P. Cowin; Sen. Anthony C. ``Tony'' Hill, Sr.; Sen. James E. ``Jim'' King, Jr.; Sen. Bill Posey; and Sen. Daniel Webster. Members of the Florida House of Representatives representing Seminole And Volusia Counties--Rep. David Simmons, Chair of the Seminole County Legislative Delegation; Rep. Sandra ``Sandy'' Adams; Rep. Carey Baker; Rep. Joyce Cusack; Rep. Suzanne M. Kosmas; Rep. David J. Mealor; Rep. Pat Patterson; and Rep. Joe H. Pickens. The Seminole County Commission--Chairman Daryl G. McLain and Commissioners Carlton D. Henley; Grant Maloy; Randall C. Morris and Dick Van Der Weide. The Volusia County Council--Chairman Dwight Lewis and Council Members Joie Alexander; Frank Bruno, Jr.; Jack Hayman; Joe Jaynes; Bill Long and Patricia Northey. Furthermore, I would like to recognize four families who lost loved ones in service to our Nation and who participated in the Memorial Day dedication ceremony. These eight individuals represented many other families and Americans who have made similar, great sacrifices: Jesse and Arbutus Beall. Their son, Specialist 4 Charles Richard Beall, was killed in action in Kontum, South Vietnam on March 6, 1968 while serving in the United States Army. Jim and Sandy Wetmore. Their son, Airman 1st Class Brian William McVeigh of the United States Air Force, was killed in a terrorst attack on the Khobar Towers Military Complex in Saudi Arabia on June 25, 1996. Mrs. Jill Roberts and her son, Jacob. Jill's husband and Jacob's father, Corporal Robert D. Roberts of the United States Anny, died on November 22, 2003 while serving in Baghdad, Iraq. Mrs. Minna Earnest and her son, Brian. Minna's husband and Brian's father, Commander Charles M. Earnest of the United States Navy, perished at sea during combat operations in North Vietnam on November 28, 1972, and Minna's son and Brian's brother, Charles Bradley Earnest, a member of the United States Army Special Forces, died on August 21, 1999 from injuries previously sustained during combat training. Each day in Central Florida as tens of thousands of travelers cross the St. Johns River Veterans Memorial Bridge, they will be reminded of the price these and thousands of other veterans and their families have paid for the freedoms all Americans enjoy.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, it was my pleasure to appear before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on March 30, 2004 to introduce Paul Anderson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at his confirmation hearing for the post of Federal Maritime Commissioner. President George W. Bush nominated Paul for the position on Oct. 1, 2003. In nominating Paul Anderson, President Bush has chosen someone who possesses a rare blend of work experience and background that makes him an asset to the commission. With a background in both government and the maritime industry, Mr. Anderson is positioned well as a knowledgeable and forceful advocate for a strong United States maritime industry. I have known Paul for more than 20 years, working with him in the Senate with former Senator Paula Hawkins when I was chief of staff. He is well qualified with Senate experience, 8 years with Hvide Marine, a U.S.-flagged diversified marine transport company in Florida and 9 years with JM Family Enterprises, the nation's largest distributor of Toyota vehicles. Clearly his knowledge of business in addition to the maritime industry will be invaluable in his position. He balances knowledge of government responsibilities and the needs of private companies. If it was my own son being considered, I couldn't be more proud of Paul Anderson. It was my honor to introduce him to the Senate committee. I'm confident the administration has made a fine choice in nominating Paul Anderson for this important post and I urged the committee to act favorably on the nomination.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I am privileged to serve with some great people on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, led by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). I want to take this opportunity to thank him, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and others who have worked on this bill. Mr. Chairman, this is a very difficult issue, because this decides how we divide our transportation dollars that come to Washington. There are certain facts in this debate, and you just heard one of them. There is a substantial increase in the amount of highway money, in fact, some 25 percent increase in this bill. We have been asked to really leave the final decision of division of the funds up to the conference. I have great faith in the chairman, I have great faith in the ranking member, the Speaker, the majority leader and others who have expressed their commitment to resolve this fairness issue, and that is what it is, in conference. But this amendment goes to the core of the problem, and that is the distribution. Rather than to leave it to chance, this Isakson amendment does in fact guarantee a substantial and fair increase to every State. Now I know that we need projects of national significance, but I will tell you, I come from a State that has many projects of State and community significance, and they will be left out if we do not address this from a fairness standpoint and address it in the bill now, so every State, every State, benefits. Look at the calculations. I know figures have been floating out there, but every State will benefit by the Isakson amendment. When we go to conference, we will be in a better position to address this fairness issue. Mr. Chairman, I know the leadership has done their best to resolve this, I know they have committed to solve it in conference, but, again, the fact is in dollars and cents to each and every State, and particularly those States that have suffered, we need to resolve this and adopt this amendment. That will do the job. Mr. Chairman, I ask for the consideration of Members.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I had not planned to come to the floor and debate this resolution. This resolution actually deals with the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve the ability of the Department of Defense to establish and maintain Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps units at institutions of higher learning. That is the subject of this particular measure. This is the rule, or the resolution, by which we consider that particular bill. The other side of the aisle, unfortunately, is using this as an opportunity to bash our side of the aisle and also the administration. They are also using it as a vehicle to try to attach a nongermane amendment dealing with extension of unemployment benefits. It may well be necessary to do that, but let me say that I have heard some of the comments that have been made. I disagree with those comments. I come from the business sector. If we want to see jobs created and opportunities for people, we do not want to leave one option and that is extended unemployment benefits. I know the other side is well intended here. But if the other side is truly well intended, they need to take some time and look at pending legislation and proposals that would create jobs. Maybe some on the other side have not had enough familiarity with what a businessperson goes through today. Litigation, taxation, and government regulation are job suppressers in this economy. I challenge the other side, instead of offering a handout or an extended unemployment check, to offer a job and pass some of the legislation that is pending. If you are going into business today, you take a great chance. I am glad I am out of the business world, because you are sued at every turn. If you want to see why jobs are going overseas, it is because of litigation. We do not even produce in this country anymore a ladder. There are no ladders produced in the United States because people would be sued to where they cannot afford to produce or manufacture in the United States, so they take those jobs and opportunity overseas. If you are compassionate about people, do not give them just one option. They want a good-paying job, and they want to be able to compete in a global market. Try to go open a business, and I challenge Members of Congress to get back in business. Some of them should return to the private sector and see what it is like. I am so pleased that my wife and I, we are approaching April 15, that we do not have to fill out the mounds of forms and tax returns and comply with all the regulations. And health care, give some options in health care. Talk to a small businessperson. That is where jobs are in this country. Jobs are with small business in this country. They create more than all the big corporations. But you ask a small businessperson if he is going to expand jobs and he will say, it is very difficult. His taxes are high. In fact, taxes on business in the United States are the highest in almost any nation in the world. So would you go overseas, or would you create jobs here in the United States? You cannot afford to have health care. I challenge the Members. Look at your pay stubs. There is $2,700 going out for health care. That is our part of the equation. The total cost is $9,000, $10,000 a person. How would a small businessperson deal with that for health insurance for themselves or to create jobs? So here we have presented today, they are taking time from another piece of legislation, one option, a handout, a check which people may need, that is true, but they want a good-paying job. So stop blocking legislation like Head Start that will give our young people some quality in a very expensive program to our neediest students who go on to become failures in our schools and in our system. Stop blocking job-training programs and initiatives by the President, because everyone is not going to college, community colleges, where we need to train people for changing jobs in technology opportunities that we are missing and helping small business, not hurting small business to create jobs so we can have people working in the future. So I urge the passage of the rule.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, It is my honor to recognize the Congressional and public service of David E. Schaffer upon his retirement. David provided outstanding, professional leadership and service as a member of the House Aviation Subcommittee staff since 1984. He became Majority Counsel and staff director of the Subcommittee in 1995 and was instrumental in passing twenty major aviation bills during his time on Capitol Hill. As Chair of that Subcommittee, I believe the Congress and the American People have benefited not only from his decades of public service, but also from his untiring efforts after the attack on our Nation on September 11, 2001. Indeed, we were privileged to have David's experience and talents as we developed legislation to secure our national aviation and transportation systems. I have been fortunate, along with Full Committee Chairman Don Young, to also have David Schaffer lead our staff efforts as we worked to replace AIR-21 with a new four-year federal aviation authorization bill. David Schaffer's service to Congress, the aviation industry and our country spans more than a quarter of a century. As he retires from federal service, we wish him every future success. I thank David Schaffer for his tremendous assistance to me and our Aviation Subcommittee, for his loyalty and commitment to good government, and most of all for his friendship and professional work over the years.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of House Concurrent Resolution 359, which permits the Capitol Rotunda to be used for a ceremony as part of the Days of Remembrance commemorating the victims of the Holocaust. Mr. Speaker, it is necessary to go through this procedure to use the very sacred center of the Capitol for a ceremony and joint authorization by both the House and the other body because of the significance of this particular location and its significance and importance in this building. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is mandated by Congress to educate Americans about the history of the Holocaust and to annually honor and remember the victims of this catastrophic, horrible event, and that is done on the National Days of Remembrance observance. The purpose of the Days of Remembrance is to ask all Americans to reflect on the Holocaust, to remember the victims and to renew and strengthen our commitment to democracy and to human rights for every person. The very first Days of Remembrance ceremony was held in the United States Capitol Rotunda in the year 1979. It has been held there every year since, except when the Rotunda has been closed for renovations. At last year's National Days of Remembrance observance, Secretary of State Colin Powell gave the keynote address. The theme of this year's Days of Remembrance commemoration is entitled ``Justice and Humanity.'' That title, Justice and Humanity, is in memory of the Jews of Hungary who were deported 60 years ago in the final stages of World War II. The commemoration will honor the courageous individuals, as well as the organizations and countries who attempted to rescue them. In this country, official response to the mass murder of European Jews and others resulted in the creation of the War Refugee Board in 1944. Established by the Executive Order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the War Refugee Board worked with Jewish organizations, diplomats from neutral countries and resistance groups in Europe to rescue Jews from occupied territories and provide relief to inmates of Nazi concentration camps. Although belated, this action saved thousands of lives, reminding us of the terrible consequences of indifference and of the ability of organizations, individuals and countries to confront and work to halt acts of genocide or related crimes against humanity. How appropriate I believe it is, Mr. Speaker, at this time that we remember the victims of the World War II Holocaust. It is my hope also that during this ceremony we can reflect upon others who have lost their life to genocide and to murderous regimes. I have often wondered how the world could stand by in World War II and not do more to save people who were headed for extermination camps. Not being alive in that era, I have, however, been alive during an era of other holocausts, such as in Cambodia, where millions literally were murdered in a genocide. During my term in office, I remember Rwanda where nearly a million Africans were slaughtered and the world did not come to their aid. And, once again, we remember and we should reflect during our Day of Remembrance on those in Iraq as we uncover hundreds of mass graves throughout that country. Our obligation, whether it is in Asia, Africa or the Middle East, is to make certain that a holocaust does not take place, to make certain that tens of thousands are not murdered by any despot regime. This ceremony that will be conducted will be the centerpiece of similar remembrance observances to be held throughout our Nation in all 50 States. Members of Congress, government officials, foreign dignitaries, Holocaust survivors and citizens from all walks of life have attended previous commemorations. House Concurrent Resolution 359 provides for the 2004 commemoration to be held in the rotunda on the day of April 22 of this year. Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of my colleagues for this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to again support this resolution that I think is somewhat overdue to present and conduct this ceremony for the presentation of the gold medal for Dr. Dorothy Height. Dr. Dorothy Height, as I said, is a delightful lady. She just celebrated, I am told, her 91st birthday just some 2 weeks ago. She has an incredible career that has spanned nearly this century, and she has a public career that spans over 65 years. She unquestionably has been recognized as one of the preeminent social and civil rights activist of our time. In fact, Dorothy Height, I am told, was the only female at the table when Dr. Martin Luther King planned the civil rights movement. She has all her life struggled for equality, for social justice and for human rights for all people. Mr. Speaker, when young people need role models, and certainly in the time that we live in they need role models, we have had two women so honored. Soon Dorothy Height will receive this honor. The other I remember is Rosa Parks since I have been in Congress. She was awarded a gold medal, and certainly Dorothy Height is in the same category and deserving of recognition of this honor by Congress. So I think, whether it is Rosa Parks who changed the course of history in this country or someone who worked tirelessly through their life and has an incredibly distinguished career, as we heard, promoting the rights of all individuals, women and minorities in our society, that we take this time to honor her in this ceremony in March. I urge the passage of this resolution. Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of America's great citizens--Dr. Dorothy Height. For more than six decades, Dorothy Height has tirelessly fought for those who are less fortunate, for those who have been denied access to an education, and for those who have been denied equal rights. Both through personal example and her commitment to social equality, Dorothy Height has provided women and minorities with hope to dream and the tools to realize their potential. During the civil rights movement, Dorothy Height led the fight for inter-racial schooling, and spearheaded African American voter registration drives. She worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph, and others as they developed plans for obtaining civil rights. It should be noted that she was the only woman allowed to be present in several high-powered strategy sessions with those great leaders. Dorothy Height was an advocate for women's rights during a time when few African American women were engaged in the feminist movement. She fought tirelessly to implement her vision of full and equal employment, fair pay, and access to education for all women. In addition to her work for equality in the United States, Dr. Dorothy Height has been a leader in the struggle for international human rights. In 1975 she helped establish the sole African-American private voluntary organization working in Africa. She has improved the quality of life for women in developing countries, and has worked to combat the AIDS crisis in Africa. A Congressional Medal of Honor is well deserved, and one of many honors earned by Dr. Dorothy Height over her long and distinguished career. I am very pleased to join my colleagues in the House in marking this honor for an individual who dedicated her life to the struggle for social equality and justice.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise this afternoon in support of House Concurrent Resolution 357. This is a resolution authorizing again the use of the rotunda for a ceremony which will be conducted on March 24 honoring Dr. Dorothy Height. Dorothy Height will receive a great honor of the United States Congress when she is awarded in that ceremony the Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Speaker, as we just authorized the use of the rotunda for a different ceremony, and that particular ceremony and the previous action for a memorial service, this is a service of celebration and also of the life of a distinguished American, Dr. Dorothy Height. This is a service of celebration and also of the life of the distinguished American, Dr. Dorothy Height. On December 6, 2003, the resolution awarding Dr. Dorothy Height the Congressional Gold medal became public law. That is the purpose for our requesting a ceremony in the Capitol rotunda; and, of course, as I said before, we need permission of the House and the other body to conduct this ceremony. I want to talk a little bit about Dorothy Height and tell a little bit about her history. She is an outstanding American and truly deserving of this great honor. Dorothy Height was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1912. At an early age she moved with her family to Rankin, Pennsylvania. While in high school, Dorothy Height was awarded a scholarship to New York University where she studied and earned a master's degree. At a very early age she established herself as a dedicated student with exceptional oratorical skills. After graduating from New York University, Dr. Height began her career working as a case worker with the New York City Welfare Department. At the age of 25, she began her journey as a civil rights activist when she joined the National Council of Negro Women. In 1957, Dr. Height was named president of the council, a position which she held until 1977. During the height of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s, Dorothy organized Weekdays in Mississippi, which brought together black and white women from the North and the South to create a dialogue of mutual understanding. Throughout her life, Dr. Height fought for equal rights for both African Americans and also for women. And in 1944 she joined the national staff of the Young Women's Christian Association, the YWCA. She remained active with the organization until 1977. During her tenure at the YWCA, she developed leadership training and other programs and other projects promoting racial and religious tolerance and understanding. Dr. Height has served our Nation in a number of different capacities during her distinguished career, including as a consultant on African Affairs to the Secretary of State, also as a member of both the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and on the President's Committee on the Status of Women. Her tireless efforts for equal rights have earned her the praise and recognition of numerous organizations as well. She has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom From Want Award, and the NAACP Springarn Medal and now the Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Height has also been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Dr. Height's work has helped countless women in America and around the world participate in democratic reform resulting in new opportunities for themselves, for their families, and their communities. Finally, Mr. Speaker, if you ever had a chance to hear or see Dorothy Height, you had an opportunity to see one of the most distinguished advocates for women, an advocate for minorities that has ever been in our country's history. If you have not seen Dr. Dorothy Height, you missed the glow in her eyes, you missed the sparkle in her voice, you missed the strength of an individual who has gone beyond so many barriers in her life, again, opening doors and offering opportunities to women, to minorities, and to all Americans. I am a strong admirer of this lady and what she has done. I know a former Member of the House, Connie Morella, often talked about Dr. Height and her accomplishments; and others will come forward when we pass this resolution to honor her accomplishments. So I am absolutely delighted this afternoon to be here to offer this resolution to authorize the use of the Capitol rotunda where we will present this distinguished medal to a great American, Dr. Dorothy Height. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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