Dennis Moore

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 84, legislation introduced by the Kansas delegation to the U.S. House that will replace an existing statue of former Kansas Governor George Washington Glick, who served from 1882 to 1885, with a statue of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This statue, which is presented from the people of Kansas to the U.S. Capitol, will serve as one of the two statues that our State is allowed to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. I want to particularly commend the bipartisan manner in which the dean of our House delegation, Representative Todd Tiahrt, has handled this matter. This marks the first time that a State has sought to replace one of its statues in the Capitol's Statuary Hall. Our actions were prompted by the enactment by the Kansas Legislature of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1617, in 1999, which memorialized Congress to authorize the replacement of Governor Glick's statue with the statue of President Eisenhower, and to replace the State's other statue, of the late Senator John J. Ingalls, with a statue of the famous female aviator, Amelia Earhart. The 7\1/2\ foot tall bronze Eisenhower statue, which was privately funded by the Eisenhower Foundation of Abilene, Kansas, was sculpted by Jim Brothers of Lawrence, Kansas. The pose is taken from a famous photograph where General Eisenhower was talking with soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division on the day before the D-Day invasion. It is fitting that we enact this legislation on the fiftieth anniversary of President Eisenhower's first inauguration as president. Madam Speaker, I am honored to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission, which has been tasked with proposing an appropriate permanent memorial in Washington, DC, for President Eisenhower, who served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe in World War II and subsequently as the 34th President of the United States. Having served on that Commission since my first term in Congress, I have had many opportunities to review and reflect upon the outstanding legacy of service that Dwight Eisenhower selflessly provided to the American people. One of the best discussions of the Eisenhower legacy that I have examined, however, is the foreword that Professor Louis Galambos recently drafted for the Report on the Legacy Committee on Dwight David Eisenhower's Military Achievements, Presidential Accomplishments and Lifetime of Public Service, which was presented to our Commission in December 2002. Professor Galambos chairs this committee, and I ask unanimous consent to include his foreword in the Record at this point. Foreword (By Professor Louis Galambos) Dwight David Eisenhower left the United States of America and its people a great legacy that deserves our respect today and in future generations. As a military leader, as the nation's President, and as a citizen deeply dedicated to democracy, Eisenhower compiled a record of public service that has won for him a unique place in the history of this country and the world in the twentieth century. In the realm of military and national security affairs, Eisenhower's vision, his character, and his outstanding leadership are analyzed in the following report by General Andrew J. Goodpaster, chair; Robert R. Bowie, and Carlo D'Este. As supreme commander of the Allied military coalition in World War II--in the Mediterranean and then in Northwest Europe--General Eisenhower made the crucial and frequently controversial decisions that led to victory. He held together the military alliance. The shining moment for his command came at D-Day in early June 1944, when he led his successful Allied forces in the greatest amphibious invasion in history. By the war's end in 1945, he was one of the most acclaimed men of the century, and in the years that followed, this distinguished public servant was in turn Chief of Staff of the Army, President of Columbia University, and first supreme commander of the military forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He relentlessly promoted unity among the nations allied in opposition to communist aggression, as he did among the services in the U.S. military establishment. One of his most important innovations after he became President of the United States was to place all military operations in a unified command structure. As President, he led the nation through repeated challenges from the U.S.S.R. and China and developed the basic strategy that would guide our policy for the remaining three decades before the Soviet collapse. He was masterful in his handling of the Suez Crisis in 1956-57, and it was a tribute to his leadership that he was able to keep the alliance with our leading European allies together after peace was restored. The Eisenhower Presidency (1953-61) was distinguished above all by peace and prosperity. As the report by Daun van Ee (chairman), Michael J. Birkner, and John H. Morrow, Jr., demonstrates, Eisenhower, who was firm when directly challenged, was nevertheless always prepared to make the kind of fruitful compromises that were as essential to international relations as they were to democratic government at home. He brought the Korean War to an end and then prepared the U.S. defense establishment for a long struggle to maintain the containment policy without damaging the American economy or breaking down the civil liberties that were essential after the Soviet Union launched its Sputnik earth satellite in 1957. Fear that the United States had fallen behind the communist countries and was threatened by long-rang atomic attacks yielded a sense of panic and a rush to respond. Eisenhower responded by calming the public fear while guiding the government towards eventual victory, both in space and armaments, at a reasonable cost. Steering between war and conciliation, President Eisenhower dealt forcefully with the Chinese effort to seize the islands off the mainland held by America's Chinese Nationalist allies. Through-out, he insisted on a show of good faith before he would negotiate in summit conferences, and he sought always to avoid unrealistic expectations about what such meetings could accomplish. As the French and British empires collapsed, he worked hard to maintain the support of these allies in Europe while helping to ease them out of their colonial possessions. At home, he stayed on the Middle Way, seeking to balance the budget (a goal achieved for three budget years), facilitate creative change in civil rights for African-Americans, and promote economic development with a new federally sponsored interstate highway system. Challenged on civil rights in Little Rock, Arkansas, he forcefully demonstrated that neither mobs nor a belligerent governor could defy the federal courts. The keys to his leadership as president were ``strength and civility.'' Eishenower's presidency was indeed a triumph of character. Central to the Eisenhower legacy was his relationship to the American public, a relationship based securely on a shared democratic ethic. Michael Beschloss (chairman), Kiron Skinner, and Richard Norton Smith explore the manner in which Eisenhower's basic values were shaped by his upbringing in Abilene, Kansas, where he learned from an early age to balance team play with leadership, cooperation with competition, and individual striving with service to others. In the years that followed he never lost his faith in the ability of the people to decide for themselves who their leaders should be and what policies they should implement. His values were reinforced at the U.S. Military Academy, and the motto ``Duty, Honor, Country,'' became the bedrock for his life of service to the nation. In effect, the story of that life of service became an essential part of his legacy to the people he loved and led. As a leader, he was interested in making society and its basic institutions successful and efficient. Precise about responsibilities and authority, he was a relentlessly positive and forceful commander and executive. He worked endlessly and effectively to promote cooperation and compromise in every institution he served. His conviction as President that the middle way between extremes was the best way for a democracy to succeed was deeply grounded in his fundamental values and his experiences as a military officer, president of a leading educational institution, and commander of the military forces in Europe for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. While promoting individualism and cooperation, he fully understood that the United States could not always avoid conflict and needed strong national programs if the country was going to continue to lead the free world against communist aggression. He improved and strengthened the nation's military forces, established the guiding principles for U.S. exploration of space, and promoted the transportation infrastructure the country needed for national security and economic prosperity. By blending traditional American values with a vigorous emphasis upon internationalism, he helped usher the nation into a new age. Madam Mr. Speaker, history marches on, and it is fitting that our State honors one who spent his formative years in Kansas with this resolution today. As the Kansas delegation's lone Democrat, however, I feel I should say a few words about Governor George Washington Glick, whose statue will now be removed to a place of honor in the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka. George Glick was the first Democrat to be elected Governor of Kansas, in 1882; his statute was sent to the U.S. Capitol in 1914, which was the only time in the 20th century when Kansas had both a Democratic governor and a Democratically-controlled Legislature. Governor Glick is also remembered for establishing a livestock sanitary commission that curbed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. I know that many Kansas students of history will welcome the return of his statute to our home State, and I thank my delegation colleagues for their collegial work in support of this measure.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, the Volunteer Center of Johnson County is hosting the third annual Movers and Shakers Recognition on April 22nd, to honor 84 young people from Johnson County, Kansas, who have performed meaningful community service. Students in middle schools and high schools have been nominated by school personnel and nonprofit agencies based on their commitment and dedication to community service. Volunteering has been recognized as a key component in a child's education and I am proud that Johnson County students are active and willing to serve their communities. I have included a list of the students' names and schools below. Devon Anderson, Oregon Trail Junior High. Kendra Baker, Blue Valley North High School. Andrew Baldwin, Blue Valley High School. Emma Bergin, Mission Valley Middle School. Anthony Bertolone, Leawood Middle School. Annie Biddison, Shawnee Mission East High School. Elizabeth Boresow, Leawood Middle School. Brittany Bradfute, Lakewood Middle School. Krysten Brown, Chisholm Trail Junior High. Stephanie Brown, Shawnee Mission East High School. Laura Bryon, Bishop Miege High School. Jessica Butler, Olathe North High School. Lindsey Carlton, Leawood Middle School. Lauren Cassat, Blue Valley North High School. Cassidy Cheray, Blue Valley West High School. Katie Chinery, Blue Valley High School. Micaya Clymer, Shawnee Mission East High School. Bob Davis, Olathe North High School. Matasha Del Rosario, Shawnee Mission East High School. Emily Devlin, Oregon Trail Junior High. Caroline Dunning, Blue Valley North High School. Alissa Eddington, Shawnee Mission South High School. Sara Epperson, Blue Valley North High School. Miranda Flener, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. Theresa Fox, Blue Valley High School. Michelle Geary, Blue Valley High School. Jonathan Geller, Leawood Middle School. Samantha Gordon, Blue Valley North High School. Ashley Haddad, Shawnee Mission South High School. Jessie Harris, Chisholm Trail Junior High. Paul Hechler, Leawood Middle School. Sam Hewitt, Shawnee Mission West High School. Jamie Hisle, Blue Valley High School. Rebecca Hoffman, Oregon Trail Junior High. Ryan Hudnall, Olathe East High School. Craig Jones, Blue Valley North High School. Megan Kaufman, Shawnee Mission South High School. Sarah Kidder, Bishop Miege High School. Hunter Kiely, Lakewood Middle School. Anne Kim, Shawnee Mission South High School. Julianne Kueffer, Shawnee Mission East High School. Bridget LaFollette, Oregon Trail Junior High. Stephanie Mattingly, Olathe East High School. Magdalena May, Oregon Trail Junior High. Laura McGee, Shawnee Mission South High School. Teresa Meagher, Bishop Miege High School. Katie Mehan, Oregon Trail Junior High. Meagan Melloy, Homeschool. Melissa Melloy, Homeschool. Jessica Melton, Bishop Miege High School. Tracy Milburn, Shawnee Mission South High School. Jeff Miller, Shawnee Mission East High School. Kellie Mitchell, Olathe North High School. Kate Moreng, Blue Valley North High School. Robert Murphy, Bishop Miege High School. Katie Murray, Blue Valley North High School. Whitney Novak, Mill Valley High School. Aishling O'Connor, Indian Hills Middle School. Aaron Olsen, Blue Valley North High School. Samantha Owens, Bishop Miege High School. James Park, Blue Valley West High School. Emily Perry, Shawnee Mission East High School. Kalin Pfanmiller, Shawnee Mission East High School. Caitlin Powell, Oregon Trail Junior High. Danny Rafiner, Blue Valley Northwest High School. Jason Roberts, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. Trisha Roberts, Lexington Trails Middle School. Morgan Showalter, Oregon Trail Junior High. Vivek Soni, Oregon Trail Junior High. Danay Stanislaus, Olathe East High School. Alli Stewart, Blue Valley North High School. Erika Swenson, Shawnee Mission South High School. Whitney Szczucinski, Shawnee Mission East High School. David Trenary, Oregon Trail Junior High. Ashlee Turnbull, Shawnee Mission North High School. Devin West, Bishop Miege High School. J. Peter Wetzel, Shawnee Mission East High School. Margret White, Homeschool. Kelly Wilbur, Mill Valley High School. Laura Wilkerson, Shawnee Mission East High School. Julie Wu, Shawnee Mission East High School. Carrie Yeast, Shawnee Mission East High School. Stephanie Zeckser, Blue Valley High School. Mary Zima, Notre Dame de Sion High School.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, with our country's troops now entering into active combat in Iraq, I want to bring to your attention and to the attention of my fellow Representatives an issue made even more timely by the events of the past twenty-four hours. On March 13th, I sent to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld a letter which I am including in the Record with this statement. I encouraged the Secretary to assure that all troops entering the Iraqi area receive medical examinations before and after deployment. The Kansas City Star recently carried an informative article, also included here, summarizing a law enacted by Congress in 1997 that requires such physical and mental screening of our troops, due to the many unexplained illnesses that followed service in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Our fighting men and women serving in the Middle East face a genuine, immediate threat of biological and chemical weapons. We owe them no lesser level of service and dedication than they are providing in defense of our country. I hope all members of Congress will join with me in ensuring that the commitments made to the members of our Armed Forces in 1997 are kept in 2003 and afterward. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, March 13, 2003. Hon. Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary, Department of Defense, The Pentagon, Washington,

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Indiana for yielding me this time. I want to announce and show the audience here in the Chamber that the Concord Coalition, which is a national watchdog organization on the budget, issued a press statement today; and I want to just quote briefly from that: ``The Blue Dog budget does the best job of balancing short term concerns with long term fiscal discipline. The Blue Dog budget is clearly superior to the alternatives. It strikes a prudent balance among competing priorities by restraining spending and limiting newer expanded tax cuts to those that have an immediate impact and minimum long term cost.'' I hope we will set aside partisanship and listen to a respected, objective organization, the national coalition, and approve the Blue Dog budget. Mr. Chairman, as a member of the Committee on the Budget, I commend the gentleman from Iowa (Chairman Nussle) for his commitment to providing a balanced budget and for acknowledging that debt and deficits do matter. The Committee on the Budget passed a budget last week on a party line vote. At least it was an honest budget. It said that in order for us to pass huge tax cuts when we are already projecting deficits as far as the eye can see, we must pass spending cuts. In deference to Mr. Chairman over here, he would say, find savings in all functions of government. So please understand it that way. Over $100 billion below the President's request for discretionary spending, $262 billion in Medicare cuts are finding savings, $110 billion in Medicaid cuts are savings, $19 billion in agriculture cuts are savings, $39 billion in government employees' pensions, and $15 billion in veterans benefits at a time that we are going to war, when our domestic security is threatened and our States and local governments are in financial crisis. That is the problem with this budget, Mr. Chairman: The reductions proposed simply are not reality. Everyone here remembers last year's appropriations process. We just completed it last month. Congress ended up spending, or appropriating, $12 billion more than the President's recommended levels. This budget proposes cuts in the President's austere request. This budget, simply for that reason, I believe, with all respect to the chairman and the committee, is not reality. Look at what has happened the last weeks. In the face of an outright revolt on many of these cuts, what did the majority do? They restored some of the so-called spending cuts, or savings, that were found, about $200 billion in Medicare over 10 years. That is what is going to happen more and more. That is why I believe we simply cannot meet the spending levels proposed, with all respect, by the majority's budget. This budget, because of its emphasis on tax cuts, never, I repeat, never, gets us to on-budget balance. Instead, it increases gross debt by over $5 trillion over the next 10 years. The structural deficits in this budget, Mr. Chairman, will explode gross interest payments to $3.8 trillion during the next decade. Interest, as has already been mentioned, it is the most wasteful spending we have because it commits our future generations in this country, our children and grandchildren, to paying something, a tax, what we call a debt tax. The gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill) indicated that Senator Dole called this a stealth tax. We call it a debt tax. It is a tax that can never be repealed because it is the interest of service on the national debt. The Blue Dog budget cuts taxes. It provides an income tax cut for all taxpayers. It immediately eliminates the marriage penalty, accelerates the child tax credit, and on and on. Listen to the Concord Coalition, the objective voice here, endorsing the Blue Dog budget.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant, the late John Foster, Sheriff of Johnson County, Kansas, who passed away on March 6th after a brief but valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. John Foster, who died at age 67, began his career in the Johnson County Sheriff's Department in 1956, then took the post of assistant police chief in Fairway, Kansas, four years later. He became chief of police in Lenexa, Kansas, in 1971 and retired briefly twenty years later. A year later, in 1992, he returned to the Sheriff's Department as undersheriff. He was elected to a four-year term as Sheriff in 2000. Doctors diagnosed Sheriff Foster's cancer in January. On February 21st, two weeks after they told him he might live from two weeks to a year, John told county officials that his disease was terminal. Undersheriff Frank Denning assumed Foster's duties on an acting basis the following week. I got to know John Foster well during my twelve years as Johnson County District Attorney. John was my friend. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He always stayed close to the people he served, and was a profile in humane, progressive law enforcement at the local level. He mentored scores of younger law enforcement officers during his forty- six years of public service and leaves his home county, and its residents, a much better place as a result of the time he spent serving and fostering it. Mr. Speaker, John Foster is survived by his wife, Karen Foster, five children--Margaret, Diane, Susie, Jan and Todd--and four granddaughters. I join with them in mourning this profound loss and place into the Record an article from the Kansas City Star that memorializes a dedicated and valuable law enforcement and public safety official. [From the Kansas City (KS) Star, Mar. 7, 2003] Johnson County Sheriff Dies of Pancreatic Cancer (By Richard Espinoza) Johnson County Sheriff John Foster, who spent almost half a century in law enforcement, died at home early Thursday of pancreatic cancer. Doctors diagnosed Foster, 67, in January. On Feb. 21, two weeks after doctors told Foster he might live two weeks to a year, he told county officials that the disease was terminal. Undersheriff Frank Denning assumed Foster's duties the following week. Voters elected Foster, a Republican, to a four-year term in 2000. Now Johnson County Republicans must nominate a successor and send the person's name to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat. He began his career at the Sheriff's Department in 1956, then took the post of assistant police chief in Fairway four years later. He became chief in Lenexa in 1971 and briefly retired in 1991. The following year, he returned to the Sheriff's Department as undersheriff. Colleagues said Foster's main goal was keeping fellow law enforcement officers happy and well-trained so they could take good care of their community. ``He loved officers,'' Fairway Police Chief Kevin Cavanaugh said. ``He loved what they stood for and what they represent. He did everything in his power to teach people and be an example of how to put their best foot forward in the best possible way.'' Foster helped the Sheriff's Department win raises to reduce the number of deputies who left for better-paying jobs, switched to better-looking uniforms and constantly trained a new generation of law-enforcement leaders. ``He'd accomplished a lot, but I know he wasn't done,'' Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison said. In Topeka, the Kansas House approved a resolution Thursday honoring Foster for his nearly 50 years of public service in law enforcement. A copy will be given to his family. It was sponsored by House members from Johnson County. Sen. Karin Brownlee, an Olathe Republican, said a similar resolution would be introduced in the Senate next week. Johnson County Commission Chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh issued a statement praising Foster's encouragement and support. ``The county has lost a great man,'' Surbaugh wrote, ``a man whose strong and steady step never wavered, a man whose dedication and commitment to this community was unshakable, a man whose wisdom and guidance were a source of inspiration and comfort to so many.'' Many law officers visited Foster at home during his last days to tell him how he had encouraged them in their careers. Lenexa Police Chief Ellen Hanson, whom Foster hired in 1975, recalled the way he helped people succeed. ``He was a confidence builder, but not falsely,'' Hanson said. ``I think he had a great ability to see people's strengths and build on them.'' Colleagues remembered his love for teaching, and several said he passed on some piece of wisdom in nearly every conversation. ``Every time I spoke to him,'' Cavanaugh said, ``whether it was something to do with law enforcement or on a personal level, I always learned something. It seemed as if he always wanted to teach.'' Some of it was serious, like the sharp distinction he drew between mistakes of the head--those that are rectified easily--and mistakes of the heart, which show a troubling lack of ethics. Other times he couched a lesson in humorous ``Fosterisms,'' like the warning he frequently issued on what he called the ``three Bs of booze, broads and bills.'' ``The one thing that can cause you trouble if you don't handle them correctly is that,'' Hanson quoted Foster. ``If you handle those things with honesty and integrity, you're not going to have a problem.'' Foster was a life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Kansas City Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association. He was a member of the Kansas Association of Police Chiefs, the Johnson County Chiefs and Sheriffs Association and the Kansas Sheriffs Association. Foster taught as an adjunct instructor at Johnson County Community College, and he was a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He lived in Johnson County all his life. He attended Hickory Grove Grade School in Shawnee and Shawnee Mission Rural High School, now Shawnee Mission North. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in administration of justice, both from Wichita State University. He was a member and past president of the Lenexa Rotary Club. Foster is survived by his wife, Karen M. Foster; five children, Margaret, Diane, Susie, Jan and Todd; and four granddaughters. Instead of flowers, Foster's family suggests donations to a scholarship fund for law-enforcement families that they plan to establish soon. The family was making funeral plans Thursday.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5. Last year, when the House approved legislation virtually identical to H.R. 5, I expressed my strong belief that Congress should address the medical malpractice insurance system as a whole. My calls went unheeded. I believed last year, as I believe now, that a solution to the problem of rapidly rising medical malpractice insurance premiums must address all of the factors that contribute to premium cost. I have spoken with many physicians in my congressional district about this problem, and almost to a person, they agree with my assessment that Congress should look at the entire health care system for a solution to this very complex problem. Neither this legislation nor the hearings held in House committees addressed the pricing and accounting practices of medical malpractice insurance companies. The legislation before us addresses neither the responsibilities of the medical profession, through state medical boards, to police itself, nor the barriers that exist in some states to keep the profession from doing so. This legislation does not provide solutions to address the problem of medical errors nor does it provide one dollar to help hospitals and physicians purchase existing technology that could dramatically reduce those errors. It is also clear that Congress has not clearly thought through the consequences of preempting the traditionally state- regulated and state-monitored field of health care professions. I truly share the concern of many of my colleagues and those in the medical profession about the rising rate of medial malpractice premiums. Last week, in my office, representatives of the Kansas Medical Society expressed their concern that this legislation is overreaching and a threat to state laws in states like Kansas, where they believe that a delicate balance has been achieved between the interests of injured patients and the medical profession. Notably, many States, including those considered to be in ``crisis,'' have acted or are now acting to get their own houses in order. Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to reject spurious, ill- conceived and overtly political solutions, and join with me in an effort to attain a comprehensive understanding of our Nation's health care system. Then we can truly find a solution to this very real crisis.

Mr. MOORE of Kansas

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very important initiative that will bring national attention to a severe and growing problem--the uninsured in America. The sheer number and variety of organizations involved in Cover the Uninsured Week show that the consequences of this problem touch our entire society. Every community, every hospital, every caregiver, every taxpayer, and every individual in our country has a stake in addressing this issue. New reports that suggest that 75 million Americans lacked insurance for all or part of 2001 and 2002 only give this issue increased urgency. It is easier from a public policy perspective to look at one piece of the puzzle--for example, how urban hospitals struggle to provide uncompensated care, how families struggle when they have a disabled child or how small business struggle to offer health insurance to their employees. But the problem is broader, and it is clearer than ever that allowing Americans to remain uninsured negatively affects our nation's health status, access to care and even our financial security. Since coming to Congress, I have made addressing this issue one of my primary goals. I am working in particular with my colleagues in the Blue Dog Caucus to address the group with the highest uninsured population--employees of small businesses. I am working on legislation to provide tax credits for small employers who offer health insurance. I know this is just one piece of the puzzle of the uninsured, but I think that if we can sustain the momentum created by Cover the Uninsured Week and utilize the expertise of the broad array of organizations that have come together to bring this issue to the forefront, we can put the pieces together and make a difference for all uninsured Americans.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, the Girl Scouts program encourages strong values, leadership, responsibility, confidence, and friendship among young women. Programs in the Kansas City, Kansas, region have been thriving for years, empowering young women to develop to their full potential Girl Scouts enables young women to grow into strong citizens by teaching money and financial management, health and fitness, global awareness, and community service. As a result of the program, millions of Girl Scouts have been introduced to the arts, science, math, and technology. On March 2, in my home state of Kansas, 21 Kansas City area Girl Scouts will be awarded the highest honor in Scouting, the Gold Award. These young women will be recognized for completion of five requirements: community service, personal and spiritual growth, positive values, and leadership skills. In order to receive the Gold Award honor, these girls have accomplished several tasks. Every recipient has earned four project patches, each of which requires fulfillment of seven activities that center on skill building, technology, service, and career exploration. In addition, each girl has earned the Career Exploration pin, received for their work researching potential careers. The Gold Award recipients have also earned the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award for completing at least 30 hours of work involving leadership skills. Finally, the young women have spent a minimum of 50 hours planning and implementing a Gold Award project that has a positive and lasting impact on the Kansas City community. I am proud that these 21 Gold Award recipients will be recognized, joining the 3,000 honored nationwide each year. I commend the Girl Scouts program for their support, dedication, and commitment to American girls, and I applaud these 21 new Gold Award recipients on their achievement. A listing of their names and hometown follows: D'erin May, Bonner Springs. Leanne Gray, Lansing. Mackenzie Smith, Leavenworth. Katie Brovont, Olathe Jaime Lenninger, Shawnee Mission. Jacquelynn Sullivan, Shawnee Mission. Katie Wall, Shawnee Mission. Kristen Keplinger, Shawnee Mission. Dena Neuenschwander, Shawnee Mission. Jennifer Jacobs, Shawnee Mission. Jennifer Sherman, Shawnee Mission. Phyllis Adebanjo, Shawnee Mission. Bridget Barton, Shawnee Mission. Julie Wiseman, Shawnee Mission. Laura Smith, Shawnee Mission. Hilary Junk, Shawnee Mission. Megan Campbell, Shawnee Mission. Megan Stinemetz Shawnee Mission. Amy Sapenoff, Shawnee Mission. Christine Thomson, Shawnee Mission. Michelle Kentrup, Shawnee Mission.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss my views on H.R. 4 and explain my reasons for opposing this legislation and supporting a moderate, workable substitute. I believe in a ``work first'' policy for welfare recipients--the best path to independence for welfare recipients is a job. I also believe that we should do all that we can to ensure that work pays and remember that the reduction of poverty--especially child poverty--is the ultimate goal of this reauthorization. When we last voted on legislation to reauthorize TANF, I shared with leaders in the House concerns expressed by officials in Kansas, including Janet Schalansky, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. Ms. Schalansky expressed clearly that the TANF reauthorization legislation must not impose another set of unfunded mandates and must recognize the great need for education, training and other supports for individuals leaving welfare. Unfortunately, her calls were ignored once again. I had hoped that our President--a former governor--and congressional Republicans--who speak often of freeing the states from undue burdens placed by the Federal government--would have heeded the concerns expressed about this legislation by governors and state officials around the country. Currently, and into the foreseeable future, most states are struggling with severe budget shortfalls that are projected to approach $85 billion this year, and H.R. 4 imposes an additional unfunded mandate on the states to the tune of $8-11 billion--$67 million for the state of Kansas alone. Kansas is currently facing a budget crisis and its leaders are cutting services and raising taxes as we speak just to balance the budget. An unfunded mandate of this magnitude could devastate the state budget. If we are going to raise the bar for the states, we must provide support so that states can reach the bar. The funding provided in H.R. 4 is not sufficient to accomplish and sustain the goals of the TANF program. Furthermore, this legislation allocates funding for child care that barely keeps pace with inflation and does not begin to provide the funding necessary to provide the child care that the additional work hours will demand. To fully implement this bill, the state of Kansas would need $33.5 in extra funding for child care alone. States, including Kansas, have done a good job implementing the provisions of the 1996 law. Kansas has reduced the cash assistance caseload by more than half, and helped approximately 37,000 adults become employed and retain employment. I want to continue to do what I can to ensure that the states have the tools and flexibility they need to help welfare recipients move from welfare to work, but H.R. 4, like H.R. 4737 before it, falls far short of that goal. For these reasons, I am supporting the Cardin-Kind-Woolsey substitute that will provide an extra $11 billion in mandatory funding for child care to help states provide child care for working welfare recipients and provide an inflationary increase for the TANF block grant. Education is the path through which welfare recipients will truly find long-term, wellpaying, permanent employment. Only education and training will give welfare recipients the skills they need to move permanently to a life of self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, this legislation greatly reduces the states' discretion to allow welfare recipients to get education and training to pull themselves out of poverty. This legislation removes vocational education from the list of work-related activities that count toward the core work requirement. In addition, the bill does not provide an employment credit to the states when individuals leave welfare for work. That is why I am supporting a substitute that will allow states to combine successful ``work first'' initiatives with education and training. The substitute will give states credit when they move individuals from welfare to private-sector jobs--rather than giving them an incentive to create government ``make work'' programs. Mr. Speaker, the House should reject H.R. 4 and approve the Cardin- Kind-Woolsey substitute. Our goal is to move welfare recipients to work and help people lift themselves out of poverty. The substitute gives the states the tools they need to achieve that goal.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on February 13th the city of Lawrence, Kansas, lost one of its most influential and visionary leaders with the death of Bob Billings. The leading developer in Douglas County, Kansas, Bob Billings, more than any other individual, was responsible for the growth and development of suburban, west Lawrence. Most notably, he designed and developed the Alvamar development: more than 3000 acres of residential and commercial property, a nationally recognized public golf course and a country club complex. Mr. Speaker, I am placing into the Record two articles concerning Bob Billings from The Lawrence Journal World: his obituary, and an article describing his recent memorial service. I join with Bob Billings' many friends and business colleagues in mouming his passing and in expressing deep sympathy to Beverly Billings for the loss of her husband. [From the Lawrence Journal-World, Feb. 14, 2003] Alvamar Developer Dies; Friends Recall ``Visionary'' Deeds (By Ann Gardner) Bob Billings, a Kansas University alumnus who changed the face of Lawrence with his work as a developer, philanthropist and community leader, died Thursday at home. He was 65. As President of Alvamar, Inc., Billings helped lead the development of thousands of acres in west Lawrence. As a student athlete at Kansas University, he was a player on the 1957 Jayhawk basketball team that made it to the NCAA championship game. And as a man, friends and business associates said Thursday, his optimism and humanity touched many lives. His most obvious legacy, though, is the development Billings created in partnership with Realtor John McGrew and Mel Anderson. Alvamar encompasses more than 3,000 acres of residential and commercial property, a nationally recognized public golf course and the Alvamar Country Club complex. ``There is a quality of life around here that would not exist if he had not been the active, optimistic, visionary, enthusiastic person he was,'' McGrew said. ``Bob was the best, the absolute best in just about everything. . . . I think history will say that Bob was one of the major influences for good in this area and the state.'' Douglas County Administrator Craig Weinaug remembered Billings as different from many developers. ``In negotiations with developers or somebody in the development business, normally you have to be very careful, to be sure the public interest is protected. ``With Bob, he'd often be pointing out to us the things we needed to do to protect the public interest, often to his own detriment. He was a man with an incredible amount of integrity and with an incredible love for Lawrence, and the physical evidence of that will be permanently with us through the things he accomplished.'' Funeral arrangements are pending at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Billings was raised in Russell, where he grew up in a house across the street from the home of Bob Dole, the future senator. At Russell High School, Billings was a student leader and athlete. He was president of the high school student council and a delegate to Kansas Boys State. He also played basketball, football and ran track all four years in high school. As a senior in 1955, he was co-captain of the football team and was named the Kansas High School Basketball Player of the Year. Billings came to Lawrence that fall to attend Kansas University. He stayed to become one of the city's most active community leaders. At the university, he was a guard and played with Wilt Chamberlain on the basketball team that battled for the national championship. He was student body president, president of his fraternity and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. His leadership at KU and in the community brought him many honors, including KU's Distinguished Service Citation in 1988 and the KU Alumni Association's Ellsworth Medallion in 1984. His honors in the community included the 1989 Leadership Lawrence Don Volker Award for community leadership, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award in 2002 and Kansan of the Year award from the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas in 1989. In addition to Alvamar, Billings was the developer of Oread West Corporate and Research Park and served on a number of corporate boards, including American Investors Life Insurance, Kansas Public Service, Reuter Organ Co. and University State Bank. Billings' title at Alvamar Inc. was president and chairman of the board, but in a July 1999 interview he described himself as ``just general flunkie.'' ``We have a lot of development partnerships,'' he said. ``It's a total of about 3,000 acres--2,000 already developed, with another 800 to 1,000 acres to go. There's a lot going on out here.'' Despite the massive project, Billings always downplayed his role in Lawrence's westward expansion. ``Lawrence is just good. We're just fortunate to be a very small part of what's going on,'' he said. The name of his development honored his parents, Alva and Margaretta. Positive attitude Billings was remembered Thursday by friends for his positive attitude and many contributions to Lawrence and the university. ``If Bob, as bad as he might feel, could look out the window today, he'd remark about what a great day it was and put some kind of positive spin on it,'' said Jerry Waugh, who coached Billings on the KU basketball team and later worked for his corporation. ``I never saw him down in the many years I knew him and he remained that way to the end, always up, always inspiring others and never seeing any dark side.'' Monte Johnson, a former KU athletic director who had known Billings since both men were freshmen at KU, called his former teammate a ``generous, caring considerate, unselfish, positive, forward-thinking human being.'' ``My sense of loss is tremendous, but far greater is the loss to his family, KU, Lawrence, the state and humanity in general,'' Johnson said. ``There is no way to replace him, yet it is so important to remember his legacy and, for the rest of us and those who follow, to try to measure up to the incredible standards of outstanding citizenship and friendship he set.'' Friendship was the focus of many memories expressed Thursday. Billings' friends Nelson and Judy Krueger remembered a telephone call from Billings and his wife, Beverly, after the Kruegers' grandson was killed in a traffic accident. ``It was the most meaningful call,'' Nelson Krueger said. ``They left a voice mail, and they couldn't talk; they could only cry. Bob planted a tree at Alvamar in honor of Jack within a week after Jack died.'' Krueger also shared a number of photos reproduced in today's Journal-World, including one of a children's fishing contest Billings sponsored every Memorial Day at a lake on the Alvamar Golf Course. Billings didn't want any child to go away without a prize, so he gave prizes for the biggest fish, the ugliest fish, the wettest fish, anything he could think of, Krueger said. ``He wanted everyone to be a winner. Another friend, attorney Jerry Cooley, also remembered his unselfish attitude. ``He has been a great benefactor to the city of Lawrence and Douglas County,'' Cooley said. ``His developments have been prize winners for the community, and he did that without great personal gain. He plowed back into the community what others may have taken as profit.'' Don Johnston, a banker and former executive of Maupintour Inc., said Billings created more than brick and mortar. ``He was a builder not just of structures but of character and goodness,'' Johnston said. ``I'm not sure he ever had a negative thought in his life. He could dream, inspire, make things happen and make people feel good while they were striving for something positive.'' Waugh, Billings' former coach, recalled, ``Bob was a student of history and always remembered what Abraham Lincoln's mother told him: `Be somebody.' Bob's mother, Margaretta, was as supportive as a mother could be and, in effect, had relayed that concept to her son. He didn't fail her. Bob, absolutely, was somebody.''

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, this debate is not about human cloning, and everybody in this Chamber knows that. In fact, both bills ban human cloning. This debate is about whether there is going to be medical research that may provide answers to some of the horrible diseases that afflict people. I want my colleagues to meet little Claire, 3\1/2\, and Lauren, 5. They have a disease called SMA, spinal muscular atrophy. It is a genetic disease. Half the kids diagnosed with this die by the time they are 2 years old. All they want is a chance. They have hope. H.R. 534 takes the chance for a cure away from them. I hope that the people on the side of H.R. 534 will think about that. All they want is a chance. Is that too much to ask? Please, I implore my colleagues here to vote for the Greenwood substitute and against H.R. 534.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, U.S. Central Credit Union (U.S. Central), located in my home state of Kansas, has worked to support corporate credit unions in serving their members through innovative and premier financial services for nearly 30 years. U.S. Central was chartered in 1974 to assist corporate credit unions in meeting the financial services needs of consumer credit unions throughout the country. While providing financial products and services to corporate credit unions, and growing to become a $33 billion financial institution, U.S. Central has never forgotten the hallmark of the credit union philosophy of ``people helping people.'' Credit unions were created more than 100 years ago to allow people of ordinary means gain financial independence. U.S. Central strives to provide the best value in products and services for its corporate members, and this same guiding principle is passed on to the more than 80 million credit union member consumers that are living in our country today. As a financial cooperative, U.S. Central strives to make decisions that are in the best interest of its member owners--the nation's corporate credit unions. Its leaders have learned that this concept brings success to all of us, and that equitable service is of paramount importance. U.S. Central should also be recognized for its compassion for its surrounding community. Because U.S. Central's membership is comprised of corporate credit unions, which serve consumer credit unions throughout the country, it has defined its community as both local and national in scope. Nationally, U.S. Central supports organizations such as the National Credit Union Foundation, which helps credit union employees and their families in disaster-recovery situations, and assists credit unions in making affordable mortgages to people of modest means, among other activities. Another focus of U.S. Central's support is the World Council of Credit Unions, which promotes credit union development worldwide for the purpose of expanding affordable financial services to people all over the globe. Locally, U.S. Central actively supports several community programs. Two key projects that fit well with the company's broad objective of helping to foster people's financial well-being are Kansas City Saves, a coalition encouraging urban residents to save and build wealth more effectively, and the Kansas Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy, which supports personal finance education for children in grades K-12. Mr. Speaker, I commend U.S. Central Credit Union for its support, dedication and commitment to the credit unions across our nation, and I applaud them, as they prepare to dedicate their new corporate facility in Lenexa, Kansas, on February 5, 2003, and as they honor the architects of the credit union community that helped credit unions become an important financial resource for today's consumers.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that two Rhodes Scholars from Kansas were named last week. I include in the Record for the House's review a wire story from the Associated Press concerning these two exemplary young Kansans, Robert Chamberlain of Topeka, and Ben Champion of Olathe, but particularly want to take note of Ben Champion, a constituent who interned in my Overland Park and Washington, D.C., congressional offices last summer. I also include a recent story from The Olathe News concerning Ben. Ben Champion, who is hoping to pursue a career in politics and public policy, is majoring in chemistry, natural resources and environmental sciences at Kansas State University. His goal is to bridge the gap between the sciences and the political arena by first specializing in the sciences, especially chemistry, and subsequently by working in the policy arena to develop and implement sound environmental policy. My constituents in Kansas' Third District were fortunate to have him serving them in their congressional offices last summer, and I join with our staff in congratulating Ben and wishing him well on this exciting new challenge. Kansas Student Named Rhodes Scholar (By The Associated Press) Two young men from Kansas, one a University of Kansas graduate now in the Army, and the other a senior at Kansas State University, were named Saturday as Rhodes Scholars for 2003. They area Robert M. Chamberlain of Topeka, who earned a political science degree from Kansas in May, and Ben Champion of Olathe, who is majoring in chemistry, natural resources and environmental sciences at Kansas State. The prestigious scholarships provide more than $50,000 for two years of graduate study at Oxford University in England. They were established in 1903 by British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes, and 32 scholarships are awarded every year to students from the United States. Chamberlain, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, is a field artillery officer with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Sill, Okla., until April 2003, when he transfers to Fort Campbell, Ky. A finalist for the scholarship a year ago, he is the son of Michael and Judy Chamberlain of Topeka and a graduate of Washburn Rural High School. He plans a public service career in international law. Chamberlain said his selection for the scholarship was ``still sinking in.'' ``It's such an honor to be selected from such an outstanding group of people,'' he said. Chamberlain is the 24th University of Kansas student, and the first since 1994, to win a Rhodes scholarship. Kansas State has had seven Rhodes scholars since 1986. Champion is a 1998 graduate of Olathe South High School. He is the son of Mike and Paula Champion of Olathe.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the House rules package the majority is proposing for the 108th Congress. The majority has turned its back on fiscal responsibility by attempting to hide large future increases in our national debt by reinstating the so-called ``Gephardt Rule.'' This rules change will allow the House to avoid a separate vote on the debt limit, preventing full and open debate on a policy with long-term consequences to our Nation's fiscal health. Last June, Mr. Speaker, we had a full debate as Congress raised the limit on the debt by $450 billion. I opposed this increase because the House failed at that time to reevaluate the policies that required us to increase the statutory limit on debt in the first place. But at least, at least we had a debate. An increase in the debt limit should require action by Congress and the President to put the fiscal house back in order. But now the majority party is resorting to the tactics that they opposed just last year. They are attempting to hide votes to increase the national debt by reviving this rule. The majority will eagerly support the President's proposal to be unveiled today which will add more than $600 billion to the debt over the next 10 years. They should be willing to stand up and be counted when the time comes to pay the bill by raising the debt limit. The new proposed rule will allow the majority to avoid taking responsibility for paying our bills. The majority's rule will impose a new tax, a debt tax, a tax equal to the interest payments on our $6.2 trillion national debt, a tax that cannot be repealed. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for the motion to recommit and oppose the rules package that will result in a new debt tax increase for all Americans.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I recently received from Carol Marinovich, the mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, a letter in which she expresses the strong support of their governing body for H.R. 5561, legislation I have introduced that would settle pending land claims of the Wyandotte Nation in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Additionally, I received today correspondence from Edwardsville, Kansas, Mayor Luther Pickell strongly supporting H.R. 5561. I hope all Members of the House and the Senate will review the correspondence from Mayor Marinovich and Mayor Pickell, along with the resolutions unanimously adopted by the Unified Government's governing council and the city of Edwardsville in support of this measure, and join with me in endorsing this proposal. Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS, Carol Marinovich, Mayor/CEO, November 14, 2002. Hon. Dennis Moore, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Moore: On November 5, 2002, the governing body of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas (``Unified Government'') unanimously approved Resolution No. R-95-02 fully and completely endorsing Congressional approval of H.R. 5561 or similar legislation, permanently settling and releasing all rights and land claims asserted by the Wyandotte Nation (``Nation'') to approximately 1900 acres of real estate within our county. The terms of the Resolution, here attached, are the clearest expression of the governing body's collective endorsement in support of this legislation. The Unified Government respectfully requests your affirmative action in expediting this important legislation. During the last ten years, the Nation and the Unified Government have struggled together to create an opportunity that mutually benefits the citizens of both our communities. Despite our best efforts in the Kansas Legislature and with the Kansas Governor, our actions to date have proven fruitless. Federal intervention remains the best and only viable solution to our problem. The lawsuit, Wyandotte Nation v. Unified Government of Kansas City and Wyandotte County. Kansas, Case No. 012303-CM (U.S.D.C., Kan.), now pending before the United States District Court for the District of Kansas asserts a claim to 1900 acres of land in the Northeast area of our County. This realty includes the Fairfax Industrial area, with major industries such as General Motors, Owens-Corning and International Paper Corporation, as well as numerous other industries, large and small. Equally important and perhaps more compelling, the lawsuit's boundaries include many individual homeowners who have expressed fear at the prospect of losing their homes. The titles to all these properties are encumbered by this lawsuit. The cloud on their ownership affects the ability to purchase and sell, refinance, borrow and enjoy the security found in owning their home free and clear of any encumbrances. The role of the Federal government in this matter is worthy of note. the land claim stems from an alleged failure of the Federal Government in the Treaty of 1855 with the Nation to properly require the sale or ceding of all rights in the now disputed 1900 acres. The merits of the claim are before the Court, and the course of litigation, at a minimum, will be tortuous, lengthy and very expensive before the final chapter is written. The United States was a party to this case at its inception. However, a motion to dismiss asserting an immunity defense was quickly filed and granted, removing the Federal Government from the case. The individual homeowners, small business and industrial businesses were left to absorb the costs of litigation and endure the fear and uncertainty that remains. Except for the legislation introduced by Congressman Dennis Moore, no other representative of the people of Wyandotte County has taken steps to alleviate this burden. The United States government simply fled from this problem by the most expedient means. The people of Wyandotte County overwhelmingly support the concept of Class III gaming in our community. In a referendum held several years ago on the question of whether casino- style gaming should be conducted on the grounds of a local pari-mutuel racing facility, 80% of the voters approved. The reasons for this are as varied as the individuals within our community, but would include generally economic development and entertainment. This vote, by the way, occurred several years before the litigation was filed and was not a factor in anyone's thinking. The Nation and Unified Government have, through the years, held each other in high regard and esteem. This relationship has, however, no doubt been strained by the litigation. Criticism that has found its way into the media neither reflects the entire story nor all that has been said. The Unified Government has consistently voiced criticism of the litigation as a means to resolve the underlying issues. Nevertheless, our community and our governing body has just as consistently supported Class III gaming in our county. We have sought the assistance of our Governor and the Kansas Legislature, which have turned away from us on this issue. Congressional intervention remains the best solution to this complicated problem. Our county takes its name from the Nation. The long standing historical connection between us lies no farther than the Huron Cemetery across the street from our three principal government buildings. Their ancestors and ours lay buried together. Many of our current residents claim a common lineage from tribal members that resided here before 1855. Notwithstanding the litigation, resolution of this matter will allow the parties to work cooperatively to see this project to conclusion. For the reasons stated above, I, as Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government, respectfully urge Congress to approve H.R. 5561 or similar legislation to resolve the current litigation. Sincerely Carol Marinovich, Mayor/CEO.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am.

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, a year ago, several of my colleagues and I who believe in fiscal responsibility urged caution in making long-term commitments for tax cuts or new spending programs. We were concerned that budget projections were based on unrealistic economic assumptions and that the projected surplus might never materialize. We were concerned that large tax cuts and spending programs could drive up the deficit and add to our $6.3 trillion national debt. Our warnings were ignored. This year, Congress will be borrowing virtually all of the Social Security surplus for the next decade. There were those who said we will have enough money for everything. That turned out not to be true, Mr. Speaker. Next year we will have a deficit of $127 billion. Today Congress is considering legislation that would wipe the slate clean for the next 5 years. This would allow Congress to avoid responsibility for legislation, adding billions more to the national debt by wiping clean the PAYGO scorecard. What is worse, this bill provides no safeguard for the future, Mr. Speaker; no guarantees that our children and grandchildren will not suffer under a massive national debt, now at $6.3 trillion. American families live by three basic rules: number one, do not spend more money than you make; number two, pay your debts; number three, invest in the basics of the future. I think Congress should live by those same simple rules. I am glad that American families do not use Congress' accounting methods, Mr. Speaker. American families cannot wipe the slate clean when they overspend. The Blue Dogs have repeatedly said that Congress and the President need to sit down and develop a plan to deal with our escalating national debt: no recriminations, no finger-pointing, or blaming, but just sit down and try to come up with a plan out of this crisis. Unfortunately, our calls have been ignored, leaving us in the situation we face today. This motion to recommit requires as a condition of waiving the PAYGO rules that the President present a balanced budget next year. The President's budget would be required to put us on a path to balancing the budget by 2008 without borrowing the Social Security surplus, a goal that I believe every Member of this Congress wants. This motion to recommit allows the slate to be wiped clean for fiscal year 2003 to avoid sequestration, because it is too late to do anything about the current fiscal year. There would be no cuts in any programs that have been commented on by the chairman of the Committee on the Budget. This is the least we can do to stop the bleeding, to turn back red ink and get us in the black again, and to get our country out of the deficit ditch and back on the way to fiscal responsibility.

Mr. MOORE. I yield to the gentleman from Texas. (Mr. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize and commend the students of Marilyn Tieszen, a kindergarten teacher at Comanche Elementary School of Shawnee Mission, KS, which is located in the Third Congressional District of Kansas. Following the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Ms. Tieszen had her students create an American flag, using a white sheet, and dipping their hands in red and blue paint to make the stripes and the blue background for the stars. The flag was presented to U.S. Army Captain John Townsend, who has two children who are students at the school. Captain Townsend is the Executive Officer for the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth's United States Army Command and General Staff College. After receiving the flag, Captain Townsend hung it in Eisenhower Hall at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for a few weeks, where, in his words, ``it got rave reviews and many people commented that it was unfortunate that all service members would not be able to appreciate it.'' As a result of the very positive reception it received at the Fort, the flag was then mailed to an Army infantry unit conducting a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. It arrived a few days before Christmas and hung at several of their sites through the new year. From there, it was taken to an Airborne unit that ``jumped'' it into Tunisia, North Africa. Next it was displayed on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, which was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Persian Gulf. Following the display on the USS Stennis, the Comanche Elementary School flag was flown to an Army Explosive Ordnance unit in Afghanistan, which had just lost two soldiers, one being from Kansas. After that, the flag went to the Pentagon, where it hung for three weeks in the reconstructed part of the building that had been attacked on September 11th. As Captain Townsend told me, ``few people could pass it without stopping and appreciating the spirit and patriotism it displayed.'' The flag then was displayed at the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol, before briefly being returned home to Comanche Elementary School, where it is now being displayed. Mr. Speaker, a book that logged its travels accompanied the flag everywhere it went. At each stop the unit took pictures of its visit and then sent them on with the flag so its travels are well documented. In most cases the unit sent a letter or e-mail praising the students' patriotism. At Comanche Elementary School the students and faculty have created a large display in the foyer just inside the front door so that everyone who comes into the building can see it: a large map with the visited areas highlighted, including pictures from those locations. As Captain Townsend told me, ``I receive e-mails almost daily from soldiers and civilians around the world that have seen this flag and were thankful that they got to see it. In most cases it brought tears to their eyes. In some cases it brought a ray of hope to people that were down from losing friends/comrades and for others it was a sign of support from a community half way around the world.'' I am very proud of the patriotism and creativity of Marilyn Tieszen's kindergarten class at Comanche Elementary School, who worked together to create a wonderful symbol of America during our ongoing time of great challenge. Mr. Speaker, I hope that you and all Members of this House will Join with me in commending their spirit and thanking them for the inspirational symbol they created for display around the world.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. Because this action could ultimately send our sons and daughters to war, my decision to support this resolution is one I have considered very carefully. I have spent the past several months gathering information from experts in this and previous administrations, from other experts in the field, and from my constituents in Kansas. I have spoken to community leaders, religious leaders, and my family. When I began this process, I stated my belief that the President should present to Congress, the American people, and the international community a compelling case for intervention in Iraq. I have been presented with evidence and intelligence--some of it classified-- regarding the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. I am convinced that we must take action to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction. This resolution is not the same as the measure originally proposed by the White House. The resolution is a compromise agreed to by the President and Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress. It requires that the President exhaust all diplomatic options and notify Congress before implementing military action. Diplomacy must be our Nation's first priority in resolving the crisis in Iraq. I hope the use of force won't be necessary. But in order for diplomacy to be successful, the threat to use force must be credible. The resolution also encourages the President to work with our allies and the United Nations in dealing with Saddam. We were successful in the Persian Gulf War and, more recently, in Afghanistan by working cooperatively with our allies and the United Nations. That policy should guide the President and Congress as we confront the threat from Iraq. As a father and grandfather, this decision that could send our sons and daughters to war is the most difficult one I have faced as your congressman. But we must confront Saddam's threat to our security. And we must keep America safe. The resolution allows us to do that. There is no question that Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction in the form of chemical and biological weapons. There is also no question that he is working to develop a nuclear capability. He could be in possession of a working nuclear device in a matter of several months to a few years. There is also no question that Saddam has shown a willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other countries and his own people. And there is growing evidence of his willingness to share his weapons with terrorists and rogue agents who might use those weapons against America. Saddam's aggressive nature knows few bounds. He represents a clear and present danger to the United States, our citizens, and our interests in the world. Based upon the evidence and intelligence I have reviewed, I believe Iraq presents a clear threat to the United States. I will support and vote for the use of force resolution the President and congressional leadership agreed to on October 2. This measure gives the President the authority he needs to enforce the U.N. resolutions Iraq has violated, while limiting the scope and duration of the authority to address the current threats posed by Iraq. There's an old saying: ``Politics stops at the water's edge.'' That is the case here. We must show the world that we are united in our determination to protect our Nation and our people from threat posed by Iraq.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that will settle certain land claims of the Wyandotte Nation, an Indian tribe with longstanding roots in the Third Congressional District of Kansas. I have been joined as an original cosponsor of this measure by Representative Don Young of Alaska, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As the former chairman of the House Resources Committee, Mr. Young has a longstanding record of actively addressing the concerns of Indian Nations across the United States and I am proud to have his name on this legislation. This measure will resolve all land claims the Wyandotte Nation has in Wyandotte County, Kansas, established pursuant to an agreement between the Wyandotte Nation and the Delaware Nation dated December 14, 1843, which was ratified by the United States Senate on July 25, 1848. The Wyandotte Nation's land claims in the Third Congressional District, which are now the subject of litigation in Kansas federal district court, cloud the title on 4,080 parcels of land valued at a total of $1.9 billion for tax purposes. Approximately 40 percent of the property tax base in Kansas City, Kansas, is affected by the claim, as are 1,300 landowners. This bill will permanently settle the claims of the Wyandotte Nation and remove all clouds on title affecting Kansas City landowners. Under the legislation, the Secretary of the Interior would take into trust for the benefit of the Wyandotte Nation a parcel of real property located in Edwardsville, Wyandotte County, Kansas. Concurrently, the Wyandotte Nation would relinquish all claims to lands in Kansas and would acquiesce to dismissal with prejudice of their lawsuit. Currently, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, along with the municipal leadership of Edwardsville, is negotiating a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding with the Wyandotte Nation regarding the operation of any gaming facility that the Wyandotte Nation may establish on its settlement lands under this measure. The Mayor and Commissioners of the Unified Government support my introduction of this legislation at this time. I anticipate that these negotiations will reach a satisfactory conclusion within a few weeks; if that does not come to pass, however, I reserve the right to withdraw my support for this proposal if a Memorandum of Understanding is not endorsed by all parties within a reasonable time. Mr. Speaker, enactment of this legislation will provide significant support to ongoing economic development efforts in my congressional district. In 1996, a nonbinding, countywide referendum registered an endorsement of nearly 80 percent for legalized gaming in Wyandotte County. For this reason, past measures I have introduced to assist the Wyandotte Nation's efforts to bring gaming to Wyandotte County have had broad support among my constituents, including local elected officials, consumers, labor organizations and the business community. I hope that all members of the Kansas congressional delegation and Governor Bill Graves will join me in supporting this important proposal, so that we can see it signed into law prior to the adjournment of the 107th Congress.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 5091, the Canceling Loans to Allow School Systems to Attract Classroom Teachers Act, and I encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation. I have long recognized the great need for teacher loan forgiveness to help our local school districts address the nationwide teacher shortage. Urban, rural and suburban districts are all struggling with this problem caused by a combination of demographic trends and a low teacher retention rate. Under current law, teachers can receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness after five years of service. H.R. 5091 would expand the program to forgive up to $17,500 in loans and give priority to special education teachers. Although I am a strong supporter of this legislation, I believe that it could be greatly improved. I introduced a bill on February 14, 2001, that I believe would go much farther in addressing our national teacher shortage. H.R. 687, the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act, would forgive up to $10,000, over five years, for any newly qualified educator who: teaches in a low-income school, teaches special education, or teaches in a designated teacher shortage area. I believe that offering loan forgiveness in the first year of teaching, as I have provided for in H.R. 687, would do more to encourage young teachers to stay in the profession. Also, loan forgiveness needs to be extended far beyond special education teachers. local school districts also struggle when hiring math, science and foreign language teachers. I am glad that my colleagues have recognized our national teacher shortage as a national priority worthy of Federal investment. I believe that it is time for the Federal government to assist States and local school districts in attracting and keeping qualified teachers, and I am happy to offer my support for this legislation, which represents an important first step.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. I support the right of an individual to follow his or her conscience and personally refuse to participate in abortion services, and if that was what this bill was about, I would be voting for it today. Current law already allows health providers to refrain from providing any service to which they object. This bill goes too far by allowing insurance companies or HMOs to opt out of any reproductive services for any reason--not necessarily a religious or moral objection. It would even allow states to refuse to provide currently available abortion services to Medicaid beneficiaries who are victims of rape or incest or when the mother's life is in danger. Most critically, this legislation bans the provision of information. People have many different opinions and beliefs about abortion. I believe women should be able to make their own decisions on this very personal matter. This bill goes too far by allowing restrictions on abortion information, counseling and referrals. Under this bill, emergency room physicians could be gagged from telling rape victims about emergency contraception. Even Title X clinics, which are funded by the federal government with the purpose of allowing women to make an informed choice from every available option, could be gagged if this legislation were to be signed into law. Restricting information and choices is not the way to reduce the number of abortions in America. I challenge my colleagues today to reject election-year politics and work with me toward policies that prevent unintended pregnancies, improve reproductive health, and strongly encourage adoption.

Mr. MOORE

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4600. Like my colleagues, I am concerned about medical malpractice premiums and their effect on the availability of physicians, especially obstetricians and specialty physicians to practice in certain states. I am not at this time convinced, however, that H.R. 4600 is the complete answer to the medical malpractice insurance premium problem. The concentration of excessively high premiums in certain states shows that this is a regional, not national problems. I believe that Congress should address the medical malpractice insurance system as a whole. The pricing and accounting practices of medical malpractice insurers may have contributed to this problem. There are indications that imprecise accounting practices have inflated the bottom line of companies and price wars in the early 1990s led insurers to sell malpractice coverage at rates that were inadequate to cover anticipated claims. Recent stock market declines have further exacerbated the financial difficulties of these companies, which have raised premiums or gone out of business in response. I believe that a solution to the problem of rapidly rising medical malpractice insurance premiums must address all of the factors that contribute to premium cost. Earlier this year, I sent a letter with several of my colleagues asking that the General Accounting Office conduct a study on the effect of market conditions and insurance company practices on medical malpractice insurance premiums. I am introducing into the Record a copy of that letter as well as a July 3, 2002, article from the Wall Street Journal. I expect to have preliminary results from the GAO in December. Once we know the full scope of the problem, I hope that we can work together to find a comprehensive solution to this problem. Washington, DC, July 2, 2002. Hon. David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, General Accounting Office, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Walker: We are writing to request your assistance in evaluating the extent to which current market conditions and insurance company practices are contributing to an increase in medical malpractice premiums. It has been reported that insurance companies have been raising the medical malpractice premiums which doctors must pay in certain regions of the country. Congress has begun to investigate this issue, and many in Congress have already proposed legislation. However, thus far the focus of debate in Washington has been limited. As Congress attempts to balance the rights of patients with the interests of doctors and insurers, we believe that a thorough analysis of insurance industry practices is necessary. Medical malpractice is an important issue that must be examined thoroughly and deliberately from all perspectives. In this regard, we ask that you examine the financial statements and information submitted to regulators by insurance companies that offer medical malpractice insurance, as well as any other information maintained by regulators that may be relevant to this issue. In particular, we would like to know how reductions in the investment income of insurers may be adversely affecting the financial outlook of these companies, thus increasing physician premiums to compensate for any declines. To the extent feasible, you should also analyze the underwriting history of medical malpractice insurance to determine whether premiums have historically experienced similar increases and also determine whether current market conditions are in some way unique. We would also like you to examine the competitiveness of markets, particularly in those areas experiencing the sharpest premium increase. For example, has the lack of competition in the medical malpractice insurance market adversely affected physician premiums? In addition, we are interested in having a better understanding of how malpractice settlements and judgements compare to premiums earned for medical malpractice lines of insurance. In particular, we would like to know how incurred but not yet reported holdings have affected the reserve practices of medical malpractice insurers. As your examination proceeds, please provide us with a status report no later than September 3, 2002. We thank you for your assistance and look forward to your ultimate findings on this important issue for patients and doctors. Sincerely, John Conyers, Jr., John J. LaFalce, Joseph M. Hoeffel, Nick J. Rahall II, Alan B. Mollohan, John D. Dingell, Max Sandlin, Ronnie Shows, Dennis Moore, Marion Berry.