Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H. Con. Res. 174 today to authorize the use of the rotunda to honor and celebrate the heroic work of the Navajo Code Talkers. I thank my colleague from New Mexico, Mr. Tom Udall, for sponsoring this resolution. During World War II, about 400 Navajo tribe members served as code talkers for the United States Marines. They transmitted messages by telephone and radio in their native language--a code that the Japanese never broke. Navajo is an unwritten language of extreme complexity and one estimate indicated that fewer than 30 non-Navajos could understand the language at the outbreak of World War II. Navajos demonstrated that they could encode, transmit and decode a three-line message in English in just 20 seconds. Machines of the time required 30 minutes to do the same job. This resolution does great justice by recognizing the contributions of these great people to our nation's collective security and history.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose drilling of any kind beneath the Great Lakes and urge my colleagues to support the Bonior amendment. Visit Minnesota's North Shore and you will immediately know why. Lake Superior is a constant source of wonder. It helps shape our landscape and climate, it supports our economy and it enhances our quality of life. Mr. Chairman, water is a precious resource in my state. We have over 10,000 lakes. Lake Superior, of course, is the most identifiable of Minnesota's lakes, its familiar wolf head shape visible from outer space. Did you know the greatest of the Great Lakes (Lake Superior) is over 31,000 square miles, the same size as the entire state of Maine? Lake Superior also holds more fresh drinking water than all the other Great Lakes combined--Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and four Lake Erie's. Each year, millions of people from all over the world visit the lake in Minnesota for sightseeing, fishing, scuba diving and boating. Lake Superior is also important to the economies of Minnesota and the entire Upper Midwest. Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin make up the busiest international inland port in America. Our lakes, especially Lake Superior, are not isolated. We are a part of a great chain of lakes. What happens in one lake does have an impact in all of the Lakes. Mr. Chairman, the Great Lakes provide over 35 million people with their fresh drinking water. These lakes constitute twenty percent of the Earth's fresh water, 95% in the United States. Why would anyone put our nation's largest source of fresh drinking water at risk? Data from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality shows that only 28.5% of one day's consumption of natural gas and 2.2% of one day's consumption of oil in the United States has been produced. Not enough for even one day has been produced in over 20 years. The House last week wisely stopped the President's proposal to drill off the shores of Florida and in our national monuments. The Great Lakes are no less important. I oppose drilling of any sort for oil and natural gas beneath the Great Lakes. Not because we do not need to find additional resources. We do. These lakes are just too vital to too many families and it's not worth the risk. We are making progress in using energy more efficiently and reducing our reliance on oil and natural gas through energy efficiency technology and conservation. We must make bigger investments in current programs. Investments don't have to cost money either. We can and we must reduce our consumption by supporting wind and solar power and renewable fuels like ethanol. Future generations depend on us not to jeopardize our nation's greatest natural resource. An oil spill or any related disaster on the shores of a Great Lake would impact the fresh drinking water for 35 million people. And for what? Less than a day's worth of oil and natural gas. The Great Lakes are important to this nation. They are important to my state and to millions of families. They have been crucial in the historical and economic development of our communities and they continue to play a significant role in Minnesota, the nation and the world. I urge my colleagues today to protect the drinking water of future generations. I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, let us put medical decisions back in the hands of doctors and patients and ahead of special interests and their slick TV commercials. Let us pass a strong Patients' Bill of Rights. In my home State of Minnesota, I worked very hard, and in Minnesota, like many other States, we have strong patient protection laws. Those who are covered under Minnesota law have access to specialists when they need them. Every American deserves that right. No one should have to jump through hoops or swim a sea of red tape to get the doctor they need when they need to see one. A patient's doctor knows when they need to see a specialist, and Americans should not have to wait for approval by some profit-driven bureaucrats. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan Ganske- Dingell bill. It is time for sound, responsible managed care reforms and meaningful patient protection.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to strongly oppose drilling of any kind in the Great Lakes. Just visit Minnesota's North Shore and you will immediately know why. Lake Superior is a constant source of wonder for many of us in this country. It helped to shape our landscape, our climate, it supports our economy, and it enhances our quality of life. I oppose drilling not because we do not need to find additional energy resources. We do. But these lakes are just too valuable and too many families' lives would literally be at risk without fresh drinking water. It is simply not worth the risk. We are making progress in using energy more efficiently, reducing our reliance on coal and natural gas through energy efficiency and technology; but we must work hard to make bigger investments in current programs to do more. Investments do not always have to cost money either. We can and we must reduce our consumption by supporting wind, solar power and renewable fuels, like ethanol, which we produce in Minnesota. Future generations depend on us not to jeopardize today's greatest natural resources. An oil spill or any related disaster on the shores of the Great Lakes would impact fresh drinking water for 35 million people, and for what? For less than 1 day's worth of oil and natural gas. The Great Lakes are important to this Nation. They are important to my State. They are important to the families in this country. They have been crucial in our historical and economic development. Our communities continue to play a critical role in Minnesota, and water is a part of that. I urge my colleagues to protect today's drinking water for future generations. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca). (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I join the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) in supporting H. Res. 168, and I commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for authoring this resolution. As a teacher of American history, it is important that our schools embrace our collective history, including our Nation's history before the Mayflower landed. The heritage and customs of my home State of Minnesota have been greatly influenced by Native Americans. The name Minnesota itself comes from Dakota meaning the waters that reflect the sky. Native American have strengthened our collective Nation in many ways. During World War II, about 400 Navaho tribe members served as code talkers for the U.S. Marine Corps. They transmitted messages by telephone and radio in their native language, a code that the Japanese never broke. Navaho is an unwritten language of extreme complexity, and one estimate is that fewer than 300 non-Navahos could understand the language at the outbreak of World War II. Navahos demonstrated that they could encode, transmit, and decode three lines of message in English in just 20 seconds. Machines at that time required 30 minutes to do the same job. Mr. Speaker, throughout our Nation's history, Native Americans have demonstrated that very kind of selflessness and heroism that is sadly reflected too little in our history books. This resolution does great justice by recognizing the contributions of these great people to our Nation's collective history, culture, and educational system. I agree with the gentleman from Delaware, as we approach our Nation's 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, we should gratefully remember and learn the undaunted courage of a Native American woman, Sacajawea, who enabled Lewis and Clark to explore the land we call home. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this very important resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Carson).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my sincere thanks to the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle). I thank him so much for his help in this. Today we are taking a step forward just on the House floor with providing an educational opportunity for all Americans and for people all over the world who visit our Nation's Capitol today to learn more about our native Americans and our collective Nation, our one Nation, the United States. I am just going to, in closing, mention a few States besides Minnesota, which I mentioned, that reflect greatly our Native American heritage. Minnesota means the waters that reflect the sky. Iowa is the Dakota word for beautiful land; Wyoming, a Native American word for large prairie; Michigan, a Native American word for great water; Nebraska, the Omaha word for flat or broad river; Connecticut, a word for long river; Ohio, good river; Oregon, beautiful water; Texas, a word for friend; Dakota, the word friend; Missouri, the word for water flowing along. We are one Nation, a beautiful Nation, and our Native American language reflects that in the names that we have chosen for our States.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for arranging this and yielding me time today. Mr. Speaker, in 1972, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm announced her candidacy for President. She said, ``I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic nomination of the Presidency of the United States. I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women's movement, although I am equally proud of being a woman. I am not the candidate of any political bosses or special interests. I am the candidate of the people.'' I was 18 years old when Shirley Chisholm announced her candidacy and became one of my political role models. Her passion, her commitment for Democratic ideals, justice and equality continue to offer me guidance and inspiration as I serve the people of Minnesota. This past November, I became only the second woman elected to Congress since Minnesota became a State in 1858. Just as my election has been important to the young women in Minnesota, Shirley Chisholm's service in Congress and outspoken leadership for racial and gender equality inspired millions of Americans, including me. While introducing the Equal Rights Amendment in 1969, Congresswoman Chisholm said, ``a woman who aspires to be the chairman of the board, or a member of the House, does so for exactly the same reasons as any man. She thinks she can do the job and she wants to try.'' And in this year, 2001, 32 years after its original introduction, I am proud to work with others to continue Shirley Chisholm's struggle for equality as an original cosponsor of this most recent equal rights amendment. Congresswoman Chisholm, you did the job well, and today I honor you and I thank you; and I once again thank both the gentlewomen for making it possible for me to speak today.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I would like to focus attention on a serious health concern facing American women. It is a little known fact that strokes, also referred to as brain attacks, kill twice as many women as breast cancer every year. In fact, 322,000 women will have a stroke this year. One hundred thousand of them are under the age of 65. Strokes kill more women than men. While women account for less than half of the strokes in this country, they account for almost two-thirds of stroke deaths. Because more men survive strokes, women are more likely to become full-time caregivers for stroke survivors. Fifty-six percent of the caregivers in this country are women. National Stroke Association, a national non-profit health organization devoting 100 percent of its resources to fight stroke, has launched a comprehensive public education campaign, ``Women in Your Life'' to teach American women and their loved ones that: Strokes are preventable by paying attention to risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking, and adopting a health lifestyle. Strokes are treatable. Recognizing stroke symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention are crucial to receive effective treatment. There is life after stroke. As either stroke survivors or caregivers, women need to embrace life with their loved ones after stroke. I encourage my colleagues, of both genders, to give stroke education and awareness their serious consideration not only during this past month designated as National Stroke Awareness Month, but every month throughout the year. Understanding strokes and how they affect women is vital to the health and well-being of all the women in our lives.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to support H.R. 1, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It is a good bill, but it is far from a perfect bill. H.R. 1 substantially expands authorized funding levels targeted to America's neediest children. I am pleased that this bill excludes voucher provisions that would have stripped scarce funds from our public schools. Further, keeping out the Straight A's state block grant programs was the right thing to do. Even though I voted for this bill, I have some strong reservations about it that I hope will be worked out in the conference committee. First, the new testing requirements in grades three through eight are an unfunded mandate by the federal government on our local schools. Second, I am deeply disappointed that neither class size reduction nor school construction was addressed in this bill. I applaud the work of the Education and the Workforce Committee for writing a bipartisan bill to strengthen education for all of our children. There is much more work to be done, however, to ensure that every child in America receives the education they deserve. We need to renew our commitment to fully fund special education, lower class sizes, and attract and retain qualified, committed teachers. I hope H.R. 1 will reflect these priorities.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the great achievement of Museum Magnet School in Saint Paul, Minnesota for being named a Department of Education Blue Ribbon School. Blue Ribbon Schools are selected by the Department of Education because they have been judged particularly effective in meeting local, state and national goals. These schools display the qualities of excellence that are necessary to prepare our young people for the challenges of the new century. Blue Ribbon status is awarded to schools that have strong leadership, a clear vision and sense of mission, high quality teaching, and challenging, up-to-date curriculum. Further, these schools have policies and practices that ensure a safe environment conducive to learning, solid evidence of family involvement, evidence that the school helps all students achieve to high standards, and a commitment to share best practices with other schools. The Museum Magnet School's mission is to develop creative, independent thinkers who can work cooperatively to solve problems. Their partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota allows the school to apply the technology, creativity and excitement of museums to the achievement of academic excellence. The students at Museum Magnet use their strong academic skills to create exciting new exhibits in a school museum and share their findings with other students. This community/public partnership creates a nurturing, stimulating environment for teachers, parents and students. I am so proud of the accomplishments of Museum Magnet and applaud the leadership of the administrators, teachers and students in the pursuit of excellent, community-based education for Minnesota's children.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the tremendous achievement by a constituent of mine from South St. Paul, Minnesota, Mr. Tom Schepers. Last November, on Veterans' Day, the Washington, D.C. area welcomed Tom Schepers, as he completed his 5-month, 3,300 mile run in support of the World War II Veterans Memorial. Beginning at Camp Pendelton, California on D-Day, June 6th, 2000, Mr. Schepers covered 25 miles a day, 6 days a week through the Mojave Desert, thin Rocky Mountain air and other extreme conditions. This was no ordinary run. While many Americans would struggle to complete even a single day of such an exhaustive journey, Mr. Schepers completed it while carrying an American flag and a POW/MIA flag on a 10-foot flagpole as well as a 10 lb weight belt, representing the emotional weight borne by the World War II Veterans for over 50 years. Mr. Schepers heroic story is a tribute to the will and determination of our nation's Veterans. A decorated Vietnam Marine Veteran, earning the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, Mr. Schepers was shot through the leg and foot while saving a fallen comrade. He was not expected to ever walk again, let alone run. But through commitment, sheer determination and pushing himself to his physical limits, he battled back to health. Today, he devotes much of his time assisting ailing Veterans and working to raise awareness to issues of importance for all Veterans. He has logged over 3,500 miles while running for both Vietnam, and Korean War Veterans, in between working as a registered nurse and keeping-up with his three grown children, Melissa, Jennifer and Matthew. Although Mr. Schepers' story may be news to many, the plight of our World War II Veterans is too frequently forgotten. According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, of the 16 million Americans that served in World War II, 672,000 were injured and 406,000 died. Each day of freedom we live, we owe to them. Mr. Schepers' tribute to this great American generation is a welcome sight, and one that all Americans must not take for granted. As the spouse of a Vietnam Veteran, it is both a privilege and an honor to recognize Mr. Schepers for his dedication to our nation's Veterans and for his unwavering commitment to our country. All Veterans deserve our full, undivided respect and admiration for the sacrifices they have made to preserve our freedom. Tom Schepers is a hero for his service as well as for the gratitude he has demonstrated for those who have served our country.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. As a mother, I held my children's schools accountable; as a former teacher, I was held accountable; as a Member of Congress, Minnesotans hold me accountable. I do support fair, accurate, and reasonable testing, but I oppose the testing in H.R. 1. This provision is an unfunded mandate. The funding authorized will not even begin to cover the cost of current testing. Last year, we had problems with testing in Minnesota. 336 high school seniors were denied diplomas on graduation day because of a vendor error. Minnesota expects a testing program that is accountable and is funded, with control at the local level. I oppose any new unfunded mandated testing, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. We can do better for our schools and for our children.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I am very proud of the bipartisan work the Committee on Education and the Workforce has done on this bill. Members have worked together with the White House; and I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), our chairman, and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), my ranking member, for leading this bipartisan effort. Mr. Chairman, I want to vote for an education bill that demonstrates leadership and accountability to parents and students; and I want to support a bill that prepares today's students to be active citizens in our democracy and contributing to our economy and our communities. But I will not support a bill where vouchers are included. Vouchers take away scarce resources from our children and provide no accountability for our tax dollars. Mr. Chairman, I want to support a bill that involves parent and community control at a local level, but I will not support a bill if it takes decisions away from parents and local school districts and creates a new block grant program. I want to support a bill that holds schools accountable for the success of our children's education. We have more work to do on this bill. When our school districts, teachers, parents, and students look at this bill, will we have passed their test? Special education remains underfunded. Title I remains underfunded, and this bill includes a new, unfunded Federal mandate for our school districts, six more tests for our children. Mr. Chairman, this bill is not perfect; but I am here to work with all of my colleagues today to pass a bipartisan education bill that is accountable to our communities and our children.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, once again, I would like to speak in opposition to the DeLay amendment to H.R. 1646. The intent of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is to try individual perpetrators of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when nations cannot or will not hold perpetrators accountable. I can think of no Member of the U.S. Congress, the administration, or any federal agency, including the Department of Defense and all branches of our armed forces, opposed to ensuring that war criminals are brought to justice. If the accused perpetrator of a war crime is an American citizen, civilian or soldier, then I would strongly support our civilian and/or military systems of justice do everything in their power to bring this individual to trial in the appropriate American court as would be permissible under the ICC treaty. The argument by supporters of this amendment that American servicemen and servicewomen would be at risk of being tried in foreign courts under the ICC treaty is not accurate. Presently, any alleged crime, including war crimes, committed by U.S. citizens on foreign soil can already be tried in that nation's courts. The ICC would do nothing to diminish the role a U.S. court would have in bringing to trial accused war criminals if they were American citizens. In fact, the ICC could only intervene in trying Americans in the very unlikely event that the American judicial system would be unwilling or unable to try a case. I do not believe the formation of the ICC will threaten American military personnel. The ICC will provide a forum to bring individuals to justice that commit the most heinous and inhuman acts of systematic violence around the world. To ensure that the U.S. Congress is committed to achieve this needed justice I oppose the DeLay amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the President will be in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday to unveil his vision for a national energy policy. Minnesotans understand the value of a balanced approach that needs to be part of an energy policy which embraces our environmental qualities. We must have clean fuels, renewable energy and improved energy efficiency and invest in alternative energy resources. The Vice President said conservation is a sign of personal virtue, but not a basis for policy. In Minnesota, conservation is common sense. It means saving energy and money by using our resources more efficiently. Improved energy standards for consumer products would eliminate the need for an additional 180 new power plants. Energy efficiency standards have already saved American consumers $50 billion this past decade. Minnesotans expect conservation to be an important part of any energy policy that balances today's energy needs with the needs of future generations.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to oppose the Delay amendment to H.R. 1646. The International Criminal Court (ICC) will be a permanent court to try individuals, not countries, for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. These would be heinous crimes such as genocide and widespread systematic torture and rape. The horrendous crimes in Bosnia, Rwanda, Sierra Leon, Kosovo and far too many other countries have awakened the international community to the need to punish the criminals responsible for inhuman acts of violence. The same concerns that led to the trials at Nuremberg and Tokyo, the creation of ad hoc tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and the existence of established international criminal law have made the ICC more feasible now. The Court will hear a case only when no national court is available or willing to hear it. In the case of the United States, our courts would decide whether to try a case or submit it to the ICC. In theory the ICC could try Americans. However, the ICC would only intervene when the U.S. chooses to relinquish its right to try a case. In practical terms, it is highly unlikely that the American judicial system would be unwilling or unavailable to try a case. Also, it is important to remember that Americans arrested abroad for committing a crime are already subject to prosecution by other countries. In the highly unlikely event of an American being arrested abroad for war crimes, in many cases a trial in the ICC would be fairer and the country might well agree to turn the accused over to the ICC. The U.S. Government has taken great pains to require that the accused receive a fair trial and be accorded the due process of law. The draft statue defines the rights of the accused in accordance with the rights guaranteed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Declaration of Human Rights. They include the presumption of innocence, the right to counsel, the right to confront one's accusers, and the right to a speedy trial. I support the U.S. participation in the ICC as well as all efforts that seeks justice for the victims of genocide, torture, rape and systematic violence against civilian men, women and children.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, as Democrats and Republicans it is our job to work together on a budget that reflects the issues that the voters sent us all to Congress to address. The nation's priorities are clear. Americans want a balanced federal budget that meets our health, education, retirement and infrastructure needs while paying down our national debt and providing for a reasonable tax cut. Unfortunately, the Republican budget abandons the fiscal responsibility that has resulted in the budget surpluses we are presently enjoying. The sum of the Republican tax cuts reach almost $2 trillion and are completely based on a projection for surpluses that may or may not materialize over the next ten years. I support responsible tax cuts that are targeted to working families and ensure our seniors will continue to have retirement security. In fact, the Republicans controlling Congress spend more on tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent of Americans than they spend on every other need in this budget. Worst of all, the Republican budget uses Medicare and Social Security as a slush fund that will be raided if the projected surpluses are not realized. Today's budget resolution shortchanges education and provides even less money than the President asked for in his budget plan. It threatens Medicare by raiding the trust fund, jeopardizing the benefits to which seniors are now entitled and does not guarantee that any portion will go toward a prescription drug benefit. In addition, it cuts back on energy programs that we should be strengthening to help our constituents deal with the energy crisis and cope with sky-high prices. This budget resolution should balance all of our priorities--from the need for tax cuts to investments in public schools, our national defense to prescription drugs. Most of all, America's budget should do nothing to break faith with the millions of seniors who rely on Social Security and Medicare.