Bob Ney

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer amendment No. 12, and I ask unanimous consent that it be considered at this time.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, on June 8, 1999, the House voted on the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies FY 2000 Appropriations Act. More specifically, when the vote on the Chabot amendment (rollcall No. 174) took place, I was unavoidably detained. The Chabot amendment would have sought to prohibit funding for Market Access Program allocations. If I was present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 10, The Financial Services Modernization Bill of 1999. As a supporter of this bill, I want to send a message to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, on behalf of the Members who worked so hard to obtain passage of this much-needed legislation. This bill for the first time allows the true marriage of insurance, banking and securities. The principle behind the bill is functional regulation, the activities of any entity should be regulated by function. So when a bank engages in insurance activities, those activities should be regulated by insurance regulators, not banking regulators. The same holds true for securities activities. The bill seeks to craft a balance between Congress' authority to grant banks certain powers and the States' authority to regulate certain activities. This balance is particularly delicate in the context of state regulation of the insurance sales activities of banks and their affiliates. Section 104 of the bill sets up a fairly complex scheme, designed to allow states to regulate insurance activities without substantially interfering with banks' ability to sell insurance. While the bill affords states a certain amount of certainty regarding what is permissible regulation, through a creation of safe harbor, it leaves much to potential challenge. As the bill makes clear, our creation of a safe harbor is not intended to establish any kind of inference regarding the permissibility of state insurance laws that fall outside the safe harbor. As a result of this legislation, federal banking regulators and state insurance regulators will work together cooperatively in the best interests of the public. This positive relationship should be given an opportunity to develop. What we do not want to see is aggressive moves on the part of the OCC, or other federal banking regulators, to displace state insurance laws and regulations applied to banks. This legislation is designed to foreclose the OCC's opportunity to do that.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against section 107 on page 18, line 19 through page 19, line 15 of H.R. 1905, on the ground that this provision changes existing law in violation of clause 2 of House rule XXI and therefore is legislation included in a general appropriations bill.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I commend the following statement to my colleagues. When I was traveling back to Washington, D.C. on May 24, 1999, H.R. 974, the District of Columbia College Access Act, was passed by voice vote. Due to the fact that I was commuting and the vote took place before the 6 p.m. scheduled time, I missed the voice vote. I would like to make it known for the record that had I been present, I would have asked for a recorded vote and voted against this bill. I do not feel that students in the District of Columbia should be made ``exceptions'' when it comes to paying in-states fees at any state institution. This privilege is not granted to students in this country who choose to attend a state college outside of their residential state.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I want to stand tonight in support of this amendment. This year the President requested $155 million for the Commodity Assistance Program which contains the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. However, this program was funded at $14 million less than the President's request. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is currently operating in 20 States. Also, four States are on the waiting list, as are others, such as the State of Ohio; and we believe that all people should be able to participate in this. Too many seniors are suffering already because they live on such tiny incomes they cannot afford to buy food or else they are forced to choose between the life-saving prescription drugs they need and groceries. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is often a life-saving source of food for elderly constituents. The source of the money this is coming from is coming from a program that is receiving ample support, and I come from a State that has agriculture, and I do support obviously where the money is going. But the amount of money that is going to go into this program for the Sanders amendment is not going to hurt the existing appropriation, it is going to do an awful lot, really, to help our seniors. So I think it is a good amendment. It is a senior program that makes good fiscal sense. Studies have shown that malnourished seniors stay in the hospital nearly twice as long as well-nourished seniors, costing thousands of dollars more per stay. So I think it is cost-effective. It is a good amendment, it should receive good bipartisan support. I think it is the right thing to do, and I urge the support of my colleagues for this amendment.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I commend the following to my colleagues: Whereas, the Veterans of the United States have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the preservation of the United States of America; and, Whereas, on June 18th, 1999 the Department of Ohio, Veterans of Foreign Wars will be celebrating their 100th Anniversary and, Whereas, the citizens of Ohio and the United States of America owe the Veterans of the United States a great deal of gratitude for their undying loyalty and dedication to the Union, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Ohio on 100 years of service.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the distinguished career of Lt. Barry Zalesny. Lt. Zalesny has served the people of Bellaire for over four decades as a member of the city's police force. He will be retiring from the police department on May first of this year. During his career, Lt. Zalesny has played a crucial role in the department as well as the community. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to declare my appreciation for Lt. Zalesny's commitment to his community. It is a privilege to call him a constituent.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, Bruce Langden was a hostage in Iran with the takeover of the embassy; and as he has stated many times in the past couple of years, it is time for the two countries to talk. It has now been 20 years since the United States and Iran have had any direct communications with each other. Official exchanges have all been indirect via the Swiss. Its embassy in Tehran today officially represents the American interests there. But these have been very rare and limited amounts of contact. On the face of it, that fact makes little sense, for either country to not talk, given the way the interests of the United States and Iran in that part of the world overlap. We cannot ignore the reality of Iran. Neither can Iran ignore the reality of America's strategic interests and military presence today in the Persian Gulf. We have some obvious shared interests. An improved situation in the Mideast is good for the world and good for us and good for Iran. We obviously also share interests of better control of traffic in narcotics in the region and freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf for everyone. But the absence of dialogue with Iran inevitably impacts even more broadly on our strategic interest throughout the region. More specifically, Mr. Speaker, it complicates our relationship with the Central Asian states that evolved out of the former Soviet Union, with whom Iran has had historic cultural and strategic interests. It also denies contact in commerce between the two countries, which can benefit many of the Iranian people and also the American people. It leaves the vast oil and gas sector of Iran, in serious need of infrastructure modernization and expansion, open to European interests but not to the Americans. It also postpones the time when we inevitably will need to accept the reality of Iran's naval presence in the Gulf and the need for Iran to be included in essential long-term, multilateral security arrangements in those waters. It denies us conduct with the emerging generation of future leaders in that country, particularly amongst the young people. Some 50 percent of Iran's population are under the age of 25, and the educational exchanges between the two countries would be of benefit to everybody. Now, we never are going to be able to communicate by saying, ``These are the four points that we are unhappy with with Iran,'' and Iran saying to the United States, ``These are the four points we are unhappy with.'' I think we simply have to agree to begin to talk and to communicate. Now, regrettably, the Tehran government continues to assert that it is not open to dialogue except under conditions that make dialogue impossible; in other words, no dialogue from government to government. And it is clear that the continuing political confrontation in Iran between conservative elements and those preaching moderation makes overtures towards the U.S. unlikely soon. We also have our own amounts of arguments in our democracy here about whether we should or should not commune. I am sure other Members of Congress would take a different point of view, Mr. Speaker, from what I am saying today. But on our part, I think we need to make it clear that we are ready to communicate and agree to talk with each other. One immediate way to signal that interest would be for us to facilitate the license that would be needed under our current trade embargo for the sale of up to 500,000 tons of American agricultural commodities that American and Iranian private interests seek to complete. According to Secretary of Agriculture Glickman, the request remains under review. Former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, in a speech at the Asia Society in New York, urged the reestablishment of relations between the two countries. Looking down the road, a restored relationship between Iran and the United States would find special strength in one important factor. The U.S. today is the second largest Persian-speaking country in the world. Some million and a half Iranian Americans now live here in the United States. Many had fled the country or emigrated since the Iranian revolution. Like the many other ethnic minorities who make up our country, that is a special strength for the long term. Families should be able to go back and forth. Iranians should be able to visit their families here. So I conclude, Mr. Speaker, by just saying that the time has come to at least begin to agree to communicate so that differences that we have can be brought to the table, and I think it will make for a better world and a better Mideast and more of a resolve to have peace on our planet.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Allison Michele Mills, who passed away on April 12, 1999. Allison was born December 6, 1980, the daughter of Dave and Lynne Temple Mills. Allison was a senior at Bellaire High School, where she was announced as the Valedictorian of the graduating class of 1999. At Bellaire High School, Allison was the president of the National Honor Society, a Hugh O'Brian Youth Ambassador as well as a cheerleader and a member of the marching band. Additionally, Allison was a member of the French Club, the Quill and Scroll, and a four-year class officer. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to pay my last respects to a young woman who gave so much of herself to her community, her school and her family. Allison will be missed by all whose lives she touched. I am honored to have represented her and proud to call her a constituent.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Dave Longaberger, who passed away on March 17, 1999. Dave was the founder of The Longaberger Company and a man of tremendous vision who never lost his sense of tradition. He spent his life serving his community and was well loved and respected by all who knew him. He was a man known for his pizzazz and his strength. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to pay my last respects to a man who gave so much of himself to his community and his family. Dave will be missed by all whose lives he touched. I am honored to have represented him and proud to call him a constituent.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Marie C. Hillyer, who passed away on March 25, 1999. Marie was a previous member of Uhrichsville City Council for ten years and a member of the Twin City Republican Women and the Republic Executive Committee. She was also the first female member of the Union Hospital Board of Trustees and a founder of the Uhrichsville Pride Program. She spent her life serving her community and was well loved and respected by all who knew her. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to pay my last respects to a woman who gave so much of herself to her community and her family. Marie will be missed by all whose lives she touched. I am honored to have represented her and proud to call her a constituent.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for the fact that we have this on the floor today. Although we would differ in opinion, the process is going to work by having us here. Mr. Speaker, as a coauthor of the Visclosky-Regula steel legislation, I am committed to standing up for steel. This legislation brings back the integrity of our antidumping provisions of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1930. But this bill is not about free trade versus fair trade versus protectionism. It is about illegal dumping. And that is a big difference. This bill is pro-worker and it is pro-American. Eleven thousand steelworkers, as we noted before, have lost their jobs. Eleven thousand steelworkers are trying to decide today, and one more per hour, how they feed their families, how they help their communities, how they survive. Mr. Speaker, we are here today because the President had lack of courage. In a combined effort with my colleagues we introduced legislation to freeze steel imports at pre-July 1997 levels. This legislation would do what President Clinton has not done, and that is to stand up for steelworkers and put America's interests first for a change. In October we had 344 Members on a bipartisan basis in October that urged the end of this. Yes, the administration is now starting to do some things 11,000 steelworkers later, and I cannot trust that if we do not push through this legislation and pass it, that it will not go back to the way it was. So, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is absolutely critical. There is a solution; it is a simple one. We must enforce our trade laws. That is it. The U.S. steel industry is not asking for special protection, and, quite frankly, they do not need it. Our working men and women can compete with anyone on this planet. They can and will compete against any steel in the world. But we cannot go against illegally-dumped steel. But let me conclude, Mr. Speaker, and tell my colleagues why we are here today, how we got to this point. We are here today because we are going to stand up for Main Street today, not Wall Street. That is why this bill is here. It is here because of leaders like Mark Glyptis, and George Becker, and Chip Antonacci, and Larry Mallas and John Sanders and Dave Gossett stood up and spoke out, and we are here because thousands of steelworkers and citizens would not let this issue go, would not let this issue die. Thousands rallied back home in a multi-state area, and they came here to the streets of Washington, D.C., 7,000 strong. They brought their children. People came here from all walks of life, Republican, Democrat, Independent, the wealthy, the poor, the unemployed, the workers, the students. Students made phone calls. People protested. They stood up for their rights. That is why we are here today, Mr. Speaker, because people spoke out. The steelworkers, and the citizens, and the students and the people of our communities have said to their government: Stand up for us for a change. It is very simple in my mind. We are today going to support Japan or we are going to support Weirton, West Virginia. We today are going to support Brazil or we are going to support Steubenville, Ohio. This is a bill about the fact that America today speaks out. The people speak out on the floor, the people win and America wins. Support the rule and the bill.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for this debate today. Although we are disagreeing on the issue he is letting the debate occur, and I appreciate that and thank him for it. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I mentioned union officials and some steelworkers that have fought for this issue. I also want to mention Dick Redier, Greg Warren and Paul Bucha, who are just three of the many individuals from the company's end of it that have fought to get this bill to the floor today. I think today is about Main Street America. The steelworkers got trampled on. We tried to respond in October. They got trampled on by foreign countries and, by the way, when the illegal dumping came in, Europe responded to support its mayors and its communities to protect them, but our steelworkers got trampled on and they fought back. There are laws on the books. They talk about the laws on the books. The President of the United States ignored them. We would not be here today if he had followed those laws, but the steelworkers in our communities fought back. We would like to talk about our children's future. We are responsible for our children's future and today is about our children's future and our communities back home. We can be responsible to help our communities to stand up against illegal, again, illegal dumping. We can be responsible by standing up for steel, which is standing up for our communities. It is restoring faith. It is restoring America's path. By voting yes today, we are going to say to every worker in the United States that when foreign countries try to take an illegal path, we are going to stop it. We are going to say, they do not have to beg their government anymore for help. We are going to prove it today on the floor of the House. So this is an issue not about free trade. It is not about protectionism. This is truly an issue about illegal dumping. I am just sorry we have to be here today because the President should have enforced the laws in October, just like Ronald Reagan did when he was President of the United States. It is okay to have a give and take on the debate of trade. If we stand by and let this continue, believe me these countries would have continued to dump, illegally dump, and we would lose thousands and thousands more of workers' jobs. Our heroes today are those 11,000 people who have struggled through unemployment trying to feed their families, and our heroes today are the steelworkers and the companies and the people back home that forced this debate to the floor. I urge a yes vote.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 1999, a bill I proudly re- introduce with the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Kildee. This legislation, which was originally introduced in the 105th Congress and had 203 co-sponsors, establishes modest, minimum federal standards relating to collective bargaining for those groups who provide safety and security to the public, namely our fire fighters and police officers. Unfortunately, many of those whose job it is to protect the public from danger are left to fend for themselves. They do not have the right to negotiate such basic issues as hours, wages and conditions of employment because some states still do not provide collective bargaining rights for their public employees. This is especially troublesome since fire fighters and police officers take their oaths to serve and protect the public very seriously, putting themselves at risk for the public's well-being. Our bill recognizes the public safety officers' unique situation by creating a special collective bargaining right outside the scope of other federal labor law. More importantly, it does so without dictating to the states what their specific laws should be since the legislation is general enough to preserve a state's right to implement a collective bargaining statute on their own terms. Furthermore, states that already have collective bargaining laws in place would be exempt from the federal statute. I would like to make it clear that this legislation does not permit strikes by public safety officers nor does it provide for mandatory binding arbitration. This is in keeping with the bill's intent to provide a basic and fundamental right of negotiating for those who protect us without endangering the lives of the people they are hired to protect. It is well-known that labor-management relationships are based on trust, mutual respect, open communications, compromise and shared accountability. I believe this to be especially true as it relates to our public safety officers. We depend on them to maintain our safety and they depend on our respect and understanding if they are going to continue to provide us with the level of comfort in our communities to which we are accustomed. They deserve no less. This bill has the support of the International Association of Fire Fighters; the International Brotherhood of Police Officers; the International Union of Police Associations; the National Association of Police Organizations and the Fraternal Order of Police. It also has the bi-partisan support of over 125 of our colleagues upon its introduction. I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 1999.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I commend the following article to my colleagues: Judge John Justin Malik, Jr. has spent his life serving the people. His career began in 1958 when he served as the City Solicitor for the city of Bellaire, Ohio. He then became the Belmont County Prosecuting Attorney and later a Belmont County Commissioner. As Commissioner, Judge Malik was appointed to serve on the Ohio Jail Advisory Board and continues to serve on that Board as Judge. He also participated in the acquisition of the land on State Route 331 where Fox Shannon Industrial Park was formed. This industrial park is now the site of several agencies and businesses, including Sargus Juvenile Detention Center, the Department of Human Services, and the new Belmont County jail. Judge Malik was a partner in a law firm started by his father in the 1930's. Upon graduation from Notre Dame, Judge Malik joined his father in this practice and practiced law while also serving as City Solicitor for Bellaire and as Belmont County Commissioner. Since becoming Juvenile and Probate Judge in February 1991, Judge Malik has continued to work for the benefit of Belmont County. He recently has been instrumental in the donation of land to Belmont County. This area is set to be the new location of the Belmont County Fairgrounds. Additionally, Judge Malik works diligently to work with juvenile delinquents and unruly children in Belmont County. In addition to all of these efforts, Judge Malik continues to own and operate a garden center and gift ship and serve on the Board of Directors for several organizations. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the career of Judge Malik. His lifelong service and commitment to Belmont County is to be commended.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula) for their hard work on an extremely important issue. Somebody mentioned today about special interests. We are talking about special interests today: American men and women, working Americans. That is a good special interest. There is nothing wrong with working people and for this Congress to stand up for them. It is time for the Congress to wake up. It is time for the White House to wake up. I talked to day to the mayor of Weirton, West Virginia. He is having a rally tonight in Weirton. They have to rally and try to beg their government to do something to help them? The mayors in Europe did not have to beg European governments to help them. What is going on? What is wrong with our thinking? The United States wheel workers of America, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula), many others, the companies, are in this fight for their survival; not for the holy dollar. For the survival of workers, their communities, their families, their ability to pay for their schools, their ability to pay their taxes, their ability to keep their communities going and to survive. That is what this argument is about. It is a very clear choice. Now is the time to stand up for a change for our workers. Now is the time to stand up for a change for our jobs. Now is the time to stand up for America. Vote yes. Here is your vote. It is very clear cut. Are you going to vote for Weirton, West Virginia, New Philadelphia, Ohio, and Zanesville, Ohio, or Russia? Are you going to vote for Steubenville, Ohio, Toronto, Ohio, Youngstown, Ohio, Bellaire, Ohio, or Japan? That is the clear-cut choice. A yes vote stands up for a change for working Americans. This is good for the country, this is good for our workers. I urge support of this measure.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania and also the gentleman from Minnesota for a tremendous piece of legislation and also previously this year a great teamwork effort to do another good piece of legislation which is the highway bill that is going to help with growth and jobs and do something real for our economy not only for the district I represent but for everywhere across this great nation. Today I rise in support of S. 2364. As we know, the bill reauthorizes two very important programs that benefit needy communities throughout the country, especially within Ohio and the 18th Congressional District which I represent. The Economic Development Administration has continually been active in our State, in the State of Ohio, directing Federal resources to economically distressed communities in order to develop their local economies. Through public works, technical assistance, planning, community investments and revolving loan fund programs, EDA has established local partnerships, Mr. Speaker, that have provided critical infrastructure development and other economic incentives that have made our way of life better. Since it came into existence in Ohio, the EDA has alone invested more than $488 million into our local economies. I have worked very closely with organizations that coordinate and implement the EDA and ARC moneys, including the Hocking Valley Regional Development District, the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association and the Ohio Valley Regional Development Council. I want to point out, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we recognize these are local groups, so this is a program that comes from Washington, D.C. and the local hands are in it. I cannot think of a better scenario for our people than to have that relationship. I am proud of both the EDA and the ARC and what they do for our communities. The bill also reauthorizes the Appalachian Regional Commission and its programs. Those programs have come under fire. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) I think eloquently stated how the ARC is doing good things. I also need to mention that I used to work for the Appalachian Regional Commission through the State of Ohio, I was one of the State workers and I saw all the good firsthand of what we do with dental programs and with health care programs. I just wanted to say in closing, Mr. Speaker, that the bill continues ARC's tradition of good works. The EDA helps with local projects that benefit people and create jobs. I look forward to working in the future with the National Association of Development Organizations, their members, the EDA and the ARC. I want to thank Jeff Janas of our staff for working with our local officials and with the staff here in Washington. I urge the support of this great bill.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to support this Visclosky privileged resolution which expresses the sense of the House that the integrity of our anti-dumping provisions of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1930 have not been enforced. My colleague from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) I think has eloquently and adequately expressed the ability of this Congress to consider this privileged resolution. Trade laws that were enacted 60 years ago, Mr. Speaker, were designed to protect American workers. That is what this government did. It designed laws to protect American workers so they are not hurt by unfair trade practices. The U.S. steel workers and the steel industry are suffering in one of the worst ways in recent modern times because the Asia and Russia financial crisis has led those countries to illegally dump their steel on the market. It could not be any clearer. Steel that was formerly produced for domestic consumption in Asia is now being shipped to the United States where it is sold at prices below the cost of production. Steel prices have fallen 20 percent in the last 3 months alone. The Europeans have protected itself and the steel industry against dumping by erecting temporary barriers on steel imports. So Europe has stood up for its workers; that is what Europe has done, Mr. Speaker. The European steel industry will weather the storm while the American steel industry and its workers are announcing new layoffs daily. We need to push for this resolution. We need to push the White House to do everything they can to stop illegal dumping practices that are damaging our steel industry. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask where is the Congress? Where is the White House? Where is the United States Government? Today we have a chance to answer those questions. We are here, by supporting the Visclosky resolution, to finally stand up for steel workers, to stand up for working Americans, to stand up for families in this country and to stand up for the United States. This is mandatory, it is a must, it is the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, I support the Visclosky privileged resolution.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I rise today to pay tribute to an American and Ohio hero. More than 35 years ago, John Glenn made history as the first American to orbit the earth. On October 29, he will once again make history as the oldest man to travel into space. On behalf of the people of Ohio and the country, along with the rest of the members of the Ohio delegation, I would like to thank Senator Glenn for his dedicated service to our country and wish him the best of luck on his upcoming mission. John Herschel Glenn, Jr., is a true American hero. He has served his country honorably in the Marine Corps, in the U.S. Space Program and as a member of the United States Senate. On February 20, 1962, he became a national figure after becoming the first American to orbit the earth. Senator Glenn, a native of Ohio, has represented the working families of Ohio as their Senator since 1974. His upcoming shuttle mission and retirement at the end of this Congress will punctuate the end of a remarkable stretch of public service that will leave an indelible mark on our society. October 29, 1998, marks a triumphant day for our nation when Senator Glenn returns to space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Nearly 37 years after his initial trip into space, he will again represent his country and our state as a member of Discovery Mission STS-95. As he prepares for his upcoming mission, the Members of the Ohio delegation wish salute to the Senator from Ohio. As he prepares for the upcoming mission, we salute the Senator and native of New Concord, Ohio. Godspeed, John Glenn.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man whose love for baseball inspires us all. ``Rapid'' Raymond Miller, the 13th manager of the Baltimore Orioles, has just completed his first full season managing. Mr. Miller is a man whose talent and great love of baseball span more than 30 years. Throughout his entire career Mr. Miller has had many accomplishments. A minor league baseball pitcher for ten years, 18 years as a major league pitching coach and manager of the Minnesota Twins are all experiences that have qualified him to lead the Baltimore Orioles. His career has taken him from his beginnings with a minor league team in San Francisco to coaching a team that won the World Series. Most of Mr. Miller's career has been spent as a pitching coach in which he has demonstrated tremendous success. Under his direction, not only did three players receive the Cy Young Award, but he also coached seven different 20-game winners. As the 1998 season came to a close, Mr. Miller demonstrated the same enthusiasm and promise as manager of the Baltimore Orioles that he has shown throughout his career. Mr. Miller has made baseball fans from Ohio's 18th Congressional district very proud. With all of Mr. Miller's continued success, he has never forgotten the area from where he came. He and his wife continue to reside in New Athens, Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in congratulating and wishing continued future success to a man I am proud to call my constituent, Mr. Raymond Miller.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise today to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Robert and Regina Levy. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Robert and Regina on their special day. What a remarkable accomplishment to be able to celebrate a marriage that has endured for so many years. The bond that brought them together has remained and grown over the years. May they always share the love and joy they feel today. In an era where marriages are too often short lived, it is wonderful to see a couple who have endured the trials and tribulations that can cause a marriage to fail. The love and commitment they have demonstrated should serve as an inspiration to couples everywhere. Mr. Speaker, what an achievement to be married for 50 years. It is an honor to represent a couple like the Levy's. I ask that my colleagues join me, their 6 children and 11 grandchildren in celebrating this joyous occasion. I am proud to call them my constituents.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Oversight be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res 317), expressing the sense of Congress that Members of Congress should follow the example of self-sacrifice and devotion to character displayed by Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson of the United States Capitol Police, and asks for its immediate consideration.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Commitee on House Oversight be discharged from further consideration of the House concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res. 326) permiting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol on September 23, 1998, for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Nelson Mandela, and I ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. NEY

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who has dedicated 29 years of his life protecting the people of this great Nation and ensuring the American way of life. This gentleman has distinguished himself as a community leader, a dedicated family man, and a decorated officer in the U.S. Army. The man I speak about today is Major General David H. Ohle. The distinguished career of Major General David Ohle began as he completed a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1968. His military service spans more than 29 years at various levels of command and staff positions. He began his career as an Infantry Officer. A few of his commands include a Ranger company in Vietnam, an infantry battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and an infantry brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Major General Ohle exemplifies the ideal of citizen-soldier. He has earned every decoration he wears, among which are a Silver Star, three Legions of Merit, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He has served his country well, and will continue to do so in the future. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in congratulating Major General Ohle on his new assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Along with his new position, he will be promoted to the rank of three star Lieutenant General. On behalf of the Congress of the United States and the people of this great Nation, I offer our heartfelt appreciation to Major General Ohle for a job well done and best wishes for continued success.