James Oberstar

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I want to make it very clear, this is not punishment. This is not chilling. There is $1,900,000 more than the President's request in this account, a $321,000 cut, a net of $1.6 million not identified, not targeted, no explanation, no justification, and over here on the other side is the FAA with a need for training. The chairman knows that under the rules of engagement in the appropriation process, I cannot identify a specific account in designating this $1 million and shifting it. So that is why we are having this dialog, to make it very clear that this money goes for training of those inspectors who are the very ones charged with the responsibility of overseeing new-entrance carriers and who need training in those specific areas that I mentioned. If one is trained on DC-9's and is suddenly assigned to inspect aircraft or airlines that are flying 737's, or 757's or 767's, one needs training in that arena. This account does not have that kind of funding. In fact, it is $8 million short, by GAO standards, of the amount of training needed for those inspectors.

Mr. OBERSTAR

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

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, just by way of observation, the Safe Drinking Water Act amendments were reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on a bipartisan basis. We concur in the language in the bill, and we support the legislation and urge its adoption by the House.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, the VA-HUD appropriations bill, as reported to the House, allocates, apparently, $2.2 billion for Superfund, but of that amount $861 million is contingent upon future legislation to make the funds available for obligation. Actually, we are talking about $1.3 billion that is really available for Superfund. The majority clearly is trying to point to this appropriation of $2.2 billion as evidence of their commitment to Superfund and their commitment to environmental protection, but the Committee on the Budget, Congressional Budget Office, and the Parliamentarian scored the provision as exceeding the budget allocation and subject to a point of order. The Committee on Rules therefore included a self-executing provision in the rule that makes the additional $861 million available only upon a subsequent appropriation. Now, I view that as a form of doublespeak intended to make Superfund appropriations seem larger than they really are. The appropriations provision does not include any money above $1.3 billion. So what is the status of that $861 million? That money is available only if subsequently appropriated. And what does that mean? There will be no additional money for Superfund unless Congress acts a second time to appropriate it. And then, at that time, the appropriation will be subject to budgetary ceilings. And that further means that at that subsequent time the Committee on Appropriations will have to come back and find $861 million to cut someplace else in these programs. Otherwise, they will run up against the caps. They will have exceeded their cap. Now, that is not being candid and fair and open and honest about this process. We need real money to clean up hazardous wastesites, we need real money to protect human health and the environment, and doublespeak is not going to get us there.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Chairman, 10,000 years ago the last glacier retreated from the North American continent, but every fall it stages a comeback and this year it lasted well into May, when we had 36 inches of ice still on the border lakes in my district with temperatures driven down to 60 below zero. I want to say to my good friend from Ohio, who casually talked about this money going to some bureaucracy, this money goes to real people, people who are old and poor and hurt in the cold weather of northern Minnesota. If the gentleman thinks that is fun, try living up there on $600 a month in a poorly insulated house when an individual has to choose between eating or heating. I resent it. This program has been cut from $900 million in 1981 to a bare $100 million today. The gentleman talks about saving some Elk Hills Oil Petroleum Reserve and some national policy. National policy is people, people who are old and poor and who deserve to be helped, who deserve to have something better than a miserably cold winter and the choice of heating, eating, or suffering to death. We should not have that kind of choice in this society, and this is a paltry amount to be shifting into this program of weatherization and home heating assistance. When we weatherize the home, we cut the heating assistance by 15 percent. We should support this amendment.

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Chairman, this payment in lieu of taxes program is about basic fairness. The Federal Government holds large tracts of land in public trust for all Americans, land that is taken out of the local tax base and in return for maintaining this land in the public interest, we make a modest little payment to those local units of government. That payment has not increased in 20 years. Let me just take Cook County in my district that is 94 percent in public land ownership and off that 6 percent of the remaining land of 900,000 acres, that county has to provide for roads, for search and rescue, for emergency medical care, for surface water, ground water for all the people who come and travel through the area. St. Louis County has 3,000 miles of county roads. This is a county about the size of the State of Massachusetts. It has to provide emergency medical services, rescue the people who travel from other parts of the United States to see Voyageurs National Park and Superior National Forest. They have accidents and they have health problems and the county has to take care of them, but the rest of the country is not providing an increase in funding. We have not had an increase in 20 years. We need to have an increase in the funding for the payment in lieu of taxes program to be fair to the people of this country.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pride that I support the consideration of H.R. 3572. This legislation, which is the same bill the House passed last Congress but the Senate failed to act on, acknowledges the contribution of one of our dear friends and colleagues, William H. Natcher of the State of Kentucky, by designating the bridge on U.S. Route 231 crossing the Ohio River between Maceo, KY and Rockport, IN, as the ``William H. Natcher Bridge''. It is only fitting and proper that a major infrastructure project serve as a long and lasting monument in honor of Bill Natcher. He worked closely with the then-Committee on Public Works and Transportation to provide funding for the construction of this project. For over 40 years, Bill Natcher worked tirelessly to serve his constituents and the Nation. His public service record is exemplary with having never missed a day of work and with having cast 18,401 consecutive rollcall votes until advised by his physicians to remain at the Bethesda Naval Hospital to receive medical treatment. Mr. Speaker, more importantly, the character of the gentleman is what set him apart from many of his colleagues. He was a courteous, dignified, and considerate human being whom we all loved and respected. Throughout Bill Natcher's tenure in the House, he enjoyed tremendous respect. He exhibited true leadership virtues during his service as chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and as chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. Under his tenure, all 13 appropriations bills were enacted on time, without the need for a continuing resolution. In the 103d Congress, this committee worked closely with the gentlemen from Kentucky and was extremely proud of his willingness to work together to support legislation that maintained the integrity of the legislative process. Mr. Speaker, it was an honor and privilege to have served for over 19 years in the House with my friend and colleague, Bill Natcher. I am pleased to support this legislation as a testament to the tremendous work he did for the State of Kentucky, its Second District, and the Nation, and I urge approval of the bill.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I do so for the purpose of asking the gentleman for an explanation of the proceeding. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I have no objection to the changes in the legislation. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. It is not often that we have the privilege in this Chamber to recognize in a very appropriate way a Congressional Medal of Honor winner, a true hero. These are people whose recognition is usually given posthumously because they have made the ultimate sacrifice. But in the case of Sammy L. Davis, he is among us, not only among us but he is using his, in a sense, platform, his great distinction that he won at extraordinary risk to himself, to serve the needs of the community in the broadest possible sense. A motivational speaker, he talks about the plight of prisoners of war; talks about other issues of interest to veterans. He has given himself a purpose and a career in life greater than any that could have been imagined for him. And having the distinction of being one of these truly special people whom our country has recognized with its highest distinction, he merits very special recognition. I salute the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Clay], our colleague, for having introduced this legislation, for urging the designation of the Federal building in Overland, MO, in honor of Sammy L. Davis. It is indeed appropriate, and it is a modest step that we can take to honor this hero. There is nothing, however, that we can do, not naming and no words, that can ever hope to reach the height that he has achieved in his own service in Vietnam in the defense of the life of others. I urge the enactment of this legislation.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I compliment Chairman Gilchrest and our ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Traficant, on bringing this legislation forward to bring tribute to a former colleague of ours in the House and a former U.S. Senator, Roman Hruska, who had a truly distinguished career both here and in the other body. He was a person most respected for his public integrity and for the great dignity that he brought to the office of U.S. Senator. It has already been mentioned in the course of previous debate, his unpretentious style, his diligent hard work, his focus on causes and prevention of violence in American society, but he did it all with great dignity and great seriousness of purpose. Not a show horse as we say, but a workhorse, and a very serious workhorse who can be a model for others coming after him and those now serving in both the House and the Senate. It is entirely fitting and appropriate to designate this Federal building and courthouse now under construction in Omaha, NE, in honor of Senator Roman L. Hruska.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, again, I greatly appreciate the Chair of our subcommittee moving this legislation to honor Judge William J. Nealon and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade] for sponsoring the legislation. It has received the strong support on both sides of the aisle in our committee because of the person who we are recognizing in this very unique way. Appointed to the Federal bench by President Kennedy, he was the youngest Federal judge in the country at the time, but he comes from an absolutely impeccable background which was very well expressed by Chairman Gilchrest. The bill has overwhelming bipartisan support and has widespread endorsement of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, numerous civic and charitable organizations. It is wonderful that a person could spend so much time on the Federal bench and be so widely and warmly acclaimed. It is a very special way in which we can pay tribute to years of dedication to the law and to service of the public by dedicating a building to the honor of Judge William J. Nealon. For me, coming from northern Minnesota, where for years we shipped iron ore and taconite to the steel mills of Pennsylvania, Scranton was a name much revered and respected and beloved. So, I take a very special pleasure in participating in moving this legislation through subcommittee, full committee and now through the floor linking our two regions of the country through this very unique and distinguished judge. I urge the passage of the legislation.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Again I want to compliment our subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Gilchrest, for taking the leadership and moving this legislation and especially the District delegate, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, for sponsoring this legislation in honor of Judge E. Barrett Prettyman. His career and times of service have already been well stated by previous speakers. I just want to say that for me this is a very touching moment. Judge Prettyman has been an inspiration to generations of young attorneys, aspiring young men and women who sought a career in the service of the law and in service of the public, and because he was such an inspiration himself, it is very appropriate that we dedicate a place to carry his name so that as many young people in the future walk into that building and see that name, they will be inspired as we are by the words of Marshall and Webster that sit above this Chamber. There should always be a person who serves as a role model for career of public service, for giving of oneself to the needs and the purposes of the broad public good as Judge E. Barrett Prettyman did during his career of service to the District of Columbia, but in a larger sense to the service of the law and of all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this legislation.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. On that point, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding me the time, I compliment the gentleman from Maryland, and our dear colleague, Mr. Hoyer, and urge the enactment of House Concurrent Resolution 153.

Mr. OBERSTAR. Think of all the energy wasted on the learning curve by the parents. But the children certainly learned a great deal. At a time when our full committee is at a point of bringing to the House floor a bill in a week or so that will restrict the ability of young people to fly an airplane to avoid another tragedy as occurred in the case of the young girl whose airplane crashed, and she was not at the controls, the instructor was the pilot in control and in command of the aircraft, but we are going to be dealing with legislation to prevent that kind of tragedy, I note that this legislation makes it possible for young people of that age group to pilot something that they could appropriately handle and that they should handle and to open wider the doors of opportunity for youngsters 9 through 14 to race their homemade soap box cars. I may be the only one in this room that can still remember what a soap box really is. Where I grew up in northern Minnesota, boxes of wood were shipped around the country that contained soap and we did in fact make cars out of these old soap boxes. They were quite sturdy pieces of wood to put a set of wheels on them and set one of the younger kids on it and push them along the street. Nothing quite so fancy, I am sure, as is going to be entered in the races here but it does bring back for me some nostalgia.

Mr. OBERSTAR. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to again compliment the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Gilchrest, for his leadership in bringing forth this legislation and for his sensitivity to its significance for young people of the greater Washington area and for young people everywhere. I think this clearly is a worthwhile family event and someday we will probably call this the Steny Hoyer Soap Box Derby Race for Mr. Hoyer's leadership and advocacy of this legislation time and again. I noted with great interest the gentleman's reference to the soap box derby being a family event. As a parent one time of a young aspiring scout when they made these matchbox cars and raced them, I sure hope that the children are doing more of the work in the soap box than the parents are.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, during the afternoon of June 20, the Olympic torch, which will signal the start of the Summer Olypmic Games, will pass through the Capitol Grounds. It will have been in relay across the United States for 84 days, starting April 27 of this year in Los Angeles. Including the games, the flame will have been in play throughout the United States for over 100 days. It will travel through 42 States. It will visit 29 State capitols. It will come within a 2- hour distance of 90 percent of the population of the United States. The flame will visit 11 pairs of cities: Rochester, MN, and Rochester, NY; Albany, GA, and Albany, NY, for example. It travels 150 miles a day, 10 miles an hour, 15 hours a day. There are numerous community celebrations and festivities all across the route, as is befitting an event of this magnitude and significance. The United Way is the provider of community support and volunteer services for the 1996 Olympic torch relay. It is really impressive that there will be over 10,000 runners carrying the torch. It will move by numerous conveyances: bicycle, 19-car train, horseback, canoe, steamboat, on the Great Lakes by one of our lakers, aircraft, sailboat. All will be used to carry the flame at one time or another into Atlanta. Given that impressive array of transportation modes, it is only fitting that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure should be the one to manage this legislation. This is an extraordinarily historic event, one of great significance that captures the imagination of young people, now and for generations to come. It is a great honor for this committee to be a part of making this event happen and come here, not only to Washington, but to the Capitol Grounds. I understand that the flame will pass across the Capitol Grounds between 3:30 and 4:15 p.m. on June 20. I hope all of our colleagues can be there to see it. I hope the public will come and join us, and I invite everyone to participate in this truly wonderful celebration. I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland for the role he has played in bringing this about. He has dedicated himself to all of the legislation that comes before the Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Economic Development of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with great scholarly approach, and it is very welcome. I appreciate the leadership of the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] on this subject.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, on June 5, 1996, Laura Schloss, staff assistant on the Democratic staff of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, will be leaving the committee to pursue the study of law. Although Laura has been with the committee only a short time, she has gained the respect and admiration of all. Things can get hectic in the front office of the largest legislative committee in the House, and Laura's contributions and organization skills have helped to make a difference. Laura joined the committee staff after having served a 6-month stint with the office of then-Congressman Norman Y. Mineta. There, she assisted with mail operations, including the composition of constituent response letters, answered telephones, and provided help where needed. Laura is a 1994 honors graduate of Princeton University, where she majored in political science. She is also an avid runner, having recently been a member of the Enclave, a Reebok-sponsored team. On behalf of the Democratic members and staff of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I want to recognize Laura and offer our heartfelt gratitude for her service on the committee and to wish her well in her future endeavors.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, 15 years ago or so, I proposed legislation to help with financial cost of adoption. I was very modest in proposing a tax deduction for adoption. Before us today is a bill that provides a very generous $5,000 tax credit. It is a long step forward and it is very good. It is very needed. I was very disappointed, though, that the Committee on Rules did not make in order my proposed amendment to equalize the paid leave provisions of the family medical leave act for birth families and adoptive families. I listened with great interest, captivated by the chairman of the Committee on Rules speaking with such passion and giving such personal witness. I do not think he has ever spoken so warmly and so convincingly about his own experience. So I think clearly with three committees involved, clearly my amendment could have been made in order, but we will make an effort to go back to the Committee on Educational and Economic Opportunities and try to work it in that aspect. What I am really disappointed about, though, is that this language I proposed was not made in order. There is language, title III, made in order, that I have heard from the reservation leadership in my district, of which I have six tribal councils, all calling this an affront to the Indian community. Let me put it in their words, not my words. Marge Anderson, who is chairman of the Blacks Band: For years the BIA put Indian children into boarding schools to cleanse them of their Indian identity. These children have become lost souls as a result of the effort to assimilate them into the white community. They often become alcoholics. Myron Ellis, the chairman of the Leech Lake Tribal Council, said: The Indian Child Welfare Act has stopped the raids on Indian children. It is bringing stability to Indian families. It is strengthening the future of Indian tribes. Title III language would turn back the clock on those efforts and result in more prolonged litigation to the detriment of innocent Indian children. I think we ought to listen more to those who are on the front line, those whose families, whose lives and livelihoods, whose children are caught up in this adoption issue, those of the Indian tribes themselves. I put their words out, not mine, not anecdotal stories, because I think they are the ones who understand their situation best. I will support the effort by the Committee on Resources tomorrow to strike this language and to hopefully ameliorate the bill.

Mr. OBERSTAR

Mr. OBERSTAR. The gentleman does; the chairman does.

Mr. OBERSTAR. I thank the gentlewoman. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. OBERSTAR. That will be part of the agreement that will be entered into by the Architect with those displaying vehicles?

Mr. OBERSTAR. We have attempted to restrict the opportunity for commercialization with the language included in this resolution that the gentleman from Maryland has included, and with his splendid cooperation, to prevent use of photographs for commercial purposes, to limit the amount of commercialization evident on the vehicles to be displayed here.

Mr. OBERSTAR. There is going to be a display of vehicles in honor of the 100th anniversary of motor vehicles.