Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of Saturday, April 29, 1995, a gala in New Brunswick, NJ, will celebrate Phillip Dennis Cate's 25 years as director of the Jane Vorhees-Zimmerli Museum. Mr. Speaker, Phillip Dennis Cate deserves to be recognized for outstanding work in the field of museum studies. Mr. Cate attended Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, graduating in 1967 as an art history major and as a Henry Rutgers scholar. Using his experience as director of the art gallery at Rutgers, Phillip Dennis Cate has been able to create one of the foremost collections of art within the State of New Jersey. Under direction of Mr. Cate, the Jane Vorhees-Zimmerli Museum has been transformed from a well-kept local secret into a renowned museum that hosts a multitude of eclectric exhibits. Some of these exhibitions include French 19th century graphics, American and European art, children's literature, and the most recent addition of the Norton and Nancy Dodge collection of nonconformist art from the Soviet Union. Phillip Dennis Cate seized on the opportunity to make the Jane Vorhees-Zimmerli Museum a prominent resource center for the art world. Without Mr. Cate's ambition and training, the Zimmerli would probably not have reached such a level of respect and admiration. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to pay tribute to Mr. Phillip Dennis Cate, to look back on his accomplishments of the past 25 years and to look forward to the great work yet to come.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I want to address my remarks to the aspect of this legislation that deals with the U.S. Enrichment Corp. I am opposed to the use of the funds for the sale of the U.S. Enrichment Corp. for the tax cut plan. The U.S. Enrichment Corp. took over the Department of Energy's uranium enrichment program in July 1993. Under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the Enrichment Corp. is required to prepare a strategic plan by July 1 of this year on prospects for privatization. That plan is to consider alternative means of transferring ownership to the private sector and identify the preferred method of privatization. The 1992 act also provides that the corporation may not implement the plan without Presidential approval, and cannot privatize less than 60 days after notifying Congress of its intent to implement the plan. Mr. Chairman, none of these things have happened. I would suggest that what we are doing today is premature. In fact, when we had a hearing of our Subcommittee on Energy and Power on February 28 this year, a lot of questions were raised about the proposed privatization. A letter, in fact, was sent by the chairman of our subcommittee, the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Schaefer], asking various agencies for input on the terms of privatization. We do not have any answers to the letter from the chairman. We don't ever know what the proceeds will be from the sale of the corporation. Mr. Chairman, my criticism has nothing to do with the overall merits of the tax cut plan. It simply should not include potential proceeds from the sale of the U.S. Enrichment Corp.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my opposition to the provisions to cut pension benefits for Federal retirees and to increase pension contributions for current Federal employees that were included in H.R. 1215, the Tax Fairness and Deficit Reduction Act. I did vote for the bill on final passage because I have pledged to my constituents to work for tax relief. But the package that we voted on tonight has a serious flaw with regard to Federal workers. While we provide tax relief to millions of Americans, we are providing 2 million middle-class Federal employees with a tax hike. The increased pension contributions represent about a 10-percent increase for Federal workers. This bill also changes the number of years used to compute employees' annuities, from 3 years to 5 years. Mr. Chairman, I supported the Gephardt substitute, which did not contain provisions increasing pension contributions by Federal employees or cutting pension benefits for Federal retirees. The Gephardt substitute would have provided $31.6 billion in tax cuts, offset by $32 billion in spending cuts and other savings, without punishing Federal employees and retirees. Furthermore, the motion to recommit that we just voted on would take out the punitive hit on Federal employees while keeping intact the provisions that decrease the levels of accrual rates for Members of Congress and our staffs. In case some people are trying to score cheap political points by suggesting that this effort to protect Federal employees is motivated by the self-interest of Members of Congress. It should be clear the motion to recommit is intended to restore fairness to 2 million Federal employees, even as those of us who serve in Congress vote to reduce our own benefits. We hear a lot of nasty and irresponsible rhetoric about faceless bureaucrats and other vicious attacks on the Federal work force. The truth is that Federal employees are hard-working middle-class taxpayers, people who care about their communities, who are devoted to their country and who want to make a decent life for themselves and their families. Mr. Chairman, Democrats are for tax relief. Some of us crossed party lines to vote for this legislation--albeit with a heavy heart over the Federal employees and retirees provisions. I will work to have this portion of the bill stricken in the Senate or in conference between the two Houses. Then, we can begin the work of crafting a bipartisan package that will provide true tax relief to all Americans.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, April 6, 1995, the Monmouth County, NJ, Opportunity Awards Dinner at the Long Branch Ocean Place Hilton. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Monmouth County Urban League, and its new president Dr. Webster Tremell, for the excellent work that the league has done in lending a helping hand to those in our community who need it most--and to give my strongest encouragement for their future endeavors. Mr. Speaker, the mission of the Urban League as a nonprofit community-based social service and civil rights organization is to assist African-Americans and other minorities and low-income families and individuals to achieve social and economic equality. The league, whose national headquarters is in New York City, has 114 affiliates across the nation. Working through social work, economics, and the law, the league seeks to secure equal opportunities in all sectors. While seeking to improve the quality of life for racial minorities, the league is also devoted to the goal of building bridges between the races. The league was founded in 1910 in response to the needs of southern blacks who migrated to New York seeking enhanced economic opportunities, only to be confronted with unemployment, scarce health care, and overcrowded housing. The league was created through the merger of several organizations dedicated to assisting these new arrivals and combatting the racism of that era. In the years since, the league has expanded into a nationwide organization, and many distinguished leaders have presided over the league in the years since, including, Whitney Young, Vernon Jordan, and the current president and chief executive officer, John E. Jacob. The Monmonth County League has sought to bring together a broad cross-section of public and private sector leaders representing the corporate, banking, legal, government, and educational communities. Among the major goals of the Monmouth chapter of the league are programs to assist unemployed and underemployed people to become self- sufficient through job readiness counseling, job development, job bank and referral services, and entrepreneurial advocacy. The league also works to address the housing needs of the community, through the development of affordable housing and counseling to assist families and individuals who may qualify for various forms of rental or home ownership assistance programs. The league also works in developing leadership through the support of young adults and professionals serving in mentorship and tutorial programs. Efforts also focus on health education and prevention programs. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to pay tribute to the work of the Monmouth County Urban League, and to wish for its continued success in the future.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 1, 1995, the First Annual Bob Hunter Memorial Flounder Tournament was held at the Clam Hut Restaurant in Highland, NJ. There was a spring flounder weigh-in and other activities, with proceeds benefiting the environmental organization Clean Ocean Action. While there have been and will continue to be many diverse tributes to the late Bob Hunter, I cannot think of one more fitting in epitomizing what Mr. Hunter's life meant to his many friends and well-wishers on the Jersey shore. Bob Hunter has been nominated for New Jersey's prestigious Pinnacle Award for Excellence by a number of individuals and organizations who have all been helped and supported by him through the years. Throughout his life, he was a tireless booster of his native State--for example, his restaurant always offered a wide variety of New Jersey wines, while he always made sure Jersey seafood was served at the promotional festivals he helped organize. His death last October has left a void that has been deeply felt, most acutely by his widow, Lynn, and his two daughters, Maggie and Elizabeth, but also by many others who had the privilege of working with him or were just lucky enough to meet him at the Clam Hut. Bob Hunter was born in Red Bank, NJ, and lived all his life in the nearby town of Rumson. Nineteen years ago, he was named general manager of the Clam Hut, one of the leading restaurants in a town noted for fine restaurants. In the intervening years, he, along with his wife of 17 years, Lynn Shugard, whose father founded the business, brought the waterfront restaurant from a beachfront stand to its present capacity of more than 300 diners in three inside rooms and an outdoor deck overlooking the Shrewsbury River. As general manager, Mr. Hunter also became involved in both the State and national restaurant associations, firmly believing that restaurants were central to New Jersey's tourism association, Bob rose through the ranks as a member of the board of directors and eventually as president. Bob also maintained an active involvement with the promotional activities at Sandy Hook, the Gateway National Recreation Area facility adjacent to Highlands, known and loved by people from all over New Jersey. He could always be counted on to help any cause to promote New Jersey. He participated in Governor Whitman's Sampling in Atlantic City prior to her inauguration, frequently hosted Bayshore Development Office meetings for the Department of Commerce, and offered his restaurant for any event to advance tourism in New Jersey. He was a long-time member of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, and brought a special passion to maintaining the lively waterfront business community. In his home town of Rumson, Bob coached Pop Warner football, served on the zoning board of adjustment, was treasurer of the Republican Club and was a Republican committeeman for many years. Notwithstanding his Republican affiliation, Bob maintained close ties with officials from both political parties--always willing to work with anyone who shared his devotion to improving the economy and quality of life on the Jersey Shore. Mr. Speaker, it is a truly an honor for me to pay tribute to Bob Hunter, a good man and a great leader who made a difference for our community.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 280 on H.R. 716, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 1, 1995, Mr. Henry R. ``Skip'' Cioffi will be honored by the Figli Colombo, Sons of Columbus, in a testimonial dinner at Mike Doolan's Restaurant in Spring Lake Heights, NJ. It is a great honor and privilege to pay tribute to this special man and good friend who played an important role in helping me get my start in politics. Mr. Cioffi is probably best known as the mayor of Long Branch, NJ, my hometown. He was first elected mayor in 1970, after having served as a city councilman since 1962. He was subsequently reelected to 4-year terms in 1974 and 1978. His 12 years as mayor stand as the longest tenure of any directly elected mayor in the history of Long Branch. Mayor Cioffi's record is an impressive and distinguished one. During his tenure, Ocean Boulevard was initiated, the police department was reorganized, and taxes were stabilized. His vision led to creation of the Monmouth County Park System's Seven Presidents Park, the preservation of valuable ocean-front acreage, restoration of the boardwalk, and the construction of a satellite facility for Brookdale Community College in downtown Long Branch. Mr. Speaker, Skip Cioffi's life story reads like a great American success story. Mr. Cioffi grew up in Monmouth County, attended the Lyceum in Long Branch and Red Bank Catholic High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after high school, and served for 39 months before being honorably discharged in December 1952. He has received degrees from Monmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance. He has spent his entire career in public service. In addition to his elected offices in Long Branch, he served as business administrator of the public schools systems in Eatontown, NJ, and Elizabeth, NJ. In 1961 he married Jean A. DeStafano, and they have four children, Michael, Gina, Danielle, and Skip, Jr. His daughter Gina did a great job during the 6 years she served as executive assistant in my Capitol Hill office. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to pay tribute to my friend Skip Cioffi. I join with the members of Figli Colombo in congratulating him on his wonderful and exemplary career in public service.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Greek Independence Day, and I wish to thank my colleague from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for organizing this tribute to the long history of friendship and shared values between Greece and America. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to imagine what life in America, and throughout the Western world, would be like if it hadn't been for the genius of the first Western society: Greece. Clearly, our own society would be much poorer if it were not for the influences of the many sons and daughters of Greece who have come to this country and made such lasting contributions in so many fields. When our country's founding fathers created our system of government, they turned to the ancient Greeks' philosophy of democracy. In a speech made well over 2,000 years ago, Pericles stated, ``Our Constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people.'' This concept is the underlying foundation of our Nation's Government. Not only did the Greeks provide us with our Government's overarching fundamental concepts, but they also helped our Nation battle and ultimately defeat communism. Between the years of 1944 and 1949, Moscow, along with Communist Yugoslavia, attempted to take over Greece. United States support and Greek determination crushed the Communist takeover. Had it not been for the defeat of the Communist regime, the former Soviet Union would have gained access to and domination of vital Middle East oil supplies. Our Greek NATO ally played a critical role in ending the Communists' dictatorial reign in Europe. The arts and humanities provide one of the most visible areas to witness the Greek influence on our society. One only needs to visit a museum or art exhibit to discover how ancient Greek art flourishes, thousands of years after its creation. If one goes to the theater, one can observe how our plays of today borrow heavily from the dramatic conventions established so many years ago by the ancient Greeks. Mr. Speaker, Greek-Americans have provided substantial contributions to our society. In the medical profession, for example, Dr. George Kotzias discovered L-dopa to help fight Parkinson's disease, and Dr. George Papanicolaou developed the Pap test for cancer. In the world of sports, Pete Sampras, a Greek-American tennis champion, has thrilled millions of fans the world over with the brilliant, fast-paced play that puts him at the very top of the game. But, beyond recognizing the celebrities--and there are many, many more--I would like to pay tribute to the millions of people of Greek descent who have enriched our society with their hard work and commitment to family. They are the real heroes, living in every part of our country. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to participate in the celebration of Greek Independence Day. The Greeks have given much to our society and surely must be recognized for their achievements and influences.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, March 26, 1995, the Belarusan American Association, Inc., in New Jersey will commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Belarusan Democratic Republic at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ. It will be a great honor and a privilege for me to participate in this important event. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is particularly important at this moment in history that we proclaim our strong support for the Republic of Belarus and the other Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union. The ongoing Russian military action in Chechnya raises serious questions about the possibility of imperialistic designs by Russia on former nations under its empire--whether Czarist or Soviet. President Yeltsin, whose control over the situation seems to be less than secure, has bowed to nationalist and militarist forces in Moscow on the Chechnya question. While the official status of Chechnya as a part of the Russian Federation is different from the other independent former Soviet Republics, such as Belarus, the Yeltsin government has created a very troubling precedent. There are clearly forces in Russia that seek to reassert control over the neighboring countries. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States has sought to provide economic assistance to the Newly Independent States. Amid the pressures that many of these states are now under because of structural economic problems, ethnic tensions and the threat of Russian imperialism, we must maintain a strong commitment to helping these emerging nations achieve a democratic political system and a market economy. For nearly half a century, we devoted considerable sums to containing the Soviet threat. Now that the Soviet Union has collapsed, we have the opportunity, with much more modest levels of spending, to invest in the long-term stability of these formerly captive nations. Mr. Speaker, it is actually on March 25 that Belarusans throughout the world salute the sacrifices and bravery of the members of the Council of the Berlarusan Democratic Republic, who in 1918 liberated their country from the harsh and oppressive Czarist and Soviet rule. Representatives of the United Councils of the First Belarusan Convention, meeting in the capital city of Miensk [Minsk], issued a proclamation of independence of the Belarusan National Republic, adopted a national flag with three horizontal stripes--white, red and white--and received widespread international recognition. For the first time since 1795, the Belarusan nation re-emerged as an independent state. Despite the hardships from the First World War and the revolutionary turmoil in neighboring Russia, the Belarusan language, culture, and national identity flourished. Unfortunately, the freedom and independence of the Belarusan nation did not last long. In 1921, Russia's Bolshevik regime invaded and conquered the Newly Independent State and renamed it the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. For the next 70 years, the Belarusan people endured a totalitarian Communist regime, denied the most basic civil and political rights. Millions of Belarusan nationals were exterminated. Although the Byelorussian SSR was officially considered a member of the United Nations since 1945, the country was in fact politically and militarily dominated by Moscow, with the Belarusans' aspirations for self-government and independence completed subverted. The Belarusan Parliament initially declared its independence back in July 1990. Following the attempted coup against Soviet President Gorbachev in August 1991, the Speaker of the Belarusan Supreme Council, Stanislav Shuskevich invited Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk to Belarus in December 1991 to finally bury the moribund Soviet Union. In its place was established the Commonwealth of Independent States [CIS] with Miensk as its administrative seat. Although the Belarusan Parliament, as many other emerging East European democracies, was dominated by former Communists, protections for Belarusan culture, as well as basic human rights, were enacted. On June 23, 1994, Belarus held its first multiparty presidential elections since its independence, with a runoff election on July 10, 1994. The winner, Aleksandr Lukashenka, was a former Communist Party official and former head of the parliament's Anti- Corruption Committee. The Helsinki Commission, which observed the elections, proclaimed that the elections were conducted in conformance with international practices and that the results reflected the freely expressed will of the electorate. Mr. Speaker, since my wife Sarah is part Belarusan, I have had the opportunity to become particularly familiar with this proud people. My district, the Sixth District of New Jersey, is home to a significant Belarusan-American community. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Americans in general have had the opportunity to learn more about this distinct land and its culture. In 1994 President Clinton visited the Belarusan capital, and a variety of United States public and private sector initiatives have been launched in Belarus. Let us resolve to continue to improve the economic, security, and cultural ties between the great peoples of the United States and the Republic of Belarus.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to say that I found the comments by the gentleman from California also very interesting. I think an important part of this debate as we move toward welfare reform, I certainly learned a lot just from listening to him the last few minutes. Mr. Speaker, the Clean Water Act, which I would like to discuss at this point, has brought us very far since its inception in 1972. It is particularly important in my district, because many of the municipalities that I represent are on the ocean or on the rivers or on the bay, in my case, the Raritan Bay. Yet if we look at the Clean Water Act and we look at an overall report card about its effectiveness, we would still have to say that it is incomplete; that it would achieve a grade of incomplete, over the course of its inception in 1972. We still have a long way to go. Today I have introduced the Clean Water Enforcement and Compliance Improvement Act Amendments of 1995. This is an act or a bill that I am reintroducing from the last session. It targets what I call bad actors, those corporations or municipal authorities that have consistently violated their water quality permits. The bill rights the Clean Water Act enforcement wrong in the States that allows permit violators and the States that overlook these violations to reap economic benefits through their misbehavior. Basically, we are trying to send a message with this bill that it does not pay to pollute. The problem is that too often, because of noncompliance or because of insufficient penalties, it is easier to pollute and to violate your water quality permits and pay the fines, rather than try to achieve compliance with the Clean Water Act. The key to the penalty structure that is introduced in my bill is that civil penalties will be required to recover, at a minimum, the economic benefits of Clean Water Act violations. Regulations for calculating this economic benefit would be established by the EPA. It should be noted that both the Government Accounts Office and the EPA Inspector General have reported that current penalties do not reflect or recover the economic benefits of Clean Water Act noncompliance. My bill will correct this crucial flaw in present enforcement procedures. I should also point out that we have introduced and passed in New Jersey an enforcement act that was very similar on a State level to what I am trying to do with the Clean Water Act on the Federal level, and those enforcement amendments have been very effective in upgrading water quality and bringing about better compliance in the State of New Jersey. The bill sets up a mandatory penalty for serious violators that exceeds pollution effluent limitations by a specific percentage. If the frequency of these violations increase, the penalty also increases. Finally, penalties collected are placed in a clean water trust fund to be established within the U.S. Treasury. These moneys would be available for use by the EPA administrator for better inspection and enforcement. We have found that inspection also is something that we need to do a better job of. My bill deters Clean Water Act noncompliance not only by penalizing violators but by helping to stop violations before they occur through more rigorous inspection and reporting procedures. Frequent self-monitoring and reporting have been shown to help facilities achieve and maintain compliance with the Clean Water Act. Again, if we look at the State of New Jersey we can see that the increased enforcement and inspection have had an effect on compliance and has increased this goal within my home State. As the bill provides, the worst violators are the ones subject to the most stringent inspection. Minimum inspection standards to be established by EPA and random inspections would be required. Finally, the bill promotes more rigorous enforcement by empowering citizens to enforce the Clean Water Act. Many of my colleagues I am sure know that much of the enforcement of the Clean Water Act is done by private citizens, or grass roots citizen organizations. Since 1988 citizens have recovered for the U.S. Treasury over $1 million in penalties and interest from environmental law violations. This bill gives citizens access to permanent compliance information. It also establishes posting provisions which increase citizens' awareness of water quality standard noncompliance as well as the resulting environmental and health effects and any fishing or shellfishing bans, advisories, or consumption restrictions. Most importantly, the bill expands citizens' abilities to bring actions for violations, including past violations. As a result of the bill I am introducing today, Clean Water Act violations would not longer be allowed to sabotage our efforts to achieve water quality goals, especially not at the expense of those States and facilities that act responsibly. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to bad actors. To do so is to essentially turn our backs on years of effort and hundreds of billions of dollars spent to improve the quality of the Nation's water resources. Again, we have made great strides with the Clean Water Act but there is no question we need better enforcement and better inspections. The bill ensures efficacy in enforcement and equality in compliance. Moreover, it would bring us that much closer to achieving our water quality goals. I know in this Congress there have been a lot of efforts to make some changes in our environmental laws. Some of the legislation we have passed in the first 100 days in my opinion has actually sent us far back, if it is ultimately enacted into law, in terms of dealing with environmental quality and environmental enforcement. We hope that in the next 100 days of the Congress that we would seek to turn that around and achieve better enforcement not only with the Clean Water Act but with many of our other environmental laws, and I think this bill will go far toward improving water quality and improving the Clean Water Act.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, March 17, 1995, Mr. C. Roy Epps of New Brunswick, NJ, will be honored for his 25 years of community service. The occasion will be a ``roast'' in honor of Mr. Epps at the Hyatt Regency. The idea of having a celebrity roast is obviously intended to avoid too much sentimentality about the honoree. But behind the jokes and the kidding, there is a deep reservoir of affection, appreciation, and gratitude for Mr. Epps for all the exceptional work he has done for the people of New Brunswick, the State of New Jersey, and the United States. Mr. Speaker, first, a few basic facts about the life and career of Roy Epps. He was born in 1941 and attended public schools in New York City. He received a B.A. from Wilberforce University in Ohio in 1963, majoring in biology. After pursuing a career in research with Johnson & Johnson, the U.S. Army, and Colgate-Palmolive, Mr. Epps concluded that his real interest was social planning and the fulfillment of social needs. He acquired an M.S. degree in urban and regional planning in 1970 from Rutgers University, and later completed a fellowship in urban and regional planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the spring of 1994, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree from Upsala College in East Orange, NJ. Mr. Epps began to truly make his mark in community issues in 1967 as assistant executive director of the Urban League of Greater New Brunswick, becoming the league's executive director in 1970. He would go on to serve as president of the New Jersey Council of Urban Leagues, the league's Eastern Regional Council of Executive Directors, and the National Urban League's Executive Directors' Council. IN 1983, his organization disaffiliated from the National Urban League and became the Civil League of Greater New Brunswick, with Mr. Epps as its president. Mr. Epps also serves as vice chairman of the Board of New Brunswick Tomorrow, the planning corporation for revitalization of the city, a member of the board of the New Brunswick Development Corporation, and was formerly a member and past president of the New Brunswick Board of Education. Among the many other boards and committees on which he serves are the Greater Raritan Private Industry Council, United Jersey Bank's Community Reinvestment Advisory Board, and the Eric B. Chandler Community Health Center. Among its many services to the disadvantaged in the community, with a focus on the needs of black youth, the Civil League has directed much of its effort into the promotion of low-income housing. Mr. Epps helped to establish and became president of the league's nonprofit housing affiliate, the Community Investment Corporation--COINCO--in 1974. This organization had built, rehabilitated, and managed over 40 housing units in the neighborhood of the Civic League's facility. Among the many projects that have benefited from Mr. Epps' leadership is the Civil League's Project 2000 Program, which has been operating for the past 4 years as a partnership between male volunteers from the corporate sector and the New Brunswick school system. Sixty-three men from diverse backgrounds serve as teacher-assistants a half-day per week in the primary grades at three elementary schools. The program, which reaches some 700 youngsters, represents an attempt to prevent the development of negative attitudes toward the school environment and academic achievement among inner-city boys, as well as girls, early in their school experience through interaction with positive adult role models. The New Brunswick Project 2000 is currently the only corporate model in the United States, but is being assessed for use in other small urban school districts. Another excellent initiative under Mr. Epps' leadership is the Middle School Development Program, also a partnership between the corporate community and the public education system in New Brunswick. Selected volunteers--men and women--from area companies are placed in local schools to mentor in the fifth and sixth grade classrooms in a variety of areas which not always sufficiently addressed during the school day, but which are extremely important to the personal, intellectual, and professional growth of the students. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to pay tribute to Roy Epps, a community leader who has made a real difference. His many friends and colleagues will have fun roasting Roy Epps on Friday evening, and I'm sure Roy will enjoy it as well. But we all recognize in a very serious and profound way the lasting contribution Mr. Epps has made and continues to make to the growth and development of the great human potential in our community.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, thousands of people in Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey, were helped over the years by a dedicated public servant whose name most never knew. This public servant worked tirelessly and without personal gain or recognition assisting veterans, Social Security beneficiaries, students, and others on critical personal problems. He helped mayors and councilmen fix bridges, dredge waterways, and restore downtown areas so that men and women could work and the Jersey Shore could prosper. Timothy F. Sullivan, this public servant in the truest sense, died Saturday of a heart attack. For 17 years, from 1965 to 1982, he was administrative assistant to Representative James J. Howard, former chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee. When Jim Howard, my distinguished and accomplished predecessor, won an uphill battle for Congress in 1964, he had the good judgment to ask Tim, his good friend, fellow teacher, and campaign advisor, to come to Washington as his chief aide. Because Democrats were rarely elected in that old Third Congressional District on any level, Jim Howard's prospects for reelection were less than bright. But Jim and Marlene Howard had been eager to take the risk and their enthusiasm was catching. Tim and his wife, Marilyn, pulled up stakes with six young children. Tim quit his job and came to Washington to begin his long career as a trusted advisor and manager, taking the heat over the years when necessary but not claiming the credit when it was his due. He kept Jim Howard's office on an even keel through tough elections and crises in the district like life-threatening coastal hurricanes and out of work. Through it all, he helped Jim Howard develop a reputation for excellent constituent service. Tim had a right to be proud in the early eighties when the New York Times cited a poll taken of New Jersey staffers and Members of Congress in which Jim Howard's office operation was voted the best in the New Jersey congressional delegation. Many of my colleagues and their staffs will remember Tim as I do, a warm and compassionate person with a dry Irish wit that earned him many friends and the love of his staff. He was often a help to me as I was starting my legislative career and I drew upon his wealth of wisdom and experience when I had the opportunity. To Marilyn, his wife of 50 years, his 6 children and 10 grandchildren, I send my deepest condolences for a very great loss.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, thousands of people in Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex Counties, NJ, were helped over the years by a dedicated public servant whose name most never knew. This public servant worked tirelessly and without personal gain or recognition assisting veterans, Social Security beneficiaries, students, and others on critical personal problems. He helped mayors and councilmen fix bridges, dredge waterways, and restore downtown areas so that men and women could work and the Jersey shore could prosper. Timothy F. Sullivan, this public servant in the truest sense, died Saturday of a heart attack. For 17 years, from 1965 to 1982, he was administrative assistant to Representative James J. Howard, former chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee. When Jim Howard, my distinguished and accomplished predecessor, won an uphill battle for Congress in 1964, he had the good judgment to ask Tim, his good friend, fellow teacher, and campaign adviser, to come to Washington as his chief aide. Because Democrats were rarely elected in that old Third Congressional District on any level, Jim Howard's prospects for reelection were less than bright. But Jim and Marlene Howard had been eager to take the risk and their enthusiasm was catching. Tim and his wife, Marilyn, pulled up stakes with six young children. Tim quit his job and came to Washington to begin his long career as a trusted adviser and manager, taking the heat over the years when necessary but not claiming the credit when it was his due. He kept Jim Howard's office on an even keel through tough elections and crises in the district like life-threatening coastal hurricanes and proposals to shut down Fort Monmouth and put thousands out of work. Through it all, he helped Jim Howard develop a reputation for excellent constituent service. Tim had a right to be proud in the early eighties when the New York Times cited a poll taken of New Jersey staffers and Members of Congress in which Jim Howard's office operation was voted the best in the New Jersey congressional delegation.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute today to a very special man, my father-in-law, Andrew T. Hospodor, who passed away on March 7. He was 58 years of age. He had been suffering from a brain tumor for the past 6 months. For me and Sarah, my wife and his loving daughter, the loss of Mr. Hospodor will leave a terrible void--one which we will try to fill with our many fond memories. Mr. Speaker, my father-in-law was a lifelong Republican and ideologically a rather conservative Republican. He loved to talk politics, looked forward to the Republican takeover in Congress, and hoped that the GOP's Contract With America would be quickly implemented. Needless to say, we often disagreed. However, he shared with me an abiding optimism in the American democratic process. No one was more convinced than Andy Hospodor that America works, that equal opportunity was best achieved in the United States, and that our country would ultimately overcome racial, ethnic, and religious differences to achieve a truly classless society. will be remembered most as a husband, a father and a grandfather, a good neighbor who took an active interest in his community. For his professional colleagues, Mr. Hospodor will be remembered as a leading businessman with an uncommon grasp of cutting-edge technological development. Since 1987, Mr. Hospodor had been the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of ARINC Inc., Annapolis, MD, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Aeronautical Radio, Inc., and ARINC Research Corp. Aeronautical Radio provides voice and data communications systems and services for the air transport industry, the Federal Aviation Administration. ARINC Research Corp. provides systems engineering development and integration services to defense, Government and commercial customers in avionics, command and control, aircraft, transportation and communications systems. Prior to joining ARINC, Mr. Hospodor served as President and CEO of RCA American Communications, Inc. [AMERICOM]. His career with RCA extended over 20 years in a variety of technical, marketing, and senior management positions. Born in Endicott, NY, Mr. Hospodor received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1960 from Cornell University, a master of science in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University in 1963, and a master's degree in Business Administration from Lehigh in 1967. In 1976, he completed the Harvard University Program in Management Development. He appeared regularly in such publications as the ``Who's Who Registry of Global Business Leaders,'' ``Who's Who in America'' and ``Who's Who in Science and Engineering.'' He was an officer and former chairman of the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics. Funeral services for Mr. Hospodor will be held tomorrow in Annapolis. The Hospodor family encourages those seeking more information on brain tumors to contact the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL, 60018, 708-827-9910.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I call to the attention of my colleagues an article in today's Washington Times entitled ``Blood on Karachi Streets Flows From Multiple Feuds.'' The article, written by John Stackhouse, discussed how Pakistan's largest city has degenerated into a lawless urban battlefield where innocent citizens are killed while the government and the police stand by idly. The latest victims of this sectarian and religious bloodshed were two American diplomatic employees who were brutally murdered yesterday by masked gunmen who ambushed their consular van in broad daylight. Mr. Speaker, Pakistan for many years has been at the center of terrorism. Islamic militants have operated training camps, where young men have been trained and violence has been exported to many countries, including to India, Egypt, Israel and the United States. Pakistan was the country where those accused of the World Trade Center bombings were recruited and trained. Pakistan was the country where the terrorist who killed five people in front of the CIA fled to. Now, Pakistan has shown that it cannot protect U.S. diplomatic personnel on their way to work in that nation's largest city. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to read the Washington Times article. It provides an excellent summary of the reasons behind Karachi's fall into the abyss of lawlessness, violence and terrorism. I join with all my colleagues in this body, and all Americans, in expressing my deepest sympathies to the families of our diplomats who served their country with great distinction and courage. Blood on Karachi Streets Flows From Multiple Feuds Politics, Religion, Ethnicity Fuel Violence (By John Stackhouse) Karachi, Pakistan--With martyrs, guns and killing sprees, Karachi is no longer simply Pakistan's biggest city and commercial capital. It is a city at war. The two American diplomatic workers gunned down yesterday were among 164 persons killed in Karachi in the past month in a spiral of violence that is a complex swirl of political, religious, ethnic and criminal currents. A recent attack on two mosques has pitted the city's Shi'ite and Sunni Muslim sects against each other. Most of the fighting, however, has been between the two main factions of the Muhajir Qaumi Movement, Karachi's leading political force, which represents Urdu-speaking migrants, or ``muhajirs,'' originally from India. Many fear that if the two battles--one sectarian, the other ethnic--overlap, Karachi will slide toward anarchy. Already mosques, normally symbols of peace and security, are bolted shut with steel doors, opened only long enough for worshipers to pass weapons checks. At night, the streets have mere trickles of traffic. Many residents are even talking of not celebrating the coming Muslim festival of Eid. Day after day, in a city once renowned for its seaside tranquility and cosmopolitan night life, the killings continue, each seeming to set a new standard for senselessness. In December, seven artisans were shot dead in their shop as they crafted lacework. The same month, on one of Karachi's main roads, seven persons were burned to death in a bus in the early evening. Last week, a passing motorist sprayed bullets in a tailor's shop, killing three persons. Much of the city's crisis has been laid at the feet of Karachi's police force, which has been both ineffectual and, in some places, linked to criminal gangs. Although the army ruled the streets of Karachi from 1992 to 1994 in a special operation against urban violence, it pulled out in December--and 437 persons have been killed since. ``I would advise the government to go to the extent of disarming the police,'' said Nizam Haji, a local businessman who heads a liaison committee between police and civilians. ``The police have gone rotten in Karachi. Totally corrupt, incompetent and politicized.'' Last month, gunmen opened fire on a crowd across the street from one of Karachi's main police stations, killing 11. Despite several police near the scene, no one fired at the assailants or gave chase. Nor have there been any arrests for the attack, although five police officers were charged with dereliction of duty. With little law and no order, drug lords and criminal gangs also have taken to Karachi's streets, launching robberies, extortion and retribution killings. In Pakistan's most international city, the rise of sectarian violence has raised concern about foreign involvement, perhaps even proxy battles. Sherry Rheman, managing editor of the Herald, Pakistan's leading newsmagazine, said that Shi'ite factions in the city appear to be backed by Iran, while Sunni gunmen receive money, weapons and training from Saudi Arabia. There also are concerns that official agencies, perhaps the government itself, has sponsored the terror. Many observers believe the army, during its rule in Karachi, armed and trained a new muhajir faction to launch a fratricidal war among the migrant population. The new faction is now seen to be supported by the country's infamous intelligence agencies, the same bodies that backed the Afghan mujahideen in the 1980s. For any Pakistani government, support of the muhajirs is a key to political survival. With about half of Karachi's 10 million people, they hold sway over the country's biggest economic center, as well as the influential southern province of Sindh. Despite their numbers, though, the muhajirs feel they are marginalized by Sindh's powerful rural elite, which includes the Bhutto family. ``These 2 percent of the population control 98 percent of the country,'' said Shoaib Bokhari, a muhajir member of the Sindh assembly. Mr. Bokhari did not deny the muhajir ambition for a new province of Karachi. The city now is administered by the Sindh government, and while the federal government relies heavily on Karachi and its port for tax revenue, it spends little on the thriving commercial center. The Sindh government also keeps 15 percent of Karachi's property tax, the city's main source of revenue, as a service charge for collecting it. And the province reserves the majority of government jobs, on a quota system, for rural Sindhis, who tend to be less educated than the muhajirs. city council, their government was dismissed in 1992. The party's top officials either were arrested or went underground, and the muhajir leader fled to London, where he lives in self-exile. When the army withdrew from Karachi in December, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto appointed her helicopter pilot as city administrator and stacked the rest of the city council with members of her Pakistan People's Party.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, March 3, 1995, Mr. Joseph M. Ferraina of Long Branch, NJ, was honored by the Amerigo Vespucci Society in a testimonial dinner at the Squire's Pub in West Long Branch, NJ, in honor of a great career as an educator and community leader. Mr. Speaker, it would take up an entire page of the Congressional Record to simply set forth, in list form, the many associations, memberships and achievement of Mr. Ferraina. I would like to offer just a brief overview of some of his public accomplishments. Mr. Ferraina emigrated from Argentina in 1963 and began his career in Long Branch as a Spanish teacher in 1973. In 1978 he was appointed Vice-Principal of the Long Branch Middle School, and in 1982 he was named principal, a position he held for a decade. Two years ago he was promoted to assistant superintendent of the Long Branch Public Schools, and last year was named superintendent. Joe Ferraina has many distinctions, associations, memberships, awards, citations and honors to his credit--testimony to the many friends he has made, the many lives he has touched and the real difference he has made. He was named Principal of the Year by the Monmouth County Elementary and Middle School Administrators Association in 1991. Since 1980, he has served as a Governors Teaching Scholars Mentor. In 1988 he was named Man of the Year by the Amerigo Vespucci Society. Other awards include the Certificate of Merit from the Bilingual Society of Long Branch, the Distinguished Service Citation from the Rotary Club of Long Branch, the Community Service Award from B'nai B'rith, the Certificate of Appreciation from Rotary International, a commendation-resolution from the New Jersey State Senate, a resolution of appreciation from the city of Long Branch, the Community Involvement Award from the Knights of Pythias, the Community Service Commendation from the Superior Court of New Jersey, the Distinguished Service Commendation from the Superior Court of New Jersey, the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club of Long Branch and the Humanitarian Award from the NAACP of Long Branch. Mr. Ferraina remains active in the Rotary Club of Long Branch, having served as president. He is on the Monmouth Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors. He continues to chair the highly successful Long Branch Columbus Day Parade Committee. His other community affiliations include: Figli Di Colombo (Sons of Columbus) Club of Long Branch, the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, the first aid squad, the Monmouth Medical Human Resources Committee and the Amerigo Vespucci Society of Long Branch. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Core State/New Jersey National Bank Monmouth/Ocean County, the board of directors of Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce, the Long Branch Free Public Library board of trustees, and the advisory board of Long Branch Tomorrow, Inc. Last October, he was the main speaker at the Latino American Committee of Monmouth County. Mr. Speaker, it is great honor for me to pay tribute to Joe Ferraina, someone who represents an excellent role model for today's youth. With his strong communications skills, his fluency in three languages-- English, Spanish, and Italian--his effective managerial skills, commitment to the students for whom he has taken on such a serious responsibility, Mr. Ferraina exemplifies the best qualities we celebrate in an educator, a community leader and a citizen.

Mr. PALLONE

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

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, my concern is, when you talk about flexibility, that the bill in its current form is not more flexible. I understand what the gentleman is saying. You are saying you think there is going to be more flexibility for the States or whatever. But when you establish one set of procedures about how you are going to go about risk assessment, and essentially ask agencies that are already doing risk assessment, such as the NRC, that they have to retool and go through a new procedure, the danger I think is that you have good risk assessment procedures on the books that are being used by some of these agencies that are going to actually be eliminated, and they are going to be asked to retool and come up with a new way of doing the risk assessment or the cost-benefit analysis that may not be as flexible and as good for those things that come under the rubric of their agency. So I see less flexibility, and that is one of my concerns.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, my point is that many agencies are already carrying out good risk assessment, good cost-benefit analysis, and I think that is the type of flexibility we need. There may be some instances where we need to do it, but we do not want to supersede the risk assessment that is valid and is already being done. Second, I am also worried about the burdens H.R. 1022 in its current form may impose in terms of money and delay, whether they fall on the Government, industry or the public. I fear that this will only intensify regulatory gridlock since it will spawn new layers of bureaucracy to carry its prescriptive procedural requirements. As we all know, more bureaucracy slows the pace of agency action, and, while this may sound attractive to some, delay for its own sake will neither improve Government efficiency nor help the average citizen. Now, if we look at the Brown substitute, I believe it is preferable because it allows each agency more flexibility in the way it performs risk assessment, and I believe it will result in less cost and less bureaucracy. My third and final overriding concern is that this bill may undermine safety protections embodied by current law because the bill contains a supermandate which would override existing law. While there certainly may be some problems associated with some of the regulations issued pursuant to such laws, should we really be using a supermandate to revise our major health, safety and environmental laws overnight? I do not think so. I do not think so. The Brown substitute basically eliminates the mandate and declares that nothing in this legislation is intended to modify existing health, safety, or environmental laws. I believe that this legislation in its current form rushed through two committees in a lot of haste. It shows. We can see the haste. I urge my colleagues to reject it and adopt the Brown substitute.

Mr. PALLONE. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the substitute amendment. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support the Brown substitute because I do believe it achieves the basic purpose of risk assessment, which is to safeguard public health and the environment without wasting limited resources. The laws Congress has passed to protect public health and safety are on the books for a reason. United States citizens deserve to know that the food they eat, the air and water in the surrounding environment and the power plants they live alongside are safe, and I believe that H.R. 1022 in its current form will do more harm than good. First and foremost, I have serious doubts about the bill's approach to regulating different types of risks. While the legislation was conceived with the EPA in mind, it has been expanded to apply to nearly all Federal agencies with health and safety responsibilities. At best this approach may solve problems that do not actually exist; at worst it may undermine effective agency programs already in place. If I could take a bit from the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker] in what he was saying before, part of the problem I see with the legislation and why I prefer the substitute is because I believe that the substitute allows more flexibility. There are certain agencies which are included under the rubric of the bill but which are exempted in the substitute, and I believe the reason for that is because many of those agencies that are exempt from the substitute are already carrying out valid risk assessment cost-benefit analysis, and I am fearful that with the bill in its current form it will simply be superseded by a new, more rigorous procedure. I think we need flexibility with these agencies. A lot of them are already carrying out good risk assessment. If I could give an example with the NRC, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission for years has conducted cost-benefit analyses of all proposals to upgrade nuclear reactor safety under the so-called backfit rule. This standard has been in effect since 1985, and has been upheld by the courts and is familiar to all those who come before the agency. It is not clear to me to what, if any, safety gain would be achieved by making the NRC adapt to H.R. 1022's new cost-benefit approach. The Brown substitute exempts the NRC because the agency already performs risk assessment tailored to its specific needs. I would argue that the same is true in a different way for the Army Corps of Engineers which the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker] mentioned. The Army Corps of Engineers conducts very extensive cost- benefit analyses before any water project begins.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of Sunday, March 6, 1995, the 22d annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will move through the streets of Belmar, NJ. Mr. Speaker, from its modest beginnings little more than two decades ago, the Belmar event has become the biggest and best-attended St. Patrick's Day Parade in the State of New Jersey, and one of the finest in the Nation. While not quite as big as the New York City parade, the Belmar event has steadily been attracting crowds of more than 100,000 people, drawn from the Jersey shore area and throughout our State, surrounding States and other nations, including Ireland itself. More than 4,000 marchers are expected this year, including members of community organizations, elected officials, 30 marching bands, including the award-winning Friendly Sons of Shillelagh Marching Band of Old Bridge, NJ, 20 floats, bagpipers, and leaders of Irish-American organizations. Both the participants and the many spectators always have a wonderful time. The 1995 grand marshal is Msgr. Alfred D. Smith, pastor of St. Rose Roman Catholic Church in Belmar. The deputy grand marshal is Eileen P. O'Connell of Wall Township. A previous grand marshal, Monmouth County Freeholder Thomas J. Powers, has been selected by the parade committee to be this year's parade commentator. Mr. Powers underwent heart surgery shortly after Christmas, but he assures all of his friends and many well-wishers that he'll be ready for St. Paddy's Day. The Belmar St. Patrick's Day Parade was established in 1973 by members of the Jerry Lynch Social & Athletic Club. Mr. Lynch is credited with being the parade founder. The first parade, held in 1974, had 50 club members marching in top hats and tails, followed by four marching bands and numerous fire engines. That year, the crowd of spectators was not much bigger than the contingent of marchers. The first grand marshal was my predecessor and a name well known to many of the Members of this body: the late Congressman James J. Howard, a lifelong resident of the Jersey shore who took great pride in his Irish heritage. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to pay tribute to the Belmar St. Patrick's Day Parade, a great and proud tradition of the Jersey shore for Irish-Americans and people of all backgrounds.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, today, January 26, is a date of enormous significance for all the people of India, and for the many sons and daughters of India living in the United States and around the world. Today marks the celebration of Republic Day, a national holiday that holds the same significance for Indians as the Fourth of July does for Americans. On January 26, 1950, India became a Republic. The country adopted a Constitution which enshrined the principles of democracy and secularism. At that time, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the nation's first President. Since then, despite the challenges of sustaining economic development while reconciling her many ethnic, religious, and linguistic communities, India has stuck to the path of free and fair elections, a multi-party political system and the orderly transfer of power from one government to its successor. I would like to draw particular attention to the similarities and shared values of the United States and India. The framers of the Constitution that Indians celebrate today drew on countries are former British colonies that gained their freedom after a long and difficult struggle. English continues to be an important language of commerce in India. Many Americans almost instinctively saw in Mahatma Gandhi a reflection of values that our country holds dear. During this month when we celebrate the birthday of one of America's greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, we should remember that Dr. King derived many of his ideas of nonviolent resistance to injustice from the teachings, actions, and self-sacrifice of Gandhi. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I have to mention this, but today's celebration of Republic Day in India was marred by a bombing at a crowded stadium in Jammu, India, where Republic Day celebrations were taking place, killing 7 people and injuring 47. Another terrorist attack was staged on a parade in Srinigar. These events remind us that there are still forces trying to destabilize India--some of them receiving support and encouragement from abroad. But it is impressive to keep in mind that despite being so severely tested by the forces of terrorism, India has preserved its democratic institutions, seeks to give opportunities to people from all religious and ethnic backgrounds and moves resolutely forward with market-based economic reforms. There is, however, good news for us to talk about. United States- India relations are looking better than they have in a long time. Two of the President's Cabinet Secretaries have been in India this month-- Defense Secretary Perry and Commerce Secretary Brown, who was accompanied by the top officials from some of our major corporations. The two Secretaries' visits to India resulted in significant accomplishments on issues relating to security and trade and investment. I hope we in Congress will make it a high priority to continue this momentum and move it forward. The Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, which I initiated two years ago, is reorganizing in the new Congress with strong bipartisan participation. We are dedicated to steady improvement in United States-India relations and in being a voice for the 1-million-strong Asian-Indian community here in America. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me, an elected Representative of the oldest continuous democratic republic on earth, to pay tribute to the world's most populous democracy on the occasion of their great national day.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I listened closely to what the gentleman from New Mexico said and also the gentleman from Massachusetts, and I think there is even more reason based on their comments to support and pass the Green amendment. The issue basically of the safety of our Nation's nuclear facilities, of disposal of waste and the other regulation that goes along with it I think is too important really for us to question exactly how this legislation will impact that area. For that reason, I think that we need to pass this amendment. I think that H.R. 5 affects a lot of important public policy concerns and deserves the careful consideration that we have been giving it on the floor, but as has been mentioned by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Gene Green] and others, it has been pushed through the legislative process in a manner I think that leaves a lot of questions unanswered. The way the bill is currently drafted, it seems to set up an inequity between publicly owned and privately owned nuclear facilities. I think it can be interpreted that way. It can provide less protection to citizens living near publicly owned nuclear reactors or disposal sites than for those who live around privately owned facilities. This is a kind of patchwork effect that I think is unjustifiable. How are we going to explain to our constituents who are concerned about nuclear waste and nuclear safety that the relative safety or their peace of mind where they live is going to depend on who owns the nearby power plant? In terms of business equity also I do not think we can justify creating an unequal playing field for different types of utilities, one which allows publics to escape certain costs while privates have to pay full freight for the safety. I hope my colleagues will support the Green amendment to ensure that nuclear safety will not be compromised. As you know, the bill provides similar protection for a lot of other important societal values like civil rights, Social Security, and national security. It seems to me that environmental protection, particularly in this sensitive area of nuclear safety, deserves the same degree of uniform application and bottom-line assurance as these other important concerns. I know there is going to be a lot of talk about how if you read the bill a certain way that certain agencies are exempted and that one of these includes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. But I still think there are a lot of questions there and the issue of nuclear plants and the safety of those facilities is too important in my opinion that it should be left alone. We have to in my opinion support the Green amendment because this area is so important and so sensitive.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, January 6, 1995, Mr. Floyd R. Scott, Jr., of Tinton Falls, NJ, died at the age of 67. I rise today to join with the many friends, colleagues and fellow-community activists who knew Mr. Scott to pay tribute to this fine man. A registered architect in the States of New Jersey and New York, Mr. Scott was past president of the New Jersey State Board of Architects and a past State chairman of the Committee on Preservation of Historic Buildings in New Jersey. To date, he is the first and only African- American appointee to the New Jersey State Board of Architects. Mr. Speaker, the list of Floyd Scott's accomplishments is a long and impressive one. Born in Asbury Park, NJ, he attended local schools while growing up in Monmouth County. Mr. Scott was an Air Force World War II veteran, serving as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the famous 332nd fighter group, the first all-black pilot group. He earned his bachelor's degree in architecture at Howard University. He is listed in both the Who's Who in the East and the American Encyclopedia. Mr. Scott was a former president of the Neptune Township Board of Education, a member of the Rider College Board of Trustees, and a member of the Brookdale Community College Trustee Selection Committee. He was a past president of the Monmouth Boys Club, the Monmouth Council of Boy Scouts, the Monmouth County Men's Club and the Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park. He is a recipient of the NAACP's Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Scott is survived by his wife, Ruby Scott, a son, Rudolph, his brother, Ed Royal Scott, and three grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Scott has served his community, his State and his country in an exemplary manner. In extending my deepest sympathy to his beloved wife, the rest of his family and his many friends, I hope we can all gain strength and inspiration from the fine example he set for hard work and distinguished achievement in his profession, love and devotion to his family, and dedication to making his community a better place.