Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from New York for introducing this amendment to increase funding for EDA. A program close to my heart within EDA, and I know the gentleman from Virginia would appreciate this, is the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program administered by the Department of Commerce. This program has been incredibly successful in the State of New Jersey. We need this help in the Garden State. It has not seen many benefits from the unfair trade agreements, such as NAFTA. John Walsh has done a tremendous job in New Jersey with the little resources that he has. This bill merely provides TAA level funding which is wholly unacceptable at this point. The response for TAA is overwhelming, Mr. Chairman. The implementation of NAFTA and the globalization we see under WTO has only highlighted the demands for firms for this assistance. In New Jersey last year, 4,000 jobs were retained or created with the help of the TAA. This is critical. It is interesting that in this country, many times the only way we can get health care is if you go to prison. What we are saying to the displaced workers in this globalization of trade, and the gentleman from Virginia knows this is quite true, these people have no place to go. We need this money best spent for our own workers. That is not to say that Federal prisons do not need to be built; but we need to take care of our own workers first that are being displaced by the trade agreements, the plethora of trade agreements that we see before us. We know that this is an unfair trade agreement that is to be before us in a few weeks. It destroys firms. It sends jobs overseas. I have witnessed that in my own district. By saving companies in peril, the TAA has created and saved jobs in communities around this country. There is nothing worse, Mr. Chairman, than the displaced worker who has been displaced by a job overseas that he should have had retained. TAA has averted the need for millions of dollars in unemployment compensation, Dislocated Workers' Compensation, welfare cash assistance, food stamps and other programs. This is money within the economy itself. The entire New Jersey delegation contacted this subcommittee in a bipartisan manner to support increased funding for the TAA to a level of no less than $24 million. This amendment will help us come close to adequately addressing the needs of American manufacturers and our changing global economy. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey); I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf); and I thank the chairman, for our workers need no less.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, this is 10 percent. We are not talking about the prisoners, we are talking basically about construction. This bill only talks about construction. Retaining and creating jobs, the TAA, has generated Federal and State revenues, tax revenues, at a ratio of $12 for every dollar appropriated by this Congress. It has been a bipartisan program. We know the errors of NAFTA as well as the other trade agreements. To me, the American worker and the American working family is more important, if I have to make a priority. Now, when we have all priorities, we have no priority. All we are asking for is a few dollars in the TAA program, which the gentleman knows has worked and has been successful, to help the workers in America that have been displaced by our trade agreements. Mr. Chairman, our manufacturers and fabricators and dye shops all over America ask for our support. Will we turn our backs on them? We have an opportunity in this legislation with this amendment for a few dollars to help those dislocated workers. Otherwise, we will be into the empty words of the trade debate in a few weeks, and what will we have accomplished?

Mr. PASCRELL. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pledge my enthusiastic support for the flag protection amendment. I will be darned if I am going to accept the technicalities that we talk about and we have heard this afternoon. I know the law is technical, but we are bogged down in technicalities. There is a breeze, a gentle breeze going through these Chambers today. Seven hundred thousand brave men and women gave their lives since the beginning of this Republic. We ought to seize back the responsibilities given to us by the voters. We should never kowtow to any other branch of government, regardless of their decision. The Supreme Court is not absolute. Only God is absolute on any decision. The fact that we quote Justice Scalia makes me stronger in my conviction that we must pass this. This is not just any other symbol to my colleagues and brothers. I am sorry. This is not just any other symbol. This is the symbol of democracy, Mr. Speaker. We are here to uphold that symbol. I am proud to stand with those who support this resolution.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, we are here to salute brothers Downing, Fahey, and Ford. Too many times, my brothers and sisters here in the Congress, we have forgotten the other half of the public safety equation. Our words are significant and important. I join with the gentlewoman in sympathy, but we need to do something in the House of Representatives that sends a clear message to all 32,000 fire departments across America and all 1 million firefighters that we stand with them; otherwise, their deaths will have been in vain. Mr. Speaker, I encourage Members to join and fund what we say we are going to fund. God bless these heroic men and their families. I thank Congresswoman Maloney and Congressman Grucci for allowing me the opportunity to speak on this important resolution. As a former mayor of a medium-sized city, I know the important role that firefighters play in what I call the Public Safety Equation. And although their role is often forgotten, firefighters risk their lives every day to save ours. On June 17, 2001, three more firefighters gave their lives in the line of duty. John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford--all long- time veterans of their respective fire companies and all men with families--made the ultimate sacrifice as they battled a fire in Queens, New York on that fateful day. It is important to remember these men and those before them, because they truly are heroes. And it is important that we put our money where our mouths are, and not just sing the praises of firefighters at local parades and in small town meetings. Instead, we need to make sure that we are providing adequate support for fire departments around the country to supplement local responsibilities. Next month, the VA-HUD Appropriations bill will be marked up. This bill will include, hopefully continued funding for the Firefighter Assistance Grant Program that was authorized last year. This bill will provide competitive grants directly to the over 32,000 paid, part-paid and volunteer fire departments across America. As a result of the unity and commitment of firefighting community and its supporters, the President has returned funding for this program to his budget. In order for this program to really help fighfighters, it must be funded appropriately--and that is $300 million. And let's provide this funding with the same bipartisan zeal that we have displayed throughout the process. That is only appropriate. When firefighters run into a burning building, they don't as the people they are saving if they are Democrats or Republicans--and we owe them the same commitment. Let's not just speak our thanks on the House Floor. Let's demonstrate our support and provide firefighters with the resources they need to do their job. Let's do it for John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford and their families. Let's do it for every firefighter in every department in every state. It's the least we can do.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his laudable work in the area of human rights and injustice worldwide. This matter we discuss today hits particularly close to home. Li Shaomin is an American citizen that China is holding hostage. Sal Cordo, from Bloomfield, was his supervisor when Dr. Li worked for AT&T in New Jersey. Now Sal faces the unimaginable task of leading the charge to get his friend freed from a Chinese prison, where Dr. Li faces trumped up charges. In a recent article, China's Foreign Minister stated that, ``In China, observance of human rights is now in its historically best period.'' If China is at its best when it is detaining American citizens without just cause, and waiting three months to press charges, then I cannot imagine them at their worst. We granted China permanent most favored nation (MFN) status. This trade we grant China has a price. MFN for China costs our nation both our values and our dignity. I would think they would be walking on eggshells to not act in such an offensive manner as they are by detaining Dr. Li. The Chinese government seems as determined as ever to quash expressions of personal freedom. In yesterday's Washington Post, there was an article entitled ``China Growing Uneasy about U.S. Relations.'' The Chinese government should note that the people of New Jersey are not just uneasy about their actions, they are outraged! Those in the Chinese government should note that the U.S. Congress has not forgotten about Li Shaomin. The Bush administration should use every avenue at their disposal to encourage the Administration to place pressure on the Chinese government in asking for the release of Dr. Li and the other U.S. hostages. Before granting annual MFN, before we decide an official position on their Olympic bid, the Administration must convince the Chinese government that it is in their best interest to do as we ask, and they do it now.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment by my esteemed colleague, the gentleman from Washington, (Mr. Inslee), to keep standards in place that protect our water resources from mining pollution. Clean water is the most fundamental quality of life issue we have in this country. That is why I support funding the U.S. Geological Survey's water science programs and its 54 State Water Institutes in the amount recommended by the Subcommittee on Interior. We cannot live without clean water. This amendment will strengthen the committee's wise decision to fund the USGS water programs by adding environmental safeguards to protect our water resources from pollution caused by mining. The USGS mission from its inception has focused on water resources. They must remain focused on our water resources in order to preserve the health of every American. In New Jersey alone, our percentage of impaired waters have worsened from 50 percent of our streams and rivers in 1993 to 65 percent today. Changing the USGS focus away from these crucial water programs in order to protect any industry is the very last thing we should be allowing. Mr. Chairman, I ask for total support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment by my esteemed colleague from Washington, Mr. Inslee, to keep standards in place that protect our water resources from mining pollution. Clear water is the most fundamental quality-of-life issue we have in this country. That is why I support funding the US Geological Survey's water science programs and its 54 State Water Institutes in the amount recommended by the Interior Subcommittee of Appropriations--We cannot live without clean water! Mr. Chairman, this amendment will strengthen the Committee's wise decision to fund the USGS water programs, by adding environmental safeguards to protect our water resources from pollution caused by mining. The Department of the Interior proposes to change the mission of the US Geological Services away from water in order to focus more on mining. But focusing on mining at the expense of our water science and clean water protection is the wrong approach! The USGS mission, from its inception, has correctly focused on water resources--and it must remain focused on our water resources, in order to preserve the health of very American! Without the US Geological Survey's water programs and USGS State University Institutes--including our own Rugers Institute--we cannot assess the quality of our water, or train our future water professionals. These programs are the core of the USGS! The Geological Survey must remain much more than simple mining protection! The USGS ability to track and map problems with our water is a vital component in helping our state environmental agencies, so we can visualize problems while solutions are still doable and still cost effective. In New Jersey alone, our percentage of ``impaired'' waters has worsened from 50% of our streams and rivers in 1993, to 65% today, according to the most recent study. In our state, data from USGS has helped us see that worsening pollution follows our ``sprawl line''--and I know that in every state the causes of pollution may differ, whether it is sprawl, or acid rain, or mining, or some combination of pollutants. But Mr. Chairman, it is only with these important USGS tolls that we can learn about these pollutants, and learn what does not work in the way we manage our water resources and land use! Changing the USGS focus away from these crucial water programs, in order to protect the mining industry, is the very last thing we should allow, if we want to continue preserving our water and our health! Mr. Inslee's amendment is exactly what is needed to help protect these threatened resources, by allowing our communities and land management agencies to protect our water from pollution. Our communities already struggle to keep our fragile watersheds pure--as we well know in New Jersey. So I want to commend the Chair and Ranking Member of the Interior Subcommittee, and all of my Appropriations colleagues, for supporting our water science programs, and voting unanimously to restore more than $90 million in funding to the USGS. And I want to thank my many colleagues on both sides of the aisle for helping me to champion the USGS water science programs--the Honorable Asa Hutchinson, and Michael Bilirakis; and my colleagues Mr. Gibbons, and Mr. Green and Mr. Boehlert, as well as many of my Republican colleagues. I also want to thank my esteemed colleagues form this side of the aisle--Mr. Kind, Mrs. Napolitano and Mrs. Maloney; Mr. Blumenauer and Mr. Payne, Mrs. Mink and Mr. Pallone--and many, many others of you who have recognized--as I do--the importance of the USGS water programs to our nation's health. Mr. Chairman, I know, and my esteemed colleagues know that the USGS is our ``early warning system'' in the battle against deadly toxins and pollution in our water. We must not tolerate the dismantling of these vital programs or a change in the USGS mission away from water, to focus on mining. I urge all of my colleagues to support the full funding that was appropriated for all U.S. Geological Survey water programs, and to support Mr. Inslee's amendment protecting our water resources from deadly mining pollution.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, two great Americans sponsored this resolution, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). I am proud to be associated with both of them. Juneteenth, but also the name of a great book written by what I consider one of the great authors of the 20th century, Ralph Ellison, who wrote the ``Invisible Man,'' often misunderstood, often derided. Madam Speaker, yes, the Supreme Court made a decision and Dred Scott, in that decision, was overturned in 1862, actually, 3 years before exactly to the day of Juneteenth; sometimes the Supreme Court needs to be corrected by the Congress of the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation receives its national appreciation, its rightful appreciation as the gateway to freedom for African Americans; but it took a Civil War and the 13th amendment to the United States to formally outlaw slavery. That Emancipation Proclamation resulted in millions of slaves throughout the country who were unaffected by the provisions of the proclamation; and as my colleagues have already heard, word traveled very slowly. Madam Speaker, this is indeed a celebration, but time for us to reflect on what this meant. Juneteenth serves as a historical milestone reminding all people of the triumph of the human spirit over the cruelty of slavery. I think we should all take a moment not only to recognize the moral bankruptcy of slavery, but also to celebrate the achievements of those living in such inhumane conditions; and despite the rigors of slavery, African Americans contributed everything from agricultural inventions and medical breakthroughs to music. They have contributed a legacy of culture, of language, religion, a lesson of survival. Ralph Ellison, who I believe is one of the great writers of the 20th century, he was an African American and frequently misunderstood. The genius of blacks, of black culture, was not in race, he wrote, but in human beings who bore the race. Blood and skin do not think. There were demonic conscious and unconscious dehumanizing acts against blacks, no question about it; but the progress and opportunity for blacks in America could not depend on white oppressors changing their behavior and changing their mind as much as it would depend on individuals understanding and believing in their own God-given resources. Ellison believed that to believe solely in the idea that white oppression determined the freedom of blacks was to minimize the power of each black person and it would make redemption depend upon how it was treated. We do not accept that any longer. This was a perspective. The outskirts of society allowed him to run point on its greatest ideals while grieving over its greatest failures. He argued against the idea that there existed a required mode of racial anger. There were, he contended, many possible responses to injustice. He wrote there was even an American Negro tradition which abhors as obscene any trading on one's own anguish for gain or sympathy. Powerful words. Powerful words in our own society now. We have decided for the most part that each black person in our society is an incarnation, someone wrote that, of his race, and as Edward Rothstein wrote, being battered about by both blacks and whites who impose their visions of racial identity. Lincoln freed the slaves. Ellison would say only that slaves could free slaves, so that their fate and the fate of every black American cannot depend on anyone else. Individuality is a creative force within each person. Part of our birth, part of our heritage, and at best the body politic can protect but never create. No civil rights law, no Supreme Court decision, and no presidential order can undo what is in me. I thank Ralph Ellison for giving us our great history and understanding, and on this great day of Juneteenth we celebrate the freedom of all of us. God bless America. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert) The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) has 12\1/2\ minutes remaining, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, we have had a couple of weeks now to digest the Bush administration energy plan. My stomach is as uneasy today as it was when it was released. For starters, the administration seeks to reduce regulations to encourage more oil, gas and nuclear production, along with tax incentives to boost coal output. Mr. Speaker, the President says the Nation needs 1,300 to 1,900 new power plants over the next 20 years. That is one a week. The administration calls for 38,000 additional miles of natural gas pipelines, and 263,000 miles of distribution lines. Well, that certainly does not sound good to me. I would like to know where they plan on putting these thousands of facilities and all these miles of infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, imagine living in one's home for many years, only to find out one day that distant bureaucrats have decided to take that land in order to build pipelines; and they have the power, the power of eminent domain, and now they want the same thing. FERC wants to do the same thing with electrical lines as they have done with pipelines. Mr. Speaker, the Bush proposal would expand that authority to include land for electricity power lines. If this plan goes into effect, we will have to keep our eyes open for 100-foot towers, high-voltage electrical that may be going through backyards and parks and communities near you.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, due to an error on my part, on May 23 I erroneously voted in the affirmative for the Cox amendment to H.R. 1, rollcall No. 143. My intention was to have voted in the negative for the Cox amendment to H.R. 1, rollcall No. 143.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained due to a personal issue and was unable to be present last night for floor votes. If I had been present, I would have voted in the affirmative on H. Con. Res. 56 and H.R. 1885.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, first I would like to thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) for this legislation. This is very significant legislation in New Jersey and for the United States. The Great Falls Historic District possesses an historic significance that makes it an area to be preserved and treasured. I thank the gentleman for describing what this district is all about. The Falls and the surrounding neighborhoods really represent the genesis of the American economic miracle, and increasing the presence of the National Park Service will give the area the attention and resources it rightfully needs. These Falls represent our city, its people and all of its potential. This place can be a real destination that will create jobs, grow businesses and bring people from all over. We cannot put a velvet rope around the district. We must make it a living, breathing attraction that will celebrate our past. In conclusion, I will steal the words of the National Park Service in the Design Guidelines created for the Great Falls Historic District in 1999. ``The district bears eloquent testimony to the astounding feats of engineering and construction, to ingenious manufacturers, and to the courage, creativity and drudgery of untold lives spent within the mills. It is also about the human propensity to harness the forces of nature, to put water and gravity and stone to work. The district retains the sense of having been one large factory driven by one powerful engine, an image completely consistent with Hamilton's vision of a centralized national manufactory.''

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be withdrawn as a cosponsor of H.R. 1613.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), for including part of the Veterans Right to Know Act in the legislation we are considering today. The leadership and dedication of the chairman of the committee to our veterans over the last 20 years has improved the lives of veterans across the United States. Let me also extend my gratitude to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), our ranking member, for his support of my legislation. These two gentlemen set the proper tone for bipartisanship, which should be recognized, along with the subcommittee folks, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), and also thank them for inviting us to testify before the subcommittee. This legislation I am so proud to be a part of, the first piece of veterans legislation to reach the House floor, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak in support of that portion which both the chairman and ranking member spoke of before, part of the Veterans Right to Know. This legislation makes great strides in improving benefits and outreach to our veterans and their dependents. I would also like to acknowledge important provisions in the legislation that were based on the gentleman from Pennsylvania's (Mr. Doyle) veterans' outreach legislation. We worked together to ensure that every veteran has the benefits they deserve, and we will continue this work in the future. To be quite frank, the lack of information available to veterans and their families about their benefits and services that they are eligible for has reached crisis proportions. In a recent national survey conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, it was indicated that less than half of the veterans contacted were aware of what benefits they were eligible for. We cannot accept that on the floor of the House, in the House of the people. A survey that I did in my own district, the 8th Congressional District of New Jersey, showed that over half of those answering had no understanding of their benefits, no one had ever reached out to them, no confidence in the VA to deliver the information in the first place. These veterans signed a contract when they went into the service to defend us; and as a veteran I say this, and I know the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) feel the same way. Well, what happened to this contract when they left the service? What happened to the people and their families who now many times after death are going to the VA and saying gee, we did not know this, we did not know this. This is a sacred covenant America has with its veterans, one that we must keep. Too often our Nation's heroes are not adequately informed as to what benefits they are entitled to receive or how to obtain those benefits. Everyone in this Congress would agree that this is simply unacceptable. Veterans across America and I are grateful to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his Veterans' Opportunities Act. It includes a portion of legislation, title II, section 205, which will inform veterans about benefits and health care services. We are not doing veterans any favor, Mr. Speaker. This is our obligation. The gentleman from New Jersey's measure also includes the portion of legislation that would require the VA to assist widows and survivors of veterans by informing them at the time of a burial request or application for life insurance proceeds about the full array of dependent benefits. Today is a victory for veterans everywhere, but it is just the beginning. The plan that I have asked for, and hopefully will finally be enacted, would specify how the VA will identify veterans who are not enrolled or registered with the VA for benefits or services and require that the VA consult with the veterans services. How can we talk to the veterans about what they are eligible for if we do not start at the grass-roots of the organization that the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) spoke of before? All of those organizations, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Jewish War Veterans, et cetera, Vietnam Veterans, Disabled Veterans, if we do not turn to them, how can we really fulfill this covenant that we are talking about here? Abraham Lincoln spoke of his responsibility in his second inaugural address saying, ``We must care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and for his orphan.'' Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for doing America proud.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday, March 25, came and went. March 25 is the 90th anniversary of the tragic Triangle fire, an event that changed the course of American history. On that day in 1911, a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory located on the top floors of the Asch Building on the corner of Greene Street and Washington Place in New York City. The 575 workers who worked at the sewing machines had cans which collected the excess oil from the sewing machines. These cans were placed on top of boxes of lint. You can just imagine the picture now. A spark, an ignition, and the whole place went up, and 146 people out of the 475 that were working that day died. These people could not get out of the factory because the doors had been bolted. The doors had been locked by those who put profit ahead of worker safety. Times have changed, have they not? Mr. Speaker, we argued on this floor in the last 2 years and 3 years about trade relations with other countries. I opposed those trade agreements that were not reciprocal but were one way, and we talked about the working conditions in other countries as not being up to what they should be; and yet here on our own mean streets of the United States of America, the greatest republic in the world, these factories still exist. Sweat labor still exists, and who speaks for those people, locked away for 12 and 16 hours? Who is here to talk about working conditions and what situations people have to go through to bring bread home to their families? Many times they are the new waves of immigrants, nowhere else to work, but in conditions that you and I would never accept. Mr. Speaker, this fire is cited in the United States Almanac because it is the worst industrial fire in the history of the Nation. Business at the time was only concerned with the bottom line. Fire inspections and precautions were woefully inadequate. The Triangle factory had never conducted a fire drill. That building was supposed to be fireproof. There was no oversight and there certainly was no OSHA. Mr. Speaker, we have all heard the debates of the past few weeks about protecting the workers. The employees were not in labor unions either, or just a few of them. There was no one there to protect them or speak for them. They were exploited and abused; and while we talk about working conditions in Honduras, in China, and well we should, right here in major suburbs and cities of this country, we know that the Department of Labor knows best about what goes on behind those locked doors right in the heart of New York City. Mr. Speaker, in the wake of this tragedy people throughout the Nation demanded restitution, justice, and action that would safeguard the vulnerable and the oppressed. There were massive protests by people angry at the lack of concern and the greed that made the Triangle fire possible. As a direct result of that horrible tragedy, there was a substantial effort to alleviate the most dangerous aspects of sweatshop manufacturing in New York and throughout the Nation. Mr. Speaker, on February 17, 2001, not too long ago, the last survivor of that factory blaze, Rose Freedman, passed away at 107 years of age. It is important that we not let the memory of the Triangle fire be extinguished from our memories. It is important that the workers of America, be they on farms, be they in factories, or be they in electronic cubicles, stand up and speak out when they see things that are unsafe. The courts will protect them; and if the courts do not, we will. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday, March 25th, came and went. March 25 was the 90th anniversary of the tragic Triangle Fire, an event that changed the course of American history. On that day in 1911, a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory, located on the top floors of the Asch Building on the corner of Greene Street and Washington Place in New York City. The fire swept through the top 3 stories of the building in only \1/ 2\ hour. When the fire ended, 146 of the 575 Triangle factory employees had died. Not all died in the fire. Many jumped to their deaths from the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors rather than face the flames. It is cited in the U.S. Almanac because it is the worst industrial fire in the history of American industry. Most of the Triangle factory workers were women. Most of the workers were recent European, Jewish or Italian immigrants, some as young as 11 years old. These women had come to the United States with their families to seek a better life. But the harsh realities of working in a sweatshop was their reality. Business at the time was only concerned with the bottom line. Fire inspections and precautions were woefully inadequate. The Triangle factory had never conducted a fire drill and had locked doors, poor sanitation, and crowding. There was no oversight. There certainly was no OSHA. Most of the employees were not in labor unions. There was no one there to protect them from being exploited and abused. However, in the wake of this tragedy, people throughout the nation demanded restitution, justice, and action that would safeguard the vulnerable and oppressed. It is unfortunate that it took events such as the Triangle Fire to demand change. There were massive protests by people angry at the lack of concern and the greed that had made the Triangle fire possible. As a direct result of this horrible fire, there was a substantial effort to alleviate the most dangerous aspects of sweatshop manufacturing in New York and throughout the nation. On February 17, 2001, the last survivor of the factory blaze, Rose Freedman, passed away at the age of 107. It is important that we not let the memory of the Triangle Fire be extinguished from our memories. It is for this reason that I have introduced House Concurrent Resolution 81 with my friend from New York, Mr. King. This resolution recognizes the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Triangle Fire. In my mind, this resolution is very simple and very straightforward. I taught my students about the fire in just this manner when I taught history class. But apparently, for reasons that escape me, it is just too controversial for today. And that is a shame. In 1911, the Triangle Fire brought attention to the many serious problems facing factory employees and paved the way for worker protection laws. In the year 2001, we cannot even recognize the memory of the fire and its victims on the House floor. But even worse than not considering a simple, non-binding resolution, is that we are letting history repeat itself. The truth is that young workers around the world are dying needlessly in burning factories for the same reasons that the women died in the Triangle Fire. Meeting the bottom line is apparently worth the cost of inhuman conditions. We are repeating the same mistakes that the U.S. remedied decades ago. And although we have standards to protect American workers, our trade agreements lack teeth and do not even mention labor rights. By ignoring international workers rights abuses, we are not only allowing, but assisting in the mistreatment of millions of workers in sweatshops around the globe. It is our own fault that nothing has changed. This global economy that we support, apparently without question or reservation, is allowing countries to fight for commerce by allowing the lowest standards. And if this standard allows for a factory to lock its doors, while children work for twelve-hour days to make children's toys at the lowest cost possible, so be it. And if there is a 1993 fire at a factory in Bangkok which kills 188 workers, eerily similar to the Triangle Fire, then the company can just move its business to another location and re-set up shop--no questions asked. No sanctions imposed. As William Greider points out in his introduction to the book, The Triangle Fire, ``the passivity of government and the public simply leads further down a low road. More injustices appear, and they, too, must be tolerated in the name of commerce.'' ``In the name of commerce.'' It is ``in the name of commerce'' that international laws will not produce reasonable standards for business performance. It is in the name of competitive advantage, that instead of improving working conditions, countries are trying to out do each other with the lowest standards to attract our commerce. Changing the attitude of all Americans is not easy, but it is the right thing to do. Everyone should be outraged by sweatshops. But they should be just as outraged that we in the United States are enabling the sweatshops to continue. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor House Concurrent Resolution 81, and remember the Triangle Fire. Remember what it did for our country. Honor the victims of the fire. And recognize the ability of progressive thinking organizations, with the help of businesses groups and government support, to change the lives of people for the better.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, the President's tax cut plan is not only contrary to the goals and the needs of the American people, but it actually flies in the face of the facts of the promises we made here in the 106th Congress. The fiscal year 2000 budget resolution, do Members remember that? It passed the House 221 to 208 on an almost entirely party-line vote. This budget resolution specifically promised that tax cuts would focus on ``the lower- and middle-income taxpayers.'' The Republican majority promised that Congress will not approve ``any tax legislation'' that would provide substantially more benefits to the top 10 percent of the taxpayers than to the remaining 90 percent. That is right in the budget resolution. What happened to the promise? The tax plan offers substantially more benefits, 60 percent of the President's tax refund, to the top 10 percent of the American taxpayers. In fact, this tax cut returns 43 percent, nearly half of its benefits, to the top 1 percent of the earners. Why are my Republican colleagues now abandoning the promise that they made to the low- and middle-class folks of America?

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, to my friend from Florida, some companies do help the employees and workers and some do not. That is why we have Federal legislation. The young lady sitting to my left, this hard-working young lady, is relieved every 15 minutes, is replaced. She goes downstairs and transcribes. So while someone just said that OSHA does not cover Federal employees, executive orders cover Federal employees. Know the law. Know the law right under our noses.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I think it is appropriate to take a moment this morning to honor little Kayla Rolland. As a father and grandfather, I can understand the love that Kayla's family feels for her. Six-year-old Kayla was gunned down in a playground in Michigan 1 year ago. Her killer, a classmate in the first grade, had found a loaded gun at home. The tragic death of little Kayla has shaken us all and must force us to ask the question, how can we allow these gun- related tragedies to happen and not respond? Kayla's fate is not uncommon. Mr. Speaker, do my colleagues know that more than 800 Americans die each year from guns shot from children under the age of 19? Do they know that the rate of firearm deaths of children 1 to 14 years of age is nearly 12 times higher in the United States than in all of the top 25 industrialized countries? If they did not know that, they should. Whether it is childproof guns, whether it is personalized weapons, we need to come together on both sides of the aisle to do something that makes common sense.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, children are killing children by gunfire. These deaths are occurring in homes and streets and in schools. The failure of Congress in recent years to shoulder the ultimate responsibilities of safeguarding our communities from gun violence is inexcusable. It is time to get past the rhetoric by the extremes on both sides of the gun control issue and pass sensible anti- gun violence legislation. Today I will introduce in the House of Representatives the Childproof Handgun Act. This legislation requires that gun manufacturers develop personalized guns within the next 5 years. This technology would guarantee that only authorized users could operate the weapon. This is not something out of science fiction. A prototype exists that can read and recognize the gun owner's fingerprint allowing only the owner to fire the gun. This will keep weapons out of the hands of children and criminals. The Federal Government sets standards for child safety cigarette lighters and insists that children riding in cars be buckled in approved car seats, and it demands that manufacturers put childproof caps on aspirin containers. For guns, we have nothing.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for yielding me this time. Madam Speaker, I also thank my good friends, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) for once again stepping to the plate. We did make progress in the House of Representatives, but so many of our efforts which were bipartisan stopped at the doorstep. This is important legislation. It again helps us address the other half of the public safety equation which has been neglected for so long. Whether we are talking about the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly), whether we are talking about the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), whether we are talking about the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), people that have been out there on the stump for 10 years for our firefighters, I am honored to join with them in looking at one part of those folks who put their lives on the line every day by raising the mandatory retirement age for the Federal firefighters from 55 to 57. H.R. 93 allows Federal firefighters the option of continuing their careers for an additional 2 years. How many public servants in public safety all over America are being pushed out of their jobs? We are losing, as the prior speakers have addressed, our most experienced people. While we are moving away from the high salaries, quote/unquote, that those folks may be receiving, their years of experience can never be paid for. We cannot put a dollar sign on it. We are addressing this inequity today. Our Federal facilities, military facilities, our national forests, our National Fire Center in Idaho, are a very part of the national fabric. The Federal Firefighters Retirement Age Fairness Act has bipartisan management and labor support. This is only appropriate, Madam Speaker. After all, firefighters do not go into a burning building and ask the folks which political party they belong to. It has also won the endorsement of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the American Federation of Government Employees. As I always say, firefighters are the forgotten side of the public safety equation. This was again proven true when the Congress raised the mandatory retirement age for Federal law enforcement officers from 55 to 57 several years ago. At that time, Congress did not raise the retirement age for Federal firefighters, and is it not interesting we have played the game of catch-up with the 32,000 fire departments and the million firefighters in America. We are always playing catch-up. Thanks to the gentlemen and ladies I mentioned before, we are moving in the right direction. Finally, let me also remind our colleagues the role of the firefighters is expanding. Several fire departments in this Nation reach across county and city lines to assist each other with natural disasters and incidents of domestic terrorism. In fact, there are two fire search and rescue units that have responded to international disasters on behalf of the United States, and our Federal firefighters have been called on to go out of the country just recently to Mexico to assist with problems in that country. Collectively, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, Fairfax County Search and Rescue Teams, while not Federal fire departments, have traveled to several countries around the world. These men and women do a job unbelievably and they get no credit for it, usually. Natural and man-made disasters do not discriminate when and where they arise. Proudly, the firefighters of the United States do not discriminate when or where they provide help. The role of our firefighters is ever- changing. It is my belief that the role that the Federal Government plays during these changes must be commensurate. Because the role of the American firefighters is expanding, this bill will bolster more than firefighting capabilities. Hazardous material response, emergency medical services, and natural disaster support will be enhanced, Madam Speaker. By allowing these brave men and women the option of continuing their careers for an additional 2 years, we will maintain more experienced firefighters in the field and senior management positions and, in fact, correct me if I'm wrong, it will even save the Federal Government money. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this public safety bill.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the deeds of a person I am proud to call my friend, Maria Magda O'Keefe of Paterson, New Jersey, who was recognized on Thursday, November 9, 2000 on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Hispanic Multi Purpose Service Center. It is only appropriate that she be honored as she retires from the Paterson City Council, for she has a long history of caring, generosity and commitment to others. Maria was recognized for her many years of leadership in Paterson, which I have been honored to represent in Congress since 1997, and so it is only fitting that these words are immortalized in the annals of this greatest of all freely elected bodies. Councilwoman Magda has a varied educational background and has studied in a multitude of fields. The State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs certified her as a Social Worker. Also, the National Association of Forensic Counselors certified her to be a Domestic Violence Counselor. In addition, she is a Registered Nurse having earned her diploma at the Hospital de Damas in San German, Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of Central High School in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Also, she studied Health Education at Columbia University in New York and Cosmetology at the Master Headdresser Academy in Passaic, New Jersey. Maria has always been an active and involved leader. One of her most important accomplishments was her founding of the Hispanic Multi Purpose Service Center (HMPSC) in Paterson. She is currently the Executive Director of the center. The HMPSC is a highly respected agency that provides free social, educational and recreation services to the residents of Paterson and Passaic County. This remarkable woman is a trailblazer for Latino elected officials in Passaic County. In her political career she has set many important milestones. In 1989, she became the first Hispanic Woman to be elected as the President of the Paterson City Council. Her vision and leadership has made it easier for all Hispanic Americans to seek and win elected office. On the Council and in her daily life Maria remained devoted to the City of Paterson and the Hispanic community. She has served as Deputy Mayor of the city, as well as the Administrator of the Mayor's Office Division of Planning. In addition, she was a coordinator of the city's service programs for the Hispanic community and the nutritional programs for the city's Hispanic senior citizens. Known for a questioning mind and an ability to get things done, Councilwoman Magda has served her community in a variety of positions. She was the Commissioner of the Board of Social Services and the Board of Health in Paterson. She was also a member of the Board of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson. She has served as a liaison between the Paterson City Hall and the community at-large. She was a member of Women in Government, the Paterson Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia University Health Panel and the Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors. In addition, she has served as Chairperson of the Paterson Great Falls Committee, and in 1976, she was the President of the Puerto Rican Parade. Councilwoman Magda continually touches the lives of the people around her. She has received a myriad of awards including recognition from the United States Department of Defense, the Irish Culture Society, the New Jersey State Assembly and the Italiana Society. Maria Magda O'Keefe was born on July 22, 1938. She has three siblings. Maria has two wonderful children Debra Ann Martinez and John Mitchell Morales. She has four grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Mr. Speaker, as a former mayor of Paterson that has worked with Maria for many years, I can say that I can think of no elected official who works harder or cares more about her constituents. Perhaps the greatest tribute to her is the unwavering faith of the voters of Paterson. They have demonstrated this by electing her time and again to her position. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Maria's family and friends, the City of Paterson, the State of New Jersey and me in recognizing the outstanding and invaluable service to the community of Maria Magda O'Keefe.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call your attention to the storied history of an important school in my district, Passaic Valley Regional High School in the Township of Little Falls, New Jersey. Saturday, September 16, 2000 marked the 60th anniversary of this fine institution of learning. It is only fitting that this school be honored, for it has a long history of caring and commitment to its students and the community at-large. Passaic Valley Regional High School was recognized for its many years of leadership in Little Falls, which I have been honored to represent in Congress since 1997, and so it is only appropriate that these words are immortalized in the annals of his greatest of all freely elected bodies. Passaic Valley Regional High School opened its doors on September 16, 1940, to some 610 students from Totowa, West Paterson and Little Falls, New Jersey. The school is governed by the Passaic Valley Regional High School, District #1 Board of Education which is composed of nine Board members from the three towns. As a school committed to the development of well-rounded students, Passaic Valley has added many other programs to augment its strong academic curriculum. These include a wide range of athletic, musical and literary activities, which are designed to stimulate and encourage the individual growth of each student. It should be noted that the remarkable success of the Passaic Valley Regional High School is due to its community support. The Passaic Valley Regional High School, District #1 Board of Education, school administration, teachers and friends of the school have aided and fostered its growth and development. Thanks to the help of these individuals and the collective of their efforts this school is now a stellar force in the community. I applaud the many outstanding and invaluable contributions that this school has given to the community. Education is one of the cornerstones of our culture. This wonderful school has added much to the rich history of the State of New Jersey, and we all should be proud that we are able to celebrate a day in its honor. Mr. Speaker, as a former educator in New Jersey, I can say that I can think of no other school or faculty that works harder or care more about the students. Perhaps the greatest tribute Passaic Valley Regional High School is success of its former students. Alumni from this prestigious high school have risen to prominence in a variety of fields. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, the Township of Little Falls, Passaic County, the State of New Jersey, the students, teachers, staff, Principal, Passaic Valley Regional High School, District #1 Board of Education, Superintendent and me in recognizing the outstanding and invaluable service to the community and the 6th anniversary of Passaic Valley Regional High School.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, Alexander Graham Bell is the man most commonly given full credit for the invention of the telephone. The courts awarded him one of the most valuable patents in American history, a patent that made him a millionaire and became the foundation for one of America's largest corporations. Certainly, the telephone has become a tool of modern communications so fundamental that many of today's business and social activities would be inconceivable in its absence. However, Bell's claim that he solely engineered the telephone was hotly disputed by a number of other inventors, one of which I wish to speak of here today. My motive is not to disparage or discredit the legend of Mr. Bell's findings, but rather to tell the story of Antonio Meucci, an Italian immigrant little known for his far-reaching contributions to our society. Antonio Meucci was born in San Frediano, near Florence, in April 1808. He studied design and mechanical engineering at Florence's Academy of Fine Arts and then worked in the Teatro della Pergola and various other theaters as a stage technician until 1835. From there he accepted a job as a scenic designer and stage technician at the Teatro Tacon in Havana, Cuba. Fascinated by technical research of any kind, Meucci read every scientific missive he could acquire. He spent a great deal of his spare time in Havana on research and he soon gained notoriety for his creative and productive mind. His purported inventions included a new method of galvanizing metal, which was applied to military equipment for the Cuban government. He continued his work in the theater, but science had become his indomitable passion. One day, in his home, Meucci heard an exclamation of a friend, who was in another room of the house, over a piece of copper wire running between them. He realized immediately that he had something that was more important than any discovery he had ever made. With that realization also came the understanding that to succeed as an inventor, he would need an environment that truly fostered his inquisitive mind and vibrant spirit. He would come to America, to explore this new communication possibility. He left Cuba for New York in 1850, settling in the Clifton section of Staten Island, a few miles from New York City. Though poor finances and limited English plagued Meucci, he worked tirelessly in his endeavor to bring long distance communication to a practical stage. In 1855, when his wife became partially paralyzed, Meucci set up a telephone system which joined several rooms of his house with his workshop in another building nearby. This was the first such installation anywhere. In 1860, when the instrument had become practical, Meucci organized a demonstration to attract financial backing in which a singer's voice was clearly heard by spectators a considerable distance away. A description of the apparatus was soon published in one of New York's Italian newspapers and the report with a model of the invention were taken to Italy with the goal of arranging production there. Unfortunately, the promises of financial support, which were so forthcoming after the original demonstration, never materialized. Antonio Meucci refused to let this set back destroy his vision. Though the years that followed brought increasing poverty, he continued to produce new designs and specifications. Unable to raise the sum for a definitive patent, Meucci filed a caveat, or notice of intent, that was a preliminary description of his invention with the U.S. Patent Office. His teletrofono was registered on December 28, 1871 with the requirement that he file for converting it into a patent in 1874. Fate would deal Meucci a cruel blow, however, as he fell victim to a near fatal boat explosion. While he lay in hospital, destitute and ill, Meucci allowed the provisional patent to lapse. Two years after the expiration of Meucci's caveat, Bell took out a patent for his voice transmitting electrical device, which he called the telephone. It is possible that sometimes several inventors have the same idea at the same time. In this case, however, what has mattered is not who had the idea for the telephone first, but who first turned the idea into a viable commercial enterprise. As we all know, it was Bell who succeeded in that respect. For too long Antonio Meucci has been only a footnote in our history books. At many local libraries, a search for Meucci in the card catalogue yields nothing. His legacy deserves more. Remember that a federal court in the 1880's found that Meucci's ideas were significant to the invention of the telephone and the Secretary of State at the time issued a public statement that ``there exists sufficient proof to give priority to Meucci in the invention of the telephone.'' Mr. Speaker, many people from many different nations have contributed to the greatness of America. Antonio Meucci was indeed one such person. He is an example of someone who worked for the benefit of all. It is fitting that his efforts are recognized here today.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the deeds of a remarkable person from my district, the Reverend Patricia Bruger of Dumont, New Jersey, who was recognized on Wednesday, October 25, 2000 because of her many years of service and leadership. It is only fitting that she be honored, for she has a long history of caring, generosity and commitment to others. Reverend Bruger was recognized for her many years of leadership in Paterson, which I have been honored to represent in Congress since 1997, and so it is appropriate that these words are immortalized in the annals of this greatest of all freely elected bodies. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Reverend Bruger is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she earned her BS in Education in 1969. She then received her Masters of Divinity at the Drew Theological Seminary in 1995. She and her husband of 28 years, Carl, have four special children, Pete, Cassandra, Lynn and Kit. In addition to contributing much to her friends and neighbors, she has been blessed with four wonderful children. I know that they have brought her much pleasure and happiness. Reverend Bruger has always been an active and involved leader. The time spent at the Drew Theological Seminary and in her early career instilled in her the attributes necessary for her to become a stellar force in the community. Known for a questioning mind and an ability to get things done, Reverend Bruger began her career in education. From 1969 until 1972 she served as a high school physical education teacher in Silver Spring, Maryland. She later moved to New Jersey and served as a substitute teacher in the Bergen County School System from 1985 to 1991. Around this time, Reverend Bruger was emerging as an active leader within the United Methodist Church (UMC). From 1984 until 1992 she served as the youth director for the Calvary United Methodist Church in Dumont. As a religious and spiritual leader, Reverend Bruger currently holds numerous positions. She is the New Jersey Executive Director of CUMAC/ ECHO in Paterson. She is also the Pastor of two churches; Madison Park Epoworth UMC and Paterson Avenue UMC. Reverend Bruger continually touches the lives of the people around her. She currently is a member of the NNJAC Shalom Holy Boldness Task Force. Also, she offers Pastoral Counseling at Shelter Our Sisters of Passaic County, New Jersey on domestic violence by referral. In addition, she is a member of the New Jersey area Bishop's Task Force on Urban Ministries. Mr. Speaker, I can say that I can think of few people who work harder or care more about others than Reverend Bruger. She served as the President of the Emergency Food Coalition of Passaic County from 1993 to 1996, and is currently the Coordinator of Emergency Assistance System in Paterson. In addition, Reverend Bruger is a member of the Paterson Alliance, a group comprised of non-profit organizations seeking to enhance the community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Reverend Bruger's family and friends, CUMAC-ECHO, Inc., United Methodist Urban Ministries, the City of Paterson and me in recognizing the outstanding and invaluable services to the community of Reverend Patricia Bruger.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the deeds of an important organization from my district that celebrated its 95th year of fraternal service on Sunday, November 12, 2000 because of its many years of service and leadership. It is only fitting that this group is honored, for it has a long history of caring, generosity and commitment to others. This year marks the 95th anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Catholic Sokol, a fraternal benefit organization with headquarters in Passaic, New Jersey. It was founded on July 4, 1905 by a group of 48 Slovak immigrants. The organization has grown over the past nine and a half decades and now includes nearly 35,000 members with assets of $52 million. As a well-known gymnastic and athletic organization of American Catholics of Slovak ancestry, the Sokol places great emphasis on the growth and development of its youth. Various athletic contests on the local, district and national levels are held. The Sokol hosts international tournaments in basketball, volleyball, bowling, softball and golf. In addition, a biennial international track and field competition known as ``Slet'' is held at various locations across the United States and Canada. Next year, the Sokol will host its 40th Slet at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Concern for higher education among its youth is another priority. To date, nearly $800,000 in scholarship grants have assisted members in the quest for higher education. This year, a total of 86 deserving members received grants on the grade school, high school, and university levels. In keeping with its emphasis on fraternal benevolence, the Sokol generously supports various religious institutions, churches and centers promoting a greater appreciation for the Slovak heritage as it enriches our American way of life. In keeping with its interest in promoting greater awareness of Slovak culture, it provides regular opportunity for its youth to participate in cultural festivals in Slovakia. Since 1905, the Sokol has maintained its national headquarters in downtown Passaic. Since 1911 it has published a weekly publication, the Slovak Catholic Falcon. This tabloid, 16-page, bi-lingual publication is mailed to more than 11,000 households throughout the United States, Canada and other nations. This means of communication among the membership provides an excellent opportunity for the members to keep abreast of activities sponsored by the Sokol and to gain a better knowledge of the rich cultural heritage the membership shares. At the present time, the Sokol has 155 local lodges in 14 states and the province of Ontario in Canada. The Sokol actively promotes various volunteer efforts. It gives strong support to the work of Habitat for Humanity and encourages its members to participate actively in various local community projects including blood drives, tutorial programs for youth, supporting food bands and service to home bound and institution- bound individuals. Current national officers include the Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Beeda, Supreme Chaplain, Sue Ann M. Seich, Supreme President, Steven M. Pogorelec, Supreme Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, John D. Pogorelec, General Council, Daniel F. Tanzone, Editor, George We. Hizny, Supreme Treasurer, Michael J. Pjontek, Jr., Supreme First Vice President, Albert J. Suess, Supreme Second Vice President, Larry M. Glugosh, Supreme Director of Sports and Athletics, and Carol Ann Wallace, Chairperson on Supreme Officers. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues and me in recognizing the outstanding and invaluable service to the community of the Slovak Catholic Sokol. In addition, congratulations are due to the entire membership of the Slovak Catholic Sokol as it observes its nine and a half decades of service in the best traditions of the fraternal benefit system. This special organization will be celebrating its centennial and beyond. In the words of the Sokol, Zdar Boh!