Ed Pastor

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Luther].

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, all time yielded will be for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by acknowledging the absence of our distinguished ranking minority member, Mr. Fazio. Unfortunately, Vic is with his wife, Judy, who is undergoing surgery. Our prayers go out to Judy and Vic for a speedy recovery. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 107 is a much different committee funding resolution from those this House has considered in the past, and I applaud many of the changes contained in the measure. Later today, we will be considering a rescissions package that will cut over $17 billion from a number of Federal agencies and departments. It is only fitting, Mr. Speaker, that we consider this funding resolution first. For before we seek to make those cuts, it is only proper that we look to ourselves first. This biennial resolution, the first of its kind, reduces spending for 21 House committees and the Select Committee on Intelligence, in the aggregate, by 30 percent from the 104th to the 103d Congress. Including committee franked mail allocations, funding has been reduced by $67 million, from $223,335,419 in the 103d Congress to $145,332,129 for the 104th Congress. While three committees from the 103d Congress have reduction in spending that tells the American people that Congress is ready, willing, and able to tighten its belt and function more efficiently with less money. What is a loss, Mr. Speaker, in committee funding is a gain for the American taxpayers. I commend Chairman Thomas and Mr. Fazio for working to make these very difficult cuts a reality. I know that there may be some committee chairman and ranking minority members who feel their committee is deserving of more dollars. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I tend to agree. We in Congress have a tremendous responsibility to ensure that the work we do on behalf of the American people is of the highest quality. The livelihood of our constituents can, and does, literally depend upon what transpires within this Chamber and the walls of committee rooms. In this regard, we must be careful to ensure that in our efforts to reduce the House's budget, we do not sacrifice the quality of work that is performed here. To the credit of Chairman Thomas, Mr. Fazio, and the rest of the House Oversight Committee, I believe this funding resolution strikes that necessary balance. As you have heard already, and I am sure you will hear again, this resolution does allot to the minority a greater percentage of resources than have been historically apportioned. For many years, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle passionately argued for a one-third allocation of committee resources, including staff, to the minority. The report accompanying House Resolution 107 notes that progress has been made in this area--nine committees in the 104th Congress have now achieved this goal. While this is a fine start, we are still far short of reaching the one-third goal for all the committees of the House. I know that Chairman Thomas is committed to this goal, and I look forward to working with him to see it realized as soon as possible. In addition, Mr. Speaker, we will work to ensure that all ranking minority members have complete latitude in determining how their allocations of committee resources are to be used. Mr. Speaker, as I noted, this is the House's first attempt at implementing a biennial funding resolution. It is indeed difficult to project funding needs for 1 year, much less 2. With this biennial measure we are literally traveling into unknown territory. I know that the committee chairman and ranking minority members had a particularly demanding time estimating their needs over the course of 2 years, a task whose difficulty was compounded by the 30-percent overall reduction in committee funding. Many items in committees' budgets were necessarily estimates, that will undoubtedly undergo revision as we experiment with this new budgeting process. In this regard, I was particularly struck by the wise variation in funds the committees had alloted for overtime pay. As you know, Mr. Speaker, with the signing into law of the Congressional Accountability Act, Congress is now subject to the same provisions of laws governing overtime pay as other governmental agencies. As a result, there is an expectation that many committees will have increased expenditures in this area. Yet, committee budgets for overtime pay vary from tens of thousands of dollars to no money at all. Mr. Speaker, this great variation points to what may be considerable inconsistencies among committees in abiding by the Congressional Accountability Act. It is my hope that the Oversight Committee will look at this area closely to guarantee that all employees of all committees are treated in an equitable manner under the law. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the hard work and fine efforts of Chairman Thomas, Mr. Fazio, my colleagues on the House Oversight Committee, and the committee's staff in developing this committee funding resolution. I urge my colleagues to support its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon [Ms. Furse].

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I wish to call my colleagues' attention to the efforts of one organization to prevent the youth of our Nation from becoming school dropouts. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) will be holding its Annual Youth Leadership Conference on Friday, March 17 on the campus of Pima Community College in Arizona. Approximately 1,500 at-risk 7th through 12th graders from around the State will be participating in this day of education and motivation. They will be directed by business, government and community leaders through 40 workshop sessions designed to teach goal-setting skills and instill the value that staying in school is a necessity in facilitating their success in life. Muralist, Judith Baca will be this year's keynote speaker. I am confident this program will leave its young participants with a sense of hope for the future and the realization that their education is the cornerstone in their preparation to become tomorrow's leaders. LULAC, the conference organizer, was founded in 1929 and is the Nation's oldest Hispanic-American civic organization. Its purpose is to assist underprivileged Hispanics through a variety of programs which promote economic development, cultural heritage, and political involvement. For the past 6 years, the League has targeted the prevention of dropouts as a high priority for all volunteer efforts in Arizona. This year it will team up with the Metro Educational Commission, Pima Community College, the University of Arizona, the Tucson Police Department, and the Pima County Sheriff's Department in promoting education as the road to persistence and success in the Hispanic community. I would like to commend and extend my gratitude to all involved in LULAC for their untiring efforts to preserve the promise of tomorrow by working to keep America's young people in school. I have no doubt that the leadership conference will be resounding success and a model for other events around the country.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, as you, more than anybody, are aware, today marks the start of the second half of the Contact With America's 100- day campaign. Even though we are 50 days into the legislative process, only now are the details beginning to surface of how the contract will impact on the lives of working people and hinder the ability of our Nation's cities and towns to meet the demand for local services. Yesterday, the Phoenix Gazette featured a preview of the difficulties the city of Phoenix will face if the legislative proposals contained in the contract are enacted into law. According to the Phoenix's city manager, the program cutbacks called for under the contract will reduce the city's finances by $10 to $20 million. The budget items at risk in the city include funding for mass transit, job training, meal programs for the elderly, and emergency utility bill assistance. Mr. Speaker, what the Contract With America lacks is a ``truth in contracting'' clause. The contract is being billed as a program that will get the Government off the backs of the people. What communities like the city of Phoenix are beginning to discover is that it will force local governments to abandon the people they seek to serve. I commend my colleagues to read the Phoenix Gazette article. [From the Phoenix Gazette, Feb. 22, 1995] GOP Contract Clouds City's Finances--$20 Million at Stake for Phoenix When Federal Cuts Are Enacted (By Russ Hemphill) In recent years, Phoenix has survived a slumping economy, layoffs and cutbacks. But the Republican Congress' Contract with America could be one of the city's biggest challenges yet, officials said Tuesday as they began work on next year's estimated $1.27 billion municipal budget. ``There really is an extraordinary cloud over us,'' City Manager Frank Fairbanks said, referring to potential cuts in federal funding. Fairbanks said ``even a conservative guess'' would peg federal cuts of Phoenix funds at $10 million to $20 million. ``It's not a question of if they cut, it's a question of how much they cut and where they cut,'' Vice Mayor Craig Tribken said. ``Actually this year's city budget is much improved,'' Fairbanks said. ``If we didn't have some other situations, we would be in a very strong position . . . to respond to some of the community service needs.'' Fairbanks said before potential federal cuts are considered, the City Council will have an estimated $4.7 million for favored projects. But Phoenix officials estimate at least $20 million to $52 million of the city's $99 million in annual federal funding is at risk. The highest-risk funding, they said, include $8.4 million to $8.9 million for mass transit, job training and human service grants that include meals centers for the elderly and emergency utility bill assistance. Medium-risk funding includes $11.9 million to $42.8 million for programs that include public housing assistance and community development block grants. President Clinton and Congress have made ``strong declarations that the budget needs to be cut,'' Fairbanks said. His administration understands that, but any significant federal cuts in funding will mean a substantial cut in services to the community,'' he said. Councilman Sal DeCiccio said the city should accept the federal cuts without complaint. ``The bottom line is the federal government is spending money it doesn't have,'' DeCiccio said. ``The United States of America is having some problems right now and we all have to chip in,'' he said. Fairbanks urged the council to use restraint when committing money to new programs, in anticipation of federal cuts. ``Together, we must prepare for that situation,'' he said. Complicating the council's job is timing. The city will wrap up its budget this summer for the 1995- 96 fiscal year. However, some of the federal budget cuts won't be known until September, city officials said. ``The challenge of this is, you not only don't know the amount, you also don't know'' which program will be cut, Fairbanks said.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I wish to speak in support of a much- maligned program that is being proposed for rescission under the Defense Department supplemental appropriations bill for fiscal year 1995, the Technology Reinvestment Program [TRP]. No one in this Chamber questions the need for the urgent supplemental appropriations bill for the Department of Defense. The funds are necessary to cover the costs of U.S. peacekeeping and humanitarian missions abroad. What many of us question, including myself, is the way we go about paying for these emergency costs by terminating funds for important programs like the Technology Reinvestment Program. TRP is a unique program. It is designed to ensure that the United States has the most advanced military technology available and the most competitive commercial products found in the world marketplace. Advances in technology are occurring at a faster rate in the commercial world than in the defense industrial sector. The purpose of TRP is to give the military advance access to commercial technologies and thereby enhance our military capabilities at less expensive costs. TRP promotes the development of spin-on and spin-off technology. Under the program the Federal Government acts as an agent--a partner, if you will--in fostering public-private partnerships to develop advanced technologies with military and commercial applications. One theme I constantly hear from both Democrats and Republicans is that Congress should develop a framework which encourages greater cooperation among government, business, and academia. TRP does just that. And with only a 2-year lifespan, this Chamber is now deciding that programs like TRP are a waste of taxpayer's moneys. This decision was made by the House Appropriations Committee without the benefit of serious public hearings. Isn't it ironic, Mr. Speaker, that while we agree in theory on the need for greater public-private partnerships, the bill we are considering rescinds $500 million for a program that will assist our military to leverage the commercial base. Mr. Speaker, I call my colleagues' attention to recent communications I have received from Arizona attesting to the importance of the Technology Reinvestment Program. For this and other reasons, I intend to vote against H.R. 889. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, February 16, 1995. Hon. Ed Pastor, Representative, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Pastor: Last week the Washington Post ran an article that was critical of a Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) funded program at Arizona State University. The ASU project had been singled out for having a rather nondescript title and thus may become a possible target for elimination as part of H.R. 889. I am enclosing for you a review of that project, which we are happy to re-title, ``Manufacturing Across the Curriculum''. Manufacturing Across the Curriculum has been a very effective program to re-engineer the educational relationship among the ASU Colleges of Engineering and Business with Arizona's largest high technology employers. Together, with the assistance of federal funding, we have created a new way to educate engineers and business students that gives them the kinds of skills necessary to immediately enter manufacturing positions and contribute to the success of these companies. We have found a way to eliminate the ``ramping up'' time necessary for new hires to these companies. One of the most innovative and exciting parts of the ASU TRP is the placement of our students at companies such as Intel, where they actually take over full manufacturing lines. Realize the extent of corporate commitment this represents in the event that the students' errors may actually shut corporate partners such as Motorola Government Systems Technologies Group, Honeywell IASD, and Intel among others are taking such risks because the rewards are equally great. They recognize the caliber of students that will be available for hire from ASU and from colleges throughout the U.S. is outstanding, if we can demonstrate this project and encourage others to duplicate it. I urge you take whatever steps you feel are appropriate to keep this project from being eliminated simply because it was poorly titled. We would encourage those who have criticized this project to read the attached summary explaining its purpose and accomplishments prior to committing themselves to its demise. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of meaningful research activities at Arizona State University. Sincerely, Robert E. Barnhill, Vice President.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Louie Valdez who was recently elected mayor of Nogales, AZ. At the age of 23, Mr. Valdez has been recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors as the youngest mayor of an incorporated city currently holding office in the United States. Mr. Valdez graduated from Nogales High School in 1989 and later attended Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ. He is currently a senior at the University of Arizona studying political science. In 1992, he was elected to the Nogales School Board and on January 3, 1995 he was sworn in as the 32d mayor of the city of Nogales. While being the youngest mayor in the United States is certainly an impressive accomplishment, serving as the mayor of Nogales will be even a greater challenge. Nogales, a city with a colorful and proud history, is home to approximately 20,000 citizens. Its uniqueness stems from its location. Nogales shares its border with its sister city in Mexico, Nogales, Sonora: Los Ambos Nogales, as the two cities are often called, share much in common. Families, friends, and cultures crisscross the border and create a truly unique international community. Unfortunately, Nogales, AZ is often impacted by numerous environmental and immigration problems that originate in its sister city. With his dedication, skills, and abilities, I am confident that Mayor Valdez will succeed in leading Nogales to unparalleled growth and prosperity. I wish him luck in his new undertaking.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Sarah R. ``Sally'' Simmons who was recently chosen Tucson's Woman of the Year for 1994. This award, given by the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, recognizes outstanding individuals who have selflessly helped others. Through her career and dedication to the community, Sally Simmons is both a role model and an inspiration to those around her. In 1993, she became the first Tucson woman and second woman ever to become president of the Arizona Bar Association. She is also a partner in the firm of Brown & Bain, where she specializes in real estate law. In addition to her thriving career, Ms. Simmons contributes her personal time to various boards and community organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for Southern Arizona Legal Aid, D-M 50, Lawyers Against Hunger, and is on the advisory board of Tucsonians for a Drug Free Workplace. Ms. Simmons is a charter member of the Arizona Women Lawyer's Association and has served on the board of the Alcoholism Council of Tucson. Again, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Simmons and especially to thank her for all she is doing to improve the lives of the people of Tucson and throughout Arizona.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jim Ronstadt who was chosen Tucson's Man of the Year for 1994. This award, given by the Tucson's Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, recognizes outstanding individuals who have selflessly helped others through personal sacrifice. As a Tucson native, Mr. Ronstadt has truly dedicated his life to improving the quality of the lives of those around him. In addition to serving as Pima County's parks and recreation director since 1978, Mr. Ronstadt has spent a substantial amount of his personal time volunteering in the community. A few of his activities have included serving as president of the Rotary Club, the downtown active 20-30 club, and the St. Mary's centurions board, who recently made him an honorary life member. He also has also served as chairman of the Catholic Foundation and the Diocese of Tucson Building Committee. Mr. Ronstadt has been a key player in bringing baseball spring training to Tucson and more recently was instrumental in drawing the U.S. National Senior Olympics to Tucson in 1997. Mr. Speaker, Jim Ronstadt is an exceptional person whom I am honored to recognize. His distinguished contributions to society serve as an example to the citizens of Arizona and are to be commended. Again, I would like to send my sincerest congratulations to Mr. Ronstadt for this deserved award.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor and recognize Mr. Donald A. Bliss, who recently retired as the vice president, for U.S. West Communications. Mr. Bliss began his career with Northwestern Bell in 1961 as a splicer's helper. Working his way through the ranks of the company and across the country, Mr. Bliss served as northwestern's vice president for North Dakota and Nebraska service areas. Mr. Bliss and his family made Arizona their home in 1987 when he assumed his position as Arizona's vice president for U.S. West Communications. Through the years, Mr. Bliss has proven to be an asset not only to U.S. West Communications but to the State of Arizona. His activities have included serving on the Arizona Joint Select Committee on Revenues and Expenditures and the Governor's Office of Employment and Training Implementation Task Force. In addition, Mr. Bliss has been recognized with awards such as the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award and the Center City Champion Award. In retirement, Don will continue to reside in Arizona with his wife Roxanne and plans to stay active in the community. Mr. Bliss will serve as a leader on the 1996 Super Bowl Committee and as an officer on the National Alzheimer's Association Board. Although a native of Minnesota, I am pleased that Don has chosen Arizona as his home. His leadership will be missed at U.S. West Communications, but we all look forward to his continued work in the community.