Ed Pastor

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, those of us from Arizona have known of the contribution of public service, beginning with the Udalls as they came into Arizona, were at the forefront of providing leadership in St. Johns and other parts of Arizona and when they came into the valley. The district was first represented by Stewart Udall very ably. He became the Secretary of Interior, was succeeded by Morris K. Udall, and my colleagues heard of the great contributions they gave, not only to Arizona, to District 2, but to all America. Mr. Speaker, Mo Udall was an inspiration not only to his son and to his nephew and to his family, but he was an inspiration to all of us, because we knew that if there was a wrong that needed to be corrected, that Mo was there, and he inspired us to continue that effort. If there was a need to preserve a piece of land, a forest, he inspired us to continue that effort, not only for ourselves, but for future generations. I know that Mo, his legacy will continue in the future because of what he did, and that was to make this country a better place to live for not only our generation but for future generations. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), a new Member and also Mo's son.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood).

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento), for informing me of which category I fall in. It is the latter rather than the former. So I want to thank him. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), the ranking member of the committee on which Mo served as chairman for many years. (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink).

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, due to President Clinton's visit to the 2nd District of Arizona on February 25, 1999, I was unable to cast a vote on rollcall votes No. 27 and No. 28. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 27 and ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 28.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, today I am in introducing legislation to transfer title to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District in Yuma, Arizona from the Federal Government to the project beneficiaries. It pleases me to say that I am supported in this effort by my Arizona colleagues, Congressmen Stump, Kolbe, and Hayworth and that Arizona Senator Jon Kyl has introduced identical legislation in the other body. Last Congress, similar legislation was passed by the Senate, but it failed to receive the consideration of this chamber, Senator Kyl and I continued our work with representatives of the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District and the Bureau of Reclamation, and this bill is a product of that effort. It is in accordance with the administration's policy framework for such title transfers. I urge my colleagues on the House Resources Committee to act favorably on this measure early on in this first session, so we can move forward with the project transfer.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the following statement detailing why I will be in opposition to the four articles of impeachment. After reading and studying the written material available to me and viewing the House Judiciary Committee hearings, I cannot in good conscience support the impeachment of President William Jefferson Clinton. I am very disappointed with the unjust and highly partisan manner in which the House Judiciary Committee hearings were conducted. The hearings lacked due process. The Committee did not take any evidentiary testimony of material witnesses. The Committee's star witness, Independent Council Ken Starr, was not a material witness and in fact was not present when material witnesses were interviewed by the Grand Jury. The Committee failed to produce ``clear and convincing'' evidence to support its articles of impeachment. It is my conclusion that the four articles of impeachment brought against the President do not reach the constitutional standard of ``high crimes and misdemeanors,'' even if proven. The lack of bipartisan support for any of the articles is a sad indication that they are based more on partisan politics than on any substantial evidence. President Clinton has unquestionably and admittedly done wrong. Members of Congress should be given the opportunity to condemn his actions through an official resolution of censure. The President will, and should, pay for his wrongdoing in public esteem and tarnished legacy. The nation, the Presidency, and the democratic process, however, need not bear the cost of continuing what has become little more than a wasteful partisan drama.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I just want to take a few minutes to give my appreciation to a great leader in this Congress but also a great leader in the Hispanic community. As this term ends, the gentleman from California (Mr. Torres) will be retiring. I have had the honor of working with Esteban for the past 30 years. I first met him when he was involved with Telecue, a community based organization, whose objective was to give a voice to the Hispanic community in southern California. He was very effective in organizing that organization and today in southern California many Mexican Americans have great pride in this organization. Esteban was recognized for the fine work that he did when he was named ambassador, and he served for many years in Paris, representing this great country and was called by President Carter to come back to the White House and work in his administration. Esteban was a voice for many of us. Esteban was an advocate for us and again gave us great leadership. Since he has been in the Congress, he has been involved in many endeavors. Whether it be civil rights, betterment of education, ensuring that the Smithsonian Institute reflected the makeup of our country in terms of its diversity, Esteban has been out there. I know that very recently he was honored because of a scholarship program he promoted on a national basis. The people of Miami, Arizona, are very proud because Esteban was born in Arizona but moved to California to continue his career. On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you that Esteban has been a friend, a mentor and a leader for me personally. It is with great regret that I see him retire from this great institution, but I know that he and Arcy are going to have a great time with their grandchildren and their children, but I know that he will continue to be the advocate that he has been for our community. So I congratulate Esteban for the fine work he has done. We are going to miss him, but we know that he is still going to be out there for us.

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

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I too was walking through the hall and heard the accolades that were given to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade). I have to tell the Members, I have to take at least a minute to let the gentleman from Pennsylvania and the Speaker know that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) is a great man. Back in 1991 when I first came to Congress, I did not know too much about Congress, nor did I know too many Members of Congress, except the ones from Arizona. However, there was a gentleman here who shared a story, who shared a smile, and shared some advice. I got to know the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joe McDade) a little bit. He went through some very hard times, but I have to tell the Members, he is a man that, under adverse situations, still kept a smile, kept the positive attitude, and was very friendly to everyone in this House. Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of being under the gentleman's leadership in the Subcommittee on Energy and Water. I have to tell the Members that he was a leader for the entire committee. He treated every Member with respect. He treated every Member in the way that all of us want to be treated. I never saw him get cross, but I have to tell the Members that there were many department heads from the Department of Energy or Corps of Engineers who would come and testify, and he may not have agreed with them, but he was always, in a very positive manner, letting them know that their policy was not going to work in this Congress. I have great admiration for Joe McDade. I wish him well. He served this House well. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my strong support for the Indian Reservation Roads program (IRR). As the House considers BESTEA, I urge the conferees to fully support the Senate amount of $250 million annually for the program. The needs of the Native American community are often overlooked and under funded. The conditions of reservation roads are the worst in this country and immediate attention and funding is badly needed in order for tribes to attract economic development. We must not ignore these needs. In the bill under consideration today, the House has authorized up to $212 million annually for the IRR program. While I am pleased that the Committee recognized the need for an increase in the program, I am hopeful that the Committee will recede to the Senate's amount of $250 million annually for the IRR program. I believe that this modest increase is essential to the continued economic progress and improvement of our nation's tribal communities. Again, I urge the conferees to support this vital program for Indian reservations.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man whose compassion, community dedication, and managerial skills have made him one of Arizona's most accomplished and well-respected citizens, Mr. John E. ``Jack'' Cotter, the Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona. Arizona's largest voluntary social service organization, Catholic Community Services and its many agencies touch tens of thousands of lives across Southern Arizona each year. I am especially grateful for the services that Mr. Cotter has made available to my constituents in the Second District of Arizona. Many of the service provider agencies and their programs exist because of the leadership and direction provided by Mr. Cotter during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer. Under his direction Catholic Community Services has achieved a remarkable record of accountability and stability in all its services. This is especially noteworthy because the funding for these services is patched together from many different public, private, local, state, and national sources. In terms of monetary value of the work, the combined program expenditures totaled more than $23 million in the last fiscal year. With this level of expenditure and with more than one thousand employees working across Southern Arizona, an organization of this size could lose its focus on compassionate service to the individual client. Jack Cotter has worked diligently and has provided leadership to his staff that ensures the true focus of Catholic Community Services has been maintained as a caring organization faithfully guided to serve those most in need of advocates and protectors: our children, our elderly, our ill, and our disabled. In many Southern Arizona neighborhoods, Catholic Community Services is the only organization available to help those in need. I am grateful for the generous and caring spirit that has moved John E. Cotter to share his talents and to relieve the suffering of so many on a daily basis. The reputation of Catholic Community Services as a trustworthy, compassionate and effective organization for meeting the needs of individuals and communities, reflects the character of its leader, John E. Cotter. All of Arizona has benefited from the 25 years Mr. Cotter has given to Catholic Community Services. As he retires, it is fitting that we reflect and thank him for all that he has done to make life more productive and less stressful for so many. For others, the services he made available were the critical factors determining life or death. I applaud all that he has done and hold him out to the nation as an honored leader. May his example guide others to a life of compassion and service.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, we have cleared this bipartisan bill through our side of the aisle. I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska, Chairman Young, the gentleman from California, Mr. Miller, and my colleague, the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Kolbe, for helping us with this legislation.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an organization, Portable Practical Educational Preparation, Inc., [PPEP] and its founder, Dr. John David Arnold, and to congratulate them for 30 years of outstanding contributions to the residents of rural Arizona. On the 30th anniversary of PPEP, the Arizona community recognizes that Dr. John David Arnold is the driving spirit of PPEP. It is his vision and energy that transformed ``La Tortuga'', a large old bus converted into a mobile classroom, into a major force for ``Improving the Quality of Rural Life'' in Arizona and in the world. In these 30 years, Dr. Arnold has had the vision and dedication to guide and to expand PPEP from the La Tortuga bus to the information superhighway. Their address on the Internet is ppepruralinst.org. The work began by Dr. Arnold so many years ago and carefully shepherded by him through the social, economic, and technological changes that these 30 years have brought to Arizona's rural residents, is remarkable proof of his ability and dedication to utilize diverse resources and to surround himself with an exceptionally wise, creative, and committed staff. Together, he and his staff have created opportunities for many who had been excluded from the American dream. Through opportunities for education, economic and business development, child and health care, housing, and job training, Dr. Arnold gave hope to the hopeless; for them, he made possible a rewarding future. The emphasis on education and on self-help have enabled the PPEP program to be flexible and responsive to a wide range of needs in the rural communities. PPEP has been a pioneer in the charter school movement and has created 14 charter high schools that provide learning opportunities to rural, at-risk, and farm worker populations. PPEP has also been instrumental in promoting first-time home buyer programs, affordable housing programs, and transitional housing programs designed to meet the needs of welfare reform mothers. I also comment the many community volunteers who have served on PPEP's board of directors and in its programs over these 30 years. They, too, have served a greater vision and have provided a collective consciousness for PPEP's continuing to be a relevant, positive force in rural lives. I applaud PPEP for its contribution and efforts in the community over the past 30 years. PPEP's 30 years of history are about people and the resilience of the human spirit. May its future continue to be the same.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, in October 1991 when I first came to this House, one of the persons in this House, after I was sworn in, who came to me and said, if I can be of any help, please call on me, and I have to tell you that from that day and even today, I sometimes seek his counsel, and I cherish his friendship. So, Ed, I want to thank you form the friendship you have given me. I want to thank you for the 21 years of service you have given this country, and I wish you the best and many years of retirement.

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

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, when I first came to this Congress in October of 1991, I was approached about trying to do something with this issue. I have to tell Members since then to today, things have gotten worse for the people not only who are in Germany but also for the Americans that travel to Germany. Mr. Speaker, the issue is, if you are for human rights, you should be for this resolution. If you are against religious persecution, you should be for this resolution. If you are against the persecution of Christians in China, you should be for this resolution. Mr. Speaker, there is concern for many of us in this country and we are supporting this resolution in a bilingual nature, because we want to show our concern that we do not want history to repeat itself in Germany.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 2616, the Charter Schools Amendments Act. As we know, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, BIA, distributes funds to tribal schools through the Indian Student Equalization Program, or ISEP. The State of Arizona passed an amendment to its charter schools law allowing the State to deduct Federal ISEP payments from the State payment to tribal charter schools. My amendment would simply prevent the States from using this practice. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding the chairman has accepted my amendment. As many of you know, the Bureau of Indian Affairs distributes funds to tribal schools through the Indian Student Equalization Program, or ISEP. The State of Arizona passed an amendment to its charter schools law allowing the State to deduct Federal ISEP payments from the State payment to tribal charter schools. My amendment would simply prevent States from using this practice. Native American schools, often among the poorest schools in the country, should not be penalized for qualifying for federal assistance. Impact Aid has a similar provision, and I simply wish to ensure that tribal charter schools are treated in the same manner. I represent a number of tribes in Arizona, and I have seen firsthand the poverty and illiteracy that plague these reservations. These schools are among the poorest in the country, and every additional dollar is vital to the future of these children. These schools are desperate for additional resources, and I am proud to offer this amendment today. It is my understanding that Chairman Goodling, as well as Congressman Riggs, have agreed to this amendment. I appreciate the assistance of both Mr. Riggs and Mr. Kildee, and I am pleased they have agreed to this amendment.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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