Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, March 9th will be a landmark date for a special person in Montclair, NJ, as Mrs. Hortense Tate celebrates her 100th birthday. Mrs. Tate has distinguished herself through her generous contributions of her time and talent to the Montclair community over the course of many years. She is greatly admired and respected by all who have had the privilege of knowing her. Mrs. Tate's career has spanned seven decades of service through education as a teacher and guidance counselor, the enrichment and development of young women through the Montclair YWCA and the AKA Sorority, through her Christian faith and over 70 years of dedicated service to St. Mark's Methodist Church to address social and community issues. Mrs. Tate was an educator and guidance counselor in the Newark and Montclair Public School systems and continued to tutor junior high and high school students for the Montclair School System until she reached 88 years of age. When I began teaching in 1957 at Newark's Robert Treat School Mrs. Tate was a member of the faculty. She was very helpful, especially to new teachers. She was so inspirational and supportive. Her lifelong dedication to the education and development of young people was inspired by her father Ezekiel Ridley, a teacher and later principal of Topeka, Kansas, for 50 years. Mrs. Tate graduated from Washburn University in Topeka in 1920 and settled in Montclair, NJ. In 1921, she began her lifelong mission of service to young women at the Montclair YWCA as secretary in charge of club activities. In addition to her service to the YWCA and the Newark and Montclair Public Schools systems, she has been an important member of the Montclair Public Library, establishing programs for the cultural enrichment of young people. Mrs. Tate has been a member of St. Mark's Church for more than 75 years, holding countless positions, including Chairperson of the History Committee and President of the Women's Society, and has served in many outreach and community programs to enrich the lives of her parish and the Montclair community. Mrs. Tate was a member and United National Observer of the National Council of Negro Women, working for international peace. Mrs. Tate recently was honored as a Diamond Member of 75 years of membership in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which she has dedicated her life's work to and has been a founding member of five separate chapters. In 1992, Mrs. Tate received the National Sojourner Truth Award for Meritorious Service from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs for her many years of service to the development of African American women. As you can imagine, the Tate family is an important one to our society. Her son, the late Herbert Tate, Sr., was an outstanding foreign service officer. He served our country in Pakistan. He was a leader in the international and national YMCA movement. Her grandson, Herbert Tate, Jr., was the first African American Prosecutor for Essex County, New Jersey. He continues the legacy of public service as he currently serves as Chairman of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in sending Mrs. Tate our appreciation for her spirit of community service and our best wishes for a wonderful birthday.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in paying tribute to one of the true heroes of our time, and a personal hero of mine, Judge Leon Higginbotham. One of the proudest moments of my life was in January of 1989, after having won election to the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time, when Judge Higginbotham administered the oath of office to me at a ceremony in the Rayburn Foyer. Being sworn in as New Jersey's first African American Congressman by a man of Judge Higginbotham's Stature, who had achieved such a place in history, is an honor I will always remember. Earlier in my career, Judge Higginbotham nominated me for President of the National Council of YMCAs and I remain grateful for that honor as well. It was characteristic of Judge Higginbotham that no matter how high he rose, he was always available whenever anyone needed his help or guidance. He never missed an opportunity to encourage young people to achieve their goals. Judge Higginbotham was a man of great intellect, ability and passion for justice. He was a native of my home state of New Jersey, where he grew up in the segregated society of Trenton. With determination and fortitude, he forged ahead, graduating from Yale Law School in 1952. During President John Kennedy's Administration, he was appointed as the first African American to head the Federal Trade Commission. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson nominated him to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He joined the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia in 1977, where he retired as Chief Judge in 1991. President Clinton awarded Judge Higginbotham the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995 and in 1996, he was honored with the NAACP's Springarn Medal. Mr. Speaker, Judge Higginbotham was truly larger than life. Let us honor his memory and carry forth his proud legacy.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, as we know, the work of a busy person is never done. This Friday, February 26, such a man is being recognized for his work in the labor community. Patrick Campbell will be acknowledged and paid tribute to for his leadership role within New Jersey's labor movement. Patrick Campbell has been a member of Local 825, International Union of Operating Engineers since July, 1946. He has worked as an Apprentice/Engineer, Dirt and Crane Equipment Operator, Plant and Shop Engineer, Shop Steward and Lead Engineer. In 1971 he was elected to the Executive Board and appointed as a Business Representative. In 1976 he was chosen Business Manager and was appointed Trustee of Local 825's Pension/Welfare Fund Service Facilities. He has been re-elected Business Manager seven times. In addition to his functions as Business Manager of Local 825, he is a Vice President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. He has served as Vice President of the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council. Mr. Campbell is also Second General Vice President of the International Union of Operating Engineers. He also serves on joint committees of the Engineers/Teamsters, Engineers/Laborers and Engineers/Iron Workers. Additionally, he is President of the Northeastern Conference of Operating Engineers. Pat Campbell has served on the Port Authority Development Advisory Committee of New York and New Jersey and on a committee of the Research Advisory Council for Public Service Electric and Gas Co. He is Chairman of Local 825's Political Action and Education Committee and one of the founders of Local 825's Registered Indentured Apprenticeship Program. When it comes to service, Patrick Campbell shares his time and expertise with community organizations, as well. He has served as Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, has coached Little League girls' softball, and has been Vice President of the Parents' Guild of Roselle Catholic High School. He served as a Navy Seabee in the South Pacific during World War II and has been a member of the Catholic War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus. He is currently a member of the Council of Regents of Felician College of Lodi, NJ and the Housing Commission of the Archdiocese of Newark. Mr. Speaker, I am sure our colleagues will join me as I extend my best wishes and thanks to Patrick Campbell and family; his wife Adele, his four children and ten grandchildren.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my support to the continuation of the peace process in the north of Ireland. As we all know, the Good Friday Accords were promulgated nearly a year ago this April, with the best intent in mind, to end the authoritarian rule and domination of the Protestant party over the minority Catholics. It gave Catholics a real voice for once by ending 3 decades of conflict in the north of Ireland. Last marching season, last July 4th weekend I had the opportunity to travel again on my several trips to the north of Ireland, and I was there during that march when the Orange Order came into Drumcree, and the standoff was there. That was a tragic week. Following the standoff in Drumcree, 3 little boys were fire-bombed to death. Very sad and brutal. People started to think that perhaps enough is enough, to continue to celebrate the victory of William of Orange, in which Irish land was seized and confiscated, is really an insult to the people of Ireland and Catholics everywhere. Sadly, this parade glorifies a part of history and is really provocative in nature. So we felt that with the Good Friday Accords that this would be behind us. So one can imagine the excitement when President Clinton, along with those of us here, went to celebrate the Good Friday Accords. I believed that the political prisoner release of paramilitary groups on both sides was certainly an issue that was a tough issue. I know that perhaps Tony Blair is receiving pressure to overturn this rule. I think this would set a bad precedent for all involved if this was overturned. In the same light, I know that the decommissioning issue was one of the last issues discussed before all parties made the last push towards peace. I think we know that disarming the paramilitaries was going to be very difficult, and we know it is a tough, sticky issue in most negotiations, even with the Palestine and Israel negotiations. The tough issues are put last, what should happen to the Holy City. So we are at the tough times. But let me say that the peace agreement does not explicitly require a start on disarmament, but it seems like politics is dictating this. I would hope that we could work out a solution. We have gone too far, we have suffered too long. We really believe that peace in the north of Ireland is irreversible, but we do need cooperation from all parties. I would also like to conclude by adding an article that was in today's Washington Post by a Mary McGrory who had an article called the Art of Understanding, and it talked about a dinner that was held Sunday evening at the Irish Embassy, but it was a little bit different. She said the number of blacks and whites were equally divided, and the new mayor of the city was there, and the chairman of the Republican National Committee was also there. They talked about issues of commonality, and the thing that was interesting about this is that the Anacostia area of Washington is an area where Frederick Douglas lived. He moved into the area, although blacks were restricted, and he even had an integrated marriage. He moved there, anyway. But there was an Irish patriarch named Daniel O'Connell who Frederick Douglass admired. Frederick Douglass heard him speak in 1845, when Frederick Douglass went to Dublin. The two men often spoke in public. Douglass and O'Connell often complimented each other. This article is extremely interesting. Please allow me to include in the Record this article from today's Washington Post, which talked about two great fighters for freedom in the 1800's, Frederick Douglass, the great African American spokesperson of the time, and Daniel O'Connell, an Irish patriot. The article referred to is as follows: (From the Washington Post, Feb. 11, 1999) The Art of Understanding (By Mary McGrory) It wasn't your usual diplomatic do last Sunday night at the Irish Embassy. The guests, for one thing, were about equally divided between blacks and whites, which doesn't happen much unless African dignitaries are visiting. For another, the city's new mayor, Tony Williams, was there, and so was the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Jim Nicholson. The company had been invited by the Irish ambassador, Sean O'Huiginn, and his artist wife, Bernadette, to stop by for supper on their way to Union Station, where an exhibit of art in Anacostia, the capital's stepchild ward, was opening. The mayor was there to encourage the ``Hope in Our City'' initiative as just the kind of rational enterprise he hopes will occur in his administration. And Nicholson was on hand as ``spouse of'' his artist wife, Suzanne. Her warm, evocative painting of three abandoned buildings on Martin Luther King Avenue so charmed the mayor that he put it on his Christmas card. Suzanne Nicholson's husband's party may have trouble with African American voters, but she is a heroine in Anacostia. Although it is most known for its high unemployment and low rate of trash collection, she finds it a place of beauty and inspiration. She visits often, and patronizes the Imani Cafe, across the street from the scene of her painting. The Irish ambassador told the gathering about an old tie between Anacostia's most famous inhabitant Frederick Douglass and the great Irish patriot, Daniel O'Connell. The two mighty champions of the oppressed were friends. Douglass admired O'Connell's fiery speeches on liberty. He realized his dream of a meeting in 1845, when he went to Dublin. The two spoke often in public, Douglass of a race in chains, O'Connell about a nation deprived of all rights and liberties. Bernadette O'Huiginn created a sculpture to commemorate the tie between green and black. She found a Celtic cross in the gift shop of the National Cathedral, chains to drape over it at Hechinger's; hunted down a slave's iron collar and bought a shotput ball that she ``aged'' for the exhibit. At one side of the drawing room, which throbbed with the good cheer of people of the same town in search of the same thing, Chairman Nicholson talked more about politics than the arts. Guests sought his views on censure--he's against--and the luck of Clinton. ``Can you believe,'' he asked with hands spread wide, ``that the pope would come and the king would die all in the month he needed them the most?'' He meant, of course, that the pope's visit to St. Louis gave him a chance to place a filial hand under the pope's elbow and King Hussein's death gave him a chance to comfort a queen and be pictured with three ex-presidents. Impeachment has only widened the gulf between Republicans and African Americans, who see Clinton as a fellow victim of persecution by the authorities. Across the room, guests crowded around the mayor to wish him well or to give him advice. Williams has just weathered his first big flap--brought on by a career umbrage-taker in the city's employ who does not know the meaning of the word ``niggardly.'' After they had supped on curried lamb and Irish potatoes, the guests went to their cars and headed for Union Station to see a high display of photographs and paintings that were all by or about the people of Anacostia. They were pictured as prophets and angels or just infinitely appealing human beings. It is a vivid, intimate view of a neighborhood that never had much going for it, but that now has the attention of its fellow citizens. The Washington Arts Group, which arranged the show, says it seeks ``reconciliation through art.'' It seemed quite a plausible goal Sunday night. Once again, I would just like to commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), and all those involved in wishing the peace process in Northern Ireland to continue. We need to keep the pressure on. It always gets tough when we are right near the end, but the end of the tunnel is in sight. We hope that the politics does not destroy this, whether it is in England, whether it is in Ireland, whether it is in the north of Ireland.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on January 11, 1999, Pope John Paul II spoke to all the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See and gave his evaluation of world affairs. The pontiff specifically mentioned that the Holy See ``should rejoice at the efforts of the great people of China, in a dialogue undertaken with determination and involving the peoples of both sides of the Strait. The international community and the Holy See in particular--follows the felicitous development with great interest, in the hope of significant progress which, without any doubt, would be beneficial to the whole world.'' Indeed, I myself am very happy to see that Taiwan has done its very best in attempting to achieve the goal of peace through a mutual understanding with the Chinese mainland. In his 1996 inaugural speech, President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic of China made it very clear that he is a man of peace and that he would like to embark on a journey of peace to the mainland. On numerous occasions President Lee Teng-hui said he would like to see continuing peace and stability in the Taiwan strait. Moreover he fervently prayed that Taiwan and the Chinese mainland agree under the principles of democracy, freedom, and equitable distribution of wealth. In fact, during his January 18, 1999 meeting with some of the members of the International Relations Committee, President Lee reiterated his desire to see rapid progress in the cross-strait relations and extended his welcome to Mr. Wang Daohan, chairman of the Peking-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, to visit Taiwan this year. Mr. Speaker, President Lee Teng-hui ought to be commended for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and for re- starting the cross-strait dialogue between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. In addition, the pope's speech to the ambassadors on January 11, 1999, especially his reference to Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, was both timely and insightful, fully demonstrating the pontiff's concern for world peace. I submit the text to be printed in the Record. Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am deeply grateful for the good wishes offered to me on your behalf by your Dean, the Ambassador of the Republic of San Marino, Signor Giovanni Galassi, at the beginning of this final year before the year 2000. They join the many expressions of affection which were sent to me by the Authorities of your countries and by your fellow citizens on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of my Pontificate and for the New Year. To all, I wish to express once again my profound gratitude. This yearly ceremony is like a family gathering and for this reason it is particularly dear to me. First, because through you almost all the nations of the world are made present here with their achievements and their hopes, but also with their difficulties. Secondly, because such a meeting affords me the pleasant opportunity to express my fervent and prayerful good wishes for you, your families and your fellow citizens. I ask God to grant each one health, prosperity and peace. You know that you can count on me and my collaborators whenever it is a matter of supporting what each country, with its best efforts, undertakes for the spiritual, moral and cultural uplifting of its citizens and for the advancement of all that contributes to good relations between peoples in justice and peace. The family of nations, which has recently taken part in the joy of Christmas and with one accord has welcomed the New Year, has without doubt some grounds for rejoicing. In Europe, I think especially of Ireland where the agreement signed on Good Friday last has established the basis for a much awaited peace, which must be founded on a stable social life, on mutual trust and the principle of equality before the law for all. Another reason for satisfaction for all of us is the peace process in Spain which for the first time is enabling the peoples of the Basque territories to see the spectre of blind violence retreat and to think seriously of a process of normalization. The transition to one currency and the enlargement towards the East will no doubt give Europe the possibility to become more and more a community with a common destiny, a true ``European community''--this is in any case our dearest wish. This obviously presupposes that the member countries are able to reconcile their history with the same common project, so that they may all see themselves as equal partners, concerned only for the common good. The spiritual families which have made such a great contribution to the civilization of this continent--I am thinking especially of Christianity--have a role which seems to me to be more and more decisive. In the face of social problems which keep significant sectors of the population in poverty, and of social inequalities which give rise to chronic instability, and before the younger generations seeking points of reference in an often chaotic world, it is important that the Churches should be able to proclaim the tenderness of God and the call to fraternity which the recent feast of Christmas has caused to shine out once again for all humanity. I would like to draw to your attention, ladies and gentlemen, further grounds for satisfaction in relation to the American Continent. I am referring to the agreement reached in Brasilia on 26 October last between Ecuador and Peru. Thanks to the persevering efforts of the international community--especially on the part of the guarantor countries--two sister nations had the courage to renounce violence, to accept a compromise and to resolve their differences in a peaceful way. This is an example for so many other nations still bogged down in divisions and disagreements. I am firmly convinced that these two nations, thanks particularly to the Christian faith which unites them, will be able to meet the great challenge of fraternity and peace, and thus turn a painful page of their history, which in fact dates from the very beginning of their existence as independent states. I address an urgent and paternal call to the Catholics of Ecuador and Peru to work with conviction for reconciliation through prayer and action, and thus to contribute to ensuring that the peace brought by the treaties enters everyone's heart. We should also rejoice at the efforts of the great people of China, in a dialogue undertaken with determination and involving the people on both sides of the Strait. The international community--and the Holy See in particular-- follows this felicitous development with great interest, in the hope of significant progress which, without any doubt, would be beneficial to the whole world. However, the culture of peace is far from being universal, as the centres of persistent dissension testify. Not far from us, the Balkan region continues to experience a time of great instability. We cannot yet speak of normalization in Bosnia-Hercegovina where the effects of the war are still being felt in inter-ethnic relations, where half the population remains displaced and where social tensions dangerously persist. Again recently, Kosovo has been the scene of deadly confrontations for both ethnic and political reasons which have prevented a peaceful dialogue between the parties and hindered any economic development. Everything must be done to help the people of Kosovo and the Serbs to meet around a table in order to defuse without delay the armed suspicion which paralyses and kills. Albania and Macedonia would be the first to benefit, since in the Balkans all things are closely related. Many other countries, large and small, in Central and Eastern Europe are also at the mercy of political and social instability; they are struggling along the road to democracy and have not yet succeeded in living in a market economy capable of giving everyone a legitimate share of well-being and growth. The peace process undertaken in the Middle East continues to make uneven progress and has not yet brought the local peoples the hope and well-being which they have the right to enjoy. It is not possible to keep people indefinitely between war and peace, without the risk of dangerously increasing tensions and violence. It is not reasonable to put off until later the question of the status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, to which the followers of the three monotheist religions turn their gaze. The parties concerned should face these problems with a keen sense of their responsibilities. The recent crisis in Iraq has shown once more that war does not solve problems. It complicates them, and leaves the civilian population to bear the tragic consequences. Only honest dialogue, a real concern for the good of people and respect for the international order can lead to solutions befitting a region where our religious traditions are rooted. If violence is often contagious, peace can be so too, and I am sure that a stable Middle East would contribute effectively to restoring hope to many peoples. I am thinking for example of the suffering peoples of Algeria and of the island of Cyprus, where the situation is still in deadlock. Some months ago Sri Lanka celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of independence, but unfortunately it is still today divided by ethnic struggles which have delayed the opening of serious negotiations, which alone are the only way to peace. Africa remains a continent at risk. Of its fifty-three States, seventeen are experiencing military conflicts, either internally or with other States. I am thinking in particular of Sudan where, in addition a cruel war, a terrible human tragedy is unfolding; Eritrea and Ethiopia which are once again in dispute; and Sierra Leone, where the people are still the victims of merciless struggles. On this great continent there are up to eight million refugees and displaced persons practically abandoned to their fate. The countries of the Great Lakes region still bear open wounds resulting from the excesses of ethnocentrism, and they are struggling amid poverty and insecurity; this is also the case in Rwanda and Burundi, where an embargo is further aggravating the situation. The Democratic Republic of Congo still has far to go in working out its transition and experiencing the stability to which its people legitimately aspire, as the massacres which recently occurred at the very beginning of the year near the town of Uvira testify. Angola remains in search of a peace which cannot be found and in these days is experiencing a development which causes great concern and which has not spared the Catholic Church. The reports regularly coming to me from these tormented regions confirm my conviction that war is always destructive of our humanity, and that peace is undoubtedly the pre-condition for human rights. To all these peoples, who often send me pleas for help, I wish to give the assurance that I am close to them. May they know also that the Holy See is sparing no effort to bring about an end to their sufferings and to find equitable solutions to the existing serious problems, on both the political and humanitarian levels. The culture of peace is still being thwarted by the legitimation and use of armed force for political purposes. The nuclear tests recently carried out in Asia and the efforts of other countries quietly working on establishing their nuclear power could very well lead to a gradual spread of nuclear arms and consequently to a massive re-armament which would greatly hinder the praiseworthy efforts being made on behalf of peace. This would frustrate all policies aimed at preventing conflicts. There is also the production of less costly weaponry, like anti-personnel mines, happily outlawed by the Ottawa Convention of December 1997 (which the Holy See hastened to ratify last year), and small-calibre arms, to which, I believe, political leaders should pay greater attention in order to control their deadly effects. Regional conflicts, in which children are frequently recruited for combat, indoctrinated and incited to kill, call for a serious examination of conscience and a concerted response. Finally, the risks to peace arising from social inequalities and artificial economic growth cannot be underestimated. The financial crisis which has shaken Asia has shown the extent to which economic security is comparable to political and military security, inasmuch as it calls for openness, concerted action and respect for specific ethical principles. In the face of these problems which are familiar to you, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to share with you a conviction which I firmly hold: during this final year before the year 2000 an awakening of consciences is essential. Never before have the members of the international community had at their disposal a body of such precise and complete norms and conventions. What is lacking is the will to respect and apply them. I pointed this out in my Message of 1 January, in speaking of human rights: ``When the violation of any fundamental human right is accepted without reaction, all other rights are placed at risk'' (No. 12). It seems to me that this truth needs to be seen in relation to all juridic norms. International law cannot be the law of the stronger, nor that of a simple majority of States, nor even that of an international organization. It must be the law which is in conformity with the principles of the natural law and of the moral law, which are always binding upon parties in conflict and in the various questions in dispute. The Catholic Church, as also communities of believers in general, will always be on the side of those who strive to make the supreme good of law prevail over all other considerations. It is likewise necessary for believers to be able to make themselves heard and to take part in public dialogue in the societies of which they are full members. This leads me to share with you, as the official representatives of your States, my painful concern about the all too numerous violations of religious freedom in today's world. Just recently, for example, in Asia, episodes of violence have caused tragic suffering to the Catholic community: churches have been destroyed, religious personnel have been mistreated and even murdered. Other regrettable events could be mentioned in several African countries. In other regions, where Islam is the majority religion, one still has to deplore the grave forms of discrimination of which the followers of other religions are victims. There is even one country where Christian worship is totally forbidden and where possession of a Bible is a crime punishable by law. This is all the more distressing because, in many cases, Christians have made a great contribution to the development of these countries, especially in the area of education and health care. In certain countries in Western Europe, one notes an equally disturbing development which, under the influence of a false idea of the principle of separation between the State and the Churches or as a result of a deep-seated agnosticism, tends to confine the Churches within the religious sphere alone and finds it difficult to accept public statements from them. Finally, some countries of Central and Eastern Europe have great difficulty in acknowledging the religious pluralism proper to democratic societies and attempt to limit, by means of a restrictive and petty bureaucratic practice, the freedom of conscience and of religion which their Constitutions solemnly proclaim. As I recall religious persecutions either long past or more recent, I believe that the time has come, at the end of this century, to ensure that everywhere in the world the right conditions for effective freedom of religion are guaranteed. This requires, on the one hand, that each believer should recognize in others something of the universal love which God has for his creatures. It requires, on the other hand, that the public authorities also--called by vocation to think in universal terms--should come to accept the religious dimension of their fellow citizens along with its necessary community expression. In order to bring this about, we have before us not only the lessons of history, but also certain valuable juridical instruments which only need to be applied. In a certain sense, the future of societies depends on the inescapable relationship between God and the Earthly City, for, as I stated during my visit to the seat of the European Parliament on 11 October 1988: ``Wherever man no longer relies on the great reality that transcends him, he risks handing himself over to the uncontrollable power of the arbitrary and to pseudo-absolutes that destroy him'' (No. 10). These are some of the thoughts which have come to my mind and heart as I look at the world of this century which is coming to a close. If God in sending his Son among us took such interest in mankind, let us act in such a way as to correspond to such great love! He, the Father of all, has made with each of us a covenant which nothing can break. By telling us and by showing us that he loves us, he also gives us the hope that we can live in peace; and it is true that only the person who knows love can love in return. It is good that all people should discover this Love which precedes them and awaits them. Such is my dearest wish, for each of you and for all the peoples of the earth!

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to inform my colleagues of a special event and a special person. In the African American community Kwanzaa, a festive, non-religious celebration, is held reflecting upon our rich heritage. It begins on December 26 and lasts for seven days. Each day focuses on one of seven principles; unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. The Beta Alpha Omega Chapter (Newark, NJ) of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in cooperation with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center sponsored the Second Annual Kwanzaa Festival honoring community elders. The person chosen to be honored on the first day of the 1998 Festival, December 17, was Dr. E. Alma Flagg. Dr. Flagg is truly deserving of this honor. She has spent most of her years in New Jersey working for the betterment of many. On May 2, 1995, I had the privilege and pleasure of bringing Dr. Flagg and her work to the attention of my fellow American citizens through remarks printed in the Congressional Record. It is not often that we are able to pay such important homage to the same individual within a short period of time. Dr. Flagg is one of the very few for whom a school has been named while still active. Last year, Kwanzaa was recognized by the United States Postal Service with the printing of a postage stamp. Established in 1966, this celebration of family, community and culture is taking an important place in our diverse culture. I would like to thank Dr. Mabel B. Perry and Mrs. Greta D. Shepherd, Tribute Coordinators, for affording me this opportunity and bringing attention to this important commemoration. As I stated on Tuesday, May 2, 1995, ``Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues would have joined me as I gave my best wishes to an outstanding human being and consummate role model, Dr. E. Alma Flagg''.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this very unfair attack on President Clinton and our Constitution. The partisan assault which we are witnessing today is especially painful to me, because when I was elected to Congress I had the privilege of taking over the seat which had, up until that time, been held by the Honorable Peter Rodino. During the Watergate hearings in 1974, Chairman Rodino won the respect and admiration of the entire Nation for his insistence on fairness, his profound respect for the U.S. Constitution and his impeccable sense of decorum. The Committee on the Judiciary and the Congress at this time have not done the job, and it has been done in a partisan way. Mr. Speaker, I think the American people see this action for what it is today. Is it not remarkable when a Democratic President engages in a secret affair, the Republicans leap to impeach him, but when a Republican leader engages in the same conduct, they leap on their feet to give him a standing ovation?

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a great woman who has earned a place in history, Mrs. Albertina Sisulu of South Africa, who was elected as a member of Parliament in 1994. Born in the Transkei, she lived in Johannesburg when the African National Congress Youth League became active in 1944. It was an eventful year for her. She joined the League, qualified as a nurse and midwife, and married Walter Sisulu, the political leader and friend of Nelson Mandela who shared his passion for freedom and justice. Together, the Sisulus fought oppression and endured enormous anguish as Welter, who was then the general secretary of the ANC, was imprisoned eight times between 1953 and 1964. Mrs. Sisulu joined the ANC Women's League and became an executive member of the Federation of South African Women. She played an active role in the 1952 Defiance Campaign and in the protest against the Bantu Education Act. In 1956, she was prominent in the historic national demonstration in Pretoria when 20,000 women protested against the extension of passes to African women. In 1959, she was elected treasurer of the ANC Women's League. Mrs. Sisulu showed tremendous courage in continuing her anti- apartheid activities after her husband was sent to Robben Island and she herself was placed under banning orders for nineteen years, ten of them under house arrest. In August of 1983, she was charged with furthering the aims of the ANC. Six months later she was found guilty and sentenced to four years' imprisonment, but her conviction was overturned. While she was in custody awaiting trial, she was elected as the Transvaal President of the newly-formed United Democratic Front. She also became National President of the South African Federation of Women. In 1988, she was again banned and her freedom to travel was restricted. Undaunted, she joined other prominent Soweto citizens who negotiated with the then Soweto City Council on the question of rent boycotts. She was also nominated by a number of international figures for the post of rector of the University of Edinburgh. In 1989, she was part of a delegation which visited President Bush and Mrs. Thatcher to brief them on the situation in South Africa. In October, her husband and other leaders were released from jail. Since the landmark year of 1990, she has continued to be in the forefront of South Africa's continued challenges, serving as Deputy President of the ANC Women's League and as a member of the National Executive of the ANC. In 1993, she served as President of the World Peace Council in Basie, Switzerland before becoming a member of Parliament. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Mrs. Sisulu, a valiant woman who has charged countless lives for the better, as she celebrates her 80th birthday this week.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to concur that this is almost a ditto of the previous bill. This bill would grant the consent of Congress to the compact between the Northwestern States and the Canadian provinces to coordinate the response to forest fires and other emergencies. As we have indicated, these compacts have already been ratified by the affected States and provinces, but it is required to give the consent of Congress for this legislation to take effect, under the Compacts clause of the Constitution. As has been indicated, we have bipartisan support of the members of the other body and of the States that are participating. Therefore, I would ask that our colleagues pass the Senate bill, S. 1134.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me take a minute to look at this question of a balanced budget. We hear our Republican colleagues talk with pride about the fact that they passed a balanced budget and we have a surplus. Let us go back five short years ago when there was a bill in 1993 before this House. The bill said let us cut $250 billion of programs, and let us increase $250 billion of taxes on the top 2 percent of Americans. Ninety-eight percent of the Americans were exempt from that tax increase. At that time, not one single Republican vote was cast for that plan that President Clinton gave to the American people. It was passed overwhelmingly by Democrats, without one single Republican vote, a $500 billion process that put us on the target now where we have over 16 million new jobs, a $70 billion surplus and many other positive things. We did it, not them.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) for his support of this legislation. I rise in support also today of H.R. 4821, a bill to extend into next year the visa processing period for Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, due to the U.S. embassy bombings. This is one of the most heinous acts of state-sponsored terrorism that has been done anywhere in a long time. The bombs that exploded on August 7th at the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam killed 247 people in Kenya and 10 people in Tanzania and left more than 5,500 people injured, including many Americans. Sadly, on August 7th of this year, the U.S. embassies in East Africa were the target of state- sponsored terrorism backed by financier Osama Bin Laden. Fighting terrorism is a complex and very, very difficult task, and in the aftermath of every sinister terrorist act a rebuilding process must occur to restructure buildings, send food and shelter and rehabilitate the lives of the victimized men, women and children, so I am pleased to hear that the U.S. will extend a helping hand to the innocent victims during this tragic period. Our immigration process is oftentimes complicated, as we know. It is mired with confusion and, at many times, is discriminatory. The annual diversity visa lottery permits 50,000 applicants from countries that are underrepresented in legal immigration to qualify for a U.S. immigrant visa. At the time of the bombings, hundreds of visa applicants were suspended because of lack of manpower to operate our counselor services. The temporary closure meant that applicants were unable to process their visas. One story that has particular meaning to me was from a young lady named Maritee who lived in Nairobi. She had told her family she was looking forward to coming to the United States of America with her sister. She was at the U.S. embassy's consular office waiting in line filling out an application to come to her dream country, the USA, when the truck bomb exploded, ripping out the walls of the consular section. She did not make it through the blast. She died. When she was buried, her family with tears streaming down their eyes remembered the jubilance of her getting up that morning and going to the embassy to apply, for her dream to come to this country to study. It was not Maritee's fault, the bombs were targeted for Americans. We cannot bring Maritee back, but we can pass a bill and show our support and sympathy for the Kenyan and Tanzanian people. Also at this time, in concluding this portion, I would like to express my gratitude to France, Israel and South Africa for their valor, dedication and commitment. I know that Israel brought in sniffer dogs to locate missing people trapped in the rubble and debris. South Africa responded almost immediately. They facilitated and expedited a route allowing our Air Force and the FBI to fly through South Africa to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. They also brought back injured people, lifting visa restrictions, and sent their medical experts to care for the wounded. Months later they had a similar bombing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Cape Town, South Africa. I know they had to work very closely with our FBI during this second attack in South Africa, and they have been very, very supportive in working closely with us. In closing, I would like to express support for the immediate and decisive decision taken by the President. The strikes at the Shifa Pharmaceutical Plant in Khartoum and the terrorist camps in Afghanistan will help to stave off impending terrorist threats by Osama Bin Laden and his Taliban terrorist groups. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens). (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Joint Resolution 35. Mr. Speaker, this bill would grant the consent of Congress to two compacts among Northwestern States and Canadian provinces to coordinated responses to forest fires and other emergencies. These compacts, which have already been ratified by the affected States and provinces, require the consent of Congress to take effect under the Compacts clause of the Constitution. This particular bill has bipartisan support of members of the other body and from States participating in these compacts. They were passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. I am not aware of any opposition to this bill. The need for a coordinated response to fires and other emergencies is clear. I want to commend the participating States and provinces for their effort to protect human lives and property, and to safeguard the environment in this region. We need to have continued cooperation between bordering areas. I commend those who are involved in this, and I urge adoption of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) and the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. DeGette) for bringing this resolution to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also express my condolences to the Shepard family, and to say that I commend my colleagues who last night participated in the vigil where Senator Kennedy and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) and others spoke out about this tragic act. I think that it is clear with an act like this, that no one is free until everyone is free. And in many instances when we have talked about hate crimes as African-Americans, we have talked about the fact that lynchings went on in this country; that even less than a year ago a black man walking home was tied to the back of a truck and drug for miles until his body was decapitated and he of course died with this brutal treatment. Many people said it was too bad, many did not comment, and it passed by. But once again I repeat that no one is free until everyone is free. Who would have ever dreamed that in the middle of Wyoming, a place that is talked about with its tranquility and rugged individualism, would turn to one of the most heinous crimes that we have seen anywhere in this Nation. So I think that we have to rededicate ourselves to taking a look at us and where we stand. The President this year had a commission on race to talk about and have a dialogue about where race stands in this country. I think that we need to have a dialogue about many issues. About immigrant bashing, about gay bashing, about anyone who seems different. Mr. Speaker, that is why we have the first amendment. People who are different can speak up. The first amendment was not passed for everyone who thinks alike, because we would not need the amendment. I think we need to rededicate ourselves to wiping out hate crimes. Even in my State of New Jersey there has been an increase in the number of hate crimes. So I commend my colleagues who brought this resolution and ask that it be passed unanimously.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 4660, as amended. I would like to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) for his leadership in bringing H.R. 4660 to the floor today. I understand that the Senate has amended the bill. The amendment will interpret the term ``kidnapping'' in any extradition treaty to which the U.S. is a party to include parental kidnapping. The amendment will result in three important changes: First, it will cure a disparity between list and dual criminality extradition treaties. Parental kidnapping is an extraditable offense under dual criminality treaties but not list treaties. Second, it will enable the Departments of State and Justice to pursue extradition requests under list treaties for parental kidnapping. This change will grant law enforcement officials the necessary flexibility to process extradition requests. Currently we have two outstanding list treaty requests that cannot be processed because this legislation is not in place. Finally, it will harmonize the term ``parental kidnapping'' in list treaties with U.S. domestic law which makes parental kidnapping a crime. The bill has the support of the Department of Justice and State, and State and local prosecutors. Mr. Speaker, I support this important bill and I urge its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the African Development Foundation (ADF) and appeal that it be funded at the full request of $14 million. ADF plays a unique role within the United States government foreign aid programs. It is the only agency providing assistance directly at the community level to alleviate poverty and promote economic and social empowerment in Africa. It uses an approach premised on self-help and fosters self-reliance and local ownership. ADF has an impressive track record of high-impact projects that are sustained by the local community. Working in fourteen countries, full funding of ADF will leverage an additional $2.0 million from external sources and will finance almost 100 innovative projects that will benefit tens of thousands of poor Africans. ADF efforts are focused in four areas: Promoting micro and small enterprise development to generate jobs and income for poor women, unemployed youth and other marginalized groups; Expanding the participation of small African enterprises and producers groups in trade and investment relationships with the U.S. and within Africa; Improving community-based natural resource management for sustainable development; and Strengthening civil society and local governance to reinforce democratic structures and values. I would like to strongly endorse the excellent work of the ADF and encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same. In conclusion, I ask you to join me in supporting full funding for the African Development Foundation.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in honoring a man whose contributions to his community and to the entire state of New Jersey are legendary, former Assemblyman Addison McLeon of Jersey City. He will be honored on October 22, 1998 at a special event: ``A Tribute to Addison McLean: A Lifetime of Community Leadership.'' Mr. McLeon made history when he was elected the first African American from Hudson County to serve in the State Assembly, a post he held from 1966 to 1970. He also served in the Jersey City Housing Authority, beginning in 1954; as a member of the Jersey City Board of Education; as Director of Housing for the Essex County Urban League; and as a member of the Jersey City Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In addition, he is the founder of the Civic Awareness Council, a citizens' action organization. Assemblyman McLeon, who was born on June 17, 1921, attended public schools in Jersey City, including School Number 14 and Lincoln High School. He enrolled in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania in 1940, but his education was interrupted by World War II in 1944. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the war, rising from the rank of private within a year to Personnel Sergeant Major, the highest rank for enlisted men. He returned to Lincoln University in September of 1948 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He married the former Louise Williams and they produced three children. Although former Assemblyman McLeon is retired now, he has remained an active and passionate advocate for the cause of justice and continued progress. He has truly been an inspiration to all who have had the privilege of knowing him. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating former Assemblyman McLeon and wishing him all the best.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, if we are lucky we have come in contact with a person who instinctively makes lemonade out of the lemons of life. There is such a woman in my district who is being honored on Thursday, October 8. She is Dr. Mary Smith. Thirty years ao Dr. Smith saw a need for day care programs in Newark, New Jersey. She used her vision, commitment and steadfastness to establish Babyland Nursery, Inc. Babyland Nursery, Inc., now known as Babyland Family Services, Inc. has evolved into a model for urban day care throughout the nation. In 1968, Dr. Smith started with 26 children in a seven-room basement apartment in central city Newark to establish one of the first day care programs in the United States and the first non-profit interracial day care center in New Jersey to provide day care for children from 2\1/2\ months to five years old. If we go back to 1968, we will remember it was a time that women while moving into the workforce had very limited resources for child care. This sometimes meant that these families had to depend on public assistance for survival rather than become self- sufficient. Today, we see the benefit of providing safe, clean, and educatable day care services. The lack of day care was a lemon to Dr. Smith. She took her knowledge, skills and foresight to make some lemonade that has quenched the thirst of day care need for countless families and children. Babyland Family Services, Inc. has evolved to comprise 11 different facilities offering 20 separate programs that benefit over 1,500 children, women and families each year. It has a staff of over 200, volunteer support of almost 700 and a reputation that extends to the international arena. Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will want to join me in thanking Dr. Mary Smith and Babyland as they are recognized for their hard work and dedication to the health, well-being and education of children from urban areas. I would also like to encourage all citizens to become interested in helping the future, our children, thus ensuring a brighter future for them and the generations to come.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing a very special person who will be honored at her 90th birthday celebration later this month, Ms. Louise Epperson. Friends and family will gather at Clinton Avenue Presbyterian Church in Newark, New Jersey to pay tribute to this woman who has given so much to our community. I feel fortunate to have forged a friendship with Ms. Epperson, whom I have come to know as a wonderful, caring person and tireless community activist. Her character and concern for those around her are summed up in the words she holds as her motto and her mission: ``To make my life a source of inspiration to others, and a part of tomorrow's history. Never to look down on anyone unless it is to give them a hand to lift them up.'' Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Epperson was named Auxilian of the New Year for her 25 years of service to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's University Hospital Auxiliary. This award honored Ms. Epperson as an individual who demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, worked to improve the health of the community and contributed to the advancement of the hospital and its auxiliary. A champion of health issues in her Central Ward neighborhood, Ms. Epperson took up the cause of patient advocacy in her role as patient ombudsman at Martland, which is now called University Hospital, over two decades ago. She became a founding member of the Martland Hospital Auxiliary, where she put innovative ideas into action. Among the programs the auxiliary sponsored were a lead poisoning awareness program in local grammar schools, a ``Careermobile'' which traveled to local high schools to educate young people about health care careers, the purchase of a van to transport patients to the hospital for outpatient services, nurse education programs, and furnishing a pediatric playroom and a bereavement room. In 1998, she was honored by the city and inducted into the Newark's Women Hall of Fame. Ms. Epperson is an inspiration to us all as she continues to remain active in numerous organizations, including the Newark Senior Citizens Commission, the Newark Affirmative Action Committee, the Black Presbyterians United, Golden Heritage, the NAACP, and the League of Women Voters. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues here in Congress join me in wishing Ms. Epperson a happy birthday and continued success and happiness.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 309, condemning the forced abduction of Ugandan children and their use as soldiers. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton), ranking member, for helping to bring this important resolution to the House Floor. Let me also thank my colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman); the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), the ranking member of our committee; the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos); and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for being as concerned as I am about the plight of children in northern Uganda. Since 1994, it is estimated that from 8,000 to 10,000 children have been abducted in northern Uganda. They are the innocent victims, some as young as 4 years old, whose situation is exacerbated by internal and regional conflicts. I had an opportunity to speak to a mother whose daughter was taken by the Lord's Resistance Army from a local school. The little girl's name was Mary. Mary was not the only one taken. She and 139 of her classmates were taken at gun point by the Lord's Resistance Army. Some of the children were rescued and told the story of what happened to Mary. They said that when Mary tried to run away, she was caught by the soldiers. When the soldiers caught her, they made an example of her so that other children would not run away. They forced one of her peers, another girl, to kill her. Mr. Speaker, forcing children to kill their friends is used as a tool to instill fear and to break the spirit and ensure that they will continue to be little rebels, to be slaves, to be obedient to the military leaders. And by instilling fear, they reduce the possibility of children attempting to escape. So, it does not come as any surprise that 90 percent of the casualties in the conflict in the northern part of Uganda where the Lord's Resistance Army is operating are women and children. They are the most vulnerable. The leader of the LRA is Joseph Kony, who has committed a series of human rights abuses. He is supported by the Sudan government, the National Islamic Front, the NIF, led by Ali Bashir and his pariah government that supports militarily and financially the Lord's Resistance Army movement in northern Uganda. And so I think that we have to certainly shed light on this tragic example of what is happening in Uganda. Once again, Sudan, a pariah government which harbors terrorists, who has worked to destabilize countries in their region, is also continuing to commit high crimes. This resolution calls for more support to aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of children that go back into their community, and it would also help to stop these egregious violations of individual rights. This problem has been discussed by our President and the First Lady when we were in Uganda and visited some areas where these children live. Recently our Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has also shed light on this problem. And so I am now bringing this to the House of Representatives to ask that we join in the chorus of those who are outraged by this egregious and barbaric situation which is happening. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for this opportunity to present this. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, if we are lucky we have come in contact with a person who instinctively makes lemonade out of the lemons of life. There is such a woman in my district who is being honored on Thursday, October 8. She is Dr. Mary Smith. Thirty years ago Dr. Smith saw a need for day care programs in Newark, New Jersey. She used her vision, commitment and steadfastness to establish Babyland Nursery, Inc. Babyland Nursery, Inc., now known as Babyland Family Services, Inc. has evolved into a model for urban day care throughout the nation. In 1968, Dr. Smith started with 26 children in a seven-room basement apartment in central city Newark to establish one of the first day care programs in the United States and the first non-profit interracial day care center in New Jersey to provide day care for children from 2\1/2\ months to five years old. If we go back to 1968, we will remember it was a time that women while moving into the workforce had very limited resources for child care. This sometimes meant that these families had to depend on public assistance for survival rather than become self- sufficient. Today, we see the benefit of providing safe, clean, and educatable day care services. The lack of day care was a lemon to Dr. Smith. She took her knowledge, skills and foresight to make some lemonade that has quenched the thirst of day care need for countless families and children. Babyland Family Services, Inc. has evolved to comprise 11 different facilities offering 20 separate programs that benefit over 1,500 children, women and families each year. It has a staff of over 200, volunteer support of almost 700 and a reputation that extends to the international arena. Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will want to join me in thanking Dr. Mary Smith and Babyland as they are recognized for their hard work and dedication to the health, well-being and education of children from urban areas. I would also like to encourage all citizens to become interested in helping the future, our children, thus ensuring a brighter future for them and the generations to come.