Rob Portman

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a friend and constituent, William T. ``Bill'' Robinson III, who will receive the Cincinnati Bar Association's (CBA) prestigious Themis Award on May 2, 2003. The Themis Award, given only three times before in the history of the Cincinnati Bar Association, is presented to an individual who provides extraordinary service to the Bar Association, the legal profession and the general community. Bill Robinson has been a dedicated member of the CBA for more than thirty years. He served as President of the Kentucky Bar Association; founding Chair of the Kentucky IOLTA Fund; President of the Kentucky Bar Foundation; and Co-Founder and President of the Salmon P. Chase College of Law American Inn of Court. At the national level, Bill's service is unparalleled. He is currently Chair of the Finance Committee and Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association (ABA). He has also served as State Delegate to the ABA Nominating Committee; President of the National Caucus of State Bar Associations; Member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of Bar Presidents; and Chairman of the ABA's Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services and the ABA's Standing Committee on Substance Abuse. He is an invited Fellow of the International Society of Barristers; a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers; and a Sustaining Member of the American Bar Foundation. Bill has been critically involved in our region's growth and economic development. Currently, he serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Chair of its Finance Committee. He co-founded the Metropolitan Growth Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, and serves as Vice Chair for Economic Development for the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Partnership for Greater Cincinnati, and a Founding Board Member and Secretary/Treasurer of the Tri-County Economic Development Commission. Bill's community involvement also includes service as Board Member, Treasurer, Co-Chair and Board Member Emeritus of the National Conference of Community and Justice; Advisory Trustee of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center; and board memberships for the Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts; the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; the Dan Beard Council of the Boy Scouts; and Mount St. Joseph College. His previous awards are impressive: the Cincinnati Jewish Committee's Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award; the Greater Cincinnati Foundation's Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award; and the Governor's Economic Development Award for Kentucky. Bill is Member-In-Charge of the Greater Cincinnati offices of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC. He and his wife, Joan, have two sons and one granddaughter. All of us in Cincinnati thank Bill for his extensive service to our area, and congratulate him on receiving the CBA's prestigious Themis Award.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of George C. Eyrich, a distinguished Cincinnati lawyer, public servant and friend, who passed away on April 15, 2003. George Eyrich was part of a family legacy of public service. He led the Hamilton County, Ohio Republican party for nine years with deft skill and gentle persuasion. His father, George F. Eyrich, Jr., also served as Hamilton County Republican Chairman and as a Municipal Court judge. George C. Eyrich was a good listener, a gentle man and a wise counselor. When someone remarked that he was ``too nice to be a politician,'' he responded that he just lived his words. George was the party chairman when I was a college student on the staff of the campaign of my predecessor in Congress, Bill Gradison, and for the later campaigns of President George H.W. Bush. He loved politics, and was a good mentor. A lifelong resident of the Cincinnati suburb of Westwood, he graduated from Western Hills High School, Ohio Wesleyan University; the Harvard College of Business; and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. George served our nation as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Navy stationed in the Pacific during World War II. He practiced law in Cincinnati as a partner in Wesselman & Eyrich. George served as treasurer of the Ohio State Central Committee; chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Central Committee's Policy Committee; and chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Elections. He was also very involved in civic affairs. He served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Francis-St. George Hospital, and a member of the board of directors for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the University of Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati Central YMCA. Devoted to his wonderful family, George is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gertrude (``Trudy''); a son, David; two daughters, Carole and Janet; five grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. All of us in Cincinnati are grateful for George's leadership and public service and we feel blessed for having known him.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of Mary Lu Aft, a friend and distinguished constituent, who has enriched the lives of countless individuals in the Cincinnati area. On April 25, 2003, Mary Lu will complete an unprecedented fifth and final term as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the Public Library. Friends of the Public Library is an organization that raises funds for materials, programs and services that support the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The Public Library system has a circulation of 12.8 million books, videos and other materials, and is the fourth busiest library system in the country. Mary Lu is an invaluable part of the Cincinnati community. Since 1998, she has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the Public Library, and, since 1989, has also served as its Chair of Book Sales. Over the years, Mary Lu has been integral to the success of ``Friends.'' During her service, she oversaw and coordinated used book, warehouse, and branch sales, which have raised over $1.6 million for the Public Library programs and purchases. Mary Lu also planned and coordinated the recycling of over 3 million books, which were donated to ``Friends'' or retired from the Library's circulation. Her leadership and hard work have made the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County a national model for such initiatives, and, of course, have been a tremendous benefit to those in the Cincinnati area. Mary Lu also has been active with a number of other good causes and organizations. Since 1981, she has served as a consultant to the American Red Cross, and she continues to give her time and energy to the United Way of America. Among her other activities, Mary Lu is the Co-Chair of the 2003 International Conference of Volunteer Administrators. Mary Lu's success has not gone unnoticed. She received the Great Rivers Girl Scout Council Woman of Distinction award in 2000 and the Cincinnati Enquirer's Woman of the Year award in 1999. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing Mary Lu's many accomplishments as she steps down as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Friends of the Public Library on April 25, 2003. I know Mary Lu will continue to make a difference in our community and Nation. All of us in Southwestern Ohio wish her the very best in her future endeavors.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, on April 7, 2003, I was unavoidably detained at a leadership meeting and missed the vote on rollcall No. 109 on H.R. 1055, the Roswell N. Beck Post Office Building Designation Act. Had I been present, I would have voted, ``yes.''

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 112 I inadvertently pressed the ``yea'' button. I meant to vote ``nay.'' Appointment of Conferees

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dee and Ben Gettler, good friends and distinguished constituents, who will be honored for their community service and commitment to cancer research on April 10, 2003, by the Ohio Cancer Research Associates. Dee and Ben's devotion to community and national organizations is legion. Dee was born in Troy, New York, and graduated from the College of William and Mary. She has served Cincinnati as Chairman of the Women's Committee for the Cincinnati Ballet; President of the Umbrella Board and the Board of Trustees for the Seven Hills School; Business Manager for Conversation in the Arts; and Out of Town Chairman for the Cincinnati Opera; President of the Parents Organization for Anderson High School; Member of the Advisory Council for Indian Hill Schools; Board Member for the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing; and Chairman of the University of Cincinnati Presidents Ball. She has been President of the Women's Armed Forces Memorial and is a lifetime member of Hadassah. Ben is an attorney and manufacturing company executive. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he graduated from the University of Cincinnati with high honors in economics. In 1945, Ben received his J.D. from Harvard University and was selected as a Frankfurter Scholar. He served to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army in 1955-56. From 1973 through 1987, Ben practiced law with Gettler, Katz and Buckley in Cincinnati, and is a member of the Ohio and U.S. Supreme Court bars. Currently, he is Chairman of the Board of Vulcan International Corporation, which is listed on the American Stock Exchange. Ben served as Chairman of the Board of the University of Cincinnati, has been a Member of the Board of Trustees since January, 1984, and is a member of the Presidential Search Committee. He is Chairman of the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, and was Chairman of Cincinnati's Jewish Hospital for five years. Ben was National Chairman of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) from 1994-98 and is currently Chairman of its Policy Committee. He is also a Trustee of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. All of us congratulate Dee and Ben as they are honored by Ohio Cancer Research Associates and thank them for their commitment to our community.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, on March 19, 2003, during the House's consideration of H.R. 97, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, I was recorded as voting ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 72, the substitute amendment offered by Mr. Nadler of New York. I should have been recorded as voting ``nay'' on the Nadler substitute amendment.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) and I have spoken about the fact that this budget protects our country, our national defense, and our homeland security. And nothing is more important this afternoon, as this is a very critical time in the Persian Gulf. Our troops are committed, and we are committed to them. However, this budget meets another challenge, and that is the challenge of strengthening the American economy and creating new jobs. Promoting growth in this economy and getting people back to work is a top priority of ours, and it is reflected in this budget. That is why it provides for policies that create an economic environment for boosting both long-term and short-term growth. In particular, the budget leaves room for President Bush's jobs and economic growth plan to strengthen the economy by providing an immediate stimulus to help struggling American workers and by laying the groundwork to promote long-term, sustainable growth in our Nation's economy. A Member on the other side of the aisle called this growth package irresponsible. We do not think it is irresponsible to bolster household finances or encourage consumer spending. We do not think it is irresponsible to promote investment because it leads to job creation, and we do not think it is irresponsible to help the unemployed get back to work. That is what this budget does. Mr. Chairman, 2 years ago we passed tax relief that not only put money back in people's pockets, but it slowed an advancing recession that President Bush inherited. The 2001 tax relief plan made that recession the mildest in history, and it created 1.5 million new jobs. Without the leadership this Congress showed on a bipartisan basis and this President showed, the recession and the job loss would have been far worse when America came under attack on September 11, 2001. Now in this budget we provide for the President's economic growth package which will create new jobs and sustain growth. The plan accelerates the reductions in personal income tax rates, the marriage penalty relief in the 2001 tax cuts. It accelerates the child tax credits from 2001. It increases small business expensing, and it eliminates the unfair double taxation of dividend income. Experts generally agree that this proposal will boost stock prices dramatically. Some say 7 percent, some say 20 percent. The fact is, we are going to add significantly to the value of our stock market, which helps all of us as Americans, including half of all American families now invested in the market. It helps the economy in general. Economists also say it is going to lower unemployment rates for the next several years. In fact, the average of private forecasters' estimates show the President's plan will result in more than 1 million new jobs by the end of next year. It goes without saying that America is still dealing with the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks and with the continued uncertainty on the international front, including in Iraq today. Our economy is not performing as it should, and too many Americans are out of work. This budget resolution is responsive because it helps get the economy going again; and when that happens, revenues grow. It happened in the 1960s under the leadership of President John Kennedy, and it happened in the 1980s with President Reagan's tax relief plan because it was pro-growth. Here is a chart which indicates the Reagan-era revenues. Look at this, from 1982 until 1989, the dramatic increase in revenues. Again 1960s, 1980s. That is what we are trying to replicate now. Mr. Chairman, with the growth package, we are also going to be able to be sure we can afford these tax cuts. I have heard Members say we cannot afford them; it is good to have growth tax packages, but we cannot afford it. This is an interesting chart. This is a static analysis, meaning it shows absolutely no impact of the tax relief, which has countered everything we have seen in history. When we provide that incentive for job creation, it increases revenue. It helps the budget, but this assumes none of that happens. Just to have the tax relief in place, this is the difference. The red on the chart shows what the budget would be like with the tax relief taken out altogether. No tax relief at all. The green shows the impact of all this pro-growth tax policy, again on a static analysis. As Members can see, it is a very small difference. The tax relief is not crowding out additional spending, it is growing the economy so we can get people back to work and grow our revenues. Mr. Chairman, I would like to encourage Members on the other side of the aisle to listen to one of their former colleagues, currently a Governor in the State of New Mexico. Bill Richardson, who was also a member of the Clinton cabinet, has a plan for his State that restrains spending; and, yes, it reduces tax. Why? Because he knows it is going to help his State's economy and in the end help in terms of revenues. He has said and he offers this as free advice to his fellow Democrats. He said, ``We Democrats need to stop talking about class warfare and distribution of wealth. We need to start talking about economic growth, and reducing taxes puts us on the road to economic growth.'' I think he is right. I always liked Bill Richardson, and now I know why. Well put. Mr. Chairman, this is a responsible budget because it protects our country and because it grows the economy, gets the economy back on track and creates jobs.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of the Honorable Corwin M. Nixon, a dear friend and distinguished constituent, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on March 9, 2003. Corwin has served Warren County, Ohio, and the State of Ohio with great distinction. From 1948 to 1960, he served as a Warren County Commissioner. Shortly thereafter, Corwin was elected to the Ohio General Assembly as a State Representative, where he served for 30 years from 1962 to 1992. He had the distinction of being minority leader of the Ohio House of Representatives during his last 14 years in office. Throughout his successful public service career, Corwin Nixon was always a true gentleman who worked well with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Corwin also cared deeply about his constituents. He has told me he ``used to mail get-well cards to everyone who got sick.'' Corwin once was shown four get-well cards that were kept on a constituent's mantel, one for each time this person had been in the hospital. He has also told me of his habit of sending a congratulatory note with a $1 bill enclosed to newborns, and how to this day these lucky recipients of his thoughtfulness come up to him to thank him. Corwin has been extremely active in a number of good causes and organizations locally, statewide, and nationally. He is President of the U.S. Trotting Association, where he has been a member for 16 years. For 34 years, he has been an original member of the American Horse Council. Corwin also serves on a number of boards, including the Grandview Hospital, Bethesda Hospital, and Big Brothers and Sisters. Among other activities, Corwin has managed the well-known Lebanon Raceway for 50 years. Family has always been important to Corwin. He and his wife, Eleanor, were married for 45 years before she passed away. They have two children, Keith and Karen (twins), and three grandchildren, Melissa (Missy), Tina, and Keith Jr. They also have four great grandchildren, Corwin Keith III, Eleanor, Preston, and Austin. Mr. Speaker, Corwin Nixon is a remarkable person who has touched so many lives and has given so much to our community, our state, and our nation over many years. I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing his many accomplishments as he celebrates his 90th birthday on March 9, 2003.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Charles Scripps, who will be formally honored on February 26, 2003 by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce as a Great Living Cincinnatian. The recipients of this prestigious award are selected on the basis of special professional achievement; an awareness of the needs of others; civic service; leadership; and distinctive accomplishments. Mr. Scripps is a grandson of E.W. Scripps, who founded the newspapers that began the Cincinnati-based media group that now includes the Cincinnati Post and Kentucky Post newspapers, broadcast television stations, and national cable television networks. Although he retired as the company's Chairman in 1994, Mr. Scripps remains on the Board of Directors and also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the E.W. Scripps Trust. After attending the College of William & Mary and later Pomona College in California, Mr. Scripps began his career with his father's newspaper, the Cleveland Press, as a police reporter before World War II. After service with the Coast Guard during the war, he returned to the family's business. During the 1980s, Mr. Scripps became an advocate for literacy. The Scripps Howard Foundation created an annual award, named for him, to encourage literacy outreach by the media. His civic associations do not end there. He serves on advisory boards for the Greater Cincinnati Salvation Army and the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. He is past president of the Inter-American Press Association, and he received an honorary degree in 1983 from Ohio University for his ``championship of press freedom worldwide.'' Mr. Scripps and his late wife, Lois Anne McKay, have four children. He married Mary Elizabeth Breslin in 1993. All of us in Cincinnati thank Mr. Scripps for his service to our community, and congratulate him for being named a Great Living Cincinnatian.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Phyllis Shapiro Sewell, who will be formally honored on February 26, 2003 by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce as a Great Living Cincinnatian. The recipients of this prestigious award are selected on the basis of special professional achievement; an awareness of the needs of others; leadership; and distinctive accomplishments. Bright and well educated, Phyllis graduated from Wellesley College with honors in economics in 1952. She often says she found her first job by perusing the newspaper classified advertisements under ``Help Wanted--Female.'' She could not have imagined then her impact as a pioneer in women's rights in the workplace. As a junior analyst with Federated Department Stores, Phyllis' hard work and dedication set her apart as she began her ascent up the corporate ladder. By the time she was 28, she had been promoted to research director. She spent her entire career at Federated, an $11 billion corporation operating department stores, discount stores and supermarkets. Phyllis' responsibilities centered on corporate and divisional strategic plans; studies of consumer attitudes and buying habits; and development of effective and information systems. After retiring from Federated as a senior vice president, Phyllis had a second career serving on several major corporate boards, including Pitney Bowes Inc.; U.S. Shoe Corporation; Lee Enterprises, Inc.; Sysco Corporation; and Huffy Corporation. Phyllis was named to Business Week's list of top 100 corporate women and to Industry Week's list of top 85 executives. She received Wellesley College's Alumnae Achievement Award in 1979 and was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1982. Devoted to her family, Phyllis is married to Martin Sewell, and they have a son, Charles. Phyllis has also given her talents to the boards of the Cincinnati Jewish Federation; Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati; and United Way. All of us in Cincinnati thank Phyllis for her service to our commnunity, and congratulate her for being named a Great Living Cincinnatian.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William McClain, a retired judge and former Cincinnati solicitor, who will be formally honored on February 26, 2003 by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce as a Great Living Cincinnatian. The recipients of this prestigious award are selected on the basis of special professional achievement; an awareness of the needs of others; civic service; leadership; and distinctive accomplishments. In 1937, Judge McClain arrived in Cincinnati. A product of Wittenberg University and the University of Michigan Law School, he had determination and the good fortune to practice law with the late Theodore Berry. Among the great many firsts he established for African Americans in Cincinnati, Judge McClain became Cincinnati's first African American assistant solicitor (1942); member of the Cincinnati Bar Association (1950); city solicitor (1963); and Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge (1975). He also served as Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge (1977); Hamilton County Municipal Court trial referee (1979). He has taught at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Even today, at age 89, Judge McClain spends time at his office in a major downtown Cincinnati law firm. The numerous awards he has received include: the Ellis Island Gold Medal of Honor for contributions to culture, diversity and the American way of life; the Race Relations Award from the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission; the National Bar Association Hall of Fame; and a certificate of honor from the NAACP board for outstanding civic contributions to Cincinnati in race relations, Judge McClain is married to Roberta White McClain, a retired supervisor for the Hamilton County Welfare Department. All of us in Cincinnati thank Judge McClain for his service to our community, and congratulate him for being named a Great Living Cincinnatian.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time, and I commend him for the legislation before us today which extends and builds on the very successful welfare legislation that this House passed back in 1996, truly one of the best pieces of legislation we have enacted during my time in Congress. Amazing success. We have lifted 2.7 million children out of poverty through this welfare legislation over the last 7 years. We have reduced welfare caseloads by 60 percent. In my own State of Ohio, 267,000 people have left welfare and instead started working; and they are enjoying now the dignity and the self-respect that comes with work. It is hard to argue with that success. I commend the gentleman from Maryland, the ranking member on the subcommittee, for his work with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) and now with the gentleman from California on this legislation. I know he shares our same goals, but I would have to dispute what his colleague from Maryland just said about this being a hard-hearted reauthorization of welfare reform. Hardly hard-hearted. The gentleman just made a very good point that there is no unfunded mandate, which was one of his points; and having been the author of the unfunded mandate act, I am glad we have gone through that process and determined there is flexibility here and it is not an unfunded mandate on States. More importantly, there is $2 billion in additional funding in this legislation for child care, a huge commitment over the next 2 years to provide significant new resources even at a time when our budgets are tight for something that is very important, which is transitional child care. There are more taxpayer resources obviously going to these families who need help. Back in 1996, we were giving roughly $7,000 on average per family for welfare. Now, under this program that we will hopefully pass today, it would be $16,000 per family. That is a substantial increase. The point was made that we are cutting the funds to the States. We are not. Despite a 60 percent reduction in caseloads, we are not reducing the funding to the States. We are keeping the same commitment on the block grant, plus we are adding, as I said, another $2 billion on child care. These are the statistics, and it is hard to argue with them; and there has been a lot of success. I want to talk about the personal stories just for a second. All of us have gone back home and talked to welfare moms who have taken advantage of the opportunities we have provided them over the last 6 years with this legislation. I have had the opportunity to visit with a lot of those families but also some of our good agencies back home. One is called the Accountability and Credibility Together Center in Cincinnati, Ohio; it is called ACT. They have had remarkable success. They have worked with over 5,000 families in the greater Cincinnati area to move them from welfare to work; and guess what, only 200 of those families have gone back to public assistance. Incredible success story. When I was there at the center recently, I have been there a couple of times, but a family was there. They had come in. Both the mom and dad were out of work. They were about to apply for public assistance and welfare. Instead, the center got them plugged into some educational opportunities, some job opportunities. Now this woman has gone back, she has gotten her GED. She is now in college, and her family is supporting her in that. The husband is working. Again, the dignity and the self-respect that comes from that having worked, being able to provide for a family is something that the statistics cannot tell. That is the great success story of welfare reform that this Congress passed back in 1996. This is an important extension of that. It is a necessary reauthorization, but will encourage more work, will encourage healthier families, encourage more marriage. I think this is a good bill, and I hope we will pass it with bipartisan support.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Congressman Frank Cremeans, former Representative of Ohio's 6th Congressional District, a District neighboring mine. Frank, a friend to many of us in the Chamber, passed away at his home on January 2, 2003. Frank was born in Cheshire, Gallia County, Ohio on April 5, 1945. He graduated from Kyger Creek Local in Gallipolis; received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rio Grande; and Master of Arts from Ohio University. He was an entrepreneur, a teacher, a school administrator, and a public servant. Frank ran for Congress in 1994 and was elected to the 104th Congress, where he served the citizens of the 6th Congressional District with principle and vigor. He sought to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected Representatives by signing the Contract with America. Frank was a fiscal conservative, and cared deeply about constituent service. Mr. Speaker, throughout the strenuous campaign and term in Congress, Frank Cremeans had the strong support of his loving wife, Carol, and children, John, Cari, and Leigh Ane. Family was always of great importance to him. Frank leaves a legacy of achievement in the arenas of business, education, and government. Through his successes, he touched many lives. We remember him today and offer our sincere condolences to his family.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor two dear friends and constituents, Shannon and Lee Carter, recipients of Cincinnati United Way's 2002 Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award. The award, which honors Lee and Shannon's extraordinary philanthropic leadership, will be presented on January 30, 2003 at the Cincinnati Club. Lee and Shannon Carter are a dynamic couple who make our community a better place. They have vision, creativity, energy, and a special commitment and exceptional dedication to helping at-risk children. Shannon Carter's Leadership Cincinnati class originated the idea for Crayons to Computers, a free store for teachers, and she was the driving force behind it. Shannon worked with the FreeStore Food Bank, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and Cincinnati's corporate community to get the program up and running. The store opened in February, 1997, and since then it has provided teachers with over $15 million in supplies to over 75,000 children. Before founding Crayons to Computers, Shannon was a successful businesswoman and donated her time and many talents to the Cincinnati community, including the Cincinnati Ballet; Children's Hospital Medical Center; the Greater Cincinnati Foundation; and the Taft Museum. A Cincinnati native, Shannon has been honored by the Cincinnati Enquirer as a Woman of the Year, received the Junior League's first Columbia Cup, and Family Circle magazine's first annual Halo award. Shannon and Lee have been married 24 years and have two sons, Gunner and Cody. It is easy to see why Shannon's motto is ``Be kind and other-oriented.'' When Lee Carter retired as a very successful marketing executive, he did not retire from his active involvement in the community he loves. Lee has served as Chairman of the Board, Children's Hospital Medical Center; Executive Committee Member, Every Child Succeeds; Steering Committee Member, Success by Six; Founder and President, Art Links; and Board Member, Family Service Foundation. Lee credits his father's public service with inspiring his own commitment, and says his involvement brings him enjoyment by helping to create a better Cincinnati for all of us. Every Child Succeeds is an organization especially close to Lee's heart. Lee has called Every Child Succeeds absolutely vital to the future of our area, because we can make an enormous difference in the lives of children if we reach them early. All of us in Greater Cincinnati congratulate Shannon and Lee on receiving this prestigious award, and thank them for their commitment to our community.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Reverend Lavaughn Venchael Booth, a distinguished friend and champion of faith and justice from Cincinnati, who passed away on November 17. Born on January 7, 1919 in Covington County, Mississippi, Reverend Booth received a bachelor's degree in American history from Alcorn A&M College; a bachelor's degree in divinity from Howard University; and a master's degree in church history from the University of Chicago Divinity School. He began his ministry with First Baptist Church of Warrenton, Virginia and continued his ministry with First Baptist Church of Gary, Indiana. He pastored Zion Baptist Church in the Avondale area of Cincinnati for 32 years before founding the Olivet Baptist Church in Silverton. Last year, he came out of retirement to pastor the Church upon the Rock in Anderson, Indiana. In 1961, Reverend Booth founded the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC). The PNBC became the household of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement among African-American Baptists. As Dr. Lewis V. Baldwin noted, ``King, while siding with progressives, had no active role with the organization of the PNBC.'' Dr. King at his last meeting with the PNBC in 1967 in Cincinnati emphasized according to convention minutes ``that he is a member of the PNBC. He has come to speak not as a civil rights leader, but as a minister of the gospel.'' The PNBC split from the National Baptist Convention and formed a denomination that played an active role in the civil rights movement by joining with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and provided Dr. King with a national platform. Reverend Booth served as its president from 1971-1974. Progressives today have 2.5 million members in 1,800 churches nationwide. But Reverend Booth's focus was his local ministry, and he said, ``We should have concern for the physical, as well as the spiritual well- being of people.'' He initiated economic development projects, secured the credit to build hundreds of low-income housing units and a church- run nursing home, and later established the region's first black-owned bank. Described as a visionary who dedicated his life to the Lord, he was driven to do for others, trying to make the world and his community a better place to live. Reverend Booth's civil and community activities are legendary. He was the first African-American member of the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees. He was a founding member of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, served on the board of the Cincinnati City Gospel Mission and as vice president of the Gospel World Alliance. He helped to establish the Marva Collins Preparatory School in Cincinnati; the Cincinnati Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast, a service that offered prayers for newly-elected public servants; and the National Prayer League. Reverend Booth is survived by his sons, Paul Booth of Cincinnati, who is a member of the Cincinnati City Council; Lavaughn Booth Jr. of Chicago; and Rev. Dr. William Booth of Hampton, Virginia; and daughters Anna-Marie Booth of San Francisco, and Dr. Georgia Leeper of Memphis. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. We are blessed by his life and having known him.016

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service to our country that has been performed by our outgoing Internal Revenue Service Commissioner, Charles Rossotti. Commissioner Rossotti was one of the longest serving Commissioners in the history of the Internal Revenue Service and the first to have a five-year term as recommended in the landmark IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1988. During his tenure, Commissioner Rossotti provided the IRS with the leadership it needed as it went through the most dramatic change in its history. The structural and cultural reforms he implemented will have a positive impact on both the IRS and taxpayers for many years to come. Under Commissioner Rossotti's leadership, the IRS was reorganized into four divisions, each of which is responsible for a specific segment of taxpayers. This model allows taxpayers to receive expert and personalized service and permits the IRS to more efficiently use its resources. Another significant accomplishment under Commissioner Rossotti's watch is the expanded ability to exchange data electronically. During the last tax season, nearly one in three Form 1040s was filed electronically, and the IRS Web site has become one of the most popular sites on the Internet. Charles has managed the implementation of many taxpayer rights contained in the IRS restructuring law, such as the innocent spouse and collection due process protections, and has strengthened the role of the National Taxpayer Advocate. Commissioner Rossotti's accomplishments have set the IRS on the right track to providing top-quality service and fairness to all taxpayers. He is to be commended for his efforts to transform the IRS into a performance-based organization, and dispel the belief that customer service and enforcement are mutually exclusive. Perhaps the broadest indicator of Commissioner Rossotti's impact on the IRS has been the steady rise in the public perception of the IRS in the last four years. Mr. Speaker, Charles accomplished all of this at a time in his life when he was ready to leave full-time employment and enjoy a slower paced life. He and his wife, Barbara, put their personal plans on hold for the past five years while he served our country nobly and well. He is a true citizen servant in the great tradition of the Roman hero Cincinnatus. Our country owes him a debt of gratitude for his outstanding public service. We wish Charles and Barbara the very best.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Senator Dick Finan, a dear friend and leader in my home state of Ohio. Because of term limits, Dick will be completing his final term in the Ohio Senate this year. Dick is a Cincinnati native. He graduated from the University of Dayton with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1954, and he earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1959. From 1954 to 1956, Dick served our country in the U.S. Army. Last year, he was appointed as Ohio's Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. Dick has been an outstanding public servant to the Cincinnati community and the people of Ohio. He was first elected as a Councilman of the Village of Evendale in 1963, and went on to serve as Mayor of Evendale from 1969 to 1973. He served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1973 to 1978, and, since 1978, has served in the Ohio Senate. For the past 6 years Dick has been President of the Senate. During his 29 years in the Ohio General Assembly, Dick has been an outstanding leader. He has been involved with some very difficult issues that have faced Ohio, which include workers compensation, school funding, and crafting legislation to rescue Ohio's state-chartered savings and loan institutions. He also is primarily responsible for the renovation of Ohio's historic Statehouse, which restored the Capitol to its 1861 magnificence. Throughout his service, Dick has always stood firm on his principles, and he's earned the respect of Ohioans everywhere. His retirement from the Ohio Senate is a great loss to our state and the Cincinnati area, but I know he will continue to serve our local community, the State of Ohio and our country. I look forward to continuing to work with him. Although he will greatly miss his public service in the Ohio Senate, Dick is looking forward to having more time with his family. He and his wife, Joan, have been married for over 40 years and have 4 children and 10 grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing Dick's outstanding service. All of us in Southwestern Ohio are grateful for his many contributions to our community, and we wish him the very best as he steps down from the Ohio Senate.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the call of the Private Calendar be in order on Thursday, November 14.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. His passion and his persistence are the reason that we are here tonight to do this important work, and I appreciate the role he played in moving this legislation through the system as chair of the Select Committee on Homeland Security. Mr. Speaker, there is an old saying that goes ``Times change and we change with them too.'' Times have changed and it is imperative to the security of our country, security of our families that our government change as well. On September 11, 2001, the terrorists who struck our homeland killed more civilians than all our foreign enemies combined. We all woke up to the fact that the threats we face now are very different from the ones we faced in the past. During the Cold War, we adapted our government structure to better utilize the resources we had to fight then a superpower. Today we face a more unpredictable and a more agile enemy and a very deadly enemy, and today we must reorganize our government again so we can stop that enemy before it strikes again, and we are not ready. There are over 100 departments and agencies with some involvement in homeland security, and when every one is in charge, no one is in charge. There is no accountability in the current system. Last summer President Bush presented to the Congress a very ambitious and visionary plan to merge and consolidate responsibilities in a new Department of Homeland Security, similar to what Senator Lieberman had proposed and what various commissions had proposed. He laid out three strategic objectives: First, prevention of attacks; second, minimizing our vulnerabilities; and, third, minimizing the damage and maximizing recovery should an attack occur. These three pillars provided us with a clear framework to align our resources, people and capital, and to align responsibility and accountability. This single unified structure will make us more efficient, will make us more effective in the fight against terrorism. It will not make us immune, but it will make us safer. I strongly believe in what we are doing tonight, not because we are creating a new department but because we are doing it the right way. We are giving this President and future Presidents the flexibility they will need to make it work. That is budget flexibility; it is organizational flexibility; and, yes, it is personnel flexibility to be sure the right people are in the right place at the right time to protect us. The 21st century threats that we now meet head on cannot be handled by early 20th century civil service rules and bureaucracy. So, yes, the President and the new Secretary of Homeland Security will have the flexibility to design a new human resources management system, but it is one that will preserve fundamental civil service and worker protections while at the same time building a team atmosphere that is absolutely crucial by rewarding and promoting excellence and ensuring that we can do all we can to recruit the best people to this task. We have before us, Mr. Speaker, a bill that will both protect the homeland and protect workers' rights. It is the right balance. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strongly support this legislation before us tonight. It represents an agreement between the House and the Senate and the White House, and by joining together we will send a strong message to the American people and to the other body that we are committed to doing all we can to protect our families and our country.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding section 7 of House Resolution 449, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) be permitted through the end of the 107th Congress to submit the proceedings of the Select Committee on Homeland Security for printing pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XI of the rules of the House of Representatives for the 107th Congress.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) for yielding me time, and I appreciate the input he has had in this legislation. I know he feels deeply about the need to protect our homeland and our families. I appreciate his willingness to take the management responsibility today on the floor. Mr. Speaker, I would just say that we have before us a true consensus bill. It is one that has been worked out by the Senate, worked out with various interested parties. This bill passed the House of Representatives, as my colleagues will recall, with more than a two to one margin. I hope we would get additional support today so it will be a strong bipartisan show of support for, indeed, moving forward with the necessary new Department of Homeland Security to better protect us. I do think it is necessary to respond briefly to the comments of my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone). I was listening and he said it destroys the rights to collectively bargain. That is not in here. That may be another piece of legislation or maybe one that someone else has told him about. I would urge him to read this legislation. In fact, it guarantees the right to collectively bargain. Under existing law, existing authority, the President of the United States has the ability under his national security role to be able to pull from individual collective bargaining, individual collective bargaining units or agencies on the basis of national security. This is something that President Kennedy put into effect through executive order. President Carter signed a law to that effect. It has been in the law ever since. Every President since Jimmy Carter has used it and used it judiciously. All that we do in this legislation is actually narrow that right. We say under the Homeland Security Department the President cannot merely find a national security interest is at stake. It has to be a significant and adverse impact on homeland security. And we further say the President has to notify this Congress 10 days prior to using any such authority. So I do not know where the gentleman gets this that we are taking current law and making it in any sense worse for civil service or for public employees. In fact, with regard to the President's national security waiver, which is what I assume he is referring to, we narrow it. The right to collectively bargain is explicitly listed in the legislation before us as a guarantee under this department. In fact, the union representation, which will be roughly one out of every three employees or one out of every four employees in this new department would be represented by a union, those union representatives will have a seat at the table. Although representing just one in four of these employees in this new department, they are guaranteed to have a negotiating role, and this is one of the changes we have made in the legislation over the last few days, is that in fact if there are any disagreements with regard to the necessary new personnel flexibilities that in fact it goes to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for negotiation. If at the end of that process they cannot agree, then, yes, the new personnel practices will be put into place. But in the meantime Congress is notified and you go through this process of negotiation. I would just underline again that this was something that was carefully thought out over time. The House passed it three and a half months ago. It was bipartisan from the start. The gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) has talked about it being a Democrat idea. It has also been a Republican idea. It has been a bipartisan idea. And I would applaud Senator Lieberman and others who pushed it so hard after the tragedy of 9/11. I would say the creation of this Department of Homeland Security may be the most important thing we do in this Congress. Even though it looks like it will finally happen in terms of enacting it during a lame duck session, nothing is more important to us than protecting the homeland. I would strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the good bill before us.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Donald Harrison, a friend and community leader, who will retire as Senior Vice President and Provost of the University of Cincinnati (U.C.) Medical Center next year. Since 1986, Don has been at the helm of the U.C. Medical Center. Don was recruited from Stanford University, where he held a number of positions while working as a researcher and clinician for 23 years. Under Don's 16 years of leadership, the U.C. Medical Center has become a world-class teaching and research institution. One of the important reasons for Don's success has been his ability to recruit outstanding medical professionals who are among the best and brightest in the world. With his team, he developed a new concept for U.C. and the University Hospital as a health system. This helped position the U.C. Medical Center as a major medical facility in the nation to provide research education and patient care for the next century. As one of his early accomplishments, Don was key in the 1990s in helping to save University Hospital, which faced a financial crisis and could have cost Cincinnati one of its most important hospitals. At the same time, Don was looking ahead to turn the Medical Center into one of the most prominent research institutions in the world. Don headed up the Reaching for the 21st Century plan which aimed to markedly increase research in heart disease, cancer, neurosicences as well as in perinatal and neonatology. During Don's tenure, research funding increased from $30 million annually to $209 million over this past year. The more recent Millennium Plan adds diabetes to its research focus areas. As part of the Millennium Plan, the existing Medical Sciences building will be renovated and expanded and the Genome Research Institute will be established. During Don's tenure, U.C. Medical Center's programs and experts have become increasingly well known and respected for health sciences, research, education and patient care. And in addition to offering excellent health care to those in the Cincinnati area, the Medical Center has been shown to have an annual $3.05 billion economic impact on our area. These successes can be attributed to Don's vision and hard work over the years. Don also is an entrepreneur and, among his accomplishments, he established BioStart at the Medical Center to give researchers a place to nurture their work to a point where it may become commercially viable. Throughout his career, Don also continued his work as a practicing, world renown cardiologist. Mr. Speaker, Don has had a profound impact on the lives and economy of Greater Cincinnati, boosting the national reputation of the U.C. Medical Center and improving the health care available to people in the Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana tristate region. The medical research conducted at the Medical Center under Don's leadership also has enhanced the health care available to people across our nation and throughout the world. All of us in Southwestern Ohio are grateful to Don for his contributions to our community, and we wish him well as he steps down from his post as Senior Vice President and Provost of the U.C. Medical Center.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph Steger, a friend and constituent, who will retire as president of the University of Cincinnati next year. Dr. Steger has been president of U.C. for more than eighteen years, beginning his service on July 6, 1984. He has served longer than any of U.C.'s former presidents except one, and his accomplishments on behalf of the University have been described as nothing short of phenomenal. His success touched every segment of the University, from academics and research to fundraising. Dr. Steger brought the University into the digital age. Credited with bringing the Internet into the University's academic programs, Dr. Steger created a $1.5 million fund to help the faculty to adapt the new technology to the school's programs. Under his direction, the University became a research powerhouse. Research funding quadrupled to more than $260 million, and the University's important National Science Foundation research ranking rose from 76 to 47. It was Dr. Steger who pioneered the international co-op program because, he said, a world class university should have a global presence. The University signed affiliation agreements with more than fifty universities from China to France, and he introduced requirements for language and cultural studies. Dr. Steger believed the university should operate more like a private institution, so he worked to increase fundraising from $15 million annually to $73 million in the most recent fiscal year. During his tenure, the University's endowment grew from $150 million to nearly $1 billion. He initiated major physical changes to the campus, including new academic and research buildings designed by world renowned architects. Dr. Steger graduated from Gettysburg College and earned his masters and doctoral degrees from Kansas State University. After working for Prudential Life Insurance, Dr. Steger began his academic career at the State University of New York-Albany, where he was named Outstanding Educator of the State University of New York System. He went on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where he served as professor, vice president for administration and budget, and later dean and acting provost. Dr. Steger was director of organizational development and human resources for New York-based Colt Industries Inc. when he was named provost of the University of Cincinnati in 1982. Joe Steger and his wife, Carol, are a formidable team. We hope they will stay in our area. All of us in Greater Cincinnati appreciate the remarkable contributions of Dr. Steger. We will miss him as president of the University and we wish him great success in the new challenges to come.