Rob Portman

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time on the legislative day of Wednesday, February 14, 2001, for the Speaker to entertain a motion that the House suspend the rules relating to H.R. 524.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time on the legislative day of Wednesday, February 14, 2001, without intervention of any point of order, to consider in the House H.R. 559; that the bill be considered as read for amendment; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the bill to final passage without intervening motion except for 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and one motion to recommit.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 28) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Milton W. Hinton, a community leader who will be honored as a Great Living Cincinnatian by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce on February 9, 2001. He was selected for his outstanding community service, business and civic accomplishments, awareness of the needs of others and achievements that have brought favorable attention to the Cincinnati area. Milton was born and raised in Glassboro, New Jersey, and he has spent the last thirty years in Cincinnati. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Glassboro State College, and, in 1969, he received his doctorate in education from Columbia University. Throughout his life, Milton has been deeply committed to education and to efforts promoting civil rights and improved race relations. He began his teaching career in the Philadelphia and Glassboro public school systems. He then went on to become Head of the Department of Special Education at Virginia State University, He moved to our area in 1970 after the University of Cincinnati offered him a teaching position. At the University, he has served as a Professor, Department head and Vice Provost. Milton also has had a strong presence at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). While in New Jersey he served for five years as President of the Glassboro branch of the NAACP and for an additional eight years as President of the Gloucester County branch. At the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP, he served as President from 1994 until his recent retirement this past December. Because of his leadership and hard work, the chapter has seen its membership grow from 700 to approximately 3,500, and, with it, the effectiveness of the chapter also has tremendously increased. One of his most noteworthy accomplishments at the chapter is the development of a Citizens Review Panel for the Cincinnati Police Division. He and his wife, Betti, continue to live in Cincinnati. The have one son, one daughter and two granchildren. All of us in the Cincinnati area congratulate Milton on being named a Great Living Cincinnatian, and we look forward to his continued leadership in our area.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to William J. Keating, a dear friend and community leader who will be honored as a Great Living Cincinnatian by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce on February 9, 2001. He was selected for this honor because of his outstanding civic and business accomplishments, his awareness of the needs of others and his contributions that have increased the quality of life in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio. Bill is a native Cincinnatian, and he has tirelessly worked to make our area a better place to live. He graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1945 where he was an All-American swimmer. Shortly thereafter, he served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and later was a first lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve, J.A.G. When Bill returned home after World War II, it took him only 4 years to earn his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Cincinnati. Bill has had a most distinguished and successful career. In 1954, he helped to establish one of Cincinnati's premier law firms, Keating, Muething & Klekamp, P.L.L.; he was elected and served as a judge for the Hamilton County municipal and common pleas courts for nearly a decade; he was elected to Cincinnati City Council for two terms from 1967 to 1970; and he represented the First Congressional District of Ohio from 1970 to 1973. After two distinguished terms in the U.S. Congress, Bill returned to Cincinnati to run our largest daily newspaper. He was chairman of the Cincinnati Enquirer from 1973 to 1992. During that tenure, he was alternately publisher of the Enquirer, chief executive officer of the Detroit Newspaper Agency, president of the Newspaper Division of Gannett Co., Inc., and Gannett's executive vice president and general counsel. In addition, Bill served as chairman of the Associated Press from 1987 to 1992. Bill also as given a great deal of his time to serve on the board of directors for several successful local companies and nonprofits, including Fifth Third Bancorp and Fifth Third Bank; The Midland Company; Metropolitan Growth Alliance; and the Cincinnati Arts Association. Other current and past leadership roles include: former chairman of the board of trustees, University of Cincinnati; board of trustees, Xavier University; former cochairman, Cincinnati Business Committee; and former chairman of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. Always keeping busy, Bill most recently became chairman of the bid development for Cincinnati 2012, Inc., to help bring the Olympics to Cincinnati in 2012. He is a proud and devoted family man. He and his wife, Nancy, have 5 sons, 2 daughters and 27 grandchildren. All of us in the Cincinnati area thank him for his outstanding service, and we wish him the very best on his current and future endeavors.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a good friend and distinguished constituent, Edward J. Maruska, who recently stepped down as the long-serving Executive Director of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. He will be honored on January 12, 2001, by the Board of Trustees of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for his outstanding accomplishments and steadfast work. In 1962, Ed began his work at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden as General Curator. In 1968, he became the Zoo's Executive Director, and, since then, he has worked tirelessly to make it one of the very best in the nation. The Zoo is known for its rare and diverse animal collection, which includes 75 endangered species. Thanks to Ed, the Zoo now also is recognized around the world for its state-of-the-art exhibits. Exhibits like the outdoor primate center, Big Cat Canyon and the outdoor red panda area are praised worldwide for their appearance and design. In addition, the Zoo has been very successful at breeding rare and endangered species. Ed has written more than 20 books, articles and papers that cover a number of zoological topics ranging from exotic cats to amphibians and salamanders. He is also one of the world's foremost experts on salamanders, and his research interest in the maintenance and reproduction of amphibians has made the Zoo's research collections of salamanders among the best in the nation. Ed has dedicated much of his time as a member of many organizations, including the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums; the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles; the Whooping Crane Conservation Association; the Explorer's Club; the International Society of Zooculturists; The Wilds; and the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens. Ed plans to maintain an office at the Zoo where he will continue his work as a writer and on conservation efforts with a particular focus on species extinctions. All of us in the Cincinnati area are greatful to Ed for his vision and hard work, and we wish him well on his future endeavors.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, the 2000 Report of the Social Security Board of Trustees projects that the amount of money going out of the Social Security Trust Fund will begin to exceed the tax dollars coming into the system in 2015 and, as a result, the Social Security Trust Fund will be depleted in 2037. At that time, only 72% of Social Security benefits would be payable with incoming receipts unless changes are made today. The primary reason is demographic: the post-World War II baby boomers will begin retiring in less than a decade and life expectancy is rising. By 2025 the number of people age 65 and older is predicted to grow by 75%. In contrast, the number of workers supporting the system would grow by 13%. If there are no other surplus governmental receipts, policymakers would have three choices: raise taxes or other income, cut spending, or borrow the money. Mirroring this adverse outlook are public opinion polls showing that fewer than 50% of respondents are confident that Social Security can meet its long-term commitments. There also is a widespread perception that Social Security may not be as good a value in the future as it is today. While it is accepted that Social Security reform is needed without undue delay, there clearly is no consensus on how this should be accomplished. This was evident by the Report of the 1994-1996 Social Security Advisory Council, which provided three very different plans but none of which received a majority's endorsement. It also is reflected by the many bills introduced in the 105th and 106th Congress and proposals by the Administration that represents a diversity of approaches to Social Security reform. As a result of differences within Congress and no clear direction from the outgoing Administration during the last 8 years, there has been no movement on Social Security reform. This state of affairs shows the need for to develop consensus legislation between Congress and the Bush Administration that can be enacted into law without undue delay. To accomplish this goal, Mr. Condit and I are reintroducing a bill we offered last year to establish a Bipartisan Commission on Social Security Reform charged with developing a unified proposal to ensure the long-term retirement security of Americans. It is important to note that President-elect Bush has endorsed the concept of a bipartisan commission to pave the way to a consensus on Social Security reform. The Commission we propose will consist of 17 members to be appointed by the House and Senate majority and minority leadership and the President. The commissioners are to be individuals of recognized standing and distinction who can represent the multiple generations who have a stake in the viability of the Social Security system. They also must possess a demonstrated capacity to carry out the commission's responsibilities. At least 1 of the commissioners will represent the interests of employees and 1 member will represent the interests of employers. Reforming Social Security needs to be addressed sooner, not later, to allow for phasing in any necessary changes and for workers to adjust their plans to take account of those changes. Further delay simply is not acceptable, and it is my hope that we will take up the Bipartisan Commission on Social Security Reform Act of 2001 as one of the first pieces of business in the 107th Congress. Mr. Condit and I will be working with the leadership and the Bush Administration to make this goal a reality.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a distinguished friend, Judge Deidra Hair, who will step down from her service on the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on December 31, 2000. In 1995, the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court was founded as Ohio's first drug court. Judge Hair, who helped to establish the drug court, has tirelessly handled about 1,500 cases each year. Her court has become a model across Ohio, and since 1995, ten additional courts in Ohio have been crafted in its likeness. The goal of the drug court is to rehabilitate substance abusers and keep them out of court and out of prison. Those arrested on drug abuse charges or those who commit a non-violent felony under the influence of drugs may have their case heard by the drug court. Using strict criteria, the court may accept applicants who do not have a violent criminal background and who have committed a low- level felony that does not require prison time. If accepted, they must plead guilty and enter drug rehabilitation. The goal is to break the cycle of addiction, so the court selects those who are most likely to be helped. I have been privileged to observe the drug court and to attend an inspiring graduation ceremony for participants who have successfully completed this program. Through that, I've seen firsthand the good work that drug rehabilitation can do. Judge Hair has literally helped to turn hundreds of lives around in the Cincinnati community, and she will be dearly missed when she steps down from the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. All of us in the Cincinnati area wish her the very best in her future endeavors.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, because I was unavoidably detained, I was absent for rollcall vote No. 603. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Father James Hoff, a friend, educator and community leader, who will step down from his service as President of Xavier University on December 31, 2000. Over the past ten years, Father Hoff has led Xavier to great new heights. In 1992, he began Xavier 2000 which led to the Century Campaign, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the school's history, raising the endowment from $24 million to $89 million. He has also significantly strengthened the university's curriculum, advanced the quality of its faculty and created a more unified, attractive campus. Perhaps most telling of Father Hoff's work is the success of Xavier's students. In the 1990's, the average high-school grade-point average of its incoming students rose from 2.9 to 3.49 for the current class. And, in 1998, the school ranked first in the nation for student-athlete graduation rates (100 percent). In 1995, Xavier was recognized for the first time by U.S. News and World Report as one of ``America's Best Colleges,'' placing fifteenth among Midwest schools. In its 2001 ranking, Xavier climbed to seventh among regional institutions in the Midwest. Xavier has also received recognition from Money magazine and the John Templeton Honor Roll. Although Father Hoff surely deserves much of the credit, he is modest and quick to recognize Xavier's faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, administration and students--all of whom have helped to raise the level of excellence at the school. He says his greatest accomplishment during his tenure is defining the school's mission: ``to prepare students intellectually, morally and spiritually to take their places in a rapidly changing global society and to work for the betterment of that society.'' He certainly has done that, and all of us in the Cincinnati area thank him for his vision and goodwill. We look forward to his continued leadership in our area.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the 75th Anniversary of the founding of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. On December 16, 1925, Frank Horton formed Alpha Phi Omega with a group of students at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Horton's service in World War I, and his subsequent introduction to the Scout Oath and Law, helped to inspire him to found the fraternity as a way to encourage young people to help others and to bring about a better, more peaceful world. Alpha Phi Omega members are united by the principles of leadership, friendship and service. These principles are designed to aid fraternity members in discovering and developing their leadership abilities, not only by making last friendships, but also by planning and providing helpful service to others. Since its founding, Alpha Phi Omega has chartered chapters at more than 700 campuses nationwide, and more than 300,000 Americans have been inducted into the organization. The fraternity is proud to count Members of Congress and even Presidents of the United States among its many distinguished alumni. Today, Alpha Phi Omega is active on about 350 campuses, large and small, with 18,000 current members throughout the country. For its members, Alpha Phi Omega is much more than an extracurricular activity. It is a way for members to make their campuses, their communities and their world a better place for all of us. Alpha Phi Omega begins as a college experience, but its members have made it a lifetime commitment to turning Frank Reed Horton's noble ideal of a better and more peaceful world into a reality. I commend Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity for a successful first 75 years, and I would like to thank my friend and constituent, Mr. Ed Richter of Franklin, Ohio, for bringing this significant milestone to my attention. Mr. Richter currently serves as National Service/ Communication Program Director for the organization. I join my colleagues in wishing continued success to Alpha Phi Omega and its distinguished members and alumni.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I honor the Reading Junior-Senior High School Esteem Team, which received Ohio's 2000 BEST Practices Award on October 10, 2000. The BEST Practices Award honors groups that improve the performance of Ohio's students through innovative, effective approaches to common education challenges. The Esteem Team has an outstanding record of positive results. I have met and worked with several members of the Team, and I can say firsthand that their work has made a very significant difference in the Cincinnati community. The Team was founded in 1989 by three senior students at Reading Junior-Senior High School. The goal of the program is to instruct and motivate other students to lead safe, healthy lifestyles. The group is student-run, and, since 1989, it has blossomed from a handful of members to its current count of almost 90. Molly Flook Woodrow, who teaches special needs students at Reading Junior-Senior High School, serves as the Team's advisor and has done so since the Team was established. The Esteem Team members play a critical role in our community by serving as role models and contributors to safe, drug-free lifestyles for other students. The Team primarily educates elementary and secondary students by providing current, accurate information on the dangers and often life-threatening effects of drug abuse. Through organized workshops, group discussions, role-playing and informative skits, these young leaders have developed an effective message that teaches students to make good decisions and to be responsible. The Esteem Team has been instrumental to efforts to reverse substance abuse trends in our area, and we are very fortunate for the hard work of its members. All of us in the Cincinnati area congratulate the Esteem Team on receiving Ohio's 2000 BEST Practices Award.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, it was necessary for me to be in my district yesterday to meet a long-standing obligation. Consequently, I was unable to be present for rollcall No. 584 and rollcall No. 585. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' in both cases.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, we are still here tonight for one very simple reason. We are here with another battling with the President of the United States. He would like us to spend more money, and he would like us not to cut taxes for the American people. It is unbelievable. As we are working here tonight, the President is threatening to veto very reasonable, even targeted tax relief that helps people save more for retirement, helps people obtain health care, helps people be able to improve our schools and construct more schools around this country. He has even threatened to veto tonight the repeal of the Federal excise tax on telephones. This is the 1898 temporary luxury tax put in place on telephones that lives on today. This tax hits particularly people that have fixed incomes very hard. Think about it, everyone in America needs a telephone. It is very important to those of us who are worried about our economy and worried about what is going to keep our economy going that telecommunications not be taxed. Yet the President believes this tax, this 3 percent tax that is on every one of our phone bills that goes into general revenues that was put in place in 1898 as a temporary luxury tax ought to continue in existence. We have a surplus all created by the American people. Let us hope this President begins to give a little meaningful, serious, reasonable tax relief.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, because I was unavoidably detained, I was absent for rollcall vote No. 554. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for having this special order. You know, it is hard to imagine this place without Bill Archer. He will be very much missed; by me, by Members of this Congress from both sides of the aisle, by the Committee on Ways and Means, arguably the most powerful committee in Congress, that he has shepherded with such skill, and by this institution, by the House, as a body. Let us be frank here. Not all of us will leave such a void. Not all of us will have such a remarkable legacy. What is it about Bill Archer? He is a very special person. I have learned a lot from him. He is a principled, fierce advocate of limited government, and yet no one I know has deeper respect for public service. I remember once being at an event where Bill Archer was asked to speak. Without notes he stood up and recited from memory Teddy Roosevelt's great statement, in which he said, ``The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,'' and Bill Archer feels that in his heart. He has respect for all of us as Members of Congress, in part because of that respect for public service. He is firm, he is tough, he is also exceedingly polite. Who in this chamber has not been greeted at one point by Bill Archer with a smile, extending his hand saying, how are you? Even as Chairman, Bill Archer has been very careful not to demand loyalty from members of the Committee on Ways and Means. He rarely asks anybody for anything, and yet I know nobody who is more loyal than Bill Archer. Leader Dick Armey reminded me recently of a song that Bill Archer is fond of. One day here on the floor things were tough on an issue, I was having a difficult time as a relatively junior Member of Congress, and Bill Archer took me aside and told me about a song he used to are cite to his kids to instill in them a sense of loyalty and brotherly love. It is a song about two combatants in the Civil War, one on the side of the North, one on the side of the South. One goes down on the Gray side of the line. The one on the Blue side of the line says something like, did you think I would leave you dying, when there is room on my horse for two? He sung that song to his boys so that they would have brotherly love, but it goes to what Bill Archer believes, which is there is nothing more important than personal loyalty. Bill Archer will be succeeded in Congress and in that district in Houston where he gets something like 80 percent of the vote, and he will be succeeded at the Committee on Ways and Means as Chairman, but nobody will replace Bill Archer. We are going to miss him, the Committee on Ways and Means will miss him, and this institution will miss him.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I know this is a political year, and I know that not everybody got everything in this legislation that they wanted in this legislation, but is that a reason to vote against the legislation? Look at this bill. It expands health care coverage for all Americans; provides very important help for long-term care; increases the Medicare reimbursement to our hospitals, to our nursing homes, to our home health agencies $28 billion over 5 years and $75 billion over 10 years. It helps our schools to construct more schools. It provides computers to the classrooms, encourages adoption. It helps create jobs in our poorest inner cities and rural areas. It gives small businesses needed tax relief so that they can provide health care insurance, so that they can create more jobs. This is a good bill. Let me focus on one provision that I am particularly proud of that this Congress passed by a vote of 401 to 25, only a few short months ago, totally bipartisan. The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin) and I worked on this for the last 3 years together. The gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) and others on our side of the aisle worked so hard on it. It provides retirement security for all Americans. Half of America's workforce, 70 million people, have no pension coverage at all today, and everybody agrees on the right, on the left, and the center that we need to increase savings in our economy so that we can be sure that the economic prosperity that we are now enjoying continues. This legislation addresses these issues head on. It does 3 things. It lets everybody save more in an IRA, moving it from $2,000 a year to $5,000 a year. It lets people save more in their 401(k)s. Mr. Speaker, 42 million Americans that we represent now have 401(k)s. It lets everybody put more aside for their own retirement, in traditional pension plans. Second, it allows rollover of pension plans from job to job. In our increasingly mobile society, that is very important to the workers we represent. Finally, it streamlines and modernizes our pension laws to reduce the costs, the burdens and the liabilities, particularly to small business, so that more and more Americans will be able to enjoy a secure retirement. This is good stuff. Mr. President, I cannot believe you are thinking of vetoing this legislation. Do not stand in the way of retirement security.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 4811, the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act for FY 2001. I'd like to thank Chairman Callahan and Ranking Member Pelosi for once again including $13 million in funding for the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act expands President Bush's Enterprise for the Americas Initiative and provides a creative market- oriented approach to protect the world's most threatened tropical forests on a sustained basis. It is a cost-effective way to respond to the global crisis in tropical forests--since 1950, half of the world's tropical forests have been lost. The groups that have the most experience preserving tropical forests--including the Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International and others--agree with this approach, and the Administration strongly supports it as well. It is an excellent example of the kind of bipartisan approach we should have on environmental issues. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act gives the President authority to reduce or cancel U.S. AID and/or P.L. 480 debt owed by an eligible country to the United States. In return, the country creates a fund in its local currency to preserve, maintain, and restore its tropical forests. I am delighted that on September 12, 2000 the United States and Bangladesh signed the first Tropical Forest Conservation Act agreement. This agreement will allow Bangladesh to save $10 million in debt payments to the U.S. over 18 years. In return, Bangladesh is setting aside $8.5 million in its local currency to endow a Tropical Forest Conservation Fund. Bangladesh's tropical forests cover more than three million acres, including an area that is home to 400 endangered Bengal tigers, the world's largest single population. The area also contains one of the largest mangrove forests in the world, and it has wetlands of internationally-recognized importance. Bangladesh is home to more than 5,000 species of plants, compared to 18,000 in the United States, which is 67 times its size. Clearly, the debt-for-forest arrangement with Bangladesh will play an important role in preserving endangered species and protecting biodiversity, as well as help that struggling nation's economy. On another front, our government is actively involved in debt treatment discussions with the government of Belize, including a possible debt swap option with non-government organizations. This is an excellent example of a public-private partnership to protect tropical forests. Several other countries have expressed interest in participating in Tropical Forest Conservation agreements including El Salvador, Peru, Thailand, Paraguay, Ecuador, Indonesia, Costa Rica, and the Philippines. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act preserves and protects important tropical forests worldwide in a fiscally responsible fashion, and I call upon my colleagues to support the conference report which provides the funds necessary to implement this important program.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Theodore M. Berry, a local hero who passed away on October 15, 2000. Over the past century, Ted had a profound impact on the Cincinnati area, and our nation, as a civic leader and civil rights advocate. Ted was born in Maysville, KY, on November 8, 1905. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Cincinnati, graduating as the valedictorian from Cincinnati's Woodward High School in June, 1924. He went on to the University of Cincinnati Law School, where he paid his way by working at local steel mills. He graduated in 1931 and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1932. In the 1930's and 1940's, Ted was a prominent leader at the NAACP Cincinnati branch, where twice he was elected president. In 1939, he was appointed Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor. From 1947 to 1961, he served on the Ohio Committee for Civil Rights Legislation, focusing his attention on equal employment and fair housing issues. During this period, he also began a career as a Cincinnati City Council member. Over the course of his life, Ted worked tirelessly to fight poverty, and, in 1964, he created Cincinnati's first Community Action Commission, which enabled Cincinnati to participate with President Lyndon Johnson's new Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). A year later, President Johnson appointed Ted as head of OEO's Community Action Programs. Under Ted's leadership, innovative and effective programs such as Head Start were established. When he returned to Cincinnati, he became the city's first African-American mayor, serving from 1972 to 1975. Since then, he has reappeared in the public spotlight helping to advance the causes of numerous political and civic organizations. Ted was honored by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce as a Great Living Cincinnatian in 1984. In 1999, Cincinnati City Council approved funds to construct the Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park along Cincinnati's riverfront. Last February, Applause! magazine honored Ted as the ``Person of the Century'' at the 10th annual Imagemaker Awards at the Arnoff Center for the Arts. In March, the Hamilton County Commissioners approved funds to construct the future Theodore M. Berry Way in Cincinnati. Ted is survived by his wife, Johnnie Mae, and their three children: Theodore Berry, Jr., Faith Berry, and Gail Berry West. He was a dedicated public servant and strong advocate for civil rights, and, although he will be dearly missed, his accomplishments, leadership, and compassion will not be forgotten.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4205, the FY 01 Defense Authorization bill. Of particular interest to my constituents in southwest Ohio--particularly those in western Hamilton County--is the provision based on legislation that I have cosponsored that establishes a new Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program. This program will assist workers exposed to radiation, beryllium and other toxic substances in the course of carrying out their work in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex. Many of these workers have become sick from illnesses that can be traced to that exposure. The former Fernald Feed Materials Production Center, which is located in my district, was part of our nuclear weapons production complex for nearly 40 years from 1951 to 1988. Too often, these workers were not even aware of the hazards they faced in their jobs--hazards that have frequently had serious health effects. What we are considering today will provide covered workers and their survivors at Fernald and around the Nation with the compensation they deserve that guarantees a specific minimum benefit and medical expenses. I urge my colleagues to support this important and long overdue program.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Manuel D. Mayerson, who will be honored at the Second Annual Circle of Life Awards Dinner in Cincinnati on October 5, 2000. The Circle of Life Awards Dinner raises awareness about the severity of brain injury and honors leaders like Manuel for their work in helping young people with disabilities. Brain injury is the most frequent cause of disability and death among children and adolescents in the United States. Each year, over 1 million children sustain injuries with more than 30,000 suffering a serious permanent disability. Manuel's interest in helping children and others with disabilities began about 10 years ago when he was approached by several organizations about the problems of infant brain injuries caused by shaking. Manuel then decided to form the Family Violence Coalition, which focuses on programs to prevent child abuse. Most recently and through Manuel's support, the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati was founded to help prevent, identify and treat child abuse and neglect. Manuel also serves as a trustee at Children's Hospital. Outside the Hospital, he has been instrumental in establishing programs like the Inclusion Network, which works to increase acceptance of the disabled, and other important human service programs that help people to overcome limiting conditions. Manuel continues to serve on a number of boards including: the Cincinnati Children's Hospital; Hebrew Union College; Contemporary Arts Center; Cincinnati Art Museum; and the Freestore/Foodbank. In addition, the Mayerson Foundation, supported by Manuel and his wife, Rhoda, has been most generous to causes that improve the lives of children, people with disabilities, and to community institutions aimed at preserving cultural heritage. Manuel and Rhoda have three children: Neil, Fred, and Arlene. In addition to the many influences in Manuel's life, Arlene, a civil liberties attorney and one of the architects of the Americans with Disabilities Act, has had a significant impact in shaping his commitment to helping those with disabilities. All of us in the Cincinnati area congratulate Manuel for his outstanding leadership, service and commitment to improving the lives of others.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, because I was unavoidably detained, I missed Roll Call Votes #503, 504 and 505 yesterday. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' on each bill.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of National Pollution Prevention Week, which is being observed this week, September 18-24, by many in the Second District of Ohio and across the nation. Originating in California in 1992, Pollution Prevention Week gained widespread popularity in states like Ohio before becoming a national effort in 1995. This week it continues its valuable role in raising awareness about pollution prevention. Stopping pollution before it starts is one of the most cost-effective ways to conserve resources and keep our environment clean. Often, these goals are best achieved locally, and, for a number of years, the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition has recognized the environmental and economic benefits of preventing pollution at its source. The Coalition strives to protect our environment with cooperative action between businesses, individuals, environmental and community groups and government agencies. This past year, the Coalition successfully worked with a number of groups through the City of Cincinnati Office of Environmental Management to increase the use of recyclable material at public events. Mr. Speaker, Pollution Prevention Week reminds us that the best way to conserve our resources and have a clean environment is to keep problems from developing in the first place. It encourages us to work for a cleaner environment while maintaining a competitive, prosperous business climate. These are goals we can all support. I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing Pollution Prevention Week.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), very much for yielding me this time; and I thank him for bringing this bill, H.R. 5203, to the floor today. It is the Debt Relief and Retirement Security Reconciliation Act of 2000, and it is designed to give reconciliation protection to legislation we have already passed for the purpose of negotiating with the Senate to move this process forward and to get these bills enacted this year. The first is the debt lockbox legislation that puts 90 percent of this year's budget surplus projected for 2001 into debt relief, and then second of course is the bipartisan retirement security legislation that we have passed in this House by a vote of 401 to 25, which expands and strengthens IRAs, 401(k)s and other pensions. I would like to focus, if I could, this afternoon on the retirement security package that is before us. This is bipartisan legislation that my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), and I have worked on over the last 3 years. It is very important. It is very important we get it enacted and do so this year. We need to do all we can because there is a real retirement security crunch out there. Seventy million Americans, about half the workforce, do not have any kind of a pension at all today, not even a 401(k), nothing. The problem is even worse among small businesses. We are told that less than 20 percent of small businesses, Mr. Speaker, that is with businesses of 25 or fewer employees, offer any kind of pension coverage today. Now, this is at a time when private savings in this country is dangerously low. In fact, last month we are told that our savings rate in this country was actually negative. This, of course, hurts our economy. It presents a real danger to our economy moving forward, but it also hurts people; it hurts individuals. Experts tell us that older baby-boomers, for instance, have put only 40 percent aside of what they will need for a financially secure retirement. So it is time to take action, and it is time to do it now. Part of the problem we have had over the years is right here in Congress. Over the last 20 years, Congress has made pensions less generous by lowering the contribution of benefit levels, believe it or not, and while making pension benefits lower they have also made pensions more costly to offer by increasing the number of rules and regulations on employers. Let me say what kind of impact that has had. Let me give a specific example. From 1982 to 1994, the limits on defined benefit plans were repeatedly reduced by Congress and new restrictions were added, primarily for the purpose of generating Federal revenue, by the way. This was not a policy decision that had to do with pensions. It had to do with at that time addressing the deficit. As these cutback from 1982 to 1994 took effect, the number of traditional defined benefit plans insured by PBGC dropped from 114,000 plans in 1987 to 45,000 plans in 1997. These are the facts. They speak for themselves. During the past 2 decades, overall pension coverage has remained stagnant, even when the defined contribution side is included. Obviously, it is past time for Congress to reverse these trends, and the bill before us today does just that. It is a comprehensive approach. It has been developed over the last 3 years with careful consultation with small businesses, labor organizations like the building trades department of the AFL-CIO. It has also been worked on by pension law experts in the private sector, academia and the administration. Most importantly, we have looked to and taken the advice of workers themselves, folks who are in pension plans, to see how they could be improved. They have been fully vetted. About 200 Members of this House, almost equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, have cosponsored the bill and more than 85 outside groups have endorsed it. The approach is fiscally responsible, and it is very straightforward. It falls in basically three categories. First, we allow all workers to set aside more money for their retirement. That means setting aside more money in a 401(k)-type plan, in a union, multiemployer-type plan, a defined benefit plan and all other pensions. It also means setting more money aside in an IRA. In most cases, very importantly, all we are doing is trying to restore those limits to where they were before the Congress reduced them. For example, moving the IRA contribution levels from $2,000 to $5,000 is about where it would have been had it been indexed to inflation in the 1970s. We also allow special catch-up contributions that help workers over 50 set aside even more for retirement. These accelerated contributions will allow older workers--especially women returning to the workforce--the opportunity to build up a retirement nest egg more quickly--at a time in their lives when their earnings are relatively high and when they most need to save for retirement. Second, we're modernizing pension laws to adapt to what we've learned about the realities of an increasingly mobile workforce. So, we make defined contributions plans portable so workers can roll-over their retirement nest egg between various types of qualified plans--including 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans. And, we require employers to allow workers to become vested in their pension plans more quickly--in 3 years rather than the current-law 5. Finally, we listened to those in the trenches, and we responded to the surveys that clearly demonstrate that we must reduce the complexities and red tape in current law if we are going to expand pension opportunities for those who work for small businesses. That's why we make it easier for employers--particularly small businesses--to establish and maintain pension plans by reducing costs and liabilities--including modernizing outdated laws and streamlining complex rules. Yet, we keep in place the important protections that ensure families fairness in our pension system. Despite the overwhelming and broad-based support for this legislation, there are some in the Administration who call this package a ``tax cut for the rich.'' That's wrong. Why should they tell working Americans--who are struggling to save for retirement--that the $2,000 limit on IRA contributions established in 1981 makes sense today? Why should they tell working Americans that they can save less in a 401(k) plan than they could in the 1980s? Remember who benefits here--77 percent of American workers currently participating in a pension plan make less than $50,000 per year. By expanding retirement savings options, we'll be helping those workers who need the most help in saving for retirement. I urge my colleagues to join us today in sending a strong bipartisan message to the Senate--and to the White House--that we are committed to helping all Americans have more peace of mind--and more financial security--in their retirement years. Let's pass this package again.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) for yielding this time to me to speak about H.R. 2919. I want to thank him personally for the effort he has put into this. Simply put, we would not have been on the floor today without his help in the subcommittee and the full committee, and over the last 2 years giving me guidance and support. I also want to commend the gentlewoman from Cleveland, Ohio (Mrs. Jones), my colleague on the other side of the aisle, who is an original cosponsor of this bill and who has put in a lot of hard work and has a real personal commitment to commemorating the Underground Railroad history. I also want to thank, of course, the chairman of the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young); and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller); as well as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo); and the subcommittee staff and committee staff who worked with us diligently over the last couple of years on this project. What has become known, Mr. Speaker, as the Underground Railroad was a system of cooperation among African-American slaves, freed slaves, abolitionists, and other sympathetic whites to help slaves escape bondage and obtain freedom. Two years ago, this Congress overwhelmingly approved the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act, legislation that joined together for the first time the historic sites all around the country in a network administered by the National Park Service. That legislation was a start in promoting the preservation of historic sites and increased public awareness of this remarkable chapter in our Nation's history. Now, before us today, Congress has the opportunity to build on that start and to do more, to take the next step toward preserving endangered Underground Railroad sites and toward educating future generations of Americans about this remarkable story of cooperation and reconciliation. The legislation takes two important steps: first, it authorizes limited Federal matching funds for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the National Interpretive Museum, which is being developed on the river front in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is a very exciting undertaking that takes the best thinking nationally, including working with the National Park Service and working with the Smithsonian, and also uses state-of-the-art technology and private sector creative resources to communicate real uplifting Underground Railroad stories to underscore the value of freedom and the importance of cooperation. Second, this legislation authorizes the Department of the Interior to provide funds directly to endangered or threatened Underground Railroad sites nationwide, to ensure that these vital historic sites will be preserved for future generations. Mr. Speaker, I believe that preserving these sites and telling the story of the Underground Railroad is a noble and very important mission. At a time when the news is all too often filled with stories of racial tension and misunderstanding, we need positive examples and hopeful role models that encourage understanding, cooperation, respect, and reconciliation. I urge my colleagues to reaffirm their support today and to commemorate this important part of our Nation's heritage by passing the bill before us. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2919, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Act. And I'd like to commend my colleague from Ohio and the original cosponsor of this bill--Stephanie Tubbs Jones--for her hard work on this bill and her personal commitment to commemorating the history of the Underground Railroad movement. I'd also like to thank House Resources Chairman Don Young and Ranking Member George Miller--along with Parks Subcommittee Chairman Jim Hansen and Ranking Member Carlos Romero-Barcelo, and the subcommittee and committee staff--for their support. Mr. Speaker, the Underground Railroad was a system of cooperation among African-American slaves, free African-Americans, abolitionists and other sympathetic whites to help slaves escape their bonds and obtain freedom. Two years ago, Congress overwhelmingly approved the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act, legislation that joined together, for the first time, the historic sites of the Underground Railroad in a network administered by the National Park Service. That legislation was a start in promoting the preservation of historic sites and increased public awareness of this remarkable chapter in our nation's history. Now, Congress has the opportunity to build on the Network to Freedom Act--to take the next step toward preserving endangered Underground Railroad sites and educating future generations of Americans about this remarkable story of cooperation and reconciliation. This legislation takes two important steps. First, it authorizes limited matching Federal funding for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center--the national museum being developed on the riverfront in Cincinnati, Ohio. Second, it authorizes the Interior Department to provide funds directly to endangered or threatened Underground Railroad sites nationwide-to ensure that these vital historic sites will be preserved for future generations. Let me talk briefly about each of those components of the bill. freedom center funding The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will be a national education and distributive museum center located on the Ohio River, scheduled to open in 2003. The mission of the Freedom Center will be to dramatize the Underground Railroad's stories of cooperation and courage to better educate and inspire us in our lives today. It is an exciting undertaking that is taking the best thinking nationally and using state of the art technology and private sector creative resources to communicate real, uplifting Underground Railroad stories to underscore the value of freedom and the importance of cooperation. Importantly, the Freedom Center is working closely with the National Park Service as well as the Smithsonian in developing the project. As a distributive educational museum, the Freedom Center will also establish regional centers, or ``freedom stations,'' in other areas of the country, especially those that are significant to the Underground Railroad, both in the North and the South. Many of these regional centers will partner with local Underground Railroad sites, linking them with other sites across the country and disseminating information. Last year, under the able leadership of subcommittee chairman Ralph Regula of Ohio, Congress appropriated $1 million in initial construction funding for the Freedom Center. The legislation we are considering today authorizes $16 million over 4 years for construction of the Freedom Center. I want to make it clear that this federal role is a relatively small part of the overall funding, and all of it is subject to non-Federal funds being raised. In fact, because the Freedom Center has created an innovative public/private partnership, the funding for this initiative involves the lowest percentage of federal matching funds of any of the national museums. Most other national museums have raised only one-third to one-half of construction and/or operating from non-Federal sources. However, the non-Federal role in the Freedom Center would exceed 80 percent. But I want to make the point that, though limited, these federal funds are extremely important because they are used to leverage additional funds from the private sector. The Freedom Center has already raised $36 million toward its goal of $90 million. And, an aggressive private sector funding campaign will provide a significant portion of the remaining $54 million. Incidentally, in addition to funding for construction, technology, and exhibit design and installation, the goal of $90 million includes an operating endowment of $10 million. preserving threatened urr sites The second key component of this legislation is an authorization for the Secretary of the Interior, through the Park Service, to provide $2.5 million annually for the preservation of historic Underground Railroad sites nationwide--particularly endangered or threatened sites that might otherwise be lost. These grants would be available to any historical site that meets the criteria for inclusion on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom that Congress established two years ago. Unfortunately, as community groups around the country will tell you, many Underground Railroad sites have already been lost. And, many other sites do not qualify for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places because the structures have been altered or may have deteriorated over time. We can't afford to lose any more of these historic sites. And this grant money is key to proper recognition and preservation of the Underground Railroad. I believe preserving these sites and telling the story of the Underground Railroad is a noble and important mission. At a time when the news is too often filled with stories of racial tension and misunderstanding, we need positive examples and hopeful role models that encourage understanding, cooperation, respect and reconciliation. I urge my colleagues to reaffirm their support for commemorating this important part of our nation's heritage by passing H.R. 2919 today.