Rob Portman

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, the conference report on H.R. 2116, the Veterans Millennium Health Care Act of 1999, is important legislation designed to lay the ground work for veterans health care into the next century. Overall, I support many of the provisions of H.R. 2116 that provide needed modifications to the VA health care system, and I will vote for the bill. However, I do have serious concerns about one element of the bill which will unfairly delay funding for a proposed nursing home facility that is desperately needed to serve veterans in southern Ohio. I say unfairly because under current law, the proposed facility in Georgetown, Ohio is well on track to receive final approval by VA for FY 2000 funds to pay the federal share of the project. The problem is that all parties involved--the VA, the State of Ohio, local government officials, and concerned veterans groups--have acted in good faith and followed the rules under the application process. Unfortunately, H.R. 2116 changes those rules in the middle of the game, preventing Georgetown from receiving the federal funds in FY 2000 as planned. Ohio has a serious shortfall of more than 4,000 VA nursing home beds. In fact, the only VA nursing home serving Ohio is in Sandusky--a 4 or 5 hour drive from southern Ohio--and 160 veterans are on the waiting list. Since only 8 of the home's 650 residents are from southern Ohio, it is clear why the Georgetown facility is vital to the veterans in our part of the state. The State of Ohio recognizes the urgency of this situation and has committed $4.5 million for its share of the construction money in Ohio's FY 2000 budget. The state has also committed $500,000 for various administrative expenses to see the project to completion for a total of $5 million in state funds. I want to add that Brown County has spent $186,000 of its own funds for land acquisition, an environmental impact study and for other expenses, so there has been a considerable state and local investment in this project. The VA agrees that the Georgetown facility is important to veterans in Ohio, and the Secretary has placed the project on the Department's priority one list to receive the federal share of funding at $7.8 million. During consideration of the House-passed version of H.R. 2116 in September, I voiced my concerns that the bill would delay the Georgetown project for several years. Chairman Stump, Chairman Stearns and ranking members Evans and Gutierrez agree that it is important to move ahead with the project, and they worked with the Senate to include language that will have the effect of placing the Georgetown facility first on the list for federal funding in FY 2001. While I would prefer that the project be funded in FY 2000, I do want to thank the Chairmen, the ranking members and the Senate for listening to the concerns of the veterans in Ohio and seeing that this project remains a priority. I will continue to work with them, Secretary West as well as state and local officials in Ohio to ensure that the Georgetown facility becomes a reality without any further delay, STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the State Flexibility Clarification Act (H.R. 3257) sponsored by my friend from New York, Mr. Reynolds. This bill is a technical correction to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. And as one of the lead authors of that measure, I believe it is entirely consistent with the legislative intent of that law. The State Flexibility Clarification Act clarifies that any legislation capping or decreasing federal financial participation in state-administered entitlement programs is an intergovernmental mandate if it doesn't provide new or expanded authority for the states to deal with the change. It would also make the cap or decrease subject to the CBO unfunded mandates scoring process and procedural points of order. This fix will help facilitate state and local input in the drafting of new federal entitlements and changes to current entitlements. This is a commonsense technical correction to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, and it has been endorsed by all of the leading organizations representing state and local governments who were so instrumental in supporting UMRA, including: the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National Association of Counties. Nearly identical provisions have already passed the House of Representatives twice in versions of the Mandates Information Act in both the 105th and 106th Congresses. I commend the gentleman from New York for his leadership, and I commend the Committee on Rules for moving this important correction forward.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the FY 2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, H.R. 3196, earmarks at least $13 million to carry out the provisions of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, which I introduced with John Kasich and Lee Hamilton and was signed into law last year. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act expands President Bush's Enterprise for the Americas Initiative--EAI--and provides a creative market-oriented approach to protect the world's most threatened tropical forests on a sustained basis. Tropical forests provide a wide range of benefits, literally affecting the air we breathe, the food we eat, and medicines that cure diseases. They harbor 50-90 percent of the Earth's terrestrial biodiversity. They act as ``carbon sinks'', absorbing massive quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby reducing greenhouse gases. They regulate rainfall on which agriculture and coastal resources depend, which is of great importance to regional and global climate. And, they are the breeding grounds for new drugs that can cure disease. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act builds on the EAI's successes in the early 1990's, and links two significant facts of life. First, important tropical forests are disappearing at a rapid rate between 1980 and 1990, 30 million acres of tropical forests--an area larger than the State of Pennsylvania--were lost every year. Second, these forests are located in less developed countries that have a hard time repaying their debts to the United States. In fact, about 50 percent of the world's tropical forests are located in four countries--Indonesia, Peru, Brazil, and the Congo--and these countries have in the aggregate over $5 billion of U.S. debt outstanding. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act gives the President authority to reduce or cancel U.S. A.I.D. and/or P.L. 480 debt owed by any eligible country in the world to protect its globally or regionally important tropical forests. These ``debt-for-nature'' exchanges achieve two important goals. They relieve some of the economic pressure that is fueling deforestation, and they provide funds for conservation efforts in the eligible country. There is also the power of leveraging--one dollar of debt reduction in many cases buys two or more dollars in environmental conservation. In other words, the local government will pay substantially more in local currency to protect the forest than the cost of the debt reduction to the U.S. Government. For any country to qualify, it must meet the same criteria established by Congress under the EAI, including that the government has to be democratically elected, cooperating on international narcotics control matters, and not supporting terrorism or violating internationally recognized human rights. Furthermore, to ensure the eligible country meets minimum financial criteria to meet its new obligations under the restricted terms, it must meet the EAI criteria requiring progress on economic reforms. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act is a cost-effective way to respond to the global crisis in tropical forests, and the groups that have the most experience preserving tropical forests agree. It is strongly supported by The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, the World Wildlife Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund and others. Many of these organizations have worked with us very closely over the last two years to produce a good bipartisan initiative. I am delighted that H.R. 3196 includes these funds that will be used to preserve and protect millions of acres of important tropical forests worldwide in a fiscally responsible fashion.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the FY 2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill we are considering today, H.R. 3196, earmarks at least $13 million to carry out the provisions of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, which I introduced with John Kasich and Lee Hamilton and was signed into law last year. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act expands President Bush's Enterprise for the Americas Initiative--EAI--and provides a creative market-oriented approach to protect the world's most threatened tropical forests on a sustained basis. Tropical forests provide a wide range of benefits, literally affecting the air we breathe, the food we eat, and medicines that cure disease. They harbor 50-90% of the Earth's terrestrial biodiversity. They act as ``carbon sinks'', absorbing massive quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby reducing greenhouse gases. They regulate rainfall on which agriculture and coastal resources depend, which is of great importance to regional and global climate. And they are the breeding grounds for new drugs that can cure disease. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act builds on the EAI's successes in the early 1990s, and links two significant facts of life. First, important tropical forests are disappearing at a rapid rate between 1980 and 1990, 30 million acres of tropical forests--an area larger than the State of Pennsylvania--were lost every year. And Second these forests are located in less developed countries that have a hard time repaying their debts to the United States. In fact, about 50% of the world's tropical forests are located in four countries--Indonesia, Peru, Brazil and the Congo--and these countries have in the aggregate over $5 billion of U.S. debt outstanding. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act gives the President authority to reduce or cancel U.S. A.I.D., and or P.L. 480 debt owed by any eligible country in the world to protect its globally or regionally important tropical forest. These ``debt-for-nature'' exchanges achieve two important goals. They relieve some of the economic pressure that is fueling deforestation, and they provide funds for conservation efforts in the eligible country. These is also the power of leveraging--one dollar of debt reduction in many cases buys two or more dollars in environmental conservation. In other words, the local government will pay substantially more in local currency to protect the forest than the cost of the debt reduction to the U.S. government. For any country to qualify, it must meet the same criteria established by Congress under the EAI, including that the government has to be democratically elected, cooperating on international narcotics control matters, and not supporting terrorism or violating internationally recognized human rights. Furthermore, to ensure the eligible country meets minimum financial criteria to meet its new obligations under the restructured terms, it must meet the EAI criteria requiring progress on economic reforms. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act is a cost-effective way to respond to the global crisis in tropical forests, and the groups that have the most experience preserving tropical forests agree. It is strongly supported by The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, the World Wildlife Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund and others. Many of these organizations have worked with us very closely over the last two years to produce a good bipartisan initiative. I am delighted that H.R. 3196 includes these funds that will be used to preserve and protect millions of acres of important tropical forests worldwide in a fiscally responsible fashion.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend and distinguished constituent, Dr. George Rieveschl, Jr., as he receives the first George Rieveschl Medal for Distinguished Service from the Cincinnati Art Museum. This important new award will recognize individuals who demonstrate unselfish leadership, philantrophy, advocacy and innovation in service to one of America's premier art museums. Through Dr. Rieveschl's leadership, the Museum has regained its stature throughout the nation. His influence has touched all areas of the museum--management, governance, fundraising, and acquisitions. Dr. Rieveschl's leadership has resulted in such monumental achievements as the creation of the Founders Society to provide a core group of individual support; the capital campaign for gallery renovations and outreach programs; and the current initiative to acquire important art objects of Cincinnati collectors as millenium gifts. Dr. Rieveschl has led by example, generously assisting the Museum with his own philantrophy. Dr. Rieveschl graduated from the Ohio Mechanics Institute with a degree in Commercial Art in 1933. He received his A.B. with High Honors in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1937, and went on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. from U.C. In 1940, he began as an Instructor in Chemical Engineering at U.C. His loyalty and dedication to U.C. resulted in his selection to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, a position from which he retired in 1981. During his career, Dr. Rieveschl held scientific research positions with Parke, Davis and the Carborundum Company. Dr. Rieveschl's laboratory research at U.C. resulted in the world's first effective antihistamine--named Benadryl by Dr. Rieveschl--which was approved for prescription sale in 1946. By the early 1960s, Benadryl's sales rose to $6 million per year. Benadryl was approved for over-the- counter sale in the 1980s. In 1970, he returned to the University of Cincinnati to become Vice President for Research and Development and Adjunct Professor of Materials, and in 1972 became Vice President for Special Projects. The University of Cincinnati presented him with an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1956. We congratulate Dr. Rieveschl on receiving this landmark honor, and are grateful for his many important contributions to medicine, to the Greater Cincinnati area, and to the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the legislation before us, the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999. I was pleased to be the lead House sponsor of this legislation, along with my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). I would like to especially thank the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn), for helping us get to this point. Even sometimes the best legislation gets tied up in maneuvers between the House and Senate and in committee, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) has been very helpful to getting us to this point. I would like to thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Sununu) and others on the subcommittee for their strong support of this legislation. I would also like to recognize my friend and colleague from Ohio, Mr. Voinovich, the new Senator from Ohio, who offered the Senate version of this legislation and who has worked closely with us to get this good government legislation to the floor of the House and Senate and to get it done this year. Mr. Speaker, while the Senate has made some minor amendments, as the gentleman from California (Chairman Horn) has said, this bill is essentially the same legislation that passed the House overwhelmingly earlier this year, H.R. 409. The original Senate bill that we looked at had a 36-month implementation timetable. I am pleased to say in the last few weeks we have been successful at preserving the House language that requires implementation within a short period of time, 18 months. Every Member of Congress I believe has heard, as I have, from our nonprofit community, from our State and local governments, about the frustration of the process of applying for Federal grants and keeping up with the reporting requirements that follow. That is what this legislation is intended to address. Right now there are over 600 separate Federal programs that provide financial assistance to State and local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofits. Of those 600 programs, many serve similar purposes but are administered by different agencies. For example, taxpayers spend about $20 billion a year on 163 job training programs in 15 different Federal agencies. Eleven agencies administer over 90 early childhood programs. Each of these programs has its own unique set of applications, reporting requirements, and other red tape. Too often the grant application process is unnecessarily time-consuming and costly. As a result, what do organizations do? Many pay professional grantwriters to do the work for them, which reduces, of course, the resources available to address critical problems being targeted. Others who do not have the resources to hire a professional grantwriter take the time and energy to do it themselves, taking time away, of course, from their intended mission. Small but successful nonprofits in greater Cincinnati, the area I represent, for example, that are struggling to help welfare families make the transition to work or helping to keep kids off drugs should not be having their time, efforts, and resources diverted away from the hard work of their mission toward bureaucratic requirements and the applications that are really unnecessary. I have talked to a lot of groups that are successful in obtaining a Federal grant. I think other Members have the same experience. Those same groups wonder whether it was worth the effort because of the reporting and administrative burdens that are laid on them. Recently I have fielded concerns from around the country about implementation of the Drug-Free Communities Act, legislation I cosponsored, I sponsored here and was enacted in the last Congress. We felt in Congress we gave pretty simple and clear criteria to the agencies. Yet, the initial application process was neither simple nor clear. It was lengthy, complicated, burdensome, costly. As a result, resources were wasted, and this important program was not as successful as it could have been to the very coalitions, the small coalitions that needed it most. Congress is not above criticism for the way in which we write legislation and report language, but when we give discretion to the agencies, too often that discretion is used to create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. The bill before us this afternoon addresses this problem by requiring Federal agencies with oversight from the Office of Management and Budget to develop plans within 18 months that streamline application, administrative, and reporting requirements; have a uniform application for related programs, ending duplications; demonstrate interagency coordination to simplify reporting requirements for overlapping programs, and finally, a requirement that the electronic funding and filing be used by the agencies. The electronic filing and electronic funding is a very important part of this bill that is often overlooked but will allow organizations to apply for and report on the use of funds electronically. Using the Internet as a substitute for cumbersome paperwork is a very welcome innovation in the way the Federal government works. We need to bring technology into the Federal government and allow people to do the same with the Federal government that can now be done with the private sector. The bill also requires OMB to set annual goals to further the purposes of the Act and to expand electronic filings. Agencies are required under this legislation to work closely with State and local governments and the nonprofit community in setting new performance measures that are in the legislation to achieve the bill's goals. The bill sunsets in 5 years following a review by the National Academy of Public Administration. It is important to point out that by simplifying this grants process, we are not just helping grant applicants, they will be able to access the Federal government using fewer resources, but we are also reducing the workload for the Federal agencies, which in the end will lead to fewer costs to the taxpayer. This effort we believe is totally consistent with and in fact builds on other efforts that the gentleman from California (Chairman Horn), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and others of us have been about, such as the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, as well as efforts to improve Federal performance overall, such as the Government Performance and Results Act, or GPRA. The bill is a priority and has been endorsed by all the major State and local organizations, such as the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Association of Counties, and the National League of Cities. It is also supported by nonprofit organizations out there, OMB Watch and others. It is a good government measure. It will make it easier for Americans to interact with their Federal Government. Importantly, once it is implemented, it will result in efficiencies and cost savings for both grant applicants and the Federal agencies. The bottom line is we need to let State and local government, charities, nonprofits around the country, focus on their mission. Too often they are forced to spend time navigating the maze of the Federal bureaucracy, rather than doing what they were intended to do, feed the homeless, find jobs for displaced workers, get people off drugs. Thanks in part to modern technology, we now have the capacity to free people from those burdens. We should take advantage of that opportunity. That is what this legislation is all about. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), and, again, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who is now here, for his work on this, helping me in a bipartisan way to get this to the floor. I urge all of my colleagues to support this strong effort to make the government work better for all of our constituents.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituents, Jan and Tim Johnson, who will be recognized at a gala dinner and pageant on Saturday, October 30, 1999 for their many contributions to the prestigious Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) located in Mason, Ohio. CHCA is one of the fastest-growing schools in the country, and has earned a reputation for excellent academics, competitive sports and extracurricular activities. In 1997, I had the privilege of presenting the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School Award to CHCA Elementary. CHCA's goal is to nurture and support each student toward individual growth. The school embraces students, parents and faculty within the care of a Christian community. Jan and Tim Johnson were early supporters of CHCA and tirelessly volunteer their time to the school and to the Cincinnati community in general. They have four children, two of whom graduated from CHCA. Tim, a professor of Finance at the University of Cincinnati, has been an invaluable resource and serves as the Finance Chair for the CHCA Board of Trustees. Jan is also a member of the CHCA Board, served on early faculty search committees and was a member of the Education Committee for four years. In addition to all this, she has served on numerous ad hoc and PTF committees. Jan and Tim Johnson are to be commended for their tireless devotion to their community and I congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituents, Phyllis and Ron McSwain, who will be recognized at a gala dinner and pageant on Saturday, October 30, 1999 for their many contributions to the prestigious Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) located in Mason, Ohio CHCA is one of the fastest-growing schools in the country and has earned a reputation for excellent academics, competitive sports and extracurricular activities. In 1997, I had the privilege of presenting the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School Award to CHCA Elementary. CHCA's goal is to nurture and support each student toward individual growth. The school embraces students, parents and faculty within the care of a Christian community. Phyllis and Ron were early supporters of CHCA and have remained loyal friends. Phyllis is a past member of CHCA's Board of Trustees. They have four children, but only their youngest was able to attend CHCA. However, two of Phyllis and Ron's grandchildren currently attend CHCA elementary. Phyllis and Ron McSwain give generously to our community through volunteering their time and through Cornerstone, a charitable family foundation established by Ron to benefit the disadvantaged. I congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Martha and Carl Lindner III, friends and constituents who will be recognized at a gala dinner and pageant on Saturday, October 30, 1999 for their leadership as one of the founding families of the prestigious Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) located in Mason, Ohio. CHCA is one of the fastest-growing schools in the country, and has earned a reputation for excellent academics, competitive sports and extracurricular activities. In 1997, I had the privilege of presenting the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School Award to CHCA Elementary. CHCA's goal is to nurture and support each student toward individual growth. The school embraces students, parents and faculty within the care of a Christian community. Martha and Carl's involvement with CHCA began twelve years ago when they worked to develop a vision for the school, and their deep commitment to CHCA has never wavered. Carl was instrumental in developing the curriculum, particularly in the area of Biblical Integration. He established the Carl H. Lindner III Chair of Biblical Studies in 1993, which brings a speaker to the school each year for Spiritual Life Emphasis Week. He was a member of the founding Board of Trustees and Education Committee. Martha has participated in and led Bible studies at CHCA, served on the Visioning Committee, helped develop plans for the tennis complex and been very involved in numerous PTF and classroom activities. In addition to all this, Martha and Carl are enthusiastic supporters of the activities of their four children--all of whom attended CHCA. Martha and Carl Lindner are committed community leaders, and I congratulate them on this much deserved honor.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Melissa Emery Lanier, a dear friend, community leader and constituent who passed away yesterday. Melissa brought extraordinary warmth and grace to everyone and everything she touched. Known for the groups, individuals and causes she helped, she was active in numerous organizations as diverse as the College of Mount St. Joseph, the Caracole AIDS Hospice, the Fine Arts Fund, the Taft Museum, the American Negro Spiritual Festival, Hebrew Union College Academy for Interfaith Studies, the Babies Milk Fund Association, Xavier University, Stepping Stones Center for the Handicapped, the Council on Aging, and the May Festival. She has been described as inclusive, perceptive, generous, effective, caring and gracious. And she was well known for seeking recognition for everyone but herself. Melissa Lanier was a Cincinnati native. Her family has deep roots in our city and a strong tradition of community service. This is the legacy she continued. She attended Bryn Mawr College, and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Xavier University in Cincinnati. She was devoted to her loving family, and is survived by her husband, Addison, a daughter, Melissa Murphy, three sons, Addison II, John, and Mark, and eleven grandchildren. They have suffered a great loss. Indeed, all of us in the Greater Cincinnati area have suffered a loss with Melissa Lanier's passing, just as all of us benefited so from her rich and full life.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituents, Joan and Ray Conn, who will be recognized at a gala dinner and pageant on Saturday, October 30, 1999 for their leadership as one of the founding families of the prestigious Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) located in Mason, Ohio. CHCA is one of the fastest-growing schools in the country and has earned a reputation for excellent academics, competitive sports and extracurricular activities. In 1997, I had the privilege of presenting the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School Award to CHCA Elementary. CHCA's goal is to nurture and support each student toward individual growth. The school embraces students, parents and faculty within the care of a Christian community. Joan and Ray Conn worked together on many important initiatives for CHCA, including helping to form the vision for the school and spearheading fund raising efforts. They have three children, all of whom have attended CHCA. Ray was a member of the founding Board of Trustees and provided strong leadership in the school's early years by drafting CHCA's constitution, serving as chair for the first Education Committee and working on the Advancement Committee. Joan chaired the school's first silent auction, was enrollment chair for the Advancement Committee and served as a consultant on interior design decisions for all three CHCA buildings. Before the school opened, Joan came up with the idea to hold home parties to spread the word about CHCA and helped to interview prospective faculty. She has been very involved with the tennis program and the Joan Davis Conn Tennis Complex was dedicated last Spring. Joan and Ray Conn are to be commended for their tireless devotion to the community as a whole and for the important role they played in making the dream of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy a reality.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my distinguished constituents, Edyth and Carl Lindner, who will be recognized at a gala dinner and pageant on Saturday, October 30, 1999 for their many contributions to the prestigious Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) located in Mason, Ohio. CHCA is one of the fastest-growing schools in the country and has earned a reputation for excellent academics, competitive sports and extracurricular activities. In 1997, I had the privilege of presenting the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School Award to CHCA Elementary. CHCA's goal is to nurture and support each student toward individual growth. The school embraces students parents and faculty within the care of a Christian community. Mr. and Mrs. Lindner are among Cincinnati's most prominent and generous citizens, and they have been strong supporters of CHCA since its inception 10 years ago. Their devotion to the school is evidenced by the Edyth B. Lindner Elementary School and the Lindner Fine Arts Center. In addition to raising a family that now consists of three sons, three daughters-in-law and eleven grandchildren, the Lindners give countless hours to many charitable causes in our community. Through her work on the highly successful fundraiser, the Greater Cincinnati Classic Horse Show, Edyth has assured significant contributions to the Shriners' Burn Institute and has built the endowed scholarship fund at CHCA to one million dollars. The fact that the Lindner family calls Cincinnati ``home'' is a true blessing to our entire community. Edyth and Carl Lindner continue to make Cincinnati a better place for our children and we owe them much gratitude. I congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Richard A. Weiland, a well known Cincinnati civic leader, as he is honored by the Cincinnati Associates of the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion. Dick has been a member of the Cincinnati Associates since the group's inception, and he has been a key part of its leadership. He currently serves as the Associates' Honorary Chair. An energetic and committed community volunteer, Dick is involved in numerous civil and philanthropic activities. He serves on the Executive Committee of the American Jewish Committee; the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission; the Jewish National Fund Advisory Board; the Council of Jewish Federation's National Leadership; Jewish Federation of Cincinnati; Family Service of Cincinnati Advisory Board; and the Ohio Refugee Immigration Aid Committee. In addition to these challenges and many others, Dick has been active in the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati, an organization I founded to combat substance abuse in the Greater Cincinnati community. A Cincinnati native, Dick attended Walnut Hills High School, Williams College, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He and his wife, Marcia, have three children and five grandchildren. All of us in Cincinnati congratulate Dick on receiving this prestigious recognition.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I supported the Department of Interior appropriations conference report, and commend Chairman Ralph Regula who, despite strict budget restraints and difficult negotiations with the Senate, crafted a good bill. However, I do wish to express my opposition to the many policy initiatives, or so-called riders, that were added by the Senate and included in the report. The legislation overwhelmingly passed by the House on July 15 was far superior to the product returned by us by the Senate. I am concerned that these riders included in the conference report will delay the implementation of necessary rules and regulations that help protect the environment. Furthermore, I am very concerned that the riders single out certain industries and organizations for special protection which gives them an unfair advantage over others. My biggest concern, however, is that these initiatives will be paid for by every hardworking taxpayer. We should not ask the American people to pay for the kind of inappropriate, costly measures that have not been properly considered or authorized. Major policy decisions, such as these, should be considered by the appropriate authorizing committee after hearings and debate. Mr. Speaker, overall, I believe the conference product is a good one. In the future, however, we should resist the temptation to attach inapproirate policy intiatives appropriations bills.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Nebraska for yielding me this time. I just want to say briefly, a previous speaker on the Democrat side that it is time for both to be honest. He said the President at least was honest about it, and I do appreciate that honesty. The President has said that we ought to raise taxes and fees on the American people over a 10-year period. This proposal would be $142 billion, based on the Office of Management and Budget, of new taxes and user fees. What is more interesting, though, is if at the same time over those 10 years, if we look at the President's fiscal year 2000 budget, he dips into the Social Security Trust Fund to the tune of $334 billion, even with those tax increases. That is being honest. We have an honest disagreement.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cincinnati's 1999 Tall Stacks celebration and the special national recognition it is receiving from the Library of Congress. This year, the Library of Congress is celebrating its bicentennial with an exciting new Local Legacies Project, which will document America's heritage by preserving unique cultural events and activities across the country. From the earliest days of recorded history in Southwest Ohio, our traditions and culture have been shaped by the Ohio River. That's why I was delighted to nominate the recent Tall Stacks celebration as our region's contribution to this project. The Tall Stacks event, which took place last week in Cincinnati, was a great celebration of our region's riverboat heritage. Nineteen riverboats from across the nation--including several classic steam- powered vessels--came to Greater Cincinnati to recreate a bygone era. And many thousands of visitors came to our region to take a step back in time and to share in this celebration. Through its inclusion in the Local Legacies project, Tall Stacks will receive additional national recognition for its role in commemorating an important chapter in our regional and national history. And, through the National Digital Library Program, people from across the country and throughout the world will be able to share the excitement of Tall Stacks through the Library of Congress website (http://www.loc.gov). We have a rich and distinguished history in Southwest Ohio. From our region's active involvement with the Underground Railroad to the Suspension Bridge, Fountain Square and our many well-preserved historic areas, we have a tremendous heritage of which we can all be proud. The riverboat era is an important part of that heritage, as Tall Stacks reminds us now and into the future.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Williams, a valued friend and constituent who has served as president of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce since November 1, 1984, and has just announced he will step down in February, 2001. John manages the Chamber's active 7,000 member organization, a talented 80 person staff and extensive network of volunteers. Under John's guidance, the nation's fourth largest chamber has twice received the chamber of the Year Award from its peer organizations. John has been actively involved in every significant civic issue affecting our area. He has been a leader focused on finding solutions to problems, including the campaign to retain Cincinnati's professional sports teams and build two new stadiums; the development of the Blue Chip Campaign for Economic Development and the Partnership for Greater Cincinnati; the growth of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the increased importance of small business; and the Chamber's concentration on becoming more inclusive and regionally focused. A native Cincinnatian, John grew up in Dayton and graduated from the Kent School in Connecticut, Princeton University, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years, including a tour in Vietnam as a rifle company commander, where he was injured twice. He was decorated with the Bronze Star with combat V for valor, and two Purple Hearts. In 1971, he joined the prestigious Cincinnati law firm of Taft, Stettinuis and Hollister, and was admitted to partnership in 1977. John practiced corporate and securities law until he left his leadership position to join the Chamber in 1984. John insists that leading the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce is the greatest job in the world. That may be true, but only because he has made it so by his activism and success. He also serves our community as a board member of Downtown Cincinnati, Inc.; the Greater Cincinnati Center for Economic Education; the Kenton County Airport Board; the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau; and the Queen City Club. John is married to Francie Woodward Williams. All of us in the Greater Cincinnati area congratulate John on his service. We appreciate his outstanding leadership and friendship, and we wish him well in his final months of service and the new challenges to come.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and its cutting edge drug treatment testing and other anti-drug provisions. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the District of Columbia Appropriations legislation. I'd like to begin by commending the subcommittee, its Chairman (Mr. Istook) and the full committee for their work on this important legislation. As co-chairman of the Speaker's Working Group for a Drug-Free America, I'd like to focus my comments on the provisions of this legislation that are of particular interest to the drug prevention and education community. Substance abuse contributes directly to many of our most difficult social problems--violence, child and spousal abuse, homelessness, robbery, theft and vandalism. And I'm pleased to say that this legislation contains some very important provisions to curb the problem of substance abuse here in our nation's capital--that could become a model for other communities around the country. Drug Testing for Prisoners and Parolees This legislation contains funding for drug testing of prisoners and parolees in the District of Columbia prison system. This is an important step, and I commend Chairman Istook for pushing hard for it. Today, 80% of incarcerated prisoners in this nation were either under the influence or drugs or alcohol, were regular drug users or violated drug and alcohol laws at the time they committed their crimes. In 1996 alone, more than 1.5 million people were arrested for substance abuse- related offenses. As a result, our judicial system is overwhelmed with substance abusers. You would think, when a criminal is locked up for a drug-related offense, the prison itself would be a drug-free environment and the prisoner would be forced to get drug treatment. But you'd be wrong. In fact, those who go to prison too often don't receive effective treatment to address their addiction--and they tend to wind up right back in the criminal justice system in future. In fact, nationwide, only 13% of prisoners receive any sort of treatment for their drug problem at all and many of those treatment programs are considered inadequate. And, instead of breaking the drug habits that underlie so much criminal behavior, our prisons too often fail to address--or sometimes worsen--them for thousands of prisoners and parolees. It's no surprise that, according to statistics from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 50% of state parole and probation violators were under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both when they committed their new offense. In other words, these individuals continue to be a menace to society because their drug problems are not addressed behind bars. There are a number of steps we can take to stop the revolving door of incarceration, parole and re-arrest--including the successful drug courts at the local level that use the threat of prison to get people to address their drug habits through treatment. In fact, a recent Federal Bureau of Prisons study showed that inmates, who receive treatment are 73% less likely to be re-arrested than untreated inmates. To address this problem, I introduced the Drug-Free Prisons and Jails Act last year, which established a model program for comprehensive substance abuse treatment in the criminal justice system to reduce drug abuse, drug-related crime and the costs associated with incarceration. And that's why I'm pleased to support the drug testing program in this legislation before us today. By identifying criminals and parolees in the District of Columbia with drug addiction problems, we will help to reduce crime in our nation's capital--and we will stop the costly revolving door of drug addiction and incarceration in the DC prison system. Medical Marijuana Let me touch on two other provisions of this legislation that are important to the anti-drug community. First--the so-called ``medical marijuana'' ballot initiative. I am very skeptical about the recent spate of ballot initiatives that seek to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act--which created the FDA-- specifically states that only the federal government has the authority to approve drugs for medical use. If a street drug like marijuana were to be studied for legitimate medical uses, FDA would regulate it as an investigational drug. FDA has not chosen to do so with marijuana, and the notion that states or the District of Columbia can choose to ``opt out'' of FDA regulation and approve drugs for use on their own strikes me as a threat to public health and safety. We don't allow states or localities to opt out of Federal Aviation Administration regulations. We don't allow states or localities to opt out of OSHA regulations. And we should not allow state or local ballot initiatives to take the regulatory authority over the use of drugs out of the hands of the FDA. I am even more skeptical about ``medical marijuana'' after reviewing the conclusions of the recent Institutes of Medicine report: Marijuana and Medicine: ``Assessing the Science Base,'' which made it very clear that smoked marijuana is absolutely not beneficial as medicine. The continued public debate over what, if any, medical benefits some chemical compounds found in marijuana may have makes it harder to convince our kids that drug use ends dreams and ruins lives. Every day, parents, teachers and community leaders confirm our worst fears about teenage drug use--not only has the overall number of kids trying drugs doubled since 1992, but they are using drugs in greater amounts, more frequently, and at younger ages. Recent studies indicate that 8-10% of our kids are currently or will become addicts. It's a national disgrace. We know what works: Nothing is as important to turning around this trend than a powerful, unequivocal and consistent message from Washington, from our statehouses, from our courthouses, from our schools, our places of worship and our homes that drug use is wrong and dangerous. These ballot initiatives send the wrong message to the very kids who should hear that drug use is wrong and dangerous--period. Needle Exchange Finally, on the issue of needle exchange--I am pleased that this legislation takes steps to prohibit the use of federal funds for needle exchange programs. Clearly, HIV transmission is a major public health issue--and no one disputes that needle sharing among IV drug users is a major source of HIV transmission. The question is how best to respond to this problem. Do we simply give addicts clean needles and hope that they engage in ``safe'' drug usage? The Clinton Administration thinks so. We believe the answer is to address the underlying behavior--the drug use. And we are backed by strong scientific evidence. Needle Exchange Programs Don't Work: A 1993 Centers for Disease Control study conducted by the University of California reviewed the impact of needle exchange programs on HIV infection rates--and found no difference in HIV infection rates between those participating in needle exchange and those who did not. A 1996 study in Vancouver of more than 1000 IV drug users who visited needle exchanges showed that 40% of the group still borrowed needles and 18.6% of the group became infected with HIV during the test period. And a 1997 Montreal study found that addicts who participated in needle exchange programs were more than twice as likely to become infected with HIV as those who didn't. Why? (1) Addiction is a consuming habit, and hard-core addicts are more focused on getting their next ``hit'' than using clean needles; (2) Needle exchange overlooks the core behavior--drug abuse--that causes people to engage in risky behavior, including risky sexual behavior that increases the chances of HIV infection. A recent University of Pennsylvania study found that overdoses, homicide, heart disease, kidney failure, liver disease, and suicide are far more likely causes of death for addicts than HIV; and (3) Needle exchange advocates argue that they're protecting not just the addict but also that person's needle exchange and/or sexual partners--but overlook the amount of violent crime caused by drug addicts. Mr. Speaker, I think it is necessary that this legislation bar the use of federal funds to support needle exchange in the District of Columbia. The siren song of needle exchange--that we can have safe drug use without negative social consequences--is fundamentally flawed. We need to focus on the real solution--getting the addicts into treatment so they change their risky behavior--and stop wasting taxpayer dollars on programs whose alleged benefits are highly questionable. I urge my colleagues to support this appropriations bill that contains these important anti-drug provisions, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I was detained in a meeting with the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct during the vote on the Norwood-Dingell legislation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the health access bill before us today. It is interesting, the Norwood-Dingell bill is not before us. We are talking about another piece of legislation that is directly focused on trying to cover more of the uninsured. Just two days ago the Census Bureau told us that 44.3 million Americans now do not have health insurance in the years 1998 and 1999. That means there are about 1 million more uninsured since 1997. That is disheartening, that in this time of relative prosperity we do have about 16 percent of our population without insured access to health care. That is what this bill is all about. About 161 million Americans get their health care coverage through their employers, and, of course, many of those are small employers. We all know small business, self-employed people, typically operate on very tight margins, making health insurance very difficult for them to afford. And as we debate the managed care issues before us today, we have to be sure we are not increasing the ranks of the uninsured, by increasing the potential for liability, by increasing the Federal mandates, by increasing the costs and burdens of health care. The essential provisions of this health care access bill will go a long way towards seeing that not fewer, but more Americans receive insured access to health care. That is why this is so important. It has a lot of good provisions on the tax side. Taxpayers who pay more than 50 percent of the costs of their premiums that the employers are not picking up will now be able to deduct 100 percent of that premium cost they incur that is. This is a good idea. Over 7 million people now need long term care insurance. We now think that by 2050 that number is going to be about 20 million Americans. This bill addresses this problem by providing individuals who purchase long-term insurance with 100 percent deduction. Mr. Speaker, there are so many other good things in here that will focus on the issue of trying to get more access, including medical savings accounts, new drugs to find cures for diseases. This is the right prescription to making our health system work better.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Oliver Birckhead, who will receive the First Annual Cincinnati Brain Injury Association Award. Mr. Birckhead's community leadership on children's issues will be recognized on October 1, 1999, at a dinner that will benefit Cincinnati's Children's Hospital Medical Center. Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of acquired disability and death among children. Each year, more than one million children sustain brain injuries, most commonly from sports injuries caused by bicycling, skiing, diving, or playground falls. Brain injury is also the most common cause of mortality in young adult Americans under the age of 45. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, rehabilitation may restore crucial skills that are necessary to lead a more normal life. Oliver Birckhead is well known for his distinguished career in banking. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Nichols College in Dudley, New Hampshire and Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. Ollie entered the banking business in 1937 with the Peoples National Bank and Trust Company in White Plains, New York. In 1942, Ollie entered the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he served until 1946. He then resumed his career in banking, and was appointed Assistant National Bank Examiner in the Second District of New York by the Comptroller of the Currency. Ollie joined Chemical Bank in 1948, and in 1951, he joined the Central Trust Company, now PNC Bank, in Cincinnati. Ollie rose to the position of Vice Chairman and Director of PNC until he retired from the Board in 1989. He has served as a Board Member of the Union Central Life Insurance Company; the Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company (now CINergy); the Manhattan Life Insurance Company; and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. A committed community leader, Ollie has served on the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Art Museum; as Vice Chairman, Advisory Board member, and Life Member of the Salvation Army; and as a board member of the Cincinnati Council of World Affairs, the Boys Club of Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati Association of the Blind. He also served in leadership positions with United Way of Cincinnati. Along the way, Ollie made many friends, and I am proud to be among them. We congratulate Ollie Birckhead as he receives this prestigious honor.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of Mrs. Johnson's amendment to establish interim funding assistance to children's hospitals. The amendment will enable children's hospitals in Ohio and across the nation to maintain their teaching programs while Congress addresses the inequities in the current graduate medical education (GME) system through Medicare reform. The nation's 59 freestanding children's hospitals, including Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, train about 30 percent of the nation's pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. Many residents of other hospitals who require pediatric rotations are trained at these facilities as well. Although they make up less than 1 percent of all hospitals, freestanding children's hospitals educate and train over 5 percent of all residents nationwide. However, the current system of federal funding assistance is tilted against pediatric training. Graduate medical education is funded primarily through Medicare based on the number of patients that teaching hospitals treat. Since few Medicare patients receive care at children's hospitals, these facilities get less than one-half of one percent of what other teaching hospitals get in federal GME funding. This unfair situation threatens the future of our nation's pediatric workforce and also hinders the development of new treatments since teaching facilities perform the majority of health care research. Congress recognized this problem in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 by directing both the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare to address the financing of graduate medical education in children's hospitals as part of a comprehensive evaluation of GME. However, GME reform will take a while to develop. Therefore, the Johnson amendment will provide immediate financial assistance to children's hospitals comparable to the federal GME support that other teaching facilities receive under Medicare. It would do this through a capped, time-limited authorization of appropriations. The Johnson amendment is essentially the language of the Children's Hospital Education and Research Act, H.R. 1579. I am an original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill, which is supported by over 190 Members of the House, including the chairs, ranking members and other members of subcommittees and committees of jurisdiction--the Commerce, Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees. I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment to provide children's hospitals with a level playing field by addressing the federal funding GME gap they face, and, at the same time, give children a better shot at growing up healthy.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Edwin L. Behrens, Director of National Government Relations with the Procter & Gamble Company, who is retiring after 38 years with the company. Ed began his career with Procter & Gamble in 1961 in Cincinnati, Ohio, after receiving both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Ed also holds an M.B.A. from Xavier University in Cincinnati. Ed held positions in technical brand management, consumer research; and state and federal government relations. In 1967, Ed was awarded a patent for detergent formulations. In 1976, Ed transferred to Procter & Gamble's Washington, DC office to represent the company at the federal level. He was appointed Director of National Government Relations in 1992. Ed actively advanced federal ``risk assessment'' regulatory reform policy. In 1979, Ed was instrumental in initiating a pioneering study by the National Academy of Sciences, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government: Managing the Process. This year, Ed participated in the Academy's reorganization and a second seminal study, Science, Technology and the Law. Currently, Ed is responsible for Procter & Gamble's federal policy on advertising, energy, the environment, labor, research and development and telecommunications. His principal focus has been on Internet privacy policy. He serves as Chairman of the BBB Online Steering Committee, overseeing the development of self-regulatory privacy approach for American industry. Ed and his wife, Wanda, live in Great Falls, Virginia, and have two sons. Both Ed and Wanda are committed to their community. Ed chairs the University of Wisconsin Foundation in the Washington, DC area. Wanda is a leader in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's annual ``Race for the Cure.'' Mr. Speaker, we salute Ed Behrens as he completes 38 years of service to the Procter & Gamble Company.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 2116, the Veterans' Millennium Health Care Act of 1999, which is designed to address the long-term health care needs of veterans of the 21st century. However, I want to express my seniors concerns with a provision of the bill that may unfairly impact a vital nursing home facility proposed to serve veterans in southern Ohio. Specifically, I am concerned with Section 206, the State Home Grant Program, which would only allows projects to be funded in FY 2000 that are on the VA's approved list as of October 29, 1998. The effect of this could be to prevent the federal matching funds next year for a facility in Georgetown, Ohio in Brown County. Ohio's application for the Brown County facility was submitted to VA earlier this summer. Ohio has a shortfall of more than 4,000 VA nursing home beds and is vastly underserved. In fact, the only VA nursing facility Ohio is located in Sandusky in the northern part of the state, and there are 160 veterans on the waiting list for admission. Of the Sandusky VA facility's 650 residents, only 8 are from southern Ohio. As a result of this shortfall and the need to better serve veterans in southern Ohio, the state committed $4.5 million for the Brown County project as its share of the construction money in Ohio's FY 2000 budget. The state has also committed $500,000 for various administrative expenses to see the project to completion for a total of $5 million in state funds. The federal share needed for the facility is $7.8 million. The State of Ohio's financial commitment to the Brown County facility was signed into law by the Governor on June 30, 1999. Ohio's application was submitted to VA on July 22, a month ahead of VA's August 15 deadline for receiving FY 2000 funding applications. As you know, the House recently approved $90 million for the State Homes Construction Grant program in the FY 2000 VA, HUD, Independent Agencies bill--a $50 million increase over the President's request which I had worked for in the Appropriations Committee and supported. I am told that a similar amount is expected to be included in the Senate bill. It is my understanding that Ohio's application should be sufficiently high in priority that the VA, HUD Independent Agencies appropriation would provide the federal funds needed for the Brown County facility in FY 2000. Unfortunately, I am advised by the State of Ohio officials and the VA, that the October 29, 1998 cutoff date in H.R. 2116 will automatically make Ohio's application ineligible for funding next year. Ohio has acted in good faith to provide the needed $5 million state match and has spent an additional $154,000 to prepare the application, which was submitted well within the timetable for FY 2000 funding under VA's current guidelines. I want to add that Brown County has spent $186,000 of its own funds for land acquisition, an environmental impact study and for other expenses, so there has been a considerable state and local investment in this project. Of course, the VA still must approve the Brown County application based on its merits. However, it is unfair to change the rules in the middle of this year's application process and preclude Brown County's facility from being funded in FY 2000 as would happen under the current language of H.R. 2116. It is my hope that an equitable solution to this unfortunate situation can be worked out in conference, and I look forward to working with Chairman Stump, Chairman Stearns, ranking members Evans and Gutierrez and the Senate to ensure that the veterans in southern Ohio are treated fairly in this process.

Mr. PORTMAN

Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, the American Jewish Committee's Cincinnati Chapter will soon give special recognition to one of my most distinguished constituents and a good friend, Sidney Peerless, M.D. On October 9, Dr. Peerless will be presented with the prestigious Community Service Award. Dr. Peerless, an otolaryngologist and plastic surgeon, is well known and respected as a physician. He has directed the otolaryngology department at both Providence and Jewish Hospitals, and he was president of the medical staff at Jewish Hospital. Dr. Peerless is a clinical professor at the University of Cincinnati, and was recently honored by the University for his contributions to teaching. A committed community leader, Dr. Peerless has been a member of the boards of the Jewish National Fund; Bonds for Israel; the Cincinnati Zoo; Children's Hospital; Shaare Zedek Hospital; and Jewish Hospital. Dr. Peerless has received numerous awards, including the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine's Daniel Drake Award for service to the Cincinnati community and to patients, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Hebrew Union College. Dr. Peerless was born in Cincinnati and graduated from the University of Cincinnati. He has five children and fourteen grandchildren. All of us in the Cincinnati area congratulate Dr. Peerless on receiving this prestigious and well deserved award, and we commend him for his lifelong dedication to his patients and his community.