Hal Rogers

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, that is an equally dangerous place to take money. The State prison grant program is a program that we passed here to encourage States to imprison people for 70 percent of their sentence. Many States have taken advantage of that and secured these State prison construction funds, and we are still shorthanded. That fund is underfunded as it is. We were not able to fully fund the State prison assistance grant program, so I would object very strongly to taking the money, equally strongly, out of that account. On top of that, again, the money that the gentleman would place in EDA is not specified as to what it would be used for, and, as I say I think we have adequately funded EDA already.

Mr. ROGERS. If the gentleman will yield further, by the same token, there was no request in the administration's budget for funds for Local Law Enforcement Block Grants. Not a penny. The moneys that we are providing are coming through the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program which Native Americans would be eligible for, obviously, like everyone else. It is a matter of specifics versus the general category that we put the money in.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, too often, when we think of American manufacturing, images of industrial giants come to mind. We think of huge machinery housed in cavernous factories, men stoking enormous furnaces in an environment of hard hats, rivets and lunchtime whistles. This image is, in large part, a vision of the past. We still make steel, iron, and heavy machinery. But today's manufacturing is also about men and women in casual attire and rather quiet workstations as they inspect computer boards and assemble complex yet compact circuitry. And, contrary to popular perception, most of the things that are made in America are made in small and mid-sized companies. Historically, small businesses have been the wellspring of creativity in our society. From the Wright brothers to Bill Gates, some of our most successful manufacturers have started out in a garage with little more than a dream. Inventions that have changed our lives, from that first voyage in flight to the high-speed microprocessors of today, have been developed in small firms. These companies provide the backbone of the manufacturing sector. Today, I rise to honor one such small business company and its success in providing contract-manufacturing services that include design, completed high-tech assemblies, subassemblies, testing, and more. The U.S. Postal Service has recognized Boneal, Inc., of Means, KY, with the 2000 Quality Supplier Award for its distinguished performance as a specialized small business manufacturer. Boneal Incorporated, first established in Corbin, KY, in 1980, is a womanowned small business that prides itself in offering ``solutions to your most challenging manufacturing needs.'' Boneal Inc., in its efforts to provide fast and seamless manufacturing, accepts projects from any point in the manufacturing process, ranging from small projects that require hand assembly of consigned components to large projects that require capital investment, equipment design, and product distribution. And so today, I join the U.S. Postal Service, the community of Means, KY, and small companies throughout the United States in congratulating Boneal, Inc., for its selection to receive this distinguished award. I also recognize its outstanding contribution to American manufacturing.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the passage of this amendment would be an admission by the Members of this body that we cannot do the job our people elected us to do. We were elected by our constituents, all of us, to come here and pass on spending and funding the Federal government. Passing this amendment would say, no, we are going to put things on automatic pilot. We do not have the capacity or the ability to pass on individual spending bills. I think that would be a dereliction of our duties. We would take away the automatic period at the end of the sentence, the October 1 deadline, and therefore these appropriations bills are not must-pass pieces of legislation. We would extend the appropriating process, rather than bring it to a successful conclusion. Number two, passage of this amendment would put a premium on people opposing and stonewalling and causing inaction. Those who would want to increase spending or those who want to avoid a funding cut for a program or a bill would be automatically strengthened by the existence of the automatic continuing resolution, saying, if we do nothing, the status quo prevails. Most Members of this body want some change in the status quo, either up or down. Automatic continuing resolution would take away the incentive to make something happen by a deadline. If we remove the deadline of October 1, then I predict nothing will take place. The government will be on automatic pilot. We would have, as the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) says, capped entitlements. Every program would stay just exactly like it is year in and year out because there would not be the ability in this body to muster a majority of votes to overcome that incentive to do nothing and to cause some change. So I would hope that the body would reject this amendment by a very large margin because I think the people that elected us sent us here to decide how we spend their Federal tax dollars, not to sit by on automatic pilot and say I am helpless, I cannot do anything. I think my colleagues are elected to do something. I think they were elected to represent their constituents in deciding how their taxes were spent. If my colleagues adopt this amendment, they are saying to their folks back home, I cannot affect the process. I am putting it on automatic pilot. Mr. Chairman, I urge a rejection of the amendment.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, some of the most lasting contributions to freedom throughout the world, and to the triumph of American values, have been made over the last four decades by the patriotic staff of the U.S. Information Agency [USIA] and its successor organizations within the U.S. Department of State. The USIA legacy can be found around the globe, and most significantly in the former cold war states whose failed social structures gave way to principles and institutions promoted by American foreign policy, exposure to American commentary, and opportunities for cultural exchange. The USIA has relied on many gifted servants over the last several decades, but perhaps no one has provided such sustained and influential service as Stanley M. Silverman, who retired in April of this year, after 45 years of government service. Stan has been a guiding presence within the agency, an institutional marvel, a key adviser to directors and colleagues alike, and most importantly, a man of integrity. For many years, the USIA occupied an evolving and unique role within American government. Its job was to promote the understanding of the politics, culture, and enduring values of the United States to an outside world that often was hostile to our norms. Through its many programs, it told the American story and satisfied those in closed societies who hungered for our ideals and for the freedom of expression. As the last comptroller of the USIA, Stan Silverman built a career around ensuring this agency had the resources necessary to carry out this enormously important and successful mission. He led the formulation and execution of the agency's budget, and faithfully advocated its importance year after year within the executive branch and before the Congress. All who worked with Stan benefited from his clear articulation of the agency's purpose and needs, his unfailing recall of facts and figures, and his wonderful sense of humor. His work was instrumental in creating a constructive relationship between his agency and the legislative branch, in particular the members and staff of the House Appropriations Committee. To the agency he served and the Congress he respected, he provided consistent support and leadership at all times, including those critical times for the agency, when its well-accepted missions became the subject of critical evaluation once the cold war was won. Stan Silverman will never put aside the trappings of modesty for which he is known. So we must acknowledge and celebrate his rare combination of intellect, wisdom, humor, and loyalty to a Nation that must ever hold those of such character in the highest possible regard. Recalling words attributed to Plato, ``The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.'' Today we honor the career and accomplishments of Stan Silverman, a good man who honored the practice of public affairs with his service, to the benefit of the free people of this Nation and so many others.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, let me say I appreciate the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) and his concerns regarding this problem. And it is a problem. I do not oppose the amendment. As I understand it, his amendment would provide funding to help State and local law enforcement agencies pay the cleanup costs associated with methamphetamine labs that they have seized. In the subcommittee on which I am chairman, we have heard testimony about the proliferation of this problem throughout the country. The gentleman is right on target. Due to increased seizures of these labs the funding for this program has been depleted. They have to be dealt with in a certain way because of the hazardous wastes involved. I do not oppose this amendment. But let me point out one thing to the gentleman. The Department of Justice, today, could reprogram or seek to reprogram funds from the COPS program to address this problem. If they will send a letter here saying, we wish to take X dollars from the COPS program and apply it to the meth lab program, I will sign it and the money will be provided out of this year's bill. So I would hope they will do that. We can get the moneys flowing immediately to our State and local agencies. This amendment would no longer be required. But, as I understand it, the concern of the gentleman is that the reprogramming request is stuck up at the White House, at the OMB; and, as a result, the problem is not being addressed. I would hope, Mr. Chairman, that the folks at the OMB would realize the danger that they are causing out across this country by not sending up the request to change monies from the COPS program to methamphetamine lab cleanup. It is on their desk. It is on their shoulders. I would hope that they would do that. As soon as that request hits my desk, it will be signed and on its way.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell).

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, we often hear about grand, universal plans for making positive changes in our nation's public education system. None of these plans, however, can substitute for the daily effort of educators working at the local level. It is these dedicated professionals, in tens of thousands of local school districts across the nation, who bear the responsibility for touching the lives of the students in their communities. These educators hold the key to the transformation of our nation's system of education--one student at a time. Today, I want to honor one such professional in Whitley County, Kentucky. The Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) has recognized my constituent, Whitley School Superintendent Lonnie R. Anderson, for his distinguished service to the field of education. He has been awarded the KBSA's annual F.L. Dupree Award for exemplary contributions to education. The family of the late F.L. Dupree, Sr., a Lexington businessman and supporter of Kentucky public schools sponsors the award. Superintendent Anderson has worked tirelessly for the parents and students served by the Whitley County School District over the past nine years. Through his hard work and dedication, he has been a driving force in bringing about positive changes in the school district, as well as the surrounding community. Lonnie Anderson accepted the school district's top job in 1991 when the district ranked last among Kentucky's 176 public school districts and the county schools were required to be under state management. In 1999, after nearly a decade of Superintendent Anderson's leadership, the Whitley County School District was measured as one of the top districts in the state for academic improvement. During this period, the district has twice earned ``rewards'' rankings through the state's system of school assessment and accountability. Superintendent Anderson is an alumnus of Cumberland College, Union College, and Eastern Kentucky University. He began his education career as a classroom teacher and coordinator of the gifted and talented program in Whitley County. Through a total of 17 years with the school district, he has also served as athletic director, food service director, Chapter I coordinator, and public relations coordinator. In a recent article in the Corbin (KY) News-Journal, Anderson is credited with the following achievements for the Whitley County School District: Augmented the district's reading curriculum with the Accelerated Reader Program and the Reading Coaches Program, which pairs high school students with at-risk second and third-graders. Anderson also employs a district reading specialist, established the Even Start Family Literacy Program for parents of young children and initiated a summer reading program. Directed a school facility modernization effort that built three new elementary schools and established an alternative school. The program also resulted in a new science wing, library and kitchen at Whitley County High School and renovated a middle school and four elementary schools. Developed the Parents as Volunteer Educators Program (PAVE), in which 600 parents now participate. Implemented a cash management program that increased earnings on investments from $52,545 in 1990 to $332,986 in 1999. Introduced an energy program with a utilities cost avoidance of over $150,000 since its implementation in 1998. Established a newspaper for the school district, The District Ed News, that spotlights student and school achievements and is distributed to every household in the district. Initiated HEROES (Honoring Educators/Staff Recognizing Outstanding and Extraordinary Services) to honor staff members for years of service to the district. United five separate adult education providers into one comprehensive program now serving twice the number of people. One principal who supported Superintendent Anderson's nomination of this prestigious award correctly described him as ``an agent of positive change'' for the Whitley County School District. I join educators, parents and students in Whitley County and across Kentucky in congratulating Superintendent Lonnie R. Anderson for being selected for this distinguished award and recognize his outstanding leadership and continued contribution to public education.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, February 8th marks the fourth anniversary of the historic Telecommunications Act of 1996. The purpose of the Act was to unleash competition in all telecommunications markets and thus achieve unprecedented investment and technological innovation. Businesses would enjoy substantial productivity gains and consumers would have access to new technologies that promised profound changes in the way we work, communicate and entertain. Schools, libraries and homes would have access to information that is revolutionizing the way we educate ourselves. Electronic commerce, distance learning, and telemedicine have all become realities. The progress we've seen in the four short years--in Kentucky and nationwide--has been remarkable and rapid. Consider the following: The Explosion of the Internet. There were 50 million Internet users just two years ago and today there are more than 80 million Americans online and 200 million worldwide. Electronic commerce is projected to be a trillion-dollar activity in the next three to five years. Ninety-nine percent of American households--in both urban and rural areas--can reach the Internet via a local telephone call. Substantial new network investment by Internet backbone providers has made this possible. In 1996, 14 such providers existed; by 1999, that number had more than tripled to 43. In four years, Internet backbone providers expanded their points of presence--where Internet Service Providers (ISP's) establish high-speed links to the backbone--from less than 70 to more than 1000. The number of ISPs offering consumers Internet access has exploded-- today there are more than 6,500 ISPs nationwide. Forty-six states have 100 or more ISPs, including my home state of Kentucky. Independent rural telephone companies and cooperatives offer Internet connectivity--97 percent offer Internet dial-up at speeds of up to 56K, and 30 percent are offering broadband services (1999 NCTA survey). The number of competitive carriers has increased dramatically. Today, over 600 long distance companies compete against one another in a dynamic market that has seen per-minute prices drop to 5 cents. In addition, the Act spurred the creation of more than 375 new entrepreneurial companies that are fighting to bring competition to local telephone markets. These new local competitors, called ``CLECs,'' have grown significantly since 1996. They now employ 70,000 people and have invested $30 billion in new networks since passage of the Act. In four years, their market capitalization has increased from $3.1 billion to about $85 billion today. In my home state of Kentucky, 25 CLECs are up and running. In short Mr. Speaker, the Telecommunications Act is working. It has been a catalyst for almost unimaginable technological progress. Having said that, our work as a nation is not done--there are still some Americans who need access to better, faster and more affordable means of communication. However, we are heading in the right direction and the Telecommunications Act along with the millions of American men and women working in the industry are the driving force.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to explain the Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary portion of H.R. 3194, making consolidated appropriations for fiscal year 2000. The revised conference report for the fiscal year 2000 Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary appropriation was introduced as a separate bill, H.R. 3421, and is referenced in the final consolidated appropriations measure, H.R. 3194, adopted in the House last Wednesday. H.R. 3421 incorporates the conference report for the original bill, H.R. 2670, plus additional items negotiated since the veto of the first conference report. This is to highlight the changes from House Report 106-398, the conference report on H.R. 2670. Let me first highlight the funding changes. H.R. 3421 provides an additional $616,282,000 in funding, after scorekeeping adjustments. Under the Department of Justice, it provides an additional $151,782,000, including the following: (1) $140,000,000 for the COPS program--$117,500,000 for hiring, $10,000,000 for community prosecutors; and $12,500,000 for management and administration; and it moves $130,000,000 for crime identification technology from State and Local Law Enforcement to COPS; (2) $10,635,000 for General Legal Activities--$10,053,000 for Civil Rights Division; and $582,000 for Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States; and (3) $1,147,000 for the U.S. Parole Commission. Under the Department of Commerce, it provides an additional $45,000,000, including: (1) $30,000,000 for NOAA Operations, Research and Facilities--$5,000,000 for the Pacific Salmon Treaty, $6,000,000 for coral reefs, $5,500,000 for Marine Sanctuaries, $2,000,000 for fisheries habitat restoration, $11,000,000 for Endangered Species Act activities, and $500,000 for GLOBE; (2) $7,000,000 for NOAA Procurement, Acquisition and Construction--$3,000,000 for Marine Sanctuaries, and $4,000,000 for National Estuarine Research Reserves; and (3) $8,000,000 for the Pacific Salmon Recovery Fund--$4,000,000 for Tribes and $2,000,000 each for California and Oregon. Under the Department of State, it provides an additional $347,000,000, including: (1) $47,000,000 for Diplomatic and Consular Programs--$5,000,000 for the Pacific Salmon Treaty; and $42,000,000 for activities in the Kosovo region and the WTO ministerial, with up to $5,000,000 for the latter; and (2) $300,000,000 for Contributions for International Peacekeeping. For Related Agencies, it provides an additional $81,500,000, including: (1) $3,000,000 for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (2) $5,000,000 for the Legal Services Corporation; (3) $36,000,000 for SBA Salaries and Expenses, and an additional $10,500,000 for the New Markets initiative, subject to authorization; (4) $6,000,000 for SBA Business Loans for the New Markets initiative, subject to authorization; and (5) $21,000,000 for SBA Disaster Loans, in response to the demand on the program in large part due to Hurricane Floyd. There were also a number of language provisions that changed: Two Department of State General Provisions relating to Jerusalem were dropped; and Several provisions were revised, including: Section 108, dealing with the reorganization of Office of Justice programs; Census framework language; Under State Department Diplomatic and Consular programs, a new provision allowing transfer of not to exceed $4,500,000 to International Broadcasting Operations to avoid Voice of America personnel reductions; State Contributions to International Organizations and Arrearages provisions; Section 623, dealing with Pacific Salmon authorizations; Section 626, dealing with discrimination or denigration of religious beliefs; and Section 627, dealing with visa prohibitions related to countries refusing to take returnees. The listing of these changes is intended to highlight the differences between the vetoed conference report and the final conference report, and a description of these changes is included in the Statement of Managers accompanying the conference report for H.R. 3194, which describes the final agreement for the entire Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary Appropriations measures.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform the House that on November 28, 1999, my grandson, William Christopher Shuler, will celebrate his first birthday. I have enjoyed myself immensely over the last few months watching little William grow, and my wife Cynthia and I are looking forward to many more birthdays as we head into the new millennium. We often hear our colleagues on the floor honoring those constituents who are celebrating their 100th birthdays, and as we listen, we are able to reflect on the wonderment of the 20th century and appreciate just how much the world has changed over their lifespan. Those people born in 1899 have witnessed first-hand the advent of modern aviation, from the first flight by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk to the landing on the Moon's Sea of Tranquility. They have seen the dawn of a world connected by the Internet, where e-mail and video replace ink and paper for communication. They have seen a technological revolution unfold before their eyes. They have also watched our brave young men and women travel to foreign lands to fight for freedom and democracy in five separate wars. Now imagine what a one-year old today will experience as he heads into the 21st century. It's hard to fathom what the world will look life fifty, seventy-five, or one hundred years from now. Yet, little William sits on that exciting threshold--filled with great opportunity and hope. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask my colleagues to join me in this celebration, and to always keep our young ones in mind as we continue in Congress to make this nation a better place for them all.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 236) to correct the enrollment of the bill H.R. 1180, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, this bill contains a victory for the American agenda. In my portion of the bill there is extra money for disasters through the disaster loan program in SBA. We fully fund the year 2000 census, every penny that is needed; we increase the drug and crime funding, FBI, DEA and local law enforcement block grants, as well as the COPS program of the President, which is fully funded at less than half of what he requested; and there is embassy security money here to beef up the security for our personnel serving overseas in our embassies. But most importantly to me is a final vindication in this bill of an effort started by this subcommittee many years ago to reform the U.N. Along with the monies in the bill to fully pay the U.N. arrears payments of the U.S., there are conditions which the U.N. must agree to. This subcommittee several years ago began what now has become a full-blown U.N. reform agenda which now requires the U.N. to consider our payments of arrearages to be payment in full, reduces the rate of U.S. contributions to the U.N. from 25 to 22 percent for the annual assessment, plus a reduction from 31 to 25 percent for the peacekeeping rate of contributions, requires the U.N. to live with a zero-growth budget, requires personnel reforms at the U.N., opens their books to GAO scrutiny, requires IGs, inspectors general, in the affiliated organizations of the U.N., like the ILO, the WHO, and the FAO, and gives the U.S. a voice on the budget committee of the U.N., among other reforms. This is an effort that now is vindicated. This subcommittee led the way many years ago. It gained a head of steam, and it has been a rough and rocky road; but now we can say that with these payments of the arrearages to the U.N. comes the conditions of reform in the U.N. that will make the U.N. a better agency for all of us. I would like, at this point, to insert into the Record a table detailing the funding for the Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary section of the bill. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.009 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.010 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.011 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.012 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.013 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.014 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.015 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.016 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.017 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.018 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18NO99.019

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, almost three decades ago a 28-year-old woman set off on an adventure of a lifetime. It was an adventure that would end in heartbreak--an adventure from which she would not return. At the time of her death Pamela Faris Brown had already made her mark as a nationally recognized actress and entertainer. Years earlier, she had also appeared on Kentucky's political stage--credited with helping to give a boost to the distinguished public service career of her father, John Y. Brown, Sr. Tragically, however, along with her husband and another companion, Pam perished in September of 1970 while attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon. I first encountered Pamela Brown in the early 1960's during my last two years of law school, when I served as a clerk for her father's criminal law practice in Lexington, Kentucky. Pamela was a bright, energetic and charismatic young woman whose love of life was only matched by her love of family and friends. She was born in Lexington on August 26th, 1942, and attended the University of Kentucky and Stephens College before setting out on her performing career. Pamela's skill as an actress took her from `Shakespeare in the Park' productions in Louisville to the pursuit of her career in New York City. Her mother, Dorothy, issued a warning to the young woman headed for the big city: ``New York will change you,'' she warned, to which Pam replied: ``I'll change New York.'' Pamela Brown did make an impression on New York. She worked her way into a regular role on the television daytime drama `Love is a Many Splendored Thing' and appeared on highly popular national television programs. She made guest appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Lawrence Welk Show, and performed with Walter Abel in a summer stock production of `Take Her, She's Mine'. But Pam's enthusiasm wasn't just limited to the dramatic arts. In 1966, when an illness nearly forced her father to withdraw from his political campaign, Pamela volunteered to appear in his place at speaking engagements. Years later, her father would recall his opponent's campaign manager as saying, ``You didn't beat us. Pamela did.'' Her brother, John Y. Brown, Jr., would also serve as Kentucky's governor. A spirit like Pamela Brown's is impossible to contain--so was her enthusiasm for the adventure that would eventually claim her life. On Sunday, September 20th, 1970, Pamela and her husband, Rod Anderson, along with their companion, Malcolm Brighton, set off from East Hampton, Long Island, aboard the balloon they called `The Free Life'. They set out to make history. The following day, the trio encountered a cold front and a driving rainstorm, which forced their craft into the sea. The famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart perished attempting to set another aviation landmark 62 years ago. Earhart once eloquently explained the spirit that also led Pam to follow her balloon adventure: ``Please know I am quite aware of the hazards,'' Earhart said. ``I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail their failure must be but a challenge to others.'' Today, Pamela Brown's memory lives on at the Actor's Theater of Louisville, whose main stage was named the Pamela Brown Auditorium to honor her. Her memory and her spirit also lives on in the hearts and minds of many of us--friends, family, and fellow Kentuckians, for whom Pamela Brown still is an inspiration.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Clay Davis and Ms. Sheryn Shearer who were united in marriage on Saturday, October 30th, 1999 in Somerset, Kentucky. Clay has been a dear friend of mine for many, many years and it was a personal honor for me to serve as his best man that day. Clay and Sheryn declared their love before God, family, and friends, and I can not think of two people who more deserve the everlasting love and happiness they have prayed for. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Clay and Sheryn on their recent nuptials. May their love only continue to grow with each passing year.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone. The gentleman who just spoke on the other side complains that we are not able to produce final results at this early date. When the gentleman's party was in charge of this body, I recollect being here on Christmas Eve one year, after having passed maybe eight or 10 continuing resolutions and they were unable to deliver, and they had a huge majority in this body at that time. Now, the administration is refusing at this point to negotiate on any of these bills except the Foreign Operations bill. I am chairman of the State, Commerce, Justice bill that the President vetoed. The bill would be law if he had signed it. We did our part, sent it down there and the President vetoed the bill and now refuses to negotiate on any of these bills except foreign aid. All they want apparently is to give money to foreign countries, do not worry about the FBI or law enforcement or the drug war or the courts. ``Let them fend for what they may, all we want,'' apparently the White House is saying, ``is foreign aid.'' Give it away. I say if you are really serious on that side about getting out of here, getting our business done, cooperate, have your White House cooperate, let them come up here and talk with us and let us work out the details. We are ready. We could have my bill finished in 4 or 5 hours maximum. We have offered and pled even with the Office of Management and Budget in the White House, ``Let's talk.'' They say, ``Not until we get our foreign aid.'' So, Mr. Speaker, there is the crux. The White House only wants at this point in time to give the taxpayers' money of this country away to foreign countries and be damned to what happens here at home.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform the House of a grand occasion, and one which my family will celebrate for many years to come. On October 5th, 1999 at 12:28 p.m., my son John and his wife Tracy experienced the miracle of birth for the first time, becoming the proud parents of a baby girl. Madeleine Claire Rogers weighed in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 21 inches long. I am happy to report that Tracy and Madeleine are doing extremely well, with both mother and daughter in perfect health. Mr. Speaker, this is my first grandchild, and I couldn't be more proud or exhilarated. God has truly blessed my family, and I am fortunate to have this opportunity today. As this body toils through yet another year, we should all keep in mind the effect our actions will have on our children, and our children's children. I will always keep little Madeleine in my thoughts as we work to make this Nation a better place for our young ones.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, we heard it for the first time or at least I did publicly from the gentleman from Wisconsin a few minutes ago when he spoke in the well. We have heard it privately from that side of the aisle for a long time now but we heard it publicly here, when the gentleman said, yes, we have spent out of the Social Security surplus for 30 years, when the gentleman's party controlled this Congress. And he said now you folks want to not spend the Social Security moneys for general government purposes, and you ought to be ashamed of yourselves, he said. Well, Mr. Speaker, I am not ashamed of myself at all. I am extremely proud that our party, for the first time in more than 30 years, is saying to that party no, you cannot spend any more from the Social Security trust fund. That is for our elderly, and you can live on the tax moneys that come into the general treasury, and that is what this party is attempting to do. And so we heard it for the first time here. Get the transcript and read it. Publish it in the newspapers. That party stands for blowing the Social Security trust fund for anything and everything, and they have, as the gentleman said, for 30 years at least. And our party now says no more. The Social Security moneys that hardworking Americans pay into this government system shall be used only for the purposes for which it was paid, and that is to provide for the care of the elderly when they reach that retirement age. And our party has laid down the line, no more raiding Social Security, leave it alone, it is for our elderly. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves for suggesting the continuation of that kind of a policy of using Social Security for every other purpose.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the message, together with the accompanying bill, be referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, Kentucky has been extremely highly honored 2 weeks ago when the former Miss Kentucky was named Miss America. That is the first time in the history of the contest that a former Miss Kentucky has received that high distinction. We have with us on the premises today that lovely lady, Heather French, Miss America. If I could refer to the gallery, I would refer the Members to the gallery to my right where Miss America is with us in this great body. Heather French has brought great distinction to our State and to this great contest and we are excited that Miss America is Miss Kentucky. Announcement by the Chairman Pro Tempore

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I wanted just to say a word of thanks not only to the gentleman from New York and the members of the subcommittee who have worked so hard on this but most importantly I think our staffs. They are here in the room at this time and we would not be here without them. They do the work, they stay up all night, they read these bills by the thousands of pages, and we get up and take credit for it. It is really the staff that did the work. We say thank you to our staff. And, of course, to our distinguished chairman the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) for his great work in helping us. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the distinguished whip.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it is important to me to say this at this moment. I want to say how much I admire and respect the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) for taking the position that he is taking. It is not easy, I know, the position that he is taking. It takes a lot of courage. It takes a lot of determination, it takes lot of perseverance and it takes a lot of plain old guts. That is what I like about the gentleman. I also like the fact that he is so easy to work with and he is also very effective. We have mentioned some of the things in this conference report that the gentleman has been responsible for getting included since the bill passed the House and it is substantial, matters of great import not only to him but to the country. I mention briefly the SBA increases which is due solely to the gentleman's insistence, but there are many others. And so this political odd couple that he has alluded to, the gentleman from New York, this gentleman from Kentucky, sometimes we have difficulty understanding what each other is saying, but that is beside the point. I wish we had a major league baseball team in Kentucky so that I could be on an equal footing with the gentleman. He has been a model to work with. I would only say this: If others on that side of the aisle would have the good sense and the wisdom that the gentleman has exhibited during this process, we would have much better bills across the board and we would not be at standoffs. The gentleman has been a wonderful example of being the creative minority leader. I appreciate him very much.

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

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime. (Mr. McCOLLUM asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the very distinguished and very able chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary. (Mr. HYDE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)