Hal Rogers

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to proceed for 1 minute.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman, this would take $258,750,000 from the State prison grant, cutting in half the resources to build and expand much needed prison space. The gentleman's amendment is an attack on an important crime policy that has been passed by the Congress, the policy that requires persons who commit crimes be held accountable by serving prison time that fits the crime. The gentleman has offered amendments the last 2 years that would do nothing more than undo this policy. The point he is trying to make is that prisons do not work. But his attempts have failed because it is recognized that crime is reduced when violent criminals stay locked up and off the streets. We are seeing the fruits of that policy today as crime rates are dropping, as more criminals are locked up. Before Congress passed the Violent Offender Truth In Sentencing law, violent offenders were serving only about 43 percent of their sentences. That means in 1994, murderers with an average sentence of 16 years were released after serving only 7\1/2\ years. Rapists sentenced to 9 years were released after just 5. This program is the only source of funding to help the States build prisons. Last year 48 States received funding through this program. With this money States built prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and developed tougher sentencing policies, policies that assure offenders serve at least 85 percent of the sentence they receive. They deserve the support of Congress to insure that adequate bed space is available to maintain those kinds of policies. An estimated 9,000 new prison beds will be built with last year's prison funding, and we can expect 9,600 more offenders to be taken off the streets of our country as a result. While the gentleman's amendment would increase funding for other important crime programs, this bill already provides substantial increases for the programs that he has mentioned. For example, we already provide a $109 million increase for Violence Against Women Act programs. That is $57 million more than the President asked us and a 44-percent increase over current year. We already more than double the State prison drug treatment program by fully funding the President's request of $63 million. He would also earmark an additional $80 million of funds from the local law enforcement block grant for Boys and Girls Clubs, which the bill already provides a $20 million boost for. This would take away much needed funds from the block grant for locally driven crime priorities such as law enforcement personnel, overtime, technology for our law enforcement people and equipment, safety measures around schools and drugs courts. Mr. Chairman, crime is down across this country because we have provided a full arsenal of anticrime measures, more police with the tools and equipment they need, more prison space to make sure that criminals are held accountable for their crimes, and quality prevention programs designed to reduce risks. We cannot afford to lose the ground that we have gained against crime in the last few years. Last year, Mr. Chairman, on this amendment or one similar to it, 326 Members, a majority of both parties, voted to support the State prison grant program and to defeat the gentleman's amendment which would have gutted the program. Three hundred twenty-six Members voted ``no'' on this amendment last year; I want to better that record at least by one. I urge defeat of the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman has consulted with us on this amendment. We have examined it, believe it is meritorious, and are prepared to accept the amendment.

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

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman's amendment would give INS until June 1, 1998 to transition to a fingerprinting system that would require most fingerprints be taken at INS offices, as we have discussed. I believe the amendment seeks to ensure an orderly transition, and I share that goal. We have met with INS about this as well. The INS will be ready to implement the new system on June 1. They will not be ready on March 1. In light of that, I am prepared to accept the amendment and would urge its adoption.

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

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. I will not take the full time. However, since the gentleman has brought up this subject, it requires me to say a couple of words about the problem at INS. One of the problems at INS last year, when we discovered that INS had granted naturalization of citizenship to a million-three, which is four times the annual historic amount, we then discovered that they had waived the policy, the then policy of the department on requiring an FBI criminal check before a person becomes a citizen. We had always done that in every case. Last year, for whatever reason, before the election the administration waived that, did not require it. Now we have discovered tens of thousands of people were naturalized who were felons, criminals, walking the streets of our country. We found out also that on those that they did require a background check, including a fingerprint, that INS had contracted out the fingerprinting process. So that one could go to any one of 3,000 different places to get fingerprints made, supposedly, which would then submit that fingerprint to the INS, the FBI for checking to see if someone did have a criminal record. Now, who did they get to take the fingerprints? Let me just read my colleagues a couple of them here. This is in L.A. and these are the people, now bear in mind, that are submitting the proof as to whether or not one can become an American citizen with all the rights and privileges thereunto and appertaining. They can go to Pookies' Parcel Post and get their fingerprints made. How about Harbour Liquors? How about Freeman's Hallmark Store. Or they could go to Fast Photo. I am not saying these are bad places. I am just saying I have got a question. New Land Travel and Tours. Fred's One Hour Photo. King Kong One Hour Photo. They can go to Sam's Electronics and get their fingerprints made to check it out to see if they were a criminal supposedly. They can go to Quick Sale Realty to get their fingerprints made. Or how about J.L. Investment and Traffic School, Mr. Chairman? Or they might go to Lindy's Mexican Products or even go to Lulu's Professional Services and get their fingerprints made. I will not comment any further on that. However, Mr. Chairman, I think all of us can unanimously agree that the process of fingerprint taking for the purpose of becoming an American citizen has to be tightened up. And the bill does that. Our bill does away with places like Pookies' Parcel Post where we get our fingerprints made for American citizenship. It is okay to go there for whatever one goes to Pookies' Parcel Post for, except for fingerprints for American citizenship. We abolish that practice. We make the INS do it in their shop or a law enforcement agency in due course in time. And we are giving them the money to get the fingerprint machine so this can be done in the proper way under proper supervision. Number two, as I have said before, we make it a violation of the law anymore in waiving the criminal check. Anymore it becomes law, not just policy of the department in requiring a criminal check. It is not right for any agency of the United States Government to be authorized to grant American citizenship to someone who is a criminal, a felon, who has come to this country in violation of their laws, not to mention ours, and become an American citizen. I commend the gentleman for his concern about the issue, and we will be dealing with it in a subsequent amendment that is coming up shortly. Amendment Offered by Mr. Watt of North Carolina

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I do not intend to become part of this dispute, but let me try to set the record straight, if the gentleman from New York will allow me, or both gentlemen. Mr. Chairman, the INS is checking every voter in that election, not one particular group. They are checking every voter to see if they were naturalized and what the date of naturalization was, whether you are of German descent or Irish descent or whatever. They are checking everyone. They are not singling out any particular group. That is my understanding. I say that because my subcommittee funds the INS. We have checked into this, I say to the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer]. If it were otherwise, I would join the gentleman in his outrage. That is just not the case. They are checking every single voter in that election, and the naturalization date, and if you are a natural born citizen, of course, you would not show up.

Mr. ROGERS. No single group is picked out.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding me this time and thank him for his tremendous work on this bill, incidentally, as we take up this amendment. Mr. Chairman, of course, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. Here we go again. Two years ago, this House overwhelmingly defeated a similar amendment. With all the talk of the exploding economy around the country, I have to tell my colleagues that Appalachia has not yet experienced it. This region represents the poorest of the poor in our country. This amendment would halt a commitment we made to millions of Americans in the Appalachian region some 30 to 35 years ago. The interstate highway system through the gentleman's district has been finished. But the highway system has largely bypassed the Appalachian system, because, they said, ``We'll let the Appalachian system build the highways in Appalachia.'' That was the deal struck many, many years ago. Now the gentleman's amendment would strike our commitment and our end of the bargain to complete what passes for an interstate system in the Appalachian region. These are not four-lane thoroughfares. These, by and large, are two-lane paved roads through the poorest part of our country. This amendment would leave vast pockets of this region without access to national markets, but also without access to local markets. While the interstate system is nearly 99 percent complete, the Appalachian system lags way behind. It is only 78 percent complete. This Congress is providing over $21 billion on the Federal highway program. Yet this amendment would strip the poorest communities of $90 million for their highway construction. I maintain that is just not fair. Congress has already cut the Appalachian highway funding by half. We have already cut it by half. It has delayed construction of needed roads, roads that we take for granted in other parts of the country. Even though the Appalachian system is only three-fourths complete, its impacts are already considerable. Industries and businesses have grown along the highways that we have built in this poor part of our country. This growth should be allowed to continue. Let the people of the Appalachian region join the rest of America in access to this growing economy. I urge my colleagues, in all fairness, as we did two years ago, almost 3 to 1, reject the Klug amendment.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the efforts of Chairman McDade--and his staff, Jim Ogsbury, Bob Schmidt, Jeanne Wilson, Don McKinnon, and Sandra Farrow--in the formulation and passage of the Energy and Water development Appropriations bill for fiscal year 1998. They were exceedingly helpful, insightful, and responsive. This is Joe McDade's first Energy and Water bill. While he follows two outstanding chairmen--Tom Bevill and John Myers--few can dispute that Joe stepped up to the plate and managed to formulate a fine bill and send it swiftly through the complex Appropriations Committee process. And this is not an easy bill to write. It is diverse, funding programs from nuclear weapons research to geothermal heat pump technologies, from the construction of Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects, to the funding of critical development programs like those in the Appalachian Regional Commission. This bill demands an appreciation for physics, electronics, the needs of the rural poor, and, more importantly, a respect for the ravages of nature. Few of us will forget the loss of life and property, and the heartache that resulted in the floods this year in the West Coast and Midwest United States. We know we cannot control nature, but we can do everything humanly possible to anticipate nature's worst forces, and to the best of our ability prevent loss of life. We concern ourselves with the well-being of our neighbors, relatives, and communities--to ensure they are protected, and that they are provided a fair chance to prosper in the American economy. That is what we are supposed to do in this body. That is what Joe McDade has done in this bill.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Lowey amendment. This is the same proposal we rejected last year and the year before that, that the Committee on Appropriations rejected 2 days ago and the other body rejected yesterday. Here it is again. Here we go again. They rejected it because it has nothing to do with smoking, teenage smoking, or the hazards of smoking. This is about little tobacco. This is about small farms. This is not big tobacco. Big tobacco would love for us to pass this amendment so they could grow the tobacco overseas at one-third the cost, lower the price of cigarettes and, in the meantime, encourage more smoking. It attacks the most vulnerable people. Kentucky farmers grow tobacco because it is the only way they can raise their family, send their kids to school, and buy food and clothing. We will drive out the American farmer and the companies will buy their tobacco overseas at one-third the cost. They will get cheaper tobacco. Cigarettes will become cheaper and smoking will increase. This is not a debate about smoking or how cigarettes are sold, or who buys them. We should do as we did last year. Reject this amendment.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this conference report. I want to talk briefly about the census. My subcommittee supervised, and funded the census in 1990, and we are doing the same, of course, for the year 2000 census. We want every American counted, not guessed at, not estimated, not manipulated. Counted. Nothing less than the U.S. Constitution says that every American shall be actually enumerated. It does not say guess, estimate, pontificate, manipulate. It says count, enumerate, and we are following the U.S. Constitution when we say there shall be no sampling. We have never done sampling in the history of this country. This is a complete new departure. We insist in the House that there not be manipulation of the population count used to make up this body that governs the country. If one does what they want to do, if they want to guess, if they want to manipulate, try it. We will not stand for it because the Constitution says you shall actually enumerate citizens for the purpose of the apportionment of the U.S. House. That is the way it has been, that is the way it shall be, and that is the way the Founding Fathers said that it should be done. We will not allow sampling. It is unconstitutional. Lower courts have issued contradictory opinions on whether or not sampling is even possible. Sampling is not the solution to the problem that we encountered in the 1990 census. The undercount in 1990 was because we had a cumbersome form, we did not market it, we did not send people out to find correct addresses. We had bad address lists. There was ineffective advertising, promotion, outreach and the like. We are correcting that in the census for 2000. We are appropriating nearly $4 billion to the 2000 census for the purpose of counting Americans. Mr. Speaker, we want to count everyone in the inner cities, in the rural areas and every part of the country, and that is why we are spending $4 billion for that very purpose. Now if we use sampling in the census, we are going to have the courts questioning the result for years to come, and we will have the census thrown out. We will have wasted $4 billion. More importantly, we will have a defective census and count of citizens that will not gain any confidence anywhere in the country. It is a prescription for chaos, Mr. Speaker. The bill that is before us prohibits sampling in the census and requires that we count every single American because we think every single American is important. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the conference report.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I support the gentleman's amendment to provide $2 million for the establishment of the Commission on the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement. The House-passed Commerce- Justice-State appropriations bill for this year included $2 million, and I regret that the funding was dropped in our conference with the Senate last fall. The commission was authorized as a part of the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 which was signed into law by the President on April 24 of last year. I think this is a good amendment, and I urge its adoption.

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

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Whitley County Board of Education and the students of Whitley County, KY, on their remarkable campaign to fight illegal drugs. Last week, I met with school officials and students from Whitley County. They briefed me on their aggressive campaign to discourage drug use and protect their children from drug dealers. I was very impressed with their grassroots effort to bring this issue to the forefront in their county. The citizens of Whitley County are clearly behind this campaign--and I have the evidence to prove it. I recently received a petition with over 17,000 signatures from concerned citizens in Whitley County who want to protect our families from illegal drugs. This effort is a clear sign that the people of Whitley County are charting the course for a brighter future. This petition was sent to local, State, and national officials to emphasize their concern on this issue. Their petition states: We hereby declare that the cultivation, manufacturing, and trafficking of illegal substances in our community is having an extremely negative impact on our youth. We request that you expand the education efforts relative to prevention of substance abuse and to include teaching criminals, through their arrest, conviction and imprisonment, that we do not want drugs sold to our children. I am very proud of the people of Whitley County and their effort to protect our children from the destructive forces of illegal drugs. I would also like to thank the superintendent of schools, Lonnie Anderson, for his dedication to this campaign. Furthermore, I would like to thank the drug-free schools coordinator, Cathy Stout, for her hard work on this issue. Mr. Speaker, America's future is seriously jeopardized by illegal drug use. Winning this battle is essential to make our Nation a better place. The citizens of Whitley County have set a strong example for the rest of us to follow and I commend them for their hard work to protect their community.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, February 3, 1997, the Lady Bulldogs of Hazard High School in Hazard, KY, made a dream come true. That was the night they won the All ``A'' State Tournament by beating Lexington Catholic 53 to 45. This was the fourth time in history that Hazard High School had a team in a basketball State championship. In fact, the Lady Bulldogs of 1996-97 had a lot to live up to--every Hazard team that had gone to the State championships before had won. Were they up to the challenge? In their opening game of the tournament, the Lady Bulldogs beat the defending All ``A'' champions from Louisville Holy Cross 61 to 34. This was a sign of great things to come. After two more games, the Lady Bulldogs faced Lexington Catholic--and the rest is history. With effective offense, tenacious defense, skillful shooting, and tremendous coaching, the Lady Bulldogs claimed victory for their own. Today, the 1996-97 Lady Bulldogs--Jaime Steele, Dee Sammons, Leah Cornett, Betsy Boggs, Charlotte Sizemore, Lori Graves, Carolyn Alexander, Tracy Kershaw, Nea Rogers, Christy Dunigan, and Jennifer Sharp--are walking tall. Each one a dedicated, hard-working young lady. Each one with the character and perseverance of a champion, not because she won a State tourney, but because she dared to pursue the dream. The victory, however, is not theirs alone. Their coach, William ``Bill'' Fannin, began to lay the groundwork over a decade ago. In 1985, he took on the coaching job, and with patience, understanding, hard work, and love in his heart, he helped show the Lady Bulldogs what it takes to be winners--not just on the court, but also in school and their community. Of course, Coach Fannin had a little help. Coach ``Cos'' Hugh Cosimini; coach Frieda Fannin, Bill's wife; and coach Candi Fannin, Bill's daughter, put a lot of time, energy, and heart into building the Lady Bulldog team we know today. The community of Hazard also deserves some of the credit for their staunch support of the team. And, I would be leaving out an important part of the team if I didn't mention the Hazard cheerleaders, whose spirit at the games helped rally the Lady Bulldogs to victory. In fact, both the Lady Bulldog cheerleaders and the Hazard boy's team cheerleaders won first place in their competitions during the All ``A'' Tournament. We all know that it's not whether you win or lose--it's how you play the game. Certainly, these Lady Bulldogs played fairly, with dignity and pride. But it sure is a great feeling to actually win the game. Today, I congratulate the Hazard Lady Bulldogs and their coaches. Good work on a job well done.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant, a good citizen, and a man who is well- respected throughout my home State of Kentucky. Clarence Dudley Noland, known to many as ``C.D.'', the gentleman from Estill County, is a man who has left his mark in Kentucky. As a State legislator, an entrepreneur, a railroad engineer, a farmer, and a 30- year member of the Army National Guard, C.D. has touched the lives of many people throughout our State. As a Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives for 15 years, C.D. earned a reputation for being hard-working, fair-minded, and rooted in good, old-fashioned common sense. From the first day C.D. took his oath of office in 1982, he set out to make a difference for the people he represented. If you know anything about the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky, you realize that we have many challenges, but C.D. has tackled those challenges with great success. He has been instrumental in developing industrial parks, medical service heliports, sewer and water improvements, and mobile dental clinics for Appalachian children. He has fought for veterans programs, affordable housing, nursing home facilities, and historic preservation and conservation of Kentucky's lands and heritage. C.D.'s dedication, diligence, and fairness gained him the esteem of Governors, legislators, and public administrators alike. During his tenure, he served as vice chairman on the powerful Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Other committees he served on include the Legislative Research Commission, Rules Transportation, Program Review and Investigations, Cities, and Natural Resources and Environment. He was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Health Care and the Governor's Commission for Tax Reform where his insights proved invaluable. His was also actively involved in the executive committee of the Kentucky Republican Party, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and the National and Southern Conferences of the State Legislators Association. From 1991 to 1994, C.D. stepped into the leadership of the general assembly, when he was elected to serve as the house minority caucus chairman. After serving two terms, he stepped aside so fellow legislators might share the experience. C.D.'s departure from the general assembly did not mean that he would hang up his hat. Today, he is still doing what he can to improve the quality of life for the people of Kentucky. He continues to share his time and talent as a member of the board of directors of 21st Century, Inc; the Marcum Wallace Hospital Board of Directors; the Estill County Chamber of Commerce; the Irvine-Ravenna Kiwanis Club; the Community Development Foundation Council; the Natural Bridge Park Association; the Council of the National Rifle Association; F and A Masons, Irvine Lodge 137; Oleika Shrine Temple; and the Estill County Sportsmen's Club. It has been an honor and a privilege knowing and working with C.D. Noland throughout the years. On behalf of the people of eastern Kentucky, I want to commend C.D. for all he has accomplished for our State, and thank him for a job well done.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, during our lifetimes, we each have an opportunity to make our mark in this world. Some of us meet this challenge with tremendous gusto and commitment, and today I want to pay tribute to an outstanding woman who has done just that. Nelda Barton-Collings is a 40-year resident of Corbin (Whitley County) in Kentucky's 5th Congressional District, which I represent. Nelda is more than a constituent. She is a friend, a certified medical technologist, a licensed nursing home administrator, a successful business entrepreneur, a political activist, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and an inspiration to thousands of people in my home State of Kentucky. When President Dwight D. Eisenhower said that politics should be a part-time profession for every citizen who wants to protect the rights and privileges of free people and wants to preserve what is good in our national heritage, he must have been thinking of Nelda Barton-Collings. Nelda first ventured into politics during the late 1950's when her brother-in-law ran for tax commissioner of Whitley County. Since then, she has emerged as an effective leader in the Kentucky GOP, a committed representative for our State, and a prominent national figure. She served as Kentucky's Republican National Committeewoman for nearly 29 years--longer than any of the RNC's other members--and during the last four years she had the honor of serving as the RNC's national secretary. She was also the first woman from Kentucky to give a major address during a Republican National Convention (1980). But, Nelda is more than a woman involved in Republican politics. She is an accomplished businesswoman, and she has a long history of being very involved in her community. In 1990 she was elected the first woman chairman of the board for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. From 1990- 92 she sat on the National Advisory Council to the Small Business Administration. She was appointed by President Reagan to the Federal Council on Aging and by President George Bush to the President's Council on Rural America. The many awards and honors she has received over the years speak volumes regarding her concern for and investment in Kentucky. She was recognized in 1992 by the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities when they established the Nelda Barton Community Service Award in her honor. October 22, 1973, was proclaimed Nelda Barton Day by the mayor of Corbin. Additionally, she has received the Kentucky Medical Association's Outstanding Layperson Award (1992); Cumberland College's Medal of Honor (1988); the Kentucky Business and Professional Women's Kentucky Woman of Achievement Award (1982-1983); Kentucky Federation Republican Woman of the year (1968); the Tri-County Woman of Achievement (1982); the Dwight David Eisenhower Award (1970); and I could go on and on. Although there is no one I know of that has devoted more time and attention to Republican activities than Melda, she has always been very well-respected by people of all political persuasions. Her number one priority has been bringing people together and pursuing ideals that will make our Nation strong. Her politics have always been marked by her concern for those around her. She has made her mark in Kentucky with a touch of class and an abundance of style. I want to thank Nelda for all her hard work over the years on behalf of Kentuckians. While she will be greatly missed as Kentucky's representative on the Republican National Committee, I have no doubt that she will continue to serve as an inspiration to the men and women of our State.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the time and, Mr. Speaker, in addition to those who have been thanked already, I want to thank the staff of my subcommittee, Jim Kulikowski, the chief of staff, Therese McCauliffe, Jennifer Miller and all of the others who have not slept in three nights, who have just done absolutely yeoman work and they are still at it even as we speak. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this, I am going to say, ``ominous'' appropriations bill. As Mark Twain said about Wagner's music, ``It's really better than it sounds.'' We do not like omnibus bills. Nobody does. They are big, they are huge, you do not have time to go through them, and we have reason to fear them. But this one is really better than it sounds. Let me give a couple of good reasons. In my chapter of the bill, Commerce, Justice, State, there is $29.6 billion in discretionary spending. Most of that money is for fighting crime, the Department of Justice, State and local law enforcement, the war on drugs, and getting control of our borders. $7.3 billion of it is for the war on drugs, $150 million more than the President wanted, to rekindle the fight against drugs, with major new initiatives in source countries and on the Southwest border where 70 percent of the illegal drugs enter our country. It included $3.1 billion to stop illegal immigrants and gain control of our borders, which is above what the President wanted, with 1,000 new Border Patrol agents, 300 more than the President requested. There are serious increases in funding for detaining and importing criminal aliens. There is $300 million more to combat terrorism. There is $523 million for the local law enforcement block grant for your police force to apply and receive a grant. There is $1.4 billion for Cops on the Beat for the police in your local department, $770 million for your States to build prisons, and $25 million as an incentive to States to treat kids who commit adult crimes with adult punishment. This is a good bill. Strike a blow against crime and vote for this bill. Let me close by thanking Chairman Livingston for a tremendous job.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for taking out this special order to honor two of the very distinguished Members of this body who happen to be from the great State of Alabama. Glen Browder, whom we have known since he came here, one of the great and distinguished Members of this body who has served our country so very, very well in his tenure. And Glen, we wish for you the best in your future endeavors, and we are going to miss your service around here. We hope we do not miss your company. We hope you will come back and be with us all the time that you can. Of course, the other Member who is being honored here today, Tom Bevill, whom I have had the pleasure of serving with not only in this body but in the committee and on his subcommittee of recent years, I do not know how I can summarize this man's life in Congress in 2 or 3 minutes. In fact, I do not think I can. But I am reminded of something that was written some years ago that I think applies to Tom Bevill as well as anything that I could say, and I am just going to quote it. The writing was, ``Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find it out.'' And, Mr. Speaker, there are thousands of people in my district and in every district in this country who would not know Tom Bevill's name and yet who have benefited magnificently from his work here in this body. He has been so many things to so many people, touching the lives of millions of people who would not know his name if they heard it and likely never will. And that is the nature of the labors of Tom Bevill. To his colleagues, he is both the quiet, genteel, gentle man who served as chairman of a very powerful subcommittee of this body, and he is a very caring southern gentleman in the corridors of this Capitol. To his constituents back home, he was and is a man and leader who rose to one of the most powerful positions in the Federal Government and yet never forgot where he came from, where he lives, who he is, who sent him here, and what he could do for his district and his Nation. And as has been said, the evidence of his devotion to his people back home is evident in every corner of his district in Alabama. And not just in his home district, as Terry has said, but throughout the State of Alabama and certainly throughout the Nation. His support for higher education is symbolized by the tremendous assistance he has been to the University of Alabama. His appreciation for his State's lands and rivers. I mentioned the Little River Canyon National Preserve as one star in his crown. And, of course, as has been mentioned, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. I will not forget going down to the dedication of that great economic boost to the entirety of the Southeast United States, and being so proud to stand there as Tom Bevill was lauded by the people of his home region and the rest of this country for that signal improvement to the Southeast. And of course I have been a very close friend with Tom over the years on so many fronts, but one comes to mind immediately, and that is his tremendous work on behalf of the Appalachian Regional Commission, a region that we share, and the ARC would not exist today had it not been for the work of Tom Bevill. It would have been done away with years ago; certainly the funding would have been sliced to a negligible amount. The same can be said of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which has meant so much to the economic growth of the entire South. And since Tom Bevill has been here, the TVA has had no bigger and better or more effective supporter and promoter than Tom Bevill. We could talk about the silent work that he has done for which there is no notoriety or credit, even dating back to his very first days in the Congress, on this committee responsible, among other things, for the Nation's nuclear capability. It is this subcommittee that Tom Bevill chaired for so many years that funded the Nation's nuclear weaponry, and of course that had to be done in supersecrecy. And I know personally of the long hours that Tom Bevill has sat and worked with the most powerful weaponry known to mankind, being sure that this Nation was prepared in the eventuality of that awful event of Armageddon. And through most of the cold war era it was Tom Bevill who sat in the hall and decided how much money would be spent and for what in the Nation's preparation for our nuclear protection. That is a thankless job that Tom Bevill did with great effectiveness and pride. But my personal point of view, my district's point of view, there are literally thousands of people today in my district who are now protected from the ravages of nature, flooding, that Tom Bevill saw to. And I suspect a great many Members of this body can say exactly the same thing, but I can say it with feeling, as can they, that Tom, our people thank you for your dedication to their well-being; people who never saw, people probably that would not recognize your name, except when I tell them who did it, that are now protected from these almost annual ravages of having their homes washed away, their family Bibles destroyed, their family pictures washed away. Everything they have would be gone. Today they can say they are safe because of your service to your country and to them in this great body. The infrastructure of our country has done well because of your tenure. I am reminded of two stonecutters who were asked the same question, and I say this because Tom Bevill kept in mind why he was here all the while. He did not waiver. He did not wander, he was always there. Two stonecutters were asked the same question: What are you doing? The first one said, ``I am cutting this block into two pieces.'' The second one, though, said, ``I am on a team and we are building a cathedral.'' Tom has been on the team, and he has been building not a cathedral but a much, much better America, and for that we are eternally thankful to him. I have to say this in closing, too. His wife, Lou, was one of my and my late wife Shirley's best friends. These two people, as his close friends and even distant friends know, are two of the best people that God ever created. Lou, an accomplished musician among other things in her life, is a true American and a great American, and someone that we are going to miss almost as much as Tom, if not more so. But we are going to miss the service of a gentle man. He was gentle, and yet when it came to the things that he believed in, a better America, he was tenacious and he persevered and at times was even ferocious in his defense of these things so important to him, his district, and our people across the country. I know that Tom and Lou are going to enjoy the next phase of their life. We hope for the very, very best. We hope that they will at least come back and honor us with their presence, because we are going to sorely miss their personal friendship in their absence from us for what time they are absent. So, Tom, in your next phase of your life, we wish you Godspeed.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for taking out this special order to honor two of the very distinguished Members of this body who happen to be from the great State of Alabama. Glen Browder, whom we have known since he came here, one of the great and distinguished Members of this body who has served our country so very, very well in his tenure. And Glen, we wish for you the best in your future endeavors, and we are going to miss your service around here. We hope we do not miss your company. We hope you will come back and be with us all the time that you can. Of course, the other Member who is being honored here today, Tom Bevill, whom I have had the pleasure of serving with not only in this body but in the committee and on his subcommittee of recent years, I do not know how I can summarize this man's life in Congress in 2 or 3 minutes. In fact, I do not think I can. But I am reminded of something that was written some years ago that I think applies to Tom Bevill as well as anything that I could say, and I am just going to quote it. The writing was, ``Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find it out.'' And, Mr. Speaker, there are thousands of people in my district and in every district in this country who would not know Tom Bevill's name and yet who have benefited magnificently from his work here in this body. He has been so many things to so many people, touching the lives of millions of people who would not know his name if they heard it and likely never will. And that is the nature of the labors of Tom Bevill. To his colleagues, he is both the quiet, genteel, gentle man who served as chairman of a very powerful subcommittee of this body, and he is a very caring southern gentleman in the corridors of this Capitol. To his constituents back home, he was and is a man and leader who rose to one of the most powerful positions in the Federal Government and yet never forgot where he came from, where he lives, who he is, who sent him here, and what he could do for his district and his Nation. And as has been said, the evidence of his devotion to his people back home is evident in every corner of his district in Alabama. And not just in his home district, as Terry has said, but throughout the State of Alabama and certainly throughout the Nation. His support for higher education is symbolized by the tremendous assistance he has been to the University of Alabama. His appreciation for his State's lands and rivers. I mentioned the Little River Canyon National Preserve as one star in his crown. And, of course, as has been mentioned, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. I will not forget going down to the dedication of that great economic boost to the entirety of the Southeast United States, and being so proud to stand there as Tom Bevill was lauded by the people of his home region and the rest of this country for that signal improvement to the Southeast. And of course I have been a very close friend with Tom over the years on so many fronts, but one comes to mind immediately, and that is his tremendous work on behalf of the Appalachian Regional Commission, a region that we share, and the ARC would not exist today had it not been for the work of Tom Bevill. It would have been done away with years ago; certainly the funding would have been sliced to a negligible amount. The same can be said of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which has meant so much to the economic growth of the entire South. And since Tom Bevill has been here, the TVA has had no bigger and better or more effective supporter and promoter than Tom Bevill. We could talk about the silent work that he has done for which there is no notoriety or credit, even dating back to his very first days in the Congress, on this committee responsible, among other things, for the Nation's nuclear capability. It is this subcommittee that Tom Bevill chaired for so many years that funded the Nation's nuclear weaponry, and of course that had to be done in supersecrecy. And I know personally of the long hours that Tom Bevill has sat and worked with the most powerful weaponry known to mankind, being sure that this Nation was prepared in the eventuality of that awful event of Armageddon. And through most of the cold war era it was Tom Bevill who sat in the hall and decided how much money would be spent and for what in the Nation's preparation for our nuclear protection. That is a thankless job that Tom Bevill did with great effectiveness and pride. But my personal point of view, my district's point of view, there are literally thousands of people today in my district who are now protected from the ravages of nature, flooding, that Tom Bevill saw to. And I suspect a great many Members of this body can say exactly the same thing, but I can say it with feeling, as can they, that Tom, our people thank you for your dedication to their well-being; people who never saw, people probably that would not recognize your name, except when I tell them who did it, that are now protected from these almost annual ravages of having their homes washed away, their family Bibles destroyed, their family pictures washed away. Everything they have would be gone. Today they can say they are safe because of your service to your country and to them in this great body. The infrastructure of our country has done well because of your tenure. I am reminded of two stonecutters who were asked the same question, and I say this because Tom Bevill kept in mind why he was here all the while. He did not waiver. He did not wander, he was always there. Two stonecutters were asked the same question: What are you doing? The first one said, ``I am cutting this block into two pieces.'' The second one, though, said, ``I am on a team and we are building a cathedral.'' Tom has been on the team, and he has been building not a cathedral but a much, much better America, and for that we are eternally thankful to him. I have to say this in closing, too. His wife, Lou, was one of my and my late wife Shirley's best friends. These two people, as his close friends and even distant friends know, are two of the best people that God ever created. Lou, an accomplished musician among other things in her life, is a true American and a great American, and someone that we are going to miss almost as much as Tom, if not more so. But we are going to miss the service of a gentle man. He was gentle, and yet when it came to the things that he believed in, a better America, he was tenacious and he persevered and at times was even ferocious in his defense of these things so important to him, his district, and our people across the country. I know that Tom and Lou are going to enjoy the next phase of their life. We hope for the very, very best. We hope that they will at least come back and honor us with their presence, because we are going to sorely miss their personal friendship in their absence from us for what time they are absent. So, Tom, in your next phase of your life, we wish you Godspeed.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Rumor has it, and only rumor has it, that during a 15- minute vote, when we are milling around here waiting for the next vote or event to take place, as Mr. Quillen is seated in his seat, usually you are seated beside him. And John Myers is there, and I may be there or Zach Wamp or Ed Bryant or somebody, the Tennessee row here, Tennessee-Kentucky row. Rumor has it that during those votes the page would come running down the aisle with a message for Mr. Quillen to call so-and-so at his office. He would, of course, retire to the cloakroom to take the telephone call, in which case you, Mr. Duncan, would take his seat. Now, the rumor has it that you were the one making those phone calls to page him off the floor. Is there any truth to that, Mr. Duncan? Come clean now.

Mr. ROGERS. Will the gentleman yield?