Hal Rogers

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. I do, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the committee be allowed to go back to section 103 to allow the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton] to offer the amendment which she was prepared to offer, and that debate on the amendment be limited to 10 minutes, 5 minutes for each side.

Mr. ROGERS. Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on this amendment and all amendments thereto close in 20 minutes and the time be equally divided.

Mr. ROGERS. They have a huge increase. This will not be a problem. There is $20 million in the bill for technology programs and $10 million related to anti-terrorism. This amendment would simply ensure that $10 million of that must go for this purpose.

Mr. ROGERS. The gentleman is correct.

Mr. ROGERS. I yield to the gentleman from New Mexico.

Mr. ROGERS. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, they have made tremendous progress in their backlog reduction. I commend them for that. They are working hard. I think if we keep things as they are, that backlog is going to continue to decrease. One, we kept EEOC at level funding, and held them harmless from cuts; two, the money would come from the Bureau of Prisons, and we would not be able to open the five new prisons that we have built, perhaps, next year. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS. My colleagues from Virginia have been tenacious in bringing the problems at Lorton prison to my attention. It is certainly a situation which needs to be addressed in the near future. As the gentleman have requested, I will work in conference to secure language directing the Attorney General to look at this problem with the D.C. Department of Corrections and report to the Congress on necessary steps.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the efforts of the gentleman from Florida as well as the gentleman from New York [Mr. Forbes] and their subcommittee to bring this issue to the attention of the House. As the gentleman knows, we are under tremendous fiscal constraints this year; however, he raises a very important issue, and I assure the gentleman that I will continue to work with him as we move the bill through the process to further address this very important issue the gentleman has so ably brought before us.

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

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, if the gentlewoman will continue to yield, given the very strong support this program has within the Senate and the worthy goals of the women's demonstration program, I am committed to working with the gentlewoman to ensure that this program receives the necessary funding as the bill moves through conference with the Senate.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, let me assure the gentlewoman that the goals of the women's demonstration program are certainly worthy and deserve our support.

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

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

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the work of the gentlewoman from Hawaii and the gentleman from Hawaii and commend them for their concern for these two programs. As the gentlewoman knows, we were under very severe funding constraints this year; however, although we are unable to restore funding for these programs today, I can assure the gentlewoman that as we proceed to conference I will work with her to identify funding for these two programs as best we can.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I think the gentleman offers a very good amendment. We are delighted to accept it and urge its adoption.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that during the further consideration of H.R. 3814, in the Committee of the Whole, pursuant to House Resolution 479 and the order of the House of July 17, 1996: First, the remainder of the bill be considered as read; and second no amendment shall be in order except for the following amendments, which shall be considered as read, shall not be subject to amendment or to a demand for a division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole, and shall be debatable for the time specified, and equally divided and controlled by the proponent and a Member opposed: Amendment No. 10 by Mr. Hostettler for 10 minutes; An amendment by Mrs. Jackson-Lee (regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration) for 15 minutes; Amendment No. 11 by Mrs. Mink for 10 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Rogers (regarding NOAA) for 10 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Engel (regarding public broadcasting grants) for 10 minutes; Amendment No. 20 by Mr. Brown of California for 20 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Allard (regarding the Technology Administration) for 10 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Goss (regarding EDA) for 10 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Porter (regarding Asia Broadcasting) for 20 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Obey (regarding ABM Treaty) for 15 minutes; Amendment No. 19 by Mr. Traficant for 5 minutes; Amendment No. 28 by Mr. Gutknecht for 20 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Deutsch (regarding COPS) for 10 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Ensign (regarding sexually explicit material in prisons) for 10 minutes; Amendment No. 5 by Mr. Frank of Massachusetts for 20 minutes; Amendment No. 6 by Mr. Frank of Massachusetts for 20 minutes; Amendment No. 16 by Mr. Ganske for 20 minutes; Amendment No. 17 by Mr. Gekas for 10 minutes; Amendment No. 33 by Mrs. Norton for 20 minutes; An amendment by Mrs. Fowler (regarding COPS) for 10 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Collins of Georgia (regarding Federal Prison Industries) for 15 minutes; An amendment by Mr. Hutchinson (regarding deaths in prisons) for 10 minutes; and An amendment by Mr. Miller of Florida for 10 minutes.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to thank the gentlewoman and the gentleman from California from the Committee on Rules who have been very cooperative with us on this rule, not only the Members that are represented here from the Committee on Rules but those who are not. The Committee on Rules has a hard job, harder than anyone realizes. We appreciate very much their accommodation to us on the Committee on Appropriations on this bill. I support the rule.

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

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Black Lung Clinics Program and the Ney amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations for FY 1997. This is not a program that receives much attention in the national media. Most Americans may not know it even exists. But to many in my part of the country, this is an essential program which provides relief and comfort for those afflicted with a painful disease. Upon realizing that specialized medical services were needed for those working in our nation's coalmines, Congress in 1969 passed the Black Lung Benefits Act. The main goal of the Black Lung Clinics is to keep respiratory patients out of the hospital by using preventative medicine and improving the quality of life of the men and women afflicted with lung disease. The physicians and other health care professionals in a clinic in my district have developed health management techniques for patients with chronic lung disease, improving those patients' quality of life while reducing annual hospitalizations among the affected patient group by 70%. The amendment from the gentleman from Ohio would restore $2 million for the program in FY 1997. It would enable the dedicated professionals to continue their work with their patients. The figures below indicate the Black Lung Clinics Program funding:

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, May 30, 1996, was an important day in the small McCreary hamlet of Silerville. Also called Strunk, the collection of scattered homes and former commercial buildings is located between Toeward and State Line. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Duncan completed his fiftieth year in the general merchandise business at the corner of Old U.S. 27 and State Rt. 1470. That day, his anniversary passed like most of the previous 15,500 days--closed only on Sunday and Christmas. Local residents stopped to buy gas, milk, bread, and hardware, and to discuss current events. When Duncan's General Store opened in the spring of 1946, Harry Truman was President. Republican Simeon Willis was the Governor of Kentucky. Highway U.S. 27 was a major north-south route from Florida to Michigan. Young soldiers came home on the Greyhound bus, but often would have to take U.S. 27 north to find work. As the country recovered from World War II, tourists were stopping for gas and refreshments. Change has been a constant requirement for Duncan's General Store. The building, however, looks remarkably like it did in 1946. The gray, two-story, tin-roofed building with its pot-bellied coal stove has not changed. Change has occurred with the needs of customers. Although Bobby Duncan has never changed locations, advertised or conducted a sale he is a perceptive marketer. He adapted as service stations sprang up to cater to travelers and as Interstate 75 diverted thousands of motorists 30 miles away. When futurists predicted that supermarkets would destroy mom and pop groceries, he shifted his primary product lines. Dry goods from Shaw shoes to Big Ben overalls were replaced by the new consumer products flooding America. Groceries carried out in Campbell soup paper boxes were reduced to make way for hardware and specialty items for mining and logging. Today, convenience items and gas have reemerged along with hard-to-find items. Former State Senator and merchant O.O. Duncan once said, ``sooner or later everyone in the county goes to Bobby's store to find items that no one else has.'' For three generations children from Strunk, Marsh Creek, Murphy Ridge, and Pine Knot have enjoyed trips to Bobby Duncan's. His endless patience with a 6-year-old customer who has a quarter to spend on mixed candy has ensured that successive generations know the joy of bon bons, rock candy, and orange drops mixed in a small brown paper sack. Nickel RC's and cakes are not available today, but the price was never as important as the considerations and kindness shown to tiny, often barefoot customers. Adults frequent Duncan's store for many reasons. The store provides a cohesiveness for the community. Sitting on the front porch on the old church pew or on the nail keg next to the warm fire, smelling kerosene fumes or pickled pig's feet, you feel that the world has slowed. The conversations of the current generation of Murphy's, Ball's, Bairds, Trammells, are important. They come to the store to tell their stories, to inquire about their neighbors, or to express their views on political issues. They come to listen and to be heard. Bobby Duncan serves as a tax adviser, building consultant, agronomist, scribe, lawyer, minister, funeral singer, arbitrator, and friend. His services are often more important than his wares. I don't know how many years Duncan's General Store will survive. A business that sells shoes and saddles, hair pins and horseshoes, Tide and tires, feed and seed, with true personal service is unique in today's world. Congratulations on a successful 50 years, Bobby Duncan.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, the wound of this loss is so fresh for all of us that it is difficult to place into words the kind of love and respect and admiration that we held for our friend, and truly Bill Emerson was a personal friend. He was not just a friend, he was a personal friend to all of us. Mr. Speaker, it is rare that we will find this many Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle that would take the time and feel compelled to come here and say these words, whatever we say, to our friend, Bill, and yet that was the kind of magnetism that this personality, this loving, kind person, held for all of us. There was always something personal that he would find between himself and another person that bound them together. He and I came here together. He always bragged that he was one day younger than me, born just the next day after I was, and that was his way of forming that friendship. All of my colleagues had some kind of connection in that respect with Bill. And yet it was much more than that because Bill Emerson, as has been said here, was a patriot. He loved history, was a great student of history and felt extremely and highly honored that he was serving in this body because it represented, so much, the history of our Nation and his participation in it. As has been said many times here today, Bill Emerson loved this House. As my colleagues know, it is fashionable these days, it seems, for many of our Members to be critical of the House, hoping, I guess, to find some sort of sympathy from the public in criticizing this body. But you never heard that from Bill Emerson. We only heard respect and love for this body. His greatest achievement in life, outside his family, I think, was presiding there in that chair, and he did it so wonderfully well, none better, and I always picture Bill Emerson sitting in the Speaker's chair because I think that was the height of his professional life in his own mind. It has been said that duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully, and, Bill Emerson, you made things so beautiful.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of southern Kentucky's country music legends, ``Old'' Joe Clark. ``Old'' Joe recently celebrated his 50th year of performing at Renfro Valley, Kentucky's premier country music venue. He has been making us laugh with his unique brand of country humor and skillful banjo-picking for the last half century. He is a true treasure of the Commonwealth. ``Old'' Joe came to Renfro Valley after entertaining folks in and around his home of Johnson City, TN. After sharpening his talents in Tennessee, ``Old'' Joe attracted the attention of Renfro Valley's founder, John Lair. And, as they say, the rest is history. It did not take long for ``Old'' Joe's fame to spread throughout southern Kentucky. And, he was soon a part of the national country music scene. He appeare at the Grand Ole Opry and performed with some the Nation's top country stars. ``Old'' Joe Clark talents are legendary at Renfro Valley. For 50 years, he has set the standard for an entire generation of country musicians and comedians. Without a doubt, ``Old'' Joe has left his mark on the Renfro Valley community. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to honor ``Old'' Joe Clark on his 50th anniversary at Renfro Valley. I know that the people of southern Kentucky love Joe and appreciate his lifetime of service to entertain us.