Jim Ryun

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, let me first of all add my congratulations to what Joe White has been able to do with the program in Missouri. As my colleagues know, I have had the opportunity to see hands on exactly what he does with the urban teenagers, and for them to be in an environment, a Christian environment in which they can have not only their character encouraged, but also feel safe and to be with people that love them, gives them a great opportunity to experience part of what life is all about, and Joe White certainly done a great job and is worthy of this award.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Chairman, first of all I would like to thank my colleague for bringing this important issue to the floor because our Nation's education is at a crossroads. Because other countries are sending their students to our shores, we must provide our children with the best possible quality education. That is why I rise in support of H.R. 4259. This bill does resolve some of the problems facing both of our two Indian or Native American colleges. Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, has some of the brightest students in the land, but for years Congress has required this institution to operate as a Federal bureaucracy instead of a center for learning. This is wrong. This bill will change that, and we need to be able to make sure we give the students at Haskell every opportunity and advantage they should have. And instead of making learning more difficult, we should pursue ways to help Native American Indians to achieve success in education. Every Native American tribe in Kansas, and I want to emphasize that, every Native American tribe in Kansas, supports this legislation. Over 50 tribes across this country also support it. In fact, there is not any opposition from a single tribe with this legislation. This legislation is not about union membership, as some of the Members from the opposite side of the aisle would like to suggest. This is about the rights of Native Americans and their rights to a quality education. Supporting this legislation supports improved education for Native American Indians. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this educational measure and vote yes on this bill.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, while the majority of Americans are enjoying an unprecedented level of economic prosperity, natural disasters and low farm commodity prices are hurting farmers nationwide. I have seen firsthand the devastating effects facing farmers in my state. The farmers near LeRoy, Kansas, must sell their wheat, milo, corn and soybeans at record low prices, primarily because export markets for these products have been shut out. Farmers simply cannot survive under these conditions. The correlation between fast track authority and the recent decline in farm prices is unmistakable. When U.S. presidents have had fast track authority, commodity prices have remained stable. However, prices have sharply declined for these products since 1996 when fast track authority expired. Approval of fast track is a vital step in relieving the burden that has fallen so heavily on the backs of American farm families. It is wrong. It is absolutely wrong for us to prevent our hard-working farmers from earning a living and feeding their families while they allow us to feed our own. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the President to stand up for American farmers and approve fast track authority.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for rollcall vote no. 426 on S. 2206, the Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak for the millions of Americans who support H.R. 59, the National Right to Work Act. H.R. 59 will restore basic constitutional rights to the workers of America--freedom of choice and freedom of association. It is morally wrong and economically disastrous for us to allow Americans to be forced into paying their hard-earned money as tribute to Big Labor bosses for the privilege of having a job. The United States Congress created this injustice. We alone can end it. We must give back to those we represent a freedom that Congress took away--the right to choose whether or not to join a labor union. It is my hope that this important bill comes to the floor of the House for a vote before we adjourn the 105th Congress.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, first of all I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for offering this amendment. I want to stand and speak in strong support of it. I think it is very important at this point that we restore confidence in this country's commitment to our veterans. Currently our military is in its 14th year of declining budgets. That means benefits are being cut for our current active duty men and women who serve this country. This discourages our young men and women who are involved in the service. I think it is very important that we send a very positive message to them, to our current active military as well as our veterans, that we will make good on our commitment to them. And this is an opportunity to ensure that those benefits will be there and that we will continue to work to fulfill those commitments. I recognize that this is difficult and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) have worked very hard, but I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for offering this amendment.

Mr. RYUN. I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma.

Mr. RYUN. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Madam Speaker, no civilized society should condone or even tolerate a heinous procedure such as partial birth abortion. Congress will again pass a ban on partial birth abortion and this time the President should sign the ban. By his past veto, the President has demonstrated that he is out of step with 85 percent of the American people who support an end to this heinous procedure. With this in mind, I want to tell you about a miracle baby girl named Sarah. Sarah appeared last year on CBS's ``Mysteries and Miracles.'' When she was only four inches long, Sarah was taken briefly from her mother's womb to remove a growing tumor. Sarah's heart stopped beating during the surgery, and the surgeon performed CPR for 20 minutes to revive her. In July of 1996, Sarah was delivered by C-section and is now a healthy toddler. Unfortunately, even as lives like Sarah's are being saved by scientific breakthroughs, others are being extinguished through abortion. The care Sarah received from her surgeons provides a stark contrast to the treatment her mother might legally have chosen: a partial birth abortion.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Madam Speaker, our civilized society must not allow President Clinton's preference for partial-birth abortions to continue. I not only speak for my fellow Kansans but also for the preborn children throughout this country whose lives are taken by this gruesome procedure. Recently a doctor performing a partial-birth abortion realized in the middle of the procedure that he had misjudged the baby's age. She was actually only three weeks away from being in full term. Thankfully the doctor was able to stop the abortion and successfully deliver the baby. That is a happy ending. However, the tragedy of partial-birth abortion is that any preborn baby in the third trimester has a good chance of survival. Only the abortionist's scalpel prevents that baby from having its first breath. Can we seriously allow a few inches to distinguish between a baby and a blob of tissue? Members of Congress as well as the AMA have not found a single circumstance where partial-birth abortion was the only safe and effective abortion method. It is just not there. The truth is this procedure poses a greater risk to the mother's health than a full-term delivery. For the health of women, for the lives of our children, and for the future of America, we must put an end to this ghastly procedure.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, Pentagon intelligence officials are reporting that communist China will add eight ICBM missiles to its arsenal. That is in addition to the 13 nuclear missiles that it already has pointed at American citizens. This weekend the President said that he would veto the defense bill over a House provision blocking the transfer of missile technology to China. Mr. President, exactly whose side are you on? China is not a friendly ally. It aggressively builds nuclear missiles and aims them at American children. What is the Commander in Chief's response? Will he build a missile defense system? No. He vetoed that legislation 3 years ago. The President has no response to the news that China is building more, not less, nuclear missiles to aim at American children. Instead, he has threatened to veto the only legislation that attempts to stem the flow of technology between the Clinton White House and Beijing. Mr. President, shame on you. I yield back my time and any missile technology secrets that the administration cares to keep from the communists.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a very contentious issue that deserves debate. This is a debate between religious freedom and human rights in China as well as about how to promote democracy and economic freedom throughout the world. As a supporter of freedom as well as free trade, I wish trade relations with China were a much easier issue. However, the actions of the Chinese leadership in Beijing make this a very, very complicated issue. As a member of the House Committee on National Security, I am very concerned about China's role as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and for fueling the nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan. As a Christian, I am concerned about the slowness of China's progress in the area of human rights and religious liberty. However, after much prayerful thought, I continue to believe that the best way to affect China morally, economically, and politically is through interaction with the Chinese. We should demonstrate the American way of integrity, honesty, and openness. During last year's debate I quoted this editorial from the Economist which stated: ``If you hear your neighbor beating up his children, do you give a shrug and say it is none of your business?'' I answered absolutely no last year and I do so again this year. We should not shirk our duty to go next door and try to stop the abuse. I urge my colleagues to support normal trade relations with China in hopes of continuing our influence of religious and economic freedom.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Chairman, I recently received a letter from the mayor of Topeka, Kansas, regarding a serious issue facing the city. According to the mayor, during the floods that ravaged Topeka area in 1993 salt from upstream rivers washed into the city's water infrastructure, causing excessive rust in nearly a hundred miles of unlined cast iron water pipe. This resulted in a severe ``red water'' and sediment problem for the city. In some parts of the city, residents are unable to drink the water, even to use their washing machines. Every human being needs water daily in order to live. The people of Topeka, Kansas, need clean water to live.

Mr. RYUN. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. RYUN. Yes, the city has replaced 20 miles of pipe at a cost of $2.5 million, and has appropriated $5.1 million of city revenue this year to replace another 40 miles. However, according to the mayor, this is insufficient to complete the repairs, and the city is seeking Federal assistance to replace the remaining 40 miles of pipe. I understand that this is late in the legislative process. However, in light of the urgency of the problem, I am exploring any legislative options available. I would appreciate your assistance in providing funds that we could use to improve this project.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this measure, knowing that another young girl will secretly be taken across State lines and have an abortion without her parents' knowledge. And I want to emphasize that: Secretly taken across State lines without her parents' knowledge. This is done to bypass State parental requirements. This circumvents the State law and it must end, and we are taking a step in that direction today. H.R. 3682, the Child Custody Protection Act, will make it a Federal offense for adults with no legal parental authority to transport someone else's child across State lines for the purpose of having an abortion. The Child Custody Protection Act will punish those who disregard the safety of our children while, at the same time, returning to parents the authority to make those important medical decisions for their children. I know as a parent of four children, Anne and I appreciate as much input as we possibly can have in the medical decisions of our children, and that is why I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3682. We must protect the authority of parents, the welfare of our children, the rights of the unborn, and this is a beginning in that direction.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this particular amendment. I know that some of my colleagues oppose this amendment. However, as a member of the subcommittee, I have heard the testimony and I have met with retirees who face a real medical problem. As military installations are closed and downsized, our military retirees are being shut out. This amendment is a small step forward, keeping the promises that we have made to our military many years ago.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Chairman, one thing that has been truly a pleasure in serving our national security is that when we come to an issue such as this that is really a national security issue for this country, I have seen this committee come together in such a way that they worked on policy and not on politics. So I hope today that it will be unanimous and strong support for this amendment, the Hefley-Ryun amendment, because I do believe there is a threat with communist nuclear missiles. In 1996, after the failed launch of the Chinese Long March missile, engineers from the United States aerospace firms went to China to lend their expertise to Great Wall Industries, the manufacturer of these particular missiles. A 1997 classified Department of Defense report concluded that at least one U.S. company gave sensitive missile guidance technology to the Chinese. The DOD report then concluded that that transfer damaged our national security. So that is why this is beyond politics and it is really into policy. Next month, President Clinton will visit Beijing. He is expected to announce a new space cooperation agreement and possibly discuss lifting sanctions on the transfer of further military technology. As long as China remains a communist country and transfers technology to regimes such as Iran and Pakistan are possible through China, the United States should not share its commercial space technology that could be used against us for military purposes. China has 13 long-range missiles aimed at the United States. The CIA just confirmed this a couple weeks ago. It also considers the United States its number one security threat. No agreement increasing technology transfers to Communist China should be pursued. It is irresponsible to advance the military capabilities of a communist country, even more so as the U.S. lacks missile defense programs that are necessary to combat these. It is unfortunate that we need to offer this amendment today. The issue is clear. The United States should not provide missile technology to communist countries. And it is my hope that colleagues on the opposite side of the aisle will join us in supporting the Hefley-Ryun amendment.

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Hefley amendment to prohibit the assignment of U.S. Armed Forces to United Nations Rapidly Deployable Mission Headquarters. It is no secret that the United Nations wants to establish a standing army. My concern is that we may be starting down a slippery slope toward the goal of placing our troops under the command of the United Nations. U.S. troops are already deployed around the world to U.N. peacekeeping operations, and this is very important, which have little to do with U.S. security issues, this is also important, which have questionable success rates. These deployments are putting a strain on our defense budget, and they are also shrinking our military and they are putting our people, our military people in harm's way. Our defense budget continues to decline. Readiness shortfalls are common. No U.S. military resources should be made available to the U.N. Rapidly Deployable Missions Headquarters. If the administration is able to find money, and it is my prayer that they can find money, but we can use it on national security, as opposed to contributing money to a new U.N. project. I know I have plenty of military housing quality-of-life problems back in my district which should be funded before we spend additional taxpayer dollars on new U.N. bureaucracies. I urge my colleagues to protect our Armed Forces from any future U.N. infringements and vote yes on the Hefley amendment.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for several roll call votes yesterday. Had I been present, I would have voted no on roll call votes 156, 157, 158, 159 and yes on roll call vote 160.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, April 28, 1998, I was unavoidably detained and missed roll call vote 110, roll call vote 111, and roll call vote 112. If I had been here, I would have voted yes on roll call 110, yes on roll call 111, and yes on roll call 112.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago this week, the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong launched what is now known as the Tet Offensive. During the Vietnam War a cease-fire was traditionally observed during the Vietnamese holiday, Tet. Both sides of the Vietnam War agreed to a cease-fire to extend from January 27 to February 2, 1968. However, the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong broke their agreement and launched a massive attack during this week. The Viet Cong assault team began the attack by breaching the walls of the United States Embassy in Saigon. The entire attack lasted 2 weeks and took 1,000 American soldiers' lives. I have introduced a resolution honoring the Members of the United States Armed Forces who either fought or were killed during the Tet Offensive and the families of the service members who were killed or injured during that fighting. I ask my colleagues to join in honoring our service members who died 30 years ago during this offensive.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, in 1992, Candidate Bill Clinton denounced President George Bush for ``coddling tyrants.'' This week he will welcome Chinese President Jiang Zemin with a 21-gun salute and State dinner, something no American President has done for a Communist leader since the Tiananmen Square massacre. Since China's Communist army opened fire on unarmed democracy demonstrators in 1989, America has been outraged at China's flagrant abuse of human rights. In addition to human rights abuses, China poses a serious threat to peace. The Chinese Government is modernizing its navy and its air force to expand their offensive capability and extend their reach. Although China signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty, it continues to transfer arms and nuclear technology to Iran and Pakistan. President Clinton has indicated that he will certify to Congress that China has halted all exports of nuclear technology, something that the Reagan and Bush administrations refused to do. Mr. Speaker, it is high time that the United States Government establish a policy for dealing with the government of China. It is not time to throw State dinners and to deliver 21-gun salutes.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, I was absent on the afternoon of October 23 and October 24 to attend the wedding of my oldest daughter. I request unanimous consent that the record reflect that had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 525, ``yes'' on rollcall No. 529 and ``no'' on rollcall No. 531.

Mr. RYUN

Mr. RYUN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Spence] for his hard work and the gentleman from California [Mr. Dellums], the ranking member, for all of his work on H.R. 1119. I rise in support of H.R. 1119, the 1998 National Defense Authorization conference report. Mr. Speaker, once again the President submitted a budget request that does not match our national security goals. Whether it is weapons modernization, health care for military families, military construction, or end-strength levels, the President's request falls woefully short, an inadequate effort. Mr. Speaker, I support the House's efforts to increase the defense spending above the President's request and ensure that the United States remains the world's premier fighting force.