E. Shaw

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Chairman, I rise in favor of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss]. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss] has done tremendous work on this amendment. I certainly support it. It is certainly needed. We went through the arguments and the problems with the Everglades and the need for the restoration. I think he has very adequately set forth the determination, which is met with financial backing by the State of Florida and the taxpayers of the State of Florida, for the restoration of this most precious natural resource. I think this is a good amendment. I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula], and I know the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Yates] also has an interest in the Everglades.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 1995-96 Eastern Conference champions, the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are a team of dedicated men who accomplished an athletic feat that many believed impossible. Those in the know never thought that a 3-year-old expansion team could defeat the odds and make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, but this special team did just that. The Florida Panthers captured the hearts of thousands of Florida fans, and their storybook season is one which will never be forgotten. The precedent for excellence has been set; the skeptics have been silenced. After a grueling 80-game regular season schedule, the Panthers traveled to the next level; the National Hockey League playoffs. The experts said the Boston Bruins, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were all better teams, but the Panthers never relinquished their pride; they hung tough and piled up the wins. Finally, the Panthers lived a hockey players' greatest dream--a young upstart team challenging the veteran squad of the former Quebec Nordiques for Lord Stanley's Cup. Although the Florida rat pack showed integrity and professional zeal, the Avalanche took the cup. The dream ended in an all-out, no-holds-barred triple overtime game, and the Panthers showed what it takes to reach greatness. Mr. Speaker, the Florida Panthers have ignited the passions of our south Florida community. My congratulations to Marti and Wayne Huizenga, and the Panther organization for putting together a group of men committed to teamwork, winning, and community spirit; to Coach Doug McLean and his coaching staff for their dedicated work throughout the year; to the rat crazy fans of the Florida Panthers for their support and enthusiasm; and finally to the Eastern Conference champions for a great season and many, many memories. Mr. Speaker, the Panthers are a team and an organization that exemplifies hard work and the importance of community, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring true champions--the Florida Panthers. Congratulations Panthers.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Iran Oil Sanctions Act of 1996. H.R. 3107 is a good bill that will impose sanctions on those who provide Iran and Libya with the ability to acquire or create weapons of mass destruction. Iran and Libya continue to pose a serious threat to the Middle East Peace process and to the security of nations around the world. Both nations continue to sponsor international terrorism and operate to disrupt world stability. They have shown complete disregard for the value of human life with the downing of Pan Am Flight 103, the Berlin disco bombing in 1985, the seizure of U.S. hostages in Tehran and their continued sponsorship of international terrorists. Since these nations refuse to cooperate with the rest of the world on peace initiatives, the United States must take steps to prevent these nations from earning the money they need to sponsor further international terrorism. The best way to do this is to convince Iran and Libya's creditors and trading partners not to transact business with them. This will put pressure on these terrorist countries to reform their policies. The United States needs to take the lead and take decisive action today and if we fail to do so, we are bound to see the loss of more innocent lives around the world. I urge each of my colleagues to support H.R. 3107.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary seventh grader who has achieved an amazing goal. Miss Wendy Guey, of Palm Beach Gardens, has captured the eye of America and the championship title of the 69th Annual National Spelling Bee. It is wonderful to see how pure determination is still alive in our society. Wendy has been striving toward winning the national spelling bee for many years; however, the time was not right. Instead of being discouraged, Wendy persevered to finally reach the championship level. The only obstacle between Wendy and her lifelong goal was the word ``vivisepulture.'' No matter how difficult the words were, Wendy held tough and her hard work finally paid off on Thursday, May 30, 1996. Mr. Speaker, I wish to say how proud I am of Wendy for this special accomplishment in her young life. Wendy is a gifted role model for youngsters as one who never gives up, and, in the end, is successful. Wendy has been aided by many individuals along the way. I would like to thank Wendy's parents, Ching and Susan Guey for their constant love and support. Also, I commend the educators and staff at the School of the Arts for the encouragement they gave Wendy throughout this journey. Wendy Guey is an extraordinary gifted young lady, and her success is exemplified through her work ethic. Without her focus and determination, the title of 1996 Spelling Bee Champion might still be a dream for Wendy Guey.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a south Florida institution which has recently received the highest honor in its field. The American Libraries Association and the Library Journal have named the Broward County Library System, the ``1996 National Library of the Year.'' The Broward County Library System has consistently provided the residents of south Florida with excellent service, valuable resources, and vital information. The library system has become a fixture within the community, and the community support is extraordinary. The library draws more attendance than all the Florida sports teams combined. The Miami Herald, proclaimed the library to be ``one of the Broward County commission's most important achievements.'' Support such as this illustrates the Broward County Library's successful pursuit of excellence and innovative approaches to library service. In our growing age of technology and telecommunications, the Broward County Library System has provided state of the art resources which are in high demand. The library volunteered to pilot the FreeNet system to enhance access in providing the south Florida community with electronic mail, a public forum to exchange ideas, and internet service to research data bases. During its expansion in service and information, the library system has proven its commitment to develop a service that will meet the technological standards of the 21st century. Through its program of service and dedication, the Broward County Library System has kept the taxpayer in high regard. For example, the library system formed a partnership with Broward Community College in order to consolidate financial resources for operational and construction services. This partnership has saved taxpayers $17 million--which is the total cost of building and operating two libraries. Both the public and private sectors have enabled the Broward County Library System to provide essential service, as well as a commitment to education. The Broward County Library System has provided educational standards that have been adopted and practiced by educators. The library has teamed up with local schools, colleges, and universities in providing its coveted resources for all age groups. Mr. Speaker, throughout this country there are many individuals who are dedicated to strengthening our community spirit, one such individual is Mr. Samuel Morrison, director of the libraries division of Broward County. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending congratulations to Sam Morrison and the staff of the Broward County Library System on the receipt of the 1996 National Library of the Year Award.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a south Florida institution which has recently received the highest honor in its field. The American Libraries Association and the Library Journal have named the Broward County Library System, the ``1996 National Library of the Year.'' The Broward County Library System has consistently provided the residents of south Florida with excellent service, valuable resources, and vital information. The library system has become a fixture within the community, and the community support is extraordinary. The library draws more attendance than all the Florida sports teams combined. The Miami Herald proclaimed the library to be ``one of the Broward County Commission's most important achievements.'' Support such as this illustrates the Broward County Library's successful pursuit of excellence and innovative approaches to library service. In our growing age of technology and telecommunications, the Broward County Library System has provided state of the art resources which are in high demand. The library volunteered to pilot the FreeNet System to enhance access in providing the South Florida community with electronic mail, a public forum to exchange ideas, and internet service to research data bases. During its expansion in service and information, the library system has proven its commitment to develop a service that will meet the technological standards of the 21st century. Through its program of service and dedication, the Broward County Library System has kept the taxpayer in high regard. For example, the library system formed a partnership with Broward Community College in order to consolidate financial resources for operational and construction services. This partnership has saved taxpayers $17,000,000--which is the total cost of building and operating two libraries. Both the public and private sectors have enabled the Broward County Library System to provide essential service, as well as a commitment to education. The Broward County Library System has provided educational standards that have been adopted and practiced by educators. The library has teamed up with local schools, colleges and universities in providing its coveted resources for all age groups. Mr. Speaker, throughout this country there are many individuals who are dedicated to strengthening our community spirit, one such individual is Mr. Samuel Morrison, Director of the Libraries Division of Broward County. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending congratulations to Sam Morrison and the staff of the Broward County Library System on the receipt of the 1996 National Library of the Year Award.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Emergency Medical Services Week. First, let me tell a short story. Like any healthy 4-year-old boy, Cody was thrilled to be climbing on a shiny red fire engine. He and his brother, Drew, were visiting their local fire department for a special reason. One week earlier, two of the paramedics from this fire department were struggling to save Cody's life. On that January day in 1995, Drew saw Cody run past the family room and down the hall toward the bathroom. Sensing something was wrong, Drew scurried after his brother, reaching Cody just before he collapsed. Drew yelled for their father, then tried the Heimlich maneuver he recently learned at school. But, whatever was lodged in Cody's throat would not budge. By this time, their father had reached the boys and told Drew to call 911. The call came in stating that a young boy was having difficulty breathing. Two paramedics responded to the call, arriving on the scene only minutes later. They found Cody pale and no longer breathing. One paramedic took the child's pulse and mentally ran through the training he had received just a few weeks earlier at a special pediatric airway management class. At that point he could see that the object looked like a jaw breaker, but it was covered with tissue and blood. He tried basic measures to remove the object and it seemed to move a little. In his efforts to breath, however, Cody sucked it back down. Seconds went by. The paramedic then tried a new child-sized piece of equipment he had received during his recent training: A laryngoscope and a pair of McGill forceps, which look something like salad tongs. Again, Cody's attempts to breathe foiled his efforts. More seconds passed. By this time a senior paramedic arrived on the scene and immediately decided to give the McGill forceps one more try. Working as a team, the two paramedics finally dislodged the object in Cody's throat. Cody began to breath. It was a save. I retell this story to emphasize the reality that a child's life not only requires specialized equipment and training, it also takes a thorough understanding of just how different children are from adults, both physically and emotionally. No one understands this more than Dr. Deborah Mulligan-Smith of my district in south Florida. Working tirelessly, Dr. Mulligan-Smith recently inspired the Florida Legislature to pass a bill that appropriates $200,000 for the training of paramedics in emergency pediatrics. In 1984, Congress funded a grant program that helps States expand children's access to proper emergency care while also improving the quality of such care. The Emergency Medical Services for Children [EMSC] program encourages States and municipalities to enhance their emergency medical systems to benefit children in ways unheard of just a few years ago. This program enhances emergency care by integrating the needs of severely ill or injured children into existing EMS systems, trains and educates EMS personnel to effectively handle pediatric emergencies, works to prevent pediatric emergencies by supporting injury prevention programs, and saves money by stimulating partnerships between grantees, local agencies, and community organizations. Mr. Speaker, as our Nation recognizes Emergency Medical Services Week, I want to congratulate Dr. Mulligan-Smith on her efforts to save the lives of our children through the EMSC program. Children do need special attention and treatment, and they need the development of special medical equipment to help save their lives. They also need to have paramedics specially trained in emergency pediatrics. I support Dr. Mulligan-Smith's dedication to accomplishing EMSC objectives, and I encourage my congressional colleagues to do the same.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly respected 34- year veteran of the U.S. Congress. Sam Gibbons has served the people of our great State of Florida and his Tampa congressional district with honor and distinction. Having demonstrated exceptional leadership in this extensive time span, he is well-deserved of recognition. Serving our country in World War II, Sam proved to be a genuine hero as he took part in the parachute landing behind German lines on the Normandy coast the night before D-day. It was with this same vigor that he worked as a freshman Member of Congress to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. As an outstanding leader and public servant, Sam has rendered vital assistance in a number of important matters. In 1966, he succeeded in getting the House Education and Labor Committee to meet and vote in open sessions. He later went on to write the first formal rules for that committee and also the Ways and Means Committee. In the early 1970's, Sam championed the initiative that ended the practice of anonymous voting on the floor of the House. Twenty years later, as chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, he was instrumental in crafting the two biggest trade agreements in history-- NAFTA and GATT. Sam Gibbons has dedicated most of his life to improving this great Nation of ours. What is even more incredible is the fact that he raised three children and four grandchildren while doing so. Serving as a Congressman, a role model, and a good friend of mine, Sam has achieved the esteemed status of a truly great man. His image is impressed upon our hearts and will serve as an inspiration for leaders yet to come.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1202.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I had not intended to be in the debate on this particular issue until I heard the questions of what I consider to be tremendous exaggerations as to what is going on in East Timor. I had the privilege of visiting East Timor for several days just a few months ago, along with Congressman Johnson and the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Archer. We saw firsthand the fact that there are not these huge breaches of human rights, and we did not see these breaches of human rights as referred to. As a matter of fact, one of our Members went and spoke to a Catholic priest, and, by the way, most of Indonesia is Muslim, this is mostly Catholic. As a matter of fact, there is the second largest statue of Jesus in the entire world being constructed--in process of being constructed--in East Timor. I went to a Catholic priest who actually favored independence, but he verified the fact that the human rights record was certainly improving and that he did not see these tremendous violations of human rights.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no additional speakers. I compliment the Senators and the Senate for the passage of this bill, and hopefully they can expeditiously pass it in the final analysis. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question on the privileges of the House and I offer a resolution (H. Res. 402) returning to the Senate the bill S. 1463.

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is necessary to return to the Senate the bill S. 1463, because it contravenes the constitutional requirement that revenue measures shall originate in the House of Representatives. S. 1463 would create a new basis for applying import restrictions, and therefore contravenes this constitutional requirement. S. 1463 proposes to amend title II of the Trade Act of 1974, which sets forth the authority and procedures for the President to provide temporary import relief to a domestic industry which has been seriously injured by imports. Under the so-called ``safeguard'' statute, the International Trade Commission conducts an investigation upon request, and, if appropriate, makes a recommendation to the President regarding what action would address the injury to the industry. This action may include a tariff, tariff-rate quota, quantitative restriction, or adjustment measures. The President then must determine what action, if any, is appropriate. The actions authorized to be taken by the President include a duty, tariff-rate quota, quantitative restriction, adjustment measure, or negotiation of trade agreements limiting imports into the United States. S. 1463 changes this authority and procedure by authorizing the ITC to limit its investigation with respect to a domestic agricultural product produced within a particular growing season. As a result, S. 1463 changes the predicate necessary for achieving access to the desired trade remedy, which takes for form of an import restriction. As a result, the proposed change would allow products which do not currently qualify for import relief to be able to qualify in the future. This would have the effect of creating a new basis and mechanism for applying import restrictions under authority granted to the President, which is not currently available. Import relief granted under this new authority would have a direct effect on customs revenues. The proposed change in our tariff laws is a ``revenue affecting'' infringement in the House's prerogatives, which constitutes a revenue measure in the constitutional sense. Therefore, I am asking that the House insist on its constitutional prerogatives. There are numerous precedents for the action I am requesting. For example, on March 21, 1996, the House returned to the Senate S. 1518, repealing an existing import restriction in the Tea Importation Act of 1897. On July 21, 1994, the House returned to the Senate S. 729, prohibiting the import of specific products which contain more than specified quantities of lead. On February 25, 1992, the House returned to the Senate S. 884, requiring the President to impose sanctions, including import restrictions, against countries that fail to eliminate large-scale driftnet fishing. On October 31, 1991, the House returned to the Senate S. 320, including provisions imposing, or authorizing the imposition of a ban on imports in connection with export administration. On September 23, 1988, the House returned to the Senate S. 2662, imposing import quotas on textiles and footwear products. I want to emphasize that this action does not constitute a rejection of the Senate bill on its merits. Adoption of this privileged resolution to return the bill to the Senate should in no way prejudice its consideration in a constitutionally acceptable manner. In fact, I introduced companion legislation, H.R. 2795, on December 15, 1995, in order to address the identical issues by S. 1463. In addition, at my request, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade will be holding a hearing on H.R. 2795 on April 25. Accordingly, the proposed action today is purely procedural in nature, and is necessary to preserve the prerogatives of the House to originate revenue matters. It makes it clear to the Senate that the Appropriate procedure for dealing with revenue measures is for the House to act first on a revenue bill, and for the Senate to accept it or amend it as it sees fit. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss]. (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel], and ask for a ``yes'' vote on this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Crane], chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce, along with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Crane], the Gaza Strip-West Bank bill. This is a noncontroversial bill that received great bipartisan support when we marked it up previously in the Ways and Means Committee. It is also supported by the administration. The provisions of this bill will permit the President to eliminate or modify any existing duty on products that are produced in the Gaza Strip-West Bank area. In light of the recent occurrences in Israel, this bill is most timely and will aid in the peace process. Since February 25, suicide bombers have killed five innocent civilians. The Israelis and Palestinians want peace for their people, security for every citizen and hope that they can peacefully coexist. It is very important for the United States and this Congress to show their collective will that they will do all they can do to further the peace process. The passage of this bill will send a very clear signal to the international community that we support normalized relations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The provisions of this bill will strengthen the Israeli and Palestinian relation by providing economic and employment relief to that area and it will help the establishment of a Palestinian State. I urge all of my colleagues to support this most important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include therein extraneous material on the bill, H.R. 3074.

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3074) to amend the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 to provide the President with additional proclamation authority with respect to articles of the West Bank or Gaza Strip or a qualifying industrial zone.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding this time to me, and I stand up in vigorous support of a commonsense change in the law as it affects the taxpayers' rights in balancing it out with the rights and duties of the Internal Revenue Service. The Internal Revenue Service is a needed agency which looks over the collection of taxes in this country. There is no question about it. But there are some things that need to be balanced out which this legislation does. To give just a few examples of what is in this bill that needs to be done: One of the provisions in here would allow the IRS to release property on which there are liens when it is to the advantage of the Government to do so. Right now they cannot do that. You have situations where businesses are closed down, where if the IRS would simply allow them to continue to exist for a short period of time, the Federal Government could make up some of the dollars that it is losing. And, of course, also, there is a question of jobs being lost. This is just plain common sense. When we have a situation where a spouse is charged with liability because of signing a joint return and the secrecy law comes into play, it is only common sense, if we are going to go after using the female spouse, that we would be able to share certain information, which now the IRS is prohibited from doing. These are just a couple of examples of just pure common sense that we are putting into the law. I compliment my fellow Members of the Committee on Ways and Means. It was a good meeting, and I think it shows that we have great bipartisan support, and I am sure that each Member of the Congress, every Member of the Congress is going to be proud to vote for and support this legislation.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to deliver to my congressional colleagues a message from the 180,000 Medicare beneficiaries who reside in my south Florida district, and that message is simply: Stop the fraudulent and abusive practices against the Medicare Program, and do it now. This substitute ignores the issue of fraud and abuse. Mr. Speaker, this body has already voted for the Medicare fraud and abuse provisions that are included in this bill when it passed the Medicare Preservation Act, and, as we all remember, the Medicare Preservation Act was vetoed by President Clinton. Now we have another chance to move a step closer to saving the Medicare Program from bankruptcy. This bill is the toughest and most serious attempt that this Congress has made to stop fraud and abuse in the Medicare Program and health care generally with the new strong criminal penalties for offenses against the American people. I am proud to have contributed to this effort, and I know that when my constituents learn of their new rights under the Medicare Program, they will be proud of this Congress, too. Let us pass this bill and save Medicare millions of dollars and save all the American taxpayers billions of dollars in reducing fraud and abuse.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3136, the Contract With America Advancement Act, which includes language to raise the amount of money a senior citizen may earn before losing Social Security benefits. Twice before I have supported this legislation; in the Senior Citizens' Equity Act, and in the Senior Citizens Right to Work Act. Support of this legislation is my commitment to the senior citizens of my district to remove the disincentive to continue working after they begin receiving their Social Security benefits. Increasing the Social Security earnings limit from $11,520 to $30,000 will significantly improve benefits for moderate- and middle-income beneficiaries who work out of necessity, not choice. It will also remove the penalty on those with income from work, but not from other sources such as dividends and interest. I urge my colleagues to help our Nation's seniors by voting for this bill.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this minute. Mr. Chairman, I want to compliment her for her statement. Mr. Chairman, this is money that has already been earmarked. South Florida has been pelted with the burden of caring for so many of these people that are coming onto our shores. Even as we speak tonight, more and more people are being awarded visas with the deal that the Clinton administration made with the Castro people in order to try to stop the flow of refugees into this country. They come into Florida and they stay in Florida. We all know well about the exodus that we have had from Haiti. Regardless of where Members come down on this particular issue, we know that they remain in south Florida, and they become the burden of the taxpayers in south Florida. This money was earmarked. It should stay earmarked. I think we, in the Congress, are really starting a dangerous precedent if we start looking around the country and find out where certain moneys have been, and then start getting into raiding these particular funds. Believe me, Florida is not coming out on this deal at all. It is costing us much more in health care, social services, than we are getting from the Federal Government. I urge a ``no'' vote on the Dreier amendment.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that will authorize the imposition of trade sanctions on countries which threaten the health and safety of U.S. citizens by failing to cooperate fully with the United States regarding the reduction and interdiction of illicit drugs. The United States has been saturated by a flood of illegal drugs which has resulted in our national security being seriously threatened. Startling new statistics reflect a resurgent drug crisis and a sharp increase in the use of heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine, LSD, and marijuana by our children--usually between the ages of 12 and 17. We have attempted to fight the drug war by creating joint Federal-State- local task forces and with the Department of Justice's Weed and Seed sites, and by passing strict sentencing laws for drug traffickers. Now it is clear, however, that we must not only have a tough domestic drug policy, such as by enforcing minimum mandatory sentences for drug traffickers, we must also take our fight across our borders into other countries. We need to send a strong signal to all foreign governments that we are serious about our war on drugs. Despite the increase of drug use this past year, the administration continues to grant significant trade benefits to countries whose governments have failed to cooperate with the United States in drug interdiction efforts. Clearly, Members of Congress must now assume this responsibility and ban together to protect our country and children from these drugs. My bill authorizes the imposition of trade sanctions on countries that fail to cooperate fully with us to stop the flow of illicit drugs. Reducing U.S. trade benefits will make foreign governments that willingly allow these drugs to end up on American streets and in American schools to think twice before they look the other way while drug kingpins in their country cultivate and or transport cocaine right before their eyes. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation and send a strong message to foreign countries that the United States is serious about halting the flow of illicit drugs.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Chairman, I think the points have been made here today, but there is one thing that I want the Members to leave here really impressed upon their mind, and that is, why are we in Florida waiting in line. Several reasons. One, there is a national park at stake, the life of a national park. There is the water supply for south Florida. There is the health of the Florida Bay, which is the nursery for all of the fisheries around the coast of Florida. This is irreparable damage occurring in south Florida. It is not a question, We do not have the luxury of being able to wait 2 or 3 years. The damage would be complete, and it would be final. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my support for Representative Foley's amendment which provides for a $210 million appropriation that will be used to conduct restoration activities in the Everglades National Park and to purchase lands within the Everglades Agricultural Area. The Everglades' unique, fragile ecosystem has been strained, and it is now estimated that 130,000 acres of land need to be taken out of production in the Everglades Agricultural Area [EAA] to regain a reasonable flow of clean water through the Everglades and into Florida Bay. Immediate action is needed to halt the rapid deterioration of the Everglades, which are dying at the incredible rate of 3 acres everyday. If we fail to act, Florida residential and recreational areas and businesses will suffer increasing water supply problems, and the south Florida fishing, diving, and tourism industries will be endangered. I believe that the farmers who grow their crops in the Everglades Agricultural Area need to be financially responsible for the damage that their farming does to the Everglades. However, this bill is the first step in the preservation and restoration of Florida Bay and the Everglades, both of which are of tremendous value to our Florida economy in addition to being two of the most beautiful and priceless areas on earth. I urge my colleagues to vote for this pro-environment vote and take the first step in saving the Everglades.

Mr. SHAW

Mr. SHAW. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my support for the Miller- Schumer-Kingston amendment, which is a fair compromise between those who want to end the sugar program within 1 year and those who advocate a more gradual phaseout of this program. However, one thing is clear; the sugar program has outlived its usefulness, and now is the time to bring it to an end. I ask why is the Government in the business of micromanaging the sugar industry? With the sugar program, the majority of the benefits go to the larger farmers. It penalizes consumers with an increased cost of $1.4 billion each and every year for sweetened products; and it damages the environment because when the Government fixes a price, this works as an incentive for farmers to cultivate more and more environmentally sensitive lands in Florida. In fact, during the 14 years that the sugar program has been in place, Florida's cane production has increased by 80 percent. This increased cane production is literally killing the Everglades. I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment, which is pro- consumer, pro-environment, and pro-free market. Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from North Dakota [Mr. Pomeroy].