Brad Sherman

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rabbi Marvin Sugarman for his passionate efforts to improve the quality of life in our community. Rabbi Sugarman has shown outstanding commitment at the Shaarey Zedek Congregation in North Hollywood. He has been a spiritual leader of the Jewish community for thirty years. The Talmud states that ``Charity promotes peace, and he who gives much charity will bring great peace on earth and above.'' In the spirit of words, Rabbi Sugarman has expended endless energy in enhancing the Jewish Community of North Hollywood. The community has reaped the benefits of having a tireless leader at the forefront of their religious spiritualism, as they have come together in harmony under his guidance. Rabbi Sugarman's academic record has proven him to be a diligent student of Judaism. While attending the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore, Rabbi Sugarman was honored for his academic ability with the Jewish Studies Award. After earning a four-year scholarship to fund his college education, he continued his education at Yeshiva University in New York City, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954. Following his time of study in New York, Rabbi Marvin Sugarman successfully held pulpits in Canada, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, where he increased awareness and participation in the Jewish religion. During this period, Rabbi Sugarman was also a recipient of the Ethics Award. In the late sixties, Rabbi Sugarman moved to the West Coast, and began working with the Jewish community of the Shaarey Zedek Congregation in North Hollywood, With thirty years of spiritual leadership of the highest accord, Rabbi Sugarman is a highly-respected individual by both the Shaarey Zedek congregation members and by the whole Jewish community in Southern California. In addition to caring for the needs of the Jewish Community, Rabbi Sugarman is also a husband, father of five, and a grandfather of twenty-six. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in paying tribute to Rabbi Marvin Sugarman. He is deserving of our utmost respect and praise.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, today was a first. We have had many legislative assistants working in the House and the Senate who have dreamed of addressing this body, but I believe that this is the first time that a legislative assistant has addressed this body, not as a Member, but as a guest chaplain. I am proud to have introduced to this body my rabbi in my formative years and my family's rabbi, Mark S. Miller, who returns to this Capitol many years after serving as a legislative assistant for Senator Mondale. When the rabbi came to Orange County, my father was the first in our family to meet him; and he came back to the family and said, ``I have met a scholar.'' He was right. After so many sermons that I heard, so many talks that I had with Rabbi Miller growing up, I knew him as a scholar. Much of the Nation knows him as a scholar from his lectures on business ethics and bioethics and his writings on biblical topics. I know that my friends at Temple Bat Yahm, my mother, my father who is I am sure watching this event from on high, and his wife Wendy and their five children all join me in this joy and this honor in having heard Rabbi Miller give the invocation today.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marion Ross, who will be honored by the Organization for the Needs of the Elderly as the 1998 Legacy Award Recipient. For many years, Marion has shared her incredible gift with audiences of all ages. As a drama major at San Diego State, her raw talent was recognized, and she was voted the school's most outstanding actress during her Freshman Year. Since that time, she has gone on to win international acclaim as an actress comfortable on the stage of a classic drama or in a contemporary television comedy. After college, Marion made her break into the Hollywood scene with her debut film, Forever Female. She then went on to appear in a variety of television shows, including the one that made her a household name around the world. On Happy Days, Marion played the comical, yet reliable housewife, Mrs. Cunningham. In this role, she delighted fans with her warmth, sincerity and quick wit. After Happy Days, Marion returned to her first love--the stage. Oscar Wilde once said that, ``The stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life.'' Marion Ross epitomized this ideal in several highly acclaimed dramatic theater performances. The role of lifetime came with her performance in Brooklyn Bridge, a show which won the widespread approval of critics and brought Marion a nomination as Best Actress for both an Emmy and the American Television Awards. Additionally, Marion was named the ``Best Comedy Actress of the Year'' by the highly respected national organization, the Viewers for Quality Television. Over the past few years, Marion has remained busy in a diverse collection of roles. She received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in The Evening Star and has starred in several recent television productions. I can think of no individual more deserving of this award than Marion. Through her many characters, she has given us a legacy of laughter, joy and tears. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring one of the preeminent actresses of our time, Marion Ross.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Edward James Olmos. He will be honored by the St. Joseph Center with the ``Hope Through Empowerment Award'' for his tireless efforts in helping inner-city youth, kids at risk and his support of many humanitarian efforts. Known as the ``Olivier of the Latino World,'' Edward James Olmos is an individual flowing with talent and creativity. The talented actor, producer, director and community activist was born and raised in East Los Angeles and spent many years in theatrical roles until his mesmerizing performance in the musical play Zoot Suit, which led to a Tony Award nomination. He later recreated the role for film, then went on to star in a variety of other movies. From the beginning, Edward believed strongly that he had a responsibility to ``give back'' to his community and to the world. Edward spends much of his time talking with youth and children. Each year, he speaks on average at 150 schools, charities and juvenile institutions across the country--providing encouragement and counsel. He maintains that these visits with kids at risk serve as an inspiration to his acting. ``They are an extraordinary source of energy that I would not have otherwise,'' he says. ``After an hour of speaking with those kids, I walk away with a buzzing feeling inside. You're one person giving to more than three hundred people who are giving back to you.'' Edward's most recent project, and the one closest to his heart is the Los Angeles Latino Family Festival. This festival celebrates a variety of areas, including books, the importance of culture in our daily lives, home ownership and travel. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring Edward Olmos. He is a role model to the citizens of Los Angeles.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robert M. Hertzberg who will be receiving the Civic Leadership Award from the Organization for the Needs of the Elderly (ONE). President Kennedy said, ``Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.'' Assembly member Hertzberg is know throughout our community for his exceptional dedication to our community and his efforts to bring about positive changes, improving the safety of our environment. Understanding that citizens need a voice, Assembly member Hertzberg took measures which allow San Fernando Valley residents to exercise greater control over our community. He also established a multimillion dollar gang suppression program in L.A., overhauled L.A. County's overburdened juvenile justice system and allowed the membership of the L.A. Unified School District Board to be increased. Assembly member Hertzberg's positive changes have not just affected the San Fernando Valley, but the state of California as a whole. Working to improve the safety of our communities, he authorized laws which create a state Witness Protection Program to help convict dangerous criminals, establish a pilot project to test a non-emergency ``311'' telephone system to relieve the overburdened ``911'' system, and allow citizens to lodge complaints with state departments via Internet. In addition to representing the 40th Assembly District in the California State Legislature, Assembly member Hertzberg has served on the Board of Directors for several organizations such as CORO, Chinatown Service Center and Mulholland Tomorrow. He has also participated as a member on the Executive Committee on the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the Valley Alliance, the State Issues Committee of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and the Sherman Oaks Town Council. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring Assembly member Robert Hertzberg for his outstanding leadership and dedication to community service.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Dan Schwala for his outstanding commitment to our community. Both as a successful businessman and as an avid supporter of charitable projects, he has used his intelligence and charisma to distinguish himself as a man of valor. Dan's dedication to work with the St. Joseph Center has helped them to provide empowering opportunities to low income and homeless men, women, and children for over two decades. The Center is a nonprofit community agency that assists approximately 12,000 people yearly through its eleven programs. St. Joseph Center's mission is to be a caring presence in the neighborhood, attentive to the changing survival needs of the poor and marginalized members of our country. Dan's efforts certainly have helped to continue to change the lives of others. After the untimely death of the St. Joseph Center's Event Chair, John Gorski, after whom the Center's Community Service Award is named, Dan Schwala stepped into the pivotal role as dinner and auction chair of their single most important event of the year. With his wife, Denise Hart, he has for the third year provided the leadership, enthusiasm and management to ensure that the St. Joseph Center's 1998 event is their most successful ever. From his position as the Senior Vice President of Paine Webber, Inc., and his commitment to Saint Monica's Parish in Santa Monica, California, he provides tireless direction in this most important community effort to recognize those who are being honored by the St. Joseph Center. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring Dan Schwala. He is a role model for the citizens of our community.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Richard and Barbara Rosenberg for their outstanding commitment to strengthening the Jewish community in the Conejo Valley and for their support of the State of Israel. They will be awarded the Builders of Freedom Award in recognition of their dedication. We are told in the Talmud that ``He who does charity and justice is as if he had filled the whole world with kindness.'' For over 18 years Richard and Barbara have been dedicated members of Temple Etz Chaim, as well as social activists in the Jewish community. They have each worked to improve our community. Barbara has served the Temple on the Board of Directors as Vice President of Ways and Means, Social Action and currently Youth Activities. She also holds positions on the Membership, Ways & Means and Religious Education Committees. An avid supporter of education, Barbara has served on the Board of the Los Angeles Hebrew High School for the past three years. There she has worked to solidify the Jewish community through a Jewish Federation/Valley Alliance sponsored ``Mitzvah Day.'' This program has brought other Conejo Valley congregations and Jewish organizations together for service to the community. During her two years as president of the Religious School Parent Volunteer Group, Barbara was instrumental in its reorganization so that it could better make a difference in the community. Richard has served on the Temple Board as Vice President of Development, and was actively involved in both the building process and the solicitation of funds for the new building. He has served on the Men's Club Board, has been an active participant in many of its programs from picnics to sukkah building and has labeled, sorted and mailed the temple bulletin for almost 18 years. We are told in the Talmud that ``When you teach your son you teach your son's sons,'' and both Richard and Barbara Rosenberg have taken that commitment to education seriously. In addition to their work to fortify the Jewish community as a whole, they have also raised their children with a love of Judaism and a commitment to ``make a differnce'' in the world. They are strong supporters of the State of Israel and have traveled there on several occasions. For their work they have been awarded the Builders of Freedom Award. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in paying tribute to Richard and Barbara Rosenberg. Their dedication to charity and the strengthening of community makes them role models for us all.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rabbi Shimon Paskow and his wife Carol for their lifetime support of the State of Israel. Cicero once observed how ``dear, sweet and pleasing to us all is the soil of our native land.'' Rabbi Shimon and Carol Paskow have served both the United States and Israel with uncompromising loyalty and unending energy. This year, in recognition of their efforts, Rabbi Shimon Paskow and his wife Carol will be awarded the Golden Shofar Award by the State of Israel Bonds. Together, they have led thousands of people to Israel, helping these individuals and their families create a bond to the Jewish homeland that will last a lifetime. Throughout his exemplary career, Rabbi Shimon has done outstanding work for the Jewish community at home and abroad. In 1960, Rabbi Shimon entered the United States Army and served as a Jewish chaplain in France and Germany and was honored by the Commanding General of the Fourth Logistical Command and the National Jewish Welfare Board. Later, he served as Deputy Command Chaplain in Alaska and the Reserve Jewish Chaplain for Tipler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. In 1993, he was decorated by the United States Army with the Meritorious Service Award. Returning to California, Rabbi Shimon has enriched the lives of hundreds of teenagers, college students, and young couples through his community involvement. He has served as the spiritual leader of Temple Etz Chaim for almost 30 years, and under his guidance the temple has grown by leaps and bounds, expanding membership from just under 100 families in 1969 to just over 700 families today. But Rabbi Shimon's influence has not been bound by temple walls. He has reached out to Jewish communities in both Ventura County and across the country. As a member of the Community Relations Committee of the San Fernando Valley Area Council, he was appointed by the Mayor to serve on a Community Advisory Committee. He was one of the first activists instrumental in gaining interest in the plight of Russian Jews. Through this effort, Rabbi Paskow has helped thousands of Jews escape Russian persecution and migrate to Israel and other Western countries. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, as we near the celebration of Israel's 50th anniversary as a free and independent state, please join me in paying tribute to Rabbi Shimon and Carol Paskow for their volunteerism on behalf of the State of Israel and its people.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Cantor Nathan Lam for his contribution to the music of Israel. Geoffrey Latham once wrote that ``Music is the vernacular of the human soul.'' As an internationally renowned musician, Cantor Lam has shared his gift of music with individuals across the world. His outstanding talent was evident from a young age; by his sixteenth birthday he had been engaged by a leading congregation to serve as a cantor for the High Holy Days. Cantor Lam went on to study privately with several renowned teachers in almost every area of vocal music. As the cantor at the prestigious Midway Jewish Center in New York City, he began his own commissioning program. In 1976, Cantor Lam assumed his post at Stephen S. Wise Temple, which is now the largest synagogue in the world. Over the past 22 years, he has developed numerous musical programs. At Stephen S. Wise Temple, Cantor Lam has trained a new generation of cantors, sharing with them his love of music and commitment to the Jewish community. The temple has established a scholarship in his name, enabling these exceptional students to follow in his footsteps. Cantor Lam is also a well known voice coach with a national reputation, working with some of the biggest names in the music industry today. Cantor Lam has performed in concerts across the world, appeared on television both nationally and internationally, performed opera and sung his vast Jewish repertoire in a multitude of public appearances. He has released a number of recordings, including ``Legacy,'' which represents a landmark collaboration between the talents of the National Symphony of Israel and the kind of Jewish musical innovation exemplified by Cantor Lam, and other well known composers. In addition, Cantor Lam has been featured in a multitude of articles and television shows. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Israel, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable accomplishments of Cantor Lam, along with his commitment to Jewish life and Israel. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring one of the preeminent musicians of our time, Cantor Nathan Lam.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Janet and Henry Rosmarin for their bravery, their commitment to the community, and their dedication to ensuring that our memories of the Holocaust will never be forgotten or silenced. Through all of their hardships they have endured not only to survive, but to live such full lives that their example of love and loyalty to themselves and others is a high standard that the rest of us can only hope to achieve. Henry was Henryk Rosmarin and Janet was Jadzia Jakubowicz when they met in her father's apartment in the little shtetl of Czeladz in Poland. Henryk was there for High Holiday services that were being held in secret by Jadzia's father because they had been banned by the Nazi administration. She laughed two years later when he proposed that ``When this is all over we should find each other and we should get married and make a life together.'' Just a few weeks after his marriage proposal they were forcibly deported from their homes. Janet spent years in Auschwitz and Birkenau while Henry was sent to Gross-Rosen and Buchenwald. Henry survived by using his harmonica and his voice to entertain his captors in return for his life. Both of them lost most of their families, but true to his word Henry returned to Czeladz where he searched for months before finding Janet. That is where a fairy tale would end, but to sum up the following two years of searching and resettlement, and the fifty years thereafter, in a phrase like, ``They lived happily ever after,'' would understate both the Rosmarins and the realities of our times. There have been good times, homes and children, but also a struggle that has followed them though their lives together. Their lives have been tightly bound with the life and history of the Jewish people. In Southern California they founded a synagogue with Temple Ner Maarav and a life's purpose with the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Project. Henry contributes to the Temple Choir with the musical talents that allowed him to survive the concentration camps, and uses his music to speak for those who did not. Similarly, for the Shoah foundation, he serves as a goodwill ambassador, speaking on its behalf and reviewing Visual History contributions, especially those recorded in Polish. Simon Wiesenthal said that, ``survival is a privilege which entails obligations. I am forever asking myself what I can do for those who have not survived. The answer that I have found for myself is: I want to be their mouthpiece, I want to keep their memory alive, to make sure the dead live on in that memory,'' The Rosmarins have formed a new community to replace the one that they lost so many years ago in Poland. They have not allowed their suffering to prevent them from living life and loving God. Their efforts to preserve the testimonies of Holocaust survivors are a service to all of us who can listen so that we may never forget our part, or those who can no longer tell us of their sufferings. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in paying tribute to Janet and Henry Rosmarin. They are an example of strength, love, and devotion to us all.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the students of El Camino Real High School, winners of the National Academic Decathlon title. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge this team of champions made up of Taimur Baig, Michael Beatty, Steve Chae, Nancy Fu, Bruce Ngo, Elana Pelman, Carina Yuen and Adi Zarchi, who were led by coaches David Roberson, Mark Johnson and Principal Ron Bauer. The academic decathlon is the equivalent of an intellectual Olympics. Students are asked to compete in a variety of areas, including analyzing poetry, solving complicated trigonometry problems and answering questions about the lives of great composers. They are also tested on various aspects of global economies, including inflation, interest rates, the North American Free Trade Agreement and the International Monetary Fund. The El Camino Conquistadors are to be commended for their dedication, hard work and discipline. In preparation for this grueling competition, students have spent 50 hours a week throughout this past year studying everything from music theory to chemical equations. In addition, each student also read ``Jane Eyre'' five times, and together the team took more than 450 multiple choice practice tests. Their success has been recognized on the front page of every newspaper in the area, by local radio and television stations, and most recently by President Clinton. President Kennedy once said that we should think of education as the ``. . . . means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.'' I would like to commend the Conquistadors for going after their dreams, individually and as a team. This commitment to their education and pursuit of their goals is an inspiration to other students, teachers and the rest of the country. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in offering our highest accolades to the students of El Camino Real High School.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Russell Huse, a native of Los Angeles, California, for his dedicated service to the community, his passion for the environment, and his inspiring courage and physical fortitude. I also would like to extend to Mr. Huse my warmest birthday wishes as he prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday on April 30th. One could say that Mr. Huse and his family were among my district's original homesteaders. Russell was born on April 30, 1908 in Los Angeles. As a young boy, he spent countless summers and holidays at his grandfather's 6,000 acre ranch which encompassed an area that today is known as Westlake Village. Living on the ranch, Russell developed a work ethic, an unconquerable spirit and determination that has remained his trademark to this day. Russell went on to study fine arts at UCLA and later settled into a career as a Supervisory Technical Writer and Artist at the United States Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, California. But at UCLA, he put his fighting spirit to good use on the football field for three years under Coach Bill Spaudling. Even now, Russell remains one of the team's most avid fans, often traveling hundred of miles to root the Bruins on to victory. After UCLA, Russell served as a Park Ranger in Yosemite National Park. It was here, in one of our nation's most beautiful spots, that Russell developed his love for nature which has subsequently led him to devote a large portion of his life to conservation. And it was this love of nature that gave birth to Russell's true passion--mountain climbing. Despite the fact that Russell did not begin climbing until his late 40's, he has some 160 peaks to his credit. He has scaled Chincey in South America, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps, all after turning 65 years old. While climbing in Switzerland, Russell completed the solo rescue of a climber, stranded on the mountain with a broken leg. This experience, while earning him a Proclamation for heroism from the townspeople at the base of Mont Blanc, led Russell to found the China Lake Mountain Rescue Group. This organization saves peoples lives in California and Mexico, allowing climbers to enjoy nature in comfort and security. Today, Russell remains actively involved in organizations within his community. He and his wife Edith live in a beautiful hilltop home in Westlake Village, overlooking the land he used to play on as a young boy so many years ago. Again, I wish to extend my warmest wishes to Russell Huse as he celebrates his 90th birthday and I would like to wish him good luck as he steams on toward the century mark. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring Russell Huse for his decades of service to others. Throughout all of his 90 years, he has remained young at heart and he continues to live a life that inspires us all to be our best.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, we have heard some contentious discussion of our partisan divisions. I rise for a task that I think is far more joyful and one as to which this entire body is united, and that is I rise to congratulate the people of Israel on the 50th anniversary of their rebirth and independence. Today represents the 50th anniversary of Israel, as determined by the Jewish lunar calendar. And it is with great joy that I point out that House Joint Resolution 102 was adopted by this House 2 days ago by a vote of 402 to nothing, demonstrating the united and bipartisan support that the State of Israel and the close U.S.-Israel relationship enjoyed in this House. We should reflect that in August of 1897, a century ago, the first Zionist Congress affirmed its aspiration to form a Jewish homeland in the historic State of Israel. After the horrors of the Holocaust, in which one-third of the Jewish population of the world lost their lives, the Jewish people returned to their ancient homeland and established the State of Israel. Since the Nation's founding, over a million Jews from throughout the world have sought refuge in Israel. Israel has, over the last 50 years, rebuilt a nation, maintained a pluralist democracy, the only one in the Middle East, and based that democracy on freedoms and the rule of law. It has developed a thriving economy and a society, transforming the desert into a land of milk and honey. On this 50th anniversary we have a chance to reflect on the courage and leadership of President Harry Truman who, against the advice of experts in the State Department, et cetera, stood with the people of Israel and recognized their declaration of independence. Over the last 50 years, governments of the United States, both Democrat and Republican, have supported the people and the State of Israel. Likewise, governments of Israel, Likud and Labor, have supported the people and the government of the United States. We have a friendship that transcends party; and whichever policies may rule the day in Jerusalem or here in the United States, that bond stands. We should note that Jerusalem has been the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel, both 3,000 years ago and for the last 50 years. The United States Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act calling for the American Embassy to Israel to be moved to Jerusalem in 1999. What better way for us to celebrate the rebirth of the State of Israel than for the State Department to announce today that they will abide by, rather than seek waivers from, the Jerusalem Embassy Act. But because the State Department may decide to try to waive that act, I will be introducing, hopefully with substantial support, a bill that states to the Department of State that, before they open a new embassy in another formerly divided city, Berlin, they must open at least a temporary embassy, and, hopefully, a permanent embassy, in the indivisible and eternal capital of Israel: Jerusalem. I rise today to congratulate the people of Israel on their 50th anniversary of the new State, and I rise today to say that when it comes to America's embassy to Israel: next year in Jerusalem.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Carolyn and Aris Anagnos, two preeminent philanthropists and community leaders, for their tireless efforts on behalf of Hellenic American causes and human rights and democracy across the world. For decades, Aris and Carolyn have worked to advance the political, social, educational and cultural interests of the Hellenic American community in Southern California. The Hellenic American Council has given the community an effective voice in domestic and foreign policy, championing freedom and sovereignty in Cyprus, the Aegean and Northern Greece and promoting awareness of Turkish injustices, past and present. The Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies at Loyola Marymount University, the Archbishop Makarios Center of St. Sophia Senior Citizens Residence and a host of other community organizations have benefited from their philanthropy. This weekend the Friends of Hellenic Studies and the Basil E. Caloyeras Center at Loyola Marymount University are honoring Carolyn and Aris for their years of service to the Hellenic-American community and their exemplary support of Modern Greek Studies at Loyola Marymount. I would like to underscore the importance of supporting Hellenic Studies programs and the teaching of Modern Greek history, culture and language in our universities. In addition to being great Hellenes, Carolyn and Aris are great democrats and humanitarians. It is not incidental that those who uphold the Hellenic ideals of democracy would be champions of peace, human rights and civil liberties, both here in the United States and abroad. As board members and executive officers of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern California Americans for Democratic Action, Aris and Carolyn have worked to promote democracy and human rights in all parts of the world. Mr. Speaker, we owe a debt of gratitude to Carolyn and Aris for their dedication and their humanity.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Gordon Binder for his leadership of Amgen Corporation and his continued commitment to bringing science and technology into the community. Calvin Coolidge once said, ``Education is the result of contact. A great people is produced by contact with great minds.'' As CEO of one of America's leading genetic engineering firms, Gordon Binder and his corporation have dedicated themselves to fulfilling President Coolidge's call to educate the community. Gordon has not only continued to expand Amgen's research and development capabilities, but he has also initiated a number of innovative community outreach programs, bringing science to the community. Some of these programs include the Amgen Staff Community Involvement Program (SCIP), in which the services of Amgen's talented staff are made available to non-profit organizations or to needy individuals for community improvement projects. In another program developed under Gordon's leadership, Amgen presents five $10,000 Amgen Awards for Teacher Excellence each year. Amgen also provides evening science lectures for local high school students and administers a Mobile Laboratory Program that teaches students to perform real-life gene cloning experiments right in their own classrooms. In addition to his work at Amgen, Gordon also serves on the Board of Directors of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association, Pepperdine University, and Cal Tech. He also is Chairman of the Biotechnology Industry Organization and Past President of the American Cancer Society Foundation. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in paying tribute to Gordon Binder for his visionary leadership of Amgen Corporation and his efforts, in our community and across the country, to make innovations in science and technology available to thousands of high school students.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I rise today to remember the Armenian genocide of 83 years ago. We are asked why it is so important that we come to this floor and remember. We must remember to make sure that it never happens again, and we must remember because there is an organized effort to force us and convince us to forget. Let us look back at the historical record. The American Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire was an eyewitness in 1919, and he recounts his discussion with Turkish authorities. He says in his memoirs, ``When the Turkish authorities gave the orders for these deportations they were merely giving the death warrant to an entire race. They understood this well and in their conversations with me made no particular attempt to conceal this fact.'' He went on to describe what he saw at the Euphrates River, and he said, as our eyes and ears in the Ottoman Empire in the year 1919 as a representative of the American government, ``I have by no means told the most terrible details, for a complete narration of the sadistic orgies of which they, Armenian men and women, are victims can never be printed in an American publication. Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, whatever refinements of persecution and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortune of the Armenian people.'' As other speakers have pointed out, the first genocide of this century laid the foundation for the second genocide, and as a Jewish American I can never forget that 8 days before he invaded Poland Adolf Hitler turned to his inner circle and said, ``Who today remembers the extermination of the Armenians?'' The impunity with which the Turkish Government acted in annihilating the Armenian people emboldened Adolf Hitler to carry out the holocaust of the Jewish people. And yet today there is an organized effort to expunge from our memory this genocide, and the focus is on the elites and academia. I am a proud graduate of UCLA, and I would like to tell you a short story about my alma mater, for earlier this year and late last year UCLA considered the offer of over $1 million from the Turkish government, $1 million to be used to study Ottoman history, and it is important indeed that we study the history and culture and language of Turkey. But this $1 million gift came with strings attached, strings designed to make sure that the person who sat in that chair at UCLA would be a person selected by the Turkish Government to begin the process of covering up and concealing the Armenian genocide. Now I am proud of many things at UCLA. I was there when Bill Walton led us to an NCAA championship. But I was never prouder of my alma mater than when UCLA said ``no'' to the $1 million. And now that same $1 million is being floated in front of the University of California at Berkeley and other institutions. I hope that academic institutions from one coast to the other will join in unison in saying America's academic integrity is not for sale; $1 million, $10 million will not buy the prestige of American universities and enlist them in the goal of denying the Armenian genocide. Likewise, it is time for the State Department to go beyond shallow, hollow reminders and remembrances of this day and to use the word ``genocide'' in describing the genocide of the Armenian people at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. You know the United States plays a unique role in the world today. Never before in history has a single Nation not only been the sole superpower but then accepted by all the other nations in the world as the sole superpower. We hold that position uncontested because other nations have allowed us. They have not joined in some sort of anti- American alliance but rather are happy to see America as the world's superpower. Why? Because our foreign policy is guided by morality. Mr. Speaker, never again, never forget.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Joshua and Doris Levy for their visionary leadership and dedication to building our community by donating their time and energy to the recent expansion and renovation of Temple Shaarey Zedek. The Talmud tell us, ``He who does charity and justice is as if he had filled the whole world with kindness.'' Since arriving in the San Fernando Valley in 1967, Dr. and Mrs. Levy have done just this. They have assumed many key leadership roles and responsibilities in the Jewish community, selflessly dedicating their time to enriching others. In their most recent positions, Joshua Levy has spearheaded Shaarey Zedek's $2 million expansion and renovating project while Doris Levy remains active in the Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood. In addition, Joshua has served on the boards of various Jewish organizations in the West Valley, among them Emek Hebrew Academy and Valley Torah High School. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring Doctor Joshua and Doris Levy for their community activism and visinary leadership in helping to strengthen our community.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to David Bloome, the creator of the Eco-Heroes Program, a community action program organized by the UCLA Policy Forum in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, the California Environment Project and the Los Angeles Unified School District. This program educates high school students about protecting the forests and encourages them to perform community service. William Inge wrote that ``The aim of education is not of facts but of values.'' David Bloome, for more than a decade, has managed community action programs that promote activism as well as awareness. His efforts had their genesis while he was still a student at UCLA when he initiated one of the largest curriculum reforms in the University's history. Working with the administration, faculty and students, David developed a new foreign language policy for all undergraduates. While on the staff of the UCLA Alumni Association, he conceived and implemented Target Literacy, a nationally recognized program that recruited university alumni as tutors in schools throughout California. His endeavor was awarded the 1991 National Education Gold Medal from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and adopted as a model by universities across the nation. Under his direction, the UCLA Alumni Scholars Program was re-organized so that volunteer participation in its projects increased by 800%. The Eco-Heroes program is another example of David's dedication to motivating the youth of the community. This pilot program has made students more aware of their roles and responsibilities in the natural environment. Students from El Camino Real High School in the San Fernando Valley and Garfield High School in East Los Angeles have been given the opportunity to participate in a series of educational in- class briefings and on-site projects in the Angeles National Forest. Not only were they educated about the environment, they also assisted with important tasks such as litter abatement and tree planting, including the removal of over 350 pounds of trash and recyclables. This program exemplifies David's tireless effort to ensure the education of future generations. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring David Bloome for his service as an administrator at UCLA's School of Public Policy and Social Research, and for his continual work to foster action and education in the community. He is a role model for our education system and an example of how we must reach out to others around us if we wish to ensure a bright future for our children.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Knud Dyby for his courage, heroism, and humanitarian actions as a member of the Danish resistance movement during World War II, as well as his participation in one of the most daring and successful evacuations of Jewish citizens from Nazi occupied Europe undertaken during the war. Margaret Mead once urged us, ``Never [to] doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever does.'' In Denmark during the Second World War, a small group of dedicated resistors unwilling to fold under Nazi oppression changed the lives of over 7,000 Jews. Knud Dyby was one of these resistors. At the age of 26, defying all dangers, Knud became a member of the Danish resistance movement. As a police officer, he was an integral part of the resistance's vast intelligence apparatus. Risking his life, he provided resistance leaders with much needed information regarding Nazi patrols along the sea lanes between Denmark and Sweden. When German diplomats announced the Third Reich's intention to deport Danish Jews to concentration camps the resistance began actively evacuating Jews from the country. Operating in secret, Knud and his compatriots successfully transported almost all of Denmark's Jewish population across the Sound, the narrow waterway that separated Sweden from the Nazi occupied Europe. In October of 1943, over 7,200 of Denmark's 8,000 Jews were carried to safety. In the months following this operation, Mr. Dyby continued to play a critical role in the underground movement to rid Denmark of Nazi occupation. As an avid sailor, Knud was aware of the best hiding places for resistance ships waiting to speed across the Sound to safety. He was familiar with the German patrol routines and outmaneuvered Nazi sailors on numerous occasions. From 1944 until May 4, 1945, Knud managed five fishing skippers and transported mail, money and weapons vital to the life of the resistance between Sweden and occupied Denmark. He made hundreds of sea crossings on behalf of the Danish resistance movement and those fleeing the Third Reich. Today, Knud Dyby speaks modestly about his experiences, about his bravery and his courage. In an address to students at Sonoma State University in California, Mr. Dyby said that what he did was ``just what any other human should do for another in need.'' For his efforts, Knud was awarded the title ``Righteous Among the Nations'' by the State of Israel. Etched on a medal awarded to Mr. Dyby is a simple statement taken from the Talmud, ``Whosoever preserves one life--it is as though he has preserved the entire world.'' Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in paying tribute to Knud Dyby. He is a role model for the generations and proves to us that one can, and should, resist oppression.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Jewish National Fund (JNF) for their fund-raising efforts on behalf of the children of Israel. The Talmud states that, ``He who does charity and justice is as if he had filled the whole world with kindness.'' In the spirit of these words, the Jewish National Fund has taken steps to ensure that the preservation of the environment remains a top priority for Israelis now and for generations to come. The Jewish National Fund is the American fund-raising arm of Keran Kayemeth Leisrael (KKL), the official afforestation and land reclamation agency of Israel. Through fund- raising and their efforts to heighten awareness, JNF of America supports the KKL in its attempts to bolster environmental concerns, water conservation, recreation and agriculture, employment of new immigrants, tourism and research and development in Israel. One of KKL's many projects is a summer camp designed specifically for young immigrant and underprivileged Israeli children. The camp provides children with first-hand knowledge of forestry and a chance to participate in enjoyable outdoor activities that they may never have participated in before. At the same time, the camp experience is a vital introduction into Israeli life. It provides the youngsters with an understanding of their common cultural heritage. They learn to share their hopes and dreams with each other and they benefit from the varying perspectives they encounter at camp. This month the Jewish National Fund will be hosting its eighth annual Friendship Cup Golf Classic in Westlake Village, California in an effort to raise money for the camp. I would like to wish good luck to all participants and join with them in promoting their common cause. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring the Greater Los Angeles, Valleys, and South Bay Region of the Jewish National Fund for supporting the children of Israel and investing in their future.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, during roll call vote number 77 on the Goodling Amendment to H.R. 3246 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted yes.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding, and I thank both her and her co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus for not only convening this hour to commemorate Greek independence, but for inviting me to be part of this effort. One hundred seventy-seven years ago today, on March 25, 1821, the Greek people declared their independence and began a ten-year effort to throw off the yoke of Ottoman oppression. Greek patriot Regas Fereos issued a rallying cry in that struggle, ``Better an hour of freedom than 440 years of imprisonment and enslavement.'' Today, 177 years later, we in this House, just a few hours ago, I think found an interesting way to commemorate Greek independence by allowing citizens of Greece to independently visit the United States as tourists, free and liberated from paperwork, just as we have allowed tourists from other parts of Europe and the European Community to visit the United States without undue restriction. Greek freedom fighters looked to the American Revolution and to American democracy 177 years ago today, just as the American revolutionaries looked to ancient Greece and its tradition of democracy. After a 10-year struggle, the Greek people won their independence and reestablished democracy. Greece and America are bound not only by a common dedication to democracy, but also because Greek philosophy and Greek culture are so much the foundation of the society in which we live, the society which has gradually established many of the cultural norms, many of the philosophic underpinnings for an emerging world culture. Since its liberation, Greece has stood by America, and America should stand by Greece. Greece is one of three nations in the world outside the British Empire that has been allied with the United States in every major international conflict of this century. As has been pointed out by earlier speakers, one out of every nine Greeks lost their life fighting the Nazis in World War II. Just as Greece joined the United States in that effort, immediately after that war the Marshall Plan was critical to reviving Greek society and the Greek economy. Today, Greece remains a staunch NATO ally and it deserves America's support. In the past year, Greece held the historic Inter-Balkan Conference in Crete and has worked to promote regional stability in the Balkan Peninsula, an area that has been contentious throughout this century and an area that Americans are coming to know better today. As we focus on Kosovo, as we focus on Bosnia, we should recognize Greek efforts to bring peace and stability to that troubled region. As the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) pointed out, I serve on the Committee on International Relations, and in that capacity, had the opportunity, along with her and many other Philhellenes to meet with the Greek foreign minister just yesterday. And we had an opportunity to praise Greece for not only its constructive role in the Balkans, but also because it is Greece, and the supporters of Greece here in the United States who have urged upon the United States a very interesting approach to foreign aid. Greece and the supporters of Greece here in the United States have urged that zero be appropriated in military aid to Greece and commensurately zero be appropriated in aid to Turkey. And given the fact that we must diminish the amount that is spent, especially by military forces in that troubled region of the world, this is a very constructive position, a position reflected in President Clinton's most recent budget. I should point out that, quite wisely, President Clinton's budget does provide continuing aid to Cyprus, a society that continues to suffer from division as a result of the occupation of Turkish forces. Not only is the zero decision one that is included in the President's budget, it is also helpful to the United States as we continue to face budgetary pressures. There are several outstanding problems that continue to be the focus of those of us who work with the Hellenic Caucus, and I am happy to have been a member of that caucus from my first day in the United States Congress. One of those outstanding problems is that of the Aegean. The Greek-Turkish dialogue should go forward. But many of us have urged that before it goes forward, the Turkish Government, must indicate its respect for international law in the Aegean, and that Turkish overflights of Greek and Cypriot airspace and other acts of aggression, should cease. The Turkish Government should agree to be bound by international law on all issues involving the Aegean and should cease its acts of aggression. I have joined, most of the leaders of the Hellenic Caucus as a cosponsor of the Peace in Cyprus Resolution last year, and a resolution introduced today reaffirming our commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem with the withdrawal of all Turkish troops from that troubled island. I take special interest in seeing the peace talks move forward now that the Cypriot elections are over and President Clerides has been reelected. U.S. Presidential envoy Richard Holbrook should move forward toward peace, toward a withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island. Regrettably, there has not been much progress to date. We mentioned earlier in this hour the fact that four Americans are still missing. The remains of one American, Andrew Kasapis, have been returned. But certainly, as important as it is to his family for those remains to have been discovered and returned, we need to see much more progress toward peace and unity in Cyprus. This is an historic movement for Cyprus, as the European Union accession talks are scheduled to begin next week. The European Union's decision to invite Cyprus to join ranks will benefit a reunified Cyprus and should be an impetus towards peace. Unfortunately, the Turkish Government seems to wants to hold Cyprus hostage for its own membership in the European Union. If Turkey wishes to join the European Union, Turkey should seek to meet the standards of that union on its own rather than holding Cyprus hostage. Finally, Turkey must accord protection to the Ecumenical Patriarch, should allow the reopening of the School of Theology, which was closed in 1971, and allow the work of the Patriarch to continue in safety and protection. I also want to call upon my colleagues to join with me and the others in the Hellenic Caucus in cosponsoring House Resolution 148 commemorating the 75th anniversary of the destruction of Smyrna, as it is time for Turkey to come to grips with its past. Unfortunately, the Turkish Government has decided to embark on a program of denial, of denying the massacres at Smyrna, at denying the genocide of the Armenian people. And this has taken the form of seeking to plant academics in the United States. I am a proud graduate of UCLA. I was there when we won the NCAA championship after championship. And I was proud of my alma mater then. But as proud as I was when Bill Walton was sinking jump shots, I was even prouder when earlier this year UCLA turned down a gift of over a million dollars from the Turkish Government because that gift came with strings attached which would have curtailed academic freedom and would have given the Turkish Government control over how the occupant of that chair pursued scholarship and teaching in the area of Ottoman and Turkish history. Academic freedom is not for sale at UCLA. Now the Turkish government has turned its attention to the north, to the University of California at Berkeley. I hope that our cousins in northern California will reject all strings and will insist that the occupant of any academic chair be free to pursue academic inquiry wherever it leads. What greater tribute to American universities, what greater tribute to the philosophy of free thinking that we have inherited from the ancient Greeks. As I mentioned, ancient Greece inspires us all. Its philosophy and culture underpin American philosophy and culture, and its greatest gift, as was remarked before, is that of democracy. We owe a lot to the ancient Greeks and we owe a lot to the modern Greeks. They stood with us and we stood with them in World War II and the Cold War. In just a few years, we will have a chance to celebrate the Olympics in the year 2004 as it returns to Greece, its ancient home, and also the place where the modern Olympics were reborn. We have a lot to thank the ancient Greeks for; a lot to thank modern Greeks for. I think the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) said it just perfectly when he said all free men are Philhellenes.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lesley Devine, the outgoing Mayor of Calabasas. President Kennedy said, ``Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.'' Throughout her term as Mayor, Lesley has inspired change throughout Calabasas, while ensuring that the community work with the Council in developing a long range vision for the City. As a result, many positive developments have come about under her leadership. Working together with a leading Urban Planning firm, Lesley was able to motivate the community to rally support behind a major retail project and hotel, that had been the source of years of conflict. In fact, support of these projects set in motion plans for a Civic Center, which would include a permanent City Hall and Library at the Park Center site. These are just a few of the many projects initiated by Lesley during her term as Mayor. The new Community Center on Lost Hills has broken ground and the long range operating body, a Joint Powers Board with the City of Agoura Hills, has been set in place. In addition, the old Town improvements have been completed and will be enjoyed for years to come. No one can question Lesley's dedication to our community. Lesley was a Founder of the City in 1991 and has served as a member of the Council since its creation. Prior to her role on the City Council, Lesley led several community programs to improve the environment, including recycling, water conservation, water quality, urban forestry, and oak tree protection programs. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring Lesley Devine for her leadership within our community. Many future generations will enjoy the benefits of her hard work and dedication to improving the town of Calabasas.

Mr. SHERMAN

Mr. SHERMAN. I think it is unprecedented and particularly unprecedented to give that kind of power to a country and a government which, unfortunately, is bent on a process of genocide denial. My own background is that I am a Jewish American. We have said time and again, ``Never forget, never again,'' when it comes to the Holocaust that destroyed over a third of the Jewish people in the world. It has been recognized by scholars of genocide that the last step in a genocide is genocide denial. First is the actual murder and then the cover-up. Because what that does is it does not only kill as the genocide kills, but it kills the memory of those who perpetrated the crime and those who were victims of it. We must prevent this last step of the Armenian genocide. We must say, as to that genocide and as to all genocides, never forget, and never again. Another concern we should have is that genocide denial is not only the last step in the last genocide, it is the first step of the next genocide. That genocide may not be against the same victims, that genocide may be not committed by the same perpetrators, but when genocide is denied in one place in the world, it sets the stage for genocide to be committed somewhere else in the world. We have all heard the words of Adolf Hitler when he explained to his minions his plan for the destruction of the Jewish people and why he thought they would get away with it. He said, ``Who remembers the Armenians?'' Well, over some 70 years later, here in the House of Representatives; we do remember those who were victims of the Armenian genocide, and we will never forget. And we should never countenance the academic integrity of our great universities being used to try to wash away the blood. That blood should be acknowledged, it should be apologized for, and we should look forward to the day when some new Turkish Government takes a new tack, a tack of recognizing the mistakes of the past, rather than using funds to try to erase them.

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Recently, before our committee, representatives of the State Department claimed that the first aid program within the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh would be established within the next few weeks. We appropriated that money for a fiscal year that began October 1, and I wish that they had acted more expeditiously. I share in my colleague's concern to ensure that the $12.5 million goes to where it is supposed to go, where we appropriated it; that is to the victims of the war who are currently within the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh. Unfortunately, as the gentleman knows, our government chooses not to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. We joined the foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabakh just a few days ago in recognizing the tenth anniversary of the independence of that nation, a nation that fought for its independence just as we in the United States did; a nation whose government reflects the desire for independence that the vast majority of its people share, and a government that I hope will be recognized by the United States. I know that American oil companies are very anxious to see peace in that part of the world, to make sure that oil can be drilled for and obtained and that pipelines can be built. But the best route for those pipelines is through a peaceful Caucasus, and peace will arrive in the Caucasus when the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are recognized. I yield back to the gentleman.