John Shimkus

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome my second Chaplain at West Point, the Reverend Dr. Dick Camp, who served West Point from 1973 to 1996, a total of 23 years. Dr. Camp is currently the Director of a Christian ministry in the National Parks. Together with my current House Chaplain, Jim Ford, they have served a total of 41 years at West Point in serving the country and the Corps of Cadets. To those of us who have had the great opportunity for their counsel, advice and prayers and their thoughts of duty, honor and country, I say thank you, God bless you, and beat Navy.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to commend my constituents from Mt. Vernon, IL, Walt and Melody Gentry, for using their love of horses to bring happiness to the lives of others. Walt and Melody have spent the past 8 years educating others about the Bureau of Land Management's Adopt-A-Wild Horse and Burro program. Established in 1992, this program's objectives are to manage the population of horses and burros in the effort to protect them from dying from starvation or dehydration. Spending countless hours traveling over 30,000 miles, Walt and Melody have not only aided in many adoptions all over the Eastern United States, but have also adopted 18 of their own horses that they use to compete in horse shows and riding competitions. In addition to Walt and Melody's compassion for these beautiful animals is their compassion for others in need. They have combined their love and appreciation for horses with their concern and eagerness to help others by performing many of these shows for disadvantaged youths. Through these events, these kids have an opportunity to interact with horses--something they wouldn't otherwise be able to do. In a time when children are often hungry for leadership and inspiration, the Gentry's have played a pivotal role by sharing the happiness they have found in the Adopt-A-Wild Horse and Burro program. I would like to thank Walt and Melody Gentry for sharing the joy in their lives with these disadvantaged children. They are not only an inspiration for them, but for all of us who have so many joys to share.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the importance of volunteerism to our Nation. It seems that too often today we turn to the government when we need assistance. While this may be appropriate as a last resort, the government is not the answer to all our distinctly individual problems. Instead, a greater importance must be placed on volunteerism as a means of helping people. One group of my constituents that is performing this very important societal function is the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). In May, RSVP is celebrating their 25th anniversary of service to society. For the past 25 years, this group of 417 active volunteers have served the counties of Brown, Calhoun, Pike, and Schuyler. RSVP provides hundreds of different community services including tutoring, mentoring, companionship, disaster relief, and child care. The list of community services that RSVP provides goes on and on to fit the needs of individuals in the community. A few examples of the personal care and service that RSVP has given include making sure that Dorothy, who is homebound, receives her afternoon meals and that Jesse, a young student, gets the help he needs with his spelling. Too often people use ``lack of time'' as an excuse when declining to volunteer their time. However, some RSVP members volunteer only a few hours a week to helping their community. While a few hours might not sound like a lot, it sure means a lot to Dorothy and young Jesse. I would like to personally congratulate the Retired Senior Volunteers Program on their upcoming 25th anniversary. They have not only helped their community by volunteering their time and services, but have also helped our Nation by setting an example for all to follow.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to congratulate a constituent of mine, Martha Jean ``Jill'' Wieland, for being named the ``1999 Illinois Mother of the Year.'' Often today our Nation measures success by the level of the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the value of the dollar. While these are certainly significant, nothing is more important to the success and future of our Nation than our children. As a father of two young boys, I am aware of the many responsibilities and challenges that face parents today. Jill Wieland went above and beyond those expectations by acting as an excellent mother to her own children while also providing leadership for other children through Sunday School and Girl Scouts. Furthermore, since 1962, Jill has been a foster parent for the Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois where she has cared for over 100 children. Again, I would like to congratulate Jill on being named ``1999 Illinois Mother of the Year.'' She has not only had a positive impact in the lives of many children, but has also made a significant contribution to society.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of developments regarding the proposed merger of Ameritech and SBC Communication that merit our attention, specifically recent actions taken by the Federal Communication Commission. While I have not taken a position on the merger and do not plan to do so at this time, I find the process the FCC is proposing to be arbitrary and inconsistent decisionmaking. The FCC has proposed to add an additional 90-day process that includes staff discussions, another Commission en banc hearing and another round of public comment to help in reviewing this merger. I find this unprecedented additional process quite worrisome since the Commission has already held a public proceeding which took nine months and generated 12,000 pages of written submissions from over 50 parties. It is hard to believe that the Commission might need more information to determine what sort of conditions it should impose on these companies. I am also puzzled by the fact that Chairman Kennard has not seen fit to use such a process with any other mergers he has considered recently in the communications industry. Mr. Speaker, this merger was announce 11 months ago. During this time, the Department of Justice reviewed the proposal extensively and just ruled on April 8, that it is not anti-competitive--however, the FCC continues to drag it's feet in deciding on this matter. I firmly believe that the FCC has a duty to uphold in the strongest possible terms the ``public interest'' when looking at a merger. However, I do not believe that it gives them cover to devise a unique, convoluted process which applies a different standard and much stricter burden of proof than what was acceptable for similar cases. At this time, Ameritech and SBC still remain in the regulatory swamp which unfairly disadvantages the competitive positions of both companies. I strongly encourage the FCC to consider the Ameritech-SBC merger with the same speed, efficiency and fairness that it has considered other recent mergers in the telecommunications industry. For the FCC to do otherwise is something we should all find intolerable.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule. I want to talk about some other communities, Litchfield, Illinois; Salem, Illinois; and Carlyle, Illinois, small rural America who support H.R. 472 and the Local Census Quality Check Act. I would like to share with the House some feedback I received from these communities and my constituents about the 2000 census. I am finding that the localities in my district are supporting our efforts to provide them about post-census review mechanism. In fact, the Mayor of Litchfield, William Cornman, wrote me on March 24, 1999, and stated, ``We feel that in order to have an accurate Census, we must reinstate the post-Census Local Review program. If a mistake is made with the oversight of subdivisions and newly annexed areas, the Census count is not accurate.'' He continues, ``We feel that we cannot properly evaluate the Bureau's Partnership Program as it relates to our community. Thus far, all that they have provided us is a bulging packet of information and very little direction.'' I believe Mayor Cornman has made two critical points: one, that the local authorities cannot challenge and review the final census numbers, even if they are incorrect, and, two, the current Local Update of Census Addresses, the LUCA program, which my colleagues on the other side of the aisle praise, and the Census Bureau claims is working efficiently, appears in the eyes of my constituents as just a bulging packet of information and very little direction. Clearly, this is not a sign that we are on the road to an accurate census. The City of Salem in my district felt so strongly about this issue that they passed a resolution which states, among other things, the following: ``Whereas, one of the most vital parts of the American Counts Today is reinstatement of the Post-Census Local Review Program, that provides a procedure for local public officials to review and challenge the Census Bureau determinations before counting is final; and Whereas, a Post-Census Local Review is based upon the premise that local officials know their own communities better than statisticians and pollsters in Washington, D.C.'' I think the City of Salem hits the nail on the head with this resolution. They say exactly what Republicans in Congress have been saying about the census and Federal Government in general; local officials know how to run programs the best, not bureaucracies in Washington. Additionally, the City of Salem points out that post-census local review provides a procedure for local officials to challenge Census Bureau findings before they are final. I do not see the harm in allowing the Census Bureau's conclusions from being challenged. I suspect the challenge is what the Census Bureau fears. It would be an easier job for the Census Bureau if nobody was able to question their conclusions. The foundations of democracy rely on the voice of the people. It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that the Census Bureau is muzzling our localities. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring up the correspondence which I have received from the City of Carlyle. Mayor Schmidt wrote me in support of the post-census review and included a memorandum from one of his staff Ms. Jean Parson which discusses this issue in detail. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record letters from the mayor of Carlyle, and from the cities of Salem and Litchfield. City of Carlyle, Carlyle, IL, March 29, 1999. Congressman John Shimkus, Springfield, IL. Dear Congressman Shimkus: I have shared your letter concerning the post-census review process with my office manager. She has been the most active member of my staff in regard to the Census 2000 project. As you will note in her enclosed memo, she feels very strongly that the post-review process remain in place. I feel her concerns are legitimate and encourage you to pursue this matter further. Please phone 618-594-2468 if you have any questions, or would like to discuss this matter further with either Ms. Parson or myself. Sincerely, Don W. Schmitz, Mayor. Enclosure. March 17, 1999. Mayor: I agree with Representative Shimkus on the importance of the post-census local review program. This is something I have been concerned about all along. In the old program, they conducted the census and then we had the opportunity to review the count and challenge anything that didn't look quite correct to us. Under this program, as I understand it, our only input is in the formulation of the address list. I have spent many, many hours reviewing their list. I spent time with the post master comparing our lists, and then made corrections to the census list. The entire process was extremely confusing and I have had my doubts if my changes will even be made. I also am sure that I didn't pick up every problem in the list. It is just too complicated and time consuming. They have given us time schedules as far as different reports and mailings are concerned and I don't believe they have been completely accurate. I am still waiting for a report where we can be sure all ``special places'' are included in their count. These include the nursing home, group homes, the jail, etc. I don't believe I have seen this report. I guess I'm getting old, but the old way seemed to work. If we have no opportunity to review the final count, there is basically no one watching to see that the census takers actually do their job and that the information submitted is processed correctly. I strongly feel that he should continue his efforts and get this process changed. it is a very critical part of our financial future to have the ability to challenge their counts. We are basically stuck with these counts for ten years. It could mean thousands and thousands of dollars to us if the counts are incorrect. The other thing that should be noted is that there appears to be little involvement from most communities. We have been participating with our best efforts, but I don't believe that is the case with most communities. Communities were not well represented at the meetings I attended, and I have spoken to many community leaders who were not even aware of the changes. I'm sure this is because of mailings not reaching the appropriate people. Anyway, this process could be very damaging to those communities who did not participate in the address review process. It is possible that they will have changes in administration and interest could increase between now and census time, and it will be too late for them to have any input. Let me know when you want to call him, and I will be happy to help. Jean Parson.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring up correspondence which I received from the City of Carlyle. Mayor Schmitz wrote to me in support of the post-census review and included a memorandum from one of his staff, Ms. Jean Parson, which discusses this issue in detail. Ms. Parson, in her memo to Mayor Schmitz writes: ``In the old program, the Census Bureau conducted the census and then we had an opportunity to review the count and challenge anything that didn't quite look correct to us. Under this program, as I understand it, our only input is in the formulation of an address list.'' She goes on, ``I have spent many hours reviewing their list. I spent time with the postmaster comparing our lists, and then made corrections to the census list. This entire process was extremely confusing and I have had my doubts if my changes will even be made. I also am sure that I didn't pick up every problem in the list. It is just too complicated and time-consuming. ``I guess I'm just getting old, but the old way seemed to work. If we have no opportunity to review the final list, we will not have an accurate count.'' One final quote from Ms. Parson: ``Communities are not well represented at the meetings I attended, and I have spoken to many community leaders who were not even aware of the changes.'' ``I'm sure this is because of mailings not reaching the appropriate people. Anyway, this process could be very damaging to those communities who did not participate in the address review process. It is possible that they will have changes. . . . and interest could increase between now and census time, and it will be too late for them to have any input.'' Mr. Speaker, the localities in my district are confused. It appears that many have not even heard about LUCA and by the time they do they aren't even sure that their changes are being recorded. Let's listen to our local governments and give them the right to challenge the census bureau. I plan on supporting H.R. 472 today and I urge my colleagues to support this common sense legislation. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this. Our small communities are begging for the ability to be involved in this process.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart. I would like to talk about the budget, saving social security, saving Medicare, but I think the crisis in Kosovo demands our attention. The Constitution says, ``We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States.'' Article 1, section 8, says ``The Congress shall have the power to declare war.'' I wonder when we are going to accept responsibility for our actions and debate a declaration of war when we are about ready to bomb a sovereign state. If we want to do that, let us accept our responsibilities, and let us do it as a body. Until that time, let us not hide behind the curtains or the skirts of the President of the United States under the War Powers declaration. Let us get some guts and let us fight for freedom.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to applaud the efforts of the Illinois Valley Cultural Heritage Association to place the famous James J. Eldred stone house in Eldred, IL in the National Register of Historic Places. Built 138 years ago, this three-story house was made from natural bluff limestone by James J. Eldred who is a descendent of a historic English family. The Eldred house is the largest of nine area limestone houses and was known for the elaborate parties that took place there. Soon this house will be renovated and used as a museum of American Indian and farm history. I wish the Illinois Valley Cultural Heritage Association the best in their efforts to secure the Eldred House's rightful place in history.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to congratulate the Bunker hill basketball coach, Jim Hlafka for attaining his 700th career win this past February 23rd. Jim Hlafka, who is 65 years old, has been the Bunker Hill basketball coach for 40 years now. By coaching 700 games to victory, he became a member of an elite group of only 10 other coaches from Illinois who have attained this goal. Not only did Hlafka attain his own goal that evening, he coached the Bunker Hill Minutemen to victory in the 80th annual Macoupin County Boys Tournament. Corey Elliot, a member of the team that won the County Championship, said that ``[i]t's an honor to play for him.'' It is also an honor for me and all of Bunker Hill to be represented by one of the best high school coaches in the state of Illinois.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Parent Help Line of Springfield, Illinois for their extraordinary contributions to their community. This volunteer organization's primary function is to help parents become better parents by providing advice, support, and referrals to various community agencies. The Parent Help Line is funded by several different sources including St. John's Hospital Foundation, Ronald McDonald Charities of Central Illinois and Ameritech. Currently, the Parent Help Line consists of 25 volunteers who respond to about 100 calls per month. While these numbers may not seem significant, each one of those hundred calls has helped a parent and child come closer together through the support of their community. Recognizing the utmost importance that parents play in the development of not only their children, but of the future of our great country, the Parent Help Line helps parents meet parenting challenges head on. Again, I would like to thank the volunteers and contributors of the Parent Help Line for the outstanding devotion they have shown towards our nation's greatest asset--our children.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, the American steel industry is on the ropes, and the flood of steel imports from Brazil, Japan, Korea, Russia, and other countries has gone unchecked in recent months. Last year, steel producers from Russia were allowed to dump 47 percent more steel on our markets than in 1997. Foreign corporations are selling steel at $100 per ton below their production costs. While U.S. and international trade laws are being grossly violated by these foreign corporations, the President and his administration stand idly by, allowing thousands upon thousands of hardworking steelworkers to lose their jobs and their livelihood. Last month, after watching the families of steel workers in my district suffer as a result of job losses, reduced hours and reduced production at the plant, I decided that I could no longer be a bystander to foreign steel dumping. Steel workers in Illinois work hard every day, every week, every year, and earn their living. They don't deserve to lose their jobs as a result of illegal trade practices. Typically, I am hesitant to support trade and import restrictions which could disrupt the flow of commerce in our global economy. However, because of the administration's inaction, and the gravity of the steel crisis before us, I decided to stand up for steel, and became a sponsor of H.R. 975, legislation to freeze steel imports at their 1997 levels and establish a steel import notification and monitoring program. Mr. Speaker, I believe in the American steel industry, and that our steel industry is the most competitive and efficient in the world. Right now, the administration is turning its head while foreign competition is violating international trade laws to gain an unfair advantage. That is why I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 975. On a fair playing field, American steel can win.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to commend two of my constituents from Springfield, Illinois, John and Virginia Gaffney, for their tireless work on a volunteer mission with the International Executive Service Corps in Egypt. Too often today, people become so engrossed in their busy lives that they forget others need their help. However, Mr. Gaffney found time to volunteer a month out of his life to teach flour milling technology at the Egyptian Milling Technology Center. While John and Virginia were ``helping others help themselves'', they were also representing our great nation. This kind of personalized foreign assistance is vital to accelerating the development of free enterprise and democracy around the globe. Thank you John and Virginia for representing, not only America, but the great state of Illinois in your selfless endeavor.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to congratulate Reverend Rodney Annis and his congregation at First Baptist Church on the upcoming expansion to their present facility. First Baptist Church has been a prominent fixture in the Fosterburg community since its founding 142 years ago, when a group of German immigrants established this farming community. Today, a 14,000-square- foot addition is scheduled to be made to the present church, providing offices and a recreation center for a multigenerational congregation. This addition will allow First Baptist Church to both continue and expand a tradition of service that started almost a century and a half ago. Like you, I am pleased to witness First Baptist Church's leadership and growth in the Fosterburg community.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary little girl from my state of Illinois, Megan Dawson. Five-year old Megan is a liver recipient. An organ became available for Megan in time to give her a chance at what hopefully will be a long and active life. But everyone is not as lucky as Megan. Every two hours, one of the more than 60,000 Americans now on transplant waiting lists dies for lack of an available organ. Megan's story should remind all of us that organ donation is the most precious gift that one human can give to another. During the first nine months of last year in my state, almost 800 residents had life-saving transplants of the kidney, liver, pancreas, intestines, lung or heart. They all received the gift of life. Unfortunately, while the science of transplantation has made dramatic gains, the number of organ donors is not keeping pace. As a result, we have growing waiting lists. The only way to address this growing crisis is to discuss transplantation and organ donation with our families. It shouldn't actually be all that hard a subject to bring up, because what we are really talking about is the miracle of transplantation--the miracle that gives a little girl like Megan a second chance at life. The subject for the family discussion is the wonders of modern medicine. And since we would hope that the miracle of a new chance at life through transplantation would be available to a member of our family in a time of need--and it would be, provided an organ becomes available--shouldn't we agree as a family to do the right and generous thing if the situation is ever reversed. It's really no more than that--the application of the old Golden Rule to modern medicine. That is why I am proud to have signed on to the First Family Pledge. The First Family Pledge is a non-partisan effort sponsored by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. I encourage my colleagues and constituents to pay attention to this life-saving initiative. And on April 14th, I will be proud to participate in the First Family Pledge Congress. At that time, I and many of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle will greet young children from across this great nation who have received organ and tissue transplants. They are truly living examples of what it is to receive the gift of life.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my constituent, Lindsey Nichols for placing third in the 1999 Voice of Democracy contest. Lindsey is a junior at Collinsville High School in Collinsville, IL. This statewide contest was sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Kahokian Memorial Post 5691 and held in Springfield, IL. I insert her entry for the Record: I sat patiently while Dad attempted to reason with the sales manager over a recently purchased, yet non-functioning, vacuum cleaner. Thirty minutes later I watched as he walked away from the counter, shaking his head in dismay and muttering, ``No one believes in service anymore!'' Unfortunately, I'd heard him speak these words on other occasions--while pulling away from fast food drive-ups, standing in a long line at a single open check-out lane or listening to automated voice instructions on the phone. So I asked, ``Dad, what do you expect that you aren't getting . . . what exactly is good service?'' He was ready with an answer; for he'd obviously been giving thought to this all his years as a consumer. He replied, ``Excellent service is when pride is priority and there is a willingness to go beyond what is necessary, to seek no excuses and to accept responsibility for the outcome.'' Wow! That was a lot to think about. For the next couple of days that's exactly what I did. I let those words roll around my head, sort of free-floating, and a funny thing happened. They triggered a memory of the voice of President John F. Kennedy saying, ``Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'' Then, another memory, the voice of President George Bush calling for service in the form of ``a thousand points of light.'' Wait a minute--what was happening here? Well, my brain was telling me that what my Dad had said was tied to a bigger picture. Service to customers was merely a model for a much more important concept that we all need to act on, service to country. However, excuses seem to get in the way of service and there are as many of them as there are people in the world. We sometimes want to do what's easy, to look for a back door, a reason not to ``go the extra mile.'' During W.W. II the female pilots who flew supply planes never said, ``What can I do? I'm just a woman.'' Nor did the countless women who kept the factories producing for the war effort or the six nurses who won medals of valor for their actions in the Corregidor. The Native American servicemen, known as the Navajo Code Talkers never said, ``Why should I help? I don't owe them a thing.'' They didn't let racial issues get in the way when their country needed their unique abilities. The Japanese- American soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team didn't either when they fought for their country even though their families were being held in internment camps. Nine-year old Melissa Poe never said, ``They can't expect anything from me, I'm just a kid.'' Instead she founded Kid's FACE in 1989, a national organization of youth united for a clean environment. Instead of excuses all these people said, ``I'm an American! I believe in the value of my service and in my ability to make a difference.'' So you see, everyone can support their country through service--regardless of race, gender, or age. How can I let my point of light shine? School and community programs offer me opportunities for service through volunteerism. I can take part in community clean-up days, recycling efforts, holiday projects for the underprivileged, and the list goes on. I do realize, however, that as I grow what is expected of me will also grow proportionately. Will I show initiative, help my community, and be a positive example to others? I think of the word ``service'' as an acronym, each of the letters representing a philosophy to guide me. ``S'' is for selflessness; ``E'' is for effort; ``R'' is for responsibility; ``V'' is for volunteerism; ``I'' is for initiative; ``C'' is for community; and ``E'' is for example. So I've come to modify my dad's definition of service and I hope each day to let this motto remind me of my duty--``Proud service to my country is a priority and I will go beyond what is necessary. I will seek no excuses and will accept responsibilities.''

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana and the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Bliley) for their help and support. I also thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the ranking member; and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for their help and support in working on this legislation. Mr. Chairman, we have bought our second cellular phone for the simple purpose of my wife's protection when she is on the road. In the last 3 years, I have personally called 911 on vehicle accidents, all in my 20th District in Illinois, which is mostly rural, 19 counties and over 300 miles long. One of those calls was for a vehicle that we could not find. It was off the road, and we actually had to get on foot to search it out. Another call was made, since I border the metropolitan St. Louis area, right on the famous Poplar Street Bridge. Not knowing exactly how the State of Missouri would answer and receive the 911 transmission, knowing that in this legislation that there are many States did not have it. So, I think most Americans now have experienced and I think they would be surprised to find out that 911 is not the national number. The purpose of H.R. 438 is to improve our Nation's wireless 911 system so we can reduce response times to emergencies and basically save lives. Reducing emergency response time will help to lessen the impact of serious injuries and, again, save lives. Studies show that crashes and care time for fatal accidents is over 30 minutes in urban areas and over 50 minutes in rural areas. I know the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. Danner) is going to mention that fact. In rural areas, this is truly an important piece of legislation. Mr. Chairman, reducing this time by mere minutes could save thousands of lives each year. There are 68 million wireless phone users, as we have heard before, across the Nation who make an average of 98,000 emergency calls every day. Even though every American is taught to dial 911 in an emergency, these teachings may be worthless in some areas of the United States because dialing 911 on wireless phones does not always connect one to the emergency service provider. In fact, today there are currently 25 different wireless emergency numbers across the country. Travelers may never figure out the emergency number they need. H.R. 438 makes 911 the universal emergency number for all phones so that everyone has simple access to emergency help. In order to make 911 work on every phone, we must have reliable phone networks both in the wireless and in the wireline. This legislation encourages States to develop coordinated plans to eliminate dead zones, ensure seamless wireless networks, and upgrade their 911 systems so that public safety officials and emergency medical service providers can get the best available information as quickly as possible. The bill also extends to wireless providers and users of 911 services the same liability standard that each State has already established for its wireline providers and users of 911 services. We do not want to penalize and punish the good Samaritans in our society who are trying to help someone in need. This legislation addresses that issue. Finally, the bill provides protection for call location. And I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for improving the legislation, because there is a concern in the public about the ability of location devices. Mr. Chairman, I am a big fan of Star Trek and the communication badges and they know where everyone is at and all they have to do is identify them and they can get beamed across to another part of the ship. Well, our society and our country is not prepared for the ``next generation.'' We still like part of the old generation where we have some privacy in thought, word, deed and location; and so I appreciate the gentleman's support in that aspect of this legislation. Finally, the bill provides that protection for call location information concerning users of wireless phones, including such information provided by an automatic crash notification system. Without express written consent from the customer, location information may not be released. Again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), our full committee chairman; the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), my subcommittee chairman; and the ranking members on both the full committee and the subcommittee. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, on December 5, the residents of Collinsville, Illinois, had a celebration honoring Irving Dillard's 94th birthday. Although he was born and raised in Collinsville, his service to society does not stop at the Collinsville town border. As a patriotic American, Irving Dillard first served in the U.S. Federal administration and in the Army during World War II. It is for this distinguished service that he received American, French, and British war decorations. He also wrote for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from the Great Depression to the Eisenhower presidency, where he is most noted for his speech regarding the advancement of civil rights and the protection of the Constitution. In fact, Justice William O. Douglas acknowledged him as ``the one journalist who stood head and shoulders above all others when it came to the work of the Supreme Court.'' After his distinguished career, he also lectured in Europe and spent a decade teaching journalism at Princeton University. Despite his many worldly accomplishments, Mr. Dillard still considers Collinsville his home, and we are glad he does.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to respond to letters that were sent to me by many of my constituents. I would also like to thank each of these individuals for notifying me of their concerns. I want to encourage more of my constituents to become proactive in issues that are important to them. Writing letters, sending E-mails, and even picking up the phone and calling my office is a great start. The first letter that I will read addresses the topic of abortion, and although I have received over 200 letters this year on this topic, I unfortunately only have enough time to read one. The letter that I have chosen to read was written by Tasha Barker, a 17-year-old high school student from Vandalia. This is her letter. Tasha wrote, ``Dear Congressman Shimkus, I am writing you this letter to express my feelings about abortion. I feel that abortion is a horrible thing, and that killing an innocent life is awful. When it comes to making decisions or taking stands about abortion, please remain pro-life. It would be greatly appreciated by many people. Thank you for taking the time to read these letters, Sincerely, Tasha Barker.'' Good letter, Tasha. I also received letters from Charles Hake of Nashville, Robert Smith of Quincy, and Mary Black of Springfield, to which I would also like to extend my responses. Plus I would like to thank the group of young people from Vandalia whose names are Becky Bowerly, Lorin Keck, Marlis and Bob Hayner, Joe Sebright, Kathleen Gale, Amanda Beth Bowerly and Lauren Roberts, who sent letters to me on this issue. I, too, am very concerned with the lack of regard for human life. Abortion is a sad commentary on our society and a procedure which, once again, should be outlawed. Already since the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, more than 38 million unborn children have been killed in the womb. Thomas Jefferson said it best: ``The protection of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.'' To fulfill my role as a pro-life leader in Congress, I supported three separate bills in the 105th Congress that were designed to prevent the destruction of human life. The first bill was H.R. 929, the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1997, which would amend the Federal criminal code to prohibit performing a partial birth abortion in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother and no other medical procedure would suffice. This bill passed the House by a veto-proof majority in this body. The second bill was H.R. 3682, Child Custody Protection Act, which would amend the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for transporting an individual under the age of 18 across a State line to obtain an abortion and thereby abridging the right of a parent under a law of the State where the individual resides requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision. However, the bill makes an exception if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor. The third and final bill was H.R. 641, Right to Life Act of 1997, which states that the Congress declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at fertilization. I want you to be assured that I will always vote to protect human life and the rights of the unborn. I plan on cosponsoring the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act again in this Congress and have recently added my name as a cosponsor to the Right to Life Act of 1999. For my next letter, I would now like to address an issue that has been brought to my attention by 102 constituents in the form of postcards. The issue of concern is private contracting for health care. The postcard reads, ``Dear Representative John Shimkus: The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 contains a provision (Section 4507) which prevents seniors from privately contracting for certain healthcare services with the doctor of their choice. This new law gives the bureaucracy even more control over seniors' healthcare and prevents them from getting all the care they need or want. I urge you to cosponsor and work for passage of legislation which will repeal this unfair and dangerous law.'' I would like to say that I am fully supportive of this position. In fact, I have already cosponsored legislation, H.R. 2497, the Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Contract Act, in the 105th Congress, that would address your concerns. Unfortunately, H.R. 2497 was not brought up for a vote in the 105th Congress. However, I look forward to supporting this type of legislation once it is introduced in the 106th Congress. The provision (Section 4507) which prevents seniors from private contracting was added to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 under pressure from the administration. The President threatened to veto the entire budget agreement if we did not give in to the administration's demands. For example, if a healthcare provider such as a doctor chooses to privately contract with one patient, they could not accept Medicare assignment for any patient. Additionally, the provider must refrain from accepting any other Medicare patients, and submitting bills to Medicare on their behalf for a period of 2 years. This provision is detrimental not only to providers but to those who want to contribute their own money to receive the services of their personal choice. This is a prime example of the Washington knows best mentality, the kind of thought which I have real problems with. Consumers, not bureaucrats, know best. H.R. 2497 would have returned the right to individuals to be treated by a physician of their choice outside of Medicare when they are paying for that service entirely out of their own money. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me regarding this very important issue. The issue of my third and final letter is taxation of the Internet. I have received over 900 letters, or shall I say e-mails, on this issue, and here is an example of one that was printed out for this period of time. Therefore, I have chosen a letter that I would answer the general premise of each letter. Debbie Brown-Thompson of Edwardsville, wrote: As a taxpayer in your district, I would like to urge you to vote against paying Internet charges to the phone company in order to use the Internet. It is my understanding that the Internet was designed to make communicating with the rest of the world much easier. If we are forced to pay long distance charges for these local calls, the Internet will no longer be easier than other forms of communication. There are also many children who use the Internet for school projects, and this may end the educational benefits of using the Internet for them as well. Please vote no on any Internet tax. Not only would I like to address my response to Debbie, but I would also like to include Gene Ralston of Rushville, Charles Byars of Texico and Kim Lohman of Hillsboro, all of whom wrote similar letters addressing the Internet tax. I share your concern that the growth and usage of the Internet may be stifled by costly charges, and I will fight any effort which attempts to do so. Neither I, nor the Republican Congress, have any intention of increasing charges or taxes on the Internet. I serve on the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection which hears about all the exciting new things that are occurring in the technological field, and the thing that we will be fighting very fervently about is to make sure that this great new form of communication commerce will not be obstructed by taxation. I have heard that news outlets have erroneously reported that Congress was considering charging long distance fees for going on-line. In fact, the 105th Congress enacted a bill which I cosponsored called the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which established a moratorium on Internet taxation. The Internet Tax Freedom Act will protect against taxes on Internet access, prevent discriminatory taxation of electronic commerce and protect traditional commerce against the imposition of new tax liability if it merely happens to be facilitated over the Internet. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Communications Commission has created a fact sheet to answer Members' questions regarding this issue. I recommend that they visit their web site at: www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common__ Carrier/Factsheets/nominute.html. As a former teacher, I remember my lesson plans on how to contact Members of Congress, and in that lesson plan we talked about contacting them through the use of letters, and letters are a very great form. Letters can now be used on the Internet, as e-mail, and the thing that makes letters so important and that most members want to see are letters that are personal, are letters that have heart and meaning, soul searching, but also short and sweet and to the point. So I want to thank my constituents who have been very helpful in making me understand the concerns of the 20th district, and I look forward to sharing their questions and my responses to them at another time throughout this year.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the special order of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh).

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, what a surprise. Republican proposals to cut taxes have already been met with speech after speech by my liberal democratic friends denouncing them as tax cuts for the rich. Well, we will celebrate this April 15th a $400 child tax cut for families, a tax cut for all families and one that the President approved. Has anyone else noticed that no matter what tax cuts Republicans propose, it will automatically, 100 percent guaranteed, be called tax cuts for the wealthy by the party that not only does everything in its power to discourage wealth creation but apparently feels intense hatred for anyone who has realized the American dream. Of course, we all remember what the Democrats called rich in the last Congress: Anyone who is middle class. But I will ask that middle class farmer in Illinois if he is rich, and I will ask that security guard trying to earn extra money if eliminating the marriage penalty, or if the $500 tax credit will benefit him, and if he is the wealthy? And of course my liberal friends on the other side, many of whom themselves are quite rich indeed, might never have considered the simple fact that rich or not the money belongs to the people who earned it anyway.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a little time today to talk to the people back in my home district. My office receives many, many letters from constituents on numerous subjects, and I would like to read a few of them and answer them right here on the floor of the House. Let me begin. I call this the reading of the mailbag. Mailbag letter number one. My first letter comes from Reinhold Maschhoff of Nashville, Illinois, who wrote to me about low hog prices. ``Dear sir, I am writing you about the low price on hogs. . . . First of all, I'm 80 years of age and doing some work. My wife is very active and does a lot of volunteer work at the hospital and nursing home. ``We used to live on a farm. However, my son farms and has a family. He farms only 300 acres. The rest has to come out of livestock . . . This has made a good living for them. Now since August he has been losing money, $25 to $30 a pig. ``I think of all the work he does, and then to think he is losing money, as much as $2,500 a load. This will lead to bankruptcy. What are you doing about it? Sincerely, Reinhold Maschhoff.'' My response is that the recently rock bottom hog prices are a very real problem in Illinois. Literally hundreds of farmers have contacted me about this crisis, including Ruth Rensing of New Douglas, Illinois, and Daniel Matthews of Nokomis, Illinois. Although no one has a quick and easy solution for these prices, I want to talk about what Congress and the Federal Government is doing right now. I recently held a series of meetings on the hog crisis with family farmers back in the 20th District of Illinois. Local farmers, agricultural leaders, and government officials met together in Springfield, Mt. Vernon, and Pittsfield, Illinois, to discuss their concerns in the hog industry, and to talk about any short- and long- term remedies that were available. I will briefly highlight a few here. In order to help farmers suffering from low prices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced several procedures to stem the hog crisis. The USDA will allow farmers to defer loan payments, and has made available payments to some struggling hog farmers. The agency has also brought $70 million worth of pork for food aid programs. While I realize this help is really a drop in the bucket compared to what many farmers have lost, I would encourage any farmers wishing to participate to contact either my district office or their local Farm Service Agency office. Responding to the concerns of many small farmers in central and southern Illinois, I am in strong support of the Department of Justice's review of the agricultural industry, making sure that small- and medium-sized family farmers are not pushed out of the markets by larger companies. I have also written and signed several letters to key agricultural leaders in Washington, including the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest), Agriculture Secretary Glickman, and House leadership, asking each to consider any help that is available for struggling farmers, like the Maschhoff family. With the help of dozens of farmers who attended my district hog crisis meetings, we came to the conclusion that although we have no quick and easy answers for low prices, Congress can take action to prevent this from happening in the future. By renewing fast track trade authority, helping farmers find new markets, passing new trade bills and making sure farmers can easily get their products to market, Congress can help our struggling pork producers and hog farmers. Thank you for the letter, Reinhold. Letter number two, my next letter comes from Brent Barnes of Beecher City, Illinois. This letter's topic is a fair tax bill. On January 11th, Mr. Barnes wrote: ``Dear Representative Shimkus, as a constituent, I urge you to support the fair tax bill legislation that will allow every American the opportunity to save more for education, a home or a better retirement. The fair tax is a national sales tax system that is fair, simple and efficient. It will allow me to keep my whole paycheck, and I will never have to file a tax return again. ``I urge you to support this bill and to please respond in writing to my request for information about your position on the fair tax. Signed Brent Barnes.'' Thanks for your letter, Brent. I like the sound of this legislation. I hope you know that when I ran for office and now as your Congressman, I believe strongly that we must reform our Tax Code. Unfortunately, I do not think the President is as interested in the idea as we are here in Congress. Nonetheless, I did a little digging on the fair tax on the Internet and found the Americans for Fair Taxation website. This website did a good job of describing this new tax structure, which I would like to take a moment to discuss. First, all Federal income taxes, including the onerous death tax, are abolished and replaced by a single-rate Federal sales tax collected only once at the point of sale, a Federal sales tax. The fair tax proposal provides a monthly rebate to all individuals so that no American will pay taxes on the purchase of necessities. Most importantly, this proposal empowers individuals. Americans can only be taxed when they go to the store and purchase goods. This is fundamentally different than the current Tax Code which taxes Americans just for earning money. This proposal will also eliminate the Internal Revenue Service. As so many Americans know, our confusing Tax Code has forced the IRS and its agents to issue confusing rulings which only undermines the public's trust in the Federal Tax Code. The fair tax also makes tax evasion more difficult since retailers will now administer this tax just as they administer State sales taxes. American citizens will no longer need to file for their tax returns. To Mr. Barnes, back in Fayette County, I would like to say that I have not reached a decision on whether to support a national sales tax or a flat tax at this point. Both systems have merit. As you know, in the State of Illinois, we have both. We have a flat income tax and a sales tax. But I will continue to study this issue and promote reform on the Tax Code as I serve you in this Congress. Realistically speaking, I believe fundamental tax reform is at least 2 years off. However, in the near term, the Congress is advancing a simple plan to reduce taxes by 10 percent across the board. After we save Social Security, with the surplus dollars, we can return the leftover funds to the taxpayers. After all, it is your money. Thank you for bringing this legislation to my attention, Brent. I will be sending a follow-up letter within the next few days. Letter number 3, I recently received another letter from Mr. Robert Devore in Beecher City, Illinois. In his letter regarding the military, he writes: ``Dear sir, I know you are a veteran, as I am. I served over 9 years on active duty in the United States Navy, including two trips to Vietnam. My interest concerns how the military is treating their members. ``I have a good friend in St. Elmo, Illinois, whose son enlisted in the Navy a year ago. He went to Great Lakes for 3 weeks' training prior to joining the fleet in a squadron aboard an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. While going through training at Great Lakes, he was required to pay for his meals. ``I have another friend whose son enlisted in the Air Force. His son was required to purchase his own bedding, sheets, et cetera, and pay for his meals. How can the military do this? Sincerely Robert L. Devore.'' My response stems from concerns about how the military was treating not only active members but also those who are retired, and were expressed by Odie Farris of Mount Vernon, Connie Mann of Collinsville and Edna Roehl of Staunton. With poor living conditions, bad pay, lack of access to medical care and disappearing benefits, we are shortchanging the men and women of our armed forces. It is quite ironic that we ask them to put their lives on the line to defend our country, yet we need to provide a food stamp allowance for service members at the lowest pay grades. Because of continued cuts to our defense budget, recruiting and retention are increasingly difficult, readiness harder to maintain and weapons modernization tougher to fund. We must properly fund our entire military, from our recent enlistees to those who fought in foreign wars. We should be funding our military more, and I will continue to fight to ensure our military is able to meet our defense needs. Letter number 4, my final letter this afternoon, is from Rich DuPatz, Sr., from Brighton, Illinois. He writes, ``As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to support H.R. 4197, the Citizen's Privacy Protection Act of 1998. This bill would repeal section 656 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which would be a significant step toward establishing a national ID card. ``Section 656 would prohibit Federal agencies from accepting State issued drivers' licenses as valid identification unless the license conforms to a Federal standard, and the State puts the driver's Social Security number on the license or verifies it with the Social Security Administration. As a result, each State would issue ID cards. ``Requiring drivers to turn over their Social Security number is like asking them to provide a virtual pass key to a mountain of private and often sensitive information. A Social Security number is often used by businesses as an identifier. Therefore, it can be used to access a person's medical history, shopping preferences, use of prescription drugs, household income and other financial information just to name a few. ``Help put the Federal Government out of the national ID business. I strongly encourage you to help protect my privacy by supporting H.R. 4197, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this legislation. Signed Mr. Rich DuPatz, Sr.'' Well, first of all, Richard, I want to thank you for writing me and expressing your concerns with this issue. When I look at people who maintain their Social Security cards that were originally issued, there is an interesting statement at the bottom. This statement identifies that the Social Security number should only be used for the Social Security system and not used for any other identification purpose. How far we have come since the issuing of those first Social Security cards. I also want to give you a little background behind the issue that you address. As you stated in your letter, Congress passed a tough illegal immigration bill in 1996 to address a serious problem with illegal immigration and voter fraud. I am sure that you would agree that having illegal aliens voting in our elections is not acceptable, as it would reduce the value of your vote. To address the issue of illegal immigration and voter fraud, Congress authorized the Department of Transportation to establish national requirements for drivers licenses, making them, in effect, national ID cards. Acting on this authorization, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, commonly known as NHTSA, proposed a new rule, which would provide the basis for a national ID card. The rule would direct that all Federal agencies may accept, as proof of identity, only a driver's license or identification document that conforms strictly to certain specific and uniform Federal requirements. Rich, I would have to agree with you on your concerns with NHTSA's proposed rule for it goes far beyond Congressional intent, raising serious privacy and civil liberty questions. To address your concerns, on October 1998, the House of Representatives voted 333 to 95 in support of the omnibus appropriations conference report for fiscal year 1999. The following day, President Clinton signed it into law. Contained within this appropriation bill was a provision which prohibits NHTSA from issuing a final rule on national identification cards as required under section 656 of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. In short, Congress blocked implementation of this rule. For now, our civil liberties are protected but rest assured, I will continue to watch for over zealous bureaucrats or misinterpretations of Congressional intent in the future. I would like to close my remarks for this afternoon, but before I go I want to thank my constituents who wrote my office. I hope that my responses answered their questions fully and to each of my constituents who I mentioned today, you will be receiving a follow-up copy of my remarks in the mail shortly. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the following letters. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, December 17, 1998. Dan Glickman, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Washington,

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in honoring the distinguished gentleman from Carterville, Illinois, Congressman Glenn Poshard. There are perhaps no two better words to describe Glenn Poshard than distinguished and gentleman. Glenn Poshard arrived in Washington 10 years ago charged with a mandate to represent the people of his district to the very best of his abilities. I can think of no one who has been a more effective representative for the unique needs of southern Illinois than Glenn Poshard. For the people of southern Illinois, he has been a fighter and a tireless advocate. He has broken through the wall of regionalism that separated our State into Chicago versus the suburbs versus downstate versus the real downstate of southern Illinois. Glenn Poshard made people aware that southern Illinois existed by never wavering in his efforts and never shying away from the pride that those southern Illinois roots instilled in him years ago. As a Member of this body, he has distinguished himself as one who keeps his word and stands on principle. As a member of our society, he has distinguished himself as a gentleman of the first order. There's never a moment when he's too busy to say hello or share a kind word with a friend or foe. I am proud of all that he has accomplished. I am proud that he kept his word to serve no longer than 10 years in this body and then returned to Illinois to run for Governor, as for Glenn Poshard, public service never truly ends. While he wasn't elected as our next Governor, I know that he gained the personal respect of the man who was elected and of all those of us who watched him during his campaign. During that effort, Glenn Poshard spoke forcefully and loudly about the needs of our State's children. Since that time he has pledged to continue to try and make a difference for our kids. As he leaves this body to move on to that effort, Glenn Poshard should know that he has already made a difference for our State's children, one that will last for generations to come. God's blessing to the distinguished gentleman from Carterville and his loving wife Jo.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, as a West Point graduate, a former active duty officer and a current reservist, the time is right to tell our young men and women in the armed forces that we support them. That is our mission today, a united front. However, our mission tomorrow is to ensure that our forces have the means at their disposal to conduct necessary operations in the future. Talk is cheap. Rebuilding our military strength is the clearest sign to our young men and women in uniform and their families that we support them, we care for them, and that we are going to do everything with the means at our disposal to protect them. Let us commit today as we talk on this resolution to do the necessary work at hand to strengthen our military for the future.