Louise Slaughter

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings), for yielding me the customary half hour. (Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, this is an open rule that I will not oppose, and the underlying bill has the support of many from both sides of the aisle. Moreover, the minority was consulted throughout the process in developing the legislation, a trend we all hope will continue throughout the process of appropriations. The bill provides $19.8 billion in new discretionary spending authority for the Department of the Interior and related agencies. This is $546 million more than last year, and almost $900 million more than the President's budget request. Moreover, the committee provided an additional $700 million to fight the western wildfires as emergency FY 2002 spending. For the communities fighting these fires and for all who are still recovering from the devastation these fires have wrought, this is welcome news. Communities in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and other parts of the West need to know that Washington has not turned a blind eye to their very real pain. I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Interior of the Committee on Appropriations, for ensuring that this funding was included. I also strongly commend the gentleman from New Mexico (Chairman Skeen) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) for their success in the funding of a new conservation trust fund created in FY 2001. By including the $1.44 billion, $120 million above last year, authorized for conservation, Congress has kept a promise to expand funding for land acquisition, wildlife protection, and other preservation and conservation programs. Specifically, the fund provides $100 million for State wildlife grants, $30 million for urban parks and recreation recovery grants, $60 million for Forest Legacy, $44 million for North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, $30 million for Save America's Treasures, $46 million for historic preservation, $50 million for Fish and Wildlife Service landowner incentive programs, $36 million for urban forestry, and $121 million for the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund. This is an extraordinary victory for those who care about preserving our Nation's natural resources for future generations, and we thank the gentleman. But in other ways, the measure before us represents a lost opportunity, in its present form. In what is becoming an annual act of neglect, the committee failed to allow for the restoration of some of the unwise cuts made 7 years ago in the funding of those agencies responsible for the country's small but critically important arts and humanities education and preservation efforts. The bill funds the NEA at $116 million, a level almost 40 percent below the 1995 funding level. The National Endowment for the Humanities is funded at $126 million, almost 30 percent below the level in 1995. These funding levels fundamentally ignore the successful efforts by both NEA and NEH to broaden the reach of their programs and to eliminate controversial programs, the two reforms that were requested by the majority when they reduced the funding in 1995. It is time to recognize the success of these reforms and give these agencies the resources they need to meet this critical need. This is penny-wise and pound-foolish. The NEA is essential to the part of the important link between education and the arts. The economic benefits we receive are enormous compared to our small investment in the NEA. The Arts and Economic Prosperity Study conducted by Americans for the Arts reveals that the nonprofit art industry generates $134 billion in economic activity annually. Over $80 billion of the figure stems from related spending by arts audiences, at the parking lots where patrons leave their cars, at the restaurants where they eat before performances, at the gift shops where they buy souvenirs, and at the motels where they spend the night. The $232 million that the Federal Government has invested in the NEA and NEH has returned $134 billion to Federal, State, and local economies. I cannot think of any Federal investments that yield that kind of return. Moreover, the public supports continued funding for the NEA because the NEA grants affect every congressional district. This funding is not concentrated in the handful of urban areas, but instead impacts hundreds of communities around the country. The arts are not only good financial investment for our communities, they greatly benefit the growth and development of our children. A recent study entitled ``Critical Links'' conducted by the Arts Education Partnership shows that learning and the arts improves critical skills in math, reading, language development and writing, skills badly needed. For example, the study shows that learning dance and drama helped to develop skills and improve creative writing. Skills learned in music increase a student's understanding of concepts in math. This body can ill afford the short changes that these vital programs provide when we have committed ourselves time and time again to improving the lives of our Nation's children. This is an inexpensive and most effective way to do that. Mr. Speaker, during consideration of the underlying measure, I will work to ensure the programs are given a fighting chance. I will offer an amendment to give the NEA an additional $10 million and an additional $5 million to the NEA and urge my colleagues to support these efforts. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to pay special tribute to WAVES, ``Women Accepted For Voluntary Emergency Service'', on the 60th anniversary of its incorporation. WAVES brings together all former, retired, and present Navy women, promotes the Navy and Navy women, serves women veterans, and supports the traditions and history of the Women of the United States Navy. During World War I, while the Army remained committed to its prohibition against enlisted women, the Navy Department took advantage of the skills women offered by signing up 13,000 women into the Navy and the Marine Corps. World War II marked a turning point in the history of women in the military. On July 30, 1942, Congress enacted legislation establishing a Women's Reserve for duty with the U.S. Navy stateside, and on August 3, 1942, WAVES was established. Women have continued to make invaluable contributions to the United States military ever since. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are over 1,448,000 women veterans in this country, representing 5 percent of the total veteran population. Women have served in and with the military services since our country was founded. As medics, mechanics, postal workers, clerks, cooks, or MP's, women have contributed and continue to contribute mightily to our national defense in times of both war and peace. Women veterans have served proudly in nearly every United States military action risking their lives in the service of their country. I am proud to have the Finger Lakes Unit #49 of WAVES National, with members from Rochester and surrounding towns, as an active organization in my district. Our local unit carries out national programs with special emphasis on service to women veterans in VA hospitals, at home, and in nursing homes. In addition, our dedicated group continuously supports the Institute of Logopedics for Special children. I am happy to offer my congratulations to WAVES on their 60th anniversary and my strong support for the important work they do recognizing and promoting the valuable service of women veterans.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Ohio for yielding me the customary 30 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this open rule. The underlying bill is noncontroversial and was passed by voice vote out of the House Committee on Science. Mr. Speaker, on September 11 we learned many hard lessons about our Nation's vulnerability to attack, and the underlying bill before us today sets out to improve our ability to respond to an attack, especially our ability to investigate building failures that cause a substantial loss of life. The aftermath of the collapse of the World Trade Center towers revealed serious flaws in how the Federal Government moves forward with these investigations. For instance, first FEMA responded to the Trade Center disaster by sending search and rescue teams to the site. FEMA also employed a team tasked with analyzing information about the sequence of events and failures that resulted in the progressive collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Its goal was to analyze how the structures performed and determine whether changing building codes and design practices might prevent future disasters. Eventually, FEMA recognized that it did not have the resources or the authority to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation; and in January, FEMA asked the National Institute of Standards and Technology to take over the investigation. Before all was said and done, the National Science Foundation was involved as well. Eventually, despite the extraordinary commitment of the agents and workers investigating the site, confusion became the order of the day. None of these agencies were prepared to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation immediately following the collapse of the buildings. In addition, the Federal efforts that were undertaken to study the building failures were hindered by many impediments: no Federal agency was clearly charged with investigating building failures; nothing ensured that an investigation would begin quickly enough to preserve evidence; no Federal agency had the investigative authority to ensure access to all the needed information; and nothing ensured that the public was kept informed of the progress of the investigation; and inadequate funding limited the efforts that were undertaken. The measure before us today is modeled on the legislation that created the National Transportation Safety Board and will go a long way toward addressing these problems. First, the act establishes NIST as the lead agency to investigate building failures that have caused a substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential for substantial loss of life. The legislation also requires NIST to deploy a team within 48 hours of a disaster so that the investigation is not hindered by delay. Additionally, the legislation gives NIST authority to enter the site of the building failure, inspect and move records and materials, issue subpoenas and impound evidence; and moreover, a provision of critical importance to the families of victims would require teams to hold regular public briefings on the status of the investigation in order to ensure that the public is informed. Finally, to prevent funding limitations from inhibiting future investigation, the legislation authorizes appropriations of $25 million. Mr. Speaker, we owe it to the families of the victims to ensure timely and orderly investigation of this tragedy, and I urge favorable consideration of this bill; and, again, Mr. Speaker, I know of no controversy surrounding this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. SLAUGHTER

Mr. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my humblest condolences to the families of the thirty-five coal miners who lost their lives in a July 7th fire in Donetsk, Ukraine. The terrible loss of life in Donetsk hits home on a number of levels. A tragedy of this magnitude is suffered not only by the families who lost their loved ones but the larger community. As the representative of a sizeable Ukranian-American community and the co-chairperson of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I would like to express our condolences to the families of the lost Ukranian miners. The Ukranian community in Monroe county, which was established over a century ago, maintains close times with their counterparts in Ukraine. In fact, in recent years, the Rochester-area Ukrainian community opened its arms to a new wave of immigrants. As a Kentucky native, I have seen, firsthand, the enormous toll that underground mining can exact. Underground mining is dangerous. Tunnels can collapse. Coal in the mines can catch on fire. Sometimes there are poisonous gases near coal. In the U.S., the modernization of mining methods has made it less dangerous but there is always risk. I appreciate that Ukraine's efforts at enhancing its economy and modernizing its industrial structures has not been without setbacks. However, I am troubled by the fact that this terrible incident is not an isolated one. Mr. Speaker, Ukraine's mines have one of the highest accident rates in the world due to poor maintenance and neglect of safety regulations. This accident comes a year after a gas explosion killed at least 50 miners in Donetsk and two years after 80 miners died in another underground mining explosion. More than 3,700 miners have died since Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. At this time of reflection, it is my sincere hope that this terrible incident marks a turning point for Ukraine and the Ukranian government takes substantial steps to close the roughly 200 mines that the World Bank rates as highly prone to methane blasts. Mr. Speaker, I extend my condolences to the victims' families in Ukraine, and offer my sorrow and sympathy to the people of Ukraine for this shocking tragedy that resulted in thirty-five deaths and my sincerest hope for real reforms in the Ukrainian mining industry.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the open rule. Again, Mr. Speaker, this is an entirely noncontroversial measure that might have been put on the suspension calendar, but nevertheless, it is an important measure for many regions of the country, including my own district in upstate New York, and I urge its favorable consideration. Mr. Speaker, the manufacturing sector remains one of the most critical economic engines of the U.S. economy. My region of the country, with a combination of Fortune 500 companies, as well as midsize and smaller firms, has emerged as the leading per capita exporting city in America. Many of our smaller and midsized firms have become the lifeblood of our community and, indeed, have led the Nation in innovation and expansion. These firms know the critical importance of a coordinated exchange of information up and down the supply chain. With the emergence of the World Wide Web, international standards for product data exchange greatly accelerated the movement toward electronically integrated supply chains during the last half of the 1990s. European and Asian countries are investing heavily in preparing their smaller manufacturers to do business in the new environment. European efforts are well advanced in the aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding industries and are beginning in other industries, including home building, furniture manufacturing, textiles, and apparel. This investment could give overseas companies a major competitive advantage in the months and years to come. The legislation before us today will give the small manufacturers in the United States access to the same electronic integration that the large firms enjoy. The measure would increase efficiency and productivity throughout all sectors of our economy by providing technical and financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses. I was pleased to see in this legislation that the National Institute of Standards and Technology would spearhead these efforts. With a long history of working cooperatively with manufacturers, and the nationwide reach which of its manufacturing extension program, the institute is in a unique position to help the United States, large and small manufacturers alike, in their responses on this challenge. Moreover, the institute will involve the Manufacturing Extension Program, MEP, which I know firsthand is making a real difference in my district. The MEP program, through High Tech Rochester, has assisted more than 1,000 small manufacturing firms within my district. Established in 1987, High Tech Rochester has been a force in the region's economy. By 1997, High Tech Rochester could boast that its client base had collectively realized a 2\1/2\-fold growth in employment and a $43 million increase in sales to $61 million. Enterprise integration, as provided for in this bill, would provide High Tech Rochester and other successful MEP programs throughout the Nation with a promising new tool to assist the small manufacturing firms. Mr. Speaker, I have seen what a difference this kind of support can make for not only existing small manufacturers, but for manufacturing start-ups. High Tech Rochester's business incubator supports fledgling small businesses by helping them to spin off, creating new companies to diversify the economy, making it stronger in the long run. I have been a strong supporter of High Tech Rochester's business incubator program which, over the past 4 years, has successfully supported dozens of start-up companies to ensure that they survive in their first years in business. It has been a tremendous success. In the year 2000, four companies ``graduated'' from the facility and moved to new larger facilities in our community. By their graduation, the combined numbers grew from 13 to 61, a nearly 370 percent increase. In 2001, the facility graduated twice as many firms, and we look forward to them doubling the success of their predecessors. It is my firm hope that other regions of the country will benefit from similar programs, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for rollcall votes 283 and 284. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on each on them.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald). (Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley). (Ms. BERKLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis). (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).