Bob Smith

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I have no objection. Amendment No. 657 (Purpose: To provide for increased burdensharing by United States allies)

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Reserving the right to object, if the Senator wishes to speak for a couple of minutes on another matter, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator's time does not come out of the time allocated for this amendment.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I object. I wish to speak on the amendment that is before the Senate.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. If the Senator would yield, that is correct. The provision being proposed is applicable only to the stated plans in the Department's ``dual track'' strategy. This bill would not affect the Fast Flux Facility, because that facility is currently funded through a non-defense account. This bill does not have authority over these funds, and therefore, this provision would in no way alter the commitment made by former Secretary O'Leary to keep the FFTF in a hot stand-by condition.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to William F. Luebbert of Hanover, NH, for his outstanding service as a volunteer executive in Vladivostok, Russia. William worked on a volunteer mission with the International Executive Service Corps, a nonprofit organization which sends retired Americans to assist businesses and private enterprises in the developing countries and the new emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. William assisted the Vladivostok State University of Economics with its computer technology. He is the retired director of academic computing at USMA (West Point). William is also a retired U.S. Army colonel. William, and his wife Nancy, spent a month in Russia. Their outstanding patriotic engagement provides active assistance for people in need and helps build strong ties of trust and respect between Russia and America. William's mission aids at ending the cycle of dependency on foreign assistance. I commend William for his dedicated service and I am proud to represent him in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to David Sussman of Charlestown, NH, former professor at Holyoke Community College, for his outstanding service as a volunteer executive in Feodosia, Ukraine. David worked on a volunteer mission with the International Executive Service Corps, a nonprofit organization which sends retired Americans to assist businesses and private enterprises in the developing countries and the new emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. David assisted the Feodosia Institute of Management and Business, a business college, in developing plans for exchange of faculty and students with U.S. Colleges and for joint research. David, and his wife Claire, spent a month in the Ukraine. Their outstanding patriotic engagement provides active assistance for people in need and helps build strong ties of trust and respect between the Ukraine and America. David's mission aids at ending the cycle of dependency on foreign assistance. I commend David for his dedicated service and I am proud to represent him in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to New Hampshire's 368th Engineer Battalion as they celebrate their 50th anniversary at a gala celebration in Manchester on July 19th. Mr. President, I wish to honor the nearly 1,000 men and women of New Hampshire's 368th Engineer Battalion who are known as much for their efforts in international peace building campaigns as their wartime readiness. They have earned an enviable reputation from their community action projects that include building roads, bridges, schools, hospitals to disaster relief projects. The 368th Engineer Battalion was formed in 1947 from engineer and heavy maintenance units. The battalion has been headquartered in Concord and Manchester and they have also had units in Laconia, Rochester, Gilford, West Lebanon, NH, as well as White River Junction, VT, and Attleboro and Danvers, MA. The 368th Battalion has made a substantial contribution to the quality of life for residents of the Granite State. The Engineer Battalion has developed disaster relief models for such disasters as the recent Alton, NH dam breach where the unit played a critical role in clearing flood debris, stabilizing erosion and restoring local transportation facilities for the residents of the small Lakes Region community, which I and the citizens of Alton are very thankful for their exceptional work in that time of crisis. Helping others is the cornerstone of the 368th Engineer Battalion, making the Granite State a safer place to live and raise a family. The 368th has seen their share of service on foreign soils in their 50-year history, where they have lived and cooperated with the civilian community including the countries of Italy, Germany, Honduras, Guatemala, Korea, and Kenya. They have continued their community action projects in building clinics, roads, and sanitation facilities which have had long term impact on the quality of civilian life and health for the people of the world. The decision by the U.S. Government to invest $17 million to create a new joint service reserve center at Manchester Airport is a testament to the professionalism and commitment to excellence embodied in the 368th. The facility will enable the 368th to continue serving our Nation with distinction well into the next century. I commend New Hampshire's 368th Engineer Battalion for their dedication to the community which is the embodiment of the American ideal. People like the members of the 368th are the backbone of their communities and our Nation. I am proud to represent them in the U.S. Senate. Happy 50th anniversary.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to commend my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee and the Finance Committee for having the courage to follow through on a promise the Government made long ago to career military personnel. I know the future of health care for elderly military retirees is an issue that deeply concerns many of us, and I am pleased that we have found a financially responsible solution to the growing problem of health care access for this group of retired personnel. With the Defense Department expected to complete full implementation of the Tricare medical plan within the year, many retirees, who made it their lives' work to defend our freedom, face the certain loss of medical benefits when they turn 65 unless Congress acts now. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I am deeply disturbed by this prospect. That is why I have consistently supported responsible initiatives to guarantee the future of DOD health care for Medicare- eligible military retirees. In New Hampshire, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of defense downsizing on health care resources for this vulnerable population. When Pease Air Force Base closed in 1991, thousands of aging retirees were left to compete with active duty personnel and military retirees from neighboring States for fewer spaces in the New England DOD health care system. Once Tricare takes hold, this group will lose any remaining access to the military system they now enjoy because the Defense Department can no longer afford to offer these retirees the medical benefits they were promised. This is unacceptable. After 4 years of meetings, hearings, and failed legislative initiatives, the Senate has finally reached a workable solution to the health care crisis now facing Medicare-eligible military retirees. Medicare subvention, as the plan is known, will allow the Defense Department to seek reimbursement from Medicare for the cost of treating eligible retired military personnel. By authorizing the DOD to carry out a 3-year Medicare subvention test program, the Senate has taken a decisive step toward restoring military retirees' faith in the country they honorably served. I am pleased to have supported Medicare subvention since the proposal's inception, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the coming years to ensure that our Government does not shirk the responsibility of providing elderly military retirees with the quality, affordable health care they deserve. I thank the chair and I yield the floor.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Ani Danielian, a student at Phillips Exeter Academy, on being the recipient of the 1997 Japan-United States Senate Youth Exchange scholarship. This is certainly an accomplishment of which she should be very proud and I salute her for her achievement. Ani was chosen to represent the Granite State during a summer exchange program in Japan. She will spend 6 weeks living with a host family and meeting with Government officials. Before traveling to Japan, Ani will attend an orientation program in San Francisco, CA. The scholarship is administered by Youth For Understanding [YFU] International Exchange. One high school junior from each State received a scholarship this year from YFU. Competition for this scholarship was intense, as evidenced by the almost 700 applicants for the 50 available scholarships. Ani was selected through a rigorous screening process which involved numerous volunteers of YFU. Ani is involved in several organizations at Phillips Exeter Academy, including the Concert Choir and the Japanese-American Society. Following graduation, the 16-year-old plans on attending a liberal arts college and possibly majoring in International Relations or East Asian Studies. I congratulate Ani Danielian on her outstanding accomplishments. I commend her hard work and perseverance and wish her luck in her exploration of the Japanese culture.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. So that was the intention here and the point I wanted to make regarding these sites. Let me also say, because this is kind of a technical term--the so- called FUSRAP sites is a little hard to understand. We have a lot of acronyms here. I know it is difficult for people to comprehend some of these, but this program was initiated in 1974 by the Atomic Energy Commission under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. They have 7 or 8 major objectives. I will just briefly highlight those. One is to find and evaluate sites that supported the Manhattan Engineer District/Atomic Energy Commission's early atomic energy program and to determine whether these sites needed cleanup or control. Second, to clean up or control these sites so that they meet current DOE guidelines. Third, to dispose of or stabilize waste in an environmentally acceptable way. Fourth, to complete all work so the DOE complies with the appropriate Federal laws and regulations and State and local environmental and land use requirements. Fifth, to certify the sites for appropriate future use. These sites are owned by either the Department of Energy, local governments, private corporations or private citizens or a combination thereof. Again, the goal here was to try to craft something that would expedite these 46 FUSRAP sites, some with problems more serious in nature than others. Obviously the site the Senator from New Jersey is talking about is much more serious than some of the others. But the idea was to bring these parties to the table in a fair and equitable way, being certain that those PRPs that had put money on the table, had offered money on the table, would be encouraged to provide not only that money but more. That way, we could get a fair settlement so the taxpayers would be saved dollars and at the same time we would accomplish the goal of cleaning up these sites. In a moment I am going to offer a second-degree perfecting amendment to the amendment of the Senator from New Jersey. Before I do that, I just want to say that I understand the concerns of the Senator. He has been very cooperative. We have talked about this at great length in the past few days to try to come to an understanding of what my intent was and what he believes the result to be. We may not be 100 percent in agreement here, but I think we can resolve this with this second-degree amendment which I believe addresses the concerns of the Senator and at the same time will lead us to accomplishing the cleanup goal that we want to achieve. I do not want to preclude the Senator's debate. I would be happy to withhold offering the second-degree if the Senator wants to speak on this amendment? I will withhold that amendment and I will yield the floor.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I am going to take a couple of minutes, and then we will move on. This second-degree amendment would substitute a reporting requirement for the original section of section 3138 directed regarding cost recovery agreements at cleanup sites managed by DOE within the so- called FUSRAP program. As you know, and as we indicated earlier, there had been some interest requested that limitations be placed on this Federal agency cost recovery from potential responsible third parties. We were able to deal with those, and the Armed Services Committee does not have jurisdiction over these issues, but does have jurisdiction over defense-related cleanups of DOE sites. Section 3138 was intended to narrowly focus on concerns that were related to cost recovery of FUSRAP. Mr. President, basically, there are six provisions that are part of that report language. They are self-explanatory. This is an attempt to try to get a reasonable compromise to see to it that we save taxpayers dollars, at the same time to be fair and to get both parties to the table as quickly as possible. I yield the floor, Mr. President. Mr. LEVIN addressed the Chair.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I think it would be appropriate at this time for me to offer the second-degree amendment, and then I believe we can get this matter resolved and go on to the next amendment. So I offer a second-degree amendment to Senator Lautenberg's amendment to strike section 3138 from the national defense authorization bill for fiscal year 1998. I send the amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, the amendment of the Senator from New Jersey addresses a provision, section 3138, in the defense bill which relates to something called Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program [FUSRAP]. I just want to give a little background as to how and why the language the Senator is concerned about appeared in the legislation and also to indicate what its intent was and to discuss specifically his amendment. Earlier this year it came to the attention of the Armed Services Committee this program, the so-called FUSRAP program, was not getting the sites cleaned up as quickly or as efficiently as it could. Of course, as all of us know who work on the Superfund issue, that is true of many, many Superfund sites around the country as well as these particular FUSRAP sites. So the committee felt we wanted to do something to expedite the cleanups, to get it done quicker, to respond to the concerns raised by Members who were not on our committee--that is the Armed Services Committee--and in some cases were not even on the Environment and Public Works Committee. In order to try to respond to those concerns, the Armed Services Committee unanimously adopted this language. It was hoped it would speed up the cleanup of these sites and provide an incentive for parties that were responsible for the contamination of these sites to come to the table, negotiate their liability allocations with DOE, and to contribute an appropriate amount to the cleanup costs--not to give anybody a sweetheart deal, not to remove people from the hook, so to speak, but rather to bring people to the table to pay their appropriate share of the cleanup costs. That was the goal and the objective of the language. I might say, unfortunately, sometimes these disputes manage to make their way to the floor because they are not resolved before we get here. Had this Senator had some knowledge of concerns raised by members of the committee or other Members of the Senate prior to this time, we might have been able to address those concerns. But as I indicated earlier, it passed unanimously in the Armed Services Committee. There was absolutely no discussion of it in the committee. So it is unfortunate that we have to deal with it here, but, be that as it may, that is what we will do. The language included in the section would have limited DOE's ability to seek cost recoveries against some private parties. That is true. That is what Senator Lautenberg just said. But in no way would it have limited the similar powers, the collateral powers that the EPA and the Department of Justice has to obtain these recoveries, get these dollars recovered. So, given the fact that DOE may have some level of responsibility for liability at these sites, we on the committee believed it was an inappropriate conflict of interest for them to have control for recovering costs against private parties. So, by leveling the playing field, we believed it would be more likely that private parties would settle their liability at the site, and, given the fact that EPA and DOJ would still have enforcement authority, we knew no party would be let off the hook. That was the intention. I believe in my own heart, as I read the language, that the language supports that intention. But I can understand there may be differences of opinion in terms of how you interpret it. There have been some concerns raised that we tried to address a single-party site here, to give somebody specific relief. That could not be further from the truth. I think the facts speak for themselves. This was a generic amendment. I might say the topic at hand here is the so-called FUSRAP sites, that is the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Project. In a DOE Office of Environmental Restoration pamphlet that is dated April 1995, there are 46 FUSRAP sites, of varying degrees. I think it may be the case that the site in New Jersey could be singled out here as possibly being helped in one way or another by his provision. However, there are 46 sites, so I think the committee is on record here, being very clear that the intention here was to deal with 46 FUSRAP sites to try to expedite the cleanup. They are in States all across the United States. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a section of this pamphlet listing those 46 FUSRAP sites be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the town of Greenville, NH on their 125th anniversary. Greenville is celebrating their 125th birthday June 27-29, and the town's citizens will highlight these festivities with an anniversary parade and numerous other activities. This New Hampshire town has a significant heritage to celebrate on their 125th anniversary. The history of Greenville began in the mid-1760's with the building of a saw and grist mill by Thomas Barrett and his brother, Charles Barrett. From that time forward the mills have been the dominant feature of the town on the banks of the Souhegan River from the Upper Falls to the High Falls. The first mills were a grist or saw mill, however the adventurous pioneers discovered hydroelectricity which would help run woolen mills, the cotton mills, furniture mill, another saw mill and the generation of hydroelectricity which continues today. The early settlers of this untamed country were independent and self- sufficient folk, characteristics that have endured in the people of this region. With their independent spirit and determination they built a strong and lasting community that makes their descendants proud. By the early 19th century a unique village had grown around the mills along the flowing banks of the Souhegan. The village had its own meeting house, school, post office, inn, and several stores. As the mills thrived, the town around it blossomed into the town of today. The town of Greenville had been known by many names prior to 1872. The village along the river was first called Barrett's Mills, then Dakin's Mills, Mason Harbor, Souhegan Village, Mason Village, and finally Greenville in 1872. Today, the town of Greenville prides itself on its quality of life and community spirit, a tradition that has manifested itself throughout the town's history. Greenville is one of New Hampshire's smallest towns and boasts not only magnificent surroundings, but a community of friendly, caring neighbors as well. I congratulate the town of Greenville on this historic milestone and wish them a happy 125th anniversary celebration. I send them my best wishes for continued success and a prosperous year as they mark this historic occasion. Happy birthday, Greenville.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the great citizens of Nashua, NH, Portsmouth, NH, and Manchester, NH, on being named to Money Magazine's best places to live in America. Nashua, NH came in at No. 1, with Portsmouth and Manchester finishing fifth and sixth respectively, based on Money magazine's rankings. The national investment magazine released their list of America's top 10 communities based on business climate, economic well-being, quality of life, and other factors that comprise a positive environment in which to work and raise a family. New Hampshire's tourism industry, scenic beauty, lack of sales or income tax, low crime rate, quality education and family and community spirit make the State attractive for families and businesses to locate here. The people of these communities, and of the entire State, have good reason to be extra proud. Nashua, the Gate City of the Granite State, named No. 1 by Money magazine, is the only State to receive this honor twice, of which I and the citizens are very proud. The former mill town, which borders the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has a booming economy with manufacturing facilities, hi-tech firms and defense contractors. Nashua is also close to many cultural arts venues and major medical facilities of neighboring communities, which make it No. 1 as touted by Money magazine. Portsmouth, New Hampshire's port city, placed sixth as the most desirable place in the country. The Portsmouth community relies on many major technology and communications firms to help thrust to the forefront of the Nation. The Portsmouth community is a great place to raise a family with its many fine schools and major colleges nearby, including the University of New Hampshire in nearby Durham. The Port City is also the home of one of our Nation's finest military institutions, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Manchester, the Queen City, picked up the sixth place honors in the Nation. The Queen City has many high-tech firms and major telecommunications businesses which help add to the economic power of the city. Manchester sits on the banks of the Merrimack River, the home to many of the historic manufacturing plants of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Situated in the Merrimack Valley of New Hampshire, Manchester is also home to a booming cultural arts center which is the pride of northern New England. Mr. President, it is no surprise that New Hampshire is the only State with 3 towns in the top 10. I can think of no cities in America more deserving of these top honors than Nashua, Portsmouth, and Manchester. I applaud the local officials, enterprising businessmen and women and the committed citizens of these great cities. They helped bring about an economic revival that has propelled New Hampshire into national recognition once again. I am proud to represent them all in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the town of Hooksett, NH on their 175th anniversary. Hooksett is celebrating their 175th birthday during the month of July, and the town's citizens will highlight these festivities with the dedication of a new safety center and numerous other activities. This New Hampshire town has a significant heritage to celebrate on their 175th anniversary. The history of Hooksett began in the 1700's. The early settlers of this untamed country were independent and self-sufficient folk, characteristics that have endured in the people of this region. With their independent spirit and determination they built a strong and lasting community that makes their descendants proud. What is now Hooksett was once part of three other communities during the 18th century. The residents of these towns were dissatisfied with having to travel 17 miles over rugged terrain to the community of Chester to attend church or to vote. On June 11, 1782, 40 years before the town would be incorporated, the General Court granted a petition that established a ferry at Isle of Hooksett Falls. The town would eventually take its name from this area. These strong-spirited citizens were determined to form their own community and five petitions later to the General Court, Hooksett was finally incorporated July 2, 1822. The first town meeting was at Halls Tavern on September 16, 1822, where the first town officials of Hooksett took the oath to serve the people of the community. The voters elected: the Honorable Richard H. Ayer, selectman and moderator; Samuel head, selectman; Samuel Poor, selectman and Gideon Flanders as town clerk. The residents also elected constables, surveyors of lumber, treasurer, hog reeves and a school committee. Today, the town of Hooksett prides itself on its quality of life and community spirit, a tradition that has manifested itself throughout the town's history. This town of 9,400 residents boasts not only magnificent surroundings, but a community of friendly, caring neighbors as well. Mr. President, I congratulate the town of Hooksett on this historic milestone and wish them a happy 175th anniversary celebration. I send them my best wishes for continued success and a prosperous year as they mark their 175th birthday. Happy birthday, Hooksett.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Donna Jean Cronin, a teacher at Exeter Area Jr. High School in Exeter NH, and Robert J. Devantery, a teacher at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, NH, on receiving the 1996 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Donna and Robert will spend the week of June 24-28 in Washington, DC, for a series of events to commemorate their distinguished selection. As a former high school teacher myself, I commend their outstanding accomplishment and well-deserved honor. The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, administered by the National Science Foundation [NSF], is designed to recognize and reward outstanding teachers who serve as models for their colleagues in the important areas of increased visibility and rewards while encouraging high quality teachers to enter and remain in the teaching field. This national award recognizes their distinguished leadership and encourages high quality teachers to enter and remain in the teaching field. Mr. President, New Hampshire has always been fortunate to have many talented teachers, but Donna and Robert are certainly role models among the teachers of the Granite State. I am proud of their dedication to the education of New Hampshire children and congratulate them on this magnificent achievement. It is an honor to represent them in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the great citizens of Nashua, NH, Portsmouth, NH, and Manchester, NH, on being named to Money magazine's best places to live in America. Nashua, NH, came in at No. 1, with Portsmouth and Manchester finishing fifth and sixth respectively based on Money magazine's rankings. The national investment magazine released their list of America's top ten communities based on business climate, economic well-being, quality of life and other factors that comprise a positive environment in which to work and raise a family. New Hampshire's tourism industry, scenic beauty, lack of sales or income tax, low crime rate, quality education, and family and community spirit make the State attractive for families and businesses to locate here. The people of these communities, and of the entire State, have good reason to be extra proud. Nashua, the Gate City of the Granite State, named number one by Money magazine, is the only State to receive this honor twice, of which I and the citizens are very proud. The former mill town which borders the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has a booming economy with manufacturing facilities, hi-tech firms, and defense contractors. Nashua is also close to many cultural arts venues and major medical faculties of neighboring communities, which make it number one as touted by Money magazine. Portsmouth, New Hampshire's Port City, placed sixth as the most desirable place in the country. The Portsmouth community relies on many major technology and communications firms to help thrust to the forefront of the Nation. The Portsmouth community is a great place to raise a family with its many fine schools and major colleges nearby including the University of New Hampshire in nearby Durham. The Port City is also the home of one of our Nation's finest military institutions, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Manchester, the Queen City, picked up the sixth place honors in the Nation. The Queen City has many high-tech firms and major telecommunications businesses which help add to the economic power of the city. Manchester sits on the banks of the Amoskeg river, the home to many of the historic manufacturing plants of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Situated in the Merrimack Valley of New Hampshire, Manchester is also home to a booming cultural arts center which is the pride of northern New England. Mr. President, it is no surprise that New Hampshire is the only State with three towns in the top ten. I can think of no cities in America more deserving of these top honors than Nashua, Portsmouth, and Manchester. I applaud the local officials, enterprising businessmen and women, and the committed citizens of these great cities. They helped bring about an economic revival that has propelled New Hampshire into national recognition once again. I am proud to represent them all in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Atlas Advanced Pyrotechnics, the Granite State's largest pyrotechnics design firm, on winning the National Park Service's 1997 Independence Day aerial fireworks display, to be held July 4 by the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. Atlas Advanced Pyrotechnics is well known in the New Hampshire community for some of their spectacular shows like the annual Rock 101 Skyshow and Jaffery's Festival of Fireworks. Atlas won the North American Pyrotechnics Competition in 1994 and was the United States representative at the 1995 Benson and Hedges International Pyrotechnics Competition in Montreal, Canada. Atlas will light the sky over the Nation's Capital with more than 3,000 shells in 20 minutes. The entire show will be digitally synchronized to patriotic music of Copeland, Gershwin, Bernstein, and Eubie Blake. In addition to this year's fireworks display on the Mall in Washington DC, the National Park Service has also awarded Atlas the prestigious Harper's Ferry Historical Park display on June 28, at Harper's Ferry, WV. I commend Atlas for their hard work and dedication that has earned them such prestigious awards. I applaud the people of Atlas for their accomplishments in bringing joy to the American public. I wish them a very happy Fourth of July.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of the late Dr. Karen E. Wetterhahn of Lyme, NH. Karen was an Albert Bradley third century professor in the sciences at Dartmouth College, who died of mercury poisoning on June 8 while working on the cutting edge of the scientific and academic communities. Karen, a research chemist of international reputation, spanned the fields of inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical toxicology. Sometime last year while working with dimethyl mercury, she came in contact with and received mercury poisoning during her studies of mercury toxicity. A dedicated member of the Dartmouth community, her work involved understanding how elevated levels of the elements known as heavy metals, which include chromium, lead, and arsenic, interfere with the processes of cell metabolism and the transfer of genetic information. Karen not only shaped the work inside her laboratory but in the classroom as well. Dr. Wetterhahn helped to develop curriculum in the life science area know as structural biology, which studies the structure of biologically active molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins to learn how they function. She was born in Plattsburgh, NY, in 1948 and graduated from St. Mary's High School in Champlain, NY. Karen graduated magna cum laude at St. Lawrence University where she earned her bachelor's degree. She received her doctorate from Columbia University in 1975, where she won the prestigious Hammett Award in chemistry. Karen was also a National Institutes of Health trainee at the Institute of Cancer Research, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, also in 1975. One year later she joined the faculty of Dartmouth College, in Hanover, NH. Karen also had an instrumental role in making Dartmouth's sciences and administration more representative of the changing faces in the college community. While in Hanover, she co-founded Dartmouth's women in science project, which was aimed at increasing the number of women majoring and taking courses in the sciences. Mr. President, Dr. Wetterhahn worked to make the world a better place, and she will be truly missed by all of us who knew and worked with her. Researchers like the late Karen Wetterhahn are important to the future of New Hampshire and the future of this Nation.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Andrew R. Rudman, the New Hampshire Youth Governor for the 1997 National YMCA Youth Governor's Conference. Andrew was elected by fellow high school students from across the Granite State's various youth and government programs as the State's Youth Governor. Andrew will attend a conference in Washington, DC, on June 18, 1997. Every year since 1964, Members of the Senate have hosted these remarkable student leaders. The youth governors who will be visiting our Nation's capitol collectively represent over 25,000 of their peers. This select group of students will experience government service first- hand during the conference. Andrew is from Londonderry, NH, and in addition to an excellent academic record he finds time to participate in many different extracurricular activities. He is a member of the track and field team, loves music, and is teaching himself how to play the guitar. Andrew will attend Columbia University in the fall of 1997. As a former high school teacher myself, I commend Andrew for his hard work and outstanding achievements, and wish him success in his academic career. Congratulations to Andrew on this distinguished honor. It is an honor to represent this outstanding young leader in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the town of Charlestown, NH, as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of the 3-day siege on the fort at township No. 4. The residents of this Connecticut River community will begin celebrating this historic occasion July 25 and continue with a number of festivities including a battle reenactment, blueberry festival, parade, and several church suppers. Two hundred fifty years ago, the Connecticut River Valley had only a few settlers scattered along the banks of the river. Township No. 4 would eventually become Charlestown, NH, the northwestern-most English- speaking village in New England. The settlers of this agricultural community were isolated, but still a vital link with towns to the south as they strove to build a strong community on the river banks. To the west and north of the settlement lay only lush mountains and forests, inhabited by moose, bears, native Americans, and a few French trappers. The people of Township No. 4 were trapped in a hostile environment when King George's war began. The pioneers decided to defend themselves by connecting the five existing houses together, and later added a sixth. The inhabitants of the fort at No. 4, which included a small militia of 30 volunteers, fought day and night to protect their homes and refused to surrender to an enemy force claiming to be 700 strong. During the 3-day siege their defenses were never breached. Two hundred fifty years later, an authentic reconstruction of the original 1744 fortified settlement sits on the site of the Siege of '47. The fort at No. 4 is one of the only living history museums in New England dedicated to preserving the 1740's and 1750's. The museum captures the spirit of those pioneers who cleared the rough landscape and made way for homes and farms in northern New England. The residents of Charlestown have kept a piece of history for all of the children of New Hampshire and the Nation to see, capturing the rich significance of the settlements along the Connecticut River Valley. Charlestown's residents today serve to better their community in the true New Hampshire spirit. They serve in professional, semiprofessional, and service occupations and are still willing to dedicate their time and talents on behalf of their neighbors. I congratulate all of the residents of Charlestown, NH, on this historic event as they continue in the tradition of their ancestors to make the lives of their community a better place to live. I am honored to represent all of them in the U.S. Senate.