Bart Stupak

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I could not support this legislation that supports an organization that has acted directly against the interests of our domestic steel industry. Last year the Ex-Im Bank agreed to guarantee an $18 million loan to the Benxi Iron and Steel Company in China that allowed it to increase its steelmaking capacity. This decision, in the face of mounting bankruptcies of U.S. steel companies, was unbelievable. While our domestic steel companies were struggling for funds to keep themselves alive, the Ex-Im bank was promising funds overseas to Chinese steel. There has been some talk that this conference report includes provisions to prevent such future lapses. I do not think that these provisions are sufficient. Furthermore, the conference committee actually took out a provision that would have required the Ex-Im Bank to reevaluate the Benxi loan guarantee. I cannot understand why this was done in the face of the ongoing crisis in the steel industry, and the clear impropriety of the Benxi decision. I will not vote for this organization that has not stood with our domestic steel industry. I oppose this re-authorization--the Ex-Im Bank has shown through its actions that it does not merit our support until it can act responsibly and in our domestic interests.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, the Bush administration wants to give seniors a prescription drug card that may save you 15 percent on your prescription drugs. ``May save you.'' Prescription drug charges are manipulated by the pharmaceutical companies. Take a look at this chart here in my district. When they bought their drugs with their card, they saved 12 cents. They advertised 30 to 40 percent savings, but actually saved 12 cents. When they came down here to buy their Combivent and their Diltiazem, if you take a look at it, with their card, they paid $81.43. The cash price was $47.49. There was no savings. The actual out-of-pocket increase was $33.94. The drug companies manipulate these prices with or without a card. The Democrats have a real plan. We believe every senior should have a prescription drug plan covered underneath Medicare and lower prices of the prescription drugs that we all need and use. So I would urge this body to reject any of the other plans that provide a card which is manipulated by the pharmaceutical companies and actually costs us money.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. What I say tonight, I am sure has already been said by other Democrats over the past two days . . . because this fight is not over a procedure, but rather over principles and beliefs that we Democrats believe in and are willing to fight for today, tonight and tomorrow--as long as it takes. We believe you must be honest with the American people. No gimmicks, no tricks, no procedural shenanigans. A straight up and down vote. Be honest with the American people. If this Republican resolution passes, we as a nation will be $300 billion more in debt this year and $200 to $300 billion more each year for the next nine years. In this resolution, the Republican leadership has hidden from the American people the second largest debt increase in our nation's history--$750 billion!--and they will raid the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for it, because the Republican leadership has maxed out our country's credit card! I stand on the floor tonight in full support of our troops fighting terrorism here and abroad. House Democrats are fully committed to winning the war on terrorism and once again making America safe from harm. Unfortunately, House Republicans are using the war to pass a dangerous and cynical provision that allows the federal government to break its own spending limit and take hundreds of billions of dollars from the Social Security Trust Fund! America can be strong militarily without becoming weak economically. The Republicans are hoping they can escape today's debate without leveling with the public; they have driven the nation back into deficit and now plan to raid the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for other programs. Democrats are staunchly opposed to this plan. Democrats support a responsible budget that makes needed investments in national security, protects Social Security and Medicare, and does not burden our children and grandchildren with an enormous national debt. We can defeat terrorism without destroying Social Security. Democrats stand on the principle of a responsible, honest and bipartisan budget; protecting and strengthening Social Security; and ensuring that we meet our obligations today so that our children are not burdened with debt. We should have an economic summit between the president, Republicans and Democrats. Let's come together to address the national debt without this sham of a resolution the Republican leadership has presented to the American people! We should learn from the American people. I received a letter today with these cards, made in Janie Tavener's kindergarten class. The letter says: ``Dear Mr. Stupak. My daughter's kindergarten class made a poster that we made into this card. I am proud that they have already learned the Pledge of Allegiance, and they are learning to be proud Americans. Sincerely, Nancy Stanwick.'' Democrats are standing up for Mrs. Tavener's kindergarten class we won't saddle these children with a huge debt. We won't leave them with this GOP credit card. Democrats will leave them with Principles and Beliefs. We will tell them to stand up for what they believe in, and not to rely on or fall for gimmicks or tricks when it comes to our fiscal responsibility! Let's stand with these kids! Vote no on this supplemental appropriations.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call your attention and that of our colleagues to a special event which took place in my northern Michigan congressional district this past month. In April the Marquette Area Public School District, the largest school district in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, marked 150 years of service to the local community and to the region. Here in Congress the debate and discussion of education is often moved to an abstract level, where, we discuss programs and dollars. In northern Michigan, as in much of this young nation, education has traditionally been viewed as a means of personal enrichment, achievement and advancement. In Marquette, a town settled by loggers, miners and the tradesmen who followed them to build a community, education still serves that basic social role. It remains the belief of the Marquette Area Public School District, as outlined in its mission statement, that ``all students can learn and achieve mastery of basic skills.'' The school district, the board and the administrators, pledge to ``teach all students so that they can attain their maximum educational potential and become responsible, contributing members of society.'' The Marquette Area Public School District covers an area of 123 square miles and serves a population of approximately 31,000, according to its 2000-2001 annual report. During that period, 246 teachers in six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school provided public education to more than 4,100 students in grades kindergarten through 12. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, Marquette Area Public Schools has come a long way as a civic institution since Marquette's first school began in a home in 1849 with just four students. This focus on education is even more important today to prepare students for tomorrow, because Marquette itself has changed. Hallmarks of the community today include a fine university, Northern Michigan University, and a fine hospital, Marquette General Hospital, which as a key resource in a rural area has been working on the cutting edge of telemedicine. Jacqueline Winkowski, administrative assistant to the superintendent and the school board, noted in a recent document that Marquette Area Public Schools is often called up by other school districts in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to share its practices and procedures and to provide expertise and professional development. Teachers from this district have continued to serve on state-level panels and committees on the topics of reading, literacy, social studies and science. Dr. Patrick Smith, superintendent of Marquette Area Public Schools, recently told the Marquette Mining Journal that the district was happy to be celebrating its first 150 years and looks forward to the next 150. If this first century and a half are any indication, this school district, ably assisted by community members serving on its board, will continue to provide vision and leadership in the field of education for this region.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the procedure used by the majority to consider and pass the Prescription Drug User Fee Act also known as PDUFA. Yesterday we passed the conference report on bioterrorism almost unanimously. I voted for it. However, I did so over my unhappiness with the procedure used to consider PDUFA. Through PDUFA, the drug industry pays fees to the Food and Drug Administration for timely review of drugs and biological agents. We have heard a lot about how PDUFA works, but at what cost? What have we sacrificed? What we have sacrificed under PDUFA is honesty, accuracy, and informative labels. These are the duties and responsibilities that affect every American consumer. Therefore, we must be very careful to make sure that we do not compromise safety or effectiveness that the American public has come to expect. The FDA reached this agreement in closed-door negotiations with the very industry they are supposed to regulate! I have many concerns with PDUFA, but I was not able to address them because we in Congress were not allowed to bring these concerns to the floor for a full and open public debate. We weren't even allowed to have a committee markup on it. Well, for the record my concerns are as follows. First of all, the FDA is financially dependent upon an industry it regulates, and because under the new agreement user fees are dramatically increased, dependence will grow dramatically. Instead of using industry funds, Congress should appropriate enough money to ensure FDA's regulatory authority is completely independent, above reproach, and free of undue pressure from the drug industry. Second, it is more than clear that the approval of a drug or device based on relatively short-term information does not always give us complete information about a drug. The number of drugs pulled off the market in the last 4 years is 12. Now, I agree that 3 were pre-PDUFA but that leaves 9 drugs that raced through an accelerated PDUFA approval process with incomplete information. This brings me to my third point. Phase IV studies, also known as post-marketing surveillance, are nightmarishly inadequate and neglected to a shameful extent by both the FDA and the drug manufacturers. The 1997 reauthorization of PDUFA--called PDUFA 2--ordered a study from FDA that would summarize how well the industry complied over the past 5 years with mandates to do phase IV studies. The results of this study show the vast majority of drug companies do not do their mandated post-marketing surveillance studies. Now I understand PDUFA 3 comes a long way towards addressing major concerns with post-marketing surveillance, but without any enforcement, there will be no post-marketing surveillance, as we saw in PDUFA 2. So I suggest that we put civil monetary penalties pegged to the sales of drugs as one option that we should consider. Another area of concern is the ability of the drug manufacturers to game the system. While awaiting requested and required information from a manufacturer, FDA should be able to ``stop the clock'' on the time constraints PDUFA imposes. Due to extremely tight decision deadlines in PDUFA, manufacturers know they can delay their response to FDA's requests for information long enough so FDA is forced to make a decision without being able to thoroughly review and doublecheck data. We had one breast cancer drug, and the FDA got the information one and a half weeks before the PDUFA deadline would run. My final concern today is that of subpoena power. The FDA is one of the only health and safety regulatory agencies that does not have subpoena power. Subpoena power would give FDA the authority it needs to inspect manufacturers' documents. This is an issue we need to explore, but we couldn't because we weren't allowed to. And last but not least, safety, adequate labeling, and compliance with federal regulations always seem to fall by the wayside when we rush through PDUFA or whatever it might be. We did pediatric exclusivity here recently, and we are still waiting for studies. I recently wrote a letter to Bristol-Myers Squibb in February about a drug called Serzone. Sixteen other members joined me. That was a drug that the FDA did a pediatric exclusivity study request in 1994. We are still waiting for the results of that study. We have young people who have suffered liver damage from this drug, and we can't even get anyone to tell us what the results of that study were, eight years ago. That's ridiculous, and it has to stop. We want to make sure that drugs are safe, and we want to make sure that we have adequate labeling, and we want to make sure that the FDA has adequate information. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, from subpoena power to enforcement power, the pediatric labeling under the pediatric exclusivity issue--all these issues we were not allowed to bring up before the House. I will continue to work to make safety, accuracy, honesty, and labeling is put back in the Food and Drug Administration. I voted for the bioterrorism conference report because it is too important to not implement. But what about the terror facing people everyday when they take medications that are not established to be safe? Mr. Speaker I hope issues as important as this one will be debated fully in the future and not subject to such underhanded tactics in the future.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of this rule to table the resolution disapproving the President's decision on the section 201 steel investigation. While the relief under section 201 was not everything I had hoped for, I commend the President for taking action to help our ailing iron ore and steel industries and for imposing stronger remedies than those recommended by the International Trade Commission. If this resolution passes, the President's remedies would be overturned and the ITC recommendations then would become our law. This would weaken the tariffs that have been imposed. This would withdraw the helping hand that we have finally offered to the iron ore and steel industries. Let me give an example. In the case of slab steel, which has been so destructive to the iron ore mines I represent, I had hoped for a straight tariff on the slab imports being dumped in the United States. The ITC recommended a tariff of 20 percent in the first year for imports over the quota. President Bush instituted a 30 percent tariff on the first year over the quota for slabs. This fell short of the relief our iron ore industry needs, but this resolution would mean, if it passes, that we would have to go back to the ITC 20 percent relief that is even more watered down. We cannot allow this to happen. Our iron ore and steel industries depend on this relief. Without it, I am afraid our iron ore and steel industries will surely perish. I urge my colleagues to vote for this rule to table consideration of House Joint Resolution 84 and for preserving our American steel industry. Let us stand with the President in aiding the iron ore and steel industries and look ahead to other ways we can help these industries, such as the much-needed legacy cost relief. Rather than taking a step backwards, we should now work to pass effective legacy cost legislation so that we can continue our forward momentum in bringing back our iron ore and steel industries.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a unique cultural institution in my northern Michigan congressional district and to the individual who has been the inspiration and guiding force for that institution for 40 years. Carl Pellonpaa started the show ``Finland Calling!'' in 1962 on WLUC- TV as a cultural bridge between Finland and the thousands of Finnish residents who call the Upper Peninsula of Michigan their home. Mr. Speaker, the presence of this large Finnish population is instantly clear to anyone who opens an Upper Michigan phone book like the Houghton-Hancock book and sees page after page of Finnish surnames-- names like Haapala and Jurmu, Karvakko and Lahti and Manninen. One scan of such a phone book, Mr. Speaker, and you would not be surprised to know that Upper Michigan is also home to Finlandia University, the former Soumi College, the only university in the nation founded by Finns. It was this strong connection between northern Michigan and Finland that Carl Pellonpaa tapped and reinforced with his first airing of ``Finland Calling.'' Even though Carl and his show have themselves become part of Finnish-American culture, a job in television and a career as a media ambassador between two nations was not Carl's original aspiration. In fact, as a recent story in the Marquette Mining Journal points out, baseball was Carl's dream, and he pursued that dream all the way to a contract with the Boston Braves in 1949. The dream was shattered when he was accidently shot by a fellow hunter that very fall, taking buckshot in his head, neck, and the shoulder of his pitching arm. Although Carl was able to heal enough to serve a tour with the Army in Korea, the Big League fast ball was gone forever. Married to his hometown sweetheart Doris, work led the couple away from the U.P. and then back to the Marquette area, where Carl took a job with radio station WJPD. In 1961 he joined the staff of TV-6, and March 25, 1962, marked the first broadcast of ``Finland Calling!'' or ``Soumi Kutsuu!`` as the show is called in Finnish. As Mining Journal writer A.M. Kelley notes, the original purpose of the show was to drum up a little travel business between Finland and the U.S. Although his own parents came from Finland, Carl at first spoke little Finnish, and he has said the first shows, which are still broadcast in Finnish, made him ``a laughingstock'' with the Finns in the area. Clearly, however, no TV show in any market could log 40 continuous years--and still be going!--without acquiring a polished professionalism and without serving an essential need for its audience. ``Finland Calling!`` has performed the task of linking people with their relatives and their roots, and Carl, now fluent in his parents' native language, have even led tour groups back to Finland. As Jukka Valtasarri, the Finnish ambassador to the U.S., wrote Carl Pellonpaa earlier this month, ``Your program has brought Finland closer to the Finnish-Americans and helped them understand their roots.'' Although Carl has otherwise retired from broadcasting, he has continued his show, which we believe to be the longest continually- running show in the nation that celebrates a foreign language and culture. A man of tradition, Carl and his wife still live in Ishpeming, where his parents settled so many years ago. Carl and Doris have three children, Carl, Diane and Wendy. Mr. Speaker, Carl Pellonpaa will record a special 40th anniversary edition of his show on Saturday, April 27. I ask you and our House colleagues to join me in offering our sense of appreciation and our congratulations to Carl Pellonpaa for his dedication to his community and for exemplifying the best qualities of positive relations with nations of the world.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute Dennis Larson, a resident of Iron Mountain, Michigan, a community in my congressional district. Dennis is currently serving as Detachment Commander for the State of Michigan for the Sons of The American Legion. As you know, Mr. Speaker, the Sons of The American Legion are the male descendants of veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama or the Persian Gulf War. Like the American Legion, S. A. L. members work to foster patriotism, a sense of commitment to the community, and an appreciation of the sacrifice of America's veterans. I myself am a member of Squadron #50, where Dennis served as commander, adjutant and finance officer. Like myself, Dennis is also a former law enforcement officer. In his veterans' work Dennis has established a track record of leadership, concern, foresight and involvement. He has continued to work to charter new squadrons across northern Michigan, a remarkable testimonial to his leadership in the context of declining memberships in clubs and organizations across much of the nation. In his writings in Legion publications--and also in his speeches, which Dennis gives impromptu and from the heart--he has sought to strike those themes that are especially important since September 11-- that in this war against terrorism we as a nation will stand strong and united. We must never forget those who fought in earlier struggles. Dennis' work on behalf of veterans at the veterans' medical facility in Iron Mountain is another testament to his dedication to these men and women who have served their nation so well. In an effort to promote a sense of national participation and solidarity, Dennis is also a strong supporter of the Blue Star Banner program. The Blue Star Banner is displayed in the window of families who have a loved one serving on active duty in the armed forces. Because these banners remind friends, neighbors and relatives of those in service, the goal of uniting the community behind our Armed Forces is once again served. Showing one's pride in having a family member in the military service comes naturally to Dennis, who is eligible for membership in the S. A. L. through the service of his father, Ernst Larson Sr., a World War II veteran, ex-POW and Purple Heart recipient. In addition, Dennis and his wife Barbara have three Blue Star Banners hanging in their window. Of the five children they have together, four have military ties--Todd is a staff sergeant in the Air Force, Tim and Danny are on active duty in the Navy, and Andy is a former Navy man. One daughter, Stephanie, is married and lives in North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to have the opportunity last June to second the nomination of Dennis Larson as Detachment Commander for the State of Michigan. Now his one-year tour of service nears completion, and Dennis will be honored at a testimonial dinner by his home squadron, Uren Cooper Johnson Squadron #50, on Saturday, April 27. I ask you and our House colleagues to Join me in thanking this dedicated and hard-working spokesman for veterans for a job well done.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the late Ralph E. Bigger Sr., a resident of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, who during his lifetime was a strong advocate on behalf of working men and women. Ralph was born in 1907 and grew up in the small town of Big Bay, on the shore of Lake Superior. Mr. Speaker, you and other members may remember Big Bay as one of the settings for the famous James Stewart movie, ``Anatomy of a Murder.'' Picturesque it may have been, but this remote area demanded hard work for a family to survive. Because his parents both suffered physical disabilities, young Ralph, the oldest of six children, quit school in the seventh grade to take a job in a local sawmill. In the mid-1920s he moved to nearby Marquette to work at another sawmill, and at the age of 24 he took a job with Cliff-Dow Chemical, where he would work for the next 37 years until his death in 1968. Throughout his career, Ralph was a strong advocate of the labor movement. He served as a business representative of Local 179 of the International Chemical Workers Union. He fought hard for decent wages and he fought for medical insurance, which, when we consider his own personal history, was probably his most important issue. Ralph was also very active in politics, including campaign work for Congressman Bennett and the late Michigan State Rep. Dominic Jacobetti, himself a legend in Michigan politics and state government. Ralph also traveled to union conventions around the country and was elected president of the Marquette Central Labor Union in 1949. Ralph also served as Marquette Township Constable. During his employment with Cliff-Dow, Ralph founded his own logging business and later got into brick supply with his sons. His company's contributions can be seen in many of the prominent buildings in Marquette County, including most of the structures on the campus of Northern Michigan University. Mr. Speaker, Ralph Bigger will be honored on Saturday, April 20, with his induction into the U.P. Labor Hall of Fame at a banquet at the university. I ask you and my House colleagues to Join me in giving long-overdue recognition to the efforts of this spokesman for the working men and women of northern Michigan.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Donald O. Larsen, a resident of Marquette, Michigan, in my congressional district, who has spent decades as a bricklayer, a teacher, a volunteer, and an active member of the local labor movement. Don was born in Delta County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1920, and later moved with his family to Marquette, where he graduated from high school. After serving three years in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific in World War II, Don returned to Marquette and took a job as a bricklayer. It was through this employment that he joined Bricklayers Local 4. Don's expertise in bricklaying extended beyond the actual trade and included teaching and sharing his skills. He provided instruction and leadership in the local apprentice training program, and he taught bricklaying as part of Marquette High School's house-building project in its vocational education program. He taught bricklayer union apprentices for 10 years, during which time they built basements and did concrete work for two Habitat for Humanity homes. Don also served as an instructor for the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America U.P.- wide competition. Active in his local, Don served as a union steward for many years and as vice president from 1955 to 1970. He also served on the Board of the United Building Trades and was the labor representative for several years at U.P. builder shows. Don is a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette and is a life member of VFW Post 2439, where he has served as quartermaster. He has a life membership in the Ishpeming and Marquette beagle clubs and a membership in the U.P. Trappers Association. He also contributed his time and effort to rebuilding the Negaunee Pyramid mining monument when it was moved several years ago. Mr. Speaker, Donald Larsen will be honored on Saturday, April 20, with his induction into the U.P. Labor Hall of Fame at a banquet at the university. I ask you and my House colleagues to join me in recognizing this community servant and spokesman for the working men and women of northern Michigan.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer H.R. 1374, to designate the United States Post Office in Lake Linden, Michigan, as the Philip E. Ruppe Post Office Building. Mr. Ruppe, as has been noted, became a Member of the United States House of Representatives on January 3, 1967, and served until January 3, 1979. Phil Ruppe was born in Laurium, Michigan, on September 29, 1926, where his family has lived since the 1870s. Mr. Ruppe married the former Loret Miller and she went on to serve as director of the Peace Corps and Ambassador to Norway. Phil and Loret taught their daughters the intrinsic value of public service. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, Loret Ruppe passed away in 1996. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Phil Ruppe was a community leader and businessman in the Keewanaw Peninsula located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Besides serving this country as a legislator, Phil Ruppe served his country as a lieutenant in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict. While in Congress, Mr. Ruppe was devoted to the concerns of the people of northern Michigan and was a member, as has been noted, of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. One of his legislative achievements included establishing the Father Marquette National Memorial near St. Ignace, Michigan. Mr. Ruppe was devoted to constituent and economic development in northern Michigan. He was actually the first Congressman representing this northern Michigan district to have district offices, demonstrating his focus on local concerns. Mr. Ruppe was well respected by all Members of Congress. Before Mr. Ruppe retired, former Member Sonny Montgomery best summarized Phil Ruppe when he said, and I quote, ``I have always been impressed with Phil's intense interest and dedication to his legislative committees. He has never failed to be an effective member and contribute to the deliberation of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee and the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.'' Mr. Speaker, a fitting tribute to Phil Ruppe's service to northern Michigan would be naming the Lake Linden Post Office after Phil Ruppe. I would like to thank the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) for moving this legislation. I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and also the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) for moving forth the legislation on the floor. I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the administration, staff, and students of Traverse City West Senior High School, a school in northern Michigan. In just four years Traverse City West has distinguished itself through the academic success of its students and through national recognition of the school's visual and performing arts programs. Barbara M. White, a distinguished former president at Mills College in Oakland, California, is quoted as saying, ``The basic purpose of a liberal arts education is to liberate the human being to exercise his or her potential to the fullest.'' Upon hearing those words, I'm sure most listeners would immediately think of a college or university education, but Traverse City West Senior High is preparing its students for a successful life at the high school level. The school's fine arts curriculum includes a choral program with six performing groups, band and orchestra, an award-winning newspaper and yearbook, theater arts, video and production; there are classes in photography, pottery, ceramics, metals, jewelry, drawing and painting, sculpture, computer art and traditional American arts. For those students not taking formal arts classes, the Humanities program includes extensive exposure to painting, sculpture, music, dance and film. The arts are incorporated into the science, math and language areas, according to the expertise of the teacher and in collaboration with the arts department. Finally, the school itself is decorated with art murals and stained glass windows designed by students, and music is incorporated into classroom study and even staff meetings. The study of other cultures, other peoples and other times is part of the school's comprehensive learning environment. Mr. Speaker, these programs have strong parental support for projects and field trips. Accustomed as we may be to booster clubs for sports programs, this ``booster'' spirit for the study of arts, crafts and humanities must be viewed as unique at the high school level. I do not rise today, Mr. Speaker, to propose that Traverse City West Senior High be taken as the model for all high schools. I rise merely to point out that a combination of hard work and a rich environment can produce academic success. For example, in 2000 Traverse City West received the Governor's Cup for the big North Conference for having the most Michigan Merit Award recipients, and its total placed it sixth in the state. The Michigan Merit Award is a college scholarship based upon performance on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program. I should note that this number is more remarkable when one considers that Traverse City West received the least amount of money per student of the top ten schools listed, and it had the highest percentage of students on the free and reduced lunch program. Consider, too, that in the four years Traverse City West Senior High has been open, its students have scored above the state and national average on the ACT test. In 1999/2000 its composite ACT score was 21.8, compared to a Michigan average of 21.3 and a national average of 21.0. As I mentioned earlier, the school's newspaper and yearbook have been honored statewide, its theater department recognized nationally, and its music department a finalist in an international competition. Mr. Speaker, the efforts of the administration, staff, parents and students at Traverse City West High School to acknowledge the arts an essential part of education has now been recognized nationally. The school was recently notified it is the winner of the ``Creative Ticket National School of Distinction Award'' from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As a result of this award, a representative group of students has been invited to travel here to Washington to perform at the Kennedy Center and to perform at a congressional breakfast celebrating National Arts Day. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my House colleagues to join me in praise of the hard work and dedication of the administration, staff, parents and students of Traverse City West High School, a young school with a classical notion of a well-rounded education.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to say a few words about a great accomplishment by a small university in my congressional district--one of the nation's newest universities, as a matter of fact. Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan, up on the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula, is less than a year old. That age is deceiving, however. Finlandia is actually a new name for Soumi College, a school founded by Finnish immigrants in 1896 to ensure their children would have a better life through advanced education. One of the qualities of Finnish culture is a respect for the quality of ``sisu,'' translated variously as persistence, determination, drive, or stamina. The Finlandia Lions, the university's basketball team, recently demonstrated the characteristic of sisu by capturing the National Small College Athletic Association national championship in basketball. The team entered the tourney with a 14-14 record and came up in the first round against St. Mary's College of Ave Maria University, an Orchard Lake, Mich., school. After defeating St. Mary's by a score of 76-50, Finlandia University next faced the tournament's No. I seed, Northwest Christian College from Eugene, Ore. In a comeback victory, 69-66, Finlandia won the right to meet Southern Virginia College of Buena Vista, Va., which it defeated 98-84 to take the title. The Finlandia Lions basketball team was led by second-year coach Art Van Damme and assistant coach Duane Snell. Nine Michigan students and one student from Finland make up the roster of the National Small College Athletic Association championship team. Team members are Nick Forgette and Jacob Polfus of Carney; Jeffrey Stiefel of Capac, Jeremy Suardina of Gwinn; John Abramson, Painesdale; Mark Nolan, Watton, Jon Paul Katona, Negaunee, Pete Flaska, Ishpeming, Bill Loeks, Iron Mountain; Marcus Ylalnen of Helsinki, Finland, and Michael O'Donnell, Negaunee, the tournament MVP. Mr. Speaker, Finlandia University is the only private university in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and one of only 28 colleges and universities in the U.S. affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In its vision statement, Finlandia University says it is ``committed to offering liberal arts based, globally connected, international, ecologically sensitive, spiritually engaged and career focused baccalaureate and associate degree programs as well as community education opportunities.'' Clearly, Mr. Speaker, Finlandia is also offering its students an opportunity to cheer for one heck of a basketball team. I ask you and my House colleagues to join me in offering the warmest congratulations to Coach Van Damme and the Finlandia Lions for their success in capturing the NSCAA basketball crown.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I take to the floor tonight to talk about President Bush's proposed remedies on steel imports. Unfortunately, for those of us who represent iron ore miners in northern Minnesota and northern Michigan, the remedy proposed by the President today does little to help us. We must look back to December of last year in which the ITC, the International Trade Commission, by a six to nothing vote said illegal steel, steel products, slab steel, was being dumped in this country to the great harm of the U.S. steel industry. With slab steel, that replaces iron ore pellets. In order to make steel, we need a raw product like iron ore pellets or slab steel. In order to corner the market, foreign countries have been dumping slab steel in this country at exorbitant amounts since 1998. Every time slab steel comes into our country, it hurts our iron ore miners. In fact, up in my district, the Empire Mine has just shut down. Over 800 workers have been laid off and all the managerial and administrative people have been laid off. So we were hoping today that President Bush would give us a strong steel remedy. We asked for 40 percent over 4 years, as allowable under U.S. law. Although the report was put forth today, and some in the media have called the tariff and quota on imported steel a compromise, I believe the iron ore industry may have been sacrificed in making that compromise. We in the iron ore industry have basically been sold out. The ITC, the International Trade Commission, caught nations cheating under import pricing; and as I said earlier, by a six to nothing vote, they agreed those imports were hurting the domestic steel and the iron ore industry. If we take a look at what the President did today, he said we will allow 5.4 million tons of imported slabs to come into the United States, but we will not count Mexico or Canadian slab steel coming into the United States. So basically, we are at about 7 million tons a year. That is exactly what they are importing right now. So therefore, the remedy does nothing for those of us who have been harmed over the last 4 years by illegal imports. Because this import level of 7 million for slab steel has already caused mines to shut down and layoffs in northern Michigan and elsewhere, we have really won nothing with the President's proposed remedy. If we take a look at it, Mexico has been used more than once by countries throughout the world as an export platform. By that I mean to get around the President's proposals today, his remedies today, other countries can export their product to Mexico, and then from Mexico it will come into the United States. Mexico, as I said earlier, the President made an exemption for them as to steel products. Therefore, any country who wants to get around the new trade remedies proposed by the President will just ship their product to Mexico, it suddenly becomes a Mexican product, and it comes into the United States, it comes into the United States as not being part of the quota put forth by the Bush administration. If we take a look at it, and in fact, one of the recent articles that appeared right after the President made his recommendation was from the California Steel Institute. They said, ``We are pleased that the President recognized that slabs are different from finished products and excluded slab from the tariff measure imposed on finished steel products.'' Those who use slabs already recognize that the President did nothing to stop or stem the tide of illegal slabs into this country. The vice-chair of the ITC was quoted today in explaining their treatment of slab, and said that it wanted ``to avoid causing harm to domestic steel producers that have legitimate needs to continue to import slabs.'' The vice-chair, Deanna Okun, added that a tariff on slab ``would have a potentially severe impact on the members of the domestic industry that need a reliable source of slab.'' Reliable source. The iron ore industry in my district has been there for over 150 years. One cannot get much more reliable than men and women going day in and day out, working in the iron ore mines for 150 years to provide America with the basic raw material it needs to produce steel, being iron ore pellets. The California Steel Institute went on to say, ``We fought hard to convince the U.S. Government to treat slabs separately from finished steel. As a raw material that is virtually nonexistent in the U.S. market, slab is fundamentally different from finished steel products such as hot bands and plate.'' Yes, it is different, because those of us in this country use iron ore as opposed to cheap imported slabs. I should note that the California Steel Institute that I have been commenting on here tonight, 50 percent is owned by CBRD, a Brazilian iron ore company, and the other 50 percent is owned by a Japanese company. So while California steel industries are talking about how they have no remedy or how the slab remedy proposed by the President does not hurt them, they are already foreign owned. They will use Mexico as an export platform, and they will just sidestep these proposed remedies. The California steel industry and others who have used slab steel realize that the President's remedy is nothing, and slab was not hurt. In fact, they are pleased with the remedy the President put forth. We in the iron ore industry and those who represent iron ore miners are not pleased. Iron mines are as reliable as the day is long. The miners have been there for us through all the world wars. They are loyal, hard-working Americans; and now they have just basically been exported out of this country. I previously passed an amendment last year, a ``melted and poured'' amendment, which basically says that any steel used in the United States defense industry must be from steel that is melted and poured here in the United States. I will be offering this amendment again in the next 30 to 60 days on the supplemental appropriation bill; and every possible piece of legislation that it is germane to, I will be offering this amendment. I and others who represent iron ore miners will not give up, we will not sell out, we will not be shortchanged, and we will not shortchange our miners. We plan to be here day in and day out to continue to stand up for our iron ore miners.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, the health of the domestic steel industry is vital to our nation, and it is the lifeblood of my district of northern Michigan. Without meaningful comprehensive relief, 40% tariffs over 4 years for all segments of the steel industry, including slab steel we will not recover from the current crisis. Only the strongest of remedies can offer any hope for our nation's steel and iron ore industries to survive. Over 30 steel companies are in bankruptcy, including the LTV Corporation, a part owner and customer of the Empire Mine in northern Michigan. Michigan's iron ore mines have felt the impact of these bankruptcies as the steel companies that have been their customers go out of business one by one. Most recently as a result of LTV's bankruptcy, the Empire Mine has been shut down, and over 800 employees are currently out of work. With the Empire Mine shut down, Michigan has only one remaining iron ore mine, the Tilden Mine which is located in Marquette County. The Empire and the Tilden Mines have been a vital part of the economies of the Upper Peninsula and the state of Michigan. In addition to the 2,000 employees of these mines, our citizens have been employed in the transportation of ore from the mines, to the ports, to the steel mills along the Great Lakes, as well as in the power plants that supply these mines, and many other related industries. I was very pleased by the unanimous finding of injury by the U.S. International Trade Commission. However, I was troubled by the relief recommended by a majority of the board in the form of a tariff-rate quota on slabs, beginning in the first year with a 20% tariff on slab imports over 7 million tons. This will be insufficient relief to the iron ore industry and to the steel companies whose blast furnance operations must compete with the cheap slab steel that is flooding our country. Rather, the relief for semi-finished steel slab must be equivalent to that recommended for the other covered industry products: there must be a tariff on each and every ton that enters this country. We need tariffs of at least 40% on steel slabs. Without such a tariff, millions of tons of slab steel will continue to enter the U.S. market at artificially low prices, and will continue to harm our domestic industry. Now is the time to act to save the steel industry. Our national security, our manufacturing base, our workers, our communities depend upon a strong domestic steel industry. Now is the time to stand up for steel!

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Chairman, it seems like the rural areas always come last. I guess I should be used to it by now, after all, many of my constituents in northern Michigan can't get mail service to their doorsteps, our veterans have to travel on average 6 hours to get specialized healthcare from a VA center, and it required a federal law merely to get electricity to many portions of my district. I am therefore not surprised that rural areas are the last to get broadband as well. But let me be clear--this bill will do nothing to bring broadband to rural America. In fact, quite the opposite, H.R. 1542 will make it even more difficult for my constituents and for rural citizens across America to get broadband. H.R. 1542 claims to require broadband deployment to rural areas by laying out a 5 year timetable, with a schedule of 20 percent, 40 percent, and 70 percent buildout in the first 3 years. In fact, this will allow the Bells to sit on their current deployment for years. BellSouth told investors that as of year-end 2001, it already provides broadband access to 70 percent of its market; Verizon said it deploys DSL to central offices serving 79 percent of the company's access lines; and SBC said that it can provide high-speed service to more than 60 percent of its customers. The Bells will get the benefits of monopoly and deregulation without any responsibilities to deploy for years. And once the requirements for them to deploy do finally take effect, the Bells will be wholly unregulated in the amounts they can charge, or they can in fact evade all requirements to deploy to rural areas by selling off their rural exchanges. I would like to point my colleagues to a study done last July by the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) of H.R. 1542. This nonpartisan report found that the 5 year deployment schedule in H.R. 1542 is insufficient, noting that: ``. . . this provision does not guarantee service to regions beyond three miles of a central office and could still leave substantial portions of the rural market without broadband capabilities.'' Furthermore, RUPRI found that rural subscribers are frequently served by remote terminals, and that in locking competitors out of the Bell's remote terminals, H.R. 1542 reduces competition for customers served by remote terminals. Lastly, the study notes that H.R. 1542 does nothing to affect the affordability of broadband. Let me put it simply: if you don't live within 3 miles of a central office, under this bill the Bells are not going to have to deploy to you for years, competitors are going to be shut out from getting to you, and when, if ever, the Bells do decide to deploy to you, they can charge whatever they want. In short, broadband will be either physically unavailable to rural customers, or economically unavailable to them. This bill will not bring broadband to rural America and I urge my colleagues to vote no on this bill.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. STUPAK. Reclaiming my time, just to clarify, Mr. Chairman, am I correct in saying that the Shays-Meehan substitute does not prohibit an organization, any organization, even like farmers, like the amendment before us now, from running any ad; it simply states that ads that mention candidates within the last 60 days of an election must be paid for with federally regulated hard money?

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Chairman, I wish to engage the sponsor of the legislation in a colloquy concerning election-related advertising that is permitted by the Shays-Meehan substitute. Would the gentleman from Massachusetts please respond to the following question: Does the Shays-Meehan substitute allow political action committees of labor unions and nonprofit organizations, such as the Sierra Club or the National Rifle Association, to pay for broadcast ads that name a candidate for Federal office during the last 60 days of an election cycle?

Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for that clarification.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to offer H.R. 2577, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 310 South State Street in St. Ignace, Michigan, as the Bob Davis Post Office. Nearly 30 years of public service is a record that Bob Davis has compiled to the people of northern Michigan, and I think that years of service deserves recognition. The designation of this post office will be a fitting tribute to a person who worked to improve the quality of life for the people not only of northern Michigan, but all of Michigan. Mr. Davis started out as a funeral director, much like Mr. Bliley who we just honored a few minutes ago. He was the head of the Davis Funeral Home in St. Ignace. After that, he got involved in local politics and became councilman on the St. Ignace City Council from 1964 to 1966. Bob Davis was devoted to the St. Ignace community, as we have heard, by serving as president of the St. Ignace Area Chamber of Commerce, president of the St. Ignace Area Industrial Development Corporation. He has been a member of the local Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Royal Arch Masons, Shriner and Eagles Lodge. It was through this civic involvement that Bob Davis was then elected to State representative in 1966 and elected State senator in 1970, becoming the senate majority leader of the Michigan Legislature in 1974. Bob Davis went on and served as a delegate to the Michigan State Republican Convention in 1966 through 1978. Mr. Davis continued his public service by being elected to Congress, serving from January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1993. As has been stated, he was the ranking member on the House Committee on Armed Services and was especially involved in the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development. He was also ranking member on the merchant marine and fisheries committee. Among one of his final acts, a project we all continue to work on and Mr. Davis was very proud of, was the sponsorship of the law that created the Calumet Historical Park on the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula. His district office, he was the first one to start putting forth district offices, focused on case work and economic development, proving his devotion to constituent service and economic development in a very tough area of northern Michigan. He returned home to Michigan virtually every other weekend, crisscrossing a district that is one of the largest in the United States. Madam Speaker, I know how big this district is. Twice now it has been reapportioned, and twice it has gotten larger each time, and right now it is one of the largest in the United States. So just getting back and forth and traversing that large district in and of itself is a chore that we undertake. As I said, Mr. Davis did it every other weekend. So I think, Madam Speaker, a fitting tribute to Bob Davis' service to northern Michigan would be naming the St. Ignace Post Office after him, the Bob Davis Post Office, and I would like to thank the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton); and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member; the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam); and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their courtesies, and I ask all my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House Record reflect that I was unavoidably delayed on rollcall No. 8. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to urge Members to vote against the pediatric exclusivity bill, S. 1789. It is the product of a flawed negotiating process, a flawed legislative process, and a flawed regulatory process which was instituted back in 1997. First approved in 1997, pediatric exclusivity granted drug companies an extra six-month extension on their patent if they would conduct a study to determine what the effects were on young people. The FDA sends a written request for a pediatric study to the drug company. Upon completion of the study, FDA grants a six month extension of the patent monopoly--the ``pediatric exclusivity''--which the drug companies then use as a marketing tool to promote and increase the drug's sales. What I find horrifying is the grant of exclusivity takes place after the drug company does its study but before anyone knows what is included in the results of the study. Nothing is said to the general public--which includes parents and pediatricians--or prescribing physicians about the safety, effectiveness, or dosage requirements. Under S. 1789, there is no requirement to change the labeling on the drug to reflect the changes that may be needed when the drug is dispensed to young people. There is no label to tell doctors, patients, and their families the proper dosage, or how to dispense or use the drug. My argument has always been this: before you grant pediatric exclusivity to a pharmaceutical company and before this exclusivity is then marketed as being FDA approved for pediatric use, shouldn't you at least know what is the effect of the drug on young people? Under current law--and this bill would extend current law after the study is completed, exclusivity is granted, but whether the drug helps or hurts young people remains a secret and is not disclosed to the doctors, patients, and their families for an average of 9 months. Shouldn't this information get out to these people before they ingest this medicine? I have a chart, which I have used on the floor before. It highlights the problems with S. 1789, which does not require labeling changes until 11 months after the drug is being used in the pediatric population. How many of you would give your child a drug and not know whether it helps or harms your child until 11 months later? There have been 33 drugs granted pediatric exclusivity. Only 20 have been re-labeled to reflect the results of the pediatric study, and even those label changes have taken an average of 9 months. For 9 months, doctors, patients, and their families have no idea if the child is receiving the proper dosage or even if the drug is really safe! Now why can't doctors, patients, and their families know this information before the grant of pediatric exclusivity is given? I was not allowed a chance to offer my amendment before the full House. My amendment is very simple and very commonsense: before pediatric exclusivity is granted, all drugs must be labled especially for pediatric use. Under other prescription drug patent extension programs, labeling is an absolute prerequisite to receiving patent extension. But not pediatric exclusivity. Why would we treat our children any differently? For the love of me, I cannot understand why the majority does not want doctors, patients, and their families to know the effect of drugs may have on children! What is the proper dosage? What is the efficacy? What is the safety level for our children? Why do we wait an average of 9 months before we see proper labeling? Why must we wait to find out if a child has received the proper dosage? Let us defeat this legislation. I urge a no vote.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the girls' basketball team of Carney-Nadeau High School, a Class D school in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in my congressional district. With only 86 students, Carney-Nadeau is one of the smallest schools in its division, but the Carney-Nadeau Wolves proved once again on December 1 that it only takes a big heart, not a big school, to win a state division championship. I say ``once again,'' Mr. Speaker, because the Wolves won State titles under their same coach, Paul Polfus, in 1989 and 1990. A team championship can be analyzed in numbers, and any sports fan will plenty of exciting statistics associated with this gusty team, such as their season record of 26-1 and their coach's 410-115 career record. In the 54-32 championship game against McBain Northern Michigan Christian, starter Tara Benson, a senior, led the Wolves with 16 points and snagged six rebounds and six steals, while her sister Carly, a freshman, went seven of eight in her shooting. Starter Brittany Pipkorn hit four 3-pointers. Peel away those numbers, however, and you will find enough stories of real people to make a movie equal to any classic ``underdog'' story. You will learn that Coach Paul Polfus, who has worked at Carney-Nadeau for 26 years, was once a basketball player at this same school, coached by the current superintendent Ron Solberg. Inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, Paul celebrates his third girls' championship with his wife Colleen and their sons Jacob, Michael and Matt. In our own version of ``Rocky,'' look behind the numbers to find 5- foot, 1-inch starter Tracy Hernandez, who vowed after the team's loss in the finals last year that the team would win the title this year. Tracy kept her vow by reporting to the gym every morning at 5:30 to lift weights and work toward that goal. The story of this championship season is also revealed in the story of the Benson sisters, daughters of Nancy (Janofski) Pugh, a member of the first All-U.P. girls team picked in 1975, and Ed Benson, All-U.P. in 1971 and 1972. Tara credits both parents for their help in shaping her game, but perhaps her greatest accomplishment is a personal one-- Tara returned to top-form play this year after sitting out the 2000 season recovering from ACL surgery. The sacrifice and the hurdles met and overcome by each player are part of the story, as well as the home community itself, Carney. This is a community that has faced great economic adversity, Mr. Speaker, but, like the rest of the Upper Peninsula, hope and optimism are characteristics of its people. And the school proving that education and sports go hand in hand, was honored this week in the Michigan Golden Apple Awards program as one of the state's most improved schools in performance on Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests. In light of the great challenges facing this team, the championship run of the Carney- Nadeau Wolves caught the attention and fueled the enthusiasm of sports writers in the nearby large communities of Menominee and Escanaba. Tom Kaeser, assistant sports editor for the Menominee, Mich.-Marinette, Wis. EagleHerald, has followed Carney-Nadeau for a decade. He described the 2001 Class D champs as ``a team that came together, loved each other and worked hard together for its bright, shining moment.'' Dennis Grall, Escanaba Daily Press sports editor, summed up the team's season in a Dec. 3 story. ``For 11 months the Carney-Nadeau Wolves lived under unbelievably immense expectations and pressure,'' ``Dennis wrote. He was on hand--and described the celebration--when the state champs returned home at the head of a two-mile-long motorcade and were given a police escort and a fireworks display along the final leg of their trip from Escanaba to Carney. Mr. Speaker, basketball is a team sport, and, as such, every member of the team deserves credit for her contribution during this championship season. I am pleased to share with you the full roster of the 2001 Michigan Class D girls basketball state champion Carney-Nadeau Wolves: Tara and Carly Benson, Cindy Charlier, Rachael Folcik, Trisha Hernandez, Rachel Kuntze, Leslie Linder, Emily Marsicek, Jenna Mellen, Trisha Otradovec, Brittany Pipkorn, Cassandra Relken, Shawn Retaskie, Erin Schetter, and Roseann Schetter. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to join me and our House colleagues in recognizing the skill, determination, hard work, optimism, hope, love, and teamwork of the Carney-Nadeau Wolves, Michigan Class D basketball champions.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant, K. Ross Childs, who is retiring after serving as County Administrator for Grand Traverse County, Michigan, since 1976. Ross will be honored on January 5 at a special celebration in Traverse City by the many friends and colleagues he has touched in his long career. A review of Ross' professional resume reveals an individual who acquired a broad base of skills that ably suited him for the job of county administrator. A Canadian citizen by birth, he did his undergraduate studies in the community of Owen Sound, Ontario. He came to the U.S. in 1955 to earn an engineering degree at the University of Michigan, and his postgraduate studies included courses in engineering, business administration and public administration at U. of M. and Detroit's Wayne State University. This resume also reveals an administrator who recognized that being in charge of a diverse and growing county required close coordination with local public and private organizations. At various times Ross has served as a member or officer of, among others, the Michigan Leadership Institute, the Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment Corporation, Leadership Grand Traverse, the Traverse Bay Economic Development Authority, the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, National City Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Munson Medical Center. Ross has also been extremely active in Rotary International and will serve as district governor for 2002-2003. But, Mr. Speaker, when I worked with Ross Childs, I wasn't working with a resume or a list of titles. I worked with a dedicated public servant, a man who was a consumate advocate for his Grand Traverse County, whether he was laboring on behalf of an individual or for the county's largest employer, Munson Healthcare. I have worked with Ross on numerous issues, including funding for a new airport terminal at Cherry Capital Airport, funding for roads in the county, and projects at the Coast Guard air station in Traverse City. In between dealing with major projects or problems, I always knew that when the National Association of Counties met in Washington, D.C., Ross would arrive with a list of county issues for me to work on. Ross and his wife Helen have two daughters, Mary and Susan. As a change from our usual meetings in Washington, it was a pleasure for my staff and me to be able to show Ross, Helen and Susan some of the sights of this great city when they came here on a family visit. That doesn't mean we haven't had our differences, Mr. Speaker. I ask you to recall that Ross in an alumni of the University of Michigan, a school he not only attended but represented on the hockey rink. Waving those Michigan school colors of maize and blue in front of a Michigan State supporter like me is like waving the proverbial red flag in front of a bull. Mr. Speaker, let me add a personal note of appreciation. Ross and Helen lost their son Scott, a hockey player like his father, in an auto accident some years ago. When my own son BJ died last year, Ross was there at the funeral to lend his support. We share a profound loss that never quite heals, and I will always remember and appreciate his true expression of sympathy and genuine concern. So, Mr. Speaker, K. Ross Childs is giving up the reins of power in Grand Traverse County, and in one of his final acts as administrator he has helped hire and mentor Dennis Aloia, who comes from Marquette in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As a U.P. resident myself, I am pleased to see that Ross has learned what a great value and resource the U.P. can be for Grand Traverse County. While Ross may be leaving his post as county administrator, he will remain active in northern Michigan as regional governor of Rotary, a organization to which he has been extremely dedicated for many years. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, and our House colleagues to join me in congratulating this public servant on a job well done and in wishing Ross and Helen Childs the best in their retirement years.