John Sullivan

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) for those very informative charts. I believe we need to stop the lawsuit lottery in this country. Today I rise in support of H.R. 1115, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2002. H.R. 1115 is a critical piece of legislation that can reform tort law and give reprieve to our beleaguered State and local courts that are suffering under the weight of frivolous lawsuits. Statistics have shown that upwards of 93 percent of Americans believe tort reforms are needed. These statistics also show that 50 percent of all tort awards go towards lawyers' fees and their administrative costs. From these figures it is easy to discern that the American people demand tort reform and protection from lawyers who are looking out for their own interests rather than those of the plaintiffs they represent. The Class Action Fairness Act of 2003 seeks a balanced and sensible approach to address the worst class action abuses. It provides protections for consumers and assures fair and prompt recoveries for class members with legitimate claims. The bill specifically discourages lawyers from forum shopping for courts most likely to approve a prospective class of plaintiffs and award large monetary decisions. By curbing these abuses of the class action system, consumer costs will be driven down and these lawsuits will benefit plaintiffs they are intended to compensate. This sensible legislation will restore balance, fairness, and uniformity to our civil justice system. It is a good step in the right direction in reforming tort law and will protect plaintiffs and consumers alike. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1115 to set a precedent of judicial fairness.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 760, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. It is true that the vast majority of partial-birth abortions are performed on healthy babies of healthy mothers. Dr. James McMahon, one of the founders of the partial-birth abortion method, in his June 15, 1995, testimony before the Committee on the Judiciary, testified that in a series of about 2,000 partial-birth abortions he performed, only 9 percent of those abortions were performed for maternal health reasons. Of that group, the most common reason given was depression. It is clear many partial-birth abortion procedures occur for purely elective or frivolous reasons. He also cited that he performed partial- birth abortions on babies with no flaws whatsoever, even in the third trimester, many as late as 29 weeks, well into the seventh month of pregnancy. No matter where we stand on the issue of life, most Americans agree that the brutal and horrific practice of partial-birth abortion must cease to exist. I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 760 and to right the wrong that has existed for far too long.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 192 to amend the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase assistance for the poorest people in developing countries. Microenterprise programs give poor borrowers the capacity to improve the quality of their lives and the futures of their children. It helps very poor people start or expand self-employment ventures and pull themselves out of poverty. If we are looking for ways to achieve the Millennium Development goal of cutting the severe poverty of over 1 billion people in half by 2015, there is no more direct way than expanding access to Microenterprise. These programs are reaching over 25 million very poor borrowers--with an average family of five--that's over 125 million people touched by Microenterprise. It can have a crucial role to play in families and communities by providing additional income and the money used to obtain better food, housing and education. Microenterprise is a powerful anti-poverty tool, and it is most powerful in the hands of the poorest people. Mr. Speaker, I encourage passage of H.R. 192 and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the comprehensive energy legislation before us today. While the bill has many excellent provisions, I want to focus on just a few that I believe are particularly important. Increasingly, our country is relying on natural gas to heat our homes, fuel industry, and to generate electricity. The good news is our country is blessed with vast reserves of natural gas, and additional reserves are nearby in Canada. Unfortunately, many of our existing producing reservoirs are declining. This means we must allow access to new reserves and encourage the building of the infrastructure necessary to get these reserves to market. I am pleased that the bill contains several important provisions designed to do just that. For example, the bill directs the Secretary of Energy to undertake a program to demonstrate technologies for improving production techniques, particularly from unconventional natural gas reservoirs, such as tight sand formations and coal bed methane. The bill also includes a number of tax provisions to encourage production and infrastructure development. For example, the bill extends the section 29 tax incentives so important to the development of unconventional gas reserves. It also provides royalty relief to encourage production in deeper offshore waters. It also sets a 7-year depreciation life for gathering lines and a 15-year life for distribution lines. The bill also calls for improvements in the leasing process of the Department of the Interior. Much of the reserves remaining in the continental United States are located on Federal lands. These reserves can be developed in an environmentally sensitive manner, but we must break through the bureaucracy and other barriers that delay or block making these lands available. In summary, Mr. Chairman, I applaud the work of the many committees involved in putting this package together. Enactment of comprehensive energy legislation will address a critical sector of our economy and our country's security. I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Tauzin, Mr. Pombo, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Boehlert, and others involved in putting this bill together and I hope that we can reach our goal of signing a comprehensive energy bill into law.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Chairman, today, I rise in support of H.R. 1036, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2003. I am a cosponsor of this legislation for several reasons. First, I do not believe that licensed gun manufacturers and merchants should be held legally responsible for the unlawful use of their lawful products. Second, I feel this constitutes a violation of tort law, and could send a dangerous precedent for future lawsuits affecting many other industries to come. Tort law rests upon a foundation of individual responsibility in which a product may not be defined as defective unless there is something wrong with the product, rather than with the product's user. Today, this Congress has the opportunity to address frivolous lawsuits and protect a legal and law-abiding industry from legal excess. We should pass this legislation to end the effort to drive law- abiding firearm manufacturers, distributors, and dealers into bankruptcy under the crushing weight of illegitimate lawsuits. Congress has a constitutional authority to protect the interstate commerce in firearms, a lawful and legal product. I urge my colleagues to vote for this sensible legislation and set a precedent of legal business protection.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of H.R. 534, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act, a bill to ban all types of human cloning. I believe human cloning is ethically and morally wrong. It is an unjust experiment whereby human beings are created and destroyed solely for the purpose of research. Human beings cannot be treated as material used for scientific research, and the cloning of human babies turns the natural procreation process into the simple manufacturing of human beings. It has been determined that human cloning is entirely unsafe to practice on human beings. Most scientists agree that human cloning poses a serious risk of producing children who are stillborn, unhealthy, severely malformed, or disabled. The fact is, in animal cloning trials, 95 to 98 percent of all cloning attempts have ended in failure, and almost all successfully cloned animals have genetic abnormalities. In fact, Dolly, the infamous cloned sheep, died this past Valentine's Day of a lung disease she acquired before she was even born, and lived only half of the normal life expectancy for a sheep. Why would we even consider for a moment that cloning is safe for humans? I agree with President Bush when he stated no human life should be started or ended as an object of an experiment. When debating this issue, we must ask the ethical question: Are we created in God's image, or are we created in our own? Today, this House has a unique opportunity to shut the door on this invasive procedure to women and an affront to humanity. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Weldon bill, to set a precedent for morality and the sanctity of humanity.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, tonight, an impending threat to our nation and its allies sits ready to strike at a given opportunity. Weapons of mass destruction, both chemical and biological, have been developed and stockpiled. Saddam Hussein, a dictator who has performed unthinkable atrocities, commands the soldiers who could launch them on Israel, on Saudi Arabia or even a city in the United States. Tonight, as I see it, there is two very different kinds of hope--hope that is reasonable and hope that is not. Hope that is reasonable understands the consequences of inaction. By preventing a madman addicted to weapons of mass destruction from slaughtering innocent people, we can imagine a new democratically elected government committed to peace and prosperity. Hope that is not reasonable relies on a dictator who strives for power and destruction to abdicate his authority and allow unconditional searches of his production plants and palaces by the United Nations and the United States. Hope that is not reasonable thinks that Saddam Hussein will comply with the 16 U.N. Security Council Resolutions that he has defied for more than a decade. Hope that is not reasonable will trust this murder of innocent lives to stop gassing, intimidating and killing people that live within his countries borders. Tonight, I rise to encourage my colleagues to provide reasonable hope to the people of Iraq by granting President Bush the authority to take care of the threat posed by Hussein and his regime, either diplomatically or with our armed forces. This resolution is one of the most important votes each of us will ever cast. I urge support for reasonable hope and encourage my colleagues to pass this resolution.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 438 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4851) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6910 South Yorktown Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the ``Robert Wayne Jenkins Station.''

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 4851.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider H.R. 4851, a bill to designate the postal facility located at 6910 South Yorktown Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the Robert Wayne Jenkins Station. I would like to thank my colleagues from Oklahoma for co-sponsoring this legislation. On December 21, 2001, Robert Wayne Jenkins left his home to go to work at the Southside Postal Station in Tulsa, leaving his wife Amber and daughter Caitlyn safely at home. He arrived at work in his usual quiet, but friendly, demeanor and proceeded to prepare his mail route. Before leaving the office to deliver his route, he told a fellow letter carrier, ``Be safe,'' and then he left to deliver his own route. He was shot at about 2:45 in the afternoon by an armed assailant and died instantly. Robert was in his sixth year of service and had just turned 30 years old and had recently become a father. He had gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues for his professionalism and devotion to his wife and daughter. My heart goes out to his wife, Amber, and daughter, Caitlyn. His co-workers began working towards this honor for him immediately after the tragedy, and I was notified of the request from Dick Schweitzer of the Oklahoma division of the U.S. Postal Service. I am happy to introduce this bill because I believe that it is most appropriate to honor a man who asked for so little but gave so much to his family, his friends, the U.S. Postal Service and the Tulsa community. I think it is right to remember Robert Wayne Jenkins, the victim of a horrific senseless crime, by renaming the facility he worked for after him. Postal workers work through many tough conditions every day throughout our country, and I believe we honor both Robert Wayne Jenkins and all of his honorable public servants by passing this bill. Therefore, I urge all Members to support the adoption of H.R. 4851. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 530) congratulating the players, management, staff, and fans of the Oakland Athletics organization for setting the Major League Baseball record for the longest winning streak by an American League baseball team.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 530.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Resolution 530, legislation introduced by my distinguished colleague from California (Mr. Ose). This resolution congratulates the players, management, staff and fans of the Oakland Athletics organization for setting the Major League Baseball record for the longest winning streak by an American League baseball team. The Athletics, or A's as they are affectionately known, won 20 straight games earlier this season en route to winning their second American League West Division championship in the last three seasons. During their remarkable streak, the A's outscored their opponents 141 to 62. The A's were defeated 2 to 1 on August 12 by the Toronto Blue Jays and did not lose until September 6 against the Minnesota Twins. After the game that ended the improbable streak, Twins third baseman Corey Koskie said, ``To win 20 games in a row, I don't know too many high school teams that do that. To do that at the major league level is an amazing feat.'' Mr. Speaker, manager Art Howe and the Oakland Athletics have enjoyed a wonderful season, winning 103 games and qualifying for the playoffs, highlighted by their phenomenal 20-game winning streak. I ask that all Members honor the efforts of the Oakland Athletics this season by supporting the adoption of House Resolution 530. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose).

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague from California for bringing this resolution to the floor. We congratulate the Oakland Athletics for the terrific 2002 season highlighted by their 20-game winning streak. I urge all Members to support this resolution.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SULLIVAN

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 538), honoring Johnny Unitas and extending condolences to his family on his passing.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 538.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Resolution 538, important legislation introduced by my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ehrlich). This resolution celebrates the life and achievements of the greatest quarterback who ever lived, Johnny Unitas. Johnny Unitas passed away suddenly last month at the age of 69. He may be gone but his greatness on the football field will never be forgotten. Unitas played 17 seasons for the Baltimore Colts. He led the Colts to three NFL championships and held nearly every NFL passing record at the time of his retirement in 1973. He was the first quarterback to throw over 40,000 yards in a career and holds the record for throwing a touchdown pass in an incredible 47 consecutive games, nearly a 4-year span of games. But numbers alone do not adequately tell the story of his greatness on the football field. Considered the ultimate team leader, Unitas is credited with inventing the 2-minute drill, leading the Colts to many victories in the final seconds of the game. His most famous game-winning drive came in 1958 when he led the Colts on an 80-yard drive in a sudden death overtime to beat the Giants for the NFL championship. To this day the 1958 championship game is known as the greatest game ever played. His composure and courage on the field were legendary. Former teammate John Mackey, himself a Hall of Famer and considered by many the best tight end to have played, once said of Unitas, ``It's like being in the huddle with God.'' Unitas led by example. On a Colts team full of tough, gritty players, former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Art Donovan was asked who he considered to be the toughest of all. Without hesitation Donovan said ``Unitas, because he took the punishment. And never said a word about it.'' After his football career ended in 1973, Unitas made Baltimore his home. The city loved and admired Unitas not only for his toughness and ability on the field but for his humanity. Even though he was revered by millions, he was a humble and gracious man. At his funeral mass in Baltimore, his youngest daughter, Paige, spoke of her father's tenderness. When she once grew impatient with fans seeking his autograph, Unitas told her, ``It takes so little to make people smile.'' He was untiring in his work for charity, including supporting research for leukemia, cystic fibrosis, and prostate cancer. Also, he formed the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation to provide financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young scholar- athletes. Johnny Unitas may have left us too soon, but his legend will live on. The sight of a hunched-over Johnny U., No. 19, slowly walking off the field at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium in his black high-topped shoes after throwing a touchdown pass will be etched in the memories of football fans for years to come. We offer condolences to Unitas's family and celebrate the life of the greatest quarterback who ever played the game, Johnny Unitas. Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ehrlich).

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).

Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for bringing this resolution to the floor and giving this House the opportunity to express its admiration for this extraordinary athlete and extraordinary man. We extend our condolences to the Unitas family on the death of Johnny Unitas. To us, he was the greatest quarterback to ever play the game of football, a man whose toughness and compassion embodied the spirit of Baltimore and whose talent on the gridiron made him a legend in his own time. But he was much more. They know him as a husband and father and had the opportunity to share in his extraordinary life. We can only hope that the outpouring of admiration from the many people who were touched in some way by Johnny Unitas will provide a comfort to them in the days ahead. I urge all Members to support this resolution.