Charles Taylor

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas). (Mr. THOMAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane).

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for bringing this to my attention. I agree with him that every effort should be made toward helping to protect the health of this historic tree. I pledge to work with the gentleman and the Architect of the Capitol to ensure every effort will be made to protect this tree.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, today we take up the fiscal year 2003 legislative branch appropriations bill; but before we begin, I would like to thank the hard work of the Members of the subcommittee, especially the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), our ranking member. I would like to note that our subcommittee has taken a reasoned approach to our increased needs in the aftermath of September 11. I am pleased to note that we provided a modest 5 percent overall increase over the current fiscal year in this bill. This is especially reasonable when one realizes that well over 75 percent of our costs are personnel related and the cost-of-living component government-wide this year is 4.1 percent. Price level increases account for 1.8 and almost 2 percent of the government-wide spending increase this year. So, in real terms, we have kept our bill below the rate of inflation and cost increases. We have provided the necessary and sufficient funding in this bill for our security needs, a police pay increase of 5 percent, in addition to their COLA, and increased management flexibility for our new chief. We provide the police with all the additional manpower that they acknowledge that they can recruit and train in the upcoming year. We have continued our commitment to digitalization at the Library of Congress and gotten back on track with their building program and storage needs by asking the Corps of Engineers to take over the completion of the library's storage facility at Fort Meade, Maryland. We have directed the Congressional Research Service to join with the rest of the legislative branch to join the communications revolution to better enable them to communicate with Members' offices. We have included language in this bill which authorizes a tuition reimbursement program for House employees. Finally, I would like to thank all the employees of this people's House for all their hard work, their stamina, and the good spirits through this tough year. I know this Member appreciates them, and the American people appreciate them as well. Of course, without the steady hand of Liz Dawson, Chuck Turner and our dedicated, knowledgeable committee staff, and Roger France of my staff, we would not have the bill we have today. Also, I would like to thank Scott Lilly, Mark Murray, Mike Malone, and Tim Aikin for all their hard work and dedication on this bill. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JY02.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JY02.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JY02.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JY02.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JY02.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JY02.006 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JY02.007 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JY02.008 Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill, H.R. 5121, and that I may include tabular and other extraneous material.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I do share the gentleman's sentiments about the accessibility of quality care for our Nation's veterans. North Carolina has also experienced an influx of veterans in recent years and the failure of this VA pilot program is a setback in our efforts to provide all veterans with quality and convenient health care. I am pleased to work with you on this matter and look forward to receiving and reviewing the GAO study.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, America lost a beloved citizen, World War II veteran, artist, and creative talent when David Graue, 75, of Flat Rock, North Carolina, was tragically killed in an early morning traffic accident on December 10th. Dave was a native of Oak Park, Ill., and was a prior resident of Sarasota, Fla., and Brevard before moving to Henderson County in 1987. He was a 1944 graduate of Sarasota High School and trained at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. In 1950, he rejoined V.T. Hamlin, the creator of the comic strip ``Alley Oop,'' whom he had briefly worked with prior to the war. He took over sole production of the cartoon in 1970 and created both the art and continuity for the strip until entering semi-retirement in 1991. Upon retirement he turned his attention to the fine arts and painting, working mostly with oils, and won several awards for his work. Dave Graue will be dearly missed by his family, friends, members of the community, and countless ``Alley Oop'' fans around the country. Dave will be remembered for the special Christmas cards he sent to all his friends, cards that showcased his artistic talents. His last one commemorated the September 11th terrorist attacks on America. I know my colleagues join me in expressing sympathy to Dave's family: his loving wife, Eliza B. Graue, sons Jeff and Dan, daughter Karin Dowdy, seven grandchildren: Jordan Dowdy, Griffin Dowdy, Kelen Dowdy, Kristin Graue, Lauren Graue, Shannon Graue and Cian Graue.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, America's armed service members, their families and military retirees can rest easier today knowing that Dr. William Winkenwerder has been sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Care. A western North Carolina native, Dr. Winkenwerder brings fittingly broad experience and an impressive record of achievement to this important position. All Americans can be proud that Dr. Winkenwerder has agreed to serve his nation yet once again. The Asheville Citizen-Times' Tim Reid recently penned a profile of Dr. Winkenwerder, which I am glad to share with my colleagues. Winkenwerder Top Healthcare Official for Defense Department (By Tim Reid) Asheville.--Growing up in Asheville in a family well known for its successful hotels, William Winkenwerder seemed destined to enter the hospitality industry like his brother, John. But he liked science and helping people and figured medicine was a good way to combine those interests. Some time during his years of medical school, residency and private practice, Dr. Winkenwerder also discovered he was drawn to the public policy side of medicine, designing and administering systems to deliver quality health care as efficiently as possible. ``Even though I very much enjoyed taking care of patients, I developed an interest in how the system of health care worked, or didn't work in some cases,'' he said. After years of high-level jobs related to providing health services, Winkenwerder is using all his experience and expertise to help protect the health of America's armed services, their families and military retirees. He was sworn in recently as assistant secretary of defense for health care--the Defense Department's top health-care official. It is a big job, and the numbers are staggering. Winkenwerder manages the nation's $25 billion defense health program, whose 110,000 staffers see to the health needs of more than 8 million people around the world. ``It's an incredible responsibility. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve in this kind of position,'' he said. ``We have wonderful people in the military. They are extremely dedicated, hard working and bright.'' Winkenwerder assumed the job at a critical time as the military prepares for a sustained effort against terrorism. ``We have to look at the whole range of biological agents that could pose a threat and develop a strategy for all of them,'' he said. ``That could include not just anthrax but also smallpox, the plague and all the things we believe could be used.'' Winkenwerder faces the same challenges posed to any health care executive--assuring quality care while keeping costs at an acceptable level. He is not responsible for the nation's VA hospitals but does oversee the Tricare program that functions like an insurance program, paying for care through the public or private sector.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise and commend one of Western North Carolina's and Buncombe County's finest citizens, the late Tom J. Donoho, ``The big man with the big heart.'' Tom passed away on November 6, 2001. He was a personal friend of mine for many years, and he will be sorely missed. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Tom's family moved to North Carolina where he graduated from Biltmore High School in 1952. As an alumnus of Biltmore High School, saving the school from destruction became a pet project of Tom's in recent years. Last June the WNC Historical Association acquired the deed, and Tom sought my help for $300,000 for the ``Biltmore School Museum,'' which was provided in the 2002 Interior Appropriation. After high school, Tom served in the United States Army and twelve years in the National Guard and Reserves. He was a man who loved his country, his community, and his people. Tom supported the East Asheville Youth Program for the past 47 years, giving freely of his time, materials, labor and money to this program, not for recognition but because he loved young people. Together, Tom and his wife Betty founded Asheville Electric forty years ago, building it into a thriving business, of which Tom was President, employing about 35 people. When the new Reynolds High School was built, it was Tom Donoho who offered to wire the school, and he drove to Kansas to get the famous ``Rocket''--an Army surplus ``Honest John'' rocket--which he helped mount at the entrance to the school and is the school's mascot. Tom provided the lighting for the school's football and baseball stadiums. Tom took an active part in politics in Asheville and Buncombe County. For many years he contributed to the campaigns of good men and women who ran for public office and stood as a candidate for Asheville City Council in 1989. He was well known for donning an apron and cooking at fundraisers for local candidates. In addition to being a well-known businessman, Tom served two four- year terms on the Asheville Regional Airport Authority. During that time he served as vice-chairman, chairman of the building and grounds committee, and employee relations committee. He was also a Shriner with the Oasis Temple and a member of the Biltmore Masonic Lodge, Asheville York Rite and the Asheville Scottish Rite. Tom married Betty Brittain 43 years ago, they reared two children: Susan Donoho Martin of Asheville and Daniel Woron of Florida. Tom Donoho was a big man with an even bigger heart. WNC and Buncombe County have lost a very good friend and we will miss him. I know that my colleagues will join me in saluting this fine man and community leader.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the conference report. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 273, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 2647) making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to present the Legislative Branch Appropriations Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2002 to the House for consideration. I would like to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) and all of the members of the subcommittee, for their support in crafting this legislation. I would like to also say thank you to the staff for all of their hard work during these times, especially to Chuck Turner, Manny Crupi, Ed Lombard, Liz Dawson, Mark Murray and Tim Aiken. All Members owe them a special thanks for their work. I would like to say a special thank you to the Capitol police who are listed under this bill. We have gone through unusual times in the last almost 60 days, and we owe them a special thanks for their undying efforts to maintain protection for the Members of the House, our staff, and our guests who come to the Capitol. Mr. Speaker, we have a noncontroversial, bipartisan bill. With respect to the items that were sent to the Senate in the House passed bill, we have held the increase over the 2001 bill to 4.6 percent. Now, that is an increase which is well below the President's request for 2002 appropriations. And the committee bill meets our 302(b) allocations for budget authority and is $15 million below our outlay target. Mr. Speaker, the House has approved the rule for this report. The committee has done its job and it has done its job well, I believe, and this bill deserves the overwhelming support of the House. I do not intend to extend the debate, and I will include a summary of comparison of accounts in the Record. Mr. Speaker, this bill does contain the funds and language to implement the tuition loan reimbursement plan for our agencies, for the Congressional Budget Office and the Senate, and the bill contains funds from committee and members' representational allowances accounts to fund the program for House employees. We are awaiting the Committee on House Administration to respond to our call for rules and regulations in this area, and we feel that will be forthcoming. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the Legislative Branch Appropriations Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2002 to the House for consideration. I'd like to thank the ranking member, Mr. Moran, and all the members of the subcommittee for their support in crafting this legislation. I would like also to say a thank you to the staff for all their hard work during these times. Especially to Chuck Turner, Manny Crupi, Ed Lombard, Liz Dawson, Mark Murray, and Tim Siken--all members owe them special thanks. And, Mr. Speaker a special thanks to the Capitol police who risk their lives daily, and have been doing so diligently, since the September 11 attacks, to protect House members and staff, and our visitors. They are heroes to all of us. Mr. Speaker, we have a non-controversial, bipartisan bill. With respect to the items that were sent to the Senate in the House passed bill, we have held the increase over FY2001 to 4.6 percent. That's an increase which is well below the President's request for 2002 appropriations. And the Committee bill meets our 302(b) allocation in budget authority and is $15 million below our outlay target. We have had some questions about a student loan repayment program for House staff. The Committee has no objection to including the appropriate legislation in the Legislative bill. But it is a complicated technical matter that involves internal House policy and must be integrated into the legislative authority for allowable uses of members' allowances and committee funding. Under the rules, those mattes are within the jurisdiction of the Administration Committee. We have received no requests from the Administration Committee to include such authority. Therefore, the joint statement of the managers that accompanies this conference report encourages the House Administration Committee to develop and recommend guidelines and appropriate legislative language to establish a student loan repayment program. The funds to carry this out are included in the bill. The Appropriations Committee will be happy to carry such authorizing language in the appropriations bill. That is in accord with long standing practice of the Appropriations Committee to assist House Administration and the Leadership in achieving administrative improvements in the operations of the House. Mr. Speaker, the House has approved the rule for this conference report by unanimous vote. The Committee has done its job; it has done a good job. This bill deserves the overwhelming support of the House. I do not intend to extend the debate and will include a summary of the comparisons of accounts in the record. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH01NO01.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH01NO01.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH01NO01.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH01NO01.006 Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the consideration of the conference report on the bill (H.R. 2647) making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes, and that I may include extraneous and tabular material.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of the Honorable Liston B. Ramsey, a resident of the Eleventh Congressional District of North Carolina, who died on September 2, 2001. Rep. Ramsey served nineteen terms as a Democrat in the North Carolina State House of Representatives, including an unprecedented eight years as Speaker of the House. Liston Ramsey put Western North Carolina on the political map and used his influence in the legislature, for the benefit of his constituents. Rep. Liston Ramsey was first elected to the legislature from Madison County in 1961. In those days, before the interstate highway system served our region, legislators from Western North Carolina faced an eight-hour drive from the mountains across the state to Raleigh. Liston Ramsey faithfully made that trip for years in order to be a voice and a force for the mountain region. In rankings by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, Rep. Ramsey consistently ranked as one of the most powerful legislators in the state. Ramsey ranked as the most powerful lawmaker during his four terms as speaker, was eleventh in 1989, twelfth in 1991, ninth in 1993, twenty-third in 1995, and nineteenth in 1997. Among projects that Rep. Ramsey played a key role in funding for Western North Carolina were: Haywood Community College; Southwestern Community College; Western Carolina University; UNC-Asheville; the North Carolina Arboretum; the Western North Carolina Farmers' Market; and countless roads. I know all my colleagues join me in expressing condolences to his family members: daughter Martha Louise and her husband, Robert Donald Banks of Marshall; two sisters, Marie Prichard and Grace Castelloe, both of Asheville; one stepsister, Edna Sprinkle of Asheville.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Jay Hensley, a newspaperman of old-school traditions who spent much of his career with the Asheville Citizen-Times, died Wednesday, September 5, at the age of 75. Hensley was with the Citizen-Times from 1956 until 1997. He covered politics, courts and crime, local government and civil rights, took feature photos and editorialized on local, state and national issues. It is perhaps Hensley's political coverage that he will be best remembered for. Hensley covered every state legislative session from 1967 until 1979 and was a familiar face around the state capital. ``Jay would ask that second and if necessary that third question to get to the heart of things,'' said former Gov. Bob Scott, who served from 1969-73. ``He asked the tough questions but was always fair. At that time, the capital press corps was a crusty bunch of guys. But when the day was done and they'd filed their stories, it was a professional job.'' Former Citizen-Times executive editor Larry Pope described Hensley as ``an encyclopedia on local and state politics,'' adding ``Jay probably knew more about politics than some of the people who held office.'' Jay Hensley, once a three-pack-a-day smoker, chronicled his battle to quit smoking and his resulting respiratory problems in 1990 article titled ``A Smoker's Last Chance.'' Jay Hensley was a World War II veteran, serving with the 32nd Special Seabees in the South Pacific and China. A Madison County native, he had a degree in journalism from Stetson University in DeLand, FL. I know all my colleagues join me in expressing our condolences to Jay Hensley's family members: Surviving are his former wife, June Murphy Hensley of Asheville; his son, Dick Hensley of Raleigh; his daughter, Teresa Hensley Wall of Asheville; grandsons, Jeremy Jay Oland and Ryan Lee Wyatt; his sisters, Pansy Watts of Asheville and Mary Sawyer of Cincinnati; and his brother, Jack Hensley of Greer, SC.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2647) making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the vote on H.R. 2882. Had I been able to return from the Pentagon, I would have voted in strong support for H.R. 2882, to expedite relief for the families of law enforcement officers lost in this terrible tragedy.