Mike Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. THOMPSON of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that, once again, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) for bringing this measure forward. I would like to thank all the Members who spoke and those who would have spoken had they been able to today. But, most important, I would like to thank everyone who sacrificed and served in our U.S. military over the last century and those who are serving today. I ask for an ``aye'' vote on this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Kuykendall) for bringing House Concurrent Resolution 228 to the floor today. This resolution allows Congress and the American people to commemorate the service of the men and women who served in both uniformed and civilian roles during the Vietnam era. On May 7, 2000, our Nation will observe the 25th anniversary of the end of that era. This resolution's genesis are the veterans that I have the honor of representing who live today at the California veterans home in Yountville in my district. I thank all of them and, in particular, John Schmucker, Tom Sarciapone, Sam Hollis, Jr., Robert Moak, and the other members of the Allied Council of the Yountville veterans home for their generous suggestion for honoring Vietnam-era service members and Federal civilian workers. Like so many others before us, my generation was called to arms. Most of us responded, notwithstanding the controversy and the turmoil the Vietnam War caused. Seventy-nine of our current House colleagues and 16 Senators served, and several served with extraordinary bravery and courage. The images of Vietnam are still vivid in our individual and collective memories. But what is most surprising is the passage of time since our service. As I mentioned, May 7 will mark the 25th anniversary of the departure of the last U.S. servicemen from Vietnam, a departure that closed the Vietnam era and for many of us an important chapter in our lives. Between 1961 and 1975, more than 3.4 million Americans served in the armed services in Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia. Elsewhere in the world, other U.S. forces stood as sentinels. Whether it was along the 38th parallel, at Checkpoint Charlie, the DEW line, Diego Garcia, or patrolling undetected under the world's oceans, U.S. servicemen and women ensured the peace. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs estimate that more than 9.2 million active duty, reserve, and guard personnel protected U.S. national security interests throughout the world during the Vietnam era. Untold millions of Federal civilian workers also contributed to our Nation's defense at a time tensions were growing between world superpowers. On the eve of this anniversary, we pause to commemorate their service and their sacrifice as well. Mr. Speaker, this resolution commemorates the sacrifice of every individual who served our Nation during that period called the Vietnam Era. As important, the resolution expresses appreciation to the families of those who died, remain unaccounted for, or who were injured during the course of their service during this era. While it is defined in the statute by specific dates, until the last of our missing service members is found or accounted for, the Vietnam era will never be completely closed. I again thank the majority leader, the Democratic leader, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior) for their help in making sure this resolution came to the floor at this particular time. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Kuykendall) for his leadership and urge the support of House Concurrent Resolution 228. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special young man, Matthew Eric Black, from Lakeport, CA. Matthew lost his life in the line of duty while attempting to suppress a wild- land fire on June 23, 1999. Matthew Black, the proud son of Jo Ann and Gerry Gettman, was born on July 18 1978. He was the beloved brother of Michael and Mark, a quadriplegic, who he was devoted to, his fiancee, Jamie Bartko, sister- in-law, Denise, an aunt and uncle, Bonnie and Danny Black, a great aunt, Virginia Thompson, and his grandmother, Idean Mason. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1997 where he loved playing sports including wrestling, track, and football. He was named MVP in a coed youth soccer league and played ice hockey for the Belmont Rangers, Level A Division, and won a state championship with them in 1994. Having a desire to help people, Matthew joined the city of Lakeport Fire Department as a volunteer and was a former member of the Lake County Sheriff's Department Explorer Program. When Matthew was in high school he wrote an essay for a school project called Roots and Wings which laid out his dream to be a firefighter. It said in part: My future is approaching real fast. I have thoughts about what I am going to do and the skills that I will need to do them. My goals are to graduate and go to junior college majoring in fire science and to go on and become a firefighter. . . . I have always wanted to be a firefighter for as long as I can remember. Matthew Black wanted to save lives and to change lives for the better. He was a strong individual who enriched so many lives with his caring, compassionate, loving feelings. When someone was sad or angry, he would lift them up by making them laugh and feel better. He was an unselfish young man who, when he saw a need, delivered. He is often remembered for giving a young mother his bike for her son when she expressed she could not afford one. To honor the remarkable life of this special man, the community of Lake County will be recognizing him at the 2000 Stars of Lake County Community Awards ceremony on Sunday evening, February 20, 2000. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we acknowledge and honor the life of Matthew Eric Black for his outstanding and unselfish manner in which he lived his life. He set an example for all of us to live by.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), and the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), along with the 308 cosponsors who supported this legislation, and for their assistance in bringing this bill to the floor today. It means a great deal to Mr. Schulz's family. It means a great deal to me, and it means a great deal to the community that I have the honor to represent that has had the honor to share that community with Sparky Schulz. I would also like to thank my California colleague, Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has introduced the identical bill in the Senate to make sure that this gold medal does come to fruition. Mr. Speaker, this bill before us today is not about honoring a cartoonist who made us laugh and think but, rather, about honoring a lifetime of work that has transcended generations of Americans and has become the fabric of our national culture. We have adopted his characters as our own, and sometimes even as ourselves. Through them he provided us a uniquely American sense of optimism, purpose, and pride. While many other pop figures reflect our fantasies, Sparky Schulz's characters, like Charlie Brown, reflected who we really are. Charles Schulz created the Peanuts comic strip in October of 1950, and he personally drew every single daily and Sunday strip. Peanuts appeared in 2,600 newspapers around the world and reached approximately 355 million readers every day, and they came in some 20 different languages. Sparky Schulz gave us more than just Peanuts. Most notable was his work with the Regional Organization Canine Companion. This wonderful organization breeds, raises, trains, and places dogs with individuals who are limited by disabilities. Along with his wife Jeanne, Sparky led and, in large part, personally financed the construction and the operation of the Canine Companion's facility in Sonoma County, California. Here dogs are introduced to individuals with disabilities and together they are trained to work with each other, forming a lifetime partnership and friendship. He also built a great ice rink in Santa Rosa, California, an ice rink that loses almost $1 million a year. But he did it to give something to the community. And just a side note. In that ice rink he stored many hundreds of folding beds. Just in case there was ever a disaster in his community, people would have a place to come, a place to stay, and a place to receive shelter. Sparky Schulz' public service and service to our Nation did not begin with Peanuts or with the Canine Companion. It started when he served as a staff sergeant in the United States Army during World War II fighting on the front lines in France immediately after the D-Day invasion. To help keep morale high, Sparky Schulz would often decorate the letters of fellow soldiers, letters that they were sending back home to their families, with cartoon characters depicting barracks life or battlefield life. Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert cartoon, remarked yesterday about our great loss, the loss of Sparky Schulz. He said, ``It's the end of an era, and it is hard to imagine that cartooning will ever be the same. In basketball, you can say that Michael Jordan was the greatest ever. In cartooning, Charles Schulz was the greatest ever, and probably the greatest there will ever be.'' We will never forget Snoopy's imagination, Lucy's cynicism, Linus' gentle innocence, Woodstock's loyalty, or Charlie Brown's vulnerabilities, hopes, and dreams. Sparky's gift to our Nation were characters who spoke with clarity about those simple fleeting moments that bind us together, bind together our adulthood and our childhood, those simple and honest sparks about what it means to be a human being. I thank everyone who is going to take part in making this gold medal a reality, and I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this gold medal resolution; and I say, ``Farewell and thank you,'' to Charles Schulz.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, last week the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians lost a very dear friend, spiritual symbol and elder--Doris Renick. Doris was an active and visionary leader and the Tribe's many successes can be attributed to her tenure as tribal administrator and chairperson. In fact, while serving as chairperson and with the help of other family members, Doris was instrumental in getting the land base in Redwood Valley redesignated from a rancheria to what is now known as the Coyote Valley Reservation. This accomplishment opened the door for obtaining housing for tribal members and to have a recreation building constructed on the reservation. But key to the community's future was finding new economic opportunities. As such, many say that Doris' most important accomplishment was the opening in 1993 of the Shodakai Coyote Valley Casino, which now provides more than 200 jobs for tribal members and neighbors. As a State senator, I had a number of occasions to work with Doris and I can attest to her enthusiasm and caring attitude. In fact, her active involvement in a number of local, State, and national organizations attests to her interest in serving all citizens and her ability in bringing people together. Doris, for example served on the Mendocino County Economic Development Commission and helped promote county-wide projects that benefited all residents, not just her Tribe. Doris also chaired the California Council of Tribal Governments, the California Elders Program, the Consolidated Indian Health Consortium, and the California Indian Health and Disability Board. And she took particular interest in Indian education and bilingual/bicultural programs. Interestingly, her advocacy for improving the delivery of health care came not only from her training and work as a registered nurse, but also her longtime bout with severe rheumatoid arthritis. To be sure, the disability never slowed her down. Mr. Speaker, the members of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians and residents of Mendocino County celebrate the life of Doris Renick. She will be sorely missed, though all around us there are continual reminders of her loving and caring nature. I join the community and family and friends in mourning Doris' passing and celebrating her life and I extend my heartfelt condolences to all whose lives were touched by her.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) for yielding me this time. He has been on the forefront leading this effort to help the salmon fisheries throughout the entire Pacific Northwest, and for that I am greatly appreciative. Mr. Speaker, virtually every salmon stock in northern California has been added to the endangered species list. State and Federal regulations have cut fishing effort to an all-time low and this has had a devastating impact on the area that I represent in California, not just for the sport and the commercial fisheries, but for virtually every industry or every community of interest that has to operate in that part of these great United States. Mr. Speaker, we need to do everything that we possibly can to help bring back the salmon stocks in the Pacific Northwest, and my district is no different. This is one very important step to be able to provide help for screening in regard to water diversions. It is going to help a great deal. It is not only going to help the coastal area that I represent, but the inland area as well. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and ask all of my colleagues to vote in support of this measure.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, in a little more than a week, we will once again observe Veterans Day--the date a grateful Nation sets aside to honor the men and women who have served our nation as members of its military forces. It is particularly poignant that we observe this occasion. First designated to commemorate Armistice Day and the restoration of peace, Veterans Day today is the occasion on which we appreciate the accomplishments and the sacrifices of untold scores of individuals. It is a day on which we acknowledge the role these individuals played in writing the history of the United States--a history that, in this century alone, has evolved from isolation to world leadership. Underscoring its importance and the value of the ceremonies we observe today is the fact that a smaller percentage of Americans have now served in the Armed Forces of the United States that at any time in our recent history. This of course, reflects the unprecedented peace the United States has enjoyed. But, it also reminds us not to be lulled into complacency--into believing that future generations will not be called to arms. Though we pray in our hearts they won't be called, we know in our heads that one day they may. Like others before us, my generation was also called to arms. Most of us responded, notwithstanding the controversy and turmoil the war caused. The images of Vietnam are still vivid in our individual and collective memories. But, what's most surprising is the passage of time since the war and the fact that next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the departure of the last U.S. servicemen from Vietnam-- a departure that closed the Vietnam-era and, for many of us, closed an important chapter in our lives. Between 1961 and 1975, more than 2,590,000 Americans served in the Armed Forces in Vietnam. Untold thousands served in support roles elsewhere in Southeast Asia. At the same time, millions more protected U.S. national security interests in the other far regions of the world. And let us not forget the millions of civilians who also contributed to our nation's defense at a time tensions were growing between world superpowers. Recently, the Commander's Council, the Allied Council, and the Administration and staff at the California Veterans Home in Yountville suggested to me that our nation celebrate this year's Veterans Day by marking the service of those who served in and during the Vietnam-era. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of that war's end, such a tribute is indeed appropriate and, as such, I would like to read the text of a resolution the Yountville Veterans Home residents and staff suggested: Resolution Encouraging the American People to Commemorate and Recognize the Service and Sacrifice of Those Who During the Vietnam Era Served in the Armed Forces or in Civilian Capacities in Support of United States Military Operations in Southeast Asia and Elsewhere in the World Whereas the United States Armed Forces conducted military operations in Southeast Asia during the period (known as the ``Vietnam era'') from February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975; Whereas during the Vietnam era more than 2,590,000 American military personnel served in the Republic of Vietnam or elsewhere in Southeast Asia in support of United States military operations in Vietnam, while millions more provided for the Nation's defense in other parts of the world; Whereas during the Vietnam era untold numbers of civilian personnel also served in support of United States operations in Southeast Asia and elsewhere in the world; Whereas May 7, 2000, marks the 25th anniversary of the closing of the period known as the Vietnam era; Whereas citizens throughout the United States traditionally commemorate the service and sacrifice of the Nation's veterans on November 11th each year, the date designated by law as ``Veterans Day'', and Whereas Veterans Day, 1999 would be an appropriate occasion to begin a period for observance of that anniversary and to recognize and appreciate the individuals who served the Nation in Southeast Asia and elsewhere in the world during the Vietnam era: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the American people are encouraged through appropriate ceremonies and activities, to recognize and appreciate the selfless sacrifice of the men and women, both military and civilian, who during the Vietnam era served the Nation in the Republic of Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia or otherwise served in support of United States operations in Vietnam and in support of United States interests throughout the world. I commend the resolution to all Americans and thank the individuals at the California Veterans Home in Yountville for proposing it as part of this year's Veterans Day observance.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, modern well-equipped schools in good repair are an important part of a good learning environment, yet we are lacking badly in our efforts to keep up with school facilities needs. In my home State, California, we need 10,791 classrooms in the next 5 years in order to keep up. That is 6 classrooms per day that we are going to need to build for the next 5 years. Facilities are necessary to keep up with the new technology that we are putting in schools and to meet the needs of the growing student population, enrollment that grew to a record high last year of 53.2 million students. And it is projected that next year it will grow by another 440,000 students. Mr. Speaker, it is paramount that we have a school facility bill on this floor to address these needs.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, telemedicine has been in existence for over 30 years but has only recently become one of the fastest growing areas of medicine. Telemedicine allows a consulting physician at one location to observe a patient or interpret data at another location via two-way audio or video links. Dermatology, oncology, cardiology, radiology, and surgery are just a few of the areas of medicine that have felt the positive impact of this technology. If someone represents a rural district, as I do, they have heard from constituents who often have to travel long distances to consult with medical specialists. Telemedicine allows these same individuals to consult with their primary-care physician and a specialist at the same time without the burdens of extraordinary travel, but telemedicine does not just help rural districts. This field of medicine has the potential to provide a wider range of services to all underserved communities, both rural and urban. The benefits of telemedicine are numerous; but in order to encourage its growth, we still need to research and answer a few critical questions. Are patients who have received telemedicine benefiting from it? What criteria should be used to determine which patients need these services? What factors are inhibiting the expansion of accessibility of telemedicine networks? Congress in the past has commissioned reports on telemedicine, including one under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and another under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Although these reports address many important aspects of the field, there are still gaps that need to be filled in. In working with the National Institutes of Health and other medical professionals throughout the country, I have drafted this amendment. It requires the Agency for Health Research and Quality to research and respond to Congress by January of 2001 on issues relating to patient screening and interstate licensing of medical professionals. In addition, this amendment would require a review of the factors that may be inhibiting the expansion of telemedicine networks. It is necessary to identify the hurdles that still need to be overcome in this field in order to establish and promote successful systems of telemedicine. I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their great work on this measure, and I would urge a yes vote on this amendment.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I offer amendment No. 22.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I would like to commend the Committee on Commerce and the bill's sponsors, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), for bringing this important bill to the floor today for our consideration. Mr. Chairman, thousands of individuals are sexually assaulted or abused in our country every year. Over 300,000 individuals were the victim of rape or sexual assault in 1998 alone. Many are children and many are elderly. In fact, recent studies reveal that an increasingly high percentage of the victims of rape or sexual assault are likely to be children. Fifteen percent of rape victims are under the age of 12, and 44 percent are under the age of 18. These are the most awful of crimes, and Congress has responded with enactment of new Federal penalties in 1994, as well as the establishment of a number of grant programs under the landmark Violence Against Women Act. There remain gaps in our Nation's response to this type of violence, particularly in our ability to prosecute the perpetrators. The amendment I offer is intended to fill some of these gaps. The amendment adds an important provision related to the quality of the training of health professionals in several very sensitive areas of their work: the identifications, treatment, and examination of victims of sexual assault and the collection of forensic evidence for the use of possible criminal prosecutions. While services encountered in some metropolitan centers can be excellent, access to trained medical practitioners is restricted and unevenly distributed. Many rural, mid-sized counties, and geographically large urban areas lack health professionals trained in identifying and treating victims of sexual assault and in conducting evidentiary examinations, collecting and preserving evidence and in interpreting findings. Many are inexperienced in collaborating with law enforcement agencies and investigating social workers. As a result, many victims of child molestation, domestic violence, and elder abuse are underserved or ill-served in the medical treatment and counseling that they receive. At the same time, in instances where proper evidence collection procedures are not followed, district attorneys are forced to drop charges against dangerous perpetrators for lack of evidence. Rather than rely on bad testimony or testimony given by children who are emotionally wrought because of the crime that had been committed against them, the prosecutor is forced to allow the perpetrator to walk away; and this person is often free to do his crime or her crime again. Lack of proper training and lack of retraining appears to be a particular problem in acute cases and in areas where multidisciplinary teams are not readily available. Lack of experience can have several deleterious consequences. First, professionals who lack experience with the delicate nature of such evaluations may psychologically traumatize children. Mr. Chairman, the amendment before this body requires the director of the Agency for Health, Research and Quality to set forth and promote evidence-based clinical practices for identifying, examining, and treating victims of sexual assault and training medical professionals on how to perform medical evidentiary exams in child physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse cases. The amendment is supported by a number of groups, including the International Association of Forensic Nurses, the National Association of Social Workers, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, and the administration. This amendment is a small but important step in addressing a serious national problem, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the citizens of Crescent City in honoring Jim Cloud, who for 6 years served without pay as Crescent City Harbor's sole marine safety examiner for the U.S. Coast Guard. During the August district work period, Jim was honored by his volunteer peers and the Coast Guard for his dedication to marine safety. Indeed, Jim was known for taking his job seriously and, as the Coast Guard said during the ceremony honoring him, Jim ``contributed to the overall safety of more than 425 fishermen and 170 fishing vessels.'' Crescent City Harbor is home to more than 25 percent of the fishing vessel fleet between the Oregon border and San Francisco Bay. The coastal waters fished by these vessels are treacherous and the weather ever-changing. As such, the role of the marine safety examiner is critical to ensuring that commercial vessels are seaworthy and prepared for any emergency. For Jim, the work was a labor of love. Coming from a long family history of seamen, Jim joined the Brookings Coast Guard Auxiliary in the mid-1980's. During his tenure, he assisted the Coast Guard in search and rescues and teaching boating and safety classes. But, in particular, his service as a marine safety examiner will always be remembered and appreciated. In conferring its Award of Operational Merit, the Coast Guard acknowledged that Jim's efforts ``helped reduce the number of fishermen deaths, injuries, as well as property loss and environmental damage.'' To which Jim replied ``I feel good about doing my little part. It was a good deal for the harbor and a good deal for me.'' Thank you, Jim, for a job well done.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize St. Helena Hospital as it celebrates its 25th anniversary of the first open heart surgery in the hospital's Cardiac Center. Located in my hometown of St. Helena in the Napa Valley, St. Helena Hospital is one of the country's premier medical facilities. But I don't say that just because this is the hospital where my mother, my father, one of my sons and I were born and where my wife, Janet, worked as a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. The St. Helena Hospital has an outstanding cardiac care facility. It began in May of 1974, when Wilfred Tam, M.D. performed the North Bay's first open-heart surgery at St. Helena Hospital. This made St. Helena Hospital one of the first community hospitals to perform the procedure. The surgery was just one in a series of firsts in the region for the hospital's Cardiac Center, which opened in 1972. Today, St. Helena Hospital's Cardiac surgery team has more than 68 years of combined surgical experience and has performed more than 15,000 open-heart surgeries. Recognized as a pioneer and a leader in cardiac care, St. Helena Hospital has continued its tradition of high-tech innovation. In 1997, it was the nation's first hospital to purchase the Medtronic Octopus, a device that immobilizes the beating heart during minimally invasive bypass surgery. Installed in 1993, St. Helena Hospital's digital by-plane cardiovascular catheterization suite was the first of its kind in the United States. Work is scheduled to begin this year to upgrade the hospital's other suite with new, state-of-the-art equipment. To celebrate its quarter-century of excellence in cardiac care, St. Helena Hospital is hosting a community celebration on September 26, 1999 honoring the physicians and staff who make the Cardiac Center a leader in heart health, and also honoring the ``Mended Hearts'' for whom they have cared over the years. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we acknowledge and honor the St. Helena Hospital Cardiac Center for its outstanding Cardiac Center and for its tremendous twenty-five year commitment to providing the very best in quality health care.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, Art Ibleto, who is being honored this month by the Order Sons of Italy in America-Grand Lodge of California for his lifetime of achievements. Mr. Ibleto served as President of the Grand Lodge of California from 1995-1997 and will receive the accolades of friends and family at the Lodge's 74th Anniversary on September 18, 1999. Mr. Ibleto's accomplishments are many. As a young man during WW II in Italy, he joined the underground to fight against Nazi Germany and the Fascists. His specialty was demolition--planting explosives under bridges and railroads and in highway tunnels to hinder the German advance. Following the war, Mr. Ibleto immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Sonoma County where he worked in the fields picking vegetables and as a mechanic, truck driver and factory worker. He married his wife, Vicki Ghiradelli Ibleto, in 1951 and they bought their first home and acreage in 1961. Art and Vicki raised hogs and cows and harvested potatoes before moving on to the more lucrative ventures of growing Christmas trees and building and renting duplexes. Art and Vicki became members of the Sons of Italy, Pentaluma Lodge 1518 in 1958. He served in various offices of his local lodge, including two terms as President. He also served as Grand Deputy to the Santa Rosa Lodge for many years, National State Delegate for 24 years, State Vice President for four years, and eventually attained the office of State President in 1995. In his leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels, Art has diligently promoted Italian culture, language and cuisine. In 1974 Art started the Spaghetti Palace at the Sonoma County Fair as a United Lodges, Sons of Italy project. In a very short time, the Spaghetti Palace became the number one vendor at the county fair, a distinction it has sustained through the 1999 season. As a result of the success of the Spaghetti Palace, Art took on a new career of supplying local stores with his own line of Italian cuisine and catering special events. He is known throughout California for his savory dishes and has earned the title of the ``Pasta King.'' Art is now the new owner of a vineyard and soon will be shipping wine under the Ibleto Winery label. Mr. Speaker, because of Art Ibleto's commitment to his native country and to the Italian American people in the United States, it is fitting and proper to honor him today for his many accomplishments and contributions.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere congratulations to a dear friend, Ms. Vera Trinchero Torres, who has been named the 1999 Citizen of the Year by the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce. A co-owner of the famous Sutter Home Winery and mother of two, Vera dedicates most of her free time to charitable work for the community of the Napa Valley. Although a New Yorker by birth, Vera moved to the Napa Valley at age ten and has been a resident of the area ever since. As a child, she and her older brother, Bob, helped out in the winery after school and on weekends. Vera worked on the bottling line and swept up, all the while looking after her little brother, Roger. After graduating from St. Helena High School, Vera began a 24-year career as a legal secretary. In fact, I'm proud to say she was the mainstay in the law office of my uncle, former Judge Lowell Palmer. In 1979, as Sutter Home began its transformation from a small mom-and-pop operation to a large, modern winery, Vera took on the responsibility of running the office full-time. Today, Vera oversees company profit sharing and pension plans for Sutter Home's 450 employees and serves as the family-run corporation's secretary. She also manages the company's extensive charitable activities, which amount to several hundred thousand dollars each year. In addition, Vera is an active supporter of numerous local youth groups, including the St. Helena Boys and Girls Club. In 1996, in recognition of her philanthropic efforts and service to the community, Vera was named, by me, Woman of the Year for the 2nd District of the California State Senate. The St. Helena Citizen of the Year Award is one more honor of many to come for this wonderful neighbor, great friend, and tremendous asset to our community. Once again, I offer my congratulations to Vera and to her family.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I have not criticized any State laws. I am just pointing out that this measure could put violation of something, of a law such as the Oklahoma measure that allows transportation of an alcoholic beverage product, into Federal court. I do not think that is what the gentleman's intention is. I do not think it is the intention of the gentleman's supporters that, if the Internet service provider does direct sales, that they could sell wine in Florida, which makes it a felony to directly ship to Florida. It is completely at odds with the State law that you claim that the gentleman is trying to protect.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that this bill is on the floor today. This bill is no more than an attempt to advantage one industry group over another. It comes at a time when we should be working to find a solution to the problem, the problem of consumers not having access to the wines of their choice because distributors are unable to service the growth in small wineries. In 1963, there were 375 wineries. Today, in 1999, there are 2,000 wineries. In 1963, we had 10,900 distributors. Today, we have 300 distributors. This is the problem. This is why small wineries and consumers who want to buy premium wine from small wineries are looking for other available places in order to purchase it. There is an Amador Foothill grower in California that was interviewed by the press; and he said, ``A lot of large distributors look on wineries of our size as a nuisance. They cannot sell much of our wine. And the larger wineries are banking on them to sell 10 percent more each year, so they do not have time to sell small premium wines.'' That is the problem. This problem is not about kids buying wine in cyberspace. As a matter of fact, that argument does not even pass the giggle test. The fact of the matter is, teenage kids across this Nation are not going to be purchasing premium Cabernet wine from my district, from anywhere from $40 to $150 a bottle. Everyone has been able to see through this clever cover. As a matter of fact, two of the original supporters of this idea, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Emergency Room Nurses have withdrawn their support. The Mothers Against Drunk Driving stated that, in fact, this is a battle between various elements within the alcohol beverage industry. They go on to say that they are dismayed that the industry would go this far or go to such lengths to misrepresent their views. Even the National Council on State legislatures is opposed to this measure. They have been working on this issue for the past couple of years, and they see some progress being made. Last week, they voted 41 to 7 in opposition to this legislation. They, too, understand it is a turf issue and have asked this Congress not to interfere. The Wall Street Journal just editorialized against this, citing it as ``an obstacle to interstate commerce of precisely the type the Founders intended to prohibit.'' The Journal goes on to say and to warn that ``Today wine; tomorrow any out-of-State competition that some local interest with campaign money did not want to deal with.'' I also want to point out that this bill deals with all liquor violations, not just the ones that were mentioned by the supporters of the bill. Attorneys General across this Nation could take all and any liquor violation regarding importation and transportation to the Federal courts. This is true even in States that allow direct shipment of wine. Oklahoma, for example, has a limited personal importation. However, they disallow any transaction on Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Election Day. So if one transports an alcoholic beverage in Oklahoma on the day of a special election to pass a school bond, one could find oneself in Federal court. Wyoming has a law that prohibits the sale of private labeled wines. So if one sells or transports private labeled wines in Wyoming, it could be Federal court. Now, the supporters will tell us that this is farfetched; that an Attorney General would not do that. I want to tell my colleagues that it is no more farfetched than the supporters' claims that kids are buying high-priced premium wine over the Internet. Most troubling, Mr. Chairman, is the fact that one of the coauthors of this bill has informed me that small wineries and consumers are not going to be disenfranchised because, in the end, the distributors will go online and sell online themselves. I cannot understand why direct sales can be harmful to one industry, the small wineries, but then be good in their eyes for the distributors who are trying to sell these wines. Finally, I want to point out that this bill has had no public input. It was rushed to the floor. It was a markup in the Committee on the Judiciary. The public has not been able to speak. Small wineries have not been able to speak. Consumers have not been able to speak. That is particularly troubling, given the long list of amendments that we are looking at today on the bill. One of the amendments, I understand, is going to provide immunity for Internet service providers. What does this mean, that Yahoo can go online and sell direct in States that prohibit the direct sale of alcoholic beverages? I think this is a huge loophole, and it is one that the supporters of this bill were not counting on. There was also a great deal of discussion about the loss of tax revenue. I can tell my colleagues that, without an analysis of this bill, I do not know how one can ascertain what the impact, the economic impact of this bill would be one way or the other. I also want to point out that there are a couple of local laws that could end up landing their constituents in Federal court. Indiana allows a person to bring one bottle of wine home per trip every time they come back to Indiana. If one brings back two bottles of wine, it could be Federal court. Maryland allows one bottle at a time, but not more than two bottles per calendar month. What if someone visits the Virginia wine country three times over the course of the month and brings back three bottles of wine? They are subject to Federal court. Right here in D.C., you can bring back four bottles of wine. If one visits Virginia wine country or my district in California, and one comes back with a six-pack of premium wine, the little six-pack containers that are so common for people to carry on the airplanes, one can be in violation of this district's laws, and one can be prosecuted in Federal court. Mr. Chairman, this bill should be defeated, and this issue should be left up to the States to decide without the heavy hand of the Federal Government's interference.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I think it is a clever cover for what the gentleman from Florida is trying to do, and that is advantage one industry player. I believe that the gentleman was privy to the same tape that I saw in Mr. Hatch's committee hearing that showed a 14-year-old girl accessing the Internet, trying to buy an alcoholic beverage. But the thing that was not talked much about in that hearing was the fact that her older brother or father was standing right there next to the television camera operator and filming this using his credit card. It is a far stretch from leading us to believe that some youngster is going to plan weeks ahead to purchase some alcoholic beverage and, in the case that impacts my district, a bottle of Cabernet. I do not think the teenagers of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Scarborough) are going to buy Opus Cabernet over the Internet with their parents' credit card.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I understand that. I also understand that the Federal court is not the place to determine how much wine one can bring back if one decides to go to the vineyards of Virginia over the course of a weekend that one spends here in D.C.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California and the gentleman from Indiana for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. They have made a serious effort to keep the bill clean and their dedication to that effort has been instrumental in putting together a bill that we can move through the process. I would like to also thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) for his assistance with a matter in the report regarding the Trinity River Diversion. It is my understanding that the report language relating to the Trinity River Diversion is meant to ensure that a decision on the Trinity River flows is made in accordance with existing law. Is that the gentleman's understanding as well?

Mr. THOMPSON of California. I yield to the gentleman from California.