Mark Udall

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call the attention of the House to recent recognition of Colorado's leadership in preserving significant parts of our state's colorful past. As reported by the Denver Post, that recognition came in the form of awards by the National Trust for Historic Preservation related to four Colorado sites--the 1878 Central City Opera House and historic district, 1886 Beaumont Hotel in Ouray, the 1905 Kit Carson Carousel in Stratton and the 13th-century Ute Indian Porcupine House at the Ute Mountain Tribal Park in Towaoc. I agree with Mr. Richard Moe, the President of the National Trust, who said, ``That Colorado was voted a total of four awards is a real tribute to its preservation effort and to the Colorado Historical Fund.'' I am proud of our state's record of support for historic preservation, and particularly proud to represent Central City, one of the award winners. For the information of our colleagues, here is the full story from the Denver Post: Colorado Wins Four Preservation Awards--Honors Recognize Statewide Efforts on Historic Sites (By J. Sebastian Sinisi) Colorado gained a national preservation spotlight at this week's National Trust for Historic Preservation conference in downtown Denver when four state sites received 2003 preservation awards. The 1886 Beaumont Hotel in Ouray, the 1878 Central City Opera House and historic district, the 1905 Kit Carson Carousel in Stratton and the 13th-century Ute Indian Porcupine House at the Ute Mountain Tribal Park in Towaoc were the recipients. ``These awards are very carefully considered,'' said Washington, D.C.-based National Trust president Richard Moe, who noted that more than 100 sites were nominated this year. ``That Colorado was voted a total of four awards is a real tribute to its preservation effort and to the Colorado Historical Fund,'' he said. No other state has garnered four awards in the same year in the 25-year history of the preservation awards, said National Trust senior vice president Peter Brink before an awards ceremony Thursday evening. Since 1993, the Colorado Historical Fund has distributed nearly $130 million in gambling tax revenues to 2,400 preservation projects throughout the state. One of Colorado's National Trust preservation awards lauded a $4 million restoration of the Beaumont Hotel--neglected and vandalized for 31 years--on Main Street in Ouray. The renovation includes two restaurants and six commercial spaces. The award for that project was shared by owners Dan and Mary King, High Peak Resources Inc. and the Andrews and Anderson Architects firm. A total of 21 awards nationwide were presented at the ceremony at the 1929 Paramount Theatre. Other Colorado awards went to the stabilized and restored Porcupine House, one of hundreds of endangered Anasazi-era ruins and dwellings inhabited roughly from A.D. 700 until the Indians mysteriously left about 1350. In Stratton, the nearly 100-year-old carousel was restored to its original grandeur after a $2.5 million and 25-year effort in a county with less than 8,000 residents. The Trustee Emeritus Award for excellence in the stewardship of historic sites went to the Central City Opera House Association. Launched in 1929 to preserve the miner-built edifice that had fallen into disrepair, the association started opera productions in 1932. In subsequent years, the association bought and restored 30 buildings, including the four-story Teller House hotel, as part of the Central City National Landmark District. The Teller's ``face on the barroom floor,'' painted in 1936, is one of the state's more popular tourist attractions. Through funding distributed by the Colorado Historical Fund, ``Colorado has been a model state not only in the West, but nationwide, for bringing together public and private preservation efforts,'' said Moe.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise today to recognize Rita Z. Schnidt of Arvada, Colorado for her decades of tireless volunteerism and political activism. This September, Ms. Schnidt, or Rita Z. as many call her, was given the Eleanor Roosevelt Award by the Jefferson County Democrats for her outstanding achievements in her community. This award is not presented to just anyone. The honoree must display tremendous leadership, strong dedication to community issues, and years of activity in the Jefferson County Democratic Party. Not only does Rita have these qualities, but she has a very unique attitude that has been described by many who work with her as ``contagious enthusiasm.'' Ms. Schnidt began her political career in 1974 volunteering on the campaign of former Congressman and Senator Tim Wirth. Initially she became involved because she enjoyed talking with people and discussing important issues in her community. What started as simple campaign work soon grew into much more activism. By the end of the 70s, Rita had been elected as Secretary and Treasurer of her State Senate and State House district committee and began managing local campaigns. As wonderful a campaign manager and volunteer as she was, Ms. Schnidt found that no political life can be complete without running for office. From 1977 to 1979, Ms. Schnidt served on the Arvada City Council. She also ran for her State House seat in 1982 and Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder in 1998. There is no doubt that Rita Schnidt is an outstanding political figure in Jefferson County and the City of Arvada, but Rita's greatness and generosity did not stop after the November elections. During her years in Arvada she also served on the Board of Foothills Mental Health Foundation and acted as community liaison for the Arvada Police D.A.R.E. Project for drug awareness. In 1983, recognizing her outreach to the community and leadership skills, she was named Arvada Woman of the Year. Through the years Rita Z. has been dedicated to basic principles of equality, diversity, and democracy. She remains an active member of city, county, and state politics. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise today in support of this year's Jefferson County Democrats Eleanor Roosevelt Award winner, Ms. Rita Z. Schnidt, an extraordinary volunteer and community leader, a great mother and grandmother, and a tremendous Coloradan.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Deborah Jin and to submit for the Record two recent articles from the Colorado Daily and the Washington Post describing these accomplishments. Dr. Jin is one of eighteen scholars chosen as MacArthur fellows, awards granted annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 4a Deborah Shiu-lan Jin is a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and a fellow at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA), a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado. Dr. Jin used lasers and magnetic traps to identify a new quantum gas by cooling a vapor of fermions--one of the two basic types of quantum particles--to a temperature less than a millionth of a degree above absolute zero. Her discovery was named one of the top ten scientific advances of the year in 1999 by the journal Science. Dr. Jin is internationally recognized as a major force in the world of extremely low temperature physics. I am proud of Dr. Jin, and I am proud of the institutions she represents. Dr. Jin is one of four University of Colorado-Boulder professors who have received the MacArthur fellowship since it began in 1981. Her colleagues at JILA include Dr. Eric Cornell of NIST and Dr. Carl Weiman of the University of Colorado, who created a new state of matter, the Bose-Einstein condensate, in 1995 and won a Nobel Prize for their discovery two years ago. Clearly, Colorado's excellent institutions make it possible for scientists to conduct their path- breaking research. Every year the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation rewards a small group of exceptionally creative individuals by naming them MacArthur Fellows. The foundation gives fellowship awards to those individuals who are pursuing unique approaches to their fields of study and those taking intellectual, scientific, and cultural risks. Clearly, these criteria describe NIST's awardee Dr. Jin, who has broken new ground in her field. Dr. Jin is an incredibly talented and driven scientist who is regarded with great esteem by her colleagues, one of whom predicted that Dr. Jin has what it takes to be one of the most innovative scientists of the century. I am certain that the foundation made an excellent choice in awarding Dr. Jin this prestigious fellowship. I am honored to represent such an exemplary individual. [From the Colorado Daily, Oct. 7, 2003] CU Professor Scoops the Genius Grant (By Sarah-Jane Wilton) Imagine being given a check for $500,000 and being told to go spend it however you choose, with no strings attached. For CU adjoint assistant professor Deborah Jin, winning a MacArthur fellowship means just that. The announcement came Sunday that Jin is among the 18 elite winners of the 2003 award, which annually honors talented individuals who have had ``extraordinary originality and dedication from their creative pursuits'' and shown ``a market capacity for self-direction.'' The fellowship, commonly known as the ``genius grant,'' is awarded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and is intended to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual and professional inclinations. Each awardee is presented with a ``no strings attached'' stipend of $500,000 paid out in quarterly installments over five years. Jin, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), created a new quantum gas that was named one of the top-10 scientific advances of the year by the journal Science, in 1999. With the assistance of graduate student Brian Demarco, Jin cooled a vapor of fermions--one of the two basic types of quantum particles, along with bosons--to a temperature less than a millionth of a degree above absolute zero using lasers and magnetic traps. The result was a quantum state in which atoms behave like waves. James Faller, chief of NIST's quantum physics division, said he was delighted at Jin's achievement. ``Debbie has an inquiring and creative mind. She is a super scientist and an incredible human being,'' said Faller. ``During the five-year term of her fellowship, I'm certain that the MacArthur Foundation will be incredibly proud of her.'' A graduate of Princeton University in 1990, Jin went on to receive a Ph.D from the University of Chicago in 1995. She then spent two years as a National Research Council research associate with NIST, working at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA). After her post-doctorate assignment, Jin was hired as a NIST physicist and assistant professor adjoint. Jin's colleagues in the physics department were thrilled to hear she had been honored, according to Katharine Gebbie, director of NIST's physics laboratory. Gebbie described Jin as having the intellect and drive to be one of the most innovative scientists of the century. ``Within two years of her appointment at NIST, (Jin) has seen the first evidence of degeneracy in a fermionic atomic gas, and she has run it from there,'' said Gebbie. ``This is a great honor for Debbie, for JILA, for the physics laboratory and for NIST.'' Jin is among four CU-Boulder professors who have received the fellowship since it began in 1981. Others include Daniel Jurafsky of computational linguistics in 2002, Norman Pace of molecular, cellular and developmental biology in 2001, and Patricia Limerick of history in 1995. CU-Boulder chancellor Richard Byyny said it was a remarkable fourth time in four years that he had the honor to congratulate a Boulder faculty member receiving the MacArthur award. ``Deborah Jin is an outstanding physicist and a valued teacher of undergraduate and graduate students, and this recognition is another example of the benefits of partnering with Boulder laboratories,'' said Byyny.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, Colorado is poorer this week because of the death of Arie Taylor. As the Denver Post accurately stated in a recent editorial, Ms. Taylor--the first Africa-American woman to serve in our Legislature--was one of the truly great figures in Colorado politics. An outspoken champion of equality and opportunity, Ms. Taylor exemplified the tradition of collegiality that was once the hallmark of Colorado's political debates. A role model for many Coloradans, Ms. Taylor also should be an example of how we as legislators and public figures should conduct ourselves. The complete editorial from the Denver Post follows: Arie Taylor 1927-2003, Role Model for All Colorado politics lost one of its truly great figures with the death Saturday of Arie Taylor, the first African-American woman elected to the legislature. Like many of Denver's African- Americans, Taylor moved to Colorado after serving in the military. The Ohio native served as a staff sergeant in the Women's Air Force from 1951 to 1955. Although she never had been stationed in Denver, she had heard favorable things about the city from an Air Force colleague and moved here in 1958. About two-thirds of her family eventually followed her from Cleveland. Taylor, who studied at Miami University of Ohio and Case Western Reserve University, ran an accounting business for many years and also held jobs with the city. A fervent champion of minority and women's rights, Taylor, 76, was beloved on both sides of the aisle. A passionate warrior on behalf of causes in which she believed, Taylor was good humored and gregarious, and she genuinely enjoyed what she did. Taylor represented House District 7 from 1972 until 1984 and won a reputation as an outspoken advocate for African- Americans, women, the poor, the elderly and other groups of people who were disadvantaged. During the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, she castigated Southern delegations for being all white and was described by a Chicago paper as a ``large, fierce black woman.'' Taylor never shied away from that description. Indeed, when U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis arrived at the Colorado Capitol after being elected to the state legislature two decades ago, his 2-year-old son said, ``Papa, now there's a big, fat black woman'' within Taylor's earshot. The mortified McInnis proceeded to lecture the boy. Toward the end of the day, Taylor recounted the story to the chamber, and asked the speaker of the House for an official rebuke ``against Rep. Scott McInnis,'' noting that ``his son took one look at me and called me a big, fat black woman. . . . He shouldn't lecture his son for telling the truth. The fact is, I am a big, fat black woman.'' It's worth noting that when Taylor served in the legislature, there was a collegiality among lawmakers that transcended party lines. People who fought over issues tooth and nail on the floor nonetheless were good friends in private life, a tradition that sadly seems to have been supplanted in recent years by a take-no-prisoners mentality more suited to professional wrestling than good government. ``She was involved in many controversies,'' recalled Omar Blair, the first black president of the Denver school board. ``She was a role model for a lot of young people and even a few old people like myself.'' Today, Coloradans of all colors have cause to mourn the loss of the businesswoman and lawmaker with the floppy hats and a heart bigger than the Great Plains.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, a recent editorial in the Denver Post calls on the Judiciary Committee to perform the oversight function of calling Attorney General John Ashcroft to account. The editorial evidently was prompted by the Attorney General's recent move to restrict plea bargaining in federal criminal cases. I think the editorial has it just right, and I urge the Judiciary Committee to promptly begin hearings on this and other Justice Department policies under the current administration. For the information of our colleagues, I am attaching the full text of the Denver Post editorial. Ashcroft's Plea Ploy Attorney General John Ashcroft's scheme to make it tougher for federal prosecutors to reach plea bargains with criminal defendants is an ill-considered proposal that bespeaks an unrealistic view of the capacity of the American court system. Some observers say Ashcroft's plan is merely a ploy to make his boss, President George W. Bush, look tough on crime for the 2004 election. But all this sound-bite buffoonery accomplishes is to make the Bush administration look patently stupid. Even the greenest cub reporter on the federal court beat learns quickly that more than 90 percent of federal criminal cases are settled with plea bargains. Defendants plead guilty, often to a lesser charge or fewer counts, and this is taken into account at sentencing. Plea bargains avoid going to trial in federal courts where dockets already are critically crowded. In exchange for guilty pleas, defendants can get some reduction in sentences, although formulaic federal sentencing guidelines adopted in the 1980s give judges very little discretion. The U.S. Justice Department says the new policy is intended to counter dangerously lenient sentencing practices by some federal judges. Utter nonsense. It's no accident our federal prisons are jammed to the rafters. And Ashcroft's claim to be acting in the interest of fairness is beyond laughable. We recall that when the late Dale Tooley ran for Denver district attorney in 1972, he excoriated his predecessor for plea bargaining. Once elected, though, Tooley quickly realized the deals were necessary to prevent hopeless logjams in court. Even former federal prosecutors told The New York Times that Ashcroft's approach was too rigid. ``A check-the- box analysis really does mask differences,'' said a former top Manhattan fed. ``Crimes are different, places are different, people are different.'' Beyond being unrealistic, at times it seems that Ashcroft is intent on dismantling most of the traditional safeguards and liberties so venerated by President Bush's conservative constituency. He is the chief architect of the USA Patriot Act, which has eroded basic constitutional freedoms. He has secretly proposed being given sweeping, arbitrary powers in the name of national security while debasing constitutional guarantees against illegal search and seizure and seeking broad powers to tap phones and other communications without court supervision. He has asked Congress for greater latitude in seeking the death penalty and to expand the crimes for which it can be imposed. He has asked his minions in U.S. attorneys' offices to keep tabs on which federal district judges mete out sentences more lenient than sentencing guidelines. He has assailed the ancient common-law concept of proportionality in sentencing and the concept of an independent judiciary. Ashcroft's Machiavellian attacks on fundamental liberties under the pretext of combatting international terrorism are a betrayal of his oath to uphold the Constitution. President Bush should jerk Ashcroft's leash. Failing that, the judiciary committees of Congress should.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Cole Finegan, who for the past sixteen years has made significant contributions to the political, philanthropic, legal and social fabric of Colorado. Cole has recently been selected to serve as the City Attorney for Denver by Mayor John Hickenlooper, where he will serve with distinction. A native of Oklahoma, Cole graduated from Notre Dame in 1978. He completed his law degree at Georgetown University in 1987, where he worked for the Tax Lawyer Law Review. No stranger to the House, his public sector experience began with Congressman Jim Jones of Oklahoma, for whom he served as a legislative aide, campaign manager and later as chief of staff. Cole later served as chief legal counsel and policy director for Colorado Governor Roy Romer, handling all legal matters for the governor and advising on all judicial appointments. As policy director, he supervised the development of policy on economic, environmental, health care, energy, telecommunications, transportation and education. Those close to Governor Romer will confirm that Cole was highly respected and had the affectionate esteem of the Governor and his staff, in large part because he respected dissenting opinions and always found time to mentor those who were less experienced. As a senior member of the law firm, Brownstein, Hyatt and Farber, Cole worked on land use issues, regulatory and administrative matters and election law. I am proud to say that he also found time to serve as my counsel, and has been a trusted advisor for the time I have served in Congress. Other members of the House will recognize Cole's involvement with the Democratic National Campaign Committee, and his friendship, political advice and steady support for so many of our colleagues. Cole's service has not been limited to partisan matters, however. His commitment to educational opportunity is demonstrated by his service as Vice Chair of the Denver Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors, a member of the Board of Directors of the I Have a Dream Foundation, a member of the Urban Land Institute, and a member of the Advisory Board of Directors for the Community College of Denver. He has also served on the Colorado State Board of Agriculture governing Colorado State University and the Board of Trustees for the State Colleges of Colorado. This long list of public accomplishment for such a young man, however, is not what impresses me most about Cole Finegan. I count him as a friend and a role model because Cole has lived the adage in politics that ``one can disagree without being disagreeable.'' He is a man of accomplishment in the public arena to be sure, but he is also a man with a great and good heart. One story may suffice to demonstrate my point: I learned only recently that Cole has for many years provided legal service to an indigent man whom he befriended during a past political campaign. Many busy and successful lawyers with high-rise offices overlooking Denver's fashionable 17th street would find it more convenient to pass this work on to a subordinate or even quietly ignore a face from the past. Cole made time to treat this man like a valued human being, and in fact, most of those who've worked with Cole, including those who've found him to be a worthy adversary, will insist that Cole's great gift is that he honors the humanity in people. In short, I believe Cole Finegan deserves to be mentioned here--not because he is a highly successful public servant--but because he has proven that excellence in public service does not have to come at the expense of being a good and kind human being. With his unique blend of public, private and nonprofit experience, Cole Finegan will bring wisdom and experience to the office of Denver's City Attorney and assume a leadership role that will build innovative ideas and management to city government. I wish him well in this exciting endeavor and thank him for his commitment to public service and the citizens of Denver and Colorado.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to The National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, Colorado. This outstanding internationally recognized recreational program in my district has been serving people with disabilities more than thirty years. Founded in January, 1970 by The Winter Park Ski Resort ski school to teach skiing to amputees from The Children's Hospital in Denver, this now year-round recreational program has now served over 48,000 persons with a range of disabilities. Blind, paraplegic, cancer, stroke, amputees, deaf and cerebral palsy children and adults from across the country participate in skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, horseback riding, golfing, rafting and fishing in the beautiful Fraser Valley of Colorado. Recreational and competitive programs prepare disabled athletes for this range of mountain sport activities to develop confidence and self- esteem in an athletic environment long thought to be inaccessible to disabled members of society. The Sports Center's competitive programs groom elite-level skiers for regional, national and international competition. Winter Park's Disabled Ski Team competed in the 2002 Paralympics in Salt Lake City, winning over 20 medals in competition. In 1992, a therapeutic riding center, run by volunteers, was established to give participants riding lessons, training riders in the care, grooming and health of horses. The Center also provides a fully accessible camping experience for disabled campers and their families. This outdoor experience is offered on a first come, first serve basis and is completely free. Through a partnership with The Metropolitan State College of Denver, the Center is creating a virtual reality skiing experience on the internet to help the disabled overcome the fear of the unknown and work toward participating in the many athletic programs available at Winter Park. Through the generous support of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation, the Denver Broncos Charities Fund, Barbara and Joseph Glaser Scholarships, and the NSCD's Sponsor an Athlete Scholarship fund, athletes from around the country are selected to come to Colorado. Scholarships are awarded based on need and athletic commitment. Widely considered the largest and most successful outdoor therapeutic recreation agency in the world, each year thousands of children and adults with disabilities come to our magnificent state to learn they, too, can enjoy the mountains, trails, golf courses and streams that the Rocky Mountains offers our nation and the world. Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West is proud to be the home to The National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, created and maintained to give individuals with mental or physical disabilities superb summer and winter sports programs to learn about a variety of sports and themselves.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am voting for this bill because without enactment of such an extension the current transportation law will expire on September 30, 2003 and it is important that transportation programs and projects continue while Congress continues to work toward their long-term renewal. However, I am concerned about a provision in this bill that would grant States the ability to transfer unobligated funds between transportation programs during the extension period. Regional governments in my State have similar concerns. They have let me know that they are worried that shifting funds from transportation enhancement and safety activities, mitigation for metropolitan traffic congestion, and clean air programs could seriously undermine planning activities for these projects and cause critical delays and disruptions. There appears to be little need or justification for this provision, and I will continue to resist any attempt to weaken guaranteed funding for transportation enhancement activities when the transportation bill is reauthorized on a long-term basis. In the meantime, I strongly urge the Colorado Department of Transportation to work cooperatively with local entities, particularly the Denver Regional Council of Governments, to ensure that these enhancement programs are safeguarded during the extension period.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I continue to have serious concerns about the activities of the Justice Department under the current Administration. So, I agree completely with an editorial in today's Rocky Mountain News regarding the recent directive by the Attorney General instructing U.S. Attorneys to limit use of plea bargains and to pursue the most serious possible charges in most cases. As the editorial notes, ``if there is a problem with overly lenient sentences and go-easy prosecutors, the Justice Department has yet to prove it. Ashcroft might be trying to fix a system that isn't broken. The order also could have the dangerous effect of diminishing the discretion of federal judges and prosecutors, a critical point now that more and more offenses that were once purely state law are now federal crimes.'' The editorial concludes by saying ``Congress should insist that Ashcroft more thoroughly explain why this order is necessary.'' On that point, I fully concur, and urge the Judiciary Committee to seek such an explanation without delay. For the benefit of our colleagues, here is the full text of the editorial: [From the Rocky Mountain News, Sept. 24, 2003] What Problem Is Ashcroft Solving? Attorney General John Ashcroft is becoming a prolific writer of memos to the 94 U.S. attorneys. His latest instructs them to pursue the toughest possible charges and seek the severest sentences possible. And he also ordered them to limit the use of plea bargains. The goal, he said, was to bring uniformity and consistency to federal criminal prosecutions. By itself, the order is not unreasonable. It reflects the Bush administration's stand on law enforcement, and it returns to a similar order the department issued in 1989 during the administration of Bush senior. The order was relaxed during the Clinton administration. And Ashcroft's order has reasonable exceptions on plea bargaining, for example, to reward cooperation and clear overcrowded dockets. But if there is a problem with overly lenient sentences and go-easy prosecutors, the Justice Department has yet to prove it. Ashcroft might be trying to fix a system that isn't broken. The order also could have the dangerous effect of diminishing the discretion of federal judges and prosecutors, a critical point now that more and more offenses that were once purely state law are now federal crimes. Ashcroft also has told the U.S. attorneys to report judges who impose lighter sentences than called for by federal sentencing guidelines. Yet seeking the toughest charges with the maximum sentences could also increase the federal judiciary's already backlogged workload. With little possibility of a plea bargain, more defendants now have an incentive to go to trial and then continue the fight through the appeals process. Congress should insist that Ashcroft more thoroughly explain why this order is necessary.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 112th Anniversary of the Oxford Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Speaker, 1891 was a tremendous year. Fueled by the Silver Rush, it was a time of great promise for the fledgling State of Colorado, and in September of that year, the Oxford Hotel opened its doors for the first time. With its beautiful artwork and antique furniture, the Oxford offered its patrons class and luxury in the heart of the American Frontier. It provided its patrons with world-class dining facilities. The Oxford also was one of the first hotels in the West to have an elevator. Located in the historic Lower Downtown district of Denver, the Oxford is only a walk away from the city's most cherished landmarks: The Denver Mint, the State Capital, Larimer Square, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, just to name a few. Its history and location helped build the Oxford's reputation as a cultural beacon in Colorado. This was reinforced in the 1960's and '70's when the hotel became renowned as a jazz center. For years I have had the privilege of knowing the owners of the Oxford Hotel: Walter and Christie Isenberg and Dana Crawford. And I must commend them for their fabulous preservation of the Oxford as a piece of Colorado history and for maintaining its reputation as one of the West's best hotels. The Oxford has seen a city, a state, and indeed a whole region grow around it in its 112 years. Even though the country around the Oxford has changed dramatically, the hotel has not. This wonderful hotel remains a unique visiting experience for its patrons. It still provides world-class services to all who stay there. And it is, and shall be, one of Colorado's most cherished landmarks for as long as it stands. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me and show support for the Oxford Hotel and its 112 years of greatness.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I must object to the manner in which the House is taking up this bill, and cannot support the motion to suspend the normal rules that otherwise would apply to its consideration. The bill would authorize an exchange of land between the Federal Government and an Indian tribe. The purpose of the exchange is to provide the tribe with land appropriate for building much-needed new schools. The land that would go to the tribe is now part of a national park, while the land that the government would receive is a park inholding. The Resources Committee's hearing on the measure left me with no doubt about the tribe's need for those new schools--and of course that means that a suitable site is necessary. But the hearing also made clear that the specific details of this bill, and the exchange it would mandate, are controversial and that the legislation is opposed strongly by a variety of people, both in North Carolina and here in Washington, DC. Therefore, I think the House should consider the bill under procedures that would allow for more extensive debate and for the possibility of amendments--rather than through a motion to suspend the rules, which severely limits debate and does not allow for any amendments to be offered. Motions to suspend the rules should be used only for less controversial measures. Accordingly, I will vote against the motion in this instance, and urge the leadership of the House to allow the House to consider H.R. 1409 under normal procedures.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the important public service accomplishments and leadership of the man who was Denver's mayor from 1991 until 2003, the Honorable Wellington E. Webb. As many of our colleagues already know, Wellington Webb not only served the people of Denver and the State of Colorado with great distinction, he is also recognized as a leader of national stature. As Denver's first African-American mayor, Wellington Webb's leadership stirred hope to minorities across the nation, and gave proof and promise to the late Dr. Martin Luther King's plea for a time when people might be ``judged, not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.'' Wellington Webb began public service in the Colorado General Assembly and in the cabinet of Governor Richard Lamm, where he served with distinction. He was a regional administrator for the Carter Administration and a senior campaign official in President Carter's re- election campaign. I hesitate to draw out the long list of his various public offices and awards because such a list does little to convey the depth of his record, or the weight of his contributions to the City and County of Denver, to the State of Colorado and to the United States of America. Suffice it to say that he and his wife, Wilma, were both drawn to public service from an early age and together, they have amassed an amazing amount of personal experience in local, state and federal public service. Collectively and as individuals, Wellington and Wilma Webb have contributed a great deal to enhance the discourse that has shaped the last thirty years of politics in Colorado. They are both respected leaders, and as the Chair of the National Conference of Mayors, Wellington was particularly forceful in bringing needed attention to the issues that face America's urban centers. Although he has retired from the politics of city hall in Denver, Wellington has not retired from public service, and I believe the Bush Administration and Congress would do well to seek his advice on the myriad of issues that urban America faces in the aftermath of 9/11. It has been said that the most effective political leaders are those who know how to combine the talents of listening well, inspiring followers and earning the respect, if not fear, of their adversaries. By these measures, Wellington Webb is an extraordinarily effective leader. Even those who were not supporters of Wellington Webb--and that number shrank to fewer and fewer as time went on and his record grew, would readily admit that he is a man who earns respect. While I have had only a few opportunities to interact with Wellington Webb in my capacity as a Member of Congress, I learned from every one of our conversations. I admire the courage and perseverance he has shown on so many issues, talking bluntly but with wisdom on many topics, and with a sense of humor that cuts through the nonsense that so often characterizes political debate in our time. My sense is that Wellington Webb never suffered fools, but was not unkind either. I imagine he is uncomfortable with the tributes and accolades that are coming his way in the aftermath of his three terms as mayor, but I hope he will understand that these are important milestones that can inspire a whole new generation of young leaders. I ask my colleagues in the Congress to not only join me in honoring the extraordinary public service of Wellington E. Webb, but also to join me in expressing the hope that he may find other ways to continue to serve our country.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the distinguished service of Mr. Jim Williams, KYSL-FM radio newscaster of Frisco, CO. Mr. Williams arrived in Summit County in March of 2000 and has since proved to be the voice of Summit County news. Mr. Williams has provided Summit County residents with not only daily newscasts and sportscasts, but has been a major supporter of community events. Williams got his start in broadcast journalism in 1979 in Wray. He has since moved from station to station and state to state. This past spring, Mr. Williams was honored by the Colorado Broadcasters Association (CBA) with a first and second place in the best newscast category and was named CBA's medium-market broadcast citizen of the year for 2002. The dedication, enthusiasm and activism with which Mr. Williams has pursued his work deserves our most sincere thanks. Thus, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mr. Jim Williams for his service and many contributions to his community. He is much appreciated. Sadly for the Summit County community, Mr. Williams will give his last live broadcast on September 10, 2003 and then head to Illinois to co-host a radio talk show. For the benefit of our colleagues, I am attaching a copy of a recent story about Mr. Williams that appeared in the Summit Daily News. [From the Summit Daily News, Sept. 3, 2003] Jim Williams To Leave KYSL (By Jane Stebbins) Frisco.--Jim Williams, the rare committed radio newscaster to work in the community, is leaving KYSL-FM for a new job in Illinois as co-host of a radio talk show. In addition to the news, Williams broadcasted Summit High School football games and gave detailed, if not breathless, reports of other Tiger sports, perhaps most memorably the recent state tournament girls volleyball teams. His last live newscast--he said it will be a difficult one--will be at 9 a.m. September 10. ``It's one of the challenges left, one of the reasons it's so exciting,'' he said of the talk show gig. ``It's something new, something different.'' Williams got his start in broadcast journalism in 1979 in Wray, where he reported farm news, obituaries, hospital admissions and releases, maintained the transmitter, cleaned the toilets and sold ads, he said. He then moved from station to station and state to state: Morris, Minn., Ogallala, Neb., Sioux Falls, S.D., Springfield, Ill., Myrtle Beach, and Columbia, S.C., Denver, Aspen, Vail, Avon and Frisco. He landed in Summit County in March 2000 and has written and voiced daily newscasts and sportscasts, provided play-by- play broadcasts of high school games--a feature that was deleted this summer from KYSL's programming--and represented the station as an emcee at numerous community events. Now, he will co-host an afternoon talk show with Beth Whisman on Citadel Communications' WJBC in a market that has the potential for more than 110,000 listeners. ``It'll be a little bit of everything,'' Williams said of the focus of the show. ``They had a guy there who was really, really political, using the radio as his bully pulpit--you don't want that. The idea when people are going home is not to irritate them. It won't be light talk, but it'll be lighter than that.'' He looks forward to discussing politics, entertainment and local politics. And in his new job, unlike in the news world where reporters try to be unbiased, Williams will be allowed to hold opinions. ``The thing that'll get me to cringe is when people will try to nail me down on social issues,'' he said. ``That's when I'll be sweating and backpedalling. I need to get off the news fence and develop an opinion.'' While here, Williams has reported on at least one major story each year. His first year, he was on the sidelines when Carlos Ebert-Santos was tackled during Summit High School's homecoming football game. The aspiring pro-football player had broken his neck. ``Carlos was on a roll that night,'' Williams recalled. ``He would have gone for 200, 300 yards offense that night. To see him go down and not get up was chilling. It was one of the moments I was speechless. I didn't know what to say to people. I didn't want to alarm them. ``To see him come back and walk was heartwarming,'' he said of Ebert-Santos' recovery. ``It was a terrible story that had about as good an ending as it could have.'' Equally as chilling was the Sharon Garrison murder story and husband Chuck Garrison's murder trial in 2002. The big story in recent weeks has been basketball star Kobe Bryant's sexual assault charge in Eagle. In between, Williams has been the emcee for the rubber duck race in Breckenridge--``Anything for the Summit Foundation,'' Williams said--Frisco's Barbecue Challenge, Fourth of July, Music on Main Street and Concerts in the Park, among many other events. Williams said he will miss Summit County community events, his co-workers and people in the community--but most of all the high school kids, he said, wiping away a tear. ``I hate moving more than anything, but it's the nature of this business,'' he said. ``This job has been pretty close to ideal. This community has been awesome; it's the best place I've been. But this challenge excites me. It's not an opportunity that comes along every day.'' Normally an easy talker, Williams is stumped as to what he'll say that last time on Summit County's airwaves. ``I might try to be silly like Dennis Miller and say, ``That's the news, and I'm out of here,''' he said. ``I think it'll be something more from the heart. These people have really gotten in my heart. If I could have this joy again (in another community), I'd be blessed.'' He'll be back, he said, albeit as a tourist. ``Hopefully, I'll still know enough people to get a lift ticket or two,'' he said.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Freedom to Establish State High Air Quality (FrESH AIR Quality)'' Act. I'm pleased that my colleague from Connecticut, Representative Chris Shays, is joining me as an original cosponsor of the bill. This bill is designed to preserve the ability of States, Indian tribes, municipalities, and air pollution control agencies to protect the public health and the environment. Specifically, it would give them discretion as to whether or not to implement the EPA's August 27, 2003 new source review revisions. There is no question that our Nation's environmental laws have improved the health, safety and environmental quality of communities across the country. These laws have served us well. Of course, there is always room for improvement, and I am committed to working collaboratively to make sure our environmental laws not only work effectively to bring about environmental and health and safety improvements, but also allow our economy to prosper. Environmental protection and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive--in fact, they go hand-in-hand. However, I'm concerned that the EPA's August revisions tip the balance, and do so in a way that puts the quality of our air at unacceptable risk. The Clean Air Act allowed for routine maintenance of old, dirty electrical plants and other facilities, while requiring that more extensive changes in these plants would require installation of modern anti-pollution technology. This compromise was intended to allow a smooth transition, not to persist forever. The so-called new source review regulations were designed to draw a line between routine maintenance and the kind of changes that would require the installation of this newer anti-pollution technology. Some revisions to these regulations might be appropriate. However, the revisions finalized in August, in my opinion, are out of balance. They would allow continued emission of airborne contaminants for many years after such pollution should have become history. Millions of Americans, including the elderly and young children who are most vulnerable to air pollution, live close to the nearly 17,000 industrial facilities that would be shielded by this radical change in policy. But there would be no incentive for the owners of these facilities to make the investment needed to reduce or prevent continued emission of harmful airborne contaminants. This is an abdication of the Federal Government's responsibility. But this new policy goes even further. It requires all States to adopt these new regulations in total. In other words, the new rules would take away the States' legal ability under the Clean Air Act to develop programs that are more protective of health, safety and the environment than required by Federal regulations. This flies in the face of the Clean Air Act and of the principle of State flexibility. Instead of a regulatory ``floor'' which ensures some minimum level of protection for public health and the environment, these new regulations would create a floor, a ceiling and walls that would hem in every State, every Indian tribe, and every air pollution control agency. My bill would tear down that structure. It would allow State, tribal, and local officials to decide whether to adopt these new EPA regulations as a ``floor,'' or instead to maintain their current clean air programs--and it reestablishes the principle that these entities can go further to establish more stringent requirements to protect the health and safety of their citizens. They have this option right now under the Clean Air Act, and they should continue to have that flexibility, without fear of Federal punishment or discouragement. It would be their choice. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we must continue to make progress in improving our air quality, and we should continue to do so through partnerships between the Federal agencies, the States and Indian tribes. The new EPA rules would undermine those partnerships. My bill would preserve them and allow the Federal Government's partners to do all that they can to protect the public and the environment. For the benefit of my colleagues, I am attaching a section-by-section digest of the bill. The Freedom to Establish State High Air Quality Act (FrESH AIR Quality Act) Section-by-Section Section 1. Short Title The bill is cited as the Freedom to Establish State High Air Quality (FrESH AIR Quality) Act. Section 2. Findings and Purpose The bill includes findings related to the August 27 new source review revisions, and states the bill's purpose: ``The purpose of this Act is to preserve the ability of States, Indian tribes, municipalities, and air pollution control agencies to protect the public health and the environment by affording them discretion as to whether or not to implement the new source review revisions finalized by the EPA on August 27, 2003.'' Section 3. Preservation of State and Tribal Authority The bill includes the following prohibitions: (1) No State, Indian tribe, municipality, or air pollution control agency is required to implement or have implemented EPA's new source review revisions. (2) No revision of a Federal implementation plan pursuant to the new revisions can take effect until the affected State, Indian tribe, municipality, or air pollution control agency notifies the EPA that it agrees to this revision. (3) If a State, Indian tribe, municipality, or air pollution control agency does not implement the August 27 new source revisions or does not consent to revision of a Federal implementation plan pursuant to the new revisions, it is not subject to sanctions, to the revocation of an approved State implementation plan under the Clean Air Act, or to the imposition of a new or revised Federal implementation plan.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Raymond Chu of Boulder. Mr. Chu died in Colorado on May 24th of this year at Rocky Mountain National Park at the age of 78. Throughout his life, he demonstrated his dedication to the earth, all people, and animals. Raymond Chu was born Oct. 10, 1924 in Shanghai, China. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Antioch College in Ohio. A few years later, in 1959, he married Janet Pattee in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mr. Chu proudly served as a B-52 pilot in the Chinese National Air Force and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy. During his life, Raymond Chu made countless contributions to our Colorado community. Those who had the good fortune to work with him at the National Center for Atmospheric Research will not soon forget his long and distinguished career. Nor will he be forgotten by the people who benefited from the many respiratory appliances that he created and patented. Raymond was known for his translations from Chinese script to English for his fellow high school graduates, and he was a noted speaker on the subject of the China-Burma theater of World War II. We will remember Mr. Chu as an environmentalist, an inventor, and most importantly, a loving father and husband. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Raymond Chu and the outstanding contributions of his life.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, because of a famiIy medical emergency that required me to remain in Colorado last week, I was unable to participate in a number of recorded votes. Had I been present for those votes, I would have voted as follows: H.R. 2989, Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations: Rollcall No. 481, Hefley amendment--I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 482, Sessions amendment--I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 483, Flake amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 484, Delahunt amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 485, Sanders amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 486, Hastings of Florida amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 487, Van Hollen amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 488, Davis of Florida amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 489--passage of the bill--I would have voted ``yes.'' H.R. 2765, District of Columbia Appropriations: Rolrcall No. 490-- Davis of Virginia amendment (2nd vote)--I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 491--passage of the bill--I would have voted ``no.'' H. Res. 359: welcoming His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and recognizing his commitment to non-violence, human rights, freedom, and democracy: Rollcall No. 492--passage of the resolution--I would have voted ``yes.'' Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1308: Rollcall No. 493--motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1308--I would have voted ``yes.'' Motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2555, Department of Homeland Security appropriations: Rollcall No. 494--on the motion to instruct--I would have voted ``yes.'' H.R. 2622, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act: Rollcall No. 495, Sanders amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 496, Kanjorski amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 497, Frank amendment--I would have voted ``yes.'' Rollcall No. 498, Ney amendment--I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 499, passage of H.R. 2622--I would have voted ``yes.'' Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1588, Defense Authorization Bill: Rollcall No. 500, motion to instruct conferees--I would have voted ``yes.'' Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1308, Tax Legislation: Rollcall No. 501, motion to instruct conferees--I would have voted ``yes.'' Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits: Rollcall No. 502, motion to instruct conferees--I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the distinguished service of Mr. Tom Baker, the Town Manager of Basalt, CO. Mr. Baker is the recipient of the University of Colorado's Leo. C. Riethmayer award for the ``outstanding public administrator of 2003''. Mr. Baker has proven his dedication to the Roaring Fork Valley since 1983, having held a variety of local government positions during his residency. In particular his tenure as Town Manager has provided him with the authority to restructure Basalt's local government process by downplaying the role of elected officials in the town's decisionmaking processes, which has successfully promoted increased citizen involvement. Specifically, Mr. Baker has created citizen committees, in which ten percent of Basalt's residents participate, to ensure broad constituent involvement in the decisions of the town government. The utilization of these committees has enabled the town to avoid failures that are often associated with uninformed policy decisions. The dedication, vision, and selflessness with which Mr. Baker has pursued his work deserves our most sincere thanks. Thus, I ask that my colleagues join with me in thanking Tom Baker for his service and many contributions to his community. He is much appreciated. For further information on our colleague, I am attaching a copy of a recent story about Mr. Baker that appeared in The Aspen Times newspaper on July 25, 2003. Baker Named ``Outstanding'' Town Manager (By Scott Condon) Basalt Town Manager Tom Baker has received a top honor in Colorado as the ``outstanding public administrator of 2003.'' The Colorado Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha and the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado, Denver, selected Baker as the winner of the Leo C. Riethmayer award. It is given annually in Riethmayer's memory as the founding father of public affairs studies at CU. While Baker was honored to receive the recognition, he was characteristically humble about his role in earning it. ``To be singled out for recognition is almost uncomfortable,'' he said. ``The whole community is really being acknowledged.'' Baker was a finalist for the award last year, when his nomination was coordinated by Basalt Town Councilwoman Jacque Whitsitt. The selection committee contacted Basalt Mayor Rick Stevens this year and urged him to re-nominate Baker because he was such a strong candidate. Baker has drawn accolades for helping create a ``horizontal, informal'' type of governing in Basalt that downplays the role of the elected officials as decisionmakers and promotes citizen involvement. Town officials estimated 10 percent of Basalt residents, roughly 220 people, are working directly with the town government on one of many citizen committees. There are currently 14 citizen committees working on issues ranging from the water rate structure, to how property along the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan rivers should be developed. The idea of drawing so much community participation is to empower individuals in the decisionmaking process, Baker said. It is meant to avoid the ``us versus them'' trap politics often falls into when a handful of elected officials make decisions in a vacuum. Baker was hired as the town manager in late 1998, and from the start he nurtured the idea of the town building ``social capital.'' Instead of just reviewing land-use applications, the Town Council and town staff work to strengthen civic organizations and causes, both permanent and ad hoc. Baker received his Bachelor of Science degree in City and Regional Planning from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and his Master of Public Administration from CU Denver. He has been a resident of the Roaring Fork Valley since 1983 and has held a variety of local government positions, including Aspen Assistant City Manager, Executive Director of the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority, and Assistant Planning Director for Aspen and Pitkin County. He received the Leadership Aspen Alumni Award in 2001 and serves on The Aspen Institute's Community Forum Board. He is an accomplished facilitator and serves as an advisor to the Institute of Social Ecology and Public Policy at Monterey, California. The official presentation and celebration of the Riethmayer Award will take place on Tuesday, August 12, in Basalt. This event usually happens on the Front Range, but this year the Pi Alpha Alpha Colorado chapter board members will come to Basalt to honor Baker in his hometown.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Frances M. ``Kelley'' Green, a citizen of Colorado, who dedicated her life to preserving and protecting Colorado's and the nation's environment and human rights. As a dedicated attorney, philanthropist and teacher, Kelley committed her life to social causes that improved the conditions of others and the greater community. A native of Georgia, Kelley graduated from Wellesley College and received her law degree from George Washington University Law School. Following law school, she clerked for U.S. District Judge Frank M. Johnson, a key jurist in civil rights cases in the '50s and '60s. As a child of the '60s, Kelley's passions became the focal point for her life of public service, and her vision propelled forward two environmental organizations that will shape the lives of Colorado's citizens for decades to come. Following law school and her judicial clerkship, Green practiced law at Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering in Washington, D.C. In 1976, she was tapped to serve as a member of President Carter's transition team and was appointed deputy assistant attorney general for the Carter Administration from 1977-1979. Colorado was lucky to gain Kelley as a permanent resident in 1982, when she moved to Boulder to work for the National Wildlife Foundation at the University of Colorado. In 1989, while running her own private practice, Green founded the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, an environmental law and advocacy organization, dedicated to developing solutions tailored to the unique environment of the interior American West. The group strives to consider the economic, environmental, and cultural implications of all its actions and now has more than 20 employees. In 1999, Kelley's passion for the long term sustainability of the Rocky Mountain West inspired her to create Earth Walk, an environmental science-learning program. Geared to low-income inner city children, Earth Walk's goal is to increase 9 to 12 year olds awareness of the world around them and inspire them to become environmentalists. With after school programs in Northeast Denver and a summer camp in Utah, Earth Walk is achieving its mission. Her personal philanthropy was demonstrated through the Green Fund, a private foundation supporting environmental projects, programs serving women and children and efforts to educate women in Afghanistan. She was also a distinguished board member of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama. Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West will miss Frances Kelley Green, an outstanding woman who inspired us all to be advocates for environmental justice, to be passionate about our lives and the world we live in, and to act with wisdom and compassion about the future of our fragile environment. For the information of our colleagues, here is a copy of a news article on Kelly's passing: [From the Denver Post, Sept. 9, 2003] Boulder Lawyer a True Friend of the Environment (By Claire Martin) She was baptized Frances M. Green but was destined to be Kelley Green, an environmental lawyer and advocate and a philanthropist who made sure that her passion for the environment endured beyond her lifetime. Kelley Green, 57, died of uterine cancer Aug. 25 in Boulder. Green was 44 and a lawyer with a private practice in Boulder when, in 1989, she founded the Boulder-based Land and Water Fund, now known as Western Resource Advocates. ``As a lawyer, she handled these environmental cases, and there was a real absence then of competent environmental lawyers who were available to grassroots environmental organizations--not only in Colorado but throughout the interior West,'' said Bruce Driver, Western Resource Advocates' executive director. Over the next 10 years, the organization became both a resource for budget-challenged environmental groups and an influential advocate of campaigns to protect natural environments in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Idaho. ``She was tenacious, very smart, and street-smart,'' Driver said. ``She was the kind of person who could sidle into a room and not say much for a while. But you could tell she'd been listening, because she'd come out and say something that kind of wrapped everything up in five sentences. She was very, very intelligent.'' Green graduated from Wellesley College and earned her law degree in 1972 from George Washington University Law School, where she was notes editor of the law review. After graduating, she worked as a clerk for U.S. District Judge Frank M. Johnson, who made key decisions in civil- rights cases of the 1950s and '60s. She became a passionate advocate of civil rights and served on the board of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala. She also was a member of the 1976 transition team for President Carter and served as a deputy associate attorney general in 1977-79. She never married. She threw her energy into the work she saw as vocation and avocation. If she joined an organization as a volunteer, not much time passed before she was helping run things. Green first came to the Satyana Institute, a nonprofit training and service organization in Boulder then known as Shavano, to volunteer twice a week to file, handle the accounting and other clerking tasks. She went on to become the first chairwoman of the organization's board of directors. Green invested her own money, along with her time, in the causes she adopted. In 1997 she founded Denver-based Earth Walk, an environmental education program offered to urban fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students in classrooms and wilderness camps. After she died, friends and associates learned that she had also created The Green Fund, a private philanthropic foundation that she used to anonymously donate to environmental projects, women and children's organizations, and to the education of women in Afghanistan.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, because of a family medical emergency, I was unable to be present for this week's votes on H.R. 2989. Had I been present, I would have voted for its passage. I did have a number of concerns about the bill, and about the process under which it has been considered. In particular, I was very disappointed that the Republican leadership refused to allow the House to consider an amendment to suspend the cost-of-living increase for Members of Congress. I thought the House should have the chance to vote on that question, especially now when the unemployment rate is so high and the federal budget deficit is so large. Overall, however, I think the bill's good provisions outweigh its flaws. The bill includes substantial funding for a number of transportation projects in Colorado, including ongoing work to upgrade highways in the Denver metropolitan area and other parts of our state. I strongly support these provisions, which will help Colorado address some of its most pressing transportation needs and will also help our state's economy not only by a shortterm stimulus of jobs and purchases of supplies but also by infrastructure improvements that will yield big dividends in the years ahead. I commend Chairman Istook, Ranking Member Olver, and the other members of the appropriations committee for including these items in the bill. Another reason I support the bill is because it also provides for other forms of transportation such as rail and buses. Highways are important, but highways alone do not constitute a sound or balanced transportation system, in Colorado or anywhere else. That is why I favor continued support for Amtrak's service to our state and other parts of the Nation and why I also support having a portion of federal transportation funding go for such ``enhancements'' as pedestrian, bike, and trail facilities. In addition, the bill provides essential funding for other Transportation Department purposes as well as for the Treasury Department, the Executive Office of the President, and other important parts of the federal government. Among other things, it includes funds for continued implementation of the Help America Vote Act. I strongly supported enactment of that measure, and am glad that the bill includes provisions that will allow the General Services Administration to distribute grants under that Act if the new Federal Election Assistance Commission--which is supposed to perform that function--is not in operation by the start of the next fiscal year. The bill also includes funds for the Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Trust Fund and for the United States Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution. These are the accounts associated with the Morris K. Udall Foundation, and I am sure our colleagues understand why I have a particular interest in them and why I want to extend my thanks to the Members of the Appropriations Committee for their support for these programs.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker I rise today to commemorate the 112th Anniversary of the Oxford Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Speaker, 1891 was a tremendous year. Fueled by the Silver Rush, it was a time of great promise for the fledgling State of Colorado, and in September of that year, the Oxford Hotel opened its doors for the first time. With its beautiful artwork and antique furniture, the Oxford offered its patrons class and luxury in the heart of the American Frontier. It provided its patrons with world-class dining facilities. The Oxford also was one of the first hotels in the West to have an elevator. Located in the historic Lower Downtown district of Denver, the Oxford is only a walk away from the city's most cherished landmarks: The Denver Mint, the State Capital, Larimer Square, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, just to name a few. It's history and location helped build the Oxford's reputation as a cultural beacon in Colorado. This was reinforced in the 1960's and 70's when the hotel became renowned for as a jazz center. For years I have had the privilege of knowing the owners of the Oxford Hotel: Walter and Christie Eisenberg and Dana Crawford. And I must commend them for their fabulous preservation of the Oxford as a piece of Colorado history and for maintaining its reputation as one of the West's best hotels. The Oxford has seen a city, a state, and indeed a whole region grow around it in its 112 years. Even though the country around the Oxford has changed dramatically, the hotel has not. This wonderful hotel remains a unique visiting experience for its patrons. It still provides world-class services to all who stay there. And it is, and shall be, one of Colorado's most cherished landmarks for as long as it stands. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me and show support for the Oxford Hotel and its 112 years of greatness.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, today, I regretfully rise in opposition to this bill. I am satisfied with some parts of the bill. The Appropriations Committee has sensibly held off on making all funding decisions for programs at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) until the Columbia Accident Investigation Board completes its report. The Committee will use the report of the board, along with NASA's response to the board's findings, as the basis for final action on NASA funding. I will be watching closely to see what the Committee provides. NASA funding has been relatively flat over the years, so I hope that final funding levels for NASA will exceed the 1 percent increase over fiscal year 2003 levels that is so far provided in this bill. I am pleased that the National Space Grant College and Fellowship program is funded at $25.3 million, a level over the President's request and an increase from last year's levels. Nonetheless, I am not at all satisfied with the funding this bill provides our Nation's veterans. The freedom we enjoy in the United States has not just been given to us. Men and women have made great sacrifices, some with their lives, to protect our way of life. For making these sacrifices they have been promised some benefits in return. One of those benefits is adequate healthcare. Unfortunately, this bill falls far short of what America's veterans were promised. The Joint Explanatory Statement from the House and Senate managers on the fiscal year 2004 Budget Resolution states the ``Conference Agreement provides for discretionary budget authority of $29.96 billion for fiscal year 2004, an increase of $3.4 billion, or 12.9 percent-- nearly all of which is expected to be for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical programs.'' But this bill only provides an increase of $1.4 billion, which will not provide adequate funding for services these veterans deserve. According to the VA, as of June 13, there were 134,287 veterans on waiting lists to receive treatment and over 51,000 of these veterans had been waiting for at least 6 months to just get an appointment. This is the result of the lack of resources the VA has today because of past underfunding. American men and women are serving on the front lines in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world. When they are no longer serving under active duty for their country they should not be pushed aside and forgotten. Unfortunately, that is what the bill does.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing a bill to provide the basis for reforming the way the federal government discharges its responsibilities regarding the assets and funds it holds in trust for federally recognized Indian tribes and individual Indians. The bill is also sponsored by Representative Rahall, the Ranking Democratic Member of the Resources Committee, and is identical to a measure being introduced in the Senate by Senators McCain, Daschle, and Johnson. It is based on a bill (S. 175) they introduced earlier, with revisions that reflect comments and suggestions from a number of tribes and others who have interest and expertise in this subject, including representatives of the Great Plains tribes, the Native American Rights Fund, the National Congress of American Indians, and the InterTribal Monitoring Association. We are introducing the bill today in the interests of contributing specific legislative proposals for consideration as part of what we hope and expect will be a bipartisan effort to develop legislation to resolve many of the problems in this important part of the duties of the Interior Department. As we all know, Mr. Speaker, the Interior Department's management of Indian trust funds is the subject of deserved criticism and ongoing controversy. Last week, during debate on the Interior appropriations bill, the House was told that Chairman Pombo has indicated his commitment to having the Resources Committee work on resolving problems associated with that management--a commitment we welcome. Our bill is intended to be part of that effort. Our bill includes two major changes to the 1994 American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act, the underlying law governing Indian trust funds management. First, it elevates the importance of Indian trust management and other Indian affairs within the Interior Department by establishing the position of Deputy Secretary for Indian Affairs, to oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs and all aspects of the management of Indian trusts. There would no longer be an Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. The current Office of Special Trustee for American Indians would be abolished, with the duties of the Special Trustee being transferred to the new Deputy Secretary, who would be in charge of a new Office of Trust Reform Implementation and Oversight. In addition, there would be clear legislative affirmation of the fiduciary standards to be applied to the management of Indian trust funds and assets. Second, the bill strengthens provisions for Indian tribes to participate in the management of trust funds and assets, based on successful self-determination policies. Toward that end, the bill would authorize a Tribe to use authority under existing law to manage trust funds and assets, without terminating the trust responsibilities of the Interior Department. To further assess the way the Interior Department performs its fiduciary and management responsibilities with respect to Indian Tribes and individual Indian beneficiaries, the bill would establish a special 12-member Commission, with four members appointed by the President, two each appointed by the Majority and Minority leaders of the Senate, two each appointed by the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The bill specifies that a majority of members must be representatives of federally-recognized Indian tribes (at least one of whom must be the beneficiary of an individual Indian trust fund account). The Commission will choose one of its members to chair its proceedings. The bill requires the Commission to review and assess Federal laws and policies relating to the management of Indian trust funds and to provide Congress a report about their conclusions and recommendations within three years after the Commission's first meeting. Finally, the bill includes specific and detailed provisions to make clear that its enactment will not limit any of the findings, remedies, jurisdiction, authority, or discretion of the courts in the Cobell v. Norton litigation and that no funds appropriated to carry out an historical accounting of the individual Indian trust funds are to be used except as may be provided in an order of the court in that case entered after the date of the bill's enactment. Mr. Speaker, I am convinced that the time has come for Congress to directly address the problems associated with this subject. The bill we are introducing today is not intended to either whitewash or redress past wrongs, and it will not forestall the courts from resolving matters properly before them. Instead, it is intended to take an important first step toward a better future for the Indian tribes and individuals in whose behalf the government is duty-bound to act. For the benefit of our colleagues, here is a section-by-section outline of the bill: Outline of ``American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act Amendments Act'' SECTION 1: Short Title--provides a short title for the bill. SECTION 2: Definitions--amends section 2 of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Act of 1994 to provide definitions of the terms ``audit,'' ``tribal government,'' ``trust asset,'' ``trust funds,'' and ``trustee.'' SECTION 3: Responsibilities of Secretary--amends section 102 of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 so as to clearly specify the responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to accounting for Indian trust fund balances and with respect to other aspects of carrying out the trust responsibility of the United States. SECTION 4: Affirmation of Standards--amends Title I of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 by adding a Congressional affirmation of the standards for proper discharge of the trust responsibility of the United States. SECTION 5: Indian Participation in Trust Fund Activities-- amends the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 to explicitly authorize an Indian tribe to use authority provided under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to manage trust funds and trust assets without terminating the trust responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior or the trust status of the funds and assets involved. SECTION 6: Deputy Secretary for Indian Affairs--amends the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 to establish the position of Deputy Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, to specify the duties of the Deputy Secretary, and (effective upon appointment of the Deputy Secretary) to abolish the Office of Special Trustee for American Indians and transfer its functions to the Deputy Secretary. SECTION 7: Commission for Review of Indian Trust Fund Management Responsibilities--establishes a Commission (with four Members appointed by the President, two each appointed by the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and two each by the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives) to assess the federal government's fiduciary and management responsibilities with respect to Indian tribes; specifies a majority of Commission members must be representatives of federally-recognized tribes (and at least one must be an individual beneficiary of an Indian trust account); requires the Commission to report its conclusions and recommendations to Congress and the Departments of Interior and Treasury within 32 months after Commission's first meeting. SECTION 8: Regulations--directs Interior, in consultation with interested Tribes, to issue regulations to implement the bill. SECTION 9: Effect of Act--States that nothing in the bill will limit the findings, remedies, jurisdiction, authority, or discretion of the courts in the Cobell v. Norton litigation; provides that no funds appropriated for an historical accounting of individual Indian trust funds shall be used except as provided in an order of the court in that case entered after the enactment of the bill.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 2908, American Manufacturing Works Act of 2003. This bill will assist American manufacturing in four significant ways. It will establish an Undersecretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Technology heading the Manufacturing and Technology Administration; it will create a manufacturing research and implementation program; it will provide full funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program; and it will promote and fund education programs for manufacturing technicians. Manufacturing is the primary source of productivity growth in our country. This sector remains critical to the nation's future prosperity and security. Yet U.S.-based manufacturers are facing a crisis today--a crisis marked by a steep decline in business investment, a sluggish global economy, and increased competition from low wage countries. The American manufacturing sector has been hard hit by these forces, but neither this Congress nor the Administration has risen to meet this challenge in any direct way. The manufacturing sector has experienced 32 consecutive months of job losses, totaling 2.3 million jobs--fully 90 percent of the total jobs lost during this period. Although recent manufacturing statistics are mildly positive, the current manufacturing recovery is the weakest on record. Our manufacturing base remains fragile. I think the federal government needs to take action now to respond to this crisis and to sustain our manufacturing base. This is essential because despite significant job losses, manufacturing still employs 16.5 million people. Manufacturing contributes roughly 17% of GDP and provides 71% of our exports. Manufacturing funds 67% of our nation's total R&D investment. In addition, manufacturing companies are major customers for information and communications technology. But if our manufacturing base continues to decline, the effect will be devastating not only in terms of individual job losses, but also in terms of the ripple effects that will be felt throughout our economy. In short, we can't afford to stand idly by and watch our manufacturing base disappear. The bill I am introducing today isn't based on trade policy or philosophical theory. It's based on the practical recommendations of manufacturing experts, industry associations, and labor unions-- recommendations that can be acted on now to produce results in a very short time. First, this bill creates a point of interaction for manufacturers in the Department of Commerce. Rather than creating a whole new bureaucracy, this bill restructures the Department of Commerce's Technology Administration to emphasize manufacturing as well as technology issues. This bill creates a Manufacturing and Technology Administration, headed by the Undersecretary of Manufacturing and Technology. An Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing will aid the Undersecretary for Manufacturing and Technology to develop a federal manufacturing agenda. This legislation also creates a Manufacturing Advisory Board to provide guidance to the Undersecretary and to the National Institute of Standards and Technology regarding the manufacturing community's needs. The Manufacturing Advisory Board will be comprised of industry and industry association representatives, federal agencies with manufacturing initiatives, manufacturing experts, and labor representatives. This group will provide an array of views from the complete spectrum of our manufacturing base. The bill also authorizes a significant research and implementation program for manufacturing. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is authorized to develop a program along the lines of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that will focus on manufacturing technologies. In addition, NIST's Advanced Technology Program is authorized to develop a focused program on manufacturing technologies. The bill also authorizes funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. This successful program leverages federal, state and private investment to assist small- and medium-sized manufacturers across the nation in meeting their increasing challenges. One of the most critical elements of our manufacturing base is to have a technically trained workforce. To help develop this workforce, the bill leverages the National Science Foundation's (NSF) successful Advanced Technological Education Program to include preparation of students for manufacturing jobs. In addition, the bill authorizes funding for the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council to develop performance standards to certify job skills for manufacturing workers. Mr. Speaker, the time is past for more studies on the challenges facing our manufacturing base. That has already been done, and recommendations have been made. This bill offers some concrete actions to help ensure the future health of our manufacturing base. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, the serious effects this bill will have on my district and on the nation are explained in news stories from several Colorado newspapers, which I am including for the interest of my colleagues. [From the Rocky Mountain News, July 23, 2003] Colorado Science Jobs on the Line (By M.E. Sprengelmeyer) Washington.--Congress is considering deep cuts in federal research funds that would cause an estimated 190 Colorado scientists to lose their jobs. About $14 million in cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects in Colorado, and additional cuts to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, were contained in an appropriations bill being considered by the House of Representatives late Tuesday. If approved as expected, they still must be considered by the U.S. Senate. ``Obviously, it has me gravely concerned,'' said Susan Avery, director of the University of Colorado Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences. ``These are cuts that could be very detrimental to our research programs.'' The cuts are contained in a $38.6 billion appropriations package for the Commerce, Justice and State departments and the federal judiciary. The bill would cut $3 million from the Space Environment Center in Boulder and $6.7 million from climate and global change programs. Meanwhile, the bill would eliminate a $4.5 million line item meant to cover rent on NOAA facilities in Boulder, meaning those expenses would have to come out of other programs, such as research funds. NIST would lose about 300 jobs nationwide, including about 60 in Boulder, said Representative Mark Udall, a Boulder Democrat, who tried unsuccessfully to reserve the cuts on the House floor. ``It is one thing to make government leaner. It is another thing to cut jobs year in and year out at facilities all over the country,'' Udall said in a release. Avery said the cuts would affect research at both the University of Colorado and Colorado State University, including climate modeling programs and research into weather phenomenon such as El Nino and La Nina. ``Unless the bill is greatly improved in a House-Senate conference committee, it will continue a pattern of bleeding these agencies dry,'' Udall said. If approved by the House, the bill would move to the Senate, where state researchers hope the cuts will be reversed by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, an Ignacio Republican and a member of the Appropriations Committee. ``Senator Campbell has a lot in his hands right now because he could do it,'' Avery said. ``He could make it happen. A lot rides on him.'' Camden Hubbard, a spokeswoman for Campbell, said his office is researching the issue. ``He needs to look into it and see exactly what is being cut and make a decision accordingly,'' Hubbard said. ``I have to tell you, money is really tight this year . . . he will see what he can do.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and honor the brave men and women of the Idaho Springs Volunteer Fire Department. This group of individuals has performed their dangerous tasks since 1878 when citizens collectively put out a large fire that threatened the very existence of Idaho Springs. Born from the ashes of that fire, the Volunteer Fire Department has strived to protect and serve their community for 125 years. Today, their heroic duties include everything from fighting town and wildland fires, responding to Emergency Medical Service calls, and containing hazardous material spills, to even the skillful acts of highway, backcountry, and swift water rescues. Mr. Speaker, in order to properly recognize the hard work and sacrifices of these men and women, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Idaho Springs Volunteer Fire Department. I am proud of their efforts and wish them continued success.