Peter Visclosky

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today and pay tribute to a celebrated community servant, Mr. John E. Bierman. On Friday, March 22, 1996, John, along with his friends and family, will celebrate his retirement from the Knights of Columbus Ballroom in East Chicago, IN. We are fortunate to have dedicated people, like John, involved in the labor movement in Indiana's First Congressional District. Indeed, John personifies true selfless dedication. John was raised in Albany, GA, as one of seven boys. In 1950, after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, John migrated to the Calumet Region. At this time, John was hired at Inland Steel and became a member of the United Steelworkers of America Local Union 1010. In 1969, John assumed the position of staff representative, and it is this position from which he is retiring. Outside of his professional career, John has devoted a large portion of his life to the betterment of northwest Indiana. John is a member of American Legion Post 66 and has acquired a lifetime membership to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Moreover, he has organized the Sub-2 food pantry, and for 7 years John coached and managed the Griffith Babe Ruth Baseball League. Politically, John has been a Democratic precinct committeeman for 25 years and has been the chairman of the Democratic Precinct Organization for the Griffith-Calumet Township for 35 years. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to remember all who have worked hard to fulfill the American dream. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to John, who has worked arduously to make this dream possible for others. John has proven himself to be a distinguished advocate for the labor movement, and he has made northwest Indiana a better place in which to live and work. I sincerely wish John a long, happy, and productive retirement.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, because I am concerned about the hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars spent every decade on Fortune 500 corporations and special interests, today I am introducing legislation that will cut $39.575 billion in corporate welfare and end welfare for Ronald McDonald. The House has already passed the Personal Responsibility Act to reform welfare. it's time to pass the Commonsense Corporate Responsibility Act and get some of our richest corporations off the Government dole. This bill puts a balanced budget, jobs, education, and a clean environment ahead of handouts to Fortune 500 companies and special interests. Estimate on total corporate welfare expenditures range from $200 billion to $500 billion over 5 years, which would go a long way toward balancing the budget and investing in our future. This bill would save $39.575 billion over 5 years by ending 6 programs and reforming 1 program, some of the most egregious corporate welfare programs. Because I've limited this legislation to the most egregious examples, my bill is a litmus test for anyone who is serious about ending corporate welfare. My bill will end the territorial possessions tax credit, which will save taxpayers $19.8 billion over 5 years. Corporations chartered in the United States are subject to U.S. taxes on their worldwide income. However, the U.S. Territorial Possessions Tax Credit provided by section 936 of the IRC permits qualified U.S. corporations a tax credit that offsets some or all of their U.S. tax liability on income from business operations in the possessions. My bill would eliminate this tax credit because the current incentive encourages companies to move jobs and capital out of the 50 States to overseas locations. The tax credit is not cost effective because foregone tax collections are high compared to the number of jobs created in the possessions. For example, taxpayers lose an average of $70,000 in revenue for every job created in Puerto Rico. The many drug companies and electronic firms that have set up subsidiaries in the possessions often assign ownership of their most valuable assets--patents, trade secrets and the like--to their territorial operations, and then claim that a large share of their total profits is earned in the possessions and therefore eligible for the tax break. My bill will end the Foreign Sales Corporation [FSC] tax credit, which will save taxpayers $7.8 billion over 5 years. The tax code's FSC provisions permit U.S. exporters to exempt 15 percent of their export income from U.S. taxation. This encourages U.S. companies to form subsidiary corporations in a foreign country--which can just be a mailing address--to qualify as a FSC. A portion of the FSC's own export income is exempt from taxes, and the FSC can pass on the tax savings to its parent because domestic corporations are allowed a 100-percent dividends-received deduction for income distributed from a FSC. This program does not increase U.S. exports, and it may actually expand our trade deficit. My bill will end special tax treatment of alcohol fuels, which will save taxpayers $3.875 billion over 5 years. Manufacturers of gasohol (a motor fuel composed of 10 percent alcohol), get a tax subsidy of 54 cents per gallon of alcohol used. Also known as ethanol, 95 percent of current production is derived from corn. The subsidy is designed to encourage the substitution of alcohol fuels produced from corn for gasoline and diesel. The gasohol tax break was enacted to lower the cost of producing a fuel that is not competitive. It targets one, specific, alternative fuel over many others--such as methanol, liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, or electricity--that could also substitute for gasoline or diesel. Alcohol fuel not only costs more, but also requires substantial energy to produce, diminishing the net, overall, conservation effect. Providing tax subsidies for one type of fuel over others is an inefficient allocation of resources when the subsidized fuel is more costly to produce than other fuels. Substantial losses in Federal tax revenue have primarily benefited Archer-Daniels-Midland, the Nation's chief gasohol producer. My bill will end irrigation subsidies, which will save taxpayers $4.15 billion over 5 years. Irrigation subsidies encourage inefficient use of water resources, including production of water-intensive crops in arid regions. In these regions, loss of natural river flows has destroyed wetlands and devastated fish and wildlife populations. Many of these subsidies go toward production of surplus crops, which the U.S. Government pays farmers not to grow. This double dipper subsidy costs taxpayers as much as $830 million annually. Also, these subsidies foster agricultural production on marginal lands, the cultivation of which requires excessive chemicals. Polluted drainage and runoff from these lands contributes to the degradation of rivers and streams, as well as to the contamination of aquifers and poisoning of fish and wildlife. My bill will end the practice of subsidizing the purchase of produce by foreign consumers, which will save taxpayers $3.5 billion over 5 years. The United States Department of Agriculture subsidizes the export of agricultural commodities through the Export Enhancement Program [EEP]. U.S. exporters, primarily multinational commodity firms, participating in the EEP negotiate directly with buyers in a targeted country, then submit bids to the USDA for cash bonuses. The program, established under the Reagan administration, is ostensibly meant to match European export subsidies, but does more to boost exporters' profits than U.S. farm production. The program has not been an effective counterweight to foreign subsidies and has depressed world commodity prices, penalizing competitors who do not subsidize their exports. My bill will end the Market Promotion [MPP], which will save taxpayers $550 million over 5 years. The Market Promotion Program [MPP], which will save taxpayers $550 million over 5 years. The Market Promotion Program spends $110 million per year underwriting the cost of advertising American products abroad. In 1991, American taxpayers spent $2.9 million advertising Pillsbury muffins and pies, $10 million promoting Sunkist oranges, $465,000 advertising McDonald's Chicken McNuggets, $1.2 million boosting the international sales of American Legend mink coats, and $2.5 million extolling the virtues of Dole pineapples, nuts, and prunes. Wrangler of Japan--partly owned by Mitsubishi--collected $1.1 million from American taxpayers to advertise jeans in Japan, which were not even manufactured in the United States. The MPP has done little to assure that funds increase overseas promotional activities rather than simply replace private funds that would have been spent anyway. These companies hardly need a Federal subsidy for advertising, and the program has become a virtual entitlement for some of the biggest corporations in America. My bill will reform the Mining Act of 1872, which will save taxpayers $300 million over 5 years. The 1872 Mining Act permits companies (foreign or domestic) to extract valuable minerals from Federal land-- taxpayer-owned land--for next to nothing. They can purchase land for $2.50 per acre and pay no royalties on the minerals they extract. Each year, $2 billion to $3 billion worth of minerals are taken from public lands. Mining companies can ``patent''--or buy--20-acre tracts of land for $5 an acre or less. This patenting process has been used to sell more than 3.2 million acres of public land, an area about the size of Connecticut. Also, massive environmental damage has been left by mining operations on public lands. The cost of such cleanups is estimated at between $32 to $72 billion. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution newspaper editorialized that a Canadian company * * * was able to steal a $10 billion gold mine from the United States taxpayers, who owned both the property and the mineral rights. The company paid less than $10,000 for the land. My bill would charge royalties and lease land. The legislation I am introducing today will be a good start toward ending corporate welfare and balancing the Federal budget. I urge you and all of my House colleagues to support it.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, because I am concerned about the number of railroad crossing accidents in northwest Indiana, today I am introducing legislation that will provide a more effective method of targeting available Federal funds to enhance safety at our most dangerous highway rail grade crossings. I am introducing this legislation with our colleague, Mr. Hostettler, and the entire Indiana congressional delegation, in a bipartisan effort to improve rail safety. This bill, the Highway Rail Grade Crossing Safety Formula Enhancement Act of 1996, which is the companion bill to legislation introduced in the Senate by Indiana's Senators, Richard Lugar and Dan Coats, is similar to legislation I introduced in the 103d Congress (H.R. 4855). This bill would improve the Federal funding formula to account for risk factors that identify which States have significant grade crossing safety problems. The factors considered in the bill include a State's share of the national total for public highway-rail grade crossings, its number of crossings with passive warning devices, and its total number of accidents and fatalities caused by vehicle- train collisions at crossings. Under the proposed funding formula established by my bill, Indiana's share of rail crossing safety construction funds would increase by an estimated 33 percent annually, from $4.9 million to $6.6 million. In 1994, Indiana ranked sixth in the Nation for number of grade crossings--6,788--third for grade crossing accidents--263--and fifth for fatalities, 27. For the current fiscal year, Indiana received 3.4 percent of section 130 safety construction funding, while accounting for 6.1 percent of the Nation's accidents, 5.9 percent of fatalities, and 4 percent of crossings. Currently, in the United States, several hundred people are killed and thousands more injured every year as a result of vehicle-train collisions at highway rail grade crossings. A significant number of these accidents occur in rail-intensive States, such as Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, California, and Texas. One quarter of the Nation's 168,000 public highway rail grade crossings are located in these five States. They accounted for 38 percent of deaths and 32 percent of injuries caused by vehicle-train collisions nationwide during 1991-93. Overall, about 24 States would receive an increase in section 130 funds for grade crossing improvements under my legislation. Maximizing the return from Federal funds requires that they be targeted to areas with the greatest risk, like Indiana. In a 1995 report to Congress on the status of efforts to improve railroad crossing safety, the General Accounting Office [GAO] found anomalies among the States in terms of the funds they received in proportion to three key factors: accidents, fatalities, and total crossings. Through this bill, we have a unique opportunity to maximize existing resources, improve safety at rail crossings, and save lives. The establishment of a new funding formula is an innovative step in that direction and will directly benefit northwest Indiana, which bears the lion's share of rail traffic in Indiana. By targeting funds to States based on accident rates and number of rail crossings, we can put scarce resources to work and use a common sense approach by allocating Federal dollars where the need is greatest. Given the limited resources available for railroad crossing safety, it is crucial that available funds be targeted to the most cost- effective approaches. The first means to target our limited resources is to change the current method used to apportion section 130 dollars to the States. The legislation I am introducing today will accomplish that. I urge you and all of my House colleagues to support it.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate today in this special order to commemorate Black History Month. In March, we will celebrate Women's History Month, and, in that vein, I would like to pay tribute to a number of African-American women who have overcome adversity to achieve great success. African-Americans have made great strides since the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. However, we have a ways to go before the economic disparity between the African-American community and the rest of America is eliminated. Black women, in particular, still struggle in disproportionately high numbers with the challenges of raising children while living in poverty. Fortunately, we can look at shining success stories in the African- American community to show young people how to improve their lives and communities. In the words of the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan: ``We need to change the decaying inner cities from decay to places where hope lives.'' A pioneer in American politics, Barbara Jordan was the first black State senator in Texas history, and the first woman from Texas, as well as the first black, to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after Reconstruction. Barbara Jordan was a champion of freedom and of the Constitution. Her beliefs were epitomized when, during the Watergate hearings, she declared, ``My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total, and I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.'' After serving three terms in Congress, Barbara devoted her energy to teaching and continued to strive, in her own words, ``to do something unusual.'' This was certainly an understatement. Later in life, Barbara struggled with multiple sclerosis, and while the disease crippled her body, she refused to allow it to conquer her spirit. Barbara Jordan's life and success have left a legacy of opportunity for countless American women. A number of African-American women from Indiana's First Congressional District have also been pioneers. These women have achieved economic and personal success, and they serve as role models for the young people in northwest Indiana. I would like to bring a few of them to your attention now. Katie Hall served as U.S. Representative for Indiana's First Congressional District from 1982 to 1984. During her tenure in Congress, Katie Hall played an instrumental role in creating the Martin Luther King National Holiday. She currently serves as the Gary city clerk. Earline Rogers has been elected to serve as a Gary City Council member, State representative, and State senator. Ms. Rogers was only the second African-American woman to be elected a State representative. She continues to serve as a State senator. Judge Karen Freeman-Wilson is the presiding judge of the Gary City Court. She is also a practicing attorney and has served as a public defender in the Lake County Superior Court. Eloise Gentry is the president and CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana. She has also served as executive director for Community Coordinated Child Care and helped instigate the movement to integrate Gary's public schools. Judge Shelia Moss was nominated in 1993 by Governor Bayh to be the presiding judge of the Lake County Superior Court. She has also held the position of deputy director of the Child Support Division for the Lake County Prosecutor's Office. Hilda Richards is the first African-American chancellor of Indiana University Northwest. She was installed in this position in May of 1994. Pauline Hutson was the first African-American woman to become a member of the Gary Police Department in 1936, and the first black woman to be promoted to detective in 1969. She has gone on to become commander of the Women's Division of the Gary Police Department. Y-Gene Chambers was the first African-American woman appointed to the Lake County Crime Commission and the first black woman appointed to the advisory board of Bank One. Ms. Chambers also chartered and was the first president of the board of directors of the Gary Educational Development Foundation. Dr. Waltee Douglas was one of the first women to become an ordained minister in the Baptist Church in 1985, at St. John Baptist Church in Gary. Imogene Harris is the publisher of the Gary Info Newspaper and president of the Harris Printing Co. The Gary Info Newspaper is an African-American news weekly which has been in continuous publication for 34 years. Kellee Patterson was the first African-American woman to win the title of Miss Indiana in 1971. Vivian Carter was the first African-American woman to host a 5-hour radio show. She is a cofounder of Vee Jay Record Co., which was the first record company to distribute the early recordings of the Beatles. Dorothy Leavell was the second female president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, an organization of more than 200 African-American newspapers in the United States. Del Marae Williams is currently east Chicago's city judge. She has also served in the Lake County Public Defender's Office and as an East Chicago human rights attorney. As we celebrate Black History Month, we celebrate an America more culturally enriched, intellectually developed, and technologically advanced because of the contributions of African-Americans. In closing, I would like to commend my colleagues, Representatives Louis Stokes and Donald Payne, for organizing this important special order on Black History Month.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to commend Wilbur Wright Middle School, and its principal, Mr. Donald Guske, and Munster High School, and its principal, Dr. Kevin McCaffrey, for having been awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award. Both schools are located in Munster, IN. Blue ribbon schools have been judged to be particularly constructive in meeting local, State, and national goals. These schools also display the qualities of excellence that are necessary to prepare our young people for the challenges of the next century. According to the U.S. Department of Education, which issues this award, blue ribbon school status is awarded to schools that have: strong leadership; a clear vision and sense of mission that is shared by all connected with the school; high quality teaching; challenging up-to-date curricula; policies and practices that ensure a safe environment conducive to learning; a solid commitment to parental involvement; and evidence that the school helps all students achieve a quality education. State education departments, the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Council for American Private Education, review schools in depth to determine which schools meet the high standards of the award. Following the screening process, the nominations are forwarded to the U.S. Department of Education. At this point, a panel of 100 outstanding educators and other professionals review the nominations, select the schools for site visits, and make recommendations to the Secretary of Education. These schools will be honored at a national ceremony in Washington, DC, this spring. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in commending Wilbur Wright Middle School and Munster High School for a job well done. The teachers and administrators of these two schools make Indiana's First Congressional District a better place in which to live and work. There is no greater success than to successfully educate our children.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to rise today to once again commend the efforts of the Northwest Indiana Hispanic Coordinating Council for their numerous contributions to Northwest Indiana. On November 18, 1995, the Coordinating Council will conduct its Seventh Annual Conference on Hispanic Issues. The theme of this year's conference is ``Citizenship: Our Rights and Responsibilities.'' Recognizing the importance of citizenship, the Hispanic Coordinating Council has dedicated its conference to focus on topics that will help the residents of Northwest Indiana become better citizens of this great Nation. In order to make this event as successful as possible, the Hispanic Coordinating Council has called on various community leaders to address issues pertaining to this year's theme. I would like to recognize the following distinguished individuals, who will lend their expertise and help make this conference a memorable occasion: Dr. James Yackel, chancellor of Purdue University Calumet; Juan Andrade, Jr., president and executive director of the Midwest Northeast Voters Registration and Education Project; Dr. Samuel Betances, senior consultant, Souder, Betances and Associates; Victor DeMeyer, manager of NIPSCO's Corporate Consumer and Community Affairs Department; Louis Lopez, assistant State director for Senator Richard Lugar; Joseph Mark, chief executive officer, St. Catherine's Hospital; Philip Meyer, telecommunications specialist, Ameritech; Erin Austin Krasik, project director, Students for an Educated Democracy; Ruth Dorochoff, U.S. Department of Justice's Immigration and Naturalization Service; Joseph Medellin, manager human resources, Inland Steel Company; and William (Bill) Luna, president of William Luna and Associates Management Consultants. Since the focus of this year's conference is citizenship, the Hispanic Coordinating Council is concluding the conference with the swearing-in of 135 new citizens. The swearing-in ceremony will be conducted by the Honorable Rudy Lozano, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana, and Brian Perryman, Deputy District Director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. I commend the efforts of all of those individuals who were involved in making this annual event a reality. It is because of their dedication that this conference is possible. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other colleagues to join me in applauding the participants of the Hispanic Coordinating Council's Conference on Hispanic Issues, as well as those distinguished individuals who will receive one of our Nation's greatest gifts, citizenship.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to congratulate Father Joseph Niezgoda, pastor of St. Stanislaus Church in East Chicago, IN. On Sunday, November 12, 1995, the parish of St. Stanislaus held a testimonial dinner to honor Father Joe for 25 years of faithful dedication to their mission. [[Page E 2168]] On August 16, 1971, Father Joe graciously accepted the appointment of pastor of St. Stanislaus Church. This church is celebrating its 95th year of existence and proudly boasts a membership of several thousand parishioners. According to the parishioners, Father Joe's agreement with God and the bishop to take the responsibility of leading St. Stanislaus was a courageous step because his home parish was $700,000 in debt after rebuilding a school building, which was destroyed by fire. However, in Father Joe's 25 years of service to St. Stanislaus, he has worked exceptionally hard to pay off this enormous debt. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to applaud Father Joe for his extraordinary dedication to his calling. Indiana's First Congressional District is extremely blessed to have such a fine pastor in its presence.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr.. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule. We are now 39 days into the new fiscal year, yet only 2 of 13 spending bills have been signed into law. Today, instead of moving the process along, we will again dawdle over unrelated issues such as the Istook amendment that has nothing to do with the budget and is unconstitutional and un-American. Because they can never get this legislation enacted because of its own demerits, the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Istook] and his supporters are willing to shut this Government down in order to shut the American people up. But I do not want to be unfair. The Istook language says it is OK to speak if we follow generally accepted accounting principles, subject ourselves to a Federal audit, assume the presumption of guilt, and hold ourselves out to harassing lawsuits by individuals acting as private attorney generals. Then it is OK to speak. I urge my colleagues strongly to vote against this rule. It represents everything bad in a closed and autocratic system.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and the irresponsible way the Republican leadership has decided to deal with our Nation's finances. The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse. This is one of our most fundamental and basic responsibilities. It is essential that we meet it. We are now 39 days into the new fiscal year, yet only 2 of 13 spending bills have been signed into law. Today, instead of moving the process along, we will again dawdle over unrelated issues such as the Istook gag amendment, which has nothing to do with the budget, and is unconstitutional and un-American. Since they cannot get this legislation enacted because of its demerits, Mr. Istook and [[Page H 11904]] his supporters are willing to shut this government down in order to shut the American people up. The Istook language says it's okay to speak if you follow ``generally accepted accounting principles,'' subject yourself to a Federal audit, assume the presumption of guilt and hold yourself out to harassing lawsuits by individuals acting as private attorney generals. I urge my colleagues to vote against the rule. I represents everything bad in a closed and autocratic system.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to honor Mr. Sigmund Sadowski, of Indiana's 1st Congressional District, who will celebrate his 80th birthday on November 19, 1995. According to one of his biggest fans--his sister, Ms. Wanda Boris-- Sigmund continues to live a full and giving life. When Sigmund was just 26 and married for 1 year, he lost his father. This left his mother to care for six unmarried children, and, at that time, Sigmund took over as the patriarch of the family. Wanda says that Sigmund has always been viewed as a father-figure and a selfless, gentle man. Beginning his career in retail as a stock boy and a key registrar in the Hammond store, Sigmund dedicated 48 years of service to Goldblatts Department Store. After just 2, short years, he was promoted to manager of the fabric and knitting department of the Gary store. Between 1941 and 1945, he and his wife, Michalene, worked for the Government as civilians for the Navy in Hawaii. After the war, he returned to the region and resumed working for Goldblatts as supervisor of the textile department. In 1960, he was voted boss of the year at Goldblatts. Sigmund was also the first to initiate a program with Roosevelt High School for underprivileged students to work part time at Goldblatts and receive school credit with pay. This is where he stayed until Goldblatts closed in 1980. Since then, Sigmund has remained in the retail business. Sigmund also found time to give to some area charities. He served on the board of directors for the Goodwill Industries and was a member of the Downtown Gary Merchants Association, the Gary Chamber of Commerce, and the Better Business Bureau. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Junedale Little League. Mr. Speaker, Sigmund's wife of 55 years, Michalene, and his two sons, Gregory and Mark, as well as his grandchild, Jefferey, should be very proud of this selfless man. Sigmund has truly made Indiana's First Congressional District a better place to live. I ask you, and my other congressional colleagues, to join me in wishing Sigmund a very happy birthday, with hopes for many more.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I add my congratulations to the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Callahan] as well as the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Wilson] for crafting what I think is a good bill under very difficult circumstances. However, I rise to continue to express my sharp opposition to a provision in the conference report that would rewrite current United States law by severely weakening section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which prohibits direct United States Government assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan until that country lifts its blockade of Armenia. Mr. Speaker, I successfully offered an amendment on this issue on June 29, and the House approved it after 2\1/2\ hours of debate. The Senate also refused to include any language on section 907. Unfortunately, the conference committee, acting without a mandate by either the House or the Senate, decided to reinsert this provision into the bill; and I am strongly opposed to their actions in this matter. The gentleman from Texas [Mr. Wilson] has suggested, correctly, that his language is different, correctly, as a matter of form, not of substance. The substance of the issue is to prohibit direct payments to the Government of Azerbaijan until they remove the blockade. That is the essence of the issue. Mr. Speaker, the sanctions on Azerbaijan were imposed because of that country's ongoing blockade. When the Azerbaijan blockade is lifted, the United States prohibition on direct Government assistance can also be lifted. Countries that violate the conditions that Congress attaches for receiving U.S. assistance should not be rewarded. Any attempt to remove section 907 must be viewed as support for Azerbaijan's blockade of Armenia as a legitimate weapon of war as well as support for their hostile position in the ongoing peace negotiations. In closing, if we allow American dollars to flow to the Government of Azerbaijan, we will be turning our backs on the people of Armenia at a time when they desperately need and deserve our support. The true facts of this case are simple. The Government of Azerbaijan should act in peace, lift the blockade, and everyone can be made whole.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hall] for yielding this time to me, and I rise in strong opposition to this rule. This rule does not allow a point of order to be raised against the language that would now allow direct payments to be made to the Government of Azerbaijan that continues to create a blockade against the country of Armenia. Section 907 that has been mentioned before is a provision that was signed into law by President George Bush, indicates that, as soon as that blockade is lifted, direct payments can be made to the government. So, as the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] mentioned earlier in his remarks, the key to this issue lies with the actions of the Government of Azerbaijan. Originally the House bill contained language that overrode 907 and would allow those direct payments to this government that continues the blockade of the Armenian people. That was stripped by this House by voice vote on the evening of June 29. The House has spoken on this issue, the Senate did not take this issue up, and there was no contention in conference, although language clearly has now been added back in that would allow these payments to be make directly to the Government of Azerbaijan without them having to lift the blockade. There is a lot of talk and discussion about the plight of the refugees. We all share that concern. But in their heart of hearts, if that Government of Azerbaijan was so concerned, they can lift the blockade, and that is the point of 907 that today, by passing this bill and being prohibited from raising a point of order, we are now in a moment going to overturn. I again emphasize my strong opposition to this rule because we are not provided an opportunity to strike the provision.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the coalition budget for four reasons. First of all, it looks towards the future first, not the past. Second, it does the heavy lifting first. Third, it borrows less money, leaves us with a surplus at the end of 2002 and again proves the prudence of doing the heavy lifting first. Finally, it is enforceable. It will do what it says it will do. It is not engaged in subverting other social policy goals such as robbing workers' pensions. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Republican budget reconciliation bill and in support of the coalition alternative plan. I believe the time has come to balance the budget. This is what my constituents want because they know that the economic futures of their children and grandchildren depend on it. They want us to balance the budget in a way that is both fair and effective, and this is what the coalition substitute would do. While I do not endorse each of its provisions, the coalition substitute is fair because it asks everyone, regardless of age or circumstance in life, to share the sacrifice for the benefit of the common good. Unlike the Republican plan, it does not transfer funding for social programs, that benefit the old and poor, to subsidize tax cuts for the rich. The coalition substitute would balance the budget in 7 years. It places deficit reduction first and does not borrow money to pay for up- front tax cuts, like the Republican plan. Further, the coalition substitute will work, and it takes a rational and responsible approach to balancing the budget. Not only would it restore sane spending priorities by adding back funding for education, health, and economic development programs, it also achieves a budget surplus in 2002. Less pain with more gain--Why? Because this alternative reconciliation bill reaffirms the logic of achieving a balanced budget one step at a time. The coalition plan would provide about $42 billion more in deficit reduction--and less total debt--than envisioned in the budget resolution conference report. This means holding off on enacting expensive tax cuts, which require slashing vital programs, until we are well on our way to ensuring a health national economy that can be enjoyed by generations to come. In contrast, the Republican budget backloads deficit reduction until after the year 2000, when the spending cuts kick in and interest rates decline. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the deficit reduction in the Republican plan occurs in the final 3 years. This is an approach that was tested in the early 1980's under President Reagan and failed. When it came time to make the difficult cuts, they did not materialize. Remember, the 1980s was the decade when the debt tripled under Republican control of the White House. Therefore, as far as the effectiveness of the approach to deficit reduction is concerned, I would say, ``Been there, done that, let's not do it again.'' Further, I have grave concerns about the approach taken in the Republican budget reconciliation bill. One of the most egregious parts of the Republican plan is a misguided proposal to raid workers' pensions that could jeopardize up to $100 billion in pension assets and the retirement security of almost 15 million American families. Specifically, this bad proposal would gut pension rules so that companies would be able to remove the so-called excess money--defined as 125 percent of current liabilities--from their pension funds. Currently, if a company takes excess funds out of a pension plan, a 20 percent to 50 percent excise tax is levied on the withdrawal. In addition, the company must pay income tax on the amount removed. To raise revenue, the Republican proposal would eliminate the excise tax entirely, giving companies a strong incentive to dip into pension funds. Pension plan assets represent deferred compensation for plan participants. As such, workers and retirees should benefit from the profitable investment of these funds. I believe that any surplus assets should be used to insure the soundness of workers' pensions, or to fund benefit increases for plan participants, rather than going into unrelated management ventures. I am adamantly opposed to this proposal because it would leave workers' pensions vulnerable in the event of an economic downturn. It could create a pension raid similar to the 1980's when the Federal Government was forced to take over underfunded pension plans, paying out billions of dollars in the process. It seems the new Republican majority has forgotten the old Republican rallying cry--``Cut Spending First!'' Balancing the budget is like curing a cold, the longer you put off swallowing bad-tasting medicine, the longer it takes to return to good health. Finally, I am pleased that the coalition substitute includes enforcement language similar to what is contained in legislation I introduced earlier this year, along with our colleagues, Representatives Stenholm, Dooley, Barrett, Minge, and Poshard. Like my bill, H.R. 1516, the coalition substitute would enact tough, new measures to reform the budget process and eliminate the Federal budget deficit by the year 2002. It would do so by setting spending caps and using across-the-board cuts if the targets, set and evaluated by a nonpartisan board of estimates, are not met. In January, I supported a constitutional amendment to balance the budget for the first time because I finally lost faith that the President and the Congress have the resolve to balance the budget without a constitutional mandate. While this initiative failed, I still believe that we need to hold our feet to the fire and enforce our budgetary decisions. In closing, Mr. Chairman, I believe that balancing the budget is our responsibility as Members of Congress. I have always supported a balanced budget, and the responsibility to achieve this is not one that I take lightly. Over the years, I have frequently taken the political road less traveled in the name of deficit reduction. When I am in northwest Indiana, I tell my constituents that I am opposed to cutting their taxes because it would undermine serious efforts to reduce the deficit. In March, I was one of only six Democrats to support the rescissions bill, H.R. 1158, because I believe we need to start making tough spending decisions now. It is time to get serious about balancing the budget. I urge the adoption of the coalition substitute and the rejection of the Republican budget reconciliation bill.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to rise and call attention to St. George Hellenic Orthodox Church in Schererville, IN. On October 29, 1995, the congregation of St. George will hold a consecration celebration of their church. This celebration will begin with a vespers service on Saturday night, followed by a dedication, banquet, and ball on Sunday. Citizens of Hellenic origin began settling in the Indiana Harbor community of East Chicago in 1903. In 1929, a very small group of [[Page E 2002]] industrious and young individuals coordinated plans to erect a church. Through their conscientious efforts, construction on the church was completed in 1938. The first parish priest was Reverend Demetriades. The church, named after a Roman soldier who was martyred for his faith, moved from East Chicago to Schererville in March, 1992. Today, St. George, which is currently under the leadership of the Reverend Constantine Aliferakis, proudly boasts a membership of over 300 families. The consecration celebration is similar to the baptism of a child in that it symbolizes the setting apart of the church as a temple of God and its dedication to Him. This ceremony dates back to the fourth century, when St. Constantine dedicated the church after the Christian persecution ended. This once-in-a-lifetime ceremony for any church, will be conducted by Bishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago. At the ceremony, the Bishop will dedicate the new furniture and painted wall hangings of six saints and martyrs. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other colleagues to join me in a heartfelt message of congratulations to the Reverend Aliferakis and the congregation of St. George Hellenic Orthodox Church on this wonderful day of celebration. The members of St. George should be proud of their efforts to successfully preserve their Greek heritage.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to rise today to pay tribute to the late Mr. Irv Lewin. On October 27, 1995, the Salvation Army-East Chicago Corps is dedicating the Irv Lewin Fellowship Hall. Irv served as a board member for the Salvation Army-East Chicago Corps for over 35 years. During a portion of this period, he served as chairman of the board. What is to be dedicated as the Irv Lewin Fellowship Hall is an area for the feeding program sponsored by the Salvation Army. According to the Salvation Army-East Chicago Corps: ``Irv gave untiring support to the Salvation Army through unparalleled service and commitment.'' Irv, who passed away earlier this year, was a resident of East Chicago for many years. He also resided in Hammond and Highland for a portion of his life. Irv was a graduate of McKinley Grade School and Roosevelt High School, both of East Chicago. Irv then graduated from Indiana University, where he played the clarinet with the Indiana University marching band. After graduating from college, he served with the U.S. Army in World War II, and, later, became a co-owner of Lewin's Clothing Store in East Chicago with his brother, Ken. In addition, Irv was an educator at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, as well as Calumet College of St. Joseph. However, Irv is probably most well known for his 35 years as a radio commentator for WJOB Radio Center in Hammond. During his career at WJOB, he helped organizations by fulfilling requests from community, nonprofit agencies. Irv was not only committed to the goals and success of the Salvation Army, but the community as a whole. Irv was a past exalted ruler for the Elks Lodge #981, as well as chairman of the Lake County Polio Foundation and the United Jewish Appeal. Moreover, Irv served as past president for the East Chicago Chamber of Commerce, East Chicago Community Chest, East Chicago Lions Club, East Chicago Board of Education, and the Calumet College of St. Joseph. Irv was a board member of the 1st Bank of Whiting, Katherine House of East Chicago, the American Legion Post #369, and B'nai B'rith. For 13 years, Irv served as the commissioner of higher education for the State of Indiana. All this dedication proved to be successful as Irv earned the Man of the Year Award from St. Joseph College, a Sagamore of the Wabash from former Governor Orr, and a place in the East Chicago Hall of Fame. Irv Lewin is survived by his children, Paul and Stuart Lewin, Rosemarie Broach, Carol Bogushi, and Judi Bach, as well as many grandchildren. He rightfully deserves the great honor of having the Irv Lewin Fellowship Hall dedicated to his memory by the Salvation Army- East Chicago Corps. Indiana's First Congressional District has surely benefited from Irv's dedication and commitment to improve the quality of life for all residents of northwest Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other colleagues to join me in commemorating the memory of this great man.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members of the Hammond, IN branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP]. On Thursday, October 19, 1995, they will hold the Annual Freedom Fund Dinner. The Hammond NAACP, which has chosen the theme of ``Building Family Values,'' was organized in 1934 by a group of residents that felt there was a need for an organization that would monitor and defend the rights of African-Americans in Northwest Indiana. The national organization, of which the Hammond branch is a member, focuses on providing better and more positive ways of addressing the important issues facing minorities in social and job-related settings. The Annual Fund Dinner is a major fund raiser for the Hammond branch of the NAACP. In addition, the dinner serves to update and keep the community aware of the accomplishments of the local and national chapters on an annual basis. Moreover, awards are presented at the dinner to members who have given of themselves above and beyond the planned agenda or the President's request. Those special individuals who will receive awards are the following: Rocharda Moore Morris, President's Award; The Reverend Albert Johnson, Jule Alexander Award; Officer Pete Torres, Community Service Award; and Anthony Higgs, Program Support Award. Pearline Jenkins Scholarship Awards, whose joint contributors are the Hammond NAACP and the Northern Indiana Public Service Co., will be presented to Peter Adams, of Hammond High School, and Marquist L. Spencer, of Morton Senior High School. The Master of Ceremonies is Bernard Carter, Lake County Prosecutor, and the Keynote Speaker is Norman Van Lier, former star of the Chicago Bulls. In addition, Norman will receive a special recognition award. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate the Hammond Branch of the NAACP for commending these outstanding men and women, who have taken the extra step to improve the quality of life for the residents of Indiana's First Congressional District.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to introduce you and my other colleagues to a fine, outstanding citizen of Indiana's First Congressional District, Mr. Don P. Johnson. On October 8, 1995, Don, along with his friends and family, will celebrate his retirement after 19 years of service on the Munster Town Council. This commemorative dinner will be held at the Center for Visual Arts in Munster, IN. Don has dedicated his life to public service throughout the years. A resident of Munster since 1971, he has been on the town council since 1977. On four different occasions, including this last term, Don has occupied the position of town council president. When he was not serving as president, he held the position of planning commissioner. Moreover, Don has been employed as a financial analyst for LTV Steel Corp. since 1961, and he has been a ``Stick With Steel'' recycling representative. In addition, community service has been a large part of Don's life. Don has served on the Main Street Task Force as a cochair, the Community Hospital board, the Lake County Solid Waste District, and the Munster Foundation Board as the director. In 1995, Don was appointed president of the Northwest Indiana Council of Towns and Smaller Cities [IACT]. In this capacity, he attended many IACT events while serving occasionally as a panelist. Don has also been active on the Munster Chamber of Commerce as an associate member, and a patron supporter of Munster High School drama and athletics programs. Moreover, Don serves on the Munster Lions Club, and he has been honored for attendance and fund raising. In 1995, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Lions Club. As a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Don serves as an auditing committee member, and he also supports the Habitat for Humanity and food pantry. Don has also saved time to raise a successful family with his wife, Nancy, who is a teacher. Don and Nancy have raised three children: Gayle, and Air Force Academy graduate and teacher; Amy a teacher; and Douglas, a landscpae architect. In addition, Don and Nancy have four wonderful grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you, and my other colleagues, congratulate Don on his retirement from the Munster Town Council. His hard work and dedication to the council, as well as Indiana's First Congressional District, should be commemorated.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, as an officer of the Congressional Steel Caucus, I am pleased to call your and my other colleagues' attention to a dynamic force in steel-framed housing: the Northern Indiana Building with Steel Alliance. This innovative collaboration is the result of an alliance between northwest Indiana's five major steel companies--U.S. Steel, Bethlehem Steel, LTV Steel, Inland Steel, and National/Midwest Steel--the Northern Indiana Public Service Co., Ivy Tech State College, Dietrich Industries Inc., Unimast, Inc., and Dale/Incor Industries. This alliance is the first public/private partnership in the Nation with a concentration on steel-framed housing. The Northwest Indiana Forum is the glue that holds the alliance together. The alliance will promote steel-framed housing to builders this evening, September 27, 1995, at the Builders Dinner, which will be held at the Radisson Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN. Northwest Indiana should be a national showcase for steel housing. This region represents the largest concentration of steel production in North America, and Indiana's First Congressional District leads the Nation in steel production. Since we're No. 1 in steel production, it makes perfect sense that northwest Indiana should be No. 1 in steel- framed housing. In fact, to promote the use of steel for housing, I've cosponsored a resolution that would authorize a demonstration of steel housing on the Capitol grounds. The use of steel for housing is not only good for our domestic industry, it's smart. First, steel provides affordable and high quality construction materials. Second, steel is resistant to termites, vermin, and fire, and resilient in natural disasters. Finally, since steel is America's most recycled material, steel-framed houses help to conserve natural resources. Steel-framed housing is one of the fastest growing markets in the industry. The demand for light gauge, galvanized steel for residential applications saw an enormous growth in 1994. There was a total of 40,000 steel-framed houses constructed in 1994, compared to only 13,000 in 1993. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, about 525,000 tons of steel will be used in steel framing for homes in 1995. Another 275,000 tons will be used in roofing. As a result, these steel- framed houses will allow our steel mills to produce 1.5 to 2 million additional tons of steel in which $1.3 to $3.6 billion will be generated. Moreover, these special houses will provide 6 million man- hours of work, or 2,900 new jobs. The goal of the Northern Indiana Building with Steel Alliance is to eventually capture 25 percent of the residential applications market. Their hope is that this will be achieved as builders become more familiar working with steel and its inherent benefits. Key components of the regional initiative include assistance to builders with special seminars and training programs through Ivy Tech; cooperating with the Housing Futures Institute at Ball State University to develop new alternatives in housing technologies; and assisting local Habitat for Humanity sponsors to promote steel framing in homebuilding projects. Representatives of the steel companies participating in the alliance include: Jon Oram, Bethlehem Steel; Scharlene Hurston, Inland Steel; James Stoyka, LTV Steel; John Walsh, Midwest/National Steel; and Ed Charbonneau, U.S. Steel. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate these innovators, along with the other participants of the Northern Indiana Building with Steel Alliance, for taking the first step in lighting the fire that will fuel the American homebuilding market, as well as the economy of Indiana's First Congressional District.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Sawyer substitute and in strong opposition to the TEAM Act, H.R. 743. The Sawyer substitute specifically clarifies that the National Labor Relations Act allows the creation of workplace teams to improve competitiveness. The substitute ensures that employers will be able to get full, cooperative benefit from the ingenuity and skill of employees so that--together--both will prosper. The fundamental difference between the Sawyer substitute and the TEAM Act has nothing to do with the legality of employee involvement programs and labor-management cooperative efforts affecting company performance and [[Page H 9545]] productivity. Under the Sawyer substitute, employee representatives must be independent of the employer and cannot be dominated by the employer during discussions on terms and conditions of employment. This is an important difference and my colleague from Ohio, Mr. Sawyer should be commended for his excellent amendment. Predictably, the TEAM Act is just the latest assault on the rights of men and women across the Nation, who work hard and play by the rules. It would allow employers to handpick and control employees to represent other employees in discussions over terms and conditions of employment. This legislation flies directly in the face of the problems middle- class Americans face every day to make ends meet, educate their children, afford health care, and pay the mortgage. The American people are angry because in spite of being proud citizens of the world's only superpower, they are working harder, longer, and better for less money while the national economy continues to grow all around them. For people in the northwest Indiana district I represent, this means a 20-percent decrease in wages. It just doesn't make any sense that people are getting paid less to produce more. Instead of addressing this very real problem, the TEAM Act takes another swipe at the American worker. Robert Kuttner lists the essential facts that every Member of this body should pay close attention to. Productivity is rising, but the median wage is declining. Between 1989 and 1993, productivity per hour rose about 1.2 percent a year, while the median wage declined about 1 percent a year. In 1995, productivity has been increasing at about twice the rate of pay and benefits to workers. In 1979, median household income was $38,250. In 1993, adjusted for inflation, it was $36,250. During the same period, the economy grew by 35 percent. It's clear that the typical American family--the backbone of our Nation--has been passed over by the wave of economic growth and wealth they worked so hard to create. This is a crisis that threatens the American way of life. The falling living standards of the typical American family is mirrored by a decline in union membership. Since 1978, the absolute number of union members has been falling. Today, union members represent only 15.5 percent of the work force. I know there are people in this Chamber who see organized labor as an inconvenient hurdle to the creation of wealth. You're wrong. Unions want wealth created and have fought to ensure that workers share in the prosperity they create. Unions have boosted wages, improved working conditions, and improved the quality of life for every American-- whether they belong to a union or not. Without unions the American middle class we all talk so much about would be smaller and poorer. The TEAM Act is a direct assault on unions and organized labor's ability to bargain collectively. Workers and unions want their companies to profit and grow so that they can continue to share in the wealth. It is preposterous to claim otherwise. If you think the American workers are overpaid, defeat Sawyer, vote for TEAM, and deal another ace to the employer's stacked hand. I urge my colleagues to pass Sawyer and support America's working families.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today and call your attention to Bobby Moravec of Calumet Township, IN. Bobby's story serves as an inspiration to residents of Indiana's First Congressional District, as well as all Americans. This year, Bobby, who has Down's Syndrome, competed in the Special Olympic World Games against over 700 athletes from 143 countries around the world. Bobby succeeded in winning a bronze medal for the shot put and a fifth place ribbon for the softball throw. Bobby also placed sixth in the 50-meter race. Bobby, a student at Merrillville High School, was nominated for the World Games, the largest sporting event in the world, by Laura Smith, treasurer for the Special Olympics group sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Special Education Co-op in Crown Point, IN. Because Bobby had won a gold medal in last year's Indiana State games, he was then chosen to advance to the World Games as an athlete on the 10-member Indiana track and field team. Bobby has been active in the Regional Special Olympic games for 9 years and the State Special Olympic games for 5 years. He has earned four gold, six silver and one bronze medal for events ranging from the 50-meter race, the softball throw, basketball, the standing long jump, the shot put, and skiing. Bobby trains 3 days a week at Merrillville High School. His vigorous training schedule includes a day of weight lifting, walking and running around the track, and practicing the shot put and softball throw. According to Bobby's parents, Ed and Marge Moravec, his coach, Maxine Urbanczyk of Merrillville, IN, was there at each training session to prepare him for the World Games. Ed and Marge add that she gave him encouragement when he needed it and praise when he deserved it. They say that the Special Olympics needs more coaches like Maxine. When Bobby cannot be found in the training room, he may be participating in the other activities that he loves so much. Bobby may be fishing, playing on the Challenger softball and basketball team, or bowling. During football season, Bobby can be found at Andrean High School football games, where he has been the ball boy for the last 3 years. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other colleagues congratulate and commend Bobby for his hard work and dedication to succeed, not only in the Special Olympic World Games, but in his everyday life. In a world where success doesn't come easy, Bobby has proven to be an exception to the rule.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today and pay tribute to two celebrated community servants, Mr. Joseph Alvarado and Mr. Lou Martinez. On September 8, 1995, Joe and Lou will be honored for their contributions to northwest Indiana and the Hispanic community by the Northwest Indiana Hispanic Coordinating Council. This testimonial dinner will take place at the Casa Blanca Restaurant in East Chicago, IN. We are all very fortunate to have dedicated people, like Joe and Lou, who are sincerely proud of their Hispanic heritage and have taken an active role in promoting the progress of the Hispanic community in Indiana's First Congressional District. Joe Alvarado is a native of East Chicago, IN. He is also a fellow graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he played varsity football for the Irish. He later received his masters degree in finance from Cornell University. Joe returned to East Chicago and started his career with Inland Steel Co. in 1976. Since that time, he has steadily risen through the ranks from the days when he was a finance trainee to his current position as president of Inland Steel Bar Co. Lou Martinez, a classmate of mine at Andrean High School in Merrillville IN, has been with the United Way system since he joined the Lake Area United Way in Griffith, IN, in 1979. In my personal experience with Lou, I can say that he is one of the most dedicated and unselfish individuals I know. His desire to serve his community has allowed him to prosper in an organization like the United Way, whose focus is community service. As president of the Lake Area United Way, Lou has realized his leadership potential and he has played a big part in touching the lives of so many who are in need in northwest Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to these two very special men. Joe and Lou's large circle of family and friends, as well as the entire Hispanic community of northwest Indiana, can be proud of the contributions these prominent individuals have made. They have proven themselves to be distinguished advocates for the Hispanic community, and they have truly made northwest Indiana a better place in which to live.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, northwest Indiana lost a great business leader last month. William N. Kenefick, who devoted every ounce of his spirit to the Indiana Port Commission and development of northwest Indiana, passed away on August 10, 1995. William was the son of a lawyer and a grandson of Michigan City, IN's, first judge. He graduated from Notre Dame University, the Benjamin Franklin School of Accounting, and Georgetown University Law School. Following service in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 as a lieutenant, he began his law practice in Michigan City. William actively practiced law until 1978. It was at this point in time that William launched another career as a land developer. William's major projects included the Marina Park South, Commerce Square, Medical Plaza, and Congress Park condominium and office complexes in Michigan City. Moreover, in 1989, William joined the Indiana Port Commission, which oversees all three of Indiana's port sites. In 1991, William became the head of the commission. During his tenure, William stressed maritime- related industrial development at port properties. William succeeded in developing family-wage jobs for residents of northwest Indiana. As Indiana's International Port at Burns Harbor, IN, celebrates its 25th anniversary, the citizens of northwest Indiana can thank William for his dedication to the Port Commission to make Indiana's ports a success. William's determination to better northwest Indiana for all of its residents did not stop in the business community. In 1968, William underwent surgery for cancer of the larynx and then traveled to Arizona to learn to speak without a voicebox. He later counseled people facing the same operation. Mr. Speaker and my other distinguished colleagues, William Kenefick's legacy is a superb example of how the business community can make a difference for everyone in northwest Indiana. William will be missed by all who loved him.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman I rise in strong support of the Wilson- Durbin amendment. The EPA should have a clear mandate from Congress in cases where human health is at stake. Mr. Chairman, I was especially concerned about the refinery air toxins rider that was included in the underlying legislation. I recognize this rider has been stripped out of the bill, but I think it is important for the House to take a clear stand on the issue. Mr. Chairman, I remain concerned about carcinogens from the petroleum refinery industry. Petroleum refineries are one of the largest sources of cancer-causing emissions, primarily benzene, which causes leukemia. It may not mean much to some Members, but the people of the 1st District of Indiana must continue to live under a cloud of over 1 million pounds of toxic refinery emissions per year. In the 1980's the people of northwest Indiana watched as the Clean Air Act took effect; our skies lost the steady red glow of the old steel mills. We continue to make progress, but we have a long way to go. However, my constituents appreciate the progress made under the Clean Air Act, and their lives are better because of it. Mr. Chairman, we still have a long way to go to make sure that the air is truly safe for our citizens, and I ask my colleagues not to turn the clock back. Do not leave any doubt about EPA's mandate to protect the people of Indiana's 1st District or the people of this Nation from cancer-causing pollutants. Please support the Wilson-Durbin amendment.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the fiscal year 1996 VA-HUD appropriations bill. This bill is a polluters' bonanza. Our environment is cleaner today not because individual businesses decided to put themselves at a competitive disadvantage and stop polluting. The air we breath and the water we drink is cleaner today because Congress passed Federal laws, which leveled the playing field for businesses and mandated a cleaner environment. Instead of building on this success and fine tuning our environmental laws, the Republican majority is bent on taking us back to the good old days of little or no environmental regulation. Let me tell you about the good old days. The good old days resulted in six declared superfund sites in my tiny northwest Indiana district. In the Black Oak section of Gary the water was so toxic that the residents couldn't drink it or even water their plants without killing them. In the good old days, a northwest Indiana river stopped flowing because it was clogged with animal carcasses. Why does the Republican majority want to take us back to the good old days? If a regulation is silly we should end it. It a law is wrong we should change it. But we must not roll back years of environmental progress. Consider the drastic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency. This agency, whose sole purpose is to protect public health and improve the living conditions of American citizens, will take a cut of 34 percent--the biggest reduction by far for any major agency! But this Republican bill does not stop there--it also contains 17 legislative riders all aimed at curtailing or eliminating the EPA's ability to set environmental standards or enforce regulations that are aimed at protecting public health. What's the point of giving the EPA two-thirds of its funding when you prohibit its enforcement of our laws in the same bill? Upon closer examination of the vicious assaults upon the EPA, Mr. Chairman, I urge the House to oppose this bill. The VA-HUD bill cuts funding of hazardous waste site cleanup by 33 percent, or $560 million. Does the Republican Party believe this waste is just going to disappear? If we slow the cleanup by cutting funding, it will cost us more later. Furthermore, one in four Americans lives near a toxic waste dump. Are we helping the citizens of this Nation by allowing the perpetuation of hazardous filth? Absolutely not. The VA-HUD bill slashes enforcement of all environmental programs by almost 50 percent. By cutting $245 million of the funds that enforce those laws, the Republican majority's proposal severely limits enforcement of the protections Americans demand and deserve--and encourages polluters to continue breaking the law. Moreover, the cutback unfairly penalizes the thousands of companies that have invested in pollution controls and played by the rules to protect our health and our environment. It gets worse, ladies and gentlemen. For, the VA-HUD bill sharply limits citizens' right to know about toxics released in their own community. By slashing funds used to provide American communities with information about toxic chemicals being emitted in local areas, citizens will be left in the dark. Toxic emissions don't understand property lines. People should have access to information about the toxics that are being emitted into their air, and harmful substances are polluting their streams. Thinking along practical lines, emergency workers need this information as well. If an environmental catastrophe were to occur in your community, would you feel safe with any less than the full information? And what about the housing provisions in this bill. It targets its deepest cuts at vulnerable populations: the poorest residents in public and assisted housing, the homeless, poor and working families and the elderly. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has been slashed by 25 percent. HUD assists 4.7 million households living in public housing and receiving section 8 rental assistance. Of these households, 36 percent are elderly. Encompassing housing assistance for the elderly, HUD's Special Needs Housing program took an $852 million cut! Is this the Republican's moral mandate--to abandon our senior citizens and their need for decent, affordable housing? In my district, Merrillville, IN is lucky to be the home of the AHEPA House, a section 8 apartment complex that serves senior citizens. More than 100 elderly people are on AHEPA's waiting list. Recently, the AHEPA House was able to afford an expansion. There will be 50 new units opening up in September. Calls requesting applications for those 50 units have been coming in from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. So far, almost 150 people have applied for these 50 units. One hundred senior citizens are going to have to be turned away. When I recently spoke with AHEPA staff about the crisis, I was told they were extremely concerned. One staff member spoke of those on the waiting list, ``I don't know how some of these people even eat,'' she said. Calls come in to AHEPA house every day asking for help. If this bill passes, Congress will be sending a clear response to those calls for help. It comes in the form of a $852 million cut to the section 8 Special Needs Housing program. I urge a return to decency. Are we to turn our backs on senior citizens who are barely able to get a roof above their heads while majority in this House finances a tax cut for the wealthiest in society? Of course not. This legislation is a travesty and a danger to the American people. Public health is threatened. Pollution is encouraged. Housing is denied. The elderly are abandoned. Let's stop these irresponsible and indecent proposals that hurt American citizens. Join me in opposition to this Republican bill and join me in a vote for the American people.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Durbin- Hansen-Smith amendment. I would like to address three sets of people here: children, farmers, and tobacco companies. The gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen] in his remarks earlier said that smoking among eighth graders has increased 30 percent in the last 3 years. As the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Durbin] asked rhetorically several years ago, would any of you be happy if your eighth grader came home tomorrow and said, dad, mom, I started smoking today? Would you be happy if that happened? We talked about a lot of farmers here today. We ought to talk about a lot of kids and the $6 billion that the tobacco companies spend every year on promotion and advertising to get these kids addicted. Second, I represent a district that lost 38,000 jobs, count them, between 1977 and 1987, and I am very sympathetic with the problem that the tobacco farmers are having. But I find it very interesting that the tobacco companies do not care. If they care, we, 2 years ago, would not have had to enact a limitation on imported tobacco coming into this country because so much of the tobacco that the companies use was from other countries, not from those poor farmers who are losing their jobs who they trot out in front of them to take that first volley of fire, because they have no place to hide. Finally, the issue of saving $23 million, that is still a lot of money from where I come from, and if you want to protect those farmers, if you want to give them insurance, let the tobacco companies take some of their $6 billion in profits and spend $23 billion to help those farmers insure their tobacco so they can continue to grow it in safety.