Peter Visclosky

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Chairman, I wish to explain my priorities as we debate the budget resolution for FY 2000. I am a cosponsor of a Constitutional Amendment to Balance the Budget and have introduced budget enforcement legislation in the past. As such, I am pleased that we balanced the nation's budget in FY 1998. However, we should not be complacent. Before we talk of new spending or new tax cuts, we should keep our eye on one goal, and that is maintaining a balanced budget: a balanced budget for our current fiscal year and for FY 2000. Moreover, we should recognize that trust fund surpluses from Social Security, Medicare, the Highway Trust Fund and other federal trust funds totaled $150 billion last year and masked our true situation by making our budgetary position appear more favorable than it really was. Hence, I feel our second priority should be to really balance the budget without the use of any trust fund surpluses. Thereafter, I believe that we should begin to pay down the national debt, which, according to the Congressional Budget Office, has reached an all-time high of $5.5 trillion. By using all the surplus to pay down the debt, we as taxpayers would save a significant amount of money in future interest payments. Today those payments total $231 billion. For every $1 billion in debt that we can retire, we save an average of $70 million in annual interest payments. This savings would benefit every American regardless of their economic status and I believe it represents the best tax cut we can give to the American people. Furthermore, this debt retirement would provide us with more flexibility in addressing how best to secure Medicare and Social Security for future generations while maintaining our ability to also invest in solid programs that can make our economy more productive. Several budget resolutions have been introduced which take different approaches to maintaining a surplus and allocating our financial resources. I favor the resolution proposed by a coalition of conservative Democrats, since it provides the most fiscally sound approach. It would reserve 100% of the Social Security surplus for the Social Security Trust Fund. It also pays down more debt than any other proposal before the House, thereby providing for lower interest payments in the future and more flexibility to address unforeseen problems. Conservative projections indicate that this budget would save us $113 billion in interest payments on our debt over the next five years. Although I am primarily concerned about maintaining fiscal discipline and believe a tax cut could be detrimental to sustaining a balanced budget, the tax cut provided for in this proposal is minimal and can be targeted towards the hard-working middle class families who need it most. Mr. Chairman, I close by adding that maintaining the public trust is the single most important issue we face today. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to weigh the impact that the budget resolution will have on future generations.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller). (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. The issue are the people we are sworn to represent. We cannot move them somewhere else on the globe. They are in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania and Arkansas. That is the President's responsibility, that is our responsibility. He has not met it. We today, in a broad-based bipartisan fashion, want to make him recognize his obligation so that when Keven Tasey's daughter or son is born, the gentleman mentioned by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior), her or his father will have their job back. I ask all of my colleagues to please support this legislation, the bipartisan Steel Recovery Act.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time. Mr. Speaker, at the outset, I want to thank the Steelworkers of America; I want to thank Jack Parten and every last member of District 7 Steelworkers of America for their invaluable help on this issue. A number of people during the debate today tried to define or mentioned what they thought the issue of the day is. I would like to do so also. The issue is people. Whether we use the most conservative estimates established by the Congressional Research Service, which would tell us 13 people a day have lost their jobs since July 1, 1997; or some of the more larger numbers that we have heard on this floor, where up to 1 steel worker every hour, about 3 steelworkers today since this debate started have lost and continue to lose their jobs. That is the issue. Those people, their jobs, their families. We have heard a lot today about the global economy, world trade, globalization of the Nation. I am worried about the globe too. I am worried about a place on the globe called Alabama. I am worried about a place on the globe called Arkansas. I am worried about a river valley on that globe, the Mon-Valley in the State of Pennsylvania, and I am worried about a place on that globe, Gary, Indiana, because they have all suffered, not through any fault of their own, but the failure of this government to enforce the law of the land against illegally-traded steel. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior) mentioned names, and I think it is important that we not use statistics, but real people. Because Sherry Ferguson from the State of Illinois is unemployed today because of illegally-traded steel. She has six children in her household. Tell her the crisis is over. Joey Bishop from Alabama has a 7-year-old daughter at home. Let us tell Joey Bishop's daughter that the crisis is over. We are here today because the President has not acted in a sufficient fashion. He has arrived at the game late, and he has certainly not carried the day. Others suggest that the crisis is now resolved. One speaker indicated that steel traded from Japan is down 96 percent in the last 3 months, and I would not argue that point. Here is how bad the problem was and still is. From July 1997 to January 1999, six weeks ago, Japanese steel imports are still up 74 percent. Someone indicated that steel exports from Korea are down. I would point out that from July 1997 until January 1999, six weeks ago, Korean imports are still up 77 percent, and for the same period of time, imports from Indonesia are up 890 percent. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues, is that because they are playing by every last rule of international law and not violating our trade laws? I would suggest that is not true. Why are we here to take a global approach to put all of the countries and all of the products on the table? Because while some steel exports to the United States from some countries and for some product lines have declined, interestingly enough, just from December of last year to January of this year, suddenly, Chinese exports to the United States increased 24.2 percent, and exports from India increased by 70.8 percent in a 30-day period of time.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant). (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle), who has been a leader on H.R. 975.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) who has been a leader on steel issues throughout his career here.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Klink). He has been very, very active on this issue. (Mr. KLINK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown). (Mr. BROWN of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Mascara) who has been a leader in enabling us to get H.R. 975 on the floor. (Mr. MASCARA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee). (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan), who, again, has been vigorous in this effort from day one. (Mr. MOLLOHAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), who has been at the forefront of this effort. (Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley) for the recognition. Mr. Speaker, I would want to use this time not only to express my support for the rule but to make a number of thank you's in all sincerity. I think the coming together of Members in this case in a very bipartisan fashion, to work together selflessly over a period of nearly 8 months, to engender the support again in a bipartisan fashion of this House, can lead the way to the legislative calendar for the next 2 years and simply want to again thank the Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) particularly for their consideration. I know they have reservations about this legislation. I want to make sure that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior) is thanked and particularly the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the minority leader, for their inestimable help in this matter, and finally the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Archer) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane) who I again know have very serious reservations about the legislation, as well as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin). I would finally want to thank the steelworkers everywhere who have worked diligently throughout this crisis to make sure that the voice of workers in this country is heard, and those who have participated in the steel working group.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate, first of all, the support of the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) for the legislation, as well as his expression of concern. The issue of short supply is an issue that we have considered from the inception of the original legislation and do believe that it is covered under the bill itself. The fact is, the administration, following enactment of H.R. 975, will have 60 days in which to fashion a comprehensive program that will still allow one out of every four tons of steel sold in the United States to be exported from another country. Additionally, the reason we wanted to give the administration that flexibility and to put all of the countries and all of the products on one table is to make sure that companies such as the gentleman's in the State of Washington, earlier we had a gentleman on the other side, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), indicate he had a problem as far as possible short supply, that those can be addressed. The reason we have looked at quantitative restrictions is, again, to make sure that we do not have people who are trading illegally under our trade laws following in behind someone else who is now obeying the law. That would be the responsibility of the administration, and I do appreciate very much the concerns the gentleman raised.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Absolutely.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's concern. The reason we looked at a quantitative and global approach is because, if we look at a product, if we look at a specific country based on a price, we are not going to resolve the crisis. I would point out, for example, on a country basis steel exports from India suddenly increased to 70 percent in January of 1990 compared to just December of 1998. Exports from Australia increased 31 percent in that last month. Exports from Korea increased by 25 percent. So we are going to have to look at shifting within countries of various product lines as well as in people following behind if we do achieve success with one country coming in with new quantities of steel and again would remind the gentleman we are giving the administration 60 days to fashion their initiative, and they have great flexibility as to the design of that final plan.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to an outstanding citizen of Indiana's First Congressional District, Mr. Edward Patz. On March 27, 1999, Mr. Patz, along with his friends and family, will celebrate his retirement from the Pipefitter's Local Union 597. This reception will take place at the Villa Cesare in Schererville on March 27, 1999. Ed Patz has dedicated a substantial portion of his life to the betterment of union members and the community of Northwest Indiana, as well as the entire state. Mr. Patz's distinguished career in the labor movement has made his community and nation a better place in which to work and live. For more than forty years, Mr. Patz has served as an important figure in Local #597. He has held several positions throughout his tenure, but none as important as Business Agent, a position from which he retired on January 1, 1999. Mr. Patz began his involvement with Local Union 597 in 1956, through his Pipefitter Apprenticeship with the Robert Gordon Corporation. Ed Patz was the top apprentice in the state of Indiana and won the state apprenticeship contest on November 23, 1960. In the same year, Mr. Patz graduated from the apprenticeship program and attained the rank of a journeyman. In 1983, Mr. Patz was elected to the Pipefitter's Local Union 597 executive board, where he served a three-year term. Mr. Patz was elected to the position of Business Agent in June of 1986, where he remained until his retirement in January 1999. Ed Patz served three consecutive two-year terms as Secretary-Treasurer for the Northwest Indiana Building Trades Council, and was involved as a committee chairman and/or member of numerous committees associated with the Building Trades Council. Ed Patz has devoted his career toward the expansion of labor ideals and fair standards for all working people. On this special day, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Ed Patz. His large circle of family and friends can be proud of the contributions this prominent individual has made. His work in the labor movement provided union workers in Northwest Indiana opportunities they might not have otherwise had. Mr. Patz's leadership kept the region's labor force strong and helped keep America working. Those in the movement will surely miss Mr. Patz's dedication and sincerity. I sincerely wish Ed Patz a long, happy, and productive retirement.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with a great sense of honor that I rise to celebrate Black History Month. As we honor the great cultural and historic legacy that African-Americans have left to us and to future generations, we recognize that they led one of the greatest social transformation in the history of the United States: the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The civil rights movement was a period of enormous growth for our country and society. Great African-American leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and others forced us, as a nation, to search our souls and confront the forces of hate and ignorance that were splitting our society. Today, we continue to confront the forces of hate and ignorance. The fact remains that much still needs to be done before true equality and racial harmony become a fact of life in this country. Now, more than ever, we need strong African-American leadership. We must have leaders who, like the leaders of the civil rights movement, are able to take action and inspire others to confront bigotry. In the First Congressional District of Indiana, we are blessed with a number of outstanding African-American leaders. But there are 10 specific leaders that I want to recognize today for their devotion to public service and their ability to inspire future generations to achieve all that they can. Suzette Raggs is the current Deputy Mayor of Gary. She is the first black woman appointed Deputy Mayor in the state of Indiana. She was appointed by Mayor Scott King in 1996. She is President of the Gary City Board of Public Works and Safety, the body that oversees all of the contractual agreements for the city. She is also Co-Chairman of the Harambee African Celebration in the Gary City Council Chambers as part of the Black History Month celebration. She currently sits on the Board of Redevelopment Commission for the Department of Redevelopment. Sandra Jean Carr Irons has been the President of the Gary Teachers' Union, Local No. 4, since 1971. Her involvement in union activities has taken her all across the nation and the world. She has served in leadership positions with the American Federation of Teachers and the International Federation of Free Trade Unions. She has served on a number of state and local bodies, including the Gary Commission on the Status of Women and the State of Indiana Civil Rights Commission's Employment Advisory Committee. Prior to her service with the Gary Teachers' Union, she had been a mathematics teacher in the Gary Community School Corporation. She holds a B.S. Degree in Mathematics and Chemistry from Kentucky State College and a Masters Degree in Teaching Mathematics from Purdue University. She was also the Valedictorian of her high school class at Rosenwald High School in Harlan, Kentucky. State Senator Earline Rogers of Gary, Indiana was first elected to the Indiana General Assembly as a State Representative in 1982, after two years as a member of the Gary City Council. In 1990, she became a member of the Indiana State Senate. During her tenure in the legislature, she has severed in several leadership positions and currently serves as Assistant Minority Floor Leader of the Democratic Caucus. As a retired teacher, Senator Rogers has taken a special interest in education reform and has co-authored many of the state's education bills. She is actively involved in many community organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Urban League, the Black Professional Women, the American Federal of Teachers, the Indiana State Teachers' Association, the National Council of Negro Women, the YWCA and the Hoosier Boys' Town. Rudolph Clay is a 13-year member of the Lake County Board of Commissioners. In 1972, he was elected to the State Senate, making him the first black state Senator from Northwest Indiana. During his stay in the State Senate, he earmarked $100,000 in the state budget to recruit and hire minority state troopers. He was also elected to two terms as a member of the Lake County Council, beginning in 1978, and served as Council President. In 1984, he again broke barriers as the first black county recorder. As a member of the Board of Commissioners, he has instituted a major overhual of the county's Affirmative Action policies and practices. Most recently, he was part of the Board that adopted the most comprehensive Equal Employment Opportunity Plan to date. Bernard A. Carter was appointed to the position of Prosecuting Attorney of Lake County, Indiana, in December 1993 to fill the unexpired term of his predecessor. In May of 1994, he was elected to the position. Prior to being named Prosecutor, he served for three years as the presiding Judge of the Lake County Superior Court, County Division III. He was the first African-American Judge elected in the history of Lake County. Prior to his election, Carter served as a Lake County Deputy Prosecutor for six years. During that time, he successfully tried more than 80 important felony cases and was appointed Supervisor of the County court division of the Lake County Prosecutor's Office. William A. Smith, Jr. is the Lake County Third District councilman and has held that seat since 1983. In 1999, his peers elected him Vice President of the Lake county council. A graduate of the Lincoln Service Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Smith served for 20 years as a firefighter and 12 years as the Gary City Court Administrator. He currently serves as the Deputy Government Liaison for the Calumet Township Trustee's Office. Lonnie Randolph is the current City Judge of East Chicago, Indiana. He was appointed to that position in August of 1998. He served as an Assistant States Attorney and a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Lake County before entering private practice for the past 17 years. In 1992, he was elected to the Indiana State Senate. In addition to his public service, he is involved with a number of community organizations including the East Chicago Lions Club, the East Chicago NAACP, the East Chicago Katherine Boys Club of America and the Hammond YMCA. Morris W. Carter is the Recorder for Lake County, Indiana and is a former County Councilman. Educated through the Gary Community School system, he attended the Indiana University Northwest School of Public and Environmental Affairs. As a County Councilman, Mr. Carter served on as many as 25 boards and committees throughout Lake County. He has also served in administrative posts throughout city, township and county governments. Over the past 25 years, Mr. Carter has served as mentor for some of the most outstanding leaders in the Gary community and of his generation. Recently, he has devoted much of his time and energy to the Gary Accord and the local Commission on the Status of Black Males, where he serves as a board member. Troy Montgomery is the current President of the Lake County Council. He has represented the citizens of Gary for seven years. He is also a 33-year employee of U.S. Steel corporation. A disabled veteran, he has been active in the United Steelworkers of America, holding a number of leadership positions, including serving on the International Civil Rights Committee. He has also been active with the NAACP, serving as Chairman of the Gary Branch of the NAACP Labor and Industry Committee and as Chairman of the Indiana State Conference of Branches State Labor and Industry Committee. Dharathula ``Dolly'' Millender is a former school librarian and Gary City Councilwoman. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for the Gary Community Schools. She is the author of several books for children, including Martin Luther King, Jr. which is published in both English and Norwegian. She has authored two other books on the childhood and young adulthood of Crispus Attucks and Louis Armstrong. She has also written Yesterday in Gary, a book about Gary's African- American heritage. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Gary Historical and Cultural Society. She is considered the Historian of Gary, Indiana, and frequently speaks to audiences of children, youths and people of all ages about the history of Gary and Lake County. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my distinguished colleagues to join me in commending these outstanding African-American leaders and their efforts to build a better society for our country and the citizens of Northwest Indiana.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of legislation along with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and 96 other of my colleagues. The 100 of us join together today to try to provide a solution to the crisis we face in the United States of America today involving the domestic steel industry. We want to help those Americans who want to work in a steel mill in the United States of America, and I say want to because using the administration's figures it is clear that over the last 12 months, 8,775 steel workers have already lost their job because of this crisis. That translates into 24 steel workers, 24 American families today will lose a breadwinner in everything that connotes. What is the cause of this crisis? Illegal dumping. Countries selling steel in the United States, or I should almost suggest giving it away in the United States of America, at below their costs of production, at below what they sell it in their home market. This crisis began after July of 1997, and it is of astronomical proportions. Using trade figures from November of this past year, imports have increased over that approximately 18-month period of time by 48 percent. Imports in November of 1998, compared to pre-crisis level in July 1997, from Japan, increased by 303 percent; 303 percent as shown on the first chart. Steel exports from Russia increased from July 1997 to November 1998 by 151 percent, 151 percent. Steel exports to the United States increased from Korea from July 1997 to November 1998 by 111 percent. Exports of steel to the United States from the Ukraine increased from July 1997 to November 1998 by 196 percent. The result at Timken Company is that 160 workers were laid off in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Forty-seven workers were laid off at three Ohio steel manufacturing facilities. Forty union workers were laid off at Timken Latrobe Steel in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Four hundred people were released from the former Inland Steel Company in Indiana. At Geneva Steel Company in Vineyard, Utah, there is an 18 percent cutback. USX laid off 200 workers in Fairfield, Alabama, and 100 workers at the Mon Valley Works near Pittsburgh. Slater Steel Corporation has slashed 51 positions. It has altogether reduced the salaried workforce by 22\1/ 2\ percent. Acme Metals in Riverdale, Illinois, has filed for Chapter XI bankruptcy. There is Gulf States Steel Corporation in Gadsden, Alabama, where 100 steel workers have been laid off. Northwestern Steel and Wire Corporation in Sterling Falls, Illinois, 300 of 400 workers are out of work today. Weirton Steel Corporation, Weirton, West Virginia, more than 900 steel workers have lost their job. No action was taken by last fall, and the Congressional Steel Caucus introduced a resolution. Language ultimately was sent to the administration begging, imploring and demanding that the President of the United States act. The President reported back to Congress with his action plan in January of this past year, and among other things the President indicated that the Japanese government has indicated, the President's word to us, that Japanese steel imports would return close to 1997 levels, close to 1997 levels, in 1999. A representative of the Japanese government later indicated that that potentially was not true. The administration will come before us today and indicate that the Japanese have begun to correct their problem with the United States, and my colleagues can see by the second chart that, yes, indeed, exports from Japan have declined. Today they are 94 percent higher than they were at pre crisis levels, and I will bet steel workers in Japan have not lost their job. But that contrasts to the USS/Fairless Works where Mike Dobrowolsky and Kenneth Houser were laid off the day before Thanksgiving. They are both in their mid forties, they are married, they each have two children. Both have worked for more than 20 years at Fairless; they are not working today. At Geneva Steel Corporation in Utah, Eric Shepherd is married with three children and was among those laid off in September. We need to act.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and reflect on his life and work, we are reminded of the challenges that democracy poses to us and the delicacy of liberty. Dr. King's life and, unfortunately, his vicious murder, remind us that we must continually work and, if necessary, fight to secure and protect our freedoms. Dr. King, in his courage to act, his willingness to meet challenges, and his ability to achieve, embodied all that is good and true in that battle for liberty. The spirit of Dr. King lives on in many of the citizens in communities throughout our nation. It lives on in the people whose actions reflect the spirit of dedication and achievement that will help move our country into the future. In particular, several distinguished individuals from Indiana's First Congressional District will be recognized during the 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast on Monday, January 18, 1999, at the Gary Genesis Center in Gary, Indiana. In the past year, these individuals have, in their own ways, acted with courage, met challenges, and used their abilities to reach goals and enhance their communities. Former Gary City Councilman Roosevelt Haywood will be honored with the 1999 ``Marcher's Award'' for his contributions to the struggle for equality of civil rights. As a leader of the Fair Share Organization, he worked diligently in his fight for the civil rights of all minorities. In addition, Mr. Clifford Minton will receive the prestigious 1999 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ``Drum Major Award'' for his outstanding contributions to fighting segregation. Clifford was one of the founders of the Frontiers International Civic Club and is the former Director of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana. Both Roosevelt Haywood and Clifford Minton should be applauded for their civil rights efforts in Northwest Indiana. I would also like to recognize several Gary Tolleston Junior High School students: Tynese Anderson; Kenneth Bonner; Breone Dupre; LaKisha Girder; LeYona Greer; Katina Haaland-Ramer; Floyd Hobson; Leah Johnson; Ayashia Muhammad; Brooklyn Rogers; Brannon Smith; Mason Smith; Whitney Sullivan; Sheena Tinner; Phyllis Walker; and Courtney Williams. These students are members of the Tolleston Junior High School Spell Bowl Team, which won its fifth consecutive State Spell Bowl Championship. The team's success is also a credit to the outstanding ability and leadership of its teachers. In particular, Margaret Hymes and Janice Williams should be commended for the devotion they have demonstrated as coaches for the Tolleston Junior High Spell Bowl Team. Additionally, Tolleston Principal Lucille Upshaw and Dr. Mary Guinn, Gary Superintendent of Schools, should be recognized for their support. The accomplishments of these outstanding individuals are a reflection of their hard work and dedication to scholarship. Their scholastic effort and rigorous approach to learning have made them the best in the state. They have also brought pride to themselves, their families, their schools and their communities. Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to commend Miss Andrea Ledbetter of Gary, Indiana. She has been selected for the People to People Student Ambassador Program as part of the delegation going to New Zealand. The roots of the Student Ambassador Program reach back to 1956, when U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded People to People. He believed that individuals reaching out in friendship to citizens of other countries could contribute significantly to world peace. This is an excellent opportunity for Andrea to experience unparalleled opportunities for personal growth through an enriching program of educational and cultural interaction in another country. Though very different in nature, the achievements of all these individuals reflect many of the same attributes that Dr. King possessed, as well as the values he advocated. Like Dr. King, these individuals saw challenges and rose to the occasion. They set goals and worked to achieve them. Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my other colleagues to join me in commending their initiative, determination and dedication.