Jim Walsh

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the bill crafted by the gentleman from New Mexico (Chairman Skeen) and the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the ranking member.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to add my praise to the lifetime's work of correspondent Alan Emory, whose life and service was addressed so eloquently by the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh). Mr. Emory is a reporter of humor, intelligence, talent, and, perhaps most important, longevity, 50 years of service. While Alan is no doubt most thankful for the last of those qualities, I want to say the others have been invaluable to both readers and those of us who are written about in upstate New York. It is often said that we in public life are adversaries of the Fourth Estate, that there must be a war footing of sorts between our two worlds, that there must be a sort of tension in order to bring about good performance all the way around. If that is true, Mr. Speaker, the best way to describe Alan's mission is a notable adversary, a friendly foe. He has done justice to our institution in his reportage, mostly for the Watertown Times of New York. He has served readers, as I have mentioned, who depend on accuracy and insight of reliable news people. He has been a faithful advocate for his region, and his perspective will be missed by many of us. I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) for this opportunity and wish Alan Emory all the best in his retirement.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in praising the Syracuse Children's Chorus, a group of young singers who will represent not only my home district of Central New York, but in fact, our entire nation when they travel to the International Children's Choir Festival and World Conference in China July 31 through August 14. The group, directed by Dr. Barbara Marble Tagg, is one of three such groups invited by the government of the Peoples Republic of China, and the only one from the United States. They will perform in Hong Kong and three mainland cities--Shenzen, Guilin and Guangzhou. This is a unique honor and a wonderful opportunity. I've known about the Syracuse Children's Chorus since our own children participated and their reputation is outstanding. I know they will represent Central New York and the U.S. very well. I am proud and excited for them and their families. Since its founding in 1981 by Dr. Tagg, the Syracuse Children's Chorus has become an international model for music education. The SCC has been the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and has been heard on National Public Radio. They performed at the 1996 International Society for Music Education World Conference in Amsterdam, following a concert tour of Belgium and Holland that year. They were also featured at the Walt Disney World Children's Holiday Choral Festival as well as Carnegie Hall in 1991. The Syracuse Children's Chorus has commissioned more than 50 works for children's choruses by composers from the U.S., Canada and China. Dr. Tagg is artistic director and founder. She is an Affiliate Artist at Syracuse university where she is a member of the choral music education faculty. She is a remarkable person who has done much for our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing them well in their performance and their experience. The Chorus members are: Jessica P. Ashooh, Rachel O. Bass, Elena de la Garza-Bassett, Andrea L. Bess, Erin L. Canavan, Shawna L. Carrigan, Heather N. Charlton, Courtney J. Chiavara, Stacey L. Condolora, Jeffrey B. Corbishley, Elizabeth M. Corcoran, Andrea E. Dunuwila, Brendan E. Dunuwila, Kristen W. El-Hindi, Sarah T. Esgro, Jill R. Evans, Abigail M. Freeman, Rebecca L. Fullan, Christina Hollenback, Jessica L. Keating, M. Amaris Kinne, Caroline T. Manolakos, Michelle M. Michalenko, Erin M. Molnar, Sidra S. Monreal, Amber L Moriarty, Marissa H. Mulder, Michelle M. Ostrowski, Kathryn L. Palange, Johanna C. Pingel, Kathryn M. Pratt, Amanda J. Schofield, Katharine J. Suddaby, Elana S. Sukert, Sarah A. Tiedemann, Richard D. Udicious and Carolyn D. Woiler. The Chorus staff are: Stephen Paparo, conducting intern; Jackie Pickard, chorus manager; Teresa Hudson, chorus administrator; and Michael Wesoloski, director of PR/marketing. Accompanist is Glenn Kime.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to my colleagues' attention an important occurrence in the world of collegiate sports and ask that they join me in saluting one of the sport of lacrosse's modern legends. Head coach of Syracuse University lacrosse Roy Simmons, Jr., who followed his father in making SU a national powerhouse in this increasingly popular sport, has announced his intention to retire this year. The entire sports community in central New York and others across America who love the game of lacrosse recognize the impact of this momentous decision. Roy Simmons, Jr., was named to the lacrosse hall of fame in 1992. He has coached 140 all-Americans, four national players of the year, five national championship most valuable players, while winning six national championships. The 1990 national championship team was the first ever collegiate lacrosse team to be invited to the White House, where they met President Bush. Roy Simmons, the most successful current intercollegiate lacrosse coach, has revolutionized the game and built a program at Syracuse University which is second to none. The fans, the team, the staff will miss his wisdom and humor. We wish him the very best in his retirement. Thanks for the memories, Slugger.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from New York (Mr. Solomon) for giving me the opportunity to use his time to speak against his rule. That is the kind of a gentleman he is. And I hesitate to disagree with him on most occasions, but on this one I strongly disagree. This rule is wrong. This conference report was carefully crafted to allow for ag research to be brought forward, to include crop insurance which is sorely needed, especially at this time of year, planting season, and also to deal with the issue of food stamps for legal immigrants. I strongly supported welfare reform. And I, like most of the rest of my colleagues, have gone around the country and bragged about what a success it has been. And it has been a success. But, my colleagues, as relates to legal aliens, people over 75 years of age, people under 18 years of age, and those who have become disabled since they came to this country, we need to show that we care. We need to show that this country has a big heart. We need to show that this country is wealthy enough to help take care of them, get them through a difficult time. Welfare reform has worked, but there are certain aspects of it, including food stamps, that went too far. This was not a provision early on in welfare reform. The President has asked us to include $2.5 billion more for food stamps. This conference report includes about one-third of that request. It is not nearly what the President requested. It is a carefully crafted compromise, not unlike the ISTEA bill that we will be voting on later today. So in conclusion, my colleagues, I would urge a defeat of the amendment, a defeat of the rule, and ask the Committee on Rules to go back, review this rule, and give us an opportunity to vote up or down on the conference report so that we can help to take care of people who need help and to get this agricultural research bill passed in a timely basis.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 2829, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1997. I have met with law enforcement officials from across my district who feel this is an important and useful bill. Currently, 25 percent of our nation's state and local law enforcement officials do not have access to bulletproof vests. Additionally, police officers not wearing a bulletproof vest have a fatality risk 14 times that of officers wearing a vest. There is an obvious need to make sure those who risk their lives on our behalf have access to these lifesaving devices. H.R. 2829 will ensure that for the days to come, no police officer will be left unnecessarily exposed in the line of duty. Bulletproof vests are one of the most basic forms of law enforcement protection, and America now sends a message to its law enforcement officials--we will protect you who valiantly protect us every day.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to recognize publicly the accomplishments of scholastic musicians and singers across the United States, and in particular some of my constituents in Central New York--the winners of the North American Music Festival in New York this spring, Westhill High School Concert Choir. The choir was awarded First Place with a Superior rating. The Westhill High School Women's Ensemble also was awarded the First Place Trophy with a Superior rating. Members of the Ensemble also belong to the Concert Choir. I want to congratulate Choral Director William Black for his tireless dedication and talented instruction. I would also ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the participants in such school groups in every district, in every state. This kind of extracurricular activity nurtures sensitivity for beauty in music and song in young people. I am very proud of the programs which address such an important aspect of education and especially proud of the Westhill participants this year who won the American Music Festival. They are: Michael Aquayo, Jeffrey Aldrich, Jaime Arnold, Kirstin Axford, Lacey Ballard, Katie Balogh, Jessica Bartle, Betsy Bartle, Nell Beadling, Claire Berkery, Erin Berkery, Katherine Bernstein, Brendan Brieaddy, Megan Brody, Sarah Brody, Kelley Burkett, Melody Calley, John Carpenter, Bryant Carruth, Paul Cella, Margaret Chajka, Michael Cieply, Marie Connell, Heather Cutler, Jessica Diaz, Laura DiSerio, Hilary Donegan, Erin Dowd, Brian Dudiak, Victoria Duffy, Jennifer Ernestine, Catherine Evans, Jennifer Fetter, Kristen Finn, Meghann Finerghty, Jamir Flores, Robert Flynn, Casey Foreman, Megan Foreman, Erin Frost, Rebecca Fullan, Jenelle Gallardo, Nicholas Gambino, Elizabeth Garofano, Manjinder Gill, Stephanie Grosso, Rebekah Guss, Kathleen Guyder, Kelly Hall, Colleen Harrington, Cara Hart, Sheehan Hayes, Benjamin Haynes, Erin Hogan, Julie Howard, Juliana Ingraham, Kristen Ingraham, Jonathan Jackowski, Lyndsay Jesmain, Joelle Kearns, Patrick Keeler, Elizabeth Kelly, Margaret Kelly, Jessica LaFex, Margaret LaFex, Allison Lang, Sara Lange, Meghan Lantier, Colleen Lavin, Marie Lebro, Emily Lemanczyk, Elizabeth Lemmerman, Kimberly Majewicz, Erin McCormick, Meghan McClees, Bryan McMahon, Molly Michaels, Rickard Mulligan, Kelly Murphy, Larissa Murphy, David Mushow, Andrea Nedoshytko, Julie Nichols, Pamela Norton, Colleen O'Brien, William O'Sullivan, Amelia Ott, Emily Ott, Jeffrey Pacelli, Jonathan Patrei, Julie Patriarco, Leah Patriarco, Jason Paussa, Sarah Pelligrini, Ana Pinker, Jessica Pouliot, John Powers, Sarah Quintana, Rebecca Reidy, Molly Rickert, Kathleen Roche, Carolyn Rolince, Jessica Roliance, Lauren Ryan, Marie Sampo, Michael Scheid, Elisa Sciscioli, Kelley Seymour, Daniel Silky, Kimberly Smith, Katherine Snyder, Jennifer Sobecki, John Sondej, Bryan Sparkes, Elizabeth Stebbins, Carissa Stepien, Lindsay Sterbank, Jillian Stevenson, Brian Stiles, Caitlin Sullican, Calleen Sullican, Matthew Tiffault, Matthew Thornton, Jamie Toth, Elizabeth Tucker, Erica Volpe, Kathryn Walsh, Kimberly Walsh, Maureen Walsh, Jessica Waters, Joseph Waters, George Welch, Shannon Wiktorowicz, Cassandra Williams, and Nathaniel Wood.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. Nancy S. Smith, a long-time employee of the Library of Congress. Nancy is retiring from the federal government after over 43 years of service--all of those years at the Library of Congress. She has spent her entire career in the budget office at the Library. Her most recent assignment was as an assistant to the budget officer. All who know and worked with Nancy came to appreciate and admire her steadfast professionalism and her attention to the detail that characterizes the work of federal budget making. Nancy was the authoritative ``number cruncher'' in the Library's budget shop and all three Librarians of Congress for whom she worked were the beneficiaries of her skills and diligence. The House Appropriations Committee, in particular, has been grateful for all the work and care Nancy put into preparing the variety of tabulations and explanations needed to review the budget program of the Library of Congress. In addition to being on call throughout the normal workday, Nancy was often called upon to spend evenings and weekends in preparing the analysis necessary for congressional oversight. She was always there when needed. We will all miss Nancy. After these 43 years she has certainly earned a rewarding retirement. She can now devote her time to travel and her love of opera and classical music. Well done, Nancy. And--Bon Voyage!

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Northstars Dance Ensemble for wins in the national dance titles of the Marching Auxiliaries of America Southeast Championships and the Showcase America Unlimited State/National Championships. The Northstars have been competing on a national basis since 1980 and have won many regional and national titles. This season the Northstars' impressive national titles were coupled with the prestigious honor of being selected by the American Dance/ Drill Team to represent them in a performance in front of the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. and to march in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Easter Weekend. Our Central New York community is proud of the hard work and dedication displayed by the talented members of the Northstars Dance Ensemble. I am equally proud of the support received by their parents and community. Members of the 1998 Northstars Dance Ensemble are Captain Nicole Proscio, Co-Captains Heather Brownell and Kerri Styn, Stephanie Anderton, Dawn Bombard, Sandra Brewer, Allison Brown, Emily Brown, Laura Buchanan, Micki Downs, Renee Hunt, Stephanie Keiser, Erica Laverne, Lyndsey Ludovici, Cathy Mauro, Cindy McCartney, Melissa Messano, Katie Mulrooney, Karen Russo, Angelina Savinelli, Sara Slifka, Sara Warner, Hilary Woznica, Christine Yott, Director/Choreographer Marian Lillie, Assistant Director Cristine Fix, and Creative Staff Kim Miller, Debra Holden and Barb Keck. Congratulations to the members of the Northstar Dance Ensemble for their impressive achievements.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, as a newborn nation grew two centuries ago, townships in America sprouted with the promise of freedom and despite great obstacles. Such as the founding experience of the Town of Maine, which this August celebrates its 150th Birthday. Maine is an area rich in history. The Town is located in Broome County, New York, within the land tract originally known as the ``Boston Purchase'' made back in 1787. Many of the original settlers in Maine were Revolutionary War soldiers. The Maine Township was officially formed on March 27, 1848. On behalf of our forefathers and the generations who will follow as well, I would like to thank the entire Maine Sesquicentennial Planning Committee for their important and historic work in putting together this important official recognition of the Town of Maine Sesquicentennial. It is the dedication of these individuals as well as the Nanticoke Valley Historical Society that preserves an accurate record of history for many generations to come. I am pleased to mark this solemn occasion for all Town of Maine families in the Congressional Record, forever preserving this memorable time. Congratulations to the citizens of the Town of Maine. All the best to you as you embark on your Sesquicentennial Celebration, which will culminate this summer.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge the very special contributions to my community and to humanity in general by an outstanding individual, the 1998 Zonta Woman of Achievement award winner in Cortland, N.Y., Mrs. Anna Forcucci. Anna Forcucci is best known for her dedication to community health care, especially in her work for the Cortland Memorial Hospital and the Cortland Memorial Foundation. As an employee of the hospital for 20 years, she has served in many roles. As Director of Volunteers for 12 of those years, she led 500 individuals and began many new programs. She was instrumental in the success of the 1993 Additions and Alterations Campaign which raised about $1 million. She is responsible for the great success of the Teen Age Volunteer Program, and for expanding it to include boys as well as girls. All participants gain experience in the health care setting and benefit from scholarships for academic service. Anna is a role model not only for young women, but for all workers in the health care industry. She is highly regarded in her field among her colleagues around New York State. Always the leader, she graduated from LeMoyne College in Syracuse summa cum laude in history and was awarded the Bishop Ferry Prize for highest grades in religion. Anna has served on many boards with organizations such as the Salvation Army, the YWCA, the County Community Services, the Groton Health Center, and the J.M. Murray Center. She is a member of Zonta, the Fortnightly Club and the Church Women United, and since her retirement has remained active as a hospital volunteer and chair of the southern zone of the State Hospital Volunteer Association. Anna Forcucci is a citizen of the highest character, integrity and ethical standards. It is with great pleasure that I ask my colleagues to recognize her accomplishments and to thank the Zonta Club of Cortland County for naming Anna the Woman of Achievement for 1998.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1151, the Credit Union Membership Access Act. I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of this important legislation. My vote is a continuation of longstanding personal backing for credit unions in general. I believe they provide an invaluable service to working men and women--a service which is both convenient and comfortable. Credit unions are familiar places which in many cases don't offer a full range of banking services but nevertheless do provide basic financial assistance--whether it be pocket money or a small unsecured loan. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturned a credit union decision in July of 1996, many of us in Congress realized the need for legislation to protect credit union members. Today's vote is the culmination of our efforts. By passing this legislation, we allow Americans to choose the institution in which they put their money. By promoting continued operation of credit unions in a sound and reasonable manner, we spur competition and encourage savings. By supporting credit unions in this manner, we demonstrate our faith in the wisdom of working people. On behalf of my constituents in central New York who will benefit from this consumer protection law, I want to thank the House for today's passage.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1151, the Credit Union Membership Access Act. I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of this important legislation. My vote is a continuation of longstanding personal backing for credit unions in general. I believe they provide an invaluable service to working men and women--a service which is both convenient and comfortable. Credit unions are familiar places which in many cases don't offer a full range of banking services but nevertheless do provide basic financial assistance--whether it be pocket money or a small unsecured loan. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturned a credit union decision in July of 1996, many of us in Congress realized the need for legislation to protect credit union members. Today's vote is the culmination of our efforts. By passing this legislation, we allow Americans to choose the institution in which they put their money. By promoting continued operation of credit unions in a sound and reasonable manner, we spur competition and encourage savings. By supporting credit unions in this manner, we demonstrate our faith in the wisdom of working people. On behalf of my constituents in Central New York who will benefit from this consumer protection law, I want to thank the House for today's passage.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule and also in strong support of the emergency supplemental. This rule allows for emergency disaster help to thousands of people throughout the country, and it also allows for a manager's amendment that will allow for additional CDBG funds which are offset. Mr. Speaker, these people were harmed by these storms. They lost livestock. They in many cases lost the farm in this disaster. In the northern part of New York State, literally thousands of power poles came down when the ice came. And then the wires laid across the road. Snow came on top of the wires. The plows could not get out. The roads were closed. Farmers were absolutely isolated. Some of these folks live on roads 2 miles off the main drag with nothing on their road but their farm. So they were in a terrible condition. We need to get this aid to them as quickly as possible so that they can get about getting their lives back in order. Mr. Speaker, we have done the responsible thing. We have chosen to offset these expenditures. That has not been done in the past. We put it on the credit card and let our children pay for those bills. We are going to pay for these expenses now. The way we do it primarily is through section 8 housing. And the comments have been made that we are going to put people out on the street, that people are going to lose their subsidies, that they are going to be thrown out of their homes. That is not true, Mr. Speaker. That is absolutely not true. These are future obligations under section 8 housing. These are next year's expenditures under section 8 housing. Our subcommittee, under the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), the chairman of the Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations, has pledged to make this program whole. These funds will be put into the budget. But, Mr. Speaker, if the President of the United States had done the responsible thing and funded the military adventures that he is not paying for, we would not be put in this position.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlemen, the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and the ranking member, for the hard work that has been put in on behalf of all the people in the country who have had such a difficult time this year. We were just meeting with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration talking about some of the effects of the El Nino weather pattern and their ability to track it, and try to predict it for the future because it will return. And that is planning for the future, Mr. Chairman. But what we are doing now is trying to respond to the damage that has already been done. The amendment that the chairman has will help us to help those communities through community development block grants to put back together the damage that was done earlier. This ice storm in our part of the country, northern New York, and as Members know, these funds cover all the areas that were harmed by the weather, in California, New Mexico and the South, Georgia, Florida, New York, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, the ice storm was a catastrophe of a magnitude such that Canada, the Nation of Canada, this was the greatest natural disaster in the history of Canada. All the areas of the Northeast that border Canada were damaged equally. There were estimates of over 30,000 power poles taken down in this storm. As the ice came and accumulated, we had telephone electrical wire that was just a hair's breadth thick covered with that much ice. So the weight of the ice pulled down one after another of these power poles, and the electric wires and telephone wires were lying all over the roads, and then it snowed on top of the ice in the roads, covered over the wires so the plows could not go out and clean up the roads so that there was no passable commerce, and the dairy farmers in particular had to throw milk away. You had barns collapsing from the weight of the ice and the snow and animals dying in the collapsed barns. You had animals that were out in the weather that couldn't get back in who died because of the inclement weather. You had fires that began because of electrical breakdowns and the fire departments could not get to those homes because of the impassible roads. It was clearly a catastrophe. So these funds, while they will not be enough to make everybody whole again, will go to communities and in many cases people do not realize the State of New York is primarily still an agricultural State. New York State is not a parking lot around New York City. It is a huge expanse of forest land and agricultural land and impoverished rural communities. So all these communities will qualify as they will in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, for community development block grant funds, which are there to help our poorest communities and our poorest neighbors to help to ameliorate some of the losses that they have incurred. Mr. Chairman, I will conclude by saying I am very grateful to my colleagues on the Committee on Appropriations, both sides of the fence, who brought this bill to this point. I look very much forward to working with them to pass this bill and to get it through the conference.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, as a newly born nation expanded and grew two centuries ago, townships in America sprouted amidst the excitement of freedom and despite great obstacles. Such was the founding experience of my home town, the Town of Onondaga, which this week celebrates its 200th Birthday. Although many of the festivities will occur this summer, culminating with a Bicentennial Parade on August 15, many proud residents are focused now on the Annual Dinner Dance April 4. On behalf of our forefathers and generations to follow, I would like to thank the entire Town of Onondaga Bicentennial Committee for their important and historic work. I would ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating these civic leaders for their dedication to preserving the history which guides us into the future. They are: L. Jane Tracy, town historian and co-chair; Thomas Andino, town supervisor and co-chair; Charles Petrie; David and Cathy Hintz; Kenneth Pienkowski; Gwynn Morey; Beatrice Malfitano, dinner dance chair; Mr. and Mrs. Willie Royal; Bonnie Romano; Dr. Gary Livent; Suzanne Belle; Mary Ryan; Donald Hamilton; Dorotha Schmitz; Leo Kelly; Dr. Arthur Dube; Margaret Boyd; Sherman V. Saunders; Mary Nowyj; Cara Burton; Jeff Martin; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Keegan; and Daniel Willis. On a related note, I am very proud to be one of three Onondaga residents in town history to have represented Central New York in Congress. The others included my father, William F. Walsh, and one of the first settlers, James Geddes, who also served as Town Supervisor in 1799. I am pleased also to mark this memorable time for all Town of Onondaga families in the Congressional Record on this date, forever preserving this memorable time. Together, we in the Town of Onondaga thank God for our freedom, our country and our homes--just as we pray that we will impress on the next generation the importance of what the Founders of our nation and our town accomplished and the magnitude of the task. Only from history will we learn.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, as a newly born nation expanded and grew two centuries ago, townships in America sprouted amidst the excitement and despite great obstacles. Such a town was mine, the Town of Onondaga, which this week celebrates its 200th Birthday. Although many of the festivities will occur this summer, culminating with a Bicentennial Parade on August 15, many are focused now on the Annual Dinner Dance April 4. I would like to thank the entire Town of Onondaga Bicentennial Committee for their important and historic work. I would ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this fine group of civic leaders for their dedication to preserving the history which guides us into our future. They are: L. Jane Tracy, town historian and co-chair; Thomas Andino, Jr., town supervisor and co-chair; David and Cathy Hintz; Ken Pienkowski; Gwynn Morey; Beatrice Malfitano; Mr. and Mrs. Willie Royal; Bonnie Romano; Gary and Karen Livent; Suzanne Belle; Mary Ryan; Charles Petrie; Donald Hamilton; Dorotha Schmitz; Leo Kelly; Margaret Chesebro; Jeanne Tanner; and Dan Willis. On a related note, I am very proud to be one of three Onondaga residents in town history to have represented Central New York in Congress. The others included my father, William F. Walsh, and one of the first settlers, James Geddes, who also served as Town Supervisor in 1799. I am pleased also to mark this memorable time for us in the Congressional Record, in addition to presenting a United States flag to town leaders in a ceremony April 2. Together, these people named today, joined by our fellow residents, thank God for our freedom, our country and our homes--just as we pray that we will impress on the next generation the importance of what our ancestors accomplished and the magnitude of the task. Only from history will we learn.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I was a little bit late for the resolution regarding my classmate, colleague and very good friend, Steve Schiff, and I wanted to have my remarks included with the other Members who spoke in that resolution. Steve was a remarkable man, someone who I got to know when I came to Washington. I served with him for 9 years, admired him, admired his honesty and his judgment, his dedication. He is one of those many Members who comes here and who does not come here for the glory. He comes here for the service to the country, and he provided it in an exemplary way. As I was coming into the Capitol and I looked up and I saw the flag at half-staff, and I thought what a tribute that is to him, how proud he would have been, how proud his family must be of him, how proud his State is of the service that he provided, how proud his friends must be of the service that he provided.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker: As will many Americans, Central New York families with school children will soon begin the week-long spring vacation to milder climes, marking the change of seasons from cold to warm. My family will join many of our Syracuse area neighbors this year in a visit to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While there, I will have the privilege once again to participate in a venerable tradition, the 16- player Bill Jackson and Bob Lewis Golf Tournament. It will be just one of many such tourneys open to those of our neighbors who have respect for the game without taking things too seriously. Past participants in this particular tournament have included federal judges, mayors, congressmen, newspaper editors and business people from our region--good people with whom I am proud to associate under any circumstances, but especially during vacation. This bi-partisan representation of our hometown does not always guarantee good golf, but it does serve a higher purpose: good company during an important break in the yearly cycle of things. For the third year in a row, the Tournament will be held at the Pine Lakes Country Club, ``the granddaddy of the strand,'' owned by pro Scott Miles. I want to personally salute the therapeutic perspective of organizer Bill Jackson from Syracuse who has said often of one tourney participant, Judge Neil McCurn: ``He is a successful golfer. The first year he lost 20 balls, and the next year he only lost 10.'' I would ask my colleagues to join me in wishing all these friends a good round of golf, and indeed in wishing all of those vacationing Americans a safe and renewing visit to their favorite vacation haunts.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to this very good bill. I would congratulate the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Smith) and all the members of the Committee on Agriculture for putting together a very responsible bill. My concern, Mr. Speaker, is that the Senate bill takes $1.2 billion in savings from the food stamp administrative savings and then creates two new mandatory programs, one for ag research, which I support but we are already spending $1.6 billion on it, and another for rural development, a program we are spending $6 billion on. The House did the right thing. The Senate has not. My concern is if this goes to conference, the temptation will be too great to spend that money on other programs that do not, quite frankly, need the funds. But the fact is, Mr. Speaker, over 900,000 legal immigrants, including over 150,000 children, have lost food stamp benefits. I think most of us would agree that that is wrong and that these funds need to be put back into the program to help to feed those people. In addition, there are many elderly and disabled persons who have lost food stamp benefits and I think we need to correct that wrong, too. Mr. Speaker, I would again reluctantly oppose the bill, ask that we return it to the committee and allow them to put some language into the bill that directs the committee bill to provide for language that would keep those funds within the food stamps program. For that reason, Mr. Speaker, I oppose the bill.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating a Central New York woman of whom I and my community are very proud, Corinne Roth Smith, the 1997 Hannah G. Solomon Award Recipient. This prestigious award is named in the memory of the founder of the National Council of Jewish Women. The concerns of the NCJW include the improvement of the quality of life for people of all ages and backgrounds. To paraphrase the recent tribute: Corinne Smith has helped to change and expand the role of other women in vital areas of the community. Her leadership has motivated others to fight for change and has resulted in public enlightenment. This is the 25th year in which the NCJW's Greater Syracuse Section has presented this award. As I salute Corinne Smith, I congratulate the Syracuse Section as well. Corinne is a volunteer, organizer and community leader extraordinaire. She has led the United Way, been a board member of Hillel, chaired the Federal Campaign for the Jewish Community Center, and in fact was the first woman to serve as President of the JCC. She has received the Jewish Family Service Humanitarian Award, as well as the Syracuse Post-Standard Woman of Achievement in Education award. As the Dean of Academic Programs for the School of Education at Syracuse University, Corinne has touched the lives of students, families and even indirectly other academicians through her outstanding publications which deal with learning disabilities, her specialty area. It is with great pride that I enter Corinne Smith's name in the Congressional Record today as a exemplary citizen, a mother, wife, and civic leader who rightly deserves this tremendous honor as well as our great esteem and deep respect.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation which authorizes the acquisition, without cost to the Government, of an existing facility to be used by the Library of Congress. The Library plans to convert a vacant building now owned by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond to an audio-visual preservation center. The building is located in Culpeper, VA. It will be acquired through a most generous donation by the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. The Packard Foundation will also contribute $4.5 million above the purchase price of $5.5 million to equip and maintain the building. The Librarian of Congress says he needs this building and its 40 acre site to consolidate the extensive film, video tape, and sound recording materials now stored in five separate locations. This facility will become the national center for the storage and processing of these collections. The Library will then be able to vacate outdated facilities at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, underground vaults in Boyers, PA, three warehouses in the Washington suburbs, and in the main Library itself. The Library's intent will be to establish a modern audio-visual collections center which will contain the necessary climate controls to process and store nitrate and acetate film and movies, and a variety of multimedia video and sound recordings. It will also be possible to connect the Culpeper facility to the main Library with fiber optic links to make accessible the entire national audio-visual collection. We have not yet seen the complete scope of the project nor do we yet have a complete cost analysis based on construction design and estimates. The Library, however, has provided estimates prepared by an accounting firm that indicates placing the center at Culpeper will cost less than the additional investments that would otherwise be necessary to update current storage and processing facilities or to build new facilities elsewhere. The Library and the Architect of the Capitol will prepare the requisite estimates for the normal appropriations cycle. They will be reviewed by the Committee on Appropriations in regular order. It is my hope that most of all of the funds can be derived from additional philanthropic support to minimize the need for taxpayer funding of this new operation. That is the intent of the Librarian, as I understand it. I support this authorization. The Librarian has made the case for it and I commend the chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, Bill Thomas, for bringing this legislation to the House.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute today to Leo Pinckney, who has been making the 100-mile trip from Auburn, NY to Cooperstown for Baseball Hall of Fame inductions most of his life. An avid baseball fan and an active participant in professional baseball in central New York, Mr. Pinckney is a community legend in the upstate region of Cayuga County and we are very proud of the role he played in the commemoration of 1996's Baseball Hall of Fame Game. That was when Leo Pinckney participated in the first pitch with Hall of Fame inductees Jim Bunning and Earl Weaver. The event marked an official Hall of Fame congratulations to Leo, a former sports editor of the Auburn Citizen daily newspaper, for attending his 50th induction weekend. Leo Pinckney was instrumental in returning professional baseball to Auburn in 1958 by helping to establish the Auburn Astros. Today, he is the President of the successors, the Auburn Doubledays. Mr. Pinckney was President of the New York-Penn League from 1985-1992 and he now serves on the League Board of Directors. One of its divisions is named after him. We are very proud of Leo Pinckney in central New York and happy for him that he has been so honored by professional baseball.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute today to a family with the same last name as mine, though I am not directly related and cannot claim to know firsthand the entire history of their local fame. I, like many central New Yorkers in the Auburn and Cayuga County area, know the Walsh family of which I speak because of Mr. Thomas ``Jitch'' Walsh. On October 7, 1997, Jitch Walsh Day was held at the original site of the family hot dog stand in Emerson Park on Owasco Lake. Auburn, for those who do not know, is blessed by its location in the Finger Lakes, close to several of the lakes and accustomed to these lakes for summertime leisure activities. It was at this hot dog stand, Jitch's and his wife Ellie's stand, that at 1940's-era generation of Cayuga County residents watched softball games, went to carnivals and otherwise wiled away the hot and humid mid-year months. Jitch's unusual nickname, by the way, is a childhood moniker which has stuck over all these years. When friends and elders are nicknamed ``Hip 'O Hay,'' ``Joker'' and ``Pearshape,'' something like ``Jitch'' didn't sound so odd. One of Jitch's nephews is John Walsh, who stars on the television show ``America's Most Wanted.'' Jitch's and Ellie's own son, Thommie, is a very successful choreographer and director who has won three Tony awards. Their daughter, Barbara, is a banker in Syracuse. But the fame of the Walsh clan in Auburn centers more on Jitch's father, T.J., ``the mayor of Market Street'' and his mother Loretta. Not to mention their connection to Ellie's father, Ross Cosentino, and her mother Rose. The nickname comes from the word ``jits,'' which in Italian slang is said to mean someone who borrows small change constantly, as Jitch did when he was a young teen who wanted to buy a bag of peanuts at the softball games at the Y-Field. When he and his wife Ellie open their hot dog stand in the park in 1952, it naturally became Jitch's Stand-- and a local legend was born. As a gathering place, Jitch's Stand was a sensation, selling over 2,000 pounds of hog dogs a week. The popularity of the spot, and the spirit of local customers, is evidenced by the reunions. In 1980 Jitch Reunion Days drew 700 people; in 1986, more than 1,000. And of course this year's Jitch Walsh Day was a huge success as well. In my family we respect family tradition--as does the Walsh family in Auburn. I am very proud to be able to express these sentiments today, and thank my colleagues for joining me in recognizing this important social milestone for many of my constituents.

Mr. WALSH

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