Jim Walsh

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Speaker, my purpose in rising today is to enter into a colloquy with my chairman, the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Skeen] regarding the section 515 rural rental housing program. As my colleague knows, the fiscal year 1997 Agriculture Appropriations bill we are now considering, does not provide any funds for section 515 new construction, and actually cuts the program by two thirds from the current fiscal year. This program has been useful in my district providing housing for low income families, creating jobs, and attracting important economic development to a rural area. It has been a successful public-private partnership. Therefore, I wish to express some concern about this issue. Mr. Chairman, as you know, the section 515 Rural Housing program provides affordable rental housing to very low-income and low-income rural families, handicapped, and elderly residents. It is the Federal Government's only directly targeted tool for meeting the multifamily housing needs of rural America. The average income of a tenant in a section 515 project is under $7,300. However, in 1993, problems and abuses in the section 515 program were uncovered and investigated by the General Accounting Office [GAO], the House Appropriations Committee's surveys and investigations staff, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's inspector general. In the summer of 1994, the House Appropriations Committee investigative report on section 515 and section 521 was released, under the gentleman's and Congressman Durbin's leadership. Without going into a great deal of detail, after hearings, audits, and many meetings, the House passed H.R. 3838, the Housing and Community Development Act of 1994. This effort developed a list of reforms to the section 515 program. The House again passed a bill in this Congress, H.R. 1691, the Homesteading and Neighborhood Restoration Act, which included similar provisions to the reforms in H.R. 3838. Unfortunately, however, the Senate has not taken any action on this issue. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman and ranking minority member, Mr. Durbin, are to be commended for bringing these problems to our attention. The section 515 program is in need of reform. However, according to the 1990 census, there were still 7.6 million people below the poverty line in the rural United States, 13 percent of the total rural population. Adding to this problem is the fact that almost 2.7 million rural residents currently live in substandard housing and 1.8 million live in overcrowded housing units. This year there are 200,000 applicants on the waiting list for apartments in rural areas. The section 515 program is serving a significant rural need, and the fiscal year 1997 level of funding is not adequate to meet even a fraction of that need. I might add that most States, including New York, are running the program honestly and effectively, and, Mr. Chairman, I agree with you the Senate needs to address this issue. It is my intention to discuss the reform of the section 515 program with Senator Alfonse D'Amato, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. It is my hope that reasonable reforms of the section 515 program can be considered in the Senate agriculture appropriations bill or other housing authorization legislation. Mr. Chairman, I would like to request that if the Senate does consider reforms of the section 515 Rural Rental Housing Program, if the gentleman would be willing to reopen the issue, and provide funding for section 515 new construction.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask my colleagues today to join me in saluting a man who has been a scholastic sports leader in central New York for 33 years. Now, he is retiring as the Liverpool High School cross-country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field head coach. His name is Oscar B. Jensen, and he is known respectfully and affectionately as ``OBJ.'' He is a man who has been, as all good educators are, devoted to the academic as well as physical well-being of students. His extraordinary record of excellence and his exemplary guidance of young people is legendary in Liverpool, NY. The memories students have of Oscar Jensen will remain vivid. Parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and Liverpool fans will recall his strong leadership in the athletic program for many years to come. To relate his records briefly, in cross-country he won 207 meets, lost 99 and tied 1. He led the team to be section III champions three times and a State championship team in 1991. In indoor track and field he won 4804 and lost 500, tying 19. His teams were section III champions eight times. In outdoor track and field, he won 279 and lost only 43. His teams were OHSL Champions 14 times. He coached six State champions. Coach Jensen's career winning percentage for all three sports is 89 percent, an outstanding tradition of excellence. Additionally, all his teams consistently finished with the top schools in the State in academic achievement. This retirement follows his retirement 2 years ago as a physics teacher. It frees him to pursue clinics and other training of coaches and athletes, some of whom will eventually reach world-class levels of competition. Oscar B. Jensen is an example of discipline, commitment and inspiration. He will be missed by the Liverpool community and respected for his accomplishments throughout school history.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule. Our party, the Republican Party, the majority party in America today, represents many views. But we are united in our commitment to debate all of the important issues. Unlike the minority party, the Democrats who lost their majority because they bottled up the votes on issues like term limits, balanced budget, and the minimum wage: big talk, no action, no courage, no conviction. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] and his colleagues on the Committee on Rules. This rule gives us our vote. This increase in the minimum wage will help seniors in conjunction with our raising of the earnings limit for Social Security recipients, it will help kids save for college, it will help get people off of welfare and back to work, and it will help small business pay for it.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the young women athletes of the Westhill Senior High School soccer and basketball programs for their New York State Class C Championships during the past season. From a small school of 600 in the Town of Onondaga in Central New York, two outstanding coaches have inspired, instructed, led cajoled, and pushed in order to get the best from their girls. In each case, their best was indeed good enough. Before I name the players, I would also like to congratulate the entire Westhill High School community--led by Superintendent Mar DeSantis, Principal Richard Cavallaro, Board President Anthony Sidoni, Athetic Director Matt Whilpple and the hundreds of parents and students who make up the support infrastructure at Westhill. Being a parent in the Westhill School District, I am especially proud today. Many of the players are well known to me and my neighbor. We have watched these athletes grow, become stronger, become young adults, never losing their school spirit, their pride, never faltering in support of one another. We are now gratified to see them succeed so completely. We will recognize them, and all our district's scholastic athletes, at Sports Night on June 6. These two teams give us reason to cheer, but as parents everywhere understand they also give us an opportunity to give a final round of applause this year to all the students who partake in school sports. Members of the New York State Class C Championship Varsity Girls Basketball Team from Westhill Senior High School were coached magnificently by Sue Ludwig. They are: Jessica Adydan, Erin Davies, Sarah Detor, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Leigh Halsey, Laurie Hughes, Mellissa Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Stephanie Mancini, Maura Satalin, and Kathleen Sheridan. Members of the New York State Class C Championship Varsity Girls Soccer Team from Westhill Senior High School, Coached by Ann Riva, are: Jessica Adydan, Ellen Bronchetti, Carolyn Butler, Shannan Card, Jennifer Conway, Erin Davies, Julie Donahue, Sharon Gates, Julie Guinn, Karen Guinn, Alissa Hoover, Laurie Hughes, Jennifer Kirsch, Lindsay Lazarski, Sara Murphy, Kirsten Parody, Wallis Patulski, Megan Rogers, Courtney Spencer Sarah Thornton, Sarah Ungerer and Jessica Vosseteig. Westhill was further honored this year when Coach Riva was named by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as Coach of the Year for the Northeast Region of the United States. Under her direction, the Westhill team has won State Sectional titles for the last 4 years, and Onondaga High School League championships for the last 5 years. During 22 seasons, her teams have recorded 208 wins against 85 losses and 20 ties. Everyone at Westhill is very proud. I salute the coaches, parents, administration, faculty, and staff and most of all, the teams.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my chairman for his kind words. The Balanced Budget downpayment Act II includes the modified text of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for 1996. Members will recall that the conference agreement was adopted by the House on January 31 but not voted on by the other body primarily because of their opposition to a low income scholarship program. I deeply regret because of the other body's objections we had to delete that program. We were able to retain most of the other school reforms. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the District's financial management, we have included, under section 152, language that clarifies the duties of the District's chief financial officer. That position was established under the legislation that created the financial board. The clarifying language places the directors of the financial management offices as well as all other District Government executive branch accounting, budget and financial management personnel under the CFO's authority. All these individuals will be appointed by, serve at the pleasure of, and at the direction and control of the CFO. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, all the Federal funds have gone to the District, they have had those in the past, and I would urge strong support for this bill.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 159, the proposed amendment to the Constitution to require two-thirds majorities for bills increasing taxes. Those who support this concept are well-intended and probably, like many of us, frustrated at not being able to cut taxes for hard-working American families across the country. The Constitution is alive and well today after 220 years. It granted Congresses the power to levy taxes. To change this very special document in this manner is inappropriate. The framers of the Constitution had wisdom far beyond their years. They felt the strength of the Nation, with few exceptions, was based upon majority, not supermajority, rule. Let us stick to that concept. The surest way for this Nation to ensure itself against higher taxes is to retain and indeed expand the Republican majority.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating Ute Gomez from Cortland, NY, who will be honored on Sunday, April 14 as the Zonta Club of Cortland Woman of Achievement for 1996. My personal esteem for Mrs. Gomez is based upon her positive attitude in a dire situation. She turned a personal health scare into a learning experience for many other women. In 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after a self-exam and mammography. Since then she has created a support group and counseled scores of women with breast cancer. Three-and-a-half-years-later, after a lumpectomy, a modified radical mastectomy, chemotherapy, countless visits to homes and hospital rooms, Mrs. Gomez was quoted in the Cortland Standard about being named the Zonta Woman of Achievement: ``I am embarrassed by this,'' she said. ``Not my breast cancer, but being honored. But if one woman can see this and do a self-exam, or get a mammogram done, or reach out for help, I feel I've accomplished something.'' Ute Gomez is an outstanding civic leader who meets that definition by caring for others and putting that love to work. She is involved with the Breast Health Partnership Committee of Cortland County, a State and federally funded program. She has taken it upon herself to arrange mammograms, counsel, and otherwise assist women who need her help. My mother died a victim of breast cancer. I have tried in my public and private life to help in eradicating the disease and bringing comfort to those who suffer with it. I pledge further help now, and look forward to continuing to work toward those goals with Mrs. Gomez and others who have given so selflessly of their time and spirit.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to bring to the attention of my colleagues the environmental work of some high school students in central New York. A group from Marcellus High School in Onondaga County has been chosen the winners of the Operation Green Eyes competition, an Environmental Protection Agency and MCI Foundation contest with an award of $10,000. Their project was based on a plan to use land mined by a local concrete company for a network of educational nature trails. Schools from across the United States were challenged to complete an environmental community action project to see their community through Green Eyes and make a positive difference. Projects were rated on innovation and originality, impact on the community, technical merit, and how well the students utilized the resources which were available to them. On February 22 and 23 this year, three judges from the National Science Teachers Association met in Washington to judge the entries. They unanimously picked the Marcellus High School project to be the winner. I want to add my congratulations to the students for this achievement. using their awareness of the environment as well as their critical problem-solving skills to make such a positive contribution to our community is an outstanding accomplishment. I want to also publicly recognize with congratulations the advisers from the school, the MCI Foundation for its award sponsorship, the W.F. Saunders Co. for its cooperation, and last but not least Sylvester Stallone, who will participate in an award ceremony at the school.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Syracuse University Orangemen men's basketball team who are on their way to the final four in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, this weekend. In central New York, we look forward to cheering them on in their third final four appearance in school history, the second under 20-year head coach Jim Boeheim--and the first since SU was denied the national championship by a single basket in 1987. As I boast, I wish also to congratulate all the teams who have played in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's tournament, especially the University of Massachusetts, Kentucky and Mississippi State. The other three schools in the final four are State schools. Syracuse is the only one that bears the name of a city. So there is indeed a special feeling in my hometown for this team. At this moment there is a huge pep rally occurring in front of city hall and lots of orange everywhere. No team has come further than the SU Orangemen. Coach Boeheim has once again successfully inspired and challenged an extraordinary group of young men. They have fought from the first whistle, having been unranked in the preseason, to get here today, to play one more weekend. Two more games, we hope, in an incredible season. We in Syracuse know them to be a great group of student athletes who have made us all very proud. Win or lose, the Orangemen of 1995-96 will be remembered with fondness for their sportsmanship and their heart. They have given many central New Yorkers a warm feeling after a very long winter. Congratulations to all, and go Orange.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true civic leader, a man who has not only led the way for manufacturing interests in central New York but has touched the lives of thousands of his fellow citizens with his philanthropy, his counsel, and his encouragement. Chris J. Witting, a former industrialist who headed Syracuse's Crouse-Hinds Corp. in its heyday, has been a personal inspiration to me and to many others in public life. An astute businessman, Chris Witting has been a model of success--even in what I call relative retirement. His belief in the power of individuals and their positive-thinking has spurred many of us to boldly persevere in the formation of public policy that is in keeping with our values. Chris Witting is loved and respected throughout central New York. I will honor him at a public event February 19 in our hometown of Syracuse, NY. I look forward to presenting him with a copy of this memorial, a small token of my personal gratitude for the great impetus he has given to progress in central New York. I would ask my colleagues today to join me in saluting an American who has lived up to the expectations of the Founding Fathers when they called for strength of spirit and determination in all things in order to build a great Nation. I offer thanks and congratulations to Chris Witting for his lifetime of dedication to our quality of life and our outstanding community.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute today to an outstanding elected official and public servant from Onondaga County in my home district. David Elleman served the people of the Greater Syracuse area and the entire County of Onondaga as its comptroller since 1967. He has played an important role in keeping Onondaga County at the highest level of financial stability, with an excellent credit rating, through challenging economic times. Recently retired, he is a respected and warmly regarded man of integrity; a civic leader with an enviable career. Since serving as his senior high school class president in Syracuse, Dave Elleman has been a leader of his community and his Nation. A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, he is a decorated veteran of combat in Berlin and Korea. Returning home, he has served on numerous foundations and boards including Blue Shield Central Board, New York Regional Planning Board, and the Syracuse/Onondaga County Planning Board. Dave Elleman founded the New York State Government Finance Officers Association and he has served as New York Stake representative of the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. His family, and his community, are very proud of him. I would ask my colleagues to join me in wishing David Rundel Elleman and his wife, Ruth Calale Elleman, all the best as they enjoy the time they have earned. On a personal note, I want to say I look forward to seeing the Ellemans very soon and often in years to come.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in wishing a special happy birthday to Ella Lee Collins of Syracuse, NY, who turns 100 on February 20. On behalf of her 3 children, 19 grandchildren, and 26 great- grandchildren, all of whom turn to her for advice and guidance as she remains an active matriarch and all of whom have never been neglected a birthday wish from her--I wish her a happy, happy centennial celebration. On my own behalf I want to thank her for 30 years of service as an active member of the Board of Elections in Baldwinsville, NY. Fulfilling civic responsibility in this way, she has gained many admirers through her career. Having spent her life in service to family and community, Ella Lee Collins now lives in the Bishop Ludden Apartments and spends her private time on some favorite TV watching: The Guiding Light soap opera and New York Yankees games. May God grant us all the longevity and vitality of Mrs. Collins.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 351, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 2546) making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report on the bill, H.R. 2546, and the amendment in disagreement, and that I be permitted to include a tabulation summarizing the conference agreement.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this evening we have before the House the conference agreement on H.R. 2546, the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1996. The bill passed the other body on September 22, and passed this House on November 2. We had five meetings with our Senate counterparts, including one at 10 o'clock this morning, as well as numerous other meetings in our efforts to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of this bill. In the meantime, we provided funding to the District government through continuing resolutions under which a portion of the Federal payment was paid to the city. Under these CR's, $441 million of the $660 million annual Federal payment has been disbursed. These funds were placed in the Control Board's hands with half of the money going back to the U.S. Treasury to repay last year's loan to the District. On January 3, I introduced a CR that allows the District to continue operating through September 30 using its own local funds. That CR passed the Congress and was signed by the President on January 4. Even though this bill has been pending in conference, the District and Control Board have had the authority as well as a substantial part of the Federal payment to continue operations. Mr. Speaker, this conference agreement provides the District government with a budget of $4.994 billion--that is an enormous sum of money for a population of 554,000--over $9,000 for every resident. For that kind of money the District residents should be receiving the highest quality city services in America. The latest revenue estimates for fiscal 1996 made by the District's new chief financial officer are now $4.848 billion, which is $150 million below our conference agreement on expenditures of $4.994 billion. Our amount is only a cap on spending, so we are expecting that the Control Board will make the necessary reductions in expenditures to match that revenue estimate. Had we accepted the city's budget of $5.148 billion, we would now be looking at a $300 million deficit. The Financial Control Board has been in place for about 7 months and I am confident they are headed in the proper direction to bring the District government back from the brink of financial insolvency brought about by 20 years of home rule and 15 years of unrestrained spending. I fully support what they are doing and look forward to the 4-year financial plan and recommendations they will be sending to the Congress. Mr. Speaker, there were numerous items that we resolved early in the conference--but some of the issues were extremely difficult. First, on the abortion issue, the conference agreement provides that no Federal or local funds shall be used to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. This language has been signed into law by the President in the continuing resolutions that have passed this Congress over the past few months. The Senate bill reflected current law which restricted the use of Federal funds only. On domestic partners, the Senate language prohibited the use of only Federal funds to implement or enforce the District's Domestic Partners Act. The conference agreement continues current law which prohibits the use of both Federal and local funds. In the past few months there has been a great deal of discussion about local efforts to reform city operations. The school board is considering reducing their generous salaries and even introducing some privatization to their operations and management. The local governments are considering making Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant a regional authority. City departments involved with economic development and planning are looking to consolidate and eliminate duplication. These initiatives were set in motion by this year's appropriations bill and our strong encouragement. In order to bring about additional change in the District, our committee identified 28 items of concern which were referred to the Control Board. We have asked the Control Board to resolve those items and report back by April 1, 1996. I believe that both the financial and management problems of this city must be addressed in tandem. Improving city management is a No. 1 priority. For example, we have requested management assessment studies to improve the delivery of services especially in the areas of trash collection, school and office maintenance, and police, fire and ambulance maintenance, and deployment. What is needed is action and results now. The District government spends over $5 billion a year for city services. The city's per capita cost for education, safety, trash collection, aid-to-families with dependent children, job training, homelessness, and substance abuse appear to be the highest in the Nation. We have asked the Control Board to seek out the best management and operating practices of other cities and introduce them into the District government to improve operations. So Mr. Speaker, the most contentious issues discussed at our conference meetings involved reforming the District of Columbia's failing public school system. This conference agreement culminates a year of debate, discussion, and negotiation from the local school level to the Congress regarding the amount, shape, and pace of education reform necessary in the District of Columbia. One of the items I am most proud of is the low-income scholarship program. This program will provide many of the District's most needy children with the opportunity to receive a first-rate education. I believe we need to begin educating tomorrow's city leaders today. The scholarship program provides up to $3,000 that can be used by students to attend private schools in the District as well as public or private schools in the surrounding jurisdictions. It will give these kids and their parents a choice they have never had. This will also, in my opinion, be the catalyst that is needed to transform the District's public schools into better educational institutions. To meet the early objections posed by the other body to the school reform proposals, we have provided the city council with final approval of the program, but I am confident the city council will support this program. In fact, the council's committee on education unanimously supported parent choice. I quote from a letter the council's committee sent to our colleague from Wisconsin: The Committee embraces the creation of a federally funded scholarship program that would assist low-income parents in enrolling their children in * * * the school of their choice in the District of Columbia. So Mr. Speaker, I would urge all Members including our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to pass this conference report and help the residents of this District. I would like to thank the members of the subcommittee for their hard work on this bill. I want to especially thank the full committee chairman, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston] for his extraordinary efforts on this bill. He took time to participate in our markups and meetings while still tending to other important appropriations matters. Each of these members is to be commended. I also want to thank the House and Senate staff as well as my personal staff for their hard work and their assistance. Mr. Speaker, at this point in the Record, I will insert a tabulation summarizing the conference action. [GRAPHIC][TIFF OMITTED]TH31JA96.000 But I am confident the city council will support it. In fact, the council's committee on education unanimously supported parental choice in schools, and I quote from a letter from the council's committee to our colleague from Wisconsin, the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Gunderson]: ``The committee embraces the creation of a federally funded scholarship program that would assist low-income parents in enrolling their children in the school of their choice in the District of Columbia.'' So, Mr. Speaker, I would urge all Members, including our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, to pass this conference report, to help the residents of this District. I would like to thank the members of the subcommittee for their hard work on this bill, and I would remind my colleagues that this is going to be very difficult, a very difficult bill to pass. There is enough in this bill to make everybody angry. It is a compromise bill, but overall, it is the best bill we could bring to the floor. It is a good bill, in my estimation, and it begins the reforms that are needed in this most important of all American cities. There is a special relationship here between the Congress and the city, and we need to enhance that relationship. We are spending a little bit more money this year than we did last year, about $15 million, but it is for one purpose, to reform these schools. Most of the money will go to the private school system, but it will also provide for educational choice and for charter schools. Mr. Speaker, lastly, let me commend my colleagues on the subcommittee and my distinguished ranking member, the former chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from California [Mr. Dixon], for working through this very, very difficult bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. It is my understanding that the priority, the priority for spending of the vouchers is within the District, and I might add that the priority for spending is in the District. There may be, it may be used outside of the District, but the priority is within the District, but the scholarship board will work with the District council to determine how much of that is used for tutorial and remedial programs and how much of it is used for vouchers.

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

Mr. WALSH. Just briefly, there are, as I think my colleague is aware, there are a number of children in the District with special needs, and the District, it is necessary for the District to have these kids taken outside of the District so that those special needs can be met. They cannot meet them within the public school system of the District. So we have to keep these available for those children.

Mr. WALSH. If the gentleman will yield further, as I understand it, no.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the authorizing subcommittee of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.

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

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I strongly would disagree with that. As I understand the way the bill is written, there is priority for use of all these funds within the District of Columbia first. If all of the spaces available are taken up within the District of Columbia, after that is accomplished, then the money would be available outside.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield further, there was a good deal of effort in the drawing up of this bill to make sure that the District had some local control. There is leeway within the legislation for the District and the Scholarship Board.