Roger Wicker

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I will simply close by saying our colleagues, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering), were on the floor earlier and expressed their regret at not being able to stay for this presentation and this moment of observance. They will be submitting remarks for the Record later on. I will simply close today with the words of a fellow Mississippian, William R. Ferris, Chairman of the National Endowment of the Humanities, who said this afternoon, ``Eudora Welty's mastery of language was unparalleled, and her unswerving commitment to her craft as a writer will inspire future generations. We mourn the loss of a truly great writer and friend whose love and compassion enriched us all.''

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues may not yet be aware of the death earlier today of one of America's giants. Eudora Welty died this afternoon in Jackson, Mississippi, at the age of 92. Her literary career spanned portions of 7 decades, and her awards and decorations place her among the superstars of American literature. Her novel, The Optimist's Daughter, earned her the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. In addition, her honors included four O. Henry prizes, the National Book Foundation Medal, the American Academy of Arts and Letters William Dean Howells Medal, the National Institute of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for the Novel, the American Book Award for Literature, the American Book Award for Paperback Fiction, the Phi Beta Kappa Association Award, and many more. It is a point of personal pride for me that Miss Welty was a native Mississippian, having been born in Jackson in 1909 and educated in the public schools of our State, as well as at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. For years, we Mississippians have considered Eudora Welty our State's preeminent citizen. May 2 is annually celebrated in Mississippi as Eudora Welty Day. Mississippians are also proud of the fact that she has been increasingly recognized throughout America as a national treasure. She was appointed to the National Council on the Arts by President Nixon in 1972, and she twice received the Freedom Medal of Honor from Presidents Carter and Reagan. Beyond her acclaim in her native America, Miss Welty's works have been translated into virtually every European language, as well as Russian and Japanese. She has been recognized by many heads of state. In 1987, Eudora Welty was knighted, knighted, by the Nation of France; and in January 1996, Miss Welty was presented with the French Legion of Honor. Eudora Welty understood not only the South, but the complex family relationships and individual struggles against adversity which have combined to give our country its rich texture. Her works of fantasy and tall tale narration included two of my favorites, The Robber Bridegroom and The Ponder Heart, which have been adapted for the Broadway stage, but which are still read aloud in the Wicker household. Mr. Speaker, over the next few days and weeks the publicity concerning the life of Eudora Welty will perhaps assist a new generation of students and young people in appreciating the extraordinary life and accomplishments of this remarkable American. Perhaps I will be able to express in a more adequate way the admiration and kinship that I feel for her as a fellow Mississippian. Suffice it for now to say that her work sparked the imagination of countless readers around the globe, that she universalized the Southern experience and made it relevant to people beyond the region's boundaries, and that her life and her life's work are worthy of our heartfelt praise and gratitude. Now, with the indulgence of the Chair and my other colleagues in the Chamber, I am pleased to yield to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows).

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, a former Member of this body once went down in history when he made the statement, ``Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up.'' Although the chairman of the subcommittee has just told us that this is not about the drilling in lease area 181, I did have to feel that way last week during the discussion of the Davis amendment. ``Don't confuse us with the facts,'' some of our colleagues said, ``our minds are made up.'' ``Forget the fact that this Nation is in an energy crisis. Just forget the fact that area 181 is way out in the Gulf of Mexico. My mind is made up. Forget the fact that we need to get rid of our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Just forget that. Don't confuse me with that fact, our minds are made up.'' And then there was the constant discussion last week about drilling off the coast of Florida. Even The Washington Post, the next day, talked about drilling off the coast of Florida without giving the reader the foggiest notion of what we were talking about. So what we are talking about, Mr. Chairman, is drilling in the colored-in area here which is called ``Sale 181 Area.'' As Members can see, it is over 213 miles from Tampa Bay, this drilling which our friends from Florida are calling off the coast of Florida. 213 miles away. Over 100 miles away from Panama City there. Yet it is being described by people in that delegation as being off the coast of Florida. Now, it is true that there is a small strip of water, a small strip of the gulf in lease area 181 that goes up to the coast of Alabama. I want to suggest, perhaps, to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) that he should apologize on behalf of the State of Alabama for being so close to Pensacola, Florida. But the fact of the matter is that this strip that extends within 17 miles of the coast of Alabama is Alabama territory. I think Alabama should get to make that choice. And also forget the fact, our friends tell us, the supporters of the Davis amendment, that drilling offshore is not only environmentally sound nowadays but it can even be environmentally friendly. Now, let me say a word of caution to my colleagues, Mr. Chairman. And I mean this sincerely. There has been the use of the word ``hypocrisy'' by both sides. Someone is going to jump up sometime and ask that words be taken down. I wish we would not use the word ``hypocrisy.'' I think that has been established as perhaps going above and beyond what we can do on the floor here. But I do think there is a degree of audacity in this argument here. And the audacity, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Scarborough) is right, it is bipartisan. It is bipartisan. I learned from the State Department yesterday that most nations in the world claim 12 nautical miles off the coast as their territory. Only one nation does not do this and that is Communist China. They claim 200 miles. There is a little bit of a parallel here. The people of Florida are saying off the coast of Florida is 213 miles, ``That's our coast.'' Off the coast of Florida is 108 miles from Fort Walton Beach. They are saying, ``Don't give us the 12 nautical miles. Give us 108 miles. Give us 213 miles.'' A bit of audacity there. Let me just say this. Perhaps we do not need this pipeline anymore. We were talking last week with the Davis amendment about 7.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. I think this body, Mr. Chairman, made a grave mistake to decide that this Nation will forgo this very needed natural resource. It is not a question of where you put the sausage factory. It is not a question of where you bring the cow. This is where the natural gas is. It is right there in lease area 181. We have decided, and I hope we can reverse that decision, Mr. Chairman, we have decided to forgo it. So since we are not going to have the 7.8 trillion cubic feet, I say there is no need for the pipeline to carry only 1 million cubic feet per day. I urge the defeat of the Davis amendment.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Chairman, let me say that it is an honor and a privilege and a joy to work on this subcommittee with the gentleman from Alabama (Chairman Callahan) and also the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), our ranking minority member. I appreciate their hard work and cooperation in producing this bipartisan piece of legislation. I particularly want to thank the gentleman from Alabama (Chairman Callahan) for crafting a bill which recognizes the benefits of making needed investments today in order to save money tomorrow. Let me just give the committee two examples of this. One excellent example is the substantial increase in funding for the environmental management cleanup activities at our Nation's nuclear laboratories and facilities. H.R. 2311 provides over $7 billion for the purpose of this cleanup. This is an increase of over a quarter of $1 billion over last year's amount. This increase will allow cleanup timetables to stay on schedule and save unnecessary future costs. I am also pleased that this bill reflects the importance of our Nation's water infrastructure. Mr. Chairman, our Nation's waters do not recognize State lines as we all know. Over 40 percent of the Nation's water flows by the borders of my home State of Mississippi. Flood control and maintaining navigable waterways are national issues. By making the necessary investments in these activities, we will avoid the greater cost in the future that we would have if we were not having the proposed spending today. So, Mr. Chairman, I urge the support from all of my colleagues for this bipartisan bill which fund our Nation's priorities and, of course, within the context of a balanced budget.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I have a map which I think will be helpful to our colleagues. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment offered by my friend, the gentleman from Florida, and supported by many of my friends from Florida. I would think that we would realize we are now in an energy crisis in the United States of America. We are increasingly dependent on foreign sources of oil, but the one product in abundance we have here in the United States in North America is natural gas. That is what we are talking about primarily here, natural gas in lease sale 181. This amendment would cripple one of the largest sources of natural gas we have in North America. As the chairman said, it is $7.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. My friend, the gentleman from Florida, when he introduced this amendment, said we do not need a quick fix in this area. My goodness gracious, this has been under review for 5 years, Mr. Chairman, an exhaustive review process. It began in 1996. For 5 years, sale 181 has been subjected to careful review and study to ensure all concerns are addressed. In fact, then Governor Lawton Chiles expressed his appreciation to the Department of the Interior for recognizing his request to exclude any tracts within 100 miles of the Florida coast. What are we talking about here? If my friends can look at the map, and those on the other side, I would appreciate it if they would come over here, we are talking about an area here that is 213 miles from Tampa, 108 miles from the coastline near Panama City. This little part that goes up near Pensacola, that is Alabama territory. Alabama gets to make the choice there. That is why it comes so close to Pensacola, because it is Alabama offshore territory. It is true that the previous administration called for a moratorium on the exploration and drilling in the eastern Gulf of Members, but not for lease sale 181, not even the previous administration. Even this Congress took action to impose a moratorium on drilling in the eastern Gulf, except for lease area 181. The last administration and this Congress have both recognized the critical importance of lease sale 181 in meeting our natural gas demand. I repeat, we are talking about 7.8 trillion cubic feet of sale of natural gas, one of the cleanest types of energy we could produce, during the time of an energy crisis. With production declining over here in the western area and in the central area of the Gulf of Mexico, this part of the eastern section, just sale 181, hundreds of miles out in the Gulf of Mexico, is crucial to meeting our national energy needs. The sale of 181 is critical to that effort. Mr. Chairman, with the current energy crisis, you would think our politicians might have learned their lesson about restricting the production of needed and environmentally-friendly energy sources. I urge the defeat of this amendment. This may be one of the most important votes we take this summer.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Madam Speaker, please put me down as one of a substantial number of Republicans who applaud the decision of President Bush to discontinue our Naval training on the island of Vieques. As Secretary England pointed out last week, this decision is the best way to decompress a highly charged situation which was clouding other issues between Puerto Rico and the mainland. The Bush administration has made it clear that, while providing effective training for Naval forces is our first priority, alternative sites already exist and other ranges can and will be found. I hope this can be done before May 2003. To those who decry the ``political'' nature of this action, I invite them to go to Puerto Rico, listen to the people and gauge the depth of their intensity and ask this: Does anyone realistically believe it is in our national interest to disregard, year after year, the overwhelming popular will of our United States citizens on Puerto Rico? The President's decision will be shown to be wise and insightful.

Mr. WICKER

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

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from California, for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to rise in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 139, which I introduced only a few days ago with strong bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the leadership for recognizing the importance of this resolution and ensuring its speedy consideration. We welcome his Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, on his visit to the United States. We commemorate the 1700th anniversary of Armenia's acceptance of Christianity. The Catholicos' visits and upcoming commemoration of the United States provides the ideal opportunity for the House to bring attention to the shared values and ideals of the United States, Armenia, and the Armenian church. The Armenian people have lived in their homeland for more than 3,000 years, creating a unique civilization rich in culture. The Christian world's links to the past are intertwined with the Armenian church. In fact, two of Jesus' disciples, Saint Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew introduced Christianity in Armenia and were among the original founders of the Armenian Church. In 301 AD, Saint Gregory the Illuminator brought Christianity to the entire country, leading Armenia to declare Christianity the official religion, making it the first Christian state in the world. The Armenian Church has made great contributions often during times of strife and oppression as my friend from California (Mr. Lantos) has pointed out, over the last 17 centuries. Armenian Church leaders opened schools, cared for the sick and needy, and created an alphabet for Armenia and the Republic of Georgia in order to make scriptures more accessible to the people. Armenians' devotion to God led them to create distinctive styles of manuscript illumination, architecture, sculpture, and textiles that are recognized as masterpieces of Christian art and as major contributions to world art. The Armenian Church continues to make significant contributions today through its ministry at home and its active participation in ecumenical bodies uniting Christians of all denominations throughout the world. Mr. Speaker, in the coming days, more than 100 communities around the United States will be celebrating this great anniversary with special worship and ecumenical services. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to author this resolution welcoming the Catholicos to the United States and honoring the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and affirming our strong ties and relationship with Armenia and the Armenian Church.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 139.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Chairman, in my home State, four students were caught bringing a gun to a school-sponsored event. They were passing the gun among themselves. After a disciplinary hearing, three of the students were expelled for possession of a gun, but the child who actually brought the gun to the event was given only 45 days in an alternative program. Why this unequal result? Because the child who brought the gun was classified as learning disabled under IDEA. Now, Mr. Chairman, when I travel throughout my district and talk to parents and teachers and administrators, they are concerned about this dual system of school discipline. They want school discipline returned to the schools. A safe productive learning environment is a key element to providing all students with a good education. There is no hidden agenda here. There is no attempt to deny disabled students the ability to be educated. It is simply a matter of safety in schools and order in schools and discipline in schools. It was the academic community who encouraged me during the last Congress to introduce a bill to restore disciplinary decisions to State and local administrators. I was pleased when the amendment of the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood), similar to my bill, was approved in the 106th Congress during consideration of the Juvenile Justice Act. We cannot tolerate students bringing guns or drugs to school or assaulting other students. It does not matter who the student is, the danger to the other students remains the same.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Chairman, I rise to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The current language of H.R. 1 requires that a school identified for improvement must provide all students enrolled in that school with the option to transfer to another public school within the same local educational agency. I am concerned that this language may not provide public school choice to students in many rural areas. For example, in my mostly rural congressional district, a school district is often comprised of a limited number of schools, sometimes including only a few elementary schools and one high school. With few schools from which to choose, there is little or no choice within the same school district and, therefore, no relief for those students. Mr. Chairman, I am hopeful that as the legislative process continues, the bill can include language such as I proposed to the Committee on Rules which will allow a student trapped in a failing school to transfer to another public school, regardless of the school district. Will the chairman continue to examine this issue during the conference with the Senate?

Mr. WICKER. Reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for this assurance.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, on Rollcall No. 16 Tuesday, February 27, I was detained due to being with the official delegation honoring the 10th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues and the millions of fellow Americans who mourned the loss of NASCAR Racing legend Dale Earnhardt in extending my condolences to the family, as well as to his racing crew and fans. Dale was from Kannapolis, NC, but could have lived in any small town in America as your next door neighbor. His departure from racing will no doubt be felt in the NASCAR community, for years to come. The nation lost a sports superstar on February 18, 2001. Much has been written about Dale Earnhardt. Indeed, his life was one of triumph over tremendous odds. He met Americans in their living rooms each Sunday and gave them opportunities to cheer; we all knew that if Dale was in the lineup he would be at the front of the pack at some point during the race. His passion for racing, love for the sport, seven-time Winston Cup Points champion and 76 race wins made him simply the best. A constituent in Mississippi may have summarized Dale when he said ``. . . he made you smile, made you laugh, made you shout for joy, and broke your heart.''

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) for yielding me this time. I thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) for his support for quality public education in the United States of America. As I was sitting here, Mr. Speaker, listening to the debate and hearing the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) of the Committee on Education and the Workforce speaking, it occurred to me that he has worked an entire lifetime for education in the United States of America. This may be one of the last speeches that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) will be able to make on the floor of the House with regard to education. I salute him for an entire career devoted to quality public education, flexibility at the local level, and the absence of Federal mandates. That is really the difference in philosophy that we are talking about here on the floor of this House on this Saturday afternoon. I have two children in public schools in Mississippi. I support public education. I have a record of supporting public education, not only in this Congress, but also when I was a State legislator. We all support quality public education, and there is not a Member within the sound of my voice this afternoon in the House of Representatives or in the other body that does not support better school facilities and better school construction. We would all like to have better school buildings all across the United States of America. The question is, how can we as a Nation get the job done. This points out the difference in philosophy. Regardless of what the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the previous speaker, said, there is a strong difference in the way we would approach this bill. Now, my friends on the Democratic side see a need somewhere in the United States of America, and they immediately see a Washington, D.C. Federal solution to the problem. We on the other hand, particularly when it comes to education, when we see an education problem, we try to find out how best to solve that problem at the local level and how to provide the flexibility and authority to local governments to solve those problems. Now, as the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) pointed out, and as the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) pointed out, there are over $300 billion in school construction needs right now. Those needs, undoubtedly, will go up. She terms them an emergency. The President's proposal would fund only a very, very small percentage of those problems. But what if we start out this year at $1.5 billion, Mr. Speaker? What will that program look like with all the Federal bureaucracy and all of the regulations that it will entail, what will it look like in 5 years? I say we can expect a Federal program of about $15 billion in 5 years. A few years later, we might have a program of $150 billion. That is the way it always works. I implore my colleagues to vote against this motion today. If there is any notion left of local control over school construction decisions, we will oppose this motion. Let us provide more flexibility for education at the local level.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank those who have spent so many hours working on developing a comprehensive children's health bill to present to this House today. While this bill makes great strides on many childhood diseases and health issues, I will focus my remarks on the devastating affects that Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has on the children with the disease and their families. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common genetic illness, crossing all cultures. Although Duchenne MD is an inherited disease and is present from the initial stages of fetal development, there is generally no indication at birth that the child has abnormal muscle function. In the first year of life, it is rare for parents to detect any delay in development. Typically a child is diagnosed between the age of 2-5 years. As a child grows and his muscle cells deteriorate, and he becomes noticeably weak. The child usually loses his ability to walk around 10 years of age. As time progresses, the chest muscles deteriorate, causing respiratory problems. Death often occurs in the late teens unless mechanical breathing is instituted. This is painful not only for the child but also for the mothers and fathers who care for and love their child. To date there are efforts in finding a cure for this disease and the Children's Health Bill will allow these efforts to come to fruition. In addition, this bill will begin to provide the resources needed to expand research efforts in finding treatment and a cure for this disease. As a member of the Labor-Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I have supported doubling the NIH's budget over a five year period. I am pleased that this legislation's Muscular Dystrophy title tracks with report language from both the House and Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations bills, calling for increased research and coordination among the institutes of NIH. One of the problems that has confronted this disease community is that MD does not have a natural ``home'' among the institutes. I am confident that the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, under the exemplary leadership of Dr. Gerald Fischbach, will increase the pace of research and provide a crucial coordination role. An essential and logical portion of this heightened research would be the creation of a muscle biology study section, which could easily be accomplished in the context on an ongoing review of the study sections and their scientific peer review processes of NIH. I am troubled that out of the current 105 NIH study sections, there is no study section for muscle, the largest organ of the body. Mr. Speaker, not only are there no cures for this, the world's number-one genetic killer of children, but there are no real therapies for Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Astonishingly, the pace of research, in real dollars, actually declined after the dystrophin gene was discovered in 1986. Passage of the Children's Health Act is a clear indication from Congress that this is unacceptable. I urge all Members of this House to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the strongest of terms to reject the Obey approach to education. And I want to make two quick points and then a larger point. The first point I would make is to reiterate what my chairman, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter), said. When our friends on the Democratic side say accountability, they really mean Federal control. They really mean the absence of local flexibility. And, in my opinion, they mean the absence of accountability to the schoolchildren and to the parents. That is my first point. The second point, and it needs to be understood over and over, not only by the Members in this room but by the American public, is that we have increased the President's education budget in this conference report. We are over $600 million higher than the President's request on education. Now, that is point number two. Point number three comes down to what we are really talking about. It is a difference in philosophy between the two political parties on the very important issue of education, and that is the questsion, do we insist on the President's request for his program on school construction? Now, there is not a soul within the sound of my voice who would not like for us to have better schools and better school buildings and better school facilities. We are all for that. The question is how do we do it. I say we send Federal education dollars to the local school districts on programs that we know will work, that are proven already to have worked, and we free up money on the local level for local schools to do what they have always done in school construction, and that is to make school construction decisions themselves. That is the Republican approach. The approach that is being urged on us today is to say that, although the President has signed seven straight appropriation bills with regard to education, in this, the 8th year of his term, we must insist, before we can pass the bill, before we can get out of this town at the end of the fiscal year, we must insist on a new Federal program to build school buildings at the local level, something that we have never done. Now, listen to me. This bill would provide $1.3 billion in school construction and start us on the slippery slope of spending billions and billions and billions of dollars. There is no telling where it would end on school construction. We are told now that the needs currently for school construction are $254 billion. This proposal would fund less than one-half of 1 percent, approximately, of the total needs. Ten times that amount would only give us 5 percent. Where will it end? My colleagues, please think before we enter into this vast and expensive new Federal program.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Corinth Battlefield Preservation Act. This legislation authorizes $3 million for the construction of the Corinth-Civil War Preservation and Interpretive Center and its inclusion into the Shiloh National Military Park. The bill gives Corinth its proper status as one of America's most pivotal and important Civil War sites. I would first like to thank my colleague from Utah, the distinguished Chairman of the Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, Mr. Hansen, and the Ranking Member, Mr. Romero-Barcelo, for holding a hearing on this important legislation in April. The bill before us today is the companion to H.R. 2249, which I introduced. As legendary Civil War historian Ed Bearss proclaimed, ``The Battle of Corinth was the bloodiest battle in the State of Mississippi. Troops were brought from New Orleans, Mobile, Texas, and Arkansas because Corinth was such an important place. With the fall of Corinth, Perryville, Kentucky, and Antietam, Maryland, the Confederacy was lost.'' We owe it to our ancestors and to future generations to protect Corinth and the abundance of Civil War history in this small town. Corinth, referred to as the ``Vertebrae of the South,'' was the intersection of the Memphis & Charleston railroad and the Mobile & Ohio railroad which connected the Confederate States of America from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Each side recognized its significance. In a telegram to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in May of 1862, Union General W.H. Halleck expressed the importance of Corinth: ``Richmond and Corinth are now the great strategical points of war, and our success at these points should be insured at all hazards,'' the telegram read. Mr. Speaker, the Battle of Corinth also involved one of the first uses of ``earthworks'' as part of modern warfare. These trenches, which would later be used extensively in World Wars I and II, are considered to be among the largest and best-preserved fortification groups in the nation but are in danger of being lost forever. Sites such as the Corinth battlefield are far too important to be known only through history books. We need places where Americans can come and see history right before their eyes. Although the Corinth Battlefield has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, it is still considered a ``Civil War Landmark At Risk'' by the Civil War Site Advisory Commission. For over one hundred years, the United States Congress has advanced the idea that our national interest is best served by preserving America's historic treasures, not only by ensuring the proper interpretation of important historic events, but also the places and properties where important military milestones occurred. Mr. Speaker, this outstanding preservation effort would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of Mrs. Rosemary Williams and the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission, along with the people of Corinth, and Alcorn County, Mississippi. This bipartisan bill is widely supported by local, state, regional, and national preservation organizations. We must take this necessary step to protect our heritage so that generations to come can gain an understanding of the struggles of our great nation. Events such as the Siege and Battle of Corinth have helped shape our American democracy and have transformed our diverse states and citizens into a united and prosperous nation, better prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. I urge my colleagues to support the Corinth Battlefield Preservation Act.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, perseverance is a good thing, especially when it comes to national security. When our children fall off their bikes, we teach them to try again. When the Wright Brothers moved to Kittyhawk with a dream of flying, it took them 3 years of effort before their first flight. When President Kennedy set the goal of putting a man on the moon, it took us 8 years before Neil Armstrong took one giant leap for mankind. We must now have the same perseverance toward developing a missile defense system. We have had three tests, the most recent of which was a disappointment, but the need to defend ourselves has not disappeared. Iran and North Korea are not going to stop developing nuclear weapons, and we should not stop developing a defense for a missile attack. With determination and American ingenuity, we can develop a national missile defense system. I urge the President not to tie the hands of future administrations. We must persevere because the safety of Americans is at stake.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's kind remarks in support of this legislation. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WICKER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank my friend from New Jersey for allowing me to control the balance of the time. Madam Speaker, this is a simple bill which was approved in the Senate last week by unanimous consent. The bill does three things. First, it moves all trust land taken for the benefit of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians since December 23, 1944, and makes it part of the Mississippi Choctaw Indian Reservation. Second, the bill takes all land owned in fee by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and incorporates it into trust land. And third, the bill makes these two provisions without affecting the statutes of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. All lands affected by this legislation are owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, with some parcels dating back many decades. During the past 20 years, Madam Speaker, the tribe has attempted time and time again to transfer the land through the regular process established by the United States Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Unfortunately, the Department has failed to act on these applications in an efficient and prompt manner. The applications filed by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians are supported by the State of Mississippi and the county and municipal governments in the vicinity of the property. What is at stake here are critically needed services for the tribe. A new school, housing, and a medical clinic are among the projects which have been delayed because of inaction by the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The existing school has had dozens of safety violations issued by the BIA, and the medical clinic will not pass its next inspection. Just as important, thousands of Mississippi Choctaws are living in unacceptable conditions due to the lack of available housing. Madam Speaker, the tribe has followed the regular process and lived up to its obligations. But, for whatever reasons, perhaps a lack of resources, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have failed to meet the Government's duty. That is why we need to provide this legislative remedy and allow the tribe to move forward with building a new school, a medical clinic, and housing for its members. Led by their capable Chief, Phillip Martin, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is making great strides in education, job creation, and the preservation of their cultural heritage. The Government should not be standing in the way of their continued progress. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill and sending it on to the President. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WICKER

Mr. WICKER. Finally, let me ask the gentleman, Mr. Chairman, with regard to this appropriation in this bill, which I agree is regrettably low, how does it compare to the amount requested by President Clinton in his budget this year for NIH and health research?

Mr. WICKER. The amount contained in this bill is precisely what the President requested; is that correct?

Mr. WICKER. As far as the cumulative increases, since the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) has been chairman, the cumulative increases are almost double those requested by the President of the United States?