Frank Wolf

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I just want to second what the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Davis] said and hope that we can work together with the chairman of this committee, but also some of the other committees, to see how we can do what the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran] and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Davis] and others like, and that is to shut Lorton Reformatory down in a set period of time. Most of the major crimes that are committed in the District of Columbia and this region are committed by people who have served time in Lorton. There is no rehabilitation down at Lorton. There is no drug treatment down at Lorton. You cannot put men in a prison for 10 and 12 years with no training, no rehabilitation, and expect them to come out and be good citizens. I share the concerns of the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Davis] and also the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran]. I look forward to working with the chairman of this committee and other committees to see what we can do in very short order to deal with this issue.

Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I was away from the House on an official leave of absence on July 17 attending a memorial service at which I was a speaker. While I was out, I missed seven rollcall votes. Because I have each year since coming to Congress published and provided my constituents my entire voting record, I want the record to show that had I been in the House and voting on July 17, I would have cast the following votes: ``No'' on rollcall 320, Hoyer amendment to H.R. 3756, fiscal year 1997 Treasury, Postal Service, General Government appropriations. ``No'' on rollcall 321, Solomon amendment to H.R. 3756. ''No'' on rollcall 322, Gutknecht amendment to H.R. 3756. ``Yes'' on rollcall 323, on passage of H.R. 3756. ``Yes'' on rollcall 324, motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3166, Government Accountability Act of 1996. ``Yes'' on rollcall 325, motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3161, extend most-favored-nation status to Romania. ``Yes'' on rollcall 326, motion to close portions of the conference on H.R. 3230, fiscal 1997 Defense authorization.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize the diligent efforts of the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hyde], the chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and to personally thank him for his very effective efforts on this and so many other things, from aiding the Contras to bring democracy to Nicaragua to many of the other things on which he has taken the leadership on this floor, and I appreciate it very much. I also appreciate his very able staff for helping guide this legislation through the legislative process. It was a pleasure working with the gentleman to bring this bipartisan bill here. The chairman should be pleased, as I know he is, with the work of Joseph Gibson of his staff who worked hand in glove with my staff to move this legislation through the House. The chief sponsors of the Senate legislation also deserve great support for their effort in the Senate. Senators Simon and Lugar worked tirelessly to bring it up. I also appreciate the work of Senator Coats, Senator Stevens, and Senator Glenn, the chairman and ranking member respectively of the Committee on Governmental Affairs. I also want to thank Senators Lieberman, McCain, Thompson, and Warner for their help in moving the bill. I also want to acknowledge, as the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hyde] did, the work of the members of my staff, just about all of whom have assisted with some aspect of this legislation. Particularly, I appreciate the teamwork of William Moschella, my senior legislative assistant and counsel, and David Whitestone, who serves as my press secretary. Mr. Speaker, the establishment of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission is essential to the Nation's understanding of what the incredible expansion of gambling in America means to our everyday lives. Newspaper and editorial writers around the country almost daily chronicle the tragic stories of people addicted to gambling. Compulsive and pathological gamblers often commit suicide, prostitute themselves, resort to robbery, burglary, larceny, and embezzlement to fuel their habit. Gambling has been known to literally destroy families. I have received calls and letters from around the country relating the sad dramas associated with compulsive gambling. The gambling industry has not taken seriously the magnitude of the problem, or it has been trying to sweep it under the rug. One of the most startling and unfortunate consequences of gambling has been the amount of public corruption attendant to it. Industry spokesmen claim that the days of Bugsy Segal and Joseph Bonano are behind it. The industry, they claim, is composed of law abiding companies which report to stockholders instead of organized criminal enterprises. The industry, more than any other, however, has been connected to unprecedented levels of political corruption in recent years. The confluence of money, politics, and power has wreaked havoc in many States and local jurisdictions. Mr. Speaker, I support the legislation before the body because it is a serious effort to study the issue of gambling in the United States. In some respects the Senate amendment changed it, but it was a good compromise. Mr. Speaker, I am going to watch the progress of the commission carefully to make sure that the commission does its work in a nonpartisan and objective way. We will follow its progress to make sure the job that Congress has delegated to it is performed in a professional and effective manner. I will also monitor the amount of lobbying pressure to which the commission is subjected. I believe the legislation before us gives the commission all the powers and tools that it needs. In closing, I again want to thank the staff that has done such an effective job, Senator Lott on the Senate side and the Senators that I mentioned, my staff and the staff of the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Hyde, Joseph Gibson and others, and, last, the chairman. I want him to know that I know the pressure and I know what has gone on around here, and he should know I am eternally grateful. I am still young enough to have heroes, and he is one of the three or four people around here who is one of my heroes. I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding time to me. At this point, Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks and include therein extraneous materials. Mr. Speaker, as the original sponsor of legislation establishing a national commission to study the social, economic, and legal impact of gambling, I rise in strong support of H.R. 497, the Gambling Impact Study Commission Act. As gambling proliferates in casinos, on riverboats, on Indian reservations, dog and horse tracks and elsewhere, problems such as crime, political corruption, cannibalization of existing businesses, gambling addiction, family breakups, and suicide are a growing and unfortunate consequence. This legislation will create an unbiased, bipartisan nine-member commission to finally take a comprehensive look at these problems. I would like to take a moment to recognize the diligent efforts of the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and his able staff in guiding this legislation through the legislative process. It was a pleasure working with Chairman Hyde in bringing this bipartisan bill to the floor. The chairman should be pleased with the work done by Joseph Gibson of his staff who worked hand in glove with my staff to move this legislation through the House. They spent many hours assisting, consulting, and meeting with Senate staff to iron out any differences or concerns that there may have been. Last Wednesday, July 17, the full Senate passed by unanimous consent H.R. 497 with an amendment. Despite public pronouncements of the gambling industry in support of an unbiased study, tremendous lobbying pressure was brought to bear on Senators to kill or gut this bill. It is a tribute to this deliberative body in the world that such pressures, which clearly represented the opposition of a small but powerful minority, were not able to thwart the will of the vast majority of the Congress and American people. I would like to publicly thank Senate majority leader Trent Lott who, notwithstanding some concerns he had about the legislation, exerted great leadership in bringing H.R. 497 to a vote in the Senate. He is a man of his word, a man of honor and integrity. The chief sponsors of the Senate legislation also deserve great credit for making this legislation a reality. Senator Simon and Senator Lugar worked tirelessly to forge consensus and bring this legislation up despite a packed Senate floor schedule. I also appreciate the work of Senator Coats who helped move the process along. Senators Stevens and Glenn, chairman and ranking member respectively of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, deserve congratulations for working together, listening to various points of view, and forging ahead with a viable plan. I also commend the efforts and support of Senators Lieberman, McCain, Thompson, and Warner for their help in moving this legislation in the right direction. There are many Senate staffers who had something to do with moving this bill along and I appreciate all of their efforts. I would like to publicly thank a few, namely Bob Healey, Michael Stevenson, Kyle McSlarrow, David Crane, Sebastian O'Kelly, Christine Ciccone, and Earl Comstock for all they did to make this legislation a reality. Finally, I want to acknowledge the tireless work of the members of my staff, just about all of whom have assisted with some aspect of this legislation at some time during the last 2 years. Particularly, I appreciate the teamwork of William Moschella, my senior legislative assistant and counsel, and David Whitestone who serves as my press secretary. Mr. Speaker, establishment of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission is essential to the Nation's understanding of what the incredible expansion of gambling in America means to our everyday lives. Newspapers and editorial writers around the country almost daily chronicle the tragic stories of persons addicted to gambling. Compulsive and pathological gamblers often commit suicide, prostitute themselves, and resort to robbery, burglary, larceny, and embezzlement to fuel their habits. Gambling has been known to literally destroy families. I have received calls and letters from around the country relating the sad dramas associated with compulsive gambling. I have included an editorial from the Times Picayune regarding the almost epidemic problems of compulsive gambling among Louisiana's young people. [From the New Orleans Times Picayune, July 14, 1996] Gambling and Young People Louisiana's first study of the effects of gambling shows some disturbing statistics that should give policy makers and voters much to think about as the state considers the future of gambling here. A team of researchers led by Louisiana State University professors Jim Westphal and Kenneth Miller conducted telephone surveys last fall in an effort to find out how often people gamble, what their favorite games are and how much money they spent. The researchers also tried to determine people's ability to control their gambling and its effect on their lives. The results, released this week by the Department of Health and Hospitals, indicate that Louisiana residents aren't handling gambling too well, particularly young gamblers. One in seven Louisiana residents, 18 to 21, are compulsive gamblers. What's more, Louisiana's young gambling addicts are in worse shape than in other states studied, spending twice as much a month on gambling as their counterparts elsewhere. Compulsive gambling among young people here is triple that of adults and is second only to alcohol abuse for that age group. The study showed that 182,000 Louisianans--more than 4 percent of the population--have gambling habits that range from moderate to severe and as many as 57,000 of them have addictions that could be classified as pathological. ``That's enough people to fill Tiger Stadium,'' said Gov. Foster, who said that he will support legislation to curb gambling addiction, particularly among the young. Researchers were limited by the lack of studies in other states, despite the nationwide gambling boom. They could compare Louisiana only to six other states, Montana, North and South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Georgia. But that data indicated that pathological gamblers in Louisiana are in more trouble, spending almost twice the monthly average on their habit, $660 compared to $300. Researchers who did the study believe that the reason is availability. Louisiana, with its 12 riverboat casinos and 15,500 video poker machines, has a gambling site every 6.2 square miles. This study should raise serious questions about the proliferation of gambling and, in particular, its effect on young people. Legislators and other state officials will have to weigh the social cost of bring up a crop of gambling addicts, particularly since experts say that most pathological gamblers begin their habit in adolescence. The study is already prompting legislators such as Sen. Jay Dardenne, R-Baton Rouge, to say that a law should be passed making 21 the legal limit for gambling. That is now true only for casino gambling. Sen. Dardenne, who sponsored the resolution calling for the study, said that he also wants to push to have gambling prevention made part of the school curriculum. As Louisiana begins to grapple with the question of gambling, particularly the election on local option this fall, the problem of gambling addiction deserves attention. The researchers' experience show that too many states, Louisiana included, have rushed headlong into legalized gambling without really knowing the social cost. This study provides some much needed and timely insight. The gambling industry has not yet realized the magnitude of the problem or has been sweeping it under the rug. This issue can no longer be ignored and this commission will help us understand the problem so that it may be addressed. On of the most startling and unfortunate consequences of gambling has been the amount of public corruption attendant to it. Industry spokesmen claim that the days of Bugsy Segal and Joseph Bonano are behind it. The industry, they claim, is composed of law abiding companies which report to stockholders instead of organized criminal enterprises. The industry, more than any other, however, has been connected to unprecedented levels of political corruption in recent years. The confluence of money, politics, and power has wreaked havoc in many State and local jurisdictions. Louisiana, for example, has been rocked by political scandal and more indictments are on the way. I have included a recent Associated Press story which ran in the Times Picayune regarding the indictments for the Record. [From the New Orleans Times Picayune, July 15, 1996] Big Names Indicted, Gaming Task Force Says (By The Associated Press) Shreveport--The dice are about to come up snake eyes for 15 to 20 people, including some big names, say people in the task force investigating gambling corruption in Louisiana. ``Within the next two weeks you will see big numbers of arrests,'' said Capt. Ed Kuhnert, State Police coordinator of the task force of Louisiana State Police and FBI agents. Indictments have been prepared and are being reviewed by federal prosecutors, said Rick Dill, FBI agent-in-charge in New Orleans. Task force officials said the yearlong undercover investigation is expected to produce charges against and arrests of some prominent people. Last August, FBI wiretap transcripts were filed in open court as part of requests to subpoena records from lawmakers and people connected with Louisiana's gambling business. That meant the end of the long political careers of two prominent state senators named as taking money from gambling interests, although they weren't indicted. Larry Bankston, D-Port Hudson, Chairman of the Senate committee overseeing gambling, dropped out of a re-election campaign; B.B. ``Sixty'' Rayburn, D-Bogalusa, was defeated. Sources close to the probe said indictments are imminent, The Times of Shreveport reported Sunday. The conviction this past week of former state Alcohol Beverage Commission head Ray Holloway is the latest in a long string of cases made by the task force on gambling. Holloway was found guilty of aiding an illegal gambling business and obstructing justice. He resigned his job in the Caddo Parish purchasing department after his federal case became public earlier this year. The task force, with offices in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, has been successful over the past two years. The most prominent case was the FBI's infiltration of the New Orleans organized crime family, the top echelon of which went down with 24 defendants in Operation Hardcrust. FBI agents, investigating a suspected bookmaking operation at a New Orleans deli, picked up conversations indicating three La Cosa Nostra families--the rekindled Marcello family of New Orleans and the Gambino and Genovese families of New York--were infiltrating Louisiana's video poker industry. Twenty-one defendants pleaded guilty. The three who went to trial were convicted on all counts. Operation Hardcrust awed federal law enforcement authorities ``because it involved, literally, the dismantling, through criminal indictment, of the entire upper echelons of the New Orleans Mafia family,'' First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Littin of New Orleans said. ``As a result of that, we deem it the most significant organized crime prosecution in the state of Louisiana.'' The U.S. Justice Department considers the task force an extremely successful operation, Littin said. ``This task force's penetration of the re-emergence of a dormant organized-crime family was beyond a lot of people's imagination even a few years ago,'' he said. Dill said, the task force has been successful because ``it is a melding of talent.'' The State Police investigators are ``very good, the cream of the crop. They know the gambling laws in and out,'' Dill said. FBI agents bring investigative expertise and federal fraud laws. ``The combination of the two brings results,'' Dill said. Since Gov. Foster appointed Col. Rutt Whittington to head the State Police, trooper cooperation has gone up, Dill said. ``If I need 20 troopers to help in a search, they're there,'' he said. Another reason for the success of the team is its dedication to rooting out corruption, Kuhnert said. ``We have put together a small group of people who are very intense, very dedicated and very qualified,'' he said. ``We're actually just getting started.'' The legitimate gambling industry welcomes the scrutiny because it increases public confidence, said Anthony Sanfilippo, general manager of Harrah's Casino Shreveport. ``It's important that investigations reveal any type of inappropriate behavior,'' he said. Despite the task force's success, however, its members won't say they have rid Louisiana's gambling industry of corruption. ``The legal gambling industry is itself a magnet for corruption and organized crime,'' Littin said. He said investigators believe organized crime gets nearly all its money from gambling, legal and illegal. ``We can never rest assured at any point that we have rooted (out) all the corruption,'' he said. ``It is a dicey industry to fool with.'' In the early 1970's Congress was concerned about problems related to gambling, and it established a commission similar to the one Congress is within minutes of creating. Since the Commission on the Review of the National Policy Toward Gambling issued its 1976 report, gambling has greatly expanded, and it has grown in many ways that are contrary to the recommendations of that early report. In 1976 only two States had casino gambling. Today, ever State but two have some form of legal gambling. According to U.S. News and World Report, people wagered $482 billion in 1994 on all forms of gambling, 85 percent of which took place in casinos in 27 States, most of them built in the past 5 years. This explosive growth has produced deleterious side effects that have high moral, social, and economic costs. Mr. Speaker, I support the legislation before the body today because it is a serious effort to study the issue of gambling in the United States. This legislation is not perfect, and I would have drafted some sections differently. But this is a body of compromise. To forge agreements, one must be willing to consider points of view and perspectives that are different from one's own. In some respects, the Senate amendment represents those political choices and compromises, and I applaud the Senate for breaking the gridlock and moving H.R. 497 this far. I believe, for example, that the section in the bill on subpoena power is one such political compromise. It is adequate but not perfect. It was drafted, not with an eye toward technical perfection, but rather it was drafted to forge political compromise and consensus--something that Congress does daily. Mr. Speaker, as I have already mentioned, I would have drafted some provisions of this legislation differently. I also mentioned that some provisions of the Senate amendment were drafted to achieve political consensus and compromise. For example, I believe the rewrite of the House subpoena power language was unnecessary and was done to ease an irrational fear that the Commission would conduct a witch hunt. This would not happen and such discussion was a diversion from the real issues such as underage gambling and political corruption. I have included for the Record a letter from the chairman of the Commission on the Review of the National Policy Toward Gambling which bears this point out. Washington, DC, May 7, 1996. Hon. Frank R. Wolf,

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, shortly we will be bringing up a very important piece of legislation that will be setting up a national commission to study the impact of gambling which is running rampant in the country. Quite frankly the country is turning into one gambling casino as gambling spreads and spreads and spreads. As gambling proliferates in casinos on riverboats, on Indian reservations, dog and horse tracks and elsewhere, problems such as crime, political corruption, cannibalization of existing businesses, gambling addiction, family breakups, and suicides are growing, which is an unfortunate consequence. This legislation we are about to take up will create an unbiased, bipartisan nine-member commission to finally take a comprehensive look at these problems. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to make sure all the Members know that we have finally been able to bring this bill to fruition. Last Wednesday, July 17, the full Senate passed by unanimous consent H.R. 497 with an amendment and, despite public pronouncements of the gambling industry in support of an unbiased study, tremendous lobbying pressure was brought to bear on Senators to kill or gut this bill. It is a tribute to this deliberative body that such pressures, which clearly represented the opposition of a small but powerful minority, were not able to thwart the will of the vast majority of Congress and the American people. In the process, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott who, notwithstanding some concerns he had about the legislation, exerted great leadership in bringing H.R. 497 to a vote. He is a man of his word, of honor and integrity.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman very much.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, this is a noncontroversial amendment which would allow the U.S. Agency for International Development to offer involuntary separation payments to its employees in the remaining part of fiscal year 1996 and fiscal year 1997 to assist with its restructuring program. The amendment has been cleared by the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations of the Committee on Appropriations, the Subcommittee on Civil Service of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the minority, including the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer] and the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston]. It is noncontroversial. I urge its adoption. Mr. Chairman, this noncontroversial and bipartisan amendment would allow the U.S. Agency for International Development to offer voluntary separation incentive payments to its employees in the remaining part of fiscal year 1996 and fiscal year 1997 to assist with its restructuring program. This amendment has been cleared by the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, the Civil Service subcommittee, the minority, including Mr. Hoyer and Mr. Livingston. It is a noncontroversial amendment and I urge its adoption. Mr. Chairman, this noncontroversial and bipartisan amendment pending before the committee would provide limited, short-term buyout authority for the U.S. Agency for International Development [USAID] to ameliorate the results of its ongoing reduction in force [RIF]. This is a good government amendment, it is good for the dedicated Federal employees at USAID, and it should become law. During the last 3 years, USAID has reduced its U.S. direct-hire staff by 18 percent, the third highest percentage in the Federal Government. This reduction has been accomplished through attrition. However, to further reduce its staff by 320 by the end of this fiscal year, USAID will have to involuntarily separate 200 employees through a RIF. RIF's are demoralizing to employees and are often a costly and inefficient way to reduce the size of an agency's work force. That is why this buyout authority is so important. Mr. Chairman, I urge all Members to support this important amendment.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentlewoman from Maryland.

Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this. In fact, to speak to my side of the aisle, this would be one of the better things we could do. It is not uncommon for us to put legislation on an appropriations bill. This would be very important to institutionalize this. The gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] is exactly accurate. I have been a cosponsor of his bill and a supporter of it over many years. I would hope maybe something could be done, because had this been in effect last year, we would never have shut the Government down. It is a good bill, it is a good idea, and it is a time whose idea has come, not in the next Congress, but quite frankly in this Congress.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's headline was ``Russia pounds Chechens as election truce unravels.'' Today's headline tells us the ``Chechen war escalates once more.'' Report after report details a growing number of casualties. Many people, both military and civilian, are being killed each day. No one seems to know exactly how many but the total is growing. So is the number of refugees trying to stay one step ahead of the fighting and destruction; moving like the tide, first here, then there. Fleeing, leaving the fighting and danger behind only to reencounter it up ahead. The Russian military has taken off the gloves now that Boris Yeltsin has been safely reelected. With tough talking ex-General Alexander Lebed in his corner, President Yeltsin has unleashed an awesome array of brutal military might on tiny independent-minded Chechnya. The apparent goal is to crush the life out of any desire for independence, no matter what the price. The most recent down payment was the death of Russian Maj. Gen. Nikolai Skripnik and a number of other soldiers on one side and guerrilla fighters and innocent civilians on the other. The numbers grown each day now. And no one seems to have the will to stop this carnage. Certainly no one in our White House. This administration continues to sit on its hands regarding Chechnya. It has not spoken out to condemn the brutality and the havoc. The Clinton policy on Chechnya has been to remain silent. Deathly silent. Webster's defines genocide as ``the deliberate, systematic destruction of a group.'' Chechnya is a textbook example of genocide and we say nothing. This administration--this President--has walked away from human rights at every turn. China, for example, where President Clinton delinked human rights from MFN trading status. After resounding denouncements of President Bush's policy to elevate trade matters above concerns for human rights Bill Clinton advanced the identical notion to the point where there are no longer even discussions on human rights with the Chinese. National Security Adviser Anthony Lake just returned from a round of high level talks with China. The topic of human rights was conspicuous by its absence from the agenda. In Russia itself, anti-Semitism is cropping up more and more. Anti- Jewish rhetoric, if not commonplace, is at least being voiced by some mainstream officials. Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Bush condemned anti-Semitism and antihuman rights policies to every turn. Today's White House remains silent--to offend no one and thereby offend us all. I visited Chechnya last year, met the people, Russian and Chechen, soldier and civilian, and saw first hand the results of this horror. I saw the burned out school of Shamanski. Heard about the grotesque and unspeakable acts drug-crazed soldiers committed on old men and women. Since returning, I have urged the President time and again to speak out against this war. I have asked him to offer to help by making available a high level person experienced and wise in diplomacy and negotiation to help both sides search for common ground. To search for a more humane way out. But this administration did nothing. This administration does nothing to advance human rights or to condemn the horrors taking place in Chechnya. Here are copies of my exchanges of ideas with the President; with the administration. I insert these in the Record at this time. My point in standing here is to advance the notion that America stands for something important. Like it or not we are the sole nation of sufficient stature, strength, and compassion which can, in the world court of public opinion, speak on the side of those with no voice. If we do not, they will not be heard. More will die and suffering will intensify. But we remain silent. Mr. Speaker, we call on the President to condemn Russian brutality in Chechnya. Condemn those who ignore the basic human rights of others. And urge Vice President Gore to carry this important word to his Russian counterparts during his visit there next week. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, July 10, 1996. Hon. Albert Gore, Jr., The Vice President, The White House, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Vice President: As you prepare for your meeting with Viktor Chernomyrdin this weekend in Moscow, I wanted to share with you the correspondence between the administration and myself on the brutal war in Chechnya. I also have enclosed an op-ed by Georgie Anne Geyer from the Washington Times with which I strongly agree. It is time for the administration to publicly denounce the fighting in Chechnya and find a fair, honest mediator to help work out the differences between the two sides. The Russian people, the Chechens and, indeed, the world is waiting for a public statement of condemnation from the United States. While I believe it is way overdue, you now have the opportunity, at this, your first post-election meeting with your Russian counterpart, to make such a statement. Mr. Vice President, this is your opportunity to publicly stand for human rights and peace in Chechnya. Please use the upcoming meeting to publicly, forcefully and unabashedly condemn the fighting in Russia and urge the Russian government to seek a peaceful settlement. I also hope, now that the elections are over, that the administration will take a fresh look at offering the use of a tested and proven statesman to help resolve the conflict between the two sides. It would be a sign that the U.S. has advanced beyond a policy of watching the killing to actually doing something about it. Thank you. Sincerely, Frank R. Wolf, Member of Congress.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and thank those staff members who supported the Members of this House in the preparation and passage of the fiscal year 1997 Transportation and related agencies appropriations bill, H.R. 3675: The Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee staff: John Blazey, Rich Efford, Stephanie Gupta, and Linda Muir. The Appropriations Committee staff: John Mikel, Dennis Kedzior, Elizabeth Morra, and Ken Marx of the majority staff; and Cheryl Smith of the minority staff. The associate staff to the committee: Lori-Beth Feld Hua of my office, Monica Vegas Kladakis of Majority Whip DeLay's office, Connie Veillette of Mr. Regula's office, Kevin Fromer of Mr. Rogers' office, Bill Deere of Mr. Lightfoot's office, Ray Mock and Eric Mondero of Mr. Packard's office, Todd Rich and Sean Murphy of Mr. Callahan's office, Steve Carey of Mr. Dickey's office, Paul Cambon of Chairman Livingston's office, Kristen Hoeschler of Mr. Sabo's office, Jim Jepsen of Mr. Durbin's office, Christy Cockburn of Mr. Coleman's office, Barbara Zylinski-Mizrahi of Mr. Foglietta's office, and Paul Carver of Mr. Obey's office.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, [Mr. DeLay], the majority whip.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California [Mr. Packard].

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 4 minutes. If this bill said to raise the age to 60 or 61, I would not be for it. All it says is the National Transportation Safety Board should look at the issue. Fifteen other countries do it. We know what has happened. There has been some political pressure by one group who has come in and said, ``Don't even look at it.'' We cannot put our head in the sand on this issue. You can argue it is age discrimination. Should we have an amendment that every Member of Congress over 60 ought to bail out of here? That every surgeon ought to bail out of here? That every dentist ought to bail out of here? That every whatever ought to bail out of here? The answer is no. All it is is a study to see, because it may be a major safety issue. Let me just read a couple of things. The NTSB at our hearing stated that there is data showing that flying skills, judgment, and seasoning in general do improve with experience. If you think back to the Sioux City accident, the United Airlines pilot who saved a lot of lives was able to avert a tragic accident at the last minute. That pilot was 59 years old and had to retire the following year. Another example that comes to mind is United Airlines 811 where the cargo door blew out, causing both engines on the left side of the plane to fail and placed large holes in the floor and the wall. The pilot, age 59, brought the plane to a safe landing in Honolulu and the NTSB cited his skill as the finest piloting job ever done under these circumstances. In comparison, there are some vivid examples of young pilots who lack the seasoning and the skills to recognize the seriousness of conditions they are flying in and have caused tragic accidents. Let me give an example. A recent accident is the American Eagle accident near Morrisville, NC that occurred because a young pilot, age 29, misinterpreted an engine-out light and lost his orientation, resulting in a perfectly good aircraft being flown into the ground. Another example is when a Henson Airlines pilot, using an incorrect navigation aid, flew the aircraft into a mountain near Grotto, VA. In this case the copilot was 26 years old, even younger and less experienced than the pilot. I final example is a 1983 Air Illinois flight where a 32-year-old pilot took off at night, lost electrical power, and instead of turning the aircraft around for an emergency landing, he continued to fly the aircraft and he crashed it. I do not say that the age out to be raised. I am not sure. If there were a vote today to raise the age, I would oppose it. But everything that we could do in this bill to make the airlines safer, we have done. Safety has been the number one priority. We put more money in this bill than the FAA even asked us for for safety. This side of the aisle and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman] can be proud, this is a safety bill. This may be a safety issue. When you walk in that aircraft, you may like to see a little gray on that pilot's hair. If you vote for this amendment to knock this out, then maybe you ought to support an amendment that every Member of Congress over 60 ought to bail out and your dentist ought to bail out and your surgeon ought to bail out. I do not know if it ought to be raised. I do not know. But what I do know is this was put in in 1959. Men are living longer since 1959. Some men work out and take care of themselves. Maybe we should take some pilots after they are 55 and maybe some that are 61. I do not know. But I want the NTSB to look at it, study it, come back and make a recommendation to the FAA. And whatever the FAA does, I will be happy with. But I cannot say we ought not even look at this. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge the defeat of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment. It was an issue that the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hastert] raised with regard to drugs coming out of Mexico. Up to 75 percent of the marijuana is coming across the Mexico border. I think a study is a fair thing to do, so I strongly support the amendment.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Davis].

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton].

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Frelinghuysen], a member of the committee. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Andrews amendment for several reasons: First, it imposes an unfunded mandate on the States, like our own State of New Jersey. We already have enough unfunded mandates now. Second, it violates States rights. States should be able to make transportation decisions without any further Federal interference. Third, Mr. Chairman, it removes the flexibility that States currently enjoy to address their unique transportation needs. In our State our State has particular transportation needs because of our population density. Fourth, it swells State bureaucracies that many Governors, like our own State of New Jersey Governor, Christine Todd Whitman, were trying to control costs, so why would we need to swell the bureaucracy with more employees paid for by Federal dollars? Fifth, it invites lawsuits, totally unnecessary lawsuits. Sixth, it hurts minority and start-up small businesses who already have problems competing in a complex situation in terms of transportation projects. Seventh, it delays highway projects. In a State with as many problems as we have, we do not need any more delays. Lastly, Mr. Chairman, it hurts the private sector, who is perfectly capable, who has a wonderful track record of designing and working on construction projects. For these reasons and many others, I oppose this amendment.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the further consideration of H.R. 3675 and that I may include tabular and extraneous material.