Frank Wolf

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the remainder of my time. Mr. Chairman, this is really a cultural issue. That is what this is all about. It is about the culture, nothing else. The Hinchey amendment would mean that State medical marijuana laws are the supreme law of the land. This amendment would prevent Federal officials from enforcing Federal law in a manner contrary to State law. Under this amendment anyone who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana in purported compliance with State law would have immunity under Federal law. I think it is a big issue and I think the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) covered it very well. Medical marijuana laws send the wrong message to our youth, too many of whom do not recognize the dangers of marijuana and continue to experiment. It is a cultural issue. It has taken the culture in the wrong direction, and I urge defeat of the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Reclaiming my time, I share the gentleman's concerns, particularly with regard to one of the countries mentioned, Romania, but as the gentleman knows, the President's request proposed the elimination or reduction to broadcasted nations that have either entered or are on the road to joining the European Union or have been invited into NATO. And the International Broadcasting Bureau has additional money because the President's request prioritized money to the Middle East and the Muslim world, including Southeast Asia, to bolster the efforts of the war on terrorism. So we do have report language to require the Broadcasting Board of Governors to closely monitor the situation in those countries and inform the committee of any changes that would alter the priorities. But I understand what the gentleman is saying.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, if I may, as the gentleman knows, under Helms-Biden, which passed in the year 2000, the contribution level was reduced from 25 percent to 22 percent. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word, and I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman very much for his comments.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, other Members have been in this situation. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) missed the opportunity and could not offer an amendment. The gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) missed the opportunity and could not offer an amendment, as did the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus). And I think there were several over on that side. And once you have told them that they have missed their opportunity, to do this now, in essence, I would have to go back. Also, there are a large number of other amendments that are subject to a point of order.

Mr. WOLF. I continue to yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. WOLF

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

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman. I feel exactly the same way. I thank the gentleman very much. Amendment Offered by Mr. Rush

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker I rise today in support of H. Res. 194, a resolution condemning slavery and other gross violations of human rights that are occurring in Sudan. I have been to Sudan four times since 1989. I have seen the conditions on the ground first-hand. Women and children continue to die daily from starvation and illness. According to the State Department Country Report on Human Rights, thousands of Dinka women and children have been abducted and sold into slavery, sent to labor camps, and have been forced to serve in the military. Nearly two million people have died and four million have been displaced as a result of the ongoing civil war in Sudan. On November 4, 2002, the United Nations concluded that the dire human rights situation in Sudan had not significantly changed. Numerous human rights organizations, including Christian Solidarity International, Freedom House, and the American Anti-Slavery Group have all called for an end to slavery in Sudan. The House of Representatives has repeatedly denounced human rights abuses in Sudan. The Government of Sudan and the SPLA are beginning to take positive steps toward reaching lasting peace and we are at a critical moment in the peace negotiations between the parties. The war in Sudan must end, but it must end in a just peace, a peace in which all of Sudan can share in its resources, where all Sudanese can worship freely, and in which all Sudanese are treated with respect and dignity. The people of Sudan have suffered for too long. I urge this body to overwhelmingly pass this resolution and I call on the government of Sudan to abolish slavery and respect human rights.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for H.R. 2631 and am pleased to be an original co-sponsor. Before I make my comments, I want to particularly thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for his efforts. Those who followed this debate know, through the colloquy that took place on the floor last week, the gentleman from Virginia's (Mr. Tom Davis) efforts with regard to this; and I think every Federal retiree and Federal employee will be very very grateful for that. So I want the gentleman from Virginia to know that I appreciate it, as they will also. Mr. Speaker, this bill is necessary to clarify the intent of H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill, which the House passed on June 27. H.R. 2631 would ensure prescription drug parity between retirees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, FEHBP, who are eligible for Medicare, and other Federal employees in the FEHBP. It is vital to pass this legislation to make sure that the bill now moving through Congress to extend Medicare will not reduce prescription drug benefits for Federal retirees enrolled in FEHBP. Federal employees in their retirement must be assured that the commitment will be kept that their drug benefit will remain unchanged and they will not be forced to pay additional costs for prescription drugs. They deserve that commitment from Congress. I urge all Members to vote for this bipartisan legislation to protect retired and active duty Federal employees.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I want to share with our colleagues the recent passing of Richard D. ``Dick'' Morgan, who retired in 1989 as executive director of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the highest civil service post in the FHWA. He died on June 18 at a hospital in Easton, MD, following a year long battle with leukemia. He was 69. Many of our colleagues who have been here for a while will remember Dick Morgan as the highway expert who helped steer the reauthorization of the federal highway program in 1982, which included a motor fuel tax increase, the first in more than two decades, to fund repairs for what was described then as the nation's crumbling highways and bridges. Mr. Morgan received a B.S. degree in civil engineering, graduating with honors from Michigan State University in 1956. The following year he began his federal career as a highway engineer trainee with the Bureau of Public Roads, the FHWA's predecessor agency. Except for a stint in the U.S. Army from 1957-58, he stayed with the agency until he retired. Over the years, Dick Morgan, a registered professional engineer, held a variety of positions at FHWA. After serving in the Arkansas, Ohio, and Texas divisions, he joined the Washington headquarters staff in 1972 as chief of Special Procedures Branch in the Federal-Aid Division. He became chief of that division and later was name director of the Office of Highway Planning before being appointed associate administrator for engineering and operations in 1979. In that slot, he helped develop a program that saved $225 million in bridge construction costs and shepherded a national traffic signal timing demonstration program, which has been credited with saving millions of gallons of fuel. After assuming the executive director position in 1982, Dick Morgan is widely credited with helping to move the FHWA from an era of highway expansion to an era of highway preservation. He was one of the originators and strongest supporters of the Strategic Highway Research Program developed to identify pavement design and maintenance techniques that work--and those that don't work. That program has evolved over the years to help highway agencies across the nation provide smoother, longer lasting roads. Mr. Morgan also was a strong backer of innovative techniques for increasing highway capacity, such as ``smart'' highways, surveillance systems, and computer applications which today are working to reduce traffic congestion in the nation's urban areas. Having played a major role in the construction of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, Dick Morgan was deeply involved in the FHWA's efforts to plan for the post-Interstate era. With the Interstate program coming to an end in the 1990's, he formed a ``Futures Task Force'' to identify and study alternatives for the Department of Transportation's legislative initiatives and also worked with organizations such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to develop post-Interstate proposals. Dick Morgan received many honors during his career. His first recognition was a cash award in 1959. Over the years, he received the Secretary's Award for Superior Achievement (1974), the Senior Executive Service Performance Award on several occasions, and the Federal Highway Administrator's Award for Superior Achievement (1983). In 1982, he received the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive and in 1987 he was given the President Rank Award of Distinguished Executive. The American Public Works Association recognized Mr. Morgan as one of the Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year in 1988. When he retired from the FHWA in 1989, he became vice president of the National Asphalt Pavement Association in Washington, where he remained until 1998. Mr. Morgan was born in Cleveland and raised in Royal Oak, MI. In addition to his degree from Michigan State, he received a J.D. degree from the Capital School of Law in Columbus, Ohio. After living in Anne Arundel County, MD, he moved in the late 1990s to Maryland's Eastern Shore community of Easton Club. He remained active in the community, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Talbot County and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD, where he was a docent. He was a member of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Easton, where his funeral service was held on June 25. We express our sympathies to his wife of 45 years, Anna Louise Morgan of Easton, and their three children, Thomas Richard Morgan of Oakland, CA, Karen Ann Yocum of Churchton, MD, and Anthony Patrick Morgan of Liberty, SC, his three brothers, a sister, and three grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, we remember Dick Morgan as the ultimate professional whose public service career left a legacy of unparalleled achievement, providing the example for those at the Federal Highway Administration today to follow.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow for morning hour debates.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I recently shared with our colleagues several personal accounts related by survivors of the brutal and inhumane act of sexual assault in our nation's prisons. H.R. 1707, the Prison Rape Reduction Act of 2003, focuses attention on the growing problem of prison rape. I was pleased to co-author this legislation with my Virginia colleague, Rep. Bobby Scott. The bill is pending mark-up in the House Judiciary Committee and we are hopeful that it will be on the House floor soon. I believe in being tough on crime. But this has nothing to do with being tough on crime. It has everything to do with human dignity and ending deliberate indifference toward sexual assaults in prisons, maintaining order in prisons, and reducing social and economic costs to a society left to deal with physically and psychologically damaged former inmates. Today I want to share additional stories from those whose lives have been forever changed by the sexual assaults happening every day in the prisons in our country. Imagine knowing that someone you love is being repeatedly raped, abused, and degraded and that there is little to nothing that you can do about it. For the last two and a half years, my family and I have been paralyzed by this knowledge and our inability to stop the rape and abuse. My name is Vivian Edwards and I am here to tell you about my nephew, Roderick Johnson. In my family, he goes by Keith. Keith is a Navy veteran and was imprisoned in Marshall, Texas in January of 2000 for a non-violent crime. He wrote a $300 check even though he knew that he did not have the funds to cover this amount, violating the terms of his parole for a burglary that he committed over 10 years ago. From the beginning, my nephew knew that being a gay man put him at risk, so he informed prison officials that he was gay in hopes that he would be offered protection. My nephew was offered no protection. While at Allred, he was placed in the general population. He might as well have been put in a lions' den. He was immediately given the name ``CoCo'' by the other inmates which made it clear to all inmates that he was available for sexual exploitation. The prison officials also began to call Keith by this nickname and would refer to him as ``she'' or ``her.'' Keith was raped by a member of the gang called `Gangster Disciples' in early October 2000. My nephew informed prison officials about what had happened and that he feared for his life. He asked for medical attention. He was denied help and denied medical assistance. They told him that medical care was only available for an emergency. My nephew was raped! How can someone say that is not an emergency? Soon after the rape, things just got worse for my nephew. Hernandez began `sharing' Keith with other inmates, and Keith literally became a sex slave. Keith wrote to several of his family members from prison. He was afraid to tell most of us that he was being severely sexually abused. But the letters started to change, and he eventually told us what was happening. I can still remember reading the words: ``they make me do things I don't want to do'' and just crying. He told us that he feared for his life. We called the prison to find out what was going on. Staff at the prison said they would check into Keith's complaints. They said Keith's complaints didn't warrant an investigation but they would move him to another prison wing. He wasn't safe there either. Other family members and I continued to write and call on Keith's behalf, but nothing ever changed-- he was never safe. During a period of 18 months, Keith appeared before the classification committee of Allred seven times. Each time he asked to be put in protective custody, but his requests were denied each time. Each time they denied Keith the protection that he so badly needed, he was sent back to the general population and raped and forced to perform sexual acts against his will. He was traded between various gangs in prison--the Bloods, the Crips, the Tangos, the Mandingo Warriors--and sold out for $5 and $10 for sex acts. By December of 2001, Keith feared for his life so much that he purposely incurred a serious disciplinary violation. He was given the maximum punishment and received 15 days in solitary confinement. Ironically, this was the first and only protection that he ever received while at Allred. Sadly, though, this punishment also included extending his sentence for more than two more years past the date that he would have been eligible for release. After Keith's seventh life endangerment claim, he began writing the ACLU and other outside organizations for assistance. The ACLU National Prison Project came to his rescue. They filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of my nephew against several Texas prison officials that ignored his pleas for protection against gangs who forced him into sexual slavery. Keith had asked us to pray for him, and we did. Our prayers were finally answered. He was moved to a safety protection unit soon after the ACLU National Prison Project filed the lawsuit. Keith has tested negative for HIV, but still lives in constant fear that he might have contracted other diseases from countless forced sex incidents. Prison rape is a serious crime that not only affects the victim, but also the family. As I said before, my entire family has been horrified and devastated for the past two and a half years because of what has happened to Keith. Today we are praying for Keith, but we are also fighting for him and for every other prisoner that has been a victim of rape while in prison as well.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I want to share with our colleagues that Mr. James Etter has been selected by the Small Business Administration, SBA, as a Virginia Small Business and Business Advocate Award winner, and named the Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year for 2003. Mr. Etter is founder/chancellor of American Public University in Manassas, VA, and was also a winner at the regional level, receiving the Region III SBA award. SBA's Region III includes the States of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. As the Region III winner, Mr. Etter is one of only 10 Veteran's Advocate winners in the Nation. Mr. Etter, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, founded the university in 1991 to find innovative ways to empower veterans and active duty military, by providing educational opportunities. The university courses are delivered exclusively through distance learning. Before distance learning was an everyday concept, James Etter developed a way for veterans and active duty military stationed abroad or locked into rigid schedules to work toward their undergraduate or master of arts degrees. From an initial enrollment of 18 students, American Public University has grown to over 10,000 registered students, of which approximately 70 percent are active and reserve duty military. The nearly 600 faculty, 76 percent of whom are veterans, provide instruction and mentoring to students from all 50 States and 30 countries. I have been told that the university maintains the most expansive military studies, strategy and history curriculum in the world. Continuing education, through the flexibility of distance learning, affords veterans and active duty military the foundation they need to become entrepreneurs. Virginia's SBA Award winners were honored at an Awards Gala in May that also celebrated the Small Business Administration's Richmond District Office's 50th Anniversary. Mr. Etter was nominated for the award by Linda Decker, who serves as president and CEO of the Flory Small Business Center in Manassas. She also serves as the chairman of the Virginia Small Business Awards Foundation. Other winners included: Virginia Small Business Persons of the Year-- Sharon Bennett, Founder & CEO and Evan Wooton, President, Premier Pet Products, LLC, Richmond; Runners Up for Small Business Person of the Year--Maxanne Taverniti, Williamsburg Group Tour Service, Williamsburg and James Cheng, President, Computer & Hi-Tech Management, Inc., Virginia Beach; Small Business Accountant Advocate of the Year-- Elizabeth Moore, Partner, Goodman & Company, LLP, Newport News; Small Business Exporter of the Year--Marti Morenings, Universal Companies, Inc., Bristol; Financial Services Advocate of the Year--Teresa Walker, Vice President and Senior Community Development Officer, Wachovia Corporation, Roanoke; Small Business Journalist of the Year--Mary Flachsenhaar, Inside Business, Norfolk; Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year--Dr. Donald Jones, Director, Office of Minority Procurement, University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Women in Business Advocate of the Year-- Claire Gastanaga, Principal, CG2 Consulting, Richmond; Young Entrepreneur of the Year--Bryce Lee Robertson, LowTechWeb.com, Mechanicsville and Entrepreneurial Success of the Year--Dennis Gilbert, President, Tesoro Corporation, Virginia Beach.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2474. The Congressional Hunger Center was established 10 years ago with a mission of fighting hunger by developing leaders. They have been doing that ever since. When I think of the Congressional Hunger Center, I think of my good friend Ambassador Tony Hall. It was Tony who first got me involved in fighting hunger. In 1984, he persistently encouraged me to travel to the Horn of Africa to witness the devastation of the famine. As many of you know, that experience changed my life. Many of the Congressional Hunger Center fellows are having similar experiences right now. There are Bill Emerson fellows who are having life-changing experiences in 12 locations across the country and Leland International Fellows in 15 locations throughout the world. The combination of the life-changing practical and the policy experiences will equip these young people to be active leaders on hunger issues wherever they may go. One of the program's most committed international fellows is Robert Oliver Davila. Robert was a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa for three years. He joined the first class of international fellows after being a manager at the Worcester County Food Bank. Robert visited schools all over Ethiopia helping them implement the World Food Programme Global School Lunch Program. Robert monitored and evaluated the impact of the program on the lives of children, families and communities. Robert is now working with the Global School Feeding Support Unit in the Strategy and Policy Division of the World Food Programme. Sarah Boron, from Dennison University in Ohio, helped develop a model to assess food and farm issues at Food for Lane County in Eugene, Oregon. Sarah is now helping local groups form food policy councils through the Community Food Security Coalition. Many of us who have supported the Congressional Hunger Center over the years have maintained a vision of self-sufficiency for the organization in the future. As some of you know, Congress has been providing the bulk of the Hunger Center's operating budget each year through annual appropriations. Last year, the dream of self-sufficiency came closer to being a reality. In the 2002 Farm Bill, Congress authorized an endowment to move the Hunger Center's fellows programs toward self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, when the appropriations committee provided funding for the newly authorized endowment, the Congressional Hunger Center was not able to access any funds for operating the fellows program. H.R. 2474 will allow the Congressional Hunger Center to access the funds it needs to operate the fellows program, equipping people like Roger and Sarah to become leaders in fighting hunger. Equally important, this legislation does not detract from the vision of an endowment that allows the fellows program to operate self-sufficiently. In closing Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this legislation, which makes the technical corrections necessary to allow the Congressional Hunger Center fellows program to continue uninterrupted, growing leaders to fight hunger around the world.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 199, calling on the government of the People's Republic of China to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Yang Jianli, and calling on the president of the United States to continue working on behalf of Dr. Yang Jianli's release. Dr. Yang Jianli is an internationally renowned scholar, Harvard graduate, and the president of the Foundation for China in the 21st Century. Dr. Yang was actively involved in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and was subsequently blacklisted by the Chinese government for his participation. Following Tiananmen Square, Dr. Yang fled to the United States and earned two doctorates. Dr. Yang is a permanent resident of the United States. On April 26, 2002, Dr. Yang entered China using a friend's passport to investigate reports of labor unrest in northern China. Dr. Yang Jianli was detained eight days later and has not been heard from since. The Chinese government will not confirm where he is being held and he has been refused access to an attorney. He has been held for more than 13 months and no charges have been brought against him. The maximum fine for entering China illegally is a one-year prison sentence. Dr. Yang has already spent more than a year in detention. I call on the Chinese government for his immediate release. The State Department's recent report on human rights states that the government of the People's Republic of China ``has continued to commit numerous and serious human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrest and detention.'' On June 4, a United Nations working group ruled that Yang Jianli has been illegally detained by the Chinese government and called for Dr. Yang's immediate release. China lacks due process. Citizens continue to suffer at the hands of Chinese officials. It is time for the state-sponsored, state-led persecution in China to stop. I join the members of the House of Representatives and the international community in calling for Dr. Yang's immediate release. It is my hope that he will be released quickly and free to reunite with his wife and two children back in the United States.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, today I want to bring attention to the illegal use and abuse of the powerful painkiller OxyContin that is destroying families and crippling communities, particularly in rural parts of the country. Southwest Virginia, western Kentucky and Maine have been hit particularly hard. OxyContin does serve a very real and useful purpose for people with chronic, debilitating pain or who are terminally ill. It is hailed as a miracle drug for terminally ill cancer patients. I know what it is like to see people suffer from cancer. Both my mother and father died of cancer. My concern is that this powerful painkiller has increasingly become a drug of choice for people who choose to abuse it; for people who have no legitimate need for this pain-killing drug. When taken properly, OxyContin is a wonder drug. But when it is ground up or chewed, the time release mechanism in the tablet is disabled, providing abusers with a heroin-like high. I am also concerned about how this drug has been allowed to be marketed. Clearly, OxyContin should be available for the terminally ill. It should also be available to those people who suffer with severe chronic pain. I do not believe it should be prescribed to treat moderate pain. Earlier this year I wrote to the Honorable Tommy Thompson, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, asking him to review the marketing of OxyContin and its classification for treatment of moderate to severe pain. Here is the text of the letter: Dear Secretary Thompson: in December 2001, the Commerce- Justice-State and the Judiciary appropriations subcommittee held a hearing on the illegal diversion of the prescription drug OxyContin, a pain-killing Schedule II narcotic manufactured by Purdue Pharma L.P. One of the witnesses, the father of a recovering OxyContin addict, told a gripping story of the devastating impact the drug has had on his family and his son, who was in his early 20s. He proudly told the committee how his son had just finished rehab and had kicked his addiction. Sadly, a few months after appearing before the subcommittee, the son died as a result of abusing the drug. When used properly, OxyContin is considered a wonder drug, especially for terminally ill cancer patients. I know what it is like to see people suffer from cancer. Both my mother and father died of cancer. I can remember my mother constantly asking the nurses for more morphine but being told she couldn't have any more. My mother was in a great deal of pain. OxyContin, if it had been available when she was dying, probably would have made her a lot more comfortable at the end. When used illegally, however, OxyContin destroys families and communities. It also can lead to death. This powerful painkiller has increasingly become a drug of choice for people who choose to abuse it by chewing it or grinding it up. By disabling the time release mechanism in OxyContin, abusers get a heroin-like high. Initially, cases of abuse and illegal diversion occurred primarily in poor, rural communities in Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio. Abuse is no longer limited to Appalachia. The drug has found its way to urban areas and there are now reports of widespread abuse as far away as Arizona. Florida, I am told, has been hit extremely hard. Several pharmacies in my congressional District have been robbed at gun point in recent months for OxyContin. No money was taken; the robbers only demanded the drug. Earlier this month, a prominent defense lawyer in northern Virginia who twice served as a local prosecutor in Prince William County pleaded guilty to federal drug charges linked to a large- scale investigation into the illegal distribution of OxyContin and other painkillers. Communities where the illegal drug has taken hold are being completely destroyed. I am told there is one county in southwest Virginia where no one isn't either using the drug, knows someone using the drug or been the victim of a crime by someone needing the drug. When a professional baseball player recently died after taking the dietary supplement ephedra, your agency immediately issued fact sheets regarding potential serious risks of dietary supplements containing ephedra. You were even quoted as cautioning all Americans about using dietary supplements that contain ephedra. According to fact sheets produced by the FDA, two deaths, four heart attacks, nine strokes and five psychiatric cases involving ephedra have been reported. More than 240 people have died from the abuse of OxyContin and countless numbers of families and communities have been torn apart by this drug. Your agency has done a good job educating the public about the dangers of ephedra and other dietary supplements. I urge you to initiate a similar public information campaign about the dangers of abusing OxyContin. I have previously written to your department asking for a review of the marketing of OxyContin and its classification for treatment of moderate to severe pain. The Food and Drug Administration did change the warning label on OxyContin but more needs to be done. The drug should not be marketed to treat moderate pain. I urge you to no longer allow OxyContin to be prescribed for moderate pain. Too many people have died, too many families have suffered and too many communities have been devastated by the improper use of this drug. Sincerely, Frank R. Wolf, Chairman, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary I also have written Mark McClellan, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, six times since April 1 about this issue, imploring the FDA to take another look at for whom and for what this drug can be prescribed. I have yet to receive a response. The following is an excerpt from a news article that appeared in the Orlando Sentinel in February cuts right to the heart of the issue. The article was written by staff writer Doris Bloodsworth. It ran on February 21, 2003. Fort Lauderdale--The maker of the highly profitable narcotic painkiller OxyContin has been aggressively marketing the drug far beyond its original purpose to ease the suffering of cancer patients, according to company documents released Thursday. Purdue Pharma for several years has promoted the powerful drug to treat less-threatening ailments, such as arthritis and back pain, according to company marketing plans. Those materials also discuss future marketing of the drug to obstetricians and specialists in sports medicine. The company fought to keep the sensitive documents secret, but a circuit judge in Broward County ordered them released as a result of a suit by the Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Purdue officials say OxyContin is a highly effective product and, when used properly, has a relatively low addiction rate. Federal officials have admonished the company several times for marketing the narcotic inappropriately. And a number of class-action suits have been filed against Purdue in other states. OxyContin, which has come under fire because of the number of deaths linked to its abuse, was introduced in 1996 to help cancer patients and others cope with chronic pain. But Purdue, based in Stamford, Conn., recognized early on that non-cancer patients represented a larger and more lucrative market and sought to expand the use of its time- release painkiller, according to the marketing plans. In a marketing overview for 2002, the company noted that $2.1 billion in opiate sales were for non-cancer pain compared with $396 million for cancer patients. The 1999 plans state more than 70 percent of OxyContin prescriptions were written for non-cancer pain. Purdue's most recent marketing plan states: ``In 2002 OxyContin Tablets will continue to be promoted for use in the non-malignant pain market.'' The plan cited as examples back pain, osteoarthritis, injury and trauma. Another goal was an attempt to ``broaden OxyContin Tablets' usage in the management of pain due to various causes (e.g., back pain, osteoarthritis, neuropathic pain, post-operative pain).'' This is only one of several news stories about OxyContin that have been appearing in papers across the country. My congressional district has not been immune from the damage inflicted by the illegal use and abuse of OxyContin. Several pharmacies in my district have been robbed at gunpoint for OxyContin. A former county prosecutor in my district has pled guilty to Federal drug charges as part of a large-scale investigation into the illegal distribution of OxyContin. Last month there was a murder in my district that is potentially linked to OxyContin. Sadly, the daughter of the man who was murdered died last week of a drug overdose. Press reports allude that OxyContin may have been involved in the overdose. Just last week The Post reported that two slayings in another part of my district are possibly linked to the trade of OxyContin. Families, communities and careers--particularly rural communities--in Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maine, Ohio and Pennsylvania are being devastated by the illegal use and abuse of OxyContin. Clearly, there is a problem. Some law enforcement officials I have talked to say the illegal use of this drug could be the next crack cocaine. A recent story in The New York Times said that ``no other drug in the last 20 years has been abused more widely so soon after its introduction'' than OxyContin. My subcommittee on the Commerce-Justice-State and the Judiciary appropriations held a hearing last December on OxyContin and is pushing the DEA to develop an aggressive plan to combat the illegal use of the drug. The hearing was comprehensive. We heard from the DEA, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures OxyContin, representatives from the American Cancer Society and the parents of recovering addicts. My subcommittee also set aside a significant amount of money for the Justice Department for a grant program to help states develop a prescription drug monitoring system. Ideally, the program would be aimed at monitoring Schedule II drugs, not all prescription drugs. In the meantime, I urge the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA to reexamine to whom this drug can be prescribed before it does any more harm. Failure to take action will result in more deaths.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Norton amendment. I would ask all Members to support it. This airport authority, I was involved, as was the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), Mr. Mineta, and a number of us, the gentlemen from Virginia, Mr. Moran and Mr. Davis, in putting this together. They have done an outstanding job. Those airports were in the 19th century when they took it over. Dulles has expanded and has first-class service. If we look at National Airport now with the parking and everything else, they have really done a great job. I would urge the House to respect the local airports authority, which has proven I think, without doubt, it can successfully operate both of these airports. I would urge them to support the Norton amendment. I would say if Members bring this back to their own hometown, just as they would not want Congress dictating how to run Members' local airports, we really do not want the Congress to tell them how to run it because they have done an outstanding job. With that, I would urge that Members support the Norton amendment. I strongly support it. I appreciate the efforts of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) with regard to that. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Norton amendment which would repeal the requirement that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) must come to Congress before September 30, 2004, to ensure that the local airports can continue to receive development project grants and impose a passenger facility fee. I was part of the bipartisan coalition in 1987 which successfully secured the passage of legislation signed by President Reagan which transferred both Reagan National and Dulles International from Federal control to the local airports authority. Because of that change to local control, both airports today are success stories. Passenger activity at National and Dulles Airports has nearly doubled to 31 million passengers in 2002. A massive capital development program at both airports has totaled well over $3 billion. Reagan National Airport was modernized in 1997 with a new terminal building including major improvements to airport traffic management and Metro system connections. At Dulles, there are new concourses and the airport's first parking garages, and under way is a $3.2 billion capital improvement project. In tandem with the airport's growth, the Smithsonian Institution will open its new Air and Space Museum annex later this year located at Dulles Airport. These airports have proven they are quality facilities serving not only the people in the Washington area, but air travelers across the Nation and around the world. There is simply no reason for the airports to be called to Congress to prove their worthiness. What other airports in the country have to make such a command performance? None. Zero. Congress got out of the airports business in 1987. It's time to stop micro-managing Reagan National and Dulles. I also want to say how disappointed I am that Mr. Moran was foreclosed by the rule from offering his amendment on the slots issue at Reagan National. A delicate balance exists between flight operations at Dulles and Reagan. Increased take offs and landings at Reagan National and more flights beyond the 1,250-mile perimeter hurt Dulles, where longer haul flights originate. Those flight changes also mean coping with more noise for citizens living in the Washington area. I would urge my colleagues to respect the local airports authority, which has proven it can successfully operate the Washington area airports, and support the Norton amendment. Just as you would not want Congress dictating how to run your local airport, I would ask you to let the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority do its job in operating Reagan National and Dulles without congressional interference.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I recently shared with our colleagues observations following my recent two-day trip to southern Iraq. I was there Sunday, May 25, and Monday, May 26. I also spent a day, Tuesday, May 27, in Kuwait, where I met with Kuwaiti government officials, members of the U.S. military, State Department officials and staff from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Today I want to share with our colleagues a number of recommendations concerning the reconstruction of Iraq. Recommendations: these recommendations are based on my observations and conversations with the people I met during the course of my visit. Some were discussed in greater detail in the observations section of my trip report. Security: security is priority one. While the coalition forces have made great strides in trying to improve security in recent weeks, there is still a long way to go. Security is the linchpin to winning the peace in Iraq. That means security for coalition forces. Security for the NGOs. Security for the contractors. And security for the Iraqi people so they can go about their life. The gun turn-back program recently announced by Ambassador Bremer is a positive step but many are concerned that people may turn in only one gun and keep two. In addition to concerns about personal safety, looting remains a problem. I was told that looters continue to target electrical substations in southern Iraq, stealing the copper wire to sell on the black market. These substations provide much of the power for Baghdad. Coalition forces should provide security until it can be provided by the Iraqis. Justice System: re-establishing a fair and just judicial system in a timely fashion is critical. Figuring out what to do with locals who break the law, such as looters, but are not a threat to U.S. security must be addressed as soon as possible. The laws need to be clear and must be enforced. `Play to Win': ``Play to Win,'' the final report of the bipartisan Commission on Post-Conflict Reconstruction, should be used as the blueprint for rebuilding Iraq. The report, released in January, was produced jointly by the Association of the United States Army and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Its 17 recommendations provide an excellent model to follow. The commission is made up of 27 distinguished individuals with extensive experience in government, the military, non- governmental organizations and international aid groups. It met throughout 2002 to ``consider recommendations that surfaced over two years of research, expert working groups, and vetting with current policymakers and practitioners.'' The report can be found on the Internet at http://www.pcrproject.org Commission Visits: a select group of the Commission on Post Conflict Reconstruction should travel to Iraq. The panel's co-chairmen, Dr. John Hamre, former deputy secretary of defense, and Gen. Gordon Sullivan, former chief of staff of the U.S. Army, should appoint a select number of commissioners to travel to Iraq to assess how the reconstruction efforts are going. Their assessment, a second opinion, if you will, would be impartial and could prove to be invaluable. They should travel in a small group with a military escort to ensure their safety. Congressional Oversight: small groups of members of Congress should make the trip to Iraq. They should go without publicity to ensure their safety and the safety of those who would be providing protection. Their visit to learn more about what is happening in the country and what it is going to take to rebuild the country would be helpful in their oversight responsibility in Congress. The chairmen and ranking Members--or their designees--of the House and Senate Armed Services committees, Appropriations committees and International Relations/ Foreign Relations committees should consider going. In addition to meeting with military commanders, the members should meet with Ambassador Bremer and other officials in the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), USAID officials, representatives from the NGO community and other international organizations, and Iraqi citizens. Partnering with Iraqi People: every effort must be made to involve the Iraqi people in rebuilding their country, from governance to security to repairing the country's infrastructure. The Iraqi people must be an equal partner in the process. ``Play to Win'' is instructive on this point: ``. . . every effort must be taken to build (or rebuild) indigenous capacity and governance structures as soon as possible. Leadership roles in the reconstruction effort must be given to host country nationals at the earliest possible stage of the process. Even if capacity is limited, host country representatives should chair or co-chair pledging conferences, priority-setting meetings, joint assessment of needs, and all other relevant processes.'' American companies awarded contracts to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure should hire locals whenever possible. There are many skilled and educated people in Iraq and they should be tapped to help rebuild their country. Reconstruction Support: the sooner the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, now called the Coalition Provisional Authority, is completely operational the better. Every effort should be made to ensure that Ambassador Bremer and his staff have the necessary tools and resources to successfully complete the job. Provincial Officers: the military's Civil Affairs detachments in Iraq have worked diligently to help restore order and are making more and more progress every day. Consideration should be given to providing the officer in charge of each of the 18 provinces in Iraq with access to a ready cash account--perhaps up to $500,000--so they can more quickly hire translators, laborers and other locals to assist in their efforts in putting together a government without having to get every expenditure signed off by headquarters or Washington. The money also could be used to purchase goods and services in- country, such as generators, pumps or even a trash truck, on a more timely basis rather than waiting for it to be brought in by coalition forces. Government on any level needs money to operate. Clearly, this money must be accounted for, but it would greatly assist in the efforts to rebuild the country. Civilian Expertise: consideration also should be given to helping augment the work of the Civil Affairs detachments by bringing in U.S. civilians with expertise in local government, such as county administrators and city managers, as well as experts in agriculture and public works. In each of the 18 provinces, the head of each military Civil Affairs detachment acts like a governor. They need experts--much like a cabinet--at their disposal who can advise them on issues like banking, education, public works and health care. For example, the National Association of County Administrators could assist in rotating in civilian administrators to work with the military and local Iraqis in setting up and running local governments. There could be one for each of the 18 provinces. Some of the leading agriculture companies in the country could lend their expertise on irrigation and production. The head of the public works department in any large county or city in the country would bring an inordinate amount of experience to the table. There also is a great deal of expertise in the Federal Government which can be tapped. Again, these individuals would work hand-in-hand with the military and the locals. Post-Combat Skills: the U.S. military has to begin thinking about training more of its soldiers for a postcombat environment to help fill any void until the necessary Civil Affairs and Military Police units can be put in place. I realize this is asking our war fighters to take on a new mission, but in this new world environment, I believe this skill is necessary. Communications Systems: communications and communication systems remain a problem for both the military and the aid organizations working in Iraq. I was told that not all of the Civil Affairs detachments are readily able to communicate with each other or with the Humanitarian Assistance Center in Kuwait, which is coordinating all the civil affairs and humanitarian assistance in Iraq. Contacting U.S. officials in Baghdad also is problematic. I was told part of the problem is that most Civil Affairs detachments are made up of reserve units which do not always have compatible communications equipment. This needs to be addressed. It is imperative that all 18 provinces be linked with each other and headquarters. Congress should provide DOD with the necessary funding to ensure that these detachments have radios, computers and other communications equipment that are interoperable. Aid organizations also are encountering problems communicating with their staff in southern Iraq because telephone and other data transmission lines have yet to be repaired. This presents a problem, especially for sharing data and supplying information. Iraq's banking system: the issue of Iraqi currency must be dealt with immediately. Many people in Iraq will not accept payment with the old regime's currency. The World Bank should provide its expertise in helping get Iraq's banking system back up and running. The Story of Democracy: the State Department working with the National Endowment for Democracy and other groups with similar expertise should develop a program on democracy and how a democratic government works. I was told that Iraqis watch a great deal of television. Perhaps whatever program is developed should be put on videotapes and tailored to specific age groups so that all Iraqis can understand the democratic process. This program must be made available to the Civil Affairs units in each of the 18 provinces. I understand money already has been appropriated and some contracts have been let. This program must be put into place as soon as possible. A pro-democracy newspaper also should begin to be published on a daily basis in Iraq. Ordnance Removal: finding and removing unexploded ordnance needs to be a priority. Sadly, many Iraqi children have been seriously hurt by exploding weapons while playing outdoors. When I visited the General Hospital in Nasiriyah, a young boy had just been brought into the emergency room after either a mine or unexploded ordnance blew up near him. He was severely burned and there was a piece of shrapnel in his right eye. Clearing this ordnance will be a long and laborious process. Health Care: while great progress has been made to improve health care in southern Iraq since the war ended, there is still a long way to go. While the major hospitals in southern Iraq used to bear Saddam Hussein's name--and are all identically constructed--there was little or no medicine and the conditions inside are deplorable. One NGO that is providing invaluable assistance is the International Medical Corps (IMC). Their doctors, nurses, nutritionists and other health care professionals are making great strides in assessing the health care needs of Iraq. They are also helping provide care. I was told that IMC has helped distribute more than two tons of donated medicine to hospitals and clinics in southern Iraq. There is concern, however, that diseases like malaria and visceral leishmaniasis--also called Dum Dum Fever or Black Fever--could ravage the region this summer because no spraying was done this spring to kill the mosquito larvae or sand flea larvae. Bites from sand fleas are the cause of visceral leishmaniasis, which attacks internal organs. This disease has an 80 percent fatality rate for young children unless treated with a 21-day shot routine. Cholera is another concern. Area hospitals and American drug companies should work with medical NGOs in Iraq to ensure they have an adequate drug supply and the necessary equipment to provide medical services. Any assistance must be coordinated with NGOs on the ground so there is not any duplication of efforts or unnecessary equipment donated. Women's Health: improving health services for women will be particularly important as the reconstruction of Iraq moves forward. More focus is needed on pre- and post-natal care. The surgical capabilities in the country are seriously lacking. Special instruments for delivering babies and performing cesarean sections are needed. So are the proper medications for delivery. More nurses also need to be trained. Religious Freedom: as a new government is established in Iraq, care must be given to protect the rights of religious minorities. I urge the Bush Administration to develop a strategy and governance structure within the new Iraqi government to ensure that the hard won freedoms of the Iraqi people also will include the right and protection of religious liberties. Quality of Life for Troops: the troops serving in the Gulf region are outstanding. The ones I spoke with were highly skilled, highly motivated and extremely professional. They all have made great sacrifices to serve their country. In turn, we should do everything possible to make sure their morale remains high. Hearing from home is a big part of that. Congress should provide DOD with the necessary resources to ensure these service men and women serving in the Gulf, and around the globe for that matter, are able to get messages from home, whether by phone, e-mail or regular mail. Commendation for Kuwait: Congress should approve a resolution thanking the government and people of Kuwait for their assistance in helping to provide humanitarian relief to Iraq. The Kuwaiti government has provided millions of dollars in assistance, both in-kind and in material goods. The United States' Humanitarian Operations Center is run out of a former government facility in Kuwait City. NGOs Valuable Role: the NGOs on the ground in the region also have done a tremendous job responding to the needs of the Iraqi people. From helping provide food to medical care to caring for orphans, their experience and expertise has proven invaluable. I was told some of the NGOs in the region are concerned that the humanitarian assistance is being coordinated by the U.S. military. Some of their misgivings may be justified. As the ORHA/CPA gets up and running, however, I suspect many of their concerns will be alleviated. Care must be given though to ensure that ORHA/CPA does not duplicate efforts that are already underway. Conclusion: in closing, I want to thank all those who helped make my trip possible. For security reasons I cannot mention people by name, but I am forever grateful for their assistance. I also want to thank all the NGOs who are providing humanitarian assistance in Iraq. The people who work and volunteer for these organizations are extremely dedicated. They work long hours and give up the many comforts of home to serve others, often in very dangerous places around the globe, like Iraq and Afghanistan. They are a special breed and deserve our thanks and praise. Finally, I want to thank several members of my staff for their help in putting together this report. Dan Scandling, my chief of staff, accompanied me on the trip and served as photographer. Janet Shaffron, my legislative director, edited the report and Colin Samples did the layout and design.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this bill today. There are going to be several amendments offered. One amendment will be offered as if it is an antigambling amendment. In essence, the amendment will actually bring this bill down. Fifteen years ago, there was gambling in two States, Nevada and New Jersey. Once we in this country moved to what we call convenience gambling, we have seen an increase in crime, corruption, domestic violence, physical abuse, and many other bad things that we Republicans and Democrats do not want to see. The ultimate in what is called ``convenience gambling,'' meaning that you do not have to go very far to gamble, is Internet gambling where you can sit in your own family room in your bathrobe on a rainy weekend and literally go broke in about 24 hours. There will be an amendment offered that will be sort of viewed as maybe some of the pro-family groups are for it. Let me say I have a letter to the gentleman from Alabama signed by the Christian Coalition, Concerned Women for America, the Family Research Council, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, and the National Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches headed by former Democratic Congressman Bob Edgar who served here for many years. I would ask you, do not support the amendments that will weaken this bill. Internet gambling is beginning to be very corrosive in our society. We have a chance to deal with Internet gambling in the Bachus bill that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) and other Members of the House have put forth. I rise in strong support of the bill. I think this is an opportunity to get control of Internet gambling and to do it in a way that is constructive and positive. I ask my colleagues, one, support the bill on final passage; but, lastly, do not support any amendments that may appear on the surface to be good but what will in essence bring down this bill and thereby mean that Internet gambling will never be controlled. Five to 7 percent of the young people in our country are addicted to gambling. As Internet gambling becomes easier and easier, that addiction rate goes up. So I hope Members will oppose the amendments that will really bring the bill down, and on final passage do something to help this country, to help the young people, to get control of it, to get control and regulate Internet gambling. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2143, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act, legislation needed to prevent the use of credit cards, checks, or electronic funds transfers for unlawful Internet gambling. It will be of vital assistance in curbing illegal Internet gambling. This legislation states in the findings section that: ``the National Gambling Impact Study Commission in 1999 recommended the passage of legislation to prohibit wire transfers to Internet gambling sites or the banks which represent them.'' As the author of the legislation which established the commission, I am pleased to see that one of its most important recommendations may indeed become law. The spread of Internet gambling means that people can now gamble at the workplace and their homes, around the clock. The unchecked progress of Internet gambling must be curbed. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission report went on to state that gambling can breed bankruptcy, divorce, domestic violence, and physical and emotional problems. Even suicide has been linked to gambling. Often times, even school-aged children--who have never gambled before--are lured into on-line gambling. H.R. 2143 will establish an enforcement structure that will let federal regulators set up regulations which will limit the acceptance of bank instruments such as credit cards for use in illegal Internet gambling, reducing the chance for gambling to gain a further foothold in our society. Before I close, let me share with you a story. Donna Kelly, a mother of a 12-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son developed a gambling problem. At one time there were 13 warrants for her arrest for writing bad checks. Gambling had so wrecked her life that she saw only one option: suicide. Two days before Thanksgiving, she tried to kill herself. She failed, and was placed in a mental hospital. Mrs. Kelly spent Thanksgiving in a mental hospital because of her gambling problem. Her daughter asked her afterwards, ``Momma, why did you try to kill yourself? Do you not love me anymore?'' This is the human dimension to gambling. This story illustrates why it is so important to vote for this bill. When you cast your vote today, remember the many lives ruined by gambling, and remember the family members left devastated by their loved ones gambling activities. Internet gambling is a vast and growing enterprise which can serve as an avenue for money launders and terrorist funding. Gambling also involves great social costs. This bill will reduce access to the medium of the Internet as another forum for inducing people to gamble. I urge Members to vote for this legislation. Hon. Spencer Bachus, House of Representatives, Financial Services Committee Member, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Bachus: As a diverse bipartisan coalition of family and faith-based organizations, we are very concerned with the effects of gambling on our society and the well-being of young people and families. We write to strongly support the passage of H.R. 2143, To Prevent the Use of Certain Bank Instruments for Unlawful Internet Gambling, and for Other Purposes. Internet Gambling is already against the law in all 50 states, yet offshore gambling interests continue to operate without any accountability and are available in every state by utilizing the Internet. We urge you to support H.R. 2143 and reject any amendment or proposal which would weaken the bill or hinder its enforcement according to current federal law. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report presents a disturbing and devastating picture of the effect of gambling on families. Some critical points to consider in the report as it relates to Internet gambling are: Gambling costs society $5 billion a year in societal costs including job loss, unemployment benefits, welfare benefits, poor physical and mental health, and problem or pathological gambling treatment, bankruptcy, arrests, imprisonment, legal fees for divorce, and so forth. Because the Internet can be used anonymously, the danger exists that access to Internet gambling will be abused by underage gamblers, our children and youth. The high-speed instant gratification of Internet games and the high level of privacy they offer may exacerbate problem and pathological gambling. Lack of accountability also raises the potential for criminal activities, which can occur in several ways. First, there is the possibility of abuse by gambling operators. Most Internet service providers hosting Internet gambling operations are physically located offshore; as a result, operators can alter, move, or entirely remove sites within minutes. Furthermore, gambling on the Internet provides an easy means for money laundering. Internet gambling provides anonymity, remote access, and encrypted data. To launder money, a person need only deposit money into an offshore account, use those funds to gamble, lose a small percent of the original funds, then cash out the remaining funds. Through the dual protection of encryption and anonymity, much of this activity can take place undetected. Computer hackers or gambling operators may tamper with gambling software to manipulate games to their benefit. Unlike the physical world of highly regulated resort- destination casinos, assessing the integrity of Internet operators is quite difficult. Please support H.R. 2143 and reject the spread of a predatory industry, which is contrary to the well-being of individuals and all of society. Sincerely, Christian Coalition of America, Concerned Women for America, Family Research Council, General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, National Council of Christians.