May 12, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1025

CLEAN WATER AMENDMENTS OF

1995

SPEECH OF

HON. HENRY BONILLA OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 11, 1995

The House in Committee of the Whole

House on the State of the Union had under

consideration the bill (H.R. 961) to amend the

Federal Water Pollution Control Act:

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge

all my fellow Members to vote for H.R. 961,

Clean Water Act Amendments. This is much

needed legislation. The Clean Water Act includes an unfunded Federal mandate which

places a terrible toll on our State, county, and

local governments and the taxpayers who pay

their bills.

In my hometown of San Antonio, TX, the

Federal stormwater regulation—a provision of

the Clean Water Act—has forced the municipal water districts to raise taxes on property

owners. This egregious assessment is listed

on monthly water bills as the FED STMWTR

FEE, so constituents know this levy is a direct

result of Federal mandates. Let me tell you,

they are upset.

Many small businesses’ water bills have

risen from $30 to $200 a month. This is

money that could have gone for employee

raises or company improvements and investments.

The city of Laredo, TX, also in my district,

faced a $3 million-a-year bill from unneeded

stormwater regulation. This city on the border

with Mexico has to comply with United States

Federal regulations while Nuevo Laredo, it’s

sister community on the Mexican side, does

not. This means that the discharged water

does not get any cleaner. The stormwater fee

is irrelevant in Laredo, but it’s required. In fact,

it is a lot like money flowing down a sewer.

Well intentioned, but of no practical use.

Please vote for this sensible legislation. Far

too many American communities are in dire financial situations and cannot afford these

costly and, in many cases, unnecessary burdens.

THE RIVER BEND NEIGHBORHOOD

ASSOCIATION, NEIGHBORHOOD

fFINANCIAL CORPORATION AND

THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL

GROUP

HON. GREG GANSKE OF IOWA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, May 12, 1995

Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

commend the River Bend Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood Financial Corporation

and the Principal Financial Group. This partnership has been recognized for its achievements in creating and implementing a comprehensive neighborhood action plan. The

partnership is one of six partnerships in the

United States which will receive Social Compact’s 1995 Outstanding Community Investment Award.

I had the pleasure and the privilege of visiting River Bend this past weekend. In the 6

years since the partnership began, this community which was once comprised of drug

dealers, prostitutes and decaying and abandoned houses has become a neighborhood of

homes and families. Residents are no longer

afraid to walk down neighborhood streets and

161 homes have been salvaged or reconstructed. Crime is down. Pride is up.

Our country should follow River Bend’s lead.

This neighborhood is a prime example of how

people can help themselves. River Bend was

given a helping hand by the financial services

industry, the City of Des Moines, and Polk

County—not a handout by the Federal Government.

I encourage more neighborhoods in our Nation to strive to accomplish the level of excellence which River Bend has achieved.

RHODE ISLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY URGES SUPPORT OF SMALL

fBUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY OF RHODE ISLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, May 12, 1995

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, recently the General Assembly in my State

of Rhode Island recently passed a resolution

urging the Congress to support the 7(a) and

504 programs of the Small Business Administration.

In my age when thousands of jobs are

being created by small businesses, and thousands of people are finding new career opportunities as entrepreneurs, it is more important

than ever to support these two important programs. We turn back on America’s future

when we fail to support these two initiatives.

In the upcoming budget debate I hope my

colleagues will listen to and heed the wisdom

contained in this resolution which reads as follows:

Whereas, the U.S. Small Business Administration was created in 1953 by President

Dwight D. Eisenhower to foster the growth

of small entrepreneurs, and

Whereas, our Nation’s economic prosperity

is linked directly to the health of the small

business community, and

Whereas, the Rhode Island business community is comprised of over 97 percent small

businesses, and

Whereas, small businesses have grown 49

percent since 1982, they employ 54 percent of

the American work force, account for 50 percent of the gross domestic product, and account for 71 percent in new job growth in

1993, and

Whereas, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 504 and 7(a) financing programs

are a public/private partnership that

leverages private dollars and allows for continued access to capital for Rhode Island’s

small business community, and

Whereas, SBA’s technical resources including the Small Business Development Center

at Bryant College and the Service Corps of

Retired Executives provide much needed

counselling to the Rhode Island small business community, and

Whereas, the Rhode Island SBA District

Office has approved over 800 loans totalling

$160.5 million in guarantee and 504 financing

to the Rhode Island small business community from October 1992 to present, and

Whereas, this financial assistance has

played a vital role in reviving the Rhode Island economy; now be it

Resolved, That the General Assembly of the

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the

United States Congress to financially support the U.S. Small Business Administration

and its 7(a) and 504 financing programs, as

well as its education/training and advocacy

programs, and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be

and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the President of the United

States Senate, and to the Rhode Island Delegation in the Congress of the United States.

HONORING ROBERT E. MILLS

fHON. JAY KIM

OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, May 12, 1995

Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great

pleasure to rise today and pay tribute to one

of California’s outstanding citizens, Robert E.

Mills on the 40th anniversary of his company,

Associated Engineers.

Robert E. ‘‘Bob’’ Mills, a registered engineer, founded the private consulting firm of

Associated Engineers in 1955. Mr. Mills, using

his acumen and entrepreneurial skills expanded the company to include all aspects of

construction management, civil engineering,

and survey work. This work included general

civil infrastructure design and construction for

industrial, commercial and residential developers, counties and municipalities, flood control districts, school districts, public and private

water agencies, and State and Federal highway departments. In his ongoing pursuit of excellence Mr. Mills invented the Cutaline, an

asphalt cutter which consists of a circular

wheel on a special arm which is conected to

a road grader. The Cutaline does in 1 hour

what it would take three men, 2 days to do.

As one who believes in the value of community service, Bob has served the community as

chairman of the San Bernardino County Flood

Control District Zone I Advisory Committee,

chairman of Economic Development for the

Upland Chamber of Commerce for 9 years,

the board of directors for the California Council of Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors,

chairment of the Grading Committee, which instituted changes in the State of California Uniform Building Code, the American Red Cross,

the Upland Kiwanis Club, the United Fund,

YMCA, and on the board of trustees of the

Congregational Church in Ontario.

I commend Bob on his outstanding and

worthwhile achievements and congratulate him

on 40 successful years of Associated Engineers.

EUGENE AND EARL BLACK—91

YEARS OF COMBINED, DEDIfCATED SERVICE

HON. GLENN POSHARD OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, May 12, 1995

Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

pay special tribute to two brothers who have,

for over four decades, made a tremendous

contribution to their communities. Eugene and

Earl Black have served their friends and