May 11, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1011

deliver troops and vital supplies in support of

operations such as Desert Shield/Desert

Storm, Grenada, and most recently in Haiti. In

recognition of these readiness and port security missions, the Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, which I chair, has

consistently provided funding support for the

Coast Guard. In addition, I have worked to ensure that we better link our military intelligence

assets with the Coast Guard to provide greater assistance in its drug-interdiction and security-related efforts. Such intelligence and detection capabilities dramatically improve the

Coast Guard’s ability to do its job, and I look

forward to promoting more effective cooperation between the services in the future.

While the duties and expectations of the

Coast Guard continue to grow, the funding

necessary to fully meet them has not. Over

the years, the Coast Guard has worked to find

cost-effective ways to meet the demands

placed upon it within an extremely tight budget, and I commend them. It is difficult to find

another part of Government that does so

much, so well, with so little. The last 2 years

serve as the greatest example of this conflict

between goals and resources. This administration has recommended sharp reductions in

funding for drug interdiction, and as a result

reports now indicate Caribbean trafficking may

again be rising.

Changing administration policies with regard

to Haiti and Cuba have encouraged greater

and greater numbers of refugees to take to

the water, forcing the Coast Guard to shift assets from other important areas to tackle this

overwhelming burden. In each of these instances, the Coast Guard has become our

Nation’s last line of defense, and the line is

being stretched thinner and thinner.

If past performance is any guide, the men

and women of the Coast Guard will continue

to meet the new threats to America’s national

and economic security with creativity, perseverance, and professionalism. Mr. Speaker, I

salute them and their important mission and

rise in support of this legislation to give them

the tools to continue to undertake their important work which saves lives and protects our

coastline.

SCRIPTWRITING CONTEST WINNER

RACHEL D. KILLIAN,

f

HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR. OF TENNESSEE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 11, 1995

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, each year the

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

and its ladies auxiliary conduct the Voice of

Democracy broadcast scriptwriting contest.

This past year, more then 126,000 secondary

school students participated in the contest

competing for the 54 national scholarships totaling more than $109,000.

This year’s Tennessee winner is Rachel D.

Killian, a junior at South-Doyle High School.

Miss Killian is an active member of her student council, enjoys reading and drama, and

belongs to Knoxville Youth in Government.

She plans a career in television and radio

journalism-communications. Miss Killian was

sponsored by VEW Post 1733 and its ladies

auxiliary in Knoxville, TN.

I would ask that Miss Killian’s essay, ‘‘My

Vision for America’’ be entered into the

RECORD. I believe we can all benefit from her

insightful, patriotic remarks:

MY VISION FOR AMERICA

This country was founded by people of

great vision. Although they came from different countries and backgrounds, they had a

common dream which brought them together—the dream of a land where they

could have better lives. By working together,

these strong pioneers made this dream of

freedom and opportunity a fantastic reality

we call ‘‘America.’’

During the past two hundred years, this vision of freedom has appealed to many

trapped under oppressive governments.

Thousands found their way to America each

year, escaping from wars, hunger, political

unrest and religious persecution. They found

a haven in America. These immigrants are

our ancestors. They are our relatives not

necessarily by blood, but by a common heritage. They endured many pains and sacrifices

to arrive here. Many had noting to hang on

to but a dream.

These early Americans were genuinely

grateful for every opportunity they were

given. They respected the government for all

it provided and gladly participated in the duties of citizenship. Unlike the grateful citizens of the past, many Americans today insult the government and blame the system

for every problem. They demand benefits,

such as military protections, without accepting the burden of paying taxes. They often

believe they are entitled to certain rights

over others and have forgotten what it

means to be tolerant of others’ beliefs. Worst

of all, they display a loss of confidence in the

future of America and the capability of

American leaders. These unpatriotic feelings

are destroying the optimism, the honor and

the pride we should have in America. Because there are people burning with anger instead of burning with pride, we have lost the

sense of brotherhood which once flowed from

sea to shining sea and united this country.

My vision of America calls for a change in

every American heart. We must remember

the dreams of our immigrant ancestors and

imitate some of their patriotic values such

as love for each other, for our community

and for our government. The men and women

who created our nation did not expect others

to rescue them from hardships. They were

not complainers, but achievers, and their

hard work brought America prosperity.

In my dream we are more like our ancestors. We are people of vision pushing for

what we know is right. We display tolerance

and patience for other individuals, and we

emphasize our similarities rather then our

differences. We look at our collective ancestors and say, ‘‘We are one, with one spirit.

We are an American Family.’’

In my vision, I see a ‘‘new’’ America with

patriotic citizens who know and appreciate

all the lyrics to the ‘‘Star-Spangled Banner.’’

I see citizens who talk about what’s right

with the country instead of what’s wrong,

where Uncle Sam is welcome at every dinner

table and where citizens are proud to show

they are Americans at times other than during the Olympics. I see a country that shares

dreams and reaches for goals that will benefits everyone, not just a select few. I see

Americans with changed attitudes toward

each other and a land where every worker

has a respected place and purpose—where

every single person feels like an important

part of one united spirit.

There are ways that my vision for America

could be achieved. First, American

newpapers need to print more positive articles to improve the public morale. Second, to

remind citizens of their many blessings, everyone needs to be informed of the lack of

human rights in other countries. It is so easy

to forget how lucky we are to be living in the

United States. Finally, Americans must stop

dividing into so many groups. Instead of

being Democrat or Republican, upper class

or blue collar, black or white, we should be

American. If we are going to be strong as a

country, and supportive of each other, then

we must be united as a people.

My vision for America in not a new one.

Our ancestors held the same hopes for this

country, but over the years their visions

have been forgotten. If we could remember

one thing from their success, then it should

be that we must never stop believing in our

visions for America. History has taught us

that there are dreams that can come true.

VISION FOR AMERICA

fHON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 11, 1995

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, each year the

Veterans of Foreign Wars and its ladies auxiliary conduct the Voice of Democracy broadcast scriptwriting contest. This year more than

126,000 secondary school students participated in the contest, competing for the 54 national scholarships totaling more than

$109,000. The contest theme for this year was

‘‘My Vision For America.’’

I am proud to announce that one of my constituents, Stephen Jensen, won fourth place

honors and a $6,000 scholarship in the Voice

of Democracy contest. Stephen is a junior at

Tarpon Springs High School and hopes to pursue a career in entertainment or public relations.

In his speech, Stephen reminds us all of

what can be accomplished when people are

united by a common objective. I would like to

share Stephen’s speech with you.

What a vision we must have been.

Drenched in sweat, caked with mud, and surrounded by the foul stench of rotting vegetation and debris, over six thousand volunteers

toiled in Albany, Georgia this past summer

under the blazing July sun to help the people

whose lives were devastated by the worst

floods in recent history. Side by side we gutted out homes and churches sodden by the

floods and stripped the buildings down to

their foundations. Sharing in this service

gave me a vision of what an American community can accomplish when people are

united by a common purpose.

There are those in this country who are

overwhelmed by another flood sweeping

through the streets of our land. The surge of

violence and crime, drug abuse, loss of private and public virtue and the erosion of the

family are but some of the storm-waters

surging over the banks in our country today.

Our first reaction is to view these problems

with bitterness and despair, but if we can

truly hold on to a positive vision, we will not

lose hope. Let us share in the view expressed

by American poet, Carl Sandburg when he

wrote, ‘‘I see America not in the setting sun

of a black night of despair ahead of us. I see

America in the crimson light of a rising sun,

fresh from the burning, creative hand of God.

I see great days ahead, great days possible to

men and women of will and vision.’’

Experiencing great opposition is not

unique to Americans today. Are the challenges we face any more difficult than those

faced by previous generations? Early colonists struggled with disease, famine, and the
E 1012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 11, 1995

rigors of an untamed wilderness. Later, our

inexperienced forefathers fought the superior

military and economic might of Great Britain to claim their freedom from oppression.

In the nineteenth century, America was literally torn apart by Civil War yet a people

was freed from slavery. Pioneers of that day

endured tragic hardships in settling the

West, yet prevailed and helped this country

grow to its present dimensions. In this century, Americans have faced World War I and

the devastation of the Great Depression, followed almost immediately after by the exhausting conflicts of the second World War.

America’s foundation was created and

strengthened through overcoming all of

these trials.

My vision for America calls for renewal of

the ideals and faith in this country that

made our forefathers victorious and America

great. It was their commitment to these beliefs that gave them the determination to

sacrifice and surmount tremendous obstacles. We as Americans must uphold and heritage of freedom. We must reaffirm respect

for the dignity of the individual and respect

for our laws and those who work to carry

them out. We must acknowledge a higher

power and adhere to the principles of honesty, hard work, cooperation with others and

loyalty to our country.

As President John F. Kennedy declared,

‘‘No nation can remain free unless its people

cherish their freedoms, understand the responsibilities they entail, and nurture the

will to preserve them.’’

Working side by side with fellow American

in Albany, I experienced first hand the vision

of mankind which has give us strength and

hope and courage in ages past as we have

faced adversity and challenges. I felt the

spirit of brotherhood of putting aside personal differences and working together for

the common good. This is the vision which

calls out through the Pledge of Allegiance,

for us to be—‘‘. . . one nation, under God, indivisible.’’ My vision for America is the one

bequeathed to each of us, the legacy of our

forbearers who sacrificed their lives in every

age for all our freedoms. I see an America at

peace through the renewed commitment of

her people, an America that is still the hope

of the world. To this vision I pledge, in the

words of the Declaration of Independence,

‘my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor.’

THE ENERGY RESOURCE CENTER

OF DOWNEY, CA, LEADING THE

fWAY FOR AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT

NATION

HON. STEPHEN HORN OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 11, 1995

Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, in this day of

growing concern over both the economic and

the environmental future of our Nation, I rise

to spotlight a ‘‘new’’ building in my district that

sets a national standard in energy efficiency,

environmental concern, and the use of recycled materials. It is the Southern California

Gas Company’s Energy Resource Center

[ERC] which is located in Downey, CA. Envisioned as a clearinghouse on energy and energy conservation information, the planners of

the ERC sought to house this information center in a building that embodied the environmental goals of recycling and energy and resource conservation. They succeeded magnificently.

The ERC opened its doors in April in its

‘‘new’’ recycled building as a one-stop center

where customers can find the most efficient,

cost-effective, and environmentally sensitive

solutions to all their energy needs. At the

ERC, people will be able to get answers to energy questions on such diverse subjects as

natural day lighting, gas cooling, and low

emissivity windows. The ERC will also house

an air quality permitting office of the South

Coast Air Quality Management District, that

will allow businesses to make energy decisions and understand air quality permitting requirements in one stop. The ERC will provide

meeting space for up to 700 people.

Designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] as an ‘‘Energy Star

Building,’’ the ERC is one of the Nation’s best

working models of energy efficiency and cutting-edge environmental products—a living example of how to recycle a building and use

energy in the most efficient way. When construction began on the 38-year-old building in

April of 1994, there were no wrecking balls. Instead, builders reused many of the materials

that were already there. They incorporated

those materials with many of the most advanced and environmentally sensitive technologies which are available today.

During the construction process, all of the

550 tons of material removed from the building—asphalt, red clay brick, porcelain plumbing fixtures among others—were sorted and

stockpiled. Materials that could not be used

again in the building were taken to recycling

centers or were given to other builders. About

60 percent of the materials removed—approximately 350 tons—were recycled one way or

another.

Contractors were required to use recycled,

toxic-free, and environmentally-sensitive materials. As a result, 80 percent of the materials

used in the construction of the ERC came

from recycled or reused materials. The ERC

building now features many unusual recycled

materials such as concrete reinforcement bars

made of recycled steel from weapons confiscated by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department; flooring made of wood recovered from a

condemned turn-of-the-century building in San

Francisco; a wall made from recycled aircraft

aluminum; and sections of the movie set used

in the recent Warner Bros. film ‘‘Disclosure.’’

In addition to the construction materials,

other state-of-the art, environmentally-sensitive

methods were used such as soil protection,

dust minimization, and adherence to noise

control regulations. The preservation of existing land resources was not forgotten—whether

they were trees, shrubs, vines, and or top soil.

Drought-resistant plants were used for exterior

landscaping. There are plans for an underground drip irrigation system to be fed by reclaimed water.

The Southern California Gas Company’s

Energy Resource Center in Downey, CA, is

leading the way for sound environmental construction that is economics-friendly. Mr.

Speaker, the Energy Resource Center will enable those who use it to have a much better

energy-efficiency future and that is good news

for our Nation.

TRIBUTE TO COLONEL SCOTT E.

MILLS

HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 11, 1995

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

recognize Colonel Scott E. Mills, U.S. Air

Force, on the occasion of his retirement from

the military.

Scott Mills has served as Chief of the U.S.

Air Force Academy Activities Group since

June, 1993. During the last 2 years, he has

worked closely with many of our offices in coordinating Congressional nominations and inquiries for the Academy.

Born in Berkeley, California, Scott Mills received a Bachelor of Science degree as a

member of the U.S. Air Force Academy Class

of 1973. He received a Master of Science in

Logistics from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1984. His professional military education includes Squadron Officer School, Air

Command and Staff College, and the Air War

College.

Scott Mills’ Air Force career is one marked

diverse accomplishments. He is a Master Navigator with over 3,000 flying hours, serving as

both C–141 navigator and C–141 navigator instructor. He has served with 4th Military Airlift

Squadron, 323d Flying Training Wing, Headquarters Air Training Command, the Joint

Cruise Missiles Project, and the 323d Support

Group.

Scott Mills has received numerous awards

including the Defense Meritorious Service

Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two

oak leaf clusters and the Air Force

Commodation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

Mr. Speaker, Scott Mills’ service to his

country has touched the lives of countless

young men and women either serving in the

U.S. Air Force or attending the United States

Air Force Academy. His integrity and his commitment to excellence are the trademarks of

his career.

I ask my colleagues to joint me in thinking

him for his distinguished and selfless service

to our nation. As he returns to civilian life, may

he and his family enjoy the full blessings of

the freedom he has so ably defended during

this career as a officer in the U.S. Air Force.

CAREERS BILL INTRODUCTION

fHON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 11, 1995

Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased

to join Training Subcommittee Chairman BUCK

MCKEON, his Vice Chairman FRANK RIGGS,

YOUTH SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DUKE

CUNNINGHAM, Congressman STEVE GUNDERSON, Majority Whip TOM DELAY, Conference

Chairman JOHN BOEHNER, and Budget Committee Chairman JOHN KASICH, to introduce

the CAREERS (the Consolidated and Reformed Education, Employment, and Rehabilitation Act) Act to reform the Federal job training system.

This bill is the result of a number of Subcommittee hearings, and is the first complete

product of the Opportunities Committee’s