E 1084 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 19, 1995

Whereas the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

has not provided the United States Government with access to relevant portions of

wartime Central Committee-level records

and reports concerning the number of American POWs captured during the war and policies toward them, and has refused to disclose

additional information from Central Committee and military archives concerning alleged North Vietnamese wartime reports on

American POWs obtained by Soviet intelligence agencies in 1972;

Whereas the President informed Congress

on January 26, 1995, that he is not fully satisfied that progress on the POW/MIA issue has

been sufficient to justify taking additional

steps toward normalization of relations with

the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Whereas the Secretary of Defense has yet

to fully respond to section 1034 of Public Law

103–337, requiring that he submit to Congress

a complete listing by name of all Americans

still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War

on whom it is possible that Vietnamese officials can produce additional information or

remains; and

Whereas until such a complete listing is

provided to the Congress, an accurate assessment of the extent to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has cooperated with the

United States to account for missing American personnel is not possible: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in

Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the

‘‘Vietnam POW/MIA Full Disclosure Act of

1995’’.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.

None of the funds made available under

any provision of law may be used to advance

economic relations or to establish or maintain diplomatic relations with the Socialist

Republic of Vietnam unless the President—

(1) provides Congress with a complete listing by name of all Americans unaccounted

for from the Vietnam War on whom the likelihood is greatest that the Socialist Republic

of Vietnam may be able to locate or provide

remains or additional information, as determined on the basis of all information available to the United States Government;

(2) certifies to Congress that the Socialist

Republic of Vietnam is cooperating fully in

the 4 areas stipulated by the President,

namely concrete results from efforts by Vietnam to recover and repatriate American remains; continued resolution of discrepancy

cases, live-sightings and field activities; further assistance in implementing trilateral

investigations with the Lao; and accelerated

efforts to provide all documents that will

help lead to the fullest possible account of

POW/MIAs; and

(3) certifies to Congress, after consultation

with the Director of Central Intelligence,

that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is

being fully forthcoming in providing the

United States access to those portions of

wartime Central Committee-level records

and reports that pertain to the subject of

Americans captured or held during the war

by North Vietnamese, Pathet Lao, or Vietcong forces in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

REMEMBERING PRINCE GEORGE’S

COUNTY’S FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

HON. STENY H. HOYER OF MARYLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 18, 1995

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

pay solemn tribute to the 21 police officers

who have lost their lives in the line of duty

during the 64 year history of the Prince

George’s County Police Force. Their sacrifice

is overshadowed only by the tremendous contributions they have made to their communities

and the gratitude of their Nation.

We are painfully aware, Mr. Speaker, that it

was in protecting others from harm that these

men came to harm themselves. We know that

our words will never replace what has been

taken from their loved ones. For the families,

the hurt will never diminish. The pain will

never go away. And the memory of what was

and the potential of what could have been will

live with them always.

I believe the strength of America lies in the

responsibilities that ordinary citizens quietly

fulfill everyday to their families, their communities, and their country. Law enforcement officers summon a special courage from within to

go beyond the call.

These officers do so without fanfare, without

public acclaim and without a desire for personal gain. As long as there are courageous

and committed men and women willing to walk

in harm’s way to protect us, our children, our

communities and our way of life, then there

will be an America.

One of those officers who served bravely

and nobly without fanfare was Prince George’s

County Police Sergeant John J. Novabilski.

Sergeant ‘‘Nova’’ as he was known was only

31 years of age when he was brutally struck

down by a volley of bullets on April 26, 1995—

A reprehensible and senseless act. John

Novabilski joined the Prince George’s County

Police Force in 1988 after working as a Baltimore City police officer for three years. He

was promoted to the rank of police officer first

class in May, 1990 and to Corporal in November, 1991. Officer Novabilski was promoted

posthumously to sergeant by acting Prince

George’s County Police Chief Alphonso Hawkins.

Acting Police Chief Alphonso Hawkins said

at Sergeant Novabilski’s memorial service, ‘‘To

John’s family and friends, I know there is nothing I can do or say to fill the void left in your

lives, but you have my word that his sacrifice,

and yours, will not be forgotten by our police

family, the citizens of Prince George’s County,

or our Nation.’’ Indeed, Mr. Speaker, the ultimate betrayal would be to forget.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert here in

the RECORD, the names of those additional 20

police officers who have made the ultimate

sacrifice to all of the citizens of Prince

George’s County, Maryland. The listing appeared in the May 18, 1995 edition of the

Prince George’s Journal.

OFFICERS SLAIN IN LINE OF DUTY

Edward D. Merson; Sept. 1, 1937. Officer

Merson, who died in a single-car accident in

Muirkirk, was the first member of the police

force to be killed in the line of duty.

Charles F. Caldwell; June 12, 1948. Officer

Caldwell was fatally shot with his own pistol

by the enraged father of a stabbing suspect.

He was the first county officer to be shot to

death in the line of duty.

Alfred W. Steinat; May 2, 1963. Officer

Steinat was fatally shot in the back by

Thomas Hadder, who was wanted for stealing

a tire, during a struggle with the suspect.

Joseph K. Brown; Feb. 19, 1966. Sgt. Brown

was fatally shot by Carl Knicely, the 17-yearold son of a man wanted for indecent exposure, while serving a warrant for the youth’s

father at their home in Adelphi.

John W. Leatherbury Jr.; March 21, 1968.

Officer Leatherbury was killed in a helicopter accident while riding in the craft as

an observer during a routine night patrol.

The civilian pilot of the helicopter, William

Hanley, also died in the crash.

Robert E. Yeszerski; Nov. 30, 1968. Officer

Yeszerski and a Seat Pleasant town officer

were fatally shot by Willis Underwood while

attempting to impound Underwood’s car

from a Seat Pleasant side street. Underwood

was convicted of murdering Yeszerski and officer William R. Clements in the incident.

William W. Gullett Jr.; Feb. 16, 1969. Officer Gullett was fatally shot by James F.

Jarred while attempting to disarm the

shooter at his Kentland apartment. Both

Gullett and another officer were able to return fire, killing Jarred.

Carroll D. Garrison; Feb. 20, 1973. Officer

Garrison was fatally shot by James Law

while investigating a burglary call at a

house in Chillum. Law, the owner of the

house, turned himself in to police a short

time after the shooting, claiming he mistook

Garrison for a prowler.

Albert M. Claggett IV/James B. Swart;

June 26, 1978. Officers Claggett and Swart

were fatally shot by Terrence Johnson with

Claggett’s service revolver inside the Hyattsville District station. Johnson was convicted

of manslaughter in Claggett’s death, and

found not guilty by reason of insanity in the

death of Swart, recently was paroled after

serving 16 years of his 25-year sentence.

Antonio M. Kelsey; Feb 2, 1980. Officer

Kelsey was working as a part-time security

guard for a Kentland liquor store when he

was fatally shot by Steven Baines, who had

approached the officer with a bag of marijuana and then fled. Baines was convicted of

second-degree murder in the killing. Kelsey

was the first black county officer to be

killed in the line of duty.

Raymond Hubbard; Feb. 8, 1982. Officer

Hubbard was killed by two men while trying

to stop a jewelry story robbery at Iverson

Mall. The death of Hubbard, who was offduty at the time, is considered an in-theline-of-duty casualty.

Allan D. Johnson; Dec. 6, 1982. Cpl. Johnson, a motorcycle patrolman, was giving a

citation to a driver on I-95 when he was

struck by a passing vehicle. Johnson died

two days later. The driver of the vehicle that

hit him was charged with manslaughter and

driving under the influence of PCP.

Carlton X. Fletcher; June 11, 1983. Officer

Fletcher was working as a part-time security

guard in Greenbelt when he was shot by two

men during an armed robbery. Fletcher’s

killers were charged with first-degree murder and received life sentences in the slaying.

Richard J. Beavers; Nov. 29, 1983. Capt.

Beavers was fatally shot during a gunfight

with two men who were attempting to rob

him in a Suitland parking lot. Beavers was

sitting in an unmarked car at the time of the

incident. His assailants were arrested and

convicted of first-degree murder.

Harry L. Kinikin Jr.; Jan. 13, 1990. On Oct.

17, 1986, Cpl. Kinikin was stabbed by a

woman in the parking lot of a Landover 7-

Eleven, where he had stopped to make a

phone call. Kinikin survived for three years

May 19, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1085

after the attack before dying in 1990 of complications from his injuries.

Mark K. Murphy; Sept. 1, 1988. Officer Murphy, a member of the department’s Emergency Services Team, died when shot accidentally by two fellow officers while serving

a search warrant at the Riverdale home of a

suspected drug offender.

Ryan C. Johnson Jr.; April 22, 1992. Cpl.

Johnson was fatally shot in a gunfire with

two teens who tried to rob him in Capitol

Heights. Both youths were convicted of murder in the killing.

Roger P. Fleming; Oct. 27, 1992. Sgt. Fleming was killed while attempting to apprehend suspected car thieves in Cheverly.

Fleming was pursuing the men at high speed

when he lost control of his cruiser and

struck a tree.

John L. Bagileo; Feb. 28, 1994. Cpl. Bagileo

died when he lost control of his cruiser during a high-speed response and crashed into a

utility pole in Seat Pleasant. Bagileo’s name

was inscribed this year on a national memorial to officers who died in the line of duty.

To the families and friends of those fallen

law enforcement officers in Prince Georges

County and throughout this great Nation of

ours, words cannot express the sorrow for

their loss nor the gratitude for their sacrifices.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to share

with my colleagues the policeman’s prayer.

‘‘Oh Almighty God, whose great power and

eternal wisdom embraces the universe, watch

over all policemen and law enforcement officers. Protect them from harm in the performance of their duty to stop crime, robberies,

riots, and violence. We pray help them keep

our streets and homes safe day and night. We

recommend them to your loving care because

their duty is dangerous. Grant them Your

unending strength and courage in their daily

assignments. Dear God, protect these brave

men and women, grant them Your almighty

protection, unite them safely with their families

after duty has ended. Amen.’’

LOUISIANA PACIFIC RECEIVES

DOE ANTIPOLLUTION AWARD

f

HON. FRANK RIGGS OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 18, 1995

Mr. RIGGS. Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest challenges we face today is protecting our

environment while sustaining economic

growth. We simply must do both, and when

we see a success story, we have the responsibility to not only tell others about it.

Such is the case with the Louisiana-Pacific

Corp. and its pulp mill in Samoa, CA, in the

First Congressional District which I represent.

As a testament to the company’s forward

thinking and innovativeness, they have developed the only chlorine-free Kraft pulp mill in

North America.

The leaders of the company and mill have

worked for years to improve the effluent from

the plant and now their diligence is being rewarded. The Department of Energy has announced that Louisiana-Pacific has been

awarded a grant under its National Industrial

Competitiveness through Energy, Environment

and Economics project, which seeks to prevent pollution, save energy and produce benefits to the Nation’s economy.

The work undertaken by Louisiana-Pacific

under the grant will implement a closed cycle

system at the Samoa Mill, which will eliminate

effluent from the mill’s bleach plant. It will assure that no bleach plant wastewater will be

discharged into the Pacific Ocean.

The Samoa Mill, constructed in 1964, produces an average of 650 tons of bleached

Kraft pulp per day from waste and wood chips

generated by local sawmills. In January 1994,

the Samoa Mill became the only North American Kraft pulp mill to produce bleached pulp

without the use of chlorine or chlorine-containing compounds on a permanent basis.

Because the mill has converted to totally

chlorine free, or TCF, it has unique opportunities for taking the next steps to achieve closed

cycle operation. The successful commercialization of a full scale TCF closed cycle

Kraft pulp mill in the United States, with its resultant environmental benefits, would have

worldwide implications.

When the award was made, Secretary of

Energy Hazel O’Leary praised LouisianaPacific’s innovative research. It was her belief

that the company’s commitment to pollution

prevention and energy conservation will lead

the pulp and paper industry into the next millennia.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Bob Simpson,

Louisiana-Pacific’s general manager, Fred

Martin, manager of the Samoa Mill, and all of

those who work for this important northern

California employer. I also urge my colleagues

to do their part for the environment and consider using totally chlorine free paper, which is

available from the House Office Supply Service.

HONORING LORETTA AVENT

fHON. BILL RICHARDSON OF NEW MEXICO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, May 18, 1995

Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, there has

always been a special relationship between

our Federal Government and the more than

500 recognized Indian tribes in our Nation.

Each of the tribes is a sovereign nation and

each has the right to conduct business directly

with the Federal Government bypassing State

and local governments. While Indian people

have this right in theory it is sometimes difficult for each of the tribes to have a substantive relationship with the executive branch.

But thanks to an extraordinary public servant in the Clinton White House, Indian people

for the first time are comfortable with and understand they have a direct link with the administration. Loretta Avent serves as Deputy

Assistant to the President. Although AfricanAmerican, Mrs. Avent has a unique and close

relationship with Indian country. She has

opened the door for Indians and is rightly

adored by tribes.

I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring

Mrs. Avent for her service to this country and

for her outstanding service to our native Americans. The following article which appeared in

the February 5, 1995 edition of the Arizona

Republic is a great tribute to Mrs. Avent.

[From the Arizona Republic, Feb. 5, 1995]

CLINTON LIAISON IS ADORED BY TRIBES

(By Jeff Barker)

WASHINGTON.—They give her dolls, rings,

shawls, baskets and necklaces. They pray

she won’t leave them.

To Native Americans, Loretta Avent is a

godsend. She takes them places they have

never been.

Avent, 52, is a deputy assistant to President Clinton. In her two years at the White

House, the Phoenix native has forged an extraordinary relationship with Indian Country.

Tribal leaders say the effervescent former

lobbyist has become, quite simply, the most

important federal contact they have ever

had.

They say she is helping renew their faith

in government, which has been so long a

source of frustration and broken promises.

‘‘I’m almost 73 years old, and I will tell

you that never in my lifetime have we in Indian Country experienced a person so dedicated to tribal rights,’’ said Sue Shaffer,

chairwoman of the Cow Creek Bank of Umpqua Indians in Roseburg, Ore.

‘‘She’s been a guide, mentor, catalyst,

grandmother,’’ said Paul Ojibway, an Ojibwa

tribal member who is the Los Angeles archbishop’s Native American liaison. ‘‘Being

people who hold people and symbols dear, she

gives us the feeling that we are included and

don’t have to come hat in hand to get noticed.’’

An African-American born in rural Virginia, Avent acknowledges that her relationship with tribes ‘‘is beyond what’s the norm

for me.’’

‘‘They feel that I’m chosen. They give me

heirlooms. They give me what I call ‘heart’

gifts,’’’ she said.

She tells visitors that her office was occupied 23 years ago by John Dean, former

President Nixon’s counsel during the Watergate scandal.

‘‘He was a man who had a chance to help

this nation, and he didn’t,’’ Avent said.

OPENED DOOR FOR INDIANS

She hopes her legacy will be that she

opened the doors of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

to a group that has never quite felt welcome,

even though its members are descendants of

the first Americans.

Avent’s contributions are both symbolic

and substantive. She organized a historic

meeting in April with Clinton and several

hundred tribal leaders. She also invited

urban Indians and tribes not federally recognized—two groups that often feel particularly overlooked by the government—to

their own White House events.

‘‘Never before has there been this type of

accessibility,’’ and Albert Hale, president of

the Navajo Nation.

When tribal leaders believed they were

being ignored by the Census Bureau in August, they wrote to Avent. They also contacted her when Arizona was resisting Indian

gaming and when they wanted Clinton to

grant executive clemency for Leonard

Peltier, the American Indian Movement

member convicted of killing two FBI agents

20 years ago.

‘‘There’s nothing that they do—nothing—

that doesn’t come to me, Avent said. ‘‘The

president said he wanted an administration

that reflected the country. Until we bring

them (Indians) to the table, then it’s not the

right reflection of America, because America

looked like them first.’’

Avent emphasizes that she does not perform the Indians’ work by herself. She merely puts them in touch with people who can

help.

‘‘She doesn’t do things for us,’’ said Ivan

Makil, president of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. ‘‘She sets up the

meeting, and after that, we’re on our own.

She makes sure we get an opportunity to get

to the table.’’

In Peltier’s case, Avent referred inquiries

about clemency to the Justice Department.