[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. PELL (for himself and Mr. jeffords) (by request):
  S. 1835. A bill to provide for the collection and dissemination of 
statistics designed to show the condition and progress of education in 
the United States, to promote and improve the cause of education 
throughout the Nation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Labor and Human Resources.


               national education statistics act of 1994

 Mr. PELL. Mr. President, on behalf of the Clinton 
administration, I am pleased to introduce the National Education 
Statistics Act of 1994. The bill is a reauthorization of authority for 
the National Center for Education Statistics [NCES] and the National 
Assessment of Educational Progress [NAEP], which provide meaningful 
information on the educational achievement and progress of American 
students.
  For more than 25 years, I have called for both tough, challenging 
standards and high quality assessments in general education. To my 
mind, they are the keys to effective and widespread reform. The Goals 
2000 legislation moves clearly in the direction of establishing 
voluntary national content and performance standards for all students. 
The National Education Statistics Act follows suit in reauthorizing 
administration of NAEP or the national test as it has been called. The 
bill calls for greater flexibility in implementation of NAEP and 
strengthens the Advisory Council on Education Statistics. To my mind, 
the bill's overall thrust moves in the right direction.
  I am concerned, however, that the linkage between NAEP and any 
national content or performance standards be clear and strong. To my 
mind, it is important that we report NAEP results in a way that relates 
them directly to valid and reliable performance standards. This, in 
turn, will aid States and localities in making the difficult but 
necessary decisions required of them in building a system of education 
whose hallmark is excellence. It is my hope that specifically in this 
area we may be able to strengthen the legislation submitted by the 
administration.
  Mr. President, if we cannot ascertain where we are in education, it 
will be very difficult to agree where we should be going. In that 
regard, the Clinton administration's National Education Statistics Act 
merits strong support and enactment.
 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, on behalf of the Clinton 
administration, I join my colleague, Senator Pell, to introduce the 
National Education Statistics Act of 1994. This bill provides for the 
reauthorization of the National Center for Education Statistics [NCES] 
and the National Assessment of Educational Progress [NAEP].
  As is usually the case, legislation authorizing information 
collection and statistical reporting does not make the headlines. NCES 
and its congressionally mandated NAEP project may be one of the best-
kept secrets in American education. For the past 25 years, NAEP 
assessments have provided one of the only measures we have of how, or 
if, student achievement has changed. With the demand for high standards 
and the need for improved student learning NAEP's role becomes even 
more important. Furthermore, the increased attention to student 
academic outcomes have led to increased attention to, and demands for, 
improvement in NAEP assessments, scoring methods, and survey needs.
  State and local educators are designing standards for what our 
children must know and be able to do be ready for the next century. We, 
in turn, must have a mechanism to measure how students are faring so 
that we can then assist them in meeting the demands of the future. This 
reauthorization provides Congress the opportunity to reevaluate NAEP 
and NCES and ensure that both programs continue to provide reliable 
data necessary to gauge the education achievement of this 
Nation.
                                 ______

      By Mr. DOLE:
  S. 1836. A bill for the relief of John Mitchell; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.


                  medal of honor for john w. mitchell

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill which will 
correct a mistake of the past. This mistake involves the wrongful 
denial of our Nation's highest military honor to a distinguished 
American--John W. Mitchell.
  In 1943, the United States Navy was intercepting the encrypted 
messages of the Japanese Armed Forces. Unbeknownst to the Japanese, the 
United States had broken the enemy code. On April 16, 1943, a message 
was intercepted that indicated Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, chief of the 
Japanese combined fleet, would be visiting Japanese troops on several 
of the Solomon Islands on April 18, 1943. Admiral Yamamoto was Japan's 
foremost naval strategist and the architect of the surprise attack on 
Pearl Harbor. At 6 a.m., December 7, 1941, over 300 Japanese aircraft 
left the flight decks of their aircraft carriers bound for Peal Harbor. 
Although the attack took less than 2 hours, the cost to the United 
States was great. In all, the fleet at Pearl Harbor lost 18 warships, 
including the battleships Arizona, West Virginia, and California. Over 
4,200 Americans were either dead, wounded, or missing.
  Upon learning of Admiral Yamamoto's plans to visit the Solomons, 
Admiral Nimitz ordered Adm. Marc Mitscher, commander air, Solomon 
Islands, to intercept Yamamoto's plane. Maj. John W. Mitchell, 
commander of the 339th fighter squadron, volunteered for the mission. 
On the morning of April 18, 1943, Major Mitchell led 18 P-38's from 
Guadalcanal Island on what would later be called the ``longest fighter 
intercept in history.'' Flying over 494 miles, only 50 feet off the 
water, they intercepted Yamamoto's plane and its escorts 
over Bougainvillea Island, precisely as Major Mitchell had planned. 
Major Mitchell's unit downed Yamamoto's plane as well as that of his 
chief of staff and three Zero fighters. All but one of Mitchell's 
squadron returned to Guadalcanal.
  Admiral Mitscher recommended that Major Mitchell and four other 
pilots receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, our Nation's highest 
military honor. However, this recommendation was denied. At the time, 
awarding the Congressional Medal of Honor to pilots for shooting down 
two bombers and three fighters might reveal that the United States knew 
Admiral Yamamoto was aboard one of the planes and alert the 
Japanese to the fact that their code had been broken.
  John W. Mitchell has served this country with honor and distinction. 
During service in World War II and the Korean war, he flew over 240 
combat missions with 16 confirmed aerial kills. He was the first 
fighter ace in the 13th Air Force and his decorations include the Air 
Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 
Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, 
the Navy Cross, and the Legion of Merit. However, the full extent of 
his dedication, service, and bravery exhibited on April 18, 1943, has 
never been recognized.
  Mr. President, it is fitting that as we commemorate the 50th 
anniversary of World War II, we honor Colonel Mitchell. He has waited 
over 50 years to receive the proper recognition from his country. I ask 
my distinguished colleagues to support this bill and to bestow this 
honor upon John W. Mitchell.
                                 ______

      By Mr. RIEGLE:
  S. 1837. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on the personal 
effects of participants in, and certain other individuals associated 
with, the 1994 World Cup soccer games; to the Committee on Finance.


            suspension of tariffs for world cup participants

  Mr. RIEGLE. Mr. President, I introduce legislation to suspend the 
duty on the personal effects of participants and others associated with 
the 1994 World Cup soccer games. This summer, the United States will 
host the World Cup for the first time ever, a very special privilege 
for the United States. The World Cup, the largest single sporting event 
in the world, will include 52 games played in nine cities: Detroit, New 
York, Washington, Orlando, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, and 
Los Angeles. These games will have huge positive economic impacts in 
those cities and the surrounding areas.
  Duty-free privileges are an important aspect of hosting an 
international sporting event. Granting these privileges to World Cup 
participants will give us the opportunity to reciprocate the 
hospitality that has been afforded our athletes in sporting events 
hosted by other countries.
  There is considerable precedence for duty-free legislation for 
international sporting events held in the United States. Duty-free 
entry privileges were authorized for the 1993 World University Games in 
Buffalo, the 1990 Goodwill Games in Indianapolis, and the 1984 Summer 
Olympics in Los Angeles.
  The revenue loss caused by the suspension of these tariffs will be 
negligible, while the positive effects of continuing the policy of 
encouraging international sports competitions is great.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the World Cup games 
and welcoming the athletes from all over the world to our country.

                          ____________________