[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.
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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.
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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.
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