[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   HONORING ST. PATRICK AND THE IRISH AMERICANS OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Kingston] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of St. Patrick and 
the Irish-Americans of Savannah, GA, who are at this moment winding up 
a very long day of green grits, green biscuits, green beer, and one of 
the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the world. In fact, Mr. 
Speaker, I believe the St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah is the 
second largest in the United States and clearly the best in the United 
States, and I want to say also that my good friend, Jerry Hogan, is 
this year's grand marshal. There is probably not an Irish man around 
who is better suited for the job. He has been a hard worker for the 
Irish community. He has worked on this parade for years. He has done 
just about everything you can do, not only as an Irish descendant in 
Savannah, but really as a Georgian and as an American. He has 
participated in everything, and he is what I would call typical in his 
Irish-American values; that is to say, God, family, and country. He is 
a hard worker.
  I have known Jerry Hogan for over 15 years. As far as family goes, 
you will see no one finer. I have spoken to family members over the 
years. I had a nice conversation with his son over 2 weeks ago, and in 
a typical family values nature Jerry has dedicated this year's parade 
to his late wife, Ellen. I also wish to recognize the grand marshal's 
hard-wording aides: Joseph O'Brien Ramsey, Michael Halligan, Michael 
Beytagh, and the family of Michael McDonough.
  I want to say a little bit also about St. Patrick himself because so 
often we get lost in the green and in the festivities that we do not 
think about that St. Patrick was born in Britain in the year 387. At 
16, he was captured by Irish marauders who sold him as a slave to an 
Irish priest and chieftain. He was held captive 6 years and during that 
time, even though the Irish practiced the Druid religion, St. Patrick's 
Christian faith became very strong.
  Legend has it that after he was counseled by an angel, he fled 
Ireland and returned to his homeland. Because of his strong Christian 
faith, Pope Celestine the First made St. Patrick the Apostle to 
Ireland.
  Upon his return to Ireland, St. Patrick began his missionary work. At 
first he had few supporters, but St. Patrick did not allow himself to 
become discouraged. Eventually, he founded 365 churches and personally 
baptized 12,000 people. For this reason, St. Patrick is said to have 
one of the most successful missionary lives on record.
  Many of St. Patrick's legends are portrayed in pictures and statues. 
The most famous of those legends is the shamrock. Story has it that he 
used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to a group of pagan Irish 
peasants who he subsequently converted. With a full life of missionary 
work behind him, St. Patrick died on March 17 at the age of 106, and to 
this day, more than ever, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and we also 
celebrate not only St. Patrick's life but those of thousands of Irish 
immigrants who settled in the United States.

  As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, Savannah owes much of its heritage 
to the Irish. The Irish came to this country largely from rural 
settings, and yet they did not continue in agrarian vocations once they 
were in America. Instead they turned to urban centers and had 
industrial occupations, and they would do anything from street cleaning 
to dock work, and they are still very industrious.
  As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, it is said before the Civil War the 
Irish provided a lot of the muscle power for the digging of canals in 
America, and in the late 1800's the Irish settlers contributed to the 
building of the railroads east of the Rockies. Probably the living 
conditions in the North were the reasons that many Irish came to 
Savannah. Our community had maybe more jobs and probably more 
hospitable weather and people.
  From the very early days in Savannah, the Irish work experience 
evolved from the menial to higher disciplines. As a result, the Irish 
have become leaders in every endeavor, including industry, trade, 
government, labor, management, commerce, the religions, medicine, law, 
military, and politics. These new Americans, accepted by their peers in 
the community, became the backbone of Savannah. In addition, the Irish 
were accepted in the community because of their loyalty to the past, 
obedience to the present, and faith in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, we are all familiar with many famous Irishmen, but you 
may not be familiar with two Irish-Americans from Savannah and their 
recent contributions to our great country. These two Americans are the 
late John J. Bouhan and the late monsignor, T. James McNamara.
  John J. Bouhan was a political leader, lawyer, man of statewide and 
national stature--friend of Presidents, Members of Congress, Governors, 
and more importantly, a friend of the so-called little man. Like any 
influential person, he had his detractors but he also had a large 
number of supporters and, for this reason, became the political leader 
of the ``Independent State of Chatham'' for more than 40 years, he had 
more admirers and followers than detractors. He was a man who was 
faithful to his church and was loyal to his friends and his Irish 
people. He was recognized by the entire community as the political and 
civic leader of his time in our part of the country.

  The other leader that I would like to mention today was the 
distinguished Monsignor T. James McNamara. A man of God, he was not 
only a true leader in the church but, as some have said, in politics as 
well. He was also well known in Georgia as well as nationally. He had 
great influence in the councils of our community.
  He was known of many things, none the least was for tact. I remember 
a story that was told to me about the Monsignor regarding a 
recommendation Monsignor McMamara made in response to a request from an 
applicant for employment at one of our local industries. The applicant 
had what some referred to as a problem with the bottle and was known to 
frequent various taverns and bars with his circle of friends. I quote 
Monsignor McNamara's recommendation, ``Your applicant has requested 
that I write about his job request. I do so with great pleasure. This 
man is well known in his community. In fact, I am pleased to say that 
this man is held in high esteem by those with who he associates.'' End 
quote
  Monsignor McNamara, John Bouhan, and scores of Irishmen before them 
played a significant part in what is sometimes called the blending or 
the assimilation of the Irish into the American scene. There are those 
who doubt the Irish will ever completely conform to the American 
system. However, it may not be necessary for that to occur if we 
believe what was said at the March 17, 1892, Hibernian Society of 
Savannah meeting: I quote: ``We sometimes hear people talking wisely of 
assimilation. You may assimilate some races, but you can't assimilate 
the Irishman. He assimilates you, and even if you have not a drop of 
Irish blood in your veins you begin to believe firmly that you have.''
  I would like to end my tribute to Irish-Americans by quoting another 
Irish-American of Savannah, Thomas J. Dillon, Sr., whose daughter, 
Diana Dillon Burns, works for the First Congressional District. As he 
said in his address at the Irish Monument in Savannah on March 9, 1986:

       The Irish of Savannah have made great contributions to all 
     segments of the life in this country. More importantly, each 
     of us as Irishmen who love the land of our ancestors 
     recognizes that we have received more from the United States, 
     our State, and Savannah than we have given in return. It is 
     that recognition that makes the Irishman a loyal partner of 
     all who made up this great community and who together put 
     forth the intellectual, as well as the manual, effort 
     required for the betterment of our fellow man on this road to 
     God's reward.

  I would only add, Mr. Speaker, that if everyone contributed to 
America what our Irish members have, we would be in much better shape. 
From St. Patrick to Jerry Hogan and Tom Dillon, they are first in God, 
first in family, first in country. They epitomize what it means to be 
American, delightful Americans. Erin Go Bragh.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Michel] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MICHEL. Mr. Speaker, I request permission to insert at this point 
in the Record the votes on health care reform which took place in the 
Committee on Ways and Means on March 17, 1994:
       The following recorded votes were taken on March 17, 1994, 
     in the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Ways and 
     Means during consideration of Chairman Stark's substitute 
     proposal for H.R. 3600, the Health Security Act of 1994:
       An amendment by Mrs. Johnson (CT) striking Federal 
     regulation of all health care capital expenditures over $1 
     million within each state. The amendment would also strike 
     provisions allowing states to delegate regulation of all 
     public and private capital expenditures over $1 million to 
     private not-for-profit health alliances. The amendment was 
     defeated 7-4.


                               Democrats

       Mr. Stark: Nay
       Mr. Levin: Nay
       Mr. Cardin: Nay
       Mr. Andrews (TX): Nay
       Mr. McDermott: Nay
       Mr. Kleczka: Nay
       Mr. Lewis (GA): Nay


                              Republicans

       Mr. Thomas (CA): Yea
       Mrs. Johnson (CT): Yea
       Mr. Grandy: Yea by proxy
       Mr. McCrery: Yea
                                  ____

       An amendment by Mr. Lewis (GA) and Mr. McCrery to require 
     all health plans to offer contracts to all essential 
     community providers in the service area. The amendment was 
     adopted 11-0.


                               Democrats

       Mr. Stark: Yea
       Mr. Levin: Yea
       Mr. Cardin: Yea
       Mr. Andrews (TX): Yea
       Mr. McDermott: Yea
       Mr. Kleczka: Yea
       Mr. Lewis (GA): Yea


                              republicans

       Mr. Thomas (CA): Yea by proxy
       Mrs. Johnson (CT): Yea
       Mr. Grandy: Yea by proxy
       Mr. McCrery: Yea
                                  ____

       An amendment by Mrs. Johnson (CT) to modify the community 
     rating requirement for private insurance plans by allowing 
     premiums to be adjusted by age category for those under 65. 
     The amendment was defeated 7-4.


                               democrats

       Mr. Stark: Nay
       Mr. Levin: Nay
       Mr. Cardin: Nay
       Mr. Andrews (TX): Nay
       Mr. McDermott: Nay
       Mr. Kleczka: Nay
       Mr. Lewis (GA): Nay


                              republicans

       Mr. Thomas (CA): Yea
       Mrs. Johnson (CT): Yea
       Mr. Grandy: Yea by proxy
       Mr. McCrery: Yea by proxy
                                  ____

       An amendment by Mr. McDermott to permit all Medicare 
     enrollees to buy Medigap coverage through Medicare for an 
     additional premium. A separate Medigap policy would be 
     available to all beneficiaries of Parts A and B to cover 
     lifetime limits on hospital benefits. The amendment was 
     defeated 7-4.


                               democrats

       Mr. Stark: Nay
       Mr. Levin: Nay
       Mr. Cardin: Nay
       Mr. Andrews (TX): Yea
       Mr. McDermott: Yea
       Mr. Kleczka: Yea
       Mr. Lewis (GA): Yea


                              republicans

       Mr. Thomas (CA): Nay
       Mrs. Johnson (CT): Nay
       Mr. Grandy: Nay by proxy
       Mr. McCrery: Nay
                                  ____

       An amendment by Mr. McCrery lowering the employee threshold 
     needed for employers to self insure from 1,000 full-time 
     employees to 100. The amendment was defeated 7-4.


                               democrats

       Mr. Stark: Nay
       Mr. Levin: Nay
       Mr. Cardin: Nay
       Mr. Andrews (TX) Nay
       Mr. McDermott: Nay
       Mr. Kleczka: Nay
       Mr. Lewis (GA): Nay


                              republicans

       Mr. Thomas (CA): Yea
       Mrs. Johnson (CT): Yea
       Mr. Grandy: Yea by proxy
       Mr. McCrery: Yea

                          ____________________