[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E927-E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            IRISH DEPORTEES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RICK LAZIO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 1997

  Mr. LAZIO of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of seven 
families now living in the United States. The fathers in these 
families, Noel Gaynor, Robbie McErlean, Gabriel Megahey, Matt Morrison, 
Charles Caufield, Kevin Crossan, Brian Pearson, are all Irish 
nationals, all married to American citizens or legal residents, and are 
facing deportion.
  Earlier this year, I listened to the testimony of many of these 
families at a hearing before the Congressional Ad Hoc Committee for 
Irish Affairs. They have been living and working in the United States 
for many years, some for more than two decades. However, they live 
under the constant threat of deportation. Because of past political 
involvement, these men, their wives, even their children would most 
likely face violence and harassment if forced to live in Northern 
Ireland.
  After years of living in turmoil, these men came to the United States 
to settle and raise their families. Mr. Speaker, they deserve no less 
than true, unbiased judgment by our laws.

[[Page E928]]



   A TRIBUTE TO SIMON GRATZ HIGH SCHOOL ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 70TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS M. FOGLIETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 1997

  Mr. FOGLIETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Philadelphia's Simon Gratz High School in my district, which this year 
celebrates its 70th anniversary. Named for the noted Philadelphia civic 
leader, legislator, educator, and philanthropist, Simon Gratz High 
School has been serving the north Philadelphia community since 1927. 
This is a truly comprehensive high school that provides a sound 
education to over 2,200 students with diverse needs and backgrounds, 
and serves as the ``flagship school'' of the Gratz cluster.
  Simon Gratz has established six small learning communities within the 
school, designed to meet the needs and special interests of the 
students. These small learning communities include: the Automotive 
Academy, the Business Institute, the Center for Creative 
Communications, Crossroads for the Arts and Sciences, Magna Carta--
Learning through Law, and Springboard--Allied Health and Teaching 
Careers. In addition to these special programs, Simon Gratz has a job 
training program and a teen parent educational center, the Constance E. 
Clayton Teen Parent Center, this named after our great, former 
superintendent of schools.
  A matter of great pride for Simon Gratz High School and the 
surrounding community is its great tradition of excellence in 
athletics. The high school's comprehensive athletic program boasts 
particularly strong wrestling, football, baseball, and basketball 
teams. In fact, two recent Simon Gratz graduates were just in the 
national spotlight as teammates on the Portland Trailblazers team that 
made this year's NBA playoffs. Those two young men, Rasheed Wallace and 
Aaron McKie, are the latest in a long line of Simon Gratz scholar/
athletes who have gone on to national prominence from their 
Philadelphia roots. Other famous Simon Gratz graduates include: Pat 
Kelly, former manager of the Minnesota Twins; Meldrick Taylor, a 1984 
Olympic boxing gold medalist; Leroy Kelly, formerly of the Cleveland 
Browns; and Baseball Hall of Famer, Roy Campanella.
  Other outstanding graduates include: our former colleague, William 
Gray III; the Honorable John Green, sheriff of Philadelphia County; 
Herman Mattleman, former president of the Philadelphia Board of 
Education; the Honorable Judge Katherine Streeter Lewis of the 
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; and the current principal of Simon 
Gratz High School, James G. Slaughter.
  On Sunday, May 18, the administration, faculty, staff, and students 
of Simon Gratz High School will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 
school by inviting back alumni, former faculty and administrators, and 
friends from the community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join 
with me today in honoring Simon Gratz High School for 70 years of 
excellence and service to the community of north Philadelphia.

                          ____________________