[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 137 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AMERICA'S IMPACT AID ASSOCIATION: 25 YEARS OF WORK FOR OUR COUNTRY

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                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 5, 1998

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make note that the 
National Association of Federally Impact Schools this year celebrates 
its 25th Anniversary.
  The NAFIS represents school districts that are federally impacted--
that is, their streams of state and local sales and property tax 
revenues are affected by the presence of military facilities of Indian 
lands. The federal presence in each American community represents a 
clear and convincing federal responsibility: that until the federal 
government pays local property and sales tax, it owes the schools a 
full and fair measure of impact aid, so that these schools may provide 
an excellent education to the children of military families and Native 
Americans, and to all children in affected communities. This 
association represents hundreds of American school districts, including 
the San Diego Unified Schools in my congressional district. It also 
plays a vital role in informing the bipartisan Congressional Impact Aid 
Coalition, of which I am a member, so that we can keep current on 
issues with respect to this federal responsibility of impact aid.
  I want to take note that NAFIS, on October 6, 1998, will honor the 
past presidents of the Association. Since 1973, these individuals have 
worked for fair treatment of our federally impacted schools, and for 
fair impact aid appropriations. In order of their service, these NAFIS 
presidents were: Lance Eldred, Dave Fish, June Quint, Thomas Bobo, 
Glenn Barnes, Don Bruno, Pat Hayden, Bob Thomas, Clarence Ham, Dave 
Kinkaid, Ed Hennessee, Ivan Small, Steve Pratt, and the current 
president, Lowell Draffen.
  I also want to recognize NAFIS Executive Director John Forkenbrock 
and his staff, who work very hard to keep lawmakers, congressional 
staffs, and association members themselves well informed about impact 
aid.
  In addition, at the same event where NAFIS honors its presidents, the 
association will pay a special honor to one of our colleagues: the 
distinguished chairman from Illinois and chairman of the House 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and 
Education, the Honorable John Edward Porter. NAFIS will award him the 
Harry S. Truman Recognition Award for his vigorous advocacy in support 
of impact aid as a clear federal responsibility. Year after year, 
President Clinton's budgets have slashed and gutted impact aid, and 
year after year, Chairman Porter has courageously and successfully 
fought to ensure that the federal government meets this fundamental 
responsibility to our schools, our communities, and our military and 
Native American families. It is worth noting that Chairman Porter is 
only the second person ever to be recognized with this honor, the other 
being our late colleague, the gentleman from Kentucky, Representative 
Bill Natcher, a great and respected member of this House who earned and 
received the respect of us all.
  Let the permanent Record of the Congress of the United States now 
note this tribute to the National Association of Federally Impacted 
Schools on its 25th anniversary, on its presidents and staff, and upon 
impact aid's great champion in Congress, the Honorable John Edward 
Porter, in appreciation for their service and dedication past, present 
and future.

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