[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 78 (Thursday, June 7, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H2980-H2982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1345
     PRESIDENT BUSH AND INCREDIBLE WHITE HOUSE FORM LETTER COMPUTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Hart). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a remarkable 
automated and superbly efficient computer system in the Capital of this 
Nation. Madam Speaker, this computer network is extraordinary. It 
tracks and it responds to the correspondence of more than 500 people. I 
would note that it is so powerful it is able to keep track of not only 
the incoming mail from these people on a wide variety of issues but it 
is also able to respond to each and every one of the people and each 
and every one of the letters with an identical form letter, which, if 
you will note, is changed only with regard to the subject matter.
  I am not describing a top-secret computer lab at CIA, nor am I 
describing NASA's computer network at Cape Canaveral. No, Madam 
Speaker, this computer is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This 
afternoon I rise to discuss this computer and the remarkable White 
House form letter that it generates.
  I share with my colleagues the opportunity to have interacted with 
this amazing machine on more than a dozen occasions. Each time I have 
written to President Bush, I have received an identical response. 
Whether the topic is the energy crisis or election reform, I get the 
same letter back. More than a dozen letters to date, each faithfully 
signed by the President's aide, Nicholas Calio, unless Mr. Calio has 
used an autopen.
  I wrote the President about HMO reform, I received the following: 
``Thank you for your recent letter regarding a bipartisan Patient 
Protection Act. I have shared your letter with the President's advisers 
and the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving their close 
and careful attention. Thanks again, Nicholas Calio.''
  I wrote the President on education, veterans, environment, trade and 
foreign affairs. I again received the same letter. I say to President 
Bush, ``Thank you.'' And to you, Nicholas Calio, ``Thank you. Your 
computer serves you well. It has moved the science of computers forward 
to newer and higher levels.''
  I would note that with such close attention to detail, it is hard to 
fathom how the United States ever lost our seat on the United Nations 
Human Rights Commission. How on earth could our allies be unsatisfied 
with diplomatic dispatches such as, ``I have shared your letter with 
the President's advisers. Your comments are receiving close and careful 
attention.''

[[Page H2981]]

  Indeed, the existence of such a superior computer system response 
makes the departure of Senator Jeffords from the Republican Party all 
the more puzzling. How is it possible that that distinguished Senator 
from Vermont could become so disenchanted with the White House when it 
uses such an advanced computer system to communicate with Members of 
the House and the Senate? How could Mr. Jeffords or any other Member of 
the Congress become disenchanted with such careful and precise personal 
attention from President Bush? Were the words, ``Your comments are 
receiving the close and careful attention of the appropriate agencies'' 
simply not enough?
  I would like to point out one of the examples of this splendid 
computer's responses to Members of Congress. I would note, however, 
that my policy since I was elected to the Congress a number of years 
ago has been to personally respond to each letter I receive from over 
half a million citizens of the 16th District of Michigan and to give as 
substantive a response as is possible to do. Clearly, that idea is out 
of date at the Bush White House.
  Well, thank you, President Bush. You have shown us a new way. Thank 
you for changing the tone in office and your tone in Washington. Thank 
you for identical form letters from your amazing computer. At least 
when I write the White House I know I will get a response. It may be 
unresponsive, but I will get it nonetheless.
  Seventy days ago, on March 28, I wrote Administrator Whitman of the 
Environmental Protection Agency seeking information about her decision 
to weaken the new protective standard for arsenic in drinking water. 
This is a health issue affecting millions of Americans. I would note I 
received no answer. A month ago I sent a similar letter seeking 
additional information from Ms. Whitman about her arsenic decision. 
Again, no answer. No information, no acknowledgment has been received.
  Now, it would appear that the White House could inform Administrator 
Whitman that stonewalling Congress is bad policy and that she should be 
responding if only with a form letter. In any event, it appears the 
Bush administration has this wonderful policy which needs to be 
chronicled here. It is either a form letter or no response at all.
  Madam Speaker, I will place in the Record these wonderful examples of 
computer science in the hope that my colleagues will be able to share 
perhaps their thoughts on similar events.

                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, March 14, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your letter 
     regarding the Montgomery GI Bill program.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thank you for your interest in writing.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                         Washington, May 29, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your letter 
     regarding funding in the FY 2002 budget for the pediatric 
     graduate medical education (GME) program.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, April 26, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding medical privacy regulation.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, April 12, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding a bipartisan Patient Protection Act.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                        Washington, March 8, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: although this is in response 
     to your January letter, I just wanted you to know that the 
     President sincerely appreciated receiving your comments 
     regarding funding for USAID programs in Lebanon.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thank you for your interest in writing.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                        Washington, March 9, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding funding for the Elementary School Counseling 
     Demonstration Act.
       I have shared your letter with the President's budget 
     advisors and the appropriate agencies who have been 
     formulating policy recommendations in this area. Your 
     comments are receiving their close and careful attention.
       Thank you for your interest in writing.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                        Washington, April 4, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding funding for the U.S. Army Corps of 
     Engineers.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                        Washington, April 9, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding funding for the USDA's Wetlands Reserve 
     Program.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments area. Your 
     comments are receiving their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, April 11, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter, along with 206 of your colleagues, regarding election 
     reform principles.
       I was happy to share your letter with the President's 
     advisors and the appropriate agencies who have been 
     formulating policy recommendations in this area. I have asked 
     that you receive a more detailed response in the near future.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
                                  Director of Legislative Affairs.

[[Page H2982]]

     
                                  ____
                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, April 12, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding a petition to the International Trade 
     Commission on behalf of the domestic steel industry, under 
     Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, to seek temporary 
     relief from injurious imports.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Diector of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, April 12, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding coastal erosion.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Diector of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, April 18, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding funding for a new sewer overflow grant 
     program which was authorized in the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act for FY 2001. I apologize for the delay in 
     responding to your letter.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Diector of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                         Washington, June 5, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding funding for the ongoing litigation against 
     tobacco industry.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Diector of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                         Washington, June 5, 2001.
     Hon. John D. Dingell,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Dingell: Thank you for your recent 
     letter regarding the recently implemented medical privacy 
     standards mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and 
     Accountability Act of 1996 and issued by the Department of 
     health and Human Services in 2000.
       I have shared your letter with the President's advisors and 
     the appropriate agencies who have been formulating policy 
     recommendations in this area. Your comments are receiving 
     their close and careful attention.
       Thanks again.
           Sincerely,

                                            Nicholas E. Calio,

                                    Assistant to the President and
     Diector of Legislative Affairs.

                          ____________________