[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H4133-H4150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECEPTION OF FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

  The Speaker of the House presided.
  The SPEAKER. On behalf of the House of Representatives, I am happy to 
welcome to this Chamber very good friends of this institution, former 
Members of Congress.
  You are not only friends of this institution; you are also friends of 
ours. As we make our way in governing this Nation, we stand on your 
shoulders. Your contributions to this House will not be forgotten.
  Every one of the Members here has spent precious years of their life 
in this Chamber. Some of the best years of their lives were spent in 
this Chamber working to represent the needs and the concerns of the 
American people.
  Your commitment to your Nation did not end when you left Congress.
  Many of you went on to do other things in public service. Many of you 
excelled in the private sector. And many of you have continued to serve 
our Nation in many other honorable ways.
  Bill Archer is one of those people. He is certainly an ideal and 
worthy choice to receive the Distinguished Service Award that this 
body, your group, is about to give.
  As chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Bill Archer was 
known as a fair, judicious, and effective leader. He called them like 
he saw them. He believed that the Tax Code needed fundamental reform, 
and he carried that message throughout this country.

[[Page H4134]]

  He was known then as he is known now, as a true gentleman in the best 
sense of the word.
  Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you, 
all of you, the former Members. Thank you for being here and for your 
continued effort, both home and abroad.
  Your outreach to college campuses throughout the country helps to 
strengthen the work of our government and encourage public service. 
Your support to the parliaments around the world is invaluable, and I 
want to thank you for those efforts.
  At this time I would request that the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. 
Buechner, vice president of the Former Members Association, please take 
the chair.
  Mr. BUECHNER (presiding). The Chair directs the Clerk to call the 
roll of former Members of Congress.
  The Clerk called the roll of the former Members of the Congress, and 
the following former Members answered to their names:


  Rollcall of Former Members of Congress Attending 33rd Annual Spring 
                         Meeting, May 15, 2003

  Hon. Bill Archer (Texas)
  Hon. Robert E. Bedham (California)
  Hon. J. Glenn Beall, Jr. (Maryland)
  Hon. Clarence L. Brown (Ohio)
  Hon. James T. Broyhill (North Carolina)
  Hon. John H. Buchanan, Jr. (Alabama)
  Hon. Jack Buechner (Missouri)
  Hon. Richard R. Chrysler (Michigan)
  Hon. Bob Clement (Tennessee)
  Hon. Joseph J. Dioguardi (New York)
  Hon. James W. Dunn (Michigan)
  Hon. Thomas S. Foley (Washington)
  Hon. Robert Garcia (New York)
  Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman (New York)
  Hon. Robert Hanrahan (Illinois)
  Hon. Ralph Harding (Idaho)
  Hon. Dennis M. Hertel (Michigan)
  Hon. Peter Hoagland (Nebraska)
  Hon. Marjorie Sewell Holt (Maryland)
  Hon. William J. Hughes (New Jersey)
  Hon. Robert W. Kastenmeir (Wisconsin)
  Hon. David King (Utah)
  Hon. Ernest Konnyu (California)
  Hon. Steven T. Kuydendall (California)
  Hon. Peter Kyros (Maine)
  Hon. Lawrence P. LaRocco (Idaho)
  Hon. Greg Laughlin (Texas)
  Hon. Jim Lloyd (California)
  Hon. Cathy Long (Louisiana)
  Hon. Manuel Lujan, Jr. (New Mexico)
  Hon. Romano L. Mazzoli (Kentucky)
  Hon. Lloyd Meeds (Washington)
  Hon. Robert H. Michel (Illinois)
  Hon. Abner Mikva (Illinois)
  Hon. Clarence E. Miller (Ohio)
  Hon. Dan Miller (Florida)
  Hon. Constance A. Morella (Maryland)
  Hon. John Myers (Indiana)
  Hon. Dick Nichols (Kansas)
  Hon. Stanford E. Parris (Virginia)
  Hon. Toby Roth (Wisconsin)
  Hon. Ronald A. Sarasin (Connecticut)
  Hon. Bill Sarpalius (Texas)
  Hon. David E. Skaggs (Colorado)
  Hon. Jim Slattery (Kansas)
  Hon. Lawrence Jack Smith (Florida)
  Hon. Robert Tallon (South Carolina)
  Hon. R. Lindsay Thomas (Georgia)
  Hon. Peter G. Torkildsen (Massachusetts)
  Hon. Harold L. Volkmer (Missouri)
  Hon. Charles W. Whalen, Jr. (Ohio)
  Hon. Leo Zeferetti (New York)

                              {time}  0915

  Mr. BUECHNER (presiding). At this time the Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Idaho, the Honorable Larry LaRocco, President of the 
Former Members of Congress Association.
  Mr. LaROCCO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Speaker pro tempore and 
to all of you for being with us this morning. We were especially 
grateful to the Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), for 
taking time from his busy schedule to greet us and for his warm 
welcome.
  Speaking personally, I can say that it is always a privilege to 
return to this institution which we revere and where we shared so many 
memorable experiences. Service in Congress is both a joy and a heavy 
responsibility, and, whatever our party affiliation, we have great 
admiration for those who continue to serve the country in this place. 
We thank them all once again for giving us the opportunity to report on 
the activities of our Association of Former Members of Congress.
  This is our 33rd annual report to Congress, and I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members be permitted to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, so ordered.
  Mr. LaROCCO. Our association is nonpartisan. It has been chartered, 
but not funded, by the Congress. We have a wide variety of domestic and 
international programs, which several other Members and I will discuss 
briefly.
  Our membership numbers approximately 550; and our purpose is to 
continue in some small measure the service to this country that we 
began during our terms in the House and the Senate. I must add that we 
have about 90 Members of the association who served in the United 
States Senate.
  Our most significant domestic activity is our Congress to Campus 
Program. This is an effort on a bipartisan basis to share with college 
students throughout the country our insights on the work of the 
Congress, and the political process more generally. A bipartisan team 
of former Members, one Republican, one Democrat, spend up to 2\1/2\ 
days on college campuses in colleges in the United States meeting 
formally and informally with students, but also with members of the 
faculty and local communities. That is great experience for our 
Members, but our primary goal is to generate a deeper appreciation for 
our democratic form of government and to encourage young people to 
participate actively in public service.
  Since the program's inception in 1976, 145 former Members of Congress 
have reached more than 150,000 students through 301 visits to 207 
campuses in 49 States and the District of Columbia. In 1996, the 
Stennis Center for Public Service at Mississippi State University 
became a partner with the association in the program. Since 2002, the 
association has been conducting this program in partnership with the 
Center for Democracy and Citizenship and the Stennis Center. The former 
Members donate their time to this program. Transportation costs are 
paid by the Stennis Center and other donors; and the host institutions 
provide room and board and, if possible, a contribution based on 
student population.
  At this point, I would like to yield time to David Skaggs, the 
gentleman from Colorado, who currently serves as executive director for 
the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, to discuss the new 
administration and endeavors of and his participation in the Congress 
to Campus Program.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado for his 
leadership.
  Mr. SKAGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me some 
time.
  I am pleased to report to the Members and the body about the Congress 
to Campus Program. As the gentleman from Idaho has indicated, this has 
the purpose of teaching our young people about government and how this 
institution really works, as well as carrying a message on a bipartisan 
basis encouraging public service and public service careers.
  We instituted last fall a new partnership for these purposes with the 
Stennis Center and the association and the Center for Democracy and 
Citizenship, which I had here at the Council for Excellence in 
Government.
  I want to pay tribute to our colleagues at the Stennis Center who are 
not able to be here this morning, Rex Buffington and Brother Rogers, 
who are absolutely vital to the success of this program. We have 
undertaken a major expansion of Congress to Campus over the last year 
and the year ahead, having grown from about 9 visits, I think, in the 
previous academic year to almost 20 this year, and we are on course to 
more than doubling the program for the next academic year, expecting in 
the 2003-4 year to visit about 50 colleges and universities and 
community colleges around the country.
  Obviously, this would not be possible without the enthusiastic 
participation of our colleagues here in the Chamber and others who 
cannot be with us this morning. And I certainly want to issue a renewed 
invitation for those that have participated to do so again, and those 
of you who may not, to consider spending a couple of days on a college 
campus in this very worthy purpose.

[[Page H4135]]

  We have only been able to effect this growing program through the 
assistance of several very important funders including the Pew 
Charitable Trusts, the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the 
National Cable and Telecommunications Association, as well as 
contributions from some of our host schools. And Members will be happy 
to know that we have been collecting data from our students over this 
last year and analyzing that, and it indicates that there is a very 
real, measurable, positive impact of this program in the attitudes that 
our students who are exposed to our former Members have both about 
public service careers and about government officials and politics. So 
the mission is being accomplished, and I hope you will help us carry it 
on into the future.
  I had a wonderful experience myself this spring with my friend, Dan 
Miller, as we visited Mississippi State University and had a terrific 
time there visiting with students and faculty and the local community.
  I would like to yield now for a couple of minutes to the gentleman 
from California, Mr. Kuykendall, who had a similarly positive 
experience at Emory University down in Atlanta.
  Mr. KUYKENDALL. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  I did have the good fortune earlier this year. In fact, it was the 
time period when we began the attack in Iraq, and I showed up on the 
Emory University campus with Andy Jacobs from Indiana. Now, Andy and I 
had one thing in common. For those of you who know Andy and for those 
of you who know me, it is not our politics, but it was we were both 
marines, and to have ourselves on that campus when that activity 
occurred was extraordinary.
  We were put through a series of groups, small groups, individual one-
on-one meetings with students and also with the administration. We sat 
us down with a group of leadership, with the people that run the 
campus, and I found it very rewarding, quite frankly, to know that 
those folks still valued our opinion. Sometimes you think when you 
leave this place, you left all your valuable tools right here on this 
floor some days. But the things we have learned from being in this 
House and the service we provided are things that young people do not 
ever get a chance to see unless they get a chance to talk to us, and so 
many of us realized that from when we campaigned, but now we are not 
campaigning anymore. And now here is a chance to go out and touch a 
young person.
  I will mention just one young lady that I met there. A very 
attractive little blond. She came over to us during the time when we 
were having one-on-one meetings, and she came up, and she just did not 
know what possibly the government would do with her services, but she 
had an interest in working for the government. And then she told me she 
was going to be like a cum laude graduate in chemistry, and she was 
bilingual, and she wondered if the CIA would have an interest in her 
talents. And I said, by all means; if they do not, there are many other 
places in the Federal Government that would have an interest in your 
talents.
  But it was that fresh and just unvarnished exposure to these young 
people that made it very worthwhile. For me, I would encourage any of 
you to take a couple of days of your time and donate that in exchange 
for maybe changing some young people's lives as they see what Congress 
people look like up close and personal with opposite ideologies, but 
able to still talk to each other and carry on a conversation about 
issues of importance to the world.
  Mr. SKAGGS. I thank the gentleman for his comments.
  I ask unanimous consent to submit a full copy of the report on the 
Congress to Campus Program for the record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. So ordered.

 Congress to Campus Program--Report to the Annual Meeting of the U.S. 
         Association of Former Member of Congress, May 15, 2003


                              Introduction

       The Congress to Campus Program is designed to address 
     several aspects of the civic learning and engagement deficit 
     among the country's college-age young people, combining 
     traditional educational content with a strong message about 
     public service. The Program sends bipartisan pairs of former 
     Members of Congress--one Democrat and one Republican--to 
     visit college, university and community college campuses 
     around the country. Over the course of each visit, the 
     Members conduct classes hold community forums, meet 
     informally with students and faculty, visit high schools and 
     civic organizations, and do interviews and talk show 
     appearances with local press and media.
       In the summer of 2002, the Board of Directors of the U.S. 
     Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC) engaged 
     the Center for Democracy & Citizenship (CDC) at the Council 
     for Excellence in Government to help manage the Congress to 
     Campus Program (Program) in partnership with the Stennis 
     Center for Public Service (Stennis). CDC and Stennis, with 
     the blessing of the USAFMC, agreed to undertake a number of 
     initiatives to greatly increase the number of campuses 
     hosting Program visits each year, expand the pool of former 
     Members of Congress available for campus visits, develop new 
     sources of funding, raise the profile of the Program and its 
     message in the public and academic community, and devise 
     methods of measuring the impact of the program at host 
     institutions. [See Attachment 1--Program Description.]


            Increased Quantity and Quality of Program Visits

       In the 2002-2003 academic year, the Program sponsored 
     visits to eighteen schools around the country--double the 
     number for the 2001-2002 academic year. [See Attachment 2--
     Roster of '02-'03 Academic Year Visits & Participants.] These 
     visits took former Members to universities, service 
     academics, colleges and community in fifteen different 
     states.
       This year is the first of a two-year expansion of the 
     program. The goal is to have fifty Congress to Campus school 
     visits in the 2003-2004 academic year and the years 
     thereafter. This is probably near the limit the Program can 
     sustain with available Member participation, staff support 
     and funding. While this is an ambitious undertaking, at this 
     early date over thirty schools have already signed up to host 
     a 2003-2004 Congress to Campus visit or are engaged in 
     serious discussions with staff about sponsoring a visit. 
     [See Attachment 3--Preliminary Roster for '03-'04 Academic 
     Year Visits.]
       In addition to an increase in number of visits, each school 
     visit now lasts longer--typically two to two-and-a-half days. 
     This enables a greater range and depth of activities by 
     Members and means that the considerable investment in the 
     logistical arrangements for each trip results in more 
     productive time on campus.
       The Program asks host schools to insure contact with at 
     least 250 students over the course of a visit, and that 
     number is usually greatly exceeded. For the past academic 
     year, approximately 6000 students heard Members' unique story 
     about representative democracy and their special call to 
     public service.
       A draft schedule of events is prepared in advance of each 
     campus visit and reviewed by staff to assure variety as well 
     as the substance. There is a conference call before each trip 
     with Members and the responsible campus contact person to 
     review and revise schedule and iron out any remaining 
     problems. Members also receive CRS briefing materials on 
     current issues and background information on government 
     service opportunities prior to each visit.


             recruiting member volunteers for campus visits

       The success of the Program obviously depends on Members' 
     participation. With travel back and forth, Members end up 
     devoting three or more days to each campus visit. That is a 
     priceless contribution of an extremely valuable resource.
       All members of the USAFMC were sent a survey last summer to 
     solicit information regarding their availability for and 
     interest in a Program campus visit. Using responses to these 
     surveys and direct contact with a number of former Members, 
     CDC developed a pool of nearly one hundred available former 
     Members, and some thirty-six participated in visits this 
     year. A ``bench'' of one hundred was certainly deep enough to 
     fill the openings during the current academic year, but many 
     more will be needed to meet the demands of the expanded 
     schedule for 2003-2004 and beyond. All USAFMC members are 
     encouraged to complete and return the survey they will 
     receive in a few weeks and then to be ready to accept 
     assignments to one of the fine institutions of higher 
     education the program will serve next year.


                          new funding sources

       Expanding the Congress to Campus Program required finding 
     sources of funds in addition to the generous contribution of 
     money and staff time made each year by the Stennis Center for 
     Public Service. Several organizations agreed to help fund the 
     program through most of next academic year. In addition to 
     Stennis, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Carnegie Corporation 
     of New York, and the National Cable & Telecommunications 
     Association (NCTA) have contributed substantially to the 
     Program. [See Attachment 4--Funding and Contributions.]
       Host schools have always been expected to cover the cost of 
     Members' on-site accommodations and travel. For the first 
     time this year, host institutions were also asked to make a 
     contribution to cover a portion of the cost of administering 
     the Program. A suggested amount of contribution is determined 
     by a sliding-scale based on an institution's expenditures per 
     pupil [see Attachment 5--Application Form], and a waiver is 
     available to schools that are not able to pay

[[Page H4136]]

     the scale amount. Several schools received a full or partial 
     waiver in 2002-2003, and several other schools had been 
     accepted for Program visits before the contribution system 
     was put in place. Still, school contributions produced 
     several thousand dollars in support of the program. [See 
     Attachment 4.] All host institutions will be asked to 
     contribute in 2003-2004, subject to the ability-to-pay 
     waiver.
       The expansion of the Program--clearly justified by the 
     interest expressed by schools seeking to host a first or a 
     repeat visit and by the assessment of its positive effects 
     (see below)--will require a significant further increase in 
     funding.


                     program outreach and publicity

       The increased number of institutions hosting and applying 
     to host a Congress to Campus visit is the result of an 
     aggressive outreach effort. Association leadership and 
     numerous former Members, as well as staff at CDC and Stennis, 
     have made many personal contracts on behalf of the Program. 
     In addition, there has been a sustained, large-scale 
     promotional effort over the past nine months.
       Articles about the Program have appeared in the newsletters 
     of the Political Organizations & Parties Section of the 
     American Political Science Association (APSA) and the Federal 
     Relations section of the American Association of 
     Universities. CDC Executive Director and former Member David 
     Skaggs made presentations in behalf of Congress to Campus to 
     the APSA at its August, 2002, meeting in Boston, and will do 
     so again in August, 2003, in Philadelphia. William 
     ``Brother'' Rogers, Assistant Director for Programs at 
     Stennis, promoted the program at the 2002 annual meeting of 
     the National Associations of Schools of Public Affairs and 
     Administration in Los Angeles. Informational material has 
     been emailed directly to the Chairs of all relevant APSA 
     Sections, all members of the APSA Legislative Studies 
     Section, as well as to many other college and university 
     contacts.
       In addition, NCTA arranged for a short interview about the 
     Program with David Skaggs. That interview has been 
     distributed by Comcast Cable and aired by various Comcast 
     outlets after CNN Headline News at the bottom of the hour.
       In the past, local and campus press and media have often 
     covered Congress to Campus school visits. In addition to 
     continuing that coverage, the Program encourages each host 
     institution to make commercial print and broadcast media 
     interviews a part of each Congress to Campus visit's 
     schedule. The Program also is working with the NCTA to make 
     available for cable broadcast many of the schedule campus 
     events. While this effort is in its early stages, local 
     television has broadcast events from at least two Congress to 
     Campus visits this year.


                     Measuring the Program's Impact

       Over the years, anecdotal information has tended to 
     validate the basic premise of the Congress the Campus 
     Program--that these visits by former Members of Congress 
     positively affects students' views of public service and 
     government officials. To meet funders' requirements to 
     demonstrate efficacy, and to try to confirm this anecdotal 
     information, the Program this year asked host schools to have 
     students complete one-page surveys. The surveys elicit 
     students' views on public service careers and feelings about 
     different categories of public officials and are to be 
     completed by a group of students who attended sessions with 
     the former Members and by a control group of similar students 
     who did not have contact with the former Members.
       While all schools hosting a visit this year did not return 
     the surveys, the data that is available from several schools 
     shows that the underlying goals of the Congress to Campus 
     program are sound. Those students who have contact with 
     former Members during their Congress to Campus visits have a 
     measurably more favorable view of public servants and of 
     public service as a career option than similar students who 
     do not have the opportunity to interact with the visiting 
     former Members. [See Attachment 6--Student Survey Results.] 
     Program staff are still processing survey data, and it has 
     not yet received a rigorous statistical analysis. However, it 
     appears from a preliminary analysis that even the relatively 
     brief time Members have with most of the surveyed students 
     produces a consistent, measurable and positive effect on 
     their attitudes when compared to the views of students at the 
     same schools who did not have a chance to participate.
       The Program also requests the principal contact at each 
     sponsoring school to submit an evaluation of the visit. We 
     receive valuable feedback on various aspects of each visit 
     and try to incorporate sessions learned and helpful 
     suggestions in the on-going effort to improve the Program. 
     The best indication of satisfaction with the Program is the 
     fact that every school visited this year has said it wants to 
     do a Campus Program visit again.
       Likewise, Members complete evaluations of their experience. 
     These, too, are the source of constructive counsel and have 
     been quite positive. It is clear that Members generally want 
     a challenging schedule that puts them back in ``campaign 
     mode.''


                               Conclusion

       The Program has made significant progress toward achieving 
     its new goals. The number of campus visits has been increased 
     1005 this year and is well on its way to a 200 percent 
     increase over that for the 2003-2004 academic year. While 
     Program funding remains a matter requiring attention, 
     important sources of additional funding for the program have 
     emerged during the 2002-2003 academic year. Efforts to raise 
     the public profile of the Program have met with some success, 
     but are still in the early stages. Finally, preliminary 
     objective data collected this year supports the basic premise 
     of the Congress to Campus Program: that campus visits by 
     Members are effective in raising interest in public service 
     careers and in improving attitudes about public officials 
     among the students who participate in Program events.

                   Attachment 1--Program Description

       The Congress to Campus Program was founded by the U.S. 
     Association of Former Members of Congress in 1976 and reaches 
     a wide audience of students, faculty and college communities 
     with its unique story about representative democracy and its 
     special call to public service. Over the years, the 
     Association has entered into strategic alliances with the 
     Stennis Center for Pubic Service (1996) and the Center for 
     Democracy and Citizenship (2002) to strengthen and expand the 
     Program.
       Democratic government in the United States depends on an 
     educated citizenry and on a stock of well-informed leaders 
     who are willing and able to fill the many elected and 
     appointed positions at all levels of government. Much has 
     been said and written lately concerning the unhappy state of 
     civic literacy among America's young people. With the drop in 
     participation in politics and voting even among the college-
     educated portion of the young adults, not only is the breadth 
     and depth of the electorate in decline, but the source of 
     informed leaders for the future is in some jeopardy.
       The Congress to Campus Program is designed to address 
     several aspects of the civic learning and engagement deficit 
     among the country's college-age young people, combining 
     traditional educational content with a strong message about 
     public service. The Program sends bipartisan pairs of former 
     Members of Congress--one Democrat and one Republican--to 
     visit college, university and community college campuses 
     around the country. Over the course of two-and-a-half days, 
     the Members conduct classes, hold community forums, meet 
     informally with students and faculty, visit high schools and 
     civic organizations, and do interviews and talk show 
     appearances with local press and media.
       The Program provides a distinctive and powerful means to 
     educate the next generation about American government, 
     politics and public affairs. The sponsoring school is 
     expected to develop a schedule of events for each visit (with 
     guidance from Program staff), cover on-site costs, and 
     contribute to general program costs (adjusted to reflect the 
     school's financial resources). The Members provide solid 
     content, discussing how Congress and the government really 
     work and relating their experience as candidates and 
     politicians, all combined with an appeal to public service 
     and an important message about bipartisan cooperation.
       Typically, the visiting Members will share their real life 
     experiences of both achievement and occasional frustration--
     bringing to life for their young audiences the theory and the 
     practice of democracy and explaining the sometimes arcane 
     ways of Congress and Washington. They present a living, 
     bipartisan demonstration of what ought to typify our 
     representative system: decent people with different points of 
     view, who are able to discuss constructive ways to work 
     through their differences to solve public problems. They give 
     students and faculty an authentic and candid ``insiders'' 
     look at the workings of American government and politics. 
     This is a story of government and politics--positive but not 
     unblemished--told in the compelling voice of those who have 
     lived out the democracy's promise and met its challenges in 
     the tough world of national politics.
       In addition to these educational objectives, the former 
     Members use the campus visits to inspire and encourage 
     students to consider public service and government careers. 
     With the imminent retirement of a large portion of the civil 
     service at the federal level and in many of the states, the 
     recruitment of talented young people is critical. For each 
     campus visit, the former Members receive packets with 
     briefing materials on current issues of particular interest 
     to students, suggestions about how most effectively to 
     promote public service careers, and public service career 
     information for distribution to interested students.
       We are seeking to expand the number of schools hosting 
     Program visits, with quality control to insure that Members 
     and the host schools enjoy a substantive, worthwhile 
     experience. In each instance, the Center will work with the 
     host school to provide advice about the kinds of activities 
     to schedule, to coordinate arrangements, and to review the 
     schedule and program content. We systematically review the 
     experience from each visit to distill lessons learned that 
     can improve the planning and execution of subsequent visits.
       Past campus visits have always received good reviews. We 
     would also like to develop quantitative data to determine the 
     impact of the Program. In order to do so, the Program expects 
     the sponsoring faculty at each host school to administer a 
     simple questionnaire. By surveying a sample of students who 
     participate in the Program's campus activities and a sample 
     of comparable students who do not, we hope to get a better 
     idea of the program's effectiveness.

[[Page H4137]]

       The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress is a 
     nonprofit organization chartered by the Congress of the 
     United States. It ``seeks to promote the improved public 
     understanding of the Congress as an institution and 
     representative democracy as a system of government.'' The 
     Stennis Center for Public Service is an organization 
     established by law as an entity of the Congress and has been 
     the Association's partner in managing the Program since 1996. 
     The Association recently engaged the Center for Democracy & 
     Citizenship to manage the Program in partnership with 
     Stennis; it is part of the Council for Excellence in 
     Government, a qualified 501(c)(3) organization.
       For additional information contact former Congressman David 
     Skaggs, Executive Director, Center for Democracy & 
     Citizenship, 1301 K Street NW Suite 450 West, Washington DC 
     20005; 202-728-0418, [email protected], or Brother Rogers, 
     Assistant Director for Programs, Stennis Center for Public 
     Service, Box 9629, Mississippi MS 39762; 662-325-8409; 
     [email protected].

 Attachment 2--Roster of '02-'03 Academic Year Visits and Participants

       Northern Arizona University: October 8-10, 2002, Democrat: 
     Karen English (AZ), Republican: Jack Buechner (MO).
       UNC-Asheville/Ashville-Buncombe Community College: October 
     16-18, 2002, Republican: Bob Daniel (VA), Democrat: Earl 
     Hutto (FL).
       Central Michigan University: October 29-31, 2002, Democrat: 
     Sam Coppersmith (AZ), Republican: Ed Derwinski (IL).
       Sandhills Community College: November 12-14, 2002, 
     Republican: Bill Barrett (NE), Democrat: Norm D'Amours (NH).
       University of Northern Florida: February 10-12, Democrat: 
     Ken Hechler (WV), Republican: Barber Conable (NY).
       University of Georgia: February 17-19 (postponed due to 
     snow), Republican: Orval Hanson (ID), Democrat: Bob Carr 
     (MI).
       U.S. Naval Academy: February 25-26, Democrat: Ron Mazzoli 
     (KY), Republican: Stan Parris (VA).
       Emory University: March 18-20, Republican: Steve Kuykendall 
     (CA), Democrat: Andy Jacobs (IN).
       Ball State University: March 27-29, Democrat: Harold 
     Volkmer (MO), Republican: Bill Zeliff (NH).
       Abilene Christian University: March 31-April 2, Republican: 
     George Wortley (NY), Democrat: David Minge (MN).
       Mississippi State University: March 31-April 2, Democrat: 
     David Skaggs (CO), Republican: Dan Miller (FL).
       U.S. Coast Guard Academy: March 31-April 2, Republican: Lou 
     Frey (FL), Democrat: Jerry Patterson (CA).
       Wellesley College: April 8-10, Democrat: Liz Patterson 
     (SC), Republican: Jan Meyers (KS).
       University of Utah: April 14-16, Republican: Barry 
     Goldwater, Jr. (AZ), Democrat: Jim Lloyd (CA).
       Albany (Ga.) State University: April 15-17, Democrat: 
     Barbara-Rose Collins (MI), Republican: Mike Parker (MS).
       University of Nebraska-Omaha: April 16-18, Republican: Greg 
     Laughlin (TX), Democrat: Jim Bilbray (NV).
       University of Colorado-Boulder: April 21-23, Democrat: Bev 
     Byron (MD), Republican: Barbara Vucanovich (NV).
       Truman Scholars: Jewell College: May 19-21, 2003, 
     Republican: Denny Smith (OR), Democrat: Martha Keys (KS).

   Attachment 3--Preliminary Roster for '03-'04 Academic Year Visits

       Wesleyan University: Fall, 2003.
       Portland State University: Fall, 2003.
       Bowling Green State University: September, 2003.
       University of Georgia: October, 2003.
       Dartmouth College: October, 2003.
       McDaniel College: October, 2003.
       SUNY Albany: October 28-30, 2003.
       Eastern Michigan University: November, 2003.
       Denison University: Late February or Early April, 2004.
       University of South Florida: February, 2004.
       Syracuse University: Spring, 2004.
       U.S. Naval Academy: Spring, 2004.
       University of West Virginia: Spring, 2004.
       University of Akron: TBD.
       University of Maine: TBD.
       Purdue University: TBD.
       Baker College: TBD.
       Allegheny College: TBD.
       The following institutions have expressed serious interest 
     in a visit and are at various stages of consideration: Baylor 
     University, Florida A&M, Goucher College, North Carolina 
     State University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma State 
     University, Princeton University, Samford University, 
     Savannah State University, University of Rhode Island, 
     University of Scranton, University of Southern California, 
     the USDA Graduate School, Washington University, Washington 
     State University, and Western Kentucky University.

   Attachment 4--Congress to Campus Program Funding and Contributions

The Pew Charitable Trusts.......................................$50,000
The Carnegie Corporation of NY...................................25,000
National Cable & Telecommunications Association (Cable in the 
  Classroom).....................................................20,000
Stennis Center for Public Service............................\1\ 10,000
Contributions from Host Schools (Abilene Christian University, Emory 
  University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, U.S. Coast Guard 
  Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and Wellesley College)..............7000
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total Program Contributions.................................112,000
\1\ In addition to significant amounts of the staff time of William 
``Brother'' Rogers.
    

[[Page H4138]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T15MY03.001



[[Page H4139]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T15MY03.002



[[Page H4140]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T15MY03.003



[[Page H4141]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T15MY03.004



[[Page H4142]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T15MY03.005



[[Page H4143]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T15MY03.006



[[Page H4144]]

  Mr. SKAGGS. I yield back to the gentleman from Idaho.
  Mr. LaROCCO. I want to thank the gentlemen from Colorado and 
California for their reports. This is truly our flagship program at the 
association, and David Skaggs has really taken us to new levels, and I 
think we all owe him a debt of gratitude for what he has done.
  I also want to thank today Brother Rogers and Rex Buffington from the 
Stennis Center for their leadership as well. They could not be with us 
today in the Chamber, but I think it is important to recognize the 
contributions they made and the partnership they have formed with David 
Skaggs and the center.

                              {time}  0930

  One outgrowth of the Congress to Campus program was an interest in 
producing a book that would take an inside look at Congress from 
different viewpoints. There are many fine books written by individual 
Members of Congress; but to our knowledge, there was no compendium that 
goes behind the scenes in a very personal way.
  So a past president of our association, Lou Frey, took it upon 
himself to team up with the head of the political science department at 
Colgate University, Michael Hayes. He is a professor there, and Lou 
Frey and Michael Hayes co-edited the book ``Inside the House: Former 
Members Reveal How Congress Really Works,'' which was published in 
March 2001. The book has been very well received and currently is in 
its third printing, and we will tell you a little bit more about the 
book later.
  On December 10, 2002, the association once again sponsored a Life 
After Congress seminar, a program we traditionally have organized for 
the benefit of Members who are leaving Congress. During the seminar, 
former Members Jack Buechner, Marc Lincoln Marks, Bob Carr, Jim Coyne, 
Martin Lancaster, Ed Pease, and David Skaggs shared their experiences 
about the adjustments they have had to make since they left Congress 
and how they managed to seek and pursue careers in a variety of fields.
  Congressional spouse June Hansen also described how members of 
families cope with leaving Congress and beginning a new life. In 
addition, congressional support staff outlined the services available 
for former Members of Congress. As in the past, the seminar was 
followed by a reception sponsored by the association's auxiliary to 
afford more time for informal exchanges.
  Mr. Speaker, beyond the events we organize here in the United States, 
the association is very active in sponsoring programs that are 
international in scope. A new member of our association asked me about 
these just before we gathered here on the floor. So I am happy to 
report on those activities.
  Over the years, we have gained considerable experience in fostering 
interaction between the leaders of other nations and the United States. 
We have arranged more than 450 special events here at the U.S. Capitol 
for international delegations from 85 countries and the European 
Parliament, programmed short-term visits for individual members of 
parliaments and long-term visits for parliamentary staff. We have 
hosted 49 foreign policy seminars in nine countries involving more than 
1,500 former and current parliamentarians and conducted 20 study tours 
abroad for former Members of Congress.
  The association serves as the secretariat for the Congressional Study 
Group on Germany, the largest and most active exchange program between 
the U.S. Congress and the parliament of another country. Founded 
officially in 1987 in the House and 1988 in the Senate, it is a 
bipartisan group involving more than 170 Representatives and Senators. 
They are afforded the opportunity to meet with their counterparts in 
the German Bundestag to enhance understanding and greater cooperation.
  Ongoing study group activities include conducting a Distinguished 
Visitors program at the U.S. Capitol for guests from Germany; 
sponsoring annual seminars involving Members of Congress and the 
Bundestag; providing information about participants in the Congress-
Bundestag Youth Exchange program to appropriate Members of Congress; 
and arranging for members of the Bundestag to visit congressional 
districts with Members of Congress. New activities are being explored 
all the time to enhance these opportunities.
  The Congressional Study Group on Germany is funded primarily by the 
German Marshall Fund of the United States. Additional funding to assist 
with administrative expenses also has been received from nine 
corporations whose representatives now serve on the Business Advisory 
Council to the study group, and this study group is chaired by former 
Member Tom Coleman from Missouri, who served as the chairman of the 
study group for the House in 1989.
  I would now like to yield to the gentleman from Michigan, Dennis 
Hertel, to report on the activities of the Congressional Study Group on 
Germany and the 20th annual Congress-Bundestag seminar held in Berlin 
and Heidelberg from April 11 to 17.
  Mr. HERTEL. Mr. President, it gives me great pleasure to report on 
the activities of the Congressional Study Group on Germany. The study 
group has established itself as the most productive means of 
communication between the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag. It 
was founded informally 20 years ago and officially 16 years ago to give 
Members of Congress the opportunity to have in-depth and focused 
discussions with their German counterparts.
  This congressional session, over 170 Members of Congress belong to 
the Congressional Study Group on Germany, 37 Senators and 134 Members 
of the House. The study group facilitates this vital dialogue with one 
of our most important trade partners and strategic allies in many ways.

  The most visible activity of the group is its Distinguished Visitors 
program, which brings high-ranking German elected officials to Capitol 
Hill to meet with members of the group, such as Minister Joschka 
Fischer, Germany's Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice 
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany; or member of the 
Bundestag, Angela Merkel, the opposition leader in the Bundestag and 
potentially the first female candidate for the office of Federal 
Chancellor.
  Another high-profile event hosted and organized by the Congressional 
Study Group on Germany is its annual seminar. Every year, the study 
group brings Members of Congress together with German legislators for 
several days of focused discussion on a predetermined agenda. The 
parliamentarians usually are joined by several former Members, 
officials of the two Federal Governments, think tank and foundation 
representatives and members of the German-American corporate community.
  This year's meeting marked the 20th anniversary of this important 
conference. The seminar was held in Berlin and Heidelberg from April 11 
to 17. A delegation of seven Members of Congress had the opportunity to 
meet during this week with over 20 members of the Bundestag. In 
addition, we had a working breakfast with Vice Chancellor Fischer and 
an hour-long meeting with Dr. Muetzelburg, who advises Chancellor 
Schroeder on foreign policy issues.
  Once we were in Heidelberg, the Members of Congress not only were 
able to participate in a briefing on NATO readiness at the U.S. Army 
European headquarters in Heidelberg, but also could visit with some of 
our troops who were receiving medical treatment in Germany after seeing 
combat in Iraq.
  During our meetings with German Federal officials and members of the 
Bundestag, we, of course, focused the discussion on repairing the U.S.-
German relationship. We also exchanged views on the role of the U.N. 
and NATO cooperation in the war on terrorism and transatlantic trade 
and investment questions.
  The congressional delegation assembled by the study group was the 
first official delegation from the House of Representatives to visit 
Germany since the German election in September of last year and the war 
on Iraq. We, therefore, received an enormous amount of media attention, 
and I do believe that we contributed substantially toward an initial 
attempt at reconciliation since our discussions were so frank and 
honest, both in public and in private.
  A report about the activities of the Congressional Study Group on 
Germany would be incomplete without

[[Page H4145]]

thanking its financial supporters. First and foremost, we need to thank 
Craig Kennedy and the German Marshall Fund of the United States, since 
without him and his foundation the study group could not function at 
its present level of activity.
  Also, as Larry LaRocco was just mentioning, we want to thank our 
former Member, Tom Coleman of Missouri, who chairs the Business 
Advisory Council to the study group. His tireless efforts have raised 
much-needed funds to support the administrative side of the study 
group. He has put together a group of companies that deserve our 
gratitude for giving their aid and support to the organization. They 
are Allianz, BASF, DaimlerChrysler, Deutsche Telekom, EDS, Lockheed 
Martin, RWE, SAP, and Volkswagen.
  The Congressional Study Group on Germany is an excellent example of 
how the Former Members Association can provide a service to current 
Members that is unequaled in Washington and is of the utmost importance 
to the foreign relations of this country. I think the former Members 
can be very proud of the work they do to make this group so possible, 
and I look forward to being an active participant in the activities of 
the study group on Germany for many years to come.
  Let me say, considering what has happened regarding our relationship 
with Germany and since we were meeting with them just as the war in 
Iraq was coming to completion, that in the 20 years that I participated 
as a Member of Congress and now as a former Member, there has never 
been such an important meeting that we have had with the Bundestag, and 
their activity and turnout of over 20 members staying with us during 
the entire week showed their great concern. So I think we did offer a 
valuable service.
  I would also like to say that Peter Weinchlein, staff director of the 
Congressional Study Group on Germany, has made this organization into a 
leading force in international relations.
  Mr. LaROCCO. I thank the gentleman from Michigan, and I appreciate 
his closing remarks because this was an unbelievable time to get 
together and to discuss the transatlantic relationship, and it is just 
in times like this when tensions are highest that people need a good 
dialogue and the Congressional Study Group on Germany provided that 
opportunity, and it just points to the work that we do here at the 
association and how valuable it can be.

  I want to mention that the association also serves as the secretariat 
for the Congressional Study Group on Japan. Founded in 1993 in 
cooperation with the East-West Center in Hawaii, it is a bipartisan 
group of 80 Members of the House and Senate with an additional 40 
Members having asked to be kept informed of the study group's 
activities.
  In addition to providing substantive opportunities for Members of 
Congress to meet with their counterparts in the Japanese Diet, the 
study group arranges briefings when Congress is in session for Members 
to hear from American and Japanese experts about various aspects of the 
U.S.-Japan relationship.
  The Congressional Study Group on Japan is funded primarily by the 
Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission.
  In August 1999, the U.S.-China Interparliamentary Exchange Group, 
whose members were appointed by the Speaker, was initiated. The first 
meeting of the group was held in October 1999 when the association, 
with funding from the U.S. Information Agency, hosted a delegation of 
nine members of the National People's Congress of China in Washington. 
The visit included in-depth discussions between members of the two 
Congresses as well as meetings by members of the Chinese delegation 
with high-level executive branch representatives, academics, and 
business representatives.
  A trip to China was arranged by the association for current and 
former Members of Congress in January of 2002 with funding from the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State. 
The trip had been postponed twice because of the EP-3 incident and the 
September 11 terrorist attacks. When it did occur, because it was the 
first visit to China by a congressional delegation since September 11, 
the delegation was treated with extraordinary hospitality by the 
Chinese who continuously emphasized the importance of a sound bilateral 
relationship between China and the United States.
  It included an unprecedented hour and one half meeting with President 
Jiang Zemin, as well as a number of other meetings with Chinese 
Government and business leaders in Beijing and Shanghai. This exchange 
program has continued with the association arranging, again with the 
funding from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the 
Department of State, a visit to Washington in June 2002 by members of 
the National People's Congress and a visit to Hong Kong, Beijing and 
Nanjing by Members of the United States Congress.
  I would now like to yield to the gentleman from Kansas, Jim Slattery, 
to tell you about those visits and the activities of the Congressional 
Study Group on China for which the association serves as the 
secretariat.
  Mr. SLATTERY. Thank you, Mr. President. From Tuesday, June 4, to 
Sunday, June 9, 2002, a delegation of six members of the National 
People's Congress of China, as well as senior Chinese parliamentary 
staff, visited Washington, DC, for meetings with representatives of the 
legislative and executive branches.
  The chairman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee led the delegation, 
which participated in four sessions of dialogue with Members of the 
House. In addition, they met with the Speaker of the House, the 
Parliamentarian of the House, the chairman of the House Committee on 
International Relations, the Congressional Research Service, and 
representatives of the National Security Council, the Department of 
Commerce and the Department of State.
  The delegation also participated in several events highlighting U.S. 
business interests in China. These discussions encompassed a wide range 
of subject matter, including China's ascension to the WTO, Taiwan, and 
the marked improvement of U.S.-China relations in the past 2 years.
  The overall tone of the dialogue was positive and cooperative. During 
the NPC delegation's visit to Washington in 1999, a conversation would 
often turn to issues of contention, like the tragic accidental bombing 
of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade or China's human rights record. 
During the delegation's 2002 visit, Members from both sides focused on 
issues of cooperation such as the effective collaboration in the war 
against terrorism, the swift and joint resolution of the EP-3 incident, 
China's purchase of 30 Boeing aircraft after the 9/11 terrorist 
attacks, and the highly productive visit by Members of the U.S. 
Congress to China in January 2002.
  Even when the conversations became contentious, both sides agreed 
that dialogue is an important element of identifying points of 
disagreement and eliminating obstacles to establishing trust, greater 
understanding and friendly relations.
  The commitment to improve communication and understanding continued 
when a delegation of 13 Members of Congress, the largest congressional 
delegation yet to visit China, visited Hong Kong, Beijing, and Nanjing 
from Friday, January 10, to Monday, January 20, 2003. This was the 
first trip to China for 11 members of the delegation, and I believe all 
members would agree it was very productive.
  The visit to Hong Kong, including a day trip to the Shenzhen Special 
Economic Zone, focused on trade and economics, with local Hong Kong 
issues being discussed in meetings with legislative council members and 
Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa.
  In Beijing, the extraordinary hospitality of the Chinese once again 
was experienced.

                              {time}  0945

  In meetings with Members of the National People's Congress, President 
Jiang Zemin and Vice Premier, now Premier, Wen Jiabao, the atmosphere 
was one of cordiality and a desire to communicate, which resulted, in 
part, from the fact that many of the Chinese participants had attended 
previous exchange group sessions and felt as though they were meeting 
with old friends. Both sides agreed on the importance of the U.S.-China 
relationship, applauded the improvement in bilateral relations and the 
cooperation in areas such as antiterrorism, human

[[Page H4146]]

rights, trade, security, nonproliferation, and other international and 
regional issues, including Korea.
  In Nanjing, the delegation had very informative meetings with local 
government officials, but the highlight of the visit was the Saturday 
spent with students from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center in informal visits 
around the beautiful city, which is a major center for education and 
research, and in a 2\1/2\-hour town meeting with approximately 100 
students.
  These official visits will be continued by the congressional leaders 
of the U.S.-China Inter-Parliamentary Exchange Group, but the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo), chairman, and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos), ranking minority member, know they should not 
be the sole source of information regarding U.S.-China relations. 
Therefore, the Association received funding from the Boeing Company to 
initiate the Congressional Study Group on China in July 2001 to augment 
the official congressional exchange program by offering opportunities 
for ongoing communication about vital aspects of this relationship.
  Currently the study group is composed of 55 Members of the House, 
although it may be expanded to include Senators. Modeled after the 
Association's highly successful Congressional Study Groups on Germany 
and Japan, this study group holds meetings while Congress is in session 
so that its Members may meet with U.S. and Chinese experts to be 
briefed about and discuss key issues of concern to both countries. It 
is evident that both the official exchange program and the unofficial 
study group have facilitated greatly the communication and 
understanding among legislators in China and the United States. The 
Association is very pleased to play a vital role in this activity so 
that this important relationship will continue to progress smoothly.
  Let me just conclude by making an observation that on this trip it 
became more evident to me than ever before of the value of Members of 
the United States Congress and Members of the National People's 
Congress to have personal relationships, to know each other, and 
hopefully be able to someday pick up the phone and call each other on a 
regular basis, to exchange information, to develop personal friendships 
and relationships that, in times of stress and in times of potential 
conflict, can be called upon to hopefully resolve those conflicts in a 
peaceful way.
  So I think that this Association does have a vital and important role 
to play in the future in encouraging this kind of dialogue. It is a 
pleasure to participate in this program.
  Mr. BUECHNER (presiding). The Chair would request the gentleman from 
Idaho yield for the purpose of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), 
the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the opportunity to 
address this meeting of the former Members.
  Mr. DeLAY. I just wanted to take a moment to welcome you back to the 
floor of this House. It is great to see former Members. I would 
encourage you to work hard over the next year to increase your numbers. 
I think it is really important to do that.
  I have been sitting back here listening to Jim Slattery's 
presentation. We greatly appreciate the work that the Association has 
done in the past and thank Larry LaRocco for his work over the past 
year. It is good to see so many old friends; the leader, it is great to 
see him again.
  I specifically am very proud that this Association has acknowledged 
my dear friend and neighbor and mentor Chairman Bill Archer as the 
recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Bill Archer has been an 
idol of mine for a very, very long time, even before I got into 
politics. And when you look at his resume, it seems that his entire 
life has been one long act of distinguished service. For this 
Association to honor him is very special to me personally, and he 
certainly deserves it.
  During days like this, America needs strong leaders in Washington, 
but equally strong leaders everywhere else, and I really encourage this 
Association to expand. Sometimes former Members just want to be asked 
to participate. I would encourage you to do that. Ask them, bring them 
into this organization and make it even more of an activist 
organization, because so many challenges remain to be met in this 
Congress.
  Congress is lucky to have all of you doing the work that you are 
doing through the Association and in your everyday lives. I look across 
this Chamber and see many of you are still active in what is going on 
here, and we greatly appreciate that activity.

  So finally, I welcome you here, it is great to have you back, and I 
am looking forward to working with you in the future.
  Mr. BUECHNER. The Chair thanks the gentleman from Texas.
  For the benefit of the visitors in the gallery, just so you know what 
you are watching, although I resemble the Speaker of the House, he does 
not have body doubles. This is the annual meeting of the former Members 
of Congress. There are over 100 former Members visiting in Washington, 
D.C., for our annual meeting, and the proceedings are a way that the 
House has of honoring the service given by the men and women who are 
here today.
  The Chair yields back the time to the gentleman from Idaho.
  Mr. LaROCCO. Mr. Speaker, I want to add my thanks to the 
distinguished majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), 
for addressing our group today and for taking time out of his day to 
come and deliver a very strong message. I could not agree more with 
him; if we can expand our numbers, we can expand our programs and 
continue with our good service. So I thank the majority leader for 
addressing us today.
  Returning to the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. Congress and the 
Congress of Mexico have been conducting annual seminars for 42 years 
under the auspices of the U.S.-Mexico Inter-Parliamentary Group; 
however, there had been little interaction between legislators from 
these two countries during the rest of the year. The Association 
initiated a Congressional Study Group on Mexico, with funding from the 
Tinker Foundation, in July 2002, so that Members of Congress can meet 
on a regular basis with visiting Mexican dignitaries and other experts 
about various aspects of the important U.S.-Mexico relationship.
  Another very exciting aspect of this study group's activities is a 
congressional staff exchange program, which was initiated last month 
when a delegation of senior congressional staff were hosted in Herida, 
Yucatan, Mexico, by the Government of the Yucatan.
  I would now like to yield to the gentleman from Nebraska, Peter 
Hoagland, who participated in the trip, to share his experiences with 
you.
  Mr. HOAGLAND. Well, good morning, everyone. It certainly is a 
pleasure, is it not, to be back here with so many friends and to 
participate if only in the glimmer of these activities of the United 
States House of Representatives?
  I was privileged to be the chaperone on this trip to Mexico that was 
taken by senior staff members here in Washington. As Mr. LaRocco 
indicated, the trip, I think, carved new ground in two respects. First 
of all, it was the original initiating staffers-only trip; and, second, 
it shows a renewed interest in Mexico and our relationship with Mexico.
  As Larry indicated, we have had events involving Mexico for years, 
but thanks to the efforts of our Vice President, Jack Buechner, who has 
taken a special interest, I think, in Mexico, we will see the 
organization spending more time than previously.
  Our trip was on Friday April 11 through April 14. There were seven 
senior congressional staffers and some others that came along, too, 
including Linda, our executive director, who always makes an excellent 
contribution.
  It was a very crowded trip. We had a number of seminars involving 
Mexican politics, economics, trade, and those discussions led by 
Mexican professors were really very informative and very helpful. We 
also had a little bit of time to tour archeological sites, and we 
stayed in some of the magnificent haciendas that do have overnight 
guests. We saw the natives from the area, the Mayans, conduct a sort of 
dance program of their own. About 470 adult and child Mayans 
participated in that.
  So all in all it was really a delightful trip. The Mexicans are very 
interested in increasing our ties with them, as

[[Page H4147]]

evidenced by the fact that the Governor of the State of Yucatan spent a 
2\1/2\-hour dinner with us. The Yucatan has about 2.3 million people, 
quite a bit more than Nebraska, to give you an idea how big it is, yet 
the Governor spent all that time with us, as did the mayor of Merida, 
the capital of the Province of Yucatan. She spent about 2 hours with us 
one morning. So, clearly, they are interested in deepening our 
relationship with them, and I think, likewise, we feel the same way.
  Mr. LaROCCO. I thank the gentleman from Nebraska for that report.
  The Association also has worked in other parts of the world to share 
the operations of a democratic system of government. In the aftermath 
of political changes in Europe, the Association conducted a series of 
programs from 1989 through 2002 to assist the emerging democracies of 
Central and Eastern Europe. These programs included sending bipartisan 
teams of former Members of Congress accompanied by either a 
congressional or country expert to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, 
Hungary, and Poland for up to 2 weeks and bringing delegations of 
members of Parliament from these countries to the United States for 2-
week visits, and sending technical advisers to the Hungarian, Slovak, 
Ukrainian, and Macedonian Parliaments for long-term stays and former 
Members of Congress for short-term stays, during which they assisted 
the parliamentary members and staffs in a number of ways, including 
initiating student internships. These various programs were funded by 
the U.S. Information Agency, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the U.S. Agency 
for International Development, the Rule of Law Program, the Eurasia 
Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute for International 
Affairs.

  The Association also has assisted with U.S.-Cuban relations. From 
1996 through 2000, we sent delegations of former and current Members of 
Congress to Cuba on study missions to assess the situation there and 
analyze the effectiveness of U.S. policies towards Cuba. Upon their 
return, the delegations wrote reports of their findings, which were 
widely disseminated through the media and made available to Members of 
Congress as well as to personnel in the executive branch. The program 
with Cuba was funded by the Ford Foundation.
  The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress is uniquely 
qualified to provide the resources for the education of the legislators 
and emerging democracies. Former Members have experience in State 
legislatures and the Congress, as we all know. We cannot expect other 
countries to adopt our ways, but we can help them identify the basic 
elements of a free representative government sensitive to the 
traditions of their country.
  Walter Raymond, Jr., a senior U.S. Government official who had worked 
for many years promoting democracy in countries around the world, 
recognized the Association's qualifications to assist in these efforts. 
When Walt retired from government service, he became a senior adviser 
to the Association and greatly facilitated the successful 
implementation of the programs in Central and Eastern Europe and in 
Cuba. I am sad to advise you that Walt died last month. I wanted to 
mention particularly his contributions to these important efforts and 
express our deep condolences to his family.
  The Association organizes study tours for its members and their 
spouses, who at their own expense have participated in educational and 
cultural experiences in Australia, Japan, Canada, China, New Zealand, 
the former Soviet Union, Vietnam, Western and Eastern Europe, Turkey, 
the Middle East, and South America. From Saturday, October 26, to 
Saturday, November 2, 2002, 43 Members of Congress, spouses, auxiliary 
members, friends and staff participated in a study tour to England. Our 
time in London included a visit to and briefing at the Foreign and 
Commonwealth Office, private tours of the House of Parliament led by 
current Members of the House of Commons, a reception with the Speaker 
of the House of Commons, meetings with Members of the House of Commons 
and the House of Lords, and with the Conservative Shadow Foreign 
Secretary.

                              {time}  1000

  It also included presentations by some of the delegation members in a 
committee room of the House of Commons and at a gathering of the 
European-Atlantic Group about ``Solutions to Global Ills''; a briefing 
and reception at the U.S. Embassy to the Court of St. James; and, of 
course, time to sightsee in historic London. I can assure you that when 
we stood in front of the Brits and tried to address the solutions to 
global ills subject, it was quite a challenge to deal with all of the 
issues at that time.
  We also traveled to Oxford to participate in a seminar at the 
Rothermere American Institute at Oxford University with students and 
faculty in which some of the delegation members discussed their 
thoughts about the then-forthcoming November 2002 U.S. elections. An 
important reason for this visit was to have an opportunity to assist 
former members of the British Parliament in initiating a former members 
association similar to our own. We believe the Speaker of the House of 
Commons is favorable to this effort, and we will continue to work with 
our British colleagues to provide them with any support we can.
  This year we are planning to conduct a study tour to Mexico from 
Saturday, October 25, to Sunday, November 2, which includes visits to 
Mexico City, Oaxaca and its environs. I hope many of you will be able 
to participate in that trip, as everyone who travels on our study tours 
finds them to be extremely educational, enjoyable and worthwhile.
  Mr. Speaker, as you can see, the association conducts a wide variety 
of programs and is continuing to expand them. All of this requires 
financial support. At present our funding comes from three primary 
sources: program grants, membership dues, and an annual fund-raising 
dinner and auction. On March 4 of this year, we held our sixth annual 
statesmanship award dinner at which our friend and colleague, Secretary 
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, was honored. We presented Secretary 
Rumsfeld with the statesmanship award in recognition of his service as 
a Member of Congress, the current and a past, I might add, Secretary of 
Defense, and for his many other outstanding achievements.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida, Lou Frey, who 
provided the leadership that helped make our first six dinners so 
successful. I have asked Lou to chair the seventh dinner as well, and 
he has consented to do that. Unfortunately, Lou could not join us this 
morning so he asked me to give the report on his behalf about this 
year's dinner, our plans for next year, and some additional comments 
about the association's book, ``Inside the House,'' which was mentioned 
earlier.
  Lou wrote:

       On March 4, 2003, the association held its sixth annual 
     statesmanship award dinner at the Willard Hotel. The 
     statesmanship award previously had been given to former 
     Congressman and Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, former 
     Congressman Lee Hamilton, former Congresswoman and Secretary 
     of Labor Lynn Martin, former Congressman and current 
     Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta, and former 
     Congressman and Vice President of the United States, Richard 
     B. Cheney.
       This year's dinner was an overwhelming success with over 
     450 tickets sold. The Secretary made a brief opening 
     statement, which included a story about how former minority 
     leader Bob Michel allowed Don to have a picture taken with 
     him during the primary. The picture was used everywhere, and 
     Don feels it made a significant difference in his campaign. 
     We can all understand why it would. When you have got Bob 
     Michel by your side, good things are going to happen, I 
     think.
       The Secretary then took questions for a good half hour and 
     answered them in his usual direct style. All were happy to be 
     able to visit with Secretary Rumsfeld and his wife, Joyce, 
     during the reception. The live auction was a lot of fun and 
     successful as usual with Congressmen Hayes and LaRocco as the 
     auctioneers. For the sixth year, Congressman Hayes ran the 
     silent auction, which has become the signature event at the 
     dinner.
       This is the only association fund-raising event of the 
     year. The money is used for general purposes of the 
     association and specifically for the Congress to Campus 
     program aimed at helping students better understand the value 
     of public service and the role of Congress. The dinner this 
     year netted over $90,000. There are many people who helped, 
     but special thanks must go to the members of the executive 
     committee, including former Congressmen Larry LaRocco, Jack 
     Buechner, Jim Slattery, Jay Rhodes, John Erlenborn, Matt 
     McHugh, Jim Hayes, Jim Symington and Bob Carr. Also thanks to 
     Barbara Boggs Associates who, for 6 years,

[[Page H4148]]

     has helped us run the dinner, and to our staff headed by 
     Linda Reed. We also owe special thanks to Verizon, who has 
     been the chief sponsor of the dinner for 5 years, and this 
     year to three cosponsors, Holland & Knight, IDT Corporation, 
     and Lockheed Martin. It is a team effort. All the hard 
     work has made this dinner an institution in our Nation's 
     capital.
       Our seventh annual statesmanship award dinner will be held 
     in early March 2004. We will notify you of the exact date and 
     the recipient of the statesmanship award as soon as we have 
     those determined. We hope many of you will be able to 
     participate in this elegant and enjoyable evening.

  Mr. BUECHNER (presiding). Will the gentleman please yield back some 
time so that we can recognize the gentleman from Maryland, the 
Democratic whip, the Honorable Steny Hoyer, for a few remarks?
  Mr. LaROCCO. I would be very pleased to yield to the gentleman from 
Maryland, the Honorable Steny Hoyer.
  Mr. HOYER. Thank you very much.
  Every time I walk by that, I think of John Rousselot. Remember how 
John used to come over to this and preach at us? He came over to this 
rostrum. Those of you who were here with John Rousselot, I tell that 
story only because John Rousselot, I came to the Congress having the 
most negative view of John Rousselot of any Member of the Congress. 
That was where I was coming from. I over time got to think he was one 
of my most delightful colleagues. I say that in starting because 
unfortunately, as I have said in years past, this Congress has become 
more partisan, I think, than when you were here, less collegial than 
when many of you were here, and in many respects less positive than 
when many of you were here. Not all of you, because some of you have 
left pretty recently and know of what I speak.
  I am so proud to be here and refer to my Democratic Speaker, Mr. 
Speaker. It is so good to be here with Tom Foley. What a wonderful 
contribution he made to this institution through the years, and the 
person that I would have voted for for Speaker. We only had about 197, 
I think, at the point, but I pledged to Ray LaHood that if he could get 
21 of his colleagues that I would try to line up 197 of my colleagues 
to vote for Bob Michel for Speaker. Bob, it is good to be here with 
you, Mr. Leader. What a great American you are and what respect 
everybody who served with you has for you. And for all of you who 
served here and made this institution what it is for the American 
people, the people's House, on behalf of Nancy Pelosi, myself and all 
of the folks on our side of the aisle; but I know that I speak, and 
Speaker Hastert was here, Speaker Hastert, I want to tell you, is a 
partisan Republican, a conservative Republican; but he is a collegial 
leader of this House in terms of reaching out to many of us on this 
side of the aisle. We are going to have disagreements, but he is a good 
and decent leader of this House. You would be proud of him serving 
here, I think. Maybe it is just, Mr. Leader, because he comes from 
Illinois. Maybe that is it. But in any event, you would be proud, I 
think, of his leadership of this House.
  America is facing some very substantial challenges. We present 
Members need all the wisdom that we can garner from all of you who have 
served so well, selected by your neighbors and friends to serve in the 
people's House, how proud of us they are, the fact that the only way 
you get here is having your friends and neighbors repose in you trust 
and confidence to come here and to represent them in a way that will 
better their community, their States and their country.
  We are challenged. We are challenged from abroad. We are challenged 
internally by our economy. Together I think we do better. We are 
struggling to get together in this House and in this Congress; but 
having said that, I think that you can be very helpful in that regard. 
I am always pleased to come here and to participate in welcoming you 
back to the Congress of the United States, to your House, the people's 
House. What a privilege and honor it is to have served here and what a 
privilege and honor it is to serve here and what a brotherhood and 
sisterhood we create.
  Marjorie Holt and I served together and represented our State. We 
became very, very good friends and remain good friends to this day. 
Helen Bentley, another low-key, soft, unretiring Republican colleague 
of mine, is an extraordinarily good friend of mine. Senator Beall sits 
back there, another Member of the other side of the aisle. I think, as 
the partisanship fades as former Members, you become good friends. 
Connie Morella is here as well. Dan Miller is there with her. Connie, 
it is good to have you back here. Connie herself, as collegial a Member 
as we have had in this body, who is now thinking herself, yeah, what 
did you do about it? I understand. It is a tough partisan business, but 
she is a wonderful person.
  Thank you for giving me this opportunity to welcome all of you back, 
to thank you for what you have done and what you are doing for our 
country. God bless you. Thank you very much.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. I thank the gentleman from Maryland. Before 
the gentleman from Idaho reclaims his time, the mention of the former 
minority leader, Mr. Robert Michel, brings to the Chair's mind that a 
good friend of this House was Corinne Michel, is Corinne Michel, who is 
unfortunately very ill right now. I would just ask that all the members 
of the association, current members and anybody in the gallery, if they 
have got a little time to cast a prayer, wishing the recovery of 
Corinne Michel and the good spirits of Bob Michel, I would ask you to 
join in that.

  The time is returned to the gentleman from Idaho.
  Mr. LaROCCO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will continue with my report, 
keeping in mind that the words that I am speaking here are really Lou 
Frey's words and he has asked me to present these to you.
  He goes on to say, I have also been asked to report on the 
Association's book written and published in 2002, ``Inside the House: 
Former Members Reveal How Congress Really Works.'' This book has 
chapters written by 34 Members of the House and Senate, a congressional 
spouse, my spouse, Chris LaRocco; two former congressional staff 
members and a former member of the Canadian parliament and was edited 
by Michael Hayes, chairman of the Political Science Department at 
Colgate University and by me. That would be Lou Frey. I am pleased to 
report that the book is being used in a number of schools such as 
Colgate University, the University of Central Florida, the University 
of Kentucky, and the naval postgraduate school in Monterey, California.
  There was a television review of the book on C-SPAN and good coverage 
in RollCall. I have had the privilege of helping teach a course on 
Congress from the book and found that it really helped the students 
understand how the Congress works. Whether you are one of the coauthors 
or not, I hope that you would in your home areas be willing to talk 
about the book to local libraries, civic clubs, high schools, and 
colleges. I have found that libraries and bookstores are extremely 
anxious to come and have you speak. This book is in no way dated. Is a 
case study of the Congress from various viewpoints. We have been asked 
to consider updating the book in several years and expanding its 
coverage. For those of you who have written chapters, this is a chance 
for you to work on your chapter and make changes or additions which 
will strengthen it. For those of you who wanted to participate and did 
not, please contact me; and here is a chance to help with a truly 
worthwhile project.
  And last, for those of you who have not bought the book, please do so 
now as the more books we sell, the more money we receive from the 
publisher for the association.
  Mr. MAZZOLI. Would my friend yield just a moment?
  Mr. LaROCCO. I would be happy to yield to the gentleman from 
Kentucky.
  Mr. MAZZOLI. I am happy that we have heard from our former leader 
``Lou Frey'' with regard to the book. I would like to cite that while I 
am contributor to the book and I have a little bit of bias here, I have 
taken part in three separate book-signing ceremonies and activities in 
Kentucky. There is really a lively interest in the book. I would urge 
anyone who has contributed to the first edition and who might 
contribute to a possible second edition to think about mentioning it, 
and people will pick up on that theme. There are different book fairs 
and festivals which would be interested in that.
  I would urge the Members to be involved and again to help support the

[[Page H4149]]

Congress to Campus. I just would mention very briefly that my friend 
Stan Parris and I went to the Naval Academy in February on a Congress 
to Campus visit and found it very stimulating and wonderful. So again, 
for those Members who have not signed up for these ventures, they are 
very fulfilling and very rewarding.
  Mr. LaROCCO. I thank the gentleman for those comments. He makes good 
points that we can all promote this book. We all know political 
scientists at universities. We can share with them this book and let 
them know about its existence, and they can use it in their classes and 
you can participate as well by speaking so knowledgeably about what is 
contained in there. The book is on sale at the Capitol Historical 
Society's kiosk in the Capitol, or you can find instruc-
tions about how to purchase the book
on the association's Web site:
www.usafmc.org.
 That concludes Lou Frey's report.
  Mr. Speaker, in addition to additional support, the association 
benefits enormously from the efforts and leadership of many people. I 
want to thank the officers of the association, Jack Buechner, Jim 
Slattery, Jay Rhodes and John Erlenborn, the members of our board of 
directors and our counselors for providing the excellent guidance and 
support necessary to oversee these activities. In addition, we are 
assisted by the Auxiliary of the Association, now led by Linda Laughlin 
and soon to be led by Dana Martin. We are particularly grateful for 
their help with the Life after Congress seminars which are held in 
election years and our annual dinners.
  Needless to say, our programs could not be so effectively run without 
the exceptional support provided by our staff: Linda Reed, executive 
director; Peter Weichlein, program director with special responsibility 
for the Congressional Study Group on Germany; Tom McGettrick, executive 
assistant; and our interns from George Washington University, Vincent 
DeRosa, Anna Pope, and Adam Drexler.

                              {time}  1015

  Many thanks to all of you. The Association also maintains close 
associations with counterpart associations of Former Members of 
Parliaments in other countries. I am pleased to recognize and welcome 
Mr. Georg Erhnrooth of the Association of Former Members of the 
Parliament of Finland, Barry Turner and Doug Rowland of the Canadian 
Association of Former Parliamentarians, and a delegation from the 
Association of Former Members of the European Parliament, which 
includes: Lord Henry Plumb, Anthony Simpson, James Moorhouse and Robert 
Moreland from England; Colette Gadioux from France; Ursula Braun-Moser 
from Germany; Marie Jepsen from Denmark; Maartje Van Putten from the 
Netherlands; and Adrian Cunningham, the Association's Administrator, 
who are with us today. I would like to ask all of those people whose 
names mentioned to stand and be recognized. We want to thank you for 
being here in the Chamber with us today and joining us for the 
Association's annual meeting.
  Mr. Speaker, it is now my sad duty to inform the House of those 
persons who have served in Congress and have passed away since our 
report last year. The deceased Members of Congress are: Elizabeth 
Andrews, Alabama; Lucien Blackwell, Pennsylvania; Charles Chamberlain, 
Michigan; Frank Cremeans, Ohio; Jacob Davis, Ohio; John Dellenback, 
Oregon; John Dow, New York; L.H. Fountain, North Carolina; Sedgwick 
William ``Bill'' Green, New York; Stanley Greigg, Iowa; Martha 
Griffiths, Michigan; George Kasem, California; John Kyl, Iowa; Henry 
Latham, New York; Russell Long, Louisiana; Clark MacGregor, Minnesota; 
Edwin Mechem, New Mexico; Patsy Mink, Hawaii; Frank E. ``Ted'' Moss, 
Utah; Daniel Patrick Moynihan, New York; Maurice Murphy, Jr., New 
Hampshire; Wayne Owens, Utah; Donald Pease, Ohio; Roman Pucinski, 
Illinois; John Rousselot, California; Harold Sawyer, Michigan; Robert 
G. Stephens, Jr., Georgia; Joseph P. Vigorito, Pennsylvania; Paul D. 
Wellstone, Minnesota; Charles O. Whitley, North Carolina; and Gus 
Yatron, Pennsylvania.
  I respectfully ask all of you to rise for a moment of silence in 
their memory and for their service to this institution and the Congress 
of the United States. Thank you.
  And now you may not have thought that this report would ever end and 
that somebody would ask me to yield time and get out of the well, but 
we are here for a very special purpose. As you know, each year the 
Association presents a Distinguished Service Award to an outstanding 
public servant. The award normally rotates between the parties, as do 
our officers. Last year we presented the award to an extraordinary 
Democrat, Tom Foley. This year we are pleased to be honoring a 
remarkable Republican, Bill Archer.
  Bill Archer served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 
1971 to 2001, representing the Seventh Congressional District of Texas, 
a seat previously held by President George Bush. From 1995 to 2001, 
Bill served as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. During his 
30 years in Congress, Bill fought for tax cuts and a simpler Tax Code 
that provides investment, savings and the ability of U.S. companies to 
compete in global markets. As chairman of the powerful Committee on 
Ways and Means, he was hailed for his mastery of tax policy.
  Bill is known as a champion of free trade. He was instrumental in 
congressional passage of NAFTA, GATT, and Permanent Normal Trade 
Relations for China. He served as adviser to the GATT Ministerial Trade 
Conference in Geneva for many years, was a member of the 1983 Greenspan 
Commission on Social Security Reform, and remains a leader in efforts 
to ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security System.
  Bill also has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. policy on health 
issues. He is currently a senior policy advisor to 
PricewaterhouseCoopers.
  It gives me a great honor, and on behalf of the Association I am 
delighted to present our Distinguished Service Award to the Honorable 
Bill Archer. Bill, would you come forward.
  The plaque is inscribed as follows: ``Presented by the U.S. 
Association of Former Members of Congress to the Honorable Bill Archer 
for his 40 years of exemplary public service to his beloved State of 
Texas and the Nation. Bill Archer served 15 terms in the U.S. House of 
Representatives, culminating as chairman of the Ways and Means 
Committee, where he was a true leader and effective legislator in the 
areas of health care, Social Security, welfare reform, foreign trade 
and tax policy. Washington, D.C., May 15, 2003.''
  Bill, I am also pleased to present you with a scrapbook of letters 
from your colleagues offering their congratulations, along with mine, 
for this well-deserved symbol of our respect, appreciation and 
affection. We would be pleased to receive some comments from you.
  Mr. ARCHER. Thank you very much. I see that one of the great benefits 
of being a former Member of Congress is that we are no longer limited 
by the 5-minute rule.

  All of us who have been Members of Congress and those who sit today 
as Members of Congress receive honors. I think without exception every 
Member of Congress has received honors from outside organizations and 
associations and groups, but I must tell you that to receive an honor 
from your peers transcends all of those other honors. Those who have 
served with you, those who know you best, who have been kind enough to 
select you for this award is truly a highlight.
  In preparation for this event, I reflected back on so many of the 
moments during my service here in this House. And, yes, in many ways 
there are things that you are glad to be away from, the bells, the 
late-night sessions, the interruptions in your personally scheduled 
life, the ability to be home every night and to have dinner with your 
wife and to control your schedule. Those are great benefits to being 
away from the Congress, but there are also great losses, and the 
ability to know that, as you participate in the work of this Congress, 
you are affecting the lives of 280 million plus Americans and beyond 
that the people of the entire world.
  And I must say that I could not have found a more fulfilling role for 
my life than to be a part of this body. It was a great learning process 
for me because, as those of you who know me well know that I have very 
strong philosophical beliefs, and I doggedly pursued

[[Page H4150]]

those while a Member of the Congress, but I learned that those who 
opposed me, those who disagreed with me could still be my friends, that 
I could have respect for them.
  I look out and I see Ab Mikva, who served on the Committee on Ways 
and Means with me on the Democrat side. We rarely voted together, 
rarely. But we became very, very good personal friends, and I have 
always held him in high respect because he was motivated to do what he 
believed was correct, what he believe was right for the country. And it 
is an incredible miracle that we can come together, whether in this 
Chamber or over in the other body, and, see, I still know I cannot call 
it the Senate, and we can make it work.
  This representative democracy within a Republic, the oldest democracy 
in the world, continues to work because we bring together the diverse 
views, and sometimes we get emotional, and sometimes we cloak our 
position in extreme rhetoric, but for the most part we do respect each 
other, and we do keep the country moving forward. I am sure that 
Washington and Franklin and Jefferson and Madison look down on what 
happens here and say, ``We put down a pretty good foundation. It has 
worked.'' And I know that I always felt that the moments that I could 
be in this Capitol were the most stimulating events of my life because 
we can never forget that right here, right where we are today, is the 
center of freedom for the entire world, and what we do impacts not only 
the 280 plus million Americans, but the entire world. It is an awesome 
responsibility, but one that has been discharged by all of you who are 
former Members and continues to be discharged today by those who come 
together here to make democracy work.
  I thank you so much, and I tried to keep my remarks within the 5-
minute rule.
  Mr. MAZZOLI. Will the gentleman yield just 1 second?
  I believe, Mr. Speaker, that I am the only person in today who is a 
member, as our honoree, of our wonderful and fabled congressional class 
of the 92nd Congress. And as a Member of that class, Bill, I want to 
tell you what grace you have brought to our class, what an honor it is 
to have you in our midst.
  Mr. BUECHNER (presiding). The Chair joins in the accolades of the 
gentleman from Texas and returns the time to the gentleman from Idaho.
  Mr. LaROCCO. Thank you again, Bill, for your friendship and service 
and for being with us today and receiving this award from your peers.
  Mr. Speaker, the members of the Association were honored and proud to 
serve in the U.S. Congress. We are continuing our service, and I hope 
that is demonstrated by our report today here on the floor of House of 
Representatives. Again, thank you for letting us return to the Chamber. 
I want to thank the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, for giving us 
this time to make our report.
  This concludes our 33rd Annual Report by the United States 
Association of Former Members of Congress, and I hope you will join us 
today and tomorrow for our continuing activities here in the Nation's 
Capitol. Thank you very much. I am proud to be your President and proud 
to be part of this Association, and I thank you all for your 
participation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair thanks the gentleman from Idaho 
for his service both today and the past year to the Former Members 
Association.
  The Chair again wishes to thank the Former Members of the House for 
their presence here today.
  Before terminating these proceedings, the Chair would like to invite 
those former Members who did not respond when the roll was called to 
give their names to the reading clerks for inclusion on the roll.
  The Chair wishes to thank the other former Members of the House for 
their presence here today, and, again, good luck to you all. We wish to 
have you join in the other proceedings today and tonight.
  The Chair announces that the House will reconvene at 11 a.m.
  Accordingly, (at 10 o'clock and 30 minutes a.m.), the House continued 
in recess.

                          ____________________