[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H4083-H4093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PRINTING OF PROCEEDINGS OF FORMER MEMBERS PROGRAM
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the proceedings
during the former Members program be printed in the Congressional
Record and that all Members and former Members who spoke during the
proceedings have the privilege of revising and extending their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
The following proceedings were held before the House convened for
morning-hour debate:
United States Association of Former Members of Congress 2011 Annual
Report to Congress
The meeting was called to order by the Hon. Connie Morella, Vice
President of Former Members of Congress Association, at 8:16 a.m.
prayer
The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, offered the following
prayer:
Lord God of history and our salvation, when former Members return to
Congress it must be similar to any American opening the Bible or their
holy book at random. By doing so, people of the Book read between the
lines, see the story of America, and rejoice.
Congress, too, holds old and familiar stories, strong exhortations,
repeated corrections, and consoling confirmation of hopes that speak
anew of love, patriotism, and light. Looking at Congress once again,
these former Members, still Your stewards, hear the praise of the
Psalms, the lament of Job, and are strengthened by the sentiments of
Gideon as well as Paul, the commands of Moses, and the prayers of
Jesus.
As the Good Book binds people into community, You tie together the
years of Congress and make them a prophetic voice that reverences the
past, speaks to the present, and holds promise for the future.
May all former Members be rewarded for their contributions to this
Constitutional Republic and continue to work and pray that the goodness
and justice of this beloved country be proclaimed to all the nations.
[[Page H4084]]
Quicken life, promise and fortitude in all here gathered that we may
bring joy to the present age and long for eternal happiness, calling
upon Your Holy Name now and forever.
Amen.
Pledge of Allegiance
The Hon. Connie Morella led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Ms. MORELLA. It is now my pleasure and my honor to recognize the
President of the Association of Former Members of Congress, the Hon.
Dennis Hertel.
Mr. HERTEL. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Maryland, Vice
President of the Association. I want to thank her for all her hard work
and her dedication. It's made such a great difference in having you be
the Vice President this last year for the Association.
And I want to welcome all the membership of our association to the
House Chamber today. We're so glad that you are all here. I am going to
ask the Clerk to take the roll, please.
The Clerk called the roll of the former Members of Congress, and the
following former Members answered to their names:
Mr. Alexander of Arkansas
Mr. Buechner of Missouri
Mr. Bustamante of Texas
Ms. Byron of Maryland
Mr. Clement of Tennessee
Mr. Glickman of Kansas
Mr. Hertel of Michigan
Mr. Hutto of Florida
Mr. Kanjorski of Pennsylvania
Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan
Mr. Konnyu of California
Mr. LaFalce of New York
Mr. Lancaster of North Carolina
Mr. LaRocco of Idaho
Mr. Michel of Illinois
Ms. Morella of Maryland
Mr. Ruppie of Michigan
Mr. Slattery of Kansas
Mr. Symington of Missouri
Mr. Symms of Idaho
Mr. Tucker of Arkansas
Mr. Walsh of New York
Mr. Warner of Virginia
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair announces that 23 former Members of Congress
have responded to their names.
The Chair now recognizes the President of the Association.
Mr. HERTEL. I thank the Chair.
It is always a distinct pleasure to be back in this revered Chamber,
and we appreciate the opportunity to be present today and to give you
the annual report of the U.S. Association of Former Members of
Congress. I will be joined by some of our colleagues in reporting on
the activities and projects of our organization.
Before we get to this report, however, it is my distinct honor and
pleasure to present our 2011 Distinguished Service Award to Senator
John William Warner of the great State of Virginia. Bestowing our
association's highest award on John Warner was an easy decision. In all
his endeavors and public service, be it in our Nation's military at
times of war, be it while serving in the administration, or be it in
the United States Senate, John Warner has led by example and
commendable distinction.
We have asked another of our colleagues, who has lived a life of
public service guided by the same values and principles as Senator
Warner, to introduce our 2011 honoree.
I might just add a personal note. When I came to this Chamber 30
years ago, there was a titanic battle going on much as we have today
regarding our economy and the deficit; and the minority leader, Bob
Michel, was arguing against and solidifying his forces against my
Speaker, Tip O'Neill. Here I was a freshman, 31 years old, and watching
all of this and feeling all of this. Even in the emotions of the time
and the high importance of the debate and the outcome, even being new
here, I had the greatest respect for Bob Michel as the opposition
leader.
There is something about seeing somebody in the opposition and having
that trust and that respect of that person that's an underlying factor
that adds to the strength of our democracy and something that's a
necessary lesson, I think, of history for people to know today that you
can differ with somebody so completely on the issues and not see them
as an enemy, but a worthy adversary who themselves love your country
just as much. That's what Bob Michel, I think, stood for and does today
to all of us, to the Congress and to the people of the United States.
It is my great honor to introduce Bob Michel, Leader Bob Michel, to
go forward with the introduction.
Mr. MICHEL. Madam Speaker, and my fellow colleagues of yesteryear and
today, I am delighted to have been asked to introduce John Warner this
morning. I have known John for many years when we both served in the
Congress and now we are currently working together down at Hogan
Lovells.
Most of you know him as the recent Republican Senator of Virginia and
the sixth husband of the late Elizabeth Taylor.
Well, that's all well and good, you know; but for my introduction for
this occasion, I would also like to fill in some of the gaps to prove
what a great choice the former Members of Congress organization made in
singling him out to receive this year's Distinguished Service Award.
John enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II in January of 1945
shortly before his 18th birthday. He served until the following year,
leaving as a petty officer 3rd class. He then went on to college,
Washington and Lee University.
He joined the Marine Corps in October of 1950 after the outbreak of
the Korean War and served in Korea as a ground officer with a 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing. He continued in the Marine Corps Reserves after
the war, eventually reaching the rank of captain. He then went on to
law school at George Washington University here in Washington, D.C.
In 1969, John was appointed Under Secretary of the Navy during the
Nixon administration. In 1972, he succeeded John Chafee as Secretary of
the Navy, and then President Ford subsequently appointed him director
of the Bicentennial Administration.
John actively entered the political arena in 1978 when he was chosen
to replace the Republican candidate for the Senate who died in a plane
crash 2 months before the election. Some of us older Members remember
that tragic day very well. He was narrowly elected, but then reelected
five times to become the longest-serving Republican Senator from
Virginia.
During Senator Warner's 30-year tenure in the Senate, he served on
any number of committees, as you all well know; but I think he will
always to be remembered for the lengthy service as chairman of the
Senate Armed Services Committee, where he was viewed as one of the most
influential Senators on military and foreign policy issues.
Senator Warner was always elected and reelected as a Republican, but
he was no ideologue. In fact, he had a very checkered voting record
over the years, but he was always willing to openly debate the issues,
priding himself in working hard to reach agreement on the great
controversial issues of the day.
In 2008, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence awarded
John the first-ever National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service
Medal.
In 2009, the Secretary of the Navy announced it would name the next
Virginia Class submarine after John Warner.
And, finally, in 2009, the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.,
announced that Queen Elizabeth II would name John Warner an honorary
Knight Commander for his work strengthening the American-British
military alliance.
I have just really skimmed the surface of all the awards, citations
and plaudits that Senator Warner has received during his long and most
distinguished public record of public service. Suffice it to say, John
Warner, the individual, is a very humble man and cringes at the thought
of receiving another honor and award.
But we fellow members of the Association of Former Members of
Congress wanted him to know how revered he is among us and hope one
more burst of applause in his honor will extend his life and talents
for many years to come.
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished former Senator Warner.
Mr. HERTEL. Well, it's so wonderful. I want to thank the Leader. I
didn't mention, by the way, the Leader won that titanic battle back
then 30 years ago as he did many others.
[[Page H4085]]
On behalf of the Association of Former Members of Congress, it is my
great pleasure and honor for me to present our 2011 Distinguished
Service Award to Senator John Warner of Virginia. The plaque is
inscribed as follows:
The 2011 Distinguished Service Award is presented by the
U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress to Senator
John William Warner for his lifetime of exceptional public
service. While representing the State of Virginia for thirty
years, Senator Warner was the Chairman of the Senate Armed
Services Committee, Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on
Intelligence, and Chairman of the Rules Committee. Outside of
Congress, Chairman Warner was a sailor in World War II; a
Marine Lieutenant during the Korean War; and served as Under
Secretary and Secretary of the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam
War. In every endeavor, he has fulfilled his duties with
honor, distinction, and true patriotism. His service to our
country is exemplary. Senator John Warner is an inspiration
to us all and his former colleagues from both sides of the
aisle salute him.
Washington, DC, June 14, 2011.
Senator Warner.
Mr. WARNER. Madam Speaker, colleagues, friends and others, I remember
one time attending a graduation as a speaker; and as we walked down the
aisle, ``Pomp and Circumstance'' was playing, and the heart was infused
with enthusiasm. I had a sheaf of papers under my arm; and a young
student jumped up, one of the graduates, and pressed into my hand a
little piece of paper and said, ``Please read this.''
So in the course of the invocation I read it, and it was some of the
most prosaic and valuable bits of wisdom I ever received. It simply
said, ``Blessed are ye that are brief, for ye shall be reinvited.''
Whether I am invited or not, to have this moment to stand on this
floor and, mind you, I believe, I am almost positive in the 30-plus
years that I was here I never did it before. It seems to add to me and
my family and all others a very significant chapter in my humble
opportunity to serve this Nation in many ways.
Madam Speaker, if I may be personal in addressing the presiding
officer, it would not have happened without your tenacity and drive and
skill in ramming this nomination through. I thank you.
I should recount the many things that the presiding officer and I
did. For my colleague, Steve Symms, we represent the Senate, the two of
us, we were together many years in that institution.
But dear friends, at moments like these you are struck with humility,
but you reflect back on all those who served with you, and you also
reflect upon those serving today and tomorrow; and I hope that the
individual and collective accomplishments of each of us shall always
serve as a guide for those to follow.
Because this country, in my 84 years of life, has never faced a more
complex situation, be it with regard to our own internal and external
security, as well as our domestic economy, and we need the finest of
minds to sit in this Chamber and the other body to try and reach
solutions for this Nation because we are becoming more and more the
object of derision and less envy than the years in which we were so
proud to serve in this institution and America was all powerful.
But we also must be mindful that each of us got here by a certain
amount of initiative and drive, but we got here because a lot of others
helped us along the way.
Fellow colleagues in Congress and those when I was in the Department
of Defense, I learned, I listened and learned and followed their
guidance to perform the duties that I was undertaking in those chapters
of public service. My years in the Pentagon were during some of the
most stressful years in Vietnam; and how well I remember, as Secretary,
the evenings when I returned home to sit down and write the notes to
the families that had lost a loved one in those battles.
So here we are today, having plucked from the many, another, to stand
in that long line of distinguished individuals who so proudly and so
humbly have accepted this award. So, once again, let us hope that our
contribution has laid a foundation for those who now occupy these seats
and those that will follow to guide this great Nation.
I thank you again. I thank you very much. I thank the dear Lord for
the guidance that he has given me through these many years.
As I said, blessed are ye that are brief, for ye shall return.
Ms. MORELLA. You are most deserving, Senator Warner. You honor us.
The President resumes.
Mr. HERTEL. I am certainly so happy to hear Senator Warner's remarks,
and we also included a scrapbook there of his colleagues'
congratulatory statements, and I want to thank again Leader Michel for
his wonderful introduction and the honor he does all of us by helping
us and giving us advice.
I see that some Members have joined us since our proceedings started,
so I welcome you. At the conclusion of our report, you will have the
opportunity to give your name to the House Clerk for the roll call.
As President of the organization, it is now my duty to report to the
Congress about the activities of the U.S. Association of Former Members
of Congress since our last annual meeting in June of 2010.
Our association is bipartisan. It was chartered by Congress in 1983.
The purpose of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress is to
promote public service and strengthen democracy abroad and in the
United States. About 600 former Members, Senators and Representatives,
belong to the association.
Republicans, Democrats and independents are united in this
organization in their desire to teach about Congress and the importance
of representative democracy. We receive no funding from the Congress.
All the activities which we are about to describe are financed via
membership dues, program-specific grants and sponsors, or via our fund-
raising dinner. Our finances are sound, our projects fully funded, and
our 2010 audit by an outside accountant came back with a clean bill of
financial health.
We again have had a very successful and rewarding year. We have
continued our work serving as a liaison between the current Congress
and legislatures overseas. We have created partnerships with highly
respected institutions in the area of democracy-building and election-
monitoring. We have developed new projects and are expanding others,
and we again sent dozens of bipartisan teams of former Members of
Congress to teach about public service and representative democracy at
universities and high schools both in the United States and abroad.
Our Congress to Campus program, our Civics Connection, our People to
People programs are the things that we are going to be talking about
now when this organization was created over 40 years ago. The former
Members who founded our association envisioned this organization to
take the lead in teaching about Congress and encouraging public
service. They were hoping that former Members could inspire the next
generation of America's leaders.
Over the years we have created a number of programs, most importantly
the Congress to Campus program, to do just that. The Congress to Campus
program was established 35 years ago as a way to reach college
students. It has since grown into a civic education effort that also
brings former Members into the high school civic education classroom,
as well as connects former Members with students as young as middle
school age.
When I was in college quite a long time ago, we had Senator Ribicoff
come to Eastern Michigan University. The Senator spent an entire
evening with us, and he answered all our questions and talked about
public service. After, I asked him, I said, Senator, why are you here?
What are you running for? Are you running for President? Why are you
here?
He said, I'm here to get you people involved in public service. He
said, Don't you remember what John Kennedy said?
It just struck me. It struck me that that is the kind of program and
the kind of moments that we have with students all across this country
all of these 30 years that we have had this program in effect. We
continue to work with our great partner, the Stennis Center for Public
Service; and we thank them for their invaluable assistance in
administering this program.
I now yield to the former President of our association, Jack Buechner
of Missouri, along with Matt McHugh of
[[Page H4086]]
New York, the co-chairs of this great program.
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
Mr. BUECHNER. Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank the gentleman
from Michigan.
When this organization was created, I am sure that the idea was that
there is all these old codgers out there that had some free time, they
ought to throw it in and improve the overall attitude of the country
through the young people towards Congress.
The truth of the matter is that the program is as enlightening for
the Members who go to the campuses, one Republican, one Democrat. We
usually spend 2\1/2\ days. At that time, you meet with political
science classes, student governments. You meet with the campus
television or various media sources there. You meet with some faculty
members, YRs, YDs. Occasionally a town-and-gown meeting where you will
go and help conduct political science fora for faculty, students, and
the general public. They are just great opportunities.
The Stennis Center is our partner. It is down at Mississippi State.
It has helped coordinate, helped raise money. We have to pay our base
administrative costs, and we ask the various colleges and universities
to pay a small amount of money, a very nominal speaker's fee. It does
not go to you. If you show up, you don't get anything, but the
Association does. And then the school provides lodging. It will range
from a Tom Bodett, keeping the light on, to staying sometimes in a
pretty nice alumni center. They don't change the sheets for you,
though, so you just have to spend 2 days and get out.
The participating students, what do they get out of it? They get a
chance to meet real people who have been there. As was discussed
before, the idea about public service, Senator Warner talked about it,
Dennis Hertel talked about it, the idea of talking to these young
people about the idea and the practice of being involved, involved to
the point where it is attractive to them so when they go and sit around
and have a beer and some pretzels and a pizza--they want to talk about
the people who are in elected office--they don't start off with: Well,
those bastards. They start off with something like: You know, I met
this woman who served in Congress. She told me how she got involved in
politics.
I always tell people that I was president of the Young Republicans
when I was in college. Of course, I was at a Catholic men's college
during the Kennedy campaign. I might as well have been the head of the
young Satanists. But you know what, it was a learning experience.
The students who come to these meetings are not just those majoring
in political science. When I was at Northeastern University, one of the
interesting things was their drama department wanted to talk about aid
to the arts. We had all of these people, and I have to tell you, it was
an enlightening experience to listen to people who thought there ought
to be some sort of a salary paid to artists and actors and everything.
I said: Well, you know, if I can tell you anything, don't expect it
from the government; but there should be a cooperation between the
government and the arts, and your job will be to be advocates for that.
I don't know whether they believed me or not.
But the hard work that is put in by the Members over that 2\1/2\ days
is pretty substantial.
I have to give some special note because this program would not work
without Bryan Corder. Bryan, stand up and let everyone see you.
He is obviously young and energetic, and his job is to coordinate
with Brother Rogers at the Stennis Center to help coordinate these
visits.
In fact, one of the shortages we have is getting Members to sign up.
And, I mean, it is a commitment. You don't get paid. It is 2\1/2\ days.
And some of the sites that we go to are not--it is not New York City
and it is not Annapolis and it is not Miami. Sometimes it is out where
you can honestly say the profit-loss is slipper, and it is not always
easy to get in. It is not always easy to get out. But I will say this,
it is always an intriguing and educational experience for the Members
to go there.
We had 20 different programs last year. In 2011 to 2012, this
academic year, the project has continued to reach out, not just to
colleges and universities, but community colleges and high schools.
They can play an important supplemental role in teaching about
representative democracy through the high school level. We have
continued our working relationship with the People to People Ambassador
program that brings young people to our Nation's capital for a week of
events centered on the concepts of character and leadership.
This year we expect the lineup of new schools to be, hopefully, at a
record high. I want to be an advocate that after this presentation
today, that you might meet with Bryan and sign up, sign up to be a
volunteer. You don't have to pick a particular date right away. And
very importantly is the fact that if you are an alum and you want your
school to be visited, give us the name. Give us a contact person.
Perhaps you have been an administrator yourself or are currently a
lecturer at a university or college, or you've got one in your old
congressional district. We need the contacts so we can contact these
schools and take care of it.
The involvement in this program allows our Members living in the
Washington area to speak to younger students through the People to
People program because they are bringing them in, but then we want
Members who live outside to be able to go perhaps 100, 200--although it
is not first class travel, I want to advise you, but we will get you
there and you will be better for the visit.
Finally, I want to say that there are some people who have been
extraordinary in working with us. I just want to name Tom Davis and
Martin Frost. They have been participants in this program truly year
after year, especially even with the high school students.
So this has been a success for its 35 years. It is getting bigger,
and I think it is getting better. I would just want to exhort you all
to sign up. And also, we need a word of thanks for Matt McHugh, my co-
chair on this, because he has been tireless in his efforts to recruit.
Mr. HERTEL. I thank the gentleman from Missouri for his report and
all of his hard work with Matt McHugh, and I want to talk for a moment
about a new program that Dan Glickman and I have been developing with
the Bipartisan Policy Center, and we will have Jim Walsh of New York
give a report on Common Ground.
Mr. WALSH. Thank you, Mr. President. Madam Speaker, colleagues, good
morning. It's great to be with you.
As you may recall from our last report to Congress, the Association
has put some energy and focus into the question of bipartisanship.
Everything we do at the Former Members Association is done in a
bipartisan manner. Our leadership is comprised equally of Republicans
and Democrats. Our delegations are led by bipartisan teams of former
Members of Congress, and our projects involve both Republicans and
Democrats equally. We truly are a bipartisan organization where Members
from across the political aisle come together for common purpose.
We have found that, for a number of reasons, this type of bipartisan
interaction has become more and more difficult for current Members.
This development has many causes, many of which are beyond the control
of today's Members.
Our association, therefore, has created a new undertaking, the Common
Ground Project, with the purpose of finding ways in which Democrats and
Republicans can work together for the good of this country. The origin
of the Common Ground Project can be found in our Conference on
Bipartisanship which we hosted last year at the National Archives in
partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center. Three panels examined
our current political discourse, how bipartisanship--or the lack
thereof--has influenced our political decisionmaking process, and the
way the media influences this Nation's political climate. The
concluding panel looked at concrete steps we might take to foster a
more civil relationship across the aisle.
Following the conference, we invited our membership to cosign a
letter to all candidates for congressional office in the 2010 midterm
elections. In the
[[Page H4087]]
letter, we asked for a focus on issue rather than divisive demagogy,
and I am happy to report that over 150 former Members immediately
signed the document.
Next, we decided to put some thought and effort into a structured
program that could serve to foster a more civil and productive
political discourse in this country.
Our idea is to create an outreach modeled on our very successful
Congress to Campus program. Via a Congress to the Community Project, we
hope to reconnect America's voters with their political process and
encourage a respectful and productive debate on the many issues that we
face.
For example, a bipartisan team of former Members will have town-hall-
like discussions focused on the budgetary process and deficit
reduction. We will go into the community and bring different political
points of view to the electorate, invite the voters to participate in
this debate, and find some common ground. We will also find ways of
bringing current Members into the conversation, and we will create
opportunities for current Members to get to know their colleagues from
across the aisle a little bit better. It is my hope that when we return
to the House Chamber for our report next year, we will be able to
describe the first successes of this new undertaking.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair thanks the gentleman from New York.
At this time it is a great honor to recognize the distinguished
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Boehner).
Mr. BOEHNER. Let me say good morning to all of you and welcome back.
I see a lot of familiar faces here.
Let me also congratulate John Warner on receiving the Distinguished
Service Award. John and I obviously worked together over the years,
about 16 of them or so, and he is truly deserving of this honor.
You have probably recognized over the course of this first 6 months
in the new Congress that we are trying to run the House a little
differently--a novel concept of allowing the House to work its will,
more open debate, more amendments, and respecting the work of the
committees. And I have to tell you, so far it has gone very well. I
think Members on both sides of the aisle are appreciative of how the
process is working. As someone who came up through the committee ranks,
who was a committee chair, I feel pretty strongly that the House works
best when the House is allowed to work its will. I know a lot of people
don't really believe that, but I'm going to tell you, just continue to
watch because I just think everybody ought to have a chance to
participate. Every one of us represents 650,000-700,000 constituents,
and I think every Member should have the ability to play a part in this
process. So, so far so good. We have a ways to go, but I am proud of
the start that we have made.
In addition to that, I think all of you know that our economy is not
doing well. The American people are continuing to ask the question:
Where are the jobs?
At least in my opinion, we don't have many options available to us.
We all know that we have big mandatory spending programs that aren't
sustainable in their current form. Something has to be done. We all
know what the problems are. Why don't we just go fix them?
I have had this same conversation with the President over the course
of the last 5 months, and I really do think that this is the moment,
this is the time for us to deal with these problems like adults: look
at the problem and go solve it. You know, the problem around here, as
you are all aware, is that the next election always kind of gets in the
way of having the courage to do the right thing. So I have encouraged
the President: forget about the next election. We know what the
problems are; let's just go address them.
So it is going to be something, I think, a little different than
anybody has ever seen when this agreement comes together. It is hard to
tell you at this point what it is going to look like; but I am going to
tell you this, this is the moment. This is the opportunity to address
these big, looming problems; and I don't want to allow this opportunity
to pass by.
So let me say, welcome back. I would hope that you would also work on
getting more of our former colleagues back here. This is a big day for
all of you, and I am proud of you, proud of the service you gave this
institution, and I am proud of the opportunity I had to work with many
of you over the years. Welcome.
Mrs. MORELLA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
Mr. HERTEL. I want to thank the Speaker for taking the time for being
our keynote speaker at our dinner this last year and for always helping
us with our golf tournament. We know he couldn't make it yesterday.
Some of the people are sunburned here today because of that tournament.
And, of course, the Democrats won. I think if the Speaker were there,
it would have strengthened the Republican side far more.
Mr. BOEHNER. There is always tomorrow.
Mr. HERTEL. We want to wish the Speaker well in his match with
President Obama coming up this weekend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Speaker has been great in taking time out of his busy schedule to
come here, but also to be so very supportive of our association, and we
appreciate that very, very much.
Let me talk about that charitable golf tournament yesterday. A great
example of how powerful and productive bipartisanship can be is our
Annual Congressional Golf Tournament. Four years ago, we took a 35-year
tradition of the annual golf tournament between Members and former
Members which pits Republicans against Democrats for a trophy, and we
turned it into a greater mission. We converted it into a charitable
golf tournament to aid severely wounded vets returning from the
battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Our beneficiary, the Wounded Warrior Project of Disabled Sports USA,
is as impressive and remarkable an organization as you are likely to
find anywhere in this country. They use sports to help our wounded
veterans readjust to life after a severe injury. They involve the
entire family in the sport, and they take care of providing all of the
equipment and training.
We held the fourth golf tournament yesterday; and between the four
tournaments, we have raised almost a quarter of a million dollars for
this outstanding organization. At yesterday's tournament, we had almost
50 current and former Members from both sides of the aisle come
together to support this great charity. We met with over a dozen of the
wounded warriors. In addition, we were greatly honored by a visit from
three members of the famous Easy Company, the World War II outfit made
famous by Steve Ambrose's book ``Band of Brothers'' on which the highly
successful HBO miniseries was based.
Yesterday was a very rewarding and memorable day, to say the least.
To have these guys there, they are 88 years old from the Band of
Brothers. And right now this morning, they are over at the World War II
Memorial for the first time in their lives. But to see them there with
us yesterday and to be able to thank them for what they have done for
our country was a great experience for all of us.
And to be able to play golf with the wounded warriors yesterday and
see how much better they are than any of us, to have that kind of
fellowship with them and to see what this program can do was really
satisfying.
We want to thank Zach Wamp and Chet Edwards for their help in
chairing this before when they were Members. They have joined us now as
formers, and we gave an award to them yesterday. We are so happy to
have our new chairmen, Joe Baca and Ander Crenshaw, do such a great job
of recruiting more active Members to that tournament yesterday.
I want to thank all four of these fine men, as well as my former co-
chair of this undertaking, Ken Kramer from Colorado, who has done such
a fantastic job. It has really made a difference. I think all of us
have much more satisfaction now in the tournament that we used to enjoy
for fellowship, now for having a cause, the Wounded Warriors Sports
Program, and it is really an honor to help our Nation's heroes in this
small manner.
Now I want to call on Bob Clement from Tennessee. A year ago, we had
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this first trip to China. We led eight Members over there; and since
then, we have had a delegation of former Senators go over. And now Bob
Clement is just back from the latest mission of House Members that have
been over to China on behalf of the Association of Former Members of
Congress.
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. CLEMENT. Thank you, Mr. President, Madam Speaker.
It was a great honor and privilege for me to be with six former
Members of the House of Representatives on the Democrat and Republican
sides to go to China. The last time I was in China was 1995. I might
say much has changed, and I sure miss those bicycles. I think they've
listened too much to the Western World. The bicycles are gone,
particularly in the coastal areas, and the automobiles/motor scooters
have truly taken over. China, as you all know, has still got a major
challenge in being a developing nation. The coastal areas are most
prosperous, but in the rural areas, where 700 million people live--half
the population--they still live in abject poverty.
I will say, with the Chinese--and I can speak for the entire
delegation who were part of this experience sponsored by the Former
Members of Congress Association--I was most impressed with their
openness. We had the chance to meet with some of the top officials in
government, business leaders, even including one billionaire China
businessman, as well as the academic community--Chung Hua University,
which is looked upon as the number one university in China. All of
those experiences were very open.
What I've noticed and observed is the fact that the Chinese
Communists still control and dominate in China, but even kids in
kindergarten are learning English, all the way from kindergarten up.
The Communist Party is still in control, but China is not as isolated
as it once was. Also, the Chinese know English, and every place we
went, the vendors and the young people knew how to speak English
because they realize English is the universal language.
No doubt China is going to be a superpower even though it's a
developing nation. We had the opportunity to travel on trains 225 miles
an hour, and their airports and rail terminals are phenomenal. I
couldn't believe that train. I mean, you could hardly feel any motion
at all since it was such a smooth ride. Now they've got a new train
that's getting ready to go into operation between Shanghai and Beijing,
and that will be launched very soon now.
So what I'm saying to you is that being involved with the Association
and what we experienced was an eye-opener. I went on a lot of CODELs
just like the rest of you did, but even as a former Member
participating through the Association, all of us can make a major
difference, and I encourage you to be involved and engaged as much as
you possibly can.
Another example of the unique role our association can play in
international affairs is the Middle East Fellows Project, which we
administer in partnership with Legacy International, a Virginia
foundation. We hosted last year almost 20 young professionals from the
Middle East here in D.C. Their stay in D.C. was made possible by way of
a grant from the U.S. Department of State. The group, which spent about
1 month in Washington, included lawyers, journalists and government
employees from Kuwait and Oman. In addition to the time spent with the
former Members, our guests spent several weeks on Capitol Hill as
visiting fellows in a number of congressional offices, and there were
several return trips which enabled former Members to travel to Kuwait
and Oman for factfinding visits. Our bipartisan co-chairs for this
program were Larry LaRocco and Scott Klug.
I now yield the floor to the gentleman from Idaho so he can give us
more detail and more subject matter on this undertaking. Thank you.
Mr. LaROCCO. Thank you, Bob, Madam Speaker.
It was an amazing experience to be involved in this project that Bob
just described to you all. We had a great team of young women and men
from Oman and Kuwait. They were truly outstanding individuals in this
group who were clearly destined to be leaders in their respective
countries in the future. I am pleased and proud that our association
could establish a dialogue and a learning experience of this type. I
use the word ``dialogue'' on purpose because we learned as much from
our guests as they did from us. Countries obviously need to build
bridges connecting people and decisionmakers. Countries need to find
ways to communicate and dispel some myths that may exist, and countries
need to lay the foundation so the next generation of leaders has the
appreciation for the world beyond their borders. I strongly believe
that our great association, via the Middle East Fellows Program, did
exactly that. Our former Members have such a unique insight and
appreciation of what it means to represent a constituency and how to
make the legislative process work. It is therefore altogether fitting
that we play this type of role and have this type of outreach.
I want to focus for a minute on the role that the former Members
played as mentors to these young men and women who came to our country.
It was truly a great effort by our association. Let me focus for just a
minute on the outbound part of the program, specifically the delegation
I had the pleasure of leading to Kuwait and Oman with Scott Klug.
In both countries, we met with our U.S. ambassadors, who were 100
percent committed to this specific public diplomacy initiative. We had
ample time to visit with them and their staffs about regional and
global issues. Our busy schedules were designed to put us in touch with
many public and private sector entities in order to get a balanced view
of the relationships on many levels with the U.S. We were struck by the
progress, for example, for women's rights in both Kuwait and Oman. It
is clear that they've made a commitment in this area.
Clearly, both countries are building capacity to take their
democratic institutions to the next level based on strong commitments
to education and transparency. While both countries have economies
based on oil, there is also an attempt to diversify their economic
bases. These two countries, Oman and Kuwait, remain strong allies of
the U.S. in the Gulf, and since our visit, we have not seen the
upheaval in these countries as in other countries in the region.
I was very impressed with the dialogue that we had with the students
in both countries. Of particular interest was meeting the young
professionals we had seen in the U.S. in their native countries and
hearing from them the value of their time that they spent with us in
our program here in the United States and at the Nation's capital.
In addition to this delegation, another former Member delegation
visited the region. My colleagues Martin Lancaster, David Minge and
Jack Buechner all had the same experience I had: that the people of
Kuwait and Oman are extremely hospitable, eager to meet Americans, and
very appreciative of anyone interested in learning more about their
great cultures and countries. There are many misconceptions when it
comes to the Middle East and America's role vis-a-vis the Middle East
specifically. It therefore was incredibly educational for all of us to
participate in this experience, and I urge my colleagues to become
involved in the Middle East Fellows Program when the State Department
contract gets renewed, hopefully, in the very near future.
I also want to extend a special thanks to the wonderful staff of
Legacy International, without whom none of the trips or the great D.C.
program would have been possible. I hope we will have a long and
productive partnership with this fine organization.
Thank you very much for allowing me to give this report to the
Association today.
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair thanks the gentleman from Idaho.
The President continues to have control of the time.
Mr. HERTEL. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Larry, very, very much for your report, and Bob Clement.
There are a number of other international projects involving our
Former Members of Congress Association. Several years ago, we created
the International Election Monitors Institute under the leadership of
then-President Jack Buechner. It is a joint project of
[[Page H4089]]
the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress with the Former
Members of the European Parliament and the Canadian Association of
Former Parliamentarians, a couple of whom are here today whom we'll get
to later.
In addition to conducting multiple workshops for former legislators
to train them for election monitoring missions, IEMI has sent
delegations to monitor elections in places such as Morocco, Ukraine,
and--our most ambitious undertaking--Iraq. All IEMI activities have
been made possible via a grant from CIDA, the Canadian International
Development Agency. We thank them for their support. The original
intent of the International Election Monitors Institute was to train
former legislators and prepare them for the task of observing an
election. We have since had some very productive discussions with our
partners in Canada and Europe, and have arrived at the conclusion that
this original vision, while still valid, needs to be broadened and
expanded. Former legislators from all political walks of life can be a
tremendous asset to those organizations that seek to strengthen
democracy across the globe. We can help newly elected legislators as
they find their footing in the responsibilities that come with
representing a constituency at the federal, state or local level. We
can help an emerging democracy as it seeks to implement an election
result and facilitate a peaceful transition of power. We can help a
legislative branch as it tries to assert its oversight power over the
executive branch. All our delegations are comprised of legislators from
the United States, Canada, and Europe. We are a truly international
undertaking, and we do not play any role in implementing the foreign
policy of either the United States, Canada or the EU. We simply wish to
help those countries that yearn for a transparent and accountable form
of government. In addition to changing this focus of the International
Election Monitors Institute, we are in talks with our colleagues from
Australia and New Zealand to see whether a more global outreach and
partnership might be possible. I hope to be able to report to you next
year that a truly world-wide effort has been created.
In addition to the great work of the IEMI, our Members play a role in
the efforts of the House Democracy Partnership and the U.S. Department
of State. The HDP is a current-Member undertaking that brings democracy
building and legislative strengthening projects to a select number of
countries across the globe. It is chaired by David Dreier of California
and David Price of North Carolina, and we thank them both for giving us
the opportunity to participate. We provide expert opinion to Members
and staff of parliaments in emerging democracies, and we conduct
workshops and presentations at the direction of HDP staff. Just last
month, one of our Members, Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, traveled to
Kosovo to provide some training and advice. Previous missions, all
funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, have taken our
delegations to Kenya, Georgia, Poland, and Haiti. The missions are
issue-specific, have an intense and active program, and give former
Members the opportunity to share some of their experiences with current
legislators in parliaments overseas. The House Democracy Partnership is
an extension of the great work begun by Martin Frost and Gerry Solomon
as part of the Frost-Solomon Task Force. Clearly, former Members can
play an important and productive role in this type of program, and we
are thrilled to be included in the crucial and impressive work of HDP.
As I mentioned earlier, we also have begun working with the U.S.
Department of State. This partnership comes in several variations. We
have connected bipartisan teams of former Members of Congress with U.S.
embassies overseas via webcasts. Our former Members sit in a studio in
Foggy Bottom while the U.S. embassy abroad assembles an audience either
at the embassy or at a university for a dialogue with our Members. Most
recently, we communicated with audiences in Austria and Belgium, first
giving an overview of current U.S. politics and then engaging in a
lengthy Q&A. Another State Department-sponsored program brings former
Members directly to the embassies and consulates overseas. Sometimes
former Members travel specifically as part of the State Department's
program. Sometimes the State Department will piggyback on a former
Member who is visiting a country for business or pleasure. We think
this is a great way to communicate with foreign audiences about the
United States, about our foreign policy, and about our political
process.
In addition to the international work which I just highlighted, our
association also focuses on creating a dialogue involving current
Members of Congress and their colleagues in legislatures overseas.
Mainly, we achieve this objective via the Congressional Study Groups on
Germany, Turkey, and Japan.
At this time, I would like to call on the Honorable Jim Slattery from
Kansas, the former President of our association, for his report on
international programs in Germany, Turkey, and Japan.
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas.
Mr. SLATTERY. It is a pleasure to report on the work of the
Congressional Study Groups on Germany, Turkey and Japan. These
bipartisan programs for current Members of Congress serve as invaluable
tools for dialogue between lawmakers, and act as educational forums to
create understanding between the United States and three of its most
strategic partners.
The Congressional Study Group on Germany is the Association's
flagship international program, and is one of the largest and most
active parliamentary exchange programs between the U.S. Congress and
the legislative branch of another country. Celebrating almost 30 years
of active programming, the study group offers German and American
lawmakers the unique opportunity to candidly discuss issues pertinent
to both nations, including pressing international challenges.
Following the Association bipartisan mandate, the Study Group on
Germany is also overseen by a bipartisan team of current Members of
Congress. The 2011 Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Congressional
Study Group on Germany in the House of Representatives are
Representative Russ Carnahan, a Democrat from Missouri, and
Representative Phil Gingrey, a Republican from Georgia. In the Senate,
Senator Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, serves as co-chair,
and the study group is in the process of finding a new Democratic co-
chair since Senator Evan Bayh has retired.
The study group's programming consists of periodic roundtable
discussions on Capitol Hill for Members of Congress, featuring visiting
dignitaries from Germany or U.S. Government officials, annual seminars
abroad or at home, and study tours and events geared toward senior
congressional staff. Current Members of Congress chair the CSGC in a
bipartisan manner. A few highlights for the Study Group on Germany's
events on Capitol Hill during this year's programming included: a
luncheon discussion with Dr. Norbert Lammert, President of the German
Bundestag; a panel featuring Under Secretary Robert Hormats; and a
roundtable with the German Bundestag's Defense Committee members.
The Congressional Study Group on Germany's main pillar of programming
is the Annual Congress-Bundestag Seminar that takes place in the U.S.
every election year and in Germany every nonelection year. These 5-day-
long conferences present Members of Congress and their counterparts at
the German Bundestag the opportunity to come together for a series of
in-depth discussions focusing on issues affecting transatlantic
relations. The seminars also give lawmakers the chance to observe the
domestic atmosphere of both nations as they evaluate the effects of
their foreign policy decisions.
The 27th Annual Congress-Bundestag Seminar took place the second week
of May last year in Washington, D.C., and in St. Louis, Missouri. This
year, the annual seminar is scheduled to take place in Berlin, Potsdam,
and Wittenberg, Germany, at the end of June. Topics for discussion
during the 28th Annual Congress-Bundestag Seminar will include:
sustaining economic growth, relations between the European Union and
the United States, and energy security. During this programming year,
the study group also took a delegation of eight chiefs of staff to
Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany, on a Senior Congressional Staff Study
Tour.
Since its establishment, the Congressional Study Group on Germany has
been receiving generous support from the German Marshall Fund of the
United States, and the Association would like to thank Craig Kennedy,
the President of GMF, for his trust in our programming. To assist with
administrative expenses, the Association also receives additional
funding from a group of organizations making up the study group's
Business Advisory Council, headed by former Member Tom Coleman of
Missouri.
Using the Study Group on Germany as a model in 2005, a Congressional
Study Group on Turkey was established. In only 6 years, the Study
[[Page H4090]]
Group on Turkey has become another major program of the Association and
one of the most active parliamentary exchange programs between the U.S.
Congress and the legislative branch of Turkey. Given Turkey's strategic
role in its region and position as a gateway between East and West, the
Study Group on Turkey is essential in forging communication networks
between current Members of Congress and Turkish Government officials to
discuss issues such as the Middle East peace process, energy security,
and avenues of cooperation in the region.
The Study Group on Turkey is active only in the House of
Representatives, and is again led by a bipartisan group of current
Members of Congress. Representative Virginia Foxx, a Republican from
North Carolina, and Representative Steve Cohen, a Democrat from
Tennessee, are the co-chairs of this group. Representative Ed
Whitfield, a Republican from Kentucky, remains active as the study
group's immediate past co-chair.
Similar to the Congressional Study Group on Germany, the Study Group
on Turkey hosts events for Members of Congress on Capitol Hill which
are dedicated to U.S.-Turkey relations, an annual seminar at home or
abroad, and events and study groups geared toward senior congressional
staff. The study group held its second Senior Congressional Staff Study
Tour to Turkey during the Easter recess this year, bringing together
eight chiefs of staff to learn about Turkish domestic politics on the
eve of national elections and U.S.-Turkey bilateral relations.
The Congressional Study Group on Turkey regularly features members of
the Turkish Grand National Assembly and ministers of the Turkish
Government as well as U.S. Government officials in its events geared
toward current Members of Congress. During the 2010/2011 programming
year, the study group has hosted high-level guests such as the
Honorable Egemen Bagis, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief
Negotiator of Turkey in accession talks with the European Union; and
Ambassador Dan Benjamin, Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the U.S.
State Department.
The Annual U.S.-Turkey Seminar is a significant aspect of study group
programming for each year. The seminar brings U.S. and Turkey
legislators together with policymakers and business representatives to
examine important bilateral topics and transnational issues such as
terrorism and energy security. The seminar aims to inform Members of
Congress about the concerns of one of the United States' most important
allies. Moreover, the seminar is an invaluable tool for creating and
reinforcing personal relationships between Members of Congress and
members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
The sixth Annual U.S.-Turkey Seminar took place in Washington, D.C.,
in September 2010, and this year, the study group will take a
delegation of current Members of Congress to Ankara and Istanbul,
Turkey, for its seventh annual seminar. Topics of discussion for this
year's seminar will focus on Middle East stability, prospects for the
global economy, and growing U.S.-Turkey relations.
The Association also organizes and administers the Congressional
Study Group on Japan. Founded in 1993 in cooperation with East-West
Center in Hawaii, the Congressional Study Group on Japan brings
together Members of the U.S. Congress and Members of the Japanese Diet
for a series of discussions covering issues of mutual concern. A group
of current Members of Congress chair the Study Group in a bipartisan
manner. In the House of Representatives, Congressman Jim McDermott of
Washington and Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia
serve as co-chairs. In the Senate, Senators Jim Webb of Virginia and
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska take an active role in Study Group
programming. The Congressional Study Group on Japan has been funded
since its inception by the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, and the
Association would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Eric Gangloff
for his continued commitment to the success of the Study Group as
Executive Director of the Commission and wish him well in retirement.
The Association is proud of the work that we do in administering and
encouraging these study groups, and we are, of course, looking forward
to many more years of activity in this area.
It's good to see you all today.
Mrs. MORELLA. Thank you, Mr. Slattery.
Now the Chair has the distinct privilege of recognizing the very
important and distinguished minority leader, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Pelosi).
Ms. PELOSI. Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Madam Chair, Madam
Ambassador, Congresswoman, many titles, great leader.
Thank you all very much for being at the Capitol today and thank you
for your ongoing work on behalf of our country. I am honored to be here
as the minority leader in the presence of a great minority leader, Bob
Michel. He knows this job with a President of your party and without a
President of your party. Again he is, as you know, an icon in this
House, and anytime he visits it's a cause for celebration for us. And
to be able to do so, to honor Senator John Warner, welcome to the House
side, Senator Warner. The respect that we have had for you over the
years is only heightened by your ongoing leadership now that you are a
former Senator, but the fact is your imprint on this Congress has been
a great one, not only substantively but officially in a bipartisan way.
You're a great leader. It's an honor to welcome you and to join our
Speaker in welcoming you to the House side. Good morning, Senator.
Please give my love to Jeanne.
And to Dennis Hertel and Connie Morella, thank you for your
leadership. Listening to Congressman Slattery talk about the working
groups and the rest, I am so impressed, because that you continue to do
this work is very, very important. I just had the Ambassador from Japan
in my office, and I could just substitute that name for almost any
country, but Japan in particular right now at a time of duress for that
country, the appeal was to heighten our interparliamentary
relationships, whether with former Members, with staff, or with current
Members as well.
Jim, thank you for the work that you're all doing with those working
groups to encourage them. Former Members are a fount of so much wisdom
for us, Senator and Mr. Leader, Madam Chair, Dennis, you understand the
institution, you have time to reflect, I hope--I hope you have time to
reflect--on some of the issues while you served here and as you see our
service here.
We consider ourselves all colleagues to each other. Abraham Lincoln
is our colleague. Anyone who ever served in this House, I believe, is
our colleague. Daniel Webster, Abraham Lincoln, we're part of a very
proud tradition in the people's House.
I just want to tell you this anecdotally. All of the Speakers, former
and present, have been invited to participate in the 200th anniversary,
the bicentennial of the election of Henry Clay as Speaker of the House.
This will take place in Lexington, Kentucky, pretty soon. So, of
course, we're all reading up on Henry Clay to enhance our knowledge of
what was going on at the time. It was pretty raucous at the time. He
was elected the Speaker the first day he arrived, 34 years old, the
youngest Speaker ever, but he was part a of an insurgent group of many,
many freshmen who decided that they were going to take over the House,
and his imprint here was a great one.
In studying and in looking at his service over the years back and
forth, Senator Warner, he started in the Senate and he decided that not
much was getting done over there, so he decided to run for the House.
And then eventually he went back to the Senate. It's very interesting
to see, because as people, shall we say, comment on our combativeness
or our enthusiasm for ideas as we compete in this great marketplace of
ideas called the House of Representatives what the heritage and what
the background is of that expression of difference of opinion. The
gentlemen that we have here, Leader Michel and Senator Warner, are
examples of the civility we hope will be the hallmark that guides again
our enthusiasm for the ideas that we bring to the Congress.
[[Page H4091]]
Thank you for your ongoing leadership. Thank you for being an
intellectual resource to the Congress in a bipartisan way. I think I
served with almost all of you, maybe not every single one but almost
all of you, so I have a great appreciation for the contributions that
you have made. Again, the imprint, the legacy that you have left. I
know you're very proud. I want you to know that we are as well.
You have come at a very interesting time. The issues of budget and
budget priorities and the values debate that goes with that is
something that is not new to all of you. The challenges that we face in
the world, our national security is everything. We take that oath to
protect and defend our national security. I know I don't have to say
that to Bev Byron, her great leadership on the Armed Services
Committee. But also at a time where you have real-time communication,
it's so different. When Henry Clay was the Speaker of the House, a
message could only travel as fast as a horse could gallop or a ship
could sail. Imagine. And today in real time. In fact it's even before
real time. Before you even get out of the room, it's been BlackBerry'd
outside of the room, so the message is always ahead of you. Imagine the
difference that that makes, in the participation of the public, in
their reaction to events without any explanation or context in which
they have taken place but the fact that they are taking place.
Again, you've seen this all happen. Some of it happened when many of
you were here. Every day a new technology enhances our communication.
We see that as a plus. We see how it promoted democracy in the Middle
East. We hope for the best coming out of all of that, hopefully that it
will be democracy, but the change that sprang from it.
So in terms of how we represent, I say to the Members, you're all
independent. Your job description and your title are one and the same:
Representative. Representative. Sometimes it requires leadership to
give a national perspective to some of the decisions that you have to
make that might be not clear at home at the time, and again especially
with real-time communication, you have to be ahead of all of that.
That's called leadership.
Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for continuing your work
together in a bipartisan way. Thank you again for being an intellectual
resource. Thank you for the work that you do internationally because,
of course, again, back to national security, our first responsibility,
to keep the American people safe and have our children grow up in a
world where they can all reach their potential and their fulfillment
because the world is at peace.
I bring greetings from the Democrats in the House, but I hope I could
say that we all join together, Democrats and Republicans, in saying
thank you to all of you.
Mrs. MORELLA. We thank you, Madam Minority Leader.
Mr. HERTEL. I want to thank the leader so much for taking time today,
but also for always being so supportive of our association. The woman
that has achieved the highest office in the history of our country, to
honor us today to talk about the history of Henry Clay and other former
Speakers and leaders of their political party is such a great honor.
I want to report to Leader Pelosi that the Democrats won that golf
tournament yesterday, and it will have that trophy.
I want to now call on Beverly Byron.
In addition to the international and domestic programs we have
created to either teach about Congress or strengthen democracy abroad,
we are tasked with highlighting the achievements of former Members and
providing former Members with opportunities to stay connected with
their former colleagues. One of the premier events we have is our
annual statesmanship award dinner. In March of this year we hosted our
14th dinner, and like the preceding 13 years, we had it chaired by Lou
Frey, who's done such an outstanding job. He couldn't be with us today,
but he has asked our colleague, Beverly Byron, to report on this last
year's dinner. Bev, for all 14 dinners, has been one of our most active
dinner committee members. I would like to take this time and
opportunity to introduce her and to thank Beverly Byron for all of her
tireless work all these years for our association.
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair recognizes the gentlelady from Maryland.
Ms. BYRON. Thank you, Dennis. Let me also thank Lou for the terrific
work that he has done over the years to make this statesmanship dinner
such a success. It is greatly appreciated by the organization because
it is our major fundraiser.
The dinner this year was on March 15. The Association was proud to
host it. As in years past, the event was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel
on 22nd Street in Washington. We had nearly 400 guests in attendance.
The evening was dedicated to celebrate the achievements of the 2011
statesmanship honorees: former Minority Leaders and former Speakers of
the House who demonstrated exemplary service during their time in
leadership. Speaker Tom Foley, Leader Dick Gephardt, Speaker Dennis
Hastert, and Leader Bob Michel accepted the award in person, and
although Speakers Jim Wright and Newt Gingrich were unable to attend,
they sent their best wishes.
The evening began with remarks by former Member Lou Frey who
recognized the many honored guests in the room, including Speaker John
Boehner of Ohio and the Ambassadors of France, Germany, Taiwan, and the
European Union. After thanking the guests for their attendance, we had
a moment of silence in recognizing the passing of our good friend and
former President Jay Rhodes of Arizona. Lou then introduced former
Member Larry LaRocco for what has become a yearly tradition: a live
auction of congressional memorabilia to support the Association's
civics programs. After dinner, Speaker John Boehner gave the keynote
address remarking on the importance of Congress as an institution. We
then recognized each honoree individually and, at the conclusion of the
evening, gathered them along with the Speaker on the stage to accept
their awards. It was truly an historic night and the first time these
past congressional leaders were assembled on a stage in one group.
Their acceptance speeches were remarkable, giving the insight about
Congress, what it meant to serve, and the challenges of their
leadership. We are especially proud that we were able to bring together
Congress's past leaders with Congress's present leaders. It really was
a very moving and memorable evening.
The annual dinner assembles former and current Members of Congress,
prominent business and community leaders, representatives from the
diplomatic corps, and many foundations and NGOs with which the
Association has partnered over the years. Past honorees include our
former Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who just addressed us; Dick Cheney; the
Greatest Generation; Secretary Lynn Martin; and others. The evening is
our sole fundraiser and it makes possible some of the many programs my
colleagues have already reported to you today on.
Let me add to the long list another example of what former Members
can contribute to today's political education. One of the lessons that
we have learned from interacting with the American high school and
college students is that there is a void of real life experience and
advice when it comes to civic education textbooks. To fill that void,
our association, in conjunction with Lou Frey Institute at the
University of Central Florida, has collected the words of wisdom our
membership has to offer and edited two books which have since become
published. The first, ``Inside the House--Former Members Reveal How
Congress Really Works,'' was published several years ago and is being
used by political science professors across the country. This past
summer, we published a follow-up volume entitled ``Political Rules of
the Road.'' This book focuses on some of the rules of the road that we
have learned during our political careers, and I thank the many former
Members who took the time and submitted contributions to this
collection. The book has been featured several times on C-SPAN and also
was the subject of a 2-hour panel presentation at the National Archives
last fall. You can find information about both books on our Web site,
and I hope you all will take time to look at our Web site. I recommend
them to you and anyone interested in Congress.
With that, I yield back to our Association's President, Dennis
Hertel.
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
[[Page H4092]]
Mr. HERTEL. I want to thank Congresswoman Byron for all of her great
help for our association.
Let me highlight quickly one more event that is a great way for our
Members to stay connected and also educate themselves about a place
they may not be completely familiar with. Every year we host a Fall
Study Tour and invite our Members to participate at their own expense.
We do the organizing and planning, and our membership can join us, time
and interest permitting. We have visited some wonderful and interesting
places over the years, both in the United States and abroad. Last fall
we put together an exceptional Study Tour which brought us to Puerto
Rico. Former Member of Congress Carlos Romero Barcelo hosted our group
and his wonderful wife Kate was instrumental in creating a program for
us which was second to none. Our sincere thanks to both of them. What
makes our Study Tours so interesting is that we can combine your usual
tourist experience with a unique substantive program tailored to our
membership. In Puerto Rico we had meetings with the Puerto Rican
Senate, with the Speaker of the Puerto Rican House, with the mayor of
San Juan, and with the governor of Puerto Rico, the Honorable Luis
Fortuno, who, incidentally, is also a former Member of Congress. This
trip was a great learning experience. The people of Puerto Rico are
rightfully proud of their island and of their many accomplishments.
Puerto Ricans have fought for our country during all of our wars and
there are many Puerto Ricans who right now are serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The people of Puerto Rico are hard-working and
industrious. But what struck us most is the great warmth and
hospitality that you will find wherever you go on this wonderful
island. As I said, the annual Study Tour is like no other trip you can
participate in, and it is the best way I have found to discover a
country, its people, its culture, and its politics. I highly recommend
to my colleagues that they consider participating in one of these
trips. The next Study Tour will visit the Baltic Sea in mid-September
with highlights that include Helsinki and St. Petersburg. And as I said
before, all participants pay their own way, no Association funds are
expended on this type of program.
Let me at this point take a second to welcome our dear friends from
abroad. We are extremely honored to have with us several
representatives of former legislative associations in other countries.
From the Australian Former Members of Parliament Association, we are
pleased to have and to welcome Barry Cunningham and his wife. Thank you
very much for being here. We look forward to working with you
continuing into the future. From the Canadian Association of Former
Parliamentarians, it is our honor to be joined by Leo Duguay, Francis
LeBlanc, and Don Boudria. Leo and Francis have been subjected to
playing golf with me at our annual tournament, so they can attest to
how bad I am at golf. We really appreciate them coming for our annual
meeting and for our fundraiser yesterday for the golf tournament
charity for the wounded warriors. Also from the Former Members of the
Ontario Parliament, we thank David Warner for accepting our invitation.
Our relationship with like-minded organizations across the globe is
tremendously important to us, and we are very appreciative that all of
you have come here today to be with us and to spend all this time in
support of our efforts.
All the programs we have described, of course, require both
leadership and staff to implement. Our association is blessed to have
top people in both categories. I want to take this opportunity to thank
our board of directors, 30 former Members divided equally between our
two parties, for their advice and counsel. We really appreciate it.
Also, I would be remiss if I did not thank the other members of our
association's Executive Committee: our Vice President, Connie Morella;
our Treasurer, Barbara Kennelly; our Secretary, Jim Kolbe; and serving
on the Exec as Past President, Jim Slattery. You have all made this
association a stronger and better organization than it has ever been,
and I thank you all for your time and energy. Your counsel has been
most invaluable to me.
To administer all these programs takes a staff of dedicated,
enthusiastic professionals. I'm so sorry we're under the deadline here,
because I couldn't talk enough about our staff.
First of all, we have Elizabeth Ardagna, our Member Services Officer,
and how much work she has done on all fronts. Member Services doesn't
cover all the different variety of things that she does. The golf
tournament, she's in charge of that. Without her, it wouldn't have
happened, and it wouldn't have been so successful. This is a day-in and
day-out thing. The pressures of trying to work with Members of Congress
and everybody's schedules and fundraising and all the other endeavors
that she's done, we just want to thank her so much.
Esra Alemdar, our International Programs Officer, we've never had
such success of having such valued speakers but also having such great
attendance of active and former Senators and Members that have come
forward to it.
Bryan Corder, Legislative Programs Manager, who's again a utility
player. He does everything that we need. Regarding this China
delegation that Bob was just talking about, all the work that that
took, all the work that it takes to keep all of our different study
groups in operation; all the things that our members need along the way
to help with our fundraising dinner and all the rest. Bryan just does
such an excellent job.
I come to Pete Weichlein, who we know is the epitome of our
organization. It wouldn't exist without Pete, I guess is the simplest
way to say it. He came up first working with our German study program,
and then when he took over as Executive Director, we've seen all of the
difference of an organization that has the breadth to do international
scale operations, to reach with partners in our own country in a way we
never had before, with the National Archives, the Bipartisan Policy
Center, expanding Congress to Campus, so many different programs on the
horizon. Without Pete's leadership and dedication, it would be
impossible.
As some of the people said yesterday at the golf tournament, how do
you get so much done with such a small staff? That is because of the
superiority of our staff compared to any other, I think, in Washington
DC.
And then we talk about Sudha David-Wilp, our International Programs
Director, who is leaving us to go to the German Marshall Fund in
Berlin, Germany. There couldn't be a better association that is
benefiting our organization and the German Marshall Fund, that's to be
said for sure. She and her husband and her two daughters mean so much
to all of us because of the difference she has made in all of these
programs and partnerships internationally. We could have never
developed that kind of confidence and in-depth discussions and progress
without all that Sudha has done. We hope to continue that relationship
with her forever. For all of us, it's to our great benefit to have
somebody of her superior intellectual ability, but personality, and to
combine those two things means that it's been to the benefit of our
organization and the people of the United States and the Congress of
the United States because of all her hard work and accomplishments.
Sudha, we thank you so much.
Finally, in addition to our wonderful staff we benefit greatly from
our volunteers who lend us their talents and expertise pro bono. None
deserve more appreciation than Dava Guerin, who has taken on the role
of our Communications Director. Finally, you might notice we're getting
some press coverage, and it's favorable, because of the great and
wonderful work that Dava has done. She is just such a tremendous
professional. We're just getting started this last month, but looking
forward very, very much to going forward with her expertise.
Now I would just take this moment to thank all of you at the
Association for all of the effort that you've put forth and all the
dedication that you have. After these many years of public service, we
have the epitome of Senator Warner and Bob Michel today showing that
what can be done when we work together for Members of both parties.
Cokie Roberts, our only honorary member, has said two things about
former Members: one, they dress much better than they did when they
were Members; and, two, they haven't lost their partisanship, they keep
that edge, they keep all those beliefs, but suddenly it's all now for a
bipartisan effort in public service, and what a difference that makes.
Cokie is exactly right. That's why I thank all of you and our
association.
Now we come to our final bit of business before we must leave the
Chamber today, in about 4 minutes, and that is
[[Page H4093]]
the election of new board members and officers. Every year at our
annual meeting we ask the membership to elect new officers and board
members. In the past we have done so in a separate business meeting of
the membership, but it occurred to us that there is no better place for
holding a vote than the Chamber of the House of Representatives, and
that's what we're going to do today. I therefore now will read to you
the names of the candidates for officers and board members. They're all
running unopposed and I therefore ask for a simple ``yes'' or ``no'' as
I present to you the list of candidates as a slate. So you couldn't
have an easier election, and if we're going to do it on the floor of
the House, we want to make sure that it's a sure thing, right?
For the Association's eight seats on the 2011 class of the Board of
Directors, the candidates are:
Jack Buechner of Missouri
Martin Frost of Texas
Lee Hamilton of Indiana
Jim Kolbe of Arizona
Bob Livingston of Louisiana
Norm Mineta of California
Jim Walsh of New York
All in favor of electing these eight former Members to a 3-year term
as our board of directors, please say ``aye.'' All opposed, say
``nay.'' Hearing no opposition, the slate has been elected by the
membership.
Next, we will elect our Executive Committee. Connie Morella and I are
finishing up the first year of our 2-year term. Therefore, the
candidates for another 1-year term as our Executive Committee are:
Barbara Kennelly of Connecticut for Treasurer
Jim Kolbe of Arizona for Secretary
Jim Slattery of Kansas for Past President Exec Member
All in favor of electing these three former Members to another 1-year
term on our Executive Committee, please ``aye.'' All opposed, ``nay.''
Hearing no opposition, the slate has been elected by the membership. I
thank you all very much.
Now as we come to the conclusion of our program, it is my sad duty to
inform the Congress of those former and current Members who have passed
away since our last report. This list contains the names of our
colleagues and friends, all of whom will be greatly missed. Let me just
highlight one name, my close personal friend and our former President,
Jay Rhodes. Just a year ago, Jay stood at this very lectern delivering
this report to Congress in his capacity as our association's President.
That I am reading his name today and the list of these Members who have
passed is so very sad for all of us who have been active with our
organization and have known Jay so well. Jay was a great leader and
dear friend, and we miss his guidance, intelligence, and his humor
very, very much. He was someone who cared about all of us and that we
all felt close to. It is a lesson for all of us to appreciate life and
to appreciate the friendships that we have and our family and to hold
them dear and close to us.
I ask all of you to rise as I read the names as we pay respect to the
memory of the people that I am about to list with a moment of silence.
John Adler of New Jersey
Robert Byrd of West Virginia
Emilio Daddario of Connecticut
Robert Duncan of Oregon
Marvin Esch of Michigan
Frank Evans of Colorado
Robert Ellsworth of Kansas
Geraldine Ferraro of New York
Peter H.B. Frelinghuysen, Jr. of New Jersey
Wayne Grisham of California
Robert P. Hanrahan of Illinois
William Harsha of Ohio
Fred Heineman of North Carolina
Arthur Link of North Dakota
Steve Horn of California
James Mann of South Carolina
Karen McCarthy of Missouri
James McClure of Idaho
Owen Pickett of Virginia
Howard Pollock of Alaska
William Ratchford of Connecticut
John J. Rhodes, III of Arizona
Dan Rostenkowski of Illinois
William Bart Saxbe of Ohio
Stephen Solarz of New York
Ted Stevens of Alaska
Tom Vandergriff of Texas
Harold Volkmer of Missouri
Stuyvesant Wainwright, II of New York
William Walsh of New York
Thank you.
That concludes the 41st Report to Congress by the U.S. Association of
Former Members of Congress. We thank the Congress, the Speaker and the
Minority Leader for giving us the opportunity to return to this revered
Chamber and to report on our Association's activities. We look forward
to another active and productive year. We thank all of you, members of
the Association
Mrs. MORELLA. The Chair again wishes to thank the former Members of
the House for their presence here today.
Before terminating, the Chair would like to invite those former
Members whose names were not recorded as being present to give their
names to the Reading Clerk.
The meeting is now adjourned.
The meeting adjourned at 9:47 a.m.
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