[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 23346-23358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JOHN E. PORTER, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 6, 1999, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
is recognized for 60 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on the subject of the Porter special 
order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to host this 
special order tonight for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter), and 
I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis) for giving up 
his time to allow us to honor this very special gentleman tonight.
  The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) is retiring, after serving 
in Congress for 21 years. It is difficult for those of us who are 
gathered to honor John tonight to sum up in the short time everything 
that he has done for the 10th Congressional District of Illinois and 
for his country since joining this body in 1980. It is my hope, based 
on the words that my colleagues and I will offer tonight, that all who 
are within the sound of our voices will understand the tremendous 
character of this man and all that he has accomplished, most notably in 
the areas of human rights, health research, and protecting the 
environment.
  It is also my hope that based on our comments John Porter will know 
how well-respected he is, not only by his congressional colleagues but 
by the elected officials of his home State and district, his staff, 
former staff, his constituents, and the many groups who have had the 
pleasure of working with him throughout the years.
  Tonight, Mr. Speaker, we will hear of the legacy John has created 
during his years of service in this body. We will hear a small part of 
the large impact he has made on his district, his State, his country, 
and the world.
  I have a confession to make. I am an unabashed John Porter fan. It is 
not because I have lived for many years in his district and know how 
well his leadership and his views suit those of his constituents there, 
nor is it because of the small kindnesses he has always personally 
shown to me. Those are reasons enough to sing the praises of this 
wonderful man. Like hundreds of thousands of men and women in Illinois, 
throughout the United States and around the four corners of this globe, 
I know and love this man for his great humanity, his concern for the 
underdog, and his unquestioned commitment to making this world a better 
place in which to live.
  When I was elected in 1998, to serve the people of the 13th District 
of Illinois here in Congress, I knew that it would be helpful for me to 
look at the other members of the Illinois delegation for guidance. 
Knowing his excellent reputation, John Porter was the first person I 
sought out. Asking him for input was easy, given our similar political 
ideologies. However, I doubt John, and the ease with which he provided 
advice, fully understood how much guidance he truly gave.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I am going to turn to some of my colleagues 
so that they too can share their thoughts on our dear friend. And I 
will first yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood). As my 
colleagues know, before his election, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
LaHood) served as the chief of staff to then House minority leader, Bob 
Michel of Illinois. In this capacity he had the opportunity to work on 
a number of issues with John Porter and, as a result, probably knows 
him as well or better than any other Member in this body.
  I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood).
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the time that has been set 
aside here by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) to honor our 
colleague, John Porter.
  Mr. Speaker, John deserves to be honored. John has been an 
outstanding Member of this body. Prior to coming to the House of 
Representatives, he served with great distinction in the Illinois House 
of Representatives.
  John has known political turmoil in his life because he has been 
through some very, very tough elections. I think people who have not 
really followed his career should know that John is probably as good a 
politician as there is. In order to get to this body, one has to be a 
politician, and John has been, particularly in the early days of his 
election to the House of Representatives, come through some very, very 
close elections in the district that he represents.
  John represents a district north of Chicago, primarily Lake and 
McHenry County, Lake County primarily, and it is an area that is not 
really considered a suburban area of Chicago but kind of an entity unto 
its own. His district runs right up against the Wisconsin border. John 
has done so well in representing his district that the last several 
years, he has had elections that were less contentious and the people 
of his district have recognized the many good things that he has been 
able to do.
  Serving on the Committee on Appropriations, John is known as a 
cardinal. What that means is that he is a chairman of a subcommittee. 
If not the most important, certainly one of the most important 
subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations, the Labor-HHS 
subcommittee, which is the subcommittee that really looks very 
carefully at dollars that are provided for medical care and dollars 
that are provided for research. And John has really set a legacy for 
himself in terms of his commitment to cancer research, to Alzheimer's 
research, to AIDS research, and to so many of the real, real serious 
kinds of diseases that face our country.
  John Porter has been at the forefront of making a commitment of 
dollars to really find cures for these dreaded diseases; as I said, 
whether it be cancer or Alzheimer's or AIDS, or any other number of 
diseases. So he has been a leader in this area. And I really think it 
will be his legacy that he will be remembered for the enormous 
commitment that he made to research and particularly research to the 
National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and so 
many of these programs here in Washington that try to reach out and 
find the very best people in America to help us find cures for these 
dreaded diseases.

[[Page 23347]]

  John has been a wonderful public servant not only for the 10th 
district but also for the State of Illinois and for the country. He has 
been a strong, strong leader in human rights and has lead the cause of 
human rights in many different parts of the world that go unrecognized 
in so many ways because they do not always get the headlines. But I 
think those people that have worked with John on human rights issues 
recognize the leadership that he has provided in that area.

                              {time}  2145

  So an outstanding career, an outstanding career of leadership, an 
outstanding career of commitment to the people of Illinois, to the 
people of the 10th district, and to the people of this country.
  John has also been a regular attender of our delegation lunches. And 
those of us that attend those very regularly, as I know the gentlewoman 
from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Ewing) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), do enjoy sharing 
our apple pie with John. Because of all I guess the funny things I will 
remember about John is that he loves apple pie, and he cannot sit 
through a lunch with just one piece of apple pie. And so the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Ewing) or myself or somebody is always passing him 
an additional piece of apple pie. That is something that I think I will 
always remember about John in terms of sort of the funny things, the 
humorous things, the human things that happen in this business.
  So we will miss John for his leadership and his commitment. I am 
delighted to have had a chance to say a word or two about his 
leadership, and I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for setting aside 
this time to do that.
  I know that all of us wish John Porter good luck and Godspeed in 
whatever he does. We will surely miss him.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. Is 
it not curious that it is always the thinnest people that can eat two 
pieces of pie while the rest of us try to avoid them so we can pass 
them on to him?
  Mr. LaHOOD. I would agree.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, the other area that the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. LaHood) and I see a lot of the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Porter) is at the ``Tuesday Lunch Bunch That Meets on Wednesday 
But Does Not Have Lunch Group.'' We spent meetings once a week to 
discuss issues that are important to those of us that belong in that 
group what we call the ``Republican Moderates.''
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize my friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).
  I should note that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) will 
hold a similar special order next week for another Member from Illinois 
who is retiring from the 106th Congress, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Ewing), who we will hear from in just a few minutes. But, 
unfortunately, we are losing two great members of the Illinois 
delegation due to retirement this year, and it is our pleasure to honor 
both of them.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) for arranging this special order. I wish we did 
not have to have our next one next week. I wish we were finished with 
our business. But I look forward to taking up that cause next week.
  Of course we are here to pay tribute to who has become a good friend 
of mine, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter), who is retiring. It 
has really been an honor and a privilege to serve with him in the House 
of Representatives.
  I have always been impressed by his commitment to his ideas and his 
beliefs. He has always been a gentleman and treated even newbies like 
myself as a colleague and as an equal. I have learned much about the 
process in this House of Representatives by observing how John Porter 
has gone about doing his business, and I appreciated his tutelage and 
his friendship.
  Most important, however, is that I have a newfound respect for our 
Nation's efforts and ongoing need for medical research. As we all know 
here, and it is nice to be able to publicly acclaim the ongoing efforts 
of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) to increase Federal funding 
for medical research as our colleague and friend, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. LaHood), just mentioned.
  Prior to coming to Congress, I had little knowledge of how much our 
Government played in the fight against diseases and how much it 
emphasized medical research. Thanks to John, I now not only understand 
that role, but I am now an advocate for expanding it.
  Far too many of us do not think of sickness or diseases until we have 
a loved one who is faced with it. We are lucky and the Nation is lucky 
to have a person like John Porter who has worked hard to ensure that 
quality health care will be available when we need it.
  There are many people involved in providing health care, whether it 
is the hospitals, big inner-city hospitals or rural hospitals, 
community health centers, home health, visiting nurses, you name it, 
there are many people working diligently in the fields. Most of them 
are working long hours for little to no pay. They have an advocate here 
in Washington, D.C., who has also worked numerous long hours, sometimes 
without recognition, a champion in health care and health care delivery 
and medical research. And that is Mr. John Porter.
  We have benefited from his time here in this body. We have benefited 
as a people. We have benefited as colleagues. We have benefited as a 
Nation. I have benefited personally from observing his leadership and 
his thoughtful, deliberate process to help in the benefit of all.
  I would really like to thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. 
Biggert) for arranging this special order and paying tribute to our 
colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter). It is an important 
thing to do before we adjourn in this Congress, and her thoughtfulness 
in remembering him goes a long way and adds to her credentials as being 
a great new Member who we are glad to have here.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.
  Mr. Speaker, it really is a pleasure to be on the Illinois 
delegation. I think that we have had such a unique opportunity for both 
sides of the aisle to work so carefully together. So I think that we 
are going to miss the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) so much 
because of his contribution to that Illinois delegation.
  We have another Member, as I mentioned before, from Illinois. So I am 
pleased to recognize the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Ewing), my friend 
and colleague. Unfortunately, like the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Porter), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Ewing) is stepping down at 
the end of this Congress. That is not the only thing that these two men 
have in common, however.
  Much, like they have been in this body for 9 years together. The 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Ewing) and the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Porter) served together in the Illinois General Assembly in the 
mid-1970s. So they have been traveling on the same circuit for a long 
time. I am happy to have the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Ewing) here 
to say something about the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter).
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Ewing).
  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman very much for putting 
this special order together for our friend, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Porter), and for allowing me to take a few minutes to talk about 
John and some of the experiences that we have experienced over the 
years.
  I must say that the gentlewoman is a wonderful addition to our 
delegation and she is such a good participant in all that we do here 
and I appreciate that and I will miss working with her.
  The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) though has spent 11 terms 
here in this body. That is hard to believe, but that is 22 years.
  Prior to that, as the gentlewoman said, he was in the Illinois 
Assembly. I

[[Page 23348]]

was kind of looking back at my figures here and I realized that John 
came 2 years before I did. He will have had a career of 28 years in 
public office. And at the end of my term, I will have put in 26 years.
  Besides that, John and I had offices next to each other in 
Springfield in, I think it is, the Illinois State Office Building 
behind the Capitol. So we shared a great many things. I do not think we 
had to share a secretary, as many members do share a secretary, but we 
did not have the same one. But we would be in there late at night, 
which is the way the legislature operated back then, and we would have 
a lot of time to visit about family and our children and those things. 
So John and I reached a deep friendship early on in our political 
career.
  John then ran for Congress. I do not know exactly how that was, but 
he ran three times to get to Congress for one term. And there was, I 
think, an election he lost and than a special election. And then by the 
time he had done those two elections, it was time for the next election 
to get him a full term here. So he worked very hard to become a Member 
of Congress.
  After he got here, he went on the Committee on Appropriations. And as 
he leaves, he leaves as one of the 13 cardinals of that committee, 
which is an attainment that many here would like to emulate. Few get 
the opportunity to be one of the cardinals in the appropriations 
process.
  I have heard my other colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
LaHood) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), talk about some 
of his priorities there. And I know that John has had a very kind 
heart. He is certainly a compassionate conservative in the best sense 
of the word.
  John is a very quiet man. His area now is Labor HHS, one of the 
hardest of the appropriation bills to pass. And while I know that that 
sometimes worries John greatly at the end of the sessions, I have seen 
him go through that, he is always so mild mannered about it. I do not 
know if I could keep my restraint as much as John does in handling that 
bill and all the rhetoric that goes on on this floor about that bill.
  But he has done many other things in his career here. He has been a 
great supporter of the Pottawattamie Airport and the Waukegan Regional 
Airport. And through those efforts, those institutions in his area, his 
district, have grown and they brought air service to northern Illinois 
and he has helped secure the funding for very important improvements 
there.
  The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) also worked to help local 
school districts particularly address the shortfall in impact in 
Federal aid. This may seem like kind of a strange thing to talk about, 
but that is very important to school districts. Because when they do 
not get that Federal aid, they have got to reach into their pocket and 
take it out of the money that they normally would have to spend for 
education that they get out of their local tax dollars. And that 
Federal aid comes because of the military people who were in those 
school districts, and that is very important.
  He has been an advocate for strengthening ethics in Government and 
reforming the way this institution, the U.S. Congress, operates.
  The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter) has advanced legislation to 
make urgently needed improvements in Congress's internal standards, and 
I think that we should thank him for that. That is a thankless job but 
one that we have to continue to work on always.
  He has been a fighter against drunk driving and instrumental in the 
passage of legislation mandating a 21-year-old drinking age in this 
country.
  He has worked to prevent the spread of chemical weapons. He authored 
the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Act and directed 
the Secretary of Commerce to develop effective export controls to 
prevent the spread of deadly chemical and biological weapons to other 
nations.
  He has been a leading voice in support of human rights and democratic 
reforms in China and Hong Kong. He led the successful effort to defend 
the Great Lakes Naval Training Center against the threat of closure 
during the most recent round of cutbacks considered by the Base 
Realignment and Closure Commission. The decision to keep this center 
open is expected to bring 8,000 jobs to his area.
  Did my colleagues know that that is the only base we have in 
Illinois? Many States have a number of military installations. 
Sometimes we talk about how much comes back to our State in tax 
dollars. Well, one reason we are a little behind some of our sister 
States is that we only have one major military installation left in our 
State, where we used to have a number of them. The gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Porter) is to receive the thanks for protecting that 
important installation.
  I would just say in closing that I consider John Porter a true 
friend, a real gentleman, a fine legislator, and I know that he will go 
on to do many, many other fine things in service of his country and his 
State.
  I thank the gentlewoman very much for allowing me the time to talk 
about my friend.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to hear what the 
gentleman had to say about him. I know that he is both of our friends, 
and we will miss him. It is nice that the gentleman has expressed that 
so eloquently.

                              {time}  2200

  We will now move to Arkansas. I am pleased to yield the gentleman 
from Arkansas (Mr. Dickey). The gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Dickey) 
serves on the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health 
and Human Services, and Education of which John Porter is the chairman. 
So given the attention and controversy that our appropriation bill 
always seems to attract, I know that John Porter and the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Dickey) have gone through some interesting battles 
together. So I am happy that the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Dickey) 
could join us tonight to honor our friend John Porter.
  Mr. DICKEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. 
Biggert) for her thoughtfulness in remembering this fine gentleman.
  I would like to state a little bit for the listeners and the viewers 
just exactly what type of a committee he has been the chairman of. The 
Committee on Appropriations has 13 subcommittees. One subcommittee is 
called the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
Education. It has over maybe 820 agencies or programs that it 
administers. John Porter is the chairman, and I have been a committee 
member now for 6 years. This will be my sixth year.
  A chairman and the subcommittee members get to know each other quite 
well. They first of all have to jockey for positions to see who is 
doing what and what positions we have and what favors and corresponding 
votes that you give and take, and then you set about trying to find out 
exactly what the purpose of the committee is.
  John Porter took this chairmanship as if he was made for it. It is 
the most amazing match I have ever seen. Of course, he had been on it 
as a minority member for some time but as chairman I have sat and 
watched him and listened to story after story after story of pain, 
suffering and human misery. He has done it always with attention and he 
has asked questions. We sometimes in this committee get what is called 
compassion fatigue. We hear these sad stories and all of these 
circumstances where people are just left out alone and this committee 
is the one with the heart, as I call it, of the Committee on 
Appropriations and we are the ones that go out and try to help others.
  John Edward, as I call him, has been just a wonderful, patient 
listener and been an active participant in trying to help use the 
Federal resources to help the people who are suffering.
  As that chairman, he has shown a great gift in bipartisanship, and 
that is one of the reasons why he can come to this floor and pass these 
bills. We sometimes have to pass them with just Republican votes, 
sometimes with Republican and Democrat votes, but mainly it is because 
of the controversy in the legislation, it is generally considered 
liberal. The appropriations are considered liberal. He goes and he 
tells

[[Page 23349]]

the story and he does not do it in a bragging sort of way or in an 
emotional sort of way, and maybe he is not even charismatic in his 
approach but he just methodically explains each part of the bill and he 
answers questions and he gets the rhetoric from the other side, the 
loyal opposition as we call it, and I think it is a great thing to 
watch him go about it.
  He led me quite a bit in health care, in that I could not quite 
understand what our commitment was and the number of dollars that we 
were spending, let us say on the National Institutes of Health. He kept 
saying, no, this is the thing we ought to do and this will be something 
that you will look back over the years as being the best thing that you 
have done on any of these committees; and he is probably right.
  Dr. Francis Collins came to Hot Springs, Arkansas, in my district not 
long ago and explained the human genome project. That would not have 
been done, in my opinion, without John Edward Porter being there trying 
to in a five-year period of time double the budget of the National 
Institutes of Health. He had a vision for what that institute, the 
National Institutes of Health, could do and then he stayed with it.
  He was constantly going over there. He was taking us over there. He 
was having their staff come and explain things to us, but without his 
leadership and understanding I do not think it would have ever worked.
  I have also had an opportunity to go with him on a human rights and 
health mission to China and Cambodia and Hong Kong and other places, 
and I not only watched how he was able to speak to the people of those 
countries and in a knowing way he had been there before or he had 
talked to them or they had been to America and he had visited with them 
there and he was an outstanding spokesman. The chairman of the CODEL, 
as we call it, always leads the introduction and always gives the 
acceptance to the welcome in each country and he was an outstanding 
ambassador for our country. I mean, he was so well spoken and calm and 
did such a good job representing what we consider the best of our 
country, and that is our concern for people who are suffering and who 
need care.
  Some of the things that we worked on besides the NIH was TRIO, where 
we rescued the program from a cut. TRIO is a program that encourages 
kids who are not from a family whose parents are college graduates and 
which says if you want to stay after school, if you want to stay on the 
weekends, if you want to come back and have extra work in the summer, 
we will match your ambition with assistance. Money has been added for 
the TRIO program year after year after year.
  AHEC, which is a program providing for health care to rural areas, 
has seen a dramatic increase. Head Start has seen a dramatic increase 
in our committee. All of this shows what John Edward Porter was doing 
as a leader.
  There are some problems that I have had with him, of course. In the 
early days, a chairman just kind of controls things. He is kind of 
upset about it so I was always badgering him and keeping him with 
amendments and he was having to deal with my activist type of approach. 
He is completely different in that respect, and he is always well 
prepared, always thinks out his product and it is kind of hard for him 
to see some of us who were just firing off in several different 
directions at once. One time in particular it was late at night, I can 
remember, like 11:00 or 12:00 at night and everybody was talking in the 
committee and I just stood up kind of kiddingly and said, Mr. Chairman, 
I think you have lost control of this meeting, and he said one reason I 
have lost control is you are standing up. Why do you not sit down?
  He had that way of doing it. So I sat down and we got on with the 
business, but he got a kick out of that.
  I think one of the reasons, and he will not admit it, but one of the 
reasons he is leaving is because we have term limits in the 
chairmanships. We have imposed that on ourselves in the House rules. He 
has a term limit. He knows that he could not go to another committee 
that would be as satisfying in his heart and his soul as this one. He 
knows if he went to another committee he could be chairman, but that he 
might want to stay here and not being chairman is a factor. I think 
this might be laid at the feet of term limits, the term limits program; 
but he probably would not say it. He is too much of a gentleman to say 
something like that.
  I am going to miss him. It might surprise him for me to say that 
because we have really fought hard on several different issues and 
compromised and worked out our differences as we have had them, but he 
is such a fine gentleman. It is a pleasure for me to participate in 
this special order for John Edward Porter. We will miss you, John.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Dickey) for 
his comments. It is nice to hear from somebody who has worked so 
closely with Mr. Porter and had such a wonderful experience from it.
  I would like to enter into the record, as I said before I had some 
statements, and this is from Governor George Ryan the governor of the 
State of Illinois. I am going to read some of it. I will not read the 
whole thing but that will be submitted for the record. This letter 
says,

       Dear John, on behalf of the State of Illinois please accept 
     our heartfelt gratitude for your extraordinary contributions 
     during a lifetime of public service. On the occasion of your 
     retirement from the U.S. Congress, it is fair to recognize 
     and applaud what you have accomplished for your constituents, 
     for people within Illinois and throughout the United States. 
     It is also not an exaggeration to highlight the fact that 
     your leadership in human rights and on environmental issues 
     has benefited people around the world. You are a strong 
     advocate for a thoughtful Federal appropriations process, a 
     clean environment and adequate funding for the arts.
       You have earned an influential role among the green 
     Republicans to fight for the Nation's environmental interests 
     in Congress. And you are only one of five House members ever 
     to be appointed to the board of directors of the Kennedy 
     Center for the Performing Arts. Your service in Illinois 
     began in the Illinois House of Representatives during 1972 
     and I am proud that we served together in the State House 
     before you were elected to Congress in 1980. Those of us who 
     were fortunate to work with you then have not been surprised 
     by what you have accomplished since. As a champion and 
     supporter of the National Institutes of Health, your efforts 
     have helped the Institute bring about numerous medical and 
     health advances. You have successfully advocated Federal 
     funding to expand the Metro commuter rails into the northern 
     suburbs of Illinois, including many towns in your district. 
     The 290 acres of open space at Fort Sheridan is an outgrowth 
     of your creative determination and ability to persuade the 
     Federal Government to transfer the land to the Lake County 
     Forest Preserve District when Fort Sheridan was closed. That 
     this land transfer occurred without cost to the district and 
     continues to exist as an open space for all to enjoy is among 
     your most special contributions. The Great Lakes Naval 
     Station remains open, viable and an economic anchor in 
     Illinois because of your efforts. Among the critical military 
     missions conducted here is Navy and Coast Guard training. 
     Your commitment and effectiveness as an advocate of free 
     trade continues to produce immeasurable economic benefits for 
     the people of Illinois. Our farmers have more markets in 
     which to sell their crops and livestock. Our business 
     community has additional opportunities to positively impact 
     their bottom line. Our workers enjoy a more stable work 
     environment with better compensation.
       Additional contributions that will not be forgotten include 
     your efforts for comprehensive flood control measures for the 
     north branch of the Chicago River; the enhancement of safety 
     and operational capacities at Waukegan Airport, including new 
     instrument landing equipment and runway improvements. 
     Waukegan Harbor has been cleaned up with Federal resources 
     and payments you helped secure from the firm who did the 
     polluting.
       On behalf of my family and our shared constituents within 
     all walks of life in Illinois, thank you for all you have 
     accomplished. Your ideas and experience and voice in Congress 
     will be sorely missed. We wish you the very best in your next 
     endeavor and hope that it brings you all the joy and 
     happiness that you deserve. Please extend our very best 
     regards to your entire family and especially your children, 
     John, Ann, David, Robin and Donna. Sincerely George H. Ryan, 
     Governor.


[[Page 23350]]


                                                State of Illinois,


                                            Washington Office,

                                 Washington, DC, October 11, 2000.
     Hon. John Edward Porter,
     Chairman, Labor, Health & Human Services and Education 
         Appropriations Subcommittee, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear John: On behalf of the State of Illinois, please 
     accept our heartfelt gratitude for your extraordinary 
     contributions during a lifetime of public service.
       On the occasion of your retirement from the US Congress, 
     it's fair to recognize and applaud what you have accomplished 
     for your constituents, for people within Illinois and 
     throughout the United States. It's also not an exaggeration 
     to highlight the fact that your leadership in human rights 
     and on environmental issues has benefited people around the 
     world.
       You are a strong advocate for a thoughtful federal 
     appropriations process, a clean environment and adequate 
     funding for the arts. You have earned an influential role 
     among the ``Green Republicans'' to fight for the nation's 
     environmental interests in Congress. And you are one of only 
     five House members ever to be appointed to the Board of 
     Directors of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
       Your service in Illinois began in the Illinois House of 
     Representatives during 1972 and I'm proud that we served 
     together in the State House before you were elected to 
     Congress in 1980. Those of us who were fortunate to work with 
     you then haven't been surprised by what you have accomplished 
     since.
       The National Institutes of Health and biomedical research 
     have been huge beneficiaries of your legislative skills and 
     your leadership as Chairman of the Labor/HHS Appropriation 
     Subcommittee. As a champion and supporter of the NIH, your 
     efforts have helped the Institute bring about numerous 
     medical and health advances.
       You have successfully advocated federal funding to expand 
     the METRA Commuter rails into the northern suburbs of 
     Illinois, including many towns in your district. The METRA 
     extension into these areas via the Wisconsin Central tracks 
     has stimulated wide ranging economic expansion. The passenger 
     rail service this expansion made possible connected the 
     northern suburbs to O'Hare International Airport and 
     Chicago's Union Station.
       The 290 acres of open space at Fort Sheridan is an 
     outgrowth of your creativity, determining and your ability to 
     persuade the federal government to transfer the land to the 
     Lake County Forest Preserve District when Fort Sheridan was 
     closed. That this land transfer occurred without cost to the 
     District and continues to exist as open space for all to 
     enjoy is among your most special contributions.
       The Great Lakes Naval Station remains open, viable and an 
     economic anchor in Illinois because of your efforts. Among 
     the critical military missions conducted here is Navy and 
     Coast Guard training.
       Illinois is among the first tier of states benefiting from 
     new opportunities to market our products, produce and ideas 
     internationally. Your commitment and effectiveness as an 
     advocate of free trade continues to produce immeasurable 
     economic benefits for the people of Illinois. Our farmers 
     have more markets in which to sell their crops and livestock. 
     Our business community has additional opportunities to 
     positively impact their bottom line. Our workers enjoy a more 
     stable work environment with better compensation.
       Additional contributions that will not be forgotten include 
     your efforts for comprehensive flood control measures for the 
     North Branch of the Chicago River. The enhancement of safety 
     and operational capabilities at Waukegan Airport, including 
     new instrument landing equipment and runway improvements. 
     Waukegan Harbor has been cleaned up with federal resources 
     and payments you helped secure from the firm who did the 
     polluting.
       On behalf of my family and our shared constituents from all 
     walks of life within Illinois, thank you for all that you 
     have accomplished. Your ideas, experience and voice in 
     Congress will be sorely missed. We wish you the very best in 
     your next endeavor and hope that it brings you all the joy 
     and happiness that you deserve. Please extend our very best 
     regards to your entire family and especially your children--
     John, Ann, David, Robin, and Donna.
           Sincerely,
                                                   George H. Ryan,
                                                         Governor.

  I think it is amazing all of the correspondence that we have had. The 
praise from several fellow Illinoians for John Porter's service in 
Illinois include a couple of members from the Illinois delegation that 
I would like to summarize what they have submitted. The gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) points out that not only has John's work 
resulted in millions of dollars going to fund biomedical research but 
his legacy will be saving lives. While they have not always agreed on 
every issue, he commends John for his conservative stance on fiscal 
issues and his unwavering commitment to eliminating deficits and 
balancing the Federal budgets. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Costello) touts John's efforts to ensure funding for the National 
Institutes of Health, and his dedication to human rights issues. He 
expresses his admiration for John's work in the Illinois delegation and 
on the Committee on Appropriations. He states that his friendship will 
be missed.
  A couple of comments from former chiefs of staff to John Porter. Mark 
Kirk states that America is not great because we are rich or field the 
most powerful military. We are great because our Nation has been the 
largest force for good on this earth. John Porter and the Human Rights 
Caucus made our values and respect for human rights an essential part 
of our country's mission to the world. We here in Illinois will miss 
John Porter's calm, intellectual and dignified service to the Nation.
  At this point, I would like to submit his letter.

                                              Mark Steven Kirk

                             Glenview, Illinois, October 18, 2000.
     Congresswoman Judy Biggert,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman Biggert: I want to applaud you for 
     leading today's Special Order for John Porter.
       Our country and future generations owe a real debt to 
     Congressman Porter. he led our nation's commitment to double 
     funding for medical research. It was his decision that laid 
     the foundation for the mapping of the human genome, finding 
     the cause of Alzheimer's disease and a cure for some types of 
     diabetes. John Porter's legacy is one of longer, healthier 
     lives, not just for our nation but the world.
       John Porter also embodies the values we hold most dear. 
     America is not great because we are rich or field the most 
     powerful military. We are great because our nation has been 
     the largest force for good on this Earth. We enshrined our 
     values in the Bill of Rights and exported them through the 
     Universal Declaration of Human Rights. John Porter and the 
     Human Rights Caucus made our values and respect for human 
     rights an essential part of our country's mission to the 
     world.
       After 21 years of John Porter's service to the nation, 
     human freedom has spread throughout Eastern Europe and the 
     former Soviet Union, turning enemies into allies. The new 
     leaders in many of these countries were once prisoners of 
     conscience whose best friend and advocate was John Edward 
     Porter. The bond they formed in prison cells with their voice 
     and friend in Congress will reap a permanent reward to the 
     United States.
       We here in Illinois will miss John Porter's calm, 
     intellectual and dignified service to the nation. He served 
     us all in the highest tradition of public service and 
     commitment to the greater good.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Mark Kirk.

  Another chief of staff, Robert Bradner, who worked for John for 13 
years, cites a specific example of John's foresight. Fifteen years ago, 
before anyone saw it as a problem, John began pointing out the 
potential problems with Social Security. While many thought it to be an 
act of political suicide, he had the courage to take on the issue of 
Social Security reform. Popular wisdom has finally caught up with him.

                              {time}  2215

  Robert further states, ``John's belief in a fair process and his 
ability to work on the basis of mutual respect with colleagues of 
widely divergent views allowed him to shepherd difficult legislation 
through the House over the past 6 years that he has been the chairman 
of the Labor-HHS Committee, in a manner that confirmed to all the true 
measure of his policy making talent.''
  I continue with Robert Bradner. ``Ultimately, I regard John Porter as 
a teacher. He taught me and a number of others who passed through his 
offices about the honor of public service and the importance of 
ideas.''

                                                 October 18, 2000.
     Hon. Judy Biggert,
     Member of Congress,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Judy: I am delighted that you have organized a special 
     order on the eve of John Porter's retirement from the House 
     of Representatives to commemorate his many years of public 
     service.
       I had the great honor to work for John Porter for a total 
     of thirteen years, both during the time that he served as a 
     member of the minority party in the House, and later when he 
     rose to an important chairmanship in the majority. A litany 
     of all that he accomplished in that time would run many

[[Page 23351]]

     pages. However, I would like to share a few observations.
       During the 1980s, John Porter distinguished himself as a 
     tireless advocate for human rights and the environment, as a 
     defender of the rights of women and an advocate for a common 
     sense approach to family planning, and as a fierce opponent 
     of federal budget deficits. One accomplishment deserves 
     particular note, for it is emblematic of both his 
     intelligence and his political courage. Fifteen years ago, 
     John began pointing out the dangerous growth of unfunded 
     liabilities in the Social Security system and, soon 
     thereafter, he began introducing legislation to provide for 
     individual social security retirement accounts. At the time, 
     such behavior was considered an act of political suicide. But 
     John had the courage to take on the issue, and a constituency 
     that trusted and valued sound judgment over demagoguery. He 
     was well ahead of his time in seeing this problem for what it 
     was. Today, the popular wisdom has finally caught up with 
     where John was well over a decade ago: recognizing this as a 
     serious problem and beginning to come to grips with 
     solutions. Indeed, a very closely related proposal to John's 
     original legislation is playing a very prominent role in the 
     current Presidential election.
       Later in his career, John had the opportunity to accede to 
     the Chairmanship of the Labor, Health & Human Services and 
     Education Subcommittee. This was no easy assignment. In 
     recent years, the Labor-HHS bill has been a place where some 
     of the most passionately held beliefs of conservatives and 
     liberals about the shape and size of government and a myriad 
     of emotional social issues collide headlong. And it is the 
     place where, on an annual basis, those disagreements must 
     somehow be resolved. I would argue that John Porter was 
     almost uniquely qualified for this most difficult assignment. 
     This capability stemmed not from his views on any particular 
     issue but rather from the innate decency that he has always 
     shown to his co-workers and his strong belief that the 
     process by which issues are resolved in a democracy is of 
     equal, if not greater, importance than the particular outcome 
     achieved on a particular issue on a particular day. John's 
     belief in a fair process and his ability to work on the basis 
     of mutual respect with colleagues of widely divergent views 
     allowed him to shepherd this most difficult legislation 
     through the House over the past six years in a manner that 
     confirmed to all the true measure of his policy making 
     talent.
       Ultimately, I regard John Porter as a teacher. He taught 
     me, and a number of others who passed through his offices, 
     about the honor of public service and the importance of 
     ideas. He encouraged intellectual discourse and vigorous 
     policy discussion within the office toward the goal of 
     developing a better understanding of the issues and a sounder 
     approach to policy. And he showed me that, on the most trying 
     and emotional issues facing the Congress--such as the 
     resolution to authorize hostilities against Iraq--there is no 
     substitute for a member of Congress that exercises, to the 
     best of their ability, independent judgment to ascertain the 
     best course of action and the courage to support that course.
       I thank you again for your efforts in organizing this fine 
     tribute to John Porter, and join with you and so many others 
     in wishing John all the best in his future endeavors.
           Sincerely,
                                                Robert H. Bradner.

  Another Chief of Staff, Gordon MacDougall, cites John's motivation 
for reducing Federal budget deficits as being ``based on his conviction 
of public service as a responsibility for perpetuating our free and 
democratic society.'' He also praises John as being a champion of the 
ideals upon which our system of governing was originally based. He 
states that ``today's young Americans and their children will be better 
off for Congressman Porter's 20 years of devoted service in Congress.''

                                                 October 18, 2000.
     Hon. Judy Biggert,
     U.S. Representative,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman Biggert: I understand that you have 
     organized a ``Special Order'' to celebrate the career of 
     Congressman John E. Porter, and that you have invited former 
     staff to Congressman Porter to contribute sstatements.
       I was fortunate to have been introduced to Congressman 
     Porter in 1983, during his second term in Congress. I was 
     subsequently offered a position as Legislative Assistant in 
     his office beginning in January, 1984. I was promoted to the 
     position of Administrative Assistant in 1995, and served on 
     his staff until early 1997. Since leaving his office I have 
     had the opportunity to continue a professional and a personal 
     relationship with Congressman Porter.
       John Porter is an individual of high integrity and deep 
     intellect. He has an unwavering commitment to our open system 
     of representative democracy. I believe that he is one of the 
     finest Members of Congress to serve during the last quarter 
     of the 20th Century.
       During the first eighteen years of his career, Congressman 
     Porter devoted the majority of his time to efforts to reduce 
     federal budget deficits. In my view, his motivation was not 
     simple or myopic fiscal conservatism, his motivation was 
     based on his conviction of public services as a 
     responsibility for perpetuating our free and democratic 
     society. Congressman Porter remained focused for the majority 
     of his tenure in Congress on adopting fiscal policies to 
     enable future generations to avoid being burdened with 
     federal debt. Coming generations of Americans will benefit 
     from his steady and deliberate effort to help balance the 
     federal budget. I am pleased for Congressman Porter that he 
     has been able to stay in the House long enough to see a 
     balanced federal budget.
       With federal fiscal policy coming into balance during the 
     past two years, Congressman Porter has refocused his efforts 
     on federal programs of significance to future generations of 
     Americans. He has led an effort in the House to increase 
     funding for medical research, an investment which will 
     improve the quality of life for future generations of all 
     mankind. Also during this period he has conscientiously 
     worked to forward proposals to stabilize a Social Security 
     system which, without changes, will not last to serve our 
     children.
       John Porter has been a champion of the ideals upon which 
     our system of governing was originally based. He is a unique 
     individual, and his character and demeanor will be missed in 
     future Congresses. Today's young Americans and their children 
     will be better off for Congressman Porter's twenty years of 
     devoted service in Congress. I wish him well.
           Sincerely,
                                              Gordon P. MacDougall

  We also heard from former Illinois officials, Mr. Speaker. Former 
Illinois State Representative David Barkhausen from John Porter's 
district states that ``one has only to look at the example of John 
Porter to recognize that in him we have truly had an exemplary leader 
and representative in the mold that our Founding Fathers envisioned. 
The impact of his many contributions will endure, as will the high 
standards of public service that he has held high for others to 
follow.''

                                               Lake Bluff, IL,

                                                 October 18, 2000.
     Re ``Special Orders'' tribute for John Porter.

     Hon. Judy Biggert,
     U.S. Representative,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Judy: It is my pleasure and privilege to participate 
     in this special tribute to Congressman John Porter from his 
     colleagues and friends.
       I am fortunate that my service in the Illinois General 
     Assembly from 1981-1997 (2 years in the House and 14 in the 
     Senate) coincided with most of John's years of service in 
     Washington. He was both a great leader and team player. He 
     also recruited and maintained a staff that was second to none 
     and that was always extremely courteous, cooperative, and 
     effective.
       John Porter has been an extraordinarily thoughtful and 
     conscientious Congressman and a model servant. He has 
     combined the characteristics that everyone could hope for in 
     a Congressman from our kind of district. He is a deep and 
     original thinker who has greatly influenced important 
     policies in such areas as health care research. He has 
     reflected and continuously sought the views of his 
     constituents while maintaining an admirable independence of 
     judgment. And he has been extremely attentive to problems and 
     projects of local interest and influential in offering 
     solutions.
       In the final Presidential debate last night, the candidates 
     were asked at the end what might help to overcome the cynical 
     and negative views that so many citizens have of their 
     government and its leaders. Cloning John Porter might be one 
     effective solution. One has only to look at the example of 
     John Porter to recognize that, in him, we have truly had an 
     exemplary leader and representative in the mold that our 
     Founding Fathers envisioned. We owe him our deep thanks for 
     the many good years of service he has given us. The impact of 
     his many contributions will endure, as will the high 
     standards of public service that he has held high for others 
     to follow.
       I am confident that we can look forward to additional, 
     important contributions from Congressman Porter in the 
     service of his country. For now, I want to join all of you in 
     this heartfelt, if inadequate, praise for his job 
     extraordinarily well done as a member of the United States 
     Congress for the past 21 years.
           Sincerely,
                                              David N. Barkhausen.

  Illinois State Senator Kathleen Parker worked on John's campaign for 
state representative, how many years ago was that, and remembers that 
he once tracked down a cabinet member in an airport to resolve a 
problem for a constituent. She further states that he was a man of 
integrity and, above all, a true friend.


[[Page 23352]]




                                        Illinois State Senate,

                                Springfield, IL, October 18, 2000.
     Hon. Judy Biggert,
     Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Biggert: Thank you for the opportunity 
     to be included in a Congressional tribute to John Porter.
       It's hard to believe that John will have served for 22 
     years in Congress. It seems like yesterday when I worked on 
     his campaign for State Representative!
       I can tell you that through the years Congressman Porter 
     has been loved by his district. He has never forgotten his 
     constituents. While in Washington John has been ever mindful 
     of local views and issues.
       Congressman Porter's staff is, if not the best, tied with 
     the best in the country. They work hard, are always 
     responsive and are a pleasure to work with. They work closely 
     with John enabling him to take personal interest in helping 
     his constituents. In one case that I know of Congressman 
     Porter even went as far as to track down a cabinet member in 
     an airport to resolve a problem for an individual in his 
     district.
       Out of the four ways to leave office John is leaving the 
     only good way! He has served the Northshore area of Illinois 
     well. He leaves us with the memory of a true statesman and 
     Congressman that we can always admire and be proud of. A man 
     of integrity and above all a true friend.
       We will miss John as our Congressman. However, we are 
     hopeful that there is a future ahead in some capacity he may 
     serve our country again. We will all be better off if that 
     occurs.
           Sincerely,
                                               Kathleen K. Parker,
                                     State Senator, 29th District.

  Illinois State Representative Jeff Schoenberg recounts the first time 
he met John Porter was when he was working in his first paid political 
job for John's election opponent, then Congressman Abner Mikva. Despite 
these beginnings, Jeff has had an extremely good working relationship 
with John, and states their offices have maintained a ``seamless 
cooperation'' in serving the residents of Chicago's North Shore. He 
agrees that John will best be remembered for his commitment and 
diligence in bettering the lives of millions of Americans.
  His words commending Congressman Porter follow:

       Please allow me to join the many others in offering my best 
     wishes to my colleague and constituent, Congressman John 
     Porter, in his future endeavors.
       I must concede that I first became acquainted with John 
     when I was hired in 1978 for my first paid position in 
     politics, as a young field organizer for his election 
     opponent, then Congressman Abner Mikva. Nonetheless, despite 
     that less than auspicious beginning to our working 
     relationship, it has been an extraordinary pleasure to work 
     with Congressman Porter to address our mutual constituent 
     concerns and district needs.
       For the past ten years, our offices have maintained a 
     seamless cooperation in serving the residents of Chicago's 
     North Shore. And on the issues that matter most to those who 
     we serve--whether it has been funding for health care and 
     medical research, deficit reduction and greater fiscal 
     accountability in government, or most recently, when we 
     worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the United Power for Action 
     and Justice coalition to increase the availability of funding 
     for affordable housing and health insurance for lower-income 
     women and children--John Porter will always be remembered for 
     his commitment and diligence in bettering the lives of 
     millions of Americans.
       I wish Congressman Porter the best of luck and hope his 
     tenure in the Illinois legislature and the United States 
     Congress will continue to inspire young people to public 
     service.
       May you continue to go from strength to strength, John, in 
     your pursuit of just causes.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Jeff Schoenberg.

  Illinois State Senator Adeline Geo-Karis appreciates how responsive 
John always was to her constituents, and states how much he will be 
missed.

                                        Illinois State Senate,

                                Springfield, IL, October 18, 2000.
     Congresswoman Judy Biggert,
     13th Congressional District.
       Dear Judy: I worked with John Porter in the Illinois House, 
     and he became my Congressman. He was always very responsive 
     to my District and to my people, and he did a great job for 
     the 10th District.
       I wish him the best that life has to offer and I shall miss 
     him.
           Sincerely,

                                         Adeline J. Geo-Karis,

                                           Senator--31st District,
                                        Assistant Majority Leader.

  Illinois State Representative Elizabeth Coulson states that she will 
always remember the lessons she learned from John, and that his work on 
environmental issues was second to none.

                                                Elizabeth Coulson,


                                         State Representative,

                                Springfield, IL, October 17, 2000.
     Hon. John Edward Porter,
     Congressman, 10th District,
     Deerfield, IL.
       Dear Congressman Porter: Congratulations on eleven terms in 
     the United States House. We will miss your compassion and 
     good judgment in our 10th District.
       As a State Representative, I have often looked to your 
     leadership as an example. I watch with great interest your 
     lead on the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education 
     Subcommittees. Your work on environmental issues is second to 
     none. Again, we will miss you.
       You will always be remembered for your independent 
     thinking. As I continue my career in Government I will 
     remember the lessons that I learned from you. I wish you the 
     best of luck in your future endeavors!
           Sincerely,
                                                Elizabeth Coulson,
                              State Representative, 57th District.

  I would like to take a moment to highlight one of John's most notable 
achievements, and that is his commitment to biomedical research. He is 
truly a champion in this field, as has been noted by so many who I have 
quoted. His work on the National Institutes of Health deserves 
particular mention.
  When he became chairman of the Labor-HHS appropriations subcommittee 
in 1995, NIH had been appropriated $11.3 billion for the previous 
fiscal year. While that is hardly small chump change, John recognized 
that NIH is responsible for so many of our country's scientific 
advances and could be responsible for so much more with additional 
funding.
  As a Congress we set out a few years ago, with the guidance of John, 
to double the funding for the NIH, and John has done this almost all by 
himself during his tenure. In the long-awaited conference report for 
Labor-HHS bill, he has set aside $20.5 billion for NIH. That is a 15 
percent increase over last year, and an astounding 81 percent increase 
during his chairmanship.
  These increases in funding for NIH mean good things for so many 
people. It will, we hope, lead to cures for cancer, AIDS, heart 
disease, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer's and so many others. In fact, 
earlier this year in the Wall Street Journal, Al Hunt wrote that this 
funding increase ``may be the most significant achievement of this GOP 
Congress.''
  The chairman of Research America, a former representative, Paul 
Rogers, said in the same article that achieving the consensus necessary 
for this increase ``would have been very difficult without John Porter. 
He has been the main purpose in this effort.'' With that praise, Mr. 
Rogers perhaps understated John Porter's role: He was the single 
motivating force.
  This, of course, is not the only praise that John has received, and I 
could use up the entire hour reciting the organizations that have 
honored John for his support for biomedical research. Suffice it to 
say, it is a long and noteworthy list, from the American Medical 
Association, to the American Society of Microbiology. So, on behalf of 
the American public who benefits from this critical research done at 
the NIH, I know we thank John Porter.
  I would also like to take a moment to pay tribute to John Porter's 
outstanding human rights record. In 1983, after witnessing the severity 
of human right violations in the former Soviet Union, John helped to 
form the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. He knew that applying 
Congressional pressure on foreign governments could be a significant 
step towards ending human rights abuses around the world.
  I doubt that even John Porter anticipated how successful the caucus 
would ultimately turn out to be, with a bipartisan membership now 
totaling 257 Members. Under John's solid leadership, the Human Rights 
Caucus thoroughly reviewed the actions of and subsequently condemned 
Chinese authorities for the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident. Under 
John's leadership the caucus has held regular briefings on important 
human rights issues, including religious freedom in China, the 
oppressive regime of the late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, the plight 
of North Korean refugees living in China, and the abhorrent use of 
children soldiers, just to name a few.

[[Page 23353]]

  In addition to his work with the caucus, John has been heavily 
involved personally in human rights work. He has provided a clear and 
loud voice for the oppressed, and has strongly supported human rights 
and democratic reform all over the world.
  John also cosponsored a Congressional fast and prayer vigil in which 
numerous Members of Congress fasted on behalf of specific oppressed 
individuals. Because of his leadership in this area, Representative 
Porter received the Anatoly Shcharansky Freedom Award from the Chicago 
Action for Soviet Jewry, who described him aptly as ``a champion of 
human rights and a powerful ally in the struggle against oppression and 
the fight for basic human freedoms.''
  John introduced legislation to create a Radio Free China, a 
broadcasting service to bring uncensored news reports directly to the 
Chinese people without government intrusion. He then jointly introduced 
Radio Free Asia to serve China, North Korea, Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia 
and Laos. Congress authorized the program and John quickly secured 
funding for the new service.
  A Member of Congress who has served more than 20 years can amass a 
great deal of influence. John Porter as chairman of an influential 
appropriations subcommittee is certainly no exception. However, John 
has bucked the trend and has not used his power and influence for his 
own personal gain or enrichment. He has used his influence to help 
those less fortunate than himself, those less fortunate than most 
Americans.
  Gerald LeMelle, Deputy Executive Director for Amnesty International 
USA, eloquently summed this up when he said of Representative Porter at 
a recent farewell reception, ``Whether from your keynote speech at the 
Latin American Ambassadors Colloquium in 1991, or your steadfast 
support on issue after issue, you have always been there for us and for 
human rights, with integrity and principle.''
  I agree. John Porter has always been beside those who could not fight 
for themselves. For this I admire him.
  John Porter has been a leader in so many areas, and in the middle of 
our testimonies to him on health care, human rights and health 
research, it is also important to emphasize his active interest and 
leadership on issues involving the environment. His record is clear 
enough on this point and long enough to document his strong and 
consistent support for major environmental legislation, including the 
Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Wilderness Protection Act, the 
National Park Protection Act and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
  But the fine print of his record also reflects his love of animals 
and his love of the outdoors. For instance, he voted for the Endangered 
Species Act and against the inhumane use of animals in product testing 
and the use of cruel leghold traps. Ten years ago John successfully 
stopped the radical destruction of tropical rain forests in developing 
nations by tying future lending to conservation efforts to protect the 
forests and the wetlands.
  Today he is fighting for the protection of the American bear with 
legislation to stop the illegal poaching of bears for their paws and 
gallbladders, which has garnered the support of 142 other Members of 
Congress. For these and many other efforts, he has received awards, 
honors and accolades from national and international environment groups 
like the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the United Nations 
Environmental Program and Conservation International.
  John is even the recipient of the prestigious Lorax Award from the 
Global Tomorrow Coalition, a group representing over 100 environmental 
organizations. But, most important to the people of the Tenth District 
of Illinois, have been John's efforts to protect human health and the 
environment at home.
  He orchestrated an agreement between the government and the polluters 
of Waukegan Harbor on Lake Michigan to clean it up. He led an effort to 
preserve the 290 acres of open space on the northern part of Fort 
Sheridan and make it available for recreation by transferring it from 
the army to the Lake County Forest Preserve District at no cost.
  He sought and found effective solutions to help area residents and 
businesses along the North Branch of the Chicago River who suffered 
from flood damage. Thanks to his efforts, flood waters are now diverted 
from people's basements to a number of large reservoirs.
  John also has been a leading supporter of environmental projects that 
benefit all the residents of northeastern Illinois. He obtained funding 
to study Lake Michigan's shoreline erosion and to stabilize it. He 
introduced legislation to alleviate high water levels in Lake Michigan 
by increasing water diversion down the Illinois River and secured 
additional funding for wetland preservation.
  So whether you are a resident of John Porter's district, the City of 
Chicago and any of its suburbs, or the tropical rain forests of any 
developing nation, your environment has been positively impacted by the 
efforts of a great environmental advocate, our friend, John Porter.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to add that I also have received a 
statement from the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), and I 
would like to just say that he also applauds his work to increase 
funding for the National Institutes of Health and biomedical research, 
and says that believing that more funds would lead to more cures for 
disease and other medical advances. Chairman Porter embarked on an 
ambitious program to double the NIH budget.
  I would like to also say that he particularly remembers his work with 
John Porter as a Member of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. In 
particular, he recalls one battle that was waged with Mr. Porter. They 
worked together, in 1997, when they opposed certain provisions of the 
fiscal year 1998 foreign operations appropriation bill that they 
thought should not have been included. He says the one thing that he 
could say about John Porter is that he always he always stands up for 
his principles, and, in this particular case, like so many others, he 
prevailed in the end because he knew the facts and he knew the cause 
was just.
  The gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) says that she had had 
the privilege of working with Mr. Porter on such a wide variety of 
issues; women's rights, health care, human rights, family planning, the 
environment and many, many more.

                              {time}  2230

  He was always a tremendous advocate for bipartisan cooperation. Over 
the years, they often worked together to forge common sense solutions 
to important issues facing our Nation. She says that she knows that 
there are many Members of Congress who would join her in this 
sentiment, and she believes that that alone is an outstanding tribute 
to any Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. In the case of 
Congressman Porter, it is an exceptionally fitting tribute.
  She had the distinct pleasure of working with Mr. Porter on 
international family planning issues and stood together in opposition 
to any antidemocratic gag rules which would interfere with the 
availability of family planning around the world.
  On this issue, as with so many others, Congressman Porter has touched 
so many lives; it is hard to measure the full impact of his efforts.
  I would like to then turn to some remarks which I think are very 
fitting, and that is a thank you to Mr. Porter from his staff. And they 
have said that the House of Representatives and the 10th District of 
Illinois will not be the same next year as Congressman John Porter sets 
off on a new career path. Members of his staff would like to take this 
opportunity to express their gratitude for the journey that they have 
traveled with him over the past 21 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I will quote:

       Some of us have worked for the Congressman almost his 
     entire time in office. Our longevity is a testament to the 
     respect and

[[Page 23354]]

     appreciation we have for his honesty, integrity, and 
     leadership. The Boss, as we affectionately called him, has 
     been the one constant amidst the hectic pace of a 
     congressional office caught in a whirlwind of issues, 
     including a government shutdown and impeachment hearings.
       He has vigorously pursued those issues of greatest interest 
     to him, including biomedical research, human rights, and 
     environmental conservation. He has never wavered from his 
     duty to fairly represent the people of Illinois' 10th 
     Congressional District.
       Congressman Porter rarely lets an occasion go by without 
     acknowledging his appreciation for what he calls ``the best 
     congressional staff in America.'' However, leadership and 
     success come from the top.
       Congressman Porter has set service to his constituents as 
     the highest priority. From his impeccable manners, to his 
     insistence that no constituent request goes without response, 
     he has taught us that everyone is to be treated equally.
       The honor of working for Congressman John Porter has 
     enriched our lives in more ways than we can ever express.
       In the communities of Illinois' wonderful 10th 
     Congressional District, it is a name that commands respect. 
     We know this because we hear his praises sung daily. Even 
     constituents who disagree with his vote respect his judgment 
     and his courage to vote his conscience.
       So as you move on, Boss, we wish you the great success in 
     your next endeavor. We know that you will continue to 
     contribute your many talents to helping the people of this 
     great Nation. Thank you, Congressman Porter for setting the 
     standard that others follow. Thank you for giving us the joy 
     of working in this exciting environment that allows us to 
     learn something new each day and be of service to others.
       Thank you for standing by us during the ups and downs we 
     have experienced in our personal lives over the past 21 
     years. Most of all, thank you for letting us be members of 
     the Porter family, to work for you and be with you. We have 
     loved every minute.
       Signed Linda Maneck, Dee Jay Kweder, Ed Kelly, Ginny 
     Hotaling, Carol Joy Cunningham, Mary Jane Partridge, Nancy 
     Johnson, Linda Mae Carlson, Jerri Lohman, Katharine Fisher, 
     Spencer Perlman, Jeannette Windon, Michael Liles, Erik 
     Rasmussen, Jori Frahler and David Fabrycky.''

  Is that not a nice tribute to have from the members of your staff?
  Mr. Speaker, much has been written during this presidential election 
year of legacy of what a public servant bequests to his succeeding 
generations, not just on his last days in office, but over the entirety 
of his career.
  Let me close tonight's special order by summing up the sentiments 
expressed by my colleagues regarding the legacy of our esteemed 
colleague, John Edward Porter.
  What we have heard tonight is that John Porter has not sought out 
glory or tried to advance his name at any cost. John is the kind of 
Congressman that will leave a long record of accomplishments when he 
walks out of this Chamber as we adjourn sine die.
  First, John leaves a great legacy to the 10th District in the State 
of Illinois. As our governor, State senators and representatives 
mentioned in their letters and as my colleagues from Illinois attested 
tonight, John's contributions are without equal. Among the many 
projects for which he will be remembered, his funding for the METRA 
Commuter rails that link the northern suburbs of Illinois with downtown 
Chicago and O'Hare Airport.
  Second, John leaves a great legacy to this country. His crusade to 
increase NIH funding will no doubt lead one day to the cures for the 
diseases that will save millions of lives. His work on behalf of 
women's and children's health issues, it is unparalleled.
  John leaves a great legacy for our world community. He has 
represented those around the world who are not able to represent 
themselves. John fights not only for the most popular crusades, but 
also for the countries and people forgotten by the glare of CNN. This 
is a proud legacy.
  Perhaps most importantly, John leaves a great legacy for the people 
whose lives he has personally and directly touched. The thoughtful and 
loving testimony shared here tonight by his staff and former staff 
members speak out volumes on the quality and decency of this fine man.
  Tonight we heard of the legacy that John has created during his years 
of service in this body. We heard but a small part of the large impact 
he has made on his district, his State, his country, and the world.
  But tonight is not a leave-taking. It is the exciting commencement of 
the next stage of John's career. We will all watch with great pride and 
interest the new challenges that John will decide to tackle in the 
months and years to come. We all will know that whatever cause or 
causes he chooses to take on in his next career will be benefited and 
blessed by his fine touch.
  They say there is no limit to the amount of good that a man can do in 
this world if he does not care who gets the credit. Well, John never 
cares and never has cared who has gotten the credit, and John can never 
be credited sufficiently for the great good he has done in this world.
  We will all miss John Porter a great deal, but we are all honored to 
have been able to serve with a leader of such integrity, dedication, 
and commitment to principle.
  Tonight we celebrate his legacy, we delight in his friendship, and we 
wish John Edward Porter the very best that life has to offer.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the following speech:

   Speech Delivered by Gerald LeMelle, Deputy Executive Director for 
Amnesty International USA, on the Occasion of a Farewell Reception for 
  Representative John Porter, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Human 
                     Rights Caucus, October 3, 2000

       Distinguished members of Congress, distinguished staff, 
     dear friends and colleagues, it is my bittersweet pleasure to 
     be here to bid farewell to our dear friend and Co-Chairman of 
     the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Congressman John 
     Porter.
       Chairman Porter has been a key leader in ensuring that the 
     Congressional Human Rights Caucus did not just survive the 
     abolition of caucuses, but has managed to thrive--even 
     ``thrive'' might be an understatement! Today, the Human 
     Rights Caucus has an almost frantic pace of briefings--
     Guatemala, Burma, Sudan, Algeria, East Timor, Turkey--it 
     matters not the range of countries or even issues, all these 
     countries are covered in a week, with recognized experts or 
     with the activists who are on the front line of these issues! 
     But the Caucus does not cover only countries in the headlines 
     but countries and peoples forgotten by the glare of CNN. The 
     Caucus is here to ensure that human rights around the world 
     remain a focal point for congressional activity--even when 
     Congress gets caught up in other business. And for that, sir, 
     we salute you.
       But Chairman Porter has gone beyond the Caucus in his 
     pursuit of human rights. When Native American leaders 
     converged on Washington earlier this year to call for the 
     release of Leonard Peltier, they found a receptive ear in 
     Chairman Porter who hosted an important briefing in which we 
     in Amnesty International were honored to participate. When 
     the Turkish government has gone on a public relations 
     offensive, or when the Administration despite its wiser 
     counsel has decided to pursue arms transfers to that NATO 
     ally, it is Congressman Porter who has been publicly on the 
     side of human rights.
       In 1995, at a briefing organized by the Congressional Human 
     Rights Caucus, when Nigeria was suffering under the 
     oppression of the late dictator Sani Abacha, Chairman Porter 
     was one of the few voices calling Abacha what he was--a 
     dictator--and one of the lone voices blasting the 
     Administration's policy.
       And of course we cannot talk about the Chairman without 
     talking about Kathryn Porter, a human rights activist in her 
     own right. While her work on behalf of the Kurdish people and 
     Afghani women is widely recognized and celebrated, we also 
     remember the singular courage she exhibited when she spent 
     some time with Jennifer Harbury in Guatemala, on a lonely 
     stretch of rural road outside an Army base.
       While a politician might boast of the state dinners he or 
     she has attended, Chairman Porter attended a ``stateless'' 
     dinner on behalf of Chinese dissidents. While politics is 
     well tuned to the powerful and the popular, Chairman Porter 
     has stood by the underdogs, supporting the rights of 
     religious and ethnic minorities throughout the world, 
     including the Armenians and the Ba'hais. While many in 
     Congress have shunned the challenge of confronting the 
     violations by powerful allies such as Saudi Arabia, Chairman 
     Porter seems to embrace such opportunities. While governments 
     and their representatives tend to have relationships with 
     other governments, we can safely say that Chairman Porter has 
     built relationships with peoples.
       We in Amnesty International USA with its 300,000 members in 
     the United states and more than a million members worldwide 
     can say that we are a grateful people for your leadership and 
     your support. I should also add, if I want my staff not to 
     kill me, that your staff has also been fabulous, including 
     Rachel Helfand, Karen Davis, Heidi Gasch, Katharine Fisher, 
     Kelly Currie, and Jeannette Windon. We have grown to respect 
     and rely on them as well.
       Whether from your keynote speech at the Latin American 
     Ambassadors Colloquium in

[[Page 23355]]

     1991 or your steadfast support in issue after issue, you have 
     always been there for us and for human rights, with integrity 
     and principle that is second to none. Dear Chairman Porter, 
     it's not just staffers who voted you number one 
     Congressperson who will be missed most--we also read 
     Washingtonian magazine--we too will miss you deeply.
       Thank you sir for your wonderful example and contribution 
     to human rights. You are a real hero to us.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, today we salute the very 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois, Mr. John Edward Porter, as he 
prepares to retire after 20 years of dedicated service in the House of 
Representatives, to the people of Illinois, and to our Nation. I rise 
to join my colleagues in paying tribute to him and the legacy he leaves 
behind.
  Mr. Porter embodies a unique blend of fiscal conservatism and social 
moderation. He is known as a most thoughtful, articulate, and 
responsible member of the Appropriations Committee, a consistent 
advocate for human rights for all people, a protector of volunteers to 
encourage their greater participation in their communities, and a 
supporter of programs that help men, women, and children in need to 
have full and productive lives.
  It has been my honor to serve with Mr. Porter as a member of the 
House Appropriations Committee for the past six years. As Chairman of 
its Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee, he has 
had the Herculean task of shepherding the largest domestic spending 
bill through our committee and this Chamber. Not only does this bill 
contain a substantial amount of money, it also contains a substantial 
amount of controversial policy issues. Mr. Porter has done an excellent 
job of balancing all the competing interests as he worked to craft his 
annual bill.
  In this regard, I applaud especially his work to increase funding for 
the National Institutes of Health and biomedical research. Believing 
that more funds would lead to more cures for diseases and other medical 
advances, Chairman Porter embarked on an ambitious program to double 
the NIH budget over five years. Against all odds, and under tight 
budget constraints, he has managed to increase NIH funding by 15 
percent a year for the past three years. At this rate, Congress would 
meet his goal of doubling that budget in five years. I hope that my 
colleagues would continue toward that objective and that his leadership 
with the NIH will be remembered as one of his greatest legacies.
  On a more personal note, I particularly remember our work as members 
of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee. In particular, I recall one 
battle we waged together in 1997 when we opposed certain provisions of 
the Fiscal Year 1998 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that we 
thought should not have been included. One thing you can say about John 
Porter, he always stands up for his principles. In this particular 
case, like so many others, he prevailed in the end because he knew the 
facts and the cause was just.
  My work with Mr. Porter was not just confined to the Appropriations 
Committee, as both of us have been members of the Tuesday Lunch Bunch. 
Here we consumed a lot of pizza and discussed issues facing us in 
Congress that deserved extra attention and deliberation.
  While we are saddened to see Mr. Porter retire, we join in wishing 
him well in the future and thanking him for the high standard he has 
set for all of us.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Illinois 
delegation for organizing this Special Order tonight, and I want to 
thank my friend Judy Biggert for coordinating this particular effort 
honoring Congressman John Edward Porter.
  I am here to honor my friend, Chairman John Porter, who is retiring 
at the end of this session of Congress. Mr. Porter has been a good 
friend, he has been a terrific legislative partner, and he has been a 
superior legislator.
  I have had the privilege of working with Mr. Porter on such a wide 
variety of issues--women's rights, health care, human rights, family 
planning, the environment, and many, many more. He has always been a 
tremendous advocate for bipartisan cooperation. Over the years, we have 
often worked together to forge commonsense solutions to important 
issues facing our Nation. And I know that there are many Members of 
Congress who would join me in this sentiment. I believe that alone is 
an outstanding tribute to any Member of this House. In the case of 
Congressman Porter, it is an exceptionally fitting tribute.
  I had the distinct pleasure of working with Mr. Porter on 
international family planning issues. We stood together in opposition 
to any anti-democratic gag rules, which interfere with the availability 
of family planning around the world. On this issue, as with so many 
others, Congressman John Porter has touched so many lives, it is hard 
to measure the full impact of his efforts.
  He is a leader on protecting the environment. As co-chair of the 
Human Rights Caucus, he has been a leader on human rights. As Chairman 
of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee, he has been a leader on biomedical 
research.
  This year, I am proud to serve as the co-chair of the Congressional 
Caucus for Women's Issues. And every year, the Women's Caucus testified 
before his subcommittee.
  Congresswomen would line up to testify about a whole host of issues--
family planning, women's health, title IX, biomedical research, 
education funding, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, obesity, long-term 
health care, breast cancer, teen pregnancy, mental health, AIDS, 
osteoporosis, STD's, child care, homelessness, Head Start, pediatric 
asthma, violence against women, and many more subjects.
  Chairman Porter often said it was his favorite day in the 
subcommittee. Mr. Porter was always interested, attentive, informed, 
and compassionate. We always knew we had a real advocate and friend on 
so many of these important issues in Chairman Porter. He will be sorely 
missed by the Women's Caucus, he will be missed by the entire Congress, 
and his leadership will be missed by countless Americans whose lives 
have been touched by his work.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I know John Porter as a friend and as a 
member of the Appropriations Committee. We have served together on the 
committee during his entire twenty year tenure in Congress.
  John Porter will be remembered as one of the most consistent fiscal 
conservatives on the Appropriations Committee during his service in 
office. During his first fourteen years as a minority member of the 
Labor-Health-and-Human Resources Subcommittee, John worked tirelessly 
to assure strict oversight of the agencies under his jurisdiction. 
During that period, we looked to his leadership to hold the line on 
excessive spending by that subcommittee.
  Also during our period together in the minority, John worked hard to 
reform a budget process which he thought contributed to excessive 
Federal spending. As a member of the majority, John has continued 
fighting to reform the budget process during the past six years. He has 
argued throughout his career that adopting a bipartisan budget 
resolution in March of each year would help restrain domestic spending 
at the end of each year. We will remember his thoughtful and wise 
counsel on how to use the budget process to control Federal spending.
  As Chairman of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee John has worked closely 
with the minority. He is respected equally by both Republicans and 
Democrats on the committee for his bipartisan approach. John has worked 
effectively with the minority to manage and control Federal 
appropriations, and to establish and impose performance measures on 
Federal agencies. He has gained the respect of all of those who have 
worked closely with him.
  Some of our colleagues will remember John for his strong commitment 
to medical research. John has championed medical research because of 
his belief in a better society for our children. His leadership on 
funding for medical research reflects his concern for the well being of 
all people.
  He has used his position on the Appropriations Committee to make the 
Federal Government more accountable to taxpayers. John has insisted, 
like his subcommittee predecessor Bill Natcher, on attending every 
oversight and public hearing. In order to ensure that all of his 
colleagues have a chance to amend the Labor-HHS bill, he has insisted 
on bringing the bill to the House floor every year. John has managed 
the Labor-HHS in a manner which reflects the principles of our 
representative democracy.
  We will miss John's integrity and his independence. John's work in 
Congress during the past twenty years will contribute to a stronger 
democracy for future generations. We will miss him as a leading member 
of the Appropriations Committee, and we hope that he will stay in close 
contact with all of his former colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding Member of Congress and an individual who has helped make 
this Nation a better place for families, our veterans, and our armed 
forces.
  Mr. Porter first came to Congress in 1980. Since that time he has 
become a recognized leader in health care issues. He has always done a 
commendable job in working in a bipartisan manner to fund valuable 
programs through the most difficult of situations. His keen interest in 
supporting health care, education and labor issues, has helped set 
Federal priorities in those critical areas which further the best 
interests of our country.
  Mr. Porter and I share an interest in health care issues, which I 
developed in my days in

[[Page 23356]]

the Ohio State Senate. I have always appreciated Chairman Porter's 
leadership in supporting needed programs in the Labor/Health and Human 
Services bill to benefit pediatric care, physician training, mental 
health services, and other important health programs.
  As a former Army Reservist, Mr. Porter has approved a valued member 
of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, where I serve 
as Chairman. Mr. Porter has always been a strong advocate for improving 
the living and working conditions for our military personnel and their 
families and he will be missed on our subcommittee.
  Today, as we honor Mr. Porter, I am pleased to join with his friends 
and colleagues, his wife, Kathryn, and his children, in wishing him all 
the best in the years to come and to thank him for his years of 
dedicated service to our Nation.
  As Ohio's Seventh District Representative to the Congress of the 
United States, I take this opportunity to join with members of the Ohio 
delegation and other members of the Appropriations Committee to honor 
the efforts and the many outstanding achievements of Representative 
John Porter. His many contributions as a member of the House of 
Representatives and leadership as a valued Committee Chairman will be 
remembered.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
Illinoisan and a dedicated Congressman. My colleague, Congressman John 
Edward Porter, dedicated 20 years of his life to serve as the 
Representative from Illinois' Tenth Congressional District. At the helm 
of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations 
Subcommittee, Congressman Porter worked diligently to forge 
bipartisanship in the appropriations process.
  Over the course of Congressman Porter's tenure in the House of 
Representatives, he has taken a leadership role on health care issues. 
As Chairman of the Labor, HHS and Education appropriations since 1995, 
he was successful in making biomedical research one of our Nation's 
highest priorities. This is evidenced in the fact that during his 
tenure as Chairman, Congressman Porter doubled funding for the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH). Congressman Porter understands the great 
promise that NIH's research holds for saving lives and conquering 
diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, 
and many others. In addition, he worked tirelessly to provide more 
funding for community health centers that serve the indigent poor.
  I can speak endlessly on Representative Porter's accomplishments, but 
I would be remiss if I did not point out that beyond his stellar 
accomplishments, he is a man of honor and integrity. And as Congressman 
Porter enters into retirement, I am grateful to have served with a 
Member of such high esteem.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise today to 
join my colleagues in paying special tribute to my good friend and 
colleague from Illinois, Mr. John Porter. Mr. Porter and I have worked 
on many bipartisan issues to improve our nation and home state of 
Illinois including many health care initiatives. Since coming to 
Congress, I have appreciated his friendship and admired his work within 
the Illinois delegation and on the House Appropriations Committee.
  Mr. Porter began his distinguished career as an attorney, having 
graduated from the University of Michigan in 1961. John Porter has 
represented the 10th District and the State of Illinois well. He has 
dedicated himself to representing the citizens of the Great State of 
Illinois and has been tireless in his efforts to ensure medical 
research at NIH will continue and is adequately funded. In addition, he 
has helped countless people in the United States and around the world 
in an effort to resolve human rights issues.
  Mr. Speaker, John Porter has served this institution well and he will 
be greatly missed. I wish Mr. Porter and his family well in the years 
to come.
  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to give this tribute 
to my good friend and colleague John Porter. John has served with 
distinction and honor with me for nearly 22 years in the United States 
House of Representatives.
  John is retiring this year as a senior member of the House 
Appropriations Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Operations 
Subcommittee, and Chairman of the Labor, Health & Human Services and 
Education Subcommittee. He also serves on the Military Construction 
Subcommittee.
  Like all Congressmen, he on occasion has had things happen to bring 
him back down to earth. Several years ago when flying into O'Hare he 
stopped to freshen up before leaving the airport. After washing his 
hands he went to dry them. The hand dryer had a note attached to it 
that read: ``Press here for a message from your Congressman.''
  On a more serious note, John is founder and co-chairman of the 
Congressional Human Rights Caucus, a voluntary bipartisan association 
of members of Congress working to identify, monitor and end human 
rights violations worldwide.
  John also has nearly as large a kennel of bulldogs called Watchdogs 
of the Treasury from the National Taxpayers Union as I have in my 
office.
  But John has a record we should all be envious of--in 1992, he was 
one of only six out of 435 House members named a ``Taxpayer Superhero'' 
by the Grace Commission's Citizens Against Government Waste.
  In 1994, he was one of only 35 members of the House to be cited by 
the Grace Commission for his votes against higher spending and taxes.
  In 1997, John had the best score of any House member in the 
bipartisan Concord Coalition's analysis of spending votes, earning him 
a place on the Coalition's ``Honor Roll'' of members with the strongest 
commitment to eliminating deficits and balancing the budget. The 
Concord Coalition placed him on its ``Honor Roll'' again for his 1998 
voting record.
  John is regarded as one of the leaders of the ``Green Republicans'' 
in the House. A supporter of the Clean Air and Clean Water Act, he has 
enacted landmark legislation to stop destruction of tropical 
rainforests, fought to prevent unregulated export of waste, and has 
advocated new standards for recycling and energy efficiency.
  A strong supporter of the arts and humanities, John was appointed to 
the Board of Directors of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 
1999, one of only five House members to receive this honor.
  We all know John loves golf almost as much as politics. John will now 
have more time to spending working on his swing on the golf course. It 
is indeed an honor for me to salute Congressman John Porter.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to say good-
bye to one of my dearest friends in this Chamber. I know that the 
entire House shares my sense of loss in the departure of one of the 
truly great legislators who has served this body for now over 20 years, 
the gentleman from Illinois, my friend John Edward Porter, I know that 
not only the 10th District of Illinois will miss him sorely.
  Mr. Speaker, when I was a very junior Member of this House, I one day 
received a request from a young but already distinguished Republican, 
who wanted to meet with me. As you can imagine, I was impressed and 
honored to receive such a request, and I happily agreed to this 
meeting. I still remember vividly that day in my office with John, his 
wife Kathryn Cameron Porter, and my wife Annette. What resulted from 
this meeting was not only the start of our long friendship with John 
and Kathryn Porter, but also that John and Kathryn suggested the 
creation of what I consider one of the most important entities in this 
body--the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. John and Kathryn both 
experienced government harassment first hand, when the female members 
of their congressional delegation to the former Soviet Union were strip 
searched.
  Mr. Speaker, John and I have proudly co-chaired the Congressional 
Human Rights Caucus since its inception in 1983, and have seen it grow 
into easily the most active working group on any issue on the Hill with 
currently over 257 Members from both sides of the aisle. No one can 
ever measure how many countless people John Porter has helped, how many 
people he has given hope, how many times he has spoken out in the 
defense of human rights, how often he has fought human rights 
violations wherever they occurred. The Caucus Mandate states, that the 
purpose of our organization is to ``focus bipartisan attention on the 
most fundamental American values: the sanctity of the individual and 
the inalienable rights on which the Founders created our country,'' In 
doing that, and in continuing to do that, John Porter is a true 
American hero.
  I am grateful that John Porter invited me to serve with him as co-
chairman of the Human Rights Caucus. Annette and I are proud and 
honored to be his friends, and I know that he and I will continue to 
work on human rights issues. Farewell and Godspeed, and good luck in 
all your future endeavors.
  Mr. Speaker, a few days ago the Congressional Human Rights Caucus 
formerly said good-bye to our outstanding Co-Chairman in a moving 
reception. Let there be no mistake, John Porter is still needed, and I 
know that he will always be closely involved with the human rights 
community in whatever capacity. For those Members of the Caucus who 
unfortunately could not attend our farewell to John, let me just say 
that it was one of the most moving events the Caucus has held. Leaders 
of the human rights community representing

[[Page 23357]]

organizations from around the world came to pay tribute to his 
outstanding leadership. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record two of the 
most moving tributes.
  The first one is by our outstanding Assistant Secretary for 
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Harold Hongju Koh, and the second by 
Gerald LeMelle, Deputy Executive Director for Amnesty International 
USA.

   Statement for the Record by Assistant Secretary Harold Hongju Koh

       I am honored to join Members of Congress in this special 
     tribute to the remarkable Rep. John Porter. A friend and ally 
     to human rights activists and survivors, John has used his 
     extraordinary talents and his time in Congress for decades to 
     bring human rights issues and concerns to their rightful 
     place on the national agenda. The work of John and the 
     brilliant Tom Lantos in forming the Congressional Human 
     Rights Caucus captures everything we seek in an American 
     human rights policy: bipartisan, principled, global, executed 
     by a genuine partnership between the executive and 
     legislative branches, and deeply committed not just to 
     addressing broad policy questions, but to improving the 
     plight of individual people.
       Those of us in the Department of State, in particular at 
     the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, are blessed 
     because our work receives such strong bipartisan support on 
     Capitol Hill. There are many Members, on both sides of the 
     aisle, who care deeply and passionately about human rights 
     and fundamental freedoms. But passion needs a leader. And 
     John, along with Tom Lantos, has been more than their 
     leader--he has been their inspiration. Let me also take this 
     occasion to pay tribute to John's own inspiration--Katharine 
     Porter--who by her own witness, has given so much of herself 
     for so many years to improving human rights for so many.
       To highlight John's many accomplishments would take the 
     rest of the evening. Let me say only that Congressional 
     leadership on human rights issues has largely been the result 
     of John's and Tom's joint vision, activism, and hard work. 
     John not only established himself as a leader in the struggle 
     for human dignity, by calling upon Colleagues to join the 
     Caucus, he has focused their combined energies on a range of 
     human rights issues that others said were losing 
     propositions. From East Berlin to East Timor, the positive 
     developments of the past seventeen years demonstrated again 
     and again just how wrong John's critics were. Together with 
     Katherine and their partners in this endeavor, Tom and 
     Annette Lantos, John has challenged all of us to season after 
     season of work on behalf of human rights victims. He 
     initiated briefings, speeches, letters, phone calls, prayer 
     vigils, and even fasts so that cause after cause was heard. 
     He challenged us to remain dedicated to the principle that 
     the cause of liberty is always worth the effort.
       John Porter has been the conscience of the Congress on 
     human rights. Although he now changes venue, whatever path he 
     now chooses, he will surely remain a powerful ally in the 
     struggle for human rights. As the Assistant Secretary for 
     Democracy, however, I have half a mind to move to his 
     district and exercise my vote, repeatedly, to force him to 
     stay in office! Congressman Porter, Katharine: Good Luck and 
     Godspeed.

   Speech Delivered by Gerald LeMelle, Deputy Executive Director for 
                       Amnesty International USA

       Distinguished member of Congress, distinguished staff, dear 
     friends and colleagues, it is my bittersweet pleasure to be 
     here to bid farewell to our dear friend and Co-Chairman of 
     the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Congressman John 
     Porter.
       Chairman Porter has been a key leader in ensuring that the 
     Congressional Human Rights Caucus did not just survive the 
     abolition of caucuses, but has managed to thrive--even 
     ``thrive'' might be an understatement! Today, the Human 
     Rights Caucus has an almost frantic pace of briefings--
     Guatemala, Burma, Algeria, East Timor, Turkey--it matters not 
     the range of countries or even issues, all these countries 
     are covered in a week, with recognized experts or with the 
     activists who are on the front line of these issues! But the 
     Caucus does not cover only countries in the headlines but 
     countries and peoples forgotten by the glare of CNN. The 
     Caucus is here to ensure that human rights around the world 
     remain a focal point for congressional activity--even when 
     Congress gets caught up in other business. And for that, we 
     salute you.
       But Chairman Porter has gone beyond the Caucus in his 
     pursuit of human rights. When Native American leaders 
     converged on Washington earlier this year to call for the 
     release of Leonard Peltier, they found a receptive ear in 
     Chairman Porter who posted an important briefing in which we 
     in Amnesty International were honored to participate. When 
     the Turkish government has gone on a public relations 
     offensive, or when the Administration despite its wiser 
     counsel had decided to pursue arms transfers to that NATO 
     ally, it is Chairman Porter who has been publicly on the side 
     of human rights.
       In 1995, at a briefing organized by the Congressional Human 
     Rights Caucus, when Nigeria was suffering under the 
     oppression of the late dictator Sani Abacha, Chairman Porter 
     was one of few voices calling Abacha what he was--a 
     dictator--and one of the lone voices blasting the 
     Administration's policy.
       And of course we cannot talk about the Chairman without 
     talking about Kathryn Porter, a human rights activist in her 
     own right. While her work on behalf of the Kurdish people and 
     Afghani women is widely recognized and celebrated, we also 
     remember the singular courage she exhibited when she spent 
     time with Jennifer Harbury in Guatemala, on a lonely stretch 
     of rural road outside an Army base.
       While a politician might boast of the state dinners he or 
     she has attended, Chairman Porter attended a ``stateless'' 
     dinner on behalf of Chinese dissidents. While politics is 
     well tuned to the powerful and the popular, Chairman Porter 
     has stood by the underdogs, supporting the rights of 
     religious and ethnic minorities throughout the world, 
     including the Armenians and the Ba'hais. While many in 
     Congress have shunned the challenge of confronting the 
     violations by powerful allies such as Saudi Arabia, Chairman 
     Porter seems to embrace such opportunities. While governments 
     and their representatives tend to have relationships with 
     other governments, we can safely say that Chairman Porter has 
     built relationships with peoples.
       We in Amnesty International USA with its 30,000 members in 
     the United States and more than a million members worldwide 
     can say that we are greatful people for your leadership and 
     your support. I should also add, if I want my staff not to 
     kill me, that your staff has also been fabulous, including 
     Rachel Helfand, Karen Davis, Heidi Gasch, Katharine Fisher, 
     Kelly Currie, and Jeanette Windon. We have grown to respect 
     and rely on them as well.
       Whether from your keynote speech at the Latin American 
     Ambassadors Colloquium in 1991 or your steadfast support in 
     issue after issue, you have always been there for us and for 
     human rights, with integrity and principle that is second to 
     none. Dear Chairman Porter, it's not just staffers who voted 
     you number one Congressperson who will be missed most--we 
     also read Washingtonian magazine--we too will miss you 
     deeply.
       Thank you sir for your wonderful example and contribution 
     to human rights. You are a real hero to us.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I consider it a privilege to rise to honor 
the retirement of a colleague who has been an outstanding leader of 
this body.
  I have had the opportunity to work with John Porter since he first 
came to this Chamber back in 1980. He brought with him honor to this 
job, and has shown great commitment and dedication to his country.
  Prior to his election to Congress, John practiced law and served in 
the Illinois House of Representatives for eight years. He brought with 
him a great deal of legislative experience and has shown a rich 
understanding of the legislative process. The leadership skills that 
have allowed him to accomplish so much are inspiring.
  John has accomplished a great deal while serving as Chairman of the 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
Education. He has diligently worked to allocate funds for family 
planning and for Medicaid.
  John has worked to revitalize involvement in the political process, 
trying to draw voters in, to take part in the legislative process. He 
has been an advocate for education. He has also worked tirelessly to 
increase spending on medical research, recognizing the need to find 
cures for many life-threatening diseases.
  As Chairman of the International Relations Committee, I am pleased to 
note that John Porter co-founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, 
and has in that capacity worked to raise awareness of the injustices 
that have been occurring in other countries.
  John Porter has been a reformer who has crossed party lines on many 
issues. He has earned the respect of his colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle. His courage, and his dedication to his constituents is to be 
commended.
  To John's wife, Kathryn, and their five children, we wish you all the 
best. I am sure you are as proud as we are of the many great years of 
service John has given to his office, to his constituents, and to our 
nation.
  John Porter has been a great asset to this body, having fought hard 
for the people of his Congressional district and our nation. We all 
wish John good health and happiness in his retirement.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to my 
friend and colleague, Chairman John Porter. John Porter is retiring 
from the U.S. House of Representatives after eleven impressive terms. 
Although I am sure that John will continue to be active on issues such 
as health care, the environment, and human rights, his presence will be 
missed by the House of Representatives as a whole and by the Illinois 
delegation in particular.
  As Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education 
Appropriations Subcommittee, John has been a tireless advocate of the 
Centers for Disease Control and

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the National Institutes of Health. In fact, John has worked to increase 
funding for the National Institutes of Health, with a goal of doubling 
spending from fiscal year 1997 to 2002. Because of John's efforts, 
Congress is on track to meet this important goal. By increasing funding 
for biomedical research into effective treatments and possible cures 
for diabetes, cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening diseases, John 
is helping to save lives. He is also helping to save our nation 
billions of dollars in health care costs. This is a proud legacy to 
leave behind.
  In addition, John can be proud of his active involvement in 
protecting and promoting human rights around the world. John is the 
founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, a 
voluntary bipartisan association of Members of Congress working to 
identify, monitor and end human rights violations worldwide. I am proud 
to be one of the 250 Members of Congress who participate in this 
important caucus. John cares deeply about the plight of the persecuted 
around the world and has regularly engaged in fasts and prayer vigils 
to bring needed national attention to the issue of human rights. 
Although John's leadership and active participation will be sorely 
missed, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus will continue John's 
crusade to protect and promote human rights around the globe. Again, 
this a proud legacy to leave behind.
  Finally, although John and I do not always agree on all issues, I 
have always admired his conservative stance on fiscal issues. I also 
consider myself a fiscal conservative and admire John's unwavering 
commitment to eliminating deficits and balancing the federal budget. He 
should be proud that he is leaving Congress in an era of balanced 
budgets and record budget surpluses.
  Again, although I am sure that John will remain active on issues like 
health care, the environment, and human rights, he will be missed here 
in the House of Representatives. He has served his constituents and the 
nation well. I wish John the best of luck in all of his future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________