[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6745-6754]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                RECEPTION OF FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER of the House presided.
  The SPEAKER. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome 
everyone here this morning. On behalf of the House of Representatives, 
I am happy to welcome to this Chamber very good friends of this 
institution, former Members of Congress. You are not only friends of 
this institution, you are also friends of ours, and for many of us, and 
for many of you, we stand on your shoulders. The things that you have 
accomplished, the works that you have done, we are able to carry on. We 
are able to carry it on in the way that we have been able to because of 
your great works that have gone before us.
  Every one of the Members here has spent precious years of their life 
in this chamber. Some of the best years of their lives were spent in 
this Chamber working to represent the needs and the concerns of the 
American people.
  Your commitment to your Nation did not end when you left Congress. 
Many of you went on to do other things in public service. Many of you 
excelled in the private sector. Many of you have continued to serve our 
Nation in many other honorable ways.
  Jack Kemp is one of those people. He is certainly an ideal and worthy 
choice to receive the Distinguished Service Award that this body, your 
group, is about to give. After 18 years in Congress, Jack Kemp had 
still more to do, including his service as Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development; and we were all impressed, but not surprised, when 
Jack was nominated for Vice President in 1996. Today, he has continued 
to work to advance the kinds of policies he cares about that empower 
America. He is truly dedicated to the betterment of our Nation, and I 
say to you, congratulations, Jack.
  Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the 
former Members. Thank you for being here and for your continued effort, 
both home and abroad. Your outreach to college campuses throughout the 
country helps to strengthen the work of our government and encourage 
public service. Your support to parliaments

[[Page 6746]]

around the world is invaluable, and I want to thank you for those 
efforts.
  At this time I would request that the gentleman from Idaho, Mr. 
LaRocco, Vice President of the Former Members Association, take the 
Chair.
  Mr. LaROCCO (presiding). The Chair would recognize the gentleman from 
New York, Mr. McNulty.
  Mr. McNULTY. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of Minority Leader 
Dick Gephardt and all of the Members of our side of the aisle, we want 
to welcome all of the former Members of Congress to this session today. 
It is a great opportunity for us to reminisce.
  I personally try never to miss this particular event. I walked into 
the Chamber and one of the first people I saw was one of my former 
leaders on the Committee on Armed Services, Sonny Montgomery. Before I 
came into the Chamber, I had breakfast with my class president, Bill 
Sarpalius, of the class of 1988. George Sangmeister, another member of 
our class, is over here. I saw my old buddies, Denny Hertel and Larry 
LaRocco. Last night at the reception I had a chance to visit with 
Ambassador Lindy Boggs and thank her for her outstanding service to our 
country, especially in her latest assignment.
  I see so many members of the New York family, Matt McHugh and Bobby 
Garcia and Norm Lent and Jerry Solomon and Dave Martin, and New York, I 
am happy to say, is very, very well represented here today.
  So, on behalf of Dick and Dave Bonior and all of the members of the 
Democratic Party, I join with Speaker Hastert and the Republican 
leadership in welcoming all of you to this session today, and to thank 
you for your outstanding service to our country, and for reminding us 
of our great history and our heritage.
  Thank you very much.
  Mr. LaROCCO. The Clerk will call the roll of the former Members of 
the House and the Senate who are present today.
  The Clerk called the roll of the former Members of the Congress, and 
the following former Members answered to their names:


  Rollcall of Former Members of Congress Attending 31st Annual Spring 
                          Meeting, May 2, 2001

      The United States Association of Former Members of Congress

  William V. (Bill) Alexander, Arkansas
  Bill Barrett, Nebraska
  J. Glenn Beall, Jr., Maryland
  Tom Bevill, Alabama
  Lindy Boggs, Louisiana
  William Broomfield, Michigan
  Glen Browder, Alabama
  Clarence ``Bud'' Brown, Ohio
  James Broyhill, North Carolina
  John H. Buchanan, Jr., Alabama
  Jack Buechner, Missouri
  Beverly Byron, Maryland
  Elford A. Cederberg, Michigan
  Charles Chamberlain, Michigan
  Norman E. D'Amours, New Hampshire
  Joseph J. DioGuardi, New York
  John N. Erlenborn, Illinois
  Lou Frey, Jr., Florida
  Robert Garcia, New York
  John Paul Hammerschmidt, Arkansas
  Robert W. Hanrahan, Illinois
  Ralph R. Harding, Idaho
  Dennis M. Hertel, Michigan
  George Hochbruechner, New York
  Ken Holland, South Carolina
  Marjorie Holt, Maryland
  William J. Hughes, New Jersey
  Robert Kastenmeier, Wisconsin
  Jack Kemp, New York
  David S. King, Utah
  Herbert C. Klein, New Jersey
  Ernest Konnyu, California
  Steven T. Kuykendall, California
  Peter N. Kyros, Maine
  H. Martin Lancaster, North Carolina
  Larry LaRocco, Idaho
  Norman F. Lent, New York
  Tom Lewis, Florida
  Jim Lloyd, California
  Catherine Long, Louisiana
  Daniel E. Lungren, California
  Connie Mack, Florida
  David O'B. Martin, New York
  Bob McEwen, Ohio
  Matthew F. McHugh, New York
  C. Thomas McMillan, Maryland
  Lloyd Meeds, Washington
  Robert H. Michel, Illinois
  Clarence E. Miller, Ohio
  G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery, Mississippi
  John Myers, Indiana
  Richard D. ``Dick'' Nichols, Kansas
  Ed Pease, Indiana
  Howard W. Pollock, Alaska,
  Don Ritter, Pennsylvania
  Carlos Romero-Barcelo, Puerto Rico
  George E. Sangmeister, Illinois
  Bill Sarpalius, Texas
  Richard T. Schulze, Pennsylvania
  Bud Shuster, Pennsylvania
  Carlton R. Sickles, Maryland
  Jerry Solomon, New York
  Jim Symington, Missouri
  Steve Symms, Idaho
  Charles W. Whalen, Jr., Ohio
  Harris Wofford, Pennsylvania
  Howard A. Wolpe, Michigan
  Joe Wyatt, Jr., Texas

                              {time}  0915

  Mr. LaROCCO. The Chair announces that 53 former Members of Congress 
have responded to their names.
  The Chair recognizes the distinguished majority leader of the House, 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), for the purpose of making some 
remarks to the association.
  Mr. ARMEY. Well, good morning. I look around the room, I think I know 
most of you, and it is nice to see a lot of your faces back. Sonny, we 
will probably have a veterans bill on the floor later today by 
unanimous consent.
  It is so nice to see all my good friends, Bob Michel, who is a bit of 
a mentor and a somewhat frustrated disciplinarian in my case for a lot 
of years. I see Jerry. And, oh, look here. Bill, how are you? A true 
mentor. I was thinking about this this morning as I was coming in here. 
Joe, how are you this morning? One of the things that has been a 
blessing in my life, and some of you remember when I came here. I was 
what was known as a bomb thrower. I still am, am I?
  You know, you come to this body, I think, without any full 
appreciation of what this institution is. Then yesterday I happened to 
be downtown; and as we were driving back toward the Capitol, I looked 
up and I saw the dome, and I had two or three of my young staffers, and 
I began to comment that it is a big deal where we work and are we not 
privileged to be here. And I think that one of the things that we 
develop over here is a genuine love for this institution.
  I am sure that some of you remember, frankly, my lack of 
understanding of that, appreciation for it and respect for it, and 
thought, as a young new Member, that this guy will never come to this 
point. Well, let me just say I believe I have come to the point that 
you have come to and that has brought you back today. We love this 
House of Representatives. I consider it the most unique institution of 
democracy in the world. There is nothing really quite like it. And for 
you and me, we have had, I think, an extraordinary privilege, a 
privilege that unfortunately we do not always fully respect during the 
time we are here.
  Let me first thank you for coming back here as you have done to pay 
respect to this institution and to honor this institution; and let me 
ask you, as you visit with some of us that are still here, particularly 
some of us that are new here that you may know, that maybe replaced 
you, take the time, take a chance on us and give us a word of 
encouragement to come and know the love of this House. It is a special 
place. We have been so privileged to serve here together. We have 
learned a lot from one another, we have learned that we can filter 
through this love of the institution a respect for one another and our 
differences.
  For me, of course, the unbelievable privilege of being the majority 
leader of the House, being trusted by my colleagues to schedule the 
House, this prompted a discussion with former Speaker Jim Wright. Some 
of you may recall that when Speaker Wright was here and we were in the 
minority he and I did not necessarily have the most cordial 
relationship. But Jim asked me, he said, ``Dick, is there anything you 
have learned while being majority leader?'' I said, ``Yes, Jim, I 
learned I should have had more appreciation for you when you had the 
job.''

[[Page 6747]]

  So help us, if you will, to know what you now know, that has brought 
you back here today. This is a wonderful institution. We are privileged 
to be here. We ought to first manifest our love for this institution 
and through that perhaps gain some regard and respect, appreciation, 
patience, and good humor between ourselves even in the heat of our 
debates.
  Thank you for coming back. Thank every one of you so much for what 
you did for me. I see so many people here that helped me, encouraged me 
along the way. Bob, if you think it is hopeless to try to discipline 
that Armey, you have a soul mate, my wife has the same feeling. So in 
the House or the house in Texas, I am still incorrigible. We will try 
to at least be good natured and well-mannered while being incorrigible.
  Thank you for letting me be here.
  Mr. LaROCCO. At this time the Chair would recognize the gentleman 
from Illinois, the Honorable John Erlenborn, president of our 
association.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. Thank you, Mr. Speaker pro tempore. My colleagues, 
members of the Former Members Association, and others who are here 
today with us, first of all, let me say that right now represents for 
me a somewhat unique situation. After 20 years in Congress, this is the 
first time I have spoken from the Democratic podium, but I wanted to 
highlight our bipartisan nature today.
  Mr. Speaker, thanks to you and to all of you who have come here 
today. We are especially grateful to the Speaker, Dennis Hastert, for 
taking time from his busy schedule to greet us, and for Representative 
Michael McNulty for his warm welcome on behalf of the Democratic 
leadership.
  It is always a privilege to return to this institution which we 
revere and where we shared so many memorable experiences. Service in 
the Congress is both a joy and a heavy responsibility. And whatever our 
party affiliation, we have great admiration for those who continue to 
serve the country in this place. We thank them all for once again 
giving us this opportunity to report on the activity of our association 
of former Members of Congress.
  This is our 31st annual report to Congress, and I ask unanimous 
consent, Mr. Speaker, that all Members be permitted to revise and 
extend their remarks.
  Mr. LaROCCO. Without objection, so ordered.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. Our association is nonpartisan. It has been chartered, 
but not funded, by the Congress. We have a wide variety of domestic and 
international programs, which several other members and I will discuss 
briefly.
  Our membership numbers approximately 600 former Members of the House 
and the Senate, and our purpose is to continue in some small measure 
the service to this country that we began during our terms in the 
Senate and the House of Representatives.

                              {time}  0930

  Our most significant domestic activity is our Congress to Campus 
Program. This is an effort, on a bipartisan basis, to share with 
college students throughout the country our insights on the work of the 
Congress and the political process more generally. A team of former 
members, one Republican, one Democrat, spend 2\1/2\ days on college 
campuses throughout the United States, meeting formally and informally 
with students and members of the faculty and local communities. This is 
a great experience for our members.
  I have made the trip five or six times myself. It has always been 
enjoyable. But our primary goal is to generate a deeper appreciation 
for our democratic form of government and the need to participate 
actively.
  Since the program's inception in 1976, 120 former Members of Congress 
have reached more than 150,000 students through 273 visits to 186 
campuses in 49 States and the District of Columbia. In recent years, we 
have conducted the program jointly with the Stennis Center for Public 
Service at Mississippi State University. The former Members donate 
their time to this program. The Stennis Center pays transportation 
costs, and the host institution provides room and board.
  At this point, I yield to Dennis Hertel, the gentleman from Michigan, 
to discuss his participation in the Congress to Campus Program.
  Mr. HERTEL. Thank you, John.
  The Congress to Campus is the major program of our Association, in 
conjunction with the Stennis Center for Public Service, as was just 
stated. We send one Republican and one Democratic for 2\1/2\ days to 
various campuses. I have been fortunate enough to go to South Dakota, 
Mississippi, North Dakota and Oklahoma with Rod Chandler from 
Washington State, George Wortley from New York, and John Erlenborn, 
just 2 weeks ago, to Minnesota.
  What we do is talk with the students about what our government does 
and how it works. We are not running from office or seeking anything. 
They realize that we are going to give them frank answers to their 
questions. We meet with assemblies, classrooms, small groups and have 
lunch and dinner with the students. My wife, Cindy, and I have three 
students in college now, one a first-year law student, and so you can 
see where our focus and finances are. Sometimes my children ask, where 
are you going now and why are you going there. They wonder if I have 
any knowledge to tell these other college students.
  The truth is, I learn from the students every time. The things that 
they are talking about, the questions that they are debating, the 
questions that they ask us provoke us to reflect on what we have done 
and what Congress is doing today.
  Mainly, we let them see us as people and tell them our history as to 
how we got involved and how we were elected to Congress and got 
involved in the political process. Our goal is to combat that cynicism 
out there and to give them an understanding what this Congress does, 
but mainly it is to let them know that there are people from the 
Democratic and Republican parties that care, and to let them know that 
it is their responsibility to get involved, whether in the community or 
State, or here in the Congress in the future. I am sure that we have 
talked to many future leaders, many future Congressmen and 
Congresswomen.
  And I always emphasize that we are not up to 51 percent of the 
population in the Congress reflecting the Members, even though we have 
made great strides in terms of the number of women in the House and 
Senate. It is satisfying and electrifying when I talk to the students, 
and I thank all former Members who have participated.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. One outgrowth of the Congress to Campus Program was an 
interest in producing a book that would take an inside look at the 
Congress from different viewpoints. There are many fine books written 
by individual Members of Congress, but to our knowledge there was no 
compendium that goes beyond or behind the scenes in a very personal 
way. So a past president of the association, Lou Frey, recruited 34 
members, a congressional spouse, two former congressional staff 
members, and a former member of the Canadian parliament to write 
chapters for a book on Congress. Lou and the head of the Political 
Science Department at Colgate University, Professor Michael Hayes, co-
edited the book, Inside the House: Former Members Reveal How Congress 
Really Works, which was published in March of this year. The book has 
been very well received and already is in its second printing. We hope 
that you and others will find it interesting and informative. Lou Frey 
will tell you more about the book a bit later.
  Mr. Speaker, as you know, although many of our former Members live in 
the Washington area, there are quite a few who reside in other parts of 
the country. Therefore, in an effort to broaden participation in the 
Association, we have held some meetings outside of Washington. In 
recent years, we have held a regional meeting in California each fall. 
In October of last year, we switched the venue to Texas and held the 
meeting in Austin. Our former colleagues, Jake Pickle, Jack Hightower, 
Kent Hance, Joe Wyatt and Bill Patman planned an interesting schedule 
that included visits to the LBJ Library and ranch, tours of the State

[[Page 6748]]

capitol building and the governor's mansion, and meetings with students 
at the University of Texas.
  I would like to yield to Bill Sarpalius, the gentleman from Texas, to 
provide more details about the meeting.
  Mr. SARPALIUS. Mr. Speaker, the trip that we had occurred from 
October 21 through October 25. As the chairman mentioned, the trip 
began with a trip to San Antonio, where we took a ride down the River 
Walk and toured one of the famous buildings of United States, which is 
the Alamo.
  The next day we took a private tour of the State capitol, and I might 
add, the people from Texas made sure that everybody understood that 
that dome is a little bit taller than the one here in Washington. And 
we took a private tour of the governor's mansion. But being the last 
part of October, for some reason the governor of Texas was not there. 
He was out campaigning for something.
  Probably the highlight of the entire meeting and trip that we had was 
all of us went to the LBJ Library and had lunch with students there, 
and then we broke up into different classes. Of course, Lady Bird 
Johnson was there and was a tremendous hostess to us.
  To participate in those classes with those students and to see the 
brilliance of the future generations of these young people and their 
knowledge of politics, and not only politics in the United States, but 
politics around the world was extremely impressive.
  After the classes, we then took a tour of the LBJ Library, which I 
personally found, and I have been through that library many, many 
times, but I recall walking with Jack Brooks and Jake Pickle and Graham 
Purcell, and we hit a particular spot in that museum where I was facing 
them, and all of a sudden their expressions changed. We were entering 
the part that was on the assassination of President Kennedy, and to 
hear them reminisce of when they were in the motorcade and what they 
remembered happened at that event was extremely educational to me 
personally.
  The next day the delegation had a private tour of the Nimitz-Bush 
Pacific War Museum, and then toured the LBJ ranch, and then finished up 
with dinner in the Lieutenant Governor's Room at the State capitol.
  I might add, in closing, that one of the things that I hope we all 
will recall is that the good Lord has given many, many people the 
breath of life, and he never created anybody identically the same; we 
were all created different. But there is one thing that all of us in 
this Chamber have in common, and that is we were Members of the most 
powerful governmental body in the world.
  We were given that blessing by our constituents, and we were there to 
try to help the future, but we are cheating the future if we do not 
take those experiences that we gained and share it with future 
generations, like the opportunities that we had to participate in 
speaking to those classes at the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas. It was a 
wonderful trip.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. On December 5, 2000, the Association once again 
sponsored a ``Life After Congress'' seminar, a program we have 
traditionally organized for the benefit of Members leaving Congress. 
During the seminar, former Members Larry LaRocco, Jack Buechner, Martin 
Lancaster, Henson Moore, Fred Grandy and I shared our experiences about 
the adjustments we had to make when we left Congress and how we managed 
to seek and pursue careers in a variety of fields.
  Congressional spouse Leslie Hayes described how members of families 
of former Members cope with leaving Congress and beginning a new life. 
In addition, congressional support staff outlined the services 
available to former Members of Congress. As in the past, the seminar 
was followed by a reception sponsored by the Association's Auxiliary to 
afford more time for informal exchanges.
  Mr. Speaker, beyond the events we organize here, the Association is 
very active in sponsoring programs that are international in scope. 
Over the years, we have gained considerable experience in fostering 
interactions between the leaders of other nations and the United 
States. We have arranged more than 424 special events at the U.S. 
Capitol for international delegations from 85 countries and the 
European Parliament, programmed short-term visits for individual 
members of Parliament and long-term visits for parliamentary staff, 
hosted 47 foreign policy seminars in nine countries involving 1,500 
former and current parliamentarians, and conducted 18 study tours 
abroad for former Members of Congress.
  The Association also serves as the secretariat for the Congressional 
Study Group on Germany, the largest and most active exchange program 
between the U.S. Congress and the parliament of another country. 
Founded in 1987 in the House and in 1988 in the Senate, it is a 
bipartisan group involving 170 Representatives and Senators. They are 
afforded the opportunity to meet with their counterparts in the German 
Bundestag to enhance understanding and greater cooperation.
  Ongoing study group activities include conducting a Distinguished 
Visitors Program at the U.S. Capitol for guests from Germany; 
sponsoring annual seminars involving Members of Congress and the 
Bundestag; providing information about participants in the Congress-
Bundestag Youth Exchange Program to appropriate Members of Congress; 
and arranging for members of the Bundestag to visit congressional 
districts with Members of Congress.
  New activities are being explored to enhance these opportunities. The 
Congressional Study Group on Germany is funded primarily by the German 
Marshall Fund of the United States. Additional funding to assist with 
administrative expenses has also been received this year from eight 
corporations: BASF, Celanese, DaimlerChrysler, Deutsche Telekom, J.P. 
Morgan Chase, S.A.P., Siemens, and Volkswagen, whose representatives 
now serve on a Business Advisory Council to the study group, which is 
chaired by our former colleague, former Member Tom Coleman, who served 
as the chairman of the study group in the House in 1989.
  I now would like to yield to the gentleman from Missouri, Jack 
Buechner to report on the 18th Congress-Bundestag Seminar held in 
Germany from April 9 to 12 and other study group activities.
  Mr. BUECHNER. I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding to me. 
It gives me great pleasure to report on the activities of the 
Congressional Study Group. This program remains the largest and most 
active parliamentary exchange between the U.S. Congress and the 
legislative branch of any other country.

                              {time}  0945

  I would add that I do not think there are any similar programs 
anywhere in the world that would compare with this program. Currently 
170 Members of Congress, 33 Senators, and 137 Members of the House, 
participate in the activities of the congressional study group. With 
the inauguration of the 107th Congress, the study group saw significant 
changes in its congressional leadership.
  In the House, Joel Hefley of Colorado assumed the post of chairman 
and Nick Lampson of Texas became the new vice chairman. On the Senate 
side, Tim Johnson of South Dakota remained the Democratic cochair while 
Chuck Hagel of Nebraska replaced Bill Roth as the Republican cochair.
  I would hope everybody would join with me in thanking Bill Roth for 
the tremendous service and commitment that he gave to this program in 
his years in the Senate. Under the Study Group's new director, Peter 
Weichlein, the study group has significantly expanded the number and 
scope of its activities. However, the two main programs of the group 
remain its distinguished visitors program at our Capitol and its annual 
Congress-Bundestag seminar. The Distinguished Visitors Program has 
hosted numerous high ranking elected and appointed officials of the 
Federal Republic of Germany here on Capitol Hill.
  In this congressional session alone, the study group brought together 
with Members of Congress Germany's Federal Minister of Economics, 
Werner Mueller, and just last week the chair of

[[Page 6749]]

Germany's CDU party, that is the Christian Democrats, Dr. Angela 
Merkel, who quite possibly could be elected Germany's next Chancellor 
in 2002.
  I now have had the pleasure of attending several Congress-Bundestag 
seminars. The annual meeting arranged by the Congressional Study Group 
on Germany that brings together Members of Congress and their confreres 
from the Bundestag for in-depth dialogue. This is the 18th year the 
seminar was hosted by the study group and they just seem to be getting 
better each year, although I would add I think they get colder each 
year. As we were leaving Usedom, we looked out the window and we were 
greeted by some good Baltic Sea snow.
  Gil Gutknecht of Minnesota led a delegation of current and former 
members first to Berlin and then to Usedom Island from April 7 to April 
13. We arrived in Berlin on Sunday, were treated to a private tour of 
the Reichstag by a member of the Bundestag, Volkmar Schultz. The next 
morning, we had a working breakfast with Germany's foreign minister. It 
was over an hour. I would be hard pressed to think that our Secretary 
of State would have given the same greetings and in-depth discussion 
with Members of the Congress. We also went with the Vice Chancellor, 
Joschka Fischer, where we discussed global security issues including 
China and the Middle East. We then traveled to Usedom, which is a 
beautiful island in the northeastern part of Germany three kilometers 
from the Polish border.
  As you can imagine, as I said before, the second week of April and 
Usedom in the Baltics, it was a bit cold but that did not deter anyone 
from having a joyful experience. There were four days of meetings with 
seven current Bundestag members ranging from the Greens to the 
Christian Democrats. Our discussion focused on domestic issues, 
especially East Germany 10 years after reunification and the United 
States under the Bush administration. We also had a dialogue on trade 
questions, such as the trade implications of EU expansion to the east. 
We discussed security policy issues, for example, NMD and NATO 
expansion.
  The study group also organized several memorable excursions and 
activities. For example, we toured Peenemunde where Werner von Braun 
and his team developed rocket technology still in use today. We were 
flown by military helicopter to Eggesin Army Base where the German, 
Polish, and Danish troops form the tri-national corps. Here we were 
briefed on the Kosovo mission. We witnessed several troop exercises 
which are used to prepare the soldiers for their Balkan mission.
  The activities of the Congressional Study Group on Germany as 
highlighted by the annual seminar are quite impressive and they serve 
an important purpose of providing current Members with the opportunity 
to communicate with legislators from one of our most important allies 
and trade partners. The Association of Former Members, through this 
program, provides a very unique and vital service to the current 
Members. I believe the Congressional Study Group on Germany is an 
excellent example of how the talents and efforts of former Members can 
be used to benefit current Members and to a larger extent the public. I 
thank you.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. Our association also serves as the secretariat for the 
Congressional Study Group on Japan. Founded in 1993 in cooperation with 
the East-West Center in Hawaii, it is a bipartisan group of 86 Members 
of the House and the Senate with an additional 49 Members having asked 
to be kept informed of the study group activities. In addition to 
providing substantive opportunities for Members of Congress to meet 
with their counterparts in the Japanese Diet, the study group arranges 
monthly briefings when the Congress is in session for Members to hear 
from American and Japanese experts about various aspects of the U.S.-
Japan relationship. The Congressional Study Group on Japan is funded 
primarily by the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission.
  In 1999, the association began a parliamentary exchange program with 
the People's Republic of China. In October of that year with funding 
from the U.S. Information Agency, the association hosted a delegation 
of nine members of the National People's Congress of China in 
Washington. This program marked the inauguration of the U.S.-China 
Interparliamentary Exchange Group whose members are appointed by the 
Speaker. The visit included in-depth discussions between Members of the 
two Congresses as well as meetings by members of the Chinese delegation 
with high level executive branch representatives, academics, and 
business representatives.
  In 2000, the association received a grant from the Department of 
State to continue this exchange program by arranging a visit to China 
by members of the exchange group. The trip to China, which is scheduled 
to take place in August of this year, will include stops in Beijing for 
in-depth discussions with members of the National Peoples Congress of 
China and meetings with other government representatives and in Tibet 
to observe conditions there.
  The association also has received funding from private sources to 
initiate a Congressional Study Group on China which will hold monthly 
meetings at the Capitol for current Members to discuss with American 
and Chinese experts topics of particular concern in this important 
relationship. We believe the current situation with China underscores 
the need for forthright and open dialogue between the leaders of the 
United States and China, and we are working with the leaders of the 
U.S.-China Inter-Parliamentary exchange group to encourage the 
continuation and expansion of this vital dialogue.
  The U.S. Congress and the Congress of Mexico have been conducting 
annual seminars for 40 years under the auspices of the U.S.-Mexico 
Inter-Parliamentary Group. However, there is little interaction between 
legislators from these two countries during the rest of the year. The 
association hopes to initiate a Congressional Study Group on Mexico, 
with funding from the Tinker Foundation, so that Members of Congress 
can meet on a regular basis with visiting American dignitaries and 
other experts about various aspects of the U.S.-Mexico relationship.
  These plans have been delayed by the advent of new administrations 
both in the United States and Mexico. However, knowing the importance 
placed on both new Presidents and the U.S.-Mexican relationship, it is 
anticipated that this program will get under way in the near future. In 
the aftermath of political changes in Europe, the association began a 
series of programs in 1989 to assist the emerging democracies of 
central and eastern Europe.
  With funding from the U.S. Information Agency, the association sent 
bipartisan teams of former Members of Congress, accompanied by either a 
congressional or a country expert to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, 
Hungary and Poland for up to 2 weeks. They conducted workshops and 
provided instruction on legislative issues for new members of 
parliament, their staffs and other persons involved in the legislative 
process. They also made public appearances to discuss the American 
political process. In addition, the association brought delegations of 
members of parliament from these countries to the United States for 2-
week visits.
  With funding from the USIA, the association sent a technical advisor 
to the Hungarian parliament from 1991 to 1993. With financial support 
from the Pew Charitable Trust in 1994, the association assigned 
technical advisers to the Slovak and Ukrainian parliaments. This 
initial support was supplemented by other grants to enable the 
Congressional Fellows to extend their stays. From 1995 through 2000, 
with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the 
Eurasia Foundation, the association managed a highly successful program 
that placed Ukrainian students in internships with committees, 
legislative support offices, and leadership offices of the Parliament 
of Ukraine. This program met not only the Parliament's short-term need 
of having a well-educated, motivated, and

[[Page 6750]]

professionally trained staff to conduct its current legislative work 
effectively, but also the longer term need to develop a cadre of 
trained professionals. Former Members of Congress visited Ukraine from 
time to time to assist with these efforts by meeting with the students 
involved in the program as well as with Ukrainian government leaders.
  At the end of 2000, the association turned over the administration of 
this program to local Ukrainian management to ensure its long-term 
viability. Two independent Ukrainian groups, one academic, and the 
other the Association of Ukrainian Deputies, have committed themselves 
to maintaining the high professional standards in the nonpartisan 
selection process.
  The Ukrainian program proved to be an excellent pilot that was well 
worth replicating in other emerging democracies, particularly in the 
Central/East European and NIS areas. In late 1999-early 2000, under a 
grant from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, 
with funding from the Agency for International Development, the 
association sent a congressional staff member to Macedonia for 6 
months. He selected university students and recent graduates in that 
country and trained them to provide research and drafting services to 
the Members of Parliament who lacked such resources. A young Macedonian 
lawyer worked with our congressional fellow and assumed the management 
of the program upon his return to the United States. I was privileged 
to have traveled to Macedonia in January of 2000 to confer with Members 
of the Macedonian Parliament concerning the intern program that we had 
established for them.
  I believe that one of the most important programs the association has 
undertaken is providing help to emerging democracies, especially their 
parliaments. The transition from the old ways to democratic governments 
is a basic test of the success of the newly emerging democracies. 
Similar problems are being faced by all of them with varying successes. 
I believe the intern projects that we have initiated are necessary to 
help the legislatures transition to independent and meaningful roles if 
the voice of the people is to be heard as it must in a democracy.
  The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress is uniquely 
qualified to provide the resources for the education of the legislators 
in the emerging democracies. Former Members have experience in State 
legislatures and in Congress. We cannot expect other countries to adopt 
our ways, but we can help them identify the basic elements of a free, 
representative government sensitive to the traditions of their country. 
I believe that each and every one of us, having served our country in 
the past, still has the urge to serve in some capacity. With our 
experience, we can help other countries move toward responsive 
democratic governments. It would be a shame to waste the resource that 
we represent. I hope that we can have more programs such as those in 
Ukraine and Macedonia. The association would be happy to respond to 
requests to assist other emerging democracies.
  The association also has been interested in assisting with U.S.-Cuban 
relations. In December of 1996, we sent a delegation of current and 
former Members of Congress to Cuba on a study mission to assess the 
situation there and analyze the effectiveness of U.S. policies toward 
Cuba. Upon its return, the delegation wrote a report of its findings 
which was widely disseminated through the media and was made available 
to Members of Congress as well as to personnel in the executive branch.
  A follow-up to this initial study was conducted in January of 1999. 
Again, the delegation wrote a detailed report of its findings and 
shared it through media and briefings with congressional leaders and 
representatives of the executive branch. A final study mission to Cuba 
took place from May 29 to June 3 of 2000. A delegation led by John 
Brademas of Indiana and including Jack Buechner of Missouri, Larry 
LaRocco of Idaho, and Fred Grandy of Iowa met with representatives of 
the Cuban Government, dissidents and others to assess the present state 
of the U.S.-Cuba relations.

                              {time}  1000

  This program with Cuba was funded by the Ford Foundation.
  I would now like to yield to the gentleman from Idaho, Larry LaRocco, 
to share his observations from the most recent trip to Cuba; and I will 
replace the gentleman while he is in the well.
  Mr. LaROCCO. Thank you, Mr. President.
  I am pleased to report on the third fact-finding mission to Cuba by a 
bipartisan delegation from the Association of Former Members of 
Congress. Our trip was just about 1 year ago, from May 26 to June 3, 
2000. Our purpose was to explore firsthand the current political, 
social and economic realities in Cuba and to consider what steps might 
be taken to improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
  Before traveling, we were fully briefed by officials in the 
Department of State, key Members of Congress, leaders of 
nongovernmental organizations, and officials of the Cuban Interests 
Section in Washington, D.C.
  Unlike the two previous delegations, we did not travel as a group 
officially invited by the Cuban Government. We had the appropriate 
documentation from the U.S. Government, however.
  The Cuban Government did not extend an official invitation to the 
delegation. We were simply issued tourist visas. This unofficial 
character of the trip allowed us to control our own time, to have a 
variety of meetings, and to gain a much better idea of what a cross-
section of the Cuban population thinks. Unencumbered by the protocol 
demands that normally accompany an officially approved trip, we were 
free to visit a wide range of independent organizations, art centers, 
church and church-sponsored groups, and research centers.
  We were also able to attend church services, visit markets, travel 
into the countryside and talk freely to private citizens. On the ground 
in Cuba, we heard a remarkably diverse array of voices and observed a 
highly complex set of political and social circumstances.
  The report we wrote upon our return from Cuba reflects the collective 
deliberations of the delegation, and lists six specific recommendations 
we all endorsed. We did not attempt to tackle every issue involved in 
the relations between our countries. In order to make concrete 
recommendations, we focused, however, on a core of matters that seemed 
particularly significant to us.
  Our recommendations closely paralleled those of the previous two 
bipartisan delegations. To date, 15 former Members of Congress, eight 
Republicans and seven Democrats, have traveled to Cuba on these Ford 
Foundation-sponsored missions. The recommendations of all three 
delegations have been unanimous and are remarkably similar in terms of 
their implications for U.S. policy.
  I would like to briefly summarize our recommendations: number one, 
Congress and the administration should begin a phased reduction of 
sanctions legislation as defined in the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 
(P.L. 102-484) and the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity 
(LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, that was known as the Helms-Burton P.L. 104-
114. At the time of our report, we supported the enactment of H.R. 3140 
and S. 2382 to remove all restrictions on the sales or gifts of food 
and medicines.
  Number two, serious consideration should be given to the 
establishment of a U.S. bank in Havana, if legislation to authorize the 
sale of food and medicine is approved by the Congress and the 
administration.
  Number three, opportunities for people-to-people contact between 
citizens of the United States and Cuba should be expanded, particularly 
through the two-way exchanges in the fields of education and culture. 
More links between educational, cultural and nongovernmental 
institutions in our two countries should also be established.
  Number four, the current ceilings on annual remittances from the 
United States to Cuba should be raised significantly, if not 
eliminated.

[[Page 6751]]

  Number five, steps should be taken to facilitate direct flights 
between the United States and Cuba.
  Finally, number six, steps should be taken to improve Internet 
communications between the citizens of both countries. Initiatives 
aimed at enabling Cuban citizens to gain greater access to the Internet 
should be encouraged and support should be given to individuals and 
entities involved in the creation of Web sites and other electronic 
platforms aimed at improving mutual understanding between the peoples 
of the United States and Cuba.
  That, Mr. President, and members of the association, is our report. 
At this time there are no future missions to Cuba that are planned, but 
we look forward to playing a role in developing better relationships 
between Cuba and the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, that concludes my report on our trip to Cuba.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. I must confess that I arranged to have the gentleman 
from Idaho give this report. For the last 2 years, I was privileged to 
occupy the Speaker's chair during our report to the Congress. This 
year, of course, I am enjoying this role; but I hated to relinquish the 
Speaker's chair, so I made it possible I could occupy it for part of 
the time at least.
  The association organizes study tours for its members and their 
spouses who at their own expense have participated in educational and 
cultural experiences in Canada, China, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, 
the former Soviet Union, Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East 
and South America.
  In March 2000, 65 association and auxiliary members, spouses and 
friends, visited Italy where there were three former Members of 
Congress serving as ambassadors. Our ambassador to the Holy See, Lindy 
Boggs. Lindy, good to see you here today. George McGovern, who was then 
ambassador to the Food and Agricultural Organization; and Tom 
Foglietta, our ambassador to Italy.
  In September of 2001, we are planning a study tour to Turkey which 
will include visits to Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Ephesus, with an 
optional cruise along the southern coast at the end. The trip will 
include meetings with Turkish business representatives and government 
leaders, as well as opportunities to visit many of the historic sites 
in Turkey. I hope many of our association and auxiliary members will be 
able to participate in what should be an exceptional opportunity.
  Mr. Speaker, as you can see, the association conducts a wide variety 
of programs and is continuing to expand them. All of this requires 
financial support. At present, our funding comes from three primary 
sources: program grants, membership dues, and an annual fund-raising 
dinner and auction.
  On March 6 of this year, we held our fourth annual Statesmanship 
Award dinner at which our friend and colleague, Norm Mineta, was 
honored. We presented Norm with the Statesmanship Award in recognition 
of his service as a Member of Congress, as Secretary of Commerce, as 
the current Secretary of Transportation and for his many other 
outstanding achievements.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida, Lou Frey, who 
provided the leadership that helped make our first four dinners so 
successful, and to yield to him to report on this year's dinner, our 
plans for next year, and for any additional comments he would like to 
make about the association's book, ``Inside the House,'' which was 
mentioned earlier.
  Mr. FREY. Thank you, Mr. President. Before we start, I would like to 
thank you and Larry, Jack Buechner, Tom Downey, Matt McHugh, the 
executive committee, for the leadership you have given us and given us 
all an opportunity to put back and continue our public service in a 
small way.
  The fourth annual Statesmanship Award dinner was held on March 6 at 
the Willard Hotel. It was a sellout with over 460 people attending. As 
a matter of fact, our honoree, Jack Kemp, called up at the last minute 
for tickets to go and our staff turned him down since it was a sellout. 
That was quickly corrected; but you better get your order in early, Mr. 
Secretary, for that.
  As I said, Norm Mineta got the award. We are pleased to report that 
the revenues for the ticket sales were over $150,000 from it. We had 
two outstanding auctioneers, Jimmy Hayes and Larry LaRocco. We were 
joined by a rookie this year, who we gave him a chance to perform for 
us, Tom DeLay. He performed very well. As a matter of fact, we have 
asked him back he did such a good job. So we hope he will join our team 
next year.
  We raised over $12,000 from the auction itself. And for those of you 
who wish, there is still an opportunity left if you see Jack Buechner 
to have a chance in a raffle that we are continuing.
  I put in the Record the names of everybody who worked on this dinner 
for us, who we really appreciate. The next dinner will be March 5 of 
next year. I know there are people like Jim Lloyd who have been beating 
on me saying, When is the dinner? I want to go out and sell tickets 
again. Jim, I appreciate that offer of yours and everybody else's. So 
we need all of you who served to serve again. Frankly, some of you who 
have not joined in could really help us because this is really the key 
fund-raising event for our association. We really need the help.
  We have the date for the dinner. It is going to be at the Willard 
Hotel. I had the opportunity with some of you here to have breakfast 
with the Vice President, I think a week or so ago, and used that 
opportunity and our old friendship to ask him if he would receive the 
award next year; and before his staff could intercede he said yes. I am 
just putting it on the record now so that we think we have him locked 
up for it, and he has agreed to come so we have it all set for next 
year. We just need your help to make it even more successful.
  I also want to talk a little bit about the book, ``Inside the 
House,'' which many of you out here wrote and which we have even got 
help from our good friend Barry Turner with a chapter which we would 
not have gotten done without your help, Barry; and we certainly 
appreciate that. For those of you who have not read it, it is really a 
good book. Sonny Montgomery called me the other day and he said, that 
is a pretty good book, and it really is. It is a human look at the 
Congress. It is a case study of the Congress. It is unique. There is 
nothing else, to my knowledge and to those of us who have been working 
on this, that exists.
  It is not one person's look at the Congress, but it is 34 people and 
other people who are looking at it. It is really the human side of it. 
If you read this book, you will come away, I think, number one, with a 
feel of how all of us care about this place and what we are doing and 
how proud of it we are, and the different approaches to it.
  I have a bunch of grandkids now, and I am in the reading mode again; 
and there is that Aesop's Fable, I think, of the seven blind men and 
the elephant who reach out and touch different parts and talk about it. 
That is sort of what this book is like. It comes from all different 
things, from the spouse's standpoint, from the academic standpoint, 
from Jim Symington talking about how he got into public service, going 
back to the time that one of his relatives was with Pickett and the 
other was on the other side of the fight in the same battle, and just 
different interesting looks at people, how they got there, how they 
feel and what they do.
  Not really to our surprise but to our relief, we have seen some 
really good reviews from political scientists across the country. It 
has been covered on C-SPAN. It has been covered up here. We have had it 
sold out already, another printing coming back. It is being used at the 
War College out in California. Colgate University is using it.
  One last thing I want to say, we really owe a great debt to Professor 
Michael Hayes. He is the chairman of the Political Science Department 
at Colgate University, and he really put a lot of work and effort into 
this. So for those of you who have not had a chance to read it or use 
it, please do it. It is a good book, and I guess there will be a sequel 
to it so you will be getting some phone calls in the future.

[[Page 6752]]


  Mr. ERLENBORN. Would the gentleman from Florida please remain in the 
well.
  I would like to now yield to the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. 
Symington.
  Mr. SYMINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois, our 
esteemed president, Mr. Erlenborn, for this opportunity to present to 
the gentleman from Florida, our former president, Mr. Frey, on behalf 
of the Association of Former Members of Congress, this Moroccan 
leather-bound copy of ``Inside the House,'' the collection of 
congressional memoirs, perceptions and insights which he conceived, 
inspired, doggedly pursued, co-authored and proofread.
  Mr. FREY. Not perfectly.
  Mr. SYMINGTON. For the edification of students and teachers of 
government, current and future legislators, and the American people. It 
is inscribed, ``For the Honorable Lou Frey, Jr., with the admiration 
and esteem of his grateful colleagues.''

                              {time}  1015

  Mr. ERLENBORN. Mr. Speaker, in addition to financial support, the 
Association benefits enormously from the effort and leadership of many 
people. I want to thank the officers of the Association, Larry LaRocco, 
Vice President; Jack Buechner, Treasurer; Jim Slattery, Secretary; and 
Matt McHugh, the immediate past President, and the members of our board 
of directors and our counselors who are providing the excellent 
guidance and support necessary to oversee these activities.
  In addition, we are assisted by the auxiliary of the Association, now 
led by Nancy Buechner. We are particularly grateful for their help with 
the ``Life After Congress'' seminars and our annual dinners.
  Needless to say, our programs could not be so effectively run without 
the exceptional support provided by our staff, Linda Reed, Executive 
Director; Peter Weichlein, Program Director, with special 
responsibility for the Congressional Study Group on Germany; Katrinka 
Stringfield, Executive Assistant; and Jamie Pearson, Receptionist. Many 
thanks to all of you.
  The Association also maintains close relations with the counterpart 
associations of former members of parliaments in other countries. I am 
pleased to recognize and welcome Barry Turner, the President of the 
Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, and Richard Balfe, 
Member of the European Parliament, who are here to find out some of the 
ways that our Association has functioned over the past and as part of 
an effort of beginning a new former Members of the European Parliament 
Association. I hope that you have found a lot of help here with some 
ideas for your new association.
  Mr. Speaker, it is now my sad duty to inform the House of those 
persons who have served in Congress and have passed away since our 
report last year. The deceased Members of Congress are:
  Homer E. Abele, Ohio;
  William H. Ayres, Ohio;
  Herbert H. Bateman, Virginia;
  Marion T. Bennett, Missouri;
  William T. Cahill, New Jersey;
  Alan Cranston, California;
  Paul D. Coverdell, Georgia;
  Julian C. Dixon, California;
  Henry B. Gonzalez, Texas;
  Paul G. Hatfield, Montana;
  Allan T. Howe, Utah;
  Robert J. Huber, Michigan;
  James M. Leath, Texas;
  John V. Lindsay, New York;
  Koln G. McKay, Utah;
  James D. ``Mike'' McKevitt, Colorado;
  Helen S. Meyner, New Jersey;
  James H. Morrison, Louisiana;
  John O. Pastore, Rhode Island;
  L. Richardson Preyer, North Carolina;
  William J. Randall, Missouri;
  John G. Schmitz, California;
  Timothy P. Sheehan, Illinois;
  Norman Sisisky, Virginia;
  Joe Skubitz, Kansas;
  William G. Stratton, Illinois;
  Bruce F. Vento, Minnesota;
  E.S. Johnny Walker, New Mexico;
  Sidney R. Yates, Illinois.
  I respectfully ask all of you to rise for a moment of silence in 
their memory.
  Thank you.
  As you know, each year the Association presents a Distinguished 
Service Award to an outstanding public servant, and, Jack, I know you 
have been waiting, thinking we were bringing the program to a 
conclusion without remembering your part in this ceremony today.
  The award normally rotates between the parties, as do our officers. 
Last year, we became totally nonpartisan and presented the award to 
former House Chaplain James David Ford. This year, we are pleased to be 
honoring an outstanding Republican, Jack Kemp.
  Jack is a native of California. After graduation from Occidental 
College, he began his 13-year career as a professional football 
quarterback. After serving as captain of the San Diego Chargers, he 
moved east and became captain of the Buffalo Bills, whom he 
quarterbacked to the American Football League championship in 1964 and 
1965, when he was named the league's Most Valuable Player. He cofounded 
the American Football League Players Association and was five times 
elected president of that association.
  His public service began with 18 years of service from 1971 to 1989 
in the House of Representatives, representing the Buffalo area and 
western New York, during which he served for 7 years in the Republican 
leadership as Chairman of the House Republican Committee. After leaving 
Congress, Jack served for 4 years as Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development. In 1995, he served as Chairman of the National Commission 
on Economic Growth and Tax Reform. Jack received the Republican Party's 
nomination for Vice President in August of 1996, and since then has 
campaigned nationally for reform of taxation, Social Security and 
education.
  Jack currently is codirector of Empower America, a public policy and 
advocacy organization that he founded in 1993 with William Bennett and 
Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick.
  Jack, will you please come and join me in the well.
  To the gentleman from New York, on behalf of the Association, I am 
delighted to present our Distinguished Service Award to you, Jack. The 
plaque is inscribed as follows.
  Here, I will let you read along to see if I get it right.
  Mr. KEMP. I trust you.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. ``Presented by the U.S. Association of Former Members 
of Congress to the Honorable Jack Kemp for your outstanding performance 
in the world of sports, public service and private life. As a star 
professional football player, a Member of Congress for 18 years and a 
member of the leadership of the Republican Party, you distinguished 
yourself. Your nomination for Vice President in 1996 and service as 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for 4 years added to an 
already impressive list of accomplishments. We know that you still are 
dedicated to public service, and we salute you. Washington, D.C., May 
2, 2001.''
  Jack.
  Mr. KEMP. Thank you.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. Jack, I also am pleased to present you with a 
scrapbook of letters from your colleagues offering their 
congratulations, along with mine, for this well-deserved symbol of our 
respect, appreciation and affection.
  We would be pleased to receive some comments from you.
  Mr. KEMP. Well, first of all, thank you so very much. It is a great 
honor. John, thank you for your kind comments.
  I just have a few remarks that I would like to make. I ask unanimous 
consent to revise and extend my remarks.
  Mr. LaROCCO. So ordered.
  Mr. KEMP. Thank you. Like my other speeches.
  To be introduced as a former professional football quarterback and a 
former Member of the House of Representatives and a former Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development and a former next Vice President of the 
United States for about 2\1/2\ months in 1996, my grandson in Seattle, 
Washington, introduced me to his Sunday school class in Seattle, 
Washington,

[[Page 6753]]

one time as ``a former very important public serpent.''
  I am thrilled today to be joined by my wife, Joanne, many of you know 
her, my granddaughter, Babbi, and daughter, Jennifer. My son, Jimmy was 
here with his two sons, our 12th and 13th grandchildren. We did not 
have any grandchildren when I came to Congress. We had four children. 
They subsequently all got married and have wonderful families.
  I am very grateful to have served with you, many of you, in this 
body, to think and reflect upon the wonderful times through which we 
went, as well as the great challenges that we faced.
  It is pretty well-known that I am known as the Hubert Humphrey of the 
Republican Party. He said one time that he did not think he spoke too 
long, because he enjoyed every minute of his speeches.
  Having served for 18 years in this body, and to hear Members of the 
House on both sides of the aisle reflect upon this House of 
Representatives and how much it means to them, I wanted to thank the 
Association, thank Lou Frey, former President, and you, John, as the 
new President. Lindy, I too want to salute you as our Ambassador to the 
Vatican. And to think as I stand here that I served with Hale Boggs.
  It is overwhelming to come back. I feel a little bit like I did when 
I went back to Buffalo for a reunion of my old championship team. They 
showed a film of my highlights. There were a couple of bubble gum cards 
and a photograph or two. But they played Gladys Knight and the Pips 
singing ``Memories, the Way We Were.''
  I can remember watching a football spiral through the air in slow 
motion, and I realized that I would never throw a football again, maybe 
with my grandchildren, but not in professional ranks, and I really had 
a tear in my eye going back and thinking that I would never do that 
again. And to stand here today in front of you, so many of whom I 
served with, makes me realize that I will never do this again. I doubt 
if I will ever give a speech on the floor or from the well of the 
House.
  To look at you and realize the friendships we made, I came during the 
Vietnam War, there was Watergate, the cul-de-sac of the economy into 
which we had burst in the late 1970s, inflation, unemployment, an 
energy crisis of unbelievable proportions. And, Bob Michel, to have 
served with you and Gerry Ford as my leaders, it really does flood my 
mind's eye with memories.
  But I will not go into it except to say it was the greatest honor of 
my life, other than to get this award, to be recognized for a 
legislative career that spanned those 18 years. To see Bobby Garcia 
over here, with whom one day in the late 1970s when Governor Munoz 
Marin died and Bobby got up and memorialized him, and I was over on the 
Republican side, had read about him, never met him obviously, but when 
Bobby Garcia spoke and Charlie Rangel spoke, I said, would you mind if 
a Republican helped memorialize the great career and leadership of 
Munoz Marin?
  I got up and I said, he was the author of Operation Bootstrap in 
Puerto Rico, and I thought, would it not be wonderful, Bob, if we could 
do that for the South Bronx, and, Charlie Rangel, if we can do it for 
Harlem, and Buffalo, and Watts, Los Angeles, and East L.A. and East St. 
Louis and all the areas of urban America that had been troubled by the 
problems of our deteriorating inner cities.
  It was at that moment, having never met Bob and having never met 
Charlie Rangel, I walked across that center aisle and shook hands, met 
them, became fast friends of both Rangel and Garcia, and that became 
the Enterprise Zone, Operation Bootstrap, that I stole from Luis Munoz 
Marin.
  Every idea I ever had in this body I stole from someone else. The 
Kemp-Roth bill was stolen from John F. Kennedy; privatization of 
housing was stolen from Abraham Lincoln's idea of homesteading. I guess 
my mother was right when she said, ideas, no one has a proprietary 
right over an idea. They are universal, and when you share them with 
each other, you do not lose anything. It is a win-win.
  I like to think that some of us, and I know that many of you have, 
have had a huge impact upon this democratic system of ours. I want to 
thank my colleagues from the Democratic side of the aisle for all that 
they have meant to me. The Bible says he who wrestles with us 
strengthens us.

                              {time}  1030

  I think I have been strengthened by the debates in this Chamber. I 
know you have, too. That really means a lot to me.
  I appreciate the civility. Yes, we used to go at it hammer and tongs, 
but there was great civility. I realize that you can disagree without 
being disagreeable. I must say, some of my best friends are not only on 
the Republican side of the aisle, but on the Democratic side of the 
aisle. I appreciate that. The best friends I made in football were the 
guys who used to beat me up on Sunday, and oh, did they beat me up. But 
I appreciate that and I am stronger for it.
  Many of the ideas I had at HUD came from this body, things that I 
wanted to do when I got into that huge agency to help urban America.
  So I just want to close with the thought that we all served, or many 
or most of us served, when democracy was in retreat. There was an evil 
empire. There was a Berlin Wall. There were walls of segregation and 
discrimination.
  Many of them have come down. This hemisphere today, 97 percent of 
this hemisphere freely elect their leaders. When Buchanan, John 
Buchanan and I were here, I think it was something like 25 percent. I 
am reminded of the words of Benito Juarez, the great President of 
Mexico, who said, ``Democracy is the ultimate destiny of all mankind.''
  I really believe that. I believe that freedom and democracy is the 
ultimate destiny of all mankind. There is a struggle. There is always a 
struggle. But we are on the side of history. This House is at the 
epicenter of a revolution taking place around the world.
  So as I conclude my remarks, particularly with a member of the 
European Parliament here that we all welcome and a great Brit, may I 
say to all of you, stop and think in this year of our Lord 2001 that 
225 years ago on this Earth, think back to July of 1776. There was a 
Holy Roman Empire. Venice was a Republic. France was ruled by a king, 
China by an emperor, Russia by an empress, Great Britain was a 
monarchy, Japan was ruled by Shogun.
  All of those regimes and systems have passed into the pages of the 
history book. There is really only one that has lasted for 225 years 
with its basic, rudimentary, democratic form of government and 
Constitution. That is this little experiment in human freedom and 
democracy founded on the northeastern shores of North America by a 
group of men and women who founded a nation predicated upon the 
inalienable right of people to be free, the inalienable right of all of 
us to freedom and democratic rule, and the inalienable right to life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
  It is pretty amazing that those words of Jefferson 225 years ago are 
quoted from Wenceslaus Square in the Czech Republic in Prague to 
Tiananmen Square in Beijing. They are not dead, they are alive, and we 
are part of that history.
  I get a chill standing here telling you how honored I am to have been 
your colleague, to have been your friend, to have wrestled and argued 
and debated and discussed and talked and talked and talked, I am sure 
you would think. But how else would people learn if I did not?
  Thank you for this award. Thank you for the association. Thank you 
for your friendship. Thanks for honoring Jack and Joanne Kemp, because 
I could not have done it without my wonderful partner of 42 years and 
13 grandchildren later. Like all of us, that was the greatest decision 
of my life. I love you.
  Mr. ERLENBORN. Thank you again, Jack, for your friendship and 
service.
  Mr. Speaker and members of the association, we are honored and proud 
to serve in the U.S. Congress. We are continuing our service to our 
Nation in

[[Page 6754]]

other ways now, but hopefully ones that are equally as effective.
  Again, thank you for letting us return today to this Chamber. This 
concludes our 31st Annual Report by the U.S. Association of Former 
Members of Congress. Thank you.
  Mr. LaROCCO (presiding). The Chair again wishes to thank the former 
Members of the House for their presence here today. Before terminating 
these proceedings, the Chair would like to invite those former Members 
who did not respond when the roll was called to give their names to the 
Reading Clerks for inclusion on the roll.
  The Chair wishes to thank the other former Members of the House for 
their presence here today.
  Good luck to all.
  The Chair announces that the House will reconvene at 10:45 a.m.
  Accordingly (at 10 o'clock and 34 minutes a.m.), the House continued 
in recess.

                          ____________________

                              {time}  1045